NationStates Jolt Archive

Tolvanic Air Force C-181 “Golf Four-Two”
Approaching De Vliggenplaat Airspace

The cavernous hold of the C-181 Globemaster III was packed with six Humvees and a dozen supply pallets holding everything from tents to generators. Seated forward of the cargo hold was the forty man advance party of 2nd Battalion/15th Infantry Brigade of the Fifth Infantry Division (Motorised). The rest of the battalion’s equipment would be delivered by ship in the next couple days while the remainder of the battalion’s 1,300 personnel would be flying in via chartered passenger planes over the next couple days.

Exercise Able Forge 19 was the product of weeks of negotiations between the Foreign Office and the De Vliggenplaat Government. The exercise would not only help to bolster ties between the two nations but hopefully allow Brayton Arms (who produced the battalion’s TLAVs and sent several representatives along with the battalion) to gain a new market for its wares.

As the plane grew closer to De Vliggenplaat airspace the pilot activated his radio and began broadcasting.
“De Vliggenplaat Control, this is Tolvanic Air Force transport call sign “Golf Four-Two”. I have the advance party for the exercise on board and I am requested landing instructions. Over.”

Air Station 21, Forward Edge of Plaatische Airspace

Two AAE/Hawkins "Tornado" fighters circled down slowly from behind and above the Tolvanic C-181. There was absolutely nothing sinister about it: despite being armed with air to air missiles and carrying a pair of conformal fuel tanks each, the Tornados simply broke formation so that one was on either side of the transport aircraft and pulled their cockpits even with the flightdeck, although seventy-five meters away for safety's sake.

Flight Lieutenant Gehardt Ebersmann waved a gloved hand at the flightcrew of the C-181, his face concealed by oxygen mask and flight helmet.
"Two, One. Break down and resume station, over."
"One, Two. Wilco, over."
Ebersmann nudged the stick forward, and his fighter dropped away from the C-181. A slight tap of the left rudder pedal and moving his hand gently to the left brought his aircraft ninety degrees in that direction, his wingman forming up on him in the turn, and the pair climbed back to Air Station 21 to maintain their standard patrol.

Luftmacht Airfield Nr. 37, Air Operations Control Tower

"Taff Golf Four-Two, this is Whelsgreun Tower. Come east seventeen, I say again, One Seven degrees. You are cleared for approach and landing to Runway Three."

Releasing his transmit key the ATC looked through the plateglass window to visually confirm what his screen told him. Airfield Nr. 37 was a simple three-strip affair capable of handling heavy "Strategic Lift" aircraft, and Runway Three was disconnected from Runways One and Two, who formed a rough concrete "X" in the green grass surrounding the airfield. To the south of this "X" was Runway Three, the only approachable field from the vector G42 was being brought in on.

Tolvanic Air Force C-181 “Golf Four-Two”
Approaching De Vliggenplaat Airspace

Major Brian Tanaka, TAFR (Tolvanic Air Force Reserve) guided the lumbering the C-181 17 degrees east to the bearing the tower had relayed him. Tanaka was an pilot for Tolvanic Air Freight in civillian life but his crew had just so happedned to be up for their annual two week Regular Force rotation when 2/15th had been tapped to take part in Exercise Abel Forge 19, and now here he was on the other side of the world.

Tanaka keyed his mic and addressed the tower, "Roger Whelsgreun Tower, coming east one-seven degrees slowing to one-eight-five knots. Echo-Tango-Alfa is one-two minutes. Over."

Meanwhile in the rear of the plane the advance party was stirring. The military personnel put away various manuals and briefing reports and woke the five civillians in their party up from various stage of sleep.

The plane's Loadmaster was already busy checking the tie downs on each pallet and Humvee in the hold, it wouldn't do to have someon crushed upon landing.

Luftmacht Airfield Nr. 37, Air Operations Control Tower

Minutes stretched into a half hour. Whelsgreun wasn't particularly far from Air Station 21, but it was well inland, not being a "frontline" airbase as was found on the Plaatische-Suidphalian or Plaatische-Gaulican borders. The dot kept approaching the airbase on the ATCR screen, a little computer generated tag identifying it as "TAF G42 STRLFT".

Then a dot appeared in the sky and rapidly grew in size. Another ATC, assigned to runway control, picked up his binoculars and watched the C-181. Without turning away from the eyepieces, he informed the tower that the aircraft was on the correct tack.

A Luftmacht aide appeared in the doorway of the room Major Gottfried Arenstorff occupied with his adjutant. Informed as to the arrival of the Tolvans, Arenstorff stood and replaced the peaked cap on his shaven head. The King's Crown served as a splash of colour over the polished metal of the Motorized Infantry insignia. In "walking out" dress, the Major and his adjutant boarded a Landrover 110 and drove across the tarmac to meet their counterparts once the aircraft touched down.

Tolvanic Air Force C-181 “Golf Four-Two”
Luftmacht Airfield Nr. 37

The landing went smoothly, the C-181 was designed with "hot landings" in mind but obviously none was required here.

As soon as the big transport had come to a stop the rear door was lowered and a pair of MPs dressed in BDUs and armed only with sidearms walked out. After a momentary sweep of the area they signalled the OK and the rest of advance party filed out.

Leading the party was Lt. Colonel Ben Church, CO of the 2/15th, following him was Steven Kelly, a midlevel Foreign Office diplomat, and Drew Coles, a Brayton Arms sales manager.

Lt. Col. Church stepped on the tarmac and found the highest ranking officer present before snapping into a perfect salute.

Luftmacht Airfield Nr. 37

Arenstorff returned the punctilous salute with one of his own and held it for a moment, then two. His arm snapped down to his side as he returned to attention.

"Colonel, His Plaatischer Majesty welcomes you and your battalion to De Vliggenplaat. I am Major Gottfried Arensdorff, commanding officer of your opposition for Exercise Able Forge. This is Captain Charles Sutherland, my adjutant."

Luftmacht Airfield Nr. 37

Church ended his own salute a fraction of a second after Major Arensdorff's.

"Major, I am Lt. Colonel Ben Church, this is Mr. Kelly from the Foreign Office and Mr. Coles from Brayton Arms, the manufacturers of most of our fine equipment. My XO was unable to accompany us as he is currently overseeing the deployment of our kit via transport but this Major Preston Carter, my Operations Officer."

Luftmacht Airfield Nr. 37

A round of handshakes were exchanged and Major Arenstorff indicated the unloaded Tolvanic equipment and personnel.

"We can wait here until the remainder of your battalion arrives, if they are expected shortly. Or if you'd prefer, I can show you to your quarters for this exercise.

"Has your battalion brought its logistics vehicles, or should I make arrangements for you to be issued fuel bowsers and some general purpose trucks as well? Misters Kelly, Coles, you'll be introduced to your Plaatzer equivalents shortly, I would imagine. Mister Coles, I have reviewed the TLAV's specifications and it is certainly superior to the combat vehicles in my battalion. Just out of interest, what is the cost per unit, for the Infantry Section Carrier variation?"

Captain Sutherland guided the group to the side of the LR110, opening the side door to produce several glasses and a bottle of Chaucel Blanc. He poured for the civilians, pausing before filling the glasses meant for the Tolvan Lieutenant Colonel and Major. If they didn't accept a glass, neither would Arenstorff or Sutherland, out of courtesy.

Luftmacht Airfield Nr. 37

Church accepted the glass but only sipped lightly, he was after all on duty.

"Yes Major, we are deploying our full logistical units. All of our heavy equipment is inbound aboard a Navy LST and the rest of the battalion's personnel are slated to begin arriving within the hour via chartered airliners.?

Coles spoke next, "The per unit cost of the IFV variant that you'll see this week is US $1.2 million. We also offer an APC variant with greater dismount capacity but less firepower for US $1.05 million. The Army has been kind enough to grant us space aboard the transport to deploy one example of all current operational TLAV models for demonstration purposes. As you're undoubtable aware there are currently 15 TLAV variants, enough to fill every role within a brigade combat team if so desired."

Luftmacht Airfield Nr. 37

Major Arenstorff's face tightened, half-filled glass of wine held oddly delicately in his deeply tanned left hand. He also drank sparingly, being on duty. Tradition however, was tradition.

"Ah, I see. I wasn't told that you'd be arriving via chartered airliner. It isn't a problem per se, just a mild inconvience. For security reasons we cannot land civilian aircraft - chartered or not - at a military airfield. Some obscure legislation that hasn't been repealed yet, from when the Liberals dominated parliament."

They finished their wine and the glasses were replaced in the Land Rover.

"Well Colonel, I suggest you get your advance party mounted and we'll head to Whelsgreun. The highways here are 'a little fast' to say the least."

"It's a roadway that the local drivers try to achieve orbital escape velocities on," Captain Sutherland explained to Coles and Kelly.

"We'll lead the way to the airport so you can meet your battalion. I will arrange for a transport unit to link up with us there so we can get you to barracks before your equipment arrives. Mate up with your vehicles when they arrive. Does that sound agreeable?"

Luftmacht Airfield Nr. 37

"That will be most acceptable, Major."

Church spoke quietly with Major Carter before heading for his now unloaded Humvee.

Within a minute the entire party was mounting aboard their assigned vehicles and waiting for their escorts.

Sutherland took over the driver's seat, leading the group out onto the highway. Here the vehicles stuck to the two minimum speed lanes, making only 100-110km/h. Despite this, the Plaatischer countryside flashed by: lush fields under farmer's care bordered by high and thick berms, the famous dykes. Blue-watered canals, irrigating the polder country, and age-old bridges.
Passing Whelsgreun, old stone buildings packed tight together were towered over by a handful of more modern constructions. The column passed over a modern bridge. Many of the older ones were fronted by a kilometer or so requiring drivers to slow down so their vehicles were not cruelly jolted coming over the bridgehead. This modern construction was perfectly level with the roadway during summer, though winter pushed it up a centimeter or two with the hardening of the ground.

They took a service access into Whelsgreun Airport, passing bored security officers. The Air Traffic Control and Tarmac Control knew why they were there and dispatched a pair of ground crewmen to muster the vehicles at the spot on the tarmac that the chartered airliners would be guided to.

TCS Baldwin
LST-121
15 Nautucal Miles from De Vliggenplaat

The big Newsome class LST plodded along at 15 knots, it had rearely exceeded that speed since it departed Hampshire Naval Base almost 20 days ago. Stowed in its vast holds were nearly 100 TLAVs and 50 trucks and Humvees, plus large amounts of spare parts, blank training ammunition, and other assorted supplies the battalion might need for the exercise. While the LST was designed to accomodate up to 600 troops, the extremely spartan quarters meant that the trip would be quite unpleasent and so just 100 of the battalion's troops rode on the ship, the rest got to fly. Naturally those fortunate ones who were assigned to fly had been soundly cursed for the past three weeks by those aboard.

Tolvanic Airways Charter Flight 236
Approaching Whelsgreun

The big Commonwealth Aerospace 605 carried the first load of 2/15 troops. A total of 375 soldiers sat in the planes cloth seats. Like all good professional soliders most napped or brushed up on field manuals or intel briefings on De Vliggeplaat. Soon they'd be on the ground and could back to doing their jobs.

Meanwhile four additional civillian planes, carrying the rest of the battalion's personnel, were strung for 400 nautical miles beind the lead plane. Bringing up the rear of the aerial convoy were another three C-181s carrying various pieces of equipment and supplies not loaded aboard the LST.

Whelsgreun Air Traffic Control Tower

He was overweight because his job required him to have little more than a sharp mind and an ability to concentrate through the entirety of his shift. Admirably, he'd learned to do much of his job with his left hand only. This was not quite as admirable when one considered that he'd learnt to do this simply to be able to hold his ever-present sandwich with his dominant hand.

Piet Mason was happy to shunt thoughts of ex girlfriends from his mind and delve back into his work as 2/15 5.ID (Mot) Tolvanic Army approached on chartered "ComAero" 605s. He set them up to land one after the other and be immediately shunted to the closed section of the airport. The pilots were notified that they were priority traffic, as Mason was eager to get them off "his" runways. He didn't harbour any pretensions when it came to the military: He simply didn't like them.

So he wasn't unhappy to shunt the C-181s to Luftmacht Airfield Nr. 37.

Tarmac of Whelsgreun

"Colonel, I have arranged for the lift to your barracks at Leusderhavelte. The trucks should arrive shortly, combination of M5s and Mittlerer Protz. Plenty of lift capacity."

The Mittlerer Protz - full designation Mittlerer Schutzenwagen Protz 44D - was an older vehicle that served in the five ton general purpose truck role back when the NEKAF jeep was used instead of the Land Rover series. Like the VLT M5a it could carry sixteen men and all their equipment comfortably, though the M5a did feature a much better suspension and crosswise leveling that would cancel out much of the high-speed turning on the local "Autobahn Equivalent" and crossing over older bridges.

Captain Sutherland caught his Major's attention. Excusing himself, Arenstorff returned to the Land Rover.

"Yes?"
"Sir, the ATC is telling me that he can't land the C-181s here and that we'll have to go back to the Luftmacht field for them."
"Bastard."
"Yes, sir."
"Captain, I want you to go and explain the difficulties to the Lieutenant Colonel and offer that yourself and his Ops Officer head back to the airfield in one of the humvees to facilitate the movement of that equipment. Meanwhile, I am going to make it clear to the ATC that I do not appreciate his meddling."
"Very good, sir."

Sutherland approached the Lt.Col and saluted crisply.

"Colonel, the ATC is refusing to let your C-181s land here. Begging the Colonel's pardon, but the Major believes it best that your Operations Officer and myself attend to the Luftmacht Airfield while you remain here, sir."

It was clear why Major Arenstorff was not telling Lieutenant Colonel Church this himself. The Major's face was dark as a waning moon's midnight and held the same grim, tight-lipped expression one would expect to see over a blood-wet bayonet in a muddy trench, radio handset held to his ear.

Tarmac of Whelsgreun

Church had expected as much, in his experience civillians were often a complete impediment to him doing his job.

"Of course Captain, Major Carter and his staff are more than competent to oversee the unloading of ou equipment."

Tarmac of Whelsgreun

Sutherland and Carter departed at speed towards the Luftmacht airfield to organize the reception of the C-181s and their loads of personnel and equipment. A few minutes later, the transport unit arrived as the first of the chartered airliners was touching down on the runway, the trucks arraying themselves in ranks on the tarmac safely out of the way of the airliners. Church was reunited with his command, and ten minutes later the first of the C-181s touched down at "Number 37" where Major Carter could commence unloading and organizing the transport of the equipment.

Arenstorff gestured at the trucks, drivers sitting patiently behind their steering wheels in the cabs.

"When you're ready Colonel, we can head directly to barracks. Supper is at seventeen thirty, roughly. If you need more men to facilitate the movement of your equipment back at the Luftmacht field, the transports can carry a few platoons down there, kein problem."

OOC: Sorry for the delay, been busy in RL.
If you don't mind I say we skip foward to the exercise proper.

OOC: Don't mind at all. I'll kick us off.
__ __ __ __

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre,
06.22 Local Time

With the "2/15th Tolvanic" comfortably settled in their barracks and mated with their equipment, Major Arenstorff met with Lieutenant Colonel Church in the Headquarters building, a large map of the CMTC spread across one table, the operations staff sitting quietly with mugs of warm coffee as they monitored their screens.

"Goedemorgen, Colonel. Our exercise for the day involves one of your rifle companies conducting a deliberate attack on this small hamlet, situated on the intersection of two dykes. The hamlet will be defended by one of my platoons, giving you the three to one or four to one advantage called for in offensive action. The problem with polder is that when the fields are sodden, we can't get AFVs anywheres, which limits our movement to the top of the dyke. For political reasons you can't simply blast the hamlet off the map with artillery.

"I believe the fellow who devised this particular operation thought it would show off the capabilities of the TLAV over our PaIW."

The map showed a kilometer of dyke, approximately fifty meters wide with a surfaced roadway running ontop of the dyke to the north, while the hamlet was located at the juncture of the east-west dyke that bisected the north-south dyke. The east-west dyke featured a marked bicycle trail and a unsurfaced roadway. The hamlet was said to be of stone construction, with a single small windmill and a dozen houses spread around the simple crossroads. The east-west dyke was shown to be covered in small brush and high grass, while the north-south dyke had groves of trees on either side of the roadway.

Arenstorff offered his counterpart freshly brewed coffee, listening to the engines of PaIWs belonging to Nr. 1 Company's second platoon turn over in the predawn air before departing for the objective hamlet.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre,
0623 Local Time

Church accepted the coffee, like most Tolvans tea was his drink of choice but not every nation agreed.

"If that will be all Major I'll brief my men and we can be underway by 0730 at the latest."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre,
0645 Local Time

Church surveyed the assembled officers as the last of them found their seats. In addition to most of his staff, all three rifle company commanders, and the commanders of the platoons tasked with taking part in the operation were present. The CO of Baker Company, Captain Mitchell Blair, who was tasked with taking the town would give the breifig and outline his plan.

"Gentlemen, let's get started. Our objective is this small hamlet designated OBJ Fox. OBJ Fox is bisected east to west by Route Green and north to south by Route Black. As you can see the terrain is less than ideal but this dyke is topped with a road that's rated to handle our TLAVs. Naturally there'll be artillery prep or CAS so this alters our approach somewhat. We believe ths fields adjacent to the dykes will support a TLAV advance. For this exercise we have a engineer swuad and the battalion recce platton attached. The scouts and engineers will proceed through the field. If they report the field is fit for vehicle movement then First Platoon, with one MGS, will advance that way to flank the hamlet's garrison. Should the field prove untendable then we will conduct a full company advance along the N-S dyke. There will no civvies in the town to our knowledge, but even so standard ROEs apply.

Our objectives are as follows:
One: Eliminate all resistance at OBJ Fox
Two: Secure the town and establish blocking positions along both Route Green and Route Black to guard against any counter attack

We cross the LoD at 0730."

With that the briefing adjourned. Baker company and its attached scouts headed to prep their vehicles, Church and his staff went to find a good vantage point.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
06.53 Local Time

The PaIW, literally the "Pantser Infanterie-wagen", was a box armoured against small arms and shell splinters on an 8x8 chassis with low-pressure run-flat capable tyres, a powered ramp at the rear, and a roof hatch just behind the driver that was generally fitted with a heavy machinegun or automatic grenade launcher as per the "Mod. II" upgrade conducted in the 1980s of this circa 1965 design. The name was misleading: Pantser (Panzer) Infanterie were generally mounted in tracked IFVs such as the CV9035 and CV9040.

It carried eight men, in other words a full rifle section for the Koninlijke Landmacht's Motorized units, and there were command, mortar carrier, weapon carrier, ambulance, and general purpose variations. Currently the PaIWs were advancing in platoon column up what the Tolvans had designated Route Black at a quick seventy kilometres per hour.

Once in the village, the platoon debussed quickly and efficiently. Three of the five vehicles were sent back to a Zulu Harbour at 1 Coy's laager area, where they would wait out the exercise. Before departing, they were stripped of their heavy machineguns and ammunition.
Lieutenant Baehr surveyed his surroundings and identified three buildings. One, at the north-west juncture of Routes Green and Black was a two story stone structure with stout wooden doors marked as a tavern. In an L shape, it provided his platoon headquarters element with surveillance over the entire village with the notable exception of the south-east, where his line of sight was blocked by another two story building. An M2HB was set up in the tavern where it could rain fire down on the sodden field west of Route Black and on Route Green as it passed through the town. Another M2HB went to One Section, who set up in the south-eastern two story building.

The platoon headquarters group included a pair of Ops Medics who set up their casualty collection point behind the tavern, between the stout stone wall and Baehr's PaIW. The other PaIW was parked in the yard of a red bricked house, the thick hedge concealing it from view. It would act as a QRF to help disrupt any flanking attack.
One Section established themselves in the only other two story building, one fireteam taking the precaution of barricading the thick outer doors and taking the inner doors off their hinges to facilitate rapid movement around the interior of the house. These interior doors were then put in the large windows that had not been designated for use as a firing position - whether or not a window was used as a firing point was determined by the field of view it had out onto Route Black, the southern edge of the town, and the immediate area around the "strongpoint."

With the dismounted M2HB from one PaIW with One Section and another with the PLT HQ, these two guns coordinated fire sectors. Gun One (HQ's weapon) would fire primarily on Zone One, which was the field west of Route Black. Gun Two (1SCT's weapon) could also fire on Zone One, but was primarily responsible for Zone Two, which was the field east of Route Black. The MG.2 automatic rifles were assigned as "Mopping Up" weapons to cooperate with Guns One and Two, while the MG70 GPMGs went to ground level to dominate the fight at that altitude. The HQ's MG70 team set up to cover the crossroads and the approaches to the tavern from the south. Riflemen armed with G.2 rifles took up position at windows and loopholes to cover the other approaches to the position.

The third gun was given to Two Section. Designated Gun Three, it would provide enfilade fire along the top of the dyke supporting Route Black from its position in a grain storage building at the base of the hamlet's windmill. Gun Three was set up with Two Section's MG70. Being on the east side, it could fire into Zone Two. The MG70's tripod was left unbedded so the crew could rapidly shift it to engage threats approaching from the east. Two Section scattered themselves in fighting pairs in the single-story stone and brick houses on that side, boobytrapping doors with "nonlethal" grenades (flashbangs and smoke canisters), the MG.2 pair taking up a position in a house north of Route Green where they could "scratch the back" of any of their section-mate's positions that were outflanked. Unless of course, they were forced from their position or neutralized beforehand.

Three Section found themselves set up in two fireteams on the west side of the village. Although a fireteam from the platoon headquarters would act as a reserve, Baehr knew his men were stretched thin and likely outnumbered. The two stout buildings that Three Section was divided between were located at the westernmost building in the village, on the north side of Route Green, and another building further inside the village that was situated as to fire across the fenced backyard of its neighbour to put additional weight of fire into Zone One and Route Green. Three Section's Delta fireteam had the MG70 GPMG for this very reason. This meant that Charlie fireteam in the westernmost house was limited in their sustained fire capability, having only the MG.2 automatic rifle.

Antitank was provided by copies of the M72A7 LAAW distributed liberally around the sections, while the Platoon Headquarters had a pair of men armed with PzF-3 launchers and a pair of rockets each. AG-306 underbarrel grenade launchers, commonly referred to as an "Underslung," fitted two of the G.2 rifles in each section. These had a very limited antitank capability when loaded with HEAT grenades. The G.2 rifle's "Plaatzer Pattern" muzzlebrake could make use of rifle grenades, but Baehr's platoon had none.

Comms were provided by personal role radios, considered by many section, fireteam, and platoon leaders to be one of the best investments the Koninlijke Landmacht had ever made. Baehr didn't have any field telephones, so he forwent the usual practice of setting up the machineguns on a "Hotline" system, relying instead on the PRRs. His riflemen were made aware of the Zones and fire reference points, so that if a concentration of enemy troops were spotted, they could direct the fire of the Aequatian MG260E1 (MG70 GPMG) or the M2HB HMGs onto it.

Corporal Uhl Egermann watched one of his riflemen fidget with the blank adaptor screwed onto the muzzle of his G.2 rifle. Satisfied that the device was still secure, the rifleman settled back to resume watch on his sector. With the lights out and the soldiers knowing to stay back from the windows, the Plaatische men wouldn't give themselves away easily until firing commenced. Egermann had already plotted his fireteam's route back to the Three Section Rally Point. His MG.2 gunner had four of his magazines laid out next to him in a neat line, bipod extended and stock snug in his shoulder.

Engines off on all vehicles, a few birds chirped in the trees. Egermann's counterpart in Two Section watched a woodpecker hammer at a tree's bark to get at a few insects. Cpl. Rosenhopf watched his section leader duck back into a house after stringing a monofilament wire across the gate that secured the backyard's fence to a flashbang.

The hamlet known as Objective Fox to the Tolvans had few distinguishing features other than the two two-story buildings, the windmill, and being built on the intersection of Routes Black and Green. Polder fields were to both sides of the two routes, with only the northwestern field in fallow, covered with a knee-high crop that Egermann couldn't remember the name of, despite having grown up in a farming community not unlike the one he now garrisoned.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0718 Local Time

Captain Blair surveyed the distant hamlet as his company prepared to launch its assault. The scouts had reported the fields adjacent to the dyke were too sodden to traverse with vehicles of any kind so Blair had been forced to move to his alternate plan.

The bulk of the company would still advnce along the North-South dyke, however he had redeployed 2nd Platoon and tasked them with moving down the East-West dyke. He'd reinforced the secondary effort with the scouts to add a little punch.

Blair had decided to leave his three MGS vehicles behind since their 105mm guns were useless when they weren't firing real shells, after all MILES lasers couldn't blow holes in walls.

The fact that this was an exercise all but ensure his men would take heavy "losses" since they couldn't employ their 30mm chain guns or their various missile systems against the fortified defenders, but you had to train somehow.

Blair checked his watch one more time before lifting the mic and issuing his first orders. "This is Baker Six to all Baker elements, execute. Over."

With that nineteen TLAVs began moving towards the hamlet at nearly 50 kph. Several of the vehicles deployed smoke grenades to help mask their approach.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.19 Local Time

As their Tolvanic counterparts were more than well aware of, MILES gear did have its limitations. Baehr had expected the MGS to fire smoke against his positions, and as he watched the Tolvan main force advance up the polder road he realized that no one had informed his opponent as to the rules the Plaatzers used in their own mechanized wargames. He would do that himself to correct the failings of that unknown staff officer, as soon as he got the chance.

Baehr didn't know it, but the men who'd programmed the receivers on the TLAVs did. When his M2HB heavy machineguns opened fire on the TLAVs, their fire was ineffective and served only to alert the vehicle crews and passengers to the position of his heavy weapons. The loader on Gun Three clipped another belt to the one rapidly disappearing into the feedway of the Browning and tore open a third ammunition can, standing ready while the report of the weapon hammered at his ears inside the grain storage shack.

Simulating a meeting engagement, the Plaatzers weren't fully aware of the Tolvanic vehicles' capabilities. Such as how it was proof against 14.5mm HMG fire and thus the M2HBs could be expected to do little, despite their CP/44 armour piercing ammunition.
Some of the lasers were dispersed slightly by the smoke the Tolvans employed to mask their advance. This had the effect of making the fire that did penetrate that smoke seem wilder than it was. The "mop up" guns and Infantry remained silent until they had viable targets. The Plaatzer Infanteers would wait for the vehicles to come within a hundred-fifty meters before opening fire with their LAAWs.

2nd Platoon of Blair's company hadn't been detected yet, though the units guarding the flanks of Baehr's position were set to respond in the same way with HMG fire if applicable, then LAAWs once the "enemy" drew too close.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0720 Local Time

Blair watched the blooms of HMG fire coming from the hamlet. While the MILES signal of the M2 would easily "kill" a dismounting solider or soft vehicle like a Humvee, they were ineffective against his TLAVs. All the DeeVees (the hastily applied nickname for De Vliggenplaatish troops) were doing were giving away their MG positions. That was fine by him.

"Baker Six to Baker One, put some 30s on those Mike-Golfs. Over."

"Roger Baker Six. Over."

With that the four TLAVs of First Platoon took the now exposed MG nests under fire with M237 30mm autocannons. Had this have been a live fire engagement the DeeVees would be coming face to face with 30mm HE rounds at a rate of 75 per second per TLAV. But since this was an exercise all that hit them were harmless laser beams.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.20 Local Time

Loud shrieks penetrated the hammering reports of the M2HBs, and two guns fell silent. Gun Two and Gun Three were put out of action, the computer deciding that they'd received enough shrapnel damage from the M237s that they were not going to be feeding any more CP/44. The dead crew played according to SOP and lay back comfortably on the floor, disappearing from view behind their weapon, muzzle tilted upwards towards the sky.

One gunner shrugged apologetically to his fireteam leader as he worked earplugs into his ear canal to deaden the noise of the MILES gear. The Plaatzer JNCO radioed to Baehr that Gun Three was out of action, mop up gun still operational.

Gun One, meanwhile, relocated. It was set up in a corner of the pub to fire out the wide front double doors and dominate the juncture of Routes Green and Black, with a slight bias towards the South where the majority of the Tolvans seemed to be advancing. For the Plaatzer troops, who hailed from Anglo-Saxon or Nederlander backgrounds, "Tolvan" and "Tolvanic" were much less of a mouthful than "De Vliggenplaat" or "Plaatische" were for their counterparts. Therefore the Tolvans had yet to receive a nickname.

07.23 Local Time

With the TLAVs drawing nearer to the hamlet, they came within range of the Panzerfaust 3 in Baehr's platoon. The heavier weapon was part of the headquarters group, having replaced the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle previously used. Rosenhopf saw the antitank team dart out a side door of the headquarters, shielded by other buildings neatly laid out along the crossroads.

They ran, bent double, across the road. Stopping by a brick walled house, the loader stuck his head around the corner. A moment later he ducked around the corner, followed closely by the gunner. They reappeared at a gate in someone's long vacated backyard, as barely visible shapes behind the wooden slats. The loader peered between these slats, identifying one of the TLAVs to the gunner, who took the safe off his launcher, leaving his G.2 rifle on the ground by his side. The loader primed a smoke canister.

Eyeing their escape route, the loader hoped he'd not get hung up in the doorway, as the ammunition carrier was strapped tightly to his back to facilitate movement in the open - but previous experience showed it could be a pain in the ass during what the Plaatzers called FISH and CHIPS. Given the ease with which units of any size were cut off during FIBUA operations, it was unthinkable that the Infanteers would relinquish their ammunition load.

Shouldering the PzF-3, the gunner nodded slowly. If they were looking, a TLAV crewman would see a small gate on the south side of the village swing open, white painted wood distinct against the shrubbery-masked fence. Then he would see a launch signature.

The Koninlijke Landmacht fielded only the IT-600 and BKF-3 ("Bunkerfaust") warheads. These were used in conjunction with the "Dynarange" computerized sight, which incorporated a laser rangefinder. Due to the prevalence of LWRs on modern combat vehicles, use of the rangefinder was strongly discouraged. A particular type of subcalibre ammunition, identified as Training Ordnance 03A1, was loaded onto the Sight and Fire Control Unit securely gripped by the gunner. He pulled the trigger as the TLAV filled the appropriate range reticule, then heard the ignition of a smoke canister and saw it tossed infront of the gate. With Germanic thoroughness, his loader swung the gate closed as the gunner sprinted for the house.

Bashing his shoulder on the door, he was out of the way before any return fire could come down on his head. The loader followed a moment later, and the backyard was soon filled with a man-made green fog. Trotting through the house, they exited the front door and took up position in another building with a pair of Infanteers from Two Section.

OOC: Sorry about the delay.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0724 Local Time

"Baker Two-Two is MK."

Blair watched as the IVIS icon for Baker Two-Two went from "Active" to "Mission Killed". The MILES gear had determined that the TLAV's simulated armour had held up well enough to allow the dismount squad to "survive", but the vehicle was "dead" and shut down. Blair muttered a string of curses but wasn't overly surprised, in fact he was surprised it taken the DeeVees this long to kill one of his vehicles, they must not have had any ATGMs.

By now the leading TLAVs, minus Baker Two-Two had reached the outskirts of the hamlet and were dismounting their infantry. Now the fun began.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.24 Local Time

As the Tolvans dismounted their vehicles they were taken under fire by MG70 general-purpose machineguns. Unwilling to be knocked out of action quickly, the MG70s fired rapidly, tracking simulated rounds through any target that presented itself until the loaded belt ran dry and the machinegun team displaced to a different position to resume firing. To save the barrel, the gunners fired short bursts and ducked behind cover by the time they'd loaded the third belt.

From time to time, riflemen would pop up with a LAAW on their shoulder and fire it at a TLAV. As the Tolvans penetrated into the village they were likely to encounter and trip various boobytraps, in the form of smoke canisters and flashbangs.

Baehr let his NCOs conduct the engagement, monitoring their positions, ammunition and casualty states, and holding his reserve back. He slowly raised his head above a windowsill, binoculars at his eyes, surveying Route Green. He was surprised that the Tolvans hadn't moved around the grid-like nature of polder country to take his position from two sides, at the very least.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0725 Local Time

Blair was exceedingly unhappy at the fact that Second Platoon had not showed up yet. The rest of the company was dismounting under fire and those lazy bastards had yet to even engage.

Just as he was lifting his mic to raise them he heard the distinct rumble 30mm cannon fire from Route Green. Blair turned just enough to see the eight TLAVs roaring down the road popping smoke and firing cannons and coaxs into the hamlet.

Blair replaced his mic and muttered to his gunner instead, "Bout fucking time."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.27 Local Time

Blair's reinforcements assaulted directly into Three Section's positions. Corporal Egermann had his team hold their fire until the TLAVs were stationary, troops disembarking, then open up with what was called in the combat drill books a "Single Magazine Volley."

The MG.2 hammered off a sustained burst, then another. The gunner dropped into cover, reloading quickly and professionally. A small, sardonic smile was on the face of a "DeeVee" Infanteer as he popped up from behind a hedge in the garden with a LAAW perched on his shoulder. He triggered it towards a stationary TLAV and disappeared below concealment again. Once he'd made his way back into the house Egermann's unit occupied, the Korporaal frowned, noting his unit was now reloading at the same time.

In their eagerness to engage the Tolvans, they'd been too quick with their shots and had forgone the standard "alternating fire" method. Egermann thumbed the selector switch on his G.2 to automatic and fired five round bursts towards the Tolvans to cover his unit as they reloaded. He could hear the firing from the other half of Three Section, the GPMG's staccato bursts sounding distinct over the thudding thirty millimetre on the TLAVs.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0727 Local Time

Staff Sergeant Paul Oakes was laying in a ditch full of rain water and what he guessed was raw sewage. Oakes had been forced to dive into the stinking cesspool when his TLAV was "killed" by some sort of crew served rocket. A couple members of his squad lay prone on the ground near the vehicle, they were "dead". The remainder of his seven man section was spread out in th e ditch or the high grass adjacent to it. With the "death" of the LT and the Platoon Sgt. he'd found himslef in charge of Second Platoon in its attack.

Oakes had yet to fire a shot as the DeeVees had done an excellent job of denying him a decent target but sooner or later they'd get sloppy. No sooner has the thought formed than the firing on his platoon ceased.

Oakes immediately suspected thatt he DeeVees had neglected to properly stagger their fire and now their fire slacked tremendously as most of the men in his area reloaded.

Oakes triggered his mic and his AN/SQ-33 Personal Infantry Infantry radio began broadcasting on the Platoon Net.
"Third Squad, move out rally at the shed at my elleven o'clock. Second Squad and MG teams, suppress that large building at my two o'clock. First Squad hold in reserve. Move, move, move."

It was time to take this fight house to house.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.28 Local Time

Like all Plaatzer unit leaders, Korporaal Egermann carried a small whistle. Its design dated back to 1860. Once the Tolvans rose from the drainage ditch - it was a farming village, some... unclean elements were bound to be present in that runoff water - he snatched it from the chest pocket of his CIRAS armour vest and blew hard on it, twice. Short and sharp. His fireteam immediately disappeared out the back door, and he followed, reloading on the run.
The front door was boobytrapped with a orange smoke canister.

The other half-section element of Three Section was maintaining a steady base of fire with the MG70 GPMG and properly staggered semiautomatic fire from their G.2 rifles. The TLAVs were finding themselves constantly targeted by elusive figures behind fences, walls, and chest-high rows of shrubbery armed with LAAW launchers. Leutnant Baehr monitored the pressure on Three Section from his command position inside the pub, and waited for the Tolvans to press into the areas held by One and Two sections.

When Egermann and his subunit reached the Three Section fallback. Depressing the transmit toggle to talk to his counterpart in Delta fireteam, Egermann had to shout over the noise of small arms and automatic cannon blanks.

"Delta, Charlie at fallback position! Watching your back!"

"Delta" fireteam, receiving fire from the Tolvans as Oakes made his move, rolled green smoke canisters from the front windows and broke into a machinegun team and a rifle team. The machinegunners appeared in the back door and sprinted straight for the fallback, leaping over fences. No mean feat, given the weight of the GPMG, remaining ammunition, body armour, helmet, and load bearing gear they were burdened with. The rifle pair popped out a side door and were able to fire briefly at the Tolvan Infantrymen before succumbing quickly to the Tolvan's fire.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0728 Local Time

Oakes and Second Squad had kicked in the backdoor of the shed and were now using the windows to pour flanking fire on the retreating DeeVees. The rest of "his" platoon was moving to gain a foothold in the hamlet.

Meanwhile, the rest of Bravo Company had moved up and established firing positions in the ditches and hedge rows bordering the other side of town. They poured constant fire on the OPFOR and continued to probe for weak points to exploit. All the while the surviving TLAvs fired bursts of MG and autocannon fire at anything that moved.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.29 Local Time

Egermann watched the loader of Three Section's MG70 team tilt his head towards the screeching speaker on his shoulder, shrug visibly, and lay back on the grass just before the white picket fence bordering their fall-back position. The gunner had made it inside with his weapon before the quick-moving Tolvans had drawn an accurate bead on him.

Acquiring the silhouette of a Tolvanic soldier in his rifle's sight, Egermann pulled the trigger twice and felt the recoil of the blank cartridges push the stock into his shoulder. He sent a man out the back to kick slats out of the backyard's fence to clear an escape route towards the center of the village if required.

Although outnumbered tremendously, One and Two Sections were ably resisting the Tolvan's probes. Their opposition had however managed to gain a firm foothold into the village along the areas facing Route Black. A surviving TLAV was engaged by the Panzerfaust 3 team, who then fell back towards the platoon headquarters building. As the gunner burst through the doorway, Baehr was receiving a message from Egermann over the PRR.

"- fucked! Just over half strength now, a lot of pressure on me over here, over."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0730 Local Time

Oakes' platoon contiunued to push into the town from their foothold on the eastern side of town. His losses were mounting, forcing him to commit his attached engineer squad and scout section, as infantry to keep on the pressure. The plan was to "squeeze" the OPFOR between his platoon and the rest of the company.

On the south side of town Lt. Pete Finch's Third Platoon, along with an engineer squad were low crawling through another one of the now infmaous "shit ditches" that surronded the town. The company had been unable to get into the town through brute force, now they'd envelope the DeeVees and drown them in a hail of gunfire.

After a few minutes, Third Platoon was in postition, with clear fields of fire on several occupied buildings. On Finch's order the platoons opened fire. Thirty-eight G102 carbines, five MG146 SAWs, and one MG260E1 opended fire raking the OPFOR positions with MILES bursts.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.31 Local Time

"See, this is why I never buy you nice things."

Two Section's NCOIC looked up to see his MG.2 gunner kneeling below the level of the windowsill he'd been using as a loophole and fingered the rent in his combat trousers again. The edge of the bellows cargo pocket had caught on some sort of protrusion in a doorframe and torn back, exposing the untanned skin of his upper leg.

"Just think. If I'd been wearing a little black dress I wouldn't have caught on that."

Finch's command had managed to fracture One and Two Section's positions. Scattered between buildings, they had insufficient numbers to defend the village properly and instead of choosing to take up positions in the centre of the objective, easily encircled, Baehr had spread his men out over the village. Staying true to their training, they'd tried to be as mutually supporting as possible, which had the side effect of placing them in positions on the map that, if plotted, would look like little oblongs.

Three Section had now broken contact again and withdrawn to the platoon headquarters building. Now strongly garrisoned, the structure became a strongpoint. In the area once held by Egermann and his men, the occassional nonlethal boobytrap flashed or billowed smoke into the air. The Lieutenant committed his reaction force, and the PaIW's engine came to life and propelled the vehicle into the street. The gunner crouched behind his weapon and took the Tolvans under fire, suppressing them while elements of Two Section withdrew towards the platoon headquarters. The majority of One Section and a fighting pair from Two Section were too occupied with preparing for a close assault by the Tolvans to be able to withdraw.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0732 Local Time

Upon sighting the PaIW roaring down the road, Third Platoon tooke cover wherever they could. Nonoe of the men bothered to waste ammo firing on the APC, instead they reported the contact to the company CP and stayed down.

Back at the CP an AT Team rose from their fighting hole and prepped to fire. The gunner lifted the big FGM-330A "Halberd" ATGM launcher to his shoulder. It took him just a second to center the charging APC in the sight of his CLU, once the IR seeker locked on and he got the satisfying tone and depressed the firing switch. The simulated missile "launched" with a flash of pyrotechnics from the back of the launch tube and a poweful MILES pulse blanketed the APC's area.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.32 Local Time

Had the PaIW been further down the road by as little as two meters, it would have been safe behind a building from the simulated FGM-330A missile. The vehicle's yellow "I'm Dead" lights began to blink, and the gunner dropped inside his hatch to lounge in the troop bay.

The momentary distraction had allowed Two Section and three men from One Section to withdraw into what was now referred to as Headquarters House. The remaining Plaatzer troops gave ground only grudgingly, twice being "killed" in yards or alleyways by rapidly pursuing Tolvans. Other fighting pairs of the widely dispersed sections opted to battle it out room to room inside the houses of Objective Fox, and made it reckless for the Tolvans to bypass them by taking the time to take aimed shots at any Tolvan who exposed himself.

As the last of the platoon not present in Headquarters House failed to report in, Lieutenant Baehr quickly reorganized his force before the Tolvans pressed in any closer. He detailed the three men of One Section to reinforce his Panzerfaust 3 antitank team and deployed them in the one story building opposite Headquarters House, on the far side of Route Black as it passed through the village. Before sprinting across the street under cover of smoke and suppressive fire from the MG70 GPMGs, they burdened themselves with extra rockets and ammunition.
He detailed the remaining six men of Two Section to retake the two-story building to the south-east of Headquarters House. This was designated Tall Man, with the one story building covering the two from across Route Black.

When Two Section stacked up along a wall ready to assault across the road into Tall Man, Baehr posted himself by an unbarricaded exterior door and prepared to fling it open. Denied targets for the moment, the fire had slackened. In the back of his mind, Baehr knew that his platoon would have been neutralized long before if only MILES gear could let the heavy weapons of the TLAVs shoot through walls.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0735 Local Time

Blair and Lt. Grady, CO of First Platoon, were crouched in a ditch looking at a map of the hamlet. The plastic chart was covered in green and red grease pencil markings denoting the positions of Baker Company and the known DeeVee units. Most of the OPFOR had been cleared from outskirts of town and their fire was nowhere near as intense as it had been. His own losses had been heavy but he afford to take for more losses than his badly outnumbered counterpart. The end was near.

Lt. Finch had the large house that appeared to be the DeeVees last major stronghold in sight. He and his men had spent the last five minutes tradings hots with entrenched defenders and moving down the street, stopping to clear each building along the way. Most of the hamlet was clear and he'd seen more than a dozen "dead" DeeVee soldiers along the way, they couldn't have many left.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.32:30 Local Time

"Go!"

Two Section piled out the door, the lead man fixing his attention on Tall Man, watching the door and windows he was very rapidly approaching. The second man out the door was looking up Route Green, and the third man out the door saw Lieutenant Finch's men at the far end of the street. By the time he thought to trade shots with them, he was inside the house and the tail man was slamming the door shut and barricading it with a tipped over table dragged from the front room.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.35 Local Time

Redeployed, Two Section placed their MG.2 in a window and began draining magazines of blank ammunition again. Most of the "DeeVees" were moving with their mouths open, both to draw more air when they inhaled and to lessen the effect ever-present automatic and semiautomatic fire would have on their hearing in close quarters.

Headquarters House also put Finch under fire with an MG70, forcing his soldiers to move in quick dashes across open ground and shelter behind buildings, slowing their advance. Baehr's medics barricaded the rear door that led to their field aid post behind the structure and fought as riflemen now that the "strongpointed" defence had no immediate need of under-armour casualty evacuation.

The antitank team inside their one story building checked that all of their doors were secure and held their fire, waiting to be directly threatened before engaging. The PzF-3 team was hoping a TLAV would enter the town to help suppress Headquarters House or Tall Man.

Baehr ordered a cease-fire over the PRRs, and weapons fire from the Plaatzer Infanteers stopped immediately. Gunners took the chance to load a fresh magazine or belt into their weapons, and riflemen busied themselves with reloading empty magazines from the boxes of stripper clips most kept in a general purpose pouch on their webbing.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0738 Local Time

The Tolvanic infnatry continued to move slowly, clearing each house individually. While this approach took more time, it also helped to minimize losses. The TLAVs had mostly gone silent as most of the OPFOR infantry had been driven from the hamlet's outskirts and Blair had no desire to deploy his armour into the tight streets.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.42 Local Time

With all of his forces concealed in three hastily fortified buildings, Leutnant Baehr was reduced to waiting for his opponent to come into range. Their methodical houseclearing eventually brought targets back into arcs easily engaged from the structures they held. At the moment, the Plaatzers were holding only the centre of the village, the surviving Infanteers concealed in three buildings.

Occasional shots from the Plaatische soldiers were taken at Tolvans who exposed themselves. To budge the "Dee-Vees" from their strong positions, the Tolvans would be forced to conduct an assault and engage in a room by room fight to clear each strongpoint.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0745 Local Time

Blair had relocated his CP into a small house just 100 meters fro mthe hamlet's center. Baker Company held the entire hamlet save the three buildings at its center. A quick count of the "dead" DeeVees compared to the ORBAT intel he had been given led him to believe he was being faced by no more than 20-25 hostiles, but they were holed in a cluster of fortified buildings.

As Blair looked over his maps he was most unhappy, had this been a live fire exercise he'd have long cleared this shithole of a town.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.50 Local Time

Arenstorff sighed and lowered his binoculars. The unit commanders were standing on a platform built on a neighbouring dyke that rose a full ten meters into the air ontop of a dyke that was already five meters high - a heady height indeed.

The Tolvans had since been provided with warm tea, and a mobile field kitchen was preparing a respectable breakfast for the Infanteers of both sides. Tea, coffee, pancakes, bacon, and sausage. And, of course, the ever-present Koninlijke Landmacht staple; hashbrowns.

"Well Colonel, I'd say you've successfully completed the exercise. MILES prevents us from seeing the full effect of your heavy weapons. Some of these buildings are very stout, like the pub and the two story structure Baehr's fortified. They can resist your automatic cannons.

"But a ATGM or one of those assault gun TLAVs, not a chance. Shall we end the exercise or would you like your Infantrymen to have a final opportunity to work on their room clearing this morning?"

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0750 Local Time

Church checked Baker Company's status via the IVIS network installed on TLAVs before responding.

"Much as Captain Blair might like a bit of MOUT practice, I think we've adequately demonstrated the capabilities of the TLAV Motorised Force."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
07.51 Local Time

"If we had the newer system in use we would be able to use the vehicle's weapons to greater effect. The Panzerfaust Three has a subcalibre low-velocity paint marker that visually denotes an impact, in conjunction with the standard MILES-type laser. The newer system, for the Infantry, also has packets of red ribbon to denote kills instead of the little speakers that scream at you."

He paused. "There's also a capability to set the system to acknowledge wounds. Medics are able to treat casualties as they would in real life, then a referee is able to use the 'god gun' to tell the system that the casualty has been treated."

Draining his mug, he lifted a radio handset. "All callsigns, all callsigns. This is India Romeo. EndEx, I say again, EndEx. Out."

"I'd still like to take your vehicles down to the target range and see what the thirty millimetre and ATGMs can do to some live targets. It's a bit different than usual, you can deploy mounted in platoon and drive around hammering at the targets, they're set up in a sort of battle formation you could attack from the, flank, for example.

"Mostly for the cameras, you understand. Personally I can't wait to replace the PaIW, piece of shit has been around since the late fifties."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre
0751 Local Time

"Of course I think this time we'll give some of the boys from Alpha Company a go at it."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
09.21 Local Time

With 'A' Company 2/15th in place on the Armoured Vehicle Weapons Range at Leusderhavelte CMTC, Arenstorff checked his watch, standing beside Church.

"Media should be here in less than ten minutes. Since the recent increase in military spending is the largest expenditure of budget since the 2006 expansion of the healthcare system, the civilian media will be here. We've vetted the reporters - so at least they know not to call the TLAV a tank."

The two officers looked out over gently rolling, grassed ground with a few copses of light woods. At points with a good view, platforms had been constructed, painted a bright orange, to allow observers to watch the exercise from safety. Old Gaullic AMX-30 and -32 tanks, most featuring at least one hole in every piece of armour plate, were arrayed in something resembling a tactical formation on the advance. A few lighter vehicles, including more than a few PaIWs, were also arrayed on the field.

"Captain Sutherland will brief A Coy on the range, with your permission. Our military journal wants to interview you and the Brayton Arms representatives on the TLAV after we're done here. Sorry to spring it on you, it was originally scheduled for tomorrow."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
0921 Local Time

"The briefing will be fine Major. Captain Banks is my most experienced cmpany commander. I've detailed the AT Platoon to tag along and light up some targets for the press. Of course our production license with AMI doesn't allow the export of BGM-225 you'll see in use today. As far the interview goes I don't forsee any major issues there."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
09.21 Local Time

"Our relations with AMI are steadily improving, from what I hear. For you to have been brought in to show off the TLAV, Colonel, I suspect we're already heart-set on buying it. I think perhaps the Aequatians would like to sell us some ATGMs."

Captain Sutherland joined his counterpart's command, waiting a few moments until he had everyone's attention. He began by pointing out at the field.

"These vehicles have suddenly smashed through the reconnaissance screen and are approaching your unit. They will deploy smoke and there are a number of pop-up man-type targets screening them from any dismounted Infantry. You will begin from here, firing only downrange as you advance, and end the run by the blue marker flags. Be aware that the lane is five hundred meters wide and a kilometer and a half deep. Questions?"

At 09.30 precisely, the media arrived. The Brayton Arms representatives were immediately sought out by the military journalists, who hoped to get talking head shots backed by TLAVs engaging targets. Being Plaatzers, they were disciplined, asking questions one after the other in order of seniority and giving their subjects ample time to respond.

"What is the main armament of the TLAV? Is it fully stabilized? Is Brayton Arms able to manufacture a turret to Plaatzer specifications if required?"

"What are the terrain limitations of the vehicle?"

"How much ammunition is the mortar carrier capable of carrying, in both 81 and 120 millimetre formats?"

"Will the Kriegsmacht be able to refit the TLAV with its own battlenet systems? What production rights do you offer - can they be built domestically or will they have to be bought and transported from Tolvan?"

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
0921 Local Time

The Brayon Arms rep, Drew Coles, answered the questions with ease of a professional salesman.

"In Tolvanic service the TLAV is fitted with the M205 30mm gun, however the turrent is designed for modularity allowing alternate weapons sustems to be mounted. The TLAV is designed with both full stabilization and state of the art fire control systems."

"The TLAV is fully amphibous and has excellent off road mobility. While no wheeled vehicle can match a tracked vehicle for cross country capability, the TLAV's speed on solid ground and much lower operating costs more that offsets this."

"The 120mm variant can carry 90 rounds and the 81mm variant can carry 135 rounds. We also offer a 90mm variant with 120 rounds."

"The TLAV can accomodate a wide range of electronics to meet the needs of any force. As for the sale of production rights those must be approved by Parliament and I am not at liberty to comment on that at this time."

"Any other questions?"

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
09.32 Local Time

Frank Schoenaerts, a Reservist who acted as a journalist for the Kriegsmacht's in-house journal, flipped to a new page in his notepad as the civilian journalists were closing theirs.

"Herr Coles, your marketing makes mention of applique armour packages capable of defeating twenty-five millimetre cannon fire and RPGs. Does this uparmouring protect against only PG-7 and PG-7V, or will it also protect against PG-7VR rockets?

"Also, you mention a nine man capacity, total. Is it possible to fit eight soldiers inside in battle order only, or will the Landmacht be forced to reorganize its Motorized Infantry formations?"

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
0932 Local Time

"That depends on the applique package mounted. The standard kit consists of additional physical armour and is primarily geared toawrds stopping autocannon rounds, it is vulnerable to RPG fire. However, the slat armour system and the new Mark 17 "Snowstorm" ERA packages are rated to stop all known RPG-7 warheads with a 90% success rate. The "Snowstorm" package is even rated at 75% or better against most light to medium ATGMs."

"As far as dismount strength is concerned the TLAV-IFV only accomodates six dismounts and three crewmen. The APC variant features a two man crew and ten dismounts at expense of a a smaller caliber gun and less ammunition stowage."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
09.32 Local Time

"Would Brayton Arms be willing to sell Snowstorm to the Kriegsmacht?" Schoenaerts took a quick note and his pencil froze on the paper. He glanced back up at Coles, while the other reporters were currently fixating their attention on A Company 2/15.

"I don't have any information on the APC variant of the TLAV. Would you be able to tell me what it is equipped with, in terms of weapons? Can applique armour still be applied to the APC? What is the danger radius of a Snowstorm ERA plate? Will it be safe to fight alongside the vehicle when dismounted?" He continued with a brief explanation: "Previous experiments with applique armours on the PaIW included ERA, but this was deemed too dangerous to dismounts. It was very early generation reactive armour though."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
0932 Local Time

"Snowstorm is currently classeed a Tier II technology. As such its sale requires approval from the Parliamentary Subcommittee on Arms Sales and the Prime Minister."

"As for the TLAV-APC, as designed it carries a M400 Remote Weapons Station that can carry one 8.5mm coax MG and one a main gun of up to 20mm. The system has a internal ammunition feed so the gunner doesn't have to expose himself to reload, total ammunition capacity is 240 rounds of 20mm and 1,200 rounds of 8.5mm. All TLAV variants are fully compatiable with Snowstorm, but I'm afraid the exact performance data is classified. I can tell you that Snowstorm is much safer for dismounts than conventional ERA, but I can't comment further on that subject."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
09.33 Local Time

"Hopefully that committee will approve sales then. Sounds like the General Staff will have to decide on reorganizing rifle units either way, here's hoping they go with the bigger gun."

[OOC: Run A Coy through the range and we'll see where to go after that.]

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
0940 Local Time

Captain Jacob Banks watched as the last of Able Company moved into its prearranged starting positions. In addition to the company's fourteen IFVs, three MGS vehicles, and three AT vehicles would be running the course as well. When all the twenty TLAvs were in postion Banks raised the Range Officer on the radio.

"Range Control, Able Six - We are in position and ready to execute at your command."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
09.40 Local Time

The RSO, or Range Safety Officer in full, was one Warrant Officer Campbell. He checked to ensure the media were on the carefully placed stands that provided a good view of the action but kept them out of any likely line of fire and glanced downrange at the waiting AMX-30 and -32 tanks, a handful of AMX-10Ps, and a full dozen PaIWs of various models.

Campbell turned to the crew in the Range Command Station and held up his left hand, fingers outspread. He closed them into his fist one by one while speaking into the radio handset.

"Able Six, Range Romeo. On your own time, engage at will, over."

His little finger joined the others closed down next to his palm and one of the operators in the RCP flipped a switch. Downrange of A Company, a pair of AMX-30s launched smoke grenades from the 45mm projectors on their turret faces, as did two of the AMX-32s.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
0941 Local Time

The smoke really didn't make targeting the hulks any more difficult because all the TLAVs were fitted with FLIR sights. Even though the targets weren't as hot as live tanks, they still showed up in contrast to the background.

Banks had decided to put on a show so instead of engaging as quickly and efficiently as doctrine called for he'd rain plenty of punishment on the targets before moving on. The IFVs opned up first spraying 30mm AP rounds, with a few HE rounds thrown in for effect, on the targets. Several TLAVs even let loose lengthly bursts of 8.5mm MG fire into the thinner skinned targets. After several seconds the first MGS opened up. The big M193 105mm gun was better suited for infantry support but tank killing was a secondary mission. One of the MGSs, call sign Werewolf Two, fired a MPAT (Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank) round right into the turrent of one of the scrap PaIWs, effectively disintergrating it. Another MGS, Werewolf One, fired a APFSDS round into one of the AMX-30s. As the bulk of the company paseed the first series of targets the AT Platoon loosed three BGM-225 ATGMs into three tanks that purposely left mostly untounched by the earlier fusilade.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
09.42 Local Time

The Tolvans had correctly estimated their audience; the majority of the press didn't care that the engagement lasted as long as it had and been as spectacular as it was for the sake of showmanship. Those who didn't care knew, but were appreciating the photo-friendly display.

A number of the targets, though not all, had up to two dozen hotplates stacked up in the engine compartment in an attempt to increase the heat signature in a quasi-realistic manner. This would not be visible from the front, as the bulk of the vehicle would block the signature - as it would on an actual combat vehicle - but as some of the targets were at oblique angles to the Tolvan company advancing down the range, it provided their thermal imagers a genuine signature.

Even conventional smoke was capable of degrading the performance of infrared equipment, but at the short ranges the Tolvans were engaging at, especially against stationary targets, this was highly unlikely to be significant. As the Tolvans passed their just-engaged targets, thunderflashes detonated on the ground around the vehicles and their targets, sometimes inside those targets. One simulated mortar fire, the other simulated ammunition cooking off. Black smoke boiled from the engine compartments of a few of the hit AMX-30s.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
0943 Local Time

Sometime during the run Coles had joined Arenstorff and Church near Church's jeep.

"As you can see Major, the MGS variant is fully capable of firing on the move. Each vehicle has a capacity for thirty 105mm rounds and 2,000 8.5mm MG rounds. Currently we offer a MPAT, HE, HESH, APFSDS, canister, and smoke round for export. Standard load out is twelve each of MPAT and APFSDS, with six HESH rounds. This course can be varied in accordance with doctrine, ROEs, and the tactical situation."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
09.44 Local Time

Arenstorff watched an MGS system carefully for a minute before responding.

"What about vehicle stability when firing the gun ninety degrees from the vehicle's fore-aft centreline? The TLAV might be a bit narrow for that sort of recoil pushing against the top of her center of gravity - but you've solved that issue, it seems, or just insist that the gun only fire forwards and aft. Would you mind me asking how you've solved that problem?"

To provide a solid test for the TLAV's combat sensors and a pleasant surprise for the vehicle's gunners at this relatively short range, one of the AMX-32s was in a hull-down position, equipped with a laser warning receiver and a DREB smoke system. The DREB, when activated by the LWR, would fire off eight multispectral smoke canisters, blocking infrared and laser targeting of the vehicle across the entirety of its frontal arc.

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
0944 Local Time

Werewolf Three was the nearest MGS to the hull down tank when it deployed smoke. Unfortunately the vehicle didn't have one of the new proximity fused demo rounds so a standard MPAT round was fired into the billowing cloud. The round was unlikely to hit, but that wasn't the intention, if it worked right the round would land directly on the berm in front of the tank. Had it been manned the resulting shock would wreack havoc with its FCS and buy time for the AT vehicles to fire a BGM-225 ATGM into the cloud. The missile, which was fitted with a proximity fuse, flew into the cloud at blazing speed and detonated above the hulk's "engine" sending an EFP (explosively forged penetrator) burning through its thin top armour.

Coles spoke again. "As you can see Major, the MGS can fire at a 90 degree angle on level ground, however it is recommended on broken ground or on a side slope of more than 15 degrees or so."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
09.45 Local Time

The engine compartment of that AMX-32 contained four hotplates and a car battery to power the lot of them, and the shaped charge of the BGM-225 upset that lot rather badly, turning it into a molten pile of slag. Though more delicate than a tank engine, there was of course no question of the BGM-225's ability to wreak havoc.

A pair of cameras were focused on Werewolf Three when it engaged the AMX, and the footage of the antitank vehicle launching a missile through the oily brown DREB smoke made for good viewing, the hole that the ATGM punched through the obscuring smoke being an interesting thing to see, and a flash of light behind the DREB 'fogbank' pleasing the talking heads.

"That should be all right then, if we find a doctrinal space for the MGS. We'll have to reorganize significantly regardless." Arenstorff gestured towards the rolling ground of De Vliggenplaat beyond the Pantserwaffenbaan. "Not many mountains or even large hills here regardless."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
0945 Local Time

"In Tolvanic service the MGS is primarily used in the assault gun role for infantry support. We prefer to leave the AT role to the ATGM carriers and out man-portable ATGMS."

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
09.46 Local Time

"Yes, if we were to do the same that would negate some of the restrictions on the MGS's mobility. The Koninlijke Landmacht has thus far preferred self-propelled breech-loading mortars in the assault gun role, we have a 160mm example dating back to 1960 or so."

[OOC: Wrap up the range time infront of the cameras as you see fit and TG me on where you'd prefer this to go next. Apologies for the delay.]

Leusderhavelte Combat Manoeuvre Training Centre: Pantserwaffenbaan
0946 Local Time

Able Company finished off the remaining six targets with the same devastating level of overkill as the first couple sets. Once they were satisfied all the hulks were adequately destroyed they move off the range towards a stagin area that located rather close to a group of reporters and spectators.

Coles addressed Arenstorff again. "I'm sure Colonel Church had Captain Banks out on a bit of the show, but I think the TLAV's full capabilities are quite apparent."

"The Schloss", thirty kilometers outside Zutgen.
14.27 Local Time, three days since the demonstration on the Pantserwaffenbaan

After "A" Company's demonstration on the Combat Vehicle Weapons Range, three days had been spent together by Arenstorff's and Church's commands. While the latter's troops taught the former's soldiers how to operate the TLAV and its myriad of systems, the officers were familiarized with the vehicle and then underwent a number of discussions hosted in a large hall of the Schloss, which was a local military headquarters and training centre.

Tactical methodology was changed to take advantage of the capability of the automatic cannon and the TLAV's thicker armour, culminating in a series of paper exercises that showed the dramatic increase in cross-country mobility, survivability, and fire capability over the obviously obsolete PaIW. Exercise Able Forge 19 continued as companies trained jointly together in various tactical exercises, ranging from individual sections running through battle drills with their more powerful combat vehicles to full company assaults and defences. The "Tolvan LAV" was well liked, though the reorganization of the rifle sections forced upon Arenstorff's command resulted in quite a few soldiers who were regrouped into a "Light Group" and took it upon themselves to attempt to operate as a recce group with a few upgunned G-Wagens and Landrovers acquired from the Schloss's motorpool.

Meanwhile, it was down to the selling abilities of Mr. Coles and the glowing endorsements of Arenstorff's battalion to convince the Koninlijke Landmacht to acquire the vehicle in quantities sufficient to replace the PaIW and associated variants. This would take some time, calculating numbers exactly, projected spare part requirements, and talks were underway with Brayton Arms about who would manufacture which component, where, royalty fees due, and the like.

While this process was ongoing, platoons were rotated onto furlough one by one, a Tolvan and a Plaatische unit going on leave at the same time. This was done so that the Tolvans would have ready access to someone who spoke the local language and could bail them out of misunderstandings. A few fast friends were made, the Plaatische being a predominantly friendly people.

"The Schloss", thirty kilometers outside Zutgen.
1430 Local Time, three days since the demonstration on the Pantserwaffenbaan

Coles and Kelly, the representative from the Foreign office, stepped out of the car the Plaatische government had provided them. Now that the myriad demonstrations and exercises were concluded it was time to do business. Coles normally would have worked alone, but having Kelly brought its own advantages, the Government was prepared to persuade the Plaatische government to purchase the TLAV by throwing in some additional surplus equipment at bargain basement prices.

"The Schloss"
14.30 Local Time

Once on the grounds of the Schloss, the Tolvans were directed to an ornate lobby populated by men in harshly functional combat uniforms or the flashier walking out uniforms. A blonde, rather decorative but unfortunately rather vapid as well was acting as a receptionist and directed the two upstairs via a spiral staircase. They were met at the top by Arenstorff, whose peaked cap was tucked under his left arm.

"Hello again gentlemen. I think this might be the opportunity you've been waiting for. Allow me to introduce Lieutenant Colonel Dieter Franck, the aide to the Quartermaster-General."

Franck smiled in welcome, clad in Number Two Dress uniform as Arenstorff was. His peaked cap was resting on a table through a pair of double oaken doors. They stood on ages-old checkerboard tiles, on a landing at the top of the staircase that now served as a small waiting area before the two double oaken doors that led into the tower's topmost room, now a meeting hall with quite the view of the Plaatzer countryside.

"I must apologize in advance for the Quartermaster-General. He is the last of his breed and he knows it. Direct your discussion at me but be sure to make eye contact with him. His retirement is two weeks away, and His Majesty has already approved the purchase of the TLAV, with some modifications, which you will be presented with here.

"The Quartermaster-General is an uncle of His Majesty, and was assigned his fortunately harmless post by His Majesty's father before a 1950s proclamation that forbade nepotism in any form. Prior to this, it was a prohibition of nepotism in any sort of combat unit, which excluded the Quartermaster-General's office. He is... not entirely there, much of the time. Should he instruct you to do something, carry on as you were, he will forget his instructions to you in a moment."

OOC: Lightning fried my PC, I'll get an IC post up once I get my new computer set up later this week.

"The Schloss"
1430 Local Time

Coles shook the two officer's hands before speaking. "Of course, I've had quite a bit of experience in such matters in my career. One doesn't work in sales for long without acquiring a certain skill at such matters. Lt. Col. asked to relay his apologies for his tardiness, he has been detained overseeing the loading of his equipment for the return trip. He will join us as soon as possible."

[OOC: Just going to bop it ahead a little bit here, hope you don't mind, as it required a slight godmoding of your character.]

"The Schloss"
14.45 Local Time

"Ah, Colonel. Welcome." Arenstorff smiled a familiar grin, while Franck's was an inviting expression that put at ease anyone he used it on. Shaking hands with Lieutenant Colonel Church, Franck repeated his spiel about the Quartermaster General.

"So Colonel, what would you think of a TLAV with a 35mm in the turret and a twin-cell ATGM launcher on the left side?" He glanced at Coles. "That's what the KL will be requesting, by the by."

The doors burst open and a corpulent shape trailed by a half-dozen aides left rapidly with machinegun-quick Plaatische echoing against the landing's arched ceiling. Arenstorff and Franck saluted reflexively and as the retinue disappeared down the curving staircase, Franck sighed.

"That would have been the Quartermaster General, gentlemen. He gives his regards but fears that he's been summoned away on important business." Franck's eyes flashed the lack of respect he felt for his superior and then returned to their normal benign blue.

"No matter, and no concern. Tell me what you can do for us. Shall we sit? Mister Coles, begin any time you're ready."

"The Schloss"
1445 Local Time

Coles passed out a number of booklets full of specs, charts, and glossy photos of the TLAV in action. Once the Plaatische had had achance to breifly flip through their brochures Coles began his sales pitch. He'd delivered the speech dozens of times and could practically deliver it in his sleep.

"Gentlemen, the TLAV offers an unprecedented balance of both tactical and strategic mobility, coupled with considerable firepower, excellent survivability, and unmatched versatility. As you can see there are more than a dozen variants of the TLAV available and the chassis lends itself to easy development and production of new models as needed."

Coles went for quite some time enumerating on the TLAV's service record, capabilities, and cost points.

Finally after nearly fifteen minutes he wound down the opening speech. "Are there any other questions?"

"The Schloss"
14.57 Local Time

"An outstanding vehicle, Mister Coles. Time and time again we have seen how it outperforms the PaIW in every regard: which is to be expected, of course, but makes our job just that much easier. Especially after A Coy's demonstration on the range for the cameras."

Franck stood, walking around the table to the projector, flipping open a folder as he walked. He loaded the projector with slides and the lights automatically dimmed as the images appeared on the one blank piece of wall in the room - the rest of the room was bare stone covered in framed citations and decorations, and more than one Regimental Colour hung from the walls.

Currently the line drawing of the TLAV turret the Koninlijke Landmacht wanted on their vehicles was bracketed between the colours of Princess von Teschia's Own Dragoon Guards, who were on deployment in the colony of Kaspembe, and those of the 32nd Royal Horse Artillery, who normally shared barracks with Arenstorff's command, the PzH-2000 SPHs dwarfing the PaIW vehicles.

"This is the proposed turret. Firstly, the primary ordnance is now a thirty-five millimeter automatic cannon, a copy of the Bushmaster III 35/50 used on our CV9035s. This weapon is forty calibres long and accepts the same ammunition types as the CV9035 Mark Three that we use - for reasons I don't need to expand upon, this greatly appeals to the Koninlijke Landmacht.

"Here we see a twin-cell antitank guided missile launch box. Currently, we plan to use the EuroSpike missile in this role but it would be possible to accommodate the latest two generation ATGMs from Aequatian Military Industries. We understand that Brayton Arms and the Tolvanic military has strong relations with AMI. Our own dealings with AMI have been nothing less than stellar."

He switched slides.

"This what we want to do to the vehicle to improve its mine resistance. Otherwise, the hull remains unchanged. It would be preferable that the TLAV be able to carry eight dismounts instead of six, but that would require a lengthening of the chassis and thus completely new production lines, which would likely boost costs unacceptably."

The next slide displayed a Motorized Infantry regiment's requirements in the TLAV family. Self propelled mortars, antitank vehicles, air defence vehicles, a large complement of IFVs, and a smaller complement of general-purpose vehicles with the regiment's support company including the need for eight recovery and engineering vehicles. Nearly all of the combat vehicles had redesigned turrets to meet Plaatische requirements. Franck looked Coles in the eyes.

"Can Brayton Arms manufacture the new turrets as we require, provide us with the number of vehicles we require, provide support in the form of training to the military in maintenance and repair, as well as the same level of support in setting up local industries to produce spare parts for the TLAV, rebuild damaged TLAVs, and eventually build their own TLAVs under a domestic production license?"

With his hand down by his side, nobody would see the gentle press of Franck's thumb that caused the projector to whir and display another slide that framed Franck's question in terms of budgeting, payment schedules, force capabilities, and all the other accounting minutiae that sat behind all machines of war.

"Most of the requested variants already exist in Tolvanic service, so developing modified designs to meet your requirements will not be particularly difficult."

Coles glanced at some notes before going on.

"As far as opening production lines in De Vliggenplaat, I forsee no difficulties there. Of course you will understand that we typically require the initial runs to be carried out by Brayton Arms plants."

"The Schloss"
15.00 Local Time

"Of course. This would also allow for rapid delivery - good for the Koninlijke Landmacht, even looks good in the media. Can you provide an estimate on how long it would take to produce the modified TLAVs?"

"The Schloss"
1500 Local Time

"I'm by no means an engineer but I was informed prior to leaving that spool time for the production lines will be minimal. While the Tolvanic Army completed its run nearly three years ago, we just closed completed a run of 100 vehicles for Tolvanic Marine Corps and another 200 for a few smaller export contracts. Of course developing the required modifications will take time. I loathe to give estimates this early in the process, but I would hope to have the first regiment kitted out within three months, the full force in area of twelve months. Brayton Arms is after all a rather large company with multiple production sites suitable to this project."

"The Schloss"
15.01 Local Time

"Incredible, Mister Coles. While I can't give you the production orders myself, you understand our requirements and all of our questions have been answered most satisfactorily. I think this would conclude our business for the day - Brayton Arms can expect to receive their orders within a day or two, and I look forward to seeing you again. Gentlemen."

OOC: Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I think this could conclude the RP, we will discuss tech-spec for the "TPLAV" via TG or e-mail and arrange the rest of it. Been a pleasure, thanks for your patience.

OOC: Sounds good to me.

"The Schloss"
1501 Local Time

Coles tshook hands with the assembled officers in turn beofer speaking. "It has been a pleasure gentlmen, I will form Home Office to begin preparing for the necessary production runs."