NationStates Jolt Archive

Four Shadows slipped through the trees in a forest in some far away country. The Battlehawk Intellignece service had confirmed intel that a terrorist cell was meeting in the countryside of this country. Because of the fragile nature the newly formed unit had been sent in. With no way to identify them or their support as members of the battlehawk military, the Republic of the Battlehawk could deal with threats without being incriminated.

The Team arrieved at the meeting site. There must have been nearly 50 terrorists there, all gathered inside a circle of jeep like vehicles. The team moved into position...

<60 Minutes Later>

The Mission was done, the terror threat neutralized. The Shadows could see their extract, a specially modified Blackhawk Helicoptor, approaching their position in a few minutes they were aboard and heading home.

OOC: Ok, I need someone to be the country, you can shoot down the Blackhawk if you want, but note it's been modified to be more stealthy, my team will surive and have to try to escape another way. Also note they wear not insignia or anything and neither does the chopper, so they can't be traced back to the Battlehawk.

OOC: I guess that's me.

IC:
Imperial Arispace,
Illiyriania Province,
Western New Chalcedon.

"I'm telling you, Alex. The satellite spotted it!"

"Yeah, well, I don't. So care to give me a grid reference, Nick? Or am I flying blind here?"

An audible sigh came over the speaker. "Fine, fine. It was somewhere in the vicinity of 48,53 - at least fifteen minutes ago."

"Fifteen MINUTES? And you want me to find it? Why me, why me?" The last was with an eye-rolling toward the sky.

"Fine. I'll try to find your little bogey. Happy, Nick?"

"Ecstatic."

The Eurofighter Typhoon relled over and opened up the throttle, diving for the ground in the hopes of finding something out of the ordinary.

Fifth Bureau Headquarters
Novoa Galata, Constantinopolis Secundus, New Chalcedon.

Yevlena Parnassia was the youngest Director of the Fifth Bureau in history. She was a blond, petite woman whose striking good looks masked her ruthless nature and consummate skill at her professino of deception.

She was also not a happy woman. Already booked to travel abroad to handle a regional problem in person, she had just received news that a terrorist cell had set up near Scodra, the provincial capital of Illyriania.

The Director stalked over to her desk from the window she was looking out, and asked her secretary to open a video link to the Fifth Bureau's Illyirania provincial office. When the link came up, she saw the regional director at the other end.

"Regional Director, what is this I hear about the terror cell? Report, and quickly." Whilst her voice was not raised at any point of the sentence, the ice within it was enough to send the panicked official at the other end into a self-defensive gabble.

"Madam Director! The cell is no longer in operation. Our reports indicate that the suspected members were seen heading to a certain area individually, and that an explosion was noted to happen there immediately afterwards. A falling-out among thieves, maybe?" Parnassia's left eyebrow rose fractionally, as she sensed more at work than just a clever bit of verbiage.

"And the real cause of death, Regional Director?"

"As I said, Madam Director - a falling-out among thieves is the only one I can think of." Upon hearing this, Parnassia exploded into a fury.

"Idiot! Is it not possible, Michael Brankovic, that perhaps they were connected to activities elsewhere? And that perhaps another nation has seen fit to clear up the mess that has taken root here? You....you......fool! I hold you responsible for this mess. Seeing to the internal security of Illyriania is your job, Brankovic. That cell should never have had time to get to anyone else's attention! And now I have this to deal with, just when I'm needed elsewhere, thanks to your incompetence!"

"But, Madam Director - " Suddenly, Parnassia could not tolerate the smug, fatuous look that her subordinate wore, like that of a bureaucrat who knows that he hasn't done anything quite worth firing him...at least officially.

"Michael Brankovic Dragas, you are this moment suspended from duties and your security clearance is revoked. You are to report immediately to the capital for debriefing. Do not make plans for a swift return to your home, either. I seriously doubt that your errors stop at incompetence." With that, she cut off the signal, then ordered her secretary to draft a communique to the provincial hierearchy, informing them of her decision and directing them to co-operate with her special investigator.

"Mara, send for Simyon Bukhas. I need him."

"Yes, Madam Director."

It took less than ten minutes for the redheaded special agent to arrive at his boss' office.

"You sent for me, Madam Director?" His voice was a clear, pleasant tenor, the kind of voice that was responsive to its owner's wishes.

"Yes, Simyon. I've just fired the regional director for Illyriania for incompetence, and I need you to investigate. A briefing is being prepared for you. Report your progress to Roxelana - she is in charge in my abscence."

"Aye, Madam Director."

Within an hour, Simyon Bukhas was on a chartered aircraft to Scodra, in order to find out the fate of the terrorist cell and clean up the Bureau's operations in the area.

Blackhawk 5

"Christ, that was a typhoon!" The Pilot exclaimed as they watched the Eurofighters fly above them
"Think they saw us?" Captain Charlies Benning, Team Leader of the Shadow team commented.
"Not sure, we'll wait to see if they come back round again" The Pilot replied as they all watched to see if the Plane would come around for another pass...

Imperial Arispace,
Illiyriania Province,
Western New Chalcedon.

In the ascending Typhoon, Alexios Lastarnge called in to his AFB's Ground Control. "Well, well. I may owe you an apology, Nick. I don't know what it is, or whose it is, but it's definitely there. And with a velocity like that, it's sure as hell no bird, no matter what the radar return says. I'm going down for a closer pass."

The ground controller could barely conceal his gloating. "Sorry, Alpha Two, what was that first part again?"

The pilot gritted his teeth. "You. Were. Right. Ground. Control. Now get some backup in the air for me, pronto!"

"Understood, Alpha Two. We're scrambling the Six-Fifteenth to give you support." His superiority over the fly-boys established, Ground Controller Nicholas Mazartes reverted to his usual professional manner.

"Gotcha, Ground Control. Going in now."

The Typhoon heeled over once again, this time coming in at barely 200 feet away from the bogey's estimated altitude.

(OOC: That's something that no stealth equipment can do - make you appear to be going slower than you are. I figured that it would be the best way to ICly spot you.)

"Damn, they spotted us" The Pilot cursed "Hold on boys!"
The team strapped themselves into the seats as the Pilot continued to fly along the vally they had gotten into.

Imperial Arispace,
Illiyriania Province,
Western New Chalcedon.

"Move, you sons of paralytic geese!" Flight Officer Lastarnge was definitely not in a good mood - if these strangers, whom he had still not identified, had gotten this far before being spotted, who knew what they had been up to?

"They're heading down the Dragon's Spine! Get into position!"

After receiving assurances from his squadmates, Lastarnge decided to at least try a diplomatic solution - after all, he had gone well within weapons range and they hadn't shot at him. Whether this was simple self-preservation or an actual desire not to kill him, well.....he'd cross that bridge when he got to it.

"Unidentified aircraft, this is Imperial military aircraft ZXC-1901. You are in violation of Imperial airspace. Please state your identity and intentions."

The pilot glanced back at Charlie, Charlie shook his head, they couldn't ID themselves
"We have to try something!" The Pilot commented getting ont he comms "Imperial....(STATIC)...Zebra....(STATIC)...RADAR...(STATIC)...bearing...(STATIC)...55,..." Was the static filled message sent

Imperial Arispace,
Illiyriania Province,
Western New Chalcedon.

Lastarnge was puzzled by this. Was their radio out, somehow? He decided to try helping them - they might be one of those B5 mooks, going after spies or terrorists, after all.

He descended further, until he was directly ahead of the helicopter. He waggled his Typhoon's wings, and then, slowing to the helicopter's airspeed, banked slowly to starboard, heading toward Dicloetian AFB.

Any pilot trained by the Imperial Air Force would recognise the common "follow me to help" signal of the maneuver.

Alexios Lastarnge was definitely interested in what they'd do. He also raidioed Ground Control to relay his suspicions that their bogey was a B5 team with a damaged vehicle.

Nick was less than enthusiatic about the idea, but promised to contact B5's regional HQ to see if there were any missions authorised in the area.

Fifth Bureau chartered aircraft
En route to Scodra.

Simyon Bukhas was curious when the query from Dicloetian AFB was routed to him.

"No, Lieutenant Mazartes, the Fifth Bureau does not have any scheduled fligths in the area. But I am only en route myself. However, I will tell you that one reason that I am replacing the former regional director is that the Madam Director suspects foreign infilatration into the province under my predecessor's watch. I realise that you are not obliged to take orders from me, so I would suggest, Lieutenant, that unless that helicopter follows your orders, to treat it as an intruder. In which case, I want its crew alive and able to answer my questions."

"Is that clear, Lieutenant Nicholas Mazartes?"

The shaken voice came back over the vidlink. "Clear, Regional Director. Dicloetian AFB out."

"We can't follow them" Charlie commented "They'll be heading for an airbase, if we're down on the deck, they'll work out we're not from their country"
"What do you want me to do then?" The Pilot asked, then added sarcasticly "We could always fire a missile up his ass"
"Nah, that'll make it worse" Charlie grinned "Take us futher down into the vally, down where it'd be insane to fly that close down"

ooc: Any other positions?

OOC: I'm not sure, If you want a one like this, I can send a team to your Nation for some to be decided reason?

Imperial Arispace,
Illiyriania Province,
Western New Chalcedon.

"Damn, that's odd."

"Talk to me, Alex. What's odd?" The AFB controller's voice was tense.

"They've gone down to treetop level."

"What's odd about that? They should have done that all along. I guess they're not all that familiar with our topography, though. I havethe 615th standing patrol at the Dragon's Maw. And if they want out, that's the only way out without going over the ridges." After a pause:

"I got word from B5's Regional Director. They're definitely not his boys and girls."

"So Nick, what can I do? I can't follow them down there. I could always pop a missile at them."

"Do it, Alpha Two. If they're smart enough to get in, they're smart enough to get out of their chopper before it hits. And Milvian Base is sending out two platoons to go through the forest."

"Got it, Dicloetian AFB. Alpha Two out."

Alexios Lastarnge then thought a minute. He had no faith that these people would be lucky enough to make it out. He decided to send a transmission.

"Unidentified flight, this is Imperial military aircraft ZXC-1901. I know that you can understand this transmission. Resume your altitude and course immediately, or I am under orders to open fire on you. I repeat, resume your previous altitude and course immediately. You have thirty seconds to respond. Over."

As soon as this message came through, the blackhawk was put on auto pilot, a highly enctrpyed message was sent to command via, a dozern sattlite, and fast ropes were lowered down, the Shadows and the two pilots were down in the trees, hoping the pursing jet wouldn't see them. Once safely through the tree's with only a few bumps and bruises they got into a somewhat defense postion as everyone got themselevs armed.

Imperial Arispace,
Illiyriania Province,
Western New Chalcedon.

Well, they've had their time. Lastarnge wanted to give them more, but he was going to be in enough trouble as it was. He pulled two triggers on his flight stick.

Two air-to-air missiles screamed from the Typhoon and impacted the helicopter.

"Alpha Two to Ground Control. The bogey has been shot down. I repeat, the bogey has been shot down. Heading back to base now. Over."

"Ground Control reads you, Alpha Two. The CO would like a word with you when you return. Over."

"Understood, Ground Control. Over and out."

***Five minutes later***

Dicloetian AFB was not the largest of Imperial Air Force bases, but it was well-appointed and the position was simply too good for the IAF to pass up.

When Lieutenant Alexios Lastarnge exited his helicopter, he turned around to find two MPs waiting for him. The larger of the two spoke first.

"Lieutenant Alexios Lastarnge?"

"That's me."

"You're under arrest for wilful disobedience of orders in the face of the enemy. Please come with us: Colonel Horton would like words with you."

As he was escorted away, Lastarnge could see technicians swarming over his aircraft, no doubt to remove the black box and nose-mounted camera for analysis.

Scodra, Provincial capital of Illyriania
New Chalcedon

As the unnamed B5 charter was landing, Regional Director Bukhas was not amused. He had been kept apprised of the situation, and had requested copies of all relevant imagery for analysis, as well as the arrest of Lt. Lastarnge.

While he could have had priority getting to and out of the terminal, he decided to stay aboard, using the jet's computer systems to aid him in his private analysis while he waited for personnel from the regional HQ.

When they arrived five minutes later, his first words were "Strap in. We're taking off. Those bastards are still alive, and Milvian Base recalled its search parties." His next words were directed to Milvian Base, as he acidically ordered their company, as well as everyone else who could fit aboard the available airlift, out into the Dragon's Gullet in a search pattern.

This done, he checked the aircraft for the person he was looking for. Yes, the former Regional Director was there, and he had a total of half a dozen guards. In addition, B5 personnel were at least partially trained in firearm usage. Good enough. As the aircraft was taking off, Bukhas sent the order forward to proceed at maximum power to Dicloetian AFB. The ETA was about an hour.

Dragon's Gullet
Illyriania, New Chalcedon

Milvian Base had not exactly outdone itself. The sum total of their airlift capability was two companies. And the Dragon's Gullet was a large place, if a little on the narrow side.

Captain Crispus Notaras was in charge, and his men considered this to be bad news for their unknown adversaries: the man had matured a lot from the callow youth he had been two short years ago during the Melepotas Revolt, when he had stood guard over a ticking nuclear bomb.

"First Company, to the east. Second, to the west. Each of you detach a platoon and I'll take them down the centre. Make sure that not even a squirrel could get past you." One Lieutenant signalled for attention. "Yes?" "Sir, what about the ridges?""Good question, Lieutenant. But the flyboys have helos with MPs as well as jets covering the ridges. Any other questions?" Another Lieutenant put his hand up. "Yes?"

"Sir, what if they turn back?"
"Lieutenant, that's just what we want. They're heading further into the Empire, that way. And away from the coastline and safety."
"Yes, Sir."

(OOC: The Gullet is a north-south valley, defined by ridges to the East and West, with the Maw (and the Army troops) at the northern end. Needless to say, the IAF is watching those (mostly) bare ridges closely, although an enterprising lot *might* be able to sneak past them.)

The Shadows took the lead, the pilot followed a short distance behind. They we're heading away from where command indicated there were alot of enemy forces, it was alonger way round but it was seemingly safer

Dicloetian AFB
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

The small jet touched down. As soon as it came to a stop and a ramp was brought, the hatch opened and two dozen people swarmed out of the jet. In the lead was Simyon Bukhas, who looked around, spotted Colonel Horton and went straight for him.

"Colonel."

"Regional Director."

"You have the pilot?"

The Colonel indicated the sorry-looking man standing beside him. "Here, Regional Director."

"I see. Young man, you are coming with us. Colonel Horton, I am, in my capacity as Regional Director, issing a notice of martial law in this province until these spies are found or verified to have escaped."

"I.......see, Regional Director. What does the Empire require of me?"

"Very little that we don't already have. Four assault/transport helicopters should do nicely - the spies have only one logical alternative, if they're as smart as I think they are. Also, triple the watch on the ridges of the Dragon's Gullet - I don't want them getting out that way."

"It will be done, Regional Director. For the Emperor."

"Serve the Empire in good health, Colonel."

***Five minutes later***

Aboard the lead helicopter was a rather strange-looking assortment of people. The Director, six guards, Lt. Lastarnge, and one beaten-up man, who Lastarnge soon found out was the previous Regional Director.

"Ordinarily, Lieutenant, we would not do this to a retiree of the Fifth Bureau. But this man has confessed to taking bribes from foreign agents - that's how they got in in the first place. And it may be how the terrorist cell was able to set up in the first place, although we're not sure of that. However, this man is guilty of treason, and will pay the price in due course." The Regional Director of B5 was unusually relaxed - perhaps he had plans for the hapless Lt.

Alexios was curious. "Where are we going, Regional Director?"

"Why, my boy, the only place they can escape through. Think a moment - with Captain Notaras at the Maw, and the Air Force keeping renewed watch on the ridges, how else can the spies get out?"

"The Dragon's Tail! Of course!" Lastarnge was excited - he was privy to the strategy the Bureau was using to capture enemy spies.

"Of course, my boy. In fact, we're already there." Indeed, the four choppers were about to land, and Bukhas called for his people to get ready for a hot exit.

As soon as the choppers' rails touched ground, people were boiling out of them. Within a minute, the four choppers were lifting off again, to keep an aerial watch over the Tail.

Dragon's Maw
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

Crispus Notaras was not amused, to put it mildly. "What do you mean, they're not here? It's the only way to the......oh, my God. How could I have been so hasty? Lieutenant!"

One of his Lieutenants rushed up to him. "Yes, Sir?"

"Prepare some choppers. I'm taking the First Company to the Tail. Don't press further here - just keep anything from getting past, and send your choppers back to Milvian Base for reinforcements. When they get here, resume your searching. Clear?"

"Clear, Captain!"

"Good. Now let's get the job done right."

Dragon's Ridges
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

Above the ridges, anyone who cared to observe the skies could see at least two aircraft from any given point, loitering less than 200' above the ridges in a blatant surveillance patters.

Of course, this meant that they were well within reach of SAMs......

(OOC :Where are your guys headed? Maw (the Army), Ridges (Air Force) or Tail (Fifth Bureau?) I will need to know with your next post.)

OOC: The tail, away from the army at the maw, I'll do a better post when I get an idea on Numbers and weapons

The Shadows could see the Fifth Bureua people at the end of the vally. They were working out how many people were there and what weapons they had.

Dragon's Tail
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

The watching spies could see the following:

4 Apache assault helicopters, which looked to have had some modifications.
20-30 armed personnel, with one fairly obvious leader (OOC: It's a decoy, but that's not obvious). At least 4, and perhaps 6, of them are using binoculars in an attempt to extend their spotting distance.
2 unarmed/lightly armed people, one of whom appears to have suffered some kind of injuries.

The people formed into two groups of about a dozen each, and the helicopters fanned out, two to each flank.

"Alright boys, here the plan" Charlie said "Ben and Joe, go on the flanks, use the stingers, on my word, fire on those apache's, me and Tom, we'll take some potshots at those people, limb shots, I don't want them killed"
The team nodded and spread out. Five minutes later, Charlie and Tom began firing with their silenced weapons at the B5 people, the Ben and Joe did not yet fire.

Dragon's Tail
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

Simon Bukhas was the first to get hit - apparently, the intruders had gotten lucky and got the real leader in the lower left arm. As he dived to prevent further hits, the B5 team scattered, each seeking cover, although half a dozen also fetched hits before they had all found it. Fire erupted, directed mostly at that part of the forest, although some went in purely at random.

Instead of going for his pistol, Bukhan fumbled for his comlink. When he got it out, he snarled into the receiver "They're here! Apaches, back off and blast the trees - suppression fire. I've had enough of this - I'll take my chances on finding them alive!"

The Apaches broke by pairs, away from the trees. In the lead Apache, the pilot called through his mike: "All units, Fire Pattern Bravo!" When they reached a distance of 1 1/2 miles, the unknown assailants could find out what those racks carried - modified Hellfire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGM-114_Hellfire) missiles. Twenty-four missiles streaked into the trees, screaming like the souls of the damned.

When they hit the forest near the reported positions of fire, they exploded in their pattern, spraying superheated shrapnel in every direction.

Meanwhile, the Regional Director was receiving first-aid from Lt. Lastarnge, who had raced to his side. His comlink squawked at him, and he noticed that it was a (theoretically) secure channel - not that that might do a great deal of good, since these enemies were proving unusually capable.

"Director, We picked up your transmission. This is Captain Notaras, and I'm almost there with a company of Army troops. Hold tight!"

The dozen Army helicopters were barely-visible specks on the northern horizon from the perspective of the IAF Apaches, but when they reported their sighting to Bukhas, he knew that the enemy wouldn't get away. They might get killed, which was just fine by him, but they wouldn't escape a full company of Imperial Army soldiers and their air support.

A thought occured to him. "Dicloetian AFB, this is Bureau Alpha. Do you copy?"

"We read you, Bureau Alpha."

"Dicloetian, talk to Salonae Naval Depot. These bastards were heading toward the coast when you spotted them - I want all ships within three hundred miles stopped and searched. Understood?"

"Understood, Bureau Alpha. Dicloetian AFB out."

Salonae Naval Depot
Salonae, Illyriania.

Commodore Lucius Perhestro was flabbergasted. His was a fairly quiet sector - he didn't get requests, (No, scratch that: orders, given who it's from, he thought) to stop all shipping and examine it for foreign spies.

However, he knew his duty. Within fifteen minutes (just long enough to formulate a search pattern with his available assets), the orders went out. The seven frigates and three destroyers out of port were diverted to the task, whilst the port detachment of two cruisers, six frigates and six destroyers left port, heading in fourteen separate directions. Reconnoisance aircraft guided each ship to its assigned targets.

(OOC: Bukhas figured that since you were willing to take him on knowing he had helicopters, that you probably had some kind of shoulder-mounted SAMs to take out the helos, as their presence makes any kind of attack near-suicidal. So he ordered his choppers back to remove that option. The Hellfires are modified to be area-of-effect anti-infantry weapons. Their small warheads mean that each helo can carry at least a dozen of them, although the forest will reduce their effectiveness somewhat. And belive me, he's kicking himself for not thinking of the naval angle earlier.)

"Time to go!" Charlie said down the Shadows come link as the shrapnel pelted around them, some struck joe in the leg, and one of the pilots was killed. The Shadows pulled back from the forest, with the hope of the enemy would waste ammo firing at the forestline.

Dragon's Tail
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

No more? I wonder what they're up to? If they want to get past us.....of course. Simon Bukhas flicked open his comlink again.

"Captain Notaras, send your forces to cover the ridges and call up the forces you left behind. Bring a few men, no more than a platoon, to cover us."

"Acknowledged, Bureau Alpha."

That matter sorted, Bukhas switched to the helicopters' channel. "Apaches, cease fire. We're going in. Be ready to support us - standard north-oriented fire pattern, grid zero on my current position. Acknowledge."

"Bureau Alpha, you wish us to cease fire, and be prepared with fire-support on standard grid co-ordinates. Acknowledged."

"Very good, Apaches." He then flicked his comlink to the Bureau channel.

"Bureau forces, into the forest! Stay near each other - I don't want us getting divided! Open comlinks at all times!"

The nineteen able-bodied Bureau forces remaining moved from cover to cover until they reached the decimated treeline. Overhead, the thunderous roar of the helicopters carrying the Army troops faded, as all but two of them broke off to each flank, aided by the four Bureau choppers which had come up from reserve, ready for close air support.

Army Helicopter Alpha One
Dragon's Tail, Illyriania

Captain Notaras finished issuing his orders. "First squad, you're with me. Second Squad, you're with Lieutenant Taranger. Don't lose communication or contact with each other, and report anything out of the ordinary."

His choppers spotted a likely landing site and started taking his platoon to the ground.

Imperial destroyer Aegis
Illyrianian coast, Illyriania

The Imperial destroyer Aegis had but lately returned from testing a new sonar system in the southern oceans. Captain Meterios was happy for the chance of action - he hated lying around bored. Even though this was the third interception, he had a feeling about this one.

Not that he told anyone - no-one likes to look like a fool, but he had quietly run up the scans that were available to his ship. Meanwhile, his comms officer was speaking.

"Merchant ship, this is the Imperial destroyer Aegis. Please state you name and itinerary, and stand by to receive a boarding party to verify your statement. Over."

(OOC: If your men were plannig to use a ship to get out, this is the best shot - she's almost the only one near this particular bit of coastline. Of course, you never did mention how they were planning to get out.....)

Forrest

The Shadows had postioned themselves in the densest trees. The plan was that as the enemy entered the trees, they could be taken out one by one. Ahead, Joe saw a enemy and squeesed the trigger. The Silenced round sped towards the unlucky enemy.

Illyrian Coast

"Aegis, this is the MV Reliant, we've got a load of medical supplies at the moment" The Merchent Ship replied

Dragon's Tail
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

A B5 gunman had gotten careless, and paid the price as the silenced bullet hit him. Unfortunately, he had just bent over to adjust a piece of equipment, and what was meant to be a limb-shot instead entered his skull, right between the eyes.

Bukhas was furious. These bastards were killing his men off, now! Just how did they get such good intel on the terrain, anyway? Still, no matter.....

Into the comlink:"All Fifth Bureau units, find cover and cease advancing. Snipers, set up and try to spot the enemy. Shoot to kill, I say again, shoot to kill."

And, after switching frequencies: "Bukhas to Apache overflight. Stand by to engage Attack Plan Delta."

He then broadcast in the clear: "Unknown assailants, this is Regional Director Simon Bukhas, of the Fifth Bureau. I see that you have surprisingly good intel on the forest's layout. But, you see, that will be irrelevant shortly. You have thirty seconds to surrender, or I'll burn the forest down around you, and have my snipers pick you off as you flee. Respond at once."

Imperial destroyer Aegis,
Illyrianian Provincial waters.

Meterios' response was lightning-quick.

"MV Reliant, I am sending a boarding party over to search your ship. We are searching for a very dangerous band of spies, and I apologise for any inconvenience suffered by your owners. But my orders are clear. Over."

The Aegis launched four inflatable rafts, filled with Marines, that headed towards the Reliant. Meanwhile, the Aegis slowly backed off from the merchant vessel - just in case these were the ones.

(OOC: Yeah, Bukhas is getting a little peevish. It's one of the weaknesses of my people - they lose their tempers easily, and reach for a hammer to squash a bug.)

Dragons Tail

"Mr Bukhas, I advise you not to move, to lay down your weapons and call off your apache's, my men have your surronded, we do not wish to kill you, thats why we've been shooting limb shots" Charlie commented as his team made it appear like the B5 we're surronded by two dozern not four, whilst preparing to run like hell if it didn't work.

Aegis-Reliant

There was a Shadow support unit aboard the Reliant, the unit was inside a set of containers, that were deep inside the ships hold. The only entereance was through the back of a half-full containter. There were a futher two teams of Shadow's in the support unit.

Dragons Tail
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

Bukhas didn't bother responding - he knew that one helicopter could not have carried that many men.

"Apaches, burn the forest - backward pattern. Drive them toward us."

The dozen Apaches (OOC: Bukhas' four plus the eight Army Apaches that had recently arrived) began launching incendiary devices into the forest, creating an ever-tightening ring of fire around the zone.

Sooner or later, something would have to break.

MV Reliant
Illyriania Provincial Waters, New Chalcedon.

The young Marine lieutenant was professional and thorough. He kept his men together, and had them go through the ship, hold by hold, until they had verified that nothing was amiss. Among the toys they were using was a sound-probe. A device that revealed, among other things, hidden doors.

In the fourth hold, the probe indicated that one of the half-full containers (a situation suspicious in itself) had a hidden exit. The Lieutenant asked for the ship's Captain to be present. When he arrived, the Lt. asked "Captain, why do my instruments indicate that there is a hidden hatch connecting this container with the one next to it? The one that has Imperial customs seals, marking it as having been examined in port?"

"Oh well it was worth a try" Charlie commented before cutting the channel. The Shadows all threw their full compliment of frag grenades, about 8 in total at the B5 before beginning to retreat outwards. They found a stream that run through the forest. It appeared to travel under the forest for, about thirty metres. The passage was just big enough for them to get through with there kit. As the fire approached they all got insde the passage and began crawling. Within minutes they had got to the other end and were outside the ring of fire. All except the second pilot who had been killed on the otherside. The Shadows were the only ones left now...

Reliant

"I'm not sure lt" The Captain said "Why not take a look"
The Captain strode forward and forced the door, which had been designed to appear to have been cut through with simple tools. Inside a male and female crewmember were...having relations.
"Well, going to impound us for this?" The Captain asked Dryly

Dragons Tail
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

Fortunately, Bukhas had ordered his people to take cover, else they would have been severely undermined as a force. As it was, the grenades took down two more B5 people, one fatally, leaving Bukhas with only sixteen Bureau personnel (plus the unfortunate ex-Regional Director, who was less than likely to be of great assistance in a fight, anyway).

However, he had something the intruder did not: the resources of the Imperial Army, Navy and Air Force to call upon. He quickly deduced that his opponents, not being stupid, had not simply rejected his offer for the purpose of dying in a forest fire (much as the thought tempted him by now) - they had to have had a plan.

Think, man, think. This is what you were sent out here for....ah, yes. They can't stop the fire, they can't survive it - they must be hoping to find a way around it.

He asked around his personnel if there was anyone who knew the Dragon's Valley well. Receiving no response, he repeated his question to Notaras. While he awaited a response, he ordered the helicopters down to pick him and his people up in preparation for laying an ambush.

The response came back. One of the Army's local recruits had lived in a farming community a few miles away, and used to play in the forest as a child. When pressed for details, he remembered only that an underground stream had led toward the eastern ridge, and come out just below the tree-line.

We have them now...... With an exultant snap to his voice, he ordered his own forces to the area that the Army man described, along with Captain Notaras' Army troops. Bukhas simply hoped that it was before the intruders found the tunnel's exit.

MV Reliant
Illyriania Provincial Waters, New Chalcedon.

"Captain, you realise that it is a serious offence to tamper with Imperial customs seals, right? And, further, that as Captain of this vessel, you are responsible under Imperial law for the conduct of your crew?" Not waiting for an answer, the Lieutenant called the Aegis to describe the situation.

Imperial destroyer Aegis
Illyriania Provincial Waters, New Chalcedon.

"I see, Lieutenant. Please put me on live to the merchant skipper." After waiting for a moment, Captain Meterios continued:

"Captain, ordinarily the Navy would let this pass with no more than a stern warning. However, the province is currently under martial law, and as per Article XVI of the Imperial Constitution of 1655, I am exercising the authority granted to me as the senior military officer present to impound your ship. You will immediately turn over command of your vessel to my prize crew, and we will take it to Scodra Base and inspect your vessel thoroughly with the base's Customs staff, supervised by your crew and the Navy's personnel. Assuming nothing more sinister at work, you should be free to go in about two days, give or take a few hours, with nothing more than a warning not to let it happen again."

"But, Captain, at this time, we cannot afford to leave any stone unturned in our search for these peoples' support network. Even if we think there's nothing but good clean soil under that stone."

"Aegis, over."

Dragon Valley

The Team kept moving, stealtly through the forest, whilst they knew the Reliant would be impounded by now. There was no way to find the Shadow support unit, and even if there was there was still no way to trace the team back to the Battlehawk. The Current working plan was to get out of the valley and try and get some sort of transport...

MV Reliant
"With respect Lt, we're just passing through" The Captain commented "It's a long voyage home"
Captain Meterios's Message
"Of course"

The Dragon's Valley
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

The helicopters had landed less than a half-kilometer from the area the private remembered the tunnel exiting to. After a few minutes of searching, one Bureau person said, "Look, sir! Tracks!"

After examining them, Bukhas scathingly informed him "We are not tracking bears, operative. We're looking for humans." The Bureau official had the grace to look sheepish.

After Notaras' platoon got involved in the search, the report came back: they had found human tracks, leading - where else - into the deepest portion of the forest. Bukhas was nearly beside himself with fury - these intruders had the very luck of the devil on their side! They had survived a firestorm, shrapnel weapons and a direct assault.

"Apaches, return to base. Send some replacements out while you rest and refuel. Captain, call your two companies from the head of the valley - I seriously doubt they're making for the coast anymore. Everyone else, fan out in quads - and stay in constant communication. I'd rather they knew we were coming than have them pick us off a few at a time."

A thought occured to Bukhas...while his orders were on an encrypted channel, they had demonstrated their ability to receive - and more importantly, send - transmissions. Maybe, in their haste, they had gotten careless. He switched to the Fifth Bureau's regional priority one frequency.

"Regional HQ, this is Bureau Alpha. Do you read?" Upon getting an affirmative, he continued: "I want our air units to run a comms sweep across the valley and surrounding area. Filter all the standard Imperial frequencies first, then if you get nothing, analyse them too." After receiving a response, "Yes. I know it will take a lot of manpower. Do whatever it takes, call in all the labour you need. Just get it done, and fast."

Dicloetian AFB
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

The two E-3 AWACS aircraft were not among the Empire's most modern. But given the nature of the mission and the fact that they, of all the Empire's AEW aircraft had a hope of intercepting radio signals without revealing their presence by active radar searches, they were the best available for the job.

As they (and Bukhas' replacement Apaches) were prepping, the Base CO made a note to send in a recommendation for the development of a dedicated signals intelligence aircraft design. But hopefully, these would do the job today - the enemy could hardly be carrying all that much sophisticated EW equipment.

As the two aircraft took off after the Apaches had left, the CO sent a message to Bukhas' cellphone.

"Birds have left the coop. Are looking for their home. Dicloetian out."

Dragon's Valley
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

As soon as Bukhas received this, he knew that he had to carry out the next part of his plan.

"This is Regional Director Simon Bukhas, to intruders."

"I congratulate you on surviving my last trap, but now I am on your trail. I just wanted you to know - we don't actually object to terrorists being killed. I tried to take you prisoner the first time we spotted you largely out of a desire to establish how far you had compromised our own security in the process, rather than killing you outright - as we certainly could have."

"Of course, since you insist, there could be a possibility of me settling for a long-distance answer....but you must realise - the land surrounding this valley is farmland. You will find it very difficult to find places to hide if you want to get home without my permission, and I am prepared to place the entire province under martial law to get my answer. Perhaps we can negotiate?"

He waited for an answer, whilst still having his people search the forest, supplemented by the two companies slowly making their way down from the Neck.

Dragons Valley

Still moving Charlie got a scrambler, that would in theroy prevent a back trace, and responded
"You do appear to have the advantage" Charlie commented "We could not allow ourselves to be captured, to protect our homeland"

The Dragon's Valley
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

"I concede your point, Shadow Warrior. However, you still don't seem to understand: we won't attack your nation for this. It would draw attention to the fact that the terrorists slipped under our security in the first place. As the Madam Director's personal representative and troubleshooter, I am empowered to do anything necessary to find the requisite answers. Including binding the Fifth Bureau to an agreement with another nation's intelligence service."

While he was waiting for a reply, he personally gave Captain Notaras the grid location he had received on his cellphone text from Dicloetian AFB.

Captain Notaras immediately issued orders over his secure channel. "First Company, from the north. One and Three Platoons, Second Company - the west. Two and Four - the south. Five and the Bureau personnel - with us - the East."

The Imperial forces advanced through the forest, hoping to trap the intruders in a net from every side. They also engaged in helpful acts of sabotage en route - pathways fouled, string-traps across less-obvious pathways to slow down fleeing forces, and the like.

(OOC: The AWACS aircraft aren't tracing, they're simply triangulating the signal. Hence two aircraft. With two directional bearings, scrambling is irrelevant. Your mistake, it seems.)

"What suggest you then?" Charlie aksed

The Dragon's Valley
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

Simon was exultant. The longer they talked, the more forces he could call up. And it might even be possible to negotiate a way out of this that got B5 the information....although Simon was adamant that the Bureau got its information.

"Well, first I would need a sign of good faith - some piece of information that I could verify fairly easily as a sign that you're not playing me for a fool. And, of course, I realise that you would need the same. I would be prepared to.....let me think....establish a cordon around the forest without actually going in after you. At least while we were negotiating."

"Assuming that the first exchange works out to everyone's satisfaction, we would move on to exchanges of steadily more important information and concessions. Eventually, once we had established both parties' trustworthiness, you would tell us who your principals are, and we would send them a stern note asking them to tell us next time they do something like this. At the bottom of the note would be some kind of co-operation agreement between our two agencies, in order to better deal with our common foes."

"Assuming we get that far, some formal treaty, perhaps even a form of alliance, may not be out of the question. You could wind up in very good odour with the Powers That Be in your home nation as a result of this, Shadow Warrior. If you were sent here by smart people, you should know - we prefer co-opting opponents to smashing them. Especially intelligent ones like yourselves, if you are representative of your nation's servicepeople."

Charlie was suspicious, the first part sounded acceptable, and the second part some what, the third was what concerned Charlie the most.
"Alright, lets talk"

The Dragon's Valley
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

"Well, you may have noticed - assuming that you're up to the standards you've shown yourselves to be up to - that we've established a cordon around your estimated area. But we're not moving in - yet."

"I believe this means that it's your turn to show good faith."

"How"

The Dragon's Valley
Illyriania, New Chalcedon.

Bukhas was exasperated.

"Did we not discuss this earlier? Some piece of information that I can verify on my own, to show your good faith."