The Dalstavian War

Anatea · June 29, 2020

T H E D A L S T A V I A N W A R

May 2019

It's always thought that after a war peace should come, and with it also prosperity and knowledge from the horrors of the past... but that wasn't the case.
The long and heartbreaking Unification War in the neighboring region of Virsis brought Supreme Leader Karsi Raptis to power after 9 years of tortures, bloodshed and hunger. Although the conflict ended in 2009, the young Federal Republic of Virsis was unable to recover economically from the disastrous post-war situation it was in, leaving the population at the mercy of the dictator and death. After years of suffering and missed opportunities for a good change, millions had enough of all the misery they were in. Thinking it was time to stop trusting the government, a good chunk of the Virsisi population decided to break away and seek luck with other partners. The Dalstavia region did so, proclaiming its independence from Virsis on April 28, 2019 and pleading to join the Republic of Anatea. At the time Anatea accepted the Dalstavian decision to join with open arms, beginning to send peacekeeping military units and humanitarian aids to stabilize the situation in the still war-torn region. Karsi Raptis was furious, ordering the loyalist forces still situated in the region to prevent Anatean transports from reaching their destination in the refugee camps, arresting the members of the convoys with Anatean military or civilians, or bombing the refugee camps that were set up to help the population.
The situation was rapidly decaying into total madness, and the only answers that politicians were able to give were threats. Fulvio Silani, Prime Minister of Anatea in that year and president of the Set Party (center-right wing), repeatedly threatened to declare war on Virsis if it did not cease hostilities with refugees and Anatean organizations in the Dalstavia region. At first the requests were ignored but one day, suddenly, hostilities ceased.
Karsi Raptis stopped the hostilities on the territory of Dalstavia, accepting a peace meeting in the neutral city of San Foca, in @Ionio, to discuss the situation in Dalstavia with the regents of Anatea, King Atelio II and Queen Isabel I.

It seemed war was avoided, making the Anatean population breathe a sigh of relief, but Virsis had other plans...

Edited June 30 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · July 1, 2020

Briefer: "Alright gentlemen, this is it. It took us a long time to get to this accomodation for both sides, so let's try to not screw up this delicate operation, or we'll piss off the Virsisi more than necessary.
The regents of Anatea, King Atelio II and Queen Isabel I, together with the Anatean delegation chosen for the peace talks, must arrive safely in the city of San Foca, capitol of the Federal Republic of Ionio, for partecipate to the negotiations between the Republic of Anatea and the Federal Republic of Virsis. For safety reasons, the VIPs will follow this route, passing through Azuria, @Schennland and then @Ionio. Your mission is to escort the regents during the travel and protect them at all costs until you'll reach San Foca. For this operation, several squadrons have been deployed, so to maximize our air cover in case of problems.
Keep your eyes peeled and it should all go well, dismissed."

. . .

The scarlet sky of that day counted a good assortment of Anatean aircrafts from different squadrons, like the JiG-33 Menaces of Sol, Starlia, Raylay and Horizon. Together with the E-777 codenamed "Royal One" of the Royal family, an AWACS was monitoring the situation from above the air formation. All those aluminum birds were reflecting the sunset sunlight that was slowly setting over the crimson horizon. It was a peaceful and relaxing scene.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< This is AWACS, codename: Sky Arrow. We passed the Azurian border and we are now proceeding towards the Schennish one. So far so good, but keep your eyes peeled. >>

Sol 1
<< Keep your eyes peeled? You should be the one to keep them open, you're our AWACS after all ah ah! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Eh eh, that's true actually, but sometimes I can take some time off from looking at the radar 24 on 7, right? >>

Sol 2
<< Pfff, what kind of AWACS are you? Ah ah! >>

It was so peaceful that boredom was beginning to set in, some pilots were actually talking between themselves instead of keeping the radio chat silent in case of unusual contacts. But that peacefulness wasn't meant to last long.
Several blips on Sky Arrow's radar began to appear on his screen all of a sudden.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< All aircrafts, cut the chatter. We are detecting multiple contacts on the radar, bearing 2-7-0 from us, 60 kilometers. >>

Starlia 1
<< Friend or foe? >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Friend. What the hell, they shouldn't be here. There wasn't an extra escort for us... >>

Starlia 1
<< Maybe a last minute change on the flight plan? >>

Sol 1
<< I don't think so, Steph. HQ would have contacted us. >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Well, there's one way to find out... testing, testing: attention incoming allied fighters, this is AWACS Sky Arrow of the Special Transport Squadron, what's your affiliation? >>

The entire formation went silent, trying to catch any sound or response from the radios, but nothing was able to be heard.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< I repeat: attention incoming allied fighters, this is AWACS Sky Arrow of the Special Transport Squadron, what's your affiliation? >>

Another minute of silence passed, until somebody broke the acoustic void.

Royal One
<< Sky Arrow, this is Royal One, I'm detecting somebody targeting our aircraft. What are your guys doing?>>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< We're not... what the- All aircrafts, begin engage manuevers: you are clear to engage the incoming allied aircrafts. >>

Sol 3
<< What the hell is going on...? >>

Apart for Raylay Squadron, the entire escort formation immediately began to turn around and fly towards the unknown allied formation coming from afar. After several minutes of flying, both formation of fighters reached the engaging minimum distance, but the Anatean planes were unable to lock on their targets.

Anatean Squadron
<< AWACS, we can't lock the targets. Switch their IFFs. >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< That's what i'm trying to... do, but it... doesn't work. >>

Anatean Squadron
<< Enemy is engaging! Defensive maneuvers! >>

In few seconds, the unknown aircrafts fired Fox-3 missiles from afar, while the Anatean fighters began their defensive maneuvers, diving and launching chaff and flares. Two Anatean aircrafts were shot down, being unable to avoid the enemy missiles.

Anatean Squadron
<< Horizon 1's gone! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Horizon 2, take over command. >>

Sol 1
<< Sky Arrow, those are not Anateans! >>

The unknown fighters were trying to ignore the Anatean formation, speeding up and trying to get over them with their formations of ten JiG-24 Foxtrots without insignias.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< All aircrafts, unknown formation confirmed to be hostile! Protect Royal One at all costs! >>

As the Anatean formation began to catch up with the Forxtrots, Raylay Squadron initiated the interception of the incoming enemy squadron.

Unknown
<< We might have bit a lot more of what we could chew. >>

Unknown
<< Ignore the escorts, our primary target is the VIP aircraft. >>

Unknown
<< ...do we really have to do this? >>

Unknown
<< No questions. Just do your job. >>

Raylay Squadron was able to stop the Foxtrots for a few seconds, ingaging them with their machine guns and letting the Anatean escorts to reach the enemy fighters, now trapped in a dogfight.

Sol 4
<< Sky Arrow, any chance to switch the enemy IFF? >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< I'm trying, but it seems there's a problem with the data-link. I switch it on the console, but it doesn't update on your systems! >>

Sol 2
<< Damn it! >>

Jared Olsen
<< Those bastards! They cheated me in! They told me I'd have been left out from this! >>

King Atelio II
<< They? Who are you talking about? >>

Three JiG-24s out of ten were shot down with machine guns, but that loss wasn't able to stop one of the enemy aircrafts to slip out of the furball. Without wasting a second, the aircraft immediately locked on Royal One with a radar-guided missile from 25 kilometers.

Unknown
<< Thalas 6, now or never! Don't miss! >>

The missile was shot.

In mere seconds the explosive charge of the radar-guided missile exploded on the right side of the aircraft, breaking its right wing and transforming the metal beast in an ever increasing fireball. The escorts of Royal One were watching in disbelief at what happened, while the carcass of the aircraft was slowing falling for then explode in mid-air and fall in flaming pieces.

The King and Queen of Anatea were killed.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Royal One respond! Respond! >>

Sol 1
<< Sky Arrow, the delegate plane exploded in mid-air... >>

Sol 3
<< The... the King and Queen are... >>

Unknown
<< Thalas Squadron, we have completed the mission with minimal losses. We are pulling out. >>

Sol 2
<< Don't let those bastards slip away! >>

Anatean Squadron
<< Yeah, let's get them! >>

While the JiG-24s were trying to abandon the area of operations, the Anatean aircrafts kept insisting on engaging them, taking down other three of them with machine guns only, but letting escape the remaining four that left the AO thanks to their incredible speed as interceptors.
The Anatean pilots were devastated by what they saw with their own eyes.

Anatean Squadron
<< We- We failed... miserably. >>

Anatean Squadron
<< What do we do now? >>

Sol 2
<< We have to keep hunting those bastards down and... >>

Sol 1
<< And then what? We are literally getting close to be on bingo fuel. About that, Sky Arrow, we need to get back to base to refuel... >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< ... >>

Sol 4
<< Sky Arrow...? >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< We are not going back to base. >>

Anatean Squadron
<< What? >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< I... I received an update from mission command: HQ is regrouping all the air units currently combat ready in the entire country to Dalstavia. Virsis has declared war on us and is now invading the region, where there are some of our military units too. The Army is sending us a tanker, we have to refuel mid-air and get deployed there.>>

Sol 2
<< Those bastards... >>

Anatean Squadron
<< You can say that again. >>

. . .

Edited July 4 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · July 6, 2020

That evening the crowd of journalists waited at the Royal Palace for the appearance of Princess Sofia Soleri in the common room, for the interview that the survivor of the royal family had arranged to inform the whole nation about what was happening. The journalists were eager to hear what the new monarch had to say, while the Anatean population remained with their eyes glued to the televisions, whether they were at home, public places, bars or other infrastructures.

Princess Sofia Soleri: “I can do it, I can do it...”

Repeated the young princess to herself from behind the scenes, trying to hold back the tears that had repeatedly scratched her face at the news of her parents disappearance a few hours before. Suddenly, a male voice coming from behind.

Fulvio Silani: “Are you ready, miss?”

The man turned out to be Fulvio Silani, the current Prime Minister and President of the Anatean Set Party, the right-wing party of the nation currently in charge.
The girl nodded shyly, looking with resignation at an undefined point in front of her.

Fulvio Silani: “I... I know it's really hard to lose your family and remain the only one able to carry a nation on your own, without anyone's support. But, you're not alone in this. I may not be a friend of yours, but I was in good terms with your father, and I promise on him that I'll do everything I can to not leave you alone. You can count on that.”

Princess Sofia Soleri: “Thank you...”

Managed to get out of her lips, raising her head for then, with a firm and slow step, go through the door that took her to the common room, where the mass of people present were waiting for answers to the thousand questions they had.

Princess Sofia Soleri: “People of Anatea, who inhabited our land for centuries and who rule this nation sovereignly. Today is a black day for our nation... My father and my mother, our beloved rulers of this peaceful nation, died a few hours ago at the hands of a vile attack by the Federal Republic of Virsis. Not only they cowardly killed my parents, but they took the opportunity to start an invasion of the Dalstavia region, the same region that we Anateans were helping after the abuses the Dalstavians went through under the bloodthirsty leadership of Karsi Raptis. Our diplomats worked day and night to prevent this horror from happening but Virsis didn't listen, instead they opted to deceive us and taking from us the peace that we all should deserve to have. In this very moment while I'm speaking, our soldiers are fighting in Dalstavia, trying to stop this madness to become the bloodshed that Karsi Raptis wants it to turn out to be. As I'm hoping those brave warriors will come back to their families, me and Prime Minister Fulvio Silani, with the approval of the Senate, decided to declare war on the Federal Republic of Virsis. They... they will respond of their crimes and this sensless act of aggression towards Dalstavia, our citizens but most importantly, our hearth as a nation and sovreign community.
Catenas roptos et ànimas líberos! (Broken chains and free spirits!)”

As the speech ended, the woman immediately returned to her personal room to lock herself in before the journalists were able to ask any question.
She didn't want to talk to anybody, she didn't want to hear anything except the voice of her parents that she hoped to hear at any moment, as if everything that had happened had been just a brutal nightmare. But nothing was perceptible to the hearing, if not the sad silence that enveloped the room and the chirping of some birds outside which accompanied the setting of the sun over Solisea.
Sofia couldn't much but burst into tears, sitting exhausted near the closed door of her room on which she had leaned her back, while her hands tried to unsuccessfully repress the plentiful tears that rained from her eyes.
She didn't know what to do in a situation like this, she didn't even knew how to handle the sudden conflict in which Anatea had been thrown in. She felt lonely and abandoned in a wurld she was not yet ready to handle. How many people depended on her? And how many were dying elsewhere to protect the land that she alone had to rule?
The questions crowded her head without stopping, while the crying didn't stop. She had never suffered so much in her life, and it came to her when sometimes she thought that the deaths of a few people in the wurld were worth very little.
It was a damn tragedy that no one was ready to face.
After a few minutes of crying, she finally managed to stop, getting up and moving close to the large window that looked out on the capital. The wurld outside was dangerous and hard, but she knew in her heart that she had to do everything to protect her home and all its inhabitants, now her people.
Gone were the happy moments when everything depended on others. From today Anatea was her commitment, and not only did the present of the nation depend on her, but also the future.

Edited July 15 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · July 21, 2020

Only a few hours passed since the declaration of war from Virsis, and yet Virsisi units were able to approach with their invasion force the city of Mitheo and take it by surprise. Mitheo was an important location for the western part of the region, since it was a hub of roads linking Virsis to the rest of Dalstavia. Despite the creation of “Free Dalstavia” in the past weeks, a militia group made up by Dalstavian rebels who rebelled against the government of Virsis, they weren’t enough to oppose with their light equipment the invasion force that was storming the region. Between the invasion force of Virsis and the city of Mitheo, a small unit of Anatean soldiers were immediately deployed from San Palia, trying to get time for the civilians to evacuate. It would have been the baptism of fire of the 6th Battalion of the 3rd Anatean Infantry Division.

Virsisi GHQ
<< Colonel Calathes to all forces: begin the attack on Mitheo. Make sure to not hit any civilians, our scouts have reported they are evacuating the city towards the north. >>

The Virsisi advance began in the middle of the evening, with swarms of OBV-xx Skarabejs and BV⸗83s supported by some JiG-27 Adders. The Virsisi infantry inside the dark hull of the Skarabejs was silent and patient, waiting to get on the disembarkation points to start the bloodshed they were actually going to participate in.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< 1st Platoon to Battalion Command, we have multiple identified ‘Sisis approaching with fast movers and tanks to our position. Awaiting orders. >>

Anatean GHQ
<< 1st Platoon, you are cleared to engage. Hold your position as much as you can and if it falls, retreat in the city. We don’t have any air support yet.>>

Despite the lack of air support, the Anatean 3rd Division was able to have their anti-tank infantry units deployed in Mitheo, and with them also some detachments of anti-air units, composed of MANPADs and a few VA-3AA Devora-cèlos. The rest of the equipment was with the rest of the 3rd Division deployed in San Palia, several kilometers away from Mitheo.
The Virsisi attack fighters began their attack, dropping rockets and bombs where the Anatean positions could be, while the advancing BV⸗83s thundered with their cannons on their enemies. In the middle of the tracers and chaos, the Virsisi infantry began their deployment, advancing in groups behind the OBV-xxs in a desperate attempt to reach the outskirts of the city. Anatean troops were able to respond to the incoming fire from the buildings they were able to man before the arrival of the Virsisi contingent, but the light equipment they had wasn’t enough to stop the might of the tanks and IFVs rolling and shooting, smashing the defender’s formation piece by piece. In a matter of minutes, the Anatean patrols had to abandon the southern sector of the city and withdraw in the center.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< 3rd Platoon to Battalion Command, we have lost our positions in the southern side of the city, we are withdrawing in the center. We can’t stop them! >>

Anatean GHQ
<< I know! We need to buy time for the rest of the 3rd Division to set up a defense at San Palia, then we’ll be able to retreat! >>

On the ground the situation was worsening minute by minute, but on the air the Virsisi JiG-27s were kept at bay at low altitude by the Anatean VA-3AAs firing their anti-air bullets at the enemy fighters, yet some lucky bombs were able to inflict damages to the anti-air unit.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< This is Anti-air unit, we can’t stop the Virsisi from bombing the area. They’ll get us anytime! >>

Anatean GHQ
<< Retreat on the northern side of the city. Position yourselves between Kalos and Okalria street immediately. >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< But sir, that’s where the evacuation route for the civilians- >>

Anatean GHQ
<< I said, between Kalos and Okalria street. Immediately. >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< ...copy. >>

With the repositioning of the Anatean AA units, the Virsisi JiG-27s stopped their attack on them, ignoring the sector they positioned in and trying to support the allied advance in the south.

Virsisi Squadron
<< Lita 3 to command, we can’t engage the enemy AA units: they’re using civilians as human shields. >>

Virsisi Squadron
<< Motherfu*kers! >>

After several hours from the beginning of the battle, 60% of the city was in flames, as the Virsisi tanks and infantry were clearing every street carefully, taking losses every now and then due to some small Anatean units garrisoned in the buildings. Urban warfare was a nightmare for every soldier, and nighttime wasn’t helping the attackers either.

Anatean GHQ
<< All units currently defending Mitheo, we have orders to retreat. We can leave now! >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Finally, they were tearing us apart here! >>

With the order of retreat given, the Anatean defenders slowly began their retreat towards the northern side of the city, while Virsisi units were advancing quicker and quicker in the depths of Mitheo. The rearguard actions of the Anateans and the masses of civilians in the middle of the combat zone wasn’t enough to stop the madness that that night was consuming the Dalstavian city. Karli Raptis wanted to take back the region, and any price would have been alright if it meant taking back his influence and power over the separatist region.
Waiting for the Anatean soldiers at the end of the northern side of the city there were some trucks, loaded to the brim with equipment, soldiers and, for the few lucky ones, childrens left from their mothers in the hope that at San Palia they would have been safer. In mere minutes, the battalion disappeared in the shadows of the night.
The battle for the city cost several lives for both sides, but it gave the Virsisi Army the confidence needed to continue their advance in the region and continue the war they began.
As the Virsisi generals were planning their advances at their HQs in the capital of Partia, at Solisea the Anatean generals were trying to assemble any division they were able to get ready for combat to patch up the losses inflicted in Dalstavia.

The Dalstavian War had begun.

Edited July 18 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · July 23, 2020

Pvt. Carlo Iannoni
- Command, damn... do you copy? Over! -

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- Stop it Carlo, they don't respond. That means they have bigger problems now that the ruthenians have broken through the front. -

Pvt. Carlo Iannoni
- Yes, but- -

A burst of a distant machine gun broke the conversation between the two anatean survivors, that without wasting a moment squatted on the damp grass of the forest where they had found refuge a few hours earlier. The anatean retreat had been a success, or so it seemed. In reality many units had been left behind or had been surpassed and surrounded by ruthenian forces who instead advanced at full speed in the region, leaving the 3rd Anatean Infantry Division without 1/4 of its forces. Although Mirevka had fallen into enemy hands, gunfire and bombings continued to be heard from the city, a sign that some groups of anatean soldiers were still resisting, but the two soldiers could not do much alone.

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- We can't stay here any longer, otherwise the ruths' will find us. -

Pvt. Carlo Iannoni
- I agree with you Sergeant, but how do we reach our lines? We are just two and without vehicles. -

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- We'll find a way out Carl, you'll see. Now let's stop whining and hit the road. -

Trying not to lose hope, the two set off, walking tirelessly in the dark of the night and among the trees of the Dalstavian forest.
It took them a few hours to reach a semi-abandoned village. The two consulted the map, deducing that it was the village of Zarusta, about 20 km away from San Palia.

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- If the village up ahead is Zarusta, that means that we are close to our lines. We just have to look for an alternative way to get around this area. -

Pvt. Carlo Iannoni
- Yeah ... also because the area is filled with ruths'. -

In fact, the two soldiers would have noticed that from the houses and from some corners of the town many soldiers were preparing something or patrolling the area and the streets in the weak light of the cloudy dawn.

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- I don't like it, let's get out of here ... -

Unknown
- Not so fast, guys. -

An unknown voice, someone behind them. The two soldiers turned around holding their weapons, painting on their faces a look of amazement and terror for having been discovered. Behind them stood 8 anatean soldiers. From the emblems on the shoulders it was deduced that they were "Rangers".

Pvt. Carlo Iannoni
- W-Who the hell are you? -

Anatean Ranger Officer
- Rangers of the 1st Mechanized Division, "Guastatori" unit. We are on a special mission. -

Pvt. Carlo Iannoni
- Rangers? Special mission? What..? -

Anatean Ranger Officer
- What are you doing here? -

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- We were separated from our unit during the retreat from Mirevka ... -

Anatean Ranger Officer
- Well guys, let me tell you that you're not the only ones. We rescued a couple of guys tonight as we tried to complete our mission. -

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- That would be...? -

Anatean Ranger Officer
- Intelligence sources have reported that the village of Zarusta will be the location of a battery of missile launchers. If this were the case, the forces in San Palia would not be able to organize a real counterattack. We have to destroy them or it will be the end in the city... -

Pvt. Carlo Iannoni
- Sarge, what should we do? -

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- ... Sorry guys but we wouldn't be of much help right now. As long as we can we will try to cross the field without making ourselv- -

Anatean Ranger
- Look out! -

Suddenly a ruthenian AH-64 helicopter flew over the rangers and the two survivors, making a tour of the village before landing, while from the road that gave access to Zarusta a column of IFVs, BMPs and M21s Grad approached the village, ready to unfold for the imminent siege of San Palia.

Anatean Ranger Officer
- Well Sarge, it hurts me to say it, but your escape plan has just gone up in smoke. Looks like you're going to have to stay with us for a while. -

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- Damn... -

Anatean Ranger Officer
- You can say that again, man. Come on, we have a battery to destroy. -

The group of soldiers began to move towards the village, trying to use whatever cover the landscape could offer. Fortunately for them, the enemy advance had been so rapid that the sentries in the village had been forced to lurk only in strategic points, given the small number of troops, leaving several defenseless corners from which the saboteurs could infiltrate.

Ruthenian Ground Unit
- Mikalych, move with that damned BM-21! We need it in position before the lieutenant starts to be a pain in the ass! -

Ruthenian Ground Unit
- Shut up Stolja, I'm trying! -

Anatean Ranger Officer
- Okay, here's the plan. While these morons are trying to position themselves in the meantime we will attack from multiple directions. The rest of you rangers will go near the entrance of the village for attack the sentinels from behind. If you are good enough, you will not only be able to surprise them but also to attract some of their vehicles and reinforcements. As for me and the two survivors here, we are going to fill the area with grenades and try to blow up those Grads, alright? -

The group nodded darkly. They knew it was a risky action but how many lives would they save? Hundreds? Thousands? And how many lives would have take from the enemy to save those of their allies across the front? It seemed crazy but it was war. Kill or get killed.
The rangers began to move towards the entrance of the village, while Paolo, Carlo and the Lieutenant of the rangers waited, ready to hear the shots that, without delay, arrived a few minutes later from the other side of the village.

Anatean Ranger
<< Lieutenant, we have engaged. The bastards are more than we thought! They killed Liam! >>

Anatean Ranger Officer
- Try to keep them away from the Grads as long as you can, we only need 5 minutes ... -

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- They're not doing well... -

Anatean Ranger Officer
- Of course not. This is why we cannot fail. -

Time passed and the ruthenian guards found it difficult to leave their posts, fearing an attack from multiple directions, but the fact that their attention had been drawn elsewhere, however, gave the trio of soldiers the opportunity to intervene. The grenades were prepared and then thrown. In the confusion of the shots and in the semi-darkness of the cloudy morning it was difficult for the enemy sentries to notice the bombs launched which, with an extreme roar, exploded releasing schrapnel throughout the impact area.

Anatean Ranger Officer
- They seem all dead. Come on, let's go! -

Pvt. Carlo Iannoni
- There could be more Lieutenant! -

But the ranger officer did not listen to the sergeant's words, throwing himself in the middle of the smoke caused by the grenades. The two survivors could not help but follow him, bringing with them some of the explosive charges to be placed on the 4 Grads that were to be destroyed.
The first three explosive devices were prepared and positioned in a few moments, but for the last one a problem arose: a team of ruthenian soldiers began firing towards the trio from a house used as guard post. The worst part was that no more shots were heard from the other side of the village.

Anatean Ranger Officer
- F*ck it, we're pinned down! -

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- We can't stay here, the others are already dead. -

Pvt. Carlo Iannoni
- Lieutenant, what do we do? -

Bullets hissed as the enemy soldiers' alarm and rescue shouts began to get closer. Enemy reinforcements were on their way.

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- Lieutenant! -

Anatean Ranger Officer
- Give me that damned satchel charge! -

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- What?! -

Without wasting any more precious time, the officer left his assault rifle on the ground and gave the sergeant the remote control for the explosives. Was in that moment that the officer began his run for life, a life that was struck as soon as he was a few meters from the last missile launcher. The bullets repeatedly hit the soldier's body, but he continued to drag himself towards the vehicle, launching the satchel charge a few steps away from him.

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- Let's move, now! Before they shoot at us again! -

Pvt. Carlo Iannoni
- But sarge, we have to help him! We can't- -

Sgt. Paolo Castellani
- Carlo, he' s dead! Don't you see it ?! And now move, come on! -

The duo had just a few moments to escape before the enemy soldiers returned to fire on them, but luckily they had managed to find cover between the houses of the village. As soon as they were far enough, the sergeant pressed the detonation button on the remote control, transforming the four vehicles that would sow death and destruction into flaming carcasses.
The duo began to run without stopping between the grassy meadows that separated Zarusta from the next forest that would lead them to San Palia. Of course they were grateful and surprised to have made it, but how long would their luck last? And how far should they go to complete their next missions? They couldn't know, the only thing they were sure of was that they had to get out of that war alive.
At any cost.

Edited July 23, 2020 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · September 21, 2020

Briefer
<< Ok guys, welcome to the Dalstavian front. I know you participated in the escort of Anatea's regents, and I am sorry for what you have suffered, but we have a war to fight and a revenge to be waged against those bastards.
The situation is not the best. The 10th Ruthenian Army has conquered Mirevka and is now quickly approaching San Palia; the battle for the city is imminent. In the area we only have a few precious units belonging to the 1st Mechanized Division and the remnants of the 3rd Anatean Infantry Division. >>

Briefer
<< Sol Squadron, your mission will consist of obtaining air superiority in the operational area, and offer air support to our fighter bombers in the village of Kalov, a few kilometers from San Palia. If all goes as we hope, we should be able to inflict heavy casualties to the Ruthenians, just what we need to force them to retreat or halt their advance. It will be a tough mission, but I'm sure you will make it.
Take off in one hour, good luck! >>

We had finally entered the war with Ruthenia after the long tensions we had had with it, and while the Anatean population expected good news, they were disappointed by Mirevka's defeat and the disastrous retreat we were in. Nothing could go as we hoped, but by now we had arrived in San Palia, a crucial city for retaining the logistical advantage over the region. If we kept it, we were still in control.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Ground Forces to Support Squadrons, the enemy is approaching. Be careful, they also have tactical support fighters for their units. >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Roger, we see them on radar. >>

The ground defense consisted of several OF-40 Mk3 tanks and entrenched soldiers with anti-tank weapons, while in the air in addition to our Su-33 squadron, we had our dear AWACS Sky Arrow, 3 squadrons of Su-33s and 2 squadrons of F-4 Phantoms that would offer air support. Will we have made it? We did not know, the only certain thing was that the enemy had about a thousand soldiers on his side and perhaps about fifty vehicles from T-70s and BMPs. Their fighters? More than ours, considering that they were Mig-21s and Su-24s. Someone from intelligence had also warned us of the presence of a squadron with a new model called Su-47. A strange plane recently purchased by the Republic of Taygene, according to the RSS.
We had to be extremely careful.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< I see the Ruths in front of me, there are hundreds! >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< And what are you waiting for? Shoot! >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Position 15, engaging! >>

The battle had begun. From the cloudy sky we could clearly see the tracers go out of the holes and crash into the ground, mowing down the enemy soldiers as they returned fire. It was a pretty macabre fireworks show.

Ruthenian Squadron
<< Stolyai 5, approach to the target imminent. Ready to drop. >>

Alis Costi (Sol 2)
<< Hell no! >>

Bradley Lee (Sol 1)
<< Okay guys, Sol Squadron engage. >>

Anatean Squadron
<< Saturn Squadron engage. >>

Anatean Squadron
<< Vulture Squadron engage. >>

We dived without thinking twice towards the enemy Su-24 Fencers, managing to take them by surprise with the deception of the clouds and the altitude. Even if their radars revealed us, they had a hard time figuring out what altitude we were at. Two of their fighters were shot down, while another took heavy damages and began a crash landing on the battle-torn ground.

Ruthenian Squadron
<< Damn Anateans! Where the hell is Wasav Squadron? >>

Wasav Squadron
<< Wasav Squadron is coming, don't worry. >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Warning to all aircrafts operating in the area, additional enemy squadron rapidly approaching from east. >>

As the battle raged above and in the middle of the town, the 4 unknown fighters showed up emerging from the dark clouds. They had a strange shape almost similar to our Sukhois, a black color but above all ... forward-swept wings. I had heard of them, but had never seen them in person. These were the feared new Su-47s.
They didn't waste a second of time, rushing to the Phantom support squadrons and shooting down 3 of them. The allied anti-aircrafts were struggling to keep up with them, while our short-range SAMs couldn't hit them. Those pilots were masters of the hit and run tactic.

Daniel Bivieri ( Sol 3 )
<< Bradley, I think we're really in danger this time. >>

Bradley Lee (Sol 1)
<< Guys, we survived a fight against many more fighters, we can not fear four guys with brand new planes. >>

Samuel Wilson (Sol 4)
<< I hope at least to be still alive after this encounter... >>

Our encounter began. I managed to take myself by pure luck, thanks to the chaos on the radar, behind one of the Su-47s, but when the enemy pilot noticed me he fired some chaffs and maneuvered going downwards. The reaction was so rapid that I struggled to follow him, almost letting him slip away as his wingmen began to come up behind me.

Bradley Lee (Sol 1)
<< Guys, two are coming behind me! >>

Alis Costi (Sol 2)
<< I'm here Captain, I have them both in gun range. >>

Bradley Lee (Sol 1)
<< Where' s the last one? >>

I didn't even finish the question that the last aircraft showed up again, firing a machine gun salvo at ... Samuel' s plane!

Samuel Wilson (Sol 4)
<< Captain, I' m hit! I have to pull out from combat! >>

Bradley Lee (Sol 1)
<< Alright! Don't stay here longer than you should! >>

I ordered. I didn't want to have a friend on conscience for failing to take care of my team.

Wasav Squadron
<< So these are the famous "Sols" that the intelligence had warned us about. They don't seem like much to me. >>

The dogfight was intense, as it was between me trying to shoot down one of the Su-47s in front of me, 2 Su-47s trying to hit me from behind and Sasha trying to shoot them down. Daniel instead was trying to engage the fourth Su-47, which apparently appeared to be the squadron leader.

Wasav Squadron
<< Wasav 3 and 4, try to unstick this Su-33 from my ass! >>

Wasav Squadron
<< We are trying Wasav 2! >>

Alis Costi (Sol 2)
<< Brad, if you can go straight for only a few seconds, maybe I can take one down! >>

Bradley Lee (Sol 1)
<< I' d gladly try, but you know they' re going to kill me, right? >>

Alis Costi (Sol 2)
<< I know Captain, but if we stay like this we' ll be killed anyway >>

Bradley Lee (Sol 1)
<< Damn... I' m counting on you Sasha. >>

We had to risk my life in exchange for another. I prayed in all the languages of the wurld to be able to survive that cursed encounter, while avoiding making too sharp turns to keep the two enemy planes within Sasha' s reach. The Su-47 in front of me slipped out of sight, while the other two behind me began to target me. By instinct or perhaps out of fear, I turned to avoid missiles or bullets, but luckily one of the Su-47s was shot down by Sasha in a few moments. I knew I could trust her.

Wasav Squadron
<< Wasav 3' s hit! >>

Wasav Squadron
<< Did he bail out? >>

Wasav Squadron
<< Yes, he did. >>

Ruthenian GHQ
<< Okay Wasav, you' re trying your luck too hard here. Leave the area immediately. >>

Wasav Squadron
<< We can still beat them, leave us a few more minutes. >>

Ruthenian GHQ
<< Negative, leave the combat area. We can' t leave the enemy propaganda to take advantage of the loss of another elite squadron' s member. >>

Wasav Squadron
<< ... Damnit! ... Copy that. >>

Suddenly the 3 remaining Su-47s began to withdraw from combat, managing to flee from us in no time. Those planes were fast and damn maneuverable.

Bradley Lee (Sol 1)
<< For this time we were lucky... a few more minutes and we would surely have been killed... >>

Daniel Bivieri ( Sol 3 )
<< You' re right Captain... >>

We returned to the battle, managing well to protect the ground troops from the Ruthenian air and ground attacks. It was only after 20 minutes that the enemy decided to halt the attack, settling in the ruins or where the landscape was able to give good cover.
We had made it - we had managed to stop the enemy.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Guys, we managed to stop the enemy. Good work! Better go back to base and refuel, the siege is just at the beginning. >>

Bradley Lee (Sol 1)
<< I think that too Sky Arrow... >>

I wanted to cheer by announcing that this would be our first victory, but it wasn't. The enemy had not yet retreated, and on the contrary our sector was lucky because in other parts of the city they had broken through, reaching even the suburbs of San Palia.
I knew it was stupid to hope in war, but I started praying to make it and survive this damned siege with my wingmen.
We had to make it.

Edited October 8, 2021 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · October 14, 2020

Cpl. Elena
- Godamnit, one more packet of corn crackers for breakfast! My goodness, a little variety! -

Cpl. Jordan
- Eh eh, i'm sorry Elena. If it were up to me I would immediately take you for breakfast in a coffee shop, too bad that the closest one was blown up 2 days ago by a bomb, and the one down the street has Ruthenian machine gunners inside it ah ah! -

Cpl. Elena
- Thanks for reminding me what a mess of a place I find myself in, Jordan. -

In war there were those who went crazy just hearing the din of an impending battle, the sight of dead soldiers covering the ground, or the whistle of a falling bomb, making you unable to understand if it would kill you or one of your fellow soldiers... but for me the only thing that drove me crazy in that damned besieged city was... the absence of a decent and varied meal, damn it!
The "great Ruthenian offensive that would have wiped out the invading Anatean dogs from San Palia", according to the propaganda of Radio Debalsteve, had run aground in the ruins of the city and its surroundings. In that chaos of debris the positions of both sides could not gain even a meter, and if they did, the victory lasted only a few hours, before the position was lost again. We thought that this situation reigned only here in San Palia, but apparently the other units on the entire Dalstavian front were not doing well either.
The allied reinforcements had certainly arrived, and surprise attacks carried out by our air force or those behind enemy lines by Free Dalstavia managed to prevent the Ruthenians from preparing large offensives, but the enemy also received reinforcements and like us tried to prevent supplies and new troops to arrive at our respective positions.
We were literally stuck in a positional warfare.
The only things my teammate Jordan and I could do were reconnaissances and assassinations of officers or machine gunners. As snipers we couldn't do much, but these small surgical cuts to the enemy chain of command or some strategic positions managed to buy us time to prepare some offensive and weaken the enemy in some key points. Certainly the enemy was not stupid, and they used their snipers how and where they wanted too, so much that San Palia had been renamed by the captured Ruthenian prisoners "Gnezdo paukov", which meant "Spider's nest". There couldn't have been a perfect nickname like that.
Wherever you went you always had a crosshair that kept an eye on you, an ally or enemy one.
That afternoon Captain Alberti called us back from the front line to assign us a task, certainly one of the many reconnaissance that we had to do between the enemy lines, but when we arrived at the improvised command post we were told something else.

Cpt. Alberti
- Here we are again guys, I would have warned you on the radio but we found out yesterday that the Ruths' are playing "Guess the radio frequency of the enemy". They took out Schiavo's entire team with an ambush during a reconnaissance after we ordered it over the radio. Call me paranoid, but I don't want to risk another disaster. -

explained Captain Alberti, a big giant who at first looked like a first-rate bastard, but who after a few weeks treated you like his equal despite being in the army. A person to be respected in the midst of all this mess, always ready not to unnecessarily risk the lives of his men.

Cpt. Alberti
- You absolutely have to head to Liberty Square. The next attack will be there, and it will happen in the next few days. We don't know how the hell the enemy is entrenched and aerial reconnaissance, as far as they can, don't say much. I know it's one of the usual reconnaissance missions that i give you, but this time there is something big at stake. -

Cpl. Jordan
- I can imagine, Captain. We will try not to get caught. -

Cpt. Alberti
- I hope so, the area is full of Ruths' ... it will be risky but please keep your eyes peeled, and for the whole mission no radio, we can't risk anything. Good luck... -

Alberti finished, shaking our hands. A lot of things were at stake, but if we could complete this stupid task, we could unblock the situation.

Cpl. Jordan
- Do you think all this mess will really do any good? -

Cpl. Elena
- I don't know, it looks like just another suicide reconnaissance to me. -

Cpl. Jordan
- That' s why i' m aksing, every action always looks the same and never changes anything. But ... this time Alberti seemed very serious. Maybe because he lost Schiavo and the others, but it really seemed that there was something important at stake. -

Cpl. Elena
- It may be, but I don't want to get any hopes. The important thing is that you and I stay alive and possibly healthy, okay? -

Cpl. Jordan
- Eh eh, of course Elena. -

We started our mission without wasting too much time, traveling with great caution among the ruins and keeping our eyes and ears wide open, every noise was a signal and it was important to pick it up before the start of a disaster. For a journey that took 30 minutes to do on foot it took us 2 hours, sometimes risking to be even discovered by the Ruthenians who patrolled the sector.
The target was in sight: Liberty Square. We decided to observe the enemy positions from some destroyed building, in order to have some extra cover.
With binoculars we were able to detect many hidden targets, including machine gunners, infantry armed with anti-tank weapons and some tanks well hidden among the destroyed buildings. It would have been impossible for the air force to see everything we saw.
In total silence we left the area, returning to the devastated streets and destroyed buildings. The mission had been completed and what remained to be done was to return to our lines and report everything to the captain.
I admit, we were quite surprised that the mission had gone quite well, we hadn't had any hitches of any kind except for some enemy patrol that passed a little close, but the action would have moved the front once and for all.
Or so I thought.
One shot. The silence murdered.
A thud.
I turn around behind me and Jordan is on the ground. His incredulous look, he doesn't believe it.
He's still alive, but he still doesn't believe he's been hit. His right knee has been completely hit, his leg is compromised, and he can't get up.

Cpl. Elena
- Stay down you idiot, goddamnit! -

i whisper.
We are both flat on the ground.The entry hole on the pants of the uniform is to the side, so the enemy shooter is on the street or on some fairly tall building, but the rubble we jumped into covers us pretty well for what they can, and the soldier hasn't fired a second time yet. It means that the shooter is not a sniper and we can get out of his firing range with ease if we lie on the ground.

Cpl. Jordan
- Fu*king hell, fu*king hell! -

His pain is excruciating and the only thing I can do at that moment is drag him from his arms while remaining covered behind the rubble. Behind him he leaves a trail of blood.

Cpl. Elena
- You only have a crushed kneecap, you can do it. -

I give him morphine and, with the first aid pack, I bundle his knee trying to tighten the tissue on the wound, so as to stop the bleeding as much as I can.

Cpl. Jordan
- Right now that we were a few steps away from our lines, motherfu*kers! -

Cpl. Elena
- It's the bad luck of the moment, you know it better than me eh eh. -

I try to play down but inside of me I'm dying of anxiety and worry. I didn't want to lose Jordan, I've known him for years since we were rookies. We had been through hell in this city, and without him now I would surely be depressing myself in some dark corner, killing only to satisfy a void and not because we have to face an enemy.
Distant voices. They are not Anatean ... foreign. An accent that I don't understand.
Civilians? I don't think at all, not after hearing a shot. Suddenly a shout, it seems an order.
Probably the enemy.

Cpl. Elena
- Jordan, we have to leave. I think the Ruths' are coming to give us the coup de grace. -

Cpl. Jordan
- I think that too... -

I drag Jordan to a slightly more covered position and, without wasting too much time, load him onto my back. It's damn heavy but I have to do it if I want to save my friend.
I start running through the ruins, towards the safety of our lines. At that moment I don't even pay much attention to enemy snipers anymore, I can't concentrate when I have an important person who is wounded while he is with me.

Cpl. Jordan
- Will we make it Elena? -

Cpl. Elena
- Of course we will make it. -

His voice is weak, almost calm and emotionless. The shock of the wound begins to be felt.

Cpl. Jordan
- Please, don't leave me alone. -

Cpl. Elena
- I'll not do it. -

I'm sweating my soul. I leave my rifle on the ground. There's too much weight with my equipment and his and I have to make drastic decisions that don't make any sense at the moment. But I have to, every cell in my body tries to get him to safety.
To make matters worse, the enemy artillery begins to hammer the areas around us.
Small pieces of debris start falling on us, but nothing heavy or dangerous.

Cpl. Elena
- Is everything oke there? -

Cpl. Jordan
- Mhm. -

He's probably about to pass out, but that little sign of assent was enough to understand that he was still with me.

I complete the last stretch in 8 minutes. As soon as our folks see us, they are incredulous. They never expected to see a girl with a partner on her back in the middle of the road, in the open field. My legs were now sore and my throat almost completely dry for the fatigue, while my body sweated my soul to try to save my friend.

Cpl. Elena
- Medic! I need a medic! -

I shout with the last faint of voice I have.
The soldiers immediately call the medic, while I fall to the ground as soon as I am five centimeters behind our lines, as if between our positions and the outside there was an invisible barrier that protected us from the enemy.
I let Jordan slide to the side as the other soldiers help him. I am physically destroyed, I can not even open the uniform or take off the backpack from the fatigue that has affected my body. I'm tired ... but happy. I knew Jordan was safe.
For a minute I remain on the ground, breathless and intent on recovering, but the soldiers are still there helping Jordan. Someone walks away, someone else starts talking but I don't understand well between my heavy breath and the oxygen that flows back into my brain. Suddenly one of the soldiers turns to me and looks me in the eyes.

Anatean Soldier
- Elena, your friend is dead. -

I smile, I get up on my side.

Cpl. Elena
- Don't joke about these things. Try to say it again and i' ll punch you in the face. -

Anatean Soldier
- I'm not joking. He' s dead. -

My smile fades. Unbelief takes over.

Cpl. Elena
- What the fu*k are you saying? He' s alive. They just shot him in the kneecap. I even talked to him a couple of minutes ago. -

I approach Jordan, he's still.

Cpl. Elena
- He just fainted. -

Anatean Soldier
- There is no heartbeat ... and not only. -

The soldier turns Jordan's head to the side. At the level of the right temple there was a small hole from which a very fine stream of blood emerged. It wasn't a bullet, it was too small; it looked more like a splinter, probably a metal one. It had also pierced the helmet.
I think back to the bombardment in which we found ourselves, to the small rubble that fell around us. Yet he had answered after that, but it was only a murmur. I didn't even know if it was actually a final gasp.

Anatean Soldier
- I'm sorry. -

I remain still, immobile. Staring at Jordan, thinking that in a moment or another he gets up and says this is all just one of his usual idiotic jokes.
But it does not happen, it remains there motionless. The skin pale, the body limp.
They take him away on a stretcher and what remains for me to do is recover my composure somehow and go to Captain Alberti.
When he sees me he doesn't ask questions, he just asks what I saw. He knows what it means when only one member of a sniper team comes to report, and my dead gaze was already screaming what had happened.
The debrief is short, quick. He thanks me and tells me that I can also take a day off from sniper actions, but it is useless. Nothing makes sense anymore.

Another day like any other ends, the usual routine. There are those who live and there are those who die, and those who live must deal with the deads, allies or enemies. The void gets bigger and silence remains the only thing that hammers you more than the bombings or the gasps of the dying wounded.
Whether I was here or at home, nothing mattered anymore.

Edited October 29, 2020 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · October 31, 2020

It was for weeks that the stalemate had continued to block the armies of both factions in San Palia. Despite this, several well-coordinated Anatean attacks had begun to break through the enemy defensive lines in the previous days, and this proved fatal for the Ruthenian troops who, short of men on some parts of the front, had to divert some units to try to stop the Anatean breakthrough.
Without even realizing it, the Ruthenians had fallen into the trap of the Anateans, who were now starting their second offensive in the areas where the enemy was weaker. The siege of San Palia had now come to an end.
One of the areas that were about to be hit by the Anateans was the prairie north of San Palia. According to the recon teams, most of the enemy forces had been diverted from that sector, allowing the 40 OF-40 Mk.3 tanks of the "Silver Fox" unit (10th Armored Division "Steel Dragon") to launch their offensive.
Among them there was Lieutenant Laura Osvaldi's tank.
Having survived the first weeks of the battle for San Palia, Laura Osvaldi's crew had been deployed with her unit in the new sector, but despite the high morale everyone was afraid of the incoming battle. It was normal.

Major Bertani
<< One minute to the attack. All Silver Fox tanks prepare your weapons. First line AP shells, your targets will be enemy tanks. Second line HE shells, aim for the infantry. Third and fourth lines same alternation of bullets of the first two lines. We will advance in 4 lines of 10 tanks each, in order to keep a high volume of fire. Good luck you all! >>

croaked to the radio the unit commander, Major Bertani.

Marcosi
- Are you sure we'll make it this time? -

Casti
- Yes, we'll do it, we've always done it. Then as long as there is our Lieutenant to save us with her super tactics and her hawk eye we will be safe eh eh. -

Laura
- What a high regard for my abilities ha ha. Come on guys, load up those bullets and start the engine, here we go. -

Anatean Ground Unit
<< First line begins the advance! May God have mercy on us! >>

Laura
- B-6 to the whole second line, we begin the advance too. -

Marcosi
- Holy sh*t what an anxiety. -

Peterson
- We have not yet seen the enemy and you're already sh*tting yourself? -

Laura
- Shut up you two, I can't hear the radio. -

The OF-40 Mk.3 tank advanced along with the other lines of armored vehicles across the grassy plain. On the right side of the formation there was the town of Novoljia, while around them the plain continued to a forest that was at least 13 km from their formation. Obviously most of the tank commanders kept their sight and guns towards the village, ready to expect a surprise from the Ruthenians. But the sound of the Anatean tanks was the only audible thing in that moment of pure calm.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Didn't they say the Ruths left a couple of units in this sector? >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< They will have retreated a few kilometers given the breakthroughs of their line. >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Probably. We continue the advance. >>

A very loud whistle, followed by a shriek.
An OF-40 Mk.3 to the right of Laura's tank was hit between the turret and the rest of the tank, exploding inside and releasing a long blaze from the tank's entrance hatch that lasted a few minutes. More shots follow, some missing while others hit someone in the first line, destroying or damaging some of the tanks.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Where the f*ck are they shooting from? >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< They are not shooting from Novoljia! >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< The forest, they are shooting from the forest! >>

In fact, the enemy shots, despite the great distance, came from the forest which was much further away than the point where the formation was located. Despite this, the Ruthenians had exploited their numerical inferiority to prepare a successful ambush.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< To all "Silver Fox", advance quickly and try to get within safe firing range of those damned Ruthenians! Let's show those bastards how the silver foxes of the Amber mountains fight! (1^) >>

The tanks increased their speed as enemy bullets exploded all around them, this time missing their target much more often given the speed at which the Anateans advanced across the plain.
Laura's tank suffered a crash from a T-62 bullet to the front, but the armor bounced the bullet out of sheer luck.

Marcosi
- What the hell?! -

Laura
- Shut up and stay focused! -

Anatean Ground Unit
<< First line in range of fire! We begin to return fire! >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Second line, change the bullets from HE to AP. >>

Laura
- Come on guys, quick! -

The loader, Casti, changed the type of bullet very quickly, while outside the chaos of battle raged on the plains.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Lieutenant Medici's tank has been hit! >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Any survivors? >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< I don't see any! >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< The third line will be now under the direct command of Lieutenant Luvi. >>

The tanks continued to advance, starting to fire their bullets at the enemy tanks covered in the forest. Some enemy targets were hit, while others, surviving, continued to return fire, retreating into the trees.

Laura
- Target 9 km, in front of us. Sabot! Fire! -

Peterson
- Fire! -

A dull explosion and the vehicle appears for a moment to be pushed backwards. The fired bullet flies for the whole 9 km but misses the target by a couple of meters given the shot in motion.

Laura
- Missed! -

Casti
- AP Ready! -

Laura
- Fire! -

Peterson
- Fire! -

Laura
- Missed again, damn it! Fix the shot! Half a degree to the left! To the left! -

Peterson
- Fixed! -

Casti
- AP Ready! -

Another explosion on Laura's tank armor, no perforation.

Laura
- Fire! -

Peterson
- Fire! -

The enemy T-62 this time explodes loudly.

Laura
- Hit! We hit it! -

Peterson
- Woooh! -

Laura
- New target: boogie to the left! Try to destroy him before he retreats! -

Peterson
- I've got it, I've got it! -

Laura
- Fire! -

Peterson
- Fire! -

The enemy tank explodes, given the reduction of the distance, but before the enemy tank exploded its bullet had left, going to crash into Laura's tank and this time piercing the armor.

Marcosi
- We're hit, we're hit! -

Laura
- Damage report! -

Peterson
- It pierced and came out on the opposite side, the turn of the turret is compromised, I can't move it. And ... shit, Casti is dead! -

Anatean Ground Unit
<< C-8 to B-6, I saw the bullet pierce your tank but you are continuing to advance! Is everything all right?! >>

There was a moment of silence from Laura before answering the radio.

Laura
- B-6 to C-8, they pierced our turret and knocked it out. We are still able to shoot, but we have lost the loader. I'll replace him. -

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Laura are you insane? Go back immediately or at least stop and give us cover, you cannot advance in this state! >>

Inside the tank fell total silence among the crew. Nobody knew whether to keep moving forward despite the damage or to stop and save their lives. Sure, the last option was easy to decide, but no one wanted to give their opinion on it. Maybe it was the chaos of the battle or the adrenaline, but none of the crew seemed to want to back down.

Marcosi
- Lieutenant, now it makes no sense to go back, we're in it. And even if we go back, we'll still be an easy target. If we're going to die, at least let's do it by taking a couple of Ruths with us. -

Peterson
- I agree. -

Laura
- Guys ... ok. -

answered Laura, recomposing herself and picking up the radio again.

Laura
- B-6 refuses to stop. B-6 continues the attack. -

A moment of silence passed before hearing the answer from the other side of the radio.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< C-8 to B-6, solid copy. Good luck. >>

The advance towards death continued, by now the ranks of the Anatean tanks had dwindled, while the Ruthenians, now very few, continued to fire back without retreating. They realized that going back didn't make sense anymore now that the Anateans were only 3km away from them.

Peterson
- Laura, let's switch positions. You are the gunner, I'll be the loader. You wouldn't be able to load the bullets fast enough. -

Laura
- Only now are you starting to bring out my negative sides huh? Alright. -

the girl tried to joke.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Advance, advance! We almost broke in their lines! >>

Laura
- Boogie 2.5km in front of us! -

Peterson
- AP Ready! -

Laura
- Fire! -

The enemy T-62 exploded with a frightening roar, as if the gates of hell had been opened inside the enemy vehicle.

Peterson
- AP Ready! -

Suddenly a blow on Laura's tank, then another. The second bullet managed to penetrate, piercing and releasing shrapnel all over which mortally wounded Peterson and struck the Lieutenant's left leg.

Marcosi
- Laura, Laura! Are you ok!? -

Laura
- Keep advancing! -

The tank continued to advance, smoking where it had been hit, while all around the metal coffin the carcasses of the allied tanks burned and smoked. The first line of tanks had been completely wiped out, and from the second only two were left.
The other 2 lines had lost 50% of the units.
A T-62 hidden behind a lonely house a few kilometers from Laura's tank was spotted by the girl just in time. Although the enemy vehicle had fired first, the bullet missed the Liutenant's tank by a few centimeters, giving Laura time to implement an improvised tactic given the damaged turret.

Laura
- Marcosi, turn the tank to the right until you see a T-62! Don't stop! -

On the order of the girl, the tank began to turn, until the cannon was aligned with the direction of the enemy T-62 which, in the middle of the reloading, began firing with its machine gun as if to stop an inevitable fate.

Marcosi
- Holy sh*t, it's very close! -

Laura
- Keep moving forward! Don't stop, it's one of the last! -

Laura's OF-40 Mk.3 projectile set off from the cannon, penetrating and destroying the enemy tank.

Marcosi
- Wooooh! Nice shot, nice shot! -

But the battle wasn't over. A final bullet from a T-62 hit Laura's tank, this time penetrating the front of the vehicle's side. Marcosi, being in the line of fire of the bullet, was hit by the latter and killed. The last enemy tank was blown up by allied units, while Laura's tank, now hit repeatedly and with no longer 3/4 of its crew, slowed down more and more until it stopped.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< To all Silver Fox, we have broken through the front. I repeat: we have broken through, there are no more enemies in the area. >>

Laura
- We did it... we did it... -

the girl whispered to herself, exhausted and shaken.

Tired, Laura got out of the tank, being able to breathe the fresh air of the prairie, while all around her the carcasses of the tanks covered the ground like makeshift graves in sheet metal. Would the sacrifice of her and other comrades have been worth it? Only time would have told her, but inside she prayed that the breakthrough would lead to victory and to the end of this stupid war.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< All undamaged tanks, continue the advance up to Ikras. All the other damaged tanks or with the crew wounded or decimated, wait for help. The nightmare for today is over. >>

(1^) The Silver Fox unit has this name due to the fact that it's a unit composed solely by tank crews from the Amber region. The symbol of the region, and of the unit, is the silver fox that inhabits the mountains of the Amber region.

Edited October 31, 2020 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · December 31, 2020

Briefer
<< Welcome to Dalstavia gentlemen, or rather, what's left of it. We have hired you as Anatea needs as many units as possible, and since most of our forces are deployed at the front or are at home to keep the situation under control, we have to call you mercenaries. As you well know, several days ago we managed to break the siege of San Palia. With that decisive action we put the Ruthenians on the run, but they still don't want to give up, as they are forming points of resistance as rear guards. But this is where you come in. >>

Briefer
<< Silver team, your mission will be to fly to Highway 22 and destroy two Ruthenian artillery batteries in the sector. >>

Briefer
<< They are blocking our armored units in that area, and we cannot risk sending our fighters to that sector as the area is highly protected by a dense network of SAMs. You will therefore have to - >>

Edward
- Woah woah, wait man! Suicide attacks were not included in our contract, I am not paid enough for it! -

Briefer
<< Silence! You signed a contract and now your services belong to the Anatean Air Force. If you want to leave us that's the door, there are many other mercenaries willing to carry out this mission for a lot less money. >>

Edward
- ... -

Sasha
- Uff ... we have to play his game. Keep going... -

Briefer
<< I was saying ... so you will have to fly no more higher than 400 feet. Be quick and hit with precision, otherwise you'll have to go back to the sector again, and it wouldn't be convenient once the surprise effect wears off. According to our intelligence there should be no enemy aircrafts in the area, so you must be able to operate without further problems. Good luck. >>

Deep night, the white and lonely moon that, like an eye, observed our two Su-35K (1^) arriving from the east at a very low height, almost touching the tips of the trees.

Radio Debalsteve
<< ...And that's how those Anatean bastards struck our brave units on the frontline from behind, cowardly and mercilessly! But our soldiers held firm, blocking the Anatean advance in the bud and not allowing the cowards barricated in San Palia to give even a moment to catch their breath! The 32nd Infantry Regiment fought tree by tree, blocking the enemy advance and managing to save the flank- >>

I turned off the portable radio I had in my plane, tired of hearing that annoying propaganda voice telling bullsh*ts out of nowhere.

Silver 1
<< Yes yes, as you say man... bah. Sasha, why the hell did we decide to go to war when we could now be out drinking a beer in a bar? >>

Silver 2
<< You know ... if we want to have a beer we must first have some money, and our house on Crystal Island doesn't pay for itself, eh eh. >>

Silver 1
<< Damn... >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< This is AWACS Blackjack, do you at least know what radio silence means? You mercenaries do nothing but chat all the time, bah ... Anyway get ready, you are very close to the enemy batteries. Be careful, there should be a couple of SAMs in the area. >>

Silver 1
<< Rooooger that! Sasha, can you handle the SAMs while I try to destroy the batteries? >>

Silver 2
<< Uff ... okay, but only if you leave me the second artillery battery later! >>

Silver 1
<< Yes, it' s all yours! >>

Me and my partner Sasha looked like two idiots, but nevertheless when it came to carrying out a mission, even if in a weird way, we always managed to complete it ... except those times that bad luck put the sticks in our wheels.
Like two lynxes in the dark, our aircrafts came very close to the targets and, without wasting time, we released our RBK-500 bombs towards the targets, dramatically increasing the altitude now that we had started the chaos. The explosions tore the silence of the night, coloring the attacked positions with the red and orange of the flames that rose and expanded.

Ruthenian Ground Unit
<< We' re under attack! This is not a drill! >>

Ruthenian Ground Unit
<< Where the hell are they?! >>

Ruthenian Ground Unit
<< I barely see them on the Shilka' s radar! Try to shoot them down! >>

Not even a few minutes passed before the first enemy tracers began to mow down the night sky. Fortunately the SAMs had yet to get into action.

Silver 1
<< Sasha, go to the battery and then take out the AA. I distract the anti-aircraft guns as much as I can! >>

Silver 2
<< Roger that, Ed! >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< You are not that bad! Keep it up and maybe you can make it out alive, eh eh. >>

Silver 1
<< At least you' re having fun, you glorified radio jock- >>

Silver 2
<< Cut the chatter you two and stay focused on the mission! >>

I rolled the Su-35K around and pulled the flight stick towards me, trying to return to a low enough altitude to look for the anti-aircraft units that, without even trying, showed up firing their tracers at Sasha.

Silver 1
<< Dropping, dropping! >>

Two RBK-500s were dropped from my plane, gliding silently in the dark and soon exploding at the enemy post, burning the vehicles and their crew.

Silver 2
<< Artillery position hit and destroyed by Silver 2! We wiped them out! >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< No trace of the enemy on the radar, not bad guys. Maybe if you chat less you could get to the end of the conflict alive. >>

Silver 1
<< Aaaah, stop it! Well, since there's nothing else to do, I think we can go back to base. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Yeah, for now ... wait ... aircraft approaching from West. It's a fighter .. A Mig-29, enemy IFF. >>

Silver 2
<< Ed, let's climb and keep the formation. >>

Silver 1
<< Coming! >>

Sasha and I took our Su-35Ks to 1,800 feet, 200 feet higher than the approaching enemy Mig-29. We were both ready to fire our R-27 semi-active radar homing missiles at the enemy that had yet to loom on our HUDs. It was too stupid, a single enemy fighter coming towards us in the middle of the night and against two planes. The Ruthenians were really desperate.
Suddenly a croak on the radio.

Ruthenian Aircraft
<< ....This is...ya 1, change your frequ... >>

Silver 1
<< Hey Blackjack, am I drunk or is the enemy pilot trying to contact us by guessing the various frequencies? >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< It's weird ... I try to get his frequency. This is AWACS Blackjack of the AAD (Anatean Auxiliary Division), Anatean Air Force. If you hear me, push your radio frequency to 98 MHz. >>

Ruthenian Aircraft
<< ...chang...here... ooh, here we go! Can you hear me? >>

Silver 1
<< Loud and clear like the explosions of a while ago. >>

Spitrya 1
<< I am Lieutenant Lovotev, TAC name Spitrya 1. I ask for permission to be escorted behind the Anatean lines. I am back from a long spying mission for the Republic of Anatea. >>

Silver 2
<< What the hell? >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Copy that. Sorry for the question buuut ... why should we trust you? >>

Spitrya 1
<< I know, it sounds silly, but I have some very important informations about the ongoing conflict between Ruthenia and our nation. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< You can share them here, we can record them. >>

Spitrya 1
<< I' m sorry but they' re confidential for the RSS. >>

Silver 1
<< Well, nice try Blackjack ah ah! >>

Silver 2
<< Can you at least tell us something to keep us from shoot you down now? You know, we can't completely trust you. >>

Spitrya 1
<< What... how dare you to threat an agent of your same faction?! >>

Silver 2
<< Well, we' re mercenaries. That trick doesn't work with us. >>

Spitrya 1
<< Ok, ok, fine! I can only tell you that this whole conflict is a farce. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< farce...? >>

Spitrya 1
<< I can't say much, but some intercepted transmissions talked about orders coming from someone else outside the Federal Republic of Ruthenia, not to mention that a month before the war the Ruthenian leader Kars Delai had a meeting with members of an anatean enterprise. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< I hope you are kidding me, this information is highly ... hold on. Allied aircraft suddenly appeared on the radar? Is our AO part of another operation? >>

Suddenly, the 6 Allied Su-35K fighters that had just appeared fired medium-range missiles towards the spy' s Mig-29 who, without escape and with very little warning, was hit, transforming the plane into a fireball.
No parachute. We didn't even have time to react since the newcomers had suddenly appeared on the radar, probably covered by a jammer.

Silver 1
<< What the hell?! >>

72nd Anatean Special Squadron
<< This is the 72nd Anatean Special Squadron of the RSS. What you were interacting with was an Anatean double agent. He was trying to get back into our RSS network to pass tactical data to the enemy. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Double agent? I... We were trying to... >>

72nd Anatean Special Squadron
<< You couldn't know. The important thing is that the target has been eliminated. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Perfect... Silver Team, RTB. We' re done here. >>

Silver 1
<< Copy... >>

Silver 2
<< I don' t know Ed... i don' t like all this... >>

Silver 1
<< I know, but let's try to stay out of these weird games, or we could end up in very big troubles. >>

And in silence, as if nothing had happened, we returned to the base.
The agent could have been a spy for Ruthenia but ... what if he wasn' t? Given the few interesting infos he gave us before.
Something was not right here...

(1^) The Su-35K is an anatean variant of the Su-35. It's a 4++ generation fighter with enchanted stealth capabilities, making it less detectable by radars.

Edited October 8, 2021 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · January 4, 2021

Some weeks passed since the San Palia counteroffensive had broken the Ruthenian lines, turning the war in favor of Anatea. The Anatean units, now free from the chaining of the Ruthenian forces, were advancing at full speed across the front, trying to reach Ikras and Mirevka, two strategic cities for the logistical traffic in the region.
From above, as AWACS, I could not help but observe all the action and give support with the informations we received from the radar mounted on our E-767. It was a stressful task, sure, but when the results turned in favor of your allies, satisfaction made its way into your mind and with it you realized that the AWACS task was not as useless as it seemed. We were the eyes of the frontline.

AWACS Overlord - 2
- This is AWACS Overlord to all units, we're approaching the coastal town of Silivia. We detect the presence of at least an enemy battalion in the area. Coordinate your actions with the ground forces and viceversa. Good luck! -

Operation Rangoon, the attack we were carrying out under the Summer Sun, had the objective of penetrating the southern Ruthenian defenses on the coast, in order to distract as many units as possible from the main front. Unfortunately for the troops at the front, a large number of enemy units were concentrated in the area, accompanied by a few destoyers in the adjacent sea, but if we coordinated the actions well between the units we could be able to reduce the losses. We had to hope and stay focused.

AWACS Overlord - 6
- Ribbon, Tetra e Lysta squadrons. Enemy fighters approaching from West, bearing 090, angel 2, on the nose. You're clear to engage. -

Anatean Squadron
<< Ribbon 1 through 4 engaging. >>

AWACS Overlord - 3
- Altax and Uriel attack squadrons, keep your vector on 160. In area C-05 then change your course on vector 100. Three enemy destroyers are present in the area. Sink them before they engage our ground troops. -

I warned over the radio, watching on the computer screen the targets that the radar was picking up.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< This is unit B, we're engaging enemy positions in area C-08! >>

AWACS Overlord - 4
- Copy Unit B. Pay attention, a small amount of enemy tanks are moving towards you from vector 350. -

Anatean Ground Unit
<< This is unit B, thank you Overlord! Right flank, watch out, enemy reinforcements coming from North-west! >>

The inside of the plane was a din of informations and code names. Even though the battle had started 3 minutes ago, the amount of data we received and passed was impressive. We thanked God that there were 10 of us managing the front for this operation. If we had been less we would surely have gone mad.

Anatean Squadron
<< Altax squadron here, we lost Uriel 3 and 4, but we're engaging. One destroyer sunk. >>

AWACS Overlord - 3
- Copy, but watch out: 6 enemy Mig-29s approaching from vector 330, altitude 1050. Pull out from the area and wait support from Tesla squadron. -

Anatean Squadron
<< Uriel 1, roger. Pulling out. >>

The situation was chaotic. On the screen I kept seeing unit icons disappear at alarming speed, a sign that many allied or enemy units had been shot down or destroyed. In addition, as if the situation was not bad enough, the enemy and allied units in the central and northern part of the front were no longer visible on the radar and contactable by radio.

AWACS Overlord - 1
- Heavy jamming in the northern and central part of the front. Probably enemy A6s or AWACSs. Callista Squadron, try to hunt and shoot them down ASAP. -

Anatean Squadron
<< Callista squadron, roger. Entering in heavy ja..mm..g ..r...ea. >>

Anatean Squadron
<< Altax squadron here. Tesla squadron took care of the Migs. We continue the attack. >>

AWACS Overlord - 3
- Overlord, copy. Once you finished with the destroyers give support to the central front. We don't know how is the situation over there. -

I ordered, trying to bring as much support as possible to that front. We didn't even know if the battle was turning in our favor or not. Anxiety and a sense of responsibility gripped our stomachs and our minds, keeping our eyes glued to our computer screens as the clusters of pixels disappeared one after another. It was a real-time chess match with the enemy. After 15 minutes of radar obfuscation, the units finally reappeared on the radar, showing that the situation had fortunately improved in the northern front, but in the central part the allied troops had not yet managed to break through.

Anatean Squadron
<< Callista to Overlord, we managed to destroy the enemy jammers. They were two An-71. >>

AWACS Overlord - 9
- To all aircrafts, update on the frontline: Tetra and Ophal squadrons are destroyed. The central front is still blocked. All aircrafts, give support to the central part. -

Anatean Ground Unit
<< This is unit F, we're under artillery attack! Half of our tanks are destroyed! We're pinned down! >>

AWACS Overlord - 2
- Roger. Callista Squadron, destroy the enemy battery. Bearing 120 from your position. -

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Jesus, Callista squadron today is our saviour! >>

After an hour from the beginning of the battle, the situation was improving. The southern front was no longer a problem with the destruction of the three enemy destroyers, the central part was continuing its advance while the northern front was now spreading behind the enemy lines and was no longer encountering resistance. We could announce that the southern front of Dalstavia had been breached.

Anatean Squadron
<< Ribbon 3 here, we've lost Ribbon 1! >>

AWACS Overlord - 6
- Copy. Ribbon 2, take over command. Continue to support the central area. -

It took another hour for the central Ruthenian stronghold to collapse once and for all, after some forces from the northern front were diverted to the center. Losses on both sides had been high, but it could have been worse if there was no coordination between units. We all did a great job.

AWACS Overlord - 3
- AWACS Overlord to all units, we did it! The enemies are no factor or they're on the run. All aircrafts RTB. -

I concluded, once the Anatean GHQ gave us confirmation about the withdrawal orders for the air forces.
Somehow we had made it, and despite having witnessed the battle from the inside of a plane, it felt as if we had been there on the battlefield with our comrades. We didn't suffer the physical fatigue and pain, but stress and anxiety were something we all had in common. And the sad void that remained in the ranks of our troops was remembered by both, whether they were in front of us or on a computer screen.

Edited January 4, 2021 by Anatea
codes, as always :V (see edit history)

Anatea · January 17, 2021

Briefer
<< This is it. After a long time we finally managed to completely break through the front and get to Ikras. The fall of the enemy in this region is nigh. >>

Briefer
<< The recapture of Ikras is important as most of the Ruthenian 10th Army is concentrated in the area, fortifying the city with everything it has. The battle will be tough but an important one. >>

Briefer
<< Operation "Serenissima" will see troops of the 3rd, 10th and 16th Anatean divisions trying to circumvent and end the siege of the city from the north, south and east. The objective is to recapture Ikras and destroy the surviving members of the 10th Ruthenian army that garrison it. It will be almost impossible to break through the defenses, but with you we can succeed. Your task as air units will be to give maximum support to the ground forces, trying to annihilate as many enemies as possible. Be careful as the enemy will also have a large air force available for this battle, but if you manage to coordinate with the anti-air forces you should be able to repel them. We expect very high casualties on this mission, but I'm sure you will make it. Good luck! >>

We couldn't believe that we had come so far from San Palia and the previous battles. Many soldiers had wagered that the situation would remain unchanged for months, if not years, but with the attacks we had inflicted on the Ruthenians we were able to break through the front and continue the attacks relentlessly. The only obstacle that separated us from Mirevka and the end of the conflict in Dalstavia was the city of Ikras. Would we have lived up to the battle or would we have been shot down like many other comrades in previous missions? It was up to us to find that out, and I hoped in my heart that my wingmen and I would never appear on the tombstone of the military cemeteries in Anatea.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Sky Arrow to all units: operation Serenissima has begun. Even if the city was bombed for days, the Ruthenians are still resisting. Be careful because they will try to evacuate their troops towards West, so try to stop them before they can leave and reinforce Mirevka. In case of troubles with enemy countermeasures there'll be AWACS Blackjack ready to give additional support. >>

We were now on the battlefield. My squadron, as always, was full and ready for action, as the setting sun painted the battlefield with the long shadows of the remaining buildings and trees. Luckily for us, the sky was clear, but this became also an advantage for the enemy who, numerous for land forces, could engage us with anti-aircraft units without problems. It would have been nice if all this had been just a reconnaissance flight or some air show, but the Ruthenians had wanted this war and now there was no turning back.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< This mission will be really long, that's why the GHQ has set up an improvised airfield on a part of Highway 22. Here's the coordinates on your radars. >>

Sol 2
<< Aww, what a nice gesture from them. It was time they woke up. >>

Sol 3
<< If we had this option in the first part of the siege of San Palia we would have repelled the enemy a long time ago. >>

Sol 1
<< Yeah, here's our hero. Bah... and who would have thought about the anti-air units and those Wasav bastards eh? Speaking of them, i hope they'll not appear again in this mess. >>

Sol 2
<< Well, even if they would appear again i wouldn't have any problem. This time we know how they fly and they have even a Su-47 less in their squadron, we can beat them. >>

Sol 4
<< Uhmm... last time was happening the contrary, soooo... i would like to avoid a confrontation again, thanks. >>

The morale of our and the other squadrons was very high, but if we felt superior I didn't dare imagine the Ruthenians how they felt. Their desperation could become a very dangerous tool if used in the right way. The ally armored units went into action by engaging the first enemy trenches with a wedge formation, trying to break through the lines while for several kilometers our artillery was firing non-stop at the enemy positions. I was thankful that according to the data collected by the scouts, the population had been evacuated with the help of the humanitarian society "Oltre Confini" (Over Borders). It was in Dalstavia when the region wanted to join Anatea, but now "Oltre Confini" was dealing with twice as many injured and displaced people.
The enemy air formation was clearly visible and threatening, like the beginning of a storm out of the blue. In between there will have been at least fifty aircrafts like Su-24s, F-15Cs, Mig-29s and F-14s. On the contrary, we were in 7 fighter squadrons composed of Su-33s, Su-35Ks and F-16s, while 18 F-4G Phantom II had to support the ground forces with ground attacks. By our grace we had 3 units of mercenaries with us who, from the speeches that went around among the pilots, was said they were not bad at all.

Starlia 2
<< Holy sh-...that's at least half an air division! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Coordinate your actions with the ground AA forces. We don't have other reinforcements for this operation. >>

Anatean Squadron
<< May God help us. >>

Not being so many we had to stay close to the allied anti-aircraft units that began to engage the enemy air targets, creating confusion in the opposing air deployment. In the chaos of flares and allied SAM missiles we took advantage of the situation and began to engage, being just slightly beyond the range of enemy SAMs.

Sol 1
<< Sol Squadron, engaging. >>

I warned over the radio as the other squadrons began the engagement at the same time. The dances began with radar-guided missiles, the so-called Fox 1, to which the enemy responded with defensive maneuvers without losing ground. On the contrary, some of their rear guard fighters were able to respond, albeit with significantly less volume of fire than our missiles trail. One of the enemy missiles was in fact going towards me, but thanks to an evasive downward maneuver, I was able to disperse it with a little more ease, although starting a battle with a wall of almost 9G in the face was not actually the most extraordinary thing in the wurld. I hadn't even noticed that I had started firing flares during the manuever, but it had become an automatic gesture for my body after the previous battles.
By the time the fighters were engaging, the enemy and allied attack fighters had begun to drop their bombs on ground targets, being intercepted and some shot down by SAMs.

Anatean Ground Unit
<< Target hit, woohooh! C'mon, advance while their positions are silenced! >>

Anatean Ground Unit
<< This is Unit C of the 10th Division "Steel Dragon", we're breaching the central front in the outskirts but those Su-24s are starting to be annyoing. Can somebody wipe them out? >>

It took a few minutes between defensive and offensive actions to find the allied and enemy fighters mixed in a furball, having to base all our tactics on short-range engagement techniques given the short distance between the aircafts.

Silver 2
<< Hell yeah, that's what i was waiting for! >>

Anatean Squadron
<< What? Are you actually enjoying this? >>

Silver 1
<< Are you kidding? We were waiting for this! >>

In less than a few seconds I found myself behind an enemy F-14 which, perhaps due to the chaos of the battle, perhaps due to the radar that had gone mad, was unable to spot me in time. I opened fire with the GSH-301, unloading something like 40 rounds for just one target. The F-14 was completely destroyed in the part of the engines and rear wings, starting to drop in altitude and slowly losing engine thrust. Only the pilot was able to bail out, about the WSO no trace of him. I had the target still in front of me, yet fear and unconscious desperation had taken control of my hand, making me react in the most animalistic way possible, ignoring any technicalities and the fact that I had to save ammo for the other targets. I had begun to sweat as my breathing became more labored. I started sobbing as my wide eyes could not move away from the F-14 which fell into flames and the bailed pilot. And the WSO, was him still alive? Was he launching? Maybe he had a technical problem, but he could do a fairly safe manual bail out now that the fighter's speed had dropped dramatically from before.
Yet he did not bail out, the plane kept falling.
The heart was beating relentlessly, the sweat and heat became more and more intense. It was one thing to take down a fighter and see it go up in flames, but the other was to see an enemy die in front of your eyes, having his blood on your hands. What did the WSO have thought at that moment, and the family? Was he married, or was he a father? How the hell would his children have done without him? But mostly why the hell had we come to this?

Sol 2
<< Captain! Bradley! Come back here damnit! >>

Sol 1
<< What...? Y-Yes, yes, sorry Alis. >>

Sol 2
<< Don't do that never again and help us out! We're keeping them at bay but just an error and we're smoked! >>

Without even realizing it I had flown in a straight line for 2 minutes. 2 minutes that could cost me my life if all the Ruthenian fighters weren't busy with my mates. I turned the plane around and returned to the battle zone, targetting a Mig-29 from behind and shooting it down with a Fox-2 missile.

Ruthenian Squadron
<< Damn it AWACS, where the hell are our countermeasures?! >>

Ruthenian AWACS
<< I'm trying, but another AWACS is messing the comm- ...damnit, they targeted us! Who the he- (OFFLINE) >>

Silver 1
<< So people, how are communications now that we shoot down the enemy boss and his escorts? >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Stop being so idiotic and go back in the AO, we don't pay you to do shows. >>

Ally Mercenary Squadron
<< Aaaaaaalright o Captain, my Captain! >>

Sol 2
<< Mphf...mercenaries. At least now we know why they were barely helping us in the furball. >>

With the return of the mercenaries to the battle zone, the front was reinvigorated, allowing us to launch more or less organized attacks. In the chaos of the battle, I lately realized that a Ruthenian F-15 had targeted me. I didn' t even had time to start the evasive maneuvers that a missile crashed on my pursuer, shooting it down.

Lydra 1 (Kalt)
<< Lydra 1 to the Su-33 that i saved, are you alright? >>

Sol 1
<< Yeah, yeah...thanks. >>

Lydra 2
<< Jeez Major, this is the 13th enemy aircraft you shoot down today! >>

Starlia 2
<< 13th? How is that possible? >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Believe it or not, he really have 13 kills in this mission. For now is the top ace in this entire war. >>

Starlia 1
<< Well, Starlia squadron will make you eat our dust ah-ah! >>

The air battle was almost turning in a target shooting competition, until both my teammates and I ran out of most of our ammunitions. It was all so irrational, if before I felt anger towards the Ruthenians, now I felt disgust for this meaningless conflict. With Sky Arrow's permission, we left the battle that was gradually fading, as the Ruthenians were also retreating to stock up on ammunition and fuel, while the battle on the ground continued house to house without stopping. We had been in the air for at least two hours and the front had advanced quite well into the city center.

It took 20 minutes to reach the stretch of highway that was set up as an improvised airstrip. We all landed carefully, as the space was much smaller than that of a normal airport. I felt sick psychologically and physically, so much that as soon as I got off the plane I quickly went after some vehicles and threw up. Maybe it was the anxiety, maybe the man i saw dying in front of my eyes, maybe the stress, but my body and mind couldn't resist. I was pale and I was shivering compulsively.

Alis
- What's happening capt... shit. -

Brad
- Not now Alis, please... -

She had discovered me. She probably saw me running and she got suspicious.

Alis
- You can't fly in this state! What if you pass out or have other problems? -

Brad
- It will not happen. -

Alis
- It will not happen, eh? Brad, can you tell me what's up? You fly straight for almost 5 kilometers without answering to the radio during a furball, you act weird and now this. We've known each other for four years and I've never seen you like this, so please tell me. -

She walked over and sat down next to me, while I couldn't keep my head up from the headache that came after the relieved nausea. I felt weak, helpless, a subkect who was berating her friend and officer. It seemed so unreal and weird, like when you think nothing will ever happen to you because you are special, but you are not, you are just a number and a human like everyone else. I let off steam, telling what I had done and seen, from the plane on fire to the pilot who was saved, to his companion who was left in the carcass of the F-14 to the plane that fell more and more and that damned parachute that did not decided to be seen.

Alis
- Brad, it's war. Unfortunately we are in it and we are forced to do all this if we want to bring home the skin. You and those pilots were in the same place at wrong times, and history ran its course while you did your duty. You are not the only one with blood on your hands, there are us, the Starlia boys and many others, even the new pilots who do not know yet all the rules of engagement but have been thrown at the front to make up the numbers. This is to say that you are not alone, that you are human, you have the right to feel bad as well as you have the right not to take on all the faults of the things that happen in the wurld. You have done nothing wrong as long as you have done it to protect your friends. -

Bradley
- Yeah, friends... -

I whispered to myself, slowly rising from the ground and regaining a little color on my skin. I still felt a bit groggy but I was much better off than before. In the end Alis was right, it wasn't necessarily my fault. Of course I had killed him with my own hands, but I would not have done it if the situation had been different, and besides I was not a dirty killer: his partner had survived, at least the salvable had been saved somehow.

Bradley
- Better go back to the others, they might worry, and please ... no word with the boys, understand? -

Alis
- Sure you coconut head, who did you take me for? Ha ha! And by the way... -

In that moment Alis hugged me, suddenly, like a bolt from the blue. It was rare for her to hug someone due to her peppery character of her, but when she did that, it meant that she really cared about a person and wanted to make it feel good in any way, or so it seemed to show.
We went back to Daniel and Samuel who in the meantime were supervising the refueling of our Sukhois with fuel and ammunition.

Samuel
- Alis, captain! What were you doing over there? -

Daniel
- Eh eh, Sam you can already imagine what Alis and the Captain were doing over there alone. -

Alis
- Dan, you son of a...! -

And, like kids, Alis started chasing Daniel, threatening to shoot him down in flight if he dared to say more idiotic jokes like that. I couldn't hold back a laugh at that scene. I loved my friends and only now i realized how important it was to be in a well-built and established group in adverse times like these. They always knew they were there when you least expected it.
Suddenly 4 Su-35Ks belonging to Lydra Squadron landed on the improvised runway. The same squadron where Major Kalt was present, the ace of the day.
He got off his aircaft safely, while the mechanics promptly went to refuel the aircraft. At first glance he seemed like a calm, confident man, but today both we and the Ruthenians had seen what one man was capable of when he flew a plane like the Su-35K.

Samuel
- It' s the third time he has returned, and not for the fuel, but for ammunitions. -

Bradley
- And how do you know that? -

Samuel
- I overheard a mechanic just a few minutes ago complaining about a couple of holes on his plane, insisting to stay on the ground. He also told me that Kalt didn't actually had to participate in the conflict. Being the son of a senator, his father had made him stand guard at an air base near the capital ever since he joined the Air Force, but as soon as the conflict broke out he used various friends in the military to get himself deployed at the front at any cost. -

Brad
- How strange ... why want to end up in a meat grinder like this on your own? -

Yet it was there smiling at the mechanics with that calm and cold smile of his at the same time. Although he had almost the same age as us, perhaps a few years older, he was calm, but it seemed that something was troubling him. As if he had something inside that he couldn't express. After all, as Alis had said, I wasn't the only one with a burden on my conscience that day.

Kalt
- Captain Lee, nice to find you here at the front. I did not imagine that even the poster boys of our Air Force ended up here. -

Bradley
- Major Kalt. Unfortunately yes, but the guys in Ikras were pushing the front quite well, maybe by evening they will have conquered the city. -

Kalt
- I hope so, at least the Ruthenians will pay for what they did before the war. -

Bradley
- Sir? -

I didn't have time to ask for anything else because the chief mechanic of the improvised airstrip came up behind the Major, shouting.

Mechanic
- Major, please! Stay on the ground and let us repair the perforation! Every time you hit G's, the damaged parts of your plane are at risk of getting damaged more and more! It could only take- -

But Kalt didn't want to hear about it, walking away from the chief mechanic and returning to his plane as if he didn't want to hear him.

Kalt
- I'm sorry, but I can't hear you amid the noise of the jets! We'll talk about it once the battle is over! -

Mechanic
- I warned you, sir! Then do how you think, but don't complain if you get shoot down behind enemy lines! Mphf, wretched man. They are all like this the sons of the politicians when you put a toy in their hands. -

Yet ... there was something strange about that man as I saw him get back on his fighter and leave with his squadron towards the front.
We finished refueling with some delay due to the strong coming and going of fighters, but even if we had lost 13 minutes more the situation at the front had improved considerably. Someone said Kalt was at 16 kills so far. 16 kills in one battle was something incredible, either he was damned lucky and protected by angels, or he had sold his soul to the devil to vent his visceral hatred for the Ruthenians. In both cases the central command seemed to care only about the result he was bringing.

We were back in action by now in the dark.
Although the sun had gone down, on the ground the bombing and the flames in the city made the front clearly visible, exposing the infantry to the same dangers they ran when they attacked during the day. There was no difference for them, but at least I was comfortable with the fact that the ground troops had managed to lock most of the Ruthenian 10th Army into a pocket. If this collapsed the enemy would have suffered a very heavy blow.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< There are still about ten Ruthenian fighters present but they have no intention of retreating. They still hope to save their comrades on the ground. >>

Sol 1
<< Why don't they surrender? Damnit! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< We are a few steps from their territory and theoretically we are in their backyard. They are fighting to protect and take back what was rightfully theirs. Actually they are not all wrong. >>

It would have been nice if the battle had ended immediately, avoiding more unnecessary deaths, but the 10th Ruthenian Army still resisted and the air forces were no less. Some enemy aircrafts had begun short-range engagement, while others, including our squadron, were throwing themselves back into the night furball. I managed to shoot down a Mig-29 before defending myself from an enemy missile that, launched during the chaos, was dodged by firing flares. My squadron was doing well too, so much that they had shot down a couple of other enemy fighters. But the thing that surprised me most was seeing Kalt in action in his Su-35K. He used Fox 1 missiles as a diversion, and then once at short range he used heat-seeking missiles and machine guns like a mad man. Not caring about wasting ammo if he missed a target. Despite this, I saw him shoot down the 18th fighter of the day in front of my eyes. He had no mercy.
Suddenly a glow in the dark, then a missile firing from an aircraft behind him. It was an enemy Mig.

Sol 1
<< Lydra 1, on your six! >>

Lydra 1
<< I saw the bastard! >>

Kalt began a defensive maneuver, firing flares and evading from the trajectory of the enemy missile in a few seconds. He tried to outflank the enemy aircraft, but the opponent wouldn't let go, continuing to chase him like a cat chasing a mouse. I couldn't stand still and see one of my comrades alone, so I turned my Su-33 to try to get into the fight as soon as possible, but the unthinkable happened. Kalt's plane suddenly lost a rear wing, causing the fighter to vibrate violently and making the turn much more messed up and straight. He kept launching flares, but they weren't enough to protect himself from the Ruthenian Mig-29. I thought back to the mechanic complaining about Kalt's damaged plane and his stubbornness, how he was now paying for his own mistake and carelessness. The Mig came up behind him and unloaded a long volley of bullts on his now defenseless plane, causing one of the engines to explode as the plane began to fell into flames. I could see the glass of the plane detach from the fighter, but nothing came out and even if it had, it wouldn't have survived a full speed launch. The plane kept falling more and more, later exploding about halfway between the sky and the ground.

Lydra 2
<< Damn it, Captain! Captain! Did anyone saw him bail out?! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< No, i'm sorry. And even if he did, there' s no SOS signal from his seat... >>

Lydra 3
<< Damnit, damnit! >>

Between the darkness and the chaos the fighters of Kalt' s squadron began to fly around the area but found nothing. No parachute, and the pieces of the carcasses had flown into flames after the explosion, making any chance of salvation almost nil.
The hero of Ikras was dead.
The last Ruthenians were shot down by the remaining surviving ally fighters, while the ground troops by now had pushed the remains of the 10th Army into a narrow space with no escape routes.

Ruthenian Ground Unit
<< Damn it, they annhilated our air cover. >>

Ruthenian Ground Unit
<< Idiots, I told him to retreat! At least they could have saved themselves, and instead they preferred to be annihilated. Fools. >>

Ruthenian Ground Unit
<< We must continue to resist for them and for Mirevka, if we contain the Anateans long enough, at Mirevka our allies will be able to continue the evacuations to our homeland. >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Sky Arrow to all air units. Enemy air units are no factor, mission completed. RTB... >>

It was over. The air battle of Ikras had come to an end after 4 hours of fighting between fighters and attack planes. The losses? Heavy, on both sides. If the Ruthenians had lost all their strike force, we had lost half of of our forces. But for the central command it did not seem a problem, as on the northern and southern front of Dalstavia, the enemy was almost non-existent or had only a few positions of resistance composed by some platoons or half a company, so the air forces of those fronts could be addressed towards the central one and towards the next destination: Mirevka.

Back at the airstrip on Highway 22, I couldn't help but go to the surviving members of Lydra Squadron to offer my condolences. They were torn in pieces. Their friend and leader was doubtless dead, and his fighter vanished into the war skies of this cursed region. He had left a void in the lives of some and in the ranks of the army.

Brad
- I'm sorry for your loss ... he was a good man, even if I had the honor of knowing him for a short time. But if you need an hand my squadron mates and I will always be at your disposal. -

Not even a single word. They were staring into space, sitting on the ground in disbelief of what had just happened. They didn't even know if what they witnessed was real or not. Receiving no response, I turned to leave them alone and return to my squadron, when suddenly the girl, who must have been Lydra 2, stood up.

Lydra 2
- Thank you Captain. -

She managed to whisper. I returned the words with a silent smile as some pilots and mechanics nearby began to whistle and celebrate.

Brad
- What's happening? -

Anatean Pilot
- Didn't you hear? Ikras has fallen, they have surrendered! The Ruthenian 10th Army has been annhilated! -

I was pleasantly surprised by the news, we expected them to capitulate tomorrow morning or afternoon, but perhaps they understood that resisting by shedding blood in a pocket with no escape or support from the homeland was not the best idea.

Lydra 2
- At least the Major's wish is going to be fulfilled, it will be over soon. -

Brad
- Wish? -

Lydra 2
- Yes ... I remember that he wanted at all costs to be deployed in Dalstavia when the war broke out. We had tried to make him give up, but he persisted relentlessly. At first we did not understand, but once we got to the front we saw that he was not flying for duty, it was more a thirst of blood. -

Tears began to stream down Lydra 2's cheeks.

Lydra 2
- His wife was a volunteer in the “Oltre Confini” association, helping refugees and the poor people in the region. When the Ruthenians started bombing the refugee camps in retaliation, before the war... she was killed. The... The Major was destroyed. When the conflict broke out, he almost went mad and pressed all sides to be deployed. But he was no longer the same, he was colder, detached... different. At least now... now he will be fine with his wife, somewhere... At least, I like to think about this when I think about him now... -

More than an explanation, it was a vent. The war in Dalstavia had consumed everyone, both at the front and at home, and was leaving no one mercy. It wasn't like in the movies and books, it wasn't heroic and it brought no honor, and today I personally tasted the bitterness of this conflict. I stayed a couple of minutes with the Lydras to keep them in company, in silence, watching the void as the festivities around us continued.
Alone in the middle of a burning wurld.
I went back to my wingmen who, joyful for the end of the battle, had kept some improvised drinks for me. No alcohol, just berry juice, we couldn't get drunk as we were still on immediate service. They welcomed me back warmly and, despite what I had seen and been through, I let myself go and celebrated with them. Would what happened to Kalt have happened to me too? Or maybe we would all get out unscathed?
I couldn't know, and even if it were, the present was what mattered most. I had to enjoy it if I wanted to go on, and with my teammates, I felt that I was not alone.
Operation "Serenissima" was finally considered concluded.

Edited October 8, 2021 by Anatea
codes, as always :V (see edit history)

Anatea · April 2, 2021

Briefer
<< With the destruction of the 10th Ruthenian Army at Ikras, the Ruthenians completely ceased any counter-offensive or defense of the front line, retreating towards Mirevka. They are fortifying it and want to be able to bring home as many soldiers as possible.
Obviously we won't let them. >>

Briefer
<< Your mission will be simple: destroy every vehicle that retreats from the city, be it a column of vehicles, cargo planes and much more. Not even a soldier has to go home or stay to defend Mirevka. Every downed enemy will be one less chance for Ruthenia to launch a counter-offensive, and if we want to end this war as soon as possible, we can't afford to give them a moment of respite.
The area will certainly be defended by many anti-aircraft units, but be aware that since the battle of Ikras the Ruthenian Air Force has weakened further, so you will have to aim for quick and targeted attacks.
Good luck and hold on, we are one step away from victory! >>

There was nothing nicer than leading an air assault to a highly fortified enemy position ... well, other than having a drink, spending time with a girl, not being in this war etc. On that bright late morning the entire mercenary force supporting Anatea was involved in the first wave to recapture Mirevka. Our target was simple: to annihilate all retreating enemy units. The hoax? Well, the whole area was highly protected by enemy anti-aircraft units. A great reason to send the mercenaries first instead of the regular forces, isn't it?

AWACS Blackjack
<< This is AWACS Blackjack to all air units. Try to block the transports retreating to the West and shoot down the air transports leaving the area. The Ruths' may not have many air units defending the area but they have carpeted the entire area of SAMs and Shilkas, so don't get caught like poor idiots! >>

Silver 1
<< Here is Blackjack in all its niceness and morning splendor! I love this man! >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< I want to see if you will still love me when I'll change your IFF with the one of the enemy. Shut up and do what you're paid for. >>

Silver 2
<< Damn, did you wake up with the wrong plane? Ah! >>

Ally Mercenary Squadron
<< I guess it gnaws his liver being here with us to risk his skin! Ah-ah! >>

Despite the dangerous situation, many of us in the auxiliary unit had already participated in suicide actions in other conflicts. For us it was just another day in the office.

AWACS Blackjack
<< Stop it and listen to me carefully: Unit A will take care of the air transports, Unit B the ground vehicles leaving the area, while Unit C will try to clean up the anti-aircraft units. Don't be idiots or you will pay the consequences, whether it's with your life or your stupid pay. >>

Lucky for us, Sasha and I were in Unit A. At least we knew we wouldn't be bored chasing enemy transports leaving the area. Sure, we were cowards to shoot them down without air cover, but that was what they deserved for throwing all their air forces into the previous battle in a foolish and reckless way.
It only took a few minutes to reach the area where the transports were flying. Without any air cover and the anti-aircraft engaged by our escorts, the targets were visible and easy to shoot down. They were really desperate.

Ruthenian Transport Squadron
<< Balaur, here Asya 3, the Anateans are behind us! Give us cover! >>

Ruthenian Ground Unit
<< Balaur 6 to Asya 3, we' re currently engaged by enemy aircrafts! You're on your own! >>

Ruthenian Transport Squadron
<< They were waiting for us, damnit! >>

Ruthenian Transport Squadron
<< May God help us... >>

Our team and the other mercenary squadrons in our unit were within a few miles of the targets. We began the engagement phase, while one by one our aircrafts locked onto the targets to hit. As the lock signals reached the enemy aircrafts, they began to launch flares like waterfalls, in a desperate attempt to defend themselves from our imminent attack.

Silver 1
<< Silver 1, engaging. >>

I announced over the radio, firing radar-guided missiles with the other fighters at the targets. With no hope of survival and with totally useless flares, the enemy cargos began some emergency maneuvers, but it was all vain: the missiles impacted and exploded on the targets, reducing the transports to flying debris or fireballs. Some aircrafts were damaged so slightly that some soldiers in the transport were able to bail out with the parachutes, others ... were simply sucked in by the air pressure and thrown out of the plane. Some were able to open the parachute, some not.

Silver 2
<< Damnit, why the hell they didn't stay on the ground and surrendered?! >>

Silver 1
<< I don't know, I just know that if they have risked so much to get home, it means that the situation is really desperate for them. Poor bastards. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Keep attacking the transports, there is still another squadron just ahead, they are about to leave the mission area. >>

We followed Blackjack's directions for the next target and finding, once again, another squadron without air cover. Out of pity, some of the mercenaries tried to communicate with the transports pilots, in a desperate attempt to avoid what had happened before, but Blackjack was bastard enough to disrupt the communications. We had to repeat the same atrocious attack we had previously carried out, reliving once again the horror we had already experienced.

AWACS Blackjack
<< All air targets have been annihilated, while ground targets and other transports have been decimated or totally destroyed. Those bastards will have no chance to rearrange a decent counterattack. >>

Silver 1
<< Now I understand why you didn't send the regular forces forward but you sent us in this extermination. >>

Ally Mercenary Squadron
<< Yeah, you covered your ass with us so the public opinion can't criticize you. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Even if it was, why would you care? Didn't you just want the money, huh? So shut up and go back to base, we're done for today. And consider yourself lucky that Anatea needed mercenaries for this war, otherwise you would have been the target of this mission if you had decided to fight for Ruthenia. >>

As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. Around the wurld we were glorified and hated at the same time, only a tool in the hands of the powerfuls to do what they wanted to their enemies. I knew what I had chosen, but this time I thought that fighting for a real nation, for my old home, had been different ... but it wasn't, in the end even the Anateans were the same butchers like the factions and militias for which Sasha and I had fought.
They were all the same.

Edited October 8, 2021 by Anatea
codes, as always :V (see edit history)

Anatea · April 14, 2021

Briefer
<< Orders have come in for an emergency sortie.
A squadron of enemy fighters and bombers are passing through the Dalstavian Plain, west of Mirevka. Central command thinks their mission is to bomb Mirevka now that our forces have occupied it and most of the Ruthenians have left the region. As soon as we got the first interceptors up, the enemy sent more squadrons into action, and we had to respond by sending you too. The situation is escalating further, and if we don't do something in a short time our forces in Mirevka will suffer heavy losses. We won't let them do it.
Launch! >>

The green and vast Dalstavian Plain, the last geographical point that divided the rest of the Dalstavia region from Ruthenia. A calm place, lit by the scorching midday sun of a clear day of August ... until a fighter jet sped by, chased by another fighter that was firing all its bullets at its prey.

Anatean Squadron
<< I'm about to shoot one down, Fox 2! >>

Ruthenian Squadron
<< The reinforcement squadrons are coming, try to clear the way for the incoming bombers! >>

Around the two fighters, other Anatean and Ruthenian fighters were fighting to death, launching missiles, flare or reducing themselves to fight in close range combats with machine gun fire. A few days earlier Ruthenia had decided to leave Dalstavia after the tremendous losses suffered in the region in the previous days, but now that each force had evacuated the area and with the probable and imminent Anatean invasion of their territory, the Central Command at Debalsteve had ordered one last bombing of Mirevka in retaliation. The war wasn't over yet.

AWACS Blackjack
<< Other allied reinforcements incoming, try to clear the area! >>

Anatean Squadron
<< Are we still escalating?! >>

Ruthenian AWACS
<< Anatean reinforcements incoming, but don't worry: Wasav Squadron it's on its way to help us! >>

All around the vast aerial combat was continuing, seeing the Anatean fighters fighting the Ruthenian fighters in a duel to the death. From afar, the Anatean support fighters were approaching the air battle, being able to see with their own eyes the immense aerial battle that was gradually widening.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Sky Arrow to all units: the Ruthenians have 8 squadrons in the sector, they're trying to open a corridor for some incoming Tu-95s. Coordinate with the mercenaries for clear the area from the enemies left. Be careful though, other Ruthenians are coming. >>

Sol 1
<< That's what we needed. They don't know when they have to leave, eh? >>

Sol 2
<< That's the problem, they don't know. >>

Sol 1
<< Let's try to get out of this all alive, we can't die now that the war is almost over. Sol Squadron engaging. >>

Under the bright Sun of noon, the reinforcements composed by Sol, Starlia and Lydra Squadrons, along with some mercenary units, began to throw themselves into action. Without wasting a second, the support squadrons began chasing their targets, seeing the Sols targeting the enemies while Lydras, just behind the Sols, tried to cover them by engaging anyone who tried to get behind them. Starlia Squadron, along with the mercenaries, including Silver Team, went to lend a hand to the other troubled Anatean squadrons.

Ruthenian AWACS
<< Anatean support fighters have entered the AO! Watch out, there are even the Sols and Ikras's Devils. >>

Ruthenian Squadron
<< Damn them! Let's try to avenge our fallen brothers at Ikras while we're here! >>

Sol Squadron, remaining compact and organized, began engaging a squadron of enemy F-14s, shooting down two of them with R-27T missiles in a single pass, while Lydra Squadron targeted and destroyed the two survivors with R-27ER missiles.

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< Perfect tactic Lydra and Sol Squadron, keep it up and we will clear up the airspace in minutes! All the other squadrons, try to cover each other. >>

Trying to follow the AWACS directions, the Anatean squadrons slowly began to assemble and cover each other, some having two fighters covered by two other fighters from the same squadron, in turn covered by two other fighters who were covered again by two other fighters belonging to a different squadron. The air units began to appear almost like spears entering in the opposing formations.

Silver 1
<< Tsk, this is too easy! There's not even a challenge! >>

Silver 2
<< If you want i can leave you here alone if you really want a challenge, eh eh. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Is it possible that I can't get rid of you two? Bah, anyway ... >>

For a few minutes AWACS Blackjack switched the radio frequencies of his aircraft and those of the Silver Team, cutting them off for a few moments from allied or enemy communications.

AWACS Blackjack
<< ...guys, jokes aside i noticed that in the AO there's even the 72nd Special Squadron... >>

Silver 1
<< And so? >>

Silver 2
<< Ed, they're the same that we encountered on Highway 22. Those who have killed the spy. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< ...Sasha, how the hell are you able to stay in the same team of that idiot? >>

Silver 2
<< Just habit! >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< ...anyway they're on their own in the North-Eastern part of the sector without doing anything, they're just flying nearby. I think Sky Arrow has noticed them too, or maybe he doesn't want to notice them, still they don't result in the squadrons called as reinforcements. >>

Silver 1
<< Well, the RSS is really weird sometimes. Maybe they're here as backup in case we fail? >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< I doubt about that, they would have called another squadron instead of bother a special squadron. The problem is... that i made some researches from the last time we encountered them and they don't result in our databases. It's probable they're not registered because they're in the RSS, still... i don't like them. So keep an eye on them and be careful. >>

Silver 2
<< Wow, thank you Blackjack! I was thinking you wanted us dead. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Bah, if you would die then with who i would pick a fight when i'm bored? >>

The communications were re-established, making the mercenary team return into action.

Ruthenian Squadron
<< Damnit, the commander's plane is gone! Confirm the next aircraft on our chain of command! >>

Ruthenian AWACS
<< Mantain air superiority at all costs, just a little more! >>

Wasav 1
<< Sorry for our delay gentlemen. Wasav Squadron, engaging. >>

As shadows, the three remaining Su-47s leapt into action, starting targeting the Anatean fighters who, without expecting it, were damaged or shot down. The Wasavs began to take new formations behind them, starting to destroy one and divide it, disorganizing the pilots.

Sol 2
<< Brad, this is it! They arrived! >>

Sol 3
<< Damnit, i wasn't expecting them! I thought they disappeared forever! >>

Sol 1
<< Stay focused! Lydra, we count on you in covering us! Let's try to kill them before they inflict other damages! >>

The final showdown between the two best units of Ruthenia and Anatea's Air Force had begun.
The Sol's Su-33s swooped down on the Wasavs, firing Fire-and-Forget missiles while the Lydras tried to pressure the enemy by firing R-27T missiles, but the enemy Su-47s, enjoying greater maneuverability, were able to dodge them while they were throwing flares and chaffs, managing to turn around and get behind the Lydras.

Lydra 2
<< How the hell they were able to do that?! >>

Lydra 4
<< As minimum they have faced at least 9Gs for almost one minute! >>

Lydra Squadron began to disperse, but for two of them it was too late: Lydra 3 was hit by a Wasav's missile to the engines, forcing the pilot to eject, while Lydra 4 was hit by a missile in the central part of the plane, spreading shrapnel all around the area and penetrating the cockpit. The Su-35K began to fall without any launch from the pilot.

Sol 4
<< Oh God, Captain! Lydra Squadron has been annhilated! >>

Sol 1
<< Damnit, damnit! >>

They were alone now. With Lydra 2 retreating from the airspace as her squadron's only survivor, Sol and Wasav Squadrons continued to fly at distance parallel to each other, circling around and observing each other, waiting for someone's move so to know how to react. All around them the aerial combat was continuing unabated.

Sol 1
<< We don't have any other choice. Me and Alis will try to attack them, Daniel and Samuel, you two will cover us. If they come up behind us you know what to do. >>

Sol 3
<< Captain, are you sure? If we fail you could di- >>

Sol 1
<< Yes, i'm sure about that. If we have arrived here this mean that we can do this. I'm asking you all your energy for this last important battle. >>

Sol 4
<< ... alright Captain, count on us. >>

Sol 1
<< Thank you guys. Alis... >>

Sol 2
<< ...Sol 1 and Sol 2, Fox 2! >>

Detaching from Sol 3 and 4, Bradley and Alis made a tight turn that made them enter the center of the air ring that had been created between the two squadrons, launching R-27R missiles at the Wasav's Su-47s that, promptly, they dodged. Two Su-47s managed to get behind Brad and Alis, while another attacked behind Samuel, but the lack of a member of the Wasav, still lost at the beginning of the siege of San Palia, began to show the flaw in the enemy squadron. Daniel, with the few moments he had, managed to target the enemy Su-47 behind Samuel who, now under threat, began to evade, while Samuel and Daniel began to follow him and shoot at short range with their machine guns, hitting him and shooting it down as the enemy pilot bailed out.

Sol 2
<< Hell yeah, this is what i wanted to see! >>

Sol 1
<< C'mon, still two to go! >>

Sol 4
<< Yes! C'mon Daniel, last two and it's finished! >>

Sol 3
<< We're coming! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< All units, stand down! I repeat, all Anatean airforce units cease fire and stand down! >>

Ruthenian AWACS
<< All units cease fire, i repeat cease fire. Any attack is now forbidden, i repeat: cease fire. >>

Ruthenian Squadron
<< Wai-wait a second! I've got an Anatean behind me, he still have a lock on me! >>

Anatean GHQ
<< This is the Anatean General Headquarter, all units currently engaged on the Dalstavian frontline cease fire, effective immediately. I repeat, cease fire. >>

Ruthenian GHQ
<< Order from the capitol, all Ruthenian units cease fire. I repeat, cease fire immediately and withdraw. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< What the hell is happening?! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< I'm receiving a transcript, wait... >>

Anatean Squadron
<< I have two bandits on my nose coming towards me, what should i do?! I need orders! >>

Ruthenian Squadron
<< I've got Anatean bandits all around me! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< ...the diplomats of the Republic of Anatea and the Federal Republic of Ruthenia participating in a peace conference held in the city-state of Sigta, with the aim of ending the conflict and restoring peace in the disputed region of Dalstavia... >>

Ruthenian AWACS
<< ...they agreed, after the damages and losses accused by both sides, to reach an armistice. A ceasefire has been declared. >>

Silver 1
<< ...Really? Out of the blue? >>

Ruthenian Squadron
<< And tell us before killing between ourselves? >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Seriously?! Ah- goddamn, changing IFF parameters now. >>

Sol 1
<< So... the war is over. >>

Wasav 1
<< All this for nothing... Wasav 1 to all units, let's just get the hell out of here. There's no point in staying here. >>

72nd Anatean Special Squadron
<< Raven to Crystal Kingdom, the war is over, i repeat the war is over. Beginning Operation Iron Cloud. >>

Unknown
<< Crystal Kingdom to Raven, permission for Operation Iron Cloud granted. >>

72nd Anatean Special Squadron
<< This is the 72nd Anatean Special Squadron of the RSS transmitting on Anatean and Ruthenian lines, change your frequency on 27 Mhz. The radio message you heard was a false statement and a misunderstanding from our office. The war is not over, the hostilities are still going on. >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< What?! We received a confirmation from the Central Command! >>

Ruthenian AWACS
<< It's impossible, even the Anatean Command have confirmed to our HQ that a ceasefire has been declared! >>

Anatean GHQ
<< Whoever is violating our direct orders stand down and cease fire! The war is over! >>

72nd Anatean Special Squadron
<< I see... we have no other choice. >>

Within moments, the radars of all planes in the area began to mis-transmit informations, changing the IFF of each unit to hostile, even between Ruthenians and Anateans.

Sol 2
<< What the...?! Why my wingmen are targeted as enemies?! >>

Ruthenian Squadron
<< Whoever is joking about this, it's not funny! The war's over goddamnit! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< ECM! Somebody is overruning our data IFF system! >>

72nd Anatean Special Squadron
<< Commecing engage. >>

Suddenly, in the chaos of radar signals and totally disrupted IFF, the Anatean Special Squadron began to engage some fighters, some Ruthenians, some Anateans. The pilots of both factions could not believe their eyes in the face of what was happening.

Sol 1
<< What the hell?! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< 72nd Squadron, cease fire! I repeat: cease fire! >>

Anatean GHQ
<< 72nd Squadron? We don't have any unit with that name in our database! >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< They're in the RSS, sir. >>

Anatean GHQ
<< RSS doesn't have air units in its agency! >>

Anatean Squadron
<< What?! >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Tsk, i knew it. Silver Team, wake up! You know what to do! >>

Silver 1
<< This will require an extra, eh eh! >>

72nd Anatean Special Squadron
<< Raven Squadron, engage and kill Sol and Wasav Squadron members. Crystal Kingdom want them dead. >>

In the radar chaos, the Su-35Ks of the 72nd Squadron began aiming their planes at the Wasav and Sol Squadron fighters, launching various active-homing radar missiles at them. By sheer luck the Sols and Wasavs were able to dodge them, at the cost of a Wasav Su-47 that was hit and shot down.

Anatean Squadron
<< Guys, they're attacking Sol Squadron! Don't stand without doing anything, let's do something! Pyro 1 engaging the 72nd Squadron! >>

Ruthenian Squadron
<< ...R-right! Davarya 1 engaging new hostile targets! >>

Ruthenian Squadron
<< Be careful, our IFF is still messed up. Aim carefully for avoid friendly fire! >>

Like a swarm of wasps, some Anatean and Ruthenian fighters began to engage the 72nd Squadron, including Silver Team. Given the stealth coverage and the chaos on the radar, it was quite easy for the new unknown aircrafts to dodge the much weaker enemy attacks, due to the sharp inaccuracy towards a stealth target and with the radars capable of hitting allied targets with missiles as well.

Silver 1
<< Son of...! >>

Silver 2
<< Ed, use the machine gun. If we keep using the missiles we'll not be even able to aim at them. >>

Silver 1
<< We have to. >>

AWACS Blackjack
<< Thank God that one of you two know how to use its brain. >>

While Sol Squadron and Wasav 1 launched flares and chaffs in a desperate attempt to outflank the new enemies, the six fighters of the 72nd Squadron continued to target them, dividing two fighters from the formation to cut evasive maneuvers to their preys. It was in that moment of slight vulnerability that Silver 1 and 2 fired a long machine gun volley at the two enemy planes, damaging them and setting them ablaze.

72nd Anatean Special Squadron
<< Raven 3 and 4 we're hit. We have to bail out. >>

Remaining in four fighters, the 72nd Squadron continued to stay behind their prey, attempting to hit them with machine guns, now that the distance was so short that missiles were totally inaccurate. In the chaos, however, Anatean and Ruthenian fighters were trying harder and harder to aim at them, having to repeatedly make a second pass to try to aim them.

Sol 1
<< Guys, we have to split up. If we stay in formation they'll keep chasing us and sooner or later they'll hit us. >>

Wasav 1
<< Alright. >>

At Bradley's signal, the fighters split up, as did those of the 72nd Squadron who continued to stay on their preys, except for Sol 3 which was free from the pursuers. Without even wasting time, Daniel began engaging the enemy fighter on Wasav 1, freeing it in moments after shooting down the Su-35K with a long volley of machine gun. At the same time Anatean and Ruthenian fighters had managed to shoot down another fighter from the 72nd Squadron that was pursuing Alis. By being only two of them now, both pilots of the unknown squadron had to leave their preys and opt for hit and run attacks, not being able to afford to have pursuers behind them.

AWACS Blackjack
<< Almost there... the enemy jammers, it's almost... perfect! IFF restored! >>

In that moment in which the IFF was back up and running, all the Ruthenian and Anatean fighters were again targeted as allies, same for the 72nd Squadron. This gave them a chance to escape West now that their Su-35Ks were targeted still as allied before the jamming attack, making them even more impossible to hit with missiles given their distance with the latest hit and run tactic used. Some Ruthenian fighters tried to chase them, but the speed of their fighters was higher, making them disappear from the radars after a few minutes.

Sol 2
<< What...? >>

Sol 3
<< Do anybody have other surprises for today? No? No one? Thank God. >>

AWACS Sky Arrow
<< The targets have disappeared from our radars. Today the Internal Department will have a lot to work on and investigate about this matter. >>

Ruthenian Squadron
<< I never saw anything like that. >>

Anatean Squadron
<< You can say that again... >>

Ruthenian AWACS
<< C'mon guys, the war is over. All fighters, RTB. >>

As if nothing had happened, the fighters of both sides left the battlefield, leaving the sunny Dalstavian plain silent and full of wrecked aircrafts.
Months and months of conflict, blood, flames and deaths silenced in seconds with few words.
The Dalstavian War had come to an end.

Edited October 8, 2021 by Anatea
codes, as always :V (see edit history)

Anatea · April 16, 2021

. . .

With the ceasefire signed in the city-state of Sigta on August 1, 2019, the Republic of Anatea and the Federal Republic of Ruthenia committed themselves in ending the conflict. According to the agreements of the Treaty of Sigta, Anatea would have incorporated Dalstavia into its territory as part of the war debt to be repaid by Ruthenia. Ruthenia, on the other hand, in addition to the debts to repay for the damages inflicted, was constraint to reduce its military strength by 20% and demilitarize the border with the Dalstavia region within 2 months.
With the peace and victory obtained, Anatea began the rearmament and reorganization of the army to counter future threats from internal and external sources, while Ruthenia, with the defeat and the immediate weakening of the central power together with the war debts, began to shatter into different and autonomous factions that succeeded one another from the central territory or provoked small local guerrillas. With the ongoing guerrillas, and the assassination of the leader Kars Delai at the hands of a subordinate, Ruthenia began a transitional phase of territorial division to dissolve the created nation that suppressed the regions unwilling to be part of the federal republic. It was in that moment that Ruthenia split into various small states, such as New Ruthenia, Casma, Lybadev and Pyrr, which began to continue on the path of democracy to avoid another dictatorship and, with it, another war.

Although the conflict was located on a small front, for the veterans the psychological effect was devastating, especially for the Anateans who had not fought in a conflict for decades. Many suffered from Post Traumatic Disorder (PTSD) and psychological complications from the loss of many comrades (depression, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, alienation, shellshock and self-inflicted injuries), while others left the military to join groups to promote peace and disarmament. Some joined protest groups against the Anatean government after the futile massacre endured on the last day of the war, defined by some as a "sadistic and useless bloodshed".

Sol squadron members remained in the Anatean Air Force after the conflict, staying for three months deployed in Dalstavia to keep the region under control. During the period of stay in Dalstavia, the squadron pilots suffered an attack on one of their planes, resulting in a failed attempt. It is not yet known who tried to kill the pilots, but from that day they have been moved to an unknown location. It's still unknown whether they still operate in the military or are under protection.

After the death of Colonel Kalt and the losses suffered in the battle of the Dalstavian Plain, the two surviving members of Lydra squadron were discharged from the army. Pauline Inati (Lydra 2) is still hospitalized for psychological complications.

Wasav squadron pilots disappeared from the news and the Ruthenian Army after the conflict. It is still unknown whether they are still alive or not.

The "72nd Anatean Special Squadron" is still being investigated by the RSS and the army. After the battle of the Dalstavian Plain there is no information about the squadron's pilots. They are still wanted by authorities.

After the siege of San Palia, Sergeant Paolo Castellani continued to serve in the conflict, returning home on July 19 after being wounded in Ikras. Private Carlo Iannoni instead was killed the same day during the battle of Ikras.

With the death of her teammate Jordan, Corporal Elena continued her sniping activity during the conflict. After the war, she left the army and disappeared for several months, until she was accidentally captured in a video during a firefight in the Pyrr region during the civil warfares in Ruthenia. It is thought that she's operating as a mercenary.

With the loss of her crew and severe injuries sustained in the tank battle at Novoljia, Lieutenant Laura Osvaldi was rushed to hospital and saved, losing her left leg. She was discharged from the army as Captain and now lives in Arlost.

Edward Riley and Sasha Yumov, after the conflict and their contract, managed to keep the Su-35Ks assigned to them as long as they remained in the Dalstavia region as security forces. At the end of the surveillance period, they returned to their home in Crystal Island and participated in other small conflicts around the wurld.

THE END

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