03-23-2022, 03:13 AM
Ximac Fortress, Xiomeran General Staff Headquarters
Empress Camaxtica Imperial Armed Forces Central Command Complex, Tlālacuetztla
Sunday, March 20th, 2022, 2:00am Xiomeran time
"What the fuck is happening in Côte-Verte?" Calhualyana demanded bluntly. The Empress had arrived at the General Staff Headquarters on the sprawling Central Command in an extremely disgruntled mood. General Zinahue, Marshal of the Empire, did his best to remain calm. Chuanacoyo, the Minister of Defense, and Tochuitli, the Minister of Security, were trying to do the same. A pregnant Empress, in and of herself, was dangerous. A pregnant, surprised and thwarted Empress roused out of bed early was the stuff of nightmares. Marshal Zinahue silently gave a quick prayer before plunging into the briefing. "Last night, a group of rebellious Aurian soldiers and civilians took control of Lady Amelie's Naval Base outside the city. They appear to have taken both loyalist Aurian soldiers and CSSC mercenaries prisoner."
"I would be extremely displeased if these Aurian bumpkins dared to take Imperial soldiers prisoner. The fact that they have taken Xiomeran mercenaries prisoner is only slightly less of an insult. Either way, I expect a quick answer to this insolence. I trust King Andrew and General Michelin have a plan to do so?"
"That is the thing, your Majesty....we have not heard of any such plan. The events may be too fast moving for them, but so far, no one from our 'allies' has contacted us about this incident," Marshal Zinahue said. The Empress looked at, then through, Zinahue with eyes as sharp as the dagger at her waist. "No contact," she said flatly. Zinahue nodded. "We have heard from General Teoctlehue, the CSSC commander of the operation. He is as equally surprised that no one has moved to respond to this incident."
"Apparently, we have to do everything for these Aurian fools," Calhualyana responded with disdain. "Very well. Does Teoctlehue, at least, have a plan?" Zinahue nodded again, bringing up a series of battle plans, diagrams, orders of battle and schematics on the giant displays at the front of the room. CSSC considered it best practice for their firm to wargame and plan out responses to any plausible scenario that could arise during one of their operations, and be prepared to take quick action accordingly. The Aurian operation was no different. Calhualyana reviewed everything, then nodded in approval. "Tell Teoctlehue to get moving immediately, before these bastards have a chance to entrench themselves. If King Andrew or General Michelin object, tell them in as polite and diplomatic a way as possible to shut up and be thankful that Xiomerans know how to do what they apparently do not - retain control of a situation. They're welcome to send their own troops along with ours if they want - let them know that we, in fact, request and require they do so, as part of our mutual obligation to cooperate to maintain the peace in Auria. But whether the Aurians show up or not, CSSC is to move as soon as possible against the base. I will not allow these damned rebels to open a back door to let Queen Sophie's allies back into the country."
Marshal Zinahue and the other Xiomeran defense officials nodded, as Calhualyana glared at the screens in front of her.
---
Lumière, Auria
Camp Namacuix - CSSC Aurian Peacekeeping Forces command center
Sunday, March 20th, 2022, 4:30am Aurian time
General Teoctlehue received the message from CSSC Corporate Headquarters in Huitzitaca with pleasure. It was simple and direct. Implement Wargame Response Plan 74-Delta-Red with immediate effect against designated location.
CSSC may not have been the real Imperial military. But with their training and equipment, they were stronger than the actual militaries of many nations, and they knew it. More to the point, they were still Xiomeran warriors. Many of them, such as Teoctlehue, had served their time under the Imperial banner before taking up a second career among the mercenaries. CSSC and its fighters did not like to lose, considering it a direct affront to their pride and martial dignity. The incident in Côte-Verte was like a slap in the face to every single CSSC merc, from the youngest private to the top dogs like Teoctlehue. It would not go unanswered.
CSSC was receiving a direct satellite feed from Imperial Intelligence, showing Teoctlehue the base which had been captured. "You fools poked the jaguar. It's time to show you the claws," he murmured, before pressing a button on his desk. "Begin WRP 74-D-R at enemy location immediately."
"Will we be waiting for the Aurians?" his 2IC asked.
Teoctlehue snarled. "If we could count on them, this base wouldn't have fallen in the first place. They can catch up to us."
Côte-Verte, Auria
Sunday, March 20th, 2022, 5:30am Aurian time
It began from the air.
The occupiers of the naval base in Côte-Verte would not have long to enjoy their victory. Two Xiomeran weapons systems, courtesy of the fine people at the Coatōn Corporation, would see to that. The first was the C280 Illhicamina MLRS. The armored, self-propelled rocket/missile launcher was capable of throwing up to 18 rounds a minute at targets up to 50 miles away. It was highly mobile, making it hard to kill from the air. It was named after the Huenyan word for "he who shoots arrows in the sky". Its arrows were far more dangerous than those of ancient times, however.
The second was the C2100 Eztecpatl (Bloodstone) 155mm self-propelled howitzer. Capable of continuously firing 13 rounds of MRSI shells per minute up to 30 miles away, the artillery system was usually used as indirect artillery to support ground operations. But first, it would be used with the C280 to pound the occupied naval base with a rain of steel and fire. The goals were simple: to soften up the enemy defenses, break the enemy's will to fight, and prepare the ground for the inevitable assault from the CSSC ground forces that would be coming behind the wave of hellfire from the sky. Once the base and its defenders were broken, CSSC would offer them one chance to surrender. If they refused, the orders were simple: move in and regain control of the base, ending resistance by any means necessary.
The base at Côte-Verte may have been seen by the enemy side as a chance at salvation. For CSSC, and those behind them, it was seen as a chance to make an example. One no one in Auria would ever forget.
Empress Camaxtica Imperial Armed Forces Central Command Complex, Tlālacuetztla
Sunday, March 20th, 2022, 2:00am Xiomeran time
"What the fuck is happening in Côte-Verte?" Calhualyana demanded bluntly. The Empress had arrived at the General Staff Headquarters on the sprawling Central Command in an extremely disgruntled mood. General Zinahue, Marshal of the Empire, did his best to remain calm. Chuanacoyo, the Minister of Defense, and Tochuitli, the Minister of Security, were trying to do the same. A pregnant Empress, in and of herself, was dangerous. A pregnant, surprised and thwarted Empress roused out of bed early was the stuff of nightmares. Marshal Zinahue silently gave a quick prayer before plunging into the briefing. "Last night, a group of rebellious Aurian soldiers and civilians took control of Lady Amelie's Naval Base outside the city. They appear to have taken both loyalist Aurian soldiers and CSSC mercenaries prisoner."
"I would be extremely displeased if these Aurian bumpkins dared to take Imperial soldiers prisoner. The fact that they have taken Xiomeran mercenaries prisoner is only slightly less of an insult. Either way, I expect a quick answer to this insolence. I trust King Andrew and General Michelin have a plan to do so?"
"That is the thing, your Majesty....we have not heard of any such plan. The events may be too fast moving for them, but so far, no one from our 'allies' has contacted us about this incident," Marshal Zinahue said. The Empress looked at, then through, Zinahue with eyes as sharp as the dagger at her waist. "No contact," she said flatly. Zinahue nodded. "We have heard from General Teoctlehue, the CSSC commander of the operation. He is as equally surprised that no one has moved to respond to this incident."
"Apparently, we have to do everything for these Aurian fools," Calhualyana responded with disdain. "Very well. Does Teoctlehue, at least, have a plan?" Zinahue nodded again, bringing up a series of battle plans, diagrams, orders of battle and schematics on the giant displays at the front of the room. CSSC considered it best practice for their firm to wargame and plan out responses to any plausible scenario that could arise during one of their operations, and be prepared to take quick action accordingly. The Aurian operation was no different. Calhualyana reviewed everything, then nodded in approval. "Tell Teoctlehue to get moving immediately, before these bastards have a chance to entrench themselves. If King Andrew or General Michelin object, tell them in as polite and diplomatic a way as possible to shut up and be thankful that Xiomerans know how to do what they apparently do not - retain control of a situation. They're welcome to send their own troops along with ours if they want - let them know that we, in fact, request and require they do so, as part of our mutual obligation to cooperate to maintain the peace in Auria. But whether the Aurians show up or not, CSSC is to move as soon as possible against the base. I will not allow these damned rebels to open a back door to let Queen Sophie's allies back into the country."
Marshal Zinahue and the other Xiomeran defense officials nodded, as Calhualyana glared at the screens in front of her.
---
Lumière, Auria
Camp Namacuix - CSSC Aurian Peacekeeping Forces command center
Sunday, March 20th, 2022, 4:30am Aurian time
General Teoctlehue received the message from CSSC Corporate Headquarters in Huitzitaca with pleasure. It was simple and direct. Implement Wargame Response Plan 74-Delta-Red with immediate effect against designated location.
CSSC may not have been the real Imperial military. But with their training and equipment, they were stronger than the actual militaries of many nations, and they knew it. More to the point, they were still Xiomeran warriors. Many of them, such as Teoctlehue, had served their time under the Imperial banner before taking up a second career among the mercenaries. CSSC and its fighters did not like to lose, considering it a direct affront to their pride and martial dignity. The incident in Côte-Verte was like a slap in the face to every single CSSC merc, from the youngest private to the top dogs like Teoctlehue. It would not go unanswered.
CSSC was receiving a direct satellite feed from Imperial Intelligence, showing Teoctlehue the base which had been captured. "You fools poked the jaguar. It's time to show you the claws," he murmured, before pressing a button on his desk. "Begin WRP 74-D-R at enemy location immediately."
"Will we be waiting for the Aurians?" his 2IC asked.
Teoctlehue snarled. "If we could count on them, this base wouldn't have fallen in the first place. They can catch up to us."
Côte-Verte, Auria
Sunday, March 20th, 2022, 5:30am Aurian time
It began from the air.
The occupiers of the naval base in Côte-Verte would not have long to enjoy their victory. Two Xiomeran weapons systems, courtesy of the fine people at the Coatōn Corporation, would see to that. The first was the C280 Illhicamina MLRS. The armored, self-propelled rocket/missile launcher was capable of throwing up to 18 rounds a minute at targets up to 50 miles away. It was highly mobile, making it hard to kill from the air. It was named after the Huenyan word for "he who shoots arrows in the sky". Its arrows were far more dangerous than those of ancient times, however.
The second was the C2100 Eztecpatl (Bloodstone) 155mm self-propelled howitzer. Capable of continuously firing 13 rounds of MRSI shells per minute up to 30 miles away, the artillery system was usually used as indirect artillery to support ground operations. But first, it would be used with the C280 to pound the occupied naval base with a rain of steel and fire. The goals were simple: to soften up the enemy defenses, break the enemy's will to fight, and prepare the ground for the inevitable assault from the CSSC ground forces that would be coming behind the wave of hellfire from the sky. Once the base and its defenders were broken, CSSC would offer them one chance to surrender. If they refused, the orders were simple: move in and regain control of the base, ending resistance by any means necessary.
The base at Côte-Verte may have been seen by the enemy side as a chance at salvation. For CSSC, and those behind them, it was seen as a chance to make an example. One no one in Auria would ever forget.
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