High Senator Patrick Stewart, CinC NEBULA, glanced around the Combat Information Center of the NSS J.R.R. Tolkein, an Authour-class heavy carrier in the NEBULA Navy. The NSS Timothy Zahn and NSS Isaac Asimov, the other two CVAs in the Fleet, cruised alongside the floating city, with the several dozen other ships of the NN arrayed about. The two-decked CIC was abuzz with activity as people prepared the ship -- and the entire Navy, for the Tolkein was NEBULA's flagship, and the upcoming invasion and liberation of Argentina.
Argentina... it had been a few weeks since the Lyran Empire, along with massive Purple Alliance support, struck the South American country in a blitzkrieg that lasted maybe a week at the most. Lyran hovertanks and stealth attack fighters, along with their army's standard magical powers, backed by terrestrial tanks, jets and other weaponry of the B'harnate forces, drove the Argentine forces into retreat with little difficulty, to subdue the nation in a matter of days. The neighbouring nations were shocked into inaction by the attack, one of the first major B'harnate victories of the war. The Argentine border allowed for strikes into several other nations in South America once the Alliance and the Empire got their forces consolidated, and as a result, the Jihad knew they had to liberate the country.
Stewart checked two of the largest monitors in the CIC, overlooking the flight deck and the Marine launching bay in the center of the ship. On the deck, two dozen AV-8s, A-6s, F-14s and F/A-18s were preparing to take off for the initial assault along the Argentine coast. Aft of the fighters, thirty-six AH-64 Apaches were being loaded to support the landing. The American-built attack helicopters were heavily armed and heavily armored -- well enough to survive a run in with any brand of tank, the mission they were designed for. Another thirty-six helicopters prepped behind the Apaches - 18 Mi-24 "Hind" and 18 Ka-50 "Hokum" attack helicopters of Russian design. The agile American helicopters were intent on making the first assault on the beach, with the slower Hinds and Hokums directly supporting the landings.
The launch bay inside the carrier's bow was being prepared as well. Several large LCUs sat near the aft section of the bay, each carrying a pair of M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks into action along with thirty tons of fuel and supplies. The eight utility craft would bring sixteen heavy tanks into the theatre. In front of them sat eight LCACs - Landing Craft, Air Cushioned - carrying several eight-wheeled LAVs each. the LAVs each carried a 25mm cannon turret, several combat-ready Marines and a number of 7.62mm machine guns. Forward of these, sixty-four LPT-7 "Amtrac" landing craft were preparing to bring over 2,000 Jihaddi troops onto the beaceh. The giant carriers - 3 of them - carried a total of 15,000 Jihaddi who, along with perhaps 80,000 others, would help push the B'harnates out of Argentina, and the Lyrans off the planet.
"Zahn to Tolkein," the voice of the Zahn's first officer came - Senator Brock was off leading the Blood Jihad's attack on the western front - "We're locked, loaded and ready to rumble. Fighters are in line to launch, the AH-64s are powering up, and the jarheads are looking forward to fucking up some sponge!"
Stewart picked up a microphone. "Zahn, this is Tolkein. Acknowledged; wait for my order before launching. What about you, Asimov?"
"This is the Isaac Asimov," Maeve the Feral (NYAR!) said over the comm. "Ready and waiting - let's shred 'em!"
"Acknowledged, Senator," Stewart said. He then pushed a button, signalling all hands on all ships.
"Okay, Navy," he began. "You are about to move to the coast in what is probably one of the largest amphibious operations the Jihad has launched so far. There's a lot at stake here - if we can't beat the Lyrans and sponge forces off the beach to gain a foothold, we'll have lost a good portion of this fight for Argentina. The NEBULA contingent's the second-biggest assault group, and we've certainly got the fire support for our troops. Just keep heading inland until the screaming stops, Marines. You've got your support - the planes are loaded, the choppers are waiting, and the ships are locked on. General quarters, all hands, all ships; it's on now."
-end "Preparations"