Operation Ironhide, Valideen Involvement in the Great Border War

[Validus]

All was quite aboard the plane. All was quiet in the sky. Up in the cockpit the Pilots had a stern look on his face. "Jim, this isn't right. I don't get this," He looked down at his radar monitor, "not even a Jamming signal. Still got clear comms." I have a bad feeling about this. He pressed a button, "Listen up ladies and gentlmen, This is your captain speaking. We have tree zero minutes gentlemen drop. So say your last words on a Valideen piece of equipment for awhile. out."

~Thanato

[Dysanii]

As the Valideen invasion commenced, all was hectic on the Dysanii coast. Troops scuttled to their own emplacements and bunkers, manning machine guns, howitzers, tanks, and anything else that would hurt Valideen soldiers. Men even threw themselves into light trench networks.  From small and large airfields across this region of the country, swarms of planes of all varieties and ages were hastily sent skywards to counter the infringement of enemy aircraft. Hordes of recruits were herded into positions stretching across the invasion front and mingled with professional troops, whilst civilians were given any arms that could be mustered and incorporated into the 'Home Defense Town and City Garrison' scheme. If the Valideen forces were not overcome by numbers, every Dysanii knew their duty; no matter what the cost, they would lay down their lives to repulse the foreign aggressors.

The Copperville Provisional government even congratulated the efforts of the Republic to defend Dysanii soil, and sent their own Emperors Volunteer Army, which had swelled greatly, and Imperial Guards to add to the substantial home guard effort under Republic command. Dysanii was fighting total war, on a unified front, and was ready for this. Now that an internal threat of foreign aggression had been met, the morale of the men on the Canadian front lifted - it was now not their job, but their purpose to hold the captured cities, and that they would do. The navy remained at key positions along the coast were support from the shore was large and deadly; they were not needed to uselessly engage the ships of the Valideen and their allies - once the brunt of the ground invasion had been bore, the attack on the invaders supply lines would start, and Dysanii would bleed the Valieen menace from the sea.

[Validus]

**Pegasus**

The Light in the back of the lead aircraft turned from Red to yellow, then to green. "GO! GO! GO!" The Entire Airborne Division jumped out of the Valideen Aircraft. Hitting the dirt. Sergeant Carlson rounded up his section fast. Their objective was just three kilomters away. A small bridge that was still left standing after the massive aerial bombardment. In all only a dozen major bridges were still standing. The rest were knocked out by the air or by cruise missiles fired from the sea. All of the standing bridges were within walking distance of the DZs.

**Sea Serpent**

The Sea was now filled with hundreds of landing craft. Older model LCAs newer model LAV-Ts and even AAAVs. LCTs were also in the mix. In all over 100,000 Men and women of the Royal Marine Expeditionary Force and the Royal Army were about to storm the beaches of Dysanii.

**IVS Stormount, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer**

"Sir, Enemy warship baring 143 Degrees. Distance 14 Kilometers and closing at 26 knots." said a Sub-Lieutenant manning Surface Radar.

"Weapons, get me a firing sulution. Tell the Flag ship about the hostile.

~Thanato

[Republic of Valhene]

District Air Defense Launcher Number 21

"Viag! We are getting message from Central..."

"Is it orders to engage?"

"I am reading it....All ADLs in Valhene District...enemy invasion underway....switch radar on now....operate configuration 67EE....jamming Countermeasure F Band 38G32 and G Band 38A281....engage all aircraft within range...our aircraft will remain out of sector...free engagement....message out and good luck."

" It seems our wait is over, and HQ even manage to figure their jamming! What are we waiting for? let's turn on the radar!"

"These foreigners are in for a surprise...hehe..."

Lieutenant Gior got up from the communication console and into the main console of his Patriot missile truck. He flips the power switch and waits for the OS to load. Meanwhile, Viag putted on his jacket and went outside.

"....Ah, finally finish. Okay fucking Westerners....time to eat Patriot."

...Radar activated....Configuration G7EE...Track-via-Missile...Countermeasure Protocol Y/N?....Please enter....system configuration complete....Patriot PAC-2 Air Defense System Online....

Viag reenters the vehicle, taking off his jacket and throwing it in his seat. "Vien and Tokia has the launchers up and the missiles are armed. What do we have?"

"Radar still warming up.....Ah! Here we go....Viag, get onto your console!"

"I'm on it!"

On the radar screen several dozen bogeys lit up. Data tags floated above the red dots, displaying range and speed.

"Fucking hell, we got a shitload of crows...clearing clutter....tracking total of 14 non-friendly within 100 km. 23 within 150 km...."

"Targeting closest targets to us...give the fire order?"

"Shoot them down, them cowards..."

Outside, the four tubes on the Patriot System Trailer bursted in a hot glow. The missiles shot out at consecutive order, all four flying towards their designated targets. The first missile headed toward a Validian para drop plane flying too slow to evade. Not that it matter, within a minute the Mach 5  Patriot locked on and slammed into the plane's fuselage. The rest was history.

"We got a big one...now let's see how their fighters fare..."

"Hit...Hit...Hit...bastards are flying in mass formation."

"Idiots..."

"We will do the same, no?"

"I don't like to judge our Air Force brothers...go tell Vien and Tokia to reload faster..."

"They are doing their best...as are we..."

"Eh, I pray our boys on the beaches fare as well as us..."

"Hey, you want a burger?"

"Are they still open?"

"Yeah, their lights are still on."

"Yeah get me a cheeseburger."

Viag opened and closed the door. Zipping up his jacket, he began walking across the pavement. A group of teenage girls wave and giggle at him.

"Go home! Your mothers are worry sick!"
"Not until you give us a kiss!"
"Hehe...don't think your fathers will like that..."

Viag enters the burger joint, who's parking lot they been hiding in for the last three hours. The small town it was in was just 21 miles from the beach where the enemy was making their ill fated attack.

"Evening, I like two Super Cheddars, easy on the onions."

"Coming right up sir, you want fries with that?"

"Sure, give me lots of ketchup too."

"So Corporal, where you heading next?"

"I'm not at liberty to say, haha...anywhere to prevent the enemy from pinpointing us."

"Well good luck to you, the whole town is cheering for you! Ah, here's your order, no onions. Anything else?"

"Ah, good. How much I owe you?"

"It's on the house, anything for our boys in uniform!"

"Haha! Thank you Miss, very kind. Now, I must go to work...this uniform comes with obligations!"

"Bye!"   

----
From Air Defense Launcher 1-25, operators switched on their radar and engaged the enemy drop planes and their escort fighters heading for their beaches. Missiles flew into the air at regular intervals. Spectators on the ground could hear a continual rumble as dozens of Patriot broke the sound barrier.

The enemy thought they could come in with a surprise air attack, how badly they will pay for underestimating them. What did think we were? Peasants and farmers? Oh no, what they are facing are the home groomed warriors of the Republic, boys of Valhene, and the sons of generals!



----

"General, report from the Valhene District."
"Lay it on me Colonel."
"53 of 58 mobile Patriot launchers left intacted. We receive word from several batteries that the anti-jamming solution Intelligence provided was successful. A total of 137 enemy planes shot down so far. Looks like the decoys worked."
"Good, those boys in Intel sure were fast in a jamming solution. Give them my commendations."
"Sure hell of a good move Louis, turning on those old radar stations for the enemy to waste their missile on."
"First thing in air defense, you never expose your assets and you keep your enemy guessing, always."
"And that is why you graduated ahead of me..."
"Haha, don't feel so bad Leo, you were not bad...you make Colonel no?"
"Cut it with the old country accent, your parents might be Olganian but you're pure bred Republican."
"Haha, I joke!"
"Get serious Vassa, we got an invasion underway..."
"I know...a lot at stake...but we will win, no?"



-
   

[Validus]

"Hawk One, they got Big Bird. I say again, they got Big Bird," said one of the F-35s.

"Jasper, copy do you see the sticks?"

"Roger, sticks floating in the breeze."

"Hawk One, Jasper, this is Fife Six. AWACs located Ack Ack in your area. You are to commence fast attack. Be advised it is located in Civilian area, over."

"Hawk One Roger, over"

"Jasper, Roger, over,"

"Roger, sending Target Location to your systems now, out."

The two F-35s turned wing and approached on an attack vector towards the Missile battery that took out the C-130. "Hawk One, target in sight, do you see him?"

"Roger that Jasper, I laz you shoot?"

"Wilco that Hawk One."

Over the radio they heard the crys of another doomed transport. Then there was another transmission "All Stations this is flight, Sticks are in the wind, sky train come on home."

"Be accurate with this one Hawk One, we got civvies in the area."

"Jasper Target lazed,"

"Roger," His F-35 dove in a steep attack run. "Bombs away," he pulled up fast and circled around to join Hawk One's wing. Moments later the two 500 lb laser guided bombs struck within 3 meters of the laser mark. "Target destroyed, I say again, Target Destroyed. Minimal Collateral damage, possible fire in adjacent building. Resuming on original mission."

**0300**

It was a bright starlit night. "Ok, we are going to take up positions along this ridge. He pointed at a dirt map. The Dysanii have a minimal security on the bridge. "Ok, Recce showed they have positions on the north and south ends of the bridge. They maybe have two sections worth of men. Defending this objective, and we have the element of surprise. Ok, we move in 3 minutes."

The platoon took up positions along a ridge that rand parallel to a road and the river. "On my signal," whispered the platoon commander. He took aim, and then popped off a single shot. Right then the ridge erupted in a single volley of weapons fire, taking out the guards on the north side of the bridge. The platoon Commander ordered 2 and 3 sections to move up and secure the norther side. The other two sections were to supply suppressing fire to the southern side of the bridge. Moving under fire 2 section was the first to reach the entrance to the bridge. Shortly their after 3 section also reached that location. They were held up by a lone rifleman on the south side. Until he was taken out.

~Thanato

[Delfos]

Admiral Alberto: "We need help taking out enemy ships for heavy landing in far northeast!"

[Aquatoria]

"Admiral Trudeau, the Delfians are calling in aid." cried Vice-Admiral Hudson.

The admiral nodded. "Alright, tell the Delfians that the High Seas Fleet is coming."

"But sir, we need to keep some ships behind to continue the bombardment for the Valideen." replied Hudson. "I suggest we take the Inglish Columbia, the Emperor Paul and their escorts."

Trudeau nodded. "Very well Vice Admiral, tell the ships to move out and hurry. We need to get their as fast as we can."

The Canadian flagship and the supercarrier moved to reinforce the Delfians with the best. The High Seas Fleet was known world-wide as the "Undefeated Fleet". They had never seen defeat. The two massive ships and their escorts moved to the northeast in an effort to help their allies.

[Republic of Valhene]

(click to show/hide)

ooc: 200 pounds of TNT plus 300 pounds of forged steel = heavy collateral damage

Valhene is the peninsula of Dysanii

"I'm back, what happen so far?"

"I got two enemy LO fighters that just took out ADL 26 in Wilclay while reloading! Get on your console!"

"Shit!"

"The 26th radar hasn't been hit yet, I'm tracking them through it."

"Looks like stealthers, better hit them before they run..."

GA26 RADAR, disconnection with LANCH 26...
relinking with HDL network 703...linking with LANCH 21....tracking request granted

"Firing off two Pats, ETA to proximity 43 seconds, bogeys receding at 900 kph and accelerating...losing resolution!"
"Let me try something."

LANCH 21 linking with AWACS 223 Valheen
Datalink established, coordinating with PAT-321SS3

"I got telemetry from AWACS in Culleville, should boast the resolution!"
"Too late, we lost them!"

Tracking resolution to time delay too low...unable to lock targets...self-destruct missiles Y/N?

Gior banged on his console.   

"Dispatch to Central, request F pattern for our ADL to cover each other's downtime. Tell them we got hostile aircraft operating on Low Observable Nature, and the Air Force should get it's ass off and help us cover the sky."

-----

In the dazzle of the air war happening above, sirens wailed through the many sleeping towns and cities of Valhene. District Guardsmen kissed and said goodbye to their love ones and headed to their Assembly Grounds. Many watched the war unfold on their televisions, many yelling in anger at the trespasses of the foreigners. The late night soon turn into a frenzy of excitement and pandemonium, as people trumped through the starts at 4 am in the morning as if it was the afternoon. "Not one inch of Valhene" became the slogan of these patriots; a promise they all intend on keeping.

The enemy bombardment of the main military arsenals left 10,000 Army regulars understrength. They were immediate sent to the emergency underground arsenals of West Valhene by rail and trailer trucks on order of General Vassa. The local District Guardsmen kept their equipment at home, hence were better prepare at the moment. They will join the 55,000 Army regulars of the formidable 6th Republican Army in the beach defense of East Valhene.

Over the sky, the Air Force barely bravely held off the score of enemy fighters invading their airspace, and shot down those that were returning after they had defile their homeland. Any enemy sortie that slipped through was left to the highly trained and integrated Patriot mobile air defense and land based CIWS. From West Valhene, fighters of the elite Black Sparrow squadron launched an attack on the flanks of the invasion fleet. The bulk of the Canadian Fleet presented a large target, their anti-ship missiles had no problem locking onto warships, intended or not. A local fighter squadron joined in the attack, taking out pesky Delfian AWACS with anti-EC missiles.

As the Validians approached with their landing craft, they found themselves under the fire of mobile Dysaniian artillery from shore. Cluster shells dropped from the sky, scattering dozens of mini-explosive warheads over the area. Men were ripped to pieces when a random warhead dropped into their craft and exploded. That was not the last of it, the Dysaniian defense had other weapons in their arsenal for the situation. 3,000 lb Wavemakers launch from bombers created large shockwaves that swept across the sea surface, capsizing any landing craft within the blast radius. If they survive that, they will be facing concrete bunkers armed with 30mm cannons design to penetrate any landing craft armor and kill those hiding behind it.

 







     




 
 

[Validus]

OOC: I havn't commenced the Beach landings yet. Only the Airborne, hence the battle at that bridge. Also the majority of my landing craft are also AFV (Advanced Fighting Vehicles) The AAAV and the LAV-T (Both are also equiped with 30mm Cannons). Also a portion of your bunkers are taken out. Remember they have been targeting the beaches.

Also you are putting the majority of your forces inland instead of at the beaches?

~Thanato

[Republic of Valhene]

(click to show/hide)

ooc: That is what you will expect once you attempt to land. I'm not too worry about your cannons seeing how they are mounted on small craft that will most definitely rock in the ocean, hence degrade their accuracy. Also note that since the beach will slope upwards from the water, My troops will have complete defilade because of the terrain.

I'm assuming enough of my ground defenses are intact from your air strike attempts, seeing how you completely ignore air defense. Most of my regulars are situated on the beach and reinforced with 50,000 Republic Guards. The rest of my forces will be inland, seeing how it's unrealistic to defend the long coastline I have been charged to defend. Instead, i will concentrate my forces in the northern tip of Valhene. I will also have National Guards stay in their home towns posing as civilians. If you do make a breakthrough at a beachhead, I will pose minimal resistance and allow you to march into middle Valhene. Once that happen, you will be trap by my forces in the north, and a sizable force in the southern districts  . Your flanks will be open to me, and if you try to attack my troops in the north, your rear will be open to my southern reinforcements. If you try to break into main  Dysanii, your rear will be expose to my troops in the north. so either way, you are stuck  . Once that happens, I'll let attrition take over.

And since I reveal my plans in ooc, I will assume you won't know about it, would you? 

[Validus]

OOC: So the majority of your troops are defending the northern end of the Peninsula?

~Thanato

[Aquatoria]

"Admiral, enemy ships coming onto radar. They are engaging the Delfian Navy. They will be within cruise missile range in a few minutes, but our fighters can reach them. Shall we open fire?" asked Vice-Admiral Hudson. The task force sent to help the Delfians had arrived just in time to join the battle.

"Vice Admiral, let our fighters fly. We will assist the Delfians and then when our ships come within cruise missile range, open fire. When we are within cruise missile range, switch to evasive manuvers. Understood?"

"Aye, aye, sir." cried Vice-Admiral Hudson. "Let the fighters go. They are to engage the Dysaniian fleet with everything they got."

The men at the controls nodded and made the orders a reality. The Emperor Paul let their fighters go. The fighters gathered into three large wedge formations and flew to the Delfians' aid. The fighters were finally able to engage the Dysaniian Navy. The pilots were surprised at the size of the Dysaniian fleet. It seemed to be a majority of their northern fleet. The squadron leaders called back to the fleet. They all agreed, they might need some more ships. Air Commodore Thomas sent a message to all nearby task forces. "Calling in all ships! We have a large formation of Dysaniian ships cruising at the coordinates Delta Alfa Tango 12. This is to all task forces in the area. Requesting aid!" Air Commodore Thomas couldn't wait for a response, the Canadian task force would be within range in a few minutes and the Delfians were already under fire. "All pilots, prepare to engage Dysaniian ships. Pick your targets and be fast or you'll ahve an anti-air missile in your ass. All fighters, engage, now!" The Canadian squadrons moved in on the Dysaniian ships. They opened up with missiles, but they knew that they would need ships to defeat this fleet.

[Delfos]

ooc: We attacked the beginning of the peninsula, you are defending whole way from west to east?

ic: somewhere in the blockade...
"Prepare the missiles, we need this going before anything, the targets are set for Patriot Radar Truck with enough radius to blow everything else nearby."
"And the civilians?"
"As far as we know this is a full militarized area, we're targeting military targets."
"Alright, all missiles set."
"Green for missiles."
In the extent of missile frigates in the blockade, all fired against the remaining defenses.

*Flying Circus*
Sugar1: "Elephant, confirm enemy missile coming this way."
Elephant4: "Ah...yes, but it's impossible we're too far from the land, no worries, those missiles can only go at max 160km it will soon stop in the air. We already have our own ones launched to destroy those bastards."

*Nutcracker*
"We have confirmed help from the Canadians, we sure need help, those guys have put NDS June on fire."
"Fire we have the choppers ready."
"Alright, throw the choppers at them."
Several Delfian choppers lifted from the support ships. Fully equipped with Anti-Ship missiles. For the support, every ship with missiles targeted AA missile systems from the Dysanii Northeast Fleet.

"Oscar, we have the ship in range, SAM Launch! Defensive maneuvers!"
"Lets get on with it chaps, fire Exocet!"
From the several hovering choppers going the fleet's way, anti-ship missiles were dropped and ran towards the ships.
"They have AA cannon firing at us."
"Aw! I'm hit!" *The helicopter started smoking on the tail, the pilots heard a noise of the rotor going loose.* "Argh! I'm going down!"
"Jump for your mother's sake!"
The helicopter landed on the water smashing one of the crew members that fell off. The other could escape the helicopter, but now in high seas an evac team had to pic them up.
"Confirming hits..."
"Mine hit, i see several blasts, 2 ships sinking."
Nutcracker: "Hold on, we've sent a chopper to get you guys in the ocean."
"NDS Monett is a missile target!"
"Fire guns and missiles at remaining ship on the west!"
"Firing."
"The crew is jumping over board, well done, but we need to refill you choppers before we continue, we have several over ships inbound, destroyer bearing 176 is the closest target, lets hope those Canadians do their part."

[Validus]

**Pegasus**

2 Section was ordered to assault across the bridge. 1 and 3 sections were providing covering fire with 4 section providing rear security. They were moving up in Ack Ack formation (Each fireteam was on opposite sides of the bridge). They were moving unopposed as their was a steady slow rate of fire coming from across the river towards the objective.

~Thanato

[Republic of Valhene]

ooc: My launchers and radar move around at random intervals and at separate times, usually half an hour to two hours.

The Dysanii AA Vanguard counters with CIWS and AA missiles, attempting to sweep the enemy aircraft away before they could launch their weapons. The sea was flooded with the streaks of smoke trail and and tracer rounds. A grand battle had began...



On board a Dysanii vanguard warship, the AA frigate Last Hope face the on coming hail of enemy missiles and aircraft. Explosion dot the surface ahead of the ship as another cruise missile is taken out by the bow CIWS. Smoke fingers out from midship as the automatic defense systems fire off Standard missiles and Sparrows at out of sight enemy aircraft and cruise missiles. Alarms blare throughout the combat hub inside the ship, as one missile after the next comes and goes. But on they press, they had to, they were charge with leading the vanguard AA section to clear enemy aircraft for the main fleet.

"Captain! The Esar has been hit by a Exocet to the bow! They are taking in water!"
"Tell the bridge to bank formation starboard to clear the dead hull! Ensign Baltis, notify search and rescue!"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Sir! Getting data from scout ships! Loading data on all enemy ships!"
"Scout ships are being fire upon! The corvette Tojo had been hit by two Exocets! The Hawk Fire just sunk!"
"Main enemy formation 51 km away! Sentry-1 and Sentry-2 has enter battle zone, we have Airborne Telemetry!"
"Tell the main fleet to pick up the pace! Notify the formation to stand ground, we need to hold this position till it gets here!"
"Main Fleet is 25 km away! They will reach firing position in 5 minutes! Clarifying surface radar datalink to them!"
"We must hold this position at all cost! Even if we run out of missiles, I want this ship to take as many hits as it can! For the Republic!"
"For the Republic!"

Dysaniian Fleet Flagship, Partisan

"Destroyers in firing formation! The AA vanguard and Sentry AWACS is giving us full target resolution! We can't miss!"

Admiral Shevac gave out a malevolent laugh. "GIVE THE ORDER TO FIRE! CONCENTRATE TEN MISSILES PER SHIP! I WANT THEM TO BURN TO THE WATERLINE!"

"Yes Sir! Destroyers 1 to 25, fire Harpoons at overbear intervals! For the Republic!"

-------

AUTO-ADL 32C, 11 miles from coast

RAD-22 sending engagement request through Line 21...hostile aircraft on attack pattern......request to engage accepted, automatic track and fire engaged for 32A, 32B, 32C

Pat Fire 1A*2A*3A*
32B 1 and 2 on hold

What the naive Delfian pilots fail to understand was that in a effective air defense system, launchers and radar is always kept separate. The launcher is also always place closer to the target area. While the radar may detect and track the aircraft at 160km away, the launcher may be several kilometers ahead, giving it's missiles a head start and a nasty surprise for the foolish pilots. With the Patriot's track-via-missile capabilties, the enemy had no escape.

-----
F-16 Flame Tail Squadron, East Valhene

"Flame Tail 2 to Mother 7, thank you for refuel."

"No problem Flame Tail, stay safe!"

"Flame Tail 1 to Tail 2, we have enemy aircraft inbound! Distance 150 km away bearing 131, speed Mach 1.2!"

"Tracking, RAD-22 and RAD-23 has them, Flame Tail Engage! Flame Tail 6 and 8, take their 3 o'clock."

"AA ordnance armed and ready to kick ass! Awaiting engagement order!"

"Flame Tail 2, we have Patriot missiles inbound for targets, suggest we wait out the fight."

"Roger, full afterburners ladies, we'll pick up what's left of the prey! Active radar off till we hit weapons range, fly with passive sensors and datalink!"

"Let's help these lost strangers find their way to Hell!"

"Burn!!!"