[i][b]Bratislava (AP) [/b]- Approximately 10 miles northeast of the Slovakian Capital, Železnice Slovenskej republiky (Railways of the Slovak Republic) reported a major derailment of their commuter line between the Nation's Capital and Trnava as well as locations in Eastern Slovakia. Personnel close to the RSR, state that the line will be shut down at least four days. In an attempt to allay fears of a commuter rail shut down, Slovakian authorities have authorized busses to transport civilians affected by this mishap to bypass the derailment site. They are also rerouting commercial and military freight trains north and south of this line as a detour of the crash site. It is believed that at least 47 people have been killed and another 69 are seriously injured. This is the worst railroad accident in Slovakian history since the creation fo the Železnice Slovenskej republiky in 1993.[/i]


[b][i]Bratislava, Slovakia
4 April 2018[/i][/b]
"What is the fucking hold up?!" Sergent Jean Dornier muttered as his passenger train sat idling in the railyard of the Slovakian Capital. The members of the French 11th Airborne Brigade were moving by rail from locations in France through Germany, Austria and Slovakia in order to reach the Ukrainian border. The heavier mechanized and armor units, [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Armoured_Brigade_(France)]2nd Armor Brigade[/url] and [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Light_Armoured_Brigade_(France)]6th Armored Infantry Brigade[/url] were still further west making their way east. In those instances where flat bed rail cars were made available for railheading, the VBCIs, VABs, AMX-10s, and LeClercs were loaded onto flatbeds and moved west along the same raillines as the commuter trains use. 

Freight trains move at a maximum speed of 65 KPH (~40MPH) and Passenger trains move at a maximum speed of 100 KPH (~60MPH) with a few exceptions. Some commuter trains operate at faster speeds on certain stretches of track. When a passenger train enters a signal block immediately behind a block occupied by a freight train, the freight train will receive a STOP indication at the next signal and must stop to allow the faster moving passenger train to pass it. Although France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia were all more than willing to accommodate the passage of NATO troops through their countries, they did not desire to slow down the flow of commerce aiding their own economies. Therefore, the engines required to move these trains were slow in coming and limited in supply. Many American, French, British and German heavy units were slowed down by the limited number of locomotives available to move the thousands of vehicles necessary to combat the military intrusion in the Ukraine. Therefore, the heavy units would not be available in theater for at least another four days.

Sergent Dornier's Company Commander, a small French officer by the name of Laurent gathered the members of Number 1 Company, 2nd Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2 REP) in a company formation on a side street away from the railyard. The four Sections (Platoons) of the company along with the company's weapons platoon and company headquarters were in formation; total number of Legionnaires was 214.

"Gentlemen!" Capitaine Laurent shouted at the assembled soldiers. "It would appear the Slovakian railroad has suffered the worst railroad accident in their brief 25 year history. Several civilians have died and even more suffer from injuries, currently in a hospital. This train will not move for at least another four days. Some believe it could be longer." The men remained silent, listening to their company commander speak. Sergent Dornier understood now why their train was not moving.

"The Slovak government has allowed us to move to Letisko Stefanika airport, which is only about a mile from here. The French Air Force is flying in transports to move us and our equipment from here in Bratislava to Lviv in Western Ukraine." The men all gave out a big cheer.

"I have one more bit of information for you. The 2nd Foreign Airborne Regiment has been authorized to conduct an Airborne insertion into western Ukraine." The men cheered louder than they had before. "That is correct, we will be issued parachutes when we arrive at the airport and board the Aircraft ready to jump. We will also be issued a Basic Load of Ammunition just in case the Russians advance further than recent intelligence updates have mentioned. I will turn the company over to the Company Adjutant who will issue instructions for getting your equipment and loading onto the trucks taking us to the airfield." Capitaine Laurent then ordered the Company Adjutant, equivalent to a company first sergeant or senior NCO to take charge of the company. The Company would spend the rest of the afternoon, gathering their equipment and riding the trucks to the airfield. Once their, they waited five hours before the large Airbus A400M  Atlas transports began landing to pick up the Airborne troopers and begin moving them to Lvov, Ukraine.

Poland and Romania on the other hand were close enough to the Ukrainian border to allow their units to have their vehicles fueled and armed early enough and to move overland without the need of rail.

[b][i]18th Reconnaissance Regiment
Chemihivs'ka Oblast, Northern Ukraine[/i][/b]
The Polish 18th Reconnaissance Regiment was allowed to cross the border on the 3rd of April and begin moving east. Their first assignment was to establish contact with the Ukrainian units operating along the front lines, ascertain an impression of the enemy situation in front of them. The Polish [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_Structure_of_the_Polish_Land_Forces#12th_Mechanised_Division]12th Mechanized Division[/url], numbering just under 15,000 troops would conduct a relief in place with the Ukrainian units fighting in the Chemihivs'ka Oblast of Northern Ukraine. Before the four maneuver brigades and accompanying artillery and rear echelon units could arrive, the Recon units would advance first.

Allowed to travel on Motorcycles or in some cases horses, these long range reconnaissance units operated in two to four man units using long ranged radio assets to communicate with higher. Sierżant Czerepusko and his spotter were inserted by helicopter near Kholmy, Chemihivs'ka Oblast. The two man team were dropped by heavy lift helicopter because they brought with them a pair of horses to use as cargo and transportation. It was believed, rightfully so, that the horses could negotiate the rough terrain of the northern hills easier and quieter than tracked vehicles.

The two formed a Scout-Sniper team and would begin their patrol north towards the Ukrainian front line near Zhadove. The Scout Sniper team expected to be in their first position before nightfall.

"Private," Romek, who insisted he be called, "Ron" spoke to his spotter. "Do you have new batteries installed in that radio? It will be our lifeline to the real world once we hit the trail. I'd hate to be stuck out in Russisch country without the radio."