Hub.mn

- The Anticans are coming, sir. - said major Tarchomina. Her voice calmed down President's nerves.
- So let's go, shall we? - he replied, trying not to seem stressed at all. - Full speed ahead.

Engines roar. Smoke fills the air. The taint of alcohol and oil tinges the scent of the wind. And in the far north of Antica, a great behemoth rises from the ground to make war.

Today I asked Master what we're waiting. He said:
- Real is much more powerful but he's waiting too.
- What is he waiting?
- For esteem of course.

[-] Fast Foot

The sky was slowly turning orange and the last clouds hid behind the horizon. More and more vehicles stood on their positions and Harold is smoking another cigarette, while looking at the map.
- It won't take long to get the artillery to the positions.
Ghoul took the last breath of smoky air and threw out the ember.
- Prepare the tank, we're goin' to observation position.
- Yes, sir - said the platoon officer, with his howitzer in hand.

Captain Fricken stood on the deck of his massive aircraft carrier. The entire strike group had assembled in the bay and was now moving out, into war. They were accompanied by the mercenary forces from Phalanx. Fighters from the carrier provided air cover, E-2Ds took turn providing radar coverage, the destroyers were on high alert and the two submarines scouted ahead under the sea.

In Talerz' forces' camp alarming buzzers's sound stroke through the air.
- So the fun begins...

Gen. Damoklos Andreosigos sighed, then he went into the briefing room. Officers, who was debating current strategic situation (or, what’s more likely, tits of new “Miss Military of SDF”), stood to attention at the sight of superior. He saluted back, and at once begin the short meeting.
- So, gentelmens, we’re at the Montauk, and our task is to secure and defend the our part of the Island. Colonel Leandros, can you summarize what we manage to do so far?
- We took our positions near the beaches in Echo zone, and started to make fortified positions to cover the most likely places of enemy landing and lay minefields. We’re trying to hide and camouflage our positions, to cover them from both air and sea bombardment.
- Thank you, colonel. And what about armoured regiment? Colonel Petrulos? Colonel?
After being poked by one of the fellow officers, colonel Nebulos Petrulos woke up from a snooze, in which he fell a minute ago, and begin to report:
- Ouch! So... my unit is deployed into central positions and stays at full readiness. If there will be any need of them in any place we can get - we’re at your's service.
- Very well, colonel. So - gentelmens, you know the drill - full readiness, eyes around the head and wide open. Double the guards and look for any sign of enemy. That’s all, thank You.

The air was hot and dry in the tight packed streets of Port Impregnable. The Sun had barely risen but already frantic locals had begun stocking any goods that they still needed whilst others started to help soldiers in the construction of basic defences around the small city. Lieutenant Leofric Yuoilt was sat in a small bar not far from the harbour where the Nova English Expeditionary Fleet lay in waiting. The bar itself was practically empty save for a couple of elderly locals who's fair Britannic Complexions had changed to a leathery brown after years in the equatorial heat. Leofric placed his empty glass back down as he fumbled around in his coat for another cigarette. As he started to take a drag feeling the hot burning smoke destroy his lungs he heard a shout for his name which broke him somewhat out of his stupor.

'Leofric! You old Arseling....What the bloody hell brings you to these parts?' Said the other man who looked somewhat similar to leofric but much younger and dressed in civilian clothes with a small revolver strapped to his waist.

Leofric smiled and embraced the other person before he could set down. 'Beowulf you Prick! I though you had run off to join those basteds in the Lighthouse City State? And at any rate you know the bloody hell what I'm doing here but what are YOU doing here?'

Beowulf Yuoilt light a cigarette of his own and smiled as he saw a large propaganda poster behind his brother that depicted a large golden sword being thrust from heaven and stabbed somewhat graphically into the throat of the Interlandian Leader. Whilst underneath the picture was an inscription simply saying 'The Sword Of The Faithful Shall Pierce The Throat Of Our Enemies'. Beowulf looked back to his brother who was clad in all the usual uniform and regalia of a Nova English Officer in full ceremonial uniform. 'Well my brother, to be honest I though I should give you luck and a gift!'

Leofric gave Beowulf a puzzled look. 'A gift? What is it my bloody birthday?' He replied whilst almost chocking on his cigarette smoke as he laughed.

'No you bloody twat....I brought you our Father's pistol! Its the same one that he used in that drunken duel with an Interlandian outside our old local back in Melton......You know the one where he was so pissed out of his face that he stumbled and fell over and blew his own brains all over the curb leaving use to deal with that other armed and also drunken Interlandian...'

Leofric instantly remembered that moment. 'Aye, how old were we back then? 8? 10? Shit I can't even remember but we both picked up that gun and shot the living hell out of that other guy didn't we!'

'Exactly!' Replied Beowulf 'And I want you to have it back as.....well you know a bit of protection from our good old father.'

Beowulf reached into his rucksack and produced a large 9mm pistol. It was an old model Britannian pistol, although it was somewhat scuffed and scratched in places it still looked pristine to Leofric. Beowulf passed the weapon over and Leofric took it wordlessly and embraced his brother.

'May the Lord and Our Father look upon us my brother! And we shall forever fight in the name of the true Fatherland and the Defence of our Great Britannic English People!' Said Beowulf after he watched Leofric replace his standard issue pistol with his Father's old pistol.

'Amen!' Replied Leofric. 'And may you take my own pistol in the hope that it helps to protect you in you endeavours across the Citystate!'

The Brothers then said their final farewells and made their separate ways. Beowulf back to his 'chartered' yacht and Leofric who proudly made his way back to his men aboard the HMNS Alle's Sword.

Summary: Mainly just backstory really and a very brief explanation of the civilian and military effort by the expeditionary force to create a few basic defences in Port Impregnable...Oh and I'm back from my LOA now

Somewhere in the 2nd SDF Group Base "Aspida" on Montauk Island surmenian officers under command of General Berbiej Katapina were finalizing their strategy according to last orders from the Highest Command.
'Everything's OK, sir' said Colonel Georgjos Rheinosigos. 'Our Land Forces have already taken Bravo Zone, so now all soldiers are ready to defend at their positions...'
'Thank you, Colonel' said Berbiej and stepped to the other officer. 'Where is Air Force Colonel Zakrakistis? Why I can't see him here, I mean - there where he should be now?' asked General Katapina. 'I haven't got any report from his business'.
'Sir, I apologize for...' Began young and terrified Colonel Slakos Alexandrosigos.
'I don't blame you, boy!' said Berbiej. 'Why is he absent at the meeting just when I wanted to damn him for lack of report?'
'He is afraid of you, sir' told Slakos. 'But as far as I know they took off this morning - regular forces are flying over the island and stealth planes are patrolling every single straits between Montauk and Antica.'
'Send them an order not to attack anyone' said Katapina. 'And send important message from SDF-1 to every single 2nd Group unit - full readiness, eyes around the head and wide open, double the guards and look for any sign of enemy. That's all for today, Gentlemen!'
'Sir yes sir!' Everysone stood to attention and saluted to General Katapina. Berbiej saluted back and went out.

Six new objects on the radar, sir - said Cpl Julianski, staring at six dots approaching the island. - Alert?

Wait a moment! - ordered the Lieutnant. - Three more seconds.

Ours - the Corporal sighed. - Are these Presidental Forces?

Yes. They are still around - he replied, with a relief.

Ghoul, in his exoskeleton, walked by some entanglements being built and trenches digged, looking round.
- Hurry up, the enemy never... hey, you, private! - shouted the general.
- Yes, sir?
- Go and bring me some cig'rettes, I need to smoke because of the nerves...
- Yes, sir.
Private ran to one of the tanks.
General, slightly confused, found his plot at last.
- What did I... Ah, yes. The enemy never sleeps!

The Pherousa was crawling with activity as another flight of transport helicopters came in to land in sequence. This was made all the easier with a rainstorm coming through. Senior Lieutenant Valeria gripped the strap of her duffel bag tightly as her helicopter tilted a bit to the side before lining up and touching down on its assigned area of the deck. This particular helicopter was assigned to fetch the last of the Pherousa's bridge officers and command crew from Ano City. Those who had decided to stay in Oe, like Commodore Scutarius himself, were already aboard

The helicopter's engines throttled down, and the side door rolled open. Captain Melanthia stood outside, with an aide standing by. "Ensign Octavia, head straight to the CIC and relieve Lieutenant Palaeon of the CONN."

"Yes, sir." Ensign Octavia tossed her duffel to one of the deck crew and made her way to the command tower."

"Pinander, Valeria, Hesychius, Leostratus, follow me. The rest of you, get stowed away."

As soon as everyone was off the helicopter, the deck crew got it over to the nearest elevator, to clear the flight deck for the fighter squadrons to land from Ano and Syrrako.

Commodore Scutarius stepped back from speaking with Captain Melanthia and sat to the side. Behind Melanthia, the screen came on, displaying a map of the Dyre Straits area.

"As you all are probably aware, there's been tensions as of late with Interland over whether or not Antica should have its rightful control over the island of Montauk recognized. The Interlanders have decided to press the matter, we declared war... these are all known. The Interlanders haven't backed off, so now Nafticon wants us to take it from them.

"The First Carrier Group will move west and set up an area denial zone, to prevent any additional Interlander forces from landing and taking position. For this mission, Nafticon has decided to maximize our fighter number and limiting ourselves to two escort destroyers. Unlike some of our previous engagements, this means that we won't be able to do any fancy maneuvering like Wagging the Dog or the Shell Game in order to outmaneuver any hostile forces we encounter. The destroyers have been kitted out primarily for anti-air/anti-sub defense."

Captain Peneus raised his hand, then spoke. "What are we looking at for anti-air defense on the island?"

"We're looking at self-propelled guns, based on last intel. Once we get some flights overhead, we'll be able to make better estimates on what is actually there."

Captain Peneus nodded and sat back.

The phone clicked and Captain Melanthia picked it up. Speaking for a minute, she turned to Commodore Scutarius to say, "CIC says that we're ready to disconnect the umbilicals and get underway."

The Commodore nodded silently, and Captain Melanthia went back to the phone to give the go-ahead.