TheShammySocialist

Caspia will be in attendance of this amorous moment, and we congratulate the engaged couple. [i]The Honorable President Sham Dawkins[/i]

Arriving shortly behind the delegation from Cochin, "Team Caspia" flew in aboard three Caspian Air Force CT-23 Strategic Airlift Aircraft. Assigned to Section 3, the Caspian Government had not allowed for its air forces' aircraft to be displayed, citing no reason for their absence. For Colonel Amur Ralawi, the government-appointed manager of the Kabul State Armory, it was no matter, he was a master gunsmith and weapons expert, not an avionics tech or a specialist in aviation. The Caspian team had not included much of the most sophisticated equipment that the Caspian Nation had to offer, they wanted to show the basic equipment, affordable, but useful, satisfactory, but not overly flashy. As the vehicles began rolling off the aircraft, Ralawi chuckled at the absence of the classified military equipment that the Caspian Clique was not prepared to show to the world. The decision to only display such equipment would be done when the government wanted it to be done, moreover, why try to appear to be too flashy at an arms fair? Most of the equipment being developed was classified, and if it hadn't been through the "grinder" of testing yet, there was no use showing it off here. Anyone buying here may be looking for a lot of sophisticated equipment, but they were also looking for affordable equipment that had shown its worth in battle. The Caspian Clique had tested its vehicles and weapons in both the Kandahar and Baghlan Campaigns, as well as the Communist Australian Peacekeeping Operation, while these conflicts provided open combat testing grounds, the weapons of the Caspian Clique had shown their reliability in combat, and worked just fine. Ralawi watched as a "Viper" Main Battle Tank roll past, the mainstay of the armored formations with its 105mm Smoothbore main gun, a proven combatant for rugged conditions in both Kandahar and Baghlan, as well as Communist Australia. Following the "Viper", two "Jackrabbit" Infantry Fighting Vehicles rolled past, both towing trailers of equipment, the Sergeant atop one of the IFVs gave a smile and a salute to the Colonel. The IFVs were followed by five "Prowler" Armored Personnel Carriers/Light Utility Vehicles, all towing their own trailers of equipment that the Caspian Display team would be using over the duration of the Arms Fair. Following the "Prowlers" was an SPA-5 155mm Self-Propelled Gun, one of the newest acquisitions of the Caspian Armed Forces, and the backbone of the mobile artillery forces' that support its armored formations. The Caspian team consisted of twenty-five individuals total, not including Ralawi, who was considered its leader. Inside the trailers were both personal equipment, for their living area, as well as the weapons needed. Boxes upon boxes of ammunition, as well as small arms, for live-fire testing by clients who were to come by the Caspian Section. The most advanced equipment that the Caspian team had brought along was its newest Assault Rifle, an upgraded version of the already proven CR-8G Modular Weapon System. It would be the first public viewing of the weapon, and Ralawi was excited to see it put to the test by international clients. Also included were the standard small arms weapons carried by the Caspian Armed forces, including not only the CR-8G MWS, but the CMGH-8 Heavy Machinegun, and the venerable SRL-5M Sniper Rifle System. Arriving at their section of the venue, the Caspian team would begin setting up its living quarters, and preparing its weapon systems for testing, overseen by Ralawi, who was looking forward to this event immensely.

[quote name='Centurius' timestamp='1298307440' post='2640692'] "While the Athenian Federation has nothing against an Islamic state we must ask whether you practise the traditional Sharia which includes punishments such as stoning and mutilation or a more modern version which has adapted to the sentences practised in the rest of the world" [/quote] "The Caspian Clique would echo the Athenian Federations' sentiment, and would also like to know whether these practices are still in use."

Fifty-six former insurgents, who fought against the Caspian government, have been granted release to fight in this foreign legion, after volunteering to do so.

[b]Presidential Address to the New Uzbek State at Smarkand[/b] [i]"My Fellow Brothers and Sisters of Smarkand, of the new Uzbek State, We of Caspia hail your resilience over the past few days, since the Nordic Empire fell into chaos, and was finally reformed. We understand that this land suffered instability since that fall of the Empire, and we in the Caspian Clique will ensure that the stability our government brings with it, will stay. The Caspian Clique has been growing in size and stature in this world, we have taken on efforts abroad and at home to ensure this nation and its economy, and its place in the world is secure. It is our hope to involve you in a dream that was started by my father to establish this nation on the world stage, he was partway through that dream when he was killed tragically. But dreams are ideas, and you can kill a man, but you can never kill an idea that is planted in the heads of the people. You can suppress it, you can grind that dream into dust before their eyes, but it will always be there in the back of their minds. This country is building a name for itself, not only for its growing economy, but its power, its prestige, its tolerance of all religions, all genders, all races of mankind. It was built on a dream that everyone could prosper together, that not one race or religion is better then another, we are given the power to choose our fate. When I came to power, my fate was in the hands of the Caspian people, they allowed me back, they brought me back to serve a purpose, to lead the Caspian nation to a brighter future. It had been trampled by warlords, by thugs who snuffed out the light of the dream so many years ago, now it is reborn, and it is not wavering. We shall bring to this land the prosperity that the Caspian people know, we welcome you as brothers and sisters in that dream that will continue to flower so long as there are people to believe in it. We are a country of equality, of opportunity, of stability, we bring that country to you, and sincerely hope that you embrace us, as well as that dream. I am President Sham Dawkins, and I am here to serve you with respect and pride, the proud and resilient people of the newest state in this Clique, welcome."[/i]

[quote name='AlDei' timestamp='1298231313' post='2639669'] It is not our belief that Allah provided an "All of the Above" option among the varying faiths of the world. Coexistence has been painted with the colors of love, peace, & political correctness, but we are dealing with God & the various paths we must either take or avoid to reach Him. Man kind has an important decision to make, Islam is our only choice. [/quote] "While we respect your beliefs for what they are, our people and this government do not agree with them. Your religion calls for one to submit to the will of God, and what you believe to be the derivations of his teachings. If you are making us choose between balance or a path to instability, we will choose the former, you call it political correctness, we call it saving our country from religious strife. We have our path laid before us, you have yours, and I say with sincerity that I hope they do not cross a path where conflict shall arise."

Over the skies of Brisbane, as surface-to-air missiles flashed through the sky, eight Caspian aircraft streaked through the sky, heading south and west. With escape routes and approaches to the north covered by advancing Peacekeeping Coalition troops, there were only a few logical directions any rebels could take if they were escaping the siege. Being one of the freshest units on the ground, Task Force Caspia, fresh from successes at the Free Australian stronghold near Norman, and at the battle of Norman itself, was racing to join the running battle in the streets of Brisbane. But they also needed to know where the Free Australian guerrillas were going for that, and that required reconnaissance, and fast reconnaissance at that. As they passed over the Brisbane River, and towards the battlefields dominating the western part of the city, the aircraft broke into flights of two. These were the "Ridgerunner" supersonic tactical strike/electronic warfare aircraft of the Caspian Air Force, some of the fastest aircraft over the battlefield. Capable of speeds of almost Mach 3, they put their throttles down as they streaked over the battlefields, dodging errant anti-aircraft shells as they passed over the burning city. They weren't here to drop munitions, they had another purpose, working from information they had gathered from the radio chatter, the AWACS had given them relatively vectors and positions on where Free Australian AA sites were. Taking the paths, of what they hoped were least resistance, they zipped over the lines, as they did, dropping chaff bombs over the lines that would play some havoc with anti-air tracking systems. They zipped over the lines, and as they did, high-resolution thermal imaging cameras shot began shooting thousands of pictures and giving live feed over the area, trying to track the retreating Free Australian guerrilla forces. The electronic warfare suites on the aircraft played havoc with radar tracking equipment, as they were activated. The aircraft finally looped around and began lazy wide circles over the skies to the west and south of Brisbane, their cameras and imaging equipment scouring the landscape, live data feeds providing Konev, now in a secure headquarters close to the Brisbane airport, with imaging of the area. "We need to move through Milton and Indooroopilly, and get heading south, that is probably where the bulk of the Free Australians are fleeing. And tell Kazeem he needs to get across the Brisbane River as soon as possible," said Konev, turning to a radio operator, who nodded. He then turned back to the multitude of high-resolution screens in front of him, and scratched at the scruff that was growing on his chin and neck. "And the battle is joined," he whispered, one of the high resolution screens showing the large convoy of Task Force Caspia racing through the suburbs and buildings of central Brisbane, north of the Brisbane River. At the head of the convoy, heavy Viper tanks, covered with slate armor kits with heavy infantry support of the venerable Afghan Light Infantry double-timed it through the shattered city.

[quote name='AlDei' timestamp='1298229863' post='2639644'] Islam is more of a Religious Political Ideology, unlike Christianity or Judaism, there is to be no separation of Faith & the State. Also, it can be agreed by Muslims that we share a common strive to institute world-wide Shari'a Law; well this is one means at achieving that end as commanded of us by the Q'uran. This is a religious duty whether or not Muslims recognize the Caliphate. [/quote] "While we respect your beliefs, we can not, and will not, allow the institution of religious law that supersedes the law of the land, it would undermine it. It would be intolerant of us to give precedence to one, what you call a more viable 'Religious Political Ideology' over the other. This decision was made in the best interests of the Caspian nation to assure that all religious groups have no precedence over the other. We have created an equal playing field for all faiths of the Caspian nation, and to give precedence to one religion, whether or not you can say that it supersedes any other religion as a more 'politically viable' one, is a dangerous proposition. The problem with that line of thought, as we see it, creates an injustice that non-Islamic religious groups will point out, and feel at odds with. While it may be the duty for all Muslims to commonly strive towards the institution of world-wide Shari'a Law, the consensus of my nation's citizens, is that they would rather strive towards balance, rather then global aspirations. That being said, would you, yourself, rather see peaceful coexistence, or the prevalence of religious law that could create unnecessary bloodshed for both sides? My nation's religions live in harmony because of maintaining that balance of tolerance and the precedent that no religion, may supersede the sanctity of the law of the state, set down under the basis of secular influence, for the benefit of all citizens."

"The government of the Caspian Clique, while extremely tolerant of other religions, sees this new organization as a union that will dissolve the sanctity of sovereignty of the nations it involves. That being said, our country does not answer to a higher being as a whole on a secular level, nor will it ever so long as this government is in power. Our law is derived from the secular beings who write it in the interests of justice and fair jurisprudence, not from religious law, to ensure that all peoples of this state are treated fairly. We conduct internal affairs of this state, with the interests of the people, not their religion in mind, to ensure the tolerance that our nation holds dear amongst its many religions. We may answer to a higher being when our time of judgment comes, but we cannot base the state of affairs of our nation on what we can only speculate on, or interpret from the holy scriptures. We recognize this organization as an attempt to undermine the sanctity of the separation of the church, and the state, and it will not allow this organization to hijack or manipulate those ideas. Our people, having had to live with religious strife before, hold a consensus with these views, and will only accept secular governance." [i]Sham Dawkins, President[/i]

[b]Classified to Kandahar Aviation and Rocketry[/b] [quote][IMG]http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa325/VictorDeltaRomeo/littlebirdwithFRIESonground.jpg[/IMG] The Caspian Government has shown an interest in this new light utility helicopter, and would like six prototypes available for further testing. The testing of this helicopter shall be done under the henceforth established name of [i]Project Chickadee[/i].[/quote]

[quote][IMG]http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa325/VictorDeltaRomeo/Baikonur_Cosmodrome.jpg[/IMG] [i]Launch pad and safety zone at the new Andhkoy Cosmodrome.[/i] [b][size="6"]Government reveals finished Andhkoy Cosmodrome[/size][/b] [i]Nataliya Konev, Staff Writer Caspian Journal[/i] [b]Andhkoy, CC[/b] - The Manager of CASCON today, along with the Ministry of Defense held a press conference to announce publicly the completion of the Andhkoy Cosmodrome, begun under President Dawkins' father, but never completed. The Cosmodrome was intended to assist the Caspian state at that time with launching military satellites as well as telecommunications satellites. The completion of the state-of-the-art facility comes almost a month after Dawkins became President. Inside information points that the Cosmodrome was a top priority for Dawkins upon assuming the presidency, it is unknown whether its priority was assigned due to the President's emotional connection to his father over the project, or for some alternative reason. Whatever the reason, Omar Baradi, head of the state-owned CASCON Infrastructure Construction Giant, was upbeat about its early completion. "We hope that the completion of Andhkoy will serve to assist the development of this nation, especially in the area of telecommunications. This new launch facility will assist the Caspian people in economic development of that sector of the economy, and allow us to be better connected with distant economic partners in this world," said Baradi, at the news conference. [IMG]http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa325/VictorDeltaRomeo/p5568_51527ae3ac7eb80e0c110fa24619a63dsoyouz_novembre_t.jpg[/IMG] [i]Snow falling at the recently completed launchpad number three.[/i] Defense Minister Lowell echoed Baradi's optimistic assessment of the completion of Andhkoy, and said that it will also serve as an important tool for the military as well. "This facility will be able to give our forces advanced communication, targeting, and reconnaissance abilities that it needs. The uses for satellites these days are next to endless, especially in the military realm, and we hail the CASCON company, as well as other major firms who partnered in bringing this dream to reality for giving us those new abilities," said Lowell, at the joint press conference. Lowell obviously did not go into specifics of the upcoming satellite projects, but his enthusiasm of the facility's completion was noticeable at the press conference. [b]CJ, 2011[/b][/quote]

"There were no 'chutes, sir," reported a pilot of Bully Flight to Hassan, as they stood on the tarmac at Brisbane's airport. The rumbling of vehicles and troops racing off the transports behind them, they had landed without incident, Chernov wasn't so lucky. "They did their job, can't ask anything more than that," replied Hassan, shaking his head, as he turned to look at Kazeem and Konev, conferring with a Communist Australian officer nearby. "Yes sir," nodded the pilot, heaving a sigh. "I'll write his family, its a damn shame," said Hassan, taking a cigar from his front pocket, and light it. He took a long drag, and puffed out smoke as he continued, "You boys get some rest, the Ministry of Defense appropriated another squadron of Kestrels to help out, they should be here in about two hours." "Yes sir," nodded the pilot, turning to speak with his men. Hassan walked over to Konev and Kazeem, who had just finished conferring with the Australian officer. "How are we doing Andrei?" "It seems the Free Australians are pulling back out of the city, UFE launched a massive strike on one area, and wiped it clean. We're going to move out and start mopping up opposition inside the city and make sure its secure," said Konev, putting a map in his front left breast pocket. "There were no ejections from Chernov's plane," said Hassan, after nodding while listening to Konev. "That's too damn bad, there's never enough officers like that," grumbled Kazeem, throwing a stub of the cigarette he was smoking aside. "I'll contact the Communist Australian government, and have them on the look out for the remains of his plane. We're bringing him and his WSO, Jamal," nodded Konev, giving Hassan a firm reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Thank you Andrei," responded Hassan, steeling his face and looking over at the unscathed line of transport aircraft. "He probably saved a lot of men today, there could be a lot more men dead if his attack run hadn't identified those three other double-A sites," said Kazeem. "We gotta get going Jamal," said Konev, looking at the line of vehicles, finally all unloaded from the transports. "You get some rest." "Yes sir," nodded Hassan. "Catch you on the flip side," added Kazeem, exchanging a grasp of hands with the senior air commander. The two army officers jogged off to the convoy, which was ready to roll, their engines idling. Hassan turned to look across the runways and skyline of Brisbane, wisps of smoke were rising from the large city, and he shook his head. Behind him, the roar of vehicle engines announced the departure of Task Force Caspia, as it raced into the city to join its fellow peacekeeping brethren. It was time to finish this campaign once and for all.

[size="6"][b]Order of Battle - Caspian Army[/b][/size] [i]Under Directive MD#02182011B, the reorganization of Army Units will be as follows, under a brigade combat team (BCT) structure. All Battalions are made up of five companies of a hundred and fifty men, unless specified otherwise. All infantry battalions have combat engineer platoons integrated into them. Armored battalions contain eighty tanks per battalion, organized into with five troops with twenty-five vehicles to each troop, with five platoons per troop, making for five vehicles per platoon, with five tanks assigned to a Headquarters Platoon. Artillery regiments are assigned three battalions each, with sixteen guns organized into four batteries, with four guns per battery. "Reserve" formations are composed of five companies, or troops, with two of those companies being active duty units, while the other three require mobilization. For reserve artillery regiments, one of the three battalions is kept active duty, while the other two are held in reserve. Reserves are required to train a week every month, to maintain combat readiness; armor, artillery, and heavy equipment reserve formations retain a few active duty staff to continually maintenance and keep vehicles and weapons at combat effective levels. All brigades have their own self-intrinsic supply detachments and provisional units, as well as mobile surgical medical detachments, to allow for quick deployments abroad. Central Reserve formations are designed to be reinforcements to brigade formations, and can be attached and detached at will, depending on the mission requirement. Attachment of more then three infantry or armor battalions to a typical five-battalion Brigade Combat Team forms a "Divisional Combat Team" or "DCT".[/i] [b]1st (Light Infantry) "Norman" Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 2nd Afghan Light Infantry Battalion [*] 3rd Afghan Light Infantry Battalion [*] 5th "Kandahar" Light Infantry Battalion [*] 6th Light Infantry Battalion [*] 9th (Airmobile) Light Infantry Battalion [*] 56th Turkmen Light Artillery Regiment (105mm) [/list] [b]2nd (Light Infantry) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 1st Turkmen Light Infantry Battalion [*] 4th "Ashgabat" Light Infantry Battalion [*] 7th Light Infantry Battalion [*] 8th (Airborne) Light Infantry Battalion [*] 10th (Airmobile) Light Infantry Battalion [*] 59th Afghan Light Artillery Regiment (105mm) [/list] [b]3rd (Infantry) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 1st (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 3rd (Mechanized) "Hail Caspia" Infantry Battalion [*] 47th (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 49th (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 11th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 65th Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [/list] [b]4th (Infantry) "Baghlan" Brigade[/b] [list] [*] Turkmen Hussars "Azrael" Regiment (3 Battalions - Mechanized) [*] 2nd (Mechanized) "Baghlan" Infantry Battalion [*] 48th (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 64th Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [/list] [b]5th (Infantry) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 5th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 7th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 9th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 12th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 13th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 67th Artillery Regiment (Towed - 155mm) [/list] [b]6th (Airmobile) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 10th (Airborne) Infantry Battalion [*] 12th (Airmobile) Infantry Battalion [*] 74th (Airmobile - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 14th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 14th (Airmobile) Infantry Battalion [*] 68th Artillery Regiment (Towed - 155mm) [*] I. Btln./70th Artillery Regiment (105mm) [/list] [b]7th (Armored) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 1st "Kabul Dragoons" Armored Battalion [*] 3rd "Asghabat Cossacks" Armored Battalion [*] 5th (Reserve) Armored Battalion [*] 15th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 15th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] I./II. Btlns./69th Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [/list] [b]8th (Armored) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 2nd Armored Battalion [*] 4th "Kandahar Horsemen" Armored Battalion [*] 6th "Four Horsemen" Armored Battalion [*] 16th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 18th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 72nd Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [/list] [b]Caspian Central Reserve Command[/b] [list] [*] 1st Heavy Engineering Regiment (Three Battalions) [*] 2nd Heavy Engineering Regiment (Three Battalions) [*] 7th Armored Battalion [*] 8th (Reserves) Armored Battalion [*] 9th (Reserves) Armored Battalion [*] 10th (Reserves) Armored Battalion [*] 11th (Reserves) Armored Battalion [*] 19th Light Infantry Battalion [*] 20th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 21st Light Infantry Battalion [*] 34th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 36th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 37th (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 40th (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 41st (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 101st Combat Engineer Regiment (Three Battalions) [*] 109th Combat Engineer Regiment (Three Battalions) [*] III. Btln./69th Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [*] 79th Mechanized (Reserves) Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [*] 80th Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [*] 82nd (Reserves) Artillery Regiment (Towed - 155mm) [*] 83rd (Reserves) Artillery Regiment (Towed - 155mm) [*] 85th (Reserves) Light Artillery Regiment (105mm) [*] 87th (Reserves) Light Artillery Regiment (105mm) [/list] [b][size="5"]Classified[/size][/b] "Samael" Battalion - Special Operations Battalion Five Companies, 150 Men Each, 25-man Platoons

[b]Private, from the Caspian Foreign Office[/b] [quote]We welcome our neighbor to the north once again, and send tidings of welcome to the reincarnated Nordic Empire, we hope that you shall rise like a majestic Phoenix, reborn again from the ashes. We offer our support to you, as your empire reforms, in whatever way necessary, be it security, economic, or basic needs, and hope that our countries will enjoy fruitful relations and maintain the stability of Central Asia together.[/quote]

OOC: UAVs have thermal imaging abilities, if I'm not mistaken, that can penetrate most foliage cover, which is something they would be using if they were flying over massive tree-covered areas of Alaska. Edit: Sorry CP, didn't see your post until after I posted this.

[size="5"][b]Public - Reorganization of the Caspian Army Forces[/b][/size] [i]Under Directive MD#02182011B, the reorganization of Army Units will be as follows, under a brigade combat team (BCT) structure. All Battalions are made up of five companies of a hundred and fifty men, unless specified otherwise. All infantry battalions have combat engineer platoons integrated into them. Armored battalions contain eighty tanks per battalion, organized into with five troops with twenty-five vehicles to each troop, with five platoons per troop, making for five vehicles per platoon, with five tanks assigned to a Headquarters Platoon. Artillery regiments are assigned three battalions each, with sixteen guns organized into four batteries, with four guns per battery. "Reserve" formations are composed of five companies, or troops, with two of those companies being active duty units, while the other three require mobilization. For reserve artillery regiments, one of the three battalions is kept active duty, while the other two are held in reserve. Reserves are required to train a week every month, to maintain combat readiness; armor, artillery, and heavy equipment reserve formations retain a few active duty staff to continually maintenance and keep vehicles and weapons at combat effective levels. All brigades have their own self-intrinsic supply detachments and provisional units, as well as mobile surgical medical detachments, to allow for quick deployments abroad. Central Reserve formations are designed to be reinforcements to brigade formations, and can be attached and detached at will, depending on the mission requirement. Attachment of more then three infantry or armor battalions to a typical five-battalion Brigade Combat Team forms a "Divisional Combat Team" or "DCT".[/i] [b]1st (Light Infantry) "Norman" Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 2nd Afghan Light Infantry Battalion [*] 3rd Afghan Light Infantry Battalion [*] 5th "Kandahar" Light Infantry Battalion [*] 6th Light Infantry Battalion [*] 9th (Airmobile) Light Infantry Battalion [*] 56th Turkmen Light Artillery Regiment (105mm) [/list] [b]2nd (Light Infantry) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 1st Turkmen Light Infantry Battalion [*] 4th "Ashgabat" Light Infantry Battalion [*] 7th Light Infantry Battalion [*] 8th (Airborne) Light Infantry Battalion [*] 10th (Airmobile) Light Infantry Battalion [*] 59th Afghan Light Artillery Regiment (105mm) [/list] [b]3rd (Infantry) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 1st (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 3rd (Mechanized) "Hail Caspia" Infantry Battalion [*] 47th (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 49th (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 11th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 65th Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [/list] [b]4th (Infantry) "Baghlan" Brigade[/b] [list] [*] Turkmen Hussars "Azrael" Regiment (3 Battalions - Mechanized) [*] 2nd (Mechanized) "Baghlan" Infantry Battalion [*] 48th (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 64th Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [/list] [b]5th (Infantry) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 5th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 7th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 9th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 12th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 13th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 67th Artillery Regiment (Towed - 155mm) [/list] [b]6th (Airmobile) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 10th (Airborne) Infantry Battalion [*] 12th (Airmobile) Infantry Battalion [*] 74th (Airmobile - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 14th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 14th (Airmobile) Infantry Battalion [*] 68th Artillery Regiment (Towed - 155mm) [*] I. Btln./70th Artillery Regiment (105mm) [/list] [b]7th (Armored) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 1st "Kabul Dragoons" Armored Battalion [*] 3rd "Asghabat Cossacks" Armored Battalion [*] 5th (Reserve) Armored Battalion [*] 15th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 15th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] I./II. Btlns./69th Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [/list] [b]8th (Armored) Brigade[/b] [list] [*] 2nd Armored Battalion [*] 4th "Kandahar Horsemen" Armored Battalion [*] 6th "Four Horsemen" Armored Battalion [*] 16th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 18th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 72nd Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [/list] [b]Caspian Central Reserve Command[/b] [list] [*] 1st Heavy Engineering Regiment (Three Battalions) [*] 2nd Heavy Engineering Regiment (Three Battalions) [*] 7th Armored Battalion [*] 8th (Reserves) Armored Battalion [*] 9th (Reserves) Armored Battalion [*] 10th (Reserves) Armored Battalion [*] 11th (Reserves) Armored Battalion [*] 19th Light Infantry Battalion [*] 20th Light (Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 21st Light Infantry Battalion [*] 34th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 36th (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion [*] 37th (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 40th (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 41st (Mechanized - Reserves) Infantry Battalion [*] 101st Combat Engineer Regiment (Three Battalions) [*] 109th Combat Engineer Regiment (Three Battalions) [*] III. Btln./69th Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [*] 79th Mechanized (Reserves) Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [*] 80th Mechanized Artillery Regiment (SP - 155mm) [*] 82nd (Reserves) Artillery Regiment (Towed - 155mm) [*] 83rd (Reserves) Artillery Regiment (Towed - 155mm) [*] 85th (Reserves) Light Artillery Regiment (105mm) [*] 87th (Reserves) Light Artillery Regiment (105mm) [/list]

[quote][IMG]http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa325/VictorDeltaRomeo/article-1304438-0AD8267E000005DC-76_634x286.jpg[/IMG] [i]A Caspian military convoy races north at dawn to secure the newly ceded state of Uzbek.[/i] [b][size="6"]UFE Cedes portions of Central Asian Protectorate to Caspia[/size][/b] [b]Shanghai, UFE[/b] - President Sham Dawkins and UFE leadership yesterday confirmed a deal that ceded portions of their protectorate, formerly portions of the GNED, to the Caspian Clique, while also signing new strategic alliance accords that will draw the two countries closer together. The Caspian Military of Defense has hailed the new warm relations with our Far East neighbors as an important step in the continued stability of the Asian continent. "The securing of this amiable relationship with the UFE will ensure stability in Central Asia, and allow for our forces to project their power abroad, should the need arise," said Defense Minister Lowell, at a press conference early this morning. "Not only that, the expansion of the Caspian Clique into Uzbekistan will allow for our nation to thrive and continue to develop economically in the world. We have civilian teams moving north with our troops to ensure that this is a joint civil-military operation that means only for stable governance in the state's future. We have made sure to take precautions to ensure the Uzbek people that we are a country that openly welcomes them as brothers and sisters and to ensure their prosperity and welfare." Interior Services Division Manager Boldin asserted, "We have also sent state police detachments north with the military, to help ensure that civilian law enforcement personnel can work with the military in establishing a more civilian like control in this operation. This will ensure that the Uzbek people will see us as a new government, not a military occupation force, we are doing everything in our power to assure them of that." [IMG]http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa325/VictorDeltaRomeo/fe44f70a.jpg[/IMG] [i]Troops have been on the northern border with the UFE protectorate since the GNED fell, ensuring that if there is any localized violence, it will not spill over the border.[/i] Lowell announced that while seven battalions would march north in military vehicle convoys, to secure their new prize, two battalions would be flown into Smarkand, and secure the airport and set up liaison with local officials. There has been no word on whether this new occupation has faced any opposition, but there have been a few reports of soldiers being greeted as they move through the first towns. Lowell noted that he felt that President Dawkins' visit to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's first summit will bring even further positive results for the Caspian nation, and that the trip was already deemed an "overwhelming" success by the Caspian National Government. "We think that President Dawkins has produced enormously positive results in talks with the UFE, and hope that the summit will increase Caspia's role economically in Asia as our country's economy heats up," noted Economic Minister Fourak, at the same conference.[/quote]

[b]Secure Transmission to Caspian Ministry of Defense[/b] [quote]The UFE has ceded territory to us from their Central Asian protectorate under an executive signed by Chairman Jia, our military forces are to prepare and move nine battalions north to secure these provinces and ensure law and order is kept. Administrative personnel from the Foreign Office and Economic Ministry are to set up a planned transition to assert Caspian control over these regions and integrate them into the Clique. These new provinces, with an estimated thirty million souls, will form the new state of Uzbek, with a capital in Smarqand. The military is to set non-aggressive rules of engagement, and to avoid collateral damage if possible if faced with any threats that requires the use of deadly force to subdue. The Foreign Office is to immediately put together forty-strong teams of personnel that will accompany [i]each[/i] battalion, and they will meet with local elders and act as liaison between the locals and the military. We will provide food, medical care, and basic needs to any local inhabitants should they require it, we [i]need[/i] to ensure a positive repertoire is established with our newest citizens, treat them as you would treat your own. Dawkins International will release five strategic airlift aircraft for use if needed. [i]S. Dawkins[/i][/quote] [b]Secure Transmission to Foreign Office and Ministry of Defense[/b] [quote]The Greater Nordic Empire is reforming, as they will once again be our northern neighbors, the Foreign Office is to send a transmission to their government, and ask if they require any assistance in the redeveloping of their nation. Any aid will be provided, courtesy of this government, and the Foreign Office is to encourage the Economic Ministry to urge private investors and companies in the Caspian Clique to invest in the reestablished nation. The military is to have a three-battalion strong reaction force that will be available if the Empire asks for our assistance militarily. We hope these actions will ensure a peaceful resumption of Nordic governance over the region. [i]V. Yakolev[/i][/quote]

"This is Bully Leader, we're ten minutes out, give us a SitRep Eagle Eye," called out Major Maksim Chernov, as he and his seven attack pilots tore south. "No change, Bully Leader, we're relaying the sites we know of to you right now," responded one of the technicians, aboard the AWACS aircraft. "Looks like we got seven triple-A sites, with missiles at the same sites," said Chernov, repeating the information as it came up on his data computer. His weapon systems officer (WSO), sitting next to him, nodded, looking at the computer as well. "The radar site is at Target Site 4, we believe," said Eagle Eye. "You believe?" "Sorry Bully Leader, that is our best guess, the sites are close together, we can't pinpoint its exact position." "Using cluster bombs should wipe out the sites all at once, boss," noted Chernov's WSO, looking over at him. "But we need to get them all at the same time, we need to be sure," said Chernov, heaving a sigh. "We've directed all flights out of that area, we can't get you any more intel, you boys are good to go. Sorry we can't give you anything else, Bully Leader," said Eagle Eye. "Can six planes hit the sites all at once?" asked Chernov. "They can, but if there are any additional sites, you may miss on your first pass," responded Eagle Eye. "Bully Flight, this is Bully Leader, prepare to hold up in attack formation, and be ready to make your attack runs," said Chernov, "this is Bully Leader, I'm breaking away." Chernov put the throttle down, and accelerated out of formation further, banking slightly. "What the hell are you doing Bully Leader?" called out Eagle Eye, as Chernov looked over at his WSO, who didn't look back. The WSO knew what he was doing, if all the sites were not eliminated at the same time, they could lose some, if not all, of the flight. "We can hit site one and two, Mak," said the WSO, as he flipped on targeting systems. He was without hesitation, and his fingers moved deftly and with purpose, his commander had made the choice, and he was to follow that choice. Chernov was following the standard leadership maxim of 'leading by example', he had made the choice to attack the AA sites himself, it would be he that paid with blood, no one else, because of that choice. "Lets make 'em holler, Gregoriy," nodded Chernov, as he put the aircraft down to about two hundred feet off the ground. "This is Bully Leader, moving into position for attack run. Tally-Ho!"

[b]Classified to the UFE[/b] Although the situation has been resolved, the Caspian Clique opens the major airbases at Ashgabat, Turkmenbasy, Kabul, and Kandahar, and designated them as bases where the UFE Military Combat and Logistic Aircraft in the region can congregate. A forward operating base is also being established near Balkanabat on the Caspian Sea, allowing for an ground force assembly point for UFE troops operating in their protectorate north of the Caspian Clique. This base had secure facilities for storage of munitions as well as supplies, and is planned to have a capacity of twenty-five thousand soldiers. This forward operations base would be operated by the Caspian Clique, and open to its allies, and was designated "Joint Forces Base Balkanabat".

[quote][IMG]http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa325/VictorDeltaRomeo/_517621_soldiers300.jpg[/IMG] [i]Soldiers on patrol at dusk in the Baghlan Area.[/i] [size="6"][b]Ministry of Defense Announces Military Enlargement[/b][/size] [i]Nataliya Konev, Staff Writer Caspian Journal[/i] [b]Ashgabat, CC[/b] - General Terry Lowell, in a press conference today announced a reorganization of the armed forces today, that includes an expansion of the air force. Recent experience in Communist Australia, as well the counterinsurgency campaigns has pointed to small deficiencies in the organization of the military as a whole, that need to be addressed. Lowell also acknowledged the seemingly small air force that will need to expand to be able to both defend the country, as well as support the nation's forces abroad. Lowell announced that upgrading ground vehicles is part of this plan, and this comprehensive measure will increase the effectiveness of the military "substantially". Lowell also announced at the press conference that with the insurgency almost over with in Communist Australia, this plan will be introduced incrementally over the next few weeks. Aircraft producers KAR and CAA have announced that they are ramping up production of aircraft, and the supply of aircraft to the Air Force is steady and unchanging. The plans are outlined as is follows: [list] [*] Tripling the Amount of Total Planes in the Air Force [*] Reorganizing the Ground Forces based upon a Brigade-Sized Combat Team System [*] Instituting a Military District System [*] Expanding and Improving Ground and Air Force Bases [*] Improving Communications Systems [*] Implementing New Tactical Doctrines [*] Reorganizing Armored Formations [/list] There have been rumors that the military is to receive significantly upgraded equipment, however these rumors have not been confirmed, nor have they specified what equipment is due to be upgraded. [b]CJ, 2011[/b][/quote]

Mike Taillon, Central Asian News Agency; If the Free Australian Party is elected to the government, what becomes of the counterinsurgency campaign against its more militant arm?

Having already had their meeting with Premier Wei, Dawkins and Yakolev sat in a lounge, talking about their new treaties with both the UFE, as well as the Kingdom of Cochin. Dawkins was quietly expressing his pleasure of their diplomatic progress as of late, when Yakolev's mobile phone started going off. Dawkins stopped his talk as Yakolev opened the phone. "Yakolev, what do you have for me, Yuri?" asked Yakolev, his chief of staff was obviously on the phone with him. He looked at Dawkins, with a rather apprehensive look, then said, "Alright, thanks Yuri. Keep me posted on any new updates." Dawkins took a sip of tea from his glass, as Yakolev snapped his phone shut, and heaved a sigh. "What is it?" asked Dawkins. "The Slavorussian Empire just occupied the Trans-Caucasus Canal, running between the Caspian and Black Seas," responded Yakolev, sitting back into the leather sofa he occupied. "And?" asked Dawkins, taking a sip of tea. "They're planning to impose 'strict tolls' on any foreign vessel passing through." Dawkins coughed on the tea he was in the process of swallowing. He coughed for a minute, his eyes watering, as Yakolev sat up quickly, his face a bit worried when Dawkins appeared to be choking on his tea. "What?!" Dawkins finally managed to croak out. "Yuri said he got it from the Slavorussian news." "That's Grade-A Horse Manure, we're one of the few countries that [i]uses[/i] that canal, it is the only way our country has direct access to the ocean, that's going to impact us directly more then anybody!" said Dawkins, raising his voice in a frustrated tone. Yakolev looked around quickly as the President's voice raised, out of either embarrassment or fear that someone was listening to them. Dawkins sighed for a moment, then continued, in a calmer voice, "I want the Foreign Office to flash a letter of objection to the Slavorussian government, ASAP." "Of course, Mr. President."

The early morning calm over Communist Australia was broken by the roar of thirty CT-23 Strategic Airlift aircraft, accompanied by six CT-55 Heavy Tactical Transports, making a beeline for Brisbane after leaving Norman. Surrounding the aircraft, a full squadron of Kestrel Multirole Fighters, along with half a squadron of Ridgerunner Bombers/Electronic Warfare Aircraft. Flying in a six-point escort formation, the escort aircraft formed what the Caspian Air Force dubbed a "Angel Prism", to protect the aircraft from all sides. Having arrived the night before, an AWACS aircraft, call sign "Eagle Eye", circled off the coast of Brisbane, to provide the coalition forces of the Peacekeeping Force an Airborne Command Center. With technicians aboard, who spoke all major languages of the forces involved, they would be able to coordinate airborne operations for all of the nations involved. In the lead CT-23, a civilian pilot, requisitioned along with his aircraft from Dawkins International, turned to Konev and Kazeem, riding along with the cockpit crew, "We're about forty five minutes out sir." Next to him in the copilot seat, Lieutenant Colonel Jamal Hassan, the appointed leader of the Caspian air units in Communist Australia, nodded. "We'll have you on the ground in no time, Andrei." "Much obliged, Jamal," responded Konev, glancing at Kazeem. "Hopefully we can get deployed before the Free Australians get a full-blown attack underway," said Kazeem, folding his arms. "Skytrain Leader, this is Eagle Eye, comeback," crackled the radio. "Eagle Eye, you're on with Skytrain Leader, whaddya got?" responded Hassan. "Sir, recon reports you have a massive amount of anti-air on your flight path and final approach vector to Brisbane, suggesting you switch flight paths and approach from another direction. Must have moved in during the night, expecting you boys to pull what you did at Norman." "Knew this not going to be easy," grumbled Kazeem, Konev looking at him silently, but not saying anything. "What are we looking at for double-A, Eagle Eye?" asked Hassan, sitting up in his seat a bit. "Heat-seeking missiles, probably shoulder-launched, triple-A, that is radar directed, don't know how they pulled that, one of our Ridgerunners in the area had a nasty run-in with that vector. They had about four shoulder-launched heat seekers sent their way, and almost got their wings clipped." "What are we looking at for a delay to get our boys on the ground, Eagle Eye?" asked Konev. "Two hours." "Two hours is too long, Eagle Eye, have you tried to every vector?" "That is the shortest time we got for you, Skytrain Leader, sorry." "Have you identified all of the double-A sites, Eagle Eye?" asked Hassan, lines of frustration on his face visible, even behind his aviator sunglasses. "Most of them, sir, but not all." "Skytrain Leader, this is Little Buddy Leader," interjected the escort flight leader, flying a Ridgerunner aircraft ahead of the air convoy. "Go ahead Little Buddy Leader," responded Hassan. "Eagle Eye, this is Little Buddy Leader, we have ground attack munitions that could suppress those sites, could you give us some attack vectors?" "Little Buddy Leader, we have not identified all of the double-A sites. If we don't get 'em all at once, you boys could be landing on your feet rather then on your landing gear," responded Eagle Eye. "Do you have a reading on their radar unit?" "We got an idea of its location." "Skytrain Leader, requesting permission to detach and suppress those sites?" asked the escort leader. Hassan looked back at Konev, who nodded. Hassan then said, "Little Buddy, you are a go." "Roger that, this is Little Buddy Leader to flights two, three, and four; break escort formation, and lets ride the thunder. Callsign is now Bully Leader, passing escort command to Little Buddy 9." A string of replies met the escort leaders', as the lead flight of two Ridgerunner aircraft in front of the air convoy suddenly broke left, noticeably increasing speed, six other aircraft, four Ridgerunners, two Kestrels, sped after them. "Good hunting, Bully Leader, keep us posted. Eagle Eye, we are resuming present course, take care of 'em," said Hassan. "Will do Skytrain Leader, Eagle Eye out." "We'll clear you big brothers a path, Skytrain Leader, Bully Leader out." As the radio chatter died down, Hassan bowed his head, and whispered a silent prayer for the attack aircraft, now barreling south to keep them safe, and on schedule.

As soon as the call came from Brisbane, Task Force Caspia raced back to Norman after disengaging at the mines, Konev was afraid the city would soon be cut off. The redeployment of the task force to the south would have to occur by air, to ensure it arrived as fast as possible. The aircraft were all ready to take off, all that was needed was the troops to get to the Norman Military Base, and loaded. As Kazeem had said to them, in an address to them over the tactical net, they were one of Communist Australia's "Fire Departments." Konev had told Kazeem privately that this would probably be the last battle, and the fighting would be desperate, and that the insurgency had to be crushed before the proverbial walls of Brisbane. While the task force made a beeline for Norman, the squadron of "Kestrel" Multirole Fighters based at Norman ran interdiction operations, directed by SBEW-11M "Ridgerunner" Electronic Warfare aircraft. Having missed out on both the Battle at Norman, as well as the Mines, having just arrived, the pilots were itching to put their training to the test, and now they had the chance. As the Battle for Brisbane opened, the Kestrel pilots were making life as difficult as possible for the Free Australian forces, to help slow their advance to allow time for the Task Force to be airlifted south, which would only take two hours at most, once they were in the air.