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+--- Thread: A Battle Unseen (/thread-132.html)
RE: A Battle Unseen - vesica - 01-04-2025
Slavan sat in the dimly lit coffee shop, staring into the inky depths of his cup like it might offer him an answer. The rain drummed a steady rhythm against the window, mirroring the dull ache behind his eyes. The case file sat untouched on the table beside him. He didn’t need to open it. He knew every word, every lead, every frustrating dead end by heart.
Maria. Or whatever name she went by now.
Gregor Kasinov had let her slip through his fingers like smoke, and the fool hadn’t even realized it. No arrests, no evidence, no trace. She’d played him, and now she was gone, a ghost wrapped in silk. A small, bitter pleasure settled in Slavan’s chest that Kasinov had fared no better than he had. No one had. Every thread of her existence unraveled the second he tried to pull on it. Until now.
“Excuse me,” a voice purred beside him.
Slavan looked up.
The woman was striking—not conventionally beautiful, but impossible to ignore. There was something about the way she carried herself, a quiet confidence that suggested she belonged anywhere she chose to be. Dark waves of hair framed a smirking mouth, and her eyes—clever, knowing—assessed him in a way that made his skin prickle. “Is this seat taken?” she asked, already sliding into it before he could answer.
Slavan tensed but shook his head. He didn’t recognize her. At least, not at first.
She smiled, tilting her head just slightly. “You look troubled.”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s a shame.” She tapped a manicured finger against the side of his cup. “People who brood alone in coffee shops usually have much more interesting things to say.”
Slavan exhaled sharply. “I don’t have the energy for small talk.”
“Oh, but I’m not interested in small talk.” She rested her chin on her hand, watching him like he was a particularly fascinating puzzle. “I prefer…answers.”
Something about the way she said it made his stomach twist. His instincts screamed at him, but he kept his face impassive.
She leaned back, studying him. “A man like you…your problem isn’t the lack of answers. It’s that none of them are useful to you.”
His eyes flicked up to her, wary. “And what would you know about that?”
She shrugged, a careless, elegant motion. “I know that men like you ask the wrong questions. You focus on facts, on evidence, on details. But people like the one you’re chasing…they live in the spaces between. You won’t find them on paper.” A slow smirk tugged at her lips as she sipped her drink. “You’ll find them when they want to be found.”
Slavan’s fingers tightened around his cup. “You seem very sure of yourself.”
“Confidence is a virtue,” she said lightly. “And besides, I like a good chase.”
Something about the way she said it sent a chill down his spine. Before he could respond, she was already rising from her seat.
“Good luck with your problem,” she murmured, smoothing out her coat. “Though I suspect you’ll find it’s more interesting than you thought.”
Then she was gone, disappearing into the rain-slicked streets before he could so much as demand a name.
With a quiet curse, he rubbed his temple and reached for his coffee—only to freeze. A slip of paper had been tucked neatly beneath the cup. He hadn’t seen her do it. Hadn’t even felt it happen.
Slowly, carefully, he unfolded it. The handwriting was elegant, practiced. Teasing.
I do hope you’ll keep looking for me, Investigator Slavan.
I do so love the hunt.
His stomach dropped. He whipped his head up, scanning the street beyond the rain-speckled window. But she was already gone.
RE: A Battle Unseen - Dredd - 02-04-2025
Quote:[Etxea, Presidental Office Cabinet Meeting, May 5631 0900 Hours]
Slabodan racked his Ak-47 as he radioed in with his other men, "Everything planted and ready to go?"
"Copy that Comrade, we eliminated the 3 patrolling guards, everything's a go."
The facility was a fortress, a barbed wire fence with an inlaying concrete wall, guard towers and constant patrols, they had to use the few silencers they had and send their best men in alone to take out the guards, none of the paramilitary greenhorns they had could pull it off, but despite the odds the veteran agents who'd come across the border succeeded, and they had killed many, many men before.
Slabodan turned to his 4 compatriots, "Comrades, prepare yourselves, now we strike at the heart of the kabal and kill this degenerate filthy Tiberius, for Lazar and Sladek!" the men cheered in unison as Slabodan radioed the order to detonate
All at once 4 explosions rocked the facility as smoke clouds rose covering their storming of the concrete wall, the previous fence cut through already. Slabodan and his men rushed inside as aides, limo drivers and guards frantically stood around to assess the scenario. Him and his men began unloading their assault rifles full auto into the guards as sporadic fire was returned, but they were shaken by the explosion ears ringing and could hardly take heed of the disaster unfolding for them. Three guards in front were torn to shreds 2 dozen allies of his from the flanks continued rushing in blazing away, grenades flying and blasting apart civilian and army personnel alike. "Pyotr you good!?" Slobodan turned and saw him face down leaking blood like a faucet, the back of his head turned outward like an exploded can. He'd seen death before, but having a comrade die was never easy, Slobodan turned angrily and saw fleeing aides and waitresses with drivers running frantically, screaming as he shot all he could callously, his comrades likewise showed no mercy. He saw 4 soldiers rush into an armored car as they attempted to get the turret functioning, but too late after another fanatic shot it with an RPG screaming in triumph as he saw them dismounting covered in blood and on fire, only to be mowed down.
Slabodan rushed forward shouting orders as they began storming inside the building, they fought room to room inside the facility losing some men in the process, but their overwhelming momentum and numbers carried the day as dozens of soldiers and civilians were wantonly slaughtered in an orgy of revenge and anger, they were all traitors and the death they received now was a mercy compared to what they deserved. Slabodan, eyes red bulging with fanatic resolve turned and flipped a table to find an female aide in a skirt trembling underneath who screamed in terror as he yanked her from the floor by her ponytail
"P-please don't kill me! I have a f-family I swear I won't do anything, please g-god dont kill me!" Slabodan smacked her across the face to the floor, "SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH YOU TRAITOROUS BITCH!" 4 of his fellow men rushed inside, Slobodan turned to them and threw them a cellphone, "Go on lads, show the world what happens to scum like this, I've got a rendezvous in the presidents office." They all smiled laughing as one pulled a knife, Slabodan ran out the room towards the main office while bloodcurdling screams went on behind him
He ran inside only to find it empty with half a dozen random cabinet members scattered dead on the floor, a few legionnaires were cutting ears off the bodies for trophies and taking selfies with the bodies. "Fuck, wheres Tiberius, did anyone see him!?" The men all shook their heads, "Comrade he must have evacuated before we got inside, we saw a helicopter taking off earlier but it didn't go down from our shots, fucker was too fast and too far." Slabodan groaned, "Find whatevers useful from this mess, take all the documents, and keep the blood off them!" He ruffled through random sheets shoving them into duffel bags, when one came across his eye that caught his attention. Written in bold font on top,
Government Defense Paper : On The Safety and Continuity of Government.
Slabodan briefly read the document eyes widening, and hurriedly put it into the bag, gesturing to his men it was time to leave. The mission was a bust, they hadn't managed to kill the upstart traitor president, but at least they had something to leak to the public.
RE: A Battle Unseen - hyraemous - 04-04-2025
(02-04-2025, 12:30 AM)Dredd Wrote:It was a normal day in Jildrati City.Quote:[Etxea, Presidental Office Cabinet Meeting, May 5631 0900 Hours]
Slabodan racked his Ak-47 as he radioed in with his other men, "Everything planted and ready to go?"
"Copy that Comrade, we eliminated the 3 patrolling guards, everything's a go."
The facility was a fortress, a barbed wire fence with an inlaying concrete wall, guard towers and constant patrols, they had to use the few silencers they had and send their best men in alone to take out the guards, none of the paramilitary greenhorns they had could pull it off, but despite the odds the veteran agents who'd come across the border succeeded, and they had killed many, many men before.
Slabodan turned to his 4 compatriots, "Comrades, prepare yourselves, now we strike at the heart of the kabal and kill this degenerate filthy Tiberius, for Lazar and Sladek!" the men cheered in unison as Slabodan radioed the order to detonate
All at once 4 explosions rocked the facility as smoke clouds rose covering their storming of the concrete wall, the previous fence cut through already. Slabodan and his men rushed inside as aides, limo drivers and guards frantically stood around to assess the scenario. Him and his men began unloading their assault rifles full auto into the guards as sporadic fire was returned, but they were shaken by the explosion ears ringing and could hardly take heed of the disaster unfolding for them. Three guards in front were torn to shreds 2 dozen allies of his from the flanks continued rushing in blazing away, grenades flying and blasting apart civilian and army personnel alike. "Pyotr you good!?" Slobodan turned and saw him face down leaking blood like a faucet, the back of his head turned outward like an exploded can. He'd seen death before, but having a comrade die was never easy, Slobodan turned angrily and saw fleeing aides and waitresses with drivers running frantically, screaming as he shot all he could callously, his comrades likewise showed no mercy. He saw 4 soldiers rush into an armored car as they attempted to get the turret functioning, but too late after another fanatic shot it with an RPG screaming in triumph as he saw them dismounting covered in blood and on fire, only to be mowed down.
Slabodan rushed forward shouting orders as they began storming inside the building, they fought room to room inside the facility losing some men in the process, but their overwhelming momentum and numbers carried the day as dozens of soldiers and civilians were wantonly slaughtered in an orgy of revenge and anger, they were all traitors and the death they received now was a mercy compared to what they deserved. Slabodan, eyes red bulging with fanatic resolve turned and flipped a table to find an female aide in a skirt trembling underneath who screamed in terror as he yanked her from the floor by her ponytail
"P-please don't kill me! I have a f-family I swear I won't do anything, please g-god dont kill me!" Slabodan smacked her across the face to the floor, "SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH YOU TRAITOROUS BITCH!" 4 of his fellow men rushed inside, Slobodan turned to them and threw them a cellphone, "Go on lads, show the world what happens to scum like this, I've got a rendezvous in the presidents office." They all smiled laughing as one pulled a knife, Slabodan ran out the room towards the main office while bloodcurdling screams went on behind him
He ran inside only to find it empty with half a dozen random cabinet members scattered dead on the floor, a few legionnaires were cutting ears off the bodies for trophies and taking selfies with the bodies. "Fuck, wheres Tiberius, did anyone see him!?" The men all shook their heads, "Comrade he must have evacuated before we got inside, we saw a helicopter taking off earlier but it didn't go down from our shots, fucker was too fast and too far." Slabodan groaned, "Find whatevers useful from this mess, take all the documents, and keep the blood off them!" He ruffled through random sheets shoving them into duffel bags, when one came across his eye that caught his attention. Written in bold font on top,
Government Defense Paper : On The Safety and Continuity of Government.
Slabodan briefly read the document eyes widening, and hurriedly put it into the bag, gesturing to his men it was time to leave. The mission was a bust, they hadn't managed to kill the upstart traitor president, but at least they had something to leak to the public.
Well... as normal as a city still recovering from a major war, still rebuilding, still finding an identity.
President Tiberius Claudius Nero and his cabinet were meeting at the Presidential Office Building facing the shore of the Artanian Sea. The building was secure, constant patrols had ensured it's security alongside various other measures. But the building was old, somehow left unscathed from the war, so they couldn't do much to rebuild and add new measures.
But that was decades ago.
The cabinet meeting was going well, there were discussions on new housing plots, progress reports on public transportation infrastructure, and foreign affairs reporting.
On the ground, the guards were marching and looking around.
Suddenly, the building shook. Smoke rose quickly as guards began to fire towards the smoke. The alarm went off inside the building but some guards were shot dead or immobilized. The people outside ran, mainly towards the exit, but some stood. Yet all were shot at.
Guards and soldiers inside kept firing yet they were also getting injured or killed off. Doors were locked up with barricades in side rooms, guards and officeworkers there at the ready incase the intruders had managed to enter those rooms. Some injured were carried or had managed to crawl to other side rooms where they would be tended to. Yet many were immobilized and would lay there bleeding to death.
This carnage went off for a couple of minutes, though it felt like hours. Luckily, though, the guards had managed to down one of the intruders. Explosions rang when an armored car exploded sending shrapnel throughout the side of the building. Then came the guts. Some windows were already hollowed out from the explosion so many people on some side rooms were first sliced with shrapnel before being covered in human gore.
Of course the guards put up a great fight. Door to door, room to room, they had shot at and managed to kill numerous intruders. In fact, they had managed to delay things enough for some of the Cabinet and the President himself to hurry into the rooftop and onto a helicopter. The helicopters took off headed towards a military base.
Yet some Cabinet members couldn't make it.
The intruders made it inside the Cabinet room just as several more Cabinet members were leaving. The Minister of Energy, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Health and Human Services, and the Minister of Justice were unable to leave in time. The Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Finance and the Treasury barely made it to the helicopters.
Those who didn't make it, alongside some of their aides, were shot dead. Some of their ears were taken.
At least the President was safe. He and the rest of the Cabinet that managed to make it held an emergency meeting at a secure military base. The President commanded soldiers to retake the building and immediately two tanks, many armored cars, armored vehicles, and helicopters headed straight for the building. They arrived at the building and fired all they had on some of the intruders...
...but some managed to slip away.
The President ordered that military troops begin continuous 24-hour patrols at every government and military installation. All soldiers were ordered to their posts and all leave was cancelled. Every policeman and policewoman was also ordered to their posts with their leaves cancelled.
And all this time, social media exploded. Many feared the worst.
The General of the Army, the Admiral of the Navy, and the Marshal of the Air Force, alongside the head of the Etxean Garrison Command, arrived at the military headquarters. Via a video link, they swore their allegiance to the President and to the Cabinet. They were commanded to meet with the President and prepare for a nationwide speech.
And thus it was.
RE: A Battle Unseen - Augustus - 05-04-2025
Meeting between representatives of the governments of the Davostag Republic and the Kundrati Legionary State | Kivonia, Davostag | February 5632
Deputy Premier Gerard Virmer and Secretary of Foreign Trade and Cooperation Sigrid Torsdotter have just greeted the Kundrati delegation led by former commissar Dragovich back to Kivonia. No grand displays or ceremonies took place, and the meeting would begin without haste. Virmer opens with, "So, here we are again. And I will cut to the chase. What are the intentions with your recent actions in Kundrati, Herr Dragovich?"
Dragovich puffing a cigarette sat down in the chair while his bodyguards stood watch. "Why im taking precautions of course for the safety of the Davostagers as per our deal! I agreed I would look out for them and while the threat of Hutori piracy is afoot I can't risk your civilians being kidnapped or god forbid killed should some scuffle go on. Furthermore until more guarantees are made regarding our anti Hutori front, im not so sure our regime is eager to allow your people to simply, flee the country should you not make good on your end."
Torsdotter scribbled something down in a notebook in front of her, listening to the delegation's points. Virmer, giving an unbothered glance at her, turned back to Dragovich. "Our deal was the security AND freedom of the Davostagers within Kundrati as well as Davostag's right to freely mine your uranium deposits. The Rikspresident is furious over these measures, especially over Kundrati seizing control of VGAB's operations. Our end of the bargain was to allow free trade between our countries, something we are ready to scale back on should any of the Legion's measures remain for the coming months."
Dragovich shook his head and clicked his tongue, "My dear friends you misunderstand us, your companies still control every aspect of their operations, we simply have the Commissariat monitoring wire payments and other internal workings to ensure Hutori and Luthorian agents cannot sabotage our business operations with measures such as fraud and insider espionage! And as for the Davostagers, they remain as free as ever, but they just aren't able to leave the country while we cannot guarantee their safety on shipping lanes. If your navy were able to escort all our vessels and prevent boarding, as well as secure flight lanes we could come to an agreement resuming as before. But we would like the aid of your security to help root out these threats here and in your own nation. May I?" Dragovich gestured to a few documents obviously hinting to discuss terms of an agreement.
Barely giving a reaction to what was said, Virmer nodded for Dragovich to present the documents.
Dragovich taking a fountain pen from his jacket sits and stares at Virmer, "Kundrati is prepared to allow absolute transit rights to Davostag via ship and airline, if you protect the vessels from interception. Furthermore, we are willing to relinquish all commissariat oversight to VGAB immediately if we are convinced the threat that is in effect no longer exists; To that end, we request full cooperation between our two security forces, we establish an internal security facility in your capital and likewise you may here, and we communicate our findings with full transparency. Davostag will make a public statement recognizing the Legion as the one and only Kundrati state, denouncing Etxea for the rebellion they are and closing all embassies and communications, and we would like you to also close your embassy to Hutori immediately. Finally, a public meeting with comrade Lazar announcing a full military alliance between our two nations. I understand this is a lot to ask and the terms are negotiable, however..." Dragovich leaned forward smiling, "If you were to agree to all terms proposed, comrade Lazar is prepared to sweeten the deal significantly. We are about to finish our first ever Kundrati manufactured ICBM with nuclear payload capabilities, as you know the world is entering a nuclear stage after the genie was let from the proverbial bottle from Beityenus attack on Xsampa, Davostag needs to be prepared. We would with your consent, be happy to send specialists to construct your very own operational missile silo with launch capabilities within 17 months funded by our profits in VGABS extractions, and we to complete this transaction offer an additional 8% revenue share from our deal to your own companies." Dragovich tilted his head slightly awaiting an answer. "I am so eager to hear your thoughts, Comrade Virmer."
Virmer looked down at the table, deep in thought. He looked up again meeting Dragovich's gaze, "No. There will be no closing of our Hutorian embassy, no military alliance, and no dragging Davostag into the security-intelligence game being played in the region with any facilities. What we can do is dissolve any diplomatic action made to Etxea and refuse a recognition of them, as well as giving full protection to the vessels through international waters." He paused, with Secretary Torsdotter taking the opportunity to pass him a note, Virmer quickly glanced it over and passed it back. "With regards to ICBM capabilities, the government of Davostag will show a mild interest to such endeavors, of which we can look into later. But right now, begin by repealing your oversight of VGAB and we will begin protecting the vessels. How's that, comrade?"
Dragovich sighed, "Well it is truly a shame we can't read a much fuller agreement, what you see in those Hutori scum that pirate our own vessels in international waters truly bewilders me, I hope your dear Rikspresident comes to see reason before its too late and you learn from them the hard way. In regards to the terms you HAVE in fact agreed upon, disolving relations with Etxea will suffice but we would prefer if in your public statement you really make sure the world knows you are in fact recognizing them as rebels and no true government, we tire of our so called "allies" in previous arrangements making the bare minimum efforts. And just to confirm, you agree to escort our vessels in our northern waters from ALL threats correct? Who knows what rogue government may begin wantonly halting our trade, soon we'll be working on our own naval forces and this won't be an issue im sure you understand. Unfortunately the ICBM deal, and our additional 8% profit rate will be off the table, though should you come around and decide upon well, closer ties, we would be happy to lend our expertise."
"Hmm. It is what we are ready to settle with at the time. And yes, we will issue an order for protecting the vessels against all threats in international waters. We will also announce in the coming months a change in official and unofficial relations in regards to Etxea, making it clear that there is only one government of Kundrati." Virmer ended his statement, waiting for his counterpart to respond while observing the smallest of movements in body language, a habit he gained from his time in the SSB.
“I think that concludes negotiations then, comrade Lazar thanks you for your time, you can expect changes to take effect within a day." Dragovich gave a quick salute and turned to leave the room with his guards.
And there another meeting ends.
RE: A Battle Unseen - vesica - 05-04-2025
Lieutenant Jason "Frost" Callahan sat in the cockpit of his HF-35F Super Hailstorm, the carrier variant of Hutori’s premier stealth fighter. The roar of the engines filled his ears as he accelerated off the deck of the HMHS Patrick Grant, the flagship of Hutorian naval air power. The night sky stretched infinitely before him, broken only by the distant fires of the Deltarian mainland.
Tonight, Black Ice Squadron was tasked with a precision strike against a Loyalist forward operating base dug deep into the hills outside the city of Hlohovec. Intelligence reports indicated it was a key logistics hub, moving supplies and munitions to the front lines against the Free People's Army. Eliminating it would give the rebels breathing room and stall Loyalist advances in the region.
"Black Ice Squadron, form up," came the voice of Squadron Leader Commander Darren "Specter" Holt over the comms. "Check weapons and sensors. We make our drop and get out clean. No heroics."
Callahan flicked through his displays, ensuring his payload was locked. Two 2,000-pound precision-guided bombs and a full complement of air-to-air missiles sat under his wings. His HUD highlighted the other five jets in formation, their silhouettes barely visible in the moonlight.
"Black Ice 3, weapons green," Callahan confirmed.
"Copy that, Frost," Specter replied. "ETA to target, five minutes. Keep it tight."
The squadron pushed past the coastline, sweeping low over the rolling hills. The dark landscape below was dotted with flickering lights—small villages, enemy checkpoints, and the occasional flash of artillery. Farther inland, tracers danced in the night sky as the civil war raged on.
"Black Ice, we’ve got enemy radar pinging us," came the voice of Lieutenant Emma "Valkyrie" Carter. "Jamming active. Let’s stay ghost."
Their HF-35Fs were equipped with the latest electronic warfare suites, and Callahan watched as his radar warning indicators flickered but didn’t lock. They were still unseen.
As they neared the target, the Forward Operating Base came into view—a sprawling compound of barracks, supply depots, and vehicle bays nestled into the hillside. Satellite imagery had shown hardened bunkers, anti-air positions, and a suspected command post.
"Black Ice, line up for bombing run. Hit your targets and clear the airspace ASAP," Specter ordered. "Frost, you’re with me on primary munitions dumps."
Callahan banked into position, aligning his targeting system. His HUD painted the supply depot in red, the trajectory of his bombs calculating in real-time.
"Bombs away," he called, feeling the sudden lightness as his payload detached.
A second later, the night exploded in flame. The supply dump erupted in a chain reaction, sending fireballs into the sky. Secondary explosions tore through the base, igniting fuel reserves and ammunition stores. Calls of successful strikes echoed across the comms as the squadron executed their attack with precision.
"Good hits! Targets neutralized," Valkyrie confirmed.
The base’s anti-air defenses came alive, but they were too late. The squadron pulled into steep climbs, evading sporadic ground fire as they climbed back toward open sky.
"All Black Ice elements, RTB. Let’s get back to the Grant," Specter ordered.
Callahan exhaled, his hands steady on the controls. His first combat mission had gone off without a hitch, and their squadron had just dealt a significant blow to the Loyalists.
As they soared back over the dark sea, he allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. Tonight, they had made a difference. Tomorrow, they would do it again.
RE: A Battle Unseen - Dredd - 07-04-2025
Quote:[Legionaria Commissariat Headquarters]
Slavan smoking his 7th cigarette read and reread the report again regarding his encounter with the woman he encountered at his favorite coffee shop. Given her suggestions it was obvious she had something to do regarding the body discovered, yet he had no idea behind her intention or motivation. All leads had failed, he hadn't been able to dig up any higher quality footage from the shitty CCTV that acted more like a reference than anything identifiable, and the conversation records didn't put her voice or behaviors good for tracking. Slavan sighed and suddenly thought on someone who owed him, big time. His friend in the internal security a few ranks higher than him, he married his sister and helped him smuggle in some goods from Luthori and helped write it off, something that'd otherwise be a death penalty or 20 odd years in forced labor. Slavan opened the file and finally found the agent he was looking for, a man who was both admired and feared universally in the Commissariat; Commissar General Volkov
Volkov had worked in the department for 20 years, spoke 4 languages, and cracked cases nobody would ever have imagined solvable. He was a cutthroat through and through, dug up documents on his own superiors just to usurp them, even attended a few dinners with Sladek himself and met with Lazar at his last Politburo meeting, if there was anyone in Kundrati who could find her...
Slavan picked up the phone and called Jaric...
"Commissar Colonel Jaric speaking."
"Jaric its Slavan, catch you at a bad time?"
"Ah Slavan! Not at all comrade, enjoy that 22 vintage bottle I sent for your anniversary? How is Salina anyway?"
"Oh she's good, we got a second kid on the way, everything for the fatherland right? Anyways I called about something else, I hate to prod but I kind of need a favor, see im on the trail of some foreign agent that slipped right under my fucking nose, the bitch was there and gone like a fucking piss in the wind, i've been working on getting her but I really need something with some more.."
"Comrade, please dont feel like you have to explain it to me, we're friends after all! Just tell me what you need and I can get it arranged."
"Well comrade, its just, I was hoping you might be able to get me someone more experienced. I specifically thought that well, you've had goings with him, perhaps erm....Comrade General Volkov?"
The line hung silent for a few seconds as Slavan toyed with the rotary wire biting his lip, knowing full well the weight of the favor he asked.
"Well....he just finished recently uprooting that Jildrath business, you do understand what kind of man we're talking about here right? You don't have any, should we say, loose ends regarding your business in the affair?"
"I know Jaric, I wouldn't request this if it wasn't anyone else but you, this shit is deep and the agent is no normal rabble rouser, I need someone with real experience, hell the guys been an agent for over 20 years, started as a field agent and now he's a commissar general! I know its a lot to ask but, you recall that thing I did for you about you know what from Luthori?"
The line hung silent again for 10 odd seconds, Slavan had sweat dripping down his nose
"Alright comrade, i'll make a call, I cant guarantee he'll agree, but this settles our business understood? And I expect you to come through with that rental estate for my sons graduation ceremony."
Slavan sighed feeling the weight of the world off his shoulders, "Of course, I've already got it booked. I can't thank you enough for this, we'll talk soon." Slavan hung up the phone and closed his eyes, this shit was in someone else hands now.
RE: A Battle Unseen - Dredd - 07-04-2025
Quote:[Legionary Youth Training Center 2-(REDACTED) Lirnak Mountains]
Yevgeny and his 10 team-mates who'd survived the training thousands of others had died in, laid flat on their stomachs firing at the cardboard cutouts driving left and right in front of them, each deftly taking turns burst firing into the fake pictures of Luthorian and Kalistani infantry. They'd trained for months, and all of them had achieved an accuracy of 92% within 40 meters, and 87% at 100. The rigors and trainings never stopped, everyday for years now. Yevgeny continued firing until reloading, when suddenly the next cutouts came into view with a civilian in front of a Kalistani officer holding it at gunpoint, his squad mate Boris looked to Yevgeny hesitating to fire, when suddenly a full auto burst tore through the wooden woman holding a baby ripping the officer and her in two. Yevgeny didn't blink, hesitation was death, mercy was weakness.
He was 20 years old now, and had never stopped growing, the injections were every week and his diet and training was spartan to the extreme. Every gram of protein measured, every pullup and 10 miles ruck march logged for improvement. He could bench press 340 pounds now and complete 80 pushups in under a minute. He felt invincible, but the only thought that ran through his iron forged mind was loyalty to the imperative, glory to the fatherland, unquestioning obedience to his officers and the eternal leader. Him and his men looked forward to finishing their training soon, and should they succeed in passing their final string of tests they would be allowed the honor of serving in Lazars personal bodyguard, an honor few could aspire to and would cement their legacy for posterity. Yevgeny had forgotten anything about his past life, his family, his friends. His friends were the forces, his mother the Legion, his father Lazar, and to die for that would be the ultimate victory and sacrifice.
![[Image: 08aa6082fa8396dd3ba4f318b067eebe.jpg]](https://i.gyazo.com/08aa6082fa8396dd3ba4f318b067eebe.jpg)
RE: A Battle Unseen - vesica - 08-04-2025
Location: Facility Aegis-1, Deep Macon Mountain Complex, Lagard Province
Time: [REDACTED]
The steel doors sealed behind him with a hiss. The descent took nearly three minutes—straight down, 37 stories into the heart of the Macon Mountains.
Facility Aegis-1 didn’t exist on any map, not even military. Its power lines were buried. Its workers lived off-grid. Its funding came from black budgets and sovereign accounts tucked in closed-door appropriations. And its commander, nominally, was Colonel Henry Arthur Carmichael, R.H.A.F.—Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Hutori, and commanding officer of the 5th Fighter Wing
Officially.
In reality, he was the lead oversight officer for Project Satanil; A ghost program buried beneath a ghost mountain.
He stepped into the primary command deck. The walls were lined with control panels and blast-proof monitors. Every technician here had clearance higher than most generals. The overhead lights hummed with sterile energy. The silo feed came up on the main display. There she was: Satanil-XIII.
Polished like obsidian. Coated in radar-absorbent material. Standing 29 meters tall, nose to the ceiling of the armored launch cradle. She looked like a spear pointed at God.
“Final diagnostic complete,” said Director Harrow of Horizon Technology, nodding toward the missile. “Launch ignition test protocol standing by.”
Henry’s jaw set. “Yield confirmation?”
“Initial theoretical was 1.5 megatons,” Harrow said, unable to keep the edge of excitement from his voice. “New data points to 2.2 megatons. The containment lattice breakthrough—”
Henry cut him off with a raised hand. Too much glee for something designed to melt continents. “Is the lattice stable?”
“Fully. Thermal bleed minimal. We’re green across the board.”
He nodded once. The briefing had covered this. The Satanil-XIII could deliver its payload across the globe. It had adaptive mid-course corrections. It had no known countermeasures. And in less than five months, Horizon was expected to have five live warheads on standby—strategic readiness condition “Vermillion Prime.”
The Crown Prince turned away from the launch schematic and moved into the private comms chamber. He activated three channels: one to the Prime Minister, one to the Minister of Defence, and one to the Chief of the Defence Staff—his aunt, General Beatrice Steuart-Carmichael.
She’d been appointed just three months prior after the sudden retirement of her predecessor, and she was still shaking up the senior ranks. Henry trusted her. She’d babysat him as a boy. Now she was commanding the most powerful military machine Hutori had ever built. The fourth channel was offline. That one was personal. His father’s. Later.
Encrypted Communiqué
Sender: Col. H.A. Carmichael, R.H.A.F.
Commanding Officer, Project Satanil / CO, 5th Fighter Wing
TO:
- The Right Honourable Michael Kensington, Prime Minister
- The Honourable Gen. Beatrice Steuart-Carmichael, CDS
- The Honourable Christopher Reinhardt, Minister of National Defence
RE: Project Satanil – Phase III Update & Operational Viability
Gentlemen, Madam,
This communique serves as formal notification that Project Satanil’s primary delivery system, Satanil-XIII, has successfully completed all pre-launch diagnostics and simulation protocols. Ignition test is scheduled and authorized pending final sign-off. Environmental stabilization is optimal. Secondary telemetry units calibrated.
Confirmed estimated yield: 2.2 megatons (theoretical) per unit.
Payloads entering assembly at Horizon Sector IV. First five warheads will be operational within Q3. Thermal regulation breakthroughs have improved both shelf life and stability. Redundancy systems exceed known equivalents.
Recommendation: Upon successful ignition test, activate strategic transition to “Vermillion Prime.” Recommend formation of Nuclear Strategic Oversight Council for ongoing chain-of-command evaluation, and expansion of early warning systems.
Observation: While the scientific success is considerable, ethical implications are equally profound. These weapons are not deterrents; they are extinction-level assets.
Respectfully,
Col. Henry A. Carmichael, R.H.A.F.
He disconnected.
Then he activated the fourth channel, encrypted beyond military protocols—using a cipher older than the country itself.
“Begin secure transmission to His Majesty King Charles III.”
A moment passed. Then: green light.
Henry stared at the blinking cursor for a long time before speaking.
“Father… the Sword is forged. And it is sharper than any of us imagined. I’ll oversee the test personally. If it works… no one will ever challenge us again. But I have to ask… have we made ourselves gods, or demons?”
Silence.
He cut the line.
Outside the chamber, the launch sirens began to wail.
RE: A Battle Unseen - Doc - 08-04-2025
Cliff Offices, November 25, 5632
Quote:The Acting Chancellor of the Empire, Chris Carleton finished speaking and closed the meeting of the Cabinet with "Very well, Ladies and Gentlemen. I think this concludes today's business. With Her Imperial Majesty's Leave, we shall adjourn." The new Empress nodded slightly to the Chancellor signaling her assent. The Chancellor took the cue and dismissed Her Imperial Majesty's Government.
"Not you, Mr. Carleton," said the Empress, who had for the most part been taciturn the entire meeting, listening far more than talking. "Please wait here for a moment."
"Aye Your Imperial Majesty," he said and sat slowly.
"Did you enjoy the coronation, Chancellor?" asked the Empress.
"It was my first Coronation, Your Imperial Majesty," said the Chancellor.
"Ours too," said the Empress. "In Kalistan at least. Did you think it was too much?"
"How so, Your Imperial Majesty?" asked the Chancellor.
"Too much-- too gaudy, maybe too expensive? Do you think our House spent too much money on it?"
"My Lady?" asked the Chancellor.
"Do you think we spent too much money on the Coronation, on the throne, on the crown, on the dress? Do you think it was excessive?"
"I---" the Chancellor stammered but collected himself. "Your father may have spent less."
"You are aware that that money that was spent is my own money," the Empress said cooly.
"Of course, your Imperial Majesty."
"Then why do I read in the paper that you thought it was excessive?"
"What paper, Your Imperial Majesty? Who said that about me?"
"Why, Sir, it is in the Republic!" the new Empress declared. "Front page, right here, it said that Brethrenists wouldn't make such an ostentatious show of their material wealth and suggests that we use the wealth instead to feed Kundratis."
"Where does it say that?!" the Chancellor demanded. The Empress handed him the paper, folded over. "See, this said an anonymous attender. That could have been anyone."
"Don't play dumb, Mr. Carleton," said the Empress. "We know it was you who said it. You seem to forget, we lack our father's good nature. And we don't particularly find that sort of criticism at our own coronation all that funny."
"No Your Imperial Majesty." said the Chancellor.
"And who bade you sit in our presence?" said the Empress.
"Excuse me?" asked the Chancellor, completely nonplussed at being interrogated by this 22 year old... girl...
"You will stand in our presence and will remain standing until we permit you to sit, or do you not think the Protocol applies to you?"
"Surely you don't expect me to..." The Chancellor was cut off by a knock at the door. The Empress who was staring daggers into the Chancellor's eyes pressed the button on her desk without even looking. Clearly she knew what was here: She was expecting her. Lady Michelle Ananto-Sandoval entered the room, and stood before the Empress, bowed slightly, and was invited to sit in the other chair.
"We are explaining the protocol to your former Premier, Lady Michelle," said the Empress.
"Very good Madame," said the Princess. "Is there some point he is not clear on?"
"Indeed, there is point where he believes it is appropriate to sit before his Sovereign has permitted it."
The Princess looked at her former acting Chancellor of the Empire, as if to say, "Oh Christopher, you haven't forgotten it after all this time, have you?" The Chancellor looked at the Empress, then at Princess Michelle, then at the Empress. Realizing that both of these women were quite serious, he became instantly cognizant of his peril and promptly snapped to his feet and then fell upon his knees before the desk.
"Say nothing, Mr. Carleton, if you value your liberty," said Princess Michelle, quietly to the now prone Chancellor. "Your time is over here. You are finished. I am sorry that it needed to end like this, but her Imperial Majesty will not accept what I had to tolerate. When she is finished with you here, you may return to private life a free man but your political career is over."
The Chancellor looked up at Lady Michelle who he took to be his friend, who had trusted him throughout the regency, and had more or less trusted him to make decisions for the government. "Why? Why is my time over? Because I said something that some random reporter repeated in a news paper? How did they know? Who even was the source?"
Princess Michelle looked down at him on the floor. She felt pity at this moment, but it was more of a pity for a pathetic soul than sympathy for this man who had been her chancellor for two years. "Chris my friend. I was the source. We were friends, but she is your Empress. And Lese-Majestie is still the Law of our land. And what kind of regent would I have been if I took the side of a commoner over that of my Empress? If Her Imperial Majesty is finished with you, you may depart."
The Empress did not crack a smile. "It is our pleasure that you stand and walk out of here with dignity. You Sir are dismissed." The now ex chancellor rose slowly, with his head still bowed low. As per the protocol, he slowly backed toward the door, and exited with his head still bowed.
"I'm sorry you had to do that, Lady Michelle," said the Empress. "He has been bugging me since the 15th, and has been speaking to our Government as if the authority to do so were his. I hope you will advise me on cleaning house. And I hope to receive your opinion on improvement of our airforce. There are growing forces in our region that I don't want to ignore: If they would like to cooperate with us, that would be preferable, and we will do all we can to get assurances this way, but if their ambition takes them in another direction, we can't operate while a knife held by an Artainian or a Majatran is pointed right at our heart. So we need to be prepared."
"Mary," said Lady Michelle. "Your father was a wonderful man. He was full of joy, he was full of laughter. He wasn't very serious about anything, even when the situation required that he be serious. You know this: He raised you the same way he ran this country. He was very indulgent of his friends and family. But those qualities that make someone a good father do not necessarily make that same person a good ruler. If you are decisive and honest and fair, you will have the characteristics of a great ruler. If you add a willingness to be serious, you will be legendary. And people will respect you in a way that they never respected your father."
"And if I do not have those characteristics?"
"Then people will treat you the same way Chris just treated you: As if you do not matter."
Mary nodded, absorbing the lesson. "I have to learn to slap the hand that offends me."
Michelle leaned in, "My dear, you must learn to cut the throat that offends you." The new Empress sat back in horror, but her aunt did not break her eye contact. "We didn't get this far by being nice. Especially us women. Because the world is full of individuals who hate us, fear us and resent us for no other reason. Our Empire needs fairness and justice, but it also need ruthlessness and utter decisiveness, and then sharing the credit when things go right, while accepting all the blame when they don't."
"Should I have handled Mr. Carleton differently?"
"If I were the Empress, I wouldn't have let him speak," answered Michelle. Mary nodded.
"I will provide a list of candidates for Your Imperial Majesty's consideration by next week," continued Lady Michelle. "If we don't have a replacement by December 15, we'll keep looking."
The Empress nodded, and told her aunt that she is glad Lady Michelle agreed to stay a little longer.
RE: A Battle Unseen - hyraemous - 08-04-2025
Somewhere in Jildrath January 5633
Explosions rocked the Presidential Office Building in Jildrati City. A President was almost killed. Members of the Cabinet wiped out. Gore, guts, and more all on TV screens throughout Etxea. Rioting, many dead, fear... Etxea was on fire.
Many wanted blood.
The President wanted blood.
And so it was.
It was clear Etxea had been infiltrated. In fact, it was more than clear. All you had to do was watch what almost happened to President Tiberius Claudius Nero.
And so it was.
President Tiberius Claudius Nero, for a while now, wasn't able to sleep. Sometimes he cried. He'd always cry away from prying eyes, after all only his wife of many years knew the full extent that attack wracked his brain and his muscles. Many of his colleagues dead, he almost joining them, and all he had to show for it was a ruined building. For now the President's Office was renting space throughout the city pending a new office building for the President.
But this attack had to be responded to.
One night, the President couldn't sleep. So he made a call to his intelligence attache. The attache woke up from her slumber and listened. The President wanted revenge. He called on her to order the intelligence service to whip up a response. If they wanted to strike at the heart of Etxea, so be it. They'd strike back at the heart of the mainland. Kasaema, illegally renamed Legionaria, would be the target. However, it would be a major use of resources. Kasaema was deep inside the mainland, they'd had to infiltrate Jildrath thoroughly and then infiltrate Pilgon too. That would be a major problem.
The attache had another idea. Ecoterrorism.
The forests of Jildrath would help with this. The forests, of course, hide everything from oil drums to Legionary work camps to more. An attack on the forests, she said, could cause major chaos throughout the state. And it would divert resources from Etxea to deal with the chaos in Jildrath. Jump to Celania and stoke chaos there. Then to Lirnak. Then to Pilgon and Peghonai. Maybe kill some Davostagers in Peghonai if the negotiations didn't go well there.
The President saw the genius of the idea and agreed to it.
Then he tried to go to sleep.
The plan was moved into motion. There were still some people in Jildrath, the main hideout wasn't discovered yet, so the plan was moved into action. Buckets upon buckets of dynamite, explosive material, BBQ equipment, oil and more were prepared throughout the island, snatched away from some civilians sure, but they would assemble. And, a couple of weeks later, they would be sent off with more agents on small and medium sized boats, all throughout the following four nights and under radio darkness, headed straight north to Jildrath.
The boats landed. Some took off with their equipment.
But the Legion was there for the others.
Legionary naval patrols caught some of the boats in time. Searches revealed some of the equipment hidden in various ways. The crew was obviously arrested.
Legionary military patrols caught some that landed. Some of the boats were seized and searched and they didn't find much. However, in a couple of cases, the boats were caught as crew were unloading their equipment. They were arrested and the cargo was seized. The Legion would hold on to them and do what they'd do best to the unfortunate crew on land and sea that were caught.
But some made it through.
In the main hideout and in various other smaller hideouts, the equipment was tallied, the agents begun some training and recon patrols, and a detailed plan was being worked on. On New Years' Day 5633 they'd move out and plant explosives and set up BBQ equipment and oil in many areas throughout Jildrath. There was one major objective that the agents planted many explosives on - an oil storage facility in western Jildrath. That facility held a ton of oil and their crew would be out enjoying toasts to their Supreme Leader Lazar for granting them the wish of going through another year with his glory behind them. Enough distraction for the Etxean boys and girls to move in.
The time between landing and New Years' Eve would be a month, maybe two, as work continued on preparing fictional identities and scouting locations. They'd make up excuses and hold on to their ID cards and passports tight. Some classes were also taught on dictation and how to mimic the accent of a mainlander to help fit in better using some of the people the Etxeans already recruited.
But that was something else.
The big day came.
All at once, agents began to move out and rushed to their positions. Some food was brought along as well for the agents to grill and eat. They would tip over the grill or drop a match or few on the grass. All accidential. Some would plant the bombs and explosives on forest trees to cause fires to expand. Oil was poured in many areas to encourage a swift flame.
The agents for the oil storage facility moved in too. They surrounded the facility and, with silencers, bombs and more on hand, begun to fire at the workers and guards there. More agents then infiltrated the facility and begun to overload the computer equipment, overheat engines, turn off backup generators and plant bombs on them and, most importantly, plant bombs on the oil drums and on buildings in the area alongside the surrounding trees and landscape.
The guards put up a good fight, so did some of the workers, but the agents were able to overwhelm them.
Then the agents left.
Local police was called. They would start to arrive and some officers found the explosives and damaged equipment.
But it was too late.
The local police tried to call the bomb squad. A squad was sent.
Then a tree fell up ahead.
Then a tree fell behind them.
...
Then loud explosions and huge fireballs.
And the agents managed to run away, though not before setting off their own explosives on the nearby landscape.
Within minutes, the area was on fire. The trees and grass were on fire. Some people were burning. The explosions rocked the oil facility, destroyed the drums, and destroyed whatever was nearby if they hadn't been set on fire already. Buildings near the drums collapsed or were severely damaged.
Then came more fires. Within minutes, fire department reports were streaming in like a waterfall. Another fire in the forest here, a burning grill there, more forest fires everywhere.
Fires continued to be set off throughout the forests of the state. So did the bomb explosions.
And the agents that were responsible? All gone.
Jildrath was burning tonight. The agents were safe in their safehouses, some of them needed for the next mission, and some of them beginning their training again.