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The Tanganorium Civil War; A spark of insurgency
Topic Started: Dec 16 2010, 02:57 AM (1,793 Views)
Kasnyia
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Chairman of the Bank
OOC- I'll make the necessary changes in future posts. To lazy to edit.

IC-

ENCRYPTED MESSAGE
SpRAB
They have a Vallahalla Mk. I. That is what destroyed your fleet, though they probably had some help to overwhelm your guys. Thats probably what your carriers got. Be very careful. Zanzibar retains highground. The Vallahalla class missile cruisers can sink whole fleets with the right munitions and an element of surprise. Still investigating how they got ahold of an Mk. I.
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

In the day and age of an occasionally unscrupulous media, the horrifyingly embarrassing destruction of a MSDF fleet spread throughout various technological outlets much like the Typhoon Plague was sweeping through Avaricum. As images of the carnage and effects of the attack were broadcast in Porcu and across the world, webpages came alive with discussion, commentary, and criticism. As much as SDF Supreme Command would have liked to block the news, it was impossible to do so.

Despite the worries that were piling up on people's conscious, a curious development was unfolding, or rather not unfolding, in overcrowded hospitals in Avaricum.

...

A black doctor grasped the sides of the sink as he discharged the few contents of his already empty stomach. He took a number of gasps of air as he looked himself over in the stained mirror above the sink. Aside from being violently nauseous, his skin was clear of pustules and his pupils were properly dilated. Curiously, he thought back to the last person he had seen leave for heaven and could not account for himself being alive.

His own condition had remained relatively stable over the past couple of days, but he knew of patients who had succumbed to whatever this disease was and had died several hours later of a most grueling death. The doctor walks out from the men's restroom and surveys the hallway of the hospital - carefully and for the first time. What he notices next shocks him profoundly.

He runs to one patient, a white adolescent, and looks her over, though he knows he cannot do anything for her. He then moves onto a black adolescent a few meters down and surmises that the young man exhibits about the same sort of symptoms as he himself has the past couple of days. The same story is found with the nurses and other doctors. Just as quickly as individuals are declared dead and parted from family members still alive, more people are brought in. The stench is incredible.

The doctor fumbles for his cellphone and dials the police, waiting for nearly a whole minute before getting a response.

"Hello!? Hello!? My name is Gaius Kavius Amerinus! I'm a doctor at Nixon Memorial Hospital! I have to speak with someone at once!"

...

"What's the meaning of this, Viriminus?"

"Do you have any idea what time it is here?"

A rumbling of grunts and other noises somewhat crowded the audio feed of the video conference that was getting started between President Viriminus and the other members of the EU Council. A few minutes later, once all the various Heads of State had been gathered together, their unflattering pictures up on the screen, the meeting began.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Viriminus began, with a small acknowledgment to a recently established female Prime Minister, "I was recently informed that the Abwehr has reason to believe that this epidemic that has swept through most of Avaricum, and fortunately seems to be contained, has been modified."

"Modified how?"

"Modified to infect, but not kill, those of African descent and black complexion, while effectively killing everyone else. A number of different EU agencies are working to corroborate the Abwehr's initial intelligence and I would expect them to have a report ready for the Council in a couple of days. In the meantime, I have authorized for a special EU taskforce to be assembled and to make their way to Avaricum."

"What?!"

"Did you not see what happened to the Porcuian navy the other day? We've underestimated the DCA and Zanzibar once already!"

"This taskforce will be airlifted into Tanganorium and has been retrofitted with the latest in bio-terrorism protective equipment and will work to provide an accurate and detailed assessment of the situation. They will work to establish a firm quarantine zone and seek to provide medical attention to those still alive."

"But you've done this without Council approval? If you weren't going to bother to get our approval first and navigate through backdoor procedure for something like this, why wake many of us up?"

"Oh...I suppose you're right. Well, I thought you all would like to know."

Viriminus provided a curt bow with his head before exiting the video conference. A wide smile donned his face. Soon, however, his focus returned to Avaricum and to the losses the MSDF suffered the previous day. A number of calls would be made later that day, mainly to his allies and to a number of medical and pharmaceutical research centers.

...

MESSAGE TO THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA AND ULGANIA
Encrypted Message

Although our conference in Toledo only recently ended, I am in a tight situation with regard to the DCA and Zanzibar. I have forwarded the intelligence we received regarding the acquirement of a Vallahalla Mk. I by the enemy. The ASDF still has tight control over the skies, but naval support is a necessity.

Signed,
President Lucius Arimus Vinirimus

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NRE
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

Encrypted Message
Official Communique
To: President Lucius Arimus Vinirimus,

We have dealt with these ships before during the Dominion Wars, especially within the Gulf and Asian theaters. It was believed that they had all been destroyed but apparently they were more resilient than we'd originally estimated. That said, we do have battle proven tactics against these ships and can offer assistance. I have dispatched the full power of our Bermuda Fleet to the Indian Ocean. Admiral Williams is a more than capable naval commander and ensure that this naval threat is dealt with.

signed,
President Ronald Wright


Even before the message had been sent to the Porcuian President, the Bermuda fleet which had been previously assigned to seeking out pirates in the Atlantic, began gathering and heading towards Africa. Admiral Hugh Williams, a veteran of the Dominion Wars like so many others, was a confident and capable commander. He'd personally seen a great deal of action during the wars, having fought on several ships that had done battle with Dominion ships, including the same models now threatening the eastern coast of Africa. He'd been wounded after saving the crew of a cruiser that had narrowly defeat a Dominion Vallahalla Mk. I. Having received several commendations for his actions as well as a clear bill of health to return to service, Williams returned to the navy and rose through the ranks to the admiralty.

"Our current time until we've reached the target?" asked the Admiral.

"We have about about a 24 hour time frame Admiral" said his second.

"Have the helmsman push our engines to the max" said the Admiral. "I want to beat that time, we have allies to aid."

"Aye admiral...."
Edited by NRE, Feb 27 2011, 02:40 PM.
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Kasnyia
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Zanzibar State Television
Special Broadcast
Citizens of Zanibar, people of the world I, Mohammad Barghash, as the Interrim President of Zanzibar, must humbly and with great remorse, inform you all of the terrible tragedy that occured on the high seas a few days ago. As many of you know, a Porcuian fleet attempting to run the blockade that I had ordered after recieving their threats was destroyed by our naval forces. Brothers and sisters, this was not my wish. Zanzibar is a peaceful nation, we mean no one harm and do not intend to be a pariah. But we cannot role over in the face of imperialists, especially imperialists who do not recognize our sovereignity. We cannot because we know how slavery affects us. The Dominion taught that. We also know how anarchy affects us. The last few years have been proof of that. These people who would not help us, who would ignored us as they became prosperous, and then had the gall to not only not recognize our freedom, but attempted to trample over our sovereignity? No longer will it be tolerated. If not for the Democratic Confederacy of Africa, who have been publically forthright in their friendship in a treaty that was more than fair to us, Porcu would have seen us under their thumb.

And yet, we still do not invoke the clause in the treaty with the DCA that would have them come to our defense? Because we know thats what our enemies want. They want an excuse to go to war with us, to declare us a 'puppet' of Vallisburg. We are no puppets. Never again will our strings be held by foreign hands, and never again will we be lifeless dolls. We control our own destiny. We are the glorious people of Zanzibar. And with that I apologize to Porcu for the loss of life, but I add to that a firm warning: We are serious in our demands. If you will not recognize us, that is fine. We care not for your small-mindedness. But if you dare intrude upon our sovereignity again, we will retaliate.

To the world, I can only hope you will all understand why we take our defense so seriously. We have been open til now, and will always remain open so the world can see that our goals are true and our desires sincere.

Thank you and good night.

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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

Activity the next few days was highly nerve-raking but hardly fast-paced. SDF Supreme Command had decided, wisely most likely, to wait for Confederate naval assistance to arrive in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Avaricum before dropping the special EU task force into the city. The task force would be charged with firmly discovering the root cause of the plague's symptoms, sending detailed information back to Porcu where it would be forwarded to involved parties working towards a treatment. Already the Ulganian government had been more than cooperative and had the immense gratitude of Stockholm. Initial discoveries regarding the first Typhoon plague by Ulgan scientists was forwarded to companies and scientists in Porcu, who worked feverishly to tweak and perfect the treatment.

Efforts were also being made to synchronize plans for the eventual dispersal of the treatment among Tanganorium's population. However, this could only be done once the threat of TIM had been eliminated and medical teams and personnel could move unencumbered throughout the country. There lay the problem.

So far, a MSDF task force had been routed and embarrassed, but more to the point a sense of fear now began to sink in among some units. The Porcuians never could boast of legions of troops, as some past or present world powers could, but they were generally acknowledged for their professionalism, discipline, and often cerebral nature. When any was threatened, however, it was immediately noticed and could quickly reek havoc on its own accord. To help slow that possibility, the Airforce stepped up its bombing campaign against TIM targets all across the country, though that was obviously only a temporary solution.

As Confederate ships could be seen arriving from the horizon, Porcuian naval forces prepared themselves to try and breakthrough the blockade established by the Zanzibar navy. With any luck, a small, well-prepared EU task force would drop in from the air with plenty of cover from Confederate and Porcuian ships soon enough.

The battle immediately ahead, however, would prove decisive.
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Kasnyia
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While several of the gains made in the hinterlands were reversed through the strong air force strikes, it came at the cost of Dodoma, the second-largest city in Tanganorium, which fell a few nights after the EU had redoubled their bombing efforts. Forces loyal to the EU were now isolated at their stronghold at the Lake Victoria coast and in Avaricum and with the loss of Dodoma, could no longer commute between the two on land.

The TIM had also been lucky to take over several military bases, including those with airfields. Thanks to SCORPION units within TIM, who knew how to pilot fighter jets and had even trained some of the other factions to do so, the rebels were able to take advantage of their captured prizes, taking care to fly them deep within rebel-held territory in the south of the country. Once organized into a fighter wing, they too began raids on EU-held targets. While these were smaller in number and in scale, they were also carefully considered surgical strikes that were quite...painful...for the enemy.

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

The Zanzibar Republic Navy had been alerted of the incoming ships by the Directorate of Foreign Intelligence Research (also known as FIRe), the DCA's intelligence agency. They redoubled the blockade line and sent out a broadcast.

General Maritime Broadcast
All Channels
Attention Porcuian and Confederate Ships. You are approaching the sovereign territorial waters of the Zanzibar Republic. A blockade is in effect, pending threats to Zanzibar's independence. Turn back now. This is your only warning.


The Zanzibar Navy then ordered the ships to be targetted, even if they were at long range. The orders were relayed to the Vallahalla Mk. I missile cruiser they had in their possession, which they had christened the ZRN Light of Zanzibar. Formerly the Karakazakata, one of the original sixteen Vallahalla warships built and then lost by the Eastern Empire, before being found again by the original owners, it was used as a template to restart construction of the Vallahalla-class of missile cruisers (known as the Vallahalla Mk. I Type B ) and to use it as the template for the Vallahalla Mk. II, which served exclusively in the Dominion Navy. After it's life as a template was over, the Karakazakata served as an advanced training ship during the war and as such had been retrofitted with all the latest advances in naval technology, extending its life by many decades and making the ship something to be feared beyond its original capacity. When the war ended, she had been stationed in Sennar, promptly coming into the hands of the DCA who, with the lend-lease treaty they gave to Zanzibar, handed it over to them.

It was not with the rest of the fleet, having taken refuge at a secret location in nearby waters. It began preparations to launch a full barrage...
Edited by Kasnyia, Mar 5 2011, 11:52 AM.
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NRE
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Zanzibar was coming well within the Bermuda fleet's range as an aid brought the radioed message to Admiral Williams. Seated comfortable on the fleet flagship's command deck, Williams scanned the letter. A smirk forming on his face, Williams crushed the message in his hand.

"Tell the radio operator to send the following message back...."


General Signal
Confederate Transmission
The Confederate States of America shall exercise its commitment to protecting Porcuian convoys heading towards the coast of Africa. Zanzibar will not interfere or it shall be fired upon.


As the aid walked away, heading towards the radio room the Admiral turned to his own personal communications officer in charge of communicating with the rest of the fleet.

"Tell all ships to go on red alert" said the Admiral. "Contact our Porcuian allies and suggest that they do the same. Also order all submarines to take up a parameter position around both fleets as a first line of defense."

The admiral then turned to his radar officer.

"What are we picking up so far?"

"The ships of the blockade are remaining in place so far admiral."

"Have we received any indication that their Vallahall is out there?"

"None yet sir" said both the radar and intelligence officer attempting to decode enemy communications.

"She will be out priority target should she show herself on the field of play" said the Admiral. "All other ships are secondary targets, have all captains in the fleet understand this. I want to be informed the minute that she enters our sights."

"Aye Admiral."
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Kasnyia
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"They are not heeding, amir," stated the first officer of the ZRN Light of Zanzibar, Commander Mahmoud Ali, "the blockade fleet is holding and waiting for them to come within range."

"Good," replied the ship's CO, Captain Mir Firdous Sultan, "Apparantly the slavedrivers need the same lesson Porcu did. Are the silos loaded?"

"Yes, amir!" Ali responded proudly, "the Mantas are ready to launch. We just need a target."

"Target the Confederate aircraft carriers," Captain Sultan nodded, "I want to dedicate twenty five missiles per carrier, with the rest of the payload hitting their support ships only."

The Vallahalla class had forty-eight missile silos, in addition to its defensive and auxillary armaments. That configuration alone had made the ships of her class such a major threat. Furthermore, because the silos had been designed to each hold a single full-size ICBM, the largest types of missiles, they could hold more of smaller types. The Manta was one such smaller type. Developed by the Dominion's Diablo Weapon Design Bureau, the Manta anti-ship missile was only a third as tall and a sixth as wide in diameter as a typical ICBM. As such, they were placed on special cluster launchers, at three per launcher, and then stacked at three levels one on top of the other, putting nine Mantas per silo. At 48 silos total, that placed over four hundred missiles ready to launch.

"Targets set, amir," Ali reported, "Ready on your command."

Sultan smiled.

"Open silo doors one through forty-eight, clear the firing decks, have the engine room on standby for immediate departure and emergency teams ready in case of any problems."

A moment later, the orders had finished being carried out. Ali nodded to Sultan.

"FIRE!"

And then for the next five minutes, four hundred and thirty two missiles launched off the ship and headed toward the fleet, from a completely different direction than the Confederates were heading. The attack would be a total surprise.
Edited by Kasnyia, Mar 7 2011, 08:09 PM.
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NRE
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

The attacks was certainly a surprised as missiles rained down on the confederate fleet, radar giving them only a minute or so of warning. 4 out of the 5 aircraft carriers in the fleet were hit without discrimination, leaving them completely inoperable as far as launching aircraft were concerned. The fact that they were still afloat at all was a miracle as smoke billowed from their hulls and fire crews scrambled from deck to deck to put out the flames. This was not the case for the support ships, the vast majority of which were now sinking due to the attack. Of those that survived, crews were trying desperately to keep them afloat.

Admiral Williams himself had suffered a minor injury while on his own deck. A nurse now on the deck attending to his head wound as officer's around him waited for orders.

"Where was that attack?"

"We were hit from the rear admiral"

"Dispatch 10 submarines" said the Admiral. "Have the wolves hunt those bastards down. I want that ship run out of the theater if not destroyed! Send an equal compliment of our own cruisers to accompany them to ensure the job is done."

"Aye Admiral" said one officer as he rushed off to the radio room.

"Admiral, orders for the rest of the fleet?"

"We press forward" said the Admiral. "Have the fleet reposition itself, all damage ships to the back, all capable ships to the front. We shall not back away from this threat, we will either crush these terrorists on die trying"

"Aye Admiral."

"Contact our Porcuian allies" said the Admiral. "We're going to need air support and our one carrier isn't going to cover it."

"Aye Admiral." said the officer as he to rushed off to give out the orders.

Badly injured as far as air and general support was concerned, the Confederate Fleet was not entirely out of the fight yet. Ten submarines as well as an equal compliment of cruisers detached themselves from the fleet's formation and made a complete about-face towards the direction the attack. They would deal with the Light of Zanzibar, giving just payback to such a sneak attack. The rest of the fleet pressed forward and as soon as it was within range of the blockade, began firing against the enemy. The blockade responded in kind and before long a massive naval battle was underway. The Confederates had the upper hand as far as trained sailors were concerned, being far better trained than the Zanzibar rebels.

However, with the LoZ's attack, they were now greatly out-supplied against the blockade. Admiral Williams well understood this great advantage and couldn't help to be reminded by similar odds face against many fleets when fighting during the Dominion Wars. No doubt, this attack was coordinate with that same idea in mind as the Dominion had been able to overwhelm enemy fleets using these very same odds. Williams had survive similar odds before and was well within the mindset that the Confederates would survive this as well. They couldn't destroy the blockade as he had originally hoped but they could still break them in such a way as to forcing a whole in their defense of the continental shoreline.
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Kasnyia
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"Observers report FOUR of their carriers now out of commission, amir," Commander Ali crowed, "and their support fleet is either crippled or sinking!"

"Excellent work," Captain Sultan replied, "Tell the crew that they have served Zanzibar well this day and that I will recommend them all for a medal."

"At once, amir!" Ali exclaimed excitedly, "Shall we prepare for another attack? One more barrage and we'll have sunk those carriers!"

"No," Sultan replied thoughtfully, "Now we must run. They will be hunting for us soon."

"But what of their advance, amir?!" Ali asked, fearfully, "How will we be able to assist them if we're running?!"

"We will not abandon this fight, Mahmoud," said Sultan in a fatherly tone, "But we cannot fight a pitched battle with this class of warship. We must fight to see another day. Now carry out your orders, Commander."

"Yes, amir!" Ali replied with a smart salute, turning to give orders to the rest of the bridge.

Sultan looked out to the sea. Unlike most of the men in the newly formed Zanzibar Republic Navy, he had had some experience. As a young man, he had been a sailor in the Royal Zanzibar Navy. During the Dominion Wars, he had served as a volunteer in the Ulganian Navy, fighting the Dominion in Africa and in Asia. He had found it ironic that his government would ally themselves with the successor to the Dominion in this continent, but he didn't care either. He had fought the Dominion because they took away his country's freedom. He fought using the DCA's weaponry because they had given it back when neither Ulgania or Porcu could have been assed....

Come and get me, slavedrivers, he thought, Let us see your mettle...

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

The blockade fleet had heard the good news, but they didn't dare let their guard down. The enemy still had the rest of their fleet. And in the ensuing chaos of the missile salvo, the blockade fleet had moved within firing range. As soon as the smoke had cleared from the Light of Zanzibar's attack, the blockade fleet made their move, attacking whatever ships were closest.

The battle had only just begun.

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

In Tanganorium, Avaricum was now facing extreme shortages of supplies, having been cut off from everyone else. It was at this time that Cassio decided it was time to make another strike. This time targetting the city's airfield so that even if the planes managed to get in, they would have no where to land....no where under their control anyway...
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

News arrived from the Confederate fleet and Admiral Williams and was received with mixed emotions. SDF forces trained regularly with their American comrades and were deeply saddened to hear of the loss of life, but they were also surprised to hear of the extent to which they suffered under that heavy initial blow. Personal and national pride aside, the men and women of the Porcuian Self-Defense Forces understood what was needed of them now - their allies depended on them to step up and they would do their best to honor their fallen allies.

Strings of detailed orders ran from one command center to another, with SDF Supreme Command in Stockholm concerning itself with the grand scheme of things. The two Porcuian aircraft carriers stationed just outside the Zanzibar blockade roared to life, men and equipment suddenly firing up in a giant showcase of energy. Now in constant contact with their allies, Porcuian air commanders were guided to targets both behind and in front of what remained of the Confederate fleet and were eager to make themselves useful.

Coming in low and fast, those aircraft not immediately equipped with long-range anti-ship missiles attempted to clear a path in the blockade line that the Confederate ships and Admiral Williams could exploit. Behind the Confederate fleet and the Porcuian carriers, aircraft equipped with long-range ammunition that would prove devastatingly effective against ships of all kinds moved fast to locate and destroy the Light of Zanzibar. In addition to the swarm of extremely well-trained pilots that began to fill the skies, the small amount of ships of the MSDF radioed the Confederate Admiral and asked how best they could join the fight in order to break through the blockade, their effectiveness extremely hampered because of the initial smacking they took.

For at least the next few hours, the TIM and other anti-Porcuian forces near and around Avaricum would not have to worry about airstrikes and the show from the perspective of the shore would be etched into their minds for sometime to come.

...

The major airfield just on the outskirts of Avaricum had miraculously remained in the hands of local police and gendarmerie. The sole source of new and rare materials, the loss of the airfield would instantly pitch the city into a state of crisis - as if they weren't already there.

Already aware of an incoming EU Task Force, the small collection of men charged with defending the area was surprised to see an attack being made by TIM forces. Captain Velin, a capable commander of the Tanganorium gendarmerie, quickly shouted orders to those around him and radioed information to those small groups of police and gendaremerie that formed defensive stations around the airfield and the command tower.

"Forminus!" Velin barked.

"Aye, captain!"

"What's the status of that EU Task Force?"

"Currently 120km out. Maintaining present course and speed."

Velin dropped his radio for a moment and gazed again through the pair of binoculars he had hanging around his neck. The group of pickup trucks, American models ironically enough, that were modified to carry large machine guns zoomed closer, kicking up dust in their wake. Dozens of TIM foot soldiers held onto these trucks for dear life, with rifles, RPGs, or multiple belts of ammunition hanging around their necks.
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Kasnyia
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Zanzibar State Television
 
Good evening, this is a breaking news bulletin. Today, the combined fleet of Porcu and the Confederacy came to blows with the naval forces of our homeland. We are being told that the battle has only just started. We are also being assured by the Defense Ministry that the blockade was able to "give a fitting response to the sheer audacity of these foreign powers, who never bothered with Zanzibar when it was under the control of lawless warlords, have now become intent to destroy our independence lest it give hope for the people of Tanganyika." This is in reference to the current unrest among the people of Tanganorium, who have been struggling for independence for several years, with tensions coming to a head over on the mainland a year ago.

In lieu of these events, President Barghash of the interrim government, has commented,

"The world must know what is happening in the East Indian Ocean. Two major powers are now combining forces to rape and pillage our hard-fought victory, because they refuse to negotiate, they refuse to understand, they refuse to respect the rights of the local nations of Africa, and elsewhere throughout the world. They, that claim to be peaceful democratic peoples, have waged war on a nation founded by the collective will of the people of Zanzibar, assisted by their neighbors on the mainland, and without handouts from the foreigners! The world should know that this is their response when the world knows how to move on without the likes of their claws in our backs!"
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NRE
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"They want to help" said the Admiral, "well have our allies position their ships within the heart of our own formation. They can serve as cover fire to our ships. Besides, we're currently in better shape for taking on the enemy blockade head-on"

"Aye Admiral, we'll send the message."

Despite the fact that the Confederates were now severely weaken given that the vast majority of their support ships were now gone, they were still in a position to give the Zanzibar blockade a battle to remember. They'd packed their ships in tight as far as blockades went but the Confederates were baking on superior training and ships to win the battle. Naturally, they knew this would come to fist with their enemy's dire zeal to defeat the enemy at all costs. On scales, this put the two sides almost equally balanced but somehow the scale had to be tipped.

Aid from the Porcuian airforce was a welcome addition for the fleet as it put added pressure on the enemy fleet. However, it was still the fleet's job to actually break the enemy's back and get through the blockade. Creating a maelstrom of violent waters between them, both the Zanzibar and allied Confederate/Porcuian fleets were swaying as their massive cannons and missiles fired one after another against each other. Surveying the battlefield like a General on land, the Admiral was quick to realize that their allies on the air were blazing them a trail to follow, even before it came over the encrypted radio. Ordering ships forward in a spear-heard like formation, Admiral Williams was looking to pierce a hole in th enemy's formation.

"Let us show them what a hot knife does to butter" the Admiral said to himself.

Elsewhere...

Ten Confederate cruisers shadowed the ten submarines that had been dispatched to find the Light of Zanzibar. They were soon radioed by the Porcu who were in the air, also searching for the serpent in the grass. Having not been in the air long, they were discussing the general direction and search pattern to follow. So far the Confederates had little luck finding the enemy so far, but understanding that the ship certainly could not have disappeared, both allies knew it was only a matter of time before they could their target and engaged them without discrimination. Sonar operators on board the various submarines listened as intensely as the radar operators were watching. Everyone was just waiting for the enemy to finally be spotted and a true battle to begin.
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Kasnyia
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The ZRN Light of Zanzibar knew it was being followed, and yet it still had to contribute to the battle. As such, it prepared to fire again. However, because the ship could not stop for fear of allowing her pursuers to catch up, the missile cruiser could only fire a salvo from the first six silos while still maintaining the current speed. That equalled out to fifty four Manta anti-ship missiles. Out of range of the enemy fleet, Captain Sultan instead ordered the missiles to attack in search and destroy mode against any who followed them, the general location of which he had an idea of.

---------

The blockade arranged itself so that fast attack cruisers were in the front line, with dedicated SAM cruisers and flakfrigates just behind to hunt down any air. Behind them were Leviathan-class battleships and Barbary-class destroyers, both of which, like the Light of Zanzibar, were surplus of the Dominion and had acted as part of Zapht's triumvirate (along with the Vallahalla Mk. II missile cruisers which Zanzibar was not able to procure) of naval workhorses. They would handle the Confederate fleet inbound to their position.

As soon as the enemy got in range, the blockade took the first opportunity to strike. A readied salvo of shells from the Leviathans slammed into the Confederate battleships. The Barbarys gave cover as they reloaded. One thing was clear...this fight would not be over in hours...or even days.

----------

The Avaricum airfield was taking it from all sides, and it wasn't long before the perimeter at the far end of the runway from the airport was breached and seized by rebels. As soon as they did, the small fleet of technicals dashed along the empty space, as Porcuian jeeps came to meet them. All up and down the runway were running gun battles which looked almost comical if not for the stakes at hand and the deaths caused on both sides.

The airport itself held, however.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

Porcuian naval bombers of the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) kept their eyes sharply fixed to the horizon. Currently with little concern about their fuel gauges, the pilots were determined to hunt down the ZRN Light of Zanzibar themselves or at least forward its position to their Confederate allies.

Since the aerial campaign in the region was mostly focused on ground attacks against various TIM targets deep inside Tanganorium and around the last EU holdouts near Lake Victoria and the capital city of Avaricum, the MSDF was not well-supplied with powerful anti-ship ammunition for their bombers. The few missiles that could tear through almost any ship were hastily fastened to those that departed in the flood of excitement and energy following the Confederate confrontation with the Zanzibar fleet. Of note, and possibly unique among the armed forces of the world, is that all aircraft of the separate Air Self-Defense Force are capable of landing and operating from the aircraft carriers of the MSDF. With orders coming from the upper echelon to halt ground attacks and aid naval operations, the sky would soon fill with a constantly rotating amount of aircraft.

...

A roar seemed to come from the battered allied ships after the first of the attacks and Porcuian commanders enthusiastically pushed their ships onward to engage the enemy. A familiar rush of air to every sailor and solider in the SDF gave hope of victory to the Porcuians manning the ships as rows and rows of fighter-bombers and naval bombers emerged from the horizon and glided past the allied line, straight towards that of the Zanzibar fleet.

An unfortunate number of pilots lost their lives in that first fly by and, though they wouldn't directly see the effects of their return salvo from the air, each pilot confidently pressed the 'fire' button and left their comrades in the sea to watch the resulting fireworks.

...

"Shit, shit, shit..." Captain Velin said to himself over and over again. Rushing down the stairs of the airport control tower with a rifle in one hand, Velin had seen the initial blows the men defending the airport had taken from TIM. He soon exited onto ground level and was greeted by a scene out of Hollywood: smoke and dust mixed and blew across the landscape as groups of local police and gendarmes were encircled by packs of TIM fighters in pickup trucks.

Bellowing into his radio, Velin made sure those men in command of the control tower kept their eye on the incoming EU Task Force and urged them on. "You tell them we've got a hell of a situation here and that I can't guarantee that they'll come in without a few scratches."

A truck suddenly stopped a number of meters away from Velin and eight TIM fighters descended and began running in all directions. Falling to one knee, Velin readied his gun and began firing, downing two of the enemy immediately and seemingly injuring another. His attack naturally drew return fire and he was fortunate that their accuracy and training were much less than his own. Getting up and running to a nearby shelter, Velin stopped to catch his breath and hoped some of the local police and other gendarmes were still alive and putting up a good fight.
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Having moved into a spear-head position, a moderate number of Confederate cruisers and battleships pressed hard against the lines of the Zanzibar fleet. The Porcuian air force had already soften a spot for the fleet to strike against and now that they were in position, the various captains worked in unison as the fleet struck against the enemy's lines. The strike was relatively quick and the enemy, while certainly ready for such a strike, was still caught somewhat off-balanced given they had no idea exactly where the Confederates would move against them. Using Porcuian ships for cover fire as the spear-head pushed into enemy lines, Confederate cruisers and battleships found themselves almost in spitting distance with many of the Zanzibar ships in the front lines. Sailors manned deck guns and pointed them directly against the enemy's decks as the grew closer and closer within one another.

Bullets flying in all directions as the ships intermingled in this one location within the blockade, it would have been difficult for onlookers to see what side either of the ships were on as they were soon so mingled among themselves. With Porcuain cover fire, Confederate ships were able to inflict heavy damage on a few of the blockades frontline ships in this particular sector before eventually being forced back before being surrounded by enemy ships. While they Confederate had at this time failed to break the blockade they did show the enemy that they were not ones to be over estimated. This also created a weakness in the blockade itself, which would no doubt for Zanzibar to either re-deploy ships from else where or allow the weakness to remain and risk the Confederate and Porcu exploiting it again. That said, the Confederate ships in the attack had taken their own amount of damage from the attack and were forced to fall back and allow other ships to take their place while they attempted to make what repairs they could.

else where...

"Hot damn I think I've got them sir" said an enthusiastic young sonar operator.

"How far out?" the Captain called back.

"Not far sir, we can be on their tail in less than an hour sir I'd wager" he called back.

"Good, send word to the rest of the fleet and our friends in the air"

"Aye captain!"

The hunters now had their prey but the ships were still at least an hour, more or less, out from being within weapons range of them. The Porcuian aircraft would be the first to intercept them and while it was advised that they not strike until the ships could get closer, this was only a strong suggestion. It would be up the Porcuian commanders to make that decision. Nevertheless, all engines within the search party were pushed to the max to cut the time down as much as possible and get all ships within range soon.
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Kasnyia
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OOC- You mean underestimated, right?

Also, not gonna respond to the fact that I shot fifty missiles at your chase fleet?

IC-

The Zanzibar fleet had realized what had happened and decided to let the bulk of the confederate fleet behind the lines. Once they were, the ships of the sector surrounded them and began firing. True, it would mean giving any ships outside the "pocket" a chance to slip through, but with the bulk of the enemy's fighting power surrounded and under heavy siege, it would be worth it to let a few small fish through in favor of capturing sharks...

-----------

On Zanzibar, the order was given to launch their fighters, who would join the battle in the sea. One squad would give protection and cover to their fleet, another would beeline toward the Porcuian carrier, and a third would finish off the damaged Confederate carriers while also taking on the one remaining active one. A fourth squad went out to assist the ZRN Light of Zanzibar in fending off her pursuers.

-----------

By now most of the jeeps and technicals were wrecked or out of fuel or whatnot, and so the battle continued on foot. By now, the airfield itself was secure, as was the civillian airport. Government troops were still holding the air base at the other side (where most of the fighting was) as well as the control tower, which had become a sniper's nest.

Cassio had expected heavy resistance, and so, from the wreck of his own technical, brought out a black, oblong box. Stamped on the side was Dominion RB-427 Type 74 Thermobaric Canister Launcher. He told his men to give covering fire as he set up the weapon. When completed, it resembled a large recoilless rifle, except the barrel looked almost too fat in its diameter to launch any sort of modern warhead. Indeed, it looked almost like a small smooth-bore cannon of the olden days and the TIM rebels nearby wouldn't have been completely surprised if Cassio had brought out a cannon ball as the ammunition.

Instead, Cassio fished throug the box the weapon had come in and found what looked like a large paint can in shape and size. The only difference were the stabilizing fins and slight conical shape at one end. Still, it couldn't be mistaken for a shell. This was the ammunition the weapon had been built for, the thermobaric cannister. More powerful than most field ammunition, but less so than a MOAB or FOAB, the thermobaric cannister (also known as the "boom can") was designed for bunker busting and impromptu demolition.

Such as with the control tower.

And so Cassio put the can in the breach loader and then took aim at the control tower. He then fired the boom can. The resultant destruction was complete, if not a bit too much; there was only a two foot deep crater left and the nearby runway had been cracked....
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Kasnyia
Mar 19 2011, 02:35 PM
OOC- You mean underestimated, right?

Also, not gonna respond to the fact that I shot fifty missiles at your chase fleet?

OOC: Senior Moment :lol: I'll acknowledge the 50 missiles and what not in the next post. I'll allow Porcu to catch up first.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

Just now from the air, Porcuian aircraft could see what appeared to be traces of the ZRN Light of Zanzibar near the horizon. With additional intelligence forwarded to them by the Confederate comrades below, Porcuian air commanders were certain they had finally honed in on their target.

Initially, it was just a matter of time. A few aircraft were armed with powerful, long-distance ammunition and released their payload as soon as they were able to, turning back quickly in order to return to the two Porcuian carriers. Other aircraft needed to close the distance even more before they were able to fire onto the Light of Zanzibar with any degree of accuracy, but a mass that suddenly appeared on their radar screens immediately caught their attention. The Porcuian air commander in charge informed his comrades riding the waves below that he would divert his men to deal with the Zanzibar aircraft that were quickly approaching to help defend the Light of Zanzibar, while the Confederate ships would continue their pursuit.

...

The small number of MSDF units still operable and in decent fighting condition continued to fire upon the Zanzibar fleet that stretched across the sea and blockaded Avaricum. Porcuian aircraft had provided the initial hole in the line which the combined MSDF and Confederate naval forces were able to exploit, but upon their return to the Porcuian aircraft carriers, the Zanzibar fleet flexed and began to close off and surround the MSDF and Confederate ships.

It would be some time, probably too much time to be of any use, before Porcuian aircraft could return to inflict even more damage upon the Zanzibar fleet, and so it fell upon those already bruised and battered ships of Porcu and the Confederacy to fight their way through their latest obstacle.

In a courageous act, the acting Porcuian naval commander decided to fully expose his own ships so that the larger, more powerful ships of the Confederate navy could have a better chance. Moving quickly to put themselves in the line of fire between the Zanzibar and Confederate ships, the remaining MSDF forces unleashed all that they had left in an attempt to push back.

...

Porcuian maritime and aerial training provided their soldiers, sailors, and pilots with a unique ability to rapidly return to bases of operation, such as aircraft carriers, re-fuel and reload, and return to battle in a very short period of time. Just as a number of aircraft had ascended back into the sky, a mass of enemy aircraft could be seen quickly approaching.

Commanders on both aircraft carriers prepared themselves for the coming assault and knew that while few friendly aircraft were in the immediate vicinity, many more Porcuian aircraft were currently working to make their way back to the carriers to help defend them. The level of training usually proved itself decisive in exercises and battles such as this, and while many both in the sky and on the ships grew nervous, they did not doubt that they would be victorious.

...

Captain Velin heard and felt the explosion and utter destruction of the control tower and gasped. He had never witnessed such quick demolition before and he began to feel for the first time that he could die defending the airfield and runway.

Moving quickly from one spot of cover to another, Velin gunned down one TIM fighter after another, but soon ran out of ammunition and now found himself in quite the dilemma. Pickup trucks and technicals dotted the landscape, many of them on fire with a small number of terrorists burning intensely after having been trapped inside, and pillars of smoke rose into the sky. With the control tower gone and communications effectively severed between ground crews and the incoming EU Task Force, it would have to be the smoke that guided the EU reinforcements in.

By chance, Velin spotted a black fighter who seemed to be operating a modified rifle, though it immediately resembled a small, smooth-bore cannon. He had spotted an assault rifle of a nearby dead TIM insurgent and waited for a good moment before pouncing upon it, aiming as best as he could and firing.

In the skies above, drawing ever near, was the EU Task Force, whose assistance was sorely needed.
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Kasnyia
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The bullet hit Cassio in the arm, just as he was reloading the Canister Launcher to aim at the air base the garrison still controlled. The hit threw off his aim wildly and caused him to fire upwards, toward the airfield. Clutching his bloodied sleeve, he crouched and told his nearest fighters to scan the area for whoever fired, quickly finding the Porcuian a distance away. He ordered them to fire, but before they could, the canister that had misfired had found its mark.

Right on the airfield.

The explosion that followed and the resulting crater would ensure the airfield would be useless to any aircraft short of a helicopter, but that had not been Cassio's intention. He had been planning on using the airfield to get easier logistics for the TIM rebels in the city, but now that opportunity was lost. Cursing under his breath, he ordered the rest of the men to continue the attack on what little of the airport the garrison still controlled as he decided to withdraw and tend to his wounds.

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

The Zanzibar squad assigned to the Confederate carriers began strafing operations on the damaged ones immediately, throwing everything but the heaviest munitions at the smoking hulks. Satisfied with the results, they proceeded against the remaining active one, intending on throwing the remaining heavy ordinance at the enemy hull while dodging its defenses...

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

Zanzibar Air Force fighters drew first blood, launching air-to-air missiles in a salvo against the first Porcuian wave as they prepared to strafe the conn tower of the enemy carrier. The battle soon became truely vicious as attack aircraft on both sides started falling like flies.

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

The Zanzibar fleet took significant losses from the Porcuian suicide push against their forces, losing five ships in the first five minutes, and damaging many more besides, but in return proceeded to annihilate the MSDF contingent of the enemy fleet.

Now it was a fight between Zanzibar and the Confederacy.

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

"Amir! Enemy air power approaching!" First Officer Ali exclaimed, "Orders?!"

"Engage the anti-air and prepare to depart due east," Captain Sultan replied calmly.

"Yes, amir!" Ali stated with a salute, "Also sir, our air force is reinforcing us!"

"Excellent, but tell them to mind their range," Sultan replied, "We're heading further out to sea."

"But why are we, if I may ask, amir?" Ali asked, "Should we not be fighting?"

"We're a high value target," Sultan explained, "They will either give chase, preventing their fighters from returning to their carriers, or they will flee, allowing us to chase them."

"Yes, amir!" Ali saluted, proceeding to carry out the orders.
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Kasnyia
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OOC- I know it's a double post, but I forgot something and I want it to have the attention it deserves. Presume this takes place before what I said in the previous post.

IC-

"Amir! Enemy missiles incoming!" Ali exclaimed, "Taking evasive manouvers!"

"Good," Captain Sultan replied approvingly, "I want our anti-air batteries to track any that come within firing range and to shoot them out of the sky. At once!"

"Yes, amir!"

With that the huge missile cruiser began to change direction as its engines went full throttle. On the deck, the turrets, each fielding twin miniguns, began to spin up and fire at the dozen missiles heading their way. The first three got through, one hitting the long range targetting arrray, another hitting the hull above water, and a third slamming into the deck's forecastle, damaging the doors to missile silo doors 1 and 2. The next six were hit by the anti-air gattlings, exploding or ricochetting harmlessly out to sea. The final three missed their targets.

"Damage report, lieutenant," Sultan asked, his expression furtive, "How bad is it?"

"We've lost targetting for the missiles," Ali replied as he reviewed the reports filing in, "Still checking to see if it can be repaired or if we'll have to dock. Auxillary is operational however. Also, the silo doors for one and two are inoperative. A minor fire has broken out on the forecastle nearby, but the men are taking care of it. Minor damage to the hull."

"Hmm..." Sultan muttered as he thought out his next strategy. It was then Ali looked at the radar.

<< See above post >>

OOC-

Y'alls turn, gentlemen.
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While pursuant of the Zanzibar ship the Confederate cruisers sent after her were hit hard by an initial slavo of missile against them. They lost several good ships in the attack despite their best at avoiding the missiles through their own defenses. Luckily the submarines below waters were relatively left unharmed and continued to pursue the enemy. What cruisers were operationally able to did as well though it was now obvious that the Zanzibar was now moving further and further out to sea.

If they were going to ever have a chance to catch her, the submarines would have to find a way to slow her down. Thus torpedoes were launched from every available submarine in range in order to damage the ships engines and slow her down. Several were launched in quick succession with the intention that should the enemy ship have ways of averting torpedoes, there were be too many to effectively dodge or destroy them all.

_____________________________________________

The aircraft carriers of the Confederacy that were still operational launched all available aircraft that they could to provide for their added defense. The Confederate Fleet couldn't lose all their aircraft carriers or less they'd have to abandon the campaign entirely for logistical reasons. All the anti-aircraft weapons available to them were activated and the sailors braced for the worst.

Else where in the fleet the Admirable was going to make sure that their Porcuian allies had not scarified themselves foolishly. Their attack had weakened the enemy in that particular position and the Admiral decided they would push in that location against the enemy and would continue to push until either the enemy blockade of the Confederate fleet was utterly destroyed. Every last weapon on every ship in the fleet was broke to life as the fleet steer directly towards those damaged enemy ships.

The initial attack was a success for the Confederates as they were able to further damage those ships that were not initially sunk by their Porcuian allies. However, it was difficult to gauge whether or not the Confederates would be able to carry on the attack with the same intensity but they had to if they were going to break the enemy.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

The sight from the command center of one of the Porcuian carriers was truly a frightening scene. Aircraft streaked and screamed across the sky and descending columns of smoke stood as the only reminder of machine and men that used to be. The initial attack against the Porcuian aircraft carriers had indeed been vicious, but it was extremely difficult to surmise the exact extend of damage amid the chaos that ensued.

Although the Zanzibar aircraft arrived just before Porcuian fighters and fighter-bombers because friendly units were returning from either direction, some having assisted the Confederate fleet fighting against the Zanzibar naval blockade and others having fired their long-distance missiles against the ZRN Light of Zanzibar, the enemy aircraft were quickly outnumbered. Porcuian naval and air commanders alike cursed the fact that the Zanzibar aircraft had made it to the carriers just before friendly aircraft, but reveled in the knowledge that their training was superior to their enemy.

In fact, as the fighting continued the difference in training became more and more apparent.

...

Despite closing in on the enemy and constantly relaying information on the position of the Light of Zanzibar to their Confederate allies, Porcuian aircraft were fast approaching the point where if they did not turn back they would run out of fuel before they could return safely to their carriers. However, the drive to hunt down the Zanzibar flagship drove them on and each pilot was determined to push their trusty machine to the limit.

During that last, desperate push a vast majority of the Porcuian aircraft came just within range and deployed their payload without another moment's hesitation. Those that did not fired their missiles and hoped for the best, quickly changing directions and beginning their return journey. Having done all they could, the Porcuian pilots wished their comrades below them the best in their hunt and hoped that when they returned to their carriers that they were still in time to shoot down Zanzibar aircraft.

...

Velin's excitement at having wounded his target was short-lived. In fact, upon realizing what he had inadvertently caused he cursed to himself and could only hope that the pilots of those fast approaching EU transports were skilled enough to land in extremely unfavorable terrain.

There was still work to be done though and Velin checked the magazine of his rifle before peering over an overturned technical. Shots rang out and bullets flew by his head, forcing Velin to once again take cover behind the technical. Understanding that he couldn't simply stay put, Velin held his breath and darted towards a storage facility that lay nearly two hundred meters away. Desperate to reach the facility, the Captain did not stop.

Incredibly, he reached the facility and whipped around the backside of the building, catching two TIM fighters by surprise. Without a moment's delay, Velin shot and killed his adversaries, dropped his now empty rifle magazine, and reloaded.

...

Ten minutes away, but still high in the air were the EU transport aircraft that were on their way. Filled with worry after their communications with the ground were cut, the pilots and commanders of the Task Force were determined to help their comrades in arms.

Soon enough, however, the true picture of what had already unfolded and what was currently happening on the ground became apparent. With the runway in an unusable state, the pilots of the train of transports had little choice but to quickly scan the surrounding area for a place to land. Naturally, no site was recommended but one must be preferable and it was a short, relatively flat patch of wild grass that was finally chosen.

The first of the transport aircraft descended carefully and landed well enough, but inevitably ran out of space and skidded for a bit, knocking the men aboard around a bit. With pillars of smoke acting as their guide, the soldiers the transport had been carrying unloaded and followed their commanding officer straight toward the airfield.

As the following transport aircraft could be spotted in the distance, the EU soldiers hoped that there was still someone to be saved when they came to whatever was left of the airport.
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Kasnyia
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As enemy fighters launched their second wave of payload, this time the turrets were already ready, taking out more than half the ordinance being thrown at them. Of the ordinance that made it through, one hit the water, another hit the hull right below the waterline, and the third smashed into the aft 160mm anti-ship turret, knocking it off line. However, the ZRN Light of Zanzibar would have the last laugh as the anti-air turrets that had just shot down the missiles turned their attentions to the fighters and were able to shoot down most of the fleeing aircraft as they tried to make back to the safety of their fleet. Some exploded outright, others lazily glided into the sea. None would make it to the fight.

"Fighter threat...neutralized, amir," First Officer Ali stated with a hint of satisfaction and a smirk, "sealing off the flooded section of the hull."

"Don't get complacent, the enemy is still after-" started the Captain, but before he could finish...

"Enemy torpedoes, amir!" Ali reported as he peered over the shoulder of his sonar operator, "Going into evasive manouvers!"

"Very well, commander," Captain Sultan replied, "I want depth charges prepped. We might be going hunting."

"Yes, amir!"

The ship, having been so busy fending off the fighters, hadn't noticed the torpedoes until it was well within range. They unleashed countermeasures to fight them off, and about half of them went off course or exploded. The remaining half still continued.

"We're out of countermeasures for the moment, amir!" Ali exclaimed, nervous now, "What do we do?"

"We must prevent the torpedoes from taking the broadside if we are to survive," Captain Sultan stated, "Follow the direction the torpedoes are travelling. It will present them with a smaller surfce area."

"We're likely to lose engine power and steering that way, amir!" Ali yelped, "Shouldn't we turn into the torpedos instead?"

"No," Captain Sultan growled, "If we take too much damage to the front, we lose sonar. We'd also not be able to move without taking on more water."

"Yes, amir," Ali replied. He wasn't too sure, but he wasn't going to question the captain any further while their lives were on the line, "Relaying orders."

"I also want missiles readied. Load as many silos with anti-ship missiles as is necessary to take out whatever remaining confederate cruisers there are, and then load the remaining silos with missile-launched torpedoes. I want to start hunting...."

"At once, amir," Ali stated, hsi confidence coming back, even as the torpedoes closed in. Then he had an idea...

"Amir!" he exclaimed, "what if we launch depth charges and have them blow up a few seconds behind us?"

"It would still damage the ship, Ali," Sultan replied, wondering where his First Officer was going with this.

"Yes, but not as much as a direct hit!" Ali exclaimed, excited. Sultan's eyes wided for a brief second. Then...

"Do it."

Ali was already ahead of him, having dropped a few in the water as he had been talking. And right on time as well, since the torpedos were only two hundred feet away by the time the last one fell in the water. Then came the explosion.

It was shuddering, the blast not fifty feet away from the stern created a great fountain of water created by the combined explosion of depth charge and torpedo. Immediately, their rudder was shredded, and the screws stopped temporarily by the underwater shockwave. the rear hull suffered moderate damage, but would hold. The engines would hold, though some damage had occured to the drive shaft when the propellers stopped while the engine was still turning. The rudder was gone entirely. Steering would have to continue with directional impellers.

But they had survived. And then the Light of Zanzibar's missiles launched.

-----------

With only the one Confederate carrier still capable of defending itself, all efforts went into destroying it. Already fighters were coming, and the Zanzibar aircraft knew they would have to try something drastic. As aircraft of all kinds and creeds fell to the water, the ones that continued to survive knew they could not go back to Zanzibar as the carrier continue to go. One small squad decided to only focus on the good carrier, letting the others go after the four that had been put out of commission by Zanzibar's flagship. The squad dodged fire as best as they could...

And then, as a small clump, they kamikazied into the conn tower and the fighter elevators.

The other fighters that had gone for the damaged ships had all been shot down, but in the ruckus, only a third of this squad's fighters had been lost, and so it had caught the confederates by surprise. The damage to the one active carrier was extensive...it sat dead in the water, its controls destroyed, and also not able to send or recieve fighters from the flight deck. It was still in the best shape of the five carriers, but they would not survive another wave.

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

Nearby, the fight against the two Porcuian carriers were going not as badly, as the fighters had been off elsewhere on the battlefield, though this was changing. The strafing of one of the carriers had been extensive...the flight deck was unusable from all the debris, and the conn tower was blazing. The other carrier had not been touched yet, however. And so the fighters, despite their lower training, had more numbers, and swarmed every aircraft that came in the vicinity, hoping to clear the skies a bit before finishing off the carrier and taking on the other...

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

TIM soldiers in the nearby suburbs adjacent to the airport saw the transports come in and began calling in reinforcements. They would take on the two transports before their naval friends arrived (the battle at sea could be heard in the city, despite being miles away).
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The loss of the last active aircraft carrier was a massive blow to the Confederates ability to fight for the skies. It had launched as many fighters as it could but still many more were blew decks on several of the carriers and were now unable to launch. Those fighters in the air understood they now had no where to go. To try and land on one of the carriers was suicide as there was no where they could go from there. To go to a Porcuian carrier, what remained, would also suicide as they wouldn't be able to handle both volumes of activity.

There was only one choice........

The Admiral couldn't believe his eye when the first Confederate aircraft hit any enemy cruiser, the explosion was intense and the damage certainly visible as it did little structurally but did ignite a rather fierce fire.

"What happened?" the Admiral barked.

"We don't know sir" said the communication's officer " the pilot was requesting a landing zone, he was running out of fuel...I just... I don't"

Just then a second explosion was seen on yet another enemy ship, a bit farther from where the core of the Confederate fleet was fight. Then another and another an before long it was as if Confederate aircraft were raining from the sky. Pilots were choosing to die stabbing the enemy in the heart than dying in a ball of flames among the clouds. It had caught the enemy initially off guard but soon they understood that the Confederates were targeting them literally with their aircraft and turned all available anti-aircraft weaponry almost exclusively on them. Less aircraft were getting through but those that were, were indeed inflicting damage on enemy ships.

The Admiral, while extremely disturbed at the fact that the fighting had come to this, wasn't about to let such sacrifice go without his own response. Pushing the fleet forward the Confederates bore deep into the enemy lines and took out several ships that had to move off from the battle or face the possibility of being sunk. Still the blockade was large and while the Confederates were driving deep, it was a slow march forward.

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

A second barrage of missiles came against the Confederate cruises and while counter measures were taken, damage was still inflicted and more cruisers were now taken out of the fight. Only three remained in full operation as they'd be out of missile range but were now closing in. The rest had to back off and move back towards where the rest of the damage Confederate fleet was amassing. Sub commanders cursed the Light of Zanzibar's success as dodging their first torpedo attack.

They also understood that with the surface fleet all but gone, the attack would soon switch to them. Anti-torpedo armaments were ready in the event enemy torpedoes were launched. By now however, more of the submarines were closing onto the enemy ship and another volley of torpedoes were ready among them. With the led sub's commander taking the overall command, he order fire again.
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