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| Posted by: Starblaydia Oct 9 2006, 06:20 AM | ||
"Be as quiet as a pin," the designers always said, "so you can hear mouse droppings."
Sunnis Battlefleet, just off the coast of Sinistra The Nedalian President had, only a few days earlier, given battlecry to Nedalia and the Strategic Defense League, to take on Stgarblaydia, with might and purity and all the usual rubbish. Words are good, but as the saying goes, actions are better. While Democracies used words more freely than most, tyrannts used action, force and destruction with abandon. The force Starblaydia, Viannor, the Sunnis Fleet, the Purple Peril, the RAWRCRUSHers - however their terms of address - were about to unleash on Nedalia was destruction on the largest scale so far in the war. It would mark the beginning of a new front and also a warning, to those who string pretty words together in an attempt to rouse their populations with... whatever the intention was to begin with. Admiral Hierro was tasked with carrying the mission out. He had known that his Sunnis battlefleet would be tasked with defending Hypocria for most of the war. That suited him fine, Hierro had always been a man to take on all comers, rather than to go looking for trouble. He would be provoking that trouble, he thought as the latest imagery of Honsfield harbour came up on the screen. "Look at all those lovely cans," he said aloud, "all sitting in the flow of the Drongo River as it moves out into the sea. And all those sharks in the water, too. A pity. Do we have any shots including the castle? I've not seen it before." "I hope one misses and hits the stadium," an Ensign mused quietly, "would be funny to see that giant traitor's club go up." Hierro frowned, passing his eyes over an aerial view of the ancient Honsfield castle, he'd never been certain that Armando Gomez had actually defected to Krytenia, or why exactly Viannor had practically ex-communicated him from Starblaydi society. Whatever the reason, the ex-wrestler and vodka proprietor owned a football club in the city he was about to bomb. He sighed, and gave the order. "The code phrase is 'Ay, ay, ay, buy CD!'" He said. That phrase - when not a code, would make sense to about half a dozen people on the planet, and none of them were within a thousand miles. Hierro sighed again, mostly at the odd looks he got for the phrase, noting that he was very alone down here. PNS Submarine Silent Henry, south of Nedalia "Incoming transmission," the communications officer said. Quietly. He passed it to the captain, who read the words 'Ay, ay, ay, buy CD!'. He knew that himself and two other captains, those on the Silent Brady and Silent Adams had just received the message, encrypted, on their Very High Frequency radios. The Silent-class were truly that, Starblaydia's finest piece of submarine engineering in noise reduction. The fluid dynamics were superb, engine noises practically zero, the crew were practically Trappist Monks. The disadvantages of the class were that the engines moved the great behemoth at about swimming speed, while they also had no defensive capabilities - such pithy things as torpedoes - to keep themselves alive. All they had was their silence, and that had been enough so far. What they were about to demostrate now, however, was their offensive capabilities. The Silent-class were Arsenal submarines, loaded with sixty supersonic cruise missiles. Well over a thousand pounds of explosives (over 500kg) packed ther warhead, with the idea of sinking ships and destroying fortified buildings and bunkers. The targets today, picked by the intelligence and strategy boffins, was Nedalia's fleet at anchor in Honsfield harbour. Slowly, nerve-tinglingly slowly, the submarines came to the surface. Tests had shown that the missile flight path, and therefore accuracy, was actually increased by not shooting them through water first. All across the top deck, hatches slid open and evil, glittering engines of death were revealed. A gout of flame, a shot of smoke, and one missile leapt from it's bay. Then another, then another. In total one hundred and sixty missiles were unleashed and heading at a very low, almost sea-skimming altitude, for Honsfield and the Nedalian fleet that sat there. Ships of all sizes, mostly 'huge', were targeted, along with power stations, command and control buildings and radar stations. Quickly the boats returned to the deep and headed for home. The first missiles would be striking - or being shot down - before they even reached fifty feet. |
| Posted by: Nedalia Oct 9 2006, 07:47 PM |
| Nedalia would change forever in one split second. In all of the country's long, fascinating history, never once had it been hit by an outside force, not even by something as miniscule as a pebble. In one split second, the nation went from never being touched to having its largest coastal city's shoreline torched into flames. It was early morning, and the sun had just begun to shine on the South Seas which washed up onto Honsfield, or more accurately, onto the Derrafin Naval and Army Base based in the city. The soldiers were up and running, patrol crafts were coming in from their nightly shifts, to be replaced by fresh boats and their crew. Located out of the Derrafin Naval Base was the Ibis Fleet, made up of 8 Adamant Class Battleship (Sarzonian made), 2 Vigilant Class SD (Sarzonian made), 25 PC-II patrol crafts, 4 AC-I aircraft carriers, 2 AC-II aircraft carriers, 6 AC-III aircraft carriers, 12 CS-I cruisers, 8 BC-I battleships, 25 DC-I destroyers, 30 FC-I frigates, and 22 SS-I submarines. The Vigilant Class superdreadnoughts were, quite rightfully, the stars of the fleet, protected at all times by the 8 other Sarzonian made vessels on the fleet; the Adamant class battleships. The aircraft carriers came in 3 sizes; the smallest was also the newest, the AC-III, a lightweight carrier which could take be sent to take of the smaller missions that wouldnt require the AC-Is or the AC-IIs. The CS-Is and the BC-Is served one purpose: destroy anything, and destroy them dramatically. Capable of Anti-Air, Anti-Surface, and Anti-Sea action, they were relied on heavily when push came to shove. For all quick hits and Anti-Submarine action, the DC-Is and FC-Is were the ones to turn to, and for scouting missions and light battle, the PC-IIs did the job perfectly. The SS-Is were nuclear capable, damage intensive, and stealth heavy. It was the Ibis fleet that was the initial target. Perhaps the sheer size or the sheer power of the fleet was a threat, or perhaps the base that served it. That was what was running through the minds of many as missiles hit vessel after vessel in the first round of fire. A complete surprise attack, for the first time ever, on Nedalian soil. Just one minute later, however, it became easy to come to the realization that the fleet wasn't the only target. The second wave of missiles came screeching into Honsfield itself; downtown Honsfield. The Gurhar Life Insurance Building, a 45 story landmark of the city, was hit by 5 missiles, with fires erupting throughout the building. Similar scenes befell the Franks Museum on Derbell Street and the Julannes Tower, the 3rd tallest building in the city. A wave of missiles also hit the Icon Condominium Towers overlooking the South Seas, a residential luxury condo building which served as the residence for quite a few prominent businessmen and businesswomen in the area. Overall, almost 30 missiles hit downtown Honsfield, and 80 made hit the Derrifan Base. The most destructive two minutes that the country, perhaps the region, had ever witnessed. With flames engulfing the Derrifan Naval and Army Base and fires erupting throughout downtown Honsfield, the city, Nedalia's 4th largest, resembled a warzone. Black smoke rose from the business district as police, firefighters, and soldiers rushed to put out fires and save lives. Three buildings, the tallest being 12 stories, collapsed, adding to the misery that had already captivated the city. All in two minutes. As word got to Kafra, the instructions from Commander Horacio and President Dala'a was clear: send one part of the Ibis Fleet east into the channel between Bettia and Spruitland, one south into the South Seas. In less than 30 minutes after the instructions were given, 8 PC-IIs, 2 BC-Is, and 1 AC-III (equipped with 20 F-4 'Bird of Prey') headed east into the channel, with the same amount heading south. Whoever had planned this attack was to be uncovered, and was going to pay. The hastily planned counter-attack was just that; hastily planned. The frustration from Kafra, to go along with the tears and emotion, could not allow such pathetic and cowardly actions to go unpunished. Honsfield was to be avenged. Airports in southern and western Nedalia grounded all planes and all other southern coastal cities were placed on the highest alert. As the nation watched in complete horror the pictures from Honsfield, grieving and mourning over the biggest act of terrrorism to be swept onto the Nedalian people, one thing had become terribly obvious: Defense was no longer an option. Damage done to the Ibis Fleet: 1 AC-II, 1 AC-I, 6 PC-II, 1 Adamant, and 4 DC-I damaged beyond repair and/or sunk. Military Casualties: Approx. 945 soldiers killed, 2130 injured. Buildings Damaged: 19 non-military buildings damaged; 3 collapsed. Civilian Casualties: Approx. 2560 killed, 3145 injured. |
| Posted by: Nedalia Oct 10 2006, 08:59 AM |
| "...With us now is Sandra Coast, who is live in Honsfield. Sandra?" "I'm with you, Brian." "Sandra, the nation is in a state of shock. What happened?" "Well, Brian, from what I can make out after asking several NGA and Honsfield Metro Police, the city was hit by two waves of missile attacks, presumably coming from the sea, the first wave apparently targeting the Derrifan Base and the second wave being shot at downtown Honsfield itself. What remains unclear amidst all this rubble is how many missiles were shot exactly, but there is no doubt; these were no home-made missiles. To have caused such widescale destruction...these were state-of-the-art, military made missiles." "Tell us in detail about the attacks, Sandra." "The first wave of missiles hit the Derrifan Base, and although official word has not been released from inside there, we can count atleast 8 vessels, 1 clearly being the Sarzonian made Adamant class battleship and 2 others we can make out as aircraft carriers, on fire at the moment. There has been conficting reports suggesting that anywhere between 1-3 ships have sank, but as I said, there has been no official word. The Ibis Fleet operates out of this base, and its one of the largest the Nedalian Navy has...it does have appeared to be the primary target of the attacks. We can make out atleast 3 ongoing fires inside the base, as well, with atleast another 2 places where black smoke is rising from." "And what about outside the base?" "We have confirmed that the Honsfield Power Plant just west of the Derrifan Base was also hit, which has rendered almost 1/3 of the city without electricty. The Honsfield Sewege Treatment Center was also directly targetted by what appears to be two missiles, and there has been leakage into the ocean. Those were apparently also targetted during the first wave." "And the second wave that hit downtown Honsfield?" "The second wave reportedly came just under a minute after the hits on the Derrifan Base and the power plant, directly hitting the Gurhar Life Insurance Building, the Julannes Tower, the Franks Museum, and the Icon, the largest luxury condo building in the city, amongst others. Three buildings have reportedly collapsed, the largest being the Buntar Trust Bank." "I guess the burning question on everyone's mind is...how many dead, Sandra?" "It's difficult to say, Brian, it's difficult to say, but from the sight of things here...not less than 1500 would be an early estimate. Ambulances have been choking traffic into downtown, and its very apparent that there lots of injuries. The Derrifan Base has been sealed off, so there is no way to get an estimate from there. What is painfully obvious, Brian, was the intention to directly hit civilian targets by these terrorists; the first wave of missiles hit the base, but the second wave hit nothing but civilian targets. There was a blunt intent to cause as much civilian damage as possible, aiming for downtown Honsfield itself, as well as the largest apartment building in the city. Very disturbing." "Did the military actually get any of the missiles that were headed to Honsfield?" "Yes, reports say that nearly half the missiles that were shot out from the south never reached their targets thanks to the military and their anti-missile defenses. I can only imagine what couldve been if they had, Brian." "So where does the city go from here? Who was behind this?!" "No one claimed responsibility, but initial fears are that this is a Starblaydi-Hypocrian attack. The only feasible way that these missiles could have been launched was through submarines, and submarines stealthy enough to get this close to Honsfield and launch so many missiles, well...that is not technology that most countries possess. As for the city of Honsfield, it is reeling from the attacks right now. Smoke is everywhere, the business district is a mess, and the Derrifan Base looks to be out of order for the time being. The power plant has been hit in a hard way...Brian, it's going to be a while before Honsfield returns to normal, if it ever does." "Thank you, Sandra. That was Sandra Coast live from Honsfield. Stay with us for more on this breaking, remorseful news." |
| Posted by: Krytenia Oct 10 2006, 12:06 PM |
| EVERTON CITY, 00:12 AOTC News of the Starblaydi attack reached their northern neighbours quickly. In the Presidential Palace, Dominique Domasca seethed. "DAMMIT! That bitch is going to pay!" She picked up the telephone and dialled. "Hello, KAF Ashton? Get me Wing Commander Wells." A pause. "Well wake him! This is the President, dammit!" ----- KRYTENIAN AIR FORCE BASE, ASHTON, 00:23 AOTC Wing Commander Adrian Wells, still wearing his silk pyjamas under his uniform, addressed the night shift of pilots at the Krytenian Air Force's most south-westerly base. "Alright men, we have our orders. We are to intercept and engage a flotilla of the Starblaydi Navy, believed to be somewhere to the south-west of Honsfield, Nedalia. Gemini Squadron, you will fly to this location as first wave - there will be three heavy bombers in your squad for any carriers you come across. Pegasus Squadron, give them all the back-up you can." ---- EVERTON CITY, 00:30 AOTC - OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT "After an attack so close to our borders, we cannot sit idly by and watch Viannor's tyranny any longer. It is with sympathy to our Nedalian neighbours that we make the following statement." Pause. "The United Provinces of Krytenia are now at war with Starblaydia." |
| Posted by: Hypocria Oct 10 2006, 12:31 PM |
| The big screen in the High Command’s war-room displayed a live feed from Nedalia. As Vyntra watched he felt events spiral out of control before his eyes. The declaration of war against the Lowland Clans had been a token gesture, he had no intention to deploy any of the Autocracy’s forces in that area. He’d been quite content to ride out the war as it ravaged around the Bekk. But the attack on Honsfield had dropped the conflict right on his doorstep. And just to hammer home the point, "No one claimed responsibility, but initial fears are that this is a Starblaydi-Hypocrian attack . . .” At a gesture from the Autokrator the image disappeared. “Marvellous. Bloody marvellous.” He turned to the assembled military hierarchy. “The game has changed and now we have no choice. Gentlemen. Mobilize.” |
| Posted by: Khazaron Oct 10 2006, 02:12 PM |
| Khara was still in the middle of a meeting on the KNV Carain with the Lamonian admiral and his staff when the comms officer came knocking on the door of the admiral's quarters they where using for the occasion. Letting out a sigh, he excused himself once again and stood up to answer the door. The same comms officer from before was standing their. "I apologize for interrupting commander, but Minister Arani has just messaged us that Starblaydia has attacked Nedalia, missiles we believe." Khara's face became like stone as he sensed what was coming next. "How many?" Khara asked the officer. "They estimate no less than 1500 or so civilian casualties. We're still working on how many military there may have been." the officer responded. Khara nodded. "Thank you." With that Khara shut the door and turned back towards the meeting. "I'm afraid I must attend to something else for now. Starblaydia has attacked Nedalia and killed no less than 1500 civilian casualties. I must see what help my nation can offer our allies." He turned to Admiral Voors. "I leave the rest of this in your capable hands." With that Khara left the room and headed towards the bridge. He found the same comms officer from before and tapped him on the shoulder. "Patch me through to the palace in Archon City, I want to speak to Minister Arani." The officer nodded without eve turning to Khara. Within a few minutes a somewhat clear link had been established. "You may only have a few minutes commander. There's a rather nasty storm front moving in and we won't be able to maintain the connection for long." "Mike, I'll make this brief. What do we have that we can send to help the Nedalians?" Khara said, waiting a bit for the reply. "Well, we're still getting our conscripts assembled, and our fleets need more time to get fully operational." came the semi-clear response over the radio. "Some time?! We where...oh nevermind. Listen, get as many medical supplies and relief workers as we can and send them to Nedalia as fast as you can. Give the transports a military escort. I don't want them being shot down. Meanwhile, get the damned fleets ready, we've got a war to fight!" said Khara, a few steps removed from screaming. "As you you wish highness." came the response before they lost the signal. |
| Posted by: Milchama Oct 10 2006, 03:50 PM |
| "Holy sh--!" "What?!" "Nedalia been invaded?" "By who?" "Starblaydia, who else?' "How do we know this?" "First, intel our Nedalian spies told us but second, most things seem to indicate that and third and most importantly it was released by the Nedalian news stations" "YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT!" "I don't care, the point is we need to declare war on Starblaydia now! Then we go to Nedalia's aid and we crush the Starblaydi forces." "Ok, sounds good" To Atlantian Oceania, official release from the Milchamian Government: We declare War on Starblaydia and the whole of SAAS for their aggressive actions in Nedalia and we pledge to help Nedalia and all other nations in their crushing of the Starblaydi menace to AO. Signed, Great Leader Tim Gonnenberg |
| Posted by: Krytenia Oct 11 2006, 10:08 AM |
| Location: Ocean west of Nedalia Captain Jerome Hill was having a very fruitless day. "Base, this is Green Leader. We have a negative sighting." * * * * * Location: KAF Ashton "Sir, latest pictures from COPS." Wing Commander Wells looked at the pictures. Even though the Space Agency's vector graphics software had made a good zoom of the area, there was, indeed, nothing there. "Subs! The bastards used subs!" Wells picked up the phone. * * * * * Location: MINDEF, Everton City "Thank you, Mr Wells." Forces Marshall Thomas Kinkladze, top man of the Krytenian Armed Forces, sighed. "Right, let's get two patrols of twenty ships patrolling that patch of sea; and another thirty between Spritland and Bettia. If there are subs, they'll have to surface sometime. Oh, and get the Space Agency to train COPS on that region, they've got to have a fleet around somewhere." |
| Posted by: Spruitland Oct 11 2006, 12:58 PM |
| Richard Wauwerman, Spruitland’s Minister of Tourism, was exhausted. He had barely slept at all during the past 72 hours. But the idea he’d had three days ago, on the toilet, reading about all the hostilities that were starting to erupt in the region, was finally taking shape. Soon he’d be able to rest and watch the money pile up. “Your three o’clock is here, sir,” the intercom said, and Wauwerman responded with a curt “send him in!” The man that burst into the office three seconds later looked a lot less exhausted than Wauwerman did, but also a lot less pleased. “Here it is!” he said, slapping a videotape onto the Minister’s desk and taking off his baseball cap to wipe his forehead. He had a heavily French accent, which Wauwerman knew to be completely fake. “It is absolument shìt!” “Now now, Mr. De Vries, I’m sure you did a splendid job.” “Absolument shìt!” De Vries repeated. “De rien to work with!” “Right. Let’s have a look, shall we?” Wauwerman shoved the tape into the video player. A blonde, five year old girl was licking an ice cream cone, smiling at the camera. Then her expression changed into a look of horror. She screamed. Her image faded into a blood red screen. Bombastic orchestra music started, and a caption spun onto the screen. WAR in AO! A baritone voice-over spoke the words out loud, for those who couldn’t read. Images of ships, clearly taken with a heavy zoom lens from long distance. Nedalian cruisers, Krytenian battleships, Starblaydi destroyers. The VERDANA THEATER, another caption/voice-over said. More ships. An entire fleet, cruising towards its destination, a fighter plane taking off from an aircraft carrier. Then another caption: Erupting Soon, In a Channel Near You! A slowmotion close up of an ice cream cone splattering onto the ground as the music climaxed ended the commercial. “That’s it?” Wauwerman frowned. “Like I said, absolument shìt! Not enough action, not enough explosions! Just boats boats boats.” “The ships are fine,” Wauwerman said. “But what’s that crap with the ice cream? And where’s all the practical information? I put together a whole text…” “Yes yes, whole text, takes deux minutes to read, to put in twenty second commercial. Impossible.” “But that stuff is important! How are the tourists gonna show up if they don’t know about our cheap hotel rates, about our Quick-Deployment program that’ll take them to the scene of the action, about our observation posts all along our shores, about our hot-air-balloon trips and luxury yacht rentals? You need to put that in! Just cut out the little girl at the beginning and the ice cream cone at the end.” “But that is the only part that is of value artistique! The symbolism est très…” “Get rid of it, De Vries, and put the text in. And be quick about it, this commercial is scheduled to air on every major tv-channel in the region during prime time tonight.” “Non!” De Vries said, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at a point on the ceiling. “I am the director, and c’est moi who makes the final cut.” “Yeah, and c’est moi who has your paycheck,” Wauwerman smiled, crossing his arms as well. “And c’est also moi who regularly shags the Minister of Culture’n’Stuff, who decides which director’s next film recieves government funding or not.” De Vries blinked, then scowled. “Bon,” he finally said, turning to leave. “But I want not my name on this! Put me as ‘Alan Smithee’!” |
| Posted by: Nedalia Oct 11 2006, 02:50 PM |
| OOC: Alright, bit of a background. The Honsfield attack was a prelude to something much larger which Star, Hyp and I worked out. While its lovely to know I have allies who are ready to jump to my rescue, and believe me, very much appreciated  , the truth is, we wanted to keep this conflict between us three. Sorry for any misunderstandings.Posts are obviously most welcome in the thread, but we just want to keep the action between us three. Again, apologies! |
| Posted by: Khazaron Oct 11 2006, 04:11 PM |
| OOC: That's actually a bit of a relief for me. Didn't want a war on like three fronts. What about medical assitance? Can I still send that? |
| Posted by: Starblaydia Oct 11 2006, 04:33 PM |
| Bridge of the PNS Indefatigable, Invinicible-class aircraft carrier, "Nightwings reporting radar emissions, Sir," The Captain rolled his eyes. They were at the neck of a channel and from their position could see, with suitably powerful binoculars, Spruitland, Bettia and Hypocria; there were radar installations everywhere. "And?" He asked. "Mobile radar, Sir, at sea." Now this really was something. His pair of F-23S aircraft were patrolling the channel in an oval-racetrack style pattern,scanning for radar emmissions. They had found something, most likely Nedalian. They'd be seething after the missile attack and hungry for Starblaydi blood. Probably steaming down the channel with their hair still on fire. "Get another five aircraft up, now," the Captain narrowed his eyes, "they'll be looking in front for us, won't they?" He asked himself, but there was general agreement around him. "Who have we got up out there there?" The lieutenant checked the roster. "Imager and Whacko" "Get them to their lowest detection rate and see if they can circle around the Nedalians," the Captain thought out loud, "hit 'em from behind, then hit 'em in the face. Lucky everyone's loaded with air-to-sea missiles, too." The Lieutenant looked a little sheepish, he'd argued for nothing-but air-to-air missiles on the Nightwings, but had made way for the Captain's opinion. The oppurtunity for his little barrier force to score on Nedalia's first thrust was to good to miss. Cockpit of the F-23S piloted by Flight Lieutenant Diego 'Imager' Catabonna "That's a roj, making course two-four-fiver, land in sight, going feet dry." <What if that's a whole goddamn fleet,> came the call from Whacko, <an' not just a recon force?> "Then we're screwed." <Okay.> Not a moment's reluctance. "Whatever they are, Whacko," Imager replied, "I'll take point and open up on 'em, you identify what's there and send it to the Indie. Then, if we're not dead, you can shoot at 'em too. How's that?" <Okay.> "Okay." Imager smiled. "Coming to course two-seven-zero, let's scoot around these turkeys." Some minutes later... <They gotta have us soon, man.> "Ten more seconds, then pop-up." The two Nightwing craft were practically skimming the wavetops, so low that white foam was being thrown up behind them with the jetwash of their engines. An odd definition of naval aviation. "Now! Imager engaging, Whacko, tell us what ya see." <One AC-Three Carrier, two - -explicitive removed- - two CS-One Cruisers and,> a short pause, <eight PC-one Frigates. Engaging now!> Imager had already released his two air-to-sea missiles, and Whacko shortly did the same. The radio gave them chatter from the other five Nightwings who had taken to the air, and were now in combat with the F-4 Birds of Prey that the force had up. Both planes did corkscrews in the air, their threat receivers going crazy, though it seemed like the ships had a hard time getting a fix on their stealthy craft. <I wanna strafe that deck!> Now was not the time for comedy over the net, when you were pulling eight-G turns to evade anti-air missiles. Whacko by name... The air battle, as previously in this short war, was going well for the Nightwings. Starblaydia's top air superiority fighter was now proving it's worth, all Ψ150 million per plane. Bridge of the PNS Indefatigable "Get those last planes up in the air," the captain yelled, "I want four kept on the deck for alert-two." The battle was going well enough, he reckoned, though sending young men out to die in expensive toys was never a thing to be glad for. "Launch the SAR 'copter, I want downed pilots back alive. All of 'em." |
| Posted by: Nedalia Oct 11 2006, 05:03 PM |
| "Incoming!!!" It was too late. The first batch of Air-to-Sea missiles hit 3 PC-IIs at the front of the formation, creating chaos on the deck. The Anti-Air guns couldnt fire fast enough, before the the planes disappeared out of radar sight. "What the -explicitive removed- do they have up there, invisible jets?" asked Colonel Jiwad, on deck the AC-III. "Send whatever bloody F-4s we have on this ship to intercept those damn things!" As the F-4s stormed off the AC-III 'Verdun', the F-23S kept coming in and out of radar, but Jiwad had spotted his target; an aircraft carrier, identified as an Invicible-class, located east of the formation. Starblaydia. His eyes widened, completely seething. He was determined to push far enough to come into contact. "Keep going forward! We're going to get that son of a bitch!" Almost 14 F-4s were up in the air, but the F-23S were stealthy and of a standard that the Nedalian army had never faced. So far, they were evading the F-4s, but sooner or later, they had to be overwhelmed. Jiwad was counting on it. "Push, god damn it, push!" Under the protection of the F-4s, the formation continued its push forward, but it was becoming obvious that 2 PC-IIs were not going to be off any further use. They had been directly hit, and although they were in no danger of sinking, they were soon going to be a liability to have around. "We need to achieve something up there, now!" "Good news, Colonel!", came the response. "It seems we've downed one of their fighters!" Good news indeed. The aircraft carrier the Starblaydis had was not going to outrun this fleet, part of the now disrupted Ibis Fleet, and if they could hold out on any further attacks, they were going to get to it. "-explicitive removed-! Colonel, more F-23S appearing on radar! They've down 2 of our F-4s!" Minor setback, Jiwad thought. It was bound to happen. Starblaydia was experienced in air combat; the Nedalian Air Force was young and lacking in that experience. They did have, however, new technology and gifted pilots. Something that would tip the favor. "Colonel, two more F-4s have gone down!" Not today, however. "Send the last of the F-4s up! I want them up now!" That would be 6 more F-4s, totalling 18, excluding the downed ones. An overwhelming number for what they were up against. Although they were dropping the F-4s out of the sky at a less than comfortable rate, they were taking care of the objective: the aircraft carrier was getting closer. "Confirmed, we just hit another enemy fighter. Its gone down!" Jiwad couldn't resist a smile. Perhaps it would be today. The channel between Bettia and Spruitland was witnessing a battle, a battle which the Nedalian Army were going to win, thought Jiwad. They appeared on sonar too late for an effective reaction. The torpedos slammed into the PC-IIs with such force that soldiers were thrown off the vessel. Submarines, possibly the same ones that had hit Honsfield, possibly new ones. It didnt matter. A second wave of torpedos was enough for Jiwad to know he couldn't take anymore losses; he was caught off-guard and unaware, obsessed in his own desire to finish off the main target without worrying what was around it. "Retreat, -explicitive removed-ing retreat!" he screamed, slamming his fist on the board infront of him. "Bring the planes back on deck, we're headed back to Honsfield." He sighed heavily. "And get in contact with command center. Tell them it was a Starblaydi attack." Military Casualties: 22 killed, 69 injured. Vessels/Planes Casualties: 4 PC-IIIs damaged (repairable), 4 F-4s destroyed. |
| Posted by: Hypocria Oct 13 2006, 12:09 PM |
| If a passer-by just happened to glance through the front window of the plush Hypocrium town house that wouldn't have placed much significance on the scene. A grey haired woman was serving dinner while her husband, sat at the table's head, turned the page on a document he was reading. A closer inspection may have revealed the look of concern etched onto the woman's face as a hacking cough racked her husband's body. Even then there seemed nothing out of the ordinary. The man was old so ill health was no surprise. And it was only natural for a wife to worry about the man she loves. As it turns out this worry was well founded for the coughing did not ease. Instead, with a strangled gasp, the man toppled sideways clutching his chest, bringing tablecloth and cutlery down with him. His wife rushed to his side before running out of the room towards the nearest phone. Our aforementioned hypothetical passer-by you'd hope may feel some sympathy towards the events unfolding beyond the window. They may even have offered some form of assistance. But no one would surely appreciate the significance of the situation. For the gentleman in question just happened to be the reclusive Grand Marshal of the Autocracy, the supreme commander of all the nation's military forces. The man whose experience and tactical knowledge had been set to play a huge role in the coming conflict. But fate had decreed otherwise. Perhaps leaving the nation's military prospects as stricken as their commander. |
| Posted by: Hypocria Oct 16 2006, 12:59 PM |
| "As timing goes this is pretty damned inconvenient." "I don't think he planned it." "Someone has to replace him. And I think it should be me." "The army isn't going to follow the orders of some jumped up crop duster." "The army will do what it's told. I am the most senior after all. I was fighting for this country when you where still in school." "I'm sorry? Did you say senior or senile?" "Who the hell do you think you are?" And so the conversation went on in the war room as the Autocracy's military hierarchy 'discussed' the events of the night before. With the Nedalia situation heightening with each passing day this meeting had been scheduled to discuss and plan some form of grand strategy. Now the agenda had changed. With the nation on the brink of conflict the Autocracy's military found itself leaderless. The Grand Marshal, figurehead of the nation's military, had been hospitalised and would remain so for quite some time. Which left the assembled Generals and other superior officers with a problem. A problem about which they were becoming most vocal, so vocal in fact that none of them noticed the Autokrator enter the room. "Enough! You can't fight in here, this is the war room!" Gradually hush descended. "Much better. I'm guessing you are all aware of the Grand Marshal's unfortunate turn of health. And indeed it's most unfortunate timing. I'm sure you'd all agree that at this crucial time we require stability in our command structure. A repeat of the chaos that followed the death of my predecessor could spell disaster . . ." As Vyntra spoke a number of the officers seemed to pale slightly as they saw where their leader was going. When he had created the position of Autokrator Titus had decreed that it's incumbent would also carry the title of honorary Grand Marshal of the Autocracy. A decree that no one disputed at the time as Titus had been a General before the coup and could quite easily have led the nation's military if the need ever arose. Vyntra on the other hand was a politician with no military experience to speak of. Surely he wouldn't? Oh, but he would. ". . . And so, as my title allows, I will be taking direct control over all military operations until this crisis is over. So gentlemen, let's talk strategy shall we?" |
| Posted by: Nedalia Oct 19 2006, 09:56 AM |
| "Good...Great people of Nedalia, lovers of freedom and all that is just, it with sadness I stand before you today, sadness none of us ever imagined experiencing in our lifetime. I stand before you, here in Honsfield, in the aftermath of what could only be described as the most horrific attack on our soil, and in a larger sense, freedom, that we have ever witnessed. Great people of Nedalia, I greet you today with the heaviest of hearts. There is no need to recap the horror and turmoil of the last couple of days, as we have suffered enough. What you have been hearing, I will confirm to you now: It was, and could only have been, the work of the Starblaydi Army, the most oppressive force to have ever beseiged our fair region. It was the Starblaydi Army and its minnions in the Hypocrian government who planned this attack, who carried out this attack, and who ultimately cost Nedalia billion of kafraleons in damages, but much more importantly than that, cost Nedalia the lives of almost 3700 of its beloved sons and daughters. We wept day and night for the last 2 days, not understanding what lead to such treachery and heartlessness, and we might never understand. We cried for our fallen innocent, for our fallen soldiers who sacrificed themselves to ensure that our beloved city of Honsfield did not feel the full brunt of the Starblaydi-Hypocrian attack. Indeed, they did not fall without a cause; my military leaders have confirmed that more than half the missiles that were intended for the city never reached their targets, and we have our martyrs to thank for that. They fell defending us, defending their mothers, their fathers, their brothers, their sisters, their cousins, nephews, nieces...defending them when they most needed defending. Nedalia will never forget October 9th, and we shall celebrate your bravery and mourn your loss every year. When I stepped onto the podium and declared war on the Starblaydi Army, I did so because our word has meaning to us, and our honour is alive and well. Our allies cried for help, and I reiterate, we were the first to answer. It was a declaration of war on the aggressors, and NOT a declaration of invasion. Nor was it a declaration of ensuing attack on Starblaydi civilians. It was just what was stated; a declaration of war against the invading Starblaydi Army in order to aid our allies in defending their cherished lands. What the Starblaydi Army did to Honsfield was without excuse, and our patience has run out. After 2 days of mourning, 2 days where time stopped, we have risen from the ashes, and we are ready to avenge our martyrs, our heroes, our sons and daughters who fell proudly in the face of oppression, ensuring that freedom would prevail. Lady Viannor, you have brought the war directly your forces! As for Vyntra of Hypocria, know that your time is numbered. Know this, the Nedalian people care deeply for the plight of their Hypocrian brothers, and have always been troubled by the oppression you have blanketed them with. We always considered you a nuisance, and while we could dream about the day your heart failed you, we respected Hypocria's sovereignty simply because we wished no more problems for the Hypocrian people. The minute you aided Viannor and her force of destruction in attacking Nedalia was the minute you signed your own death pact. You will never be forgiven for your crimes, and Nedalia will make sure you pay. As I speak, the Nedalian Army is mobilizing, and be forewarned: the Starblaydi base in the island of Sinistra will feel the full brunt of Nedalia's anger. Let the people of the Western Territories speak up and have it known that the Nedalian Army does it utmost to protect civilians of any nationality, aiding them in whatever way it can. Let the people of the Western Territories testify that when the Nedalian Army invades, it respects the people who come under its occupation and considers them as the closest of friends. To the dear people of Hypocria, our battle is not with you. Our battle is with the person who has enslaved you, the one who takes his orders like a dog from his bitch in Starblaydia, the one that allowed the attack on Honsfield to happen. From this day forth, Nedalia shall defend no more. Nedalia has been forced to attack in order to protect, and we shall do so with not only our people, but the security of the entire region in mind. Freedom shall not perish enflamed in sadistic Starblaydi purple or cowardly Hypocrian blue, but instead shall prevail in unity with the Starblaydi people's flamboyant purple and the Hypocrian people's royal blue. Freedom shall prevail because we will not allow it to fail. Freedom shall prevail....because we refuse to allow our martyrs to have died in vain. Freedom shall prevail because our fallen sacrificed themselves in ensure it did. Freedom shall prevail....because we want our heroes to smile down from the heavens when all this is over." With that, Dala'a stepped off the podium amidst central Honsfield's rubble. |
| Posted by: Hypocria Dec 7 2006, 09:57 AM |
| The huge blue and white flag of the Autocracy dominated the far wall of the Citadel’s audience chamber. In front of it stood the black marble podium from which the Autokrator would speak. The Nedalians had fired the first verbal salvo at his nation and now it was time to counter. “Citizens of the Autocracy, today is a dark day. Today we have been threatened by a foreign aggressor. I am sure by now you are all aware of the threats made by President Dala’a towards our great nation. And I am sure you are all aware of the claims that the President is only looking to free you from your 'slavery'. It pains me that lies can come so easily to the tongue of another human being, it truly does. She claims that we were involved in the attack on her land. Lies. She claimed that the assault was an attack on her nation’s liberty. Lies. “The Starblaydi attack on Honsfield was a military act against a military target. It is most unfortunate that innocent civilians suffered, as any civilian death is tragic, but the blood of every Nedalian who died that day is on the hands of President Dala’a. It was she after all who led her nation into open hostilities with Starblaydia. She is responsible for those deaths. And now she is using those deaths to threaten war against an innocent party. She says she cares for you but look how she cares for her own people. How many Nedalians must die before her lust for power is quenched?” “And there you have the true motivation of President Dala’a. Power. Oh, she claims to be your saviour. She claims to only want to free you from 'tyranny'. I believe we have heard these claims before. We heard them just before the Nedalian army illegally annexed the southern islands. And we heard them prior to the 'liberation' of Latao. The Nedalian administration spoke long and loud about freedom for the Latin people. And now look at those people. They were not liberated, they were conquered. The Nedalian flag flies over their lands and their taxes swell Dala’a’s coffers.” “And once more a Nedalian leader is searching for fresh conquests. Which is why she has turned to you. Why she has spread her poisonous lies to turn you, my beloved people, against me. But you know her talk of tyranny here is a myth. And deep down you know the full price of her 'liberation'. I simply ask you this, would you rather by free men in your own land or slaves to the Harpy of Kafra?” “And to you President Dala’a I say this. Despite all that has been said there still exists a fragile peace between our nations. A lesser ruler may have used your lies as the justification for a declaration of hostilities but fortunately I am a humanitarian. But know this, should one of your ships enter our territorial waters, one of you planes violate our airspace or one of your soldiers even look in our direction it will be considered an act of war. And we will respond accordingly.” “This nation was forged in battle. The Autocracy emerged from the fires of conflict stronger than ever before. And if you challenge us you will bring onto your people a level of suffering the likes of which they have never known. My citizens will never fold to your lies. Together they will stand with me against your aggression. And the Autocracy will prevail!” |
| Posted by: Nedalia Dec 8 2006, 12:29 PM |
| "Nothing around us for miles, sir." "And the sonars and radars are all active this time? I don't want a disaster like Jiwad's." "Yessur. Everything's up and running to their full capabilities." "What have the PC-IIs infront of the fleet said?" "The same thing, sir. We're clear to advance." "Keep the helicopters in the air, and keep the submarines on full alert. I want a full and successful counter to any offensive we might face." The Autokrator had spoken only a few hours before, knowing full well of the repricusions that was to envelope Hypocria should the Nedalian Army be successful in their attempt to destroy the Starblaydi base in Sinistra, effectively taking away its powerbase in southern Atlantian Oceania; something that would ease heavy concerns from SDL allies Bettia and Falcania, not to mention wiping out any chance Starblaydia would have of repeating its horrific attack on Honsfield. None of this would be possible, as it was becoming more evident, with Vyntra still in power. Since Sinistra was part of Hypocrian land, he had basically announced that the Hypocrian Army would be fighting side by side with their Starblaydi masters. A worrying thought. The Vulture fleet was the first line of the planned attack, led by Colonel Corantan. Behind the fleet, under full protection, were almost 300,000 troops that were due to land on Sinistra, being transported by ships. According to estimates, the fleet needed about 6 more hours to reach the island, about the time dawn was expected to break. The star of the fleet, the Sarzonian made "Attalla", a superdreadnought by all means, was riding in the direct center, surrounded by enough fire power to blow Sinistra 5 times over. Its time would come soon enough. "Push forward, and push forward quickly. I dont want our element of surprise compromised." |
| Posted by: Nedalia Feb 27 2007, 10:11 AM |
| OOC: I don’t know if Hyp and Star are still interested in continuing this thread, but since I have a bit of extra time on my hands recuperating from my sickness (!!), I thought I might as well try to get this restarted. They were big, they were bad, and they were expensive. Now, they were going to be tested for effectiveness. The Paladin Technologies Zimorodok missiles were set up on the Vulture fleet, and Colonel Corantan was to launch nearly 100 of them for the first wave of attack on the Starblaydi base on Sinistra. The sun hadn’t begun to rise yet, but its glow was beginning to show on the horizon. After hours of anticipation, the fleet had finally arrived close enough to the island to launch the missiles. Whether they were seen on Starblaydi radar was not known yet, but thus far, the trip had been incident-free. Col. Corantan took another look at his satellite image of the base, going over his targets one last time. He glanced over to his assistant, and nodded his head. “Give the order for launch.” Barely seconds later, the screeching sounds of the missiles signified the beginning of the assault on a country Nedalians loved, Hypocria. |
| Posted by: Hypocria Mar 24 2007, 01:23 PM |
| The assembled members of the Autocracy’s military hierarchy rose obediently as the Autokrator entered the Citadel’s war room. “Be seated gentlemen.” Vyntra, replenished in the black military style uniform adopted by his predecessor, took his place and glanced around. “Thank you for gathering so quickly at this unsociable hour. General Garviel, you may begin.” On cue the general left his seat and took his place at the podium in front and to the right of the vast screen that dominated one wall of the war room. He was one of a number of new faces within the High Command. Since the Autokrator has assumed personal control of the nation’s military there had been changes. Those that had opposed the move were replaced by men more pliable to the new order. Likewise those who happened to question some even minor point of strategy or planning were found alternative tasks to fill their working days, often far away from the seat of power. Consequently, the High Command had become a collection of Vyntra’s cronies, sycophantic yes-men and those who simply knew to hold their tongues. Garviel, a loyal supporter of the Autokrator and the High Command’s new Director of Strategy, cleared his throat. “A short while ago we detected multiple missiles launches from the Secocia Sea or, to be specific, from the Nedalian fleet stationed there. Their target was the Starblaydi facilities on Sinistra. As yet we have been unable to establish contact with either our own forces or the Starblaydis on the island so we have no confirmation of the . . .” He trailed off as the Autokrator stood. “A cowardly and unprovoked attack gentlemen. A strike on our sovereign soil without any formal declaration of war. President Dala’a likes the view from atop her moral high ground but she’s clearly capable of slumming it when the need arises. Fortunately I have been prepared for just this occasion ever since the first rumour of conflict has been whispered.” He touched a button of the conference table in front of him and the big screen burst into life, depicting a large map of the continent of Verdana and the southern seas. “The Nedalian’s timing is terrible. The defensive lines along our border with Bettia have been under construction for months and now, when they are completed, Dala’a launches her attack. Folly gentlemen. Pure folly.” A line had appeared on the map parallel to the border with Bettia indicating the location of the newly constructed defensive positions. “Excellency, if I may.” The new speaker was General Korvel, one of the few remaining original members of the High Command who had survived Vyntra’s cull. And it was a statement, not a question. “I’m not sure how useful the new defences will be should the Nedalians breach the islands and make their landings on the mainland.” The Autokrator gave the General the sort of look a teacher may give a young child who was failing to grasp a fairly basic point. “I’m surprised to hear such naivety from a member of my High Command. How can you be so taken in by a mere feint?” Korvel’s jaw dropped. He was stung by the tone and simply staggered by the argument. “A feint?” “Of course. A feint designed to keep the Blaydis busy down south while the real assault comes through Bettia. It’s what I’d do in their place. “But no one would commit that many troops for a mere feint. Their assault will come from the south and we have to prepare for it.” “General, the Nedalians will not attempt an invasion from the sea while there’s a perfectly good land route open to them. Their forces in the south are there to keep the Starblaydis occupied and to draw our own forces away from the west where the real strike will come. They will attack through Bettia. And they will be defeated. The orders have already been issued. As we speak the Grand Army of the Autocracy is moving to take up pre-prepared positions on and in support of the Line. The Nedalians will come and they will be crushed. Then, while they are reeling, we strike into Bettia and then onto Nedalia itself. Where Dala’a herself will be dragged before me in chains and the war in the south will be won” Korvel couldn’t quite believe what he had just heard. He tried again. “The Nedalians have huge numbers in the south. They have more troops deployed in The Lowland Clans. And according to our recent intelligence they are likely to commit a force north to counter Hockey Canada’s aggression towards Oliverry. They will not open another front in Bettia. It would be madness.” “The only madness General, is your clear desire to be taken in by such an obvious ruse. Does anyone else share General Korvel’s concerns?” Silence. Even if they did disagree no one was willing contradict their master. Korvel’s head dropped, defeated. “Then it is settled. General Korvel, as the south seems to worry you so you can have responsibility for it. Garviel. What forces have we down there?” The grey uniformed General, still stood behind the podium, seemed shocked to have been addressed. “Umm . . .” He fumbled through his notes. “The 7th and 8th armies are deployed between Kester and Linsk and the 9th is based around Drissa in support.” “Excellent. Have the orders drawn up to place them under General Korvel’s control. Well Korvel? Do you accept your new command?” Korvel nodded. What more could he do? “I accept.” “Good. You can watch while the rest of us end this conflict. I think that will do for now gentlemen. Garviel, concentrate on re-establishing contact with Sinistra. I want news within the hour. Now I have a national address to prepare.” |
| Posted by: Hypocria Sep 26 2007, 08:29 AM |
| A new day was slowly dawning as Brigadier Andreev took another swig of his coffee and winced, it was cold. Which just about summed up how things were going for him at the moment. Sinistra was his command but ever since the Starblaydis had arrived they’d been swaggering around as if they owned the place. And Admiral Hierro seemed to be going out of his way to keep Andreev out of the loop. The brigadier got the distinct impression he and his forces were considered as little more than lackeys by their allies. “Unauthorised contacts sir.” The cry came from the other side of the Sinistra Command’s war room, snapping Andreev out of his reverie. Damn Starblaydis. He had made a point of ensuring that the Admiral had every authorisation protocol and every standard patrol route used by the Autocracy's onw naval forces so that all would run smoothly with the deployment. But no. Instead Hierro had come up with his own deployment plans for the two hundred or so ships scattered throughout the Secocia Sea, from the Spruitland channel to the north and Vephrall to the south, and had clearly decided that his allies didn’t need to know the full details. Consequently on nearly a dozen separate occasions patrolling Starblaydi warships had been mistaken for incoming hostile forces solely because there was no communication between the two commands. “Really. What’s new?” “Sir, I really think you should see this.” There was something in the man’s tone that Andreev didn’t like. He looked over the operator’s shoulder at the radar picture beyond. Small red dots were visible on the left of the screen, indicating individual vessels approaching the island’s western coast. But beyond those dots more were appearing, lots more. So many that they appeared as a great mass of red moving from the left of the scope, as if a pool of blood was slowly sliding across the screen. This was no Starblaydi patrol. The brigadier stared blankly at the monitor for a moment, doubting what his eyes were registering. The Starblaydis had caught a large proportion of Nedalia’s, for who else could it be, Ibis fleet napping at Honsfield and had defeated a retaliatory strike soon after. How could a force of this size have been assembled so quickly and gotten this far without any prior warning? Two questions that were fairly moot now. Nedalia’s military capacity and stomach for a fight had clearly been gravely underestimated. Again a voice caught through his thoughs. “Multiple lunches detected!” “How many?” The operator shook his head. “Dozens. Could be as many as a hundred.” “How is this possible?”, was all he could manage. Yesterday he had received orders from High Command advising him to expect a Nedalian feint towards the islands in the coming days. A feint apparently designed to take focus away from a land thrust through Bettia and into the Autocracy itself. Well this was some feint. Vibrations could be felt throughout the command centre, one after the other, as the missiles came crashing down on the west of the island. If the impacts were being felt this far inland the Nedalians must be using some serious ordnance. “Get me Hierro, get me anyone on that base now!” “No response.” Hardly surprising given the circumstances. “Dammit! Take us to full alert. Advise the High Command that Sinistra is under attack. Request immediate support.” “They must be interfering with our comms, I can’t get through to the mainland.” Andreev’s blood ran cold. If this truly was a feint then they’d want attention, they’d want the mainland alerted. Communication disruption indicted something else entirely. “Keep trying.” He yelled over his shoulder as ran from the room. Taking the steps three at a time he descended down to the lower levels and out of the building into the main parade ground. Hundreds of grey uniformed shoulders were forming ranks before him with even more piling out of barracks buildings around the facility, all alerted by the klaxons that were sounding all over the base. They looked formidable enough here but he needed to get them west to support the Starblaydis. They may have been caught off guard, but now it was time to punch back. |
| Posted by: Nedalia Sep 26 2007, 07:14 PM |
| "From the looks of it, sir, we've have made quite a few direct hits," commented the aide with a smile on his face, to the tune of his cheering audience. Colonel Corantan wanted to smile, as well, but he knew better. Instead, he looked at his staff and screamed, "What the f$%@ are you cheering about? If we dont have the entire Starblaydi fleet AND the Hypocrian Navy on our asses in less than 10 minutes, I'm going to pack up my s@$t and head home because I'd be the biggest idiot this world has seen. So buckle the f$@% up and let the others be fully aware we are going to have a big battle on our hands. Protect our troops, by ANY MEANS!" His voice echoed through the main operations room on the "Attalla", star of Nedalia's Vulture Fleet. After finding that his aggressive tone had quickly simmered down any feelings of over-confidence, he knelt down towards his aide sitting infront of him. "Now tell me, can we get a 2nd round of Zimorodok missiles launched without interfering with our defensive preparations as we approach the island?" "Yes sir, I believe we can." "Good. Give the order. I want the launch in under 2 minutes or else we're royally f*$@ed." The Colonel eased up, looked back into sea, watching the island inch closer to him with every passing minute. He could make out atleast 7 different lines of smoking rising into the Hypocrian morning, and he could only imagine the chaos that must be befalling the base on Sinistra right now. After President Yasmine Dala'a had gone on the air and issued her statement of war against the Starblaydis and Hypocrians, it was inevitable they knew what was coming to them. They just didn't know it was going to happen so quick. Still, Colonel Corantan was very surprised by the lack of enemy troops on his way over to the island. It was as if they were completely ignoring the incoming invasion and concentrating on something else...He wondered if he had missed something. His thoughts, however, were interrupted abruptly by the screaming of one of his aides. "We're under attack, Colonel! Theyve launched surface to sea missiles, and we're picking up movement on our tail, possibly a fringe of the Starblaydi fleet." "Did the missiles have any direct hits?" "Yes sir. Two patrol boats have been directly hit. We are attempting to connect with them now." "OK, tell me when you get through to them. And the Starblaydis?" "They're a couple of miles, back, but they are catching up quick." "I want the troops protected. Turn around the half the BC-Is, DC-Is, and FC-Is, and let them meet them head on. That will ensure our transport ships continue without operation. Our number one priority is to get our troops on the ground. I want our submarines to nail those sons of bitches as well." "Order being given, Sir." "Where are we on the 2nd launching of the Zimorodok?" "We are ready, Colonel. Awaiting your command." Colonel Corantan took a deep breathe, sighed, looked up and the island and said, "Blow that motherf$#%er to bits." |