Operation Aries - The Zodiac Operations

Kurmuk Research & Development Facility
November 30th, 2045
1537 Hours

"—i mayor Krupin skazal mne, chto AEDP ne osmelitsya napast' na GLA. [—and Major Krupin told me that the AEDP won't dare attack the GLA.]" a Russian soldier stated to his friend as he took a puff of a cigarette. On the outskirts of Kurmuk, the Russian forces stationed there weren't all too concerned as of late, even with news of a massive European advanced into GLA territory. In all honesty, most of the Russian forces weren't even aware when it happened, considering it was so incredibly sudden.
"No chto, yesli oni rasshiryayut svoye gospodstvo nad rayonom, tozhe? Eto to, chto ne sleduyet upuskat' iz vidu, vidya, kak Archibal'd i yego tovarishchi bandity, pereodetyye v kachestve soldat. [But what if they expand their domination over the area, too? This is something that should not be overlooked, seeing as Archibald and his comrades are thugs disguised as soldiers.]" The man, as he was taking a whiff, began coughing as he tried to laugh. After regaining control over his senses, he looked to his partner as they walked their patrol route around the perimeter.
"Archibal'd ne mozhet. AEDP ne pozvoleno sdelat' eto. [Archibald can't. The AEDP isn't allowed to do so.]"
"A kak by vy znayete? [And how would you know?]"
"YA delayu svoye issledovaniye. (I do my research.)" Before another word could be spoken among them, they heard the sounds of alarms going off. Immediately, the two soldiers, along with many others, went from relaxed to combat ready. Many looked around to see no threat in sight, but previously dormant weapons systems activate and begin scanning the areas around the perimeter. However, a loud rumble was heard as the facility's crowning achievement, the Tremor AGAS, was emerging from its housing.
"Vse yedinitsy, eto komanda! Rezhim ozhidaniya dlya vozmozhnykh yevropeyskikh voyennykh deystviy, boleye! [All units, this is command! Standby for possible European hostilities, over!]"
"Ponyal komanda! [Understood command!]" the soldiers all stated at one point or another. Eventually, the entire facility was on a defensive protocol, and the Tremor AGAS being aimed towards the location of European troops to prepare for any possible combat scenario.

((Thank you for the free town, sir. You didn't have to, but that's very kind of you. However, I assume that since this is only the beginning... It's going to be a long fight, eh?

Also, since I'm sure you'll be surprised, if not outraged, by the dice roll below. I shall explain why it is what it is. As stated in my long winded ramble about the system we're using, having a numerical superiority in manpower and equipment means that you receive padding from the casualty die. You may read about it here.))


The fighting was fierce, but victory had been won with a blaze of glory. However, there were still casualties for The AEDP. A notable event was how a GLA Anarchist was able to score a direct hit on a group of advancing soldiers with a petrol bomb, setting them on fire.



Regardless, the fighting had petered out and there was now the task of clearing up the mess that had been created through the battle of Salak. As Warhounds of The Royal Engineers drove in to begin bulldozing rubble away, soldiers of varying European nationalities patrolled the streets while Warrior IFV's scoured the streets for those that wished to surrender. While the town had stopped being privy to the sounds of warfare, a new sound was unleashed upon it, The sound of reason.

Numerous Warriors had loudspeakers jury-rigged to them and were playing a recorded message to any and all who were able to hear it. Some were spoken in varying Middle Eastern languages, some African and some in English, but the message was the same.

"This is a message to all who wish to surrender." It began. "Place your weapons on the floor and approach your nearest AEDP patrol slowly with your hands up. Comply with their orders and you will be treated with dignity."

As the insurgents surrendered, they were methodically searched for any trace of explosives and hidden weapons by the patrols before being escorted to a myriad of lorries, APCs and other methods of transportation that took them to Salak Airfield. Around the airfield, numerous tents were being erected, along with fences, barbed wire and other fortifications and foundations for permanent buildings. This was to be their home for now. They were to clothed, fed and medically treated by AEDP personnel and members of The Red Cross, along with being questioned and detained.

---

Meanwhile, in Batangafo, the corps was able to enter the city without a fight. As they began to lock-down the city and begin the same construction effort, that had been started at Salak, at its local airport, they played a different message in a variety of languages for all to hear.

"People, this is The Anglo-European Defence Pact. We are here to arrest any and all GLA insurgents. Anyone who wishes to surrender is to head outside into the streets with their hands up and approach their nearest patrol slowly. Comply with their orders and you will be treated with dignity."

Whether anyone sympathetic or a member of The GLA would heed their request was up to them. However, the soldiers that were now patrolling the streets would not be leaving any time soon. They were the beginning of a new future for the inhabitants of The Zone. These soldiers were to be the first trace of civilised society that would eventually bring about stability to the abandoned region of the world by providing law and order.

((Sorry for the massive absence. I appreciate your understanding and accommodation for that absence, sir! Admittedly, it was partly because I don't want to lose those two locations, but I guess I've got to just deal with it.))


The counterattack was expected, but not in the ferocity that had been dumped onto the AEDP forces. The 2nd Battle Of Salak had fought itself to a stalemate, but the Corps there was spent. A once proud formation of over 30,000 men and the finest military equipment had been left as a pile of corpses and burnt out wrecks in the streets and surrounding areas around the city. Knowing that they would be unable to hold the city or the camp that was under construction, the Corps Commander had ordered the immediate evacuation of the camp. Scores of trucks from the ECA and Royal Logistics Corps of The British Army, filled with GLA prisoners of war and refugees, fled towards the border while the combat troops held the GLA horde at bay. Once the battle petered out, they too withdrew across the border.



The situation was similar in Batangafo. While the slaughter wasn't as horrific as Salak, it was clear that The GLA were willing to fight as fanatically as Nazi Germany did in World War 2. Once again, the logistics personnel evacuated the POWs and refugees into Chad, while the combat troops fought a delaying action and then withdrew also.

The AEDP gains in The Zone had been lost in less than a week.

Kurmuk Research & Development Facility

December 8th, 2045

0934 Hours



Russian Machine Gunner on guard outside of Kurmuk, Sudan

The past week had been stressful for the Kurmuk facility and its present formations. Not only was the Kurmuk PBAU (Advanced Grand Artillery System) on a near constant state of alert, ready to fire into targeted European and GLA militants, but the formations at the facility itself were ready to move out. However, with GRU keeping updates on activities in the Zone in real time, the command in the area had placed the facility on a lesser alert, watching as the AEDP forces retreated outside of the Zone's borders.
"Vse yedinitsy, eto komanda! U nas yest' podtverzhdeniye Anglo-Yevro porazheniya! Derzhite sily v rezhime ozhidaniya, no PBAU eto abstragirovat'sya! (All units, this is Command! We have confirmation of Anglo-Euro defeat! Keep forces on standby, but the PBAU is to disengage!)" the command stated, leading the superweapon to disengage, its long turret sinking back into the depths of its silo. Despite this change, Russian forces remained on standby at the facility, prepared to either move into the Zone or defend their facility from GLA threats.


T-15 Kodiak moving in patrol pattern around the Kurmuk Research & Development Facility