NationStates Jolt Archive

The time had come and so it would begin, the first officially declared war of the USR military forces. MiG-29's scattered throughout the skies over the nation then made moves toward the Kostroma border where cottish border patrols would be making their rounds.

"Coming up to the target now, squadron release payload on my signal...alright, NOW."

The 29's flew over the border in an instant all dropping specially designed mine sweeper bombs, the bombs split up in mid air and hit the ground setting hundreds of mines off all in a large area. As the squadron of seven turned around the cottish forces must have already been aware of what was happening. Dropping another payload across the border the 29's split off and left the smoldering border and wrecked border patrol units alone.

Forces on the ground began moving forward toward the now cleared hole and would invade within minutes. A force of 12,000 ground infantry, 30 Merkava Mk2's and a large force of transport trucks for the men. Above them were an entire division of KA-50's to provide air to ground cover but not be limited to protecting from the skies either. The large force moved over the border, every so often a mine would go off but mainly little resistance was found except for a small pocket of fighting provided by the border patrol and a unit of USR infantry.

The MLRS trucks began to fire their 12 round rocket pods over the border now, the dark night sky was only darkened by the hundreds of rockets flying over the border. Within minutes explosions could be heard, like artillary only more devistating. The total 178 MLRS trucks fired off pricisely aimed rockets coordinated from data assumes by the high command and data collect by the small pockets of guerilla forces that made it back into USR territory to share information. It was guessed that at least 75% of the rockets would hit a specified target, the rest would desimate the towns and cities.

As the rockets fired covering the sky, 46 C-141's flew just above the rocket fire. As the planes crossed over the border they were passed by 23 newly built MiG-71's and a large group of 42 MiG-29's which would provide protectiong from Cottish forces.

The C-141 group closed inward into Kostroma then finally the green light was lit up inside and the filled up capacity of 138 passangers. The paratroopers rushed forward to make the jump and covering the sky in parachutes they left the planes.

(OOC:Im trying to give you enough freedom to RP your responce from the time of the attack on the border to the time my paratroopers dropped in, so this post is less discriptive then I would have liked it to be)
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Vitaly Hall, Kirov, Kirovian Republic

Kurstrovitz sat infront of a large crowd, camera's all pointed at him. He sat in silence waiting, then suddenly a thumbs up was given and he began to speak.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, people of these glorious republics. I believe it is safe to inform you that at 4:50 A.M. tonight our nation has declared war on Cotland. It has been a long time coming but I believe that with force and pride in our nation we will win this war and win back the honor of mother russia and the pride to be of Nerotikan heritage. These people to the north have no regard for who we are, they ignore us and trample our names and so we will do the same. As I speak our children are figthing this cause for the better of our nation and as I speak ten or twenty cottish dogs are dieing because they underestimated us. Right now our men are walking into devistated towns and cities, Kostroma itself lays in ruin after our attack. We will burn all cottish cities to the ground, and leave nothing but our victory behind as we push on to even greater victories in the name of mother russia."

The camera turned off and around the room was an applause. Vitaly smiled and left the room.
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USR List of Targets
Sharya - 232 Rockets Targeted
Makariev - 142 Rockets Targeted
Kologriv - 150 Rockets Targeted
Kostroma - 412 Rockets Targeted

1200 Rockets fired at individual targets, listening posts, bases and military convoys. (Most of which are assumed positions)

The soldier was bored. It had been several weeks since the big exercise called Sunfall, and the Cottish forces had returned to their state of passiveness. The vehicles of the various divisions were lined up outside in the parade ground, the soldiers were either in the barracks or out on evening liberty, no doubt enjoying themselves in the local pub with the local ladies. Not him though. No, he had been lucky enough to pull guard duty in front of the telephone while the others were out enjoying themselves. It was boring to say the least. That was when the phone actually rang.

Surprised, the soldier looked at it for a few seconds before remembering that it was his job to pick it up, so he did.

”Dette er sektorkommandoen. Dette er en flash-ordre. Dere beordres til mobiliseringspunkt en umiddelbart. Bekreft.” [This is sector command. This is a flash command. You are ordered to mobilization location one immediately. Confirm.]

The soldier swallowed hard. A flash command. That meant that this was serious, and not a surprise drill. Then his training kicked in.

”Bekrefter flash-ordre, mobiliseringspunkt en. Slutt.” [Confirming flash command, mobilization point one. Out.]

The line disconnected in the other end, but the soldier didn’t care. He knew exactly what to do. First, he got up from the desk and over to a locked panel on the wall. Quickly unlocking it, the soldier opened the door to the panel and flipped one of the switches. This caused every siren in the base to begin howling, calling all troops to battle stations. While the soldiers were getting out of their bunks and poker games, getting into combat uniforms, the soldier returned to the phone and dialled another number. It picked up immediately.

”General, dette er hovedkvarteret. Vi har en flash-ordre fra sektorkommandoen om å gå til mobiliseringspunkt en umiddelbart. Jeg gjentar, flash-ordre om å gå til mobiliseringspunkt en, umiddelbart.” [General, this is the headquarters. We’ve got a flash command from the sector command to go to mobilization location one immediately. I repeat, flash command to go to mobilization location one immediately.]

”Greit. Jeg er på vei.” [Fine. I’m on my way.] The voice said with a sigh before it disconnected. Thirty minutes later, the 83. Panserdivisjon was on its way towards the front lines.

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

Ten minutes before the phone call
The crew of the powerful Hugin III RADAR saw the flight of USR fighters approach the border rapidly, and checked to see where the closest CAP was. As they were uplinking with the lone E-3/A Bataleur AWACS that was flying three hundred kilometres inside the Cottish airspace, the situation deteriorated rapidly as the USR MiGs unleashed their payload. The Hugin III was a very powerful RADAR based on the Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar principle, which allowed it to see through stealth like a warm knife slided through butter. Therefore, it was little problem for the RADAR to see the missiles the MiGs fired towards the Cottish, nor was it a problem to see the approaching aircraft. This resulted in a top priority alert being sent out to all Cottish forces in the area, and a flash warning to the sector command.

Two minutes later, the Border Police confirmed that enemy ordinance was striking down on Cottish soil. The Realm was being invaded!

With that confirmation, the order went out to all forces in the Bjornoyan Protectorate to mobilize. The first units to be ready would be the 23. Korps which had been stationed in Kostroma. This unit consisted of one armoured division and three infantry divisions, of which two of the divisions were close enough to the border to be able to engage the enemy within a few minutes. It didn’t take five minutes for the artillery section of the 85. Infanteridivisjon – 96 M52A2 Haubits self-propelled howitzers – to begin returning fire, the twenty howitzers within range sending in the first minute a total of 174 155 millimeter projectiles towards the hole in the border the Bataleur indicated was created by the enemy advance. The projectiles were deadly against tanks and armoured vehicles. They would massacre the light USR infantry that was out in the open.

Additionally, the SAM carpet that the Cottish had close to the border activated, with Luftvernsbrigade 14 which was responsible for Kostroma activating. Within a minute, the first missiles began firing from their TELs, mostly MAM.38/A Sverd medium-range surface to air missiles with a range of 165 kilometers, a speed of Mach 5.5, a Mk.211/B guidance package that allowed for not only the missile’s own active X-band RADAR and Imaging Infrared to identify the target it had been assigned just before the launch, but also for the Hugin III RADAR and the E-3/A Bataleur to uplink with the missiles and feed them constant information on the target, making a possibilities for a miss almost non-existant. The Sverds weren’t the only missiles that were fired though. Shorter-range MAM.42/A Valkyrie SAMs were fired from the few short-range surface to air missile sites located near the border. They only had a range of 15 kilometers, but with a 2.3 kg pre-fragmentation, shaped HE warhead, Imaging Infrared guidance and an intercept speed of Mach 2.7, the missile was still dangerous for the enemy aircraft and their hot jet exhausts. The Valkyries were primarily fired against the enemy helicopters.

While the SAMs were firing, the Cottish fighter jets were scrambling to the skies, laden with live armaments and angry pilots. The fighters assembled in their squadrons and headed for the battle at hand. Hundreds of fighters were scrambling, but they wouldn’t reach the battle area for a while yet.

The first flight to reach the enemy, eight F-20/A Enforcer multirole fighter jets that had made up the CAP before the enemy attacked, were laden with four AAM.14/B BVRAAMs, four AAM.15/B Osiris’, and two AAM.43/A ERAAMs each. They operated in two groups of four, flying in a fluid four formation, approaching the enemy from both sides. The pilots checked their IFF transponders before they locked on their missiles, and began engaging the enemy aircraft with their ERAAMs.

The ERAAM, or Extreme-Range Air to Air Missile, was a 2.38 meter long and 0.152 meter wide missile with a 1.52 meter long booster, weighing 185 kilograms without the booster and 284.79 kilograms with the booster. Of this, thirty-five kilos were the blast-fragmentation warhead that was brought to the enemy aircraft at a speed of Mach 5.2, guided in by Mk.202/E guidance package which included an active X-Band Radar, Imaging Infrared and data uplink to the ground radars and the AWACS aircraft, which were surging now that all forces in the area were scrambling. The ERAAMs were fired first, and lofted to 36,5 kilometers high without a tell-tale smoke strip thanks to the new design to the solid fuel booster, for the cruise phase before the terminal phase, which would see the missiles dive steeply on the enemy fighters. Evasion would be very difficult, if at all possible.

With the sixteen ERAAMs fired, the Enforcers kicked in the afterburners to get within range of the BVRAAMs and Osiris’. A massive dogfight would develop over the border, with Cottish fighters versus USR fighters. Throw in a few hundred Cottish SAMs and the electronic jamming the Cottish aircraft and ground stations started with at that point, and the result is confusion.

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

On the ground near the border, the first people to make contact with the enemy invaders were the paramilitary forces of the Border Police. These men were armed with L114A3 Enhanced Carbines, firing the 6.8x51mm LDC round at a rate of 900 rounds per minute if at full auto. The men had disembarked their M74A1 CMPLVs and taken refuge in a nearby ditch when the MLRS rockets began striking their checkpoints, but were climbing back out and into the vehicles, which were for the most part left intact. Those policemen at the border saw the advancing enemy infantry and decided that this couldn’t be allowed. Being expert marksmen with the carbines – you don’t get to become an elite police officer if you can’t shoot accurately – the men got down into the prone positions and began picking off targets, using the 4X ACOG scopes to select targets and going for headshots. The men laid there and fired for a few minutes before they were forced to pull back after the USR troops inflicted heavy casualties.

In case of invasion, the Border Police were to act as guerrillas, harassing the enemy as they advanced, withdrawing only for long enough to set up an ambush for the enemy with the use of their carbines, Claymore mines or whatever else they had at their disposal. That was what they were going to do.

In the meanwhile, the news of the invasion had reached Oslo, and orders were given for complete mobilization of the Bjornoyan Protectorate. That meant that the 250,000 Army soldiers, 25,000 Royal Marines, and 1,400,000 Home Guardsmen in the protectorate went to highest alert and prepared for combat operations along with the 1,260 Special Forces operatives, 120,000 sailors and 200,000 airmen stationed there. Additionally, the 135,000 Army soldiers, 17,500 Royal Marines and 700,000 Home Guardsmen in Murmansk prepared for possible deployment to Bjornoya, which was just over the White Sea and down the well-developed railway lines of that protectorate. And that was only what the Cottish had available. The Layartebian peacekeepers in Kostroma and Hawdawgian and Hirgizstanian military elements in the Bjornoyan Protectorate could also be called upon, and most likely would take some sort of actions to defend themselves against USR aggression.

With the initial confusion dying down, the casualty lists began flowing in. While most of the missiles missed their military targets, many civilian areas were hit. A few listening posts and some buildings in the closest bases were destroyed, but that was nothing compared to the collateral damage. In the initial attack, 684 civilians were killed, 927 wounded and a further 127 missing in the collapsed rubble of what used to be their homes. In comparison, in the enemy rocket artillery strike, only 59 military personnel lost their lives with another 263 wounded.

Emergency services were on the spot quickly in the civilian areas and braved the fires and obvious dangers to get the wounded out of the destroyed buildings, but the camera crews were there faster, filming the carnage and uploading it to the world’s news services. The war wasn’t even an hour old before the first anti-USR broadcasts came, showing the world that the USR forces “targeted civilian positions only”, and demanding the USR attacks to cease and the war criminals responsible for the Kostroma Massacre extradited to Cotland.

The ground forces had made earily contact and as they were trained engaged against the cottish forces along the border. The hole in the fence and mine field had given the invasionary force plenty of space to move in but an expected barrage of artillary would have to begin and finish before they could move. They had their own artillary but it had not reached them yet, large NLOS-C artillary units had been on the move from the lower southern army up to the north to prepare against the cots. The invasion was premature but expected to push much of the cottish resistance back into their own country to fight in and so the artillary would have to contantly be on the move, the NLOS systems in the southern army were the perfect choice for the constant mobilizing on the frontlines.

Though the cottish border forces had provided several casualties it was apparent they thought little of the soviet military by taking the time to fight back instead of running. Proned or not they still emitted a slight muzzleblast and everytime that was seen three or four USR soldiers would fire on that position leaving the cottish troops wounded or most likely dead. Infront of the advancment lay an orange horizon, and the entire "1st" division of the northern army knew it was fire not the sun that lit the sky so orange.

Sharya, Kostroma

The paratroopers had dropped in only 17 miles from the town and had begun moving in already. After seeing a few planes get shot out of the sky and fighter jets battling it out in the darkness the soldiers nerves had been prepared for ground confrontation. Thousands of soldier covered the lightly forested area around Sharya advancing every second toward the town.

One unit had landed very close by the town, almost on top of it and had already begun the fight near one of the downed C-141's. Gunfire had erupted almost in a line across a small field outside of the town, the soviets firing the federation made weapons and the cottish firing their own,both with its own distinct sound. The USR troops knew taking Sharya would be the first goal upon this conquest and so they would fight to the death as long as four or five enemies fell with them.

(OOC: Its small, give me a day and i'll have the invasions information (Secret ICly of course))

In Sharya, the Cottish forces that had made contact with the enemy were reservists that made up elements of the 4. Division, 52. HV-Korps, namely the infantry battlegroup of 2,570 men and their weapons and vehicles. The men were reservists who had barely managed to change into their uniforms and get out their weapons before the enemy came knocking. Fighting nevertheless began, and the men geared themselves for a one hell of a fight as they called in reinforcements. It didn’t take long for the Cottish infantry to be supplemented by the heavy weapons mounted on the M64A1 Shadow light mobility vehicles and M65A1 Arrow armoured personnel carriers the battlegroup was equipped with, firing heavy 12.7x99 millimeter rounds and 40x53 millimeter grenades from the L112A1 HMGs and L124A1 GMGs respectively, with the infantry taking cover behind the armoured vehicles, behind dumpsters, or inside houses. They were further supplemented by the 60 and 81 millimeter mortars the unit was equipped with, raining down accurate mortar fire on the enemy positions along with the heavy weaponry.

As the Home Guard did their job, the word was given to elements of the 86. Infanteridivisjon that Sharya needed help, which prompted Kampgruppe 4, Brigadekampgruppe 2, 86. Infanteridivisjon to deploy to Sharya, which was twenty-six kilometres away. With sixteen tanks, sixty-seven IFVs, twenty other armoured fighting vehicles and 1,042 well-trained regular soldiers on their way, the ETA to the battleground should be no less than an hour. In the meanwhile, a flight of eight stealthy H-11/A Reaper helicopter gunships laden with 70mm CRV7 rockets and Brimstone anti-tank missiles mounted on their stub wings and with the nose-mounted twin-barreled thirty millimetre autocannon ready were vectored in to help suppress the enemy positions. The Cottish weren’t going to let this city of 29,000 loyal citizens fall without a fight!

Meanwhile, the Royal Cottish Air Force had risen to the skies and began to prepare a counter-attack, which was spearheaded by ninety F-25/A Typhoon advanced air superiority fighters laden with missiles in its internal bays – they had no missiles on the outer hardpoints to maintain their stealth – who flew towards the enemy aircraft and engaged with highly advanced and accurate AAM.11/B Dødsengel, AAM.43/A ERAAM and AAM.14/B BVRAAM missiles, followed by one hundred eighty F-20/A Enforcers loaded with Brimstone anti-tank missiles, BVRAAM air to air missiles, and Mk.82 iron bombs, and seventy-two A-28/C Hammer close air support aircraft laden with bombs, Brimstone anti-tank missiles and the 30 millimeter DU-armed autocannon in the nose. The aircraft were flying in a scattered formation, providing difficult targets for the enemy, while getting their own guidance from the five AWACS’ that were in the air over Kostroma, southern Bjornoya and even Ivanovo now. All the aircraft engaged whatever targets were within range. The Cottish pilots were going to show their skills now, the skills they had honed during Operation Sunfall.

In addition to the air battle at hand, the RCAF’s Tactical Missile Groups in Bjornoya decided to deliver their own little surprise. Sixteen MGM.6/B Imsdal cruise missiles were fired, aimed at the border where the enemy infantry was storming across. The missiles climbed to 30,000 meters and cruised at Mach 5 before reaching the target zone, where they descended into a steep vertical dive at Mach 7, unleashing the TH3 thermite plasma on the vast mass of enemy infantry and vehicles. The 240 BLU-123 IISM submunitions in each missile dispersed and detonated as the chemicals made contact with the oxygen in the air, setting off a 5,000 degree Celsius warm fireball that covered an area some 6,561,680 square meters wide, incardinating anything within the blast radius. A total of sixteen of these had been fired from various locations within Bjornoya, and optimised to causing as much damage as possible to the attacking infantry.

In the meanwhile, the regular Army had been fully mobilized and were deploying towards the border to meet any enemies. Already within range of the artillery, the Cots decided to play the enemy’s game. Having gotten the rough positions of the enemy infantry from the various ground sources and aircraft that was in the air, the Cottish M54A2 Boar MLRS vehicles stopped and turned their launcher ramps in the direction of the enemy, raising them to the appropriate elevation before firing, each Boar sending thirty 250 millimeter rockets laden with M74 APAM submunitions that were designed to take out tanks towards the enemy positions, supplementing the somewhat shorter-ranged M52A2 Haubits self-propelled howitzers which returned fire against targets within range, sending a deadly hail of ETC-propelled 155mm projectiles away before quickly repositioning and repeating the procedure. The key to survival was mobility, and the Cottish were doing all they could to bog the enemy down!

The USR troops had come to an almost brick wall, already the cottish forces were doing what had been expected and they were throwing so much back at the USR forces it was beginning to become excessive. Missles had impacted large numbers of soviet soldiers across the hole in the border and several tanks had been eliminated from the advancment but quick thinking had gotten many more of the armor through the burning field and exploding artillary.

The MBT's would have nothing to fight unless they kept moving and so thats what was ordered. The unit had forced itself forward with the cover of the KA-50's pushed forward, their 30mm cannons setting the ground on fire as they shot at mostly anything they saw as military usable. Enemy planes had covered most of the skies and were reported to be very hostile, already the invasion had lost many MiG-29's and the MiG-71's were putting up very little of a match against the well trained pilots in the cottish air force. Several requests of reinforcments for the battles in the skies had been accepted and already the USR air force was promising more then it had to its men, with a force of only 210 MiG-71's they had to use them carfully so the remaining 720 MiG-29's in the northern territories would be deployed. They orders for all pilots were simply "kill until you run out of fuel, then kill when you know it is over."

In Sharya, the fighting had become more intense with every minute. More and more of the soviet paratroopers arrived to the battle and as the cottish forces brought out its armored units it was apparent that an eastern attack would be best. With roughly 1300 men acounted for near the eastern side of the city they would attack and take the small section they would designate as the 'Pennisula' because of its outstrech into the water of a large river.

With only one entrance to the Pinnisula the men took as much care to secure the bridge as possible, a small 125 man unit moved onto the bridge from a small island like piece of land that the group swam to. From here they moved forward up the bridge, with anti-tank weapons and c-4 explosives the group would move in behind the enemy and attack as the fighting raged from the south area of town to the western edges. No anti-air weaponry had been given to the paratroopers and so the most they could do is try to get in as close as possible to the cottish lines so as to force the air forces not to bombard their own allied positions.

The enemy paratroopers were fighting hard, the Cottish lieutenant colonel in command of the reservist battlegroup thought as he lead the battle from a basement well within the Cottish lines. Most of his men were busy fighting the enemy, with the rest of the men helping the civilian emergency services – the police and the Red Cross – evacuate as many civilians as they could, just in case. When the sound of massive explosions were heard in the background and the ground shook, the lieutenant colonel smiled. The battlegroup’s artillery had finally been brought to bear, and was targetting the enemy positions. With forty-eight M71A1 LW155 lightweight towed howitzers at his disposal according to the table of organization and equipment (TO&E), and the knowledge that at least some of his equipment was still available, the lieutenant colonel looked at the information provided by the Army’s Q-37 Shadow UAV that was flying high up in the sky, watching the battle well out of range of any enemy ground munitions, and decided that it was time to shift the turn of the battle. He ordered that no troops pull back unless absolutely necessary, and advance if possible.

The reservist rifleman dodged a deadly spray of 7.62mm RF rounds as he made the final leap, reaching the cover behind the already ruined Toyota Landcruiser. Panting, the soldier checked that he was still intact – he was – before reloading his L100A1 assault rifle with a fresh clip. With another twenty-eight rounds at his disposal, the man got up to a crouching position and, with a deep breath, rose just enough to swing the bullpup rifle over the hood of the car and take a few shots at the advancing USR troops, making them duck for cover as he nailed one of them with a pair of rounds firmly placed in the head region before he got back down again, the angry whips of enemy bullets passing over his head and the loud pings as they hit the side of the car and impacted in the vehicle’s engine block, protecting the man. That was when the orders to advance came through over the radio, making the man shake his head angrily. Advance, when they were barely holding out where they stood? It didn’t make sense! The man couldn’t advance, nor could he retreat. He was, effectively, pinned down behind the parked Landcruiser, and knew that there was a very slim chance of getting out of there alive. That was when the miracle appeared in the shape of a M64A1 Shadow with a heavy L112A1 heavy machine gun mounted on the roof, an intrepid gunner manning the weapon and dispatching the few advancing enemy forces with the HMG, giving the pinned down man a chance to run for it, which he took. The man barely got through the partially opened back door of the Shadow before the driver kicked in the reverse, driving the Shadow back again and out of the battered street, leaving it to the twelve men that had taken up positions inside the buildings with rifles and light machine guns.

Near the bridge, a platoon of infantry and their M65A1 Arrow armored personnel carriers had taken up positions with orders not to let any unfriendlies close, orders they intended to carry out to the letter. With forty infantrymen and four Arrows, the latter being armed with heavy machine guns with a range of over two thousand meters, the Cottish forces were in hastily prepared defensive positions, in place to defend against the enemy attack, something they did when the enemy started appearing. The Arrows opened up as soon as the enemy came within sight, the gunners using the thermal imaging view on the remote turrets to select targets and dispersing of them with a short spray of deadly 12.7x99mm rounds before selecting the next. They were supplemented by the platoon’s 60mm mortar and the 40mm grenade launchers of the grenadiers, the riflemen and light machine gunners waiting until the enemy was within five hundred meters before they opened fire. At the same time, a pair of the eight Reapers that were operating within the city were vectored in, coming down on the enemy forces with 70mm rockets and 30mm gunfire like a bad hangover, strafing several times.

In the air, the battle was growing fiercer as the enemy fought back. Cottish planes banked, jinxed and manouvered like crazy, dropping chaff and flares in an attempt to break the enemy lock. In many cases it worked, but several aircraft weren’t so lucky. With nine aircraft of various types having bit the dust so far in the early stages of the air battle, the remaining aircraft continued the fight, firing BVRAAMs and closing to engage the enemy fighters in dogfight duels, where the Cottish who were armed with the very capable AAM.15 Osiris short-range air to air missile, which was basically an improved IRIS-T missile – one of the most capable short-range air to air missiles in general supply – and the 27mm cannons in the noses of the fighter aircraft were very capable. In addition, further reinforcements arrived for every passing minute, adding to the air battle that ensued. Not all aircraft went to this battle though. Some of the A-28/C Hammers were vectored to Sharya to assist the Home Guard in holding the city. They would arrive in force, with 125-kilogram bombs, Brimstone anti-tank missiles and deadly Depleted Uranium ammunition for their 30mm cannons in the nose.

At the same time, the various Cottish news services were informed that the King himself would address the nation soon…

Vologda PEC-GAP Terminal 15

The PEC-GAP was still running, despite the fact the Commonwealth had no land in Russia. It had cost trillions to build and still cost a hefty price to run, but the profits were huge as the pipeline supplied gas to nearly every TOA nation and some other nations with land in Europe, the Balkans and parts of Russia.

The Idema Line, the top half of the pipeline, started in what was North Germanian Russia, in Yamalia, and ran through Cotland, Hawdawg, North Germania and right out to Layarteb. Vologda held one of the main transition pipes that helped the gas to branch off to where it was needed, essentially the pipeline ran straight through the middle of the region.

Terminal 15 was simply a small monitoring station. It had a crew of three, one for each of three shifts in a twenty-four hour period. It was late at night now, Kolo Mbete had the night watch. The whirr of electrics and the schematics and read-outs bathed the booth in a gentle electric light and hum that could have sent anyone off to sleep very quickly. But not tonight.

Tonight Kolo's hometeam was playing, the Kampala Tigers, against another African League team, the Bangui Bears. Tiger Stadium was full to capacity, the crowd amped up for the ninth inning, cheering on the batsman as he came to the plate. The pitcher warmed up, stretching this way and that, eyeing his opponent. The fielders looked on. The Tigers needed two points to draw the game, with one out and two bases loaded it was looking good. Mbete was on the edge of his seat.

The game was being broadcast live, Mbete wished he was at home so he could go to the stadium himself, or at his apartment in Vologda with a beer and some chips, not stuck at the terminal sucking down energy drinks and crap coffee just to stay awake.

The pitcher threw the first ball...strike one. Mbete cursed. He was focusing on the pitcher again, wondering whether he'd try another fastball when the coverage suddenly cut out, a news logo flashing up on screen with 'Special Bulletin' emblazoned beneath the logo of the news channel.

The caster appeared onscreen, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are sorry to interrupt tonights game, but we have a breaking news bulletin. Just a few moments ago we received confirmation that USR troops have crossed the Cottish border and are this minute engaged in battle with Cottish forces." Mbete dropped the can of energy drink he was holding and jumped to his feet. He raced to the corner of the room and grabbed the emergency phone, cursing under his breath, his heart racing.


Komi

Unfortunately Hirgizstanian troops were rather thin on the ground in the region the Cots were facing attack. The Arctic Warfare Training Centre was in Siberia, where the bulk of Hirgizstanian troops in Russia were stationed. However, there was a hybrid QRF stationed on the border with North Germania, principally to protect the PEC-GAP.

The base was in a small place called Vorkuta, a city along a river that was very close to the Yamalia border. It housed the hybrid QRF unit, made up of Airborne, Air Cavalry, SOF Airborne Army Commando's, various other SOF, Army Cavalry and a number of Air Force assets.

Within minutes of the first reports of battle coming in the base went to full readiness. The soldiers stationed there were trained to react quickly, to be able to get at least 1/4 of their force to the battle within 18 hours. However, there was no point in charging into a battle like a bull in a china shop, the Cots hadn't yet established a proper front line and were probably unsure how things were taking shape. Thus the QRF readied itself for any eventuality.

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ENCRYPTED MESSAGE
TO: COTTISH HIGH COMMAND
FROM: FORT VORKUTA, COH QRF
SUBJECT: USR INVASION



Dear Sirs,
I have been authorised by COHRUSCOM to bring the QRF to maximum readiness for support of Cottish forces. However, we need to know where we are needed most and where our forces can be of best use. Please advise.

General Stefano Guerrera, COH QRF, Ft. Vorkuta

MESSAGE ENDS


ENCRYPTED MESSAGE
TO: COTTISH HIGH COMMAND
FROM: COHCENTCOM, Hirgizstan City
SUBJECT: USR INVASION



At this time all Hirgizstanian military assets are avaliable to help in repelling the USR invasion. Air assets in Greece and Libya are being placed on the highest alert and will be avaliable for missions against the USR's invasion force and their nation in general. Godspeed and Good Luck.

COHCENTCOM

MESSAGE ENDS

The Grand Duchy Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued the following statement from the Grand Duke Albert Roumillet:

"It is apparent that in recent events that a conflict looms in Russia, after countless events have threatened stability and security in the region, as it has and continues to do so. I must state that our firm support rests with the Cottish government - in obligation to our stated alliance, and as the subject of the current attacks.

"The Grand Duchy has few troops to offer in the current conflict, as we are presently continuing our reconstruction in India, after the tumultuous events resulted in a large bloc in the new Viceroyalty of Delhi. We are confident that such intiatives will be successful, and it is our hope that the same peace that hangs over India can return to Russia, which has a long and troubled history. I don't believe that I've heard any good news from Russia since the Bjornoyan collapse, and it perhaps was the last straw to a stable system in Russia.

"Nonetheless, the Grand Duchy remains adamant in its condemnation of the USR attack on Cotland - for whatever reason that it conceived. We are aware of the history surrounding the two parties, and furthermore surrounding the allies of both parties - at this point, a conflict between any of the parties threatens to expand into a larger conflict. Thusfar, we are glad to see USR allies refraining from the joining the conflict. We would like to see the same restraint on the behalf of Cottish allies, to keep this conflict limited and defined, rather than broad and unnecessarily costly for the whole world.

"As for the Grand Duchy and our support of Cottish operations, the Ministries are currently working to find a way to lend support with involving our armed forces. We would encourage others to do the same. I would like to state to our Cottish allies that we have every interest to make certain Cotland does not suffer a prolonged war and any further hostilities - and that by remaining out of the hostilities, we can help to make this war shorter. Unless Cotland specifically requests the presence of Lazare Armed Forces, we shall remain outside of this conflict militarily.

"In respect to the USR actions, we wish to offer the USR a chance to end the hostilities, with a general return to the status quo. The Saint Lazare government can work with both parties to make an end, but we strongly insist that any attempts to gain anything from this conflict will be frowned upon, and subsequently disregarded for consultation in a conclusion to these events. If the USR aims for a peace that is sustainable, they will consider a status quo ceasefire and subsequent peace. Otherwise, we will let things follow their present course.

"We send our condolences to the families who have suffered loss in the conflict. We send our condolences further to those will have suffered loss, and to the Cottish government and its Armed Forces. We pray likewise for a swift end to hostilities and return to peace, to lay the foundations of a stable Russian system."

In every Cottish news channel, the normal programs had been replaced by the news agencies which reported the breaking news as it developed, and who had twenty minutes prior been informed that the King would address the nation soon. So, it came as little surprise when the news broadcasts were replaced with the images of an image of the Royal Palace in Oslo, with one verse of the Cottish national anthem playing before the image shifted to the King's office in the fourth floor in the Palace's west wing.

The King, for the occation clad in the Class A uniform of a six-star General in the Army, complete with a pistol holster in brown leather on his right side and leather bandoler over the shoulder, sat behind his desk, which had been cleared of all the papers and such for the occation, leaving the desktop of the beautiful oak desk empty, save for the few photographs that faced the King, an antique watch, and a few pens, and of course the King's hands, which were folded. The King, while he looked like he had seen better days did have a special aura shining from him - an aura of comfort and strength - as he gave a nearly invisible nod to the camera and a quick breath before he began his address, speaking in a calm yet firm voice.

"Mine kjære landsmenn.

"Jeg snakker til dere nå i kveld, ikke bare som deres konge, men og som en medborger i denne forferdelige tiden.

"For mindre enn to timer siden mottok jeg beskjeden om at det Cottiske Riket er under angrep fra en fiendtlig såkalt statsmakt. Jeg sier såkalt, fordi det Cottiske Riket har enda ikke offisielt anerkjent de Forente Sovjet-Republikker, eller FSR, som en suveren stat. Likevel antar denne gruppen at de står fritt til å gjøre akkurat som de vil, uten hemninger eller begrensinger. Dette er et faktum som nå bevises i det Bjørnøyiske protektoratet, mer nøyaktig i våre nylig tilbakeførte territorier, med dens kalkulerte og tilsiktede angrep på sivile mål som for eksempel barnehjemmet i Kostroma, der tre hundre barn bodde – ett hundre barn er bekreftet drept mens hundre og femti andre fortsatt er savnet i de brennende ruinene, i boligblokkene i Sharya og Makariev der minst tusen borgere har mistet livet og mange flere har blitt skadde, og sykehuset i Kologriv, som nå ligger i ruiner som følge av FSRs angrep. Ingen, jeg gjentar, ingen militære mål ligger i nærheten av disse områdene, og jeg kan ikke begripe at en suveren stat kan finne på å foreta et slikt angrep. Dette er en type krigføring som er reservert for terrorister og andre feige uslinger, og disse byene er levende eksempler på FSRs sanne natur.

"Det Cottiske Riket kan ikke godta et slikt terroristangrep som vi nå er utsatt for. Jeg har blitt informert av Statsminister Rothsky at det er Regjeringens holdning at Riket er utsatt for ett massivt terrorangrep, hvor de sosialistiske terroristene som vil okkupere våre suverene territorier og påtvinge sine forkastelige meninger på vårt folk. Dette kan ikke aksepteres! Det er derfor min ubehagelige plikt som deres konge og som øverstkommanderende å erklære at en krigstilstand herved råder mellom det Cottiske Riket og de Forente Sovjet-Republikker, med tilbakevirkende kraft til klokken 0426 i morges, Oslotid. Det Bjørnøyiske protektorat er herved å anse som under militær unntakstilstand.

"Jeg har snakket med de militære foresatte for de territorier som er påvirket, og jeg har blitt forsikret at våre tapre soldater i de væpnede styrker er fullt i stand til å besvare den fiendtlige aggresjonen og bevare den Cottiske levemåten i våre territorier. Jeg har derfor pålagt generaloberst Yssen, som er øverstkommanderende for det Nordøstlige Forsvarskomando, å forsvare Riket med de nødvendige midler.

"Til styresmaktene i FSR har jeg bare en ting å si: Trekk alle deres styrker tilbake fra Cottisk territorium umiddelbart, eller ta ansvaret for følgene.
Jeg er klar over at mange av dere der ute i de Cottiske hjem har slektninger, venner og bekjente i de rammede områdene og i våre væpnede styrker, og jeg er klar over at det kommer til å være en del som ikke vil få se sine kjære igjen. Jeg håper at dere finner en trøst i det faktum at de er alle sammen helter som har besvart sitt lands behov når det trengtes, og gitt sitt land det absolutte offer.

"Med dette sagt, så ønsker jeg å henvende meg til våre tapre og ærerike soldater og piloter som i dette øyeblikk kjemper mot den sosialistiske horde som forsøker å fjerne vår nasjon fra verdenskartet. Dere utkjemper et slag som vil bli husket i lang tid fremover som det slaget der det Cottiske Riket sa ’stopp! Dere kommer hit, men ikke lenger!’, og stoppet de sosialistiske horder som forsøker å rive ned alt som denne ærerike nasjonen er tuftet på og som vi står for. Jeg oppfordrer dere til å fortsette å gjøre den utmerkede jobben dere gjør og tilintetgjøre fienden. Stol på befalet deres, ha tiltro til deres medsoldater, og husk treningen deres, som for øvrig er langt bedre enn det fienden har fått. Fremtiden til det Cottiske Riket avhenger av at dere klarer å stagge de fiendtlige FSR-terroristene og vise dem tilbake til hvor de kom fra med den makt som engasjementsreglene til enhver tid tillater. Jeg ønsker dere alle lykke til, og god jakt!

"Til dere der ute i de Cottiske hjem, oppfordrer jeg til å be for de av våre borgere som allerede har mistet livene sine til den fiendtlige aggresjonen, for våre tapre soldater som i dette øyeblikk utkjemper en tapper strid mot en fiende som har alvorlig feilkalkulert vår motstandsvilje og motstandsevne, og for en snarlig seier over de gudløse terroristene som ønsker å bryte ned vår levemåte. Vi har ikke bare den moralske seieren i denne striden, men og den faktiske seier. Jeg har full tiltro til at våre væpnede styrker vil nedkjempe de fiendtlige invasjonsstyrkene, og at seieren, med Gud den allmektiges hjelp vil bli vår.

"Måtte Gud bevare det Cottiske folket og fedrelandet!"

[My fellow countrymen,

I speak to you tonight, not only as your King, but also as a fellow citizen in this horrible time.

Less than two hours ago, I received word that the Realm of Cotland is under attack from a hostile so-called nation-state. I say so-called, because the Realm of Cotland has yet to officially recognize the United Soviet Republics, or USR, as a sovereign nation-state. Still, this group assumes that it can do whatever it please, without limitations or restrictions. This is a fact that is currently being proven in the Bjornoyan protectorate, more precisely in our newly returned territories, with their calculated and planned attacks on civilian targets such as the orphanage in Kostroma, where three hundred children resided – a hundred have been confirmed dead with another hundred and fifty still missing in the burning ruins, in the apartment buildings in Sharya and Makariev where at least a thousand citizens have been killed and many more are wounded, and in the hospital in Kologriv, which is now in ruins as a result of the USR attacks. No, I repeat, no military targets are anywhere near these areas, and I cannot comprehend that a sovereign nation-state could even imagine undertaking such an attack. This is a type of warfare that is reserved solely for terrorists and other cowardly scum, and these cities are living proof of the true nature of the USR.

The Realm of Cotland cannot accept such a terrorist attack which we have been subjected to. I have been informed by Prime Ministry Rothsky that it is the Government’s opinion that the Realm has been subjected to a massive terrorist attack, where the socialistic terrorists that wishes to occupy our sovereign territories and impose their despicable beliefs on our people. This cannot be accepted! It is therefore my uncomfortable duty as your King and as the Supreme Commander to decree that a state of war currently exists between the Realm of Cotland and the United Soviet Republics with retroactive force to 0426 this morning, Oslo time. The Bjornoyan protectorate is hereby to be considered to be under martial law.

I have spoken with the military commanders in charge of the territories that are affected, and I have been assured that our valiant soldiers in our armed forces are fully capable of responding to the enemy aggression and preserve the Cottish way of life in our territories. I have therefore ordered Colonel General Yssen, the Commander in Chief for the North-Eastern Defense Command, to defend the Realm with whatever means are necessary.
To the USR leadership, I have but this to say: Withdraw your forces from Cottish territory immediately, or be responsible for the consequences.
I know that many of you out there in the Cottish homes have relatives, friends and acquaintances in the affected territories and in our armed forces, and I know that there are those out there that won’t see their loved ones again. I hope you find some comfort in the fact that they are all heroes who have answered their country’s requirements when it was needed, and given the ultimate sacrifice to their country.

With that being said, I wish to take the chance to directly address our courageous soldiers and pilots, who are fighting the socialist horde, which wish to remove our nation from the world map. You are fighting a battle that will be remembered for ages to come as the battle where the Realm of Cotland said ‘stop! You’ll get this far, but no further!’ and stopped the socialistic hordes who are trying to tear down all that which this glorious nation is based upon and for which we stand. I encourage you to continue to do your excellent job and destroy the enemy. Trust your commanders, have confidence in your fellow soldiers, and remember your training, which far surpass that which the enemy possess. The future of the Realm of Cotland depends on your ability to stop the enemy USR terrorists and to push them back to where they came with the amount of force that the Rules of Engagement at any given time dictates. I wish you all luck, and good hunting!

To those out there in the Cottish homes, I encourage you all to pray for those of our citizens who have already lost their lives to the enemy aggression, for our valiant soldiers who as we speak are fighting courageously against an enemy who have seriously miscalculated our resolve and ability to resist their aggression, and for a swift victory over the godless hordes who wish to destroy our way of life. We do not only possess the moral victory in this conflict, but also the actual victory. I have the utmost of confidence that our armed forces will defeat the enemy invaders in the field of battle, and, with the help of God Almighty, the victory shall be ours.

May God bless the Cottish people and the fatherland!]

The image shifted from the symbol of national unity and respect that the King was four seconds later to various images of Cottish national nature and symbols while the national anthem played again, instilling a patriotic feeling in those who watched. As of now, much of the music playing in the radio stations, and especially those in the Bjornoyan protectorate, would be replaced with patriotic music as the Cottish Realm geared for conflict.

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

Encrypted Communiqué

To: COHCENTCOM, Hirgizstan City, COH
From: Defense Ministry, Realm of Cotland
Subject: Re: USR INVASION

The Realm appreciates the Hirgizstanian offer, but we do not yet have the complete picture of the situation in Kostroma, and we therefore do not wish to add to the confusion that currently reigns in that area by adding yet another pawn to the game that is war. We hope that you understand our sentiments. We do however believe that we have the situation somewhat under control, and our objectives at this time is to repell the enemy invasion and clear the sovereign Cottish territory of all enemy units. We do not at this time have any plans for a counter-invasion of USR territories, as we do not wish to neither overstretch our forces nor to provoke a greater conflict in the region than the one that already exists.

However, in the unlikely event that we should require assistance, we shall ask for it. On the behalf of the Prime Minister and the nation, I thank you for the Hirgizstanian offer of assistance and for being the close friends they are.

P.S.: Would you please convey my thanks to General Guerrera at Fort Vorkuta and tell him that we don't require his assistance at this time? Thank you.

[signed]
Defense Minister John Alvheim


Encrypted Communiqué

To: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Grand Duchy of Saint Lazare
From: Foreign Ministry, Realm of Cotland
Subject: USR Invasion

We thank the Grand Duchy for its kind words and offer of support, but we do not require assistance from foreign troops at this time. We will however take the Grand Duke up on his offer of serving as an intermediary in the event that the USR wishes peace.

It is the official opinion of His Majesty's Government that the most desirable sollution would be a return to status quo bellum, which is the aim of our armed forces to accomplish with the tactical decisions being made.

We do not at this time have any plans to occupy USR territory, nor do we wish for this conflict to escalate further than it already has.

Again, we thank the Grand Duchy for its support in this unprovoked attack upon the sovereign territory of the Realm.

[signed]
Foreign Minister Siv Jensen

ENCRYPTED MESSAGE
TO: DEFENSE MINISTRY, Realm of Cotland
FROM: COHCENTCOM, Hirgizstan City
SUBJECT: USR INVASION



Response is duly noted. COH Forces will stay on alert. General Guerrera will prep his forces to move to the border with the USR but they will stay on base.

God be with you all.

-CENTCOM-

MESSAGE ENDS

Order of Battle
North-Eastern Defense Command


Royal Cottish Army


1. Armé

Area of Responsibility: Norway, Murmansk
Manpower: 212,000 combat soldiers
Notes: Responsible for the defense of Norway and Murmansk. Elements can be relocated to assist the 4. Armé.


1. Korps (Norway)
1. Panserdivisjon
2. Infanteridivisjon
3. Infanteridivisjon
4. Infanteridivisjon
2. Korps (Murmansk)
5. Panserdivisjon
6. Infanteridivisjon
7. Infanteridivisjon
8. Infanteridivisjon
3. Korps (Murmansk)
9. Panserdivisjon
10. Infanteridivisjon
11. Infanteridivisjon
12. Infanteridivisjon
4. Korps (Murmansk)
14. Panserdivisjon
15. Infanteridivisjon
16. Infanteridivisjon
17. Infanteridivisjon
5. Korps (Norway)
18. Fallskjermdivisjon
19. Fallskjermdivisjon
20. Fallskjermdivisjon



4. Armé

Area of Responsibility: Bjornoya, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl
Manpower: 255,000 combat soldiers
Notes: Responsible for the defense of the Bjornoyan protectorate.


19. Korps (Northern Bjornoya)
67. Panserdivisjon
68. Infanteridivisjon
69. Infanteridivisjon
70. Infanteridivisjon
20. Korps (Southern Bjornoya)
71. Panserdivisjon
72. Infanteridivisjon
73. Infanteridivisjon
74. Infanteridivisjon
21. Korps (Southern Bjornoya)
75. Panserdivisjon
76. Infanteridivisjon
77. Infanteridivisjon
78. Infanteridivisjon
22. Korps (Ivanovo)
79. Panserdivisjon
80. Infanteridivisjon
81. Infanteridivisjon
82. Infanteridivisjon
23. Korps (Kostroma)
83. Panserdivisjon
84. Infanteridivisjon
85. Infanteridivisjon
86. Infanteridivisjon
24. Korps (Bjornoya)
87. Fallskjermdivisjon
88. Fallskjermdivisjon
89. Fallskjermdivisjon


Infanterdivisjon (Infantry Division)
Personnel (crew): 6,592
Personnel (dismounts): 5,022
M19A2 Brobygger AVBL: 24
M20A2 Samaritan ARV: 72
M22A1 Deployer MDV: 24
M22A2 Deployer MCV: 48
M24A1 Grizzly II BV: 48
M50A4 Invader CEV: 96
M51A2 Sabertooth MBT: 160
M52A2 Haubits SPH: 96
M54A2 Boar MLRS ART: 36
M55A1 Rescuer AMEV: 6
M55A2 Rescuer AMTV: 2
M57A1 Bulldozer ACE: 72
M58A1 Resupply RSV: 96
M63A1 ASV: 4
M64A1 Shadow LMV: 38
M64A2 Shadow MEV: 8
M64A3 Shadow CC: 4
M65A1 Arrow APC: 4
M65A2 Arrow C4I: 3
M65A3 Arrow ADU: 4
M66A1 Skjold AT: 96
M66A2 Skjold ADU: 48
M67 HEMTT: 236
M68 MTV: 342
M70A1 Dragoon IFV: 434
M70A2 Dragoon ADU: 24
M70A3 Dragoon C4I: 16
H-11/A Reaper: 64
H-25/A Super Huey: 64
H-28/B Lakota: 24
Q-38/A Shadow: 16
V-51/A Bulldog: 32

Panserdivisjon (Armored Division)
Personnel (crew): 6,236
Personnel (dismounts): 3,390
M19A2 Brobygger AVBL: 24
M20A2 Samaritan ARV: 72
M22A1 Deployer MDV: 24
M22A2 Deployer MCV: 48
M24A1 Grizzly II BV: 48
M50A4 Invader CEV: 96
M51A2 Sabertooth MBT: 224
M52A2 Haubits SPH: 96
M54A2 Boar MLRS ART: 36
M55A1 Rescuer AMEV: 6
M55A2 Rescuer AMTV: 2
M57A1 Bulldozer ACE: 72
M58A1 Resupply RSV: 96
M63A1 ASV: 4
M64A1 Shadow LMV: 38
M64A2 Shadow MEV: 8
M64A3 Shadow CC: 4
M65A1 Arrow APC: 4
M65A2 Arrow C4I: 3
M65A3 Arrow ADU: 4
M66A1 Skjold AT: 96
M66A2 Skjold ADU: 48
M67 HEMTT: 236
M68 MTV: 342
M70A1 Dragoon IFV: 230
M70A2 Dragoon ADU: 24
M70A3 Dragoon C4I: 16
H-11/A Reaper: 64
H-25/A Super Huey: 64
H-28/B Lakota: 24
Q-38/A Shadow: 16
V-51/A Bulldog: 32

Fallskjermdivisjon (Paratrooper Division)
Personnel (crew): 4,731
Personnel (dismounts): 7,736
M68A4 MTV: 529
M68A12 MTV: 40
M68A16 MTV: 96
M71A1 LW155 ART: 144
M74A1 CMPLV: 148
M74A2 CMPLV: 216
M74A3 CMPLV: 644


Royal Cottish Navy (Royal Marines)


Manpower: 52,375 combat soldiers
Notes: Elite fighting soldiers, but based near the coast. May be deployed to assist the Army if necessary.
Marineinfanteriregiment (Naval Infantry Regiment): 21


Marineinfanteriregiment (Naval Infantry Regiment)
Personnel (crew): 568
Personnel (dismounts): 1,926
M50A2 Invader C4I: 11
M50A4 Invader IFV: 68
M50A5 Invader CEV: 2
M55A1 Rescuer AMEV: 1
M68A4 MTV: 3
M68A6 MTV: 1
M68A7 MTV: 1
M74A1 CMPLV: 32
M74A2 CMPLV: 14
M74A3 CMPLV: 32
M75A1 Scimitar LBT: 32
M76A1 Striker AT: 16
M77A1 Berger ARRV: 2


Royal Cottish Air Force


3. Air Group

Area of Responsibility: Murmansk, Bjornoya, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Yaroslavl
Manpower: 7,826 pilots, 57,790 logistics
Notes: Operates all over the Area of Responsibility, but is concentrated in southern Bjornoya (20 min flying time from the fighting)

Air Control Wing: 6
Bomb Wing (Heavy): 3
Bomb Wing (Tactical): 2
Electronic Warfare Wing: 4
Fighter Wing (Interceptor): 8
Fighter Wing (Multirole): 13
Fighter Wing (Tactical): 1
Ground Attack Wing: 5
Logistics Wing (Tanker): 2
Logistics Wing (Strategic): 2
Logistics Wing (Tactical): 2

Aircraft
A-28/C Hammer: 180
AC-64/A Slegge: 40
B-40/A Grevling: 96
B-43/C Incubus: 144
C-11/B Super Globemaster: 96
C-12/J Super Hercules: 96
C-15/A Kondor: 72
E-3/A Bataleur: 18
E-17/B Gulfstream: 22
EF-20/E Enforcer: 32
EP-34/C Super Aries: 16
F-20/A Enforcer: 1,170
F-23/A Super Falcon: 12
F-23/B Super Falcon: 6
F-25/A Typhoon: 720
K-11/A Robin: 72
V-50/C Coba: 96


Strategic Missile Forces

Static Tactical Missile Sites (MGM.6 Imsdal - 5. Tactical Missile Group):8
Mobile Tactical Missile Sites (MGM.6 Imsdal/MGM.7 Voodoo - 12. Tactical Missile Group): 8


Air Defenses

Medium-Range Missile Sites (MAM.38 Sverd): 162 (72 in Bjornoya)
Long-Range Missile Sites (MAM.32 Replicator): 81 (36 in Bjornoya)
Anti-Ballistic Missile Sites (MAM.30 AABMS): 18 (7 in Bjornoya)


Home Guard


Area of Responsibility: Bjornoya, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl
Manpower: 1,400,000 reservists
Notes: All units can be fully mobilized and ready to fight within four hours - all units are in the process of being mobilized

11. HV-Armé
37. HV-Korps Bjornoya
38. HV-Korps Bjornoya
39. HV-Korps Bjornoya
40. HV-Korps Bjornoya
12. HV-Armé
41. HV-Korps Bjornoya
42. HV-Korps Bjornoya
43. HV-Korps Bjornoya
44. HV-Korps Bjornoya
14. HV-Armé
45. HV-Korps Yaroslavl
46. HV-Korps Ivanovo
47. HV-Korps Ivanovo
48. HV-Korps Yaroslavl
15. HV-Armé
49. HV-Korps Yaroslavl
50. HV-Korps Kostroma
51. HV-Korps Kostroma
52. HV-Korps Kostroma


HV-Korps
Personnel (crew): 30,616
Personnel (dismounts): 54,192
M64A1 Shadow LMV: 1,392
M64A2 Shadow MEV: 216
M64A3 Shadow CC: 1,296
M65A1 Arrow APC: 4,420
M65A2 Arrow C4I: 472
M68 MTV: 2,832
M71A1 LW155 ART: 1,152
M72A1 Namtaru LBT: 504

Hawdawg ECRF Forward Command

As the real-time data clearly showed the USR troops attacking the Cottish defenders inside Kostroma. A plan of action was drafted and the numerous bases holding different elements of the Hawdawg ECRF Forces sprang into action. Two Light Calvary Regiments and two Airmobile Brigades were put on notice they would soon be entering into the fray. All groups would be operation-ready within 6 hours to assist the defense of the territory.

ECRF Composition

ECRF Reinforced Airmobile Brigade (2)
(1) Airmobile HHC 148
(1) Airmobile Combat Eng 367
(1) Airmobile Intel 129
(1) Airmobile Artillery 415
(1) Airmobile Rotary Air 1838
(1) Airmobile Logistics 584
(3) Airmobile Infantry 2340

Total Personnel 5821

ECRF Light Cavalry Regiment (2)
(1) HHT Troop 37
(1) Engineer Company 188
(1) Intel Company 35
(1) Logistics Company 328
(1) Air Defense Battery 395
(1) Aviation Squadron 680
(3) Light Cavalry Battalion 1770
(3) Mechanized Infantry 2757
(1) Light Artillery 592

Total Personnel 6782


Light Cavalry Regiment

162xPuma IFV
24xM1129 Stryker Mortar Carrier
144xStingray III LT
36xM1134 Stryker ATGM
36xM2015 Lancer LTH
10xHIMARS
18xSAH-33A Svyatogor Attack Helicopter
8xAvenger ADU
10xHUMRAAM
5xSkymer SAM
5xGrendel SAM
Various Trucks and supply vehicles


Airmobile Brigade

8xM1126 Stryker ICV
4xM1130 Stryker CV
6xEH-60 EW
18xM2015 Lancer LTH
6xHIMARS
36xLV-08 Avenger ADU
16xFryer SAARM
16xFAADV
18xHUMRAAM
36xSAH-33A Svyatogor Attack Helicopter
18xUH-102 Kestrel
18xEH-101 Merlin HC Mk.3
18xCH-61 Atlas
75xMMPWV LV-08
12xAvenger FAADV

OOC: It seems silly for me to get involved at this time since I am going on vacation from tomorrow through Monday and I will be out of state. There are Layartebian forces in Cottish land. I've uploaded them here (http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Nation-States/Files/Documents/fdct.pdf) and they'll obviously take part in the battle and I'll let Cotland RP with them until I get back. I am sure he is adept to most of my tactics so the oldies can work here. My "new" tactics will just have to wait but I'm sure I'll be fine with what I have there. I'll keep the foreign legion away for now since I haven't "RP'd" with them yet so they're tactics have not been displayed yet so there is no precedent to work off of making it difficult. However, I'll post this one post for now just to set things up so it doesn't come out of left field.

The Soviet attack on sovereign Cottish territory in Kostroma was a surprise to the Empire. Intelligence channels showed that the Soviets had not geared down fully from Sunfall or Rising Sun but an attack was not high on the list of possible actions. Still, it had happened and, immediately, all Layartebian elements in Cottish territory, except naval forces, were moved into positions in Vologda to fight for the Cottish forces. Layartebian military elements were sent at the request of the Cottish government and they would take part in the retaliatory responses against the Soviets. The lack of a response from GSO meant that this could be a singulary action committed by the USR alone. That had to be entertained and, as such, as Layartebian military forces moved up to REDCON 3 but were careful not to spark any hostilities towards other GSO nations. Naturally, borders were reinforced but this was not like Sunfall. There was no "headfake" going on here just a cautionary build-up of a purely defensive nature. If this was a full plan by GSO it would countermine everything that Rising Sun had worked for but it was too early to tell, much too early.

Since the Empire had no relations with the USR, sending any type of communication would be pointless as it would force the Empire to issue some level of recognition to the USR, something it had no desire to do. Instead, the Empire let the Hirgizstanians and Hawdawgians and Cottish talk. The statement issued by the Grand Duche was excellent and the Empire had little to offer that hadn't already been said.

While Layartebian forces reinforced the border between Kostroma and Vologda, the battle lines shifted, swayed, and buckled. Soviet forces were adept, capable, and trained. They were ready to fight and they were willing to fight. Their will would be the only thing they had against the superiorly matched Cottish forces, which had turned themselves into a wall. Kostroma was definitely the hotspot of the world. The Empire had a simple battle plan, keep the Soviet forces from entering Vologda and repel them from Kostroma, if necessary, and ensure that the status quo was reinstated. Anything else was, for now, secondary.

In Trensk, another group was concerned, the Council of Trensk, a secret group manipulating Trensk under a masqerade that the King was alive yet not taking any visitors decided to meet, only 3 of the members however could spare the time, to eachother they were only known as 'Alpha' who was an older man, a highly skilled and influencial Buisnessman around 60-70 years of age, he was the leader of the council, 'Delta' who was a 40-somthing year old general, a veteren of the Trensk revolution and overseeing the defenses of Trensk, especially Russia-Trensk, and finally, 'Omega', the last but not least of the group, a man in his mid-twenties who was a highly ranking Intelligence Officer, he was high enough to have control of all Intelligence Operatives in area's in and around the Russian Territories.

They met via Video-Phone like those in intelligence used to contact field agents via Wrist-Video-Communicator.

'Alpha' spoke first in a strong and firm voice "It seems the USR and our old friend Cotland have gotten into a spat." he stated calmly, Omega chuckled and nodded his head, his face was hidden by the light from behind, casting a shadow on his face and body that hid his distinguishable features like the others were before he spoke in a slightly amused tone.

"Indeed Alpha, i have just received word from an Agent on the field that Hawdawg is mobilizing a force of some sort to join in the fray, unfortunately i have been unable to find out how many exactly there are and when they would arrive." he chuckled out before turning silent, letting Delta speak, the 40-somthing year old veteren sighed and nodded.

"Indeed, just incase i have strengthened the Border guard again to 2 Million Fighting men which are stationed in outposts along the border, ready to snap at a moment's notice, the Airforce also has 3 Squadrons of Sukhoi Su-35's as well as 2 squadrons of Mikoyan MiG-35's ready to move in just incase of air-attack, all they need is the order to move and they will intercept, their currently located in an airbase 2 miles away from the Borderline." he stated, Alpha nodded and spoke once again, speaking his decision of what action they'll take.

"We shall wait fornow and see if it becomes a concern for us, should it interefere with our Russian holdings then we will take care of the problem...Meeting Adjourned." he briskly spoke before disconnecting, with that the other two member's also disconnected...

Hawdawg ECRF Base Northwest of Sharya

After the initial order from Hawdawg ECRF Command to assist the Cottish in defense of the territory. Roughly seven hours had passed and all units had assembled to begin there assault on the invading forces. The fog of war had settled onto the territory and it was truely unclear exactly where the enemy forces were advancing from. Colonel George Newsmith leaned against the hood of his LV-08 as random gunfire could be heard to the south in the city of Sharya. As he chomped the end of his cigar he issued his orders as he pointed to the map of the city.

"Gentlemen we have a situation here for sure. It appears that an attack is well underway in Sharya. While it isn't clear which faction has invaded, it is clear what our mission will be. We are to assist the Cottish Forces to repel any advance into this Oblast. Today we stop them at Sharya. I want our Svyatogor's airborne as soon as possible we have 5 clicks to cover and I don't want any enemy force flanking our advance. I have put in a request for an AIR-CAP from the Cottish Air Force. We have to assume they will provide us cover, just in case they are occupied keep our Avenger ADU's spread out throughtout our advance should we need to engage an enemy aircraft. We will drive into town and reinforce whatever elements of the Cottish Military we encounter. Let's move out."

As soon as the Colonel finished his instructions to his subordinates the Attack Helicopter squadron took to the air to cover the slow advance south. The Stingray III Light Tank would lead this push flanked by M1134 Stryker's armed with ATGM's a mix of Javelin variants and TOW systems. Following the Armored portion of the Regiment were the newest addition to the Hawdawg IFV family the venerable PUMA. Trailing slightly to the rear was the Artillery Support portion of the regiment packed with HIMARS and M2015 Lancer LTH's. As they advanced on towards Sharya, Colonel Newsmith fired up his BATNET system and began to transmit a message to the Cottish Forces in the area.
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Encrypted Message Cottish Forces

Lt. Cavalry Regiment 125th ECRF moving SE towards Sharya. We will attempt to link up with whatever elements are in Sharya. We request an AIR-CAP for our advance. Our Attack Helicopters are inbound to clear out an resistance to our advance.

-Colonel Newsmith

Official ORBAT

Federation's GSO Peacekeeping Regiment:


2nd Gvardia:

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Guards Infantry Division:
# in the 2nd Gvardia: 5
men: 8000
SIV-25: 400
LV-08PVNS: 500
MT-LB: 500
BTR-T: 600
BMP-T: 400
ZSU Shilka: 400
2s25 SPRUT: 250
G11/A Armed Reconnaissance Vehicle: 200
G11/B 80mm Self-Propelled Mortar: 100
G11/E 80mm Automatic Mortar: 20
Trucks: 1010


Guards A/R Division:
# in the 2nd Gvardia: 3
men: 1600
155mm Incinérateur Rapid Firing Artillery Gun: 180
Corbulo Self-Propelled 155mm Field Gun: 120
YU.13 Gargantel Self-Propelled Howitzer:100
G17 240mm Self Propelled Mortar: 80
TOS-1: 200
2a36 Giatsint-B: 100
Nona-K: 100
Sprut-B Antitank Gun: 100
M-46 130-mm Towed Gun: 100
G11/C Artillery Command Vehicle: 20
Trucks/heavier transporting vehicles: 560

Guards Tank Division:
# in the 2nd Gvardia: 4
men: 3000
Arca IV Nakíl/Nakíl (1) Main Battle Tank: 420

PVV Battalion:
# in the 2nd Gvardia: 8
men: 1410
SPAA-1 [Sel Propeic Anti-Avianet] Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Vehicle:300
Praetorian II PVNS Missile Battery: 120
ZSU Shilka: 120
S-400 surface to air systems: 5
Trucks/Heavier Transporting Vehicles: 480

Totals:
Combatants: 68080
Logistics: 34791

Available Air Support:

7th and 9th Air attack divisions
3rd and 15th Ground Attack divisions

The Major General in command of the defense sector around Sharya and officer commanding the 86. Infanteridivisjon looked at the tactical display in his command vehicle, which was moving along the six-lane highway somewhere in eastern Kostroma, towards the battle. The Cottish mobilization plans and training was paying off, as the many vehicles of his division were racing towards various positions around villages and cities in the territory along the well-built and maintained highways in speeds approaching 90 kilometers per hour, much to the cheers and waves of the civilians that were moving along the highway in the other direction, towards the relative safety of Yaroslavl or Vologda.

It seemed to the General that the Hawdawgians were in the process of deploying to the AO, something which could complicate matters. Still, the forces had been in the area as peacekeepers along the Cottish forces since the early days of the reestablishment of the righteous rulers of the territories, and not using them would be foolish. Since they were in the area there the 86. had their primary AO, the forces fell under the command of the Cottish Major General. Looking at the message he recieved from the Hawdawgians, the General looked at the tactical map before making his decision. The lines along the northern parts of Sharya were a little thin, and could need reinforcements.

Encrypted Message via StridsNett

Negative. 125th ECRF ordered to link up with KG 2/86 INF N-NW of Sharya and deploy as barrier to prevent enemy from escaping to north or west. Air CAP en route, six F-20 Enforcer, callsign BORIS 2-1. Contact CO/86 upon uplink with KG 2/86.

The orders were simple. Proceed northwards and link up with elements of Kampgruppe 2 of the 86. Infanteridivisjon, and follow them to Sharya where they would deploy as a barrier force to prevent the enemy from getting out of the city. The Hawdawgians were to contact the Major General when they had made contact with the Cottish force.

Meanwhile, the main elements of Kampgruppe 4 were approaching the city, the tanks and IFVs taking the lead. Two and a half kilometers out, the thermal sights of the M70A1 Dragoons made first contact with an enemy infantry force that was advancing towards the city. It was time to exact some payback.

"Kontakt, fiendtlig infanteri. To tusen fem hundre og tretti-tre meter!" [Contact, enemy infantry. Two thousand thirty-three meters!]

"Ild!" [Fire!] The vehicle commander said, sticking his body just far enough out to cock the heavy L112A1 heavy machine gun that had been mounted on a ring mount, allowing it to be traversed 360 degrees around to provide heavy MG fire against the enemy.

The gunner pressed the trigger for less than a second, firing off four 35x228mm HE projectiles at a speed of 1,175 meters per second. Having fired, the gunner quickly found a new target and fired another burst before he repeated the process, being joined by the other armored vehicles. Just over two seconds later, the first cannon rounds would hit their marks and kill the enemy.

Revving up their engines, the IFVs moved forward, firing their chainguns, the co-axial 7.62 millimeter machine gun and the vehice commander's 12.7 millimeter machine gun. Against larger concentrations of enemies, they used the small internal 60 millimeter mortar, but only against the larger concentrations because of the limited ammunition they had for it - only seven rounds. In addition, against RPG teams within range, they used the Mk.400 Active Denial System which was a non-lethal weapon that caused a burning sensation in the skin, making it impossible for the enemy to fight while they were within the sights of the Mk.400.

Adding further to the confusion, the Cottish deployed smoke grenades to cover their exact location, making it more difficult for any enemy with an anti-tank missile to get a good lock on the Cottish vehicles. The intention of the Cottish were to get into the city and deploy the infantry to assist the Home Guard, which was taking heavy casualties against the USR paratroopers, in kicking the enemy out.

From Vologda, Layartebian fighters were well within striking range of Kostroma. Soviet advances were, thus far, slow, thanks to a resounding effort by the Cottish and other allies of the October Alliance. The Layartebian response had been, partly, slower than the others but it would also be just as pummelling. Soviet surface-to-air systems were deadly and accurate, especially their S-400 systems. F-32 Foxhounds armed with Dodsengel, LRAAAM, and Escape missiles were flying around Vologda doing barrier CAP but, thus far, they had been unopposed since the Cottish aircraft were also flying further to the south.

Until the S-400 threat could be fully neutralized, Layartebian aircraft had to act carefully and cautiously. F-35 Ravens and F-31 Tornado GAVs would be flying SEAD at the first. Equipped with AGM-88F AARGM missiles, two per Raven and four per Tornado, the twelve aircraft were bringing thirty-six AARGM missiles, which were extremely potent and capable. They could fly up to one hundred miles with a prebriefed target and some would be, based on data received from Cottish aircraft flying around Kostroma. Each site would get two missiles fired at it and the missiles would all be fired from maximum range, using lofted profiles, allowing them to fly high enough that they could maximize range and speed but also stay out of range of powerful low-altitude air defense systems, which could shoot down one or two of the supersonic missiles.

The aircraft could, in effect, launch their missiles from the border of Kostroma and Vologda. Six of each type took off behind the cover of twelve F-32s and twelve F-31 Tornado ADVs, all flying barrier CAP along the border, and proceeded to their launch points. Some of their missiles would be fired in opportunity mode, which would allow for the missiles to seek their own targets. As the S-400s blinked their radars, the AARGM would lock onto it with its HARM sensor, generate GPS coordinates, and fly towards the site. It primarily aimed for the radar but if the radar was switched off it could use a millimetric wave radar to seek and destroy the command vehicle of the site.

Colonel Newsmith halted his forces when he received the Encrypted message for the Major General at Cottish Command. As he studied his real-time map on his on-board computer system in his Command Puma CFV he typed a message for his subordinates in his unit to read.

Message recieved from Cottish Major General we must turn N-NW and link up with the KG 2/86. We will bolster there defenses in the area and eliminate an area of escape to the North and West of the City.

As the message popped up on screens throughout the vehicles in the unit, slowly the group turned N-NW at an intersecting highway and began to move towards the assumed position of the KG 2/86. Roughly thirty minutes after the strategic left turn, Colonel Newsmith's BATNET system began to recieve various "blips" triangulated from the Radar of the Svyatogor Attack Helicopter squadron overhead. Something was closing in the distance. It had to be the KG 2/86 moving at that speed. He halted his force and sent out his message via BATNET.

KG 2/86 this is 125th Hawdawg ECRF, over. Requesting permission to link with your unit, over. Be advised we have not made contact with BORIS 2-1, and we have our own Squadron of Svyatogor's providing medium range coverage, call sign DOG-9.

After a second or two of no response he instructed his second to extend the SATCOM antennae at the rear of his PUMA CFV and repeated the call. This would extend the range of the communication and hopefully into Cottish earshot. He would wait to contact the CO until he saw the Cott's with his own eyes.

KG 2/86, or Kampgruppe 2 of the 86. Infanteridivisjon as it was known to those not too familiar with military terminology, was holding positions some fifty kilometers west of Sharya when the radio in one of the unit's two M70A2 Dragoon command vehicles picked up the Hawdawgian transmission. After getting in touch with the oberstløytnant (Lieutenant Colonel) in command of the unit, who sat in the other M70A2, the Hawdawgian signals were identified and added to StridsNett, the datalink system that allowed the Cottish commanders to see exactly where their units were and where targets were, allowing for quick and accurate fire to be deployed, or orders to be relayed quickly and securely.

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M70A2 Dragoon command vehicle

With the sudden addition of the Hawdawgians, the nine air defense vehicles organic to the unit immediately stepped down their tracking of the unidentified aerial contacts, returning their MAM.42/A Valkyrie IIR-guided short-range air defense missiles to passive status. This was the only visible sign that the Hawdawgians had been identified as friends, as the Cottish armored vehicles and dismounted infantry maintained their defensive positions around the temporary command post.

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M70A1 Dragoon IFV in position

Inside the command post, the oberstløytnant finally got on the radio over the encrypted datalink to the Hawdawgians.

"This is Kilo Golf 2 Actual. Permission to link up is granted. You should see us in your tactical displays by now. Has just been informed that BORIS 2-1 had to take care of a few advancing commies near Sharya before they could help us out. Do you require immediate CAP, over?"

Colonel Newsmith quickly responded.

Roger Kilo Golf 2. BORIS 2-1 is not needed at this time. We had a feedback incident that provided a false echo. Our ETA is 5 minutes. Slowly the 125th moved into the Cottish position careful to not disturb the defensive positions already established earlier in the day.

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As Colonel Newsmith pulled his PUMA into the Cottish Lines he signaled the driver to pull aside so he could ask for the Commanding Officer. His Helicopter Squadron had found a small clearing behind the defensive position the Cot's had established and all but two began to land to refuel. Once they had refueled they would begin to prowl the area for advancing enemy forces.

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The Colonel swung open his hatch and stood up on top of his IFV. He motioned to a young scrappy looking Cottish Soldier standing close to the road.

Private were is the CP and more importantly were can I find the CO of this outfit?

As the soldier pointed towards the crest of the hill a well-hidden mobile command center could be faintly made out under a large woodland net. Colonel Newsmith slung his HK416-D10RS over his shoulder and bounded to the ground. He walked briskly up the hill and introduced himself to the group of NOCOMS standing outside the CP.

Hello men, I am Colonel Newsmith of the 125th HECRF. I am supposed to your CO once we arrived, can one of you gentlemen kindly take me to him?

The small group of Cottish sergeants were having a quiet but intense discussion of what the hell was going on and why the hell they were just standing around while others were dying just a few kilometers down the road when the Hawdawgian colonel arrived. The men turned to face him, but didn't salute - it was Cottish practice that when in the field of battle, one didn't salute. One of the higher-ranking sergeants just nodded and motioned for the colonel to follow him, too upset to be able to keep civil. All the Cottish soldiers were, understandably, pissed off at the invasion of their territory, and wanted nothing more than to kill as many Soviets as possible.

The sergeant took the colonel over to the CP, where he just pointed to the four officers standing around a map, pointing and discussing the best avenues of approach, before he left. The Cottish CO looked up and sized the Hawdawgian up before nodded to him, having accepted the man as a person not to be messed with.

"Lieutenant Colonel Jan Rubikon, commanding officer of this outfit. I take it you're the guy we've been told to wait for?"

Colonel Newsmith followed the obviously stressed NONCOM to the Lt. Colonel in charge of the unit. As both men sized each other up it was clear they were all about the business at hand, Colonel Newsmith was anxious to get to dirty work. He unshouldered his HK416 and placed it on the hood of the Jeep to shake the Lt. Colonel's hand.

Hello Lt. Colonel Rubikon Colonel Newsmith of the 125th. Sorry you were waiting on us, we had a few mobilization issues we had to iron out earlier in the day. The good news I bring is that we encountered none of those Soviet Bastards in the 7 clicks we traveled to get to this position. My Force is at your leisure Lt. Colonel Rubikon where do you need us and what is the SITREP? I haven't heard any news from our other ECRF Forces to the North, nor have I heard anything out of Sharya.

Oblt. Rubikon sighed as he motioned for the Hawdawgian Colonel to come over to the large map that was spread out on the forest ground. A few small flags and markers were on the map, showing the approximate positions of the Cottish and enemy forces - these were constantly updated by a soldier watching the realtime tactical maps inside the M70A2.

"As you can see, we're pretty much trying to bog the enemy down at Sharya and at the border. As far as our intel goes, elements of the fifty-second Home Guard Corps is holding the city of Sharya, and they are going to be reinforced by the fourth battlegroup of my division. The Home Guard in Sharya are taking heavy casualties though, so we've been ordered to reinforce them ASAP. As for the border, we've got two full divisions, the eighty-third armored and eighty-fifth infantry, on their way to kick out the enemy. The Air Force are making piecemeal of their air force and bombing the living daylights out of the advancing enemy as far as I've been told, but they're meeting fierce resistance. Apparently, the Soviet bastards are hellbent on taking our territories."

Rubikon paused as a messenger came and gave Rubikon a note. Rubikon nodded and said a few words in Cottish before he returned his attention to Newsmith, adjusting the L104A6 pistol on his hip before continuing.

"Right. Battlegroup four has reached Sharya and have engaged the enemy, but they're reporting that the enemy is out in mass and that they will require reinforcements soon. So, that's our new job. We're here," Rubikon said, pointing to a point on the map northeast of Manturovo. "And we need to get here, to Sharya. We're going to have to cross the bridge here, and it's imperative that we get there before the enemy has the chance to blow it. If we don't, we've got to wait for the combat engineers to come to bridge the gap, and they're on the other side of the Unzha river. With that said, the good part is that whatever forces are attacking Sharya are on their own. The entire eighty-third and eighty-fifth divisions are already between them and the border along with a few hundred thousand men from the Home Guard. What I want your men to do is to strengthen our right flank and flank the enemy when we get to Sharya. Prepare your men for some tough urban combat. Any questions?"

Excellent Sir, just a second.

Colonel Newsmith pulled out his Palm Pilot as a message flashed across the screen. He quickly typed in a response and then addressed Rubikon.

My Attack Squadron has finished refueling and are ready to get airborne, call sign DOG-2 is at your disposal. To make things easier on the com. our call sign for the 125th is JAVA-125. I wanted to point out one thing Lt. Colonel just between me and you. My unit isn't equipped to take any POW's into custody. I don't have a detachment of Military Police in my unit and I will not degrade my combat force with babysitting duty. So as far as I am concerned everyone that had a weapon has a weapon and is will become a combat casuality. Now with that said, I am ready to move on Sharya you can take the lead and we will follow.

OOC: Sorry for the dissapearance here, I have alot to do for today and tommorrow so can we put this on hold for this time? I wont be near a computer so any RPing you do wont be read and I would like to have a small amount to read when I get back, thanks everyone.

"Perfectly understandable," Rubikon said. "I don't have any MPs either, but there are various MP companies already deployed to help direct the traffic of the thousands of army vehicles out on the road by now. They can handle whatever we take of POWs, although I won't take any if they don't clearly surrender themselves. It's unlikely though. From what I've been told, Sharya's under attack by paras, and if they have even a fraction of the self-discipline and sense of honor that Cottish paras have, they won't surrender unless it's absolutely necessary."

He said that last bit with a smirk. To the men of the infantry, the paras were too arrogant. After all, it's better to have a few centimeters of vehicle armor than a NCS Mk.III vest between you and the bullets.

"Now, if you're ready, we should move out. Battlegroup two goes under the callsign Hotel, with Hotel Six being the command group, namely me. Hotel Blue, Red, Yellow and Green is the infantry troops, Hotel Black is the tank company, Hotel Grey is the air defense detachment, Hotel White is the artillery battery, and Hotel Brown is the logistics detachment. Battlegroup four is the same color coding, only with Trumpet instead of Hotel."

Will do Lt. Colonel, good hunting sir.

Colonel Newsmith turned about and headed for his PUMA IFV, in two bounds he was on top. He took a moment to glance at the assembled force, soon he would be part of a group that would bring death and destruction to the Soviet Forces. As he sat in his seat he carefully typed in the instructions into his BATNET system, making sure all the details of the mission at hand including GPS waypoints, known intel and links to the Cottish RT data were readily available to his Unit. Everyone within a combat vehicle and all NONCOM's and officers instantly recieved the message. The table was set, now all was needed were the dinner guests. Playing the flanker for the Cottish forces wasn't as glamorious as leading the charge into the fray, but it did offer up ample opportunities to cripple an attacking force, particularly if MBT's were leading the Soviet Attack. The Lt. Cavalry Unit was adept at improvising tactics to fit a scenario. This would play out like so many training missions before, this time the bullets and the blood would be for real.

The small HQ established a mile out from the main battle was becoming home to the high commanders who dropped in with the para forces. They were rushing back and forth, glad they wernt in the fight but dissapointed to be dropped in with an almost unprepared group of soldiers for the kind of fighting they would encounter. Of course the fighting wasn't suppose to go this way and the reinforcements from the border were making very slow movements inland due to the artillary bombardments and bombing raids by both the cottish ground and air forces. The skies were constant streams of jet lines from allied planes who took upon the job of protecting the invasion force, though with enemy SAM's targetting them they would do more good staying out of the sky. MiG-71's would replace the 29's but even with the more advance fighters the enemy SAM's seemed to penetrate the stealth and eliminate many of the newly built 71's before they were even broken in.

The commanders on the field were scrambling to figure out a way to take Sharya without loosing many more of there men, the radio waves were cluttered with the soviet troops pleas for help and anti-armor weaponry as cottish forces rolled them over with IFV's and any other armor found in the town. Though they were being engaged by the IFV's from long ranged the damage was still the same, and not yet inside the city the troops had a hard time finding enough cover to protect themselves.

"Alright, hows the western assault looking?"

"The forces on the west bridge have moved up but are expecting major resistance from heavy armored units, they have orders to blow the bridge and cut the western lines to the city."

"That would trap them, whats there location now?"

"Near the city, by that small peninsula jetting out only a mile or two from the main city limits. Its in the river system though so getting to it may present a problem."

"Thats their orders though. Tell them to get rid of that bridge at these two points here...and here."

The two high commanders stood over a table with a large map of Sharya infront of them, the CO of the two was giving the other man the orders to relay out and as soon as they finished the man turned to a radio and began to give the orders to the men on the bridge.

"Unit 16, down the bridge. Repeat. Down the bridge. Two hits, cut the lines. Report to the lower peninsula, dubbed sector 12 and hold positions until further orders."

"Roger that command, will do."

The radio chatter stopped, the men on the bridge acted as quickly as possible laying out c4 across the bridge then in a flash a section of it fell to the shallow water below. The first hole had been made and the unit advanced up to make the second one then retreat off the bridge and into the lower city.
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The NLOS artillery units had moved near the border and were ready to move in as soon as an all clear was given, in the meantime they had been given coordinates of precieved enemy locations by the invading force and were lauching their long ranged shells toward those positions, most though were firing at the border itself to clear more of it for extra invading forces. The MRLS systems had begun to reload after a devastating attack by cottish missiles and a disooriented retreat back further from the border to prevent more cottish missiles from hitting them, though very few were hit the men that reloaded the trucks did not want to be out in the open or near the cottish border itself. The main target for the rockets would the Sharya, the northern part of the city so as to not hit soviet troops.
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The invading forces had been hurt by the cottish missile attacks but not crippled and were continuing to move in. They had lost more infantry then anything else and advanced with speed without the ground units walking beside them, the tanks were running at a steady 35 MPH and were followed by the long line of combat trucks loaded with more highly trained soldiers (The ones enlisted from militia's after the revolution). Promised to be allowed to keep a militia like style the soldiers kept the names of their groups and the leaders who led them into battle. Though even with the speed they progressed at enemy artilary and bombings presented to be a hassle and without the ability to down enemy aircraft they were left with only the option of continuing forward even after being attacked.

The Blackstyle militia made the bulk of the forces, and road in more protected Pandur type APC's which were ahead of the group though Sharya needed aide, they were headed toward a small town far from it. The Blackstyle Militia consisted of 1,200 men riding 12 in each APC ment for a large group. The specified location of the town was not known but the lead driver continued to drive like he knew where he was going.

OOC: I will add my ORBAT later tonight, I have some things to do with my BF2142 team so it may take while but expect the entire listing here soon.

[OOC: Dude, good post but a few small things you've neglected to read/address. Firstly, the SAM carpet I've got and that started shooting shortly after your attack, as described in my first post, and the massive air power I'm sending towards you, as specified in just about every major post I've made. Secondly, the fact that I've got two full divisions (the 83. Armored and the 85. Infantry) of regular army between the border and Sharya, making it highly unlikely that your militia will get though intact to Sharya, let alone the rest of your forces. Thirdly, the fact that my IFVs are engaging your people from a distance of ~2,000 meters (~1,800 yards). The last bit isn't so much a neglection or anything, just pointing it out to avoid confusion.]

[OOC: Dude, good post but a few small things you've neglected to read/address. Firstly, the SAM carpet I've got and that started shooting shortly after your attack, as described in my first post, and the massive air power I'm sending towards you, as specified in just about every major post I've made. Secondly, the fact that I've got two full divisions (the 83. Armored and the 85. Infantry) of regular army between the border and Sharya, making it highly unlikely that your militia will get though intact to Sharya, let alone the rest of your forces. Thirdly, the fact that my IFVs are engaging your people from a distance of ~2,000 meters (~1,800 yards). The last bit isn't so much a neglection or anything, just pointing it out to avoid confusion.]

OOC: Sorry, I had some project i needed to get to and just neglected to read through. Most of what I read were small sections that I thought were your military engagments and movments, guess I just skimmed to much over. Anyway, I'll get to work on changing that post but the idea of it stays the same.

So you can continue without my revisions, I'll just lay down a small bullet of main points. The fight in Sharya seems to not be effected by my neglection so mainly i'll change around the invasion force and my air cover. Basically the air cover is thin due to the SAM's, but it is still there. The NLOS artilary will be giving cover but instead of towns and villages it'll be more of the border defense, the MLRS reload state stays the same but have retreated back futher to avoid your air raids and will be firing mainly at units located by the invading forces (Under cover of our own SAM sites in Kirov and if you choose to go around, Perm SAM sites as well). The invading forces are hardly advancing and the militia forces will be headed toward towns and villaged instead to take cover from your air units instead of heading strait toward Sharya. I dont know where the nearest towns and villages are on the path but i'll look at the sattelite maps on google and see if I can find some.

In the Cottish High Command, located somewhere outside Oslo, Norway, the ongoing battles in Kostroma were commanded, observed and analyzed as they progressed. Redeployment orders for various units were issued from here, and the Rules of Engagement were being decided here. In the conference room outside the main operations room, a vast mountain hall with many monitors and displays on one of the walls and numerous operators receiving information from various listening posts, units and garrisons throughout the Realm and sorting through the information, the upper echelon of the Cottish military were assembled with General Sverre Diesen, the Commander in Chief of the Royal Cottish Military and the highest-ranking officer in the Military, second only to the King, leading the meeting. Around the table, the generals and admirals of the various branches sat, discussing the current situation in Kostroma.

”…men dersom fienden ikke gir seg og fortsetter angrepet sitt, så ser jeg ingen annen måte å effektivt stanse fiendens angrep på enn ved bruk av våre kjemiske stridsvåpen.” […but if the enemy doesn’t relent and press on with their advance, I see no other way of effectively repelling the enemy advance than through the use of our chemical weapons.] a Lieutenant General from the Air Force said, trying to get the other flag staff in the conference room to back his proposal to gas the entire border region with VX-2 nerve gas.

” De våpnene skal jo ikke brukes! Dessuten så vil det medføre enorme tap for ikke bare fienden, men og våre egne soldater, for ikke å snakke om våre sivilister som er fanget i kryssilden! [Those weapons aren’t meant to be used! Besides, it will inflict massive casualties on not only the enemy, but also on our own troops, not to mention those of our civilians who’s trapped in the crossfire!] An Admiral from the Navy objected.

”Fiendens angrep består hovedsaklig av lett væpnet og relativt dårlig utstyrt lett infanteri med minimal panserstøtte. Våre tropper er hovedsakelig i pansrede kjøretøy som er designet for å kunne motstå et gassangrep, og de er alle opptrente og utrustet med utstyr som tillater dem å kjempe i et kjemisk miljø. Bruken av kjemiske stridsvåpen er ikke bare akseptert i en krigssituasjon som den vi er engasjerte i, den er faktisk anbefalt! Sjekk selv hvis du ikke tror meg.[/size]]

The Lieutenant General sent a dossier with a single sheet of paper to the admiral who had objected. It basically stated that if a massive enemy attack on sovereign Cottish soil took place and the Cottish were fighting a purely defensive war, the use of chemical weapons was permitted.

[i]”Det er jo greit og fint, men du har enda ikke sagt noe om våre sivile i området! Hva skal de gjøre dersom vi gasser hele området?” [That’s all well and nice, but you haven’t said a word about our civilians in the area yet! What are they to do if we were to gas the entire area?] The Admiral said, not relenting.

”Vi har omtrent to tusen sivilister i det rammede området. Dette er høyst akseptable tapstall i en krigssituasjon.” [We have approximately two thousand civilians in the area in question. That’s a highly acceptable casualty rate in a war situation.] The Lieutenant General said casually.

”Du er gal! To tusen sivilister? Hva faen tror du befolkningen, og enda viktigere, våre egne soldater vil tro når de finner ut av det? For ikke å snakke om sovjeterne og russerne!” [You’re crazy! Two thousand civilians? What the fuck do you think the population, and more importantly, our own troops will think when they find out? Not to mention the Soviets and Russians!]

The Admiral was outraged and looked like he was about to strike the Lieutenant General.

”Det er nok!” [That’s enough!] General Diesen finally said, stopping the discussion before it got out of hand. He didn’t need his senior staff fighting each others. He needed them fighting the USR! ”Vi gasser ikke området. Krigen fortsetter med konvensjonelle midler med mindre fienden bruker ukonvensjonelle midler først. Jeg har snakket med Kongen, og han vil ha disse sosialistiske svinepelsene ut av Riket sitt, men han vil ha det tilbake uten ekstra stråling eller gasslukt. Dette er et standpunkt jeg er enig i. General Andressen, forflytt det tjuefjerde korps til Kostroma sammen med det tjueførste korps. General Gould, du kan begynne straffetiltakene vi diskuterte tidligere. Takk mine herrer. [We’re not gassing the area. The war proceeds with conventional means unless the enemy uses unconventionals first. I’ve spoken with the King, and he wants these socialist bastards out of his Realm, but he wants it back without extra radiation or gas smell. I tend to agree. General Anressen, transfer the Twenty-Fourth Corps to Kostroma along with the Twenty-First Corps. General Gould, you may begin the punitive actions we discussed earlier. Thank you gentlemen.]

With that, all the people in the room got up from their seats into attention as General Diesen left the conference room, remaining in that position until he was well out of the room before they relaxed and returned to their jobs.

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

An hour later, the 1. and 2. Bomb Wing (Heavy) out of Afrikanda Air Base in Murmansk started taking to the skies from the four 5,000 meter runways in the vast and highly secretive air base in the middle of Murmansk. The ninety-six B-43/C Incubus strategic bombers that took off were laden with fuel and armaments, and therefore needed close to three thousand meters to take off from the cold tarmac in Murmansk. As the aircraft got into the cruising altitude of 20,000 meters, the aircraft assembled in the squadron-sized formations of twelve aircraft each, eventually forming eight large formations that started making for Bjornoya.

Inside each aircraft, thirty-six deadly AGM.6 Imsdal SCRAMjet cruise missiles rested on a rotary launcher in each of the two bomb bays the Incubus housed, making for a total of 3,456 cruise missiles being transported to the battle. Of these, 1,728 were of the /A variant, which held a deadly penetrating warhead packed with 544 kilograms worth of high explosives; 864 were of the /C version, which held a 544 kilogram blast-fragmentation warhead packed with a total of 58,825 ten millimetre wide Depleted Uranium spheres, designed to go off and destroy RADARs, vehicles, personnel and generally cause havoc; and the remaining 864 missiles were of the /D variant, packed with 920 M74 APAM submunitions each, which was designed to devastate tanks, armoured vehicles and infantry on the battlefield. The aircraft were in other words packed with devastating firepower, and were to be used to maximum efficiency against the enemy.

Flying over southern Bjornoya, well inside Cottish airspace and far from the battlefield, the Incubus’ reached the engagement zone and did the final checks on the weapons and target co-ordinates before checking in with the wing commanders, who in turn checked in with High Command and got the final green light to open fire. Passing the word along to the various aircraft, the countdown began. Finally reaching zero, the bombardiers opened the bomb bay doors and pressed the fire button. In the bomb bays, the first missile was released from the launcher and freefell for a moment before the booster kicked in and propelled the missile forwards and upwards. A second later, the second missile followed as the rotary launcher released and rotated, released and rotated. All over the airspace near the city of Azult, the Incubus’ released their deadly payload.

The missiles flew straight up to an altitude of 45,000 meters and levelled off, flying at a calm Mach 4.8 as the SCRAMjet propelled them towards their targets. With their missiles fired, the Incubus’ returned to Afrikanda. Over Sharya, the missiles split into several groups, with the majority of the AGM.6/D Imsdals starting a steep dive towards the border where the enemy were crossing over into Cottish territory, releasing their deadly payload over the enemy. With each missile covering 109,728 square meters worth of territory, and with in excess of eight hundred missiles hitting the area at the terminal velocity of Mach 7, there was no place to hide for the enemy infantry and vehicles. Many would most likely never know what had killed them due to the sheer speed and accuracy of the Cottish munitions.

Another group, consisting of the rest of the /Ds and many of the /Cs headed for the positions of the enemy MLRS and artillery units, guided in by constantly updated information gathered from Cottish and allied satellites and the few reconnaissance UAVs that survived the journey past the enemy aircraft and air defenses. These missiles also steeply descended on the enemy positions, homing in on the familiar shapes and IR signatures of the enemy vehicles of war before detonating. Casualties were almost guaranteed to be massive.

The rest of the missiles, mostly /A missiles and the remaining /C missiles, making for a total of 1,728 AGM.6/A Imsdals and 326 AGM.6/C Imsdals were heading for the enemy air defense network and command and control sites, attacking enemy air defense and navigation RADARs, command posts and SAM sites. The launch of these missiles was timed to strike their targets simultaneously, hopefully causing massive confusion for the enemy. The exception was the ten AGM.6/A Imsdals that were flying straight for Kirovsk, the capital of the USR. These missiles were heading for a target that was in the extremes of their range, and one of the missiles had a technical breakdown while en route, causing it to crash to the ground and self-destruct in a USR building. The rest of the missiles reached Kirovsk without incident though, and headed for their targets, namely the defense ministry, Kurstrovitz’ office, and Vitaly Hall, with three missiles hitting each target, penetrating the building before detonating, causing great destruction and making the ground tremble.

Twenty minutes after the missiles had hit, an open communiqué was sent to the USR leadership. It was also distributed per leaflets on shorter-ranged, converted tactical ballistic missiles that were too antiquated to be used for any other purpose than for targets or leaflet distribution, sending it well within the USR.

The Realm has just shown its capabilities of hitting
targets accurately from a great distance. We demand the
immediate surrender of USR forces currently in and near
Kostroma, which is a sovereign part of the Realm of
Cotland, or we shall continue our retaliatory strikes against
the USR. Should the USR leadership decline our demand
for surrender, we strongly urge the civilian populace of
Kirovsk and other major USR cities to evacuate
immediately. We take no responsibility for any collateral
damage caused should the USR leadership decline our
demand.

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

In Sharya, the Cottish were heavily engaged in war against light infantry. With the entirety of the 86. Infanteridivisjon in or near Sharya along with elements of the 52. HV-Korps of the Home Guard, who were deploying to Sharya to help their brethren in arms who were holding the city. The IFVs and tanks were manoeuvring, using their increased manoeuvrability to keep the enemy at bay with their chainguns, cannons and machine guns, inflicting damages while taking mild damages themselves. Fighting hard, two battlegroups were moving into the city itself from an unattacked sector, moving through the streets and dismounting their infantry near the front lines. In one street, a squad of Home Guard infantry were pinned down by USR paratroopers and certain to die when two Dragoon IFVs suddenly emerged, firing their machine guns and mighty chainguns at the enemy, killing several and making the rest duck for cover while dismounting their infantry, who hunted down and killed the enemy, using their SOLDAT-2000 equipment and deadly rifles to great effect. SOLDAT-2000 was basically an improved version of the venerable Land Warrior equipment, and issued to every infantryman of the Cottish Army and Royal Marines. It helped the soldier fight, and made him far superior to an infantryman without the equipment. Add to that a L114A4 Enhanced Carbine firing the deadly 6.8x51mm LDC round and good training, and you have an infantryman to fear. A total of sixteen were hammering down on the enemy in that street.

The Home Guard had taken massive casualties though. Of the 2,500 troops that had begun fighting in the city, some 1,700 were dead or wounded. The remaining 700 were reinforced by the 85., which numbered 11,614 men, and the 52. HV-Korps, which numbered almost eighty-five thousand men when at wartime mobilization. It currently consisted of some 83,000 men, and were deploying to the city in strength – two divisions with a total of 43,000 men. They were lightly armed though, and were reservists, but the Cottish commanders hoped that quantity were a quality in itself. Not that they would fight alone against the enemy though. They were mostly there to support the operations of the regular army. Most were coming down from the north, heading for the city.

On the other side of the river, the forward scouts of Kampgruppe 2 reached the bridge just in time to see it blow up. Panicking, the two Dragoons immediately kicked in the reverse and laid out a blanket of smoke to hide their exact location while radioing in. Pissed, oblt. Rubikon got on the radio and demanded the combat engineers to come and get a bridge started immediately. He was informed that it would take some two hours before they could be there, regardless of how many curses he shouted to them over the radio. Pissed, he got on the radio and ordered his units to deploy into a defensive line near the river, and for the artillery to begin doing their thing. The twelve self-propelled howitzers lined up and got their target information from a UAV flying overhead before carefully selecting targets and beginning to open fire, sending volley after volley of accurate 155mm projectiles against the enemy that were trying to hold the river bank. They were assisted by a pair of A-28/C Hammers, who streaked overhead, firing at the enemy and dropping laser-guided bombs, guided in by the same UAV.

At the same time, the Divisional Support Group of the 86. Infanteridivisjon had arrived on the scene, setting up shop. The medical group started taking in casualties and treating them while the air defense group set up its medium-range SAMs and the rocket artillery group prepared themselves. The thirty-six M54A2 Boar MLRS vehicles were laden with thirty 250-millimeter rockets each. For the special occation, all rockets were of the R250M type, which was loaded with 144 anti-personnel mines each. Firing in sequence, the Cottish methodically carpeted the area around Sharya that was occupied by the enemy with a total of 155,520 anti-personnel mines. The cleanup would be hell, but that wasn’t on the Cots’ minds right now – killing as many of the enemy as possible was!

If the situation for the enemy in and around Sharya wasn’t intolerable already, it would be now.

The missiles had reaped massive havoc in the capital city, Kurstrovitz himself had been only twenty blocks from his main office in a long line of military vehicles making a crowd appearance. The missiles blew apart much of the office's and the defence counsil's main wing had been almost entirly obliterated. Five of the twelve counsil members had been killed the remaining evacuated to a secondary location. The detection of the missiles was recieved to late and so the loss of civilian's and to many to count politicians was devestating, Kurstrovitz though now took this chance to gain total control.

Now that the council was almost entirly dead he ordered the final measure and placed an arrest warrent on the remaining generals in the secondary location. Karl Shultz, the second in command leader, was tasked to take over military operations and immediatly began setting the stage for a full scale push on Kostroma using mostly the entire military force to take the state. Kustrovitz had jumped immediatly onto television screens everywhere to show his force and let the soviet people know that with him in full control the country would be safe.
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Lower Defence Wing Bunker, Secondary Location

The generals gathered themselves, only an hour ago they had been attacked and a few of them had bad burns but were capable of speaking their minds. They talked but in a matter of minutes their talk would be meaningless. Twenty-four syndicate agents had arrived infront of the bunker and fully loaded with AK-101's they showed the warrent to the five gaurds and walked into the front door and headed right to the councils office.

"Get down, nobody move. You are under arrest for treason by his great leader Kurstrovitz, you are hearby stripped of your positions and will no longer be overseeing these military operations. I need Lucas and Nikov to follow these agents to the cars, the rest line up."

The generals had been alarmed, many were still getting themselves together when the agents stopped slamming them against the wall and began to slaughter them. The agents opened fire killing the generals twice over then leaving them in the massive pool of blood and walking out the building. Gen. Lucas and Gen. Nikov who were among Kustrovitz's personal staff and chosen by him as well were left alive to aide Shultz in the military operations.

As for the defence network, though seventy-four SAM sites had been hit and twelve RADAR stations the network was running, slowly running but running. The records of hits and those distroyed were kept seperate and the distroyed sites were kept secret from public knowledge.
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Perm, NRF (Nerotikan Revolutionary Forces) HQ

After hearing the news of Kustrovitz's total control the NRF had finally had enough. A single man in Kirov would be charged with the task of starting the second revolution and as for the war, whether Cotland noticed that the USR was beginning to fall apart was up to them but the NRF would attempt at all costs to contact these forces and tell them of their plans.

Kirov, Kurstovitz's Nationwide Republic statement

Vitaly walked up to the podium, fearing nothing from his loyal people he spoke with passion about the attacks and about his new total control of the government and how it would prevent more attacks like this. He spoke of the front and how well they were doing, claiming to have already taken the east side of Kostroma and marching toward the capital. In his words he claimed victory in four months, though it was obvious cotland would never stop repelling their advances on Sharya. The only way victory would be acheived would be to withdraw and the dieing forces on the frontlines knew this but kept to their orders and continued forward to die.

He continued to speak and suddenly the speach was broken as a bullet penetrated through the podium and into his chest. Kustrovitz slipped backwards as the gunman fired another shot at a man rushing to aide his leader. The bullet missed and the gunman began to run only to get shot by a syndicate agent in the crowd.
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On the front lines the fighting became almost a living hell with the arrival of the enemies armored units pushing into the fight. The IFV's killed many soldiers constantly and without the ability to eliminate them they were entirly unstoppable. Though well trained in house to house fighingting they could not counter the enemies advance and many of the men had already begun surrendering. The losses mounted large and were counted at 830 dead, 320 MIA and the remaining numbers were a mix of wounded and living.

(OOC: I got a match to play right now, will finish this when I get done.)

Word came to Colonel Newsmith that the bridge into Sharya had been blown. Without a bridge, they weren't going anywhere. As KG 2/86 lined up to offer down-range support for forces across the river, Newsmith swung his Artillery and HIMARS units into the support role. Thirty-six M2015 Lancer 155mm Howitzers positioned themselves close the flank of the of KG 2/86, as they began to utilize the UAV supplied RTD to further pummel the USR positions and strongpoints within the city. The empty hulls of artillery rounds began to pile up behind the howitzers as they methodically pounded out a chorus of out-bound ordinance. Newsmith moved his Stingray III Light Battle Tanks to forward positions along the river bank to offer up additional fire support for the Home Guard Units that were taking the brunt of the Soviet Attack. HUMRAAM's and Avenger ADU's deployed along with SKYMER and GRENDEL portable SAM units to offer effective Air Cover for the Regiment.

As the Regiment dug in for the wait, the 18 SAH-33A Svyator Attack Helicopters slid over the River and began to assist the Cottish Air Force in pinning down any USR Units trying to navigate the maze of streets within the city. If an enemy combatant moved across open territory, he wouldn't last long.

From Vologda, Layartebian fighters were well within striking range of Kostroma. Soviet advances were, thus far, slow, thanks to a resounding effort by the Cottish and other allies of the October Alliance. The Layartebian response had been, partly, slower than the others but it would also be just as pummelling. Soviet surface-to-air systems were deadly and accurate, especially their S-400 systems. F-32 Foxhounds armed with Dodsengel, LRAAAM, and Escape missiles were flying around Vologda doing barrier CAP but, thus far, they had been unopposed since the Cottish aircraft were also flying further to the south.

Until the S-400 threat could be fully neutralized, Layartebian aircraft had to act carefully and cautiously. F-35 Ravens and F-31 Tornado GAVs would be flying SEAD at the first. Equipped with AGM-88F AARGM missiles, two per Raven and four per Tornado, the twelve aircraft were bringing thirty-six AARGM missiles, which were extremely potent and capable. They could fly up to one hundred miles with a prebriefed target and some would be, based on data received from Cottish aircraft flying around Kostroma. Each site would get two missiles fired at it and the missiles would all be fired from maximum range, using lofted profiles, allowing them to fly high enough that they could maximize range and speed but also stay out of range of powerful low-altitude air defense systems, which could shoot down one or two of the supersonic missiles.

The aircraft could, in effect, launch their missiles from the border of Kostroma and Vologda. Six of each type took off behind the cover of twelve F-32s and twelve F-31 Tornado ADVs, all flying barrier CAP along the border, and proceeded to their launch points. Some of their missiles would be fired in opportunity mode, which would allow for the missiles to seek their own targets. As the S-400s blinked their radars, the AARGM would lock onto it with its HARM sensor, generate GPS coordinates, and fly towards the site. It primarily aimed for the radar but if the radar was switched off it could use a millimetric wave radar to seek and destroy the command vehicle of the site.

OOC: Pssttt :)

Sharya, Kostroma, Bjornoyan Protectorate
The Cottish knew that they had, effectively, won the battle of Sharya when the enemy paratroopers, one of the finest fighting formations in any army, started surrendering to the Cottish forces. It didn’t mean that the Cottish relented though. No, quite the contrary. Confident that victory was within reach, the Cottish began fighting even fiercer, intent on kicking the enemy out of their fatherland. Pressing on, the dismounted infantry began rounding up the enemy, strip-searching them and confiscating just about everything but the uniforms they wore before handing them over to the Military Police, who transported the enemy prisoners of war far, far away under armed guard, to a military prison camp somewhere in northern Bjornoya where they would be guarded by the MPs. The POWs were treated relatively well, with very little abuse from the Cottish soldiers, who had been given a two-day course on how to treat enemy prisoners. However, those POWs who tried to do anything against their Cottish captors were promptly shot by the MPs. Meanwhile, the Cottish pressed on, closing in enough to let the infantry dismount and conduct combat operations against the remaining enemy force, constantly supported by accurate artillery, tank and IFV fire, and air support in the form of A-28/C Hammer close air support aircraft and Cottish and Hawdawgian attack helicopters.

Somewhere in Northern Bjornoya
In the secret bunker complex somewhere in Northern Bjornoya, analysts from CSIA, a sub-agency of FO/E, the Cottish military intelligence agency were constantly monitoring USR broadcasts, trying to obtain some information from the USR itself while their colleagues were busy coaming through the constant flow of satellite and aerial reconnaissance images and signals. It was here the Cottish first learned of the assassination against Kurstovitz, who had been recently dubbed Enemy of the State #1 by the popular television channel TV2. The images streamed in as they were broadcast on USR television, so the Cottish learned of the assassination about two seconds after it really happened. It was quite a shock for the analysts, who immediately played back the tape and watched it again before picking up the phone and calling in a flash message.

Ten minutes later, the information had been distributed to various branches of the intelligence agency, and thirty minutes after the assassination attempt, enough information had been compiled together to have the analysts believe that a civil war was brewing in USR. A short two-page analysis of the situation showed that Kurstovitz had been shot and that it was likely that the wound was fatal, and that this showed clear tendencies of fractionalization inside the USR, something which lead the analysts to believe that the USR was crumbling under the stress of the war. With this learned, the CGIA sub-agency of FO/E was tasked with starting to print up propaganda leaflets for distribution to the attackers at Sharya and to the troops that were trying to flow over the border. The propaganda leaflets were printed in Nerotikan. The work "Nerotikan" was consequently used in a hope of awaking the feeling of nationality within the soldiers and making them realize that they were fighting for the wrong government.

ATTENTION, NEROTIKAN SOLDIER!

Why do you fight Cotland? Cotland is not your enemy. Your leaders
are. Your leaders don’t care about you. They are sending you out to
die, while your own nation crumbles underneath you. Why do you
fight Cotland abroad when you should be home in Nerotika,
protecting your own nation? Does not the attack on Kurstovitz,
preformed by one of your own citizens prove that Nerotika is
plunging into civil war?

Why are you here, fighting an unjust cause when you should be at
home, defending Nerotika from within? You should go home and
defend Nerotika instead of attacking Cotland.

Cotland is not your enemy.

At the same time, Psychological Operations officers from FO/E arrived at the scene in Sharya, and began to call out propaganda over loudspeakers mounted on modified M64A2 Shadow cargo carriers. They called for the Nerotikan troops to surrender to the Cottish, promising them fair treatment, warm meals and beds, and medical care if they surrendered. They also spewed out information about the assassination on Kurstovitz, saying that they were fighting a lost cause, that their great leader was dead, and that if they didn't surrender, they would be as dead as Kurstovitz. They were also told about the attacks on the USR war machine and that the attackers couldn't hope for recieving reinforcements because they were all being killed at the border. All propaganda was given in Nerotikan, through the modified Shadows and via low-flying H-25/A Super Huey helicopters also fitted with loudspeakers, ensuring that the propaganda reached their intended targets.

Meanwhile, a vast air armada came over Sharya, and the sky disappeared as the 10,835 Cottish paratroopers started their combat jump along with their equipment from the forty-eght C-11/B Super Globemasters, forty-eght C-12/J Super Hercules, and twenty-four C-15/A Kondor transports. Elements of the 24. Korps had decided to join the party at Sharya while the rest of the corps, two other para divisions dropped near the border where they would reinforce the two regular army divisions that were holding off the enemy forces near the border. The Cottish would hold Sharya and push the enemy forces away. It was only a question of time...

http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk/news/images/news_troopdrop.jpg

Somewhere outside of Sharya

Colonel Newsmith sat inside his PUMA CFV watching the devistation unfold. The ordiance being brought to bear on the remaining USR Forces was reducing the town to a shell of its former self. After a steady bombardment for several hours, Newsmith had recieved a message from his gunnery Captain on his BATNET command screen. He quickly shot an email his Cottish counterpart in regards to a resupply.

"Hotel-6, JAVA-125 requests immediate resupply of 155 rounds, Artillery Battery running low. GPS coordinates for Battery A, B, and C as follows 5635.003, 60492.403. JAVA-125 out."

After reassuring his Artillery Captain ammunition would soon be on the way, a desperate call came in from the forward Air Defense Avenger ADU's.

"Multiple inbounds! Bearing SSW heading 54.2, heavy, slow movers. Most likely transports! We haven't confirmed who they are yet."

"JAVA-125, DOG-2. We have confirmation inbound are friendlies, stand down."

The NONCOM's operating the forward Air Defense breathed a little easier with the confirmation from DOG-2 that the inbound aircraft were in fact friendly forces. As the Avenger crews went to passive tracking mode, the huge shadows of the dark green Transport Aircraft briefly blotted out the sun, as canopy upon canopy opened over the skies of Sharya.

Tactics were to change shortly in Sharya, soon they would shift to a moping up operation. It was crucial the flank was held so USR units that chose not to surrender couldn't slip out of the city and into the forest.

The wounded leader was rushed immediatly to a government owned hospital which was basically cleared out. His wound was deep but it had an exit hole and had not penetrated any vital organs. Vitaly would live, and his new enemies along with his old would pararish with the thought of revolution.

Though hurt he was able to make orders and gave the Syndicated Government Police forces full control under his second in command Karl Shultz and the two generals he let live. Though letting them live was turning into the most drastic mistake made in the oncoming landslide of civil war.

Right after Gen. Lucas was given command of the Northern Division he brought most out from the border of Kostroma to reinforce the Kirov state itself, as he brought in his forces he realized his total control and began the orders to take the capital before anyone else. Gen. Nikov though had been given command of the Southern Division and was bringing it up for his own control, one the Northern Division and Southern Division meet it was likly the civil war would begin.

As the divisions moved inside the country an individual attitude grew in Kostroma, the soldiers there had recieved word of their leaders assasination without knowing if he was alive or dead and recieving such news from the enemy was almost laughable as most tried hard not to believe their leader would succum to an attack at all. The paratroopers had pressed there attack long enough though and a mass surrender was being issued by the HQ outside Sharya and though they recieved the order many were willing to die rather then surrender and began using their c4 and well trained guerilla tactics to wage an insurgent battle. With an estimated 320 soldiers remaining the battle for Sharya was given to cotland as 140 surrendered and the rest began their desperate strugle to do damage.

As the battle for Sharya ended the invading forces, virtually forgotten had been recieving enemy attacks constantly. The militia's with them had begun their betrayal as orders from their personal high command told them to eliminate the soviet forces and along the line of the invading forces fighting erupted as the shocked soviets unloaded from their trucks to seek cover and fight back against their own militia's. Even under cotland attacks the militia's were determined to kill the soviet forces and retreat out of Kostroma, most Pandur APC's had already left with much of the Blackstyle and the remaining militia's in the transport trucks were left to clean up the area of the soviets.

Most attacks coming from TOA missiles and rockets were ignored as the entire country withdrew in itself and broke apart.

"JAVA-125, SKYWARRIOR 3. Copy that. Arty resupply en route. Out." The non-commissioned officer in the circling E-3/A Bataleur AEW&CC aircraft said to the Hawdawgian commander before ordering elements of a supply convoy to divert to the riverbank and resupply the Hawdawgians.

Twenty minutes later, four large olive green M67A1 HEMTTs escorted by a pair of M64A1 Shadow LMVs with heavy machine guns mounted on the roof rolled up to the Hawdawgian artillery positions and came to a stop before the crewmembers of each HEMTT started operating the load handling system in the back that greatly eased the offloading of the hundreds of artillery shells they carried. Capable of hauling up to thirty tons of stuff, the HEMTTs easily transported enough ammunition for the Hawdawgians to have enough to fire into the enemy positions.

Inside the city propper, the Cottish infantry had gone from being defensive to being offensive, rooting out the remaining enemies from the buildings in which they had barricaded themselves. Most of the remaining enemies had surrendered though, and they were treated exactly like those enemy POWs from earlier had been treated. The mop-up of Sharya would take another few hours, but by nightfall, which was about the same time as the combat engineers finally arrived and had finished the bridge for KG 2/86 and the Hawdawgians to race over, Sharya was declared secure and the battle over. It had been a grizzly battle, having claimed the lives of some three thousand Cottish soldiers, reservists and airmen along with several thousand enemies killed or captured. In terms of wounded, the Cottish had some four thousand troops in all that had been wounded in some form, all of whom would recieve Forsvarets Medalje for Falne og Sårede i Strid (http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7447/forsvaretsmedaljeforfalle4.jpg) (The Military's Medal for Fallen and Wounded in Combat) as a recognision of their sacrifice. In addition, several soldiers in the Home Guard would recieve Forsvarets Medalje for Edel Dåd (The Military's Medal for Valor) and even a few of the highly prestigious Krigskorset (http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/552/krigskorsetlc5.png) (War Cross) and Æresmedaljen (http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6553/resmedaljenwt4.png) (Medal of Honor), the highest and second highest ranked medals respectively, for their courage in the defense of Sharya. Awarding the highest-ranking medals would be done by the King personally when the war was well and truly over and all aspects investigated.

Back to the war at hand though. With the battle of Sharya over, a battle that left the city in ruins, the majority of the Cottish forces proceeded towards the border to repell the already halting enemy advance. With three full divisions of mechanized forces and three divisions of paratroopers, the Cottish regular army along the border on the start of the third day of the war had a total of fifteen infantry battlegroups, ten armored battlegroups, twenty-four paratrooper battlegroups, six helicopter battlegroups (attack and transport helicopters), three divisional support units with MLRS, air defense, headquarters and medical units, and three full combat engineer brigades. In addition, the Cottish had several special forces units on the front line, harrassing the enemy, conducting reconnaissance and calling in air strikes. All in all, the Cottish had a total of 72,000 troops along the front with an additional 44,500 regular army troops advancing down from southern Bjornoya and some 700,000 Home Guardsmen providing rear echelon security. Additionally, the Hawdawgian and Layartebian detachments of troops complemented the Cottish forces.

The Cottish SAM sites which had been left surprisingly unattacked were constantly firing their deadly missiles into the air, complementing the crews of the fighter aircraft that were constantly in the air, attacking the constantly diminishing USR air power. The Air Force had taken some pretty hefty casualties, with close to two hundred aircraft shot down over the course of three days of bitter fighting against the enemy, but it was still fighting. The Royal Cottish Air Force, in conjunction with elements of the Imperial Layartebian Air Force had provided much damage to the enemy, and it was time to press on the attack.

The Cottish had used the night to get into position, and at 05:38 AM when day broke, the Cottish began their offensive. More than two thousand four hundred self-propelled howitzers all along the border where the enemy were trying to get across opened fire, sending 155mm projectiles towards the enemy positions, guided in by the many UAVs, aircraft and helicopters that were in the air. Nine hundred M54A2 Boar MLRS' also began firing into the enemy troop formations, still using the R250M rockets to send millions of anti-personnel mines into the midst of the enemy. Additionally, old MGM.24/A Skarabè had been cranked out of the storage by the Home Guard and trained on the enemy positions. The old short-range ballistic missiles, having been brand spanking new in the mid-seventies and decommissioned from active duty in the late nineties were inaccurate but fast, carrying a 160-kilogram high-explosive warhead towards the enemy's approximate positions at Mach 5. The Cots had little hopes that they would do much damage, but it would at least be bad for the enemy's morale whenever a missile detonated near them. These missiles were followed by a leaflet barrage, containing propaganda leaflets intended to demoralize the enemy and encourage surrender.

After about ten minutes of precision fire, the mechanized forces began advancing, lead by some five hundred and forty-four M51A2 Sabertooth main battle tanks. The Sabertooth was a fine piece of military machinery, weighing in at 72 tons, most of which was the highly advanced armor that could stop up to several RPG-29s before finally being defeated. Armed with a 125 millimeter ETC cannon with 54 rounds available, one light and two heavy machine guns, and several anti-tank guided missiles, the Sabertooths was, quite literally, the armored fist of the Cottish war machine. Supported by the one thousand and eighty M70A1 Dragoon infantry fighting vehicles which had proved themselves so useful at Sharya, the three mechanized divisions, for the occation operating in the twenty-five battlegroups for maximum efficiency, started their attack to kick the enemy out of Kostroma once and for all, opening fire on targets as they appeared, constantly supported by the artillery, helicopters and the occational A-28/C Hammer. Following behind the mechanized forces, the lightly armed paratroopers in their M74 CMPLVs followed to mop up whoever the mechanized forces missed when they charged and occupy recaptured ground. With the reports of the enemy fighting amongst themselves trickling down from the intelligence gathering missions the special forces had carried out, the Cottish generals were confident that the counter-offensive would be successful.

The plan of the Cottish forces was to press on towards the border using manouvering and brute force to take out the enemy infantry. With primarily mechanized forces attacking, the Cottish generals intended to prove once and for all that mechanized forces always defeated light infantry in set-piece battles.

Colonel Newsmith took up a position covering the flank of the advancing Cottish Armor. As they drew near the border the explosions and thuds of out-bound ordinance shook the ground. Certainly any enemy forces within the kill zone would wish death facing such a barrage. Slowly methodically the Sabertooth MBT's of the Cottish Force advanced. Newsmith positioned his Stingray III LBT's in a way they could easily pick off stragglers that tried to run from the inbound armor. It was a turkey shoot, as one or two men would dash across open ground trying to escape the Cottish advance tank commanders would open fire with .50 caliber machine guns. To stand a face the tank attack would mean death, to run across open ground men would suffer the same fate. Throughout the day this scenario played out as men chose death by tread or death by Ma Duece. Several times large numbers of downtrodden soldiers presented torn linens, shirts or whatever they could wave as a surrender flag at Newsmith's Force. He kindly directed them towards the Cottish MP's in the rear after he made sure they were without weapons or explosives.

The carnage and bloodshed showed no end as syndicated forces took military control of the capital Kirov. Civilians who did not heed the warnings were left inside a border where no one entered or left and where they would be under constant watch, one mistake and a bullet eliminated the potential traitor. Kurstrovitz had gone mad after recieving two letters that annexed both sides of his nation from his control and under what power did these regions become annexed, under the power of the very generals who's lives he had spared.

The northern army under Gen. Paul Lucas had pushed toward Kirov immediatly and seeing the resistance given by Kurstrovitz's Sydnicate the general had brought armored units into the fray. What was once infantry fighting in the streets became tanks blasting away buildings and IFV's repeating what the cottish had done to the paratroopers. Kirov was sectioned off, what was syndicate held became locked down and explosives were layed throughout the streets. Kurstrovitz was forces to sit back and watch his city fall piece by piece but knowing his enemies would take heavy losses if they wanted him he was slightly relaxed.

As the northern army pressed its attack on Kirov divisions of the southern army had crossed the border line of what was to be the north republic and south republic. The southern divisions had pushed onto perm and without resistance moved toward the capital of that state. The skies were relativly clear, TOA missiles occasionally came in and did some damage but were ignored concidering the large amount of damage its own armies were doing to the nation.

Over the border of Kostroma the soviet forces were forgotten. The retreat of all forces was met with enemy bombardment leaving thousands dead. The exact toll was not known but it was estimated over a 10,000 mark of men were dead from both cottish and allied attacks as well as fighting brought on by the militia's in the invasion group. What was once a stronge willed and powerful force was now reduced to nothing, it was obvious that they were not prepared for anything which they would meet across that border. Along the retreat lay distroyed APC's, downed aircraft and burning bodies along with craters and much more carnage. Assuming a soldier lived the retreat he was met with heavy artilary at the border preventing any futher pull back until that let up. Even across the boreder most men were not safe. The militia forces had set up a slaughter zone with orders to kill any person attempting to cross the border. Mobile artilary had been brought up under the militia control and they had arranged the 135 pieces that they had in a manner which they would be able to hit anything across the long border. The MRLS's had basically been taken over by their crews and driven out of the kill zones where many of their comrads were met with militia forces surrounding and slaughtering the crews where they stood.

As for the nerotikan revolutionary forces, they were left spread across the nation without a means of communications. The ones in Kirov had no idea that the northern army would attack and so they were not prepared to fight against such a resistant force that would almost vaporize them if they tried to fight. Already many were left dead by the syndicate forces alone, either they did not have ID cards or they were talking suspisously. The surprise in most of them was not that the syndicate was doing this but that they were doing it so quickly as if to say without a weapon you are worthless to them. You cannot fight and help them neither can you give them something to fight. The constant fire fights and explosions left so many revolutionary's frightend there was virtually no one to lead the forces and no force to lead and yet in other parts the revolution had done its job with such great success they were becoming a knowen threat as well as a knowen liberation.

In Tyumen the revolutionary forces had uprised against the southern army divisions protecting that area and the states secrets. The divisions pulled out before taking any more casualties leaving the entire state to the revolutionary forces and it was then that the forces were given something to fight for. In this state, Tyumen, sat Kurstrovitz's idea for his soviet people. Antrive death camp, inside were jewish, catholic, christian, mentally challanged basically anything that would hold the soviet people back from intelligent advancments. The people inside were completly starving, most were shot dead by the souther divisions pulling out of the camps "of cource it wasn't like they were trying to hide anything..." as some inmates told the liberating forces "they just wanted to shoot defencless people, give them some confidence that if they met you (The NRF) they could kill you as well."

Although Antrive had been liberated the NRF knew hundreds of camps still stood across the nation and as Tyumen became fully liberated over 15 camps were found some were simple prisons for the soviet's criminals, it was national law that even a criminal was not restricted mentally and so should not be placed with the other restricted people, as well as transport camps and holding camps.

With the complete collapse of the enemy forces still in the Cottish territories, combined with the sight of the enemy firing at each other made generalmajor Thomas Reis-Spetalen, commanding officer of the 83. Panserdivisjon and ranking general on the front believe that victory was theirs. With this in mind, he ordered his forces to press on towards the front and take up defensive positions there. So far, his orders were to kick the enemy aggressors out of the sovereign territory of the Realm and make sure they didn't try to return.

In the sky overhead, the pilots in the H-11/A Reaper attack helicopters could see the carnage underneath. The area had been pretty serene prior to the invasion, but now there was hardly a tree left standing. The ground was kicked up from the explosions that had impacted there, from the tanks that had rolled over the ground, tearing up the mud, and from the hasily dug foxholes of the enemy infantry. Burning hulks of vehicles were present, and the ground was littered in more or less mutilated corpses of Nerotikan infantry. Not that the pilots cared much though - after all, these people had dared to invade the Realm, and now they were paying for that mistake, dying at the hands of the Cottish soldiers.

The pilot was jerked out of the thoughts of revenge as the gunner sitting in front of him said that they were approaching the area of operations. Underneath him, the pilot saw the lumbering Sabertooth tanks rolling towards the enemy at some 55 kilometers per hour, firing their main guns and coaxial machine guns at any target of opportunity, flanked by Dragoon infantry fighting vehicles and Arrow armored personnel carriers, carrying the infantry that would mop up the enemy forces that weren't smart enough to surrender. Occationally, a series of explosions showed the gunfire from an artillery battery slamming into an enemy position, incendirating them in a hail of fire and brimstone. After the explosion subsided, the pilot adjusted the course and slowed down a little, readying his ordinance. The attack run started, and the stealthy dark shape of the attack helicopter dropped flares occationally until the opportunity was ideal. Then, and only then did he unleash the destructive payload of the helicopter: 30x173mm depleted-uranium shells from the twin-barreled cannon in the nose and CRV7 70mm rockets against the enemy positions. Another helicopter fired a AGM.19 Brimstone anti-tank missile against an enemy vehicle that somehow had managed to survive the onslaught so far. The missile streaked into the air before it started a steep decent into the enemy vehicle, penetrating the top armor before it detonated, destroying the vehicle and killing anyone inside and close by.

On the ground, the tanks and IFVs proceeded forward, pressing on with the assistance from the artillery, helicopters and aircraft in the sky, and the infantry that dismounted to mop out any pockets of enemy that refused to surrender. A hail of bullets, some grenades or a good spray from the flamethrower ended the resistance and allowed the infantry to return to their APC and continue to the next place that needed to be cleared. It was horrific work, but that was the harsh reality of war. Young men and women, blinded with patriotism and idealism were willing to do anything for their country. Many of them were conscripted soldiers, serving their 18-month mandatory national service, but that didn't stop them from conducting the gruesome mopping up work.

The Cottish were inflicting enormous casualties on the enemy, but they were also taking casualties from the enemy that were still holding fast. A total of nine hundred seventy-two Cottish soldiers had died here at the hands of enemy fire so far, and it would probably rise even further. However, the Cottish were taking far more lives than they were losing, so it was acceptable losses. They would continue to press on to the border, and when they'd reach it, they'd dig in and hold positions. Any enemy that didn't surrender would be killed where he or she was found.

The Russian Federation GSO Peacekeeping regiment, the 2nd Gvardia were still standing by in the USR territory ready to mobilize in a moments notice if the Cots decided to advance across the border. Second Gvardia was a fast response unit, it was more then enough to hold the Cottish pigs off for days before the main force could arrive. RF made its intentions clear from the start, if any nation attempted to invade the land of USR a GSO ally, Russian Federation would declare war and retaliate in full force abiding the mutual defense agreement as stated by the GSO charter. For now they were waiting and watching, long range anti-aircraft systems passively locking on to the TOA fighters that came too close to the border through the VRPB targeting system that employed visual data from spy planes and satellites as well as radar data from AWACS. The lock-ons were NPI, No-Probability-of-Intercept as the Russian systems weren't targeting the actual aircraft but rather its representation on the VRPB model that was updated in real life by the R/C-R information analysis and computing facilities back in the motherland. A violation of USR's airspace would mean an invasion and war. Russian Federation was ready, some two hundred thousand troops were standing at the USR-RF border ready to interfere if the situation called for it. Russian Federation felt no sympathy for the Cots who only months earlier took the contested lands from USR also the Cottish brief ownership of Russian motherland and the inhumane treatment of Russian citizens was not so soon forgotten, many in the military wanted to stick as many Cottish pigs on a pike as they possibly could but Stepanov was a strong leader and rule of the law remained.

Afrikanda Airbase, Murmansk

The lumbering C-15/A Kondor painted in the grey livery of the Royal Cottish Air Force came to a silent halt in front of the congregation of people and vehicles and stood there for a minute before the massive rear cargo door opened to reveal its grim contents. A muffled order was barked out, and rows of young men dressed in the Royal Cottish Air Force's dress uniforms marched into the aircraft silently. Outside, the entire crew of the airbase who weren't of critical importance to continue flight operations or security were assembled, standing in attention. Also present was the Interior Minister Sigurd Frisvold, representing His Majesty's Council as the cabinet of ministers was known as officially; the Governor of Murmansk, Wilfred Olsen, a burly man with white hair and a special liking to vodka, but also an impressive organizatory skill that made the Realm mostly ignore his alcohol problem; and a selected few representatives of the media who the government knew would report this in a way that respected the dead and the sacrifice they had made.

Two minutes later, the first six airmen marched out of the aircraft again, carrying a white casket draped in the Cottish flag, marching steadfast with the body of their fallen comrade between them. The moment the first group came out, the airmen and soldiers outside saluted and the flagbearer lowered the flag in salute to the fallen as the airmen marched into the hangar inside where the dead would remain until they could be further transported to their homes, where their families would take possession of the bodies and bury them after a method of their chosing in accordance with their personal wishes. At the same time, a bugler played the Last Post (http://www.nevilley.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/trumpet/lastpost.mid).

The sixty-four dead soldiers who were being transported home now had fallen in the battle of Sharya at the hands of enemy fire. The majority of them were soldiers in the regular army, but there were also a number of pilots who had been shot down by the Nerotikan air force before it had been eradicated by the RCAF. In the days to come, as more and more bodies could be recovered from the battlefields and identified, more and more aircraft carrying the fallen would pass through Afrikanda on their way to their respective home territories where they would be buried.

After half an hour, all sixty-four fallen had been taken into the hangar and placed in neat rows, their caskets all covered in the Cottish flag. With this done, there would be a small memorial service in honor of those fallen. The base commander spoke of the great and glorious sacrifice these men and women had given to their fatherland, that they had given their lives to keep their people and their country from being subjugated by a foreign communist power that wanted nothing more than to completely eradicate the Cottish way of life, and that these men and women, along with their comrades in arms that had fought along side them were heroes of the Realm. The rethorics were powerful, and their sacrifice glorified. After the base commander's fiery speech, the chaplain held a less rethorical, but still anti-Nerotikan speech where he assured the listeners that these fallen heroes were safe in the hands of God now, and that all their sins had been forgiven because God was a merciful god who forgave those who believed in him. Most Cots believed in some form of divine entity guarding over them, and especially those in the armed forces, so the reassurance that they were forgiven for their sins and safe in heaven was a relief for the many young soldiers who stood there in the hangar, showing their last respects to the dead. After the chaplain had led the congregation in Lord's Prayer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord%27s_Prayer) and the Apostle's Creed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles%27_Creed), the bugler played Last Post again before the chaplain gave the congregation the blessing in form of the Trinitarian formula (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinitarian_formula). With that, the memorial ceremony ended and the airmen were dismissed while the fallen remained where they lay. Each of them would be flown back to their homes within 24 hours with full military honors.

USR-Cottish Border

At the border, the first Cottish tanks reached the anti bellum border positions and took up defensive positions. If any attempted Nerotikan offensive from the other side of the border would come, the Cottish would return fire but not move across the border. Many of the soldiers were a little upset over the orders, but the generals had a very good reason for ordering this: the cabinet had ordered it. They in turn had an even better reason not to want to cross the border: it would mean a de facto state of war with the GSO, an alliance the Cottish scoffed of behind closed doors, and thus Russia. The Cottish were confident they could defeat the Russians, but the tensions were starting to thaw a little and the Cottish didn't want to halt that process. So, the orders to retake all land that was Cottish before the war and leave the rest alone stood.

Well within sight of the Russian "peacekeepers" on the other side of the border, a group of Cottish infantrymen dressed in their battle gear moved up to a small hill near to their positions and proudly raised a large Cottish flag on top of the hill before they set up an observation post to observe movement on the other side of the border, and to guide in artillery and airstrikes if that would be necessary.

Border between Kostroma and Vologda
165 kilometers from the USR-Cottish border

The crew had been working hard, preparing their weapon, but it was finally time to fire the first shots. Recieving guidance from a special forces team overlooking a fortified Nerotikan infantry position, they had "painted" the target with their laser designator and relayed the target information over to the crew, who had just finished uploading the co-ordinates to the weapon. After the final checks, the command staff was confident they were ready. It was time.

A sharp klaxon warned the crew to get into the safety of the railroad cars as the massive barrel was raised to an elevation of 54 degrees. The first shot fired in anger from the Jernbanekanon-1, a massive electrothermal-chemical railroad gun with a diameter of 380 millimeters were about to be fired. Inside the breech, a 800 kilogram heavy guided shell designed around the XM982 Excalibur guided artillery shell principle sat, waiting to be fired. A few seconds later, and the ground shook as the cannon fired its deadly shell towards the target 153 kilometers away at a speed of 1,250 meters per second. The Jernbanekanon-1 had a maximum range of some 200 kilometers, but firing at that range had the cost of lack of precision. Tests had shown the weapon to be effective and accurate up to ranges of 170 kilometers.

It would be a short while yet before the shell impacted, but it had the ability to guide itself to the target, and with a CEP of only ten meters, the four hundred kilos of high explosive and three hundred kilos of metal shrapnel would devestate the area around the fortified enemy position. As the shell moved across Kostroma, the infantry looked up as the shell flew over them. It sounded like a freight train rumbled over them as the shell moved quickly past them, towards its target. It was going to be a massive boom for the special forces team that sat safely one kilometer away.

[Got bored]

OOC: Writing this at work so shhh...

With the Soviet infighting and the troubles they were facing from within, the war seemed to be finishing abruptly but in favor of the Cottish. Cottish armor and infantry had moved to the border and abruptly halted themselves. A stalemate immediately set in but for good cause. Operation Sunfall had drawn significant attention to the notion that the October Alliance was deadlocked in a cold war with the Russian Federation and its GSO alliance. The world hinged on every event during the exercises, waiting for one side to launch the first strike though neither did. Operation Sunfall wasn't a setup to have the Russians or the GSO launch the first or any strike; it was a top-secret, massive exercise, conducted between the members of the October Alliance, to hone their skills. Each country was sovereign within the alliance and, as such, each country had their own way of doing things. Operation Sunfall was the first of a yearly exercise that worked to hone their fighting skills as a single, cohesive unit.

Layartebian aircraft had been attacking Nerotikan positions throughout the disputed territories since the onset of the war. They had attacked mostly radar and air defense sites but communications sites were high on the list as well. Layartebian aircraft were superior to the Nerotikan ones and they had little trouble decimating the Soviet forces within the disputed territories both at long-range and at close range. The air force was the mainstay of the ILM but it was going silent now. Layartebian ground forces were going silent as well.

As the Cottish came to a halt so did the Layartebian forces. The territories had been recaptured and that was all the Layartebians would help with, any offensive advance against the Soviets would be made at their own risk. The inevitable cold war that constantly brewed between the Layartebians and the Russians, whenever they were a coherent state, was just that, a cold war. Only once had it sparked an actual war between the two superpowers but the Russian state collapsed shortly after the Layartebian Air Force initiated its initial strikes. The result was zero loss of life to the Layartebian forces, a gigantic morale booster. Since then, the guns had feel silent. As the Russians took up Mexican positions, inevitably trying to put pressure against the Caribbean, which was dominated by Layartebian territories and forces, the guns remained silent. The Empire wasn't going to give into international pressure to eradicate the Russians, it had too many internal problems to worry about to get involved in a war that was long and drawn out with only a pyrrhic victory, at best, at the end of the tunnel.

If the Cottish advanced southward, they risked certain war with the GSO and the Russian Federation, a war the Empire was confident the October Alliance could win, decisively but at what cost? The cost was important. With unrest within the Empire, the Emperor had to be very careful what happened when and what happened where. He had to be in total control of the outcome and the circumstances and the Layartebian battle record since 1980, with the exclusion of Kaliningrad, was unmarred by defeat. Only Kaliningrad offered a defeat and, at too great a cost to repeat. As the Reich dominated the area now, the Layartebians had been given reprieve from the Kaliningradian situation. Times were changing though and as a fresh breed of rebellion was born in the disputed territories, the Emperor wondered how long before the Empire itself would be affected as the rebels brought their fight to the Empire, the Empire that supported the Cottish.

"Товарищь Старшый Сержант, может пальнём?"
Comrade Senior Sergeant, how about we fire a bit?

The tank commander turned around slowly to face his subordinate, he replied in a worn out voice.

"Молчи Берёзов приказа нету, а мы солдаты, без приказа неположено."
Be quite Berezov we don't have an order, and we're soldiers, we're not supposed to without an order.

"Но эти свиньи вон там на холме, если танкавая батарея ударит то от Котландцев нечего неостанетца."
But those pigs are right there on a hill, if the tank battery strikes there will be nothing left of the Cots.

"Я сказал молчи, твоё дело в прицел смотреть, так и смотри вот как линию пересекут так и будем палить, а пока молчи."
I said be quiet, your job is to look through the gunsight, so look now once they cross the line then will start firing, for now be quiet.

The Russian peacekeepers were anxious for battle, they were confident that the Cottish scum had no chance against them infact the battle in case Cotland did cross the border was already laid out. Every major cluster of Cottish vehicles, every Cottish plane and every Cottish artillery battery was watched and locked-on to through passive VRPB targeting. If the battle broke out the initial Russian strike would leave the enemy helpless allowing the 2nd Gvardia to go in an finish the job, the Cots had a special clause made for them in the Russian Army doctrines, "In case of war leave none alive, take no prisoners." The inhumane treatment of Russian people by the Realm of Cotland was never forgotten, the Russian people hated the Cots with all their might, the week the Cots were invited to the Russian Federation annual wargames 15 separate protests broke out all over the country.