[center][h2]San Francisco, UTA Situation Room[/h2][/center]

"They just HAD to attack now!" Exclaimed Richard MacEoin "We don't even have the infrastructure ready yet! Why can't the world just progress in a logical, rational way?"

The leaders of the UTA were gathered around a square table, a holographic map in the center displaying the known locations of Midwestern Commonwealth forces. Though the map was commonly referred to as a hologram, it was nothing like the "true" holograms still in their early stages at Caltech. It just used a miniaturized version of the holograms that existed before the outbreak of the Third World War, just giving the illusion of a three-dimensional object. 

"Because we aren't a logical and rational species." Said Christopher Huerta, trying to get Richard back on task. "We'll be fighting another conventional war, it seems."

"Had you allocated more funding to the Damocles Project this wouldn't be a problem." Said Yuuki "Instead we replaced all of the steam catapults on the carriers with electromagnetic ones."

"Has the Navy ever actually seen combat?" Asked Yeong Suk, earning a glare from Ančjo. Not wanting to let the situation escalate further, Richard spoke again.

"We're being invaded! You can argue over whether or not we need the Navy or if the Air Force's pilots are a mob of idiots because they can't make a carrier landing later! We're at war, Damocles is barely off of the drawing board, and we have to win! Does anyone have something to say that doesn't involve an inter-service rivalry?"

"Our fleet is already on it's way back." Reported Ančjo "The enemy wasn't planning on the resolution of the conflict over the Caliphate, and it's obvious that they were trying to take advantage of our preoccupation. It's likely that they will be unable to defeat us once we are back at full strength, though Mr. Huerta would know more about that."

"Yes, we should be perfectly fine once our forces arrive." Agreed Christopher Huerta "The question is whether we can hold out until they get here. The enemy is focusing their assault on Wyoming, the location of nearly all of our missile bases. We don't know if they've gone nuclear yet, it's entirely possible that they just want the missiles."

"We can't let them take the missile silos." Said Richard "If that's what they're after, then we can all guess what will happen if they get it. Besides the obvious threat of nuclear war, the Damocles Project needs those warheads."

"The entire Air Force is in a position to strike their forces, I say we deploy our tactical bombers en masse against their army." Said Yuuki "We've also got plenty of tactical missiles standing by on their pads right now. Not to mention our substantial fighter fleet, we should be able to establish aerial superiority."

"Perfect. We'll bombard the enemy as they advance, and have the forces falling back from the border divert to nearby military bases to establish a defensive line. Organize the reserves in the border states as well, and send them to the line. Naval aircraft will be assisting our forces, and the craft on the deployed Carriers will head to airbases near the border to refuel before joining the main force. We'll hit them with everything we've got and then some. Have any extra transports fly out to the fleet and pick up the troops we sent out, we need anyone we can get for this."

"Gotcha." Said Yuuki, hastily leaving the room to send the orders immediately. Richard had given her permission to disregard the usual formalities, since the Air Force was the quickest responding branch of the military, the quicker the orders were given the better things went.

"Yes Sir!" Said everyone else, saluting before walking out of the room.

[hider=Message to the Midwestern Commonwealth]
Benjamin R. Russell. That was the name of the first casualty of your pointless invasion. He was killed without warning and without a declaration of war. You have no justification for this war. Would you say that you are trying to reunite the USA, to break down the barriers between brothers and sisters? You have no right to that claim. How could a man who halted elections for no reason other than to stay in power be expected to serve the people and not have the people serve him? I was chosen by the founder of the UTA because I had passed his test, I had proved that I would not let power corrupt me! I myself have dreamed of reuniting the USA, of ending this madness, but I never thought I would have to fight you. I had hoped that we could work together to bring down the walls between our brothers and sisters, but instead you have chosen to force brothers to kill one another so you can have the glory of unifying this nation and the power as well.

You are invading Wyoming, and we both know what is kept there. Do not launch a single nuclear weapon, no matter the payload. I am without capability to punish you for such an heinous act.

Now, the reunification of the USA will be remembered as a series of bloody wars and nothing else. You have sent your men against mine to gain power, in response, I must send mine against yours in the name of peace. It is a foul, foul irony that death must bring peace. But it is men like you that make that irony a reality. May this war be swift, decisive, and as bloodless as possible.

-Commander-in-Chief Richard MacEoin, United Territories of America[/hider]