A tale o'war

[ambrafoxtrot]

Part 5fly to heaven

Sounds and images came from the ceiling that was circling around him, smothered voices and bad smells; a face and a white doctor coat coming down from the turning ceiling.

oeHow do you feel
oeCan you hear me

Lario tried to get up from the stretcher he was on, and was met with a spasm of pain going from his head down to his chest.

oeDont move Sergeant; I could spare some sedative for you, but you are still pretty banged up. You have suffered a concussion, head trauma, and a suspect fractured cheekbone. If I had an X-Ray unit I could tell you for sureHere is your friend. I cant stay long; I have to go see the other patients. You take it easy ok

The CARABINIERI medic officer turned to Goia who was sitting on the floor next to Lario.

oeKeep an eye on him and come get me or Miss Bates if anything weird happens. He should be ok by now, but Id give him another 24 hours under observation. Thing is I dont have any observers, so you will have to do.

oeYes Lieutenant answered Goia, and turned to Lario as soon as the medic was gone.

oeWhat happened Lario asked from behind his bandaged face.

oeWe got lucky Sergeantreally lucky; like in the movies. When you went down, the bad guys were all over us and I thought we were all dead; a group of two or three civilians appeared and started to shoot at them with a handgun. The crazies went after them when they realized they were the new threat, but the civilians did not give them the time to do anything. They drew sub machineguns out of their coats and killed them all.

Lario did not answer; he felt too weak to do so, but continued to look at Goia like if he wanted to hear more.

Goia paused for a moment and then he continued:

oeI have no idea how none of these bullet hit us, Sergeant. The Civilians disappeared as quickly as they had appeared, and not long after that, the Giuffre came around the block with the VM and scooped us up.

Lario made another effort to talk to Goia.

oeThe womenthe women who were screaming

Goias face turned to a compassionate expression mixed with disappointment.

oeI dont know Sergeant; I thinkI guess they are gone.

Lario put his head back on the stretcher and followed with his eyes the woman who was attending the wounded in the room, going from one to another, Italian Soldiers and American civilians alike, to provide assistance, help, or simply comfort. Goia noticed Lario was looking at her and spoke again:

oeThat girl; I think she is called Katethey told me she has been here since the first wounded started to come, and she never left. She is a specialized they say. One of those like in that American showwhat is it calledoh yesI.Rhave you ever heard about it Sergeant

Lario did not answer but continued to follow her with his eyes, from behind his bandage; a wonderful image of peace and grace in the general madness.

Goia resumed
oeI guess I have been lucky SergeantIve got some scratches on my arms and legs. But the CARABINIEREMancuso that was with us, he suffered multiple injuries even though none of them fatal. I believe he is in the next room. The doc says he will be ok, he just need time to recover.

Goia pauses, and then looked at Lario again.

oeI have seen at least a couple of dozen CARABINIERI In here, pretty messed up Sir, by the rioters mainly but I also saw three or four fire weapon injures. I dont understand why they just dont leave this town and relocate to a safer area, may be closer to regular army troops. There is nothing here that is worth staying for, except may be for the fact that the fu#$@ing town is placed in the middle of the salient

Lario once again said nothing, but continued to look at the American nurse doing her job around the room, disappearing for a moment, and then coming back as she started to attend an American girl that could have been thirteen or so, with a cast on her left leg. Then Lario looked back at Goia, who struggled to find any other words. Finally Lario put his head on the pillow and closed his eyes.

Goia left for a minute, then he came back and sit in the same spot he was before.

oeI was also thinking, SergeI should be going back to the regime

Lario was by then asleep.

A CARABINIERI armored van and the County Sheriff car were parked outside the Brooksville public school gym building; a State Trooper and a CARABINIERE guarding both vehicles, smoking cigarettes and mix matching the few words of each other language they knew, in order to try and some small talk. Inside the building, Captain Cantatore, the commander of the CARABINIERI company in town, assisted by the sheriff, was addressing a group of families.

oeThank you very much for coming here today said Cantatore In his fair but accented English.

Cantatore waited that the volume of the crowd voices quieted enough to be able to speak.

oeThank you for attending this Cantatore said againI have invited you here tonight to address all of you about a possibility that I have been pondering on, together with the town authorities

He paused looking at Sheriff Rogers on his right, leaving the podium to him.

oeLadies and Gentlemen the Sheriff Resumedthe situation in town is rapidly deteriorating, as it is in the entire county and I would dare to say, in the entire State. The Italian military police cannot anymore guarantee safety, as its casualties mount in consequence of the rioting and of the civil unrest that is ravaging the county. Also, as you already know, the supply of medicines and food that the Italians had with them are rapidly diminishing as the resupply from their rear echelon units came to a stop weeks ago. The flow of refugees from Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg has made the situation almost unsustainable for us, especially considering that a most part of these refugees are desperate and dangerous people. Captain Cantatore is worried about the possibility of his company falling apart at any moment, having its casualties almost reached 50% in wounded and dead. In the major incidents of yesterday near Russell Street Park, Captain Cantatore lost another dozen of his men; most of them will not be able to be in action for a long time, two of them are dead.

A murmur of fear and disappointment came from the assembled crowd.

oePleaseSheriff Rogers called from the podiumplease people listen to me he waved his hands to try and obtain attention again.

When the noise from the crowd quieted enough, the Sheriff continued:

oeCaptain Cantatore proposed me a plan of evacuation

Crowd almost silent now.

oeThe planRogers continuedThe plan is to use Captain Cantatore Helicopters to fly evacuation missions for the children; destination the Italian HQ in Spring Hill and Hernando Beach. Then, possibly, the rest of the people who want to be evacuated could undertake the same trip by land under escort. It is a 50 km trip tops, but under the present circumstances, it can be a long and difficult task to accomplish.

A man in a striped shirt and a baseball cap yelled from the crowd:

oeWe are not going to give our children to these foreigners who are the cause of this mess to begin with.

The crowd splitted, between murmuring of consent and some shouts of disapproval.

Captain Cantatore approached the podium again:

oeThe airlift evacuation area will be set up tomorrow between West Jefferson Street and the 98th. I did not have any official communications from my command, but my hope is to be able to transfer as many children as I can in the Hernando beach area and possibly to board them on one or more coalition ships of any kind, at least until the conditions in the State of Florida become better. Like the Sheriff said, the situation at present is deteriorating quickly: my officers and I feel that we cannot guarantee your safety for much longer. We might be ordered to leave the area at any time. If there is anything that we can still do for this town, I would rather do it before those orders come, cause after they do, I wont have any time left.

oeI will tell you more Cantatore added after a pause to let the people assimilate the previous information

oeBetween us and Tampa Bay, along the approaches that the refugees are using to flood this area, there should be Italian troops. They are the southern portion of the Italian Salient in Western Florida. I do have to assume that they cannot or have not been ordered to stop the flow of refugees from the major cities in the south. In both cases, the situation here is rapidly becoming desperate. We lack fuel, ammunition, medical supplies. All we could salvage from stores and mallsCantatore struggled some seconds before finding the last word in his limited English vocabulary all of that have been salvaged already and distributed in the best way possible. Nothing more is going to come anytime soon; we have less than one week of supplies. Then what

The crowd was mute now in the large gym.

oeI saycontinued the CARABINIERE in black uniformwe have a safe mean of evacuation with a limited number of tickets; the heliborne section: I say we use it for as many children we can. After that, if in one week I do not receive orders, I will try and extricate my company from here and whoever wants to take a chance with us will be free to do so. I know the options are limited and the situation is difficult, but this is all I can offer.

Cantatore paused gain and looked all around the hall.

oeThe helicopters will be ready to begin their sorties after tomorrow 09:00 local time. They will continue to fly until the Avgas fuel will be exhausted at which point they will not come back. Whoever wants to take their children to the evacuation area will find my personnel ready to take care of them. It is a humanitarian emergency we are facing; we have to make choices.

That said, Captain Cantatore thanked Sheriff Rogers and left, followed his bodyguards. Sheriff Rogers remained to ask the torrent of questions that followed.

Pic#1 Kate Bates in action (Brooksville Med Military post)
Pic#2 Captain Cantatore personally supervises the first heliborne sorties to evacuate the American children from Brooksville.

Continues

[ambrafoxtrot]

Part 6...Storm front

Captain Cantatore had his headquarter in a small house between Hale Avenue and Walker Street on the south Western corner of Brooksville; a sentinel armed with a Beretta SC 70 assault rifle on duty at all times. Fires from the recent riots and incidents were still visible on the south eastern part of town accompanied by the smell of uncollected trash, smoke and the occasional unburied body due to lack of time or family members of the dead one.

The sentry at the HQ was about lighting a cigarette when he spotted a civilian casually walking towards him coming from a lateral street. The approaching man was pretty tall and broad, wearing jeans, winter boots, and a heavy leather worn out jacket. A black wool cap completed his suit.

The carabiniere chambered a bullet in his AR and threw away the cigarette he just lit, at the same time trying to get a better picture of the newcomer, who was advancing towards him.

When the civilian approached the 20 yards distance range, the Carabiniere put the rifle on the ready. The approaching guy has his hand in plain view at least.

"Halt...what do yu wont John"

The civilian stopped walking and kind of leaned towards the Carabiniere, like if he was ready to whisper something to him.

"I need to talk to your boss kid" said the civilian

The Italian didn't understand, and dismissively answered to the American to go to hell, in colorful Italian: it was not the right day for Carabiniere Rabito to hear any complaints from the locals.

The American did not get a single word of what the Italian soldier said but he grasped a hint from his tone.

"Listen up you asshole; you guys are going to be hit by a tornado in the next 24 hours. I need to talk to your chief now".

The Italian grasped the harsh tone as well, and started to get pissed in a very Italian way. He shouldered his assault weapon and was about to draw his riot baton, when an NCO came out of the small house which served as command post, avoiding everybody a big bag of trouble. Rabito stopped advancing toward the American, who was waiting for him with his hand on his hips not at all impressed by the aggressive stance of the Carabiniere. At the same time, another American civilian, unseen and prone on a nearby roof, eased his finger off the trigger of his M 21 sniper rifle.

The NCO asked in a passable but heavy accented English if he could do anything to help.
The Heavy Jacket guy was starting to lose hope that any of these illiterate WOPs could ever understand him. He collected all the patience he could muster, and went through the routine again: slowly he pulled off a white handkerchief from a chest pocket, waved it at the Italians and proffered:

"A-M-E-R-I-C-A-N N-A-V-Y ...W-E N-E-E-D TO T-A-L-K"

The Carabiniere froze, undecided if he should grab his rifle again but at the same time not wanting to show to the American that he was almost peeing in his pants, while the NCO remained considerably calm and had the presence to ask the American to wait right there.

After no more than thirty seconds the NCO was back with Captain Cantatore, who stared at the American for a couple of seconds:

"My Sergeant here told me you need some help, Sir...what can I..."

"I am Petty Officer Joshua Talbot and you are the one who needs help; I request a truce to talk"

"You alone"

"No...my commander is waiting for a signal to join us"... Talbot didn't mention the third member of the team on the nearby roof.

"You can have your commander join us officer" said Cantatore taking off his gloves and shifting his weight on his left leg, assuming a waiting kind of posture.

Ralston lifted his right arm over his head, his fist in the air, and after a few seconds, another American appeared form the door of a convenience store on the same road the group was standing on. When the second U.S. sailor reached the group he introduced himself as well:

"I am Master Petty Officer William Ralston, captain. I am in command of an U.S. naval infantry detachment operating in this area. You can consider us negotiators under the protection of the white flag. Will you grant us that status"

"I doubt you'd be here if you didn't take your precautions - Mister Commander of an U.S. naval infantry detachment", said Lario shooting a gaze at the two men.

"Not a lot of precautions captain: I have a sniper who by now should be able to waste more than one of you guys if he sees any weird movements, and some further little precautions; nothing major. On yhe other hand, I bet none of that will be necessary. We have been observing you guys for a week now, and we know that we are among gentlemen".

Cantatore almost smiled at the American NCO; who said the Americans had no style.

"I thank you for the consideration Mr. Ralston. Shall we go inside, or would you rather have me in the scope of your sniper for the entire conversation".

"It was now the turn of the American to grin". He gestured with his hand that he was ready to follow the Italians inside.

"You Captain...or to say better... we all have a big problem" said Ralston sitting with his elbows on the back of a wooden chair..."Actually two big problems...but one is strictly yours, and the other is...let's say...a common concern".

Cantatore stared at the man with an interrogative expression.

"The first problem is that we have news of a horde of refugees coming from Tampa Bay and S. Petersburg; a mix of scumbags of the worse kind, and a wave of desperate people fleeing away from the radioactive ruins of the two towns.

"Do you know who released the nuclear weapons there" Asked Cantatore in a haste.

Ralston exchanged a brief look with his colleague.

"I don't know Captain, and even if I knew, I could not tell you. What I can tell you though, is that it's a total disaster down there, and it is going to be a disaster up here very soon as well; worse than you have seen so far"

Cantatore remained silent; his turned to exchange looks with his subordinates.

"The second problem, captain", resumed Ralston, "regards you guys in particular...I mean the Italian forces in Florida; moving around, south of here, we eyeballed several Italian units belonging - according to our sources - to the 132nd Tank Regiment. Do not expect any of these troops to put a dent into the refugees flooding sir...said troops are on the verge of collapse.

Cantatore didn't manage to hide his horror hearing that news. It could be certainly a bunch of bull, but the American knew what Italian units were located in the area, and also their composition. On the other hand, the 132nd could have been ordered to ignore the flow of refugees...no it couldn't, considering that the movement was directed to the heart of the Italian salient and to the proximity of its logistic bases. The American had to be at least partially right about the pitiful status of the Ariete tankers.

CPO Ralston seemed to guess what Cantatore was cogitating and recalled him to reality:

"Captain, the mob will reach this town...I estimate... in 24-36 hours. We don't have much time to prep the defenses. I offer you the cooperation of my troops to defend the town. I have seen the efforts that you have put in keeping this area in order Captain, and let me tell you that we appreciated these efforts. This is probably going to be the supreme challenge for us, if you still intend to commit your forces to this purpose".

Cantatore slowly raised his look on the American navy man with a mix of anger and sympathy. The man was talking to him like if the Italian expedition corps was already defeated and on the verge of total collapse. Was he really offering his cooperation or was he trying to use the Italians to work for him and spill more of their blood to defend a territory that they should have firmly in their control instead.

"What kind of cooperation are you offering exactly Mr. Ralston" demanded Cantatore..."would you consider to put your troops under my command"

"How is the children evacuation going Captain" Ralston suddenly changed subject

"F#$k this yank knows too many things" Cantatore thought while gazing again the man of the Navy.

"Not as well as I hoped Sir. I am afraid that we have much less Avgas than available sorties to complete the mission".

"It's ok Captain" answer Ralston trying to reassure the Italian. "I suggest we put the remaining children in the northern part of town with the other civilians, and that we prepare the defense of this town. For the duration of the crises, I am ready to submit my forces under you tactical control according to the old NATO standard procedures: you give me a radio and you can issue your orders to my troops; I listen and I reserve to myself the right to overcome any orders that I believe doesn't make any sense; how does that sound to you"

"It sounds exactly like old NATO standard procedures: bunch of crap" said Cantatore..."But I guess it will have to do for now. I will tell you what: I am decided to defend this town. Many of my men have already died for it, and many more are incapacitated and laying in my improvised hospital downtown. By the way, there are a number of civilians as well that are using that facility. We will have to plan its protection, since most of the patients cannot be moved".

"It's ok captain; I guess you will have to spare some assets to defend the hospital. For my part, I will set an observation post on the southern edge. Do you have a vehicle to spare so I can send my men to recover some of the weapon caches we have scattered around here We have our own supplies, and we will not burden you guys. I just need a vehicle to collect my stuff quickly".

Ralston saw the perplexed look on Cantatore face at his request of a vehicle and quickly added:

"I'll stay captain. I'll prepare my OP and wait here with you that my guys come back with the equipment".

"I have a Civilian truck that belongs to a recon team from one of our units out east. The commander of that team is currently out of commission after an unpleasant encounter with one of the local gangs. You can use that vehicle if you want".

"My boys will probably be back in less than six hours".

Cantatore instructed Rabito to take the Americans to the motor pool where the Chevy truck that Lario used to come into town was being kept.

After the party left, Cantatore asked his NCO:

"What do you make of them Sergio"

"Navy Seals captain".

[ambrafoxtrot]

We are thinking about closing this thread after the Brooksville story arc, because of lack of followers.

Thank you everybody

ambrafoxtrot

[cavtroop]

We are thinking about closing this thread after the Brooksville story arc, because of lack of followers.

Thank you everybody

ambrafoxtrot

Please dont! this board doesnt get alot of views, but I'm loving your stuff

[Legbreaker]

You might not get a lot of comments, but there has been over 450 views since the thread was started a short time ago. For this site that's absolutely phenomenal!

[Bullet Magnet]

I'm with Cavtroop & Legbreaker on this. I'm enjoying the story, and held off commenting mainly to not disrupt the story posts.

I hope you'll consider continuing to post these, and I'm sure there are others who feel the same way.

[ambrafoxtrot]

Interlude

oeGamma Ray; this is Sierra 17we have a contact bearing 190, distance 6 miles from your main body. Confirm positive submarine on active sonar array. Bearing and ID negative, depth about 170 feet, over.

The Italian Light Frigate oeArtigliere did not have any ASW sensor on board, but still the data link from the AB 212 helicopter Sierra 17 relayed the position of the submerged contact on the Frigate Combat Center; the area of approximation was remarkably small. Commander Paolo Grandi was running to the CIC from his private quarters even before Sierra 17 message was completed. The specter of an American attack sub wreaking havoc in what remained of his naval group flickered in his mind while he was covering the short distance.

When Grandi reached the darkened combat center of the frigate, Lieutenant Commander Julius Voekler, the frigate XO, had already taken some measures on initiative.

oeSir I invited the group commander to take his ship north at flank sped and I am interposing the frigate between the oeFoudre and the contact. Sierra 17 is standing by for the attack order.

oeWell done Lieutenant thank you.

Grandi glanced at the tactical display, which showed the French Amphibious Assault ship Foudre running north at his modest maximum speed of 20 knots, escorted by the lowly Minesweeper oeAlghero which was rapidly falling behind at her mighty speed of 14 nautical miles per hour.

With the Italian logistic ships S.Marco and S.Giorgio sunk, the Foudre was the last standing resupply platform for the confederation land forces in Western Florida and Louisiana. If they lost that ship, Confy land forces in the south of the United States would be basically turned into stragglers overnight.

oeSierra 17 this is Cobra 17; did you make out a bearing on the contact yet, over Commander Grandi asked the helicopter.

oeNegative; the contact is shallow and creeping. We have the dome on the 150 feet band range. It is quite a big motherfu@^er judging from the echo Sir Sierra 17 said, forgetting that he was talking with the officer in command oeIt could be a Russian nuclear or an American boat looking for prey; Permission to engage Sir, over.

oeDenied Sierra 17; repeat; hold your fire. I need identification Sierra 17; switch on the passive relay and give me an ID before I can authorize you to fire. If it is a Russian boat, we cant risk blue on blue, confirm over. Grandi voice raised by a couple of octaves.

The answer from Sierra 17 was the most unexpected:
oeCobra, we have pumps and hull expansion crackling noises on the passive track. The contact isthe contact is emerging Sir!!


oeTACCO Grandi calmly addressed the tactical officer on dutyPrepare for surface action starboard, brandish the OTOBREDA 127mm at 190 degreesat my ordersustained firenot before I give the order, Grandi looked steadily at his TACCO.

oeAye Sir

Grandi and the staff officers rushed outside to the starboard bridge of the frigate, a multitude of binoculars pointing at the bearing where the contact was supposed to be.

Then, in the dark night of the Gulf of Mexico immense arena, a set of ESM antennas appeared first, followed by half a forest of observation and attack periscopes. When the massive island of the night black behemoth appeared, it took commander Grandi several seconds to recognize the shape of a oeTriomphant Class Ballistic Missile Submarine. At the same time, from one of the numerous turret masts of the submarine, a Morse transmission broke the darkness between it and the Italian Frigate:

oeMarine Nationale Strategic Submarine Temeraire-Marine Nationale Strategic Submarine Temeraire-to Confederation Naval Group 222-send group commander on board-repeat send group commander on board-EMCON status Red-Please confirm..oeMarine Nationale Strategic Submarine Temeraire

oeIts a French Boomer. What the hell is she doing here Commander Grandi thought while looking at his open mouthed XO

oeCommander to bridge Grandi grabbed the mike on one of the communication stations along the starboard bridge. oeRevoke alert status, and send up here a Morse certified sailor with a lamp. Pass word to the Foudre that a friend of her is here and wants the group commander on board ASAP

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

The Admiral quarters of the Nuclear Ballistic Submarine Temeraire could certainly not be considered ample by any standard definition; still the four officers around the table of Admiral Stephan Goulets conference cabin, sat pretty comfortably, assisted by the ship staff bringing them tea, milk, assorted sandwiches and butter croissants. As vice commander of the French Navy, Goulet had been assigned the best available quarters on the brand new SSBN.

Rear Admiral Jean Barduin, commander of Confederation naval group 222 and embarked on the Support ship Foudre was the first officer to go past the introductory small talk, and to get to business.

oeCan you give us any update on the strategic situation Sir He said addressing Goulet; oeWe have been without orders for more than three weeks now.

The French Admiral gave a sad look to his subordinate.

oeI am afraid my dear Barduin that there are no orders. We lost contact with the Confederation supreme Headquarter when the nukes started to fly. My best guess it that Confederation authority has been decapitated. We have to try and improvise a strategic conduct of the war for the future, my friend.

Rear Admiral Barduin was speechless

oeWe who; if I may ask Admiral

oeWell, like I said we lost contact with the supreme headquarters in Brussels about one month ago. I believe that Europe has been hit hard by American strategic weapons. Actually I think that the retaliatory strikes by the United States, after our limited counter value strike, have been much more intense than expected.

oeAre you saying that we attacked first Sir Asked Barduin more and more horrified.

oeAs far as I know we did, Rear Admiral. Despite the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Coalition land forces, the resistance of the United States Continental forces has been more and more effective, especially against the Chinese on the West Coast. The intelligence gurus quickly sentenced that the Americans had too much qualitative superiority on the vital western front, and suggested limited nuclear strikes on selected high tech industrial infrastructure objectives. I dont know what followed, but judging from the silence from our chain of command, nothing good happened after that. My personal opinion is that the Americans retaliated heavily across the board, with massive counter force and counter value strikes.

Admiral Goulet stopped for a moment trying to find the words

oeIn a way, I think that the overall command suspected that the U.S. could overreact, because they tried to disperse the chain of command before ordering the strikes. I for example got embarked on this submarine. Barring any contact with Brussels, I believe I am the highest ranking officer in the Confederation armed forces still alive and

oeSo what are you trying to do Sir Barduin interrupted his superior

oeFirst of all, I have to investigate what forces are still available. I have an order of battle of the Coalition forces that is more than one month old. Im kind of hoping that these forces are still located more or less where they are supposed to. I am trying to make contact with them separately, before I can somehow establish a new line of centralized communication.

oeI guess any attempt to communicate directly from this platform is out of question Sir. Barduin retorted.

oeYou guess right Admiral Goulet answered, oeThis submarine probably represents a good part of the Coalition remaining strategic attack capability. She still retains her full complement of SLBMs.

Admiral Goulet took another sip from his tea cup.

oeWe were stationed 50 miles off the coast of Brazil and waiting for our orders to move, to launch or both. For eleven days we tried to make contact with the High Command, before we decided to take the initiative of leaving station. You guys are my first stop in our itinerary. Is what I saw all it is left of group 222

Barduin exchanged a look with Commander Grandi:

oeWe have sustained five distinct battles with the U.S. Air Force, after we managed to put the Italian COMFOD 1 and the Russo/Cuban Invasion Force ashore. The Americans didnt oppose the landings in force, but after they realized what was going on, they started to attack us and our flow of supplies. They have been quite successful. The Italian LPDs are gone and so is their main AAW player, the destroyer De La Penne. We have not seen any major U.S. Navy platforms in this theatre, but God knows if their Air Force has been enough to badly maul us. After we lost the Italian DDG, I assumed the command of the group as the senior remaining officer.

oeHave you been attacked recently

oeNo Sir, we sustained the last attack nine days ago. The LPD S.Marco took four harpoons in her belly and disappeared with all hands. One of the Hornets was slow in his disengaging maneuver and Commander Grandi here sent it to hell with an Aspide. That has been our last encounter with the enemy. We are almost without AA ammunition Sir, if the enemy comes at us again and the my ship goes, God help the land forces.

Admiral Goulet did nothing to conceal his disappointment to his officers:

oeI told them before they started this sh@ty war. I told the supreme naval command that even if we managed to surprise and cripple the U.S. Navy; we would still lack the air projection capability to assure the safety of our task forces.

oeWhat about your carriers Commander Grandi asked with a worried expression.

oeAs far as I know Answered Admiral Goulet the Foch is still operative and assigned to the invasion of the British Islands. But thats not the point. The point is that we didnt manage to capture and prepare enough airports along the coasts of the United States, and worse, to transfer enough aircrafts to support our operations here in North America.

oeWhat about the Russians and the Germans on the East Coast Barduin reentered the conversation.

oeTheyre my next stop. At present I have no information about the eastern front at all.

Admiral Goulet took another croissant and started to chew on it:

oeOKThis is what you are going to do Admiral he looked straight into Barduins eyes. oeYou are going to continue to be on station in this area and supply the Coalition forces in your theatre. I will collect my information on our forces and try to convey in theatre as many supply ship as I can. Prepare me a list of what you needoil, ammunition, everything. I will put my ESM up every three days at 12:00 Zulu time. Until further notice, consider me the supreme commander Eastern Theatre of operations. I believe the Americans know your approximate position, so it will not be too detrimental for you to initiate communication with me every three days. Give me the time to figure out what is going on in the world, and then we will try to carry on with our strategic directives.

Commander Grandi dared to interrupt Admiral Goulet one more time:

oeExcuse me SirI have been wandering since the first day: who started it Sirand why. Everything has been so sudden and unexpectedIYou, Siryou said that you talked to the planners of thisdo you know how it started

oeDont you know how wars begin Commander The French senior Admiral commented, while chewing on his butter croissantthere is an international order and some objectors to it. When the objectors get pissed enoughthey act.

oeBut this attack on the heart of the United StatesSirIt is hugeit is unimaginablewho in the world and for what reasons

oeSon... Admiral Goulet cut shortIt is complicated to explain, and we have not the time or the authority to judge all this now. History, if someone will survive this war, will be the judge of what is happening. I will tell you this though: the old Soviet Union fell without a war because its economic mistakes influenced the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union only. The economic mistakes of the United States of America, threatened to sink the entire world with it: a coalition of Statesmen around the world thought they could avoid that with a sudden action and minimal damages. Second guessing them, I would say they were wrong. But second guessing is always a tad late isnt it

A long silence followed in the Master cabin of the nuclear French Submarine.

oeCaptain Fellier resumed Admiral Goulet, addressing the Skipper of the Submarine, who had not spoken a single word during the entire meetin. oeLets bring this boat on the surface and have our guest rejoin their commands.

Fellier left the cabin at once after giving his salutes to the presents, and went supervising the surfacing procedures.

oeEvery three days Gentlemen Admiral Goulet smiled at his subordinatesTwelve Zero, Zero Zulu time. Meanwhile, keep your boats floating.

[ambrafoxtrot]

A question for the readers:

Sometimes, I attach some pictures to the posts. Are they visible

Thank you

ambrafoxtrot

[Targan]

They're visible for me. Very atmospheric too.

[RN7]

First of all ambrafoxtrot its a very good read, but realy I think its completely implausable.

The only way to incapacitate a military power of the magnitute of America is to launch a suprise first strike nuclear attack on it. Only the Soviet Union at the absolute height of its power would have even contimplated this and it would have led to its own destruction at the hands of an American nuclear counter attack.

A "devastating attack to all the major facilities of the U.S. Navy, by the entire pool of special naval forces available to the World Coalition".

Well I suppose its possible but it would take some amount of planning and logistical coordination and the US military realy would have to be asleep for any of it to even partially succeed.

" At the price of practically the annihilation of the World Coalition naval Special Forces"

Yes I would expect this to happen fairly quickly!

" a sufficient degradation of American Naval Power was achieved to make an invasion by sea possible"

At best I'm sure they would get some ships, maybe even an aircraft carrier or two, but they won't get everything or even close to it. But what about the other ships at sea and the nuclear attack submarine fleet Also what about the rest of the US military, the USAF in particular

" The rest of the strategic and operational justifications for the establishment of beachheads on the continental Unites States are: the simultaneous assault by several major military powers all around the territory of the United States, with the attacks coming from multiple directions and with the help of a consistent strategic surprise".

So in addition to the US military and intelligence community completely missing the special forces attack on its navy, they also don't notice the naval build by foreign powers in the Atlantic and Pacific who's ships are steaming towards the US East and West Coast, or the massing of Mexican troops south of the border

Also if the US navy has just been attacked in this way wouldn't the rest of the US military be realy pissed and would be quickly looking for a target to blow the crap out of Do you not think that rest of the US Navy and the USAF would be looking at all those foreign warships with invasion troops cruising off the US coast and wouldn't put two and two together fairly quickly Also even if we discount the US strategic nuclear forces which in 1999 are the most powerful in the world, the US also has a very large number of long ranged strategic bombers and TLAM armed nuclear submarines who are designed to attack and obliterate hostle targets very far away from the US.

"THE WORLD COALITION formed by:
The European Federation (Italy, Germany, France Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg)
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus
China
Mexico
Cuba"

None of these countries with the exception of Russia has the geographical advantage or the naval logistical capacity to succesfully land invasion troops in America by sea, and Russia could only do it in Alaska and the Canadian Pacific. Cuba might pull off a limited invasion of Florida if America was totally asleep but its ships would be quickly sunk and it troops mopped up once it woke up. I think Mexico could realy only military invade America in the circumstances of the Twilight War.


"Countries that intervened in defense of the United States, and are currently engaged in various degrees of military operations against the World Coalition:
Japan
United Kingdom
Canada"

I think probaby the worst enemies to have if your trying to invade America from Europe, the Far East or the Arctic. Britain and Japan are major military powers, especially naval powers and they could in their own right severly disrupt naval operations against the US in either the Atlantic or Pacific. The Royal Navy's nuclear attack submarine fleet is deadly, maybe the best in the world, and even excluding the US nuclear attack subs it would cause huge problems for any European or Russian naval force in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Britain and Japan also support large numbers of USAF assets which could be rapidly and massively reinforced in wartime from CONUS in addition to their own not insignificant air power.

[Legbreaker]

First of all ambrafoxtrot its a very good read, but realy I think its completely implausable.

It's fiction....that alone requires suspension of disbelief.

[ambrafoxtrot]

RN7

Thank you very much for having taken the time for such a detailed analysis of the thread.

#I think its completely implausable.#

You are correct, no doubt about that; no more realistic than the "Red Dawn" movie. Oh by the way, I think they are planning on a remake in 2012.

Your Strategic analysis is also correct, not to mention detailed.

Planning an invasion of continental United States, especially by so different military establishments (China, Germany, France, Russia...) would be a very hard task. Even in the stretechd fiction of this thread, the Coalition had to resort to nuclear weapons after not even one month from the beginning of the operations. it looks like the retaliation by the US has been devastating.

#"Countries that intervened in defense of the United States, and are currently engaged in various degrees of military operations against the World Coalition:
Japan
United Kingdom
Canada"
#I think probaby the worst enemies to have if your trying to invade America from Europe, the Far East or the Arctic. Britain and Japan are major military powers, especially naval powers#

Agreed...but it is not my fault if all the medium naval power, with the exception of France, would not side against the U.S. not even in the most daring fiction !! Most of all...those darn British...couldn't they cooperate with the bad guys just for once
By the way, ole Albion is being invaded too, so that it has to use its deadly infantry to protect its ar@e, instead of sending it around to wreak havoc in other people operations.

#At best I'm sure they would get some ships, maybe even an aircraft carrier or two, but they won't get everything or even close to it.#

Probably our GM (a crazy man) was counting on the expertise of COMSUBIN to train the other naval special forces in new and secret methodologies to covertly destroy enemy ships in port. If you are are expert of military things as it sounds you are, you probably know that X MAS and COMSUBIN trained the first American Combat Swimmers and created the Israeli Naval Special Forces from scratch (I have primary sources to prove both points on your request).

I think the war is not going well for the world coalition. If you have read my latest post, you probably noticed it. However, like I said at the beginning, the purpose of the campaign is to run a Twilight environment in the Heart of the United States territory, with multinational military forces in it. A big deal of "stretching" was necessary in the first place.

Thank you again for you analysis, that I will submit today to our GM, so that he can use it to fine tune the continuation of the campaign.

By the way...can you see the pictures that every now and then I attach to the posts

ambrafoxtrot

[RN7]

Probably our GM (a crazy man) was counting on the expertise of COMSUBIN to train the other naval special forces in new and secret methodologies to covertly destroy enemy ships in port. If you are are expert of military things as it sounds you are, you probably know that X MAS and COMSUBIN trained the first American Combat Swimmers and created the Israeli Naval Special Forces from scratch (I have primary sources to prove both points on your request)

I'm not an expert on military things and its quite possible that COMSUBIN played a major role in training Shayetet 13, but how did they train the first American combat swimmers I'm sure there where was some post-war NATO liasons and joint training with Italian navy frogmen, but the foundation of the US Navy UDT and SEAL teams has its origins in the Navy Scouts and Raiders which were formed in 1942 when Italy was at war with America, and the navy used them in Allied operations in North Africa, Normandy, Opeartion Dragoon, Angaur, Balikpapan, Brunei Bay, Eniwetok, Guam, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, Labuan, Okinawa, Peleliu, Saipan, Tarawa, Ulithi and Zambales.

[ambrafoxtrot]

but the foundation of the US Navy UDT and SEAL teams has its origins in the Navy Scouts and Raiders which were formed in 1942 when Italy was at war with America

Correct again: WWII was not over yet, when the Americans started to use Italian GAMMA operators personnel to train and put together their first combat swimmers team to employ in the Pacific.

A bunch of traitors (or patriots) depending on the what point of view of the Italian Civil war 43-45 you see that from, accepted the American "request" to help create a "pilot" team of US swimmers, reverse engineer Italian classified equipment, and instruct the Americans on all the operative procedures of the GAMMA operators of the X MAS

Source OSS declassified documentation. Let me know if you want me to send you a PDF copy.

As for the Sahayetet 13 creation back in the late forties, you just have to Google the name of the Grandfather (and honorary commander) of the unit:

"Fiorenzo Capriotti"

greetings

ambrafoxtrot

P.S. the pictures...can you see them

[RN7]

Correct again: WWII was not over yet, when the Americans started to use Italian GAMMA operators personnel to train and put together their first combat swimmers team to employ in the Pacific. A bunch of traitors (or patriots) depending on the what point of view of the Italian Civil war 43-45 you see that from, accepted the American "request" to help create a "pilot" team of US swimmers, reverse engineer Italian classified equipment, and instruct the Americans on all the operative procedures of the GAMMA operators of the X MAS

Source OSS declassified documentation. Let me know if you want me to send you a PDF copy.

Well that wouldn't suprise me that much as most of the US post-war space and rocket program was built on German rocket scientists and Nazi data, and they gave amnesties to Japanese germ warfare scientists who turned over their data to the US after experimenting on people during the war. I don't think the Italians realy had their hearts in the Axis during WW2, as they toppled Mussolini very quickly after the Allies invaded Sicily.

As for the Sahayetet 13 creation back in the late forties, you just have to Google the name of the Grandfather (and honorary commander) of the unit:

"Fiorenzo Capriotti"

greetings

ambrafoxtrot

P.S. the pictures...can you see them .

Well I can't say that I know much about Israeli naval special forces as they don't come up that much in the aspects of T2K and its a fairly obscure piece of history, but wasn't he a diehard fascisist

But there is of course a difference between extreme Italian nationalists and Nazi's, as otherwise the Israelis would have shot him the first chance that they had.

Yes I can see the pictures