Summer of Reckoning || The War in Gallia

[Serenierre]

OPERATION ZEPHYR
Southern Gallia​

The order from Premier Martinique had been signed. Coordination with the Rurikgard Pact had been finalised. Zero Hour had arrived. At the appointed hour, to kick-start Operation: Zephyr, the following would occur in sequential stages in the commencement of hostilities:

Phase One: The Strategic Overview
Along four selected zones in Occidentia deemed to be of strategic value, 250 cruise missiles would be fired at key military targets, focusing on military targets and civilian infrastructure, the goal being to incapacitate the ability of the Occidentian land forces to be supplied and to be organised. Targets would include the cities of Hospidiz, Marsilia, and Viasinde, key roads and railway lines over the Aceni and Galaos River, air defense systems, military bases, ammunition dumps, fuel depots, organisational headquarters of the Occidentian military, airports & airfields, and power plants supplying the northern cities. Around 60 anti-radiation cruise missiles would then in quick succession be launched targeting the more mobile elements of the Occitanian air defence infrastructure and other such radar facilities, all along the northern half of the country.

Phase Two: The Aerial Strike
Soon after, as the last of the missiles would complete their operations, a massive air raid would commence involving the southern air command, which would see 48 MiG-29, 30 Su-27, and 60 MiG-21 fighters, 10 Su-24 fast attack aircraft, and 5 Tu-22 strategic bombers take to the skies of the enemy in a bid to clear the skies and strike the remaining traces of the enemy’s defensive infrastructure scattered through the northern and central regions. The Southern Air Command had been ordered to keep the skies clear and to ensure that superiority was established.

Phase Three: The Ground Offensive
The forward units of the IV Corps, a unit within the southern command of the Serenien Military, totaling 65,000 personnel in all, would see the elite component of the 3 Mechanised Infantry brigades with their contingent of T-90 tanks and BTR 80 armored fighting vehicles, and various variants therof, strike at the forward positions in weak points along the frontline. They would be supported by the remainder of the IV Corps, some 45 to 50 thousand personnel and 14,000 personnel from the Revolutionary Guards – the armed wing of the Communist Party – spread over seven regiments, they would be charged with the specialised commando operations that were best suited for firebrand ideologues, who had the high training to get the job done. They were, in the words of one Defence Commissar, “tough sons of bitches”. The Ground offensive would be further supported by close air support aircraft such as 20 Su-25 and 35 Kh-5o and 45 Mil-Mi-24 attack helicopters

The initial goal appointed to the ground offensive was to break through enemy lines and advance towards Hospidiz and the Aceni River.

Phase Four: The Aerial Infantry
As the ground offensive was ongoing and had met certain targets, members of the elite 333 Aerial Infantry brigade would be air dropped behind enemy lines to take down the enemy’s infrastructure and to launch rear attacks and to further weaken the enemy and ensure critical breakthroughs. They would be supported by 12 attack helicopters of various types attached to the brigade.

The Home Front & The Retalian Sea
The air defence systems and anti-ballistic missile defense systems were on full wartime footing. The entire air force in fact was, keeping a check on the skies for whatever came their way. The Reserve Corps had called up 15,000 personnel to the Peninsular coastline to man the anti-amphibious assault infrastructure. The Navy, too, had sent out 12 of its submarines to the Retalian Sea and 16 fast attack and missile boats were on war footing, ready to launch fast attacks on enemy vessels approaching in the distance. Although neither Retalia nor Serenierre could effectively mount an amphibious invasion of the other, as both countries were well defended on that front, it was believed by conventional military theory, but the threat from missiles and aircraft was greater here. But it was believed that the real war would be fought in Occitania, where the ground offensive was expected to include Occitanian, Retalian and Eiffellander units.

The Burgundian Frontier
The Northern Military command remained on full defensive footing and was monitoring activity in the north, lest Chagny join the fray. But they had not made any moves to alarm them, nor did they want to worry them. The war in the south was a whole world away.

 

[Occitania]

Following the declaration of war. Director General Konstante Arlegui speaks to the military counsel. General mobilization is given. With the declaration of war, factories begin producing both more Occitan and Eiffellandian aircraft. All divisions besides the divisions of Pejo, Flonice and Lions are mobilized and prepared to defend the Ducat of Hospidiz in the inevitable event of a Serenierre attack.

The divisions already mobilized within the Hospidiz corridor, the divisions of Hospidiz, Pertu, Viasinde and partially Sagola along with the Marsilian Àngel brigade, man and prepare further defenses along the abundant rivers and hills of the Hospidiz corridor as the divisions of Quela, Almezde, Megadeia, Calongo, Tote and Mulmas prepare and begin to reinforce. The divisions of Pejo, Flonice and Lions, already mobilized and prepared to cross to Retalia and Eiffelland, begin doing so.

At sea, the Occitan navy remains in their positions, to the military leaders of Retalia, Arlegui tells he can send the Fregata a Sud to the Retalian sea to meet up with the Fregata a Orient and join the Retalians in a counter offensive Northwards. For the squadrons of corvettes, the Corveta a Marsilia and Megadeia patrol the Sinus Mercator and the rivers of Hospidiz along with the Corveta a Lions.

In air, the Callicles, Diomedes, Melaenis, Nicobulus and Blepharo brigades remain on standby to defend Occitania's airspace along with the anti aircraft weapons of the army. If push comes to shove then the Occitome, Saustin and Syra brigades will join the fray.

The most central town within the corridor in the North is Achatero, located on the far West side of the Trivinian hills and plateaus near God's Range. Thus, this battle, however long or short it may be, shall be named "The Battle of Achatero".


CLASSIFIED TOP SECRET

TO: The Esteemed Leadership of Gallega

We recognize you have diplomatic and military ties to the Republic of Serenierre. Currently, the Kingdom of Occitania is at war with the Republic of Serenierre as you no doubt know, and we must defend. Occitans are ready and eager to defend whatever the Republic of Serenierre throws at Occitania. We recognize our countries have deep cultural ties to each other, we are much closer culturally than we both are with the Republic of Serenierre. We are both deemed "heresies" by Tiburan Catholics and the Protestants alike and in the past we fought against realms to the North who threatened not just our sovereignty but our futures and dignities. We both share the gulf that in Occitania is known as the Sinus Mercator. Therefore I, the Rex Mercator Julius Faure request, that you either remain neutral in this conflict, or, enter on our side.

Be, like the hand of God,

His Majesty Rex Mercator Julius Faure of Occitania

@Gallega

 

[Rheinbund]

Time point: 0 days 1 hour after attack start

So it had begun. The clash between the free world and the communist world.

Eiffelland kept its naval vessels in the Long Sea in order to secure it as a transit for supplies for the Trier Concord. Furthermore, several

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planes and

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helicopters started to patrol the waters and the coast lines. One of the tasks these planes and helicopters had was searching for submarines and bombarding them. All nations with submarines that were not involved in the war were notified that this would happen in the Long Sea and the Retalian Sea, as well as in the Kalahari Sea. They were asked to indicate the coordinates of their submarines when in those three seas so that the Navy knew which submarines not to bomb.

Two tanker planes went into the air, escorted by four

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fighter planes. Furthermore, 28

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interceptor planes and 28 Luftgeist 2 planes flew to Occitania to counterattack Serenierre's air strike in assistance with the Occitanian air force. The Occitanian planes were equipped with transponders, identifying them as Occitanian for the Eiffellandian pilots.

Additional to the interceptors, 24 Wirbelsturm strike planes flew to Occitania to attack the Serenien ground forces, guarded by 28 Luftgeist 2 planes, which were better at dog fighting than the Wirbelsturm. Furthermore, 8 Wirbelsturm electronic warfare planes with the capability to jam enemy radar systems flew to Occitania as well.

The Occitanian high command was also notified of the fact that Eiffelland was not in need of Occitanian ground troops for now.

Production of planes by RRF Flugzeugwerke continued as well. The main factories started to redirect their production from civilian aircraft to jet fighters. After the redirection, RRF Flugzeugwerke would be able to build four Fallwind planes a month. Furthermore, the air force started to work on making their old

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planes, which had been mothballed after having been decommissioned, able to fly again.

OOC: Post modified on 07JUL2018 00:00:00 CET. Changes:
1. Addition of the paragraph: "Production of planes by RRF Flugzeugwerke continued as well. The main factories built two Fallwind planes a day after all production capacity was redirected to building these planes five days before the attack start."

2. Deletion of the paragraph: "Production of planes by RRF Flugzeugwerke continued as well. The main factories built two Fallwind planes a day after all production capacity was redirected to building these planes. The emergency factories started to build planes as well: 10 Luftgeist 2 planes with the state of technique of the

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."

OOC: Post modified on 12JUL2018 23:30:00 CET. Change:
Time stamp format modified.

OOC: Post modified on 14JUL2018 01:22:00 CET. Changes:
1. The paragraph
"Two tanker planes went into the air, escorted by four Luftgeist 2 fighter planes. Furthermore, 50 Wirbelsturm interceptor planes and 20 Luftgeist 2 planes flew to Occitania to counterattack Serenierre's air strike in assistance with the Occitanian air force. The Occitanian planes were equipped with transponders, identifying them as Occitanian for the Eiffellandian pilots."
was changed into
"Two tanker planes went into the air, escorted by four Luftgeist 2 fighter planes. Furthermore, 28 Wirbelsturm interceptor planes and 28 Luftgeist 2 planes flew to Occitania to counterattack Serenierre's air strike in assistance with the Occitanian air force. The Occitanian planes were equipped with transponders, identifying them as Occitanian for the Eiffellandian pilots."
2. The paragraph
"Additional to the interceptors, 24 Wirbelsturm strike planes flew to Occitania to attack the Serenien ground forces, guarded by 10 Luftgeist 2 planes, which were better at dog fighting than the Wirbelsturm."
was changed into
"Additional to the interceptors, 24 Wirbelsturm strike planes flew to Occitania to attack the Serenien ground forces, guarded by 28 Luftgeist 2 planes, which were better at dog fighting than the Wirbelsturm. Furthermore, 4 Wirbelsturm electronic warfare planes with the capability to jam enemy radar systems flew to Occitania as well."
3. The last paragraph was changed into
"Production of planes by RRF Flugzeugwerke continued as well. The main factories started to redirect their production from civilian aircraft to jet fighters. After the redirection, RRF Flugzeugwerke would be able to build four Fallwind planes a month."

OOC: Post modified on 13AUG2018 23:01 CEST. Change:
Number of Wirbelsturm Electronic Warfare planes increased to 8 to bring it in line with the succeeding posts.

 

[Occitania]

With a numerically inferior army, the Occitans needed as much time as possible. Therefore, following the breaking of the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and the fast rising tensions, mines were scattered throughout the border territory by the division de Hospidiz, all of them laid by vehicle so that if tensions decreased, they could be unarmed easier. As more troops came in from the South, many garrisoned towns and remained on standby to evacuate the populace and trap the city in-case of war as they set up small radar stations where the border between Serenierre and Occitan airspace was narrowest. It was estimated all the missiles, vehicles and men would come through this part of the Kingdom, unless Serenierre requested access to Lassisse's airspace which even with a common foe the military command believed that was unlikely to be granted considering it'd sandwich Lassisse between the sea and Serenierre with her communism. God's Range would prove a difficult obstacle anyway if it were to be after-all.

The garrisons were light in the North of Hospidiz with much of the troops spread out from the South to the East of the Ducat and stretching into Viasinde, Pertu and Sagola. All along the Southern side of God's Range were military depots, radars and other military infrastructure that were common in the sparse to heavy Alpine forests abundant with hills and small rivers. These facilities were powered by generators with some using power from the local hydroplants. There were also military bases set up in the plains as-well along with airbases but airstrips were common across the whole country. Occitania's army was tiny compared to Serenierre's, if the military command of Serenierre were smart, they'd wipe out Occitania's air defense instead of sending their airforce to their doom, it was this thought that put mechanized artillery capable of air defense around military bases in Hospidiz and Viasinde.

Marsilia, being the capital, was heavily militarized not only because of Occitania's militaristic culture but due to the city's proximity to Occitania's neighbors. Military bases existed mostly on the coast to the North, some even in old castles and there were many airports. The island being small was easy to defend and the rest of the Redevetat Ducat in Hospidiz provided a screen in the North. Along with the size of the island was the fact it had a smooth, small mountain which overlooked the island from the South and contained a museum, food, the Rex Mercator's personal wealth and space for ammunition. This mountain was combined with the numerous organized roads, underground and overground rails and canals built from the 18th century onwards. Nearly the entire island was urban, there were of course, many pockets of nature reserves however. Just like the rest of the Kingdom, fire arms were common among households. Emergency broadcasts were sent to the people of the Northern part of the Kingdom warning that they will inevitably have to fight, in their homes, on the streets or in the fields and rivers for their country, Marsilians responded well to this warning. Occitania maintained a steady navy as-well, and thus, the island, was considered by most in Occitania, to be an impregnable fortress. The Division de Marsilia garrisoned the island and more troops could be ferried or flown in easily. Occitan military command would envy any man who could conquer the island.

Upon the declaration of war, Achatero and the surrounding towns were evacuated of women and children, the men who did not have weapons which were very few, were given them and advised to either disperse into the countryside or stay and valiantly defend their homes. Most chose to disperse. A warning was broadcasted in the remaining towns to civilians, to arm themselves and to have belongings prepared.

When radar stations in the Northern part of the duchy picked up on missiles, they were identified and this information was immediately relayed to the mechanized artillery battalions on the ground covering the duchy. Ground personnel, radar stations and surface to air missile systems coordinated to intercept these missiles, many of them hit civilian areas and infrastructure, some damaged military infrastructure but very few managed to destroy military bases. Many highways were damaged and multiple bridges were either heavily damaged or completely destroyed and washed away in the river below as civilians on the roads were massacred in the hundreds. In the central part of the country, the troops there were given the heads up and set up urgently trying to protect military and civilian locations, being unprepared, they were quite unsuccessful. Despite the success of the missiles from Serenierre, Occitan squadrons just North of Marsilia helped ensure, that barely any missiles landed in Marsilia. After such a wide ranging attack like this, the Divisions de Quela, Almezde, Megadeia, Calongo and Tote took up positions around the Pertu lowlands and the Galaos river while the Division de Mulmas took up positions defending Mulmas and the remaining Divisions of Flonice, Pejo and Lions repositioned to defend the three duchies.

Aftwards, several radar stations and SAMs were suddenly destroyed by missiles soon identified to be ARMs. The order was given to temporarily shut off radio equipment, decoy emitters were deployed to drive the ARMs away from any necessary radio. After each ARM had passed or detonated, radar systems soon began quickly turning back on, just in time to detect the airforce of Serenierre. The information was quickly relayed to the rest of command. The invasion of Occitania had officially begun. With the prior attacks, more anti-aircraft setup near infrastructure, the Occitan aircraft in the area took off and retreated to Marsilia where they would remain dormant for now as Occitan artillery challenged the Serenierre aircrafts. With Aircraft, anti-aircraft systems to the South had more time to prepare although still could not defend most infrastructure. Military bases however, were mostly safe. The attack was rough, but Occitan defense of the sky was effective and the Occitan airforce took off once more, launching hit and run attacks luring enemy aircraft to artillery and causing as much mayhem as possible in the air as the Serenierre air offensive was slowly ground down. Meanwhile, the empty buildings and the streets of the Northern part of the duchy were trapped with mines and plastic explosives.

At the same time, ground forces were detected in Occitan land. Immediately, personnel in the Northern part of the duchy retreated South, laying mines on the road as they went, but if the enemy's ground forces came into contact, it'd have to be in the city, which was evacuated of women and children immediately, some men plead to go with their families, but were forced to stay. Hospidiz, suffering already from the earlier missile attacks and bombings, is increasingly transformed for defense. Corvettes prepare to navigate up the rivers in Hospidiz and attack ground forces of Serenierre in-case they pushed to Hospidiz. Artillery was either positioned in the city, or retreated East or South. Plans for tanks to hold chokepoints and gradually retreat if fighting got tough were setup. Similar plans were made in Viasinde, where the population was ferried across the Aceni river to the South of the city. The mechanized infantry were still on standby in the North-Eastern part of the duchy and in the duchy of Viasinde as-well. The Serenierre advance would face stiff resistance once they arrived in Hospidiz or Viasinde.

 

[Serenierre]

OPERATION ZEPHYR: First hour of open hostilities

The frenzied defenses set up by the Occitanians in the wake of the diplomatic debacle initiated by Trier, the satellites of the Serenien intelligence and military services had focused on the state of affairs in Occitania. They had seen the vigor with which they were redeploying and moving assets around their feudal country. For a military, such as Villesen's, which had been trained to fight against the Burgundian military, which was admitted as one of the best forces in the world, the desperate actions of the Occitanian defenders at the very cusp of war to be rather futile. Nothing is worse than a clumsy defender and so far that is exactly what the Military of Serenierre had seen to be the case in Occitania.

In Villemarne, the headquarters of the Southern Command, encrypted messages and relays were arriving as the first status reports (FSR) were coming in from the initial wave of attacks. It was clear that the damage had been brutal against the Occitanians. The goal of the initial wave had been to clearly divide the country into three segments: the North, the Center, and the South - and it seemed God himself had created the country to allow that to be the case. The heavy cruise missile assault on the main bridge links over the Aceni and Galaos rivers had seen the main thoroughfares become nothing but twisted metal. This was done to make it next to impossible for a smooth flow of logistical support and supplies to continue to the forces active in the north. In fact, it was Serenien military thinking that the damage that would come to hurt the Occitanians most would be the destruction of these bridges, as not every bridge could handle the weight of the heavy equipment needed to keep the logistical and support supplies up. After all, garrisons could only last so long without food, medicines, bullets, and fuel. Furthermore, the assaults that had been launched against military bases had been targeted against their installed hard assets such as the large radar stations, the large fuel depots, and ammunition dumps. In fact the attacks on the ammunition dumps had been the best way to have Occitanian weaponry destroy their own bases. The goal had not been to destroy military bases wholesale, no, it had been to knock out the vital installations contained therein. The cruise missiles that had been targeted at the royal capital of Marsillia were targeted there deliberately. They simply rained heavily on the seaport and airport there, and while the defenses here were the best out of all that had been seen in Northern Occitania, the missiles had to simply destroy the ability of the island to be supplied. And to that effect it had succeeded.

The anti-radiation missiles had come in three stages. One set had arrived with the initial salvo of cruise missiles, knocking out the radars, then it seemed that the Occitanians had switched off their systems, which had allowed the main salvo of cruise missiles to do the most damage, although the second stage of the anti-radition missiles had performed disappointingly for that reason. However, when the cruise missile attacks had done their damage and the third stage of anti-radiation missiles arrived, thank goodness the Occitanians had switched their systems on and the third salvo did most damage to the remaining radar facilities and anti-air defenses. When it had been determined that the defense infrastructure had been suitably knocked down in North and Central Occitania, with the analysts' estimate that air defenses in North Occitania had been subdued 90% and in Central Occitania subdued by 60% to 70%. This was acceptable.

It was at point that the KMH-29 (MiG-29) fighters and the KMH-30 (Su-27 & Su-30) aerial superiority fighters entered the hostile fray along with other planes from the southern air command. Their operations had been provided to them in advance. The fast and maneuverable fighters would confront whatever the Occitanian air force threw in the air against them. It was understood that the Serenien Air Force, which trained to fight against the aces of the Burgundian air force, were the better trained pilots here. After all, one could give a tractor to a feudal farmer but he still preferred the donkey and the cow to plow his fields. They moved against the Occitanian fighters and planes that were still trying to retreat to Marsilia and attacked them with a brutality which the pilots were sure the enemy had not expected. The fast attack KMH-34 (Su-24) aircraft was to then continue on the raids against radar facilities and further knock them out and weaken the air defenses of the Occitanians. Each KMH-34 was armed with 2 Kh-58U anti-radiation missiles, which gave them the ability to shoot from as far as 250km at detected radar sensors, along with other weapons designed to take out fighters and ground targets. But the orders for the air force were clear, stay clear of Marsillia and do not stray past the Galoas River. The ground attack KMH-21 (MiG-21) were especially active at launching missiles at the airfields and runways. Obviously the damage they inflicted on some of the wider runways was just enough to disrupt the facility for a few days, the smaller runways were gutted by these missile attacks. This subsequent aerial assault too, had targeted key areas which would have been vital for the defense of Occitania.

It was at this stage that Occitania had recovered enough cohesion to launch air attacks against the Serenien air force. Based on the reports received by the Command in Villemarne, the air force fought valiantly and managed to effectively handle the enemy. Up in the skies, it was the better trained pilot that won the day and it was the Serenien who had the claim to that. It was rather strange that the aerial attacks were taking Serenien fighters towards Occitan artillery... which was woefully under ranged to attack jet fighters. The hit and run tactics of the Occitan air force jeopardized the positions of the mechanized artillery, which successive squadrons of KHM-21 (MiG-21) picked out with brutal efficiency. Had the Occitanian's not realized that the artillery could only be truly effective against attack helicopters not super-sonic jets? Or perhaps these were the mistakes of a high command robustly demoralized and desperate.

The ground offensive had begun with armoured minesweepers and tanks proceeding through the hastily arranged minefields that had been laid by the Occitanians in the past few days. They were for the large part shallow and it had been easy enough for significant paths to be cleared. After all, the Serenien military had been trained to fight such incursions in Bourgogne, had it not? And that was a frontier that had the benefit of 50 years of embedded defensive fortifications and minefields. So what match was a hastily laid set of mines?

Supported by ground attack air craft and fast attack helicopters, during this critical phase, the air was kept clean and safe by them. And as the pathways were being cleared for the full offensive, the men of the 60th Aerial Infantry brigade had found themselves deployed in advance positions into the Occitanian countryside to tackle the first garrisons established by the defenders, just 20 kilometres away from the minefields at the frontier. The goal would be to take out these key positions quickly so as to prevent any delay at the critical juncture of the first few hours of the offensive into the Kingdom. The heavy attack helicopters (Mil-Mi-35) that had brought them were now circling the air taking out enemy positions with their heavy arsenal of gatling guns and missiles.

The goal of the ground offensive was to capture the city of Espidiz within the next few days. The city itself had been doubly ravaged by the cruise missiles and the subsequent air raids which had attacked the usual military targets but also bombed the city's electrical supply infrastructure. The military base in Espidiz, along with other defense and administrative locales, had been attacked with a ferocity that had been unseen since the heady days of the Borovangerese civil war.

In Villemarne, the heavy radars and satellite reconnaissance showed that planes were starting to take off from Eiffelland. It would take them some time to reach the central and northern regions of Occitania. So, the Eiffellanders were abandoning all caution and launching an attack on Serenierre, it seemed. Did they not know that this would be an offensive raid on Serenierre and that their actions could potentially activate the defensive agreement that Serenierre had with Gallega. The response to this escalation was to order the air forces to stay behind the Aceni River zone. Here, it was a matter of time before the ground units could begin their advance and their anti-air defenses along with a concentrated pocket of Serenien fighters would shock the Eiffellanders into submission. Not to mention that managing to come this far, they would also be suffering from low fuel and would have seen first hand the damage done to Occitania in just the first hour of the offensive, which in of itself would have done wonders to the morale of the limp-wristed monarchist pilots.

The reports were clear, despite some losses here and there, the commencement of hostilities had broken the back of the defenders in the northern and central regions of the feudal kingdom. They were on the backfoot. That was clear to see and it was certain that the real fun would begin when Serenien forces would reach the shores of the River Aceni, and the cities of Espidiz and Viasinde.

 

[Rheinbund]

The Eiffellandians perfectly knew what they did. They knew that an attack on Serenien soil would activate the mutual defence pact with Gallegha, so they did not attack Serenien soil. They only attacked Serenien troops in Occitania and Serenien planes in the Occitanian air space. They made sure that not even a splinter of an Eiffellandian missile would land in Serenierre or Gallegha.

The Wirbelsturm interceptors had a nice feature: Only a few were needed to patrol the skies. Because these planes were economic with their fuel, they could conduct such a patrol during a long period of time. The

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missiles were steered to their targets by the bomber, the second man in the Wirbelsturm. Only at the last moment did the MSLR-2 switch on its own radar system to track down its target. In this way, one Wirbelsturm could assault a complete squadron of planes while staying out of visual range. Also satellite communication was helpful in this.

Some of the Wirbelsturms patrolled the skies above the Retalian Sea, others above the Long Sea in order to see a Galleghan attack coming. A third group went into Occitanian air space to attack the Serenien planes. From a distance with the MSLR-2.

The Wirbelsturm had a two-person crew by default: One pilot and one bomber. This design was also helpful in attacking ground targets. The interdictor/strike Wirbelsturms took up that action against the Serenien troops in Occitania with air-to-surface missiles and cruise missiles, a task for which it was essential to know which troops were Serenien and which troops were Occitanian.

The Luftgeist 2 planes had a dual role: Attacking ground targets with air-to-surface missiles and cruise missiles, as well as fighting dog fights when the Serenien air force was so bold to engage.

 

[Rheinbund]

What a moment for a computer breakdown! Just at the beginning of a war! But exactly that happened at the headquarters of the armed forces in Retalia. As a result, the Retalians couldn't step in in the first minutes and had to leave the initiative to the Eiffellandians. Luckily, within an hour, the systems were up and running again. The Retalian High Command sent a message to the Eiffellandian High Command that the Retalians would take over responsibility for the Occitanian theatre again. The Eiffellandians would finish the initial attack, but the Retalians sent their second air force wing into the air to continue the attack. Some of the Wirbelsturm interceptors would take over the patrolling tasks from the Eiffellandians; the remainder would start to patrol in the skies above Southern Occitania. First task: To let the Serenien stay out of there. Second task: To take or retake air superiority over Central Occitania. The Luftgeist 2 planes would start to fire air-to-surface missiles and cruise missiles to the Serenien troops in Occitania.

Meanwhile, the Retalians prepared half of its land army for transport to Occitania.

 

[Serenierre]

OPERATION ZEPHYR
1st hour of hostilities​

The military analysts sitting in Villemarne, now, after the initial assault was complete, had a better idea of where things stood. From each quadrant and from each unit commander, reports were arriving that the initial reports of success had been far too optimistic - as is always the case. In their revised report to the military chiefs at the General Headquarters in Villesen, the facts would be read as follows:

1. The military assault has achieved successfully the elimination of key Occitanian positions in the Northern regions of the Duchy of Espidiz, where the aerial infantry assault had occurred, as the defense mounted there by the garrisons had been rather weak, especially as the gunship helicopters had had a field day picking off each target. The aerial brigade that had been deployed to advance positions had met losses, certainly, but they were far too minor to be anything particularly of note. The key was that the pre-selected locations had been captured and heavy aerial protection - by way of gunship and fighters ensured supremacy in those points. It could be estimated that these operations were absolute successes from the perspective of military planners and strategists.

2. The losses sustained by the aerial campaign were within the range of 8% to 11%; amounting in real terms to three MiG-29, two MiG-29, twelve MiG-21 either damaged beyond repair or destroyed and lost in the heat of the battle. Examining further, the MiG-21's suffered the highest casualties on account of the fact that they had been lured into enemy aerial defense batteries and were indeed geared more so for ground attack operations. The Su-24 fast attack aircraft that had gone in for deep penetration attacks closer to the Galaos River perimeter, they had suffered a casualty rate of 20%, having lost two out of ten planes. But thankfully, they had managed to not die in vain, even in their demise their pilots had managed to ram into enemy positions. Over all, of the losses across all planes, it could be said that the following breakdown was present: 3 due to pilot error, 5 returned to base utterly damaged and worthless in combat, 6 pilots ejected (and it was expected that their planes were targeted into enemy positions and perhaps they shot themselves as honorable soldiers of the cause), and 4 brave pilots martyred in the glorious cause of the Serazinist Revolution.

3. The satellite reconnaissance of the region revealed that in the Northern Sector of Occitania, the rate of damage was at its highest 65% to 70% and the closer one approached to the Galoas River, it approached at a minimum the 45% to 50% range. The combined effect of the missile and aerial assault was beyond satisfactory in high command's estimations, as it would severely hamper the ability of the defenders to mount an effective defense, with their civilian and defense infrastructure in such a state of chaos.

4. The ground offensive was continuing with limited resistance. The minefields had been successfully cleared and the infantry, in their Humvees or BTR, were cutting through the forests of northern Occitania. The limited resistance that they were meeting was being taken out with brutal efficiency by a combination of ground assaults and assistance from the Ka-50/52 attack helicopters which were fast moving to slash at the enemy with their rockets and Gatling cannons. The tanks too were moving along attacking where they needed to though they were at this stage less prominent. As it was vitally important for the infantry units (mechanized or motorized) to clear the resistance from the forested north. The ground offensive was benefiting from the relatively fewer pockets of garrisons in the north and the advance attack of the aerial infantry. The road to Espidiz lay open and the men of the V Corps were advancing along at the fastest speed possible - which at this rate would mean that they would be at the very threshold of the city of Espidiz within 24 hours and then would commence the first proper battle of the war.

5. The heavy radar facilities of the Serenien southern command had picked up on the rush of aerial activity from Eiffelland soon after the war commenced. The air forces were informed. It would take several hours for the Eiffellander air force to arrive in the northern sector of Occitania where the real battle was being fought. In the meantime, the squadrons in Serenierre were redeployed. The ones that had been maintaining an eye on the southern home front switched gears and flew south to the northern sectorof Occitania to ensure that there was no point of time where the troops were not granted aerial cover. The main planes that had launched the first aerial strikes would now be refueled, re-armed and sent back in waves to contend with the imminent menace of the Eiffellander air force. Though obviously, what could be achieved by Eiffellander planes that were travelling for a few hours, would be low on fuel and perhaps, hopefully, more prone to pilot error, as human error was always a problem for those covering long distances such as the ones from Eiffelland to Occitania's north. To be truly effective, they would need aerial refuelling for sure. Perhaps, that would be the time to strike them down, when they were vulnerable. Or maybe they would utilise Occitanian air bases to the south for refuelling... but was there enough fuel? So many questions were raised by this point in the minds of high command.

The overall assessment of the assault was that the missiles and aerial component had indeed shaken the Occitanians and had met Serenien expectations in a satisfactory manner to achieve the goals that had been outlined. The ground assault, too, was progressing in an acceptable manner and the resistance so far was dealt with effectively and most brutally. The situation for the Occitanians was seemingly made worse by their decision to evacuate civilians, which undoubtedly clogged what little remained of the infrastructure in the northern duchy and rendered the entire situation to be a logistical nightmare.

In Villemarne, the Southern Command was now gearing up to see two events: firstly, the air force squaring off with the Eiffellander raid, and secondly, the impending Battle of Espidiz.

But another interesting report was emerging from the Cyber Warfare wing of the Serenien Military was reporting that the Retalian military infrastructure seemed to have malfunctioned. As their bips and signals seemed to have dropped off Serenien monitoring systems. What sort of military could see itself rendered toothless in these tense times? The military confirmed that the Cyber warfare wing had not commenced an attack on Retalia. Even the Revolutionary Guards were asked and they also said that they had not attacked the Retalians. The generals joked that the Retalians had screwed their own system, could they even fire their own missiles? These were the great defenders of the Retalian Gates? Oh, how they laughed!

 

[Rheinbund]

Situation room in Eiffelland

Discussion between the Major-General of the 1st Air Force Division and his second-in-command, i.e. the Brigadier-General of the division.

“What was it that stalled the Retalians?”
“A broken cable.”
“A broken cable? Meine Fresse!! Why don’t they have their IT equipment on a row? A cable can break, so make sure that there is a backup!”
“They did, but the backup was broken as well. The Retalians are investigating the matter. This could have been sabotage.”
“When do they expect to be back on track?”
“A couple of hours. Until then, we have to step in.”
“By the way, the 2nd division is taking off for rebasing in Southern Retalia. Our division will rebase there as well. The 5th fighter wing will patrol the skies above Occitania while the remainder is refueling and being refitted. We ourselves will be relocated there, too. A plane is waiting for me to take me there. You will take over for now. When I arrive in Retalia, I will take over from you again so that you can be rebased.”


Skies above Occitania

The 1st air force division flew to the war theatre together with the tanker planes. Because the tanker planes could not fly faster than 900 km/h, it took them quite some time to reach the front line. At 2 hours and 30 minutes after war start, the Eiffellandian planes refueled for the first time.

As soon as the strategy of the Serenien air force became clear, the plans were changed a bit. The four fighter wings (with in total 28 Wirbelsturm Interceptor (of which 4 patrolled the Long Sea and 4 the Retalian Sea) and 56 Luftgeist 2 planes) refuelled at 600 km from the place where they would fire their missiles. At about 80 km from the Serenien planes patrolling northern Occitania, they fired their

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missiles at the Serenien planes. The missiles were steered by the second men in the Wirbelsturm planes. This attack took place 3 hours after war start.

The fighter-bomber wing (with 24 Wirbelsturm strikes and 8 Wirbelsturm electronic combat) flew below the radar, together with a tanker plane. The first volley was for the 8 Wirbelsturm electronic combat planes. At 80 km from their targets, they fired their in total 72 anti-radiation missiles, designed for tracking enemy radar and radio signals. Targets were all ground devices emitting radar signals, including but not limited to SAM batteries. The pilots made sure that they remained under the radar. After having fired their missiles, the planes flew back. This attack took place 3 hours and 20 minutes after war start.
The Wirbelsturm strikes remained farther away. Each of the 24 planes carried two

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cruise missiles. At 530 km from their targets, they fired their cruise missiles. A total of 48 cruise missiles flew towards the Serenien troops. This attack took place 4 hours after war start.

All planes of the 1st division made sure that they remained well beyond visual range, and far away from Northern Occitania, where the Serenien were ruling their (at least according to the Eiffellandians) evil rule.

Meanwhile, several air force bases in Southern Occitania were provisioned. That was a process that had already started before the war, but not finished yet.

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systems were set up to protect the air force bases in Southern Occitania against incoming ICBMs and other missiles.



OOC: Modified on 12AUG2018 00:06 CEST. Modification:

“By the way, the 2nd division is taking off for rebasing in Southern Occitania. Our division will rebase there as well. The 5th fighter wing will patrol the skies above Occitania while the remainder is refueling and being refitted. We ourselves will be relocated there, too. A plane is waiting for me to take me there. You will take over for now. When I arrive in Occitania, I will take over from you again so that you can be rebased.”

was changed into

“By the way, the 2nd division is taking off for rebasing in Southern Retalia. Our division will rebase there as well. The 5th fighter wing will patrol the skies above Occitania while the remainder is refueling and being refitted. We ourselves will be relocated there, too. A plane is waiting for me to take me there. You will take over for now. When I arrive in Retalia, I will take over from you again so that you can be rebased.”

OOC: Modified on 13AUG2018 23:56 CEST. Modifications:

1. The following was added:

The 1st air force division flew to the war theatre together with the tanker planes. Because the tanker planes could not fly faster than 900 km/h, it took them quite some time to reach the front line. At 2 hours and 30 minutes after war start, the Eiffellandian planes refueled for the first time.

Targets were all ground devices emitting radar signals, including but not limited to SAM batteries.

This attack took place 3 hours and 20 minutes after war start.

This attack took place 4 hours after war start.

2. The sentence

with in total 28 Wirbelsturm Interceptor and 56 Luftgeist 2 planes

was changed into

with in total 28 Wirbelsturm Interceptor (of which 4 patrolled the Long Sea and 4 the Retalian Sea) and 56 Luftgeist 2 planes

 

[Occitania]

The Occitan aircraft retreating to Marsilia took heavy damage, only 5 out of the 10 planes scattered across the duchy of Espidiz and Viasinde made it to Marsilia, 2 of them were destroyed, 1 of them heavily damaged and 2 others landing before Marsilia, in the many cities in the area. In Marsilia the planes that did make it regrouped with Aire Brigades Occitome, the rest of the Diomedes and Melaenis. Melaenis had to fly over the Sinus Mercator from Almezde to avoid the Serenien airforce, but managed to make it to Marsilia unharmed. Thus the total strength came to 30 fighters, 28 attack helicopters and 45 assault aircraft stationed in Marsilia to harass Serenien planes. The planes in Pertu, the Aire Brigade Callicles were ordered South, some unable to take off were hidden as their airstrips were repaired, the rest able to, took off before the Serenien aircraft arrived and fled South where they joined the Blepharo and Nicobulus who stationed themselves just past the Galaos near Sagola, Quela, Mulmas and Calongo. The remaining helicopters, the Aire Brigades Saustin and Syra in Megadeia and Tote, stationed themselves in Megadeia waiting for the Serenien airforce to be destroyed before moving North. As soon as the Eiffellander planes arrived just East of the Galaos, the Occitan planes would join up, the fighters having long range air-air missiles capable of firing over 150 kilometers, and short range missiles of around 10-40 kilometers along with half of the fighters' with their ARMs of 90 kilometer range. The Occitan airforce in Marsilia would make sure to keep the Serenien airforce busy in the mean time, especially by flying at lower altitudes, if the Sereniens' desired air superiority, they could come and get it where their air-surface missiles would be far more limited in range and Occitan shorter ranged artillery would have better shots. It was clear though that with the Serenien planes in the sky, the Serenien helicopters would be invulnerable.

Occitan ground forces in the North suffered heavy casualties on their retreat South, but the little vehicles they did have dealt some damage. The inland Northern area wasn't much of a loss anyway, and Occitan forces still held the mountains and in the North with superb military fortifications set up to defend the border with Lassisse and men disciplined in the harsh conditions of the region. It was the Serenien advance into the North that signaled the start of operations of the Occitan Home Forces who began fighting in Achatero and in the countryside, especially in the Alpine forests where they could easily launch hit and run attacks, but as of now, they were insignificant, it was in Espidiz and Viasinde they would be playing a much larger role, if the Sereniens even made it to the cities. The army in the forest abandoned their facilities immediately, trapping their equipment as much as they could with the time they had so that it could not be used by the enemy and retreating East to the mountains where it would be impossible for the Sereniens to succeed against the Division of Sagola. Along their way, the troops damaged the small roads in their wake, to make it even harder for the Serenien advance. They were covered in the skies by the equipment in the mountains and still had the ability to target the skies themselves as-well. Once they were in the mountains they were to block off the roads.

The Sereniens was advancing fast and efficiently, but they had not yet faced the Occitan army in a proper battle. Soon it would come. In total, roughly several hundred men were lost in the Serenien advance on the ground so far, and at-least 20-30 vehicles but at-least they went down fighting valiantly. From the air a few hundred men were lost along with around 30 vehicles, at-least half those vehicles were able to fire before being destroyed however.

The Divisions de Lions, Pejo and Flonice would soon recover from the disaster of deployment to Retalia and begin making their way to the Galaos. The Divisions de Quela, Tote, Calongo, Megadeia and Mulmas were still only partially mobilized, but in order to ensure they did not miss out on the war, double the effort was put into the mobilization, the Lions, Sagola, Pejo and Flonice Corps were expected to be 100% ready in some hours still, with the Megadeia Corps possibly not able to be ready for up to a day.

In Viasinde, a very clear problem had arisen, there was no bridge that could any longer support the mass evacuation of the northern half of the city. The administration resorted to ferrying the rest across, amongst the confusion some sections just called off the evacuation before quickly resuming. Many of the evacuees refused to leave and went to search for the adult men in their family, the vast majority of whom were now armed and either helping the army prepare the city for defense or in the streets seeing their family off to the South side of the Aceni. Some were tense or broken in their homes, some selfish cowards were fleeing themselves across the Aceni, but the extreme presence of the military stopped them from looting in the chaos.

Espidiz and other towns along the coast North of the Aceni faced a similar situation, but Espidiz had the fortunate origin of being a ferrying station and trade outpost, thus had a far easier time moving people across the Sinus Mercator to Marsilia. In the smaller towns in between Espidiz and Viasinde, the administrations gave up entirely evacuating as they couldn't send them South or West, Viasinde was already facing problems and the damaged roads South of the impending Serenien army made the journey to Espidiz perilous. Some ferrying to Southern Viasinde was possible along with some to Marsilia however, it wasn't efficient though, still, the Occitan navy even stepped in to help as much as they could.

 

[Rheinbund]

Retalian Sea

The Retalian Navy did suffer from the computer problems in Retalia, but continued patrolling the Retalian Sea. No activity by the Serenien Navy had been reported, so there was no real danger yet. The Navy used their radar systems to check the sea.

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planes taken off from the aircraft carriers patrolled the skies above the Retalian Sea.

Meanwhile, the Retalian Navy had received another order: Block the Retalian Sea for any Serenien vessel. This order would become effective as soon as the computers were back up to speed.


Long Sea

This was the responsibility of the Retalian Navy as well, but combined with the Eiffellandian Navy. The Eiffellandian Navy made more use of helicopters and planes for patrolling the seas.

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helicopters and

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planes from the Eiffellandian Navy patrolled the seas against submarines, and also for reconnaissance tasks. Seewarnstern planes from the Eiffellandian Navy patrolled the skies above the Long Sea.
The Kadiki submarine force was considered dangerous; therefore, both the Retalians and the Eiffellandians were putting much effort in checking for submarines. The Western Kalahari Sea and the Long Sea were the responsibility of the Eiffellandians w.r.t. submarine warfare; the Retalians were responsible for the Retalian Sea.

 

[Serenierre]

V Corps HQ - Northern Occitania
Six days had passed since the Serenien invasion had commenced.

Lt. General Sylvestre Damas, the commander of the V Corps, had ensured that in those precious early days the push into enemy territory was quick and brutal. The rapid action strike corps had descended on the Occitanians from the international frontier, crushing the defenses and pushing through with the full might of their offensive. Tanks and rocket artillery had obliterated the harder positions and the mobile infantry in armoured and other such carriers had moved swiftly and briskly to isolate Occitanian positions and encircle them. So, now, the Serenien army stood at the very threshold of entering Viacinde and Espidiz, both of which had seen fierce fighting. Furthermore, the army had achieved to make a few advanced landing positions on the other side of the Aceni River to prepare for the conquest of Central Occitania.

Along the northern mountain ranges, the so-called God's Range, defensive lines had been established and a static line stood facing the garrisoned men in the alpine fortresses and bunkers. A few skirmishes had taken place but the Serenien response was to keep the Occitanians holed up there isolated from the main campaign and to be ready for any offensive action from those alpine units or Occitanian units aiming to support them.

In the meantime, troops from the I Corps of the Southern Command, totaling another 57,000 personnel, had been deployed to the campaign in Occitania. Under the command of Lt. General Claude de Croix, the unit had been establishing itself to give further strength to the V Corps, which would in due course need some time to recuperate its strength. This deployment would commence the second phase of Operation Zephyr. The two Lt. Generals had established close contact to ensure their actions were in close coordination.

Following the Eiffellander air force's response, it had been deemed that the initial Serenien aerial strategy had been far too conservative and now with it becoming clear that Bourgogne would not be invading Serenierre, the Military High Command had decided by the second day to send forth sizable contingents of fighter aircraft from the Northern and Western Commands to the Occitanian operations to keep pace with the rising numbers of Trier Concordat air forces. The Premier had further ordered the immediate re-entry of aircraft from the reserve corps of the Air Force into active service. But that would take some time. For now, the air force had committed a total of 220 MiG-29, 100 Su-27, and 100 MiG-21 to the operation by redeploying the contingents from the other air commands. The larger numbers would offset the casualties suffered and keep a solid Serenien presence in the skies of Northern Occitania. And while the Trier Concordat retained a degree of numerical superiority, the Serenien air force had a shorter supply line, which was an equalising factor in Damas' opinion.

Lt. General Damas, on the success of the Eiffellander air raid on the first day against the ground troops, where the rate of casualties against the , had been most upset but the saving grace had been the performance of the Anti-Air brigade within his corps. Thus, he had requested that an advance Air Defence Corps be deployed from the Southern Command to northern Occitania.

But by the sixth day, it was also clear that the Occitanians were about to launch a counter-attack against the Serenien positions. The V Corps had sensed it and most of the mobile defense line had been established on the western bank of the Aceni by the evening of the 5th day and only two zones remained on the Eastern bank of the Aceni where the Serenien military had established advance positions. In Lt. General Damas' mind, the counter-attack would be a godsend, as it would allow the Occitanian army to engage and hopefully tire themselves before the additional troops would unleash their assault on them.

Battle of Espidiz and Viasinde
The Serenien military had dispatched a potent military contingent to take over the two cities. The fighting was intense and the troops of the V Corps had managed to infiltrate considerable parts of Viasinde but Espidiz remained a well defended city where the incursion had been bloody and brutal. Heavy rocket attacks and air raids had also been conducted on both cities, with attack helicopters indiscriminately showering hails of gatling cannon fire on areas with an active enemy presence.

On Day 6, in both cities, two massive operations which were designed to cut deeper into enemy held positions.

God's Range
On Day 6, the Serenien units here remained on high alert and were focused.

Politburo - Villesen
Premier Martinique in the six days that had gone by since the commencement of hostilities had managed to convince the Politburo to declare a state of total war, with the entire Serenien economy placed on a directive to assume war footing. This would be absolutely essential to ensure that the defensive capacities of the Serenien military remained strong. She had also authorized the immediate re-deployment of the air force arsenal that had been held in reserve. The Home Reserve Army, around two million conscripts had also been activated to take over all non-essential national security duties to allow the professional military to focus on the great fight ahead.

 

[Occitania]

After 6 six days of constantly losing land to the Serenien advance, the landscape of the duchy of Espidiz was in fury, the Occitan home forces in the area, comprised of somewhere around 10,000-200,000 men from the countryside to the large cities kept the Serenien advance harassed, while Occitan ground forces retreated also doing anything they could to slow down the Sereniens. The forces of Occitania and Serenierre finally met in full force at the two ducal capitals of Espidiz and Viasinde. Here not only were the Sereniens up against the Occitan army, they were up against every decent Occitan in the city. While the Occitan civilians with no military experience were undisciplined and untrained, the presence of the Occitan army rallied them and the city even after the chaotic evacuation was fully prepared to fight the Sereniens. Even as some of the troops were lost or forced to give ground, morale remained high. If the Sereniens even made it to the harbors of the city, the Occitan 2nd squadron of destroyers would obliterate them.

Shadowed by the huge peaks of God's Range, and with the arrival of the Eiffellandian and Retalian air forces, the Occitans launched with them a unified and coordinated attack, Occitan skies belonged to the Occitan pelican, not the ugly hunks of metal the Sereniens used, the goal of the campaign, to retake the skies of Occitania. The plan was the Brigade Blepharo and half the Aire Brigade Nicobulus would take a route along God's Range, with the entire Sagola corps mobilized, they were covered by the artillery in the mountains. Thus the fighters would lead the aerial battle, the attack aircraft and transports would support them with air-to-ground action including deploying paratroopers behind enemy lines to support the ground forces and the air forces. The Aire Brigades in Marsilia, of Melaenis and Diomedes would attack the Serenien airforce from the West while supporting the forces in Espidiz with the Aire Brigade Occitome. Finally the rest of the Nicobulus along with the Aire Brigade Callicles would join the Eiffellandians and Retalians with a direct attack.

The Occitan forces had retreated enough at this point, they were now fully mobilized, organized and prepared to counter-attack in the Pertu lowlands. Finally, it began, lead on the ground by the combined force of the Pejo, Flonice and Lions corps along with the Almezde division from the South totaling roughly 100,000 men and supported by the gradual commitment of more and more brigades of the Quela division, starting with the mobile 6th Amèric Brigade in a pincer movement and followed by the other two brigades, totaling roughly 15,000 men. This pushback was prepared well, the Occitans were extremely disciplined and trained to use only as much force as necessary. Their goal was of relieving Viasinde and pushing the Sereniens back to the Espidiz river. Along with the swift and robotic advance in the country-side, the Occitan forces in Viasinde became far more aggressive.

 

[Serenierre]

OPERATION: ZEPHYR (Day 6)

Prelude to the Occitan counter-offensive
As an infantryman, Capt. Jacques had been deployed with the men of the 110th Infantry Brigade of the V Corps, which had slashed deep into the Occitanian countryside and had now found itself on the eastern bank of the Aceni River. The very edge of the Revolution. Beyond them stood lands belonging to feudal backwardness and behind them stood the full might of Lt. General Damas’ V Corps.

In his deployment so far, Jacques had seen considerable resistance from the villagers who had crossed his path. The 12th Infantry Brigade had been instructed very clearly to treat any hostile act – be it stone throwing or the firing of even an antiquated rifle – as an act of war and the culprit was to be dealt with as a combatant. Obviously, that meant one thing and one thing alone. Executions and death. Already in the forward assault across the Duchy of Espidiz down to the River Aceni, Jacques had seen the mass graves of pitiful civilian defenders who had attacked the Serenien juggernaut with antiquated guns and grenades from almost eighty years ago.

This was the scourge of feudalism, he thought to himself. These poor people had been brainwashed to fight against the superior might of a professionally trained military. And despite them amounting to a very annoying distraction, Jacques was sure that almost all the other infantry units would have cut through these defenders with brutal efficiency. After all, could they be considered civilians if they resisted? Not in the least, that was what the doctrine of the military said was the case. And so it was.

Stationed at the forward positions, in the beachhead that the 110th Infantry Brigade with its 4,500 men, supported by another 6,500 combat and supportive personnel from 3rd Infantry Division, especially some of its upgraded T-72 main battle tanks, had created an offensive zone wherein Jacques felt relatively safe. The pocket where they had been stationed had a combined force of some 100 main battle and light tanks and appropriate levels of mechanized infantry with their armoured personnel carriers and several self-propelled artillery and multiple rocket launcher devices stationed, along with several well positioned artillery batteries. The field reconnaissance had ensured that it was clear that Occitania was indeed planning and on the verge of executing a counter attack. So, they were prepared.

From the air, despite stiff resistance, the Serenien MiG-29 ‘Fiere’ jet fighters had been keeping the northern occupation zone well protected. Their bases were only a short distance away and the turnaround time for the fighters was fairly quick owing to that fact. Something which eluded the Concordat air forces as they had further travels to reach for their own bases. The highly maneuverable and high speed MiG-29 jets were proving themselves to be a mighty menace to the Concordat air forces, which also faced the menace of the SA-11 Buque surface to air missile systems. And their long range allowed them to circle in the sky for far longer, as such the boys on the ground always could hear the hum or the boom of a jet engine not too far off. Often, Jacques used to wish that he would have chosen life in the air force instead of the army. Alas, such was life.

Jacques looked at the other side, where the enemy was. He felt nervous and held the cross that his father had given him before he had been deployed. And yet at the same time he felt excited.

The orders were clear that the 110th Infantry Brigade and the 3rd Infantry Division had to hold the advance sector for as long as possible until the elements from the I Corps could come and relieve them.

In his experience so far, Jacques had noticed that the Occitanians fought with a primal ferocity but that didn’t particularly worry him. Serenien’s too were vicious when it came to the battle. From what the rumours were saying, the people in Espidiz and Viasinde were getting to experience just that.

Battle of Espidiz
The large city in northern Occitania was a prime target for Serenien military operations. Already, from the first day, the city had been bombarded with cruise missiles, air raids, and now, with its precincts encircled, finally the roar of artillery and rockets pounded relentlessly against the city. The static and fixed defensive facilities of the city had been reduced to rubble, which allowed considerable sway to the air force to rain its destruction on the formerly picturesque city with almost near unchallenged impunity.

However, much to the dismay of Lt. General Damas, the harbor had not been effectively knocked out and the destroyer fleet there had been firing rockets and their cannons at certain Serenien positions.

Fairly quickly when that had become known, a raid had been conducted to neutralize the vessel. Six MiG-21 had attacked the harbor with a total of twelve Kh-31 missiles from a safe distance. Approaching at Mach 3.5, the missiles would have ripped through the hostile ships present there. It was vital to demonstrate how ugly things could, and indeed would get.

Having surrounded the city, the men of the 111th Infantry Brigade had been quick to isolate all links to the power grid (whatever was left of it anyways) and to destroy the water supply to the city. In fact that had been among the first things done. A thirsty city could hardly defend itself. The outskirts had yielded with some resistance but everyone knew that the main fight would occur in the city itself, where there were buildings and tight corners.

Sargeant Benoit and his section of 24 men were caught in a hail of fire from the defending enemy. They had seemingly taken refuge amongst the residential areas and Sargeant Benoit had called in an air raid on the site. Three MiG-21 roared above and fired their deadly missiles on the particular locations identified. The location was vital to subdue as it would create a tactical opening for the larger contingent to cross through into the city.

Benoit had to admit that the stiffness of the defense in the city was quite admirable. But the sheer force of the onslaught that the planners in Villesen and Villemarne had cooked up was certainly something which the Occitanians could not have expected.

Ten MiG-21 were patrolling the skies, firing the aggregate sum of 20,000 bullets from their 23mm cannons into the city after having fired their missiles on ground targets. The strafing was deliberate ploy to dampen morale. In the distance, high above a squadron of Su-27 flew to maintain air support. Soon enough they would be joined by an additional squadron of MiG-29.

Battle of Viasinde
The 3rd Infantry Division had established 7,000 of its men on the city and had unleashed an incessant barrage of artillery fire on the city. Major Henri Claude had ordered on the fifth day of the war to unleash napalm and other incendiary weapons on the city.

He had been most angered by the Occitanian defenders who had decided to destroy the very notion of a ‘civilian’ and he was sure that while he would rot in hell for ordering the mass assault on the city by way of such weapons, which would burn with the brightest of intensity for hours on end, he knew he had had no other choice. For much of the fifth night of the war, the city glowed orange with the bright fires of the incessant barrage.

Even now, in the early hours of the morning as the sun rose, the heat and the stench of meat rose heavy in the air.

“Hold firm,” he said to some of the junior officers, “No Occitanian is a civilian. They are all vile vipers.”

Henri had received all the reports of the fighting in Espidiz, so he knew that the defence in Viasinde would be just as stiff, but he had decided to rain a more catastrophic form of barrage over the riverside city. The viciousness of the assault, particularly the napalm bombardment would have been especially horrific, he knew. But the morale had to be broken. To resist was to sin. To sin was to die.

The Aerial War
Flight Capt. Noulon steadied his gaze on his control. His MiG-29 had only a few days ago been stationed in northern Serenierre but after the outbreak of hostilities like many other squadrons, he had found himself engaging in active combat in the skies of Occitania.

After the first few days, the Serenien air force, particularly its large fleet of MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, totaling a strength of around 300 in all, had taken to skies across Occitania’s north and central regions to challenge the hegemony of Concordat air forces.

That morning, Noulon and his flight of 5 fighters was some distance to the south east of the Aceni River. Over the course of the past few days, it had become clear that north of the Aceni, the Serenien enjoyed aerial superiority and to the south of the Galaos River, the Concordat enjoyed supremacy. So in between these two mighty rivers, was where aces, it seemed, were going to be minted in this war.

Noulon noted that on his radar, three new fighters seemed to appear across the horizon.

“Gentlemen,” he said, “Watch your two o’clock.”

The advanced radars of the MiG-29 which had been developed by Vertille Aeronautics and a number of Borovangeren companies, allowed the Flight of 5 jets to detect up to 12 or 14 targets depending on conditions. And it was clear that these new blips were certainly not flying under the banner of Serazinism.

“Engage!” Noulon commanded over the radio.

The jets took their positions and proceeded to engage as they had been taught. Whoever was flying those planes would be in for a dramatic battle.

The Forests of North Occitania
The defensive line against the mountain range that had been fortified was abuzz with activity. Additional support elements had been hastily trucked in and were digging deep positions under the cover of the forest. The bunkers and fortresses of the mountains would be placed under siege. The war here could wait. But till then, the Serenien position had to be shored up. In fact, certain new barracks and garrisons were being built too. It seemed that a division would be stationed here. But the exact details were classified.

In the forests, many lost refugees from the botched efforts to evacuate the cities had also turned up at checkpoints that the military had established. Poor and homeless, the Serenien army had handed them over to Directorate 12 – the organization established by Villesen with responsibility for such persons – and for now any Occitanians that surrendered without resistance were provided a basic ration and detained awaiting re-education. And if they resisted those efforts, well; their fate was rather more settled.

Lead in the head. Body buried before the sun set. The scorched earth could do with some fertilization, was the joke that Directorate 12 often said.

The Office of Premier Martinique - Villesen
"My darling!" Elisabeth exclaimed as she greeted the man. She had been in an awful mood upon hearing of the napalm assault on Viasinde so she had been desperate for a distraction. But she was now unsure.

Her secretary, Charles Guinot, embraced her and they fell into each other's arms. During all the tumultuous years of the Premiership she had never needed his love more than she did in those days since the war had started. In fact, she had had to "lean on him" for support far too often. But despite the strident persona she was known for. The Bulldog of Gallia, according to Retalian propaganda, needed to be held and needed to feel loved at a time when she knew she was responsible for the deaths of so many countless people. She needed someone to hold her and make her feel as if all the problems of the world had fallen away and that she was not, in fact, the bulldog, rather she was a delicate flower. And Charles was the man who always made her feel so.

But that day, she cried, cried harder than she had ever allowed herself to. And he held her as they sat quietly on the sofa in her office.

 

[Rheinbund]

Day 6


Southern Occitania

It was a large process, getting 130,000 soldiers from Eiffelland and Retalia to Occitania. And it was by far not ready. At this moment, about 46,000 soldiers plus equipment had been moved from Eiffelland and Retalia to Occitania. They would be transported to the front soon. Meanwhile, the Occitanian airforce bases were supplied with materials and equipment so that the Eiffellandian and Retalian air force divisions could be rebased there. Also additional air force bases were erected. This was done by laying down a landing strip, and erecting sheds and hutments for the necessary buildings. It would take time though before those provisory air force bases could be used. Until then, the Eiffellandian and Retalian air forces operated from Retalia.


Air above Occitania

It was relatively easy to maintain air superiority south of the Galaos river, but challenging the Serenien air superiority above Northern Occitania was not possible yet. The place of confrontation was the area between the Galaos river and the Aceni river. Several aerial combats took place there, and both sides in the conflict lost on average two planes per day there. Sometimes it was a bit more, sometimes less. Both sides did their best to trick the others into a trap.

Like now. Three Luftgeist 2 planes functioned as bait. When the Serenien MiG-29 planes attacked, five more Luftgeist 2 planes appeared to join the three bait planes in the dog fight against the MiGs.

 

[Serenierre]

The Aerial War
The five MiG-29 fighters under Flight Capt. Noulon's command (Flight 54N) were equipped with Vertille's

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, which allowed each of the fighter jets to possess a radar detection range of 120km and the radar could track up to 10 targets and engage 4 targets at once in air-to-air mode. As such, fairly quickly, Noulon and his fellow wing men detected the additional five jets. And on that occasion, the Flight 54N was armed to dominate the skies. With a mixed arsenal of anti-air missiles, primarily a mix of R-27 beyond visual range anti-air-missile variants allowed them to hit targets in the range of 110-170km. These missiles had a hit probability

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. Two of the MiG-29 in the flight were armed with four R-27, while the others carried only two, the others having a more balanced mix of missiles.

"Claude" Noulon said to the pilot of one of the fighters carrying four R-27, "Engage those three."

Flight Officer Claude Lesonais engaged the three enemy targets. He engaged his avionics and the three enemy aircraft were locked on. Certain evasive actions were detected but the Claude managed to keep the missiles locked. Like most pilots in the Serenien air force, he had trained to meet the highly aggressive tactics of the Burgundian and Concordat air forces. He fired two of his four R-27 missiles which had engaged and locked with two of the fighters. These particular missiles were active radar homing and could reach speeds anywhere between Mach 2 to 4.

As Lesonais fired the missiles, Noulon noticed the presence of more fighters in the distance. Ah, he thought. The bait and switch, yet again. Over the past few days, the pilots of the Serenien and Eiffellander air force had been playing a game of cat and mouse all across central Occitania. "Messieurs," he said over the radio, "Does anyone else see the five approaching?"

"Yes, sir." There was a unison.

"Mireille," he said to the only female pilot on the Flight, "You go support Claude, take out the last of the three." The MiG-29 was excellent for close range raids and she threw her jet into full speed and approached fast against the three, which it seemed had been a diversion. She fired her own sole R-27 at the last of the three and then proceeded to unleash two shorter range AA missiles.

In the meantime, Noulon had decided that they would engage with the five fighters that were coming towards them. In the past few days, he had clearly seen that both types of the Eiffellander fighter jets were less suited to close combat, while the Serenien fighters were manueverable and had an edge when it came to speed. He knew the base would be receiving the information through the transponders.

Flight 54N knew that if the enemy planes attacked first, they could very quickly disperse and disengage, re-group and then pursue them in a close dogfight, which would be an obvious strong point for them. But they had to be careful of the missiles. They had seen already that the Concordat AA missiles certainly carried a punch but Noulon believed that under the command of well trained pilots, the MiGs would remain fairly evenly matched.

Flight 8N of four Su-27 was flying close to Viasinde and detected the movements of Flight 54N. Clearly something was up. Should we engage, he had asked the air command, but they were confident that Flight 54N could disrupt the enemy raid and quickly zip out. But as a precaution, Flight 8N was approved to standby. If the battle got ugly for Flight 54 N. It would be up to the four Su-27 to give chase and knock out the Eiffellander planes. An eye for an eye, after all.

 

[Occitania]

The missiles intended for the ships off the coast of Espidiz were spotted and identified shortly after they were fired, thus the Occitan airforce in the area, the divisions of Marsilia and Espidiz and the ships' own anti-air capacity, allowed the two destroyers, the OIS Vinbonne and OIS Marena to suffer minimal damage. The city itself was encircled completely on land, but still supplied by sea due to the Occitan naval superiority, as-well as support from Marsilia's extensive defenses.

In Viasinde, in the glow of the incendiary weapons, there was immense suffering. However, Viasinde rose out of it, with many more bodies than it had had previously but still with ragtag bands of Occitan civilian men coordinating attacks on the Sereniens and the Occitan divisions of Pertu and Viasinde still diligently resisting the Serenien advance. The suffering imposed on the city proved that the evacuation had been a good decision. However the city hadn't fully evacuated, there were just so many people to evacuate and the Sereniens had begun a great attack on the city simply too quickly and too fiercely. Many women that hadn't been evacuated yet and even some that had, but had crossed back into the Northern side of the city when they saw the brutality of the Sereniens, had grabbed weapons and began fighting alongside the men. The napalm and incendiary weapons only increased the amount of women who did so. However, while their help was appreciated, it wasn't as appreciated as it would have been if they were men. Still, the Occitan men weren't exactly in a position to tell them to go back to the Southern side of the city and wait, especially as fighting had spilled over into that area as-well. Some mothers forced their children not able to fight to flee South to the smaller coastal cities South of Viasinde, they would take care of them, and they could find each other again after the battle had ended, for now, the people of Viasinde faced an existential threat. This was also contributed to by the fact that there was overcrowding in Southern Viasinde due to the evacuations, and many had to live in sheds or tents, or in the homes of other families. Children as young as 13 were if not firing at the Sereniens, carrying ammunition and supplies for their elders. While the people of Viasinde were in a terrible predicament, the military on the other hand...

Were making history. The shape of the Serenien forward positions was a very fortunate one, the military had prepared not to be encircled, between the two prongs of the Serenien occupied territory, were three divisions, including both the divisions of the Pejo corps, along with the division of Tote. Next to Viasinde (which was protected by the divisions of Pertu and Viasinde), was the Lions corp and the division of Flonice. At the edge of the Southern advance was the division of Almezde. All of these divisions were in position to target the Serenien positions in several mobile pincer movements and to retake the Northern side of the Aceni at the same time the two Serenien prongs would be closed up. In the North, the division of Sagola and the 5th Pascual Brigade was in position to put further pressure on the Serenien positions, the 6th Amèric Brigade were in position to support the Almezde division in their advance. In total, the front held around 140,000 men of the Occitan army. The positions to advance around 100,000 men. The counter-offensive was immense and well planned, any enemy units attempting to retreat would be forcefully cut off and in out of the ashes of much of Viasinde, rose the besieged Occitan military, who after the brutality of the Serenien attacks, desired to see vengeance delivered on the Sereniens, to execute such a crime against, not just Viasinde, Occitania, but God himself. However as the Occitan motto went, there would be no wishing, there would be making. They became far more aggressive, but would not advance yet, as soon as the nearby prong of the Serenien forward position was in retreat, they would advance as-well, and there would be no quarter for the Sereniens, all captured were to die.

 

[Rheinbund]

Aerial war

Of course the pilots in the Retalian planes weren’t sitting on their hands. Their Luftgeist 2 planes had been equipped with two midrange missiles and four shortrange missiles. The last three hardpoints were taken up by an external fuel tank. Unfortunately, that was needed due to the longer distances the Eiffellandian and Retalian planes had to fly. The Eiffellandian midrange missile had another advantage as well: It was a fire-and-forget weapon. As soon as it was fired, the pilot could work on other things.

As soon as they could, the pilots of the three Luftgeist 2 planes fired their midrange missiles to the Serenien MiG-29 planes. A total of six midrange missiles flew to the Serenien planes. One Serenien plane was targetted by two missiles.

The Luftgeist 2 planes were not as fast as the MiG-29 planes or the Wirbelsturm planes, but they were extremely agile. That turned them into very good dog-fighters. And into very good planes to outmaneuver missiles, apart from the electronic countermeasures to jam the radar systems of missiles. One of the planes didn’t survive though.

Meanwhile, the other five Luftgeist 2 planes engaged the five MiGs as well. As soon as they were close enough, they shot midrange missiles as well. Each plane chose a MiG and fired a midrange missile. Then they approached to enter the dogfight.

The eight planes were part of an air force squadron. The last four planes of that squadron remained in the background and functioned as rescue planes.

 

[Serenierre]

Aerial War - The Skies above Central Occitania

Flight Capt. Noulon and the rest of the fighters under his command commenced evasive actions against the missiles launched by the Concordat fighters. Some sped straight up, well beyond the range of the missiles, others swerved deftly and escaped through acrobatics, they knew how to escape from missiles. However, for Noulon the problem was that two missiles had locked onto his jet and his internal monitors were screaming with alerts and warnings. The radar screen showed the fast approaching threats. With so much as a second thought he attempted to execute the standard evasive techniques that he had been drilled in for years at the air academy and during war games. But to no avail, the missiles remained locked onto his jet. He fired the countermeasures, a burst of high intensity fireworks, almost it seemed like, and one of the missiles was diverted. He executed a dive and then further swerve. His heart was in his throat. He had no idea how it would end for him. Then he pulled the plane up and he managed to dodge the missile by only a sliver. Noulon had lived to tell the tale.

With the threat averted, he pulled his fighter back and ascended to a higher altitude, and check in on his Flight members. All alive. It seemed that each one of them had a similar tale to relate. They had been able to avert their planes from the volley of six missiles that the Concordat fighters had fired through a mix of countermeasures and skilled display of control over their aircraft.

The MiG-29s of the Serenien air force were deadly air superiority fighters especially so in that engagement as they did not have the weight of external fuel tanks holding them down. Designed to take down fighters such as the ones the traditional enemies of the République Populaire would throw at them. Immediately having dealt with the threat, the fighters in Noulon's flight ascended to an even higher altitude, somewhere between 50,000 to 54,000 ft. The massive powerhouse of an engine allowed this. They already knew that there were now well above the Concordat fighters. Most probably, they would be searching for them in the clouds. But they were beyond the range of the Eiffellander made Liftgeist fighters.

But now, from a higher altitude, they would strike down, the attempt would be to attack the Luftgeist 2 jets from above, make the scatter and then zoom past them. This strategy was designed for such planes. And that is what they executed. But as they were approaching they noticed that the additional five jets had joined with the three original planes. It was perhaps not advisable to fight them head on, as planned originally. They pulled back their planes. Now, they were positioned to the Concordat squadron's east and decided to engage in a sideways attack.

Noulon and one of his wingmen fired their R-77 medium range missiles. These missiles, with a speed of Mach 4, and an operational range of 110km. If they could get the formation to break, Flight 54N would then be able to pick off at-least another enemy fighter. But as they attacked, so did the Concordat fighters and once again the warning signs indicated in the planes.

They disengaged and pulled back. The odds would be stacked against them now if they engaged. Throwing on their afterburners, the Flight 54N withdrew and withdrew fast. Even though Noulon had not managed to kill any fighter himself that day, he had been proud that Lesonais had managed to down at least one of the enemy's fighters and only at the cost of some repairable damage to his own jet.

"Flight 54N withdrawing from Sector 5."

The air command noted: "Roger. Flight 65B take over the sector. Enemy presence recorded. Flight 54N confirms one kill." With that, Noulon handed over control to a squadron of Su-27s. It would be their responsibility now to take down the squadron. This far north, there was a ready supply of sorties in the air from the air command. Noulon, himself was headed to one of the advance bases from where his flight would be refitted with weapons and his planes refuelled and then they would wait to launch into another sortie. Obviously, Lesonais, the man of the hour would have to sit it out for some time as his fighter was repaired.

 

[Serenierre]

OPERATION ZEPHYR
The Occitan Strike Back || Day 6 of the War​

The Build-up
Lt. Generals Damas and de Croix - of the V and I corps, respectively - had received word of the amassing Occitan forces three days ago. It was simply not possible to keep a deployment as large as the one being conducted by the Occitan Militar secret. The element of surprise, if they were planning on it, was long ago lost. The High Command even knew that the day was upon them when the Occitanians would launch their counter-offensive. But what had surprised the two Lt. Generals was the sheer folly of the counter-offensive. So desperate were the Occitanians to push back the Serenien Army they had committed massive blunders.

It was de Croix who had pointed out that the entire Occitanian force had been amassed in between the Aceni and Samart river. For a force as large as the one that had been assembled, they had quite foolishly hedged themselves into a position wherein they could find themselves easy pickings at best and trapped at worst. "They are a pack of sardines!" he had bellowed. Damas, in his own turn, had commented that the Occitanians had established a front in an area where they had failed to establish aerial superiority and the sway of Serenien fighters was stronger here as opposed to further south. "I think they jumped the gun, they've exposed themselves. It looks like they are fighting in the Borovangeren civil war."

And it was General Mazarin, Chief of the Army Staff, who had commented, "Why in fuck's name are they amassing one hundred thousand troops and am I correct to believe that their entire armoured contingent is just 400 tanks?" He had then proceeded to comment, "And they seem to have more mechanized artillery units than actual mechanised infantry. What good would that do?" The question was purely rhetorical. "So boys," he had said, "What are we planning?"

The Serenien Counter-Strategy
Since finding out the plan of the counter-offensive, Serenien air assets had been picking at the deploying Occitanians, bombing their supply routes and static defense positions. The aim was to keep this large force on its toes and disturb its plans of creating an effective front. The constant sorties of fighter jets had managed to keep the Concordat threat at bay but everyone knew it was only a matter of time before a stronger presence could be felt in the skies. They had to keep the momentum going through before the Concordat started basing their aircraft more permanently in Occitania. To further strengthen their position, Lt. General Damas had managed to deploy an AA Defence Division from the strategic command in Northern Occitania, on the northern bank of the Aceni River, thus giving the troops of the V Corps and the I Corps additional protection from the Concordat aerial units. The AA defense division was a more streamlined version of the Kadikistani Air Defence Corps, and would work with the two AA Defense brigades already assigned to the two corps in the war zone. The fact that the systems were mobile and had been able to move with any hindrance from enemy fighters had allowed them to be efficient.

With the AA systems in place, the military had also decided to go all out when it came to maintaining aerial superiority. The full gamut of MiG-29s would be assigned to aerial missions to keep the Concordat fighters at bay. This meant that in a constant volley of sorties, the total strength of the fighters was 300 (a mix of MiG-29s and Su-27) that had been redeployed to dominate the skies, would be working in quick succession. They had been charged to keep the skies over the Aceni and Samart rivers clean of enemy activity. The fighters that did manage to get through would be at the mercy of the augmented AA defense systems that had been set up.

On the ground, the strategic picture was all the more complicated. It had been established already that the Sereniens had a heavier armoured and mechanised presence. And on account of the heavy emphasis on aerial superiority, they would have considerable time before the Concordat would manage to send fighters to help the Occitanians in enough numbers to challenge the aerial superiority this far north. But it was clear that there would be a solid thrust through enemy positions in the east and there would be a tactical withdrawal to a more defensible position in the west. But the full might of the 111,900 personnel, 1,425 main battle and light tanks of various configurations and specifications, 3,920 armoured personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and various other configurations of personnel carriers, along with countless artillery, mortars, rocket artillery and other such equipment was unleashed.

THE BATTLE COMMENCES

Zone A: The units that had been engaged in the assault on the city of Viasinde withdrew, leaving behind the burnt out husk of a city and the masses of humans in misery. They would be back, in due course of time, but for now, on account of the Occitanian counter-attack, the mobile infantry units of the 3rd Infantry Division pulled back, and established their defensive perimetre along two rivers and as they withdrew to those positions, they would stop momentarily and fire at the approaching divisions. The fight here would be led by half of the 3rd Infantry Division, the 29th Independent Artillery brigade, with their self-propelled howitzers, establishing a non-static line of defense. Supported by the considerable amounts of cover from Mi-24 gunships and 10 Su-25, for which a landing strip had been established close by, they would hold the line and draw two Occitanian divisions deeper. Going by what they had seen so far, the Occitanians would not bother to waste any opportunity to reclaim lost land. After all, Viasinde had to be liberated, didn't it? Well, whatever was left of the burned out shell of the once beautiful city. The poor city had taken a beating of artillery and napalm over the past few days.

Zone B: This was the bulge in the front against which the Occitanians had thrown two entire corps commands, and here, the Serenien military had established the 280 T-72 tanks from the 3rd Infantry Division, along with their prerequisite mechanized infantry support elements. Joined by the 110th Infantry Brigade, 65th Infantry Brigade and by the 6th Independent Artillery brigade, it was from here that the blast would occur. The armored components from the 3rd Infantry Division divided into two and attacked the oncoming prong of the Lions and Flonice Corps, smashing into them with a mix of direct and tactical assaults. Each Occitanian corps, was rammed hard by 140 main battle tanks and an equal number of mechanised infantry APCs. With close air support in the form of raids via Su-25 ground attack planes, Ka-50 attack helicopters and Mi-24 gunships swooping in from the skies. They picked off artillery units and other threats to the advancing armoured horde. The advance party of reconnaissance APCs, too, were armed with six anti-tank missiles and were used with great effect against mechanized infantry deployments. The Serenien doctrine of the armoured hammer was on full display and the combination of armored assault on the ground and the close air support was particularly effective. The objectives for the armoured thrust was to push to the Samart River, allowing further units such as the remaining infantry brigades and independent artillery and armoured brigades to push through.

The Pejo Corps had attacked on defensive positions which were on the other side of the Aceni River and hence the front here was an exchange of heavy rocket artillery fire from both sides but ultimately nothing particularly noteworthy seemed to transpire here by contrast to the north and south of the Pejo Corps. The men of the 1st Amphibious Assault Division held the line here and their rocket artillery made direct hits on the Occitanian units as they tried to cross the river.

Zone C: The operation was bold and the attack began thus. The 12th, 19th, and 20th Mechanised Infantry brigades from the V Corps were merged into the 1st Mechanized Infantry Division, under the direct command of Maj. General Delacourt, a handpicked choice of Lt. General de Croix. This unit had been plowing into the Occitanian countryside but now it had arrived at an important position. The gap between the Orgeaux River and the northern tributary river which led into the Samart River was open before it. With a total of 240 T-90 main battle tanks and 900 BTR-80 carriers in various configurations, this fast unit was to push into the gap and encircle the Occitanian troops and close off the entire Occitanian deployment in between the Aceni and Samart river. In support of their positions was the 78th Infantry brigade which would hold defensive positions against certain identified targets. The 78th Infantry Brigade was joined by the 2nd Bio-Chemical attack brigade which would fire VX nerve agents into the enemy positions on the mountains. They would not have been expecting that and the 78th Infantry Brigade was fully decked out in protective gear. And to protect against further retaliation from the mountain deployments or from across the Orgeaux River, the Serenien army had deployed another non-static defensive line of mobile infantry units, working in tandem with helicopter gunships.

The 1st Mechanized Infantry division had been ordered to meet up on the southern bank of the Samart River, and engage enemy forces heavily as it went along. They too benefited from the fact that they were taking advantage of the gap in enemy positions and were enjoying almost complete aerial superiority in the upper Aceni River regions, which allowed the heavy presence of Su-25 and Mi-24 gunships to work in tandem with them.