|
|
Post by StaolDerg on Nov 15, 2020 18:07:39 GMT -5
Hikva studied a map of the Elenrian coast, Kapri at his side with the rest of the Expedition observing from the other side of the table with the other Ashigawan members of the operation. He indicated at a small, circled portion of the map along the coast, lining it up to marked region of a nearby forest.
"We're headed for this beach, here. It's shielded by a fjord that will hide us from external interference, but should give us enough room to operate. On the beach is a small fishing dock that is manned by a local Royalist. I will go ahead of the ship with the Expedition at night and make contact with a Royalist outpost due just shortly east, where a motor pool is located. There, additional transport can be arranged to help transport the cargo. The signal will be a light from the forest- two azure will mean a go-ahead on the operation. If any other lights show up, especially red or yellow flares -those are Territorials- make haste to leave as quickly as possible. The Territorials themselves have no means to harm the vessels in any form anyway, neither ability to monitor the coast without the Kumo navy, but they can very well still attempt to board the vessel."
"If the operation continues as planned, then we will conduct a swift offloading operation at high tide to offload the cargo and distribute the equipment to Royalist strongholds and stashes across the countryside. The ship is better off leaving and continuing to the puppet destination to continue the paper trail. The schedule will not line up at first, but the region we are landing in is known for tumultuous weather. If we coordinate the landing right, then we can offload when a storm is going on nearby and use that as an excuse."
He looked up from the map at Kapri and the others with him. "Are there any questions?"
|
|
|
|
Post by aimway921 on Nov 15, 2020 19:21:15 GMT -5
Kapri took a closer look at the maps, specifically the one that detailed the area where the landing site was. "The valley here is rather narrow," she noted, as she drew her finger across the map, pointing the path from the fishing docks to the forest, which was at the bottom of a narrow gorge. "Should the Territorials show up, they would march right into a trap. When you reach the outpost, muster up a fighting unit together with the motor pool. If we have the uninvited company, wait for them to reach the dock - then set up ambush positions here -" she pointed at the narrowest part of the gorge, less than half a mile from the dock. "Then send up a flare for us. We shall unleash hell on them from the ship, and your ambush would cut off anyone who attempts a retreat - we don't want them raising the alarm and the news reaching Kumo. If they are in the state you describe, they have no chance of boarding the ship simply because we have machine guns."
"As for the ship - I suggest we end the paper trail. Using the storm you speak of as the culprit, we shall scuttle the ship off the coast. What do you think of this plan?"
|
|
|
|
Post by StaolDerg on Nov 16, 2020 2:58:37 GMT -5
The Inselni indicated assent with a slight nod as he looked over the map she had pointed to. "That will do just fine as a contingency if we are followed by the Territorials- the only issue is if they split their forces to both scout after us and alert their base instead of engaging directly. It will be worse if they simply decide to watch us move the cargo without even moving to intercept- they will have a greater excuse to alert the Kumo to the situation as soon as they scurry away to their base. Nevertheless, our contact on the shore should be able to give us knowledge of recent military movements. We can plan from there. As for the ship, scuttling will work just fine. I presume that the ship's crew will be fine while disembarking? The waters are not known to calm very often, so it may be preferable to open a bulkheads and let the ship drive itself into the storm to sink with the crew safe to make it to the coast."
|
|
|
|
Post by aimway921 on Nov 16, 2020 14:10:35 GMT -5
"Well in that case we should make sure they don't split up," Kapri said, letting her assertiveness of a Colonel get the better of her. "And stop them if they do. I know you don't have much men - but given our superior equipment, we would win this fight, if the Territorials to come. Scour the area to make sure they aren't hiding somewhere, observing." Kapri looked up in the sky. "It should be a clear night when we land. Moonlight should be just enough to see our immediate surroundings - the vehicles should run with their headlights off. As for the crew... That is what we hand in mind, yes. But I'll have you know, we Ashigawans are not afraid to die in line of duty. Self-sacrifice is one of the most honorable things one can do."
As they finalized the plan, it was already twilight, and they were in sight of the docks where they would land.
|
|
|
|
Post by StaolDerg on Nov 16, 2020 20:21:19 GMT -5
"That is exactly the issue. The Territorials themselves aren't idiots- they're well aware that we are the smallest faction out of all anti-Takpoe resistance in the Elenria. Still, this can be resolved by contacting the rest of the Royalists to launch a diversion and draw attention away while we carry out the operation. My biggest concern are the local garrisons, but given that the diversion is successful, they will be too distracted to notice our movements. We will nevertheless have to be cautious while moving the trucks- the local mountain roads may have been built out of bricks and built to last long, but they haven't been kept up to date for well over four decades. It would not surprise me to know that a bridge or road has collapsed or been blocked by landslide."
He frowned over their willingness to die from scuttling their own vessel, reserving his opinions.
As they reached towards the beach, Hikva faced Kapri. "We will approach the dock shortly from now. I would like you to come along as a representative of Ashigawa to show that I am backed in my claims to the general staff at the outpost. Are you all right with that?"
The other two Expedition members waited for them, checking their equipment and tightening clothing for boarding what they assumed was either a small craft or a raft.
|
|
|
|
Post by aimway921 on Nov 16, 2020 20:42:24 GMT -5
"We shall do that, then," Kapri said.
"I will," Kapri said, as she swung one of the brought sub-machine guns over her shoulder, and tucked a handgun into her belt. "Take some weapons yourselves, preferably each a different one," she told Hikva and other Expedition members. "The backing of the claim would also be in examples of actual weapons, not just my presence. Before we go, do you want me to put on the Takpoe seal?"
|
|
|
|
Post by StaolDerg on Nov 17, 2020 3:02:59 GMT -5
Hikva nodded, calling out to the other two Expedition members. Both took a pistol for their holsters, though Epris took a squad automatic weapon and Inbrim a carbine, in addition to fitting their crowns over the brim of their helmets, trying to tighten the forged pieces around the bowl. The Inselni went for a pistol of his own, choosing a bolt-action sniper rifle. "Good thinking. As for the seal, please do. It'll fit in better."
He checked his ammo belt belt and made sure it was filled, then checked those of the rest of the Expedition before facing Kapri again. "I think we're ready to depart. What vessel will we be using to approach the shore?"
|
|
|
|
Post by aimway921 on Nov 17, 2020 4:27:29 GMT -5
"We shall take one of the motor lifeboats," Kapri said.
------------------------
Soon enough, they were on their way. The last sunbeams have disappeared behind the mountains as the twilight time was drawing to an end, and now only the moon lit their approach as they disembarked onto the shore.
|
|
|
|
Post by StaolDerg on Nov 17, 2020 8:47:58 GMT -5
The Expedition members seemed to be relieved despite being back on hostile territory again. Hikva eyed the dock, pointing out the silhouette of a small building a few meters away from the dock itself. A light dimly glowed from within- "A good sign," he had said.
The Elenrians kept their weapons in their canvas bags for the moment to protect from the water until they reached shore, not wanting a spray of seawater to mess with their weapons' upkeep. As they reached the end of the dock, Hikva scrambled up the dock with his claws gently clacking against the old stones of the supports, helping the others up one by one. He'd motion for them to stay while he ran off to the shack, rapping on the door a few times before knocking again in a code. He dove into the building as the door unlatched from within, shutting the door behind him.
|
|
|
|
Post by aimway921 on Nov 17, 2020 16:41:41 GMT -5
As Hikva disappeared behind the door of the shack, Kapri, along with Epris and Inbrim, along with a few humans from Ashigawa colonies who volunteered to come, have climbed onto the dock and unpacked the weapons. Loading them and getting battle ready, they set up a quick perimeter, watching their surroundings, while Kapri leaned against the shack wall next to the door, ready to burst in just in case something goes wrong and Hikva calls for help.
|
|
|
|
Post by StaolDerg on Nov 18, 2020 14:26:12 GMT -5
A brief conversation in muffled indistint voices took place within the shack, Hikva quickly emerging with a man who peered at the soldiers holding the perimeter and their equipment, then nodded at the Inselni before ducking back inside. Hikva stepped back to the others, pointing to a dirt road that led from the dock. "Friendlies are on the way. They've had reserves holding for months- they're finally going into combat tonight to buy us time. None of it can come to waste- can we get the truck disembarked and the equipment loaded?"
|
|
|
|
Post by aimway921 on Nov 18, 2020 14:52:05 GMT -5
"Right," Kapri nodded. She swung the smg behind her back and ran up to the edge of the dock, while taking out a flashlight. Turning it on and off, she blinked a morse code message to the ship.
About 15 minutes it took the ship to get close enough to the dock to lower it's huge ramp to allow vehicles to disembark. First came 4 large vehicles almost entirely covered with tarps and canvas, hiding what it is. Only a driver's vision slit remained open, as well as tracks - which made it obvious to those who were close enough to see them - these were tanks. Afterwards - almost 2 dozen trucks, filled up to the brim with crates and barrels. They brought weapons, ammo, food rations, various other military field equipment and Staol fuel. Then 6 more covered up tanks at the back.
The unloading procedure took just a little under an hour.
It then took another 30 minutes to get the ship sailing off. When it was about 500 meters away from the shore, several lifeboats left it and headed back to the dock. It was the crew of the ship. Scrambling up on the dock, they reported to Kapri and Hikva.
"We pointed the ship Southward, and opened all the bulkheads. It should sink within 15 minutes. I recommend we either hide or burn the lifeboats."
|
|
|
|
Post by StaolDerg on Nov 18, 2020 18:30:39 GMT -5
"Excellent." Hikva motioned in the direction of the foothills, instructing, "The Royal manning this post said that an abandoned mineshaft isn't far from here, just at the base of the foothills, in fact. You can dump the lifeboats there. Weather will take care of them in following weeks, so don't bother burning them."
He turned back to gaze upon the assembled convoy with appreciation, awaiting the other Crown's word on the other inbound vehicles, making his way over to Kapri.
"This equipment will change the course of this conflict," the Inselni commented, looking at the crates of ammunition. "No doubt it will take time to train the troops use these new weapons, but their design already is already a hundred times superior than that of our current weapons. Tell the troops to prepare for transport. The other trucks will arrive soon."
|
|
|
|
Post by aimway921 on Nov 18, 2020 20:40:28 GMT -5
"That is why I'm here," Kapri said, "We shall put your troops in top shape in no time. Any word on the movement of Territorials?"
|
|
|
|
Post by StaolDerg on Nov 18, 2020 23:25:24 GMT -5
"I am very glad to hear that. You have my thanks, Kapri. As for the Territorials, we've only reports of them rapidly redeploying away from our position to fight our diversion. Both sides are hesitant to waste manpower, but it is definitely drawing their attention away from our sector. Our chance is now."
A sudden disturbance from the road caused him to turn as half a dozen trucks rumbled towards the dock, the insignia of the FNCAE emblazoned on doors and hoods. The silhouettes of the occupants in the drivers seat all wore a garrison cover or a field cap, all emblazoned with the four-pointed star of the old republic. The lead vehicle's passenger leaned out the window, holding a green lantern.
The Crown expedition members would flag down the trucks while instructing the Ashigawa troops to stand down as the vehicles approached.
"Ah, good. They wasted no time at all."
Hikva nodded as the trucks turned about in the small clearing, joining the front of the convoy. As they rolled to a halt, the doors to the rear one opened, a couple of Inselni and Crown officers disembarking and heading towards the two. The Wanderer visibly straightened and stood attentively in respect, deferring to the approaching officers, indicating for Kapri to do similar.
|
|
