Actually I just changed my mind. Since i left you guys hanging for so long I will give you both updates now. Hope you guys like it and again any constructive criticism is appreciated.
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Swift Justice
Newly promoted Admiral Konev stood on the bridge of his flagship. His venerable Harvard class frigate Acadia had been through many trials during the Drengin War. The ship had been in many encounters and had yet to suffer defeat. She had been captained by knowledgeable and capable people who had seen her through dangerous perils. But Georgiy Vassilliyovich Konev had seen none of it.
At twenty three Konev was a fresh graduate from the Naval Academy finishing somewhere in the middle of his class. He had caught the eye of important people in the central council who had quickly played favoritism with his career. He had been catapulted up the echelons of military grade and at his age was the youngest theater commander in the history of the Navy. Oberkommander Klaus Muckler was not aware.
The war was a couple of hours old and CINC CTOP (commander in chief Carinoids theater of operations) was coordinating his forces into action. Konev disposed of two squadrons made up of three wings each. One of the squadrons was made up of older Helix-B fighters and the other made up of the newest Federation figther the SF-112 Thunderhawk. In addition to these forces the new Admiral also disposed of two other squadrons in reserve. Admiral Konev kept them far out of the anticipated action areas believing them to be completely unnecessary.
He had developed Operation Swift Justice in conjunction with Prime Magistrate Carlos Da Souza. It was a true honour for him to work with the leader of the Federation, a man who had displayed his unswerving trust in him by promoting him to admiral and putting him in direct command of an entire theather of war. Konev was anxious to do his job and rid mankind of the Carinoids threat.
"Deploy Camelot squadron, advise the wing comander that he is to seperate his forces in three."
"Aye Admiral"
The admiral watched his holodisplay as Camelot Squadron sped towards high orbit of the Carinoids' homeworld. The second war of the Terran Federation was about to fire its first shots
***
Muckler was in a rage. "What!?"
Ohio tried to calm the man. "He appointed a complete rookie to CINC CTOP and dismissed your prior commander. What info do you have about this Konev? Perhaps he's in on the conspiracy."
Muckler couldn't even think straight. Without even wanting to do so Da Souza had scrapped Operation Vigilant Overwatch. More importantly he had managed to start a war and gain a legitimate declaration of war against the Carinoids without the Oberkommander ever knowing about it. Muckler's grasp on his actual power was much diminished. He weighed the options in his mind. If he chose to go through with Vigilant Overwatch in the midst of a conflict it would show as a complete lack of organization within the Navy's ranks; exactly the opposite he was trying to achieve with his military coup.
He needed to show the people that the Navy was strong and united in the defense of mankind and that it was the government who was leading mankind down the wrong path. He had no choice. Besides, Da Souza's intentions were cristal clear at this point and he knew the perfect way to counter his move.
"I will back the war publicly."
***
The Prime Magistrate sat with his closest magistrates. Those who were in the know.
"I doubt the Oberkommander will take the news lightly."
"The people will support our action. They are completely convinced that the war against the Carinoids is a legitimate preemptive strike. Furthermore the removal of Muckler will be in the same category as the popular military reforms. His position is useless as I am already the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The general staff of the joint services is more than capable of taking up his work." replied Da Souza.
"Perhaps, but you musn't forget that there has always been one man at the head of the Navy. A military man. The people are used to this notion from the days of Bradshaw. Heck back then the Federation was run by the head of the Navy."
"And today it is the Navy that is run by the Head of the Federation, A much more appealing reality wouldn't you say?" countered Da Souza as he leaned back into his chair and folded his hands on his chest.
The magistrates chuckled.
"And now gentlemen let us wait for news on the front"
***
"Where the hell did they come from!?" yelled the wing commander of Camelot Squadron. Two explosions on his starboard side rocked his small Helix.
"These fighters are way too maneouverable for our Helixs sir!"
Camelot Squadron had just been ambushed. As they approached low orbit a squadron of Carinoid fighters, more advanced than the Helix-B, had jumped them from high atmoshpere where a dense storm was brewing. The storm had blocked all sensor pings of that area and now the Humans were in trouble. They were facing even numbers of faster and more agile craft boasting heavier weapons. The only option was a general retreat.
"A Wing I want you covering our rear. Fire all restrictor rockets if you have too!" there was a small ounce of panic in the Wing commander's voice.
"Sir I am actually engaged inc ombate myself trying to keep my wing in fighting condition. It will take some time for us to diseng......." The line cut off
"A Wing come in!"
There was no answer.
"Damnit!"
The Wing commander grasped his stick in both hands and attempted to follow a Carinoid fighter. His tactical computer attempted to get a lock but couldn't grasp the nimble craft in it's reticule. In frustration the commander let loose a volley of heat-seekers, and broke off.
***
"Sir Camelot squadron requests immediate assitance" said Acadia's first officer.
Konev stared at his holo-display in disbelief. The squadron in question was on the verge of getting completely obliterated. The Acadia was, however, not in a close enough position to offer any assitance of any kind. In an effort to complete a sort of blitzkrieg operation Konev had decided to take his ship, the heaviest in the sector, to take care of the two enemy starbases. With the Squadron of Thunderhawks taking care of the patrolling Carinoid fighters in-system all objectives would be met with minimal delay not allowing the Carinoids time to react.
Konev had not counted on any one of his assets to fail, the result of which left his forces completely unprepared to face an operational failure. In addition to this his forces were now too thinly spread. His mind raced to find a solution.
Acadia's communications officer faced his captain "Incoming transmission sir. Priority one message...from the office of the Prime Magistrate"
Konev took a deep breath and pulled his uniform tighter to look sharp. "How long to our objective."
"T-minus thiry-seven minutes sir" replied the first officer
"Alright then, patch the Prime Magistrate through"
The screen at the front of the bridge lit up with the official seal of the office of the Prime Magistrate of the Terran Federated Galactic Republic. It was quickly replaced by the face of Carlos Da Souza.
"Admiral!" the proud and smiling man said. "I assume our defensive conflict goes well."
Konev smiled in an uncertain manner "Well sir Acadia is on its way to its first objective. We've encountered no enemy resistance as of yet and preliminary scans of the Carinoid Starbase reveals that its weaponry should be no match for our harpoon nuclear tipped missiles. Our squadron of Thunderhawks are in an active search of the system for the roving enemy squadron that has been reported." the young and unsure admiral then paused and looked down at the ground. "Camelot squadron... I must report that unfortunately Camelot squadron has failed in achieving its objective and has sustained heavy losses. It seems we overestimated the Helix's operational capabilities."
That's when Acadia's first officer leaned in to whisper something in Konev's ear. The Prime Magistrate didn't seem to be too conerned about the failure and didn't grasp what the failure would acutally mean. The Carinoids still held defensive positions around their homeworld making a dropship procedures impossible.
"Well so much for Camelot squadron. War is hell and one cannot be won without sacrifices. Call up your reserves to replace your losses. In the meantime I will order the take off of your troop transports from Outpost 007. You will have four Marine divisions plus an armored division and a Tir-Quan Battallion. Make good use of them Admiral."
"Yes sir Mr. Prime Magistrate. Who will be in command of the ground operations?"
The Prime Magistrate let out a small chuckle and wiped his brow, "I've had to convince General Saussabaski to relinquish his command. His health was unfit for an operation of this magnitude. Therefore, for the time being you will be in command of all ground troops. Everyone in the central council has full confidence in your abilities Admiral."
And before the overburdened commander could say a word the transmission cut off as the Prime Magistrate ended the conversation. The speechless admiral looked back at his holo-display. Camelot squadron had ceased to exist.
***
The Civil Defense Force Headquarters loomed high up imposingly on the hazy Martian sky. The CDF had an entire Arcology devoted to its headquarters. An immense structure rising 150 stories. Many years ago when the Drengin had given Mankind the technology required to cleanse Earth of its hazardous radioactivity, and the capital moved to the Homeworld of the human race, the capital Arcology on Mars had been converted to the headquarters for the CDF.
Originally created in the first days of Bradshaw's reign on the Federation while he was still colonel in charge of Gray Rock's security, the CDF's purpose was to police the whole of the Federation. Bradhsaw had initially given the CDF enough power to become a paramilitary group. First in order to help repel any attack on a Federation planet, and second; to ensure the continuity of government during any type of catastrophy.
While Bradhsaw was alive the CDF was kept under tight control and no one at the CDF ever dared individual action without the man's consent. With Bradshaw gone;however, the powerful CDF had become an important asset in determining who had true power in the Federation hierarchy. Da Souza had managed to keep the CDF loyal to the office of the Prime Magistrate securing the home front so to speak.
This is why General Rusnak Matco, commander of the Tir-Quan Brigade, was here. His orders were explicitely clear. As part of Operation Vigilant Overwatch he was to lead a company of troopers to storm and take control of the CDF headquarters and arrest high CDF officials. When the armoured troop carriers rooled down the streets towards the large building citizens hurried outof their way wondering jsut what exactly was going on. IT was rare to see the military out in the streets on safe planets like Mars or Earth, but to see truckloads of Tir Quan troopers was hardly beleiveable.
Matco, like any other member of the Brigade knew that the Federation was at war. Being a close ally of BRadhsaw's, and thus of the Oberkommander as well, he knew the importance of his mission here. If Vigilant Overwatch could succeed then perhaps the entire war could be avoided by taking down the government before there could be any significant casualties on either side.
The transports stopped in front of the structure and immediately, in the professionalism and discipline known only to the Tir -Quan BRigade, troopers filed out and began to move inside the structure weapons drawn. Ouside, General Matco stepped off his transport in his combat suit and directed his tropps to cordon off teh building and form a perimeter. The troops executed flawlessly. Because of Mars' difficult atmosphere citizens outside were rare; with all the Arcologies accessible underground. Those who were witness to the scene were quickly pushed aside and told not to intervene.
Matco's helmet comm chirped "Lobby secured, moving up the floors."
And then his helemt chirped something different. "Priority holo-message incoming. Oberkommander Klaus Muckler."
Matco paused and extended his right hand palm up. with his left hand he pushed a button on the side of his helemt and his visor slid open. A holo-image sprung up fomr his right palm; Muckler.
"General. Abortion of Vigilant Overwatch. Effective immediately." said the Oberkommander.
"Sir, I have already begun to carry out my instructions. My men have invested the headquarters of the ..."
"Then for God's sake call them back now! call it an excercise if you must but get them out now before its too late. Think of something!" Muckler nervously exclaimed.
***
The call came through to the Prime Magistrate's office as he was enjoying a fine cigar with those same close advisors. Blindly confident of Swift Justice they exchanged small talk.
"Commissaioner Hughes on one sir" called an aide through a wall speaker.
"Put him on the central viewer." said Da Souza with an inquiring frown.
The large flatviewer on the far side of the wall lit up with the head of the CDF's leader. Commissioner Hughes was not part of the people in the know.
"Sir" began the commissioner "It appears the Carinoids are even more of a threat than we had thought. They have multiple agents infiltrated throughout several key points of our Federation; right beneath our nose."
The Prime Magistrate had a look of complete surprise on his face. The Carinoids were only as much of a threat as he made them up to be. What was Hughes talkign about?
The commissioner continued "An entire company of Tir-Quan troopers lead by General Matco himself disembarked less than an hour ago in front of our headquarters. Troopers stormed my office and assured me that they were here to protect the CDF headquarters from a suspected Carinoid terrorist attack. Apparently our very own headquarters were the sight of a planned attack along with other targets in the Federation."
Da Souza's mind was reeling. What was this talk of a guerrila type attack from the Carinoids, and other planned attacks? He didn't know what question to ask first.
"The general was forced to keep his list of targets secret but after a scan of the headquarters in whihc CDF agents were also involved it was decided that the Arcologyh was safe from any type of bomb threat or other type of attack possible from the Carinoids. I have looked over the relevant data myself and determined this to be true. You may consider this my preliminary report. I am just now completing my full written report which you should receive before the end of the standard day."
Da Souza's inquiring frown had darkened "Thank you commissioner Hughes, were there any GNN reporters on site to see this?"
"Cameras eventually showed up sir, but I kept them at bay with the help of the Tir-Quan troopers. A truly valuable force they are sir." the commissioner remarked.
"Yes...indeed. Thank you Mr. Hughes"
Just what the hell was going on? thought Da Souza.
