The Sea of Fire [Long Sea & Hymiar Theatre]

[Rheinbund]

Schloss Charlottenburg
Trier, Eiffelland

Empty spaces - what are we living for?
Abandoned places - I guess we know the score..
On and on!
Does anybody know what we are looking for?

Another hero - another mindless crime.
Behind the curtain, in the pantomime.
Hold the line!
Does anybody want to take it anymore?

The Show must go on!
The Show must go on! Yeah!
Inside my heart is breaking,
My make-up may be flaking,
But my smile, still, stays on!

Prince Ludwig was playing the song extremely loudly. He had been playing music very loudly all evening. He was in a very bad mood. Of course the war between Talemantros and Altai had been discussed by him and Sebastiano. The latter had lots of arguments in favour of it, but Ludwig was still a prince of an EDF-country. Furthermore, the peace terms put forward by Talemantros more looked like an attempt to powergrab than like correcting the problems regarding suppression of Christians.
Ludwig was clearly doubting whether Sebastiano was describing his grandfather’s real intentions or not, and if not, who had been lying to whom. Had Emperor Waylon lied to Sebastiano and was Sebastiano currently telling what he believed to be true, or had Emperor Waylon told the truth to Sebastiano and given him the order to lie in Trier? And if the latter, was Sebastiano lying because he agreed with his grandfather’s plans, or was he obeying his grandfather although he disagreed with him? In any case, the discussions about Altai between Ludwig and Sebastiano had been quite painful after Ludwig had confronted Sebastiano with the discrepancy between Talemantros’s peace terms pointing at power grab and the reasons for war Sebastiano had mentioned.

Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance.
Another heartache - another failed romance.
On and on...
Does anybody know what we are living for?

I guess i'm learning
I must be warmer now..
I'll soon be turning, round the corner now.
Outside the dawn is breaking,
But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free!

The Show must go on!
The Show must go on! Yeah, yeah!
Ooh! Inside my heart is breaking!
My make-up may be flaking...
But my smile, still, stays on!
Yeah! oh oh oh

Ludwig realised very well that the current events could lead to him and Sebastiano falling apart, if not because they quarreled themselves, then because the relations between their countries deteriorated to such an extent that Sebastiano would be called back to Talemantros. And the thought of him and Sebastiano falling apart made Ludwig very sad. He never realised that their love could be torn apart by political events.

My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies,
Fairy tales of yesterday, will grow but never die,
I can fly, my friends!

The Show must go on! Yeah!
The Show must go on!
I'll face it with a grin!
I'm never giving in!
On with the show!

I'll top the bill!
I'll overkill!
I have to find the will to carry on!
On with the,
On with the show!

The Show must go on.

Ludwig’s life had been determined by that thought before he came out of the closet. Now he was not only thinking of Sebastiano, but also of Andrzej, son of the current monarch of Altai. And of his best friend Philipp Cretu. The latter’s father was from Altai as well. He fled for the communist regime in the 1980s to become the producer behind many Eiffellandian bands and a synthesizer composer himself. Under the name Enigma, he catapulted his single Sadeness into the charts of Eiffelland and many other countries. Meanwhile, it was hard to find people who had never made love while playing the Enigma album containing Sadeness, MCMXD a.D. With the woman that would become his wife later on, he produced the single Maria Magdalena, which hit the number 1 rank in the charts in many countries in 1985.
Philipp was definitely an Eiffellandian. Ludwig also knew Philipp’s father. He had become an Eiffellandian as well. But how strong was the band of blood? And then Andrzej. On the other side: Ludwig’s lover Sebastiano. One thing was clear: Ludwig did not want to choose. He did not want to be forced to choose, either. To him, it was crucial that the Talemantine‑Altaic war would not be fought at the Königliches Gymnasium. He decided to talk to Sebastiano and Andrzej about it, to tell both guys that he did not want to choose between them, and to ask both guys not to force him to choose and to act as normal as possible to each other. He would also try to find out to what extent the Talemantine‑Altaic war was an issue to Philipp. Luckily, that guy was extremely relaxed when it came to politics.

Ludwig looked at his alarm clock. 22:10. Sebastiano would probably still be awake. He decided to walk to his room.


OOC: Songtext: Queen – The show must go on.

IRL, Enigma is a project of Michael Cretu, who fled Romania during the communist times. He went to Germany and became a producer there. He married the singer Sandra Lauer, the woman who sang in Arabesque during the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s, and was the lead singer of the band Sandra. With that band, she had an enormous hit with Maria Magdalena. Enigma had an enormous hit with Sadeness in 1990 and 1991. And indeed, that song can be found on the album MCMXC a.D.

 

[Taley]

Long Sea
TIS Theodora II and TIS Horace I

It was not long before the Altaic fleet would reach Eiffiellander waters. The Theodora II was in pursuit of the retreating Altaic fleet. Vice Admiral Jutta Vasilini wanted to gain the respect of her peers and that respect would come at the final blow of the Altaics. Before Jutta didn't use enough against the Altaics, but not this time. She would hit them with everything she had. "I want that ship under the waves; no excuses!" She order on the bridge of her carrier fleet. The message went across her fleet and all ships prepared to target the Czar Edvard II. The mount of missiles would be overwhelming for its escort defenses and surely send it to the bottom of the ocean.

"Admiral we have reports of enemy subs approaching." Jutta was well aware of the enemy presence beneath the waves. Her NH90 helicopters had been doing anti-submarine warfare along with a few of her frigates, as well with her escorting submarines ahead of the fleet. She was prepared for fighting both above and below the waves. The sonar buoys dropped by the helicopters would reveal their locations and dropping torpedoes into the water. Talemantine subs moved into position to attack the enemy subs and frigates as they moved closer to the fleet.

Admiral Tancredo Ulleri was watching as his men continued to defend from the air attacks. He had lost men and a ship or two. Even his carrier was damaged by a suicidal pilot those fanatical pagans. His aircraft combined with the aircraft sent from the Theodora he was able to hold his own. now the Atlaic fleet retreated and the Engellexics were pulling back as well leaving Ulleri left to finish mopping up the remainder of the Altaic airforce.

TIS Waylon X
Dialgorod

Bonifazio Calza was the pilot of the lead Harrier in the air wing of the Waylon X. After attacking the city's defenses he turned back to the sea to chase the Altaics attacking his fleet. He was closing in on the enemy when the target was locked he fired his missile. He and the rest of the harriers in the wing chased down the five altaic fighters gunning for their carrier; they were out numbered in the fight and easy to get. They rest of the enemy craft were sent to their god be the surface to air missiles on the cruisers and frigates.

Vice Admiral Zaccaria Di Livio braced as one of the Altaic aircrafts slammed into his carrier. He watched from the bridge as his crew worked feverishly to put out the flames. Zaccaria heard the reports from the fight in the Long Sea, but he never believed it until he now saw it with his own eyes. The people in this country were crazy lunatics. How would they ever be able to function in the international community. It would only be a matter of time before Altai would do to Talemantros what Solaren did to Nicosia and Lorraine. They had to be stopped now and Di Livio's resolve to win only grew stronger.

 

[Taley]

2nd Corps
Outskirts of Dialgorod

Lt. General Gamossi smiled as every explosion ringed in his ears. He was a man who loved war. This was his element. The air was filled with the sand from the coast and the dirt from the rubble of the fronts. He felt that a general should lead from the front like the ancients instead of sitting safe behind an army barking orders. The general and his brigade were not far from the front lines and even Gamossi had to upholster his weapon and fire. He now had a cap which srved as a trophy from the ProNat soldier he killed during an attempted bayonet charge. Emidio turned back to the table with satellite photos of Dialgorod and the surrounding city. His corps had pushed the Altaics to this city and with Gamossi at their west and the Waylon X attacking the city at their east, the Altaics were cornered with the only options to die or fall back south of the city. He smiled knowing that he was up against the most feared divisions of the ProNat and he had succeeded in pushing them this far.

For every mortar from the Altaics the Talemantines returned with mortars of their own, followed with tank fire and gunships. The 2nd Corps began to transition from open field combat to urban combat as the inched closed to the city where, knowing the Altaics, more hand to hand combat would increase. Gamossi's men were prepared and trained in urban combat, but Gamossi was frustrated that the combat would slow him down to much. He wanted a victory over the Dan Abari division and their commander Garin. He ordered his southern flanks to begin moving south encircling the city. Soon the Altaics only escape would be cut off from the rest of their nation.

1st Corps
Siddi El Hani

Siddi El Hani was turning out to be the hardest of the battles of the invasion. The spear of the Talemantine army against the brute of the Altaic military and the only thing that was known was the Uroduah town was the certain loser. Much of the town had been turned into a pile of rubble scattered to the winds. Now Fausto Josi had his back against a shattered stone wall as he reloaded another magazine into his rifle as the pops of gunfire are heard and shards of stone rain down upon him. Fausto was navigating the battlefield after his tank was hit by an RPG severing one of its tracks immobilizing the vehicle. Josi and his crew had to abandon the tank when it caught fire taking one of his men with it. He returned fire and tossed a grenade in the direction of the enemy as the attack helicopters flew over head.

Separated from his men Fausto's one goal was to head in the direction of camp when an Altaic soldier charged; Fausto pulled up his rifle and fired watching as the soldier drop to the ground dead. Then another Altaic dropped down from the top of the wall onto Fausto. These guys seamed to pop out of everywhere. The two struggled exchanging jabs until Josi was able to reach for his combat knife and plunged it into the enemy's chest and then again and again as his professional training broke way to primal instinct. Once it was clear that the enemy was dead Fausto wiped the blood oozing from his nose where he took an elbow to the face and then checked the dead soldier's pockets for ammunition and anything else of use. After retrieving his rifle from the dirt Josi headed off in the direction of the Talemantine forward post.

Salvation Army Camp
Foothills of the Zagora Mountains
Zamosk Oblast

The news of the events in Malin had hit many of the men hard especially Averin. The leader of the Salvationists had retreated to his quarters to mourn his family and with Davizzo with he radio broadcasts and preaching in the churches of the surrounding villages. With both Averin and Vitti not present the leadership fell to Cornelio. The radio and the preaching had slowly begun to revive the spirit of the region when the Salvationist first began to fight against the Diaginists and with it were new recruits to swell his numbers and to train. Though those that now came to join the Salvationists were now younger in their late teens and early twenties a far cry from the late thirties and forties that the Salvationists began with over two years ago. However, despite the numbers coming in he needed more to form an effective fighting force. It was Cornelio who saw the silver lining in this tragedy. The news would spread quickly across the region and the salvationists would spin it to show the barbaric actions of the Diaginists as people who would attack innocent women and children when they were non combatants. This would enrage the people and up the stakes for everyone. Not only would their faith be at risk, but their mothers, sons, and daughters.

Averin walked out of the tent and into the sunlight. The grief and stress could be clearly seen on his face in spite of his attempt to hide it.

"Colonel are you okay?" Corneilo asked the distraught officer.

"No, but I will be. The ProNat answer to the Czarina and all those innocent lives are on Tatyana's hands. We will have vengeance and retribution for our fallen families and those responsible will pay."

Cornelio watched as rage replaced grief on the face of the colonel and that anger would fuel the aged officer.

 

[Natal]

Defending the nest III
NFS Cherep


“Sir, the Talemantines shot another volley!” said an inferior officer, showing the radar to Captain Golovin.
“My god, there are… the missiles are targeting the cruiser! Open fire! Shoot them down!”
The CIWIS began firing on the missiles, but it was useless. There were too many of them. Suddenly a series of huge explosions have shaken the ship. NFS Czar Edvard II was hit.
“NFS Cherep to NFS Czar Edvard II… Respond Edvard II… Golovin to Revnik…”
“Sir, the bridge of the cruiser was hit. Around 5 missiles have struck the ship. It is sinking.”
Golovin stayed a few minutes to think and then ordered:
“Send messages to the rest of our ships to follow us.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Full throttle. Direction north-west. Close all the radars.”

NFS Rechinul

“Sir, the cruiser is sinking.”
Captain Trofimov didn’t say anything. He was thinking. The battle of the Long Sea was over. And the National Fleet was defeated.
“Sir, we are receiving a message for Captain Golovin. He orders the retreat of the fleet to the Eiffellandian waters.”
“We will do so. But first position the submarine in front of the carrier. Send a message to the NFS Delfinul and the NFS Marsuinul to follow the NFS Cherep.”
Trofimov waited until the crew positioned the submarine in the direction of the Theodora II.
“The Delfinul and the Marsuinul are close to us, sir.”
“Order them to fire.”
When the two submarines shot two torpedoes each targeting the TIS Theodora II, Rechinul also launched two torpedoes in the same direction.
“Now, split the formation! Delfinul, Marsuinul, continue to follow the Frigate Cherep. Prepare for crash dive, close the sonar and the radio. God be with us!”

Headquarters of the 2nd Army
East of Vidra

General Adamsky has taken command of the 2nd Army after Hetman Garin took command of the Dan Abari Military ProNat division. He received a new order, saying that the defenders of Vidra are still delaying the Talemantine central offensive. General Alim Rahman and General Leonid Sinitsyn were standing near him.
“We will relive the el Hani and the Dialgorod fronts.” Adamsky said toughly. “General Rahman, you will take the Scimitar division to Siddi el Hani and garrison the village and I will move further north with the rest of the army to relive the Siege of Dialgorod.”
“But what will happen the central front?” asked Sinitsyn.
“I will leave two divisions here on the eastern banks of the Socodor River. “
“It isn’t enough. Twenty thousand men cannot hold an entire Talemantine Army,” protested Sinitsyn.
“I’ve also asked for reinforcements from Altaisk. Three divisions are to arrive in the next week. All you have to do Sinitsyn is to wait for them, fortify the western bank, mine the eastern bank and hope that Vidra won’t fall until reinforcements arrive.”

Operation Southern Star
Noul Al A’raf

“I’ve ordered the mobilization of the planes in Rovograd for some days, also in Surdoiu and in Altaisk, we are preparing for an aerial strike on the Waylon X. All the planes are scheduled to leave in such a way that they will arrive at the same moment in Dialgorod and begin the attack. If everything will go well we can achieve aerial superiority over Dialgorod and the coast.” Said General-of-the-Air Stepan Dabrowsky finishing the briefing. “Fedorov, please come with me.”
Captain Fedorov followed Dabrowsky and the two began to go side by side.
“I want to tell you Fedorov, that I am proud of you. The entire Air Force is proud of you.”
“Why so, general?”
“You are the only man who commanded by now a force that could actually damage some of the Talemantine ships. This is the start of our campaign. I didn’t modify any of the planes for the supreme sacrifice, so I want you stop any of the pilots who want to do so. We will succeed, Fedorov. There are around one hundred planes attacking the Waylon X. It is a huge number.”
“It is also risky. If we are defeated, we will lose more than a half of the remaining planes of the Air Force.”
“I didn’t believe that you of all men will show signs of defeatism. If Jurzan defeated the Talemantines, why couldn’t we defeat them?”
“Jurzan was helped by Carentania.”
“We will be helped by the EDF.”
“They didn’t show any signs of helping us by now.”
“When the ceasefire with Engellex will stop, they will send help. Until then we must fight them ourselves. But now seriously, I’ve ordered the assembly of SAM installations between Surdoiu-Noul Al A’raf-Altaisk to stop the enemy airplanes entering the eastern regions and I will reorganize the bases of our planes after you will return. We will have no more than 5 planes per base. And bases scattered all around the country. It will be hard for them to detect all our bases.”

 

[Natal]

Hunting Circumstances III
Altaisk

Czarina Tatyana was reading the transcripts of the broadcast of the Salvation Army radio. She was shocked, not because of the scandal the Talemantine Empire wants to make of this, but of Lazarev’s actions. He acted denying his orders.
“We need to discipline our forces in Zamosk. And we can make this by giving an example of what happens when you act by yourself when you received clear orders.”
“You are right, my queen,” Karin affirmed. “But what about the political scandal the Talemantine Empire will drag us in?”
“We need to make the world believe it is just propaganda. If the Talemantines succeed with this, we will lose much foreign support.”
Karin nodded.
“We must finish the war in Zamosk so that we can concentrate on the west,” she continued.
“Pukovnik Tomaszewsky has shown interest in taking control of the Zamosk campaign.”
“Good. Under the command of Kosmas, everything was stagnant. If he can defeat Averin once and for all, send him there.”

Malin

“Prisoner: A person deprived of his liberty. Execution: the infliction of the capital punishment. Do you understand the differences between those two words?”
“I…know the differences.” Responded Lazarev sweating.
“Then, why did you acted foolishly and did what you did, instead of following Kosmas’ orders and arrest them?”
“I…I…”
“You know that for this you have no escape, you literally fucked your own life with this.” He took his pistol and put it on the table in front of Lazarev. “I would like to avoid the red tape, so you know what to do.”
With this being said he got out of the room and left Lazarev alone. In the conference room, in formation of three lines, stood frozen all the ProNat officers of the Malin Prefecture. None of them moved when he entered the room. He was glad that he had this influence over them. This will make things easy. Suddenly a shot was heard form the adjacent room. Many of the officers startled.
“My name is Maksim Andreevich Tomaszewsky. I came to take things in hand here. After what I read in the last reports this institution has become a joke for all of the inhabitants of Zamosk. All because of Averin. I want to know why we couldn’t find him.”
All officers remained frozen.
“They have a radio station which they used to publish classified information about the war and broadcast propaganda so that maybe there are some fools that still think that God will come and help them. They started this war. They will pay for it. When they will broadcast again, we can position them because of the radio waves. If you won’t find them I will personally make sure that all of you will be in the first line in the western front. Have I made myself clear?”
“Yes, sir!”

 

[Natal]

Viper in the Shadow I
Dara, Krajina Oblast
10 November 2011

The city of Dara was the largest city in Altai, with a population of around six millions and a half. The Eastern regions of the country were the most developed ones mostly because of the majority of the oil wells being situated in the north-west of Krajina Oblast and the south-east of the Zamosk Oblast. The city itself was a center of the Altaic culture since the Independence war in the 14th century and it was a capital until the Socialist Revolution.

Svetlana Shevchenko was walking on the General Suvorov Boulevard. She was going at a grocery store. The last time, her roommate, Ksenya, had done the shopping and paid everything with her own money. Now Svetlana had to do the same. She didn’t like it. Now, her “economy” will be greatly strained. It was great at first when she moved with Ksenya, when the two of them went to do this kind of shopping and shared the payment.

She entered the store and looked at the list: eggs, milk, bread, a cucumber, tomatoes, oranges, apples, cheese, and some bacon. First she went to take the eggs. She looked for the formwork with 10 eggs but then she looked at the price. Eight Reais? Two weeks age they cost only five Reais. She took the formwork with six eggs instead. She continued the shopping. Nearly all prices increased.
Two hours later she war back in the student hostel.

“What took you so long?” asked Ksenya when she entered the apartment.

“I didn’t have money for diesel and the metro was again overloaded, so I came by foot.”

“Let me help you.” She said as she took the grocery bags from Svetlana.

“It’s horrible. Everything is expensive.”

“Where were you today? You missed classes.”

“I know…I know. I went to talk with someone.”

“With whom?”

“A public servant.” Svetlana said smiling. “You said that Cătălin will come back the next week from the countryside. How is he?”

“Ok, I suppose. He didn’t have signal all the week so he could only call me from a public telephone. And we rarely spoke.”

“Come on let’s take a walk.”

“OK, let’s go.”

Ksenya took her jacket and the two got out of the apartment. The flats of the student hostel were recently renovated and looked modern. The girls crossed the Constitution Boulevard and entered the Liberty Park. The rainy season began this week and it wasn’t a day with around 4 hours of continuous raining. The thermometers showed around 15 centigrades.

“I always wanted to be a teacher.” Said Ksenya breaking the silence. “But after this day…”

“What happened?”

“They took 5 students and we went to the Dragan I High School. And taught. Yes…we made a test, if we can call it this way. We entered the class and began talking. I had to give lessons about the Independence War and Fariid Haalik. The class was made of 34 students and I sensed 70 mean eyes watching and judging me.”

“You said there were 34 students.”

“The devil was also there. That sour teacher, Rotmistrov. It was awful. I began to stutter and when I was at the raids across the Ier, Rotmistrov said that I should stop and he took over.”

“Did the students laughed? “

“I didn’t notice, I could only see Rotmistrov’s mean, cold eyes. But I think they laughed. If they didn’t he won’t have taken over the class. It was horrible. I cannot imagine myself teaching and speaking everyday in front of brats like that.”

“Yes, about that…”

“What is it?”

“I think is time for my follow my dreams. My mother didn’t let me enter the Tirgu Ier Military High School. I think the time has come for me to follow my dreams and do it. Now, as the country is at war, it is a duty for me to do it. I will join the military.”

For the first time in a conversation between them, Ksenya didn’t know what to say.

 

[Taley]

Vidra

Lieutenant General Benvenuto Feroci and his men had held off from taking the town in case he would be needed in Siddi el Hani. Feroci had Vidra surrounded with the Altaic force still off to the East; they still held off and Benvenuto didn’t know why. Now there were reports that the bulk of the Altaic forces were moving north and away from Vidra. Regardless the Altaics were giving him an opportunity that he could not let slide by. Vidra was still held by a small force of soldiers that would resort to close quarters combat, but he had the superior force to take the city. With the Altaic shake up Feroci would take the city while the main enemy was distracted.

The order was given and the assault on Vidra began. As they entered the city Humvees with mounted machine guns fired upon the enemy positions as they fired from windows and street corners. Grenades were thrown and the occasional RPG returned fire at the high rises.

Air Commodore Lottieri Soranzo had a surprise for the two divisions left east of Vidra. His fighters loaded up with

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bombs and headed toward the divisions under Sinitsyn. This attack would certainly strike fear into the minds of the altaics.

Ulma
3[SUP]rd[/SUP] Corps

Ulma was turning into a harden battle. The Altaic air counter offensive was out gunned. Air Commodore Dono Alasia had nearly twice as many fighters as the enemy and they had to come in from farther away leaving them with less time to fight before having to return to refuel. The beeping of the console of the Fighting Falcon let its pilot know that its target had been acquired and fired its missile. The pilot watched as the Altaic fighter exploded into a fireball before proceeding to find its next target.

Lt. General Federico Inzaghi continued to move into the city as the army returned the rocket attack with artillery, mortars, and RPGs. The Ariete and Centauro divisions targeted the Altaic TR-85 division and fought for the city. Above the city Croce Abbado was in his AW109 laying fire against the enemy rocket launchers. Then the alarms went off as the sensors detected a rocket heading for him. Croce turned his helicopter hard to the right dodging the RPG and returned a slew of missiles in the spot where the rocket came from. Then the sensors went off again; another rocket was coming his way and he maneuvered his craft to miss it, but he was too late. The last thing Croce saw was bright light of the fire that engulfed his helicopter. Around the front the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] Corps air power were targeting the enemy armor units.

Dialgorod

Lt. General Gamossi was proud of his corps; they had maneuvered around the city and Garin and his ProNat Division were cut off with nowhere to go. Dispite this victory dismal news had reached him. The report was that the Altaics were moving another division to break his siege on the city. He knew he needed to do something. The Altaics were planning something and in involved the satellite pictures of movement from the east that lay on his table. The outcome of this fight always laid with the air power not simply troops on the ground. The Altaics could send division after division and as long as the Talemantines retained air superiority over Dialgorod Gamossi would win. The only way that Altai could win would to be break the Talemantine air power and the only way to do that would be to use over whelming power. That had to be the only thing Altai could be doing in the East, organizing an air attack, but this couldn’t be proven. However, though Gamossi was at time reckless, he felt in his gut that it would be better to make the calls and pray that his superiors would give him what he needed.

Vice Admiral Zaccaria Di Livio watched as his carrier began mending itself from the Altaic suicide pilot. Now that he knew what he was dealing with he would need to be more conservative in his actions and orders, lest he lost the carrier that bares the emperor’s name.

“Admiral Di Livio we have a message from the army command in Dialgorod.” One of his officers informed him. Zaccaria prayed that it was a message telling him the city had yielded, but this was not to be his day. It was a message from the 2nd Corps informing him that there was a suspected imminent air attack upon the imperial forces in Dialgorod. Di Livio knew this included his fleet and he didn’t have the air power to defend against an attack to reestablish Altaic air superiority. It was better to hide.

“There is an incoming attack by the remaining Altaic airforce. I want all fighters scrambled in the air now. Have the escorts to lay a smoke screen around the carrier and the fleet. Begin releasing chaff into the area and deploy floatable radar decoys into the water. All ships are to begin evasive maneuvers.”

“Yes Admiral.” Between the smokescreen, chaff, and radar decoys it would hard for the Altaics to find the Waylon X.

Vice-Marshal Javier Stufa, commander of the Northern Air Force, was reviewing an urgent request from the front lines in the Altaic war. Emidio Gamossi had requested the assistance of some of the wings of Stufa’s air force. In Javier’s opinion, Gamossi was a hot headed man who ran into a situation shooting first and then not understanding why the dead refuse to answer his questions. So it was either that Emidio did need the help or he was exaggerating the situation and with Gamossi one could never tell. For Javier it was no problem to send two wings to Dialgorod; they were based in La Spezia and close to Dialgorod. If Gamossi was wrong then Stufa only wasted fuel and perhaps his guys could get a few hits in, however, if Emidio was right then Stufa would be saving the day. It was a win-win for Javier. Stufa approved the request and within hours the first and second wings of the Northern airforce left their runways for Dialgorod.

Siddi El Hani

Lt. General Venceslao Ori commanded the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] Corps of the Eastern Army. His men had been called up by General Nieto to reinforce the front in the Uroduah village. With the fighting of the valiant 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Corps against the Altaic forces Ori’s fresh troops would be able to overwhelm the beleaguered enemy. Venceslao was ready to take the fight on the offensive and claim victory with his corps taking the the town away from Altai.

General Appiano Nieto Dux felt better, but not relieved; one could not be relieve while fighting was still going on. The 4[SUP]th[/SUP] Corps had arrived on scene and the latest movement by the Altaics, meant Ori was right on time. The altiacs were diverting much of their forces from Vidra to ease the pressure the Talemantines were putting on them in Dialgorod and Siddi El Hani. They would send a fresh division to Siddi el Hani and Nieto would great them with a new corps.

Along with the added Corps, the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] wing of the eastern airforce had been sent in by Vice-Marshal Uberto Pamfili. Like his subordinate in Vidra, the Vice-Marshal wanted to strike a powerful blow in this fight. It was time to hammer the Altaics back to their capital. All the fighters of the Siddi El Hani battle were load with Mark 77 bombs and sent them into the ranks of the Altaic army and the Scimitar division. This attack, combined with the attacks of the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] Corps, hopefully would break the lines of the enemy.

Corporal Fausto Josi was taking a drink from the canteen he had been given. After his trek through the ongoing battlefield, Fausto found a group of Talemantine soldiers and their unit. Gunfire and explosions could still be heard in the distance. Another encounter with the crazed altaics, Josi and his new unit were back at camp getting patched up by a medic. As the medic was bandaging his wound, he noticed that she was a looker in an iron-manish kind of way . . . . ok she wasn’t pretty at all, but it had been weeks since this war began and equally as long since he had been with one of the local girls back at base. So this medic would have to do, but she walked away before he could make a move. Fausto had nearly burned in his tank, shot at, and an attempted gutting at the hand of an Altaic, and he still struck out. Life was unfair. Then he heard the shriek of the fighters high in the sky going in the direction he had come from and watched the fireballs erupt across the Altaic lines from the Mark 77s.

 

[Taley]

Salvation Army Camp
Zamosk Oblast​

If Tatyana were here Averin could kiss her. While he still mourned the loss of his family, the actions of the ProNat in Malin had driven an army into his arms. Nearly all of Zamosk was enraged at the actions of the Altaics and the support from the Chrisitian communities was overflowing. Volunteers from the villages continued to join the Salvationist cause, and these volunteers were more than average joes, they were members of the local law enforcement and police officers who brought with them knowledge in fighting and urban combat. It couldn't match a modern army, but it was enough and it helped Cornelio train the rest of the group. Now Averin could field numbers in his rebuilt army and soon it would be time to strike.

For as much as Averin and Cornelio were building and army, Davizzo was preaching throughout the region carrying a message of hope and victory. The radio in the camp had long fell silent to broadcasts as it no longer was able to service the growing need. Due to the acts in Malin Davizzo only recorded his messages instead and the recordings were giving to friendly radio stations to be played to the wider audience. Now the Salvation Radio was everywhere and anywhere across Zamosk, and the people were listening.

Now Aliko, Cornelio, and Averin were sitting a table within the main command tent. The table was littered with topographic maps of their target as well as pictures of the area they had printed out. The map was recent withing a few years, but there could have been more detail to it. Their target was the Coastal town of Asau to the south and Aliko had just returned from a reconnaissance mission. With Cornelio's camera, Aliko took pictures of various strategic positions in the city and now they were scattered on the table.

"Colonel there isn't many soldiers in Asau. Most of the stationed soldiers are south in Marka participating in the siege against Danilov. They have only left a few behind to guard the base over here." Aliko said placing a picture of the Asau base's main gate on the map near its location. "This base has a small armory and there is a small private regional airfield near it. It only has one runway, but its in good shape. It was closed down and taken over by the military for their sole use."

"Is this helicopter still there?" Cornelio asked pointing to one of the pictures.

"It was when I left, but it could be gone by now."

"So how many guards did you count?" Averin asked.

"I couldn't be sure, but I guessed to be about a platoon with no more than 50 men."

"Aliko what about the city itself? It is a Christian city, wouldn't they support us?" Cornelio asked.

"They would but many of the city leaders are pro-Altaic put in place to keep control. If we take the base I'm sure we can force them out of the city."

"So gentlemen what do you think? Do we go for Asau?" Averin asked his two closest advisers.

Cornelio spoke up first, "Colonel, Asau, while small, is an very strategic position for us. It has," the Talemantine tapped a position on the map, "a functioning port and an airfield to give a small start. Once we get it the Intelligence Secretariat can send in arms and food to support our cause, and possible begin sending troops to reinforce our positions. Not to mention the international support that may come in after our success shows the world we are a viable alternative to the Altiac regime. We have enough men to over power the Altaics and put ourselves in a very good position." Aliko nodded in agreement.

"So then Asau it is." Averin half said to himself. Some men would be sent down ahead of the attack to hid throughout the city so they would be ready when the attack began. The attack was scheduled to begin tomorrow night.

 

[Taley]

Long Sea
TIS Vanna Vanozza & TIS Sitha​

"Target acquired Captain."

"Fire torpedoes, ensign." Captain Alfonso Haghio ordered. The fleet had been tracking the Altaic submarines since the beginning of the engagement with the the anti-submarine warfare actions of some of the escorts and the ASW helicopters of the Theodora II. As Captain of the Vanna Vanozza his and the other subs were tasked with protecting the fleet from enemy submarines and the sonar buoys dropped the helicopters had helped them see the Altaic subs coming. The rest of the submarines in the fleet followed suit of the Vanna Vanozza.

"Captain we have enemy torpedoes in the water."

"Targets?"

"The Theodora sir."

"Deploy countermeasures and evasive maneuvers. We must protect the Theodora."

Above the waves the TIS Sitha was hard at work conducting anti-submarine warfare from the surface. She and the other ASW frigates had deployed an array of torpedo decoys in front of the fleet and around the carrier. Through these measures any torpedo would have to fight to make it to the Talemantine capital ship. "Captain enemy torpedo has made it through the decoys." Captain Lapo looked at the screen and the only thing between the torpedo and the Theodora was the Sitha. "Turn hard port side." As the ship moved Lapo knew he was doing the right thing. The ship shuttered under the impact and flames climbed up the side of vessel and the hull cracked. Lapo was thrown to the floor as the ship violently listed to the side of the impact. The sound of the ship as it broke into half was deafening as the last act of Captain Lapo was to order everyone to abandon ship.

Trier, Eiffeland​

"I don't have anything against Andrzej. We've been family for sixteen years since were both were two, long before this conflict ever arose. This war isn't about any ill will toward the Demians or Aunt Tatyana. Altai has been a scourge to my country for decades and centuries, sparking terrorism and wars. Even now after my grandfather helped the monarchy come back to power they attack our allies, and we are the villains for defending our friends."

Sebastiano hated when he felt like this, with his life spinning out of control. Since the war began it had become tense in Trier, Sebastiano was the scion of the enemy, and while no one would say anything to him their looks said it all. The war between the two Himyari states had echoed the tensions between the EDF and the Talemantine Empire. Historically the states of Himyar had resisted EDF influence on the continent as they have seen it as a step outside their understood sphere of influence. However, Talemaniki has always held favorable views of the EDF, and many of those in the high government circles still held those views of states like Eiffelland and Franken. But the EDF seamed to be unable get that this wasn't an Anti-EDf issue, but an Altaic issue. The EDF may have sparked the war, but it was being fought over Himyari issues.

"For decades Ludwig the Altaics have been these fanatics that have attacked and hammered the Talemantine gates and now my government is going to deal with this problem once and for all for the safety of our people, just as Eiffeland is fighting in Solaren for the safety of its people and the region."

In Trier Sebastiano was freer than back home and the last thing he wanted was to leave. Having his cousin Andrzej in the city when he moved here helped him adjust. This was not how he envisioned his life in Eiffeland would turn out.

 

[Taley]

TIS Horace I
Altaic Waters East of Cala​

Since the victory at sea the imperial navy held command of the Altaic waters. Now it was time to use that advantage. The Horace I and its fleet left the Long Sea for the position between Cala and the Zamosk Peninsula, while the TIS Theodora II moved to a position North of Rovograd. Soon the help the Salvationists had prayed for would be arriving in the North and the east of Altai would feel the sting of the Talemantine military. Vice Admiral Callisto Campisi commanded the fleet while Admiral Ulleri remained in Zadarska over seeing the distribution of the humanitarian aid Talemantros had sent to the Engellexic islands. Callisto Looked on the map of Altai and read his latest command. While the Altaics were focusing on Dialgorod with the 2nd Corps and the northern airforce battling the altaics there, Campisi would move the fight more eastward.

The Fleet used its cruise missiles to target and attack the anti-air defenses and SAM sites in the city. The harriers of the Horace I left the deck and headed for Surdiou; they were ordered to attack airfields and RADAR stations in the cities and any aircraft on the ground.

 

[Rheinbund]

Trier, Eiffelland

“The most important thing to me is that I don’t want to see you fight with Andrzej,” Ludwig said to Sebastiano. “He is also a friend of mine, and if the two of you are going to fight, I really don’t know what to do.”

The arguments Sebastiano used to justify Talemantros’s attack on Altai weren’t new to Ludwig. Sebastiano had already told them before. The most important thing Ludwig understood from it was that the relations between Altai and Talemantros were more complex than he originally thought. Sebastiano had also told before that the attack on Altai should not be considered an attack on the EDF. Ludwig saw the logic behind that thought, but also saw that Sebastiano was overlooking something.
He also had the feeling that the arguments used by the Talemantine government to justify the war against Altai were not the real ones, that Emperor Waylon had a hidden agenda that was darker than the official agenda. Talemantros’s war against Altai was not the humanitarian mission the Talemantine government described it to be, at least according to Ludwig. Why else would Talemantros claim Altai’s oil fields in exchange for a peace treaty? Sebastiano, however, apparently believed what the government of Talemantros said. He was extremely good at math, but there was one kind of math he was not good at.
Ludwig had already confronted Sebastiano with the discrepancy between Talemantros’s justifications for the war and its peace conditions, but that resulted in a quarrel. Retrospectively, Ludwig understood that. In fact he had said that the Talemantine government was lying, and implicitly he had said that Sebastiano himself was spreading a lie. It was logical that Sebastiano was mad about that.
Ludwig would do it differently now. The approach of trying to “win” the discussion would only make the quarrel deeper. Both Ludwig and Sebastiano would dig themselves in with their arguments. Therefore, he would not try to convince Sebastiano, but show him some other views on the problem.

“You say that your country attacked Altai because Queen Tatyana had attacked Engellex, a country you describe as a friend of Talemantros. In itself, it is good to stand up for your friends,” Ludwig said. “But there is also another side to the problem. Montelimar. The Altaier attack against Engellex did not come out of the blue. Altai just wanted to help the alliance it had become a member of by attacking the country that had attacked a member of the alliance Altai had become a member of. Altai attacked Engellex because Engellex had previously attacked Montelimar. And Engellex’s attack did come out of the blue. Altai’s attack against Engellex had the same noble motive as your country’s attack against Altai. Would Engellex not have attacked Montelimar, the EDF would never have approved an attack by Altai against Engellex. In any case, Altai’s attempt to help the EDF was blocked by Talemantros. I want to believe that the Talemantine attack against Altai is only directed at Altai and not at the other EDF countries, but it did have negative consequences to the EDF as a whole. And that is the reason why the EDF is currently a bit cautious to Talemantros.”

Also Ludwig did not want to see Sebastiano leave. He was still heavily in love with him. Luckily, his parents did not have any intentions to send Sebastiano home, at least not before the final exams. The only danger for that would come out of Talemaniki. There was always the possibility that Emperor Waylon would call his grandson back.
And then there was something else that Ludwig feared. Kyiv, a heavily fascist country, started to gain influence in Talemantros. Sebastiano would not have a happy life in a Talemantros slowly turning fascist. But it could also have consequences to Ludwig. He already envisioned how Emperor Waylon would accuse him of having made Sebastiano gay. Or Eiffelland’s Royal Family. Or Trier. Or Eiffelland as a whole.

 

[Taley]

Asau
Zamosk Oblast​

To Colonel Lucian Averin it was a bitter sweet day. He had taken Asau, but the Altaics have captured the Salvationist religious leader Archbishop Danilov. It was a setback, but he had to endure and press forward. Averin let his hands trace the outline of the cross, a patch his wife had sewed into his uniform when this fight began a few years ago. He reminisced over how they had won their victory here.

At the beginning of the night they loaded up a van with a bomb made from fertilizer and other chemicals. The two men who drove the van floored the gas and barreled through the gate and checkpoint and then detonated the bomb inside the van. Then they launched RPGs at the guard towers along the perimeter and drove in two old police truck with a machine gun mount that had been welded on and began to lay down suppressing fire against their enemies while the Salvationist flooded in through the destroyed main gate. Then the men rushed toward the barracks where some of the enemy soldiers were getting dress to go and defend their base. They fought room by room with gun fire and grenades overpowering the small group left in Asau and took control of the small base with some prisoners.

Then they moved into the town. Most people remained in their homes as the beat up trucks with red crosses painted on the sides drove through the streets toward the Town Hall. Asau was divided as a Christian city sympathetic to the Salvationist cause and the small military base nearby that kept the small town in line with the ruling regime. With the base in Salvationist hands the town would not be a problem as Averin remembered leading his men down the streets to the city center. Fighting erupted as the few pro-Altaic police officers made a last stand in front of the police headquarters with a water canon and riot gear. The fight took a few hours. Averin had to surround the building and distract the enemy by firing from all angles. They used the few RPGs to break the defense and moved into the building to remove the last of the Altaic presence in the city.

Now Averin stood in the city council chambers as the dawn arrived over the city. He had instructed Aliko to round up a group of people who were the civic leaders of the city and to place them with the other prisoners. Cornelio was contacting his superiors back in Talemaniki asking for assistance since they had taken the small town. This was a moment he had been waiting for and one he had prepared for for a long time. Averin would finally declare their independence from the horrid Altaic regime. They would broadcast it on all the airwaves and hopefully the international community would recognize their wish for independence.

 

[Natal]

Defending the nest IV
Eastern Vidra

Pukovnik Filipovic was waiting. After the Talemantines entered the city, he ordered the retreat from the eastern neighborhoods to downtown. He was the only commander of the defenders to do so. In their retreat, he ordered the soldiers to plant booby traps and mined the roads. His new line of defence was the Railway Station. The large building dominated the square in the east; the rails provided no cover and the continuous bombardment created many rat holes in which his soldiers could hide.

He saw the Talemantine Humvees, his soldier’s RPGs began to fire. He took cover as the bullets began to fly between the Humvees and the building. He prepared a grenade and when he approximated that it would reach the vehicles he threw it.

The same hard fighting will took its toll on the Altaic defenders but the stubborn and the fanatic fighters will make sure that the Talemantine will pay the higher price.

Western Vidra

Narednik Antonov watched as his men finished planting a mine under a sewer cap. The vibrations made by the Humvees of the enemy would make the mines explode when the cars would be above them. Now he retreated his squad to an apartment building of twelve floors.
From a window of the seventh floor he could see the Talemantine Humvees advancing towards the square in front of the block. The soldier next to him had a PSL and while removing himself from the window he targeted the shooter from the first Humvee. He waited a second more and fired. The next obstacles for them would be the mined roads.
He wont stop, retreat of yield. For him it was a victory or death situation.

Socodor

General Leonid Sinitsyn was shocked. He always knew that the Talemantines will get to the river and attack his base in force to get to Altaisk, but the use of the Mark 77 bombs had surprised him. But he was still happy. The incendiary bombs, designed not only as destruction material, were also made to lower the enemy’s morale. But two divisions were now determined to defend the river more than ever.

Even so, Sinitsyn knew that if this continues, the only thing that will defend the road to Altaisk will be two roasted and pierced divisions, something too weak to defend against the Talemantine central offensive.
“General, understand. We do not have enough firepower to stand them. We must retreat to Altaisk or meet with the new divisions. We won’t stand a chance against the incendiary bombs. “

“We have our orders. Eastern bank of the river was mined, the river was also mined. All we have to do now is to hope that Vidra won’t fall before reinforcements will arrive.”

Sinitsyn wasn’t sure if he manages to keep the morale of the men steady. He too was demoralized. The use of the unconventional weapons by the enemy was a shock.

Siddi el Hani

Even after the initial bombing with the Mark 77 bomb have killed many soldiers of the Defense Force, the black flags with the silver scimitar sewed on it have raised very much the morale of the defenders. The continuous attack of the 4th Corps had made Adamsky send two of his divisions to help General Alim Rahman.

The defenders of Vidra now numbered approximately 30,000 soldiers put in 5 divisions. The continuous battle took its tool on the original defenders. Now, Rahman wanted to stop the Talemantines and kick them back to the border.

Rahman was standing near two soldiers of the Defense Force with a member of the Scimitar division behind him. As he ordered the attack, Rahman saw as TR-85 and T-55 tanks began charging and firing to the Talemantine line. The tanks were followed by the infantry.

“Now! Attack!” Rahman took his AK-74 and was preparing to follow the tanks himself but then he saw the two Defense Force soldiers near him. “Attack!” He yelled at them.

“It is madness! We will die we cannot do it! If we go there we’ll die!”

Rahman took a grenade and threw it at his feet. While he began running, he yelled:
“If you remain here you’ll die!”

While running with his AK-74 prepared, he watched and saw the two running behind him, attacking.

Ulma

The policies of the attack in Ulma of the Altaic forces had changed. By the orders of General Emilyanov there were only two options on the battle of Ulma: Victory or Death. It was a radical change from the first policy of the battle. Now, it wasn’t to show the Talemantines the power of the Altaic forces, but to make them run. The attack was joined by two more Defense Force divisions and Emilyanov asked for reinforcements even from Sadova. As Emilyanov took his weapon to attack, he ordered the T-55 tanks to enter the battle to cover the infantry.

Captain Novikov was the commander of the air wing fighting above Ulma. The sensors beeped as he was in the target of a Talemantine plane. He quickly evaded the missiles, but the rockets hit a plane behind him. As his forces approached the Talemantine Planes he ordered his men to shoot.

 

[Natal]

Epilogue of the Himyari War I
Rovograd​

General Tomaszewsky was happy. He won a great victory against Danilov. His orders of a final attack in Marka were accomplished. But not in his most beautiful he could have seen Archbishop Danilov captured alive. Even if Averin declared independence this was still a victory. All his plans were doomed to fail now that the armistice also covered the Salvation Army. He had three “normal” divisions and a Military ProNat one waiting to attack. And on the other side there was a defeated Salvation Army that earlier was defended just by the mountains and the rainforests and now the Salvation Army was vulnerable and weak. Surely the Talemantines will surely help them during the armistice or even send soldiers to open another front here in Zamosk.

Tomaszewsky’s plans for Danilov were clear. All he wanted to do now was to make sure that Danilov’s hope is utterly crushed and the morale of the rebels through the death of their spiritual leader.
The general approached the soldier guarding the door to Danilov’s cell and ordered him to open it.

“Do you want me to enter with you, sir?” the soldier asked.

“No, there is no need. Close the door behind me.”

The soldier unlocked the door and let the general enter. It was dark and the only light was coming through a small window from outside. The first thing that Tomaszewsky sensed was the stink of the unwashed man sitting crouched in front of him. Seeing him now, Tomaszewsky began to ask himself how this man could gather such a force to “fuck” so much the nerves of Hetman Sidorenko a year earlier.

When Danilov saw the general he tried to smile, but all Tomaszewsky could do was to remain there disgusted by a man who was seeing him two years ago as the man who will bring the end of the National Republic and bring peace and prosperity to the country. I one word, he was disgusted by the man he respected.

“You’re a disgrace.” Said Danilov slowly after he recognized him. Tomaszewsky raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you are, Maksim Andreevich Tomaszewsky. You are a disgrace for all your ancestors. The proud house of Tomaszewsky that ran from Sarmatia along with Dabrowsky and Gorski two hundred years ago wouldn’t ally itself with the Demians not even if they would be tortured. When Dragan Demian took the throne from Hussein II Abari, the all the three noble families revolted and fought him.”

“And lost.” Said Maksim finishing the statement.

“Still our fight should have made you realize that the Demians are now weak. And Sidorenko was even weaker.”

“It was a revolt against the nation. And not only that even before the Tiburan invasion, Diagism taught us to respect the realm and its people but if you know so much history you should know that the Gorskis were executed for the rebellion and…”

“The modern Tomaszewsky family is a mix of the two because Katia Gorski married with Fedorov Tomaszewsky so you have the Gorsky blood in the veins.”

“So you think that if my ancestors rebelled against the Raven throne, should I do the same?”

“You should avenge them.”

“And who will avenge me or my family? Diagism says that…”

“Fuck Diagism!” Danilov yelled. “The Tomaszewsky family was defenders of Orthodoxy here in Altai before that harlot had converted to Diagism.” The general knew who that harlot the Archbishop talked about was. His great grandmother had converted to Diagism in 1920 again to bring the family in the attention of Czar Dorin I Demian. The conversion had done wonders for the wealth and the prestige of the family, even bringing that so called harlot, Anna Tomaszewsky to the post of Secretary of State. She was loved by nearly all Altaics and the modern members of the family even adulated her.

Tomaszewsky didn’t resist slapping him for this. Danilov immediately felt the taste of blood in his mouth and now he saw that he failed in bringing the general in the anti-Demian camp.

“Prepare yourself, you will receive twelve.” Tomaszewsky said as he got out of the cell. “Find twelve men to do the sentencing and then call me.” He said to the guard.

“Understood, sir.”

He now went slowly to his office, thinking at the words of the Archbishop. As he arrived he seated in his chair and took a sip of cold coffee made in the morning. Does he really believe that the feudal times when all of the four Sarmatian noble houses fought for the throne still exist? Why should he believe that? The People’s Republic disbanded all the titles and now there aren’t any lords or noble that is above the common folk. His thoughts were interrupted by a call from the soldier.

He quickly went to the courtyard to see that the group was prepared and Danilov was escorted to the wall.

“So, even if you will kill me, Maksim, God still created a free Zamosk in Asau and you are still a joke for your ancestors and for the Gorskis.”

It was too much.

“Eye on!” a narednik ordered.

“Fire!”

Twelve shots were heard from the rifles. Tomaszewsky saw that two members of the death squad fired in the wall above Danilov, one hit his head in the rest his chest. He died. The spiritual leader of the rebels finally died.

 

[Taley]

Talemantine Command
Novara​

General Appiano Nieto was watching the screens tentatively viewing all the fronts from Dialgorod down to Ulma. Since the ceasefire all was quiet on the eastern fronts, and Nieto was preparing for the armistice to end. He had ordered all the fronts to be on guard ready to strike hard at the Altaic troops, which he was sure were reinforcing their positions waiting for the Talemantine offensive to resume. Only vaguely had Appiano been informed of what was going on at the State Secretariat, it seemed now that the bureaucratic diplomats in Talemaniki were telling him how to conduct the war. Vidra was divided between Talemantines and the Altaics, Siddi El Hani was . . . well it was a wasteland, Ulma was contested, and Dialgorod was still surrounded and cut off from the world with now way of getting out. Some groups were moved slightly around to gain better positions in Talemantine held territory. Nieto worried about that would happen if everyone got their hopes up with the diplomats only to see them fail once again. Nieto wanted peace to prevail so he could return home to his family, everyone wanted peace regardless of the side and everyone watched and waited for the outcome.

Siddi El Hani​

Fausto Josi was sitting in his humvee looking across the wasteland that the uroduah village had become. The charred earth were reminders of the fight between 1st and 4th corps against the Altaic scimitar division. Josi wiped some of the dirt off of his forehead. His arm hurt following the Altaic response to the Talemantine offensive attack when they charged, but it wasn't like a modern attack, it was like they were out of the strategy book of the eighteenth century with muskets and swords. Now only if this war could end.

Aren Guard Headquarters
Palace Citadel, Talemaniki​

"So Admiral what can I do for you?" Sven Jostein Saevas asked the man sitting across from him. Saevas was the Acolyte of the Aren Guard.

"Saevas you're going to send a division of the guard to Asau." The man sitting across from him was Admiral Fabian Merici the Secretary of War. Merici was a cocky bastard in Sven's opinion and he tried to convinced the emperor against his appointment to the War Secretariat but obviously failed.

"Admiral the Aren Guard are responsible for protecting their majesties not going out looking for a fight. The guard isn't in the military chain of command and we only answer to the emperor."

"Sven we can do this the easy way or the difficult way. This war is one of the emperor's choosing and if you really wish me to delay it by going to the emperor and getting him to personally order you to assist then I will. However, it would be more appreciative if you just acquiesce to this and send a division to one of our allies."

Sven knew the emperor would order him to do what Merici wanted and that this argument was a lost one. Plus it was only one division and the reports stated that peace was nearing.

"Fine Fabian, but they remain under my command and not your Eastern Army."

"Then its agreed Acolyte."

Within a few hours the first groups of the Aren Guard were put on planes for Asau.

Ira​

Bishop Davizzo Vitti had filled the vacuum left by the execution of Archbishop Danilov and this was why Averin had asked him to under take this important trip. Ira was a christian area that was very sympathetic to the Salvationist cause since the beginning sending funds and supplies and being an island there was little to no Altaic presence in the city. Now that the Salvationists had finally succeeded in their cause by taking Asau and claiming their independence. But now they needed more than Asau to guarantee the independence of Zamosk. They needed Ira. With Ira they would have more territory to bolster their claims to independence in any peace settlement.

Vitti's boat finally docked an a man was waiting for him to take him to the meeting. Averin had used all his contacts to arrange a meeting between Irs's city leaders and prominent citizens and asked Vitti was to convince them to join them fro Zamosk. Davizzo was visibly nervous wiping the sweat as it formed on his brow. They finally arrived at their destination and Vitti dried his hands on his clerical robes before entering the meeting.

"Bishop we are so glad you could make especially after what happened to the late Archbishop." one of the men greeted him.

"Yes sir we all mourn our brother in Christ, but we must trek on. Our cause has had its up and downs over the years. Now by the grace of God we have been successful in our struggle and have liberated Asau and taken our God given rights to independence. But we need more allies dear sirs we need Ira to take this moment to declare its independence. With Ira at our side we can truly justify and guarantee and independent Zamosk, but Ira has to act now."

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

North of the Talemantine Coast

Carentanian fleets had been present in the area for a while now, silently monitoring the traffic in the area and recording the battles between Talemantros and Altai from afar. The Workers' Republic had wisely kept out of the conflict, acting calmly and with a focus on diplomatic solutions, despite continued attempts by the Talemantines to frigthen their neighbour by threats of war. Those threats had never been taken serious by the Carentanians, who regarded the Talemantine Empire as one that had been in decay for centuries already, a persistent anachronism that was unable to adapt to modernity and incompetent on the global political stage. However, Kyivs continued support for Talemantros threatened to destabilize the containment of Talemantros and could well unchain its imperialism. A Kyivan presence in Himyar would mean that the Talemantines could exploit their victories in Altai for imperialist gain and incite them to even further belligerence throughout the continent.

Carentania would not have that.

The moment that the Talemantines announced their insistence on inviting Kyiv to build a military base within their territory, Carentanian patrol flights in the area noticeably increased. Scouting parties of fregates kept track of Talemantine ships in the area, pre-marking them for possible attacks. Further to the north, the Solidarity, Carentanias flag-ship, cruised in permanent hiding, accompanied by destroyers and fregates alike. They kept watching out for ships of foreign nations, especially those of Talemantine, Kyivan or Engellexic origin. Whenever there was the danger of having them approach so close that the location of Carentanias main fleet, the one prepared for a surprise strike on the Talemantines, would be uncovered, the ships started evasive manouvers, keeping safe distance to any other vessel.

On the mainland, Carentanian multirole fighters remained on permanent combat readiness. If the alarm were to be sounded, Carentanian planes would be able to fly hundreds of attacks on targets in the Talemantine Empire within a matter of mere minutes. Across Talemantros, especially in the west and the north, targets were pre-defined, including air defenses, airfields, military infrastructure and stockpiles. This was nothing new, agents of the Revolutionary Army Intelligence kept these informations ready and updated for decades. The hostility between Carentania and Talemantros was longstanding. But rarely in their history was the threat of an escalation so real as it was at the beginning of 2012.

 

[Cakchiquel]

A specialized black location, somewhere in the Mayapan region

The hum of computer machines matched the slow whirl of heaters. It was ironic to require a substantial heating system within the complex, but the draft in the mountain range was detrimental to the staff at the procedural location of Sindhialleetab Command HQ Provisional. This however was simply more a working title on a Imperial Guard Memorandum than a functioning network of military defense. Yet under the substantial feet of mountainside the Consul of Imperial Defense operated a working "tank" of office corp devoted to analyzing the conflict in the near abroad. Tattoos on the back of non-officer help within the complex had a simple phrase spelled out on the backs of their neck "Impropriety in speech is abominable". A two star general, and prominent analyst of Greek affairs was not only censured for applying a "frivolous" request for a campaign to research war crimes by Monarchist forces against Himyar in Europe, but also for calling for a change to administrative precautions to the hiding of the military site. After being kidnapped within the installation, said commander would never know, say or remember for sure as to what mountainside the compound rested under.

The cold steel brain which was nestled under the sprawling suburbs of the greater capital Mayapan region buzzed with activity. Local coordination had direct encripted hidden communication over networks with the Imperial Air Services and Space command in Mayapan. A single phone call from an orderly within the mountain compound had the ability to launch a missile defense or air defense service over the large Mayapan valley. The compound was one of many contemporary hidden black hubs, where since the launch of Himyar conflict led to the development of an activated military state structure. The Emperor now only traveled and lived in the near company of a few Consuls at a time. Following a decision to maintain Mayan observance within the Sindhi Sea, the Emperor had temporarily designated his old advisor Spearthrowing Owl, Consul of the Imperial Armed Forces as commander in acting over the Sindhialleetab Command HQ Provisional to continue a developed Space/Air/Electronic monitoring of the substantial military developments throughout the Himyar campaign.

Regardless of the violence, the Mayan people had a state to maintain. The Emperor continued his structural duties at the Consulate Assembly of the Empire and continued to maintain executive administration. Regardless of the quelling of hostilities between the Imperial eastern abroad, the Emperor continued to check his encrypted smart phone to read updates on the Himyari standoff in quantitative military logistical terms.

The suburbs of Mayan Labor Collective 23-A

The Mayan Labor Collective is a form of subsidized lifestyle provided by the Justicialist regime to maintain agricultural industry in the vast expanses of underpopulated Cakchiquel. The Mayan Labor Collective 23-A is a mining and agricultural community planned by the Creation of Just Society association, a political fund of the Consulate of Society appointed by the Mayapan Center. Aside from the historic pollution of silver mining within the region, now it maintains a substantial kale and soy industry. While traveling through the farming community, Consulate Deputy and Heir to the Empire Canassatego's son Jannassa was asked by the local Mayanari faith community treasurer if he was aware of Christian terrorism against Altai. "All religious terrorism is an enemy of the Mayan cosmological narrative, and our Empire" Jannassa was quoted as saying by in the Chichen Itza Times.

Somewhere in International Waters, between Talemantros and Zadar

A silent spectator of the seas carried on, pulling forward with a steady routine in a circle between the two international boundaries. The silent UAV submarine craft was a clear product of Chichen Itza design complete with the Quetzal asthetic. The UAV maintains a silent encrypted and hidden sat feed with the SCHQP in video, sonar, and various audio feeds from media both state oriented and from non-state actors. This single craft, designated by the Imperial Naval Fleet headquartered in Chichen Itza as the Itza-Slav-HimyariDiplomat-1. The craft sails the straits silently, non-armed only with devices of record. A breadth of supplies and human quarters designed for victims of war are designed within the chassis of the operating vehicle, which acts as a form of the vast global intelligence network of the Cakchiquelian Imperial Armed Services.

 

[Cakchiquel]

Tikal Television late night news special

A serious news syndicated program focuses within the Tikal Television area (roughly 1/3rd the nations television public) on the violence in Himyar. Talemantrian and Altaian sources and faces are positioned, giving statements translated into Mayan with the subtitles superimposed over the broadcasts. After 30 minutes of a panorama of regional Himyarian violence, the under Consul at large in Altai is a talking head counter-posed and interacting with a talking greyed old head from the Tikal Times interviewing the under Consul on location of the threat to MesoAmerica.

"To what extent have war crimes been committed by Christian terrorists in this Himyarite conflict?"

"Exact numbers of casualties are unknown, no internationally recognized NGO is involved monitoring the conflict aside from Private-Public news industry and military intelligences"

"What is the future of the Himyarite conflict?"

"Contestation for power without a clear mods-opperandi or consensual drive has no structural form."

"What is the humanitarian outfall of the conflict?"

"Lives and economies have been ruined without rhyme or reason, yet mutual aggressors within Himyar have maintained social defenses along with those of military industry in this conflict.

"What political ramifications exist for our Imperial Mission in the light of such a context?"

"Talemantros has existed as a force for needless, bigoted aggression. The international community must view the squalid criminals within the state as a form of international banditry. The dialectic of Christianity has been devalued to represent a evil need for combat, which is against human norms. The global community needs to take action to isolate and end Talemantran aggression via economic means or police action. Talemantros has a weak effeminate oligarchy, similar to the clique in Nokanawa. Such diseased entities rot from the inside, but the civilian casualties in Altai prove that diseased groups within the global community need to be cleansed or quarantined."

"Consul as always, your advice is valued by the Imperial Consulate Assembly, the Imperium, the aaletab and the Mayans of Cakchiquel."

Following the fading out of the short interview, foreign political diplomats are shown discussing the winding down of hostilities in certain regards with the development of further hostilities in other regards in Himyar. An economic panel quickly discusses the problems of the conflict, including worries about the credit rating of the Empire with such foolheardy neighbors. Could international bond markets penalize the Imperium for having such toxic neighbors? A clear message to the audience is to divest from Himyarite countries in conflict. Following the economic panel, commercials bring an end to the slotted program.