The Year Of A New Summer

[United Caledonia]

”Coming live from Martyr’s Square in the heart of Glasgarron, despite the rubble and devestation,  a massive crowd of adoring supporters have gathered to welcome the return of Prime Minister James MacAlpin to the occupancy of the Doune Palace, the official residency of the Prime Minister, thankfully hardly touched by the bombings. After 4 years of bitter civil war, finally this man seems to be achieving the impossible and bringing peace and security back to Caledonia, but it is still far from being totally United. This is Fiona Rankine, reporting for CUN, back to you in the studio Andrew”

The screen flashed to show a smartly dressed man sitting in front of the giant logo of CUN, Caladonia Universal News.

”Thank you Fiona.”

A quick change of camera and the logo was replaced by a picture of a group of soldiers firing rifles

”In other news 5 more soldiers died in an ambush in South East Caledonia today, as the remnants of the Nukorps, the private army of Galact Inc, ambushed an APC as it moved up to support troops in the Peraber region. We join Tom live on the Peraber Road.”

The scene yet again changed, this time to show a small, balding man wearing heavy clothing and a bulletproof vest.

”Thanks Andrew. This has been the 4th ambush this week by the Nukorps, with the loss of 5 Staatkorps to no loss of life or apparent injury to the Nukorps. This has been  mostly due to the protection given to them by The Scourge. This mass of marshland has thwarted numerous attempts by the Staatkorps to pacify the insurgents. Apart from the Staatautobahn, the few roads that run through the marsh, barely big enough for one tank, are watched tirelessly by Nukorps troops ready to ambush any advancing column and then melt silently back into the mists of The Scourge. This is the situation the Prime Minister is trying to remedy with his decision to send in the 2nd Pathfinder Regiment, hoping that the elite assault paratroopers will be able to root out the Nukorps cells still in the marshes. The Pathfinders, famous for using fast moving helicopters, such as the Apache and the Merlin, as well as their signature hovercrafts, the Griffon 8000, modified for heavier armour and armament. Already the 12th and 6th battalions are making headway into the Eastern regions, accounting for 200 enemy soldiers captured, the most since the end of the war in the North. This is Tom Simmons, reporting live”
 
Back in the studio the graphics of the animated background changed seamlessly into a picture of a tanned man in a dark suit on top the flag of United Caledonia.

”Thanks Tom. In lighter news today a kitten…”

The screen went black, just before the remote hit the cushion on the sofa and bounced on to the richly carpeted floor, only to be picked up in the drooling jaws of a Jack Russel Terrier, who promptly left it on the sofa, along with a small puddle of drool.

The dog wandered after his master out on to the balcony. Two large hands bent down and picked the terrier up with one large sweep.

Prime Minister MacAlpin, surveyed the nightline view of Aberedin, lights on tall dark skyscrapers rose up into the cool air. The war had barely touched here, unlike the nominal capital, Glasgarron, now a bombed out husk. Although work had started to repair the damage, it would take many years before it would even begin to resemble a national capital. The Prime Minister was wakened from his thoughts by the feel of a large sloppy tongue drooling down his face.

”Haha! Jack! Gerrof ya silly mutt! Yes! Yes! I’m excited to be back too! Now come on let’s get you some food, we have much to discuss, such as the war in the South, Our foreign relations to the East and finally we must do something to celebrate our victory! Tomorrow we will draw up our plans eh Jack?”

The squirming terrier, gave out a few barks of delight and resumed to licking the face of his master

”Thought so”

Said the Prime Minister, before retiring to his private chambers. Outside the doors to the Ministerial Suite stood two solidly built men in matching dark hair, glasses and suits. One lifted a hand to his ear.

”All safe and secure now sir, Arthur and Merlin have gone to Camelot, over”

A small pause of static later and the reply came.

”Copy that, Captain, your watch ends in 45 minutes, we’ll send someone up”

[United Caledonia]

January 25th

State Command Bunker, 5 storeys underneath Fort George, Northern United Caledonia

In the dark, smoke filled room of the War Room the Prime Minister watched as General Alexander Stewart clicked through the slides of the war plans on a large computer screen.

"So far Sir, this is the current situation in the South."

The screen flashed to a picture of a map of United Caledonia:



"The yellow line is the Staatautobahn, the red line, is totally government controlled land and quite pacified, the darker red line is the area that we control nominally but is still harbouring insurgents. The bright green line is rebel territory. The six green dots, labelled I to VI are designated rebel strongholds. They consist of the six cities of Southern Caledonia, I) Peraber, II) Larden, III) Luurds IV) Yark V) Leerpol and VI) Bormidhar"

A click and another slide came to view.



"Currently Sir, there are three brigades, each of three thousand troops, stationed in the North Provinces, my plan is to reinforce these forces with three more brigades in the South. This will require two amphibious landings . One on the isle of Uist, by 5th and 6th Brigades and the other just north of Luurds by 4th Brigade. The beaches will not be defended and will catch the rebels off guard. The primary objectives of these landings will be the capture of the cities of Lurrds, on the East Bay and Yark on Uist. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Brigades will move South, capturing Peraber, and moving into position at the Caladonian Isthmus. After the landings have taken place, and the objectives secured, 1st Brigade will then move to take Larden, while 2nd and 3rd Brigades move to take Bormidhar. Once these four locations are taken all brigades will then head to the three Assembly Points: A,B and C to begin preparation for the assault on the rebel "capital". It is here we expect to find the most resistance and possibly any armour the rebels still have."

At this point Air Chief Marshal Peter Reynolds spoke up.

"But what about all these rebels still in The Scourge? We've been stuck there for nigh on a year now with little to no head way."

"Ahh, yes previously we had, Air Chief Marshal, but now with the use of the new Pathfinder regiments, we will be able to quickly suppress those cells still hiding out in those areas not covered by roads. As can be seen by the fact that 3rd Brigade, of which the 2nd Pathfinder Regiment forms a part, is already on the shores of Mare Tertiary. And of course once we gain control of Peraber, and the open plains behind that, we will be able to halt the supplies and reinforcements coming to the remaining cells. And once we get to the open plains we will be able to bring our main battle tanks to bear against the rebels."

Prime Minister McAlpin sat at the head of the long table, opposite the computer screen, smoking a cigar.

"Very well General, you shall have your brigades, we want these rebels crushed as soon as possible and the Southern provinces back in Government control as a proper United Caledonia. I suggest attaching one of our new, highly effective, Pathfinder regiments to each Brigade to be used in the first wave assault on the beaches. How long will it take you to get everything ready?"

"I would say around a month, sir"

"Good I want everything ready to go by the end of March"

"This meeting is adjourned gentlemen, you have your tasks ahead of you. I wish you luck"

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March 28th.

Command deck of the Frigate UCS Ajax

Admiral Alister Mornmouth, squinted in the sun as he peered through binoculars at the landing beaches of the East Bay. All was quiet. Behind him an orderly came up and handed him a folder.

"All elements are ready sir"

"Excellent begin Operation Frog. Contact the Commodores and tell them to send their squadrons onto the beach"

A few moments later hovercraft sped by the UCS Ajax and skided onto the beaches, disgorging men and materials. Overhead, helicopters moved in to secure objectives. By nightfall the whole 4th Brigade had landed and were all ready beginning to move on. A few days later and they were in the outskirts of Luurds. A few days after that and both Luurds and Yark had been taken, with little resistance from the Nukorps troops. With over a thousand troops captured to less than a hundred overall Staatkorps casulties.

In the North, 2nd Battalion struck into the stronghold of Peraber, altough facing increased resistance than in the South, with the help of the main battle tanks, the Nukorps were driven out.

3 strongholds down, three to go.