05-20-2020, 05:27 AM
(Joint post with [nation]Shuell[/nation])
May 19th
Acalan
Acalan had become a major center of Necatli resistance since the junta takeover. The new Necatli leader, Huacue, had ordered the Necatli in the city to begin putting up a general resistance to the Imperial forces there. What had followed was the emergence of a slow but stubborn and challenging insurgency. Imperial forces controlled the city - in theory. In practice, Imperial forces that ventured too far from their bases or from the main highways often found themselves under sudden hit-and-run attacks from Necatli who then disappeared into the shadows of Xiomera's second-largest port city.
Angered by the growing toll of attrition caused by the insurgents, Emperor Xochiuhue first ordered the Imperial Army to cut Acalan off from the outside world. Checkpoints and external outposts served to cut off the city from the Necatli under Huacue who had been guiding and supplying them from outside Acalan.
With that flow cut off, the next objective was to secure the port. The Necatli had managed to seize control of the sprawling port area entirely, cutting it off from the city. A beefed-up contingent of Imperial soldiers, backed by naval support from an Imperial Navy task force from the shore, began to retake the port from both sides. While the Navy, and the amphibious forces it provided, came from one direction, the Army took Imperial Highway 140 towards the port, slowly securing the areas immediately around the highway to maintain secure lines for the force that would link up with the Navy to retake the port once and for all.
With Commander Sommer's forces having regrouped with the Imperial Army the day prior, the Watchtower mercenaries pushed into Acalan in multiple armored columns, each heading towards the port to secure the vital part of the city. Days before, Sommer had radio'd back to his superiors back in Shuell for reinforcements, right before the State's authorization of volunteers. Having served in Iustonian counter-insurgency operations during his time in the Penal Legions, Volkhardt was prepared to put his prior experience to use in Xiomera as well.
As the mercenaries and the Imperial Army units pushed into the city, at first the situation seemed like it might have been overblown. Other than having surly locals glare at them whenever they drew near, nothing violent happened. At least, until they exited the highway.
The main route to the port led to a major roundabout. As the convoy began proceeding into the roundabout, a sudden explosion from the road underneath them tore into the lead mercenary APC. An Imperial vehicle following them also got caught in the explosion, careening onto the grassy part of the roundabout.
From buildings on either side of the roundabout, rifle and RPG fire began echoing out. A second APC caught an RPG blast, coming to an abrupt halt in the middle of the road. The Imperial command vehicle in the convoy activated its gunfire locator to try to locate the source of the attack. "Buildings to the north and east, probable targets," the spotter replied calmly as more gunfire rattled off of the vehicle's armor.
Volkhardt cursed under his breath and reached to grab his radio. "Use your smokescreens, try to conceal yourself. I want fire focused on the buildings to the north and east, use your .50s to suppress them." Upon his command, a large smokescreen began to slowly form throughout the column. With dedicated gunners using the mounted MGs provided to them, the hail of bullets focused on the targeted buildings provided some relief to the column - while inaccurate, it proved effective enough at forcing the hostiles down. Sommer reached once again for his commset, giving a second order. "Try and maneuver around the destroyed vehicles, we need to get clear before we're sitting birds."
As the mercenary and Imperial vehicles maneuvered around the wreckage, the suppressing fire proved effective at allowing them to escape the trap. As the column rolled forward, a set of Xiomeran attack helicopters appeared over the horizon. They soon began their own form of suppressive fire, laying into the buildings with their mounted guns. The column quickly rolled forward, everyone aboard glad to be free of the temporary obstacle.
Within minutes, a sign appeared over the road, in Huenyan and English: PORT OF ACALAN 1 MILE AHEAD, PREPARE TO EXIT.
"Get ready," the Xiomeran commander, a captain named Mezcō, warned as the vehicles approached the long set of fences around the port. As they rolled towards the gate, another bevy of gunfire and rocket fire greeted them. The perimeter of the port was clearly fortified and manned by armed Necatli. In the distance, the mercenaries and Xiomeran soldiers could hear booming from the other side of the port, as the Imperial Navy task force began their own assault from the shoreline.
"Machinegunners, focus your fire on the insurgents with rockets - any air support would be too risky. I want everyone else out of their carriers. They won't be able to stand up against a direct assault." With the main (and largest) armored column in position, the mercenaries quickly exited their vehicles, dispersing to reduce the effectiveness of the rockets and taking cover wherever possible. Volkhardt observed from further away with grim satisfaction, examining the makeshift defenses of the Nectali and barking out orders to his men. At his word, specialists armed with grenade launchers opened fire in a synchronized fashion, the high explosives arcing over the gate and detonating to great effect.
The launched grenades proved to be too much for the perimeter defenders; they quickly began retreating to the interior of the port area, firing as they went. While the immediate threat at the perimeter was now over, the mercenaries and their Xiomeran allies faced a much more daunting task ahead.
The port area itself was a maze of shipping containers, docks, buildings and ships. Within that maze, the remaining Necatli would spread out, lying in wait for the attacking force. Various traps of explosives and other improvised devices would also be waiting. It was now the task of the mercenaries to clear them out.
With the two smaller columns having arrived during the firefight (with some vehicles notably damaged or missing entirely), Sommer quickly coordinated a plan with Captain Mezco - using their newfound numbers, their forces would split up into small teams of 4 to 6 and use a small supply of specialized grenades to flush hiding insurgents out. While use of incendiary weapons in warfare was commonly banned, the use of white phosphorous smoke grenades was often accepted among militaries, with the added benefit of being a potent irritant and inducing asphyxiation in enclosed spaces. While their stockpile was not extremely large, Volkhardt had assumed even a few per squad would be enough to smoke out any remaining Necatli.
The deployment of the WP grenades would prove to be highly effective. Their initial plan to make the invaders fight for every inch of the port now thwarted by noxious clouds of white smoke, the Necatli at the port soon ended their initial resistance. Xiomeran soldiers now arrived from both sides of the port to take the insurgents prisoner. The port of Acalan could soon reopen, and with it a vital lifeline for the new regime.
An hour later, at the municipal government palace in the center of Acalan, Sommer once again found himself speaking with Governor Xicotzin. "I was quite impressed with how your men helped us retake the port so quickly," the Governor said, waving Sommer to a seat. "But the port is just the beginning. We have been facing a low-level insurgency from these damned Necatli radicals ever since the takeover. We have been considering a number of ideas on how to deal with this problem, but I was curious to see what you might suggest."
Sommer nods, quickly launching into a speech. "Of course, Governor. Insurgencies taking place in cities are difficult to deal with, from my experience in the Iustonian favelas. Terrorist attacks lead to response, and they use that as propaganda. Being popular among civilians isn't as large an issue, either." Sommer's idea was simple. He advised the Governor to 'drain the swamp' and control the population, moving the Necatli to prisons and internment camps outside the city, which would minimize casualties, provide less cover, and reduce rebel support. He additionally advised sectioning off areas of the city and searching them, which'd serve to eliminate any strongholds and confiscate weapons, while using public diplomacy to neuter the effectiveness of insurgent propaganda.
The Governor found Sommer's suggestion quite useful. He thanked the mercenary for his input, and authorized a bonus to be paid to the mercenaries for their assistance with subduing Acalan, and with the genesis for what would become the first decree of the new Emperor.
Xiomeran authorities would soon begin using their extensive identification database, coupled with spot checks and both random and targeted searches, to begin identifying Necatli living in Acalan and 'relocating' them to 'public safety settlements' outside of the urban center. Those who were positively identified to be insurgents were diverted to prisons, which had no euphemistic name to hide their purpose like the 'public safety settlements' did. While this would take place, Imperial propaganda would send the message that this was being done 'for public safety and protection'.
If the plan worked in Acalan, Xochiuhue reasoned, it could well serve as a template for other troublesome areas.
May 19th
Acalan
Acalan had become a major center of Necatli resistance since the junta takeover. The new Necatli leader, Huacue, had ordered the Necatli in the city to begin putting up a general resistance to the Imperial forces there. What had followed was the emergence of a slow but stubborn and challenging insurgency. Imperial forces controlled the city - in theory. In practice, Imperial forces that ventured too far from their bases or from the main highways often found themselves under sudden hit-and-run attacks from Necatli who then disappeared into the shadows of Xiomera's second-largest port city.
Angered by the growing toll of attrition caused by the insurgents, Emperor Xochiuhue first ordered the Imperial Army to cut Acalan off from the outside world. Checkpoints and external outposts served to cut off the city from the Necatli under Huacue who had been guiding and supplying them from outside Acalan.
With that flow cut off, the next objective was to secure the port. The Necatli had managed to seize control of the sprawling port area entirely, cutting it off from the city. A beefed-up contingent of Imperial soldiers, backed by naval support from an Imperial Navy task force from the shore, began to retake the port from both sides. While the Navy, and the amphibious forces it provided, came from one direction, the Army took Imperial Highway 140 towards the port, slowly securing the areas immediately around the highway to maintain secure lines for the force that would link up with the Navy to retake the port once and for all.
With Commander Sommer's forces having regrouped with the Imperial Army the day prior, the Watchtower mercenaries pushed into Acalan in multiple armored columns, each heading towards the port to secure the vital part of the city. Days before, Sommer had radio'd back to his superiors back in Shuell for reinforcements, right before the State's authorization of volunteers. Having served in Iustonian counter-insurgency operations during his time in the Penal Legions, Volkhardt was prepared to put his prior experience to use in Xiomera as well.
As the mercenaries and the Imperial Army units pushed into the city, at first the situation seemed like it might have been overblown. Other than having surly locals glare at them whenever they drew near, nothing violent happened. At least, until they exited the highway.
The main route to the port led to a major roundabout. As the convoy began proceeding into the roundabout, a sudden explosion from the road underneath them tore into the lead mercenary APC. An Imperial vehicle following them also got caught in the explosion, careening onto the grassy part of the roundabout.
From buildings on either side of the roundabout, rifle and RPG fire began echoing out. A second APC caught an RPG blast, coming to an abrupt halt in the middle of the road. The Imperial command vehicle in the convoy activated its gunfire locator to try to locate the source of the attack. "Buildings to the north and east, probable targets," the spotter replied calmly as more gunfire rattled off of the vehicle's armor.
Volkhardt cursed under his breath and reached to grab his radio. "Use your smokescreens, try to conceal yourself. I want fire focused on the buildings to the north and east, use your .50s to suppress them." Upon his command, a large smokescreen began to slowly form throughout the column. With dedicated gunners using the mounted MGs provided to them, the hail of bullets focused on the targeted buildings provided some relief to the column - while inaccurate, it proved effective enough at forcing the hostiles down. Sommer reached once again for his commset, giving a second order. "Try and maneuver around the destroyed vehicles, we need to get clear before we're sitting birds."
As the mercenary and Imperial vehicles maneuvered around the wreckage, the suppressing fire proved effective at allowing them to escape the trap. As the column rolled forward, a set of Xiomeran attack helicopters appeared over the horizon. They soon began their own form of suppressive fire, laying into the buildings with their mounted guns. The column quickly rolled forward, everyone aboard glad to be free of the temporary obstacle.
Within minutes, a sign appeared over the road, in Huenyan and English: PORT OF ACALAN 1 MILE AHEAD, PREPARE TO EXIT.
"Get ready," the Xiomeran commander, a captain named Mezcō, warned as the vehicles approached the long set of fences around the port. As they rolled towards the gate, another bevy of gunfire and rocket fire greeted them. The perimeter of the port was clearly fortified and manned by armed Necatli. In the distance, the mercenaries and Xiomeran soldiers could hear booming from the other side of the port, as the Imperial Navy task force began their own assault from the shoreline.
"Machinegunners, focus your fire on the insurgents with rockets - any air support would be too risky. I want everyone else out of their carriers. They won't be able to stand up against a direct assault." With the main (and largest) armored column in position, the mercenaries quickly exited their vehicles, dispersing to reduce the effectiveness of the rockets and taking cover wherever possible. Volkhardt observed from further away with grim satisfaction, examining the makeshift defenses of the Nectali and barking out orders to his men. At his word, specialists armed with grenade launchers opened fire in a synchronized fashion, the high explosives arcing over the gate and detonating to great effect.
The launched grenades proved to be too much for the perimeter defenders; they quickly began retreating to the interior of the port area, firing as they went. While the immediate threat at the perimeter was now over, the mercenaries and their Xiomeran allies faced a much more daunting task ahead.
The port area itself was a maze of shipping containers, docks, buildings and ships. Within that maze, the remaining Necatli would spread out, lying in wait for the attacking force. Various traps of explosives and other improvised devices would also be waiting. It was now the task of the mercenaries to clear them out.
With the two smaller columns having arrived during the firefight (with some vehicles notably damaged or missing entirely), Sommer quickly coordinated a plan with Captain Mezco - using their newfound numbers, their forces would split up into small teams of 4 to 6 and use a small supply of specialized grenades to flush hiding insurgents out. While use of incendiary weapons in warfare was commonly banned, the use of white phosphorous smoke grenades was often accepted among militaries, with the added benefit of being a potent irritant and inducing asphyxiation in enclosed spaces. While their stockpile was not extremely large, Volkhardt had assumed even a few per squad would be enough to smoke out any remaining Necatli.
The deployment of the WP grenades would prove to be highly effective. Their initial plan to make the invaders fight for every inch of the port now thwarted by noxious clouds of white smoke, the Necatli at the port soon ended their initial resistance. Xiomeran soldiers now arrived from both sides of the port to take the insurgents prisoner. The port of Acalan could soon reopen, and with it a vital lifeline for the new regime.
An hour later, at the municipal government palace in the center of Acalan, Sommer once again found himself speaking with Governor Xicotzin. "I was quite impressed with how your men helped us retake the port so quickly," the Governor said, waving Sommer to a seat. "But the port is just the beginning. We have been facing a low-level insurgency from these damned Necatli radicals ever since the takeover. We have been considering a number of ideas on how to deal with this problem, but I was curious to see what you might suggest."
Sommer nods, quickly launching into a speech. "Of course, Governor. Insurgencies taking place in cities are difficult to deal with, from my experience in the Iustonian favelas. Terrorist attacks lead to response, and they use that as propaganda. Being popular among civilians isn't as large an issue, either." Sommer's idea was simple. He advised the Governor to 'drain the swamp' and control the population, moving the Necatli to prisons and internment camps outside the city, which would minimize casualties, provide less cover, and reduce rebel support. He additionally advised sectioning off areas of the city and searching them, which'd serve to eliminate any strongholds and confiscate weapons, while using public diplomacy to neuter the effectiveness of insurgent propaganda.
The Governor found Sommer's suggestion quite useful. He thanked the mercenary for his input, and authorized a bonus to be paid to the mercenaries for their assistance with subduing Acalan, and with the genesis for what would become the first decree of the new Emperor.
Xiomeran authorities would soon begin using their extensive identification database, coupled with spot checks and both random and targeted searches, to begin identifying Necatli living in Acalan and 'relocating' them to 'public safety settlements' outside of the urban center. Those who were positively identified to be insurgents were diverted to prisons, which had no euphemistic name to hide their purpose like the 'public safety settlements' did. While this would take place, Imperial propaganda would send the message that this was being done 'for public safety and protection'.
If the plan worked in Acalan, Xochiuhue reasoned, it could well serve as a template for other troublesome areas.
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