expansion “Invasion? Nah, just Peace exportation.” (Anatea Expansion IC)

Anatea · October 8, 2022

With the wurld always more into chaos, a new power begins to rise from the ashes of the old continent. Craving and thirsty, Anglia desires new territories in which to expand its influence, setting its eye on Aurelia… but the situation between Zaxar and Côte de Fourrure is not advancing as quickly as it hoped, so its former colony must be used to stir the situation: The Federal Republic of Azuria.
A distant continent, new enemies and new allies. The last great war in the southeast of Aurelia. Anatea will have to face the greatest trial to achieve the much desired peace that the rest of the wurld has desired for years.

OOC: This is a RP centered around the Anatea VS Azuria, Anglia conflict in Aurelia, but we invite other nations to RP with us by contacting me (Discord: Dark Star#2498) to join the RP and create a discord group to plan things. Of course, before posting, we recommend talking to me about what you want to post, so we can keep a canon and well done RP.

“Invasion? Nah, just Peace exportation” Chapters
(In chronological order)

Chapter 1: Yellow Dawn
In the morning, Anatea found itself being invaded by Azuria and Anglia. Enemy troops are breaking through the borders, while airborne units are occupying Anatean military key points

Chapter 2: Support from afar
While OCA troops are advancing with their invasion in Anatea, Advocatius denounces the attack by supporting Anatea.

Chapter 3: Ready or not?
With two wars so close to the Ionian border, Ionio decides to support Anatea and Zaxar in their wars by sending equipment and aids.

Chapter 4: The weight of Life
On the western front of Anatea, a group of resistance fighters must destroy an Anglian artillery battery for change the situation on the frontline.

Chapter 5: Rough Seas
Anatean air and naval units engage the feared Llŷr Fleet in the waters near Dalavar, hoping to save the city and the units still fighting there.

Chapter 6: A United Aurelia
A Xioan fleet is moving towards Anatea, as the Xio Empire declares war upon Azuria and Anglia.

Chapter 7: The Giant Awakens
The Seylosian First Fleet navigates through the dangerous waters of the Typhon Sea for join the maritime effort with Anatea.

Chapter 8: Sharks in the Darkness
The Anatean Strategic Strike Force decides to attack by surprise an incoming Anglian fleet trying to rendzevous with Llŷr Fleet.

Chapter 9: Hydra
The Anatean First Mercenary Legion and the Seylosian First Fleet have to stop an enemy landing operation in Los Canas supported by the feared Llŷr Fleet.

Chapter 10: The Dead City
With the Llŷr Fleet taken out, Anatean forces try to seize back the city of Dalavar.

Chapter 11: Coffins of Steel
Now on the offensive, the Anatean 13th Armored Division engages OCA tanks in one of the biggest tank battles in history around Lotia.

Chapter 12: Domino Effect
Preparing for a big offensive operation in Azurian territory, the Anatean Mercenary 1st Air Legion is tasked with destroying several Azurian radar stations.

Chapter 13: The Gate of Azuria
The Anatean Army begins the invasion of Azuria, attacking the main defenses in Eder Valley.

Chapter 14: Daring Assault
Thinking that the OCA is going to use SCUD missiles armed with nuclear weapons, the Strategic Strike Force launches a surprise attack deep in Azurian territory.

Chapter 15: Coup de Main
Losing their momentum, the Anatean Army gets overwhelmed and pushed back by an OCA counterattack.

Chapter 16: Out of the Cage
With the situation on the front being a stalemate, Marcus and his teammates are imprisoned in an Anglian prison camp.

Chapter 17: Easy Preys
With Anglia losing on multiple fronts all over the wurld, Anglian troops try to pull out from Azuria, but Anatean air units will not let them escape so easily.

Chapter 18: Checkmate
Without support from Anglia, Azuria can't keep up with the war effort. Anatea begins to siege down the enemy capitol.

Chapter 19: The Siege of Gambell
As the war is coming to an end, Azurian forces have mounted a last and desperate defense around the city of Gambell.

Chapter 20: Peace upon the Ruins
The war with Azuria is over, and Anatea finds itself dealing with the post-war problems. On the other hand, members of Luna Squadron want to desert the Strategic Strike Force.

Edited July 18 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · October 8, 2022

Four years passed since the Republic of Anatea experienced firsthand what it meant to be at war. The horrors of the Dalstavian War were still remembered by books, documentaries, stories still vivid in people's minds and the rubbles still present in the cities of San Palia, Ikras and Mitheo. Such horrors were led by Layden Industries which, by exploiting the death of the regents of Anatea, fueled the conflict behind the scenes, together with the dictator of the former Federal Republic of Virsis. The war was devastating and condemned by the Anatean and Virsisi population, but at the same time, further north of Anatea, the Federal Republic of Azuria was observing the territory of Dalstavia being set on fire as well...
Anatea's liberation and annexation of Dalstavia was celebrated by the Anatean and Dalstavian citizens, but it was harshly condemned by Azuria and Anglia that labeled the liberation as "the vivid example of an insurgent Anatean imperialism". The fall of Virsis and its dissolution became the icing on the cake, justifying Azuria and Anglia in denouncing Anatea as the bringer of chaos and instability on the continent of Aurelia.
The Anatean Crisis in the Winter of 2019 bittered the relations between Anatea and Anglia. When the Strategic Strike Force showed to Anatea that Layden Industries and Prime Minister Fulvio Silani were causing a near-civil war in the country, and for the Anatean Secret Services that Anglia was controlling Layden and Silani, the Anatean government began to strengthen the country's internal security but above all to strengthen the army which, since 2020, modernized its structure between uniforms, equipment, weapons and vehicles. Obviously, the reorganization was frowned upon by Azuria, that began to condemn Anatea and issued a single sanction against the latter in 2021.
Tensions grew throughout the years, but the climax was reached when, with the onset of tensions between Côte de Fourrure and Greater Zaxar in 2022, Azuria showed on its newscasts images of a Fourruren cargo ship carrying weapons and vehicles produced from Layden, explaining that since Winter 2019 Anatea was preparing to truly destabilize other countries on the continent. That leak of news alarmed the Strategic Strike Force, as the information about the Fourruren ship captured by them during the destruction of a Layden base was only known to them, the RSS, Layden Industries and... Anglia, that already at the time was planning the tensions between Côte de Fourrure and Zaxar and now between Anatea and Azuria.
The rest was a series of escalations.
Anglian and OCA advisors were sent to Côte de Fourrure, to which Anatea in turn responded with a series of sanctions against Côte de Fourrure and Anglia. At that point Azuria responded with other sanctions against Anatea together with Anglia and, in the following weeks, Anglian troops landed in Azurian ports for a "Peacekeeping operation", with the intent of protecting an ally and guarantee security and peace on the Aurelian continent.
Anglia planned everything with efficient perfection.
Azuria and Anatea's borders were filled with soldiers from the three factions, their weapons and their armies were tense and ready to go off like a spring.
In the past days Azurian and Anglian armies denounced Anatean saboteurs infiltrating beyond the Azurian border to sabotage key military objectives, but Anatea denied the evidence. Although Azuria never managed to show any concrete evidence, apart from the damages caused by the "saboteurs", it was too late for the two countries now on a collision course:

The spring had been tripped.

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October 8, 2022 - 8:32 AM

SOLISEA NEWS, ALL YOUR NEWS ON ANATEA AND BEYOND 24/7!

MARCO LEVI: "We begin this edition of Solisea News with a last minute news...
Our country is currently being invaded by Azurian and Anglian armed forces.
The operation have begun around 7:30 am when artillery shells hit some of our military positions in the northern border of the country. At the moment it's unknown how many Azurian and Anglian units have been mobilized, but some videos of the border guards show armored columns and troop transports with Anglian and Azurian insignias entering the territory.
Right now we do not have exact informations about the insertion points of the enemy units, but some reports speak of Anglian and Azurian movements in the north, north-west and on the beaches of Los Canas and Venetia. The army command has not yet been able to inform us about the events and how the situation is developing, but... excuse me for a moment."

The journalist put his index and middle fingers on his right hear, listening to what the news direction was telling him.

MARCO LEVI: "Yeah? ... Alright. We are being told by the news direction that at the moment Prime Minister Lucas Fisher is about to speak to the nation about the act of aggression of Anglia and Azuria. We pass the line directly to Solisea's Parliament building."

. . .

LUCAS FISHER: "We... we are facing another difficult moment, a moment where all of us Anateans must hold each other and remain united as a nation. Two hours ago, the Federal Republic of Azuria and the Kingdom of Great Anglia declared war on our country and started a land and air invasion of our home. At this very moment Anglian and Azurian forces are entering from the north, northwest and west with armored columns and air support. Our soldiers are fighting to try to block the advance, house by house and meter by meter.
As for our citizens who are currently close to the combat zones, the Army Command has released informations about possible safe evacuation routes which I will now list: For the northern area, Highway A-15 to Dalavar and the A-17 to Lotia are safe, but we recommend that upon reaching Lotia you use secondary roads which tend to go south-east, as the A-17 which connects Lotia to Dalavar is dangerous for some enemy jets noticed in those areas. Absolutely avoid the towns of Lese, Tera, Kellan and Boscomantico as violent fightings are taking place there right now. Also absolutely avoid Lotia Airport and Lotia Airforce Base areas, as Anglian Airborne troops have landed in the area. Avoid the towns of Larkwood and Algoma as actions and attacks by Azurian paratroopers have been reported.
On the western side of the country, head towards Arlost and Nivera via secondary roads or if you can use woods and mountains as cover: enemy aircrafts are attacking the highway where our military is stopping the enemy armored columns. For Amber's Refugee Chiefs who are involved in the combat zones, I give permission to use depots 98, 35 and 17 to form pockets of partisan resistance for soldiers or volunteers who remained behind enemy lines. These are all the informations we can release at the moment.
I now want to address the heads of state of Azuria and Anglia and, possibly, their citizens. You still have time to stop. We don't want this. We are not bloodthirsty, we are not monsters as we have been portrayed by Azurian media, we are not trying to destabilize Aurelia to make it our own. We have been here for centuries, like you. We have our homes, our history, our culture that we share with you, we are cousins... yet now we are killing each other. We don't want this.
We are here to coexist, to live. We have had problems in the past, but we solved them. You still have time to go back to your countries. Do you really want to get to the bottom of this war and risk killing innocent men, women and childrens? We don't want it... and if necessary we are willing to defend ourselves if it serves to protect our homes and our families. The governments of Azuria and Anglia don't want to talk to us but you, the people, can still talk to them. Let them know what they are doing. Help us stop this slaughter.
Thank you."

. . .

MARCO LEVI: "They returned the line to the studio. We want to apologize for some informations and not well elaborated reports we shared: Venetia and Los Canas are not under attack, however the western area of Amber is involved in the fightings too, while some sightings report movements of enemy fleets off the northern coast but we do not have enough informations about them. But let's pass the line to Matt Caronti who is currently live from Lotia Airport. Matt, the line is yours."

. . .

MATT CARONTI: "We are here at Lotia Airport, 6 kilometers from Lotia. These troops you can see over here... here, zoom in.... are Anglian airborne forces that have taken this airport. I've been with them as they defend the perimeter of this airport here... where helicopter born troops- these troops have landed in the early hours of this morning. You can see, these are Anglian forces, you can tell they're Anglian and i've spoke with them already. They have that white band to identify them as Anglian forces. I've spoken to the commander on the ground there and he said that they are now in control of this airport. A few minutes ago they were engaged in a firefight with our military which is trying to organize a counteroffensive for try to take back this- this airport. I'm outside the perimeter and you can see them moving back to a different position. This show how much close Anglian forces already are to one of our main cities. Some of our officials said that the plan is not to sorround the airport, but to recapture it. We didn't know- frankly we didn't know that Anglian forces would be here. We assumed that these were our forces, until we saw the different equipment and- and heard their language. We didn't saw any of our troops in sight, but we can hear our army officials on the headphone, because they've been shooting ferociously in the past few minutes, and so we found some protection behind this wall here. We have our car, with our crew here aswell- and, you know- as the Anglian troops defend this position they've taken in the outskirts of Lotia."

. . .

MARCO LEVI: "Unbelievable, so close to danger already in the first hours of the invasion. Right now we are receiving images from some areas, where bombings are in progress towards our positions or where enemy armored columns are crossing the main roads uninterrupted or under attack by our artillery. These are dark hours for Anatea, so we recommend you to stay safe, stay connected for any updates and follow the guidelines of the police or military in your area in case you are near contact areas with Anglian or Azurian troops. Stay tuned as we're now going to interview the strategist Michael Nadi about the possible strategies that Azuria and..."

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Frontlines at the end of October 8, 2022.

Edited June 30 by Anatea (see edit history)

Pecario · October 8, 2022

Allocution du Premier Ministre de Louvier Benoît Fourcher

Louvian anthem plays and stops

"Louviens, si je vous parle aujourd'hui d'un air aussi grave c'est que l'ombre mortelle de la guerre est tombée sur notre continent. Ce matin, j'ai été informé que notre voisin Anatea était envahit par notre voisin direct Azuria. Je rappelle que les dernières années de relations avec ce pays ont été particulièrement compliquée avec l'intervention de force de la paix Angloise. La paix a été brisée. Louvier a toujours préconisé la paix et la liberté des nations. Cette paix a été brisée. Paix bafouée, paix violée. Justice sera rendue. Cette agression sur nos voisins ne peut rester impunie. J'ai signé un décret dans mon cabinet stipulant la mobilisation nationale sur le sol Louvien.

En nous levant contre la plus affreuse des tyrannies, en honorant notre parole, nous luttons pour défendre notre sol, nos foyers, nos libertés. J'ai conscience d'avoir travaillé sans relâche contre la guerre jusqu'à la dernière minute. Je salue avec émotion et affection nos jeunes soldats, qui s'en vont maintenant pour accomplir la tâche sacrée que nous avons nous-mêmes accomplie avant eux. Ils peuvent faire pleinement confiance à leurs chefs, dignes de ceux qui ont mené le pays à la victoire et à l'indépendance.

La cause de Louvier est identique à celle de la Justice. C'est la cause de toutes les nations pacifiques et libres. Nous faisons la guerre parce qu'elle nous a été imposée. Chacun de nous est à son poste, sur le sol de Louvier, sur cette terre de liberté où le respect de la dignité humaine trouve un de ses derniers refuges. Vous coopérerez tous, avec un profond sentiment d'union et de fraternité, au salut de la patrie.

Nous sommes en guerre. Nous nous battrons pour la paix et le respect, sur mer, dans les airs et sur le sol d'Aurelia. Nous vaincrons. Vive le royaume et vive la paix. "

" Louvians, if I speak to you today in such a serious tone, it is because the deadly shadow of war has fallen on our continent. This morning, I was informed that our neighbor Anatea was invaded by our neighbor Azuria. I remind you that the last years of relations with this country have been particularly complicated with the peacekeeping Anglian forces intervention. Peace has been broken. Louvier has always advocated peace and freedom of nations. This peace has been broken. Peace flouted, peace violated. Justice will be done. This aggression on our neighbors cannot go unpunished. I signed a decree in my cabinet stipulating the national mobilization on Louvian soil.

By standing up against the most awful of tyrannies, by honoring our word, we are fighting to defend our soil, our homes, our freedoms. I am aware of having worked tirelessly against the war until the last minute. I greet with emotion and affection our young soldiers, who are now leaving to accomplish the sacred task that we ourselves accomplished before them. They can fully trust their leaders, worthy of those who led the country to victory and independence.

The cause of Louvier is identical to that of Justice. This is the cause of all peaceful and free nations. It will be victorious. We make war because it was imposed on us. Each of us is at his post, on the soil of Louvier, on this land of freedom where respect for human dignity finds one of its last refuges. You will all cooperate, with a deep sense of union and brotherhood, in the salvation of the country.

We are at war. We will fight for peace and respect, at sea, in the air and on the land of Aurelia, we will win. Long live the kingdom and long live peace. "

Louvian anthem plays and stops

Edited October 8, 2022 by Louvier (see edit history)

Advocatius · October 8, 2022

Azuria declares war against Anatea

Our Aurelian League ally, the Republic of Anatea, just a few hours ago, was invaded by the Federal Republic of Azuria, in an unjustified attack. As the war between Côte de Fourrure and Zaxar began, Anglia and the OCA send military advisors to Côte de Fourrure, which prompted Anatea to impose sanctions on both Côte de Fourrure and Anglia. Azuria, being aligned with the two nations, imposed sanctions against Anatea, in the following weeks, Anglian troops landed in Azurian ports for what they have described as a "peacekeeping operation". And a few days ago both Azuria and Anglia claimed that Anateans had sabotaged key military objectives in Azuria; despite there being no evidence to conclude it was Anatea, Azuria declared a state of war against Anatea, and with the assistance of Anglian soldiers launched an invasion.

Louvier, has already declared war upon Azuria in support of Anatea. As for our response, Premier Louis Monet has declared that Azuria has "Menacez la souveraineté d'une nation de la Ligue Aurélienne, et Avouélos fera tout ce qui est en son pouvoir pour soutenir Anatea pendant ces périodes - Threatened the sovereignty of an Aurelian League nation, and Advocatius will do all it reasonably can to support Anatea during these times." Support would be granted via heavy sanctions being imposed upon Azuria, Advocatian volunteers will be sent to either Louvier or Anatea, and Advocatian manufactured arms will be offered to the countries.

In Other News:

Louvier joins Anatea in war against Azuria
Proposition to connect Orléans to Hovd via rail
Vorey Isles to become a Kingdom after 100 years
Dolchland threatens the nations of Stedoria, Seylos and Delamaria

Ionio · October 9, 2022

Warning: Is this post a crossover with The Brothers' War of @Zaxar and Invasion? Nah, just Peace exportation of @Anatea and @Louvier

All the Ionian media were monopolized over the two wars that were taking place between Zaxar and the CDF and the invasion of Anatea by Azuria and Anglia. While journalists were waiting in the conference room of the presidential house, President John Colucci was busy at an emergency meeting in the war room. At this meeting were all the ministers and generals of the various military branches. The meeting was very tense because two wars were taking place at the same time and one of them was very close to the national borders. The Chief of Staff of the Ionian Army Carlo Villa was illustrating the map where the zaxar conflicts and the invasion that Anatea is undergoing were shown.

"The war along the border between the CDF and Zaxar is unfolding as we had planned. Zaxar assembled the army along the border and imposed a strong naval blockade around the CDF. The situation does not cause particular concern to national security, in fact, with the enough to send billions of aid to our friend and you're done. But the situation in Anatea is critical. We expect a very fierce war as Louvier has declared war and we probably have a high risk of attacks that can get inside our territory. Moreover, if I think that what they are doing they can impose a naval blockade near our exclusive economic zones, which is a very dangerous situation for trade and our economy."

The Minister for Foreign Affairs immediately intervenes

"We all know what we need to do. We must go to war and help our friend Anatea."

The Minister for Economic Affairs replies immediately

"But are you stupid? Everyone knows that we need to strengthen the Ionian military industry. We cannot sustain a huge effort against an Anglia. Here we have to play with cunning. Anglia has angered several nations including us. I think we need to create special economic zones to encourage the development of military companies so that we can have military supplies."

"We agree that we must strengthen the military industry, but war is just around the corner. We cannot stand still and be spectators of useless war just because Anglia and friends are ruled by mentally ill people. We must act and declare war"

John Colucci intervenes to calm the situation

"Calm the two of you. The situation is explosive. we must act immediately. Now reflecting on the situation on Zaxar I see that we can send military aid and we have done our job. For the situation of Anatea we have to start to fix things. I order that the border with Louvier be strengthened. We must be ready and responsive in case an attack occurs. Same thing for our exclusive economic zone. That is why I order that all military branches be ready for a possible attack. We proceed with the seizure of the assets of Azuria and Anglia present in Ionio. I think that the idea of special economic zones to encourage the military industry is nice but open to all, I cannot accept it. It will only be by invitation to selected countries. Although I may hate communist ideology, I think we can make an exception in times of crisis for the sake of our national security. I do not tolerate that brazen nations decide to f*ck off years of peace. Gentlemen, let us prepare. It will be long days to come."

"I think this meeting is over because we have to go back to our ministries to work."

"Yes, the meeting is over because we have to understand the evolution of the situation. But since we are mobilising the army we must also warn Louvier that we are temporarily militarising the border only as a precaution and make other diplomatic calls. It will be a long day for everyone"

Everyone got up and walked to the exit of the presidential palace and then headed to their offices. The president went to his office to make diplomatic calls and finally prepare the speech he has to make to the people of Ionio

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Newspaper article

Edited October 9, 2022 by Ionio (see edit history)

Pecario · October 10, 2022

Operation Champion

Report of the Federal Republic of Azuria of Louvian airstrikes on Azuria, Monday October 10 since 10:00 a.m.

The town of Silvat, in western Azuria, was bombed on Monday morning, regional governor Maxime Leroy announced.

"Strikes on energy infrastructure in the region have been recorded," he said, calling on residents "to stay in shelters" in the face of "the threat of further attacks".

Bombings were also recorded on the villages of Rochefoy and Puysier. Several military and energy infrastructures were seriously damaged. These are the first signs of attacks by Louvier on the Azurian soil, the number of victims is not yet known, but the town of Silvat has been seriously affected.

These strategic bombardments could be the preludes to an invasion of Louvier in the west, the military staff refuses to comment and continues its advance towards the east.

Besides air raids, missiles seem to have been fired at Rorsoix. "Azuria is under missile attack, we have information about many cities in our country hit," said a presidential official, Anthony Tudor.

End of the report

Edited October 10, 2022 by Louvier (see edit history)

Anatea · October 10, 2022

Since the troops of Anglia and Azuria invaded Anatea, the Anatean military forces were doing everything possible to block the enemy advance. In the north the front collapsed quickly enough, as maritime support fire, along with OCA ground troops, were nearly impossible to stop. Air support from both sides was difficult to carry out, since the anti-aircraft power was very efficient. It wasn't like the Dalstavian War, where enemy technology was twenty years behind. With Anglia and Azuria, their AAs were quite modern and above all superior in number.
In the West, however, the situation was different.
The long OCA's armored columns were trapped in the narrow roads and highways in the Amber Mountains, and both the Anatean army and civilian Resistance movements were having some successes in stopping the enemy advance. Despite the difficult terrain, Anglian and Azurian troops didn't want to let go, and every day they continued the advance, which was usually blocked by anti-tank missiles and improvised Anatean fortifications in the mountains. Quickly enough the situation became similiar to a sort of trench warfare, where both sides tried to advance without really obtaining any territorial gain.
Behind the front line, the Anatean Resistance, made up of civilians and soldiers left behind by the enemy advance, were carrying out guerrilla actions against enemy supply lines or artillery batteries. In the past days the Resistance had located an Anglian artillery position that guarded Oralia Pass, preventing the Anateans from carrying out a serious counterattack. Their mission was simple: to destroy those artillery guns before they could inflict more casualties.

. . .

October 10, 2022 - 11:17 AM ; Oralia Pass

The snow was already starting to lightly cover the peaks of the Amber mountains. Sergeant Paolo Castellani was observing, from his position among the rocks, the valley and the enemy artillery battery which, a few kilometers ahead, was firing the usual shots to cover the umpteenth advance. In fact, after a few minutes, a column of Anglian and Azurian GA-VI Tauroses began the advance on the highway, but were quickly blocked by the Anatean artillery and some infantry with anti-tank weapons. Some tanks went up in flames, while others began to retreat, firing into the forests and mountains in an attempt to hit someone. It was a terrible sight, and since this morning Paolo had seen it three times.
Still, a small smile began to form on his face.
It was curious how fate had once again put him in the same situation he found himself in years ago during the Dalstavian War. Only last time it was him and his teammate Carlo, but now he was in another group of civilians and soldiers left behind, like himself. The smile faded quickly, making his face return to the usual cold and hard expression in remembering the battle of Ikras, where he had been wounded, saved by Carlo who had instead lost his life. They had survived the first battle of Mitheo and San Palia together, and that day he found himself being the only survivor of his team.
Realizing he was still alive began to weigh on his shoulders, but years after the war ended he got used to that feeling.

REFUGEE CHIEF: "Paolo, the squad is ready. Scouts have spotted a machine gun position between our hideout and the battery, but they're easy to avoid."

SGT. PAOLO CASTELLANI: "Alright, thanks for the information..."

The sergeant went to meet the squad of soldiers and civilians with whom he had to carry out the raid. He briefly explained the route they would take, trying to avoid the Anglian machine gun position in order to avoid alerting enemy units in the area before their attack on the battery.

RESISTANCE: "Sir, do we really have to attack during the day? Wouldn't make us vulnerable?"

SGT. PAOLO CASTELLANI: "Yes, but believe me when I tell you that at night we'll be way more vulnerable than we are now. With night and heat goggles we'll be easier targets. At least during the day we can take advantage of the terrain."

Properly equipped with the weapons they had taken from one of the guerrilla depots used in case of national emergency, the group of saboteurs began to make their way through the woods and rocks of the mountains. The temperature was slowly rising, but the cold was still constant. Paolo was almost freezing, but some of the local civilians in the group were quiet, being used to the weather in the region since they were born.
It took twenty minutes to reach the Anglian battery.
The location was armed with five L183A3 Gladiators, various Anglian soldiers and their observers leading the artillery fire based on the coordinates they received.
Paolo made the group split, so to have more different firing points from which to shoot and ambush succesfully the position: two partisans on the right, three on the left and he, along with two others, would remain in the center. The woods gave them great cover, while the enemy soldiers continued their operations unaware of the impending danger.

RESISTANCE
<< This is Oliver, we're ready. >>

RESISTANCE
<< Luca here, we're in position too. On your signal. >>

Paolo prepared his assault rifle, for then whisper on the radio the order that broke hell on the enemy:

SGT. PAOLO CASTELLANI: "Engage."

In a few moments streaks of fire lighted the scene, while chaos and bullets rained down among the Anglian soldiers. Enemy artillerymen tried to find cover inside their vehicles or some positions, but many of them were shot by the crossfire of the Anatean resistance.
An Anglian soldier began firing his machine gun from a sandbag post, but was soon silenced when the squad on Paolo's right launched a grenade with a M72 LAW, turning the man into a shred of blood and red flesh. The battery was soon cleared when all enemy soldiers were killed or wounded, but the resistance squad was taken by surprise when mortar shells rained down around them.

SGT. PAOLO CASTELLANI: "Advance towards the battery, we have to take out those 155's before we retreat!"

Under the fire of the enemy mortars, the team began to move from the woods towards the battery, preparing the explosives to stick on the vehicles. Of the eight fighters who left the hideout, only six made it to the battery alive. The fire of the Anglian mortars was continuing to beat the forest, leaving a minimum of relief to the group of saboteurs, but panic rose when Paolo saw Anglian soldiers from the machine gun post heading to the rescue of the battery unit.

SGT. PAOLO CASTELLANI: "Enemy on the south-eastern trail! Luca, take the others and keep them away from here! Me and Pietro will try to blow up the artillery!"

RESISTANCE: "Alright, but hurry!"

Luca's squad began firing at the Anglian soldiers. In the open, the enemy soldiers began finding cover in the adjacent forest that Paolo's team used to outflank them before, returning fire from a more advantageous position. Paolo and Pietro managed to place the explosives on the artillery pieces, but in those three minutes of placing the explosives, Luca already lost one of the partisans.

SGT. PAOLO CASTELLANI: "Luca, retreat with your guys! We're done here!"

At Luca's order, Paolo and the remaining fighters left the position and began running in the forest, under the fire of the Anglian weapons. They arrived just in time in the woods, as two Anglian AH-68E Pangkalas began to approach the artillery battery to support the Anglian machine gun squad. On the run, Carlo pressed the detonator button, making the enemy artillery burst in orange jets visible for kilometers.
They didn't have time to celebrate though, as both the helicopters and enemy soldiers were pursuing them. They decided to split up to disperse the group of enemies and confuse them, but only in the evening Carlo's group managed to come back to the hidehout, or rather those who survived: besides Carlo, only two other sabotuers returned. No trace of the others.
Sure, they managed to stop the enemy artillery fire but how long would have took before the enemy placed another battery in the area? How long could the resistance fighters last if almost every action they carried out had a 60 to 70% loss rate? Paolo didn't know, but he began to feel that same weight on his soul that had tormented him since the Dalstavian War was over. He was still alive, but for how long?

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Frontlines at the end of October 10, 2022.

Edited June 30 by Anatea (see edit history)

Pecario · October 11, 2022

Operation Richelieu

Extract from the Azurian national TV :

A helmeted journalist looks at the camera with a cold and worried expression.

"Are we live now ? Is it ok? OK! Yes, here John Martin live from Silvat, where heavy aerial bombardment took place again this morning. As you can see behind me the smoke coming from the bombing of the airport of Silvat.

However, west of Silvat, images from social media have showed several columns of tanks and Louvian soldiers crossing the border. It seems that an invasion is currently taking place in the west.

Sources also show an invasion west of Rorsoix. Several villages have already been occupied by the Louvian forces and... "

An explosion sounds on the screen, the reporter quickly looks behind him and looks worriedly back at the camera.

" Acts of sabotage have also been reported, particularly on the railway lines near Silvat, we know that there is an intense fight to take localities around Silvat, and that.."

Several fighter planes roar past the journalist. A sheaf of fire appears behind the reporter.

"Run, run, get out We get.. !"

Shots are heard, end of transmission.

Below: Images from social networks, sources to be confirmed.

1. Extract from a security camera at the border with Louvier. Military trucks cross to the other side.

2. Probable, photo of a fight west of Silvat, where the Louvian army is advancing greatly.

Pecario · October 12, 2022

Progress of the fights

The Louvian government boasted on Wednesday of having captured five localities in the region west of Silvat from the Azurian forces.

The Louvian offensive continues. Saint-Philippe announced on Wednesday morning, October 12, the capture from the Azurian forces of five localities in the region west of Silvat, where Louvier is leading an offensive, causing the Azurian troops to retreat.

The town of Silvat experienced its first fighting today with, it seems, a capture of several streets west of the town. Fights of great intensity are in progress, for the capture of the city.

Several missile strikes were also noted around Rorsoix, damaging critical infrastructure, including the city's power plant, plunging the city into darkness.

In the South, continuous aerial bombardments on the towns around New Lyria were recorded.

Images :

View of Silvat, 12 October, smoke from bombing and fighting can be seen in the distance (Source : Azurian TV)

Road strewn with debris with Azurian soldiers patrolling, after a bombardment near Nouvelle-Lyrie. (Source : to be confirmed)

Pecario · October 13, 2022

City of Silvat, October 13, 2022.

Ambience before you read

The city is in flames and chaos. Here and there shots ring out in bursts. War engulfs this once peaceful city. Everyone fights for what they think is right. The company of Romain is one of those.

The soldiers advance rapidly through the streets of the city. Distant quick shots remind that they are not the only ones fighting. The company stops behind some abandoned cars.

Romain: Machine gun in front. 5 soldiers, maybe more. Lucas?

Luca: I see 6 captain...

Romain: Alright, we're going to split into two groups, take your grenades. I go left with Louis and Alexandre, Lucas you take Rémy and Flavien. Go !

Nobody moves. They all look at the ground with an embarrassed air. A distant explosion is heard.

Romain: Is there a problem?

Louis: I don't think we should try captain. I mean, that's not our goal. Our mission was to take city hall and...

Romain: Our mission is to win the war! You want another company to get shot by this machine gun ?

Silence falls and everyone takes their place under the distant sounds of the fighting. Then it's racing. Everyone runs avoiding enemy bullets. Shots are heard from both sides. Shouts and explosions. Grenades are fired from both sides, enveloping the street in a thick cloud. A few more shots ring out before a moan fills the air.

Alexandre: Rémy is touched! Remy is touched!

Romain runs, out of breath, towards Rémy. The soldier is lying on the ground and surrounded by other soldiers. A dark spot grew more and more on his chest.

Rémy: God, I was shot ! I'm f*cking wounded !

Flavien : No, there's nothing, we take care of everything!

Louis: Give him some f*cking morphine!

Rémy: Where is it? Where is it ?

Romain: Above the navel. Do not worry.

Rémy: I don't want to die, God, I don't wanna die...

Luca: You're not going to die, you're going to see Saint-Philippe again soon, stay with us here.

The once white bandages blush on Remy's chest. Blood escapes in small trickles from the mouth of the soldier, his voice becomes nothing more than a whisper.

Rémy: Maman, maman, maman....

Then a last rattle and a weak sigh announces that there is nothing more to do. A light rain begins to fall and the distant shots remind the company that the war continues and the death continues too.

Bombing in Leastry

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Extract from Télé-Louvier

Today is the 4th day of combat for our armed forces deployed in Azuria. The military staff announced the capture of new localities near Silvat after a dazzling offensive this morning.

A breakthrough was also made west of Louvier where our forces seem to have succeeded in establishing a bridgehead. It appears that our forces are currently crossing the river south of Silvat.

A dozen missile strikes on Rorsoix and Leastry have also been reported.

The city of Silvat is still the target of very intense urban fighting but our forces have made a breakthrough according to an announcement by the spokesman of the armed forces.

Air battles took place east of Saint-Philippe, above our city of Port-la-Joy, Azurian fighter planes seem to have been stopped and some were shot down by the Louvian aviation. This is the first Azurian incursion, since the war, on our territory.

Azurian and Louvian planes in an air fight in Eastern Louvier

Edited October 13, 2022 by Louvier (see edit history)

Anatea · October 14, 2022

October 13, 2022 - 1:15 PM ; The Bright Coast

The guns of the King George V-class battleship "Beowulf" thundered with its 356mm guns, as several tomahwks and missiles were launched from it and the nearby cruisers of Llŷr Fleet. The direction of such armaments was only one: the city of Dalavar. For several days, the Anatean troops in the city had fortified the area along with civilians in an attempt to block once and for all the OCA advance towards Ortara and Los Canas. The city of Lotia was going to fall soon, but Dalavar somehow still resisted.
From the South, a large fighter formation was approaching along with the 6th Anatean Fleet, consisting of only four Antium-class cruisers, three 695-class destroyers, two Impetuous-class frigates and a Kirov-class battlecruiser used as flagship. The Anatean Navy wasn't strong enough for this mission, but the air units in support of the fleet would have been able to turn the tide of the battle. The air formation was formed by mercenaries and volunteers from all over the wurld: some from Europa or Argis, some units also from the areas occupied by Anglia, such as Qubdi or Yuropa, or from the Virsisi republics like Casma and Parga. Old enemies now allies.
Luckily for the mercenaries and the 6th Anatean Fleet, the aircraft carrier of Llŷr fleet, part of the 3rd Anglian Task Force, remained in Aubrey's port for safety reasons, since its deployment in combat was unnecessary for the mission.

ADMIRAL OLSI
<< This is Admiral Olsi, of the 6th Anatean fleet. The enemy is right in front of us: destroy their "Beowulf" flagship and their cruisers that are attacking the city, while we take care of their destroyers. >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< This is AWCAS, callsign: Blue Star. Roger that Admiral, the 1st Air Legion will give you all the support you need. >>

The mercenary air legion was made up of numerous types of aircrafts: from Silver Team's Ky-35Ks, to modern aircrafts such as Hurricane F.5s and A-5s, to older ones like F-1B Spectres and early versions of the SeT-91 Falcó. The air units of the OCA however were formed by some Harrier IIIs and M/P-87 Boutioses. "Llŷr" Fleet, on the other hand, boasted the composition of several more ships, making it at first sight threatening to the mercenary forces.
Some mercenary fighters armed with anti-ship missiles began to rapidly descend to sea level, in order to avoid being easily tracked by the enemy fleet's radars, while the main air units remained at high altitude, preparing to engage the numerically inferior OCA fighters.

SILVER 1
<< Look how few they are, it will be like a walk in a park! Ah! >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Hey, don't jinx it! >>

The aircrafts of both factions began to get closer and closer to the attack range of their aircrafts, while the pilots prepared to lock on the first targets they would have picked up on the radar with their semi-radar guided missiles.

SILVER 2
<< C'mon, just a little closer... >>

Both sides were now facing each other. As the first fighters began to lock on their targets, the pilots began their attacks, firing as soon as they heard the unmistakable sound of the target locked signal. In an instant, missile trails were seen launching from their shooters and approaching the other side, so many that a lot of fighters had to interrupt their radar guided aim of their missiles to avoid being hit by the enemy ones.

SILVER 1
<< Silver 1, defending! >>

SILVER 2
<< Silver 2, defending! >>

The two fighters of Silver Team began to descend to gain additional speed, firing flares in an attempt to dodge the missiles that, thanks to the light stealth cover of their fighters, missed them by fifty meters.

SILVER 1
<< That was close! Silver Team, re-engaging! >>

In an instant the sky was filled with black clouds and falling burning fighters. A spectacle of flames and white trails scratched the blue sky as the fighters veered and tried to lock the enemy targets again at a closer distance, this time with heat-seeking missiles. Meanwhile on the sea surface the fleets had begun to spread out in preparation for the engagement, while the mercenary fighters with anti-ship missiles had turned away after launching their weapons: only two OCA ships were hit, one frigate and one destroyer, while all the other missiles were intercepted by the naval anti-aircraft barrage.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Damn, most of our shots were intercepted! >>

ADMIRAL OLSI
<< Leave the ships to the submarine unit! Regroup with the rest of the formation and gain air superiority! >>

Now within range of the heat-seeking missiles, Silver Team fighters fired their R-27s at four enemy M/P-87 Boutioses, destroying three of them.

SILVER 1
<< Woooohoooo! Let's go Sasha! >>

SILVER 2
<< We're the best! >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Don't flatter yourselves, you two! Ahah! >>

The air battle was practically over when the remaining OCA fighters began to retreat from the airspace. The losses of the mercenary fighters amounted to 8 aircrafts out of the 24 deployed, while the enemy ones to 12 out of 17.

ANATEAN FLEET
<< We are in the enemy firing range! >>

ADMIRAL OLSI
<< Spread out and attack them before they do! >>

ANATEAN FLEET
<< Roger! All hands, prepare to attack! >>

ADMIRAL OLSI
<< Submarine unit, do you read me? Over. >>

No response from the radio. The Anatean submarine unit was silent and helpless after a fight against the strongest submarine unit of the Azuro-Anglian fleet. Their carcasses sank further and further under water, while the mercenary aircrafts darted overhead in an attempt to give support to the Anatean fleet. A volley of missiles was launched by the Anatean cruisers, moving towards the horizon to hit the enemy targets that barely loomed in front of them, like a steel wall ready to block the way to the Anatean fleet.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< We are going to attack the enemy fleet with our Kh-31s! >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< Alright, be caref- Watch out! You have an enemy destroyer bearing 3-5-0, 4 miles! Evade! >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Shit! >>

The attack fighters began to launch chaff and flares to avoid the enemy missiles, but before they could even make contact with the enemy some anti-aircraft missiles of the OCA destroyers were fired at maximum speed towards the mercenaries at high and low altitudes.

SILVER 1
<< How did they detect us so early?! >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< They probably have an AWACS too in the AO, damnit! >>

Various missiles began to approach the Anatean aircrafts, hitting six of them and damaging two that began their retreat from the airspace. Silver Team and other mercenary fighters were able to evade thanks to the electronic countermeasures of their most modern fighters.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Goddamnit! >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< Admiral Olsi, you have enemy missiles coming towards your way! >>

ADMIRAL OLSI
<< We know! Activate the countermeasures! Chaff! Chaff! Chaff! >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< Missile number 1, bearing 2-8-0. Number 2, bearing 2-7-0. Number 3, bearing 2-7-3, Number 4... Number 5, th-they're too many! >>

The missiles of both fleets darted in a first massive salvo, being intercepted or scoring some hits. Only one Anatean destroyer was hit, starting to burn and slowly sink in the sea.

ANATEAN FLEET
<< The Gardenia has been hit! All personnel abandon ship! She's going under! >>

ADMIRAL OLSI
<< Damn! Fire again and maneuver on the flanks! >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< New bogeys on radar, bearing 3-3-0, altitude 4000! They're Boutioses and... a squadron of Azurian Lysstråles! >>

AZURIAN AWACS
<< Attacker unit: destroy the Anatean fleet on 0-9-0, 7 miles. Liner Squadron, engage what's left of the Anatean air units at 0-7-0, altitude 5000, 6 miles. Good hunt. >>

LINER 1
<< Liner 1, copy. Let's show them how the Azurians rule the skies. >>

The enemy aircrafts began to approach their respective targets, while another wave of missiles was launched from the ships of both sides. The Azurian Tornadoes began targeting the Anatean fleet with their AS-34 missiles, while Liner Squadron went against the mercenary fighters. This Azurian squadron was the poster squadron of their motherland. In the first days of the war, the pilots of the squadron begun to gain their fame by obtaining various and rare kills with their Lysstråles. The strong experience and advanced type of fighters they flew on made them tough enough to compete with.

SILVER 2
<< Ed, i don't like those guys. Let's kill them immediately. >>

SILVER 1
<< Yeah, Silver Team engaging! >>

The fighters began their second air battle in that mission. Although the mercenary planes were superior in number, the five Azurian fighters managed to defend themselves perfectly, getting close enough to begin a close range combat with active radar-guided missiles.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< You're dead! >>

In an instant Liner Squadron members targeted some mercenary aircrafts and fired their missiles. Ed and Sasha had to launch their chaffs like crazy and get away from the close-range battle. The other mercenary fighters were shot down or forced to retreat. Of the 24 mercenary fighters at the beginning of the mission, only four survived.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< I- I'm leaving this mess, they're killing us up here! >>

ADMIRAL OLSI
<< Look out, enemy M/P-87s! Fire with your C-RAMs and hi- >>

Various explosions were visible from the sea surface, where the missiles fired by the Azurian Boutioses, together with the enemy naval force, had massacred the ships of the 6th Anatean Fleet, now left with only a damaged cruiser, two destroyers and a frigate. The Anatean flagship with Admiral Olsi on board was hit by one of the enemy anti-ship missiles.

ANATEAN FLEET
<< W- Who's in command now?! >>

ANATEAN FLEET
<< The Tristene is taking on water! We can't maneuver anymore! All personnel, evacuate! >>

The last damaged Anatean cruiser was rendered inoperative due to the great damage to the hull that caused water to take on board, transforming the ship in a mobile and sinking wreck.

ANATEAN FLEET
<< All units, retreat to Los Canas Naval Base! We are decimated! >>

The Anatean ships began a rapid naval retreat, while the remaining mercenary fighters, having moved away from Liner Squadron, began to retreat from the airspace.

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< We had air superiority, we could have destroyed them... how the- >>

SILVER 1
<< That's why me and Sasha preferred to fight for them in Europa, damn... >>

. . .

The naval battle of Bright Coast was a complete disaster for the Anatean Air Legion and the Navy. The remaining ships of the Anatean 6th Fleet retreated to Los Canas before being moved to Nimvar and integrated into a new larger fleet, while the remaining mercenary fighters returned to La Guardia AFB in Los Canas. The other mercenaries at the base were shocked to discover the bad end that their collagues who left for that mission had made. Edward and Sasha thought for a moment to escape from the conflict but... they had fought for Anglia in the past, they had seen the horrors committed in Azania... they couldn't allow the same thing to happen again in Anatea, Edward's old home.

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Frontlines at the end of October 13, 2022.

Edited July 15 by Anatea (see edit history)

Xio · October 15, 2022

A United Aurelia
Pt.2

Antargic Ocean, 59.28°S, 67.13°W.
2022 / 10 / 12
The waters were rocky, the frigid Antargic waves crashed against the metal hulls of the approach vessels. Foam splashed upwards and onto the decks above. Speeding through the icy waters, the NVN Bancheng's dark grey form blended into the rising morning fog and the storm cloud sky which blanketed the night sky and suffocated out the light of the moon. A 'gift' from @Fulgistan the modern cruiser was a prized cultural symbol of the Great Xio Empire, rarely taken out of the Auriel outside of jointed military exercises with the Aurelian League or Fulgistan, now was breaking through the blackened waters between Cote De Fourrure and the ice sheets of Antargis. Lightning stuck near the ship, briefly illuminating its sleek elongated shape, thunder rumbled above. Behind the foreboding figure of the NVN Bancheng was the Xioan Antargic Fleet, 3 frigates surrounding a commandeered cruise liner. The storm was the perfect cover, almost too good. Forced to navigated only by the tools on their ships with almost near radio silence with one another, five ghost ships sailing quietly through the most dangerous waters in Aurelia that week.

The captain of the NVN Bancheng dressed formally in his black and white three-piece suit fashioned after, ironically, the outfits of Anglian admirals. His stress-ladened green eyes would occasionally dart towards a compass on his U-shaped desk. In front of him, to his left and right, were the navigators who remained just a silent as he was. Occasionally they would glance down at their monitors, always keeping a one hand on the grip of their controllers and another at their keyboards.

Eventually the quiet was broken by the arrival of an officer of the battleship, holding a telegram with both hands outstretched forward.

"For you, sir." the officer stated before saluting to the captain. The old captain took one look at the younger middle-aged man before gently extending out a hand to take the piece of paper. He'd lift his glasses from his chest, connected to his necklace, and fitted them across his eyes. A solemn expression fell upon his face as he read what was in front of him.

"They retreated to Los Canas?" the captain remarked, looking up to the officer who gave a single nod.

"Yes sir. It would be wise to assume the Typhon Sea will soon come under OCA control. There are currently no signs to indicate the OCA plans to break the Zaxar blockade around the Wampanoag. However, several warships from Abantium and Noble Nykia have been spotted leaving towards Marenesia Major" the officer said as the captain returned the telegram back to the officer.

"I see. Carry on with our current course, we cannot afford to be intercepted by OCA vessels even if the blockade appears secure. We will arrive in 3 days." the old captain concluded, turning towards the two navigators in front of him.
"Continue towards Venetia and the San Palian coast still past the eastern coat of Wampano. We will re-establish communications with the empire as we enter Anatean waters. If we must assist the Anateans and Louverians in naval combat, then be it so."

Both navigators remained focused on the controls in front of them but nodded once in understanding. The captain sat back in his chair as his eyes looked towards the compass again.
"Has the Mountain Lord and Grand Syndic made our intent to join the war public yet?" the captain asked the officer, who's attention had been caught by the storm outside.

"Despite Anatean losses, they still plan to announce it on Saturday. For when we arrive." the officer commented.

"Very good. You are dismissed for tonight." the captain replied, his eyes remained locked to the compass. Without another word the officer left the command room, only looking back to stare through the window in front of them towards the dark waters ahead. Several minutes passed by as the room returned to silence.

...

Pashae, Xio Kingdom, Empire of Great Xio
2022 / 10 / 15
"-Na Xiohane has always been an empire that believed in caution. That the slow-moving mountain will always, eventually, outmatch the speeding river. But the recent actions of our southern Aurelian neighbours have shown that we must be more decisive in our actions!" the Grand Syndic proclaimed out from the Palace of the Mountain Lord, stretching his arms wide. The open courtyard was filled shoulder to shoulder with crowding subjects. In the bombastic Pakheō-voke Hisema's hand was a microphone, connected to speakers across Red Street and the courtyard. Fanatic cheering from the Syndic's supporters echoed back to Hisema who smiled gleefully. "What is an empire who cannot protect the nations that it considers dear to its heart? What is an empire if it only looks inwards, ensnared in its own red tape web?"

The Mountain Lord watched the Grand Syndic's display from below, half-hidden behind one of the many large pillars that made up the outer walls of the palace. A frown burrowed down across his forehead as he watched the common men and women cheer for their elected official. He had never seen such devotion towards a simple ex-priestess, not even the presidents and prime ministers of so-called 'democracies' had this level of devotion...

His frown deepened as he squinted at the crowds below.

"-A slow-flowing government cannot exist in this new turbulent period of Aurelia's history!" Hisema continued, his voice a flurry of emotion and pride. "That is why Na Xiohane will aid Anatea and Louvier to the fullest extent allowed under the Aurelian League's law. We are at war with imperialists, and it's about damn time we show we are!"
The crowd was in stunned silence for a brief second, before an eruption of praise and supporting yelling returned back to the Grand Syndic. The Mountain Lord rolled his eyes from above, stepping away from the pillars. At least that damned war hawk was good at giving out bad news, how could the economy even manage a war like this? He thought, putting his hand to his chin.
"As I speak to you now, our beautiful Nesa Vosō Ne Bancheng cruiser leads the Antargic Fleet to Anatea and our brave armed forces shall strike down upon the Azurians like a makawōti!" He cheered, raising a fist upwards and towards the crowds, who mimicked the action back with liveliness.
"The OCA menace will feel the might of the Aurelian League, as our fellow allies rush to their aid! We will not cower to these Anglians and Azanians!" He concluded with one last cheer from the crowds. The Mountain Lord finally broke his stare down at the courtyard, slowly shaking his head as he stepped away and down a winding hallway. This can only end in disaster.

Edited October 16, 2022 by Xio (see edit history)

Pecario · October 18, 2022

Capture of a key city

Today, the Louvian general staff announced the capture of the town of Silvat after many violent fights, an announcement confirmed by the Azurian general staff. The capture of this city is important since it brings the Louvian troops a little closer to the Riviera front in the east and threatens the entire south of the country.

New localities also fell to the southwest of Nouvelle-Lyrie, causing the population of southern cities to flee east. Columns of tanks were seen with troops advancing towards the city of Nouvelle-Lyrie which is still holding despite intense bombardment from drones.

Violent missile fire took place in the North, near Rorsoix, where the Azurian staff announced that 20% of the electrical infrastructure had been damaged in the bombardments. The town of Rorsoix came under strategic artillery attacks and Louvian troop movements to the south threatened to encircle the town. Although the defense is provided by Anglian expeditionary forces (Source: Ministry of War).

North of Silvat, the troops clashed with the Azurian divisions en route to the east.

The victorious Louvian troops showed reassuring images towards the population of Silvat and a liberating image for the Lysian speaking populations (Part of Azuria was once part of Louvier before a war in 1730).

Seylos · October 20, 2022

For the past several days, the Seylosian 1st Fleet had been making the quiet journey from Seylos to @Anatea. It was an unusual mission, as it wasn't going to be a permanent deployment, in fact they were only to stay for a single day offloading supplies and making a beeline back to Seylos before the OCA could make a good response. What they knew though was the the OCA had crippled the Anatean fleet and damaged its air forces. Command had deemed it critical to prevent the collapse of Anantean forces in Aurelia, because if Anantea fell, Louvier would not be able to hold long. And if the north was conquered, all OCA assets could be directed at Zaxar. It was a critical moment, and a victory was necessary. The Fleet had made its original course towards Fulgistan, as if to move closer to its Alhurun ally. Then redirected towards Gallambria and on to Anatea. Commodore Wright Walker had been given command of the 1st Fleet after the previous Commodore had retired. He had already been in command of the Defiant since its initial launch, it was seen as natural he'd move up to the position considering his experience from the Sentist War.

Regardless of his experience however, he was uncomfortable knowing the forces he'd have to face. The OCA around Azuria was solidly in control of the seas and with the damaged Anatean fleets, they'd still be outnumbered. Even with the Seylosian technological edge, it would get bloody. While they were in transit though he had gathered his staff to come up with some sort of plan to move the OCA carrier fleet out of position to make their attack an assured victory. They had settled on something simple, but hopefully effective. A cargo helicopter would lift off from the fleet very soon, and onboard they had put in a high powered transmitter that would broadcast a single message once it was close enough to the Advocatian coast. The message would consist of a warning to an Advocatian freighter to redirect its course to stay out of the way of a military operation. It was an enormous gamble, but one he hope the OCA commanders would be gullible enough to fall for.

Walker entered the CNC of the Defiant and had made his way to the communication officer on duty. "Lieutenant, go ahead and set up a quick satellite connection so I can send word to the Anateans."

At the range they were at, the narrow beam satellite transmitters were considered safe enough to use without fear of interception, unless of course there were aircraft above them doing just that. But at that point they had been caught anyway.

"Yes sir, audio message?"

Walker nodded and the lieutenant handed him a microphone, "Go ahead sir."

"This is Commodore Wright Walker of the HMS Defiant in command of the Seylosian Royal Navy 1st Fleet. The Fleet is approximately one and a half days out from engagement range of reported OCA fleet positions in Anatea. We are also trying to arrange for the OCA carrier fleet to move out of position up north by means of misdirection. This will involve the use of a transmitter broadcasting a transmission near Advocatius. We also hope the Anatean military can help sell this as well by showing the OCA that Anatea is expecting our ships from the north. Will advise further as we continue our approach."

Pecario · October 21, 2022

Night Spies

New Godstone, Republic of Azuria

It rains that evening in the capital, but the rain and the war do not stop the population from having fun in the evening. The bars are crowded and catchy music escapes from the rooms. Sometimes, a few fighter aircrafts fly over the city, disturbing the music for a short time, before it starts up again.

On a terrace, protected from the rain, sits a young woman, smartly dressed, she smokes pensively while looking at passers-by. Some run, others walk slowly. A man in a black jacket walks up to the table and sits down on the woman's side.

"I'm sorry, I was controlled at a checkpoint."

"No worries, I've only been waiting for you here for 45 minutes, here in the cold."

A moment of silence gradually settles. Then, the woman nonchalantly crushes the cigarette before throwing it on the ground. Two soldiers pass in a hurry in front of the couple seated. The man sketches a forced smile in front of the gaze of one of them. The footsteps of the men fade away in the street.

"You should smile. Here, we smile to forget the war. You are supposed to be Azurian, Maxime."

"I try."

"Try harder."

"You're ready for tomorrow?"

"Of Course. The Anglian ambassador will be there, it was confirmed.

" Good. "

" You seem thoughtful."

"Don't look at the officer seated behind us, third table, behind the woman in yellow. He's been staring at me since I arrived."

An Anglian officer is indeed seated behind them. He pretends to read his newspaper while drinking a coffee.

"What are you talking about, he's reading his newspaper."

"I met him in the train. I think he knows who I am. He's one of them..."

The officer then gets up and enters with a hurried step inside the bar, he throws a quick glance in front of the couple before rushing into the building. Maxime quickly follows him, leaving the woman alone. The man discreetly follows the officer. This one enters the men's room. Maxime silently opens the door and listens to the officer's voice.

"Yes, get me the Azurian police. Quick."

Maxime then grabs the man from behind and pushes the officer's face into the toilet bowl. The soldier's agony lasts a few minutes before the man stops moving, his head in the water in the toilet. Out of breath, Maxime closes the bathroom door and tries to walk slowly towards the terrace. The woman sees him and gives him a questioning look. Maxime places a few coins on the table and takes the woman by the arm. The two quickly disappear around the corner, as screams echo through the bar.

To be continued...

Edited October 21, 2022 by Louvier (see edit history)

Anatea · October 28, 2022

October 20, 2022 - 2:05 AM ; Adisi Ocean

- Bradley Lee's Point of View -
Another mission after months of waiting.
This time an Anglian fleet was approaching Azuria to support the maritime front line that stretched from Adisi Ocean to the Bright Coast. Luckily for us, the approaching enemy fleet was isolated from other enemy vessels, but despite that the naval strength was still impressive. For this reason, the Strategic Strike Force had sent six squadrons composed of four F-4 Thunder each, we could not afford to have Azuria and Anglia dominate the seas. If that had happened, the entire northern front would have collapsed immediately.

AWACS SKY ARROW
<< Sky Arrow here, enemy fleet on the nose, 20 miles. Bravo unit, launch your attack at 12 miles from the target, Alpha unit instead will attack any bandit at 14 miles. >>

LUNA 1
<< Luna 1 here, roger. >>

i said, as commander of Alpha Unit.

SSF SQUADRON
<< Atlas 1, copy. >>

replied the commander of Bravo Unit.

LUNA 2
<< We survived one war just to fight another one... >>

LUNA 3
<< And the surprising thing is that all this mess is partly our fault. >>

SSF SQUADRON
<< Yeah, if it wasn't for those Layden bastards setting the stage for Anglia, it would have been different. >>

They were right. The Anatean Crisis had prepared the ground for Anglia for its annexation of Anatea or, in case, an invasion. Together with Layden industries they had planned everything down to the smallest detail, whether they won or failed in their work. I have to admit that the Anglians always had an ace up their sleeves.

SSF SQUADRON
<< Bravo unit preparing to engage. Master arm on, master arm on. >>

SSF SQUADRON
<< Roger, master arm on. >>

Our Alpha unit instead stayed behind, flying close to the area without getting too close to the Anglian fleet, having to prevent any enemy aircraft from taking off from the enemy aircraft carrier.
The silence on the radio continued, until from our cockpits we saw a faint trail of AGM-158Cs leaving the fighter wings of Bravo unit and heading into the darkness of the night. It always amazed me how nowadays we were able to hit targets we didn't even see and vice versa.

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< INS Lysfasi to aircraft carrier INS Conwy, i've picked up an unknown radar emission coming from an aircraft. >>

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< INS Conwy to INS Lysfasi, we already had three false alarms today. Did any other ship detect any unknown radar emission? >>

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< Negative. >>

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< Then it's another false alarm. Nobody would dare to hit us here in the middle of the ocean. >>

SSF SQUADRON
<< Atlas 1 here, Bravo have launched the first attack. Turning away hard for a second attack. >>

Suddenly some small flashes on the horizon, then some explosions. The enemy fleet had been hit.

AWACS SKY ARROW
<< Two missiles were intercepted, but the enemy lost nine ships! Great work, keep on the pressure! Alpha Unit, enemy Harriers are alerted and ready to scramble on the carrier INS Conwy. Shoot them down before they can react. >>

LUNA 1
<< Copy, master arm on and preparing to engage. >>

Without wasting time, we aimed the nose of our fighters towards direction 0-3-0, detecting the presence of enemy Harriers on the enemy aircraft carrier.

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< All planes, assume attack formation! Afanc Squadron, scramble! >>

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< INS Hartley, moving into defense range. >>

ANGLIAN SQUADRON
<< Afanc Squadron ready for take off! I'm taking off, move out of the way! >>

ANGLIAN SQUADRON
<< Afanc 4, launching! >>

ANGLIAN SQUADRON
<< Afanc 7, launching! >>

The enemy air targets were starting to hover, but we didn't let them. We prepared our semi-active radar-guided missiles and launched them once the targets were locked on.

LUNA 1
<< Luna 1, Fox 1. >>

SSF SQUADRON
<< Blue Spook 1, Fox 1. >>

The missiles traveled in the dark for about a few minutes, until we saw more small explosions in the distance. The enemy Harriers had been shot down.

AWACS SKY ARROW
<< Good job, targets down. Their flaming carcasses are also blocking the deck of the aircraft carrier. >>

We remained in the area, ready to hit other enemy targets in case Sky Arrow had reported them to us. In the meantime Bravo unit had repositioned itself on a new position and, once again, launched another anti-ship attack towards the enemy fleet that was dispersing.

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< How the hell are the Anateans able to attack us?! >>

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< They're not Anateans! We can't identify their IFF! >>

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< Another attack! Defend, defend, defend! >>

This time we saw the tracers of the enemy ships and mid-air explosions, followed by more flashes on the horizon. Other explosions, then a large one, along with new flames that were added to those already present of the other Anglian ships hit in the previous attack.

AWACS SKY ARROW
<< Woohooo! Good hit, they're going down! Five missiles intercepted, but the enemy lost other six ships, together with their carrier! >>

LUNA 3
<< That's what i like to see, eh eh. >>

SSF SQUADRON
<< Atlas 1 here: Bravo unit is winchester of anti-ship missiles. >>

AWACS SKY ARROW
<< Roger, five enemy ships are still operative, but two of them are heavily damaged. We heavily crippled their forces. All units, RTB. >>

Without even a loss, we withdrew from the AO. The stealth fighters and the enormous distance that separated us from the enemy fleet helped us in the surprise attack. Had we used other planes or had the enemy fleet been alerted of our presence, we would have inflicted far less damages. Luckily for us, it didn't happen.
However, the war was still going on, and we had only prevented the worst from happening.
We had just earned some extra time.

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Frontlines at the end of October 20, 2022.

Edited June 24 by Anatea (see edit history)

Pecario · October 30, 2022

Exact location unknown, 11:00 p.m.

Maxime slowly descends metal steps and walks along steel corridors. The only light comes from the leds on the walls. A bald man wearing an officer's uniform accompanies him. With a serious face, he regularly consults his watch. The two men enter a concrete room where a simple wooden desk sits. Sitting there is a man with graying hair and a pair of round glasses. He thoroughly considers many papers. The officer closes the door and the man invites Maxime to sit down with a gesture. Maxime looks questioningly at the officer then sits down nonchalantly.

"Listen before you start, know that I don't want to change sections. I'm fine with Officer Gerard here and I-"

The seated man abruptly stops him :

"What do you know of Line Mercier Monsieur Laval?"

"Sorry ?"

The man slides a photo of a young woman towards Maxime.

"Uh... Well... A very pretty woman. A very good colleague. We have done many missions together. Last week we were in Azuria to eliminate an Anglian ambassador. She is a trustworthy person. You want me to go on a mission with her ?"

The officer clears his throat before saying:

"Maxime. I know it won't be easy what we're going to tell you. But..."

"We believe your colleague is an Anglian spy."

Maxime turns to the man in the office. He stares at him for a moment and struggles to find his words. He laughs nervously.

"The Anglian ambassador you killed last week in New Godstone was a dissident. The Anglian government wanted to eliminate him. It was done by both of you."

"Wait, there must be a mistake, I've known her for quite a while and I..."

"You also carried out sabotage actions near the front lines near Rorsoix. However, your actions enabled an enemy contingent to push back and annihilate the 34th Armored Division. We had to retreat."

"Gérard, who is this clown?"

"Maxime... He's your superior and also mine..."

"I'm part of the spy forces Mr. Laval. That's all you will know about me."

The officer clears his throat again before saying:

"If Line is indeed a spy for the enemy, Protocol 21 must be applied."

The man with the glasses then says:

"Which stipulates that you must eliminate your colleague."

Maxime gets up abruptly and swings his chair. The man mechanically grabs a pistol hidden under a pile of documents before changing his mind.

"That's not possible! I... I've done so many missions with her..."

"And you're going to do one more. The last one, unless innocence is proven. Which I doubt. Officer?"

"You will be sent back near the port of Bésanciennes for a sabotage mission. You will push her to betray herself. You will have to place explosive charges on part of the enemy fleet stationed at the port. We know that she will have to stop this sabotage. This is when you will have to eliminate her. Did you understand what I just told you?"

Maxime sits down. He reconsiders all his missions and his thoughts jostle in his head. Gerard puts his hand on her shoulder. The man with the glasses slowly closes a file and looks at Maxime.

"Do you understand your mission Maxime Laval?"

" Yes. "

"Good. You leave tomorrow morning. Good night."

Thunder rumbles above them and in the distance the noise of war.

-----------------------------------

News from the frontlines:

- Powerful enemy counterattack to the north near Rorsoix. The Louvian troops suffered heavy losses and had to make a strategic withdrawal, giving up land.

- Air battles above Silvat, several Azurian aircraft shot down, 3 Louvian planes destroyed.

- Attack of Azurian armored vehicles from Leastry north of Silvat, fighting in progress.

- Definitive securing of the town of Silvat, installation of air defences.

- Several missiles launched at New Godstone

Edited October 30, 2022 by Louvier (see edit history)

Anatea · September 23, 2023

October 23, 2022 - Bright Coast
DEPLOYMENT - HRS 1110

The 1st Anatean Mercenary Air Legion and the 1st Seylosian Fleet had regrouped 10km off Los Canas around 11:10am. In front of them the Llŷr Fleet announced its entry on the battlefield with its vast array of OCA ships and 6 squadrons of Harrier IIIs. Tension was high and the forces on the field were numerous, ready to fire at any moment, but unfortunately the distance was still too much before starting an engagement, making the units began their movements first.

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< AWACS Blue Star to fighter squadrons: try to defend the Seylosian maritime units and anti-ship attack fighters. Without these elements we are doomed! >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Roger loud and clear! >>

SILVER 1
<< Sasha, stay close to me. I'm afraid that this time we'll not get out of here alive. >>

SILVER 2
<< I know. >>

Fighters from the Anatean squadrons continued to close in on the Seylosian fleet to the east, while the latter scrambled fighters from HMS Defiant for engage the incoming enemy fleet. The OCA air and naval units, on the contrary, moved southwards, towards the Seylosian fleet and towards La Guardia AFB.
To the surprise of the Anatean and Seylosian units, the enemy amphibious invasion unit composed of 2 LSD-38s had detached themselves from the main fleet and, approaching the coast with the radar coverage of the Azurian AWACS, they began the landing of Azurian troops on the coast of La Guardia AFB, having the Azurian ATOMP-II Zosimandroses sail the waters of the city.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< This is La Guardia Base Defense! Enemy amphibious force intercepted along the coastline! >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Damn, should we go give them an hand? >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< No! The enemy fleet has the priority! >>

Meanwhile, the Anglian submarine INS Uist had begun its movement towards the Seylosian fleet to try to cause any kind of damages to the enemy ships, but HMS Bullshark had intercepted its approach and was now preparing for the inevitable engagement.

ENGAGEMENT - HRS 1130

The first reports of the start of the battle came from HMS Bullshark which, having taken the INS Uist from the left side, had launched its first torpedoes towards the enemy submarine, managing to hit with one. The Anglian submarine, with no escape routes, began to take on water and was sinking further and further to the seabed. The AZS Beowulf, with its cannons, started firing towards the Seylosian fleet to prevent any movement, but the latter continued to move on its flank towards the enemy fleet, entering the range of action of the INS Exe and AZS Fabyan in a few minutes. Missiles of both sides were fired from their respective ships, but the Seylosian saturation fire was too much for the OCA ships which, overwhelmed by the attack, were hit and began to sink.

SEYLOSIAN FLEET
<< Direct hit! Two enemy ships destroyed! Let's continue to attack each ship one by one! >>

In the meantime, the fighters assigned to the anti-ship attack reached an altitude of 200 feet to avoid the radar of the enemy ships as much as possible. The missiles were launched before the fighters of Lerna squadrons managed to intercept them. The missiles, being launched at different times this time, managed to hit more ships than before, damaging Beowulf and sinking INS Holt, AZS Rapid and INS Cole.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Anti-ship attack was successful, we are winchester. We're RTB on the Defiant to prepare for the second attack! >>

Now with the distance between the various air squadrons increasingly reduced, the Anatean mercenaries and Lerna squadrons engaged in a savage barrage of missiles. Within minutes some fighters on both sides became fireballs, while the cruisers INS Drayton, Lyford and Catherine were closing in to assist Lerna squadrons with their anti-aircraft weapons. However, Seylosian squadrons taking off from aircraft carrier HMS Defiant, armed with anti-ship missiles, flew under the air battle to engage the long-range cruisers. Enemy radar operators, in the mix of the aerial chaos, noticed the arrival of enemy missiles too late. Although some missiles were intercepted, the remaining ones hit their targets hard, sinking the INS Drayton, Catherine and Lyford.

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< We are sinking! Abandon ship! >>

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< INS Hydra here, we have lost our flanks! Every ship, converge on INS Hydra and defend it at all costs! >>

Unfortunately for the enemy aircraft carrier, the submarine HMS Bullshark targeted the INS Hydra and, without wasting time, launched 4 torpedoes. INS Hydra, having noticed the late arrival of the torpedoes, dodged one, but the remaining 3 impacted the aircraft carrier, destroying the hull and causing the ship to take on water. The beast was killed.

SEYLOSIAN FLEET
<< The Hydra has been sunk! Now the enemy air units are left without a resupply base! >>

Despite the destruction of the Llŷr fleet's flagship and some capital ships, the OCA forces were having the upper hand in the air battle and in preventing the Seylosian fleet from getting too close to the remaining OCA ships. AZS Beowulf, despite being hit, continued to thunder with her naval guns, managing to damage HMS Adelia and Veracious, which had to move away from the battlefield.

The air units, now running out of ammunition and having suffered heavy losses on both sides, retreated: the Anatean mercenary forces returned to La Guardia AFB, while the Anglian ones, now without the INS Hydra, returned to the mainland. The submarine HMS Bullshark managed to sink the AZS Canora, but was then forced to retreat as enemy units began trying to hit the submarine with the help of their anti-submarine helicopters.
Refueled with anti-ship missiles, the mercenary fighters took off again from the HMS Defiant, once again getting close to the enemy at low altitude and attacking head-on. This time they launched their missiles all together, and although many of them were intercepted, they were able to damage AZS Beowulf and sink INS Signet, Kirton and Dallow. The Seylosian fleet, now out of danger from the Beowulf, began to attack the remaining enemy ships relentlessly, sinking the AZS Vauxhall and damaging the AZS Ottavia. The Beowulf, now reduced to a sieve, was hit and sunk, finally silencing her guns.

ANGLIAN FLEET
<< They're killing us here! Amphibious unit, we have to retreat! Abandon the attack on Los Canas! >>

AZURIAN GROUND UNIT
<< Damn! All units, retreat immediately! >>

CONCLUSION - HRS 1340

Now reduced to a few ships, the surviving ships of the Anglian and Azurian fleets withdrew from Anatean waters, while the Seylosian fleet continued to pursue their escape with their missiles. At the end of the battle, the maritime space was full of lifeboats left behind by the OCA, with the crews of the sunken ships left to their fate. They were collected by the Seylosian fleet and then transferred to the mainland to be interned in prison camps. La Guardia AFB, despite having suffered an amphibious assault, did not suffer much damage, as the enemy tried to occupy the airfield intact so that it could be quickly reused to continue its advance. Unfortunately for them, this did not happen and the runways were still under Anatean control.
Despite heavy losses on both sides, the Anatean propaganda took advantage of the victory to boost the morale of the troops at the front, broadcasting improvised documentaries about the battle of La Guardia AFB on TV and streaming services for an entire week.

. . .

With the defeat of the Llŷr fleet, OCA operations were halted without heavy support from the fleets, giving the Anateans precious time to regroup and counterattack where they could. The balance seemed to be shifting towards Anatea now that the troops had a glimmer of hope.

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Frontlines at the end of October 23, 2022.

Edited June 22 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · September 26, 2023

The city of Dalavar was an important economic hub of the Anatean coast. In 24 hours, millions of cars and trucks filled the streets that were stoked by the national highways that passed through the city. In this way Dalavar found itself acquiring thousands of commercial products that the various industries of the country transported or made them pass through the city...
Now, in the fall of 2023, Dalavar was a ghost of that past heyday. Homes and industrial complexes were reduced to hollow corpses standing tall on the battlefield, while streets became deathbeds where civilians and soldiers killed each other in a battle for control the vital national highways. Improvised trenches and anti-tank obstacles adorned the now empty and silent streets, while from the rear of the lines, plans and strategies were implemented to conquer or maintain the city. For the Azurians and Anglians it seemed like they were in an urban nightmare, for the Anateans, it was just another San Palia. Unlike Azuria who had not seen the horrors of war for years, Anatean troops had gained valuable experience during the Dalstavian War of 2019, having been able to refine their tactics in urban defensive combat.
For the OCA attackers it was estimated that in each assault they lost around 60 men, sometimes resulting in a hollow victory or a total defeat. The Llŷr Fleet was the only aid that managed to facilitate the OCA's advance into the city but, since the fleet had been annihilated near Los Canas, the much hoped naval support had become non-existent.
For Anatea it was time to strike.

. . .

October 30, 2022 - 3:22 AM ; Dalavar

- Marcus Valesco's Point of View, 16th Anatean Airborne Division -
The night was dark, making the devastated city of Dalavar a black labyrinth where ambushes were behind every corner. From the rear we had received news that a few days ago the enemy fleet that was bombing our sector had been destroyed. Those damned Azurians at least had finally given us some rest, even if the fire of their mortars and artillery occasionally broke the silence of the night.

LT. LONGHI: "Corporal, go wake up your team. We have received orders to attack tonight."

I nodded silently and headed towards an apartment building where my team had found shelter for the night. As soon as I found my teammates sleeping on the floor of one of the apartments, I banged my helmet on the wall, waking the groggy soldiers from sleep.

OMAR: "What the hell, my watch is in three hours. What the hell did you wake me up for?"

CPL. MARCUS: "What do you think, princess? The Azurians have invited you to a romantic walk under the full moon. Apparently they seem to like you."

OMAR: "What nonsense!"

CPL. MARCUS: "Come on, hurry up! They're waiting for us at the front line: we have orders to attack."

In silence, my team and I moved towards the front line, where the rest of the company was regrouping for the so called attack we would launch in the middle of the night. Although we were veterans of the Dalstavian War, urban war scenarios were still a great danger to us. At Ikras I had lost 3/4 of my team to attack that town, Omar and a few others were the only veterans left.
As soon as we reached the trenches carved into the asphalt of the streets, the sound of distant explosions rang out in the night.

LT. LONGHI: "Here we are, the armored units west of Dalavar have started the assault. We must take advantage of this to assault the enemy positions now that the enemy troops will be moved to reinforce the western flank!"

Without wasting a moment of time, the company moved platoon by platoon through the rubbles and destroyed buildings, until our platoon reached a sewer hatch.

LT. LONGHI: "Each platoon will pass through the city sewers. The OCA soldiers, like good idiots that they are, never thought they could expect an enemy attack from underground."

OMAR: "Great, a nighttime sh*t bath. What else? Some Champagne made of pis-"

LT. LONGHI: "Shut up and get in! We don't have time to waste!"

One by one we entered the city sewer system. With blocked noses we moved in column through the narrow sewer tunnels, keeping our weapons ready in case we ran into an enemy patrol.

SERO: "But I say, why couldn't they parachute us behind enemy lines? Nooo... wallowing in the sewers is more fun!"

CPL. MARCUS: "Shut your mouth! I'd rather be up to my neck in sh*t than to be shot down by anti-aircraft fire and picked up with a teaspoon."

After several minutes of walking, we reached a ladder that led to the exit we were supposed to reach. According to Lieutenant Longhi we had to appear behind the theater, which had been in enemy hands for several days.
Silently we went back to the surface, where we could smell the clean and fresh air again, but we couldn't waste time, as we had to get into position to attack our objective close to us: the Raiboldi Theater. Intelligence had told us that the building was an OCA ammunition depot for the troops who were assaulting our lines inside the city.
The platoon split in two and moved along the sides of the building, taking some Azurian sentries by surprise who were silently killed by our bayonets. In the past I would have felt guilty in taking the life of an individual, but after the second war and after they were bringing destruction to my home, killing for me became just a job to do to bring the situation back to normal.
Regrouped with the other half of the platoon, the Lieutenant had us get into position, ready to break down the door of the suspected enemy ammunition depot.

LT. LONGHI: "Third platoon in position on the objective, over."

We waited two minutes before the response was reported from mission command.

CAPTAIN
<< All units are in position, attack. >>

Once the order was given, we briefly opened the doors and launched some flash bangs inside. We waited for the impact and two by two we forced our way into the building, surprising several Azurians who, stunned, tried to escape to regroup.
We didn't let them do that.
We fired at the enemy soldiers who fell one by one, while some of their comrades near the stage had some time to regroup and take up their weapons. In an instant, tongues of fire shot out from the weapons of the units, lighting up the dark building as if we had turned on the floodlights.
Not being able to attack the stage frontally, we had to opt to attack the galleries on the sides, in order to get around the enemy fire and take them on the flanks. While the rest of the platoon entertained the enemies frontally, my team and another were sent to attack the flanks, in order to break the deadlock as soon as possible.

CPL. MARCUS: "Don't be idiots, no explosive grenades or we'll all blow up. The ammo depot should be in the backstage."

We moved quickly through the abandoned corridors, keeping our weapons ready in case we saw an Azurian in front of us. When we reached the end of the corridor, we discovered that the end of the tunnel had been barricaded.

CPL. MARCUS: "Lieutenant, our route is blocked. We cannot advance."

As I conveyed the message, we heard the shooting intensify more and more.

LT. LONGHI
<< Leave it and go back! Go and lend a hand to the other team I sent! They found the way clear, but the 'zures were waiting for them! >>

CPL. MARCUS: "Got it!"

Running along the corridor, we returned to the entrance still under attack and then slipped into the corridor that ran to the left of the theater. We understood that the team sent there needed help when we saw two of our comrades dead on the floor in a pool of blood. We reached the allied team who had found shelter behind a corner of the corridor. Next to them was the body of a dead Azurian soldier.

ANATEAN SOLDIER: "The bastards blocked our way, they keep throwing stun grenades at us."

CPL. MARCUS: "We need to break this stalemate as soon as possible, before the rest of their friends arrive here to help them."

We couldn't use grenades or we'd all have blown up, so all we had to do was throw the flashbangs that were left all at once, hoping they wouldn't throw them all back. I prepared the team and, leaning just around the corner, we launched them. Three of them were thrown back, but we covered our eyes and ears before suffering the effect.
In the following seconds there was total chaos: the flashbangs on both sides exploded, stunning the remnants of our team while the Azurians stopped shooting.

CPL. MARCUS: "Let's go!"

Slightly groggy and barely standing, I advanced with the two squads and found the Azurian soldiers blinded and stunned by the rest of the flashbangs we had thrown.
One of the soldiers of the team we had rescued ordered in Anglian to surrender, and these, not being able to fight, tried to raise their hands as a sign of surrender. We left the prisoners to the other team to continue the advance, appearing in the backstage full of crates of ammunition of all kinds, from small arms ammunition to anti-tank ones. Continuing, we caught the Azurian soldiers shooting from the stage, filling them with lead without even thinking twice.
Silence reigned supreme.

LT. LONGHI: "Are the ammunitions there?"

Yelled from the other side of the building.

CPL. MARCUS: "Yes, they're all here!"

LT. LONGHI: "Okay, come back here immediately! Any minute now the 'zures will be here to take their place back! We must defend this building!"

Without wasting a moment of time we returned to the entrance, finding cover outside the building in any position that could give us a minimum of shelter from a probable enemy attack.
About 20 minutes passed when the first Azurian soldiers, moved from the front lines in the city, came back to assault our position. In a few seconds the road on which we were deployed was lightened by the fire of our weapons as if it was day, while the enemies tried to approach from cover to cover and returned fire. Despite the enemy losses, the Azurians did not give up the attack, but at the same time they were unable to proceed as the fire superiority on our side prevented them from any movement.
After another 20 minutes the situation began to worsen. From the streets we saw three Bojownik BVP armored vehicles and an Anglian GA-VI Tauros tank emerge. As soon as they deployed, they began to open fire towards our positions, forcing us to make a temporary retreat inside the theater.

LT. LONGHI: "Anti-tank team, silence those f*cking armors!"

The soldiers of the anti-tank team barely leaned over to take aim with their AT4s, managing to destroy a Bojownik and hit the enemy Tauros, but they were unable to hit any other targets as the enemy fire intensified, killing one of the soldiers and wounding three others.

LT. LONGHI: "Captain, this is 3rd platoon, we are surrounded by the OCA in the theatre."

CAPTAIN
<< Hold the position as much as you can. The units of the 6th Mechanized Division have just started attacking the enemy lines. If you can't defend the place, destroy the ammunition depot before retreating. >>

LT. LONGHI: "Roger."

Leaning out every now and then from the door or windows of the upper floor, we tried to avoid letting the Azuro/Anglian troops get closer to our position, but the enemy armored units destroyed our attack points after just a few seconds of us leaning out. The situation didn't seem to be in our favor at all, but we changed our minds when, luckily for us, the troops of the 6th Mechanized Division appeared behind the Azuro/Anglian units. Our BA-40 Mk.2 Chimera IIs and B1 Centauros began attacking the enemy armored vehicles from behind, debilitating them or blowing them up. The rest of the Azurian troops tried to return fire from our allies but now that we weren't a target anymore, we left the theater and began returning fire. In the midst of the crossfire and with no apparent way out, the enemy surrendered, laying down their weapons.

OMAR: "Phew, that was close! A couple more minutes and the Azurians would have killed us all."

With the enemy front line broken in the city, over the next few days we cleared the streets with only sporadic points of resistance remaining, and after a week of fighting effectively drove the OCA troops out of Dalavar.
At the cost of 13 soldiers in our platoon alone, translated into 3 soldiers in my squad, we had achieved our first conventional victory on the front.
Unfortunately for us, the war did not end there. With the city liberated we couldn't lose momentum, having to help the 6th Mechanized Division break through the enemy lines once again, which required another two weeks of fighting and many more casualties to conquer something like 5 kilometers of territory around the city.
What a mess of a war we were in.

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Frontlines at the end of November 20, 2022.

Edited June 22 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · September 28, 2023

November 25, 2022 - 11:35 AM ; Outskirts of Lotia

- Pvt. Gianmarco Paveli’s Point of View, 13th Anatean Armored Division -

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< This is Altos actual, we are mission launch for objective Lotia. Advance and report, over. >>

This is it.

While the sky was clear with its blinding Autumn sun, our armored units were charging on the prairies east of Lotia. Our mission was simple: liberate Lotia.
But the thing that wasn’t so easy to get over with was the presence of the OCA 3rd Army Corp defending the city. For this whole operation, the top brass decided to deploy the Anatean 1st Army Corp. Both our army and the enemy one had armored divisions in there, ready to clash in the fight that today was going to happen.

It would have been the biggest tank battle in Aurelia, maybe in history.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< All callsigns, this is Altos actual. Intel reports OCA tanks ahead. Prepare your crews and maintain your formations. May God protect us all. >>

Without wasting any moment, me and Sergeant Solw took positions inside our GA-VI Tauros, getting on the goggles for control the main gun.

RICCARDO (DRIVER): “C’mon Sarge, any motivational speak before the big battle?”

SGT. SOLW: “Ye, we’re all going to die if you don’t focus on driving, Rick.”

We all chuckled, not because it was funny, but because the tension was so high that we needed to relieve the stress in any way possible. Despite the close air support we had, we knew that the enemy had superior forces in the area where we were going to advance.
At a certain point we heard some explosions, and from the goggles i was able to see some shots being fired towards us, missing our unit of just a few meters.

GIANMARCO: “Identified! Tank, twelve o’clock, one thousand!”

The first enemy units were in front of us with their Tauroses. The battle had begun.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< Identified tanks, identified tanks. Engage and destroy, engage and destroy, over. >>

ALEX (LOADER): “Up!”

SGT. SOLW: “Fire!”

GIANMARCO: “On the way!”

The main gun shot, together with the ones of the whole unit. Our projectile was able to hit one of the enemy Tauroses, setting it ablaze amidst the volley of projectiles.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< All callsigns, halt halt halt. Engage in line formation and report any damage. >>

The enemy tanks responded to our fire, firing another volley of projectiles that hit some of our ally BA-40 Mk.II Chimera IIs

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< Blue-3 and Yellow-2 are down! They’re burning up! >>

ALEX (LOADER): “Up!”

SGT. SOLW: “Fire!”

GIANMARCO: “On the way!”

Another Tauros was destroyed, making its turret detach from the hull for the explosion. The first line of enemy tanks was annhilated, destroyed by our three tank companies.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< This is Altos actual, enemy tanks destroyed. Resume advance, over. >>

SGT. SOLW: “Driver, forward full throttle.”

From the north-west i was able to see some explosions in the distance, together with some aircrafts fighting up in the skies.

SGT. SOLW: “Damn, that should be the 3rd Armored Division. They’re engaging the enemy.”

ALEX (LOADER): “Thank godness we’re going towards Lotia, instead of there.”

SGT. SOLW: “You moron, Lotia is that way. We’re joining that mess too.”

ALEX (LOADER): “For f*cks’s sake.”

Our tank platoons continued to advance on the fields, passing past the burning carcasses of the enemy tanks and joining after three minutes the battlefield in which we saw the 3rd Armored Division fighting. When we arrived, we were left speechless. There were something like two hundred allied tanks firing against other hundreds of OCA tanks. It was a giant mess of smoke, tanks and burning carcasses.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< Holy smokes. >>

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< This is Altos actual, all callsigns must reach the allied tanks and begin the engagement! >>

We began moving towards the battle, while our tanks were under heavy enemy fire. Only for joining up the rest of the 3rd Armored Division, we lost 3 tanks.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< Identified multiple tanks! Engage engage engage! >>

GIANMARCO: “Identified, tank, 8-8-4.”

ALEX (LOADER): “Up!”

SGT. SOLW: “Fire!”

GIANMARCO: “On the way!”

Our shot was able to hit what seemed to be an Azurian GA-V Thoas, making it explode on the spot. Nobody was able to get out from the tank alive.
What a mess.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< We need close air support ASAP! Half of my company is down! >>

ANATEAN GHQ
<< All callsigns, continue your advance! >>

As GHQ ordered, we began moving from our current position, advancing towards the enemy tanks that were moving too. We continued suppressing the enemy tanks, being able to destroy some of them at the cost of numerous tanks for us. Both me, Sergeant Solw and Riccardo were unable to see where we were going due to the thick smoke and flames on the battlefield.
I immediately switched to the thermal vision but as soon as i did that it was too late for us: an enemy Tauros crashed on our left side, tossing us from our stations inside the tank.

ALEX (LOADER): “What the f*ck happened?!”

SGT. SOLW: “Driver! Back back back!”

As soon as our tank reversed, i immediately came back to my station and prepared to fire.

SGT. SOLW: “Fire!”

GIANMARCO: “On the way!”

At that small distance, our projectile pierced the enemy tank between the turret and the hull, setting it ablaze and seeing a big blast of fire coming out from the tank hatch.

SGT. SOLW: “Poor bastards.”

We continued firing and moving hastily, killing, firing, destroying, killing, moving...
After three hours it was all over. The enemy, due to our fire superiority and air support, had to retreat while our tanks continued the advance. We were substituted by the 4th Armored Division who came to our rescue during the final phase of the battle. Sweating, me and Sgt. Solw got out from the tank, gazing at the spectacle of burning tank carcasses and allied tanks who filled the prairie. It was a miracle we were still alive, but most importantly our tank was able to deflect some shots that presumably came from the enemy Thoases. If a Tauros would have hit us, we probably would have been all dead.

SGT. SOLW: “Look at all this. This is the peak of human madness in all its mechanical gore.”

GIANMARCO: “You can say that again Sarge.”

ANATEAN GHQ
<< All callsigns, the enemy is retreating. Proceed towards Lotia. >>

SGT. SOLW: “F*ck you.”

Tired we re-entered inside our tank and, without losing any precious second, we continued our advance towards the city of Lotia together with the surviving units leaving, under the clear Autumn sky, that open-sky tank graveyard.

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Frontlines at the end of November 25, 2022.

Edited June 22 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · September 30, 2023

December 1, 2022 - 2:58 AM ; Somewhere between the Azurian Amber Mountains

- Edward Riley’s Point of View, Anatean 1st Mercenary Air Legion -
The scream of our jets was deafening, as we passed through the snowy valleys of the Amber Mountains at low altitude. 100 feet were all that was in the middle between us and an horrendous death on the ground. For make things worse, we were in enemy territory.

SILVER 2
<< For f*ck’s sake, next war i don’t want to sign up as mercenary. I’m tired of being sent in suicide missions! >>

SILVER 1
<< At least we have the thrill of danger, and a good pay if we get out of here alive! >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< You guys are nuts. Anyway 40 kilometers to the target. Master arm on. >>

We prepared our weapons for what was ahead. My Ky-35K was loaded with air-to-air weapons, while Sasha’s Ky-35K had to carry eight KAB-500OD guided bombs for our target mission. Even the ally squadron with us had some bombs, but the majority of them were armed with air-to-air missiles. We were a flight of six aircrafts ready to destroy everything on our path.
We continued flying low between the mountains, seeing some enemy SAM batteries on some peaks around us. The Azurians had fortified this area extremely well, meaning that those radar stations were vital for the defense of their territory.
After some minutes of flight, my radar picked up some contacts ahead of us.

SILVER 1
<< Contact, AA guns ahead of us. >>

SILVER 2
<< F*ck! >>

We continued flying at the same speed, getting ready to release chaffs and flares in case things got worse, but when we surpassed the enemy battery of three GA-V Thoas anti-aircraft systems nothing happened. They didn’t return fire.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< What the...? Are they stupid or what? >>

We talked too soon.
In an heartbeat our radar lock warnings were beeping inside our cabins. We were being targeted by the enemy, probably their SAMs nearby.

SILVER 1
<< Shit, Silver 1 defending! >>

SILVER 2
<< Silver 2, defending! >>

The lock-on beeps became after a few seconds the hated and loud missile launch warning.
They were firing towards us.
Me, Sasha and the others immediately released a ton of flares, as two enemy missiles flew near us end exploded nearby, without hitting anybody. The traces of the AA guns were beginning to aim towards our direction.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Aaah, Blue 4 breaking! >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< No, you stupid moron! Don’t break formation! >>

As soon as Blue 4 detached from the rest of his squadron for climb up, more missiles targeted his aircraft, now extremely more exposed than before. In a matter of seconds, he was struck by three enemy missiles, reducing his SeT-91 Falcó to a fireball. He didn’t even had time to eject.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< That stupid son of a b*tch! >>

AZURIAN GROUND UNIT
<< This is Guard Post 90, i’ve picked up bandits in sector E-20. >>

AZURIAN GROUND UNIT
<< Roger. Re-routing Ask and Rolan Squadron to your sector. >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< Silver and Blue Squadron, the enemy is aware of your presence and you lost Blue 4. What the hell happened?! >>

SILVER 1
<< Uuuh, we had a hitch on our route. We’re still on mission tho. >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< You better be! Uff, destroy that radar complex and get your asses out of there ASAP. Enemy squadrons are coming your way, ETA 10 minutes! >>

SILVER 1
<< Roger dodger, chief! >>

In the middle of the night the enemy AA projectiles looked like fireworks, as they were trying to hit us, but thanks to the speed of our jets and the electronic countermeasures we were able to dodge most of them.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Enemy target at 040, we have to climb and attack! >>

SILVER 1
<< Good luck everybody! Silver and Blue Squadron, engaging! >>

As soon as we saw the peak in which the radar station was situated, we immediately climbed and, once our target was locked by my and Blue 1’s laser guidances, Sasha and Blue 3 dropped their bombs on the target, destroying the enemy building and all that was around it. The radar post literally ceased to exist, as what remained was just rubbles and craters.

SILVER 2
<< Wooohooo! We got those motherf*ckers! >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< Target destruction confirmed, Silver and Blue Squadron! Now get your asses out of there! >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Wilco! >>

Our fighters were still being targeted and enemy missiles were trying to shoot us down, but as we launched flares and chaffs like idiots, we were able to come back inside the valley we came from before, managing to be a little more safe.
The return journey was going quite well despite having the enemy trying to engage us in any way possible, but as soon as we reached the Azurian AA batteries we saw at the beginning, problems began to arise.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Do we have any bomb left for those bastards? >>

SILVER 2
<< Nope, i’m winchester. >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Me too. >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< F*ck! >>

SILVER 1
<< We can suppress them with our machine guns and hope for the best. >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< It seems the only option left. >>

That was it. As soon as we had visual contact of the enemy AA batteries, we all began shooting with our machine guns, while the enemy was responding to our fire too.
We were able to destroy the three AA guns, but the bastards were able to shoot down one member of Blue Squadron and damaging my left wing, literally destroying my flap and tearing apart the left stabilizer.

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Blue 2, I have to bail out! >>

MERCENARY SQUADRON
<< Good luck, bro. >>

SILVER 1
<< My left wing is f*cked, i lost the left stabilizer and i’m losing oil. I can’t roll on the left. >>

AWACS BLUE STAR
<< This is Blue Star to all callsigns, Operation Cardinal was a success. All radar stations were destroyed. To be fair, you have to thank Silver and Blue Squadron who distracted the enemy air units from the other sectors, ahah! >>

SILVER 1
<< Ah-ah, funny... >>

After 20 minutes of flying in enemy territory, we finally reached the Anatean lines, surpassing the frontline and seeing highway A-13.

SILVER 2
<< Ed, the highway! Try to land there! >>

SILVER 1
<< Yeah, i have to... >>

Thank goddess the landing gears were fine, being able to deploy them. Somehow, using the length of the highway, i was able to slowly descend and lose speed in a decent way, landing on the highway. As soon as i landed some Anateans soldiers immediately came and pointed their guns towards me but i immediately explained them i was on their side and returning from a mission. Me and my damaged aircraft were transported to Dalstev AFB, where i was able to join back with Sasha who hugged me like she never saw me in years.

EDWARD: "I mean, it’s not the first time i get shot down."

SASHA: "Yeah, i still remeber that time in Alharu. That one was funny."

EDWARD: "Oh yeah, being violently shot down and pointing towards each other a gun in the middle of the desert... you @Ahranaians have a weird concept of funny, eh eh."

Despite the damages, the mechanics took few days to repair my aircraft, since me, Sasha and the other mercenaries had to once again take part in another operation: the invasion of Azuria.

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Frontlines at the end of December 1, 2022.

Edited June 23 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · October 2, 2023

December 5, 2022 – 10:00 AM ; Eder Valley

OPERATION:
H E L L H O U N D

- Marcus Valesco’s Point of View, Anatean 16th Airborne Division -

LT. LONGHI: “…and remember, once we reach the enemy position, spread out and follow me. Understood?”

A loud “yes sir” was said inside the ATOMP-II Zosimandros, where most of our platoon was in. We were participating in the biggest offensive in enemy territory, so important that most of our forces were diverted from the northern front to the south, trying to open a new front and finally making understand to that damn OCA that Anatea wasn’t so easy to take.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT: “Let me open one of the hatches, i’m choking in here with you all.”

As soon as the soldier opened it, we were able to see the foggy cloudy sky on top of us, and heard loudly fighter jets passing on top of our assault formation. Out of curiosity I climbed a little to put my head over the hatch, being able to see something like twenty Zosimandroses advancing with us, escorted by our BA-40 Mk.2 Chimera IIs, Bojownik BVPs and B1 Centauros. All around us was the snowy valley we were advancing on, with the mountains barely visible on the sides. Allied Mi-24 helicopters were passing low over us, while some artillery rounds were fired towards the enemy positions that we would have attacked in some moments.
Out of the blue, enemy mortars began to hammer our formation. Lieutenant Longhi immediately pulled me back inside the carrier.

ANATEAN CREW: “Two minutes to disembark!”

Said one of the vehicle operator, making us all face the exit of the Zosimandros, while what we heard outside were explosions. At a certain point, the vehicle stopped, as we heard a more loud explosion coming in front of us.

ANATEAN CREW: “F*ck, one of the tanks was hit by a mine!”

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< All carriers, clear a path and continue your advance! >>

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT: “For f*ck’s sake, we’re sitting ducks!”

LT. LONGHI: “Calm down!”

In the middle of the enemy fire, the Zosimandroses began using their Mk 154 mine clearing launchers for creating a path that, after six minutes, was made. The vehicles began to immediately stream in the paths created, but as soon as we got over the minefield, the enemy fire began to intensify.

ANATEAN CREW: “Objective Halia dead ahead! We have to make you disembark here, there are anti-tank obstacles in front of us!”

LT. LONGHI: “Alright! Platoon, ready!”

In moments the door of the Zosimandros was opened, and we all streamed outside in the cold snow, while other units from other Zosimandroses were disembarking. Our tanks began shooting, as the enemy positions began firing with their MGs from hidden positions, hitting some of our soldiers.
We immediately hit the ground, while mortar bombs were exploding near us.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT: “This is a massacre!”

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT
<< All infantry units, advance and seize that position! >>

ANATEAN HELICOPTER SQUADRON
<< Be advised, the enemy is shooting from the mountains too. We’ll try to silence those mortars, but the enemy AA in the area is pretty strong. >>

In the middle of the chaos, Liutenant Longhi began moving with the survivors of the platoon, while on the opposite, I was still and unable to move, trying to figure out the chaos we were in.

OMAR: “We have to get off the field! Marcus, we have to move!”

MARCUS: “Leave me the f*ck alone!”

I immediately sprinted towards the battle, trying to understand where to go to not be killed, as some soldiers with Lieutenant Longhi were taken down by enemy MGs. Flashes of bullets from both sides were mowing the field, as the anti-tank obstacles were the only little covers we had in that meat grinder. I was tired and sick of this f*cking war.
Around me the sounds of explosions, projectiles, and screams of injured people reigned supreme.
Crawling, I reached an anti-tank obstacle together with a bunch of other soldiers from other platoons, trying to find cover in that hell-hole, but a soldier of the engineer battalion reached us with some pair of explosives.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT: “Leave this obstacle, i have to make a path for the tanks!”

MARCUS: “These obstacles are the only covers we have!”

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT: “I know, but I have to clear it!”

Moving from the only cover we had, we continued to advance between the MG fire, the smoke that wasn’t helping our advance and the injured or dead on the snowy field. The prairie was becoming red from all the blood that was spilled.
After a while I reached, together with Omar, a little captured trench where Sero and some soldiers of our platoon were trying to get their bearings inside it.

MARCUS: “Where is Longhi?!”

SERO: “He’s dead! Sergeant Capitini is taking command now!”

A soldier immediately rushed inside our trench in the middle of the fire, to then look around confused.

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT: “Are we on 3-7?!”

SGT. CAPITINI: “No! This is 3-5! 3-7 is supposed to be on the right!”

ANATEAN GROUND UNIT: “Ah, f*cking hell!”

And, in the middle of the fire, the soldier left again to join back in the meat grinder, trying to find his unit and the sector he was supposed to be in. Not only it was a chaos of bullets and bombs, but the units barely knew in which sectors they were supposed to be in.

SGT. CAPITINI: “Guys, last push! The enemy main position is literally ahead of us! Try to get inside the enemy trench ASAP and once inside fill those bastards with grenades!”

Most of us nodded, while others prepared some grenades in their hands. We immediately sprinted outside the trench to reach the enemy position, having some of our units being mowed down by enemy fire. When we were basically near the enemy trench, we suppressed it with fire and grenades, to then enter inside it and immediately guard our sides.
Me, Sero and Omar, together with other soldiers, began advancing on the left, cautiously moving inside the enemy trench with our weapons ready to fire. As soon as I turned to the angle of the trench, we found some soldiers who didn’t have any Anglian or Azurian uniform. They immediately noticed us, and one of them began speaking in Laimiaic. From the flag on their shoulder, we saw that were @Xio soldiers, the contingent that was sent here months ago.
Omar, knowing Laimiaic a little more than me, began to talk to one of the Xio soldiers, reporting then what he was able to understand.

OMAR: “They said they can’t find the rest of their units, they’ll join us.”

MARCUS: “Alright, tell them to follow us and have some grenades ready.”

Together with Xio soldiers, we began advancing inside the trench, finding some resistance that us and Xio's soldiers were able to suppress and destroy, throwing grenades back and forth. After 20 minutes, we were able to reach what seemed to be an abandoned mortar emplacement, reuniting with Sergeant Capitini and the rest of the platoon.

Our tanks began flooding on the enemy position, making the Azurians surrender or just retreat to other forward positions they had. As the smoke was finally vanishing and the situation was less dangerous than before, we looked back at the field we were advancing on, and we were able to see dead bodies and blood all over the place, together with some burning wrecks of some tanks and Zosimandroses.
It was a literal massacre.
Reuniting with the survivors of our company, we continued advancing in enemy territory, knowing that despite the losses we had, we were finally inside enemy territory.
I hoped all this had to be worth something.

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Frontlines at the end of December 5, 2022.

Edited June 23 by Anatea
spelling (see edit history)

Anatea · January 21

December 8, 2022 - 2:00 AM ; Kilten, Azuria

- Bradley Lee's Point of View -
Another operation, as always set during the night.
Colonel Kalt always decided our operations to be set at night mostly because not only the majority of enemy forces were unable to see us, but even ours, so to keep the secrecy of the organization as much as we could.
Despite the attacks we were involved in our operations were few, we were sick of this situation.

LUNA 2
<< Luna 2 to Luna 1, may i talk to you in private comms for a sec? >>

LUNA 1
<< Uh, sure. >>

I switched frequency to 320 Mhz, the same frequency me and the others of my squadron used to talk between ourselves during the Dalstavian War.

LUNA 2
<< Brad, I can't take it anymore. I’m tired of all this. I’m tired of killing people and... and... be all secret, I just want to come back to my old life... our old life. >>

LUNA 1
<< I know Alis, but we can’t do it. This time we are fighting for defend our country, the people we love and- >>

LUNA 2
<< Yes, I know that narrative too, but we did enough. We already helped a lot. If it wasn’t for us at this time Anatea would have fallen months ago... Brad. Let’s leave. >>

LUNA 1
<< Alis, you’re suggesting to desert? They’ll hunt us down until we’re dead. >>

LUNA 2
<< I know, I know! We’ll try to get away as much as we can, we could land in @Kirvina and start a new life, we’ll change names and get as far away as we can... >>

She began sobbing at the radio.

LUNA 1
<< Alis... >>

I couldn’t say anything else to relieve her from the breakdown she was having.
We were interrupted by Daniel, who switched to our radio frequency to announce that we were close to the target. We switched back to our operational frequencies, and Alis seemed completely different, like a different person. The other Alis that was sad and desperate remained in our secret frequency.

AWACS SKY ARROW
<< Kilten railway station in sight, prepare to engage. >>

SSF SQUADRON
<< Roger, master arm on, master arm on. >>

Our F-4B Thunder jets roared in the dark skies, until we saw the railway with the night vision. Those bastards tried to camouflage the station, trying to cover their SCUDs by turning off any source of lights in the area.

SSF SQUADRON
<< Blue Spook 3, i’ve got the targets on my sight. You can begin guide-bombing the area. >>

SSF SQUADRON
<< Wilco. Wendigo Squadron, engaging. >>

As we all engaged, we began dropping our bombs on the target, destroying the enemy railway station and burning it down. The Azurian anti-air units began to brighten the skies with their floodlights, while some AA guns began firing, trying to fill the sky with tracers.
Thanks to our stealth aircrafts, plus the jamming coverage of Sky Arrow, we were able to not get targeted by enemy SAMs and AA guns.

AWACS SKY ARROW
<< Target destroyed, those SCUDs are smoked! >>

LUNA 2
<< That was too easy... >>

LUNA 3
<< Too easy for us thanks to our aircrafts, the Anatean Air Force wouldn’t have been able to achieve this feat! >>

AWACS SKY ARROW
<< All units, retreat from airspace ASAP. Enemy squadrons are beginning to close in! >>

SSF SQUADRON
<< Damn it! >>

AWACS SKY ARROW
<< What’s worse is that there seems to be Liner Squadron in there. You’re not equipped to fight an air-to-air battle. >>

LUNA 4
<< We were able to attract on our position the crème de la crème of the Azurian Air Force. >>

We immediately began to retreat while the enemy was filling more and more the sky with tracers. Passing through the mountains at low altitude and coming back to the sea was easier than the infiltration phase, since the enemy radars were unable to locate us efficiently.

We were able to avoid the worst from happening to Anatea, but I couldn't stop thinking about Alis and how she was feeling..

LUNA 1
<< Alis, switch again to our frequency. >>

We both switched again to 320 Mhz in no time.

LUNA 1
<< Let’s do it. >>

LUNA 2
<< What...? >>

LUNA 1
<< Leave the SSF, after the war. You, me, Daniel and Samuel. But we have to be sure Daniel and Samuel are ok with it. >>

LUNA 2
<< Thank you, Brad. >>

LUNA 1
<< It’s the minimum. I would do whatever is in my power to protect you guys. >>

At all costs.

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Frontlines at the end of December 8, 2022.

Edited June 24 by Anatea (see edit history)

Anatea · January 21

The first weeks of the Anatean advance into southern Azuria were proceeding smoothly, thanks also to some Azurian partisans who began assaulting the Azurian supply lines and helped the Anateans to conquer the city of Lyrie. Despite the advantage, the OCA units were able to reorganize and actually halt the Anatean advance in the mountains a few days after the fall of Lyrie. For some days the operations were dormant, both sides weren’t able to advance into each other's sphere of influence, but on the 23rd of December the Anglian-Azurian troops began a large-scale offensive in southern Azuria. The Azurian 6th Army Corp and the Anglian 1st Army Corp attacked the frail Anatean frontline and were able to push back the Anateans for several kilometers, destroying a large number of equipment and capturing more than 20000 prisoners. The Anateans were barely able to stop the OCA advance at the town of Louv, after an intense battle broke out in the little town.

As the Anatean frontline was pushed back, the Azurian partisans began to be less effective, now that their allies were not distracting the main enemy forces from their undercover operations. Day after day, the frontline became stale, and the only actions happening were just occasional artillery strikes or aerial sorties from both sides.

The same situation was happening even in the OCA-controlled territories in Anatea that, despite the opening of a new front, the area became just a less important front. Even if the OCA was still holding some Anatean territories, the Azurians were considering to retreat their forces over the Ifrida river and the pre-war territories. This was mostly because the presence of the river caused their reinforcements and supplies to be bottlenecked by the few bridges in the area, making the supply routes predictable for the Anatean artillery and aerial units.

For both sides, silent days began to follow, as the frontline froze in time and actions

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Frontlines at the end of December 30, 2022.

Edited March 25 by Anatea
images (see edit history)

Anatea · January 22

January 10, 2023 – 1:35 PM ; Around Coliand

- Marcus Valesco’s Point of View, Anatean 16th Airborne Division -

Caged in.

That’s what me and my squad, together with other soldiers, were. The OCA counteroffensive of the 23rd of December was so powerful that not only we lost territory, but also soldiers that either died or became prisoners. Just like us.
Even though we were prisoners of the Anglians, they were treating us pretty nicely. We had food, something that resembled a good shelter and the wounded were treated with the same care as if they were their soldiers.
I was beginning to think that being prisoners of the OCA wasn’t really that bad after all. I was also feeling kinda bad for how we treated their soldiers on the opposite.

SERO: "You know Marcus, I'm thinking that at this point the war is over for us."

MARCUS: "You sure?"

SERO: "Yeah, I heard some Anglians saying they’ll transfer all of us in the Azurian deeplands. At that point, I think escaping for us would be impossible."

OMAR: "I mean, if we have to be frank, do we really need to escape after all?"

Yeah, what I was thinking in these days.
Was it worth coming back to the muddy battlefields, feeling the dread of death in our bones, fearing every day for your life... Honestly, I was on Omar’s same page.

MARCUS: "Whatever they’ll decide about us, it’s not worth thinking about it. Man, I could really use for a cigarette.."

I began walking in the snow towards an Anglian guard and, with the little I knew about Anglish, I asked him if he had a cigarette.
He replied by nodding, taking one out and giving it to me, for then lightening it with his lighter.

MARCUS: "Thanks..."

I replied, the guard just smiled at me for a second, and in that smile i thought that we definitely needed to stop fighting and come back home. I began thinking that I couldn't wait for them to transport us in a different prisoner camp in the deepland. I wanted to be out from this frozen valley.
At a certain point we heard gunshots, and the guard immediately became serious and grabbed his rifle, looking on his left where the gunshots were heard. We heard more, together with Anglish orders being barked from the entrance of the prison camp. The guard immediately sprinted towards the gunshots, losing sight with him after a few seconds.

OMAR: "What the hell is happening?"

MARCUS: "I dunno, nothing good it seems."

Together with the gunshots, we even heard some explosions, that forced us to immediately get on the ground and crawl towards one of the prison’s barracks.
We closed the door as the gunshots and explosions intensified and became closer by every minute.

SERO: "This is an attack."

We heard more gunshots and some orders, but this time it was in Anglian with a different accent. On the outside a man with a rifle entered the barrack and pointed his gun towards us. Me and the other prisoners immediately freezed with our hands up, looking at the man in civilian clothes armed and ready to kill us at any time.
With relief, the man immediately pointed the gun down and in broken Anatean he shouted:

AZURIAN MAN: "Out, out!"

We immediately followed him outside, finding out that the camp had been battered by the attack that was happening. Together with us there were other of our soldiers being taken out from the barracks.

MARCUS: "Who... Who the hell are you?"

The guy didn’t reply, instead he was looking around and then he whistled. He began walking towards the entrance of the prison camp, finding out that it was stormed. Between the damaged structures there were bodies of some Anglian soldiers.
The armed man began to shout to move, and he immediately ran towards the empty space between the snowy field and the woods ahead of us. We all sprinted outside, enjoying freedom after we had been prisoners for some days. It took only a few minutes for us to reach the woodland, and as soon as we reached it we saw some Anglian transports coming next to the prison camp and disembarking soldiers.

MARCUS: "What, who... who are you?"

From the large group of armed men, one of them came towards me and began to explain in Anatean with a thick Anglian accent.

AZURIAN RESISTANCE MEMBER: "We are partisan fighters, we liberated you from that camp after your friends told us to liberate you all from prison. They seem they need you at the front to help us kick out from this country those Anglian bastards. But we have to move now, come with me."

We began following the man and his group of partisans through the woods. I couldn’t believe we had been liberated and that the Army Command was able to link up with the partisan cells operating in the area and liberate our camp. From one side I was glad to be free again, but the more I was following the armed men in the woods, the more I began to think that all this was an error. I realized that by being free we would have been constrained to come back to the front, and with it trying to survive the bloodshed and meat grinder that this war became. I wanted to come back to that prison camp, but I couldn't.
We had to come back again to fight and die.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Frontlines at the end of January 10, 2023.

Edited June 24 by Anatea (see edit history)

expansion “Invasion? Nah, just Peace exportation.” (Anatea Expansion IC)

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