United Kingdom

[Markus Wilding]

In the cramped quarters of the Irish Sea, the naval conflict between the UK and Ireland, now with the bizarre entry of the Iranian Navy, descended into a barroom brawl that resembled more a slightly advanced version of a WWI naval gunfight that a clash between two modern navies. At the ranges presented, missiles were unwieldly and it was far easier to just lob shells from secondary - or in the case of the British navy, heavy-caliber main - batteries at one another than try to score a hit with a missile. Modern jet aircraft squared off with Seafires and Fireflies, trading fire with them and launching rockets at the decks of enemy ships in a chaotic scene that had no right to exist in 1964 off the coast of Wales. Fires enveloped the British carrier after an hour of combat, especially after an Iranian destroyer fired a long-range barrage that set the flight deck on fire and prompted a suspension of CAG activity. British destroyers fought in close range with their Irish and Iranian counterparts, with most duels lost when a larger Irish cousin knocked down the offending British ship with a brutal broadside. Meanwhile, British land-based aircraft attempted to cross the pass once again to engage Irish reinforcements and attempt a breakout, only to find themselves overwhelmed and decimated by the Irish air force in short order. The Royal Air Force, once king of the European skies, was now resting, destroyed and broken, at the bottom of the Irish Sea.

In England itself, the Victorian RAPS found itself enjoying total air supremacy, with the remnants of the RAF busy fighting a losing battle with the Irish. The Seraphim therefore did what they did best, and inflicted upon the British the horrors that every Londoner wished to forget during the Blitz. To many, the spring of 1964 felt almost exactly like the spring of 1940, nearly down to the direction the bombers came.

The fight for the sea would continue, but the air and land war was looking especially grim for the British, given the looming approach of the Victorian and American militaries over London.

OOC: For this round of combat, results will break down as follows:

Irish and Iranian naval attacks
Victorian air attacks
SRA travel time (no attack)
British counter-attacks

In their attacks, Ireland rolled a 3 and a 4 for air and naval actions, respectively. This results in 5 units of air losses, 6 units of air damages, 2 units of naval losses, and 3 units of naval damages for the United Kingdom.

In their attacks, Iran rolled a 4 for naval actions. This results in 1 unit of naval losses and 2 units of naval damages for the UK.

Victoria had no valid enemy units in territory 107 to target. Their attacks were uncontested and therefore all British industry, Advanced Military Facilities, radar posts, and airbases in Territory 107 are now Damaged and will need to be repaired before they can be utilized.

In their attacks, the United Kingdom rolled a 10 and a 1 for air and naval attacks, respectively. This results in 1 unit of air losses and 1 unit of air damages for Ireland. This results in 2 units of naval losses and 2 units of naval damages for Ireland and Iran. These casualties must be agreed upon by the defending player. If they cannot come to an agreement, the attacker will decide for them.

UK casualties:
2 units fighters lost
2 units bombers lost
The UK has lost all air units and cannot sustain further air casualties.
2 units Warships, Light lost
1 unit Carrier, Fleet damaged (two points damage sustained)
1 unit Warships, Heavy damaged

[DARKSEID]

Iran will take a hit on her submarines, and a damage on her CVL's, and retreat the damaged CVL unit to its home waters.

[Avalanche]

Air elements re-orient to anti-ship operations focused on their heavyweights, missile boats and subs move to disengage and provide long-range fire support. As with the RAF before them, this will be the last stand of the Royal Navy.

Casualties:
1 unit Fighters lost
1 unit Fighters damaged
1 unit Light Warships lost
1 unit Medium Warships lost

[Sabriel]

With Victorian air supremacy secured, and the British locked in combat with the Irish, the inevitable happened. The Ascendant Host crossed the channel into England.

With Victoria's intelligence network having already flagged priority targets, the Host moved on the key infrastructure of the English, while the Pacification Squads entered the cities to lay claim to them on behalf of Queen Catharine.

Royal Intelligence Program operatives, along with select members of the Pacification Squads, were tasked with intercepting the British Royal Family and ruling members of Parliament before they could flea the area.

The British government was given simple terms: Unconditional surrender, or continue to place their nation at Catharine's mercy, with all that that implied.

[Markus Wilding]

The SRA's entrance into the war was swift, with the SRN securing the mouth of the Thames Estuary with the SRN Georgia and her complement of cruisers and destroyers, prepared to annihilate any vessel which floated their way. Meanwhile, with little resistance offered, the SRA's First Army crossed over into the United Kingdom, securing the British Parliament first and then all of London with the 101st Airborne and 82nd Airborne Divisions landing in London itself, then moving out to secure routes in and out of Wales. When the 1st and 3rd Armored Divisions landed, alongside the 1st Infantry "Big Red One" Division, short-term defenses were immediately built to ensure if the British rejected the Victorian surrender, or worse, attempted to release the British royalty from captivity, the Socialist Republic Army would be prepared. If all went well, securing London, Liverpool, and Manchester would go off without a hitch, and any British units that attempted to cross over from Wales and attack would be met by a highly motivated, well-entrenched foe with the backing of the feared Victorian military.

[Markus Wilding]

With the Royal Family in Victorian custody, Parliament occupied by Communist Americans, and leadership falling on the already-blooded Field Marshal in Wales, the choice seemed rather clear. Even the stiffest upper lip could not weather this sort of humiliation. Either the British leadership - what remained of it - sacrificed millions of pounds and steel on a pointless struggle, or accepted defeat and took the future in stride.

Two hours after the message from Victoria was handed down, a reply was sent back. The British military would stand down to the Victorians, with the land units in Wales beginning the process of disarming. Negotiating peace at sea would be more difficult, so long as the Irish and Iranian navies continued their assaults.

[Sabriel]

Victoria invited delegates from Ireland to London in the wake of the British surrender.

Princess Khadija al Victoria attended on behalf of Victoria, along with several diplomats and Colonels. Once the Irish were arrived, and standard diplomatic courtesies had been extended, the Princess had folders passed to the Irish.

"Victoria has no interest in ruling foreign territories," she said, "and we intend to withdraw as soon as the English have finished disarmament. We intended," she nodded toward the folder, "to see the island placed under the oversight of the Scottish and Welsh. Queen Catharine would be pleased if Ireland oversaw this transition, and stood as guardian and caretaker for the new nations."

[Avalanche]

While not exactly the means they had hoped for, the outcome was undeniably favourable. The ambassador needed only exchange brief glances with his aides before accepting the Victorian offer.