06-15-2018, 01:09 AM
"It's bullshit, Chief. It's fucking bullshit."
Senior Chief Corscón squinted in the inky dark at the whisperer. Petty Officer Third Class Pietersen was relatively new member of Raider Team Charlie, but not so knew that he wouldn't speak up to the senior NCO. Military discipline was relaxed on Raider teams; a necessity for special operations work. Pietersen drew the long straw and got to keep look-out with the Chief for this run while the rest of the team ferried heavy crates out of their landing rafts and up the beach. This was the third run of too many.
"Pietersen, shut up."
"Raiders ain't delivery boys, Chief. And RDVs ain't supposed to haul crates, neither. Sure not when it means we gotta leave half the team in the sub for weight."
He was right, Corscón thought shrewdly. The Raider minisubs were designed to move Raider teams loaded with small arms. They were not designed to move cargo, even cargo full of small arms. The CO had peeked; against protocol technically, but you absolutely cannot move mystery cargo in these conditions and expect to do it right. The contents were as odd as the mission: Marche Noiran man-portable rockets systems weren't as good as honest C.D.S.P. models "“ the fire and forget locking system wasn't as reliable "“ but if you fired enough, it didn't matter. And the Marche Noirans had the market flooded with inexpensive, simple arms.
The necessary space and weight meant that no minisub could be loaded with more than half strength. Which made wrestling the crates out of the minisub and onto landing rafts in choppy waters and in the dead of night even harder. But it was probably the only way to get those weapons on shore without getting caught until something else could be set up. Which was the point.
Two and two and two makes six. Corscón knew that the Lauchenoirians had been part of the group that threatened C.D.S.P. borders earlier that year. As were some of the nations involved here. And dumping light rocket artillery into a civil war was just going to pour oil onto the fire. Payback, certainly. An opening, perhaps. And probably no way to prove C.D.S.P. involvement definitively, if the Directorate of National Intelligence was involved. This had to be a DNI operation. This wasn't how the Naval Special Operations Command would design a mission. DNI just doesn't have a sub.
Not that it was any of his business.
"Raiders are whatever they gotta be, Pietersen. That's the job."
"This fucking war was over before it started. Bunch of countries jumped in on one side. So why are we here giving anything to the losing side?"
Corscón sighed internally. New guys handled being in Harm's Way differently. Some got jumpy, keeping their heads on a swivel. Others wouldn't shut up. At least the Chief knew how to deal with the latter.
"Orders. Just like this one: Shut. Up. Man your post, or I'll let the Jig toss you in irons. Or just shoot you and pretend it was an accident."
Pietersen muttered something to himself that sounded a lot like "bullshit." As if Chiefs did anything by accident. But he resumed his post.
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Official Diplomatic Communique
C.D.S.P. Embassy in Lauchnoiria
Ambassador Connell,
You are empowered and directed to negotiate with the new Lauchnoiran government to broker limited C.D.S.P. involvement: C.D.S.P. aircraft will enforce a no-combat flight zone at or above 10,000 feet to prevent foreign involvement of close air support or bombing efforts. This should be enough to permit limited rotary wing aircraft support. This screen is intended to prevent widespread civilian casualties.
C.D.S.P. aircraft will also offer electronic warfare communications interdiction to ensure that humanitarian directives to civilians are disseminated and not interfered with. IDU regional authorities for humanitarian aid will have access to this interdiction effort.
The C.D.S.P. will offer to dispatch the CDSN Epione, a hospital ship. As a show of good faith, the Epione will not have any combat screening vessels as escorts.
Concurrently, Ambassador Chen in Laeral, will offer the same, emphasizing the aerial interdiction efforts to limit Lauchnoiran operations. Laeralian diplomatic efforts suggest that the Laeralians have an open line of communication with the ousted Lauchnoiran government. The C.D.S.P. maintains that limited aerial combat operations is ultimately best for the Lauchnoiran civilian population, and the C.D.S.P., as an uninvolved party, is ideally suited to enforce it.
Ideally, it would be best to wait until either the parties agree or directly ask how the C.D.S.P. will base aerial interdiction forces to inform them that those aircraft would be supported by an aircraft carrier task force. The Foreign Ministry believes it would be better to have C.D.S.P. military assets seen as a necessary part of the interdiction efforts and not as part of the humanitarian relief task force.
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WKSB, national news broadcast
"...there were no survivors, but the lingering smell of toast is still present. One local called it "eerily delicious." In politics tonight, WKSB will broadcast President Solomon's speech regarding the proposed C.D.S.P. involvement in the Lauchnoiran Conflict. Previous statements from executive press secretaries indicated that the President had met with IDU ambassadors to discuss the C.D.S.P. response. Let's tune in:"
"Citizens of the Confederate Dominion, I watch the growing conflict in Lauchnoira as many of you do: as a spectator. Many of you would prefer the C.D.S.P. remains aloof from the conflict. Some have even expressed vindication that a neighbor once intent on interrupting our internal affairs is subject to the same. But the C.D.S.P. lives in the world, not upon it. We cannot ignore a regional conflict and expect anything but the same were we to fall into trouble. And it never hurts to turn an enemy into a friend.
I have spoken with the ambassadors from the involved nations of Skoden, Laeral, and Lauchnoria, and while they are not able to speak for their national leaders on this, they nonetheless believe their governments will be amenable to our offer: as an impartial entity, we offer neutral ground aboard the CDSN Epione, a hospital ship being deployed to offer humanitarian aid. The C.D.S.P. will send a mediation team and invite the representatives of all involved nations. It is our hope to hammer out an agreement whereby our neighbors might limit their actions and preserve civilian lives.
We call upon the members of the conflict to accept our offer: Permit the C.D.S.P. to enforce a universal no-fly zone over the conflict area for all combat aircraft over 10,000 feet, and allow non-governmental and C.D.S.P. humanitarian aid organizations to distribute supplies and medical care as needed. We only hope to protect the civilians in this affair, and limit indiscriminate attacks. The eyes of the world are upon you, neighbors. Do what is right."
Senior Chief Corscón squinted in the inky dark at the whisperer. Petty Officer Third Class Pietersen was relatively new member of Raider Team Charlie, but not so knew that he wouldn't speak up to the senior NCO. Military discipline was relaxed on Raider teams; a necessity for special operations work. Pietersen drew the long straw and got to keep look-out with the Chief for this run while the rest of the team ferried heavy crates out of their landing rafts and up the beach. This was the third run of too many.
"Pietersen, shut up."
"Raiders ain't delivery boys, Chief. And RDVs ain't supposed to haul crates, neither. Sure not when it means we gotta leave half the team in the sub for weight."
He was right, Corscón thought shrewdly. The Raider minisubs were designed to move Raider teams loaded with small arms. They were not designed to move cargo, even cargo full of small arms. The CO had peeked; against protocol technically, but you absolutely cannot move mystery cargo in these conditions and expect to do it right. The contents were as odd as the mission: Marche Noiran man-portable rockets systems weren't as good as honest C.D.S.P. models "“ the fire and forget locking system wasn't as reliable "“ but if you fired enough, it didn't matter. And the Marche Noirans had the market flooded with inexpensive, simple arms.
The necessary space and weight meant that no minisub could be loaded with more than half strength. Which made wrestling the crates out of the minisub and onto landing rafts in choppy waters and in the dead of night even harder. But it was probably the only way to get those weapons on shore without getting caught until something else could be set up. Which was the point.
Two and two and two makes six. Corscón knew that the Lauchenoirians had been part of the group that threatened C.D.S.P. borders earlier that year. As were some of the nations involved here. And dumping light rocket artillery into a civil war was just going to pour oil onto the fire. Payback, certainly. An opening, perhaps. And probably no way to prove C.D.S.P. involvement definitively, if the Directorate of National Intelligence was involved. This had to be a DNI operation. This wasn't how the Naval Special Operations Command would design a mission. DNI just doesn't have a sub.
Not that it was any of his business.
"Raiders are whatever they gotta be, Pietersen. That's the job."
"This fucking war was over before it started. Bunch of countries jumped in on one side. So why are we here giving anything to the losing side?"
Corscón sighed internally. New guys handled being in Harm's Way differently. Some got jumpy, keeping their heads on a swivel. Others wouldn't shut up. At least the Chief knew how to deal with the latter.
"Orders. Just like this one: Shut. Up. Man your post, or I'll let the Jig toss you in irons. Or just shoot you and pretend it was an accident."
Pietersen muttered something to himself that sounded a lot like "bullshit." As if Chiefs did anything by accident. But he resumed his post.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Diplomatic Communique
C.D.S.P. Embassy in Lauchnoiria
Ambassador Connell,
You are empowered and directed to negotiate with the new Lauchnoiran government to broker limited C.D.S.P. involvement: C.D.S.P. aircraft will enforce a no-combat flight zone at or above 10,000 feet to prevent foreign involvement of close air support or bombing efforts. This should be enough to permit limited rotary wing aircraft support. This screen is intended to prevent widespread civilian casualties.
C.D.S.P. aircraft will also offer electronic warfare communications interdiction to ensure that humanitarian directives to civilians are disseminated and not interfered with. IDU regional authorities for humanitarian aid will have access to this interdiction effort.
The C.D.S.P. will offer to dispatch the CDSN Epione, a hospital ship. As a show of good faith, the Epione will not have any combat screening vessels as escorts.
Concurrently, Ambassador Chen in Laeral, will offer the same, emphasizing the aerial interdiction efforts to limit Lauchnoiran operations. Laeralian diplomatic efforts suggest that the Laeralians have an open line of communication with the ousted Lauchnoiran government. The C.D.S.P. maintains that limited aerial combat operations is ultimately best for the Lauchnoiran civilian population, and the C.D.S.P., as an uninvolved party, is ideally suited to enforce it.
Ideally, it would be best to wait until either the parties agree or directly ask how the C.D.S.P. will base aerial interdiction forces to inform them that those aircraft would be supported by an aircraft carrier task force. The Foreign Ministry believes it would be better to have C.D.S.P. military assets seen as a necessary part of the interdiction efforts and not as part of the humanitarian relief task force.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WKSB, national news broadcast
"...there were no survivors, but the lingering smell of toast is still present. One local called it "eerily delicious." In politics tonight, WKSB will broadcast President Solomon's speech regarding the proposed C.D.S.P. involvement in the Lauchnoiran Conflict. Previous statements from executive press secretaries indicated that the President had met with IDU ambassadors to discuss the C.D.S.P. response. Let's tune in:"
"Citizens of the Confederate Dominion, I watch the growing conflict in Lauchnoira as many of you do: as a spectator. Many of you would prefer the C.D.S.P. remains aloof from the conflict. Some have even expressed vindication that a neighbor once intent on interrupting our internal affairs is subject to the same. But the C.D.S.P. lives in the world, not upon it. We cannot ignore a regional conflict and expect anything but the same were we to fall into trouble. And it never hurts to turn an enemy into a friend.
I have spoken with the ambassadors from the involved nations of Skoden, Laeral, and Lauchnoria, and while they are not able to speak for their national leaders on this, they nonetheless believe their governments will be amenable to our offer: as an impartial entity, we offer neutral ground aboard the CDSN Epione, a hospital ship being deployed to offer humanitarian aid. The C.D.S.P. will send a mediation team and invite the representatives of all involved nations. It is our hope to hammer out an agreement whereby our neighbors might limit their actions and preserve civilian lives.
We call upon the members of the conflict to accept our offer: Permit the C.D.S.P. to enforce a universal no-fly zone over the conflict area for all combat aircraft over 10,000 feet, and allow non-governmental and C.D.S.P. humanitarian aid organizations to distribute supplies and medical care as needed. We only hope to protect the civilians in this affair, and limit indiscriminate attacks. The eyes of the world are upon you, neighbors. Do what is right."