Post by Aiman on Jan 29, 2023 1:21:26 GMT
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“Juliet Juno, ground sensors are reading massive EM spikes. Stand b-”
“Uhhh...Pokka Kamba my optics are registering a flash at quadrant Alpha, high Delta-V object with unknown trajecto-” the comms chatter from the Serpent-class frigate, Pokka Kamba, suddenly cut off. Juliet Juno’s optics found a bright flash of light right at where Pokka Kamba had been.
“ALL FLEET CALLSIGNS EVASIVE MANEUVERS! WE ARE GETTING HIT BY AO WEAPONS! I REPEAT, ANTI-ORBITAL WEAPONS!”
Before the rest of the small 5-ship fleet of the Republik Angkasa Singapura (RANGSI) in orbit over the frozen icy moon of Orajevo could respond, they were quickly destroyed by anti-orbital missiles launched from the moon’s surface. Only Juliet Juno remained roughly intact; cut in half from the explosion and bleeding air, crew and debris into the void. With only roughly ten minutes of air, the ship’s captain scrambled to broadcast a wide range FTL distress call for help and reinforcements. Translated into Galactic Common and several other languages RANGSI was familiar with, the distress call also contained a brief overview of their situation.
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The system Orajevo was in was halfway between RANGSI space and the Borealis White Hole, as such various civilians, corporations and even private defence contractors stepped up to meet the rising demand of trade, science and mining fleets visiting the White Hole. A small colony somehow found a way to thrive on the moon, selling water from ice and processed hydrogen nanofuels from water. RANGSI expeditions to the gas giant that Orajevo orbited made RANGSI ships their regular customers, and business relations quickly turned into political ties between their governments as well.
Then the Great Icequake struck. A sudden increase in the ocean’s tidal activity caused the ice plates to smash together, the seismic forces causing great amounts of destruction to infrastructure, transportation and habitat homes. With roads and power lines cut off, people in the moon’s Main City were left without supplies and electricity. The fear of hunger and frostbite led to widespread looting as people fought over food and fuel. Naturally as their partners, RANGSI quickly rushed to aid them as soon as the news reached their comms set. Teaming up with the NGO Mercy Without Borders, Mercy personnel provided humanitarian aid while RANGSI focused on peacekeeping, security for Mercy convoys and combat engineers for the reconstruction effort.
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Everything was going well at first. Mobile generators restored power to the Main City and other facilities and RANGSI dropships worked around the clock to airlift supplies to wherever they were needed while army engineers and Mercy volunteers went to work rebuilding infrastructure such as roads and maglev railways. A small rebel movement emerged in the Outposts - smaller clusters of habitat towns established outside the Main City so workers can live closer to their jobs, protesting against the colonial leadership’s mismanagement of the disaster and alleged diversion of resources from the Outposts to the Main City. Nothing RANGSI peacekeepers and colonial militias could not handle.
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Until the rebels suddenly had military weapons, tanks and even anti-orbital weapons.
Unknown to the RANGSI fleet, the system had also been the site of the communist Separatist Union’s clandestine intelligence gathering operations. Their former power bloc’s, the APP, defeat in the 2nd Ancerious War meant that the Separatist Union can no longer confront the Republik head on, but they still can use covert methods to disrupt their efforts to reinvigorate their economy. Once they got word of the Icequake and all the resentment associated with it, the Separatist Union went to work making secret landfalls providing weapons, equipment and even extra troops. The destruction of the RANGSI and Mercy fleets in orbit was timed perfectly with their large-scale ground operation. Rebels quickly seized key essential sources of supplies such as greenhouses, power plants and water treatment plants and used anti-air vehicles to shoot down the airlifts. The lightning strike forced RANGSI troops, ill-equipped for conventional ground operations, to surrender ground and defend the Main City where most of the civilian populace were. Stranded, cut off from all avenues of supplies and surrounded, for one long arduous month the RANGSI troops braved constant sieges, shellings and harassment tactics by rebels as the enemy troops were content on starving the RANGSI forces and the Main City either into surrender or eventual destruction.
However, the rebels did not know about the distress signal sent by the RANGSI ship that survived long enough to send the message. As new FTL signatures appeared in the system, it may seem that the one-month long siege may finally come to an end....
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Player: Cloud (Novakia)
"Captain, we had received a distress signal from the moon Orajevo. Should we investigate it?"
"Send a recon team to investigate the moon as it could be a trap setup by the pirates."
A small recon team consists of 1 punic class cruisers and 3 visiri class frigates jumped into orbit above Orajevo. They found that they were 5 wrecked vessels in orbit. Each seems to indicate that they were no life forms aboard.
Upon receiving the message the fleet decided to jump in to further investigate the claims and to scan the surface of the moon.
"All systems green, destination locked, Captian, we are ready."
"All ships, Preparations are complete. It's time to go."
As soon as they arrived 5 wrecked ships in orbit confirming the claims. Captain Arthur.A.Johnson dispatched a small science vessel joining the fleet to scan the surface. They found that a city built by a nation had suffered an ice quake that had crippled their infrastructure and supplies which then triggered a rebellion on the moon though it should be some time before we should contact the base commander
Hours later the captain had established a line to the base commander.
"This is Captain Arthur.A.Johnson of the NPN Orion of the Novakian 10th fleet, we have received the distress signal and has jumped into orbit. We are ready to assist you with the ongoing rebellion."
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Player: Russel (Falconian)
Orbital Signal Station, Horizon, New Ymrirrim A young duinworlder of peric ancestry spun around in his chair "Sir, high intensity comm burst appears to be a distress signal from a vessel under anti-orbital fire" "got it relaying to military command" the station chief replied putting on his headset and flicked the switch to open the hardwired line to the Military Command Centre established in Horizon "Watcher to Battlecom, line check" "Line check good watcher, report" "we picked up a distress signal from a foreign vessel under anti-orbital fire" "understood watcher"
Falcon-Op Battlegroup Command, Horizon, New Ymirrim A Junior comms officer quickly got up from his station punching the button on his portable comms station to print out a transcript of the conversation and grabbing it off the printer tray of the portable comm recorder before hurrying through the partially finished Command Centre stopping at the plain metal door of a office labeled "Cmdr Peryic Hannemach" he quickly knocked, there was a displeased sigh followed by "Enter" the officer pushed the door open and snapped into a smart salute, this was met with a bored "At ease, report" "signals picked up a distress call, foreign vessel, under fire from ground positions" Peryic's grey eyes suddenly lit up and he got a unnerving look "vessel under fire you say?" "yyes sir, I have the comm transcript" "hand it here" the comms officer handed it to Peryic who snatched it up and read it while thoughfully rubbing his chin then spun to face the officer "Get me a comm line with commander Nardin instruct him to take the 155th cruiser section and 122nd and 32nd militia squadrons.... and the 5th, 7th and 9th company Ymirrim militia and 4th section 116th regiment..." he paused looking in intense thought "and the carrier HMS Summit" "sir if I'm not mistaken Summit is our only carrier" "she is, it's a gamble to provide support for the infantry while removing our heaviest ship from the capital of our colony but I'm not taking chances with my first op in dimension 167" "yes sir I'll report this to commander Nardin"
orbit of New Ymirrim the light command ship HMS Electra was mostly empty these days save for the crew needed to keep her steady in orbit and a few low ranking officers however for the first time in a while she buzzed with activity as Section Officer Nardin now temporarily designated Brigade Commander Nardin assembled his fleet for deployment to Orajevo consisting of three companies of miltia and one section of Falcon-Op troops escorted by five Atala class scout cruisers and ten Artemis Class militia frigates along with the Halcyon Class Carrier HMS Summit the largest vessel of the hurriedly assembled brigade dwarfing nearly everything else in orbit of New Ymirrim save the Bulk ore haulers that came and went through the worldgate, Nardin watched the view of the Immense vessel as she carefully move into formation with the rest of the brigade "all vessels aligned and ready to begin jump to Orajevo sir" the Electra's comms officer reported "good" Nardin replied "Begin jump"
Orajevo a flurry of blue flashes lit up the upper orbit of the planet briefly revealing the brigade in formation with the warships in a protective ring around the armed transports and Jackson Class Assualt Ship "Distressed forces this is Commander Nardin of Battlegroup Sunray we are here to assist please report the situation" the message was transmitted three times on all channels
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Player: Cloud (Novakia)
"This is Captain Arthur.A.Johnson of the NPN Orion of the 10th Novakian Fleet, we are here to asist the base commander at the city at the surface of Orajevo with the rebellion"
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Player: Aiman (RANGSI)
The echoing scream of the air raid sirens marked another attack. Company commanders were screaming turning out their troops while they scrambled to their stand-to positions, putting on their vests and gear along the way.
“Fuck me, another shelling,” one of the riflemen cursed as explosions erupted around him, forcing him to keep his head down. Rebel mortars and howitzers were bombarding the frontal city defences as well as random targets within the city, primarily as a terror tactic. Damaging something, or actual strategic facilities, was an afterthought.
After all, there was nothing much of value left in the Main City. They have no greenhouses, no power plants, no water plants to provide anything of value. As of today, they have officially ran out for everything - there will be no more food, fuel or water to last the next day. The rebels know this, they were willing to let the city wilt away so that they will finally be able to capture their last objective; the nanofuel refineries behind the City.
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Captain Daniel Chan buried his face into his palms, the hopelessness bottling up for a month finally sipping out. He and his battalion, the 14th Internal Security Battalion of the 901st Combined Arms Regiment, also known as the 14/901 ISB, came to Orajevo looking to be peacekeepers doing something good, something noble for a change after the horrors of the 2nd Ancerious War. But alas the curse of the War caught up, never he thought that their old enemy, the Separatist Union would show up.
“Captain sir! Orajevo AFB is getting signals from orbit! Someone is hailing us!” a junior signals officer shouted.
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“Patch me through,” Captain Daniel sprang into action. He listened to the incoming transmissions. He looked to the signals officer, face lit up and beaming with joy.
“Captain Arthur, Commander Nardin, this is Captain Daniel of the Republik Angkasa Singapura, CO of the 14th Internal Security Battalion of the Nine-Oh-First! Thank Lord Buddha you are here! Today was the last day for our supplies-” the RANGSI Captain tried to contain his excitement, stopping himself to regain some composure and cleared his throat.
“Sitrep are as follows; supply situation critical and the city we are defending is currently being shelled by rebel artillery forces. The anti-orbital launchers that shot down our fleet a month ago are presumed to be still active. Do not land, I repeat, do not land. I need you guys to run planetary scans and find these launchers first.”
Captain Daniel then checked the force list of the Orajevo AFB before returning back to the call. “You find those launchers, give me the coordinates and I will have my fighter squadrons take them out. Then you will be able to safely land near the city. I hope you have some food, fuel and water to spare, the civilians really need it. Captain Daniel out.”
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Player: Cloud (Novakia)
As the Captain waits for the response the commander of the base said to scan the moon for any anti orbital weapons. Which he replied "Got it"
He sent the cruisers and frigates to perform multiple scannings across the surface of Orajevo while in the hangars of the NPN Orion the drop ships are loaded with much needed supplies and materials for repairing of any facility that was damaged and or destroyed. The dropships were also to be escorted by S/A-M-22, 35 and 50 fighters in case any rebellion fighters decided to intercept said dropships.
While the dropship are beginning Preparations the cruisers and destroyed had fully scanned the surface and relayed the coordinates for the Anti orbital weapon platforms to the base commander.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
"This is Nardin good copy on that daniel, we'll be dispatching a wing of scout fighters to ID anti-orbital positions and guide in the strike craft please advise if your airfield is clear of AA at this time as we could attempt land tanks, IFVs and engineering vehicles via heavy lift craft along with some emergency rations and medical staff" Commander Nardin then turned to the comms officer "patch me through to the other fleet" "aye sir, line's open" "This is Battlegroup Commander Nardin to Captain Arthur, requesting intel on the situation, also requesting inter fleet liason to coordinate operations how copy"
Meanwhile aboard the HMS Summit the alarm blared out along with the message over the shipwide PA system "ALL CREW BATTLESTATIONS, REPEAT ALL CREW BATTLESTATIONS, PILOTS REPORT FOR SCRAMBLE" crew dropped their personal tablets on their bunks and hurried from their quarters while pilots ran from their mess halls and bunks to the equipment rooms pulling on G suits and flight helmets and flight crew pulled on their safety vests and rebreathers "comcheck 1,2" "comcheck good, CREW 7 GET ON DECK GO GO" pilots ran to the elevators sealing their masks to their faces as they went the foward pilot elevator already raising to the flight deck. As the final set of pilots was lifted to the deck the warning tone sounded over the flight deck PA and through the pilots and crews helmet intercoms followed by the automated warning "Alert: Hangar doors cycling, ensure breathing apparatus is secure" then the loud mechanical drone of the massive doors opening was heard followed by a loud hiss and a rush of air as the seals opened and the air reclaimers ran sucking it out of the hangar
Aboard the vehicle carrier HMS Burden crews were moving their vics into the holds of the two TC 3 "Supertransporters" docked to the carrier while a medical staff hurried aboard along with their field ambulance while a loading suit stacked crates of food cubes in transporter 2 along with the ambulance and med staff while drums were filled with water from the ships reserves
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Player: Aiman (RANGSI)
“Alright boys and girls lets make this bunker a fucking HQ! Move it!” Captain Daniel triumphantly barked to his HQ section. There was hope, and there was a lot of work to do. If they were to read anything sent by their mysterious foreign allies, they need to set up the place up - get the proper comms relay, laptops and holoscreens up and running so that anything the foreigners send to Orajevo AFB can be processed by them real time. They used to be a HQ section sulking and moping around in an empty basement taking stocks of their increasingly depressing state of supplies. Now, finally things were getting real.
Once the C4I equipment was in place, Captain Daniel felt for the first time ever since he stepped foot here like a real commander. He gave a wide smile as he put on his comms set, now he can communicate with Captain Arthur and Commander Narvin in real time. The scans the Novakians did were shown on the holoscreen, the data was then imported to their own planetary map.
“Good work Captain Arthur, my HQ section is analysing them now. Commander Narvin, the enemy has some AA assets, infantry with MANPADS and some SHORAD vehicles, attached to the artillery units shelling the city. All of my air units will be committed to destroying those anti-orbital launchers, I will update you if we have enough air forces to clear the AA units on their way back, over and out,” Captain Daniel looked at the map.
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“City Command to Orajevo AFB, targets are up, what is your status, over?” He switched channels to the Orajevo airbase.
“Orajevo AFB to City Command, roger that we see the targets, pilots are gearing up and planes are warming up. It’s been a while since they’re this revved up, over.”
“City Command to Orajevo AFB, copy that, good to hear about the morale. Keep us posted on the battlenet, over and out.”
The 2 squadrons of Paladin IV multi role fighters, each with ten planes, took off from the runway of Orajevo AFB in force, never had they flown such a huge sortie in their time here. Their metallic hydrogen thrusters streaked through the snowy sky as they quickly went straight head for their targets; the AO sites the Novakians scanned.
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Across the squadrons the pilots started hearing the dreadful beeping noise of the missile lock alert as the rebel’s Separatist-supplied SAM batteries started locking on to them. The Paladin IV pilots grunted as they steered their plane in erratic directions to shake off the SHORAD miniguns below that filled the sky with lead and blew off flares to throw off any incoming missiles.
“Wolf 3-2 is down!” one of the fighters got their wings shredded by minigun fire, they lost control and one of the AA missiles slammed into it causing it to explode into bits and pieces. As they pierced deeper into the rebel’s AA network, casualties started racking up.
“I see the AO sites!” one of the pilots exclaimed as large trucks with electromagnetic mass drivers came into view, along with spare missiles, fuelling stations and a network of surface-to-orbital fire control systems and sensors. The fire the rebels were putting out into the sky increased, they knew how important those AO sites were.
“Take them out! Take them out!” the Paladin IVs pressed deeper, more and more planes got peppered, torn and blown into bits but they continued, the pilots gritting their teeth determined to give the rebels a one-times-good-one. Once in range they took the shot. Anti-radiation missiles homed on into the AO launchers’ radar signatures. In a matter of minutes, the AO sites were turned into fireballs and flying scrap.
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“Orajevo AFB to City Command, mission accomplished,” Captain Daniel heard on his comms set, his HQ section gave high fives and fist bumps.
“City Command to Orajevo AFB, battlenet registers no friendly aircraft, did their transponders malfunction?” Captain Daniel posed the question, frowning. Suddenly dead silence hung in the air in the face of the grisly possibility.
“Orajevo AFB to City Command, the rebel’s SAM networks were more established than we estimated. All of them did not make it.”
His heart sank, the Captain now started to realize that being a commander also came with the heavy burden of sacrificing the people under him for victory.
“City Command to Orajevo AFB, understood. Their sacrifices were not in vain. Out.”
He switched back channels to Narvin and Arthur. “Captain Arthur, Commander Narvin, all anti-orbital sites are down. However, we lost all our aircraft so we can’t clear out the AA sites outside the city. You have to take them out with your own air assets.”
“I have also pinpointed areas where you can land and set up shop. There is a spaceport in the City where Mercy personnel are ready to receive your supplies. If you are sending any ground reinforcements, the Orajevo AFB has plenty of space to spare.”
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
"This commander Nardin we copy beginning SEAD ops tell your troops to mark their positions with green smoke so our fighters don't bomb them" the comms officer changed channels to the Summit "Summit friendly air assets engaged and destroyed by AA fire we need those destroyed so our supertransporters can land" "Summit copy"
onboard the summit the pilots had boarded their fighters and the flight leads were waiting for mission brief "this is Wing Commander Penrose to all scout and strike actuals we have recieved reports of severe AA threat heavy transport aircraft will be unable to land until you eliminate that AA. Mission plan as follows Type 10s will go in and locate AA and mark it for the Type 20s to hit, sorry lads you got the short stick that AA already killed multiple friendly assets so be quick on the pedals and pop flares as needed, as for you strike jocks you got armour but they got big guns you can't hang around to spot targets yourself, you will be staying in orbit until the scouts signal you, once they signal you dive, hit the target and climb like the darkness wants you back to orbit, it's about speed. Also we're a second line colony munitions are tight don't mess around trying to hit secondaries, AA is your only target also be advised assualt ship is gonna deploy Model As, PID before you shoot, friendly ground targets are marked with green smoke. Alright all pilots understand?" "Understood sir" "good begin launch" Immediately flight crews hurried away as the hangar intercom announced "launch beginning. stand clear" the engines of the Type 10 scout fighters began to glow softly as the accelerator rings charged up while the big chemfuel engines of the Type 20 Heavy fighters ignited, with a loud clunk the wheellocks on the Type 10s released and they began to taxi forward to the launch ramps lining up in four rows along the two flight deck taxiways, the taxi guides signaled the first set of fighters forward and they rolled till the magnetic launch rails locked in with a sharp thump and the blast plates flipped up from the deck to shield the fighters behind them. The two signal lights flicked green and the pilots gunned their engines to max power bright blue jets of elirofuel shooting out the back of the scout fighters then the magnetic launchers fired propelling the fighter,
into space with a sudden rush of Gs the T10s then rolled and descended into the atmosphere pilots nervously scanning their surroundings as they headed lower and began their scout sweeps.
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
"This Is Captain Arthur, copy"
The comms changed channels to the Orions hangar.
"Provide friendly air assets engaged and destroyed by AA weapons. We need those weapons destroyed so that our dropships could land."
Onboard the pilots boarded their fighters and the flight leads were waiting for mission briefing.
Loading--100%
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Prossesing data---------------------------
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This is Wing Commander Sheperd to all air units, we have received numerous reports of severe Anti air threat transport and dropships will be unable to land. Eliminate the AA weapons as designated. Mission plan will go as follows
Once you reach the Lower atmosphere of Orajevo follow the SAM-50 fighters to locate and destroy the designated AA turrets, their are also ally aircraft in the battle area so you gotta be quick
Once you had destroyed all the AA turrets escort the dropships and transports to the landing site as interception by enemy aircraft could be inevitable.
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Briefing complete
Proceed to runway J11 to take off
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The fighters at the hangar bays are now taking of to decent to the battlefield. As in groups of 10, 20 fighters were launched to take out the AA site and provide escorts for the dropships and transports. The engines of the SAM-22 and 35 began to glow as the the launch system begins to roll. The large engines of the 50 were ignited, with a loud clunk the wheelock, the 22s and 35s were released and began to taxi towards the launch ramps lining up 5 rows of 2 decks. Once the magnetic launch rails locked with a sharp thump and the blast plates flipped up to shield the fighters behind them. The lights turn green and the fighters engines turn to max throttle . Bright yellow jets of fuel shooting out the back of the fighters then the magnetic launchers gave way propelling the fighters into space then rolled and descended into the atmosphere.
This is Knocker, proceed to the designated targets. There's also multiple allied fighters so be quick.
With that every pilot had a lock and proceed to fire their MPM missiles. Destroying AA units though 9 aircraft was downed by the time most of the AA were destroyed. Another 2 aircraft were downed by the time every AA unit near the city were destroyed.
Good work, all designated AA sites are neutralized. Proceed to high altitudes and wait for the dropships and transports to decent
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Player: Aiman (RANGSI)
As per Commander Narvin’s wishes, the RANGSI troops within the Main City popped green smoke to indicate that they were friendlies. The combined airstrikes of the Falconian and Novakian aircraft dealt fully with the AA systems outside the city, they had not expected such a swift and overwhelming SEAD response. Their short range and medium AA systems had only been deployed to deal with RANGSI’s battered and meager air forces.
“Sir, troops at the front are reporting good hit on targets. UAV detects no more AA sites around the city.”
“Nice work Captain Arthur and Commander Narvin, all AA targets are destroyed. The skies are clear for your transports to land. Once we are done coordinating the distribution of supplies, I will contact you again to plan the ground operation,” Captain Daniel commended the Falconian and Novakian commanders.
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
"We have received news that all AA sites and transports and dropships are now able to enter the atmosphere of Orajevo"
"That's good news, prepare the transports and dropships to launch. The fighters will escort them to the landing site."
With this the comms turned on
All AA sites had been destroyed, prepare the dropships and transports for launch.
Later dropships are getting ready for launch. As with the loud cluck on the wheel lock the engines of the transports are fired while the dropships are beginning preparations to drop from the lower hangar bays.
Once the lights turned green for the transports and the dropships the transports were launched and the dropships were dropped from the ventral bay of the Orion.
They dive into the atmosphere like falling meteorites before slowing down into the deeper parts of the atmosphere.
This is knocker, the fighters will escort you to the city in case any enemy fighters appeared.
It will take them atleast several minutes to reach the landing site before they were able to drop supplies to the main city. The the Captain Hope's that the mission will be a success as a whole.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
"Summit Nardin Scout flybys confirm AA suppressed" "Copy that Summit landing will commence good work. comms switch me to the Burden" "aye" "Burden this is command airspace clear begin troop landings at friendly AFB" "Burden copy" the two supertransporters undocked and bore away from their carrier firing their secondary engines and unfolding their wings the flight captain of Transporter 1 pulled on his headset and dialed in his radio "Airbase tower this is Transporter 1 on orbital approach request clearance" upon recieving clearance the two heavy transports descended into the atmosphere the icy winds buffeting them as they came down and began final approach into Orajevo AFB meanwhile in orbit the Jackson Class Assualt Ship "Trojan" was beginning her decent into the atmosphere as well crew buckling in as her artificial gravity normalized to the gravity of Orajevo and the hard shuddering of a large ship descending was felt as she steered in to land Section Officer Rhydian Pierce addressed the Falcon-Op troops on board over the ship's PA "Alright listen up this is important! we are currently decending to a world under siege by some filthy suncursed traitors who call themselves freedom fighters, well I would call them filth scorned by Sol'Aa for they are not like our good ancestors who looked after the weak! NO they have left the innocent to starve! SO WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THERE! SHOW THOSE WORTHLESS BEASTS WHAT REAL FREEDOM FIGHTERS LOOK LIKE AND DRIVE THEM BACK TO THE SCORNED DARKNESS THEY CAME FROM AND WHEN WE DO THAT WE TELL THEM.... THAT THEY WILL TAKE NO ONE INNOCENT WITH THEM! NOW GET TO YOUR DEPOLYMENT BAYS" the ships depolyment alarm immdieatly sounded and the soldiers leapt up and ran to their armouries pulling on body armour and running power checks on their rifles and bayonets while the Team Sargeants called for their men to sound off and button on their thermal cloaks and the Section Quartermaster issued standard rations out as troops made their way....
to the deployment bays as soon as they all assembled in their bays the ships Drop Officer gave the briefing to the Team Officers "alright as per the SO's address we are landing on a besieged planet, our objective is to break the siege and assist in humanitarian efforts. We are going to be meeting friendly local forces on the ground and helping them with the breakout, comms suggest they are called the Republik Angcasa also there is another nation assisting us called the Novakian Federation due to limited data PID brief will be on the ground once we have exchanged info. for planetary weather conditions expect extreme cold best we can tell the surface is made of ice as such regular blood antifreeze injections will be administered and you will be issued additional portable fires as possible. everyone understand?" "Yes sir" "good tell off to your units and brief them touchdown in 10" the immense shap of the Trojan was now clearly visible to the airbase personel her vertical thrusters making a mini snowstorm underneath her
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Player: Aiman (RANGSI)
For the first time since the start of the siege, there was a modicum of activity around the spaceport and other landing areas as the Novakian and Falconian transports dropped off their humanitarian supplies. These were eagerly received by the volunteers of the Mercy Without Borders, whether human or alien, any Falconian or Novakian who saw them could clearly tell they had seen better days. Starvation showed in their pale, almost skeletal faces, their eyes were strained from the constant shelling kicking up dirt and dust, and bandages stained with blood were tell-tale signs of fresh wounds earned in the combat zone. The volunteers loaded the supplies onto trucks, blessed the Falconian and Novakian transport crews before they left, and went around the city distributing them to the civilians.
Then, another air raid siren went off. Before the Mercy convoys could respond, the city was hit with numerous explosions. The rebels had continued their barrage, and in response to the destruction of their AO and AA units, they intensified it even further with a heavier artillery barrage. Some trucks were blown off the streets and the humanitarian cargo within burned to a crisp from the incendiary rounds. Surviving Mercy volunteers could do nothing but simply break down and cry as their hopes were dashed at the very last moment. Now, there was only enough supplies to last a single day.
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The HQ bunker shook as one of the artillery rounds hit nearby. Captain Daniel cursed the worst the Mandarin vocabulary had to offer on the rebels, such was unfitting for a disciple of the Eightfold Path such as he, but the rebels’ evils were simply too great to ignore.
“Captain Arthur, Commander Narvin, the rebels just shelled us again and took out some of the supply trucks! If the rebel forces outside the city aren’t dealt with, they will continue to shell the city! UAV aren’t picking them up from the air, it is likely they are hiding their artillery units with the use of some stealth technologies that hide them from airborne surveillance. I need some of your fastest ground troops to close in on them and pin them down while my gunships provide close air support. I will also deploy a tank platoon to flank the rebel infantry outside the city,” Captain Daniel radioed.
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Player: Cloud (Novakia)
"This is the Captain, we will show them what's like to face the might of the Novakian military." After saying that here put ground control to commander Tyknar. While he ordered scout units to scout the nearby area for any enemy forces surrounding the city, then relay the data back to ground control. Once this is done Tyknar will order an infantry and a recon platoon to begin preparations for combat. He radioed Daniel about the mission as the infantry are waiting for the green light. Once received the green light they will enroute to the enemy forces ASAP.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
With a deafening rumble the Trojan Touched down at Orajevo AFB snow and ice swirling as her front ramps dropped and Falcon-Op soldiers hurried off, shuddering at the cold as their thermal cloaks flapped in the wind, SO Pierce pulled his cloak close around him as he stepped down the ramp, he turned to one of his auxilliaries "do they speak our language?" "Aye, they do Sir" "Great then, we shall have a easy time of this" he replied as they walked over to a LTV 1 that had just unloaded from Transporter 1, a pair of cold looking technicians from the HMS Burden had just finished readying it for service and quickly saluted as he got in before hurrying back into their transport to warm up in the personnel cabin "to the city I presume Sir?" the auxilliary inquired "Indeed" Pierce responded as the electric engine kicked on and the small vehicle trundled aloung the broken cratered road going as quickly as it could without tipping on the battered surface till it arrived in Orajevo, just as they pulled up to the bunker the siren blared and Peirce and his staff bailed from the vehicle and ran heads down into the bunker. Once inside Pierce dusted himself off and took a deep breath to calm his mind then turned to his three auxilliaries "right lets meet our peers shall we?" he turned and marched smartly into the command centre stopping in front of Captain Daniel with a sharp salute "Captain Daniel, I am Section Officer Ryhdian Pierce. I will be coordinating Falconian ground operations for the duration of this mission"
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Captain Daniel returned the Falconian Section Officer’s salute. “Glad to have you here, Section Officer Rhydian Pierce.”
He gestured to one of his subordinate officers. A young Malay woman, approximately in her early 20s, came to him.
“This is Lieutenant Amirah. She is my second in command. She will help your staff to settle in. Lieutenant, find a space where they can set up their equipment and get Lieutenant Kevin to find some universal adapters so their equipment can interface with ours,” Captain Daniel introduced his XO to the Section Officer. Lieutenant Kevin was the signals officer, the setting up of all the C4I equipment in the bunker was overseen by him.
“Yes sir,” Lieutenant Amirah nodded. She motioned Pierce’s staff to follow her.
“The Novakians are an eager bunch, they have an infantry company and a recon platoon ready to attack the rebels outside the city. How are your troops doing in the airbase Section Officer?” Captain Daniel asked.
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Player: Russel (Falconian)
"They were settling in well and preparing for a mechanized push once the Novakians found the guns, I'm unsure of their status currently with the most recent barrage, We'll get a report as soon as comms are up. Whats the current status of your forces around the city, I saw it's taken a beating" he took out his folding portable computer " briefing says water and powers been knocked out, correct? we got a couple portable generators and can get extra supplies shipped in if need be" the bunker shuddered a little from a nearby shell burst and one of the auxilliaries working with Lt. Amirah fearfully scanned the ceiling for cracks
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“I wish it was better man, we spent one month in this frozen hellhole surviving off I-Rations, recycled plankton and barely any clean water. If you guys didn’t come today, tomorrow we will absolutely have nothing left and would have just starved to death right there,” Daniel sighed. “The extra supplies will definitely help, but for the long term airlifts aren’t sustainable with the civilian population we have on hand, plus the rebels are gonna know what’s up and deploy their AA and artillery units to shoot down your transports.”
“Which brings us to the objective of Operation Restore Hope,” he used a holo-wand to indicate markings on the virtual map. He also connected the feed to include the Novakian ground commander Tyknar. “This planet’s climate gives anyone without heaters instant frostbite, its water is toxic and its snow sure as hell can’t support anything edible. The first step towards resolving this supply crisis is to capture three types of facilities; power plants for electricity, greenhouses for food and water plants for clean water. We capture enough of these facilities, and we will have enough supplies to stave off the crisis for the long run. The rebels won’t dare to destroy these facilities, it would be tantamount to suicide.”
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Daniel drew an arrow towards the three rebel infantry companies and the missing artillery units camping outside the city. “First phase of Operation Restore Hope is to find and destroy these rebel units besieging the city. Then you will have a small window for you to airlift what supplies you can spare before the rebels will likely start deploying long range AA units, if the Separatist Union gave them any.”
He then drew a circle to where the sieging units would be destroyed. “We will then regroup our forces here and launch the attack to capture the essential facilities on this ice plate the locals call the Suzuya Plate, sweeping in a circular motion until we reach the harbour. We secure the Suzuya Plate, we give ourselves some breathing room before we can proceed to the other Ice Plates.”
“This is my rough plan for Operation Restore Hope the finer details can be discussed further, do you guys have any questions?”
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
"All Understood" Pierce replied then turned to his liason "Signal the Novakians green light to begin" then keyed his comm patch "Dagger Actual All Dagger Callsigns Report"
Orajevo AFB
The Falconian forces were somewhat shaken from the bombardment but still stable and combat ready and the mechanized section was assembled and ready to move. Sgt Marius looked over his forces then pulled himself up on his team's IFV shuddering from the cold, the blood antifreeze kept him safe from frostbite but it didn't make the bitter biting cold any better and in the bulk of his armour his thermal cloak didn't cover him very well, the team Scan Officer listened briefly then responded "Dagger 1-4 Status Green ready for orders"
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
"This is Tyknar, Understood"he replied, Later he received the green light from the Falconian forces to strike .
"This is your commander, we have Recived the green light, let's go destroy those infantry and artillery company and open a small window for our transports. Apart from this we will join with the Falconian forces at the rendezvous point to capture the facilities and eventually, the harbour.
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Player: Aiman (RANGSI)
Orajevo AFB
The airbase was a rush of activity despite the biting cold of winter. Three Zekop gunships were being thawed out of storage, several crewmen were scrambling to make them combat ready shaving off ice that built up on the chassis, refuelling and warming up the metallic hydrogen engines and running quick diagnostics checks. Unmanned transport drones ferried ATGM and unguided rocket pods as well as several ammo belts worth of 7.62mm rounds and 40mm grenades to the Zekop hangars, where cranes would then unload and attach them to where they are needed. Within 30 minutes, two Zekop gunships were hovering away from the airbase, forming up to provide covering fire for the Novakian and Falconian forces. The third Zekop still needed extensive repairs as the ice ended up seeping into the engines, damaging the internal parts, and technicians would need to replace them if they ever wanted to fly.
On the other side, in the city garrison located along the eastern coastline, the 2nd Tank Company was being mobilised for their deployment. In similar vein to the Zekops, Archer 3B main battle tanks that had been placed in ‘cold storage’ - initially meant to be cannibalised for armor, ammo and fuel to sustain the mechanized infantry companies in the defensive, were being dusted out and refitted to the best they can for Operation Restore Hope. They used to have more tanks, but both the destruction of their fleet in orbit where the rest of the 14th ISB were held as reserve and the gradual scrapping of armored vehicles to make makeshift turrets and armored bunkers withered their numbers down to a single company of 14 available tanks.
---
Lieutenant Fauzi was more than happy to step back into his command tank and get back right into the action. His blood was boiling for a fight against the local rebels, he had lost a lot of good soldiers and friends to them and now he was going to make them pay for every dog tag he had in his utility pouch. As he climbed down into the hatch and switched on the Archer 3B’s systems, he ran through his orders. Flank the rebel forces outside the Main City, assist the combined Novakian and Falconian advance and provide cover fire as they find and destroy the artillery unit.
“Alpha Actual to all 2nd Coy callsigns, advance to Objective Anna,” with his order, 14 tanks of the 2nd Tank Company rolled out from the underpass that they have been using as shelter and an ad-hoc vehicle depot and rumbled through the snow and ice towards the rebel forces.
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Player: Aiman (Rebels)
Meanwhile, on the rebel’s side, deep in the rebel’s HQ in Outpost 331 located on the Tulsya Plate.
“Comrade Major, this doesn’t look too good,” Captain Petrov commented as the holoscreens showed the evolving situation. All their anti-orbital weapons were destroyed, they had not been expecting a sudden change in posture by the RANGSI forces, and above all they had not been expecting additional reinforcements on the RANGSI side. Whoever these new players were, they were a complication to their plans.
“Perhaps our mistake was not taking the initiative,” Major Jin In-Sung glared at the scruffy, heavily bearded miner in front of him. Chief of Mining Operations, Theodore H. Vondekaff, also known by his local rebel followers as ‘Bossman’, shrugged. Before all this, he had suggested to his Separatist Union allies that they stayed put after pushing the RANGSI and government forces all the way to the Main City, starving the city first before moving on to capture the prized nanofuel refineries. His rationale was to spare his own men from being slaughtered in urban warfare. Major Jin initially was not pleased, but seeing as the Separatist Union needed his men to achieve their objective he played along. Bossman had seen many things in his 50 years of living independent, he knew better than to simply buy the communist ideology without ‘reading through the tea leaves’.
“Well then, Comrade Major, give me some reinforcements then we can take the Main-”
“No, Comrade Theodore,” Major Jin cut him off. “I’ve lost expensive assets, assets YOUR men were supposed to be protecting. Your mistake, your responsibility.”
----
Bossman spitted to the side, indicative of how much he respected the Separatist Union Major. He walked off to his own table, looked at the map of the Suzuya Plate, consulted with his advisors and made some calls to the local rebel commanders. He told them to prepare for an enemy offensive and ordered all forces on the Suzuya Plate, now scattered as disparate garrisons, to prepare to regroup for an assault on the Main City.
However, Bossman’s orders were slow to pass through to the Suzuya Plate. A combination of bad weather, poor communications equipment and complacent attitudes of the miners-turned-rebels made them slow to receive and react. As it stands, the three rebel infantry companies and the single artillery company they were protecting were on their own. They were poorly equipped with surplus assault rifles, a mish-mash of random tactical webbings and stolen plate carriers and civilian tractors souped up with a heavy machine gun and some armor to serve as ad-hoc APCs. Their artillery company did not fare any better with the same tractors now converted into a mortar carrier, but the Separatist Union did give them special camo nets and signal jammers to deter air attacks the RANGSI would launch from the Orajevo AFB.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
The orders came through "Begin assault, all units push to Line Alpha" Outskirts of Orajevo a few minutes later the T-120 IFVs rumbled out across the ice plate accompanied by the T-150 MBTs trailing a short distance behind to provide overwatch fire with their targeting drones hovering 20ish feet above the formation. The formation leader called "section halt" over the radio, Marius shouted out "Troops dismount!" as he pulled the reactor start catch of his armour then dropped down off the IFV as the four microreactors powering his suit popped and the the exoskeleton powered up, the weight of his armour fading away and being replaced by the artificial strength of of the exoskeleton's joints as the hud popped up on his faceplate. He unslung his EPAR and powered it on as the Team Officer barked out "Team pattern 1 advance!" the troops fanned out into a well spaced line and hurried toward the positions in a steady jog powered boots crunching through the snow. Inside the hull of T-150 No 115 "Perin's fist" Team Officer Rothgar watched his holoscreen as his tanks targeting drone swept the snowfield in front of them "gunner load AP" he ordered as he continued to watch the field ahead of them, a ping came up on screen showing a unknown contact and he zoomed in attempting to verify what it was, seeing nothing he switched the drone camera and spotted some form of jury rigged tractor with a mortar manned by armed men in mix match gear "gunner engage contact!" he marked the target on his screen and felt the turret swing as the gunner told the system to align to the target "fire!" he barked and felt the thud and jolt of the main gun firing.
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Player: Cloud (Novakia)
Outside the main city
All of the 1 recon and 1 infantry unit had started to charge into the enemy artillery and infantry companies with some Small IFV in the recon unit escorting the forces. Once nearing the targets, the commander said "We go in, weapon free on the enemy. Kill anything you see, give no mercy on them." After nearing the target the commander ordered the forces ot halt which then several drones are launched to scout the area for any potential threat to the infantry and recon units. The drones later detected several tractors rigged to have weaponry on them with a mortar manned by men in several variations of combat gears. "Take them out, we still have the one infantry company to take care of"he shouted as the recon units with its several IFVs and the infantry units charged towards the enemy mortar companies.
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“Nice, winner winner chicken dinner,” one of the rebel soldiers mumbled as he put away his smartphone. He warmed up his gloves hands near a portable gas cooker - sitting on a crate in a makeshift tentage next to an APC? Guard duty was not the first thing that came to mind when he signed up for the uprising.
“Peyansky playing that GUBG shit again?!” a comrade-sergeant crouched into the tentage. He put down his backpack and rifle, grabbed one of the RANGSI MREs probably left behind in some warehouse then redistributed as part of the general food supply, and poured its contents into a mess tin. “Come on man you’re supposed to be on watch today. Won’t be my ass if the sergeant-major comes.”
“Tell Comrade Desmond he can suck on my balls, better than rotting out there looking at nothin-” suddenly there was a rumbling, roaring sound in the distance. Both of them looked at each other. The guard then quickly ran out of the tent. The tent then exploded.
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The Novakian and Falconian’s aggressive advance caught the half-asleep half-horsing-around rebel forces off guard and hit them so hard and fast they did not have time to pick up their weapons. With additional support from the Zekops overhead, one rebel infantry company and the now-revealed artillery company was no more.
On the other side, the RANGSI 2nd Tank Company had flanked the second rebel infantry company and took up firing positions wherever it was favourable, behind rocks for cover or on top of hills and ridges to occupy a vantage point. Streaks of blue lightning cracked through the frosty air as plasma-sheathed railguns fired 130mm HEAT shells at the APCs, turning them into wreck and fireballs while machine guns mounted on the turret copulas took pot shots at the panicked infantry.
The third and last of the rebel detachment, one remaining infantry company, had enough time amidst the chaos to pack up the essentials and they retreated to Water Plant A-991.
Captain Daniel nodded attentively as he obtained the sit-rep from the 2nd Coy, deleting the rebel unit icons as they were eliminated in that swift and decisive strike. “This is Captain Daniel, UAVs are reporting good effects on targets. Only one infantry company made it out, they were spotted moving towards to Water Plant A-991.”
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“Let’s proceed as planned. Regroup and send reinforcements if you have any, we are going to need all we can get to sweep the rebels off this plate,” Daniel turned to XO Amirah. “Amirah tell the 12th and 15th Mec-Inf to prep and be at Objective Bravo in one hour.”
The XO nodded and issued the Captain’s orders to the mechanized rifle companies he wanted for the fight. Switching from the defensive to the offensive, riflemen were moving fast to pack up their gear, ammunition and other supplies from the trenches and load them into their APCs. They were pumped full of vigour, finally they were going to get some action and stretch their legs after proning and squatting in their ad-hoc line of fire trenches, shellscrapes and foxholes. Once they were done, the soldiers mounted into their APCs and they moved off to join the 2nd Tank Company and their allies at the rendezvous point, reaching it in nearly an hour, hopefully enough time for the Falconians and the Novakians to send some extra help.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
As panicked rebels laid down scattered fire, the grenadiers rotaries growled laying down a thick spray of bullets while the other men blasted any who stood fast with their EPARs. Marius rushed a rebel trench bullets rattling off his armour and chucked a grenade into it before blasting another rebel as he tried to flee, while in the background the IFVs autocannons pounded any rebel vehicles they could see. At the same time Rothgar's tanks hurled HE rounds at the vehicles of the retreating Rebel third company from their firing positions behind the camp.
Orajevo AFB
At the airbase the Infantry Company and Support Company had been given marching orders to move up to the old rebel positions. The Airfield was now again a flurry of activity as Falconian troops readied to march and militiamen settled in grumbling heavily about the cold.
Command Centre
Section Officer Pierce relayed his orders to the company commands through his Scan Officer "Mech Coy. hold your positions and wait for the other companies to arrive. Rifle and Support Companies are to push to point Alpha and join mechanized element there. Miltia companies are to ready for march to join them once we have secured forward postions." he then changed the channel and dictated "Summit Air assets stand by for tasking. forward control will be transferred to Novakian and Rangsi Forces" he then turned to his liason axilliary and instructed "Relay our comm data for ground attack assets to Cpt Daniel and Cmdr Tyknar"
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
The rebels were caught a "little" off guard by the sudden attack by the Novakian forces. As they tried to combat the forces they were quickly overwhelmed by the attack. The IFVs of the recon layed down a thick layer off bullets while the men fired into the trenches to kill any unlucky rebels who are still alive. In the background several Rebel vehicles tried to stop the unit but the IFVs managed to destroy them before they can reach us. Although the artillery units were destroyed, capturing the essential facilities may be harder Tynak ordered a tank company arrive asap and support the rest if another rebel forces try to take back the positions
Orajevo AFB
At the AFB an order by the comander was given to a tank company stationed there to join to join the Novakian forces at the now old rebel position at ■■■■. The Airforce base now a flurry of activity as Novakian personnel are rushing to their tanks as they started its engines and turned on their anti freeze. It didn't take that long before they had moved out and is now enroute to the Novakian held position.
"I have called a tank company to arrive to our current position to join our forces. Hold your position until the tank units had arrived, once they have arrived the recon platoons will join the infantry units." it didn't take much time before the tank company had arrived at the now Novakian position.
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Water Plant A-991
11th Revolutionary Detachment
“Comrade Sergeant-Major!” rebels guarding the water plant rushed to help him up as he emerged from smoked up APC, peppered with bullet holes. Shrapnel dug deep in his shoulders, torso and face, the sergeant-major of the sieging detachment grunted in pain as he tried to press on his wounds to stop the bleeding.
“Those RANGSIs…” he coughed violently as he was put against the wall for support. He grabbed the collar of the nearest soldier. “They launched an attack...they got friends...it was all too sudden…”
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“Damn the stars! I gotta tell the commander! Sergeant-Major sir! Take this and press it on your wounds help is on the way!” the soldier rushed into action after throwing him a clean towel and some bandages. He ran into the command center, the control room of the Water Plant, just in time to bump into the commander of the 11th Revolutionary Detachment, the rebel unit guarding the Water Plant.
“Comrade Private! What’s all the commotion outside about?!” the iron-eyed lady dressed in a brown winter jacket with a tactical webbing worn over it, data pads, maps and radios all hooked up to various parts of the webbing.
“Commander Zara!” the rebel soldier saluted. “RANGSI forces have launched a counterattack against the siege units! Only one company made it here, it’s likely they will come after us, ma’am!”
Zara’s eyes widened. She nodded, told the private to mobilise the rest, and went back inside to relay the message to all nearby rebel units. The imperialist forces of the Republik Angkasa are coming.
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717 GUN SQN
“Seven-Actual to Seven-Bravo, we got orders to check out the Water Plant,” Lieutenant Gayali, the leader of the three-Zekop gunship squadron - the only gunship squadron left on this frozen moon, radioed to the other Zekop gunship. The two gunships advanced, flying over the massing Novakian ground units, towards their objective carefully, observing both distance and altitude.
“Damn, can’t see anything in this snow. Switching to thermals,” Seven-Bravo radioed. The moment he said that, beeps echoed throughout the cockpit. It was a missile lock.
“Missile lock! Missile lock!” Gayali yanked the gunship away and fired off chaffs. The anti-air missile narrowly missed his Zekop, it went for the flares and exploded below him.
“Seven-Actual! It’s fucking beehive in the Water Plant! They got MANPADS infantry hidden inside the damn complex! AA vehicles in the outer perimeter, looks like trucks with miniguns and MANPADS!”
“Stay with me Bravo!” Gayali swayed side to side, avoiding the subsequent streams of tracers whizzing past. “Any heavy equipment?”
“No sir!” minigun fire from the ground then tore off the right wing hardpoint of Seven-Bravo. “I suggest we get the hell out of here!”
“Alright we've seen enough let’s bug out!” the two gunships pulled away from the Water Plant. “Seven Actual of 717 to Air Command, we’ve got the intel but my wingman is damaged. We are RTB for repairs. Transmitting intel to you now.”
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“Captain Daniel here,” he picked up the call from Orajevo AFB. “Hmmm...Hmmm...yes….alright thank you for the help.”
“Captain Daniel to all attacking forces, an estimated company-sized AA force is present in the Water Plant along with two infantry companies, one full and one half-manned. Proceed with caution, and be careful not to destroy the water plant,” Daniel radioed on the joint channel as he updated his battle map.
He temporarily switched off his mike, and turned over to Section Officer Pierce. “Section Officer Pierce, since you’re here do you have any recon assets to spare? A recon sweep of the whole plate will give us a good idea...and plus…”
“Plus, I have a bad feeling about the harbour. One month ago when they pushed us back to the Main City, the harbour was where they offloaded heavier stuff like tanks and IFVs, proper Separatist-supplied ones to boot, none of those juryrigged tractors. I need to know if their tank forces are still at the harbour, or if they moved to somewhere else.”
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Combined RANGSI Counterattack Forces
2nd Tank Company, 12th Mechanized Rifles, 15th Mechanized Rifles
“We got the orders to take the Water Plant!” Lieutenant Fauzi shouted as he quickly threw away the cigarette and readied his gear for combat again. Lieutenant Ghanesh and Lieutenant Ming Jun, commanders of the 12th and 15th Mechanized Rifle Companies respectively, did the same, threw snow on the makeshift campfire and started radioing their platoon sergeants to quickly organize the men.
Fauzi hopped into the tank along with his crew. The Archer 3B, callsign Second-Lead and nicknamed ‘Fury’, hummed to life as its electric engines were switched back on.
“How are we going to do this Fauzi?” LT Ghanesh asked over the comms channel.
“My tanks are going to set up a blocking position and hold off any rebel reinforcements, if any. Command says there is a high chance the whole Plate knows of our counter-attack.”
“Sounds good, keep us covered while me and Ghanesh storm the Water Plant,” LT Ming Jun.
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Player: Russel (Falconian)
Pierce replied "I have the Summit's scout fighters but they would be at risk from any AA fire the rebels may be able to bring up, aside from that my scout assets are pretty limited. Another thing, Commander Nardin wishes to assess the viability of limited orbital strikes near the port"
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
It didn't take long before the tank companies had arrived and the Novakian held position. Once the recon platoon had merged with the infantry units. Later Cmdr Tyknar ordered the units to move out to the Water plant to take out the estimated enemy forces at the location
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Captain Daniel shook his head at Pierce’s suggestion. “I’m afraid I can’t allow that, Officer Pierce. Orajevo’s ice plates would crack open with any sort of orbital bombardment, it’s already in a bad shape from the icequake as it is. Well, then I guess we should secure the Water Plant quickly. It may give us a good vantage point, and intel if any, to scout out the rebel forces in the other facilities.”
“Sir, I got word from 1st Arty Coy and the 8th Logs Platoon, they are ready and awaiting your orders,” Lieutenant Amirah announced.
“Good, get them to move out and establish positions at Objective Anna to support the offensive,” Daniel nodded.
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Water Plant A-991
Water Plant A-991 was a fortress spewing barrages of machinegun fire and rocket propelled grenades at the attacking forces. The rebel forces were heavily dug in into every building and crevice of the water plant and were very determined to hold the position until other rebel forces on the Suzuya Plate can come to their aid. Even the forces guarding the perimeter that were steamrolled by the sheer weight of the attack put up some fight with the few RPGs they had to inflict some damage before they arrived at the main meat of the objective.
The facility could be divided into three operational battlezones; the Pipelines, the Treatment Plants and the Corporate Office Complex.
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The Pipelines located on the left drew water from the planet’s toxic oceans, the rows of huge and small pipes layered horizontally one after another would make the fighting to secure them akin to a strange sort of trench warfare where the only way forward was to climb over the pipes - and expose themselves to all sorts of fire.
The Treatment Plants on the right were complexes consisting of circular tanks where the raw water is treated and processed to become usable and a few clusters of rectangular shipping containers repurposed as workers’ quarters and smaller offices. Here was a labyrinth that favoured a strange mix of mountain and open warfare - below on the ground rebel ATGM and machine gun tractors prowl the wide open roads between the water tanks while a few squads worth of RPG troopers and snipers somehow managed to climb their way on top, where they await to ambush enemy forces passing through.
Finally, the Corporate Office Complex, this was perhaps the most important building as it was not only the tallest but also contained the ‘HQ’ of A-991 - the control office needed to digitally coordinate the Plant’s processes and the underground fusion reactor that supplies power for all its needs. The rebels made it abundantly clear how important it was - it was the most fortified. Windows and rooftops were turned into machine gun nests, sniper nests and ATGM positions that covered the middle road leading straight to the Office Complex making any hasty frontal assault very costly. Any troops looking to secure the Complex must bear the burden of bloody urban combat as they fight floor-by-floor, room-by-room to clear out the rebels garrisoned inside.
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Water Plant A-991
12th Mechanized Rifles, 15th Mechanized Rifles
“Twelfth Lead to Fifteenth Lead, sitrep over,” LT Ghanesh radioed.
“Fifteenth Lead to Twelfth Lead, I lost approximately a platoon. How about you?” LT Ming Jun replied.
“Half a platoon. I hope our allies fared better because we are going to need all we can get to take that fortress of an office complex,” Ghanesh grunted as the command IFV shook from a stray RPG round that exploded nearby. “All friendly forces rally at the warehouses in front we can use the building for cover and as a temporary FOB to direct our next moves.”
----
The warehouses in front of the three operational zones of the A-991 was a logistical nexus before the civil war. Here, clean water was either piped into water trucks or packaged into barrels and bottles for transportation to the Main City and the Outposts. Now, their enormous shelters were excellent places for cover against the rebels’ missiles and guns, a brief respite to house the wounded from the initial breakthrough into the perimeter. However they cannot stay here for long lest they get bombarded by mortars or get flanked from the sides.
“Alright guys, I got a plan,” Ghanesh broadcasted over the allied commanders’ channel where the Novakian and Falconian commanders for this attack were included.
“Here on out, it's gonna be fierce fighting. The middle road to the complex is a no-go, as we briefly saw in our initial attack the office complex is heavily fortified and it is highly likely the middle road lies right in their killzone. The best way is to flank the complex through both the Pipelines and the Treatment Plants. Both sites provide good cover from the complex’s overhead fire, but it would still be fierce fighting within the individual sites itself.”
“My 12th will take the Pipelines on the right, Ming Jun’s 15th will take the Treatment Plants on the left. I need either nation to take either side, you guys better decide fast though,” Ganesh ended his briefing over the comms, waiting for the Novakians and Falconians to respond.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
"This is Dagger 1 Actual 4th section will be with you on the pipeline assault" "Dagger 2 Actual, Grenadiers will assault the treatment plant, our equipment will be useless among the pipes, also be advised our vics aren't fitted for cold weather fighting we have a few frozen drive boxes and an IFV crew reports drive shaft has snapped"
As the section officers radioed out their replies shivering troops trudged through the snow icicles hanging from their helmet brims as their breath came out in icy plumes, the freezing air burning their lungs as they marched "And here I thought we were getting a sun cursed break from war" a private grumbled as he pushed through a drift, a cold looking medic moved up the line calling out "arms out, antifreeze injections" the private stuck out his right arm from under his thermal cloak and felt the sharp jab of the needle then quickly tucked it back into his cloak
The grenadier section was faring worse, while the initial attack had gone amazingly the following march to the water treatment plant was taking a toll on them, the vehicles drive units hadn't been treated with cold weather lubricant and where freezing up in the cold, also some of them were fitted with low quality parts due to the stress on supply lines due to the Imperian wars due to this three of the IFVs were now stopped dead and their platoons had to guard the stricken vehicles till a engineering unit could be brought up to fix the snapped drive shaft and defrost the drive units
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
"This is Tyknar, we will be with you on the assault on the Treatment Plants, The Tank company will be at the perimeter of the treatment plant to provide any artillery support if needed while the recon and infantry platoons will support your troops in the engagement." Tyknar replied while ordering his units to move to the location.
As the units moved out the recon and infantry units jumped onto the tanks while they began to move to the treatment plant.
After reaching at the location the recon and infantry platoons immediately went into firing positions while the tanks moved into artillery position ready for support is needed.
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Water Plant A-991
Treatment Plants
As the 15th and the Novakians roll into the Treatment Plants, the rebel soldiers licked their freezing cold lips beneath their balcavas as they awaited the signal to attack. They gripped onto their weapons anxious with anticipation.
Laying prone on the treatment silos, rebels with RPGs and sniper rifles waited for the Novakian tanks and RANGSI IFVs to come closer.
“Now.”
RPGs streaked towards the Novakian and RANGSI vehicles, while the snipers on top were landing shots on any infantry in their gunsights. Gunfire filled the road as two heavy machine gun positions, entrenched in a well camouflaged makeshift sandbag bunker built in the remains of a guardpost, unleashed in short rapid bursts so as to keep the attackers suppressed. The 15th’s infantry quickly dispersed and took cover behind the silos itself, the surviving IFVs also scattered to the left and right. One of them even managed to throw up a smokescreen before a RPG smashed into its turret, blowing it off completely. The damaged IFV survived and managed to reverse back to safety, but without any weaponry whatsoever to support the infantry.
“Every platoon have at least one section keeping fire on the snipers up top! Fire Movement ladies and gentlemen! Suppress the enemy and keep moving forward until we reach close enough to overwhelm them!” Lieutenant Ming Jun began barking into the radio to command and control his troops. “Commander Tyknar! Status on your troops!”
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Pipelines
The Pipelines was as it was promised; a fiery mockery of trench warfare as both sides were locked behind the enormous pipes, reluctant to throw anything too heavy for the fear of damaging the only thing on the Suzuya Plate that kept them hydrated.
“Sir Ghanesh, they got machine guns and marksman rifles on elevated positions just ahead, on the walkways. We can’t move forward until they are taken out, or at least suppressed,” a platoon Master Sergeant reported to Lieutenant Ghanesh.
“Dagger Two-Actual this is 12th Lead, I hope your forces are holding out fine because if we are going to move forward my troops need all the covering fire you can give,” he radioed while flinching from the thunderous ‘thwang’ of a high caliber bullet ricocheting off his command IFV. “My plan is to launch a smokescreens and launch flashbangs into the enemy positions to stun them, then your troops give us cover fire while we rapidly move forward and overwhelm their positions. With any luck, we will be able to secure and neutralize the rebel positions here with minimal casualties.”
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Player: Russel (Falconians)
"12 Lead, Dagger Two-Actual copy that we'll attempt to lay down some cover." the officer turned to his section "Alright boys republik folk need some cover, shred these cursed bevahriin" "Aye sir" a sargeant shouted back then called out "quadrant 12, hit em with the rotaries" there was a faint whine followed by a loud BRRRRRRRRRR as a storm of bullets ripped from the section's miniguns hosing the gantry with a mixture of standard and explosive rounds
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Meanwhile the 1st Infantry section was still slogging through the cold toward the treatment plant at as fast a march as could be maintained through the snow and driving wind. Windburned troops shivered and grumbled as they marched, the faint rattle of gunfire audible in the distance ahead of them
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Player: Cloud (Novakians)
"this is the commander, our recon units are fine, they just got into position and has started to fire upon the enemy. RPGs had struck our tanks, luckily they survived with only minor damages. Some of our Infantry units aren't so lucky, some on tanks got killed by RPGs while some was sniped. But things are going well for the most part." the commander later turned to his recon platoons and his tank company. "Alright soldiers our allies need some cover, gun those enemy snipers on top immediately. You tank boys hit em with those machine guns and not tank rounds, we do not want to damage the facility here."
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While the recon unit lay down storms of bullets the tanks machine gun started to fire bullets hosting explosive and frag shells.
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Treatment Plants
Ming Jun counted his losses. Another half of a platoons’ worth was lost to machine gun and sniper fire, making it one and a half platoon lost in battle in total.
The Novakians’ suppressive fire worked as it intended, the rebel squads on top were either killed by the frag shells or were forced to disengage and pull back from the edges. The main suppressive element of the rebels’ firepower was effectively lost, allowing the RANGSI forces to push forward. The roads were still covered by makeshift ATGM and heavy machine gun positions, so Ming Jun opted to storm through their less defended flanks. Infantry mounted back into their IFVs, some even rode on top to provide additional firepower. RANGSI mechanized troops stormed through the rebels’ flanks like a lightning cavalry. Some IFVs even bashed into sandbag positions crushing anyone unlucky enough to man those positions underneath its treads. RANGSI riflemen squads promptly disembarked after that short journey and began eliminating the rear. Some were tasked to climb on top of the treatment vats and clear out the snipers and RPG troopers once and for all.
“Novakian commander this is 15th Lead, the top’s clear and we got them at the rear. You are clear to proceed forward.”
----
Pipelines
“Hell yeah Falconian boys, give those bitches some firepower! Woo!” whoops and cheers came from the RANGSI infantry as the Falconian miniguns fired onto the rebel machinegun positions.
Mortar teams proceeded as planned and rained down a few flashbang and smoke shells onto the enemy, blinding and obscuring their vision at the same time.
“Rounds complete,” this was the cue for an immediate advance.
“Go! Go! Go!” The riflemen charged over the pipelines into the rebel trenches, the engagement quickly turned into a fast yet brutal close quarters battle as soldiers of both sides came face-to-face, some were even so close that they had to fight hand-to-hand. Between the RANGSI advance and Falconian covering fire, the rebels quickly realized the odds were against them. The final trench abandoned their positions and retreated into the office complex, leaving behind crates of grenades and makeshift molotovs and pipe bombs.
“Lieutenant sir, platoons reported all clear,” the Company Sergeant Major, a Master Sergeant, reported.
“Tend to the wounded and regroup, get ready to attack the office complex in possibly 15 minutes,” Ghanesh replied. The CSM acknowledged and went to work radioing his orders to the rest of the company.
“12th Lead to 15th Lead, Pipelines secure. Waiting on you before we assault the office complex.”
----
Player: Russel
Dagger 2-1 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) 2nd Team (2nd Squad)
Sgt Marius' EPAR let out a loud bwomp as he fired at a rebel making a last attempt to prime a molotov, a beam of bright blue plasma cutting through the air across the final few pipes as his team's rotary let out a final snarling burst at the fleeing men
"Alright my boys form up on me and listen up quickly" he barked
"These little rats are busy scurrying back into that office block over there, we're gonna sit tight for a quick moment till our lads of the rifle section get here then kick all those rebel trash out of that block and hand it over to our new republik friends on a silver platter, aye boys?"
"aye sir" came the call back
Marius keyed his radio and called over
"Dagger 2-1 12th lead we're holding position until the rest of our troops arrive, how copy?"
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Dagger 3-3 165 Regiment 6th section (support) 3rd team
The recovery vehicle rumbled over the ice alongside the blown apart road dotted with wrecked vehicles
"keep an eye out for mines and UXO in this area" one of the engineers shouted over the noise of the vehicle as they rolled their way toward the stranded IFVs
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The rifles roused from their dreary march and started unslinging and checking their rifles as officers started moving ahead with their binoculars to scout the approaches to the treatment plant and medics checked their medical packs and took stock of supplies. Teams began pairing off as the whole unit shifted into a line formation in preparation for the assault.
///
Private Tallin 165/1/2 Status: OK
Tallin stumbled through the snow grumbling and cursing as he went, a thought passed through his mind
"why do these strangers have to die?" as the thought rested in his mind an idea began...
----------
Player: Cloud
"Righto, we'll move in asap" Tynak replied while his infantry and recon units sat on top of Novakian T-60s, T-90s and T-130s as they moved deeper into the Treatment Plant following the 15th lead.
"If you see any enemy forces around firing at you any of our allies, give them no mercy even if they're escaping from the complex." Tynak ordered his troops as they moved into the Treatment Plant.
-------
The Pipelines and the Treatment Plants were secured and the allied forces slowly regrouped at rally points established just outside the giant office complex. The Falconians can advance uncontested and the Novakian forces face little resistance, scattered rebels on the verge of death or hiding alone behind ruined guideposts were left to the mercy of advancing Novakian troops. Gunfire and occasional grenades came from the office complex, in an attempt to dissuade any further advance into the building, but the heavy overhead cover afforded by both approaches via the Pipelines and the Treatment Plants made them essentially insignificant. The only thing keeping them from storming the building was the momentary pause to reorganize, strategize and replenish supplies if needed.
However, the longer the pause, the more time the rebels inside have to prepare. They need to storm it now, this very instant. No doubt taking the enormous complex would be a mountainous task. It would be bloody urban warfare, room-to-room, complete with grisly booby traps and ambushes at every corner and behind every door.
-----
Lieutenant Ghanesh and Lieutenant Ming Jun opened up a holo-conference with the Falconian commander callsign Dagger Two-Actual and the Novakian commander Tynak. Their APCs were parked in a safe location, so this was an opportunity to strategize with the luxury of face-to-face and friendly conversation. They took off their helmets, revealing their young faces to the foreign commanders. Fresh officers who signed up for a regular career straight out of mandatory conscription, just below the age of 25.
“That’s how the situation is. The office complex is heavily fortified and within it are vital assets that are deemed essential to the operation of the water plant, namely the central office - the brain of the plant’s processes, and the underground reactor providing power to the desalination and filtration process. I wish I could call in an air strike or an artillery barrage to waste all these bastards - but without water we are as good as dead. Projected casualties are estimated to be high. I cannot force you to storm the building. If you choose not to commit, I only ask that your units secure the outer perimeter. No doubt, rebel reinforcements will arrive soon,” Lieutenant Ghanesh briefed the conference.
-----------------
Player: Russel
Dagger 2 actual 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) Command Element
The section commander and his scan officer hunkered down in a former rebel position at the edge of the pipes, as they were settling in the scan officer's wrist unit pinged and she tapped it pulling up a holographic projection of the two officers
"My Grenadiers will help you with kicking doors while our infantry section will hold down the perimeters" the commander stated then brushed some snow off of his cloak and took off his hat to knock off the pile of snow that had collected on it.
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Dagger 3-3 165 Regiment 6th section (support) 3rd team
The recovery crawler rolled to a stop next to a broken IFV and it's dismounted crewmen who were keeping security around it
"Hey folk, what's the problem?" one engineer called over
"Suns cursed snapped axel" the commander shouted back
"No chance of in field repair for that, we're gonna have to haul you folks back to base. Hey lads turn her round and get the tow hook prepped" the commander of the engineer unit called.
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The whole section shifted to as brisk a march as could be kept through the snow, rifles at the low ready then being cautiously raised as the unit moved into the outer edges of the treatment plant and began moving on towards the edge of the office complex where the officers signaled a halt and the troops stopped and crouched rifles lowered but ready.
russelljj1 (Falconian Empire)09/09/2020
///
Private Tallin 165/1/2 Status: MIA
Tallin continued to march along in his place in the column, his mind now churning with fear and frustration as boots crunched in the snow and the painful icy wind whipped, finally his mind reached a point and he made his decision, he waited until the medics passed again issuing out antifreeze injections then pretended to stumble and collapse into the snow beside the column. He heard soldiers shouting for the medics to come and quickly took advantage of the swirling snow to crawl away and once he was free of the long line of soldiers he began to trudge toward the only sign of civilisation he could see, the water treatment facility
half an hour later
Tallin approached the treatment plant carefully, afraid he would be shot before he could relay his intent. He quickly pulled off his white helmet cover and hung it on the barrel of his rifle as he walked toward the office complex stopping just outside it and waving his improvised white flag.
Novakian FederationYesterday at 12:04 PM
As Tynak and his units advanced without any resistance from the rebels as they were mostly scattered with no signs of retaliation. As he and his unit reached a safe spot within the treatment plant he then pulled out his comms and 2 holographic projection of the commanders
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Player: Cloud
"Our tanks will circle the perimeter of the facility keeping an eye out for any rebels it can find while our infantry units will storm the building and wipe them of any rebels inside."
The commander said. The infantry later hopped onto the tanks as they were being moved to the office complex.
About an hour later
The Infantry units were dropped of at the edge of the office complex while the Tanks started to patrol the outer perimeter of the office complex expecting rebel reinforcements to arrive while some stayed to provide some assistance for the infantry units if needed. Tynak ordered the remaining units to slowly move deeper into the office complex but to lower their rifles as they anxiously waited for the green light to storm the building.
---------
Player: RANGSI
RANGSI Riflemen readied for the big push into the office complex. They were trained in urban operations, and had carried them out many times throughout their deployments in the 2nd Ancerious War. But they were still nervous. There was something in fighting at such close ranges that unnerved even the very best among them - it was too easy to die at point blank in such environments. Plus, the conditions they were in for the past month - lack of food, water and heating had previously sapped their fighting strength, focus and morale.
“Fifteenth on.”
“Thirteenth on.”
“Urban operation is a go.”
“Breach! Breach! Breach!” the RANGSI rifle sections busted open the access doors and threw in a couple of flashbangs before storming in. The ground floor quickly became a chaotic fury of gunfire as the riflemen pushed, as expected resistance was stiff and stubborn and it was going to be a bloody fight. The Falconian and Novakian assistance was going to be well appreciated here.
----------------
11th Revolutionary Detachment
Office Complex, Main Road
As the rebels held their ground, a platoon worth of them rushed their way to the main exit of the office with Commander Zara, the officer in charge of the 11th Revolutionary Detachment, in tow. Then they came face-to-face with a soldier, his uniform unrecognizable, outside the building holding his rifle with his white helmet on top. No doubt he belonged to the RANGSI’s newfound friends.
At first, Zara’s bodyguards wanted to shoot him, but she held down their rifles with her hand. She understood his gesture, somewhat.
----
“Capture him and bring him with us. If he is really surrendering, he might provide useful information,” Zara motioned her men to apprehend the Falconian stranger.
“Ma’am, we should go now. The 33rd is on their way here,” another of their bodyguards nudged her along. Now that the allied forces were at the office complex’s flanks, its front was free of enemy presence and they had taken the opportunity to use this opening to slip through and escape. The plan Zara told her men was to hold the allied soldiers right at the access points and conduct an organized retreat. The top floors will slowly descend down and continue to provide overwatch for the retreating route at the main road while the others continue to reinforce the flanks and hold the line. Of course, Zara knew all along it was an impossible task - the allied forces will overwhelm them and secure the ground floor in due time, cutting off the avenue for retreat. So, as Commander and an asset to the Revolution, she will be the one escaping alive. Some are more equal than others after all.
The rest of the rebel forces on the Suzuya Plate meanwhile were not intent on letting the attack on A-991 go unanswered. Bossman’s orders may have been lost in the blizzard, but the frantic reports from the Water Plant were very much crystal clear through their short range radios. The 12th Revolutionary Detachment and the 13th Revolutionary Detachment at the Suzuya Collective Power Plant and the People’s Commune Greenhouse respectively were on high alert while the 33rd Combined Liberation Force, consisting of a Separatist Union equipped tank company, an artillery company and a Separatist-trained mechanized rebel infantry company, were on the move from the harbour.
------
RANGSI
2nd Tank Company
Outside the Water Plant A-991
“Contact! 2 o’clock! Snow trail!” the radio barked in Lieutenant Fauzi’s compartment. He jolted to the commander’s sight and turned to investigate the sighting, true enough, he saw a very familiar sight.
“Jeonsas!” Fauzi gasped at the sight of the Separatist Union main battle tank. The OBJ-225 ‘Jeonsa’ was a fearsome vehicle during the Third April Fools War, not only did its hover capabilities meant it could outflank any tank they had, but the Triach technology behind it was something else as well. 120mm Railgun. Azanium Superpolymer Composite. He was merely a young conscript tankman when he faced one in the cramped streets of his ruined home city.
----
“This Alpha Actual! Open fire!” he gave the order. Immediately, the 2nd Tank Company who had established a defensive line outside the Water Plant, swung their turrets around and fired their 130mm railguns. A couple of Jeonsa tanks were hit right where they were supposed to and crashed into the snow, but otherwise they proved to be as elusive as they were all those years ago.
The 33rd Combined Liberation Force were banking on their hover armored spearhead to penetrate the outer perimeter defenses. The Jeonsa tank company lunged ahead of the mechanized infantry company and swung to the right, aiming to flank the 2nd Tank Company. Their hover drives allowed them to close the distance rapidly and within minutes five tanks had been lost, hit in the rear and the side armours by their powerful 120mm railguns.
Recognizing the situation, Fauzi ordered the 2nd Tank Company to pull back into a wedge formation to fend off the flanking attack, but realized he needed extra support. He called for help on the open net, hoping their new allies could hear him in time.
TLDR
Urban ops is a go
The commander of the rebels at the water plant, Commander Zara, has chosen to escape through the main road which is still covered by the top floors. The falconian defector is captured and brought along with them in the hopes they can escape and rendezvous with the incoming reinforcements which is the 33rd
The 33rd has begun the attack and has inflicted some casualties on the 2nd Tank Company. Lt. Fauzi is asking for help.
------------
Unfortunately due to some unknown set of circumstances, Lt. Fauzi’s urgent request apparently did not reach the rest of the allied forces by the looks of it, because no one responded back or clearly provided the support he asked for.
The 2nd Tank Company was doomed by the looks of it. Fauzi ordered a general reverse to retreat and try to put some distance between his tanks and the Jeonsas marauding his flank to little success; every time an Archer 3B reversed a Jeonsa decided to jump and land behind it, putting a clean shot through the engine. In due time, the whole company was either destroyed or severely immobilised. Either way the 2nd Tank Company was out of the fight. Lt. Fauzi’s fate was unknown.
The rebel 33rd lunged forward, the Jeonsa tank company once again taking the spearhead to engage the forces at the perimeter. The mechanized infantry company split into two parts, one to accompany the tank company and another to protect the artillery company.
------------
The elements of the 167th having been pushed hard in the engagements leading up were forced to halt for RnR and only able to provide minimal support in the form of a few shots from the flanking MBTs before pulling back inside the complex to shelter from incoming fire while the scan officers called in screening airstrikes to slow the assault.
-------------
"Alright boys we got the green light, let's go hunt these rebels down."
Tynak said when the order for urban operations is a go. The infantry units grabbed their machine guns and grenade launchers which then they went in guns blazing spotting and killing rebels as the Infantry advances with resistance. Every door they busted through they would throw a flashbang, wait for it to go off before going in to check for rebels and every corridor they went through they would check whether they have traps on them.
It was a bloody fight as there was a ton of gunfire as the Novakian and Rebels forces exchanged rounds of ammunition throughout the hallways and rooms they had busted through.
---------------------------------
Though he had gave the green light for the infantry to fight the rebels in the complex he had somehow missed Fauzi's request for support. The moment Tynak saw the rebels at the perimeter of the complex he immediately ordered the tank company to intercept and destroy the rebel force. The Novakian Tank forces now scrambling to the rebels location as they try to get in range and destroy the enemy.
---------------------
The quick reaction by Novakian tank units halted the Jeonsas’ rapid advances at the perimeter of the water plant. Upon the first shots making contact, the Jeonsa tanks attempted to back up but the Falconian airstrikes caught them dead in a kill zone. Sustaining 50% casualties and down to 7 tanks, those that survived quickly reversed in full speed to safety.
The rebel’s artillery company covered the retreat of the Jeonsas and fired a round of anti-tank mortar shells. They had guided capabilities for precise top-attack strikes, but in this inclement weather, the extremely low resolution meant that the mortar crews were as good as almost blind. They would have to estimate based on the positions the Jeonsas’ were able to mark out before they retreated, plus whatever optical means of identifying targets they could make out - muzzle flashes, smoke, lights, etc.
----------
“Snowbikes!” Zara shouted as soon as she reached the parking lot in search of getaway vehicles. The 33rd’s attack on the water plant distracted the RANGSI and their allies and bought them valuable time to sneak through a myriad of industrial infrastructure and warehouses outside the office complex, where the remainder of her forces were locked tooth-and-nail in a fierce but impossible battle.
She hopped on one, her guards and the Falconian prisoner took the others.
“Let’s get out of here!” one of the guards blew off the locks off the western gate fence, opening the way for the rest to speed their way through safety. The gunfire and explosions were becoming distant as they continued.
“This is Comrade Zara on the open net! We managed to escape the water plant on snowbikes and we have a prisoner from one of the RANGSI’s collaborators! If anyone can hear me, we require extraction immediately! Over!”
A garbled voice came through the radio. “This Comrade Maxim of the 33rd. Comrade Zara, swing south and rendezvous with us. We are disengaging and we are pulling back to the power plant. Over.”
“This is Zara, roger. Out,” Zara cut off the comms as she turned leftwards to meet with the 33rd as they are pulling back.
---------------
After some hours of protracted urban combat, the office complex was finally cleared out. Lieutenant Ghanesh emerged from the lobby, breathing heavily from the fierce battle and the adrenaline. He unbuckled his helmet, tucked it under his arms and slumped against the wall of the building. He sustained no serious injuries, just some minor cuts from shrapnel and debris, though there were plenty of missed shots.
Ghanesh wished he could say the same for his counterpart, Lieutenant Ming Jun, who was the first to come out of the building lying on a stretcher, groaning in pain. His right leg was blown off by an explosive trap, and if not for the body armor, the big pieces of shrapnel would have gone all the way through his body and shred him right there. He heard the story from Ming Jun’s company medic who stabilised his condition. The door opened, the trap went off and a lone rebel holing up in the printing room attempted to bayonet him right where he was on the floor. His company sergeant major rushed to protect his OC and got bayoneted in the back instead. He bought enough time for the rest of the squad to open up and finish the rebel off. Ming Jun made it out. The CSM did not.
-------
More wounded and dead came pouring out of the building. Both their companies were effectively down to 50%. With Ming Jun out of action and no CSM to take charge, it seemed like his men were now Ghanesh’s, combining their half-strength companies into a single full one with Lieutenant Ghanesh in command.
After calming down, he stood back up and went to reorganize the 12th. He assembled the platoon sergeants, received reports on strength and status and ordered them to check their gear and tend to injuries in whatever time they have now before they move off to the next objective. Those with minor injuries get to continue fighting after some bandages, the serious ones need to be separated, striked off from the total strength and hand them over to the casevac collection point where the medics from both companies are manning and trying their best to stabilize them despite the shortages of proper medical supplies as a result of the one month siege. Spare APCs from the 12th’s who no longer had any sections to transport were now on casevac duty, evacuating the stabilized casualties back to the city for further treatment.
“Commander Tynak, Dagger Two-Actual, how are you guys holding up?” Ghanesh radioed the Falconian and Novakian commanders to get a sitrep on their allies.
----------------
As the Novakian infantry finally cleared the office complex of the rebels after hours upon hours of urban combat, many injured came out of the building. While some come out with minor injuries which can be treated easily, many were unfortunate that they came out with severe injuries which require surgical treatment and or further treatment the Novakian forces simply did not have. Most wounds are treated as well as they could before being wrapped in bandages before getting loaded on a APC before getting sent back to AFB or the city for futher treatment.
---------‐------------
The Tank company together with backup from falconian airstrikes managed to successfully halt the enemy forces advanced through the perimeter of the treatment plant. It is assumed that many heavy and medium tanks either destroyed or was disabled by rebel guided anti tank mortar rounds fired by the enemy. The Tank Company after successfully halting the rebels advance through the perimeter of the water plant quickly regrouped themselves before heading back towards the treatment plant.
--------------------
Tynak after counting his remaining forces as they came back from hours of battling rebels forces.
"This is the commander reporting in, most of our heavies got destroyed or disabled when they were sent to halt the rebels attack. It is likely they were targeted more than its smaller counterparts. As for our infantry units their numbers their numbers were down by quite alot. It is estimated that over 45% either died in combat or survived but wounds were too severe to continue." He replied.
russelljj1 (Falconian Empire)01/03/2021
Dagger 2 actual 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) Command Element
The grenadiers were battered and lacking the support of their IFVs due to many getting bogged and breaking down in the winter climate and their power suits were beginning to feel the stress of absorbing hundreds of rebel bullets, many of having uncomfortably crushed and dented patches on the plates. Marius laid back in a broken office chair with the rest of his squad gathered around eating their rations and listened to the howling wind and gunfire outside the office room they were in. Out in the court yard the tanks scanned the area, inside the lead tank the commander checked his screens then barked out over the noise of the engine "Driver, advance, slow speed, Gunner, Load AP, sweep for targets, free fire!"
The tank slowly rumbled forward out of the complex
"AP up!" the loader called "Contact! rebel tank"
"Engage"
A loud thud resounded through the tank as the main gun fired, hurling an AP shell at one of the remaining Jeonsas. Inside the gunner heaved a new round into the breech and slammed it shut
"AP up!"
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Dagger 3-3 165 Regiment 6th section (support) 3rd team
The crawler slowly ground it's way down what was once a road before the artillery barrage hit it, dragging the broken IFV behind it.
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The Section officer sat on his bedroll with his scan officer next to him looking at the hologram of the other two officers
"We're surviving but we need to hold position here, our troops are gonna be run into the ground if we keep advancing at this pace. I'm also concerned about leaving our supply lines in the dust" he said grimly "if you give us time to move our militia units up to reinforce, we'll be able to resume the push with far better chances of success"
----------------------------
The Falconian AP round slammed into the engine compartment of the retreating Jeonsa, causing it to spin out of control as its hover drives sputtered and faintly whined as it lost power before the hover tank crashed into the snow. The hull was still roughly intact, just that its main gun was all bent out of shape after hitting the ground.
A RANGSI ATGM section assembled their Kappan ATGM launcher on the upper floors of a nearby warehouse.
“Twelfth Lead, enemy tank looks pretty banged up. All its weapons are damaged and out of commission,” the ATGM section sergeant radioed as his binoculars fixed onto the Jeonsa’s hull.
“This looks like the perfect opportunity to score some intact intel.”
“Agreed, all units hold your fire on the wrecked Jeonsa. Platoon 1, provide overwatch. ATGM-One, stand by just in case the tank has any funny ideas,” Lieutenant Ghanesh replied. He turned over to the hologram of the allied officers. “Dagger One Actual, I agree with you. We need to consolidate our supply lines and await for more reinforcements so we can have a better chance of taking the next objectives. With me being down to just one rifle company, I’m starting to get extra mindful of our combat strength.”
“While we wait, we should definitely prepare for the next objective. Commander Tynak, you have a recon platoon am I correct? A recon on the power plant would allow us to plan the attack better. Dagger One Actual, if you got forces to spare, you can support the recon mission as well. The rest of us here should dig in a bit and do some post-battle clean up. Search for survivors and useful pieces of intel and gear, that kind of thing.”
------------------
Main City
14/901 MPB HQ
Captain Daniel Chan stood as he studied the holo-map. The attack on the Water Plant had, for the most part, went well according to plan. The sudden change in posture from defence to offense likely took the Rebels off-guard, if this pressure is consistently sustained, then the other key facilities on Suzuya would be theirs by the day’s end.
The loss of an entire tank company was troubling to say the least. That was the last of their armored spearhead, without it any attack taken by RANGSI forces would be blunted unless they were supported by allied armor.
The artillery company sitting at Objective Anna, the first rally point for all three forces when they started Operation Restore Hope, was thus ordered to move to the Water Plant and link up with the 12th Mechanized Infantry Company to reinforce them and provide fire support.
-------------------------------
Suzuya Collective Hydrogen Generator
13th Revolutionary Detachment HQ +
33th Revolutionary Detachment
The 33th Revolutionary Detachment arrived at the Suzuya Power Plant with little fanfare. Their attack meant to neuter and push back this sudden offensive was repulsed, the hopes for a swift and quick victory was all but dashed, the rebels were effectively now placed in the defensive in order to make sure no more key facilities were captured, lest the enemy overcomes the siege and is able to muster more combat strength, overturning all their efforts here.
On the bright side, they have a defector.
“So… Mr. Talin is it? Tell me, why do you choose to defect? Why this sudden change of heart, for a people you never met?” Zara asked the subject of her ‘interview’. The Falconian defector was seated in an interrogation room, like any other its barely furnished with only four walls, a small table and two chairs. The only difference between Talin and the other unfortunate subjects of the rebel’s ‘interviews’, was that Talin was not handcuffed, though the armed guards standing at every corner of the room were of course, eyeing him just in case he had cold feet.
--------------------------
Tallin swallowed and looked around the room before speaking
"I'm no soldier, you know, I'm a simple assistant teacher who some government man handed a rifle and sent to a frozen wasteland. You know all my adult life I've been telling children that killing is wrong, so how is it that I should then gun down a man in cold blood because someone with a big hat said I should?"
He shifted uncomfortably
"At least as a prisoner, I'm not expected to fight"
---------
"Yes, we have a recon platoon among our forces. Once our recon platoon had arrived just nearby the power plant we will setup some Thermal, Radar and optical scanners to look for any enemy units within the confines of the plant itself . Any additional forces is appreciated if things went south from there." Tynak replied.
The Recon platoons along with a few men from the infantry units later hoped on an APC loaded with recon equipment which then later set off to the powerplant.
Somewhere near the powerplant
The APC stopped at the supposed drop off point about several hundred meters from the edge of the facilities compound allowing for the recon units to load the equipment they needed off the vehicle.
First they setup a generator before connecting it to a microwave emitter. Then they setup multiple radar and infrared sensors surrounding the facility before launching multiple drones to scout potential enemy targets inside and outside the facility. Additionally, they had also setup some defensive positions at the drop off point incase the enemy spot the recon forces and decided to attack it. After all the equipment had been loaded off the APC and setup properly they started to relay the data back to the commander.
"Tynak, this is the recon units coming in. We've setup some recon equipment at the location and we've began to transmit data to you."
"Good, once I received it I will share it to the rest of the units. You boys wait there while we use that data to plan our attack on the facility." Tynak replied.
Once the data has been sent towards the commanders computer he would later send it towards the Lieutenant.
"This is the Commander, I've got the Intel for the powerplant. The recon units have setup a bunch of radar,thermal and optical sensors around the facility. Additionally they had also launched a pair of drones to help with the scouting. A defensive position had also been setup if things go south and the rebels in the powerplant decides to attack the recon units."
---------
Main City
14/901 HQ Bunker
“On screen.”
“Right away Captain,” Lieutenant Amirah replied.
The data gathered by the Novakian recon team was pieced together on the shared holonet as the computer program worked to translate Novakian data formats - coordinates, imagery, signals, descriptions, anything of note - into RANGSI C4I.
-----
Unlike the water plant, defences were much more hastily prepared as the rebel detachment attached to the power plant had been much more complacent, relying on their Separatist-equipped 33rd to quickly smash the allied advance right at the water plant. There were practically no signs of any kind of prepared fortifications - no trenches, no shellscrapes, not even a single mound of snow to provide any static cover. In fact, most of the rebel forces there were now engaged in last minute preparations; stacking boxes and crates to form their cover. Whatever little forces on guard were of the mechanized troops, simply standing out in the open, seemingly confident in falling back behind their APCs and letting their mounted machineguns do the work.
One thing of note among the defensive line was the tall extended antenna of a communications signals truck that towered over them. Judging by the wires from all the platoon positions all going towards this one truck, it would seem that this single truck was all they got for communications with the rest of the rebel positions on the Suzuya Plate. If it is gone, the rebel forces here will have no reliable way of requesting reinforcements.
The anti-air company was evenly distributing itself along the hastily prepared defensive line. It was out in the open; no camo nets, no ditches to provide any sort of cover or concealment. The whole defensive line was quite a distance away from the power plant itself. Perhaps the rebel commanders thought this would provide a buffer zone, though it does mean one can theoretically safely use artillery to wipe them out, as long as their guns are precise enough to not accidentally hit the power plant.
-----
The power plant itself this time offers very little to work with for the defenders. It was simply a large toroid fusion ring in essence, outside it was simply a wire fence with some security posts and some carparks in between the plant itself and the gate entrance. Unlike the water plant, there was very little in the way of buildings and infrastructure to provide any vantage points or hiding spots. Perhaps the only strategic position available was the power plant’s central control tower. Twenty stories high, in peacetime the tower functioned as both the control and monitoring system for the fusion ring’s systems as well as an air traffic control tower for dropships carrying supplies, crews and equipment. Right now, it was the only place left that someone can put an ATGM, a sniper or a machinegunner in, though as of now, no such fire support options were detected within the tower by Novakian sensors.
A blueprint of the power plant was also available in the shared database, after all it had been partially constructed by RANGSI companies themselves as part of an infrastructural deal with the Orajevan oligarchy. Looking at this blueprint reveals some possible points of entry besides the obvious frontal assault. There was a hatch on top of the control tower itself, theoretically a dropship can swoop in, land some forces and then they can proceed to enter the tower directly from the top. Alternatively, there is also a maintenance tunnel underneath the tower leading to the massive water pipes placed near the Orajevan ocean, where massive amounts of raw, toxic water are extracted to be processed into hydrogen fuel. The pipes’ are large enough to take in such quantities of water, so a unit of divers can comfortably enter the pipes and then make their way to the maintenance tunnel then proceed up to the tower. The former option is fast but definitely loud, the latter would be slower but stealthier.
------
“We got lots of options here, all of them in our favour. Not too mention, in a few minutes time a major blizzard will be sweeping across the power plant. The rebels will be blind while as long as we have the Novakian recon team on station so we will still have eyes to guide us through,” Captain Daniel folded his arms. “If we hit them now and if we hit them the right way, we can easily secure this power plant with minimal forces while the enemy is still at its most unaware and unprepared state. I’m open to ideas.”
-------
"This is the Commander coming in, some of our forces will enter the Power Plant via the maintenance tunnels, however they will be lightly armed due to them not being equipped to carry armor with them. And as such they will be armed with only a taser and a Sub-machine gun to take down any personnel in the Power Plant as quietly and as possible. Alternatively, our remaining forces can barge in the power plant from the top which can act as a distraction for the divers. Not gonna lie but I expected more from these rebels" Tynak replied before continuing
"And as for the comms truck by the Power Plant, we could capture it which would probably allow us to listen in on enemy communications. But judging by the platoons that are moving towards it, it would probably cost us more than needed but due to the blizzard I think we might have a chance at this." Commander Tynak replied
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At the recon site the units were working extra hard as the blizzard came in, it was harsh but as long as they could keep their recon equipment well and alive through the blizzard they could supply the allies with information about enemy movements in the plant. So far they had received no orders from the commander yet but they are sure that allied forces should be arriving sometime in the next few hours or so.
-------
“In that case, we should go for stealth as the first phase,” Captain Daniel traced his holopen to where the power plant’s water pipes are. “Your divers infiltrate the power plant, get to the tower from below and quietly clear it out of any snipers, ATGMs or radio people that can hurt our advance. At the same time, I need a SF team to take out that truck, quietly as well. We do both the stealth way, we cut off the rebel’s vantage point and their comms without them raising any alarms.”
“Once both objectives are done, my artillery company can open up on their positions and then our forces can swoop in and mop up the rest. Thank Buddha for their subpar equipment.”
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"Commander Nardin to ground element, My officers on the ground have relayed that they currently are unable to act on the current situation, I can provide precision strikes with the Sunbeam's air wing, air control authority is being transferred to the Dive Teams. General communications band 109. Over"
Aboard the Sunbeam five type 20 Heavy fighters spun up their engines and taxied to the launch ramp.
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“Sunbeam might be useful to the Novakian Dive Teams. Tynak, once your divers take control of the tower, they can use the vantage point to direct airstrikes against any stragglers.”
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"That's a fine plan by me, once we got our units there we can commence the operation though their arrival may be delayed and arrived later than expected due to the ongoing blizzard but i suppose it isn't to much to affect the outcome of the battle. Once out dive teams got hold of the tower we can use then to destroya any remaining rebel ground elements and potentially scout for new targets" Tynak replied
Soon enough the Novakian units would start to mobilize and depart to the recon site to prepare for the operation though due to the blizzard their arrival might be later than expected. The commander and the recon team is wary of this but they hope that it won't affect the outcome of the battle.
Once they had reached their destination the Novakian Dive Teams immediately jumped into their suits before submerging below the water line to search for an entrance into the powerplant. Armed with only a taser and a submachine gun and a few spare mags and med kits it is considered enough to protect them against whatever the enemy had in the powerplant
"Alright listen up boys, your job is to take control of the tower. I expect no less than a success from you. Oh and you have been given command of a fighter wing from the Falconians. They should be able to search and destroy any ground units without causing collateral damage to the facility. We wish you good luck"
"Alright Commander, we'll use them accordingly"
The infantry units parked at the recon site was now waiting for the dive units to capture the tower so that they can barge in to take out the rest
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The elite Novakian divers had little trouble with the control tower’s inhabitants. Using a mixture of good training, stealth and the element of surprise, they made their way up the tower with little difficulty. The ill-disciplined rebels, more interested in huddling up around heaters and playing games rather than standing properly on watch, were easily taken care of by the Novakians’ submachine guns and tasers.
It was when they reached the very top did they encounter some difficulty with a well-hidden sniper team. They rebel scout snipers shied away from the windows, preventing themselves from being picked up by the recon team outside, and used both physical and technological camouflage to conceal their electronic and IR signatures. Among the team of five, one was observing the perimeter with a pair of binos mounted on an office table, another was keeping overwatch with a sniper rifle peeking through a crack in the tower’s window. Another one was watching the door, the other member taking his shift to rest and the last member - the team leader, was sitting by the radio set observing his men and standing by for any calls from rebel HQ.
Looks like the divers have two choices: A) go loud and throw in a flashbang then clear the room at the risk of alerting the rebel forces in the tower or B) call Sunbeam to strike the tower to eliminate the sniper threat but the divers must evacuate the tower and will lose the opportunity to direct further airstrikes against rebel targets on the ground.
The elite Novakian divers would eventually decide to call in a sunbeam to strike the tower and eliminate the snipers from it. While they can still flashbang the whole room it is a high risk high reward situation they will be a chance at it alerting the other infantry men in the building so they would choose the safer option out of the bothm
"This is the Novakian diving team to the Sunbeam strike group. You have permission to strike the towers of the powerplant in an attempt to kill any rebels that may be hiding inside and don't screw this one up. I will be counting on you, your actions may dictate how will the outcome of this operation." A Lead Novakian diver squad would say before the the Dive team would then rush towards where the pipes were before as fast as they could without alerting the guards in the tower waiting for the strike to Commence and End before continuing on with their objectives given by Commander Tynak.
russelljj1 (Falconian Empire) — 04/07/2021
"This is Arrow lead to Dive Team, inbound SW, guns hot"
On the ground a faint hum was heard rising into a rumbling roar before the clouded sky suddenly flashed blue as high powered rounds from the fighters cannons fired into the tower, followed by the shriek and sonic boom as they shot overhead
"Pass complete, confirm hit, over"
In the sky overhead the fighters spiraled upwards above the clouds and rejoined formation to orbit and wait for further orders from the troops on the ground.
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As the control tower suddenly exploded after unknown enemy fighters appeared from nowhere, rebel forces quickly scrambled and alarms blared into the frosty distance.
“That’s our cue!” Lieutenant Ghanesh put down his binoculars and hopped back into his command APC, signalling his rifle company to get ready before buttoning up the hatch. “Twelfth-Lead to Gigamesh, Twelfth-Lead to Gigamesh, greenlight to PPS Alpha. I say again, greenlight to PPS Alpha. Confirmation code: 7789 Bravo X. Hit them now and hit them fast! Over.”
“Gigamesh to Twelfth-Lead, pre-planned strike package received and authorised. Firing for effect. Standby.”
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The self-propelled howitzers of the 5th Artillery Company, callsign ‘Gigamesh’, raised its barrels into the air and let loose a thunderous roar of rocket-assisted shells at the rebel defensive positions outside the power plant. The rebel forces suffered severe casualties as their exposed vehicular assets - APCs, AA trucks and mortar and ATGM half-tracks, were caught in the pre-planned killzone and destroyed, together with large numbers of infantry hit by the high-explosives and shrapnel. Novakian intel had proven to be extremely useful, given the otherwise terrible weather that would hamper their fire control systems.
“Good effect on target Gigamesh. Great job,” Ghanesh replied after the barrage ended, leaving the perimeter of the power plant practically devoid of serious opposition, save for a few surviving squads who had bothered to dig in. “Twelfth-Lead to all allied units, let’s begin the advance now while they are still disoriented.”
The 12th Rifle Company began their advance towards the power plant. Two 80mm mortar APCs from their weapons platoon laid down a smokescreen to cover the allied advance, signalling the start of the combined attack. The perimeter would be easy to get through, but it was the inside of the power plant that would be of concern, given the rebel’s penchant for luring enemies into brutal CQB engagements at this point.
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Suzuya Collective Hydrogen Generator
13th Revolutionary Detachment HQ +
33th Revolutionary Detachment
The earth shook beneath Zara as the RANGSI artillery strike pounded the rebel lines outside the walls of the power plant. She looked away from Talin, the Falconian defector, for a moment as she received a call, taking it on her personal earlink. Muttering a few ‘hmms’ and ‘yes’, she eventually ended the call and returned her attention on Talin.
“Looks like the inevitable attack has begun. Mr. Talin. We need to evacuate again, and we will take you with us to safety if you agree to do one small little teeny favour for us…”
“I’m sure when you arrived, you would have spotted where their rough assets of importance are yes? Air defences, defensive positions of significance, logistics depots, airbases? Mark them on this map right here,” Zara handed to him a datapad where the digital mockup of the Suzuya Plate was.
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Tallin scanned over the map before pointing out the airfield
"I was landed here, I saw a scattered mix of troops there, I don't really know that much aside from that it's a airfield of some description." he pointed to a few points just outside the water treatment plant "I broke away and fled from the soldiers I was with somewhere around here, we were on foot and freezing, we were one of the only two units that had left the base but there might have been some things I don't know about because I heard someone talking about a broken down tank somewhere behind us while we were marching"
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Dagger 2 actual 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) Command Element
Sgt. Marius ordered his men to make ready to march, an order that was met with grumbling as the grenadiers, who had been enjoying a chance to rest while their equipment underwent field maintenance, got to their feet, some of them pulling their cloaks around themselves and leaving the ruined office to go get their power suits from the service bay.
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Dagger 3-3 165 Regiment 6th section (support) 3rd team
The recovery vehicle rumbled toward the airbase lights glowing through the driving snow, the IFV clattering and banging along behind as they rolled into the base and pulled the broken vehicle over to the repair shops.
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The troops of Dagger 1 started bustling as they got their equipment together. In the forward command established inside one of the offices the SC transmitted to his fellow officers
"If the weather improves I could attempt an airlift of my troops to support the assault or assist in securing it as resupply is complete and some of the fleet's transport assets have been freed up to take part in combat support. Also be advised that a militia mechanized unit mounted in technicals callsign Dagger 4 is now in the AO and available"
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"Alright boys, Let's get into Battle" Tynak said in his comms as he orders his infantry units to the Power Treatment plant to carry on with their mission, they picked up their rifles as they rushed into battle firing away at the remaining rebel units as Novakian MBTs came in with firing their shells at whatever was left of the forces in the outer perimeter.
As they got closer towards the plant they were told to be more cautious due to the rebel possily setting up traps within the corridors of the power plant.
Meanwhile the Diver unit's after the allied attack has been signaled by Tynak would start to move around the corridors of the Powerplant as quietly as possible before starting to tase as many personnel in the building as possible when the lease expected it, This however was certainly a risky move as they can get killed or captured at any point in the buildings corridors and with only a submachine gun as defense it wasn't going to provide much used for them so they'd have to move on as the infantry men outside provided a useful distraction for them.
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Any allied forces entering the Power Plant would face very minimal resistance. With the 13th’s main forces obliterated by RANGSI artillery and Falconian airstrikes, together with much of the 33rd’s own mechanised elements, the rebels had very little fighting power left. The rat-and-tag civilians of the 13th would readily surrender, but the trouble would lie with the remnants of the 33rd, whose troops are either Separatist Union regulars or insurgent auxiliaries trained in their ways. Pockets of the 33rd still remain inside, so the power plant must be methodically cleared before it is completely secured.
Work done by the Novakian Divers, tasing and taking down as many personnel, civilian or rebel otherwise, would however make the clearing operation easier, with less resistance. However, coincidence would bring them into contact with a few rebels running down the corridor towards the maintenance tunnels leading to the sewage pipes, not dissimilar from the ones the Divers used to enter into the Power Plant. The fleeing rebels, and what one seemed to be a Falconian prisoner, were unaware of the Divers, due to the rush as well as the dark emergency lighting after power was cut off following the airstrike on the control tower. This is an opportunity the Divers would not want to miss.
The weather was clearing up, however, this did not exactly signal a turn for the better as a squadron of 5 black and yellow silhouettes screamed in the distance towards the Power Plant. Rapidly-closing the distance, the Separatist-built MYG-45 light multi-roles suddenly banked and swerved away, releasing anti-tank laser-guided cluster bombs into the allied forces ranks, particularly any armor and vehicles of the Novakian and Falconian forces.
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Player: Russel
Dagger 2 actual 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) Command Element
Marius covered his eyes against the glare as in the distance a deep rumble echoed across the ice plate and smoke and dust rose up. the scan officer hurried over
"sir, lead convoy elements have been hit bad by a cluster strike"
"curses, try to evac some of the men back to our vics and get the AA launchers up to smack em if they come back"
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HMS Sunbeam Bridge
One of the sensor operators reported "Tracking five contacts planetside moving high speed, inbound toward friendly forces, IFF red"
Nardin replied "Understood, Vector CAP fighters for intercept"
"Message relayed, fighters are on course"
"Time?"
"From what I'm seeing too long bogies are pretty much on top of allied forces"
"Tell the fighters to maintain intercept, maybe we can deny the rebels a few pilots and aircraft. Oh and have the fleet deploy pickets and bring all vessels up to alert 2"
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The troops had settled into a lull as they waited for airlift when the shout rang out across the courtyard "Hey boys, birds incoming get your stuff together" followed up shortly by "Those aren't ours" then "GET THE SUN CURSED TUBES UP AND GET THE AA ROUNDS LOADED!" before everything turned to smoke and stunned chaos, a couple of scattered missile launches zinged into the air but they lacked precision and were poorly aimed.
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Player: Novakia
And it was an opportunity that they would take advantage off. With the following airstrike having knocked out the Lighting just minutes ago they would essentially begin to sneak around walking up towards the pipelines as a quiet escape route. However as they would move out they would happen to spot the Falconian prisoner and some random rebel personnel running around intending to use the Pipelines as an escape route. With that situation the Novakian Diver units would began to cluster around the exit before waiting for the personnel to run into them. As they came by they would reveal themselves towards the Rebels before proceeding to chase them, firing their tasers in the process.
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As the weather would clean up Tynak could get a better view of the battlefield happening around him. As the Rebel Light multiple fighters would show up on radar he would signal the Novakian tank and infantry units to defend themselves as the Guided bombs made their way onto Novakian tanks. Their machineguns and plasma weaponry were repurposed like a mini AA gun as they would target, then intercept the bombs as best as they could. Some tank were destroyed and some would be damaged in the frenzy as they began to move ti avoid the bombs while their secondary armaments try to intercept them.
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As these fighters would fly past overhead commander Tyknak would contact the only carrier in the fleet, the NFSN Orion for fighter support.
"This is Commander Tynak towards the carrier Orion, do you read me?"
"This is Captain Arthur.A.Johnson of the NFSN Orion, I read you. Anything you need?"
"We request some fighter support, there are unknown fighters, presumably fast ground attack aircraft attacking out units. If you have some send it quick"
"We got that, we'll send fighter support immediately"
On the Orion's hangar deck can be seen 2 Avalon medium fighters being prepared for launch into the atmosphere. 5 minutes later they can be seen over the Orajeavan sky, apparently racing their way towards their targets at break-neck speed. But as they would teach their targets they would slow down before starting to get a lock on the Rebel Aircraft. As they do they would first fire their Flare missiles before firing their radar and heat guided air to air missiles at the Rebel aircraft. While large in comparison these Avalon fighters are quite maneuverable fue to their unusual Forward swept wing designs.
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The MYG-45s evaded the Falconian ground-based AA tubes, their poor aim combined with the deployment of flares and countermeasures allowing them to escape easily. However, soon they began to be pursued by 2 Novakian Avalons and a number of Falconian aircraft as they descended from space into the frozen moon’s atmosphere.
Darting and twirling about as they tried to shake off the allied aircraft on their tail, eventually their fates were sealed as they were no match for them. One successfully deflected the heat-seeking guided missiles the Novakian Avalons launched by launching more flares, but with inferior ECM equipment their radar-guided missiles homed in and splashed them into fiery bits. One by one, they fell from the sky, crashing into the icy seas below.
However this was not the end; because in the distance more Separatist Union MYG-45s screamed through - 3 full squadrons of 5 fighters each. This time, a large, flying-wing-shaped aircraft followed closely behind the light fighter squadrons - a MYX-900 stealth unmanned Advanced Early Warning (AEW) aircraft that extended the air wing’s detection range and capabilities, as well as the ability to perform command-and-control and guide any missiles launched by the MYG-45s to targets on screen.
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Commander Nara’s team consisted of 6 people; herself, the Falconian prisoner Talin and 4 security escorts. They were en route to their extraction point - a stash of motorised rubber boats hidden in the maintenance tunnels underneath the Power Plant leading to the wide open ocean which was their ticket to escape.
It was dark, humid, damp and reeked of old concrete and some industrial waste. She thanked Marx for at least it was a fusion reactor, so the waste discharges were just some coolant and other miscellaneous mostly harmless substances and not some glowing radioactive sludge seen from fission ones. She had no interest in getting cancer, or growing an arm on her head for that matter.
Suddenly, she felt a sharp stinging pain in her back, and a second later she screamed as her body jolted up from the discharge of electricity coursing through her very nerves as the tasers hit and connected. She fell face down, her body jittering and convulsing uncontrollably splashing around in the pool of cold industrial coolant.
The tasers bounced off the body armor vests the 4 security escorts were wearing so they were unscathed but rather than immediately engaging the Novakian Divers, in a single second, they began shouting contacts and dragged Nara’s still shaking body over to the right-corner of the turning in the tunnel, using the corner as cover. They brandished their carbine rifles, an audible ‘Kachak’ as they racked the charging handle and prepared to face these elite Novakian soldiers.
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Dagger 2 actual 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) Command Element
Blood and burning oil from the unarmored pickup trucks of the militia that had been heading up the convoy lay strewn across the remains of what had once been an ice road, the air clogged with oily smoke and the cries of wounded men as the grenadiers attempted to drag those who stood a chance of surviving out of the wreckage. Marius looked on grimly barking out orders to the men around him, he saw a familiar face through the chaos and shouted out "Scan Officer, over here, now!"
The dazed officer stumbled over "What's it sir?"
"Tell the fleet we need medevac yesterday"
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Arrow 6 Leader Flight lead 6th wing 111 squadron
"Arrow 6-1, Arrow 6 Lead, Radar contact on bogies inbound, looks like we got a big one"
"Arrow 6 Lead, All Arrow 6 callsigns, vector to new contacts, tally missle load and fuel"
"Arrow 6-1, 4 remaining, green on fuel"
"Arrow 6-2, Full loading"
"Arrow 6-3, 6 remaining, yellow fuel"
"Arrow 6 callsigns 4 through 9 good on on all"
"Arrow 6 lead, good to hear, stay on me boys, 6-3 unload your missiles into em and break for home"
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HMS Sunbeam Bridge
"Contacts down, Additional Contacts inbound, looks like we got a heavy craft of some kind in there" called out one of the junior officers from the sensor station
Nardin looked up from his holotable "Scramble Type 30s and set them to intercept, pull extra type 20 wings off the picket, the scout cruiser Adara has her own pickets and it seems unlikely these aircraft are spaceflight capable. If the rebel commanders have any sense they'll stay clear of the orbiting fleet's point defense"
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The comms became quickly flooded with dazed officers of the 165th begging for medical support and higher ups screaming at their fleeing troops to rally.
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Private Tallin 165/1/2 Status: MIA
Tallin Stumbled through the dark hallway following his captors when suddenly pain shot through his body and his muscles refused to work, collapsing face down on the floor with a loud yelp. he dimly heard the sound of guns being cocked and managed to slur "Don't shoot me please!"
Novakian Federation — 07/26/2021
"This is Angel to Roswell, as much as 16 unidentified aircraft detected near the airspace, requesting support immediately."
"This is Roswell, Request received and confirmed. Will send more on your way"
The 2 Novakian Avalon fighters upon detecting the squadrons of MYG-45s far out in the distance would wait for it to close in before firing their Radar and Heat guided missiles. Though they still have more missiles in their weapons bays along with their external pylons it would only carry much to for them to down a couple more fighters before having to travel back to restock and refuel, despite this they would decide to hang out patrolling the airspace for much longer as their fuel tanks would allow them to.
On the hanger bay of the NFSN Orion up to 5 brand new SAVF-85 'Ouroboros' Fighter bombers can be seen being launched from the carrier. While being a little larger than its predecessor it presents a significant boost in its detection aswell as ECM technology which meant that it can detect more stealthier opponents while also being able to misguided their radar missiles into each other. Regardless the fighters would soon be launched from the carriers hanger deck before entering the atmosphere and onto the battlefield to support the Avalons as they were about to face off more opponents than ever.
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The Novakian Elite Dive team consisted of 10 men, all on one side of the hallway looking at the rebel officers. They had the firepower with their weapons but they were outnumbered by the Dive team with their sub machine guns and tasers. Within a moment some and time some of them would quickly go round with their weapons loaded to disablethe guards, their weapon aimed at their heads and limbs whenever necessary to take them down them either as fast or as quiet as possible. This was no doubt going to be messy and the Novakian forces knew that aswell as some casualties are bound to happen in a place like this.
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“Sir, 2nd squadron is confirmed KIA.”
Captain Chung-ho, the air commander of the 151st Jung-si Fighter Wing, shook his head slowly as he lamented the loss of his recon picket. The 2nd squadron’s death was not in vain, they had been tasked to scout ahead for the Wing, and they did so, giving them a sense of the enemy air forces.
“Is Sky Goblin ready to take a picture?” Chung-ho asked in the war room. As an air warfare commander, he was not flying with his fellow pilots, instead he was somewhere several kilometers away, on the Plate opposite the Suzuya Plate, coordinating the 151st’s attack from the Separatist airbase. Sky Goblin was the MYX-900 unmanned AEW deployed with the other 3 squadrons, and effectively served as his liaison to relay and pass orders to the fighter wing.
“Picture ready, sir.”
A large 3D holographic projection filled the room, the enemy contacts Sky Goblin was picking up showing up as small red blips - their altitudes and positions well-accounted for in the 3D hologram, giving him a better lay of the ‘ground’ compared to a flat 2D map.
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2 red blips of the Novakian Avalons were heading straight for the Wing, then broke off.
Alert signs appeared on screen, with a number of smaller blips breaking off from the Avalons.
The room jumped into action. “Jung-si 1! Enemy has launched missiles! I repeat! Jung-si 1! Enemy missiles!”
“Taking evasive actions!” the MYG-45 fighters of the 1st squadron scattered and launched flares. The Novakian heat-guided missiles were thrown off, but the radar missiles continued to hound them.
“Sky Goblin! Sky Goblin! This is Jung-si 1-1, I’m still seeing missiles on our tail! They might be radar missiles! Requesting ECM support!”
“Roger! Hang in there comrades!” Chung-ho barked into the radio as he pointed at one of the officers controlling one of Sky Goblin’s many functions. “Try jamming those missiles!”
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“Yes comrade Captain!” The young officer turned some switches and knobs, activating Sky Goblin’s radar jamming equipment. His face was suddenly frozen with a flash of fear, as his screen was disrupted with static.
“Amkae cyka blyat! Comrade Captain I can’t jam those missiles something is jamming Sky Goblin!” he went back to the controls, fiddling with more buttons and switches. With a hand on his headphones, he turned back to Chung-ho. “Captain! Enemy jamming is coming from space! And getting closer fast!”
3 of Jung-si 1’s MYG-45s were shot down, and Chung-ho watched as those 3 crosses marked their blue blips. Before his heart sank, an urgent message appeared on screen.
<Ground Station has picked up additional enemy contacts from space on approach 45. 5 ‘Novakian’ fighters of unknown origin. Unknown number of ‘Falconian’ aircraft.>
“Those are the bastards! 1st Squadron rally and defend Sky Goblin! 3rd Squadron and 4th Squadron launch fox Ones at the Falconians and then move to engage the Novakian fighters! Switch to laser guidance!”
Each MYG-45 from the 3rd and 4th Squadron launched one missile, control of the 10 missiles were then surrendered to Sky Goblin who made use of laser guidance to home in those missiles at the Falconians to keep them busy. Meanwhile, the 10 MYG-45s then swerved and swept up to engage the Novakian SAVF-85s with the aim of taking out the source of the jamming once and for all. The air battle raged intensely in high altitudes, and already 4 more MYG-45s had fallen to the SAVF-85’s missiles.
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As soon as the first Novakian Divers turned around the corner, the guards immediately fired into them with their carbines at point-blank range. But they would never live to tally the kill count, as soon as the first Divers fell down, the others were right behind and their SMGs quickly took out the 4 rebel guards.
At a high cost, Commander Nara and the Falconian defector, Private Talin, were now secure.
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"This is Roswell to Luna Squadron, there are 15 fighters and what seems to be an AEW inbound over the reactors airspace. Commence intercept and shoot them all down."
"This is Luna 1, copy that" said the squadron leader as the five Ouroboros Fighters raced through the upper atmospheres of the small moon to assist the Avalons in protecting the site from enemy forces. With ECM already activated from the five aircraft they were mostly safe for now.
At the reactors airspace the 2 Avalon Fighters would retreat after using up most of their missiles against the Rebel MYG-45s with the Reinforcements moving in to replace the older Avalon's battling in the skies. As the 5 Ouroboros fighters would reach the contested airspace they would disengage their afterburners before settling for a close quarters dogfight, if that's possible enough. As they would attain their lock on enemy aircraft they would break formation before firing their missiles at their opponents. Quickly, 4 Rebel Fighter had been shot down the moment these new fighters entered the airspace.
"This is Luna 1 to Luna 2-5, Deal with the enemy fighters while I Deal with their AEW aircraft. It's time that I test out this new module installed" Said the squadron leader, as he positioned his aircraft directly towards the Rebel MYX-900 as the rest would fire their Flare missiles before continuing to deal with their current opponents.
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At this point in time the rebels if they have sufficient Radar sensors could notice that there was a yet unknown module just resting between the 2 Engine Units that could be seen on other Novakian aircraft of similar type. Just then, energy signatures would start to rapidly increase from the module itself with a bright red glow starting to lit up on the fron tip of the module itself, if estimated correctly then it would seem that the module in question would fire a high energy laser beam which could theoretically shoot down almost any aircraft provided that a lock had already been established between the 2.
3 Out of the 5 Ouroboros, the one with the Module and 2 near it would start to take some noticable damage as Rebel missiles and machine gun fire started to fly into and explode right in their faces causing various damage to some of its systems and hull. 2 however would explode in a huge fireball as their engines and missiles bays were hit by rebel missiles, even if the pilots had ejected they would have been knocked unconscious by the shockwave generating the blast
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"This is the Dive units to Tynak coming in, it seems that we've got our escapees on hand ready to be transported back. Though it is at a heavy cost, 6 of our men died during the battle but fortunately our targets were still alive. They may prove useful for Intel if necessary" One of the Surviving men would radio Commander Tyknak about the success in capturing . While the whole plan was a success it came at a heavy cost, as the 4 rebel soldiers fell soon 6 of the 10 Novakian dive units fell with them during the onslaught. The remaining 4 Dive units after the battle would pickup the rebel soldiers weapons before putting the 2 in handcuffs to escort them to the allies outside.
"Do not worry, you will be fine. We will get you back to where you're supposed to be, that is all" one of the Novakian Dive units replied to the falconians prisoner as he was secured.
------------
The high energy laser successfully hit Sky Goblin right in the fuselage, cutting the huge unmanned drone into two and exploding it into a giant fireball as the fuel ignited and was set ablaze.
“Sir! We lost Sky Goblin!” Captain Chung-ho’s sighed in resignation as he heard those words from the drone crewmen. The 151st Jung-si Wing has also taken massive casualties, mauled by Falconian and Novakian aircraft and are practically down to one squadron.
However, if it was a win, the Sky Goblin had proven its worth as an AEW and command aircraft. The missiles it directed at the Falconian aircraft all hit their mark, downing 10 Falconian targets. The data from this engagement would no doubt be used to improve the next iteration of the MYX-900 - better resistance to ECM and ablative plating to name a few.
“Call the retreat, Comrade-Lieutenant.”
With that, the rest of the surviving Separatist MYG-45s turned around and left the AO, leaving this air battle to a decisive allied victory.
------------
Main City
RANGSI-Novakian-Falconian HQ
“Sir! Incoming transmission from...the rebels sir!?” a communications officer called out.
Captain Daniel rushed over from the holomap to the terminal. “It’s a video message, put it on screen.”
The video played. Owing to the perilous weather of Orajevo the video quality was bad and grainy, but one could still make out a dark, dimly-litted concrete room, with two figures sitting down in the center of the camera shot, their hands tied behind their chairs. Black canvas sacks covered their heads, but the flight suit was unmistakable - they were Novakian. Precisely, the Novakian pilots who ejected from their Ouroborous fighters while they were engaging the rebels' AEW aircraft.
“Hehehe, look what we caught right on top of the spider web,” a disembodied male voice came from behind the camera. He then walked in front into the camera’s view, revealing a man of late 30s, pale skin, a thick brown beard and a red woolen beanie, emblazoned with a yellow star sewn on top.
“Greetings my capitalist imperialist friends!” he took a swig of vodka before wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “I am Krugar, Commander of the 14th Revolutionary Detachment, defenders of the glorious newly formed People’s Commune of the Orajevan Agri-Soviet!”
“I see that you have brought down my fellow revolutionaries of the Office Complex and the Power Plant. But I can assure you, you will not be bringing me down…” he gestured to his goons, who then unmasked the captured pilots, confirming their Novakian identities. “...If you value their lives after all. The moment I feel the walls shake, the moment I hear a single gunshot, they will be executed.”
“Of course, imperialist dogs like you treat your soldiers like currency, as you do to all things and people, so just in case you are thinking of simply sacrificing them, we will be streaming this room live to the Ancnet. So if you don't value their lives, by all means my friends! Come and attack this peaceful Commune! But of course, know that then the entire galaxy, much less your own soldiers, will also see how little you value the lives of your troops,” Krugar smirked as he took another swig.
“Choose carefully, commanders,” he remarked. The video ends.
Captain Chan grumbled as he closed his eyes, deep in thought for a few minutes on how to resolve the situation. He then looked at Tynak.
“Commander Tynak, think your Divers are up for another mission? I got a plan but it involves making sure that Commander Zara stays as the Divers’ prisoner.”
------
Orajevo
Suzuya Power Plant
1900H Local Time
Night has finally fallen on the frozen moon. The planetoid had already been tremendously cold - the lack of sunlight has only made things worse, not only in terms of temperature but also the lack of visibility as the entire ice sheet gradually descended into darkness. Now, only small blips of lights dotted the forsaken snow plains down below.
After a hard day of fighting, the allied combined forces had taken the time to consolidate security around their gains and get some much-needed rest as well. There was always no knowing when the next move was going to be, so every extra hour of shuteye counted tremendously.
Back at the Main City HQ, Captain Chan had been discussing the details of the hostage rescue mission with Tynak and Dagger-Actual. It was quickly decided that the best way to send a combined force of special operations teams to go in quietly, extract the captured pilots and once Krugar’s only bargaining chips were gone - they can then begin the final assault with their conventional forces without any guilt whatsoever. In preparation of the attack, Captain Chan had ordered his artillery company, his logistics company and his gunship company to reinforce the single mechanized infantry company that he had in the area.
---
Tynak’s Divers were already on site holding Commander Zara in one of the Power Plant’s rooms, soon joining them were RANGSI recon troopers and Falconian snipers. However, that was not all, shortly afterwards a third squad, dressed in black coats with tactical rigging worn over, entered the room. Bearing a golden eye insignia patch - these were the agents of INSECOM, RANGSI black ops. One of them was carrying a bulky squarish black device of some sort, which resembled the old DSLR cameras of the ancient past.
“Excuse us for a moment,” one of the operators said as they lifted up Zara and dragged her into a room. About 30 minutes later, they came out of the room and placed her back into her chair. She had an empty dazed look, almost like she was hypnotized.
“Consider that favour on Abrasom repaid,” one of the black operators quipped as he handed a flash drive of some sort to the commander of the RANGSI Recon platoon. The black agents then left as quickly as they came.
Plugging in the flash drive into a computer, the file within question was an audio, specifically an audio recording of what went down in the 30 minutes their POW spent with the black ops soldiers. An audible click was heard, and one of the agents began asking questions. Whenever she resisted, there was simply another click, and the questions were repeated, followed by Zara answering them with much less resistance.
----
To sum up the recordings, in short Zara had been divulging the general layout of the People’s Commune - a large greenhouse farm which supplied much of the food for the Orajevan populace. The prize was its underground storage vault, where harvested grain and preserved fruits and vegetables were kept for the long term. Securing this vault literally meant the survival of the civilians and RANGSI soldiers back in Main City - the final piece of the puzzle after running water and electricity.
Taking the boats originally meant for Zara’s escape, the Novakian Divers and 2 squads of RANGSI recon troopers charged through the icy waters while the Falconian snipers and the rest of the RANGSI recon platoon took armored cars and set up covert overwatch positions at Sharrow Hills. Operation Silent Saviour was a go.
“Silent Saviour units halt,” a call through the radio echoed through their headsets.
----
<Insert picture>
“Silent Saviour, UAV has identified an enemy coastal defence outpost up ahead. It's an old Orajevan watchtower, so high chance it is packing a heavy machine gun.”
“Two ways SIlent Saviours. You can either bypass the MG nest’s range and land at Torra Beach or drop off and scale the Daegan Cliff. It’s easier to land at Torra Beach as enemy patrols are light but getting into the greenhouse will be difficult. On the other hand, the Coastal Outpost has an entrance to an underground pass that leads directly under the greenhouse, but it is heavily guarded with a platoon of SU regulars.”
“Divers, you have the lead, so it is your call,” the mission controller ended. Thanks to the Divers’ daring efforts and sterling performance thus far, they had become immensely respected among RANGSI command and the decision was made to make them the leading unit of this operation.
Zara had originally planned to escape to the People’s Commune via stashed rubber boats located at the end of the tunnel. She, Talin and her security escorts would have taken these boats to a small wooden jetty established along the coastline near the Commune, originally these were meant to service sea-based trade between the Main City and the Commune. There were generally two ways in - the jetty and the open coast leading to one of the Commune’s back gates or a coastal security outpost which has an entrance into the underground tunnels leading to the Commune. Both were going to be guarded, considering that they had been expecting her arrival, but more so the coastal security outpost, which has a heavy machine gun nest located in a watch tower. To Zara’s knowledge, the coastal security outpost was always manned with a minimum of two squads of regular Separatist Union naval infantry, the Liberators. Whether this would be more or less has yet to be confirmed.
After some discussion, the battle plan was drawn. The Falconian sniper teams will take RANGSI armored cars and move to a preplanned location where they can provide sniper support and overwatch. The Novakian Divers and RANGSI Recon Troopers on the other hand, will take the boats. The question that was currently left unanswered however, is which mode of entry to take. Should they land at the more heavily guarded coastal security outpost which has a more direct underground route into the Commune? Or should they attempt to swim past and go to the jetty, where there is less security but a more potentially complicated route through the thick vertical jungles of the greenhouse’s crops?
Mission start
Need to make diagrams of the locations
Wait for beef and neo to reply
As the Command was given to the Novakian Dive Units they now had 2 options to enter through. One was landing at Torra beach and while it is safer as they were lighter patrols in the immediate area this also meant that they could also be easier chance of getting spotted considering that there was not much obstructions to hide from detection. Getting in to the greenhouse on the other hand was risky as they could find themselves spotted while attempting to silently break in.
On the other route they can skip breaking into the greenhouse from the outside entirely but would have to land on the side of the Daegan cliff and possibly get their cover blown while trying to access the underground passage way. But it was a risk they could take depending on the factors involved and by judging from past experience they decided to choose the latter part as accessing the underground tunnels may be better for the whole team provided that they could deal with the platoon of SU regulars present.
----------
"This is the Silent Saviour, Looks like were heading towards the Daegan Cliff, keep an eye out if there was any rebel movement in the Greenhouse or the Coastal Outpost" A Novakian Dive unit responded. Unlike last time in the power plant they now had Rifles and Sub-machine-guns both equipped with suppressors so they don't make much of a noise when fired. They also had tasers which can help them in stunning unsuspecting solders unlucky enough to get in the way of the Divers, and possibly the rest of silent saviours units.
"This is the Dive team to the rest of Silent Savior, I hope you guys had stocked up on flashbangs, smoke grenades and tasers because were gonna need those soon once we get towards the Coastal Outpost and start getting our way towards the underground passage" One of the Dive team members said towards the rest of the group. Hoping anyone would listen at all.
-----------
“We got whole lots, Dive team don’t worry, but we aren’t aiming to use them right now,” 2nd Sergeant Fhi replied to the Novakian divers, gritting as he tried to steady himself as the boat crashed and bobbed up and down against the waves, cupping his hands around his headphones in order to isolate the splashing of the icy seas and the deafening rumbling of the boat motor. “A flashbang could wake up the entire platoon and we definitely don’t want that.”
The Silent Saviours finally reached the Daegan Cliffs and slowly began to climb their way upwards. The Novakian Divers went first, followed by a RANGSI recon squad. The other recon squad stayed on the boat as security, keeping watch and providing security to the teams climbing the cliff face, training their weapons at the top just in case an enemy pops out.
Just as the Novakians were one or two meters shy of reaching over the top, a radio call came through and demanded their attention.
“Silent Saviours, halt,” it was Control’s voice.
“Two guards coming your way. Stay still and do not make any noise.”
“UAV has descended to lower altitude and gained a clearer feed, highlighting enemy positions now. You should be able to see the feed now, Silent Saviours.”
----
<insert picture>
----
True enough, a top-down video feed showed two Separatist Union ‘Liberators’, elite naval and expeditionary infantry equivalent of many a nation’s ‘marine’ forces, walking down the path right next to the Silent Saviours. They were far away enough from the cliff face to not notice them, especially in the darkness, but near enough to hear any audible sounds.
That was the outer perimeter patrol. The UAV feed also highlighted another two-man patrol, this time inside the base itself, seemingly following the walls but counter-clockwise to the outer perimeter team. Other two man sentries were also present, one pair at the guardhouse and another at the entrance to the underground route. All of them were carrying standard small arms - VKR-80 bullpups, which according to standard intel were simple gas-operated 6.5mm assault rifles with no spectacular features. The rest of the SU platoon are likely resting in the barracks, with their commanders manning the smaller HQ building.
How the Silent Saviours move forwards seemed to depend on what the Divers are going to do in response to the incoming outer perimeter guards.
--------
"Good , we definitely wouldn't want to be detected. A flashbang would most likely be needed say only for a few circumstances. But that said we have 2 pilots to save" One of the Novakian Divers replied to Fhi as the Divers would eventually reach the deegan cliff.
There the Novakina Divers would be the first to slowly climb their way upwards with the Rangsi squad following behind them. As the Divers almost made their way ontop of the cliff they Recived the radio message.
"Alright, we'll wait until the guards to relocate away from our positions before proceeding" One of the divers said before the comms would go silent as they kept their mouths shut in order to avoid the attention of the guards and to potentially jeopardize the mission entirely.
Now hanging on the cliff side the Divers while waiting for the guards to pass through and for the go ahead to climb up they took their time to watch the top down video feed from the UAV, most likely to see what actions they and the RANGSI recon units will have to do to sneak through the various guards and get into the underground tunnels to access the greenhouse. Afterall, they have their reputation and the pilots lives on stake here. One wrong move can jeopardize the chance of saving the pilots, their reputation to behold.
-------
The pair of guards walked past with no incident, turning around the corner. It was clear for them to climb onto the surface. The RANGSI recon troopers did so and immediately moved to stack up at the wall.
2nd Sergeant Phi scooted over to the commander of the Novakian Divers. “Aight it won’t be long before the outer wall guards come back. What should we do?” he whispered.
The video feed was still online in real time. The wall fortunately had no barbed wire so it was possible to climb over rather than going in from the front and having to deal with the gate guards. However, they should keep in mind that there was still another pair of guards patrolling the inner perimeter of the base and any attempt to climb the wall without dealing with them first could be spotted.
--------
"With the current situation on hand we can quickly go try to climb over the walls and into the outpost while the guards weren't looking, Fortunately the wall doesn't have Barbed wires so this should be alot easier should we don't unintentionally reveal ourselves out to the guards." One of the Novakian Dive Units whispered back at Sergeant Phi.
"If we wanted to be alot more bolder we could take down those guards and disguise ourselves as one of them. But of course, who'd be crazy enough to do that, But i guess someone would do it if its worth it" another Dive Unit whispered back
It wasn't long before the Novakian Units decide to go over the cliff and try to climb over the walls of the outpost as quietly and as quickly as possible so as to not alert the guards of them and the allies of their presence whilst they still have time, But with no Barbed wires on top of the walls this made made it a little more easier for them to climb over and eventually land on the other side, hoping the others would follow suit.
----------
“That’s honestly not a bad idea but we should do that only after we secured this outpost. Having those disguises may open up more options when we go into the tunnel.”
Sergeant Phi then looked at the UAV feed as the outer perimeter guards were about to reach their position again. He split up his recon platoon. One squad moved forward and took positions behind the wall, ready to intercept them Another squad moved to the opposite side, ready to storm the gate if necessary and surround this base.
“Don’t worry, we are securing other angles of attack,” Sergeant Phi said as he climbed on top of the wall, the only RANGSI trooper among the Diver squad. To their luck, the inner perimeter patrol decided to stop by and chat with the gate guard. They would be unaware of the Divers and Phi climbing over the wall.
“This is a golden opportunity,” Phi whispered as he pointed to less-than-diligent patrol. He checked his tablet and saw two outer perimeter guards lying dead, sprawled on the ground. “The outer perimeter patrol is gone. We should launch a coordinated strike. Your Divers take out the two soldiers guarding the tunnel entrance. Meanwhile my people will storm the gate and take them all out quickly.”
—---
"I gotcha Sergeant, they will be really useful once we managed to secure this outpost" One of the Novakian Divers replied towards Phi.
As the Novakian Divers along with Phi climbed over and land on the other side they can notice that the inner perimeter patrol being rather distracted from their patrols as they had stopped by to chat with the gate guards, seeing the opportunity and following Phi's advice the Novakian Divers would execute his plan.
"Noted, those guys wouldn't know whats coming for them anyways" One of the Divers whispered before the rest of the team would wait for the signal to launch the coordinated strike at the inner perimeter guards and if the signal for it did came they would quietly move towards the perimeter guards before disabling them with tasers, they would also hold up their sub-machine guns for if the attempt would prove to be unsuccessful.
—---
The coordinated attack went smoothly. The guards near the tunnel entrance suddenly dropped, twitching uncontrollably as the Divers’ tasers hit the exposed parts of their necks. Their screams of pain were muffled by the Divers who went ahead and covered their mouths to prevent them from alerting the entire camp. The Liberators at the gate were also taken out quickly in a single attack. The RANGSI recon troopers began streaming into the base.
“Go ahead into the tunnel and clear a path for us. It won’t be long before the next shift is taking over. They’ll get suspicious if the guards do not return. We need to wipe out everyone else in this base while we still can,” Sergeant Phi said to the Divers’ commander. He then gestured to his recon troopers to stack up on the Separatist command center and the bunks. Just as the Divers entered into the tunnels, they could hear the sound of doors creaking open and the ‘pew-pews’ of silenced shots, followed by muffled screams and general commotion as the enemy inside were caught totally off-guard.
In the tunnels, the Divers were generally unopposed. However as they began to approach the underground complex beneath the vertical farm, they would begin to hear sounds of general enemy activity - talking, walking and mechanical rumblings of some sort. The Divers would stop short at a corner turning to the right. If one peeked over the wall corner for a second, they would be greeted with a site of a long, downward sloping corridor leading to some kind of storage dump, a door straight ahead and an unknown number of Liberators inside. At this distance, the details were too unclear to make out troop numbers and the exact nature of their defences.
Taking in their surroundings, the Divers would notice two things. First was a maintenance hatch in front of them leading to a set of smaller vent tunnels underneath the storage dump area. These were just large enough for a human to crawl. These were used to ensure airflow underground. Another was an iron gate just behind them leading to a small space with the sign ‘Maintenance Station’ beside it. A look inside would reveal crates of tools and rudimentary equipment, but what would catch their eye were five RC drones on the bench. These were generally used to perform precision maintenance in the vents where there is too little space for humans to do anything other than crawling.
"Noted, we'll be on our way" One of the divers said as the rest of his squad quickly went into the tunnel to eliminate any hostiles. They were mostly unopposed as they didn't seemed to be any enemies in the tunnel but as they began to approach the complex underneath the vertical farm they would began to hear sound that might be enemy activity within the facility. The group would stop at the corner before peaking around it to see what was on the other side, They would see a downward sloping corridor that leads to somekind of storage dump with an unknown amount of rebel Liberators inside, Not ideal considering what they were bringing onto the fight.
After looking down the corridor the would look at what was in front of them in which they would see a maintenance hatch of sorts. As one of the Divers opened the hatch they would see smaller vent tunnels, one that only allowed for the divers to simply crawl through, not something they'd hope for.
Another member spotted of the iron gates behind the group, supposedly a maintenance station of sorts for various tools and equipment by the look of what was behind the gates. Spotting the 5 RC drones on the bench the Novakian Diver group would attempt to open the iron gates to get to the RC drones to which they would use them to fly through the vents, looking out for potential exit points aswell along the vent or to see whats was on the other side before any divers would attempt to crawl through it.
The Divers would manage to be able to piece a rough picture after using the drones to scout the loading area. There were four vent exit points, one per corner and there were about 11 Liberators. They don’t seem to be moving around and simply stood still at their respective posts, idling and chatting, still in the mindset that the small camp on the surface were still in their hands and thus if any enemy were moving towards them, they would have already known.
The most dangerous piece of equipment in the loading bay would be the heavy machine gun mounted on a pile of sandbags right in front of the door leading to the underground complex beneath the greenhouse facility, where they were keeping their captive Novakian pilot.
A call would also come from Sergeant Phi. “I got bad news, my troopers can’t come down there to reinforce you. Sharrow Hills reports that there is an enemy convoy heading for the coastal outpost. We’ll try to slow them down and keep this outpost secure but you’ve got to move fast and get our pilot guy out.”
—-
"Alright, We'll see what we can do from here" One of the divers said as the rest looked at the camera feed to see whats beyond the corridor. 11 Liberators they counted and one machine gun nest infront of a door. One that leads to something important, worse yet that they were already outnumbered and outgunned with no reinforcements whatsoever.
If they were going in they would not survive and be wiped out nearly instantly, so they would have to devise a plan should they want to take down every guard and the Machine gun nest guarding the door.
Using the RC drones they used to scout out the vents the a single Novakian Diver would pilot the drones intending to fly it down towards the room, positioning each of them in a position before attempting to distract the Liberator units by flashing bright lights at them. As the singular Diver starts his plan he gestured to the rest of his team to go into the vent to surprise the enemy by shooting them at their backs once he switched on the lights.
As soon as the setup was done and with the Divers each above the vent cover the drones would turn on their built-in Flashlights, intending to distract the Liberators, buying time for the rest of the Divers to suddenly kick the covers open to shoot the Liberators at their backs with their sub-machine guns and tasers.
-----
For the 2 Divers nearest to the Machine gun nest they would attempt to take control of its position by quickly disabling the 2 units controlling it before using it to take down the remaining Liberators, should they each succeed in taking down the 2 Liberators standing infront of them as they got out of the vent.
Meanwhile the 2 Divers nearest to the entrance to the loading area would try to take down the 2 Liberators whist simultaneously acting as a distraction for the 3 Liberators units in the centre by using the various object as cover.
All the while the single remaining Diver was busy moving the drones to the correct location in order to keep distracting the Units present. All 5 knew this would be an extremely risky endeavour as they were facing against a room full of Guards and a MG position that could indeed kill them all if they weren't careful enough, all the while they were sure someone is going to die during the ensuing fight, but it would be worth it should they manage to retrieve the pilots safely and without them dying.
—-----
The entire attack succeeds. The Divers, by using the ventilation tunnels, managed to surprise and overpower the Liberators within the storage dump area. However, their decision to use the machine gun will prove to be a difficult one, as now the entire base has been alerted to their presence.
“Divers, I’m picking up immense radio traffic the whole base is on alert! You need to secure the pilot double time!”
Behind the blast door is a long corridor, to the right there are a total of five rooms, labeled 1 to 5. In one of these rooms is where the Novakian pilot is being held. However, they have to be faster than ever now, because the distant clacking of boots and shouting from the staircase at the end of the corridor, coming from above, are clear signs of rebel troops coming to meet the Divers. It would not be long before one of them appeared around the stairs.
Dice Target: 3
—-
"I'm on it, We'll see if we can delay them before they reach us, You guys keep watch of the enemy convoy, we'll deal with the guards ourselves" One of the Divers said, as he rushed towards the rest of his group.
As said by their allies the entire base was now on alert, and with the sounds of Rebel troops coming from the corridor in front of them they had to act fast. With little time to spare they would quickly take weapons from the fallen liberators to arm themselves for the inevitable battle that was to come with one even going as far as attempting to lift the MG off from its initial position to use it as a heavy weapon to offset the possible hordes of incoming rebel troops that were coming for them.
There were 5 rooms within the corridor, all labelled 1 to 5 and in any one of those rooms could be the Pilot they intend to rescue. Without thinking they would barge into the one nearest to the staircase, that being room 5, as they barged in they were surprise to see that the pilots weren't in the room. As the sounds of clacking of boots and shouting from the staircase became louder and louder the 1 Diver would quickly mount his MG onto a position where it faced the staircase, ready to fire against the rebels the moment they came into view.
The 2 divers would stay beside the MG position while the other 2 rushed to carry some of the sandbags over in order to get a barrier of sorts formed up before the rebels arrive. As the barrier formed the Divers would aim their newly acquired weapons at the staircase, waiting for the rebels to arrive
—--
One of the rebel insurgents quickly dashed around the stairs and saw the Divers. Reflexively, he raised his rifle and tried to initiate contact, but before he could squeeze the trigger his head suddenly disappeared into a cloud of red mist. Fragments of skull and brain lay splattered over the wall and over his teammates behind, and a small smoking hole appeared on the concrete wall to his right. This could be nothing less of a heavy 12.7mm round.
The machine gun began clacking away as the Diver opened fire into the stairway. Thunder echoed repeatedly through the hallways, a hail of heavy rounds hammering and smashing against the wall. Faced with such firepower, the remaining members of the insurgent squad quickly scrambled backwards - whatever gungho-ness they had completely evaporated by the sight of their unfortunate pointman.
“Holy shi- Command! This is Section 2 2IC! Enemy is in hallway 13, leading to the underground storage area! We cannot advance! I repeat we cannot advance! Enemy has a heavy machine gun covering entire corridor! Requesting permission to retreat!” a female insurgent was practically screaming into her radio, as the wall around her exploded.
“Negative, Section 2, your orders still stand. Advance and make sure the enemy does not get to the POW,” the radio replied back.
“Fuck!” she threw her radio away.
“Matthew had the flashbangs,” she looked at her dead squad leader before turning back to her squad. “Jenson, give me covering fire until I get Matthew’s body back.”
“You got it boss,” the insurgent named Jenson peeked his rifle from behind the other flight of stairs and began firing random shots in the direction of the Divers’ positions. It was highly inaccurate and thus unlikely to hit anything, but the idea was to suppress them to stop the heavy machine gun fire for a few seconds - long enough time for them to drag the corpse back into their ranks.
—-
"Oh Fuck they're coming, we need to secure the Pilot Quickly while we still have time." One of the diver shouted to which one of the Divers would took off from his position to check the other rooms for the pilots, as it is it will take some time another Diver would accompany him in searching for the pilot aswell.
That left only 3 Divers to hold the position against what seemed to be a whole team of rebel Soldiers coming their way with their only advantage being the bottleneck that is the staircase and the large machine gun they had gotten.
As Jenson fired his shots at the direction of the Divers positions, the Divers would momentary pause as they ducked down, to avoid the incoming fire. One of the Divers then fired a couple shots at the staircase, perhaps assuring the rebels not to come any closer.
"Hey, get ready your smoke grenades, once we've secured the pilots we'll cause a distraction and were outta here" One of the Divers said as he looked over to one of his teammates.
—-
“Covering fire!”
“Going!” the insurgent squad 2IC made a mad scramble to pull the dead corpse back into cover while Jenson stood up and fired his rifle into the Diver’s direction. The suppression succeeded and their team leader’s body was recovered. However, the Divers were quick to recover and one of their shots got lucky and hit Jenson right through the space between his eyes.
“Jenson! Fuck!” the 2IC screamed as Jenson’s body flopped backwards lifelessly. She immediately grabbed the flashbang and pulled out the pin. “Eat this motherfuckers!”
The flashbang was thrown into the hallway. After the flashbang went off, she immediately charged down the stairs towards the corridor, with her squad following in tow.
Meanwhile in the next room, the pilot was nowhere to be found. However, what they found was a weapon lab of some sorts, with a partially-disassembled rifle on the table. It was essentially a bulky block of rectangular steel with a variety of copper wires, coils and capacitors on the exterior, with the words “LASER” in gold paint. By the looks of it, it seemed like they were building and testing some sort of prototype laser weapon made from a variety of salvaged parts strewn around the mining colony.
"Fuck, Flashbang! Cover your eyes!" Shouted one of the Novakian Divers as he caught a silhouette of what might be a flashbang, or perhaps it was a grenade, but either way there was no time to correct his possible mistake. As the Divers covered their eyes as the flashbang went off. One Diver unit that was manning the MG however was not so lucky as he was immediately temporarily blinded by the Flash that engulfed his eyes. With no time to waste the Other Diver beside him immediately pushed his blinded teammate out before another one would take the MG before firing it at the stairwell, Hoping to atleast fend off the rebel units until his teammates would find the pilot.
In the next room as the 2 Novakian Divers barged in they would encounter the Partially Disassembled Rifle, as one of the divers reached out to inspect it they would hear a soft bang outside. Thinking it was some kind of grenade being thrown at their teammates accompanied with his shouting from made the both immediately barge out of the room, with one of them grabbing the partially disassembled rifle.
As the 2 barged out of the room they were in one immediately grabbed his rifle, aimed it at the rebels before firing at them, hoping to slow them down at the least which left only one Diver, to look for the Pilots.
Finally, they have found who they were looking for. As the Diver barged into the room, he found their pilot ziptied to a table. He was unconscious, and the bruises and dried blood all over his face indicated that he had been through one hell of a rough interrogation, beaten and punched in an attempt to extract information. There was no one else around in the room, his interrogators likely left for the night.
Outside, the insurgent squad that rushed the Divers were all quickly cut down by heavy machine gun fire. Subsequent rushed assaults by several insurgents coming down the staircase were also successfully repelled despite the flashbang - in such a narrow corridor there was little else room for a bullet to go anywhere else. Very soon, as the dust cleared and the Divers recovered from the flashbang, bodies lined the floor and the stairs. Panicked screams heard from above seem to indicate further refusal for the rest to continue the attack.
This was to the Divers’ advantage, as the heavy machine gun had already ran out of ammunition. But just before they could quickly exfil with their pilot, suddenly loud thumping noises reverberated from the ceiling above.
A yellow laser beam then cut through in a circular motion and the ceiling essentially broke and crashed onto the floor the Divers were in. Behind the dust and smoke was a large hulking silhouette. It stepped forward, every step shaking through the entire corridor, and out of the smoke the Novakian Divers finally saw what was towering over them.
Red glowing eyes behind a huge gas mask of sorts. A brutish, exaggerated humanoid form, covered in very thick armor plates and bulletproof paddings, though some parts seem to be either clearly missing or substituted. Faded Capitol army markings, painted over with Separatist Union livery and insignias. Yes, this was none other than the fearsome Shock Trooper of Capitol origins, the heavy power armor suit likely scavenged from the days of the 2nd Ancerious War, modified and repaired with local parts and its green and reds repainted with the Separatist Union’s dark grey and golden yellow stripes. It had none of the Capitol’s autocannon and giant electric shock mace, all it had was just two giant exoskeleton fists. But these giant fists were perhaps all they needed to face off with a small squad of lightly-armed divers.
The bullets bounced off the Shock Trooper's armor harmlessly, as it was to be expected. It slowly took a step forward to the Novakian Diver standing his ground firing his rifle despite knowing all too well that it was too weak to penetrate its armor, its red eyes staring deep into his soul.
The Shock Trooper then grabbed the Diver by the neck, lifting him up as he squirmed and struggled to break free.
"I admire your bravery, comrade soldaten. If only we are on the same side," a deep, robotic-like voice snarled from behind the helmet. Its exoskeletal power fists then suddenly clenched, squeezing the Diver's neck with enough force to break it with a loud audible snap. His sacrifice was not in vain however, in that time the Divers have managed to find the pilots and managed to just reach for the door when the Shock Trooper threw away the Diver's lifeless body and have now officially turned its attention to the rest. It began walking towards the loading bay, smashing through the door and the parts of the wall in its way as it made its entry into the loading area.
Novakian Federation — 06/09/2022
Although a little frightened from the prospect of having to see one of their men getting killed by a hulk as they freed the captured pilots the 4 remaining divers, along with the freed pilots were simultaneously now running down the loading bay with the shock trooper right behind them. As they made their way over the previously dead bodies of the Rebel soldiers that once guarded this room the Divers looked for anything that could slow down the Shock trooper, even if its by a little.
2 divers would look for anything to cause a distraction whilst one more stayed to escort the pilots out of the loading bay. The 2 divers would use whatever easily movable objects in the room to form a sort of ad-hoc blockade against the exit of the Loading bay, not meant to survive for long but enough to slow down the shock trooper so that the divers and the pilots would be well ahead of it.
They would use the barrels and one side of the room to form the barrier in question. Setting one of them to the exit of the loading bay first the 2 divers would each drag the other 2 barrels to 'close' off the exit as the Shock Trooper came storming in ready to kill them both. Once they both had put the barrels where they wanted them to be the 2 divers would ran off to rejoin the group
While looking for anything to slow down the Shock Trooper’s monstrous advances towards them, their eyes naturally looked to the weapons and gear strewn all over the floor, from the dead rebel soldiers that they had killed previously. While their assault rifles would do little to stop the heavy power armour trooper, the dead rebels did have a couple of high explosive grenades strapped to their combat belts. The grenades would have better effect if they were used in the narrower tunnels that they came from, where the smaller area would make the grenade’s blast radius more impactful, compared to if it was thrown in the wider area of the loading bay.
The hasty barricade was for sure a temporary solution, as the Shock Trooper began using its exoskeletal fists to punch, rip and smash into the barrels. The few seconds of delay however, was enough to put some valuable distance between it and the Divers. Plus, the Shock Trooper had difficulty squeezing into the smaller tunnel passageways due to its size, and had to essentially dig its way forward as it began using the HPA body to smash through whatever rock and soil that stood in its way.
The Novakian Divers made a rushed but organised retreat, leapfrogging as one ran and the other fired or threw high-explosive grenades at the Separatist heavy power-armour soldier. The grenades slowed it down and damaged the exterior armour, with cracks and glowing burn marks visible. But it was a testament to Capitol brute-force engineering that the HPA continued clawing its way towards the Divers, still very much alive and practically intact.
Eventually the Divers reached the surface, and the panting squad leader quickly alerted the RANGSI recon platoon of the impending HPA threat.
“We got a SU armoured car hotwired and ready to go! Get your pilot out of here! We’ll deal with the HPA threat!” Sergeant Phi pointed to the car. Originally, he intended to hotwire enough cars and jeeps to transport everyone, but only one had been completed by the time the Divers returned. Without any hesitation, he effectively gave up his men’s ride for the Divers and the Novakian pilot they rescued. That took priority.
Missions change, they always do, and it was not a Scout Recon mission if they didn’t. Immediately after the Novakians drove out to safety, Sergeant Phi rallied his platoon and began organising a new plan on the spot. This was supposed to be a stealth mission, so he did not bring any LAWs with him, and instead he had to improvise. What he did have was AT mines, so he directed his troops to place AT mines at the entrance of the tunnel and juryrigged them with detonator wires for manual detonation.
Soon enough, the HPA soon appeared, and just before it could pop its head out of the entrance, the AT mines went off, turning the entrance into black smoke and a pile of rubble. Sergeant Phi then ordered his men to make an organised retreat back to the cliffside and the boats below.
The pile of rubble soon began to move about, and like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the HPA rose up, shaking and trembling as it took noticeable damage from the AT mines. Huge, freshly glowing holes peppered the armour, a sign that the shaped charges did its thing. But the HPA soldier continued to walk forwards, with mechanical grunts accompanying every lumbering step, animated by pure conviction, and a pure desire to murder its RANGSI foes.
Everything else was merely a game of distraction and buying time. Some recon troopers were brave enough to taunt the towering armoured giant with small arms fire, and draw away its attention from their comrades making their escape. But alas, with a single lunge, the HPA unexpectedly closed the distance with such rapid speed, and with a single mighty swing, sent many of the recon troopers flying into the barracks wall. A last survivor mag-dumped his rifle into the HPA’s faceplate, only to find the bullets bouncing off from the thick armour. A giant exo-hand soon grabbed his neck, lifted him up high into the air, and crushed it. The lifeless body was then thrown aside.
But by the time the HPA was done, the rest of Phi’s recon troopers managed to scale down the cliffs and commandeer the boats out to safety. A mechanical screech echoed in the distance as a frustrated SU HPA trooper stood at the edge of the cliff, watching its prey escape.
With the Novakian pilot rescued and safe, the allied operation to take the last objective of Operation Restore Hope was underway. RANGSI, Falconian and Novakian forces, with combined air, artillery, infantry and tank power, stormed the Greenhouse and quickly seized it. Food, water, and electricity was now ensured for the Main City. The besieged RANGSI soldiers and Orajevan civilians had finally, albeit narrowly, escaped certain death.
With allied ships in orbit re-establishing communications, Captain Chan managed to deliver his report of the situation to divisional command. The division immediately sent reinforcements. RANGSI ships warped into orbit, bringing fresh troops and supplies to continue the liberation of the rest of Orajevo still under Separatist control. Captain Chan and his surviving forces were rotated out, for a much-needed period of rest and re-sustainment.
Within the next month, Operation Restore Hope II was launched to retake the rest of Orajevo. The battered Separatist troops and their allied insurgents quickly folded to the allied reinforcements and within weeks of rapid advances, their final stronghold - the airbase, was captured by allied troops. Orajevo was finally expunged of its Separatist influence, and the oligarchy returned to power. As a reward for their assistance, the Novakians and Falconians were given a share of the hydrogen nano-fuel production and Orajevo was promised to be a friendly port for any of their ships passing through, with lucrative ‘friend’ discounts for any and all services rendered.
“Juliet Juno, ground sensors are reading massive EM spikes. Stand b-”
“Uhhh...Pokka Kamba my optics are registering a flash at quadrant Alpha, high Delta-V object with unknown trajecto-” the comms chatter from the Serpent-class frigate, Pokka Kamba, suddenly cut off. Juliet Juno’s optics found a bright flash of light right at where Pokka Kamba had been.
“ALL FLEET CALLSIGNS EVASIVE MANEUVERS! WE ARE GETTING HIT BY AO WEAPONS! I REPEAT, ANTI-ORBITAL WEAPONS!”
Before the rest of the small 5-ship fleet of the Republik Angkasa Singapura (RANGSI) in orbit over the frozen icy moon of Orajevo could respond, they were quickly destroyed by anti-orbital missiles launched from the moon’s surface. Only Juliet Juno remained roughly intact; cut in half from the explosion and bleeding air, crew and debris into the void. With only roughly ten minutes of air, the ship’s captain scrambled to broadcast a wide range FTL distress call for help and reinforcements. Translated into Galactic Common and several other languages RANGSI was familiar with, the distress call also contained a brief overview of their situation.
-----
The system Orajevo was in was halfway between RANGSI space and the Borealis White Hole, as such various civilians, corporations and even private defence contractors stepped up to meet the rising demand of trade, science and mining fleets visiting the White Hole. A small colony somehow found a way to thrive on the moon, selling water from ice and processed hydrogen nanofuels from water. RANGSI expeditions to the gas giant that Orajevo orbited made RANGSI ships their regular customers, and business relations quickly turned into political ties between their governments as well.
Then the Great Icequake struck. A sudden increase in the ocean’s tidal activity caused the ice plates to smash together, the seismic forces causing great amounts of destruction to infrastructure, transportation and habitat homes. With roads and power lines cut off, people in the moon’s Main City were left without supplies and electricity. The fear of hunger and frostbite led to widespread looting as people fought over food and fuel. Naturally as their partners, RANGSI quickly rushed to aid them as soon as the news reached their comms set. Teaming up with the NGO Mercy Without Borders, Mercy personnel provided humanitarian aid while RANGSI focused on peacekeeping, security for Mercy convoys and combat engineers for the reconstruction effort.
----
Everything was going well at first. Mobile generators restored power to the Main City and other facilities and RANGSI dropships worked around the clock to airlift supplies to wherever they were needed while army engineers and Mercy volunteers went to work rebuilding infrastructure such as roads and maglev railways. A small rebel movement emerged in the Outposts - smaller clusters of habitat towns established outside the Main City so workers can live closer to their jobs, protesting against the colonial leadership’s mismanagement of the disaster and alleged diversion of resources from the Outposts to the Main City. Nothing RANGSI peacekeepers and colonial militias could not handle.
-----
Until the rebels suddenly had military weapons, tanks and even anti-orbital weapons.
Unknown to the RANGSI fleet, the system had also been the site of the communist Separatist Union’s clandestine intelligence gathering operations. Their former power bloc’s, the APP, defeat in the 2nd Ancerious War meant that the Separatist Union can no longer confront the Republik head on, but they still can use covert methods to disrupt their efforts to reinvigorate their economy. Once they got word of the Icequake and all the resentment associated with it, the Separatist Union went to work making secret landfalls providing weapons, equipment and even extra troops. The destruction of the RANGSI and Mercy fleets in orbit was timed perfectly with their large-scale ground operation. Rebels quickly seized key essential sources of supplies such as greenhouses, power plants and water treatment plants and used anti-air vehicles to shoot down the airlifts. The lightning strike forced RANGSI troops, ill-equipped for conventional ground operations, to surrender ground and defend the Main City where most of the civilian populace were. Stranded, cut off from all avenues of supplies and surrounded, for one long arduous month the RANGSI troops braved constant sieges, shellings and harassment tactics by rebels as the enemy troops were content on starving the RANGSI forces and the Main City either into surrender or eventual destruction.
However, the rebels did not know about the distress signal sent by the RANGSI ship that survived long enough to send the message. As new FTL signatures appeared in the system, it may seem that the one-month long siege may finally come to an end....
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Player: Cloud (Novakia)
"Captain, we had received a distress signal from the moon Orajevo. Should we investigate it?"
"Send a recon team to investigate the moon as it could be a trap setup by the pirates."
A small recon team consists of 1 punic class cruisers and 3 visiri class frigates jumped into orbit above Orajevo. They found that they were 5 wrecked vessels in orbit. Each seems to indicate that they were no life forms aboard.
Upon receiving the message the fleet decided to jump in to further investigate the claims and to scan the surface of the moon.
"All systems green, destination locked, Captian, we are ready."
"All ships, Preparations are complete. It's time to go."
As soon as they arrived 5 wrecked ships in orbit confirming the claims. Captain Arthur.A.Johnson dispatched a small science vessel joining the fleet to scan the surface. They found that a city built by a nation had suffered an ice quake that had crippled their infrastructure and supplies which then triggered a rebellion on the moon though it should be some time before we should contact the base commander
Hours later the captain had established a line to the base commander.
"This is Captain Arthur.A.Johnson of the NPN Orion of the Novakian 10th fleet, we have received the distress signal and has jumped into orbit. We are ready to assist you with the ongoing rebellion."
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Player: Russel (Falconian)
Orbital Signal Station, Horizon, New Ymrirrim A young duinworlder of peric ancestry spun around in his chair "Sir, high intensity comm burst appears to be a distress signal from a vessel under anti-orbital fire" "got it relaying to military command" the station chief replied putting on his headset and flicked the switch to open the hardwired line to the Military Command Centre established in Horizon "Watcher to Battlecom, line check" "Line check good watcher, report" "we picked up a distress signal from a foreign vessel under anti-orbital fire" "understood watcher"
Falcon-Op Battlegroup Command, Horizon, New Ymirrim A Junior comms officer quickly got up from his station punching the button on his portable comms station to print out a transcript of the conversation and grabbing it off the printer tray of the portable comm recorder before hurrying through the partially finished Command Centre stopping at the plain metal door of a office labeled "Cmdr Peryic Hannemach" he quickly knocked, there was a displeased sigh followed by "Enter" the officer pushed the door open and snapped into a smart salute, this was met with a bored "At ease, report" "signals picked up a distress call, foreign vessel, under fire from ground positions" Peryic's grey eyes suddenly lit up and he got a unnerving look "vessel under fire you say?" "yyes sir, I have the comm transcript" "hand it here" the comms officer handed it to Peryic who snatched it up and read it while thoughfully rubbing his chin then spun to face the officer "Get me a comm line with commander Nardin instruct him to take the 155th cruiser section and 122nd and 32nd militia squadrons.... and the 5th, 7th and 9th company Ymirrim militia and 4th section 116th regiment..." he paused looking in intense thought "and the carrier HMS Summit" "sir if I'm not mistaken Summit is our only carrier" "she is, it's a gamble to provide support for the infantry while removing our heaviest ship from the capital of our colony but I'm not taking chances with my first op in dimension 167" "yes sir I'll report this to commander Nardin"
orbit of New Ymirrim the light command ship HMS Electra was mostly empty these days save for the crew needed to keep her steady in orbit and a few low ranking officers however for the first time in a while she buzzed with activity as Section Officer Nardin now temporarily designated Brigade Commander Nardin assembled his fleet for deployment to Orajevo consisting of three companies of miltia and one section of Falcon-Op troops escorted by five Atala class scout cruisers and ten Artemis Class militia frigates along with the Halcyon Class Carrier HMS Summit the largest vessel of the hurriedly assembled brigade dwarfing nearly everything else in orbit of New Ymirrim save the Bulk ore haulers that came and went through the worldgate, Nardin watched the view of the Immense vessel as she carefully move into formation with the rest of the brigade "all vessels aligned and ready to begin jump to Orajevo sir" the Electra's comms officer reported "good" Nardin replied "Begin jump"
Orajevo a flurry of blue flashes lit up the upper orbit of the planet briefly revealing the brigade in formation with the warships in a protective ring around the armed transports and Jackson Class Assualt Ship "Distressed forces this is Commander Nardin of Battlegroup Sunray we are here to assist please report the situation" the message was transmitted three times on all channels
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Player: Cloud (Novakia)
"This is Captain Arthur.A.Johnson of the NPN Orion of the 10th Novakian Fleet, we are here to asist the base commander at the city at the surface of Orajevo with the rebellion"
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Player: Aiman (RANGSI)
The echoing scream of the air raid sirens marked another attack. Company commanders were screaming turning out their troops while they scrambled to their stand-to positions, putting on their vests and gear along the way.
“Fuck me, another shelling,” one of the riflemen cursed as explosions erupted around him, forcing him to keep his head down. Rebel mortars and howitzers were bombarding the frontal city defences as well as random targets within the city, primarily as a terror tactic. Damaging something, or actual strategic facilities, was an afterthought.
After all, there was nothing much of value left in the Main City. They have no greenhouses, no power plants, no water plants to provide anything of value. As of today, they have officially ran out for everything - there will be no more food, fuel or water to last the next day. The rebels know this, they were willing to let the city wilt away so that they will finally be able to capture their last objective; the nanofuel refineries behind the City.
---
Captain Daniel Chan buried his face into his palms, the hopelessness bottling up for a month finally sipping out. He and his battalion, the 14th Internal Security Battalion of the 901st Combined Arms Regiment, also known as the 14/901 ISB, came to Orajevo looking to be peacekeepers doing something good, something noble for a change after the horrors of the 2nd Ancerious War. But alas the curse of the War caught up, never he thought that their old enemy, the Separatist Union would show up.
“Captain sir! Orajevo AFB is getting signals from orbit! Someone is hailing us!” a junior signals officer shouted.
----
“Patch me through,” Captain Daniel sprang into action. He listened to the incoming transmissions. He looked to the signals officer, face lit up and beaming with joy.
“Captain Arthur, Commander Nardin, this is Captain Daniel of the Republik Angkasa Singapura, CO of the 14th Internal Security Battalion of the Nine-Oh-First! Thank Lord Buddha you are here! Today was the last day for our supplies-” the RANGSI Captain tried to contain his excitement, stopping himself to regain some composure and cleared his throat.
“Sitrep are as follows; supply situation critical and the city we are defending is currently being shelled by rebel artillery forces. The anti-orbital launchers that shot down our fleet a month ago are presumed to be still active. Do not land, I repeat, do not land. I need you guys to run planetary scans and find these launchers first.”
Captain Daniel then checked the force list of the Orajevo AFB before returning back to the call. “You find those launchers, give me the coordinates and I will have my fighter squadrons take them out. Then you will be able to safely land near the city. I hope you have some food, fuel and water to spare, the civilians really need it. Captain Daniel out.”
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Player: Cloud (Novakia)
As the Captain waits for the response the commander of the base said to scan the moon for any anti orbital weapons. Which he replied "Got it"
He sent the cruisers and frigates to perform multiple scannings across the surface of Orajevo while in the hangars of the NPN Orion the drop ships are loaded with much needed supplies and materials for repairing of any facility that was damaged and or destroyed. The dropships were also to be escorted by S/A-M-22, 35 and 50 fighters in case any rebellion fighters decided to intercept said dropships.
While the dropship are beginning Preparations the cruisers and destroyed had fully scanned the surface and relayed the coordinates for the Anti orbital weapon platforms to the base commander.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
"This is Nardin good copy on that daniel, we'll be dispatching a wing of scout fighters to ID anti-orbital positions and guide in the strike craft please advise if your airfield is clear of AA at this time as we could attempt land tanks, IFVs and engineering vehicles via heavy lift craft along with some emergency rations and medical staff" Commander Nardin then turned to the comms officer "patch me through to the other fleet" "aye sir, line's open" "This is Battlegroup Commander Nardin to Captain Arthur, requesting intel on the situation, also requesting inter fleet liason to coordinate operations how copy"
Meanwhile aboard the HMS Summit the alarm blared out along with the message over the shipwide PA system "ALL CREW BATTLESTATIONS, REPEAT ALL CREW BATTLESTATIONS, PILOTS REPORT FOR SCRAMBLE" crew dropped their personal tablets on their bunks and hurried from their quarters while pilots ran from their mess halls and bunks to the equipment rooms pulling on G suits and flight helmets and flight crew pulled on their safety vests and rebreathers "comcheck 1,2" "comcheck good, CREW 7 GET ON DECK GO GO" pilots ran to the elevators sealing their masks to their faces as they went the foward pilot elevator already raising to the flight deck. As the final set of pilots was lifted to the deck the warning tone sounded over the flight deck PA and through the pilots and crews helmet intercoms followed by the automated warning "Alert: Hangar doors cycling, ensure breathing apparatus is secure" then the loud mechanical drone of the massive doors opening was heard followed by a loud hiss and a rush of air as the seals opened and the air reclaimers ran sucking it out of the hangar
Aboard the vehicle carrier HMS Burden crews were moving their vics into the holds of the two TC 3 "Supertransporters" docked to the carrier while a medical staff hurried aboard along with their field ambulance while a loading suit stacked crates of food cubes in transporter 2 along with the ambulance and med staff while drums were filled with water from the ships reserves
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Player: Aiman (RANGSI)
“Alright boys and girls lets make this bunker a fucking HQ! Move it!” Captain Daniel triumphantly barked to his HQ section. There was hope, and there was a lot of work to do. If they were to read anything sent by their mysterious foreign allies, they need to set up the place up - get the proper comms relay, laptops and holoscreens up and running so that anything the foreigners send to Orajevo AFB can be processed by them real time. They used to be a HQ section sulking and moping around in an empty basement taking stocks of their increasingly depressing state of supplies. Now, finally things were getting real.
Once the C4I equipment was in place, Captain Daniel felt for the first time ever since he stepped foot here like a real commander. He gave a wide smile as he put on his comms set, now he can communicate with Captain Arthur and Commander Narvin in real time. The scans the Novakians did were shown on the holoscreen, the data was then imported to their own planetary map.
“Good work Captain Arthur, my HQ section is analysing them now. Commander Narvin, the enemy has some AA assets, infantry with MANPADS and some SHORAD vehicles, attached to the artillery units shelling the city. All of my air units will be committed to destroying those anti-orbital launchers, I will update you if we have enough air forces to clear the AA units on their way back, over and out,” Captain Daniel looked at the map.
------
“City Command to Orajevo AFB, targets are up, what is your status, over?” He switched channels to the Orajevo airbase.
“Orajevo AFB to City Command, roger that we see the targets, pilots are gearing up and planes are warming up. It’s been a while since they’re this revved up, over.”
“City Command to Orajevo AFB, copy that, good to hear about the morale. Keep us posted on the battlenet, over and out.”
The 2 squadrons of Paladin IV multi role fighters, each with ten planes, took off from the runway of Orajevo AFB in force, never had they flown such a huge sortie in their time here. Their metallic hydrogen thrusters streaked through the snowy sky as they quickly went straight head for their targets; the AO sites the Novakians scanned.
-------
Across the squadrons the pilots started hearing the dreadful beeping noise of the missile lock alert as the rebel’s Separatist-supplied SAM batteries started locking on to them. The Paladin IV pilots grunted as they steered their plane in erratic directions to shake off the SHORAD miniguns below that filled the sky with lead and blew off flares to throw off any incoming missiles.
“Wolf 3-2 is down!” one of the fighters got their wings shredded by minigun fire, they lost control and one of the AA missiles slammed into it causing it to explode into bits and pieces. As they pierced deeper into the rebel’s AA network, casualties started racking up.
“I see the AO sites!” one of the pilots exclaimed as large trucks with electromagnetic mass drivers came into view, along with spare missiles, fuelling stations and a network of surface-to-orbital fire control systems and sensors. The fire the rebels were putting out into the sky increased, they knew how important those AO sites were.
“Take them out! Take them out!” the Paladin IVs pressed deeper, more and more planes got peppered, torn and blown into bits but they continued, the pilots gritting their teeth determined to give the rebels a one-times-good-one. Once in range they took the shot. Anti-radiation missiles homed on into the AO launchers’ radar signatures. In a matter of minutes, the AO sites were turned into fireballs and flying scrap.
-----------
“Orajevo AFB to City Command, mission accomplished,” Captain Daniel heard on his comms set, his HQ section gave high fives and fist bumps.
“City Command to Orajevo AFB, battlenet registers no friendly aircraft, did their transponders malfunction?” Captain Daniel posed the question, frowning. Suddenly dead silence hung in the air in the face of the grisly possibility.
“Orajevo AFB to City Command, the rebel’s SAM networks were more established than we estimated. All of them did not make it.”
His heart sank, the Captain now started to realize that being a commander also came with the heavy burden of sacrificing the people under him for victory.
“City Command to Orajevo AFB, understood. Their sacrifices were not in vain. Out.”
He switched back channels to Narvin and Arthur. “Captain Arthur, Commander Narvin, all anti-orbital sites are down. However, we lost all our aircraft so we can’t clear out the AA sites outside the city. You have to take them out with your own air assets.”
“I have also pinpointed areas where you can land and set up shop. There is a spaceport in the City where Mercy personnel are ready to receive your supplies. If you are sending any ground reinforcements, the Orajevo AFB has plenty of space to spare.”
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
"This commander Nardin we copy beginning SEAD ops tell your troops to mark their positions with green smoke so our fighters don't bomb them" the comms officer changed channels to the Summit "Summit friendly air assets engaged and destroyed by AA fire we need those destroyed so our supertransporters can land" "Summit copy"
onboard the summit the pilots had boarded their fighters and the flight leads were waiting for mission brief "this is Wing Commander Penrose to all scout and strike actuals we have recieved reports of severe AA threat heavy transport aircraft will be unable to land until you eliminate that AA. Mission plan as follows Type 10s will go in and locate AA and mark it for the Type 20s to hit, sorry lads you got the short stick that AA already killed multiple friendly assets so be quick on the pedals and pop flares as needed, as for you strike jocks you got armour but they got big guns you can't hang around to spot targets yourself, you will be staying in orbit until the scouts signal you, once they signal you dive, hit the target and climb like the darkness wants you back to orbit, it's about speed. Also we're a second line colony munitions are tight don't mess around trying to hit secondaries, AA is your only target also be advised assualt ship is gonna deploy Model As, PID before you shoot, friendly ground targets are marked with green smoke. Alright all pilots understand?" "Understood sir" "good begin launch" Immediately flight crews hurried away as the hangar intercom announced "launch beginning. stand clear" the engines of the Type 10 scout fighters began to glow softly as the accelerator rings charged up while the big chemfuel engines of the Type 20 Heavy fighters ignited, with a loud clunk the wheellocks on the Type 10s released and they began to taxi forward to the launch ramps lining up in four rows along the two flight deck taxiways, the taxi guides signaled the first set of fighters forward and they rolled till the magnetic launch rails locked in with a sharp thump and the blast plates flipped up from the deck to shield the fighters behind them. The two signal lights flicked green and the pilots gunned their engines to max power bright blue jets of elirofuel shooting out the back of the scout fighters then the magnetic launchers fired propelling the fighter,
into space with a sudden rush of Gs the T10s then rolled and descended into the atmosphere pilots nervously scanning their surroundings as they headed lower and began their scout sweeps.
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
"This Is Captain Arthur, copy"
The comms changed channels to the Orions hangar.
"Provide friendly air assets engaged and destroyed by AA weapons. We need those weapons destroyed so that our dropships could land."
Onboard the pilots boarded their fighters and the flight leads were waiting for mission briefing.
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Prossesing data---------------------------
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This is Wing Commander Sheperd to all air units, we have received numerous reports of severe Anti air threat transport and dropships will be unable to land. Eliminate the AA weapons as designated. Mission plan will go as follows
Once you reach the Lower atmosphere of Orajevo follow the SAM-50 fighters to locate and destroy the designated AA turrets, their are also ally aircraft in the battle area so you gotta be quick
Once you had destroyed all the AA turrets escort the dropships and transports to the landing site as interception by enemy aircraft could be inevitable.
--------------------------------------------
Briefing complete
Proceed to runway J11 to take off
--------------------------------------------
The fighters at the hangar bays are now taking of to decent to the battlefield. As in groups of 10, 20 fighters were launched to take out the AA site and provide escorts for the dropships and transports. The engines of the SAM-22 and 35 began to glow as the the launch system begins to roll. The large engines of the 50 were ignited, with a loud clunk the wheelock, the 22s and 35s were released and began to taxi towards the launch ramps lining up 5 rows of 2 decks. Once the magnetic launch rails locked with a sharp thump and the blast plates flipped up to shield the fighters behind them. The lights turn green and the fighters engines turn to max throttle . Bright yellow jets of fuel shooting out the back of the fighters then the magnetic launchers gave way propelling the fighters into space then rolled and descended into the atmosphere.
This is Knocker, proceed to the designated targets. There's also multiple allied fighters so be quick.
With that every pilot had a lock and proceed to fire their MPM missiles. Destroying AA units though 9 aircraft was downed by the time most of the AA were destroyed. Another 2 aircraft were downed by the time every AA unit near the city were destroyed.
Good work, all designated AA sites are neutralized. Proceed to high altitudes and wait for the dropships and transports to decent
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Player: Aiman (RANGSI)
As per Commander Narvin’s wishes, the RANGSI troops within the Main City popped green smoke to indicate that they were friendlies. The combined airstrikes of the Falconian and Novakian aircraft dealt fully with the AA systems outside the city, they had not expected such a swift and overwhelming SEAD response. Their short range and medium AA systems had only been deployed to deal with RANGSI’s battered and meager air forces.
“Sir, troops at the front are reporting good hit on targets. UAV detects no more AA sites around the city.”
“Nice work Captain Arthur and Commander Narvin, all AA targets are destroyed. The skies are clear for your transports to land. Once we are done coordinating the distribution of supplies, I will contact you again to plan the ground operation,” Captain Daniel commended the Falconian and Novakian commanders.
---------------------------------------------
Player: Cloud (Novakian)
"We have received news that all AA sites and transports and dropships are now able to enter the atmosphere of Orajevo"
"That's good news, prepare the transports and dropships to launch. The fighters will escort them to the landing site."
With this the comms turned on
All AA sites had been destroyed, prepare the dropships and transports for launch.
Later dropships are getting ready for launch. As with the loud cluck on the wheel lock the engines of the transports are fired while the dropships are beginning preparations to drop from the lower hangar bays.
Once the lights turned green for the transports and the dropships the transports were launched and the dropships were dropped from the ventral bay of the Orion.
They dive into the atmosphere like falling meteorites before slowing down into the deeper parts of the atmosphere.
This is knocker, the fighters will escort you to the city in case any enemy fighters appeared.
It will take them atleast several minutes to reach the landing site before they were able to drop supplies to the main city. The the Captain Hope's that the mission will be a success as a whole.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
"Summit Nardin Scout flybys confirm AA suppressed" "Copy that Summit landing will commence good work. comms switch me to the Burden" "aye" "Burden this is command airspace clear begin troop landings at friendly AFB" "Burden copy" the two supertransporters undocked and bore away from their carrier firing their secondary engines and unfolding their wings the flight captain of Transporter 1 pulled on his headset and dialed in his radio "Airbase tower this is Transporter 1 on orbital approach request clearance" upon recieving clearance the two heavy transports descended into the atmosphere the icy winds buffeting them as they came down and began final approach into Orajevo AFB meanwhile in orbit the Jackson Class Assualt Ship "Trojan" was beginning her decent into the atmosphere as well crew buckling in as her artificial gravity normalized to the gravity of Orajevo and the hard shuddering of a large ship descending was felt as she steered in to land Section Officer Rhydian Pierce addressed the Falcon-Op troops on board over the ship's PA "Alright listen up this is important! we are currently decending to a world under siege by some filthy suncursed traitors who call themselves freedom fighters, well I would call them filth scorned by Sol'Aa for they are not like our good ancestors who looked after the weak! NO they have left the innocent to starve! SO WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THERE! SHOW THOSE WORTHLESS BEASTS WHAT REAL FREEDOM FIGHTERS LOOK LIKE AND DRIVE THEM BACK TO THE SCORNED DARKNESS THEY CAME FROM AND WHEN WE DO THAT WE TELL THEM.... THAT THEY WILL TAKE NO ONE INNOCENT WITH THEM! NOW GET TO YOUR DEPOLYMENT BAYS" the ships depolyment alarm immdieatly sounded and the soldiers leapt up and ran to their armouries pulling on body armour and running power checks on their rifles and bayonets while the Team Sargeants called for their men to sound off and button on their thermal cloaks and the Section Quartermaster issued standard rations out as troops made their way....
to the deployment bays as soon as they all assembled in their bays the ships Drop Officer gave the briefing to the Team Officers "alright as per the SO's address we are landing on a besieged planet, our objective is to break the siege and assist in humanitarian efforts. We are going to be meeting friendly local forces on the ground and helping them with the breakout, comms suggest they are called the Republik Angcasa also there is another nation assisting us called the Novakian Federation due to limited data PID brief will be on the ground once we have exchanged info. for planetary weather conditions expect extreme cold best we can tell the surface is made of ice as such regular blood antifreeze injections will be administered and you will be issued additional portable fires as possible. everyone understand?" "Yes sir" "good tell off to your units and brief them touchdown in 10" the immense shap of the Trojan was now clearly visible to the airbase personel her vertical thrusters making a mini snowstorm underneath her
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Player: Aiman (RANGSI)
For the first time since the start of the siege, there was a modicum of activity around the spaceport and other landing areas as the Novakian and Falconian transports dropped off their humanitarian supplies. These were eagerly received by the volunteers of the Mercy Without Borders, whether human or alien, any Falconian or Novakian who saw them could clearly tell they had seen better days. Starvation showed in their pale, almost skeletal faces, their eyes were strained from the constant shelling kicking up dirt and dust, and bandages stained with blood were tell-tale signs of fresh wounds earned in the combat zone. The volunteers loaded the supplies onto trucks, blessed the Falconian and Novakian transport crews before they left, and went around the city distributing them to the civilians.
Then, another air raid siren went off. Before the Mercy convoys could respond, the city was hit with numerous explosions. The rebels had continued their barrage, and in response to the destruction of their AO and AA units, they intensified it even further with a heavier artillery barrage. Some trucks were blown off the streets and the humanitarian cargo within burned to a crisp from the incendiary rounds. Surviving Mercy volunteers could do nothing but simply break down and cry as their hopes were dashed at the very last moment. Now, there was only enough supplies to last a single day.
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The HQ bunker shook as one of the artillery rounds hit nearby. Captain Daniel cursed the worst the Mandarin vocabulary had to offer on the rebels, such was unfitting for a disciple of the Eightfold Path such as he, but the rebels’ evils were simply too great to ignore.
“Captain Arthur, Commander Narvin, the rebels just shelled us again and took out some of the supply trucks! If the rebel forces outside the city aren’t dealt with, they will continue to shell the city! UAV aren’t picking them up from the air, it is likely they are hiding their artillery units with the use of some stealth technologies that hide them from airborne surveillance. I need some of your fastest ground troops to close in on them and pin them down while my gunships provide close air support. I will also deploy a tank platoon to flank the rebel infantry outside the city,” Captain Daniel radioed.
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Player: Cloud (Novakia)
"This is the Captain, we will show them what's like to face the might of the Novakian military." After saying that here put ground control to commander Tyknar. While he ordered scout units to scout the nearby area for any enemy forces surrounding the city, then relay the data back to ground control. Once this is done Tyknar will order an infantry and a recon platoon to begin preparations for combat. He radioed Daniel about the mission as the infantry are waiting for the green light. Once received the green light they will enroute to the enemy forces ASAP.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
With a deafening rumble the Trojan Touched down at Orajevo AFB snow and ice swirling as her front ramps dropped and Falcon-Op soldiers hurried off, shuddering at the cold as their thermal cloaks flapped in the wind, SO Pierce pulled his cloak close around him as he stepped down the ramp, he turned to one of his auxilliaries "do they speak our language?" "Aye, they do Sir" "Great then, we shall have a easy time of this" he replied as they walked over to a LTV 1 that had just unloaded from Transporter 1, a pair of cold looking technicians from the HMS Burden had just finished readying it for service and quickly saluted as he got in before hurrying back into their transport to warm up in the personnel cabin "to the city I presume Sir?" the auxilliary inquired "Indeed" Pierce responded as the electric engine kicked on and the small vehicle trundled aloung the broken cratered road going as quickly as it could without tipping on the battered surface till it arrived in Orajevo, just as they pulled up to the bunker the siren blared and Peirce and his staff bailed from the vehicle and ran heads down into the bunker. Once inside Pierce dusted himself off and took a deep breath to calm his mind then turned to his three auxilliaries "right lets meet our peers shall we?" he turned and marched smartly into the command centre stopping in front of Captain Daniel with a sharp salute "Captain Daniel, I am Section Officer Ryhdian Pierce. I will be coordinating Falconian ground operations for the duration of this mission"
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Captain Daniel returned the Falconian Section Officer’s salute. “Glad to have you here, Section Officer Rhydian Pierce.”
He gestured to one of his subordinate officers. A young Malay woman, approximately in her early 20s, came to him.
“This is Lieutenant Amirah. She is my second in command. She will help your staff to settle in. Lieutenant, find a space where they can set up their equipment and get Lieutenant Kevin to find some universal adapters so their equipment can interface with ours,” Captain Daniel introduced his XO to the Section Officer. Lieutenant Kevin was the signals officer, the setting up of all the C4I equipment in the bunker was overseen by him.
“Yes sir,” Lieutenant Amirah nodded. She motioned Pierce’s staff to follow her.
“The Novakians are an eager bunch, they have an infantry company and a recon platoon ready to attack the rebels outside the city. How are your troops doing in the airbase Section Officer?” Captain Daniel asked.
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Player: Russel (Falconian)
"They were settling in well and preparing for a mechanized push once the Novakians found the guns, I'm unsure of their status currently with the most recent barrage, We'll get a report as soon as comms are up. Whats the current status of your forces around the city, I saw it's taken a beating" he took out his folding portable computer " briefing says water and powers been knocked out, correct? we got a couple portable generators and can get extra supplies shipped in if need be" the bunker shuddered a little from a nearby shell burst and one of the auxilliaries working with Lt. Amirah fearfully scanned the ceiling for cracks
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“I wish it was better man, we spent one month in this frozen hellhole surviving off I-Rations, recycled plankton and barely any clean water. If you guys didn’t come today, tomorrow we will absolutely have nothing left and would have just starved to death right there,” Daniel sighed. “The extra supplies will definitely help, but for the long term airlifts aren’t sustainable with the civilian population we have on hand, plus the rebels are gonna know what’s up and deploy their AA and artillery units to shoot down your transports.”
“Which brings us to the objective of Operation Restore Hope,” he used a holo-wand to indicate markings on the virtual map. He also connected the feed to include the Novakian ground commander Tyknar. “This planet’s climate gives anyone without heaters instant frostbite, its water is toxic and its snow sure as hell can’t support anything edible. The first step towards resolving this supply crisis is to capture three types of facilities; power plants for electricity, greenhouses for food and water plants for clean water. We capture enough of these facilities, and we will have enough supplies to stave off the crisis for the long run. The rebels won’t dare to destroy these facilities, it would be tantamount to suicide.”
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Daniel drew an arrow towards the three rebel infantry companies and the missing artillery units camping outside the city. “First phase of Operation Restore Hope is to find and destroy these rebel units besieging the city. Then you will have a small window for you to airlift what supplies you can spare before the rebels will likely start deploying long range AA units, if the Separatist Union gave them any.”
He then drew a circle to where the sieging units would be destroyed. “We will then regroup our forces here and launch the attack to capture the essential facilities on this ice plate the locals call the Suzuya Plate, sweeping in a circular motion until we reach the harbour. We secure the Suzuya Plate, we give ourselves some breathing room before we can proceed to the other Ice Plates.”
“This is my rough plan for Operation Restore Hope the finer details can be discussed further, do you guys have any questions?”
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
"All Understood" Pierce replied then turned to his liason "Signal the Novakians green light to begin" then keyed his comm patch "Dagger Actual All Dagger Callsigns Report"
Orajevo AFB
The Falconian forces were somewhat shaken from the bombardment but still stable and combat ready and the mechanized section was assembled and ready to move. Sgt Marius looked over his forces then pulled himself up on his team's IFV shuddering from the cold, the blood antifreeze kept him safe from frostbite but it didn't make the bitter biting cold any better and in the bulk of his armour his thermal cloak didn't cover him very well, the team Scan Officer listened briefly then responded "Dagger 1-4 Status Green ready for orders"
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
"This is Tyknar, Understood"he replied, Later he received the green light from the Falconian forces to strike .
"This is your commander, we have Recived the green light, let's go destroy those infantry and artillery company and open a small window for our transports. Apart from this we will join with the Falconian forces at the rendezvous point to capture the facilities and eventually, the harbour.
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Player: Aiman (RANGSI)
Orajevo AFB
The airbase was a rush of activity despite the biting cold of winter. Three Zekop gunships were being thawed out of storage, several crewmen were scrambling to make them combat ready shaving off ice that built up on the chassis, refuelling and warming up the metallic hydrogen engines and running quick diagnostics checks. Unmanned transport drones ferried ATGM and unguided rocket pods as well as several ammo belts worth of 7.62mm rounds and 40mm grenades to the Zekop hangars, where cranes would then unload and attach them to where they are needed. Within 30 minutes, two Zekop gunships were hovering away from the airbase, forming up to provide covering fire for the Novakian and Falconian forces. The third Zekop still needed extensive repairs as the ice ended up seeping into the engines, damaging the internal parts, and technicians would need to replace them if they ever wanted to fly.
On the other side, in the city garrison located along the eastern coastline, the 2nd Tank Company was being mobilised for their deployment. In similar vein to the Zekops, Archer 3B main battle tanks that had been placed in ‘cold storage’ - initially meant to be cannibalised for armor, ammo and fuel to sustain the mechanized infantry companies in the defensive, were being dusted out and refitted to the best they can for Operation Restore Hope. They used to have more tanks, but both the destruction of their fleet in orbit where the rest of the 14th ISB were held as reserve and the gradual scrapping of armored vehicles to make makeshift turrets and armored bunkers withered their numbers down to a single company of 14 available tanks.
---
Lieutenant Fauzi was more than happy to step back into his command tank and get back right into the action. His blood was boiling for a fight against the local rebels, he had lost a lot of good soldiers and friends to them and now he was going to make them pay for every dog tag he had in his utility pouch. As he climbed down into the hatch and switched on the Archer 3B’s systems, he ran through his orders. Flank the rebel forces outside the Main City, assist the combined Novakian and Falconian advance and provide cover fire as they find and destroy the artillery unit.
“Alpha Actual to all 2nd Coy callsigns, advance to Objective Anna,” with his order, 14 tanks of the 2nd Tank Company rolled out from the underpass that they have been using as shelter and an ad-hoc vehicle depot and rumbled through the snow and ice towards the rebel forces.
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Player: Aiman (Rebels)
Meanwhile, on the rebel’s side, deep in the rebel’s HQ in Outpost 331 located on the Tulsya Plate.
“Comrade Major, this doesn’t look too good,” Captain Petrov commented as the holoscreens showed the evolving situation. All their anti-orbital weapons were destroyed, they had not been expecting a sudden change in posture by the RANGSI forces, and above all they had not been expecting additional reinforcements on the RANGSI side. Whoever these new players were, they were a complication to their plans.
“Perhaps our mistake was not taking the initiative,” Major Jin In-Sung glared at the scruffy, heavily bearded miner in front of him. Chief of Mining Operations, Theodore H. Vondekaff, also known by his local rebel followers as ‘Bossman’, shrugged. Before all this, he had suggested to his Separatist Union allies that they stayed put after pushing the RANGSI and government forces all the way to the Main City, starving the city first before moving on to capture the prized nanofuel refineries. His rationale was to spare his own men from being slaughtered in urban warfare. Major Jin initially was not pleased, but seeing as the Separatist Union needed his men to achieve their objective he played along. Bossman had seen many things in his 50 years of living independent, he knew better than to simply buy the communist ideology without ‘reading through the tea leaves’.
“Well then, Comrade Major, give me some reinforcements then we can take the Main-”
“No, Comrade Theodore,” Major Jin cut him off. “I’ve lost expensive assets, assets YOUR men were supposed to be protecting. Your mistake, your responsibility.”
----
Bossman spitted to the side, indicative of how much he respected the Separatist Union Major. He walked off to his own table, looked at the map of the Suzuya Plate, consulted with his advisors and made some calls to the local rebel commanders. He told them to prepare for an enemy offensive and ordered all forces on the Suzuya Plate, now scattered as disparate garrisons, to prepare to regroup for an assault on the Main City.
However, Bossman’s orders were slow to pass through to the Suzuya Plate. A combination of bad weather, poor communications equipment and complacent attitudes of the miners-turned-rebels made them slow to receive and react. As it stands, the three rebel infantry companies and the single artillery company they were protecting were on their own. They were poorly equipped with surplus assault rifles, a mish-mash of random tactical webbings and stolen plate carriers and civilian tractors souped up with a heavy machine gun and some armor to serve as ad-hoc APCs. Their artillery company did not fare any better with the same tractors now converted into a mortar carrier, but the Separatist Union did give them special camo nets and signal jammers to deter air attacks the RANGSI would launch from the Orajevo AFB.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
The orders came through "Begin assault, all units push to Line Alpha" Outskirts of Orajevo a few minutes later the T-120 IFVs rumbled out across the ice plate accompanied by the T-150 MBTs trailing a short distance behind to provide overwatch fire with their targeting drones hovering 20ish feet above the formation. The formation leader called "section halt" over the radio, Marius shouted out "Troops dismount!" as he pulled the reactor start catch of his armour then dropped down off the IFV as the four microreactors powering his suit popped and the the exoskeleton powered up, the weight of his armour fading away and being replaced by the artificial strength of of the exoskeleton's joints as the hud popped up on his faceplate. He unslung his EPAR and powered it on as the Team Officer barked out "Team pattern 1 advance!" the troops fanned out into a well spaced line and hurried toward the positions in a steady jog powered boots crunching through the snow. Inside the hull of T-150 No 115 "Perin's fist" Team Officer Rothgar watched his holoscreen as his tanks targeting drone swept the snowfield in front of them "gunner load AP" he ordered as he continued to watch the field ahead of them, a ping came up on screen showing a unknown contact and he zoomed in attempting to verify what it was, seeing nothing he switched the drone camera and spotted some form of jury rigged tractor with a mortar manned by armed men in mix match gear "gunner engage contact!" he marked the target on his screen and felt the turret swing as the gunner told the system to align to the target "fire!" he barked and felt the thud and jolt of the main gun firing.
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Player: Cloud (Novakia)
Outside the main city
All of the 1 recon and 1 infantry unit had started to charge into the enemy artillery and infantry companies with some Small IFV in the recon unit escorting the forces. Once nearing the targets, the commander said "We go in, weapon free on the enemy. Kill anything you see, give no mercy on them." After nearing the target the commander ordered the forces ot halt which then several drones are launched to scout the area for any potential threat to the infantry and recon units. The drones later detected several tractors rigged to have weaponry on them with a mortar manned by men in several variations of combat gears. "Take them out, we still have the one infantry company to take care of"he shouted as the recon units with its several IFVs and the infantry units charged towards the enemy mortar companies.
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“Nice, winner winner chicken dinner,” one of the rebel soldiers mumbled as he put away his smartphone. He warmed up his gloves hands near a portable gas cooker - sitting on a crate in a makeshift tentage next to an APC? Guard duty was not the first thing that came to mind when he signed up for the uprising.
“Peyansky playing that GUBG shit again?!” a comrade-sergeant crouched into the tentage. He put down his backpack and rifle, grabbed one of the RANGSI MREs probably left behind in some warehouse then redistributed as part of the general food supply, and poured its contents into a mess tin. “Come on man you’re supposed to be on watch today. Won’t be my ass if the sergeant-major comes.”
“Tell Comrade Desmond he can suck on my balls, better than rotting out there looking at nothin-” suddenly there was a rumbling, roaring sound in the distance. Both of them looked at each other. The guard then quickly ran out of the tent. The tent then exploded.
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The Novakian and Falconian’s aggressive advance caught the half-asleep half-horsing-around rebel forces off guard and hit them so hard and fast they did not have time to pick up their weapons. With additional support from the Zekops overhead, one rebel infantry company and the now-revealed artillery company was no more.
On the other side, the RANGSI 2nd Tank Company had flanked the second rebel infantry company and took up firing positions wherever it was favourable, behind rocks for cover or on top of hills and ridges to occupy a vantage point. Streaks of blue lightning cracked through the frosty air as plasma-sheathed railguns fired 130mm HEAT shells at the APCs, turning them into wreck and fireballs while machine guns mounted on the turret copulas took pot shots at the panicked infantry.
The third and last of the rebel detachment, one remaining infantry company, had enough time amidst the chaos to pack up the essentials and they retreated to Water Plant A-991.
Captain Daniel nodded attentively as he obtained the sit-rep from the 2nd Coy, deleting the rebel unit icons as they were eliminated in that swift and decisive strike. “This is Captain Daniel, UAVs are reporting good effects on targets. Only one infantry company made it out, they were spotted moving towards to Water Plant A-991.”
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“Let’s proceed as planned. Regroup and send reinforcements if you have any, we are going to need all we can get to sweep the rebels off this plate,” Daniel turned to XO Amirah. “Amirah tell the 12th and 15th Mec-Inf to prep and be at Objective Bravo in one hour.”
The XO nodded and issued the Captain’s orders to the mechanized rifle companies he wanted for the fight. Switching from the defensive to the offensive, riflemen were moving fast to pack up their gear, ammunition and other supplies from the trenches and load them into their APCs. They were pumped full of vigour, finally they were going to get some action and stretch their legs after proning and squatting in their ad-hoc line of fire trenches, shellscrapes and foxholes. Once they were done, the soldiers mounted into their APCs and they moved off to join the 2nd Tank Company and their allies at the rendezvous point, reaching it in nearly an hour, hopefully enough time for the Falconians and the Novakians to send some extra help.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
As panicked rebels laid down scattered fire, the grenadiers rotaries growled laying down a thick spray of bullets while the other men blasted any who stood fast with their EPARs. Marius rushed a rebel trench bullets rattling off his armour and chucked a grenade into it before blasting another rebel as he tried to flee, while in the background the IFVs autocannons pounded any rebel vehicles they could see. At the same time Rothgar's tanks hurled HE rounds at the vehicles of the retreating Rebel third company from their firing positions behind the camp.
Orajevo AFB
At the airbase the Infantry Company and Support Company had been given marching orders to move up to the old rebel positions. The Airfield was now again a flurry of activity as Falconian troops readied to march and militiamen settled in grumbling heavily about the cold.
Command Centre
Section Officer Pierce relayed his orders to the company commands through his Scan Officer "Mech Coy. hold your positions and wait for the other companies to arrive. Rifle and Support Companies are to push to point Alpha and join mechanized element there. Miltia companies are to ready for march to join them once we have secured forward postions." he then changed the channel and dictated "Summit Air assets stand by for tasking. forward control will be transferred to Novakian and Rangsi Forces" he then turned to his liason axilliary and instructed "Relay our comm data for ground attack assets to Cpt Daniel and Cmdr Tyknar"
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
The rebels were caught a "little" off guard by the sudden attack by the Novakian forces. As they tried to combat the forces they were quickly overwhelmed by the attack. The IFVs of the recon layed down a thick layer off bullets while the men fired into the trenches to kill any unlucky rebels who are still alive. In the background several Rebel vehicles tried to stop the unit but the IFVs managed to destroy them before they can reach us. Although the artillery units were destroyed, capturing the essential facilities may be harder Tynak ordered a tank company arrive asap and support the rest if another rebel forces try to take back the positions
Orajevo AFB
At the AFB an order by the comander was given to a tank company stationed there to join to join the Novakian forces at the now old rebel position at ■■■■. The Airforce base now a flurry of activity as Novakian personnel are rushing to their tanks as they started its engines and turned on their anti freeze. It didn't take that long before they had moved out and is now enroute to the Novakian held position.
"I have called a tank company to arrive to our current position to join our forces. Hold your position until the tank units had arrived, once they have arrived the recon platoons will join the infantry units." it didn't take much time before the tank company had arrived at the now Novakian position.
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Water Plant A-991
11th Revolutionary Detachment
“Comrade Sergeant-Major!” rebels guarding the water plant rushed to help him up as he emerged from smoked up APC, peppered with bullet holes. Shrapnel dug deep in his shoulders, torso and face, the sergeant-major of the sieging detachment grunted in pain as he tried to press on his wounds to stop the bleeding.
“Those RANGSIs…” he coughed violently as he was put against the wall for support. He grabbed the collar of the nearest soldier. “They launched an attack...they got friends...it was all too sudden…”
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“Damn the stars! I gotta tell the commander! Sergeant-Major sir! Take this and press it on your wounds help is on the way!” the soldier rushed into action after throwing him a clean towel and some bandages. He ran into the command center, the control room of the Water Plant, just in time to bump into the commander of the 11th Revolutionary Detachment, the rebel unit guarding the Water Plant.
“Comrade Private! What’s all the commotion outside about?!” the iron-eyed lady dressed in a brown winter jacket with a tactical webbing worn over it, data pads, maps and radios all hooked up to various parts of the webbing.
“Commander Zara!” the rebel soldier saluted. “RANGSI forces have launched a counterattack against the siege units! Only one company made it here, it’s likely they will come after us, ma’am!”
Zara’s eyes widened. She nodded, told the private to mobilise the rest, and went back inside to relay the message to all nearby rebel units. The imperialist forces of the Republik Angkasa are coming.
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717 GUN SQN
“Seven-Actual to Seven-Bravo, we got orders to check out the Water Plant,” Lieutenant Gayali, the leader of the three-Zekop gunship squadron - the only gunship squadron left on this frozen moon, radioed to the other Zekop gunship. The two gunships advanced, flying over the massing Novakian ground units, towards their objective carefully, observing both distance and altitude.
“Damn, can’t see anything in this snow. Switching to thermals,” Seven-Bravo radioed. The moment he said that, beeps echoed throughout the cockpit. It was a missile lock.
“Missile lock! Missile lock!” Gayali yanked the gunship away and fired off chaffs. The anti-air missile narrowly missed his Zekop, it went for the flares and exploded below him.
“Seven-Actual! It’s fucking beehive in the Water Plant! They got MANPADS infantry hidden inside the damn complex! AA vehicles in the outer perimeter, looks like trucks with miniguns and MANPADS!”
“Stay with me Bravo!” Gayali swayed side to side, avoiding the subsequent streams of tracers whizzing past. “Any heavy equipment?”
“No sir!” minigun fire from the ground then tore off the right wing hardpoint of Seven-Bravo. “I suggest we get the hell out of here!”
“Alright we've seen enough let’s bug out!” the two gunships pulled away from the Water Plant. “Seven Actual of 717 to Air Command, we’ve got the intel but my wingman is damaged. We are RTB for repairs. Transmitting intel to you now.”
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“Captain Daniel here,” he picked up the call from Orajevo AFB. “Hmmm...Hmmm...yes….alright thank you for the help.”
“Captain Daniel to all attacking forces, an estimated company-sized AA force is present in the Water Plant along with two infantry companies, one full and one half-manned. Proceed with caution, and be careful not to destroy the water plant,” Daniel radioed on the joint channel as he updated his battle map.
He temporarily switched off his mike, and turned over to Section Officer Pierce. “Section Officer Pierce, since you’re here do you have any recon assets to spare? A recon sweep of the whole plate will give us a good idea...and plus…”
“Plus, I have a bad feeling about the harbour. One month ago when they pushed us back to the Main City, the harbour was where they offloaded heavier stuff like tanks and IFVs, proper Separatist-supplied ones to boot, none of those juryrigged tractors. I need to know if their tank forces are still at the harbour, or if they moved to somewhere else.”
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Combined RANGSI Counterattack Forces
2nd Tank Company, 12th Mechanized Rifles, 15th Mechanized Rifles
“We got the orders to take the Water Plant!” Lieutenant Fauzi shouted as he quickly threw away the cigarette and readied his gear for combat again. Lieutenant Ghanesh and Lieutenant Ming Jun, commanders of the 12th and 15th Mechanized Rifle Companies respectively, did the same, threw snow on the makeshift campfire and started radioing their platoon sergeants to quickly organize the men.
Fauzi hopped into the tank along with his crew. The Archer 3B, callsign Second-Lead and nicknamed ‘Fury’, hummed to life as its electric engines were switched back on.
“How are we going to do this Fauzi?” LT Ghanesh asked over the comms channel.
“My tanks are going to set up a blocking position and hold off any rebel reinforcements, if any. Command says there is a high chance the whole Plate knows of our counter-attack.”
“Sounds good, keep us covered while me and Ghanesh storm the Water Plant,” LT Ming Jun.
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Player: Russel (Falconian)
Pierce replied "I have the Summit's scout fighters but they would be at risk from any AA fire the rebels may be able to bring up, aside from that my scout assets are pretty limited. Another thing, Commander Nardin wishes to assess the viability of limited orbital strikes near the port"
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
It didn't take long before the tank companies had arrived and the Novakian held position. Once the recon platoon had merged with the infantry units. Later Cmdr Tyknar ordered the units to move out to the Water plant to take out the estimated enemy forces at the location
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Captain Daniel shook his head at Pierce’s suggestion. “I’m afraid I can’t allow that, Officer Pierce. Orajevo’s ice plates would crack open with any sort of orbital bombardment, it’s already in a bad shape from the icequake as it is. Well, then I guess we should secure the Water Plant quickly. It may give us a good vantage point, and intel if any, to scout out the rebel forces in the other facilities.”
“Sir, I got word from 1st Arty Coy and the 8th Logs Platoon, they are ready and awaiting your orders,” Lieutenant Amirah announced.
“Good, get them to move out and establish positions at Objective Anna to support the offensive,” Daniel nodded.
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Water Plant A-991
Water Plant A-991 was a fortress spewing barrages of machinegun fire and rocket propelled grenades at the attacking forces. The rebel forces were heavily dug in into every building and crevice of the water plant and were very determined to hold the position until other rebel forces on the Suzuya Plate can come to their aid. Even the forces guarding the perimeter that were steamrolled by the sheer weight of the attack put up some fight with the few RPGs they had to inflict some damage before they arrived at the main meat of the objective.
The facility could be divided into three operational battlezones; the Pipelines, the Treatment Plants and the Corporate Office Complex.
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The Pipelines located on the left drew water from the planet’s toxic oceans, the rows of huge and small pipes layered horizontally one after another would make the fighting to secure them akin to a strange sort of trench warfare where the only way forward was to climb over the pipes - and expose themselves to all sorts of fire.
The Treatment Plants on the right were complexes consisting of circular tanks where the raw water is treated and processed to become usable and a few clusters of rectangular shipping containers repurposed as workers’ quarters and smaller offices. Here was a labyrinth that favoured a strange mix of mountain and open warfare - below on the ground rebel ATGM and machine gun tractors prowl the wide open roads between the water tanks while a few squads worth of RPG troopers and snipers somehow managed to climb their way on top, where they await to ambush enemy forces passing through.
Finally, the Corporate Office Complex, this was perhaps the most important building as it was not only the tallest but also contained the ‘HQ’ of A-991 - the control office needed to digitally coordinate the Plant’s processes and the underground fusion reactor that supplies power for all its needs. The rebels made it abundantly clear how important it was - it was the most fortified. Windows and rooftops were turned into machine gun nests, sniper nests and ATGM positions that covered the middle road leading straight to the Office Complex making any hasty frontal assault very costly. Any troops looking to secure the Complex must bear the burden of bloody urban combat as they fight floor-by-floor, room-by-room to clear out the rebels garrisoned inside.
----------------
Water Plant A-991
12th Mechanized Rifles, 15th Mechanized Rifles
“Twelfth Lead to Fifteenth Lead, sitrep over,” LT Ghanesh radioed.
“Fifteenth Lead to Twelfth Lead, I lost approximately a platoon. How about you?” LT Ming Jun replied.
“Half a platoon. I hope our allies fared better because we are going to need all we can get to take that fortress of an office complex,” Ghanesh grunted as the command IFV shook from a stray RPG round that exploded nearby. “All friendly forces rally at the warehouses in front we can use the building for cover and as a temporary FOB to direct our next moves.”
----
The warehouses in front of the three operational zones of the A-991 was a logistical nexus before the civil war. Here, clean water was either piped into water trucks or packaged into barrels and bottles for transportation to the Main City and the Outposts. Now, their enormous shelters were excellent places for cover against the rebels’ missiles and guns, a brief respite to house the wounded from the initial breakthrough into the perimeter. However they cannot stay here for long lest they get bombarded by mortars or get flanked from the sides.
“Alright guys, I got a plan,” Ghanesh broadcasted over the allied commanders’ channel where the Novakian and Falconian commanders for this attack were included.
“Here on out, it's gonna be fierce fighting. The middle road to the complex is a no-go, as we briefly saw in our initial attack the office complex is heavily fortified and it is highly likely the middle road lies right in their killzone. The best way is to flank the complex through both the Pipelines and the Treatment Plants. Both sites provide good cover from the complex’s overhead fire, but it would still be fierce fighting within the individual sites itself.”
“My 12th will take the Pipelines on the right, Ming Jun’s 15th will take the Treatment Plants on the left. I need either nation to take either side, you guys better decide fast though,” Ganesh ended his briefing over the comms, waiting for the Novakians and Falconians to respond.
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Player: Russel (Falconian Empire)
"This is Dagger 1 Actual 4th section will be with you on the pipeline assault" "Dagger 2 Actual, Grenadiers will assault the treatment plant, our equipment will be useless among the pipes, also be advised our vics aren't fitted for cold weather fighting we have a few frozen drive boxes and an IFV crew reports drive shaft has snapped"
As the section officers radioed out their replies shivering troops trudged through the snow icicles hanging from their helmet brims as their breath came out in icy plumes, the freezing air burning their lungs as they marched "And here I thought we were getting a sun cursed break from war" a private grumbled as he pushed through a drift, a cold looking medic moved up the line calling out "arms out, antifreeze injections" the private stuck out his right arm from under his thermal cloak and felt the sharp jab of the needle then quickly tucked it back into his cloak
The grenadier section was faring worse, while the initial attack had gone amazingly the following march to the water treatment plant was taking a toll on them, the vehicles drive units hadn't been treated with cold weather lubricant and where freezing up in the cold, also some of them were fitted with low quality parts due to the stress on supply lines due to the Imperian wars due to this three of the IFVs were now stopped dead and their platoons had to guard the stricken vehicles till a engineering unit could be brought up to fix the snapped drive shaft and defrost the drive units
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Player: Cloud (Novakian)
"This is Tyknar, we will be with you on the assault on the Treatment Plants, The Tank company will be at the perimeter of the treatment plant to provide any artillery support if needed while the recon and infantry platoons will support your troops in the engagement." Tyknar replied while ordering his units to move to the location.
As the units moved out the recon and infantry units jumped onto the tanks while they began to move to the treatment plant.
After reaching at the location the recon and infantry platoons immediately went into firing positions while the tanks moved into artillery position ready for support is needed.
---------------
Water Plant A-991
Treatment Plants
As the 15th and the Novakians roll into the Treatment Plants, the rebel soldiers licked their freezing cold lips beneath their balcavas as they awaited the signal to attack. They gripped onto their weapons anxious with anticipation.
Laying prone on the treatment silos, rebels with RPGs and sniper rifles waited for the Novakian tanks and RANGSI IFVs to come closer.
“Now.”
RPGs streaked towards the Novakian and RANGSI vehicles, while the snipers on top were landing shots on any infantry in their gunsights. Gunfire filled the road as two heavy machine gun positions, entrenched in a well camouflaged makeshift sandbag bunker built in the remains of a guardpost, unleashed in short rapid bursts so as to keep the attackers suppressed. The 15th’s infantry quickly dispersed and took cover behind the silos itself, the surviving IFVs also scattered to the left and right. One of them even managed to throw up a smokescreen before a RPG smashed into its turret, blowing it off completely. The damaged IFV survived and managed to reverse back to safety, but without any weaponry whatsoever to support the infantry.
“Every platoon have at least one section keeping fire on the snipers up top! Fire Movement ladies and gentlemen! Suppress the enemy and keep moving forward until we reach close enough to overwhelm them!” Lieutenant Ming Jun began barking into the radio to command and control his troops. “Commander Tyknar! Status on your troops!”
------
Pipelines
The Pipelines was as it was promised; a fiery mockery of trench warfare as both sides were locked behind the enormous pipes, reluctant to throw anything too heavy for the fear of damaging the only thing on the Suzuya Plate that kept them hydrated.
“Sir Ghanesh, they got machine guns and marksman rifles on elevated positions just ahead, on the walkways. We can’t move forward until they are taken out, or at least suppressed,” a platoon Master Sergeant reported to Lieutenant Ghanesh.
“Dagger Two-Actual this is 12th Lead, I hope your forces are holding out fine because if we are going to move forward my troops need all the covering fire you can give,” he radioed while flinching from the thunderous ‘thwang’ of a high caliber bullet ricocheting off his command IFV. “My plan is to launch a smokescreens and launch flashbangs into the enemy positions to stun them, then your troops give us cover fire while we rapidly move forward and overwhelm their positions. With any luck, we will be able to secure and neutralize the rebel positions here with minimal casualties.”
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Player: Russel (Falconians)
"12 Lead, Dagger Two-Actual copy that we'll attempt to lay down some cover." the officer turned to his section "Alright boys republik folk need some cover, shred these cursed bevahriin" "Aye sir" a sargeant shouted back then called out "quadrant 12, hit em with the rotaries" there was a faint whine followed by a loud BRRRRRRRRRR as a storm of bullets ripped from the section's miniguns hosing the gantry with a mixture of standard and explosive rounds
------
Meanwhile the 1st Infantry section was still slogging through the cold toward the treatment plant at as fast a march as could be maintained through the snow and driving wind. Windburned troops shivered and grumbled as they marched, the faint rattle of gunfire audible in the distance ahead of them
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Player: Cloud (Novakians)
"this is the commander, our recon units are fine, they just got into position and has started to fire upon the enemy. RPGs had struck our tanks, luckily they survived with only minor damages. Some of our Infantry units aren't so lucky, some on tanks got killed by RPGs while some was sniped. But things are going well for the most part." the commander later turned to his recon platoons and his tank company. "Alright soldiers our allies need some cover, gun those enemy snipers on top immediately. You tank boys hit em with those machine guns and not tank rounds, we do not want to damage the facility here."
----------------‐-----------‐-----------------------------------
While the recon unit lay down storms of bullets the tanks machine gun started to fire bullets hosting explosive and frag shells.
-------
Treatment Plants
Ming Jun counted his losses. Another half of a platoons’ worth was lost to machine gun and sniper fire, making it one and a half platoon lost in battle in total.
The Novakians’ suppressive fire worked as it intended, the rebel squads on top were either killed by the frag shells or were forced to disengage and pull back from the edges. The main suppressive element of the rebels’ firepower was effectively lost, allowing the RANGSI forces to push forward. The roads were still covered by makeshift ATGM and heavy machine gun positions, so Ming Jun opted to storm through their less defended flanks. Infantry mounted back into their IFVs, some even rode on top to provide additional firepower. RANGSI mechanized troops stormed through the rebels’ flanks like a lightning cavalry. Some IFVs even bashed into sandbag positions crushing anyone unlucky enough to man those positions underneath its treads. RANGSI riflemen squads promptly disembarked after that short journey and began eliminating the rear. Some were tasked to climb on top of the treatment vats and clear out the snipers and RPG troopers once and for all.
“Novakian commander this is 15th Lead, the top’s clear and we got them at the rear. You are clear to proceed forward.”
----
Pipelines
“Hell yeah Falconian boys, give those bitches some firepower! Woo!” whoops and cheers came from the RANGSI infantry as the Falconian miniguns fired onto the rebel machinegun positions.
Mortar teams proceeded as planned and rained down a few flashbang and smoke shells onto the enemy, blinding and obscuring their vision at the same time.
“Rounds complete,” this was the cue for an immediate advance.
“Go! Go! Go!” The riflemen charged over the pipelines into the rebel trenches, the engagement quickly turned into a fast yet brutal close quarters battle as soldiers of both sides came face-to-face, some were even so close that they had to fight hand-to-hand. Between the RANGSI advance and Falconian covering fire, the rebels quickly realized the odds were against them. The final trench abandoned their positions and retreated into the office complex, leaving behind crates of grenades and makeshift molotovs and pipe bombs.
“Lieutenant sir, platoons reported all clear,” the Company Sergeant Major, a Master Sergeant, reported.
“Tend to the wounded and regroup, get ready to attack the office complex in possibly 15 minutes,” Ghanesh replied. The CSM acknowledged and went to work radioing his orders to the rest of the company.
“12th Lead to 15th Lead, Pipelines secure. Waiting on you before we assault the office complex.”
----
Player: Russel
Dagger 2-1 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) 2nd Team (2nd Squad)
Sgt Marius' EPAR let out a loud bwomp as he fired at a rebel making a last attempt to prime a molotov, a beam of bright blue plasma cutting through the air across the final few pipes as his team's rotary let out a final snarling burst at the fleeing men
"Alright my boys form up on me and listen up quickly" he barked
"These little rats are busy scurrying back into that office block over there, we're gonna sit tight for a quick moment till our lads of the rifle section get here then kick all those rebel trash out of that block and hand it over to our new republik friends on a silver platter, aye boys?"
"aye sir" came the call back
Marius keyed his radio and called over
"Dagger 2-1 12th lead we're holding position until the rest of our troops arrive, how copy?"
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Dagger 3-3 165 Regiment 6th section (support) 3rd team
The recovery vehicle rumbled over the ice alongside the blown apart road dotted with wrecked vehicles
"keep an eye out for mines and UXO in this area" one of the engineers shouted over the noise of the vehicle as they rolled their way toward the stranded IFVs
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The rifles roused from their dreary march and started unslinging and checking their rifles as officers started moving ahead with their binoculars to scout the approaches to the treatment plant and medics checked their medical packs and took stock of supplies. Teams began pairing off as the whole unit shifted into a line formation in preparation for the assault.
///
Private Tallin 165/1/2 Status: OK
Tallin stumbled through the snow grumbling and cursing as he went, a thought passed through his mind
"why do these strangers have to die?" as the thought rested in his mind an idea began...
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Player: Cloud
"Righto, we'll move in asap" Tynak replied while his infantry and recon units sat on top of Novakian T-60s, T-90s and T-130s as they moved deeper into the Treatment Plant following the 15th lead.
"If you see any enemy forces around firing at you any of our allies, give them no mercy even if they're escaping from the complex." Tynak ordered his troops as they moved into the Treatment Plant.
-------
The Pipelines and the Treatment Plants were secured and the allied forces slowly regrouped at rally points established just outside the giant office complex. The Falconians can advance uncontested and the Novakian forces face little resistance, scattered rebels on the verge of death or hiding alone behind ruined guideposts were left to the mercy of advancing Novakian troops. Gunfire and occasional grenades came from the office complex, in an attempt to dissuade any further advance into the building, but the heavy overhead cover afforded by both approaches via the Pipelines and the Treatment Plants made them essentially insignificant. The only thing keeping them from storming the building was the momentary pause to reorganize, strategize and replenish supplies if needed.
However, the longer the pause, the more time the rebels inside have to prepare. They need to storm it now, this very instant. No doubt taking the enormous complex would be a mountainous task. It would be bloody urban warfare, room-to-room, complete with grisly booby traps and ambushes at every corner and behind every door.
-----
Lieutenant Ghanesh and Lieutenant Ming Jun opened up a holo-conference with the Falconian commander callsign Dagger Two-Actual and the Novakian commander Tynak. Their APCs were parked in a safe location, so this was an opportunity to strategize with the luxury of face-to-face and friendly conversation. They took off their helmets, revealing their young faces to the foreign commanders. Fresh officers who signed up for a regular career straight out of mandatory conscription, just below the age of 25.
“That’s how the situation is. The office complex is heavily fortified and within it are vital assets that are deemed essential to the operation of the water plant, namely the central office - the brain of the plant’s processes, and the underground reactor providing power to the desalination and filtration process. I wish I could call in an air strike or an artillery barrage to waste all these bastards - but without water we are as good as dead. Projected casualties are estimated to be high. I cannot force you to storm the building. If you choose not to commit, I only ask that your units secure the outer perimeter. No doubt, rebel reinforcements will arrive soon,” Lieutenant Ghanesh briefed the conference.
-----------------
Player: Russel
Dagger 2 actual 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) Command Element
The section commander and his scan officer hunkered down in a former rebel position at the edge of the pipes, as they were settling in the scan officer's wrist unit pinged and she tapped it pulling up a holographic projection of the two officers
"My Grenadiers will help you with kicking doors while our infantry section will hold down the perimeters" the commander stated then brushed some snow off of his cloak and took off his hat to knock off the pile of snow that had collected on it.
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Dagger 3-3 165 Regiment 6th section (support) 3rd team
The recovery crawler rolled to a stop next to a broken IFV and it's dismounted crewmen who were keeping security around it
"Hey folk, what's the problem?" one engineer called over
"Suns cursed snapped axel" the commander shouted back
"No chance of in field repair for that, we're gonna have to haul you folks back to base. Hey lads turn her round and get the tow hook prepped" the commander of the engineer unit called.
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The whole section shifted to as brisk a march as could be kept through the snow, rifles at the low ready then being cautiously raised as the unit moved into the outer edges of the treatment plant and began moving on towards the edge of the office complex where the officers signaled a halt and the troops stopped and crouched rifles lowered but ready.
russelljj1 (Falconian Empire)09/09/2020
///
Private Tallin 165/1/2 Status: MIA
Tallin continued to march along in his place in the column, his mind now churning with fear and frustration as boots crunched in the snow and the painful icy wind whipped, finally his mind reached a point and he made his decision, he waited until the medics passed again issuing out antifreeze injections then pretended to stumble and collapse into the snow beside the column. He heard soldiers shouting for the medics to come and quickly took advantage of the swirling snow to crawl away and once he was free of the long line of soldiers he began to trudge toward the only sign of civilisation he could see, the water treatment facility
half an hour later
Tallin approached the treatment plant carefully, afraid he would be shot before he could relay his intent. He quickly pulled off his white helmet cover and hung it on the barrel of his rifle as he walked toward the office complex stopping just outside it and waving his improvised white flag.
Novakian FederationYesterday at 12:04 PM
As Tynak and his units advanced without any resistance from the rebels as they were mostly scattered with no signs of retaliation. As he and his unit reached a safe spot within the treatment plant he then pulled out his comms and 2 holographic projection of the commanders
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Player: Cloud
"Our tanks will circle the perimeter of the facility keeping an eye out for any rebels it can find while our infantry units will storm the building and wipe them of any rebels inside."
The commander said. The infantry later hopped onto the tanks as they were being moved to the office complex.
About an hour later
The Infantry units were dropped of at the edge of the office complex while the Tanks started to patrol the outer perimeter of the office complex expecting rebel reinforcements to arrive while some stayed to provide some assistance for the infantry units if needed. Tynak ordered the remaining units to slowly move deeper into the office complex but to lower their rifles as they anxiously waited for the green light to storm the building.
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Player: RANGSI
RANGSI Riflemen readied for the big push into the office complex. They were trained in urban operations, and had carried them out many times throughout their deployments in the 2nd Ancerious War. But they were still nervous. There was something in fighting at such close ranges that unnerved even the very best among them - it was too easy to die at point blank in such environments. Plus, the conditions they were in for the past month - lack of food, water and heating had previously sapped their fighting strength, focus and morale.
“Fifteenth on.”
“Thirteenth on.”
“Urban operation is a go.”
“Breach! Breach! Breach!” the RANGSI rifle sections busted open the access doors and threw in a couple of flashbangs before storming in. The ground floor quickly became a chaotic fury of gunfire as the riflemen pushed, as expected resistance was stiff and stubborn and it was going to be a bloody fight. The Falconian and Novakian assistance was going to be well appreciated here.
----------------
11th Revolutionary Detachment
Office Complex, Main Road
As the rebels held their ground, a platoon worth of them rushed their way to the main exit of the office with Commander Zara, the officer in charge of the 11th Revolutionary Detachment, in tow. Then they came face-to-face with a soldier, his uniform unrecognizable, outside the building holding his rifle with his white helmet on top. No doubt he belonged to the RANGSI’s newfound friends.
At first, Zara’s bodyguards wanted to shoot him, but she held down their rifles with her hand. She understood his gesture, somewhat.
----
“Capture him and bring him with us. If he is really surrendering, he might provide useful information,” Zara motioned her men to apprehend the Falconian stranger.
“Ma’am, we should go now. The 33rd is on their way here,” another of their bodyguards nudged her along. Now that the allied forces were at the office complex’s flanks, its front was free of enemy presence and they had taken the opportunity to use this opening to slip through and escape. The plan Zara told her men was to hold the allied soldiers right at the access points and conduct an organized retreat. The top floors will slowly descend down and continue to provide overwatch for the retreating route at the main road while the others continue to reinforce the flanks and hold the line. Of course, Zara knew all along it was an impossible task - the allied forces will overwhelm them and secure the ground floor in due time, cutting off the avenue for retreat. So, as Commander and an asset to the Revolution, she will be the one escaping alive. Some are more equal than others after all.
The rest of the rebel forces on the Suzuya Plate meanwhile were not intent on letting the attack on A-991 go unanswered. Bossman’s orders may have been lost in the blizzard, but the frantic reports from the Water Plant were very much crystal clear through their short range radios. The 12th Revolutionary Detachment and the 13th Revolutionary Detachment at the Suzuya Collective Power Plant and the People’s Commune Greenhouse respectively were on high alert while the 33rd Combined Liberation Force, consisting of a Separatist Union equipped tank company, an artillery company and a Separatist-trained mechanized rebel infantry company, were on the move from the harbour.
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RANGSI
2nd Tank Company
Outside the Water Plant A-991
“Contact! 2 o’clock! Snow trail!” the radio barked in Lieutenant Fauzi’s compartment. He jolted to the commander’s sight and turned to investigate the sighting, true enough, he saw a very familiar sight.
“Jeonsas!” Fauzi gasped at the sight of the Separatist Union main battle tank. The OBJ-225 ‘Jeonsa’ was a fearsome vehicle during the Third April Fools War, not only did its hover capabilities meant it could outflank any tank they had, but the Triach technology behind it was something else as well. 120mm Railgun. Azanium Superpolymer Composite. He was merely a young conscript tankman when he faced one in the cramped streets of his ruined home city.
----
“This Alpha Actual! Open fire!” he gave the order. Immediately, the 2nd Tank Company who had established a defensive line outside the Water Plant, swung their turrets around and fired their 130mm railguns. A couple of Jeonsa tanks were hit right where they were supposed to and crashed into the snow, but otherwise they proved to be as elusive as they were all those years ago.
The 33rd Combined Liberation Force were banking on their hover armored spearhead to penetrate the outer perimeter defenses. The Jeonsa tank company lunged ahead of the mechanized infantry company and swung to the right, aiming to flank the 2nd Tank Company. Their hover drives allowed them to close the distance rapidly and within minutes five tanks had been lost, hit in the rear and the side armours by their powerful 120mm railguns.
Recognizing the situation, Fauzi ordered the 2nd Tank Company to pull back into a wedge formation to fend off the flanking attack, but realized he needed extra support. He called for help on the open net, hoping their new allies could hear him in time.
TLDR
Urban ops is a go
The commander of the rebels at the water plant, Commander Zara, has chosen to escape through the main road which is still covered by the top floors. The falconian defector is captured and brought along with them in the hopes they can escape and rendezvous with the incoming reinforcements which is the 33rd
The 33rd has begun the attack and has inflicted some casualties on the 2nd Tank Company. Lt. Fauzi is asking for help.
------------
Unfortunately due to some unknown set of circumstances, Lt. Fauzi’s urgent request apparently did not reach the rest of the allied forces by the looks of it, because no one responded back or clearly provided the support he asked for.
The 2nd Tank Company was doomed by the looks of it. Fauzi ordered a general reverse to retreat and try to put some distance between his tanks and the Jeonsas marauding his flank to little success; every time an Archer 3B reversed a Jeonsa decided to jump and land behind it, putting a clean shot through the engine. In due time, the whole company was either destroyed or severely immobilised. Either way the 2nd Tank Company was out of the fight. Lt. Fauzi’s fate was unknown.
The rebel 33rd lunged forward, the Jeonsa tank company once again taking the spearhead to engage the forces at the perimeter. The mechanized infantry company split into two parts, one to accompany the tank company and another to protect the artillery company.
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The elements of the 167th having been pushed hard in the engagements leading up were forced to halt for RnR and only able to provide minimal support in the form of a few shots from the flanking MBTs before pulling back inside the complex to shelter from incoming fire while the scan officers called in screening airstrikes to slow the assault.
-------------
"Alright boys we got the green light, let's go hunt these rebels down."
Tynak said when the order for urban operations is a go. The infantry units grabbed their machine guns and grenade launchers which then they went in guns blazing spotting and killing rebels as the Infantry advances with resistance. Every door they busted through they would throw a flashbang, wait for it to go off before going in to check for rebels and every corridor they went through they would check whether they have traps on them.
It was a bloody fight as there was a ton of gunfire as the Novakian and Rebels forces exchanged rounds of ammunition throughout the hallways and rooms they had busted through.
---------------------------------
Though he had gave the green light for the infantry to fight the rebels in the complex he had somehow missed Fauzi's request for support. The moment Tynak saw the rebels at the perimeter of the complex he immediately ordered the tank company to intercept and destroy the rebel force. The Novakian Tank forces now scrambling to the rebels location as they try to get in range and destroy the enemy.
---------------------
The quick reaction by Novakian tank units halted the Jeonsas’ rapid advances at the perimeter of the water plant. Upon the first shots making contact, the Jeonsa tanks attempted to back up but the Falconian airstrikes caught them dead in a kill zone. Sustaining 50% casualties and down to 7 tanks, those that survived quickly reversed in full speed to safety.
The rebel’s artillery company covered the retreat of the Jeonsas and fired a round of anti-tank mortar shells. They had guided capabilities for precise top-attack strikes, but in this inclement weather, the extremely low resolution meant that the mortar crews were as good as almost blind. They would have to estimate based on the positions the Jeonsas’ were able to mark out before they retreated, plus whatever optical means of identifying targets they could make out - muzzle flashes, smoke, lights, etc.
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“Snowbikes!” Zara shouted as soon as she reached the parking lot in search of getaway vehicles. The 33rd’s attack on the water plant distracted the RANGSI and their allies and bought them valuable time to sneak through a myriad of industrial infrastructure and warehouses outside the office complex, where the remainder of her forces were locked tooth-and-nail in a fierce but impossible battle.
She hopped on one, her guards and the Falconian prisoner took the others.
“Let’s get out of here!” one of the guards blew off the locks off the western gate fence, opening the way for the rest to speed their way through safety. The gunfire and explosions were becoming distant as they continued.
“This is Comrade Zara on the open net! We managed to escape the water plant on snowbikes and we have a prisoner from one of the RANGSI’s collaborators! If anyone can hear me, we require extraction immediately! Over!”
A garbled voice came through the radio. “This Comrade Maxim of the 33rd. Comrade Zara, swing south and rendezvous with us. We are disengaging and we are pulling back to the power plant. Over.”
“This is Zara, roger. Out,” Zara cut off the comms as she turned leftwards to meet with the 33rd as they are pulling back.
---------------
After some hours of protracted urban combat, the office complex was finally cleared out. Lieutenant Ghanesh emerged from the lobby, breathing heavily from the fierce battle and the adrenaline. He unbuckled his helmet, tucked it under his arms and slumped against the wall of the building. He sustained no serious injuries, just some minor cuts from shrapnel and debris, though there were plenty of missed shots.
Ghanesh wished he could say the same for his counterpart, Lieutenant Ming Jun, who was the first to come out of the building lying on a stretcher, groaning in pain. His right leg was blown off by an explosive trap, and if not for the body armor, the big pieces of shrapnel would have gone all the way through his body and shred him right there. He heard the story from Ming Jun’s company medic who stabilised his condition. The door opened, the trap went off and a lone rebel holing up in the printing room attempted to bayonet him right where he was on the floor. His company sergeant major rushed to protect his OC and got bayoneted in the back instead. He bought enough time for the rest of the squad to open up and finish the rebel off. Ming Jun made it out. The CSM did not.
-------
More wounded and dead came pouring out of the building. Both their companies were effectively down to 50%. With Ming Jun out of action and no CSM to take charge, it seemed like his men were now Ghanesh’s, combining their half-strength companies into a single full one with Lieutenant Ghanesh in command.
After calming down, he stood back up and went to reorganize the 12th. He assembled the platoon sergeants, received reports on strength and status and ordered them to check their gear and tend to injuries in whatever time they have now before they move off to the next objective. Those with minor injuries get to continue fighting after some bandages, the serious ones need to be separated, striked off from the total strength and hand them over to the casevac collection point where the medics from both companies are manning and trying their best to stabilize them despite the shortages of proper medical supplies as a result of the one month siege. Spare APCs from the 12th’s who no longer had any sections to transport were now on casevac duty, evacuating the stabilized casualties back to the city for further treatment.
“Commander Tynak, Dagger Two-Actual, how are you guys holding up?” Ghanesh radioed the Falconian and Novakian commanders to get a sitrep on their allies.
----------------
As the Novakian infantry finally cleared the office complex of the rebels after hours upon hours of urban combat, many injured came out of the building. While some come out with minor injuries which can be treated easily, many were unfortunate that they came out with severe injuries which require surgical treatment and or further treatment the Novakian forces simply did not have. Most wounds are treated as well as they could before being wrapped in bandages before getting loaded on a APC before getting sent back to AFB or the city for futher treatment.
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The Tank company together with backup from falconian airstrikes managed to successfully halt the enemy forces advanced through the perimeter of the treatment plant. It is assumed that many heavy and medium tanks either destroyed or was disabled by rebel guided anti tank mortar rounds fired by the enemy. The Tank Company after successfully halting the rebels advance through the perimeter of the water plant quickly regrouped themselves before heading back towards the treatment plant.
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Tynak after counting his remaining forces as they came back from hours of battling rebels forces.
"This is the commander reporting in, most of our heavies got destroyed or disabled when they were sent to halt the rebels attack. It is likely they were targeted more than its smaller counterparts. As for our infantry units their numbers their numbers were down by quite alot. It is estimated that over 45% either died in combat or survived but wounds were too severe to continue." He replied.
russelljj1 (Falconian Empire)01/03/2021
Dagger 2 actual 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) Command Element
The grenadiers were battered and lacking the support of their IFVs due to many getting bogged and breaking down in the winter climate and their power suits were beginning to feel the stress of absorbing hundreds of rebel bullets, many of having uncomfortably crushed and dented patches on the plates. Marius laid back in a broken office chair with the rest of his squad gathered around eating their rations and listened to the howling wind and gunfire outside the office room they were in. Out in the court yard the tanks scanned the area, inside the lead tank the commander checked his screens then barked out over the noise of the engine "Driver, advance, slow speed, Gunner, Load AP, sweep for targets, free fire!"
The tank slowly rumbled forward out of the complex
"AP up!" the loader called "Contact! rebel tank"
"Engage"
A loud thud resounded through the tank as the main gun fired, hurling an AP shell at one of the remaining Jeonsas. Inside the gunner heaved a new round into the breech and slammed it shut
"AP up!"
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Dagger 3-3 165 Regiment 6th section (support) 3rd team
The crawler slowly ground it's way down what was once a road before the artillery barrage hit it, dragging the broken IFV behind it.
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The Section officer sat on his bedroll with his scan officer next to him looking at the hologram of the other two officers
"We're surviving but we need to hold position here, our troops are gonna be run into the ground if we keep advancing at this pace. I'm also concerned about leaving our supply lines in the dust" he said grimly "if you give us time to move our militia units up to reinforce, we'll be able to resume the push with far better chances of success"
----------------------------
The Falconian AP round slammed into the engine compartment of the retreating Jeonsa, causing it to spin out of control as its hover drives sputtered and faintly whined as it lost power before the hover tank crashed into the snow. The hull was still roughly intact, just that its main gun was all bent out of shape after hitting the ground.
A RANGSI ATGM section assembled their Kappan ATGM launcher on the upper floors of a nearby warehouse.
“Twelfth Lead, enemy tank looks pretty banged up. All its weapons are damaged and out of commission,” the ATGM section sergeant radioed as his binoculars fixed onto the Jeonsa’s hull.
“This looks like the perfect opportunity to score some intact intel.”
“Agreed, all units hold your fire on the wrecked Jeonsa. Platoon 1, provide overwatch. ATGM-One, stand by just in case the tank has any funny ideas,” Lieutenant Ghanesh replied. He turned over to the hologram of the allied officers. “Dagger One Actual, I agree with you. We need to consolidate our supply lines and await for more reinforcements so we can have a better chance of taking the next objectives. With me being down to just one rifle company, I’m starting to get extra mindful of our combat strength.”
“While we wait, we should definitely prepare for the next objective. Commander Tynak, you have a recon platoon am I correct? A recon on the power plant would allow us to plan the attack better. Dagger One Actual, if you got forces to spare, you can support the recon mission as well. The rest of us here should dig in a bit and do some post-battle clean up. Search for survivors and useful pieces of intel and gear, that kind of thing.”
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Main City
14/901 MPB HQ
Captain Daniel Chan stood as he studied the holo-map. The attack on the Water Plant had, for the most part, went well according to plan. The sudden change in posture from defence to offense likely took the Rebels off-guard, if this pressure is consistently sustained, then the other key facilities on Suzuya would be theirs by the day’s end.
The loss of an entire tank company was troubling to say the least. That was the last of their armored spearhead, without it any attack taken by RANGSI forces would be blunted unless they were supported by allied armor.
The artillery company sitting at Objective Anna, the first rally point for all three forces when they started Operation Restore Hope, was thus ordered to move to the Water Plant and link up with the 12th Mechanized Infantry Company to reinforce them and provide fire support.
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Suzuya Collective Hydrogen Generator
13th Revolutionary Detachment HQ +
33th Revolutionary Detachment
The 33th Revolutionary Detachment arrived at the Suzuya Power Plant with little fanfare. Their attack meant to neuter and push back this sudden offensive was repulsed, the hopes for a swift and quick victory was all but dashed, the rebels were effectively now placed in the defensive in order to make sure no more key facilities were captured, lest the enemy overcomes the siege and is able to muster more combat strength, overturning all their efforts here.
On the bright side, they have a defector.
“So… Mr. Talin is it? Tell me, why do you choose to defect? Why this sudden change of heart, for a people you never met?” Zara asked the subject of her ‘interview’. The Falconian defector was seated in an interrogation room, like any other its barely furnished with only four walls, a small table and two chairs. The only difference between Talin and the other unfortunate subjects of the rebel’s ‘interviews’, was that Talin was not handcuffed, though the armed guards standing at every corner of the room were of course, eyeing him just in case he had cold feet.
--------------------------
Tallin swallowed and looked around the room before speaking
"I'm no soldier, you know, I'm a simple assistant teacher who some government man handed a rifle and sent to a frozen wasteland. You know all my adult life I've been telling children that killing is wrong, so how is it that I should then gun down a man in cold blood because someone with a big hat said I should?"
He shifted uncomfortably
"At least as a prisoner, I'm not expected to fight"
---------
"Yes, we have a recon platoon among our forces. Once our recon platoon had arrived just nearby the power plant we will setup some Thermal, Radar and optical scanners to look for any enemy units within the confines of the plant itself . Any additional forces is appreciated if things went south from there." Tynak replied.
The Recon platoons along with a few men from the infantry units later hoped on an APC loaded with recon equipment which then later set off to the powerplant.
Somewhere near the powerplant
The APC stopped at the supposed drop off point about several hundred meters from the edge of the facilities compound allowing for the recon units to load the equipment they needed off the vehicle.
First they setup a generator before connecting it to a microwave emitter. Then they setup multiple radar and infrared sensors surrounding the facility before launching multiple drones to scout potential enemy targets inside and outside the facility. Additionally, they had also setup some defensive positions at the drop off point incase the enemy spot the recon forces and decided to attack it. After all the equipment had been loaded off the APC and setup properly they started to relay the data back to the commander.
"Tynak, this is the recon units coming in. We've setup some recon equipment at the location and we've began to transmit data to you."
"Good, once I received it I will share it to the rest of the units. You boys wait there while we use that data to plan our attack on the facility." Tynak replied.
Once the data has been sent towards the commanders computer he would later send it towards the Lieutenant.
"This is the Commander, I've got the Intel for the powerplant. The recon units have setup a bunch of radar,thermal and optical sensors around the facility. Additionally they had also launched a pair of drones to help with the scouting. A defensive position had also been setup if things go south and the rebels in the powerplant decides to attack the recon units."
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Main City
14/901 HQ Bunker
“On screen.”
“Right away Captain,” Lieutenant Amirah replied.
The data gathered by the Novakian recon team was pieced together on the shared holonet as the computer program worked to translate Novakian data formats - coordinates, imagery, signals, descriptions, anything of note - into RANGSI C4I.
-----
Unlike the water plant, defences were much more hastily prepared as the rebel detachment attached to the power plant had been much more complacent, relying on their Separatist-equipped 33rd to quickly smash the allied advance right at the water plant. There were practically no signs of any kind of prepared fortifications - no trenches, no shellscrapes, not even a single mound of snow to provide any static cover. In fact, most of the rebel forces there were now engaged in last minute preparations; stacking boxes and crates to form their cover. Whatever little forces on guard were of the mechanized troops, simply standing out in the open, seemingly confident in falling back behind their APCs and letting their mounted machineguns do the work.
One thing of note among the defensive line was the tall extended antenna of a communications signals truck that towered over them. Judging by the wires from all the platoon positions all going towards this one truck, it would seem that this single truck was all they got for communications with the rest of the rebel positions on the Suzuya Plate. If it is gone, the rebel forces here will have no reliable way of requesting reinforcements.
The anti-air company was evenly distributing itself along the hastily prepared defensive line. It was out in the open; no camo nets, no ditches to provide any sort of cover or concealment. The whole defensive line was quite a distance away from the power plant itself. Perhaps the rebel commanders thought this would provide a buffer zone, though it does mean one can theoretically safely use artillery to wipe them out, as long as their guns are precise enough to not accidentally hit the power plant.
-----
The power plant itself this time offers very little to work with for the defenders. It was simply a large toroid fusion ring in essence, outside it was simply a wire fence with some security posts and some carparks in between the plant itself and the gate entrance. Unlike the water plant, there was very little in the way of buildings and infrastructure to provide any vantage points or hiding spots. Perhaps the only strategic position available was the power plant’s central control tower. Twenty stories high, in peacetime the tower functioned as both the control and monitoring system for the fusion ring’s systems as well as an air traffic control tower for dropships carrying supplies, crews and equipment. Right now, it was the only place left that someone can put an ATGM, a sniper or a machinegunner in, though as of now, no such fire support options were detected within the tower by Novakian sensors.
A blueprint of the power plant was also available in the shared database, after all it had been partially constructed by RANGSI companies themselves as part of an infrastructural deal with the Orajevan oligarchy. Looking at this blueprint reveals some possible points of entry besides the obvious frontal assault. There was a hatch on top of the control tower itself, theoretically a dropship can swoop in, land some forces and then they can proceed to enter the tower directly from the top. Alternatively, there is also a maintenance tunnel underneath the tower leading to the massive water pipes placed near the Orajevan ocean, where massive amounts of raw, toxic water are extracted to be processed into hydrogen fuel. The pipes’ are large enough to take in such quantities of water, so a unit of divers can comfortably enter the pipes and then make their way to the maintenance tunnel then proceed up to the tower. The former option is fast but definitely loud, the latter would be slower but stealthier.
------
“We got lots of options here, all of them in our favour. Not too mention, in a few minutes time a major blizzard will be sweeping across the power plant. The rebels will be blind while as long as we have the Novakian recon team on station so we will still have eyes to guide us through,” Captain Daniel folded his arms. “If we hit them now and if we hit them the right way, we can easily secure this power plant with minimal forces while the enemy is still at its most unaware and unprepared state. I’m open to ideas.”
-------
"This is the Commander coming in, some of our forces will enter the Power Plant via the maintenance tunnels, however they will be lightly armed due to them not being equipped to carry armor with them. And as such they will be armed with only a taser and a Sub-machine gun to take down any personnel in the Power Plant as quietly and as possible. Alternatively, our remaining forces can barge in the power plant from the top which can act as a distraction for the divers. Not gonna lie but I expected more from these rebels" Tynak replied before continuing
"And as for the comms truck by the Power Plant, we could capture it which would probably allow us to listen in on enemy communications. But judging by the platoons that are moving towards it, it would probably cost us more than needed but due to the blizzard I think we might have a chance at this." Commander Tynak replied
---------------------------
At the recon site the units were working extra hard as the blizzard came in, it was harsh but as long as they could keep their recon equipment well and alive through the blizzard they could supply the allies with information about enemy movements in the plant. So far they had received no orders from the commander yet but they are sure that allied forces should be arriving sometime in the next few hours or so.
-------
“In that case, we should go for stealth as the first phase,” Captain Daniel traced his holopen to where the power plant’s water pipes are. “Your divers infiltrate the power plant, get to the tower from below and quietly clear it out of any snipers, ATGMs or radio people that can hurt our advance. At the same time, I need a SF team to take out that truck, quietly as well. We do both the stealth way, we cut off the rebel’s vantage point and their comms without them raising any alarms.”
“Once both objectives are done, my artillery company can open up on their positions and then our forces can swoop in and mop up the rest. Thank Buddha for their subpar equipment.”
--------
"Commander Nardin to ground element, My officers on the ground have relayed that they currently are unable to act on the current situation, I can provide precision strikes with the Sunbeam's air wing, air control authority is being transferred to the Dive Teams. General communications band 109. Over"
Aboard the Sunbeam five type 20 Heavy fighters spun up their engines and taxied to the launch ramp.
-----------
“Sunbeam might be useful to the Novakian Dive Teams. Tynak, once your divers take control of the tower, they can use the vantage point to direct airstrikes against any stragglers.”
-------------
"That's a fine plan by me, once we got our units there we can commence the operation though their arrival may be delayed and arrived later than expected due to the ongoing blizzard but i suppose it isn't to much to affect the outcome of the battle. Once out dive teams got hold of the tower we can use then to destroya any remaining rebel ground elements and potentially scout for new targets" Tynak replied
Soon enough the Novakian units would start to mobilize and depart to the recon site to prepare for the operation though due to the blizzard their arrival might be later than expected. The commander and the recon team is wary of this but they hope that it won't affect the outcome of the battle.
Once they had reached their destination the Novakian Dive Teams immediately jumped into their suits before submerging below the water line to search for an entrance into the powerplant. Armed with only a taser and a submachine gun and a few spare mags and med kits it is considered enough to protect them against whatever the enemy had in the powerplant
"Alright listen up boys, your job is to take control of the tower. I expect no less than a success from you. Oh and you have been given command of a fighter wing from the Falconians. They should be able to search and destroy any ground units without causing collateral damage to the facility. We wish you good luck"
"Alright Commander, we'll use them accordingly"
The infantry units parked at the recon site was now waiting for the dive units to capture the tower so that they can barge in to take out the rest
-------------------------
The elite Novakian divers had little trouble with the control tower’s inhabitants. Using a mixture of good training, stealth and the element of surprise, they made their way up the tower with little difficulty. The ill-disciplined rebels, more interested in huddling up around heaters and playing games rather than standing properly on watch, were easily taken care of by the Novakians’ submachine guns and tasers.
It was when they reached the very top did they encounter some difficulty with a well-hidden sniper team. They rebel scout snipers shied away from the windows, preventing themselves from being picked up by the recon team outside, and used both physical and technological camouflage to conceal their electronic and IR signatures. Among the team of five, one was observing the perimeter with a pair of binos mounted on an office table, another was keeping overwatch with a sniper rifle peeking through a crack in the tower’s window. Another one was watching the door, the other member taking his shift to rest and the last member - the team leader, was sitting by the radio set observing his men and standing by for any calls from rebel HQ.
Looks like the divers have two choices: A) go loud and throw in a flashbang then clear the room at the risk of alerting the rebel forces in the tower or B) call Sunbeam to strike the tower to eliminate the sniper threat but the divers must evacuate the tower and will lose the opportunity to direct further airstrikes against rebel targets on the ground.
The elite Novakian divers would eventually decide to call in a sunbeam to strike the tower and eliminate the snipers from it. While they can still flashbang the whole room it is a high risk high reward situation they will be a chance at it alerting the other infantry men in the building so they would choose the safer option out of the bothm
"This is the Novakian diving team to the Sunbeam strike group. You have permission to strike the towers of the powerplant in an attempt to kill any rebels that may be hiding inside and don't screw this one up. I will be counting on you, your actions may dictate how will the outcome of this operation." A Lead Novakian diver squad would say before the the Dive team would then rush towards where the pipes were before as fast as they could without alerting the guards in the tower waiting for the strike to Commence and End before continuing on with their objectives given by Commander Tynak.
russelljj1 (Falconian Empire) — 04/07/2021
"This is Arrow lead to Dive Team, inbound SW, guns hot"
On the ground a faint hum was heard rising into a rumbling roar before the clouded sky suddenly flashed blue as high powered rounds from the fighters cannons fired into the tower, followed by the shriek and sonic boom as they shot overhead
"Pass complete, confirm hit, over"
In the sky overhead the fighters spiraled upwards above the clouds and rejoined formation to orbit and wait for further orders from the troops on the ground.
----------------------------------
As the control tower suddenly exploded after unknown enemy fighters appeared from nowhere, rebel forces quickly scrambled and alarms blared into the frosty distance.
“That’s our cue!” Lieutenant Ghanesh put down his binoculars and hopped back into his command APC, signalling his rifle company to get ready before buttoning up the hatch. “Twelfth-Lead to Gigamesh, Twelfth-Lead to Gigamesh, greenlight to PPS Alpha. I say again, greenlight to PPS Alpha. Confirmation code: 7789 Bravo X. Hit them now and hit them fast! Over.”
“Gigamesh to Twelfth-Lead, pre-planned strike package received and authorised. Firing for effect. Standby.”
-----------
The self-propelled howitzers of the 5th Artillery Company, callsign ‘Gigamesh’, raised its barrels into the air and let loose a thunderous roar of rocket-assisted shells at the rebel defensive positions outside the power plant. The rebel forces suffered severe casualties as their exposed vehicular assets - APCs, AA trucks and mortar and ATGM half-tracks, were caught in the pre-planned killzone and destroyed, together with large numbers of infantry hit by the high-explosives and shrapnel. Novakian intel had proven to be extremely useful, given the otherwise terrible weather that would hamper their fire control systems.
“Good effect on target Gigamesh. Great job,” Ghanesh replied after the barrage ended, leaving the perimeter of the power plant practically devoid of serious opposition, save for a few surviving squads who had bothered to dig in. “Twelfth-Lead to all allied units, let’s begin the advance now while they are still disoriented.”
The 12th Rifle Company began their advance towards the power plant. Two 80mm mortar APCs from their weapons platoon laid down a smokescreen to cover the allied advance, signalling the start of the combined attack. The perimeter would be easy to get through, but it was the inside of the power plant that would be of concern, given the rebel’s penchant for luring enemies into brutal CQB engagements at this point.
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Suzuya Collective Hydrogen Generator
13th Revolutionary Detachment HQ +
33th Revolutionary Detachment
The earth shook beneath Zara as the RANGSI artillery strike pounded the rebel lines outside the walls of the power plant. She looked away from Talin, the Falconian defector, for a moment as she received a call, taking it on her personal earlink. Muttering a few ‘hmms’ and ‘yes’, she eventually ended the call and returned her attention on Talin.
“Looks like the inevitable attack has begun. Mr. Talin. We need to evacuate again, and we will take you with us to safety if you agree to do one small little teeny favour for us…”
“I’m sure when you arrived, you would have spotted where their rough assets of importance are yes? Air defences, defensive positions of significance, logistics depots, airbases? Mark them on this map right here,” Zara handed to him a datapad where the digital mockup of the Suzuya Plate was.
--------------------
Tallin scanned over the map before pointing out the airfield
"I was landed here, I saw a scattered mix of troops there, I don't really know that much aside from that it's a airfield of some description." he pointed to a few points just outside the water treatment plant "I broke away and fled from the soldiers I was with somewhere around here, we were on foot and freezing, we were one of the only two units that had left the base but there might have been some things I don't know about because I heard someone talking about a broken down tank somewhere behind us while we were marching"
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Dagger 2 actual 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) Command Element
Sgt. Marius ordered his men to make ready to march, an order that was met with grumbling as the grenadiers, who had been enjoying a chance to rest while their equipment underwent field maintenance, got to their feet, some of them pulling their cloaks around themselves and leaving the ruined office to go get their power suits from the service bay.
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Dagger 3-3 165 Regiment 6th section (support) 3rd team
The recovery vehicle rumbled toward the airbase lights glowing through the driving snow, the IFV clattering and banging along behind as they rolled into the base and pulled the broken vehicle over to the repair shops.
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The troops of Dagger 1 started bustling as they got their equipment together. In the forward command established inside one of the offices the SC transmitted to his fellow officers
"If the weather improves I could attempt an airlift of my troops to support the assault or assist in securing it as resupply is complete and some of the fleet's transport assets have been freed up to take part in combat support. Also be advised that a militia mechanized unit mounted in technicals callsign Dagger 4 is now in the AO and available"
----------------
"Alright boys, Let's get into Battle" Tynak said in his comms as he orders his infantry units to the Power Treatment plant to carry on with their mission, they picked up their rifles as they rushed into battle firing away at the remaining rebel units as Novakian MBTs came in with firing their shells at whatever was left of the forces in the outer perimeter.
As they got closer towards the plant they were told to be more cautious due to the rebel possily setting up traps within the corridors of the power plant.
Meanwhile the Diver unit's after the allied attack has been signaled by Tynak would start to move around the corridors of the Powerplant as quietly as possible before starting to tase as many personnel in the building as possible when the lease expected it, This however was certainly a risky move as they can get killed or captured at any point in the buildings corridors and with only a submachine gun as defense it wasn't going to provide much used for them so they'd have to move on as the infantry men outside provided a useful distraction for them.
------------------
Any allied forces entering the Power Plant would face very minimal resistance. With the 13th’s main forces obliterated by RANGSI artillery and Falconian airstrikes, together with much of the 33rd’s own mechanised elements, the rebels had very little fighting power left. The rat-and-tag civilians of the 13th would readily surrender, but the trouble would lie with the remnants of the 33rd, whose troops are either Separatist Union regulars or insurgent auxiliaries trained in their ways. Pockets of the 33rd still remain inside, so the power plant must be methodically cleared before it is completely secured.
Work done by the Novakian Divers, tasing and taking down as many personnel, civilian or rebel otherwise, would however make the clearing operation easier, with less resistance. However, coincidence would bring them into contact with a few rebels running down the corridor towards the maintenance tunnels leading to the sewage pipes, not dissimilar from the ones the Divers used to enter into the Power Plant. The fleeing rebels, and what one seemed to be a Falconian prisoner, were unaware of the Divers, due to the rush as well as the dark emergency lighting after power was cut off following the airstrike on the control tower. This is an opportunity the Divers would not want to miss.
The weather was clearing up, however, this did not exactly signal a turn for the better as a squadron of 5 black and yellow silhouettes screamed in the distance towards the Power Plant. Rapidly-closing the distance, the Separatist-built MYG-45 light multi-roles suddenly banked and swerved away, releasing anti-tank laser-guided cluster bombs into the allied forces ranks, particularly any armor and vehicles of the Novakian and Falconian forces.
------------------------
Player: Russel
Dagger 2 actual 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) Command Element
Marius covered his eyes against the glare as in the distance a deep rumble echoed across the ice plate and smoke and dust rose up. the scan officer hurried over
"sir, lead convoy elements have been hit bad by a cluster strike"
"curses, try to evac some of the men back to our vics and get the AA launchers up to smack em if they come back"
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HMS Sunbeam Bridge
One of the sensor operators reported "Tracking five contacts planetside moving high speed, inbound toward friendly forces, IFF red"
Nardin replied "Understood, Vector CAP fighters for intercept"
"Message relayed, fighters are on course"
"Time?"
"From what I'm seeing too long bogies are pretty much on top of allied forces"
"Tell the fighters to maintain intercept, maybe we can deny the rebels a few pilots and aircraft. Oh and have the fleet deploy pickets and bring all vessels up to alert 2"
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The troops had settled into a lull as they waited for airlift when the shout rang out across the courtyard "Hey boys, birds incoming get your stuff together" followed up shortly by "Those aren't ours" then "GET THE SUN CURSED TUBES UP AND GET THE AA ROUNDS LOADED!" before everything turned to smoke and stunned chaos, a couple of scattered missile launches zinged into the air but they lacked precision and were poorly aimed.
----------------
Player: Novakia
And it was an opportunity that they would take advantage off. With the following airstrike having knocked out the Lighting just minutes ago they would essentially begin to sneak around walking up towards the pipelines as a quiet escape route. However as they would move out they would happen to spot the Falconian prisoner and some random rebel personnel running around intending to use the Pipelines as an escape route. With that situation the Novakian Diver units would began to cluster around the exit before waiting for the personnel to run into them. As they came by they would reveal themselves towards the Rebels before proceeding to chase them, firing their tasers in the process.
----------------
As the weather would clean up Tynak could get a better view of the battlefield happening around him. As the Rebel Light multiple fighters would show up on radar he would signal the Novakian tank and infantry units to defend themselves as the Guided bombs made their way onto Novakian tanks. Their machineguns and plasma weaponry were repurposed like a mini AA gun as they would target, then intercept the bombs as best as they could. Some tank were destroyed and some would be damaged in the frenzy as they began to move ti avoid the bombs while their secondary armaments try to intercept them.
------
As these fighters would fly past overhead commander Tyknak would contact the only carrier in the fleet, the NFSN Orion for fighter support.
"This is Commander Tynak towards the carrier Orion, do you read me?"
"This is Captain Arthur.A.Johnson of the NFSN Orion, I read you. Anything you need?"
"We request some fighter support, there are unknown fighters, presumably fast ground attack aircraft attacking out units. If you have some send it quick"
"We got that, we'll send fighter support immediately"
On the Orion's hangar deck can be seen 2 Avalon medium fighters being prepared for launch into the atmosphere. 5 minutes later they can be seen over the Orajeavan sky, apparently racing their way towards their targets at break-neck speed. But as they would teach their targets they would slow down before starting to get a lock on the Rebel Aircraft. As they do they would first fire their Flare missiles before firing their radar and heat guided air to air missiles at the Rebel aircraft. While large in comparison these Avalon fighters are quite maneuverable fue to their unusual Forward swept wing designs.
----------------
The MYG-45s evaded the Falconian ground-based AA tubes, their poor aim combined with the deployment of flares and countermeasures allowing them to escape easily. However, soon they began to be pursued by 2 Novakian Avalons and a number of Falconian aircraft as they descended from space into the frozen moon’s atmosphere.
Darting and twirling about as they tried to shake off the allied aircraft on their tail, eventually their fates were sealed as they were no match for them. One successfully deflected the heat-seeking guided missiles the Novakian Avalons launched by launching more flares, but with inferior ECM equipment their radar-guided missiles homed in and splashed them into fiery bits. One by one, they fell from the sky, crashing into the icy seas below.
However this was not the end; because in the distance more Separatist Union MYG-45s screamed through - 3 full squadrons of 5 fighters each. This time, a large, flying-wing-shaped aircraft followed closely behind the light fighter squadrons - a MYX-900 stealth unmanned Advanced Early Warning (AEW) aircraft that extended the air wing’s detection range and capabilities, as well as the ability to perform command-and-control and guide any missiles launched by the MYG-45s to targets on screen.
------------------
Commander Nara’s team consisted of 6 people; herself, the Falconian prisoner Talin and 4 security escorts. They were en route to their extraction point - a stash of motorised rubber boats hidden in the maintenance tunnels underneath the Power Plant leading to the wide open ocean which was their ticket to escape.
It was dark, humid, damp and reeked of old concrete and some industrial waste. She thanked Marx for at least it was a fusion reactor, so the waste discharges were just some coolant and other miscellaneous mostly harmless substances and not some glowing radioactive sludge seen from fission ones. She had no interest in getting cancer, or growing an arm on her head for that matter.
Suddenly, she felt a sharp stinging pain in her back, and a second later she screamed as her body jolted up from the discharge of electricity coursing through her very nerves as the tasers hit and connected. She fell face down, her body jittering and convulsing uncontrollably splashing around in the pool of cold industrial coolant.
The tasers bounced off the body armor vests the 4 security escorts were wearing so they were unscathed but rather than immediately engaging the Novakian Divers, in a single second, they began shouting contacts and dragged Nara’s still shaking body over to the right-corner of the turning in the tunnel, using the corner as cover. They brandished their carbine rifles, an audible ‘Kachak’ as they racked the charging handle and prepared to face these elite Novakian soldiers.
---
Dagger 2 actual 165th Regiment 5th section (grenadier) Command Element
Blood and burning oil from the unarmored pickup trucks of the militia that had been heading up the convoy lay strewn across the remains of what had once been an ice road, the air clogged with oily smoke and the cries of wounded men as the grenadiers attempted to drag those who stood a chance of surviving out of the wreckage. Marius looked on grimly barking out orders to the men around him, he saw a familiar face through the chaos and shouted out "Scan Officer, over here, now!"
The dazed officer stumbled over "What's it sir?"
"Tell the fleet we need medevac yesterday"
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Arrow 6 Leader Flight lead 6th wing 111 squadron
"Arrow 6-1, Arrow 6 Lead, Radar contact on bogies inbound, looks like we got a big one"
"Arrow 6 Lead, All Arrow 6 callsigns, vector to new contacts, tally missle load and fuel"
"Arrow 6-1, 4 remaining, green on fuel"
"Arrow 6-2, Full loading"
"Arrow 6-3, 6 remaining, yellow fuel"
"Arrow 6 callsigns 4 through 9 good on on all"
"Arrow 6 lead, good to hear, stay on me boys, 6-3 unload your missiles into em and break for home"
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HMS Sunbeam Bridge
"Contacts down, Additional Contacts inbound, looks like we got a heavy craft of some kind in there" called out one of the junior officers from the sensor station
Nardin looked up from his holotable "Scramble Type 30s and set them to intercept, pull extra type 20 wings off the picket, the scout cruiser Adara has her own pickets and it seems unlikely these aircraft are spaceflight capable. If the rebel commanders have any sense they'll stay clear of the orbiting fleet's point defense"
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Dagger 1 actual 165 Regiment 1st section (rifle)
The comms became quickly flooded with dazed officers of the 165th begging for medical support and higher ups screaming at their fleeing troops to rally.
///
Private Tallin 165/1/2 Status: MIA
Tallin Stumbled through the dark hallway following his captors when suddenly pain shot through his body and his muscles refused to work, collapsing face down on the floor with a loud yelp. he dimly heard the sound of guns being cocked and managed to slur "Don't shoot me please!"
Novakian Federation — 07/26/2021
"This is Angel to Roswell, as much as 16 unidentified aircraft detected near the airspace, requesting support immediately."
"This is Roswell, Request received and confirmed. Will send more on your way"
The 2 Novakian Avalon fighters upon detecting the squadrons of MYG-45s far out in the distance would wait for it to close in before firing their Radar and Heat guided missiles. Though they still have more missiles in their weapons bays along with their external pylons it would only carry much to for them to down a couple more fighters before having to travel back to restock and refuel, despite this they would decide to hang out patrolling the airspace for much longer as their fuel tanks would allow them to.
On the hanger bay of the NFSN Orion up to 5 brand new SAVF-85 'Ouroboros' Fighter bombers can be seen being launched from the carrier. While being a little larger than its predecessor it presents a significant boost in its detection aswell as ECM technology which meant that it can detect more stealthier opponents while also being able to misguided their radar missiles into each other. Regardless the fighters would soon be launched from the carriers hanger deck before entering the atmosphere and onto the battlefield to support the Avalons as they were about to face off more opponents than ever.
---------------------------
The Novakian Elite Dive team consisted of 10 men, all on one side of the hallway looking at the rebel officers. They had the firepower with their weapons but they were outnumbered by the Dive team with their sub machine guns and tasers. Within a moment some and time some of them would quickly go round with their weapons loaded to disablethe guards, their weapon aimed at their heads and limbs whenever necessary to take them down them either as fast or as quiet as possible. This was no doubt going to be messy and the Novakian forces knew that aswell as some casualties are bound to happen in a place like this.
------------
“Sir, 2nd squadron is confirmed KIA.”
Captain Chung-ho, the air commander of the 151st Jung-si Fighter Wing, shook his head slowly as he lamented the loss of his recon picket. The 2nd squadron’s death was not in vain, they had been tasked to scout ahead for the Wing, and they did so, giving them a sense of the enemy air forces.
“Is Sky Goblin ready to take a picture?” Chung-ho asked in the war room. As an air warfare commander, he was not flying with his fellow pilots, instead he was somewhere several kilometers away, on the Plate opposite the Suzuya Plate, coordinating the 151st’s attack from the Separatist airbase. Sky Goblin was the MYX-900 unmanned AEW deployed with the other 3 squadrons, and effectively served as his liaison to relay and pass orders to the fighter wing.
“Picture ready, sir.”
A large 3D holographic projection filled the room, the enemy contacts Sky Goblin was picking up showing up as small red blips - their altitudes and positions well-accounted for in the 3D hologram, giving him a better lay of the ‘ground’ compared to a flat 2D map.
----------
2 red blips of the Novakian Avalons were heading straight for the Wing, then broke off.
Alert signs appeared on screen, with a number of smaller blips breaking off from the Avalons.
The room jumped into action. “Jung-si 1! Enemy has launched missiles! I repeat! Jung-si 1! Enemy missiles!”
“Taking evasive actions!” the MYG-45 fighters of the 1st squadron scattered and launched flares. The Novakian heat-guided missiles were thrown off, but the radar missiles continued to hound them.
“Sky Goblin! Sky Goblin! This is Jung-si 1-1, I’m still seeing missiles on our tail! They might be radar missiles! Requesting ECM support!”
“Roger! Hang in there comrades!” Chung-ho barked into the radio as he pointed at one of the officers controlling one of Sky Goblin’s many functions. “Try jamming those missiles!”
-----------
“Yes comrade Captain!” The young officer turned some switches and knobs, activating Sky Goblin’s radar jamming equipment. His face was suddenly frozen with a flash of fear, as his screen was disrupted with static.
“Amkae cyka blyat! Comrade Captain I can’t jam those missiles something is jamming Sky Goblin!” he went back to the controls, fiddling with more buttons and switches. With a hand on his headphones, he turned back to Chung-ho. “Captain! Enemy jamming is coming from space! And getting closer fast!”
3 of Jung-si 1’s MYG-45s were shot down, and Chung-ho watched as those 3 crosses marked their blue blips. Before his heart sank, an urgent message appeared on screen.
<Ground Station has picked up additional enemy contacts from space on approach 45. 5 ‘Novakian’ fighters of unknown origin. Unknown number of ‘Falconian’ aircraft.>
“Those are the bastards! 1st Squadron rally and defend Sky Goblin! 3rd Squadron and 4th Squadron launch fox Ones at the Falconians and then move to engage the Novakian fighters! Switch to laser guidance!”
Each MYG-45 from the 3rd and 4th Squadron launched one missile, control of the 10 missiles were then surrendered to Sky Goblin who made use of laser guidance to home in those missiles at the Falconians to keep them busy. Meanwhile, the 10 MYG-45s then swerved and swept up to engage the Novakian SAVF-85s with the aim of taking out the source of the jamming once and for all. The air battle raged intensely in high altitudes, and already 4 more MYG-45s had fallen to the SAVF-85’s missiles.
--------
As soon as the first Novakian Divers turned around the corner, the guards immediately fired into them with their carbines at point-blank range. But they would never live to tally the kill count, as soon as the first Divers fell down, the others were right behind and their SMGs quickly took out the 4 rebel guards.
At a high cost, Commander Nara and the Falconian defector, Private Talin, were now secure.
---------
"This is Roswell to Luna Squadron, there are 15 fighters and what seems to be an AEW inbound over the reactors airspace. Commence intercept and shoot them all down."
"This is Luna 1, copy that" said the squadron leader as the five Ouroboros Fighters raced through the upper atmospheres of the small moon to assist the Avalons in protecting the site from enemy forces. With ECM already activated from the five aircraft they were mostly safe for now.
At the reactors airspace the 2 Avalon Fighters would retreat after using up most of their missiles against the Rebel MYG-45s with the Reinforcements moving in to replace the older Avalon's battling in the skies. As the 5 Ouroboros fighters would reach the contested airspace they would disengage their afterburners before settling for a close quarters dogfight, if that's possible enough. As they would attain their lock on enemy aircraft they would break formation before firing their missiles at their opponents. Quickly, 4 Rebel Fighter had been shot down the moment these new fighters entered the airspace.
"This is Luna 1 to Luna 2-5, Deal with the enemy fighters while I Deal with their AEW aircraft. It's time that I test out this new module installed" Said the squadron leader, as he positioned his aircraft directly towards the Rebel MYX-900 as the rest would fire their Flare missiles before continuing to deal with their current opponents.
-
At this point in time the rebels if they have sufficient Radar sensors could notice that there was a yet unknown module just resting between the 2 Engine Units that could be seen on other Novakian aircraft of similar type. Just then, energy signatures would start to rapidly increase from the module itself with a bright red glow starting to lit up on the fron tip of the module itself, if estimated correctly then it would seem that the module in question would fire a high energy laser beam which could theoretically shoot down almost any aircraft provided that a lock had already been established between the 2.
3 Out of the 5 Ouroboros, the one with the Module and 2 near it would start to take some noticable damage as Rebel missiles and machine gun fire started to fly into and explode right in their faces causing various damage to some of its systems and hull. 2 however would explode in a huge fireball as their engines and missiles bays were hit by rebel missiles, even if the pilots had ejected they would have been knocked unconscious by the shockwave generating the blast
---------------------------------
"This is the Dive units to Tynak coming in, it seems that we've got our escapees on hand ready to be transported back. Though it is at a heavy cost, 6 of our men died during the battle but fortunately our targets were still alive. They may prove useful for Intel if necessary" One of the Surviving men would radio Commander Tyknak about the success in capturing . While the whole plan was a success it came at a heavy cost, as the 4 rebel soldiers fell soon 6 of the 10 Novakian dive units fell with them during the onslaught. The remaining 4 Dive units after the battle would pickup the rebel soldiers weapons before putting the 2 in handcuffs to escort them to the allies outside.
"Do not worry, you will be fine. We will get you back to where you're supposed to be, that is all" one of the Novakian Dive units replied to the falconians prisoner as he was secured.
------------
The high energy laser successfully hit Sky Goblin right in the fuselage, cutting the huge unmanned drone into two and exploding it into a giant fireball as the fuel ignited and was set ablaze.
“Sir! We lost Sky Goblin!” Captain Chung-ho’s sighed in resignation as he heard those words from the drone crewmen. The 151st Jung-si Wing has also taken massive casualties, mauled by Falconian and Novakian aircraft and are practically down to one squadron.
However, if it was a win, the Sky Goblin had proven its worth as an AEW and command aircraft. The missiles it directed at the Falconian aircraft all hit their mark, downing 10 Falconian targets. The data from this engagement would no doubt be used to improve the next iteration of the MYX-900 - better resistance to ECM and ablative plating to name a few.
“Call the retreat, Comrade-Lieutenant.”
With that, the rest of the surviving Separatist MYG-45s turned around and left the AO, leaving this air battle to a decisive allied victory.
------------
Main City
RANGSI-Novakian-Falconian HQ
“Sir! Incoming transmission from...the rebels sir!?” a communications officer called out.
Captain Daniel rushed over from the holomap to the terminal. “It’s a video message, put it on screen.”
The video played. Owing to the perilous weather of Orajevo the video quality was bad and grainy, but one could still make out a dark, dimly-litted concrete room, with two figures sitting down in the center of the camera shot, their hands tied behind their chairs. Black canvas sacks covered their heads, but the flight suit was unmistakable - they were Novakian. Precisely, the Novakian pilots who ejected from their Ouroborous fighters while they were engaging the rebels' AEW aircraft.
“Hehehe, look what we caught right on top of the spider web,” a disembodied male voice came from behind the camera. He then walked in front into the camera’s view, revealing a man of late 30s, pale skin, a thick brown beard and a red woolen beanie, emblazoned with a yellow star sewn on top.
“Greetings my capitalist imperialist friends!” he took a swig of vodka before wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “I am Krugar, Commander of the 14th Revolutionary Detachment, defenders of the glorious newly formed People’s Commune of the Orajevan Agri-Soviet!”
“I see that you have brought down my fellow revolutionaries of the Office Complex and the Power Plant. But I can assure you, you will not be bringing me down…” he gestured to his goons, who then unmasked the captured pilots, confirming their Novakian identities. “...If you value their lives after all. The moment I feel the walls shake, the moment I hear a single gunshot, they will be executed.”
“Of course, imperialist dogs like you treat your soldiers like currency, as you do to all things and people, so just in case you are thinking of simply sacrificing them, we will be streaming this room live to the Ancnet. So if you don't value their lives, by all means my friends! Come and attack this peaceful Commune! But of course, know that then the entire galaxy, much less your own soldiers, will also see how little you value the lives of your troops,” Krugar smirked as he took another swig.
“Choose carefully, commanders,” he remarked. The video ends.
Captain Chan grumbled as he closed his eyes, deep in thought for a few minutes on how to resolve the situation. He then looked at Tynak.
“Commander Tynak, think your Divers are up for another mission? I got a plan but it involves making sure that Commander Zara stays as the Divers’ prisoner.”
------
Orajevo
Suzuya Power Plant
1900H Local Time
Night has finally fallen on the frozen moon. The planetoid had already been tremendously cold - the lack of sunlight has only made things worse, not only in terms of temperature but also the lack of visibility as the entire ice sheet gradually descended into darkness. Now, only small blips of lights dotted the forsaken snow plains down below.
After a hard day of fighting, the allied combined forces had taken the time to consolidate security around their gains and get some much-needed rest as well. There was always no knowing when the next move was going to be, so every extra hour of shuteye counted tremendously.
Back at the Main City HQ, Captain Chan had been discussing the details of the hostage rescue mission with Tynak and Dagger-Actual. It was quickly decided that the best way to send a combined force of special operations teams to go in quietly, extract the captured pilots and once Krugar’s only bargaining chips were gone - they can then begin the final assault with their conventional forces without any guilt whatsoever. In preparation of the attack, Captain Chan had ordered his artillery company, his logistics company and his gunship company to reinforce the single mechanized infantry company that he had in the area.
---
Tynak’s Divers were already on site holding Commander Zara in one of the Power Plant’s rooms, soon joining them were RANGSI recon troopers and Falconian snipers. However, that was not all, shortly afterwards a third squad, dressed in black coats with tactical rigging worn over, entered the room. Bearing a golden eye insignia patch - these were the agents of INSECOM, RANGSI black ops. One of them was carrying a bulky squarish black device of some sort, which resembled the old DSLR cameras of the ancient past.
“Excuse us for a moment,” one of the operators said as they lifted up Zara and dragged her into a room. About 30 minutes later, they came out of the room and placed her back into her chair. She had an empty dazed look, almost like she was hypnotized.
“Consider that favour on Abrasom repaid,” one of the black operators quipped as he handed a flash drive of some sort to the commander of the RANGSI Recon platoon. The black agents then left as quickly as they came.
Plugging in the flash drive into a computer, the file within question was an audio, specifically an audio recording of what went down in the 30 minutes their POW spent with the black ops soldiers. An audible click was heard, and one of the agents began asking questions. Whenever she resisted, there was simply another click, and the questions were repeated, followed by Zara answering them with much less resistance.
----
To sum up the recordings, in short Zara had been divulging the general layout of the People’s Commune - a large greenhouse farm which supplied much of the food for the Orajevan populace. The prize was its underground storage vault, where harvested grain and preserved fruits and vegetables were kept for the long term. Securing this vault literally meant the survival of the civilians and RANGSI soldiers back in Main City - the final piece of the puzzle after running water and electricity.
Taking the boats originally meant for Zara’s escape, the Novakian Divers and 2 squads of RANGSI recon troopers charged through the icy waters while the Falconian snipers and the rest of the RANGSI recon platoon took armored cars and set up covert overwatch positions at Sharrow Hills. Operation Silent Saviour was a go.
“Silent Saviour units halt,” a call through the radio echoed through their headsets.
----
<Insert picture>
“Silent Saviour, UAV has identified an enemy coastal defence outpost up ahead. It's an old Orajevan watchtower, so high chance it is packing a heavy machine gun.”
“Two ways SIlent Saviours. You can either bypass the MG nest’s range and land at Torra Beach or drop off and scale the Daegan Cliff. It’s easier to land at Torra Beach as enemy patrols are light but getting into the greenhouse will be difficult. On the other hand, the Coastal Outpost has an entrance to an underground pass that leads directly under the greenhouse, but it is heavily guarded with a platoon of SU regulars.”
“Divers, you have the lead, so it is your call,” the mission controller ended. Thanks to the Divers’ daring efforts and sterling performance thus far, they had become immensely respected among RANGSI command and the decision was made to make them the leading unit of this operation.
Zara had originally planned to escape to the People’s Commune via stashed rubber boats located at the end of the tunnel. She, Talin and her security escorts would have taken these boats to a small wooden jetty established along the coastline near the Commune, originally these were meant to service sea-based trade between the Main City and the Commune. There were generally two ways in - the jetty and the open coast leading to one of the Commune’s back gates or a coastal security outpost which has an entrance into the underground tunnels leading to the Commune. Both were going to be guarded, considering that they had been expecting her arrival, but more so the coastal security outpost, which has a heavy machine gun nest located in a watch tower. To Zara’s knowledge, the coastal security outpost was always manned with a minimum of two squads of regular Separatist Union naval infantry, the Liberators. Whether this would be more or less has yet to be confirmed.
After some discussion, the battle plan was drawn. The Falconian sniper teams will take RANGSI armored cars and move to a preplanned location where they can provide sniper support and overwatch. The Novakian Divers and RANGSI Recon Troopers on the other hand, will take the boats. The question that was currently left unanswered however, is which mode of entry to take. Should they land at the more heavily guarded coastal security outpost which has a more direct underground route into the Commune? Or should they attempt to swim past and go to the jetty, where there is less security but a more potentially complicated route through the thick vertical jungles of the greenhouse’s crops?
Mission start
Need to make diagrams of the locations
Wait for beef and neo to reply
As the Command was given to the Novakian Dive Units they now had 2 options to enter through. One was landing at Torra beach and while it is safer as they were lighter patrols in the immediate area this also meant that they could also be easier chance of getting spotted considering that there was not much obstructions to hide from detection. Getting in to the greenhouse on the other hand was risky as they could find themselves spotted while attempting to silently break in.
On the other route they can skip breaking into the greenhouse from the outside entirely but would have to land on the side of the Daegan cliff and possibly get their cover blown while trying to access the underground passage way. But it was a risk they could take depending on the factors involved and by judging from past experience they decided to choose the latter part as accessing the underground tunnels may be better for the whole team provided that they could deal with the platoon of SU regulars present.
----------
"This is the Silent Saviour, Looks like were heading towards the Daegan Cliff, keep an eye out if there was any rebel movement in the Greenhouse or the Coastal Outpost" A Novakian Dive unit responded. Unlike last time in the power plant they now had Rifles and Sub-machine-guns both equipped with suppressors so they don't make much of a noise when fired. They also had tasers which can help them in stunning unsuspecting solders unlucky enough to get in the way of the Divers, and possibly the rest of silent saviours units.
"This is the Dive team to the rest of Silent Savior, I hope you guys had stocked up on flashbangs, smoke grenades and tasers because were gonna need those soon once we get towards the Coastal Outpost and start getting our way towards the underground passage" One of the Dive team members said towards the rest of the group. Hoping anyone would listen at all.
-----------
“We got whole lots, Dive team don’t worry, but we aren’t aiming to use them right now,” 2nd Sergeant Fhi replied to the Novakian divers, gritting as he tried to steady himself as the boat crashed and bobbed up and down against the waves, cupping his hands around his headphones in order to isolate the splashing of the icy seas and the deafening rumbling of the boat motor. “A flashbang could wake up the entire platoon and we definitely don’t want that.”
The Silent Saviours finally reached the Daegan Cliffs and slowly began to climb their way upwards. The Novakian Divers went first, followed by a RANGSI recon squad. The other recon squad stayed on the boat as security, keeping watch and providing security to the teams climbing the cliff face, training their weapons at the top just in case an enemy pops out.
Just as the Novakians were one or two meters shy of reaching over the top, a radio call came through and demanded their attention.
“Silent Saviours, halt,” it was Control’s voice.
“Two guards coming your way. Stay still and do not make any noise.”
“UAV has descended to lower altitude and gained a clearer feed, highlighting enemy positions now. You should be able to see the feed now, Silent Saviours.”
----
<insert picture>
----
True enough, a top-down video feed showed two Separatist Union ‘Liberators’, elite naval and expeditionary infantry equivalent of many a nation’s ‘marine’ forces, walking down the path right next to the Silent Saviours. They were far away enough from the cliff face to not notice them, especially in the darkness, but near enough to hear any audible sounds.
That was the outer perimeter patrol. The UAV feed also highlighted another two-man patrol, this time inside the base itself, seemingly following the walls but counter-clockwise to the outer perimeter team. Other two man sentries were also present, one pair at the guardhouse and another at the entrance to the underground route. All of them were carrying standard small arms - VKR-80 bullpups, which according to standard intel were simple gas-operated 6.5mm assault rifles with no spectacular features. The rest of the SU platoon are likely resting in the barracks, with their commanders manning the smaller HQ building.
How the Silent Saviours move forwards seemed to depend on what the Divers are going to do in response to the incoming outer perimeter guards.
--------
"Good , we definitely wouldn't want to be detected. A flashbang would most likely be needed say only for a few circumstances. But that said we have 2 pilots to save" One of the Novakian Divers replied to Fhi as the Divers would eventually reach the deegan cliff.
There the Novakina Divers would be the first to slowly climb their way upwards with the Rangsi squad following behind them. As the Divers almost made their way ontop of the cliff they Recived the radio message.
"Alright, we'll wait until the guards to relocate away from our positions before proceeding" One of the divers said before the comms would go silent as they kept their mouths shut in order to avoid the attention of the guards and to potentially jeopardize the mission entirely.
Now hanging on the cliff side the Divers while waiting for the guards to pass through and for the go ahead to climb up they took their time to watch the top down video feed from the UAV, most likely to see what actions they and the RANGSI recon units will have to do to sneak through the various guards and get into the underground tunnels to access the greenhouse. Afterall, they have their reputation and the pilots lives on stake here. One wrong move can jeopardize the chance of saving the pilots, their reputation to behold.
-------
The pair of guards walked past with no incident, turning around the corner. It was clear for them to climb onto the surface. The RANGSI recon troopers did so and immediately moved to stack up at the wall.
2nd Sergeant Phi scooted over to the commander of the Novakian Divers. “Aight it won’t be long before the outer wall guards come back. What should we do?” he whispered.
The video feed was still online in real time. The wall fortunately had no barbed wire so it was possible to climb over rather than going in from the front and having to deal with the gate guards. However, they should keep in mind that there was still another pair of guards patrolling the inner perimeter of the base and any attempt to climb the wall without dealing with them first could be spotted.
--------
"With the current situation on hand we can quickly go try to climb over the walls and into the outpost while the guards weren't looking, Fortunately the wall doesn't have Barbed wires so this should be alot easier should we don't unintentionally reveal ourselves out to the guards." One of the Novakian Dive Units whispered back at Sergeant Phi.
"If we wanted to be alot more bolder we could take down those guards and disguise ourselves as one of them. But of course, who'd be crazy enough to do that, But i guess someone would do it if its worth it" another Dive Unit whispered back
It wasn't long before the Novakian Units decide to go over the cliff and try to climb over the walls of the outpost as quietly and as quickly as possible so as to not alert the guards of them and the allies of their presence whilst they still have time, But with no Barbed wires on top of the walls this made made it a little more easier for them to climb over and eventually land on the other side, hoping the others would follow suit.
----------
“That’s honestly not a bad idea but we should do that only after we secured this outpost. Having those disguises may open up more options when we go into the tunnel.”
Sergeant Phi then looked at the UAV feed as the outer perimeter guards were about to reach their position again. He split up his recon platoon. One squad moved forward and took positions behind the wall, ready to intercept them Another squad moved to the opposite side, ready to storm the gate if necessary and surround this base.
“Don’t worry, we are securing other angles of attack,” Sergeant Phi said as he climbed on top of the wall, the only RANGSI trooper among the Diver squad. To their luck, the inner perimeter patrol decided to stop by and chat with the gate guard. They would be unaware of the Divers and Phi climbing over the wall.
“This is a golden opportunity,” Phi whispered as he pointed to less-than-diligent patrol. He checked his tablet and saw two outer perimeter guards lying dead, sprawled on the ground. “The outer perimeter patrol is gone. We should launch a coordinated strike. Your Divers take out the two soldiers guarding the tunnel entrance. Meanwhile my people will storm the gate and take them all out quickly.”
—---
"I gotcha Sergeant, they will be really useful once we managed to secure this outpost" One of the Novakian Divers replied towards Phi.
As the Novakian Divers along with Phi climbed over and land on the other side they can notice that the inner perimeter patrol being rather distracted from their patrols as they had stopped by to chat with the gate guards, seeing the opportunity and following Phi's advice the Novakian Divers would execute his plan.
"Noted, those guys wouldn't know whats coming for them anyways" One of the Divers whispered before the rest of the team would wait for the signal to launch the coordinated strike at the inner perimeter guards and if the signal for it did came they would quietly move towards the perimeter guards before disabling them with tasers, they would also hold up their sub-machine guns for if the attempt would prove to be unsuccessful.
—---
The coordinated attack went smoothly. The guards near the tunnel entrance suddenly dropped, twitching uncontrollably as the Divers’ tasers hit the exposed parts of their necks. Their screams of pain were muffled by the Divers who went ahead and covered their mouths to prevent them from alerting the entire camp. The Liberators at the gate were also taken out quickly in a single attack. The RANGSI recon troopers began streaming into the base.
“Go ahead into the tunnel and clear a path for us. It won’t be long before the next shift is taking over. They’ll get suspicious if the guards do not return. We need to wipe out everyone else in this base while we still can,” Sergeant Phi said to the Divers’ commander. He then gestured to his recon troopers to stack up on the Separatist command center and the bunks. Just as the Divers entered into the tunnels, they could hear the sound of doors creaking open and the ‘pew-pews’ of silenced shots, followed by muffled screams and general commotion as the enemy inside were caught totally off-guard.
In the tunnels, the Divers were generally unopposed. However as they began to approach the underground complex beneath the vertical farm, they would begin to hear sounds of general enemy activity - talking, walking and mechanical rumblings of some sort. The Divers would stop short at a corner turning to the right. If one peeked over the wall corner for a second, they would be greeted with a site of a long, downward sloping corridor leading to some kind of storage dump, a door straight ahead and an unknown number of Liberators inside. At this distance, the details were too unclear to make out troop numbers and the exact nature of their defences.
Taking in their surroundings, the Divers would notice two things. First was a maintenance hatch in front of them leading to a set of smaller vent tunnels underneath the storage dump area. These were just large enough for a human to crawl. These were used to ensure airflow underground. Another was an iron gate just behind them leading to a small space with the sign ‘Maintenance Station’ beside it. A look inside would reveal crates of tools and rudimentary equipment, but what would catch their eye were five RC drones on the bench. These were generally used to perform precision maintenance in the vents where there is too little space for humans to do anything other than crawling.
"Noted, we'll be on our way" One of the divers said as the rest of his squad quickly went into the tunnel to eliminate any hostiles. They were mostly unopposed as they didn't seemed to be any enemies in the tunnel but as they began to approach the complex underneath the vertical farm they would began to hear sound that might be enemy activity within the facility. The group would stop at the corner before peaking around it to see what was on the other side, They would see a downward sloping corridor that leads to somekind of storage dump with an unknown amount of rebel Liberators inside, Not ideal considering what they were bringing onto the fight.
After looking down the corridor the would look at what was in front of them in which they would see a maintenance hatch of sorts. As one of the Divers opened the hatch they would see smaller vent tunnels, one that only allowed for the divers to simply crawl through, not something they'd hope for.
Another member spotted of the iron gates behind the group, supposedly a maintenance station of sorts for various tools and equipment by the look of what was behind the gates. Spotting the 5 RC drones on the bench the Novakian Diver group would attempt to open the iron gates to get to the RC drones to which they would use them to fly through the vents, looking out for potential exit points aswell along the vent or to see whats was on the other side before any divers would attempt to crawl through it.
The Divers would manage to be able to piece a rough picture after using the drones to scout the loading area. There were four vent exit points, one per corner and there were about 11 Liberators. They don’t seem to be moving around and simply stood still at their respective posts, idling and chatting, still in the mindset that the small camp on the surface were still in their hands and thus if any enemy were moving towards them, they would have already known.
The most dangerous piece of equipment in the loading bay would be the heavy machine gun mounted on a pile of sandbags right in front of the door leading to the underground complex beneath the greenhouse facility, where they were keeping their captive Novakian pilot.
A call would also come from Sergeant Phi. “I got bad news, my troopers can’t come down there to reinforce you. Sharrow Hills reports that there is an enemy convoy heading for the coastal outpost. We’ll try to slow them down and keep this outpost secure but you’ve got to move fast and get our pilot guy out.”
—-
"Alright, We'll see what we can do from here" One of the divers said as the rest looked at the camera feed to see whats beyond the corridor. 11 Liberators they counted and one machine gun nest infront of a door. One that leads to something important, worse yet that they were already outnumbered and outgunned with no reinforcements whatsoever.
If they were going in they would not survive and be wiped out nearly instantly, so they would have to devise a plan should they want to take down every guard and the Machine gun nest guarding the door.
Using the RC drones they used to scout out the vents the a single Novakian Diver would pilot the drones intending to fly it down towards the room, positioning each of them in a position before attempting to distract the Liberator units by flashing bright lights at them. As the singular Diver starts his plan he gestured to the rest of his team to go into the vent to surprise the enemy by shooting them at their backs once he switched on the lights.
As soon as the setup was done and with the Divers each above the vent cover the drones would turn on their built-in Flashlights, intending to distract the Liberators, buying time for the rest of the Divers to suddenly kick the covers open to shoot the Liberators at their backs with their sub-machine guns and tasers.
-----
For the 2 Divers nearest to the Machine gun nest they would attempt to take control of its position by quickly disabling the 2 units controlling it before using it to take down the remaining Liberators, should they each succeed in taking down the 2 Liberators standing infront of them as they got out of the vent.
Meanwhile the 2 Divers nearest to the entrance to the loading area would try to take down the 2 Liberators whist simultaneously acting as a distraction for the 3 Liberators units in the centre by using the various object as cover.
All the while the single remaining Diver was busy moving the drones to the correct location in order to keep distracting the Units present. All 5 knew this would be an extremely risky endeavour as they were facing against a room full of Guards and a MG position that could indeed kill them all if they weren't careful enough, all the while they were sure someone is going to die during the ensuing fight, but it would be worth it should they manage to retrieve the pilots safely and without them dying.
—-----
The entire attack succeeds. The Divers, by using the ventilation tunnels, managed to surprise and overpower the Liberators within the storage dump area. However, their decision to use the machine gun will prove to be a difficult one, as now the entire base has been alerted to their presence.
“Divers, I’m picking up immense radio traffic the whole base is on alert! You need to secure the pilot double time!”
Behind the blast door is a long corridor, to the right there are a total of five rooms, labeled 1 to 5. In one of these rooms is where the Novakian pilot is being held. However, they have to be faster than ever now, because the distant clacking of boots and shouting from the staircase at the end of the corridor, coming from above, are clear signs of rebel troops coming to meet the Divers. It would not be long before one of them appeared around the stairs.
Dice Target: 3
—-
"I'm on it, We'll see if we can delay them before they reach us, You guys keep watch of the enemy convoy, we'll deal with the guards ourselves" One of the Divers said, as he rushed towards the rest of his group.
As said by their allies the entire base was now on alert, and with the sounds of Rebel troops coming from the corridor in front of them they had to act fast. With little time to spare they would quickly take weapons from the fallen liberators to arm themselves for the inevitable battle that was to come with one even going as far as attempting to lift the MG off from its initial position to use it as a heavy weapon to offset the possible hordes of incoming rebel troops that were coming for them.
There were 5 rooms within the corridor, all labelled 1 to 5 and in any one of those rooms could be the Pilot they intend to rescue. Without thinking they would barge into the one nearest to the staircase, that being room 5, as they barged in they were surprise to see that the pilots weren't in the room. As the sounds of clacking of boots and shouting from the staircase became louder and louder the 1 Diver would quickly mount his MG onto a position where it faced the staircase, ready to fire against the rebels the moment they came into view.
The 2 divers would stay beside the MG position while the other 2 rushed to carry some of the sandbags over in order to get a barrier of sorts formed up before the rebels arrive. As the barrier formed the Divers would aim their newly acquired weapons at the staircase, waiting for the rebels to arrive
—--
One of the rebel insurgents quickly dashed around the stairs and saw the Divers. Reflexively, he raised his rifle and tried to initiate contact, but before he could squeeze the trigger his head suddenly disappeared into a cloud of red mist. Fragments of skull and brain lay splattered over the wall and over his teammates behind, and a small smoking hole appeared on the concrete wall to his right. This could be nothing less of a heavy 12.7mm round.
The machine gun began clacking away as the Diver opened fire into the stairway. Thunder echoed repeatedly through the hallways, a hail of heavy rounds hammering and smashing against the wall. Faced with such firepower, the remaining members of the insurgent squad quickly scrambled backwards - whatever gungho-ness they had completely evaporated by the sight of their unfortunate pointman.
“Holy shi- Command! This is Section 2 2IC! Enemy is in hallway 13, leading to the underground storage area! We cannot advance! I repeat we cannot advance! Enemy has a heavy machine gun covering entire corridor! Requesting permission to retreat!” a female insurgent was practically screaming into her radio, as the wall around her exploded.
“Negative, Section 2, your orders still stand. Advance and make sure the enemy does not get to the POW,” the radio replied back.
“Fuck!” she threw her radio away.
“Matthew had the flashbangs,” she looked at her dead squad leader before turning back to her squad. “Jenson, give me covering fire until I get Matthew’s body back.”
“You got it boss,” the insurgent named Jenson peeked his rifle from behind the other flight of stairs and began firing random shots in the direction of the Divers’ positions. It was highly inaccurate and thus unlikely to hit anything, but the idea was to suppress them to stop the heavy machine gun fire for a few seconds - long enough time for them to drag the corpse back into their ranks.
—-
"Oh Fuck they're coming, we need to secure the Pilot Quickly while we still have time." One of the diver shouted to which one of the Divers would took off from his position to check the other rooms for the pilots, as it is it will take some time another Diver would accompany him in searching for the pilot aswell.
That left only 3 Divers to hold the position against what seemed to be a whole team of rebel Soldiers coming their way with their only advantage being the bottleneck that is the staircase and the large machine gun they had gotten.
As Jenson fired his shots at the direction of the Divers positions, the Divers would momentary pause as they ducked down, to avoid the incoming fire. One of the Divers then fired a couple shots at the staircase, perhaps assuring the rebels not to come any closer.
"Hey, get ready your smoke grenades, once we've secured the pilots we'll cause a distraction and were outta here" One of the Divers said as he looked over to one of his teammates.
—-
“Covering fire!”
“Going!” the insurgent squad 2IC made a mad scramble to pull the dead corpse back into cover while Jenson stood up and fired his rifle into the Diver’s direction. The suppression succeeded and their team leader’s body was recovered. However, the Divers were quick to recover and one of their shots got lucky and hit Jenson right through the space between his eyes.
“Jenson! Fuck!” the 2IC screamed as Jenson’s body flopped backwards lifelessly. She immediately grabbed the flashbang and pulled out the pin. “Eat this motherfuckers!”
The flashbang was thrown into the hallway. After the flashbang went off, she immediately charged down the stairs towards the corridor, with her squad following in tow.
Meanwhile in the next room, the pilot was nowhere to be found. However, what they found was a weapon lab of some sorts, with a partially-disassembled rifle on the table. It was essentially a bulky block of rectangular steel with a variety of copper wires, coils and capacitors on the exterior, with the words “LASER” in gold paint. By the looks of it, it seemed like they were building and testing some sort of prototype laser weapon made from a variety of salvaged parts strewn around the mining colony.
"Fuck, Flashbang! Cover your eyes!" Shouted one of the Novakian Divers as he caught a silhouette of what might be a flashbang, or perhaps it was a grenade, but either way there was no time to correct his possible mistake. As the Divers covered their eyes as the flashbang went off. One Diver unit that was manning the MG however was not so lucky as he was immediately temporarily blinded by the Flash that engulfed his eyes. With no time to waste the Other Diver beside him immediately pushed his blinded teammate out before another one would take the MG before firing it at the stairwell, Hoping to atleast fend off the rebel units until his teammates would find the pilot.
In the next room as the 2 Novakian Divers barged in they would encounter the Partially Disassembled Rifle, as one of the divers reached out to inspect it they would hear a soft bang outside. Thinking it was some kind of grenade being thrown at their teammates accompanied with his shouting from made the both immediately barge out of the room, with one of them grabbing the partially disassembled rifle.
As the 2 barged out of the room they were in one immediately grabbed his rifle, aimed it at the rebels before firing at them, hoping to slow them down at the least which left only one Diver, to look for the Pilots.
Finally, they have found who they were looking for. As the Diver barged into the room, he found their pilot ziptied to a table. He was unconscious, and the bruises and dried blood all over his face indicated that he had been through one hell of a rough interrogation, beaten and punched in an attempt to extract information. There was no one else around in the room, his interrogators likely left for the night.
Outside, the insurgent squad that rushed the Divers were all quickly cut down by heavy machine gun fire. Subsequent rushed assaults by several insurgents coming down the staircase were also successfully repelled despite the flashbang - in such a narrow corridor there was little else room for a bullet to go anywhere else. Very soon, as the dust cleared and the Divers recovered from the flashbang, bodies lined the floor and the stairs. Panicked screams heard from above seem to indicate further refusal for the rest to continue the attack.
This was to the Divers’ advantage, as the heavy machine gun had already ran out of ammunition. But just before they could quickly exfil with their pilot, suddenly loud thumping noises reverberated from the ceiling above.
A yellow laser beam then cut through in a circular motion and the ceiling essentially broke and crashed onto the floor the Divers were in. Behind the dust and smoke was a large hulking silhouette. It stepped forward, every step shaking through the entire corridor, and out of the smoke the Novakian Divers finally saw what was towering over them.
Red glowing eyes behind a huge gas mask of sorts. A brutish, exaggerated humanoid form, covered in very thick armor plates and bulletproof paddings, though some parts seem to be either clearly missing or substituted. Faded Capitol army markings, painted over with Separatist Union livery and insignias. Yes, this was none other than the fearsome Shock Trooper of Capitol origins, the heavy power armor suit likely scavenged from the days of the 2nd Ancerious War, modified and repaired with local parts and its green and reds repainted with the Separatist Union’s dark grey and golden yellow stripes. It had none of the Capitol’s autocannon and giant electric shock mace, all it had was just two giant exoskeleton fists. But these giant fists were perhaps all they needed to face off with a small squad of lightly-armed divers.
The bullets bounced off the Shock Trooper's armor harmlessly, as it was to be expected. It slowly took a step forward to the Novakian Diver standing his ground firing his rifle despite knowing all too well that it was too weak to penetrate its armor, its red eyes staring deep into his soul.
The Shock Trooper then grabbed the Diver by the neck, lifting him up as he squirmed and struggled to break free.
"I admire your bravery, comrade soldaten. If only we are on the same side," a deep, robotic-like voice snarled from behind the helmet. Its exoskeletal power fists then suddenly clenched, squeezing the Diver's neck with enough force to break it with a loud audible snap. His sacrifice was not in vain however, in that time the Divers have managed to find the pilots and managed to just reach for the door when the Shock Trooper threw away the Diver's lifeless body and have now officially turned its attention to the rest. It began walking towards the loading bay, smashing through the door and the parts of the wall in its way as it made its entry into the loading area.
Novakian Federation — 06/09/2022
Although a little frightened from the prospect of having to see one of their men getting killed by a hulk as they freed the captured pilots the 4 remaining divers, along with the freed pilots were simultaneously now running down the loading bay with the shock trooper right behind them. As they made their way over the previously dead bodies of the Rebel soldiers that once guarded this room the Divers looked for anything that could slow down the Shock trooper, even if its by a little.
2 divers would look for anything to cause a distraction whilst one more stayed to escort the pilots out of the loading bay. The 2 divers would use whatever easily movable objects in the room to form a sort of ad-hoc blockade against the exit of the Loading bay, not meant to survive for long but enough to slow down the shock trooper so that the divers and the pilots would be well ahead of it.
They would use the barrels and one side of the room to form the barrier in question. Setting one of them to the exit of the loading bay first the 2 divers would each drag the other 2 barrels to 'close' off the exit as the Shock Trooper came storming in ready to kill them both. Once they both had put the barrels where they wanted them to be the 2 divers would ran off to rejoin the group
While looking for anything to slow down the Shock Trooper’s monstrous advances towards them, their eyes naturally looked to the weapons and gear strewn all over the floor, from the dead rebel soldiers that they had killed previously. While their assault rifles would do little to stop the heavy power armour trooper, the dead rebels did have a couple of high explosive grenades strapped to their combat belts. The grenades would have better effect if they were used in the narrower tunnels that they came from, where the smaller area would make the grenade’s blast radius more impactful, compared to if it was thrown in the wider area of the loading bay.
The hasty barricade was for sure a temporary solution, as the Shock Trooper began using its exoskeletal fists to punch, rip and smash into the barrels. The few seconds of delay however, was enough to put some valuable distance between it and the Divers. Plus, the Shock Trooper had difficulty squeezing into the smaller tunnel passageways due to its size, and had to essentially dig its way forward as it began using the HPA body to smash through whatever rock and soil that stood in its way.
The Novakian Divers made a rushed but organised retreat, leapfrogging as one ran and the other fired or threw high-explosive grenades at the Separatist heavy power-armour soldier. The grenades slowed it down and damaged the exterior armour, with cracks and glowing burn marks visible. But it was a testament to Capitol brute-force engineering that the HPA continued clawing its way towards the Divers, still very much alive and practically intact.
Eventually the Divers reached the surface, and the panting squad leader quickly alerted the RANGSI recon platoon of the impending HPA threat.
“We got a SU armoured car hotwired and ready to go! Get your pilot out of here! We’ll deal with the HPA threat!” Sergeant Phi pointed to the car. Originally, he intended to hotwire enough cars and jeeps to transport everyone, but only one had been completed by the time the Divers returned. Without any hesitation, he effectively gave up his men’s ride for the Divers and the Novakian pilot they rescued. That took priority.
Missions change, they always do, and it was not a Scout Recon mission if they didn’t. Immediately after the Novakians drove out to safety, Sergeant Phi rallied his platoon and began organising a new plan on the spot. This was supposed to be a stealth mission, so he did not bring any LAWs with him, and instead he had to improvise. What he did have was AT mines, so he directed his troops to place AT mines at the entrance of the tunnel and juryrigged them with detonator wires for manual detonation.
Soon enough, the HPA soon appeared, and just before it could pop its head out of the entrance, the AT mines went off, turning the entrance into black smoke and a pile of rubble. Sergeant Phi then ordered his men to make an organised retreat back to the cliffside and the boats below.
The pile of rubble soon began to move about, and like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the HPA rose up, shaking and trembling as it took noticeable damage from the AT mines. Huge, freshly glowing holes peppered the armour, a sign that the shaped charges did its thing. But the HPA soldier continued to walk forwards, with mechanical grunts accompanying every lumbering step, animated by pure conviction, and a pure desire to murder its RANGSI foes.
Everything else was merely a game of distraction and buying time. Some recon troopers were brave enough to taunt the towering armoured giant with small arms fire, and draw away its attention from their comrades making their escape. But alas, with a single lunge, the HPA unexpectedly closed the distance with such rapid speed, and with a single mighty swing, sent many of the recon troopers flying into the barracks wall. A last survivor mag-dumped his rifle into the HPA’s faceplate, only to find the bullets bouncing off from the thick armour. A giant exo-hand soon grabbed his neck, lifted him up high into the air, and crushed it. The lifeless body was then thrown aside.
But by the time the HPA was done, the rest of Phi’s recon troopers managed to scale down the cliffs and commandeer the boats out to safety. A mechanical screech echoed in the distance as a frustrated SU HPA trooper stood at the edge of the cliff, watching its prey escape.
With the Novakian pilot rescued and safe, the allied operation to take the last objective of Operation Restore Hope was underway. RANGSI, Falconian and Novakian forces, with combined air, artillery, infantry and tank power, stormed the Greenhouse and quickly seized it. Food, water, and electricity was now ensured for the Main City. The besieged RANGSI soldiers and Orajevan civilians had finally, albeit narrowly, escaped certain death.
With allied ships in orbit re-establishing communications, Captain Chan managed to deliver his report of the situation to divisional command. The division immediately sent reinforcements. RANGSI ships warped into orbit, bringing fresh troops and supplies to continue the liberation of the rest of Orajevo still under Separatist control. Captain Chan and his surviving forces were rotated out, for a much-needed period of rest and re-sustainment.
Within the next month, Operation Restore Hope II was launched to retake the rest of Orajevo. The battered Separatist troops and their allied insurgents quickly folded to the allied reinforcements and within weeks of rapid advances, their final stronghold - the airbase, was captured by allied troops. Orajevo was finally expunged of its Separatist influence, and the oligarchy returned to power. As a reward for their assistance, the Novakians and Falconians were given a share of the hydrogen nano-fuel production and Orajevo was promised to be a friendly port for any of their ships passing through, with lucrative ‘friend’ discounts for any and all services rendered.