The Frankychan / Azan Situation

[Rasputin]

Unmanned Flights.

A group of Auldonina scientists have been working to optimise a fuel formulation and they recently set a new world record.

Ben Graham and his team of researchers were succesful in flying a 2m long model airplane, weigihing approx 5kg non stop across the Apolyton Ocean from Auldonina Central to Tel Azan. The 3020km journey tool 38 hours and 23 minutes, which is a record.

The special fuel used to power the plane contained Auldonina Petrol Companys (APC) Indopol L-50 grade polybutene, a synthetic liquid polymer with many applications.

Control of the plane was acheieved through a receiver and three servos, a piezo gyro and a GPS receiver for navigation.

A custom designed auto-pilot used a microcomputerto process data from these devices and adjsut the servos.

Prior to launch, a memory chip was programmed with waypoints for steering, containing data on desired altitude and engine speed between these points. Two miniture telemtry tranmitters kept track of the plane during the crossing, one providing short range data to receivers at the launching and landing points to assess performance, while the other tranasmitted signals to sateliites that relayed the data to ground stations.


The Auldonina military are now taking over this project .....

[Squeblish Nef?]

Do I smell the faintest hint of *sniff* *sniff* god-modding?

[Frankychan]

Ali'i City, Frankychanland Capital

General Frankychan stood over the map of the Frankychanland/Azan territories. The room was dark, except for the overhead lamp that illuminated the map. Markers placed over the map marked where the different forces of the nations of Apolyton were located.

Since the recent hail of missile attacks, General Frankychan ordered the retreat of all staff members into the secure bunkers deep within the mountains of Ali'i City.

So far, things weren't looking too good. FCL forces were surrounded in the Azani city of Roshem, the nations of Apolyton were invading from the West Coast, and his entire blitzkrieg was stalled. The chance to conquer the capital of Azan was lost.

"Sir, General Momotaro in Tal Zach is asking for orders concerning our forces in the city of Roshem."

The men were surrounded, cut off from supplies and as far as General Frankychan was concerned, expendable.

"Tell the men to hold the city to the last man. If we make Roshem a bloody engagement, the allies might be less willing to engage our fully armed, entrenched HQ forces in Tal Zach."

General Frankychan stroked his chin....

"No retreat, no surrender. All officers are ordered to execute any deserters on sight."

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

Tal Zach
FCL Command HQ

Major General Momotaro read the communique from Command HQ and shook his head. The command to hold Roshem was a suicide order. Those forces there would be better off being reinforced. Holding Roshem would allow the FCL/Hive alliance to have a forward command base deep within Azani territory. The loss of Roshem would be a hard blow to the campaign to take Azan and turn it into an FCL/Hive territory.

General Momotaro stared at the pin up map of the forward territories of Azan. Invasions all over the map were taking place, mostly on the West Coast of Azan. Momotaro wondered how the Hive's forces were doing against the alliance.

"Relay that command to our men in Roshem. Begin entrenchment here in T.Z. Lay mines, booby traps, whatever you can on the perimeter of the city. Patrol are to be upgraded. Any T.Z. citizen outside after curfew is to be arrested."

-------
Roshem

"INCOMING!!!!!"

The FCL sergeant yelled as a mortar shell screamed forward onto his squads position. The men scattered for cover just before the shell exploded, hitting the street. Huge chunks of pavement and earth were kicked up into the air, raining down on the FCL soldiers.

FCL forces along the perimeter were in constant clashes with alliance forces. Sergeant Manu's squad was ordered to hold a vital intersection in the city. The intersection was one of only a few places where there was a direct road from the FCL forces to the allied forces. Bazooka's and men with rpg's where ordered to hold the position at all costs. A few times, allied forces tried to overrun Manu's position, and the resulting wreckage of tanks and APC's filled the streets.

Manu turned to his radio-man and yelled over the chattering gunfire.

"What the hell is our status? When the blazes is our reinforcements going to come?"

The radio-man, listening to the airwaves, nodded as he received the message.

"Sir, command says we ain't getting reinforcements. Orders are to hold Roshem to the last man. Hold on...."

Manu pinched the bridge of his nose in disbelief....

"Sir, command says that any deserters are to be shot on sight."

Manu swore in frustration.

"What the hell you mean we gotta hold on? We're almost out of bazooka shells and we're losing rpg's fast....."

Manu paused as he snapped off a couple shots at some allied soldiers running across the street, trying to get to cover inside a building. One of the soldiers fell to the ground, motionless. Sergeant Manu resumed his coversation.

"We need armored support up here!"

The radio man shook his head.

"Sir, command says that the armor is going to remain in the rear to protect the HQ set up here. Colonel Murphy says any armor he can spare, he'll send out. But the HQ needs protection.....says that it's under constant bombardments."

A whistling shell overhead broke the conversation.

"INCOMING!!!!! EVERYBODY FIND SOME COVER!!!!"

Things can't get much better than this....

[Rasputin]

Originally posted by Squeblish Nef?
Do I smell the faintest hint of *sniff* *sniff* god-modding?

actually that article was taken from my companys magazine, BP OIl has jsut made that fuel and flown the plane across the atlantic, just as described... so the tech knowlwdgy is there, i just used it first...

[joncha]

[ooc: thanks, Frankychan. With Lazerus and Frankychan both having posted, the floor is open for allied responses.]

[Rasputin]

Corporal Jones sat with his back to "his"tank. th erest of the paltoon were still dressing, the orders had been given last night and the whole armoured corps were to be on the move again, each battalian had been given its targets.

as he rolled his last cigarette for conceivably the rest of the day, he heard the buzz overhead. He knew wha *** was, the ships and missile bases in western apolyton had fired.... The missiles were on their way....

In the distance he heard the explosions . the ground shook with such violnecethat he was knocked off his butt onto his side. tents many people walking also fell over.

After the round of misisles had finished he heard and saw the planes flying over. The B2 squadrons were fully loaded.

He crossed himself and felt a slight bit of remorse for the hive armoured divisions, he would rather face them off tank to tank then to see them suffer from that wave of attacks.

He heard the shout from ahead and th eorder wasgiven to mount the machine. Bodies were seen running and entering the tanks and the diesels all roared to life....


"To the memory of General Hogan" came the call over the airwaves......


And the 121St Div was mobile and so were all the other divisions and battalsions in fact the whole corp..... This was for revenge....

[Urban Ranger]

In the city of Roshem

It was after dark. Parts of the city were suffering from blackouts, only the burning wreckages marked where fierce fightings had taken place. As ever, dangers lurked in the darkness. A FCL patrol, following the preplanned route, just found itself staring into the maw of death. A number of persons garbed in black happened upon the hapless patrol, which found a deadend alley its final resting place.

Elsewhere, a small charge detonated, severing a power line and plunging the FCL divisonal HQ into darkness. Several minutes later, the lights came back up as the backup generators kicked in. There were FCL tanks hunkered down in the area to defend the HQ, but the teams converging on it expected no less. It was time to start sowing chaos and confusion.

A dark shape popped up on the roof of a building, which overlooked a FCL tank below. The shape hauled a large, roughly rectangular box on its left shoulder. Just a moment later, the turret of the tank was struck by a missile and exploded. A couple of soldiers tried to get out as the wreckage caught fire. The dark shape vanished into the darkness from where it had emerged.

Not far away, another FCL AFV was hit by several RPGs, one of which luckily struck the fuel tank. The resulting explosion ripped the AFV apart.

Here and there, in the vicinity of the FCL HQ, AFV's and APC's were targeted and destroyed by small teams that came from nowhere and left without a trace.

[Rasputin]

military hQ ..

"Give me reports, " barked Field Marshall Hammersley into the micropohone.

"Sir, we have met the remains of the Hive Armour corps, most were severely damaged by the aerial attacks, but what was left fought fiercely. We have taken losses and are still attempting to push them back, seems they have some airsupport"

"Ok i have radioed air command the F-22As are on the way. Once they clear the way a second wave of the B-2 s will return."

"Should i get my men to safety yet?"

"We wil lgive plenty of warning before the bombs drop"

[joncha]

Bank of Progress Building, Downtown Roshem, Free Azan

Commandante Gluckstein stubbed out his cigar and leaned over the large city map spread out on the mohogany table. It was clear that they were winning this one: what remained of the FCL Division in Roshem was pinned in the financial district. With dwindling supplies and no hope of a breakout, they weren't going anywhere. The Commandante was more concerned about the approaches to the North. If the FCLers attacked in force from Tel Zach, even the ADU defences up at the airport would not be enough to hold Roshem for long. What they needed was more reinforcements.

"Comrade Kazemi," he said, looking up across the table, "What are the chances Jonchastan will send more than advisors up our way?"

Kazemi frowned - slightly - before answering, "Two more divisions have just arrived in New Aurora, but with the front expanded North and West, we're not likely to get any Jonchastanis headed up the A-7. General Yoon has prioritized supporting Ronya, and the League has decided that the Karakans will have to be enough back-up for us in Roshem. Aside from whatever air support Basus has in store, that is."

"Karakas is advancing along the waterfront, sir." added Moshe Meir, Military Chair of the Givat Yofi Neighbourhood Council, "The Ceroo is in position on this side of the First Narrows Bridge, and Downtown is crawling with Nooslanders. The ADU has the Northern defences in hand."

Gluckstein waved off further discussion and lit another cigar.

"Tell our friends," he began, addressing all of the assembled officers, "All of our friends. That they'd better launch whatever attacks that had in mind now. We're taking back Roshem, and it'd help if the Hivers and FCLers were too busy up North to do anything about it."

[Urban Ranger]

Industrial port, city of Roshem

As expected, the industrial port was taken over by the military once it was liberated by Azani forces. It was operating at full capacity around the clock ever since. Out in the sea, several search planes were moving about, keeping an eye out for any intruding Hive/FCL subs. A screening force of frigates and destroyers were protecting the port from surface threats. Military transports and container ships were waiting for their turn to unload. Occasionally, several jet fighters on CAP would fly overhead.

Alliance units would assemble in hastily converted godowns before setting out. Lorries were rushing in and out, carrying supplies and soldiers.

Out on the river, a couple of container ships were moving upstream, completely oblivious to the fighting in the downtown district.


Provisional Command, Roshem Regional Airport

General Leo Vijinee pondered over the large operational display. He was satisfied with the progress so far.

"Looks like we can just screen the FCL division until it completely wears out. The Azani forces could do the job with some forces left over to be the reserves just in case the enemy somehow makes a breakout. It's highly unlikely that they are out of supply, though. What we need to do is to ready a strike north.

"Lets put forth our thoughts formally to the Alliance."


[OOC: Azazel - how is the tarrain like from Roshem to Tal Zach through After? What are the main routes?]

[Frankychan]

Roshem, FCL Divisional HQ

Colonel Murphy got up from the blast that shook the divisonal HQ. The tank explosion was close enough that it knocked nearly the entire staff to the ground and tipped over various items.

"Is everyone o.k.?" The Colonel barked.

"Yeah, that power outage was just in time. We couldn't see the attack on our tanks coming." A staff officer said, wiping his forehead.

"Sir, reports coming in. We lost a tank and a number of AFV's and APC's. At least 20 men are reported missing."

Colonel Murphy shook his head. The constant bombardments and shellings were taking a toll on his staff. No doubt those men on the front line were having it worse off.

"Can anyone give me estimates on how long we can last here without reinforcements?"

The staff officers in the room murmurred and mumbled.

"Great. Get regional command on line, I need reinforcements. I don't care if it's choppers, tanks, soldiers, or hot air ballons....I need more men!"

The radio officer immediately went to work.

-----------

Tal Zach
FCL Command HQ

"General, we are receiving word from Roshem divisional HQ requesting immediate reinforcements. The HQ is under attack and they say they've lost a lot of men."

Major General Momotaro stared at the ceiling of the building for a moment, lost in concentration. No retreat, no surrender......no reinforcements.

"Tell them: Request Denied."

And please get through this alive....

[Mr. President]

The gunner, whose given name was Ivo, scurried for cover. Smoke still billowed from under his APC's right track, where it had rolled directly over a land mine. The streets were crawling with them, both the Azanis and the Frankychanlanders having dropped some. Ivo hoped there were no more. His drill sergeant in Kyralia had lost a foot to a Centralian rebel landmine. It wasn't pretty.

But he was hundreds of miles from Kyralia, and Frankychanland forces were firing at his people from the cover ahead. Accurately, too. A soldier to his left hit the ground and didn't move, and another fell with a choked cry of pain, clutching his shoulder.

Ivo threw himself to the hard pavement and rolled, keeping his head low. He studied the smoky streets ahead, looking for any sign of life. He had nothing to aim at.

"Hasta la victoria siempre!" someone behind him shouted. An instant later, a billowing trail of heat and sharp flash of light lanced over Ivo's head, exploding somewhere among the Frankychanland lines. Human shapes scurried away from the site of the anti-tank missile's impact. He flicked the safety off his rifle and fired in their general direction.

[GeneralTacticus]

The War Room, Fort Ajax

"...and there appears to be heavy fighting going on in Roshem; current comm-traffic indicates the FCL forces are in dire straits, but they aren't withdrawing, and there have been no mvoes to reinforce or relieve them. It seems General Frankychan ahs abandoned them to their fate..."

The defence Minister trailed off, noting that the President appeared not to be listening (not that this meant much; the man could sit through an hour-long speech while doodling on a notepad, and then repeat the whole thing word for word). Instead, President Mordenhein appeared to be staring at the General Military Display that filled the centre of the room.

One of the more impressive achievements of scientists with too much time on their hands, the GMI was a massive, 3D, computer-generated display showing the positions of all known friendly and hostile forces in any given theatre - in this case, Azan.

At the moment, Roshem was swarming with red and blue indicators, with the red gradually thinning. Meanwhile, large columns of blue indicators were moving north, and even larger columns of red shifted and flickered as their positions were reported, investigated, and confirmed or discarded.

"Minsiter Hawkwood," the PResident said suddenly, not shifting his gaze from the GMI, "we have sat on the sidelines long enough. It's time to commit our forces to a direct itnervention."

Hawkwood nodded; people had been expecting this for days, and there was quite a large betting pool on when exactly the intervention was going to come. The current favourite was tommorrow; unofficially, the Minister had placed his bets on the day after, but considered the earlier action worth the money.

"I fully agree, Mr. President. Now, exactly do you want us to do?"

"Quite a lot, actually. Firstly, move our forces in Guardinia into the area around Roshem; however desperate the Frankychanlanders may be, I have a feeling our allies are going to have to wade knee-deep in blood to take the place, and any help we give them will reduce the price we all have to pay.

"Secondly, I want you to tell our commanders to pull out all the stops here. They're to use any tactic, any weapon against the FCL and Hive forces, as long as it's effective. Civilian casualties must still be avoided where possible, but that principle may be overridden where necessary.

"Finally, I think we ought to make our own contribution to cutting the Hive's supply lines. Deploy those missile barges you were so enthusiastic about off the Guardinian coast, and start launching in the general direction of the Hive Strait. Their engines ought to carry them into that general area, and simple radar-homing should take care of the rest."

"Sir, is that entirely wise? There must be some civilian ships in those straits, and it would do no one any good if we hit some."

"There should be a few, Minister, but none from outside nations - they need special permission, which, to our knowledge, has not been granted to anyone - and as for the Hive and FCl ones... well, a few horus before we start firing, they will receive an official notice stating that if they stay on the Strait, we will not take any responsibiltiy for the results."

"Understood, Mr. President. I'll get things moving now."

[Rasputin]

Corporal Jones was back outside his tank again. Lighting up his second cigarette for the day. It had been hard and long the day, tank battles had raged for hours before the what was left of the Hives Armour corps turned and made a run toward Tel Zach. Too fatigued and low on fuel the Auldonina troops were ordered to make camp closer to the HQ.. Audlonina and Azan air patrols were increased over the area expecting a counter attack, but none came thiat night......

Both sides had taken heavy losses but the Hive had been pushed back, and the Free Azani troops were celebrating. The Auldonina troops remained on full vigilance...

[Az]

Azan Valley. 150 kms south of Hofesh.

Junior Leutenant Abramov yawned. It was a tiresome week.The 7th division has made an enormous leap, and he needed a good sleep, alright. The drive along the valley was much less dangerous than predicted, since the FCL troops on this side of the river were cut off supply ( souply roads led to the now Llberated Tel Azan, since those supply roads were Azani, originally), and were very busy using the supplies to evacuate themselves from the surroundings. Similar, another armored division moved across the coast, and the FCL troops were in real danger of being surrounded. The river really played to their hands on this one. On the other side, thousands of Hive reinforcements pushed through the mountainst to a clash over the A-55, and the news were that they made serious progress. Forcing the 12th to withdraw some 25-50 kms back. It was kind of unfair, he dwelled, that while his friends from the 19th, and 25th Armored divisions, and some folks from the 8th Mechanized corps, were in war's hell, his job was surveying the empty country side along the Hofesh highway, the A-81. And what countryside it was! Lush forests, green fields, and beautiful mountains. Nothing like rocky hills and plains in the south. But then again, he thought, he just probably wasn't used to it.