Cogoria
TNPer
THE CITY
As the trucks ground through the night, the streets of Lupagrad lit up by their headlights, the men in the canvas covered backs stamped the sleep out of their legs and re settled their webbing to be more comfortable. None of them knew what was going on, just that the entire company was roused from barracks and were driven straight to the capital. They hadn't even been told that was where they were heading, they only knew as a few local lads recognised the route. The convoy stopped outside the capital building, the tailgates thrown down and the troops were ordered to form perimeter around the State offices. Tired trudging workers on their way to or from the factories night shifts looked on in surprise before hurrying off into alleys without a sound. Troops on the streets were never a good sign. Minister for Internal Security Pascal Diarmaidovich rushed from his apartment window and got dressed before heading downstairs ready to tear the head off of whatever Agent was currently operation the front desk for failing to inform him of what was going on. What he found instead was the hapless man bound and gagged on the floor with a quartet of armed, insignialess Guardsmen, arranged around the room. "What is the-" Before he could finish the sentence two of the men lifted him by the arms and dragged him back upstairs. What surprised and terrified the Minister most was the jovial nature in which one of his captors said"Sorry sir but you're confined to quarters. best thing to stay put, wouldn't want anything unfortunate to happen would we"
THE BORDER
The men were surprised, the news had only weeks ago trumpeted the Nation's joining of the Bergum pact as a new era of peace with their neighbours, yet here they were, moving to staging points all along the border. The growl of tanks and armoured vehicles echoed around the quiet fields while the pointed noses of SAMS rotated and pointed skywards guarding them from attack, or prying eyes. The old NCOs who had worked years with their officers were sent forward by their men to find out what was going on, but the officers knew just as little "Orders from command that's all I know" or some variation was the normal answer. The only conspicuous thing of the gathering that was noticed by all, there were no political officers or commissars present.
THE SKY
Flight Lieutenant Colonel Morrissey had never seen his full regiment scrambled in the sky at once, the 80 bombers were fully loaded with their ASMs to boot, no training munitions this time. Morrissey looked at the flight radar on his console and let out a low whistle as more and more dots joined him in the sky as interceptor regiments began to scramble from nearby bases. Keying his mic to control once the last of his planes joined his formation, he sought answers "This is Stormcloud 1 to command, all formed up and waiting for orders, please advise". Anxious seconds turned to minutes as no reply was forthcoming, all the while the rest of his crew on the flight deck looked at him expectantly. finally the reply came, but it was of no help to the curious fliers "Maintain holding pattern at muster Alpha 2 and await further orders."
THE SEA
As with all branches of the armed forces, the Navy too received new orders, "All vessels to return to home waters, orders effective immediately" the only exception lay beneath the waves 200 miles of Cogorias northern coast, its orders were brief and to the point, a chilling reminder of the submariners duty. "Move beneath N pole, prep to respond". The men of the P.S. LAST ACT knew well what the word "respond" entailed, after all the reason of their being was painted on the conning tower, it was etched on the walls of their mess, and embossed on each and every one of their uniforms. With a resigned determination they set about checking all systems so that if called upon, Cogorias Last Act would not be found wanting.
1 HOUR EARLIER
The harsh click of hard leather dress boots echoed down the hallway drowning out the soft shuffling steps of civil servants who quickly disappeared behind the maze of doors in the State offices as they sought to escape the gaze of the trio of military men striding purposefully towards the central Politburo office. On entering the office the uniformed men joined the 5 people already present. While not sat at the head of the table it was clear from the way everyone was clustered around him that Minister Barishnikov was leading the proceedings. "Welcome Comrades, sorry to call you in at such a late hour, but as you'll see it is an urgent matter, and as such we felt the matter required the attention of the heads of our armed branches." Waving to one of those sat nearest to the uniformed commanders, a sheet of paper was slid over to them. field Marshal O'Sullivan commander of the ground forces was first to speak, "T-this has been verified?" the others snatched the sheet from him and stared at it in growing horror. "I am most regrettably forced to say it has, Minister Barkov has seen it for herself. We called you here as we need to know your thoughts on the implications. It leaves us in uncharted waters." Admiral Chuikov cleared his throat, "I fear these waters are not entirely unknown to us. Our nation has been through a time of turmoil, and as soon as that occurred we were set upon by jackals who sought to exploit it. We in the military feared this reoccurring and as such we do have a number of contingencies in place, including one which was personally approved of by The Chai- *AHEM* By The Chairman. I see the minister of Internal Affairs is not present. So I assume you know of what must be done?" Barishnikov looked among his peers getting nods from each in turn as he went. "We have heard... Mutterings. the term Grey Winter has arisen from time to time. The reason Comrade Diramaidovich is not present is if what The Great, Great Chairman mentioned in passing, then Grey Winter has certain provisions, does it not? And I feel this is all we needed of you Comrades, just to inform you of this.....News. Any standing orders you have previously recieved, no matter the current state of those that issued them to you, I expect you will still act on them. Good evening Comrades". And with that the orders went out to the various base commanders accross the nation. Just two words were ever uttered over the phones, "Grey Winter" And every time it took those who received it a few minutes to compose themselves before begining their part in the great ballet.
PRESENT FORT PAVALOV AIRFORCE BASE
Co-Chairman Catherine Rokotov was sleeping soundly when she was roused by the sounds of planes screaming into the air. She quickly began dressing so she could find out what was going on. She had been sent to the base to prepare for a flight to Bergum to officially represent the Nation at the first meeting at which Cogoria would attend as a member state. Just as she finished tying her boot laces to go leave the room, there was a rap at the door, before the head of her Aide de Camp slid into the room to announce the base commander wished to speak to her, before being replaced by the hulking mass of General Dineen "comrade Chairman-" Catherine cut him off before he could continue "That's Comrade Co-Chairman, I realise a mouthful, but if you're to use a title it must be correct" . The general cleared his throat as he composed himself, it was only then did Catherine notice the red rimmed eyes of the man and began to worry, something truly terrible must have occurred in order to cause a mountain to cry, "I'm afraid I was using the correct title Comrade Chairman..... Reports just in Grey Winter is in effect, it is imperative we get you to Bergum as soon as possible, I have a plane on the tarmac and a contingent of my most trusted men along with your own. I'm so sorry Chairman"
As the trucks ground through the night, the streets of Lupagrad lit up by their headlights, the men in the canvas covered backs stamped the sleep out of their legs and re settled their webbing to be more comfortable. None of them knew what was going on, just that the entire company was roused from barracks and were driven straight to the capital. They hadn't even been told that was where they were heading, they only knew as a few local lads recognised the route. The convoy stopped outside the capital building, the tailgates thrown down and the troops were ordered to form perimeter around the State offices. Tired trudging workers on their way to or from the factories night shifts looked on in surprise before hurrying off into alleys without a sound. Troops on the streets were never a good sign. Minister for Internal Security Pascal Diarmaidovich rushed from his apartment window and got dressed before heading downstairs ready to tear the head off of whatever Agent was currently operation the front desk for failing to inform him of what was going on. What he found instead was the hapless man bound and gagged on the floor with a quartet of armed, insignialess Guardsmen, arranged around the room. "What is the-" Before he could finish the sentence two of the men lifted him by the arms and dragged him back upstairs. What surprised and terrified the Minister most was the jovial nature in which one of his captors said"Sorry sir but you're confined to quarters. best thing to stay put, wouldn't want anything unfortunate to happen would we"
THE BORDER
The men were surprised, the news had only weeks ago trumpeted the Nation's joining of the Bergum pact as a new era of peace with their neighbours, yet here they were, moving to staging points all along the border. The growl of tanks and armoured vehicles echoed around the quiet fields while the pointed noses of SAMS rotated and pointed skywards guarding them from attack, or prying eyes. The old NCOs who had worked years with their officers were sent forward by their men to find out what was going on, but the officers knew just as little "Orders from command that's all I know" or some variation was the normal answer. The only conspicuous thing of the gathering that was noticed by all, there were no political officers or commissars present.
THE SKY
Flight Lieutenant Colonel Morrissey had never seen his full regiment scrambled in the sky at once, the 80 bombers were fully loaded with their ASMs to boot, no training munitions this time. Morrissey looked at the flight radar on his console and let out a low whistle as more and more dots joined him in the sky as interceptor regiments began to scramble from nearby bases. Keying his mic to control once the last of his planes joined his formation, he sought answers "This is Stormcloud 1 to command, all formed up and waiting for orders, please advise". Anxious seconds turned to minutes as no reply was forthcoming, all the while the rest of his crew on the flight deck looked at him expectantly. finally the reply came, but it was of no help to the curious fliers "Maintain holding pattern at muster Alpha 2 and await further orders."
THE SEA
As with all branches of the armed forces, the Navy too received new orders, "All vessels to return to home waters, orders effective immediately" the only exception lay beneath the waves 200 miles of Cogorias northern coast, its orders were brief and to the point, a chilling reminder of the submariners duty. "Move beneath N pole, prep to respond". The men of the P.S. LAST ACT knew well what the word "respond" entailed, after all the reason of their being was painted on the conning tower, it was etched on the walls of their mess, and embossed on each and every one of their uniforms. With a resigned determination they set about checking all systems so that if called upon, Cogorias Last Act would not be found wanting.
1 HOUR EARLIER
The harsh click of hard leather dress boots echoed down the hallway drowning out the soft shuffling steps of civil servants who quickly disappeared behind the maze of doors in the State offices as they sought to escape the gaze of the trio of military men striding purposefully towards the central Politburo office. On entering the office the uniformed men joined the 5 people already present. While not sat at the head of the table it was clear from the way everyone was clustered around him that Minister Barishnikov was leading the proceedings. "Welcome Comrades, sorry to call you in at such a late hour, but as you'll see it is an urgent matter, and as such we felt the matter required the attention of the heads of our armed branches." Waving to one of those sat nearest to the uniformed commanders, a sheet of paper was slid over to them. field Marshal O'Sullivan commander of the ground forces was first to speak, "T-this has been verified?" the others snatched the sheet from him and stared at it in growing horror. "I am most regrettably forced to say it has, Minister Barkov has seen it for herself. We called you here as we need to know your thoughts on the implications. It leaves us in uncharted waters." Admiral Chuikov cleared his throat, "I fear these waters are not entirely unknown to us. Our nation has been through a time of turmoil, and as soon as that occurred we were set upon by jackals who sought to exploit it. We in the military feared this reoccurring and as such we do have a number of contingencies in place, including one which was personally approved of by The Chai- *AHEM* By The Chairman. I see the minister of Internal Affairs is not present. So I assume you know of what must be done?" Barishnikov looked among his peers getting nods from each in turn as he went. "We have heard... Mutterings. the term Grey Winter has arisen from time to time. The reason Comrade Diramaidovich is not present is if what The Great, Great Chairman mentioned in passing, then Grey Winter has certain provisions, does it not? And I feel this is all we needed of you Comrades, just to inform you of this.....News. Any standing orders you have previously recieved, no matter the current state of those that issued them to you, I expect you will still act on them. Good evening Comrades". And with that the orders went out to the various base commanders accross the nation. Just two words were ever uttered over the phones, "Grey Winter" And every time it took those who received it a few minutes to compose themselves before begining their part in the great ballet.
PRESENT FORT PAVALOV AIRFORCE BASE
Co-Chairman Catherine Rokotov was sleeping soundly when she was roused by the sounds of planes screaming into the air. She quickly began dressing so she could find out what was going on. She had been sent to the base to prepare for a flight to Bergum to officially represent the Nation at the first meeting at which Cogoria would attend as a member state. Just as she finished tying her boot laces to go leave the room, there was a rap at the door, before the head of her Aide de Camp slid into the room to announce the base commander wished to speak to her, before being replaced by the hulking mass of General Dineen "comrade Chairman-" Catherine cut him off before he could continue "That's Comrade Co-Chairman, I realise a mouthful, but if you're to use a title it must be correct" . The general cleared his throat as he composed himself, it was only then did Catherine notice the red rimmed eyes of the man and began to worry, something truly terrible must have occurred in order to cause a mountain to cry, "I'm afraid I was using the correct title Comrade Chairman..... Reports just in Grey Winter is in effect, it is imperative we get you to Bergum as soon as possible, I have a plane on the tarmac and a contingent of my most trusted men along with your own. I'm so sorry Chairman"
