The Decemviri: IC Secret Meetings of the Gaulois Security Council
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Cite de Balard, 14 March 2020
Général François Lecointre made his way to the war room of the Cite de Balard, the ultra secured building for the Ministry of Defence. He had spent a while drawing up plans and even more plans beyond what he had initially thought was going to happen. The quick phone call the Prime Minister made to the Archbishop changed what was initially thought to be a joint effort to contain the Reitzmag issue.
'Non,' Lecointre thought. 'This is like 1983 all over again.'
He made his way to the Central War Room, far below the Hexagone-Balard. Waiting for him was Prime Minister Baschet, the Major General of Defence Staff (Amiral Jean Casabianca), the Army Chief of Staff (Général Thierry Burkhard), Naval Chief of Staff (Amiral Christophe Prazuck), and the Air Force Chief of Staff (Général Philippe Lavigne). He noted Baschet looked a bit tired. She must not have had much sleep. Minister Parly, Foreign Minister Ayrault, Finance Minister Sapin, and Justice Minister Urvoas sat with Baschet.
"Premier Ministre," Lecointre said with a bow.
"Welcome to the Decemviri," said Justice Minister Urvoas. "As the President of the Decemviri, I will be taking notes. Today we are discussing the military action in aid to the resistance in Icholasen."
The ten member Decemviri was Gallorum's national security council and ultimate decision makers when it came to war. Traditionally the decemviri was a Roman Republic idea of a ten-man commission. This ten man commission would decide the fate of the Kingdom's national security.
"Alright, thank you for that," Baschet said to Urvoas. "Alright, we've got the royal family of Icholasen here. They are somewhere. Not even the Gendarmerie want to communicate exactly where they or the Queen are anymore, but they have to be at one of the palaces somewhere. We've noticed that there is a resistance forming. The Parlement has given us the go ahead to make available £250 million in loans to the resistance."
"Yes, money to buy things is important," replied Lecointre.
"Now, we must ask ourselves what Gallorum will do militarily. They will take the loan, surely, and buy arms with it from someone somewhere. Maybe even from us. But the red swine will have the Nicolezian Armed Forces on their side as well," Baschet said. She slammed a fist on the table at the mention of the communist insurrection.
"Premiere ministre, if I may," Lecointre said to Baschet slowly. "We have to make sure La Manche stays open. It's not only for us, but the benefit of the Nicolezian resistance and the Irish as well. A lot of shipping goes through the Manche to our western coastal cities as well as up and around to Dublin. Should ships try and go around the western portion of the island of Icholasen, they will find themselves targets of the Communists and very easy to poach."
"If we maintain air and naval superiority in La Manche, the reds won't be able to disrupt the flow of goods," added Amiral Prazuck. He spun a coin around on the table. "After all, premiere ministre...it is a zero-sum game there. You know that."
Baschet closed her eyes for a moment. She looked at the civil ministers.
"Ayrault, what do you think? How pissed off is Europe going to be?" asked Baschet.
"I think as long as the Kingdom keeps it from full intervention and rather a protective air superiority and naval superiority type presence in La Manche, it shouldn't be that divisive," the Foreign Minister answered. "Truth be told, I think the Archbishop of Inquista will try to put out some positive momentum on our side. True, Rousselot and Firoux and Murnane won't like it in the Council, but they will have to decide if they are on the true side of an elected government or on the side of an illegitimate regime."
"The five of us drew up plans to have 50 squadrons alternating patrols along La Manche and two combat ship formations with accompanying submarines to beef up the patrol vessels. We won't need to send anything high capital out there. It's not worth it in the long run," Lecointre said, holding the red folder. Baschet looked at the Chiefs of the Armed Forces, all of whom seemed to support Lecointre's statement. "We could have it ready in one hour, as we have already begun mobilisation thanks to your declaration earlier."
"Will that be enough?" Baschet asked.
"Zero-sum," Parly added. "I agree with them. Take this approach now, give the Kingdom room to ramp up pressure if need be. The rebels have funds and ways we can get materials there. No need to deploy like it is a full scale invasion yet. But we should prepare."
Baschet thought for a long moment. Lecointre could see that she was weighing the cost of human life and treasure against the ideology that was existentially dangerous to not only her own party, the PSDT, but to the Kingdom as a whole.
Tap-tap-tap-tap...the pen that would authorise the operation tapped mightily against the table before it suddenly stopped. The sound of a long exhale like a balloon followed.
"Do it," replied Baschet. She took the pen and signed the order in front of her. "In the name of Her Majesty the Queen, I authorise the operation. What is it to be called?"
"Operation Regina," Lecointre replied.
"God save the Queen," Baschet said under her breath.
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AFB Vieux Port, Boureilles - 4th Fighter Squadron "Les Eagles Nobles"
Activity picked up at the AFB Vieux Port. It had been quiet but First Lieutenant Vincent Marchal had been watching the news and activity online get crazy. Once Icholasen had gone communist, he knew he'd be getting in the seat of his plane. Captain Mathilde Riqueti had brought her squadron together immediately upon the notice of authorisation of military action by Prime Minister Baschet.
The sounds of the crew working to get the birds ready to fly was deafening. The roar of life suddenly became deafening as the Eurofighter Typhoons sat ready. As part of the quick response team, the 4th Fighter Squadron was almost always prepared to act quickly. The rest of the AFB was getting the rest of the crews ready to go. They were being launched in groups of six, about a minute between each Typhoon before they could get into formation and begin their mission. Vincent was in the second six aircraft.
"Hey, Vincent!" said a female voice. Vincent turned around to see one of the mechanic crewmen waving as she moved. Her hair was pulled back into a messy red bun.
"Elise," he called out.
"Tell me how the action was when you get back," Elise winked as she sprinted over to the third group of six Typhoons waiting to get ready to go.
"I will," Vincent said back to her with a wave. He hoped into the Typhoon and as the safety protocol went on in his helmet, he stared ahead. Everything seemed a go. He was waved onto the tarmac. Comms interrupted his focus.
"Mako, get ready for take off and formation," said the comms.
"Roger," Vincent replied back. He took off and after being put into holding pattern, began formation with the other craft.
La Manche was clear in front of them as they flew over Boureilles, the largest city in the southwest right on the coast of the channel.
'Get used to this view,' Vincent thought to himself.
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04 April 2020
00:17Decemviri Attendance: Ayrault, Ocasio-Cortez, Parly, Le Drian, Taubira, Casabianca, Burkhard, Lavigne, Prazuck
Ocasio-Cortez: in the name of Her Majesty the Queen, I call this meeting of the Decemviri to order.
Casabianca: Welcome, Minister Ocasio-Cortez and Minister Taubira. And of course, welcome Prime Minister Ayrault.
Ayrault: Well, what do we know right now?
Casabianca: The Fremetians have activated their Iron Dome defences. They must know something is happening. We received notice from the Fremetian government via our established channels that they are hoping to have it fully ready in a few days.
Ayrault: So, what can we do to encourage the response.
Casabianca: We first need to ready the Navy. We will need increased presence in the Channel and in the seas around Scandinavia and Fremet. I suggest starting with the Trident formations. Continuous at-sea deterrent in formation. Send one of the nuclear submarines and give it a formation of submarines around it. Flank it with a couple of frigates and several patrol ships.
Ayrault: How soon can we get it ready?
Prazuck: We can get that formation ready to go in 96 hours. 72 more likely, since we've been on war footing since the Nicolezian uprising, but 96 is the safe bet.
Ayrault: Great. In the name of Her Majesty, I authorise this operation. What shall it be called.
Prazuck: Operation Harmattan.
