Revelation

[Voodoo Nova]

Late in the hot morning, voices could be heard in the chamber of the Majlis al-Shura in the capital of Aden. The lighting in the massive room glistened off the ornate, yet traditional designs. The main doors, in the north and west entrance, were made of bronze and accented with jewels. The floor was a green and gold carpet. The desks lined throughout the chamber were filled with representatives, talking among themselves, others were playing solitaire. The north door opened. Several men and the Prime Minister entered the chamber.  Outside the door stood two guards, who closed the door after Khaleda Shakir entered. At both entrances, the doors were locked shut. On the second floor, guards would lock the entrance to the visitor seating.

Prime Minister Shakir settled into her seat. On the agenda was a tax reform bill, designed to encourage foreign industry to operate in the country. Using her background in economics, Shakir spoke on the bill with little passion. When she finished, others took their turn to discuss and debate. The discussion would be the only topic of the day. The visitors watching above would be bored, but intrigued by the way some would speak.

A few blocks away

President Basindawa was talking with Foreign and Defense Ministry officials regarding the ratification of the Indian Ocean Commission. His office, on the top floor of the government building, was lined with shelves of books. The desk was as ornate as the rugs, with intricate designs flowing through both pieces. The window in his office faced the Legislature Building. The sun beat down on the white exterior as he glanced out the window. When he turned back, a rumble was felt as the books shook out of place. In a few seconds, the glass shattered as he covered his head. One of the Ministry officials was unconscious. As the President sat back up, two gunshots were fired.

Somewhere off the coast of Novak

Admiral Aviv Kochavi, Chief of Novak’s Military Command Council below the Minister of Defense, was preparing to speak from a conference room aboard the ship. The attacks on the government leadership would cause panic across the nation and among allied leadership. The reaction must be well-planned and decisive, he thought. Strong leadership was necessary, without the arguments that plagued the Majlis al-Shura.

The Admiral was standing at his podium, a solid wood fixture with the color seal of Novak on the visible side. The flag of Novak was noticeably missing, in favor of the grey wall behind him. The camera was focused and the microphone was tested. The broadcast signal began transmitting across Novak, and could be picked up by anyone around the world. The red light appeared and the camera man gave him the signal to begin.

“A few hours ago, the Majlis al-Shura and the President’s Office were subject to a large-scale attack. We believe the Prime Minister was the primary target. The attack, killing our President, Prime Minister, her Cabinet and seventy-five percent of the Majlis al-Shura, is the single-most devastating attack on a Novaki government in any incarnation of our nation. Moments after, we received a transmission from The Lord’s Sword claiming responsibility for the attack.

In these dire crises, we must remain united. We should not falter to the enemy which seeks the end of our prosperity and way of life in favor of extremist ideals. We must focus on our interests and needs as a country, to come back from this destruction. In order to ensure the stability of the country, the Military Council will maintain interim governing power. As Chief, I will hold the position of interim President and Prime Minister. An interim government will be formed until such a time we can hold free and fair elections.

We will ensure our safety in Novak, in Africa, in the Indian Ocean, and in the world. We will use all resources available to defeat The Lord’s Sword and their allies. In line with this, we will no longer participate in non-ratified treaties, including the Indian Ocean Commission.

Novak has, and always will be, the beacon of prosperity in Arabia. I intend on continuing that tradition through any means necessary.”

The camera man cut the video and audio, while the broadcast signal was cut. The Admiral would order the ship to return to port.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Voodoo Nova

[Voodoo Nova]

Intelligence from the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as civilian intelligence agencies, has tracked the central leadership of The Lords Sword to locations in Qatar, Bahrain, Rafah and Khan Yunis. General Ahmed Qurei, of the Army, was directed by Admiral Kochavi to capture the leaders in, what they considered, their safe zones. Essa Riad, grandson of Chairman Malak Riad of the Democratic Christian Party in old Novak, was their primary target.

Novak, a generation before todays events

Malak Riad, a leader in the Majlis al-Shura of a small coalition of zealot Christians, was facing opposition within his group of supporters. In a crucial Party meeting, there was a clear dividing line. Those who sought to remain peaceful and support the current democratic nature of the government and those who believed organizing action would promote their efforts better than the legislature. The vote was split down similar lines, with those seeking peaceful ends opting to leave over remaining a part of a violent group.

Years later, upon the ascension of Akhmed Shakir and the end to the democratic system, Raids organization, now Gods Shield, began planning the assassination of the new leader and the government which ushered in the acceptance of atheism by the government and the oppression of the religious. In the attempt on Shakirs life, Malak Raid was captured. He was executed, along with the rest of his conspirators, and their families sent to the political prisons. After the fall of the SSRN, all political prisoners were released.

Malaks son disavowed his fathers violent tendencies. He pursued his religious convictions in the Church and became a Pastor. He married and had several children, while moving around the tumultuous landscape. He had served in Jerusalem, Ethiopia and across Europe and Asia. Wherever he was needed to help people understand the word of the Lord, he would go.

Essa would grow up traveling across the world with his father and mother. From a young age, he witnessed nearly every sermon from his dad. He saw the joy the Church brought people through salvation. The hope that was given to them, helping them see their future in heaven would be grand, no matter their life experiences on the Earth. He also saw the lifestyles of heretics, even those who believe in Jesus Christ. As he grew older, he would come to believe the only way to bring salvation to the world was to destroy the heretics.

Present Day

Soldiers would begin entering Qatar and Bahrain. The confirmation from Persia has shifted administrative protection of eastern Gaza to Novak. The Air Force would begin airlifting supplies and troops to Rafah and Khan Yuris to conduct searches there. In total, the number of forces conducting operations was low, sitting at ten thousand. Their coordination with local guard and police forces would complement their units.

Qurei, as a part of his operations, would order the construction of an intelligence base in Heard and McDonald, acquired from their African League allies. A radar base, similar to the ones being constructed by the Great Lakes, as well as a small port for refueling and resupply were to be built. Of the Naval Forces in the South Indian, he ordered all but the destroyer squadron to return to Novak to aid against The Lords Sword. He was planning for all-out war against Essa and his Swords.

Edited August 30, 2014 by Voodoo Nova

[Voodoo Nova]

In Qatar & Bahrain

 

A temporary base of operations for two divisions was set up in Doha, capital of the Qatar Protectorate Region, to facilitate the search and destroy mission against Essa Raid and The Lord’s Sword. The first division, based in Qatar would have forward bases established in Ras Laffan, Dukhan and on the Inland Sea. Another division was dispatched to conduct the search in Bahrain, which would have three forward bases at the Sheik Air Base in the south, at the Bahrain International Airport in the North, and in Riffa.

 

In Gaza

 

Gaza Airstrip was taken by a small team of Novaki Special Forces operatives. Upon capture, several planes would be sent to the region to begin the search for Raid and eventual incorporation to the Novaki state. The Admiral would send Brigadier General Mohammad Nasser, of the Novaki Amphibious Forces, to Gaza to lead operations in Khan Yunis and Rafah. He would be appointed Interim Military Governor until such a time the local population could become Novakian.

 

In Heard & McDonald

 

The military equipment left behind by the Japanese would be sent to the Novaki Military Research Agency to determine how it works and how to fight against it in the future. The structures in place would be completed by naval engineers, with radar, sonar and other detection equipment on the way. In conjunction with the other African nations, the island would become a defense interest and asset to Novak.

 

Riyadh

 

The old capital of Novak, a city of former prosperity and glory, sat quiet in the sands around it. The large population that made up the city is long gone, with only a few hundred thousand remaining. The buildings, the largest skyscrapers, the roads and home have begun their descent into disrepair. From the old Republic Tower in the center of the city, Kochavi looked around him. His face held a strong gaze and his body was still. The Military Council meeting was about to begin.

 

Admiral Aviv Kochavi turned to face his cohorts, General Ahmed Qurei of the Novakian Army, and General Mohammad Nasser of the Novakian Air Force. He began speaking about the transition and The Lord’s Sword.

 

“…This has provided us a perfect opportunity. Novak’s reaches in the Middle East and the Indian will be greater than our predecessor. We will soon be able to maintain a naval presence in the Mediterranean without the need for allied support, as well as expand our resource holdings. The work we have accomplished in such a short time is nothing short of a miracle after the attack in Aden.”

 

“How long do you believe this government will need to exist?” asked General Qurei, shortly after the Admiral finished speaking.

 

“As long as is necessary, even if that means we will need to rule as a Council indefinitely, General” the Admiral said sternly and confidently. General Nasser sat quietly for a moment. He was mostly along for the ride, in what many outside observers will eventually see as a military coup d'etat.

 

“Admiral, if we are to show that Novak has not fallen from this event that we will not back down, then we must act internally. We must rebuild Aden. I suggest we build a new capital territory, a centralized and heavily defended location from where we can govern and operate,” stated General Nasser.

Edited September 11, 2014 by Voodoo Nova

[Voodoo Nova]

Construction on a new capital had begun some months after the meeting in Riyadh ended. Amal, the name of the new city, will rise and from Riyadh. The abandoned structures that once littered the outer neighborhoods were torn down, with parks and newer buildings taking their place. The old Riyadh skyline, holding just the Kingdom Center and Al Faisaliyah Center, would be replaced with a large variety of mid and high-rise structures across double the area. Their designs would invoke a sense of pride as native architects are called upon to create this new city.

Amal will host government and military headquarters in the Capital, within the center of the city. The Capital will appear to be like any other neighborhood compared to the size and scope of Amal, allowing it to remain hidden among the city. The perimeter of the Territory would be designed to withstand assault from the ground and skies. It would be protected by specially-trained members of each military service. Underneath the Capital, an extensive NBC-proof facility, designed to allow for government data storage and government continuity, would be built to house the Military Council and government in case of an attack by a foreign power. Its design would mirror the above-ground structures, with reinforced tunnels to provide easy connection between the aboveground and underground government offices.

Off the Coast

Admiral Kochavi and General Qurei were on a teleconference meeting with Brig. General Nasser and Brig. General Marek Geffen aboard the NS Mecca, the same command ship the Admiral first spoke after the disaster. In teleconference room, off in the corner, stood the podium he used. The Novaki flag was still missing, as were other flags to signify which country owned the vessel.

“We have administrative control of Rafah and Khan Yunis, Admiral. My units have developed a working relationship with the local population, who are being provided assistance in exchange for aiding our search for members of The Lord’s Sword. Their information, as well as reconnaissance and surveillance, suggests the group controls some rural settlements for training purposes. These facilities house roughly two hundred terrorists, some of whom could be from as far as northern Europe. We will be conducting air strikes within the next 24 hours,” stated Brig. General Nasser regarding Gaza.

Brigadier General Geffen spoke next, “Qatar and Bahrain are home to the two largest training facilities, as well as the location of their primary base on Suwad al Janubiyah of the Hawar Islands. This is where we believe Essa Reid is located. We have been tracking the development of a makeshift runway. As far as we understand the situation, this is being used by only Reid as he flies between Gaza and the Qatar Protectorate Region.”

“Do you know of his current location” asked Admiral Kochavi.

“At this time, it is believed he is in his personal residence. We intend on sending a small team to capture him before his next visit to Rafah.”

“Excellent.”

The meeting ended shortly after the updated. General Qurei briefed the Admiral on Heard and McDonald later in the day, ensuring Aviv was up-to-date on the radar site. The site was nearly ready for use. Wiring problems early on were finally fixed, allowing the facility to become operational. The next steps would be to test the equipment to ensure they meet operational requirements.

[Voodoo Nova]

In Gaza, Bahrain and Qatar
 
Promptly after taking off from Yasser Arafat International Airport, two F-23 squadrons sought out their targets in the rural desert outside the city of Rafah. These targets, mostly suspected hideouts for the Lords Sword Gaza leadership and weapons caches, were found a few weeks earlier. Their construction was simple, building off abandoned structures. Cruising through the night sky, the targets were spotted. In the span of 10 seconds, bombs would accurately destroy targets within 30 meters of accuracy. Meanwhile, another mission was being carried out to destroy the primary training facilities in Bahrain and Qatar. Two squadrons of F-23s would take off, promptly destroying the centers shortly after takeoff. Approximately 3,000 soldiers on the ground would enter to secure the facilities, to capture any survivors and to gather any intelligence about their operations.

The runway Reid would have used to escape was damaged, as were the aircraft located nearby. Boats located on a local pier were destroyed, leaving him trapped on the island. His 2nd-in-command was killed in the attacks and the others began to scatter. The might of the Novaki military was too much for the group, with members laying down their arms and surrendering before they could be killed. Reid made his way out of the compound, towards the coast, with his bodyguards. A fire team fired on the escaping leader, striking the bodyguards in the back and Reid in his thigh. The bodyguards stopped moving, but Reid was struggling to run. He tripped over a rock and fell to the ground. His body didnt move. A Novaki medic rushed to his side to determine his status. The sound of a gun was heard and the medic dropped. The fireteam leader opened fire on Reid, shooting him multiple times. With their guns pointing at Reid, they surrounded him. Someone checked his pulse and he was confirmed dead.

The kill would be called into command and General Qurei was notified shortly after. The Lords Sword lost their spokesman and leader. The resistance was coming to an end in Novak, but the remaining members began dispersing. Most were caught, however some managed to escape. Those captured were to face the military courts for crimes against the Novaki government, military and state.

General Qurei met with Kochavi later in the day. The Admiral had a pleased look on his face, knowing this victory would solidify the government as stable and willing to pursue those who sought to harm their people.

Admiral, the military courts will be able to begin trials a week from today, said General Qurei

Wonderful news. He replied.

Heard and McDonald Island

Supply ships were departing once again, leaving behind the last of the stations equipment. The facility was nearly finished with members of the Novaki Amphibious Forces beginning their training. Living quarters, religious facilities and commissaries were being built to accommodate the new battalion. Colonel Ismail Masuq was tapped to lead the station in the south Indian, allowing him to coordinate with Novaks African allies. Edited September 30, 2014 by Voodoo Nova