Invasion of Yuktobania

Belkan 3rd Naval Fleet
* Aircraft Carrier BNS-Geofon
* Battleship Tanager
* 10 Cruisers
* 5 Destroyers
* 8 Frigates
* 20 Landing Ships
* 75,000 Men
* 500 APCs
* 200 Tanks
* 100 Self-Propelled Howitzers
* 50 Anti-Ship Missile Launchers

Yuktobanian Air Force
* 10th Fighter Wing
 * 63,000 Soldiers
* 789 APCs
* 978 Tanks
* 29 Logistical Aircraft
* BNS-Geofon
* 3 Cruisers
* 1 Destroyer
* 2 Frigates
* 7 Landing Ships
* 65 Fighters
* 40 Bombers
* 10 Gunship
* 197 APCs
* 21 Tanks
* 50 Anti-Ship Missile Launchers
* 23 Fighters
* 14 Bombers

As Belka had consolidated it's position on the Osean continent and made allies with a strengthened Kingdom of Erusea, Yuktobania began to rapidly modernize it's military forces for what was seen as an inevitable clash of the rumored formation of the Belkan Federation. Yuktobanian leaders saw this for what it was, a militaristic Belka taking control of Xena. With Erusea embroiled in wars to subjugate the Usean continent, Belka began drawing plans for an invasion of Yuktobania. Yuktobania used the war in Usea as a means to attempt to weaken the Alliance forces by supply the Independent State Allied Forces with more advanced weapons and equipment. Belka, seeing this as an unofficial declaration of war, hastily sped up their plans to invade.

### Invasion

With the majority of the Belkan Navy recovering from the conquest of the Osean Federation, the 3rd Fleet was hastily put together to carry out the invasion. With Belka believing itself superior to the Verusean nation, the operation was less than carefully laid out. Believing there would be little resistance to invasion, the 3rd Fleet was small in size compared to the army it was escorting. While Yuktobania lacked an effective navy, it protected its shores with a wide assortment of anti-ship missiles, launched from aircraft and launcher platforms. The 3rd Fleet embarked on it's task, unknowing of the challenges they would face.

### Resistance

With radar picking up a large formation of Belkan warships and aircraft over the horizon, the only available military forces were moved to the predicted landing site, the Yuktobanian 23rd, 56th, and 82 Infantry Divisions. While they paled in comparison to the Belkan invasion force, they had the opportunity of utilizing the extensive anti-ship missile batteries along the shore. As the fleet closed in range, the missile defenses opened fire, catching the Belkan fleet off guard, allowing the missiles to penetrate the ill-prepared defenses and strike the Carrier Geofon. Critically damaged and listing 8 degrees to port, the captain ordered to abandon ship as fires raged below decks, destroying the stored aircraft. The remaining warships returned fire, missiles being fired at the platforms while the Tanager let loose with her massive cannons, bombarding the quickly assembled Yuktobanian shore defenses. Howitzers opened fire as the transport ships entered range, while anti-aircraft guns tried to desperate shoot down the aerial armada delivering paratroopers and dropping supplies.

With little hope of holding the beachhead, Yuktobanian forces retreated to a secondary defense line while the YAF scrambled air support against the invasion. Fighters from the 10th Fighter Wing and bombers carrying anti-ship missiles from the 4th Bombing Squadron rushed to provide assistance before Belkan troops could hit the beach. Unfortunately, there was little they could do as amphibious IFVs were already making their way ashore when they arrived. Still, with little in the way of enemy fighters, the YAF aircraft did their best to harass the fleet.

Firing artillery and blowing paved roadways, the outnumbered Yuktobanian forces desperately tried to delay the BAF assault, but it would be to no avail. Making their stand at a key junction, a bridgehead over the Estokan river, Yuktobanian troops made a desperate defensive, hoping reinforcements were coming their way as Belkan armor and APCs attempted to storm their position. Close air support from the 4th Squadron managed to devastate almost a 1/5 of the enemy armored columns, but it wasn't long before they had to disengage and return for fuel and ammunition. Now without air support, shells becoming increasingly accurate as spotters for the Tanager's heavy guns zeroed in on them, Yuktobanian forces attempted to retreat across the bridge.

What ensued during the retreat could only be described as slaughter. Angered by the loss of the Geofon, Belkan forces destroyed the bridge before much of the Yutkobanian forces could cross, leading to General Alex Cobbs to surrender to Belkan forces. In whats known as the most infamous example of Belkan war crimes, the Estokan River Massacre saw tens of thousands of soldiers killed as they tried to surrender.

### Aftermath

Belkan forces secured a beachhead and began to establish a forward base, preparing for total war with Yuktobania. While the Estokan Massacre was covered up during the war, extensive press world wide immediately after Belkan victory forced them to acknowledge the incident, arresting Colonel Jacob Grey and putting him on trial. Having been found guilty of war crimes and the murder of General Cobbs, Grey was sentenced to death by firing squad.