The tanks, Challenger IIs, were finished rolling off their landing craft, covered from above by ground-attack and air-superiority aircraft, flanked by both foot and mechanised infantry and army helicopters. More were on the way as Starblaydia's action into Djacor-Rysonia continued.
"What do you mean, 'we don't have any HESH rounds for our Challengers'?" Major General Carlos Nogueira was not a happy man. His prize tank assests had no high-explosive rounds to decimate other enemy tanks, they were limited to an over-supply of Sabot rounds instead. Still useful, but not quite as effective - or spectacular.
"General," his aide de camp replied, a little nerviously, "the shipment of High Explosive Squash Head rounds was put on a cargo ship for Atheistic Right by mistake. It's somewhere past Krytenia right now."
"Crap." The General spat, but his Captain was used to that. "We can survive well enough without the HESH, but I'd rather have it than not."
Just then a signal came through. The General's makeshift command post - in actuality a tent surrounded by sandbags and camouflage - was nearby the main Communications tower - also hastily erected - and signals were diverted to the General's post.
| CODE | .:: CODE 812 ::.
All forces in place.
Aerial assests inbound.
Operation Emperor is a go.
.:: END TRANSMISSION ::. |
With an entire Armoured Cavalry Regiment, with adequate support, at his fingertips, General Nogueira was fully prepared. He picked up an appropriately-linked military phone and spoke into it.
"Men of the Second Armoured Cavalry Regiment, and the men and women that are in supporting roles: why we are here is now revealed to us. Djacor-Rysonia is, as Atheistic Right, a serious and immediate threat to the peace and security of Atlantian Oceania. Chacor has not been able to deal with this breakaway clan, not with their trifling military assets. It has come to us to pacify this state before they can do any serious damage. Let us keep the peace. Good hunting."
<General, Sir,> it was the voice of his leading Major over the net, Major Jerome "Jerry" Vazquez, commanding the Challengers, <we ain't Peacekeepers, we're Peacemakers. Let's go to war, boys.>
*****
<... Good hunting.>
The message from their Major General had gone out, encrypted, over all nets for the forces involved in Operation Emperor. Just one of these assets was a pair of C-130 Hercules Aircraft, flanked by one of the most top-secret Starblaydi fighter craft - the A-14 Gryphon.
Four of these stealthy, tailless ground-attack aircraft flew in a loose formation behind the two cargo planes, which themselves carried over a hundred and twenty elite paratroopers. More conventional forces were soon to be delivered by air and arrive by road - if the expected assault went as planned - but this 'airhead' assault on Trèvu's main airport was the first key mission.
Djacor-Rysonia forces were simply expecting the Hercules craft to land and have troops secure the airport against Chacoran agression. That was before the bombs from the A-14s fell. Amidst the destruction, the C-130s disgorged their cargo, one hundred and twenty-eight elite light infantry, ready to take the airport for their own.
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