NationStates Jolt Archive

To the government of the Maldorians:
To long have we watched your imperialist ways in silence. To long have countless millions been exploited under economic slavery. We refuse to turn a blind eye anymore. We announce that we wish to liberate your country and return it to the hands it belongs in: the people. Only complete surrender is acceptable. Farewell imperialist swine.
The People of the Northern Baltic and of the World



Atlantic, South of British Londinium
The submarine fleet readied themselves. 60 Oscar Class submarines now readied themselves for battle. A second fleet consisting of two Kiev Class carriers and her escorts was also preparing to engage their selected target; a fleet of Maldorians troops ships. The submarines would wait until their targets came close enough and once the fighters began their attack on the fleet, the submarines would open fire.

Water around the Maldorians
30 F-117's began dropping hundreds of magnetic mines in key Maldorian shipping lanes. They would not approach land and would hopefully not be detected or spotted.

Off of Ord Manteel
Scud-D missiles were launched at key targets, such as power sub-stations and government administration buildings. An invasion force of about 6 Mechanized Infantry Divisions was closing in on the beaches which they would land on and take over. Su-37 fighters from the Northern Baltic mainland would provide them with airsupport and would also escort an additional two airborne divisions which would be dropped on the far side of the island.

Off Maldorian mainland
The Northern Baltic fleet set off. They would target the islands west and the island northeast of the island. They carried with them two million ground troops as well as countless support vehicles and artillery pieces. The force would be evenly divided between the islands they had to invade. Over 150 Alta Class Minesweepers advanced in front of the fleet to clear a way for the invasion force. Hundreds of satellite jamming buoys were dropped by planes in Maldorian waters, but they weren't just dropped in the area where the invasion was taking place. They were scattered all over to make it appear several other invasion fleets were going to take the other Maldorian islands.

The Northern Baltic mainland
Anti-satellite missiles were activated and would fire and attempt to shoot down all of the Maldorian satellites, providing them with no GPS or spy satellites. The entire ABM defense system was put on red alert in case the Maldorians tried anything foolish. Most of the Northern Baltic nuclear arsenal was also put on alert and were ready to launch a retaliatory strike, but would not, under any circumstances, launch first.

OOC: My prayers have been answered

Oppurtunists! Why have you not sided with British Londinium in their struggle, rather then divert the attentions of this magnificent nation! Qadesh asks that you please stand down, and go throught the proper channels, the UN and avoid armed conflict, the nations of the world shall rally behind this most wonderous and magnifcant nation.... Viva Maldorians!

David Edward
President of Qadesh

OOC: I *would* TG you if NS main would stop spazzing on me...

EDIT: Finally got a TG off. Yes, Maldorians side.

Spam, Spam.
Which side would you like to side with, New Manth? I'm assuming the Maldorians, but I'm just making sure.

To the government of the Maldorians:
To long have we watched your imperialist ways in silence. To long have countless millions been exploited under economic slavery. We refuse to turn a blind eye anymore. We announce that we wish to liberate your country and return it to the hands it belongs in: the people. Only complete surrender is acceptable. Farewell imperialist swine.
The People of the Northern Baltic and of the World



Atlantic, South of British Londinium
The submarine fleet readied themselves. 60 Oscar Class submarines now readied themselves for battle. A second fleet consisting of two Kiev Class carriers and her escorts was also preparing to engage their selected target; a fleet of Maldorians troops ships. The submarines would wait until their targets came close enough and once the fighters began their attack on the fleet, the submarines would open fire.

Water around the Maldorians
30 F-117's began dropping hundreds of magnetic mines in key Maldorian shipping lanes. They would not approach land and would hopefully not be detected or spotted.

Off of Ord Manteel
Scud-D missiles were launched at key targets, such as power sub-stations and government administration buildings. An invasion force of about 6 Mechanized Infantry Divisions was closing in on the beaches which they would land on and take over. Su-37 fighters from the Northern Baltic mainland would provide them with airsupport and would also escort an additional two airborne divisions which would be dropped on the far side of the island.

Off Maldorian mainland
The Northern Baltic fleet set off. They would target the islands west and the island northeast of the island. They carried with them two million ground troops as well as countless support vehicles and artillery pieces. The force would be evenly divided between the islands they had to invade. Over 150 Alta Class Minesweepers advanced in front of the fleet to clear a way for the invasion force. Hundreds of satellite jamming buoys were dropped by planes in Maldorian waters, but they weren't just dropped in the area where the invasion was taking place. They were scattered all over to make it appear several other invasion fleets were going to take the other Maldorian islands.

The Northern Baltic mainland
Anti-satellite missiles were activated and would fire and attempt to shoot down all of the Maldorian satellites, providing them with no GPS or spy satellites. The entire ABM defense system was put on red alert in case the Maldorians tried anything foolish. Most of the Northern Baltic nuclear arsenal was also put on alert and were ready to launch a retaliatory strike, but would not, under any circumstances, launch first.

"Sir! A nation named 'The Northern Baltic' has decided to try to attack us. Should we quickly crush them?"

Throughout the Maldorian War Chamber, men pondered the motives of this suicidal attack. "We have a much larger military!" questioned one. "They are idiots!" chimed into another, most likely a general. As The Mandalore stormed into the chamber, the bickering soon ceased. "It seems like we have a problem, men..."

Admiral Orochimaru paced the command bridge of his ship. His fleet had still be looking for the missing enemy subs which had been terrorizing Maldorian shipping lanes. Loosing contact, Orochimaru and his fleet sulked back towards The Great Passage. To his suprise, he noticed planes dropping the magnetic mines. Good Allah. No one has dropped mines since the Maldorian mines were first set up! Quickly snapping back into action, the Admiral ordered an attack. "Get some Patriots firing! Kill whoever the hell they are!"

Patriot missile systems roared to life as the armada moved in closer for their CIWS guns to take effect. Naval artillery soon positioned themselves and began firing. These enemy aircraft would pay...

On Ord Manteel buildings tore up in flames as soldiers rushed towards the beaches. Raptors roared to life as they took off to engage the enemy Su-37's...

The Maldorian Home Fleet, eagerly awaiting a fight, soon departed the Maldorian port city of Jaster...

Perfect muttered a soldier stationed on one of the many Maldorian islands looking at the enemy minesweepers. Maldorians always knew that minesweepers would come in first, leaving them open to artillery/rocket attacks. Now was the time to sink those ships...Firestorm launchers unleashed hell as Maldorians watched the minesweepers become sitting ducks. A few E-3 Sentry's took off. They would be excellent survellience in checking out the enemy fleet...

Oppurtunists! Why have you not sided with British Londinium in their struggle, rather then divert the attentions of this magnificent nation! Qadesh asks that you please stand down, and go throught the proper channels, the UN and avoid armed conflict, the nations of the world shall rally behind this most wonderous and magnifcant nation.... Viva Maldorians!

David Edward
President of Qadesh

We thank the great speech by President David Edward. But have no fear, once I repel this 'invasion', I will move on towards his homeland! Only a matter of time now, lads.

~The Mandalore.
-Supreme Ruler of Malorians.

OOC: Sorry about the short post. I am going to Boston tomorrow. I will try to post for a few days...We'll see...

Operation Just Deserts

Manth had changed much since the last run-in with The Northern Baltic. The government, for one - the Council had vanished under mysterious circumstances near the end of the first war, their deaths officially blamed on enemy bombing, to be replaced by the UCPLC. Of course, there was also the expansion into Israelkistan, the colonial wars and new possessions overseas, and the burgeoning population. But probably the most noticeable to the Communists would be in the military. In the years since the Northern Baltic invasion was thrown back, the Manthian military machine had swelled from simply large to outright bloated. Now instead of the relatively tiny fleets mustered against The Northern Baltic years ago, the enemy would face a navy with the potential to make the sea a death sentence for any Baltic sailor who dared put forth. Thousands of planes would strike the foe from the sky. And on the ground, millions of soldiers now marched under the Manthian banner.

And Manth had never forgiven The Northern Baltic for the surprise attack years ago. Though the Manthians had scrupulously respected the peace treaty, many within the government and the populace were angry that the Baltic soldiers had gotten off so easily after attacking Manth with nuclear bombs, terrorists, and orbital weapons. Now that The Northern Baltic had opened themselves up to retaliation once more by attacking an ally, it was time for revenge.

Central Command was careful to ensure that none of the mistakes that had marred the first war would be made this time around. Kriegzimmer-built hunter-killer submarines would guard the shipping lanes against enemy attack. Deep-water listening devices would warn against any second attempt to sneak a nuke in under the sea. And in space, orbital weapons platforms were busily queuing up potential targets. If the Baltic military saw fit to attack from that direction again, they would face a credible deterrent in the godrods and weaponized satellites hanging perilously over their heads.

The first target of Operation Just Deserts would be Cyprus. The base from which The Northern Baltic had first attacked Manth would be the first to fall.

Thirty minutes after news of the Baltic attack reached Manth, a simple message was sent to the enemy government:

We regret to inform you that our two governments are now at war.

The Mediterranean Sea

The Valencia-class submarine was hardly top of the line. As a diesel patrol sub, it was too slow for fleet warfare, had to run near the surface occasionally, and carried fewer and less potent weapons than the nuclear submarines in Manth's arsenal. However, the Valencia had two advantages. The first was that it could actually shut off its engines and run on battery, unlike a nuclear sub, allowing for much quieter operations.

The second, and far more important, was that a fully armed Valencia could be had for roughtly 1/30th of the price of a modern nuclear fast attack sub. It was that second factor that allowed Manth to deploy hundreds of Valencia-class vessels inside the Mediterranean alone, and similar numbers off the Pacific coast of Africa, to make life a living hell for Northern Baltic craft - civilian or military - anywhere near Manthian shores.

The more modern elements of the fleet were being held back for now, in anticipation of the Northern Baltic reaction.

Tagging.
ADAN already notified.
Expect full mobolization in the next 48 hours.
Ultamatum already sent to TNB...
Initial response time: 4 hours.
Can your Alliance do that?

CA is currently being notified.
No clue when they'll arrive...

So am I correct in assuming this is actually a part of a larger DBLF sponsored attack (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=531293)?

Maldorians, are you in need of defending?

You have the ADAN at your side.

You could have 7 airborne divisions around you in 48 hours.

Maldorians, are you in need of defending?

You have the ADAN at your side.

You could have 7 airborne divisions around you in 48 hours.

{{OOC: Didn't he get kicked out?}}

No, you're thinking of British Londinium, good riddance to him.

And why are you spying?

OOC: And so goes down TNB, let's hope the GUSN doesnt follow.

Off the Maldorians
The F-117's task of dropping the magnetic bombs was nearly complete when the fleet began opening fire. They withdrew and dropped their other magnetic bombs when they were a safe distance away from the fleet in order to gain more speed. Tweleve F-117's were shot down and another one damaged. Had they used planes, such as the 150 Tu-22M's which were now incoming to destroy the enemy fleet with Kh-22 cruise missiles, they would've suffered much heavier loses.

The F-117's were returning to their home base to be fitted with an experimental device; a rather large buoy with a 30mm gun fitted on it. It was powered with a hydroelectric device and also fitted with a small self destruct system in case of its capture. Several prototypes would be dropped in Maldorians shipping lanes and it would be operated by remote control by a base in the Northern Baltic.

Northern Baltic invasion path
The Alta Class minesweepers were well liked by the Northern Baltic navy for their high speed, ability to accomplish its job well, and of course, its low radar and electromagnetic signature. Despite this, a dozen Alta Class Minesweepers were hit and sunk. Three more were hit and had to return to port and one was experiences problems with its computer system, rendering it useless for mine sweeping and also had to return to port.

Ord Mantell
The soldiers rushing to the beaches were greeted by a barrage of artillery fire and fire from the bmp-3's 100mm grenade launchers as the troops moved closer to shore. The mechanized divisions were transported in the bmp-3's. Once they arrived on the beach, they would immediately move island.

Meanwhile, in the skies over Ord Mantell, the F-22 Raptors may have been a more advanced plane, but they were up against 350 of the Northern Baltic's best. Elite airmen who had flown many battle. Nearly all of them were either aces or close to being aces and those who weren't aces yet hoped to be by the end of this air battle.

Northern Baltic Military base, Cyprus
One could not tell that the base officials here were aware that New Manth had just declared war on them, unless, of course, you lived in the base. There were preparations being made for a possible New Manth invasion of the base. Machine guns were being placed all around the base. The dozens of Moskit anti-shipping missile batteries were being tested as they had not been used in months. The garrison inside the base was put on high alert and would be ready to deny the enemy permission to use any piece of the base. The base would be held at any cost.

First Lieutenant Ahmed Yasam tapped the controls on his B-22 Zeus superheavy bomber, bringing the aircraft up a few thousand more feet as it passed over the mountains of northern Ethiopia. Ahead of him, a line of a dozen more aircraft out of the base at Berenice were heading northwards; he brought his Zeus into line behind them, and the seven bombers behind him followed suit.

He glanced over to the nearest copilot, Mohammed Ghazni.

"Well, this is it, man? Pay these fuckers back for the Abydos, for Al-Maryut, for the Border Battle..."

Mohammed grinned.

"Damn pigs won't know what hit them."

Ahmed laughed, even though his stomach felt a bit jittery. No reason to worry, he thought to himself. We won't get anywhere near SAM range...

"Hell." he muttered, nipping the nervous thoughts in the bud. "Screw worrying, this time it's their turn to get lit up."

"We're coming up on our range." reported another pilot. "Weapons release in two minutes."

Ahmed blinked. They were still over Manth, nowhere near the Mediterranean. Of course, he knew that the plane was loaded with standoff air-launched cruise missiles designed to strike from an extremely long range, but seeing it put into practice was still a little startling.

Hard to imagine that this is within range of the enemy, he thought, glancing downwards to a few tiny-looking agricultural fields in southern Egypt. It looks so quiet.

The thought was interrupted by a loud beeping. "We've received forward targeting solutions." Mohammed called, as data beamed from satellites and forward radars streamed into the planes' computers. "We are clear for weapons launch..." Ahmed watched a plane far ahead of him in the formation fire its missiles and peel off. Then another... and another...

Soon it was their turn. One of the pilots flipped off the cover on the firing control, and missiles began to fall from the plane's belly.

Between that attack and others, about five hundred standoff cruise missiles were being launched at Cyprus, probably overkill for a military base on a relatively small island. But there was a point bring made here, after all. The Northern Baltic might have thought they could get away scot-free after their first treacherous attack, launched from that very spot.

They had been wrong, and Manth was in no mood for forgiveness. The missiles would cruise for the remaining 2,500 kilometers of their trips before slamming into missile sites, barracks, command posts, harbors and docked ships, and basically any other target of military value on the island of Cyprus. Already, tanks and soldiers were being loaded onto landing ships in Tripoli. After the dust from the first strike had settled, they would be sent to destroy any resistance that remained.

When the cruise missiles came on the radar of a Northern Baltic Coast Guard patrol boat, the S-400 batteries, 25 missiles stored in five separate underground launch facilities, were launched to intercept them. The 75 Mig-31 fighters along with 25 Mig-7.01's were scrambled to intercept the cruise missiles. If this failed to eliminate all of the missiles, Coast Guard ships were preparing to use weapons on their ships to attempt to intercept the remaining missiles. If this failed, the base would be at the mercy of the missiles. The troops and civilians at the base hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Snip

Check your TGs.

A number of missiles were destroyed by Northern Baltic defenses, especially the MiGs which were particularly effective against the subsonic cruise missiles. Still, plenty of missiles had been sent in oder to ensure that the hastily organized Baltic defenses did not have time to destroy them all, and about a quarter of them survived the Baltic countermeasures; it remained to be seen how much damage the reduced numbers of missiles would cause. Already however the second wave was preparing to launch.

Near Tripoli, ship after ship began to sally forth into the Mediterranean in an unending procession of steel, the vessels taking formation as they cruised towards Cyprus. The Pacitalia-class galleon Navarine and her escorts formed the core of the Fourth Fleet, but a number of amphibious assault ships and landing ships rounded out the Fleet's normal complement. Air cover was provided by TF-70 Shukusei aircraft operating mostly off the mainland - this was a home fleet, after all, and aircraft carriers were not necessary when friendly airstrips and missile sites were right next door.

Ships+aircraft headed towards Cyprus
1 Pacitalia-class galleon
6 Establias-class battleships
10 Carrenzei-class cruisers
12 Morsky-Orol-class light cruisers
32 Ilium-class heavy guided missile destroyers
38 Paramount-class air defense vessels
50 Azores-class fast attack craft
18 Cadiz-class SSBNs
30 Cartagena-class SSNs
12 Lord-class amphibious assault ships
12 Ungforth-class landing platform docks
40 Walrus-class landing vessels
550 land-based TF-70s providing combat air patrol.

There are also ~430 Valencia class submarines operating independently in the Mediterranean at this point.

Snip
The Northern Baltic no longer funds the DBLF.

Check your TGs.
Yeah... funny thing...
Current Roster:
Hurtful Thoughts
Asgarnieu
Uldarious*
Antigr*
Terror Incognitia
Phalynx (Probationary)
Maldorians (Probationary affiliate)

If Mand joins he will still be under attack just for ADAN's info... I hope you guys are ok with that.
@Dephire: A better idea. After TPF's repelled invasion, ;) and the CA-NPE war then I'll ask to be in the AAN part. Would that work?

Yep... Maldorians signed onto our Delayed entry program/fluid time.

In short, for the duration of the CA-NPE war, Maladorians will have to rely entirely on his CA buddies. But don't worry, we already have a seat resserved for you on the AAN.

Still...

How would you rate ADAN's response time?
Any further actions in favor of Mal from ADAN members is strictly voluntary and do not represent ADAN.

OOC: I can only make like 1 OOC comment because I am using a hotel computer, but here is what I think. Lawl, HT that response was quick as hell...XD TWSP it is true that I am waiting for the war to end until I hopefully get into the AAN. Until then, I rely on the CA *Like HT said* which has helped me *New Manth's backup*....Well, I will be home tomorrow/day after...Later...

OOC: Please stop crowding this thread with OOC stuff.

Northern Baltic Military Base, Cyprus
IC: Although the majority of the buildings of the military base were dug into the steep cliffs of the Cyprus coast, safe from anything short of a bunker buster, the surface buildings were heavily damaged. Six missiles impacted with the three above-ground hangers, destroying the aircraft inside and killing about two dozen people. Three missiles impacted with the control tower, destroying it completely. 6 missiles impacted with some above ground buildings and completely destroyed them, though the buildings were of little importance. One more missile hit the ground and shook a portion of the underground complex, giving one man a minor head injury, but no other damage occurred.

Northern Baltic Colony of New Haven
Three Northern Baltic Battlefleets left their various home ports and began heading for the Strait of Gibraltar and then they would head to the military base on Cyprus, keeping to the North. The three Battlefleets were escorted part of the way by various Northern Baltic Coast Guard ships.
1st New Haven Battlefleet
1 Kirov Class (Flagship)
1 Kiev Class (12 Yak-144, 14 Ka-25)
2 Sovremenny Class
3 Kara Class
4 La Fayette Class
3 Visby Class
2 Sa'ar III Class
7 Qahir Class
2 Seawolf Class
1 Vanguard Class
2 Oscar II Class
2 Konstantin Class
1 Typhoon Class
4 Typhoon Cargo Class

2nd New Haven Battlefleet
1 Kirov Class (Flagship)
1 Kiev Class (13 Yak-144, 10 Ka-27, 7 Ka-29)
2 Sovremenny Class
3 Kara Class
4 La Fayette Class
1 Krivak III Class
3 Visby Class
2 Sa'ar III Class
6 Qahir Class
1 Al Riyadh Class
1 Seawolf Class
2 Oscar II Class
1 Konstantin Class
1 Typhoon Class
4 Typhoon Class Cargo

3rd New Haven Battlefleet
1 Kirov Class (Flagship)
1 Kiev Class (12 Yak-144, 16 Ka-27)
2 Sovremenny Class
3 Kara Class
4 La Fayette Class
2 Visby Class
2 Sa'ar III Class
6 Qahir Class
1 Al Riyadh Class
1 Seawolf Class
1 Vanguard Class
3 Oscar II Class
2 Konstantin Class
1 Typhoon Class
4 Typhoon Cargo Class

The Typhoon Cargo Class were filled with food rations to give to the military base. Elements of the Coast Guard forces stationed at the military base in Cyprus were preparing to leave and meet up with the Battlegroups sent from the colony.

Meanwhile, New Haven began a full mobilization of its armed forces. This would allow them to defend their colony of New Haven, if needed.

A new ally has emerged, starting as a small nation, the nation of Qadesh is ready to honor it's peace treaty with the Maldorians.
To it's aid Qadesh sends a fleet carrier, 58 aircraft, 110 smaller destroyer and cruiser-class ships, 50 Blackhawk gunships, 50 Apache Longbow Helicopters, 25 A-10 Thunderbolt II’s, and 10 AC-130 Specters. Also, in-transit are:

Five infantry divisions (50,000 soldiers)
Two and one-half Battalions of Snipers (2,500 soldiers)
One Mercenary battalion (1,000 mercenaries)
5 Heavy Weapons Battalions (5,000 Soldiers)
Total Deployment: 58,500 Soldiers and a naval task force

The Qadeshian forces are deploying just out of the combat zone, firmly on the side of the Maldorians. Their arrival time is in days. They shall sit in the Strait of Gibraltar, to avoid and conflicts, but will move away if they are invading anyone's sovereign waters. Seeing as this is the first historic deployment of the Qadeshian Army and Navy, President David Edward serves an overall commander and commander-in-chief.

However, the government of Qadesh knew that this mobilization might irk a few people, and at once begin a home front mobilization...

With the new response to the entry in the war with Qadesh, Leocardian polls climbed rapidly in whether Leocardia should join the war. Just minutes before the polls are to closed, rapid votes in favor for the entry soared. In the end, 60,483 votes toppled over the nonentry scene. It was time for Leocardia to start moving.

Declaration of War
The situation is current and must respond to full military force. In help for the USSNB under the terms of GUSN, Leocardia will immediately declare war on Qadesh for their reasonless declaration of war. The Leocardian primary focus is ending their naval capabilities.

Engaging the Qadeshi navy
With known satellite images to prove that the Qadeshi navy is moving and is hot on this war, heading toward the USSNB, Leocardia is planning to infiltrate them. The Royal Leocardian Navy 096 has been deployed to attack.
Consisting of:
13 Invincible Class [AA]
21 Guangzhou Class [AA]
15 Lanzhou Class
5 Wasp Class Carrier
12 Sovremenny Class
3 Juki Class Superdreadnaughts

Close-Eye Defensive Stragety
Keeping monitored movements on the enemy, technological SONAR and x-RADAR is on sight by military analysts on depending what they think of Qadeshi navy's actions. Predicting their movements and possible formations, and immediately reporting to the Leocardian ships in action, Navy 096 will be ready for any possible counterattack by Qadesh.

Gibraltar Straight
The Qadesh fleet sat itself right in the path of the three Northern Baltic Battlefleets. Fearing having an enemy on both sides when they engaged the New Manth fleet, it was decided that destroying the Qadesh fleet would be the solution. When the fleet came in range, Yak-144 fighters were scrambled to provide a defensive screen around the Northern Baltic fleet from both missiles and enemy fighters, while anti-shipping missiles, mainly Moskits, were let loose on the enemy. Their first target was the carrier and over two dozen cruise missiles were sent at that. The other surface ships were targeted as well. The submarines assumed positions a short distance in front of the fleet, knowing that if the Qadesh fleet were to move forward, they would probably not be able to bring their valuable anti-submarine weaponry to bear and would be nice targets for their cruise missiles and torpedoes.

Qadesh had truly overestimated its actions...
Seeing now that the historic fleet faced immanent destruction, there resolved to only be one alternative. With that, the entire fleet turned to port, and steamed to a nearby isle, about 20 miles square. The Fleet refused to engage with an enemy it had not yet been cleared to fight. The fleet ships instead, porvided a metal barrier screen from which the soldiers could land safely.

It was here that the Qadeshi armed forces would deploy and set up camp, awaiting response from allies. With the isle in sight, barely visible on any of Qadesh's 's satellite photos, the isle was as good as any to face impending death. Once safely within reach the transport ships began to open there doors. Out of these ships, stepped the beginnings of the 58,000+ Qadeshi army. To provide cover, the Qadeshi navy scrambled all of its available helicopters and planes in the battle group. This way the army could land unimpeded. President David Edward reclined in his brown leather wrap around chair, in his flag-ship Felix. Has his ingenious planning averted a disaster? If he survived, would he be recalled. None of this, for the moment, mattered, the safety of the fleet and military took precedence over all 'civil' matters.

Edward, breathing in a deep breath, picked up his secured line. "Operator, how may I connect you President Edward." "Yeah, put me through the the Parliament Pro-tempore," David said. "Of course, sir" she replied. After two rings, which seemed like hours, Jack Greene, the Parliament Pro-Tempore [ranking member of Parliament] picked up the phone. "David, are you OK?" "Yes, we just had a narrow escape, can you place us on the map" David asked. "Yeah, I see you, you're 25-miles from the combat zone...what engaged you?" After a long sigh, President Edward replied "Its a long story, but on the bright side, I have good story to tell when I get back." With that, David hung up the phone and rubbed his temples...

**Message**
Any actions taken against the Gibraltar Outpost Alpha, will be seen as a declaration of war, and will be responded to accordingly by Qadesh and its allies.
Thank You,
President David Edward

Fearing the worst had happened Jack Greene, for all intents and purposes the President of Qadesh, activated and mobilized whatever forces he had at home to prepare for a possible standoff and invasion by an enemy.

He mobilized:
300,000 full-time solders
600,000 Levied recruits
10,000 Heavy Weapon emplacements
50 ships of varying sizes and roles
500 aircraft
500 Challenger II Main Battle Tanks

Straight of Gibraltar
The Qadesh fleet retreating was treated cautiously. The Northern Baltic Battlefleets followed slowly to be sure they weren't surprised by an ambush. When they received the message from the Qadesh government, they headed towards the island of Cyprus, not wishing to engage an enemy they didn't have to, unless of course, the Qadesh fired on them.

Northern Baltic Military Base, Cyprus
When the second volley of missiles appeared on radar, the military base was much better prepared then they were the first time. Northern Baltic ships, Mig's, and the base itself launched volleys of SAM's. The base also deployed several jamming techniques in an attempt to stop the remaining missiles. Personal, save for a few guards, were moved into the underground portion of the base, in case the missiles got through.

Thirty Mig-7.01's headed along a projected route of where the missiles were launched in an attempt to stop them for good. They flew low to avoid being detected by radar. Ten carried anti-shipping missiles, ten carried bunker-busters, and ten carried anti-air missiles. These fast Migs would surely get through any air defense that New Manth had, especially when they were moving so low.

** Message **
Qadesh and President David Edward wish to thank the most peaceful nation of the Northern Baltic States for their breaking off the engagement. We have entered this conflict yes, but only to defend our ally, the Maldorians, as our treaty has stated. Surely, you may understand our reasoning. We have not declared war on any nation, and are currently in a holding pattern. We thank you for allowing us to set up our forward operations base, Gibraltar Outpost Alpha.

President David Edward
Commader-in-Chief of the Qadeshi deployed soliders, and President of Qadesh.

Open Declaration

Any fleets hostile to the Greater Economic Union which pass the Strait of Gibraltar will be bringing death and destruction down upon their own heads. We have more than enough antishipping missiles on alert in Manth proper to sink every vessel sent by the Baltics and Leocardia ten times over, and your ships are even now in our sights. The fate of your sailors now hangs on a thread.

We are giving the nation of The Northern Baltic a chance to save their ships and men by retreating with honor from every base they possess in the Mediterranean, while they still can. There will be only one chance. Should this generous offer be thrown in the face of the Union, every last Baltic force in the Mediterranean will be destroyed.

To our erstwhile ally of Leocardia, we urge you not to put your friendship with the Northern Baltic above our own alliance through COMECON. Passing through the Straits with hostile intent will be interpreted as a declaration of war against the Union. We urge you to stand down rather than break our alliance with a dishonorable stab in the back.



Encrypted Transmission to Quadesh Fleet

Should your fleets be in need of protection, they are free to shelter at any of Manth's ports in North Africa. The Manthian shore is protected by a formidable network of thousands of antishipping and antiair missiles, as well as the Manthian navy; neither hostile fleet can pursue you without risking destruction.

The Mediterranean

Meanwhile, before any of the Northern Baltic fleets could hope to relieve Cyprus they would have to navigate their way through the submarine-infested Mediterranean and then avoid destruction at the hands of long-range Khan missiles once again. Already dozens of submarines were beginning to converge on the enemy fleets - soon it would be hundreds.

Egypt

The MiGs tracking the missile launch would find that it originated from hundreds of kilometers inland in Southern Egypt, well within the formidable SAM network maintained by the Manthian military. If they were looking to push their luck, there were also patrolling TF-70s and Doomani-built Aquila fighters to consider.

~100 km off Cyprus

The Fourth Fleet was nearing the island, and began to move into position to start the attack proper. First the Navarine's twenty-five inch guns would pound the island, joined by the smaller guns of the Establias-class battleships. Once any military asset not in a deep bunker had been scoured from the face of the island, the land assault would begin.

The Navarine began to turn slightly, to bring all her guns to bear. As crewmen were cleared off the deck or sheltered behind blast shields, the ship's thirty-six massive main guns swung ponderously around to face the island.

A moment later, with an earsplitting boom and a shock-wave that flattened the waves for hundreds of feet, the first volley was fired. Soon the six Establias-class battleships added their own voices, each one spitting out volleys of 21" shells at Northern Baltic positions.

It was probably massive overkill. But Cyprus held large symbolic as well as strategic value, and before the day was out, Central Command was determined to see the enemy base either razed to the ground or occupied by Manthian troops.

Or preferably, both.

Gibraltar Straight
The Northern Baltic fleet did not want to take chances. It turned around and stayed several miles from the Straight of Gibraltar, waiting for another order.

Skies over Egypt
The Migs found that their target was well out of range and decided to head back. One their way back, they found the New Manth fleet attacking the Northern Baltic Military Base on Cyprus. Since the fleet was shelling the entire base, including the airfield, the planes were unable to land. Instead, they chose to begin an attack on the fleet from the rear. Seven planes were low on fuel, but instead of attempting to land in the crater filled air field, they targeted a ship, picked up their speed, and when they were close enough, kicked in their afterburners. The rest of the planes covered the nine planes fitted with anti-shipping missiles from enemy missiles and fighters while the planes used their P-800 anti-shipping missiles against the battleships.

Northern Baltic Military Base, Cyprus
The base was under heavy attack. Six underground bunkers had collapsed and the airstrip could not be used as it was under heavy attack. The planes still inside the base needed a way to launch and the Commanders at the base knew exactly how they would do it.

The 85 Mig-29OVT's were brought into the nuke silos and launched vertically one by one using JATO. Several lost control of the plane and exploded, but the silo doors closed so the debris didn't hit any other planes. Once in the air, the Mig-29OVT's headed out in the opposite direction of the enemy.

Next the Moskit missiles launched. There were several dozen each volley and there were six volleys. The missiles were aimed at the battleships and the Navarine. The last two volleys of missiles were concentrated on the Navarine. The eight 12 inch guns in the bunkers began opening fire on the enemy ships as well. Ten Oscar II Class Submarines opened fire using cruise missiles on the enemy ships, but did not stray far from the harbor and quickly returned once their cruise missiles were launched.

Twenty Yak-141 fighters joined the Mig-29OVT's fight. They were all equipped with four Exocet missiles, which they prepared to launch when they were closer.

To: New Manth
From: Qadesh

You have saved our glorious fleet. Our air force commanders have scrambled fighters, and those fighters have sprayed chaff to screen our intentions. Our fleet would like to declare its intention to harbor in Tunis. Is that ok? Or, would you have us seek harbor in other region in N. Africa...perhaps closer to Cyprus, to immediately aid your forces, should they come under attack from the Northern Baltic States? I can harbor closer to the SAM site in Southern Egypt and attempt to bomb it for you. You should expect 58,500 soldiers and 300 or so ships with accompanying aircraft. We shall, at this time, abandon our forward Outpost "Gibraltar Outpost Alpha."
You must understand the precarious situation I, as President, find myself. If my fleet were to be destroyed, my country may retreat into a horrifying and humbling isolation. This is not good for my country, and would only result in our eventual destruction through civil war.

David Edward, President of Qadesh

P.S. Qadesh formally wishes to sign a pact of non-aggression with New Manth. We find that our aims are the same, and now owe a great debt to them. This historic offer of generosity will not be forgotten.

P.S.S. My army is prepared to fully invade Cyprus, on your orders. We will return to the port you tell us to, refit and refuel, and prepare to invade at once, your command willing. If your magnificent battleships and carriers soften up there coastal defenses, we will fully invade, sending our 58,500 man force to their shores, and bombing targets of interest. Our helicopters and aircraft will attempt to assume air superiority. I have authorized my Government to send, furthermore, 100 F-16 Falcons and 100 B-52 Bombers to bring aid your bombing runs.

As alarms sounded on the bridge of the Navarine, computers began cataloguing the incoming attacks and assigning defenses. A worried-looking lieutenant looked up from the tactical display at Fleet Admiral Ibrahim Hassan, who was diligently studying a map of Cyprus with the main Baltic military installations marked off.

"Sir! The enemy has managed to launch planes which are coming in to attack us. We have also detected a large number of incoming cruise missiles!"

Hassan didn't look up. New recruits, he thought with a sigh. Every missile makes 'em shit themselves.

"Time?"

The ensign glanced back at his screen.

"Two minutes for the air-launched missiles, two-fifteen for the first sub-launched."

"Notify me of how many remain at thirty seconds till impact. Don't bother me about them until then."

The Admiral returned to contemplation as the Navarine rocked from another volley of the main guns.

As the attackers neared the Fourth Fleet, the Shukuseis on CAP and the Paramount air defense vessels were the first line of defenses to come into play. Shukuseis slid though the sky towards enemy aircraft, taking full advantage of their minimal radar and infrared signatures to sneak up on enemy planes and strike without warning. Meanwhile, the thirty-eight Paramount ADVs spat hundreds of counter-missiles out of VLS tubes and sent Praetoriam SAMs at the enemy planes. Given the Fourth Fleet's large numerical superiority, two counter-missiles were assigned to each incoming missile.

For those that made it past the net of ADVs and fighters, the second line of defense was waiting in the targeted ships' own SAMs, countermissile batteries and jamming. At this stage three countermissiles were assigned to each incoming target, given that the enemy missiles would be getting uncomfortably close. Cruisers and dstroyers also contributed their own counterfire, as well as attempting to jam guidance systems by overloading their radar systems with intentionally broadcast 'noise'.

The final line of defense, for the missiles that survived this, would be CIWS tracking incoming missiles and attempting to shoot them down during the last moments of flight. Given how fast antishipping missiles usually traveled and the short range of CIWS, they were always a last resort rather than a solid defense, but they would add something at least.

Meanwhile, the Fleet's Tenerife-class hunter-killer subs began to slide quietly towards where a few faint sonar contacts had been picked up, in search of the enemy ballistic submarines.

Encrypted Communication to Qadeshi Fleet

Your fleets are welcome in Tunis, or should they wish to dock further in, we have extensive military shipyards near Tripoli or even Suez. While we feel that the situation in Cyprus is well in hand, every little bit helps, and the brave men of Qadesh are welcome to join the Manthian fleet offshore.

With regard to your offer of a pact of nonagression, the Greater Economic Union would be glad to sign such an agreement. Once the current situation has been dealt with, your diplomats will be welcomed in Manth.

Regards,

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy, Strategic Liaison

**Attention New Manth**
This is Fight Squadron Alpha [consisting of 50 Blackhawk gunships, 50 Apache Longbow Helicopters, 25 A-10 Thunderbolt II’s, and 10 AC-130 Specters] is about 20 miles from your fleet's current position. RE: should we engage the enemy or wait for further orders?

Back in his flag-ship President Edward, had to calm his troops and naval ships down. Being as they has seen little combat, they were spoiling for a fight. "Men, battle shall come in time," the President said. With that simple message and warning the President reclined in his chair.

~ Squadron Commander Gray

P.S. The fleet, complete with invasion force, is steaming towards the port in the Suez Canal.

Encrypted Communication to Fight Squadron Alpha

"Welcome aboard Operation Just Deserts, and good to see you here. We're having a bit of trouble with some enemy fighters, but we'll be beginning the land assault as soon as they are dealt with. We advise waiting until enemy fighter-bombers are routed before bringing in helicopters, but after that feel free to cut loose."

Regards

Encrypted Communication to Fight Squadron Alpha

"Welcome aboard Operation Just Deserts, and good to see you here. We're having a bit of trouble with some enemy fighters, but we'll be beginning the land assault as soon as they are dealt with. We advise waiting until enemy fighter-bombers are routed before bringing in helicopters, but after that feel free to cut loose."

Regards

The squadron promised finally arrived, 100 F-16 Falcons and 100 B-52 Bombers finally arrived and the F-16's engaged the enemy planes from the rear. Meanwhile, 25 A-10 Thunderbolt II’s and 10 AC-130 Specters attacked the New Baltic States squadron from the east. One F-16 fired a missile towards a Baltic State fighter-bomber and with that the Qadeshi's have entered Operation: Just Desserts.

It soon became obvious that the aircraft pilots of the Qadeshi's lacked the experience necessary to fight this kind of war. Seeing as they were new to international warfare, they began taking heavy loses.

The Bombers headed toward the friendly base at the Suez Canal. "Attention all planes currently attacking in all squadrons [Alpha, Beta, and Charlie] your orders are to repulse the invaders and then break off. Do NOT pursue them, you are to wait for our friends, the New Manthians to make their move. We are not carrying this war on our shoulders. We are here to support our friends," President Edward said calmly. He waited anxiously for any word.

Deployed Leocardian Ships
The Naval 096 halted its movements as the latest warning from its COMECON ally was sent to main base. They knew that COMECON was valuable to Leocardia, and would not let that value fall into ruins. They knew what was good for Leocardia and they held on to the knowledge.

Open Warning to Qadesh
When your navy crosses the protection zone in which New Manth covers, we will promise you that your ships will be destroyed by packs of thousands of missiles each of your ships and will guarantee no retreats from your navy. We would also warn you that any attack in New Manth's protection zone from your ships will respond to immediate destruction of your fleet.*
*We back this warning through the agreements of COME-CON in response to national defense on international waters.

Air over Cyprus
The Mig-29's cut back now and kicked in their after burners. They passed the Yak-141's and provided them with covering fire from any fighters and missiles they encountered. They stayed out of the combat zone until the Moskit missiles fired everything and now they headed to the battleships, where the Yak-141's would unleash their Exocets on them, 20 for each ship, and, hopefully, destroy them.

The first waves of Moskits were all destroyed and did not cause any damage.

On the ground, Cyprus
The order was finally given: Fire everything. All the moskit batteries fired until their autoloaders were out of ammunition. An awe-inspiring 216 Moskit cruise missiles headed towards the ships in front of the New Manth fleet providing protection for the heavier ships. That was just the beginning. In about three minutes, they would fire again, but this time, they would concentrate everything on the Galleon.

Nearly everything, save for a few well reinforced buildings, was leveled on the military base. The runway was begining to look like a gigantic crater and it seemed that the military base had been under bombardment for days.

Engaging the Qadeshi fleet
It was time, now that New Manth were no threat Leocardia, and power to warn Leocardia was eliminated, it was time to close in on the Qadeshi navy. Su-33 fighters sped out of the runways of the aircraft carriers, and the Naval 096 superdreadnaughts lined their guns on Qadeshi ships. Sovernnmy Class fired their Moskit anti ship missiles until their auto loaders were exhausted, and the SDs fired their guns away. Torpedo launchers aimed at every available ships, and fired them away also, at top speed. The Juki Class also fired their moskit missiles. In all, a total of 183 moskits were fired at the Qadeshi navy.

OOC: Just FYI, Qadesh sent his ships to the southeastern Mediterranean near Suez, which is a couple thousand kilometers away from Gibraltar. Well out of range of Moskits (~120km) and guns (probably less) fired from outside Gibraltar - you'd have to cross the Mediterranean as well to reach them.

BTW TNB do you have any other bases or possessions in the Mediterranean after Cyprus?

Offshore of Cyprus

Here and there, smoke billowed from an Ilium-class destroyer or Paramount ADV where the enemy had scored a lucky hit either with Exocets or some other missile, but it looked like the first wave had been dealt with effectively. As for the larger capital warships, they were in the center of the formation in addition to being very heavily protected in their own rights, and no serious damage was sustained from the first attack.

The response to the second volley of Moskits was much the same as the first, with anti-missile missiles and CIWS taking up the fight against the Moskits, but since the enemy was firing more missiles a heavier response was needed. Two hundred TF-70 Shukuseis descended on the enemy aircraft, each plane coming in radar off and instead using data provided by the Fleet and its AWACS to target enemy planes, in order to not give any warning of their presence.

In contrast to the Qadeshi pilots, these men were experienced flyers - many having fought in Israel, others in sub-Saharan Africa, the invasion of Angola, the defense of Kamys Point or many of the other conflicts that had marked the last few years in Manth. They were also flying some of the best available aircarft in the world, and they outnumbered the enemy several times. Not good odds for the Baltic men.

Bridge of the Navarine

"I have casualty reports for the outer ring, sir..."

Still studying his tactical display, the Admiral waved off the incoming officer.

"A moment. The enemy is launching more missiles. Light up the remaining ADVs, and send in more Shukuseis, I don't want any more planes getting through."

Hassan looked up.

"Determine the launch site of those Moskits and hit it with the twenty-fives. I don't want anything left to fire another volley."

"Sir."

"And after that, send the signal to begin the ground assault. I want them heading towards the beach in ten minutes.

The Navarine's guns swung around to target the Baltic missile launchers and spat out another volley. Further back, in the rear of the Fleet where they had been sheltering from the initial volleys, landing craft and helicopter carriers began to move up.

Gibraltar

Anyone could recognize the strategic value of controlling the Straits in any action in the Mediterranean, which was why not one but two Fleets had been dispatched to keep watch over the Straits once Baltic and Leocardian vessels started appearing. The Manthians did not intend to strike first at their allies in Leocardia, but they did want to make it perfectly clear that they wouldn't be caught with their pants down if the Leocardians tried anything.

OOC: ORBAT for 1st and 3rd Fleets
1 Feathermore-class superdreadnought
1 Pacitalia-class galleon/SD killer
18 Establias-class battleships
12 Indestructable-class aircraft carriers
10 Ingerier-class battlecruisers
38 Carrenzei-class cruisers
46 Morsky-Orol-class light cruisers
90 Ilium-class destroyers
94 Paramount-class air defense vessels
35 Cartagena-class SSNs
20 Tenerife-class SSHNs
12 Cadiz-class SSBNs

And in case it comes up, ORBAT for North African Strategic Coastal Artillery:
41 Khan missile sites (128 missiles per command)
35 Sledgehammer II launch sites (64 missiles per command)
12 Praetorian ABM silos (20 missiles per command)
49 Praetorian F long-range SAM launch sites (24 missiles per command)

OOC: No just the military base.

In the sky over Cyprus
Over 100 missiles of the second wave were shot down, but about 100 Moskit missiles survived, mainly due their high speeds, giving crews on the ships around 25 seconds of response time, not a lot to do anything except fire at the missiles.

The Mig-29's spotted the mass of enemy fighters coming right at them. They split into groups of 5 and fired off nearly all of their heat-seeking missiles at the incoming planes. They still had to escort the Yak-141's back to the base and did not stray to far from the several formations of Yak-141s.

On the ground in Cyprus
Sa-6 batteries prepared to fire at the incoming enemy fighters, but waited until they come closer so they could get a better shot. The troops on the base were alerted about the enemy transport ships moving forward and now prepared to fight them back, though how they would manage scaling a massive cliff was yet to be seen, especially with little or no beach to operate from.

Three Moskit launchers were knocked out. Thankfully, the launchers were scattered and placed in fortified bunkers which were dug into the cliff side. The Moskit launchers now fired nearly 200 Moskit missiles at the Galleon, hoping to sink the $265 billion piece of merchandise.

Gibraltar
The fleets near the entrance to the Straight of Gibraltar now moved towards a Maldorian colony (present day Cuba). There they would blockade the island. Whenever they would see a ship, they would order it to stop. If it did not stop, a shot was fired across its bow. If the ship still did not stop, the orders were to sink it. High command said to the Commanders of these fleets that this may just be a move to make the New Manth fleet guarding the straight think they were leaving, allowing them to possibly sneak by the New Manth fleet without anyone noticing.

Off Cyprus

CIWS stations bracketed the skies with a hail of fire, sending unending storms of metal to meet the enemy missiles in a last-ditch defensive effort. Of course, not all were successful. A number of missiles survived to make contact with various ships of the Manthian fleet.

The destroyer Berenice was the first ship to go, three missiles impacting the hull and splitting the vessel in two; she sank quickly. On the heavy cruiser Dominant, two missiles struck the forward VLS block, and explosions from stored ammunition or missiles cooking off continued to wrack the ship as she began to list heavily, until the waters came up to the deck on the right-hand side and the ship slipped beneath the waves, taking a number of crewmen with her. Several other ships in the Manthian fleet were damaged to various degrees, a few burning above the waterline while others were damaged or taken out of action outright.

The battleship Carthage was the worst-damaged capital ship, a missile striking near the stern and severely damaging the steering as well as several on the belt and one barely missing destroying the ship when it punched through an already-damaged turret. Only the quick actions of the damage control crews in flooding the ammunition storage saved Carthage from sharing the Dominant's fate, but the ship was still badly hurt and would have to limp back to Tripoli, out of the fight for now.

Shukuseis continued their deadly wrangling with Northern Baltic fighters in the skies above the Fleet. A few were destroyed by enemy missiles, but many managed to take advantage of the Shukusei's extreme maneuverability and relatively low infrared to evade the attacks.

The Manthian fighters returned the favor several times over, each Shukusei teaming up with another to take on a single Baltic fighter or Yak. From each craft, two IRAAMs were sent downrange at the enemy fighters - this made for a total of four missiles per enemy aircraft, plus a few SAMs from the fleet below to worry about. Mostly however the Fleet was concentrating on shooting down missiles...

Bridge of the Navarine

"Admiral. We've picked up a large missile launch... it appears they are converging... er, on us, sir. Navarine appears to be the main target..."

"Stop talking and start shooting them down." the Admiral snapped. "Redouble our defenses around the vessel."

The Manthians knew this was probably the last gasp from the enemy antishipping missile defenses, and so they did not spare efforts to shoot them down. Two countermissiles were assigned to each incoming missile, and then four to each missile that survived the first volley. As was usually the case, however, a few would undoubtedly get through...

Meanwhile a new wave of aircraft from the mainland began to come up on Cyprus. F-16 Priests loaded out with HARM missiles descended on Cyprus, releasing their radar-seeking missiles on anything that was emitting a radar signal in an attempt to crush the enemy air defense. Cargo planes loaded out with paradroppable Orionus mobile gun systems and light tanks would soon follow, even as the way in which the Manthians intended to defeat the formidable cliff defenses became apparent - the twelve Lord-class helicopter assault ships.

The non-airborne portion of the assault would skirt the coast of Cyprus until they found a good landing site at some seaside town or village, preferably a good distance away from the Baltic base.

On Cyprus
Two more Moskit batteries were destroyed and a third one was damaged and was currently being repaired. The rest emptied their autloaders again at the Galleon, sending 180 Moskit missiles at the fleet. Three dozen Kh-22P missiles were launched with the Moskits. The Kh-22P's were designed to home in on the radar of the ships and destroy it, severely limiting their performance.

Two of the shore guns had been destroyed, but they continued to fire at the enemy fleet. The shells and Moskit missiles were now being brought up from the reserve bunkers, which were at the bottom of the base. These bunkers were located close to the missile factory, where the civilians who worked there were now rushing to finish as many missiles as they possibly could.

Off Cyprus
Less then a dozen Moskit missiles survived the mass of countermeasures thrown at them. Despite this, the missiles remaining would surely cripple the Galleon, if not destroy it all together.

Three dozen Mig-29OVT's were lost. Despite this, they continued to put up a fight in an attempt to get the Yak-141's to base. The Yak's were almost at their base and the Mig's were now given the order to retreat. Once the Mig's were past a certain point, the Sa-6 batteries opened fire.

Bridge of the Navarine

The mighty two-million-ton vessel shuddered as multiple missiles impacted at various points. Explosions bloomed against the armor belt and superstructure, twisting metal apart and sending flames into the sky.

The Admiral stadied himself against a table as the roar of explosions died down, replaced with the wail of damage-warning sirens.

"I want a full report from damage control now!" he yelled. "And I'm getting damn sick of those missiles. I want...."

He paused to think for a moment, glancing over several tactical screens as he did so. Severe damage... the Navarine would not be serviceable again for some time.

"I'll be transfering my flag to the Alexandria. Navarine is to return to port. But before I go, call in an orbital strike against those damn misisle bunkers."

"....sir?" a battered-looking officer enquired. "An orbital strike...?" He trailed off, apparently still a bit dazed from the last strike which had impacted quite close to the bridge.

"You heard me! I wanted a god rod dropped on their heads five minutes ago. Now do it!"

High Orbit

A signal was sent to one of the Thor satellites hanging silently in orbit above the Mediterranean Sea. It was checked and double-checked by the satellites's onboard computers, but everything seemed to be in order. First one, and then a second thirty-foot tungsten pole slid out of the satellite and accelerated towards the Earth. Its work done, the satellite continued serenely on its path around the planet.

The rods would reach blinding speeds over the course of their fall, before finally impacting with enough force to atomize anything it struck in an explosion far exceeding the yield of even a massive bunker-busting bomb. Hopefully the massive impact would vaporize the Northern Baltic missile launchers and destroy the tunnel network.

Off Cyprus

As the Navarine began to ponderously turn away from the battle, smoke pouring from her numerous wounds, a number of helicopters rose from the deck, carrying the Admiral and his staff to the new temporary flagship of the Fourth Fleet. The air battle raged on even after the Baltic aircraft had fled, with F-16 Priests taking losses from SAMs but giving as good as they were getting. Hundreds of HARMs were fired, targeting any Baltic SAMs that dared light up their radars, as in the wake of the godrod strike the cargo planes arrived and began to drop tanks, assault guns, and paratroopers.

Meanwhile the amphibious vessels had found a perfect landing spot, though because of the cliffs it was a fair distance from the Baltic base - a small fishing village with direct access to the water. Dozens of landing ships impacted the shore, belching forth main battle tanks and APCs. The first tanks to disembark mounted flamethrowers, spewing fire into local buildings as they rolled ashore. After all, any civilian with half a brain had already likely fled, but the Manthians didn't know whether Baltic commanders had sent soldiers to contest the landing.

Casualties so far:
1 Pacitalia-class galleon mission killed
1 Establias-class battleship mission killed, two moderately damaged
2 Carrenzei-class cruisers
2 Morsky-Orol-class light cruisers
7 Ilium-class heavy guided missile destroyers
2 Paramount-class air defense vessels
18 TF-70 Shukusei
21 FA-16 Priest

How many Baltic soldiers (roughly) are left on the island?

Safely in thew Suez base, the Qadeshi army disembarked and retired for rest and relaxation. The elite 1,000 man "Primary Objectives" battalion loaded into their jeeps and went to occupy positions around the Suez, preparing for a counter-offensive. With them, 500 soldiers carrying heavy weapons, to give the positions much needed fire-power. Once there, Primary Objectives split into two formations of 500 men each, with 250heavy weapons soldiers in both units. Finally, the order was given for the entire fleet, w/out the 58,500 man army and transport ships, to steam at speed to Cyprus.
The following ships steamed out of port, leaving transport ships behind with the army.
a fleet carrier
158 aircraft [100 were destroyed in actions against enemy aircraft]
110 smaller destroyer and cruiser-class ships
25 A-10 Thunderbolt II’s
10 AC-130 Specters.

Suez Canal, Egypt
The Fleet's orders were to sail/fly to Cyprus at speed, and prepare a beachhead for the Qadeshi army to land. President David Edward set up a temporary command center to run his end of the war. His army of some 58,000 awaited his commands.

Wadesh, Qadesh Capitol City
The Parliament Protempore paced back and forth. Should be send the remainder of the army and navy? Was this conflict worth that much expenditure? He proposed to let Parliament decide...

**Encrypted Message to the New Manthians**
President David Edward has given orders for his field army of 57,000 to head towards Cyprus, give them a good welcome. The army will assist and occupy the island if needed to free up your troops to do battle elsewhere, after the Main Baltic force is defeated.

Off the Maldorians
The F-117's task of dropping the magnetic bombs was nearly complete when the fleet began opening fire. They withdrew and dropped their other magnetic bombs when they were a safe distance away from the fleet in order to gain more speed. Two F-117's were shot down and a third one damaged. Had they used planes, such as the 150 Tu-22M's which were now incoming to destroy the enemy fleet with Kh-22 cruise missiles, they would've suffered much heavier loses.

OOC: Only 2 were shot down? I believe I fired Patriots, which use an advanced aerial interceptor missile and high performance radar systems.

The F-117's were returning to their home base to be fitted with an experimental device; a rather large buoy with a 30mm gun fitted on it. It was powered with a hydroelectric device and also fitted with a small self destruct system in case of its capture. Several prototypes would be dropped in Maldorians shipping lanes and it would be operated by remote control by a base in the Northern Baltic.

OOC: Read above...

Ord Mantell
The soldiers rushing to the beaches were greeted by a barrage of artillery fire and fire from the bmp-3's 100mm grenade launchers as the troops moved closer to shore. The mechanized divisions were transported in the bmp-3's. Once they arrived on the beach, they would immediately move island.

Meanwhile, in the skies over Ord Mantell, the F-22 Raptors may have been a more advanced plane, but they were up against 350 of the Northern Baltic's best. Elite airmen who had flown many battle. Nearly all of them were either aces or close to being aces and those who weren't aces yet hoped to be by the end of this air battle.


"Excellent. They are more stupid than we thought! Open fire!" Was the command as Maldorian coastal Firestorm systems began a barrage upon the oncoming transports. Soldiers which were outside of the enemy artillery range, stood hidden in the dense forests, awaiting the torn-up enemy units....

Although the F-22 Raptors were up against a far-larger NB air force, the Maldorian pilots could make up the numbers in wits. The Raptors' only objectives were to cover the ground forces. Once the enemy NB aircraft were in range, they would be harrassed by SAM's as well as air-to-air missiles...

OOC: I'm back. TNB, I'm kinda concerned that you didn't approve the nations joining in without checking with me as well...The only TG you gave me was asking the approval of Aurum Domus....:/ Also, what's with the BMP-3 grenade launchers? You didn't even reach the shores...

With the fleet approaching Cyprus, it was time to evaluate numbers.

50,000 Infantry Soldiers
2.500 Snipers
4.500 Heavy Weapons Soldiers
-------------------------------------
Total: 57,000

When the base was firmly established, "Primary Objectives" would join them, and provide headquarters security.

The fleet, complete with the field army was approximately 2 hours away from Cyprus at this point, steaming at full speed, radars at the ready.

Northern Baltic Military Base, Cyprus
The bunker system had now began to collapse in several places when the first tungsten pole impacted towards the center of the base. No damage was noticeable on the outside of the base, save for a giant, very deep crater on the area of the base that used to be the runway. The second tungsten pole impacted with the base closer to sea. The cliffs collapsed and now created a gigantic tidal wave from the sheer amount of debris that fell into the sea.

Ord Mantell
Three dozen BMP-3's were hit by the Firestorm systems. The BMP-3's got closer and closer to shore and the troops inside them prepared to unload. Off the shore, the ships now opened fire on the forest with everything they had. The object was to pound the forest until it simply did not exist anymore.

The Su-37's took minor losses and several more planes had to return to base. The Su-37's were now joined by 500 Mig 1.42's which carried bombs and guided missiles to attack and destroy SAM sites and other targets of military importance.

Mandalore Prime
Mandalore Prime was now under blockade by the New Haven Fleet. The ships stayed far enough from land to avoid being in range of any shore artillery or missiles systems, but intercepted all ships they saw going to Mandalore Prime and ordered them to turn around. If they did not turn around, they would have a shot fired over their bow. If they did not stop, the ship was fired upon.

Off the Maldorians
The entire fleet continued moving fowerd, despite having a few more minesweepers sunk. The fleet consisted of:
75 Longboat Class
5 Pathfinder Dreds
20 Orel Ul'yanovsk Class (70 Super J-10 each)
11 Stalingrad-B Class
5 Gepard 3
43 Krivak Class
23 Udaloy II Class
14 Neustrashimy Class
60 Slava Class
30 Kara Class
45 Sovremenny Class
41 Kirov Class
38 Ivan-Rogov Amphibious Assault Transport Ships
172 Pomornik class
24 Wasp Class Helicoper Assault Ships
3 Typhoon Class Cargo Submarines
14 Oscar II Class
15 Alfa Class
45 Akula Class
11 Borei Class Submarines
20 Mike Class Submarines
25 Lada Class

Shortly, the fleet would split and move and head to the islands they were assigned to attack.

Providing Aid for the Baltics in Maldorians
Air Force Squadron 56 was deployed in to aid the Baltics. Air Base 491 is the designated base to host Squadron 56, and is closest to Maldorians in Leocardia. Tu-160 bombers raced down the airfield and toward Baltic movements of ships and onto the warzone.

Off the Shores of Cyprus
The transport ships approached the shores, and began off-loading their troops and supplies. Strangely, they faced little resistance. Once all of the men were off the ships, which took just under an hour, a base was established. Heavy weapon emplacements were established around the base, and as promised, the elite "Primary Objectives" Battalion set up positions around the base. Meanwhile, President Edward ordered 55,000 troops to move out and establish contact with the New Manthians.

The field Commander radioed back the President Edward "Sir, we are receiving photos our the Baltic base in relation to our current position. Our Snipers and heavy weapons soldiers will set up positions first, and be ready to suppress fire before we move in.

**Secret Communication to the Maldorians**
Our forces have established a beachhead on the New Baltic stronghold of Cyprus and are preparing the island to be occupied by our forces. We have 55,000 men attempting to link up with New Manthian forces on the island. Please advise.

**Secret Message to the New Manthians**
Your radar and intelligence should be reporting our landing. "Primary Objectives" is setting up positions around our base, and the remainder of our force [55,000] should be linking up with yours soon. Please advise.

"Squad 56, reporting in. Requesting for orders."

The group of Tu-160 bombers headed their way to the Maldorians.

"Squad 56, this is Base 491. Proceed to new area location. Attack at new enemy base."

The bombers injected more fuel into the engine.

"This is '56, affirmative. Engaging."

The group of bombers spotted the base of Qadeshi forces and pounded their GBU-43/B.

"Bombers set. Ready to attack."

"Engage. ALL BOMBERS ENGAGE!"

Ord Mantell
Three dozen BMP-3's were hit by the Firestorm systems. The BMP-3's got closer and closer to shore and the troops inside them prepared to unload. Off the shore, the ships now opened fire on the forest with everything they had. The object was to pound the forest until it simply did not exist anymore.

The Su-37's took minor losses and several more planes had to return to base. The Su-37's were now joined by 500 Mig 1.42's which carried bombs and guided missiles to attack and destroy SAM sites and other targets of military importance.

The nice thing about Firestorm missile launchers was that they can fire multiple types of missiles at the same time. As the enemy MiG's flew overhead, SAM missiles from the Firestorms opened up upon the astonished enemy pilots. They didn't know what him them...

With the Firestorm's covering the air, railgun's popped out of the burning forests, and concentrated their fire upon the almost ashore BMP's. A few railgun's were dealt a direct hit from an enemy artillery, but most of the railgun's remained intact.

Kamov Ka-27, Helix for short, helicopters soon took off from the main air field on the island, heading towards the beach. After firing a salvo ATGM's, the Helix's deployed mines on the beaches in an effort to halt the enemy advance. As the helicopters pulled back towards the air field to restock on ammo, a small group of AC-130U's hovered over the beachs. Flying in circles, the gunships were meant to destroy the BMP-3's before they touched the beach. 105mm howitzer shells with high-heat rounds soon fired upon the enemy forces. They would pay for invading Maldorians...

Mandalore Prime
Mandalore Prime was now under blockade by the New Haven Fleet. The ships stayed far enough from land to avoid being in range of any shore artillery or missiles systems, but intercepted all ships they saw going to Mandalore Prime and ordered them to turn around. If they did not turn around, they would have a shot fired over their bow. If they did not stop, the ship was fired upon.

Soldiers stationed on the island waited for an expected invasion force. Helicopters and aircraft at the main centralized air field were on idle, ready to shoot down any oncoming bogey's....

Off the Maldorians[/B]
The entire fleet continued moving fowerd, despite having a few more minesweepers sunk. The fleet consisted of:
75 Longboat Class
5 Pathfinder Dreds
20 Orel Ul'yanovsk Class (70 Super J-10 each)
11 Stalingrad-B Class
5 Gepard 3
43 Krivak Class
23 Udaloy II Class
14 Neustrashimy Class
60 Slava Class
30 Kara Class
45 Sovremenny Class
41 Kirov Class
38 Ivan-Rogov Amphibious Assault Transport Ships
172 Pomornik class
24 Wasp Class Helicoper Assault Ships
3 Typhoon Class Cargo Submarines
14 Oscar II Class
15 Alfa Class
45 Akula Class
11 Borei Class Submarines
20 Mike Class Submarines
25 Lada Class

Shortly, the fleet would split and move and head to the islands they were assigned to attack.

Coastal artillery and railguns soon opened up. They focused their firepower upon the closest large target, hoping to take down the large ships, leaving the Maldorian fleets with a small cleanup job. On the beaches of the main island, more coastal positions were waiting for an enemy foolish enough to attack the Homeland island...

OOC: Leocardia, Qadesh's forces are on Cyprus near my fleet or in Suez, well within my SAM and ASM nets and the cover of my aircraft. Also I thought your bombers were heading to Maldorians, who is completely off in the other direction. Could you clarify a bit please?

Encrypted Transmission to Qadeshi Forces

Much of the enemy base has been destroyed, and Manthian forces are currently attempting a full horizontal and vertical envelopment of remaining Baltic forces. This is the final push; we advise you join in the attack once ready.

***

Hundreds of helicopters began to rise from the Lord-Class helicopter carriers and swarm towards the shore, where they would disgorge thousands of soldiers to join the paratroopers recently dropped in. Meanwhile, the landing ships continued to unload heavy armor further upshore, and as soon as a reasonable number of vehicles were offloaded they would move to link up with the other Manthian troops.

The paratroopers landing at the base shot any nonfriendly who moved, not that they expected to see many in a location which now resembled a cratered moonscape more than a military base. Any troops hiding in deep bunkers were dealt with more harshly - flamethrowers and thermobaric grenades werre used to roast and/or suffocate the survivors alive, or in bunkers so well-protected that this turned out to be impossible, the entrances were simply targeted by Oriontus guns, in order to collapse the tunnels and condemn the soldiers within to a slow death.

OOC: Leocardia, Qadesh's forces are on Cyprus near my fleet or in Suez, well within my SAM and ASM nets. Also I thought your bombers were heading to Maldorians, who is completely off in the other direction. Could you clarify a bit please?

OOC: Dude, XD, I was asking him the same thing on MSN..It is confusing, please explain it again...

OOC: Dude, XD, I was asking him the same thing on MSN..It is confusing, please explain it again...

My bad, now i'm lsot.

Former Northern Baltic Military Base, Cyprus
Deep at the bottom of the base, a still working reactor that provided power to base, before it was destroyed. Now the crew was preparing to remove the controlling rods. Once this was done, they locked the controls. Now they just sat and waited. It would only be a few minutes before a massive explosion engulfed the base.

The remaining troops put up a heroic last stand. They use whatever weapons available to them to fight back. Some had to use metal pipes. As the enemy troops moved further down the system of tunnels, they would encounter fewer, but much better armed troops as this was where several armories were.

Ord Mantell
Two dozen more BMP-3's were hit. Once they hit the beach, they sped up and the troops inside made use of the firing ports. 38 BMP-3's were destroyed on the beach. The BMP-3's made use of their cannons and began opening fire on the helicopters and gunships, however a group of 50 Su-37's broke off to engage the gunships and helicopters. 13 Su-37's were hit by the missiles. The Mig 1.42's now closed in and 8 were hit. Now they prepared to make an attack run on the enemy missile and artillery in the forest.

Mandalore Prime
The blockade held strong. No attempt was made to invade the island.

Off the Maldorians
400 Tu-160 bombers along with 600 Mig-1.42 fighters were sent to eliminate the coastal artillery positions and firestorm launchers before the invasion would begin. The heavy guns of the battleships unleashed fire on them while 100 Super J-10's were sent to deal with resistance on each of the four islands they were going to invade. Four Krivak Class were hit. Two of these were sunk while one was heavily damaged and had to head back. A Sovremenny Class was heavily damaged and had to be towed back to port. Two Kirov Class were sunk and a Stalingrad-B Class was moderately damaged, but was still able to operate. 50 Alta Class Minesweepers were destroyed or had to return to port. The invasion force now split up and sat a good distance away from the islands they were set to invade.

Cyprus
The Qadeshi army, with the base firmly locked into their sights, came upon it, and began to enter it. What they saw was pure devastation. Computer terminals, once housing important data, sat idle and dark...papers spread all over the floor. Finally, after much marching on pins and needles, the Qadeshi forces linked up with their New Manthian counterparts. "We are here to press the final attack. We have snipers and heavy weapons battalions set up outside to tamp down a possible counter-attack," said the field army commander. Marching in step, they encountered the occasional soldier, who was shot on site, without questions. They encountered a recently shut down reactor. "This must have powered the base, in its final moments. Intelligence reports say that there lies this island's last best-trained soldiers...beyond this point," the commander said...

Ord Mantell
Two dozen more BMP-3's were hit. Once they hit the beach, they sped up and the troops inside made use of the firing ports. 38 BMP-3's were destroyed on the beach. The BMP-3's made use of their cannons and began opening fire on the helicopters and gunships, however a group of 50 Su-37's broke off to engage the gunships and helicopters. 13 Su-37's were hit by the missiles. The Mig 1.42's now closed in and 8 were hit. Now they prepared to make an attack run on the enemy missile and artillery in the forest.
OOC: How many BMP-3's left?

With the attack on the coastal defense positions, reinforcements quickly filled the gaps of the torn up artillery and railgun pieces. M6 Linebacker's stayed in the back of the fight, aiming for the enemy fighters. The helicopters and gunships quickly pulled out, utilizing chaff and flare launchers to the best ability. Still, 14 gunships and 10 Helixs went down. The remaining air units quickly hovered east towards the air field, hoping that the enemy would not follow. The Helixes still deployed a few mines trying to throw out all of the mines in the cabins before pulling back for me.

With destroyed BMP-3's on the beaches, it would be harder for the enemy to advance. Leopard 2A6 Tanks poured out of the forests towards the beaches firing their 120mm L55 smoothborne gun at the BMP's...

First 'Salvo' of AA Missiles
20 M6 Linebacker- each fire 4 stingers=80 Stinger missiles
100 Soldier-launcher Stingers- each fire 1 stinger= 100 Stinger missiles

Off the Maldorians
400 Tu-160 bombers along with 600 Mig-1.42 fighters were sent to eliminate the coastal artillery positions and firestorm launchers before the invasion would begin. The heavy guns of the battleships unleashed fire on them while 100 Super J-10's were sent to deal with resistance on each of the four islands they were going to invade. Four Krivak Class were hit. Two of these were sunk while one was heavily damaged and had to head back. A Sovremenny Class was heavily damaged and had to be towed back to port. Two Kirov Class were sunk and a Stalingrad-B Class was moderately damaged, but was still able to operate. 50 Alta Class Minesweepers were destroyed or had to return to port. The invasion force now split up and sat a good distance away from the islands they were set to invade.

With the Maldorian coastal defense positions continuing their concentrated fire, the enemy ships would soon have anti-shipping missiles in their hulls. Unforunately, patches of coastal artillery pieces were incinerated. With the enemy aircraft approaching, now was the time to shoot them out of the sky. Hidden Armoured AAA Boxcar's quickly activated their AA missile batteries. Various other AA sytems gave the aircraft hell, hoping to stall them until Maldorian fighters took to the skies.

Maldorian MiG-21's rapidly took off from the air fields. They were given 1 easy task; to demolish whatever was left of the enemy bogies in the area. Covered by ground support and fighting much less enemy planes, the dogfight would be a most favorable one. Each MiG quickly unleashed 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. With SAM's and air-to-air missiles hitting the enemy aircraft, it would be almost impossible to get out of that mess alive.

First 'salvo' of AA missiles's
20 AAA Boxcars- each fire 8 missiles= 160 AA missiles
40 Anza- each fire 1 missile= 40 IR-guided missiles
10 MIM-104 Patriots- each fire 4 missiles= 40 Patriot missiles
15 MiG-21's- each fire 2 missiles= 30 Sidewinder missiles

"Enough of this nonsense! This North Baltic fleet is getting on my nerves. Deploy the Kuar Battle Group to demolish their invading fleet and then send the Crimson Battle Group to their homeland. Tell Admiral Orochimaru to leave none of those Baltic bastards alive!" And with that, two of some of the largest fleets in the Maldorian navy sped from the ports, looking for blood...

Message to North Baltic Command

Idiotic. That one word describes your nation's thinking. You're forces are being halted on every Maldorian island, and allied forces have taken Cyprus from you. Even as we speak, a Battle Group larger than your whole navy is fast approaching your nation. They will none surviving. Anyone or anything in the way will be quickly disposed of. We'll make a deal; your immediate surrender or the complete destruction of your nation. You have 24 hours.

~The Mandalore.
-Supreme Ruler of Maldorians.

Cyprus
AP Wire; Today, soldiers from the Qadeshi army, with the agreement of her allies, have set up a provisional government on the island of Cyprus. This new government, is to be composed of leaders from the member nation os the Alliance consisting of: the Maldorians, the New Manthians, and Qadesh.

All forces hostile to Qadesh or her allies were ordered to surrender at once, or face imprisonment leading to a quick end. Anyone found to be harboring these newly classed 'terrorists' will have their property confiscated and be jailed.

The 55,000 man garrison force will stay in Cyprus indefinably.

Abram Malcom ~ Staff Writer

[[Encrypted Message]](I think that is How you do that)

To: All Nations Fighting The Maldorians
From: The OoA

The Order of America wishes to Inform the Nations Participating in fighting the Maldorians that While we do not wish to Blatantly involve ourselves in this Matter we will be Willing to Provide a base of Operations in our home Land if Your Wars ever lead you to the Maldorians held Territory of The OoA(See Maldorians Signature for Details). We would also be willing to Provide any supplies the Participating Attackers might Request. If worse comes to worse we will launch attacks at The Maldorians of The OoA Colony. Best of wishes in your On going Conflict.

Sincerely,
Jefferson Davis

OOC: Erm....I pulled out of there. I traded my inflated Cuba *Mandalore Prime* for your hell-hole. That belongs to Zackaroth now. We traded claims. Check my sig.

Cyprus

The Baltic men were putting up a noble fight, but they would not meet a noble end - far from it. Soldiers who rushed at the Manthians with hand weapons were simply shot, the powerful DR-83M Doomani-built battle rifles making short work of body armor. Men crawling away wounded were shot. Men trying to surrender... were shot. Men holed up in deep bunkers were roasted alive or suffocated with thermobaric weapons, or, failing that, were simply sealed in and left to a terrifyingly slow death alone in the dark.

Meanwhile, as fighting wound down, expeditionary forces were sent to the major cities to impose Manthian order and begin the process of rearranging the civil government, replacing whatever officials the godless communists had installed with Manthian or allied military overseers.

Cyprus
Cyprus has since been renamed the "Allied Military Colony" and shall henceforth be known as such. Qadesh thanks the New Manthians for their amazing efforts, and offers the leadership of the government to them. The Alliance "Executive Outcomes" has fully taken control of the "Allied Military Colony."

Admiral Orochimaru looked from the command bridge of the MNS Revenge. After quarreling with the officers aboard about whether to immediately invade NB, or stop at the Allied Military Colony, Orochimaru hastily decided to slaughter the NB forces. However, he would ask the New Manth and Qadesh navies to accompany the Crimson Battle Group.

Encrypted Message to New Manth and Qadesh Command

We are progressing towards The North Baltic homeland. We would like if you send a fleet to accompany us in our expedition. If you can't, that would be fine too, but be ready to send occupational forces. We will sweep these guys up and leave none standing.

~Admiral Orochimaru.
-Head Admiral of Crimson Battle Group

P.S. Good job with the invasion of Cyprus.

End


OOC: Map, please.

OOC: TNB if there are any problems, you can IM me or TG me. I am sort of jumping ahead a little, since it seems like the Cyprus battle is mostly over... but the posts are editable if there's anything you'd like changed in this or my previous post

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy Official Statement

The Denomination in turn authorizes Qadeshi forces to provide the bulk of security forces in the Union's newest overseas territory, freeing up Manthian forces to continue to campaign for the good of the Greater Economic Union in foreign theatres of war - a gracious action for which we thank our allies. A small Manthian force will remain behind to see to it that the island is seamlessly integrated into the Union.

***

Meanwhile, a new fleet was being formed in the Mediterranean, from the fleets at Gibraltar, the remaining combat-fit ships from the invasion of Cyprus, and new additions constantly arriving. Ship numbers continued to swell for several days, while some quick repairs were made to some of the less-damaged ships of the Fourth Fleet - the most damaged ones, such as the Navarine, were unfortunately out of the war for the foreseeable future due to the time it would take to repair such heavy damage.

Eventual orbat for this new fleet:
2 Feathermore-class superdreadnoughts
1 Pacitalia-class galleon
10 Ingerier-class heavy battlecruisers
12 Kristik-class battleships
15 Taniat-class heavy AAW battlecruisers
30 Establias-class battleships
36 Indestructable-class supercarriers
36 Grospek-class heavy guided missile battlecruisers
52 Morsky-Orol-class light cruisers
72 Carrenzei-class heavy guided missile cruisers
255 Ilium-class guided missile destroyers
180 Paramount-class air defense vessels
50 Siren-class fleet signals vessels
40 Azores fast attack craft
200 Cartagena-class SSNs
120 Cadiz-class SSBNs
150 Tenerife-class SSHNs
Various logistics ships:
22 Lord-class LHDs
36 Ungforth-class LPDs
120 Pepperbox LSVs

OOC: TNB if there are any problems, you can IM me or TG me. I am sort of jumping ahead a little, since it seems like the Cyprus battle is mostly over... but the posts are editable if there's anything you'd like changed

OOC: And what's your AIM? Just IM me.

Qadeshi commander pondered this, should they increase their presence in the war. The answer from Dictator David Edward, elected such by the Parliament to deal with this war, was swift. He sent a communique to Qadesh

**Immediately Active and ready for transit the remainder of our military all 200,00 of them, and be ready to invade the Northern Baltic Homelands. We will carry the day!

Leave the 600,000 reservists on duty...

To: The Maldorians and the New Manthians
From Qadeshi Dictator Edward
I have sent to aid you, 70 ships and 1,000 aircraft, along with 200,000 of my army's soldiers. We shall defeat the Northern Baltians, burn down their homeland and salt the earth.

Qadesh hurriedly activated and prepared its army for war...not just an occupation. The fleet Dii would join up with her allies at once.

Dii Fleet:
5 Nimitz Class Super-carriers [Flag-ship Zeus]
5 Champion Class Super carriers
10 Agamemnon Class Battleships
10 Arsenal Class Missile Cruisers
10 Zumwalt Class Stealth Missile Destroyers
10 Daring Class Air Defense Destroyers
10 Brandenburg Class Stealth ASW Frigates
10 Allegro, Virginia, Sea wolf Class Attack Submarines
-----------
Air core Support:
200 F/A-401 Bird of Preys
200 F-36 Gladius
200 F-35 Lightning II's
200 F-16 Falcons
200 B-52 Bombers

In-Country Transit
200 SH-60 Sea hawk Helicopters
200 AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopters
200 CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopters

Also, the Qadeshi army readied itself for war...
150,000 Infantry Soldiers
50,000 Heavy Weapons Solders

"The war has escalated" Qadesh newspaper The Report says solemnly. Quoted in the article, Dictator David Edward says: "I have no intention of relinquishing power, not until this threat is defeated. I will forgo the 6-month term limit imposed on my office."

OOC:Qadesh, get on AIM as well...:p

Northern Baltic Colony of New Haven
Admiral Zane peered out of his binoculars at the fleet of 250 ships, mostly old, aging cargo ships which were now heading to the Straight of Gibraltar. A second fleet of merchant ships, 300 strong moved to the Suez Canal. Both of the fleets of ships carried the flag of the Maldorians. Remote detonation system was put on all of the vessels in order to blow them up. The cargo they were carrying was dumped into the sea in order to increase the speed of the fleet. Since this was done in the middle of their voyage, the escort ships were now loaded with sailors. Once the ships would reach their target, they would spread out and detonate so the only exits out of the Mediterranean were blocked.

Northern Baltic
20,000,000 of the reserves were called up. Preparations were made for the coming invasion. The beach defense system was manned and new fortified bunkers were built on the beach and in the dozens of port cities along the coast.

Northern Baltic
20,000,000 of the reserves were called up. Preparations were made for the coming invasion. The beach defense system was manned and new fortified bunkers were built on the beach and in the dozens of port cities along the coast.

The Crimson Battle Group kept traveling until they made it outside of The Northern Baltic waters. They cautionly moved in, bringing the cruisers and destroyers in the front to cover from enemy missile or aircraft attack...Orochimaru was ready. Pacing the Command Bridge, the Admiral had the plan all layed out.

Now is the time. "All ships! You have permission to engage. All Praise be to Allah!" With that signal hundreds of Tomahawk missiles roared from the fleet towards the enemy coastal Anti-Aircraft systems.

A small group of submarines broke off from the Battle Group and stationed themselves in front of the nearest large port. Any boat they saw would be immediately sunk with torpedoes.

Mediterranean

That the Baltic commanders had blocked up the Straits was not an immediate problem, as it would also help protect the fleet from any attacks while it was still gathering. However, the blockage would need to be removed before they could leave.

Fleet Admiral Mattan, from the bridge of the new fleet's flagship, the Feathermore-class superdreadnought Ismailia, Admiral Hassan picked up a red phone.

"Get me Central Command. Yes, I'm requesting authorization for limited use of nuclear weapons..."

OOC: Well this is all nice and fucked up. NB destroyed and the CA on my doorstep. What a great region South Arctica turned out to be.

Qadesh, under its Dictator David Edward formulated it's plan. Its 10 sea wolf class subs, would join the subs already blocking a major port. the 200 F-16 fighter jets were scrambled above the Northern Baltic homeland and were looking for any enemy aircraft to engage. They were joined by 200 F/A 401's. Qadesh held back it's full attack, and waited for its allies.

** To my Allies**
We agreed to the nuclear option? Qadesh possesses not that technology, I'm not sure how my populace would react, but if it must be so, then we shall end this conflict with nothing short of the Nothern Baltic's total and complete destruction.

Mediterranean Sea

Once the fleet was ready to depart, a single Cadiz-class submarine was sent towards Gibraltar. Running slow and silent two hundred meters down, the sub carefully approached the Straits. Nestled inside were a dozen nuclear-tipped torpedoes.

The ships near Suez would be cleared conventionally - the area was far too close to major cities and too delicate to use nuclear weapons, though. Gibraltar, however, needed to be opened far quicker than conventional means could manage if the fleets of Manth were to participate in the Baltic war, despite the damage it would cause.

Three torpedoes were fired, and then the sub backed away. A few minutes later, the first massive explosion ripped through the Straits. Vast columns of water were thrown into the air with a roar, slowly subsiding again.

If necessary, another volley would be fired, and then another - but the Straits would be cleared at all cost.

A TV in a single home was turned on and tuned to the local news. It shows pictures of the Occupation of Cyprus, primarily done by Qadeshi forces.

Hello, and good evening Qadesh, our top story tonight is possible reports of radiation poisoning reported by the Qadeshi Occupational forces stationed on Cyprus. The Dictator has yet to comment, but if casualties keep mounting it may turn public opinion against Qadesh's involvement in the war. Currently, there are no fatalities with 15,000 sickened from an unintended release of control rods in a dormant reactor, found deep in the former Northern Baltic Base.

OOC: Well this is all nice and fucked up. NB destroyed and the CA on my doorstep. What a great region South Arctica turned out to be.

Yeah, sorry, got to feed the war machine you know...

If it helps you don't need to worry about aggression from me, as we're both COMECON.

Mediterranean Sea

Once the Straits were cleared, the fleet started moving. Ship after ship passed through the Straits in a procession that lasted several hours, lines of battleships and carriers showcasing the strength of the Manthian Navy. Below the sea, thousands of submarines were sallying forth, though they would scatter out over a wider area than the surface fleet in order to avoid massively advertising their presence.

The much smaller fleet followed the Mantian Naval presence...."Where should we go and conquer first, commander" the fleet commander radioed to his Manthian ally.

The Northern Baltic Coast
"Sir, we got incoming missiles!"
"All anti-missile batteries, fire!"
A dozen S-400 fired their three missiles at the incoming Tomahawks.
75 Kh-55 missiles fired back at the fleet.

Meanwhile, at the port city, several merchant ships were sunk, but the Northern Baltic Coast Guard was now handling the situation. All vessels in the port were ordered to stay in port and 15 Grisha V Class ships headed out to deal with the enemy submarine threat.

"Subs, Equip special torpedo Alpha," said Edward. With that, all 10 subs equipped their secret weapon, unbeknownst the even their allies. Qadesh had secretly developed.....a Northern Baltic ship came into a subs sights....FIRE! the missile headed towards its target and with that a flash of bright light froze any electrical system on the target...

oops, I forgot sorry guess I just didn't keep up.....*Deletes Post*

Admiral Hassan grinned as he received the allied transmission.

"For the homeland. While their fleets are away attacking the Maldorians, we go to strike the knockout blow."

Ord Mantell
The destroyed BMP-3's now served as cover for the BMP-3's that were now unloading their troops. When the tanks began arriving, the troops were suprised by the initial onslaught. 38 BMP-3's were destroyed while five more were destroyed by mines. The remaining BMP-3's now began to open fire on the tanks with AT-15's while the troops that were on the beaches opened fire with RPG-29's and AT-16's. The RPG-29's would be particularly deadly against the enemy tanks as it had no guidance system and thus, was unable to be jammed. The troops that were not in possession of anti-tank began laying down covering fire.

In the air, the Su-37's suffered 28 planes down, while the Mig 1.42's suffered 90 losses. The Mig 1.42's began bombing the Bradley linebacker positions. 50 Su-37's and 80 Mig 1.42's followed the helicopters to the airbase and began attacking the base in hopes of destroying its runway and defenses. As the fighters incorporated stealth technology, it would be challenging to detect their approach.


The Maldorians
7 Sovremenny Class, 2 Kara Class, 3 Krivak Class, and 1 Kirov Class were lost. In the air, 66 Super J-10's were downed. A further 67 Mig 1.42's were lost. When the enemy Mig 21's took to the sky, longer ranged AA-12's were fired at them before the Sidewinders could come in range.

Tu-160's began bombing the enemy positions with cluster bombs, EMP bombs, and high explosive bombs. They aimed to take out any and all resistance.

posted in hurry may edit to clean up writing later

Mediterranean

There had been relatively few casualties in the ground battle for Cyprus, which was somewhat to be expected given the massively excessive preliminary bombardment. However, hundred of soldiers of the 925th Airborne Division had come down sick, and had been transfered from active duty to the Hobbes-class hospital ship now floating offshore until they could be diagnosed.

Now, ships' doctor Herman Kade had a fairly good idea with what was wrong with them.

"Radiation poisoning," he told his assistant, standing over the bed where a young soldier lay soaked in sweat, "plus a secondary infection due to immune system weakening. Our allies have informed us they found a defunct nuclear reactor which is likely to have melted down. Begin treating everyone showing symptoms with antiemetics, and antibiotics to guard against any more opportunist infections..."

He gestured at the soldier, who grinned weakly.

"Fortunately most seem to be showing symptoms of only mild poisoning, and that's the report we've received from our allies as well. Still, as always, we need more beds, and Command has been stingy..."

His assistant nodded.

"Especially if we end up needing to provide care for the Qadeshi, I'm not sure what kind of medical equipment they have along..."

"Well, that might help actually. I could spin it as helping our allies, and maybe get them to assign another ship. You start the drug regimen, I'll speak to the captain."

Sure enough, another Hobbes-class ship was quickly ordered to the area. Meanwhile, speacialized submarines were being sent to remove the fuel rods from sunken Manthian and Baltic nuclear-powered vessels, to ensure they would not pose a similar danger in the future.

Manthian Fleet

The united fleet had by now left Gibraltar and friendly seas far behind, and would soon be coming up on the Baltic mainland, approaching from the east. With that, of course, came increased danger, and AWACS and reconnaisance UAVs were now scouring the skies along with the normal CAP of Aquila fighters, while helicopters regularly sounded the depths via sonar.

Meanwhile, another tactic which the Baltic soldiers had seen once before would be repeated, albeit on a much larger scale. Superheavy Zeus bombers had accompanied the Fleet, their range being extended via midair refueling since they were far too large for carrier operations. As the planes hit 2500 km out from their targets, each one disgorged multiple cruise missiles.

With over a thousand bombers, as opposed to the fifty or so which had struck Cyprus, about ten thousand cruise missiles were fired at the Baltic mainland, targeting radar sites, power plants, major roads or military highways, and of course military bases, airfields, and naval yards. Most tagets along the east coast of any military value at all received a missile, and themore valuable or protected were assigned more.

The Northern Baltic Coast
"Sir, we got incoming missiles!"
"All anti-missile batteries, fire!"
A dozen S-400 fired their three missiles at the incoming Tomahawks.
75 Kh-55 missiles fired back at the fleet.

With over hundreds of Tomahawks screaming overhead and only 36 anti-missiles, many Tomahawks would still remain intact. With still around 54 Tomahawk's remaining, justice would be served.

"All crewmen, take down those missiles!" 150 MIM-104 Patriot missiles sprung to life as CIWS waited for the missiles to get in range to fire. With two Patriot missiles to 1 enemy missile, the chances would be slim for them to pass. If they did, however, CIWS would do their best to halt the oncoming cruise missiles.

Cannons opened up upon the coast, making sure to take out any coastal emplacements and artillery areas...

Ord Mantell
The destroyed BMP-3's now served as cover for the BMP-3's that were now unloading their troops. When the tanks began arriving, the troops were suprised by the initial onslaught. 38 BMP-3's were destroyed while five more were destroyed by mines. The remaining BMP-3's now began to open fire on the tanks with AT-15's while the troops that were on the beaches opened fire with RPG-29's and AT-16's. The RPG-29's would be particularly deadly against the enemy tanks as it had no guidance system and thus, was unable to be jammed. The troops that were not in possession of anti-tank began laying down covering fire.

In the air, the Su-37's suffered 28 planes down, while the Mig 1.42's suffered 90 losses. The Mig 1.42's began bombing the Bradley linebacker positions. 50 Su-37's and 80 Mig 1.42's followed the helicopters to the airbase and began attacking the base in hopes of destroying its runway and defenses. As the fighters incorporated stealth technology, it would be challenging to detect their approach.
Casualties: 14 AC-130U's, 10 Kamov Ka-27's, 18 M6 Linebackers, 91 Leopard 2A6's, 12 F-22 Raptors *Grounded*, 19 F-117's *Grounded*

Leopard tanks continued to pour out of the forest, barraging the BMP-3's with their cannons. Behind them, howitzers opened up upon the now-halted BMP's. As typical of any airbase, anti-aircraft defenses were set up. Flak guns soon fired at the bombarding aircraft as Patriot's hit them from afar. Nonetheless, aircraft were torn up as men rushed inside the cockpit, trying to take off...

To: The Government of Northern Baltic
From: The Preisdent of the Republic of Greston, Michael Check
Subject: WAR!!

After hearing about the deleration of against our ally, and dear friend Maldorians we have decided to take actions against your decleration and have declared war upon you. A small fleet of Irondecks and Seastabbers will relocate with the Maldorian Attack fleet and bombard your shore until we can send troops in and wipe out your military.

See you on the battle field.

To: The Government of Northern Baltic
From: The Preisdent of the Republic of Greston, Michael Check
Subject: WAR!!

After hearing about the deleration of against our ally, and dear friend Maldorians we have decided to take actions against your decleration and have declared war upon you. A small fleet of Irondecks and Seastabbers will relocate with the Maldorian Attack fleet and bombard your shore until we can send troops in and wipe out your military.

See you on the battle field.

Palace of Warfare, Leocardia
"Aye chaps. New word that the Baltics are being gangraped." The young men were discussing while they train hand to hand combat. "Gangrape? Is there such meaningful word to it?" Another man asked. "Sir there is. What do you think we are going to do about it, aye chaps?" The guys stop practice. "Chaps. We need to talk on this."

Another pointless meeting in Leocardia
Jason kept his mind on the Baltics. Leaving so soon and ditching them wasn't his decision, but it was his wife's decision. "... Energy issues isn't a problem for us..." The meeting described the Leocardian needs. "... The Northern Baltic is currently under attack by many nations. Proposal to aid them are at high considering the recent polls..." The Northern Baltics just popped back in his head again. "However, due to the unpopularity of deployed Leocardian forces, we have halted all movements." The need to say something clutched at him. "Leocardia will declare their..." Jason shouted out, "WAIT! Leocardia will aid them!" His wife gave him the look. "Leocardia must not ditch their ally. PROVIDE DEFCON 1 DEFENSIVE AID TO THE NORTHERN BALTIC!"
The speaker of the meeting smiled at Jason, and the head leaders of the military branch began scribbling their notes. "Very well. Leocardia is back in the game. Any words?"

The military general stood up. "Aerial patrols will be provided for the Baltics. Naval will be necessary. I will fit in a million troops in there. Plenty of tanks brought from Leocardia will be present."

Jason smiled. "Great."

Open Warning to ALL new entries
Leocardia will declare open war to the newer nations involving in this conflict that are after the entry of Qadesh. This new warning shall be martial as Leocardia will openly allow any withdrawals from the nations warned. If not, then prepare to become DEAT.

To: The Government of Northern Baltic
From: The Preisdent of the Republic of Greston, Michael Check
Subject: WAR!!

After hearing about the deleration of against our ally, and dear friend Maldorians we have decided to take actions against your decleration and have declared war upon you. A small fleet of Irondecks and Seastabbers will relocate with the Maldorian Attack fleet and bombard your shore until we can send troops in and wipe out your military.

See you on the battle field.

Declaring war on the USSNB means declaring war on Leocardia. We will see you in the battlefield.

Jason Batista
President

The Kingdom of Shredderstan will send 10 tons of food, 20 humvees, and 2100 soldiers on the HRM Stevensia, the flagship of the Royal Navy to be under Maldorian control for the duration of the war. However, if the death toll of our soldiers exceeds 600, they are to pull out immediately

Somewhere in the open sea floats the entirety of the Roman Navy, and in that navy, 1/5 of the Roman Army (which is to say, 10 legions).

50 Iowa Class Battleships
5 Nimitz Class Submarines
450 F-22 Fighter Aircraft
125 USS Wasp Class LHDs
5,250 CH-46 Sea Knights
375 LCACs
1,215 Combat Boat 90s
25,515 Marines (on the combat boats)
50 Swiftsure Class Submarines
10 Vangaurd_Class_Ballistic Submarines

2000 Ariete Tanks
10,000 Dardo IFVs
10,000 Bradley Linebacker IFVs
2,000 PzH 2000 Self Propelled Howitzers
1,000 Agusta A129 Mangusta Attack Helicopters
120,000 Infantry (60,000 the Dardos; 60,000 in the Bradley Linebackers)

Their destination is the Northern Baltic. Their expected arrival time is a week or so.

Northern Baltic Coastline
The Tomahawk missiles impacted with several dozen bunkers, and killing a few dozen troops, but most of the bunkers held. Two radar instillations were destroyed and an airfield was rendered inoperable.

The S-400 systems launched in an attempt to shoot down the missiles. A total of 500 S-400's fired. 1,500 missiles were launched against the enemy missiles in hopes of shooting them all down. Troops now cowered in their bunkers praying that the missiles would not penetrate the bunkers.

Off the Northern Baltic
Only two missiles were able to survive the barrage of Patriot missiles. The CIWS systems would no doubt deal with them though.

Ord Mantell
10 more BMP-3's were destroyed, but now they began moving again. Another one hit a mine, but was disabled, not destroyed. They now began moving to the small number of remaining Leopard 2 tanks and fired ATGM's at them. After they destroyed the Leopard 2's they would begin The troops advanced behind the BMP-3's. Once they would get into the forest, each group of 10 would advance in guerrilla style tactics in order to better engage the enemy. The forest should provide them with cover, at least they hoped.

New Haven
Reilizing that the Genes Romae fleet would pose a serious threat to Northern Baltic defenses, the Northern Baltic colony of New Haven now prepared to stop the fleet before it could reach the Northern Baltic mainland.

15,000 Mig-17PF drones took to the skies and headed for the fleet, sea skimming. A few fighters might be lost by the rough waves, but the fact that the enemy wouldn't be able to see them coming was well worth it. 5,000 were fighter variants while 9,000 were dive bomber varients and 1,000 were bomber varients.

The fighter varients were equipped with 3 NR-23 23 mm cannons. The dive bombers were equipped with two 250 kg bombs each. The bomber varients were fitted with one Penguin anti-shipping missile (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_missile) each.

The dive bombers would serve as suicide planes, while the fighters would hold off any enemy fighters from the bombers and dive bombers.

OOC: Were those S-400s in your next to last post aimed at my missiles? If so, how many missiles fired total?

Will edit into IC post once I figure that out.

The Fleet Drifted towards the Northern Baltic colony of New Haven at a moderate speed. The fleet conisisted of 45 Irondeck class-battleships, 15 Seastabber class-battlehsips, 2 Super Carrier Dreadnoughts from DMG, and a Kraken Dreadnought.

At the head of the fleet was Irondeck Rebel Death which served in The Latin Peoples civil war. Since then they hadn't seen one bit of action. After hearing the threat from Leocardia their crew got slighty scared only to calm down and then have their morale boosted as they heard that Maldorians would help fend them of. After that Shredderstan said he was sending a ship as well, and now the entirety of the Roman fleet was floating to the same location as them, as that came to mind they were ordered to meet up with the Gens Romae fleet then help them in the destruction of the scum of New Haven.

New Haven
500 Tu-22m's of the 1st New Haven Bomber Wing took to the sky. They were armed with 3 Kh-22 cruise missiles each. When they were about 250 miles away from the fleet, they launched their cruise missiles on the Greston fleet. A total of 1,500 Kh-22 cruise missiles headed at the 68 ship fleet. After firing, the planes headed back to base.

Large scale evacuations had been ordered along the coast to prepare for any invasion. The government did not want its people to be hurt in an bombardment. Of course the movement pushed ethnic groups together and caused tensions to rise in certain areas, but all was for the best.

The Kh-22's soared towards the fleet, 30 of them came short of the first ships then the Rebel Death met it's own death as 16 hit it from the first gun all the way to the center command. Rebel Death wasn't the only to die, more then a quarter of the fleet had sunk before they fired Tomahawks into the distance in hopes to hit something. By the time the 33rd ship sank the Kh-22's stopped firing upon their decks. 34 ships sank all Irondecks and Seastabbers.

The Tu-22m's returned to base. There they restocked on cruise missiles and refueled in case they were needed again. The 60 Oscar II Class Submarines operating in the Atlantic Ocean were now sent to check if the fleet was destroyed. Since they were mostly concentrated in the area near New Haven, they would be on the scene in a matter of hours, maybe even minutes. There orders were to fire if the ships targeted them, but if they didn't, they would report their location to the bombers so they could fire their second salvo of Kh-22 cruise missiles.

Basing this off AIM where you said you'd be launching 1800 or so counter-missile missiles total... as always happy to edit if necessary

Off the Baltic coast

Of course many missiles were of course destroyed by Baltic defenses - that was a given in any attack against a well-defended position, and especially so when the attack in question utilized a relatively crude 'missile spam' strategy. Still, such tactics were sometimes necessary, and in this case at least had managed to overwhelm Baltic defenses by sheer numbers. Well over eight thousand missiles had survived to impact on various airfields, barracks, coastal artillery and missile batteries, and roads and bridges along a wide stretch of the coast. Already damage estimates were being calculated and intel officers were scrambling to gather data on the new state of enemy defenses, but that was all slightly tangential to the operation at hand. Even had the strike been a total failure, things had progressed far past the point where turning back was still possible.

This time around, there would be a relatively short period of time to use the massive guns of the superdreadnoughts before friendly troops landed and the risk of friendly fire became too large, so the vanguard of the fleet approached Baltic shores relatively quickly, though nevertheless not without precautions. Tenerife-class submarines were prowling the waters around the surface ships, to make sure that Baltic submarines did not get too close, and the indispensable Paramount air defense vessels had been provided in abundance.

As the fleet ponderously but inevitably slid closer to the Baltic mainland, the men aboard prepared themselves for battle. They knew as well as their enemy must by now that this would be a war not for territory or resources, but for the very survival of the Baltic nation. With no options for the enemy besides victory or death, they would be sure to give the fight every drop of blood and heroism that they could muster. Doubtless many of the enemy soldiers were even now eager to give their all to the coming battles.

It would be the Manthians' jobs to crush those would-be heroes and shatter their hopes and their nation. A hard task, but made easier by several factors.

For instance, the hundreds of heavy guns of the Manthian Grand Fleet even now beginning to open fire on any surviving Baltic shore defenses. After all, a twenty-five inch shell makes no distinction between a hero and a coward.

The road and bridge system were hit the hardest by the swarm of enemy missiles. The missiles rendered many sections of highways as inoperable. Over two dozen bridges were hit as well. Thankfully, the area near the Northern Baltic coast was normally either flat or mountainous, so the downing of the bridges would not really affect the traveling of troops going to or coming from the coast. Emergency road crews were dispatched to deal with this.

Three dozen airfields were hit as well and 17 of them had enough sections of the runway destroyed to make them unusable. Several barracks and coastal artillery positions were destroyed as well, though both were normally underground.

With the approaching of the enemy fleet, the coastal artillery were raised from the 180 degree angle they were normally kept at to hide them from view to a much higher angle, putting the massive 500mm guns in range of the fleet. Smaller 12 and 15 inch guns, which were located in the bunkers on the beaches, also opened fire. The troops defending the beach now prepared to defend their homeland against the enemy. The Premier of the Northern Baltic now prepared a speech which would be delivered on every available station and radio frequency. This speech would be given shortly (next post).

The Fleet flagship, the four-million ton Lion of Africa, rocked slightly as a fifteen-inch shell struck the belt. Though the vessel's thick armor prevented much damage from being done, there were heavier shells also flying around to be worried about, and not every ship in the armada was as protected as she was. Seconds later, a 500mm shell screamed over the ship, impacting the water only a few dozen meters away in a miss entirely too close for comfort. And not too far off, the Establias-class Intisar lay burning some distance off from multiple hits to the superstructure, though the ship was still moving and at least one turret was still returning fire.

The Lion replied with a deafening roar, her twenty-eights joining the hundreds of smaller guns already raining fire on the Baltic coast. She was firing heavy, armor-piercing shells, designed to attack other superdreadnoughts but probably also adequate for the task of breaching the shallower enemy bunkers.

Of course, the Baltic emphasis on bunkers had proved somewhat of a problem for the Manthians before, and this time they had come prepared not only with more guns but also with a special surprise for the Baltic commanders. Soaring through the rarefied outer atmosphere at nearly seventy thousand feet were twenty Type 1000 nuclear-powered bombers, each carrying a single hundred-ton Falling Hammer earthquake bomb. As soon as the bombers were over their assigned targets (while Aquila fighters raced off the carriers far below, to catch any interceptors the enemy might send), each released its payload, the Falling Hammers descending in a graceful and deceptively slow trajectory towards the earth as the bombers, freed of their burdens, turned and throttled up to Mach 3.2 to outrun any pursuit the Baltic defenders may have sent.

The targets the bombers had chosen were the 500mm guns, which posed a serious threat to the New Manth fleet. All 15 of these guns were destroyed. The bombers flew to high to be hit by anti-air defenses, but the fighters were targeted by about 250 Sa-6 SAM's in an attempt to shoot them down.

On the beach, several dozen bunkers had been destroyed, but the line of bunkers still mostly held. Now, hundreds of anti-shipping missile launchers opened fire on the enemy fleet. A total of 450 Moskit and 100 P-800 anti-shipping missiles headed to the fleet to destroy any and all targets there.

The Maldorian fleet kept its position in The Northern Baltic waters. To an ordinary person's eye, this could look crazy; a fleet hanging out of an intense bombardment. Yet in reality, the idea was perfect. New Manth would tear up The Northern Baltic defenses and secure a beachhead, while Maldorians would come in and then press forward. The New Manthians would then have time to rest. The plan was flawless.

Encrypted Message to New Manthian Fleet

Do you need any help? It seems that you are doing excellent. If you need air support or anything else, just ask.

~Admiral Orochimaru.
-Head Admiral of Crimson Battle Group

Greal has sent the following army units to help Northern Baltic in the defense.



41 Nimtz Carriers
40 Bull Carriers
40 Sammy Class subs
100 Zumwalt destoryers
300 other vessels
1900 GNC-21 muti-role fighters (Shark)
1600 F-65s
1300 F-22 Naval raptors
50,000 Greal marines

Actually 200 Shark fighters are patroling the fleet.


Number of troops coming over the following weeks.

500,000 Greal infranty
200,000 Greal marines
150,000 Greal elite army soldiers
30,000 Special Operation soldiers
4000 Upgraded Nakil tanks
1700 Iron Curtain Tanks
1000 SOL T-62s
600 Freeze-46 Propelled Howitzers
2000 Anaconda Helicopters

To the Soliders on Cyprus

You have done admirably, despite the tricks and treachery employed by our foe....we will prevail...Qadesh and its allies in the Maldorians and the New Manthians will carry this conflict to an end...We shall prevail...


Where should we deploy next, allies? Qadesh stands ready to honor it's agreements with your countries...these dogs must be brought to heel, under our force, and shown the mercy of impending death...only then, will they realize that they are defeated and this conflict shall come to a peaceful conclusion.

OoC: How might Qadesh formalize its relations with your countries...we have acted as allies before, Qadesh would like to join your alliances and offer its aid to you...

Greal has sent the following army units to help Northern Baltic in the defense.

50 Nimtz Carriers
40 Bull Carriers
50 Sammy Class subs
150 Zumwalt destoryers
500 other vessels
2000 GNC-21 muti-role fighters (Shark)
1600 F-65s
1300 F-22 Naval raptors
50,000 Greal marines

Number of troops coming over the following weeks.

700,000 Greal infranty
300,000 Greal marines
200,000 Greal elite army soldiers
30,000 Special Operation soldiers
5000 Upgraded Nakil tanks
2000 Iron Curtain Tanks
1000 SOL T-62s
1000 Freeze-46 Propelled Howitzers
4000 Anaconda Helicopters

OOC:............0__o

No, just no. Lol. Decrease those numbers.


EDIT: Qadesh, Greal is helping NB

OoC: Edited...

IC: **broadcasted on an unencrypted channel:

Allies of the Northern Baltics....please, save face and abandon your ally. The world has condemned them to military defeat and we will enforce this...our conflict is not with you...if you disengage and go home, you'll not be hurt...leave this barbarian colony to die a peaceful death...under an allied flag...please RE; at your leisure. Remember, we have the Upper hand on our side. How would your populace like it if more sons and daughters died in this easily avoidable conflict. Stand Down! It will be better for NB, we might even spare them...

OOC: Sorry about the post screw-up, instead of one post being posted, it showed 6 posts, so I had to delete them.

ooc: Greal, in addition to any issues with numbers of ships/men (2x the military budget of the U.S., 9x the carriers? Rather questionable, even if this is your entire navy you're sending here...), in order to get all those men to TNB you would first need to punch through mine and Maldorians' fleets.

The Aquilas simply turned back towards the fleet once it became apparent that the Baltic had no interceptors to send after the spaceplanes. With the Aquila able to easily match and even exceed the SA-6 in speed, it was simple a matter of lighting up the afterburners until they had escaped the missile's relatively short range, at which point they could resume normal CAP. Still a few craft unlucky enough to be very close to the Baltic missile launchers were not able to turn in time.

The more modern antishipping missiles were more of a threat, but there were also anticipated and defenses had been provided not only in abundance, but probably in gross excess. The Paramount-class air defense vessels lit up their massive radars once again, sending hundreds of countermissiles into the sky, as did the lighter escorts. Numbers of missiles were not a particular concern at this point - the entire Fleet could bring to bear tens of thousands of SAMs - and each missile which survived the first wave was targeted again, this time by two missiles. For any which survived that, defensive ECM would try to jam or confuse their guidance while CIWS shot them from the sky.

Meanwhile, dozens of landing ships began to move up from the rear of the fleet towards the Baltic coast, while the naval gunnery temporarily intensified to withering rates of fire. Even if some deep bunkers survived, the aim was to knock out radar sites which by necessity had to be above ground, depriving them of any targeting information. The guns would also hopefully pin the Baltic troops in their bunkers, and stop them from coming out to contest the approaching landing. Attack and transport helicopters from the Lord-class ships swept overhead as the transports neared shore, carring their own loads of troops and munitions to attack the Baltic men from the sky as well as the sea. Finally, more Aquilas added to the fray, escorting Priest strike fighters to provide close air support.

TNB, I've been sort of hazy about geography so far (mostly because I don't know the coast geography or locations of major ports), but my fleet is invading at a point where there are hopefully no impassable cliffs or anything, and a deep-water port which could eventually be captured once the beachhead is secure.

OOC: Is there a map of NB?

Secured:

To: The New Manthians
From Qadesh

How should we proceed, should we extend our involvement to NB's homelands? Do you require our aid? Qadesh wishes you well in your conquest...

David Edward

Allies of the Northern Baltics....please, save face and abandon your ally. The world has condemned them to military defeat and we will enforce this...our conflict is not with you...if you disengage and go home, you'll not be hurt...leave this barbarian colony to die a peaceful death...under an allied flag...please RE; at your leisure. Remember, we have the Upper hand on our side. How would your populace like it if more sons and daughters died in this easily avoidable conflict. Stand Down! It will be better for NB, we might even spare them...


OOC: Actually I need to rp some pratice anyway.

A Company called Look Inc. did not support NB, so Look Inc. was going to support Qadesh and its allies so...

SIC
Message to Qadesh and Qadesh's allies
Message from: Look Inc. Headquarters

Can Look Inc. send troops over to help your antion conquer, the troops we are going to be sending are private troops owned by Look Inc.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l158/comradecaptan/TSAMapfinished.gif

To: Look Inc.

We are honored that you might support us in our aims...however, we ask that your troops relive a small section of Qadeshi troops in Cyrpius..how many troops might you send? They would protect Cyprus and allow Qadesh are its allies to pursue war elsewhere. We would much appreciate it.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l158/comradecaptan/TSAMapfinished.gif


OOC: Looks like Anatrtica.


Got to get off, I'll post tomorrow night. If I can post tomorrow.

With the sudden move made by New Manth, a small group of Maldorian combat engineers took to the skies in their CH-47 Chinooks. Escorted by a small detachment of air defense vessels, the engineer's were to aid the New Manthian landing group, set up camp, and possibly help out in small arms engagements.

These copters, loaded with the engineers, would stay out of the fight, looking for any kind of open area to land at. When the beachhead became secure, the Maldorian fleet would move.

Combat Engineer Detachment
3 CH-47 Chinook
90 Maldorian Combat Engineers
9 Mandalorian Brutes

Secured:

To: The New Manthians
From Qadesh

How should we proceed, should we extend our involvement to NB's homelands? Do you require our aid? Qadesh wishes you well in your conquest...

David Edward

Denomination of Strategy
Encrypted Transmission

Our troops are even now forcing a beachead onto Northern Baltic territory. It would be unwise to send in troops now - it will only clog the battlefield and make it easier for the enemy to find targets. Furthermore, we believe we will be able to defeat forces in the immediate area handily. Manth will however require reinforcements against the expected enemy counterattack, once the Baltic commanders can gather their forces from other parts of the country to concentrate against us. We suggest you coordinate with the Maldorians in this area.

We wish your forces victory in all their endeavors.

Regards.

With the encrypted message coming through, the commander David Edward read it. "Understood, Friend." We shall enforce our rule on Cyprus and prepare to send troops aboard to end this conflict.

Cmdr. John Cretis Rezick head of the new flagship of this fleet, was standing in the radar room with all the operators while listening to two survivors from the Rebel Death the ex-flagship, which was shot down to the bottom of the sea during the volley.

"I say we get the fuck outta here! 34 ships, over 68,000 dead or missing, let's leave!" said one of the sailors with a large bandage on his left rib cage.

"Screw that we had specific orders, and that was to take Haven."

"Yes and if we were to loose to many men we were to fall back to New Manth!"

"Fuck tha.." he was cut off by the admiral screaming orders to the operators and telling the two sailors to shut the hell up.

"Don't you hear that? There is something on the radar, meaning those assholes are checking up on us. So sink them, don't check if their friend or foe just blast them. Three torpedos at any vessal that is unknown to us. If it is a definite enemy, 4 torpedos, we can not risk loosing this or any more lives. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir." answered the two sailors in unity.


All the lights on the fleet slowly went out, the iluminator was turned on a all the torpedo workers set up. The admiral was in the center of the ship giving the orders through a radio to keep quite.

The subs approached and the admiral gave the orders.

"Torpedo room 1, fire torpedo."

The torpedo went out aimed at the subs.

"Torpedo room 2, fire torpedo."

and he went through that until every torpedo room had fired at it's asigned section. all of the other ships did as well then a large volley of torpedos floated through the ocean towards the Northern Baltic subs.

The Greal army now had a massive number of men in Northern Baltic, but their orders were to defend not to attack, so most of the Greal army went to defend some of the cities near the enemy. Shark fighters arrived finally to help boost air patrols. The Greal naval fleet was nowhere to be seen, even though its cargo of marines were dropped off near Greal positions.

Qadeshi AP Wire

Today, Qadesh has announced that it shall increase the size of the garrison on Cyprus from 55,000 troops to 100,000 troops. In addition, 2,500 RG-32 vehicles [for stronger patrols] will be added. To facilitate airborne missions, 100 Black hawk helicopters shall be added. The Qadeshi 1st Naval task force has also been stationed here.

To Recap:
55,000 ---> 100,000 soldiers
+ 2,500 RG-43 light infantry vehicles
+ 100 Black hawk Helicopters
+ 2 Nimitz Class Super-carriers
+ 2 Champion Class Super carriers
+ 4 Agamemnon Class Battleships
+ 6 Arsenal Class Missile Cruisers
+ 10 Zumwalt Class Stealth Missile Destroyers
+ 10 Daring Class Air Defense Destroyers
+ 10 Brandenburg Class Stealth ASW Frigates
+ 10 Allegro, Virginia, Seawolf Class Attack Submarines

Qadesh has said that this increase in forces is only a precautionary measure, to establish rule over the isle. When rule has been established, 100,000 civilian workers will come and fortify infrastructure. Qadesh has expressed it's intent to shape this colony for self-rule, and short of that, Qadesh would make it a colony...pending approval of allies.

To: The Qadesh Head of President
From: The President of The Republic of Greston, Michael Check

We have seen your work on the Northern Baltic held colony of Cyprus, and after seeing your great ensusiasim in killing these monsters we are asking you if you would like to accompany us in the death of another NB held colony, New Haven, hence we have taken it's gaurds out we will colonize it ourselves. If you do wish to help we will give a small land lot near the coast, and we will help your men march to anyother battlefields you may enter.

To: The Mandalore of The Mandalorian Empire of Maldorians
From: The President of The Democratic Empire of Greston, Michael Check
Subject:

We would like to know what your plans are for the rest of this war, we are going to set a beach head on New Haven and stay there so his troops will have to come to us. Then if you or New Manth don't disagree we will colonize it. Then we plan on moving into any other Baltic colonies.

The Greal army now had a massive number of men in Northern Baltic, but their orders were to defend not to attack, so most of the Greal army went to defend some of the cities near the enemy. Shark fighters arrived finally to help boost air patrols. The Greal naval fleet was nowhere to be seen, even though its cargo of marines were dropped off near Greal positions.

ooc: Greal, in addition to any issues with numbers of ships/men (2x the military budget of the U.S., 9x the carriers? Rather questionable, even if this is your entire navy you're sending here...), in order to get all those men to TNB you would first need to punch through mine and Maldorians' fleets.


Greal, I draw your attention to this... In order to get any significant number of troops into the country, you'd have to fight through my and Maldorians' fleets to land them. Unless your men can teleport there... which would ALSO be a necessity to get all million-odd men from your nation to TNB in time to do anything about our landing, since we got there a while before you even started mobilizing AFAIK.

Now this has so far been happily free of OOC arguing, so if you've got AIM or anything I'd be happy to continue the discussion there, or by TG or whatever.

Northern Baltic Coast
150 Tu-160 bombers now flew over the Northern Baltic. They each launched 6 decoy missiles from their rotary launchers at the New Manth fleet. Once these missiles were launched, the Tu-160's headed back to base.

Meanwhile, the beach defenses had been heavily damaged and out of the hundred or so radar systems in the area, enemy fire had reduced it to a mere three. Mobile radar systems were being moved from inland to provide radar for the beach defenses. The enemy shells had also knocked out several of the coastal guns and anti-shipping missile systems.

However, once the 600 decoy missiles flew over the fleet, the coastal defenses unleashed a total of 500 Moskit missiles and 300 P-800's at the fleet. A further 120 Kh-22P anti-radiation missiles were aimed at the air defense ships. While the fleet could turn off its radar to avoid having their radars knocked out by the missiles, this would result in them being unable to track the other anti-shipping missiles coming at them. The decoy missiles, being the fastest of the group, led the gigantic mass of missiles to the enemy fleet.

The missiles fired at the enemy fleet before had all been destroyed by either missiles or CIWS fire. However, this allowed the huge incoming wave of missiles the chance to strike the fleet when its missile launchers were undoubtedly low on missiles, or were refilling.

Off of New Haven
When the first wave of enemy torpedoes were released, the group of 60 Oscar II Class submarines knew their orders and returned fire. Each Oscar II Class fired 10 of their 24 SS-N-19 Shipwreck anti-shipping missiles. They also each fired 5 Type 65 high explosive torpedoes at the enemy ships. While they were doing this, the front submarines began to dive and break right or left, depending on their location. The submarines in the rear soon followed and soon the entire fleet was trying to get out of the line of fire of the torpedoes. The front submarines launched decoys and drones and continued diving. 7 of them were hit, but the explosion caused by the impact with the drones would destroy a few nearby torpedoes. Several Type 65 torpedoes were also sent to detonate in front of the other incoming missiles. Unfortunately, this resulted in the damage of two more submarines. These submarines had to release their emergency escape modules so the crew that survived the blast could escape to the surface before the submarine sank.

The missiles fired at the enemy fleet before had all been destroyed by either missiles or CIWS fire. However, this allowed the huge incoming wave of missiles the chance to strike the fleet when its missile launchers were undoubtedly low on missiles, or were refilling.

Now was the time. With The Northern Baltic defenses firing at the New Manthian fleet, this would be the perfect chance for the Maldorian fleet to give aid. 10 of the idle Iowa Class Battleships soon began the bombardment, with Zumwalt Class Destroyers following en suite. Tomahawk's were the main missile being used, backed up by the guns of the Battleship's. The landing would take place shortly after the bombardmen and initial landing made by The New Manthian military....


Initial Bombardment
10 Iowa Class Battleships 9 X 16 In. gun each= Total 90 16 In. gun's
10 Iowa Class Battleships 32 × BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles each= Total 180 Tomahawk's
60 Zumwalt Class Destroyers 20 × MK 57 VLS each= Total 1,200Tomahawk's

TOTAL: 1,380 Tomahawk's and 90 16 Inch Guns *firing shells*

Manthian Fleet

What the Baltic commanders had failed to realize was that the Paramount ADVs were not even close to beginning to eat into their total missile stocks, although the decoys had otherwise been a clever tactic. Countermissiles continued to burn their way into the skies at massive rates, and seeing that a few missiles had made it through the last wave, over six thousand Praetorian SAMs were fired to intercept the incoming missiles - a lot, but even one missile getting through was far more costly than losing three or six to shoot it down. Any missiles that survived were targeted with another volley, and another, until they got too close and CIWS became the name of the game.

The Beaches!

"Faster! Bring her up to full speed, damn it!"

The captain of this particular landing ship was getting rather nervous as missiles raced overhead to destroy incoming Baltic munitions. Even though the fleet was moving in with the landing vessels to provide better cover, they were still the least well-protected vessels, in terms of CIWS and such. The sooner they could reach the shore, the better.

As the engines whined under their high load, the men in the vessels belly ran hurried last-minute checks of equipment, vehicles, guns... The Baltic shore was looming close even as shells continued to scream overhead and an unlucky sister ship a few hundred yards later caught a missile and went up in a pillar of flame. The captain shuddered. Almost there...

After all that, the final meters were almost a disappointment - the vessel lurched forward and impacted the sand with a massive whump, burying its nose in the beach. As the bow fell and the large guns across the Manthian fleet fell silent, the men within surged forward with a roar. The first feet touched the sand.

The skirmishing was over, and the battle for the very life of the Baltic nation had begun.

More landing ships ran up on shore and began vomiting forth troops, tanks, APCs, and artillery onto the Baltic shore, as the helicopters caught up, the transports dropping men further in to slow down a counterattack while attack helicopters struck anything moving above ground. Returning Aquila and Priest fighters roared overhead, this time seeking out SAM sites and hitting them with HARMs instead of fleeing from them.

To: The Qadesh Head of President
From: The President of The Republic of Greston, Michael Check

We have seen your work on the Northern Baltic held colony of Cyprus, and after seeing your great ensusiasim in killing these monsters we are asking you if you would like to accompany us in the death of another NB held colony, New Haven, hence we have taken it's gaurds out we will colonize it ourselves. If you do wish to help we will give a small land lot near the coast, and we will help your men march to anyother battlefields you may enter.

We would be honored to assist you with your aim. How many soldiers do you require? We can spare aprox. 50,000-100,000 soldiers and some ships and aircraft and helicopters. We stand ready...

::ENCRYPTED::
To: The Maldorian & the New Manthians
From: Qadesh

Qadesh is wondering what we should do with Cyprus. I have plans to turn it into a penal colony and annex it, have you any objections? Qadesh has no overseas colonies...we would love one.

Thank You Allies,

David Edward

::ENCRYPTED::
To: The Maldorian & the New Manthians
From: Qadesh

Qadesh is wondering what we should do with Cyprus. I have plans to turn it into a penal colony and annex it, have you any objections? Qadesh has no overseas colonies...we would love one.

Thank You Allies,

David Edward

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy
To: Qadesh

We were also considering annexing Cyprus, mainly because of its strategic location with regards to the Suez Canal - any enemy seeking to attack the canal from the west would be easily blocked via a garrison on the island, and such an attack has become an increasingly real concern for Manth in recent years. However, we also don't want to leave our loyal allies with no rewards for their contribution to the war! (Of course, there is also the Baltic land itself, but that by necessity must come later).

Here's our proposal; we keep Cyprus, which is strategically important to the defense of the Manthian heartland in Egypt, and in return, we will grant Qadesh sovereignty over Manth's economic zone in the Sawney Islands - much richer in resources, but less important to the national defense of Manth. Overseas Economic Zone 7 has a fair amount of infrastructure already in place and is rich in oil, manganese and other resources, temperate to tropical in climate, and well-suited to colonization with a large coastline and good locations for deep-water ports; we hope that the location will be amenable.

Regards,

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy CCX Liaison

OOC: Noticed you were looking for a holding in that thread, but arrived to late to get a claim; thought that mine might be to your liking. It is area 5 on the map

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy
To: Qadesh

We were also considering annexing Cyprus, mainly because of its strategic location with regards to the Suez Canal - any enemy seeking to attack the canal from the west would be easily blocked via a garrison on the island, and such an attack has become an increasingly real concern for Manth in recent years. However, we also don't want to leave our loyal allies with no rewards for their contribution to the war! (Of course, there is also the Baltic land itself, but that by necessity must come later).

Here's our proposal; we keep Cyprus, which is strategically important to the defense of the Manthian heartland in Egypt, and in return, we will grant Qadesh sovereignty over Manth's economic zone in the Sawney Islands - much richer in resources, but less important to the national defense of Manth. Overseas Economic Zone 7 has a fair amount of infrastructure already in place and is rich in oil, manganese and other resources, temperate to tropical in climate, and well-suited to colonization with a large coastline and good locations for deep-water ports; we hope that the location will be amenable.

Regards,

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy CCX Liaison

OOC: Noticed you were looking for a holding in that thread, but arrived to late to get a claim; thought that mine might be to your liking. It is area 5 on the map

Qadesh happily accepts. Would you aid our troops is transition to Economic Zone 7? Also, may we keep a small force on Cyprus, as a token of our alliance with you? We thank you for your time.

David Edward, Dictator and ally

P.S. We still have our elite troops, Primary Objectives, holding positions near the Suez Canal. If you feel like they are no longer needed, you may release them. Also, you may keep them there for added guard.

Qadesh happily accepts. Would you aid our troops is transition to Economic Zone 7? Also, may we keep a small force on Cyprus, as a token of our alliance with you? We thank you for your time.

David Edward, Dictator and ally

P.S. We still have our elite troops, Primary Objectives, holding positions near the Suez Canal. If you feel like they are no longer needed, you may release them. Also, you may keep them there for added guard.

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy
To: Qadesh

Qadesh is certainly welcome to keep troops on Cyprus. All expenses and costs for maintaining the garrison will be paid for by Manth, as a further token of our regard.

As for any assistance in moving into the Sawney Islands colony, you need only ask and it is yours. Manth has a hundred thousand men on the ground there, and while they will eventually pull out as Qadeshi men move in, in the meantime they will assist in whatever is necessary.

As for the troops in Suez, we believe that the area is secure from any possible enemy attack at the moment; as such, you should feel free to move these men wherever you feel they are needed.

Regards,

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy CCX Liaison

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy
To: Qadesh

Qadesh is certainly welcome to keep troops on Cyprus. All expenses and costs for maintaining the garrison will be paid for by Manth, as a further token of our regard.

As for any assistance in moving into the Sawney Islands colony, you need only ask and it is yours. Manth has a hundred thousand men on the ground there, and while they will eventually pull out as Qadeshi men move in, in the meantime they will assist in whatever is necessary.

As for the troops in Suez, we believe that the area is secure from any possible enemy attack at the moment; as such, you should feel free to move these men wherever you feel they are needed.

Regards,

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy CCX Liaison

We shall move our men in, 50,000 in number, in one week. Your soldiers may leave once we establish and assume control over this zone. Our soldiers on Cyprus, as a token of our regard for your glorious nation, fall under your direct command. Also, we should withdrawal our elite soldiers from the Suez, to provide guards for the consulate in the new colony. As such, President David Edward will be departing Cyprus for home, as he longs to do.

Qadesh's new Economic Zone may need some 'preparation' if you might do that for us, would be excellent. Simply let the colonists know that we are harmless, and are your allies, and they will not be hurt.

Thank You
Qadeshi Parliment

P.S. Great and many thanks for your glorious gift. May God smile down upon you.

Qadeshi AP Wire**

Today, President David Edward has ruled that he and his garrison of soon to be 100,000 troops will be leaving Cyprus. They are to be replaced by New Manthian troops. Consequently, they will be annexing Cyprus. Edward, leaves a colony wholly subdued and ready for annexation.

Abdul Manti ~Staff Writer

OOC: I gotta pull out of this RP.

The Northern Baltic Coastal Defense Position
As the New Manth fleet was closing in on the beach, 3,000 Tomahawk missiles and several dozen shells from the Iowa Classes impacted along the coastal defense wall. Pieces of the wall launched up in the air and impacted along the beach. A thick smoke filled the air, reducing the visibility of the men on both sides. When the New Manth troops touched down onto the beach, it was silent for several second.

Then the coastal position opened up. Remote control guns popped out of the remaining pieces of the bunker and some pieces were moved around, opening up firing positions. The remaining dozen Moskit missiles now opened fire on the troop transport ships. Using thermal goggles and cameras, the remaining troops began opening fire on the New Manth troops on the beach with Kord Machine guns, GSh-23L autocannons, and GSh-30K autocannons. The GSh-30K autocannons were firing depleted uranium shells at the enemy armor. A thick yellowish gas was released. While it was not Mustard Gas, it would probably force soldiers to wear their gas masks, reducing their less viability, therefore reducing their combat awareness. A few dozen Type 95 Self Propelled Artillery also began to open fire on the beaches.

750 Po-2 Biplane drones armed with a single Sa-18 missile system and one torpedo began moving to the enemy fleet to engage. They were slow and had a very small radar signal, due to their light-weight construction. This would allow them to attack their target: the New Manth flagship. They flew in loose formation to the enemy ships and would open fire on enemy fighters if the fighters wanted to engage them. They planned on sea skimming to their target.

Meanwhile, further inland, an evacuation had begun nearby cities were being evacuated, except for members of the Social Democrat Party Militia and the Socialist Party Militia, both groups independent of the government. The groups were going to attempt to fight the invaders nonetheless. They took position in nearby cities and the mountains.

Meanwhile, at a large port town about thirty miles from the beach, preparations were being made to deny enemy forces access to a deep water port. 20 merchant ships were sunk and were planted with special explosives designed to disable anything attempting to move them with a huge explosion. Mines were also placed along the entrance of the port.

The Beaches

The defenses claimed dozens of Manthian soldiers, then hundreds, but the rest kept coming... those in front being forced ahead to clear the beaches for yet more troops. Not that most of the 'grunts' really wanted to be on those beaches, taking withering fire from the Baltic defenders, but at that point the only options were to take the enemy positions or be slaughtered. And so thousands of soldiers surged forwards, pressing on through smoke and gas, firing grenades at remote machine guns or dropping thermobarics into bunkers, continuing to overrun enemy positions even as their comrades were cut down, and moving further inland to link up with the heliborne vanguard which was striking enemy bunkers from behind. Behind them more and more troops and tanks were offloading as ships continued to plow into the Baltic shores, and each fallen soldier or destroyed vehicle was quickly replaced with two more.

What was making the Manthian commanders really sweat, however, was not the fixed defenses such as bunkers and machine guns... while those would undoubtedly cause their shares of casualties, they were immobile and incapable of counterattacking to truly stall the Manthian advance, especially once the heavy Oriontus assault guns the Manthians had brought started to take their toll. The Manthians could be delayed by such measures, but to actually thow them back would require a sustained counterattack, a real risk just after the landing when overwhelming force was not yet on the ground. Of course, such a counterattack would require armor, and the Manthians were staying vigilant for its appearance. In addition to striking bridges and such to slow enemy reaction times, the thousand-plus strike fighters lingering over the battlefield were waiting in case of just such an attack, as were the Corvus attack helicopters which had accompanied the transports in.

The first few hours were always the most critical in holding a beachhead, and the Manthians were making sure that they emerged from those hours perhaps bloodied, but unbeaten.

Offshore

"Reporting a faint..."

The radar operator remembered that he was on the four million ton Lion, complete with its massive radars, not on his old destroyer.

"make that very faint radar signals coming in low... One second... we're getting visuals reports from CAP. They're saying... biplanes?"

"Confirming that." another officer interjected. "Forward CAP reports Soviet model Po-2 biplane by visual identification."

"Get me the specs on that." snapped the Captain.

"One second..." The officer tapped a few keys, accessing the Manthian military network and quickly downloading the relevant information.

"Huh. Stealthy, but quite slow... of course it would be, it's a biplane." the Captain mused." It will take them some time to reach us out here... Update me when they are nearing striking range."

"Sir." The officer was already tapping more keys, sending out instructions as to how to best combat this new enemy.

Above the fleet and about 100 km out from the fleet, the CAP of Aquila fighters began engaging the enemy. Knowing that their missiles would probably have trouble tracking the Po-2s, not many were wasted in the attempt. Instead, the Manthian pilots chose to stalk and engage the sea-skimming enemy with their guns, using the advantages of height and incredibly superior speed and maneuverability (many pilots flying well subsonic just to make targeting easier) to put quick, precise volleys of 30mm cannon fire into the enemy planes while remaining essentially untouchable.

About 300 EW birds (modified FA-16 Priests) began spamming the area with radar and radio noise, aiming to disrupt the planes' targeting or remote control. It was known that the basic plane didn't have radar, though any Baltic modifications were an unknown factor, but the airplane also didn't really have a good spot for a powerful radar, especially with the nose prop. That meant that they were probably receiving targeting information from enemy ground-based radars or AWACs planes, and if that link could be disrupted...

Beaches
The New Manth troops had overran the first defensive line, but there was one more behind that one. It sat on higher ground then the first defensive line, but would not be able to fire on the troops unless they moved up the incline towards it.

Behind the Beaches
150 modified GAZ-39371 trucks moved to their firing positions. They were escorted by Tungeska ADV's and a few other armored vehicles. They each carried a missile launcher that held 8 EMP missiles. Once they got into position, they would fire these missiles at the enemy aircraft, hoping to destroy them. These missiles were low yield, so instead of frying everything electronic in the planes, it would simply knock out the vital systems. The low yield EMP missiles had the benefit of being much cheaper and affordable to the Party Militias.

Preperations were now being made in the mountains, which were about 10 miles away from the beaches to give the enemy hell. IED's had been placed along the road and firing positions were set up as well. Parts of the road were wired for detonation and areas over the roads were fitted with explosives to create avalanches that would slow down then enemy.

Offshore
Once the enemy began opening fire on the Po-2's, 200 Sa-18 missiles were released at the enemy planes. 23 Po-2's were sent down by the first volley of cannon fire. Another 15 were sent down by more enemy fire. Targeting was difficult due to the spread out formation of the Po-2's and their incredibly slow speed compared to the enemy jets. Once the Po-2's were within 800 meters of the enemy flagship, they would release their torpedoes and attempt to return home.

The Beaches

Ibrahim Massoud shuddered as he took the first breather in what seemed like an hour, sheltering behind the burnt-out remains of a Manthian Nakil tank as a few stray bullets whizzed past. With him were the two surviving members of his fireteam - the body of Giuseppe, an Italian immigrant and the team's CO, lay twisted in the sand a few feet away. Ibrahim hadn't escaped unscathed, either - his left leg was shattered, struck in three different places and staining his uniform bright red. Fahad, the designated marksman, a fresh recruit a few weeks out of training, had carried him to shelter and was pinching shut a torn artery as the other member called for help over the radio.

Another Nakil tank, this one fully operational, rumbled up, its gun spitting fire at the enemy machine gun, finally silencing it. . The commander turned towards the three men, and Fahad's momentary relief turned to dread. An officer...

"What are you doing? We need infantry support up front against the second line! Get moving!"

"Sir..." Fahad protested. "He is bleeding, his artery is severed. If we leave him, he will bleed to death..."

"That's an order. The assault is happening now, get to the front lines!"

Ibrahim groaned, and Fahad was still hesitating when the tank commander drew out his pistol and fired once into the air.

"We need men at the front now. We will advance - I expect to see you following, or the next shot will be for you. Move!"

Fahad slowly stood up, and grabbed his rifle, following the tank forward to join the thousands of other men moving towards the second line, leaving the dying Ibrahim behind with the other corpses. He wiped his friend's blood off his hands and clutched the DR-83 tightly, clambering up the slope through a haze of smoke rising from the battlefield below, into the teeth of yet more enemy defenses.

Meanwhile, the true beasts of the advance force began to roll forwards to help overcome the second enemy line. Oriontus assault guns would be used to draw enemy fire - while the gun portion itself could be knocked out, the turretless construction allowed the rest of the vehicle to be more heavily armored and present a much lower target to the enemy than an average main battle tank. Behind came more infantry and regular tanks to finish up the sweep in much the same way as they had overcome the first lines. Helicopters hovered dangerously close to the ground, risking fire to pour rockets onto enemy positions.

The Fleet

The SA-18s came as somewhat of a surprise, mounted on the old Po-2s, as some Manthian pilots were still grappling somewhat with the idea of the biplanes as an actual opponent, and a number of Aquilas were lost to the attack. Still the remainder continued to harry the Po-2s on their long, slow journey into the heart of the Manthian fleet, stooping from above to deliver bursts of fire and then quickly pulling back up to avoid the enemy missiles, making the best of their vast superiority in speed, maneuverability, and sensors.

A second enemy soon came into play as well, this time from below - the 70mm antiaircraft guns of the Paramount ADVs. With LIDAR providing targeting information where radar had failed, hundreds of these guns began to fill the air with shells.

"Give these morons hell!" The bombardment from the Crimson Battle Group had continued well into the H-Hour, hitting enemy troop concentrations and installations alike. After a few minutes, a tech officer approached Orochimaru, who was now chuckling to himself.

"Sir, seems that...well, bi-planes are approaching the New Manthian fleet." The officer was a bit uneasy. If he looked just even a little funny, then Orochimaru wouldn't believe his claim.

"Bi-planes? My god. This will be funny. Just continue the bombardment and watch the New Manthians slaughter 'em."


OOC: Lunch. Sorry 'bout post, but whatever.

The Beaches
The troops holding the second line of defense were firing at any target on the beach that presented itself. The troops also prepared if the enemy troops would attempt to charge up the hill and use grenades on the bunkers by covering most of the windows of the bunkers with scrap metal sheets. There were spaces for the guns in the bunkers to open fire with, but most of the bunker was now not vulnerable to grenades. The fire from the Maldorian ships caused several dozen bunkers to collapse, but the line still held strong.

Meanwhile, the artillery fire on the beach ceased because the Type 95's began withdrawing. They did this to allow for the air force, now incoming with Tu-22 bombers, to drop thermal grenades on the hilly area between the beach and the mountains. They would not get to close to beach, to avoid having to fight the enemy planes and stayed low to avoid being spotted on radar.

Off the Northern Baltic Coast
27 biplanes were lost from the initial volley of anti-aircraft fire. 50 biplanes continued on to their original destination, but the rest dived to prepare to attack the anti-aircraft ships. Another 19 were lost in the dive. They split into equal attack drops and prepared to drop their torpedoes when they came in range of the ships.

Off the Maldorians
The invasion had now began. The fleet had been bombarding the enemy coast and lost a dozen more minesweepers to enemy fire. The fleet ceased firing. The first wave, consisting of 35,000 infantry, 5,000 BMP-3's, 500 T-90S and 2,000 other vehicles began moving to the beaches.

OOC: Just pretend this was before I moved to Nova Europa. I will use my original homeland. Expect a response soon.

The Beaches
The troops holding the second line of defense were firing at any target on the beach that presented itself. The troops also prepared if the enemy troops would attempt to charge up the hill and use grenades on the bunkers by covering most of the windows of the bunkers with scrap metal sheets. There were spaces for the guns in the bunkers to open fire with, but most of the bunker was now not vulnerable to grenades. The fire from the Maldorian ships caused several dozen bunkers to collapse, but the line still held strong.


"Admiral! I believe that we have hit a few New Manthian troops in an accidently friendly-fire incident. Should be continue our harrassment of the bunkers?"

Admiral Orochimaru mocked the sailor. "Friendly-fire? Damnit....Get new targets. I don't wanna lose anymore allied soldiers. Relay the message to all ship commanders."

The shelling from Maldorian vessels had stopped, but only for temporarily. New targets were acquired; this time they were targets outside of the current battle. Such targets were nearby cities, bases, troop concentrations, railroads, bridges, and basically anything of tactical purpose for the enemy.

Off the Maldorians
The invasion had now began. The fleet had been bombarding the enemy coast and lost a dozen more minesweepers to enemy fire. The fleet ceased firing. The first wave, consisting of 35,000 infantry, 5,000 BMP-3's, 500 T-90S and 2,000 other vehicles began moving to the beaches.

OOC: Which island would that be?

http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l182/maldorians/?action=view&current=Maldorianhomeland-1.png

OOC: Clicky clicky (http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l158/comradecaptan/INVASION.png) Sorry about the ultra-crappy post, but I just wanted to get something up before I went to sleep.

Official Statement
Denomination of Strategy

The Greater Economic Union hereby warns neutral nations that Manth has authorized unrestricted submarine warfare against any and all ships either flying the Baltic flag, believed to be headed to or from Baltic ports, or otherwise aiding the Baltic war effort, save for clearly marked, unarmed hospital ships. Other than the aforementioned vessels, we urge neutral shipping to steer clear of Baltic waters.

Kamys Point

In the black of night, from the vast, concrete submarine pens that held the Fortieth Submarine Flotilla, fifteen Cartagena-class nuclear submarines slipped silently one by one out into the seas. The deadly hunters, each carrying a full load of antishipping missiles and torpedoes, would soon join hundreds of their sister vessels leaving ports across the nation on their way to prowl the South Arctican in search of Baltic shipping. Their mission was to enforce a complete blockade of the nation, starving it of supplies and war materiel - with the lopsided industrial advantage Manth and its allies possessed, the Baltic commanders could not hope to win a simple tonnage war.

The subs would be aided not only by their own passive sonar, but by detailed satellite surveillance, which would track ships arriving at and leaving from Baltic ports and pass on the information to the Manthian hunters, allowing them a very good chance of intercepting any given merchant vessel. Two hundred and fifty Cartagena-class submarines were making the first deployments, and would be rotated out with further vessels if losses were taken or as supplies and ammunition were used up.

The Fleet

posted with agreement of TNB

The fifty planes attempting to reach the flagship were hopelessly outnumbered and hampered by their slow speed and the long distance involved - all were shot down long before reaching firing range.

The Baltic planes which turned to attack the ADVs were slightly more successful, and a number were damaged by the torpedo attacks and a few by subsequent kamikaze dives, though at such close ranges the Paramounts' modern AA guns and CIWS took heavy tolls on the outmoded aircraft.

The battleships and shore assault vessels began to rotate their guns, looking for new targets that would not endanger the troops already on the ground. Fortunately the extreme range of some of the larger guns allowed them to easily fire kilometers past the front lines, aiming at everything from roads to communications towers. The smaller six-inch guns from the Ilium-class destroyers were precise enough to offer close support without endangering friendlies, and frequently responded to troops calling in fire on the front lines.

The Beaches

The Oriontus-class assault guns, as planned, were the first to engage the second lines - their guns weren't hugely effective against the enemy bunkers, but their armor was effectively impervious to the machine gun fire coming back at them. Behind them, supported by infantry, came modified Nakil tanks equipped with flamethrowers, which were definitely more suited to bunker warfare, belching forth gouts of flame which, even if the bunkers prevented the flames from reaching the enemy, would suck away oxygen and suffocate the poor soldiers inside alive. Smoke grenades from the Nakils' launchers peppered the battlefield, shrouding everything in a deep haze to hamper enemy aim.

Waters around the Northern Baltic
When the order of unrestricted submarine warfare was released by the New Manth government, no less then 24 convoys were roaming the waters around the Northern Baltic. They included: 7 Government owned food convoys, 6 government owned raw material convoys, 2 privately owned cruise ship groups, 2 research expeditions, 5 government owned fishing groups, and 2 oil tanker convoys. All were escorted, though some more heavily then others. All were put on alert for enemy ships attempting to sink them.

The Beaches
As the smoke filled the air, the 2,800 troops left in the bunkers stopped firing. They fixed their bayonets and prepared their close combat weapons, the officers were armed with Katanas and the regulars were armed with 6" combat knifes. There was no scream, yell, or blowing of a war horn. 2,500 troops simply slipped silently down the hill and prepared to use their weapons to kill as many enemy troops as possible.

Some troops were armed with satchel charges. There were supposed to be used in hopes of disabling or destroying the enemy armored vehicles . The remaining troops in the bunkers now stuck to their machine guns in order to attempt to push back any attempt that the enemy made to capture the hill. The hills behind them now burned and a smell of death would soon fill the air.

The High Seas

Lieutenant Captain Girolamo Pacioli read over the orders one more time. Join Flotilla 12 and proceed to intercept enemy convoy designated 08-34N. Update tracking data at your discretion.

Enclosed were a number of detailed satellite photos, showing several cruise ships putting out of port, joining up with military escorts and proceeding out to sea. Resolution high enough to see the people walking around on deck, to count the sunbathers and strollers... Pacioli shrugged. He assumed that the thing was probably a facade to hide the movement of troops, or perhaps workers, as few people would want to take a pleasure cruise in the middle of a war and ex-cruise ships were often pressed into duty as troop carriers in times of military stress. Even if not, though... orders were orders.

"Adjust eight degrees port, run engines at two-thirds ahead." he barked. Now that they were nearing Baltic waters, there was no need to run the engines at the maximum - a lesser speed would be much stealthier, and still able to exceed slow civilian ships. Once he got within combat range, the sub would slow even more, down to less than ten knots to remain as undetectable as possible.

...Five hours later, boat 634 was nearing its goal. Pacioli only knew he was operating with other submarines because he had been informed of it by Command - all had slowed to a crawl, and for all that Pacioli's passive sonar could tell him he might as well have been alone. They were close to the target now, though, and soon he would start to pick up noise from the convoy. Hopefully the same would not apply in reverse...

This strike was aimed not only at the civilian vessels in the convoy but also the warships, to make escorting future convoys more difficult. Normally, targeting warships from a far-out distance would be difficult due to lack of targeting data, but with the big civilian cruise ships they were escorting putting a fairly accurate fix on position...

After a few tense minutes, the weapons officer gave a quick nod. Pacioli glanced at the man.

"Got them? Distance?"

"A hundred and five kilometers, error margin point two."

"Very well. Ready to fire?"

"Yes. Twelve seconds, sir."

Though the submarines were not in contact with each other, they had been ordered to open fire at the same time in order to minimize enemy response time. Within about five seconds after Pacioli's sub spat out a half-dozen Principe III missile-launched torpedoes, all eight of the other subs had also delivered their ordnance and fifty-four Principes were breaking the surface of the sea. Perfectly capable of picking out their own targets once they got close, the Principes would travel by rocket until close to the enemy fleet, then splash into the sea and supercavitate the rest of the way in an attempt to avoid CIWS or anti-missile missiles. Meanwhile, Pacioli, not waiting around to see the results of his handiwork, was diving swiftly. No sense in hanging near the surface, enemy helicopters would surely be on their way even if the mother vessels were destroyed. Deep in the sea he would be safer.

Meanwhile, the crew were listening carefully, some even holding their breath though it was not really necessary. If they had been successful, they would soon hear the sound of explosions carrying through the water even at this distance. If not, they would no doubt soon have enemy warships hunting them down.

Most convoys venturing too far out from protected inner waters or harbors would quickly be attacked in similar fashion, by subs striking from long distance without warning.

Inland from the Beachhead

A banzai charge... this was a somewhat unexpected move from an enemy which so far had fought almost entirely from defensive positions. Nevertheless, tank-mounted machine guns chattered into the advancing enemy ranks, and infantrymen quickly sought cover to pick off the charging enemy.

Still, the front lines were somewhat tenuously established and soon the Baltic men reached the Manthian lines, and the battle degenerated into a bloody brawl, with Manthians struggling hand to hand with enemy troops, rifles forgotten as they matched long combat knives against the enemy bayonets. Tanks rolled throughout, keeping up continuous fire and even in some cases running over unlucky enemy soldiers, staining the treads red.

Still even as Manthian and Baltic soldiers cut each other down, more soldiers continued to move up to replace the Manthian dead. In a battle of attrition, there would be only one victor...

Off the Maldorians
The invasion had now began. The fleet had been bombarding the enemy coast and lost a dozen more minesweepers to enemy fire. The fleet ceased firing. The first wave, consisting of 35,000 infantry, 5,000 BMP-3's, 500 T-90S and 2,000 other vehicles began moving to the beaches.

Radio Message to all Mandalorian Military Personnel

"For too long have we waited in silence as the enemy battleships peppered our home islands. For too long have we let these foreign devils tamper with the Mandalorians. This ends now. We will fight! Let's show these infidels that we mean business! Hit their ships, medics, and pilots! Leave none standing!!!" The message was soon broadcasted on all home island positions; air fields and bunker networks alike. No Mandalorian would fight without the advice of The Mandalore.

Coastal Battery Position 221

SA-4 M200 Desolator's soon fired their 60-caliber 500mm Mk.II Cannon's. Their targets were the approaching landers and smaller ships in the area. The idea was to halt the enemy before they reached land. With a range of 90 kilometers, these artillery pieces could pack a punch. If the enemy was to reach land, however, they would face a various number of twists and turns varying for tanks hidden under brush to mine-ridden alleyways...

Command Bunker, Island #4

"Sir! The enemy is approaching. Our artillery pieces have opened up. What are your orders?"

The general paced the dimly-light underground facility, pondering the thoughts. "Get the men off the shores. We are going to lure them in. Then hit them and hit them hard..."

Waters off of the Northern Baltic
After the words,"Sir! Torpedoes incoming!" were yelled, the convoy escorting the cruise ships Gaia and Fjord now attempted evasive action. The Gaia, being a much larger ship, attempted to break port and head full speed for the port city of Umani. The Gaia needed to go to Umani because, besides it being a large port city, it was the closest city with dry docks big enough to be able to hold the Gaia.

The Fjord was a significantly smaller cruise ship and attempted to break stern and head for a port that was only a few dozen nautical miles away. The escort force split up in order to protect the ships. If the torpedoes continued heading for the ships, countermeasure and CIWS system would be deployed. The civilians on the cruise ships were moved to the top deck, in case an evacuation became necessary.

The Beach
The charge no doubt caught the New Manth troops by surprise. Nonetheless, the fire from the armored vehicles caused many Northern Baltic casualties. The few men remaining in the bunkers now were given orders. They grabbed all RPG-29 systems and any ammo as well. Then they proceeded down the steep hill and, if they made it, they would give the RPG-29's to the troops down there so they could open fire on the armored vehicles.

Sgt. Loris lay in a crater probably made by an artillery shell.
It's a nice foxhole, thought the Sgt....
Then an explosion put him back into reality. He now lay on his back and watched several troops running down the hill. Their arms were full with ammunition and rocket launchers. One of the three soldiers, the slower of the three, was cut down by enemy machine gun fire. Seeing this, Sgt. Loris removed the now deceased support gunner from his machine gun and checked the support gunner for any spare ammunition. Taking the machine gun up in his hands, he stood up and began firing away at the mass of oncoming troops. His arm was hit once. Then his chest. He seemed impervious to these seemingly minor wounds. A third shot impacted a few inches above his knee and the Sgt. feel down on his knees, but continued to fire. RPG rounds were now fired off at the tanks and masses of infantry. The few sniper guns that had been with the troops had now begun to run dangerously low on ammunition.

The Maldorians
Thousands of BMP-30 and hundreds of T-90 tanks participated in the first wave against the symotanious assault on four of the islands in the Maldorian homeland.

The T-90's were much slower in water then the BMP-3's, so a total of 36 were lost. Once the BMP-3's came into range, they prepared to utilize their ATGM's and grenade launchers to destroy the enemy positions on the coast.

One Small Section of the Front...

Fahad ducked behind an abandoned Oriontus gun as machine gun fire rattled out from perilously nearby. Peering cautiously around the edge of the smoking vehicle, he hefted his DR-83 and put two quick shots into the gunner, but was forced to duck again as the enemy turned his attention to Fahad's position, several bullets ricocheting off the Oriontus as Fahad hugged the earth.

He rose again and took another quick shot, close enough to see the blood erupting from the enemy as the heavy 7.8x63mm rounds tore into him.

"Shit." he murmured as the man staggered but remained upright. "Fucking die already!"

Fahad's attention was distracted, however, as another Nakil rolled up, flanked by several infantrymen. The main gun spat a stream of liquid flame forward, igniting the bodies of enemy soldiers as well as brush and trees, sending thick black smoke rolling into the skies to further cloud an already hellishly soot and haze-filled battlefield. The tank was silhouetted against the orange flames for a second, its long barrel swiveling as the gunner searched for more targets.

Only a second, though, before an RPG lanced out of the smoke and struck the vehicle head-on. One of the accompanying infantrymen was cut down in the ensuing explosion as the rocket charge met ERA blasting outwards, though when the smoke cleared the tank still seemed to be alive... the turret traversed, seeking out its attacker, and spat out more flames. Fahad thought he might have heard a brief scream.

The enemy machine gunner seemed to have fallen silent, whether from bullets or flames or just reloading, and Fahad risked a dash forward. Things seemed to be quieting down all across the front, actually... whether the enemy was dying, falling back, or being overrun Fahad didn't know, but he wasn't about to complain. Scattered gunfire was still audible in the distance, but there seemed to be no fighting going on near him as he clambered on past the wreckage of vehicles and twisted bodies, both friend and foe.

Siddenly, the ground leveled out, and with a start Fahad realized that he had reached the top of the ridge, a wasteland of twisted steel girders and shattered concrete that had once been enemy reinforced bunkers, now laid open to the air. He picked his way carefully over the rubble, before pausing in surprise as a new sight came into view.

Surrounded by a small group of soldiers, waving proudly over the shattered Baltic defenses, was the black and gold banner of Manth.

The Fleet

The Admiral smiled at the messages coming in from the front. The battle was won - Baltic shore defenses had been breached, their last-gasp banzai charge had been cut down in brutal close-quarters fighting, and the landing zone was now secure.

He quickly began dictating a message to be sent to the Maldorian and Qadeshi fleets.

Our troops have broken the enemy shore defenses, and the field is ours. Even now we are advancing inland to blunt any counterattack that they might muster. Feel free to begin landing troops.

Boat 634 & surrounds

Nearing their targets, the Principes splashed into the sea, large motors driving them swiftly through the water at speeds in excess of 200 knots as they swiftly closed on the enemy ships. At that speed, fleeing was of little use, as the torpedoes would catch up well before the ships got much distance away.

Especially with the older cruise ships, the vessels were simply too large and easily detectable to the torpedoes' guidance to have much chance of successfully confusing them. Eight heavy torpedoes homed on the Gaia, and four on the Fjord, where with a successful hit they would explode not on contact like older torpedoes but rather under the vessels' keel, causing a rapid pressure bubble which could snap the keel or even the whole vessel in two and send it to the bottom with startling swiftness.

The military vessels, being smaller destroyers and such, had better luck throwing off the guidance, but even so about half of the forty-eight remaining torpedoes remained well on target, though unfortunately unevenly distributed - some vessels still being tracked by three or four torpedoes, others only one or two or even throwing off all their hunters.

The results would have to be seen later - the Manthian submarines were already stealthily slipping away from the scene of the attack.

The Mountains
Preparations were nearing completion in the mountain range some miles away from the beach. Trucks with Grad and Frog 7 missiles now prepared to fire. Plenty of anti-air, anti-armor, and anti-infantry equipment were also ready, in case the enemy attempted anything. The first wave of nearly 1,500 Grad missiles opened fire on the beach, followed closely by 100 Frog-7 missiles. After they unleashed their salvo, the missile pieces moved, reloaded, and fired again. They did this two more times, and then retreated. Older Type 95 Self Propelled Artillery guns also began to open fire on the beaches. They were normally not used by the army due to the amount of support vehicles they needed to carry their large 203mm shells. This problem was solved when the Type 95's were firing from a fixed position as the shells could stored close to the artillery pieces.

On several especially steep hills, Northern Baltic troops began fortifying the tops. In order for the enemy to move into the mountains, they would have to pass these hills, which were either located along a dried river or on the only mountain pass that eventually went through the mountains.

Off the Northern Baltic Coast
As the first torpedo impacted with the Gaia, the massive vessel rocked from the explosion. The passengers now began to board life-boats. While this was happening, one of the cruise ship's escorts, an Alta Class minesweeper, was hit by a torpedo.

Four colossal Toori trade frieghters entered an eastern Maldorian harbor, topped off to the brim with munitions, armor, supplies, rations, medical supplies, building materials, weapons, and nicesities. Their escort was a large contingent comprized of the following:

NAVAL/AMPHIBIOUS CONTINGENT:
-x80- Toori Assault Skiffs (hovercrafts)
-x50- Toori Corvettes
-x50- Toori Fast Attack Crafts
-x1- Iowa class battlecruiser
-x3- Shield class floating platforms
-x150- Patrol boats
-x456- Toori Marines (including all distinctions and classes, not including vehicle opperaters, vehicle personel, or vehicle engineers)


AIR CONTINGENT:
-x137- Toori LRI-102 Flamberges
-x105- Toori A-10 Thunderbolts
-x30- Toori B-1 Lancers
-x52- Toori EA-6B Prowlers
-x230- Toori Gunships

GUNSHIP PAYLOAD (per each gunship):
-x1- Toori Phantom Long Range Mortar Tank
or
-x1- Toori Assault Skiff
-x10- Toori Marines (including all distinctions and classes)



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


OFFICIAL MESSAGE FROM THE ARMED REPUBLIC OF TOORI

_________________________________________________________________



Mandalore, we sincerely appologize for the delay of our military contingent. The journey in transit to your location was most perilous. Multiple exotic tropical storms were encountered. This should due for now, however, any further aid will be unavaliable until we investigate the atmospheric disturbances encountered by our forces. May the ancestors strengthen you.


Truthfully,


-Praetor Iruunik-
High Consular of The Armed Republic of Toori

ooc: Only a quick post cause I'm in a hurry. Sorry to be missing the last few days.

Next post will be more interesting I promise ;)

The Beaches

With the beachhead and surrounding area firmly in Manthian hands, it would soon be time to advance and smash enemy forces in the mountains... but not just yet. First, the nearby port of Rekyavik had to be taken to ensure a steady line of supply.

Men and vehicles moved towards the city, preparing to surround and capture the vital harbor. Once the deep-water harbor was in Manthian hands, prefabricated docks were ready to be moved in to ensure that even the defenders wrecking the port facilities would not cause much delay. Meanwhile, holding attacks were launched against the forces in the mountains - in contrast to the massive waves at the beaches, these were small squad and unit-based actions, designed to simply keep in contact with the enemy and prevent, or at least delay any counterattacks on the Baltic part.

Similarly, strike fighters continued to prowl the area, ranging quite a lot further than the infantry had yet penetrated, loaded out with primarily HARMs and antivehicle munitions. Their mission was mostly to suppress the enemy air defense network, which they would achieve by the simple expedient of launching HARMs at any enemy radar site which dared to light up its radar within several hundred kilometers. Without good RADAR coverage, it would become much more difficult for the Baltic troops to interfere with Manthian aircraft.

bump for TNB

The Toori trade freighters began offloading their supplies at the port farthest from the action. Since there were four freighters, it would take some time to offload all of the cargo. The Toori task force would stay in escort untill the ships were done and left.


OFFICIAL MESSAGE FROM THE ARMED REPUBLIC OF TOORI

_________________________________________________________________


Another supply shipment is currently in transit. They shall arive in roughly a day.


-Praetor Iruunik-

Radar Post #5876 "Daring-E", The Mountains
"Sir, we have incoming objects. Moving very fast. What should we do, sir?"
The Commander was standing on a neighboring hill. He picked up a telephone connected to the other hill via telephone wire.
Loosening the cigar from his mouth, the Commander responded
"Hmm. Probably missiles. You hang in there, kid."
The Commander walked a few steps to the air raid siren and sounded the alarm. Soldiers rushed out to their stations, which included a dozen S-400 missile systems. They prepared to fire when the order was given. This incident occurred at several dozen locations across the Mountain Defensive Line, or, as the soldiers called it, "The Cliff-Wall."

Scout Group #453 "Lion-Group", Foothills
Jonas was peering down his sniper scope again.
"Jonas will you stop that? If you keep your eye on that scope anymore, you're going to have it stuck on there."
Jonas smirked.
"If I do, I'd feel bad for those enemies down there."
After a few seconds of silence, the old man replied
"Wait! There's really enemies down there?"
"Come and see for yourself. It's not like you weren't in Die Boerestaat or anything."
With a raspy laugh, the old man pointed his sniper down at the small group of enemy troops. He picked up his radio
"Attention Scout Groups #478 and #742, we have enemies spotted. Prepare to open fire in 15, 14 13, 12, 11,....,3,2,1. Fire!
The snipers all opened fire nearly at the same time and hoped for the quick death or surrender of their enemies.

At the front lines, where skirmishers were holding contact with the Baltic troops in the mountains, men hunkered down as enemy artillery and snipers took their toll, taking potshots of their own whenever the opportunity arose. However, they would not be allowed to operate without reprisal, and anytime enemy snipers or artillery gave away their positions by firing, the Manthians had their typical response ready - overwhelming firepower.

Counterbattery radars were quick to be pressed into service to track incoming shells back to their sources, which were quickly blanketed by dozens of 155mm shells, splitting up into submunitions over the enemy positions to blanket truly vast areas of land in destruction. The enemy would be given no time to pack up his artillery and move after each shot - the time from the detection of an incoming shell to when return fire began falling on the Baltic positions was usually less than thirty seconds, as hundreds of Corbulo field guns coordinated their efforts to smash enemy artillery.

And this was only the tip of the iceberg, a tiny fingertip of the hand now reaching out to crush the Baltic nation. Over a thousand 155mm self-propelled howitzers had been massed for the next stage of the attack.

The defenders of Rekyavik were no doubt prepared for battle, but they would not get it. On cue, tens of hundreds of shells began to fall on the city, but instead of being filled with explosives or submunitions, their payload was something far more deadly...

In the span of the next ten minutes, over ten thousand shells filled with VX would be fired into the city. Ten times more deadly than sarin and capable of sticking to a person like motor oil or killing via even the tiniest whiff of inhaled vapor, not even gas masks would protect the defenders or the populace... the nerve agent could bypass the mask entirely and enter the body through the skin. A truly horrific fate for the Baltic defenders, though at least they would probably die quick deaths.

In that respect, they would be lucky.

Air Battle

Lt. Mohamed Behab grinned as the last enemy radar signal died out, the victim of converging missiles form several planes. The missile defense had been fierce, but one of the facts of this war was that the Northern Baltic troops simply could not win in a war of attrition, pitting missile against missile... they simply didn't have enough equipment or industrial capacity. In fact, there were still plenty of planes fully loaded out with munitions, loitering in case the Baltic troops turned on the radars they had probably been keeping in reserve. In the meantime, however, without air-searching radars the Baltic air defense network was not much of a threat.

The Maldorians
Thousands of BMP-30 and hundreds of T-90 tanks participated in the first wave against the symotanious assault on four of the islands in the Maldorian homeland.

The T-90's were much slower in water then the BMP-3's, so a total of 36 were lost. Once the BMP-3's came into range, they prepared to utilize their ATGM's and grenade launchers to destroy the enemy positions on the coast.

The Northern Baltic Waters
IndentThe now idle attack group, led by Admiral Orochimaru had begun the advance. With New Manthians already pressing inland, the disembarkment would be relatively simple. Unload them and wait as the New Manth soldiers secure a beachhead. Once the beach was secure, fresh troops would push inland. The MNS Bloodshed, a Kraken Class Trimaran Super Dreadnaught, represented the power of the fleet. In reality, it was the only ship of substanical firepower, mainly because the other ships were inferior destroyers, amphibious assault ships, and the like. With the ominious vessel in the lead, the fleet gracefully cut through the waters...

Shoreline, Maldorian Home Islands
IndentFar off, on the other side of the world, Maldorians were fighting for the safety of the nation. M200 Desolators and Patriots were feriously at work, trying to take out the fast-advancing vehicles. The defenses of the islands were nothing compared to the main home land, but they would have to do. Dark General Abrar-ul-Haq quickly assumed command of the situation, mainly because the other generals in the region were either unsuitable or downright crazy. "What's the situation?" The Dark General chimed in, pacing the War Room, situated on one of the invaded islands. "Enemy forces everwhere. They have much more than what we have on the islands. Yet, I believe that we have air superiority. I could be wrong, though."
IndentBehind the line of artillery were the tanks hidden among the trees. There, however, were not much trees remaining. Most of the trees had been demolished from the initial bombardment, and the others had been cut down, painted black, and placed along the artillery lines. This act had been used for one reason; deception. The Maldorian officers were thinking that if more decoy artillery pieces could be set up, then there would be a smaller chance of the actual artillery units being hit. The officers could only hope for the best.

The Northern Baltic
Over 100 artillery pieces and 25 rocket batteries were destroyed. Dozens of others were damaged and dozens of recon posts were destroyed. The artillery had now ceased firing and the bulk of the troops in the mountains retreated to fight another day. Only a small garrison force was left to keep the invasion forces in check.

In the port city, however, only a few people were still alive. Either in NBC protected APC's or the fortified command bunker, which was also NBC protected. There were only a few APC's and they lacked long range radios, but the command bunker could and had been sending data to other Northern Baltic posts, so when the poison gas came in, the Northern Baltic High Command was quick to hear about it. The explosives that would've been used to hold the enemy up were now detonated. The two bridges, which were the only access to the core of the city, vital pieces of the docking facilities, and a number of high rises were all blown up. The high rises were blown up in such a way that they would block the street. Either way, the city was lost, but delaying the enemy was the best they could do.

The Maldorian Invasion
The artillery managed to hit a total of a few dozen BMP-3's, but the T-90's, using a snorkel and underwater, could not be spotted by them and only a few were hit by sheer luck.

Meanwhile, the fleet had now switched to using cruise missiles and destroyers and cruisers had began to move closer to provide better firing support for the ground troops once they landed.

Once the BMP-3's hit the beach, the landing ramps opened and the troops exited while the BMP-3's were still moving. The BMP-3's used their machine guns, cannon, and grenade launcher to engage any hostile forces close to the beach. T-90 tanks also rolled onto the beach and prepared to fire at any enemy positions or armor they encountered. Fighter aircraft on the aircraft carriers prepared to be launched in case of reports of enemy aircraft. The destroyers and cruisers also prepared their anti-air defense systems in case of any incoming enemy aircraft.

ooc: Sorry for delay, heading to China next Mon on rather short notice so most of my time recently has been spent preparing for the trip.

If you don't see me on IM soon, just TG me what you need.

From a private military base in Central USSNB, afar from enemy positions

The e-mail had been sent had flashed a couple times in the messageboard of the Leocardian private base in central North Baltic. He was sound asleep, unlikely that he would of known that even he would get e-mails from anyone ever. It was from the Northern Baltic Military, and it was urgent in red. A couple more flashes and then audio came out from the speakers, awaking the snoring radioman, who was supposedly on duty. He reads the e-mail and was astonished that his base was called in on a recent invasion, much earlier than expected to be called in for. He clicked "Forward All" and sent the mail to his base commander.

The base commander's computer blimped over the mailbox on his Apple computer, and it blimped for a while. General Kin looked at the e-mail, and smiled. He read it over and over, until he made sure it was really what he had just read. He headed over to his radio, which will contact the rest of the top commanders in his base. "Prepare our men. We're gonna shoot something soon." Then, he headed over to the e-mail composition and composed his e-mail to Leocardia's Military Command.

Outside the private base read "Citadel of Prestige" but was never used ever in the Northern Baltics, probably due to its central location. The three infantry regiments and two armor divisions the base holds was not just for Leocardia's purposes of the agreement of protection with USSNB, but also holding top secret military weapons still under experiment by Leocardia's Nuclear Testing and Arms.

Kin finished his e-mail to LMOCC, and clicked sent.

From the Leocardian Citadel of Prestige
Toward the Leocardian Military Operations Command Center
We have been informed by the Northern Baltics they are being invaded. News have reached us too slow, but under our allied agreements, we must reinforce our allies' morales and military might. Our armor divisions and infantry is still armed with the minimal standards under the Leocardian Army, but we are calling for more equipment and supplies from Leocardia to aid the Baltics sufficiently. In this request I would like to point out some airforce also needed to provide air support. Some aircrafts I request are:

x100 Q-5M
x50 JH-7
x50 Su-47
x50 Su-27
x50 MiG-29
x50 J-11

Thank you.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Seconds later, a new e-mail blimp popped up. He scrolled over it, and surprisingly it was the LMOCC. With quick detailed message, he was still puzzled how anyone can send an e-mail message so large and at such a fast rate.

From the LMOCC
Toward the Citadel of Prestige, USSNB
We have reviewed your request to aid the Northern Baltics and we have decided to comply with your requests. The following orders of the aircrafts will be flown toward your citadel are processing at this very second. Considering that your forces will be entering combat soon, we are introducing a new tank armor standards. We have sent more men and engineers specializing armor upgrades on the tanks you have in your inventory. An extra regiment will be delivered, and we are also including a shipment of a unit of Leocardian Special Forces. Please take care and may you bring victory for us. Sieg Leocardia!

OOC: This post will only be about the Maldorian invasion
The Maldorians
Although a few more vehicles were lost, the invasion force did not hesitate after they hit the shore. They moved inland to neutralize the enemy artillery positions. Super J-10N carrier fighters carrying a combination of anti-radiation missiles, cluster-bombs, and tank-buster missiles, the fighters closed in on each island. They preformed strafing runs and targets on all of the radar instillations.

Meanwhile, back at the ships, the second invasion wave was launched. It contained more experienced troops and many mine clearing equipment. Once the wave landed, its job would be to secure the closest cities, to support the first wave if they needed it, and to clear a way through the minefields the Maldorians put on their own territory.

OOC: Honestly, if you don't want to be in this war, open peace negotiations. I'll listen.

Freedom City, New Haven, Africa
Several large tug boats moved into position. It was exactly 12:07 and their operation was about to begin. Mohamed glanced at his watch nerviously and then looked out of his binoculars.
They should be out of the harbor already.
In a few seconds, he saw the reassuring silhouette of the tug boats pulling the several large flat surfaces out of the harbor. Several larger ships waited offshore to receive the flat floating surfaces and carry them to their final destination: the middle of the ocean. The large flat surfaces were made to be resistant to the large ocean waves, by sheer size, and were many times the length and width of an aircraft carrier's flight deck.

Catherine Volga Airforce Base, New Haven, Africa
Catherine Volga Airforce Base was one of the largest airforce bases in Northern Baltic possession. It was for this reason that it was selected to be an assembly point for the operation. The planes were just about finished being checked over for a second time. The Northern Baltic high command knew they couldn't expect the Mig-17's to make it all the way to their targets and still have them in combat effective condition. Therefore they devised a flight route: the Mig's would fly from New Haven to bases in Sudafrika. From there, they would proceed to the first floating runway. There they would refuel and make any repairs needed. Then, they would proceed to the next floating runway. There they would have their drop tanks replaced with their designated weapons. Finally, they would proceed to the final floating runway, where they would refuel and head out to strike their targets. While the plan was not flawless and the Mig-17's, though upgraded to a slightly improved Mig-17PF standard, were old fighters, they were drones, thus disposable, and there were plenty of them.

Military ships, often times small mercenary craft, prowled the waters around where the floating runways were and kept a watchful eye for submarines and enemy vessels that strayed to close to the floating runways.

Afloat on International Waters

The famed Leocardian Royal Naval Force had sailed through waters after a storm. The enormous fleet of 376 aircraft carriers, 1,530 destroyers, 495 frigates, and the Admiral's battleship sailed with energy right after a storm. Admiral Nick stepped out from his enormous pod used for his sleeping bedroom in his full-suited uniform. He had just watched a video of tributes from his famed reputation and had been sparked with pride. He knew he was going for more, just didn't know when. As he walked out from his pod, he went to the control tower of the ship and was greeted by several men.

"How's the Super J-10N's? Cleaned them up yet?" Nick asked with a smile.

"Sure thing. Its duper shiny. Check them out." A man replied.

"Hit the course to the nearest USSNB fleet. I feel like drinking ginger ale with him." Nick said.

"Aye, sir."

ooc: Again apologies for the delay. Life has been complicated.

Moving ahead a little here. Response to fleet in the works

Rekyavik, some time later.

Night was approaching at last, covering the devastated battlefield in a blessedly welcome cloak that gave at least some semblance of peace to the land once more. Here and there, the screams of wounded men still rang out, and the sharp reports of artillery and explosions could still be heard as Manthian troops further inland continued to press the depleted Northern Baltic troops. Medical teams had disembarked and wounded Manthian soldiers were being evacuated, along with a few wounded Northern Baltic soldiers; those who were deemed too seriously wounded to survive long enough to interrogate were simply dispatched with a relatively humane double tap, adding a further occasional punctuation to the night's sounds. Here, the battle was over, and the cleanup was getting under way to prepare the area for the landing of yet more troops.

In Rekyavik, however, the silence was oppressive. No move had been made towards the city by the Manthian invaders since the bombardment, leaving what few defenders remained alive in NBC bunkers or vehicles to stew amidst the corpses and await what they must have known was coming. But for a long time, it did not; the invaders were preoccupied with other matters, and other than the occasional UCAV pass the defenders were let to themselves as the invasion forces parted around the city and moved inland. Some of the defenders might even have thought that after so thoroughly slaughtering the city's population, the Manthians were simply going to bypass it in favor of targets that could still muster resistance.

However, after hours of waiting, the final push came suddenly and with very little warning. One minute there was nothing but the drone of jet engines from somewhere far off, the next minute strike fighters were overhead and loosing dozens of missiles that separated into hundreds of submunitions, seeking out anything still warm or moving in the dead city. The roar of truck engines was heard next, as heavily armored Zsolt-class armored vehicles - visually somewhere between an upsized bulldozer and a snowplow - rumbled into the city. They carried the 19th Special Brigade, three thousand of the cream of the Manthian soldiery decked out in fully NBC-protected Sampson battle suits. Fanning out through the city, these men actively sought out any remaining resistance.

Encrypted Message to New Manth

We've all fallen on hard times and we have both suffered heavily. Our nations have no real feud, Maldorians is the true target of our rage, and with their inactivity to defend you and your forces it seems that we have reached a crossroads.

It is time to approach the table for negotiations. We must demand peace. A victory like this is not worth it. We can end this war, and we can both win.

[END]

Rekyavik

FLASH Order 449 - IMMEDIATE FLASH

All forces currently reporting 'Crypter' are to do a tactical retreat to POINT CONSTELLATION. All forces are not to respond to this, retreat to POINT CONSTELLATION.

[End message]

There was some delay in replying to the Northern Baltic message, mainly to allow a few sectors of the front to iron themselves out, as well as to complete the capture of Rekyavik - both measures designed to reinforce the diplomatic position when negotiations began. But eventually, an official response arrived via encrypted satellite radio.

It might not have been exactly the type of offer the Baltic troops were looking for, but it was designed to make it clear who was holding all the cards.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/Coriat/seal.gif

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy
Official Communication

The Greater Economic Union will be pleased to accept the conditional surrender of the Northern Baltic if offered. These are the conditions which we desire to see incorporated in such an agreement:

1. The government of the Northern Baltic agrees to stand down all military operations against the Greater Economic Union of New Manth immediately upon signing this document. The Greater Economic Union of New Manth likewise agrees to withdraw from offensive operations.

2. Industrial war reparations to the sum of seven hundred and twenty billion markas, pegged to the current value of the marka on the world market, are to be paid to the Greater Economic Union of New Manth as compensation both for this war and the last, with the caveat that reparation payments not be scheduled such as to bankrupt or starve the nation of the Northern Baltic. Specific scheduling of payments will be worked out at a later date with this caveat in mind.

3. All claims to African territory is forever renounced by the government of the Northern Baltic, and such territory as is currently administered by the Northern Baltic is ceded to the Greater Economic Union of New Manth effective immediately upon signing. Military personnel of the Northern Baltic present in said territories are allowed a three-day grace period to depart.

4. The city of Rekyavik and the surrounding area in a twenty-five mile radius is leased free of duty to the Greater Economic Union of New Manth for a ninety-nine year term, to be used as a military base to watch over the Baltic nation and forestall future aggressive action against Manth.

5. The Greater Economic Union will have free access to Northern Baltic military technology and research data, for a term of one year. Specific terms of access will be worked out in a formal setting between representatives.

6. A separate peace will be negotiated with the Maldorian Empire at such a time as both parties are willing to make peace.

Encrypted Transmission to Leocardia

{Enclosed Contents of New Manthian 'Offer'}

Absolutely ridiculous, you will be forwarded further communications secretly to keep tabs on this situation.

[END]

New Manthian Coastal Fleet

Operation Hispania was now in effect, and the drones began their flight. It was a desperate strike, a hastily organized attack mission to cripple the New Manthian Fleet and force a 'better peace'.

5 groups of People's Air Guard Reserve Fighters which were converted to drones for adversary training were now called up. Via encrypted satellite channels and 4 Beirev A-50 Schmel AWACS being protected by MiG-29s they would receive transmissions from a drone control center.

They were MiG-17PFs, a massive group of 5,000 of them already in the air, part of another group, from New Haven. 3 of the 1,000 aircraft groups were hacked with makeshift AA-2 Atoll Missile launchers. They were to act as a fighter screen for the actual force to make its appearance. The remaining 2 groups were the finishing punch. After the first 3,000 would embroil themselves in New Manthian Antiaircraft fire, they would come from low altitude and drop their torpedoes and then do suicide runs on the enemy. They were going to head straight into their antiaircraft fire to keep them tied up.

Meanwhile 2 groups of drones and a group of MiG-29s were ready and waiting to finish things off.

The MiG-17 drones would begin clouding New Manthian RADAR units soon, and the attack would begin. The 3 fighter groups moved forward, their drone pilots gnashing their teeth.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/Coriat/seal.gif

Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy
Official Communication

Your lack of response to our most generous offer has been noted. We do not hazard to guess how many Baltic lives you will throw away in defense of your money and technology; however, we are not going anywhere, and we freely invite you to recontact us when you have lost your stomach for this war. Until then, we regret that no peace is possible.

At Sea

For the Manthian fleet, dispersed over hundreds of kilometers of sea in complex formations designed to provide redundant overlapping fields of radar coverage in every direction to ensure that not even a single hostile aircraft could approach unnoticed, the approaching swarms of aircraft courted detectability at extreme ranges and would be beyond obvious long before reaching torpedo range. Aquila fighters were already peeling off from formations of strike fighters, forming up in wings of their own to intercept the oncoming MiGs. Further back, SAMs were being prepared aboard air defense vessels and mobile launc platforms accompanying the landed troops.

More importantly, though, the massive amount of drones taking off were revealing yet undestroyed airstrips. With the destruction of Baltic airpower a priority goal of the campaign, these larger, more distant airbases would need more decisive measures to neutralize. Targeting data for what was believed, based on preliminary analysis of both satellite images and radar returns from the fleet, to be the largest twenty airbases was already being gathered.

Manthian orbital artillery assets tended to be deployed in widely dispersed orbits, meaning that strikes could be arranged quickly in any given area but would rarely have overwhelming force. Practically, this meant there would be nowhere near enough godrods available to hit every airfield, but hitting some of the largest and most central ones was a definite possibility.

The Thor platform that had been allocated to this operation had, like all Manthian orbital artillery platforms, been purchased from a third party and was not officially marked or registered as Manthian. It was a pretty shallow cover for such things, but with the sheer amount of stuff floating around in orbit, it worked occasionally. Now the platform was cutting a carefully choreographed course across the sky, one which would bring it over the Northern Baltic within minutes. As soon as possible, it would release its target of godrods, one to each of the sixteen airbases. With any luck that would put several out of operation, plus possibly destroying any aircraft on the ground or in hangars in the immediate area.

At Sea

For the Manthian fleet, dispersed over hundreds of kilometers of sea in complex formations designed to provide redundant overlapping fields of radar coverage in every direction to ensure that not even a single hostile aircraft could approach unnoticed, the approaching swarms of aircraft courted detectability at extreme ranges and would be beyond obvious long before reaching torpedo range. Aquila fighters were already peeling off from formations of strike fighters, forming up in wings of their own to intercept the oncoming MiGs. Further back, SAMs were being prepared aboard air defense vessels and mobile launc platforms accompanying the landed troops.

The drone pilots knew that the enemy fighters were advanced, far more advanced than these relics ever could be. But because the MiG-17PF was a subsonic jet with a wide swing wing means they had an advantage at low altitude, where the thick air gave them maximum maneuverability. The torpedo fighters descended to a very low altitude, just 100 meters.

The fighters similarly descended to a low altitude, then sped up to meet the enemy fighters at high speed. The first few 23mm rounds scattered into the skies, they were calibration shots as the drones hadn't been loaded with weapons in years.

More importantly, though, the massive amount of drones taking off were revealing yet undestroyed airstrips. With the destruction of Baltic airpower a priority goal of the campaign, these larger, more distant airbases would need more decisive measures to neutralize. Targeting data for what was believed, based on preliminary analysis of both satellite images and radar returns from the fleet, to be the largest twenty airbases was already being gathered.

The cheap platforms were merely old barges slapped with steel plate, chicken wire and asphault. The Sudafrikan Corps of Engineers were well trained in the art of making makeshift runways and their expertise was invaluable. However, operations had begun to put the finishing touches on the attack. FROG-7s, used extensively through the war were being brought up to fire a few ballistic missiles at the enemy fleet's air defense ships to clear them from the battlefield.

Meanwhile decoy FROG-7s, usually made of junked trucks were being brought out to set up fake launch sites. Wood burning stoves in their engines and in the end of the 'rocket' produced the fake heat signatures to ensure a target lock, and send Manthian fighters in loops chasing ghosts and phantoms. Older Leafanistani made "Forehead" RADAR sets stuck around with them. They were switched on to make themselves a massive RADAR target. The fact that these support vehicles were used in conjunction with actual SAM and Rocket sites was partially to confuse the enemy and because the Northern Baltic had nothing else.

The decoys had highly mobile 9K37 Buk antiaircraft systems following them, they were camouflaged with motorcycles nearby to flee at any moment. They would launch and attempt to fleet, if they could not, they would jump on the cycles and abandon the vehicle.

Manthian orbital artillery assets tended to be deployed in widely dispersed orbits, meaning that strikes could be arranged quickly in any given area but would rarely have overwhelming force. Practically, this meant there would be nowhere near enough godrods available to hit every airfield, but hitting some of the largest and most central ones was a definite possibility.

The Thor platform that had been allocated to this operation had, like all Manthian orbital artillery platforms, been purchased from a third party and was not officially marked or registered as Manthian. It was a pretty shallow cover for such things, but with the sheer amount of stuff floating around in orbit, it worked occasionally. Now the platform was cutting a carefully choreographed course across the sky, one which would bring it over the Northern Baltic within minutes. As soon as possible, it would release its target of godrods, one to each of the sixteen airbases. With any luck that would put several out of operation, plus possibly destroying any aircraft on the ground or in hangars in the immediate area.

The movements had been registered and broadcasted to Leocardian Forces. The Northern Baltic needed help and wasn't afraid to ask.

The Mig-17 might have been a reasonably maneuverable aircraft for its age, and though it might not have been able to match the Aquila fighter in either maneuverability or speed, it would not have been hopelessly outclassed in a dogfight and numbers would likely help make up for outdated technology. Unfortunately, however, the speed advantages of the Aquila dictated that whether any such combat would happen would be entirely up to the Manthian pilots. And unless the Baltic air armadas managed to run the gauntlet of air defenses more effectively than was expected, close combat would be entirely unnecessary. After all, while the Mig-17 had been a fine aircraft in its day, even a brand-new plane would have been hard-pressed to do anything useful in a modern war environment, and God only knew how old and decrepit these particular airframes were. Certainly they were unlikely to be in tip-top fighting shape.

For now, though, the pilots hunting the enemy aircraft - with about 1,500 Aquilas rerouted for interception, they were outnumbered about ten to one - were content to shadow the Baltic strike force at a distance, taking full advantage of the stealthiness of their systems to strike with long-range missiles with effective impunity from retaliation. Split into operational wings of about a hundred aircraft each and striking from different directions and altitudes in order to full exploit the Manthian technological superiority, each pilot loosed his six radar-guided MRAAMs anywhere from fifty to a hundred and fifty kilometers out, one after the other, taking all the time needed to ensure careful targeting and a firm lock. After emptying their bellies of missiles, the Manthian pilots continued to stalk the enemy aircraft. Each aircraft maintained a pair of short-range missiles to call on if necessary, and more could be gathered if absolutely necessary, albeit at the price of leaving strike fighters elsewhere undercovered.

Those strike fighters, meanwhile, were performing their own critical roles in the operation - most importantly, maintaining their aggressive suppression of enemy air defence. To that end, the radars which had been knocked out in the initial phase of the battle could not be allowed to be replaced, and switching on a ground-based radar or jammer of any appreciable power within a few hundred miles was a sure way to attract three or four HARMs. Switching it right back off again would not help much either, as inertial guidance aboard the missiles was capable of remembering the target location once it was detected, even if the guiding radar emissions were cut off in mid-flight.

ooc: I'm waiting to post attacking with the second and third layers of my air defense till next post, after the first blows are worked out.

ooc: Oh and yes, Leocardia, before I make any response to your fleet, this wouldn't be the same Admiral Nick & his ships that are currently sailing towards Calaveras with the entire Leocardian navy, (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=544428) would it? Cause if so, you've got to let me know how the Admiral and his ships can be in two places at once. :p

OFFICIAL MESSAGE FROM THE ARMED REPUBLIC OF TOORI
_________________________________________________________________



Mandalore, we appologies for the delay. Situations have extencively escalated with the Gracians, and more new communist nations continue to pledge their allegence to the Red States. We have sent a months worth of supplies, ammunition, and as well forces to aid you. However, this is the extent of our military support to you for the time being. We dare not spread ourselves thinner. En rought are two supercarrier task groups and all their compliments. They shall arive within the week.


Truthfully and with regret,


-Praetor Iruunik-

ooc: Oh and yes, Leocardia, before I make any response to your fleet, this wouldn't be the same Admiral Nick & his ships that are currently sailing towards Calaveras with the entire Leocardian navy, (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=544428) would it? Cause if so, you've got to let me know how the Admiral and his ships can be in two places at once. :p

If you haven't read the post in the Calaveras, the post says that the fleet is leaving the "battle" and toward Calaveras. So no, it's not in two places, its only at one.

Rekyavik, port district

The drone of engines, at first distant, had steadily grown louder over the past half-hour as the Manthians wound their way through Rekyavik towards the port district. The sound advertised their coming well in advance, but here, it didn't matter - the Manthians had encountered no real resistance in hours, just the occasional lone NBC-protected vehicle still in the streets, or a soldier 'lucky' enough to have had a NBC suit holed up in a house or factory. Such delays had been quickly and efficiently dealt with, and nobody was left to man the machine guns or defend the sandbag walls which had been hastily thrown up in this part of town.

Now the engine had resolved itself into a loud rumble, coming from just the other side of the wall of sandbags. Momentarily it throttled up to a roar, there was a sudden movement of bags sliding across each other, and the black edge of a Zsolt-class armored tractor plowed through the wall and came to a halt with a final roar. Dark figures leaped down from the cab, searchlights flashing around as they spread out from the vehicle.

One approached the near end of the wall, shining his light at several dark blobs on the ground. The light shone over a pair of boots, then a hand clutching at the barrel of an old rifle, and the Manthian took a step backward from habit. But as he played the flashlight around, he saw that the Baltic soldier was lying twisted and convulsed, and had probably been dead for a while. He had died apparently while trying to get into a nearby building, probably to shelter from the gas... not that it would have helped.

Further investigation revealed eight dead soldiers in all, lying where they had fallen in positions around the sandbag wall. There were probably hundreds dead, both soldiers and inhabitants, in the surrounding warehouses, but there was no sign of any opposition, and after a few words in his helmet radio the soldier waved his companions back to the tractor. He paused a moment before climbing back on himself, his mask turning his weary sigh into that peculiasr wheeze produced by a man breathing through several layers of filters. It had been a long night wading through corpses and rubble to get there, but they were at the port of Rekyavik now, and in a few days they would have it up and running, bringing in fresh supplies by the shipload to fuel a new offensive.

[ooc: posted with the approval of The Northern Baltic]

Skies over Rekyavik.

The aerial battles had gone on for some time, but someone in the Northern Baltic finally decided that enough was enough. A wall of missiles still stood between the Baltic aircraft and the Manthian fleet, but the question of whether they could have gotten through would not be answered on this day. Instead, the Baltic aircraft began to veer off and return to their airfields, while the government of The Northern Baltic reopened a channel of communication with the Greater Economic Union. They requested a ceasefire and the reopening of peace talks.

The treaty of Rekyavik (signed, not in Rekyavik itself, which would remain dangerous for some time, but aboard the Manthian warship Navarine) was signed three days later.



The Greater Economic Union of New Manth and the United Socialist States of the Northern Baltic, desiring to end the state of war now existing between the two countries, have agreed upon the following articles:

I. The government of the Northern Baltic agrees to halt all military operations against the Greater Economic Union immediately upon signing this document. The Greater Economic Union likewise agrees to withdraw from offensive operations immediately, and to withdraw all troops from the mainland of The Northern Baltic within one month.

II. The Greater Economic Union will, upon the signature of the present treaty, send back to the Northern Baltic, at its own cost, all prisoners of war taken during the course of hostilities. Equally, the Northern Baltic shall repatriate all prisoners of war in its custody.

III. The Greater Economic Union and the Northern Baltic, upon the signature of the present treaty, agree to a binding treaty of non-aggression to last for a term of thirty years.

IV. War reparations in an amount equal to .3% of the total budget of the government of The Northern Baltic, calculated yearly, will be paid to the Greater Economic Union of New Manth each year for a ten-year term.

V. All Baltic military personnel in Africa are to be withdrawn within one month.

VI. All claims to African territory are forever renounced by the government of the Northern Baltic, and all Baltic territories in Africa are to be granted independence from The Northern Baltic and formed into a new and self-governing nation within eight months. A local government will be elected under a constitution drawn up jointly between the governments of the Greater Economic Union and the Northern Baltic. The Greater Economic Union will undertake to guarantee the independence and defense of these territories, and both the Union and the Northern Baltic agree to cooperate with regard to encouraging economic development in the area.

VII. The Northern Baltic agrees not to attack any nation or entity with nuclear weapons except in retaliation for a nuclear attack against the Northern Baltic.

VIII. The Northern Baltic is to purchase or commission no new ballistic missile submarines or nuclear-powered submarines, and may construct such vessels only for sale to third-party governments. Excepted from this prohibition are vessels built to replace a ballistic missile submarine or nuclear-powered submarine which has been decommissioned and scrapped, but the Northern Baltic may not at any time maintain a fleet of ballistic missile submarines or nuclear-powered submarines larger than the current number of vessels.

IX. The Northern Baltic agrees not to build or maintain armed, or designed to be potentially armed, miniature (defined as less than 1,000 tons displacement) submarines of any type, nor to design or possess armed, or designed to be potentially armed, remote-controlled underwater vehicles of any size. Excepted from this prohibition are torpedoes with non-nuclear warheads. Any vessels currently existing in violation of this article are to be decommissioned and scrapped within three months.

[seal] The Greater Economic Union of New Manth
[seal] The United Socialist States of The Northern Baltic