Peace Through Infamy [Solaren Theatre]

[Rheinbund]

Southeastern Solaren

The battles in the mountains were hard and difficult. The Eiffellandians only made little progress there. On the other hand, in the lowlands, the progress was faster. There, the Eiffellandian lines had been shifted to halfway between the most eastern tip and Tegeata.
There were two high mountaineous areas on the Southeastern peninsula. The Eiffellandians were making good progress in surrounding the the eastern mountaineous area. The aim was to deprive it from supplies. Food would not become a problem to the surrounded Solaris soldiers really soon, but ammunition and fuel would.

Meanwhile, mine sweepers had made a larger hole in the Carentanian mine field. Now it became easier to send in supplies by ship.

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Long Sea

The bridge of the Monte Cristo was deadly silent and bathed in the red lights that lined it. The sea was black in the early morning hours as the radar and sonar stations reported a 'clear' for the immediate area. "Clear deck for launch" said the skipper to his executive officer. Two short and one long whelp from the loudspeakers cleared all hands from the deck as a bead of sweat ran down the captain's face. The ship cut through the waves gracefully. Operation Bold Fury was in full swing. Eagerly, the King sat with his staff in the situation room. It was 3 in the morning local time and hopefully this would catch the complacent Solaris forces by surprise. Surely, little Nicosia could not pack her own punch. No, they were throwing a haymaker; their entire body weight behind it. It was a gamble with relatively low payout for such a high risk. However, it was what had to be done. Bold Fury had to go well for the next operation, Operation Maestro, to succeed.

The missile officer who had been retired for nearly 15 years waited for the signal. The captain sipped his coffee and nodded. "Fire". One by one the Monte Cristo fired her 52 cruise missiles; set to hit various military facilities at the Mazara port. Finally, after a few minutes all the 'birds' were away and just behind them were the first wave of Nicosia aircraft.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Long Sea

The ship was shaken violently as the unmanned drone left the deck of the Carentanian corvette "Chainlink Break", leaving behind a trail of white smoke in its initial stages and covering the small military vessel in fine dust. Headed for Ustica, the reconaissance drone would gather valuable informations for the imminent assault and outline targets for the cruise missiles of the fleet assembling near the Solaren prison island. Currently, this fleet consisted of only seven ships, four of which were corvettes of the same class as the "Chainlink Break", two modern fregates and finally, the "Emancipation", an older destroyer that would serve as command post for the time being, until the main fleet with the two AAS "Samobor" and "Maximo" would arrive and Ustica could be invaded.

It was a calm day in the Long Sea and the waters off Ustica were almost entirely silent, enclosed by the Solaren peninsula, Coronado and Nicosia, this region of the Long Sea was often completely without wind. The reconaissance mission was a standard procedure, going as smoothly as it did in practice. After all, the sailors aboard the "Chainlink Break", just as the men and women aboard the rest of the ships, were quite removed from the brutality of the battles on the ground. Pushing buttons and watching computer screens - a daily chore without any sense of danger or the thrill of battle. Not that the crew was complaining, at least they were usually safe aboard their ships.

Of course, the "Chainlink Break" had seen more exciting times, back when it protected the area where a Vangalan ship had been sunk from hostile scavengers. It was a famous mission still, because the majority of Carentanians firmly believed that, all the flaws of the Vangalan government aside, the "Chainlink Break" and her fleet had prevented the Vangalans from being framed for something that could have easily been used as a pretext for war: the shipment of weapons to insurgents in another sovereign country. There had been moments during that mission that the men and women aboard the "Chainlink Break" had been convinced they would be attacked any minute, if only because the Carentanian interference in Europe's east could be seen as provocation.

Even though it was war, things seemed calmer, safer now on the Long Sea. Solarens navy and air force was broken for the largest parts, which provoked a false sense of security amongst the Carentanian sailors. Something they had to shake off quickly and to their horror as reports of a Solaren submarine came in from the CIC of the "Chainlink Break". The submarine had snuck up behind them, for some reason evading sonar detection until it had managed to fire two torpedoes towards the "Chainlink Break", which immediately pushed its engines to full throttle, tried to steer away from the path of the torpedos in hope they were unable to target the ship, while enacting counter-measures at the same time as sending warnings to the rest of the fleet. Within seconds, the sound of the alarm had awoken the entire crew and the ship was buzzing with hectic activity.

Then, one of the torpedos homed in on the small corvette, while the second, the attempts to jam its guidance obviously succesful, began moving in small circles, chasing its own tail. A large sub-surface explosion ripped apart the entire hindside of the "Chainlink Break", which began to take in huge amounts of water dragging it below faster and faster. It took only seconds to realize that the ship was lost and the crew began hurrying for the lifeboats. An emergency signal was informing the rest of the fleet about its fate, meaning that at least, the survivors would be safed within a short amount of time by helicopters dispatched from the fregates of the fleet.

Those helicopters also were it, who avenged the "Chainlink Break". It was only minutes before they reached the position where the submarine had been detected as it fired upon the Carentanian corvette. Below them, the ship could still be seen, not fully sunk yet but clearly headed towards the ground of the Long Sea. Sonar buoys were dropped, succesfully locating the Solaren submarine for torpedoes from the helicopters to take it out. As quickly as itself had sunk the "Chainlink Break", the one Solaren submarine that had chosen to target military vessels instead of freighters in the Long Sea, became history.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Capraria

Slowly, light returned to the nights of Capraria, as Carentanian engineers had managed to get one generator of the damaged power plant in Panetelleria up and running again. It wasn't much, but fueled by Jurzani oil, the electricity from Panetelleria allowed crucial infrastructure to be power directly from the remains of Caprarias power grid, rather than having to supply small-scale generators directly to each are individually. Of course, there was still a long way to go until Capraria could return to normalcy, much less advance beyond the boundries of its previous existence and actually achieve some form of decency. For now, however, the Revolutionary Army was glad to have just this one generator, lighting up the guards posts along liberation road, powering the Mother Mary's Hospital in central Panetelleria, keeping water pumps throughout the island running - and supplying "Sodom".

Initially, "Sodom" had just been an unnamed gathering spot for Carentanian soldiers during their spare time. Seeking some place to vent steam and release the built-up stress of their very demanding mission on Capraria, Carentanian soldiers had occupied an empty warehouse on the edge of Panetellerias port district, just across the restricted military area on the other side of liberation street. There had been no plans for the building and commanding officers had decided to let the soldiers have a little recreational spot in a city otherwise dominated by the long shadow of Pope Urban and the Solaris church, their rigid morality having nothing to offer for young men and women who grew up in Maximo Park, Samobor or Paki.

As days passed, the more creative and skilled individuals amongst the force began refurbishing the spot. Tables and chairs, a bar, a stage and as power became available, initially through a generator generously sponsored by the higher echelongs to boost morale, then through the main power line, lighting and stage equipment was introduced into the still unnamed club. Soldiers began to organize acts, with everything from poetry slams and literary cafes to punk bands and disco nights filling the room with life in the evening. As long as there were those amongst the Carentanians that could perform something, the stage would be open for them to use. And as this location grew in popularity amongst the Carentanian soldiers, so did it attract the local youth, who slowly opened up to this very foreign culture.

It wasn't long before Solaren clerics condemned the joint for promoting vices and sin amongst Solaren citizens. Of course, the Carentanians couldn't care less about the ramblings of some old men, demanding the place to be burned to the ground and the ground salted, nor could they do anything but laugh about the claims that young boys would perform homosexual orgies for the pleasure of the Carentanians while they feasted on human flesh - and about a hundred other stories, each more ridiciulous than the previous one. But the name eventually stuck. Solaren clerics had called it "Sodom" so many times that eventually, the soldiers adapted it for their little club, throwing the wrench of irony into the gears of Solaren hate-speech. And amongst those of the locals that had come to terms with the new order on Capraria, the appeal of the forbidden seemed to make "Sodom" even more popular.

The higher levels meanwhile treated "Sodom" and the threats towards it with a slightly more serious attitude, posting guards along the surrounding streets and searching civilians for any weapons or explosives they may try to use. Despite orders to disarm the local population completely and house to house searches for weapons in the early days of the occupation, there were still many Solaren fanatics with access to dangerous items. Throughout the existence of "Sodom", three shootings, one failed bombing and about two dozen attacks with knives were counted by surrounding guards. Eventually, things would settle down and become calmer, if only because all the fanatics would be arrested or shot on the spot. But for now, the situation on Capraria remained tense.

Even this night, "Sodom" vibrating with electric beats and crowded to the brim with Carentanians and Solarens alike, things would not remain peaceful. Panetelleria itself had a calm night, figuratively speaking - the soundlevel of "Sodom" repeatedly exceeded the limit set by the new gouvernor of Capraria, infuriating those soldiers that actually needed their sleep as much as the locals living nearby. Five kilometers to the north-east of Panetelleria, however, a partisan group began a frontal assault upon watchtower 3, one of the smallest watchtowers on Capraria. Two Carentanians died, three more were wounded. The Solaren partisans, eight in total, abandoned their attack as reinforcements arrived for the Revolutionary Army in the form of three "firefly" helicopters, dropping twenty-four soldiers in total and chasing them across an abandoned wheat-field.

Two Solaren partisans had already lost their lives during the assault, four more when the Carentanian reinforcements arrived and during their attempt to retreat. One escaped and one was shot, trying to surrender to a Carentanian that had just the day ago learned one of his best friends had been among a group that was put to the stake by the Solaren army.

 

[Rheinbund]

Eiffelland

The four amphibious assault ships and the four amphibious platform docks that had gone back to Eiffelland had been refilled with tanks, trucks, other types of heavy vehicles potentially needed in Southeastern Solaren, and various types of helicopters. Now they set sail back to Solaren again. Meanwhile, 50 additional fighter planes were sent to Solaren as well. Also transport planes with supplies and additional field hospitals went to Southeastern Solaren.


Southeastern Solaren

People were working very hard on repairing the power plants bombed during the earlier phases of the war. Some parts of Eiffelland-occupied Southeastern Solaren had electricity again, but by far not all parts of it. Solar panels with means to store electricity were installed to at least provide the local hospitals with electricity, so that patient care could start again. Food supplies were spread among the people, all with sterilised goods so that they did not need to be cooled.

Solaris soldiers who had been captured during the fights were also treated in the Eiffellandian field hospitals. One of those field hospitals had a very special ward doctor. Prof. Dr. Alexander Sauerbruch was 80 years old, but still had an enormous physical strength. Most people thought he was between 55 and 60 years old. He was 2 meters tall and stout. He walked in an energetic way with heavy steps. He was a traumatologist, but didn’t operate any more. Instead, he considered himself still very well capable of acting like a ward doctor. And not without reason: Apart from operating, his knowledge and skills were still phenomenal. He used to be an authority on traumatology, and was still treated with respect by everyone. He had volunteered for working in a field hospital in Solaren, so that a younger doctor did not need to be sent. And he did it for free. He had earned himself a very good pension.
Prof. Sauerbruch was on duty when he heard heavy noises in one of the wards. He went there to find out what was happening. When he entered the ward, he thundered: “What is going on here?”
It appeared that one of the Solaris patients had got out of his bed and was harrassing a nurse and a doctor. With his thundering voice, Sauerbruch ordered the man to calm down.
“What?” he screamed in Italian. “I am Francesco Danetello, Captain in His Holyness’s army, serving my Pope and God. I don’t take orders from an infidel. Especially not if that infidel comes from a country where sodomites marry.”
Sauerbruch walked to Danetello with very heavy steps, and positioned himself in front of Danetello in such a way that he didn’t seem to stand but to tower from Danetello’s point of view. Then he thundered in accentless Italian: “I am Privatdozent Professor Doctor Alexander Reinhold Johann Maximus Sauerbruch, Chefarzt, traumatologist. Even if you would be a general, I am the ward doctor here, so I decide what will happen here. Now you go back to your bed, and stay calm and very decent to everyone here, or I’ll give you a dose of Valium through a central line, and I will apply that central line without anaesthesia! Is that clear?!”
Danetello writhed with fear. He said “Yes, doctor” and went back to bed.
“And it is professor,” Sauerbruch thundered to him, causing Danetello to writhe even further and to whisper “Yes, professor”.
Then Sauerbruch turned on his heels and walked out of the room with his heavy steps. Later on, the doctor harrassed by Danetello would say “Danke, Herr Professor” to him because of his intervention.

Meanwhile, the eastern mountaineous area on the Southeastern peninsula had been surrounded. Traffic to and from that mountaineous area was impossible. Batallions of soldiers specialised in mountain warfare went into the mountains, while other troops fought themselves further to the West. The general responsible for the fights in Southeastern Solaren asked for 20,000 more soldiers above the 50,000 he already commanded, and got them.
Meanwhile, partisans and sabotage started to become a problem, although not a major problem.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Carentania
POW Camp 1

"Welcome once again, Colonel Antonelli."

The Colonels interrogations by Slobodan Rozman continued uninterrupted, but the questions by the Carentanian intelligence officer had insulted the Solaren commander, who did not return the greeting and instead sat on his chair motionlessly.

"Back to base one again? Well, this may interest you."

Instead of his stopwatch, Rozman this time threw a newspaper on the table instead. It was from Torrence, the front page depicting a rather unflattering photograph of Colonel Antonelli. In large bold letters and italian language, the headline proclaimed Antonelli to be the "Arch-traitor of Iscla". His attention caught by his pillory, Colonel Antonelli read further into the text to learn that he was accused of various assorted crimes, the worst of it all being treason and cooperation with the Communists. That and a homosexual relationship with a Carentanian spy, supposedly explaining his deep fall from being a promising rising star of the Solaren army to the greatest traitor in recent history.

"You still think you act in the name of Pope Urban?"

Antonelli clenched his fists, wrestling the paper in his hands and tearing it slightly. He was brandished as a traitor and a sodomite by the state he had vowed to protect from its enemies.

"Don't tell me this is unexpected." Rozman twisted the proverbial knife deeper into Antonellis chest.

The Colonel looked up, his face red with anger. He didn't know quite what to say, but deep down inside him, something stirred. What exactly had he expected when he ordered the surrender? He had to admit, Rozman was right. This propaganda piece shouldn't have been any surprise to him. But even then, it burned. Solaren, the army, the church... that had been his life, his devotion. He had killed in their name, fought for them against heretics, traitors, sodomites, communists and imperialists. Now, with just a single decision that took less than a minute to make, he had, at least in the eyes of Pope Urban, dropped to the same level as those he had fought all those years. What would he do now, that he had lost everything he had? Now that he had abandoned his home?

"Colonel, I think you're one of the most courageous men in all of Solaren."

Antonelli looked at Rozman, bewildered, stunned by this unexpected compliment.

"You took a tough decision, stood up against orders and hierarchy. You revolted against your old life and the order you had grown up in. Incredibly few people are capable of such a feat. There is no reason to be ashamed of that, no reason to regret it. To the contrary, you need to do the best out of this and continue this rebellion."

A rebellion of consciousness, a revolt of the intellect - flattering words to anyone not from Solaren. Colonel Antonelli swallowed hard, knowing that if he was ready to accept this offer, there could be no turning back. Did he really believe his decision had anything to do with the colorful descriptions of Rozman? Not really. But it could be an easy lie, a comfortable mask to wear as the old Solaren crumbled under the weight of the invasion. Maybe there was merit in reaching out towards the Carentanians, at least for now, if only to make it through the day.

"I'm not quite sure I understand you, Mr. Rozman. You want me to embrace the spirit of treason?"

"I want you to betray Pope Urban so you can stay true to your people. Urban wishes to sacrifice your fellow countrymen on an altar to his rule, a bloody offering to the god of autocracy. There is no honor in defending such a man..."

"...but honor in fighting him?" Antonelli raised an eyebrow as he completed Rozmans sentence.

"At least consider it," Rozman asked, leaning back in his chair and stretching his arms out wide in a gesture of generosity. "You can either be Colonel Antonelli, the man who lost everything, including his honor and his name during the battle for Iscla, the man who will be remembered in Solaren as the sodomite who gave his gay lover the island as present. Or you can be Colonel, no, General Antonelli, the face of the Solaren future, the man who stood up to Pope Urban because his conscience dictated him to fight against tyranny. It's your choice." The Carentanian officer put a map of Iscla on the table, reaching Colonel Antonelli a pen. "If you feel that you want a future worth living for, just mark down whatever you know about supply depots, defensive positions and stationed units on the island."

For a second, Colonel Antonelli immediately thought about throwing the pen onto the table and spitting this immoral offer of cooperation with the enemy back into Rozmans face. But then, something else creeped into his mind.

"There are still soldiers on Iscla that have not surrendered?" he asked.

"A bunch. Solaren soldiers that believe your word counts for nothing and disobeyed your orders."

Those words overwhelmed Antonellis concentration. His eyes narrowed and he began drawing crosses on the map.

 

[Lorraine]

Iscla

04:00 hrs
Aboard the La Résolue, Counter Admiral Jacques Derrigan, his staff and field commanders, study the airial and satellite images of the disposition of Solaren and Carentanian troops and find it curious how the Carentanian press is saying that they have secured the island when it is obvious they are far from it. The Carentanians themselves stretched thin, may have tricked the Solaren commander of the island and forced him to surrender, they have not force those under him to do the same as it appears some of his subordinate officers have refused to recognize that surrender and are continuing to resist. This has been varified from the questioning of prisoners taken, and that Col. Antonelli has been declared a traitor to Urban, God and country and he has been ordered be executed on sight. It is also found that those that were under the colonel's command are no longer so and in fact they are now under the command of an Inquisitor by the name of Alfonso Martinelli.

"Gentlemen," begins C.Adm. Derrigan "the Carentanians may have snuck under our radar and grabbed a part of the island, and though they have made our landings easier, they may have also made the actual securing of the island more difficult and costlier. Their attacking with so few men and lucking out and capturing the military commander, may have temporarily put the island defenders in confusion, but because they did not have the boots on the ground to force the surrender of all the subordinate commands also, it allowed an Inquisitor to take command of those remaining troops, and unlike a military commander, who might admit to the futility of the situation, he may get those soldiers to fight to the last man, and may even the civilians as well."

"With this in mind, we must begin breakout operation before the Solarens get organized. With the rest of the 2nd Marine Regiment having landed during the night as well as the company A of the 1st Marine Tank Battalion, it is time to start the planned breakout operations. While the 2nd parachute battalion acts as security, the 3rd Marines battalion, supported by the tanks of 1st Amphibious Tank Battalion, will advance down the east coast road towards Lacco Ameno, while the 2nd battalion will advance along the northwest road through Panza and onto Forio, with the 1st pushing down the inland roads to Sarrara Fontana. The CMI-30 tanks of Co. A will support the north and center battalions with the with two companies of the 3rd Air Assault battalion standing by for deployment while one comapny is withdrawn to the helicopter cruiser Davout for a planned insertion operation. Any questions?"

Colonel Boucher, commander of the 2nd Marine Regiment, stands.

"Sir. What about the Carentanians. As my men will more than likely run into them, eventually, what are your orders in that event?"

Derrigan thinks for a momment on how to respond.

"Colonel, that is a question is one that Metz has not even answered yet, so it will likely depend on the situation, but if contact is made, I am to be informed immediately, but if the Carentanians fire upon your men, they do have permission to defend themselves."

"This operation will begin at 06:00, you are dismissed."

06:00
The breakout operation started on schedule as three columns began the advance across Iscla. Using their LVTs and armed vehicle as well as helicoter gunships, the advance meets light resistance through most of the morning, mostly from snipers and the occasional mortar round. But this did not last as the 2nd Marine Battalion could attest.

While the 1st meets it objective of Serrara Fontana and the 3rd was well on it way to reaching Lacco Ameno, the 2nd battalion runs into stiff resistance at Panza, about the halfway point of the advance. It is at Panza that the Solaren have decided to make a stand and stop the Lorrainian advance on Forio. Though the Solaren's heavy equipment is a few armoured cars, they still possess infantry weapon including mortars and AT weapons as well as mines. The 2nd unable to advance further down and unable to get around the flank of the Solarens, the 2nd was ordered to hold as the 1st Battalion attempts to an attack trying to hit the Solaren right flank.

Though even with air support, the Solarens were able to hold out for the rest of the day and into the night, and only disengaging during the night, abandoning Panza, though it would take most of the next day to clear the mines and booby-traps left behind as little reminders to the Lorrainians.

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[Socialist Commonwealth]

Iscla

Antonellis surrender had been an entirely unexpected, but fortunate event for the Carentanian forces. What would have been a doomed assault on the island was turned into a surprising success as the Solaren commander had relied on intelligence just as flawed as the Carentanians. The Solaren Colonel took a rash decision and the Carentanians profited from his fault as several units on Iscla had followed his orders to surrender, until they became aware of the actual scope of Carentanias assault and more fanatical officers took control of the remaining units in the north of the island, reorganizing what was left into a continued attempt to resist the assault. Led into battle by the most loyal of individuals on Iscla, it was clear that there would be no further surrenders on the island and that the Solaren forces would now fight to the death.

It quickly became clear to the Carentanian strategists that the current deployment to the small island was far from being sufficient for the assault, especially as the presence of Lorraines forces had made this a race for control of this strategic location. Elements of the First Marines Brigade still on Capraria, waiting to be returned to Carentania, were redirected on short notice to reinforce the Revolutionary Army on Iscla. Though these additional troops would not bring the Carentanian deployment on par with the Lorrainese forces, Carentanian High Command had reason to believe that they'd achieve their goals and the Workers' Republic win control over the majority of the island. The continued aerial assaults by Lorraine had destroyed most of Isclas infrastructure and combined with the rugged territory of the island, it would mean that heavy equipment would be hard to deploy and only individua units would face each other in tight spots and larger formations become bottlenecked. Additionally, the information provided by Colonel Antonelli was transmitted to the units on the island, giving them more accurate intel on the situation, the defenses of the enemy and the strength of the remaining Solaren units.

Carentanias First Marines Brigade had fought on Capraria and most of the brigades Guardsmen and -women experienced veterans from the intervention in Jurzan, making the marines, though a new kind of formation for the Revolutionary Army, a battle-hardened and skilled unit. Supported by the Carentanian "fireflies", crossovers between a gunship and a troop transport helicopter, as well as armored personnel carries where the roads were still free, the Carentanian footsoldiers would press on against the Solaren army, forcing it to face only the best of Carentanias soldiers at any time. Mines, traps and bombs would remain a threat to the advance, but where appicable, the Revolutionary Army on Iscla, still under the command of Ivan Slavik, preferred to shell any road suspected of containing mines with light artillery and blow up any building considered trapped.

To ease the pressure on their forces and improve the supply situation on an island whose ports had been thoroughly destroyed prior to the assault, Solaren captives and civilians alike were removed from Iscla and sent to the Carentanian mainland: the soldiers to prisoners camps, the civilians to refugee camps. There was a limit to how much food, medicine, fuel and, of course, bullets could be shipped to Iscla with amphibious vessels and the "Dragonfly" heavy duty transport helicopter that occasionaly started from a supply ship in the bay of Venetia, therefore having those very same supply ships return to Carentania filled with deported civilians and captive soldiers alike was a controversial, but wise choice. Apart from the issue of supply, it would also serve to curb partisan activity on Iscla, as well as provide a favourable position for the plans the Carentanian government had for the islands future.

Iscla had always been a navy and air force base for Solaren, an outpost in the Venetian Bay. Now it could be Carentanias stronghold in the region. Once the Solaren forces were defeated, Carentanian engineers would rebuild several of the military ports across the islands coastline, through which additional troops and material could flow in, allowing for further fortification of an island that was already covered in concrete structures under Solaren rule. There was little thought given to the Lorrainean presence on Iscla, as Carentanias government was sure a diplomatic solution would be struck in the end and had no doubt that Lorraines sudden appearance on the island was no more than an attempt to increase its own say in the future of Solaren by staking a claim on territory held the Carentanians.

But the presence of three different forces on the same island would not go without incident. Commander Slavik had a close eye on all reports from the frontline and was quick to intervene and order his units to stand down when, on the outskirts of Serrara Fontana, an engagement with what were presumed to be Solaren units by the marines on the front, turned out to be Lorraines assault units attempting to take a city that was basically on the forefront of Carentanias own progress. Though the Carentanians had come under fire by Lorraines forces who returned volleys fired at them through the dark, they were ordered to cease and fall back, while the Carentanian command contacted Lorraine to inform them about the situation on the frontline, apologize and ask them to clarify each others positions to avoid future such incidents.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Ustica

Covered by the night, several small boats landed on a tiny strip of beach in a secluded by. Usticas coast was covered by steep cliffs of black rock, a sight even the ancient Tiburans discribed as majestic. However, these very cliffs meant that there were few areas on the island where landing a boat was even possible and as the ports of Ustica were out of question for the infiltration mission the first elements of the 2nd Marines Brigade landing on the island were about to conduct, a few remote beaches had to be chosen from which the men and women of this mission would proceed along dangerous paths up the cliffs and into the thick of Usticas wilderness.

Several small assault teams, from five to twenty soldiers in size, would dispatch across the island from different directions. Their objectives were to be reached without being noticed and included the prison facilities of the island, where those that had wronged the regime of Pope Urban were incarcerated and tortured. Other targets included defensive and anti-air positions of the Solaren army which the Carentanians could not hope to strike effectively with cruise missiles in the beginning of the invasion. If everything went according to plan, at sunrise several large militias of armed former prisoners would overrun Solaren communities and military bases across Ustica, while precision strikes and surgical attacks would take out aerial defenses for the helicopters to drop the bulk of Carentanias assault force.

In the early phases of the war, Ustica had become victim to several airstrikes from Coronado and like all Solaren islands, it was cut off from supplies for a prolonged period now. Two facts which would work in favour of the assaulting party. Despite that, there were several things still that could go wrong and both speed and steath would be crucial for the infiltration teams, as they approached their targets by foot and with barely a few hours at their hands. Ustica was not just an island, a piece of land to be taken for Solaren to be liberated. It was also the many oppositionals and malcontents of the Solaren nation, who, once unchained from their very literal and gruesome shackles, could help shape the future of this country.

As the first units reached prison facilities, the smell of death, of feces and burnt or rotting meat was overwhelming. It was a scenery as if from Dantes inferno, the guard towers sending bright searchlights into the darkness, watching over a fortress of stained concrete and barbed wire soiled in blood. But the troops had to swallow their disgust and horror and for the most parts, they did, realizing that there were people inside those atrocities who needed their help. Snipers, suppression fire from light machine guns, additional entrances carved with military explosived. Handgrenades and short bursts from assault rifles - those were the tools overwhelming the utterly surprised prison guards. If any of them had time to surrender, none of the Carentanians would have noticed. The operations were carried out quickly and with deathly precision.

A particular incident occured at a prison near the northern edge of the island, as Carentanian soldiers burst open the door to a room where an "interrogation" was in session. The Solaren man dropped his tool - an electric drill - to the ground in utter surprise at the sudden visitors. All the fighting, the screams and the alarm above his little torture dungeon had gone by unnoticed by him as he focused his entire attention on the unfortunate soul strapped to a metal chair in the center of the small room. The prisoner looked up, an empty and hopeless expression in his face, covered in tears and blood. Even as his liberation was at hand, he did not regain his spirits, the scars running too deep and the tales the splinters of his teeth scattered across the ground told, too gruesome to imagine.

One of the Carentanians immediately raised his AV-4 assault rifle at the Solaren ward, but was held back by his superior.

"That is his right..." he said darkly, untying the prisoner from the chair and handing him his side-arm.

Two shots rang.

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Operation Bold Fury, at least on paper, had been a success. At least 20 of the cruise missiles had made it through the net of anti-aircraft appliances. Mazara, at least for now, was crippled. The missiles had hit vital refueling complexes and loading docks. Nicosian aircraft successfully hit other facilities, sank 1 destroyer and had damaged another. But it had come at a high price. Nicosia had lost 3 aircraft. While it was a small number to some, Nicosia's air capabilities now were in trouble. While their allies had shipped them some secondhand aircraft, they still weren't operational. Training airline pilots and other civilians took time. Retired military pilots, some 60 years old, had been hauled out of retirement. It would take time. Still, Operation Maestro was still a go.

Ajaccio

General Alexander Messi was now taking formal command of the NDF's air arm. His experiences were more than enough to qualify him, but he still had to prove himself. Messi was a man of transition. His career had started in the mid-1970's when some less well off nations still had prop-driven aircraft in reserve. He had been through a roller coaster career; mainly due to his uncanny ability to be brutally honest. However, he had learned to become more bureaucratic after they had finally stuck him at a desk job. After a few years they sent him to 'the big house', NDF Air Command. The tiny office had about 30 or so staff in peacetime but now it ballooned to near 60. Just as the aircraft returned from striking Mazara, his phone rang at 630am.

"Attention on deck" said one of the pilots as the General entered the briefing room. "Sit, sit" said the General slightly annoyed. The general sat at a small desk facing the pilots. The mood was tense. Bold Fury had taken some of their comrades. The nervousness had left the pilots. Exhaustion and a near emptiness grabbed the pilots. "Ladies and gentlemen. We are about to embark on an even more ambitious mission. Operation Maestro is going to hopefully going to give Urban an even bigger headache" said the General clicking a button to bring up a map of Solaren on the large screen behind him.

He picked up his laser pointer and focused it on La Spina. "La Spina. They divide Solaren" said the General. He refocused his pointer to the Southwest point of Solaren, moving it round the nub of La Spina. "Here runs major supply and rail lines. Solaren's infrastructure has not allowed for major developments over or through La Spina. The roads and rail are poor and those that are developed are not meant for handling large freight. Not to mention, winter is fast approaching. We will effectively be slowing Solaren's troop redeployment to a crawl. We begin by hitting the roads and railways tomorrow" concluded the General. He turned to see that the pilots had surprisingly put on their poker faces. They were ready.

 

[Rheinbund]

Southeastern Solaren

Prof. Sauerbruch was doing the daily round. He visited every patient in his ward to ask how it went and for a short examination. Also Danetello. No matter how mad Sauerbruch had been a week ago, Danetello was still a patient. And Sauerbruch would treat all his patients equally. During the last week, Danetello had got an appendicitis, which had delayed his relocation to a PoW-camp for a week. Danetello also had his arm in a plaster bandage because of a shot through his upper arm, the reason why he had been admitted to this field hospital.
“Tomorrow the stiches will be taken out of your upper arm and your belly,” Sauerbruch said. “Maybe you don’t consider yourself lucky, but be aware of it that you are. Your own surgeons would not have tried to save your arm, simply because they would not have had the equipment to do so.”
“There is one thing I don’t understand. You bomb my country and invade it, in your own country you imprison Solaris Catholics, but here in Solaren you try to save my life. Why?” Danetello asked.
“You are a Christian. You must know the story of the Good Samaritan,” Sauerbruch said.
“Christian? You come from one of the most sinful countries here on earth, even worse than the Carentanians and the Kryobaijanis. Sodomites can even marry with each other in your country. What do you know about Christianity?” Danetello asked sharply.
“More than you think, Captain. I have been raised as a Catholic, and I raised my children as Catholics as well. Tiburan Catholic, but still Catholic. The only thing that happened in Eiffelland is that we rebelled against some of the dogmata. But according to me, and a lot of Eiffellandians, there are enough positive things in Christianity if the dogmata we disagree with are taken away,” Sauerbruch said. “In any case, Tibur may be disputing whether Eiffellandians are still Christians, and your pope may consider us worshippers of the devil, but I know enough about Christianity to understand it and tell about it.”
“I heard that I will be sent to a camp in Eiffelland, and that Solaris Catholicism is forbidden in Eiffelland,” Danetello said.
“That prohibition is not applicable to the camps in Eiffelland. People are also working on getting a Solaris Catholic Priest there. The ban on Solaris Catholicism in Eiffelland has nothing to do with different opinions on religion, but with fear for terrorism,” Sauerbruch said.

It was almost 11 p.m. when Sauerbruch went to his bedroom. He walked his normal loud steps when he heard rumours further up in the passage. He immediately realised what it was: An assault. He stopped walking and listened. Then he found out that it were robbers who came for the medications, to be precise the opiates. He stepped out of his shoes and walked on his toes to the medication room with his shoes in one hand. He entered the medication room and prepared two syringes with Valium. Then he placed himself behind the door, but in such a way that he would not get the door in his face when it would be thrown open.
The noises came closer, and then the door was opened. Then four people came in: A nurse and three men who hadn’t washed themselves for weeks given the smell they produced. The nurse’s clothes had been partly ripped apart. In a split-second, Sauerbruch sticked the needles into the necks of two robbers, exactly into the carotid arteries, and pressed all the contents of the needles out of the syringes. The two men immediately fell to the ground.
Sauerbruch stood behind the two men lying on the floor, still with the syringes in his hand, ready to stick again when needed. The third robber looked at him in a mixture of amazement and anger. “What’s your problem?” Sauerbruch thundered. “You wanted medications so you got medications.” At that moment, the nurse pressed her fingers into the neck of the third robber, exactly on the sinus carotici. The man fell on the floor. Sauerbruch and the nurse taped the hands and feet of the robbers together with long plasters. Then they called the closest‑by army post to have the men collected.

Partisan attacks were a problem in Southeastern Solaren. Patrols, army camps and hospitals were attacked, hospitals especially for the opiates. The attacks on the hospitals became such a problem that each hospital got 20 soldiers to guard it.

Like the Carentanians, the Eiffellandians understood the carrot‑and‑stick tactics very well. The local people were approached in a relaxed way. Soldiers learned the young children to play football (or play it better) and, like the Carentanians did it, invited the teenagers and the people in their twenties to their parties. Schools were built and filled with teachers that had cut their ties with the regime in Torrence.

The armed forces were extremely busy with capturing the eastern mountaineous area in Southeastern Solaren. That was not easy, but more and more the Eiffellandians were successful. The batallions specialised in mountain warfare made progress. Bombings were carried out by attack helicopters and the fighters stationed in Southeastern Solaren.
Meanwhile, the fighters had got a different assignment as well: They had to prevent that the western mountaineous area would be stuffed with soldiers and ammunition. Futhermore, they had to bomb army targets as well, as far as still present. To help them, scouts were sent to the west to explore the terrain there. More and more, the Eiffellandians knew what to expect when going west.


Trier, Eiffelland

The Carentanian ambassador was invited by the Eiffellandian Minister for Foreign Affairs. During that visit, Minister Kögler asked the ambassador if Carentania could send some priests of the Solaris Catholic Church to the Eiffellandian PoW camps. He didn’t say it to the Carentanian ambassador, but he had earlier joked to the Chancellor that in this way the Carentanians could compensate for the accidental attacks on EDF‑forces.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Capraria

Slowly, progress was made throughout the island. Infrastructure turned functional again through the efforts of Carentanian engineers and local workers, the supply situation of the soldiers on Capraria improved as the port in Panetelleria was now fully cleared of debris and the majority of cranes were back to working condition, and more and more Solaren citizens settled into the new order of things, accepting that the rule of Pope Urban was, at least for them, gone. Education and propaganda campaigns fused as Carentanian teachers taught the local population not only to read and write, but also concepts deemed dangerous by the Solaren church: family planning and protection from STD's through contraceptives, the theory of evolution, philosophy that called the christian faith into question without explicitly stating so, leaving the Solaren citizen to do the math. Life on the island was reorganized by the interim governour of Capraria, as farms were reorganized into cooperatives that shared equipment and machinery brought by the Carentanians, factories were official expropriated from their previous owners and turned over to committees, Solaren police forces finally disbanded after they had already lacked any kind of authority in the days since the Carentanian invasion. Rationing cards issued to the Caprarian population would ensure a just distribution of scarce goods on the island and replace monetary economics, which had been banned. Those Caprarians that hadn't already chosen to fight against the Workers' Republic the moment the first red trooper stepped on the island, seemed to lay low and just accept whatever was thrown their way. Perhaps, it had been the best way to survive in an environment like Pope Urbans Solaren.

The size of Carentanian air bases on Capraria increased geometrically with each day that passed. Now that Capraria was, at least for the largest part, secured and the logistical issues dealt with, Capraria could become the forward base of the RDTO. From this island, missions towards mainland Solaren would be started, beginning with numerous reconaissance missions that would map out Solarens southern coastline, troop positions, defenses, geography, settlements and anything else that could be of use to the anticipated Carentanian landing on the mainland. Once Ustica had been taken, Solarens southern coast would need to be targeted to get a foot on the ground and have a real say in Solarens future. Just to be safe, Carentanian aircraft would also take pictures of Eiffellands advances on south-eastern Solaren, in case the competition for influence in post-war Solaren would turn sour or in case the EDF, driven by megalomania and a complete ignorance towards their actual strategical situation, would decide to take any aggressive measures to prevent communist expansion into central Europe. Eiffelland would be informed of the Carentanian planes passing over their territory to avoid any further incidents, but they would only be told about them operating against Solaren, not of the expanded reconnaissance missions in south-eastern Solaren.

Mazara would become one of the main targets for Carentanian intelligence, as this was the designated main port to be used as a bridgehead for Carentanian troops. Few outside the Carentanian High Command knew of this and while the preparations for an assault on mainland Solaren could not be hidden and were too much of a logical consequence to not be expected by the enemy, the exact location could be anywhere and Carentanias Revolutionary Army would do anything in their power not to reveal Mazara as location for the assault to Solaren. Entire intelligence missions were directed to other areas, just to hide the concentration on Mazara from Solaren. Additionally, agents of Carentanians Revolutionary Army Intelligence would spread false rumours and desinformation amongst the Solaren military. Solarens southern shores were vast and additionally, the option of a Carentanian landing using Iscla as a base could not be ruled out by Solaren. As Carentania began placing itself into position for this final landing, securing Iscla and Ustica, expanding its operational base on Capraria and preparing forces at the Paki military base, Solaren would remain entirely unaware.

Carentania
Paki Military Base

There had been little activity outside of excercises, language courses and training for the majority of forces at the Paki Military Base. A number of brigades had seen combat action, some were already deployed to Solaren, but most had been held in the background, awaiting the final assault on Solaren. This date was now rapidly approaching and Carentanias Commissariate for Defence took additional measures to ensure combat readiness for the troops. Medical exams would sort out those man that had become sick or injured, and they would also try to scan the brigades that had seen combat action already for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. For those who did, Solaren would become a country they would not need to see that soon, as replacements from other army groups further south would be sent and the men and women relieved from their position would receive psychological treatment and assistence in settling into their daily lifes again. Seeing as how bloody the battles were anticipated to be, those who were replaced were seen as being lucky by some.

Carentanias Sixth Mechanized Brigade was already leaving the Paki Military Base, headed for Ustica where it would aid the Second Marines in rooting out an enemy already confused by a people's militia made up of liberated prisoners, led by Carentanian special forces and armed with looted Solaren weapons. To once and for all break the resistance on Ustica, following the Sixth Mechanized would be the Second Armored Brigade, held back in Paki for a few additional days until the logistical capacities to deploy the tanks and their crews would be available. Not unlike Capraria, thise combat deployment was intended to last for only as long as necessary against organized resistance by regular Solaren forces had been overcome, after which the offensive deployment would be replaced by an infantry brigade, which would remain on Ustica for occupation and pacification duties. Behind the scenes, an interim gouvernor, not unlike the one on Capraria, was being prepared. There was little doubt that the island with its famous black cliffs would fall within the next days, but the humanitarian situation on the island was expected to be more severe due to its status as a prison island and the dire state of Solarens prisons. Alongside the military deployments, humanitarian aid was prepared in Paki as well, supplementing and finally replacing the aid packages handed out by soldiers on the front line as soon as possible.

Starting from Paki Military Base was, finally, also a number of planes loaded with leaflets. The propaganda, including claims that Pope Urban was an usurper, pictures that are supposed to represent wealth and well-being alongside the claim that "this could be your future", as well as a dozen of others, would be dropped on mainland Solaren. One explained to the people of Solaren that, in difference to a number of EDF-countries, Carentania was not banning the Solaren church, upholding their freedom to chose for their own - but "expecting the same respect from everyone else", as it noted. Another seditious idea that would be spread within Solaren was portrayed by an image of Colonel Antonelli, together with the slogan "I defected - for the future of Solaren. What about you?" The Colonel had never been asked for permission, something the Carentanians, however, intended to do once the damage to the Solaren moral had been dealt.

Trier, Eiffelland

Confused by the Eiffelländer request, the Carentanian ambassador decided to put the decision as far away from himself as possible.

"I'll let you know that Carentania is no country that can order around its citizens as much as it wishes. The Solaren priests are no employees of the Carentanian Commissariates, not even of any Workers Organization. They perform their religous role, at least as far as I am aware, entirely voluntary and for their religious community. If Eiffelland wishes to employ the service of Solaren Clerics of Carentanian citizenship, because its authorities have rashly banned the entire faith out of fear, it will have to approach these men themselves. However, I am, of course, capable of providing a list of possible contacts, if given some time. Solaren priests which Eiffelland could ask for their service."

The ambassador, of course, did not mention this to the Minister, but it was unlikely the results would be favourable. If Eiffelland really managed to convince some of the rather scarce Solaren priests in Carentania to provide for their prisoners religious needs, it would be likely that they'd use this position to agitate against possibly not only Eiffelland, but the entire EDF or even all invasion forces, including Carentania.

 

[Khemia]

As part of Sun Jindiao's plan, Yujin merchants were contracted to take advantage of a simple fact: the Yujin democracy was incapable of making any decision with the ZGD continuously blocking legislation from the center-left coalition. Shipments of rice, paid for by the ZGD under an assortment of names and banks, were put aboard boats under the Yujin flag and set off to Solaren. Ostensibly the mission was designed to profit from the enormous demand for grains and foodstuffs in Solaren proper, where food rations and supplies had begun to be stockpiled, rationed, and withheld to support the war effort. In truth, Sun Jindiao was hoping to supply Solaren with the supplies necessary to wage a protracted war against the EDF.

In total, twelve merchant vessels set out from Lianzhou carrying a total of over three million tons of rice would be able to supply the entirety of the Solaren military with food for several months, generating enough profit to allow the flow of food to become steady. Sun Jindiao knew that the EDF would be offended by a neutral party bringing in supplies to Solaren. In fact, he was counting on that.

 

[Rheinbund]

Trier, Eiffelland

“Of course I am aware that the Carentanian government can boss its citizens around only to a certain extent. That is the same in this country. Both our countries are constitutional states, My request was indeed about a list of people we could ask for this, so if you could, yes please, Ambassador,” Minister Kögler said. He didn’t like the remark by the ambassador about rashly banning the Solaris faith, but he did his best to hide that.

Later that day, Kögler and Chancellor Von Seydewitz discussed the matter once more.
“In any case, the Carentanians are an ally of the occasion we have to be careful with. That is clear. They are not in this game to help us out, but to increase their own influence,” Kögler said.
“You are right about that. You knew that they are setting up Capraria according to their own system? Farms and factories are currently expropriated throughout the island,” Von Seydewitz said.
“How nice. If they want to fight exploitation, fine, but why taking someone’s small shop away?” Kögler asked.
“We could use this in our advance,” Von Seydewitz said. “We can start a propaganda campaign stating that every farmer will keep his farm and every shop‑owner will keep his shop in the plans of the EDF. The Carentanians are already spreading anti‑EDF propaganda anyway. They are referring to our ban on the Solaris faith.”
“That was a good decision at that moment, but maybe we could lift it now as a sign of goodwill,” Kögler said.
“Let’s conditionally lift it. The faith will be allowed but the followers monitored,” Von Seydewitz said.
“That may be the best approach indeed. And let’s do that with those flyers as well, that farmers will keep their farms and shop‑owners will keep their shops. Plus answer the Carentanian flyer about wealth with a flyer stating ‘We reach out our hands to help you with letting your country thrive again’. Or something like that,” Kögler said.


Southeastern Solaren

Despite the attacks by partisans, it was possible to do some rebuilding efforts in Eiffelland‑controlled Southeastern Solaren. And that was what happened. Materials were transported to Solaren to rebuild roads and buildings. More and more, the Eiffellandians managed to gain the confidence of the Solaris people.
Unlike on Capraria, farms were not collectivised. Farmers remained the owners of their lands, although they were stimulated to form cooperative societies with fellow farmers. These societies would own dairy factories, grain processing factories and the more expensive agricultural equipment.
Eiffellandian companies started to work together with local companies in Southeastern Solaren.

Meanwhile, the army had reached the outskirts of Tegeata. The air force still bombed military targets to prevent the Solaris army from reorganising. The advances in the eastern mountaineous area were steady.

A practical joke was sent to the Carentanians. It was clear that they were flying reconnaissance missions also above Eiffelland‑controlled areas, so from time to time it was made sure that the pictures taken by the Carentanians sometimes contained the words “Greetings from the Eiffellandian armed forces to the Carentanian intelligence services”. In the language spoken mostly in Carentania of course.

 

[Rheinbund]

Southeastern Solaren

An old small truck stopped in front of a field hospital. The driver jumped out and rushed to the guard.
“Help, let me in,” he screamed. “I have 5 wounded children in the back of the truck!”
The guard walked to the back of the truck to look into the hopper barge. He saw 5 heavily bleeding children, and he was wondering whether they still had all their limbs. He took into account that it could be a trap, but he didn’t have the feeling that it was. Urban was capable to a lot, but he doubted whether he would slaughter a group of children this way to get a terrorist inside. Or better said, Urban’s followers. He let the truck pass.

“What exactly happened?” one of the nurses asked while the children were operated.
“We heard an explosion on the road, and we ran out of the village to see what happened. Then we found the children. They wanted to go to into the forest to look for leafs for the biology class,” the man said. “How bad is it?”
“The children are being operated. We can’t say anything yet,” the nurse said. “But they probably walked on a mine. We have to inform the army about this. Where do you live?”
The man told her. Then the nurse went to the front desk to warn the army.

It was a small village of farmers near the mountains where the man and the children come from. It could only be reached over a track. Four army vehicles drove over the track to the village. They stopped on the central square of the village.
Everything seemed quiet. At the village square, some shops, the church and a pub could be found. The lieutenant in charge walked to the pub and entered it, flanked by some soldiers.
“Good afternoon,” he said in Italian with a German accent. “I heard that a group of children from your village had stepped on a mine. We are here to investigate the case and to look for more mines so that we can dig them out. Can anyone of you lead us to the place where it happened?”

The priest was standing in the entrance to the church. He looked at the soldiers with a gaze of hatred. When he noticed that one of the soldiers was looking at him, he walked back into the church, to a sender.

At that moment, the lieutenant and the soldiers came out of the pub, with a man who was willing to lead the soldiers to the place where it happened. All soldiers climbed into their vehicles. At that moment, the soldier handling the radioscanner started to speak.
“Herr Leutnant, we have a problem,” he said. “I just picked up a a signal. Somebody from the village notified somebody else that we were there.”
“OK, gentlemen. Prepare yourself for an attack. I’ll notify headquarters to send aerial reinforcements. Meanwhile, we proceed as planned. Wenskat, send the signal you picked up to headquarters.”

At the place where the explosion injuring the children had taken place, the military vehicles stopped. All the soldiers stepped out and went down on the ground. One of the military engineers inspected the place.
“This was not a mine, Herr Leutnant. This was a small mortar grenade.”
“Then why are there still survivors?”
“We never asked about deceased children, did we?”
At that moment, an anti‑tank grenade hit one of the vehicles. Immediately the soldiers started to fire into the direction where the grenade had come from.
“Wenskat, send an emergency signal,” the lieutenant shouted.

The lieutenant lost his life, together with 10 of his men. All vehicles had been destroyed. One of the partisans survived. When the Feldwebel wanted to interrogate him, he said “Bastardo sodomito eiffellandese”. Then the partisan spitted him in the face, said “Per Il Dio e per il Papa Urbano” and died.

The reinforcements arrived, to notice that a group of partisans was about to set the village on fire, while the inhabitants were still there. It was a heavy fight, but the partisans were defeated. Some of them were captured. He was interrogated by the lieutenant in charge of the reinforcements.
“You have been notified. By whom?” he asked to the partisans.
“Go to hell, sodomite,” one of the partisans said.
“Oh, you don’t want to talk? We have the recordings here. Let’s play them. The villagers will certainly recognise the culprit,” the lieutenant said.

And indeed, the culprit was recognised.

“It is the priest,” the villagers who had heard the recordings said.

The lieutenant immediately sent out a message to hold up the priest. But he couldn’t be found. He had left the village before the partisans attacked it.

“Let’s take those partisans with us. We’ll get them talking soon,” the lieutenant said. And all soldiers left.

Meanwhile, the battle for Tegeata was going on. The Eiffellandians had managed to conquer the outer quarters. But they had to do it block by block, and that took time.

Meanwhile, the air force patrolled the areas west of Tegeata and bombed each and every entity that looked military.

The battle for the eastern mountaineous area was a success. The area had almost completely been conquered.


Eiffelland

An attack on Eiffelland was still taken into account. Therefore, the skies above Eiffelland were still patrolled, and the FT‑2 with its surrounding fleet was still patrolling the seas south of Eiffelland and Danzig.

 

[Khemia]

129 miles East-South-East off of Solaren
Approaching Combat Zone
Destination: TESTONO

The first of the dry bulk cargo ships, the Lìrùn, marks the approach of the convoy of food supplies to be sold in Solaren. The demand for rice had sky rocketed shortly after the war had started, despite a surplus of food stuffs, most of those foods were imported consumer products, and there was not enough surplus grain stockpile to sustain the nation throughout the war. Though rations weren't necessary to be restricted, there would no doubt be a requirement for the Solaren government to begin reducing the food distributed to the civilian population as military requirement grew. Even more, male farmers throughout the country would no doubt be required to serve their nation, and infrastructure would be targeted, preventing the timely flow of those goods to the markets.

The grain was, at face value, a humanitarian project funded by political factions in Yujin to gain popularity by presenting an international face to a country which had, until now, been isolated. This was Yujin's first steps into the international stage, and the nationalist ZGD was hopeful that their plan would pay off. Two billion tons of rice would be more than capable of sustaining the Solaren food stockpiles for more than a year.

The Lìrùn held within it eighty thousand tons of rice, and was a fairly sizeable vessel crewed by two dozen men, plus a compliment of low-ranking diplomatic personnel who would be able to smooth over the red tape once they docked, permitting the rest of the convoy entrance. The trick, however, would be getting through the combat zone unhindered. They were under strict orders: do not stop. They were civilian ships carrying foodstuffs, but whether the EDF and RDTO valued those grains of rice as much of bullets was a question the ZGD funders asked themselves.

 

[Lorraine]

Western Solaren

Bargia

The city of Bargia was not a push over, after capturing the airport west of the city, two combat brigades of the 4th Mechanized Division attacked the city itself from the west while the third brigade swung around the north of the city to opened the highway for the rest of the Corps to bypass the city and push beyond to continue it southward advance. Though it will take 24 hrs and three hundred casualties for enough of the city is secured for the V Corps to continue its advance southward, it will take the 4th Division with support from the 3rd, another week and hundreds more casualties for Bargia to be determined secure.

Iles of Gemelli

While the 4th Div. assaulted the city, the 705th Special Assault Regiment and the 15th Aviation Group, after a massive airial bombardment, attacked the Iles of Gemelli. These island that lay outside the Harbour of Bargia not only protect the harbour, but also control what passes in and out of it. Though the 705th and the 15th Aviation Group woll be able to take the islands, it will not without casualties, the regiment losing a hundred and fifty men and 15th AG loosing six helicopters before the garrisons surrenders.

Advance Beyond Bargia

Once a path is open through Bargia, it will be a straight advance south for the 1st Armour Brigade followed by the Guards Division and the 6th Mechanized Division. Ahead of them will be the area that was heavily attacked by the Coronadan Air Force, and though there is no love loss between Lorrainians and Coronadans, Gen. Pierre Beauregard of the V Corps did compliment them on a their thoroughness of destruction of the Solaren infrastructure west of the Spine. So thorough in fact that is estimated it will take an extra two days for the lead elements of the 1st Armour Brigade to even reach the Southwestern tip of Solaren where it is hoped they will be able to link up with the Eiffellanders.


Iscla

Aboard the La Résolue

The field reports received by Counter Admiral Derrigan were a mix of good and bad news, though two of the columns had reached their objective, those two are unable to advance further without exasperating the situation with the Carentanians and the third column had encountered heavy resistance half way to its objective. What had at first been an operation that was to take a few days to occomplish now looks like will take longer and cost more than was expected. Worse yet, the post-war political situation on the island may be something the government back in Metz had counted on.

Lacco Ameno

3rd Battalion had reached Lacco Ameno with relatively few casualties. Though there were several skermishes, the Solaerens along the eastern coastal road seemed to be more interested in slowing the advance than they were of stopping it. The firefights were for the most part short in duration and designed to force the lead elements to deploy, but before additional troops could be brought up or air support called in, the Solarens would withdrawal just to do the same thing further down the road. Though this tactic did do what it meant to do, slow the advance, it did not stop it and Lacco Ameno was reach at midday, just after the last Solaren soldier was evacuated.

While Lacco Ameno was abandoned by the the Solaren garrison, they still left behind little surprises to welcome the Lorrainans, little surprises that went boom if one wasn't careful. This meant that for the rest of the day and into the night, engineers and bomb disposal unit were busy clearing the town and that, even though abandoned, it wasn't until the next morning could the town be considered secured.

The clearing of Lacco Ameno did not prevent elements of the 3rd to skirt the town to advance further down the coast highway, what did was advanced element of the Carentanian contingent on the island. It was just beyond the the town where a recon platoon first came upon Carentanian troops. Though there was an exchange, it was one of words rather one of gunfire as the Carentanian informed the Lorrainians that beyond that point was territory liberated by the Revolutionary Army and that the 3rd Battalion was to advance no further. It was this instance that may have set the stage for future of Ascla as a Eiffellander general named Karlheinz Modersohn gave the order to halt the advance of the 3rd.


Sarrara Fontana

Like 3rd Battalion, 1st Battalion achieved its objective, but the similarity ends there. Unlike Lacco Ameno which had been abandoned, the Solarens fought hard to hold Sarrara Fontana. Though the reason was thought to be obvious it turned out that, after questioning a few of the prisoners taken during the assault, that it is likely the Solarens would have also abandoned the town, or at least not fought as hard for it if the 1st Battalion had attacked an hour later. 1st Battalion had a more difficult time achieving its objectives as the Solaren resistance was stiffer than was against the 3rd, this was because the it was through Sarrara Fontana that those troops withdrawing from Lacco Amemo were passing though to reach the main body in Fario. Taking advantage of the rough terrain, the Solaren troops were able to slow the 1st Battalion's advance to a crawl as it took the full day and into the night before the Lorrainian troops were able to to take the town, but not before the Solaren commander was able to get all those from the coast through as well as extract his own command, this by using a quirk of fate and using the Carentanian advancing from the other side as to his advantage.

Firing on the Carentanians just as the Lorrainians entered the town, the Solarens were able to provoke the Carentanians to returning fire, which in turn, instead of hitting Solaren positions hit the advancing 1st Battalion, who responded with their own return fire. So while the Lorrainians and Carentanians were shooting at each thinking they were engaged with the Solarens, the Solaren were able to slip away into the night towards Panza and Fario. The exchange of fire between the 1st Battalion and the Carentanians did not last long as the Carentanians withdrew and an order to cease fire was given when it was learned it was not Solarens that the 1st was firing at and were in fact Carentanians, but it did allow the the Solarens to extract most of their troops from the east part of the island and to the defences around Fario.


Panza

The Solarens held the 2nd Battalion throughout the day and into the night. Panza was suppose to be taken by midday, but instead the marines had gained only a foothold on the edge of the town by early evening. Though the Lorrainians had air support, both from fighters and helicopters, the attempt to hold civilian casualties down had made it much more difficult to weed the Solarens out, but eventually Panza became untenable, espectially when Sarrara Fontana fell and left the Solaren right flank open, but then again Panza was not suppose to hold out indefinitely as it was, like Lacco Ameno and Sarrara Fontana meant to only slow the Lorrainians down, it was the defenses around Fario that was where they were to hold the Lorrainians, and if necessary, the Carentanians until His Holiness sends promised reinforcements from the mainland to destroys the invaders. It was the belief in Urban IV and his promise of ultimate victory is why, though leaving the town mined and sporting other surprise, Panza was abandoned in the early morning, as the Solarens fell back to the much stronger defences around Fario.

It would take a full day to clear the town before the final assault could be mounted, the assault on Fario.

Fario

What was left of the Solaren army on Ascla was able to slow the Lorrainians and Carentanians, even with the surrender of their commander and a third of the island's garrison, there were still nearly three thousand now dug in around Fario. Though nearly half were support and logistics troops, they were still Solaren soldiers and such were expected to fight until His Holiness said otherwise. Weary and low on all supplies, soldiers, clerks, mechanics, even civilians take up positions within what whould be called the Fario Pocket, holding the last stronghold on Ascla. Though most of the soldiers as well as many of the civilians holding the line in Fario saw this as a Holy War, while under constant air and artillery attack they were now finding it hard to keep the faith in a man that brought this war upon them. When knowing the sound of aircraft only reminded those in and around Fario that there was no friendlies in the air above them strained the nerves of even the hardest of veterans and to many the faith in their cause may no longer be enough carry them through.

With the Lorrainians reinforced from the 17th Infantry Regiment and the rest of the 1st Tank Battalion, the Battle of Fario bagan at 04:00 hrs with an artillery and air bombardment and would take the next two days at a cost to Lorraine of an additional three hunded and twelve dead and wounded. Sixty-two of those from the 3rd battalion of the 2nd Air Assault Regiment, when in a classic air assault operation, took and held the southern part of the town where the coast road entered, putting pressure there as the assault columns out of Panza and Sarrara Fontana are able eventually break the line and, after bloody street fighting, where over a hundred non-combatant also became casualties from both Lorrainian and Solaren bullets, finally took all but the Castello Aragonese.

Of the three thousand defenders, less than a thousand eventually surrendered, many wounded and all out of ammunition, only the most fanatical held out at Castello Aragonese, a castle, first built in the 5th century BC on a volcanic rock connected to the coast by nothing more than a stone bridge, and which walls had for centuries defended the inhabitants of Fario and the harbor from the raids of pirates, now holds the remnants of Urban's rule of the island. Inquisitor Alfonso Martinelli and his staff as well as some senior officers and the a hundred of the most fanatic of the ranks and civilians, locked themselves inside the old fortress, where, unable to leave and unwilling to surrender, Counter Admiral Jacques Derrigan was more than willing to let them sit and rot, and maybe allow them to surrender when their food and water runs out.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Ustica

As mechanized and armored units of the Revolutionary Army landed in several ports of the island, the situation unfolding in front of them was confusing and chaotic. Throughout the island, fighting had broke loose and isolated units of the Solaren army held their positions against Carentanian commandos leading a rag-tag militia of former prisoners into battle, while the main-force of the Solaren army roamed across the island in the desperate attempt to pin down the invaders and force it into battle. Reliable information about enemy - or even allied - positions was hard to come by and the situation on the island changed so quickly, that it was doubtful that anyone on the island even knew what exactly was going on. Towns captured minutes ago could be abandoned or even retaken by the enemy already, while civilians fleeing from the fierce battles made things even worse.

The Carentanian reinforcements arriving on the island thus decided for a broad offensive along a well defined front, sweeping the entire island clean across its whole length. Supported by helicopters, the tanks would pin down enemy vehicles and take apart fortified positions, while the mechanized infantry would swarm across the countryside, clear buildings and set up positions until the actual occupational force arrived on Ustica. With the use of heavy equipment, the Solaren army would be overwhelmed quickly wherever encountered, while the superiority in numbers and the confusing situation across the island would do the rest. In many areas, Solaren forces would be bottled up as they were already fighting smaller detachments of marines or militia forces. In other battles, considerable strength had to be diverted by the Solaren commanders to protect against possible flanking manouvers by Carentanian commandos in their back.

But the confusion across Ustica and the quick advance by the Carentanian main force would take its toll on the civilians and even Carentanian marines. On numerous occasions, friend could not be distinguished from foe and the tanks of the Revolutionary Army could not always take the time necessary to figure out whether the target in front of them was a Solaren soldier, a civilian, a prisoners militia or a Carentanian commando. No one would ever count the number of humans dying due to mistakes and confusion on behalf of Carentanian soldiers, but it was surely more than on any other battlefield of this war.

In addition to those dying from friendly fire came the casualties of the militia. Bad physical health, lack of training or military experience, organization cobbled together within mere minutes, no supplies and the psychological trauma of imprisonment in Solaren still in their minds - the disadvantages to the prisoners militia were endless and wherever they encountered the Solaren forces, they had to pay dearly. Losses were shockingly large and only where Carentanian commandos took clear and decivise leadership could victories be achieved over the Solaren army. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, left their lives on Ustica only hours after achieving their freedom from Solaren incarceration. Once news of the fate of the militia would reach Rijeka, heated debates would lead to a decision that disallowed further employment of oppositional militias in this war.

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

La Spina

The men trekking through the mountains had only the most basic knowledge of the feat being pulled off at Solaren's southern point. Nicosian and coalition aircraft had begun Operation Maestro, aimed at forcing Solaris forces to use the poorly cared for mountain roads and the even more poorly maintained mountain bridges. Aircraft pounded the roads with anti runway bombs and hit the railroad junctions with JDAM ordinance. The occasional cruise missile was being fired but Nicosia's stock of cruise missiles was not very large. The air forces could only keep the attacks up so long before fatigue set in and Solaris forces could redeploy its already stretched anti air capabilities.

The Royal Operations Company had been formed in the mid 1950's and had been trained both domestically and overseas. It was comprised mainly of paratroopers but had other elements as well. It had been in the mountains for just over a week and was slowly heading south, primarily using old logging roads. The company was further slowed by rains which they knew would soon be snow. Soon they would reach their target: Bridge 12.

St. Basil

Sergeant Natsuka was one of only 2 police officers on duty that night in the Bartholomew Islands. Another was technically 'on call' but by 11 o'clock at night, he was probably asleep. Soon the bars would be closing and the multitude of university students would be hitting the few streets of St. Basil. Sergeant Natsuka had immigrated to the Bartholomews about 20 years ago and enjoyed his quiet gardening and the peace of the islands. His job with the Territorial Police was only a hobby for Natsuka. He viewed his life as revolving around the peace of gardening. As far as Natsuka knew, Officer Nazarro was at the Royal Clinic. If he needed anything he would certainly radio. Natsuka checked his watch before going back to his paper. The only bar on the islands was only about a block away and he decided to finish it before seeing that everyone left the bar quietly. The 150 students of the islands came from all over the world and of course, acted as students. Something made Natsuka look up. What had those noises been? It slowly dawned on Natsuka that it had been what he thought. The Sergeant had just picked up his radio when the door suddenly burst open and Natsuka slowly put his hands up.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Capraria

"Gouvernor, the Carentanians request additional locations for airfields."

The assistant of Caprarias interim gouvernor handed Silvio Guiliani a set of documents with an official seal of the Workers' Republic and the Revolutionary Army. There was not much the gouvernor could do except rubberstamping them and approving the request for additional military bases. Carentania tried its best to create the impression of sovereignity for Solaren, but when it came to the war effort, the official administrative process was a charade and a mere formality. Denying the Carentanians what they deemed necessary to liberate Solaren could easily lead to being brandished as a reactionary and supporter of Pope Urban.

"Here, tell them we welcome the presence of their pilots on Capraria."

Within the next days, the Revolutionary Army would increase the presence of its aerial forces on Capraria to three air divisions. The island was by now already the most important base for aerial operations by Carentania and the additional planes would allow for complete control of the airspace over Solaren and the Long Sea alike. Truth be told, Carentania was partly afraid that tensions with the EDF could escalate and wanted to be prepared in case of such an event. That was also the reason that reconaissance missions around Capraria increased in intensity and an AEW plane was permanently monitoring the movement of Eiffellands and Solarens forces alike.

"What's next on the agenda?" Gouvernor Guiliani asked, bored. Dark shadows under his eye indicated the amount of time he had recently spent to work overhours and without sleeping enough, just to settle things on the island and get Capraria moving again.

"I've got the necessary documents for the radio station you wanted."

For the first time in days, the mood of the gouvernor lightened up visibly. He had drawn his plans for a radio station in Panetelleria that could reach cities as far as Torrence ever since he took his position as interim gouvernor of Capraria. But it was only now that the necessary equipment, personnel and energy was available, most of it generously given by the Carentanians who knew of the propagandistic value of such a station. Broadcasting in Solaren Italian the radio would not just send news of the coalition victories deep into mainland Solaren, nor would it merely consist of programmes praising the values of democracy and socialism. Across the ether, an entire culture that had been shunned by the Solaren regime would reach the hearts and minds of the Solaren people. Music would become the vehicle of the Solaren enlightment.

"What are you waiting for, get the station set up as soon as possible." The gouvernor rushed his assistant out of his office after quickly signing the necessary orders. He then granted himself a small break, skipping over the schedule of the first day.

Amongst several blocks of music and a news format, there was one particular programme that Guiliani believed would prove invaluable to the progress of the reformation of Solaren state and society. It was a discussion of the agricultural collectivation programmes on Capraria. The programme would directly reference EDF propaganda and analyze the production levels of Solarens agricultural sector. In conclusion, the ability of Solarens smallscale farmers to compete with industrialized EDF agricorporations would be taken into doubt and collectivation be presented as the only viable option to protect the wellbeing of Solarens rural population. In contrast to Carentanias socialist ideals, the EDF, that much was sure, was willingly leaving the Solaren farmers in their poverty in order to let them fail against competition from their own countries.