Hunting Bear-like Lions

[Clarenthia]

Jurzani Capitol Building
​Alaghan

“The Prime Minister has called together the Parliament for an emergency session,” Interior Minister Rahim Sayyaf stated “the intention is freeing up significant funds.”

“Emergency powers?” Field Marshall Zabihullah Rassoul asked.

“No, well not yet anyway,” Toryalai Durrani, the Secretary of Legislative Affairs, replied “Khattak was not confident that now is the best time.”

“He’s a useless man,” President Khayrat chimed in “We don’t have a lot of time to prepare, the Kadikistani already have every advantage under the sun and Khattak worries about what is politically savvy.”

“He seems convinced that peace is still an option,” Durrani tried to justify.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the Kadikistani will welcome our threat,” Rassoul stated “Truth be told, sir, I do not know how quickly we can mobilize the troops you’ve commanded. We can get them there with little problem, but ensuring that an ample supply line, food, and water accompanies them will be a problem.”

“The Kurmanji could certainly assist,” Khayrat stated.

“If you could convince them,” Field Marshall Rassoul replied.

“Certainly the threat of total war should be sufficient,” Durrani suggested.

“No, but the guarantee of increased political power would,” Sayyaf concluded “The Kurmanji want their own province, I know this isn’t the most opportune moment to speak of it, but I believe if we promise to carve them their own chunk of land out of Herat and Peshawar, they’ll be more than willing to fight for us.”

“I honestly don’t care,” Khayrat dismissed the notion “I want their bodies to fight. Go to Hewlêr, speak with their Parliament and do not return to this city until you’ve successfully gained their support. Promise them what you must.”

“Of course,” Sayyaf answered.

“Secretary Durrani, go to Prime Minister Khattak’s Office and inform him that he actually has balls and get me the authority I need to fight the war,” Khayrat commanded.

“Sir,” Durrani bowed his head.

“Field Marshall Rassoul,” Khayrat continued “You and I shall personally oversee the deployments in the Herat Mountains. Bring your most trusted generals and meet me in my office within the hour. Naturally, you’ll serve as our supreme commander.”

“Right away, sir,” Rassoul agreed.

- - - - - - - -
Ten Miles outside Rangesor
North Herat Mountains

The jeep kicked up an obnoxious amount of sand as it pulled into base camp in Outpost Mustafa. As soon as the jeep stopped, Pervez Aslam’s head hit against the rough metal interior – shaking him back to consciousness. Assuming he had arrived at his destination, he grabbed his gun, straightened his hat, and stepped out of the jeep. Almost immediately, the oppressive Jurzani sun beat down on him. Even at this altitude, the heat permeated across the land.

“Major Pervez Aslam,” a voiced called out.

Aslam turned in the direction of the voice. He recognized the face almost immediately as Lieutenant General Zakir Khalilzad. He was a tall, burley man. A cigar hung from his lips as he approached the Major.

“Welcome to Hell,” he said.

“It’s a pleasure to be here sir,” Aslam replied.

The Lieutenant General shook his head disapprovingly.

“There’s a fine line between respect and ass kissing,” he stated “This is Outpost Mustafa. The closest Jurzani base of operations to Khandahar.”

“About a day’s march if you’re quick,” Aslam agreed.

“I’m glad you think so,” the Lieutenant General replied.

The two men walked up to a tent and the Lieutenant General moved the flap covering the entrance. When Aslam stepped in, he noticed a group of eight other individuals, sitting around polishing their weapons. When the Lieutenant General entered, they immediately snapped to attention. However, the commanding officer played little attention to it. He walked up to a large map of Khandahar on the wall, which had several pins in it.

“Gentlemen,” the Lt. General began “Each of you have been hand selected by Central Command in Alaghan to engage an important mission in Khandahar. You, along with several other teams in undisclosed locations, will be tasked with entering Khandahar to conduct recon missions and meet up with local resistance leaders. I do not know what will happen in the coming days, but we need to be prepared for anything and we have precious little time to learn it.”

“There are significant resistance fighters across Khandahar,” he continued “And we need them to know they have the full support of the Islamic Republic. After you make contact with their leaders, we need to establish more stable lines of communication and supply. Alaghan is significantly increasing the deployment to this area in preparation of anything the Kadikistani throw at us.”

“We’re going into Khandahar?” one of the soldiers asked.

“Quite,” the Lt. General responded, with an annoyed tone “Obviously, your discretion is advised as if the Kadikistani discovered Jurzani soldiers – or should I say got any solid proof of Jurzani soldiers in Khandahar – we would have significant problems. However, at the present time, I hardly see it as a concern.”

“You’ll be briefed further later tonight. Tomorrow night, using the cover of night, you will enter Khandahar.”

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Tovarich Square
Ivar
Ivar Capital District

The 'People's Palace' was the grandest of buildings of Tovarich Square, in the centre of Kadikistan's capital. Recently the newly build 'Palace of International Solidarity', the building that housed the International Association of Marxist-Leninovist Parties, did manage to compete with the People's Palace's grandeur although the latter was styled under the influence of socialist classicism while the newer International building was more modern and had a brutalist architecture. Besides these two architectural pearls there was also a third competitor, the 'Party Building', which was formerly the Tsar's personal residence until it got overrun by revolutionaries in the early stages of the Kadikistani Civil War in 1907. It was in this building that the Central Committee of the Kadikistani Communist Workers' Party was holding an emergency meeting with the nation's most powerful and influential men gathered in the great Red Halls. Notable absent was General Bastian Obrjanov who was not only the patriarch of the Obrjanov Revolutionary Clan, but also the commander of the Ordansk Military District. However pressing the matters that were about to be discussed in the smokey room, the general couldn't afford to be missed on the front. The fact that his brother Lieutenant Colonel Antonije Obrjanov, People's Commissar for Education, was dispatched by the Obrjanov Clan showed the lack of trust among the four major families.

The air vents could never cope with the amount of cigarettes and cigars being smoked around the shiny Himyari blackwood table. Even with twelve people sitting at it the massive table, weighing over a ton, provided an abundance of room so that even their respective adjutants had a place. Sitting on the head of the table was of course the so-called 'Glorious Leader', Secretary General of the KCWP, Mashall Nikolai Leninov. Opposite to him at the other end of the table was General Ivan Tsjekova, the isolationist rivals of the ruling clan who where once again on the prowl for another opportunity to gain influence. The fact that it was Ivan Tsjekova who sat at the other end was a tradition passed down since the revolution broke out in 1907 in recognition of the prestige and importance of both families. The middle was filled by lesser members of the four families with the Obrjanov's and the Burukova's playing their own games. Contrary to tradition it was not Nikolai Leninov who started the meeting, but the young 24-year-old Lt. Col. Antonije Obrjanov who reiterated his older brother's pleads. "Comrades, we face a dangerous enemy in the South. My brother will be able to repel all and any incursions attempted by the Green Army, but if we want to strike back on the ground he needs more men and resources.", Antonije Obrjanov said seemingly passionate, a risk since emotional behaviour was seen as a weakness around the table.

He was quickly interrupted by Ivan Tsjekova, "Our aggressive foreign policy has brought us to the point where we face a two-front war being unleashed upon us. Not only do we face the Jurzani in the south, but Lauenburg is showing increased hostilities against the Oakhampton Peace Accords. Since our nation has guaranteed Calidia, we can not abandon her. Sending your brother more resources could weaken our abilities in the West while it would be more difficult to keep other potential threats covered, Ruthenia-Galicia remains prometheist while the Saare White Army has started a campaign to overtake our newest ally in the Adriatic. Not to mention that Berbadjov is still rampaging in Milesia.". After taking a drag of his cigarette Marshall Nikolai Leninov spoke while exhaling the smoke, "Nonsense, our Army is one of Europe's most funded forces. My specialists have assured me that our nation has the strength to overwhelm both the Jurzan and Lauenburg without the need to even call up the reserves. In the future we can dispatch more divisions from the north to the Jurzani front, but thirteen divisions should be able to take the first blows. You should have started by giving us an update on your brother's progress on the front comrade Obrjanov.", the fearless leader said nonchalantly before an embarrassed Antonije responded,

"My brother has started digging in his forces along the Jurzani border. The outposts are being fully occupied, patrols have increased drastically and the Southern Direction has been ordered to construct a series of trenches, even when a natural border is already present. Six divisions, including the 16th Tank Division has been deployed in Khandahar. The other 7 divisions are spread throughout the front line. Secondary layers of defence will be constructed where geography allows it. Roughly 1,500 artillery pieces positioned themselves on key strategic locations, especially around the flatlands where we believe the Jurzani's might launch an offensive. The enemy is also expected to utilize the mountains for smaller skirmishes as a large offensive would be impossible on that terrain. The 4th and 24st Mountaineer Divisions have been charged with the defence of any incursion coming from the Herat mountains. They will be supported by regular infantry until they can be replaced with specialists. The Revolutionary Air Force has almost 800 aircraft being positioned in the military airports at Sbrenica, Tuvni and Morak. By the end of the week it should be over 1,000, including some 200 bombers. They are standing by, armed and ready to take off mere minutes after the order has been given. As you all know the Southern Revolutionary Fleet is currently being resupplied in Tsjevernenka from their mission in the Parvae Straits. The latter being terminated...". Antonije was suddenly interrupted. "The Southern Fleet is a Tsjekova matter, it will do its part for the war effort.", Ivan Tsjekova concluded. The next hour was spend going over the detailed reports, including a status update on the revolts taking place in ethnic Jurzani territory in the Socialist Oblast of Lurcheniv.

Tsjervska
Socialist Oblast of Lurcheniv

Since the 'Jurzani Relocation and Assimilation Program' was announced and initiated on the 29th of October it had been very busy days for the Revolutionary Army Garrison in the city of Tsjervska. This city with an overwhelming 73.9% Jurzani population had been restless with security forces not being able to get a grip on the riots even after four days of marshal law. Commander Viktor Hrebeljanović was in charge of the 800 men strong garrison, but even in combination with just under 200 local militsiya they had not been able to restore order, especially in the historic southern part of town where Jurzani resistance groups had declared dominion over several neighbourhoods. No less than 54 Kadikistani security forces had already been killed in the city during the past few day, which was considered a defeat even though the Jurzani population had lost hundreds. To remedy the situation the 73th Mechanized Infantry Brigade has been deployed in the city in order to take back the neighbourhoods in the old city adding another 5,000 men to the battle. But it wasn't only the 73th that was send to reinforce Hrebeljanović's garrison, Ivar deemed that a certain man's expertise in fighting Jurzani's could be used to quell the last major revolt, safe from some minor troubles in the rural parts.

That man was the recently promoted Major Sergei Moravscik who was the sole Kadikistani survivor from the Dnjert River Island Incident where he did everything he could to stay alive, including using one of his young subordinates as a human shield. Nevertheless he had come out of it a hero and a reasonably wealthy man as he managed to take a bag of opium from the massacre, caring more for that than his Corporal which he left on the island to die. The Major was made responsible for overseeing the Jurzani Relocation and Assimilation Program in Tsjervska. His brutal tactics were seen as being most successful in dealing with the Jurzani's who were deemed tribal and backwards. Moravscik still needed to get used to his new rank, but more authority suited him as he had traded his tattered military pants and sweat pants for a tight and spotless uniform. He walked in to the Garrison Headquarters like he owned the place flanked by two of his trusted lieutenants, the latter being as dirty as him when it came to law enforcement. "Commander Hrebeljanović, I will be taking over as acting commander of the city. You have failed in destroying the Jurzani resistance in the city...", he yelled as he stormed towards Hrebeljanović's office while his lieutenants pushed several soldiers and personnel out of the way. Hrebeljanović stood up from behind his desk and took his glasses off before assertively replying with a confused and agitated look on his face, "What is this? You do not outrank me! How dare you speak to me in that tone!". Moravscik grinned, clearly enjoying the situation. "By the authority of the Leninov Revolutionary Clan, Colonel Marko Leninov will confirm, but I suggest you don't bother him. You chose the wrong camp Viktor, the Burukova's have been pushed out of this region. Now step asside, I need to clean up your failure. Be glad I don't recommend you for evaluation. I suggest you support me in any way you can before I change my mind."

A total of 7 neighbourhoods where under control of largely disorganized Jurzani resistance fighters. Among the population the neighbourhoods were still known by their historic names: Fasil Baig, Kar Baig, Quargha, Shash Darak,Sherpur, Fatillah and Bakul respectively. It was one of the few places the old Jurzani architecture had managed to persist under the strict regime. Major Moravscik didn't waste any time. "Colonel Kurin of the 73th has been instructed to make five artillery batteries available. Once our ground forces have pulled back from their positions in the neighbourhood the artillery will commence a campaign of constant bombardment. We will no longer use non-lethal weaponry only to be shot by Jurzani snipers. Once the bombardment has broken the neighbourhoods we will start a ground offensive and purge them from any reactionary element. Together with the 73th you will triple the amount of patrols in and around the city. Any subversive person is to be taken down, deadly force is encouraged. The Program's quota requires us to have completed 40% of the relocation by the end of the year, I want that to be 60% even if I have to kill these dogs myself so we can scratch more names off the list." The atmosphere was set, Major Moravscik walked towards Hrebeljanović's desk who was walking backwards clearly defeated. He sat down where Hrebeljanović was sitting only a few minutes ago, the seat still warm. Moravscik looked behind him to the former commander, "Don't you have something to do? Get out of my office.", he liked kicking people when they were down.

About half an hour later the first artillery shells started hitting the seven neighbourhoods. The sound of the explosions indicated one thing over a wide perimeter, war had started.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Tsjervska
Socialist Oblast of Lurcheniv

Exactly one month ago the people of Tsjervska, historically known as Terak, rose up against the forced relocation of the Jurzani people living in the Khandahar. A total of seven neighbourhoods, known as the 'Old City', were taken by largely unorganized Jurzani locals who resisted the notorious 'Jurzani Relocation and Assimilation Program'. The reaction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces under Major Sergei Moravscik's command was as ruthless as it was relentless. The first two weeks the neighbourhoods were under a constant barrage by the 73th Artillery Detachment who had been deployed north-east of the 120,000 people strong city. Moravscik saw this operation as an opportunity to grow even further as one of the rising stars of Kadikistan. His ambitions had gone beyond gathering some extra wealth through various smuggling missions on the Great River. His actions on the river island had been picked up and enlarged by the State Media in a ploy to cover up the dubious purpose Moravscik and his men fulfilled the past ten years. This allowed the recently promoted Major the opportunity that so little Kadikistani's outside of the Revolutionary Clans are able to do, namely making military and political promotion that might lead beyond a seat in the Supreme Soviet. The latter being considered the highest governmental echelon that non-blood related clan-members get to reach.

The pacification of Tsjervska and overseeing the correct workings of the Relocation and Assimilation Program was Moravcik's path to power. To do so he used strategy and tactics to minimize the amount of Kadikistani military and civilian casualties. With the Kadikistani government keeping relative track of the location of it's population through the two-yearly census the ethnic Kadikistani's living in Tsjervska were contacted hours before the bombardment began so they could safely leave. The Kadikistani's were told to keep the message to themselves with the highest punishment promised to those who would tell their Jurzani neighbours. They were also told that they were not allowed to walk in large groups, take any luggage or personal possessions to avoid suspicion with the promise of compensation by the State. Military casualties were avoided by the non-stop bombardment of the neighbourhoods with ground forces doing nothing more than small skirmishes to get a feel on the strength of their opponents.

The first hours the unevacuated Jurzani's poured out of the neighbourhoods only to be taken by the security forces who would hold them until a train was available to take them North. This way Moravscik condemned all inhabitants of the seven neighbourhoods regardless of wither or not they were on the list. He saw it as a way to reach his quota's early. On five different occasions Jurzani resistance had infiltrated the fleeing civilians and managed to attack the security forces. After the first week had passed those who wanted to flee had been taken into custody while the remaining civilians had either chosen to stay and hide or join the resistance fighter who numbered somewhere near 2,000 at their height. Another week later the ground offensive was kicking off with over 40 K-34 'Ravager' tanks spearheading the assault through the rubble and ruins that remained of the 'Old City'. Despite of what Moravscik had predicted the resistance in the city remained stiff, with Jurzani made portable anti-tank weapons turning the Kadikistani tanks into barricades. The infantry supporting the tanks had to fight from house to house facing a poorly equipped and untrained, but very determined opponent.

After one month the seven neighbourhoods were subjugated and its population disappearing either on the trains or by the careless tactics used by the military. The latter almost seemed like they were meant to kill as many civilians as possible. If a building had fighters in them it would be brought down to the ground regardless of the civilians inside. If ten civilians had to die in order for one resistance fighter to be terminated, there was no question. The 'liberation' was followed by sporadic executions and all kinds of abuse. The month-long operation left 363 Kadikistani soldiers dead while Jurzani acts of vengeance and the dangers of war had killed 57 ethnic Kadikistani civilians. The losses were much higher on the Jurzani side which lost around 1,800 fighters while over 5,000 civilians would not have to suffer another day.