"...and she had a Heart of Iron"

[Uberstein]

[quote name='DeSchaine' timestamp='1280179870' post='2390217']
14 JuneIn the wee hours of the morning, the Taeunas navy found itself at it's hold line, just outsideof French territorial waters in the Atlantic. Aircraft from the two carriers had mounted a standing CAP (ooc: combat air patrol for those that don't know) over the fleet. Dublin stil didn't know what or who was going where, so they had no instructions beyond closing off access to the channel from the Atlantic side. Scotland still had made no announcement ormoves in any direction, but communications were open. 0800In Dublin, DeSchaine waited on news from the fronts. Reports were scattered at best, and confused at the worst. Not one reply had come in from his messagesto the nations involved, which cemented his view of the continent being nothing more than bloodthirsty war mongers. In his frustration, he personally composed a letter to Therese and sent his roving ambassador, Etain Connolly, to deliver it. It read:Therese, just how far do you intend to go with this?ChristosAnother letter, worded much the same way, was dispatched to Finland. Being the only nations Taeunas had any real contact with, maybe they would be able to give him the needed push to choose a side in the conflict.
[/quote]
Classified Message to Taeunas:
"The complete defense of our ally Germany will be done, we must ensure that this communist revolution is put down and that Germany remains whole. The French started this war, the Communists started their fight, thus Germany must be defended."

Classified:
Forces from Antarctica are nearing the Equator, fuel ships have been dispatched though the Kiel Canal to ensure they can continue to steam at full speed, and will most likely meet them at North 23 Degrees, West 36 Degrees.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

[quote]
0800
In Dublin, DeSchaine waited on news from the fronts. Reports were scattered at best, and confused at the worst. Not one reply had come in from his messages
to the nations involved, which cemented his view of the continent being nothing more than bloodthirsty war mongers. In his frustration, he personally composed a letter to Therese and sent his roving ambassador, Etain Connolly, to deliver it. It read:

Therese,

just how far do you intend to go with this?

Christos
[/quote]
[i]
Christos,

I intend to liberate Alsace-Lorraine from the German Nation as it was wrongfully taken from the French by the Hohenzollern Regime in the past, who were loyal to the current German leader fighting the Communists. While I wish there were other ways to go about doing this, but war is the most direct and will deliver the most gain to the French people. My invasion and campaign will stop after all of Alsace and Lorraine are firmly under French possession and the German Counter Attack, if any, by them and their allies is fully destroyed. That is when we will stop, I of course realize that I have been a horrible neighbor and ally to you and I expect nothing in return of kindness from you, I have used all your kindness up from the Campaigns in Iberia. If you will help us secure the territory, I will be forever in your debt, if you wish to stay out of the battle entirely that is good as well, and if we are meant to see each other on opposite sides of the field then so be it. You Christos, would be a greater fight and one that I would be proud to shed my blood with than any other opponent in the world.

Whatever our destiny is, I know that if I do not survive this, I will at least meet you in Hell. I think we'll be understood there. Much more than we are in this world.

Sincerely,

Therese[/i]

---

[quote]
To France and her engaged allies,

We, the United Mechodamian States, intend to enter this war on behalf of the collapsed state of the former GDR, present FUSR. We cannot stand idle and watch the VDR act with such heinous disregard and we send this letter of intent to prove our dedication to the freedoms of mankind. We are requesting a quorum to meet with you, France and said allies, as a means to attain a peaceful resolution for the civilians of the FUSR. Much is at stake and cooperation mustn't be vacuumed; we patiently await your reply as we mobilize our forces promptly.

Sincerely,

The Patriarchy of Foreign Affairs of the United Mechodamian States
[/quote]

[i]Excellency,

With all haste we would be happy to receive your ambassador at Versailles were discussions are already taking place for an offensive against the enemies of the Empire. While France's allies are not engaged against many of the foes of the FUSR and instead are concentrating on the Slavorussians, there is no reason why our alliance of understanding cannot expand. I believe with the UMS's help and advice the war effort will slowly begin to turn to our favor or at least I hope that is what can happen with your entrance in this war.

Make to Versailles with all haste, we will be waiting for you there.

Sincerely,

Therese Zelle
Empress of France[/i]

---

[quote]
“Empress Akhatova would like to invite you to a meeting at a neutral and remote location in the Athenian Federation to commence informal and perhaps even formal talks between France and Germany. She believes a peace agreement should be able to be arranged and is preferred by both sides.”
[/quote]

"Unfortunately France will not enter talks with the German States until at least Strasbourg is attempted to be liberated from their domain. We have come to liberate Alsace and Lorraine and will not rest until this is done. Germany has France's word, we will not expand into Germany Proper, only the territory that was wrongfully taken from our Empire in the past."


OOC: Will have military movements posted tomorrow...way too tired tonight to write them.

[king of cochin]

[u][b]Classified to VDL/SF[/b][/u]

The [b]Cochin Expeditionary Force Germany[/b] have fully assembled at Kara Balta and are waiting for permission from Slavic Federation to travel to the German front. The units would require either numerous runs of freight trains or dedicated highways for the low boy trailers massively contracted by Quarter Master Command to transport these equipments. The CEFG would also appreciate fuel supplies and similar support infrastructure from Slavic Federation to facilitate the faster deployment. It is expected by the CEFG Command Staff that their destination would be Budapest for now after a travel through Atyrau, Astrakhan, Krasnodar, across Sea of Azov to Chisinau and finally Budapest, a distance of 6400 km.

The [b]Air Combat Force Germany[/b] have now assembled in force at Forward Air Base Taras for the 4500 km flight over Slavic Federation to Martensheim. As soon as the permission is received from Slavic Federation, this aerial armada along with its airborne convoy of munitions and support systems would fly towards Martensheim.

[loannes]

**Private to Cochin*
"Permission granted. Air bases opened for refueling."

[Justinian the Mighty]

[b]12:30 AM
June 14
Alsace-Lorraine[/b]

What the Prime Minister had said in his speech became reality, at midnight the country was officially at war with France. It wasn’t their finest hour, but Slavorussia’s government felt confident that they were on the right side by defending Germany from then French. Germany had proven itself an indispensable ally to the Slavorussian Empire and a huge debt needed to be repaid to the German people.

Roughly 4 hours and 30 minutes after the Prime Minister’s speech a fleet of Tu-160 strategic bombers approach French occupied airspace. Their bomb bays are fully loaded and primed for attack. Each bomber carried 40,000 kg of ordinance and the pilots were itching to drop every bomb on the countryside. “Command this is Eagle-1 we are on our approach ETA is T minus 8 minutes.”

“Rodger that Eagle-1. Good luck and Godspeed.”

Eagle-1’s pilot turns on the autopilot. His three crewmates continue working at their stations paying close attention to their radar. The pilot reveals a cross that had been hidden by the collar of his uniform. On the back is an inscription of the words “God is with us!” the national motto. Now more than ever the pilot hoped that there was at least a grain of truth in these words. He kisses the cross then hides it back behind his uniform. He glances at his co-pilot and over his shoulder to the other two crew members behind him.

They could see the city lights ahead of them now. It was almost time. Through their radios the other 11 bomber crews could hear the an announcement from the commander and pilot of Eagle-1. “Lets light some !@#$ up boys!”

The bombers slow down slightly over the countryside west of Metz, Nancy and other occupied cities. The targets selected were main thoroughfares that the French Army would most likely be using to transport troops and supplies to the front. The Prime Minister stressed that cities and town should be avoided at any costs.

The squadron flies south in the dark of night over enemy territory. As they near the roads leading to Metz the mission commander gives the faithful order and the bomb bay doors open and release a torrent of bombs upon the unsuspecting transport lines below. 480,000 kg of explosive ordinance wiz through the air pummeling the landscape below, turning the countryside into a blazing inferno 60km long. The destruction from their point of view is both beautiful and horrifying. How many people have they sent to their deaths? How many children have become orphans, wives become widows, mothers become childless? There was no time to worry about the small picture for the French would certainly be on their way and these massive Russian birds would be directly in their line of fire.

[king of cochin]

[u][b]June 14, 1200L[/b][/u]

With the permission received from Slavic Federation the massive juggernaut rolled on. An army of 571,000 is no mean thing to be transported over such a vast distance as the entirety of Asia Minor and Balkans, a 6400 kilometers of roads and railways. Even at wartime speed travel through a relatively war free country, it would take at least 12 days (1 day RL, minimum) of travel to reach Budapest, the main pivot for assault. Convoy by convoy the Cochin Expeditionary Force Germany is rolling from the massive garrison at Kara Balta to their first logistical point, Atyrau - 2700 kilometers away.

The massive army would maintain convoy formation until Chisinau from where it would start leap frog style of advance. The Air Combat Force Germany has also started its exodus to Martensheim, the 31 combat squadrons with almost 60 transport squadrons of HALOB (20 regiments) providing logistical support. The RF21 regiment would provide air logistics security for the time being against any marauding attacks, while the RF18 regiment would provide air cover for the advancing CEFG columns. IFF codes have been shared with the Slavic Federation and allied air forces by the two Merat and one Halob AWACS currently operating, sharing air traffic and air defense duties with the Slavic Federation Air Defense System. The Air Combat Force Germany, though it would reach Martensheim faster would only be able to be fully combat worthy in 6 days of time (12 hours RL).

[Michael McBride]

[b]Lieutenant Timothy Reed, Grand Army of the Republic[/b]

"We're looking for a Lieutenant Reed, Timothy. He around here?" The voice saying my name broke me out of what had been a daze staring at my computer screen. I looked up in an instant, trying to appear awake as my CO pointed a man with Captain's bars on his shoulders my way. My eyes searched frantically for something to make myself look busy, something to make myself seem more important... but nothing came through for me. The next instant, the Captain was standing above my station, looking down at me.

"Lieutenant Reed?" I rose and snapped off a salute to him. He grimaced for a moment and then handed me a piece of paper. "Grab your things. You ship out for France in five hours." My mouth hung open for a moment as I read the orders. France? But wasn't that where the war was going on? There had to be some mistake. I was a information and intelligence analyst, not a soldier. Before I could even open my mouth to speak, the Captain simply shook his head. "There is no mistake, Lieutenant. Your $@! is expected to be on the first Elephant out of here." He was referring to the CH-44 Elephant, the heaviest transport the Republic had. I nodded again, my body acting without my brain telling it what to do for a moment.

I really don't remember those next five hours. I don't think I remembered anything until I felt the massive wheels of the CH-44 lift off the ground and I found myself staring at the faces of 115 other soldiers.

[u][b]Sir Michael Harland, President of the Republic of York, Syracuse, York[/b][/u]

I can honestly say that I hate my job. Many would ask why I ran for the position then, and the answer is simple: because if I didn't I would have killed the guy in charge. Call me self-loathing I guess, but it doesn't matter. It's my job now and I have to deal with it, I've got no one to fall back on.

I've won a lot in my career, lost a few times. I had no idea which way this was going to go and that honestly scared me the most. Sitting down in front of those cameras, I knew that this speech might not only make or break my political career, it may make or break the entire country.

"My fellow citizens," I began, "Hours ago, the Slavorussian Empire announced its intention to attack the Empire of France, citing their attack on Germany. While France's attack upon Germany has been widely criticized and denounced by many, including myself, the fact remains that France is our ally through treaty, and is the oldest this country has. Therefore, as of twenty minutes ago, I signed the Executive Order to declare war on the Slavorussian Empire. Our troops are already en route to France to repel any invasion made by the Slavorussians into French territory."

"Note this is not a declaration of war against Germany. We have no quarrel with the Germans and our forces will not take part in any mission that will strike at the Germans. The only way we fight the Germans is if our forces are attacked first. Also note that any other nations who declare on France should consider themselves at war with the Republic as well."

"I know this decision will not be a popular one, and many of our citizens will wonder why I am sending so many of our sons and daughters across the Atlantic to fight in a war that has very little support. Believe me, it is a question I have wrestled with myself. But the answer I have come to is this: We will keep our commitments and not abandon them simply because the path ahead may be strewn with doubt or uncertainty. We will keep our word even when we are not sure of victory. We will defend our allies because of just that, they are our allies. And we will do these things as a nation not because they are easy, but because they are hard." I pause again, looking down.

"Our thoughts and prayers go with those brave soldiers from the Republic who are currently flying into battle. We wish them the best. Do your best, do your duty, and come home soon. Safe. With honor. That is all any of us can ask for."

[Kaiser Martens]

A message is sent to Slavorussia. German AA in the area is on standby for anything which may be in range and attempting to attack the Bombers, and five Fighter squadrons have been sent to escort the Russian Bombers, removed from the southern army strike.

[i]"We expect French interceptors, but we will do our best to at least keep them busy enough that they won't be able to hurt you as much. Even then, speed is a primary factor in this. Slava Rossija!"[/i]

[DeSchaine]

Afternoon of the 14th

Christos sat in his chair, gaving into the faux fireplace, lost in thought. On the table next to the chair lay the return letters from both France and Finland. Beneath those was a report of movements along the Spanish/French borders. It was true that the French had started this, but judging from the tone of Therese's letter, that would be contained in a short time. She had a point. The Hohenzollern Regime had made a right bags of the whole thing to begin with, but this wasnt the way to go about getting things fixed. He sighed.

The communists were of no concern to Taeunas. What the people in that nation wanted to do among themselves was no business of his, or anyone else in the rest of Europe for that matter. So far, Taeunas had managed to stay out of the various conflicts and arguments on the continent. Now, it was looking as if his hand was forced. Already in his mind, several actions displayed themselves as due courses for the good of his people, and a possible shortening of the war.

He called in his trusted advisors, and discussed with them his ideas. The talks raged for several hours, with things both added and removed. Moving to his office, he sat behind his desk, with a glass of Bushmills 12 beside him. He wrote out four messages and had them delivered.

**All messages private to the recipient**

Therese,

That is good to hear. While the Iberian situation has caused a slight amount of concern on our part, we let it go because it was simpler for your nation to care and administer them rather than our sending in "peacekeepers." We saw the wisdom of this, even if Scotland didnt. Indeed, France has every right to her cultural attachments, and for this reason we support the current objective, if not your means.

However, if you think that our assistance will be needed, then you shall have it. I can authorize the deployment to areas currently held or protected by your military, freeing them to join those already in battle. Indeed, our navy is standing to just outside of your waters, and will cause any naval units to detour north around Taeunas and Scotland, or to the south through to the Med. Finland has designs on trying to stop you, but I think we can find a way to hold them at bay, at least for the time being.

Should the need arise, additional forces will become available for direct combat. With your permission, we can move fighter and attack aircraft up to stage out of your nation, and can fly bomber missions through your airspace.

My kindness, and that of Taeunas, has not been used up. Should the situation become dire, you are most welcome to sanctuary here.

Christos

-----

To Finland

While we somewhat agree with you on the communist part, there is a method in the French madness. If you recall the Hohenzollern Regime, they handed over what was, for all intents and purposes, culturally French territory. We often wondered at the swift political moves and speed of the decline of that insignificant little country, and here the French are reclaiming what is rightfully theirs by ancestery. We urge you to reconsider your intent towards them, and remind you that an attack on them by you will bring quick retribution on the forces involved. We bear you no ill will, and only ask that you consider all the options at this time.

DeSchaine

-----

To the Spanish Republic

We in Taeunas are glad to hear you confirm your neutrality. It is entirely possible that we will be moving forces into the Iberian region and would hate to find ourselves in conflict with you.

DeSchaine

-----

To His Excellency Lavo Shalam,

Greetings from President DeSchaine of Taeunas. We wish to inquire as to your intentions regarding the French in this, and if they are of a positive light toward them, we would request that you close the Med to Finnish forces. Reclamation of territory given wrongfully by the Hohenzollern Regime should not be a crime that brings the wrath of your great nation.

As to the communists... a civil war is by no means the business of Taeunas, unless some atrocity occurs. Should other nations wish to involve themselves in the civil war, then that too is none of our concern unless a war crime is committed.

Warmest regards and wishes,
Christos DeSchaine

**End messages**

As soon as the messages were delivered, DeSchaine refilled his glass, having drained it while writting. Carrying the drink, he walked once again to his war room. The chaos was still in full swing, but this time, the odrers were more precise. The night before, he had learned which units were on rotation to deploy.

"Ladies and gentlemen" he said as he walked in. "It's time we started to move. As of now, I want 3rd and 5th divisions loading up and getting ready to relocate to France. Air command... I want four squadrons each of Tyre and Jagatai preping for the same move. I want the bombers at Dungarvan and Wexford loaded up and ready to go. Thats what, four squadrons? Very good. As soon as they're up, I want plan Racetrack to begin."

Plan Racetrack was an operational directive that if a small number of bomber squadrons went out, the same number would be lining up just behind them to depart as the first began the return trip home.

[Malatose]

[b]Classified Dispatch to the Kingdom of Cochin[/b]

Seeing as how you must operate from a suitable command headquarters, we will allow you to use a currently unoccupied forward command base in Hungary. In addition, personnel at the local airbase will be increased, in order to deal with the increased air traffic coming from your airforces.

[Ezequiel]

[quote name='DeSchaine' timestamp='1280207012' post='2390900']

-----

To the Spanish Republic

We in Taeunas are glad to hear you confirm your neutrality. It is entirely possible that we will be moving forces into the Iberian region and would hate to find ourselves in conflict with you.

DeSchaine

-----
[/quote]

[b]Reply to Taeunas[/b]

So long as it does not violate our Air Space or Waters we are fine with that. Moving into our waters would be violating our sovereignty and will not be tolerated.

[i]José.[/i]

[king of cochin]

[quote name='Malatose' timestamp='1280208112' post='2390914']
[b]Classified Dispatch to the Kingdom of Cochin[/b]

Seeing as how you must operate from a suitable command headquarters, we will allow you to use a currently unoccupied forward command base in Hungary. In addition, personnel at the local airbase will be increased, in order to deal with the increased air traffic coming from your airforces.
[/quote]

[u][b]Classified to Slavic Federation[/b][/u]

We thank you for these facilities.

[u][b]June 14, 1800 L[/b][/u]

The first HALOB landed at the Ferihegy Airport in Budapest carrying a company of Royal Cochin Special Forces commandos who quickly interacted with the Slavic Federation officials to assume control of the reinforced bunker beneath the air base. Within hours a score more Halobs and Merats brought in the massive Command Staff who set about to take over the organization of the CEFG and ACFG from the Command Center in Bishkek.

The CEFG Command Center was soon joined by the General Officers Commanding each of the army units moving from Kara Balta, including Lt. Gen. Laxman Sethi. Communication Links were soon established with the Bishkek Command Center, GSHQ Pentagon in Cochin City, Slavic Federation Command Center in Tbilisi and the VDL Command Center in Berlin. The Intelligence and Reconnaissance units started their activity by establishing down links with Strategic Reconnaissance Agency and National Intelligence Agency. Maj. Gen. Daisy Alexander would soon join the Command team at CEFG Command Center since she is currently in Martensheim overseeing the arrival of the first ACFG squadrons. Communication links would be established with the ACFG Operations Center in Martensheim from where the Air operations would be coordinated.

The first and most important job for the CEFG-HQ Staff is to make sure that the CEFG reaches Budapest safely and fast. A squadron of Blackhawks from the 2nd Shock Army Division have been priority rerouted to the CEFG-HQ in Budapest for the mobility of the the Commanders. A JM2 squadron from the RF09 regiment has also been ordered to be stationed at the Ferihegy Airport for the Air Defense and secure mobility of the Commanders. As the Headquarters is being readied for operations the ACFG is also reinforcing the air defense of the Ferihegy Airport and Bunker Complex with Battalions of Air Defense units airlifted in from Bishkek. The SD5, SD4, SD3, SD2 and SD2R missile batteries are joined by the JWAL CIWS batteries and STHAL AID batteries. For the duration of this conflict Budapest would be protected by the best air defense the Royal Cochin Defense Forces has to offer.

A platoon of truck mounted GG10 SRBMs armed with Tactical Ballistic Air Defense System have also been brought to Budapest to take care of any Aircraft attacks the enemy may launch.

[Uberstein]

[ Mood music: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktPwWzQ6ZQY"]FINLANDIA[/url] ]
Statement from the President of the Republic of Finland:

"The Republic of Finland does not forget it's treaties and allies just because of convenience or the size of the enemy force. We stand against all enemies, be they large or small, and we protect those we hold treaties with. There is a reason Finland does not sign treaties at the drop of a hat, when we sign a treaty it is binding. The French have broken a treaty. The French have started a war. The French are nothing but dishonorable warlords who have done nothing but bring instability to Europe, be it in crushing local cultures in Iberia or full fledged invasions. They have spat in the face of peace and act like arrogant children, who refuse to accept that perhaps the democratic vote was not in their favor. We fight by our German allies, and should Finnish soldiers of honor face French barbarians, I can assure you my men will fight as if they were fighting for their own soil. As for the Communists, the disgusting men and women who honor the genocidal madman of Stalin, who honor the purges and starvation of the Ukraine, who by honoring Stalin cheer the death of the brave Finns who fought for freedom in the Winter War, I tell you this. Your technology and industry will mean nothing when faced by the dedication of the Finnish. We remember the crimes commited by Stalin, we remember the Communists, we fought off our own communist revolution ourselves, and we shall fight until your hateful ideology is nothing but something in the history books and insane asylums. To the soldiers of Finland! Have Sisu! Remember our heros! Marshal Mannerheim! Simo Häyhä and Ehrnrooth! Do not let them push you back! Remember the words of Woldemar Hägglund, 'yes it will hold unless we are told to run'! Show these !@#$%^&* what a Finn is made of! Fight for your brothers and fight to keep the Communists and French from beating down our OWN doors! Show no mercy to those who bring this war to Europe, for they shall show you none. Finland forever!"

Classified:
With his speech finished, Taneli was quickly moved by plain car to a small house in Asikkala, one that served as a Kansainvälinen safe house, meaning it was connected to the nitrogen-secured communication network in Finland. No wireless signals would come from the house, and a Kansainvälinen team made every effort to make it look like a normal home, be it watering the garden or leaving for 'work' every morning and coming home every night, occasionally stopping at bars. The President himself stayed in the basement mostly, monitoring the networks and working with the logistics team that was there with him.

Government members were spread out in small safe houses across several towns and cities, such as Kouvola, Imatra, Savonlinna, and Forssa.

Meanwhile, the entire 2nd Kansainvälinen regiment started to deploy minefields along the Russian boarder, using helicopters for fast movement, and the Slavorussians were informed via telegram, sent by a runner and handed to the guards at the Russian capital in person.
"Minefields along Finn-Russian boarder. Placed to prevent flanking attack should enemy troops land in White sea. Civilian roads at Kotka will not be mined unless the attack actually happens. We have closed the roads otherwise due to 'maintenance' so no civilian casualties shall happen. Minefield signs are in place as well. Mines are in classified patterns, will be easy to remove after war is finished."

[Shadowsage]

[b]**High above the French front-lines**[/b]

A burst of stray anti-aircraft fire shook the converted B-1 heavily. All about the craft were dozens identical in design and purpose; used for years by the Empire as a rapid-deployment tool for infantry across the globe. Scores of Night Haunter fighters, some of the finest in the world escorted the crafts through stalwart remaining defenses and overzealous French AA alike. The loss of zero transport aircraft was a testament to the skill and tenacity of the pilots transporting their charges across from the Azores. It would be another week before ship-borne forces from the Azores reached the frontlines; until then the Empire had deployed its' 10,000 strong elite Iron Warriors division.

Some malfunctioning missile detonated a few hundred feet from the craft and caused it to buck wildly. The infantry within grimly clung to their drop-lines and watched the light indicating when to drop with strained calm. When the glaring red light winked to green the back hatch would drop open and the soldiers would be hurled out to land and begin the Empire's defensive action in support of the French.

Legate (Private) Brutus Octavian was the second-to-last on his side of the plane. He had long since stopped watching the light and was occupying his time with a strictly non-regulation picture wallet he had brought on the journey. Inside the bright gleaming eyes of his beloved wife reassured him that all he did was for the Empire and her. A world where their baby would live in peace.

A jabbing elbow jolted him out of the reverie. Private Malone, situated one seat closer to the door than Brutus was one of the very few immigrants allowed into Santiago and Imperial Center yearly. His parents had fled Europe years ago and tumbled through the Americas, never setting down roots. Until for some reason they blew up on the shores of an Empire which was the only state in the world to actively refuse immigrants. From what Brutus had heard, the man's parents had taken it as a challenge and after a few years of being passed over were accepted.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

"Hey, I hear we're being deployed RIGHT on the front-lines!" Brutus only nodded in reply. "So that means we're gonna have to figure out who to shoot! I know we're supposed to be allied to the French and all, but this," he swept one hand in a gesture encompassing the gyrating plane, "is a little ridiculous. Does the [i]Holy Writ[/i] say something about this? 'Friendly Fire, isn't." Malone made an almost-perfect imitation of the Emperor's voice; serious and with a hint of self-depreciating humor. Brutus laughed and shook his head.

"Cut the crap, Legate. We haven't even gotten to ground yet and the Jerries can hear you coming. At least the French will recognize you by smell." Tribune Langhorne was a mystery. In one instant he could joke around with the men almost as if his Non-Com status was forgotten. In the next he was reprimanding them as harsh as any general had managed in the history of combat.

"Aww, come on Lang." The Tribune's eye twitched when Malone mentioned his nickname. "They'll be too busy dying for them to do any kind of hearing." As if for emphasis, one of the soldiers pulled back and released the action on his weapon; an ancient Mk-14 Thunderburst. Brutus smiled softly and thought to himself.

[i]'Is there any way... that we'll make it out of this alive? Any of us? Megan, wait for me. I'll be back... I promise.'[/i]

A blaring sound emanated through the craft and the light switched to a bright green. The few soldiers sleeping jolted awake and instinctively checked all their weaponry with practiced ease. After all, they were the best of the best despite any unorthodoxies they exhibited at times. It was just as well; the first soldiers threw themselves bodily out of the craft. Brutus had no time to think before it was his turn.

"Get going!" Malone shouted behind him. And with that, he jumped into the turbulent air.

[Kaiser Martens]

"Furthermore, it is a lie that Elsass-Lothringen is predominantly French."

"The region was originally inhabited by Germanic tribes. Then it was taken by Julius Caesar, and then taken back by the Alamanni (From which the name for Germany in many languages is derived, such as Spanish Alemania)

It continued to be German under Karl der Grosse, and was eventually given to one of his sons, Lothar, from which Lothringen comes from. It was entirely German, but bordered by French speakers on the west. It then became a part of Swabian under the German-Roman Empire. This remained so until French Expansionism forcibly over time seized the region when oportunistically (Like today) Germany was in a difficult position. It was eventually taken back. France once more warred to be able to get it in the Thirty Years War. It remained so, but they were not happy and pushed further to Strassburg, again, without previous advice simply out of imperialistic gains. In spite of it all, German Dialects continued to be spoken all over the region by the locals. Only the Invaders spoke French. After further conflict, the German Empire was finally able to get the Region back in the Francoprussian war. Still, the majority of the people continued to speak German. We can find a map here:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Alsace-Lorraine_Dialects.png

The conflict continued during the first world war. Eventually, France was able to seize the land, and much of the modern French claims are based on this period, during which the French state forcibly ousted Germans from their places and tried to send Frenchmen to replace them. Francization took place, and Germans were discriminated against. German newspapers were also forbidden, and often it was very difficult to find a job if one were German. During world war two, many people were liberated and then fought for Germany. Liberated - or so they thought - until German policies became harsh even for Germans, not to mention others. Yet they fought willingly for the Fatherland. France was granted the land back and continued with its Francization process after World War Two, trying to eliminate Germans from the region for good, and many whom had fought for Germany were actively discriminated and shunned. France actively tried to suppress us.

Later in the Silver Revolution, France also attacked Germany in order to get even more land - as if it wasn't enough what they had seized. Another aggressive war against Germany. Only that this time, Germany won, retrieved the land and restored order. Ever since, the region had been under German hands for many decades. Only after the fall of Nordland did France get their hands again on the region, again in a German time of weakness. But this time they were unable to Francizise the region. That is why the democratic polls held there later allowed the region to return to the Fatherland.

So now we have the same thing happening yet again: Germany attempts to retrieve this land, which is almost overwhelmingly German Culturally AND historically while Germany is in a moment of weakness. Clearly, France is too cowardly to fight Germany head on for control of the land - It must have attacked Germany to obtain this land at least ten times in history, all during moments of great German disadvantage. Whenever they catch the land, they do the same: They forcibly try to turn it French. If one is to go through lists of Lastnames historically as well as right now through the region, one will find at least 80% of Germanic Names, and some of the French names were in fact "invented" so as not to be discriminated against.

I conclude my point that the French claims on Elsass-Lothringen make no sense, and that the French leadership is very cowardly. They claim that they will only fight for this, that they will not fight to invade Germany. But they are ALREADY invading Germany. Because it is a border region it does not mean that this is "Less Germany" than Berlin or Asgaard. With France's flawed logic, we could well use it ourselves to demand ALL of France be absorbed into Germany, as it was a nation led and created by the Franks, a Germanic tribe from Germany proper. The world knows and I know and the Empress know that this would make as little sense as the ongoing massacre.

Let them come. This will be a black chapter in France's history."

[Bacharth]

**Private**
"You know the best part about french scarves?" Chris asked Eli.

"What's that?"

"Easier to hang the coward wearing them."

[king of cochin]

[size="3"][quote][img]http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww110/gokulvarmank/flag2.jpg[/img]

"Citizens of the Kingdom of Cochin, brothers and sisters in nations far and wide, today we declare war upon Federal Union of Socialist Republics - the FUSR. This is a defensive war, caused due to the aggressive attacks upon Vereinigte Deutsche Länder and as per the Optional Defense Pact the Kingdom has in existence with Vereinigte Deutsche Länder. "

"The Kingdom of Cochin goes into this war with reluctance, we desist war, especially such a war fought between brothers. However the promise of support, the pledge to defend VDL overcomes any more pacifist tendencies we have."

"My brothers and sisters, a few hours ago the Royal Cochin Army has started its movement towards the FUSR. We shall fight in the air, we shall fight on the ground, we shall shed our blood, we shall defend our allies. "

"To those of you who wonder why we are involving in such an unseemly war, I remind you of the great war of Mahabharatha, a war fought between brother and brother, fathers and sons, uncles and nephews, masters and their disciples. It was a war of justice and honor, those two words which transcend all mortal bounds. Citizens of Cochin, the great armies of the Kingdom are marching towards a war, there would be casualties. Yes. Many of you would be bereft of your sons and daughters, your husbands and wives, your fathers and mothers, friends, compatriots, countrymen. Do not ever consider their sacrifices to be wasted, because they fought and died not to subjugate others, not to destroy others, but to protect the freedom and sovereignty of their brothers and sisters in another nation."

"We are honor bound to defend them, and defend them we shall. We are fighting an enemy several times stronger. We are fighting an enemy whose ranks include many whom we considered friends not so long ago, but the events and the tricks of fate have determined that we fight them."

"And fight them we shall. We shall prove the bravery of the Great Cochin Soldier in yet another battlefield, let the roars of the mighty Asians be heard in Europe as we fight to defend our ally. The valor of the Uighur, the daring of the Ghurkha, the strength of a Sikh, the tenacity of the Jat, the cunning of the Bengali, the ferocity of the Rajputs and the prowess of the Malayali shall be shown."

"Be not deluded, if we do not stand by our allies in their times of need, they would not stand with us in our time of need. But I call upon you to stand fast and tighten your armor to help an ally without seeking anything in return. As is said in the Bhagavad Gita,"

[i]"Karmanyevaadhikaraste, Maa Phaleshhu Kadaachana."

"You have right only to work, forget about the fruits of your actions."[/i]

"My countrymen, arise and salute those brave soldiers of the Kingdom who are marching on to defend their brothers."

"To the nations of the world, the Kingdom of Cochin has always lived with honor, now we shall fight with honor. Honor is indeed our family treasure, something much worthy to be proud of than gold or diamonds."

-
HIS HIGHNESS KERALA VARMA,
THE KING OF COCHIN.
[IMG]http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww110/gokulvarmank/Tiny/flag2.jpg[/IMG][/quote][/size]

[Triyun]

June 14th

The first troops were reaching the Slavic Federation's high speed ail lines in Tashkent. PMCs had been hired to free up troops for active duty while taking care of logistics, and they had large civilian armies loading up freight cars with equipment as soldiers would board onto the trains. Special heavy trains had been brought in to deal with the armored vehicles which would be going along for the ride as well. The units destination would be forward action bases in Czechoslovakia and Poland. Those who were religious would say their final funeral services in Asia. Attrition rates were expected to be high in this action. Trains leaving the station be waved off by locals with flags of the Slavs, Germans, and Chinese.

Air units were now setup in various airfields in the Ukraine. Strategic SAMs were flown in to provide additional protection to assets and bolster the Slav missile defense grid. AWACs and EF-50s would be flown alongside the Slavs in air defense. Jet fuel stockpiles were being built up along with ammunition from the Slavic lines, however, the Chinese were shipping their own stockpiles to go to all forces on this front. It would take some time for the supplies to reach here, but once they did the flow would be regular.

Freighters would begin unloading at the Ports of Kuwait, Bahrain, and Dubai. From their they would integrate themselves into the Rebel Army supply chain and lines and make their way to the lines of the Athenian Federation.

Edited July 27, 2010 by Triyun

[Jordosaur94]

*Private*

In the Imperial Palace, the Kaiser, Chancellor Bismark, Foreign Minister Marlburg, the Minister of War, the Ministers of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, as well as the commanders of the Fighter Force, Bomber Force, and Cruise Missile force, as well as several military commanders were all gathered around in the large and fantastically decorated meeting room, discussing the ongoing war in Europe.

The Kaiser muttered "So, those Frenchies finally snapped, eh? I only figured it would be a matter of time before they did so, all because of a Communist uprising in southern Germany, hmm..."

Bismark said to the 44 year old Monarch "Mein Kaiser, this war's a perfect chance for us to intervene on behalf of Germany and..."

"Bismark, intervention in Europe's Folly is foolish! Our military is tiny and pitifully armed with antiquated weapons and equipment, if we send soldiers over to Europe, they would be decimated by the superior firepower of the French and Communist forces. We cannot participate in this conflict, besides, many nations are helping Germany and our microscopic nation would only be a hindrance."

"But Mein Kaise-"

"NO BUTS!!!" the Kaiser snapped, glaring at the older 63 year old Chancellor "We do NOT intervene in Europe, this is not our war, it doesn't concern us, we've never had any treaty agreement with Germany like all the other nations helping them do. Europe's so far away, the war's so distant, so it's none of our business. Besides, you know the Neutrality Act, we would violate it, and we cannot DO so and become involved in wars outside our state unless we have a very good reason to do so."

The Chancellor looked down, unable to reply. The Kaiser said "Right, we declare neutrality in this conflict, like we always have!" and with that, the Kaiser, Marlburg, and most everyone else left the room, leaving Bismark alone in the room glaring at the Kaiser as he walked away.

*Public*

Due to the great distance from Europe to the Reich, we, as always, officially declare neutrality and we hope Germany and her allies prevail in this conflict.

[Subtleknifewielder]

Australia cannot help but notice the sheer amount of propaganda being thrown about in this war. However, we feel it is only proper to clear the air. First. The Northern Germans have claimed to have had an MDAP with France...when in fact they had downgraded it. Then they claim not to have declared war on an ideology...an ideology held by the majority of the Southerners, so in fact, it is in a way genocide."

"The southern ideology is not, in fact, Stalinism, and any claims of such are blatant mistruths. There is no evidence of purges, of deliberate starvation of civilians, or any of the atrocities committed by the original Stalinist regime. In fact, this rebellion is closer to tha actual ideal of Communism than either that regime or the one they are overthrowing. "

Edited July 27, 2010 by Subtleknifewielder

[Uberstein]

[quote name='Subtleknifewielder' timestamp='1280266226' post='2391636']
Australia cannot help but notice the sheer amount of propaganda being thrown about in this war. However, we feel it is only proper to clear the air. First. The Northern Germans have claimed to have had an MDAP with France...when in fact they had downgraded it. Then they claim not to have declared war on an ideology...an ideology held by the majority of the Southerners, so in fact, it is in a way genocide."

"The southern ideology is not, in fact, Stalinism, and any claims of such are blatant mistruths. There is no evidence of purges, of deliberate starvation of civilians, or any of the atrocities committed by the original Stalinist regime. In fact, this rebellion is closer to tha actual ideal of Communism than either that regime or the one they are overthrowing. "
[/quote]
Australia has been placed on the Republic of Finland no-travel list.

[Kankou]

Announcement from the Koryo Confederation


After carefully considering the ethnic composition of the disputed territory of Elsaß-Lothringen, the Koryo Confederation supports Germany. Regardless of who had the territory in the past, what is certain is that the current population is now almost completely German, and thus it should belong to Germany. However, given our own internal affairs, we are unable to do nothing more than give moral support.



Separate Announement on the Southern German Communist Rebellion from the People's Republic of Chosun


The People's Republic of Chosun condemns the rebels for using the corrupted ideology that is Marxism in causing bloodshed to its brothers. The materialism that pollutes that ideology is the reason why the world is shedding blood everything. We demand that the rebels take up the banner of nationalism before turning to the false call of international brotherhood.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Kankou

[Kaiser Martens]

[b]On Spy Warfare:[/b]

The Red Hacking attempts would not be as powerful as expected, but would yield results nonetheless. When the war started, VDL had basically shut down and withdrawn its internet connections from that of the South and the Rest of the World. However, not every single connection could be cut with the south as first, for the Internet was not as clearly divided - it was, after all, one country. This allowed for some success by the Reds, which caused several systems to malfunction. Orders had been issued already, and the Generals at the Front would continue to carry them out. When Berlin notices what is going on, they send teams to cast communications cables right away to the Armies, resembling world war one's communications systems. Either way after some time regular comms are restored, but the other new ones remain as a backup. Then Berlin would again understand what was precisely going on at the front.

The Stealth Planes were detected rather quickly, as soon as the massive missile strike had passed. This gave them a window of opportunity to perform their duties. But detecting them, "seeing" them with satellites and systems was not simply enough. The SAM sites failed to hit them, so a number of Squadrons from the Southern Air Battle were instead reassigned to anti-stealth units. They would follow them, chase them and gun them down with a weapon that could not be impeeded by stealth: Lead. Before this happens, they manage to destroy several roads and rails. The supply lines were many - Germany had not placed all its eggs in one basket - so supply all in all continued one way or the other. Now that these missions were known about, Fighters would try and do a better job at intercepting. At least now, this would have no effect on the armies - they had been supplied in advance for offensives. But in the long run, one never knew...

Even if the military supply trucks were all destroyed, they'd go on using even civilian vehicles if they had to.

[b]On the Air Battle:[/b]

Something new is attempted after the CMs. A huge fleet, probably a hundred squadrons advances towards the South. It seemed that the total amount of fighters that the North could deploy were around 200? It was weird. In reality, these were decoys - civilian aircraft gathered to move forwards. Many of these were packed with explosives, and would be used to overwhelm the Red Army Radars and also as improvised Kamikaze. Discardable air militia? An unusual tactic.

[b]On the Ground Battle:[/b]

The southern battle begins furiously, and the Red Army attacks recklessly, even to the point in which some tank commanders are trying to use their swords to fight. They would lead themselves, and often the tank altogether to destruction. The "loyalist" divisions, sustaining high casualties were thought of as cowardly and unreliable. They stood and fought at the front of the army, and the Red attack was so furious that they inflicted massive casualties on these, divided among all the Battlegroups. They were unable to retreat, as they would be shot. Cowardly was indeed forbidden. But yet they are of some use, because while the Red Army is busy fighting against the Loyalists, the Tank Reserves and Northern Infantry divides itself in a myriad of small operative groups while going forwards and into the battle from many directions at the same time, fighting in the same reckless manner than the Reds and performing several Flanking maneuvers with their Armored Cars. The Artillery remained in the back and used the same tactics as the Red Artillery: firing and moving, over and over again. They knew they would not be able to hit the enemy artillery, even if the enemy artillery cannot normally hit them, and instead they shoot towards the Red Onslaught. While the Reds bumped heads with the "Loyalists", the true VDL army tried to exploit this to attack more easily. However, when these Loyalists were at last no more, after having done enough damage to the Reds, the protocols and plans had something else in store.

[b]At the Bunker:[/b]

"How far is the Russian Army? Please tell them what we need them to cover for Army Group West at the French border, to allow us to redeploy the Army Group to the South. We do not want them to do offensives necessarily, unless they wish to deal with Elsass-Lothringen. Right now we're only trying to prevent the French from advancing further than they have already."

-"I will let them know."

"Good. Any news on the Norweigans? They said they'd speak about this...no, I guess. Tell the Finnish to ready up for combat. We are going to need them to head to reinforce Army Group South, which may be endangered soon. Tell them to position themselves between The South and Berlin please."

-"They should be ready for battle sooon."

"Very well. I have heard that a small number of Valkyries and Einherjar are being deployed on Strassburg. Do keep it small. We will need them later. And, please see if the Cochin Airforce is able to join the ongoing massive air struggle between us and the Red air by the Southern Front."

-"Jawohl."

"That should be all for now. Keep manufacturing more tanks and missiles. These are our priority. The rest of the supplies we have plenty more or less for a lifetime. But we do need more Panzers, and we do need more rockets. Also produce large numbers of the Rocket Artillery. We can basically spam those."

-"It will be done. They underestimate our capabilities. They think that only they can produce the VDL equipment. We can as well. Maybe not in the same numbers, but we can."

"Ja. Oh, please ask the Finnish Airforce to join in the Southern Air Battle as well. They're close, too."

-"Done already. Hm. Is there anything else?"

"Not for now. I trust that the training of new Divisions is underway."

-"Hardly training. They're already mostly trained. We're just giving them weapons and getting them ready to roll."

[Voodoo Nova]

"Sir, our allies have been mobilizing. What do you want us to do? We have contacted the Slavic Federation regarding basing our expeditionary forces in their nation, we are currently awaiting their decision"

"Mobilize the 2nd Army, the 6th Naval Task Group and the 9th Air Force."

"I'll inform the Chief of Staff"

The 2nd Army was mobilized under the command of a Mushir, one of the best military minds in Novak. He ordered deployment to the Slavic Federation. The Mechanized Infantry Divisions, Engineering Divisions and Logistics Divisions were preparing the supply lines from Novak to the eastern border of the Slavic Federation. Troops would begin moving out in 4824 hours.

The 6th Naval Task Group was ordered to the Mediterranean to support allied ships. They departed from the Red Sea Naval Base and were directed to go through the Suez. The 9th Air Force was directed to go to bases well within the Slavic Federation borders. Their primary directive was to defend Slavic Federation territory from air assaults.

On the television, Shakir was at his desk in his office. He faced the video camera...

"My comrades,

In connection with the events in FUSR the question of the correlation and interdependence of the national interests of our socialist country and their international duties acquire particular topical and acute importance.

The measures we are taking in defending the socialist gains of the southern German people are of great significance for strengthening the socialist community, which is the main achievement of the international working class.

We cannot ignore the assertions, held in some places that our actions run counter to the Marxist-Leninist principle of sovereignty and the rights of nations to self determination. The groundlessness of such reasoning consists primarily in that it is based on an abstract, nonclass approach to the question of sovereignty and the rights of nations to self-determination.

The peoples of the socialist countries and Communist parties certainly do have and should have freedom for determining the ways of advance of their respective countries.

However, none of their decisions should damage either socialism in their country or the fundamental interests of other socialist countries, and the whole working class movement, which is working for socialism.

This means that each Communist Party is responsible not only to its own people, but also to all the socialist countries, to the entire Communist movement. Whoever forgets this, in stressing only the independence of the Communist Party, becomes one-sided. He deviates from his international duty.

Marxist dialectics are opposed to one-sidedness. They demand that each phenomenon be examined concretely, in general connection with other phenomena, with other processes.

Just as, in Lenin's words, a man living in a society cannot be free from the society, one or another socialist state, staying in a system of other states composing the socialist community, cannot be free from the common interests of that community.

The sovereignty of each socialist country cannot be opposed to the interests of the world of socialism, of the world revolutionary movement. Lenin demanded that all Communists fight against small nation narrow-mindedness, seclusion and isolation, consider the whole and the general, subordinate the particular to the general interest.

The socialist states respect the democratic norms of international law. They have proved this more than once in practice, by coming out resolutely against the attempts of imperialism to violate the sovereignty and independence of nations.

It is from these same positions that they reject the leftist, adventurist conception of "exporting revolution," of "bringing happiness" to other peoples.

However, from a Marxist point of view, the norms of law, including the norms of mutual relations of the socialist countries, cannot be interpreted narrowly, formally, and in isolation from the general context of class struggle in the modern world. The socialist countries resolutely come out against the exporting and importing of counterrevolution.

Each Communist Party is free to apply the basic principles of Marxism, Leninism and of socialism in its country, but it cannot depart from these principles (assuming, naturally, that it remains a Communist Party).

Concretely this means, first of all, that in its activity, each Communist Party cannot but take into account such a decisive fact of our time as the struggle between two opposing social systems -- capitalism and socialism.

This is an objective struggle, a fact not depending on the will of the people, and stipulated by the world's being split into two opposite social systems. Lenin said: "Each man must choose between joining our side or the other side. Any attempt to avoid taking sides in this issue must end in fiasco."

It has got to be emphasized that when a socialist country seems to adopt a "non-affiliated" stand, it retains its national independence, in effect, precisely because of the might of the socialist community, and above all the Soviet Republic as a central force, which also includes the might of its armed forces. The weakening of any of the links in the world system of socialism directly affects all the socialist countries, which cannot look indifferently upon this.

The anti-socialist elements in FUSR actually covered up the demand for so-called rebellion and FUSR's withdrawal from the socialist community with talking about the right of nations to self-determination.

However, the implementation of such "self-determination," in other words, FUSR's detachment from the socialist community, would have come into conflict with its own vital interests and would have been detrimental to the other socialist states.

Discharging their internationalist duty toward the fraternal peoples of FUSR and defending their own socialist gains against the Revisionist in Chief, the S.S.R.N will act decisively and act against the anti-socialist forces in FUSR.

Rest Assured, Comrade Shakir will do his duty. By the party. By the country. By the proletariat."

After the speech, the video feed went black.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Voodoo Nova

[Sarah Tintagyl]

June 13th
8:00 PM
Metz

I have never in my life felt more despised as a person as I did on the Evening of June the Thirteenth. My regiment was scheduled to depart with General Blondel's main force towards Sarreguemines and arrive there by nightfall. As such I had been wandering through the Command Post at the Hotel de Ville, checking in with the commissary and quartermaster, making sure that at least my regiment was properly equipped for the battles ahead, though I hoped that Sarreguemines would not be a large confrontation, even though it lay right on the border between France and Germany Proper. But one is allowed to hope aren't they? Even still, as I walked through the Hotel on my way out, my ears picked up a solemn speech on the other end of a television in the corner of the room. No one was watching it, but I walked over and knelt down looking into the screen, it was the Russian Prime Minister and given his tone, I didn't need to listen to the rest of the words that he said, though they were very patriotic and filled with passion, no one could take that away from him. Slavorussia had declared war on France and the Empress had four hours to seek peace with Germany before the might of the Russian Empire was unleashed upon us. Almost immediately after that speech the new networks tuned into Helsinki where the President of Finland was giving an equally rousing speech to his people. We were the barbarians, the villains of the world, the monsters that lay under children's beds who ate them in the middle of the night and I had to check my own hands to make sure I was still human. Because at that point I sure didn't feel human.

Following those speeches were more anti-French and anti-communist propaganda, talk show hosts saying how they would like to see the whole of our country destroyed, German politicians exclaiming that the people of Alsace-Lorraine belong under German rule and that we were just 'misguided' Germans in our own right. It was easy for politicians and commentators to talk about what was right or what was wrong, but I saw with my own eyes what was right and wrong. The problem was, neither side was ever right, even though as a soldier you were always supposed to think your side was better, that you were in the know, that...

"They're all liars." I heard Helene's voice to the left of me, looking up she was staring down at the television, her eyes ablaze with the same passion that had been in the eyes of the Finnish President. "Europe was dominated by Germany for decades, decades! And because they're finally getting what they deserve the world forgets the sins of the Reich?"

I leaned forward and turned off the television and stood up facing my aide. "I was just coming out to the regiment, is something the matter Helene?"

"General Blondel sent a messanger while you were in town, we aren't marching towards Sarreguemines anymore."

"What? I don't understand, we were supposed to be leading the attack on the town." Though as I said it, I secretly hoped that we would getting a day or two of furlough.

"They want us to march south and link up with General Desnoyers' corps who are assaulting Sarrebourg. The messenger was going to wait to tell you in person, but we all figured that you were hearing it from Blondel himself."

"No, of course not, no one tells me anything anymore. Its just go here, attack this, suffer casualties for this piece of land." I closed my eyes and sighed. "I think its starting to get to me Helene, this whole war."

Helene narrowed her eyes. "What about it? Khris, you aren't doubting yourself are you? We need you out there, you can't have your mind all over the place."

"This wasn't like Galacia or Burgundy Helene, we knew the countryside was going to be hostile, we expected all that. But this, the people were supposed to be happy to see us, they were supposed to be there with open arms, even in Metz, it was some of the worse urban fighting I've seen in my life."

"Khris, let me tell you something." She took my shoulder and stared deep into my eyes. "I'm fighting this because my parents who have lived in Metz their entire lives, were almost never able to speak French as a national language, even though it is an area that is predominately French. That is our territory, no matter what the Germans say. But if you're having so much trouble, you have to rethink of what you're fighting for, whether its something personal or Glory for France, but we need you out there Khris, so please get your head back on your shoulders and we'll all be okay. Those men would follow you to Hell and back, you should want to as well." She smiled, but there was sorrow behind that smile, I could tell, and it didn't do anything to help my mood. "Should I tell the men that you'll be down in a bit?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I just need some time to think."

"Well don't think too hard." She turned and left the Hotel leaving me alone in the room as the red sky of the evening shone through the windows of the building. When she said 'Glory', I remember hearing the same speeches that the Russians gave, that the Germans gave, that the Finns gave, and how close we were all to being the same was scary. They give you a gun and tell you to shoot that guy, you don't know anything about him or her, their history, are they married? Do they have children? If we met under other circumstances would I be friends with them? But no, I was supposed to kill them, that was it. As I left the Hotel I stopped at the door, turned to the wall and punched the plaster as hard as I could. If there was a God, He wasn't the loving God that people talked about in Church. No loving God could create a situation like this.

After I returned to the regiment we headed out immediately, I feigned a smile to Helene, Yves, and Valentin, so that they would think everything was fine. All while I had a raging !@#$ storm running through my head. Given that our objective was now some thirty miles south over forested hills and plains, plus we were leaving late from Metz, it was well into the night by the time we had even begun to approach the outskirts of Sarrebourg. We wandered through the fields and dirt country roads north of the town. There was a clear sky and it seemed like a billion stars were out, twinkling in the skies above us. Desnoyers had sent messages out as we approached the outskirts that we were to wait until the early morning to march into the city, intelligence had said that the towns in the countryside wanted to do their best to avoid open conflict, which was the first over-positive thing I had heard these past two days.

We formed out camps in the fields overlooking Sarrebourg, pickets were posted along the camp boundaries, and I could finally relax. Looking down at my watch, it was twelve-thirty in the morning and the countryside was quiet as I looked over the fields. Then suddenly out of the east, there was a screech that sounded high up in the sky and I thought for a moment the world was coming apart. Then my thoughts went back to the television at the Hotel, the Russians had said 'four hours and hell would be unleashed' this was that hell. "They're attacking!" I screamed as I ran towards the center of camp. "I want everyone down! Now! We're being attacked!" I stood watching the west, where the screech was heading towards and then nearly instantly afterward the western countryside off in the distance filled with a bright inferno of flame that ran as far as my eyes could see. The Russians were bombing the countryside! Though days later I heard the report from Bailleul, the air commander, and what had happened that night...

June 14th
12:30 AM
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtlHLN7JW0U"]The Skies over Lorraine[/url]

...To say that we were not defended from such an attack would be absolutely wrong. The General Staff had been preparing for an air war with Germany since the Eleventh and it had come as a surprise to everyone that the Germans had not deployed any real significant air power to our front. Letting us make the assumption that most of Germany's air force was engaged to fight the Communist Rebels in the south, a true blessing, because one thing was for sure, the Imperial Army was not about to let the chance of air superiority vanish. Throughout the day and well into the night, the French air force was always in a state of alert and out of the thirty squadrons of fighters we had in the sky, there was always at least two or three, which meant twenty-four to thirty-six planes in the air at once, scanning the countryside for an attack such as the one the Russians were planning.

It would be in Rheims, where the forward radar installations were located for much of the northern and eastern fronts and where those manning the installation would see the first signs of trouble. The Russian bombers would come onto their sights, moving quickly across the German border and into Lorraine, with the declaration of war on the table as well as the speed the planes were moving at, there was no mistake, these planes were hostile and they were already in line to deliver a successful strike, however there was no telling where they were heading, what their goal was, or their nationality. They could be German, Finnish, or Russian, all the radar station knew was that they had to be taken down. The alert was immediately sent to all air bases in the north as well as those in Alsace-Lorraine,

"Hostiles Approaching Metz! All aircraft currently in the sky you are clear to engage, be cautious of enemy fighter escort. All available aircraft should be cleared to take off and engage the enemy. Good luck ladies and gentlemen. God Bless the Empress."

It was that message that blasted over Commander Nicolas Bailleul's communication network, bringing him out of his trance of the beauty of the countryside below. He shook out the fuzz in his eyes and looked around then down to his radar apparatus, the message was right, the screen was filled with dots. "Well well, looks like the Germans are finally deciding to come out and play. Good on you, ya krauts." He flipped on communication with his squadron and settled into his seat. "Rose Squadron, wake up ladies, the Krauts have finally decided to bring the burn to us, 'bout time huh?"

"We just received the message from Rheims sir. Shall we turn to Metz?"

"I think it would only be right Arnaud, they haven't been good hosts up until now."

"Why don't you can the arrogance Nicolas, Christ I hope you get shot down."

"That anyway to talk to a superior Elisabeth?"

"Ah yeah, you're right, God forbid you act like one."

Bailleul chuckled to himself as he steered his plane to the west and blasted off towards Metz, hoping to catch the enemy before they were able to deliver their payload. Meanwhile the Violet Squadron, which was patrolling the skies over Nancy at that moment would turn up toward the north after receiving the message from Rheims they would link up with Bailleul's command and bring the total number of F-22 Fighters cleared to immediately engage the Russians to twenty-four fighters. While at the bases scattered around the north, in Rheims, Paris, Charleville, Troyes, and Chalon, other fighter squadrons of the twenty squadrons stationed in that area of combat were gearing up to aid however they could and if Bailleul could keep the Germans and the Russians at bay for just a little while, then the full power of the northern air force could be delievered.

As time ticked away, the Rose and Violet Squadrons neared where the bombers had entered into French territory, they were now closing in on Metz, flying above the countryside and finally coming into range. "There we are." Bailleul said as he began to lock in on the enemy planes across the sky. The clear night sky was the perfect illumination tool for the planes, but before any missile or barrage could be fired, the inferno that had blessed Khris' own eyes transformed the landscape into a firestorm. Bailleul and the rest of his squadron could only look on in awe as the countryside of Lorraine burned.

"Those animals! What in the hell are they doing!"

"Arnaud, quiet!" Bailleul said as he turned his focus back to the bombers. "Everyone, you are clear to engage, play this right and we may come back with our lives." And then he looked at the dashboard, amidst all the gadgets and tools was a single picture. Nicolas had never been married, in fact he had never really even had a girlfriend, it was kind of pathetic when he thought of it. But there he was in the picture, standing between Airman Elisabeth Daguerre and Colonel Khris van Donop, the only women in his life that he could truly call beautiful. "Stay alive through this for me Elisa and you too Khris, wherever you are." Then without missing a beat he locked onto the bomber in range and let lose a stream of missiles through the night sky. All at once the Rose and Violet Squadrons engaged the German and Russian Air Forces, missiles streaked across the air, locked onto their targets being fighters or bombers alike. In minutes they would be joined by other squadrons, but those would be long minutes, but for now...

...the sky was bright with fire and explosion. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, the fireworks in the sky, the flames climbing up from the ground. The screech of the planes bellowing across the clear night sky. But for all its beauty, for every breathtaking explosion, for every licking of flame, someone was dying and I fell to my knees head in my hands as I cried for every child, husband, wife, mother, friend, and soldier who had or was going to die that night.

June 14th
7:30 AM
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn-1ddfCllg"]Sarrebourg[/url]

The next morning, or should I say, six hours after the engagement in the skies I was woken up by a very frantic Yves and Valentin. I sat up from my coat and rubbed my eyes trying to comprehend the surroundings, my tent, my aides, and the coffee wasn't on, to that I sighed.

"Khris, c'mon, we have to move, Desnoyers has already begun moving troops into Sarrebourg." Said Yves as he threw my uniform on to my bed. But what he had said was enough for me to jump out of my drowsiness.

"They're already advancing on Sarreboug? But I thought we were the vanguard?"

"Well there isn't any fighting, Khris, I think we might finally be getting through to these people, they're welcoming us. There are French flags up and down the roads. People are coming out with wine and bread and venison, its the liberation celebration that we've been waiting for." It was hard not to smile when you saw their faces, they looked like little children on Christmas morning. But the whole affair seemed quite strange and I never really considered General Desnoyers as a man who weighed all the possible problems and consequences out before acting. My thoughts brought up images of what the one German statesman had placed a map of what was 'traditionally' German and 'traditionally' French. Sarreboug, was one of those areas that was deep within what was considered German territory. Why on Earth would they be greeting us as liberators? But for happiness and my men's sake, I went along with it, though cautious in my own way as the regiment was formed and we marched down the Avenue de France and the Grande Rue, the two main boulevards of Sarrebourg.

Yves and Valentin had been right, the city was decked out for a French liberation, the avenues were filled with people, young and old, waving French flags and some were even singing La Marseillaise, albeit in a very strong German accent some of them, but it was La Marseillaise nevertheless. The German threw me off again though and I remained cautious. Our regiment hadn't been the first one into the city, but we were somewhere near the middle of the parade line that was marching through Sarrebourg. I opted once again not to ride in the jeeps, for one I didn't like riding in them to begin with, two, nothing said 'shoot me' like some pompous !@#$%^& riding in a jeep. But that didn't stop many of the other colonels, captains, and even a few generals from riding proudly in their cars down the streets.

"See Khris, what did I tell you, look they're happy we're here. Here we're supposed to be deep in 'German' territory and lo and behold, the Germans love us more than the French do, isn't it a crazy world." Valentin said as a young girl, beautiful for all accounts ran from the crowd on the street and grabbed him, smiling and laughing as he picked her up onto his shoulders. "See this is exactly what I'm talking about." Nothing surprised me anymore.

"Yes, I'm sure, this is exactly what we're fighting for, so you can get your jollies with some blonde bimbo." I muttered under my breath as I did another young woman came up to me with a baguette wrapped in white lace.

"Madame, for you, for liberating us from the German invaders." She smiled and thrust the baguette towards my face. I pushed it aside.

"I'm sorry Mademoiselle, I can't accept such a gracious gift, but if you would take it to the commissary in town once it's set up then I'd be happy to eat it."

"Madame Colonel please, I can't, we can't thank you and the Empress enough for your campaign. We were suffering under Martens and Hohenzollern, since that election we've been trying to rejoin the Fatherland, you've made it possible Colonel. Please." She pushed it in my face again. By this time I was getting annoyed, but if taking the bread meant that the woman would get out of my face the-...Suddenly there was an explosion down the street and the houses and streets in front of me flashed in flame as soldiers, men, and women alike began to scream.

"It was a tra-" Then out of the corner of my eye I saw the woman draw back, she was part of it too and the bright gleam of a silver pistol caught my eye. I jumped and lunged for her as the pistol fired, it cut into my arm, not a horrible wound, but I was going to be feeling it in the morning that much was for sure. I gritted my teeth in pain as I fell down against her, and with my right arm hit hooked her across the face, once, twice, three times, until her teeth blew out from her mouth and the woman passed out from the pain. She was down, but not dead, she didn't need to die, she was mangled enough. Then standing up I watched as once again chaos engulfed our ranks, the !@#$%^&* had gotten us again and we had walked right into it. There was a scream as I saw Valentin falling back, the woman that had jumped around his neck slamming a dagger into his shoulder. He managed to throw her off and to the ground. But he was too weak to fight. As she ran at him, screaming wildly like the German Berserkers of yesteryear, I took out my pistol and fired. The blood splashed from her head as she fell only inches from Valentin and I ran over towards him and grabbed on.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65K7SzPx9pk"]Requiem[/url]

"Khris...Khris..." He muttered under his breath, barely audible, tears slowly falling down his eyes.

"Its okay Valentin, I'm here, I'm here." I latched onto him as a mother to a child.

"They...they...they betrayed us..."

"I know Valentin, I know, but we'll be okay, we'll get through this. I promise..."

"Khris!" He grabbed onto my arms and looked at me, those eyes, I will never forget, so much pain, so much regret. "My mom, does, does she love me?"

"Yes, Valentin..." I was trying hard not to cry now. "She loves you very much, you're hear only son right?"

"I never got to say good-bye."

"Don't talk like that, please, God, don't talk like that. Everything is going to be okay."

"Khris!"

"Colonel van Donop!" Voices sounded behind me, I turned as two medics came running towards where I was. They pushed me aside and laid Valentin down on the pavement as they began to administer to my fallen comrade. "He's in bad shape Hugo, Christ."

"Is he going to make it through?" I looked down, still looking around so that we wouldn't be attacked, I had no idea where Yves or Helene were either. But they ignored me continuing to work on Valentin and I knew I couldn't stay there, they had shot him up with morphine now and he was out of himself and I was a commander and there was a battle that needed to be fought. The scene in front of me was anything but orderly. We had turned a great deal of the battle around, but the carnage was intense on both sides. Machine guns had been set up along the roads, our machine guns, and they fired into a ground advancing on our own soldiers. Still more, there were German fighters from windows, doors, and rooftops as tanks aimed into buildings, demolishing them in one, two, three strikes. Along the roads, the fools who had been in the jeeps were easy targets and I saw one too many captains and colonels making breakaways out of the carnage only to sniped out from the windows on the narrow corridors of roads. "Yves! Helene!" I called out and finally the two figures I longed to see most came dashing out of the smoke and the fire. They were bloody, but nothing too bad. "The city is a damn deathtrap, what is the situation?"

"The same like in Metz Khris, resistance fighters throughout the city, but given that Sarreboug is a bit smaller it shouldn't take us as long." Yves sighed. "Desnoyers wants to demolish the entire city."

"God, no, that can't happen, that's just what the Germans would want. I want you to find him and tell him that we have to be slow about this. Just like Metz, the casualties will make up for the respect from the world."

"That's not it Khris!" Helene yelled at me. "They're animals! Turning civilians who can't even fight against us? Where is their military? Where are their professional armies, we find regulars around, we fight them, but they're the cowards, not us. They are!"

"Hold your tongue!" I grabbed her and glared. "This isn't about politics, this is about keeping people alive, keeping innocent people alive. There are innocent people in this city and I'll be damned if I see them killed."

She glared back but finally stood down as Yves grabbed her and they ran off to find Desnoyers, while I stood in the middle of a burning city, dead bodies around me, some I had killed, some others had killed, and finally when it was all over, and there was no emotion left. I screamed. I screamed as loud as I could and I hoped God or Odin or whoever heard me, because I hated them will all my heart.

June 14th
8:00 PM
Sarrebourg

Valentin died early in the evening, but not being able to face anyone I retired to my post outside of the city. I had been through a meeting with Desnoyers where I had convinced him to treat the city with just as much respect as he had treated Nancy when we had taken that. In addition, as soon as the trap was sprung, we had relied information down to the advances on Colmar and Sarreguemines so that they could be ready for the German's trickery, it had happened there as well. But no where near the casualties that we had received. Even if they were only in the hundreds. They were still good men. But now with Sarrebourg, Colmar, and Sarreguemines and the surrounding countryside secured it was time to begin planning for the eventual assault on Strasbourg itself, which I received word, about the same time as I did about Valentin, that I would be participating in that advance as well.

I sat on my cot, tank top and fatigues, gauze rapped around my bare arm reading over the reports that had been delievered to Sarrebourg since the morning. More propaganda, more forces joining the war against the communists as well as the signs of the first of allied forces arriving in France. Most notably the Holy Americans. I could only hope that they would fight as dedicated as I had seen our men fight. Then we would have a chance, a solid chance of making it through this war alive. Valentin had not.

I stood up and walked out of my tent, looking out at the reddening sky above our encampment, Sarreboug over the hills and my men, warm by fires and relaxing with friends. Slowly I started to walk and that night I would spend the rest of the night talking with my men, learning their stories, who was married, who had children, what they saw in this war, what they didn't see. Their favorite foods and their favorite movies, what made them tick. We laughed, we cried and we told our stories, but I finally realized what I as fighting for at that moment. Not Glory, not Empire, not territory, I was fighting for these men in front of me and whatever I could do for them, if they would journey to Hell and back for me. I promised I would do even more for them.

Strasboug would be that chance.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Sarah Tintagyl