The Iridium War:

Belligerents:

The Paternian Republic

The Continental African Federation

The Iridium Federation

The Iridium War is the first major conflict between the Paternian Republic, the Iridium Federation and her allies. Through Ukraine, Paternian forces aimed at invading and toppling the Quasi-Monarchy, and installing a friendly, socialist government. The Battle takes place on the western front of Russia, where CAF troops, previously there to reinforce the western front and protect humanitarian assets after the federation suffered a horrendous ICBM attack, would be thrown into the action alongside conventional Iridium forces.

Specific Units Used in the conflict:

Iridium Federation:

75,000 troops of the 79th Infantry battalion

1,000 Mammoth tanks of the 46th Mechanized Corp.

350 Dragon Artillery Vehicles of the 28th Artillery Corp.

8,000 Volkh Tank Hunters of the 46th Mechanized Corp.

Untold numbers of “Fire-Wall” Airdropped AT mines

1,000 SAH-A2 Attack Drone Helicopters

Untold numbers of CAF howitzers and counter-battery radar

1000 Samson utility helicopters

500 Scorpion utility helicopters

50 Gladiator SPGs

500 F-7 Vipers

0 ships

30 anti-ship, coastal defense railgun installations and multiple anti-ship missile sites
Untold numbers of AA batteries

500 TOS-2 Liven Mobile MLRS

1,000 Zvezda LaWS's

250 Aurora Stealth Multirole Fighters

450 Phalanx Tanks

CAF:

20,000 troops of the 56th Infantry Battalion

5,000 troops of the 3rd Shock-Trooper Corp.

300 E-57 Super Cobra multi-role fighters

30 B1B bombers

30 modernized B-52 heavy bombers

450 T/A-130 “Arbiter” tanks (nerfed to technological standards) of the 20th Mechanized Corp.

500 SAH-A2 Drone Attack Helicopters

120 SAH-A6 Heavy Assault Gunships

300 M1170 Scorpion light 155mm guns

Untold numbers of M1108 HMMWVs

150 of M1118C Commando TOW vehicles

Untold numbers of MQ-151 Overwatch and RQ-5 Sentinel drones

60 M148 HIMARS II MLRS

0 ships

500 Mobile S.P.A.M MLRS artillery systems

100 AN/VPS-88 Gator Counterbattery radar systems

Paternian Republic:

50,000 troops

Roughly 200 anti-Iridium rebels

1 Ocean Class CVL

5 Endurance Class DDGs

10 Joyce Abe Class FFGs

25 Niihau Class PGMs

Untold numbers of MQ-151 Overwatch drones

100 SH-90A Lynx Helicopters

100 CH-48B Pelican Utility helicopters

62 MV-2B Vulture Medium Tilt-Rotor

250 AH-2S Sierra Spartan Attack Helicopters

50 MH-7 Rangers assault gunships

100 UH-65 Sparrowhawk gunships

F-45D Barracuda Multirole VTOL fighters

5 mobile plasma rail-guns

50 Veracruz Class AOEs

25 A-9 Shrikes

100 AN/VPS-88 Gator counterbattery radar systems

500 Paternian Howitzers

200 M5A4 Victoria tanks

The Conflict: Initial days:

On June 8th, 2030, The Paternian Republic launched an invasion of The Iridium Federation. The attack first started with a massive barrage including MLRS systems, conventional artillery, and air strikes. Due to this being a surprise attack, Iridium and CAF forces present were caught off guard, and overran relatively quickly in some places, while others would barely repel the attack, through sheer skill and luck. As a result, a single hole would be punched through iridium lines, with Paternian forces pulling through. The real resistance, however, would come when they least expect it. The Iridium Federation, as part of their “Serenity Defense Initiative”, created many unique yet ultra lethal weaponry to defend themselves against invasion. One weapon would prove to be extremely effective, that weapon being countless numbers of Fire-Wall airdropped AT mines. These were pop-up turrets dropped from a high-altitude, and would deploy rapid-fire ATGM launchers. Being easily camouflaged and stuck in the ground, they were almost impossible to be picked out by reconnaissance units. And so, as a result, as multiple squads of Victoria main battle tanks and other vehicles approached, the so-called death-flowers revealed themselves and unleashed what was, as seen from overhead aircraft, a raging rapid straight from hell. The paternian Victoria, the main battle tank used in this fight, is a machine loved by its owners, and feared/respected by its enemies. Having participated in many battles, it is a proven warrior with great armor, advanced electronics, and an impressive main gun. But, against fire-wall mines, they were utterly hopeless, as the mines appear and unleash their torrent far-quicker than the tanks and other units can react. They’re also relatively small targets, making them very hard to hit for any target on the battlefield. This caused the advanced to grind to halt. Air support, which could have been useful was stretched thin, as most aircraft that were fighting with CAF E-57s along with Iridium Aurora and F-7 aircraft. The story was the same with much of the invaders' force of helicopters. It was Units were simply too stretched thin. Thus, seizing on the opportunity, Federation and CAF artillery fired at will at the stalled invasion force, causing high casualties. Elsewhere, on the Black Sea, paternian forces were having no better luck. Navy ships were being pummeled by coastal defense installations and aircraft.

The Conflict: Counterattack:

On June 15th, 2030, The CAF And Iridium launched their own assault. Taking advantage of the stalled invaders, they attacked. The former hole, now having turned into a bulge in Iridium territory, was stalled by fire-wall and artillery systems. This is when the defenders struck. Dozens of aircraft, including a couple of B-52 and B-1B bombers cleared out an area that could be used for the main assault force. 100 T/A-130 Tanks supported by many SAH-A2 attack helicopters, 200 Scorpion assault gunships, and many other units, launched a massive counterattack. The main tank in the fight, the T/A-130, is an impressive piece of engineering. It’s armor being revolutionary in its strength and light-weight, gave it the more protection than a Victoria, and less weight. Their 125mm main gun is an armored vehicle's nightmare. The tank also has some of the most advanced electronics in the world, easily going toe-to-toe with paternian equipment, as well as a small cluster rocket launcher (or possibly an auto-cannon for anti-helicopter purposes), and an advanced anti-mine system that drastically increases its survivability to mines. The supporting aircraft, the SAH-A2 George, was also an impressive feat. Born out of the sadness of an engineer who lost his son, George, in a local conflict, the helicopter was specifically made to wreak havoc and vengeance upon all targets. It has a 30mm Gatling gun, CRV7 Rocket pods, TV-guided or Ultra-Violet seeking missiles, and a small body and high speed. It is also a drone, which drastically increases its potential, as there is no human presence to protect. The combination of these two vehicles, along with others like the Commando TOW, proved too much for the invading force to handle, and thus pushed them back to Ukraine. This attack was not limited to the ground, however. In the Black Sea, Paternian forces were getting absolutely decimated. Coastal defense installations have picked off the paternian fleet to no more than 5 frigates and patrol boats. The carrier, other 5 frigates, 3 destroyers and most of the patrol boats, were taken out by missiles, railguns, and fighter aircraft.

In the air, two main giants fought for supremacy. The paternians possessed the F-45D Barracuda. The Barracuda is a VTOL Multirole fighter, that, like the Victoria, is loved by its owners and respected by its foes, for good reason. The craft was armed with plenty of goodies to give any enemy a hard time. It’s technology allowed for incredibly effective use on the battlefront. With a top speed of 1,400 MPH and the capability to take off from tight spaces, made it an even deadlier opponent. In this battle however, the F-45 is facing a just as deadly opponent—if not more: The E-57 Super Cobra. The E-57 is the main fighter of the CAF, And is armed to the teeth. Two 25mm Gatling guns, as well as a large missile bay capable of carrying dozens of special presents for any foe. While not a VTOL aircraft, it’s 3D thrust vectoring gives it superb agility in dog-fighting. It’s technology, like the T/A vs the Victoria, can easily go toe-to-toe with Paternian equipment.

These two aircraft, along with the Federation Aurora, made for an unforgettable light show in the skies above the Black Sea. But, in this battle, one advantage will decide the battle in favor of the CAF and the Federation: numbers. The two powers simply had more aircraft to put on the field than their paternian counterparts. This means they could not only fight the enemy aircraft, but also escort bombers to their military targets, and provide air cover for troops. The presence of many hundreds of F-7 vipers (basically the F-16) made the situation no better for Paternia, despite having 250 of their own.

All these factors; the armor, numerous aircraft, and coastal defense installations, would make for a successful counterattack that would lead to shocking losses for the invading side. This would also pave the way, for the final phase of the war: the invasion of Paternian Ukraine.

(To be continued)