The Wolf and the Eagle

[Triyun]

OOC: This thread is currently open to Malatose, myself, and members of the Horde. Others can seek our permission. This RP is characterized as near future techno-fantasy, so think KOTOR style combat.


[quote]Secret History of the Mongols, Vol 2.


August, on the Steppe

The Summer on the Germanic Steppe had faded as autumn neared and the Great Eastern Horde approached the Gates of Europe. Lead by the Great Khan and the Amazonian Queen, an army of half a million at arms was closing in on the European Redoubt. The Nords had expelled the Koreans and passed exclusionary acts in pursuit of creating their ideal volk. Angered, the Great Khan of the East had recalled his emissaries and resolved to send the Germans two messages. First he ordered the Germans own emissaries to his Great Tent and had them boiled alive, their heads sent back to Visari perfumed with the finest spices in the Eastern lands.

The same evening the heads were to arrive in Berlin, Jia had a second one composed for Visari. But it was not composed of words...

It was said that Emperor Wilheim II was a fear mongerer, who propagated the Great Menace of the Yellow Peril. Yuan Jia aims to show him to be quite reasonable....[/quote]

The opening salvo on Kazakhstan was spectacular. The night skies of the Kazakhstani border were filled as ballistic and cruise missiles, along with decoys swarmed across, like an arrow match of the gods aiming to hit most of the air and radar stations bases within the Kazakhstan protectorate in a single stroke. At the same time, air force units swarmed across the border. F-5, F-3, and F-1 fighter aircraft flew with passive sensors into the air space of the enemy. Utilizing long range low frequency radar to locate stealth enemy aircraft's general direction, the squadrons of fighters would move to engage them then with their FLIR scopes as well as top down looking radar deployed at very high altitude air ships across the border. F-5 and F-1s would fly missions against dedicated air superiority and multi-role fighters, while the F-3 interceptors would make dashes on the enemies AWAC and Bombers in theatre.

Behind was a wing of the UFEers older and less stealth drones would be the first wave of aircraft, appearing on enemy scanners. The units were equipped with extremely sensitive passive radar detectors, they units would have automatic programming to then fire their onboard, HARM missiles to destroy the detectors before being taken out themselves.

Followed in this wave would be F-2 multi-role aircraft. Their mission would be a secondary air defense suppression. They would be supported by electronic attack stealth drones with dedicated DRFM jamming pods. Using their electroptical and radar synthetic apertures they'd be tasked with detecting ground defense mobile air defense units and artillery and engaging them with air to ground missiles.

Immediately following on this attack, would be four fire groups of fifteen B-11 bombers. The reduced detection, but not completely stealth aircraft would hang back five hundred kilometers from the border. 200 missiles each, supported by 10 jamming drones with each group. The 200 missiles would be equipped with a mix, 20 anti-radiational seeking warheads, and then 180 which contained cluster bomb flechettes to break out large swaths of the border and destroy nearby air fields and supply dumps.

Supporting this would be multiple flights of Tu-160 Rudolph and unmanned flying wing stealth AWACs kept back from the border to provide additional detection and jamming. Also in support would be multiple battlefield control planes with synthetic aperture radars to map ground unit movement across the border.

On the ground, a loud thunder would erupt as Tianxia's 155 mm and 200 mm ETC cannons along with MLRS rocket systems fired across the border onto german border defenses in the dead of night. Early shelling would include white phosphorous gas, followed by incindiery shelling to set the enemies ablaze, and light the fires of the Mongol advance inwards.

Across the rugged terrain, armor and mechanized divisions and EOD teams would attack the open terrain and large valleys, as well as the shallower mountain passes. Reaching enemy fortifications, they would unload the fearless UFE shock trooper regiments along with combat engineering squads. Artillery and close in attack drones not committed to the initial assault would join in providing fire support for these attacks. They were supported in their sudden advance by the Mongol Riders. The Mongol horsemen would be used to ride through the narrow ravines and canyons, dropping in upon German positions with little warning as the chaos of the war through the battlefield into confusion. Savage fighting would erupt as the horse would be used in a mobility warfare role, traversing mountain passage ways difficult to climb by man or machine at a rapid clip, allowing for teams of riders to dismount and lay ambushes for the Germans. Their missions would primarily consist of securing mountain lines deep into German territory and laying in wait, as the border guard positions were forced to fall back in the way of the assault below from the mechanized and ground forces.

At his camp located on a high position along the Tian Shan mountains, Yuan Jia watched the battle unfolding. The German forces were vastly smaller than his, and also possessed less of the tools that the Cochinese had, but at the same time, Jia knew they were vastly more hearty warriors. This would be a glorious campaign. He could already tell, even the border defenders were fighting like berserkers. They had the fury and training of his own men.

His horse, Shadowkhan neighed as it pushed forward eager to join the fray of battle. "Easy, we shall join the fray soon enough." He turned to Theresia. With a wide smile, he smirked, "So tell me did you think that your Amazonians would have a chance to prove their mettle to you so soon?

As the Great Khan and the Shadow Queen observed the battle, Chakri moved his Imperial Guard Team against one of the German Bunker positions. Machine cannons bellowed into the night, slamming into the rocks behind him, the tracers lighting up the darkness. The Imperial Knight had been placed in command of the eleventh shock battalion of the Imperial Guard, fighting along side them would be units from the Amazonians, Mascurians, and it was rumored even some Spartan. One of the finest infantry units in the service, they were known for their bravery and professionalim and thus had been thrown up against the most hardened of enemy bunkers. Raising a grenade launcher, the expert marksman fired a shot which exploded into the small narrow hole through which the border machine gun had fired.

"Move!" he ordered. His men emerged from the stones firing their assault rifles on board grenade launchers. German infantry poured out of the bunker opening fire with their own. The sergeant next to Chakri fell as Chakri's scope homed in on his killer, firing a first burst to break the enemy's Xenias armor before a second to take him down. "FOR THE HORDE!" his men cried as they leaped the barricades into close combat with the German men. The precision of two elite units at long range gave way to sheer savagery at close quarters combat.

"HYAAH!!!" Chakri yelled, the normally reserved Thai getting swept up into the warrior spirit as he jabbed his tactical blade into the neck of the enemy soldier. Spinning around he tossed a grenade at an enemy unit as it got ready to setup a machine gun!"

"TAKE THE POSITIONS ADVANCE ADVANCE!" he said, as the Yellow Peril continued its attacks sweeping into the Kazakhstan, the nightmare of Medieval Europe, the vengeaful Mongol Horde now reincarnated.

Edited December 28, 2011 by Triyun

[Sarah Tintagyl]

For all her years as Empress of Austria and for all the battles that had taken place between the Empire and the old regime of the Goths, Theresia had never quite seen something as magnificent and terrifying as the illumination of the plains of Kazakhstan below her. With the breakdown of the Horde's alliance with the German Empire and the subsequent 'rejection' of the German ambassadorial guard, war seemed to come closer by the day and soon Jia had come to Theresia in the night and told her to ready her riders, they march to Kazakhstan would begin. The announcement sent shock waves through the lines of the Amazons as their unit leaders prepared them to march with the Horde towards the West. In the months that had passed since Theresia's arrival at Khan Tengri, the Amazon numbers in the great camp had swelled to over five thousand women, drawn by the legends of the Empress and the stigma of an all female regiment in the Horde's army. They were still the smallest unit of the army by far, but Theresia hoped that they would gather more women to the Horse Banner as the campaign through the West continued, in addition to performing to the best of their ability to show the Khan and the other leaders they could handle the responsibility of war.

Moving across the mountain ranges separating Tianxia from the German Tributaries, the vast plains that Theresia had once rode through months before called out to her. Beside her, moving down the mountain were legions of Amazon Cavalry, Infantry, and some small detachments of armor and artillery that the Khan had gifted to his wife upon the formal entrance of Amazonia as a tribe of the Great Horde. Sitting there in the saddle next to her husband, Theresia looked down at the women marching before her, with Nika riding behind her carrying the Horse banner. Germany, much like Tianxia and Athens had the claim as the greatest power in the world with the fall of the Kingdom of Cochin and she knew that the fight from what had been reported was turning into a bloodbath. She turned to Jia and adjusted her collar, the heavy armor of an Imperial fitting tight across her body. The Khan looked happy to finally have the war he had been denied in Cochin. She smiled and pulled the reins on her horse tighter and looked out into the explosions happening off into the distance.

"Well there was always the rumor that something like this was going to happen, but no, I didn't think it would happen so soon. You know how traditional war seems to be fought. The continuous banter between diplomats, foreign press going crazy, and then there's even the off chance that the spunk of battle would just fall through the cracks." Then she sighed and closed her eyes and turned back to him. "Though I do hope they're ready for such a hard fight against such a trained enemy. We've handled worse than this, but war is a different animal entirely than the adventures of a Queen and her entourage."

Nika trotted over to her side and listened as the airplanes flew above. "They'll be fine, Theresia, you just have a bit of faith in them. You can't be there leading every charge, not against an enemy like this."

"Yes, like this. But we will have to join eventually, there's no reason to stand here in the back. My Companions advance with the army, is that understood?"

She nodded and handed the Horse Banner to another rider as she dismounted from her mare. "Then I will see you on the lines, My Queen. My the Spirits be with you." Nika said and pounded her fist against her heart.

"And with you, Commander."

With a turn of her body, The Russian disappeared into the lines of Amazons moving down from the mountain ranges to begin their own assaults in support of the Chinese and Mongolian soldiers who had crossed the border. The battle was already beginning to pick up speed in the narrow passages of the border mountain of Kazakhstan, the paths would be difficult to navigate for Amazonian riders, armor, and infantry, and for many of them, having to rely on maps in unfamiliar terrain would prove to be the most terrifying part as streams of missile, artillery, and gun fire exploded over their heads. Soon, Nika herself had joined the phalanx of Amazonian infantry which had been assigned to the vanguard with Chakri's shock battalion, most of these women had been soldiers in either the Vaulian, Chinese, or Cochin military before they had joined the Companions and unlike their sisters in reserve, they knew the art of war.

Under the light of the ranging missile inferno, the Vanguard Phalanx pushed along with the Chinese soldiers in crossing the barricade of the bunkers, and in the recurring firefight, Nika saw from still a distance away, various Amazons halt their advance as blood sprinkled out of their bodies from the volley of German guns before they pushed into close combat to take the line and press on further into the mountains and hopefully down into the plains of Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile from her vantage point high in the mountains above the battle, Theresia trotted forward slowly. "Commander Vashti."

"Majesty?"

"Begin organizing the Regular Phalanxes to begin marching with the Chinese regulars, you may put them in reserve for now until you get further orders from myself or my husband."

"Yes, Majesty."

Then Theresia looked back at Jia and smirked. "Come, I want a better look at the field."

[Malatose]

The morning hours in Kazakhstan were interrupted by the sound of artillery and jet fighters from the Mongol invaders. Throughout the protectorate, targets were being obliterated. At his small operations headquarters, Generalmajor Fredirch Von Lichen was overwhelmed by the dozens of reports flooding his office. In a desperate act, he ordered that all available units in the protectorate be mobilized to meet the invading forces. He then sent a message to Oberkommando der Wehrmacht.

"Urgent: Communist forces have crossed into German soil. Forces inadequate for defense. Requesting all available help."

Oberkommando der Wehrmacht replied to the message within a matter of seconds.

"Urgent: Generalmajor Fredirch Von Lichen, you are to take the next available transport and return to Berlin. Forces in the protectorate aren't sufficient to mount offensive or defense actions. End"

Upon receiving the coded response, Lichen was in shock. He had basically be ordered to give up land to the same bolshevik Mongol invaders that Nordic Socialism told him to despise. There would be no retreat. He would die before leaving his family at the mercy of the Mongol invaders. He placed on his uniform and picked up his rifle and transmitted a message to the few men under his control.

"Comrades. The Mongols have invaded our fatherland. Today, we repel them, or we die trying. For Visari and for the fatherland!"

The few units under his command, mostly Ordnungspolizei, marched forward to meet the invaders, with everything they had. In the skies, Luftwaffe Lu-65s flew forward. In desperation, they attempted to fight back the invading air forces, using their long range air to air missiles.

As the battle raged, Lichen sent a message to Reichskanzler Visari:

To the Reichskanzler of the German Reich, Michael Visari. We will fight to the last in our trust in you, my Reichskanzer, and our firm confidence in Germany's victory.

Visari replied:

I thank you in the name of the whole German nation - Michael Visari. To men fighting against the bolshevik hordes: all Germany is with you. What can be done will be done. Your devotion to your duty will strengthen our people in the struggle for their existence - Michael Visari

That would be the last anyone would hear from Lichen. He would fall after being struck by an artillery round. The news of his death soon engulfed the entire nation and whipped it into a national fervour. He was now known as the first man to take a stand against the Mongolian hordes. He would now be the man that every German soldier hoped to emulate in the upcoming war against the Horde.

The battle for the Fatherland had begun.

[Malatose]

Reichskanzler Visari issued a decree ordering the total mobilization of the nation's military and industrial might.

[quote][b][center]Reichskanzler Decree[/center][/b]

[b]To: Military Commands
CC: Jorhan Stahl
Subject: War
Top Secret![/b]

The war against bolshevik communism has started at last. This will not be a war of honour and knightly attitudes. This will be a war of ideologies. This will be a war for the survival of the German people and Nordic Socialism, and it can only be won with the total destruction of the mongol bolshevik hordes.

[b]Reich National Reserve[/b]

All members of the Reich National Reserve are to receive call up notices at once. These men are to be prepared to deploy to the front a moment's notice for combat operations.

[b]Heer[/b]

All intelligence points to the Caucuses as being the next target of the bolshevik hordes. We must prepare an adequate defense for the region and prepare for the evactuation of German nationals if necessary.

[b]Luftwaffe[/b]

The goal of the Luftwaffe to guard the skies and support ground operations

Signed,
Reichskanzler Visari
[/quote]

After the issuing of the decree, Wehrmacht forces began to move to the East. In the streets, hundreds of armoured vehicles and tanks were seen in long, organized columns. Fathers and mothers waved to their children, as they marched to the next flashpoint of the conflict, the Caucasus. Two full army groups, of one hundred thousand men each, would be positioned to meet the invading forces. At the border, thousands of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines were set up. The same type of defenses would be set up in the few mountain passes the Caucasus nations posessed.

[Triyun]

The F-5 and F-1 Squadrons entered into a furious battle with the Lu-65, both sides long range missiles essentially were a wash as the high capability electronic and cyber jamming defenses defeated incoming threats, while the slight stealthier edge of the Quantum clashed with the slight manuverability edge of the Lu-65. Instead it came down to attrition at close and medium range. At medium range BVR, the Quantums and Super Quantums held an edge in performance with fewer reflective surfaces and less drag. At subsonic WVR the edge went to the Lu-65, with better agility, however, this was somewhat diluted by the F-5 and F-1 numerical edge in the fights. At the end though, the scale of the air battle became more and more favorable to the Tianxia pilots, who had more reserves after each sortie, with much of the Nordic Air Force in the West.

With the spectacular success of the Initial Assault, primarily due to the Nordic defenses being much lighter than expected, Tianxia proceeded to the next phase of the air war. The assault on the Caucuses. This would begin by having aerial defensive perimeters secured over Kazakhstan with F-1 and F-5 fighters, along with some F-2s. B-11 fire teams would fire volleys of surface skimming reduced radar cross section missiles across the Caspian Sea towards the air fields Baltic States from areas that had been cleared of enemy radar. Of particular priority were air fields that serviced the large ALI-133 Ankriat Bombers, aiming to defeat as many on the ground as possible. The goal of the operation was to catch as much of the enemies operational forces on the ground building on the initial fog of war as possible.

This would then be supplemented by F-3 interceptor and interdictor stand off strikes against the air defense grid, and enemy patrol fleets in the Caspian before running like hell away, playing a game of cat and mouse with the Lu-65 and Lu-67s over the Caspian. Squadrons of F-1, F-2s, and F-5s with long range flying wing stealth and Tu-160 R flying rudolph AWAC support would be used to attempt and draw the enemies fighters and interceptors out over the sea where they could be pounded thoroughly if they attempted to catch the speedy F-3s.

As dawn broke over Kazakhstan, the advance of the Horde was clear. Much of the enemy's initial border patrol had been encircled, and their defensive bunkers overrun. The rough terrain of the Initial border had been captured and now the long decline into the Caspian Basin was open. Jia and Theresia's entourage had advance ten miles into the territory after it was determined there were no German large explosive mines and the enemy had been cleared out. The Imperial Couple now was overlooking a mountain, lined with nordic bunkers only hours earlier.

Jia surveyed the destruction, as the troops now advanced across the wide open Steppe into the distance. "Visari was caught less prepared than I anticipated." he said to Theresia. "But I do not think we should become too arrogant yet. The Scythian Campaign may yet become a meat grinder. We should do all we can to hasten the advance."

He looked around with a smile, "Never the less, we have started something here. We've given the World the shock that it needs to wake up, and truly challenge history and wipe out decadence. Amazonian and Mongol, we shall shake the world, speaking of which, how are the Amazonians reacting to their first taste of true war?" he asked.

As Jia spoke the main force of mechanized, cavalry, and armored units continued their rapid advance at a fast paced clip. This phase of the campaign for now at least was proceeding ahead of schedule.

On the front Chakri stood over a burning flag of the Nordic Empire, the symbol was not so different from the previous banner of Zeonism. These were opponents who respected how to fight. Even in the face of impossible odds, they initial border defenders had fought like savages. The prisoners they had taken, had earned good treatment at the hands of the Horde, not that there were many. The fanaticism of the German troops approached their own. They would not be like the Indians, Koreans, or Japanese. This would be a true fight.

The Imperial Knight looked up at the sky as his battalion of Imperial Guards would be transferred to the nearest air base for a drop on Altyrau...

Later that night, Chakri looked across the plane at the Marine unit his guards had been assigned to. These were Goryeo troops, some of the first units to be permitted to join the PLA. Most of their officers had some experience with the GKF armed forces before they had eventually enlisted into the Federation at the end of the Incheon Crisis.

The Imperial Knight felt somewhat uncomfortable with fighting alongside former enemies, but this was not something to be unexpected in the Horde, he was sure in time, the native Tribes of Kazakhstan would much like those of Mongolia and Xinjiang, become members of the Imperator's Horde. Besides he knew there were probably a few Austrians who had since succumb to the allures of Visari fascism but had once been their brothers in arms. Possibly they were even among the dead when they stormed the bunkers the night before.

The drop over Altyrau was a frightening experience. The air campaign to and reduced radar cross sections of the planes gave the units something of an element of surprise, but the towns in the West of Kazakhstan were in still a bit more shape than the rest of the country. As Chakri and his mixed unit of Koreans and Imperial Guards dropped down, the plane was struck by a surface to air missile. A full quarter of the unit was caught in a firey inferno as the others hit the the ground, running into a live fire fight.

The Korean leader Kim Li Hong, a brash captain, with a uniform that had obviously just recently been sitting on a commissary shelf, lead the charge. "Move! All units move!" he ordered. The Goryo Marines were brave, but their movements were a bit predictable. They fought like a unit which had spent a lot of time training but had few battles. Taking initial positions with relative ease. Nordic snipers soon had learned their patterns.

Chakri's Imperial Guards by contrast were battle hardened, and fighting much more dirty. "!@#$ he's going to get us all wiped out if he keeps moving like that." Chakri said. Directing his units to cover him, Chakri ran over to the Captain.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he demanded to know. The leader shrugged, "We fight for the Glory of Goryo, these nordic pigs are not match for us. We can win if we press forward, they're a paper tiger without their allies."

Chakri shook his head, "You're a !@#$@#$ idiot. Keep your heads down, learn to respect your enemies or your unit won't make it when this campaign really gets going."

Then a loud squeal was heard, "Mortar get the $%&@ down." Chakri ordered pushing the man down. A german mortar exploded overhead, had it not been for their armor, the two men would have been killed. Others weren't so lucky several Goryo marines lay dead, having been stupid enough to remove their helmets while having a smoke.

"Come on." Chakri said to the Captain who looked shocked to see the men laying dead. "We need to keep moving. Get me to your forward platoon."

"Yes... yes... right away." the Captain said still shaken.

[img]http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7130/tianxiaadvance.png[/img]

Edited December 29, 2011 by Triyun

[Malatose]

As the horde marched on the ground, the air forces of communist aggression began to stream across the Caspian. The German defense network in the Caucasus was more elaborate than the system in Kazakhstan. Needless to say, the communist invaders would meet a substantial part of the Wehrmacht. The extensive radar networks detected the incoming surface skimming missiles. Some SAMs managed to fire into the area, although it was a useless gesture as the missiles just flew right over incoming missiles. Next in line were the extensive CIWs, which were basically stationary metal storm systems connected to extensive cooling systems. The tungsten shells fired into the general direction of the missiles knocking some out and a number of missiles pass through. The end result was somewhat catastrophic and resulted in the damage of a number of RADAR and some airfields. The airfields would receive some cratoring; however, engineers would work extensively to repair them within forty eight hours. Portable RADAR would be brought in from other parts of the Reich; however, the enemy had succeeded in punching holes in the system.

In the skies, the Luftwaffe blasted forward in Lu-65 and Lu-67 fighters. The pilots activated their RADAR to full power attempting to breakthrough any jamming frequencies; however, such a move lowered the range of their own systems by a dozen kilometers which could mean life or death in a dogfight. The Luftwaffe would not dedicate to many fighters for the Caspian defense. The plan was to merely hold off until other forces were sufficient enough to attack. A squadron of Lu-65 fighters moved forward, equipped with long range air-to-air missiles. They fired from a distance and quickly turned back to the cover of German SAM systems. Tu-160 R Flying Rudolph AWACs would be engaged by Lu-67 multi-role fighters equipped with air launched interceptor missiles.

Luftwaffe cockpit systems were able to pinpoint the location of Tu-160 R, based on the location of the jamming frequencies. In response, a dozen long range interceptor missiles were fired and guided by inertial with Track-Via-Missile guidance, Solid state active radar (with home-on-jam mode) and imaging IR guidance at terminal warheads. It was a long shot, but traveling at Mach 7 due to ducted rocket-ramjet with throttle control and 3D TVC, it was hoped that at least a couple of the enemy AWACs could be brought down.

[b]Atyrau - The Last Stand[/b]

Scattered, cold and cut off from the outside world, a small unit of Heer and Ordnungspolizei watched as the enemy paratroopers landed. Using hand signals to coordinate instead of radio for security purposes, the small unit moved down the side of the hill. Carrying a few rifles, grenades and a mortor with a few dozen shells, they would attempt to engage the enemy.

"Halt..this is the perfect position."

The men positioned the lone mortor and loaded one shell.

*poof*

The shell bursted into the sky, leaving a small white trail. It's target was the enemy paratroopers who had assembled below. As soon as the target struck. The dozen men stood up and opened fire at the forces below. It was a desperate attack. The men knew they would not be successful, but if they just took a few bolshevik invaders, the sacrifice would be worth it.

"Charge! For the Fatherland!"

The few men began to run down the hill to their deaths.

For Germany.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

The plains of Scythia were now open for the Horde to begin traversing on their path to conquer the next portion of German territory in the Eastern World, the land bridge between the Middle East and Russian, the Caucuses. Amazonian losses were minimal in conflict against the border patrols and while fierce fighting had made the Vanguard Phalanxes prepared for the intensity that was to come in further battles, it had also given them hope that while the coming trials would be difficult, Germany was not invincible. With the German air force's presence still in the sky the Amazonian advance continued slowly across the wide expanse between Almaty and the Horde's second objective at Atyrau. The supply train stretched for hundreds of miles as Amazonian armor, jeeps, and infantry made the trek across the plains, encountering only light resistance from German police guards within cities they passed. Upon entering cities such Taraz and Kyzalorda, the Amazonians were greeted with a mixture of praise and repulsion. Kazakhstan had been a territory fiercely debated between the German and Cochinese governments in the years leading up to the Great Asian War and there were many who saw the arrival of the Horde as a chance for liberation and there were many women invigorated by the march to through their destiny in with the Amazons.

One of these women was a store clerk named Varinka Krilova, with the need for fighters in the smaller Amazonian Phalanxes, women who joined her guaranteed a large amount of spoils at the end of the conflict. This kind of income along with a sense of patriotism from being liberated from the fight of two powers of the past, Varinka soon found herself marching along with the Amazonian Phalanxes towards Atyrau. She and the volunteers would be trained as quickly as possible along the way towards the front and while the commanders of these detachments doubted the volunteers abilities, they would be tested soon enough and hopefully the harsh life of the Steppe, even under German decadence would produce soldiers who would be moderately effective in battle.

---

Meanwhile as the Horde advanced across the Steppe, the Imperial Couple followed behind them defended by detachments of the Imperial Knights and the Companion Cavalry. With the majority of Scythia secured, Jia's spirits seemed bright and while Theresia was still nervous to be on campaign she returned his bright glances. "Unpreparedness on the frontier isn't being unprepared, it's just saving your men for the harder fights that will come. My sister had the opportunity to speak to Michael Visari back when Austria was independent and I'm most positive that for as expansive as his empire is, there are those willing to defend it to the death. If border patrols can put up the berserk fight that we've already seen, I'm sure the German Regulars will be quite the sight to see." She said and tightened her hands across her reins. "That said, my sisters seem to be performing to the best of their ability." Turning over to him, the Queen smiled and nodded. "From what I've heard they're all extremely honored to be fighting beside such a glorious army. We're ready to prove our worth. All of us."

As they spoke an Amazonian rider came up from behind the Imperial Couple and snapped a salute at the Queen. "Majesty, Commander Zhen sends her regards. She wants to ask for your next orders, we have two Phalanx divisions marching with the regular army towards the Caucasus, with armor and artillery in support. But we still have three more Phalanx divisions in reserve, she would like to know your suggestions." Said the rider handing Theresia a copy of the Amazonian movements throughout Kazakhstan.

Holding a flame near the paper, Theresia continued to trot as she traced her line over towards Atyrau. "The reserves can continue with the regular army, our advance into the Caucasus is going to be a bloodbath. The Horde will need all the soldiers we can spare. However," she paused tracing her finger down the Caspian coast. "Vasuda. Jia, correct me if I'm wrong," she said turning to her husband. "They are treated to the Germans, are they not?" Without waiting for an answer, the Queen turned back to the rider. "They are a fairly inactive state, but the recent war might push them to service with the Germans. March one Phalanx down towards their border on the coast, but do not cross. We will hold that division in reserve in case they attempt to disrupt our logistics by attacking into Kazakhstan. Tell Commander Zhen she has her orders."

The rider beat her fist against her chest. "Yes, Majesty." She said and spurred her horse, galloping out of sight towards the Amazonian Commanders nearing the front lines.

Looking over at Jia, she nodded with a smile. "If your paratroop attack doesn't bring us Atyrau, then I will have my sisters in position to help in the ground attack on the city. They should be moving there now. When we move into the Caucasus, we'll be able to throw everything we have at the Germans. I presume after all, they'll be throwing everything they have at us."

---

Having served aside the Koreans, there were a few units of the Vanguard Phalanx who had volunteered to go with the paratroopers on their assault of the city. There were only eight women who could go and they had all been soldiers from the Timurdian Empire after it's fall, coming out of the realm of Bactria. Given that most of the Amazons had no air training, Theresia's commanders would have to rely on those who already had previous experience to move the battle forward. When they landed in the city, the Amazons stayed close to their Korean counterparts, but there was miscommunication and rivalry from the time the chutes opened to when the Horde forces were beginning to move throughout the city. The Koreans were proud and they underestimated German strength in the region, quickly becoming targets for German snipers and defenders.

For Rakel Lupinko this was the first taste of battle she had seen in years and the rush and thrill of falling from the sky still clamored through her veins as the mortar explosions occurred her and her command. The Amazons followed the Koreans towards the German defense lines over looking the city and while the Koreans were taking heavy casualties, Rakel kept her men down with an iron voice as they prepared for the German counter attack.

"Be ready and stay down, let them rely on luck, don't make it easy, ladies!"

The sound of another mortar over head blasted against the Amazonian line and sent a score of bodies, mangled back into the dirt of the streets. Shouts sounded from above the feminine cries of the dying and the German defenders charged down the hill.

"Now! Open fire! Pour it into them girls!" Screamed Lupinko as she took out her own carbine and with machine gun and rifle fire the Amazonians defended the occupied portions of Atyrau.

[Triyun]

Tu-160 Rs frequency hopping radar systems would serve to mitigate some of the homing systems, but many warheads including the IR guided weapons would continue to close in on the planes. The Plane's namesake, Rudolph would be brought into play. The nose cone lasers would slam into missile after missile destroying many of the incoming air to air missiles. But it would not be nearly enough to stop all of them. Of the twelve Tu-160 AWACs, four were destroyed, as the planes were ordered to fall back leaving it to a large network of the smaller AWAC flying wing drones to provide coverage.

F-1 and F-5 fighters would switch from their active sensor systems when engaging the Luftwaffe using their signal absorbing skins, to detect the high powered signals form the Lu-65 and Lu-67, homing in on them then with their IR scopes. Tactics would be focused on using the high performing fighters to ambush groups of outnumber Lu-65s and Lu-67s and destroy them. Operating in larger groups, they'd go for out shooting the enemy in engagements. Anti-raditional missiles and IR missiles would be used then to engage the targets at beyond visual range. Those that survived would be forced into close in engagements, while B-11s would be called in to conduct stand off missile strikes at nearby air fields. Six F-3s meanwhile darted towards the surviving AWACs, their larger internal weapons bays carrying some of Tianxia's most advanced, sensitive, and long range anti-radiational air to air missiles. Additionally twenty more F-3s would be used to go after mid-air refuelers. The goal of such tactics was not just to beat the Lu-65s and Lu-67s but to also force as many as they could to the ground by running them out of places to land, tankers to refuel, and air traffic controllers to organize any sort of support or retreat. Still with these advantages against the Lu-65 squadron, two F-1s were lost in the fighting.

F-2s would continue their broad spectrum jamming of the front, and doing tactical interdiction bombing runs of enemy air bases, focusing not just on the air fields, but also support areas, SAMs and close in weapon systems. The F-2s stealth, high agility, and stand off range, but most importantly sheer pilot skill to tackle the deadly tasks of dismantling the integrated air defense. F-2 casualties amongst the aircraft were in a higher order, with eight of the advanced planes lost to enemy ground defenses. However, the F-2s sacrifices wouldn't be in vain, as their advanced sensor sniffers would be used to home in on enemy radar signals from the ground and send back a fairly comprehensive picture to UFE units in the back. Attack drones as well as long range stand off anti-vehicle missiles from the B-11s would be used to engage the mobile radars as they tracked the F-2 fighters.

With the enemy air force and air defenses in engagement with the UFEs more high performance aircraft, several wings of A-47 flying wing style attack drones (OOC: think X-47 B) were sent into the battle space to engage enemy army units in close air support roles as well as conduct reconnaissance for the oncoming invasion. Rail depots were targeted along with some of the Black Sea side shipping ports which could be used to ferry German army groups into the Caucuses.

It had been a week into the campaign, and their advance had been at a rapid clip.

The main forces were streaming across Kazakhstan at a lighting clip. Jia had been told that the capital had fallen with token casualties, with the Germans sparse in number, and low on supplies. Though they resisted fiercely, the UFE artillery humbled the under equipped Heer with relative ease compared to what had been expected. It seemed that the enemy had been focusing on keeping their units from being caught in the 12th Armored Divisions swing North, rather than try and form a broad front in the large areas of open Kazakhstan. Instead the enemy had been looking to form the Caucuses as a defensive line. Well that was broadly true. It was true in all except for Atyrau. Of the three airborne corps, only Atyrau was still being held up. The Germans in the city were turning it into a meat grinder forcing them to fight block for block. The Horde would capture three blocks during the day, the Germans would take back one at night. In a battle of attrition, the manpower of Asia was at an advantage, but this was still not without cost.

As his wife told him of her sister's meeting with Michael Visari, Jia shook his head, "He's a different kind of leader. He's a bit of a recluse, always was compared to others. But there is a quiet fury and determination to him. If something turns into a game of one outlasting the other he could well win. He outlasted Martens, who in the hell expected that to happen?" Jia said.

"I do have to say, his change over of Germany has been swift. No comparisons of Amazons to Valkeryies, no rebellions. Even the Austrian troops have been thoroughly indoctrinated by him." Jia continued. "Last time we fought Germany it collapsed on itself, and the Martenists took back power from General Haas and the Visarists. This I suspect is much more though the real deal... your Amazonians will certainly have forged their own legend by the time this is all over." he said. "But enough dreading... the shores of the Caspian await!"

In Atryau the enemy shells burst over the combined attack forces. Germans charged forth from their positions like demons out of a crack into hell. The sound of machine gun fire and exploding shells echoed through the battle scape as Chakri ran up to an elevated position. Raising his sniper rifle, he unloaded a shot into a German NCO leading one of the charges.

Captain Kim's men opened fire with their weapons, many of them wastefully using ammo to spray into the enemy charge instead of taking careful aim. Within time, their barrels had started to overheat, and their weapons had run low on ammo, as the German ranks closed in. In the most frightening sight, Captain Kim had scene all his life he watched as a German bayonet tore through Corporal Han Gyu-yee's stomach spilling the man's guts.

The German shock trooper turned towards the Kim as Chakri shot a rifle bullet straight into the German's skull. "This is no time to cower. Fall back to the Amazonian position, and get us some god damn air support!" Chakri yelled at the top of his lungs.

On the other edge of the line of the Korean unit. Lt. Lee Su Il was firing her assault rifle as fast as she could as Germans moved across the open expanse of the field between the two positions. The fury of the counter attack had sent the Korean unit into surprise. She was one of the few who had managed to keep her wits about her and not waste ammo. Two more Germans fell dead by her rifle as she reloaded a clip.

A black arm came over her position over cover as the red eyes of the Xenias armor masks the Germans wore stared her right into the face. She fell backwards reaching for her pistol landing a shot square in the helmet. While destroying the optics, the bullet ricocheted off tearing through her left arm patch. The German lunged for her as she barely pulled her knife out thrusting it up through a joint in the chest armor and into the man's heart before pulling it out. [i]What corner of hell have I fallen into.[/i] she thought to herself.

As the German charge continued, the buzz of drones began to be heard throughout the battlefield as the air force provided close in air support using flechette bombs to break up the human wave attacks launched by the Germans and give some relief to the air borne forces. This was swiftly followed by light and medium mortar support fire. Trying to organize a counter attack Chakri waved to the men along his position as they reached the Amazons. "All units, take advantage of support, counter attack, move move!" he said as he fired his rifle into the German positions.

[img]http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/7496/updatedfront.png[/img]

OOC: White is areas where neither army has reached yet.

Edited December 30, 2011 by Triyun

[Malatose]

The Luftwaffe squadron fought valiantly over the Caspian. The force had entered the battle possessing twenty four fighters. Now, there were only twelve left. While a couple of pilots wanted to stay and fight, the captain had ordered his men back to German airspace over the Caspian. However, they were still being harassed by enemy fighters and their sensors were still picking up multiple missiles heading their way. In response, the fighters launched the last of their ATAIM-9 Advanced Tactical Air Intercept Munitions, and the automatic detection systems in the Luftwaffe fighters activated their defensive suites and began to drop dozens of multi-spectral chaff and flares in the direction of a threat as determined by the NSER-5 computers. These flares were treated with chemical additives that spoof the IR sensors of most IR guided missiles. Additionally, data from the NSER-5’s RWR set is linked to the chaff cutting mechanism which is sophisticated enough to interpret the RWR’s information and cut the aluminium strips to provide for maximum reflectivity to the RF band being deceived. This was a small success a seventy percent of what was left managed to cross back into Germanic airspace in the Caspian, while the rest of the Luftwaffe pilots met their ends.

RADAR in the Caucuses, using streamlined broadband tracking for stealth elements, continued to track the F-2s. They were becoming more a nuiscance than a threat, as high altitude SAMs fired into the skies at them on a continued bases before scurrying back to defensive positions. The location of these fighters were also dispatched to local Luftwaffe interceptor units using the Lu-27 Condor Interceptor. These light interceptors, equipped with 2x Lu-67j-N13 Turbofan-Ramjet Hybrids capable of Mach 5 speeds entered the battlespace at a tremendous speed. These interceptors would launch their ATAIM-9s and quickly leave the battlespace. In addition, battlefield communication interdiction were constantly tracking the electronic waves from the F-2s. Of course tracking was all they could do, as operations had no real idea what the F-2s were doing with these electronic waves. Of course, they would dispatch small jamming units from AWACS and SAMs with ECM warheads to attempt to jam them.

Of course the enemy kept launching stand-off attacks causing havoc behind the front lines. Three airfields and two dozen mobile RADAR units had met their end to these constant attacks. Roads were also damaged causing logistical troubles, but most units were supplied to last for a number of days.


On the ground, the small German force continued to engage the Amazonian and Mongol forces with everything they had. Instead of shooting bullets hoping to hit any target, the men shot with precision. There was no ammo to spare. This futile form was engagement lasted ten minutes, as some soldiers emptied their clips and as the guns of others began to jam.

"I'm out of ammo!" was the common saying to the small group of heroes as they streamed down the mountainside. The men then resorted to tossing the few grenades in their possession, which finally culminated into them whipping out their hunting knives and engaging the horde in hand to hand combat. The one hundred brave men soon disapeared in the swarm of Amazonian and Mongol soldiers.

[b]Caucuses:[/b]

The preparations for the defense of the Caucuses had just about ended. Oberkommando der Wehrmacht had assembled two army groups, which totaled about two hundred thousand men and three thousand armoured vehicles. Michael Visari was also at the local command HQ to oversea the battle and preparations. He was also there to brief his men on the severity of the upcoming battle.

“The war against the Mongols will be such that it cannot be conducted in a knightly fashion. This struggle is one of ideological differences and will have to be conducted with unprecedented, unmerciful, and unrelenting harshness. All officers will have to rid themselves of obsolete ideologies. I know that the necessity for such means of waging war is beyond the comprehension of you generals but . . . I insist absolutely that my orders be executed without contradiction. The mongols are the bearers of ideologies directly opposed to Nordic Socialism. Therefore the Mongols will be treated with the utmost severity."

The Generals were now prepared for the upcoming battle. The battle for the protection of European culture had begun.

Edited December 30, 2011 by Malatose

[Kevin Kingswell]

The screams of the wounded and dying filled the hospital tent and doctors, nurses and orderlies ran to and fro attempting to save lives where ever they could. Both men and women lay upon beds whilst their very life force drained from their bodies to coat the ground beneath them and many of them would not be long for this world but for some hope yet remained. Of all those people one of them didn't belong.

Echearia had recovered most of her strength since the night she had collasped at the gates to the Great Khan's camp but the doctors still hadn't allowed her to leave and join the rest of the Amazons as they marched to war and so she had been left alone with the other young woman who had been brought in to talk and wait for the docotor's permission. As the days went by without any conflict Echearia began to miss Nika's presence more and more as she had grown quite fond of the her old friend not that she let anyone know.

However, that had all changed when the battles began and more and more wounded were being brought in and she had gladly and willingly given up her bed to a horribly wounded Amazon with a nasty chest wound. She had stayed by the woman's side holding her hands in her own as the Amazon gasped for each and every breath, her chest making a disgusting sucking sound everytime she tried. Eventually a doctor had come over and checked her wounds but just shook his head with sadness and walked away.

Not long after the Amazon had died but not before taking her blood stained rifle and passing it onto Echearia pulling her down so that her head rested on the Amazon's shoulder. "You have much spirit little warrior, take my rifle and my armour and fight in our queen's name. Bring honour and glory to the Amazons" she managed to whisper before Echearia felt the other woman's grip go slack and knew she had passed on.

With gentle care Echearia closed the Amazon's eyes and stood up and looked down on the armour the Amazon had worn. It was covered in blood and she could clearly see the bullet hole where the Nordic round had punched through but it did not bother Echearia to refuse to wear it would have been a great insult and whilst the doctors and nurses continued to care for those they could she donned the armour over her frame finding that it fit her with only a little adjustment, taking the rifle she exited the hospital tent.

Here only a few steps from the dead woman's body the first tendril of doubt snaked into Echearia's heart. She had no training, no direction and no experience of war having only one man and then only in self defense. Yet something told her that if she faltered now she would never be anything but a frightened young girl and she refused to allow that to happen and it seemed the fates also refused to allow her to falter so as she spotted a phalanx of Amazons marching towards the frontlines obviousally coming up from the reserves.

Steeling her heart against the doubt she boldyl marched across the open ground between the hospital tents and approached the phalanx who would easily spot the clearly untrained yet determined Echearia heading their way with fire in her eyes. Coming before what would be the leader of the phalanx she hoped Echearia would stop and greet her.

"Sister I wish to fight" she said with passion "I made a promise to a dying sister that I would do so".

[Sarah Tintagyl]

When the dust cleared in Atyrau, Rakel pushed from around a collapsing building which had been struck by mortar fire. Walking across the rubble streets, the bodies of Mongolian, Amazon, and German dead were littered across the ground whilst the bodies of the wounded and dying cried out into the air. It was not her first taste of battle and she figured it wouldn't be her last either. Of the eight man squad that he Amazons had fallen out with the Koreans, only she and one other woman remained, having been in the thick of the fighting when the German detachments stormed down the hill. The units of the regular Mongol army were beginning to arrive on the outskirts of the city and surely even if they had somehow been defeated here, the army would continue to carry the fight to the actual German border. Now the Caucuses loomed in front of the Horde and surely the Germans had already begun to prepare for the coming invasion. Rakel couldn't help but think she would rather see the war stop here, on the borders of Kazakhstan, with nearly all of Asia liberated from European control. But the Khan was resilient, the decadence of Europe awaited them across miles of wire, guns, and German bodies.

She looked at the Koreans beginning to form ranks and simply found street corner to sit against waiting for another Amazonian unit to come by and join up with them. It wasn't that the Amazons weren't trained, though most of them were not, it was that with only some fifty thousand soldiers in the Phalanxes, every sister that died took a larger toll then perhaps if ten Chinese or Mongolians fell. No one was replicable, but one disastrous battle could spell the end for Theresia's great experiment and the pain of the bullets grazing her body and of the sight of the hunting knifes nearly cutting her down. Still, the order was given - Advance! Advance! Rakel would find herself again marching with an Amazon Phalanx towards the Caucuses, with other volunteers who had never seen battle only the training they were given at camps.

"Ares bless them. They no know what is about to happen."

Meanwhile, the Imperial Couple had since settled down behind the advancing army before Atyrau. The 5th Phalanx, that Amazon Division which had been given the task of guarding the border from Vasudan encroachment had arrived and began to build the necessary defenses along the border in preparation of a counter-attack. Other Phalanx Divisions, the First through the Fourth started to arrive at Atyrau and made their own preparations for the eventual attack on the Caucuses. They would move independently of the Mongolian and Chinese forces, but given relative size of the German corridor into the Caucuses between Slavorussian Territory and the Caspian, Amazon Commanders would work closely with their Chinese counterparts to build as much momentum as possible for the coming fight. Presumably they would move towards Astrakhan and from there the plains of the land bridge would open in front of them, until the mountains in the south of course. But that was a different fight for another time.

The night of the victory in Atyrau, the Imperial Couple along with the Commanders from the various attackers in the Horde gathered in the Great Tent. In the din of the meeting, Theresia turned to her husband, reminiscing of the conversation they started on the way to the border.

"I have no problems with this fight." She said when he had mentioned dreading. Moving through Kazakhstan and on the war path, Theresia's demeanor began to change once again, quieter, darker, damning. "In fact I welcome it. Yes, the Europeans have always been good at outlasting each other, something I can attest to quite well and not something I'm known to do myself. That well change though and we'll see who outlasts the other. My sisters who die, their spirits will be avenged and others will take up their weapons. Indoctrination be damned."

After the Empress' small talk with her husband, the Amazon Commander of the 1st Phalanx, Zhen P'an, stood and bowed at the two rulers. "We have, Great Khan, forty-thousand women in arms at your disposal with of course the armor and artillery that Your Graces have so generously provided for our cause. Our commanders presume that this campaign to take the Caucuses will shift towards Astrakhan and then either to the shores of the Black Sea or further south, but we wish for you orders Great Khan and Grand Empress to where our women may do the most damage to the enemy."

[Triyun]

OOC: Apologies in advance for a bit more macro than the others, this is to set the scene for everyone.

IC:

Aside from AWAC and EWAC drone support, the UFE air force would be ordered to go to passive sensors. F-2 fighters utilized directed energy pulse lasers to engage enemy SAMs as they flew up into the sky. Additionally the planes would adjust their frequency of the silver nanowire absorption to block the changing bands which the enemy radar was using, thereby reducing the capability of engagement. Nevertheless eight F-2 fighters were lost to enemy SAMs. This though also gave away SAM positions to the other UFE forces. Other F-2 fighters would engage SAM sites and the surviving enemy radars in the Caucuses.

At the same time, the larger Lu-27 Condors would be engaged by a combination of the F-5 and F-1 air superiority fighters, using their NGTAM air to air missiles to engage the enemy interceptors from range as soon as they entered the fight, often catching them making the turns back where they’d bleed speed and energy. The air force would then use the F-3 interceptors to also engage Lu-27s as they fled back across the border. With enemy air defenses also suffering significant losses, a squadron of B-11s would be brought to the outer ranges of air to air missiles. Its internal stores would be used to launch a massive attack against the remaining ground radar sites and SAM sites. But its external stores would be in air to air configuration, extending a wave of air to air missiles over the battlespace that could rapidly engage and destroy any deployment of enemy fighters or interceptors.

Another three squadrons of B-11s were kept back over the Caspian. These units would be supported by the deployment of ultra high altitude air ships over West Kazakhstan as well as battlefield information obtained by the drones and aircraft operating over the Caucuses. The B-11s unleashed their external stores of medium ranged cruise missiles (360 total) to engage the German build ups of artillery and heavy weapons as well as train transport to move them to the borders of the caucuses. They would then fire their internal stores (576 total) of ER-M-51 missiles. 350 of these would be used to hit the rear staging areas of the two German Army groups being moved into the Caucuses. The remaining 226 of the hypersonic missiles would be used to hit radar tracking stations in the Crimea, along with air bases in the Ukraine. The units would then pull out to super cruise back.

Following on this attack, four strike forces of twenty A-47 drones would conduct attacks against divisional and brigade level command centers of the German forces within the Caucuses. Each drone carrying a pair of JDAM bombs, with a stand off range of 60 kilos.

On the ground, Chakri and Kim’s unit was fighting ferociously against the Germans now at close quarters. Unsheathing this vibroblade Chakri decapitated one of the enemy officers as he charged towards him. He felt himself knocked back as a German officer tackled him to the ground, bringing his knife out to thrust it down into Chakri’s chest before he was saved by one of the Amazonian women who thrust her spear through the man’s center. [i]Well there is picture Freud would love.[/i] Chakri thought to himself.

The weight of attrition and supplies began to play out as the last of the German defenders in Asia were beaten back by the counter charge. Korean units would open fire on them with heavy machine guns before putting them to the bayonet. Chakri on several occasions would have to step in too stop the savagery of the counter, taking prisoners were they could. Nevertheless, this city, the last hold out in Asia was now the Federations. But now the battle went to the Caucuses the Iron Gates of Europe.

The Khagan had been informed that the first units had approached the borders of the Caucuses and were awaiting the command to begin the all out onslaught against the Germans there. With Kazakhstan behind them, they now were entering into the lands of Foreign Gods, it was here that they would extend the borders of the Horde into Europe, thereby asserting dominance over the Steppe. Jia mused whether the Nords would soon be proclaiming Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods. After all it was the Wolf that was prophesized to eat the Heart of Odin.

That night during the dinner, Jia laughed at Theresia’s observations about outlasting.

“This time you go to war with Germany as an Idea not a bloodline. Your numbers may be small now, but you have 3.5 billion reserves, Visari has 200 million at most…. Plus of course the men who like strong women.” Jia added with a wink.

As the Amazonians came to ask for directions, the Khagan smiled, [i]tens of thousands already…[/i] Jia thought to himself. “We strike at the Caucuses overland from the North, and cross the Caspian in the South. The attack will be arduous, be prepared for the full onslaught of the enemy scourge, but I have faith in your abilities to succeed! For the Horde!”

At four in the morning the assault began two pronged. The first was a massive assault across the Northern line of control. Tactical range ballistic missiles would be sent streaming across, following the furious air assault on much of the enemy’s radar network. Ranging 150 kilometers in. Two hundred and fifty of these weapons would be used to engage enemy positions, supported by an additional eighty decoys. At the same time a combination of MLRS and GPS guided artillery shells form approximately twelve hundred artillery self propelled artillery pieces would bombared the forward German positions. MLRS would be used with flechette bombs for area effect against infantry formation, while the guided artillery would be used to hit enemy armor positions.

A forward vanguard formation of 1300 tanks, with 250 fury super heavy battle tanks lead a charge across the flat lying areas towards the Volga River. Supporting the offensive was EOD mechanized and unmanned ground vehicle units with advanced sensors to detect and disable mine fields, jam IEDs, and other booby traps. Behind them poured an initial column of eighty thousand mechanized forces, escorting multiple large bridge systems for the anticipated advances across the Volga River.

As the assaults continued on the radar systems defending the Caucuses a large force of ground effect vehicles was initiating a massive assault on Baku. Flying at low altitude of 20 meters above sea level, despite their enormous size, it would be difficult to detect them by radar, especially with so many targets for the mobile radar to track. Supporting the landings around Baku, 120 SRBM ballistic missiles filled each with two light weight dummy warheads and a regular high explosive warhead. The targets were against the maritime defenses around Baku as well as command head quarters.

This made way for the massive amphibious assault of the ground effect vehicles, as the armored giants beached themselves on the shores of Baku opening their armored fronts. Mounted combat systems and expeditionary fighting vehicles poured out of the front firing their main guns to cover the offloading of Imperial Guards, Marines, and Amazonians. Some of the vehicles unloaded NLOS 155 mm Cannons and NLOS 120 mm mortars to provide additional fire support for the invasion.

Finally rear area light weight trucks would be unloaded carrying NLOS-LS II missile pods. These pods would be used to provide close in precision missile support against enemy positions that resisted around Baku, as well as engage surface to air missile launchers and AA guns which would inevitable start to direct their radar searches towards low altitude rather than high altitude tactical aircraft targets.

The shores of the oil rich city would light up as Captain Kim’s men stormed the waterfront of the city. The Koreans conducted themselves carefully, unlike in the battles across the Caspian as they advanced into the Urban environment, fully aware that they were now engaging the German Regular Army.

“Lay down a smoke screen!” Kim ordered as two smoke grenades were launched down the alley way they were storming, obscuring the view of an enemy machine gun. Kim’s men maneuvered gripping the walls as they fired their weapons as they approached the position. Tossing a grenade over the enemy foxhole it exploded taking out the fire team. Behind him Kim observed ten of his force of fifteen had fallen to the enemy. This war had been hard on the company and Kim was sure that it would continue to get harder.

Meanwhile Chakri’s team had infiltrated behind the city several hours earlier along with several others. Flying the silent black hawk helicopters, they flew below radar on early approach, then coordinated with the UFE air force, doing their insertion at the same time the radars were being subject to broad spectrum jamming and tracking many missile and fighter targets.

His Imperial Guards had taken up position outside of the rear of the city, their task had been to launch assaults against the rail lines leading in, stalling reinforcements into the city, as the mechanized portion of the ground assault into Baku was used to encircle the city.

Across the lower caucuses low lands, the Caspian Basin would see similar small scale assaults, with the total force being 25, 000 amphibious invaders, with 300 tanks, 200 amphibious mechanized vehicles, 300 artillery pieces to clear a landing path for an amphibious force totaling twice that size.

Additionally in the North across the Caspian a third amphibious force was dispatched, this force was sent to attack the areas softened by the tactical ballistic missiles on the West Bank of the Volga, with 15, 000 marines supported by 200 expeditionary fighting vehicles (including pods equipped with NLOS-LS anti armor missiles), and 80 NLOS 155 mm cannons.

[img]http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/2118/caspianseaassault.png[/img]

Edited December 31, 2011 by Triyun

[Malatose]

"Mein Reichskanzler, the enemy forces have begun to cross in the Caucuses", Generalfeldmarschall Johan Milch said as he looked at the latest reports streaming in the conference room

Visari rubbed his chin and sighed, "These communist swine will soon meet their end. Generalfeldmarschall, the future of the Greater German Reich is on your back. Do whatever you feel is necessary." Visari turned around and gave the Roman salute to all the men in the room and left for his waiting transport back to Berlin.

Generalfeldmarschall Johan Milch grabbed his gold plated marshal's baton and headed for the front. "Remember the plan we discussed in detail. We will not fight this enemy head to head. We will retreat until we get them into the grinder and then smash them there. For the Reichskanzler. For Germany."

In the skies, The entire Luftflotte Four was placed into the battle space. There goal was not complete domination. There goal was to delay. Each of the fighters were equipped with the ATAIM-9 missile system. Behind the fighters were a few Ankriats, which were transformed to the missile truck for the upcoming battle. In addition, twelve additional AWACs, which were using their jamming systems at full power, were placed into the area to assist in air combat operations. As the fighters neared the battle space, the DRFM modes click on which enabled the fighters to manipulate received radar energy and retransmit it to change the return the hostile RADAR sees.

As the order of the Luftflotte commander, the fighters broke into individual groups of four and began to engage the fighters. After launching their missiles, they followed proper procedures and unloaded their flares. The few Ankriats, using their own RADAR as well as AWAC long distance RADAR, launched ATAIM-9 missiles.

On the ground, the incoming missiles were detected and would be engaged. The missiles launched at the artillery didn't do as much damage as the Mongols had hoped. First, German artillery was always spaced just for counter battery operations. The missiles only managed to destroy about two dozen systems, which wasn't that much in the greater scale of things. The rest of the missiles, which were targeted towards the rear of the army groups, would meet the same fate. The German Army Groups possessed mobile SAM systems and engaged the missiles before they caused any real significant damage. Of course, some supplies were damaged which could hamper the defensive preparations.

As the air in the war raged, the ground battle began with the massive artillery barrage against German positions. The sheer about of the bombs caused significant damage, as soldiers and some equipment were blown to bits and pieces. 3,500 soldiers and three hundred armored vehicles fell to the artillery strikes. As the enemy artiller strikes ended, they began their own counter-battery fire. Small miniature counter-battery rockets were fired at the direction of the enemies artillery systems, using sound ranging sections, survey sections, and intercepted wireless (by 'wireless compass stations'). As the counter-battery fire started, the German forces began their own massive artillery barrage. 203mm Self-Propelled Guns, 155mm howitzer shells and Multi Launch Rocket systems all fired into the direction of the incoming Mongol forces. After firing their barrage, German artillery would switch to "shoot and scoot" tactics, which meant that they essentially would move twenty kilometers before firing again. The rounds used were mostly the DPICM Rounds or the Extended Range Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions. The DPICM is designed to engage unarmored vehicles, soft skinned vehicles and personnel, at extremely long ranges of eighty kilometers to kilometers using GPS, Inertial, Millimeter Wave guidance.

"We have amour moving towards the Volga!"

"Engage when in position!"

The German soldiers moved into varied positions, keeping an eye on the massive amounts of enemy amour. For every unit of twelve men, every soldier was equipped with a Panzerschreck Ausf.B Advanced, Fire-and-Forget Anti-Tank Guided-Missile. The soldiers looked through their sights. In the upper right corner, the sights were red, until the sights turned to green which meant that target aquisition and firing was ok. The soldiers, who were equipped with the Panzerschreck Ausf.B fired at the incoming tanks. As they fired the missiles, the Two-stage solid fuel rocket motor (Boost/sustain) activated, shooting the missile in the skies. As the missile soared across the sky, the missiles began to arc downward and head towards the incoming tanks in a top/down attack type action. The infrared imaging/short wave infrared electro-optical/ fiber optic datalink guided the missiles HEAT warhead into the upper shell of the tank, which is the weakest part of any armoured vehicle. At that speed of velocity, over 1000mm of tank armour could be penetrated crippling or destroying the mongol armoured forces.

Other German infantry forces would move forward to maintain defensive positions. They would engage the incoming forces with their StA assault rifles.; however, the plan was to not go out their way to rush the incoming invasion forces. Behind the infantry, Panzer Grenadier and Panzer Divisions moved forward. Before moving forward, they all launched aerosols sprays into the air, which created a fog like effect. The spray had a double effect. First, it made it hard for the enemy forces to see. Second, it gave the German armoured troops semi protection against enemy systems with laser and IR targetting. The massive Nakil tanks moved forward and began to unleash brimestone on the invading forces.

The engage the targets, the Nakil tanks used the anti-tank guided missile [ATGM] ‘Pilum’. Pilum incorporates new ramjet technologies to enhance its range and offer an alternative to a solid fuel rocket engine. The power plant of the missile is a ducted ramjet, using a nozzleless integrated booster which surrounds the ram combustor. The ramjet uses an oxygen deficient boron loaded solid propellant with a gas generator and feed this into the ram combustor using an interstage section. This interstage is composed of a control valve/actuator, a fuel injector, and an igniter. Underneath the missile would be the air duct, with the air intake closure being located just under the fins at the end of the missile. This ramjet propels a fully sensor infused tandem HEAT warhead which, like the XG.398, uses a low mass, shallow coned shape charge, with penetration capabilities of ~1,200mm. The Nakils used these from a distance until it was time for close combat.

When combat did become close enough, the Nakil Panzer VII's would switch to their XG.784 “Atmos” rocket assisted kinetic energy (RAKE) projectiles. At Baku, German troops watched the constant landing of troops. As the ground effect vehicles infiltrated the area, soldiers fired off their Panzerschrecks as if they were rocket propelled grenades. Their goal was to damage or destroy these vehicles in order to halt their movement. German self propelled artillery in the form of 155mm pieces fired at the landing sights. MLRS, cluster bomblets, fired at the area using the basic shoot and scoot tactics. The Germans would deny the mongol hordes the oppurtunity to use the oil rich area of Baku. Hundreds of high explosives placed at fuel depots exploded throughout the area damaging the oil refineries in the area. German soldiers switched to their thermal viewers to see through the dense smoke. This was the same throughout all the Caucuses.

Thousands of explosives lined each major city and were exploded to create a defensive barriers for the planned tactical retreat. German generals were appalled that such a tactic was being used, but the common tone around OKW and Visari's office were the people of the Caucuses were mongol descendents, and that German good will towards such people was no longer needed. OKW also hoped to use these "natural" barriers to inflict more damages on the mongols incase of retreat.

Edited December 31, 2011 by Malatose

[Triyun]

Having switched to methods of passive detection, the enemies DRFM jamming systems were largely ineffective against the change in tactics by the Tianxia Air Force. 48 F-5 Fighters and 36 F-1s spread throughout the Caucuses combat space would home in on the high output signals of the enemy fighter aircraft, engaging them with the UFEs most advanced spoof proof infrared optical scopes as well as homing in on enemy radiational energy with anti radiational air to air missiles, using their VI interfaces to filter through enemy jamming. At the same time, they would use their stealth shaping and nano-wire RAM to absorb enemy radar waves, no largely unsupported by ground radar to give themselves an edge in firing first against the German Craft. Supporting this would be the planes on onboard DRFM jammers aboard the various electronic warfare drones within the sector confusing the enemies and degrading their ability to respond defensively.

This attack would swiftly be followed by by B-11s super cruising in to engage the AWACs at distance with the largest of the Tianxia Air Forces home in anti-radiational missiles, firing volley after volley dealing each of the cumbersome aircraft to deal with a terrifying 8 advanced anti-radiational missiles, 2 image recognition missiles, and 2 terminal guidance active radar missiles to once again further reduce the enemies in area AWAC coverage. The B-11s would then super cruise, readying to hit their ram jets if any of the enemies ground SAMs were to find them. At the same time another flight of F-5s would fly at low altitude, using their RAM, stealth shaping, and passive sensors to avoid detection. Moving into combat range of the Ankriats at about 200 kilos, they’d use NGTAM missiles (with combination guidance) to engage each Ankriat before closing in to gun any of the slow moving survivors.

Two F-3 interceptors would rapidly follow in on these attacks, firing 4 missiles at each AWAC, 2 spoof proof scope IR missiles, 1 image recognition missile, and 1 anti-radiational missile to finish off the enemy.

24 B-10 Bombers meanwhile launched from bases in Xinjiang going to hypersonic as they flew over the Caspian Sea. Launching their internal stores the radar grid and air fields in Ukraine would find itself under attack by a mix of enemy DRFM jamming drones mixed in with 288 ER-M-51 hypersonic long range missiles each equipped with an HDRM warhead.

As mobile SAMs litup, the F-2 fighters electro-optical aperture systems would detect their launches. Forwarding the data into the battle network, the SAMS were given no space to breath before the Tianxia air force was pounding them with pulse laser systems to fry their circuitry. A-47 combat drones in area would then home in on the ammo-depleted enemy SAM systems hitting them with anti-vehicle missiles.

As the sortie groups of F-2s switched up a second group moved into position, tracking the enemies artillery systems over the North Caucuses. They would use their dial an effect pulse lasers and HPM directed energy systems to sweep enemy artillery systems to jam coordination communications as well as likely fry a few systems. But more importantly they’d be relaying the firing down to the Tianxia ground forces, who could bring their superior numbers and range to bear on the enemy force. After unloading more of their missiles, particularly concentrating on the enemy 203 mm, the F-2s would continue to play a vital role, as would the ultra high altitude overhead air ships which would track the enemies armored vehicles with their synthetic aperture radar.

The UFE NLOS AA Hydras opened fire into the masses of artillery shells and MLRS systems, and tactical air defense systems began engaging incoming targets. HDRM ETC rounds ripped into the enemies rockets, knocking wave after wave out of the sky, as the moving UFE 155 mm and 200 mm counter batteries would use the air forces information to home in on enemy positions hitting them with long range ETC enhanced rounds, while the air force was jamming the enemies electro-magnetic spectrum. MLRS batteries would keep moving, stopping to reload, only to once again fire again. In the rear the tactical range ballist missile batteries would home in on groups of enemy batteries right after they launched the first rocket (as detected by the E.S.A.) and fire a large area assault to destroy those groups. The Tianxia forces were suffering losses slightly less than their german counterparts, but they had the reserves to do it, something Germany would be hard pressed to match.

The initial groups of missiles would have difficulty engaging the Tianxia armor forces, not due to their lack of ability, but their lack of vision. At 20 kilos over flat terrain, the Tianxia armored forces would be able to use their ETC ranged guns to engage the infantry before they could really get much of a rear on them. Their sensors would pick up incoming missiles, firing with their active defenses against the initial less effective missiles to destroy many of them in path. Then using their sonic triangulator devices, thermoscopes, and most importantly the overhead E.A.S. the large 152 mm ETC guns would fire their own guided hypersonic missile shells, into the enemy position carrying an HDRM shell, maximizing catastrophic kills.

As the tanks got closer, the issue became somewhat more difficult to deal with. The larger Fury tanks, were able to defeat a goodly chunk of the incoming missiles while the Juggernaut IIs, comparable to the Nakil, but with a slight edge in power, were engaged in heavy defensive measures against the enemy. The escorting UGVs active defense systems helped reduce the effectiveness of the missiles, but the results were still difficult. However, the UFEs overhead EWAC aircraft were able to home in on the datalinks, which the missiles were emitting sending back tailored stream cyber attacks onto the datalink receivers, which while not removing the guidances entirely, was able to reduce the overall number of missile threats.

In addition to tank forces engaging these missile units though, the UFE would also hit them with their own missiles. Rear area units would begin targeting these positions with NLOS-LS II missile pods, which with enemy radar under massive attack would have severely reduced range of detection and response time against the attack.

As German infantry attempted to spray their aerosolized spray, this would have varying degrees of effectiveness. Having homed in on many enemy units with the synthetic aperture radar systems at high altitudes, UFE NLOS LS and NLOS mortars would be used to engage many of the formations with anti-personnel shells and warheads. This meant that the explosives would have a clearing effect on the aerosolized sprays that would naturally be diluted by the atmosphere anyway. However, before dilution it did give many enemy units a brief respite from the oncoming wave of Tianxia counter attacks.

However, against the advanced thermoscopes (I’ll avoid going into detail here but I can talk about them elsewhere if you like) of the Tianxia Air Forces, infantry aerosolized spray would have little effect. Nor would it have much effect against look down synthetic aperture radar.


Numbers would come into effect as Tianxias preponderance of committing air borne EWAC drones combined with superior ground force numbers would act in concert to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum against the Germans. EWAC drones would hit tanks data uplinks with tailored data stream attacks while at the same time, the enemies use of laser obstructing sprays would also damage the capability of remote broad band to be used to communicate between the tank and its missile. At the same time the cyber attacks combined with directed energy jamming by fixing AESA radar nods onto tanks would make it difficult for the enemy to detect any one things, beyond passive detection methods, which were less effective at calculating speed or knowing where to look when a sheer mass of fire power was coming at you.

Tianxia tanks would begin their engagements of the German armor in the North outside their zone of fire, closing in, the exchanges would be brutal for both sides, but on the open field, the Tianxia units had several key advantages. First was situational awareness due to the lack of German over head battlefield control supporting flights. Air units simply could track more targets. Second was the minor advantage of slightly increased range. But third was numbers. More guns on more targets, this meant with each loss the German forces were outgunned more, and giving their units less opportunity to absorb losses, with each tank roughly having the same chance to hit (Tianxia with slightly greater due to factors discussed above), the more guns you had in the fight, the better off you were as the battle dragged on. The Tianxia forces had more guns in the fight.

Soon joining the armor as they pressed in on the Volga were mechanized infantry, who would bring their NLOS and anti-tank missiles to the fight, to help pin down German armor as they moved in on infantry positions. Precision NLOS mortars and NLOS-LS systems would allow them to maneuver forward keeping enemy units pinned down, so that the Tianxia units would overwhelm the German defenders who stood and fought on the East side of the Volga. Fighting would soon turn into close range attrition between the two well trained armies, with losses relatively even, but with Tianxia reserves being poured in to further exhaust the Germans Army.

On the West bank of the Volga at the Amphibious landing zone, the Marines were now advancing up behind the Germany line that was holding the large attacking force of Tianxia aiming to take the East Bank. Now numbering close to 50, 000 with supporting armored vehicles and artillery, the force had broken out taking advantage of the enemy’s defense of the less defendable Eastern Bank, to overwhelm them.

With a logistical train now established across the Caspian, the Marines were racing North at a furious pace, fighting like a bat out of hell to flank the Germany Army Corps on the East Bank, and trap them where the main Tianxia Army Front could wipe them out entirely.

Around Baku, the fighting had intensified at a rapid pace. Chakri was horrified to see the demolition of the city being done so casually. Face mask filters were able to take away much of the go, having been based along similar technologies to the Germans own, with some improvements, but he didn’t know which was worse…. Not being able to see the German guns, or being able to see the suffering of the Azerbijianians. The Imperial Knight ran through the streets of the city firing his rifle, taking down German as his elite unit moved towards the now demolished city hall. They had managed to liberate about half the city. The initial advance had been swift, with heavy fighting, but they had the enemy on the run. Then came the demolitions. A large number of marines, imperial guards, and Amazonians had been killed… but in some way the German tactic had backfired. Amazonian units especially had begun moving like the daughters of Ares were expected to.

Chakri saw Kim’s unit fighting an enemy machine gun nest in the distance. He could make out the stiff formal commands of the Captain’s forces as they were fighting against a German force counterattacking their position. Chakri gave the signal to his men to flank the enemy position. The Imperial Guard unit maneuvered themselves atop the wreckage of one of the formerly large buildings using their electro-optical scopes on their rifles to see through the dense smoke before IDing the resisting German units radio operator, commanding officer and machine gun officer. Within second all were down. This was swiftly followed by a grenade launcher attack on the unit as the enemy forces were thrown into chaos. The Imperial Guard then make short work of the German regulars as they scrambled, unsure where the second attack was coming from without both a commanding officer and a radio operator.

About fifteen minutes later Chakri had moved himself to Kim’s position. “How is the situation here?” the Imperial Knight asked. Kim looked surprised.

“We’re… fine I suppose.” He said. “I guess we’ve been $%&@ed up pretty good. You were right it was a costly mistake to underestimate this enemy.”

Adjusting his helmet Kim looked, “I called for rail gun fire support, they said they couldn’t provide any. I thought we had the Eastern shore secured.”

“We do, but the southern caucuses are all ablaze. The oil rigs have all been set afire, its difficult to get locks. Our engineers say they are filtering through it, but want to double check. We’re solo for a while. The good news is another wave of reinforcements have arrived onshore. The bad news is the Germans seem intent on massacring half the caucuses just to slow us down.” The Imperial Knight said with a sigh…. “I would [i]not[/i] want to be the man to tell the Khagan.”

“WHAT THE $%&@?!” the roar echoed through the Great Tent as Jia nearly through the table onto the ground. The Khagan’s face had turned red. “[i]Do you honestly mean to say that he detonated an entire city?”[/i]

“Not just Baku, everything East of Tblisi that we’ve approached has gone up in a blaze of fire.” The general said.

Jia growled, “This cannot be allowed to stand. I want Berlin bombed. I want options for bombing every city in Germany. He wants to turn this into something. It’ll turn into something he never imagined! God damn Visari. I want… I want a !@#$@#$ fuel air explosive bomb going off over the Reichstag. I told the Germans, I told them next time they pulled this type of !@#$ I wouldn’t be merciful.” He turned to Theresia, “You were there, remember I !@#$@#$ told them?!”

The anger in the Khagan’s face was evident as he sat back down in his throne.

[img]http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/82/caucusesadvance.png[/img]

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Standing in a line mismatched of women and men, Rakel held her rifle tightly as the carrier planes jetted across the Caspian towards the landing sites near the shores of Baku. The soldiers looked around nervously at the man or woman beside them, no one smiled, only listening to the sounds of artillery pieces colliding against the sands and sea meters away from where they would land. It was a brilliant sky, filled with smoking trails from German artillery positions far into and behind the city, the wreckage and ruins of downed Mongol planes which had been impacted by artillery shells and the scattered remains of the dying littered over the beach; their blood had already turned the sand red. A few men uttered prayers while a few others fuddled around with flasks and biscuits to get one last drink or one last bite too eat before the hellstorm that awaited them out on the beach. Rakel herself pulled out a small chain with a moon crest from her uniform. "Give me the courage to make war, Ares. Give me the spirit of the huntress, Artemis." She whispered into the locket and then placed it back down her shirt as the plane shook from landing on the beaches. She took a deep breath and watched the nose of the plane begin to raise and looked out the maelstrom in front of her and felt her legs freeze.

"Go! Go! Take the beach Comrades! For the Great Khan and the Grand Empress! For the Horde!"

"For the Horde!" The nameless faces cried and whether Rakel wanted to move or not, she felt her body surge forward out from the plane and down the ramp onto the sandy beach looking up at in the wind and foamy breeze at the city in front of them. Baku had already turned into a major battleground, much like the rest of the Caucasus campaign, the Germans were too proud a people to allow even one Eastern Barbarian to take their precious frontier, while every Eastern only saw the grim look of their black uniforms knowing that even one European monster was too much to defecate on the pristine land of the Steppe. A shell slammed into the ground near the Amazon as she barred her teeth and started running forward with the army towards the slopes the separated the beachfront from the city streets. This distance that only covered several meters were some of the longest meters in the woman's life. The sand slowed her movements, while the continual spray of bullets and barrage of shells made crossing the beach like walking on the moon. Craters were scattered across the sands, as were the arms and legs of those women and men, unlucky enough to have a direct contact with an artillery peace.

Rakel fired blindly as she ran across the beach towards the slope when the crack of a bullet near the ground, sent her to the ground. Without playing around if she was hurt or not, she crawled the few inches to the nearby carcass of a tank and looked down at her legs. Nothing. The sound had made her jumped, but the others were being mowed down as they ran up the slope. A sound of scurrying sand near her made the soldier jump again as a Chinese man, jumped near the tank, carrying a RPG on his back. He smiled at Rakel and in looking at her Amazonian patch spoke in broken Mandarin, "How much...you...understand...what...say? You spot?"

She knew the term spot enough and nodded to the soldier as they both scooted to the side of the tank and looked out against the ricochet of bullets falling down on them. Holding up her hand, Rakel gave a three-count and then threw her body back into the sand as she fired up at the nest positions on the slope. In seconds the screech of the RPG streamed across the sky and a few less German defenders stood between the Horde and taking the beach. The two soldiers wasted no time in gathering themselves together and running back towards the slope with the next wave of Mongol attackers who had come from other landing planes. Upon running up the slope, Rakel was given another taste of the close encounter with German shock troops. Their uniforms worked towards the Horde's advantage, seeming nothing like a human, but a creature out of Hades, glowing red eyes from their interfaces, and a deadly movement as the Amazon watched two of her sisters cut down by a German rifle and hunting knife. It sent Rakel into a fury as she charged the enemy soldier and with the butt of her gun rammed it into his glowing eyes. The sound that came from the mask was frightening and ungodly, but possessed by rage, she slammed him to the ground and pierced the black armor with a bayonet before retracting it to shoot another soldier coming up to knock her to the ground.

No one shouted for joy when the slopes were cleared and the Germans began to move back into city and fell behind stronger positions deeper in Baku. They can cleared the beaches, now the town itself required liberation and now the battle switched from being able to see your enemy, to being able to feel his bullet rain down from buildings and across alleyways. As they moved further into the city another problem would surface and this terrible collapse would catch Rakel completely off guard and fill her and the rest of the Amazons with the continual drive to push further on against German lines.

The Mongols had only pierced the edges of Baku, aside from those units who had dropped in from plane earlier during the battle, but as they crossed streets leading in a horrible shake began to tear the city apart, piece by piece. Explosions filled the ears of the soldiers and Rakel watched in horror as Mongols and Amazons looked up in futility to see the very buildings beginning to fall on top of them. The Germans were using the very cities against the Mongol advance and now battalions would cross mountains of rubble to reach the enemy lines, most always crawling over the graves of their comrades, screaming from beneath the rubble for help.

Mongol Commanders were strict in this aspect. "Keep moving!" They shouted over the din of collapsing buildings. "You won't reach them, they're already dead! Keep up the charge! Others can be saved!"

As Rakel kept moving forward, she saw a Chinese Amazon clawing at a pile off rubble, tears streaming down her eyes. "Fan! Fan!" She screamed, throwing away bricks and stones as an ivory hand suddenly appeared from out of the rubble. The smaller Amazon, pulled against the hand with all her might as Rakel watched, her heart breaking as the buried hand slowly began to give way and soon, much to the hysterical crying of the rescuer, went slack in her hands. "No! Fan! No!" It was the arrival of a German tank down the street that propelled Rakel into action and lifted up the smaller Chinese girl as the rubble was blasted by the barrage of a German shell. There inside the ruined skeleton of a collapsed building, the Timurdian put the broken Chinese girl against her shoulder as she screamed, barely audible by the sounds of bombing and falling buildings around them. "She...she was my friend..."

The advance would continue, through Baku and as the orders filtered down the lines that the lands beyond the city were on fire and being reduced to ash it filled the Amazons with a passion to press the fight harder. No mercy was shown on German fighters as surely it wouldn't be shown for the Amazons.

"Do not waver. Do not second guess. Every step back and the Caucuses burn. Show know fear sisters! We are born ready to die!"

Meanwhile, back across the Caspian, Theresia watched with disdain as the reports filtered in from the front. The audacity of the Germans knew no bounds and her usual calm demeanor completely disappeared as she watched Jia walk back in fury to his throne. What would be left of the Caucuses if the invasion was a success? Burning ash, ruined cities, and hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions, without homes, starving across a barren landscape. She turned up towards the Khan and nodded her head, solemnly. "Yes, I remember explicitly." The Empress said and began walked back to her own chair next to his own.

As she did, Commander Zhen stopped her with a fearful look in her eyes. "Majesty, Sister, this war is getting out of hand. The reactions from the Germans could be absolute."

"And the burning of thousands of miles of land is not? You are a Daughter of Ares, P'an. Welcome Total War, it is a freeing of the soul. Asia and Europe will burn and then we will rebuild greater than we have before."

[Captain Enema]

[quote]To: Nha Trang Fleet Base Commander
From: Sovann
Classified
hand delivered

1st and 2nd Submarine Wolfpacks are ordered to deploy towards the Arctic circle, immediately. Final destination north of Slavorussia, remain outside of their EEZ until notified.[/quote]

[quote]To: 555th, 556th, 557th Air Regiment Commanders
From: Sovann
Classified
Hand Delivered

Begin immediate movement to Fort Beihai with your regiments.[/quote]

[quote]To: 334th RORO Squadron, 2nd Spartan Marine Division, 16th Spartan Brigade Combat Team
From: Sovann
Classified
Hand Delivered

Begin Immediate loading of the 16th Spartan Brigade Combat Team and the 2nd Spartan Marine Division. Once loaded begin movement towards Arctic circle region. [/quote]

[quote]To: Air Transport Command
From: Sovann
Classified
Hand Delivered

Prepare for long range supply operations from SEA Defensive Region to Alaska and beyond.[/quote]

Upon receiving their orders the men and women of the notified forces begin to move into action. The first and quickest to depart are the Jaduya Mk.4 Fighters of the 555th through 557th Air Regiments. The rest are in a frenzy of movement as they work as a breakneck pace to satisfy their orders.

They do this FOR THE HORDE!

[Malatose]

The war in the skies was one of amazement and terror. The losses the Luftwaffe were taking were quite substantial, due to the use of advanced electronic jamming. Three squadrons had been downed, 5 AWACs had been destroyed and 8 Ankriats were obliterated; however, there were still some victories. In response to the jamming, the Luftwaffe began to use every ECCM technique in the book, in addition to coded datalinks to ensure proper guidance for missiles. Linear frequency modulation, frequency hopping, sidelobe blanking, and polarization was ordered throughout the Luftwaffe units. Datalinks were switched onto the twelfth and thirteenth grids, which continuous hopping to other frequencies to prevent locking onto the fighters targeting systems. It would take time for the full effect of the "electronic" switch; however, it would be worth the wait. As the targeting data began to re-appear on the screens of the Luftwaffe fighters, they began to dive into action. Despite the fact that their ATAIM-9s were formidable weapons, the electronic warfare being raged on the battlefield would confuse the self guidance systems. Therefore, the pilots opted to engage the IR/EO sensors of the block II ATAIM-9 Cross-platform Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (XMRAAM)s.

Five squadrons of the Lu-65 all launched their payload of these missiles and they began to stream towards the F-5s and F-8s. As the missiles flew a short distance, they finally reached a total speed of Mach 4. The guidance for the system employs a two-stage system. At extended range, the deploying aircraft provides data regarding target disposition and velocity relative to the launch point via a secure two-way datalink. Midcourse updates regarding the changing attitude of the selected target are relayed to the missile which adjusts its flight path accordingly. Between updates, the missile operates under inertial navigation, provided by a fiber optic gyroscope in order to save weight and improve accuracy over more bulkier conventional systems. As the range closed, the missile engaged its onboard RADAR system to track the target without need for additional updates, thus freeing its data provider to other activities. The solid-state active RADAR switched to X-band, and which enables the missile to track fighter-sized targets at up to 28 km in optimal conditions with superb off-boresight capability thanks to its electronically steered antenna. Once the missiles reached the terminal phase of its flight profile, a gimballed combined imaging infrared/electro-optical seeker, Home-on-Jam and Home-on-Emit modes head activated to maximize kill probability. To protect against high energy attacks, the missiles were hardened against attack by high-energy emissions with silicon diode shielding. The missile includes Home-on-Jam and Home-on-Emit modes as well.

Behind the five squadrons of Lu-65s, the two squadrons of the Lu-67s darted at full speed with all active counter measures activated. The fighters banked to the right and left and dipped southwards towards the main theater of combat operations. Flying at a speed of Mach 2.8, they would dart past the current operations to pick up the B-11s in their sights. Just like their Lu-65 counter-parts, they launched their ATAIM-9s and unleashed all countermeasures in the form of chaff and flares and began to dart back to safe airspace.

In the Ukraine, RADAR networks and patrolling AWACs detected the incoming missiles, of course there were a few that made it through thanks to the jamming implemented by the enemy. The missiles were hypersonic, yes, but that wouldn't stop the local air defense units from trying to intercept. Metal Storm and other systems fired in the general trajectory of the missiles causing small explosions throughout the skies. A number of missiles were intercepted; however, other missiles made it through and damaged a number of Ukrainian airfields. However, the damage to the airfields were light, as the hypersonic missiles themselves were too small to cause any significant damage to runway concrete. German engineers just merely used regular gravel and other engineers used utility vehicles to melt the runways to feel in the crater holes.

In an ironic twist, the AWACs had detected the B-10s over the Caspian and transmitted the information to interceptor units in the skies. The Lu-27 Condors blasted towards the area of the enemy fighters at full speed, breaking the sound barrier numerous of times. As they neared, the three Condors unleashed their ATAIM-9 missiles and turned around to blast from the airspace.

On the ground, the war continued to rage at an unprecedented magnitude. Much like in the skies, the forces were on the ground were hampered by the electronic warfare being raged. Therefore, the ground units began to switch frequencies which enabled their targeting and data systems. As the artillery began to fall around the German forces, they activated their own systems. The countermeasures activated to prematurely detonate the fuses before they could cause any damage. German units still took damage in the form of personnel, artillery and some armored vehicles, although most of the damages came from the SRBMs launched by the enemy. However, they continued to launch their own shells in retaliation, while continously pulling back to defensive lines.

The tank battle continued to wage as the Panzer Divisions and Panzer Grenadier divisions continued to engage the enemy armor. Explosions were seen to the left and the right as friendly armor exploded from the onslaught of the enemy. The APS, known as the GIOD Mk. III, fired grenades which exploded into fragmented shrapnel pieces to destroy incoming warheads. Chaff and Flares were also deployed by armored vehicles to fool possible IR guidance. Armored forces not destroyed continued to engage the enemy armor with the Atmos basic munition and the XG.398, a shallow cone shaped charge (SCSC), which consists of a tandem shaped warhead, designed to defeat ERA and then penetrate ~1200mm of armor thereafter. As the enemy tanks moved up, they would begin to resort to fire and retreat tactics. The Arica I Shalmanesar Armoured Personnel Carriers fired at the light skinned vehicles with their 35mm Chainguns, while firing off their own Panzerschreck Ausf B. Anti-Tank Missiles.

Behind the vehicles, German infantry continued to remain resolute and steadfast in the face of the onslaught. They did not rush the mongol forces. Instead, infantry moved back using the heavy and light armor as shields. They used their own judgement to fire off the basic Panzerschreck Ausf B missile. In addition, the German units began to target the EWACs of the mongol hordes. These units stood far behind the front lines and were equipped with MANPADs. As they scanned the skies, they fired off their StAhl-3 Man-portable Air Defence System. As the missiles left their cannisters, the Dual Stage, Solid Fuel, APCP rocket blasted into action propeling these missiles at a speed of Mach 2.5. The warheads were led to their destination by the infrared imaging/short wave infrared electro-optical, Active Pixel Sensor warhead. The warheads used three kilograms of FOX-7 (1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene) which is a new insensitive high explosive mixture, that has a detonation velocity of 8,870 meters per second.

Meanwhile on the Volga and Caspian, soldiers were given the general order to retreat while causing as much damage to infrastructure as possible.

[b][i]Meanwhile in Berlin...[/i][/b]

Visari entered the command HQ of the Reich Chancellery to be greeted with the Roman salute to party and military officials. He walked towards the large holographic map and began to speak in his usual fashion.

"What is the situation in the Caucuses?" Visari demanded

"The situation in the Caucuses isn't going as planned Reichskanzler. While we are giving the enemy sufficient losses. Current losses are to 50,000 men and one thousand armored vehicles combined. Reichskanzler..a fighting restreat has been ordered."

Visari nodded and began to shake his head and began to go into a long political rant "These mongols. The most uncivilized people of the world. And to think we gave these same people, in the Caucuses, peace and prosperity under our rule. I don't trust them, and the German people can't trust them. Today, I will introduce a new law. Sippenhaftung. I will introduce absolute responsibility of kin ... a very old custom practiced among our forefathers. This was practiced among the ancient Teutons. When they placed a particular under the ban and declared it outlawed or when there was a blood feud in the family. They were utterly consistent ... This person has committed a crime; his blood is bad; there is traitor's blood in him; that must be dealt The people in the Caucuses are now tainted just because of the actions of their relatives invading the land. Therefore, they must all suffer. They must all be held guilty for the crimes of their relatives."

[b][i]Behind the frontlines..[/i][/b]

Behind the frontlines, a different force was at work. ST-Oberst-Gruppenführer Michael Frank, along with the 4th ST Division Germania, 5th ST Division Prinz Eugen were organizing a column of civilians. As the civilians passed by the checkpoint, the men and women were handed the basic tunic of the German military. Given directions, they then headed towards their work stations to begin digging anti-tank ditches and placing mines in time for the mongol hordes. As the columns marched on, Generalfeldmarschall Johan Milch arrived to speak to with Stormtrooper General.

"Oberst-Gruppenführer Frank, what is the meaning of this? Your men would be much more useful on the frontlines than organizing civilians to dig anti-tank ditches. And this civilians have no training placing land mines. You are sending some of them to a death sentence, especially on the front lines!"

Frank shook his head and responded, "I received word today that the Reichskanzler has introduced a new law. These people are being drafted to build mines and tank ditches for Germany, for the crimes of their ancestors. That is their crime. This is how they will pay."

"This is inhumane and impractical. We have a war to win. You know this", Milch said as he slammed his fist on the hood of his personal transport.

Frank sighed, "As a member of the Preserveration of the New Order and a sworn defender of Germany against communism, I must complete my task. Whether nations live in prosperity or live in utter starvation it is of no interest to me. Whether 10,000 Mongol male and females fall down from exhaustion while digging an antitank ditch interests me only insofar as the anti-tank ditch for Germany is finished. Nothing more and nothing less.."

[Triyun]

The Tianxia aircraft had been optimized for X-Band radar defense. As the missiles moved out of initial guidance and attempted to locate the Tianxia stealth aircraft with x-band radar, they would find themselves sorely lacking, even nearly blind. The silver nanowire would suck in the X-band radars emitted by the missiles making them next to useless at closing from that distance to close range where the EO could be activated. This was further complicated by super cruise, which meant that because these missiles lost their guidance, and were engaging targets so fast, they were often not engaging aircraft in the same area they had been before. In fact the combination of long distance stealth and an enemy weakness in AWAC forces and ground radar meant tracking the F-5 and F-1 and BVR and extreme BVR was an extremely dubious proposition. This meant that the initial inertial guidance fired against the super cruising targets would make accuracy even more of an issue. When this was coupled with the engagement range of 28 kilometers being substantially reduced, it meant that missiles often time weren’t finding their targets at all. Once more, the enemy had still not seemed to notice that Tianxia had stopped using its active sensors (read in my last two posts), this meant homing in on signals was simply not a workable strategy for engaging Tianxia aicraft. As such this latest round of counter attacks was a vastly ineffective strategy. While EO/IR guidance would be more effective, the missiles simply didn’t have any sort of course correcting guidance to get into a range where such a system could be used.

With the enemy however emitting signals, the Tianxia fighters were able to pick up on the enemy. This capability was further enhanced by the Skyhawk EWAC and AWAC drones, which were engaging in jamming and electronic as well as cyber attack on the enemies systems. Homing in on Lu-65s controls they would use both wide frequency DRFM jamming, and tailored stream cyber attacks to disrupt linkages between missiles and the fighters as well as disrupt linkages between fighters. While EWACs were conducting this, the AWACs would forward their information to the Tianxia fighter squadrons who would then input it into their missiles. The F-5 and F-1s would then fire their own set of beyond visual range missiles at the Lu-65s and Lu-67s. These ones would both use AWAC guidance as well as home in on signals to engage the enemies stealth aircraft, also having image recognition and EO/IR at terminal stages. The key difference though was that they would be able to rely on the many AWAC and EWAC support systems for guidance against the Lu-65 and Lu-67s own stealth and jamming capability, rather than on onboard capabilities.

As Lu-65s and Lu-67s hit their wet thrust to get to range of the B-11s, the B-11s and AWACs were able to detect the threats as they moved in. With enemy IR signatures substantially increased at Mach 2.8, the super cruising B-11s would move to slow the speed of enemy interception by adjusting course. At the same time, they would hit the incoming Lu-65s and Lu-67s with volley after volley of passive EO/IR missiles, using advanced scopes to filter out enemy ECM and ECCM IR countermeasures. They would then hit their combination ramjets to turn tail and run. Two B-11s would be hit and downed by missile attack, but for every one of them, thanks to the Lu-65 and Lu-67 using their after burners they were now brightly IR visible, and facing substantial volleys of Tianxia EO/IR missiles, from the B-11s substantially outnumbering the number of missiles the Lu-65s and Lu-67s were able to throw back.

Following on this attack, the Tu-160 Rudolphs which had now been refuled and rearmed were re-entering the battlespace on supercruise. Taking aim at the forward elements of the Lu-67s after they had expended their missiles, the Rudolphs were able to see their IR signatures. The Tu-160s would then focus their powerful lasers onto the Lu-67s to either destroy them outright, but at minimum completely fry even the most hardened systems with substantial bursts of energy. At the same time the Tu-160s would be conducting near constant tailored data stream cyber attacks on the enemy squadrons they were nearby with, to substantially reduce the effectiveness of go between communications, and general information sharing, slow the capability of the Germans to muster counter attacks or reorganize.

Topping onto this was lastly an F-3 squadron which was launched to pounce on these retreating fighters, using its superior speed to catch the enemy, and hit them again with a combination of AWAC guided, home in on anti-radiational, and EO/IR missiles. All in all the flight back to German air space would be a extremely hostile and never ending pounding on the enemy fighters, for an ill conceived attempt to engage the B-11s.

As Condors took off to engage the B-10s over the Caspian Sea, they had to fly through the heavily contest air space over the Caucuses. The Tianxia pilots used this to lay an ambush. S-500 SAMs fired from Kazakhstan, with ultra long range hypersonic air to air missiles to close in on the Lu-27s right as they were making their turns home bleeding energy. At the same time F-2 multi role fighters super cruised into position, firing off one of each type of guidance missile (also hypersonic) to close in on and destroy the Lu-27s right as they were at their slowest point in the fight. The B-10s meanwhile, would be alerted to the the Lu-27s long before they reached them. In fact the Lu-27s would have little chance of getting in range to engage the B-10s at all. Having fired [u]from[/u] the Caspian, the B-10s would have long since returned to West China by the time the Lu-27s took off from Europe and flew over to the Caspian Sea.

Another sortie of B-10s would again be used to assault the enemy from the Caspian. Using the ER-M-51 hypersonic cruise missile (and its extremely potent warhead), a second attack would be made, this time 24 B-10s would fire 288 missiles, quickly following in on the other set. They would be targeting enemy radar bases and air fields again. Evidently the last group of powerful ER-M-51 warheads had some mechanical difficulty with their explosions. These ones would not repeat the mistake as they’d continue to punch holes in the enemy air defense grid. At the same time 100 MRBMs would be launched against air fields in Ukraine with cratering bombs to destroy the enemy air fields while the air defenses were engaged defeating the ER-M-51s.

After the pounding the enemy fighter force had been receiving, 8 F-3s were dispatched to destroy the few surviving AWACs from the dozen that had been deployed. Using their Ramjets to close the distance, the F-3s would first use wide spectrum home in anti-radiation missiles and EO/IR missiles sending 5 to an AWAC to take them down before bugging out back to bases.

F-2 fighters flew in on the enemies ground forces supported by A-47 attack drones. As the enemies remaining artillery pieces opened up, they would rapidly be engaged by stand off bombs. This meant that the more the enemy fired, the more that their artillery pieces would be substantially degraded by the Horde’s air onslaught.

MANPADs flew up from positions below. While the range of engagement was substantially reduced, as well as the efficacy due to the presence of the Skyhawk EWAC systems and the own electronic attack capabilies of both the A-47 and F-2. Eight EWACs were destroyed, though they were able to defeat many a MANPADs systems for targeting. In response though, the positions which fired them swiftly were picked up by E.O.S.A. systems throughout the battlefield. NLOS-LS systems, NLOS Mortars, NLOS Cannons, and Titan Artillery was used in combination to swiftly deliver fire onto those positions, before the enemy would have a chance to reposition themselves. This meant that like the cannons, the Tianxia Air Force and Army working in tandem were able to substantially degrade the enemy using his own resistance against him, and being able to respond with devastating counter attack at any position along the line in a near instant. The strategy was of course, that while the enemy had a lot of quality equipment, it could not afford to continually fight an exchange with the numbers posed by the Horde. The Horde Air Force was monopolizing air to ground strikes, and the Army had more guns. This meant every time the enemy took loses it counted more, and its capability of winning fire fights was further degraded, while Horde chances of outcomes in individual battles substantially improved. This resulted in the Horde beginning to gather substantial momentum for its offensives.

While the fighting between Armor and Artillery units continued to be heavy, geography was working decisively in favor of the Horde. Having chosen to defend the East Bank, while not till now contesting the amphibious assault to surround the West Bank, the Horde was able to effectively drive the Germans into the river and restrict their ability to maneuver. Once the forces on the East Bank reached the river, the Horde would be using drones to destroy pathways across the Volga, while, artillery which had previously been fire and go, was now stuck in one place (assuming it didn’t want to sink to the bottom of the Volga). This allowed the still mobile Horde Artillery pieces using drone overhead coverage to home in on these positions and annihilate them with substantial ease compared to previously in the battle.

With the Horde reaching the banks of the Volga now, the enemy was now facing a possible encirclement in the North. The North Marine assault force having increased its fighting strength to 75, 000 had continued to move without substantial resistance, the Tianxia forces had encircled now a full half of the German Army on the Volga, driving the into the river itself, surrender or death. As Tianxia units cross in the South to the West Bank, they’d relieve Marine forces that could now like a train begin the move North to complete the encirclement up by the Slavorussian border.

To compliment this Tianxia put its RCS Gunship force into the field. Flying under heavy Skyhawk EWAC coverage, and with multiple countermeasures available. Two hundred Gunships would be used to harass enemy armor and artillery in the North as they attempted to retreat and escape the encirclement.

In the South, the Tianxia Armor would move around to encircle the slower moving infantry units as they headed out of Baku and Azerbijian, heading towards Georgia. The goal was to destroy as much of the enemy in retreat before they could reach the mountainous areas of the Caucuses. Instead of focusing on enemy armor, which would not be terribly effective in mountains anyways, the enemies slower moving infantry would be subject to constant harassment by drone and armored attack on their retreat.

At the same time, Tianxia would be broadcasting images live from the battlefield to see the brutality of the german onslaught against the Caucuses, and their tactics of sheer brutality to the Caucusian People.

This was contrasted with the Horde holding celebrations of Turkic-Mongol Culture in Kazakhstan. Tribes which had been broken apart by the arbitrary borders were being reunited from Mongolia, to Xinjiang, to Kazakhstan, a people who acted as the highway of culture from East to West and West to East were reunited. In many ways the Germans had produced their own alienating propaganda message. The point was driven home again and again, that while Jia and Theresia’s Horde represented unity of East and West under security, Germany represented exclusionary and German primacy. The point was made that no citizen could hope to be safe under German law or Germany domination of a region if the Germans were so willing to turn their wrath onto their own citizens in the Caucuses.

Chakri and Kims units had both broken out of the Urban jungle which was the battlefields of Baku. Now it was time to begin preparations for the drop on Tblisi. Attrition had been heavy, but the enemy was now in retreat. In the open parts of the Caucuses the Mechanized and Air Forces were using that to pound the enemy.

Meanwhile Jia and Theresia, along with other commanders had been subjected to horror as well. The casualties of war had been heavy, over thirty five thousand losses, but that was nothing compared to what had been the truly horrific part of the war. Many of the Tianxia medivac flights did not carry wounded Mongols, Koreans, or Amazonians, they injured civilians, homeless by the German bombing of their towns. Malnourished laborers, whom the Germans had forced to dig trenches, and treated worse than the Horde treated its mules. The Human toll was brought home as every train, truck, and plane loaded with supplies from China to the front was coming home with the injured to fill up the hospitals and trauma centers of the East.

Having been recalled to the Great Tent, the Airborne Units were now being prepared for Tblisi, which was expected to be just as savage if not greater than Baku had been. Jia sat silently. His anger had steadily been building at Visari. Increasingly his eye was drifting toward the option of a full scale strategic bombing of the German Heartland. But preparations had not yet been entirely completed on that. Now instead was a final push to drive the enemy out of the Caucuses and destroy as much of their army in it as possible. It was widely believed if the German Army was no longer in a position to engage the Tianxia forces on the open field, now they’d have to rely on the mountains of Georgia to provide them safe haven, or be swept up by attrition in the openness of the flat parts of the Caucuses.

Gathered now in the Great Tent, before the Imperial Family and its commanders were Chakri, Kim, Zhen, Rakel, and other veterans of the fight. All of them had a world more experience on their faces. The army which had marched on Kazakhstan had been transformed by the initial fights and the Caucuses. What had started as a duel, a war of respect, had become a race of liberation, a race to save the Caucuses and Civilization. The Horde had brought its spear against Germany, and Germany’s reign of terror had sharpened that spear imbuing it with further purpose.

“Germany…. Has crossed a line.” Jia said standing from his throne next to Theresia’s. “It has pushed and pushed, and now it has triggered that which we have all sought to prevent. There can be no more revisionism, no more excuses, nothing. Today Germany, must be recognized for what it is. A blight on Human Civilization. Many of you hear come from German Ancestry, many an Amazonian and Austrian stands with us today who still remembers the green pastures of Austro-Hungary. The hospitality and liberalism of a people. It is something we all respected and loved, even those of us of the East.

But that is no longer what Germany is. There are few parallels in contemporary history that can be compared to the abomination which has been set forth on that continent. I draw the line.

Germany, must pay. It must pay dearly for what it has done. Today, I send you not on the main assault, but on a mission of rescue a mission of mercy. Today you show the world that there is some good still worth fighting for.” Jia said.

He threw pictures down of German forced labor units. “Behold, old men, women, being forced to dig in forced labor. These are your brothers. Look at them now, take in their suffering, personalize it. You Amazonians. You swore to overthrow the terrors effecting woman kind, not just in your homes but around the world.

You soldiers of the Horde, you took a solemn oath to defend Asia and the values we cherish most. Among these the most paramount is ren, humaneness.

This war has been the hardest on the air borne. It has been the hardest on your units. But today I must ask more of you. I ask you to drop behind enemy lines to free these units before they are worked to death or put to the enemy’s sword.

I ask you this knowing many of you will not make it back. I wish this could be the last thing I ask of you in this war. But tragically it is not. But should we win this day, should we triumph over this darkness, we will forever leave a message to the future generations.

We are the Horde. We stand for what is right. And no tyrant may stand before our wrath. FOR THE HORDE!”

After the speech, Chakri, Kim, Rika, and others were given several hours to relax before the next drop onto the city of Tblisi. Entering into the bar, Chakri found several of the other unit commanders already there.

“A round on me, Koreans, Amazons, Imperial Guard everybody.” He said, ordering a fresh pitcher of ale for the table.

Kim spoke up, “Imperial Knight Chakri, I want to thank you for helping my men out… we really owe you.” He said.

“Not a problem.” Chakri responded. “We’re starting to function more and more as a real unit. And we’ve finally found a purpose worth fighting for.”

[img]http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/7886/caspianseaadvance2.png[/img]

Edited January 3, 2012 by Triyun

[Malatose]

[b]War Against the Amazons[/b]

The few German defenders opened fire as soon as the Amazonians stormed the beaches. Using a combination of assault rifle fire and some artillery, they tried their best to stem off the tide. As the artillery shells landed on the beaches, they created dozens of holes which the German soldiers used for cover. On the other hand, other German soldiers opted to using rush tactics in a last ditch effort to stop the assault. Despite the effort and zeal displayed by German forces, they were still outnumbered significantly which resulted in a general pull back from the beaches. From a distance German forces, equipped with the Panzershreck Ausf.B, launched missiles towards the Amazonian landing craft. These attacks were not out of tactical skill but more out of desperation as the few defenders tried to hold back forces long enough for others to withdraw.

As the German forces left the beaches, they withdrew into the ruins of Baku. They used the ruins of the city to their advanges, mounting hit and run attacks at areas of oppurtunity. Their goal was not to defeat or delay the advancing forces. They didn't have enough resources for that. Their task was to harass and inflict as many casualties as possible. After depleting their ammunition, they would withdraw and hopefully link up with existing forces.

[b]War Against the Horde[/b]

The Luftwaffe had managed to mount a daring counter attack against the aircraft of the Horde. However, the attack was launched in desperation with no real tactical skill and that showed in the results. The Germans had killed very few enemy kills in the latest attack, and had received a substantial number of casualties in the Horde counter attack. After the counter attacks, the Luftwaffe was left with one full squadron and the remnants of the other squadrons in the battle space. Oberkommando Der Luftwaffe gave the official order to abandon airpace over the Caspian and the Caucuses and return to Germanic airspace over the Ukraine and Crimea, where they would have more of an advantage with the extensive defensive countermeasures and weapons. Oberkommando Der Luftwaffe did not see it as a defeat but as a phyric victory. They had achieved the initial task and had stood toe to toe with an airforce that was considered of better quality than there own. As the last fighters entered total German airspace, Oberkommando Der Luftwaffe began plans For the Defense of the Reich.

Air Defenses in the Caucuses were depleted; however, that was not the case in the Ukraine. AWACs detected the incoming missiles over the Ukraine and transmitted the information to Mobile RADAR and SAMs throughout the area. In response, the elaborate defense network went into action. Metal Storm systems fired into the general direction of missiles with their tungsten bullets. Of course the plane as not to directly intercept, the AWACs had transmitted the trajectory of the missiles; therefore, allowing these units to fire in their general direction to destroy them. Helping in this task would be 40mm autocannon gun systems using High Explosive [HEI] armor piercing fletchette round, which would detonate in the general direction of the missiles to destroy them. While the German systems engaged the missiles valiantly, a number did make it through causing signifcant damage to a about four runways. However, German engineers could have these back up and running within seventy two hours.

While the mobile gun systems were engaging the hypersonic cruise missiles. Ground RADAR detected the incoming MRBMs. Mobile launchers began to launch the RIM-702 Ultra Long Range Surface to Air Missile towards the MRBMs. These long range SAMs would travel towards their targets at a speed of Mach 4 and slam into them using their Kinetic Energy Warhead with 100kg CR Secondary. Of course the defense wasn't perfect a number of RADAR and SAM launchers were loss.

"Orders are as follows: The Caucuses is now an open territory. German forces are to withdraw and begin for defensive preparations. In regards to local infrastructure. Begin Delta Zero operations and detonate all placed charges. Raze entire area to the ground."

The war in the Caucuses continued to rage on an unprecendented scale. The German forces continued to hold their lines, as they were continuously falling back in the first place. However, that soon began to end. German forces began to move backwards in a withdrawal pattern back to the Crimea and Ukraine. Of course, they would continue to fight defensive actions but major combat operations were over. As German forces began the short withdrawal back to German territory, thousands of explosives began to detonate in every major city and town. The drafted civilians were left to dig anti-tank ditches and lay mines despite the incoming artillery constantly landing in the area.

German troops and tanks helped in this task, firing into buildings and driving over anything that could be destroyed. Engineer troops damaged railroads, roads and detonated bridges as German forces crossed. German forces even went to the extend of detonating small EMP bombs in every city to damage electronics and local communications beyond repair. When the Mongol hordes entered these cities, there would be nothing but rubble and destruction.

Towards the coastal sectors, two full divisions had been encircled. The Propaganda fed to them had warned them that Mongols were blood driven people, who would not accept surrender, but would torture them to feed their bloodthirst. As a result, the encircled troops fought to their deaths while many others chose suicide than to surrender to the communist horde. In the end, Caucuses was a major defeat to Reich Forces. The Whermacht suffered 54,182 casualties with 1,900 tanks and artillery pieces destroyed. Generalquartiermeister der Luftwaffe reported 260 aircraft destroyed.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

At best it was a Pyrrhic Victory, at worst, it was the fearful slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives. In the battles that lay across the land bridge that connected Russia and the Middle East, the German Army under constant pressure from the number of Asian attackers were beginning to withdraw across the Black Sea to their home territories of the Crimea and in their wake left what could only be considered as a wasteland. Baku, which had been the center of the Amazon attack, lay in ruins. Amazon dead lay scattered throughout the streets and one could still hear the muffled screams of the dying as their fragile bodies were crushed under tons of rock and brick. On the edges of the city, Rakel looked out across the plains to see a no-mans land of muddy trenches, dead grass and fires spewing black smoke from oil fields. The might must have been terrific from outer space, the colors of green and yellow on the Russian, Asian, and Turkish plains, surrounding a center of death and blackness where Hell itself might have been centered.

"What kind of monster..."

"Captain Lupinko?" Said a Persian Amazon as she walked up the hill of rubble looking over the countryside. "I don't mean to bother you, Captain, but a meeting has been called in the Great Tent. I just received word from Commander Zhen, your presence has been requested."

"Me? At the Great Tent?" Rakel's eyes widened.

"There is a discussion about the next moves of the war and as one of the front line commanders, Zhen has asked you be there. Apparently the damage we've seen here at Baku has been the same story all across the Caucuses. The death toll of civilians is rising the further we march and there is a debate that if this is how the Germans will conduct war, it might be better to wait for Visari to die of old age then trying to purge his country." The woman said with a chuckle.

"Nothing is funny about that." The Captain sighed and kicked a loose stone down the rubble hill. "What were our losses? Our artillery was fairly undamaged, but mainly because we brought nothing into the fight, out of the seventy-five tanks, thirty are still fighting capable and we lost somewhere around fifteen thousand women."

"An entire Phalanx?"

"These are fresh women, Captain, you can't expect..."

"I know what I expect, Lieutenant, now if you please, you are relieved. Thank you for the message."

The Junior Amazon sighed and snapped back a salute as she walked back down the rubble hill, leaving the Captain alone with her thoughts looking over a countryside that would take perhaps years to show signs of life.

---

Hours later, Rakel found herself seated around the dais of fine cloth and linen where the thrones of the Great Khan and Golden Empress stood. The two leaders were stoic, but their stone faces betrayed signs of rage, not from any Horde defeat, but from the evidence of German brutality across the Caucuses and which would probably continue the further the Horde marched towards Berlin. As the Khan made his speech, throwing the portraits of men, women, and children suffering and dying after having been found by the advancing Asian armies, but where would it end?

"We will do everything in our power, Sisters," The Grand Empress spoke, "To see that Germany can no longer plague the people of this world with such barbarism. They call us barbaric and uncivilized, but we are not the ones killing our own brothers and sisters. As the Khan has said, this is no longer a campaign of conquest or Asian solidarity, it is a campaign of liberation and freedom for the oppressed people of Germanization. In the battles to liberate Baku and beyond, we have lost many lives and we will lose more in the days to follow, but their spirits go with us and my Companions will attest, no amount of oppression as what is occurring in Germany can we as sisters stand for."

"It is, we have to press onward." Said Zhen nodding.

"My hopes are that, women freed from the Caucuses, after we nurse them back to health will join us in revenge against their oppressors and we can replenish the missing bodies in the lines. We must stay resilient and we must stay strong, if not for ourselves, for those people suffering throughout the Caucuses and across the European mainland."

Rakel stayed silent for the meeting, running through the scenes of battle in her head. They had some thirty-five thousand women-at-arms left and yes, some of those numbers would be replenished, but they couldn't fight and they wouldn't be trained. The Amazons could not continue to throw their Phalanxes into battle, but this was the legend they wanted to create, the Mooseriders and the Spartans were no where to be seen, it would be the Amazons who would hold the second highest banner as the Horde spread across the earth. She could respect the thought, but she feared what it would bring to so many women who never dreamed of the horrors of war.

After the meeting began to dissipate, the Empress walked down from the dais and took notice of Rakel before she could leave. "You are Captain Lupinko, yes?"

Rakel turned and blushed, dropping her head to the ground. "I am, Majesty."

"Sister," Theresia said putting her hand on the Captain's shoulder with a firm grip. "I'm dishonored that you think you should even look down on my shoes, you're the one I should be afraid to look upon. I understand you were in charge of some of the first waves that took the beaches at Baku? And you served in the Timurdian Military prior to the Amazon Movement?"

"Yes, all those things, Majesty."

"I do not want to risk further casualties to our ranks, but there needs to be Amazon Representation in the coming battles. I would like you to be that representation as a Sentinel."

Rakel's eyes widened at the word, "Maj-...Sister, that is..."

"A great honor?" Theresia's eyes lit up in happiness. "You've given the Sisterhood a great honor simply by continuing this fight. I know that the Khan has authorized further campaigns to secure the Caucuses and possibly a move across the Black Sea to the Crimea. I want you there. I will be giving you command of a Shock Phalanx, do what you will, but do it in the spirit of our Sisters."

With a broad smile, the Sentinel took the Queen's hands firmly and nodded her head. "It will be done, Sister. In the spirit of Ares."

---

Later that night in the Horde camp, hours before the drop, Rakel watched from a distance as the Koreans and the Imperial Knights cheered and drank. She gave a light smirk before turning to her own light drink and the picture she had pulled up off the floor of the Great Tent. She had a responsibility now and when she fell, the anger of those dying voices in the rubble and the smell of burning sulfur over the countryside would keep her moving forward. To the dawn of a new era, for the dawn of Amazonia.

[Triyun]

The next morning Kim felt the weight of the pack on him as soon as it was secured to his body. The paratrooper was called light infantry, but the term was barely applicable with all the weight they carried for the jump. It was a miracle that they did not hit the ground in a loud thud as soon as they jumped out of their planes. He sighed, his mind wandered back to the night before. He had met many people that night, Amazons, Chinese, Japanese, Mongolians, all concentrated on the same goal as he, the goal of freeing the men, women, and children who lay below, in the wastelands of the once beautiful Caucus. Georgia had been home to ancient cultures, which had contributed much to the world, but they were made to suffer, never fully integrated under their current rulers… How long has Visari ruled these people, but he just cast them aside for ‘better’ ones… that was the only thing that Kim could thing of. They were just placeholders, meat shields till he got his ubermen.

He felt himself gripping his pack tighter. Pushing himself out into the open air over the grounds around Tblisi, he was struck even at this altitude by the thick smell of smoke from the smoldering ruins below. How had such a thing come about? He cringed. Kim had seen the destruction in Korea, but this felt different, it was grittier, more personal. These were not people behind desks or in bunkers firing missiles, these were people looking into the whites of their victims’ eyes setting explosives and pulling triggers.

“Captain!” a voice shouted from behind. Kim turned to see Chakri standing behind him. “Its your turn to jump.” Chakri continuted.

The Korean captain snapped back into reality. Pushing himself out of the plane he felt like he was descending into the belly of hell as smoky air was forced into his face. The bright lights of AA fire from the retreating germans surged up into the sky. He felt his parachute shake as it went past him, barely missing the plane above.

The loud scream of missiles being fired to destroy the AA gun rattled him once more. He felt like a sitting duck as he waited to hit the ground, defenseless, out in the open unable to fire back.

Hitting the ground, he rolled as enemy machine guns opened up on him and his fellow paratroopers from a ridge. Two of the rookie Koreans charged forward towards the gun, before the now more experience ones held them back. Crawling to some of the most meager cover he’d seen, Kim kept his head down on the ground. He looked up towards the position, slowly waiting for the break in the illuminating fire to bring his scope up. He breathed carefully, squeezing the handle and firing a single shot strait into his enemy’s head.

“Go!” he ordered.

The unit moved slowly and carefully around the sides, never leaving cover or shadows as they moved around the German position they were assaulting towards the prisoners.

Long gone was the team which had previously acted arrogant towards the Germans, but gone too was the respect for their opponents that they had gained. What now remained was a deep conviction. Germany had become a demon. Germanization was the enemy and it was their duty to oppose it. They were not out for personal glory, or to show they were the bravest team on the field. They were out to kill Germans, and kill Germans they would do.

As they approached the prisoner camps, the stench of smoke began to mesh with the stench of death and human waste. The Germans had simply left workers to simply keel over and die without food or water. They hadn’t even bothered to remove the corpses from the trenches where they were digging. What was even more horrifying was the fact that many of these workers still were working even as the sounds of Horde weapons could be heard, scared out of their minds of the wrath of the German army and its modern day terror squads.

Kim felt sick as he could make out children, barely into puberty forced into swinging a pick, their faces muddied, their arms clearly aching. “This is not war.” He said to himself.

A voice came over the radio. It was Chakri’s. “All units attack. Lets tolerate this now further!” he ordered.

All around the work camp, the sound of gun fire opened up as the airborne forces began assaulting this camp, and camps all around it, to drive the Germans out and save the people of the Caucuses.

Jia took note of the broad front in the command center. The Germans had begun a full-scale retreat. With the totality of it, it seemed that many units had a chance of escaping out of the Caucuses into the Caspian. He sighed. The Imperator had no intention of allowing such a thing to happen.

“We’re allowing Visari to fall back to fast.” Jia said. He felt an annoyance building in him. “We need to overwhelm those lines.”

“If we move to slowly, we may not have sufficient forces to hit Ukraine properly.” The Kou objected.

“That’s not important, if we can surround the enemy in the Caucuses there simply will be no army to defend Europe. The way to Berlin will be clear.” Jia said.

On the front, the Tianxia forces had begun a massively increased bombing campaign against the Germans. With the Luftwaffe quitting the field, the Germans were left with the massive logistic task of a tactical retreat to Ukraine of over 100, 000 survivors naked. The Tianxia air force responded by conducting a broad spectrum attack across the entirety of the enemy’s strategic depth.

Massive air bombardment using B-11s stand off were used to destroy key roads and heavy rail lines to facilitate the transport of heavy armor and artillery pieces back aross the Black Sea into Germany.

Giving the Germans little time to even attempt repairs, F-2 Squadrons lead waves of A-47 drones in close air support and interdictor missions hitting enemy supply trains, transport trucks, refueling stations, and everything needed to facilitate the vast movement of German troops out of the Caucuses. The bombing was around the clock, and to make matters worse, EWAC drones continued to fly overhead jamming the precious few sensors the German troops had left, forcing them to move cautiously and not use major road ways and infrastructure, thus considerably slowing the retreat.

At the same time, the Tianxia armored and mechanized forces were assaulting the front line with fury. With a minority of the available F-2 and A-47 squadrons used for the frontline task, they were not as well protected as in previous battles. However this mattered less as the Germans had only rear guard forces at the front, so that others could retreat without being overwhelmed. While casualties continued to mount, the numbers were no becoming a factor, combined with total informational dominance.

Armored units were supported in their attack by the continual presence of R-RCS helicopter gunships and their even stealthier fire acquisition drones. These units were used to pick off the stand off weapon systems the Germans had which could give fire support to the rest of the unit to either cover retreats or slow the advance of Tianxia tanks and supporting EOD battalions. By degrading this capability, the Tianxia forces would devote less forces to artillery protection, allowing artillery to manuver more openly in the rear area, therefore increasing its lethality, while sharpening the armored and mechanized forces at the tip of the spear. While undoubtedly a good chunk of the German army still had a chance of escape. The bold new attack plan would allow the Horde to both gain large swaths of ground, and also pincer and smash several further German army divisions before they could make the trip across the Baltic.

Over Ukraine, F-5 and F-1s continued their furious assault against the Luftwaffe. These aircraft would utilize the totality of their stealth the three squadrons of F-5s would be sent with passive sensors to fly low on the Caspian Sea. At the same time a forward vanguard of F-1 Quantums and F-5 Super Quantums would be sent as an air attack force, engaging the AWAC radars. Filtering the information of the AWACs radars into their radar absorbing smart skins, the F-1s would transmit their data back to a second force of tF-5s, located behind them, and away from German receiving dishes. The F-5s would then optimize their silver nano wiring for these frequencies.

While the main mix of F-5s and F-1s would be ready to bait the Luftwaffe into more engagements, staying out of SAM ranges. The F-5s with their even more advanced stealth systems would move in for the kill. Piling on the destroyed runways, the F-5s would launch stand off missiles. 18 of the planes would engage the hangars of the four air bases unable to launch planes with armor penetrating warheads to destroy enemy planes on the ground. At the same time, nine would engage enemy radar, and nine would engage the enemy AWACs.

As the enemy SAMs would move to engage, this data would be filtered to twelve B-10s soaring towards the caucuses. These units would then engage the SAMs and Radars with area effect flechette missiles, fired from the fast moving ER-M-51 missile to give little time for the enemy to escape.

Piling on F-3s would fly across grouped into two groups of eight. One would engage the enemy AWACs over Ukraine, to further shrink their numbers with ultra long range infrared and anti-radiational missiles, while a second would engage the ground defense radars.

Quickly following up on this Tu-160 Rudolphs would move into position to supplement Skyhawk AWAC coverage and engage and destroy SAMs and enemy planes as they moved to counter attack.


[img]http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/3452/caspianadvance3.png[/img]

[Malatose]

The task of withdrawing was a long and arduous task to the massive German force. As the soldiers moved back towards the Crimea, they were constantly harassed by Horde bombers, which resulted in scores of damaged equipment. Soldiers of the Panzerwaffe opted to abandon their vehicles in the face of the onslaught; while, artillery troops did the same. The main goal was survival. The loss of military equipment, while a consideral loss, could be replaced by the massive storage centers of the Army. The long retreat into the Caucuses had been hell. In the end, an additional 23,019 soldiers were killed in action with 37,240 wounded and another 2,435 were taken prisoner. As the last soldiers crossed into the Crimea, it was a bitter sweet victory; however, the worse was yet to come.

The Luftwaffe had little time to regroup itself; however, the fight continued. The battle was different over the Ukraine. Unlike the Caucuses, the Ukraine was equipped with hundreds of air defense units and it was apart of the Greater German Air Defense Network and was the home of three Luftflottes. It was a considerable force, that was ready to engage all threats. However, the plan directed by Oberkommando der Luftwaffe, was one of defense. This was first exercised with the withdrawal of forces from the Caucuses theater. In effect, the Luftwaffe was basically delegated to a defensive role. Using mobile defense tactics, the enemy would have to come to them to engage in combat.

The Horde attack on ground targets were devestating. Runways, some parked aircraft (as most were launched into the skies), RADAR and a number of SAM launchers were destroyed. Five Xenian AWACs were destroyed as well. However, it was for the greater good as most of these units would be replaced within the next critical hours. The Luftwaffe was biding time for the go ahead to be given for the next offensive operation.


[b]Reich Chancellery[/b]

"This is an outrage. Two German armies obliterated thanks to the incompetence of one man!", Visari screamed

"I ask for one thing. To defend the Caucuses region and achieve a strategic victory, and I can't even receive that. I want Milch dismissed of his command at once!"

Generalfeldmarschall Xecr Nist interjected, "Reichskanzler, Johan Milch exercised good judgement. If not for him, we would have suffered more losses. We must remember, that we are fighting an enemy with far more resources."

Visari shook his head, "Defeatism gets one no where. We are fighting for our survival and for the survival of Europe. I want results and not excuses. Appoint someone else, but at the end of the day I want Milch gone."

[b]In the Crimea[/b]

The rout of the Wehrmacht in the Caucuses had caused a wide number of casualties. Most units were depleted; while, others were were destroyed outright. In response, Reichskanzler Michael Visari appointed Generalfeldmarschall Artur Freidman as Wehrmacht Commander-in-Chief South. This placed him as the formal commander of all forces that retreated from the Caucuses and additional forces being sent to the Crimea. Because of his failure to successfully defend the Caucuses, Generalfeldmarschall Johan Milch was sacked and demoted to Oberst. In his new position, Generalfeldmarschall Artur Freidman began to initiate a number of changes. He made it his goal to stop the Horde advance in the Crimea. Though the situation seemed dire, Leadership initiative and a good staff system were beginning to create a defence out of chaos under the command of Freidman.

With the decisive battle being only a matter of time, Visari ordered that forces in the Crimea should get priority when it came to equipment in personne. Because of this, the shattered remnants of the German Force from the Caucuses began to receive large numbers of personnel and equipment. Destroyed and severely depleted divisions were reconstituted with fresh men and material. While the force would not reach it's Caucuses level of one hundred thousand, it was raised to a battle force of seventy thousand men. This force was sent to the very center of the Crimea to act as a buffer against the possible Horde invasion.

To the East, the armed wing of the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order was being deployed for combat operations. Under the command of ST-Oberst-Gruppenführer Michael Frank, the 1st ST Division Leibstandarte ST Scolar Visari, 2nd ST Division Nordland, 3rd ST Division Visarijugend, 4th ST Division Germania, and the 5th ST Division Prinz Eugen were assembled under a central command known as the 1 ST Panzer Corps. To the West, one hundred thousand troops of the German 11th Army were being assembled. Altogther, three hundred seventy thousand troops, four thousand tanks, and thousands of artillery pieces were assembled for what was considered to be Germany's last chance to get on the offensive.

In regards to air defense, The Luftwaffe deployed the combined forces of Luftflotte 3 and 5. Luftflotte 3 consisted of thirteen Lu-65 squadrons; while, Luftflotte 5 had 10 Lu-67 squadrons assigned to it. The force was to protect the ground forces and conduct air to air operations against enemy forces. AWACs were also deployed to prepare for the possible battle.

Edited January 5, 2012 by Malatose

[Sarah Tintagyl]

In the Great Tent, Theresia watched as the small red wooden blocks were pushed across a map and a wave of red followed in their path. The Caucuses were liberated and the German Army was in full withdraw across the Black Sea to the territories of the Crimea and the German heartland. Beyond the shores of the sea lay the vast expanse of Europe and the hard shell that would fight fiercely back against the Horde's invasion. Jia spoke in confidence that the path was clear for the Asian armies all the way to the German capital, but the Grand Empress, even filled with the spirit of Ares couldn't help but look at the hundreds of miles that needed to be crossed to reach Berlin. She thought of the amount of death already caused by the Horde's advance, not on the Asians themselves, but upon the population in these conquered territories.

Kou urged caution, but Jia's words cast him aside as the red blocks continued to move across the Black Sea to the Crimea and Thersia wrung her hands. "Jia. If I may interject." The Empress said walking up to the map. "Kazakhstan was virtually undefended and the Caucuses we were able to siphon mass amounts of soldiers both via land and across the Caspian with planes. We can do that again against the Crimea, but the only possible way to assault against the Sea of Azov is from the air. We cannot use Slavorussian territory for this war and an air battle of such magnitude," she paused and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Jia, we just wouldn't have the advantage that we've enjoyed thus far."

She turned and walked back to the linen dais and sat down in her chair. "We have hundreds of thousands of people starving and need of medical attention throughout the Caucuses. The Horde has inherited a wasteland and I think that before we let Visari waste the rest of Europe as we cut through his territory that we rebuild what we can here. We have a barrier in the Black Sea, these people will never again fall under German control." Closing her eyes, Theresia sighed. "I just have worries about this coming invasion. You know that I will support you, Jia, whatever you agree. These people need liberated, I just..." She opened her eyes and clenched her fists. "...I want to see these monsters destroyed and I know how costly it will be."

---

Sentinel Rakel Lupinko saw the monstrosity of the German retreat first hand as she dropped into Tbilisi with other members of the Horde's Vanguard Battalions. There was little fighting in the Western Caucuses as the Germans were more concerned about withdrawing off the land bridge and reforming in the Crimea for the Horde's ever-moving advance, but like in Baku and across the central mountains, what they did leave were the sickly, the dead, and the dying population. Entering into the city, Rakel was greeted with a ruin of rubble that looked much like Baku. Bodies, rotting in the sun, lay on the streets while carrion birds ate away at the scraps of meat. Some of the Mongols joked somberly that the destruction of civilization was their duty, not the Germans, but it was clear that the Germans didn't consider the civilians this far east civilized anyways, they killed without remorse.

Other Horde regiments poured into the West Caucuses now and the Amazons who had cemented their reputation as fierce warriors showed another side as they came upon the legions of the sick and dying, they became nurturers and mothers. Medical camps became the cities themselves as supplies were requested from the Chinese and Mongolian heartland. The Amazons became doctors and nurses overnight, putting down their spears to take care of small children and to bury the dead. Debates, like the one which was raging in the Great Tent moved through the ranks of the Tribeswomen, some believed that the Black Sea constituted the border of the Horde's expansion and that the Caucuses needed to be rebuild. Others championed that it was Asia's duty to liberate the rest of the enslaved German population from the grip of the madman - Visari. Rakel kept her opinion to herself as she passed through the camps towards the coast of the sea.

On the southern shore of the Black Sea, the Sentinel knew that the Temple of Hippolyta lay under the foamy waves. She invigorated just by the wind blowing across the water, filling her with the spirit of the warrior, the ideal Amazon. The wind would blow away the ash and death in the Caucuses and she could see new people growing out from the ground, a people who would finally stabilize Central Asia and do so without using fear.

Spinning her spear through the air, she let out a war cry that echoed across the water. The coming battle would be the most dangerous, but she would be there in the thick of it, because that was where she belonged. With a smile she turned back towards the hospital camps and in finding Chakri stuck out her hand.

"The Grand Empress has asked that the Amazons be represented in the attack on the Crimea. I am that representation."

[Triyun]

Jia listened to the counsel of Theresia carefully, rubbing his chin as she spoke. It was a difficult decision. She was right, the gates of the Europe proper would undoubtedly be much more heavily guarded than Kazakhstan or even the Caucuses. But at the same time, the Khagan felt in his gut that they had a certain responsibility to go bold. How many cities could have been saved had they attacked more boldly in the Caucuses? Could it really be expected that Ukraine would get a better treatment by the Germans than did Caucasia? Jia felt that Michael Visari's actions could not longer be predicted with any real degree of certitude.

He sighed, "I know..." Jia began, "At the same time we need to wonder. How many more can be saved if we attack boldly. I don't mean our troops, I mean civilians. The longer we delay an attack, the longer the Germans have to set explosives in Kiev and Sevastopol. This will be a costly fight, but I think we need to capitalize on our success here and do Germany in in a decisive battle in Ukraine before they can even have a chance to use scorched Earth tactics. This fight needs to be taken into Germany as soon as possible. The Horde must bleed more... so that others don't have to. I just hope that the soldiers can forgive me for this decision..."

Jia took his wife's hand gripping it tightly while looking down, wrapping his mind around the magnitude and riskiness of the operation he was about to order. With his other hand he took a pen and wrote on the paper his signature for Operation Crimean Rain.

Chakri had been in the medical camp for several days visiting with friends from his unit who had been injured. Reaching the Black Sea had been a relief. Aside from the occasional shelling, the Germans had been broken. They were now nearly certainly dislodged from Asia and the Far East of Europe for good. The initial phase of the operation had been a military success, and had come with comparitively light losses to what the Horde's planners had expected. On top of that a huge portion of the Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht had been wiped off the map. The totality of the German defeat in the Caucuses was sure to make an invasion of Germany significantly easier for the Tianxia forces.

However, that wasn't the full picture. Chakri knew that while the tent where his friends were was lighter than they thought it would be, the other tents, further back were full. These were of civilians. The human cost of the invasion on the civilian population was astronomically high. What made it so shocking was that it was done by the defenders. Several divisions had been pinned down in humanitarian relief, a task for which they had not been prepared to do. There were units trained in it, but they weren't scheduled to arrive for a month, having been anticipated to be needed towards the end of the war and in much smaller scales, primarily in cities the Germans were expected to fight to the last in in Northern Europe.

Rising up from his chair, he went outside to get some air. Chakri had spent much of his life around war, but he couldn't lie to himself. This war had taken a particularly hard toll on him. The sites, the images, were burned into his mind in fire as hot as the ones raging still in the Baku Oilfields. "God damn you Visari." he said to himself as is eyes looked across the vast stretch of the Black Sea before him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he turned, he saw Rakel, the woman whose unit had fought beside them approach towards him. He turned to her as she spoke. Shaking her hand he nodded, "Well then, Sentinal, I suppose we will get to have the pleasure of fighting together." he said. "May Ares bless you on the battlefield. Thats right isn't it?" Chakri said.

In the air over Crimea, the critical hours that were without AWAC coverage would prove to be ones where the Tianxia forces did not let up. Making way for the airborne invasion, two hundred TEL launchers fired SRBMs each consisting of two dummies and a large armor penetrating warhead. The barrage of missiles would concentrate on causing considerably more damage both to radar sites and to runways, many of which had already been damaged. The goal was to do in these runways to such an extent that the Engineers couldn't hope to repair them for at least a week. Additionally, the coal was also to cover the areas with rubble, as one pebble could demolish the turbofans on an Lu-65 trying to take off.

Following on on this attack, the F-1 and F-5 force acting as blocking would move forward the radar energy frequency information their radar absorbant material located, as enemy radar grids scanned them, their information would be forwarded in their location to the Tu-160 Rudolphs over the battlefield. The Tu-160s would concentrate enormous radar microwaves onto radar grid systems, jamming them. Then they would follow up with a concentrated laser attack to instantaneously over heat the circuitry and fry the unit. Of especial prioritization were enemy mobile radars, which would not be able to counteract the speed of light attacks, and would have less time to respond effectively. At the same time Skyhawk AWACs would do broad spectrum jamming of enemy Lu-65s and Lu-67s (OOC: you said the planes were in the air for the hangars I attacked last post so I assume some have been launched). F-3s would conduct hit and runs on the Lu-65s and Lu-67s with anti-radiational missiles and IR missiles. F-1s and F-5s would rapidly then move in to engage the enemy, backed up by a forced of rear guard B-11s.

As Skyhawk AWACs got locks onto the enemy fighters, the B-11s from the safety of the rear area would launch ultra long range air to air missiles, which would be guided to their target by the AWACs. Volley after volley was sent from the four squadrons of B-11s, each capable of firing 20 air to air missiles. Their primary targets would be the comparatively less capable Lu-67s in the area. Half of the eighteen combinened squadrons of F-1 and F-5 fighters would then pounce on the Lu-67 squadrons following the volley attacks, to hit them with combinations of semiactive, IR, image recognition, and anti-raditational missiles. Aiming to annihilate as many of these planes while their units were subject to attrition of the B-11 volleys. The other group would be used to be ready to engage the Lu-65s as they came up. The primary goal was with the lack of AWAC coverage, the enemy would be disorganized for at least several hours during which the maximum degree of punishment could be inflicted.

Eight squadrons of F-2 fighters along with twelve squadrons of A-47 drones would be used to go in against ground forces. The F-2s were loaded with an air to air and air to ground mix of weapons. Moving into areas where Skyhawks and Rudolphs were jamming, their skins sensed for enemy radars both in the air and ground swiftly engaging them with their anti-radiational stand off weapons.

Following onto this A-47s would begin attacking the German ground forces around Sevastpool and other areas in the Crimea. Sniffing radio signals in and out towards locations (the most likely signs of a command center, and confirming with SAR and EOSA imaging) the A-47s would hit areas with 2000 lbs JDAMs, each carrying four of them, with a stand off range of 60 kilometers. Their approaches would further be ensured by the presence of Skyhawk EWAC support to jam enemy radar (while the A-47s masked IR emissions would protect it in that area until much less than 60 kilometers).

Following on, the Tianxia large mobile rail guns had been brought up through the Caucuses. Operating on the shores of the Caucuses, three batteries of twelve fired huge shells into German Army positions in Crimea as well as being used to great effect in catering German air fields even as engineers tried to repair them.

As the air assault against the integrated air defense systems continued, the airborne were once again being prepared for a massive drop over the Crimea. Three Tianxia Airborne Divisions and a Amazonia Airborne Phalanx would be dropped to swiftly take the Crimea and deny the Germans a chance to amass a defensive line in Ukraine.

Across the Crimea a massive drop would begin as over 40, 000 paratroopers reigned down from the skies in the night. The Imperial Guard on Sevastpool. A combined Korean/Amazonian force on both sides of the narrow gap into Ukraine and the 9th Airborne into the link to the Caucuses. The assault was sudden and would catch many of the jammed German defenders off guard.

Fighting rapidly broke out across the front, with the airborne having some advantage in the element of surprise, but it also soon became apparent that the enemies strength on the Crimea was also vastly underestimated. While the units were able to link up, the links were not as secured as to be expected, and the fight was expected to shortly be turning into a massive free for all.

[img]http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/51/ukraineinvasion.png[/img]

On the Ground savagery was everywhere as Kim's company stormed the German line. Enemy infantry many battle weary from the fights in Caucasia were rapidly overtaken. Bullets and grenades flew across as both sides fought with a motivation born from the brutality of this war. German units fought indoctrinated with propaganda for what they viewed as the gates of the Fatherland, while the Tianxia forces believed that this was a great and rightous crusade. Neither was willing to give way to the other.

As they cleared the next trench though, Kim was shocked by what he saw. These weren't exhausted caucasian troops with torn uniforms, a full platoon of troops with the Berlin garrison insignia on them. Once more they had tanks. Diving for cover the captain barely saved himself as a tank shell fired straight across him. [i]Jesus christ.[/i] he though.

Edited January 5, 2012 by Triyun

[Malatose]

Just as expected, the Mongol hordes began there fierce attack into the Crimea. The enemies SRBMs caused havoc and reigned from the skies onto various runways. The local air defense units in the area managed to intercept some with medium range missiles; however, the damage was quite severe. Aircraft losses were considered light as a considerable amount of the Luftwaffe was operating in the skies already. RADAR and some SAM units were knocked out of commission as their electronics were fried by concetrated enemy attacks. However, that wasn't the end of the enemy attack. A large number of Luftwaffe fighters began to experience a significant amount of jamming. This resulted in them resorted to ECCM techniques to attempt to negate the total effects, which amounted to a mild success. As the sensors reactivated, they were able to track the barrage of missiles coming their way. The Luftwaffe pilots unleashed their chaff and flares and activated their own DFRM systems. Ten fighters were lost to the barrage. In response, the fighters launched their own ATAIM-8 missiles with Dual IR/EO seeker, midcourse inertial navigation guidance.

As the aircraft danced in the skies, another batch of missiles were detected. Three Xenian AWACs were knocked out of the sky as the missiles slammed into them. This barrage was followed by another which resulted in the death of some thirteen Luftwaffe jets. The rest of the jets survived thanks to their comprehensive use of DFRM, chaff, flares and expert use of tactical maneuverable escapes. The rest of the fighters engaged the incoming Horde fighters with the basic assortment of ATAIM-8 missiles.

As the war in the air raged, the German 11th Army and the 1 ST Panzer Corps continued to march forward. However, the march was soon put to an end as they encountered enemy paratroopers falling from the skies. Initially caught off guard by the attack, Generalfeldmarschall Artur Freidman ordered the commander of the 1 ST Panzer Corps, ST-Oberst-Gruppenführer Michael Frank, to commence attacks at once. The elite troops of the party and the defenders of the Reich against communist subversion, began to move forward to engage the invaders. ST forces moved forward, engaging enemy forces with a combination of grenades and assault rifle fire. In one rare case, a paratrooper landed directly infront of the command vehicle of Michael Frank, before he was subdued by a handgun bullet. Other cases of hand to hand combat were reported throught the entire sector due to the closeness of the two enemies.

As the infantry of the 1 ST Panzer Corps moved forward, the various armoured vehicles did as well. Panzer VII "Nakil" tanks fired off their SMGs to engage the forces. The In extreme cases, the massive guns of the tanks fired into the distance at the paratroops. Arica I Shalmanesar Armoured Personnel Carrier continued to speed forward, firing off their 35mm Chainguns and 60mm grenade launcher. It hoped that the speed in which the Panzers and Aricas would move would destroy or capture a large number of men. The men of the 1 ST Panzer Corps neither asked nor gave quarter.

While the 1 ST Panzer Corps continued to engage the enemy, Generalfeldmarschall Artur Freidman ordered the German 11th Army to continue southward to attempt an encirclement of the enemy forces. However, little did they know they would be needed elsewhere...

[size="1"]OOC: This is a response to Triyun's attacks and a counter to Sarah's divisions which means she should reply to the following post[/size]

In the center of the Crimea, the remnants of the Caucuses force was being hit hard. Essentially, they had their backs to the walls as the enemy bombings had decimated the last of their equipment. However, the soldiers stood together to oppose the enemy. While they had managed to regroup, their ammo was still scarce, which meant they had to make their shots count. It didn't help that reports were now coming in that the enemy was landing forces throughout the Crimea. The force of fifty thousand men were now surrounded on all sides, and it was soon that the noose would close soon.

"Fight to the death!"

The same battle cry was heard throughout the intercom systems of the Xenias Infantry Combat systems of the encircled Caucuses troops. The last commander of the unit, Obserst Hieldin ordered that his men remain calm.

"We have been through worse men. Remain calm. Make your ammo count", he told his men over the secured systems. Afterwards, he activated the distress beacon. It was more of a desperate action on his part, since a major part of the communication of the unit were being jammed. Because of that, he didn't know that two full German armies were moving southward. For all he knew, his men were the only group of soldiers located in the Crimea...

[b]Back at Headquarters[/b]

"Generalfeldmarschall, we have received a distress beacon from the remnants of Army Group A from the Caucuses. According to the coded message, they are low on ammo and are surrounded on all fronts."

Generalfeldmarschall smiled, "So the paratrooper attack in the North wasn't some fluke. They are actually coordinating an attack to the take the Crimea."

Generalfeldmarschall Freidman pulled out a map and began to examine it, "The men of Army Group A have been through enough. We're going to attempt a breakthrough to free them. The German 11th Army is to continue South and must be prepared to engage possible enemy forces along the way."

[b]The Breakthrough to the remnants of Army Group A[/b]

The German 11th Army continued it's move forward at a rapid pace. So far no resistance had been encountered, except the resistance up in the north being dealt with 1 ST Panzer Corps. The silence of the battlefield would soon end.

"Groups of enemies spotted! I repeat! Groups of enemies spotted! From the looks of it, they're Amazonians!"

Self propelled artillery pieces began to fire at the Amazonian forces, using high explosive rounds. As the artillery blasted into the distance towards the enemy, the soldiers began to move forward with murderous intent. They fired at targets using their assault rifles. Grenades were used to flush the enemy out of their holes. The Panzer VII "Nakils" engaged the Amazonians with their 140mm ETC guns; while, the Arica APCs fired their 35mm Chainguns.

The goal was speed and as the Amazonians were still regrouping from the landings, they would be caught off guard by the speed and power of the German armoured thrust. The goal was simple. Smash from the Amazonians and create a corrider for the remnants of Army Group B to escape through.