Battle of Red Cliff

[Union]

Introduction

March 12th
Red Cliff Island

  With the exodus of Harmony political members, the remnants of this prominent political group escaped to their remote island fortress in the east, along with a sizable military stockpile provided by sympathetic LA officers. Around 4,000 Harmony associates and 200 Loyanese Army sympathizers have holed up in Red Cliff, with a estimate fifteen months of supplies. Underground bunkers and ambush points were manned along the mountainous terrain of the island, a setup initiated five years ago by the Harmony Group who bought the island in anticipation of a indirect expansionist takeover of Parliament.

[Rock Briken]

OOC: Probably gonna get yelled at but you do know that Battle of red cliff was a battle that happened in feudal China. It was in the Three Kingdoms period. I think it is better known as Battle of Chi Bi. Where Zhuge Liang Helped Shu Defeat Cao Cao's massive army by using the wind to set Cao Caos' huge fleet up to flames. Which helped permanently weaken Cao Cao's chances of Unifying China under Wei.

[Gulliver]

OOC: I'd assume that's what's being referenced. Same reason there's a Gulbī-zhoh in Mor'os.

[Xyrael]

ooc: I actually believe the battle name is supposed to be a parallel to that, names of threads are usually plot devices in and of themselves.

ic:

Kaneko Daisuke watched television in his office even though there were numerous papers he was supposed to be shuffling through. He was immensely bored, and needed a break. He flipped through the stations, which remarked on Gelibolu terrorist attacks and attempted to note that they had been decreasing over the last several months. The unrest there had been going on for nearly a decade now, and only a few Xyraeli's had lost their lives despite almost daily gun battles. Surely a testiment to the warriors code. He flipped through another channel, raising his eyebrow as gravure models posed for a camera before changing the channel again to the regional news. Daisuke set his feet on his desk, smudging dirt and mud along a red folder.

Murming a few curses he moved to clean the document quickly, knowing his superiors would be angry at him for ruining the ominous folder, while a quick report on Loyan popped into his ears. "... Harmony flees Loyan, Imperium collaborationists fear widespread revolt..." and it was over as quick as it came. Sad that reports often reached the media before the government, especially ones this important, but the government was focusing more of Gelibolu now. He quickly grabbed a notepad, jotting what he could, before hustling out the small office towards his superior...

[Union]

Mystify by the lack of response from Navy patrols, Defense Intelligence agents reveal that naval commanders in charge of the East Lotus Sea sector had cast a blind eye to the Harmony fugitives escaping to Red Cliff. Five LN captains were arrested and court-martial, all five reveal to have Harmony sympathies and connections. In light of this, the State Military Commissioner struggles to deal with dissent within the Loyanese military, including the respected Grand Admiral Yerin Heng and Secretary General Min Kiari. After a displacement of the East Sea Flotilla commands with his supporters, the Military Commissioner order an assault on the island by marine forces and air bombardment. High General Hunin Lao and High Admiral Min Fing were assign to the operation.

At home, signs of civil unrest increased among the population, protestors taking to the streets in mass to speak out against the visible control the military was having over the Republic. With elections four months away, imperialist Districtors struggle to maintain public support, publishing brochures and articles that demonize the Harmony fugitives. This did little to contain the ever restless young public, driven by a fury of new age ideals and passive philosophies of the past...

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

Squadron Devilfire, airstrike on coast of Red Cliff
units: Ten LB-2 Fire Devils
payload: 100lb iron bombs

"Devilfire, approaching target area, all planes unlock munitions..."

"Coming up on White Point!"

"I'm picking up radar! We're being track!"

"Breakoff from approach, we got Sams on our hands."

"Data uplink from DID, they say no SAM sites in the vicinity, maintain attack approach guys."

"Affirmative Commander, all planes, dive down for attack approach! Devil Two moving in!"

........

"3, 2, 1, drop!"
"Drop!"
"Drop!"
....

"All iron bombs dispense! Devil One, confirm target hit..."

"All bunkers hit, we're moving in!"

.....

"All hits confirm!"

"all planes, return to base..."



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Eighteen air strike missions were launch that day, LB-2 bombers taking off from Coast Patrol One airbase with free fall iron bombs. Harmony bunkers and trenches were hit with impunity, with air bombing and naval bombardment by Navy destroyers. While the strikes were coordinated with satellite imagery and high altitude air recon, the strikes did surprisingly little damages to the island garrison, who receive early warning from their radar systems. Decoy bunkers were hit and prominent defensive positions were hidden below the jungle forage. Hiding deep inside underground tunnels, Harmony fighters escaped the worst of the bombings. In five days, a marine assault force will land to face the well fortify resistance fighters...

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

SLS Fire Bow, twenty-three kilometers northeast of Red Cliff Island

"Captain, I think you should see this..."

"What is it Agar?"

"RWS is picking up a digital signal...it's encrypted..."

"What? That's strange...pinpoint the transmitter."

"O...kay...hmm? It's coming two hundred kilometers 310 degrees from our position...that's open water."

"Commercial shipping?"

"Let me check...I'm picking up no reflector or IFF band...maybe malfunction...but this encryption..."

"Send over the transmission to DI...Lieutenant, put us a heading towards Mr. Jien's coordinates, full power."

"Captain, the signals gone..." 

"Give chase, I think we have trespasser! Alert Naval Command!"

"We have the SLS Resurrection and SLS Black Sword on call..."

"Call them in, Lieutenant."

"SLS Resurrection and SLS Black Sword, this is SLS Fire Bow. We have detected a unknown signal on radio band, requesting backup for pursuit..."

[Xyrael]

A IXN submarine submerged quickly underwater as sonar slowly became aware of her presences, the Xyraeli captain barked orders to a sleu of his compatriots. A variety of profanities and orders made the con a verifiable beacon of noise, and the submarine plunged into the depths. She had just finished relaying a message to the Harmony group, but she was still in international waters. If she didn't report back in several hours, the government would find it necessary to investigate the circumstances of her disappearance, but it was better if the vessel was not caught in the vicinity of Harmony group. She approached 780m depth and cut her engines, silently drifting near the sea bottom.

[Union]

The three Loyanese destroyers found nothing at the location of the signal. Whatever it was, it had evaded them and disappear. The SLS Fire Bow noted a slight blimp in its sonar as it approached the location, which shortly disappeared. High Admiral Min Kiari promptly order a immediate sweep of the area with aircraft sonar probe, but the lack of practical launch sites in the vicinity and the limited-range of Sea Hinds thwarted this response.

DI analysts concluded that the radio transmission was for the Red Cliff resistance, bringing out HOLA's fear of third party involvement. So far, no suspects have been drawn up due to lack of evidence or clues. The DI's Egnima Section, forefront of Loyanese code-breaking operations, was having major difficulty in breaking the digital signal. The signal was encrypted in a complex logarithmic code with a 128+ bit dual encryption. Officials commented that it will take a least several months before the signal can be decrypted with the present DAD-1 decryption system. Some sources say that it will take a least two years for DAD-1 to break the ultra-sophisticated code. Until then, HOLA will be stalk by this mystery party in its efforts to  eradicate the Harmony fugitives.

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

15:32 - Alrin Beach, southeast shore of Red Cliff Island

"Load!"

"Ready!"

Ppooshh

Smoke bellow out the muzzles of Loyanese destroyers as they bombard the beach with shells. Sand and shale explodes into the air as the shells crash down, ripping apart the barbwire and stakes that the resistance fighters laid to obstruct the marine landing. The empty ships that the Harmony fugitives escape on are also targets. The water becomes slick black with fuel oil around these burning hulks. Overhead, the LAA makes a last bombing run on bunkers along the coastal hills and cliffs. They made sure to hit Harmony radar sites reveal by satellite. For over half an hour, the entire face of the island becomes saturated with the black smoke of TNT. 

As the bombardment finishes, the Navy's landing crafts move in towards shore, their decks crowded with scores of Marines. The total landing force is 2300 marines and sixty T-64s. On LC 171, a marine captain deals with his restless company.

"Alright guys! This is it!"

"Captain, tell me why the we're doing this again?"

"...What?"

"I SAID, WHY THE FUCK ARE WE DOING THIS! Catching a bunch of runaways is State Police's job!"

"These guys are packing serious heat, and the brass wants us to take care of them. Just follow orders Sergeant!"

"Ile's right, this is fucking politics. We're risking our lives for a bunch of paranoid polticians on Anyia!"

"Not another word! Just do your job people, and we'll be alright..."

"Beach coming up! Two minutes! Heaven bless ya!"

"Alright boys! Let's do this!"

The landing craft hits hard into the sand and the large bow door swings open. Marines file and spread out along the blacken beach.

"Safety off!"

The men of Company 171 scurries up the beach with their MD-2 rifles in hand, their head and body bend low. They came up upon a dirt tunnel dug into the ground, the entrance walled with sandbags. A line of trenches lay thirty yards ahead. Not a single resistance fighter is seen.

The captain motions towards his men. "Squad 1 and 2, you're clearing this bunker with me! The rest if you check out those trenches. Move out!"

They enter the dark earthen tunnel, which leads them to a room fifty feet beneath the surface. The marines switches on their helmet lights, the florescent beams illuminating the dirt walls of the bunker. A few chairs and crates litter the ground, but other than that it was empty.

"This place is empty..."

"Ile! Check out that entrance at the back!"

The sergeant and two other marines walk into the dark entrance the captain pointed at. A few second later, voices echo from the other side. Sergeant Ile and five marines runs out, three extra.

"Captain! This tunnel leads to the trenches! The entire place is empty..."

"Please tell me we got the right island...."

"Alright, there's another bunker up on the side of the beach! Move out!"

Company 171 searches through the five other bunkers along Alrin Beach. They found mortar pits and machine gun nests, but no Harmony fighter in sight. The other companies noted the same; empty beach bunkers and trenches, but no one manning them. It appear that the Harmony fighters chosed to retreat rather than fight.

"What a bloody waste of time..."

"Alright everyone, new orders. We're to secure this area for base operations while 5th Regiment check out the woods."

A tense private breaths a sigh of relief. "Looks like we're safe for awhile...right Captain?"

---------------------------------------------------------       
 
From behind the mountain curtain of the island's interior, Harmony fighters came out from their underground bunkers, dug right into the rock face and bedrock. Wasting no time, they manned their howitzer batteries, hidden under camouflage netting and the tropical forage of the mountain slopes facing the beaches. Before the military realizes it, the Harmony fighters were lobing 155mm shells onto pre-sighted spots on the beach, fifty-two minutes after the Marines landed.

"This don't feel right Doctor...shooting at our own people..."

"Don't think about it, keep loading!"

"Back! Firing!"

Boom...shink

"That's five shots, all guns turn five degrees clockwise!"

"Loading!"

"Clear!"

"Back!...Fire!"

A volley fire hammers the Loyanese forces on Alrin Beach. Many struggle to retreat back to their boats to escape the surprise bombardment, some taking refuge inside the abandon beach bunkers themselves. LB-1s from the mainland are hastily dispatch to take out the enemy artillery, arriving after a long and devastating bombardment that kills three hundred Marines, sinks seventeen landing crafts, and destroying twenty-two tanks. The destroyer, SLS Resurrection, manages to take out three howitzer positions with it's 130mm gun before air support arrived. In any case, the artillery barrage caught military planners by surprise, and force them to rethink the entire operation.

A second wave had to be launch to reestablish beachhead positions. At 12:40 in the night, the military manages to set up field operations along Alrin and land 2,000 additional marines and supplies. Much of the enemy's big guns were taken out in the counterstrike, but several marine positions were harassed by mortar fire throughout the night. Company 162 was reported to have made contact with resistance fighters, which broke out into a night skirmish. The next step of the operation will be to break through the belt of dense jungle that covers the main positions of Harmony fighters. 





       

[Xyrael]

Lieutenant Iesada Daiko looked to the the Harmony commanders while scratching his head, looking over the hastily prepared map which showed troops deployments. He pointed to the map amidst a fierce debate about how to best defend the island now that the enemy had been gven a foothold, the officers had debated this point fiercely, and Daiko had supported the idea of a light coastal defense, but in the end command had chosen the element of surprise. His finger, however, interrupted the debate.

"I suggest that you gather 300 men, give them tree climbing spikes, and four days rations, rifles with six clips of ammo, and deploy them near the enemy lines. Preferably the men with the best marksmanship. Have them set up in the trees and wait for the enemy advance, and give them one way radio's so they can be informed when to return. It'd be best to start picking off the enemy before they arrive, make them paranoid and restless at night, and wary of their logistics. If they worry, they will become impotent in their offense."

The two forces were fairly balanced, and though the marines had tanks and air support, the Harmony group had been fortifying the island for a decade, and knew the terrain far better than these foreigners. Lieutenant Iesada had even helped train several groups of the men in SNLF tactics, who he'd asked to be specially deployed as the first line of true defense, these skirmishers he personally considered expendable.

[Union]

Commander Wilun shook his head. Once again, he was conflicting with the Xyraelian lieutenant. Daiko's choice of tactics went against his experiences in the Academy, and it regularly erupted into a malicious debate on military doctrine.

"Keeping our men still in trees...we lose the momentum of our assault! It will be better to make surprise attacks and fall back to our bases, keep our operations moving in all directions. If we keep still, the military will eventually overpower us!"

Commander Rilan immediate realize another potential argument, and jumped in. "Well Wilun, I don't think point snipers in our vanguard is a bad idea. Lieutenant, I will gather as many sharpshooters as I can for your operation."

Commander Wilun turns and walks away. "Do whatever you want...I'm gonna go grab some tea." 

[Union]

March 21st to April 3rd, Red Cliff Island

On the morning of March 21st, the Loyanese marine forces foray into the jungle woodwork that divides the shore beaches from the elevated interior. In this dense foliage, visibility and mobility is heavily restricted, a perfect scenario for ambushes. The majority of the military's T-64 tanks are left behind, their deployment restricted by the jungle terrain.

Throughout the operation, the marine forces are harass by resistance fighters making use of shoot-and-run tactics. Firefights last an average of twenty seconds to two minutes, before resistance fighters retreat back to their hill hideouts. Mines and snipers were also encounter, the former inflicting the most casualties. Marines try their best to avoid this by traveling on rocky terrain that prevent the deployment of mines. However, a trade off is vulnerability to ambushes and sniping by traveling on these narrower confines. Nevertheless, the marine force advances steadily through the jungle, securing the areas three miles from shore.

The next day, the marine forces again pushes up the jungle belt, which begins to slope upwards towards the mountains. Here, they meet the first line of Harmony resistance: Four miles of hidden machine gun nests, dense minefields, various ambush points, and barbed trenches...all manned. Engagements becomes more define and heavy, with relatively expose marines fighting against well-dug in resistance fighters. Both sides are equally equipped on the same lines. The marines have better training experience in general, but the resistance fighters weren't untrained either...

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

"Cover me!"

"Covering fire!"

Private Hido Ching runs up the slope, his feet digging down on wet soil as he made his way towards the machine gun nest. Bullets flew by him, and the crackle of tree bark shattering peppers around him. He jumps into a shallow hole in front, and ducks down. He reaches for a grenade on his flak jacket.

"Hido, can you see it!"

"Yeah, muzzle flash's coming from the clutter of bushes!"

"Jin, you're up! Covering fire!"

Jin jumps out from behind his tree and proceeds up the slope. Ten yards into his run, 8mm rounds impact into his chest, and his slumps back and crashes to the ground.

"Shit! Jin!"

"Fucking bastards!"

"He's not moving Commander! Someone help him!"

"You keep still Private! Hido, cover us!"

Hido pockets his grenade and peeks out from his cover. He takes aim and sprays his MD-2 at the machine gun's position. His teammate moves out from behind. The commander jumps into his hole, his MD-2 firing in bursts.

"Stagger run and engage! Hido, lobe your grenade!"

Hido retrieves his grenade and throws it hard into the air. It lands three metres away from the foliage nest and explodes in a flash of white. There was a scream and the cease of machine gun fire. Hido sigh in relief, and gets up from his hole. Seconds later, machine gun fire starts up again.

"Everyone down!"

Everyone scurries for cover, but a few slow marines were knock down as rounds hit them.

"What the fuck?!?"

"There's another one! On our three o'clock!"

"Fuck! Nests are set up on crossfire!"

"Commander, I'm bleeding here..."

"Lieutenant, tend to his wound. Everyone else, we need to flank that nest!"

"Hido, you and me!"

They run out from their cover, splitting in two prongs. Branches and leaves brushing their face as they ran, a marine trip on a tree root and falls. As he recovers, machine gun fire rips across him and his body slumps. They continue onwards, now drawing in small arms fire from more resistance fighters. Suddenly, the air explodes around them.

Hido is knock backwards by the blast. He sees the commander flipping violently into the air. His head hit the ground. More explosions, more screams. Hido rolls to the side, backing onto a thick tree. His head twist and turn, the ringing in his head unbearable. Looking in all directions, he sees the bodies of his squad, including the commander, sown across the jungle floor. Fire from the machine gun nest continues.

Hido feels a nudge in his shoulder. He turns around, and sees his partner crouch by his side.

"You alright? Say something man!"

"Uh..."

"You good?"

"Uh..yeah I'm good..."

A bullet glances off the tree, cracking the tree bark. "It's not safe here! Move!"

His partner pulls him down down the slope, and behind a rock outcrop. He takes takes off the magazine from his rifle and loads another one.

"We got hammer good, if we stay here, they're gonna flank us. Get back to the Lieutenant and call up the air force. Go!"

"Kay.."

Hido struggles to his feet, and runs down the slope, scrambling from tree to tree to avoid enemy fire. He finally reaches the lieutenant, who finished patching up the wound. The lieutenant sees him and runs up to him.

"What the fuck's going on? I heard explosives..."

"The Commander's dead..."

"What?"

"...We need to call in the airforce, that nest is tearing us apart..."

"LAA has their hands full as it is, we're not the only ones with problems..."

"Just call in the damn planes!"

"Alright..."

The lieutenant grabs the handset from his belt, and dials in the codes on the keypad. A loud beep comes out from the handset, announcing the radio unlock.

"Dovetail, Dovetail...this is Company 89....Company 89....someone fucking answer!"

"shh...Dovetail 109 here over..."

"Company 89 requesting an air strike on heavy enemy vantage point, over."

"...shh....that's not possible, all air slots are full...you're on your own Company 89..ove...."

"Negative Dovetail, we're outnumber and outgun, we can't proceed with our advance with the enemy pissing on us! My CO is dead for fuck sakes..."

"........I got a LB-1 coming back for loadup...thirty-six minutes till it gets to you..."

"Thirty minutes? We'll be dead by then!"

"That's all I can do...I got Company 126 in your rear, you want them?"

"Send them in! Tell them to load up on smokies cause we're out!"

"Can do..."

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

For the next ten days, the Marine force slugged against the the resistance fighters in the dense and hilly jungle area. Losses were heavy and morale ran low among the marines. They managed to take several jungle trails and roads leading into the island interior, at heavy cost from road mines and ambush points establish by the resistance fighters. Air recon later revealed the cutoff of the mountain roads by rock rubble created by the resistance fighters with blasting explosives. The marines are now force to travel through narrow trails that limited their effectiveness and use of armor. They are continue plaque by ambushes and improvised traps. A total of 590 marines are confirm dead in the first week of action.   
   



 

       

 

[Union]

   The sound of crackling wakes Hido Ching. He feels a deep warmness on one side of his body and numb flesh on the other. His head turns towards the warm side. A blazing heat beats down on his face, flashes of orange dance on his eyelids. He opens his eyes, and sees the flames of a campfire in front of him. A figure stood on the other side of the fire, eyeing him.

"Finally awake son?"

"..huh...?"

Hido struggles up, that's when a sharp pain in his thigh hits him. He moans out and clutches his eyes shut in pain as a buzzing shock grips him.

"Careful, your leg ain't heal yet..." the man said.

Hido opens his eyes and looks down onto his thigh. It was wrap in a heavy coil of bandages, parts of it soak with blood spots.

"What...happen?..."

   Rather than give an answer, the man got up from his seat with an object in his left hand. He circles around the fire and stop to stand over Hido. Hido looks up...the face was unfamiliar. The man look in his fifties, but his shoulder was broad and his stance upright. For most part, he looks strong and his eyes are sharp and attentive.

   The man hands Hido the plate. On it was a serving of white rice and cooked winter melon. Hido hesitates, then the empty feeling in his stomach reconciles he. He takes the plate.

   "Eat up," the man says. He hands down a plastic fork. Hido munches down on his meal. The winter melon was soft and saucy, whoever made it was a good cook. Gradually, the hunger in his stomach lifts and his body begins to rejuvenate.

"Good meal..."

"Yeah...so you remember anything kid?..."

"Remember anything?...."

     His mind clicks...his memories start flooding back in. He was in the jungle, being stalk by machine gunfire. Bodies of his comrades laid around him, their faces blank and lifeless. There were shouting voices around him, the voices got closer. Then...there was blank.

Realizing where he was, he instinctively reaches out for his rifle. His hands touches nothing but dirt.

"Woah there! Calm down...I guess you marines are as skimpy as we thought..."

   Sudden fear grips the private, he tries to stand up. The old man steps back and pulls out a pistol. He points it at Hido, his finger tight on the trigger. "Don't move, or I'll shoot," the old man says, his voice dub with seriousness. The feeling of friendliness from before was lost. 

The private drops back down in compliance. After a moment of silence, the old man holsters his sidearm. "So, memory coming back now?" he smirks. Hido says nothing. He knows for sure now...this old man was with Harmony. Scanning his location, Hido also realizes he was in a cave. Rock walls tower over him.

"You gonna say anything?"

"...where's my squad..."

"Dead...all except you."

"Where am I?"

"In the interior of the island, our mountain stronghold."

"And you are?..."

"Me? I use to be a spokesman for the Loyanese Harmony Group. Now, I'm a criminal...a least according to the government. And who are you?"

"...your prisoner I assume..."

"You're a smart kid...now why don't you put that fork down. I'm not falling for that one...especially with you injured in the leg."

The old man grins. Outsmarted, Hido throws the plastic fork into the fire.

"Good. Now forget about escaping and get some sleep. We have a lot to talk about in the morning..."

[Union]

Hido woke up the next morning to find the old man standing beside him with a bowl of congee. As they sat and ate at the opening of the cave, they began to chat.

"Nice place you guys got here..."

"It is...beautiful, yet practical for our needs. We bought this island several years ago from a mining company doing some prospecting here in these mountains. They were looking for metal ore, drilling deep tunnels and shafts into the rock,...came up with nothing."

"Guess those tunnels did you some good..."

"Sure did. We even added a few of our own, a couple dozen guys will come here every summer to dig up new holes and burrows. It was my brother's idea, he predicted this whole thing, this clash with the military."

"You have a brother?"

"My older brother, we fought side by side in Ryon."

"You were in Ryon?"

"Served as foot infantry in the Army. 6th Marshal Regiment. I lost a lot of good buddies in that war, and killed a lot of people that didn't deserve to die...reasons why I became a Harmony member. Loyan, it's a great country with wealth and power...and the path it takes may affect the world. It all comes down to choosing the right path."

"And what is the right path?"

"That's up to every Loyanese to decide...either the path of war and glory.....or the path of harmony and enlightenment. I prefer the later."

"So you guys are about making sure that the "right path" is taken?"

"We're about protecting the rights of every Loyanese citizen; the rights to make the choices on their path.
We keep entities like the military from cheating away these rights. Loyan is not what it use to be, we're a democratic nation of decent people with much to spare. We can't stay a bunch of paranoid military men forever, especially not now.
We need new goals, goals that benefit all of Tai,...All under Heaven."

"All under Heaven..."

"Harmony to all..."

"...guess I shouldn't be here, fighting against you guys."

"Don't feel bad kid, soldiers are usually the last to realize how bullshits some of their orders are." 

"Haha, I guess so."

"I never told you my name. The boys call me Rilan."

"Hido...Private Hido Ching."

The two watched as noon broke, and the shadow of the mountains stunted. In the distant, the rumble of artillery fire echoes out in song...

[Union]

ooc: My first attempt at an RP comic. It features the naval skirmish part of this RP, between the massive Xyraelian Navy and my small squadron of outdated destroyers (And yes, I have permission to RP his forces). The first two pages aren't the best cause I rushed for the most part, hope you guys like it anyways. More will come along as I get time to work on it.

[Gulliver]

OOC: Still beats anything that I'd ever be able to make. I applaud you

[Union]

lol, thanz Prag