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With the American Commonwealth reopening hostilities against Faraway, the Republic of Kanadario sent out general orders for all of its artillery units to reopen fire upon known Faraway unit formations. It had gone to great extents to scouting out all of the Faraway troop formations that were within its borders. It had general orders to give no quarter to the enemy as it had filtered through all ranks of society and the military the atrocities that Faraway had done towards the people of its nation.

 

While the artillery began to pound shell after shell at Faraway troops, the infantry and armored units began to move with a little more aggression and less defensively than before. They continued to use the cover of the forests, however they would continue to use the same tactics they were using before, hit hard and fast. They would set themselves up then open on a massive amount of fire into the larger Faraway formations before quickly melting back into the forest, they would avoid only opening up only fire from one direction and would instead only open fire if it had two or more locations in which it could fire from, to keep confusion high among the enemy, and not allow them to use cover. 

Edited by Lysergide
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"Mon Dieu, to our consternation, we today had to witness that our country has come under attack again by the American Commonwealth and its allies, despite the armistice agreement. It is with great sorrow, that we now have been confirmed in our suspicion, that there is no will for peace in Washington and Toronto, that the Presidents of our enemies are not even aiming for a "free" Québec people, but for the end of Québec, on the map, as well as in its very physical existence. Since the coup of Madame Arnault-Delareux against the government of our country, they pressured us to restore democratic order, the moment we do such a thing, they try to extort us over an armistice and the moment we are making a sacrifice for the sake of peace, they start their genocidal campaign against our people. Today, the American Commonwealth has abandonned its moral high ground and has showed its true face, that it is not democracy they seek, for such has been restored. It is not peace they seek, for such they betrayed. It is the destruction of Québec they seek, for such they show in both word and action.

 

Our country has been willing to find a peaceful solution from the very start, making concessions were necessary to preserve the peaceful order of the Americas. Our people have, out of their own free will showed their willingness to restore the old order, and we have through our own force taken care of those involved in our atrocities. One cannot call us out for being a people who sabotage the peace and disregard human lives. Throughout this conflict, it was our country that has shown willingness to be peaceful and to spare us all the suffering of war. It cannot be denied, that meanwhile, the American Commonwealth has resolved to merely make us suffer, to deny any reasonable peace terms and to strike at those civilians it has claimed to free from a dictatorial regime that no longer even exists.

 

Sadly, our country faces two choices and only these two choices. To surrender and to hope that those, who call for the destruction of our very existence will allow us to live, or to struggle on, in the hope that the enemy becomes reasonable once again. This war now has taken on the form of a genocidal campaign of annihilation and we will have to acknowledge that. The people of our country, who at large are innocent, will have to do our best, to protect this state of ours. I am fully aware, that the cost of this war, will most likely, be millions of dead on our side and millions more who will face the very basis of their existence being destroyed. Still, I call upon the people of Québec, to do their best, for their country, as our state is the last bastion we have, to protect ourselves from assured eradication. I cannot promise you victory, or any gains from it, regardless of how much we struggle. But I can promise you, that unless we do everything in our might, the cost of defeat will be unbearable.

 

I hereby also thank the Stormlands, for their attempt to mediate a peace and for their willingness up to now to cooperate with the North Americans. We are very saddened by the dismay that was caused by the actions of North American nations, including ours and while we acknowledge your reason to do so, we are also saddened by the diplomatic disengagement. We thank our brothers and sisters in Terre-Neuve et Labrador, for their words in support of a peaceful resolution. We acknowledge the neutrality of your nation and hope to be able to find such a peaceful resolution soon.

 

Now, my dear compatriots at the front and at home, there is a future to defend and unless Washington sees reason again, this will be all we can do, to protect not just our sovereignity or honour, but to protect our people from the raging madness of this war."

-Liselotte Wiltord, Premier ministre de l'Union laurentienne

 

Altough Liselotte was not present within the Union, a fact that was not publicly known, she would record a message to be broadcast on radio at home. There was not really much that could be done now.

 

At the Saint-Laurent, the first barrage of leaflets would cause already the forces to be alarmed and people to take refuge. Evacuation had already started at the beginning of the war, but there was only so many people that could be resettled in such a short time. And soon, the slaughter began, as a hail of Faraway-designed ammunitions would be coming down on the three centres of the Laurentine Union. Being powerful enough to collapse buildings and blasting out apartment blocks with thermobaric ammunitions, the death toll would be great, especially as three towns would be hhit simultanously. Counting of losses would naturally be impossible, but it was estimated to be somewhere inbetween the tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands. Medical institutions would be the first to be evacuated, given that they'd be of vital importance, even the more after the shellings and they would take comparatively little damage, in sharp contrast to those who were unable to run for their lives.

 

The attack did not really create much of a pro-democratic, pro-American or pro-anything impact, it mostly just highlighted that now, the peace was dead. Now, the struggle for sovereignity was a struggle for survival, the last hopes that the American Commonwealth could be reasoned with had been burried under a hail of rockets and grenades. any semblance of civilisation had left this war.

 

Units along the Saint-Laurent would be tasked with counter-battery fire. However, this time, the counter-battery would not be a mere series of pinpoint strikes against enemy emplacements. No, it would be a strike to take out whatever firepower was in the region. With the emergency mobilisation of the third wave, an enormous amount of troops had been amassed along the Saint-Laurent, and while most more mobile units had been sent to fight in the West, the heavier ones had been amassed in the East. Any idea of the Commonwealth to have more artillery and to outgun the Armée de Québec would be rectified, as artillery heavy "grenadier divisions" would be created, which was nothing new, had it already happened before for the shelling of Ottawa. Relying on easy to manufacture and to operate Faraway artillery systems (mostly rocket artillery, 155 mm howitzers, 120 mm mortars and 76 mm field guns), these units would not even fire precision-guided ammunitions anymore, but fire a barrage at the Commonwealth encampments. At short ranges, 120 mm mortars and 76 mm guns would be at a density of about one gun per ten metres, which would be tasked with a creeping barrage from the Saint-Lawrence all the way to their maximum ranges at about 12 km, simultanously, 105 mm guns would be tasked with a creeping barrage from 10 km to 20 km, 155 mm howitzers would fire barrages at guns inbetween a range of 30 km and 15 km, with 155 mm SPg being tasked to fire from 25 km all the way out to 50 km. Beyond that, the density of guns per metre frontline would be judged too low, making it uneconomic to apply a barrage. Towed guns and mortars would have been dug in in during the armistice and would just sustain the fire to keep up pressure. Self-propelled systems would meanwhile relocate after every burst of about a minute (in which they could fire between half a dozen and a dozen shells after all), to avoid enemy counter-battery. Of the highly-valued rocket artillery, about half (which still translated in over a thousand pieces) would be used to support the creeping barrage for their shock value, saturating whole areas with countless rockets, containing submunitions of incendiry kind, to clear out enemy entrenchments and mines, to seriously impede the enemy's ability to just relocate freely in their territory. The other half would be assigned the duty to just fire a barrage of the same kind at responding artillery, in a counter-battery effort. Being able to cover large areas with submunitions at less than half a minutes notice, there would be no such thing as an escape from Faraway firepower. This would also be true for the CAESAR II guns, which would be targetted with ZM cruise missiles, containing bomblets. With the CAESAR II being unable to be quickly relocated and inadequately armoured to deal with such bombardement, one could expect those to be write-offs. While Faraway artillery indeed could wreck immense havoc when fired at towns, their main use was still to crush troops and the Commonwealths failure to take care of Québecois troop emplacements (and reconaissance drones) would, at the cost of civilians, mean that the Armée de Québec was ready to fire freely, while any Commonwealth counter-battery effort would need to first look to survive bombardement. With the 105 mm barrage and 155 mm barrage being set up to converge at the end, enemy emplacements at such ranges would even be unable to just retreat. Enemy townships in the area would be left unshelled.

 

In Kanadario meanwhile, the Armée de Québec would answer Kanadarian attack by using its own artillery of rocket launchers, howitzers and infantry mortars, to shell these approaching troops. With anti-armour and bomblet submunitions on short notice, there'd be no such things as "melting back into the forest", at least not quick enough to be shelled. Similarly, Kanadarian artillery trying to keep a sustained fire up would be take out by counter-battery fire from accurate howitzers and saturating rockets. Kanadario would have to learn, that when firing at Québecois troops, they would inevitably be in range of those they attacked. Even opening fire from multiple directions would mean little, as it was still well under control. With the troops having had time to prepare for such an assault in the short time of the armistice, casualties would be quite low and a counter-attack would start, this time a two pronged attack, driving towards Toronto and Sudbury. Small fireteams of highly mobile skilled infantry would be the first, to provide some reconnaissance and attacking targets of opportunity (like surviving artillery). These units would not seek engagements, using the terrain as cover for their movement, and just provide some screen for the following armoured units, which would also no longer operate as massive armoured spearheads. Instead, smaller formations would be formed, of up to half a dozen tanks with two anti-air vehicles. These smaller units would be more befitting the former low-intensity defense, though they could and would join up with each other, when necessary to punch through the stiffer points of enemy lines. Again, these more mobile divisions would be followed by the infantry divisions, which made up the bulk of the forces and would be cleaning up the troops that fell to them. While adaptions had been made, it would still be the same basic principle that was used in Operation Arc noir - using close coordination by infantry, stiffening tanks and supporting artillery fire to pin down enemy units, surpress them with a higher volume of fire and encircle them, to then strangle them with the overwhelming force that was present. Naturally, enemy emplacements in the rear that had been encircled since the first wave and which had not attempted any breakouts or whatnot would be now cleaned up as well, applying from artillery, to infantry infiltration, to MUV flamethrowers and tear gas everything needed to take care of whatever defence they could come up for without supplies.

 

The air attacks would be once again a bother, however, their effect would be no longer as crushing as before. Drones would be, when located by the IR or SAR of the ground units, shot down, to prevent the enemy such means of reconnaissance. Enemy missile and air attacks would be facing a system of multiple inter-locking systems, made up by long-range air assets in form of ground-launched Aster missiles, providing a protective umbrella at long range, medium range assets in form of Chris the Upstart Fairy missiles, allowing for more mobile defense needs against high-flying aircraft, IR guided short range air defense, operating against low-flying aircraft and assisting in spotting incoming threats, and lastly, MUV-40 SPAAGs, utilising high-resolution IR sensors and their autocannons to provide a counter-missile close-in defense. Linked to each other partly through kilometres of optical fibre cable and spreading over kilometres of front-line and rear area, approaching aircraft and missiles would find it hard to escape early notice and engagement by one of the many assets that made up Québecois air defenses. B-2 bombers would be engaged by Asters and Chris missiles soon after coming into range, long before they would be able to unload their JDAM gravity bombs. While their degree of radar stealth made it a bit harder to spot them, they still would not be that great a match for the modern systems of the Armée de Québec and their rather limited means of defending against missile attack, as well as the incoming missiles ECCM would provide them with little chance to escape their end. JASSM-ER missiles meanwhile, as well as Tomahawks, would have to deal with being spotted by the IR sensors of anti-air vehicles that dotted the frontlines and would be often shot down long before reaching their target by autocannons or missile assets positioned at higher locations. In addition, the armée de Québec would start to bring out jamming equipment, to cut off the connection of enemy units within the country from interacting with GPS and to make it much harder to operate by datalink. F-22s and other highly capable fighters of the Commonwealth meanwhile would pose the greatest issue, due to their improved stealth features. But even so, a few of the missiles would be fine-tuned to collected data from the F-22s that patrolled during the armistice. With a more accurate knowledge of F-22 radar returns and IR signature, it was estimated that their attempts to fly into range of ground-launched missiles would no longer be fully safe also, because most missiles would not be lanched at them frontally, but rather from less, optimised angles.

 

Still, a couple depots and airfields would be hit, which however did not impede the actions of Québec too much. By now, supplies would be stored in a more decentralised fashion, after the industry had been decentralised and the Armée de l'Air managed to achieve what it had not achieved for quite some time... the return of FF-1 Hulottes to the skies. While in the South they'd mostly be used in an air-to-air fashion, in the North, Hulottes would take off to operate against Commonwealth naval assets in the Hudson Bay and the Labrador Bassin. Approaching enemy ships at a very low altitude, escaping the notice of ship-based radar, they would volley off Aria anti-ship missiles. With 4 wings being utilised to attack in such a manner, each able to carry 5 Aria missiles, the Saratoga Carrier Battle group would have to face a total of 240 supersonic sea-skimming missiles at 450 km range. Working in a fire and forget manner, the Hulottes would return to the mainland, after having carried out their attack.

 

In Stormsend, altough the Stormlands had stated to no longer mediate, de Pétèvellier would still be present. A message would be sent to the American Commonwealth.

 

Madames et Monsieurs,

 

Our nation has to protest the reinitiation of hostilities on your part, especially the targetting of innocent civilians. The Laurentine Union cannot help but wonder how the American Commonwealth wants to condemn our previous leadership for being inhumane for shelling one town, when the Commonwealth just slaughters the same way three of our cities. In the interest of both our people, we would however hope that peaceful order is restored soon. Should the Commonwealth see the possibility for a peace agreement, then we would be ready to return to the negotiation table, as we have been before.

 

With regards,

Florence de Pétèvellier

Edited by Evangeline Anovilis
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The notion that Faraway could outmatch the Commonwealth with sheer numbers in artillery was a wrong one.  Aside from the considerable reserves on hand, the Commonwealth also maintained an even larger reserve of equipment consisting of the combined numbers of several nations that it had come into possession of.  As a result, frontline Commonwealth artillery units had numerical parity.  Not only that but the majority of it was self propelled and highly mobile, both traditional tube and rocket artillery.  In response to the advancing creeping barrage the combined artillery force in waiting would begin a massive counterbattery effort against their northern counterparts.  Even the former Faraway artillery units were ordered to halt their original missions and support counterbattery efforts, cutting their mission short before significant amounts of their targets were destroyed.  The result was a huge artillery force providing rapid, accurate and deadly fire against Faraway artillery efforts who had to take their time with a creeping barrage.  Rocket artillery would be used much further in to blanket Faraway artillery positions with high explosives, bomblets and smart munitions, depending on the target.  Commonwealth air defense units on the ground would also begin to eliminate the enemy UAVs with MANPADS and SPAAGS to prevent accurate reconnaissance.

 

In the air not too much had changed.  Faraway’s hasty efforts to come up with a countermeasure to advanced stealth aircraft would amount to little.  While aircraft might intermittently appear on radar or IR sensors it wouldn’t be enough for a target lock or intercept solution.  F-22s would continue their mission of patrolling and begin to pick off  Faraway aircraft that were attempting to take off.  In the north, patrols of F-22s from Greenland and F-24s from the Saratoga Carrier Battle Group would eliminate the enemy fighters on a naval attack mission as they were taking off or shortly after, well before they would get into range.  Likewise the B-2 Bombers would have few issues with their missions.  Designed to penetrate advanced and sophisticated integrated air defense networks, the slapped together Faraway system was easy enough to get through.  In addition to that, GPS systems in use by the Commonwealth military were hardened with anti-GPS jamming technology to circumvent such attempts, including those on weapons systems.  

 

An additional effort against existing Faraway air defenses would be made though.  Over 100 F-35s would initate a massive SEAD operation against Faraway air defense systems.  Outfitted with stealth munitions pods to carry HARM missiles, and an internal load of AMRAAMs and GBU-53 SDBs, they would use their stealth and advanced electronic warfare suites to move into targeting range, a mission they were designed for and more than capable of accomplishing.  HARM missiles would be used against active Farway air defense systems to eliminate them from ranges of 150km.  The SDBs would be used against self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery and mobile SAMs, identified by onboard sensors, UAVs or when they attempted to fire.  While losses were expected, they were projected to be low and acceptable.  This would be followed up by 120  F/A-18 Advanced Superhornets, carrying JSOW-ERs.  With a range of 560km they could be fired well out of range of enemy air defenses, and using the baseline model they would be effective against a wide range of targets.  They would be used to attack enemy artillery and anti-aircraft units identified by UAVs and counter-battery radar.  Over one thousand would be launched in a single attack in order to overwhelm Faraway air defenses.  This would be followed by another mass cruise missile attack, with another thousand missiles being launched and timed to hit simultaneously with the air attack.  These missiles would target what remained of Faraway air bases and improvised air strips, command centers, telecomunications facilities, power plants, including hydroelectric plants, war industry, oil refineries and storage facilities, supply depots and transportation infrastructure.  All of this would be followed up with a slightly smaller SEAD sweep that would target enemy anti-aircraft weapons that attempted to hit the first wave of missiles.

 

As far as UAVs went, the traditional Predator and Reaper drones had taken fairly large losses in the current threat environment, although they were deemed as expendable.  But the use of UAVs wouldn’t be halted, merely a different type would pick up the effort.  The MQ-47 Pegasus is a carrierborne, stealthy, combat UAV.  It was this aircraft that would become the mainstay of UAV efforts over Faraway, with advanced IR and radar stealth, a large weapons load, and an decked out sensor suite, they would operate in safety and effectiveness.  These would be used for an wide range of missions, from reconniassance of enemy ground forces, which would be relayed in real time to frontline commanders or the elimination of enemy artillery or anti-aircraft vehicles.  Operating from land bases in addition to carriers, over one hundred of these would constantly operate on the frontlines and behind enemy lines, providing a valuable, and survivable, reconnaissance and strike asset to the Commonwealth military.

On the Kanadario front the Faraway advanced was identified well before contact was initiated.  Hundreds of Silent Eagles and F-35s would launch over a thousand JSOW-ERs at identified enemy formations, artillery, air defenses, command centers, logistics hubs and bridging.  In the aftermath of the inital massive air attack, Commonwealth ground forces would initate counter-offensive operations.  Reinforced and at more or less full strength, this would be a nice change of pace in the minds of the troops on the ground, who had been on the defensive since the war started.  The doctrinal tenets of the Commonwealth military was based on a combination of Air Land Battle and Network Centric Warfare.  Well trained,  well equipped, and highly mobile, Commonwealth ground forces would combine these traits with superior C4ISTAR capabilities to create a lethal, mobile war machine designed to defeat forces much larger than itself.  Preceding the main advance was a large armored reconnaissance screen that would move to observe enemy forces and eliminate Faraway recon screens.  Combined with UAV and satellite surveillance, this would provide Commonwealth troops with information superiority and enhanced situational awareness.  Moderately sized and small mobile formations would then advance and overwhelm the now dispersed Faraway formations with local fire and numerical superiority, calling in artillery and air support if needed.  Attempts to reform into larger units would become subjected to heavy air and artillery attack with smart standoff munitions.  The rapid thrust would be conducted along the entire front with the goal of pushing the Faraway forces back into the Ottawa River.  Once encountering heavier resistance, reserve units just behind the main advance would mass, assault and break through any such resistance with heavy air and artillery support.  In support of the main advance, heavy air support with standoff munitions would resume with constant attacks made in support of troops and against enemy artillery, command centers, and air defenses.  Top priority would also be made with constant heavy attacks against enemy logistics networks and bridging over the Ottawa River by standoff munitions.  These would be subjected to intense and massive attack with the goal of destroying every bridge over the river and then to keep destroying them as they were rebuilt and cut the flow of supplies to the front line.
 

Response

When your nation initiated hostile actions against the city of Ottawa and purposefully killed so many countless civilians it was decided that your nation does not deserve the protections of the basic laws of war it saw fit to throw out in the first place.  It may have been your leadership that ordered it at the time but it was executed by the same people in your military command and the same soldiers that still remain at their posts who willfully obeyed such an inhuman action.  Before that episode peace was something we desired above all.  Now it is clear that, in its current state, your nation is a severe threat to regional and continental stability and to the security of its neighbors.  Peace is still something desired but at this point it comes with four key points that must be met.

 

1)  The Laurentine Union shall return to a democratic form of government, the process of which will be overseen by the Commonwealth.

2)  The Laurentine Union shall turn over those responsible for the atrocities in Ottawa.

3)  The Laurentine Union shall disarm and reform its military into a limited self defense force, overseen by the Commonwealth.

4)  The Laurentine Union shall make amends with Kandario and provide reparations for all damages it has caused to that nation.

 

OOC: Sorry about the long absence.  Its been a hell of a !@#$%* week :/

Edited by MostGloriousLeader
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OOC: Will reply once others replied. But...

 

IC:

 

Open Reply

 

We would like to inquire whether the American Commonwealth really deems it fit to physically destroy a nation which it tried to liberate after it liberated itself. The Laurentine Union has for quitesome time returned to democratic governance, has seized attacks on civilians and has engaged in peace negotiations, yet the American Commonwealth saw it necessary to mass slaughter our people. In this regard, we must decline part of your terms, as they are unacceptable in the face of your most recent actions. You might want to claim it was us who violated the principles of law, but it is also a fact that your country has seen it fit to change the objective of your effort from a regime change to extermination. This ought to be taken into consideration, to ensure the continued security of our country.

 

The Laurentine Union however reiterates its offer for peace, albeit on the following terms:

  • The Laurentine Union shall adopt a new Constitution laid out by the Commonwealth. This new Constitution shall however have as its intention the restoration of proper democracy in the Laurentine Union and may not unduely infringe on the sovereignity of the Laurentine Union.
  • The Laurentine Union shall accept terms regarding disarmament. The new Laurentine Army is to consist out of no more than 500,000 soldiers. The Laurentine Union is not allowed to produce, maintain or operate any ballistic missiles, weapons of mass destruction, bomber aircraft, or cruise missiles/UAVs with ranges above 500 km. Additionally, the Laurentine Forces will not be allowed to fortify airbase infrastructure within the Laurentine Union. The Laurentine Forces shall be limited to 500 combat aircraft. The Laurentine Union also is not allowed to posess aircraft carriers or any combat ships with more than 40,000 tons of displacement.
  • Given the retaliatory attacks on three of our towns and the immense loss of life and property caused, both sides agree to wave any reparations or further retaliation. Given that in the face of events, your terms regarding these matters can hardly be seen as anything but victors justice, perpetuating the conflict unnecessarily.

We would think, this would allow the American Commonwealth to stay secure, while it preserves the Québecois nation. Given the economic devastation caused, we would also be unable to afford reparations. In a goodwill offer, we are willing to pay 10 billion Faraway Pound to the nation of Kanadario, for the repairs. We hope such is deemed acceptable. Otherwise, we would hope the American Commonwealth sees dialogue as a more befitting means of finding a solution than destroying our nation and is willing to discuss these terms.

 

With regards,

Florence de Pétèvellier

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After close to a week of hard steaming undertaken by Task Force Northstar, the mixed convoy of combat and auxiliary vessels had been able to reach a sufficient location east of Newfoundland, for the assemblage of ships to be able to turn west. With the [i]Dahromo[/i] battle group leading the way, the heavy guided missile cruiser [i]Stormsend[/i] the tip of the spear, the auxiliary and amphibious vessels would following along with surface and subsurface assets guarding their flanks. There was little hope of masking the movement of such large numbers of ships, but the movements towards the Straits of Belle Isle would be undertaken at night, with the [i]Grockall[/i] battle group taking up a patrol zone east of Newfoundland to cover the rear of the convoy.

 

Two heavy diesel submarines would take position ahead of the [i]Stormsend[/i], as the convoy as it moved towards the straits, with the Task Forces' hospital vessel taking second position behind the cruiser, and forward of the [i]Dahromo[/i]. Other auxiliary vessels would be flanked by surface vessels as they moved towards the straits. It would be a challenge to navigate the straits, but at flank speed, the task force would hopefully clear it before sunrise. Contact had been made with Newfoundland's government over the intentions of the Stormlands' force, and precautions including manning the decks with extra spotters, and launching RHIB high-speed rafts to prevent collisions with local vessels were being stringently taken.

 

A full carrier air patrol would be up, but they would seek to stay in airspace over water, rather than breaching over-land airspace and unduly alarm the Newfoundland government as the task force negotiated the Straits of Belle Isle. As a precaution, all ships, as they approached the straits, were at general quarters, and defensive systems were engaged and ready. Whether or not movements to block the ships would materialize were unclear, but the precautions were well warranted in such an environment as this.

 

As the task force approached the straits, a statement would be made over the Stormlands' international broadcasters;

 

"The ongoing situation in North America has left many across the world questioning about whether it will ever see an end, or any side will ever give mercy to the other. The events that have led to this point are a poem of disaster and unprecedented loss, for citizens and governments alike on both sides of what was a truly unnecessary war. Much destruction has been wrought and wrangled, so many lives disrupted, opportunities wasted, and resources squandered for a bloodbath that has shaken the structure of the American Hemispheric politics to the core.

 

It is this situation that the Stormlands has decided to step in, to remember those that have been forgotten, and aid those who have suffered so much, have been unduly blamed for the clash of nations. On one side of this conflict, there are places for those who have lost so much to flee, there are places they can find shelter and comfort, for those who resided in some of Quebec's biggest cities, there is no where to go. Those who have seen shot and shell destroy their homes, tear their loved ones from their arms, for an attack they did not order. It is for the people who are now destitute, that the Stormlands comes for.

 

It is by order of the High Council of the Stormlands, that our Navy now sails for the north shore of Gulf of St. Lawrence, to establish a demilitarized peacekeeping zone, so that the innocent can be sheltered. So that those who would seek to destroy their lives, cannot hurt them any longer. This is a measure of our humanity, a measure of our resolve, to help those who cannot protect themselves. If no one in North America can guarantee such protection, then it is by our ships, by our helping hands, by the rotors of our helicopters, that we will afford it. This is not a measure of support for the armies of Quebec, this is not a measure of support for the government of Quebec, it is a measure of support for fellow human beings who have nowhere else to turn that no one else has sought to help.

 

Infringing on, and testing our resolve to give a measure of peace to those who have had everything ripped from their hands, would be woefully unwise. Those who would seek to use our actions to give them a shield, would also find it prudent to stay clear of these operations. We provide no support for either side, but those who have no side that can truly protect them. We welcome any nation that seeks to join our willing ranks, to provide shelter and aid to those who have nowhere else to go."

 

[i]Rafael Sha'am[/i]

[b]Lord Protector of the Stormlands[/b]

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Faraway confused the rain of artillery for fixed emplacements. What actually was happening was with the borrowed self propelled artillery pieces from the Commonwealth would fire a stream of shots, before relocating to a new area. Commonwealth intelligence kept the Kanadario military up to speed on all that was happening on the battlefield and was able to stay up with the Commonwealth in terms of speed of redeployment. Faraway counter artillery would quickly find empty areas, with only trails of vehicles leaving the area. This would be the repeated effect, as the Commonwealth controlled the sky, and the Faraway couldn't get their positions fast enough to be of any effect.

 

On the ground Kanadario used the Commonwealth tanks that were lent to them to fire off shots at vehicles that came into their sights, as well as any vehicle that strayed into their path. The advances that Faraway thought they could make would quickly meet tough opposition, with no visible gaps in the line.  The 438,000 Kanadario Soldiers, with the massive Commonwealth Deployment to the nation would prove that the numerical advantage that Faraway once held on the ground was now lost. Any attempts at breaking through the defensive line that Kanadario and the Commonwealth had build would be one that the cost to break through would be a Pyrrhic Victory at best.

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With the Québecois artillery utilising multiple creeping barrages, it was to be seen how the Commonwealth could survive it, when converging fields of fire made escape impossible. Counter-battery would provide little help, as the barrages, especially from rockets just blanketed the enemy area systematically, before withdrawing, escaping enemy retaliation most of the time. artillery positions that were not mobile were most of the time dug in and survived the hail of lighter bomblets, only occasionally falling at a manageable rate. The counter-battery effort by all means would play into the hands of Faraway, as the Commonwealth not only would stop bombing towns, but also, as the attempt at accurately destroying artillery would give much more room to maneuver and escape than the systematic fire that eventually would corner every artillery piece in the South. For this, neither recon nor precision-guidance was needed. Order would be given to just have the barrage roll back again once it arrived at the end, just in case some in the Commonwealth Army weren't already suffering from Shell shock.

In the air, indeed little would change. While the Commonwealth might have tried to just avoid the SAM batteries on the ground, these were not hastily slapped in place, but were forming a wide area integrated air defense system, as a multitude of systems had been fused together. Even if the aircraft left the vision of one, it would stay in that of another and via datalink, the missile would reach it soon enough. While a few F-22s would maybe make it through, they would not be able to hamper the scramble of Hulottes in the interior. Indeed, to attack these fighters prior to release of ammunition, the enemy fighters would have to subject themselves first to the anti-air defense making it actually quite unlikely for them to do considerable damage.

While the FF-1 Hulotte would be ill-suited for fighting the enemy over his territory, they would stay above Québec, aiding air defense efforts. While they would be far less easy to hide, the Hulotte would be integrated with the ground-based assets, essentially adding to the awareness of ground-based air defenses, making the chances of escaping notice even slimmer, as the overflying Hulotte with its spherical IR sensor coverage meant that there was hardly any blind spot to abuse. This, and the Hulotte's own Chris the Drunken Fairy BVRAAM would also be leveraged against the F-35s trying to fly SEAD missions, which would maybe not be observable by most radar, but still shine up on the many imaging infrared sensors they had to pass to reach the long-range radar of the air defenses. With the F-35 being far less agile and by no means able to outrun Québecois missiles, they would most likely be lost long before reaching their objectives.

Overall, the Faraway command would work towards a strategy of air denial, pretty much shutting out effective use of Commonwealth air assets above the battlefield. This would limit the Commonwealth pretty much to firing stand-off ammunitions, of which it seemed to have an ungodly amount. This would also be felt at the logistics network and airforce infrastructure. Despite the measures taken to make the whole supply network and the airfields more survivable, a few dozen supply trucks and a good few airfields would be taken out. Command units in the field would stay mobile, making it hard to hit them properly, if they could even be found.

 

On the ground, the first wave would be subjected to tremendous fire, however, it would hardly be enough to seriously cripple the advancing units. It would at best blunten the Quebecois lines. The idea of Kanadario to fire a stream and vanish would be frustrated, as soon as they would have to realise that any self-propelled howitzer trying to escape the wide-area rocket barrage would definitely be too slow to make it out within the at best 30 seconds from launch to impact. Rather than a stiff defense, the enemy defense would mean more obvious targets and better ammunition economy. What Québec could not make up in air support, it could throw at the enemy with artillery. Indeed, unlike air power, the artillery would have far greater staying power. Using anti-armour ammunitions, just like in the first attacks, the artillery would have a field day against the closed line of tanks. The Armée de Québec would hold onto its initiative, even if it cost a few lives. Instead of reinforcing the few points of attack, who would have to fall back into the defensive positions they occupied at the beginning of the move, the main punch would be dealt at the enemy a bit west of Ottawa. With artillery support from the units around Ottawa and the attacking units, a large preperatory fire would be laid down, thinning out the large formations and paving the ground for decisive action by the Armée de Québec.

 

Another punch would be delivered, as the GQG decided to utilise one of its most priced assets to defeat the enemy, launching about a dozen Lebraude ballistic missiles against enemy formations. Being fired in a pattern to blanket out a wide enough area and giving only seconds notice from launch to impact, with little to no anti-ballistic missile defense units being able to intercept them above Québecois territory, they would demonstrate the still formidable firepower of a nation that fought for its survival. With thermobaric warhhead and wide-area effects, the Lebraude would leave little alive in the impact zone. In the wake of this devastation, a second offensive would be started to mob up the units that were still alive and to keep up the pressure. Commonwealth offensive operations would maybe have an edge in C4ISTAR, but Québec was not blind. Units that tried to outmaneuver would once again be spotted at safe enough ranges for immediate artillery fire support from multiple close units, with a follow-on envelopment by the overall numerical advantage of the Armée de Québec (which was hardly lost, as most of Kanadario's army from the first wave was still isolated in pockets following their first utter failure of a defense). Air support would only be able to deliver so much of an effective support, as ground units defended themselves with their SPAAGs and Starstreak II missile systems, which would be immune to the enemy IR jamming. altough some of the helicopters could attempt evasive manuvers, such would at least force them to break off combat and would not just be appreciated, but also abused, as the enemy could hardly guess the impending fire volume and would have to either take risks (with the result of getting hit in most cases) or to stay safely away, in the mere presence of enemy anti-air assets. With fixed-wing aircraft having to face the wide-area air defense which did after all extent quite a bit over the frontlines into enemy air space, the Commonwealth ALB would need to work with stand-off ammunitions alone.

 

While Faraway military doctrine was fundamentally ground-based, lessons learned from Commonwealth ALB would partially be applied in return, as small groups of multirole fighters would use the hilly terrain Québec-held of the Opeongo Hills to approach Commonwealth offensives undetected and unmolested, before releasing from a safe distance 250 kg AASM range-extented bombs (13 per fighter), partly laser guided and able to take out infantry and armoured vehicles likewise.

 

The heirs of Faraway would demonstrate their willingness to exchange lives with the aggressors and to drown them into a sea of blood.

 

[hr]

 

Meanwhile civil authorities would try to organise relief efforts for the hit urban areas, welcoming Stormlands' efforts to assist the civil population. No great announcement was made though, as the nation was busy, the government dispersed, the military not responsible and occupied.

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OOC: Auto granted here.

 

IC:

 

Altough the fighting was harsh, the initiative was soon back in Québecois hands. In the west, the units would be able to finally crush the pocketed infantry leftover from the first wave, which had surrendered, given the lack of supply and the overwhelming force they faced. Most would be disarmed and sent back into Québec as prisoners of war, to be interned in the interior. Infantry units would be freed up and join the front-line units to press on, as the Armée de Québec gained steam again. That was not to say it did a very great job, given its many shortcomings, but the Armée would finally achieve its intented objectives.

 

While across the front smaller fights ensued, the offensive in the south would be a resounding success, the Coalition armies that formed themselves into larger units to attack taking heavy losses from saturating fire. As the attack came to a grinding halt in the face of Québecois artillery, with the help of close air support by bomb-carrying Hulottes and artillery bombardement, the counter-offensive set in to take out the enemies before they could reorganise or entrench themselves. Heavy losses would be taken at both sides, but with both the Coalition units in the sector and in the neighbouring sector weakened, the front would collapse in this location and the the Armée de Qébec would achieve its breakthrough.

 

Ballistic missile strikes this time were far more effective. Without much effective defense along the immediate front-lines, the missiles would slam into Commonwealth formations, disrupting them severely and cripple their ability to perform, which would be used as the Québecois troops pressed now on to pressure on from their initial breakthrough point. The heat and concussion caused by the explosion would be enough to fry troops in the open and to blast away trees and cover, leaving nothing but charred impact sites.

 

In line with Faraway military doctrine, the southern gap would be exploited massively, armored and mechanised units surging to roll over the Commonwealth units and preventing effective setting up of another line of defense. Striking fast and in-depth, the Laurentine Union would keep a constant stream of troops up, to gain ground in the fastest manner possible. At the same time, at neighbouring front sectors, offensive operations would start, again supported by artillery and close-air support by Hulottes. This time however, the line already had been broken, and while the Commonwealth would not be easy to subdue, the partial envelopment following the breakthrough would give the Armée de Québec a rather advantagous position, with the ability to put pressure on the Commonwealth from two directions.

 

Overall, the situation in the west would be bleak for the Coalition. Having taken harsh casualties in their attacks and being pressured again now on the defense, the Laurentine Union was far from beaten.

 

The situation in the East meanwhile was far less a matter of maneuver, than just pure attrition. The systematic bombardement by artillery would take a heavy toll on Commonwealth units, who'd hardly escape the brutal fire layed down upon them. Without reprieve, they'd be shelled and while their counter-battery got quite a few guns, the overall losses in the North were far less severe. The landscape would be immensely cratered, as the barrels started to run hot, resembling almost a new Passchendaele. What little units would be noticed to survive the initial bombardement had been subjected to thermobaric rocket ammunition, causing severe burns, even to dug in units. Large CAESAR II units in the rear would be almost completely annihilated even, as they had no chance to relocate to escape retribution.

 

By this point, also the overall air campaign started to show a certain stalemate. While it was clear that the Québecois air force would never effectively operate above Commonwealth ground, Commonwealth operations over Faraway ground started to take serious losses as well, calling into question whether such would be advisable in the future. By far the worst record had high-flying bomber aircraft, which hadn't been much of a match to advanced Faraway missiles and would still pose large enough a target for the surface-to-air missiles to down. F-35s and less advanced fighters would be next, most often being shot down either by datalinked Chris medium range air defenses, or by overflying Hulottes, who would hunt low-flying aircraft and drones over Faraway held-territory. F-22s and other more advanced threats would be the sole aircraft that were survivable enough to have a reasonable chance at fulfilling their mission, which however still did not mean they were immune. As more and more Hulottes were launched and runways got repaired, the nation would reclaim its airspace.

 

At the end of the monstrous counter-offensive, the brutal high-intensity fight of two armies on the offensive would bring up casualties much higher than up to this point. While the heirs of Faraway had cut out a large swath of territory in the South, advancing their line to the Saint-Laurent, and keeping pressuring for Toronto, losses were staggering. 224,000 KIA or MIA, and 384,000 WIA, the whole fight was no laughing matter. Surely over 200,000 civilians were by now dead or missing, due to strikes on Québecois cities and many more were wounded. The air force, seeing hardly any action up to now would have quite low losses at around 56 FF-1 Hulottes. The Commonwealth would have a good few less casualties, which however did not mean they were light. With their own advance being a bit of a disaster and the breakthrough, as well as the harsh punishment by artillery fire in the East, 122,000 Commonwealth soldiers were KIA or MIA, further 282,000 were wounded (of which 30,000 suffered from shell shock). About 30,000 fell into Québecois hands and became POWs. In the air, 12 B-2 bombers, 84 F-35s, 21 F-22s and numerous drones, as well as helicopters would fall victim to Faraway missiles. The Kanadarian forces meanwhile would be pretty much halved, with about 120,000 becoming prisoners, due to surrendering in their pockets, 48,000 being killed in their stiff defensive lines and another 89,000 being wounded.

 

Utilising this new situation, an all-out attack would begin. With about 1.8 million troops in the west, the Armée de Québec pressed onward. In the East, meanwhile, an effort would be made to cross the river under the artillery cover, using numerous small boats and confiscated ferries for vehicles. low-flying Hulottes would start flying missions to harass survivors with bombs and autocannon fire, as well as anti-tank missiles, as much of the radar in the area had proven vulnerable to HE shells.

 

Another peace offer with the old terms would be sent, just in case it had been forgotten.

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Diplomatic Response

After considerable discussion we have developed a counteroffer that we have deemed to be amenable for the concerns of all parties involved.  The terms are as follows and, after discussion with Kanadarian government officials, will also apply to the nation of Kanadario as well as the Laurentine Union and any immediate successor states in perpetuity or until the parties involved unanimously decide that they are no longer necessary. 

  1. The Laurentine Union shall adopt a new Constitution laid out and developed in a joint, cooperative Laurentine-American Commonwealth process.
  2. The Laurentine Union shall hand over the leaders of the coup that instigated the current conflict to the custody of the American Commonwealth government.
  3. Any occupied holdings will return to the pre-war status quo for all combatants and POWs will be returned to their respective nations.
  4. The Laurentine Union shall accept the following terms regarding disarmament:
  • The Laurentine Ground Forces shall be composed of no more than 400,000 troops total, further training of reserve troops or paramilitary forces beyond this number is prohibited.  It will operate no more than 4,000 tanks;  5,000 artillery pieces (to include mortars, towed/self propelled howitzers and field guns and rocket artillery;  4,000 anti-aircraft weapons of all kinds (including MANPADS, anti-aircraft artillery, surface to air missiles; and  4,000 armored combat vehicles (such as APCs, IFVs, AFVs, etc.).  This does not apply to unarmored transport or logistics vehicles.  Additional reserve equipment shall not exceed 25% of these numbers.
  • The Laurentine Air Forces shall be limited to 400 combat aircraft.  It is prohibited from developing or operating any aircraft beyond 4th Generation capability.  It is prohibited from developing or operating any form of ballistic missile or strategic bomber.  It is prohibited from operating aerial refueling aircraft.  It shall be limited to a maximum of 5 AWACS aircraft.  It shall be limited to a maximum force of 800 UAVs and missiles capable of traveling further than 100km. 
  • The Laurentine Naval Forces shall have no more than a dozen vessels over 20,000 tons displacement.  It shall not operate submarines, aircraft carriers or amphibious assault ships or landing craft.  It is prohibited from operating gun systems or munitions with a range greater than 45km and land attack missiles.  It will be limited to a maximum of 200 anti-ship missiles with ranges no greater than 200km. 
  • The above list is organized according to branch but the restrictions hold across all three branches mentioned.
  • Additional conditions regarding disarmament include:  The prohibition of the research and development or operation of weapons of mass destruction (which includes chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological weapons).  The prohibition of the importation of weapons, equipment, ships, and aircraft and the importation of components or technical expertise to develop or produce the above mentioned equipment.  The prohibition of the development of stealth technology for military equipment.  The prohibition of the hardening of military bases, facilities, and defense industries against attack. 
  • In order to confirm adherence to these terms, American Commonwealth inspectors will be given unrestricted access to Laurentine military facilities, storage facilities and defense industries in order to verify adherence.  The Laurentine government will also provide open access to all relevant defense industry data including their locations, consumption of resources and power and their output.

Should you choose to accept this offer we propose a ceasefire until Laurentine troops withdraw and begin the process of disarmament, the constitutional process is started, and the coup leaders are handed over, at which point we shall sign an official peace treaty.  While not included in the initial agreement here, we have convinced the Kandario government to waive demands for reparations and will provide them with aid instead.  The American Commonwealth is also willing to provide the Laurentine Union with large amounts of financial and developmental aid to help alleviate the destruction caused by this conflict and to rebuild the country and reintegrate it into the North American economy.

OOC: I added the latter portion of the naval stuff because it just came to mind.  If you don't like it as it is we can discuss it on irc and see what we come up with.

Edited by MostGloriousLeader
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Official Response

 

"The Laurentine Union hereby accepts the armistice terms and hopes for lasting peace to be achieved. We will see to it that the terms be implemented and that a delegation is created to work out a new constitution, together with the Commonwealth."

-Florence de Pétèvellier, Minister of the Exterior

 

Along the frontlines, the fighting would cease and news would be spread that the war had come to an end. The Grand Quartier Général would be given the orders to work on a plan to withdraw the Laurentine troop presence from Kanadario and to work on a new organisational scheme for a smaller army. Thirteen military leaders involved in the coup would be taken into custody and be detained for later handover to Commonwealth authorities. Arnault-Delareux herself would for now not be handed over, given the critical condition of the Maréchal, as well as the uncertainty whether a transfer was feasable without threatening the patient's life. However, a special detachment would be guarding her room, to make sure noone tried to abuse the situation. Further instructions would be drafted by the government, as slowly a bit of euphoria spread through the Laurentine armies, a massacre finally coming to an end.

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  • 3 weeks later...

With the ceasefire coming into effect, combat operations would cease and Commonwealth troops would cautiously move to re-occupy areas vacated by the Larentine troops.  With the acceptance of the ceasefire terms, a committee would be drawn up and be dispatched to work with the Laurentines to form a new government.  Teams of Marshals would be dispatched to take the coup leaders into custody.  A disarmament committee would be temporarily formed and dispatched to the Laurentian Union to begin the process of weapons reduction and disarmament.  After these processes had begun, a formal invitation for peace talks in Washington D.C. would be sent to the Laurentian government.

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Prime Minister Hamelin, as well as Minister of the Exterior de Pétèvellier would travel to Washington, to finish the process towards peace. Before taking off, Hamelin would state that she had hope for a good peace that could pave the way for a better North America. Of course, she cautioned against being overly optimistic and expressed her opinion that the future of Laurentie would lie in being a civil and social power, not a military one.

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The Prime Minister would be greeted at the airport by an arrival delegation and a lot of extra security.  The motorcade would proceed from the airport to the White House along a secured route, and the DC Metropolitan Police was out in force providing route security the whole way.  The roads would be lined with crowds of people.  Some were protesters against or for the war, but most were happy that peace was finally on its way.  Pulling up to the front of the White House, Prime Minister Hamelin would be greeted by President Marston himself in addition to a ceremonial military band and color guard.  Once inside they would proceed to a conference room where the peace document awaited their signatures. 
 

American Commonwealth-Laurentienne Union Treaty of Peace

Bearing in mind the two combatants, the American Commonwealth and the Laurentienne Union, have reached an initial understanding of peace through an armistice.

 

Considering that both nations seek to end the current state of hostilities and to co-exist in peace.

 

 

Let it be recognized that both nations have come here today to realize that desire and implement a formal end to hostilities.

 

The American Commonwealth and the Laurentienne Union, with the goal of ending the conflict and the desire to forge ahead with a renewed era of continental peace, stability and friendship, will uphold the terms of the armistice initially signed by both nations.  By signing and ratifying this document the American Commonwealth and Laurentienne Union will acknowledge an end to hostilities and formalize a state of peace between both nations.

 

Signed for the American Commonwealth,

 

Signed for the Laurentienne Union,

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mireille Hamelin would greet President Marston politely, a diplomatic smile on her lips. Different from her two predecessors in office, Hamelin was a young woman, not necessarily unrefined, but visibly not a noble and with a strong backing among the commoners. Dressed a bit more informally, she'd no longer wear an elaborate dress or military uniform that was characteristic for the ladies of Faraway of old, but a simple black skirt, white blouse, brown jacket and a scarlet red tie. Despite the split opinion of the people on her country, she would also wave to the masses, waving her basque cap upon exiting the car.

 

Once inside, Hamelin would take out a pair of reading glasses, carefully reading the document, before taking a pen and putting her signature down on the paper. Smiling, she would hand it back to Marston, so it could be concluded. "If you'd please..."

 

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Taking the pen, President Marston affixed his signature to the document.

Signed for the American Commonwealth,

Bradley Marston, President of the American Commonwealth

A few moments would be spared for photographs of the two leaders and the peace treaty.  Afterwards Marston would start up a private conversation with the prime minister.  "It is my sincere hope that we have just established a lasting peace between our countries.  In taking the first steps towards that goal the American Commonwealth will assist the Laurentienne Union with rebuilding efforts and financial assistance".

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After smiling into the camera, while shacking hands with Marston, Hamelin would follow Marston for the private talks. "Well, I cannot say that your offer is unwelcome or unneeded. Almost all of the fighting in the last war has occurred in what is now Faraway, so, there will be quite a bit of rebuilding to do. I'm sure, the task of regaining our former strength will be a very daunting one and will most likely take up a great part of my Premiership.", Mireille Hamelin would respond. "So, we are very grateful for your assistence in rebuilding our country."

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