OPERATION: Guerre Éclair

[Radilo]

Nouveau Port

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Elizabeth DeSalle is the great-granddaughter of the Jas Lyon DeGinghs (the youngest son of Lunette DeGighns); she is also the leader of the Radicals in parliament. The DeGinghs were one of the two political families that dominated radical* politics in Radilo; the other, of course, is the House of Hennessy. These two families had worked together since the founding of Radilo, though good times and bad... right now might be considered a bad time... but they had muddled through much worse. Paules Moet-Hennessy is the younger brother of Jas Louis Moet-Hennessy, the head of the family; Paules is one of Cognac's representatives in the National Assembly--as is Elizabeth.

"So you are just going to go along with Michelle on this?" asked a frustrated Paules.

"I don't see a reason why we shouldn't... do you?"

"I can see plenty."

"I'm sure you can see plenty..." she said, now equally frustrated, "I'm sure your brother gave you all sorts of reasons why you should not support our movement against Belmont... who knows how much money your family has invested there, and I'd be shocked if you weren't related their Royal Family."

"I swear to g-d Liz! You want to talk about families... you would not be deputy PM if your great-great-grandmother was not the founder of this country... as I wouldn't be where I am if mine wasn't. We are both here because of our pedigree... so don't give me any bullshit about my family."

There was a long pause.

"Sorry Paules... you're right. But what would you have us do?"

"And that's where I'm sorry... and you are right. At this point there isn't much we can do. Rouchambeau is a fucking idiot, he seems to revel in making a damn fool of us. I don't want to be backed into a corner like the Frescania; where we are either pompous cowards or dead."

"To be honest, Paules, I'd take being pompous cowards any day."

"I agree, but avoiding both is preferable. We need to be more diplomatically cautious. And I still think there is a way out, whereby not too many end up dead."

"I don't share your optimism."

"Neither really do I..."


Green Sea

From:The Republican Naval High Command
To: Battle Group Raoul 7
TOP SECRET

Rendezvous with allied Ships. Then proceed on course. Match fire with equivalent fire.

Signed,
Admiral Nass Roughes

 

[Rheinbund]

Paris, Belmont

Guido Kraiger did not know why he had to visit the man. He wasn't told why. Belmont had started a war, and that war contained all ingredients for escalating into a next Great War, but Kraiger was ordered to visit a wine merchant in Orléans. Couldn't those idiots in Trier prioritise things properly? But Kraiger followed his orders. He stepped into his car and drove to Orléans, through a country that was reorganising itself for war. He could have taken the train, but he considered it better to do the trip by car. Also because he was used to doing so as an Eiffellandian.

When Kraiger arrived in Orléans, he directly drove to the adress he had got. The front was a large wine shop, but Kraiger knew that the head office of the wine exporting company was in the same building. He entered the shop, walked around and inspected some wine bottles. After a few minutes, a young man walked to him.

"Bonjour monsieur. Est-ce que je peux vous aider?"
"Bonjour monsieur. Mon nom est Kraiger. Je voudrais parler avec le PDG du firme. Il s’agit d’un affaire très important. Est-ce que c'est possible?"

Although not completely accentless, Kraiger's French was good. French was taught at the Eiffellandian schools from the 5th class primary school onwards, and Kraiger had got extra courses French when he joined the diplomatic force. He had pronounced his name the French and not the German way. He considered it better to let people guess where he came from instead of recognising him as a Germanic.

Kraiger saw that the young man was a bit cautious. That would not be strange in a city unofficially ruled by the mafia. The young man went away, came back after a few minutes and escorted Kraiger to the general manager.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Maas. My name is Kraiger. I’m an employee of the Eiffellandian government,” Kraiger said. He was surprised that the German he heard from the other person contained a severe French accent. He wouldn’t be surprised if the decades of living in a Francophone nation would have had its impact on Maas’s German, but that much?
“Mr. Maas? I’m sorry, Mr. Kraiger, but I am not Mr. Maas. I am Mr. Fabourget. I am the new general manager.”
“That’s quite a development. Can you tell me more about it?”
“Well, this summer, Mr. Maas started to become a bit absent-minded. When he came back from a business trip at the beginning of September, he asked me if I wanted to buy the company. I was his financial director at that time. I said yes, and now I am the owner. Since the 1st of this month.”

Fabourget had given the adress of Maas’s apartment to Kraiger. When he ringed there, nobody opened the door. A few hours later, a Staatsschutz agent broke into Maas’s apartment, and reported that it was empty. So Maas had left Orléans. Kraiger and the Staatsschutz agent found out that the apartment was for sale. The real estate broker told that he had to contact a lawyer outside the country if he had a buyer for the apartment.

That was two weeks ago. Later on, the Staatsschutz found out that Maas had indeed taken a flight out of Belmont. Kraiger reported this to his superiors in Trier. Case closed according to him. Now other people would have to trace the man.

OOC: Translation of the French parts:
– Good afternoon, Sir. Can I help you?
– Good afternoon, Sir. My name is Kraiger. I would like to talk to the CEO of the firm. It is about a very important matter. Would it be possible?

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Long Sea

The ocean seperating Carentania from Coronado was bustling with activity. Every nation in the region and even some beyond had sent ships into this wide channel, flexing their muscles and stressing their importance as regional power. Of course, there was also an economic factor involved, there always is, as Ivan Sorokin, famous Carentanian economist, would have said. Due to its location, the Long Sea was a major trade route and Frescanias policy of embargo was seen as a real danger to the trade of a number of nations. Carentania itself was, of course, more concerned with the fact that its ally was targeted by the blockade more strongly than its enemy, even if that wasn't necessarily Frescanias intention, which only wanted to mark its territory, but Belmonts geographic location alone meant that its trade routes remained largely unharmed.

Alas, Frescania had gone too far and it was time for the Workers' Republic to clear the table from all unnecessary clutter. The latest All-Workers Congress had ended with singing an old song from the Carentanian revolution, praising the need to stand together against the violence of the bourgeoise rule. It was a symbolic event, representative for the whole congress that had given the Commissariate for Defence a free hand in fighting Belmont whatever way it deemed most effective in bringing about a quick peace. With this in mind - and the Long Sea already tightly monitored by land-based, airborne and ship-mounted radar systems as well as a number of sonar buoys - the Carentanian military was ready to assume control of the Long Sea.

Low altitude flights, passing over military ships in the Long Sea, were Carentanias way to emphasize it meant business when it contacted all vessels, military and civilian, in a wide corridor between Carentanias north-western and Coronados south-eastern coast. There could be no doubt that the Workers' Republic would ensure its supply lines to Coronado would not be interfered with and its operations in support of its RDTO-ally would go along smoothly. Now it would be up to the other forces in the area whether they were bent on escalating the situation even further.

Message sent to all vessels in the Long Sea:

The Workers' Republic of Carentania wishes to inform:

due to ongoing military operations in the Long Sea, all vessels of military nature are advised to leave the zone of Carentanian operations. This is the best way to ensure that mistakes and confusion are avoided and neutral parties do not become belligerents by accident. Carentanian forces have the authorization to fire upon any ship they deem hostile and interference with Carentanian military operations will not be tolerated.

Civilian ships are advised to contact the nearest Carentanian Navy ship and inform it of its destination and planned route through the Long Sea. Carentanian authorities reserve the right to provide you with an alternative route through the Long Sea in order to avoid your involvement in ongoing combat operations. We strongly urge you not to steer away from the route provided by the Carentanian Commissariate for Defence. The Workers' Republic promises to the world that trade through the Long Sea will remain unharmed and enjoys the protection of the Carentanian Revolutionary Defence Forces. We have no intention of violating the freedom of the seas and only seek a solution that avoids civilians from getting involved in combat operations.

However, Carentanian forces reserve the right to search and seize any ships of Belmontien origin. We wish to stress the fact at this point, that the Workers' Republic is at war with the Kingdom of Belmont.

South-eastern Coronado

Soldiers of the first airborne, lightly equipped, were the first Carentanians to enter the land of their allies. Carentania would set up a base of operations far away from Belmontien air raids, in the south-east and along the coast, where it would be able to build up strength before getting fully involved with the military operations in the north. The airborne was the most mobile of the Carentanian forces and if deemed necessary, they could be thrown against a Belmontien ground offensive relatively unprepared. But given the intelligence reaching the Carentanian military authorities, that would not be necessary. Belmont itself seemed to focus on air attacks and had not yet amassed enough strength on the Coronadic border to threaten it.

Soon, the attack helicopters of the first airborne would follow the soldiers, along with a division of fighter aircraft. Supplies would be flown in and then, the first ships would leave port in north-western Carentania, hastily crosing the Long Sea to unload ammunitions, armored vehicles, food and medical aid, as well as anti-air missiles. Several mobile SAM systems had been prepared to be relocated to Coronado and hopefully they would be ready to engage the next Belmontien air raid, thwarting their attempt at establishing air superiority with the aid of Carentanian fighter aircraft. But there was still some time until that could happen, Carentania would not waste its forces by throwing them into battle without preparation.

 

[Breotonia]

Naval Communication Service
Encryption Code: NA
Classification: NA
Public Key: NA

311520Z DEC 2010
From: HIGHCOM/NAVCOM
To: Commissariate for Defence - Carentania
Subject: Carentanian Operations

While we respect the intentions and goals of the Workers' Republic and likewise wish to see nothing but peace and order return to the afflicted region and furthermore deem the protection of neutral traffic in the strait leading into the Long Sea we must regret to inform you that certain requests made in your declaration of [311140Z DEC 2010] will be opposed by the Breotish Government and Navy.

All vessels, including military, operating in international waters will continue to enjoy completely unimpeded and free movement so long as they remain neutral. Of course the Breotish Navy will not extend protection to non-neutral vessels of any sort. Carentanian action, no matter how well meaning, against any neutral ships, civilian or military, in international waters will be met with swift and overwhelming force. We trust that you understand our position on the matter of freedom of movement and the inviolable rights of the high seas.

Civilian ships are encouraged to contact Carentanian authorities should they be passing near or through the Carentanian Navy's area of operation and, should they wish, also be escorted by an alternate route. However, no neutral ship will be required to follow this route. Any interference with neutral ship movements, including a forceful amendment to their planned route, will be seen as a violation of their rights and will also be met with the full force of the Breotish Navy.

The Carentanian Navy's final declaration, that it will actively search and seize ships of a Belmontien origin will not be contested by Breotish ships as the Kingdom of Belmont and all ships that fly Her flag are seen as combatant and non-neutral in the eyes of His Majetsy's Government and will not be afforded the protection of the Royal Navy. However, we wish to inform the Commissariate for Defence that should this portion of the operation be pursued then Carentania will naturally be redesignated as a combatant nation and ships that fly her flag will not be afforded the protection or cooperation of the Royal Navy.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

From: Commissariate for Defence - Carentania
To: HIGHCOM/NAVCOM
Subject: Carentanian Operations

Your current stance is unacceptable and a danger to Carentanian operations. We strongly advise to refrain from interfering with Carentanian operations in the long sea and withdraw all military vessels from the zone of operations. As long as Breotish ships stay within the combat zone, we can not guarantuee that they won't be mistaken for combatants, especially if they behave uncooperative. Breotonia is risking a military conflict between our countries and we urge you to reconsider. Your military presence serves no purpose, but Carentania is fighting a war against Belmontien aggression.

As you may have noticed, Carentanian planes are crossing above the locations of your ships in low altitude. Carentania has knowledge of the location of all ships within the Long Sea and the capabilities to sink any vessel that behaves uncooperative, suspicious and aggressive. Do not test our resolve.

 

[Breotonia]

Naval Communication Service
Encryption Code: NA
Classification: NA
Public Key: NA

311616Z DEC 2010
From: HIGHCOM/NAVCOM
To: Commissariate for Defence - Carentania
Subject: Re: Carentanian Operations

Carentania then admits that the primary goal of its operations is to wage war, not to ensure the protection of neutral traffic. You have misrepresented your goals to the international community and we are obligated to issue the following statements:

1) Carentania is hereby classified as a belligerent in the Belmontian-Coronadan War.

2) In accordance with the Sacred Mantle Declaration of 1744, the Naval Declaration of 1820, Admiralty Statements in 1899, 1920, and 1939 and the Sea Commerce and Trade Protection and Arbitration Act of 1959 protection of Carentanian vessels or vessels flying the flag of Carentania is hereby revoked.

3) The use of force is authorized in the event that Carentania attempts to interfere, in any way, with vessels of a neutral state against the crew's will. Operations against vessels of a warring party are, of course, within your rights as a combatant and will not be stopped.

4) The threat of attack against the Breotish Royal Navy, which naturally is only maintaining its protection of neutral parties as shown by both official statements and the actions of the fleet, has been noted as gravely insulting and irresponsible. Any action of aggression will result in the immediate declaration of war by Breotonia which, while a most unwanted act, will be our only recourse.
​

His Majesty's Government would accept the apology for the misunderstanding and the word of the Carentanian Government that neutral vessels will not be harmed, stopped, searched, or otherwise detained or interfered with as reason enough to normalize relations between our states and return to a firmly peaceful footing.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

From: Commissariate for Defence - Carentania
To: HIGHCOM/NAVCOM
Subject: Carentanian Operations

The fact that the Workers' Republic is a belligerent in the current conflict should not have evaded Breotonia. Carentania has openly declared war on the nation of Belmont following its attack on an allied state of ours and their unwillingness to return to peace. We hope this clears up any eventual misunderstandings between our nations.

While Carentania guarantuees the freedom and safety of neutral civilian traffic in the Long Sea, so long as they follow the advise of the Revolutionar Navy and stick to the routes laid out by our High Command so as to avoid zones of combat operations, we have to insist that military vessels, including those of Breotonia, have to withdraw from the zone of operations between Carentanias north-western and Coronados south-eastern coastline. Breotonias pride and its senseless need to show itself to the world as a 'regional power' are putting the nation into danger of being drawn into this conflict by accident. The sheer number of military vessels currently operating in the Long Sea makes it hard to distinguish belligerents from neutral parties. Consequently, the neutral parties risk attacks, as our ships - and we are sure those of our enemies as well - have been ordered to protect themselves with all the necessary force and not to take chances. When in doubt about the identity of a suspicious behaving vessel, we will rather sink it than to risk a succesful Belmontien attack on our sailors.

We are sure that, while Breotonia feels the need to flex its military muscles in an important trade route, it also understands the reasoning behind our actions. Carentania assures Breotonia that the freedom of its trade is not in danger.

 

[Coronado]

Air Defence Command Headquarters
Sierra de la Madre, Coronado

The reports have been coming in from the four districts hit by the Belmontian attack, though depressing, it isn't as bad as it could have been if the Belmontians had attack straight south along a broad front instead of the route they had taken. While the there was heavy damage to facilities and infrastructure in the Northeast District and the eastern part of the Northern District, it lessened the further east the attack progressed, for distance and time became a friend to Coronado. As soon as the first Belmontian plane crossed over the coast, the alarm went out, and military bases all over Coronado were being alerted of an attack. Though there was little to no time between the alert being sounded and the first bombs started dropping on targets in the northeast, with some of those nearest the coast having no alert sounded at all,

Though the Belmontians had the initial surprise on their side, Air Defence Command SAMs and fighters were able to take down or damage an estimated thirty of the enemy aircraft, but did not pursue into Belmontian airspace. As soon as the Belmontians headed back home, fighters were quickly recalled to refuel and rearm at undamaged bases further south while those aircraft that survived at the forward bases, mostly using nearby roads as airstrips, were flown to safer bases while the ground presonnel were either evacuated or proceeded to do what repairs they could.

With AEW planes, stationed further south, providing the needed radar coverage, mobile SAMs and radar units being brought online and fighters armed with a miriad of air-to-air missile from long to short range engagements, Coronado prepares for the next wave of attacks.

Northern District

As in the air, ground units were also busy, as the 12th Corps, who's responsibility has been the frontier with Belmont, prepares for further air attacks with mobile SAMs and MANPADS as well as a ground offensive from Belmont. Having been already reenforcesd by Interior Security troops, the more than thirty thousand troops in the Northern district ready for the expected assault.

Porto Franco
Naval Headquarters

The alert did not only put air and ground forces into motion, but also naval units. Coronado's navy was one designed for sea denial rather than for projection of power. Though its surface fleet was centered around one medium sized carrier, its pride was in its extensive submarine force. Made up of 15 nuclear attack submarines and 5 nuclear cruise missile submarines in addition to 20 conventional submarines, the Armada Coronado set sail to insure that sealanes remained open to Coronado and ally shipping and to limit freedom of those same seas to the enemy.

 

[Coronado]

***TOP SECRET***
Message to the Government of the Union of the Leidenburg Kingdoms

Office of the President
Socialist Republic of Coronado
President Fernando Calderón Juarez

To President Stef Rutte,

As the Belmontian have long coveted the lands of Coronado, they have never had legitimate cause to attack and being the we have never given them that cause, they have had to manufacture a casus belli and rely on their allies to support it, even when, as you and the rest of the world has seen it, it is a purely unprovoked war of aggression and expansion by the government of Belmont.
I, and all Coronadans appreciate and accept .the support that you and the Union of the Leidenburg Kingdoms has offered

Fernando Calderón Juarez
Presidente, República Socialista de Coronado

 

[Coronado]

Toledo, Coronado

Though the OSN (Oficina para la Seguridad Nacional) may not have been able to gather the needed intel inside Belmont that would have alerted the government of the pending attack, inside Coronado, the organization was far more proficiant, for as the bombs dropped in the north, in Toledo, as well as all across Coronado, it moved against the Belmont as it immediately began rounding up all known and suspected Belmontian agents and anyone suspected of having dealings with the enemy. This included the Belmontian embassy itself as OSN agents and Special Forces troops from Internal Security assaulted what before the attack sovereign Belmontian territory. Though the battle did not take long, it was bloody on both sides, but in the end, the embassy was taken and those Belmontians that survived were taken to a special OSN holding center for interrogation.

Southern Coronado

While air bases all across Coronado were on full alert, with combat and support aircraft scrambling to defend the Motherland, bases in the south were ordered to be ready to receive aid from Coronado's allies with naval and airforce fighter ready to escort when needed.

Comando Marítimo
Maritime Command

The Comando Marítimo is essentially in charge of all non military shipping that flies the Coronado flag. Their job is to coordinate with other agencies and bureaus to transport the needed goods and commodities that are essential to the Coronadan economy and ultimately take directions from the Commerce Ministry, but that is in times of peace. Now, as war has come to Coronado, it comes under the Defence Ministry and the order has been sent that all vessels are to avoid contact with belmontian vessels and to seek refuge in allied port, or neutral ports if necessary, and to only attempt passage to homeports while under the protection of Coronadan or ally naval forces.

 

[Guiana]

Green Sea

HMGS Corsair is a Banshee class destroyer and squadron leader of the Guianan escort contingent, which is made up of itself and three Devon class frigates. The sqadron, which is designated ESM1 (Escort Squadron Mendendall 1), has been dispatched from the Mendenhall Naval Base to escort eight Guianan freighters bound for Lorraine. Though these freighters would have normally travelled to the Gallian country on their own, due to the war, they have been held up until a proper convoy could be organized. ESM1 has been ordered, along with it charges, to rendezvous Battle Group Raoul 7 out of Radilo before proceeding to destination.

 

[Großlausitz]

Half a day’s journey away from Lorraine’s territorial waters
South of Lorraine

Accompanied by radio messages which certainly sounded like Spanish curses and swear-words Kommodore Peter Glück had steered his carrier battle group through the relatively small corridor of international waters between Coronado and Frescania. The top brass at the government back in Nürnberg maintained Franken was entitled to the right of free passage in these international waters, as it was a neutral party and that any further assault which violated Franken’s neutrality would have regrettable consequences. The Frescanian ambassador was politely informed about the Kingdom of Franken’s position on this matter.

The commanding officer of the carrier battle group Ludwig Erhard decided it was time to inform the military authorities at Port Raphael, which was their assigned destination and temporary base for the duration of the operation. There, across the bay from Coronado, the Franconian military contingent, which was about to be reinforced by two brigades of Royal Army units would set up its command. As the two brigades were commanded by Royal Generalmajor Richard Andersson, he would assume the supreme command of the whole operation. Meanwhile, Lorraine's military was busy preparing quarters and free up space and supplies for the additional EDF forces that were yet to come. Once they had set up their own accommodations, Glück and his ships would help patrolling Lorraine's waters and receiving the fellow EDF allies.​

 

[Lorraine]

Naval Base at Saint Raphaël

Saint Raphaël is a large port, well protected by both natural and man-made defences
and has been the homeport of the Lorrainian premier fleet ever since there has been a Lorrainian navy, but now, with Lorraine's neighbors, Belmont and Coronado, going at it, the base will play host to naval units from several EDF nations. Notoably the largest contingent, a battle group from Franken, had already been scheduled to deploy to St. Raphaël before the hostilities had started, now they will be a welcome addition in keeping the sealanes open and to defend the Kingdom if if either of the antagonist or their allies decide to expand their war to include Lorraine.

Already Lorraine has seen Frescania coming to the aid of their friends in Paris, though they won't admit it, they have found a way to hamper access to Coronado by its allies, but also to control access to Lorraine. This has been seen by the government in Metz as a plot by Paris to aid its own war effort but also to punish Lorraine for its audacity to not bow to Belmontian demands by damaging the Lorrainian economy beyond what the war itself would inflict.

With Lorraine's defence and economy in mind, and the illegality of the so-called blockade, Lorrainian aircraft and naval vessels, both surface and submirines, patrolled the waters of the Long Sea, with orders to come to the aid of any neutral vessels being unlawfully stopped or fired upon by vessels of either of the antagonists nations or by others.

 

[Radilo]

“It is on occasion necessary to kill those who would impede us.”

– Jas Lyon Moët-Hennessy in a letter to Lunette DeGinghs​

Battle Group Raoul 7 was now within range the rendezvous point with its allies. It was made up of two corvettes, two destroyers, and the flagship of the Radilan Navy—the Jacques Naljean, a nuclear powered DeGinghs Class Aircraft Carrier.

From: Le Jacques Naljean
To: HMGS Corsair

Bonjour mes amis, greetings from the Republican Naval High Command. At your ready we can proceed with our mission.

Admiral Eugene DuBois

Meanwhile, two nuclear powered subs made their way to Lorraine. These were not part of any battle group; they were more of an insurance policy.

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Saint Raphaël

The small squadron had pulled into the port several days ago. Commodore Nasr had tested the supposed blockade line several times. He had come within 100 yards of the line and sailed there for 2 hours. They had even had radar contacts several times but nothing had come to test the destroyer and two corvettes. The mood was extremely tense but to the wonder of all, nothing happened. With glee they had pulled into the port with the destroyer leading the way. The Judean Navy was relatively small compared to her air and land forces but was remarkably well trained. The blue-green water navy rarely left the Long Sea and this operation had thus far reflected typical operations.

Nasr sat in his cabin writing reports as the gentle motion of port waves lulled his ship. Since 2004, there had been a smoking ban on all ships except in designated areas, usually on the top-most deck. As a commodore however, could smoke in his cabin and remain undisturbed. The crew always knew that Nasr had been around recently because a compartment would smell of sweet pipe tobacco. Nasr had desperately pleaded witht the Admiral for Judea's one Carrier, RS Jerusalem. JDF command woulod have none of it. Instead Nasr would get a frigate, the RS Ben-Haim. Nasr picked up his ship phone and rang the bridge. Soon, the RS Ben-Haim would be approaching the blockade line.

 

[Rheinbund]

Bremen, Eiffelland

It had been taken a while, but now the ships were ready. The Eiffellandian aircraft carrier Köln left the military harbour of Bremen, accompanied by five destroyers, six mine-sweepers and two nuclear submarines. The destination was Saint Raphaël in Lorraine.

“My ancestry is not important here, but this is, Herr. Frahm,” Navy Lieutenant Karl von Dietz-Hadamar said to the sailor while pointing at his shoulder cap. “Now get me the weather reports.”
Ten frigates were patrolling the sea straights between Eiffelland, the island of the Papal States, the continental parts of the Papal States, and Leidenburg. Prince Karl was Lieutenant on one of those frigates. His ancestry could have been enough to keep him out of the war zone, but Karl did not want to use such privileges.

Meanwhile, some fighter-bombers were made ready for being sent to Lorraine as well.

 

[Coronado]

In The Skies Above Northwest Coronado

30,000 above the Northwest Coronado, as was were others along northern Coronado, a A-50 'Pilar' has taken up station scanning the the skies and oceans in the effort of detecting more incoming enemy aircraft. It is these airborn sentries that Coronado must rely upon to detect the enemy before they cause more damage an it was this aircraft that detected the 40 enemy aircraft incoming 225 km north-northwest of its position, following the same path the first attack wave had taken. Immediately upon detection, the A-50 radioed in coordinates and fighters are scrambled out of the Central and Southwest Districts, composed of a squadron of GR-31s and and 3 squadrons of GR-29s, all loaded for air-to-air combat. The first attack may have taken Coronado's air defences by surprise, but a second would not.

The 54th Intercept Squadron out of Cortez Air Force Base near Toledo flying GR-31s is the first squadron to engage the incoming aircraft. Almost as soon as the squadron is assembled they begin selecting targets so when they come within the 130 km range of their C-33 Culebre long-range missiles, they are able to fire their first missile and then target a second incoming and fire a second missile just seconds later. At Mach 4.5, the missile take little time to reach their approaching targets.

Before long the three squadrons of GR-29s from the Móstoles Air Defence Complex have the incoming aircraft on radar, and being vectored in by the A-50, and at 75 km, the pilots of the 83rd fighter squadron each launch their first C-77 Nuberu./i] at the reamining incoming enemy aircraft.

Northcentral Coronado

Like the A-50 in the northeast, another AWAC detects more of enemy fighters coming from the north, and as its sister aircraft did, it alerts Air Defence Command who scrambles more fighters from the Central and Eastern Districts to intercept the attack formations coming in from the north. With the bulk of the airforce having been positioned further south, away from the the border of Belmont so that what happened would not knock out Coronado's ability to defend itself, Air Defence Command is still able to draw upon a great deal of fighters from other parts of the country, Belmont may find it has a tiger by the tail.

 

[Frescania]

Miraflores – Office of the President

The situation had grown out of proportion, indeed, this was having many think twice before making a move. President Gutierrez was still optimistic.

“Nobody is crazy enough to fire at us, we will continue the operation as it is.”
“Mr. President, we should not. All of the EDF and now the Communist Bloc are in the conflict. We cannot do anything alone.”
Carmelas, stop being pessimistic about everything”

The Chancellor shuffled his papers and gave one to the President.

“Mr. President, our armed forces cannot fight that many nations. Furthermore, we have just received words from our Nordic ally and they are withdrawing. We cannot go on with this.”
“You are such a left winger Carmelas, and also helping your commie friends too.”
“Sir, I am offended at this. My Party does not endorse the left wing ideology Carentania does.”
“Sure sure. Either way, I will push through with the operation.”

Carmelas couldn't believe the words of Gutierrez. He had to be suicidal to think Frescania would be capable of doing anything alone. It had to stop.

“You can do whatever you want, but my Government will not fund our armed forces until all forces are withdrawn from the area.”

Gutierrez was taken by surprised.

“You cannot do that! You will be putting the security of both our armed forces and our country at risk!”
“Well sir, that's something I am willing to do. My Government will suspend, with immediate effect, all payments of the armed forces until such time as you have issued the withdraw orders.”

President Gutierrez looked at the numbers again. He knew Frescania couldn't do it, but the political price would be harsh, he knew it.

“Fine. I will issue the order.”
“I will see you do it.”

The President got up and sent the order.

Secret Message
To: All Republican Naval Forces
From: Commander and Chief

All operations are to end immediately. All forces to withdraw to territorial waters.

After sending the message, Gutierrez turned to Carmelas:

“We will pay heavily for this.”
“Only if we allow ourselves to be defeated.”

The Chancellor walked out of the room and with him Frescania's role in the situation.

 

[Aquitania]

Off Île Saint-Honorat

On the bridge of the AA frigate Adélaïde, Capitaine de frégate, Marcel Garnier had communications notify the flagship of the EDF fleet that his frigate squadron was ready to set sail. Garnier, as senior frigate commander of the four Aquitanian frigates assigned to escort duty, he was acting as squadron commander and his duty was to protect the merchant ships that made up the convoy was and to see to it they safely reach their destinations. Though there were merchant ships from other EDF nations that were in the convoy, Garnier was most familiar with the six from Aquitania; two container ships, a ro-ro, and three bulk carriers, all bound for ports within the so-called blockade zone and it was up to the escorts to get them there.

Garnier scans the convoy and notices the ratio of merchant ships to warships and realizes this was more than just a convoy escort. Garnier's grandfather served in much the same duty back in the Great War as Marcel was now, escorting merchants from the Green Sea to Gallia, and back then the ratio of merchants to warships were much greater, and the likelihood for battle much higher than it is now, but maybe it is more to show those that are enbraced the insanity of war in Gallia that the EDF was taking it all very seriously and that if someone should think twice before starting more trouble.

 

[Lorraine]

Vichy, Auvergne

Ever since the Great War, HM government in Metz had spared no expense in the defense of Auvergne as the most advanced air defence and intelligence gathering equipment available could be found in Duchy along with the best trained personnel to operate it, so it didn't take long after the first bombs fell on Coronado before listening posts began picking up increased Coronadan military radio traffic and the blips began appearing on radar screens of large numbers of aircraft being launched from bases in eastern Coronado. Being that Auvergne was Coronado's first target in the Great War, combat air control first interpreated it as an air assault against Auvergne itself or maybe Belmont, but when it was reported that the planes sped westward, it was realized something big was happening and it was focused within Coronado itself.

Though it was determined that the attack was not directed towards Auvergne, combat alerts were issued and air defence systems were brought online and combat air patrols were launched along with an 24 hr AWAC surveillance being maintained to extend the range of detection of incoming aircraft. So it was from this unique position from the Duchy of Auvergne that Lorraine's military and intelligence services found they had a front row seat in the goings on in both Coronado and Belmont, one that Lorraine's allies would undoubtably appreciate.