Yooper posted:

I've been in contact with Mbeke, Warlock, and I have a message from Von Hoff. The stress and schedule has gotten to Von Hoff and he's in ill health at the moment. The Provisional Minister Juan Joboco has stepped up as our contact while Von Hoff rests.



I spoke with Mbeke through a translator. He feels that there's no meat left on the Free State elephant and that the Dictator's elephant is short and fat. I'm not entirely sure what that means, but he looked quite sage-like as he said it. A part of me wanted to hand him an empty coke bottle, but I thought better of it. Logistically his forces are stretched but the Free State and Dictator haven' been able to interdict his lines. For this he is grateful and is sure with a nights rest he can be ready to push ahead. The S. African armored vehicles of ours are in position near the bridge overlooking Port Amboim.

And here's the issue.



There's two bridges separating us from Luanda. But even beyond that the Bulgarians are holding the two bridges into Luanda itself. Mbeke is worried that they'll blow the bridges and we'll be down to using infantry alone. If we can destroy the command post at each bridge they'll not be able to blow them. But if they see us coming they'll blow them.

Mbeke proposed another route. This one is slightly longer, 160 miles to the coastal 120 miles. It drives from from our current position in Quibala through Cambambe (where Fort Cambambe is located) and eventually into eastern Angola.



The eastern route is longer, but we don't risk the issues with the bridges. On the downside it's within range of the Free States air units. If we can sanitize that airspace then we can be reasonably safe. Mbeke is insistent that we don't need to worry about our east flank, that the Free State is just taking ground that the Dictators forces have abandoned.



Warlock reviewed the mission and ground intel and feels our biggest threat in the air is the SA-11 batteries. But he pointed out that they only have one radar station left, knock that out and those SA-11's might go radar active. Intel on the ground shows that the SA-11's have all been pulled into Luanda itself, seems the Dictator wants to cover his rear end first. Warlock is certain it'll be a target rich environment.

In regards to the F-22's he kept it short, don't gently caress with them.



Von Hoff asked me to share this.


I spoke with one of Mbeke's Rangers about the fighting. He said the problem with attacking the Free State is they "didn't pay for what they took" and just fall back. On the flip side the Dictators forces pull back until they reach a strongpoint or armored unit and hold until flanked. He waved his hand dismissively when I asked about the Free State's troops. What he felt was important was knocking out those armored units and letting them gain ground.

At the moment we have communication with Tesla, they said they launched 8 jets worth of SDB's and it took them all just to knockout a couple of targets. The SAM cover is stiff. Apple has made no comment to us at all. Last we heard of that Chinese carrier group puts them somewhere off the coast of South America and heading our way fast. Negotiations will be tough, no one wants to haggle until they're sure how the sides are going to shake out. For now the negotiations will be done with missile and bomb.

Still no sign of the Free States new mercs either.

edit : All we know from Tesla and Apple is we're considered "Neutral" and won't be fired upon unless we aggress.

Yvonmukluk posted:

So, we have potential targets that will blow the bridge if they see us coming, and a line to some folks with stealth aircraft...hmmm.

I hope we're not handing over Angola from one dictator to another...you better stay on the straight and narrow, Joboco, or we're coming back!

Yooper posted:

Command Post locations will be known, as will bridges.

Bulgarians are locked into the mission mainly because they can't get out. They're committed like the pig, not the chicken.

aphid_licker posted:

Holy poo poo this is a no-brainer. Let's offer the Bulgarians free passage and a little money to sweeten the deal, maybe ask von Hoff if he'd be willing to additionally throw them a cushy contract to train his guys post-war just to make the deal a little sexier, they have got to be looking for a low-risk way to make cash to rebuild after the beating they took. This could all but guarantee our victory for absolutely trivial risk and effort on our side.

Galaga Galaxian posted:

Yeah, letting the Bulgarians peacefully withdraw through Von Hoff's territory would be cool. Assuming we can trust them not to just raise trouble once they're behind our lines.

Yooper posted:

Without any witnesses.

Yooper posted:

Yooper posted:

This won't be during the op, but a special "standalone" operation.

Yes, there will be a catch.

There's always a catch.

Davin Valkri posted:

Oh. So it's like that radar op from way back when.

Hmm, this is harder.

Galaga Galaxian posted:

Guys the free state might reaaally piss of the corps or the UN if they intentionally blow up a civilian cargo ship.

yurtcradled posted:

Is the catch something we can destroy with Meteors, glide bombs or cruise missiles?

Dagon posted:

I hate boats more than I hate bridges. Sink it!