NationStates Jolt Archive

President Tblis sat in one of the many briefing rooms within the bowels of the Lanjsk Kremlin. Laid out across the table was a large-scale map of Kalmurstan, on which coloured markers had been placed next to each major city.

A short, stocky man dressed in a smart, civilian suit addressed the president. "What started as unrest has evolved into a full-blown rebellion. Haslin is under rebel control. We've still got a pocket of troops at the airbase, but we don't know how long they'll be able to hold out. We've started evacuating them already, and should have them extracted by twenty-one hundred hours today."

Viktor Tblis sighed heavily. This was not the response he had been expecting from his people. Not when he tried to enforce a law that had been on the books for decades. "What of the other cities?"

"Slukgoren is now described as 'Stable' by the commander of the forces there, and the rioting in Omnom has been completely suppressed. Distad, Kraskolm and Irilsk are secure, as are Novanta and Henningrad." The gentleman paused as he wiped his spectacles, "Btosk, Dakail and Tabol have seen an increase in violent incidents over the past twenty-four hours. And Consun is no longer under our control."

The president cursed under his breath and waved the advisor away.
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Kalmurstan National News Bullet-in
"We've just received initial reports that a military helicopter has been shot-down in the city of Haslin. From what we know the aircraft was aiding in the evacuation of personnel from the city's commercial airport when it was apparently hit by ground fire at around half-past three this afternoon. Eye-witness reports state it was a 'very large' helicopter, which our analysts suggest may mean it was either a Mi-26 or Mi-6, both of which can carry in excess of fifty troops. The Defence Ministry has not released an official statement at this time, but is expected to do so shortly.
__________________

(OOC: This thread follows on from my move against banned religions (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=550157), which documented the steady increase in violence up to this point, before fizzling out (you might want to read the first few posts of that thread to get the full picture of what's been going in internally). I've decided to start this as its own thread because it's no longer just action against religious sects with a few international observers, but a large-scale, nation-wide rebellion (or at least it will be).

I already have a rough idea of where I want this to go, so if you have any ideas for a specific role you want to play (e.g. a rebel group, covert ops team sent to further destabilise the Communist regime, or anything else you can think of) or want to know what you would be getting yourself into in the long run, feel free to TG or IM (details in my profile) me and we'll talk. It's nothing too formal, I just want to make sure I'm not dog-piled by dozens of nations all trying to jump in at once with huge numbers of troops.)

Kalmurstan National News Update
Less than ten minutes ago the Kalmurstan Ministry of Defence officially acknowledged the loss of a Mil Mi-6 heavy transport helicopter in the city of Haslin. The spokesman also confirmed there were 84 on board at the time of the crash, although no casualty figures have been released. The MoD also confirmed it has completed several surgical strikes on the suspected location of the missile launch and has suspended all flights in and out of the city for the time being.
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Command Bunker Alpha-One, Lanjsk
"Do we know how many we've lost?" The man wore a grey-blue suit, topped with a peaked cap bearing the emblem of the Kalmurstan Air Army. His jacket bore the insignia of a Polkovnik. Standing before him, wearing the same uniform, was a young Stárshiy Leytenánt.

"So far we've confirmed twenty-two dead and fifty injured. Twelve are still unaccounted for."

The Polkovnik clenched his fist and lowered his voice, "Where did the missile come from?"

"We've narrowed the possible launch site down to a handful of locations within the northern residential district and have launched strikes against them. Obviously, we don't believe we'll get the rebels, they'll have moved on as soon as the missile was away."

"Level three of the apartment complexes in that district."

"But sir, they couldn't have launched from-" He was cut off mid-argument

"I said do it. There are no innocent civilians in Haslin anymore. If they will allow terrorists to attack us from within their home, they deserve to suffer the same fate."

"Sir, I really don't-"

"Stárshiy Leytenánt, raze three apartment blocks within the hour. That is an order."

"Yes sir."
_______________

Vali Flight, inbound on Haslin
"Vali Lead to all aircraft, nearing target area, weapons hold. Watch for ground fire."

The four Su-34 aircraft passed over the outskirts of the city, bearing down on their targets at over six-hundred miles an hour.

"Vali Lead to all aircraft. You are cleared to launch on target. Repeat, launch on target."

Air to surface missiles streaked out from the hard-points on the aircraft, tracing a line across the sky as they homed in on their targets. There were several flashes as they hit home, splintering the concrete walls and shattering the windows of nearby buildings. One of the towers seemed to slump in on itself before disappearing in a cloud of debris. The other two remained standing, but fires burned brightly in each.

"Vali Flight to Air Force Command, targets successfully engaged. Returning to base."

OOC: Let me know if this isn't what you had in mind and I'll edit it accordingly.

News of the growing unrest in Kalmurstan had reached the Commonwealth rather slowly, after all Tolvan had little interest in the region. Very little was known about the nation other than a few reports filed somewhere in the NDI's archives.

Normally unrest in a nation as remote as Kalmurstan would go mostly unnoticed in the Commonwealth, but the oppurtunity to bring down another communist government, and gain access to the region's oil and gas reserves was tempting.

Blair House, Brayton, Tolvanic Home Islands

"Next item on the agenda, a nation known as Kalmurstan. According to the our intel it's a medium sized nation of about 900 million people located here.." the briefer indicated the nation's location on the map displayed by the large wall screen, "The region is thought to contain large deposits of oil and natural gas. For the last few weeks the nation has experienced considerably internal instability due to crackdown on religous fringe groups that has escalated into open revolt in much of the nation. We feel that local instability offers an ideal oppurtunity to not only further weaken the government's hold on power as well as disrupt the exploitation of the region's resources."

Commerce Minister Roger Burke noodded at that last statement, after all it had been idea to disrupt the petroleum production of the region. Tolvan, by virtue of its control of the Southern Sea, controlled a sizable portion of the world's oil reserves and since the Tolvanic economy was almost petroleum free, high oil prices were good the oil companies, good for tax revenue, and good for the politicians.

No one spoke for a few seconds until Prime Minister Hutchins leaned foward and began speaking. "I'm not prepared to commit to a course of action just yet on this issue but I think it bears watching. Director Moore, have the NDI step up its collection activities in the region. Roger, I want to see projections of just what would happen if we impeded on the regional output for a few months. General Chang, what military options do we have?"

Chang checked the file in front of him for a moment. "Sir, we can deploy naval forces to the region within a matter of days. The logical choice would be the Peregrine Battle Group, they can be on station within 96 hours. Additionally, the 19th MEU can be on, station in just over six days. Of course the islands are in range of strategic air power staging from our bases in the region."

Hutchins thought for a moment before answering. "General, have the Pergegrine Battle Group redeploy but hold off on the MEU for now. Thank you gentlemen, if there's nothing else then we'll adjourn, the game starts in twenty minutes."

I shot you a TG about getting in on this with the troops I already have on the ground.

(OOC: Sorry about the delay, I've had a hectic 48 hours. Tolvan: Sounds fine to me. Anselmus: TG'd you.)

Kalmurstan Broadcast News
Air-strikes against rebel-held positions in the city of Consun continued overnight. All forces have now been withdrawn from the area, with a cordon being imposed five-miles outside the city limits. Local officials have appealed for residents to give up the locations of rebel mortar and rocket teams in order to end the military strikes. Our military affairs correspondent is just outside the Consun five-mile zone.

"Across the nation ground forces are thin on the ground. Several major cities are now completely devoid of any military presence, save a few burned out husks of military equipment. With the situation reaching critical, all eyes are on the brave men and women of the Kalmurstani Armed Forces, fighting to restore order to a nation divided against itself."
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Checkpoint Seven-Golf, Consun
The area had been under near constant mortar bombardment far the past two days. Air-strikes and ground operations had disrupted the attacks for a few minutes, but it seemed as soon as one mortar team was eliminated another took over the bombardment.

The shells of three APC's sat smouldering amid the ranks of military hardware, the latest victims of the rebel strikes. Overhead, a Mi-24P gunship circled, the seven troops aboard having recently knocked out a small rebel safe-house in eastern Consun. A small victory, swimming against a tide of national violence.

OOC: Time elapsed between the last thread and this one? I want to get a feel of exactly what the SpecOps team could have been doing since the assault on the police station.

OOC: Time elapsed between the last thread and this one? I want to get a feel of exactly what the SpecOps team could have been doing since the assault on the police station.

A week to 10 days at most. The pull out of the city proper would've run for about the last three days, finishing less than 24 hours ago.

Ok, good. I'll figure out what's going on later.

Reynard replaced the satellite radio handset in its cradle as he finished his conversation with Special Operations Command, back home in Arpinum. His orders were simple: keep tabs on the worsening situation, but stay alive at any cost. As if he needed to be told that. The young officer glanced around the cluttered interior of his Panther CLV as he reflected on the past week and what to do next.

More than a week ago, he and the Imperial Guardsmen of his observation team had withdrawn with their Kalmurstani liaisons from Consun, as they decided not to stick around and see if they precautions they had taken to identify themselves as observers as opposed to combatants would work. Somewhere along the way, they had gotten separated, and were now alone, without supervision, but also without much security, other than what they could provide themselves. Fortunately, this had not proved much of an issue yet. Only once had they needed to defend themselves, against a small-yet-bloodthirsty mob which took the hint after a few of its more aggressive members were gunned down by the steely-eyed Anselmians. Not wanting to tempt fate, the soldiers beat a hasty retreat before the indiscriminate rebels could find more effective weaponry. So they set up camp in an abandoned house close enough to the main road that they could reach it in a hurry, but far enough away so that they were not easily noticed.

They were still on the outskirts of Consun, more than 200 miles away from Novanta Air Base, the point at which the team had entered the country. Though the trip could be made in four hours at a high speed, nothing could guarantee such a journey would go smoothly. Realizing this, the Army decided to leave them in the hottest of hotbeds of rebel activity.

So here they were. Reynard climbed out of the back of the CLV and looked around. His vehicle was covered with a camouflage net and parked behind the house, out of sight of the road. Its CROWS mount and its gunner were tasked with covering the area behind the house, should anyone attempt to approach it from the surrounding woodlands. The Browning M2 from one of the Land Rovers was set up on its tripod in a camouflaged position dug by the Guardsmen in front of the house and manned 24 hours a day. The Land Rover to which this gun belonged was also camouflaged and parked in an adjacent barn. The third vehicle, another Land Rover Wolf, retained its mounted M2 and was used for local reconnaissance, largely during nighttime. The Anselmians, for all intents and purposes, were invisible from the highway. In keeping with this doctrine of stealth, the soldiers shed the high-visibility white helmets, and either replaced the covers with the standard-issue digital camouflage ones or did in with the helmet all together and donned familiar and well-worn boonie hats and patrol caps. Reynard himself preferred the black wool beret of the Imperial Guard...

Now that he had his orders, Reynard could no longer justify sitting and twiddling his thumbs, whittling down their food and water supplies. It was time to decide on a course of action. The captain went inside the house and unfolded an area chart on the three-legged kitchen table. Where to go next...

OOC: Are you going to interact with these guys, or are they left to their own devices?

OOC: I TGd you to make sure you're okay with my plans. Posting no in case the thread runs off without me. What would be the way for me to sneak in roughly platoon-sized groups of guys?

IC: "This is an opportunity that we can't afford to pass up, Chancellor. Unrest is widespread throughout much of the country. All we need to do is take advantage of forces already at work, and the moral high grant would be ours easily if we spun everything the right way."

Chancellor Friedrich Glogauer listened with half an ear as he flicked through the file he had been just been handed. The situation did appear... promising. But not quite so much as reports were saying. He certainly didn't want Imperial German troops in the country... at least not in an official capacity. Not for a while yet. For now, it was better to observe how things went, and maybe give them some nudges in the right direction. A show of force, just as Bulgia was cooling down, was getting a bit ambitious.

"General, what sort of assets would you recomend for a clandestine deployment in this country?"

General Ludwig Krautzpach glanced up from his own copy of the briefing file.

"Well, ideally, if we're not wanting anyone to suspect we're involved, we should primarily organise supplies through complex lines that can't be traced easily. I'm sure the Imperial Bank has a couple of fron companies or something for that sort of thing. For boots on thr ground, a few of the special detachments from our Jaegers could be invaluable to these rebels. I'd have them go for Haslin. We want to establish a secure base for operations rather than gambling on battles which we might easily lose."

"Yes... yes, I'll get on the phone with the Kaiser and have this authorised. You get your teams picked and ready."


"Good news, kids! We're not unemployed anymore!" Kapitan Ernst Krombacher's voice dripped with joy exagerated well beyond the point of sarcasm, but the truth was he would be happy to go somewhere and do something as much as anyone in his company."

"Well, crap. Next time someone called us the Armchair Section I was going to have a riot."

Krombacher didn't bother asking Oberleutnant Micheal Warner whether he was serious. His subordinates had never actually broken regulations. If that held good, he was fine not knowing.

"I'll get my minions together. Any special kit."

"Nothing that's our job, so you can also take a moment to find Jakob and Sali."

"Mozart and The Piefke? We don't have to bring them, do we?"

"Shut up, Micheal."

"Your tactical genius is as impressive as ever."

Not waiting for a response to his deep bow, Micheal backed out, leaving Krombacher to finish up readinghis orders. He had actually taken a couple of lessons in speed-reading. Who knew when you might need to find out what the hell was going on?

This entire post is OOC. I'll get a proper IC post up within the next couple of hours, hopefully before midnight GMT, but definitely before midday tomorrow. It all depends on how free-time this evening pans out.

OOC: Are you going to interact with these guys, or are they left to their own devices?

There'll be some encounters between your men and various rebels/military/unsavoury types, don't worry about that.

OOC: I TGd you to make sure you're okay with my plans. Posting no in case the thread runs off without me. What would be the way for me to sneak in roughly platoon-sized groups of guys?

Best (and probably only) way in would be by sea, since the navy is pretty underfunded, undermanned and underequipped at the moment. Air is a no-go really, since the air-army is flying near constant sorties against rebel positions and is the strongest of the services.

Anyone else who sent me a TG about this thread, I've already responded, check you friendly neighbourhood messengers ;)

<Royal Palace, McLeodia>

The grandeous throne room shone under the light of a new sun. Delicate looking curtains allowed beams of light into the room, each one carefully positioned to illuminate the throne from behind, appearing to surround the monarch with an ethereal glow of golden light. The long floor leading up to the throne was an expanse of polished marble, lined with alternating Royal Guard and two foot thick marble columns.

It took nearly thirty seconds to walk the length of the room from its only entrance to within speaking distance on the throne. A group of three men followed behind a fourth striding confidently across the floor, each in perfect step, carrying datapads and intelligence covered maps. The fourth man was considered to be the second most powerful in the country, behind only the King himself. The fact that he himself was briefing His Highness meant that this was no ordinary meeting.

Field Marshall Sir Martin Landsbury was the current holder of the position of MAFCCINC, the overall commander of all McLeodian armed forces and their deployments. Each service took a turn controlling the position, with a term lasting two years. Right now, the Army was in control, as evidenced by the massive overhaul of their forces, and the preference of MAFCC to deploy ground forces as a first strike unit. He strode up to the border of the carpetted zone surrounding the throne, and dropped to one knee, bowing his head respectfully. His aides following him did the same.

Silence descended, and all eyes turned on the man seated somewhat casually in the throne, wearing a very unregal pair of cotton cargo pants, a short sleeved shirt, and canvas deck shoes. He looked for all the world like he'd just come in from a round of golf, and had wandered in here instead of the clubhouse. But this man was truly one of the worlds most powerful, and was respected, loved, and feared by all his subjects, wherever they may be.

"You may speak Field Marshall" he said, after a brief pause.

"My liege" Landsbury began, "you may recall that a few weeks ago you dispatched a message to the government of Kalmurstan, offering them your support and praise for their actions in dealing with the heathens and maniacs of their population. Your message, as you will no doubt remember, was well recieved, and as such, we have maintained a close eye on the situation, watching to gauge foreign reaction, and the situation in country"

With a quick hand signal, one of his aides passed up a series of A2 maps which
Landsbury quickly laid out across the floor of the room, each one showing a different sector of the country, and known dispositions of the various forces, as well as any forces speculated to be in country, or en route to the theatre. Surrounding them where brief details on the forces, and their country of origin. Landsbury then rose, and passed the King a large touch-screen datapad with latest intelligence reports on it, and then retreated back to his kneeling position.

"These maps show the situation as of an hour ago. We believe that two, perhaps three foreign powers are now involved, some actually acting against the rightful government, in support of the cowardly rebellious scum. At this time, government forces are holding their own, but with the potential intervention of a hostile naval force against their own underpowered navy, they could soon lose control of their own coastline. It is also our belief that ground forces may start to interupt the attempts of loyalist soldiers to carry out their mission and secure the cities that have already fallen."

"Very well Landsbury." said the King, softly, "What forces do we have nearby that can respond?"

"The Victoria carrier-battle-group is nearby, having been on deployment exercise close to the Kalmurstan region. Full loads of fuel and ammunition, supported by a standard logistics group, and accompanied by elements of the Royal Marines, a detachment of Nightstalkers, and a full mechanised brigade with logistical support" came the reply. "They can be on station in two days, and begin any operations required hours after that."

"Okay, send the order, move them into position. Do not engage any foreign forces unless fired upon, weapons free against identified rebel forces, permission to engage any targets of opportunity with all conventional weapons available." said King Michael.

With that, the men retreated, and the McLeodians were once again on the brink of war.


<HMS Victoria, 780 nautical miles from Kalmurstani national waters>

"New Priority Three message Admiral, looks like new tasking orders sir"

Rear Admiral Seth Hader looked up from the flight deck, and took the outstretch pad. He held his thumb against it, decrypting the file. After briefly reading the contents, he wiped the pad clean, and relayed his orders to the ships at his disposal. The supercarrier and her numerous escorts turned slowly, coming about on a heading towards new, uncharted waters, and the chance to once again test themselves in the art of war.

OOC: I have another post coming later tonight, other side of me here...

Major General Kazarin Osein read over the brief one more time; it was a communiqué from a Frumentarii field agent inside some apparently turbulent third-world nation, going by the name Kalmurstan. The brief itself went over the particular interest that should be expressed in regard to the nation, the possibility of establishing a friendly government, and went on further about the necessity of such actions in response to a "turbulent home-front."

However, this was not the important part. In fact, the "turbulent home front" the field agent described was precisely the reason Osein held this document; for, Osein was an officer in the Praetorian Guard - the quasi-independent military shock arm, in the past responsible for the personal safety of the Emperor, now, relegated to battlefield line breakers and high-intensity conflicts beyond the scope of the Imperial Army. The brief was not meant to be seen by the Praetorian Guard, or any other branch, it was meant only for Foreign Relations Office personnel.

Intercepted by the Praetorian Guard Commandery at home, the message was from there sent to all Rapid Response fleets patrolling in the area surrounding the nation described - which amounted to one; Osein's own - which was still more than five days from the shores of Kalmurstan.

Attached to the brief was a message attached as it passed through the Praetorian Commandery, signed by the Prefect himself,

"What is outlined here is treason, take it not into your heart, but crush it. You are hereby ordered to make contact - for which purposes you have been placed in independent command of your OPARR force, and permission to make any agreements within the bounds of your strength, which would further your position - with any faction of the Kalmurstani civil affair, and make landfall. You are given permission to engage in whatever combat is necessary to assure the natives of your convictions, but keep to yourself your real purpose - any Foreign Relations Office interest - expressed through the Frumentarii military arm - is to be crushed at any cost."

Osein placed the message in a drawer of his desk in his office on the battleship Righteous Tempest, and left the room for the bridge...

In three days the few dozen ships of the Praetorian Guard Naval Corps OPARR Fleet Four would enter the territorial waters of the nation of Kalmurstan, and a few hours after that, the first Praetorian boots would hit the ground. To facilitate their arrival, General Osein ordered a message to be relayed to the Kalmurstani government…



Offical Communique
To: Kalmurstani Foreign Office
From: Major General Kazarin Osein, Imperial Pudite Praetorian Guard

The Dominion of Emperor Pudu has taken note, of late, of a streak of internal strife experienced by your government. In the interest of suppressing this conflict before the fighting spreads to include or threaten areas of specific Pudite interest, and understanding that the fall of your rightful government would greatly facilitate this future, the Emperor is willing to offer limited military aid to further your own war against the traitors.

I am in command of the Fourth Praetorian Naval Corps Rapid Response Fleet, numbering some thirty-four vessels and six-thousand soldiers, with fighter support and armored elements. I offer to you my full and complete services, as soldiers, trainers, or strategic reserve. My force can be brought up to your shores within six days, provided a port of access.

If the Emperor’s proposal interests you, reply.

Good day,
Mj. General Osein

The Supreme General of Leocardia leaned closer to the reports screening from his monitor on Kalmurstan. He watched videos of the media showing the violence of the rebels and how the government tries to control the rebellions. He knew Kalmurstan and Leocardia have the same government parties and beliefs, and he knew he needed to support them whenever is the right time. The SG was Justin Higa, and he just taken control of Leocardia as President Jason Batista had just left to Greal to make a coup on them. Justin had to do something.

He typed away his orders to the Leocardian Military Operations Command Center.

___________________________________________

Official Leocardian Response

From the Orders of the Supreme General of Leocardia,

The nation of Kalmurstan will be granted 150,000 Leocardian Legionnaire for peacekeeping purposes for the recent reports of rebellious protests. In this giving of the Supreme General, Leocardia wishes to establish warmer relations with Kulmurstan.

~ Supreme General Justin Higa ~

Ivan Hussak slid through the heavy double doors as they swung closed, and was immediately immersed in the cooled air that filled the movie theater. He did not have a ticket, but that did not concern him. He ducked quickly around the corner, and walked down the side of the rows, whereupon he took a seat as close to the center of the theater as possible.

He took a seat, the room was crowded; this was the only showing today, what with the unrest and the military moving in soon. He sat down next to a woman and what he assumed to be her husband,

"Hello, hey, are you here with someone?" she asked,

He replied, "No, not today,"

"Do you mind moving over one? My sister is coming in..." she questioned, hesitantly,

"No, it's no problem."

Ivan stood up and took a few sideways steps, and sat back down.

"Thanks," came the reply.

"You're welcome," Ivan said. Then he reached inside his jacket, and pressed the button...

Gavzo Levin was standing in a small apartment, two stories above the street, looking out the window at the small theater when the bomb went off. It was a good sized explosion - the Frumentarii had access to high-grade explosive - but it was only large enough to bring down the theater, they didn't want anyone suspecting professional help.

Gavzo turned away from the window, not waiting for the smoke to clear, and unfazed by the explosion. Fliping open his cell phone he had been holding in his pocket, he pressed the 'one', and listened to it ring...

"Kudin, it went off without a problem. The theater is flat,"

"Good, I'm releasing the message now..."

"Perfect."

Gavzo flipped the phone shut again, and slid it back into his pocket. Turning again, he looked down on the panic below...

Meanwhile, a single radio message was broadcast, on a high-powered frequency, from a small home in the suburbs of Henningrad, owned under the name Peter Kudatov, although that man was, in reality, nowhere near the home - this is because he did not exist.

What did exist, however, was the radio message, and the men broadcasting it. Kudin Drivinskii stood over a laptop computer sitting on a workbench crowded with electrical equipment. Turning his head, he addressed the only other man in the small basement, "Voilekh, switch it on,"

"Aye, switching on now."

The statement was followed by a squick mechanical noise, and the hum of many electronics all springing into action at once. The message would be relayed from here, to a broadcasting tower outside of town, which had been made available to them for the next few minutes, courtesy of Kudin Drivinskii.

"Hey, Kudin, how many people do you think 'll hear it?"

"I dunno, I don't even know if it'll work, switch on the radio,"

"What'll we do if it doesn't work?"

"Blow something else up - try again."

Voilekh tuned their small wave radio to the appropriate station, and replied, "Eh, it's not here yet, maybe we'll have to,"

Then, a heavy male voice crackled across the radio, drowning out the previous programming;

"This is a message from the people of Kalmurstan - A message to the corrupt and greedy men who dare to call themselves our rulers; You have lounged on the bent backs of the working-class for too long!

Today, we declare to you that we have had enough! The reign will come to an end now! You have suppressed the rights of those you declare to protect, and answer their grievances with murder!

On this day, the people of Kalmurstan will strike back, lash out at the taskmaster who has pushed us all this far! Today, we have shown you what we are capable of! If the people of Henningrad choose to submit, they are as guilty as the government! If the military does not immediately cease all offensive operations, and remove themselves from the cities of Kalmurstan, the attacks will continue.

Government targets. Military targets. Do not doubt the strength of our resolve, nor the strength of our arm..."

Kudin chuckled as the message cut out, finished. "Well, we heard it, who else do ya suppose did?"

A third, deep, gruff voice rang through the small basement, coming from the open door at the top of the stairs. There, a large man, with a H&K G36 slung over his shoulder stood, "Hey, it doesn't matter - or, at least it won't in a few minutes. They can trace this kind of crap, we have to get outta here!"

"Yeah, let's move." agreed Voilekh.

"‘Aight, just gotta grab this..." came the reply from Kudin, unplugging various wires from his laptop and folding it closed.

"I'm ready, let's go."

The three men hopped into a little yellow jeep, and drove off, leaving the city by secondary or tertiary roads, they hoped to escape unmolested.

The Frumentarii were inside Kalmurstan already, and their work had begun.

Fifteen large transport planes lifted off from Cnian pavement, each carrying about seventy men independently, and a large amount of supplies to accommodate their stay. They would be positioned in the eastern portion of the country and set-up a command station to track down insurgent intelligence and clear gorillas before inexperience home government troops could be killed in the outcome. To clear their nation of any blame they wore uniforms that didn't go with regulations of their nations. Black jump suits with black berets was there uniform, and the common infantry rifle was a modified four-set FN-FAL with Semi and Full automatic along with a three round burst and safety. The sights where night-vision capable.

Each trooper had been drilled since the age of fourteen, as was customary in Buddha C, for their career choice, in their case the military. Every single one of them had been trained with the modified FN-FAL (FN-F4L) for atleast three months and their gorilla fighting was down to a perfection. Anti-Insurgent Group 1a (AG-1) would be commissioned for their first out-of-country mission, setting up secure communications with the country's government and Buddha C.

"God, how long has it been since I saw the sea? Three years? I probably sound like a Bavi." Unterleutnant Sali von Wandrinstadt seemed genuinly concerned at the prospect of being mistaken for a southerner.

"Don't worry, Sali, you still sound like a heel-clicking sausage-munching nepotist Piefke to us, and that's what's important!" Micheal's voice was filled to bursting with sickenly thick sympathy.

"Come to that, Micheal, when was the last time you called me by name? Even counting calling me a Piefke in the same sentence?"

"Before you got fat."

Krombacher sighed internally. He did that quite a lot, but he had never wondered why he put up with Warner. The answer was obvious. He got the job done, he was smart, and he was willing to pass up an opportunity to verbally abuse his comrades whenever the shooting started. And with his own squad he was actually a good leader, and not even that harsh, if prone to extreme sarcasm. Most of his ire was reserved for his peers. That might have been a problem, but Sali had had to put up with being the only female officer in a battalion and in a regiment that owed its vacancy to her dead brother, so she was used to that. And Jakob? The idea of Oberleutnant Jakob Schmalkalder flustered was laughable.

"Our "ship", for want of any better term, is that enormous ugly black block."

"The sub?"

"Yep."

"Crap."

"Oberfelbwebel, I'm relying on your tact, wit, and brevity to prevent this company breaking out in a mutiny. Do it and you get top bunk."

Oberfelbwebel Albert Schlock was the company sergeant major, and while perhaps tact and brevity were not his strong points, he definately had a certain way with words, at least as far as talking to grunts went. That gave Krombacher some time to talk to his officers.

"Right. We'll be getting loaded up and leaving today. There are several other companies on this operation, but it's one unit to a sub and we're going for seperate landing sites. Our voyage will take perhaps a fortnight. We'll be popping up and going ashore with minimal equipment, all clandestine. More orders when we get their, but what I know for know is that our principal objective is to get a deep, warm-water port under secure rebel control. Actual overt military intervention is to be avoided if its reasonable, so we're all alone until the shit hits the fan, clear?"

"Clear."

"Clear."

"Crystal."

"Right. Then get your stuff from the trucks. Time's a-wasting!"

(OOC: Yay for incredibly long posts, and later than I'd hoped. I guess this is what happens when I open the front door and let real-life in :p)
_______________

Lanjsk Kremlin, Lanjsk
"I thought Henningrad was secure!? Not twenty-four hours ago you stood right there and told me Henningrad was not under any form of rebel influence, and now this. How inept are your agents on the ground? Will the other 'secure' cities actually turn out to be insurgent enclaves?" The president was seething. He ha friends and family in Henningrad. He'd spent many summers there during his youth. He'd actually sat in that very same theatre not one year ago. To him, this wasn't just an attack on his country, it was an attack on his past. "You have disappointed me, Yuri. Understand that if you do so again, I will personally spend half a Ruble to ensure it doesn't happen a third time."
_______________

Henningrad, Southern Kalmurstan
The streets buzzed with activity. Officers from the local Militsiya unit had sealed off the area surrounding the cinema and were overseeing the search and rescue operation. Few on the scene expected to find survivors, the building was little more than a pile of rubble.

"Anyone claimed responsibility yet?"

"Not yet. We picked up a radio broadcast, overpowering a local transmission."

"Traced? Ha! We don't have the resources of the KNB here. Right now, we're lucky to get ammunition for our guns. The military gets first call on all equipment, we get whatever is left. In a day or two, yes, we'll be able to get the equipment needed to trace it, but by then they'll be long gone. In fact, they will be long gone by now."
_______________

Official Communiqué
To: Major General Kazarin Osein, Imperial Pudite Praetorian Guard
From: Sergei Lazarenko

I would, on behalf of the President of Kalmurstan, like to thank you for your offer of support, and begin the necessary arrangement to receive said support.
_______________

Omnom Military Centre
"As you are no-doubt by now aware, the city of Henningrad suffered a terrorist attack earlier today. Now give how the nation is right now, normally that wouldn't be your problem, but this time it is. The attack came in what we believed to be a secure city. There had been no signs of rebel activity since the initial protests were put down over two weeks ago. The attack was also against a local cinema." The Podpolkóvnik paused as a low murmur echoed through the room.

"This would be a distinct change in tone for the rebels, and as such we believe that other groups may be at work. Our intelligence boys are pulling up all the information they can on all known groups operating within our borders that have carried out similar attacks in the past. Hopefully it was just a group of rebels feeling a little more boisterous than usual, but there is the possibility that we have other groups taking advantage of the situation to further their causes. As such, you're being deployed to Henningrad and I want you ready to go in thirty-six hours time. Your role and ROE will be detailed just before you depart."

Landing in the eastern part of the country they set up communications systems with the local government. Sending: "This is the LFR, we offer our assistance to help weed out these insurgents. We are located at A:23.12312, L:21.23906." As the men sent the message they began forming their positions, creating camouflaged positions in the ground, and in the trees.

Their command post was little more than a large tent filled with extra supplies that moved around constantly, bunks were camouflaged foxholes or sometimes one was able to sleep in the trees. Of the seven hundred fifty men, only twenty-five were standing guard with night vision goggles on. Of those twenty-five five had to set-up an alarm system to wake up the group in case of an attack.

In the north west of Bushdome sat the mighty palace of President Schuck. Most Bushdome residents regarded the palace as a waste of tax payers money but the inhabitant had other toughts on the palace, but these thoughts did not occupy his mind at the moment.

President Schuck was sat in his living room watching the Bushdome natinal news when images of police and fire crew crowded around a pile of rubble of what once was a cinema. Schuck snapped his fingers and a short balding man dressed in a military uniform strided towards the president.

"I have been keeping an eye on the situation in Kalmurstan, I think it is time to have the troops on stand-by, i want them waiting at the the dock yards ready to be shipped off at the drop of a hat!" demanded president Schuck.

"Should I inform the Kalmurstan forign office?" asked the man dressed in uniform.

"No Boyle, i just want to enter this country and make contact when inside" demanded Schuck, "I have somthing planned" he continued.

12 Hours Later

6,000 soldiers marched onto various ships at the millitary's Marxgrad dockyards. After the soldiers came the 250 APC's which sat snuggly on the ships after a meer 30 minuets the ships set sail for the coast of Kalmurstan.

A Day Later

The orders came through at 01:00 hours, the troops landed on the beaches, once landed the troops and APC's marched for about quarter mile when they stopped and make a small camp, within hours there were over a thousend tents. There were make shift garages for the APC's, there were toilets being dug. This was starting to look like the foundations for a permanent Millitary baracks.

_________
To the forgin office of Kalmurstan
The nation of Bushdome has landed on your shores, i know we didn't inform you of this and i know this may be seen as a hostile action but i can ssure you this is not the case. We have set up a small military base about a half mile in form your shore line we are asking wether we have the permission to be there, in return for letting us stay we shall aid you in crushing the rebellion which you seem to have proplems controlling.

I hope this will improve relations between our two great nations

from The Bushdome Forign Office

OOC: Was that okay or has my country done too much in a short space of time?

General Osein was handed the Kalmurstani communication by an aide, who thereafter proceeded to scurry back out of sight. Reading over the document, the Praetorian officer broke a slight smile, then looked up, at the bridge of the battleship Righteous Tempest, and Vice Admiral Berezov.

"Admiral, we've been given the go-ahead to land, although we don't have a port yet. Make for the coast, and we'll send a query - 'till then, just don't hit the shore..."

The Admiral turned from overlooking what was, in fact, his battleship, and nodded. Major General Osein stalked over to find Berezov's lieutenant who had control of the radio at present, and ordered a message broadcast to the Kalmurstani government;

"This is Major General Osein of the Imperial Pudite Praetorian Guard Naval Corps Fourth Rapid Response Fleet, cruising at thirty-knots five days from Kalmurstani territorial waters, requesting a port be named for docking of the fleet. We are thirty-four ships, with two heavy container ships, and two roll-on, roll-off cargo vessels, deepest draft at ten meters. Facilities appreciated - good day."

General Osein finished composing his request, and turned to leave, but was stopped, "General, sir, news has come in from Kalmurstan,"

"Yes, anything changed?"

"No sir, least not that we can tell sir, but we have definite numbers on foreign troop concentrations and dispositions,"

"I'll have that in my office, what can you tell me now?"

"Sir," started the officer, ”Violence is increasing, even in garrisoned cites, showing the people's resolve - we may have more fighting at hand than we originally desired," he hesitated for a moment, "We are certainly capable - fewer men than we brought all of Barudii to it's knees, but we have our primary objective to worry about,"

"Yes, we do. I do envy the simplicity of General Arzubeiv's orders in Barudii, or Rabositz in Chitzeland..."

"Remember sir, Rabositz was killed only weeks after landing, and that war dragged on for years afterwards..."

"Then perhaps just Arzubiev..."

"You may yet have the same fate here, sir,"

"If it comes to it, then that's the way it is. Emperor-knows it can be done..."

<International Waters, seventy-five miles from Kalmurstan>

The huge bulk of the Victoria finally began to slow after her sustained sprint to the warzone. Around her, in a perfect defence formation, her battle group scanned the skies, and seas for any threats to her and her seven thousand strong crew. Under five minutes later, she had seven aircraft airborne, and forming a combat air patrol around the group, ready to deal harshly with anyone foolish enough to attempt an attack

Admiral Hader was in his boardroom, meeting with Brigadier Montgomery Keene, commander of the 132nd Mechanised Brigade, currently housed in the ships of the 14th Coastal Landing Group which were deployed alongside the Victoria battlegroup.

"Brigadier, we have a situation in Kalmurstan. As senior ranking officer in the Task Force, I have been given carte blanche to help the government deal with this insurrection. As such, I need you to ready your men for a landing. There are no known rebel forces nearby, and the NIRTSSATs are reporting no major settlements nearby, nor any large groups of human beings within twenty miles of the landing point. Expect no resistance to your landing, but you are weapons free on any hostile behaviour. Standard pattern for landing, the cruisers will provide covering fire where needed, and the Victoria's Air Wing will be ready to bring in heavy fire support as you move inland. Priority is to secure a suitable location for a readily defendable base inland, so we can move the rest of the ground forces up to you, and begin operations shortly."

"Very good Sir, right away"


<Half an hour later>

A sizeable chunk of the fleet broke away from the main group, which was now sailing parallel to the coast, and began to head towards the coast line. Four assault ships would drive in right up to the beach, and directly drop the heavy armor into the shallow water there. Behind them, four floating docks would release smaller landing craft, each carrying two armoured infantry squads and their APCs, who would be landed further up the beach. At the same time, attack helicopters raced inland, identifying any potential areas of threat, and ready to crush any resistance to the landing.

Command Bunker Alpha-One "The Gatehouse", Lanjsk
A large screen dominated the command and control room deep within the underground facility. Symbols identified the location of all known forces across the nation.

"What's the current situation?"

"Who are these guys?"

"LFR, apparently. We got contact from them about twenty-four hours ago. They are, apparently, friendly. We've not got enough forces in the region to spare any to recon their exact size and hardware."

"So they just landed, without asking permission?"

"In a word: Yes."

"And why then, are they still on our soil? Why haven't we driven them into the ocean already?"

"Because, with respect, we cannot afford the troops to do so. That and, so far, they haven't made any hostile moves."

"Keep an eye of them, and if there's even a hint, just a hint, they might be working against us, send them home by any means necessary."

"Yessir. Also, the nation of Bushdome landed on our shores, again without prior consent. They are also offering to aid in suppression of the rebel factions. Intel shows they are a small nation, so they're either here to help, or over ambitious."

"Same rules apply. So long as they play nice, they can stay here."
_______________

Henningrad, Southern Kalmurstan
There had been sporadic fighting throughout the city. The bombing seemed to have brought the rebels out in force. The local Militsiya had been reinforced by elements from nearly infantry regiments, creating a mishmash defensive force to hold the line until heavier units arrived to begin the ugly street-by-street sweep that would eventually, and hopefully, restore full control of the city to local law enforcement.
_______________

Official Communiqué
To: Foreign Office, Bushdome
From: Kalmurstan Ministry of Defence
Whilst your assistance is much appreciated, we request full troop numbers from yourselves, to aid in our effective co-ordination of operations in the same sector as your base. It is of utmost urgency that you respond, as troops in your area are presently on a sweep and clear mission against suspected rebel encampments. We await your response.
_______________
Omnom Military Centre, Central Kalmurstan
"Your deployment has been brought forward to now. Henningrad is collapsing in on itself and the local forces need bolstering. You'll be the first from the fifty-third to get your boots in the city. You're authorised to use force to subdue any rebel forces you encounter. Civilian casualties are to be minimised as far as possible without compromising your own security."

The thirty-five men and women stood at ease, listening to their orders and, for the most part, itching to get into the thick of things.

"Your transport, and air-support once on scene, will be provided by five Mi-24's. You're wheels up in ten, grab your gear and get gone. Show the rebellious scum what Hati can do."
_______________

Official Communiqué
To: Supreme General Justin Higa, Leocardia
From: Kalmurstan Ministry of Defence
We thank you for your offer of support. The 150,000 men could certainly be put to good use in helping maintain the peace within several cities across our fine nation. As such, we wish to discuss the arrangements needed to land these men within our borders as soon as is feasibly possible.
_______________

Kalmurstan Network News
Consun, Southern Kalmurstan. The scene of many of the most intense battles against rebel forces in the campaign so far. Much of the cities once grand architecture has now been reduced to rubble following days of near constant air-strikes against suspected rebel strongholds. These actions, however, seem to be a failure. Rebel activity in the surrounded areas has increased parallel to the intensity of the government strikes. It seems the battle for the city of Consun is far from over.
_______________

Odansk Naval Base, Southern Kalmurstan
"Sir, we've got an incoming message, re-routed from the gatehouse... Prudite Naval forces requesting port... Thirty-four vessels, including two heavy container and two rollers. Draft ten metres."

A junior officer was already scanning a list of ports, identifying those suitable for such a task-force. Odansk itself would be suitable, was the Southern Fleet not in port. There was no way they could fit another ten ships, let alone thirty-plus. Btosk was the natural second choice, but has been frozen-up for the last week, preventing all operations. Finally, his finger came to rest atop Distad. The city was secure, the facilities could handle over forty vessels in port, and had done so recently when the Northern Fleet had returned to replenish their supplies. The only possible problem was its status. Due to ongoing classified research, access to the port was heavily restricted, even to high-level Kalmurstani personnel.

"Distad looks to be the only option, but I don't think it'll sit too well with the higher-ups... Unless we want them to sail right around the country, it's got to be Distad. Give them the green light, I'll get clearance from the Kapitán there.

"Aye-aye." The Matross flick the radio to transmit "This is Kalmurstan Southern Naval Centre to the Imperial Pudite Praetorian Guard Naval Corps Fourth Rapid Response Fleet. Suitable port for docking is Distad on the eastern coast. Will update you if situation changes. Out"
_______________

Just outside Consun
A small group of rebels sat alongside the highway, their pickup idling at the roadside. Two of the group poured over a map of the local area.

"What have we got so far?"

"We hit a couple of trucks, but pickings were sparce. We've got rumours that some troops have been sperated from their unit and are holed up on an old farm not far from here. If we can hit them, we could get some high-quality gear."

"Yeah, but what if they're spec-ops? We'll have one hell of a fight on our hands."

"There were no special forces in the area. All the Wolves were in the west of the country. Worst thing we'd have would be a few over-zealous light infantry."

"Gather up the boys, lets go pay them a visit, see what we can get from them."

"Will do."
_______________

(OOC: I think I need to keep on top of this better, my mind hurts after that post :p)

To Kalmurstan Ministry of Deffence
From The Bushdome Forign Office

We currently have 6000 troops based in your country, we can deploy more if need be. We also have 250 apc's based in your country aswell. We wish to help as much as we can.

I can assure you that Bushdome is in your country for one reason only and that is to protect communism and everything she stands for. But in order for us to maintain our conquest in defending communsim, we request that you give us the land which we camp on, to do with what ever we see fit. The camp will be extreamly usefull through out these troubled times and it we be able to supply both our troops with supplys throught the skirmish. If this land is given to the Bushdome goverment then after the revolution it will be developed into a trade route between our two countrys.

<Official Communique>
To: Kalmurstani Ministry of Defence
From: Field Marshall Sir Martin Landsbury
Subject: McLeodian Deployments.


Sirs,

As per our message of support during the commencement of your religious purges, we are currently in the process of deploying our own forces to your country to counter any foreign intervention in your own affairs, as well as assisting your troops in anti-guerrilla warfare, and in identifying known ringleaders of the rebellion to be captured for interrogation.

At this current time, our forces in the theatre consist of a full carrier battle group, one full coastal landing group, one Mechanised Infantry Brigade, and one squad of special forces, as well as logistical support. We will be deploying these troops in the next few hours. They are bringing their own intelligence assets, which we will be happy to exchange with yourselves in exchange for a large enough base to house our men, their vehicles, and any aerial support they may require.

Regards,

Sir Martin Landsbury FM,
Commander,
McLeodian Armed Forces Central Command.

A light drizzle of rain hit the walls of the building as Premier Jozef Vachenski entered the Ministry of War. Jozef walked toward the attendants desk as his Black Star Guard filed around him. "Take me to the War room" Jozef said to the clearly surprised attendant. "Of..of course sir" the attendant stuttered as he walked toward a pair of blast doors.

Jozef calmly walked through the doors as they swung open to reveal the war room. The blue hue of the computer terminals illuminated his general staff and their subordinates. "Hello honorable Premier" shouted all the arranged men in unison. "Tell me General Karvanski, whats the situation in Kalmurstan" inquired Jozef, not even noticing the greeting. "So far, a rebellion of massive size has engulfed the nation and already other nations are coming to either aid or destroy it" replied Karvanski.

"Hmm, whats the closest military force we have to Kalmurstan?" asked Jozef. "That would be the 27th Mechanized Regiment, Honorable Premier" replied a stranger next to Karvanski. "Thank you Yuri, but we also have the 36th and the 35th Airborne Regiments stationed at nearby airfields" mumbled Karvanski. "Good, I want all three of those regiments ready to move in 24 hours" said Jozef as he took a seat near the map screen. "Also, send the 24th Infantry to Kalmurstan" mumbled Jozef as he began to fall asleep in the chair.



Breaking News: Volzgrad has agreed to send military aid to the beleaguered nation of Kalmurstan. As we reported earlier, the communist regime of Kalmurstan is currently embroiled in a war against rebels. It is believed that Volzgrad's response was caused by the recent bombing of a movie theater. Until more news is available, this is Volzgrad National News at 6, have a good afternoon. *Volzgrad anthem plays*.

Reynard was still poring over the chart in the farmhouse's small kitchen when he heard the heavy footsteps of someone running into the house. He looked up as one of his breathless troopers pulled up short of the table and threw a lazy salute.

Senior Lieutenant Scott Parker, Reynard's second in command, began to speak.

"Sir, I've just received a report from our scout section."

Reynard recalled the two Guardsmen, a sniper and a spotter, he had sent out on foot reconnaissance. "Very well. Continue." Parker took a deep breath and went on.

"Sergeant Crowe reports that a small contingent of what appear to be anti-government rebels, numbering no more than ten (OOC: I'm just guessing because they've got one pickup), was gathered a few miles away along the main road. They've got one pickup and appeared to be planning something. Obviously, Crowe and Scott were too far away to hear what they were talking about, but they packed up and started heading this way. They called it in as soon as they saw what was up."

Reynard frowned. This was not a welcome development.

"Alright. Well, there are three courses of action we can take. One, we can defend ourselves. Two, we can make ourselves known as Anselmians and make friends of these rebels. Three, and least likely as we have little time, we withdraw elsewhere. Obviously, we wouldn't be able to fall back quickly enough, so three is out. We have no reason to kill a bunch of people we have no quarrel with, as they have no reason to kill us if they knew our identity. We are here to help these people, not to kill them. So attacking them without letting them know who we are first is out. That leaves option number two. If they find out who we are and decide to attack us anyway, then we defend ourselves and finish them. So here's what's going to happen, Parker. Pull the two Rovers in front of the house and make sure they're positioned such that the word "OBSERVER" painted on the side is easily visible, and make sure the national flags on the radio antennae are visible as well. Then ensure that the boys are pulling 360 degree security, Section Alpha from 9 to 3 and Bravo the other side. I want men hidden. In the house, in the grain silo, in the barn, and in the camouflaged foxholes. Don't have anyone manning the 50 cal in the scout Rover. I want you in one of the foxholes. Make sure the guy on the CROWS on the Panther out back is scanning the area behind the house with thermal to watch for an ambush. I'm going to be in the house when this starts going down, but first I'm going to radio Command about this. If they lose contact with us, they'll know why, and God help these rebels then. Savvy?"

Parker nodded. "Yessir."

Reynard watched the young lieutenant sprint out the front door, then headed for the back and the radio.

OOC: It's taken my guys a while to get from Bremen to Kalmurstan, but I was afraid of getting left behind, so I'm fluid-timing slightly. Shall we just say enough time has passed since they set off in all the intervening posts?

IC: "Alright, team. You know the drill."

Oberleutnat Jakob Schmalkalder used stock phrases quite a lot. They saved time. He gave one last tug on the strap of his bouyancy-aide and slipped off the... deck, for want of a better word, of the U-98. He went in slowly. Splashing was not a good idea. There might be enemy observers on the shore. The operation sort of hinged on there not being enemy observers, but you could never go wrong by being safe.

Around him, his First Platoon also slid slowly and quietly into the water before striking out for the shore. It wasn't far: the submarine wasn't deep in draft. They gripped their assault rifles, 7.62 milimeter weapons with a muffler fitted where most soldiers would carry their underslung grenade-launcher. It ought to work just fine after a trip underwater if you were reasonable with it.

Obergefreiter Ernst Klameren was the first to reach the enemy shore, belly crawling cautiosuly up the beach with his rifle held ahead of him. Then Unterfeldwebel Ilse Grüber, the Jakob, and, in ones and twos, the whole platoon.

Jakob did a quick headcount and then sent Kobold further up the beach to get a better look at surrounding. When he gave the all clear, the Oberleutnant lifted his radio.

"All good over here, sir."

"Right. Cover us."

"On it."

By the time Jakob's platoon had scrambled up to positions where the beach ended and grass began, three black rubber dingies had struck out from the U-98, laiden with soldiers and packs, which they manhandled up to Jakob's men once they reached the shore. The senior platoon exchanged them for their bouyancy jackets, and these aboard, the navyman in charge of each dinghy struck out for the submarine again. They would be gone in ten minutes. Krombacher would be gone in less.

"Okay, people, here's the plan. We're going to Haslin. It isn't too far, but it isn't close. So step one: find a truck. Or maybe two. Of we go!"

The company made formation without thinking about it, and off they went, through the deserted night of this deserted part of the coast.

Close to the Imperial German troops position
Kalmurstan was dotted with small towns, villages and farms. Foryeldoma, a small fishing village of some sixty or so inhabitants, sat just four miles along the coast from the freshly landed troops. Isolated from the fighting due to its insignificant location, many of those living there had only heard reports of the increasing rebel violence on the radio.
______________

Command Bunker Alpha-One
Two officers in full dress uniform stood over a rolled out map of the nation, discussing the situation surrounding the foreign presence.

"Bushdome has responded to our communications. They're 6,000 strong with 250 APC's. They also state they are friendly, and request free-reign with the land they are currently based on, which is here." The older of the pair
tapped his finger on the map, about half-way down the western coastline.

The second man nodded, "They've not got a lot of men on the ground for an invasion. I think they may be here to help."

"If they are telling the truth. I'm trying to arrange an overfly by a recon aircraft, but bombing sorties against the rebels are taking up air-commands time right now."

"Either way, they are still a nation many times smaller than us. If they are here to help, if could be the start of a long and prosperous diplomatic relationship. If they are invading us, then we'll crush them." The officer clenched his fist as if to push his point home ,"Also, McLeodian forces have made contact again, this time regarding a force deployment. They're willing to support us in our battles against the insurgency in exchange for access to a base for their men and equipment."

"Two nations, two bases. How much space do you think we're looking at?"

"Well, for the Bushdome deployment, we have them estimated as holding the equivalent of little more than a few farmers fields and as such if we moved them, they could be attached to almost ay base in the country. The McLeodian deployment will need more space, meaning they will be best placed at one of the larger land-sea-air facilities."

"Your recommendations, Polkovnik General?"

"Bushdome, if they are willing, should be moved to either Tabol Ground Forces Base Foxtrot, to aid in subduing the uprising there, or to one of the bases in Tharinsk. McLeodian forces are probably best located in Slukgoren, the base there has been under-used for almost two decades. There should be plenty of room for their forces there."

"OK, I want you to request the Bushdome forces redeploy to Tabol, give them a baptism of fire, as it were. McLeod can use the facilities in Slukgoren, let them know that's their base of operations within the country."

"I'll send the messages right away."
_______________

Anselmian Position, outside Consun, Southern Kalmurstan
The Pickup skidded to a halt in front of the farmhouse, same twenty metres from the front door. Five men jumped down from the rear bed.

"Observers? I thought they were all flown out a week ago?"

"Looks like some didn't make their check-in times. Lets see who's home."

The rebels spread out, spacing themselves evenly across the front of the building.

"Hello? Anyone home?"
______________

(OOC: If I missed anyone and you need a reply, or if I've made a mistake with anyone's location, let me know. This was slightly rushed as I've got to go out but didn't want to leave it another half-day before posting, so apologies for the poor quality)

The half-dozen hidden Guardsmen assigned to the front of the house had tracked the rebels all the way from the road, waiting for some reason to blow them away. When none came, they simply waited as the rebels cautiously approached the building that was their headquarters.

Reynard was drinking coffee at the kitchen table when he heard the call from outside. Slinging his HK416 over his shoulder, he motioned to Sgt. McLeod, standing next to him, to follow him to the door. McLeod held his rifle at a ready position as Reynard opened the front door slowly and waved at the rebels before him.

"Hello! I'm Captain Robert Reynard of the Anselmian Imperial Guard. We're observers who got left behind when the army pulled hastily out of Consun. Who are you?"

The Bushdome flag danced lazily in the afternoon breeze. The Bushdome had a pretty relaxed atmosphere considering they were based in a war zone. The radio operator sat cleaning his rifle which sat on his lap. Then all of a sudden the radio burst into life.

Half an hour later

Comander Martin strolled over to the radio station,

_________
To: Kalmurstan radio operated
From: General Martin of The Bushdome Army

We very much wanted to stay on this land, but it is your country that we are in so we must respect your wishes we shall move to the base of Tabol asap. I guess we shall start leaving within one to two hours.
_________

The Bushdome army started to take down the huge green tents and pile them back into the lorrys. The troops then piled into the apcs and off they went into the horizen.

OOC: What towns/citys/villages will i encounter on the journey to Tabol?

Early morning, near the outskirts of Foryeldoma

Gefreiter Rüdiger Schlapp tapped twice on the knife concealed under his clothing. He would have to stop doing that, if he wasn't going to arouse suspicion. But he was uncomfortable without the familiar weight of his equipment harness and above all without his rifle to hold.

He looked over the rest of the hollow. The company looked odd in Kalmurstani dress. Oddly varied. He was used to thinking of each comrade as a voice, a face, and a set of proportions, clothed in uniform grey or green. He was still getting used to his own clothes. They had been designed to blend in in an urban environemnent: if questioned, he would say he had come from Heningrad after the upheaval their. And he wanted to know where he might find transport. That was the official cover he had been rehearisng on the voyage over, in between brushing up on his Kalmurstani.

He was the only one in the company who spoke it. That was, in fact, one reason why the company had been picked for this mission. Sali had Polish, the second official language of her native West Prussia, so she wasn't totally lost in a Slavic nation, but only Rüdiger could hold a conversation. And Ernst Klammeren, who spoke Saterland Frisian, was going to say it was Hungarian, or some other langauge that nobody would know.

"Ready, Rüdi?"

"Ready, kapitan."

"Very good. Here's your money. Keep it hidden. It'll make people interested for no other reason than that it's money, let alone a refugee having this much. Use the credit-card whenever you can. If you have to call in backup, they'll pretend to be rebels and take you hostage. Give some convincing terror. All right?"

"All good."

Rüdiger yanked up his civilian rucksack and walked with a confidant stride up and onto the path leading into Foryeldoma, humming Iron Maiden's "The Trooper" absently. He had picked up the English lyrics phonetically, and was in the habit of singing them, but that could only draw attention.

In about twenty minutes of brisk walking, he reached the village. Step one was to find, in the absence of an information office in such a tiny town, the pub.

(OOC: Just a quick message to let you all know I've not forgotten about this and will update this evening. This real-life malarkey really does steal precious forum time :p)

Anselmian Position
"I am Jameel Nejem, operating with the Independent Kalmurstani Army." Arabic names were unusual in Kalmurstan, although rumours had persisted for several weeks of foreign soldiers slipping into the nation "We peaceably request you hand over all weapons, ammunition and vehicles so as we can use them to bring stability to this land once more. In return, we guarantee you safe passage out of Kalmurstan at the earliest opportunity."

Three of the other rebels started towards the rear of the building.
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Command Bunker Alpha-One, Lanjsk
"Message from Bushdome, sir. They're moving to Tabol as requested."

"Good, inform them of the safest route and any known rebel hotspots they might want to avoid."

The operator quickly broadcast a message informing the Bushdome commanders of the quickest, safest route into Tabol. Whilst the route only passed through a handful of minor villages, the names of which were known only to the inhabitants, there had been increased raids on convoys passing through the area over the past week. It wasn't ideal, but they should be able to handle most of what the rebels will throw at them.
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Foryeldoma
The village was relatively busy. The two trawlers operated from the village were preparing to depart and families were sharing farewells. There were little more than two dozen buildings in the village, most of which looked run-down, with dirty windows and flakey paint.

Like many of the other small towns and villages across the country, Foryeldoma's public house was open all day, serving as the centre of community life in the absence of a local church. A two-story stone building, dating from at least one century earlier, it dominated the village green, standing amid a collection of timber-framed shops. A handful of workers from the local farm were enjoying a simple breakfast and strong coffee within its dimly lit interior.
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(OOC: Knock on wood that's all the major real life stuff dealt with for the moment, so I should be able to spend more time keeping this rolling)

Reynard smiled and shrugged. McLeod, out of sight behind the wall to the right of the officer, recognized the signal and whispered something into his headset. Reynard, ensuring that his secret order had been acknowledged, began to speak.

"Friend, you know I cannot agree to that. But we are not enemies here. In fact, the very purpose of my men's and my presence in your country is to ensure that the Kalmurstani government does not commit any human rights violations. Obviously, we can no longer complete that objective, but the overarching goal of our mission still remains: to help your people. Let us keep our weapons and tag along with you, and we will make sure that you are well supplied with some of the finest arms that our government has to offer..."
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Sergeant Crowe, lying in the woods half a click from the farmhouse, aligned the sights of his M110 on the head of the man speaking to Reynard. He had received the word from McLeod to prepare to fire, and was now only awaiting an order to take the shot, or for the rebels to start shooting first...
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The trap was set. Reynard hoped that the rebel leader would see the wisdom in his words and that he wouldn't be forced to kill his potential allies, or even risk his own death. His 12 soldiers hidden throughout the compound had a bead on every rebel, and were now only awaiting his command.

Nejem smiled and spoke to his comrades in arabic. The advancing rebels stopped and dropped to one knee, keeping their weapons pointed at the ground. Taking a single step forwards, he held his hands out, palms open and empty.

"You make an interesting suggestion, but what's to stop us simply shooting you and taking your equipment? You are a stranger in a foreign land, my friend, and that is almost as bad as being a government collaborator to some."

"To me, however, you may be useful. My 'unit' has a small base-camp a short distance from here. Nothing too fancy, but it suits our needs. I would be honoured if you would join us there to discuss our joint efforts to end the corrupt governments control of the masses."

He raised a hand, gesturing towards the pickup.

"We appreciate your wisdom. As a token of the growing alliance between us, we offer you a crate of M16A2 rifles, at one point used by the Anselmian Army, but well-maintained and in perfect condition. I'll now rally my men and we'll follow you to your base camp."

Reynard nodded at McLeod, who gave the order. A half dozen soldiers appeared seemingly out of nowhere, from a camouflage position in front of the house, to the shadows of the barn.

ooc: sorry for not reply quickly

The bushdome troops had been at Tabol for about half a day now, most of the troops were cleaning weapons and generaly making themselfs more at home.

Another order had been issued to send yet another message.

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To: Kalmurstan radio operated
From: General Martin of The Bushdome Army

We have arived in Tabol, have you any orders for us, or should we try to flush out insurjenst ourself?
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"M16's, good weapon. Not as solid as our AK's, but I'd be a fool to turn down weapons we can use to help overthrow the corrupt national leadership."

Nejem nodded towards the pickup, the other rebel soldiers strode back to the vehicle and mounted up.

"As I said, we're camped not far from here, it's less than twenty minutes by road. We're well stocked with food, and would happily provide you with rations for as long as you support us."
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Tabol
Three Hind's hovered above Tabol GFB Foxtrot, awaiting clearance to land. One of the trio had taken damage to its tail rotor and was wobbling slightly as the pilot kept control. It was a stark reminder of the violence in the city.

For the Bushdome troops below, the first taste of the insurgency would come shortly. A small contingent had been requested to provide escort to a tank platoon preparing to move across town to the city port.

"It's a deal," Reynard replied.

He walked down the steps of the farmhouse and extended his hand.

The troops thought that today was to be antoehr boring day in the bushdome camp. That was untill it was announced over the tannoy that a batallion of troops was needed for protection mission.

"Do you think we'll see some action?" asked Private Jones

"No, off course not, this just a simple protection mission, or so im told any way. We need to be on stand by, the orders could coe throught at any minuet to move out" replyed Major Noir.

The pickups engine spluttered into life, black fumes spilling from the exhaust as it pulled away and sped along the road.

The rebel camp was no more than a dozen small tents, each holding two or three rebels. The overall mood was relaxed, perhaps too much so for an effective operation. A rag-tag collection of vehicles sat under a hastily rigged camouflage net.

"Welcome to my humble abode." Nejem grinned broadly
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Tabol
It was early evening when the tank platoon arrived at the base. The platoon sergeant wanted to wait until the next morning before continuing on to the port, but the convoy was expected at the docks before dawn. Traversing the city streets at night was a risky business, rebels could be around each corner, preparing ambushes in every burnt out husk of a building.

The platoon consisted of twenty-four T-62 tanks. Whist not the newest nor most advanced tank in the Kalmurstani Ground Forces, it was a capable machine when facing other tanks on the battlefield. In a built up environment, however, it became as vulnerable as any vehicle. Rebels could attack the weaker top and rear armour with ease as the hulking vehicles negotiated the narrow streets.

"OK, I need three dozen APC's and infantry to match. We're going to be heading from here to the port. It's expected to be quiet, but there is a chance of some light to medium resistance from rebels within the city." The platoon sergeant had climbed atop one of the tanks and was addressing the Bushdome troops, "We should have air support from either Mi-24's or Ka-50's, depending on what is available. If you're interested, speak to your commander, they'll pass on your details to me. You'll need to be ready in thirty-minutes."

Xanastovia International News Broadcast Corporation Report

"Less than three weeks ago Kalmurstan was a prosperous and safe nation. Crime was at an all time low and the Communist Regeime was starting to loosen its grip on the day to day life of its citizens."

"Now, it is a nation in the grip of a violent civil war. The southern island has become a haven for insurgents, both domestic and foreign. The government is trying desperately to regain control of cities lost to rebel warlords. The Kalmurstani Armed Forces remain stretched as rumours of Xanastrovian involvement in the insurrection continue. Rumours the Xanastrovian Government denies as 'unfounded propaganda'."


1015
Government Building, Central Orswen

The Prime Minister sat in his office with his minister of foreign affairs. The situation in Kalmurstan had been studies, analysed and evaluated at every stage of its development. This morning, it had reached the desk of the Prime Minister after being slowly passed from department to department.

"What about our western neighbour? Their president has a considerable soft-spot for communist nations. How do we gauge they will respond?"

"The Svestovian government is wrapped up in its own concerns right now. They won't raise a finger, their people won't let them get involved with another nations internal conflict. They'll kick up a fuss if we became openly involved but that's about it."

"So what do you say we do?" The Prime Minister asked.

"The communist government is incredibly unstable right now. The nation is literally tearing itself apart at the seams. We could do nothing and watch the country destroy itself on KNN, the regime will crumble soon enough. If we do this, however, we could end up with another government just as corrupt as the current one. Best plan would be to send a limited force to the area to help bolster one of the factions which are more favourable to our causes."

"Better the Devil we want... you've got a green light, if the MoD feel it is feasible. Keep me up to date with developements, but keep it hush-hush otherwise. The fewer people know about this, the more likely we can prevent any leaks. God forbid the results if this got out."

Reynard stepped out of the Panther CLV and was not impressed with what he saw. However, he put aside his worries and addressed the rebel leader.

"Alright, you can have as much support from us as you want. As you may have figured out, helping groups in situations such as yours is one of our specialties. What do you want? Training? Supplies? Oh, and before I forget, here are your rifles."

Two Guardsmen unloaded a wooden crate from the lone Land Rover that accompanied the convoy and carried it between them to Nejem, then laid it at his feet.

Reynard continued. "Good. Now what kind of people do you have here and what are your plans? As I said, we can give you the training and supplies for whatever you want to do, so long as our government finds your objectives reasonable. That is, no wholesale slaughter or random violence. I'm sure you want to stabilize the country with a democratic, non-oppressive government."

The Bushdome troops wondered back to their quarters wondering wether to go on this protect this convoy of tanks. About 80 men volountered to go on the mission.

"80??, get 20 more men so its a nice round number" barked General Martin.

20 men were forced to volounter for the mission, which they didn't look to happy about. The rumble of the APC's engines then broke the peace as the men started to prepair for the mission.

"We are now ready to move" said General Martin to the Kalmurstan platoon sergent.

OOC: Sorry, I've been in London for a while. Getting back up to schedule now. Also, is the "Kalmurstani" I've been referring to actually Russian? I sort of get that impression, what with the communism, Polkovniks, and real Central Asian nations with many Russians and Russophones. And it certainly help explain where Rüdi learned it.

IC: Rüdi surveyed the room the way he was trained, taking a quick look at each person and each surface, noting anything that looked important. He didn't rely on sight alone, though. All there was to hear was fisherman's chat, but the place smelt strongly of coffee, and eggs, and... he glanced at someone's plate to verify what his nose told him. Sausages.

"Good day. I'll have what they're having, please."

To demonstrate his honesty, Rüdi fished out some banknotes he had left loose in his pocket to avoid rummaging in his wallet.

His accent was Kalmurstani as it was taught in abroad, not noticably foreign, but with exact pronounciation which would be uncommon in a small village like this. Hoefully his cover story would convince people. Then again, he could always try not to talk too much at all.

"I know it is not much that we have here, but we operate in a very low-tech, low impact way. It is much easier for us to take down a dozen small tents than two large ones. Luckily, for the moment, much of the armed forces are too busy trying to hold the major cities to care what happens out here in the countryside." Nejem looked around the camp "We have food, water, shelter. When we need supplies, we hit a convoy then move on. So far, it's suited our needs well."

A handful of rebels moved the crate of rifles into the rear of a medium van as Nejem sat on a folding metal chair, gesturing to one opposite him for Reynard. "Please, have a seat."
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Foryeldoma
The barkeep eyed Rudi cautiously. New faces were rare, but not unknown, especially recently. The familiar language eased his nerves, however, and he nodded, scribbling the order on a scrap of paper before pinning it to a board.

"That'll be four rubles." As the middle-aged man slipped the notes into his top pocket he looked over his shoulder. The paper had already been plucked from the board by the cook "Not seen your face around these parts before, just passing through, I take it?"

(OOC: Kalmurstani is pretty much Russian, with the odd kalmurstan-specific word. Kalmurstani and Russian share a relationship similar to British and American English, so a speaker of Russian would have no real problem picking up the lingo. That and Russian is also an official language in Kalmurstan anyway.)
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Tabol
The tank platoon was idling near the gates when the Bushdome troops pulled alongside. The platoon leader smiled. a round one-hundred men should help see the heavy armour safely through to the port. The radios crackled as the command to move out echoed within the confines of the armoured shells.

The first mile or so was punctuated by occasional small arms fire from nearby buildings. The route was being altered on the fly as the convoy came across road block after roadblock.

Overhead, a pair of Mi-24's co-ordinated the route as best they could in the low-light. Rebels scurried around in the darkened streets, moving supplies and weapons, and preparing for their next strike.
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(OOC: Sorry for the huge delay. I've been busy getting ready for a house move that's on the horizon. I really am going to step things up a it and aim for at least one post a day, ideally two, as I'd like to get as much sorted now before I end up with intermittent web access for a while)

One, two, three, four. Rüdi flicked through the seven roubles in his hand and pocketed the rest as he talked.

"No, I'm not from around here, true. I come from Heningrad. Not such a good place to be right now, mmh?" He give a grim grin. "I saw where the wind was blowing, I left quick. And I figured, no offence, who would bomb a place like this?"

He gestured around the bar, sipping his coffee.

"But I can't stay here, I've gotta find work. There's this family I have who own a farm, but I could do with some wheels. I sold my car. You try and drive out of a city when everybody else is trying, you die. So, where can a guy find a car here, would you know?"

"Hennigrad, eh? From what I'm hearing things down there got really rough really quick. Obviously the Government says it's under control, but I reckon otherwise. As for transport, most people here use the bus to get into the city whenever they need to. Not much call for private vehicles round here, other than on the farms." He rubbed his palm back and forth across his chin for a moment, "Tural has an old truck, if I remember right. It's a good half-century old, but he's made sure it still runs, just in case he needs it. He normally stops by for breakfast here, I've not seen him today so if you don't mind waiting until he does, I'd be happy to introduce you."

The cook slid the order onto the bar between the two men. A pair of large eggs, four sausages and two large back bacon rashers filled the. It was as far from gourmet cooking as one could imagine, but it was obvious to all it was a good, solid meal, especially at the price. A large pot of coffee was placed next to the plate, completing the order.

"Grab yourself a table and enjoy the food. If you need more coffee, give us a shout and I'll top you up. Otherwise, I'll let you know when Tural arrives."

"Man this is great!!" shouted Private Jones, over his automatic gun fire.

"We can just mow em down eh" shouted Jones again.

"Just stay with the tanks and you can't go wrong" exclaimed another soldier.

After a few minutes of gun fire the streets went silent, the Bushdome soldiers looked at each other with puzzled looks. There was no reason for the sudden silence so why did it happen? Then it became apparent the reason for the silence. At the side of the street was a hotel with many floors on one floor stood a rebel with a grenade launcher. The rebel shot and hit his target, the Bushdome troops were thrown around by the explosion. The rebels then rushed the troops and the tanks. They convoy kept on moving, but the movment of the convoy came at a price as the Bushdome troops took heavy loses.

Reynard took the offered seat and looked Nejem in the eye.

"Ah, we've been to worse places. Now down to business. What kind of people do you have here and what are your plans? As I said, we can give you the training and supplies for whatever you want to do, so long as our government finds your objectives reasonable. That is, no wholesale slaughter or random violence. I'm sure you want to stabilize the country with a democratic, non-oppressive government."

"Yeah, it's not so good back there, I can tell you. Thanks."

Rüdi glanced over the tables and decided to go for an empty one. Even if it wasn't the custom here, it would cause less offence than butting into a conversation, and his alter-ego could always just not be a people person. That was fine by him: he wasn't a people person, either. He found it easier to be bold behind his anonymity, but really, he's prefer not to have to speak to too many people at all.

He took a bite from a sausage, closed his eyes, and relaxed. Gourmet cooking it might not be, but you couldn't beat the sausage. He would have let his mind wander back to the steaming breakfasts he had enjoyed back in Marburg-an-der-Drau before he went for his time as a soldier, but there wasn't time for that now.

So... somebody had a truck, and it wasn't state-of-the-art. That suited him perfectly. He could probably get it cheaper, although he was going to have to pay more than its face value. His alter-ego, fortunately, was a successful bureaucrat back in Heningrad who had sold his house, and could probably afford a truck.

The problem was, one truck? The company had fifty soldiers to get onto it. Thye might have to get their hands on another one somehow. Still, first things first.

Tabol
"Khrin, we're getting chewed out down here! Get thoses Hinds to lay down some fire, they're as much use as pigeons at the moment!"

The tanks continued to push trough the streets, simply crushing any rebel unfortunate enough to get caught in front of them whilst gunning down many more.

"This is Red Two-Two, we've lost a track and are completely immobile. All weapons are still functional. We need a recovery ASAP."

"Dammit... Where are they in the convoy?"

"Fifth tank back. This is going to split the convoy in two... Get on to Foxtrot Command, let them know our situation and location. What time is it now and when is sun-up?"

"Oh-one-twenty-two, sir. Sunrise is about five hours from now."

"We can't hold this position that long, get us some support now."

"Roger."

Bursts of machine-gun fire lit up the streets as the tank crews fought against rebels. Tonight was going to be a long night for the men and women on the ground.
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Foryeldoma
It was around twenty minutes later when a dishevelled looking man staggered into the public house and stumbled towards the bar.

"Tural!" The bartender grinned widely, pouring vodka into a glass, "You're late today, wake up in a ditch or what?"

Tural mumbled something under his breath.

"Now, my friend, there's a man from Henningrad wants to speak to you about your truck. He's trying to get to a farm, but needs transport. That's him." The barkeep pointed at Rüdi, "He's not too talkative, but I guess he's seen some things we'd rather not know of, let alone witness."

The unkempt man nodded, picked up the glass and lurched to the table. "I hear you're looking for a car. Well, I might be able to help you. The name's Tural, and it just so happens I have an old ZIS-150 truck. It may not be the newest truck around, but it'll get you from here to there."
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Rebel encampment
"All manner of men and women fight for our cause. We have bankers, teachers and lawyers fighting alongside builders, bus-drivers and street cleaners. As long as they're willing to work towards our goals we can use them."

Around the pair, life in the camp continued apace. The crate of M-16's was already open, the weapons inside being distributed amongst those lucky enough to be nearby. Around one-hundred yards away, a pair of young men placed a shot from an ageing Mosin-Nagant rifle within three inches of the bullseye on a paper target around half a kilometre away.

"Obviously, not everyone who comes to us is suitable for the front-lines. As with any military, we require support staff, mechanics, cooks, doctors. The people who keep those on the front-lines fighting. What I ask of you and your men is to support us. We have a great need for quality explosives. AK's and ArmaLite's are not much use against the heavy armour the government forces can bring to bear, and the few anti-armour missiles and mines we have are rapidly being used."

OOC: I know that the ZIS-150 dates from just after the war, but remember that my guys hail from an alternate timeline where everything after 1918, including both the whole of the Second World War and the development of Soviet industry, are differant from start to finish.

IC:"Here to there works fine by me. How much? I've got money. I sold my house."

"Tural" looked unkempt, tired, and possibly drunk, but Rüdi wasn't going to risk anything by treating him like an idiot. He might just be genuinly knackered, and Rüdi didn't even know whether they haggled in this country. He did have money. Better to just buy the truck and go.

A ZIS-150? He had a vague recollection of them from old Zweite Weltkrieg movies. One of them certainly wasn't going to carry fifty people and their equipment anywhere fast. But once they had one motor vehicle, more ought to be easy.

A group highly ranked men sat around a long steel table back at the Bushdome camp in Tabol. "The troops are pinned down here" said one of the men as he jabbed his finger down at the large map that sat on the long table.

"What we need is more support!" said another man angrilly, "I've said time and time again we need helicopters where ever we go!"

"He's right" said the first man again, "It was a foolish decision, to come to Kalmurstan with out any air support." The men debated wether to bring helicopters to Kalmurstan. It was after half an hour of arguing that they decided to call in helicopters. The flight from Bushdome to Kalmurstan in a helicopter was an hour and a half long. So the decision was made to call in 25 of Bushdome's finest helicopters.
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Back on the streets, the rebels were now taking to the streets and roof tops in force. The bullets rattled down upon the tanks and troops like fine rain. The troops that were at the front of the convoy carried on moving protecting the tanks, whilst the men unclucky enough to be at the back were told to dig in and protect the tanks that had become stationary due to one of the tanks braking down. The front of the covoy managed to slip away whilst the rear was left to stay and deffend.

(OOC: I'm going to be offline for the next few days, maybe as much as a week. This is going to be probably my last day with "real" internet access for the next week or two, so I'll only be able to post intermittently from now on until I get the 'net sorted at my new place.)
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Foryeldoma
Tural smiled broadly "So you have money. That's a good start. A lot of folks round here barter with whatever they've got. Perhaps you would like to examine the truck yourself, to ensure I'm not trying to fleece you?"
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Tabol
GFB Foxtrot
"We can't risk sending out a recovery vehicle when the area is this hot. Get me Tabol Airbase on the blower, if we can't recover it, we'll make sure the rebels don't get it."

With the Convoy
The front four tanks had moved further down the street, the tell-tale snap and pop of small arms fire bounced off the armour plating. The remaining tanks sat idling, waiting for further orders from command.

The two Hind's swept in low along the sides of the road, strafing the buildings either side with cannon and rocket fire. Several rebels were clearly caught square in the deadly rain, whilst others continued to pepper the stationary vehicles after the helicopters had passed overhead. The telltale gout of smoke and flame signalled the launch of an RPG towards the two aircraft. It missed both.

"The rebels have anti-air and anti-armour capabilities. They're deploying unguided rockets. We need your orders now, command."

"Pull back. I want a marker on the immobilised tank, we're going to use five-hundred kilo's of laser-guided bomb to decommission the thing. Get the crew stashed in one of the escorting APC's, the find another route to the port! Command out."

(OOC:Bushdome, 90 minutes flight time from Tabol would put your helicopters about 375 miles away at most. I know for a fact there are no nations quite that close. The closest land mass is some 600 miles or so to the south and is sovereign territory of one of the other nations in my region. I've looked back and I know you sent some ships to deploy your troops, but I don't know if you had a carrier with those ships. If you did, that's fine and dandy if not, it'll take a while longer to get them here.)

"What do you mean there gonna blow it up?" asked a Bushdome private to his friend.

He just pointed at the immobilised tank and shrugged. The stood well back from the tank and again dug in. The rebels were now starting to reduce in numbers but they were still out in force. The troops were told to dig in untill the bomb had been dropped.

OOC: yeah the helicopters are comin of a carrier, because we also have some bomber planes on there aswell. But the bombers are for emergencys only.

(OOC: Apparently the UK is unable to connect decent broadband in less than 2 weeks... Anyway, just wondering if anyone is interested in continuing this, or if it should be allowed to sink to the depths of the forum once more)

OOC: Yeah, I'd be interested.