The report made for grim reading as far as Kakashi was concerned, the Somerset hold up was beginning to bite now. He was presently pacing around the Achkaerinese base camp that had been set up in Somerset while forces were assembled to roll into Lakhzovia, but that was before someone on the other side of the border most likely the Khalinz Brigades had decided to put a load of hurdles in the way, the explosions had been audible in the camp as they were only a few miles on the Somerset side of the border. Kakashi hadn't known what they were at the time but all his battlefield experience, and that he'd pulled the same trick in the Maru Mountain range when fighting in the Toshikawan Civil War back in the nineteen eighties, told him what it might have been.
"General" someone said, this was
Captain Sarah Culshaw, an officer with Achkaerin's Military Defence Initiative a department within the Achkaerinese military responsible for things to do with satellites, threat assessment, missile control etc. Sarah was the daughter of the head of the Achkaerinese Army and the Granddaughter of two of the smartest consultants the Achkaerinese military had ever had.
"Yes Captain?" Kakashi asked
"We have the surveillance footage." Sarah said
"How bad is it?" Kakashi asked
"See for yourself sir." Sarah said
Sarah led Kakashi to one of the tents where they were running aerial surveillance operations from. On duty was
Flight Leader Irma Quartermain sat at the controls, monitors in front of her.
"Run us through it Irma." Sarah said
"Following the explosions we got an
Owl up as quick as we could and I've flown it down the two pass's designated B12 and B11." Irma said "What you're seeing on the monitor is the B12 route. Someone's collapsed the side of the pass's creating obstacles. Reminds me of doing the hurdles on sport's day at school to be honest."
"Both pass's the same?" Kakashi asked
"Yes sir." Irma said
"Someone's got a creative thought or two." Kakashi said "They want to slow us down. Stay on the surveillance."
"Yes sir." Irma said
"Sarah come with me." Kakashi said
Kakashi and Sarah headed from that tent into another where a map was laid out on the table, lines drawn and other senior officers standing ready these were
Colonel William Yates,
Captain Sam Venables,
First Lieutenant Jess Thrace and
Major Fleur Mishima.
"You've all read the report?" Kakashi asked, there were nods "Makes for grim reading doesn't it? But I'm not about to let a load of militia take the high ground. I'm certainly not about to let them have it all their own way. Fleur sit rep?"
"Armored Corp is essentially out until we've got the roads open again, we may be able to move some of the lighter vehicles through if we can get a clear route." Fleur said "And as we don't particularly fancy our chances with the Heavy Lifters so we can't easily hop over the obstacles."
"Colonel Yates, stand the Alpha wave to and prepare for insertion into Lakhzovia." Kakashi said "We maintain aerial surveillance, spot any SAM sites and mobiles in the vicinity and neutralize them, once we clear those the Alpha wave goes in under darkness. What have we got in the Channel naval wise?"
"Handful of vessels and those of our partners in this." Sarah said "Plenty of missile capability."
"Right then I'm initiating the recommendations of the report." Kakashi said "Do we have a Kryptonite Class out there?"
"Yes." Sarah said
"Get me the Captain." Kakashi said "We'd better start doing something about those hurdles."
In the Illumic Channel the
INS Kryptonite was just entering Somerset waters, sat in the command chair was the ships skipper
Captain Lily Falconer she brushed at her hair,
"Incoming message ma'am." the communications officer said
"Let's give SCION a whirl." Lily said "Put it through." much like Rokkenjima's ICON system the Achkaerinese SCION included many of the same features making it part videophone so it was no surprise that on one of the bridge monitors Kakashi appeared sat at a desk.
"Captain Falconer." Kakashi said
"General Fuji." Lily said
"We're going to be uploading some information to you shortly I need you to standby to act on this." Kakashi said
"Sir?" Lily asked
"The Khalinz Brigade have decided to play stalling games." Kakashi said "I need you to help me turn the tables."
"Ready and willing sir." Lily said
"Good await further communication." Kakashi said
With the call done, Lily got out of her chair and sighed, running a hand across her brow she looked at her XO Commander Houghton
"The information's coming in." Houghton said "Is this for real?"
"Looks like it." Lily said reading it over her XO's shoulder "Make the preparations."
"Aye ma'am." Houghton said
In the No Fly Zone the Achkaerinese jets continued to go about their work two
Wyvern's flown by
Squadron Commander Tommy Frost and
Lieutenant Tori Raynor, callsigns
Iceman and
Dark Angel respectively were patrolling towards the centre of the No Fly Zone.
"All callsigns this is an update be advised Khalinz brigade known to have mobile SAM capability, caution advised in vicinity of Kinere Airport, pilots advised that ground attack missions have been authorised." the message came over the radio frequency.
"Great." Tommy said as the jets continued on their way "That's next on our route isn't it?"
"Yes." Tori said
"Stay alert then." Tommy said "All AAF callsigns this is Iceman, Harpys on patrol, Wyverns on special. Captain Ryder has the Zone."
"We're coming up on Kinere." Tori said "ETA fifteen minutes"
"Thank the Heavens we've worked with East Moreland so many times." Tommy said, he got back on the radio "This is Iceman calling Badger...repeat Iceman calling Badger. Coming in high with wingmate south east towards Kinere on No Fly Zone patrol please advise of any targets in the area."
On the
Seònaid Ayanami, Jade was walking through the ship heading to what had become a regular appointment over the last few weeks as the whole situation within Lakhzovia had gradually come to the boil. She stepped into a set of quarters that had a guard on them, not because the person occupying them was a danger but because he was potentially under threat, this person, this man was Agran Tsargari the former leader of the Democratic Alliance within Lakhzovia, he was setting up a chessboard - this was the regular appointment the pair had every day or so, Jade would come down and they'd talk about various things - history, ethics, philosophy, culture were the favorites there sometimes they'd play a game such as chess. But today Jade had another thing to talk about.
"We need to know more about the factions within the Utman." Jade said as she sat down opposite Agran, the white pieces in front of her it seemed he was a gentleman, she made her first move "Anything you can tell us would be greatly appreciated."
In Valtheim the political aspect was on and there was no hiding it
Emperor Peter Azurewind was sat at the kitchen table about to dig into his lunch of a chicken sandwich, he like Kakashi had read the report and he knew the importance and advantages of political elements in terms of negotiations he glanced at the kitchen counter where
Nettie Taylor was making herself a drink.
"Have you seen this?" Peter asked
"I have." Nettie said
"Recommendation?" Peter asked
"General Fuji has implemented the recommendations but feels that number five would be better handled on a government level." Nettie said "My advice is don't go cap in hand to Lakhzovia without some leverage."
"Noted." Peter said "Ok get Mark and then you two go and see the Lakhzovian ambassador."
"And the leverage?" Nettie asked
"Let's have Saki pay a visit to our political asylum seeker." Peter said
"The detective?" Nettie asked
"We need to use everything at our disposal." Peter said
"I'll let her know." Nettie said