The Iron Table
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A Response
IC Secret
Fremetianskforsvarsoperasjonssentral, Trondheim
1023 UTC 4 April 2020
In the sprawling headquarters of the Fremetian Defence Ministry, Minister Jürgen Stark was meeting with the strategic advising committee before their presentation to the Prime minister later that day.
"As you can see from these casualty projections, even if we remain at maximum readiness, we simply cannot hope to effectively defend Fremet from a concerted nuclear strike or conventional attack from Icholasen given our current capabilities." The Army General was somber from the gravity of his news.
The minister spoke up, "Do we even have reason to believe that the Nicoleizians are mobilising against us?"
A shadowy figure from the BND uttered ominously, "Minister, we have actionable intelligence that the Nicoleizians are quietly building up their conventional forces and nuclear strike capabilities. In addition, we have noted a significant buildup of forces along the area directly across from Flachesfeld." The figure produced images of troop mobilisations and missile launching platforms being primed on the screen.
The Navy representative present, Admiral Schultz, put a map up that showed a high level of submarine activity off the coast of Fremet. "Sir, in addition, Navy Intelligence has noticed a significant amount of submarine traffic off the shores of Fremet. We have had Nicholeizian submarines approach within 10 kilometers of the Fremetian coast. They are clearly testing to see if our underwater detection grid is still active and if our response capabilities pose a risk to their operations."
"That's it. We have to trigger Operation Iron Table." The Minister knew what this meant. Once implemented, a silent war would begin with Icholasen once again. They had survived the last one, but was the risk really great enough to justify such drastic measures? Possibly. Luckily, he wasn't the one who had to decide.
Statligsikkerhetsråd
Under Fremetianskforsvarsoperasjonssentral, Trondheim
1100 UTC 4 April 2020"As you can see, Madam Prime Minister, even with the measures that we have taken, we are still woefully unprepared to defend Fremet from any attack from Icholasen." The Defence Minister finished his schpeal.
"Recommendations?" Ursula asked.
"Operation Iron Table."
Ursula laughed. "You can't be serious. You can't possibly expect us to functionally be in a state of war like that again."
"Madam. It is the only way. You've seen the same reports that we have. You know there is nothing else you can do."
"Well. Are there any objections? Erna?" Ursula asked.
"Madam Prime Minister. Everyone in this room has dedicated at least part of their life in service of Fremet. We are all willing to do what it takes to defend our home. I see no alternative."
"It is settled then. We activate Operation IRON TABLE."
"Yes madam Prime Minister. We should expect full deployment of existing Iron Dome assets in 18 hours. Further measures should be completed by the end of the week."
Alarms went out to the entire country: National Guardsmen mobilised. The Royal Army sent out to man coastal fortifications and garrisons across Fremet. State Police deployed to schools, museums, large businesses, and government buildings across Fremet. The king's location was now a state secret. The Air Force entered their state of highest readiness. All Fremetian fleet deployments abroad were rescended. From now on, the fleet was to secure the waters around Fremet. The BND began monitoring suspected Nicoleizian operatives. Visitation to government facilities restricted. Old nuclear bunkers, not touched since the 1980s, were to be reopened and prepared to house citizens in the event of attack. Air raid sirens were prepped. Emergency notification systems readied. Existing Fremetian military assets were to be distributed across the country at small forward operating bases. The Trondheimfjord was to be secured with steel netting to prevent submarine entry.
And, perhaps most importantly, the deployment of the Iron Dome Missile and Aircraft Defence and Detection grid across the entire country.
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An Incursion
IC SECRET
Saint Regina, Icholasen
21 May 2020 06h30 UTCDanny DeVitov began his day like any other. He turned on the daily schpeal from the Ministry of Truth, making sure to put the television at ample volume, and then tuned discreetly into Radio Free Icholasen on a small handheld radio. He knew what he was waiting for. After Free Icholasen’s national anthem played, he got out a pen and paper to write down the day’s ‘lucky numbers’.
“Todays lucky numbers are 23 14 21 32 18 10.”
Danny turned the radio off and put the receiver in a secret compartment in the floorboard. He ran the numbers through a quick cypher: E14 1032DD. That was his activation number. As of this moment, Danny was no longer a sleeper agent for the E14. He was active.
His mission: to infiltrate the Nicoleizian government, provide intelligence on the inner workings of the UNSR’s government and its ruling class, and to assess and eliminate any threat to his position by any means necessary. It was time.
Danny donned his traditional Nicoleizian dress, and after getting ready, boarded the BUS OF THE WORKERS (cars had been banned except for use by high-level party officials) to his job at the Justice Ministry, where he worked in an administrative capacity overseeing the operations of the Nicoleizian prison system.
As he stepped off the bus under the grey sky amongst the grey souls of the vast Nicoleizian state, he looked up at the Justice Ministry building. “Why does everything these damned Nicoleizians build have to be so… phallic,” he thought to himself.
He walked into his department and turned towards the front desk, a portrait of the great Chairman Jirluchuz towering over one of the many automatons of the communist state.
“Any calls Nancy?” Danny asked his secretary.
“There’s one, from the Chairman’s office.” She turned to light the candles of a small shrine to Comrade Bernie Sanders. She felt it was the least she could do while such a towering figure carried forth the torch of revolution all around the world.
Danny waited for her. He knew she had a huge crush on him. Whenever Comrade Sanders came to the Justice Ministry, she would always stand by the window overlooking the courtyard, observing his every move, writing fanfics about them meeting. “The Chairman’s office called you said? Did they leave a message or—"
“No message. Just to call immediately when you arrived this morning.” She continued staring into Comrade Sanders’ eyes.
“I’d better take that then. Glory to Icholasen.” He said as he walked into his office.
“All hail the chairman!” Nancy spouted back.
“Are you serious Bradley? I must say I thought the job would go to someone else.”
“Dead serious. You are a true hero of the workers Danny. You will make your place in the history books. With these council elections and the appointments being made to various agencies, we believe that you have what it takes to prove yourself a true hero of the proletariat and further our glorious cause.”
“WOW! YASS! I will make you proud Bradley, I promise.”
“It isn’t without risk my friend. There are rumours about Fremetian sleeper agents left over from the cold war being reactivated. We must be more vigilant than ever to protect our glorious cause.”
“Don’t worry Bradley, if I was looking for safe, I wouldn’t be sticking my dick through the wall.”
“Wait what?”
“Nice talking to you Bradley. Take care and may our glorious Chairman lead us to victory.”
“Um... Nice talking to you too Danny. Death to Fremet!”
Danny disconnected the call and pulled a swiss army knife out of his pocket. He then used it to puncture his skin and interface with a small device implanted within his arm. He used it to transmit the following sequence: E14 1032DD G. When he received confirmation of the message being retrieved, he folded the knife back up, bandaged his forearm, and attended to his duties. He was going to be meeting with the chairman himself soon to speak about matters of upmost importance to the state security of Icholasen. Danny was feeling refreshed. He had been inactive for so long that he felt like he had fully integrated with Nicoleizian society. He cared about the people here, and it pained him so much to see their freedoms stripped away.
He, along with the rest of the agency, were prepared to do whatever is necessary to prevent the same from happening in Fremet.
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Gates of Hell: Part 1
MOVED TO: GATES OF HELL THREAD
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Gates of Hell: Part 2
MOVED TO: GATES OF HELL THREAD
