The Course of Empire

[Shadowsage]

[b]**Classified**[/b]
"Preparations have been completed; Battlefleet Pacific and elements of Battlefleet Terra are in position. They only await your orders to advance, Your Excellency."

"Excellent. For too long have we rested on our laurels, wasting away like the pacifistic dogs we hate with such passion. No longer. To be an Empire requires the conquest of territory; the acquisition of wealth through various means. That which rightfully belongs to the Empire shall indeed be ours.

"Execute Operation Lengthy Lightning."

---

With that order, the Empire plunged into war. Across the Western coast of Central America, planes lifted off and streaked north. Dozens of ships escorting hundreds of transports steamed North with all speed, carrying the materials and personnel for a full amphibious invasion.

Dozens of bombers dropped tons of munitions all over the coastlines. Bunker busting munitions blasted gory holes through defenses long-since mapped from orbit. The aircraft moved in a carefully choreographed weaving pattern specifically crafted to offer constantly changing targets to any ground defenses which managed to track the craft. Combined with flares and spoofing technology, casualties were well below the projected result.

When the flotilla of ships came into range, batteries of railguns would fire into the hellish destruction, completely bulldozing any and all defenses still remaining. A massive salvo of ship-launched missiles completed the process, launching debris and dirt skyward for hundreds of meters through sheer explosive energy. The cluttered air forced aircraft to stay-clear for quite some time, giving the landing-force an opportunity to assault the beaches without fear of reprisal from above.

No less than 20,000 soldiers stormed the beaches in the initial wave, one of the most massive landings in military history. Ship-based artillery pounded the rubble of the coastal defenses, forcing any surviving combat personnel to hunker down lest they be torn to ribbons.

A small beach-head had been seized, a scant few miles outside of Cabo San Lucas.

[b]**Public**[/b]
The Holy American Empire declares war on Tahoe as a third party independent of the current hostilities.

Edited April 20, 2010 by Shadowsage

[Shadowsage]

Casualties were surprisingly light; a mere 2,000 soldiers were killed or otherwise incapacitated. 10% casualties might have been enough to deter another nation, but the soldiers of the Empire were made of far sterner stuff. Veterans all, they fought viciously for every inch of captured ground. Oftentimes they would booby-trap their comrades bodies before retreating.

The push beyond the beach was up in the air, with heavy casualties being incurred on both sides. The difference being Tahoan troops had the room to retreat, whereas the Empire was forced to push forward. Armored Vehicles on the Empire's side began crashing ashore in high-speed deployment boats; effectively huge boxes. Dozens of IFV's and MBTs smashed through the rubble, intent on securing an area for more permanent operations.

---
[b]
Aboard the HAS [i]'Imperial Revenant'[/i]
Flagship of the Invasion Fleet[/b]

Emperor Kevin Holihan had come personally to oversee the initial stages of the invasion. He had personally asked the Empire's citizens to supply ships for a fleet train to support the massive force, and his prayers had been met with overwhelming support. As a result, there was no significant shortage of shipping space to provide food and materials to the invading force.

He stood on the bridge with arms folded behind his back, watching regally as a flight of Helicopters swooped overhead towards the beach. Further out to sea, similar models patrolled dutifully on the lookout for submarines seeking a swift kill. Buoys and passive arrays had been deployed in a massive area around the landing zone; it was highly unlikely anything would manage to affect the Empire's naval assets.

Imperial Admiral Wiggin stood nearby, his posture mirroring that of his 'superior'.

"Proceeding according to schedule, sir."

"Good. Very good." The Emperor smiled outwardly, but inside he was sickened at the death of so many loyal soldiers, valiant to the end. [i]'Your sacrifice will not be in vain.'[/i]

Wiggin noted his Emperor's attitude with agreement. "Shall I order the advance, sir?"

Kevin sighed and rubbed his temples with one hand. The balefully gazing camera which had so become an identifying aspect pulsed dully in the control center. His decision was one which would make or break the invasion. [i]'It's still not too late to back out. Save your subjects.'[/i] The voice Kevin had come to call Nergal whispered in the back of his mind.

"Invictus." The Empire would not back down.

[Yawoo]

OOC: You can't RP your own casualties so soon, you have to wait at least three days for Mudd to respond.

[Shadowsage]

OOC: I'm granting 10% casualties. Which is more than he has the right to expect, seeing as there is NO data on Baja del Sur defenses.

[Yawoo]

[quote name='Shadowsage' date='20 April 2010 - 09:20 PM' timestamp='1271816389' post='2268583']
OOC: I'm granting 10% casualties. Which is more than he has the right to expect, seeing as there is NO data on Baja del Sur defenses.
[/quote]
OOC: Doesn't matter, you still can't grant yourself casualties before three days are up.

[Shadowsage]

OOC: *Shrugs* So, either I can assign myself heavier, more realistic casualties NOW with at least the shadow of a story forming or take virtually zero casualties when, in three days I assume there are no defenses seeing as there has never been any RP'd.

[Yawoo]

[quote name='Shadowsage' date='20 April 2010 - 10:22 PM' timestamp='1271820121' post='2268692']
OOC: *Shrugs* So, either I can assign myself heavier, more realistic casualties NOW with at least the shadow of a story forming or take virtually zero casualties when, in three days I assume there are no defenses seeing as there has never been any RP'd.
[/quote]

OOC: You'll still take some casualties, because you have to assume he has some forces there, but you maybe won't take 10% casualties. Either way, you can not RP your own casualties without first waiting so you give Mudd the chance to respond.

[Shadowsage]

OOC: I can't assume anything, they're not my forces.

[Yawoo]

[quote name='Shadowsage' date='20 April 2010 - 10:32 PM' timestamp='1271820711' post='2268711']
OOC: I can't assume anything, they're not my forces.
[/quote]
OOC: Look at the war thread with Zoot's posts, a GM requested that Zoot assume there is resistance so casualties would be taken.

[Shadowsage]

OOC: Which is RPing Mudd's troop deployments; something I cannot do according to those same GMs.

[Bacharth]

Message from General-President Bogart to the Holy American Empire:

This is the General of Distopyan forces, we are requesting to use the Panama Canal to ease our attack on Tahoe.

[Yawoo]

[quote name='Shadowsage' date='20 April 2010 - 10:37 PM' timestamp='1271821042' post='2268718']
OOC: Which is RPing Mudd's troop deployments; something I cannot do according to those same GMs.
[/quote]
Guess we have a conundrum then eh.

[Shadowsage]

In a stunning move today, a second Imperial landing force made its' way under cover of night and radio silence to land on the beaches of La Paz, opening a second front on the Peninsula. This thrust threatens to cut off the supply lines of Tahoan forces still fighting against the landing in Cabo San Lucas by rendering its' ports unavailable for import duty.

The move was likely entirely unanticipated, and Imperial troops moved quickly to push beyond the murderously open terrain of the beach. Within days they would be within the city itself; where the Empire's penchant for Urban Warfare could come to the fore.

[Bull Run]

The Confederacy offers its support in the Holy American front. Any remaining resistance by hostile forces will be met by fresh Confederate troops & armour. Operations as aiding as a defence force of the Mexican protectorate will also be carried out.

[Shadowsage]

OOC: Bump

IC: Through severe fighting, the Empire's soldiers have managed to seize Cabo San Lucas and the surrounding area. The mechanized infantry and armored divisions shipped ashore have begun a lightning breakout campaign; planned to surround and eliminate any resistance within the southern half of the peninsula. Teams of vehicles moved forward supported by infantry; enemy soldiers found were either eliminated by the armored spearhead or the helicopters flying close-support in accordance with combined-arms doctrine.

The Empire's fleet combined and protected the advancing invasion force with aircraft overwatch and radar support. Targets were shelled with railgun fire, or missiles bombarded them into submission. The entire campaign was conducted regardless of damage to the infrastructure of the Baja peninsula.

[Shadowsage]

OOC: Lawl autoadvance.

IC:

Imperial regiments and mechanized infantry made advances in leaps and bounds, pushing the broken front-line further and further to the north. In short order the entire Peninsula would belong to the Empire, which would be the point where Imperial forces would be advancing into Tahoe proper.

[Manetheren]

I apologize I had not seen this thread earlier and no one alerted me to its presence. I was only informed of the movements in the Pacific Star thread, from where I responded with my own military movements.

Accordingly, I will respond to your initial assault in the Operation Downfall Thread