The Second Sinese Civil War

[Khemia]

Battle of Si Satrakun​

22.8.2010 13:25
Si Satrakun Unity Forward Base.
3.78 miles west of Sinyaphum.
Colonel Timkul commanding.

"Get the commies on the line, lieutenant," said the skinny colonel, his arms not quite the bulk of his peers. Asians in general were leaner than their western counterparts, but Timkul was more than just lean. That only took away from the authority of his rank by a fraction. The underling picked up a bulky phone that was likely twenty years old and often repaired with gum, and pushed his clumsy, fleshy fingers on the buttons that clicked under the pressure of the mans fat fingers. The lieutenant began talking to a man on the other end, but Timkul grabbed the phone from his hand. "I don't know, or care, who you are. I don't have god damned time for chit-chat. Give me your superior, or at least his secretary," the colonel used the word 'secretary' as an insult, ignoring any rank system in the communist hierarchy.

He held in his hand satellite imagery that bothered him more than anything the young pest on this phone could manage to conjure. Chain of command was bullshit he'd save for the SDF, he didn't care for the shit with these commie bastards. He tapped his foot and waited for a moment for a response on the other line.

"Yeah, is this Im Phirun?" The voice on the other end of the line indicated the affirmative. "I have a photo in my hands, and it's scaring the piss outta me, Phirun. Looks like those damned rebels are pushing south of Sinyaphum, through the mountains, and into the valley. I know you and your boys are getting into it in the rocks, so do you know anything about this intel?"

The man on the other line began talking, and a few eyes turned towards the colonel to gauge his expression. The colonel knew the eyes of the room were bearing down on him, testing him to see if the news he was hearing was not good. The colonel listened intently and controlled his expression heavily. Every muscle in his face struggled to hide his fear and his anger when the man on the other end stopped speaking.

"Very well, then, Im Phirun. If you and your boys can do anything to assist, I'd be greatly appreciative," the colonel's tone changed completely. The man on the other end replied, and the colonel said his goodbye and hung the phone up. He waited a moment for the eyes that bore into him to disappear before leaning down over the lieutenants shoulder. "If you would, get the JFC on the line for me, lieutenant."

The junior officer nodded and dialed a few numbers, waiting for a moment and giving the receiver the proper authentication codes before handing the phone to the colonel. "This is Colonel Timkul, commanding officer of Si Strakun UFB," the officer spoke almost softly, trying to not garner attention, "who am I speaking to?"

"This is Captain Tangtong. What is this about, colonel?"

"We have a slight issue, here, Captain. I need immediate recon at 9.8954 ° S 117.129 ° E. Satellite imagery suggests that this location will be cut off from major supply routes in a matter of days. I have eight thousand personnel stationed here, with another six at Sinyaphum. I need to know the level of threat posed to the south."

"Understood Colonel. Will relay your priority request to my superiors, hopefully you'll have your intel tonight. I'll tell you off the record, we have a lot of sorties engaged in operations, though, so not sure if they can pull a flight out to check out your zone."

"Thank you, Captain. I'll do what I can to take the initiative and pre-empt any attack on the valley."

 

[Khemia]

Battle of Si Satrakun​

The colonels request was by any other day to have been lost amongst a myriad of other "priority" requests made by dozens of commanders throughout the broken nation. Had it not been for the President's request that all priority reports from the Sinyaphum area be directly routed to her, Si Satrakun would not have even been heard from the JFC for at least a week. The war had escalated far beyond combating counter-insurgencies. The insurgents had formed marauding parties, roaming through the jungle country.

The President didn't have the time to take action on the colonels request, though. She had the time to briefly read the report, and ensure that it was looked into by the her Generals.

And so it was that by 19:00 two jets were quickly fitted with camera pods and a few cluster bombs, should any opportunities present themselves. The rebels didn't have air support, yet, so AA missiles would just be a waste of pylon space.

The lat-long was in the general vicinity of Mae Lat, with the closest recon fights based at Nakhon the travel distance was not too far. There would only be one sortie launched, though. Nakhon AFB was perhaps the most active AFB of all the bases in Sinhai, as it was the only major AFB north of Katchaburi capable of quickly striking at rebels in the east.

The jets raced to gain altitude, barreling upwards and over the mountains, into the sky, and over Mae Lat. They'd seen the satellite imagery and knew exactly where to take pictures, but they couldn't see anything of note. Whatever the satellites had seen, the fighters camera pods had not. The report was filed and sent back to Colonel Timkul of 4th Infantry Division.

 

[Khemia]

Battle of Si Satrakun​

23.8.2010 00:30
Si Satrakun Unity Forward Base
3.78 miles west of Sinyaphum.
Colonel Timkul commanding.

Heavy rain collapsed onto the rickety building, as if the sky were a bucket held directly over Si Satrakun ready to douse any flame. The colonels palm rested against his forehead as he read over the report, still warm and freshly printed, smeared ink the tell tale sign of an anxious commander waiting for a long overdue report. Also, the tell-tale sign of an ancient printer. Not everyone could afford the laser-stuff.

He smudged the ink that was on his fingers over the inside of his uniform pockets, setting the paper on the desk next to him. The report told him there was nothing to worry about. But the commies had told him different, and if there was one thing he knew, intel gained from someone that was stuck in with the enemy was far more qualitative than the intel provided by some jackass pen pusher.

Something in his gut told him that something wasn't right over at Mae Lat, but with the reds pushing past Samnak Thon, he couldn't afford to send a cadre to ensure the town was secure. Maybe a couple hundred troops. Just to be sure. It was always good to be sure. Right?

He ran his fingers over his forehead and silently paced his cramped office. He couldn't believe that just a month ago his post had been at Mae Suat. How had the SDF been pushed out so easily, he asked himself. Everything had gone wrong. He had to leave behind even his leather satchel his late wife had bought for him seven years ago. At least he'd kept the picture of her. Grimly he turned the gold band that he kept on his finger, one of his last few memories of her. Time faded all things. He managed to sink into his chair, looking around his room in a daze. He could feel that sometime soon, he'd lose this office too. Was he going to get a new one? How large would it be? He hoped it wouldn't be a 7x2 buried six feet under.

 

[Khemia]

Battle of Si Satrakun​

23.8.2010 11:15
Si Satrakun Unity Forward Base
3.78 miles west of Sinyaphum.
Colonel Timkul commanding.

Trucks bustled throughout the large base, helicopters ripped through the air above, the bustle of a military base ready for war in the jungle was the kind of warporn that would give any man with a rifle a hard on. A captain took a long stride through the base, little peons snapping their salutes at him. A huey flew overhead and kicked up sand around the officer, but he ignored it. His eyes had locked in on his target, a line of at least 10 military trucks and light ifv's lined up on one of the many dirt roads that ran through the base, dozens of soldiers lined up in formation beside them, their line officers at the forefront.

"Alright, gents, Colonels got an itch he needs scratched. Somethings giving him the willies, and he thinks it's over at Mae Lat. Our objective, gents," he paused to make sure the twats were actually paying attention, "is to babysit Mae Lae and make the Colonel feel fuzzy again. Shits getting tight out here, the 'reds' and the commies are getting into it up north past the lines, and the reds are pushing for Tha Ruea. We're next. Either there's shit happening at Mae Lat, or there will be. Make sure you bring some damned bullets, you'll need them! Grab your gear and mount up, folks, we got reds to kill."

The men grabbed their shit and loaded up, the Captain threw himself in the second truck and watched the mirrors, waiting for everyone to finish. He called out on the radio, each truck reporting in ready. "Alright, boys, move out." The IFV in front roared as its engine pushed it forward, the Captain trook shuddered and followed suite, the rest of the line pushing out. The captain looked out over the horizon and asked himself 'What if the Colonel's right?'.

 

[Khemia]

Skirmish at Mae Lat​

23.8.2010 14:15
Route 334
2.4 miles outside of Mae Lat.
Captain Raipuk commanding.

The vehicles had had a bumpy ride through the upland road, and three hours was a particularly nasty time frame, even for Sinese roads this far north. The captain looked down at his watch with displeasure before grabbing the radio. "Alright, how much longer?" he asked the lead vehicles driver in annoyance. Before a response could be muttered back, the captain watched out of the corner of his eye as several figures moved around in a field to his right. "Stop the convoy! STOP THE CONVOY!" The screech of brakes and burning of rubber could be heard from all fourteen vehicles. "Dismount! Dismount! Get to cove--"

A missile flew out from the field and slammed into the lead vehicle just as soldiers attempted to hop out of the rear, sending their broken carcasses onto the windshield before the captain. The distinctive pressure of the blast, the crunch of bone and the crack of breaking glass made the captains stomach curl for a moment, but instinct took control and he threw the door open and flung himself to the ground. Bullets sprayed across the truck he was in, and he could hear the screams of unprepared soldiers catching the lead.

"Return fire!" he could hear some line officer shouting in the distance. The beautiful sound of the Sinese SIR-21 opening fire rang in his ears, but he didn't have time to... wait. Shit. The captain felt over his shoulder and realized he was missing something very important.

"God damnit," he muttered, crawling back out and reaching into the passenger seat for his rifle. He could see reds coming out of the woodworks in front of him, and he pressed the butt of his rifle against his shoulder and opened fire, the kick of the rifle a comforting feeling in the chaos. He managed to take down two men in a few short bursts of fire, but knew that he wasn't going to be able to get to his ammo. He ducked back under the truck, bullets kicking up gravel around him.

The other side of the truck wasn't much clearer, but he could see his boys hunkering down in the ditch, now a de facto trench. He rolled himself into the stale water that had collected there from a full nights rain. "Radio!" he shouted at the lad who was hunched over the electronic miracle. "Get JFC on the line, we need air support!"

"So does everyone else, Captain! They don't give a damn about our request!" shouted some panicky soldier.

"I never gave you permission to speak, private! Shoot those red fuckers, that's your ONLY order!" The soldier turned his rifle on the enemy and fired off a clip in frustration. The officer shook his head, fucking rookies. The boy was going to die today, and he just wasted an entire clip of ammo. That clip would've bought him 15 more minutes.

"Captain, how tha fuck we getting out of this?!"

"Kill them all!" he shouted, buying himself time to look for an avenue of escape. He looked to the mountains from whence they came, it was too far to run, and too risky. A tree line lay to the south, but that's probably where the reds were. "Get on the radio, tell Colonel his gut was right. Reds' makin' a push for Mae Lat," he said. One hundred and fifty soldiers under his command, and the enemy ambush still had their heads on the ground in fear. For all he knew there were only 30 enemies. A bad plan executed today was better than a good plan executed tomorrow.

"Alright lads," the captain grabbed the radio, "That treeline to the south is our target. We either take it our we die trying, if we can make it to the tree line we can work our way into a defensible position until someone at the JFC gets their heads out of their ass and throws us some support. I need one outfit to volunteer the initial push," he waited for a response.

"Echo will make the push," volunteered a junior officer after a moments pause.

"Alright, lieutenant, get your boys ready and push out. Alpha and Bravo will follow your lead, Charlie and Delta will push hold the rear." He got off the radio and listened to the quieted screaming of wounded men still within the convoy above. He tried ignoring them. He knew if they lifted their heads out of the wet trench they'd lose a lot more boys, but just leaving his men there to die was unacceptable. Decisions no ordinary man had to make in their life, neither man deserved to die more than another. Only those red bastards deserved to die. He pointed to the truck above and barked his orders. "Get up there and get our wounded out, right now!"

The men looked around bewildered, and the captain scrambled to pull himself up out of the soggy ditch. He kept low, trying to keep the enemy from realizing their was movement until he was ready. "Someone get the fuck up here, I ain't doin this myself. Not unless you want to be the one telling their families you left them to die."

Four soldiers, a sergeant two corporals and a private, pulled themselves up alongside the captain. Echo company started their push out, squad by squad, and the captain pushed himself up and hurried to the back of the truck, crawling inside. It smelled foul, like sweat and iron, blood coated the bottom of the truck. There had to be six dead soldiers in here. He saw immediately the man struggling to scream and cry, his bloodied hand extended out to the captain. The captain grabbed the man, blood spilling onto his uniform, and the captain tossed the man into the waiting sergeants arms. "Check the other trucks, get everyone out. Get their tags too," he said grimly, moving to check the dead and rip their tags off amidst the spray of bullets that ripped through the cover of the truck. The sound of battle outside grew heavier, and he was sure there wasn't another living soul left inside of this truck. He hopped out and glanced quickly to the other trucks, where more men had crawled out to pull the wounded to safety. Medics struggled to stay low and work on the men, while others provided cover fire for those that moved to the trucks. Echo pushed hard, their legs pounding into the mud as they ran through tall grass to the line of trees.

"Specialist!" he shouted to the man by the radio, "get Alpha moving!"

 

[Khemia]

(ooc:

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Battle of Si Satrakun​

24.8.2010 20:45
Si Satrakun Unity Forward Base
3.78 miles west of Sinyaphum.
Colonel Timkul commanding.

The colonel paced his office carefully, he knew his gut instinct was always right. Well, not always, but often enough he could rely on it. He'd thrown good men into a trap because he didn't listen to his gut, but at least now he knew for sure, beyond the doubt of a gut feeling, that the Mae Lat Valley was a target. What kind of target, who knew. The strategic value of the valley was low, the communists used the Khae Gap further north to push their supplies to Ammata, and supplies could be rerouted through the Gap also. It smelled like a decoy to him. If the reds wanted to hit something for real, they'd push Sinyaphum and close off the Gap. Without the Gap, the resistance in the interior would collapse.

The thought made him shudder. The communists were the only ones fighting off these red ultranationalists in the interior, and they did a damned fine job at it. They had a network running all throughout the mountains, even the reds couldn't infiltrate it. The commies probably built the labrynthine lair during their 70 year occupation as a buffer against the LFS, now it's use was directed in the opposite direction.

Beyond the Khae Gap, the colonel had no idea what the commies might be up to. A lieutenant stepped into the office and snapped a salute, "Sir, a message from JFC, sir." He laid a large, orange envelope on the colonel's desk and about-faced out the door.

The colonel stepped to his desk and unwound the cloth band that kept the envelope closed. He pulled out a sheet of paper, his eyes skimming over the orders. Majority of air support required in the defense of Katchaburi Changwat. He sighed, and kept reading. Weapons cache located in Sinyaphum industrial district. Relocate weapons to Si Satrakun UFB for extraction. Si Satrakun UFB to be reinforced.

The last line was bullshit, he knew that much. Katchaburi Changwat was the last real line of defense before the reds could launch attacks in the heartland of southern Sinhai. The part of the orders that made him edgy was the weapons cache. Who stores a weapons cache off-base, in an industrial district. How was he, as the senior officer for the defense of Sinyaphum, not aware of the cache?

These weapons were definitely meant to be kept off the charts, or at the very least out of the ultranationalists hands. They couldn't be WMD's, Sinhai didn't have the capacity to deliver such warheads to a foe. At least not a foreign enemy. The closest Sinese rockets could hit was Khalistan or Shinryeo. Then again, after 70 years of civil strife, he couldn't rule out the possibility of domestic use. He put the paper back inside of the envelope and stepped outside to issue his own orders.

Lt. Col. Ketakinta. Your eyes only.

Unknown weapons cache in Sinyaphum industrial district, block 214-C, unit 1488. Do not disturb contents, ensure immediate relocation to Si Satrakun UFB. PRIORITY: Ensure soldiers who execute these orders are dependable. JFC expects this cache to remain secure.

 

[Khemia]

Skirmish at Mae Lat​

24.8.2010 15:35
Route 334
1.3 miles South West of Mae Lat.
Captain Raipuk commanding.

The sounds of battle had all but disappeared, but the muffled screams of the wounded, their mouths held shut by medics that struggled to not only save their lives, but keep their unit safe. Perhaps no more than a mile away the convoy of trucks still sat on the road, six of the thirteen trucks a smoldering wreck. Three more civilian cars had been smashed by road side bombs planted since the infantry's retreat. There were only 120 of them left combat-able, the rest were dead or bleeding.

The captain hunkered down with several junior officers hawking over a map of Mae Lat. The town was relatively large, perhaps ten to twenty thousand people large. One of the four small outlying villages could provide them with the staging point they needed to secure Mae Lat. He pointed to two of the villages, Kut Bak and Kut Nam. "Alright, we have two feasible options to stage what we have before moving into Mae Lat. Chances are the reds already have the town, so our objective is to retake the town and hold out for reinforcements. We need to move into one of these villages and get some intel on the town, then move into the town proper. Our primary goal is to get medical supplies for our wounded, either the armory or some stores for supplies, and find some sort of radio capable of reaching the JFC." As he spoke, his eyes turned a couple dozen feet away to the shot-up piece of work that had once been their radio. They had short wave radio's for the squads, but nothing that could reach anyone at a distance.

"I'd suggest Kut Nam, captain. Looks like they have a clinic, and some other general stores we can pick food up from," suggested one of the Lieutenants.

"I suggest we move into both and not put all our eggs into one basket. They're close enough together that they can easily support each other, yet far enough away that if one force gets attacks, the other can easily counter attack," said a second Lieutenant, Phakorn.

"Lt. Phakorn, I believe you're right. Problem is, Kut Bak doesn't have any supplies. We'll need to position a smaller force there, gauge the locals support and see if we can't quarter our troops in their houses for the day. In the mean time, we'll need to transfer whatever we can acquire from Kut Nam to Kut Bak..., and tomorrow hit Mae Lat. Everyone understand?"

The junior officers acknowledged the orders.

"Alright, Kut Nam and Kut Bak are about a mile east overland, Alpha Bravo and Charlie will take the wounded and secure Kut Nam, Delta and Echo will secure Kut Bak. Stay out of sight from the rebels. You have your orders, carry them out."

 

[Khemia]

Skirmish at Mae Lat​

26.8.2010 20:12
Rice paddies between Mae Lat and Kut Nam
0.24 miles outside Mae Lat
Captain Raipuk commanding.

They advanced under the cover of dusk, the setting sun painting the sky a light blue, matching the color of the water within the rice paddies they crawled through. Mud and leaves slipped up with the gently sloshing water, catching in the collar of the Captains shirt. Crawling through some mosquito infested shit-pit like this wasn't usually the work cut out for officers, but every gun counted. Despite being designated on the map, Mae Lat was a fairly insignificant town nestled within a strangely flat valley at the edge of the Great Serindian Mountains.

If there were any rebel patrols out at this time, they'd have difficulty seeing the Captain and his company, but there as just enough light available for the captain to see them against the sky. Once they'd past the perimeter and were inside of the 'city', they could move into houses. Mae Lat wasn't the type of town that would throw their support in with the ultranationalists, at least that information wasn't in the brief.

The kept their pace as steady as any man crawling through a thick mess of rice shoots could, careful not to disturb the fairly tall reeds that appeared black in the low sunlight. He kept his rifle high, a specialized elastic cover to keep the barrel clean. Some people jokingly referred to them as condoms, since people who didn't fight in jungles often didn't have the proper equipment to do so, but the Sinese military was prepared for these conditions. They'd fought many a war in a rice paddy.

They pushed towards the edge, the point guard raising his fist to signal a halt. Some chatting folks passed by, joking about the spirits of the paddy and the naga (nguen in Sinese). Naga indeed, these naga have rifles, the captain thought to himself. His eyes, finely attuned to the dim sky, easily picked up silhouettes carrying rifles by a lamp ahead. The point guard picked them up to and looked to the captain for orders.

To the left, into the house. Two by two cover. Hold position. Signal when clear. Go, he signalled the order. Two men in front slowly picked themselves up out of the stale water, mosquito's picking blood from their necks. Fear and adrenaline pumped through their veins, and they quietly stalked past the shadow of the reed house and towards a small backdoor. Two more quickly followed them, and they entered the house.

The captain could only imagine the conversation that must have taken place as they entered the house, but within five minutes the residents walked out, politely asking the militiamen inside to join them for a cup of tea. They agreed and entered the shack, the sounds of the ensuing scuffle quite muffled even in the absolute quiet of the village. One of the soldiers popped his head up through the corner of a window and waved at the captain.

"I guess that's his signal for clear," he jokingly whispered to the rest of the line. "Everyone in, it's time to take this town." They quietly hastened their way into the house, two strangled militiamen lay on the floor. A slightly disgusted father embraced his weeping daughter but nodded to the soldiers as they entered.

"Thank you for coming," the father said. "You are welcome to use my house, these outsiders need to go." He referred to the militants with disdain. "Please, dispose of these two if you would. I fear my daughter cannot sleep in a house with two dead men inside, their spirits infest this place."

The captain nodded and looked to the four men who had taken point. They nodded and picked up the bodies. "Where at, sir?" asked one.

"Outside, in the field. They'll be easy to find in the day, we can clean them up then." He looked back to the family and tried to give them his most reassuring smile. "We're here to make sure Mae Lat is secure, sir."

The father nodded. "Anything I can do to help."

"Tell me what you know about the militant presence here. How many? Where are they based from?" his dialect was a bit different from the simple farmer who stood before him, but the father understood and thought for a moment.

"They've been using the prefecture to base from. It's not too large, just a simple building. Couple doors in, couple windows, small jail. Hotel right next to it too, they've probably taken that over, Mai hasn't come to the market in two days so I cannot be sure," he stated. The idea that Mai's hotel property had been taken from her by force and a bullet had blown out her brains was a clear possibility that the man was refusing to admit to himself.

"How many do you suppose are we dealing with here?" the captain asked.

"Sixty or so, I suppose. Some come in from the mountains to the north now and then. They stay off the roads, but they have some bombs along the 334 East," the old man said. "The bombs have been killing our cows, but we can't disarm them. Anyone who tries and isn't shot just gets killed by the bombs anyways."

"Sixty isn't too bad," the captain turned to his soldiers. He had more men than that, the trick was just finding out who was civilian and was was militant when the militants got the picture they were losing. It'd be worse if there were collaborators sheltering them in the town, the militant problem in Mae Lat would only become long term.

Some gunfire echoed through the small house, the ten soldiers within jumping and ducking to their feet. The captain turned his radio up to listen to any transmissions.

"This is Delta, we've engaged tangos in the eastern parts of the town. We're oscar mike to the town plaza, any help would be fantastic."

The captain grabbed his radio, "Delta, push forward to the plaza, Charlie, Echo, if you read this push up and cover Delta. Alpha and Bravo move with care to the prefecture, rendezvous at alley, block 16." The captain turned to his line, who all nodded in unison. More gunfire could be heard in the not-so-far distance, and shouts could be heard from militia as they were drawn out of wherever they hid to push back the SDF. The captain grunted, and the line (squad) pushed out of the house to head north. Block 16 was a 10 minute walk at best, but with all the militants around, it was better to be safe than dead.

 

[Khemia]

Battle of Si Satrakun​

27.8.2010 18:48
Si Satrakun Unity Forward Base
3.78 miles west of Sinyaphum.
Colonel Timkul commanding.

The colonel placed his hands on his hips and jutted his pelvis out in an awkward fashion, chewing on some imported tobacco from... well he wasn't quite sure where. He didn't give a damn to read the back of the canisters.

A call came into his office. The colonel bent over backwards and looked at the phone curiously. He wasn't expecting a call, so naturally he was intrigued. Should I even bother taking it? the colonel wondered to himself. It had been days since the JFC had attempted to contact him. He might as well blow them off when they try, maybe they'll get the point that shit out here wasn't made of fucking daisies and send someone over to take a look.

"Ba!" the colonel cursed. If these hua-khuay really were on the line he might as well take the opportunity to tell them off. (Fuck!) (cock heads)

He picked up the phone. "A-rai?" he asked. (What?)

"Mae Lat is ours, colonel," the man on the line informed him.

"...Raipuk?" the colonel asked curiously.

"He's wounded, sir. First Lieutenant Raganorn reporting."

The colonel almost felt like weeping. There were 8 combat ready infantry divisions in the country. They were all deployed. He was the acting commander for the base, commander for the only division defending the eastern passes... JFC hadn't gotten around to replacing their dead general yet. 15,000 men was plenty for any other war, but it was hell. 120,000 men for a front that was over 500 miles long against an enemy fighting with unorthodox tactics. He needed this company. The fact that Mae Lat was now secure was even better.

The colonel spat into his trash can and smiled. "Fantastic. JFC has yet to issue evacuation orders Mae Lat, do you think we can hold the valley, Lieutenant?" He could tell the junior officer was conferring with the captain. He was probably a rookie, well as rookie as they come nowadays.

"Yes, colonel. We're already setting up a citizen watch, a lotta people've got guns out here too. Pretty low opinion of the militants it seems, doubt they made a great impression their first time around."

"Fantastic, lieutenant. I want you and your boys to dig into Mae Lat, I'm going to be sending 27th Cadre to Tha Ruea to ensure that position is held, they'll stop off at your position with supplies, medicine, ammo and food; everything you need," the colonel smiled. "How's the captain?"

"He's doing fine, sir. Couple bullets wound, through and through..."

"Just some fucking scratches, sir!" shouted a man in the background. Always good to hear a stubborn soldier refuse to admit his pain.

"Very well. You have your orders, lieutenant. Make sure Captain Raikul pulls through, you'll all get some medals for this. I'll make sure of it," he hung up the phone and walked out of his office.

"Ketakinta finish moving those barrels from Sinyaphum?" the colonel asked his assistant in a forced yet casual manner. The assistant nodded and the colonel looked out the window at the barrels he knew were probably worse for his health than the militants or the commies.

"Alright, inform the Lieutenant Colonel that Mae Lat has been secured, and that he's to take 27th to Tha Rulea, secure the town, and push back any militia advance. If our boys in Mae Lat can do it, he sure as hell better too."

The assistant nodded and quickly went about processing the command.

 

[Khemia]

Battle of Si Satrakun​

30.8.2010 23:26
Si Satrakun Unity Forward Base
3.78 miles west of Sinyaphum.
Colonel Timkul commanding.

The colonel took off his jacket, hanging it on a rack before him and looking around the room. He took off his pants and tossed them over a chair, he didn't give a damn about the wrinkles. There wasn't going to be someone to check his uniform. One light was all he had for his little bunk room, one light to cast it's light over the ridges of his unkempt shirt, Si Satrakun wasn't quite what the Union had expected to act as a forward base. This was the furthest back the Union had been pushed back in decades, and it's furnishings weren't quite up to par. He wasn't sure the base had ever been meant to house the amount of soldiers that now called it home.

He looked out the window, rain pattering against the clouded glass, the fragile pan shaking in the strong wind. His finger ran along the gold band at his finger, a lightning bolt in the distance flashing against the thick streaks of rain coating the window. Thunder followed, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end.

This storm was going to be hell to sleep through, he thought as he turned to his cot. He grabbed his pistol, unlatching the restraint to set down the weapon beside his bed. More thunder. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He listened closely. Had there been lightning before that thunder?

More thunder, no lightning. He grabbed his pistol. Fuck the pants. He bolted out the door, rain hitting his face. Some soldiers were strolling to their bunk, their faces turning towards the ranking officer of the base. They raised their eyebrows.

"INCOMING!" the colonel shouted at them. "GET THE FUCK DOWN!"

Almost as if queued the first shells slammed into mud, shrapnel and rocks and mud flinging themselves at the soldiers. The half naked commander knew he had to get to the command bunker, panicking soldiers running around the base. The sirens began the dreaded wail, more flashes of lightning but much more thunder. The base rushed to arms, and the colonel flung himself into the bunker. A shell slammed into the layers of protection above, the lights in the bunker flickering. The soldiers looked at their pantless commander quizzically, but they quickly got back to their work.

"What the fuck is going on?" asked another shocked captain, another blast hitting the bunker.

"I think that's fucking obvious, captain. Get your men combat ready, now. Where's Major Chaibancha?" the colonel asked his second-in-command, Colonel Pongsuwan. If he died, he knew this colonel was going to take command. That was good, Ponsuwan was a good man.

"MIA, sir."

"More like AWOL, damnit. Already down a third of a division and my fucking majors out taking a walk. Sure as hell hope Ketakinta made it to Tha Ruea, if JFC doesn't give this flank more attention soon..." he droned off, thinking to himself despite the muffled sounds of explosions outside.

"Alright, lads, we've got a battle to fight. Bunker 12 is our top priority defense, inform JFC that they need to extract their HVT yesterday. Then tell them we're fucked." The colonel scratched his ass, realizing finally that he was standing in the command center without any pants.

"I'll get you a new pair of pants, sir," added one of his aides. He grunted, the bunker shaking a bit more.

 

[Khemia]

Khâao Johm Dtee
ข้าวโจมตี
The Khâao Offensive​

September 2, 2010
22:00
Saraburi Unity Forward Base
29.6 miles northeast of Katchaburi.
General Silpajarn commanding.

"Make no mistake, gentlemen," the General paced the room, his balded dome glistening in the luminescent lights, "this will be the battle that makes, or breaks, this Union." He looked upon his officer intently, hoping that they understood the gravity of the situation. "Joint Forces Command has given the order to end this war. The Khâao Offensive begins tonight, and either our Union stands without challenge, or our nation as we know it will die. Gentlemen, if you fail me now, it's not just your lives on the line. Your families and your soldiers families will all pay the ultimate price for your failure. Do. Not. Fail. This. Union."

His boot steps echoed in the room as he strode through it. "Katchaburi Changwat now stands at maximum threat level. All soldiers are to be equipped at all times for any form of warfare. NBC suits and alarms are to be carried by all units. We are to push forward and retake Khanom by the 5th, Ching Kho by the end of next week. From there, we will turn Pak Nam Pran into a lake on the Ko Phet."

He pulled out a clicker and the lights dimmed, a display showing up before the men who all oogled the fancy new technology. While the SDF was not poor, it was not often that they got to see a powerpoint presentation for their battle plans. Usually the shit was drawn on a whiteboard with a cheap water-based marker.

"Pak Nam Pran will be hit tomorrow, and when I say hit, I mean hit hard. We're going to shove our foots so far up these bastards asses they'll be spewing shit out of their bleeding assholes and fleeing like roaches in front of our troops. Once we have created a suitable crisi... situation in Pak Nam Pran, we'll push 1st Armoured and our mechanized units through the front lines."

"What are our standing orders, General," asked an aged looking Colonel.

"As of right now," the General looked at his watch, "rule of engagement no longer apply to active combat units within the Katchaburi Changwat. No quarter will be given, we don't have the money to build fucking tents just for these bastards to turn on us again later." He looked to his officers with an even more serious face. "Your standing orders are to beat the enemy into submission, or blow their brains out trying. Harvest season is coming for many of these people, they need to be so scared for their lives that they run home to their families."

"We're going to win this war by making them lose it?" asked another officer. The General looked up with a tired and annoyed look. He reached into his pocket and grabbed a cigarette to light.

"Yes, that's the plan," he lit his cigarette and took a long drag. "Shall we get down to business, then?" He grabbed the clicker and turned back to the fancy presentation.

 

[Khemia]

Khâao Johm Dtee
ข้าวโจมตี
The Khâao Offensive​

4.9.2010 00:45
1st Armoured Division Advance Mobile Command Center
En route to Khanom, 48.3 miles south of Khanom.
Colonel Songsri commanding.

The advance was going well. Flawlessly even. This was to be expected, Colonel Songsri thought to himself. He knew the General would be pleased with the progress, but the reports on the ground were misleading. There was no real defense to be put up by a fluid, mobile guerilla force. 1st Armoured could probably push all the way to Sai Yok without real difficulties; the real problem would be maintaining the logistics for the advance, and having a real impact.

In truth, 1st Armoured's spearhead was more akin to a little boy throwing a giant rock into water, there was a big, pretty splash, but the rock would quickly be surrounded by water. The Colonel knew this, yet he knew he could do nothing. There was more than just tactics behind this offensive, there was politics. And when politicians demanded results, mistakes were made. The heavy armoured vehicle he sat in was retro-fitted for service as a mobile command center and replete with all the communication devices required to coordinate the offensive arm of 1st Armoured. He looked at the back door, picturing in his mind the other vehicles that followed behind, likewise well fitted. Everything was going according to plan, according to protocol, some skirmishes here, some vehicle breaking down there, but overall 1st Armoured had suffered zero combat losses, and had won every engagement thus far of the operation.

Those were results that would keep the politicians off his back and give him the breathing space to make results happen without mistakes. Drivings tanks over the countryside one matter, taking a town like Khanom and holding it against insurgents on the high ground, with angles of attack capable of hitting every vulnerable point conceivable on a tank... this was another, much more dangerous matter.

One of the soldiers straddling a small bench by one of the panels turned to Songsri. "Colonel, elements of 12th armoured contingent have arrived at Thong Nian, outside Khanom. They're reporting a large number of refugees are fleeing from the east," the young soldier relayed, "looks like air strikes have been effective."

"Effective," the Colonel muttered. "Just what we need, more homeless peasants sitting around in a city with shattered lives and no hope to cling to. Tell 12th to halt their advance and await orders for the push." The colonel sighed and looked at a map that showed his overall combat plan. A pock hole in the road sent him bouncing a bit out of the chair he sat on, the harness keeping him from flying completely off.

Why the fuck am I out here, he thought to himself, wishing he'd been allowed to maintain some sort of desk job. Field work wasn't befitting an officer of his rank. He sneered and looked at his watch. By tomorrow afternoon, Khanom would be his. Maybe there'd be a curry house for him to get some lunch at, assuming the people hadn't been shot before then.

 

[Khemia]

The Battle of Si Satrakun​

5.9.2010 17:00
Si Satrakun Unity Forward Base
3.78 miles west of Sinyaphum.
Colonel Timkul commanding.

The blasts had softened up over the past few days, and the intensity of the fighting varied from hour to hour. The base had used quite a number of munitions, over a hundred soldiers were dead, and the external power supply for the base had been cut. They were running off some shitty fuel-based generator, praying the militia's didn't shove a load of artillery shells in the pipe and shatter the soldiers connection to the outside completely. The defense of Si Satrakun UFB was intense; over two hundred wounded with men dying every hour from their wounds, the medics unable to keep up with the volume of wounded.

Colonel Timkul sank heavily into a chair in one of the bunkers, a network of trenches winding between the bunkers afforded his men some protection. He could hear the sound of renewed gunfire somewhere to the southwest of the base. "Sir, Watchtower 12 South reports the militia is making another push in sector echo-one-two-lima."

He looked to a map that showed him a general overview of where he'd allocated his forces. 12 South was fine, it'd hold against anything short of tanks. Still, his casualties were mounting. The SSDF had begun an airlift to ensure the base did not run out of ammunition, ensuring that the Colonel and 4th Infantry Division stayed put and held the flank as long as possible. 4th was essentially the sacrificial lamb. "Nee suea pa chorakhe," he muttered to himself. (Escape from a tiger only to happen upon a crocodile)

The Khâao Offensive was the Sinese Defense Force baby, Si Satrakun was just a rogue variable on the outskirts of the fight. They were the last line of defense between the militants in the north and a breakthrough to the east, and air drops weren't going to be enough to make sure his Division survived this battle. He needed doctors and tanks.

"We're going to need to ask our commie friends for some help, phuak phu di," the Colonel grumbled to the men in the command bunker. "Get me a secure line with Phirun on the other end."

 

[Khemia]

Khâao Johm Dtee
ข้าวโจมตี
The Khâao Offensive​

8.9.2010 08:15
1st Armoured Division Advance Mobile Command Center
Lam Daeng, 22.1 miles south of Ching Kho.
Colonel Songsri commanding.

The tank guns opened fire, the dull echo of the high caliber cannons pumping through the chassis of the IFV, which hid turret-down behind the ruins of a apartment complex. The shattering concussion of the tank blast kicked up rubble and dust that made a racket when they smacked the hull of the Colonel's command vehicle.

He hadn't expected this sort of heavy resistance until Ching Kho, and while 1st Armoured had plenty of equipment to take Lam Daeng, casualties at this point in the offensive was simply unacceptable. But Lam Daeng had to be taken, it was the only real rail route to Pak Nam Pran, and thus very important for the SDF offensive.

"Elements of 12th contingent have encountered light resistance, 14th and 15th are engaging heavy resistance to the east," reported one of his men from the main electronics board. "Air strikes inbound."

"Fantastic," he grinned before popping his head out of the cupola to watch the fireworks. The tank fired it's cannon again, the thud of the blast blowing the Colonel's hat off his head, the jets buzzing over the town dropping their bombs over the northern parts, the heavy concussions toppling a nearby carcass of a structure. "Hell fucking yeah!" the colonel shouted, a dismounted infantryman looking up at the crazed colonel with bewildered concern. "Get me my hat, son!" the Colonel shouted at the boy.

The soldier got up from his cover, hunkering low over to the colonels hat, the cap fluttering again as the cannon from the tank fired again before the vehicle's tracks crushed the pathetic cement of the cheap road as they churned to push the monstrosity forward. A surprising flurry of gunfire erupted from what seemed like nowhere, the small crossroads flanked by only short burned out buildings.

A gunner popped out of the nearby tank to grab the pintle gun, swinging the machine gun around to bear down on a target out of the colonels view. The .50 cal opened up, shell casings spilling onto the cement as the tanks tracks slipped against the cement, struggling to pull the vehicle backwards. The colonel watched in abject horror as a RPG shot from a building, the pintle gunners fingers squeezing his trigger as hard as possible to kill the threat. The missile bounced off the armor with a sickening and frightening thud. The tracks gripped into the cement, launching the vehicle backwards, forcing the gunner to hold his fire.

The gunner ducked back into the tank just in time to dodge the blast of another RPG hitting the hull of the vehicle, the missile catching in the cage armor and detonating just away from the hull off the tank.

"AT!" shouted an infantryman. "Push forward, into the buildings!" the infantry pushed up off the ground and into the buildings, the colonel's IFV reversing to find a safe distance away from the combat.

 

[Khemia]

The Battle of Si Satrakun​

8.9.2010 13:30
Si Satrakun Unity Forward Base
3.78 miles west of Sinyaphum.
Colonel Timkul commanding.

The battle had been ongoing for over a week now, and the Colonel's ears were by now completely accustomed to the shattering cracks of exploding shells and gunfire. He stood in the bunker, winding trenches weaving through the dirt outside connecting the command center to it's other necessary organs: the armory, the mess hall, the generator, the medical bunker, a number of protected bunkers serving as de facto barracks. Outside, a wasteland of shrapnel and debris littered burned out ground, trenches slithering through them to the perimeter where sat, perched upon large dirt mounds surrounded by mines, 'watchtowers' overlorded the battlefield.

Essentially a fortified dirt tower, surrounded by sandbangs and with a number of machine guns and mortars, watchtowers were capable of providing a heavy defense. However, ten days of combat and a machine gun really hurt ammunition, and militia snipers grew more skilled every day at picking off the runners who picked up the air drops.

The Colonel felt his stomach rumble, but he knew he couldn't break his own order and eat more than his allotted rations. He bent over, grabbing his gut and letting the pain wash over him, a weakness and lightheadedness overcoming him for a moment before passing. Everyone at the UFB had felt the pain, and had learned more or less how to cope with it. It was the least of their worries. Finding a place to sleep for several thousand men in nothing but trenches was another problem.

Gunfire seemed to perpetually echo across the military base, and by now the militia was assured to outnumber the soldiers no less than 3:1. A number of troops hurried through a trench and into the bunker, snapping a salute more by ritual now than by protocol. "Watchtower three east is reporting a push," the soldiers reported. By now, not every watchtower had even functional radio's. Many had resorted to using runners instead of flooding coms with intel that was obvious. Every watchtower was being attacked, it wasn't necessary to flood the coms channels with more reports. Important reports were concentrations, heavy weapons, vehicular support, snipers.

"Anything out of the ordinary, trooper?" the Colonel asked. The soldiers shook their heads 'no'.

"Back to your posts, then," the Colonel grumbled monotonously.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Secret Sinhese-Carentanian Meeting​

24.9.2010 18:00
Carentanian Embassy
Sri Rama

"Before we start, let me express my countries gratitude for this meeting."

Ambassador Novak, a tall blonde woman in her late fourties, nodded slightly to put more emphasis on her words. With a wave of her hand, she proceeded to offer the Sinhese diplomat that had been sent on Carentanias request for a meeting to sit down, while an aide served refreshments. The ice-cooled cherry lemonade on top of the table was a Carentanian speciality, a piece of home for the ambassador in a building whose interior and exterior design were unistakenably Sinhese.

"The situation your country faces is a very regrettable. Even more so, despite the differences our countries may have, the threat ultranationalist elements pose for the stability of all of Europe can not be ignored. We are therefore glad your government has chosen to approach the communist factions and begin a political reform process in cooperation with our ideological brethren in your country. This opens up possibilities for cooperation between the Sinhai Union and the Workers' Republic of Carentania."

The Sinhese diplomat himself was calmly listening, maintaining a polite composure but not commenting on any of the ambassadors words. At moments, he seemed more like a Navy officer in his white suit, waiting for his counterpart to finish an unnecessary lengthy explanation before finally getting to the point.

"Carentania wishes to aid your efforst against the Ultranationalists. We are concerned about the situation and wish to contribute to the effort of reuniting the country and removing such dangerous elements. However, we must warn you that the nature of Carentanias democracy means that aggressive posturing against fellow socialist nations will interfere with such efforts. The Carentanian public may demand - and force - sanctions if the Sinhai Union continues to use rather aggressive rhetorics against states like Vangala or North Ratomkira."

Again, the Sinhese diplomat did not comment. Ambassador Novak was frustrated with the discussion, but managed not to let her composure slip.

"If you agree, we will begin humanitarian operations in Southern Sinhai. Distributing medical supplies, setting up refugee camps, organizing the search for lost relatives... such things. Should there be the wish for more aid, even more -practical- aid, the Sinhai Union is free to signal us their wish for such by proceeding with its political reforms and maintaining an amicable foreign policy towards socialist states."

"Very well, I will inform my superiors about your offer," the Sinhese diplomat spoke for the first - and last - time during the entire meeting.

"Another thing: my government must demand these talks to remain secret, especially towards the Vangalan government. I hope that Sinhai keeps it word not to mention the interference of Carentania in eastern politics."

 

[Khemia]

Khâao Johm Dtee
ข้าวโจมตี
The Khâao Offensive​

September 26, 2010
10:30
1st Armoured Division Advance Mobile Command Center
Ching Kho
General Silpajarn commanding.

The world seemed to have grown a bit colder, a bit quieter, and a bit bleaker since news of the President's death yesterday. Where the sound of artillery would be a blistering cacophonous orchestra, now the soldiers solemnly observed a ritual of silence in her honor. Every man felt rage in his heart, but underneath that was a feeling of futility.

Pak Nam Pran was nothing but a smoldering pile of shit now, but the Khâao Offensive had stalled. Organized and stiff resistance along the Ko Phet river had prevented even the armored units from advancing, the bridges were blown, the betrayal of an entire division of soldiers had bolstered the enemy. Only the gods knew how much that division could influence the war if they trained the northerners. Every man that had peered across that unwelcoming river asked himself whether or not his once fellow comrades now stood there opposing them.

Yes, the momentum of the Northern offensives had slowed significantly since the start of the Khâao Offensive, but whether that was because farmers were returning to what was left of their families and crops, or because they were busy dealing with the Khâao Offensive, or because they were planting themselves in the South to kill President's, these were questions no one could really answer. Even with reservists reinforcing the front lines, seizing more territory in the North, they were forming a pocket between the rivers Racha and Ko Phet, and despite the addition of many more divisions, they were still outnumbered. Even more dilemma's faced the armed forces; their expanded budget did not compensate for an economy that was now seemingly destined for collapse. A lack of a leader, the prospect of significant political change, and war that seemed without end were all factors that were seeing many foreign investors leaving; it was becoming hard to acquire enough ordnance to keep up the sheer number of operations required to maintain the offensive.

 

[Khemia]

The Battle of Mae Lat​

11.10.2010 10:20
Mae Lat Coalition Command Center
0.8 miles west of Mae Lat.
Colonel Timkul commanding.

All was not well, not for the Colonel. He had fought his way from Sinyaphum to Mae Lat, and though the distance itself was not more than a hundred miles, every inch of the way had been plagued with traps and ambushes, roadside bombs and a myriad of other threats seen and unseen. But despite their retreat, the tides had turned; high above an angel of death awaited to be called. The Colonel was on the front lines now, he could peer out the small crevice of his makeshift bunker and look out towards where he knew his foe sat waiting.

The guns were quiet over Mae Lat, the once peaceful farming village had turned into the bustling military encampment; those citizens that had not mobilized into a militia had been evacuated. The Colonel had yet to deliver his report to JFC, he knew the number crunchers at Sinyaphum would not be happy. Over three thousand men dead, wounded, or missing. Now, entrenched here in a small valley, he bided his time and steeled his conviction for the stand he intended to commit here. Every one of his men was nervous, many of them had written letters for the caravan of refugees to send home.

"Intel reports some movement from the north west, likely militia coming from Sinyaphum," reported a tired lieutenant from his desk, a clumsy radio staring the meak looking boy down.

"Im Phirun," the Colonel stated calmly, his head turning to the leader of the People's Guard. The Communists had decided to provide their help, and he had welcomed them with open arms. They might have been his enemy for the past seven decades, but he knew now more than ever how much respect they deserved to be afforded. "Where are your men positioned?"

"We have partisans throughout the mountains, mostly sharpshooters."

"Have they reported any activity?" the Colonel asked.

Im Phirun looked at the Colonel curiously, before realizing the Colonel wasn't quite aware of the People's Guard tactics. "No, they're not likely to report back for a week; they have no reliable means of communicating."

The Colonel grunted, at least the militia would be paranoid with snipers picking them off from every precipice in the mountain passes. They would need to pass Mt. Unaraj before they could make their way into the valley, the summit of the mountain high enough even here to collect snow.
He peeked out of the small window, out across the field and towards the tropical forest across the paddies, almost as if he expected to have the eyes of an eagle to spot his prey. Too bad we can't get any napalm out here, but at least we've got some support... he thought.

A tingle touched his neck, and he shivered for a moment despite himself. A feeling in his gut he knew not to ignore, the quirky Colonel shifted around in his boots, affording him curious glances from those men who did not know better than to question their Colonel's sanity and intelligence. Im Phirun moved to calm the Colonel, but before he could Timkul barked at a lieutenant, who jumped from his seat. The Colonel grabbed the radio, "Give me the frequency for our gunship."

"Why, sir?" the lieutenant choked.

"I gave you a fucking order."

"Yes, sir," the man quickly adjusted some dials on the radio and nodded to his superior. Fortunately for him, the Colonel was more occupied at the moment. "Garuda one two, have you eyes to our northwest?"

A negative response came back, and the Colonel wasn't quite happy. He wondered to himself how much fuel the plane had to maintain it's flight, he probably wouldn't have it for much longer. "I suggest you prepare to provide support," the Colonel spoke informally with the captain of the Garuda flight 12.

Another lieutenant, from the corners of the room, shot a puzzled look at the Colonel. The looked turned into one of admiration and knowing. "Snipers report activity in the fields, looks like the militia's crawling through the paddies."

The Colonel looked to his forward observer who quickly picked up his own radio. "Garuda one-two, this is FO27, delta company, fire for effect, over."

"FO27 this is Garuda one-two, fire for effect, over." The observer paused for a moment, waiting for confirmation. "Grid DE 681921, out." He paused again. "Unknown foot mobiles in open, suggested HE and ADAM, over."

"HE in effect, 5 rounds out," the observer confirmed the planes response. The next two minutes seemed to last for an eternity, every man straining to hear the sound of thunder from above.

"Shot, out," the observer looked to Colonel Timkul. "Splash, out."

The Colonel peered through the slit once again, only mere seconds after 'splash' did the shells hit. High explosive shells burst in the air with a disgusting roar, unleashing a flurry of metal slivers into the prone bodies of militants. Five shells, well spread, brutally effective.

A mass of insurgents seemed to rise out of the ground as the thunder of the big guns from the aerial gunship echoed across the open field. A quick repetition of shells could be heard above, and 30mm shells ripped into the fleeing enemies. The observer called for the big gun to adjust fire and fire for effect, adjust fire and fire for effect... rinse and repeat. The hellish fusillade continued, and Colonel Timkul smiled at the gore he saw. He knew bodies were flying through the air, arms and legs, blood coalescing with the stagnant waters of the rice paddies; he knew the sheer horror of the assault was enough to break any hope of an offensive for the next few hours, but he knew better. The Colonel turned to the observer once more; "Tell them I want area denial."

The observer nodded and called for several salvo's of ADAM shells to be laid out across the gap between Mae Lat and the ridge of forest about a mile away. The militia would need to find another way around. High above, the beloved silhouette of the giant plane watched over them like some angel of destruction. The Colonel felt comfortable, for now, in his own defenses; his foe simply didn't have a counter to this play.

 

[Khemia]

ยุทธการอำเภอไทรโยค
The Battle of Sai Yok

ข้าวโจมตีระยะสี่
Khao Offensive Stage Four​

4.4.2010 13:30
Sai Yok
Outside Ultranationalist Headquarters
12th Special Assault Operations Team, Captain Thom commanding.

Sai Yok had once been a thriving metropolis, one of the few cities in Sinhai with a notable skyline. Those skyscrapers, once reaching up to stab the sky, had since fallen to bombs. Downtown was a crisis zone; nothing but debris, ruined cars, and drifting newspapers remained there. If the battle of Katchaburi was hell, Sai Yok was the void that spawned that hell.

A blue, cloudless sky stared down at Thom with mocking serenity. An unnervingly cool wind forced the hair on the back of his neck to stand abruptly. In the hot, humid climate of Sai Yok, normally a cool breeze was a relief. But to a man with nothing but a few inches of brittle brick between him and snipers outside, the cool breeze was nothing if not distracting from the simple fact that his life might be lost today. The shattering crack of an unmuffled high calibre rifle let him know that the reaper lurked just over his shoulder, within the window of the building that he himself had been assigned to take.

He looked to his squad, they too were hunkered down. Everything had gone wrong over the past hour, distraction teams had failed - infiltration teams had failed - air drop teams had failed. Casualties had thus far been low, but now it was the assault teams turn to take the building through sheer force of arms.

He signaled to his men, and tapped his helmet, turning the mic on to talk to his squad. The shortwave frequency was only lightly encoded, and though the technology involved was essentially a wireless version of the Singlish voicechat program QQ-Talk used in conjunction with many East Asian games, most units in the military didn't use the equipment. He activated his gun mounted camera and used it to peak out of cover, the image displaying on a small screen on his helmet. It didn't give him the detail or coverage he would've liked, but if he needed to fire around a corner he'd be less blind.

His squadmate signaled to him that his support was ready. Captain Thom nodded. He waited a few moments, and canisters were launched from several places he couldn't see. He threw out his own smoke grenades, waiting for them to pop before they broke cover. Captain Thom breathed a sigh of relief as the wind stopped long enough for the smoke to kick up enough cover into the air for him to make a break for it. He signaled his squad, and they crouched up. Another signal, and they were running for their lives straight to the door.

Above he knew a stressed sniper was hurriedly looking for a shot, and Thom hit the edge of the smoke first. Ten yards to the front door. He planted his feet hard and propelled himself through the danger zone, the sniper not able to get the proper bead on his quarry. The shells ricocheted off the cement, and the fire became heavier; then suddenly it stopped. He saw a rifle fall from a third story window on the right, and knew he had a guardian angel watching him. He stopped in front of the door, where time slowed and seconds turned into minutes. His squad lined up beside him, planting a bomb quickly onto the door.

"Bai! Bai!" shouted the bomb planter as he jumped over a small ledge flanking the door. The squad followed, and Thom nodded to the specialist, who pushed the trigger. The resulting blast launched wood and cement everywhere. Thom grabbed two more smokes and tossed them in, too. He waited a moment, the squad turning their gun-mounted cameras to thermal setting. The next moment passed quicker than he expected, and he signaled for his men to push in.

They focused their sights on the heat silhouettes - it was nearly impossible to distinguish between the dead and the living, so they shot everything. Just to be sure. A guy with a machinegun had obviously watched too much television and had too little training; the gun kicked into his arm and launched itself into another room. That man died. They hurried through the building, clearing rooms with grenades and shotguns. The close quarters fighting amidst dense clouds of smoke quickly ended as they pushed deeper into the building. The fighting became more intense, round-for-round Thom knew this was no training course, he couldn't afford to make a mistake, or he would never kiss his wife or tuck his kids into bed again.

There were two levels to the basement, some dumbass hadn't fortified the entrance. Maybe he'd decided to take his chance and run, maybe he was hiding in a closet. Thom pushed his squad into the concrete tunnels - there were less gunmen here. Men dressed in suits were waiting on their knees as Thom entered the room. Room after room filled with surrendering suits. The entire "government" of the North had to be in this basement - had they ever believed they'd survive the attack on Sai Yok?

He grabbed his mic, switching frequencies to one of the other eight available. "Buildings clear," Thom stated. Suddenly he felt the air in his lungs escape - he was still alive. And now he needed to take a piss.