Intracircumcordei Army Air Base, Western sector
Four days ago
The base had become a priority about two weeks ago, when the mercenaries that had come on board identified it as a good target. They decided that they could bombard it heavily with Katyusha fire, then sweep it. It was a large base, especially for the infantile military the ICCD had left. It had many well constructed shelters however, largely impervious to air attack. That would be the useful part. Plus, the runway was large enough for the transports they planned for later.
Jeremy Weathers was a reporter for an all-news Radio Station in Starlight City. The city had a fascination with the country, so they’d sent him to report on random musings. He’d gotten onto the base through some clever talk and a loose wallet. He was outside, trying to send a report by satellite phone, when the bombardment started. He could see the launchers parked very close, but the rockets just streaked in at the rate of four a second for two minutes. Getting back into his SUV, he could see the devastation, as dozens had been killed. He drove as fast as he could toward the base gate, then the nearby freeway, which had no ramps at the overpass he found, so he just drove down the sandy hill onto the roadway. It would be a five hour drive to the border, faster if he continued to speed. All over, the usual chaos that kept him off the road after dark went on. He could see the various clans raiding the villages he drove by, the military was barely active, but around nonetheless. After speeding through a bandit “checkpoint”, he arrived at the border crossing at 3AM, to find a mere two cars in line. He got through and got a hold of the bureau chief at SL News. The man told him his story would air, if there was time, as a school-aged child was missing. Jeremy was incensed. “But this could be the start of something huge Doug!”
“Look, Jeremy, that sort of craziness happens every day in Intracircumcordei, or Tyrsis, or Bai Lung. We’ve got enough of that to fill a hockey sock right now. This missing girl is all over the television and the papers.”
Jeremy continued to fight. “Look, the attack was huge. I have no idea who was behind it, because it wasn’t the clans, that’s for damned sure.”
Outpost Two-Two, ICCD/Coocoostan Border
Last Night
Sundukov wasn’t sure if they were coming back. He felt so many different emotions. There was the fear, naturally. Plus exhilaration, he’d never shot his rifle before, even after all the training and he was surprised he was still alive, given the odds. He was in shock, Timofei Prodhunov, his supervisor and partner on over two hundred hours of border watches was dead. There was also guilt, he’d become disoriented watching the border and they’d snuck within a hundred meters before they’d fired. Produnov had shot first, it was the only reason Sundukov had a chance. He’d fired the better part of three magazines with his Dragunov, killing several enemy,who were close enough that he could hear them getting hit. Finally, anxiety was consuming him. Control had said it would be fifteen minutes and what felt like an hour was really only five minutes. Sure enough, with his Night-vision goggles he spotted six men coming back. He shot first, hitting another man in the neck. He fired a little more widly after that, finishing off his third magazine before realizing that they were within ten meters of him and running right in front of him, as the flashes had disoriented them. Quickly he realized what to do The pistol!. He’d taken Timofei’s Glock when they’d left the first time, because it was just plain better than his Makarov. He fired it wildly, expecting fully to get hit first. But instead, his enemies panicked in the face of so many quick shots and ran. Sundukov pulled out his rifle again and kept firing, until his with his last shot, he missed the last man. One of them had escaped. He was sure this man wouldn’t come back. Finally, the UAZ truck pulled up and the reinforcements pulled up. His supervisor walked up to him. “You did a good job Sundukov. You stopped some…someone anyhow, from getting through. That’s your job. We’re taking you into Starlight City for a full debrief after some rest and…” he was cut off by the radio. “CONTROL! THREE-SEVEN! I’VE GOT TWO SQUADS BREAKING THROUGH!” Blast! This had only been the diversion. Quickly, most of the men who had just arrived piled back into the truck and drove further up the border service road. When they arrived, they could see the raiders had punched through.
Kalibad Gypsy Reserve
Today
They were expecting the flight. They’d heard Pakhomov was leaving early, as his friend was leaving earlier still. They watched the RDAF airliner fly over the reserve on its way home. They had agreed to leave it. While tempting, the fight wasn’t with the Dannistrians, or any foreigners. Besides, it would only alert Pakhomov. An hour and change later, they heard another takeoff. They alerted the man hiding in the orchard with the Strela Launcher. He waited for the 737 to fly over and the blast of his launcher was the signal. But, fortunately for the president’s aircrew, the rocket didn’t track, even if it had, it was unlikely to take down the plane entirely. Still Pakhomov was flying in his Citation today, as the airport at Yost was too short for the 737. He took off later, but nobody noticed the rocket firing at all. Most residents of the reserve either ignored the event, not wanting to find out who was responsible, with some more just never getting around to calling the authorities for some reason.