Operation Shock

**Operation Shock** is a military operation conducted jointly by the United States Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The primary objective is to assist the Principality of Qua-Toyne to defend the strategically important fortress city of Ejei from the encroaching Lourian Subjugation Army’s Eastern Lords Division.

* Captain Baker
* Squadron Commander Harrison Richthofen
* More than 20,000 soldiers, including footman, calvary, heavy infantry, archers and specialty soldiers
* 50 wyvern knights
* Hawk Knights
	+ 15th Calvary Banner (around 100 mounted infantries)
* At least 1 F-35C Lightning II multirole fighter

**United States Air Force**
* 4 F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters
* 3 B-52H Stratofortress heavy bombers

**United States Army**
* Several AH-64 Apache attack helicopters
* Several CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters

**United States Marines**
* At least 1 squadron
* More than 50,000 soldiers, including footman, calvary and archers
* All 50 wyvern knights shot down.
* More than 20,000 K.I.A.

## Prelude to the Battle

The fortress city of Ejei is built by the Qua-Toynians long ago in anticipation to the potential threats of a Lourian invasion. The city is build upon a slight hill and surrounded by high walls. The city has access to a large quantity of food and water and thus can hold out against a siege for a very long period of time. The garrison of Ejei is lead by General Nou and consists of around 50% of Qua-Toyne’s entire standing army along with several squadrons of wyverns.

Thanks to the success in repelling the Lourian Navy, the Qua-Toynians granted the Americans permission to establish a military base on the Daidar Plains, approximately 10 kilometers east of Ejei. While the basic infrastructure for the airbase and the marines base has been set up, logistics issues persisted that prevented the air force from deploying in full force. However, the heavy bombers were successfully dispatched to the Daidar Plains. As such the United States Navy and Air Force will jointly provide escort for the bombers.

Prior to the commencement of the operation, USAF General Hammond and USMC Colonel Henson arrived at Ejei for a meeting with General Nou. Despite being aware of the American military’s feats, the prideful General expressed confidence in the strength of his garrison, but he did accept the Americans’ offer to provide support and to dispatch an observer to the fortress.

In the meantime, American reconnaissance picked up several refugee caravans heading to Ejei from the recently sacked town of Gim and its surrounding areas, with several Lourian calvary units in pursuit. And thus the Army and Marines dispatched helo-borne units to intercept the pursuing Lourians and airlift the refugees to safety.

## Refugee Relief

The Army dispatched several flights of AH-64 Apache helicopter gunships and CH-47 Chinooks transporting marines to cover refugees and fend off pursing hostiles. One such flight managed to reach an elven refugee caravan departing from a small, isolated village just as they are about to be intercepted by Louria’s Hawk Knight’s 15th Cavalry Banner. Much to the refugees’ delight, the Apache’s anti-armor weaponry effortlessly neutralized the Hawk Knights. Afterwards, Captain Baker of the USMC managed to convince the refugees that they are the “Emissaries of the Star God” and have them agree to board the “divine vessels” and be flown to Ejei. Unbeknownst to Baker, he was actually telling the truth.

Several hours later, news regarding the destruction of the Hawk Knight’s 15th Cavalry Banner reached the Eastern Lords Division garrison at the Gim F.O.B. This news unnerved many of lords because of the multitude of details that didn’t add up: despite the scene showing telltale sign of wyvern fireball or explosion magic impact, not even their top magician Washner could pick up any magical signatures. Washner tried his best to logically deduct the situation, recalling rumors of the United States of America and their phenomenally overpowered weapons akin to those wielded by the Ancient Sorcerous Empire. However, he still has trouble validating all these claims due to the complete absence of magical signatures, and to achieve such level of destruction without magic is outright unthinkable.

Seeing no point in dwelling over mostly uncomfirmed hearsay, Lieutenant General Adem ordered that the Eastern Lords Division is to advance on Ejei regardless. The various lords were clearly disheartened, still unnerved by the rumors as well as the fact that they have to fight Qua-Toynian defenders that outnumbered them and are heavily entrenched. But all fear defying Adem’s orders and can only find solace in the fact that reinforcements will soon arrive.

## Rain of Death

On July 20th, 1639, the Eastern Lords Division are prepared to make their move to commence their attack on Ejei. In the previous night the Lourians calvary rode along the city walls to create a ruckus taunt the defenders, while General Nou decided to exercise caution and refuse to take the bait, but the Lourians persisted to be an annoyance.

On the other hand, the Americans have confirmed that no more Qua-Toynians are present outside the city limits and deemed it safe to conduct an airstrike against the invaders, but not before giving them a chance to stand down. Thus an Air Force helicopter was dispatched to the Lourian base camp to demand their surrender. Due to the fact that 1/3 of the Lourian wyverns were recalled to Jin Hark, and the remaining 100 or so were all stationed in Gim, the helicopter faces no meaningful resistance.

Despite initially taking solace in the size of the force he commanded, Duke Jean-Philia is unnerved by the presence of the unknown flying contraption, because just as magician Washner predicted, it emitted zero magical signature. However, Jean-Philia opted not to call off the attack and retreat and risk facing the wrath of Adem. But he did order to have his command tent moved further up the hill. He also made the last minute decision to call in a reinforcement of 50 wyverns from Gim, realizing that his enemy is going to attack from the skies.

While the Lourian wyverns were still 30 klicks away from Ejei, they were picked up by American radar. Prompting the bombers’ escorts of four F-16s, lead by Commander Richthofen in his F-35C, to break off and engage the enemy fliers, launching AIM-9 Sidewinders upon obtaining a lock. The spectacle sending both Washner and Jean-Philia into denial, but neither can deny the eradication of their air support. The morale of the Lourian army plummeted, and the various lords hastily attempted to calm their panicking troops. Little did they know that the worst is yet to come.

With the airspace around Ejei clear of bandits, the B-52Hs recommitted to commence their bombing run against the advancing Lourians. Realizing of the calamity to come, Duke Jean-Philia desperately ordered his troops to scatter and separate into anti-aerial formations. But it was too late, as not even their calvary can even outrun the bombers. The cluster munitions effortlessly obliterated all of the lightly armored Lourian troops, reducing them and the surrounding plains to smoking craters.

Jean-Philia was left shellshocked by the rain of death, he regretted not having listened to the American warning which could have saved the lives of his troops, but on the other hand was relieved that he listened to his premonition. He and magician Washner as well as any surviving members of the Eastern Lords Division command were later taken prisoner by the US-Qua-Toynian coalition.

## Aftermath

Equally as shocked as the Lourians regarding the outcome is General Nou himself, as Ejei just managed to hold against an army of 20,000 without losing a single man. Although he can’t help but feel that he pride has been bruised when he realized that he wasn’t one of the first to be informed of the American plan to retake Gim the following day.

With the bombardment now complete, several squad of Marines set off to investigate Lourian convoys making its way to Gim, as intel believes the convoy may be transporting demi-human slaves.

## Trivia

* This battle marks the first recorded case of the United States using cluster munitions on Elysia. Although on Earth the usage of cluster munitions is widely condemned by many nations and international organizations, the United States is not a signatory of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), and thus has never outlawed its usage.