Cromwell II

[AztecWarrior]

TRIVIA: Who can tell me when the word 'Cromwell' was used to signal an invasion? I do know the answer.

The New Conglomerate and Vanu Sovereignty had been hurt hard after Operation Hobbes, an offensive on all fronts. The Terrans now controlled 5/8 of all outposts, a majority. The New Conglomerate would not ally with the Vanu, still remembering the savage attack that ensued after the alliance. The NC lost their foothold on three continents due to the first alliance. When it broke up, the NC sweeped in for easy kills. Thus, the alliance would be pointless. Hope for the two separatist factions seemed gone, as Terrans were slowly winning.

However, this was all planned by someone in NC Command. A massive strike force was being assembled on icy Ceryshen. The Modus Operandi: The desert outpost of Clan Draconus Lupus, the clan who accounted for the most of all losses during the Hobbes offensive, was going to be invaded by a commando force. Due to the distraction, Terran forces would come onto the continent.

That's when the massive main fleet would strike.

2,000 soldiers stood ready to strike. Why was this force not in the stronghold? Spies. They ranged from the person who didn't want to TK but still felt allegiance to another faction to the occasional 'money for info'. While not every person in the stronghold was a spy, there were probably less than fifty, with communications, electronic maps, zoom views, the world was small.

So despite Ceryshen not being fully NC, the force assembled right there. The 8th fighter group was going to be the vanguard of this attack. In it were ten squadrons: the 81st-88th (Mosquito), and the 89th and 90th (Reaver). Reavers doing air to air were an anomaly. Like lefties, they are far and few between. But man, do they fight. The first Reaver squadron was led by Lt. Major AztecWarrior. They would be, literally, the first units in the desert.

The go code for the invasion: Cromwell. It was not the first time Crowmell had been used as an invasion code.

After the success or faliure of the CDL attack, the rest of the invasion fleet would attack their continents.

The Lieutenant Major was found smoking in the barracks, talking with the rest of his men. A few would be flying for the first time.

"Hey Aztec (he didn't like being called 'sir'), what's the desert like?"

"Well, I've flown there once. Can't tell you why. It's dusty and hot. Sandstorms are there like snowstorms here. The air is real hot, so there will be a lot of lift. Don't get shot down. There is no water for miles. If you do, go to the nearest base. Steal some water and come back. I'm serious."

The intercom came on.

"All personnel. report to briefing room. All personnel to briefing room."

The room is massive. It was the size of about a cafeteria, and it was still packed full. On the stage, a general went up to the podium and a hologram came on, illustrating the various groups moving as he spoke.

"The first wave, the 81st , 82nd, and 89th fighter squadrons, will take off and perform a sweep all the way to the LZ. After clearing the area of fighter opposition, the 81st and 82nd will CAP around the base while the 89th goes for ground targets. The Galaxies will land at the LZ and then advance to the base. After fifteen minutes, the rest of the 8th fighter group, the 127th infantry divison, and the rest of the 43rd will attack.

"The rest of you will take off for Cyssor, all in one. This will take place thirty minutes after the start of the CDL raid.

"Weather reports show that a sandstorm is directly over the desert gate and should be there for about five minutes, then clear up. The LZ is clear. The sky is, guess what, cloudless. It will be sunset when you arrive.

"The Cyssor gate is clear, but directly in our path is a thunderstorm. We are not sure whether this will move out in time. If it does not, you will be re-directed in flight.

"The go code for this invasion is 'Cromwell'. It starts here. Gentlemen, the fate of Auraxis, your children, and humanity as we know it rests on your shoulders. Get ready!"

The Lt. Major gathered his things and began to write a letter when he was done preparing. He was in his flight suit and half done with the letter when the intercom came on.

"Cromwell."