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OOC - Agreed between me, Dave and Kris
Prince Lennox hated the Conclave. He regretted having ever agreed to Klara's request and even more so seeing as she had all but removed herself from from an active role in government and that meant the Conclave meetings descended into an endless round of trying to predict what she would want and then debating it. Even Crown Princess Roksana was getting bored of the lengthy meetings that seemed to achieve very little. With some luck that would change today as Queen Klara was flying in with Prince Isaak from her self imposed exile of the Isle of Iskor. Everyone hoped the Queen would be back in Conclave soon and break the deadlocks that had been forming over the last few weeks. Prince Lennox was twirling his pen not really too concerned with the discussion about the quality of school meals for students. In his role as Minister of Defence he didn't really think his input was too vital. It was the sound of a loud boom that jolted him back to reality. A few seconds later a second came almost syncronised with a black uniformed Warrior of Gaia entering the room.
"Everyone stand and follow me." He issued his order calmly and with the expectation of immediate complience.Everyone slid their chairs back and did as instructed following the Sergeant out into the corridor. A trio of other members of the security force were waiting and formed a protective square around the various Ministers. Every one of the Ministers knew the drill, they'd be escorted to the part of the Palace where their private suites were located at which point each Minister would find a detachment of the Warriors of Gaia waiting for them. They never made it that far though as from the open side of the Palace corridor two well placed gunshots dropped one of the Warriors of Gaia. Lennox instiinctively picked up the rifle of the fallen man as the others tried to rush the group of around ten Ministers away. There was a knee high wall tha seperated the corridor from the garden outside and Lennox took cover behind it scanning the garden. Behind him he heard the sound of running footsteps and fearing an opposing force arriving to his rear he spun to see three Warriors hurtle round the corner, one was taken down by gunfire from the garden and Lennox blindly slammed rounds towards the greenary more in the hopes of getting whoever it was to duck and give his backup time to find cover.
"Your Highness you should go." A Liutenant from the Warriors told the Cenneg Prince.
"With respect Liutenant I'm more experienced than you." Lennox had served most of his life as a member of the Royal Kerns Commando unit and had spent probably months worth of time in the urban warfare set up. They scanned the area and gave several testing bursts. "What's going on?" Lennox asked.
"There has been an attack on the Queen's boat coming to the island, someone fired on it from the Isle and we've no idea who or where. The Queen's currently stuck near the Marina." Lennox removed his mobile phone from his trouser pocket and hit the number of Sir James Fitzroy the East Moreland ambassdor on the island. The pair had meet a few weeks back to discuss security concerns relating to the Queen and now it seemed the Morelander had been correct.
"Hello" Fitzroy answered his phone. He was in Gaia itself visiting a friend at a beach front restaurant but the sound of the explosion had attracted his attention.
"Operation Black Citadel. Make it happen. Queen in the marina."
"Roger that. Good luck" Fitzroy hung up knowing the message meant he was the man to set everything in motion. Taking out his 2nd mobile phone Fitzroy began a frantic round of message sending as he made his way towards the office of East Moreland's embassy within the city. The security officer there forwarded concerns to the Cenneg and then both embassies began hitting up their assets.
Some twenty miles outside of Gaia a team of four Red Legionnaires had been busy training with some of the Lodjain military. They'd been teaching marksmanship but now the embassies helicopter had swung by. The embassy had been issued a Lifter Helicopter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_AW101)it had been advertised for trips out to the various islands if needed however it was always about this kind of operation. Tristian Rowe (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg6995#msg6995) was the officer in charge of the four man team and as the helicopter touched down they scrambled aboard. They each had "go bags" ready with equipment and sorted themselves out quickly. Rowe knew his men had been told of the operation and its objective, grab Queen Klara and get out of dodge. The two embassies were the initial safehouse but beyond that they'd ear-marked several other bolt holes. Lennox had been embroiled in a gunfight but had managed to get some information out and Rowe passed it on, "The Queen is by the marina and is being assaulted by a force of about ten men. They are in civilian attire and concealed. Prince Isaak has been seperated and is hiding with a security detail in the pub at the foot of the hill."
The foot of the road up to the Palace of the Goddess was in chaos. Klara's boat had been about twenty meters off-shore when a gun-shot from an anti-material rifle had hit. The round had been fired from the battlemeants of the Palace and was of sufficent calibre to rock the boat almost plunging Klara overboard. Almost instantly a second one rang out, this time hitting the engines all but rendering the small boat uncontrollable as it slammed into the quayside. Klara banged her head and the stroller in which Prince Isaak was strapped was pitched forward leaving the baby hanging upside down in tears. Several soldiers on guard at the Isle's marina headed forward to render assistance unsure exactly what was happening but determined to get the Queen off the boat. They didn't get far as from the cliff train station gun-fire came from a group of people that had checked onto the island as a tour group backed by the Duke of Razan. The gunfire allowed them to move forward and the Queen's bodyguard knew staying on the boat made them sitting ducks. As such the Queen was unceremoniously thrown onto the stone quayside by two of her men as they followed keeping themselves between the gunmen and the monarch. The Queen yelled for her son and a third bodyguard was cutting at the webbing straps of Prince Isaak's stroller to free the bellowing infant. Two naval officers had been loading a small patrol boat and hearing the gunfire approached with only their pistols. The semi-automatic fire of the gunmen though meant they soon had to take their own cover but they had helped in giving the bodyguard enough time to free Isaak and now that man was scrambling ashore. The approach though had forced him to head to the opposite side of the quay-road and now the force was split. More soldiers were running down the track from the Palace now and a third explosion filled the air as a road-side bomb went off sending their numbers flying in a pink mist.
The sound of helicopter blades filled the air as the Morelander helicopter swung low over the island. The Warriors of Gaia had picked up the repeated radio call of them coming to offer aid but the pilots still had to find somewhere to put the men down. Realising there was no such place Rowe made the decision to fast-rope down. He hit the cobbled street hard and shook his leg to try and free it up. All four of them headed towards the pub at the bottom of the hill. They saw the bodyguard throw himself through the door with Isaak tucked safely with him. Then to the surprise of many the sound of gunshots came from the upper windows of the pub heading towards the attacking gun-men. It appeared the local innkeeper wasn't about to let his Queen or Prince be gunned down outside his premise. This gave the Reds enough time to skirt over a few garden walls and meet up with those protecting the Queen. Rowe was known by the monarch and she seemed thankful to see him. "Your Majesty" Rowe even gave a little bow, "King David sends his compliments, we're here to get you to a safe zone." The two Warriors of Gaia seemed like they were about to protest and then thought better off it.
"We need to get my son." Klara pleaded.
"First thing is to keep you secure." the helicopter was happy now with its approach to getting people out and the loadmaster was strapped up ready to go. "In about thirty seconds you'll be attacted to a rope and going in the helicopter." Klara protested that she wasn't about to go without her son but even as she still was begging them to get him Rowe tied her onto the winchman. The three other Red's moved forward to ensure targets kept their heads down as the Queen was pulled kicking and screaming into the helicopter. Which now went into a high overhead pattern. "Queen's airborne" Rowe informed command as they looked at how to get into the pub.
Things up at the Palace were taking a turn for the worse. Lennox and his duo of Warriors were now being out-flanked by another force who were also wearing Warrior uniform but unlike those men had different rifles. As the trio fought a retreating action along the corridors they had been joined by a string of reinforcements, the only problem was as these men came round the corner they were made easy targets. Now as Lennox reached it he was able to stop others walking into the ambush. The problem though was several Minister's suites were now in the ground between Lennox and the advancing intruders. Doors were smashed in and Ministers dragged out and taken away. At least three members of the Conclave had been removed before Lennox had enough men to mount a counter attack. At least now they were holding their own.
Down at the quayside three gunmen had managed to get into the pub through a rear window there were several gunshots and soon the body of the bodyguard protecting Isaak was dumped out of the front door. Rowe and his men quickly exchanged words with the two bodyguards who had been with Queen Klara and they began an assault towards the pub. It was impossible, no sooner had they broke cover than from the old stone cottages came a burst of machine gun fire sending them all diving towards cover, some into gardens, others behind the monument to Sessifet in the square. It was the upper floor of the Pubs inaccurate and sporadic gunfire though that helped Rowe and a Red Legionnaire Corporal make it to the door. They stepped over the prone body riddled with gunshots and entered the pub, there was the obvious scene of a gunfight but no sign of anyone. "Back room" Rowe motioned and headed towards where he knew there was a small games room with a pool table in the back. He had just removed a flashbang from his webbing to throw in when over the radio came a message from the helicopter.
"They've a fast boat on the West side of the island. Five men, looks like the baby too. I can see about five or six others around the island."
"Bollocks" Rowe slid into the room without the flashbang searching for targets. The building was empty but it was clear someone had just climbed out the window. He peered through and could see the men loading a boat. There was no way he could fire without risking hitting Isaak and so he got on the radio to the helicopter. "Follow the boat, wait for the locals to get assets and then get to the embassy."
"Roger that" the helicopter headed towards that side of the island and watched as the boat shot off out of the small bay it was in. The helicopter kept up with it as it merged with several other boats carrying the gunmen away from the scene. A few gunshots whizzed up at the helicopter but they weren't a risk and so the pilot kept on until he peered at the horizon as an alarm went off in his cockpit. "Shit" he cursed as he headed the helicopter towards its ceiling as fast as he could. There around the headland of Gaia was the Cyborg Class (https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/independent_order_ns/east-moreland-t1733-s20.html#p38311) Drone Carrier the Morelander, it was rather ironic that the ship was painting the Red Legion Helicopter with a surface to air missile. "Lodjain Ship Morelander this is Red Legion Helicopter One, we are pursuing suspected terrorists who have attacked the Queen and have kidnapped Prince Isaak. Please intercept" The pilot hoped it was all a case of mistaken identity. "We have the Queen onboard." the last statement was not perhaps the defence as unknown to the Red's the crew of the Morelander had been hand picked during the Queen's mental abscence by the orchestrater of this attempted coup, King Leopold.
The King of Lodja was on the bridge of the Morelander which was mde up of his hand picked loyalists. "If they come any closer then open fire."
"Yes sir" the captain flicked a switch opening one of the VLS tubes and having spotted the gesture the helicopter backed away but repeated the message. Leopold stood in consideration and then leaned across and pressed the button sending a missile flying. The helicoper went into a series of evasive moves and launched flares as it hoped to avoid the incoming shot. The missile narrowly missed and now having dropped to a point where the wheels were almost touching the sea the helicopter broke for the embassy.
"Release the message and head for home." The captain nodded and even as his crew helped the various snatch squads aboard the vessel they set sail.
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/709845204689092691/825493804592398346/unknown.png)
To the citizens of Lodja
You will be hearing in the coming hours tales of how vicious terrorists have attacked the Isle of the Goddess and taken Prince Isaak hostage, of how there has been an attempt on the life of Queen Klara. Both these things are false. A father can not kidnap his own son. What has happened is those Lodjains who are tired of living in a two tier world have taken the only steps open to them to bring about a fairer and freer society. We live in a nation stuck in the past. A Queen picked by a corrupt panel of nobles from the children of nobles. Given unlimited power under the myth of being some kind of divine being. A feudalistic system making a good 2/3 of Lodjains relaint on the good graces of those fortunate enough to be born into a noble family. I know these things as I was until recently part of this corrupt system. I was happy to go along with it as I was blind to the reality so many of my fellow countrymen and women live in. A society that grants women special privledges and makes men reliant on them for advancement should not exist in 2021. A society that forces people to be Plebleians unless jumping through a series of hoops is backwards. Today I am calling on all those who share our views to support us. Our voices will never be heard and seizing control of the system is our only way.
Today I have brought under my protection 6 members of the 10 member Conclave, the effective government of the Queendom. I also have returned to my side my son whom I had been denied my rights as a father. I call upon the people of Lodja to join with us and call for the greatest reform of Lodjain history. Should we carry this day through I promise a broad sweeping system of reforms under what we shall now be, the Monarchy of Lodja. Under my guidance and within six months we shall impliment the following.
1. All Plebleian families to be recognised as Patricians with immediate effect.
2. All current Plebleians to be able to remove themselves from any contract relating to a Plebleian and Patrician relationship without penalty so long as it is done within the next six months.
3. Queen Klara to be removed from the throne.
4. A Provisional government to be made with the six members of the Conclave, six members named by myself, the Tribune of the Plebs and myself.
5. The Provisional Government shall put in place a system of government designed to balance the traditions of Lodja and give a voice to all citizens.
6. Prince Isaak shall assume the throne of the Monarchy of Lodja on his 21st birthday assuming there is no impedement to him taking the role. Should Prince Isaak be uncapable of taking the throne his closest relative by blood shall inherit the throne with age taking precident.
7. Lodja shall seek to maintain friendly relations with our friends within the CNN who we hope to support us in making Lodjain society a fairer and freer one.
The names of my Provisional Government shall be released within the next 48 hours.
Signed
His Majesty King Leopold of the Monarchy of Lodja.
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The Joint Special Operations Aviation Wing had worked with Red Legion for decades since their formation. Their task was simple, get either the King or Red Legion to where they needed to be in one piece and get them back again when needed. Their aircrews flew all of the royal aircraft on the VIP visits and provided the "taxi" service for Red Legion. Today Flt.Lt Redpath had figured he'd just earned this months pay. His day had started off simply flying a few circuits on a training exercise, putting Lodjains and Reds down as though a combat mission, do a lap of the base and pick them up again. It had actually got boring until this "Black Citadel" had kicked off. Everything had gone to plan, they'd contingencies for if the Lodjain Air Force identified them as hostile, they had contingencies for many things but none of them had included being fired upon by a ship built in East Moreland. The aircrew had held their breath when the missile headed towards them and it came gushing out of them as they watched it streak away under the left hand side of the helicopter. If they had continued following the ship they'd have been fired upon again and again until their luck ran out and with the precious cargo of the wailing Queen onboard they turned for the embassy.
On the Isle of the Goddess Rowe and his men had pushed uphill towards the Palace itself ensuring the lower reaches were empty. Rowe had spent close to a year on the Isle helping train various forces in Lodja including some of the Warriors of Gaia. He had heard Lennox over the radio during the exchange and now with things being calm he went looking for him.
On the roof of the embassy three Red's in civilian attire had appeared to take control of the Queen upon her arrival. As soon as the helicopter touched the roof-top helipad they had the door open and were carrying the Queen down off the roof, who knew if anyone was watching with a rifle from a rooftop. Once she was inside she was taken down to one of the interior rooms with no windows. Sir James Fitzroy was waiting, "Your Majesty we're doing everything we can to ensure your secure. For now we're going to keep you here. We'll be having helicopters coming and going all day. The plan was to have you in either East Moreland or Ui Cenneslaig within three hours, however we've heard King Leopold has issued a kind of statement that he is the government. With that in mind removing you from the nation is in my view a mistake and as such we'll make arrangements to have you stay here. Anything you need let us know."
Over in East Moreland the King was informed of the utilisation of "Black Citadel" as he had been watching a briefing on how the Yellow-Tongue vaccination process was going. He had made his way down to the Palace's underground command centre and it was already a hive of activity. David took off his jacket and carefully placed it on the back of the chair at the head of the table. "Let me know where we stand then." He asked the room as he took his seat gesturing for the assembled advisers to do likewise. There were some empty chairs which he knew would be filled in the next hour or so but even those people had joined via the wonders of technology.
"Your Majesty, this is Brigadier Kelly" a voice came from the speaker, he was en route from Aldcliffe where he had been in Red Legion HQ. "I've been in touch with our men on the ground. They had word of an attack on the Isle via Prince Lennox. As such the team in country, as agreed, set about extracting the royals. Sadly they only half got the job done. We have Queen Klara back in the embassy in Gaia but the attackers got hold of Prince Isaak."
It was then Grace Yacobs for the National Intelligence Agency who was in the room who took over the story, "We've had confirmation from our aircrew that the Prince was taken to a warship, rather embarrassingly the Morelander. The Queens evac helicopter had been following but came under fire. As such they returned to the embassy. We now have King Leopold proclaiming that a new government is in place and him, six kidnapped Ministers and six of his buddies among others. The Morelander was last seen heading out to sea and we are to assume its crew are traitors."
The King thought for a moment. "Naturally we'll be backing Klara. Get a task force ready incase we have to get our hands dirty. I would like to avoid running a test of the Cyborg Classes armour so please don't fire upon it until we know Prince Isaak is off the ship, once we know its fair game." There were nods around the table as people began making calls to various places. There was a commotion at the door and the security detail on duty could be heard not giving way the King turned recognising the voice and made his way over. "Stasya you can't be here." he stepped past his men.
"What are you going to do? We have to invade or something we can't let Leopold." She was frantic, obviously her friends in the Ladies in Waiting had called her and now she was demanding vengenance against the man she had thought was so good once upon a time.
"Stasya. You are not permitted in that room" David hugged her now she was weeping. "Trust me. I gave word we'd look out for Lodja when I first befriended it. We stand by our word. What can be done will be done. For now I have to get to work. Go upstairs, see how Jasmina and the others are and if you hear anything let me know. We'll deal with the problem." He did his best to reassure her as the Queen's Head of Household Alexandra Samuel (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg14609#msg14609) appeared having been looking for Stasya. She could see how upset the Queen was and so did her best to lead her away knowing the King would be making plans with his military.
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Harby was an island that all the tourist posters said "Three Worlds Collide", it had the ancient foundations of being a Lodjain outpost, then had come the Paracambians and finally the Horseman of Jekar arrived searching for Paul the Explorer, since then the island had fallen under the control of Bakkermaya and its current Duchess Rhiannon Farmer. She was someone proud of the diverse way her island had kept alive the connections to all three cultures and while the Cult of Helus had become the dominant religion of the island Vodou and Sessifet still had substantial communities. The Duchess was this morning preparing for a Zoom meeting with all of the other Dukes and Duchesses to give their weekly reports to the Grand Duke when there was a knock on her office door. "Your Grace we have a slight problem." It was Michael her personal assistant.
"What's wrong?" She asked looking up from her desk.
"The Temple of Sessifet down on Forest Avenue, there is a rather large crowd there and it seems like things are getting heated." Michael handed her some stills that he had pulled off the internet. It showed two groups, one wearing mainly robes of the Priesthood of Sessifet and the other a non-descript bunch. "It appears that a group turned up there demanding Queen Klara recognise Leopold's reforms and naturally the Priesthood are a bit annoyed." Judging by one of the photos that was an understatement. With around 20% of the island considering themselves followers of Sessifet it was likely things would be getting rather heated and so Rhiannon picked up her phone tapped a few numbers and waited.
"Hello, this is Duchess Rhiannon, get me Captain Jones please." She waited as the desk clerk at the local milita's HQ shouted through to the bosses office.
"Your Grace, how can I help" Tamzin Jones was in charge of the Harby Light Horse, a regiment under the control of the Duchess and were often used to support the Police when things got a bit out of hand on the island.
"Captain we have a potential protest situation at the Temple of Sessifet, linked to the situation there. I think we may need you to go and crowd control potentially. At the moment I'm just putting you on standby." Rhiannon was busy turning her office TV on and getting it to the islands live news channel. "I'd like you to just have a few patrols go out and see we've nothing to be worried about."
"We'll get on it. That everything Your Grace?" It indeed was and now the phone call was over she began calling in various NCO's and assigning them tasks while she herself made her way out to meet with a squad of seven soldiers. "We're going to go park up near the Temple of Sessifet." She briefed them and the Sandcat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasan_Sand_Cat#/media/File:Plasan_SandCat.jpg) made its way from the base and through the lush green forests that made up the interior of the island. It was only a short drive into the centre of Paulton the islands capital. It was a city made up of only half a million people but its buildings had a clear Paracambian twist to them even today. The vehicles of the Light Horse were not unfamiliar sights on the streets and so people paid little attention to them until they reached the Temple of Sessifet. No sooner had the team parked up than they observed stones being thrown towards the Priestess who had been angrily yelling at the crowd. By the time the militia had got their gear on the scene had broken out into a fight between the two groups which took almost half an hour and frantic messages for reinforcements. By midday 100 members of the militia were at the Temple and now a third group had arrived. Inside the cordon was the Temple and the Priestesses, to the left were those demanding change in Lodja and to the right those demanding Leopold be hunted down and killed. Duchess Rhiannon was informed of the situation and contacted Grand Duke Hugo Lascelles on the mainland "Sir I think we're going to need a statement."
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In the past few hours we have seen the terrible actions that have taken place in Lodja. To see a mother have her son ripped away from her by violent gunmen while your home is shot up by terrorists is heartbreaking. In Lodja we see a situation where like any society there is injustice. Every nation must work towards making their society a fairer and more equitable place. While I believe Lodja's society has its faults I have only pursued closer ties with them since we have seen reforms begin. Under Queen Viktoriya we saw the move towards the Plebs being given a say in government, when Anna Utkin was appointed as government minister she broke down boundaries of being both the first female Minister in Lodja and also the first Plebleian to sit in the Conclave. This ground breaking moment set a pathway towards further reforms that was never given the chance to materialise until those who wished for stagnation and for the system to stay the same murdered that young Queen. Thankfully the cause of reform was taken up by her successor, no doubt proof to the faithful of Sessifet that these reforms are the will of the Goddess. Queen Klara has in just a short space of time made several key reforms. It is now easier than ever for a Plebleian to claim membership of the Patricians, business resitrictions had been lifted allowing any Pleblein to own and operate their own enterprises, forced Patrician and Pleblein marriages have been banned and more educational oppurtunities than ever before given to the Plebleians. This is not yet perfect but perfection takes time and a wholesale root and stem change of any society is likely to cause chaos and upheaval. Look at any nation on Mundus we have seen gradual changes. Jugland making various referendums to change the way their nation works to ensure the will of the people is heard and respected, Rokkenjima utilising technology to allow petitions, even East Moreland after a thousand years creating their first constitution to grant the people a representative voice to the King. These changes did not take place overnight and if they had chaos would have followed. We have as a world a choice to make, do we allow a young monarch such as Queen Klara to continue upon her path towards ever greater equality and in the doing so help her nation remain united or strong, or do we do allow a violent chancer such as Leopold Hamsik to seize power simply because he had a gun. As a world we need to stand together and oppose the actions of Leopold, give Queen Klara a chance and hold her to her promise of making Lodja a fairer nation.
As such Bakkermaya stand ready under our TUNA and Council of Albion obligations to support the legitimate government of the Queendom of Lodja.
May The Gods Watch Over You and Your Nation Know Peace
Grand Duke Hugo Lascelles.
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OOC- Joint Dave , Kris and Libby post
The view from high above Gaia didn't betray the chaos that the last few hours had witnessed. The city appeared its ever calm self except for the gun-metal grey helicopter that had crossed into the city from the Isle of the Goddess. Even the streak of the SAM from the HMDS Morelander had only been witnessed by those near the coast itself and even then many put it down to some kind of training exercise. The duo watched as the East Moreland helicopter raced to the safety of land and paid particular attention to the helicopter set down on the roof of the embassy.
"Three hours" one of the crew men sat in the control room of the HMDS Morelander checked the stop-watch informing his commanding officer of the time left on station. The officer picked up a phone and spoke to the bridge, nodded and turned to the operator.
"Ten minutes then go" The two men operating the Suicide Drones (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Harop) gave confirmation that they understood the instruction and both began making the final preparations for their task. It was easy to spot the East Moreland embassy and having now confirmed Queen Klara was there via the drones own onboard cameras it was simple enough to get the drone to track the building as almost 5,000 meters above Gaia the tiny sleek drone wheeled. The time came and the operators pulled the metaphorical trigger sending the drones to their and hopefully Queen Klara's demise.
The Queen had been taken to one of the central rooms where the Morelanders were slowly piecing together with Queen Klara where the various members of her household and ministry were. Things were still a little chaotic over on the Isle of the Goddess and likely would be for a good hour or so. Klara was still frantic about where Prince Isaak was and no matter what Sir James Fitzroy told her she couldn't be calmed. There was a sudden massive vibration that rocked the whole room. Sir James had served as an ambassador in Paracambi before and experienced a few earthquakes there, but surely their couldn't be one in Lodja. Before his mind could work that out he was thrown across the room as everything faded to black.
"Sir!......Sir" There was a ringing in Sir James' ears as he slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on the floor and could feel blood running down his face, a fact confirmed when he ran a finger through his hair and his unfocused blinking eyes saw the crimson liquid. Everything sounded muffled and as he tried to stand his leg was just not responsive. He looked down and saw a pile of rubble on his legs and then the pain hit. For once he was thankful he'd only got the one leg judging by how his prosthetic was mangled. He slumped his head back and noticed chaos above him twisted metal, fallen plaster, exposed beams and the sound of blaring sirens.
"Queen Klara?" James croaked as he watched a pair of Embassy guards begin tossing rubble off his leg as another stuck a needle in his arm.
"Alive sir." One of the sergeants informed him while focusing on sticking a bag of fluid into the needle. "Injured but alive. We've evacuated to the Cenneg embassy down the street." As James looked around he noticed the embassy was gutted the old building had once been beautiful and even with some reinforcement it was clearly never expected to survive a huge bomb blast, or whatever had just happened. They'd a bomb shelter in the basement and another in the garden but this had come without warning.
"What happened?" James watched as the two guards had almost completed removing the rubble and he could move his leg slightly. They began piling the rubble off his prosthetic leg and James found himself simply reaching down to try and remove it.
"Stay still, let me check you." the medic said pushing him back.
James just lay there trying to get the sound of ringing from his ears. "What happened?" he asked again. A familiar voice reached him, it was Tristian Rowe, the Red Legion officer who had brought the Queen in. He was busy working over the other side of the room helping another soldier put someone into a body-bag, James couldn't see who.
"We think the Morelander had put up two drones to provide intel of the island during the attack. They watched us head here and then just kamikazied the drones into us. The helicopter crew had just taken off to return us to the Isle for a debrief. We saw them come in, bastards used our own equipment against us." Rowe and the other soldier carefully placed the bag next to two others.
"Is it bad?" James asked as his legs could finally move and the medic began checking them over.
"12 dead, another 10 hurt needing evac, about 20 walking wounded, five missing." Rowe and his team had roped down into the immediate aftermath and had been the ones to get the Queen out. They'd used an old door to cart her down the street to the Cenneg embassy which was close by and found some of the Cenneg soldiers running the other way having witnessed the attack. Even now James could see a Cenneg uniform tending to another injured member of his staff.
"We have to let Northfort know." Sir James tried to sit up and the medic once more pushed him back.
"Already done sir." Rowe grimly took hold of the body bag and with a Cenneg soldier began heading out what remained of the room to help remove them to a place for storage until they could be returned to East Moreland.
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Around half an hour ago it was confirmed that the East Moreland embassy in Gaia was targeted by a pair of U-8 LMEW (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Harop) Loitering Munition, otherwise known as a "Suicide Drone". While investigations are still underway it is known that such drones are operated from the HMDS Morelander and a total of thirty were onboard when the stock was last checked by Lodjain forces. The munitions were likely launched by the mutinious crew of the Morelander under direction by Leopold Hamsik. The devices are capable of staying airborne for around 6 hours and include optics systems that could have helped co-ordinate the attack on the Isle of the Goddess. Following the evacuation of Queen Klara to the East Moreland embassy we believe the building was targetted in an attempt to assassinate the Lodjain Queen.
During the attack 12 members of the embassy staff were killed while a further 30 required medical treatment. The families of those concerned have been informed and our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Queen Klara survived the attack and has been evacuated to a secure location.
This attack upon East Moreland's embassy is a further example of the treachery of Leopold Hamsik. The attack could easily have seen large numbers of Lodjains killed had the weapons not been as accurate. His Majesty King David has now issued instructions for East Moreland citizens to utilise other CNN embassies should they require assistance and has suggested they leave Lodja as soon as possible. East Moreland military forces are now moved to the highest Bikini State of Black Alpha.
-
About 200 meters down the street and round the corner was the East Moreland embassy. It had become a venue often visited by members of the Cenneg Ambassadorial Guard unit who would often socialise with their Morelander colleagues. Guardsman Riley Kennedy was out for an early morning run with his colleague Guardsman Lucan Hoyle when they got a message over their phones to get back to the embassy immediately. They turned for home and were pounding down the street when the blast of the missile hitting the Moreland embassy threw them off their feet. The street outside was full of smoke, ash and falling debris as they did their best to come to their senses behind a car. Riley stood first and dusting the masonary off himself he checked his phone. Its screen was cracked but it still seemed to be working. He dialled the number of the Guardsman's barracks in their own embassy and waited. "Seregant it's Kennedy, me and Hoyle are down opposite the Morelander place, its....well it's blown up............Yes Sergeant blown up.........Roger that we'll meet you here."
Sergeant Francis Roche had felt the ground shake but didn't think much of it, he assumed it was some heavy plant working somewhere close by but having heard of the attack on the Isle and now this he hit the emerency alarm. Soon his twenty men were assembling in various states of uniform, some had rushed in from ceremonial guard duty, some had been off duty while others had been in the rapid reaction force. "Alpha Company you're heading to the Morelander embassy, Kennedy and Hoyle will meet you there the embassies been targetted by a bomb or something. Bravo Company you're staying here. No one in or out unless we know them."
The ten men assigned to head to the Moreland embassy hurried out, by now alarms of fire engines, police and ambulances were coming to the scene and the Cenneg guardsman had to convince them to allow them to help in the rescue operations. It was then that a dust and blood covered Morelander wandered towards them half carrying and half dragging a woman with him. "Corporal McMather" the Morelander recognised the most senior Cenneg, "We need you to get her to a secure location" It took McMather a moment or two to determine what was going on that was the end of the Cenneg efforts in the rescue for the time being.
The Cenneg forces made a protective ring around Queen Klara and with McMather essentially throwing her over his shoulder they forced their way through the shocked crowd and ran back to their own embassy. Ambassador Stephen McNally had only been in country three months and had been informed of "Operation Black Citadel" by Prince Lennox who McNally was desperately trying to reach. It was almost at the same time as a deshevelled Queen Klara was escorted through the front door that he got in touch with the Prince. "Your Highness we've just had the Queen come through the front door."
"So the rumour about the Morelander embassy is true?" Lennox asked.
"I'm afraid so, we've no idea of casualties as of yet." McNally watched as the guardsman took the Queen into their basement armoury. It was the safest room in the building and McMather had concluded if they were now targetted the strengthened room would provide the best shelter. "I'm evacuating everyone except military from the embassy."
"Good idea" Lennox was busy helping check the Palace for signs of any nasty surprises left behind by the attackers and knew he'd have to speak with his brother soon and so ended the call and got in touch with Finley telling him what had happened.
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/377195690587324418/507896821264154624/unknown.png)
With immediate effect the Ui Cenneslaig embassy in Lodja is to be evacuated for all but security staff. Following the attack on the East Moreland embassy we believe the CNN embassies could also be targeted by Leopold Hamsik. We condemn his action and will be speaking to the legitimate government of Lodja, those appointed by Queen Klara II to mobilise Ui Cenneslaig naval assets to Lodja in order to help pursue HMDS Morelander and ensure its assets can not be used to carry out further attacks.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of the East Moreland embassy and their families. We will work tirelessly to bring those who have attacked them in such a cowardly manner to justice.
Signed
King Finley
-
As the news of the two attacks of Gaia reached the Aostan capital of Ovado it was very clear that something was going down that had the potential to involve the Empire. The two Regents, Prince Lorenzo and his sister Princess Brigida had both arrived in the Palace's briefing room at roughly the same time and sat silently while the various agencies described what was happening and making predictions of what would happen next.
"What do you advise General?" Lorenzo asked the senior officer.
"I think Your Highness that we should consider the Lodjain Navy as potentially hostile. We need to support Queen Klara as otherwise we send a message that violence is acceptable ways of influencing policy."
"We reinforce the border" Princess Brigidia added. She was a former member of the Imperial Carabinieri and had a strong faith in the armed forces being needed to be kept strong to ensure the Empire remained strong. She was always rather keen to move the military into action over several seemingly minor issues. On this matter though her brother Lorenzo had to believe she was probably right. "I propose we move 10,000 of the Imperial Carabinieri to locations along the border. Should Lodja nose dive towards Civil War then we may have refugee problems and they can handle that. I also would move a unit of the Imperial Guard incase we need something more substantial. In terms of the Navy we must step up maritime patrols by the Air Force and I want a fleet of two submarines (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upholder/Victoria-class_submarine), a pair of destroyers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidd-class_destroyer) and a pair of frigates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac-class_frigate) put into the Alucard with active orders that should they even see the HMDS Morelander they are to strike if outside Lodjain waters."
"Prince Lorenzo" the General looked for confirmation from the other Regent. All decisions had to be made by agreement and should Lorenzo go against his sister they would need to wait until Imperial Councillor Duke Basilio Cassano arrived from his countryside residence as he had the duty of breaking deadlocks. Lorenzo thought for a moment or two before nodding his head giving his consent.
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/691408894391484477/698865821736370266/Aosta_COA.png)
PRIVATE COMMUNICATION TO LODJA AND EAST MORELAND
We are extremely saddened by the news of various incidents in Gaia. We pray to the spirits of light to show mercy and guidance to the souls of those who have lost their life. We have taken several steps to look to the security of our own Empire at this time and believe that you should be made aware. First we have reinforced our border to ensure that no anti-Queendom forces can use our nation as a safe-haven. We have also increased the aerial patrols of the Alucard in order to monitor potentially disloyal activity by the Lodjain Navy. Additionally we are increasing naval patrols and have given orders for our ships to engage the HMDS Morelander should it be outside of Lodjain waters.
We shall offer whatever assistance we can in this scenario.
Signed
Prince Lorenzo Tornincasa & Princess Brigida Tornincasa
Regents of the Emperor
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/691408894391484477/698865821736370266/Aosta_COA.png)
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
The Empire of Aosta is saddened by the news that has come out of Lodja and we mourn the deaths of all those who have died regardless of their nationality. We have placed on record privately to East Moreland and Lodja actions we are undertaking in response to the incidents and to ensure our own nations security. Leopold Hamsik can not be permitted to succeed.
Prince Lorenzo Tornincasa & Princess Brigida Tornincasa
Regents of the Emperor
-
The Kingdom of Tytor
Official Communique
Embassy in Gaia
Princess Roksana, Prince Lennox, Sir James Fitzroy, et al,
Prime Minister Madeline Thatcher has instructed me to inform you that the Tytorian embassy in Gaia is open to you and yours in support of the legitimate government of the Queendom of Lodja and the Conradh na Náisiún's effort to defeat this attempted coup. If Queen Klara or any member of her government needs sanctuary during this crisis, a secure space in the interior of the chancery will be set aside for that purpose. In addition, we are prepared to offer the diplomatic mission of East Moreland temporary offices while arrangements are made for the reconstruction or replacement of their own chancery. Our thoughts and prayers are with Queen Klara, the families of those who have been killed or injured, and the entirety of the Lodjain people during these hard times.
This message has been sent via secure channels, and is encrypted accordingly.
Sincerely,
-Lord Martin Reese, Earl of Longwood
Tytorian Ambassador to the Queendom of Lodja
-
There weren't many days that Peter (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg157#msg157) was lost for words but this was certainly one of them, he had a copy of Leopold's declaration in his hand, he'd read it and now looked around his study at his various advisors and other officials "There are days that you amaze me Rion." the Emperor said "That intuition of yours to get Jack to visit somewhere away from Gaia."
"Well Leopold didn't do a very good job of hiding that something was in the offing." Rion Ayanami (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg646#msg646) said
"What do you recommend about Jack?" Peter asked
"Keep him where he is right now." Rion said "It's easier to protect him there than on the move."
"Ok." Peter said "Thoughts on this declaration?" before making his opinion on it clear by tearing the copy he was reading in half
"It's a load of rubbish." Nettie Taylor (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg181#msg181) said "Leopold's promising nothing, there's no mention of any changes to the People's Council not in the makeup of it, nor the relation of it to the Crown. We might as well replace the Conclave with the Provisional Government and Klara with Leopold because that's all this is, the same system at the sharp end just different names. And frankly Leopold has burned his bridges and his hopes with the attack on East Moreland's embassy."
"And I'll tell you something else." Peter's daughter Serenity (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg170#msg170) said "If Leopold prevails Isaak never sits on the Lodjan Throne. That whole thing is set up deliberately to allow Leopold a path to throne as the oldest closest living relative, he's twenty one years older than Klara."
"Mr Attorney." Peter said "Tell about the ship."
"Yes Your Majesty." Robert Westbrooke (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg16634#msg16634) said "The false imprisonment of six members of the Lodjan Conclave aboard it was already sufficient to designate the HDMS Morelander as a pirate vessel, we've now got even more grounds with the attack on the East Moreland embassy. The actions of Leopold also amount to breaches of the Uppsala Convention so irrespective of whether anyone agrees with his cause, he is behaving in a criminal manner."
Peter sighed and nodded "Adam where are we?" he asked looking at his brother in law and Minister of Defence Adam Sheppard (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg1260#msg1260)
"The INS Kyogre has been conducting trials in the Krimeon, we're testing out the capability of operating Dragonbreath's from the ship." Adam said "We're proposing ordering the ship down into the Alucard in case we need to execute a full evacuation of our embassy. We're not recommending pulling the trigger on that yet because of the message it would potentially send. The INS Rhyth Icerider is already in the Alucard we'd like to divert that to the area just to cover all possibilities."
"Ok. Let's just hope any potential drone carrier vs drone carrier doesn't get too confusing" Peter said "Press statement to be released outlining all that, divert ships as discussed, tighten up embassy security and keep Jack where we know he's safe until we need to move him."
As the study cleared, Peter walked around behind his desk and worked on his tablet for a moment bringing up a video call with his ambassador to Lodja, Emalet Silvermist (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg964#msg964), Peter took a moment before smiling slightly "Are you ok Emalet?" he asked
"I've had better days." Emalet said "I'm ok though, no penetration in this wing of the Palace."
"Well that's good." Peter said "I'm initiating the first stage of the sunstrike protocol." this was the first stage of closing an embassy, it involved heightened security, preparation for evacuation and beginning secure data transfer."
"Understood." Emalet said
"I'll get Rion to send Zoe down there." Peter said referring to Emalet's older sister.
"Thanks." Emalet said "Anything I need to do?"
"We're sending you a summary of what's been agreed as our course of action communicate it with our allies embassies and the Queendom." Peter said
"I will." Emalet said
In the Lodjan Duchy of Quadalgho, Mika Schilling (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg20234#msg20234) hung up her phone, she was the Justicar assigned to guard Prince Jack (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg200#msg200) while the Prince was in Lodja, the news coverage of the attacks in Gaia was everywhere to be seen and it had Mika in a heightened state of awareness. She'd just received the 'stay put assets on the way' order it was at this point that her colleague Jess Nillson (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg20235#msg20235) came in from outside. "There's a little unease and a lot of shock out there." Jess said "Understandable. What's the word?"
"Stay put for now, there's a ship on the way which we'll be able to evacuate to if required." Mika said "And let's hope things don't spread to here."
"And if they do before help arrives?" Jess asked
"We put Jack, Katyusha and her family in the cars and run for the Aosta border." Mika said
"Sounds like a plan." Jess said
(https://i.imgur.com/GjUnwRN.png)
Secure Communication to the Government of the Queendom of Lodja, the embassies of East Moreland, Ui Cenneslaig, Tytor, Rokkenjima, et al
On behalf of Emperor Peter I extend the condolences of Achkaerin to Queen Klara and the families of the victims of what can only be described as these terrorist attacks. The Emperor also instructed me to make you aware of actions that will be taken by Achkaerin in response to these tragic events. The HDMS Morelander will be designated a pirate vessel subject to appropriate action should it be encountered by an Achkaerinese vessel, be advised that the Achkaerinese has the INS Rhyth Icerider in the Alucard and the INS Kyogre and its three escorts en route to the area, they have orders to assist in locating the HDMS Morelander. Leopold Hamsik will be recognised as having been party to acts that breach the Uppsala Convention and be regarded as a terrorist. Security at the Achkaerinese embassy in Gaia will be tightened, this message is in advance of a press release in the next few hours that will go into further detail.
On a personal note I would like to extend my thanks to those who ensured the safety of those of us who were inside the Palace when all this occurred.
Signed
Lady Emalet Silvermist
Achkaerinese Ambassador to Lodja
-
King David had spent much of the day dealing with the various reports and messages that had been coming in. He was now back in his office with his Chief of Household, Quinn Germaine, sat opposite him taking notes. "First make sure everyone who sent telegrams is thanked for their messages if they sent the usual thoughts and prayers. Thank Tytor for their offer of using embassy space however for the time being we'll be making use of the Ui Cenneslaig one under the CNN terms. Let Sir James know though that I expect a symbolic guard in place on our embassy if he thinks its safe to do so. We'll not yield to terrorists."
"That everything Your Majesty?" Quinn asked as she finished scribbling down the instructions the King had just given her.
"For now yes, thank you" David waited for her to go before making his way back down to the bowels of the Palace where the briefing centre was. Many now dishevelled looking senior offices and aides were still answering phones, tapping away on laptops and drinking giant cups of coffee. Seeing the King they all stood but David just motioned for them to take a seat. "I just came to sit" David took his place at the head of the table and surveyed the various images on the large screen at the far end. It showed the smoking wreckage of the embassy and David just watched the smoke drift off it. He picked up his own phone and called a Quinn, "Is Redfern in the building."
"He is Sire"
"Send him down to the basement please" Five minutes later in walked Alex Redfern and took the seat next to the King. "Alex I'm aware that we'll need some people outside we can trust to put a ring of steel around Klara. We don't know which Lodjains we can trust and while I'm sure the Cenneg are doing a good job I want our input if anything happens. Can you get a team in within the next 24 hours?"
Alex looked down at his watch doing some mental calculations. "I'll have some of our people woken up immediately." He said with almost a relish.
Red Legion Seasonal Training Base, Nya Aland
Sebastian Johnson (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg20207#msg20207) was wandering through the long grass which made up the shoreline vegetation from the Alucard to the pebble beach. He had a steaming tin mug of black coffee in his left hand and a single smooth pebble in his right. He loved the view this time of year as the sea was as flat as a mill-pond and the Alander spring was in full bloom. He casually tossed a stone to his left and heard it ping off someones helmet "You're dead" he said as he continued his walk along the pebble beach. He reached into his jacket pocket, took out another pebble and winged it with more force further up the beach, another ping followed by an "ouch" made Sebastian chuckle, "You're certainly dead." He turned and spotted the boat house and two boats placed on top of each other with the upper most one being upside down to form a kind of coccoon. There was a small gap between the two wooden hulls and he expertly threw a coin between them and instantly heard cursing, "Dead" he said with a chuckle and took a sip of his brew before throwing his final stone off towards the pile of old fishing nets. He heard the familiar sound of it hitting something metallic and announced the death of the final trainee. He turned and saw the other three now looking gloom having emerged from their hiding place and turned back expecting to see the forth scrambling out from their spot behind the nets. No-one had emerged and so he wandered over and kicked where he expected a boot to be but instead found it was just a sack stuffed with pebbles. Further up the pile there was the kevlar helmet he'd thrown the stone at but no one underneath it. He heard a click off to the left and turned to see a Legionnaire kneeling underneath the quayside with a rifle aiming at him. "Shit the bed you're a cheeky sod" He found himself smiling. "You're still dead though." Sebastian motioned to the rooftop of the HQ Block where one of the other instructors was sat with his own rifle. "Get cleaned up, grab breakfast and get a shower." The trainees had been dropped off in kayaks 5km out to sea and had been told a high value target was due to take their morning walk along the beach and that a hit was required from a distance of no more than 25 meters. The team had come ashore during the night and taken up what they had thought would be good ambush positions. Usually Sebastian got all four of them but this morning had been different. He was about to go grab a bacon sandwich with everyone else when his phone rang. "Redfern, hows things?"
Alex briefed him of what had been going on knowing full well the base in Nya Aland was often difficult to keep up with current affairs in and during Selection didn't much like contact with the outside world. Sebastian was rather shocked but not surprised by Redferns instructions. "I'll be in Lodja ASAP........ Stasiuk Plaza Hotel.....Roger that." He trudged back to his room grabbed his go bag and made his way to helipad. An hour later he was en-route to Gaia and wandered into the reception of the hotel three hours after Redfern had phoned him. "Sebastian Johnson, I have a reservation" he introduced himself and was shown up to a room on the third floor.
Leublin, Lodja
Keir Peters (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg20233#msg20233) was vastly over-qualified for this job and was frankly rather annoyed he'd been sent to do it. "If you put the plate there it's going to screw up the centre of gravity" He cast his eyes at the work that the fitters on the Kolisev (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-124_Ruslan) transport plane were carrying out. The aircraft was being retro-fitted as a VIP transport aircraft and the aim was to ensure it was comparable with the conditions of Ironside One. The Lodjains just didn't seem to understand how half of the re-design was supposed to go. Keir was only supposed to be giving advice as a Royal Protection Agent but his experience as a pilot was also proving to be useful. He was about to start moaning about the state they'd left the avionics bay in when the base became chaotic. "Turn on the radio" one of the Lodjain fitters instructed and the usual mix of awful pop music wasn't playing but instead the news. Keir's Lodjain wasn't fluent but it was good enough to know that he had just heard the Queen had escaped a failed assassination attempt and then that his own embassy had been hit. Keir had left the hangar as an officer shut down the work for the day and found himself in the officers mess watching the 24 hour news, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He tried phoning his buddy Tristian Rowe who he knew was based on the Isle but got no answer and began feeling nervous. Several hours later his phone went "Redfern" he replied. He had expected some kind of orders to come through and as soon as Alex had told him what was going on he had requisitioned one the bases helicopters and flown himself to Gaia. He arrived at the Stasiuk Plaza Hotel about an hour after Sebastian and having dumped his gear in his own room made his way down the corridor and knocked on the door. "Evening Seb." Keir greeted his former comrade before accepting one of the beers. "We hitting the mini-bar, Red Legion expenses have changed a lot since I left."
"Just think one day we'll be on the same expenses that allow us to have smart designer suits like you Royal Protection boys." the pair clinked beer bottles together and waited for the next arrivals.
With Queen Stasya staying in East Moreland or travelling with her husband for the time being it was a good time for Tillie Brekenridge (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg20243#msg20243) to get some time off. She'd been loaned the penthouse apartment of Queen Stasya in Gaia and along with her partner Lindsay Easom (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg20244#msg20244) had been enjoying the first three days of a two week break. They'd picked Lodja for their vaccation for two simple reasons, first it was the Penthouse of a Baronettes and socialite and therefore it didn't disappoint, amazing views of the city square, sadly none of the coast, its own hot tub and a bath-tub you could do laps of. It was also a good chance for Tillie to get some more practice in with her Lodjain which was already pretty damn good. The pair had spent the morning recovering from a few cocktails the night before and the first they knew of the attack was when Redfern phoned Tillie. "Hi Alex" Tillie said as she accepted the call. Alex briefed her on what had gone off and Tillie's silence betrayed the fact that this was something serious. "Who else you bringing in?" ........."Good.".....she reached for the pad and pen and noted down the hotel name and room number. "Alex, we could do with some electronic analysis on this and well I just so happen to have next to me a certain Major in Cyber Legion." Alex knew most of the key agents in the Royal Protection Agency well and was aware of what that meant. Tillie laughed and turned to Lindsay, "You've just been seconded to me, now quiet literally your ass belongs to me........Yes Alex we'll get there."
It was a quick shower, change and exit from the penthouse for the duo. They walked past what remained of the East Moreland embassy and both resisted the urge to stop and gawk and instead head to the Stasiuk Plaza Hotel where Sebastian and Keir were waiting. She knew Keir and recognised Sebastian by sight and so after some brief introductions the four sat with mini-bar beers as Alex Redfern joined them via the wonders of the internet.
"Welcome to the Dream Team" Alex began, "Or the three random people I knew in Lodja and their girlfriend. We need someone out there capable of contributing to the operations to secure Queen Klara and find King Leopold. "Go see the Cenneg, offer what assistance you can and Keir I'm putting you in charge of the Red Legionnaires in country, get a plan together to get after the Morelander and find out where Prince Isaak is. Happy hunting."
-
The news of events in Lodja had been hotly debated in the cabinet room of First Minister Darijus Laine. The nation felt it sat at a kind of crossroads, on the one hand they wanted Lodja to reform but on the other hand you could not be seen to support what in essence was nothing more than an act of terrorism. The cabinet was carefully coming to the end of drafting their statement on the situation when one of the cabinet admin staff appeared and handed Laine a document. "I'm sorry First Minister but this has already been sent to press."
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Coat_of_arms_of_Dalmatia.svg/200px-Coat_of_arms_of_Dalmatia.svg.png)
STATEMENT FROM THE KING OF CHISTOPOL
The Kingdom of Chistopol is saddened to hear of the attack on the legitimate throne of the Queendom of Lodja. We are also shocked by the blatant attack on the East Moreland embassy in Lodja the basis of embassies being able to operate fairly and safely is the cornerstone of international relations.
We believe firmly that Leopold Hamsik must now be hunted down and brought to justice before his actions can destabilise the Queendom and its neighbours. I ask all Chistopolians this evening to light a candle and ask Dievas, Triglav or Dodola to bless those who have lost their lives.
Signed
His Majesty King Kārlis IV of Chistopol
"Arsehole" The First Minister muttered slightly more loudly than he had intended. "This is the reason we need to get rid of the senile old fool and his foul offspring." He thought for a moment, perhaps this was an oppurtunity he'd been looking to find for quiet a while now. He could release a statement that ran counter in some way to the monarchs and show that he didn't truly have the sense to reflect the thoughts of the people. The cabinet spent a few more minutes making changes to their statement and then released it just 30mins after the Kings.
(https://independentorder.net/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=238;type=avatar)
OFFFICAL STATEMENT FROM CHISTOPOL
On behalf of the people of Chistopol we send our condolences to the people of Lodja and East Moreland who have today been killed.
We believe the actions of Leopold Hamsik are best described as terrorist actions and as a result his road-map to reform Lodja can not work if he is at the helm as it would see his nation become outcasts. As a result we believe that he must hand over Prince Isaak and the members of the Conclave. We would be willing to act as intermediaries to ensure their safe return. We also believe that Leopold Hamsik has raised issues that many Lodjians will feel must be discussed. As such if the return of the hostages is only possible with discussions on further freforms then we would be happy to mediate that. A peaceful resolution to this crisis must be discovered.
We pray for an end to the bloodshed and violence and our thoughts are with those mourning their dead.
Signed
First Minister Darijus Laine
-
It was now three hours after the attack on Gaia. As was to be expected the Lodjain military had been stuck on high alert and now the Frigates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karel_Doorman-class_frigate) Cephut and Triskeles set themselves on course to abandon their duties checking on fishing within the EEZ to hunt down the HMDS Morelander. The captains issued orders for the men to report to battlestations and the ships buzzed into action. The two ships were approaching on what would be a pincer movement from the East of Gaia hoping to catch the Morelander heading out to sea or perhaps a safe haven on one of the islands. The officers on the bridge kept a look out and couldn't see anything. It was then another Frigate, the Herne came in on the radio. "This is the Herne we've the HMDS Morelander on our screens, heading North. Will attempt to shadow."
One at a time various other ships in the area confirmed that they would begin heading in that direction to help in cornering the ship, hopefully before it left Lodjain waters. As they made their turn to follow the others the Cephut engines began to slow. "Command, this is the Cephut, it seems we've a fault on the engine. We're still mobile so will aim to make homeport in Iskor. It was about 300km across from Gaia to Iskor but the ship should easily make it.
"Roger that" Command called back in confident that enough ships were heading North after the Morelander. About thirty minutes later though the captain of the Cephut, Captain Feliks Gelashvili couldn't help but smile as the speck in the distance came closer and he could hear his men on the guard-rail cheering as the Morelander slipped alongside. Gelashvili had been a family friend for a number of years and was due under Leopold's orders to be the new Minister of Defence and the Duke of Alucard Minor. His cousin Roman Morozov was commanding the Herne northwards with the fleet chasing imaginery shadows which would allow the Morelander and its new friend Cephut to sneak their way to the base of operations Leopold had been working out on one of the Central Alucard Island chain. They had around 1,500km to go and fingers crossed they could avoid anyone of note.
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/703317694988157051/740292812129435698/unknown.png)
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/201533878043672588/828386220852903977/unknown.png)
-
24 hours after the attack
Maryana Zima's phone buzzed and she smiled when she saw the message the funds she had been expecting since the phone call just a few hours after the attacks had come through. Maryana was a member of the very small Socialist Student Union and now with money sent through from Vadik Pasternak's Student Movement in Kaitaine she could forward money to all those that needed it. Her group had 50 members at most in Gaia and without exception they were plebs who struggled to juggle university education, supporting their family and jobs. While they didn't like the manifesto put forward by King Leopold they did support the idea for change. Over the next three hours the group made their way down to the Gaia dockside that serviced the Isle of the Goddess at high tide. The Guards on duty had just let the last vehicle drive over on the roadway towards the Palace. In just a few minutes the waves of the Alucard would have covered the causeway.
Maryana would have liked a chance to have utilised the causeway for their demonstration but the elements had seemingly conspired against her and so the small group of 50 or so pulled hastily made banners from their rucksacks and dragged them across the roadway. Two students at either side of the road handcuffed themselves to the railings and then each person cuffed themselves to the next like a human chain. The guardsman were a little unsure what to do, in the past there had been the odd protest here but none that had materialised out of nowhere like this. Then they saw the banner. "Let the Monarchy of Lodja come" and "Give the people their voice" The obvious support for the monarchy angered the Guardsman and two approached the group and began trying to move them on and when that became difficult because of the handcuffs without a word the guards began striking the protestors with their rifle butts until they had been forced to the ground. By now the local police were also arriving and with their batons draw joined in the beating. The local media took in the scene and soon it would be shown all over the world. It took about an hour to get the cuffs off the first protestors and then one by one the group were taken away.
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36 HOURS AFTER THE ATTACK
The HMDS Morelander had got away, suddenly the Herne which had been communicating with the fleet that was now heading North lost their track. They'd done it just as the pursuing masses would have begun tracking it themselves and have easily discovered the ruse. Meanwhile the Morelander and its apparently stricken buddy the Ceput had reached Iskor and gone beyond to an uninhabited island on the southern end of the island chain known as the Central Alucard Islands. Tucked away in one of the many bays of the island known as simply S.I.08 under the designation system used by the Lodjain navy for these small island the ships began sorting themselves out. The first matter of business had been to deal with the crew of the Cephut who had no wish to join the mutiny. Out of a crew of 154 the majority had served on the ship from before the pre-military reform days and as a result this meant many of them had been handpicked by Captain Feliks Gelashvili. Many others had become so blindly loyal to Gelashvili that they had not even thought to question his decisions. The 38 who did though now found themselves with their hands tied and sat on the beach.
King Leopold appeared. He was changed out of his combat fatigues and now wore dress uniform of Field Marshall. He walked up and down the line and noted how it seemed the younger members of the crew had been against him. "Ladies and Gentleman I'm offering you a choice. On the one hand you can be one of the first to join the armed forces of the Monarchy of Lodja and join us as we try and make the lives of your families better. Most of you here are Plebs..Plebleians. You are serving to get your family the right to be Patricians. It will take three generations of service, some of you when you get discharged may have that but most of you will need to see your children and your grandchildren serve the Queen. Join us and tomorrow you're no longer seen as a second class citizen. Its a simple choice. Anyone who still wishes to support my wife will be staying here until we have settled this matter." He stood and looked at them once more, "Anyone want to sign up?" There was no movement that could be considered positive and so Leopold moved to one side where crates of supplies were being unloaded. As soon as Leopold and the others had moved to one side there was a buzzing sound followed almost immediately by gunfire as the Ceput's CWIS guns and Heavy machine gun on the rails opened fire. Soon the water lapping at the sands edge saw rivers of blood flowing into them. "Such a waste" Leopold shook his head. "I did tell them they wouldn't leave until this was over though" he shrugged. "Have them buried, mark the graves. Once this is over we shall ensure they are sent to their families." A group of Marines nodded and moved forward, there were a few single gun shots as they discovered one of the loyalists hadn't died from the initial volley.
"You can't feel sorry for them." A female voice interrupted Leopold's Helene Tar (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg510#msg510) had joined him on the shore, she was dressed in combat fatigues but with no rank slides or unit marking. "We knew some innocents would need to be sacrificed to make Lodja great. They took my first daughter, then cast away my 2nd. We have a nation that does not allow the strong to do what we do best, rule. Look at how Klara treated you. Casting you to one side when you could have lead us to better days." She placed a hand on Leopold's chest. "soon the people will come to our banner and we'll remake Lodja the right way but until then we must do what needs to be done."
"You're right." Leopold nodded in agreement. "We must wait here 48 hours now. This is the dangerous time but hopefully with everyone in the North we'll be fine." The teams of sailors were setting up what would be a kind of HQ by taking over the caves and coves here. With luck they'd be gone before anyone else found them and hopefully part two of the plan would be in full swing. "Have you heard from Alana?" Leopold asked.
Helene smiled, "Yes, she told me she's fine. One of her friends broke a hand but that's not our concern. For now she serves us best unwittingly feeding us the goings on in the Palace." Helene had hoped her young daughter Alana would have become a key member of the government like Anfisa, the grand-daughter of Queen Sonya had. Princess Anfisa was today considered one of the top diplomats Lodja had and Helene had hoped Alana would take her place in time but Klara had instead brought in her own little friends.
The Cenneg Embassy in Gaia.
Klara now had a new Security detail, it was made up of nine men and two women. There was the members of the Warriors of Gaia, three Cenneg members of the Royal Kerns Commando's and the four newly arrived Morelanders. "I need to get back to the Palace" Klara said angrily at the briefing but was told that wouldn't be possible until a full sweep of the place had been done and that might take several more days.
"With respect Your Majesty we need to be seen to have a fully working government and that means being in the same place as the others and making decisons. We can't do that here and we can't do that at the Palace."
"So we're going to Noginsk?" The Queen complained. It was as far away from Gaia as it was possible to get before you crossed into Aosta and it was also a city she didn't particularly enjoy.
"Yes we are" her new chief bodyguard, Emil Radenov, informed her. He was one of the men who had been trained by Red Legion when they first began specialist training and as a result had been out of the Queendom for the last 12 months or so. He was considered a safe pair of hands and so was now in charge of this little merry band. "We move out in an hour." The team made efforts to get as much ready as possible. The Queen's entourage was paired down as much as possible. Crown Princess Roksana was going to remain in the capital, while the remaining Conclave members would head their under a different security team. Klara knew life in Noginsk would be different as there was no big Palace, no staff and the team had insisited only one Lady in Waiting, in this case Anna Immich the most senior of the four. "Once we get there we have a TV appearence ready."
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Skies above the Alucard
In the skies above the Alucard four Dragonbane II's (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=987.msg7959#msg7959) spread themselves out, they were ground attack aircraft by design but they had one particular advantage for the current situation around Lodja, the chase for the Morelander was on and according to the various radio calls it was heading north, finding it, getting visual confirmation and monitoring it was therefore the order of the day and this was where these four Dragonbane's came in, not chosen for anything other than the amount of hardpoints under their wings, instead of weapons however they were each equipped with Patronus drones (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1660.msg17872#msg17872), within moments the drones were away, from there it was all down to the operators to survey the area and see what they could find. With the job done the Dragonbane's banked away looking for their tanker and then they'd head home.
INS Rhyth Icerider
Captain Fiona Baines (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg4157#msg4157) had spent most of the last thirty six hours mumbling about how she was the unluckiest Captain in the Achkaerinese Navy, her ship the Rhyth Icerider a Musketeer Class (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1868.msg16205#msg16205) had been using its AUV's and UUV's to do some oceanography in the southern Alucard and the Antalin and that had made them the closest Achkaerinese ship to Lodja when everything had hit the fan, so they'd been ordered to head north and to monitor the situation until the ships designated for evacuation duty got there, of course Fiona knew that if things got any worse that she'd be getting the call to pull people out. Above all though Fiona didn't like the situation she was being presented with the Morelander was the same type of vessel as hers, to some extent that helped in that she knew what the Morelander was likely capable of but Captain's were known for having a trick or two up their sleeve.
Thinking about the search Fiona half smiled, the Alucard was one giant haystack but there could only really be one end to the game of hide and go seek, it didn't matter how well designed the ship was this wasn't the Star Trek universe cloaking devices didn't exist sooner or later someone would get a visual, it didn't matter who did but when they did the net would close in. The one problem with that was that Leopold would know that as well and with so many nations having designated the Morelander as rogue or pirate his options would narrow, that factor alone went some way to explaining why he'd taken hostages - the breathing space they afforded. But breathing space for what? What had Leopold achieved? He'd failed to kill the Queen, he'd attacked the East Moreland embassy and considering those actions Mundus wouldn't back a terrorist so what was he up to?
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A joint EM and UC post
The CNN had determined a joint fleet would be sent towards Lodja should it be requested by Klara, they had also planned to act as a kind of blockade to ensure Leopold didn't disappear. The issue though would be it would take the best part of a week for the Maori to arrive and at least another few days for the Morelanders. King Finley had therefore taken the decision to sent the Cenneg ships now and have everyone catch up. Claith may have been the capital of Ui Cenneslaig but it was Ardanary where much of the Navy hung out. The town now had anchored off shore a growing Cenneg fleet ready to head across the Alucard. There was one though that looked out of place, the Ekra-Badger sat bobbing among the Cenneg ships. Currently as the sun was raising a series of small boats were ferrying East Moreland Marines out to the Ekra-Badger which was capable of carrying 200 soldiers and having flown in last night they were now readying. The trip over would take the fleet several days however the Ekra-Badger would do the trip in a few hours, they'd be a stop to refuel and the large capacity allowed them to carry extra containers of fuel that they'd use while at sea. It would take the best part of the morning for the fleet to depart but by midday the flotilla watched as the Ekra-Badger took off and then followed in its wake.
OOC- Cenneg Fleet as follows
Carrier:- Conn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(CVN-65))
Destroyers:- David The Saint & Mail Choluim (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois-class_destroyer)
Frigate:- Sirlam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Zeven_Provinci%C3%ABn-class_frigate)
Subs:- Enna Airgdech and Rothechaid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiftsure-class_submarine)
Back in Northfort Queen Stasya was still bending King David's ear to essentially send the entire might of the East Moreland military to Lodja. David however was having non of it. At the moment the Lodjains didn't have a spreading problem. The King was obviously concerned by the first protest, both the fact it had sprung up so quickly and then by the way it had been handled to him it suggested a breakdown in command and control and David would be happy when the Lodjain Queen got to Noginsk and they could get her secure and in front of the media. "We should cancel our trip." Stasya demanded as she once more marched into David's office. "How does it look going on a four day tour of Wellow, a nation we hardly are friends with, when our closest ally is in chaos."
David took hold of her hand, "Lodja is not in chaos. We've everything in hand at the moment and just because I'm not here doesn't mean we can't respond. I'll have Freya here and Redfern those two are not exactly inexperienced when it comes to handling this kind of situation. I'm a phone call away and Ironside One means we run a war from there." He saw Stasya look nervous as he mentioned war and hugged her. "Not that they'll be a war." He said trying to reassure her. A few more days and Leopold will have a pretty large naval force looking for him and then we can get this sorted out."
"And kill him?" Stasya said angrily.
"Not unless we have to." David said. "He needs to stand trial."
"We should demand he be extradited for the attack on the embassy. Then hang him." It was a possibility but David thought it unlikely and even then it would be a rather messy affair if it went that far. While David didn't like to say it perhaps the situation would be better for everyone if a Red Legion bullet found its way to Leopold's skull. "Look we leave for Wellow shortly, go get yourself sorted and relax. Nothing will happen for a few days anyway. The Cenneg are en-route and we'll have their backs."
"OK" Stasya didn't sound very reassured but went off to ensure her Ladies in Waiting had finished packing her things for the upcoming trip.
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Thanks to Dave for the proof reading.
The Umberto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_ship_Elettra_%28A_5340%29) was the perfect ship for such a scenario. The various systems had been finely tuned to allow it to suck in as much data and radio traffic as possible and now sat just outside the North of Lodja's EEZ with the Ansprand (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac-class_frigate) sat just a few hundred meters away should things get heated. They had picked up the message from the Herne that the Morelander was heading North, that could potentially see it pass close to if not into Aostan EEZ. As such They began marshalling in other assets. They'd got the Herne on radar and we expecting to get the Morelander on screen any moment, but it never came. A P-3 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-3_Orion) maritime patrol aircraft was ready to take a closer look if necessary and by now a pair of aircraft (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-24) with anti-ship missiles were beginning to get close enough to act as a deternant should Leopold try and go further that way. Thirty minutes later still nothing and word was passed back to base.
As information passed it's way up the chain of command it was clear something odd was going on and a senior officer took the information to the two Regents. "Please pass this onto the Lodjains." Prince Lorenzo commanded.
"Which Lodjains?" Princess Birgidia added, "Their such a corrupt nation we have no idea who is on which side. We could very well pass this discovery onto their people and have it disappear or else be twisted. I believe therefore that we should utilise our agreement with the Morelanders. We agreed to maintain embassies with them and so I think we should call their ambassador here now."
Lorenzo didn't like to admit it but his sister was often right when it came to military matters and so he slid the telephone on the desk towards his sister and she made the call to trigger the Morelander ambassador being summoned.
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Sir John Miller (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg20340#msg20340) knew his assignment to Aosta was essentially a "winding down" one. The Foreign Office believed that Aosta was a place where the only duty of an ambassador would be to help promote cultural exchanges and support Morelanders who had lost their passport and the like. Sir John was therefore rather surprised when his secretary informed him the Prince Lorenzo had personally been on the phone asking for him to attend the Palace. Sir John had on idea what the reason for his summons was and so lifted the phone and dialled home and began a brief conversation with members of staff at the Foreign Office. It was clear that they had no particular concern back home but a few had suggested it could have been to do with the embassy bombing. Miller ensured he had everything he needed and made his way to the Palace via his diplomatic car. Upon arrival at the Palace he presented his credentials and waited to be shown to those who had requested his presence.
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Island S.I.08 in the Central Alucard Islands.
The crews of the Cephut and Morelander had spent most of the day unloading their various cargos off and into the caves that made up a large part of the island. The rest was thick green vegetation with an old volcanic crater at the centre. It looked like something out of a castaway adventure movie but it had at several times in its history been a hive of pirate activity, throughout history it had enjoyed several names, the Smoking Island, the Hollow Isle and the Isle of Gold, mainly because of the fictional tales of buried pirate gold. The formation of the bays would act as a kind of shield against ship based radar while the location would hopefully preclude searches by air as it was tucked away from the route they'd been taking. A pair of light motors could be heard and soon two fishing boats rounded the bays eastern most point. The Lodjians loyal to Leopold didn't react as their arrival had been expected. Ten minutes later a group of five men clad in tatty t-shirts and shorts splashed ashore looking for Leopold.
"Gentleman welcome" Leopold motioned to them to follow him as he headed towards one of the caves. "As you are no doubt aware by now our attack did not go according to plan and my wife is sadly still alive. We did however get half of their government. This does not change my agreement with you. You help us create the Monarchy and we hand over the islands we have agreed on and recognise you as the King of the Empire of Water Nomads."
Luokun Wutib had around 25,000 Water Nomads who recognised him as their tribal leader and he was desperate to increase that number and achieving some kind of prestigious close friendship would be key to that. He had vision of leading his aquatic based comrades into some glorious future where they controlled the whole of the island chain and even more ambitiously the Alucard itself. "So we can expect some of your countryman to arrive looking for you and no doubt they'll bring with them their Celtic friends and maybe more."
"Yes." Leopold had hoped that the blind loyalty of the majority of Lodjians to the worship of Sessifet him eliminating the Queen and capturing the Priestesses who sat on the Conclave would have seen people follow him, sadly that had failed and now he must play the longer game. That would involve sewing seeds of disharmony across the Alucard and maybe even further afield and with the Water Nomads as allies that would at least help in the short term. "We have however a plan for such a thing."
It was true that they had discussed such a scenario however Luokun had hoped it wouldn't be neccessary. "My men stand ready to carry out what you've suggested. Do you have the equipment you promised." Leopold waved to a group of Marines who picked up a series of crates.
"You should have everything you need. Now Your Majesty" he gave a theatrical bow to Luokun before continuing, "We both have work to do."
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The Temple of Sessifet in Harby
Since the incident in Lodja there had been some tension around the Temple. On one hand the local Sessifet worshipping community had come down to show support to the Queen of Lodja and the clergy who worked here. Meanwhile some wishing for reform and several from more left leaning groups had come to protest for change. Stuck in the middle was the Harby Light Horse Regiment who had sent several people to monitor the situation, a APC sat between the two groups which were trading insults and the exchange of chants. Every now and again an object would get thrown from one side to the other and one of the Light Horse would try and work out who had thrown it but often the only thing that happened as a result was something being thrown back. There would be a back and forth which would see the Light Horse push both sides back and the situation would calm down.
As night began to fall it became harder to keep order and unbeknown to the Light Horse a trio of those supporting the Brotherhood sneaked over the Temple compounds wall and into the sanctory of the Temple itself. Two Priestesses were busying themselves with the evenings final act of the day, removing the offerings to the various statues. Things that were perishable such as flowers or food were placed in compost bins. They would help the beautiful gardens and vegetable plots grow. Meanwhile material goods such as jewellrey, coins and fabrics would be stored for now their future to be determined later, some would be sold, some given to charity and others put on display. One girl dragged a large black bin on wheels while the other had a trolley on which they could stack the material goods. It was a job that took only around half an hour most days but today with the temple being largely closed because of the protest there was a lot less to deal with. The two girls gasped though when the masked intruders appeared and two took hold of them dragging them by the hair as the other moved ahead stalking for the senior Priestess. They found her in an office filling in a diary. "We are members of the Plebleian Committee for Change and we demand that you support our demands to have Queen Klara accept the reforms of King Leopold" He produced a short sword from behind him, being Bakkermaya they weren't exactly hard to get hold of. "You will all stay here until we get what we want."
The next morning a recorded message was released.
"My name is Archie Rutzov, I am a Bakkermayan citizen of Lodjain descent. My family have followed Sessifet all our lives, we have been loyal to the Goddess but the Goddess has not fulfilled her obligations via Klara. We know the Goddess would not desert us yet for some reason Klara denies us the right to improve our standing. My ancestors are Plebs, but we had no choice to leave our homeland and come here to prosper. Now Queen Klara can step aside, she can still protect the Goddess but the people of Lodja must be freed from this two tier system and King Leopold is the only one who can achieve this for my cousins in my ancestoral homeland. We have three members of Sessifets Priesthood with us and they are safe. They will remain with us until such a time as Queen Klara hands over control to the King. Unless this happens within 48 hours action will be taken."
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Noginsk
The Queen and her new entourage arrived at Noginsk Palace (https://previews.123rf.com/images/bormash/bormash1711/bormash171100050/90482447-mariinsky-palace-in-kiev-ukraine.jpg) with very little fanfare. The only people in the know where those of Emil Radenov's detail, Klara and her Lady in Waiting Anna Immich, the last person in the know was Lord Silvan Pajari who had willingly handed over control of his Ducal Palace to the Queen. He hadn't even informed his staff of the arrival and his own daughter Crown-Princess Roksana wasn't even informed. The Duke had arranged for the helicopter to land in the huge forecourt of his ancestoral home and was waiting as the security detail emerged. He seemed delighted when Klara, his daughter in law was helped down and then turned to witness his household assembling with their mouths gapeing. "Your Divine Majesty, welcome to Noginsk, anything you need we'll sort out." the helicopter was shutting down now clearly intending to stay there.
"Thank you" a visibly annoyed Klara said as the team ushered her inside.
Anna had a tough time carrying all the bags of the Queen but the rifles the escort were carrying meant she was left to it. They'd had a room prepared for her and Emil had studied the plans of the Palace to ensure they went straight to the room. Once inside the escort took up positions outside leaving Klara and Anna alone. The room was rather small. It had been selected because it was as central to the Palace as possible. Klara sat on the bed and began to cry, it was the first time that she had been anywhere near alone since the attack and now everything could flood out. Anna sat on the bed and just held the Queen while she sobbed. After a while though the seasoned lady in waiting knew there was business to get down to. The Queen would be appearing on TV that evening and before then Maria Shvets one of the nations leading Priestesses would be making an announcement.
Maria (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg10566#msg10566) was in Ghazel, her hometown, a place around 100km inland from Gaia. She had been relieved that her father hadn't been involved in the incident. She was angry about Leopold, she had encouraged Klara to marry him and had been convinced. She would be expected now to speak on live TV. She had opted to wear her white and black priestess robes and was stood before her families own private alter. She took a deep breath and began.
"When the world began there were a number of Gods and Goddess, a world of fantastical creations. Through greed and envy these turned against each other and humanity was caught in the middle destined to suffer as collateral damage. Thankfullty for mankind Sessifet used her guile, her strength and her beauty to ensure that she tricked, cohereced and then out fought the other Gods in order to save us all. In the end it cost her the physical perfection she embodied and with a dying physical form and not wishing to leave us a contract was made between humanity and the Goddess. We would provide a vessel for her and in return she would give her knowledge and wisdom to us via the vessel. We have for millenia honoured that contract in Lodja and we have seen a nation stand the test of time as the world around us has changed. Sessifet has yet to give us the perfect world, we must strive to do her work and to bring more to her worship before that is possible, but Lodjains have enjoyed long standing peace, growing prosperity and happiness. Now though we have a man willing to break the contract. Leopold was given a chance men across Mundus would die for, to be the companion of a Goddess and yet he has messed that up and plunged us towards a civil war. I urge all true Lodjains, all true followers of Sessifet to this night show your support for Queen Klara and at sunset gather at your Temple with candles. We as a nation must show Leopold we remain true to our Goddess. Long live Queen Klara, Guardian of Sessifet."
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The East Moreland fleet had expected the Cenneg to hang around but when they reached Ardanary in Ui Cenneslaig they had already departed. This left the Morelander fleet a chance to quickly resupply before heading west across the Alucard. The Ekrabadger had gone on before everyone though so as the REMNS Ostlake (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier) with its escort of the Northfort (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ocean_(L12)), the shiny new destroyers Suvewal and Naqjej (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_055_destroyer) and finally the Frigate of Christian The Dark (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_23_frigate) made their way to join the search for the renegade vessel the Morelander. With the vast number of islands, bays, atolls and various other landforms it was going to be like searching for the preverbal needle in a haystack.
The Ekrabadger however had already arrived in the Central Alucard Island chain and was moored up as several of the crew were busy setting up the pump system. The unique design meant the cargo bay could be used to house an inflatable bladder holding enough fuel for practically a full refuel at sea. The process was rather slow but it gave the Marines onboard a chance to have a bit of a swim and relax before starting the rattling onward voyage. THey had come to rest at the midpoint between two island, each about 10km off their wingtips and according to the various charts they were uninhabited. The briefing they'd been given prior to departure had told them that at the islands it wasn't uncommon for the Water Nomad to come over and approach the vessels of the Navy, quiet often scrounging for bits to repair their ships or offering trinkets for sale. They were harmless enough and when two small boats began to appear from one of the islands no one was really surprised. A pair of Marines were tasked with providing watch over the Ekra-Badger and from the top of the wings watched carefully. Some words were shouted from the approaching boats when they got to within range but no one could understand them. It was only when the boats were within about twenty meters or so that the Marines could see them men holding up some big fish as though trying to sell them. The Marines waved that they didn't want them but several more things were held up, other fish, what looked like a turtle shell, some trinkets made out of shells. All of this though was an elaborate distraction as from the side of the boat hidden from a view a pair of water nomads had discreetly rolled over the side of their vessel and carried with them a pair of boxes containing bombs. Each box was about the size of the palm of a mans hand and had magnets mounted on the outside. Each of the men were usually diving for fish among the coral and utilising their skill for holding their breath easily made it under the Ekrabadger unnoticed, they attached their devices, surfaced on the far side of the Ekra-Badger and took a breath before returning to the ship. The timers were ticking down and now clearly getting no sale to the Marines they waved goodbye and headed away. The hatches were being set when the two tiny booms filled the air. Two small holes about the size of footballs formed in the belly of the Ekra-Badger.
"Abandon ship" the pilot called as he and his men grabbed their survival gear, made a radio call and headed for the rear ramp as the vessel began to slowly submerge. The process was slow, taking a good hour before the water was up to your waist in the interior and the group sat bobbing in bright yellow survival rafts as they prepared to call for the Lodjian vessels to come get them. The team though were concerned about being picked up by Lodjains, after all what if they were loyal to Leopold and so with that in mind they had called for the approaching Cenneg and began paddling for the island they'd not seen the Water Nomads come from. It took about an hour to reach the beach helped by the waves. There the Marines dragged all the gear ashore and set up a perimeter. While the Water Nomads were known to not like spending time ashore they weren't about to rule it out 130 Morelanders were stranded now on the beach for about a day and determined that they'd get revenge.
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With the King now in Eskdale it gave Alex Redfern some room to deal with the various situations in his own way. He could spend time formulating his own plan and then when ready present them to David knowing that the more traditional military thinkers in the briefing room wouldn't have a chance to shoot them down from the get go. Overnight Alex had been up late in the family suite in the Palace. He would wander off and come back and fire some Air Force type questions at Freya who knew he was up to something but knew best to just let him crack on with things.
Around 10 hours after the Ekrabadger had gone down he had cracked it and headed to get the King on the phone. It took a while and various conversations with underlings but finally David appeared on the screen. "I understand you have something" David had become used to these meetings with Alex over the years and usually they'd born fruit and so David was willing to give him some time.
"Simple, we can't trust these water nomads now. We need to cover a large area as quickly as possible and so I'd like to suggest Operation Aqua Meche." Alex beamed broadly.
"Aqua Meche. What you been smoking?" David asked shaking his head.
"Let me explain then." Alex was visibly excited. "We utilise a series of small fast boats to patrol the region and keep a communication corridor from the Cenneg ports to Lodja open through the Alucard Islands. A team of maybe three Marines and two Red's per boat (https://vigorindustrial.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fvigor.net%2Fassets%2Fprojects%2Fvfi-bow-overhead-quarter-closeup-digi-camo.jpg?fit=clip&h=2400&q=95&w=2400&s=ba0fdc3a6499e172aa84794c0e891d66) We've had the Fast Attack Craft in Red Legion for a while and those Marines have wanted a crack. Lets unleash them."
"How we getting them to the Alucard now the fleets left?" David asked knowing the small patrol boats lacked the range to cross the Alucard.
"Simple. We throw them in the back of a cargo plane. Now I know what your next question is. Where do the cargo planes land." Alex tapped away on his laptop keyboard and a picture appeared seemingly taken from a satellite. "That is island S.I.113. Its smack bang in the East-West axis of the Island chain. Its uninhabited as it essentially sits about 10 meters at its highest above sea level and there is nothing there but sand and rock. It 1,500 meters long and was once considered a long time ago as a potential place for the Cenneg to build a landing strip for space related stuff. We build an airstrip there. We load the Ekrabadger II with the Marston Mat's, its six hours down to the Ui Cenneslaig port, then eight hours later they can be at 113. The Navy can drop Marines from the fleet ongoing. They build the thing, 48 hours and we can get the first cargo planes in. We can then steadily fly out of it, taking in supplies and having these roving patrols kicking the crap out of anything in the way. We also give ourselves the chance to widen our search for the Morelander as we can bring in all manner of air assets in theory."
David was silent for a while and Alex knew better than to interupt while he was musing over what was being asked. "We may take some flak over the FSC. I'll make it clear we are not claiming the island, just using it. Beyond that screw them, we need to show the Nomads that if they sink one of our ships they've woken the sleeping beast. You've my go ahead."
"Excellent" Alex was rather looking forward to this. Having finished the call he popped down to the briefing room and told the Chief's of Staff, most of whom thought he had gone mad, and David even madder for allowing it. Brigadier Kelly though looked on with a kind of father's pride and a thumbs up when he thought no one was watching. Orders were sent and at Portworth Naval base the supplies of Marston Mat were hastily being loaded. It had been anticipated the Ekrabadger II would be sent down and so that was fuelled and ready to go, they just weren't expecting this kind of operation but building airfields in the middle of nowhere had become somewhat of a hobby for the Morelanders in combat operations and this would just be one more.
-
All morning Lodjian social media had been bombarded with links being posted by obvious bot accounts, hundreds if not thousands of them spamming the internet. It meant that when the specified time in the link was reached those who clicked on it were taken to a view of the board room on the Morelander. The camera was set up at one end of the table with Leopold sat at the far end. Down each side of the table were three members of the Conclave, to the left Maxim Schnoor (Minister of Home Affairs), Vissarion Novikov (Minister of Education) and Lord Yuily Shvets (Minister of Housing). Opposite them sat Lady Ninel Naomov (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Isay Yakovlev (Minsiter of Environmental Affairs) and Borys Volkov (Junior Education Minister). Each of the six minister looked smartly dressed and in good health. "Good morning" King Leopold seemed to address the Ministers more than the camera. "I would like to thank each of you for attending the first meeting of the 1st Conclave of the Monarchy of Lodja. We have apologise sent from the Tribune of the Plebs and several Ministers. Do you need me to go through the list or are we all good to begin."
The six others looked back and forth at each other before Lord Yuily Shvets confirmed they could move on. "That is fine." He replied quietly.
"Sorry Lord Yuily what was that?" Leopold put the papers he'd been holding down and looked at the Lord directly.
Yuily licked his lips and looked away from Leopold, "I said that is fine Your Majesty" his voice was only just slightly louder than before.
"Excellent then down to business." Leopold picked up the papers and began to read, "First order of business is to put in place the Transference of the Crown Act. It will be a new piece of legislation that will put the throne into a more stable position. Over the last few years we've had instability through the manner of our crowns inheritance, first Queen Sonya brought nearly 90 years of stability on the throne, then we had a child in Vikotoria who lasted just a few years and then another young Queen in my wife. Viktoria and Klara were never ready for the throne. They had been young 18 year old girls with dreams of fancy weddings and living the life of a young noblewoman. Look at the strong monarchies across the world, East Moreland, Achkaerin or Ui Cenneslaig. Each of these have been able to prepare and groom their future monarch for taking control. As such they have been blessed with a leader who is capable of ruling and doing so with coherence rather than constant changes like we've seen. Therefore I think we should have a royal dynasty starting from Queen Klara. In future we shall have eiter a female member of the royal family act as the Guardian of Sessifet or have the Priesthood appoint a Guardian. Do I have your support for this Act."
Around the table there were muted nods until Lord Yuily Shvets spoke up. "No. I am sorry but we can not break with the word of the Goddess. The Queen must be the Guardian and there are rules set about her. Now with time a few changes have come, be it moving the age from 14, then 16 to now 18. I would support moving the age to 21 but nothing else. The Queen must be choosen as it always has been."
Leopold looked visibly shocked and outlined his arguement largely just as already had been done. "Perhaps this will convince you Lord Yuily"
"No" Yuily said defiantly. "The Guardian of Sessifet must be the Queen. She must be selected as the one most deserving, the most pretty, the most charming and the most committed to the Queendom." The last word brought a visible scowl onto Leopolds face. "Our Queen's selection has been an integral part of the nation's heritage for culture for centuries. It must remain so."
Leopold was visibly annoyed. "Well as we have a voice of descent we must vote." Leopold put the papers on the table. "Those in favour of the Act?" Everyone around the table including Leopold but excluding Lord Yuily raised their hand. "Those opposed." Yuily raised his hand instantly and high, like a small child excitedly trying to give a teacher an answer. Leopold gave him another dirty look. "That is six votes in favour, one against, the Act passes and is now law. As such the heir to the throne is now Prince Isaak. I think we'll leave business there for today as we've all duties to attend to." With that the camera went off.
-
"Is that thing live or not?" Nix Williams (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg654#msg654) asked as the video of what could be called Leopold's Government meeting played, Justicar Operations was a hive of activity, as far as hunting the Morelander down went this was potentially the best lead they had, but it all came down to the question - live broadcast or pre recorded? Finding the answer to that made a lot of difference.
"We're finding out." Emma Hastings (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg674#msg674) said as she typed away rapidly on her numerous keyboards. "Come on come on..."
"Give me something Emma." Nix said
"I can't until I know." Emma said "Whoever set this up knows what they're doing."
"Let me know when you have something." Nix said
"Will do boss." Emma said as she went back to analysing all the bot code.
At the Marble Palace Peter had watched the feed and he wasn't happy.
"Told you." Serenity said "Isaak becomes heir and Leopold is waiting to strike. The move Mundus has seen plenty of times before."
"Rion what's your take?" Peter asked
"Six members of the Conclave believed abducted all looking in good health." Rion said "Could still be under duress because we don't see behind the camera but they could also be co-conspirators."
"And we've got a hostage situation plus the Water Nomads to think about." Peter said "Attacking the Ekrabadger is a pretty bold stroke isn't it?"
"It does slow down the search though." Serenity
"Shame the Phoenix is still up here doing final trials." Peter said "Move the Rhyth Icerider into that island chain."
"I'd like to backchannel with East Moreland see if I can get a chance to run something by the Lodjan authorities before we resort to a clandestine operation." Rion said
"All right do it." Peter said
-
It had been four days since the Morelander had seemingly disappeared and the Ekrabadger had sunk three days ago.
The nation had been rather uneasy. Across Lodja there were small demonstrations of people supporting the "Monarchy" then there were counter protests by those loyal to the Queen and naturally these boiled over into hours of violence. The worst of them came in Rakalin on the Southern Border. There around 200 pleblian students had gathered demanding reforms like those called for by Leopold. It was hard though for the authorities to quell the problems however as when members of the local Police force arrived some of them sought to protect the pro-Leopold crowd while, some wanted to use violence against them and a handful tried desperatley to maintain good order. Either way it was a disaster and before long police began throwing tear gas at each other while firing rubber bullets into the opposition crowd. Those handful trying to do their jobs correctly found whatever shelter they could. It gave the Mayor of the city little choice about what to do and he called in the military. That however saw 25% of the regiment refuse the order to send the crowds packing and the rest essentially fought running battles with both sides throughout the city with flashbangs, bean bag rounds and more rubber bullets. Those wishing to stay clear of the mayhem simply stayed indoors away from the windows in hope of avoiding the situation but the constant sound of helicopters, then APC's and the crack of rubber bullets against buildings meant that was impossible.
The riots in Rakalin continued the next day, this time numbers swelling as pro-Leopold supporters from other cities came. It was then that the unthinkable happened and the Mayor's security detail turned on him and left him unprotected as a crowd stormed his estate. Within an hour the Mayor was swinging from a lampost having been strung up by the crowd. It was time for Queen Klara to take action and so from her new HQ in Noginsk she dispatched the Queen's 1st Rifle Regiment, a group that had been reformed after the East Moreland forces began to train the Lodjain military and in her view perhaps the most loyal unit in the whole of the Army. She was proved right as upon their arrival in the city they began to take back the streets commanded by pro-Leopold mob. They had barracaded streets near the Mayor's residence and the local radio station and the Rifle's had to fight their way in. At one point the crowd went from using their own tear gas supplies and rubber bullets to finding live ammo and when the first fatality among the Rifles came they returned to HQ and gathered their own. By sunset on the 2nd day of the uprising was all but over as the majority of the streets were back in loyalist hands, only the Mayoral Estate remained outside their control and there pro-Leopold forces dug in.
In Noginsk the Queen and what was left of her Conclave were meeting. It lacked the depth of talent it once had however Klara was becoming ever more vocal, and angry. Her wife Roksana had done her best to try and make her more rational but rather than being successful Roksana had found herself excluded from the meetings. Klara had even at one point permitted her new Morelander and Cenneg security staff to sit in rather than Roksana but they soon found themselves waiting outside the room. It was during one of these that the topic of what to do with the Mayoral Estate came up. Klara personally made a few phone calls and even before the meeting had officially ended a pair of AX-17's (https://stavatti.com/wp-content/uploads/SM27T_INDIA_RENDER_MODEL-VIEW-1-DSC07450-V2.jpg) had been dispatched. They came in low over the city and made a move towards the Estate first straffing the positions before then returning and dropping bombs on the surrounding areas where pro-Leopold forces had dug in. The devestation was immense and the 18th Century manor house was no more by the time the attack was over.
King Leopold had heard of the attack and sensed an oppurtunity and so in the same room that the earlier "Conclave" meeting had taken place in and turned on the camera, he looked straight down the lense. "Today people of Lodja we have seen our nations own military turn upon its people. Those desperate for change had the might of a modern military thrown against them. Bombs rained from the skies and unstoppable machine gun fire, death came for them from above. This is the measure of the so called Queen of Lodja. This is the someone who is supposedly the Guardian of Sessifet and has the Goddess speaking inside her yet today the Goddess has supposedly seen fit to murder her own faithful? This is something I can not believe. I call upon all nations, especially those propping up this tyranical regime to speak out against these crimes today." Leopold's shorth speech was given over footage of the carnage the air attack had left behind thus adding to his message.
In Noginsk meanwhile Klara was pleased, the city of Rakalin was calm once more, the Rifles had gone in and mopped up the remaining pro-Leopold forces she herself took to the TV that evening to speak to her people. "People of Lodja. The past few days have been difficult ones for our nation. First we have seen attempts to destroy the very vessel of Sessifet, next our friends and allies have been attacked and my own son is a hostage of a rebel. Today we have seen rebels attempt to take control of the city of Rakalin and fail. They executed the Mayor of that city, hanging his carcass from a lamp-post. These acts of rebellion have no place within our nation that has been blessed for so long with peace. We were building a nation based on love and harmony but not my ex-husband has shattered this. He will be brought to justice. There can be no compromise with terrorists. I urge all people who witness rebellion like that seen in Rakalin to stay clear as we will utilise whatever force neccessary to stop this rebellion against the Goddess."
-
Sebastian Johnson (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg20207#msg20207) had originally found himself part of Queen Klara's new inner circle along with Lindsay Easom (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg20244#msg20244) however over the last 48 hours they had been kept out of them, generally by not being informed of when the Queen was meeting advisers via video link or just been told to wait outside. It was rather unnerving when they began watching footage of the incidents in Rakalin. They tried to persuade the Lodjians that they could get access with to let them speak to Klara but it was impossible. They had essentially become glorified guardsman.
Sebastian contacted Aldfield after the air attack and filled in his Red Legion boss Brigadier Kelly onto what was happening and as things had a habit of doing they filtered all the way to the Palace. It was then the turn of King David to make a phone call in which he made it clear to Klara that care needed to be taken in deploying the military on her own soil.
Island S.I.113
The 2nd Ekrabadger had arrived at the seemingly lifeless lump of grey rock in the mid Alucard Island Chain. It off loaded the 100 men and the first batch of Marston Matting before turning and heading back toward Ui Cenneslaig where it would pick up more men and supplies. Those 100 men of the Royal Engineers had all done this before, some had been in Mavrosia, some had even been in the reinforced airfield in Lakhzovia but all knew exactly how tiring the next few hours would be. Armed with drills, bolt guns and lifting springs they set about establishing the foundation of what would, within 48 hours they hoped become a runway. Major Thomas Burnell was already mentally mapping out where hard standings for aircraft would go and figured they be able to accomodate some fuel bladders and no more than three aircraft on the ground, he didn't envy the Air Force controllers job in getting things moving as once they'd built the runway, marked out hardstandings and a fuel depot there would be just enough room for a few accommodation tents. He smiled, the Air Force had the reputation of getting all the nice hotels and training in nice weather, here though they'd essentially be sleeping on a floating rock away from their favoured room service.
-
It was grudgingly that King Piripi gave some respect to the Water Nomads. They had managed to sink a significant asset of the Morelanders and all without a proper military. It reminded him of the old days in conflict against the Seleucid and how proud he would have been if some of his units had pulled off a significant coup such as this. He though was pleased that those on board had seemingly been able to get away unscathed and now his own navy was en route to the region.
The attack though did give Piripi a thought. Culturally there were some similarities between the Maori and the Water Nomads, the main difference being the Maori had overcome the suspicious fear of dry land long long ago. Their culture still had a fondness for being close to the sea and their history suggested that, if anthropologists were correct, that at one point the Maori may even have shared common ancestors with these people. It was this that gave Piripi an idea. He had members of nations Marines who were specially trained for challenging operations. The Marine Operations Cadre were excellent sailors of a variety of craft and able to turn their hand to land based operations at a push. Where they had an advantage over any other CNN nation would be the fact these men were likely to understand the Nomads in ways the Cenneg, Lodjains and Morelanders never could. With this in mind he had sent a cargo aircraft to Gaia with two war canoe kits (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/dd/e1/f0/dde1f0940ddbbd7695c2bb2602783188.jpg). The nation maintained about fifteen of these, usually for ceremonial duties and they could be transported by air with ease and assembled by the teams on the ground in short order, much the same way someone would make flatpack furniture. With the two vessels assembled and tests done on the small engines that could be used to supplement wind and muscle power the group set to sea. They were placing their money on the fact that boats of this nature wouldn't pass as warships and as such would allow them to get closer to the Water Nomad and make contact in a way the Nomads would give more respect to. The leader of this little expedition was Tama Roimata (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=638.msg11716#msg11716), a chief of one of the Iwi's and as such someone in a position of respect at least among the Maori. He was also a former Marine Pathfinder and had worked several times with this unit during his service. He was happy to be on the canoe and even happier when it was his turn to take the tiller. It made him think of the great adventures of his ancestors.
They had been at sea two days when they came to the first island they suspected was being used by groups of the Water Nomad. Tama took the decision to take shelter in a little bay and send a few guys ashore to check out the area. Meanwhile he and the boys not on sentry broke out the fishing gear to see what they could fish out the Alucard to supplement that evenings rations.
-
A WEEK AFTER THIS ALL STARTED
They say a week is a long time in politics. In Lodja during an attempted coup it seemed this rang perfectly true. Despite the best intentions of the Morelander and Cenneg operatives who had helped guard Queen Klara since they had relocated to Noginsk Palace her entourage had grown from the desired skeleton staff they had wanted to a much larger one. Klara cited the need for "emotional support" to bring some of her friends, including Princess Alana Tar, to the Palace. Klara would sit and gossip with them and on more than one occasion Crown-Princess Roksana tried warning her about spreading information beyond the inner circle that had been created. Klara wasn't coping well with either the attack on her life and the abduction of her little boy Prince Isaak. Much of the day to day running of the Queendom was falling onto the shoulders of Roksanna who was even on many occasions bypassing the Conclave itself to make sure things got done.
Island S.I.113
Leopold had now amassed a small force of his own around the island. Several other ships loyal to himself had turned up over the last few days. First the Frigates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_22_frigate) Offler and Zephyrus, a day later the corvette (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%27ar_5-class_corvette) Fhez. It was no mighty fleet but it was enough that should push come to shove they could be a thorn in the side of the regular military. They'd managed to amass around 1,000 soldiers on the island too and under its canopy of thick trees the beginning of a military base began. The Offler, Zephyrus and Fez kept patrolling around the area radioing in to Lodja HQ that the area was clear of any sight of the Morelander which sat tucked neatly in a bay on the island.
Leopold stirred up more trouble by televising several more "Conclave" meetings showing his apparent attempts to create laws that meet his published manifesto. Yuily Shvets however was nowhere to be seen on them causing a bit of concern among those at Noginsk Palace but there was nothing much they could do. The media had reported some harsh words about Queen Klara's treatment of those in places there had been outbreaks of protests that had turned violent and Leopold hoped to swell these incidents and possibly give those loyal to Klara a headache.
The Maori Patrol
A Water Nomad fishing boat gently putted around the corner of the bay, its tiny horsepower engine pushing it along. Izorx was seated at the bow keeping an eye out for fish when he noticed the strange boat. It was not any he recognised and even the design seemed a little bizarre for this part of the world. Either way there were traditions to be upheld and when two people of the seas meet a greeting must be exchanged. He instructed his four man crew to head closer and prepared some nuts to give as a greeting. As they neared he noticed that despite their dark skin these men were not of the same tribes as him, they were from elsewhere, but where? He raised a hand in greeting and yelled to them. "Hello. Do you understand me?"
-
Major Thomas Burnel cast his eyes over the last weeks worth of work. On the one hand he was thrilled that they'd completed the makeshift airfield, yet he was disappointed they'd taken so much longer than initially planned but the weather and the Ekrabadger II having an engine problem had been unavoidable. Now as the first aircraft (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_C-130J_Super_Hercules) was just pulling up onto the hardstanding area they'd allocated. The rear ramp was already descending before the aircraft came to a stop and several black fatigue wearing men walked down.
Olly Thomas (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg265#msg265) had been a Marine Commando before he'd been a Red Legionnaire and the prospect of using the fast boats they'd brought with them to seek out rouge forces around the islands excited him. He was keen to get started and was already barking orders for what he needed to get done. Among his men was Tom Saxby (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg267#msg267) who was busy working things out with the Air Force loadmaster. In his early career Tom had been a forward air controller prior to joining the Red's and he was not looking forward to the working in the Alucard, it was a cold wet business and didn't sound fun. They had three of the special operations boats (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32_ft_Transportable_Port_Security_Boat_(TPSB)) onboard the aircraft and a loader was now taking the first off carefully. Lt. Joe Wolfe (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg6996#msg6996) may have been the highest ranking member of this boats crew but he knew better than to not follow the lead of Thomas as he was far more experienced and especially when it came to this kind of operation. Wolfe therefore made it his job to ensure all their gear was being loaded. They would patrol the waters and camp out on islands. They had enough food and water for three days of operations by which point is was hoped they could be resupplied at sea. The final element of this little band was Dexter Thatcher, a 23 year old who looked older than his years. He had just been given his beret and sword two weeks earlier having passed selection and his probation. He had served in the Royal Signals and was excited about his first operation. "New-man" Olly called to Dexter who was carrying belts of ammo to the boats guns.
"Yes Sarge" Dexter trotted over and wrapped the belt of ammo around his shoulders as he spoke.
"Once you've got the guns set up do a comms check. That things been in the care of the Air Force for nearly a day, any force that would employ Saxby can't be trusted. I want to be underway within an hour."
"Yes boss" Dexter knew the NCO's and officers didn't like the formalities and even now thought he'd slipped up as officers were referred to a boss but Olly knew the guy was trying and so wasn't going to go to hard on him. He liked the new guy and thought he had great potential.
It took a little over an hour to get the boat kitted out floated and everything squared away. The little island had in that time had another cargo plane touch down with bladders of fuel for generators, aircraft and boats. There would be a steady stream of them over the next few days providing a life line to this little makeshift base. Olly watched the aircraft they'd arrived on fly off back East towards Ui Cenneslaig where it would refuel before heading back to East Moreland. He gently manoeuvred the boat away from the beach they'd used as a loading point and gunned the engine heading off into the Alucard for an island around 10km North. That would be there base for the evening and all being well they'd start their allocated search pattern in the morning.
FOB Cobble Field was open for business
-
Fiona Baines (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg4157#msg4157) was a little bit irked, the search for the Morelander was going well but was also puzzling, well in respect of ruling large amounts of sea out of the equation - the northern area of the Alucard was out so was the east, the south was wide open water but again full of shipping, surely someone would have reported it if a fugitive vessel had been sighted, which left the islands in the middle of the Alucard, the loss of the Ekrabadger while shocking had to be respected as a well executed maneuver on the part of the water nomads but it was the pure brazen and audacious nature of it that didn't sit right with Fiona, she was looking more and more at the islands. All reports were coming in negative that the Morelander wasn't there but that just meant it hadn't been sighted there, but surely it wasn't that easy to hide a ship like that?
"We need eyes." Fiona said looking more closely at the map, the Rhyth Icerider was only one ship and despite the amount of cutting edge technology at her disposal it was still coming up against a lot of limitations due to circumstances. "Find some high ground and let's get a monitoring station."
An hour later a Stymphalia (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1660.msg14734#msg14734) helicopter was touching down on one of the islands in the chain, an initial sweep by drone had indicated what looked like a camp of some description on the southern coastal area, as a result the approach had been low altitude and from the north. The twenty strong group of troops stepped off the aircraft, senior officers for the two squads were the experienced Captain Sam Venables (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg3216#msg3216) and then the younger Captain Kara Dyer (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg21093#msg21093). Looking around the landing zone the two senior officers got the lay of the land fairly quickly. There was a good high point, probably would be a bit of a climb but it was decent high ground for their purposes.
"Ok so I take my team up top and set up." Kara said
"And my team goes south and keeps an eye on the locals." Sam said "Rotate monitoring in shifts."
"Aye aye." Kara said
The teams split up, Kara heading to the high ground, Sam heading south. The island was fairly small by comparison to others in the chain but it still had the jungle like vibe and the sandy beaches around it. Sam and his team got most of the way towards the camp to the south when they stopped, a body lay on the ground in front of them, a nomad. "Hold up." Sam said crouching down to feel the pulse "He's alive but that's weak." he stepped aside and let another member of the team begin to apply first aid. Sam got out his radio "Blue one come in." he said over the channel.
"Blue One." Kara answered
"Be advised we may have stepped into something here." Sam said "Got what appears to be an ill local here. Proceeding to check the camp."
"Understood." Kara said "We're set up, I'll see you down there."
Half the two squads converged on the camp minutes later, it resembled a ghost town, the Achkaerinese soldiers approached an as expected their arrival brought the locals out in force but the normally expected armed standoff didn't occur on account of the nomads appearing as ill as the boy they'd found "We're not here to hurt anyone." Sam said "Are you ok?"
"What's wrong you look ill." Kara said "Is there anyone here who can tell us what's going on?"
"We need a medical team." Sam said
"I'll radio for one." Kara said
-
The Umbetto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_ship_Elettra_%28A_5340%29) had spent the best part of a week sitting in among the islands of the Central Alucard Islands. Using international waters it had used the various equipment at its disposal. Once its time was up it turned for Aostan waters and home bringing with it a huge amount of information. Princess Brigida was keen to get the approval of the CNN nations and so turning over what they'd found would in her view get their support. Her brother Prince Lorenzo had argued against it as to him this was the equivalent of spying on the CNN operations. Brigida had argued against this, her time in military service she argued had been more than sufficent evidence to explain that it was something all nations did and the Morelanders, Lodjains and Cenneg would expect this to be happening, especially from a neighbour.
Brigida though had insisted the information come across her desk and it would be her who would make contact with the Morelanders. She had selected them as she felt they had the best relationship with them other than Lodja. The neighbouring Lodja though was seen as untrustworthy with this as after all their military was no seemingly split in what Brigida sensed could easily spill over into a civil war.
-
Where normally an Air Traffic Control tower would have stood a tent had been erected. None of the fancy ILS systems were avalable as every landing at Cobble Field would be done with what Flying Officer Hope Meadows (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg5585#msg5585) had been briefed as being "Mark 1 Eyeball" As Hope brought her Dragonbane II onto its final approach. "Wow thats tight" she said out loud to no one but herself. She took a breath and began the careful juggling between control stick, foot peddles and throttle all the time with her eyes fixed carefully on the runway. She was thankful to feel the solid ground beneath the wheels and even more relieved as the aircraft came to a halt. The islands make shift air field was just about big enough to allow her to taxi to a hardstanding but she was pretty certain that she had never seen aircraft parked so tightly together. There was enough room for four of the Dragonbane II's, they'd be flying combat air patrols ready to be called in as and when someone found a target worthy of being hit. Hope was the last of the four to arrive and was pleased to see her squadron mates there to greet her with a bottle of beer.
"Welcome to Cobble Field" Flt.Lt John Reddit greeted her. "I'll show you the officers mess." Having not walked more than perhaps twenty meters to the side of the aircraft there was a large tent, the inside of which was split into four. "Here you go." It was no luxury of the mess in Ostlake that the squadron usually called home but it would do. "We've about 100 people on this rock. We're cooking for ourselves, MRE packs all round, showers are out of the solar heating bags, fresh waters coming off the Destroyer, essentially its a shit-hole worthy only of a Red Legionnaire." He pointed across the airfield where the elite soldiers were already setting off into the Alucard on their patrols. "We start our patrols at sunrise tomorrow."
Sir John Miller had received his summons from the Aostan Princess and so naturally prepared himself to head to meet her. He suspected it would be military related and despite a lengthy military career it had been around 20 years since he'd been involved in the day in day out workings of the military. He headed down to the military attache's office and was pleased to see their guest had not yet left. Rebecca Jarrett (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg340#msg340) was essentially the personal assistant and envoy of Princess Freya and was on paper a serving member of Pegasus Legion, she had seen service fairly recently too and held a title of significance within East Moreland that would enable her to be in the meeting with the Aostan's without being seen as disrespectful.
The pair made their way to the meeting and Sir John began proceedings "Your Highness, I've brought with me the Head of Household for Princess Freya, Rebecca Jarrett, she's a serving member of our military too and has the ear of Princess Freya who as you're aware has significant military experience and the ear of her brother. I thought she may be useful and she was in town checking on our embassy here." Rebecca bowed to the Princess and the duo waited for the Princess to begin.
-
The island situation had developed, the first indication of that had been the arrival of a Sea Dragon (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1660.msg14713#msg14713) which now sat next to one of the beaches, a medical team led by Sergeant Major Alya Simmons (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg3134#msg3134) had been aboard the plane and was now doing all manner of diagnostic tests on the inhabitants in their floating village and all the while the surveillance was ongoing. As the sun set Alya wiped her brow and found Sam and Kara.
"So?" Sam asked as Alya shook her head
"Fits of uncontrolled violence and rage, headaches, heamoraging from orifices and vomiting." Alya said "It's Kaiju."
"They've got Kaiju virus?" Sam asked
"Or something very very similar." Alya said "Medication's on the way should be here by morning."
"Command is going to love this." Kara said
In Valtheim the news coming out of the Alucard soon meant that there was going to be very little or no sleep at all in Valtheim, Peter was brought out of bed and essentially found himself in a hastily thrown on t-shirt and shorts in the small kitchen/diner with Nettie, who'd also been dragged out of bed, and then Major Sally Westbrooke (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg18070#msg18070), she was the CO in the Achkaerinese army when it came to the analysis and disposal of chemical and biological weapons.
"Ok." Peter said passing Nettie a hot chocolate and picking up one for himself "What is it?"
"As part of the search for the HDMS Morelander we've been starting to set up a surveillance net in the island chain of the Alucard." Sally said "One of the islands had a water nomad settlement floating next to it, the inhabitants were found sick with the Kaiju virus or something that very much looks like it."
"How does a virus from Safraen get into the Alucard?" Nettie asked
"It doesn't." Sally said "I think it's T-76-S. Went missing in February 2014 from Gaia."
"So you believe Kozlov?" Peter asked
"I don't see another explanation." Sally said
"And the island's the testing ground?" Nettie said
"Could be." Sally said
"But Kaiju kills within three weeks to a month." Peter said "We're seven years after the event here."
"Could be a mutation, could be an environmental factor." Sally said "Could be a more recent exposure."
"Find out." Peter said "And let's probe the original event."
"Yes sir." Sally said
-
The Cenneg Navy was now beginning to flood the area with its navy now. The Copre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(CVN-65)) and its escort had entered the Lodjain part of the Central Alucard Island Chain from the north while the Lugid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistral-class_amphibious_assault_ship) had entered from a wide arc down the southern end. The problem was the sheer number of small islands, often volcanic that meant radar could be a bit of an issue at times. As such they were relying on air assets as much as anything. News of the Ekra-Badger sinking was also a problem. Every now and again they'd come across groups of water-nomads, something the Cenneg navy was used to however this time the usual friendly greetings had gone with the Cenneg keen to keep distance between the two groups to avoid any repeats.
-
Noginsk Palace was no longer a place from where a government could be run according to CrownPrincess Roksana. Despite the Morelanders and the Warriors of Gaia both trying to keep secrecy Queen Klara refused to listen to them. She had over the last few days been bringing friends and hangers on here. Roksana had tried to confiscate her wife's phone but had no luck. It was difficult as the Warriors of Gaia struggled with the line of doing what they knew was operationally the best thing to do and also with the idea of having unquestionable loyalty to the Queen. But what if the Queen wasn't in her right mind? She'd discovered lingering in the Palace grounds a middle aged Priests called Miriam who had no been adopted by the young Queen as a kind of spiritual mentor. Klara would pray with her each morning and then have a list of questions for her. In all of this spiritual awakening by Klara she had come across a tale of how a son of Sessifet was a key part in one of the battles among the Gods. She became convinced that only with a son in her ranks could she be victorious and with Isaak having been kidnapped that would mean she needed another child. She had set about this task with apparent glee often not attending Conclave meetings as she was "busy securing the future of the Queendom" with some handsome member of the palace household, she'd even tried persuading Keir Peters from East Moreland to father a child with us but he'd somehow escaped her clutches.
It had become clear to Roksana that she would have to take command of the situation and at the Conclave meeting no-one seemed to object when she stood up that morning in Conclave. "I have a proposal. As my wife hasn't arrived at a Conclave for nearly a week now it is clear we are like a rudderless boat with no one in control. As such someone must place their hand on the rudder. I am therefore proposing that I take control in the place of Queen Klara." There was a murmor around the table. "There is a precident. As Lord Besarian here will know." She pointed at the most senior figure within the Conclave beside the Queen. Besarian Ivanov had effectively been the 2nd most powerful individual in the nation for several years. "When Queen Viktoria was in hospital following being shot there was an initial move to have her husband fill in her role, however he passed on that oppurtunity when his aunt was impicated in the attempt. As such Lord Besarian here took the authority. It is therefore apparent that should the Queen be incapable of ruling her spouse should take command, failing that the Head of the Conclave. In this case I am able to take that authority so I suggest that we acknowledge this situation."
The members of the Conclave looked around at each other. There were a few seats empty from where those Leopold had kidnapped would have been sat. Besarian was first to speak. "Its clear if we don't do this then we can't really take effective action. I therefore will give the Crown-Princess my support." Gradually all the others around the table gave their approval and as Prince Lennox of Ui Cenneslaig in his role of Minister of Defence gave the final "Yes" Roksana let out an audiable sigh.
"Thank you" she said as she flopped into her chair. She had never expected the weight of the Queendom to fall upon her shoulders but she had once as a young Lady-in-Waiting taken an oath to serve the Goddess and if that meant allowing her to focus on her own gratification she would focus on her other duties. Roksana had brought with her a briefcase which she now unlocked and produced a typed up document. "I would like this to be put into effect immediately." She handed copies to everyone else.
Following consultation among the Conclave[1] it has been determined that the following actions will be required of all Lodjains with immediate effect.
1. All Lodjains are to remain in their place of residence between 9pm and 7am. Exceptions apply to those working in essential services.
2. Security forces have the right to stop and demand ID of any individual. Failure to provide ID when requested will result in arrest.
3. No gatherings in public of more than 20 people may take place without licence from the local Mayor.
4. Local Mayors have the power to designate areas as Social Control Zones. Within these zones Security Forces can, if neccessary, forceably remove any indivdiual.
5. It is now illegal for any individual to carry a firearm outside of private property. Anyone caught with a firearm is to be fined $10,000 and sentenced to 2 years in prison.
6. All individuals except those Pleblians who reside there must leave the Isle of the Goddess within 48 hours. This includes ambassadors. Ambassadors are not prevented from acquiring other accomodation within Gaia and if they require it the Conclave will aide in finding this accomodation.
7. All Universities are to postpone lectures for the next 14 days.
"It is my hope these will take the sting out of the potential riots that are going on. It'll also help us see which members of the Security Forces are on our side and which are not. In 48 hours time we shall leave Klara here and return to the Isle of the Goddess. We'll have a diminished staff and I want us to adopt a siege mentality while we are there."
The Conclave all seemed to support the idea despite a few of them voicing their view that they didn't think the ideas would be successful but at least they now had some sense of direction.
Leopold was confident that their new little island home was secure. He would now need to take a few risks. He'd got the Frigates Offler and Zephyrus, and the corvette Fhez running interference covering the search zones near him and radioing contact with various Water Nomad groups but no sign of anything else. It was now a case of removing Klara once and for all, thankfully withe Helene Tar on his side and the fact Klara had wanted a salon of followers at Noginsk he'd gotten information on the Queen's whereabouts. An unaware mole in Noginsk had allowed Leopold to find out her location. Young Princess Alana Tar had been brought along as a companion of the Queen. Someone of a similar age, royal rank and a fun loving youngster was exactly the kind of person Klara wanted. She'd told her mother about being summound to Noginsk and Helene and Leopold had put two and two together. It was important that Alana was now removed from the Palace, after all as part of this arrangement she would become Queen when Helene married her off to the "King" of the monarchy. Helene picked up her phone and rang her daughter telling her that her four year old sister Jana was ill. Alana had naturally dropped everything and headed to the Isle of Tyr where the family had a lovely beach front villa. It would take her the best part of 48 hours to get there and once Helene had heard her daughter was en route Leopold put plan two into operation.
25km West of Noginsk
The truck for the freezer food company was parked up in a lay by. The driver was seemingly having a break when a local Police officer stopped. They'd had reports of this lay by in the past having been used for companies dumping materials as it had a ravine just the other side of the barrier. The Officer got out and peered over the rail and was happy this guy wasn't up to much. The heavy clanging from the rear of the truck though grabbed his attention. "Everything OK" the officer asked as he tapped on the passenger side window. "Sounds like you've something wrong" he gestured towards the back.
"Really?" The driver seemed surprised as he slid over to the side nearest the policeman. He put his head out the window as to listen and it was true there was a lot of metalic scraping. They hadn't counted on this. "Yes, that doesn't sound right." The driver replied and then without warning drove a knife into the throat of the police officer. The Officers eyes went wide as he saw his blood spill across his hands and side of the truck. Satisfied the knife had gone deep enough the driver let go and the officer slammed to the gravel below. The driver opened the passenger door and dropped down having first removed the silened pistol from the glove box. He glanced around, no one else in sight. He spoke into his right cuff where a radio was. "We've just had a visit from the Police. He got suspicious so I've neutralised him. It's show time." Pavel Grinkev informed his colleagues in the rear. They responded that they understood and almost instantly one of the apparent vents on the back was slide open. Inside the truck was a MVLS (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_JUMPER) loaded with eight surface to surface missiles. The first of which was aimed squarely at Noginsk Palace. The men evacuated the rear and pressed a button on a control pad sending the single missile skyward and racing towards the Palace. Its mission done the men threw the Police officers body in the rear of the truck and then pushed his car into the undergrowth. Without a care in the world they drove off with 7 more shots to fire if need be and nobody the wiser that these men from the Queen's Own Artillery had one of the nations MVLS with them.
25km away a young Corporal from the Army Aviation Wing sat monitoring a scope showing local air traffic, in his headset he could listen to the chatter of those pilots and Noginsk's ATC. "We've got something" he said more to himself than anyone. A fast moving object had appeared on the screen. It was moving directly towards them and had no code, no ATC clearence and was rather low. He had by his mind just short of a minute to make a decision. "This is Sky Nest Control, activating Jekar Shield" He pressed a button and the system which had automatically been tracking the object knew it could fire. It took a few seconds more for the computer to be confident they had incoming and a plume of smoke from somewhere in the Palace grounds indicated a missile was on its way. The Corporal had just enough time to look out of the window and admire the explosion some 10km away and breath a sigh of relief before passing his information on up the chain of command. This was one more thing to worry about.
-
The tension in Valtheim was palpable, the situation was getting further and further advanced and still no sign of the Morelander which wasn't a good sign. The Round Table Conference met for their latest session on the Lodja situation, a situation now complicated by events of recent hours. Peter sat looking around the table and at the various screens on the wall, some were maps others were where people were joining the meeting remotely. At present the floor belonged to the Minister for the Diplomatic Office Cheryl Holmes (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg1261#msg1261) who was sat about a quarter of the way around the table from Peter "...Therefore given the decree we've moved Emalet Silvermist from the Isle of the Goddess to the embassy in Gaia." Cheryl said
"What's the read on these measures?" Peter asked
"Your Majesty." Consul Michael Williams (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg1257#msg1257) said "The measures are understandable, however to some extent this looks like a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It shouldn't change our support for Queen Klara but this has a lot of potential to spin well out of control."
"After the protests the Lodjan police don't really have a lot of credibility." Richard Chambers (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg1259#msg1259), the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said "If the protests continue then this has the potential to get very ugly very quickly."
"And it's at that point that this becomes a real headache." Nettie said "At the moment the protesters are a minority and public opinion is with Klara but if Klara's seen to be overreacting or doing things that cause more harm then it doesn't take much for public support to flip."
"All right." Peter said "Sally?"
"Yes Your Majesty." Sally said "We're expecting samples from the water nomads to arrive in a few hours, we will then run a comparison against the Kaiju virus sample we are based on reports very confident that the samples will match, we recommend a press release as soon as this is confirmed."
"Agreed." Peter said "Supposing they match can we get a visit with General Koslov?"
"We'll try but it's Lodja." Nettie said "And it's a pretty rough time at the moment."
"Good thing we've got someone we can call." Peter said "Get Emalet to do that."
"Ok." Cheryl said
"Peter." Rion Ayanami (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg646#msg646) said "I want to pull Jack out now before this gets messy." this wasn't unsurprising as Rion had raised the issue at previous meetings "He's a high profile figure and he's leverage. It was one thing when this was contained to Gaia but it's spreading and it could easily happen in Quadaghlo."
"He won't leave without Katyusha." Peter said
"I'll have Mika talk to them." Rion said
"Ok then Admiral Sherman." Peter said "What's the manhunt like?"
"Your Majesty we believe based on our current search operations that the HDMS Morelander is in the Central Alucard Island Chain." Vice Admiral Michelle Sherman (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg4227#msg4227) said, she was the director of strategic naval operations "It's a very good hiding place because there are so many islands to search and the various search instruments can run into trouble."
"What aren't you saying?" Peter asked
"Your Majesty." Michelle said slowly "It's true that the islands are an excellent haystack however there's only one end to this game of hide and seek, the Morelander will be found. And Leopold isn't stupid enough to believe otherwise, so whatever Leopold intends to do he's in a race against the clock to do it before he's found."
"Can we intensify the search?" Peter asked
"Yes Your Majesty." Michelle said "As you will recall when this started you ordered the INS Kyogre and ships into the Alucard for the purposes of evacuating should it be necessary, they are in the area now. We've also got the carrier INS Intrepid as part of that group."
"How'd the Intrepid get there?" Peter asked
"It was supposed to pick up the Dragonbreath's from the Kyogre at the end of the trial." Michelle said
"And one going into the Alucard puts them both there." Peter said
"Yes sir." Michelle said "I'd like to send the Kyogre and an escort to follow the evacuation protocol we'd already put in place and send the Intrepid towards the centre of the chain while using our existing drone nets to cover north and south. Have a sparrowhawk and fuel up top and lets try and find him before he makes his big move."
"Do it." Peter said
At the Achkaerinese embassy in Gaia Emalet Silvermist (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg964#msg964) was settling into what was her second office so to speak, she was used to being based out of the Isle of the Goddess but here she was in the embassy for the duration of the current crisis, she was joined by her sister Zoe (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg650#msg650), it was going to be difficult to get what she'd been asked to get but Emalet knew how Lodjan society worked it was about did you know anyone who might be able to get you somewhere, knowing this the Achkaerinese government had mainly by virtue of the Emperor's friendship with her designated Alana Tar the then sister of the Queen as the recommended contact for such things and it had over time paid dividends, Emalet could only hope it did this time, she dialed Alana's number and paced around the room while she waited for the girl to pick up.
In Qadaghlo Mika Schilling (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg20234#msg20234) stepped into a room where the Andronikashivili family was presently situated the parents Duke Robert and Duchess Svetlana, then Prince Jack's girlfriend Katyusha and her older sister Nikita. "Sir." Mika said addressing Robert "I'm under orders to evacuate Prince Jack, but predictably he's not wanting to leave without your daughter and my guess would be that she won't go without the rest of you. I can't compel you to do anything but I do recommend you let me evacuate all of you rather than risk scenes similar to Rakalin happening here." it was a rather weird situation there was something of an expectation that at some point Jack and Katyusha would marry and Mika really didn't want to be responsible for losing potential in laws of the Azurewind family.
In the Alucard the INS Intrepid (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1868.msg16204#msg16204), flagship of the Achkaerinese fleet with her escorts headed towards the islands, as far as the search went from their point of view this was game changer day, they now had more air assets in the area which meant they could cover ground more quickly, it would still take plenty of time but they had at least theoretically increased their odds of finding the Morelander sooner rather than later. Commanding the Intrepid was Admiral Lucas Harper (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg1171#msg1171) and this was unlike any situation he'd previously been involved in and that was saying something considering his career history. He stepped onto the bridge and walked over to what was called 'the chessboard' an interactive table, or to put it another way the mating of an electronic tablet and a table, presently it displayed a map of the area, standing on the other side of the table was his XO Commander Carmen Webb (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg10720#msg10720).
"Status?" Lucas asked
"Sir." Carmen said "We're approaching the search area from the east, the Kyogre and Stardust have peeled off as per orders. The Rhyth Icerider is situated here." she tapped the table "We're going to rendezvous with them north of the Isle of Tar, that gives us open water to base out of while we search."
"ETA?" Lucas asked
"ETA for rendezvous is seventy two hours." Carmen said "We are however starting search operations sooner than that."
"Naturally." Lucas said
Below decks in the flight briefing room Wing Commander Lance Ellis (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg5322#msg5322) had been brought in to give the operations briefing he stood behind a podium on a slightly raised platform, the pilots sat in chairs before him. "All right this is Operation Falcon, our primary objective is locating the HDMS Morelander. This is a twenty four seven operation, groups as per normal protocol for such operations. There will be a Sparrowhawk and fuel up top. We are not the only ones out here looking for the Morelander, if you discover the Morelander you are cleared to engage only if fired upon. Jackpot is bingo call." Lance said "Questions?" he looked around the room, there were none "Good hunting braves."
The senior pilot aboard the Intrepid was Squadron Commander Lucy Sherwood (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg3677#msg3677), a highly respected figure in the Achkaerinese military she had the callsign 'Hekate' and flew a Dragonite (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1660.msg14723#msg14723) fighter jet, her wingman was Lieutenant Harry Kimblin (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg3678#msg3678) callsign 'Fenrir', it was quite easy to tell that the two of them had been flying together since day one and had deliberately colluded in picking their callsigns. Now came the scramble as the first shift of jets including theirs took off up into the Alucard skies once they leveled off Lucy glanced around and spotted the Sparrowhawk (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1660.msg14708#msg14708), she clicked the radio "This is Hekate, you know the drill, Sparrowhawk up top on coordination, two fighter escort at all times, everyone else split into your flights and let's hunt this damn vessel down." she said, she clicked the radio off and banked away Harry following on her wing.
-
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/833082927679275009/889157953070977084/unknown.png)
#
The Isle of Zhoyan (South East on map) was the smallest of the Lodjain islands. It was home to nothing much more than a naval outpost, a small airfield and a wonderful series of high class hotel. It was a lovely paradise in the centre of the Alucard. It was also an easy target. The aim for Leopold was simple, move the search to somewhere he wasn't actually looking to go. He'd dispatched two ships with a group of Marines onboard, their brief was relatively simple. As the boats neared they launched in small boats of their own and within a few minutes had secured a beach before moving in land. The island only had one town and it was named the same as the island. 45minutes after reaching the islands town 45 Marines had taken control of the islands Ducal Palace. Two hours after arriving they had the air-field, largely thanks to a handful of aircrew there turning coat and helping them. It was safe to say that with a force of around 250 Marines Leopold had taken control of the island. The flag of the monarchy was raised above the building and a scene showing the Duke of the island in handcuffs was shown to the world. A Colonel in the Marines gave a statement to camera.
"The city of Zhoyan has today become part of the Monarchy of Lodja. The people here are happy and proud to welcome our forces as we seek to liberate the territory held by a corrupt Queen who when her nation is plunged into chaos hides in a palace somewhere. With immediate effect all those Lodjains living on Zhoyan are ensured of the rank of Patrician. As King Leopolds forces move we shall ensure all who live under his regency are given the same treatment. In the new Lodja a person shall be judged by their loyalty to the Goddess, to the crown and to their fellows. To those waiting their freedom we are coming."
Over on the mainland things hadn't gone unnoticed. The handful of local defence force people had tried to put up a fight but were overwhelmed, only 60 men were underarms on the island and when the Air Force station split any help from there evaporated. They had though got a message out and then surrendered. In Noginsk the Queen was unaware, she had become convinced that simply by making herself, and therefore Sessifet, happy the situation would be resolved so it was back on the Isle of the Goddess that the makeshift command under CrownPrincess Roksana would take control of the situation. Roksana was clear, the island would need to be retaken. She had ordered as many Lodjain ships as possible to head towards the island, she didn't want it reinforced and she didn't want Leopold to get there. With that in mind she'd asked Sebastian Johnson to have the Morelanders plan the actual assault. With that in mind she'd put about trying to come up with a way of sorting out the mess her wife, Klara, had put her in.
Alana was up in Noginsk with Queen Klara, she had started to become uncomfortable with the situation there as things had started to get a little wild. First there had been Klara's refusal to do government business, then her spending lots of time with the men assigned to guard her, Alana was sure too much booze and drugs were also doing the rounds but she wasn't too fond of that, she just quietly indulged in a few drinks, some dancing and flirting but that was all. Until the missile attack she'd felt safe enough here but now the knowledge that Leopold had assets this close and knew where they were was a concern. She had been totally surprised when Emalet called.
Katyusha Andronikashivili's family were a proud one and had no desire to be seen to cut and run. Duke Robert had to be seen to maintain control here. "I'm sorry but you do understand what impression me leaving gives. It either shows the people that I'm letting our hometown become chaos because I'm in league with Leopold or it shows that I'm a coward unwilling to do my duty. I can not be seen to leave nor would I want to. Our family have a long connection to the Crown and I'd be letting our ancestors down if I escaped, especially with some kind of foreign help." He thought about his daughter though, "I will however be happy to confirm that we're so committed to life continuing as normal for the Andronikashivili family that Katyusha is still going to take up a Masters degree in Achkaerin." It of course wasn't the case, "I'm sure a woman of your ingenuity can arrange that?"
-
OOC- Joint post
As news began filtering in, first from the people on the ground and then the statement from the TV there were audible groans at Cobble Field. Their plan on finding HMDS Morelander and bringing an end to this farce was now in tatters. They had imagined that wherever the turn coat vessel was they would find Leopold and bring all this to an end. Now it was clear the number of forces at Leopolds command was larger than thought. The first task would be to get more information about what was going on. A strange combination of a Dragonbreath (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II) fighter and a photo recon equipped Dragonbane II were sent off to have a look.
Meanwhile Red Legion small craft began turning towards Zhoyan, for most it would take two days to get there and once they had hopefully arrived unseen they would establish observation posts to look at what the rebels had been getting up to and pick spots for attacks. They weren't the only ships heading for the island as the Cenneg ship the Conn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier) was inbound with its escorts. They would be there at around the same time as the Red Legionnaires and a few hours behind them was the Tirech (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ocean_(L12)) where Cenneg Marine Commando's were already beginning preparations for any potential action that they could face. So far they'd made the decision to leave the Lodjains out of this all the time knowing Crown Princess Roksana would likely be discussing things with her own people. That though was a problem in itself. Who could they trust?
As the two Morelander planes neared Zhoyan there was an immediate problem, a Lodjian Tornaado (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panavia_Tornado) appeared on the radar screen. It was decision time the aircraft could be a friendly but they knew there was a small airfield there. The pilot of the Dragonbreath took a lead position and told the slower Dragonbane II to tuck in close behind. They tried contacting the aircraft but nothing came back leading them to assume it must be hostile, it was then confirmed when the Dragonbane II began getting indicators that they had been locked up. Without waiting for any further confirmation the Dragonbreath pilot turned his own targetting system on, locked up the Lodjain aircraft and launched a missile. They knew one was already heading their way and the close proximity of the two aircraft and the Dragonbreath's potentially lower radar signature meant it was likely the Tornaado had only seen one aircraft. They waited until the missile had clearly made a track towards the larger Dragonbane at that point the Dragonbreath opened its weapons bays hoping to make its signature larger and at the same time they both began launching flare and chaff and at the right moment both took rapid avoiding action. There own missile had been evaded too and now as the Dragonbane II dropped lower the Dragonbreath launched another missile. They were concerned another aircraft would be coming to help but as the 2nd missile found its mark they had an apparent open door, largely thanks to the islands base having a shortage of air to air weapons. They made a run across the island taking in key sites the military planners had asked for and while no other threats came to the duo open arrival back at Cobble Field it was clear the Dragonbane II had taken some ground fire from small arms but nothing to be worried about. It would now just be a matter of time until the boats arrived in 48 hours.
-
While the Morelanders and the Cenneg hashed out there plan to retake Zhoyan with a handful of Lodjain Marines among their number it was Crown Princess Roksana who was left to turn to matters of keeping Lodja running. Her new decree to limit protests on the street had seen most clashes between factions on the streets ended however it had given the security forces backing both sides a clearer run at each other. Every hour it seemed there had been a flair up somewhere as a small group of those wishing for change had come out in support of Leopold or some investigation had outed them as disloyalists and as such violence had erupted. The Conclave had even given up finishing its meetings and returning to their own suites in the now deserted Palace of the Goddess. Instead they just waited for the next flashpoint to be brought to their attention. Queen Klara was oblivious to this all, safe and secure in Noginsk living the high life, quiet literally. News had come in of Klara being in an endless haze of drink and drugs rambling about how Sessifet was speaking to her about a need to "replace" Prince Isaak, she had even been heard yelling out of her window calling on the Gods that Sessifet had subdued to come serve in her Army and wipe Leopold from Mundus. That was apparently the reason she didn't need to concern herself with military matters as her "minion Gods" would deal with the matter.
Roksana though didn't put her trust in such spiritual saviours but spiritual advise was what she was in need of. She called Arina Maksimov (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg10566#msg10566) to a meeting the Queen's office. Arina was one of the pair of Priestesses that had been seen as the 2nd most influential voice of the Goddess after the Queen herself. Roksana would have called Maria Shvets too but with her father being one of those in Leopold's clutches she believed that for now Maria may have been compromised. Arina was surprised to be asked to come alone, normally her and Maria were always called to the Isle and Palace together and as she took the offered seat she was already confused. "Arina I don't claim to know the scriptures anywhere near as well as you." Roksana placed a copy of the Sessifetian texts on the table and turned to a marked page. "I've read this and I want you to explain it to me." Roksana ran a page down the white page until she found the bit she had underlined. "And as the enemies of the Goddess massed she sprang her trap of confusion. With wisdom and guile the Goddess of beauty and love convinced a maiden to take her place in form and as the forces of darkness took to close their jaws around the weak human bait the Goddess closed her own trap." The passage read Roksana closed the book. "Am I to understand the Goddess often was able to assume a form we as humans would not expect to trick her enemies?"
Arina was not expecting to be discussing stories of the Goddess but was compelled to answer. "There are a number of occasions through our holy texts that tell of how, in times of danger, the Goddess has manipulated us into thinking she was someone else, or that in fact someone was her. This is all part of her plan to ensure humanity survived and thrived. I can think of at least eight occasions she played such games." Roksana wasn't the most religious of people, she though understood how significant the stories had been to shaping the nation and therefore having a good understanding of the texts may help her.
"So at any point did the Goddess use the trick to bring about changes on our world?" Roksana sat perched on the edge of the desk.
Arina thought for a moment or two. "Yes, she introduced our hierachy to impose order at a time of crisis. She used it again to remove the original and corrupted Chief God." That was what Roksana had understood and had hoped to hear.
"Arina I am of the view that Sessifet is doing such a thing now. Think of how Klara has changed in the last year or so. She is not the same person as she was and there is no reason for that change that makes sense if the Goddess is within her. I believe that Sessifet is in hiding waiting for a chance to spring a trap to remove her enemies that are seeking to remove her true ways. The Goddess wanted us to live in a strict hierachy, but the Goddess made it a duty on us to ensure that those of us at the top managed it in a way to help those below. Not take advantage of them. Look at our nobility over the last decade, riddled with corruption and not doing anything to support those below. Klara did some and had the nobility several times take steps to halt her. Sessifet is now letting all those against her come out."
Arina mused on the words for a while or two. Roksana was speaking a lot of sense but the Priestess knew Roksana was perhaps the least devout of the Queen's inner circle since Stasya had left. She considered her words carefully. "Are you thinking you may be Sessifets Guardian?"
Roksana had not anticipated this question. "No...of course not...no" she protested. "I believe Klara was the right person." She let the "was" sink in.
"You think we need a new Queen?" Arina stood up and paced.
"I do. I think we need someone who is going to be strong enough to push for what Sessifet truly wants. A hierachy where all can progress and those born into good fortune are honourbound to create a better world for them." Roksana wanted that but probably just because it had become apparent that it would happen either through reform or by the gun and the gun would rip Lodja apart.
"It should be you." Arina suggested, "You have the pure spirit required, you have the connection. You could do it."
Roksana shook her head. "For this to happen I need to get my hands a little dirty and that alone means I am not pure. If this goes the way I think it will need to then I shall ask to rejoin my friend Stasya in East Moreland, never to return here. I though need your help. We need a new Guardian and it should not be some doe-eyed child, we've seen how that has failed. Mundus has changed and we need a strong leader."
"Any girl in mind?" Arina asked.
"No" Roksana took a deep breath, "I have a man in mind." Arina's jaw hit the floor. It was one thing to try and sell to the people the fact that the Goddess would be breaking with tradition picking an older Queen, but another to pick a King. The Crown-Princess could see the sense of shock at her blasphamy. "I want Dragan Knežević to be a leader for us going forward. He's a man with integrity. He's sat on the Queendom's money for four years and he accounts for every single penny. Him and Besarian Ivanov hate each other politically but even Besarian respects him for his work and that says a lot. This is why I think for Queen we should pick one of two people, the first is Anna Utkin (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg511#msg511), she's a Duchess, she's respected across all the nation and as committed to the Queendom as Dragan. The second is more of a punt, Anna Immich (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg495#msg495), she's served three Queens and turned down countless chances to cut and run in order to stand by the crown and I've heard her speak up many times in private to do what we're hoping to achieve."
"Anna Utkin?" Arina said once she had processed Roksana's suggestions, "But she was born a Pleb. If we're talking of doing this perhaps this is a step too far. She's not exactly the feminine Queen Sessifet is embodied at." Perhaps that was the point of suggesting her Arina considered she had a brief moment of doubting her previous words. "If we're doing this its Immich. I'll begin preparing some hints to drop in religious context. You will need to work out the political side."
"Thank you" the pair embraced and once Arina was out of the office Roksana had a good cry before phoning her contact with the military. "Hello Lubos (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg504#msg504) it's Roksana" she could sense the confusion in the man at the other end of the phone. He had been a loyalist to the throne all his life and was a man Roksana could trust without any hesitation. He had tried to reform the military and found himself like a sailor on a leaking boat on the ocean with only a sieve to bail out the encroatching water. It had cost him his job with Klara being angered at the corruption still rife when the now infamous data breach had happened. Lubos had resigned and confined himself to his estates and the odd article on military theory since then. Roksana outlined the situation knowing that should he wish he could bring the whole plan down.
"I can make it happen" he replied, "We'll do it once Zhoyan has been recaptured."
"Agreed"
-
Emalet smiled when Alana answered the phone "Your Highness, I can't go into too much detail but I've been instructed by the Achkaerinese government to seek the opportunit for intelligence officers to question General Koslov, in relation to something Achkaerinese forces have discovered while searching for the HDMS Morelander." she said before taking a deep breath "We found a water nomad settlement that appears to have been exposed to something resembling the Kaiju virus, given the location it could be T-76-S which is why we'd like to ask the General some questions."
Mika had gone straight to Jack and Katyusha and made sure the pair were packing this was not how she'd wanted this to go but she had no choice, this was getting dicey and she needed to do her job. As the two lovebirds finished packing Mika turned her attention to Jess.
"Transport?" Mika asked
"Helicopter's waiting at an airfield half an hour away." Jess said
"Good." Mika said as Katyusha went to say farewell to her family "What a mess we're in."
"That just about sums it up." Jess said "But what happens from here?"
"I have no idea." Mika said "I'm going to get the car started
About two hours later in Valtheim, Nettie stepped into Peter's study. "It's done Jack and Katyusha are on the Kyogre." she said
"Good." Peter said "What of Leopold?"
"Nothing yet but he's running out of time." Nettie said "He needs big moves if Zhoyan is the first what's the second?"
"Keep the search on." Peter said "We find the Morelander this is over."
"We'll find him sooner or later." Nettie said
"Sooner would be better." Peter said
"I'm not Scotty." Nettie said
"I wasn't asking you to change the laws of physics." Peter said
"No just bend the laws of time." Nettie said
"I thought time was a wibbly wobbly blob of stuff." Peter said, Nettie rolled her eyes she'd walked right into that one
"Please tell me you're going to run out of jokes before we start playing tonight." Nettie said
"Why did I ever agree to play dungeons and dragons?" Peter asked
"Because Maddy ordered you to." Nettie said
-
It had been two days since the initial flight over the island of Zhoyan by the East Moreland aircraft and in that time it had become clear that the troops on the island under Lodjian command were next to none existent. It was estimated that beyond a force of 250 Marines in the only town on the island, also called Zhoyan, that the only troops guarded the airfield, a port and then some around the holiday resort, effectively making it a hostage situation. In total probably less than 1000 enemy troops occupied the small island but they had the advantage of having civilians in close quarters so a full on barrage of shock and awe air power was out the question.
Over the last 24 hours teams of Red Legionnaires from East Moreland had put ashore covertly and been carrying out recces of the airfield and port. Around five Tornado aircraft sat parked up along with a few helicopters, meanwhile at the port a Frigate sat bobbing in the harbour. If they could be removed from the equation then it would give the troops sat in the REMNS King Robert (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ocean_(L12)) and HMS Lugid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistral-class_amphibious_assault_ship) put ashore at various point around the island. Air cover was to be provided by East Moreland via Cobble Field or the Cenneg aircraft carrier Copre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(CVN-65)) Naturally East Moreland's Red Legion had been saying they could sort this themselves but with the on-going situation in Heyra and the logistical situation it was clear their claims were nothing other than professional bravado. The brunt of the work would therefore be split between the Cenneg Royal Kerns Commando unit and East Moreland's Royal Marine Commando's. The two groups made preparations on-board their ships as their respective vessels approached the island from the North and South. The Morelanders would hit the coastline and push for the islands capital while, if things went to plan the Cenneg would be hitting the opposite coast and making for the holiday resort. There was however one place shock and awe could be their friend.
A Red Legion observation post in the vicinity of the airfield heard the alarm begin sounding across the facility. "Command this is Foxtrot Oscar Papa we have base alarm. Over."
"Roger that Foxtrot Oscar Papa. You have a go at your discretion over."
"Roger Wilco" Tom Saxby smiled as they watched a the aircraft begin to taxi. "Mr. Barks hit the switch if you please." A mischevious grin from his colleague indicated something was about to cause the Lodjains a problem and the explosion of a fuel depot and one of the bases outlying radio towers happened simultaneously. Last night under the cover of darkness their four man team had sneaked onto the base aiming to sabotage the aircraft, sadly they'd been too well guarded and so they went for the secondary targets instead. The explosions caused one of the taxing aircraft to stop, no doubt the pilot shocked at the flames off his left wing and this almost caused an obviously distracted pilot taxing behind him to almost pass into his engine wash. Barks had waited a second or two and hit another detonator, this one causing several vehicles to get thrown into the air from the explosives they'd placed there. From one side of the airfield gunfire could be heard as now nervous Lodjain soldiers fired at imaginary targets. The first of the Tornado's had begun its take off and went almost vertical as soon as it had left the ground. "Command you've one bird off the ground.....now two.....three....four....." he was about to announce the launch of the fifth and final aircraft as from the opposite side of the airfield a burst of white smoke appeared, one of the other teams armed with a Javelin shoulder fired missile. The pilot had just enough time to try firing flares which was a forlorn gesture as in an effort to evade the missile at low altitude the pilot lost control and had just enough time to pull his ejector seat handle before the aircraft wing struck the ground cartwheeling the aircraft.
"Fifth bird down" Saxby said happily. It did mean though that the incoming support aircraft had four Tornado's to deal with. The Red Legionnaires watched as the troops at the airfield began taking up defensive positions around the airfield in expectation of some kind of ground assault. That however was for later and instead the two teams tasked with monitoring the airfield fired off their last hidden explosives which had been placed at points they suspected would be used to defend the airfield from ground assault before turning to their sniper rifles. They'd pick at the enemy until the Marines or Kerns arrived, if they would be needed at all.
As soon as the Red Legion call had come over the airways the Combat Air Patrol over the Copre roared away. Three Buthal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan_MiG-29) fighters had hit their afterburners and raced away as the guys on deck launched the standby fighters as quickly as possible and within a short span of time eight aircraft were airborne. They kept low as they raced towards the island in an attempt to take out the aircraft before the landing groups were put at risk. Fortunately for them they had anticipated an attack from the airfield when it came time to put boats ashore and now they could see a pair of Tornado's heading towards each of the two landing groups. These aircraft quickly found themselves overwhelmed as volley's of missiles from Air Defence Frigates and the Buthal's lit up their radar screens. One of the Tornado's had time to launch at the King Robert before the pilot was forced to eject just in time to see his aircraft get blown out of the sky.
"Sir we've an incoming missile, time to intercept 40 seconds." the call came on the bridge of the King Robert, the flagship of the East Moreland Navy.
"Alert the Rhi" the ships captain watched on his screen.
"Rhiannon this is the King you got that missile in sight?" The radar operator was already getting their own CWIS system in order to protect the ship but the REMNS Rhiannon the Fierce was tasked with handling this.
"Roger that King. All in hand." Almost at the same time as the destroyers radio operator confirmed the good news two missiles left the ships deck and off the King Roberts bow a satisfying explosion took place followed by a sigh of relief from the crew. "Job done."
"Roger that Rhiannon, thank you very much."
The front doors were now almost fully open with the air threat having been neutralised.
Over at the Port the Lodjain Frigate was a hive of activity with men clearly expecting to be called into action. The ship could act as a means of air defence and was already tracking the Lodjain aircraft. It was preparing to fire when a boom filled the air. A Red Legion diver had last night placed a charge on the ships propeller meaning that it wouldn't be able to leave the harbour. The natural shape of the island now meant that the Cenneg fleet would be hidden from view by the hills however the Frigate was still capable of launching and soon the skies were full of Cenneg fighters avoiding the Frigates launched missiles. Two Cenneg pilots had been unable to shake their automated pursuers and were now gently floating towards the sea on their parachutes as in the distance they could see the tell tale trail of incoming missiles towards the Frigate. Three Spearhead missiles had been launched and two exploded well short of the Frigate when CWIS did its job, the final missile though had managed to get into its final dive and climb before it was intercepted and the deck was filled with the clatter of bits of casing falling. A few sailors called for help having been hit but the ship was still in fighting order. A second barrage of missiles came in and this time two got through the initial interception, one shared the fate of its previous last minute friend however one impacted on the bow of the ship causing the ship to rock violently. A few seconds later a further explosion buckled the whole front deck as the gun exploded along with the stored ammunition. It had been a good result for the Cenneg and Morelanders as the ships VLS system was now damaged massively limiting what they could launch. The ship was also taking on water and began to slightly lean to its port side. There would be plenty of time to evacuate the vessel but for now their was still a chance they could stay in the fight. It was now that the aircraft could return and soon the crew onboard were faced with a barrage of targets and not enough VLS tubes to keep them all busy. Soon air launched anti ship missiles flew in and the Frigate found itself overwhelmed until one breached its side and lodged in the stern helicopter hanger exploded effectively killing the ship as an effective threat as the Captain called for it to be abandoned.
"All callsigns we have the doors wide open. Good hunting." General Yacobs had been watching affairs from Ostlake and having briefly consulted with her Cenneg comrade it was on.
Onboard the King Robert the Marines piled onto helicopters and landing craft. Within minutes Marine Commando's lead by Peter Grant had landed on the island about 5km away from the town of Zhoya. "OK boys time to push inland." The first Light Armour (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FV107_Scimitar) had rolled off the landing craft and was already pushing inshore. So far they'd had no opposition, mainly because the coast was so long and had so many landing points, it would be likely the Lodjains would opt to defend the town itself. The initial force began heading for the town behind the armour as helicopters deposited an ever growing force as the spearhead moved forward.
At the opposite side of the island the Cenneg force heading for the resort had a slightly different experience. The topography there had meant it was a more predictable landing spot and as the first Cenneg troops hit the shoreline they came under fire from various points. There weren't enough Lodjains to make it an effective defence in the face of Cenneg fire from helicopter gunships and close air support but it had cost four Cenneg soldiers their life to take that thin strip of sandy beach. Now they were forcing their way forward as a armoured car (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOV_M11) rumbled forward across sun-loungers and other assorted beach furniture. The leading vehicle was broadcasting messages in Lodjain. "PLEASE STAY INDOORS FOR YOUR SAFETY" . They had to try and keep any tourists here safe, they had no idea where they were and the last thing they needed was images of Cenneg soliders shooting tourists by mistake to flood the airways.
The Morelanders had reached Zhoya with minimal resistance. A group of Lodjains had taken pot shots at them as they'd passed down a road but that had been ineffective and a barrage of gunfire had driven them away. The whitewashed walls of the usually quiet town were now in view and a few barriers had been fashioned out of cars, vans and even a lorry to try and halt the armour. This wasn't going to deter the Morelanders though, with the armour stopped they carefully made their way forward as the attack helicopters of the King Robert flew patterns over the city calling out targets while dodging small arms fire. Luckily the Lodjains ashore didn't seem to have access to much in terms of heavy weapons beyond a few mortars and what sounded like a howitzer, they lacked the spotters though to effectively use them. Soon the Morelanders had entered the town and fighting from street to street began. The town was essentially three long streets that meet at an old Ducal Palace which served as the hub for the town. The Marines fought down the streets for most of the day until just as the sun was beginning to go down they reached the Palace itself and halted. "Command we have a problem." Grant radioed in.
"Go ahead Major" Yacobs responded from Ostlake.
"We've reached the Ducal Palace. So far we estimate about 100 Lodjain soldiers, well dug in, but we can see civilians, looks like some tied to things like fencing, and a few vehicles, we're assuming against their will." It appeared these were human shields however with the mess Lodja had become it was going to be hard to work out whether this was just a rouse and these were people supporting Leopold willingly trying to trick the Morelanders.
"OK Major. Hold what you have and wait out."
"Roger that." Grant was disappointed, he had hoped this would all be done before nightfall and he'd also a professional desire to beat his Cenneg counterparts in terms of securing his objective.
At the resort things were a little more chaotic. The sprawling nature of the resort meant it was harder to conduct a sensible advance and as such each outlying building had been taken over, first a BBQ restaurant, then a tennis court complex. The nature of the construction also meant it was an awkard place to secure as there were plenty of hiding holes and vegetation as cover. There had been a few occasions were the Cenneg Royal Kerns believed they'd secured an area only for moments later having to backtrack as a burst of gunfire had alerted them to an ambush. Like Grant in the town though by nightfall they'd the complex largely under their control all except the main hotel building. They would assault that once they'd resupplied and found some plans of it and hopefully have the place wrapped up by the time Grant in Zhoya had even started his final push.
That dream though was halted when a white flag appeared and a woman exited through the main entrance to the poolside. She seemed a woman in her thirties and was dressed very casually with no sign of weapons. "Stop there please" One of the Kerns called in Lodjain and the woman dutifully stopped about twenty meters away.
"I have a message from a Captain Kerachev" she yelled.
It took a minute or two for a Cenneg Captain to make his way over. "What can we do for you Miss" he asked in rather poor Lodjain.
"The hotel is under the command of Captain Kerachev. He has a total of..." she checked a piece of paper in her hand she'd been given, "122 men, 134 women and 66 children in the hotel. He requests you withdraw you're people immediately and return to your ships."
The Cenneg Captain, a man by the name of Ryan Kirkpatrick sighed, it seemed this wouldn't be as simple as they expected. "Are you a hostage Miss?" he asked.
"Not as such." She began to cry, "He has my 16 year old daughter in the hotel and says if I don't return then she'll be put on trial for treason. He says anyone not staying would be a supporter of the Queen and therefore a traitor to the nation and under martial law that gives him the right to shoot them. I have to get back." She turned and despite the questions asked by Kirkpatrick just kept going.
"This complicated things Finley" David and the Cenneg monarch had connected over the internet for a face to face with their senior officers watching on. "We've effectively got control of the island except for these two hold outs."
"Its not a problem in the immediate time." Finley had served in the military just had David had yet unlike the Morelander monarch he'd been a Commando himself while David had been merely a mountain soldier, "glorified infantry" in the eyes of Finley. "They aren't going anywhere, they aren't at the moment threatening the people, we just keep them circled and move on. We find that stolen ship and deal with that meanwhile these hostages are dealt with as a separate situation."
"OK" David accepted it was possibly the best way of dealing with it. "I'll have our people in Gaia brief their people and see what they come back with."
"Roger that" Finley said with a smile. "I'll have my brother Lennox meet with your men before they meet the Conclave, have everyone singing off the same song sheet so to speak." The two monarchs ended the call and hoped their team in the Palace would be able to walk the remnants of the functioning government through the situation.
A joint Dave/Kris/Libby production.
-
The news of the two stalled offensives on the island of Zhoya was relayed to the Conclave on the Isle of the Goddess and to the Queen up at her hideaway in Noginsk. Roksana did her best to not looked concerned as Klara appeared on the video screen alongside the Morelander and Cenneg military minds. The Queen looked like she hadn't slept in a week and that her hair hadn't seen a comb in just as long. It looked like she was speaking with simply a bed sheet around her. As the situation was being relayed by the Morelander and the Cenneg commanders Klara seemed uninterested until they had finished. In a matter of fact way she pronounced her decision. "Send a squadron of Sodalane (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-3_Skywarrior) bombers and have them level the targets. Then the Morelanders and Cenneg can move in and finish off anyone still resisting. I shall be in touch this tomorrow for a report on how the attack ended." And with that the Queen hit the off button and disappeared.
Around the Conclave table there were concerned looks. It would fall to the Minister of Defence to ensure the Queen's orders on such military matters were carried out and in that case the responsibility would fall to Prince Lennox, a Cenneg. He looked even more uncomfortable than the rest and as each waited for someone else to break the silence it became apparent to him that he would need to. "With respect I'm resigning my position. I will not and can not give that order." He stood placing his badge of office on the desk before him and preparing to leave.
"Sit down please." Roksana said rather more sternly than she expected. "It is the duty of every soldier to follow lawful orders and I do not think that one is." Several of the key members of the Conclave nodded in agreement, key among them was Besarian Ivanov. He was the Lord of the Conclave and in theory the second most powerful person in the Queendom. He was a former soldier himself and by any mark had been a good one and so he was firmly on Lennox's side. "It's clear she has no idea what's going on. If in 24 hours the situation hasn't been resolved we'll make something up and deal with it then. What I need you to do Prince Lennox is keep doing your job and help the forces on the ground get this stalemate settled, preferably within the 24 hour time frame. I think we need to cut the Queen out of as much decision making as possible. The wholescale killing of hundreds of civilians is going to turn lots more against us. Its clear at present less than 1 in 5 people across the Queendom support Leopold because his ideas are frankly ridicuolous in terms of the teachings of Sessifet. Bombing our own people is going to make that change rapidly." Everyone seemed in agreement.
The meeting came up with an alternative arrangement and then began to leave. Roksana called back Besarian and Dragan. She had arranged for the Priestess Arina Maksimov to join them and Roksana nervously explained her concerns. "We need to remove Klara from that situation and as Queen." She said openly. "Lodja is sitting at a cross roads, one path is full on civil war with a mentally unstable Queen at the helm, the other is Leopold's reforms. Neither of those to me and the vast majority of Lodjains is acceptable. So I'm creating a third path but need both of you with me. I shall handle the Klara situation but it will mean a new Queen."
"No" Dragan said without hesitation. "The Queen is the Guardian of Sessifet and can not be handled, she leads."
" There are a number of occasions through our holy texts that tell of how, in times of danger, the Goddess has manipulated us into thinking she was someone else, or that in fact someone was her." Arina repeated what she had told Roksana. "The signs are here. She is showing mental weakness, she is showing signs of frailness. The Goddess wouldn't allow someone doing the role of Guardian to display such things. We therefore know the Goddess is setting a trap to remove obsticles for her. You gentleman are part of the solution."
Dragan sighed, "And what is the solution."
Roksana and Arina exchanged glances and then the Crown-Princess spoke. "Anna Immich" the most senior of the Ladies in Waiting came from a well respected family and had spent her whole life in the service of the crown. She was popular with nobles and respected by the Plebs. "She however will need help. As a result we're going to have a King rather speedily. Dragan that will be you."
"Why him?" Besarian asked the pairs old rivalry clearly on display.
"First of all because your married" Arina reminded him, "Also because you're already in the second strongest position in Lodja. The Queen would be, as always, above you and Dragan would merely be her independent adviser in a way. No one wants you gone from the Conclave." She reassured Besarin. "But we need to do this quickly once things move."
Dragan and Besarian exchanged looks. "I agree Klara has to be replaced. She's broken" Dragan said reluctantly and extended a hand to his political rival.
"I agree." Besarian and Dragan shook hands. "What do we do now?"
"You wait" Roksana informed them and left.
Outside Noginsk the former Minister of Defence Lubos Kubik had gathered a handful of men. They were all getting on in years but he trusted them more than anyone else. In addition they all kept themselves in good health with noble pursuits of hunting and riding. They would form the first part of his plan, the second part would be undertaken by his young nephew Tikhon Savva (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg501#msg501). He'd been spending time at the Palace in hopes of getting in good with the Queen when she had first arrived however he was now disgusted with the state of the monarch.
As the sun rose Tikhon shunned the wild party that had been raging a good 48 hours now and went on a run. He had got to know the Palace grounds rather well and made his way to the East through the woodlands. It didn't take him long to reach the pisition overlooking the ridge where the radar for Jekar's Shield system protecting the Palace sat. He checked his watch and then his phone. No message and so the next step was a go. He moved down to the radar station that was only protected by a single guard. He quickly moved to grab him and after the briefest of struggles had rendered him unconcious. He was not the target but quickly the Duke sent a message of a single pair of exclamation marks to Lubos before turning off the systems power and running. They had probably a few minutes before it was noticed and then a few more before anything happened.
Lubos spotted the exclamation marks and sent back two of his own. "It's time." The team manhandled the Mobile VLS system into position having "borrowed" it from an artillery unit on some fake orders. Now with it in position they fired off two missiles sending them off towards the Palace at Noginsk. With the radar down the Jekar's Shield system had no way of spotting them coming and the pair of missiles thundred into the Palace turning the West wing into a pile of rubble and smoke.
The Lodjain military command, or as much of it as could be trusted at this point, had come to a solution. They would offer the rebels in the hotel and town a chance to leave. They would be allowed to put down their weapons, boats would be provided and they could sail away. It was an offer that when made was laughed at, they could actually hear the voices of soldiers laughing in the background.
"Once we get on the boats you follow us and capture us or more likely sink us." The commander of the island, a Major called Artem Muelasov chuckled. He knew he was holding a rather large CNN force at bay with his human shields and this was all buying time for other cells across the Queendom to take their action. "You have my word if your puppets leave the island we'll let them go peacefully." was the counter offer and so the stalemate would continue into the next day.
-
It had been a busy 24 hours in the Alucard.
At the Isle of the Goddess there was merely a skeleton staff of the Conclave. Gone were the days when the corridors were a hive of music, poetry and art and instead they were replaced with just a handful of Ministers, bodyguards and military advisers. It was probably for the best as when news came that Queen Klara's body and those of Anna Immich and two members of the Queen's bodyguard had been pulled from the rubble of Noginsk. A further 28 people were helped out and in hospital with injuries ranging from minor cuts and brusies to those critically ill. Crown Princess Roksana wept when she heard the news, as would be expected if you found out that your wife had been killed but in truth Klara hadn't been the woman she'd married for a good year by now. The tears though were more for her friend Anna, an unexpected casualty. All the reports they'd got said that Anna wasn't in that part of the residence and the missile shouldn't have damaged the wider Palace however for some reason that routine had changed and now as a result so must Roksana's plan.
For Leopold the news also brought in an interesting turn of events. With Lodja not having an heriditary monarchy it effectively meant any claim to power he had as Klara's husband was gone. He was now only permitted by law to call himself King with the permission of the new Queen and clearly that wouldn't now be coming. His last hope at clinging to power was one of two things. The first was that his loyalists could hold Zhoyan and from there he could carve out a Kingdom for himself, the second option was some kind of uprising across the Queendom could be caused but while he'd seen some good support initially it was no fizzing out as the government seemed to have all but locked down some areas. With this in mind he had covertly called for all possible ships to head towards Zhoya. While the HMDS Morelander would stay behind a screen of ships that the Lodjains believed had been part of the search for the missing vessel those ships would in fact be tasked with clearing a path to the Island for the Marines onboard the Morelander to land and reinfroce the islands garrison.
When the news had time to sink in the Conclave meet along with the three leading Priestesses, Alla Kohan was the High Priestess, and then Arina Maksimov and Maria Shvets who were considered the next most influential. It was Besarian who spoke after they had observed a moment or two of silence for those who had died. "Ladies" he began addressing the three holy ladies. "We are in a difficult situation. We've never had a scenario where we have a King claiming authority while the nation has no Queen. While I understand that previously you've taken weeks to reach a decision on who should be the new Queen but we've then had the liberty of calm and peace. We're seeing a civil war take place out on Zhoya and I think the sooner we get a new Queen the sooner the nation can be unified."
"We already have a list of candidates" It was Arina who spoke but Alla didn't step in. They'd been discussing the matter on and off since the first attack on the Queen and as the situation had slowly begun to get complex. It had been Arina who had pushed for certain changes from tradition, just as she'd discussed with Roksana.
"Its a rather controversal list none of them are 18. A time of crisis requires a stronger, more mature head" Alla began. "First we have Princess Anfisa (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg523#msg523) she's the great grand-daughter of Queen Sonya and has represented us in several events across Mundus. Then we have Natalya Kozel (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg2746#msg2746) she narrowly missed out on being Queen when Klara was selected and she's served as a Royal Emissary in the Iwi since. If we could convince Stasya Pelagiya (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=137.msg500#msg500) to convert back to Sessifet then she too would be a good candidate as she would further cement the Morelander support for the Crown, however I think she is very unlikely to do this. Our final option is you Roksana." The Crown Princess had already discussed with Arina why this would be impossible.
"I can't" Roksana began to protest.
Arina picked her words carefully. "The situation has become very complex now." She hoped Roksana understood. "Having someone with experience and knowledge of government would be useful....now more than ever." Alla nodded her agreement.
Roksana protested in her own mind she couldn't accept this. She had been responsible for the killing of one of her friends and her wife. While she was certain what she had done was for the betterment of the country it was still something that morally she couldn't accept a monarch having done. The debate raged for a good few hours until the decision was made.
It was rather fortunate that she was visiting her friend Stasya in Northfort when the news came. It was brought by a member of the Ambassador to East Moreland who was accompanied by two members of the East Moreland military. "My Lady" the man gave a nod of respect for her noble title. "It is my sad duty to confirm the death of Queen Klara." It was no real announcement as the news had been circulating around the Palace for hours, they'd even been speculating on the news while watching Prince Lewellyn squirm around on his floor mat. "The Conclave therefore would like to offer you the Crown." She sat in silence as Stasya squeezed her hand tightly. It was a bolt out of the blue and a complete break with tradition. She nodded and the man took that to indicate she accepted. "In that case allow me be the first to pledge my loyalty to Queen Natalya" Stasya hugged the now weeping Natalya unsure whether it was sadness or joy , probably shock that was making her friend blub.
The two Morelander soldiers looked at each other wondering what they should so and determined a quick bow was perhaps the best cause of action. They then relayed the decision their Commanding Officer who in turn spread the word through the East Moreland chain of command. It seemed they now had a Queen for tea.
-
The Aostan fleet made up of the subs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia-class_submarine) Ildibad and Eraric, the Assault Ship (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasp-class_amphibious_assault_ship) Rothari, destroyers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidd-class_destroyer)Aripert, Perctarit and Godepat, frigates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incheon-class_frigate) Pippen and Bernard was several days out of port. Initially they'd been instructed to patrol the Alucard along the edge of the Empire's waters, now however there was perhaps a need for that to change. The death of Klara meant the situation that was already bad in Lodja was perhaps getting worse.
It was Admiral Nandin onvoard the Aripert who was tasked with making contact with the Cenneg and Morelander ships in the region. He requested permission to join in their search inside Lodjain waters for the HMDS Morelander, they weren't exactly sure which ships they could trust and figured the CNN nations active would have an idea and so offered there best choice. Now as they waited the fleet just patiently waited.
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It had been a long, very long few hours aboard the INS Intrepid and other Achkaerinese vessels searching for the Morelander, no luck there yet but the net tightened with each strikeout, as far as the game of hide and seek went there was only one end to it. Lucas, Carmen and Lance were looking over the map of the area. "We've come up empty handed in these sectors." Lance said pointing out the island areas.
"Commander?" Lucas asked looking at Carmen
"I doubt he's slipped out of the net." Carmen said "The only place he can hide is in this island chain."
"So where?" Lucas asked
"Further south." Carmen said "We assumed he was going to hit and run, we assumed an escape posture, but if he's never planned on running, he'd be a whole lot closer than we think... close enough to strike."
"We head south." Lucas said "What about Kaiju?"
"We're on the lookout for any water nomad settlements, testing and vaccinating is underway and we don't have a ground zero." Lance said
"We need to find that." Lucas said
"I'll have some jets fly the nomad migration routes." Lance said
"Good." Lucas said
In Valtheim the virus's return was on the mind as well but it was the implications that bothered Peter, there existed no rational explanation for how the Kaiju virus could have originated in Safraen and then traveled the distance to the Alucard. However Lodjan corruption combined with Koslov presented a credible narrative as to the reverse, Lodjan bioweapon presumably sold or handed over to one of the more extreme criminal elements in Safraen which would confirm the theory that what happened in Safraen was born of criminal intent and not natural evolution. Quietly Peter had 'requested unofficially' that the MDI reopen the investigation into that incident, but meanwhile he couldn't shake the feeling that this crisis was entering its next stage, what move would be made next? How would things develop? An awful lot depended on whether Leopold would stop or not and Peter didn't much like the sound of that.
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OOC- All parts involving others agreed by those involved. Cheers folks
Following the announcement that Natalya Kozel was to be Queen of Lodja there was one obvious problem, she wasn't in Lodja. That was her first priority, she needed to get home but first there had to be a pit stop. She had just been elevated from the position of a private citizen who as Envoy occasionally did some work for the Queen, to being the one to appoint Envoy's. That was the reason King David had inisited that before heading to Lodja the new Queen travel to Aldcliffe, home of East Moreland's elite Red Legion. It was a place that was unaccustomed to visiting foreigners but this had been an important visit. Natalya had expected to see smartly uniformed men drilling in tough conditions but that wasn't the case at all. The Barracks seemed largely full of men in sports gear and looking more like they were planning a trip to the pub than into combat. The Queen was accompanied by Princess Freya and Alex Redfern, both of them knew Aldcliffe well. For Alex it was a second home and for Freya it had been the site of one of her biggest disappointments when she failed selection. They were there to make the introductions to Brigadier Kelly the man tasked with herding the chaos that Red Legion could at times be. "Your Majesty" he nodded to Natalya as she entered his rather plain office. Even the furniture had seen better days, he hardly spent anytime there so felt it pointless having the place nice. "Your Highness" He was happy to see Freya back here and still held out hopes she'd be the first woman of the modern era to pass selection. "Alex" He hardly acknowledged Redfern as the man spent so much time around the Brigadier and was here mainly just as the man making the introductions.
"Thank you for seeing me Brigadier" Natalya was rather shocked by the offices shabbiness. In her mind Kelly would have had some huge ornate office with grand windows and decorations of the units history adorning the walls but she was pretty certain she could see some paint peeling in the corner.
"Anytime Your Majesty" The Brigadiers aide-de-camp entered with mismatched mugs of tea and a plate of biscuits, some looked like they'd already snapped in two. Kelly picked up one of the mugs and poured in a hefty helping of sugar. "I've been asked to provide you with an initial security detail. I've assigned these four men." He passed over four hefty folders, "All of them have served tours in Lodja helping with your armed forces so speak Lodjain to a passable standard. They'll be lead by Captain Sebastian Johnson (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg20207#msg20207) who is already in Lodja and will meet you in Gaia.
"Thank you Brigadier" Natalya had a few question of basic things such as how security details would work and their duties. Things that she suspected royals learned from a young age. Once satisfied they made their way to the bases airfield where the four men, each much better dressed than the others on the base waited. The four men in suits each carried a rucksack and a large trolly-case containing their gear. Ironside Two was waiting and soon the flight was underway.
On Zhoya the situation was unchanged. At one side of the island East Moreland's Royal Marines held down old Ducal Palace in the town that shared its name with the island, at the opposite side of the island the Royal Kerns Commando's had a cordon on a hotel and restaurant were Pro-Leopold forces were taking refuge. There had been small scale skirmishes as CNN forces had tried to find a way to scout positions and on a couple of occasions Pro-Leopold forces had tried to escape into the countryside. A couple of people had been successful and the Marines sent to track them down had been fighting several small fire fights in the forests. The situation was not out of control but it had taken time and resources to find such individuals and rest assured any who were missed would be watching over proceedings.
One such team from the Ducal Palace had managed to evade capture and had managed to make contact with the HMDS Morelander. It was some distance away tucked into a bay flanked by a pair of patrol ships that had made their way over. The Morelander could have fired missiles to support the rebels on Zhoya but that would have given away their position. Instead Leopold launched one of the drones with a pair of missiles designed to take out tanks. It would likely be a one way trip for the drone but Leopold was confident they could make a statement.
The drone kept low over the sea hoping to minimise it's radar signature. It was a small aircraft and the multitude of islands would make radar contact difficult. As the drone got closer East Moreland aircraft flying from Cobble Field began to move in to intercept but by the time they could intercept it the drone had managed to launch the two missiles. The target was the Frigate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_23_frigate) Philip The Wild. Alarms began ringing on the ship as a Dragonbreath fighter desperatly tried to splash down the drone in the vain hope it may throw the missile off. The first missile was on track until the Frigate's anti-missile defences engaged it making it explode in a fire ball. Meanwhile the second one had been fired and taken up a track just behind the other, it had masked the approach of the second and as such it sneaked through. The ship rocked violently and fire alarms blurred out. Onboard the missile had hit a few meters above sea level. Damage control teams sprinted to the area as shell shocked sailors dragged their injured friends out of what had been the water filtration and pumping section of the ship. It was fortunate that the missile was not a specialist anti-ship one but either way they'd need some help and so put out a distress call.
The various Cenneg and Morelander vessels rushed to the scene and gave what help they could. The "Phil" was still floating but would need to be towed to a safe harbour and a decision was made that with Zhoya being relatively safe they would wait for the time being before such a tow was made. The injured were flown by helicopter to Cobble Field and from there back to hospitals for specialist treatment.
It had been nearly a day since Philip the Wild had been hit and Sebastain Johnson was waiting at Gaia's military air base. He'd co-opted in his friend, former Red Legionnaire officer Keir Peters and Royal Protection Officer Tillie Breckenridge to suppliment his team of Red Legionnaires. The trio had been in country as a response to the initial attacks and had pulled Klara out of the embassy attack, now they'd support Seb in his new role. "Your Majesty" Sebastian greeted his new protectee. "Welcome home" He added. "We've a car waiting to take you to the Isle of the Goddess" Seb explained as the Queen was shown towards a heavy military vehicle. Three identicial ones awaited and as soon as everyone was onboard the car headed off. Natalya sat next to Seb in the back seat.
"We're going to People's People's Square (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/00_0048_Palace_Square_in_Saint_Petersburg_%28Russia%29.jpg)" the Queen said calmly.
"I don't think thats a great idea" Seb said. "Beside why are we going there?"
"It can't be the fact anyone's planned to kill me. No-one knew that I was coming home today except you and I've just decieded to go there now. So surely we've an element of surprise." Seb had to admit she kind of had a point.
"Well your the boss" the Red Legionnaire relayed orders to the others and in around fifteen minutes they'd arrived. Tillie took the lead as this manner of work was her bread and butter. She looked around and no-body had yet took notice that this wasn't a military patrol, such things had become routine during the crisis as of late. She nodded that everything was fine and Natalya was quickly ushered out with her new security team close about her. The people in the government building there that was used by the civil service was shocked as their new Queen entered and with minimal acknowledgement made her way up to the large ball room on the top floor. It had a magnificent balcony and more importantly for Natalya had a public address system used for festivals. The staff hastily turned it on as a crowd gathered below. Seb was rather nervous but understood the need for what was happening.
Soon Natalya was ready, a few handscribbled notes from her jacket pocket emerged as Keir checked the microphone. "Ladies and Gentleman" Natalya began her voice shaking slightly. "I am saddened and proud to be your Queen. It should have been my friend Klara speaking to you today but evil sought to take her from us. She had every intention of leaving Lodja in a place where every citizen had a bright future and I today intend to continue walking her path. Today a countdown begins. In 30 days time elections will take place for the Tribune of the Plebs. While the position currently exists it has always been appointed by the Queen, from this time forward it will be elected by the Plebs. Whoever they elect will be given a seat on the Conclave and have the exact same voting rights on it as every other member. In 60 days time the Queen's Business Portfolio will open. Any Pleb who is able to prove they are registered for appropriate licencess and taxes for their business and who registers with the $1.00 a year fee will be permitted to trade under the banner of myself as a Patrician overseeing their business. There will be annual checks to ensure they are acting in a manner appropriate for a business connected with the Queen but as long as they pay their taxes and the annual fee they will be free to trade as they see fit free from the influence of any other Pleb who may traditionally have called for larger shares in the business. I wanted to tell you these things in person to show you that I will be a Queen taking action to continue the legacy of Viktoria, Klara and even Sonya. I hope I can be worthy of your support. Thank you." the Queen waved to the crowd that had gathered and who were now applauding. She stepped back into the building and breathed a sigh of relief.
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(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/691408894391484477/698865821736370266/Aosta_COA.png)
To:- The CNN Nations, Lodja in particular
Having heard the distress call of REMNS Philip the Wild we offer our hopes that the crew are safe. We offer our ports as a safe refuge if needed. Furthermore we would like to see Leopold Hamsik and his rebels brought to justice sooner rather than later. As we are aware that REMNS Philip the Wild may have been a part of your nations cordon for aircraft carriers on operations in Zhoya we would like to put one of our ships, the Frigate Pippen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incheon-class_frigate) at your disposal to plug any gaps in the short term if required. Furthermore her sister ship Bastian will be avaliable to escort the Philip the Wild to port.
We hope this is useful under the circumstances and are willing to help in anyway required to bring this situation to a close.
Best Reagrds
Princess Brigida
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Leopold sensed his best chance was now. He had five ships with him, two Frigates, a destroyer and a pair of coastal patrol ships. It wasn't much of a fleet but it was good enough. With the various CNN nations focusing on the island of Zhonyna the door was largely open for a run on the coastal town of Stakiua. It was nothing other than a small seaside resort and nothing of military worth stood there. It was a soft target but it opened up the north or the nation to further action. The five ships kept close together making their exact fleet make up difficult to ascertain. The lead Frigate had radioed in that they'd picked up transmissions between the Water Nomads and the Morelander. They'd not been exactly difficult to fake and now they were en-route with the militaries blessings.
Queen Natalya had made her way to the had made her way to the Isle of the Goddess with little fanfare. The Isle was empty of many of the usual people and only those of the Conclave remained. She had been offered the rooms of the Queen by the household staff but that didn't feel right. She had settled on a set of rooms that had always been put aside for a visiting dignitary such as a foreign King or Queen. The next few days would hold some difficult conversations and the first was with Besarian Ivanov. The Lord of the Conclave was summound to see the new Queen but he had been expecting that since she had turned up on the Isle. "Please Lord Besarian have a seat" Natalya greeted him after he had knocked on her door at the appointed hour.
"Thank you Your Majesty" Besarian sat at one of the chairs next to the desk, he had planned to begin the conversation by congratulating her on her ascendency to the throne but even before he had settled on the chair the Queen was beginning.
"There is no easy way to say this so I suppose I better just get straight to the point" The Queen hadn't even took her own seat behind the desk yet as she was already getting things underway. "I need to show Lodja and the world that the Queendom is changing. With that in mind I am going to appoint a new Lord of the Conclave." She could see Besarian about to protest. "I understand this is a shock" she held a hand up to silence him. "You've served three Queens and done an incredible job in some very strange circumstances but things need to change. I will however be naming you the new Lord of the Isle's Approach." It was a title not used for the past three years but one that had historically been very prestigious. "And rather than being Lord of the Conclave I'm going to ask you to be my personal adviser. I'm a young Queen not used to the world of politics and you're the most experienced politician that I can count on. While you won't have a say in the Conclave you'll be helping me directly draft policy, prepare for speeches and persuading people to see sense in what I want." She smiled warmly. "I hope you'll accept."
Besarian was torn, he was in one way being demoted. The title Lord of the Conclave was the most prestigious outside the royal family however it was one where he had since the death of Queen Sonya been a mouthpiece for the Queen, simply guiding her policies through. He was now being given a real chance to shape them as Natalya clearly wanted his input. He could still have influence and power that he craved all be it from behind the scenes. He did his best to not look too disappointed. "I am obliged to accept my Queen's requests." He said with as much grace as he could muster. "Can I ask who will be taking on the role of Lord of the Conclave?"
"Of course" Natalya said. She had been giving it a lot of thought, "We're going to ask Lubos Kubik to come back into the fold. He's respected among the military, he's a loyalist and popular."
"A good choice" Besarian said more relieved that his rival Dragan was not getting the role. "I'd have thought though he'd have been the Minister of Defence once more, I assume you're keeping Prince Lennox."
"Wrong" Natalya teased, "If Lodja is to be seen as a strong nation we can't have a foreigner on our Conclave. The Minister of Defence is going to be sorted once this mess is cleared up, but for now Lennox stays."
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Truth be told, the situation on Zhonyna had been one that the Achkaerinese naval force searching for the Morelander had steered well clear of they'd done so for two reasons first their primary objective was finding the ship Leopold was running around on and second they were more than aware that Morelander and Cenneg forces were more than capable of dealing with it. That said international obligations were international obligations so when the Philip the Wild's distress call had been picked up the INS Leonaise (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1868.msg16234#msg16234) under the command of Captain Alan Welsh (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg4150#msg4150) had been dispatched to respond, Alan had fully expected to get there late and so it proved but this did at least give them the chance to get a look at the damaged vessel, missile strike of some description was his best guess but apart from that he didn't know. He'd keep the ship around the area just in case but he didn't expect to have to do much.
Elsewhere in the search for the Morelander Achkaerin's air assets hadn't sighted the fugitive vessel yet but they were ruling areas out one by one by one, they were also on the lookout for anything indicating ground zero for this virus, the odds were that it wouldn't have been that far from Lodjan territory it could even be somewhere in their waters, against the somewhat cloudy sky a Dragonite flown by Felicity Cairns (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg12979#msg12979) swooped low over an island, she was about to call it in as another miss when a reflected light glare made her bank away and come back around. This was supposed to be an uninhabited island, she looked over again and got on the radio "Flick-Knife to control." she said "Possible ground zero located sending coordinates. Out."
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The Frigate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incheon-class_frigate) Bastian was busy transferring injured Morelanders from the Philip the Wild onto helicopters to fly them to Aosta for treatment. Princess Brigida was determined that her nation would join the CNN and this could earn her some goodwill. The Frigate's helicopter had just taken off when they recieved a message from the Umbretto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_ship_Elettra_%28A_5340%29). They'd been monitoring electronic communications in the area hoping to pinpoint the missing drone carrier when they picked up the chatter between six ships where only five were visible on the radar. Clearly something was going on. "Bastian this is Umbretto you've got inconsistent comms between Lodjain ships to your south. We suspect its the bad guys."
Onboard the Bastian there was unease. The ship had their Morelander friends under tow and was unlikely to be able to engage that number of ships. They would need some extra hands and HQ informed them it was on the way in the form of two Pax (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-3_Orion) maritime patrol aircraft. Their route was intended to get close to the ships, see who was who and with several anti-ship missiles on board likely engage. Following them down towards the border with Lodja was the attack sub Totila (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia-class_submarine) and the destroyer Godepat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidd-class_destroyer). While maybe outgunned initially they had need only to observe if it did turn out to be the renegade Lodjains.
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The situation on Zhoya had been a stand-off in effect for four days. Time had come to end the two occupations that blighted the island. The problem was the situation could turn messy quickly. Back in Northfort the military leadership had sat around the table and considered various options, the problem was that it wasn't known whether those seemingly being used as human shields were actually being held against their will or supported Leopold, for all the Morelanders and Cenneslaigs knew they could be rebels playing a role. The first step was to send a formal written offer of a ceasefire and safe surrender for those holding the Ducal Palace and Hotel complex. With Major Grant receiving a rather impolite rejection the next phase was to cut the electric and water supplies to the facilities but that still brought no joy. While these steps were being taken more vehicles were being brought in to help for the next step if it was taken. Some Bison (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=10.msg17619#msg17619) mobility vehicles equipped for crowd control operations were brought forward, their public address systems connected and Major Grant fired up his spotify to the most annoying music he could find and after ten minutes his Sergeant Major arrived "Sir with respect if you keep playing that detritious (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI78ytQmUjU) I'll go in there and surrender myself to Leopold." the pair joked as Achkaerin's popular girl band played through the speakers. Even the attempt at psychological warfare failed and so the Morelanders determined they'd have to go in. A quick view from a satellite confirmed the wall areas were clear and so the job was on.
With the aircraft carrier Chamwick on the coast they put up a decent display of air power aimed at ensuring no Lodjain Air Force got close to the action. They couldn't be trusted and a decision was transmitted to the Lodjain forces that any of their aircraft approaching would be considered hostile and engaged. Once the combat air patrol was in place the four Dragonbane II's (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/36/7b/57/367b57c9f15ebc5d3d09adf745752a6f.jpg) from the "Flying Can Openers" moved in from Cobble Field they would be providing any close air support required. It was at sunrise that the assault took place. Smoke bombs from mortars popped canisters into the dead ground seperating the Morelanders from the Ducal Palaces walls. Engines of various vehicles were revved as the music changed from AKB47 to something more befitting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_GFN3a0yj0) the concoany of noise was designed to disguise the attack that was coming. Flying Officer Meadows (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=91.msg5585#msg5585) had peeled off from the other Dragonbane II's and dropped to fly in at speed just above the trees. The sight of the fast moving jet coming down the drive and dropping a pair of bombs on the wall before pulling a high g turn to enable her to utilise the aircrafts canon to fire high explosive rounds through the ancient wall before spiralling into a tight climb. She'd heard small arms fire ping off the aircraft as she'd commence her run. "Ground Command this is Gunfighter One front door is open" she responded as she rejoined the others in formation high above the target.
"Roger Gunfighter One" Grant responded as he visually gave instructions for several tanks brought ashore to fire on the wall. Breeches had opened in several places and a few Lodjains clearly rattled began firing hap hazardly through the new openings. The tanks went first grinding the stone under their tracks as they entered the once ornate gardens of the Ducal Palace. The Marines followed them in and now began dispersing towards what cover the could find as they began taking fire. The tanks did the best they could to provide protection but a time came when the men had to risk the open lawns to reach the safety of cover provided by walls and ditches that formed a carefully constructed landscape. A few fell to defensive fire but the majority found themselves now closer and able to pour fire into the building carefully utilising the muzzle flash for targeting. An RPG impacted one of the tanks but was largely ineffective but soon a few more came their way and the tanks began edging back to ensure they didn't become a roadblock. To the west of the house the Marines had managed to effect closing in on the side door of the Palace but going in at this point would be impossible as too much Moreland gun fire was hitting the front of the building. The only part of the building now not fully being assaulted was the east side, that had been left with only a cordon to allow anyone making a break for it from the suspected human shields a safe passage.
The gunfight lasted most of the morning but it was clear by midday that the Lodjains were running low on ammo and so Grant called it. "All callsigns you are cleared for explosive entry." and within seconds the sounds of small explosions filled the air as pre-prepared charges blew in windows and doors. The gunfire started up again and then screams as a handful of human shields began to freak out and run. Several nearly got shot in the cross fire but soon they found the gap in the eastern wall and soon after were lying face down on a football pitch handcuffed with plastic ties. For another few hours the sporadic gunfire continued and throughout it a steady conveyor belt of captured Lodjains, injured soldiers and bodies came out the Palace until at 4pm the Palace was silent. The hurried activity of medical units being about their work and helicopters taking injured from both sides out to the Chamwick for treatment was underway.
Grant found the Sergeant Major. "How'd we do?" he asked, "From ours 8 KIA, 10 wounded, civilians 3 dead, 4 wounded, total of 22 more being processed." For now at least it seemed that Leopolds forces were done for so far as ground conflict was called for.
At the opposite end of the island the Cenneg had tried similar tactics at first, the Morelander Dragonbane II's however had a lot more business. Several of the Lodjain APC's had been stored here and Hope Meadows had got to take out two of them after the Cenneg request for help. The fighting there was more chaotic. The complex not as well contained saw several Lodjains escape into the forest and over the course of several hours running battles were fought until it seemed that there too the rebels had been subdued. The island of Zhoya was now back under the control of the Queendom.
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Wide area searches were nothing new to the Achkaerinese military, they'd done an awful lot of them over the years but even with all the most careful of planning and area sweeping they'd learned that finding someone who didn't want to be found was quite the challenge, a game of cat and mouse, and usually it came down to a little bit of luck generated by either patience, a mistake on the targets part or having the right thing in the right place at the right time that you just happened to glimpse something and right here as the search for the Morelander continued the Achkaerinese got their lucky break, Wing Commander Lance Ellis now aboard a Sparrowhawk (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1660.msg14708#msg14708) was called across to where one of the specialists was working. "What have you got?" Lance asked
"This." the specialist said "Close formation of ships looks like five but chatter from six is being picked up."
"Continue monitoring." Lance said he grabbed a radio "Eagle Eye calling Intrepid."
On the Intrepid Lucas picked up the radio "This is Admiral Harper go ahead." he said
"We've identified a cluster of ships, looks like five but chatter from six." Lance said "Sending coordinates to you, continuing to monitor."
"Received." Lucas said he brought the coordinates up on the chessboard and put the radio down "Carmen."
"Yes?" Carmen asked coming over
"Sparrowhawk just sent this over, reads like five ships but chatter from six." Lucas said
"Clever if you wanted to hide something." Carmen said "Like say a fugitive drone carrier."
"If it is them he's got one heck of a head start." Lucas said "Look at the direction of travel, even though we're the faster we're well away. What have we got closer?"
"The Kyogre and the Excalibur are close to the Lodjan mainland and the Leonaise is at Zhoya." Carmen said looking at the map "Not exactly brilliant odds."
"No, but two frigates are better than nothing, plus air support." Lucas said he then noticed another marker on the map "Is that the Phoenix?"
"Yes sir." Carmen said "That's got to be the fastest ship around here."
"Let's just hope she can get there." Lucas said
The INS Excalibur (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1868.msg16238#msg16238) had spent most of the crisis sat not that far outside Lodjan waters, using its systems to monitor things out in the Alucard just in case. Commanding the frigate was Captain Joe McCarthy (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg4129#msg4129), it had been another day of monitoring, exchanging information and shift changes. In fact Joe was just about to go off shift when the call from the Intrepid came.
"Captain McCarthy" Joe said
"This is Admiral Harper." Lucas's voice came over the radio "We think the Morelander may be heading your way and not alone. Proceed to intercept. Remember we still believe there are seven innocents aboard ship."
"You're putting me right up behind the black Admiral." Joe said
"We're getting support to you as fast as we can, you will have air cover from the Kyogre. And we're diverting the Phoenix to you." Lucas said
"Understood." Joe said, he put down the radio and took a long, deep, breath it was very likely the next few hours were going to be the longest of his career. "Commander Serrel."
"Sir?" the commander asked
"Battle stations." Joe said
To the north, the calm of the seas was being shattered by a sound that would likely have turned water nomad heads, but no this familiar sound wasn't the Ekrabadger brought back from the dead it was the INS Phoenix (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=1868.msg19879#msg19879) charging south. The vessel was the command of Commander Brie Keane (https://independentorder.net/index.php?topic=49.msg23096#msg23096) and this was the Phoenix's maiden voyage, it had been meant to be a simple transport run - take two ASF troops to the Intrepid but now Brie was biting her lip as the Phoenix headed for the Excalibur. Brie was on the radio with Joe.
"What's your eta?" Joe asked
"If all calculations are correct I'm about five minutes after you." Brie said "I'm going to be there Joe."
"You'd better be." Joe said
"I've got people with a mad idea aboard." Brie said "If you get the chance to knock Leopold's propeller out, make sure you take it."
"I'm going to hold you to that five minutes Brie." Joe said
"I'll be there." Brie said
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OOC - An RP that was supposed to last a few weeks to segway into a few changes in Lodja has now gone on a year. I should be back next week full time and I plan on finishing it in one long summary post. If you want something to happen please let me know as I know a few people have been building to things. I kind of miss RPing a normal nation..lol
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With Zhoya back under the control of the Queendom things were certainly looking up for young Queen Natalya. In her first days as Queen she had a victory under her belt, all be it one earned by the Morelanders and the Cenneg. What mattered now though was to stop Leopold. The good news was that seemed like they would have an opportunity. Word had come that the Aostan attack sub Totila and the destroyer Godepat were closing in on the Morelander and a small fleet, it was clear their plan of seeming to be a search party was foiled when the pair of Aostan patrol aircraft flew overhead. As soon as they saw the Morelander it was clear the deception was discovered and immediately they Aostans had radioed things through.
It would take a few minutes to filter the news through commands until it reached the Lodjains. A decision needed now to be made and it was a complex one. It was still unconfirmed whether Leopold was even onboard the captured ship however as soon as the patrol planes had made their report they came under fire from the two Frigates, a destroyer and a pair of coastal patrol ships below them from the renegade Lodjains. The barrage of fire was enough to drive the pair of aircraft away but that meant that soon they would be expecting company. Alarms rang out throughtout the ships and preparations began.
It would take about another thirty minutes until the Aostan assets got into range and by now orders had come back down the various systems of communication, the orders would be simple, destroyer the Morelander and everything with her. The commanders in Gaia had told Queen Natalya that it was likely that Isaac and the captured Conclave must be on board and Natalya acknowledged that was indeed a chance but that she would pray that they were either "good swimmers or lucky". The group was irrelevant to the future of Lodja. As the son of a former Queen the little Isaac served no purpose. If he grew up to be intelligent he would find himself a position perhaps in the diplomatic service or perhaps as an officer in the military, otherwise he would grow lazy off his families money and live out his life no doubt making the most of his former royal connections. The Conclave was already going to change significantly, Natalya had come to that decision already, therefore those onboard were expendable. To the commander of the Aostan ships though it would mean little as they would have no idea of the intelligence at the hands of those higher up. It therefore was the Godepat launched their first salvo of missiles. The speed off into the blue sky, some 40km to cover. The Lodjains could see it coming and began to move their ships into a position with the Morelander behind the others. The initial shot was not a problem, the Lodjain vessels had time enough to see it coming and the firepower to shoot it down. The Morelander launched a drone and much to the amusement of the Aostan's it was an unarmed reconnesance once however that was not the reason it was launched. At about the same time the Morelander launched its own missile and as the Aostan fleet began their own simple move of demolishing it the drone kamikazed towards the Aostan vessel. The CWIS system of the ship picked it up however and it exploded into a fireball high above the deck but pieces of its shrapnel covered then deck.
The fighting was at first a deadlock, each side fired missiles and the others intercepted them. It was only once the Aostan sub came into play that things began to change. Their target was not the Morelander. If they could breach the Frigates defence then the air defence coverage would begin to unpeel. The captain lined up a torpedo run on the Frigate and satisfied everything had been done ordered them to fire. The torpedos were picked up late and despite every attempt to avoid them they struck home rocking the Frigate with an explosion. It began to list to one side and would clearly, in time go down, but its weapons systems carried on trying to engage the Aostan surface fleet which was now beginning to come into gun range. Shells were now being added to the flying mass of metal above the combat area and as the stricken Lodjain dumped highly inaccurate torpedos into the water to try and get the Aostan sub the Morelander began sending drone after drone into the air. A helicopter managed to get off the deck of the Lodjain destroyer and jinking between missiles dropped a series of depth charges further driving the sub away. It was irrelevant as the sub had vanished, changed its track and had a line on the second Lodjain Frigate. This time the Lodjains got lucky, as the Aostans tried to fire their next barrage their onboard computer began to glitch much to the curses of their commander. It wouldn't matter too much as using the old fashioned periscope, stop watch and laser range finder they could still operate. This caused the Lodjain a problem, the torpedos were inaccurate enough to allow them to avoid them but it was another problem for them to contend with.
As though the Lodjains were not busy enough they now had the buzz of the first Achkaerin asset to arrive the INS Phoenix began to launch its missiles but once more the pair of Frigates could absorb the first of the barrage. One of the drones from the Morelander was tasked with dealing with it and after launching its small air to air missile it put itself square on the run the Phoenix was making. The game of chicken between a mechanical device and an aircraft with a live crew it was clear who would be the winner and as such by constantly setting up a drone the Phoenix was essentially being kept at long range like a boxer with an effective jab. With only six shot in its gun so to speak the Phoenix was soon out of ammo and would need to land somewhere to restock. It had however served its purpose. It had split the firepower of the Lodjains and even seen two of the drones miscalcuate and hit the surf themselves. BY now the Excalibur Frigate of Achkaerin had turned up within range and over the radio communication between them and the Aostan's who were now in a position of having to start reloading missiles was beginning. It was clear that as soon as the Lodjians hit the point of having to refill their own missile stocks the tide would turn and the slowly sinking Frigate was now abandoned. The other Lodjain assets now made a run towards the coast, the Morelander keeping its defenders between it and the Aostan and Achkaerin fleet. As drones tried to kamikaze the two attacking nations a third set of call signs joined the fray. A pair of Dragonbane II's had been fitted with anti-ship missiles and sent off to offer what help they could. While it was the missiles they were expecting to bring to the party one of them found itself becoming the first Dragonbane II to take down an aerial target as it got the drop on a drone trying to kamikaze the Excalibur. The pilot found themselves smiling as they wondered whether it was the first air to air kill with any of the Dragonbanes. It was a a thought to put to one side as they switched to anti-ship missiles and pinged one down towards the now rather awkwardly angled Lodjain firgate. It made a satisfying boom somewhere near the bridge and the guns onboard fell silent almost instantly. The chase was now on and as the battle moved out the area it began the sea was full of leaked oil, fragments of metal and the bright yellow life rafts of the now abandoning Lodjain vessel. It was the Phoneix that had turned rescue ship pulling them out the water while Achkaerin troops in the back searched them and then held them in the hold. It was as they pulled one life raft in they found two of the Conclave among them.
The Morelander was the prime target for the Dragonbane II's they had the advantage of being able to get well ahead of the defensive wall now being maintained by the Lodjain patrol ships that had largely been ignored and the remaining Frigate and Destroyer. The Destroyer fired off several ship to air missiles and the Dragonbane's had some close calls but by flying a wide arc they were able to get their shots off. The Morelander had run out of missiles to intercept and the CWIS system was momentarily overwhelmed as one made its way through and impacted just before the bow of the ship. The blast was above the water line but smoke began billowing out of the ship. Several helicopters now launched from the Morelander, their aim was the coast and not the chasing fleet that were about to settle the day.
The Excalibur turned its attention with its deck guns to the patrol ship nearest it. They had no choice it was clear the captain had put the ship on a collison course at full speed. It was a ridiciolous gesture as the Excalibur had plenty of time to get their aim right and soon a 5 inch shell punched through its deck clearly hitting something inside as an explosion was heard beneath deck and seemingly the ship split in two. A handful of people began to dive overboard and unlike with the sunk Frigate they would need to come back for those floating in the Alucard.
The Aostans had now got their VLS system back into the fight and along with their sub, still suffering computer problems, was about to take on the Lodjain Destroyer which seemed to be down to guns only. As the Aostan Destroyer Godepat aimed to overwhelm their enemies air defence systems the Aostan sub fired more torpedos. It was like a boxer who lands a perfect combo of jab to the head, hook to the body as a round from the Godepat ripped into the Lodjain Destroyers bridge as a torpedo took it in the stern. The blasts knocked a huge hole in the Lodjain Air Defence system and the next missile from the Godepat holed them effectively ending their fight.
It was looking forlorn for the Lodjains and matters got worse when the Aostan Maritime patrol aircraft re-entered the scenario. Armed with Harpoon missiles they could finish the job that the Morelander Dragonbane II's had started and with their escort all but gone it wasn't a surprise that the missiles had soon caused an explosion in the flight deck and then punched another hole in the side. The Morelander was going down. The Phoneix had launched one of its RHIBs, not in this case to pick up those abandoning ship but to try and board. As everyone else was clambering down the side five members of the Achkaerin military were trying their best to enter through a smoking hole. They'd brought NBC kit with them expecting to have to deal with the smoke of the fires and having forced their way in through the black smoke surveyed the situation. It was not a pleasant one as their was twisted metal everywhere and a fanfare of alarms. The Achkaerin military had been onboard the Cyborg Class more than a few times and so its layout was no mystery. "We've about three minutes" the boarding parties commander told them and they did their best to force a way up the ever changing angle of the corridor outside the room they'd entered, evidently a mess hall. Lodjains put up no resistance and despite yelling at them "Where is Leopold?" or "Where is Isaac" the men where in too much of a panic to answer as people hurried to get themselves off the ship. It became clear they were finding nothing and so as the situation told them it was time to get the hell out of there themselves they headed for the deck. En route they passed by what remained of the bridge and one of them had a quick stop by but again it was empty. They grabbed a few suffering Lodjains who looked like it would be touch and go as to whether they would get off the vessel and having thrown them overboard made the leap themselves before swimming to where their comrades in the RHIB held a gaggle of floating Lodjains under the aim of their mounted gun. They stayed floating in the water themselves instead putting wounded men in the RHIB as they waited for the Phoenix to catch up with them but even that huge aircraft was struggling now to find space. Phoenix's commander made the decision to launch their remaining inflatables and having landed even began getting the rescued sailors to sit on the wings while they waited for other vessels. A few merchant ships in the area, now reassured that the fighting was subsiding were en route to provide aid and now with their missiles exhausted the Aostan patrol planes dropped inflatable rafts into the area before heading back home.
The battle was over but what remained was the helicopters. They'd had a head start on any air assets among the Aostans or Achkaerin vessels but they wouldn't be able to evade the air assets coming from the Lodjain mainland. They were intercepted and forced to land just as they reached the coast. A group of Lodjain Marines greeted them and prepared for resistance was expecting to have to take the helicopters and those onboard out. Instead the doors opened and the soldiers onboard gave up. They'd been promised that a land force loyal to Leopold would meet them and that they'd carry the fight to land however that was simply a lie. They were asked were Leopold was and everyone of those in the helicopters told them the same. "Leopold and Helene Tar had left the Morelander when they'd joined up with a yacht last night. No one knew where they were heading except for a "Vital meeting". The man was still out there somewhere and now it appeared the mother of Viktoriya Tar was somehow involved. That had been a surprise to many but it seemed that for now at least Leopold was done for, his assets had gone, his supporters betrayed and he was running with his tail between his legs.
Over the course of the next six hours there was a lot to unpack. The Phoenix found various vessels from Aosta and Lodjain Navies coming to pick up the sailors they'd rescued and all would be returned to the custody of Lodja. Three of the Conclave were discovered, Lord Yuily Shvets, Isay Yakovlev (Minsiter of Environmental Affairs) and Borys Volkov (Junior Education Minister), the other three had been oboard the Frigate that had sank at the start of the battle and so it seemed, Maxim Schnoor (Minister of Home Affairs), Vissarion Novikov (Minister of Education) and Lady Ninel Naomov (Minister of Foreign Affairs) would be lost to the seas. There was no sign of Isaac. He'd been left onboard the Morelander in the care of a Ensign and nobody had found him, nor would they ever as the Cyborg Class began its descent to the ocean floor.
That evening word had obviously been spreading of the conflict at sea. It was time now though for the Lodjains new Queen to take to the TV screens and inform the world.
People of Mundus. Nearly a year ago the former King of Lodja, Leopold Hamsik attempted to destroy the Queendom of Lodja from within. Using his influence and connections he turned neighbour against neighbour and used his own child as a pawn. Thinking Leopold was a man that he could trust hundreds of Lodjains placed their lives in his hands and threw their lot in with him believing he would give them the world. He has given them only misery and death. I am able tonight to say though that the threat he posed to our nation is over. Today I am thankful to forces from Aosta, Achkaerin and East Moreland in destroying what was left on the renegade forces. The HMDS Morelander is now no more, it sits at the bottom of the Alucard. Leopold is defeated and having told his men of a great army waiting for them on land those who managed to escape the battle in the Alucard found themselves just 45 men. Everything Leopold had told them was a lie.
The conflict has not come without sacrifice. Our nation has lost much and I will speak of that shortly. I must though ensure that the world knows of the sacrifices of troops from East Moreland and Ui Cenneslaig who freed the island of Zhoya where Lodjains and tourists from several nations had been used as human shields by those loyal to Leopold. I must go on record and thank members of East Moreland, Ui Cennesliag, The Unified Iwi, Aostan and Achkaerin Navies who joined us in combing the seas for Leopold and of course Aosta and Achkaerin's navy for destroying the threat of this renegade fleet aided by Morelander aircraft. Those who have been injured or died during their aid for our nation will always have a place in our nations hearts and one of my first acts as Queen will be to ensure each of the casualties are given a pension from the Queendom and either themselves or the dependents granted Lodjain citizenship should they ever wish it. Those who have shed blood for this land are as much part of it as the soil and grass.
Lodjains may not have been part of the action that brought this to an end but we have suffered. Trusts have been broken, families split and communities disharmonised. We will repair this. Those who fought for Leopold will face tribunals and given a chance to explain their actions. Anyone found guilty of a crime will face justice in an open court in exactly the same way as they would had they stolen a car. Those found not guilty will be given a chance to reintegrate into society. We have to find ways to heal. Among the dead are members of the Conclave, Maxim Schnoor , Vissarion Novikov and Lady Ninel Naomov all died aboard the ships aligned against us. Sadly Prince Isaac has also died. They shall be honoured and remembered. We have seen cowardly strikes on the Queen take the lives of Queen Klara and Lady in Waiting Anna Immich. We have seen members of the East Moreland embassy killed within Gaia along with innocent civilians going about their business. We owe it to each of these to build a better Lodja. In the coming days I have to unenviable task of having to grieve for my countryman and at the same time begin rebuilding a nation. It will be a different nation as some good must come from the losses we have suffered. I never thought a day would come after missing out once that I would wear the crown of Lodja and I wish it never had. We must play the hand we are dealt and I believe that Lodja can and will give me a strong hand. We shall emerge as a better nation.
Sadly among those who have died Leopold Hamsik is not among them. His location unknown but as he ran with his tail between his legs it is clear the man is a coward. With him sadly was the much loved and respected Helene Tar, seemingly part of the conspiracy. This is a sad fate for the Tar family. Queen Viktoriya Tar in her short reign was a visionary for our land and does not deserve to have her family name so sullied. As such from this day forward I shall be stripping Helene Tar of her titles and she shall forver be known as Helene Quisling by this administration. Many will ask about the fate of Princess Alana Tar she is currently in custody and like everyone involved in the crisis shall be investigated. Should she be found to be loyal she will become the matriach of the Tar family and I pray she carries on her sisters legacy. Should she be found to be disloyal then she will face justice. While those ringleaders are now beyond our reach for now we will not stop the search. Justice will be done one way or another but for now mourn the dead, rejoyce that this is over and I shall address you soon regarding the future of our nation."
As Leopold turned off the TV having seen the announcement he drained his shot of Vodka. For now he would disappear. He had money stashed away in several places, he had shares in places people didn't know of and most importantly for now he had a floatplane that could get him to a private airfield in Nya Aland and from there to a mountain villa in Zaporozh. They spoke a similar language there and he was confident no one would expect him to surface there. Helene Tar was with him as he began loading the float plane, "What will we do about Alana?" the former Queen's mother asked about her daughter now in some legal limbo.
"Fuck her" Leopold laughed and then realised how that could sound. He put his face close to Helene, "And I wish it had been her not her saggy assed Mother." Helene was shocked. "You're the reason this failed. You promised me men, you said the Tar family had men loyal to them. You said you'd get Alana to my side and she'd ensue we had support from the insiders. You messed up and now I'm forced to go and live among the Northern God fanatics."
"I am too you'll not be alone." She put her hand on his arm. "We'll be together." Leopold pulled his arm away as with his other he reached behind his back. Helene never saw the pistol coming up as he shot first into her chest. A shocked look spread over her face.
"I have money, I'm handsome and I have an appetite for younger and prettier girls than you. You're useless to me now. Join Viktoria" he finished as he fired a second bullet, this one into the middle of her forehead. He cursed as blood got onto his suit and dabbed at it making it only worse on his pale blue jacket. "Shit!" he exclaimed and in a last act on Lodjain soil took of his jacket and threw it on the body of Helene Tar before climbing into the cockpit of his escape vehicle. He would disappear, for now, and see what this new Queen was about.