06-17-2018, 01:30 AM
Upon reaching the coast of Lauchenoiria, the Laeralian transport planes, all tilt-rotor aircraft, and their fighter escorts split off into three groups, after receiving new orders from Laeralsford. The first set down in Summersea, where the Skodenian troops had held the port city against an attack from Lauchenoirian junta forces. The second flew north across enemy-held territory toward the beleaguered city of Usera, to aid the rebels there. The third and fourth, meanwhile, sped westward towards Carville, another segment of the front line, to do what they could in aiding the city against advancing Gonhogi troops.
Summersea
The Laeralian transport plane set down in a public square at the south of the Skodenian lines, and the large door at the rear of the aircraft fell open. As bewildered locals looked cautiously at the aircraft, a crowd of soldiers, mostly men, emerged, wearing tactical vests and shouldering assault rifles. With a wary look around, a man who must have been their commander said something in a language one of the onlookers faintly recognized from high school as French, and the soldiers began to carry crates of equipment with them down the street as their leader consulted a map and pointed northwest. The soldiers followed, trooping off into the distance through the quiet city.
As the soldiers continued down the street, they noted that there were few civilians outdoors. In the distance, they could hear intermittent gunfire and explosions. Finally, they reached a small building, flanked by Skodenian soldiers. They pointed their guns at the Laeralites as they approached. "We're Laeralites," Lieutenant Darras called, pointing to the flag patch on his shoulder. The Skodenians stared blankly at him. He thought for a second, trying to recall his high school English. "We are Laeralites," he called to them in English. They didn't respond. This could take a little while, he thought.
Around twenty minutes of confusion later, Lieutenant Darras turned back to his men, speaking once again in French. "The Skodenians want us to stay behind the front lines, to react if the junta forces break our lines and plug in any gaps. We'll take up positions on the motorway north of the education department. Forward!" This was partially a lie. As the Skodenian commander had phrased it, the gendarmes would patrol occupied areas for peacekeeping duties. Darras had scoffed under his breath at that. Peacekeeping? His men were the tip of the spear, the finest that the flower of Laeralian man- and women-hood had to offer. They wouldn't stand by and let their allies relegate them to duties behind the line. No, him and his troops would be in the thick of the action, the better to prove Laeral worthy on the international stage, regardless of what the Skodesmen wanted him to do.
Usera
The Laeralian transport plane and its cargo of 40 Laeralian Gendarmes arrived to find the rebels jubilant. They had thrown off the junta occupation, and they were excited to see foreign allies to aid them in their struggle. Lieutenant Bao, commanding the Gendarmes, had tried to stay professional and aloof at first, but after he was cheered and offered yet another glass of Lauchenoirian wine, he conceded and joined the cheering crowds, telling his soldiers to stick to a strict limit of two glasses each.
Carville
As the two Laeralian transport aircraft swooped low over the city of Carville, the passengers could see in the distance approaching Gonhogian troops. The more eagle-eyed among them could even make out the dark shapes of tanks and armored vehicles advancing inexorably towards the city, alongside soldiers on foot. "We'll hold them on the city outskirts," Captain Tsai announced. Once they landed, the gendarmes met quickly and urgently with Nico Alfaro, the local resistance leader. Emerging from the room, Captain Tsai quickly called a conference with Lieutenants Huang and Quere. "It's not going to be pretty," he said to them. "The rebels report there's most of a corps, with heavy armored support. We don't stand a chance unless we get reinforcements. We'll try and make them wait by making it appear as if there's more of us. Get everyone out into the streets, and dig as many trenches and make as many barricades as you can, far more than we need. Hopefully we can delay the Gonhogian attack. When they attack, we'll pull into the city quickly, avoid their main force. If we can't hold the city any more, than we pull out. You understand?" They nodded. "Put on a brave face for your squads," Tsai said, "but make sure they understand that we don't intend to make a last stand here."
Summersea
The Laeralian transport plane set down in a public square at the south of the Skodenian lines, and the large door at the rear of the aircraft fell open. As bewildered locals looked cautiously at the aircraft, a crowd of soldiers, mostly men, emerged, wearing tactical vests and shouldering assault rifles. With a wary look around, a man who must have been their commander said something in a language one of the onlookers faintly recognized from high school as French, and the soldiers began to carry crates of equipment with them down the street as their leader consulted a map and pointed northwest. The soldiers followed, trooping off into the distance through the quiet city.
As the soldiers continued down the street, they noted that there were few civilians outdoors. In the distance, they could hear intermittent gunfire and explosions. Finally, they reached a small building, flanked by Skodenian soldiers. They pointed their guns at the Laeralites as they approached. "We're Laeralites," Lieutenant Darras called, pointing to the flag patch on his shoulder. The Skodenians stared blankly at him. He thought for a second, trying to recall his high school English. "We are Laeralites," he called to them in English. They didn't respond. This could take a little while, he thought.
Around twenty minutes of confusion later, Lieutenant Darras turned back to his men, speaking once again in French. "The Skodenians want us to stay behind the front lines, to react if the junta forces break our lines and plug in any gaps. We'll take up positions on the motorway north of the education department. Forward!" This was partially a lie. As the Skodenian commander had phrased it, the gendarmes would patrol occupied areas for peacekeeping duties. Darras had scoffed under his breath at that. Peacekeeping? His men were the tip of the spear, the finest that the flower of Laeralian man- and women-hood had to offer. They wouldn't stand by and let their allies relegate them to duties behind the line. No, him and his troops would be in the thick of the action, the better to prove Laeral worthy on the international stage, regardless of what the Skodesmen wanted him to do.
Usera
The Laeralian transport plane and its cargo of 40 Laeralian Gendarmes arrived to find the rebels jubilant. They had thrown off the junta occupation, and they were excited to see foreign allies to aid them in their struggle. Lieutenant Bao, commanding the Gendarmes, had tried to stay professional and aloof at first, but after he was cheered and offered yet another glass of Lauchenoirian wine, he conceded and joined the cheering crowds, telling his soldiers to stick to a strict limit of two glasses each.
Carville
As the two Laeralian transport aircraft swooped low over the city of Carville, the passengers could see in the distance approaching Gonhogian troops. The more eagle-eyed among them could even make out the dark shapes of tanks and armored vehicles advancing inexorably towards the city, alongside soldiers on foot. "We'll hold them on the city outskirts," Captain Tsai announced. Once they landed, the gendarmes met quickly and urgently with Nico Alfaro, the local resistance leader. Emerging from the room, Captain Tsai quickly called a conference with Lieutenants Huang and Quere. "It's not going to be pretty," he said to them. "The rebels report there's most of a corps, with heavy armored support. We don't stand a chance unless we get reinforcements. We'll try and make them wait by making it appear as if there's more of us. Get everyone out into the streets, and dig as many trenches and make as many barricades as you can, far more than we need. Hopefully we can delay the Gonhogian attack. When they attack, we'll pull into the city quickly, avoid their main force. If we can't hold the city any more, than we pull out. You understand?" They nodded. "Put on a brave face for your squads," Tsai said, "but make sure they understand that we don't intend to make a last stand here."