NationStates Jolt Archive

Well ... I can't say I wasn't expecting something like this.

"Right. GPS shows we're pretty much at the outskirts of Knootcap, and close to Rotterdam. There aren't going to be too many dangerous forces here, but we're going to need to play it safe. I'd imagine the current status of Mr. Burns - wanted, dead or alive - is going to be well known throughout Knootcap, so Mr. Burns - for your own safety, please keep your head covered. It's almost dark outside, and there's a stunning electrical storm - we should be able to move without too much trouble: at least for tonight."

Merrylsbyre shims up the sewer ladder, and very gently moved the grate aside until he could see out. Using a tiny optical snake, he took a quick scan of the surface.

"All's clear," he signalled, before pulling himself up and along the road in low profile. Mr. Burns, wrapped in a sheet of dark cloth to hide his jaundiced yellow skin, was pulled along the rough tarmacced road before the group began to make their way to the coast, through farmland and the occasional coppice of trees - battle armour scanning constantly for threats and dangers.


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Captain Arneson watched as the craft detached themselves from the Semir-Randil and sped towards the Whispering Voices fleet, sipping from a styrofoam cup of coffee.

Well ... the Goalkeeper platforms have their defence nets down, and they're nigh on invisible - except for the anchor weights. It's unlikely those things can spot them, with no signature ... but ... if they do. Deep water here, blue water not brown ...

"Ragners," he called out, crumpling the cup in his hand and tossing it into a small waste-paper basket molded to the floor nearby, "release depth charges. Have the other HCHKs do the same. Also, begin to drop ECM-remote chaffs and jammers. They should be heading into our torpedo wall soon, but at the moment we don't know how they operate.

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The HCCS Hermes bucked in the water as part of a squadron of Sunset DA-100s exploded from weapons overheating, parts thrown into the water with vapour rising up. One of the frigates was seriously damaged along the bow by falling plasma from the engine, with emergency systems and fire control going into overdrive to close bulkheads and prevent the plasma holing the keel.

The effect of the laser beam pulses on the pontoons is a little less than impressive - they melts straight through to the sea, leaving small holes with steam pouring out of them, punching through the thinnish decking ceramics. Of course, there's a far better effect when they hit the odd Djinn fuel tank or pontoon fuel tank, and soon the area of the pontoons is covered with noxious roiling steam from burning oil on the surface of the sea and vapour that serves to hamper and defract the lasers.

Sadly, the atmosphere is such that the remaining Djinns - with the water vapour, the swelling waves, and the burning oil - are unable to take off. Small worker-things, simple automated devices, work overtime to clear the takeoff runways.

The same was not true of the carriers, however. With the Su-37 interceptors waiting to engage any aerocraft that came close to the fleet, the carriers had been launching more of their complements of Mig-39s into the sky.

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Brigadier-General Bryant watched as the jettisoned pieces of the Semir-Randil impacted into the sea, causing ripples and swells that licked around her edges; white horses dancing on the surface of the roiled sea.

He was no longer on the HCCS Hermes, but a smaller launch, one of the many weaving in and out of the fleet.

Well - one hull down, who knows how many to go? Only one way to find out.

The command was given to fire again, Bryant having to yell down the microphone amidst the sounds of the booming combat.

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Far beneath the waves, the Wisps requested earlier registered the attack of the Sunset craft upon the Whispering Voices fleet. Concealed amongst the submarine signatures, the sleek small gravimetric vessels rose up behind the Whispering Voices fleet.

Water boiled away from them as their smooth hulls broke through the foam, with gravimetric waves leaving huge perfect dents that matched the shape of their hulls imprinted in the water's surface below. As they rose, the gathered storm above grew even more fierce. Lightning tines seemingly shot from the sky, lashing the water around the craft furiously, the light reflecting on their surfaces in a blinding and dazzling array. Perfectly smooth, the water seemed to literally fall off the craft as if brushed away by an invisible hand.

They rose fast, blindingly so, breaking the waves and rising into the air as fleet as thought. Some moved between the Sunset airforce and Whispering Voices fleets as a breakgap, and others moved between the Voices fleet and the Empire of the Eternal Dawn fleet.

The higher they rose, the more lightning coruscaded down. The other planes of the Whispering Voices airfleet were forced to move away from the ships below simply to avoid unlucky wingstrikes.

http://www.darkeningskies.net/creative/military/wisp.jpg

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OOC:
Sunset, you must have very special AAMs, for them to travel 1,000km.

Missile stats as follows:

Tomahawk with ten Brilliant Antiarmor Bomblets. Speed: 880kmh.
Number:
3 per Trafalgar, 100 Trafalgars. 300 missiles.
16 per Vanguard, 50 Vanguards. 800 missiles.
8 per Destroyer, 100 Destroyers. 800 missiles.
4 per CVF Carrier, 25 Carriers. 100 missiles.


Harpoon Block II missiles. Speed: 855kmh.
8 per Frigate, 100 Frigates. 800 missiles.

Penguin air-to-sea missiles. Speed: 1300kmh.
2 per Helicopter, 200 Helicopters. 400 missiles.
2 per Mig, 300 Migs. 600 missiles.

Guns!!!
20mm, x2 per Frigate. 200x 20mm guns.
4.5", x2 per Destroyer and Carrier. 250x 4.5" guns.

Edit: for spelling, and to add in the submarine bit.

[OOC- *cough* Hello everyone. I talked to Knootoss in TG,and...well,here I am. Time to set things in motion for my eventual involvement in this conflict.]

Indigalian Military Command Center
--------------------------------------------------
A few figures huddled close to a glowing,green map display. One of them was quite taller,and carried a look of leadership in his face. This was the Emperor Tezen Nightshade himself,and his most trusted military staff.

What was displayed on this map was what any participant of the Knootian conflict could recognize; Knootoss itself. Obviously,Emperor Nightshade had took a interest in monitoring this conflict from the very beginning. Some of his advisors began to converse of a posibility on broadcasting a transmission to the remnants of the origional goverment,and the Emperor listened in.

"But how do we know where to contact them at?",one of them asked. This one was a foot below the Emperor in height. Another advisor replied to this with, "We could try contacting their Parliament building. Or..."

Nightshade cut the female advisor off. "...their military control center. If it is still operational that is." His staff looked at their benevolent leader and nodded. Continuing,he began to pace,and spoke in a commanding tone. "Open up a secure access transmission to them,once you find the the target."

The staff flew into action,sitting at various consoles,as Nightshade sat in a rather imposing chair. In front of the videophone set-up before him. The beleagued people of Knootoss will be assisted...if only we can get a hold of them...

Soon,a communications operator had brought up a old list (pre-conflict) of government frequencies for Knootoss. Unsure,he began to hail each of them with the same message. Hoping one of them would merit an answer.


>>>Urgent,Secure Access Transmission as follows<<<
Government and Military personnel of Knotoss...

In the past 48 hours,we have been monitoring the escalation of the conflict. We extend our sincere regrets to the loss of Tator.

We would like to extend our hand in support of your descimated citizens,if any still exist. At your word,we will send in several Bear Transport Copters,hauling the M-113 Medical Evacuation Vehicle variant. To provide care for the wounded. Also,we would like to deploy twenty eight men per chopper,per APC. In case something happens to our humanitarian forces.

Hopefully someone is getting this. Best of luck either way.

Dominion of Indigalia,Military Command.
>>>End Transmission<<<

The 144 long- range fighters that started to intercept the Djinns were to late to actually hit them, however, they had decided to risk it, and followed them, for the time they had.

Finally, they were there, in front of them, the Whispering Voices fleet. It was an impressive view, all the ships there... and here, a surprise waited for them... the wisps.

ooc: stats for the fighters: speed in low altitude: Mach 9 (Mach 10 in medium, Mach 11 in high altitude). Maneuverability: medium (For a fighter). Armament: two 30mm gauss guns, eight internal missiles (radar/ optical aim), defence: heat baits, devices for Radar jamming (no idea how they work, i just know they exist)

And yes, it`s the fighters that tried to defend Sunset but came obviously to late (or you didn`t see them)

---

Speech of Mr. Morden:

"Knootoss has been attacked.Attacked by ruthless enemies, by enemies that don`t hesitate to slaughter civilians, enemies that stand for genocide and oppression, for terror and pain.

It is our duty to free our allies, to liberate them. It is our duty to restore Knootoss in all it`s former glory, it`s power and freedom.

We will defeat the oppressors, the imperialists, that interfered with Knootoss to destroy it`s order, to destroy it`s achivements.

Victory will be ours, and this victory will be great!"

---

ooc: i waited long enough for the Dyelli Beybi results, and just assume the fleet is gone...

ic: They returned. The losses were high, however, one more fleet endangering Knootoss was destroyed.

"Seems like we now have enough place to swim a bit!"
"Yeah. We will enjoy it... Although... i doubt They enjoy their free lesson."

They landed on the sub carriers, and a few minutes after, they left the battlefield to resupply in a 'neutral' harbour (ooc: whichever nation Knootoss said...)

At the same time, new transports arrived.. the supply lines begun to work...

ooc: This means: all my larger subs are gone, what remains are 72 frigate subs blocking the coast from the ocean. Widely scattered, of course.

Transmissions flit back and forth along microwave beams between the Semir-randil and one of the two Devastator's...

"Permission to-"

"Granted."

Brief, and hardly indicative of what is to come.

Low trembling buzzes announce a shift in the power balance on one of the warships; she leaps away from the fleet at full power, her hull smoothly remodulating into an assault pattern...

...and she fires during the brief lull that comes between weapons fire from the Whispering Forces group as they ascertain damage inflicted.

Thirty kinetic gun tubes sing keenly, their booms arriving several seconds after the muzzles pulse a deep vibrant white-blue. Smooth 9inch shells boom away from the warship, whizzing on a low arc towards the Whispering Voices fleet - aiming to cause random damage at any target Sarah chooses.

[OOC: You call it.]

IC:

The Semir-randil rocks in the water as she strives to recover from the hammer blow she has been dealt; she stays afloat... eventually. Several valuable seconds of maneuvering time are lost - and she fails to give the order to the submarines to launch kinetics.

Six fire anyway, aiming towards the geographical centre of the Whispering Voices fleet.

* * *

Still some miles away, the X# fighters rip through the atmosphere on their way in-

* * *

-and K#s back above the Semir-randil shuffle rapidly, honing their defence grid back to equal area protection.

A single voice breaks through the RF blanket output by the Semir-randil for an instant:

"Occasional sale."

* * *

A message bounds around the MISAT network at a slower rate than usual, arriving in Nenya sixteen seconds after transmission.

[OOC: And too late for me to post about in this round.]

>>>Urgent,Secure Access Transmission as follows<<<
Government and Military personnel of Knootoss...

In the past 48 hours,we have been monitoring the escalation of the conflict. We extend our sincere regrets to the loss of Tator.

We would like to extend our hand in support of your descimated citizens,if any still exist. At your word,we will send in several Bear Transport Copters,hauling the M-113 Medical Evacuation Vehicle variant. To provide care for the wounded. Also,we would like to deploy twenty eight men per chopper,per APC. In case something happens to our humanitarian forces.

Hopefully someone is getting this. Best of luck either way.

Dominion of Indigalia,Military Command.
>>>End Transmission<<<

The warroom, under the ruins of the ministry of Defence
De Kaste peered over the transmission as special assistant Tanya explains:
"they sent it out to all the old frequencies. The ministry of foreign affairs, the embassy central. The Dominion picked that up allright, unless they are wholly incompetent."
De Kaste sighs: "well, they are not so we will have to work under the assumption the Dominion knows about this."
"Do we accept?", Tanya asks hesitantly.
"Yes, I think so. But I have my doubts about their capabilities. Middle Earth is not around the corner you know. But hey, it's not really our problem."
Tanya snaps to attention: "I will relay the message to Hofburg and include your advice to accept."

Secure transmissions fly back and forth between the newly formed government in Exile in Lavenrunz and the warroom and this one is added to the datastream...

Hofburg, Lavenrunz
Government in exile, temporary HQ
Hans van Mierlo was just getting settled in his new "office". He now had to take over diplomatic functions again from Tanya and was peering over an impossibly large pile of information sent to him. And he had no civil servants to assist him apart from his RCPK state-secretary who had come along.

"Hey, that transmission needs answering", he thought and he relayed a secure message back accepting the offer. "But be warned", he hadded "your transmission has most probably been intercepted. It is vital that you make clear that you are neutral in the conflict. The people in The Hague certainly could use your help, and our airfields are open to you."

"That ought to do it", he said to his state-secretary and he pressed the [send] button.

Encoded tightbeam transmission to SATO command.
We din't want to use it just yet. But it seems it is better if we do.
Let me make it breef. Get your men prepared for a strong weather storm. According to calculations we can create a tropical storm that covers Zuid-Holland and the sea around Knootoss.
End transmission.

The men that were setting up a forward base of operations in Leiden quickly started to reinforce their tents, and put up sandbag and concrete slab walls around the base.
The dropships now fully unloaded had started powering up. Ready to take off as soonn as the storm hit.

ooc: For those unfamiliar with my research. I have spend months real time, creating weater manipulation. (Not controll) We are able to change the wheater from nice to bad and vice versa.
We can't create a tornado or a huricane. But we can make conditions so that it wouldn't be unlikely if one formed. Tropical storm is the max of our abillities.

OOC: Your a funny man WV - AIM-54 has a range in excess of 184km. Just simply coasting it might be able to hit 1000km from high altitude. That was made in the 70's. It's now 2332. 1000km is nothing. You care to mention how many of those Wisp's you have?

IC:
Tator's body was delivered to the morgue in the same body bag as the thousands of other corpses that had already arrived. A bag clearly marked as 'Dick Tator' was delivered by a Sunset Ambulance Shuttle, along with two Security guards. They kept watch over the body - no one was to steal it and proclaim 'Tator Lives!'.

The guards but no one else knew that the bag contained the body of Juanita Montoya, SDF officer. They had switched bags to make sure the corpse would not walk away on them.

On Mars...

President Thorgardson watched the new Prime Minister's transmission with satisfaction. "Time for an announcement." he said to no one in particular. He was alone in his office.

Five minutes later the networks were interupted for the following announcement. They relayed it to other networks, and quite quickly it was avaliable everywhere.

"First - The Republic of Sunset wishes to let the people of Knootoss know that we share their grief. The cowardly acts of a savage enemy have laid low many great men and women of Knootoss in the last few days. We know that the people of Knootoss are stronger than the craven bullies they fight however, and they will win and rebuild stronger.

I would like to comment on a new ray of hope that has appeared amoung the storm. The formation of a government by the surviving members of parliment will hasten the victory. They have already shown they will stand strong and condemn this false-union that Tator and now Burns attempted to foist on them. We know that in a democratic society the words of one do not set policy for all. If the leaders of the Dominion nations involved are watching this: Withdraw your forces. You have already lost the war, do not continue to shovel your men into the rapidly widening jaws of death."

On the Ground...

The '0' Division came out of the woodwork and began trooping into the square of the Hague. Just as quickly they spread out - just appearing long enough to let the other forces know they were there.

In the Air...

The reinforcements noticed the carriers launching right away - there is no surveillance like overhead orbital surveillance after all. As fighter's launched from the decks DA-100's used this as an opportunity for bastard shots. Timing was everything - as a fighter began rocketting down the runway a single Hunter was launched at the carrier from a fighter as close to directly along the flight path as possible. Any defenses launched had a good chance of hitting their own fighter craft.

"Too bad we are not farther south," one of the pilots commented to his gunner. "Why's that?" "We have swiss cheese..." Wing's of 10 fighters were now concentrating on the pontoons from long range as squadrons ran interference. As the carriers came into action other squardrons were diverted to them - their long range fire raked across weapon mounts as brave pilots coasted along at speeds of 200kph allowing their gunners precise shots. Other squadrons were assigned to the ships firing on the Semir, using their own concentration against them. They targetted weapon turrets and sensor arrays, seeking to blind the fleet.

And of course the Wisps... Republic Intelligence knew they existed, but was only partially aware of their capacities. Several squadrons concentrated fire on them - their distinct shape making it quite easy to pick them out.

OOC: WV, holes all the way through the pontoons are bad, even 4cm holes. That means (by your own declaration) that they punched through all the bulkheads mean to keep water from flooding multiple compartments. If they were hit multiple times it is quite likely they are going to sink like a rock. It's like putting a rock in a milk jug then putting a hole the size of a BB in the bottom - if you leave the cap off, it will sink very quickly. If you don't, it might not sink. The pontoons likely have multiple holes all the way through them from multiple angles, making them Swiss Cheese. Blub Blub Blub....

"But be warned", he added "your transmission has most probably been intercepted. It is vital that you make clear that you are neutral in the conflict. The people in The Hague certainly could use your help, and our airfields are open to you."

Indigalia Military Command
-----------------------------------------

"My Emperor!",the communications officer shouted,causing Nightshade to spill some coffee onto his elaborate uniform. This better be good...he thought and scowled,setting the mug down and walking over to the officer.

The lieutenant bowed and motioned to the message display screen,the tall Emperor having to stoop down a bit to read it. A look of surprise,then a smile,came to his slender face. "Although it wasn't wise to randomly send it to all those frequencies,it worked."

Standing up tall now,he spoke in a strong and booming authoritative voice. "Ready the Bear Transport Copters. I want ten of them...five loaded with M-113 Medical Evacuation Vehicles,the rest with squads of 10 infantrymen each. Oh,and get some food and toiletries for the Knootian people...plenty of leftover cargo space."

"Yessir!",a General chimed,and began to send secure transmissions to bring up Indigalia's selected reserves; pilots,medics,and infantrymen needed. Nightshade ushered the Communications Officer aside as he sat down,and typed a response to the government in exile.

>>>Secure Access Transmission as Follows<<<
Ah,it is good to see a form of government exists for your country,even in the darkest of times. We shall be neutral in this conflict,however a slight detachment of our forces is going in,to provide security for our medics and distribute supplies. Expect them there in...eight days or so.

-Emperor Tezen Nightshade,of the Dominion of Indigalia.

Finally finished,he got up and hit [SEND] before returning to the palace. After all,he had a coffee stain on his uniform,and he had to look his best. "Schedual a press conference in three hours,invite the newspeople of all willing nations. We have to announce our intentions...",Nightshade spoke to his Department of PR advisor.
================================
Malstrom Air Force Base
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Word had travelled fast. The M-113 MEVs rolled onto the helicopter tarmac,followed by several 5-ton trucks carrying the soldiers and humanitarian supplies. Pilots had been awoken from their naps and pulled away from whatever they were doing,soon geared up and preparing the Transport Copters for liftoff. A few hours later,the supplies and troops were loaded into their designated transports,the other five opening their ramps as medical personnel ran up,followed by the M-113s.

Soon,the ten helecopters were in the air,and began to fly toward their designated coordinates...the main airport in The Hague. Eight days ETA...

But the storm could hamper the efforts.

"I am Captain Zaem of His Majesty's Sardaukar. My men and I are part of a forward group from the main force being led by Lord Adonis. Can you take me to your commanding officer?"
A young man in battle dress salutes and says, "Leutnant Keppler, Sir, of Her Majesty's Imperial Marines. Our Brigade is commanded by Colonel Letz--she's at the Parliament Building right now. I will take you there." he gets into his KM25 via the command hatch and the vehicle leads the Sardaukar party to Letz's temporary headquarters.
As they arrive, two helicopters come down into the square and stretchers with moaning patients are put on them.
Colonel Letz is eating when they arrive in what appears to be a large meeting room. People are talking on radios and clearly the Colonel and her staff are eating on the go. Brushing her hands off, she walks up to greet Captain Zaem. "Sardaukar, eh? A find reputation your folk have." she is a grey eyed woman with greying blonde hair, very fit looking. Zaem notices that all the marine officers have long fighting knives in addition to the grenades and G11 rifles they have nearby or slung.

Zaem eyes the Lavenrunz Marines, "It seems your own reputation is well deserved as well, Colonel. However, I am on urgent business. Lord Adonis is leading a force of Sardaukar, Ortagan Enforcers, and Knootian military to help retake the city. They will be here in approxiamately an hour and a half. Once they arrive perhaps you would join us in making a push against the Dominion strongholds farther inward into the Hague?"

******

At the Ministry of Defense, Captain Haupt watches as his men begin to clear the lrager portion of the rubble covering the entrance. His men have worked tirelessely trying to break through to their trapped Knootian allies. At last the hole is now large enough to allow a pair of men to reach the entrance to the bunker.
"Medics! Now, I want all assistance rendered to the Knootian. Send a communication back to Lord Adonis. Tell him we have cleared enough of the rubble to reopen the bunker. Finally, refocus the perimeter, I want defensive mounts and sniper nests. Station scout points and sensor beacons throughout the nearby rubble! Move! Move!"
As the Sardaukar begin to reposition themselves, a squad of medics rushes down into the bunker.

The lightning around the area of the Wisps crackles and blisters, and then ...

the Der Angst fighters fire at them, gauss guns hurling 30mm magnetically-accelerated rounds through the air, and with missiles sent flying after ...

and the Ma-Tek fleet opened fire with kinetics, thirty gun tubes from one of the Devastators, six submarines joining it ...

and the Sunset DA-100s opened fire with their 100 terawatt lasers.

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Across the command staff of not only the fleet, but Whispering Voices, the tension was palpable. Allied nations - including the manufacturers of the toroidal shields sported by the Wisps, Austrin-Ontis - watched with baited breaths. The Wisps were a radical new idea, an innovation of technology and concept, and had endured huge batteries of tests ... but not the ultimate test, real combat. Their design - rooted in Biblical ideaology, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" - created by an Ordo Sancti Mundi Templar of Endless Regrets - was certainly unprecedented to the knowledge of their military scientists.

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The pulsing beams of the Sunset lasers ripped through the atmosphere onto the mirrored surfaces of the Wisps. Diaelectric systems resonate into position, altering and adjusting. Huge bursts of gravimetric energy pour out as subdermal heatsinks channel the heating of the mirrored surfaces into the gravimetric jettison facility, and blasts of spin-twisters literally cascade into the ocean below, churning the water, ripping it apart on a molecular level with the sheer energy they are redirecting ... and that's just from the heatloss. Tiny micromotors position the mirrored surfaces, the Wisp control systems. Magnetically shielded bio-organic brains in creatures that were once human deflecting those beams, into a very large target. The Ma-Tek ship, the Semir-Randil. Even with the heat loss from the sinks saving the mirror, and the diaelectric interference from the resonator, and the filling of the internal capacitance batteries to the full - almost instantly, with the power of the lasers directed at them - still the lasers are retargetted with a full ninety-percent accuracy at the speed of light towards the giant Vanguard class ship.

Not that war is a precise art, of course. The Wisps are tested, tried, and true - but the conditions, the natural storm that had first swept in from the Lavenrunz fleet and then further south - introduce a massive random element. Some lasers aren't deflected properly, and don't go as planned. Beautiful refractions occur in some places, as beams bounce from one Wisp into another, glowing webs of energy that sparkle and evaporate the water in the air between the craft. Some catch angles that simply send them into the water, the energy of the laser evaporating literally tonnes of water per burst, colossal sea imprints. A few even bounce into the pontoons and ships - and the ships don't fare as well.

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Captain Jerems was a young man, newly promoted, newly married - and newly wealthy with his command, the frigate the HCF Elegencia. He was the perfect naval officer - a pressed uniform, despite the salt air; clear blue eyes, tanned skin, strong arms. He had a young daughter at home, and a perfectly-toned wife who loved him dearly, and was the envy of her girlfriends for having a husband in uniform.

But war is a merciless thing, and he - along with his bridge crew, his bridge, and the entire back half of his ship - were vaporised by a lateral shot deflected by the Wisps.

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The Wisps, designated as main targets by the Sunset group, and also having moved purposefully between them, Der Angst, and the Whispering Voices fleet - refract by far the majority of the lasers. But a majority is by no means all. The Hunter missile gets shot down by a huge group of Goalkeeper floats, the David Seaman class vessels, taking advantage of their coverage and angle to avoid the agile Su-37 Flanker. The pontoons suffer even more laser hits, and even their honeycomb flotation design - light, and effective - isn't perfect. Molten metal literally washes along the surface, and the Djinns there begin to explode from the heat. One is caught just as it takes off, shorting out its systems and causing it to hurtle, burning and fully armed, into a destroyer where it rips a huge gash in the metal armour before exploding inside, setting off bulkhead emergency stops.

It wasn't the only casualty, by any means. Lasers gashed through hulls, melting and burning. Warning klaxons sound on two more frigates and another destroyer, and they begin sinking rapidly.

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The next things to hurtle towards the Wisps are the kinetic missiles fired by the Ma-Tek fleet, closer than the Der Angst fighters with their coilguns. As they approach, the ones from the Devastator and the six launched from the submarines, they appear to get ... if anything ... faster, as they approach the glimmering waterdrop craft. As if ... being pulled along.

Which, in fact, is very much the case. Toroidal ring layers, powered by fusion and stored electricity from the absorption of a tiny fraction of the terawatt lasers used by Sunset, generating incredible numbers of teslas, take hold of the objects ... and pull them ... and slingshot them around the electromagnetic coils, as the bioorganic artificial pilots let the complex protein datacrunchers calculate angles, and thrust, and velocity. In a similar method to that via which spacecraft slingshot themselves around planet gravitational fields, the kinetic missiles are pulled into a 'mini-orbit' around the Wisps. But not one that lasts. Abrupt cutoffs in the Tesla fields end the electro-magnetic pull, and the missiles shoot off in their new direction - straight back at the Semir-Randil, with the intention of having them hit holes made in the next layer of armour by the massive layers.

It's after one of the kinetics launched from the submarines is first attracted into the toroidal field that something goes badly wrong. A bolt of lightning from the storm, attracted and curved by the raw power of the electromagnetic field, strikes the kinetic; just as a laser beam bounced by one of the other Wisps strikes it. Possessed of so much energy, it is sent out at an unplanned angle, breaking off early. Literally alight, burning and vaporising as it goes, it flies into another frigate, the energy webbing across its surface and melting it ... and through, the electromagnetic field on the kinetic so strong that it actually retains its form as plasma ... and down, into the water, where it ruptures one of the outlying Trafalgar-Sunset class submarines, which then falls in halves, crew ripped out and crushed as boiling water forces its way in through melting bulkheads.

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Brigadier-General Bryant watched in awe as the Wisps did their work, wreathed by lightning and fire, riding alternate troughs and waterspouts.

The systems are holding up ... which is good. But the inability to control all those reflections is a horrendous design flaw. We have to do something about that, but I dare not tell base about the problem lest they work out a way to abuse it ...

He winced, however, as a pair of kinetics launched by a submarine that wasn't quite covered by the Wisp shield hit the fleet; the first one vaporising the protective David Seaman, and the second holing a frigate on the waterline.

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Emerson Rochford leaned back in the flight seat of his Su-37 Flanker as he screamed to intercept, his wing behind him. His craft were far outperformed by the Der Angst ones and the Sunset ones, but nevertheless saturation fire was always a possibility.

For him, though, it didn't really matter. A stray deflected laser turned his craft to ash, mid-air.

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

Last to enter the fray were the Der Angst Gauss gun rounds. Like the Ma-Tek kinetics, they were fired through electromagnetic systems ... and so vulnerable to the toroidal shield manipulating their paths. Yet more damage was sent into the Semir-Randil, as several seconds after the missile barrage gleaming coilgun rounds hurtled towards it.

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


OOC: Your a funny man WV - AIM-54 has a range in excess of 184km. Just simply coasting it might be able to hit 1000km from high altitude. That was made in the 70's. It's now 2332. 1000km is nothing. You care to mention how many of those Wisp's you have?

Missiles require thrust to stay in the air - they don't "coast" at all, let alone for 916km or almost 5 times their given operational range. This little combination of things called "gravity" and "air friction" works together to mean even a mid-altitude missile would hit the earth after 50km - and we're talking about low-altitude missiles here. A missile with a range of 1,000km needs a lot of fuel, too, or a massively efficient (and therefore expensive) fuel source - unlikely with today's missiles (which I think the original argument about dangerousness was about). Ahem. Plus, hopefully most missiles have timers in that allow remote detonation past a certain point - actually a standard to prevent theft of technology / unexploded bomb in civilian area problems.

And yes, the pontoons are sinking - but atm only slowly, being honeycombed. And swiss cheese can float ^_^ They're actually just being vaporised faster than they're sinking.

Ma-Tek: the electromagnetic readings from the Wisps were posted to the "Orbital Domination" thread, where you sent out a MISAT, before you posted here. I didn't get time to link it from here however because the forums went down so I went to watch a film, and didn't get back til just now.

Same missile hits in the second barrage as before, but with more Penguins fired by Migs (the wave was already fired, the casualties I'm suffering will come into effect next time). And sorry for the 100 terawatt laser beams - but I didn't put them here.

In terms of timing, there's the missile hit, then a bit later (and continuing) the laser deflection hits, and then the kinetic hits, and then the coilgun hits (and yet more laser ones). The laser hits - from Sunset's figures, assuming the terawatt power he gave per laser is exactly that - are capable of vaporising 315,789,473,684 kilograms of titanium with the 90% effectiveness converting to 90 terawatts of energy.

Total casualties: 7 frigates, 3 destroyers, 1 submarine, all! pontoons and Djinns, 43 of 500 Su-37s, 3 of 500 Migs.
Crippled: 3 frigates, 2 destroyers.

Still awaiting results of 2nd barrage + MTHEM focusfire :o

Edit: spelling, grammar, names, other things I got wrong at midnight. I was very tired, if I accidentally 'called' casualties via a description, assume it's accidental and call it my bad - trying to describe what's heading towards things, not what's actually hitting.

Edit most recent: Ma-Tek hasn't posted yet, but before he does - the toroidal shield mechanic uses such massive electro-magnetic fields that any electronic circuitry onboard the kinetics would simply vaporise. That is kind of important to point out.

A Knootian military (OOC: the force heading out from Rotterdam after the landing post) forms a mobile-defensive position more to the south, alongside the Syskeyians, cutting off the road to the mainport should the Brotherhood forces head there. Silently private de Boer prepare himself mentally for the engagement with the experienced Nod troops. He goes over his weapon again, checking it over and over. The hushed voices of his friends exchange horror-stories of the behaviour in battle of the brotherhood. The stories fill the private with fear, but he grinds his teeth together and prepares for the worst as he lies down on his assigned position, covered only by some bushes. The flat land does not hide much, and from afar the brotherhood forces can be seen at the horizon…

"You looked scared," a young Syskeyian officer observed to Knootian Pvt. de Boer.

<insert reply here

"Yeah, I know... Nod. Did ya know they we almost fought them at Amerigo. D*mned Nod bought some slaves for experiments and stuff, sent a convoy to get them. Of course we said that we weren't gonna let anybody get slaves ... scared s----less 'bout fighting a full-fledged war with the Brotherhood but no, them sneaky Nod got the slaves on submersibles, the whole convoy was to fool us.

I wonder if any of those slaves still survive."

<insert thoughts here, if you want to>

The officer looked at the horizon. "Looks like the battle's coming up," he turned back to de Boer. "Better get that bayonet fixed." He pointed to his own modified M9 bayonet, fixed on his M16. "Never know when you're gonna need it."

<insert thoughts/reply here, if you want to>

"Oh, one more thing before I go," the officer handed the Knootian a rosary. "Hail Mary-" he pointed to the small beads "- and Our Father-" and the large ones. "I've carried that through every battle I've ever been in. Hope it'll help you as it did me."

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

OOC: Still didn't answer the question: How many Wisp's are there? When were they developed by the way?

I will note again that these are not lasers - the energy is not in the visible light portion of the spectrum. They produce visible light as a off-shoot, but the energy is more in the x-ray to gamma ray portion of the EM spectrum.

OOC: Still didn't answer the question: How many Wisp's are there? When were they developed by the way?

I will note again that these are not lasers - the energy is not in the visible light portion of the spectrum. They produce visible light as a off-shoot, but the energy is more in the x-ray to gamma ray portion of the EM spectrum.

Tech note: Lasers due not have to be in the visible wavelength...

OOC: Still didn't answer the question: How many Wisp's are there? When were they developed by the way?

I will note again that these are not lasers - the energy is not in the visible light portion of the spectrum. They produce visible light as a off-shoot, but the energy is more in the x-ray to gamma ray portion of the EM spectrum.

Tech note: Lasers due not have to be in the visible wavelength...

OOC: Still didn't answer the question: How many Wisp's are there? When were they developed by the way?

I will note again that these are not lasers - the energy is not in the visible light portion of the spectrum. They produce visible light as a off-shoot, but the energy is more in the x-ray to gamma ray portion of the EM spectrum.

Tech note: Lasers due not have to be in the visible wavelength...

OOC: Quite true - but the interaction with molecules is highly based on the vibration of the photons involved. The photons we are using are a lot more energetic than the photons in the visible spectrum or near visible spectrum, thus their resemblance to photons in the x-g area of the spectrum.

Oh yes: 300-400 fighters were shooting at the Wisps. The rest were either helping the ground forces or shooting up your ships. Call it 700 each after new casualties.

IC: The freighter that had earlier dropped medical supplies had 'sailed' down the Rhine. The hull was water-tight and the grav drives pushed it along at a reasonable pace. When it reached open water it headed north toward the beach landings. It would make an excellent floating harbor.

OOC: Still didn't answer the question: How many Wisp's are there? When were they developed by the way?

I will note again that these are not lasers - the energy is not in the visible light portion of the spectrum. They produce visible light as a off-shoot, but the energy is more in the x-ray to gamma ray portion of the EM spectrum.

Tech note: Lasers due not have to be in the visible wavelength...

OOC: Quite true - but the interaction with molecules is highly based on the vibration of the photons involved. The photons we are using are a lot more energetic than the photons in the visible spectrum or near visible spectrum, thus their resemblance to photons in the x-g area of the spectrum.

Oh yes: 300-400 fighters were shooting at the Wisps. The rest were either helping the ground forces or shooting up your ships. Call it 700 each after new casualties.

IC: The freighter that had earlier dropped medical supplies had 'sailed' down the Rhine. The hull was water-tight and the grav drives pushed it along at a reasonable pace. When it reached open water it headed north toward the beach landings. It would make an excellent floating harbor.

OOC: The question then becomes, how did you make such a laser? As it would invaribly fry any mirror (necessary for a laser) used to make it? Unless it doesn't fry specialized mirrors, like WV's.

I think if you can make such a laser, and make it at hundreads of Terrawatts (which I would say is FAR beyond reality), then what WV has done is not out of the question...and quite likely more realistic.

OOC: The question then becomes, how did you make such a laser? As it would invaribly fry any mirror (necessary for a laser) used to make it? Unless it doesn't fry specialized mirrors, like WV's.

I think if you can make such a laser, and make it at hundreads of Terrawatts (which I would say is FAR beyond reality), then what WV has done is not out of the question...and quite likely more realistic.

OOC: Such is the wonders of Science Fiction. Since the Republic works off the 1 year per NS day system I would think a lot can be done and overcome in the 250 years the Republic has been in existance. I will admit to not being a physics geek - in many respects that gives me an edge as I can think of what might be possible, not what is today 'impossible'.

I wasn't complaining about WV's Wisps though. I just wish to know numbers.

OOC: The question then becomes, how did you make such a laser? As it would invaribly fry any mirror (necessary for a laser) used to make it? Unless it doesn't fry specialized mirrors, like WV's.

I think if you can make such a laser, and make it at hundreads of Terrawatts (which I would say is FAR beyond reality), then what WV has done is not out of the question...and quite likely more realistic.

OOC: Such is the wonders of Science Fiction. Since the Republic works off the 1 year per NS day system I would think a lot can be done and overcome in the 250 years the Republic has been in existance. I will admit to not being a physics geek - in many respects that gives me an edge as I can think of what might be possible, not what is today 'impossible'.

I wasn't complaining about WV's Wisps though. I just wish to know numbers.

OOC: Well physics geek, figure out how wide(diameter) and long your wires are, and what they are made of...then calculate how much energy your putting through them. See what happens. :)

You could also try your optics, lasing medium, etc. etc. with respect to power, frequency, and other such variables.

I'm a physics geek too.

Your right, it is sci-fi...but this seems more "mine is longer" sci-fi rather then unique/intelligent/story oriented sci-fi.

I don't mean offense, I know your a good RPer, thats just what it seems like.

FIAWOL

OOC:

ok. Quick notes:
250 Wisps deployed so far.

Wisp chassis in current form perfected after Melkor's attempt to destroy my elven specimens.

Toroidal shields developed by Austrin-Ontis.

Edit: wavelength of light doesn't really matter, the description of them being visible was purely that - for description. The use of diaelectric shields with resonaters essentially means the mirrors 'adapt' to whatever energy source is incoming.

And how many DA-100s are still left?

The Hague
Zaem eyes the Lavenrunz Marines, "It seems your own reputation is well deserved as well, Colonel. However, I am on urgent business. Lord Adonis is leading a force of Sardaukar, Ortagan Enforcers, and Knootian military to help retake the city. They will be here in approxiamately an hour and a half. Once they arrive perhaps you would join us in making a push against the Dominion strongholds farther inward into the Hague?"

Colonel Letz says, "By all means. My General intends to crush them in a pincer movement--we need Syskeyia and the group with you to help though, we took heavy casualties in our Second Brigade and our Tank Battalion from those damned UAVs."
Turning to her staff, including a Syskeyian liason officer, she says, "I need you to tell the Syskeyian Corps commander of our intentions, we will need his support." and looking at her artillery and naval liasons, "And from both of your commands as well. In the Empress' Name, let us give them Hell!"

Schevenigen:
General Grieg gave orders for the artillery to prepare to fire into the city again.

Out to Sea, no more than 150 miles from the Knootian Coast:

In spite of storms, in spite of high seas...
The Imperial Atlantic Fleet had arrived. Immediately, Aegis systems were alert for air attacks; the submarine squadron fanned out and anti-submarine helicopters took off, dropping sonar buoys in the water. Harpoon, Sea Sparrow and Mjolnir missile racks swiveled and made ready.

Spread out in a staggered approach, the Fleet was the largest assembled at one time in years by the Empire of Lavenrunz.
5 big Lost Vegas class carriers, 10 Aegis cruisers, 30 Sigmund class destroyers, 40 Magnus class frigates, 10 minehunters, 8 Wolfhund class submarines, and 15 support ships of various kinds, all moving in rapidly.
30 Viking long range attack fighters swept up off decks and towards the land to seek out and destroy what they could of the landed forces of the Brotherhood of Nod.
50 Wachtmeisters and 50 Feuerkatz Fighter-Bombers went up to hunt the enemy fleets.
10 Norn AWACs planes flew up to give further tactical advantage.
10 Valar electronic warfare planes were among the last in the air, to jam the enemy signals as best they could.
Empress Joanna murmured, "Now we shall see."

OOC: After reading Wazzu's post I am suddenly reminded that I'm not here to be a numberwanker. I hate numberwanking. This is about role-playing, not uber-planes and uber-ships.

IC:
"This is getting ridiculous." Washington said as he sat watching war coverage from cameramen in the field and high overhead. He opened a channel to the 53rd, and minutes later was sitting in the Captain's chair. "Call the Knootoss government in exile. Punch a comm-signal straight through and contact Whispering Voices, SATO, EOTED, Theles, everyone. Let's go for a cease fire - a chance to collect the wounded and see if we can sort this thing out. Call it 24 hours with a provisional continuation."

He then recorded a message to be used. "This is a request to all combatants. We request a 24 hour ceasefire to collect the wounded and begin peace talks. We are willing to begin a ceasefire immediately."

ooc: casualities: From the attack on Dyelli Beybi: 118 fighters, 138 bombers. I assume there are still some smaller vessels of his fleet left (I really wonder nobody from the Klatchian coast post casualities...), as there were masses of them, however, i doubt anything that was left has any strategic value.

From The attack on WV: 48 fighters. Assume they have returned to their base

---

ic:

We have problems rescuing our lost pilots and enemy survivors from the attack on Dyelli Beybi, and ask anyone with vessels near to the coordinates of their fleet to send rescue teams. Also, send escorts, as there are possibly vessels remaining.

~ Der Angst Knootoss intervention force

---

[ooc: I`m not sure... with his last post in this thread, TST still had forces in The Hague, although others had withdrawn, correct? If he has completely withdrawn... ummm... well, i have to edit]

"Ok. Now to coordinate this with Lavenrunz... we don`t have any heavy artillery, and need their help."

We intend to get the city back, or, to be more precise, to crush the TST forces still in The Hague. I assume you plan the same. We think our infantry is perfect for this job, however, we lack artillery. So i would like to request artillery coverage from your forces. Five min. massive artillery fire on a hundred meter deep sector, then moving the fire foreward while we attack. Acceptable?

---

Message to Sunset:

We would of course accept such an agreement, however, right now, we have to wait for the dominion response.

***Brotherhood army A, just northwest of Delft, Knootoss***

"Sir, there are enemy soldiers moving towards us. They seem to be preparing for battle."

"Prepare the troops. How many enemies?"

"I estimate that there are some six divisions from Syskeyia, and an unknown number of Knootians. The Syskeyians seem to be the largest threat, however, because the Knootians have taken a defensive position.

"Put the men with the Tiberium autorifles on front. Noone hit by those Tiberium shards lived longer then a few hours to tell the tale. Put the tanks on the flanks for cover, and let them come."

"Yes sir."

"By the way, any news from group B and C?"

"They reached the outskirts of Delft, sir."

"Tell them to establish a temporary HQ at the university. And any hostile civilians are to be shot."

"Yes sir."

***Just outside Knootian Territorial Waters***

The new Brotherhood fleet moved in the direction of Hoek van Holland at full speed, then turned to the north. Admiral Ramirez stood on the bridge of the flagship of the fleet, one of the largest and most powerful ships of the Brotherhood's navy, the Cairo. Accompanying it were eight other battleships, three aircraft carriers carrying 50 Banshees, 30 Apaches and 20 Harpy's each, ten AEGIS cruisers, twelve normal cruisers, twenty destroyers and fifteen submarines. There was even a submarine from the Supremacy class, bought from The Silver Turtle. The huge number of transport ships brought a new Brotherhood force to Knootoss, as well as parts of the Dominion Standing Army.

***Temple of Nod, Cairo***

"Incoming transmission from Sunset, mylord."

"Put it through." Kane replied.

"This is a request to all combatants. We request a 24 hour ceasefire to collect the wounded and begin peace talks. We are willing to begin a ceasefire immediately."

"Pathetic!" Kane laughed. "A 24hour cease fire so more troops can be sent against Dominion forces in Knootoss? Do they think I'm stupid?"

"Peace is for the weak, and that goes for cease fires as well."

*is amazed how fast the fleets arrive*

considering there isn´t even a day gone since the fighting begun... and yes, i`m guilty as well, nevertheless...

*is amazed how fast the fleets arrive*

considering there isn´t even a day gone since the fighting begun... and yes, i`m guilty as well, nevertheless...

I posted the preparation of my fleet at least 2 RL days ago, that's plenty of time to get it to Knootoss.

*is amazed how fast the fleets arrive*

considering there isn´t even a day gone since the fighting begun... and yes, i`m guilty as well, nevertheless...

I posted the preparation of my fleet at least 2 RL days ago, that's plenty of time to get it to Knootoss.

Problem is in knootoss itselve, only a few hours have actually 'happened' (Fluid time...)... well, whatever.

Retconned, and sorry again for the confusion, having some one think (in RL) that the Dominion is a cult and a tool of the anti-Christ can really harm your sanity

*is amazed how fast the fleets arrive*

considering there isn´t even a day gone since the fighting begun... and yes, i`m guilty as well, nevertheless...

I posted the preparation of my fleet at least 2 RL days ago, that's plenty of time to get it to Knootoss.

Problem is in knootoss itselve, only a few hours have actually 'happened' (Fluid time...)... well, whatever.

Yeah, but else I have to wait some 6 RL months to be able to send another fleet...

*is amazed how fast the fleets arrive*

considering there isn´t even a day gone since the fighting begun... and yes, i`m guilty as well, nevertheless...

I posted the preparation of my fleet at least 2 RL days ago, that's plenty of time to get it to Knootoss.

Problem is in knootoss itselve, only a few hours have actually 'happened' (Fluid time...)... well, whatever.

Yeah, but else I have to wait some 6 RL months to be able to send another fleet...

You have a point.

---

Edited, seems like people got sane again.

retconned

ooc: casualities: From the attack on Dyelli Beybi: 118 fighters, 138 bombers. I assume there are still some smaller vessels of his fleet left (I really wonder nobody from the Klatchian coast post casualities...), as there were masses of them, however, i doubt anything that was left has any strategic value.


OOC:I'm assuming that was the attack against DB ships...and not the nation...second, it appears that the only myself, Vrak, and jiggady have been on the boards recently...I don't have authority to post his losses...

ooc: casualities: From the attack on Dyelli Beybi: 118 fighters, 138 bombers. I assume there are still some smaller vessels of his fleet left (I really wonder nobody from the Klatchian coast post casualities...), as there were masses of them, however, i doubt anything that was left has any strategic value.


OOC:I'm assuming that was the attack against DB ships...and not the nation...second, it appears that the only myself, Vrak, and jiggady have been on the boards recently...I don't have authority to post his losses...

Oh... well, i will edit anything that needs to be edited after someone with said authority returns :) And yes, the fleet, not the nation.

retconned

[ooc: Oh, great. Nukefest.]

retconned

rectonned

OOC:
Okay. I am usually a VERY permissive person but there are limits. This is derailing a good RP in no time. I have talked this over with TST amongst others and we have decided to give Thelas one final warning. Aside from the whole tech discusion this really is dumb because of:
1) the technical stupidity which I will not go into now.
2) it completely ignoring the plans that were made by the others in the Dominion forum.
3) it provoking a nOOkfest
4) me not liking people screaming "ignore".
5) me asking about the spelling kindly on the Dominion forum: I am now insisting. If you do not have "time" for it don't post.

Basically what I want everyone to do now is:
-edit all the "I nookz youz" the posts after the one Thelas made. That also includes Angsty's (IMHO to be expected) bio attack. Replace them with the word "rectonned".
- Thelas you are to STICK TO THE PLAN. Doing something that is not in accordance or completely contrary to the plan results in immidate BANNING. I'll be the judge of what is or what is not acting against the plan. Backcheck with your allies please, and read what they posted.
-Do not ignore attacks on you unless you talked it over OOC first. (On IRC, another thread, whatever, but NOT here.
-Thelas: try to improve your spelling. Use Word or another programme if you need to.

Comments --) on TG or IRC. Thelas: you comment about this in the thread you are automatically BANNED from the RP. If you wish to leave voluntary TG me. Your troops can be replaced by [#random dominion nation] forces.

"Science! Did they just do what the hell I thi-"

The klaaxon rippled through the ship; sighs accompanied it.

A heartbeat later, a moan of pain issues from twenty lips - half of which sit on the bridge.

Their consciousness' seep into the complex systems of the mighty warship - and her reaction time doesn't improve any, but they can interact faster.

And they do. The total calculation capability of their brains with their bodies immobile but functioning was immense; number crunching ensues, with whispers of voices discussing subjects intensley in gibberish talk - each word disconnected by a few degrees of velocity, washing one into the next...

{Sarah swelled in size. She could not utilize this new processing capacity - but they would serve their purporse. She felt the lasers moving in on her hull, and draw energy up from her mighty cores;

ahhh suffusing

her with their energies... and her fingers, her eyes, her toes, her crew mingled in her delight at the surge she had requested-

-and she released the energy into a sophisticated EMF, turning the targeting solution zone into an EM lense...

...the field twists, gnarling invisibley into a layered figure of eight-}

Dust ripped away from the upper deck of the Semir-randil as the already-turbulent air was whipped into a frenzy by the outpouring of electrons-

{-and her hands, her fingers, interacted, knitting the field into a desirable position... microseconds ticked by...}

...and her hull glowed gloriously as the laser(s) swept across its surface, steam of ocean spray obscuring the warship below...

But the atmosphere around the warship is quite inhospitable besides; the air whirls about her magnetic lense construction.

And the very next instant, a bright green flash is hinted at amongst the steam-

Booms arrive, rolling over the ocean with a whispering scream building to an ear-rattling shuddering howl. Flashes of blue mingled with orange light up the steamy cloud hanging over the warship Semir-randil as missiles streak inwards, slamming into her hull-

-and her hull screams as it punctures midship on the starboard side.

Flashes light up the steam, and it is seared away by a rolling explosion as yet another deck blasts off of the warship; burning matter flung out at velocity.

An entire deck plate into the side of the Devastator that had hung back, frantically firing its EF beams - beams which had twisted uncontrollably at close distance to Semir-randil - and the once gleaming warship groans inaudibly as she rolls to port. The flotsam rolls up and over her - if she had any deck crew, then casualties would have occurred. As it is, the only casualties are broken arms caused when the ship rolled unexpectedly.

* * *

"They're going to die, sir," reported the CarrierIntelSensA (CISA).

"I'm damned well aware of that, Ri'lahn. What do you suggest we do? We're on a strict mission protocol. Our arriving must be timed down to the last instant; if we do arrive late, or early, or at any other than the appointed time, our men will be unsupported. Damned and damned, whichever path," the Captain murmoured to the man leaning down at his right.

To his left, seated next to him in the new-style Nest, was his first officer. Quietly, she reminded him, "If they're dead before we arrive, then our men die anyway."

Her voice was deep, throaty. Human, from the North of Ax-turath.

The carrier had slowly moved into position above Vilya Elenosto. She had remained behind the station while the other warships had moved out; unescorted, she was to deploy her interceptor/fighter complement - and the escorts with her - after a high-velocity orbital insertion.

She was meant to do so moments after the other carriers arrived, so she was covered from enemy assault.

"Let's fry em," the Captain mumbled.

"Helm! Change in protocol; set course for waypoint 2alpha, position OI3KH. Acknowledge?"

Muted clicks come from the board of the helmsman. "Acknowledged. Waypoint 2alpha, trade to position Orbital Insertion 3 Knootoss H. - Helm is reporting: ready and level for initiate, sirs."

A finger hovered over a small key marked 'AI INITIATE COM'.

"Initiate," barked the Captain with his usual rousing style.

* * *

The Fear class carrier IDSS Fear (SG) bellied-up and rolled out of position behind the EOTED orbital colony Vilya Elenosto - Tatya ordering the route especially at whim and relaying the details to the Fear AI - and glowed a vibrant pulsing white as she... sat absolutely still.

Several seconds tick by. And promptly, the warship vanishes, speeding away at full acceleration to her insertion point.

* * *

The Semir-randil's cloud of mist is ripped away at last; she is revealed.

Listing badly to one side, the mighty warship is no longer so mighty. Half of her third structure is ripped away, and she looks forlorn.

But not out. Segments of her hull still glow... and somehow, she looks vibrant.

Reason apparent becomes thus with startling rapidity. Her remaining hull segments - just 8,413 of them - swivel about to reveal their EF beam selves.

They ripples with vibrant energy as they power up - and to the right sensor system, the EM field snapping to position onto its target would be visible.

At full power, all of the EF beams let loose their 'collected particulates'.

They chug to at first, during the first 100microseconds; pulses of exotic matter are released - collected during the destruction of nearby hull cells - but that matter is worthless.

It's the surge that follows that counts.

The beams are nigh on invisible at first - not to the human eye, mind, as it wouldn't even see them at this point - but they already reach out to their targets, icey cold fingers grasping...

The beams snap to, 350mW electron cannons - the combined efforts of clusters of cells of EF clusters, firing single beams each - flaring the atmosphere with light as the lightning-like bolts lash out towards the Wisps.

The old EM lense crumples out of existance, and the energy that frees is immediatley diverted to the beams - increasing their efficiency slightly.

* * *

As the beams are snapping to, the X#s are ascending to 250,000 feet and hunting for targets. The aircraft were responsible for the luckily-timed booms moments earlier - and most of them believe the Semir-randil already destroyed.

Below, the whiteness of the beams stuns the pilots for an instant; their cockpits, their g-restraints clear before them - they shudder at it all. Smoke, endless glaring smoke drifts around; dull, sundering booms are barely audible every now and then...

Snarling, the lead pilot leads his wing down towards the Whispering Voices fleet in freefall.

[OOC: At this point, all twelve aircraft loose their kinetics at the same moment; two kinetics per aircraft, thus twenty-four total shots. Two-point-five ton yield per missile. All missiles are not guided, but dumb, on straight-arrow flights down, full power. These are ADH-VWs - designed to be dropped onto a target directly from 250,000 feet. Up to 45% hits are likely, at best. Thirteen-seconds is not enough time, in this case, to avoid taking a hit somewhere - so long as the missile stays true. 45% is actually a liberal estimate, as I suspect the actual figure would be higher. But we'll stick with 45%.]

IC:

* * *

The aircraft ripped down through the atmosphere, having vaulted from the womb of its mother, the IDSS Fear.

The pilot snarled. "They're killing our people down there. My wing, drop to 75,000 feet and make something come shoot at us. Beta, get to 67,000 feet once we engage - cruise at 145,000 until one of us gives the whistle."

He pauses, wishing intently that he could scratch his nose. The acknowledgements are flung back at him, little lasers feeding him the mana of the engagement: knowledge.

He sniffed, continuing, "Squadron Leader Relnri-Rihad, you're under me on this one, as you recall. So. Take your squadron in real close... and ram US bombs down their throats. - The rest of my squadron will provide cannon fire cover. Clear. No acknowledgement. Radio silence; we are nearing 250,000feet. Over."

The formation of two squadrons - one hundred aircraft... fifty X#s, fifty M#s... breaks and wheels apart as it descends. Enemy scans might reveal as many as sixty aircraft, at best.

[OOC: Will edit if required.]

OOC: I realize I have been able to post that much and I sincerely apologize, but my school started early this year, and my class schedule is horrendous. This is an uber-post. Lavenrunz, I am sorry but I cannot individual RP right now, if you are still active, consider that Lord Adonis and the main Valinon/Ortagan/Knootian force has met up with you.

[b]Current Valinon/Ortagan Deployment to Knootoss.[b/]

[b]Ground Forces[b/]
80,000 Valinon Imperial Sardaukar under Field Marshall von Richter
45,000 Ortagan Elite Guard under General Volgorba
Composite units of tanks, infantry, artillery, light armour

[b]Naval Forces[b/]
7 Megladon-class carriers: HMS Bartholomew, HMS Dominion, HMS Vincent Sterling, HMS Lillet Maria, HMS St. Helena, HMS Gilbraltar
6 Poseidon-class battlecruisers: HMS Armageddon, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Triumvirate, HMS Gunther Vernon, HMS Ignatious, HMS Victory
4 Hornet-class esort carriers
10 Agean-class primary long-range missile cruisers
10 Agean II-class secondary long-range missile cruisers
8 Jacob-class frigates
12 Sea Hawk-class destroyers
24 Atlantian-class submarines

[b]Aerospace Core[b/]
42 various configuration Needle-class modular aerospace fighters
12 jet coptor gunship squadrons

[b]Valinon Earth Situation[b/]
All Valinon treaty ports have been put on full alert, including a quarantine against all ships fighting against Coalition forces
All embassies on Earth are on full alert for potential Dominion attacks

OOC: Gotcha Valinon. BTW, I do recall Nod saying that he was going to send more ships and stuff-- I wish he wouldn't ;) but fair enough.
Also, just a reminder:
Spread out in a staggered approach, the Fleet was the largest assembled at one time in years by the Empire of Lavenrunz.
5 big Lost Vegas class carriers, 10 Aegis cruisers, 30 Sigmund class destroyers, 40 Magnus class frigates, 10 minehunters, 8 Wolfhund class submarines, and 15 support ships of various kinds, all moving in rapidly.
30 Viking long range attack fighters swept up off decks and towards the land to seek out and destroy what they could of the landed forces of the Brotherhood of Nod.
50 Wachtmeisters and 50 Feuerkatz Fighter-Bombers went up to hunt the enemy fleets.
10 Norn AWACs planes flew up to give further tactical advantage.
10 Valar electronic warfare planes were among the last in the air, to jam the enemy signals as best they could.
Empress Joanna murmured, "Now we shall see."
IC:
The Imperial Fleet moved in closer.
Deploying landing forces. thought the Empress as reports flooded in.
The leopard strikes at the buffalo who is feeding so deep that his back and neck are vulnerable.
"Strike now." she said, as the electronic warfare planes moved into range.
As the jamming began, from every weapons command in the fleet came orders:
Submarines to fire torpedos at the Nod aegis cruisers and carrier; missiles to be launched at all available targets, the fighters not assigned to attack landing forces to attack the carriers as well.

The sailors and pilots who were ready to put themselves to harm were full of a strange joy. Was the Empress not the annointed of God? Were they not of Lavenrunz?

I, Lieutenant von Ihengen of the 43rd Naval Tactical Fighter Squadron, put on my helmet and breathing gear. I do a final flight check, and I am not afraid. The picture of the Empress, blessed by Her own hand, is in my pocket, and I go gladly as my ancestors rode to battle sword in hand.


Dear Felix

I think my battery will be engaged today. I heard one of the officers saying that the Noddist fleet was landing at Delft, and we would engage them. I am glad that the Empress is here. I feel that nothing can go wrong now.
Please kiss our children for me, as I did for you during your service. I have no more time to write.
Love Elisa.

As one of the Wacthmeister Squadrons, desiring nothing but to lock horns directly with enemy planes, swept along through the clouds, the leader prayed, Send thine hand from above; rid me and deliver me out of great waters from the hand of strange children.

"All Mjolnir systems checked." reported a warrant officer to the gunnery officer on one of the destroyers.
"Understood."

From marines at anti aircraft batteries to the programmers deep in the ship worshipping the mute electronic gods of the Aegis to ratings with fire fighting equipment to the command staff in every bridge, all wills projected the force of the Lavenrunzian fleet at the fleet of the Brotherhood of Nod.

More than 300 missile racks launched their arms as the planes began to howl down out of the air towards the enemy.

Admiral von Manstein, under the water, gave orders for half the sumbarine squadron to launch their arms.

***Brotherhood army A, just northwest of Delft, Knootoss***

"Sir, there are enemy soldiers moving towards us. They seem to be preparing for battle."

"Prepare the troops. How many enemies?"

"I estimate that there are some six divisions from Syskeyia, and an unknown number of Knootians. The Syskeyians seem to be the largest threat, however, because the Knootians have taken a defensive position.

"Put the men with the Tiberium autorifles on front. Noone hit by those Tiberium shards lived longer then a few hours to tell the tale. Put the tanks on the flanks for cover, and let them come."

"Yes sir."

"By the way, any news from group B and C?"

"They reached the outskirts of Delft, sir."

"Tell them to establish a temporary HQ at the university. And any hostile civilians are to be shot."

"Yes sir."

"Sir, looks like the Nod's sending in their autogunners!"

Tiberium rounds? Blast! "Break out the gunshields and assault them with rifle grenades!"

The Syskeyian soldiers quickly set up the gunshields, bombarding the Nod autgunners with Luchaire rifle grenades within seconds. On the Nod flanks, Spider Tanks were assaulted with fire from M1A3 Abrams tanks, Comanche helicopters, F-35 JSFs, and antitank rockets from rifle squads (every one of my rifle squads has a "rocketman," who has a anti-tank/personnel rocket.

OOC: The M1A3 is a modified M1A2 SEP tank, with the turbine replaced with a diesel of equal HP, improved secondary armament, and gunshields around the hatches. Also, the gunshields carried by the infantry look like this:
http://www.isayeret.com/units/civi/civi-24.jpg

IC:
***Just outside Knootian Territorial Waters***

The new Brotherhood fleet moved in the direction of Hoek van Holland at full speed, then turned to the north. Admiral Ramirez stood on the bridge of the flagship of the fleet, one of the largest and most powerful ships of the Brotherhood's navy, the Cairo. Accompanying it were eight other battleships, three aircraft carriers carrying 50 Banshees, 30 Apaches and 20 Harpy's each, ten AEGIS cruisers, twelve normal cruisers, twenty destroyers and fifteen submarines. There was even a submarine from the Supremacy class, bought from The Silver Turtle. The huge number of transport ships brought a new Brotherhood force to Knootoss, as well as parts of the Dominion Standing Army.

"Sir..."

"Yes, I know. Nod's got a new fleet, and it doesn't look good. Head toward the Lavenrunzian fleet, and we'll fight off the Nod together."

"Yes, sir."

"Hail Mary, full of grace..."

---

Saint Romanus Naval Base, New Nicaea, Syskeyia

Five more Syskeyian Carrier battlegroups set sail for Knootian waters. (OOC: They'll be there by RL morning)

BTW, I do recall Nod saying that he was going to send more ships and stuff-- I wish he wouldn't ;) but fair enough.

OOC: Ditto to that remark. :wink:

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

OOC: I realize I have been able to post that much and I sincerely apologize, but my school started early this year, and my class schedule is horrendous. This is an uber-post. Lavenrunz, I am sorry but I cannot individual RP right now, if you are still active, consider that Lord Adonis and the main Valinon/Ortagan/Knootian force has met up with you.

[b]Current Valinon/Ortagan Deployment to Knootoss.[b/]

[b]Ground Forces[b/]
80,000 Valinon Imperial Sardaukar under Field Marshall von Richter
45,000 Ortagan Elite Guard under General Volgorba
Composite units of tanks, infantry, artillery, light armour

[b]Naval Forces[b/]
7 Megladon-class carriers: HMS Bartholomew, HMS Dominion, HMS Vincent Sterling, HMS Lillet Maria, HMS St. Helena, HMS Gilbraltar
6 Poseidon-class battlecruisers: HMS Armageddon, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Triumvirate, HMS Gunther Vernon, HMS Ignatious, HMS Victory
4 Hornet-class esort carriers
10 Agean-class primary long-range missile cruisers
10 Agean II-class secondary long-range missile cruisers
8 Jacob-class frigates
12 Sea Hawk-class destroyers
24 Atlantian-class submarines

[b]Aerospace Core[b/]
42 various configuration Needle-class modular aerospace fighters
12 jet coptor gunship squadrons

[b]Valinon Earth Situation[b/]
All Valinon treaty ports have been put on full alert, including a quarantine against all ships fighting against Coalition forces
All embassies on Earth are on full alert for potential Dominion attacks

The orders of Empress Joanna von Sachshausen, Secretary-General of SATO and Empress of Lavenrunz to the forces listed above:
1. That Marshal von Richter will hold half the Sardaukar forces in reserve while the rest of his land forces engage enemy positions facing the Knootian forces in the Hanse. (reinforcing the battered Der Angst, Diablo EOTED and 2nd Imperial Marine Brigade positions.)
2. The Ortagan forces will support Knootian and Syskeyian forces which are attacking the landward positions of the Brotherhood of Nod.
3. Naval forces will devote themselves to prevent further attacks by air and sea, and will provide air cover for land forces, supporting the main assaults. Five cruisers will use long range cruise missiles to support this attack in particular.
4. 12 Submarines are to support the Lavenrunzian Atlantic Fleet by doing a search and destroy mission for enemy submarines.
5. 4 carriers supported by escorts as follows: HMS Bartholemew, HMS Vincent Sterling accompanied by two battlecruisers, four destroyers, two frigates, 5 Aegean long range missile cruisers are to go to the assistance of the EOTED fleet.

ALL SATO forces and those of allies under SATO command are ordered to engage the enemy with all swiftness and efficiency.

Joanna von Sachshausen
Empress of Lavenrunz
Secretary-General of SATO

"No responce yet Admiral." "Keep trying." Washington paced the bridge.

OOC: I sent out a request for a ceasefire. DA is the only one who has responded. It may have escaped notice so I'm drawing attention to it.

ooc: 1. post edited, so the missile attack as well as my backslash never happened i presume?

2. okok, i see the point. NOTE: I never ignored Nods fleet, i was just curious ;)

3. Sunset, Nod also responded. He said 'No.' ;)

*Still waits for Lavenrunz artillery on TST forces in The Hague, as he does not intend to send his forces on a suicide mission*

---

ic:

The transporters rolled in, one after another. The crews were busy loading missiles, ammunition, and fuel cells into the giant subs. Their schedule was a horror... practically, they should be finished yesterday...

With the missiles, other things came... parts of planes... what was lost in the attack on Dyelli Beybi, needed to be replaced.

With them came pilots, young ones, it would be their first mission...

Time was short.

Faster.

Faster.

---

Nod fleet:

A single submarine, the 'Günther Prien' in the rough sea.

It was an easy day, nothing happened, the war... was somewhere else.

Until...

"Captain, a destroyer, right in front of us!"
"What? Show me."

He watched it. Yes, a destroyer. But he was uncertain what this destroyer was... allied? Hostile?

Then, for a short moment, he could see something on his side...

http://www.thaigameonline.com/cheat/walkthrouth/firestorm/nod_logo.gif

"Enemy vessel. Be ready to fire!"
"Understood."
"And...!"

[ooc: *assumes the destroyer detected the sub and starts something against it*]

---

South of The hague, Nod- landing:

The Syskeyian forces were firing, the battle was going on. The few survivors of the Angst- forces that witnessed the Nod- landing, were fighting as a block, within the combined Syskeyian attack.

And another one bites the dust. Private Ulf Gerstenbauer watched the Nod- troopers head exploding, after it was hit with a 20mm round of his assault rifle.

At the moment there was nothing but chaos, and it wasn`t clear who was winning, or who was loosing. The only thing that was clear: It was a killing field.

The five extra carrier battlegroups have arrived in Knootian waters, alongside the Syskeyian fleets already there and the Lavenrunzian navy.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

~ Secure Transmission ~
To Der Angst command:
I apologize for not responding earlier, communications have not been what they could be and I have been forced to use a relay system from the fleet. Radios designed for use in Lodoss and the Reich seem not to function so well here.
You will have the 7th Artillery Battalion, consisting of 3 batteries of 155mm howitzers, one battery of air defense artillery, and one battery of 160mm MRLS.

- General Anton Grieg, 2nd Imperial Marine Division
~ End Transmission ~

To Admiral Washington

I cannot conceive at this time of any cease fire when both sides clearly expect success. In 24 hours we may have a different response to you.

- my warmest regards
Joanna von Sachshausen
Empress of Lavenrunz
Secretary-General of SATO

They were obvious, really. The aircraft were creating huge radar cross section images - the M#s, anyway.

The enemy would see them coming.

And so... it made little difference if allied forces were advised to be aware that...

* * *

SATO air forces are to be informed that IDF AF assets are inbound, and will engage the enemy above Knootian waters with all possible swiftness. Vast reinforcements are available if required.

Path remain true beneath our feet,

~ High Lord Commodore Semir-randil, CINCAIR SATO

[OOC: I'll reply tomorrow at university. If they have my account working by then :x ]

OOC: I realize I have been able to post that much and I sincerely apologize, but my school started early this year, and my class schedule is horrendous. This is an uber-post. Lavenrunz, I am sorry but I cannot individual RP right now, if you are still active, consider that Lord Adonis and the main Valinon/Ortagan/Knootian force has met up with you.

[b]Current Valinon/Ortagan Deployment to Knootoss.[b/]

[b]Ground Forces[b/]
80,000 Valinon Imperial Sardaukar under Field Marshall von Richter
45,000 Ortagan Elite Guard under General Volgorba
Composite units of tanks, infantry, artillery, light armour

[b]Naval Forces[b/]
7 Megladon-class carriers: HMS Bartholomew, HMS Dominion, HMS Vincent Sterling, HMS Lillet Maria, HMS St. Helena, HMS Gilbraltar
6 Poseidon-class battlecruisers: HMS Armageddon, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Triumvirate, HMS Gunther Vernon, HMS Ignatious, HMS Victory
4 Hornet-class esort carriers
10 Agean-class primary long-range missile cruisers
10 Agean II-class secondary long-range missile cruisers
8 Jacob-class frigates
12 Sea Hawk-class destroyers
24 Atlantian-class submarines

[b]Aerospace Core[b/]
42 various configuration Needle-class modular aerospace fighters
12 jet coptor gunship squadrons

[b]Valinon Earth Situation[b/]
All Valinon treaty ports have been put on full alert, including a quarantine against all ships fighting against Coalition forces
All embassies on Earth are on full alert for potential Dominion attacks

The orders of Empress Joanna von Sachshausen, Secretary-General of SATO and Empress of Lavenrunz to the forces listed above:
1. That Marshal von Richter will hold half the Sardaukar forces in reserve while the rest of his land forces engage enemy positions facing the Knootian forces in the Hanse. (reinforcing the battered Der Angst, Diablo EOTED and 2nd Imperial Marine Brigade positions.)
2. The Ortagan forces will support Knootian and Syskeyian forces which are attacking the landward positions of the Brotherhood of Nod.
3. Naval forces will devote themselves to prevent further attacks by air and sea, and will provide air cover for land forces, supporting the main assaults. Five cruisers will use long range cruise missiles to support this attack in particular.
4. 12 Submarines are to support the Lavenrunzian Atlantic Fleet by doing a search and destroy mission for enemy submarines.
5. 4 carriers supported by escorts as follows: HMS Bartholemew, HMS Vincent Sterling accompanied by two battlecruisers, four destroyers, two frigates, 5 Aegean long range missile cruisers are to go to the assistance of the EOTED fleet.

ALL SATO forces and those of allies under SATO command are ordered to engage the enemy with all swiftness and efficiency.

Joanna von Sachshausen
Empress of Lavenrunz
Secretary-General of SATO

In Valinon controlled Amsterdam, Field Marshall von Richter, General Volgorba, Lord Adonis, and Vice Admiral Perry are holding a holoconference with several AIs present providing tactical information and other data.
Lord Adonis turns to von Richter, "Field Marshall, hold all remaining men in Amstedam and in the cities we have garrisoned. Reserves will be critical in this war. I have been on the comm with Lady Rolt and she is sending a message back to home world to propose additional forces being sent. Our forces currently in the Hague should be enough to reinforce our allied positions there."
He turns to General Volgorba, "Madam General, I am always glad for New Ortaga's assistance. I will use the Ortagan forces under my command to support the ailing forces striking against NOD positions. I must now ask that you send me some additional personnel to support our Knootian allies incorporated in our main force."
"Of course, Lord Adonis," the Ortagan general nods.
Adonis at last turns to Perry, "Vice Admiral, you have at your disposa 65% of Valinon's total Earth terrestrial navy. Now you must use it secure the allied anti-submarine defense. However, you must now take the lead elements of our fleet in the form of the HMS Bartholomew, the HMS Vincent Sterling, HMS Dominion, and HMS St. Helena to support the EOTED fleet. Use the battlecruiser elements under the HMS Victory and HMS Ignatious to provide long-range fire power and carrier defense."
"Yes, My Lord."
"Aero superiority is something we cannot do without now. I must now authorize that 85 percent of all of Valinon's aero core here be mobilised at once. What is held back will serve as base defense and will be mostly jet coptor gunships with some Needle interceptors for fighter support. You have your orders carry them out."

OOC: I realize I have been able to post that much and I sincerely apologize, but my school started early this year, and my class schedule is horrendous. This is an uber-post. Lavenrunz, I am sorry but I cannot individual RP right now, if you are still active, consider that Lord Adonis and the main Valinon/Ortagan/Knootian force has met up with you.

[b]Current Valinon/Ortagan Deployment to Knootoss.[b/]

[b]Ground Forces[b/]
80,000 Valinon Imperial Sardaukar under Field Marshall von Richter
45,000 Ortagan Elite Guard under General Volgorba
Composite units of tanks, infantry, artillery, light armour

[b]Naval Forces[b/]
7 Megladon-class carriers: HMS Bartholomew, HMS Dominion, HMS Vincent Sterling, HMS Lillet Maria, HMS St. Helena, HMS Gilbraltar
6 Poseidon-class battlecruisers: HMS Armageddon, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Triumvirate, HMS Gunther Vernon, HMS Ignatious, HMS Victory
4 Hornet-class esort carriers
10 Agean-class primary long-range missile cruisers
10 Agean II-class secondary long-range missile cruisers
8 Jacob-class frigates
12 Sea Hawk-class destroyers
24 Atlantian-class submarines

[b]Aerospace Core[b/]
42 various configuration Needle-class modular aerospace fighters
12 jet coptor gunship squadrons

[b]Valinon Earth Situation[b/]
All Valinon treaty ports have been put on full alert, including a quarantine against all ships fighting against Coalition forces
All embassies on Earth are on full alert for potential Dominion attacks

The orders of Empress Joanna von Sachshausen, Secretary-General of SATO and Empress of Lavenrunz to the forces listed above:
1. That Marshal von Richter will hold half the Sardaukar forces in reserve while the rest of his land forces engage enemy positions facing the Knootian forces in the Hanse. (reinforcing the battered Der Angst, Diablo EOTED and 2nd Imperial Marine Brigade positions.)
2. The Ortagan forces will support Knootian and Syskeyian forces which are attacking the landward positions of the Brotherhood of Nod.
3. Naval forces will devote themselves to prevent further attacks by air and sea, and will provide air cover for land forces, supporting the main assaults. Five cruisers will use long range cruise missiles to support this attack in particular.
4. 12 Submarines are to support the Lavenrunzian Atlantic Fleet by doing a search and destroy mission for enemy submarines.
5. 4 carriers supported by escorts as follows: HMS Bartholemew, HMS Vincent Sterling accompanied by two battlecruisers, four destroyers, two frigates, 5 Aegean long range missile cruisers are to go to the assistance of the EOTED fleet.

ALL SATO forces and those of allies under SATO command are ordered to engage the enemy with all swiftness and efficiency.

Joanna von Sachshausen
Empress of Lavenrunz
Secretary-General of SATO

In Valinon controlled Amsterdam, Field Marshall von Richter, General Volgorba, Lord Adonis, and Vice Admiral Perry are holding a holoconference with several AIs present providing tactical information and other data.
Lord Adonis turns to von Richter, "Field Marshall, hold all remaining men in Amstedam and in the cities we have garrisoned. Reserves will be critical in this war. I have been on the comm with Lady Rolt and she is sending a message back to home world to propose additional forces being sent. Our forces currently in the Hague should be enough to reinforce our allied positions there."
He turns to General Volgorba, "Madam General, I am always glad for New Ortaga's assistance. I will use the Ortagan forces under my command to support the ailing forces striking against NOD positions. I must now ask that you send me some additional personnel to support our Knootian allies incorporated in our main force."
"Of course, Lord Adonis," the Ortagan general nods.
Adonis at last turns to Perry, "Vice Admiral, you have at your disposa 65% of Valinon's total Earth terrestrial navy. Now you must use it secure the allied anti-submarine defense. However, you must now take the lead elements of our fleet in the form of the HMS Bartholomew, the HMS Vincent Sterling, HMS Dominion, and HMS St. Helena to support the EOTED fleet. Use the battlecruiser elements under the HMS Victory and HMS Ignatious to provide long-range fire power and carrier defense."
"Yes, My Lord."
"Aero superiority is something we cannot do without now. I must now authorize that 85 percent of all of Valinon's aero core here be mobilised at once. What is held back will serve as base defense and will be mostly jet coptor gunships with some Needle interceptors for fighter support. You have your orders carry them out."

Admiral Richards paced nervously as his communications station received the encrypted data transmission from the ARES system. A green LED flashed on over a canvas screen hanging in the navigation room - his current position - and a drenched Brigadier-General Bryant stood facing him.

Richards saluted. "Sir, we have reports of massive incoming reinforcements from SATO. Syskeyia, Valinon, the Empire of the Eternal Dawn, Lavenrunz - they're just throwing more fuel on the fire. We don't have exact numbers, but it seems they're deploying a lot of carriers. The Lavenrunz fleet - currently supported by Syskeyia - appear to be engaging the second Nod armada. It would appear that the Valinon reinforcements are beginning to move to reinforce the Empire of the Eternal Dawn fleet. About four carrier battle groups."

Stephan showed no sign of discomfiture - betraying no fear to his crew. "Acknowledged, Admiral. Contact the Ministry. Tell them we need a second Expedition here - request that they begin mobilisation immediately."

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

Far away, nestled within an icey glacier, a crystalline bubble structure absorbed light refracted from a satellite that penetrates down through the transparent surface.

Inside the bubble, strongly reinforced as it was, Ministry of Defence officials review the same satellite data - and with just as great a sense of urgency, despite their distance from the conflict.

The four High Commanders - army, airforce, navy, and space - were sitting round a polished pine table, scanning documents. The Head of the Ministry isn't afforded that luxury - his massive mechanised form instead stood on a plinth far lower than the table, so his head was level with those of the others there. His body ruined by the treacherous Arani during the assault on Nisil, Scott lost not only a figure but his life and his wife to the dark elves. His absolute hatred for non-humans was one of the reasons why Whispering Voices became involved in the Knootoss situation in the first place. And what were left of his emotions - generally hate, everything else was cold ruthless efficiency - what was left of him is angry.

"Lady, gentlemen." He didn't need a preamble. He didn't really like the people who worked for him - just recognised their talent. Then again since he was seperated, still a cripple in a wheelchair, he hadn't really liked anyone. His one consolation was that divorce was illegal within Whispering Voices, so his slut of a wife couldn't remarry - and that was precious little comfort.

"As you can see, SATO is starting to deploy significant forces to the Knootian conflict. Not enough to result in it being worthwhile for us to mount an attack on a seperate SATO member country. However, other enemies of SATO have had their attention drawn to the existence of this conflict. We'll just have to hope they have the guts to start something."

His voice was tinny, electronic - powered by wafers of silicon, and tiny motors. An artificial larynx incapable of relaying his emotions.

"The deployed Empire of the Eternal Dawn fleet is our primary concern. As can be seen, the Wisps have performed excellently - and the Semir-Randil is seriously damaged. It's not been a cheap victory. We've lost significant assets. 7 frigates, 3 destroyers, 1 submarine, all the Djinn pontoons, 43 of 500 Su-37s, and 3 of 500 Migs. We've also had 3 frigates and 2 destroyers crippled. Not much compared to our total deployment, but a war of attrition is something we can't afford. We've got communications in from the Dominion: it appears they don't like our plan of scorched earth. However, we're going to set the steps in place anyway - if we lose the land battle for Knootoss, we'll have that as a fallback. Now, the last matter. Bryant has ordered a second expedition to be sent."

Servomotors whined and buzzed, just inside human hearing, as he made a chopping motion with one mini-gun mounted arm. "I've authorised the preparation for mobilisation of the seventeenth expedition - but I'm not going to send it. Not until I see more deployments from other Dominion nations."

The High Commander of the navy - a middle-aged woman, with a stern face - looked surprised. The others looked disturbed. Bryant was a popular man, and a good soldier. More importantly, he was a blood relation of the Crown Prince; and Rhys' temper was feared for good reason. Scott didn't seem to share their worry. He knew that the real Rhys was being held in Vinyatirion, and that the clones currently ruling in his stead would not be authorised to have him assassinated. Which, to be honest, was always a good position to be in.

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

The seventeenth expedition - an outfit exactly like the twentieth expedition already deployed, and in fact the other expeditions of the Whispering Voices military - began to take on supplies in its current base of Freeport. Huge lorries drove onto docks, where massive cranes unloaded modules into specially prepared holds - food, ammunition, blankets, batteries, hydrogen fuel. And troops marched through the streets from the nearby barracks. Line upon line, in perfect order, perfect discipline. They marched up long walkways onto the transport vessels.

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

The super-accelerated electrons erupted from the swivelled surface of the Semir-Randil, as it fought valiantly against the odds, Sarah throwing everything that the incarnation could give against the unknown defences of the enemy ... but to no avail.

The electrons erupted from the cannons, covering the distance to the pulsing Wisps ... and being sucked into the magnetic field, being spun around and around, each shield collecting supercharged particles. Electrons, having almost no mass, were especially vulnerable to the electromagnetic effect of the shield craft ... although they did pose a problem, of sorts.

The Wisps targetted, the front line between the Semir-Randil, had electrons in a full coating. Any snapshot release of the toroidal field would merely send those electrons hurtling in all directions. The maneouver required to deal with this was complex. Known, but complex. Each Wisp with electrons fully covering it would have to be walled away from the Whispering Voices fleet by other ones; and between bursts of the electron cannons, the electrons would be dissipated across the shields until they could be jettisoned safely away.

However, that was not yet an option - the electron cannons weren't firing in bursts, but expending power in a continuous beam. And so the Wisps targetted hung there, as lightning bolts coruscaded around their shields: trapped and unable to earth, the Wisps growing so bright that they could not be looked at.

Several of the Wisps that had been interposed between Whispering Voices and the airforce of Der Angst and Sunset, ten in fact, had seperate ideas. They moved low over floating wreckage of some of one of the destroyers, one with no survivors reported - which was fortunate. The electromagnetic force was strong enough to cause the bodies to bleed rust-red particles of iron, literally ripping the mineral out from the dead and their blood floating on the surface of the sea. Fragmented pieces of metal and the molecules of iron from the blood were dragged up out of the foaming water by the toroidal shields, coating and coalescing into tiny pieces of debris travelling at speeds so great they became superheated by air friction, glowing white hot. Nine of the Wisps then released the shielding, hurling the molten kinetics at the Semir-Randil's hull, adding to yet another massive barrage on the ailing Empire of the Eternal Dawn ship. The tenth Wisp didn't quite manage it as planned; its magnetic field contacted a huge flat plate of metal, more massive than it, that hadn't quite sunk yet. And, quite simply, bounced. The Wisp shot up from the sea surface as fast as one of Ma-Tek's missiles, pushed by the combination of its anti-gravity device and the effective use of its toroidal shield upon itself.

That was one particular Wisp that would require a lot of time to re-enter combat.

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

The kinetics launched by the Ma-Tek bombers hurtled down towards the Whispering Voices fleet. The normal defence against such would have been the MTHEM maser system; but it was still concentrated on melting the Semir-Randil from the inside. The hails of bullets from the Goalkeeper pontoons were all that stood in the way - at the speeds involved, each had enough energy to simply vapourise itself and a kinetic: but hitting was far harder, when you weren't travelling at the speed of a microwave.

The automated defences didn't do too badly: over half of the kinetics were destroyed by hails of tiny bullets. Unfortunately for the Voices fleet, not all of those were paired. Six frigates and four destroyers were hit by the kinetics, and the explosions of energy were enough to hurl fragments of ship in all directions - some of which were large enough to send another two Wisps spinning into space, as they passed by.

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

The Su-37 Flankers, fresh - and bloodied - from their encounter with the Der Angst airforces, turned at Gs that pushed the limits of tolerance for both the plane and the gen-engineered pilots inside; returning, screaming through the air, to intercept the Eternal Dawn aircraft headed towards the Whispering Voices fleet.

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

There is no rest in war. The Twentieth Expedition prepared once more, and launched. It had taken a blow to its ordnance delivery capabilities, but not a significant one - and the Semir-Randil had less point defence, now.

Another barrage of missiles and bullets hit - but this time, the torpedos would be involved; the ones that had been launched seemingly so long ago at the mighty craft's hull. The Mig-39s pilots, realising that they would soon have to engage in dogfights, fired off the last of their remaining Penguins; as did the Sea Apache pilots.

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

Meanwhile ... the following broadcast is made.

<The shot pans, showing tranquil Knootian fields in the rural area of the country. A young Knootian, his eyes bright with passion and dressed in a white shirt and black slacks, clutching an AK-47, stares intensely into the camera. When he speaks, his voice is emotional - almost choked. The backdrop behind him then changes, showing SATO batteries firing into the streets of Knootcap, shells hitting and crashing down buildings, screaming Knootians dying in explosions and horrificly mangled by debris>

"Fellow countrymen of Knootoss! This is what we fight to defend! Our country! I am Vanders Moykeron - a diplomat at the Knootian foreign office. And I am here to make a plea, a plea that you must take heed of. I worked for Dick Tator, rightful president of Knootoss - elected legitimately. And here I have the documents to prove that he invited forces of the Dominion in, in order to prevent a hostile assault by the forces of SATO, who wish to install a puppet government!" <the camera shows signed documents, the signature of Dick Tator on an agreement with Dominion forces that Knootoss becomes a member of same, and one requesting protection against hostile SATO forces>

"SATO is not here to save us, only their self interest! Our voices, my friends, mean as little to SATO now as we scream and beg for peace and mercy, as they did when we dared to choose our own leader - a man who stood for Knootoss, not for SATO. For Knootians, not for foreigners. A man who recognised that we would have to fight against their evil ways, that SATO would not be content to let our country live as it chose."

<backdrop of camera changes, showing more bright-eyed and bushy tailed young Knootians. These men and women are in camouflage, moving with enthusiastic speed throughout woods and fields. The image of Vanders is then slid to the left, and an image of a gorgeous young blonde brought to the front right. Vanders smiles - seemingly at her - before his picture vanishes. Tears roll from the girl's face, and she stares almost unblinking into the camera, her eyes showing horror as a picture of a Lavenrunzian howitzer fires ... and the shot follows the shell, in slow motion, as it arcs up - over Knootian buildings, and slowly descends. The picture splits again, horizontally this time. The top picture shows the shell, the bottom shows ... two young children, a boy and a girl - one the spitting image of the girl, a little sister perhaps. They look up in terrified shock, perhaps alerted by the scream of the approaching ordnance. They are too scared to run. The little girl reaches out, her blue eyes wide, her hand touches her brother's - and then the shell hits. It hits her, in fact. Even slowed down frame by frame as the footage is, it's hard to make out. It passes through her stomach, leaving a clean hole in front of her white smock, but fountains of blood erupt behind her. The shell then strikes the ground, and explodes. Still standing upright, flame and shrapnel and churned tarmac erupt in all directions from the crater. Fragments of metal and dirt fly into the children, arching their bodies, eliciting yet more bloody splatters. The little girl and her brother are lifted off their feet, their backs arched with the force. A splinter of casing goes through the boy's head, through the back and out the front, ripping away his cranial pan and spraying brain and spine in a wide fountain. Six frames later, their shredded and torn and flaming corpses collide with the wall of a nearby building, and slide down leaving trails of blood and fluid. The picture then fades away, and the blonde woman's face fills the whole screen. Her voice is shaky, and raw with sobbing. Her tears don't marr her beauty, however. Just enhance it.>

"They came here, and they're killing our families ... our fathers, our children, our brothers and sisters. They preach against the choices we make, telling us we don't want to be violent. And then ... and then ... " <she breaks down in tears, unable to speak more. The original speaker, Vanders, reappears. He begins crying too, as he speaks.>

"Knootians, we must act! Knootoss is a country of freedom, and it is our birthright! We are a peaceful people, but we cannot let those willing to murder our own families walk through our streets. We must fight! We have to liberate Knootoss from these self-righteous, biggoted oppressors!" <Vanders lifts up his AK, and shakes it> "The Knootian Freedom Movement swears itself to the expunging of SATO forces from our lands!" <His voice grows more strident, the camera behind him pans out, showing more Knootian men and women, all armed, looking grim and purposeful. They begin to chant, lead by Vanders.> "VRIJHEID! VRIJHEID VOOR KNOOTOSS! KNOOTOSS! DOOD AAN DE MOORDENAARS VAN SATO!"

The transmission ends, the picture slowly fading away, the chant continuing to echo.

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

OOC:

The Fleet:

I spoke to Semi, and he knew his electron cannons would have precious little effect against the toroidal shield design. In case anyone was thinking I was being harsh not taking it.

If anyone starts aiming for specific vessels (like the carriers) let me know, defence alterations would occur then.

Total Voices fleet losses so far:
13 frigates
7 destroyers
1 submarine
Djinn pontoons
43 of 500 Su-37s
3 of 500 Migs
Crippled (effectively out of combat):
3 frigates
2 destroyers
3 Wisps

Total incoming barrage at the Semir-Randil:

Tomahawk with ten Brilliant Antiarmor Bomblets. Speed: 880kmh.
Number:
3 per Trafalgar, 99 Trafalgars. 297 missiles.
16 per Vanguard, 50 Vanguards. 800 missiles.
8 per Destroyer, 91 Destroyers. 728 missiles.
4 per CVF Carrier, 25 Carriers. 100 missiles.


Harpoon Block II missiles. Speed: 855kmh.
8 per Frigate, 84 Frigates. 672 missiles.

Penguin air-to-sea missiles. Speed: 1300kmh.
2 per Helicopter, 500 Helicopters. 1000 missiles.
4 per Mig (last barrage), 497 Migs. 1988 missiles.

Guns!!!
20mm, x2 per Frigate. 84 Frigates. 168x 20mm guns.
4.5", x2 per Destroyer and Carrier. 91 Destroyers and 25 carriers. 232x 4.5" guns.

MTHEM
Still awaiting results from since the first barrage ^_^
Several gigawatts of energy have been pumped into the centre of the S-R (or at least, pumped at the centre, which is a different thing)

Wisp "bullets"
50 scatter-shot impacts per Wisp (very small shots), 9 Wisps, 450 shots, each as fast as a Ma-Tek MI missile (or thereabouts)


The Transmission:

Footage of SATO firing upon Knootcap was got mainly from Lavenrunz:


The Landknecht Rockets were raised into the air, along with 9 batteries of 155mm howitzers, 3 of 203mm howitzers and the 120mm mortars in the field. They were to lay down a carpet of fire
that would have the enemy cowering. In the Empress' Name.
"FIRE!" came the orders from each battery and vehicle commander. An unearthly thunder filled the air, the earth shook and dust stood still.

The Hague:
As the artillery barrage continues to pound the enemy occupied areas...

Analysis of the terrain the Knootian Freedom Movement is moving through reveals it to be an area between Rotterdam and Knootcap. The Knootian accents are flawless, the clothing on the people is of Knootian manufacture (the odd label showing through), and all Knootians mentioned are traceable - currently missing as far as the Knootian government is concerned, and people of those names and exact descriptions did work where they have been described as working.

Further analysis of the footage reveals it to be from an expensive, film-studio grade camcorder. Lighting is done professionally, to elicit maximum emotiveness - if not a professional, then a gifted amateur.

The origin of broadcast is wide - there are several TV stations and aerials that have been hijacked to broadcast it, likewise a radio version designed to get to the Knootcappians in bunkers (the emotiveness of the voices remain the same, but those broadcasts don't have footage, obviously). The signal is powerful, nigh on impossible to jam during the duration of the broadcast - and the stations begin to jam standard communications (TV and radio, but not military) frequencies afterwards, to ensure a deathgrip on the minds of the Knootian populace!

The dyke featured was in the north of the country, halfway between Noordwirk and Zandvoort.

OOC I don't speak Knootian. IC my country studied it. Please forgive my inability to speak Dutch and assume it was said correctly IC :)

Edit: Thanks to Nod, my Dutch just improved! :p

OOC: Was this taped before fighting broke out or after? It sounds like after, but I want to make sure. Republic intelligence assets have been recording the whole war (standard procedure) and if it was taped after fighting broke out we can likely find them on the records. If before... Oh well. Still on vacation, so don't expect constant posts.

double

triple

quattropost!

Message to the Knootian command:

The civilians have to be evacuated as fast as possible. Further destruction is inevitable, and we need to secure them as fast as possible. Please, have your forces and police start this operation.

---

The Hague, DA forces (~18000 infantrists, 400 spidertanks)

"They are ready, Lavenrunzian forces will start firing in... 3... 2... 1..."

It was like thunder, when the Lavenrunzian artillery fired. The shells hit the ground, buildings that were still standing, they hit and hit and hit...

The explosions created sensation, the dust covered the air, the soldiers were powdered with it...

This was going on for five minutes, five minutes in which the approaching forces finally moved into their start positions... then, the artillery stopped for a short time, until it fired again, this time hundredm further away.

Their eyes switched to heat sensor mode, and they waited.

Finally, the artillery bombardement ended, and they started running.

The 20mm guns in their hands, their vision enhanced, they searched for TST forces, and fired.

Red dots everywhere. Short bursts, flames, cries, destruction and terror.

Exploding grenades, brains, splattered at walls, limbs flying through the air...

A flamethrower exploded, covered the cyborg holding it in flames.

Another house, Dominion forces in there, a few grenades flew into it...

Silence.

And so, it was going on, and on, and on...

The DA forces were organised in two bulks, between them, weak Knootian forces to establish a connection.

[ooc: I really want an answer from TST... afaik he didn`t remove his complete forces...]

---

Knoocap, somewhere below the city.

Noir had left the battlefield, the two women weren`t meant for war, but for covert operations...

Now, to escape this hellhole...

Kirika was wounded, nothing too dangerous, however, the blood covering her right arm was to be taken seriously...
Mireille watched her, worried. This wasn`t how it should be...

[ooc: i intend to let them 'meet' the WhisperingVoices Burns extraction team, if thats ok...]

---

"And... ready!"

Finally, their work was done. The bombers were reloaded, as were the fighters.

Max Streicher and his team could be proud, they were really, really fast.

Perhaps wartime did this to people, made them stronger, better.

Or worse.

However, the next step was about to be taken. What was left from the attack on the Thelas fleet, and there was more than enough left, as now about to be used against another fleet...

The pilots jumped in, definitely willing to take this chance serious. Te more dominion ships on the ground, the better.

The sun came out, it looked wonderful, romantic... if it wasn`t for the noise of the ongoing battle and the black clouds of dust created by the fighting, the fire, the game of death that was played there...

They jumped into their bombers, this time, there wouldn`t be help from the Knootian or the Endless Island forces...

480 heavy bombers, 472 LR fighters started, heading towards the Nod fleet...

Another great day, another great day... for death.

---

"Finally, the lines stand!" The supply officer was truely relived. Yes, the lines stood, and now, the party could really begin.

And what they brough with them... Brand- new low- range fighters, perfect for this battle. Tactical bombers, a dream for ground battle.

Bombs, missiles, ammunition, infantry, tanks, fuel, anything, anything...

But, while there were many things that came, another problem had to be solved...

The enemy possesses formidable technology, we need to alter our fighters to be able to compete. Please send the neccessary amo8unts of advanced weaponery (laser, plasma) so that we can keep up with them.

[ooc: my fighters are based on an Iraqstan/ Der Angst joint venture, the aim was a fighter that could match EOTED`s stuff. While the original project was never finished, (huge) parts of it`s specs were used in DA fighter development. A part of the original fighter specs was extremely variable weaponery. That is still standard in my current fighters, means they have six gun slots. Standard are only two 30mm flechette guns, with more ammunition, however, plasma/ laser weaponery can be mounted on them as well, of course, the general ammunition available is reduced. And thats what i intend to do now, to get those damn Wisps :P]

---

Meanwhile, not only the long- range forces start for another mission, the medium- range units that arrived earlier became ready, too.

But their aim weren`t the fleets out there...

"You see, thats where the Nod- forces are, at least for now. Syskeyian forces seemed to be able to stop them, although the situation is not entirely clear. Well, they are practically our neighbors, means we can ignore fuel problems and just load as many bombs and missiles as we can. And then, we give `em hell. Further instructions will come when you are there, for individual targeting. Any questions?"

There were none.

Edit: I forgot something:

ic:

Message to the Knootian command:

Please start massive bombings against the approaching Nod- forces, we will do the same with what we have left. We do not intend to leave their three divisions where they are now, and we are sure you agree on that. Use anything you have.

---
ooc: If i may take the liberty while Endless Islands is moving/ school/ without connection...

While anybody was busy there, the Endless Island fleets left the battlefield... After the destruction of the Dyelli Beybi fleet (well, most of it), and the safe return of significant air forces, they had now another mission... in a few hours, they would meet the DA convoy that headed towards the east of Knootoss... it had to arrive safely, and needed protection... Even now, it`s fighters and bombers started, not all of them, of course, just a few squadrons, and headed to the convoy, protecting it.

***Brotherhood Fleet, Knootian Territorial Waters***

Admiral Ramirez looked at the screens displaying the Syskeyian and Lavenrunzian fleets. Let them come he thought. We'll teach them a lesson they won't soon forget." Orders to all submarines: move in on the enemy fleets from the sides, then attack after the sea battles commence. All destroyers: keep depth charges ready. Battleships and cruisers: prepare for battle. AEGIS Cruisers: keep AA batteries working at all costs. Carriers: prepare the Banshees for immediate launch. Keep the Apaches and the Harpys on reserve for now, but ready for deployment within ten minutes if necessary. Transports: move to the norht of the fleet.' (OOC: assuming the enemy fleets arrive from the south, as I'm landing in Noord-Holland)

INCOMING TRANSMISSION said the CABAL-client aboard of the flagship.

"Put it through." Ramirez answered.

Unidentified submarine detected at roughly 5 'o clock. 90% chance it's hostile. Awaiting orders.

"Attack it together with a submarine." Ramirez replied, then gave a submarine the order to attack an unidentified-but-probably-hostile submarine.

ooc: *hopes it`s a Nod- sub to be attacked* :P

ic:

"Wait..." Captain Max Eberl looked suspiciously. "It changes it`s course... damn, they detected us!"
"Abort attack?"
"Wait... no, no... ah, PERFECT! Fire four torpedos, just in case their countermeasures are efficient."

The quiet noise the torpedos made while being fired run through the ship.

"Twohundred meter... hundred... fifty..."
"Incoming, i get something!"
"What?"
"A... a sub, not one of ours, conventional propulsion!"
"Damn, emergency maneuver, NOW!"

***Brotherhood Fleet, Knootian Territorial Waters***

Admiral Ramirez looked at the screens displaying the Syskeyian and Lavenrunzian fleets. Let them come he thought. We'll teach them a lesson they won't soon forget." Orders to all submarines: move in on the enemy fleets from the sides, then attack after the sea battles commence. All destroyers: keep depth charges ready. Battleships and cruisers: prepare for battle. AEGIS Cruisers: keep AA batteries working at all costs. Carriers: prepare the Banshees for immediate launch. Keep the Apaches and the Harpys on reserve for now, but ready for deployment within ten minutes if necessary. Transports: move to the norht of the fleet.' (OOC: assuming the enemy fleets arrive from the south, as I'm landing in Noord-Holland)

"Sir, Sir!"

"What is it?"

"ASW patrols detect Nod submarines moving toward us at their flanks!"

"Fine then. Scramble all the ASW units you can; tell them to do their job. Scramble all aircaft and copter, man all battle stations, and let's fight this here war."

Knootian Airbase, near Arnhem

Away from the fighting for the moment, they came peacfully.

Like clockwork, a vast fleet of C-5s, C-17s and C-130s landed at the airbase, unloaded their cargo, and took off.

In all they unloaded four divisions, two infantry, two armored.

Quickly, set off for Den Haag to reinforce their bretheren.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

OOC: Brotherhood of Nod: check the previous page. You aren't under attack by a single submarine.
To the opponents in general: I sort of wish you'd acknowledge my movements.

OOC: Was this taped before fighting broke out or after? It sounds like after, but I want to make sure. Republic intelligence assets have been recording the whole war (standard procedure) and if it was taped after fighting broke out we can likely find them on the records. If before... Oh well. Still on vacation, so don't expect constant posts.

Unless you tape everything, from every angle, it's going to be hard to find - however, the digital imaging (on the Lavenrunzian howitzer firing, anyway - I assume you don't mean you had cameras everywhere throughout Knootoss) meets every test - if it's a fake, its an impossibly perfect one.

[OOC: Since Thelas hasn't done anything with my troops then I'll assume they're still hanging around the Hague, dying.]
IC:
A couple of soldiers have a conversation behind a wall, while attacking the invaders.
"Where the hell is the bloody third fleet? I thought they were supposed to be helping us! But all I can see are overwhelming numbers of SATO forces!"
"Johnny, I have some bad news. The third fleet hasn't moved. It's still in international waters. It is well outmatched."
"Well what the f>ck are we meant to do now? The spacefleet's not up there, the third army isn't helping, and we're outnumbered and outgunned! I have half a mind to give up!"
"You know I'd have to shoot you if you did that."
"Yeah..."
"Anyway, The Great Ineffable Bob's not pleased AT ALL with the situation. Last I heard he ordered the fifth, sixth, and repaired second fleets to join the third. Also, though the first spacefleet is in training above Canada, the second is being ordered to join us. If we can keep the Hague, and Burns safe for a just little longer, then we'll win."
"How long?"
"For the ground forces, a couple of hours at least."
"Sh>t."
"But the spaceforce should be arriving about now..."

As he said this, the second Ineffable spacefleet rematerialised about a thousand klicks away from Knootian orbit, and contacted the Whispering Voices Whisps, to let them know of their arrival. As soon as they knew the situation they would engage.

OOC: Now deployed (modified to include approx. casulaties for ground forces at the Hague):
~350 elite assualt troops distributed around the Hague (originally ~800)
12 dropships (on ground they're the equivalent of very large, very heavily armoured tanks)

Ineffable 2nd Spacefleet:
10 JS heavy cruisers
20 RFB DSAs (starships killers)
20 WOA DSAs (nastier starship killers)
80 POJ frigates
200 Centaur fighters
200 JL fighters
100 Phoenix AACs (small aerial battleships)
1 AAC carrier
1 dropship carrier
100 SS dropships
4,000 Neutron Guardsmen
2 EV long range surveilance ships
10 Supply and Maintenance ships


The third fleet is too far away to be noticable, I'll post it's stats along with the other forces when they arrive.

OOC: I thought no space tech was allowed? And Lavenrunz, apparently Der Angst has at least 1 sub, and I don't know IC that you have no subs, so...

OOC: I believe the word was no space battles. nothing to stop him from deploying them, but no ortillery and no battles in space.

WV: Multiple angles, and the entire country. Prodigious computing power combined with multiple high end telescopic sensor arrays and fantastic image resolution software. It will still take us a day or two to find the records of any single person, but if there were there during the battle we can find them unless they stayed under cover. And these traitors didn't.

As far as where these assets are, well, that is an element for RP.

They could smell it.

The smell had hung over them from the instant the battle had been joined; but many had only noticed it over the last minute.

Death hung over them, a tangible stench that washed through all that they wore; their clothes, even, a stark reminder of the futile effort they were making.

A heaved sigh came from the captain. "All hands," he began, his voice heavy with the burden of duty, "we go to discover the unwalked paths shortly. - But for this moment! W will destroy as many of them as we can! Let the bastards feel our wrath!"

The CAG's voice rang out on the ship. "All pilots report to your ships immediatley. Total remaining bombers are to launch in thirty ticks. Get up their and kick their arse, you lucky swine; may many of you find your way home!"

* * *

A flurry of microwave messages mingle between the EOTED Battlegroup.

Reluctantly, the two Devastators turn away; hauling their mass out and away from the doomed leader of their fleet.

The Semir-randil screams as her hull re-arranges; pocked and pitted metal vibrates against metal. Nothing is entirely unscathed.

And then she lets off an intense RF radiation spike...

...and proceeds to empty her guntubes of kinetics. Missiles streak away from her; she launches several thousand kinetic kill missiles - virtually all set to MGP (Electro-magnetic Orbital Acquisition System) targeting. Which means they merely aim at a co-ordinate provided by the MISAT above - faster, sleeker, and absolutely necessary with so many birds leaving the nest at one sitting.

The Devastators sneak away amidst the maelstrom of futile weapons fire by the Semir-randil - and the sea behind them froths as G# heavy-bombers streak forth. There were not, after all, just three aboard the warship - there were thirty-five. Thirty-two G#s quickly form up into a delta arrangement, and accelerate up towards bombing altitude.

* * *

To the vague south, the captain of the IDS Vanguard considered his options.

One. Do nothing. - Well, that's a stupid idea. Scrub that. Move on.

Two. Launch. Yeah, sounds good. He voiced his decision.

"A lengthy decision making process. Clearly not taken lightly," his XO noted with an empty grin.

"...like hell," the captain returned, "but sure, if you say so. - Weapons: begin a long-range over-the-horizon interdiction strike against that Whispering Voices fleet. Vapourize the bastards. Order the entire Battlegroup to open fire - as a unit. Firing patter alpha-gamma-beta, repeat."

"Alpha-gamma-beta, repeat," the weapons officer confirmed.

The XO's words rang out onto a silent bridge on a mourning ship:

"Initiate."

* * *

The IDS Vanguard and her six remaining warship escorts open fire. The Vanguard can fire thirteen hundred missiles a minute - safely. She can, of course, like her brethren the Semir-randil, fire more - but it's dangerous to do so. Traffic restrictions, essentially...

White-hot objects streak from the warships, moving towards the end of first phase altitude gain within moments.

Second phase - course correction to intercept the targeting beams at low altitude - passed in the blink of an eye.

Third phase took several seconds; the missiles climbing rapidly to 250,000 feet...

...and the final phase took just 13 seconds in total. Only half the total time of the first three.

The missiles - 36% titanium, 21% uranium, 21% lead, 18% silicon, 3% copper, and weighing 750kgs each - of the KKM-AW mk 2 variety streaked down towards the enemy fleet below... the distance between launch and strike barely a blink of the eye for the Empire.

The KKM-AW mk2 is different to the ADH-VW versions commonly used by aircraft - and the Semir-randil. KKM-AWs - kinetic kill missile assault weapons - are depleted uranium/lead tipped. Yield is marginally increased by the cross-shaped tipping of the missile - this is the heavy-hitting variant missile of the IDF N. And to top it all, they fly at the top speed of an M# - 3000m/s - with a range of several thousand miles. Compact global reach weapons - that are almost never used as such.

The Vanguard maintains her 1600 mpm (missiles per minute) barrage for the next four minutes, along with her escort performing a one minute barrage at a total of 3200 mpm.

* * *

"Falling into glory-"

"-where my heart is due-"

"-the fog of war surrounds me-"

"-but my avionics read me true-"

"-so hi-ho, hi-ho, to vape the scum we-"

"-run... and if our nose is bloodied first,-"

"-we'll gun and scratch, bite and run!"

Snorts flit between the aircraft via the laser transmissions. "Okay, enough fun and games, boys and girls. And: save the singing for the enemy. It'll stun em into submission, I'm quite sure. We have bogies inbound; poor little things are running combustion engines. Theta wing, engage and destroy; attack pattern three-one-five. Omega wing: move to escort those G# navy boys I see roaring out of the water out over yonder - get em up to bomb alt alive and kicking. All other wings; climb with me to evade. Not our fight yet. Over."

Affirmations ring in.

* * *

Theta wing tucked in, moving away from the cluster of X#s that were downwards bound to draw enemy attacks. Silently, the nigh-on invisible X# fighters hum their way towards the inbound targets. Their M# cousins rise and evade, slowly at first - all the sweeter the taste of the trap...

And to make matters worse - which the IDF AF boys knew - the G#s that were with the M# interceptors were well capable of toying with the incoming a little...

Sure enough, the G#s flash a few times, letting off a hail of MC darts that scream towards their targets with all the subtle nature of an elephant in a small paint store.

* * *

Down below, the plucky Semir-randil is pounded yet again. She rocks violently in the water as parts of her hull literally pop off; deck plating flies away-

-and her forward section erupts in flame-filled fire as the without-cover warship is hit by the bulk of the assault.

Missiles, bomblets, and goodness knows what else obliterate the mighty warship - shadowy figures slinking away around her as the bombs reign and her escorts tear through the water on a mad dash for survival.

She screams again as her back breaks; debris hurtles away from her - explosions ripping through her hull - and then she is lost in a pure white flash-

-the flash expands, churning the water to steam. And the compression wave follows shortly after. In a half-mile radius, the water is sucked inwards - and then blown out again, white hot and partly mixed with steam and particulate matter.

A tiny, almost gentle hiccup of radiation sprinkles outwards in a concentric wave from the epicentre of the 'tiny' blast.

And the cloud rises above the remnants of the warship - already sunk beneath the waves... at least, what was left of her.

The Devastators rock as the water heaves beneath them, but manage to escape any damage beyond scratches to their hulls by pyroclastic missiles.

* * *

"Stars-"

The pilot didn't get to say another word.

His G#, running low to the ground still, fell into the sea... unable to move.

* * *

The area becomes bathed with microwaves, in a very low intensity manner - and it's a signal. But it's the IDF's 'ludicrous encryption rate' version; and so the signal is unlikely to be cracked in the next few thousand years, without a key.

"All EOTED airborne assets: avoid a 1.2km radius around the remnant of the IDS Semir-randil. MISAT reports small EM chaos area; thusly, regulations state that I must inform you of this situation. Repeat: avoid a 1.2km radius around the remnant of the IDS Semir-randil. This is MISAT #449-a-4-29c reporting Incident Class #21, as per standard issued orders to this unit. Transmission will now terminate."

* * *

High above the Earth, a new breed of air support warship soared. Silently her hull reformed; and with the grace of a kingfisher diving for its prey, she descended into the atmosphere again, hurtling towards the Earth - albeit at a 'slow' pace, compared to the methods of her cousins.

Tyelca Tuo comes...

"Today there will be a special adress by Head of State Lord Christopher Scott," the radios, televisions, and papers blared. Apparantly Scott had an announcement to make to the people. The whole nation was stirring. What could it possibly be? Although Scott made public announcements once a week, it was rare for him to make a special announcement like this. Citiznes wondered if it involved Knootoss, for the Nation of Lord Christopher Scott had felt for the people of this nation, who were being destroyed by the Imperialist's at SATO. However most people did were unsure. They had to wait to 8:00 PM that night. Whatever it was, it was promised to have great ramafications on the future of the Dominion of Lord Christopher Scott.

8:00 PM on Channel 1 (Dominion Information Network) and Channel 2 (Scott News Network)

Lord Christopher Scott appears on the screen, dressed in Military garb, decorated with all multiple medals from Scott's days in the Army. Scott was awarded with all these medals by the Democratic government in place before Scott was given the power by the Parliment for absolute rule. Unlike many Dictators, Scott had earned all of the medals he wore, and never awarded himself any. This had gained him alot of respect, he was willing to sacrifice for the nation, not himself, and many respected this. Scott was infront of a large groop of troops standing at attention. Apparantly he was trying to raise the troops morale, but for what many wondered. Suddenly after a period of silence, Scott began to think.

"Knootoss has been an odd situation. Dick Tator was democratically given Absolute power, much in the same way this nation transformed into its current republic. However not all people were happy with the future, and were uncertain, and as a result the current situation has come to be."

He obviosly was speaking about Knootoss, but what was his point. The people had all known this from the News networks. They had learned about the ruthlessness of SATO. They had learned about the destruction. But what point was their head of state driving at?

"What we have seen has been wrenching at our hearts for the past few months. We have wished to get involved for a long time, yet this has conflicted with our stances on using the military. Why should we send our boys to die for some other nation? However the time has come to make a decision. Our allies in the Dominion have had their back at the walls. The situation is desparate. Fighting is deadlocked and shows no signs of letting up. Somthing needs to change."

"Diiplomacy unfortunatly failed, miserably, since the beginning of this conflict. Instead of respecting Burns' wish, SATO used the presense of Dominion peace-keeping forces as an excuse to bring total war to the nation. This act was INTOLERABLE. SATO forces brought death and destruction upon an entire nation, only to further their own Imperialist interests."

"Many in this great nation are weary to send our boys to die for another nation, or even a cause. Yet it comes to a point where we must decide whether or not this cause is worth sacrificing for. What cause is this though? I tell you the causes we fight for are self-determination, Liberty, and Freedom. Many would agree that these causes are worth fighting for, and we have in the past. Well this is what the fight in Knootoss is about. A nation must be able to determine their own course, yet SATO disrespected Knootoss' right of self determination. The nation that SATO wishes to make Knootoss into would be lacking of any Liberty or Freedom. How can we allow this to happen?"

"This debate has been ongoing in the parliment for weeks. Today in a closed session I gave a speech in front of the Parliment. Today marks the first milestone in this nations History. For the first time, the Parliment has unanimously voted on an issue. This issue was a Declaration of War. As of 3:23 PM, a state of War has existed between this nation and the SATO forces in Knootoss, and the illigitamate exiled government of Knootoss. The Declaration will be delivered to all nations involved upon the completion of this speech."

"Already we are on the path of War. Supplies from our Industrial complexes are on their way towards allied forces already engaged in the Conflict. Reservists have been called up. The nation is now on Defense Level 4. The 3rd and 8th fleets are on their way towards nearby waters of Knootoss. The JMOB-15 is on its way as well, yet will take some time to arrive. You devoted men and women in front of me are destined to be the proud few who will be first to arrive in the area."

"The world shall soon see our strenght, the strength of the Rightous. Our brave men and women shall fight and show these SATO bullies what a few determined people can do. Soon SATO will hear the roar of our troops coming into battle, and will shudder in fear. Our troops shall slay their enemy with ease and send those who they spared into retreat. And most of all, our troops shall liberate the people of Knootoss, and bring to them a new era of peace and freedom."

"The Nation is embarking upon a new Future. We shall fight for those Ideas that we hold dear. We must fight for the people of Knootoss, before they are enslaved by the Democracy. And remember; One for Peace, One For Prosperity, One For Freedom, and One Voice for All."

Upon the completion of the speech, the troops burst out in cheers. They would die for this nation and its values, and they had complete trust in Lord Christopher Scott. For too long had they disregarded both the alliance of the Dominion and the people of Knootoss. The people now felt it was time to act, and act they will. The Dominion of Lord Christopher Scott will now fight for the people of Knootoss, and help their allies in the Dominion. The broadcast ended, yet this was only the beginning. The people of the nation now resumed their lives, but would start tomorrow to help the fight in anyway possible.

(OOC: This means I am entering the War on the side of the Dominion, I will post deployments soon, for notes on the JMOB, it somthing I saw once, do a google search of JMOB and somthing on popular science magazine should come up, it will give you an idea of what im talkin about, or search the forums for JMOB. THis was a post by my describing my nations use of the technology).

Lord Christopher Scott wishes to rescinde any declaration of War. Internal Matters prevent us from taking place within this war. We must not involve and wish to apologize to all of the SATO.

Sucks that this mass exodus of the Dominion has to cause me to rethink my posistion right now.

plus i wasted all that time writing some killer speech.

oh well.

Lord Christopher Scott wishes to rescinde any declaration of War. Internal Matters prevent us from taking place within this war. We must not involve and wish to apologize to all of the SATO.

Sucks that this mass exodus of the Dominion has to cause me to rethink my posistion right now.

plus i wasted all that time writing some killer speech.

oh well.

YAY!!! :D

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

[OOC: Since Thelas hasn't done anything with my troops then I'll assume they're still hanging around the Hague, dying.]
IC:
A couple of soldiers have a conversation behind a wall, while attacking the invaders.
"Where the hell is the bloody third fleet? I thought they were supposed to be helping us! But all I can see are overwhelming numbers of SATO forces!"
"Johnny, I have some bad news. The third fleet hasn't moved. It's still in international waters. It is well outmatched."
"Well what the f>ck are we meant to do now? The spacefleet's not up there, the third army isn't helping, and we're outnumbered and outgunned! I have half a mind to give up!"
"You know I'd have to shoot you if you did that."
"Yeah..."
"Anyway, The Great Ineffable Bob's not pleased AT ALL with the situation. Last I heard he ordered the fifth, sixth, and repaired second fleets to join the third. Also, though the first spacefleet is in training above Canada, the second is being ordered to join us. If we can keep the Hague, and Burns safe for a just little longer, then we'll win."
"How long?"
"For the ground forces, a couple of hours at least."
"Sh>t."
"But the spaceforce should be arriving about now..."

As he said this, the second Ineffable spacefleet rematerialised about a thousand klicks away from Knootian orbit, and contacted the Whispering Voices Whisps, to let them know of their arrival. As soon as they knew the situation they would engage.

OOC: Now deployed (modified to include approx. casulaties for ground forces at the Hague):
~350 elite assualt troops distributed around the Hague (originally ~800)
12 dropships (on ground they're the equivalent of very large, very heavily armoured tanks)

Ineffable 2nd Spacefleet:
10 JS heavy cruisers
20 RFB DSAs (starships killers)
20 WOA DSAs (nastier starship killers)
80 POJ frigates
200 Centaur fighters
200 JL fighters
100 Phoenix AACs (small aerial battleships)
1 AAC carrier
1 dropship carrier
100 SS dropships
4,000 Neutron Guardsmen
2 EV long range surveilance ships
10 Supply and Maintenance ships


The third fleet is too far away to be noticable, I'll post it's stats along with the other forces when they arrive.

OOC: I'm trying not to lose patience here, but I'm nearly there. I've posted attacks on the Silver Turtle's forces and they missed it entirely. Secondly, the Brotherhood of Nod will not acknowledge my carrier groups attacks. Obviously people aren't really reading the threads, but that is not my fault. I am going to telegram both nations regarding this, but in future I'd like some consideration from the Dominion forces in this regard, especially when I always wait for their response to what I do.

OOC:

Quick OOC suggestion:

at the end of every post, do a brief OOC summary, with the people you need responses for as headings in bold.

That way it's easier to pick up on things.

DA, a arms production facility:

Masses, masses of steel. Of Ceramics. Of Organics.

Masses of everything.

Chaos.

But this chaos is given a form.

Body armour.

Guns.

Planes.

Tanks.

Anything.

The sound of death escapes from the facility, and people listen to it. They know: The time has come.

---

"They are here!"
"Ok boys, now, lets begin!"

They were ordinary workers, not heros. They didn´t fight, they build, rebuild, repaired.

But in the end, wars aren`t won by heros, wars are won by the workers.

They worked furiously, there was no time, no time...

But slowly, the fighters they had were changed, their weaponery edited, their systems checked...

The next round would begin soon, and they would win the battle. The battle of time.

[ooc: only the fighters that returned from the WV attack are currently 'edited' (see last post), the others are currently... in the air ^_^]

---

The first ones started, then the next wave, and the next... and the next... ad infinitum.

They changed their course, slightly, and it didn`t take long until they reached the outskirts of the battlefield...

144 medium range fighters, along with 144 medium bombers, reached the Nod- forces.

[ooc: fighters: 4 air to air missiles, two air to ground missiles. The fighters have tech similar to the german tornados in the kosovo- conflict, means whenever SAM- batteries are foolish enough to aim at them via radar, missiles are fired against said SAM- batteries. Bombers have only Air- to ground stuff, not even missiles, just conventional bombs.]

---

The hague:

[ooc: considering the few hundret man TST has there, and the few thousand men i have, + additional lavenrunzian forces and Knootian cowards *cough*, + i started the attack in earlier posts, can we just assume most TST troops are dead or POW`s? But feel free to RP a few of them escaped, shouldn`t be to hard in that chaos. Well, i continue assuming this is corret.]

ic:

"Now, that was easy."
"Yeah." Ltd. Müller watched the ruins that once were The hague. It was an interesting view. A few meters from them, TST troops lay on the ground, dead. Limbs were scattered on the ground.

Casualities were relatively high. Of course, there were only a few hundred TST troops, but in excellent defence positions, the lavenrunzian artillery was excellent to veil their movement, however, it didn´t exactly do much damage to the TST forces... However, it seemed to be over.

"Seems like The Hague is ours, although surprise is always possible. Send the message to the allied forces."
"Will do."

---

"Finally... we`re ready."
"Admiral?"
"Hmmm? Oh, no, nothing... resupply successful, lets leave... the enemy doesn`t wait for us."
"Well, according to the latest news, he DOES wait..."
"Shut up, Franz..."

Slowly, the subs left the harbour, once more heading for the barttlefield...

---

"Entering attack vector... 30 seconds until fire... 20..."
"They got us."
"Send fighters."
"Position alpha reached, firing missiles."

It weren`t to many bombers, but it was a short range attack. What would have been useful if they had enough missiles to actually load the bombers at max. But they hadn`t, so the 489 heavy bombers that survived until now, only carried 978 anti ship missiles with 250kg warheads.

Way to few... though Franz Hubenbauer, co- pilot of one of the bombers. They could carry so many more, but how, without missiles to fire? So they had to use what they had...

He watched the missiles flying away from his plane, watched the fighters turn around, turned with them...

[ooc: that was the attack on the (new) Brotherhood of Nod fleet, missile were fired from ~ 90km away, while i turned my planes, your fighters/ missiles should be able to reach them. their start was posting sometime before o.O]

---

Message to all involved nations:

[quote]This war has already gone to long, this war has already cost to many victims. To much death, to much pain. We must end it.

However, we are aware of the fact that the involved parties have different opinions of what Knootoss should be.

The claims of the dominion, that Tator, or Burns, won the election, are wrong. 28% are no 'victory'.

We propose the following:

1. An immediate ceasefire.

2. All forces forces retreat, slowly. Only the Knootian army and a peacekeeping force, 2/4 SATO, 1/4 Dominion, 1/4 others involved (Sunset, Valinion) stays. The command will be shared between SATO, Dominion and others involved (Sunset, Valinion)

3. A free election, to determine the new government.

We know, the dominion might not like point 2. and 3., however, 2. is realistic, considering that SATO currently holds control over 95% of Knootoss, and 3. will determine if Dominion- propaganda or the Knootian people are right.

---

so, ooc: Brotherhood of Nod: defence against the (coming) air attack on his three divisions that attack Syskeyian positions

Still Brotherhood of Nod: casualities and defence of his fleet while/ after the air attack

The Silver Turtle: Who survived the retake of The hague, are there still a few single soldiers trying to find a way out?

And btw, Nod, your fleet comes from the north, right? Just to inform you, somewhere near to you should be the two endless Island fleets and a very important supply convoy of mine :)

And btw, seriously, Why the hell do you send fleets and invasion troops to a region where the enemy has air superiority? o.O There should be more efficient ways...

OOC: Nod, you haven't posted any replies to Lavenrunz's attack on your fleet or my rifle grenade attack and your ground forces, OR Der Angst's actions. Here's a review:

Spread out in a staggered approach, the Fleet was the largest assembled at one time in years by the Empire of Lavenrunz.
IC:
The Imperial Fleet moved in closer.
Deploying landing forces. thought the Empress as reports flooded in.
The leopard strikes at the buffalo who is feeding so deep that his back and neck are vulnerable.
"Strike now." she said, as the electronic warfare planes moved into range.
As the jamming began, from every weapons command in the fleet came orders:
Submarines to fire torpedos at the Nod aegis cruisers and carrier; missiles to be launched at all available targets, the fighters not assigned to attack landing forces to attack the carriers as well.

The sailors and pilots who were ready to put themselves to harm were full of a strange joy. Was the Empress not the annointed of God? Were they not of Lavenrunz?

I, Lieutenant von Ihengen of the 43rd Naval Tactical Fighter Squadron, put on my helmet and breathing gear. I do a final flight check, and I am not afraid. The picture of the Empress, blessed by Her own hand, is in my pocket, and I go gladly as my ancestors rode to battle sword in hand.


Dear Felix

I think my battery will be engaged today. I heard one of the officers saying that the Noddist fleet was landing at Delft, and we would engage them. I am glad that the Empress is here. I feel that nothing can go wrong now.
Please kiss our children for me, as I did for you during your service. I have no more time to write.
Love Elisa.

As one of the Wacthmeister Squadrons, desiring nothing but to lock horns directly with enemy planes, swept along through the clouds, the leader prayed, Send thine hand from above; rid me and deliver me out of great waters from the hand of strange children.

"All Mjolnir systems checked." reported a warrant officer to the gunnery officer on one of the destroyers.
"Understood."

From marines at anti aircraft batteries to the programmers deep in the ship worshipping the mute electronic gods of the Aegis to ratings with fire fighting equipment to the command staff in every bridge, all wills projected the force of the Lavenrunzian fleet at the fleet of the Brotherhood of Nod.

More than 300 missile racks launched their arms as the planes began to howl down out of the air towards the enemy.

Admiral von Manstein, under the water, gave orders for half the sumbarine squadron to launch their arms.


***Brotherhood army A, just northwest of Delft, Knootoss***

"Sir, there are enemy soldiers moving towards us. They seem to be preparing for battle."

"Prepare the troops. How many enemies?"

"I estimate that there are some six divisions from Syskeyia, and an unknown number of Knootians. The Syskeyians seem to be the largest threat, however, because the Knootians have taken a defensive position.

"Put the men with the Tiberium autorifles on front. Noone hit by those Tiberium shards lived longer then a few hours to tell the tale. Put the tanks on the flanks for cover, and let them come."

"Yes sir."

"By the way, any news from group B and C?"

"They reached the outskirts of Delft, sir."

"Tell them to establish a temporary HQ at the university. And any hostile civilians are to be shot."

"Yes sir."

"Sir, looks like the Nod's sending in their autogunners!"

Tiberium rounds? Blast! "Break out the gunshields and assault them with rifle grenades!"

The Syskeyian soldiers quickly set up the gunshields, bombarding the Nod autgunners with Luchaire rifle grenades within seconds. On the Nod flanks, Spider Tanks were assaulted with fire from M1A3 Abrams tanks, Comanche helicopters, F-35 JSFs, and antitank rockets from rifle squads (every one of my rifle squads has a "rocketman," who has a anti-tank/personnel rocket.

OOC: The M1A3 is a modified M1A2 SEP tank, with the turbine replaced with a diesel of equal HP, improved secondary armament, and gunshields around the hatches. Also, the gunshields carried by the infantry look like this:
http://www.isayeret.com/units/civi/civi-24.jpg

South of The hague, Nod- landing:

The Syskeyian forces were firing, the battle was going on. The few survivors of the Angst- forces that witnessed the Nod- landing, were fighting as a block, within the combined Syskeyian attack.

And another one bites the dust. Private Ulf Gerstenbauer watched the Nod- troopers head exploding, after it was hit with a 20mm round of his assault rifle.

At the moment there was nothing but chaos, and it wasn`t clear who was winning, or who was loosing. The only thing that was clear: It was a killing field.

The five extra carrier battlegroups have arrived in Knootian waters, alongside the Syskeyian fleets already there and the Lavenrunzian navy.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

So, in my view, the Lavenrunzian fleet is flanked by two groups of Syskeyian ships, each group consisting of 5 carrier battlegroups.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

A commandeered new broadcast station begins to transmit from Amsterdam. Lady Hanse is surrounded by members of the Valinon/Ortagan military coalition and members of the Knootian parliament.
"Citizens of Knootian, the Dominion forces that have tried to seize your nation by force and insert a puppet government are being pushed back into the sea. The forces of the Grand Coalition that has come together to defend Knootian sovereignity will soon achieve victory. Member parties of the Coalition have called upon the broken forces of the Dominion to surrender and honourable accept defeat, and yet our please so far have gone unanswered," she pauses for a moment.
"In this war, Valinon has strove to maintain the security of as many Knootian cities as possible as well as the security and integrity of the entire nation of Knootoss. We will not back down from this duty now, the forces of the Valinon portion of the Coalition will stay in Knootoss to help rebuild your shattered cities and help your government to depart these dark times. I have asked that the surviving members of the Parliament of your nation to meet here in Amsterdam to begin to determine the future of Knootoss. The Conservative Party is shattered, its leader Dick Tator is dead by an unknown assailant and his successor, the Dominion puppet, Burns has gone into hiding. We have no doubt he has fled to hide in some Dominion bunker."
Lady Hanse's gaze sweeps those around her, "It is time for Knootoss to begin to move toward the future. Let it do so without having to live in fear, or do so unaided."

******

Outside the city of Amsterdam, a prison camp has been setup. Dominion forces captured from the front at Knootcap, have been rounded here and are kpt under the watchful eye of Valinon Sardaukar and Ortagan Elite Guard. A truck rumbles up to the gate, two Sardaukar walk out to it.
The driver gets out, "More prisoners from the front, we are transporting them to the camp."
The Sardaukar nods and motions to the rest of his squad. Thy check the dejected looking men in the back of th truck, covered in the grime of the urban fighting in Knootcap.
"You may pass," the Sardaukar says and the truck rumbles through the gate.
The Ortagan major Hand looks at the truck rumbling through the gate.
"More prisoners I take it," he says to his adjutant.
"Yes, Major."
"I suspect we will deal with prisoner trade off soon enough. I doubt the Dominion can endure this for much longer."

OOC: I heard from Siri that the Dominion disbanded last night or something. Will this affect the war?

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

OOC: If that's true it means we will have less opponents to worry about and we can finish off the NOD and TST resistance if that is all that is coming along.

OOC: They essentially did - many of the larger nations left and I would bet some of the smaller ones will leave as well. Thelas, WV, NOD, and TST are still members however.

As far as what will happen here - I'm not going to render a guess.

Losses:

So far 2 destroyers and 1 cruiser has been sunk on my side 1 battleship was damaged, and 18 Banshees defending the fleet have been shot down. Submarines are engaged in an underwater battle against enemy submarines, and 3 were destroyed so far. On land, the Brotherhood Army A lost 8000 men and 400 tanks so far (meaning some 7000 troops and 600 tanks are left of group A. Group B and C are entering Delft and setting up a temporary HQ there. Sorry for no RP.

The Dominion was dissolved yesterday after Steel Butterfly left. Some others left after him, and then Lord Christopher Scott, the only High Command member present, disbanded the Dominion. I'm not sure what to do with the Knootoss situation yet, Whispering Voices told me it is being discussed at the Dominion forums, but I can't access them anymore. I thought they were taken down, but apparently this isn't the case.

OOC: It probably means that the NOD and TST forces in Knootoss would have to act as a separate coalition, seeing as how the Dominion would be dead. Unless you are willing to break away and form your own Dominion.

OOC: If this is to be RP'ed properly the Dominion forces should pull out - reorganizing after a breakup such as this generally takes years, not a couple hours. Plus they could blame SATO, call it SATO treachery and backstabbing, and set themselves up for more RP in the future. Just my suggestion though.

OOC: It probably means that the NOD and TST forces in Knootoss would have to act as a separate coalition, seeing as how the Dominion would be dead. Unless you are willing to break away and form your own Dominion.

I don't know what will happen; if the Dominion will indeed be dissolved then I will probably pull out, but I don't know if TST has continued the alliance, since I can still not access the forums...although I got a telegram from WV saying he made new forums.

OOC: I suggest we discuss it here. (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1523006#1523006)

ooc: Nod: Thats the casualities from ~900 anti- ship missiles? o.O [Edit: after a short discussion with WV, i admit such a hitrate (miss- rate) is possible, depending on your defences... care to explain what they are?]

ic:

Noir was still walking through... well, they didn`t exactly know where to go. Or where they were, for that matter.

But suddenly, they heard something... It wasn`t entirely clear what it was, but it was something.

They watched through the dark night (ooc: timewarp here), trying to find wahtever the source of this noise was... probably just a few civilians that didn`t make it to any bunkers... however, one voice was remarcably similar to someones voice they remembered in their hard drives...

"Burns."
"And someone with him..."

[ooc: Noir didn`t listen to Burns speech, so they think he`s still on the coalitions side]

They slowly came near, they weren`t entirely sure what exactly Burns was doing here...

Suddenly, Mireille heard something. She stopped, her instinks told her to jump aside, and it wasn`t in any way to late, the bullet hit the ground where she stood just a second ago.

Quickly, both, Mireille and Kirika, jumped away to cover themselves.

How did they know?

Another shoot, and this time, she was hit...

Damn, where are they?

She changed her position and was able to escape the next two attempts to hit her, the bullets leaving small holes in a wall behind her.

Damnit, where the hell are this bastards?

Meanwhile, Kirika vanished into another street... just to return a few minutes later. Two bullets hit the ground behind her, then her 10.5mm gun opened fire. Two shots could be heard...

---

"And there we are!"

The bombers and fighters attacking Nod had finally arived. They had choosen the right wing of the approaching Nod forces, a single division...

144 fighters and 143 bombers (one had engine problems and wa sforced to return early) suddenly attacked the Nod forces out of the air... they came down like hawks...

Against a defence they had never witnessed before.

Yes, the fighters were armed with the tech neccessary to take out Sams, however, against what was here...

missiles everywhere, from the ground, from the planes... soldiers shooting at them, planes exploding in the air, flames, dead bodies...

A rain of bombs, 2800 tons of them, rained down on this single division.

Planes that were shot down sometimes were covered by the bombs of their comrades in the air.

Death was everywhere.

---

Meanwhile, with the planes that brough the masses of equipment, tons of ammunition, and more and more soldiers, soe other people came as well...

Men in suits...

One group started by 'visiting' Knootoss citicens with shares of larger corporations to make then fantastic offers...

Now, that the sharemarkets were closed, the black- market value of Knootian shares was extremely low... this people offered the money the shares were worths right before the sharemarkets closed... less then before the Tator- situation started, but way more than right now...

The other group visited SLP- members in higher positions, may it be in the industry, the military, or in the party itselve... they came always in pairs of two... and they had specified questions. [ooc: Knootoss will know what i mean :P]

Things were moving...

---

At the same time, another group of fighters started once again, to engage the wisps, to find a way to actually hit them...

this time, with changed weaponery. They still hold missiles, although only to fight 'normal' planes.

For the wisps, the two 30mm gaussguns had been replaced by two 30mm plasma guns and two 30mm lasers. Although both were relatively short- range (3000m), there was hope to get them with this...

Sergeant Reay ducked out of the way as huge bullets over a centimetre wide impacted into the tree behind her, shattering its trunk and spraying bark and sap and woodchips everywhere. It soon collapsed backwards, severed in two by the gunfire from the Der Angst special forces.

She recognised their UV signatures, of course - they'd been briefed on them. "Stay down!" she hissed at Burns, shoving him behind the stump of the now collapsed tree.

There were only two of the Der Angst cyborgs, that should could tell - their human forms mixing oddly with the electrical circuitry in their artificial limbs. One was in cover down a street, and the other a UV and IR glow behind a wall.

"Fire in the hole!" flashed up on her HUD, as Merrylsbyre pumped the underslung grenade launcher three times in quick succession ... sending the small objects looping over the wall, where their timed detonaters destroyed them just before they hit ground level. The smoke and energy from the explosions made it hard to tell whether the cyborg survived.

Incoming shot displays showed the position of the second, hidden in a street, as it let off another shot - and she heard Tim gag in pain, his vital signs reader suddenly going critical as the shot hit him and he collapsed with one lung blown out of the back of his ribcage.

"Fuck," thought Sergeant Reay. The thought was rapidly followed, however, with her TADAR displaying movement from the street ... she lowered her gun to fire ... and swore. It was a child, running terrified from some other part of the Knootian conflict. "Always bloody children in warzones," she cursed, her grenade shot made impossible without the guaranteed death of the kid.

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

The storm crackled as the Semir-Randil launched so many electro-magnetically powered kinetics at once, and lightning wreathed the dying ship - a funeral for a worthy warrior. Her missiles streaked up into the sky, and then plummeted towards the sea.

The defensive pattern adopted by the Voices fleet - the zigzag, continually moving, had been initiated specifically to avoid this overhead bombardment. And it was effective at doing so, with many of the missiles off target. But many was by no means all, and some of the missiles descend from their 83km altitude on target. The MTHEM point defences, abandoned as a means of affecting the shielded ships, spin upwards. Their range, sadly, is still small - but they fire fast.

The systems controlling them map out the incoming threats - size, weight, spectography reading. And the microwaves pulse upwards and out, melting the missiles into dead hunks of molten matter that plummet harmlessly into the sea. Of the three thousand missiles, many are not threats because of the zig-zagging pattern. The Wisps each suck in a kinetic, toroidal shields maintaining the speed of the missile. Of the thousand that are, the MTHEM system could theoretically destroy them all, especially with the Goalkeeper pontoon backup ... apart from one small problem.

The adopted formation - brilliant for defence, and for attacking the Semir-Randil battlegroup, has two weak points - the frigates heading the prongs of the semi-circle.

The defence targetting systems hadn't had time to adjust, and so the two masers assigned to destroy the incoming missiles on those frigates had no backup when previously-melted material plummetted in front of their beams ...

And although a Goalkeeper saved one, bullets impacting with the incoming kinetic and merely spraying the deck with molten metal, the second frigate took a kinetc right on the bow.

The object, 750 kilograms propelled at 3,000 metres a second, hit with enough force to initiate a fusion reaction - a small one, just enough to send about two and a half kilograms of the deck plating into fusion. The energy between the silicate-titanium plates is broken, the atomic bonds shattered. Nuclei hit other nuclei, merging into higher density atoms. Electrons are smashed out of their orbit by soft x-rays, and absorbed ... superheated ... and the titanium-silicate combination is turned into huge amounts of calcium and krypton gas. Superheated, the calcium burns with a yellow red flame - which excites the krypton gas formed by the remainder of the interaction, causing it to expand at incredible speeds. A massive wave of pressure rolls up the frigate, blasting through doors, superheated krypto-calcium gas broiling men and women where they stand, even as the pressure wave crushes and compacts them into lovely meaty chunks. The back of the frigate is strong, the hull designed for impact - and so the expanding wave of gas goes upwards, literally blowing the top deck into the sky. Little stick-figures scream as the metal they are clinging to overheats before plunging with a cloud of steam into the sea. The hull, breached at the bow where the metal folds, sinks in afterwards.

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

Flight Commander Sherin gripped his flightstick as the G#s rose from the water, angling his Mig down as he waited for the guidance systems to get a lock ... "Godspeed," he murmered, as he released homing ASRAAMs along their vectors. The radar display showed that his whole flight was following suite, short-range fast air-to-air missiles streaking out ... just as his instruments showed the MC darts streaking in, and ...

The Su-37s shot through the stormy skies. Occasionally blips would show up on their sensor arrays - TADAR blips, mainly ... but these were dismissed by flight computers as microwave interference from bolts of lightning. They went to engage the rising M#s, releasing AMRAAMs in pairs, as the X#s moved to close in the trap around them.

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

Admiral Richards stood on the deck of the HCCS Hermes, watching navigational reports, speaking over the communications device to Bryant - still on one of the small Michael Owen shuttles that were darting between the David Seaman pontoons, replenishing ammunition. He was nervously running his fingers through his beard, stroking his chin.

"Incoming four carriers on our position. Valinon forces - accompanied by two battlecruisers, four destroyers, two frigates, and five missile cruisers, Brigadier-General."

Stephan, his launch bucking under the huge waves, grabbed onto a support as a particularly vicious wave struck.

"Acknowledged. Primary objective is currently the same - destroy those two Eternal Dawn Devastators. If they fire anything suitable at us, have the Wisps deflect some of it at the Valinon carriers, missile cruisers, and destroyers. Test out their point defences. Also, change our fire pattern. We've seen what those ships have - multiple hulls. Instead of breaching the hulls one at a time with saturation, concentrate fire. Fewer missiles per second, aimed at specific points. They will have far less point defence with the Semir-Randil gone, we need to strike now."

Richards nodded, and turned to give the orders.

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

And then the fleet - battered, but far from broken, continues its barrage on the fleeing two Eternal Dawn devastators that had accompanied the Semir-Randil.

The submarines, however, have different ideas. They turn round in the water, the Trafalgar Sunsets and the Vanguards, and then ... bizarrely ... appear to be reversing to keep up with the surface fleet above them. Torpedo nets are raised on the Goalkeeper pontoons, and then ...

They fire a huge number of torpedos - a few interference countermeasures, the majority plain killers - in the direction of the approaching IDS Vanguard battlegroup. Still a long way away, but the torpedos have endurance. Penetration of submarinal defences is unlikely, but it'll be a good gauge of the defences they have. They still launch their quota of Tomahawks - towards the two fleeing Devastators - but their submarinal attentions are now focused behind them.

The Sea Apache-AH64D Longbows, the last of the aerial assets with anti-ship missiles, keep low by the fleet, under the protective cover of the Wisps. The guns on the fleets begin to pound the fleeing Devastators, and the frigates launch Harpoons in waves. As they get close, the Apaches fire their Penguins, pilots shaking now with the adrenaline of combat.

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

The Wisps, hovering protectively around the fleet, then registered incoming attacks from the 96 refitted Der Angst fighters - but, oddly, not at the fleet. At them.

The lasers hit first, gigawatt strength ... the dialectric mirrors shifting structure as they hit ... and yet more gravimetric waves churn the air as they push down into the sea, heat sinks going full power. With more time to aim, and greater familiarity with the combat situation, and far fewer incoming beams to deflect, they operate better.

And many of the laser beams are sent, stabbing out at the speed of light, at the EOTED ships - the Wisps fitted with EMADAR (magnetic radar) and GRADAR (gravitic detection) are able to target even the low-profile X#s.

And, courtesy of Der Angst, gigawatt laser beams reflect out at the Eternal Dawn air assets - countless beams per X#, G#, K#, and M#. But only briefly, each Wisp deflecting just a couple of light beams before the magnetically-bottled plasma rounds enter the toroidal shields, and the effect causes the lasers to simply defuse harmlessly, making each Wisp glow like a star as radiation is emitted and split. The plasma rounds - the perfect design for toroidal redirection, being little encased magnetic fields - are rapidly redirected. Some towards the Valinon fleet, but the vast majority of Wisps send them straight into the two fleeing Devastators, evenly split: orders from on high being to concentrate fire.

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

And then the IDS Vanguard and her battlegroup's attack enter the picture. The first wave of kinetics is easily shot down ... MTHEM point defence and pontoons doing their defences well. A little too well, in fact - as Goalkeepers start to run out, and orders are made to only use a third of the platforms each wave.

And a third would - in ideal conditions - be enough. But these are far from ideal conditions. The electrical storm raging - enhanced by the Wisps above and the huge amounts of EM radiation flying around - make it hard for the Goalkeepers to target, more or less relying sheer luck.

But sheer luck is not something to risk lives on. Another frigate, and two destroyers are impacted by the kinetics, shredded by the raw power of the fusion explosions. A small cluster of pontoons is literally overturned by the waves, and sink down. Where they crash into an unexpecting Trafalgar, dissecting it as explosions and air bubbles rocket to the surface.

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

Alarmingly, given the fact that they were fired first, it's the Penguins, Harpoons and Tomahawks that get to the Devastators last. Their pattern, focused on small areas of hull to attempt the fastest possible penetration given the layered hull system, comes in small waves of bomblets and booms.

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


OOC: Apologies for the immense amount of numberology in this post. I forgot why I hated mass battles.

Ma-Tek:
Mig-39s: firing at the G#s: 482 ASRAAMs proximity detonated, in a pattern designed to get an impact/close detonation at the current speed of the G#s.
Su-37s: firing at the M#s: 914 AMRAAMs proximity detonated, in a pattern designed to get an impact/close detonation at the current speed of the M#s.
Apache: firing at the Devastators, 250 firing at each, 2 Penguins apiece. 500 Penguins/Devastator.
Frigates: firing at the Devastators, 79 frigates firing 8 each, 316 Harpoons apiece. Also firing 20mm guns, 2 each, at 79 apiece.
Destroyers: firing at the Devastators, 93 destroyers firing 8 Tomahawks each, 372 tomahawks per Devastator each of which splits into 10 bomblets. 4.5" guns, 2 per destroyer, split so 93 4.5" guns fired at each Devastator.
Carriers: firing at the Devastators, 25 carriers firing 4 Tomahawks each, so 50 Tomahawks per Devastator. Also firing 4.5" guns, 2 per Carrier, 26 firing at one Devastator and 24 firing at the second.
Trafalgar submarines: 96, firing 3 Tomahawks per Trafalgar, so 48 firing 3 tomahawks at each Devastator for 144 Tomahawks for each Devastator.
Vanguard submarines: 50, firing 16 Tomahawks each, so 25x16 for each Devastator, so 400 Tomahawks for each Devastator.

The Wisps: I spoke to Der Angst about his weapons capabilities. There were 96 re-fitted fighters. Each fighter has two 1 gigawatt lasers, and fired 1000 times per laser. They also have two plasma cannons, firing 500 plasma shots per cannon, each shot being 1cm3 of helium plasma in magnetic bottles (yay toroidal shields) that travel at 0.1c. That's a total of ... 192,000 laser shots and 96,000 plasma shots.

The lasers, at light speed, hit first. 25% of them came in at the right angle to be reflected at EOTED air assets (a 90 degree frontal arc), but there are only 247 Wisps currently active - so only the capability of "targetting" 247 EOTED things at once. G#s are the primary targets - if all of those are destroyed by the laser beams, they go for the M#s, with the K#s being last priority - targetted, but poorly due to their lightness and size via GRADAR. So about 247 accurate shots, and then 247 inaccurate shots, and then the occasional practically-random shot.

The magnetic bottled plasma hits next, and the toroidal shields then - fueled by the extra energy in capacitors from heatsinks and the power of the Wisp itself - deal with the magnetic-bottled fusion. On the plus side, the power of the toroidal shield interacting with the fusion bottles diffuses the laser shots, so from then on far fewer laser beams escape to hit the EOTED air forces. On the other hand, there are still a lot of plasma shots to redirect, and the nature of toroidal shielding (effectively trapping the magnetic field or object before redirecting it) allows them to "store" the pellets.

Two hundred of the Wisps redirect pellets at the fleeing Devastators. One hundred Wisps each, concentrated on the same area, in waves as the Der Angst craft fire at the Wisps, trying to penetrate through the hull in one place to either hole and cripple the ship or force the hulls to blow off prematurely. 96,000 plasma shots, 388 per Wisp, so 38,800 per fleeing Devastator.

As I understand it, each pellet initates fusion - /gulp - so is like a very small version of the EOTED missile (like the one that sank my frigate), with a similar effect.

Valinon:
The other 47 Wisps redirect pellets at the Valinon fleet, figuring that actual sea-based ships can't possibly have EM field protection without falling through the sea or ripping their huge hulls apart. That's 18236 pellets in total. Five Wisps each aim at the aircraft carriers, that's 1940 pellets per carrier. Three Wisps each aim at the five missile cruisers, that's 1164 pellets per Aegean missile cruiser. Three Wisps each also aim at each of the four destroyers, another 1164 pellets per destroyer.

My losses:
32 Migs (every MC dart from a G# a kill)
5 frigates
4 destroyers
45 David Seaman pontoons
19 Su-37s from poorly-refracted lasers
3 Trafalgar submarine

My total forces alive:
79 Frigates
87 Destroyers
96 Trafalgars
50 Vanguard
438 Su-37s
465 Mig-39s
500 Apache AH-64D Longbow
899 David Seaman pontoons
247 Wisps

ooc: Nod: Thats the casualities from ~900 anti- ship missiles? o.O [Edit: after a short discussion with WV, i admit such a hitrate (miss- rate) is possible, depending on your defences... care to explain what they are?]

OOC: Hmm..yeah, it's a tad on the low side...you're right. I'll correct it here.

IC:

Admiral Ramirez watched over the fleet from the bridge of the flagship, which survived the battle so far without any significant damage. Another cruiser and another destroyer had been sunk by a sudden volley of missiles from Der Angst planes. One of the sunken destroyers was the one hunting the unknown-but-very-probably-hostile submarine. He ordered the Supremacy class submarine (bought) from The Silver Turtle to continue the hunt for the damned sub. "How many ships have missile firing capability left?" the admiral asked.

Most of them, sir. We lost only 5 ships and 1 battleship was damaged. All other battleships can still launch missiles."

"Fire 80 missiles per battleship. And order all ships to fire on

"Yes sir." The officer began to distribute the orders to the battleships. Moments later, man could hear the admiral's orders being executed by the firing of missiles towards both the Lavenrunzian and Syskeyian ships.

"Send Banshees after those planes that send the missiles. Make them pay."

"Yes sir. How many?"

"100 will do. We'll keep the rest here for defense of the fleet until they return. Order all remaining ships to set course to the coast at full speed."

"Yes sir."

***Brotherhood Army A, northwest of Delft, Knootoss***

"Sir, the Syskeyians and the Knootians are moving in again. There also appears to be a large number of air units quickly coming towards us. What are your orders?"

"Attack the Syskeyians and the Knootians. Make them pay. I doubt those planes are coming to us for a cup of tea, so we might as well die while teaching those SATO lapdogs a lesson they won't soon forget."

"Yes sir."

The Brotherhood Army Group A began a new attack on the enemy positions, until the bombers unleashed hell on them - and on any unlucky Syskeyian or Knootian close enough to the battlefield.

OOC: Consider Brotherhood Army Group A destroyed, but not without heavy casualties on the other side, due to my attacks and friendly fire from not-so-smart Der Angst bombs.

OOC2: My fleet still consists of:

8 Battleships, 1 damaged. The other seven are launching 80 missiles each at Lavenrunz/Syskyian ships.
3 Aircraft carriers
10 AEGIS Cruisers
10 Cruisers
17 Destroyers
15 submarines
1 Supremacy class submarine (difficult to detect, they use white noise)

The fleet is making for the coast.

Planes:

150 Banshees, of which 100 are going towards the Der Angst planes who fired the missiles at me
90 Apaches
60 Harpy's

OOC: Whispering Voices, first off I would like more technical information on your "pellets." Secondly, my navy does not ride actually in the waters, I borrow from the Mobile Suit Gundam and David Weber series, mine "hover" above the water and carry extensive electronic warfare countermeasures and various electronic magentic equipment which has become something of a speciality of my armed forced on Earth after our last tango with the People's Republic of Greater Ironholm.

OOC: Okay, I'm now officially fed up. I'm not approaching, Nod, I've ATTACKED. If you guys can't be bothered to actually read the thread this is pointless.

OOC: The 5 sunken ships and the damaged battleship is including your attack so far, but sea battles consist mostly of firing on eachother constantly, which is hard to RP. Maybe I should've expressed myself better. I assume I'm still being bombarded and all, but I'm expecting you now to post damages as well, and how you are further doing your attack and such.

OOC: So you wish to keep fighting and losing more men to the grinder...

IC:
"All squadrons are to disengage WV forces and concentrate on eliminating the remaining ground forces." Washington ordered. He was looking over the tactical map. SATO forces had air supremacy except over the WV fleet, and if they 'ignored' them they would either have to move forces inland opening them up to attack, or they would be out of the fight.

The orders were passed to Tactical Air Control and the squadrons were re-routed. Blasting off a few parting shots the DA-100's shot away from the fight and toward the NOD and TST ground forces. They were joined by wings of Assault shuttles that hugged the ground, their door gunners engaging squads of enemy soldiers and rear-line artillery.

Aboard the 53rd information began to flood in on their targets. "NOD Command and Control node located here..." "Right - laying in target, finding closest fighter, launching..." As high value targets - command and control, ammunition carriers, and forward recon units were identified from the web of information avaliable TAC officers designated it, found a nearby fighter with a Hunter and launched it. Sometimes the gunners watched the sudden bloom of fire, often they were too busy engaging other targets to care.

They had also figured out the protocal for the Valinon tac-net, and had tied into that. Cross-force information sharing blossomed into the tac-net. Comm-lasers and MST transmitters worked overtime to keep the information flowing.

6 Squadrons (538 fighters by now) were dedicated to air superiority. They engaged any opposing fast movers and helicopters that ventured out of a 20km zone that had been established around the WV fleet.

Another 2 squadrons (169) were assigned to begin picking off the NOD fleet, starting with the outer ring of ships and moving inward cautiously. A wing (10) would concentrate their fire on the aft of a single ship and attempt to detonate it's propulsion system. This would either kill it, or leave it dead in the water - easy pickings for SATO subs.

Meanwhile close to the shoreline the freighter was nearing it's destination. A steep shoreline with a road beyond, it would be perfect for landing troops on. It nudged closer to shore and stopped. The crew could see the WV and NOD fleets from here - perhaps this wasn't the best position.

In Knootcap around the Hague the '0' was making good progress as well. When a concentration of enemy armor was spotted they made a foray, surrounding it with their superiour mobility, then blasting it apart if it did not surrender. It was hoped they surrendered - the results of a fusion cannon on a tank looked like a blooming onion.

Last but not least, Washington kept sending out requests for a ceasefire. The ambulance shuttles were overloaded with casualties, and they didn't bring back the dead in many cases. Still the morgue was overflowing with bodies and they had started to lay them in long lines on the field surrounding the country club.

ooc: no, the attack (naturally) ended when i didn`t have any more missles. Although Lavenrunz is still attacking you.

Losses: see IC part (although it is hard to post losses when one doesn`t know what defences the enemy used... so, i assume they are relatively low, considering i fired from relatively far away)

And Knootoss, please, a safe harbour in Knootoss i could use? (The convoy)

---

ic:

When they returned, interestingly enough together with the fighters that attacked the wisps, the casualities could be counted. Ten fighters and six bombers were missing.

However, while the war seemed to be... less active, the wisps became of more and more interest for the high command...

"This footage is... interesting."
"Indeed. So far..."
"They haven`t fired anything. It is indeed possible that they are simply... not armed."
"What would make it simple to... ignore them. Literally."
"Indeed. However, interesting tech."
"We need to get it. As fast as possible."
"We will start plans immediately. Meanwhile... well, wisps without a fleet are not /so/ useful..."

At the Valinon/Ortagan headquarters in Amsterdam, Field Marshall von Richter coordinates the Coalition forces not under the direct command of Lord Adonis or Vice Admiral Perry. Suddenly one of the AIs, this oen dressed very much like a general from the American Civil War appears.
"Field Marshall, the Sunset command staff has broken into our protoccols and is accessing our tactical networks. What is your recommended course of action?"
"Allow it, for the moment. But if they try to dig to deep or access sensitive information, purge them and recompensate our protoccols."
"Yes, Field Marshall."
von Richter turns to the AIs and aides that form the rest of his staff, "Tell the seventh artillery battery to bombard NOD positions again. Also, I want Gamma and Epsilon squadrons to escort the Sigma bomber squadron and make a run at NOD forces in Delft. Finally, reinforce our forces moving to assist our allies at Delft with an additional element of jet coptor gunships."

OOC: Sunset here - I thought we had arranged cooperation. I was more assuming it took time because of incompatable protocals.

The Devastators never stand a chance.

Battered by incoming, they too detonate in a white flash with a cloud rising-

-and EOTED loses yet more as any aircraft within a kilometre and a half is either vapourized or loses instrumentation - or simply falls out of the sky.

The redirected incoming from the Wisps pegs down a number of G#s, and a couple of K#s take hits - lucky hits, at that - and all that are hit drop out of the sky and explode. None of the pilots eject - all are already dead, unfortunatley.

The torpedoes en route to the Vanguard Battlegroup must pass through a cluster of submarines on their way; a small fraction will probably be lost as they pass and the submarines charge the water with electrons.

* * *

Fury. They knew only fury. Half a Battlegroup incinerated - and now this? This? Shooting down IDF AF warriors, in their prime, with an allies fire?

Disgusting. Ren roared indignantly, shuddering against his restraint with barely contained fury. Barking, "My wing!"

A chorus of angry "Yessir!"'s ring out on his tinny little speaker system.

"Break and attack. Ignore those... things... and focus on those crappy conventional jets. Blow em outta the sky. - Okay, three and four swing and fold - wait for my call. Two, five, scrape the drain and engage from the combat floor at 14g at six-point-eight-eight-five seconds from initiate. Gunports open in four seconds, intercept in seven, engage on six-point-seven-seven-nine. Copy?"

Clicks come back as the pilots prepare, and resort to flicking a small affirmative switch.

Beat.

...Beat.

.......Beat.

"Initiate."

* * *

They came.

They came without announcing their arrival to all, but indeed they did most verily come. Their teeth bared and their claws drawn back, they leapt at their foes from aside and ahead; not one did they send, but all fell at once - the briefest of blinks misaligning their spread.

Ducking and weaving, their claws lashing out, the nimble attackers spread fury about...

The X#s are announced by the barking violence of chaingun fire - EM enhanced chainguns, essentially high ROF railguns with small rounds - as they fall amongst the Su-37s and roll to spread their rapid-fire rounds as viciously as they possibly can.

* * *

Falling, the shadow flitted across the Sun for an instant - and her profile became apparent to all.

Inwards she fell, like a lightening stroke from above - and as she approached a kilometre above sea level, she belched fire at the destroyers below, roaring indignantly at the loss of her fellows.

Seemingly at a bound, the M#s that had been coming in at a relative sedate pace above are leaping downwards towards the new mighty warship that has arrived on the scene - and they loose US missiles at the ships below, aiming to knock crew members aboard unconscious and decrease effectiveness.

Tyelca Tuo launches a missile apiece at six ships in three seconds, before rolling over - her hull gleaming in a fluid manner as it reorganizes - booms arriving from the aircraft and warship coming in seconds ago-

-and she leaps away again, up into the sky in an effort to evade incoming fire. Far away, the Vanguard Battlegroup continues its onslaught without emotion or care.

The interceptors make their screaming bombing runs-

* * *

In The Hague, the Nenyan RISE officers merely sit silently and watch the government building with an air of boredom.

[OOC: Will answer Qs on IRC, WV. Save space here.]

Aboard the STS Metal Glory, flagship of the second fleet, now command centre of Ineffable forces in and around Knootoss:
"This is General Whang. This broadcast is going out to every ship in the Ineffable second, third, fifth, and sixth fleets, our boys in the Hague, and any ally or enemy who cares to listen. Now hear this, because I'm only going to say this once. The Ineffable fleets are here to retake Knootoss for its democratically elected leader, Montgomery Burns. This is The Dominions main objective, and we are going to carry it out. 95% of occupied territory may seem a lot, but you've forgotten that all of your forces must keep that, forcing you to spread them thin. I don't care how many ships you've got: they're battle weary and I have four fully armed fully battle-ready fleets right here, right now...*a bit of mumbling*...It has just been reported to me that you've only left thirteen of our boys at the Hague. Seems we'll have to make you pay for that. Be warned.
Oh, and you see those freaksihly fast metoerites above the capital? They're our 100 other dropships, all targetted to land on a division of you troops or artillery, and then deploy a total of four thousand more troops.
Have a nice day, y'all. Whang out."
He tuned the broadcast to triple encoded Dominion frequencies, and broadcast to the Ineffable fleet only:
"Ok guys: This conflict cannot be lost. We are fighting for the ideals of dictatorship itself. This is death or glory. This will decide how the world looks upon us. We are NOT going to let SATO win! Viva l'Evil! Viva La Dominion!"

OOC: My four fleets are coordinated and ready to attack, which I'll do in my next post, 'cos this is already long enough, without an attack (please don't attack me until I've posted what they're doing as they arrive). But I do have to post my earthbound forces:

Ineffable 2nd army/navy/airforce:

2nd Army:
300,000 troops armed with SIG SG 551-LB assault rifles
150,000 troops armed with SABR modular weapon systems
50,000 elite troops armed with MP-5N submachine guns
may or may not contain 1,000 infiltrators, saboteurs, and snipers
200 S-400 ground based SAM systems
500 Bradley M6-LBs
1,000 M1s
2,500 M1-A2s
1,500 M13A2s
100 Mammoth Mk.7 tanks
250 V3 and V3N tanks
2,000 M1A96 Paladin self-propelled howitzers
3,000 M270 MLRS
5,000 Apache attack helicopters
1,000 OH-58Ds

2nd Airforce:
50 B3 experimental bombers
50 B2 stealth bombers
500 B-52 bombers
200 F-22s
100 F-35 JSFs
1,000 F-16 and F-18s
20 X-45A Unmanned air combat vehicles
500 AV-8B Harriers
500 A-10 Tankbusters

2nd Navy:
30 Supremacy Class Stealth submarines
10 Los-Angeles class submarines
10 SSBN-726 Ohio class submarines
3 Nimitz class carriers
5 Corsair carriers
18 PHM-1 Pegasus hydrofoil boats, in three squadrons of six
7 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke destroyers
10 FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates
5 CG-47 Ticonderoga cruisers

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

3rd armed forces:

3rd Army:
500,000 conscripts armed with an assortment of pointy things and pistols
100,000 troops armed with SIG SG 551-LB assault rifles
100,000 troops armed with SABR modular weapon systems
50,000 elite troops armed with MP-5N submachine guns
may or may not contain 1,000 infiltrators, saboteurs, and snipers
50 S-400 ground based SAM systems
500 Bradley M6-LBs
500 M1s
1,500 M1-A2s
1,000 M13A2s
50 Mammoth Mk.7 tanks
100 Colussus super gun platforms
100 M1A96 Paladin self-propelled howitzers
300 M270 MLRS
2,000 Apache attack helicopters
1,000 OH-58Ds

3rd Airforce:
10 B2 stealth bombers
50 B-52 bombers
100 F-22s
50 F-35 JSFs
500 F-16 and F-18s
500 AV-8B Harriers
500 A-10 Tankbusters

3rd Navy:
20 Supremacy Class Stealth submarines
10 Los-Angeles class submarines
5 SSBN-726 Ohio class submarines
2 Nimitz class carriers
3 Corsair carriers
7 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke destroyers
10 FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates
5 CG-47 Ticonderoga cruisers

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

Fifth Ineffable Armed Forces:

5th Army:
300,000 troops armed with SIG SG 551-LB assault rifles
150,000 troops armed with SABR modular weapon systems
50,000 elite troops armed with MP-5N submachine guns
may or may not contain 1,000 infiltrators, saboteurs, and snipers
200 S-400 ground based SAM systems
500 Bradley M6-LBs
1,000 M1s
2,500 M1-A2s
1,500 M13A2s
2,000 M1A96 Paladin self-propelled howitzers
3,000 M270 MLRS
5,000 Apache attack helicopters
1,000 OH-58Ds

5th Airforce:
50 B2 stealth bombers
500 B-52 bombers
200 F-22s
100 F-35 JSFs
500 F-16 and F-18s
500 AV-8B Harriers
500 A-10 Tankbusters

5th Navy:
40 Supremacy Class Stealth submarines
10 SSBN-726 Ohio class submarines
3 Nimitz class carriers
5 Corsair carriers
7 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke destroyers
15 FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates
7 CG-47 Ticonderoga cruisers

Sixth Ineffable Armed Forces Divison:

6th Airforce:
50 B2 stealth bombers
500 B-52 bombers
300 F-22s
100 F-35 JSFs
600 F-16 and F-18s
500 AV-8B Harriers
500 A-10 Tankbusters

6th Navy:
40 Supremacy Class Stealth submarines
10 SSBN-726 Ohio class submarines
3 Nimitz class carriers
5 Corsair carriers
7 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke destroyers
10 FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates
7 CG-47 Ticonderoga cruisers

The Empire of the Eternal Dawn hereby orders all non-SATO aligned forces to vacate the Knootoss area immediatley or face unrepentant destruction at the hands of the IDF.

~ Ambassador Relhatti (official EOTED statement appertaining to the Knootian Difficulties)

ooc: just a note, TST: 1.75 mio. men... don`t assume the mass of troop transporters will not be attacked...

---

ic:

*forgot the partt with the WV special forces >.<*

"Mireille!"

But it was to late. Mireille realised that Kirika tried to warn her, however, when she saw him, he already fired... she felt the hit, and she knew, she was about to die...

As a last reflex, while falling down to the ground, she raised her gun, and fired...

One, two, three times, her vision still clear...

She heard Kirika, also firing, in the same direction, then a small explosion... a child, running away, and Kirika, retreating, realising there was no chance to win this battle...

She was not sure if the man that attacked her was dead, but she suddenly felt very tired... and closed her half- organic eyes.

Somehow, she managed to feel hitting the ground.

Seems like the internal sensors aren`t entirely dysfunctional...

Then her internal systems failed, were shut down, to eventually safe her memory.

DFarkness.

"Kirika!"

But it was impossible to helpher, the danger was... too high.

At least she knew who had Burns.

The enemy.

A statement by Dave, Minister for OOC-Affairs:
This was going to be an attack post. However, due to a possibly agreeable treaty brought to my attention by an ally while the post was being constructed, this post has been postponed. This attack shall not happen until further notice. I would ask everyone to keep a sense of honour in battle and not attack us while the Ineffable fleets sit around doing nothing in the hope of no further bloodshed. That is all.
Dave, Minister for OOC-Affairs.

Common statement by the respective authorities of the Commonwealth of the Vortex Corporation and the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka:

We, the Commonwealth of The Vortex Corporation and the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka hereby request that all involved parties scale down any possible military activities or at least keep them at current level and do not escalate them any further.

Back scene negotiations are going on, which might lead to an acceptable treaty between SATO and the Dominion that will end the messy bloodshed this war has provoked.

We are not asking any real truce, since the negotiations may fail(which we most certainly hope doesn't happen) but at least not escalate it any further and give diplomacy and compromise a chance.

We rejoice upon hearing the stament made by the representant of the Innefable Empire and hope that others follow its example

Thank you for your attention,

Representing the Commonwealth of the Vortex Corporation,
Chairman of the Vortex Corporation Lower Council for Foreign Affairs,
Nejra Paktu

Representing the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka,
High Councillor of the Duchy for Foreign Affairs,
Leib-Count Alexei Nemirov.

OOC: Are you not launching the dropships? Cause if they are launched, they are hosed. We're not just going to let them land, unless you divert them and say you are diverting them.

ooc: tag plus confirmation of the above, if any doubt remains.

OOC: Are you not launching the dropships? Cause if they are launched, they are hosed. We're not just going to let them land, unless you divert them and say you are diverting them. They are returning to orbit. (This will obviously mean they will need refuelled before I can launch them again, as to go from reentry speeds to escape velocity requires a awful lot of downward thrust).
Also...(OOC: Curse my interefering parents, I've forgotten what the hell I was going to say. Watch this space)

OOC: Are you not launching the dropships? Cause if they are launched, they are hosed. We're not just going to let them land, unless you divert them and say you are diverting them. They are returning to orbit. (This will obviously mean they will need refuelled before I can launch them again, as to go from reentry speeds to escape velocity requires a awful lot of downward thrust).
Also...(OOC: Curse my interefering parents, I've forgotten what the hell I was going to say. Watch this space)

OOC:

I offer just to ingore the fact that any dropships have been launched. They are still en route or whatever and are currently awaiting further orders, as the rest of the troops.

It will make at least one simple thing in this already complicated mess...

The Wisps glide smoothly through the turbulent skies, the majority moving and then adopting a hovering pattern remniscent of a wall of tear-drops, interlocked, between the Der Angst forces and the Voices fleet. The rest move to attempt to cover the fleet from the attack by the new airborne EOTED asset ... but not fast enough. The missiles slam down through the holding pattern, at the fleet. Fortunately, the barrage from the Tyelca Tuo is minor compared to the one from the Semir-Randil, and the point defences manage to melt them in time - presumably it was a test barrage.

However, 40 Su-37s pirouette from the sky in flames, courtesy of the raking fire of the X#s; some pilots are fortunate enough to bail, but not many.

OOC: Whispering Voices, first off I would like more technical information on your "pellets." Secondly, my navy does not ride actually in the waters, I borrow from the Mobile Suit Gundam and David Weber series, mine "hover" above the water and carry extensive electronic warfare countermeasures and various electronic magentic equipment which has become something of a speciality of my armed forced on Earth after our last tango with the People's Republic of Greater Ironholm.

OOC:
Valinon: They're Der Angst's "pellets", not mine. I've put all I could find out - they go at 0.1c, 1cm3 of plasma helium. And - I don't remember anyone pointing out the fact that your ships floated. Which is something you can be pretty sure I would have picked up on IC. But it doesn't really matter too much. Physical EM shielding can only be achieved in hemispherical or spherical configurations anyway, and if you claim your battleships - that have been described just as battleships so far - are mysteriously curved, with no protrusions at all, I shall be most put out. On the other hand, the pellets helped explode><0r some Devastators with loads of MI tech, so it's not especially likely that the equipment will help ... AFAIK military toroidal shields are unique to Austrin-Ontis ^_^.

EOTED: Have a couple of questions for you on IRC, will add to and edit this post accordingly.

OOC: Shielding no, I just have one hell of a good EM and countermeasures suite. You can thank Greater Ironholm for that when we fought our last war. I made off with some of his magentic technology. No, what I stole from his was a prototpye for a magentic field projector or "gun" as he called it. And that was several decades ago. We now have wonderfully working systems. Floating was mentioned in the thread before this, and its not to major. The ships skim across the top of the water and can use it as coolant for their systems. Eco-friendly and convient for the Navy. So would a magentic field gun have the slightest effect against the pellets or do you know?

*Cough*Cough*

Common statement by the respective authorities of the Commonwealth of the Vortex Corporation and the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka:

We, the Commonwealth of The Vortex Corporation and the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka hereby request that all involved parties scale down any possible military activities or at least keep them at current level and do not escalate them any further.

Back scene negotiations are going on, which might lead to an acceptable treaty between SATO and the Dominion that will end the messy bloodshed this war has provoked.

We are not asking any real truce, since the negotiations may fail(which we most certainly hope doesn't happen) but at least not escalate it any further and give diplomacy and compromise a chance.

We rejoice upon hearing the stament made by the representant of the Innefable Empire and hope that others follow its example

Thank you for your attention,

Representing the Commonwealth of the Vortex Corporation,
Chairman of the Vortex Corporation Lower Council for Foreign Affairs,
Nejra Paktu

Representing the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka,
High Councillor of the Duchy for Foreign Affairs,
Leib-Count Alexei Nemirov.

OOC: Shielding no, I just have one hell of a good EM and countermeasures suite. You can thank Greater Ironholm for that when we fought our last war. I made off with some of his magentic technology. No, what I stole from his was a prototpye for a magentic field projector or "gun" as he called it. And that was several decades ago. We now have wonderfully working systems. Floating was mentioned in the thread before this, and its not to major. The ships skim across the top of the water and can use it as coolant for their systems. Eco-friendly and convient for the Navy. So would a magentic field gun have the slightest effect against the pellets or do you know?

OOC:I have no idea how you could possibly make something that simply 'fired' magnetic fields - hell, the pellets defy the law of physics and can't sustain magnetic fields, just rely on going so fast that the plasma doesn't superheat the ball before it hits the target (magnetic field induced in ferrous metal ball, holding the plasma in - the ball essentially is burned away as soon as it leaves the gun, but the shot moves so fast it hits before the plasma can expel and spread). To keep a magnetic field capable of affecting plasma stable, you'd essentially need a mini fission or fusion reactor in a big steel sphere. A really big steel sphere. Microfusion doesn't really work - not because of the size of the actual reactor, but because to get enough power you would need to burn kilos of fuel at a time and that's hard (richest theoretical mix is Deuterium+Tritium, at a cool ~93 gigawatt-hours / kg).
So that gives two options for defence - the guns fire steel spheres, that go a fair distance, generating magnetic fields. Not particularly strong ones, but enough to dissipate the plasma. Every shot would cost a mini fusion reactor, so you're looking at millions if not billions of dollars per shot. So that one doesn't seem too realistic, and would fire really slow, so ...
If you assume the magnetic guns do a similar thing to the Der Angst ones, and simply fire rapidly decaying magnetic fields in steel balls, which is more "likely", I guess, then to stop a plasma pellet would require a direct hit between the two, and then it would simply be a matter of momentum, I guess. The pellets will have an immense amount of momentum, having covered a lot of distance from Der Angst to the Wisp toroidal then to Valinon. So to stop them, the fields fired at them would have to be far bigger - far far bigger, in fact. Given the pellet's speed of 0.1c, the time for sensors to pick it up, the time for gun ports to adjust to aim at the pellets, it's doubtful if any shots could be fired at all to hit pellets dead on. But if they were, the defence shots would have to be a lot bigger, to counteract the momentum ... if you assume 60km from Der Angst to Wisp, and 30km from Wisp to Valinon, and a 5km window during which Valinon guns can acquire targets and aim to catch the pellets dead on, then 18 times bigger. Minimum.

So, back to the original question of would a magnetic field gun affect the pellets, then ...
1) It's the kind of flange tech that is very difficult to model even theoretically, and although I did ask a pair of physics PhD student friends at the pub last night, we couldn't really decide how the pellets would work except the rapid-decay thing ...
2) Assuming the pellets and other magnetic projection devices work through a principle of getting to their target before complete decay of the field occurs (which would be ... almost instantaneous, anyway, I think hence the speed at which DA's guns fire at), then you'd need to fire a field back that not only was stronger but also had more momentum than the incoming pellets, and that would need to hit them dead on.
3) Which means that, to be unscathed from the assault, you'd need 1 gun firing an 18cm3 magnetic ball per incoming pellet per ship, unless the guns could change the direction they pointed faster by moving the barrels faster than 0.1c. If you had guns that moved reorientated at the speed of light, you'd just need one gun for every ten pellets.
(Fast firing would be an option, but the streams of bullets are coming in from different directions and slightly different angles, so again you'd need guns that reorientated impossibly fast).

Uh - what a horrificly conjectural post. I'm honestly not sure how a magnetic field gun would fair, or even what it does - so don't feel obliged to take my answer as cannon. I just put all that up so you could see how my thought processes went.

OOC: WWI meat grinder style war coming up I guess :(

Total Lavenrunzian Atlantic Fleet Forces at the beginning of engagement with Nod
To be commanded by the Empress directly
Admiral Rikhard von Hackelgruber II i C
Carrier Groups Alfarkoenigin, Erlkoenig, Meistersinger, Bretwalda, Vidar
each with:
1 Carrier (5)
2 Aegis Cruisers( 10)
6 Destroyers (30)
8 Frigates (40)
2 Minehunters (10 )
1 Ammunition Ship (5)
1 Logistics Ship (5)
1 Hospital Ship( 5)
1 SSN Squadron (8 attack submarines) (Rear-Admiral Hereward von Manstein)

Total Air Wing:
100 Wachtmeister Air Superiority Fighters
100 Feuerkatz Fighter-Bombers
20 Norn AWACs planes
70 Viking Long Range Attack Fighters
20 Valar Electronic Warfare Planes
20 Hagstrom Submarine Attack Planes
72 Seekonig Helicopters

IC:

Knootian Waters, the Nod Engagement:

The Lavenrunzian fleet had never stopped firing; the second wave of missiles were going up with tails of flame and clouds of smoke as the Nodist fleet were firing.
Dozens of countermeasures orders were given, antiaircraft and antimissile systems going into action as the attack was detected.

Aboard the Kotlar, a destroyer, flames swept the oil and bloodwashed decks as the ship slowly went under. The crew that had been able to escape were scrambling into inflatable rafts.

Carrier Meistersinger had crews hurrying to put out fires, lower decks being sealed against rushing water and damaged aircraft unable to land safely. With two of her escorts underwater, one destroyer sinking and the cruiser also fighting fires on deck, the carrier group retreated from the fray.

The other four, however, continued to launch their attacks.

*just assumes what survived of his planes returned*

*Is erager to see the results of the negotiations*

OOC: Even if I am OOC pissed I am still ready to negotiate what is left to negotiate. Notice I am not actually attacking anyone. And also notice that I am not yet posting the arrival of my fleet from Arda. I will respond to the attack by Nod however if negotiations fail. However this is a preparatory + storyline post.

“The sea is a dangerous servant, and a fearful master”

Imperial Palace, Hofburg, Lavenrunz
Paul Rosemüller came storming into the meeting room where the minister of Defence and Foreign affairs were meeting with the new prime-minister van der Laan. His body was almost shaking and his face was red. The green interrupted the meeting without greeting:
“you did WHAT?!”
Van der Laan raised an eyebrow, but the conservative minister of Defence was quick to reply: “If you are referring to the plan to incapacitate any silver Turtellian landing.”

Rosemüller broke him off: “I am “referring” to the “plan” to kill thousands of people including Eru knows how many Knootians who have not yet evacuated.” Van der Laan smiled faintly thinking; “that plan, yes, but how did he get to know about it?” but MoD Korthals took the word again: “It has already been decided upon by the government. It is time we strike back with the only viable weapon we have.”

“But how can you stand for this? Lousewies? I never thought…” The prime-minister shook her head. “Sorry Paul, I agreed to it as well. But there are limitations to the plan. I don’t know what you have heard exactly?”, she looked at him questioningly. Rosemüller admitted: “well, not too much.” Van der Laan reassured the green: “First we will negotiate before something happens. And the holes will be plugged once enough water is in. Believe me we have a plan.”

Hofburg airport, Lavenrunz
Coming down from the dark skies was a bunch of flickering lights. The lights came closer, pulsating in a regular pattern as a plane made it’s final approach to the runway. The Valinon military transport landed gracefully and Green party leader Femke Halsema came down the ladder to take up her place in the exiled parliament….
(OOC: she arrived. That’s all that is important about it.)

An old inner dyke north of the Europoort, Holland, Knootoss
Night had fallen in Knootoss, and the stars could be seen in the skies above near the old dyke guarding the land from the sea. Behind the Knootian positions, things were quiet. But this time the dyke was not abandoned. A medium-sized group of engineers was busily placing charges, and a large contingent of soldiers complete with mobile AA installations was guarding the spot. “Charges set, we can now blow this baby anytime we want to”

Further up the river, the complex system of pumps and openings had been set in motion as the water was slowly led to one single location. Experts were making calculations: speed, and mass from the bodies of water that would have to be moved meticulously calculated This would be a very complex operation: turning the water from the river away so make way for the sea to come flushing in.

Along the coast near expected landing sites, similar groups of engineers were making preparations. Where there would be landings the dykes could be blown and the water be used to cleanse the lands of all those unfortunate enough to be present.

OOC: Der Angst, safe harbours would be in the north, near the waddenpolder. (now waddensea) you can move your convoy there.

(OOC and now for a bit of modified H.G. Wells – if we are going to play this thing out. IT does say something about Knootian relative passiveness so far and describes the warroom nicely. And also in a previous RP something has been developing between Tanya and de Kaste that I want to elaborate on… why not let Wells do the work ;) )

The Warroom, The Hague, Knootcap
Behind the veil of the vagueness of war the little group of more or less worthy men which constituted Headquarters was beginning to realise the enormity of the thing it was supposed to control....

In the great hall of the Warroom, a series of big-scale tactical displays were displayed on the walls to display the whole seat of war, and the staff-officers of the control were continually busy monitoring the little blocks which represented the contending troops, as the reports and intelligence came drifting in to the various comm. stations in the adjacent rooms. In other smaller apartments there were tactical displays of a less detailed sort, upon which, for example, the reports of the EOTED and of the Lavenrunzian commanders were recorded as they kept coming to hand. Upon these maps, as upon chessboards, General de Kaste, in consultation with the other generals, was to play the great game for national supremacy against the Dominion powers. Very probably he had a definite idea of his game; very probably he had a coherent and admirable plan.

The Warroom in The Hague, on the night of September the fourteenth, was an impressive display of the paraphernalia of scientific military organisation, as the first half of the twenty-first century understood it. To one human being at least the consulting commanders had the likeness of world-wielding gods.

Special assistant Tanya was a skilled typist, capable of nearly sixty words a minute, and she had been engaged in relay with other similar men women to take down orders and spread them. There had come a lull, and she had been sent out from the comm. room to take the air above ground, where the Valinon troops were in the process of cleaning up the rubble, and to eat such scanty refreshment as she had brought with her until her services were required again.

Inside, over a wilderness of monitors of displays, the huge maps could be seen, done on so large a scale that one might fancy them small countries; the messengers and attendants went and came perpetually, altering, monitoring the the little pieces that signified hundreds and thousands of men, and the great commander and his two consultants stood amidst all these things and near where the fighting was nearest, scheming, directing. They had but to breathe a word and presently away there, in the world of reality, the punctual myriads moved. Men rose up and went forward and died. The fate of nations lay behind the eyes of these three men. Indeed they were like gods.

Most godlike of the three was de Kaste. It was for him to decide; the others at most might suggest. Tanya’s woman's soul went out to this grave, handsome, still, old man, in a passion of instinctive worship.
Once she had taken words of instruction from him direct. She had awaited them in an ecstasy of happiness--and fear. For her exaltation was made terrible by the dread that some error might dishonour her....
She watched him now from the entrance with all the unpenetrating minuteness of an impassioned woman's observation.

He said little, she remarked. He looked but little at the maps. The tall Valinon officer beside him was manifestly troubled by a swarm of ideas, conflicting ideas; he craned his neck at every shifting of the little red, blue, black, and yellow blibs on the monitor, and wanted to draw the commander's attention to this and that. De Kaste listened, nodded, emitted a word and became still again, brooding like the national eagle of Menelmacar.

His eyes were so deeply sunken under his white eyebrows that she could not see his eyes; his moustache overhung the mouth from which those words of decision came. The other Knootian, too, said little; he was a dark man with a drooping head and melancholy, watchful eyes. He was, she knew, an old colleague of de Kaste; he knew him better, she decided, he trusted him more than this unfamiliar Valinon officer....

Not to talk, to remain impassive and as far as possible in profile; these were the lessons that old de Kaste had mastered years ago. To seem to know all, to betray no surprise, to refuse to hurry--itself a confession of miscalculation; by attention to these simple rules, de Kaste had built up a steady reputation from the days when he had been a promising junior officer, a still, almost abstracted young man, deliberate but ready. Even then men had looked at him and said: 'He will go far.' Through fifty years of peace he had never once been found wanting, and at manoeuvres his impassive persistence had perplexed and hypnotised and defeated many a more actively intelligent man. Deep in his soul de Kaste had hidden his one profound discovery about the modern art of warfare, the key to his career. And this discovery was that NOBODY KNEW, that to act therefore was to blunder, that to talk was to confess; and that the man who acted slowly and steadfastly and above all silently, had the best chance of winning through. Meanwhile one fed the men. Now by this same strategy he hoped to shatter those mysterious unknowns of the Dominion. One Knootian might talk of a great flank march through Holland, with all the Angstian submarines and Endlessian planes and torpedo craft pouring up the North sea in support of it; another might crave for brilliance with the motor bicycles, aeroplanes, and infantry through Rotterdam, and a sudden swoop upon Delft; the thing was to listen--and wait for the other side to begin experimenting. It was all experimenting. And meanwhile he remained in profile, with an air of assurance--like a man who sits in an automobile after the chauffeur has had his directions.

How wonderful he was, thought the woman at the entrance, how wonderful it all was. This was the brain of the western world, this was Olympus with the warring earth at its feet. And he was guiding Knootoss… it seemed to her beyond the desert of a woman that she should be privileged to participate....

It is hard to be a woman, full of the stormy impulse to personal devotion, and to have to be impersonal, abstract, exact, punctual. She must control herself....

She gave herself up to fantastic dreams, dreams of the days when the war would be over and victory enthroned. Then perhaps this harshness, this armour would be put aside and the gods might unbend. Her eyelids drooped....

OOC: there appears to be a diplomatic breakthrough on IRC: now WV has to come back to confirm it though.

***Brotherhood fleet, Knootoss Territorial Waters***

The Brotherhood fleet was now focused on defending the troop transports until the forces inside them were safely on the beaches. Lavenrunzian continuous attacks had sunk yet another destroyer through a direct hit on the ammunition storage, however, and the propulsion system of an AEGIS cruiser had been damaged, forcing the ship to slow down to half it's top speed. The Banshees had now returned from their pursuit of the Der Angst aircraft, and had been sent out to wreak havoc among the Lavenrunz fleet, together with all Apaches and Harpy's the carriers among the fleet had ready for battle (OOC: 90 Apaches, 60 Harpy's)

***Brotherhood battle groups B and C, Delft, Knootoss***

The commanders of the Brotherhood battlegroups B and C, together with some lower-ranking officers, had set up their HQ in the university of Delft. The small city was now under Brotherhood control for the most part, and civilian resistance had been quickly dealt with. However, there were reports of enemy troops moving towards Delft, and the forces had set up machine gun nests and small outposts at key locations troughout the entire city. Some 30.000 troops and more than 500 tanks now occupied Delft.

OOC: there appears to be a diplomatic breakthrough on IRC: now WV has to come back to confirm it though.

OOC Notice to all:

PLEASE STOP POSTING FOR NOW!!!

As Knootoss said, there might be an acceptable diplomatic solution, so don't ruing it!

OOC: I read the post before this, but I am going to respond to the pellet attack.

Aboard the HMS Dominion, Commodore Barmord watches the massive attack come in. He listens to the report of the magentic content and calculates his options to adequately defend his portion of the Valinon fleet.
"Ready the MP-32 system! All ships are to fire as soon as the their systems have targeting solutions. Scramble all Needle interceptors and bombers!"
The ships of the Valinon begin to level many smaller turrets at the incoming waves of pellets. Then they fire. Orbs filled with the necessary technology to generate a magentic field, stolen from Greater Ironholm decades ago, spew forth from the battleships, destroyers, cruisers, and frigates. The volley is immense, but not enough to fully deal with the oncoming barrage. Hits are scored. The HMS Achilles, a destroyer, is the worst hit, its multi-hulled armoured failing in several places and then its bridge exploding. The Dominion itself is rocked by a few blasts before the attack is finally over.
"Damage report!" roars Barmord.
"The HMS Achilles is lost, Commodore! Damage to two of our long-range missile cruisers. Scattered non-critical damage to most of the ships in the fleet. We have breach of first armour hull on decks 8, 12, and 15."
"Bring us about! All ahead full, have all ships ready weapons. Order the long-range missile cruisers to ready an immediate response! All fighters and bombers are to engage at once!"
"But, sir-."
"The honour of His Majesty's fleet has been challenged," Barmord moves to the end of the command walkway, "and by God we will answer."
He turns to the grim-set bridge crew, "I want all electronic countermeasures active, jamming networks up, and order the long-range missile cruisers to have their first wave be a EMP missile salvo. Let us see how they do without their toys. Finally contact the 33-A Atlantean detachment, I want them to engage our targets. Except for one Atlantean, I want it to move to the Achilles last position and pick up any survivors."
"Yes, Commodore."
The Valinon task force rapidly turns and begins to clip across the water at full power.

(I know, Tarasovka, but my post was mainly events that already happened or that I should've posted earlier)

Attention all parties involved!

A diplomatical solution has been reached allowing a peacefull end to the Knootian conflict!

All military activities must cease!

Please refer here for a more complete information on the subject. (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1538174#1538174)

It had been done.

Brotherhood Army Group A had been annihilated. Already the Syskeyian soldiers were walking over the bodies of fallen Nod soldiers, Syskeyian vehicles had drove past burnt-out Nod tanks, and the some other Syskeyian troops had picked up some still-working Nod weapons.

But it had not been without cost.

The fighting had been fierce, with the Nod troops to fighting to the last man. In, all, 12,500 Syskeyian infantrymen had lost their lives, and the Army of the Republic had lost 600 tanks.

Thankfully, they had been reinforced by the two infantry divisions and two armored divisions that had been airlifted to Arnhem.

OOC: there appears to be a diplomatic breakthrough on IRC: now WV has to come back to confirm it though.

OOC Notice to all:

PLEASE STOP POSTING FOR NOW!!!

As Knootoss said, there might be an acceptable diplomatic solution, so don't ruing it!

OK, just posting my losses and stuff.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Admiral Richards listened to the radio, overjoyed, as he heard of the treaty brokered between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tarasovka, Vortex Corporation, and Knootoss.

Brigadier-General Bryant, by now on the bridge of the HCCS Hermes, clapped him on the back.

"Alright, Richards. We lived, despite the odds. And the Dominion gained far more than we lost. Hmm - what's Valinon up to? They're heading towards us."

"Probably just moving round to help pick up survivors, sir. Like we're doing."

"Ah, yes. Well, keep the Wisps up above us just in case someone gets twitchy - and get the Michael Owens out there to check for our bailed pilots and sailors on sunk ships. Try to keep them away from where the Eternal Dawn ships were destroyed, goodness only knows what power supplies they were using. Oh - and congratulations on your full honours, full pension retirement and medal. I'm sure Glenda will be happy to have you home." He smiled at the old man, his senior in years and junior in rank.

Richards couldn't help grinning back - he was looking forwards to retiring to a surface farm.

"All ships, bring about in a circle formation. Keep point defences ready, and keep the ships moving randomly in case Ma-Tek go for another attack, but get those survivors in!"

Historical bump, just in case (I recently checked and the Amerigan Slaver Wars has been deleted. :shock: )

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Nice of you to bump it. Thanks. :D

MODALERT
:wink:
*nominates this thread for the archive*

MODALERT
:wink:
*nominates this thread for the archive*

I concurz...

You have the link to the "Shadow Has Passed" Thread? :?

I think this war should be put together, lol :)

Ahh the good old days, when you knew who your friends and enemies were. And then this is the war that has caused me so much trouble i trying to get into SATO, Knootoss, reply to my post on the SATO boards please.

MODALERT
:wink:
*nominates this thread for the archive*
I third the motion.

(This war is now guarunteed online until at least February 10, 2004.)

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

MODALERT
:wink:
*nominates this thread for the archive*

Request formally filed.

http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2447479#2447479

This has been an OOC post.

*notes the two threads before this one are far better*

*notes the two threads before this one are far better*

Archive Request Thread (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=94288)

This has been an OOC post.

*notes the two threads before this one are far better*

Archive Request Thread (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=94288)

This has been an OOC post.

Yes, I think so too DA; but I doubt they still exist. Do you (or does anyone for that matter) have them bookmarked by any chance so we can dig them up?

Oh, and TNX goober for the link :)