Beautiful Caladria

[Ayzek]

HIMS Aland
20 km south of Caladria
07:38 P.M. 26 Fien 1582

"We've been cleared for operations," said an officer, turning to the room behind him. Behind the line of CIC communications and control equipment were the higher ranked officers gathered around an electronic map of the region, in the midst of planning the Holy Lanlanian intervention in Caladria.

"About bloody time," said the brigadier general, a large man with a gruff face. He'd looked forward to an eventless tour, his last one before retirement; but now, here he was, sending boys into an insignificant backwater island for God knows why. "We've given them nearly a week to dig in and pressure pockets of resistance."

"We'll, it's given us ample time to concentrate forces in the region," a junior officer murmured, "so it's not all bad." Indeed, the HIMS Aland itself was an amphibious assault ship, flagship of the 2nd Marine Immediate Reaction Force. Based out of Gynavae, it had arrived only yesterday, escorted by the 44th and 45th Squadrons of the Mandavine Fleet. Elements of the 66th Rangers had also been flown into Davon. The Florinthians and Oslanburgians also committed paratroopers, which'd joined the Holy Lanlanian on Davon. Elements of the ground forces of the Mandavine Community member-states were congregating in Argune, to be ferried into Caladria after ports had been secured. All in all, allied ground forces numbered nearly ten-thousand.

"And the situation isn't all bad," said another officer. "Bradea and South Caladria broadcasted this morning that no hostile forces have landed, while government forces in Capidia have continued to mounted a fierce resistance at the city there."

"We'll need to reinforce them at the earliest opportunity," the brigadier general commented.

"If they're still in control of the city's port," added the liaison from the Magentina's Self Defense Force, "we could land there as soon as the Mir escorts are disabled."

"Indeed. The HMS Drammend and is escorts have already committed to neutralize hostile naval forces." The Drammend was the flagship of Holy Lanlanian 4th Fleet, a Starslagen Class supercarrier. "The 66th Squadron has a clear line of sight. Once they've cleared a path, the 44th will escort your landing crafts onto Capidia." The liaison nodded. "We'll coordinate with government forces on there to ensure you've a safe landing zone.

"In the meantime, we'll prepare to land the 4th, 5th, and 6th Battalions on the main island first thing tomorrow morning. Any concerns?" Under the brigadier general's confident gaze, the rest of the Holy Lanlanian officers and partnered liaisons remained silent. "Excellent, then. Relay the orders to the rest of the force and open a channel with the defend—"

He was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. "Urgent update for the command team."

"Go on."

"We're receiving reports of a volcanic eruption on Polonda," said the officer, entering the room. "Bridge has visually confirmed: there's a big ass plume rising out there."

"Shit. Which one of these godforsaken islands is that?" The general looked at one of  his officers, "coordinate with the Drammend and prepare for an evacuation. The 4th fleet is better equipped to organize it but we'll be damned if we don't help out."


HIMS Elintar
38 km NW of Caladria
07:48 P.M.

The HIMS Elintar was a Holy Lanlanian Halvadag-class battleship and the lead ship of the the 66th Squadron. Armed with railguns, guided missiles, and state-of-the-art point defense systems, the Halvadag class was a floating fortress capable of single-handedly crushing the navies of some countries. A true symbol of Holy Lanlanian naval power. Part of the 4th Fleet, the Elintar had maneuvered further west than the main force, and was positioned to achieve naval superiority of Caladrian waters. From its standby scene a few dozen kilometers northwest of the islands, it was capable of firing both missiles and railgun slugs at any point on the islands.

And, indeed, it'd just received authorization to do so.

"Attention unauthorized vessels," the communications officer broadcasted over multiple radio frequencies, attempting to contact the Mir/coup-aligned vessels between the islands. "This is the HIMS Elintar of the Holy Lanlanian Imperial Navy. You are recognized to have cooperated with insurgent forces engaged in an unlawful coup d'etat of a sovereign nation-state. You are ordered to surrender immediately and submit to an Imperial boarding or we will engage."

As the officer repeated the broadcast in multiple languages, the captain watched from his post. His thoughts were interrupted by the second radio officer, "The Aland reports that a volcanic eruption has occured on the Caladrian island of Palonda."

The captain nodded. "The carriers will handle it. We've our own priorities."

"No response yet, sir," the first officer commented.

"Prepare to fire a railgun salvo," the captain ordered the weapons officers. "We'll give them a few more minutes. Pass word along to the Larix Lyalli and its sister ship."

"Sir."

While the Elintar and its screen ships were at a distance, other elements of the squadron were of more immediate threat to the couping forces. The Larix Lyalli and the Picea Glauca were two Larix Decidua class destroyers within twelve kilometers of the islands, and moving closer to the Mir ships.