The Egytpt Iroquois War

[seanos08]

Sabotage in Thebes

Counting Crow sent his Email via an English Server to his handler in Salamanca.

“I have contacted members of the Aztec Liberation Front (ALF) and they are willing to assist in the sabotage of Egyptian interests. They have inspected the site in Memphis that is building the SETI program and report that it is nearing completion. It has clearly not been converted to the Manhattan Project as my earlier report indicated. Also the site is defended by a TOW infantry regiment and I see no way to attack it with a truck bomb, the only method available to me.

However I have found out that Cleopatra is concentrating on building a Spaceship and is 87% complete in building the engine in Thebes. Believe it or not the whole of Thebes is defended by only one Mechanized Infantry Regiment and security is light at the spaceship building site. Destruction of the engine will scatter Plutonium all over Thebes producing mass civilian casualties. It is actually a better target. I Request permission to carry out a mission to destroy the Spaceship Engine in Thebes.”

Five minutes later Counting Crow’s computer beeped with an incoming email.

“Your plan has been approved. Your personal survival is not a mission priority. Hiawatha himself will give your family 100 gold and award you with the Order of Iroquois Martyr if you die.”

Meanwhile at Egyptian Intelligence Headquarters those same emails were being read. Agent Ardent was summoned to EIA chief Tut’s office.
“Looks like your boy is getting ambitious, you want to pick him up ?” said Tut.

“No, I want him to lead us to those whackos in the ALF, we get to shoot more spies and traitors that way.” Said Ardent.

“Approved but you are not to let their bomb anywhere near that Spaceship Engine. Cleopatra will deball me if anything happens to that” ordered Tut.

Counting Crow’s ALF friends were deluded. The vast majority of Atzec people were loyal Egyptian citizens and very happy with the luxuries and modern conveniences that membership of the Egyptian Republic gave them. However they were competent. Quetzal had served as a combat engineer in a now upgraded Egyptian infantry regiment. There was nothing about explosives he didn’t know. He even had a supply of dynamite, detonators and trigger systems. They were meeting in the Rameses II hotel in a private room.

“Your best bet is an Ammonium Nitrate truck bomb and a suicide attack Mr. Crow.” he said. “My dynamite won’t really put a dent in that engine but it is enough to trigger a load of Ammonium Nitrate if we had a cement truck full. But its kinda hard to steal that. You can buy it but.”

“I don’t want to make a suicide attack” said Counting Crow. “If I have a 10 minute timer and a getaway car that will work.”

“Gonna look mighty suspicious, a truck driver making a run for it after parking next to the spaceship engine. Gyppo Security ain’t dumb. We could put a layer of cement over the bomb to stop them disarming it.” Said Quetzal. “Now Xlaco here can put you in the way of a truck and some NH4NO3.”

Xlaco was a skilled forger and supplied some very convincing purchase orders from Osiris Fertilizer and an Endorsed Heavy Vehicle license. “Say Hiawatha” he said to Counting Crow as he took a photo. “I hope you can actually drive a truck.”


To be continued…………………………

File Photo is ISS Agent Counting Crow before his posting to Egypt.

 

[seanos08]

Three Mechanized Infantry Regiments and one of Modern Armor had been flown into Seville. Meanwhile the ten squadrons of Bombers had pounded the city of Barcelona southWest of Seville for two days without opposition or losses. Now it was time for Egypt to take the Offensive. General Asiz was to be in command.

The First Modern Army left Seville at five PM and drove through the night so as to be able to make a dawn attack. On each tank clung two infantrymen for the street fighting that was sure to follow. Fighter recon reported only one heavily weakened Iroquois Mechanized Infantry Regiment awaiting them.

At dawn they arrived. 2nd and 3rd regiments sped up to make flanking attacks from the North and South while 1st Regiment attacked from the East and 4th was in reserve with the Infantry. To a watcher in Barcelona it seemed like a dustorm enveloping the city.

A few missiles arced out from the city and as one the attacking tanks turned on smoke generators and took evasive action. At 1800 m from the city they slowed and fired a devastating volley of HEAT rounds at the Iroquois fighting vehicles. Most of them blew up and the Egyptians raced into the city weaving around bomb craters.

General Asiz saw an Iroquois IFV move from hiding behind a building and fire a missile at a tank to his left. "Gunner targ..." he tried to yell as the main gun fired and he was knocked off balance. The Iroquois vehicle exploded and two flaming figures staggered from the wreckage. Asiz kindly opened fire on them with his 12mm machine gun. Meanwhile the missile deprived of operators spiralled harmlessly into the ground.

"This is scout 2." Asiz heard on the radio. "We have destroyed all of the Iroquois vehicles in the city. Be aware that there are still snipers and troops with light anti tank rockets so I recommend tank commanders button up."

Reluctantly Asiz sent that advice and withdrew into his turret. He loved having his head out to feel the wind, smell the diesel and blaze away with his 12mm but his offensive couldn't be risked by a sniper's bullet.

Meanwhile the Egyptian Infantry went cautiously from house to house. Resistance was light. When encountered Infantry radioed a supporting tank that put a main gun round through the window. Seeing this the remaining Iroquois troops surrendered.

To the amazement of General Asiz civilians began creeping out of the cellars of the mostly smashed buildings waving Spanish flags and yellow pieces of cloth. An elderly man was led to the General's tank. "Thank you for liberating us from the hated Iroquois. Will you stay and protect the town ?"

"No my orders are to destroy it and destroy any worker units we cannot recover. However we will help rescue the injured and escort you all to safety in Seville."

General Asiz knew his promise would mean one more day before his Army got back to Seville but he couldn't massacre civilians. Even his troops would disobey him if he ordered them to machinegun the survivors of Barcelona.

As the Army rolled north with its few prisoners and the Civilians there was a rumbling explosion. The charges and incendries left by the Army Engineers went off and Barcelona was wreathed in fire and smoke.

 

[seanos08]

Sabotage in Thebes Part II.

Iroquois SS Agent Counting Crow found his part of the plan easy. He took the train to the industrial park of Thebes. He checked for a tail but couldn’t identify anybody twice except a pair of giggling teenage girls. At the train station he caught the third cab at the rank and ignored the glares of the first two drivers.
“Take me to Liberty Trucks” he ordered.

Meanwhile Cleops and Martica took the first cab and were not innocent teenage girls. Recruited by the EIA as watchers, their job was tailing the most elusive game, enemy spies. The watcher corps took teenagers, women and old people – anybody who did not fit the profile as “agent” to monitor spies and criminals. “Watcher Corps EIA – follow that cab” Cleops told the driver as she gave him a 100 pound note. “Anything you say Princess.” Said the driver.

Cleops called agent Ardent on her mobile phone. “Suspect is in the industrial area in a cab. We are following him in another cab, request backup.”

“On my way at your position in 20 minutes” said Ardent rushing for his major indulgence, a silver Cheetah sports car. Ardent really enjoyed putting the blue emergency light on his roof and hooning through the heavy Thebes traffic. All he needed on the passenger seat was a well endowed blond and he could be Jamie Bondopoulos from those lurid Byzantine spy movies he loved. Instead in the front seat was Deputy Quentet, a brown haired weedy agent but one of the best pistol shots in the whole EIA.

Counting Crow was suspicious of the cab following 200 m behind his. “Drop me off around this corner” he ordered the driver. As he left he dropped a 50 pound note on the seat and dashed into a factory and then the workman’s cafeteria. He ordered a burger and a coffee. They were surprisingly good. Those teenage girls had to be following him, he hoped he shook them. He would have no compunction against blowing them away with his silenced Tomahawk 9mm but killing people drew all sorts of attention from the police.

Cleops and Martika noticed around the corner that their quarry had left his taxi. They ordered their driver to wait and Cleops called Ardent. Agent Quentet answered and told them to wait out of sight. Their cover was blown.

Two men in overalls sat with Counting Crow. As was normal in Egypt talk turned to the war. “Cleo’s kicking Iroquois butt” said one man. We’ve hardly lost a unit and destroyed over twenty of theirs, plus destroyed two cities.” “Yeah”, said the other, “My daughter in college is running in that Peace Now crowd wanting to call strikes while we are building military units. My son’s alright, He’s a F-3 Jet pilot and he just made ace.” Counting Crow noted that propaganda was going to have little effect if these men were representative. Maybe that would change if he succeeded in his mission.

“I have an appointment at Liberty Trucks” said Counting Crow. “I will give 50 pounds for a ride there.” “Sure” said the second man “Bit weird if its only a 2 pound taxi ride.” “I have a problem with my wife and her lawyers and don’t want to get caught going there, I have a thing going with the receptionist.” Improvised Counting Crow. Nobody noticed Counting Crow in the back of the van. He had put on his coat inside out with the black liner showing to escape surveillance at a distance.

Meanwhile Ardent had picked up his two watchers. “I can get hold of him again easy, go home girls” he said as he dropped them off at the train station. He dialed Counting Crow’s mobile. It was turned off.

Meanwhile Counting Crow was signing the lease on a 5 ton white cement truck. Why buy a truck you were going to blow up ? Counting Crow left Liberty Trucks grinding the gears and causing the salesman to wince. It was a 15 minute drive to Osiris Fertilizer but Counting Crow took 25 as he figured out the gearbox to the irate toots of his fellow motorists.

The purchase of the Ammonium Nitrate went smoothly but the elderly proprietor seemed suspicious about loading it into a cement truck and insisted on keeping it in bags. Counting Crow left for the rendezvous with the ALF mercenaries who would turn his truck into a massive bomb to shatter Cleopatra’s hopes.

Agent Ardent was livid. It was his idea to not pick up Counting Crow and now he had evaded his watchers and not answering his phone. In vain he called again. The phone was dead. In desperation he called General Abdulla, commanding general of Thebes.

After his explanation the General was furious. “You let an Iroquois Agent run around My city and plan to blow up our Spaceship Engine and you spyboys were such ******* you didn’t pick him up ! I’ll order the 32nd Modern Armor Regiment and the 3rd Tow into the city for security and institute a no traffic command at the construction site. Cleopatra is going to be pretty pissed at having production delayed. Meanwhile you spyboys better find this horsejerky muncher !

Meanwhile at a deserted factory Quetzal put the finishing touches to the bomb. Essentially this involved mixing the ammonium nitrate into a slurry with diesel and inserting the Dynamite sticks with detonators into the mixture at intervals. As a final touch a layer of cement was added to make disarming the weapon impossible. Finally Quetzal showed counting crow the trigger system.

“Activate the arming switch which is under the toggle cover so you don’t switch it accidentally. Then press the yellow button which will give you a 15 minute fuse. The red button will detonate the device instantly. Do that if the Gyppos look like stopping you. They will crucify you if they catch you so you may as well take a few of the mother lovers with you. This baby should take out a city block !”

“You are a craftsman” said Counting Crow as he handed over a briefcase containing 200 gold. His assistant had been dressed in an Egyptian Army Lieutenant uniform and provided with a Jeep.

They would leave at 5 AM to miss rush hour.

Author’s note. The details of this weapon are public knowledge and this is essentially the weapon Timothy McVeigh used in the Oklahoma Bombing as reported in the Melbourne Age.

 

[seanos08]

The SSN Salmon sets forth.

In Cairo, Captain Tukal was unhappy. He was the first Mayan citizen of Egypt to be given a command at sea. Such a fine vessel the SSN Salmon, sister ship of the ill fated nuclear submarine Perch. It was being rush built and already two workmen had died when a crane dropped a piece of steel plate on them. The mission was great – to destroy an Iroquois Galleon laden with enemy troops bound to invade the Egyptian Homeland or more likely the large island of Isis.

No it was the lack of time and weapons. Believe it or not there were only two torpedoes suitable for SSN launch available. And the Galleon was escorted by two or even three destroyers. However three bomber squadrons were in range. It was their job to attack the destroyers. EDD Sirius was also in port in Cairo and the destroyer would also assist.

Captain Tukal knew he had to move at full speed to the intercept. Make the attack with no margin for error. Escape and return to port. All with an untried crew. A brand new rush built reactor and hull. In all a highly dangerous mission without the added factor of Iroquois destroyers.

After an interminable 6 hours on the docks running Sonar, Torpedo, Navigation and most importantly Reactor and Escape drills the message came that the Submarine was ready for launch.

Tukal and his crew lined the dock as Lady Isis, the Foreign Minister made a short determined speech.

"Cleopatra herself wishes she were here to bless a crew for such a dangerous but critical mission. The Iroquois are a ruthless and vicious enemy and your job is to prevent the sacred shore of Egypt being sullied by their dirty boots. Your submarine was hastily built and your training was incomplete. But you have one advantage over your fallen comrades of the SSN Perch. You know who the enemy is NOW DESTROY HIM !" Isis screamed as she flung a bottle of French Champagne at the bow so hard it shattered and even left an imperceptible dent.

The sluice gates to the drydock opened to let in the sea and the crew led by Captain Tukal filed aboard. Thirty minutes later the SSN Salmon had been towed to the main shipping channel. Set Reactor to 55 % all ahead 1/3 ordered Tukal. Although noisier than he hoped SSN Salmon was now making way under her own power. And there were no reported leaks.

SSN Salmon reached the mouth of Cairo Harbor now at 70 % power and making 17 knots. "All personnel rig for dive. Prepare for depth charges." Tukal ordered. he ensured he was the last man down from the sail.
"Make your depth 20 metres" he ordered.

The helmsman pushed down the control column and the nose sank. Suddenly there was a loud noise from the rear. Tukal figured it out. The planesman had left the ballast tanks empty and now the screw was out of the water. "Emergency Shaft stop !" Tukal yelled - a free spinning screw would be damaged if it hit water. The submarine eventually settled to level as it lost momentum and the screw was stopped when it hit water again.

"Make depth 20 metres using only the ballast tanks - You what did you do wrong !" Tukal screamed at the planesman. The man answered nervously but correctly. "Make that mistake again and you'll swim home !"

This mission was going all wrong. Then the Torpedo room called to say thet they were flooding. Luckily it took only ten minutes to weld a patch over a badly welded seam. The submarine made it to 100m depth eventually and sped up to 22 knots Heading 029. Sonar reported destroyer Sirius following 8 km away.

Tukal mused that SSN Salmon would need all the help she could get.

 

[conquer_dude]

Keep writing!

 

[seanos08]

Bomb Attack in Thebes.

ISS Agent Counting Crow and his assistant Pouncing Puma had a celebratory pre mission drinking session. Counting Crow had three shots of “firewater”, genuine Iroquois Tequila. They were very happy with the work of the Aztec Liberation Front. Not only had they made the bomb but they had armor plated the cement truck including “bulletproof” polycarbonate on the windows. Finally they had repainted the truck lime green and changed the number plates. After all somebody might have noted Counting Crow in his buying mission.

It was 5 AM and on the radio they heard that a special defense drill was underway and that there were to be major road closures. All non-essential personnel were to take a holiday to prepare air raid shelters.

“I have essential personnel papers and you’re army Pouncing Puma. This mission is going to be a piece of cake now.” Said Counting Crow as he put on a truck driver’s uniform and hid his prized Tomahawk pistol in the glove box.

Meanwhile EIA Agent Ardent breathed a sigh of relief. An old man had reported a suspicious sale of Ammonium Nitrate to a man with a white cement truck. He correctly identified Counting Crow’s photo. Now the military knew what to look for.

Police sergeant Untep was instructing probationary female constable Selina on driver and vehicle checks. How to be courteous and firm. Write a ticket for every infraction. Praise drivers for doing things right. She was doing well so far, successfully booking one driver for talking on a mobile phone, one unlicensed driver and another for not having a seatbelt on. She had checked 43 cars. Selina was a pretty blonde girl of twenty who just wasn’t quite pretty enough to be an actress or a model. The Sergeant was sitting in the squad car watching and listening to her on the headset radio.

Counting Crow and Pouncing Puma had already passed an Army Checkpoint and ahead was a female police officer stopping traffic. Both vehicles pulled up.

“Sir could I please see your license and registration.” Asked Selina. Counting Crow proffered the expertly forged documentation. “May I ask where you are headed ?” she asked. “We are delivering concrete for the spaceship construction site.” Said Counting Crow. Probationary Constable Selina went to the back of the truck and checked the load.

“Sir the concrete has set solid ! Also I smell something funny, like ammonia and you smell of alcohol. Could you please come with me.” With that she grabbed Counting Crow’s wrist and pulled him from the cab. Police sergeant Untep emerged from the squad car. As he did so Pouncing Puma pounced, firing a burst from an SLR assault rifle into Probationary Constable Selina’s back and then trying to get a shot at the other cop.

Police sergeant Untep couldn’t believe it. That Army guy had just killed Probationary Constable Selina and was advancing to kill him. Untep knew his 7.62 mm pistol was no match for an assault rifle so he dashed for the squad car and took off radioing frantically to headquarters. A few bullets made cracking noises as Pouncing Puma emptied his clip at the rapidly accelerating police car.

Counting Crow grabbed his Tomahawk 9 mm and searched for targets. He noticed nobody in range except the police woman who moaned something about “why shoot me ?”

“We are Iroquois Agents and we are at war” said Counting Crow kindly as he shot her in the head.

Pouncing Puma returned. “The cop got away” he said flatly.

“You trigger happy idiot ! Now every cop in Thebes will be after us. You take the truck. You know how the trigger works ?”

“Of course.” Said Pouncing Puma. “It would be an honour to lay down my life for Fuhrer Hiawatha and the Iroquois nation. What will you do Sir ?”

“I will escape – good luck.” With that Counting Crow walked off the highway abandoning the Jeep. Pouncing Puma took off with the truck bomb. He made a left turn and then headed South. In his wing mirror he saw a cop car keeping its distance but clearly following him. Onto The Boulevard of Ra he saw tanks blocking the road. Meanwhile behind him the cop car was joined by two Chariot Infantry Fighting Vehicles and they were catching up. He was trapped.

Pouncing Puma had two options – Surrender for certain execution or martyrdom. He saw an apartment building to the left. It would have to do. He saw the front of the tanks sparkle and the windshield developed stars and holes as 12mm bullets hit. He hefted the wheel left and tires screaming he turned into the apartment building car park.

Pouncing Puma made it under the building and took out the bomb trigger. Without hesitation he activated the arming switch and pressed the red button. The bomb worked better than advertised. It shattered the central load bearing pillar of the building causing the whole 10 story apartment block to fold inwards like a house of cards. The truck and the residents of the building were buried under tons of rubble.

Meanwhile Counting Crow made his escape. He broke into a bungalow and shot the elderly residents with his Tomahawk. He stole their unfashionable French Renault and was on his way to the Byzantine border listening to the radio.

“In our main story, an Iroquois Suicide Bomber destroyed the Heavenly View apartment block killing at least 200 people. It is believed his real target was the Spaceship Engine. All citizens are to be alert to enemy agents and report suspicious details to 1900 – 2000 the EIA contact number.” The radio said. Counting Crow knew he was blown as far as Egypt was concerned but his mission had killed a lot of people. There would be reward awaiting him in Salamanca. Meanwhile he could mount a mission against the treacherous Byzantines.

Agent Ardent faced the most unpleasant interview of his life with Cleopatra herself. What was so distressing was that she didn’t seem angry, just disappointed. “Your bank accounts have been nationalized and will be used to compensate the bombing victims and their families. Meanwhile you are sacked and have been charged with tax evasion and dereliction of duty. You have two choices.” Said Cleopatra.

“First you could be drafted as a military sniper and sent to Seville. After all your marksmanship is excellent.” She said. “Or you could redeem yourself and be reinstated in the EIA.”

“Redeem myself how ?” asked Ardent.

“We have discovered that Hiawatha is six weeks from completing The Manhattan Project in Salamanca. You are to blow it up before he does ! I have no need to explain how undesirable it would be if Hiawatha acquires nuclear weapons. Do you have the courage to accept this assignment. All possible assistance will be given.”

Ardent reflected that Counting Crow had nearly pulled off a similar mission. And Ardent was a much better agent surely. “Madame President I will blow up the Iroquois Manhattan Project” he said.

 

[conquer_dude]

Awesome read!!

Keep it up and this could get into the legendary civ stories!

 

[seanos08]

Convoy Attack

Tukal and the SSN Salmon did not have to travel far to find the Iroquois convoy. They were 50 km away. The ESM mast detected their radar emissions and the three destroyers were bonging away on active sonar like crazy – as if they didn’t care who noticed them. The downside of this was there was no way that SSN Salmon could get within torpedo range of the Galleon without being detected.

Tukal sent a quick radio message to base giving his position and that of the destroyers. He received a message to stay in front of the convoy and monitor its position but take no offensive action. The convoy was to be allowed to approach the coast. Once in range the army had a very nasty surprise for them. The ten artillery batteries of the Egyptian rapid response force would pound them. Three bomber squadrons would attack. Then SSN Salmon and EDD Sirius would finish the job. SSN Salmon found it easy to stay in front of the convoy which was only making 8 knots due to the heavily laden Galleon.

“Bomber group 1 attack coming” announced Admiral Tukomet. At an altitude of 8 km and a range of 30 km bomber group 1 unleashed a volley of Eye Gouger missiles. The Eye Gouger homes in on radar emissions and has a fragmentation warhead to destroy radar sites. They can’t sink a ship but can blind it. The missiles hit the destroyers despite the volley of SAMs launched at them. According to the ESM mast Tukal found all of the Iroquois radars dead.

“Have you spotted for naval gunfire before ? Captain.” Asked the Admiral. “Yes” said Tukal. “Good, now get within periscope sight of the convoy and assess damage.” Tukal checked the ESM. All the Iroquois radars were dead, he hoped. Tukal hoped the Iroquois radars were destroyed not just turned off. If one came on he was in trouble as his periscope would be detected. He only detected two active sonars now.

Once in range Tukal raised the periscope. The front destroyer was in trouble. Its bridge was destroyed and it was headed to the rear of the convoy. Fires still burned on it. The other destroyers seemed to have lost their radar masts but the left one was otherwise undamaged.

“Ready to call in artillery fire ?” asked the Admiral. “Yes Sir” said Tukal. “My position is 21.234, 69.735 and the target is at bearing 65.4 range 8.4 km. “On the way announced a new voice.” Two minutes later a geyser of water erupted 500 m left of the leftmost destroyer. “Right 500 drop 100 called” Tukal. The next splash was 50 m in front of the destroyer. “Fire for effect” yelled Tukal.

A time on target barrage followed. Designed to inflict maximum casualties on infantry the Artillery Battery computer triggered all the weapons in such a way that all the shells arrived at the same time. The destroyer would have no chance to dodge. Over fifty shells arrived at its position. Three were direct hits and the destroyer started to burn. In a similar manner Tukal called in artillery on the other two destroyers and they were left burning.

“Bombers coming in.” called the admiral. Two squadrons of B 26’s dived out of the sky. Their attack was successful and two of the destroyers were sunk. A group of 4 planes made a bombing attack on the Galleon knocking out its main mast and setting the forecastle on fire.

“Now is our chance.” Called Tukal. The SSN Salmon closed to a mere 4 km of the stricken Galleon. Fire tube 1 use manual guidance. A Mk 50 torpedo sped to the target at 70 km/h. It was actively pinging and lieutenant Abdul had no trouble steering it to the target. “Impact in 10…8..6.5.4.3.2.1 0 what ? torpedo has not exploded” called Abdul. “I’ve lost the wires torpedo unguided.” This was a submariner’s nightmare – there was no more embarrassing way to get sunk than by your own weapon.

“Torpedo going left to right – looks like it acquired something. Not us.” Called sonar. Three minutes later was an explosion followed by breaking up noises. “Yeee Hah” called the bridge crew. SSN Salmon got its first kill, a damaged destroyer. It was an accident but still a kill.

“Dammit, the magnetic fuse on a Mark 50 needs a metal target. I’ll guide the next weapon myself and detonate manually. Take the periscope Abdul” Said Tukal. The torpedo was fired. Tukal slowed it to a mere 30 km/h and watched the active sonar screen. When he was sure he pressed the self destruct button.
“Whooie look sir, you cracked its keel.” Abdul had put the periscope view on all of the TV monitors. The explosion under the Galleon had broken it in half and armored vehicles poured into the water. The Iroquois convoy had been completely destroyed.

This Tukal reported to the Admiral. The next order was peculiar. “Pick up all survivors – in particular officers. And film doing it. Cleopatra’s Orders.” With the assistance of IDD Sirius, SSN Salmon picked up survivors including the Galleon Captain and a destroyer captain. Then it was back to port at 20 knots with the prisoners stowed in the now empty torpedo room. In all Tukal was happy, his command had performed admirably and SSN Salmon had 2 kills.

Meanwhile another Iroquois convoy approached from the Arctic. This one was not detected, and was heading for the island of Isis.

 

[conquer_dude]

Very good! You should make this into an epic movie one day!

 

[seanos08]

The Seige of Caughwaga.

General Alida was happy with the performance of his command. There were now 3 Modern Armor armies, 4 Modern Armor, 5 Veteran Mechanized Infantry and 2 TOW Infantry regiments in Seville. An SA7 Mobile SAM battery had also been brought over to complement his Jet Fighter squadrons. The 10 bomber squadrons were performing excellent work in pulverizing cities and Iroquois Mechanized Infantry defenders. Already the four closest Iroquois towns had been captured and razed to the ground. He had enough troops to protect a chain gang of captured workers as they built a rail link to the Iroquois train system.

Caughwaga was the closest Iroquois city in bomber range. Alida was happy that he had enough troops to hold Caughwaga in addition to Seville. It then could be used as a base to bomb and then raze further Iroquois cities. He was suspicious at the complete lack of Iroquois attacks. They weren’t even bombing Seville any more and no direct attack on his units had occurred since the first day of the war.

General Alida was aware that Iroquois were fighting both the Americans and the Inca who for some strange reason were still fighting each other. Egypt was technically at war with America but had not seen an American unit for over 2 years. Still Iroquois had a massive land army and would come for the Egyptian outpost of Seville at soon as Hiawatha had defeated his other enemies. It was General Alida’s job to do as much damage as possible before that happened.

Meanwhile Captain Horus was on a recon mission over Caughwaga. His squadron rotated pairs of fighters over the city giving real time assessment of bomb damage. This was not as much fun as shooting down bombers but just as essential. The F3’s were unarmed with the cannon replaced by a camera and with wing tanks instead of missiles. Hopefully any enemy fighters that showed up would be more interested in the bombers. Horus estimated one Mechanized Infantry Regiment at ¾ strength and the other at ¼ strength. There appeared to be a group of vehicles gathering near the Cathedral so Horus radioed to the leader of the 12th and 17th Bomber Squadrons to aim at the Cathedral.

Horus flew his F3 towards the bombers and took up station 10 km behind them in ideal position to film the attack. It was an impressive sight watching 20 100 kg bombs fall from the belly of each bomber – a total of 960 bombs – a deadly steel rain. From an altitude of 3 km Horus saw the sparkles of the detonations that seemed to envelop the cathedral and surrounding area. Now the Mechanized Infantry unit was at half strength with many vehicles taking direct hits and being blown apart. The Cathedral was destroyed too, over 2000 years of culture gone.

At dawn the 2nd and 3rd Modern Armor armies attacked easily brushing aside the bomber decimated defenders and the 23th Mechanized Infantry Regiment came and took up defensive positions. Unlike previous conquests the citizens were Iroquois and highly hostile to the invaders. Some had guns and even explosives and the occupying forces were taking casualties. Iroquois civilians who conducted attacks on Egyptian troops were gunned down or summarily executed. One such terrorist was an old woman who baked bread with rat poison, putting 3 men in hospital. She was publicly hanged in the marketplace. Windows where hostile fire came from had HEAT tank shells fired into them.

In response to that General Alida ordered the arrest of all males aged 16 to 60 and they were put on forced labour clearing bomb damage or building a barracks. He was impressed with the discipline shown by his troops with no assaults on women and very little looting, mostly of battle souvenirs. With Caughwaga taken the way was clear to take Oil Springs1 which had an oil supply. Surely the Iroquois had to counterattack thought General Alida.

500 km to the South West another siege ended. Iroquois Modern Armor finally broke the back of the last Inca rifleman unit defending Cuzco. Legend has it that Parachuti of the Inca and his Cabinet charged the Iroquois Tanks with submachine guns and grenades. It took a direct hit from a tank main gun round to bring him down. The Inca nation was destroyed and the Iroquois forces now shifted their focus North.

 

[seanos08]

Back in Thebes.

Cleopatra was heading another Cabinet meeting. As usual the Science Advisor Professor Cheops began the meeting.

“We have discovered Satellites and now need to choose our next research project. My personal choice is Advanced Flight which will allow us to build helicopters to move Infantry and give us Radar towers which will assist in the defense of Seville. The other options are Nuclear Power which we don’t really need as we have Hoover’s Dam, Recycling which we don’t need as we have plenty of excess workers to clear our limited pollution and Stealth which will give us more effective bombers.”

“Which gives access to more spaceship components ?” asked Cleopatra.

“Nuclear Power” said Cheops, with it we can research Laser.

“Well then Nuclear Power is my choice, I don’t want the Indians or the Byzantines getting ahead in the space race.” Said Cleopatra.

“Couldn’t we research Stealth ? I need better Bombers” said the Military Advisor.

“You were telling me before about how well our current bombers are doing. I don’t see the point if we have never had one shot down.” Said Cleopatra. “Nuclear Power it is.”

Domestic Advisor Nefertiti made her report. “War weariness is becoming a major issue. I’ve had to turn citizens into entertainers in 8 cities and the problem is getting worse. People are terrified after that apartment block was blown up. Also the Peace Now movement is gaining recruits and demonstrating in the streets of major cities. We have 12 cities in disorder, including Seville. They are opposed to our mass bombing and razing of cities. They have a point. We have killed 400,000 Iroquois Civilians haven’t we. We either change to Communism or make peace with the Iroquois. Have you tried contacting their Government ?”

Lady Isis said “No we are in alliances against Iroquois and I see no reason to betray our traditional French and Byzantine allies. Besides we are winning the war. Can I make my report now ?”

“Yes” said Cleopatra.

“With the Inca destroyed our alliance with them against America is null and void. I suggest we make peace with America.” Said Lady Isis.

“Agreed” said Cleopatra. The Military Advisor surprisingly nodded agreement.

“Military Advisor, your report.” said Cleopatra.

“We have destroyed an Iroquois convoy including a Galleon laden with Modern Armor. Captain Tukal of the SSN Salmon has been awarded the Order off the Gold Banner for his crucial role in the attack and his crew has a unit citation.”

“There has also been a minor skirmish in the West between our destroyer Canopus and air support against 2 Iroquois destroyers. We lost a squadron of bombers to SAMs and our destroyer was sunk but we destroyed one of their ships and damaged the other. The Battleship Wrath of Ra has been dispatched to cut off the damaged destroyer.”

“In happier news we have captured the Iroquois city of Caughwaga but civilian resistance is a problem. We have now captured 5 Iroquois cities and now I propose we take and hold Oil Springs1 which has an oil supply. This will mean we don’t have to ship or fly in fuel for our forces on Ra. We now have enough forces on Ra to hold 3 cities. So far the Iroquois have not counterattacked – they aren’t even bombing us. This won’t last now that Inca are destroyed.”

An Army major entered the room. He bowed and seemed nervous. “Madame President I have urgent news. The Iroquois are landing a Modern Armor Regiment on Isis.”

“Attack them and drive them into the sea. We have Modern Armor there.” Said Rameses the Military Adivisor.

“I have made a major decision. In this war that has caused so much civil disorder the Republic that has served us well for over 2000 years has failed. I now declare a revolution. We shall become a Communist nation. From this day forth you will address me as Comrade General Secretary. Meeting Adjourned” Said Cleopatra.

 

[BuckyRea]

Ah, the charms of civ3! In what other universe does a revolution come by decree from the head of state? But still, that does seem like the right call on Cleo's part.

 

[conquer_dude]

*Ahh* Wonderful story!

Printed some of it out and re-read it in bead last night.

 

[seanos08]

Envoy to America.

Twenty minutes later Lady Isis had a problem. There was no radio link to the Egyptian Embassy in Washington. She would have to send a personal envoy.
That person would have to be fluent in American English and an accomplished parachutist. The fastest means to get an Envoy to Washington was a parachute jump from a Bomber. A check of Foreign Ministry records showed nobody with that combination of skills. The EIA were the next choice. They had a suitable agent. Her name was Bel Chamblis.

After a brief interview in American English, Lady Isis was satisfied Bel was suitable. She was short and solidly built with short dark hair died a reddish hue. And her combat capabilities were highly rated but not necessary on this mission. She was rated as having a perfect memory.

After supplying her with a satchel of impressive looking documents and impressing her with the purpose and importance of each Lady Isis offered a bulky radio. “I brought two radios” said Bel placing two radio sets, each the size of a hardback novel on the desk. These will be much easier to jump with plus I want to leave one with Honest Abe in case he wants to contact …um Cleopatra directly. Comrade General Secretary Cleopatra reminded Lady Isis. Even here they could hear the shouts from the streets as the Revolution was unfolding.

Bel Chamblis left aboard an EIA modified B-29 called Ship of the Styx. The guns and gunners were removed and the bomb bay replaced with a fuel tank. Its sole purpose was to deliver parachutists and take covert pictures from high altitude. When the plane leveled out at its cruising altitude of 12 km the flight engineer went to check on their unusual passenger. She was fast asleep. The crew settled into the routine of long haul flight with the command pilot retiring to sleep also.

Sixteen hours later the Bomber was in American Airspace approaching Washington. The altitude was dropped to 2 km, well above any weapon the Americans possessed. Bel Chamblis shook hands with the flight crew and made her way to the rear jump hatch. With her was the flight engineer. She had packed the radios and the documents into a Bergen that would hang beneath her as she fell. Without hesitation she jumped into space as the Pilot called JUMP JUMP JUMP.

As she fell the Bomber turned west to land on Six Horse Island. She pulled the rip cord at 300 metres and a bright pink oval canopy erupted behind her. Below Bel Chamblis could make out rapidly moving figures moving below her. Men in blue on horses. They were obviously pointing weapons at her.

Dropping the Bergen on a cord below her, Bel made a perfect landing, rolling onto her side. She looked up to stare into the muzzle of a giant revolver like carbine and the blue eyes of an American Cavalryman. “I am a Diplomat and Come in Peace” she said. “More likes you’se a spy that needs a hangin” said the man. At once she was surrounded by cavalrymen in blue.

 

[seanos08]

Meanwhile in England.

Deneirzi was an EIA agent in England. He was also the military attaché to the embassy so he wasn’t a true spy. Currently he was training English sergeants in the use of the RPG8 Antitank rocket. The horse drawn corrugated iron targets exploded satisfactorily startling the teams of horses drawing them. Also the English were keen on the green and brown uniforms supplied by the Egyptians. After Deneirzi engineered a victory of the despised 21st rifles over the 1st Guards, in a war game, where the 21st rifles technically took Queen Elizabeth Herself prisoner by creeping through a forest unobserved.

Agent Deneirzi or Colonel Denis as he was known to the English was a popular figure. He played golf and hunted. Although his last fox hunt was a fiasco. He blew away the fox with a 9 mm handgun before the hounds could catch it. A major faux pas. Shooting birds, deer and rabbits was OK but not foxes.

Agent Deneirzi noted the pattern on his pager. 3 beeps, pause, 2 beeps. 3 beeps. Immediate return to embassy. “Sorry General Westinghouse, but I have an urgent message. The men should store the rest of the rockets.” “Thank you Colonel Denis, quite understandable, duty calls us all.” The General said.

Agent Deneirzi arrived at the embassy in his 4wd Triton. The roads in England were awful. The message he received was hardly one to inspire confidence. “Use English troops and cross the Iroquois border. Capture without detection an Iroquois 3 to 5 ton container truck. Kill the drivers. Bring the truck back to London and await the arrival of Agent Ardent on a CRITICAL war mission. You are authorized to offer the secret of Steam Power to secure English cooperation.”

Three hours later Agent Deneirzi had his audience with Queen Elizabeth of the English Republic. He outlined the mission. Capture a truck. Load Ardent and his bomb. Sneak into Salmanca and blow up the Manhattan Project. Escape to Seville. “Yes all very well” said Elizabeth “Stopping Hiawatha the Vicious from getting Nuclear Weapons is a laudable objective. But from where I sit Hiawatha can squish us like a bug with his tanks. You are on an entirely different continent and have equivalent weapons. This had better be worth our while.”

“How does the secret of Steam Power and a supply of coal do ?” asked Agent Deneirzi. “Accepted” Said the Queen. “You may have the recon unit of the 1st Guard’s regiment. But disguise them as Egyptians. We can’t survive a war with the Iroquois.” Agent Deneirzi bowed and left.

 

[seanos08]

A Meeting with Lincoln.

Bel Chamblis was comforted by the arrival of the Cavalry Captain Chuck Custer. His quick reasoning put the rest of the unit at ease. "Look the lil lady dropped out of the sky in daylight with a bright pink thingy - if she was a spy she'd come at night." With that he ordered a thorough search of her person and baggage, the only incriminating object was a razor sharp combat knife for cutting parachute shrouds.

Soon Bel was on her way into Washington on the back of a fine chesnut horse. Chuck Custer was along side her. He was horrified to learn that the Egyptians no longer regarded Cavalry as serious troops. More like fast recon infantry who were never expected to make an attack. But he was engrossed in her discussion of tanks, having never personally faced them.

Finally they arrived at the White House. To Custer's surprise they were ushered straight into the oval office.

"Greetings young lady. What brings you here." said Lincoln.

"I wish to propose a peace treaty between America and Egypt", Bel said.

"Is this going to be more permanent than the last one, the one Cleopatra cancelled when she realized our military was pathetic and she could just grab Long Island" said Lincoln tartly.

"We are both at war with Iroquois" said Bel "Surely you don't want to be at war with us too, especially with weapons we could give you. Here is a peace treaty signed by Cleopatra herself and a Banker's Cheque for 1000 gold.

"I'd take the peace treaty as is but we really need the gold" Said Lincoln "what do you say to an exchange of maps."

Fine said Bel proffering the map.

"Impressive" said Lincoln. "You Egyptians are driving them Iroquois A holes back in the North. Yet your weapons are equivalent, how are you doing this ?"

"Superior tactics mostly" said Bel. "Now out of curiosity what happened to our ambassador."

"We kept him under house arrest - I hope you did the same." said Lincoln.

"Of course" said Bel Chamblis. "By the way we are prepared to offer weapons and training to your troops for your war with Iroquois."

"My troops are brave enough" said Lincoln.

"But with camoflage uniferms and anti tank weapons they will be more effective. My other job is military attache once you release the ambassador."
said Bel.

"Very Good" said Lincoln. "What we need is replacable parts for proper infantry."

"I'll check with Thebes" said Bel. After a five minute converation on the radio she said "Approved."

"Don't think I have forgiven the Egyptians but your help against the Iroquois menace is not forgotten." said Lincoln.

 

[conquer_dude]

Very good!

 

[seanos08]

On the Battleship Wrath of Ra

Battleship Wrath of Ra took up position on the most likely route the damaged Iroquois Destroyer would take. Captain Arundel had the search radar on. Most likely the Iroquois ship had lost its radar and radar warning masts in the bomber attack on it so was unlikely to detect the Battleship’s radar. And he didn’t want it slipping past. He didn’t have the speed to catch it. It was 5 AM.

“Radar contact bearing 056 range 31 km speed 14 knots heading 260.” called the Radar operator. The navigator drew in the contact on the plastic covered chart in red grease pencil. “Recommended course 030 to intercept” he said.
“Contact is in Javelin missile range” said the weapons officer.

“Make your heading 030” said the Captain. “We won’t fire until we have a visual ID. Nothing could be worse than sinking a French or Byzantine ship which will drag Egypt into a war on home soil with an ally. Launch the ARV.”

The ARV (airborne remote vehicle) was one of two carried by the Battleship. It was a pilotless drone used for identifying targets for the battleship’s guns. Painted sky blue and almost entirely made of carbon fibre, it was very hard for an enemy to detect, let alone shoot down. Five minutes later the little plane was fired from the bow catapult and winging its way to the contact at 80 knots. The drone made the trip in fifteen minutes and was now circling the target. The Infra Red camera view showed a destroyer of some sort. Probably Iroquois but Captain Arundel had to be sure. “Time to daylight ?” he asked. “25 minutes said the navigator. The contact will now be in gun range.” “Clear the decks and call General Quarters” ordered the captain.

As dawn broke the ARV spotted a purple flag with the black swastika of the Iroquois Fascist Nation on the rear of the destroyer. Also the ship could now be seen from the Wrath of Ra. No doubt the destroyer saw the battleship. “Missile launch called the Radar operator, The destroyer fired two missiles at us.” “Launch our Javelins.” Called the Captain. Four white antiship missiles blasted out of the bow launcher.

Without being told the Weapons officer started firing SAM’s at the incoming missiles. One missile exploded but the other kept coming. The weapons officer fired chaff rockets to distract the missile and activated the Close in Weapons System. The CIWS fired 12mm slugs at the missile at a prodigious rate of 50 per second. “Get Down Sir” yelled the navigator as he tacked the captain to the ground. There was an explosion as the missile was shot down a mere 70 metres away. The glass in the bridge shattered and the weapons officer was bleeding.
Still he watched the radar display. “The enemy is heading North trying to evade our missiles. They are still tracking. Two minutes later it was all over. The enemy destroyer could not fire SAMs to protect herself and all the missiles hit. They couldn’t see the ARV picture as the ship’s antenna had been destroyed.

“Damage report” Ordered the Captain. There was superficial scorching and damage to the antennas plus the bridge windows blown out. There were only minor injuries. “Go to the last known position of the destroyer.” Ordered the Captain.

There was nothing but some light debris on the water and no survivors. With that the Wrath of Ra headed South to the nearest port for repairs. Then it would be back to boring convoy escort duty.

Meanwhile on the Island of Isis a short sharp tank battle was played out. The lone Iroquois Modern Armor regiment landed on the Island was headed to the central city of Isis when the Egyptian 31st Modern Armor attacked the column from both flanks. There was a furious exchange of HEAT and Sabot rounds but the Iroquois regiment was cut in two and annihilated. They fought ferociously and fully half of the 31st Modern Armor was damaged or destroyed.

As Colonel Quentin of the 31st Modern Armor pointed out, if the enemy had landed six regiments of Modern Armor, they could have taken all four cities on the island. Two more Modern Armor regiments were airlifted to Isis in case the Iroquois tried that again. This meant that two fewer units could be shipped to Seville.

General Asiz and the 1st Modern Armor easily took the town of Oil Springs1 after the usual bomber pounding. They observed six worker units repairing the railroad to the oil field. The 27th Modern Armor Regiment was dispatched from Seville and captured them easily. The workers were told to continue work. Now Egypt had captured 2 cities on Ra and destroyed 5 more. It looked like Egypt was winning her war.

Finally the revolution was complete. It was quite an orderly transition. Now Egypt was a Communist nation and the flag was changed to a yellow flag with a single big red star.

 

[seanos08]

Spy in Salamanca.

At her apartment Agent Nereida checked out a certain website. It was the Website of the English Embassy of the Egyptians and the first paragraph of the Embassy news had been changed to include the words Opera and Crash. That meant a message had been left for her. She checked the message board and downloaded file AOS 191. It was double encrypted and the message was to the point. Investigate the Manhattan Project in Salamanca. Determine the codes and paperwork necessary to get a truck into the loading bay. Mail the details to the following English Post Office Box 9117.

Agent Nereida was a sleeper agent. She had been introduced as a returning tourist Silver Willow. It took some plastic surgery to make her look the same and the real Silver Willow had been injured in a train crash in Egypt 17 years ago. Silver Willow had been a languages student in Thebes. When she was injured in the train crash an EIA agent spotted an opportunity to infiltrate a high level agent into the then friendly Iroquois Nation, and spirited her out of hospital. After intensive questioning, Agent Nereida was able to pass for her so well that she was able to go to the Iroquois Nation and even fool her family that their daughter was back. No doubt the real Silver Willow was now dead.

Agent Nereida easily obtained a PhD in Egyptian Language and Literature at Hiawatha University in Salamanca. She was easily able to obtain a position in the Iroquois Foreign Intelligence service, a rival agency to the ISS which was more military. Her perfect Egyptian language skills and the occasional EIA engineered intelligence coup ensured rapid promotion to Major. She was now the secretary of the head of Counter Intelligence General Grunting Bear. She was also his occasional bed partner which meant access to all his secrets plus the ability to manipulate him.

“General” she said, “I am deeply concerned that the Egyptians may make a bomb attack on the Manhattan Project here in Salamanca. The near success of the ISS attack in Thebes has me worried. I request your authorization to make a security audit on the Manhattan Project. If the Egyptians destroy it they will poison half of Salamanca with radioactive material and prevent Fuhrer Hiawatha getting nuclear weapons to use on the Gyppo swine.”

“Good idea” said General Grunting Bear “plus it shows we are more alert than those ISS thugs.”


Agent Nereida and a photographer spent 2 days making their report. Nereida was impressed. There was an anti tank ditch around the entire site patrolled around the clock by TOW infantry and only one massive steel gate. Every vehicle entering was stopped and searched by ISS troopers. Even civilian cars. The only vehicles not searched fully were a tanker containing diesel for the generators and a Container truck containing a steel cylinder with radiation warning labels on it. The tanker still had a plastic probe inserted in the tank and the drivers of the container truck were made to get out while a man in a radiation suit drove it into the massive building.

“What was in the steel cylinder” Nereida asked one of the drivers, showing her ID. “Nuclear fuel. Its radioactive as anything and has to be unloaded in the radioactive materials loading bay near the reactor. That’s an ultra top secret area.” Nereida made a point of having photos of all aspects of the nuclear fuel transfer taken. This seemed the only weak link. Truthfully the only way to be sure of taking out the site was by a massive bomber attack but her orders were to make the attempt.

That evening she finished her report. She essentially said the only danger was from a carrier launched bomber raid and that mobile SAM systems should be moved to Salamanca to counter that threat. She made 3 copies. One was packed with a cheap small painting, between the painting and its backboard, and sent to England.

 

[conquer_dude]

Awesome update!