[h2][b]The Great Syrian Gambit of 2022[/b][/h2]

[i]The following details events in Syria during the Second Chinese Invasion of the Philippines and Task Force Obsidian’s Mission Five. (([@Letter Bee] oversees the [color=007f42]Free Syrian Army[/color] and [@QJT] oversees the [color=ee1b24]Syrian Arab Armed Forces[/color].))[/i]
[h3]Part 1: Palmyra[/h3][hider=Palmyra][b][i]Al-Tanf Base and Deconfliction Zone[/i][/b]

[color=007f42]The Hammer of Masters had been broken, but the tide of rapid change they had unleashed in a region already prone to rapid changes had resulted in the 'Formation' of new Arms Masters, some rendered outcasts due to the Hammer's actions, but others were accepted because there was no other choice. Now, despite the new, weaker President of the US, the base at Al-Tanf continued to hold a rump garrison of US Troops, a few 'foreign intelligence agents' from France and Britain, and now, a 'Syrian Free Army' invigorated by help from the Paragons of Science and Seven Virtues was preparing for a surprise offensive on Palmyra, held by the hated Assad Regime.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]The Syrian Arab Armed Forces had plans gathering dust about dealing with the Free Syrian Army, but as the country was lulled into a tenuous peace the loss of a city so close to YPG (Kurdish) territory hadn't yet crossed its mind. Most SAAF forces were positioned close to Homs, Dara, and Damascus. The garrison at Palmyra didn't even have tanks, just a handful of infantry in a loosely fortified position.[/color]

[color=007f42]Technicals and Trucks filled with what looked to be mundane troops were headed west, relying not just on Arms Masters, but also on the distraction of the Assadists' Russian supporters. These were screened by aerial drones, which provided valuable reconnaissance for this force.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Palmyra wasn’t completely defenseless, however. The incumbent Syrian government maintained a hundred fighters for just such purposes. A dozen aircraft were launched from bases around Damascus to patrol and harass the technicals as they crossed the desert sands. They would give back key intelligence on the strength of this upstart resurgence of rebels. Two dozen more were on the way in case the vanguard required support.[/color]

[color=007f42]There were over two dozen Technicals accompanying a convoy of eighteen or so trucks of various models, as well as motorcycle scouts and even one or two self-propelled mortars, jury-rigged to function in the desert environment.

And of course, several of the Technicals held a few specialized operators with Stinger Missiles, which though fast becoming obsolete, were still a threat when used right...[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Having accomplished their reconnaissance, the aircraft were recalled. Palmyra could always be recovered, but the jet fighters were irreplaceable. Two dozen technicals and eighteen trucks were hardly a large army, but they might herald or even conceal a much, much larger threat.

This was a concern. Bashir al-Assad immediately summoned his top generals across the Syrian Arab Armed Forces to Damascus post-haste. He gave a brief speech to the Palmyran garrison about how their defense was crucial for God and country, but of course this was only to boost morale. Most importantly, thought, they were to report everything that the enemy rebels had and did when they assaulted the garrison: the weapons they used, their composition, and the Arms Masters they fielded.[/color]

[color=007f42]The SFA force was relatively lightly-equipped, but outnumbered the Assadist forces by at least twelve-to-one. The Palmyra garrison would be hailed and given one choice over the radio: Surrender or defect or be destroyed - They had thirty minutes.

At the same time, in Al-Tanf, a second column of reinforcements was being prepared and deployed; more technicals, drones, and trucks, some with extra supplies of American and Polish weapons needed to press the offensive.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]One of the disadvantages of relative peace and authoritarian tyranny is the fragility of morale. Generals were growing ever more neglected, troops were paid increasingly less, and suddenly the thought of maintaining the regime became a lot less convincing when faced with overwhelming odds.

A few loyal guardsmen, such as the one on the comms, kept to their duties. Nonetheless, a steady trickle of troops streamed out of defensive positions within Palmyra. Among them was the garrison commander, a disgruntled colonel looking to increase his status under different colors. It would take a manhunt to root out all the loyalists and secure this city permanently, but for now they didn’t have to worry about any threat along the Euphrates.

Bashir al-Assad, in his majestic brilliance, had foreseen this, of course. This was the reason why he gathered his elite club of generals to Damascus, along with some of his most capable confidants, and a few other well paid unknowns as well.[/color][/hider]
[h3]Part 2: Moving Pieces[/h3][hider=Moving Pieces][color=007f42]The rebel offensive continued; the Syrian Free Army had to move faster than the so-called 'Ex-Jihadi' forces in the northwest region of Syria. More forces were streaming out of Al-Tanf, while communications were opened up with the remaining Opposition groups in the Daara Governatorate. This time, more sophisticated equipment was being deployed, such as IAG Guardian IMVs (Infantry Mobility Vehicles), along with what artillery the SFA had.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Some SAAF generals arrived. Some SAAF generals refused to leave their post. The rebels were acting up, after all, and they didn’t exactly know what they did to kick this hornet’s nest so badly.

The military brass in Damascus had a better understanding of the situation. Half its fleet, some four dozen jet fighters, stood by for launch. One dozen of these took to the sky as the initial reconnaissance patrol returned. These were equipped with conventional bombs and missiles. If only the unconventional weaponry hadn’t been given away to Russia. It would have proven useful in crises like this. They moved to engage; their 80’s era equipment should match, perhaps even surpass the Stinger missiles. If not, that’s what the following wings were for.

And in the background, the President’s personal appointees arrived to meet the generals.[/color]

[color=007f42]A lance of light shone from one of the trucks; an Arms Master made his appearance. 

Al-Haqq, one of the SFA's veteran personnel, was shooting down planes with his Noble Arm, a spear that blasted lasers at such a rate of fire, with immense accuracy, against airborne targets. 

A hawk, a seemingly mundane bird, flew above the Syrian Armed Forces' battalions; it was the transformed form of another spear, one used by an SFA scout who was also an Arms Master.

It was clear that the rebellion was committing resources to a full-on attack, with expeditionary forces headed for the towns of Al-Qaryatyn and Al-Sukhna, aiming to take both to secure the flanks of the main offensive. 

The ball was in the Syrian Armed Forces' court now.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Bashir al-Assad walked down the line of his assembled generals. He had a vague understanding of backroom deals, of private reservations, of hidden ambitions. He placed a hand on about half of his select generals.

A figure emerged from the shadows. He gave no name; the rumors that spread throughout the military did for him. He’s Nebuchadnezzar’s younger brother - what was his name? - right, Belshazzar. In rapid succession, purple and red fabric covered the generals head to toe. The generals wriggled uneasily, desperate for air.

Then she emerged: Ishtar. With a graceful smile, she scanned the room. In groups of three, she focused her scepter upon the hapless victims. Their struggles mellowed until they possessed neither wits nor strength to resist. The bundled carpets fell to the ground in quiet thuds.

Bashir al-Assad didn’t speak. His underling Nebuchadnezzar would instead:[/color] [color=gold]"The rest of you: swear loyalty to the President. The fallen are to be replaced with men of great skill in this dark hour. With good leadership, we shall prevail. Long live Bashir al-Assad!"[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Their was fear in the echo of the new leadership. Good. A soldier entered the room, stepping over the bodies.[/color] [color=gray]"President, the jet fighters take heavy losses. They say something about blasts of light taking out the planes."[/color]

[color=gray]“Light? That doesn’t describe the Stinger missile system,"[/color] [color=ee1b24]denoted one general.

“Must be a Noble Arm. Let’s intercept them on the ground before we recommit our Air Force. Where are they headed?"[/color] [color=ee1b24]asked a second.

“al-Qaryatyn and al-Sukhna, best as we can tell, sir!"[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Nebuchadnezzar commanded with authority under the shadow of his leader.[/color] [color=gold]"I will protect the first city. Belshazzar and Ishtar, you two shall protect the second. God bless you both."[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Large committed convoys of troops spewed from the capital, with fresh Arms Masters and fresher generals eager to prove themselves at the helm. Tanks, self-propelled and rocket artillery, and of course tens of thousands of troops apiece.[/color][/hider]
[h3]Part 3a: The Battle of al-Qaryatyn[/h3][hider=The Battle of al-Qaryatyn][color=007f42]As Assad's Air Force continued to be decimated, the Syrian Free Army brought out more equipment as they reinforced, then entrenched, their positions. Though barely on par to their foes in hardware, they were boosting their edge thanks to the Seven Virtues' and Paragons' aid. 

The forces spat out by Damascus were large, enough to overwhelm the advancing SFA forces once contact was made. But the fresh-faced generals who were leading them did not appear to see the hawk flying above their largest force as a threat. 

Now, the SFA brought out drones, not just for reconnaissance, but also for raining down hellfire missiles on the convoys of Assadist troops. These UAVs had only a relatively small stockpile, but assuming these forces were closely packed, even that ought to inflict disproportionate casualties.[/color]

[color=gold]“Spread out! Spread out!"[/color] [color=ee1b24]The generals were caught slightly off guard. They knew the SAAF couldn’t project its own air superiority; they didn’t expect the FSA to project its own.

The vehicles in the convoy began to distance themselves from each other, too late for no damage, but enough to drive around the unlucky first victims of the volley.

Nebuchadnezzar and Ishtar were helpless against the onslaught from above; they simply pressed on in their respective convoys and tried to keep their heads down. Belshazzar, meanwhile, found great joy in covering the little drones in fabric. The rotors inevitably sucked up the thick cloth, jamming their blades and sending them hurtling down. He and Ishtar were safe. As a bonus, he got to listen to his brother suffer in the other convoy![/color]

[color=007f42]As chaos spread, the experienced SFA troops in their Technicals and the occasional Guardian IMV drove out of the countryside, harrying the now-halted convoys with small arms and rocket fire; these were followed up by light mortars and another few Unmanned Aerial Vehicles firing another wave of hellfire missiles.

And this time, Nebuchadnezzar was a direct target.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Desperate men do desperate things. The calculus should have been that striking the chain of command would be disastrous both to the morale and the cohesion of the convoy, so the protection of the kingpin would inevitably save the common soldier later on from getting picked apart by drones.

That wasn't his thinking, though. He just wanted to save his own skin. Thankfully, his split second decision making was still sound. If he built a gold or bronze statue, the shrapnel would undoubtedly cause damage, probably beyond the capabilities of a single drone, even to the vehicle he tried to protect. No, instead he fabricated a statue of clay between himself and the UAV.

The Hellfire missiles struck the statue, which exploded upon the missile's touch. The missile was gone, but chunks of clay dented and damaged many cars in front of him along the convoy. They peeled off as they were able, falling off my the roadside as the generals continued. Guns from the downed vehicles took potshots at the drones, not that they could hit many at this distance.

[color=007f42]Nebuchadnezzar’s convoy continued to be harried by drones, technicals, and an increasing number of snipers and rocket troops; the intent was to inflict a death of a thousand cuts, even as another drone launched a Hellfire Missile at his car; he had given away his location when he had made the statue of clay.[/color]

Nebuchadnezzar ordered the driver to drive to the side. A missile landed just to the side, flipping the car with the impact of the percussion but not directly hitting it. It flipped over, and the passengers got out. Nebuchadnezzar waved the vehicles on from a position behind cover but stopped after releasing several dozen of them. In the meantime, he placed one statue at a time of bronze, directly in the path of the technicals. They wouldn't have time to break before the statues exploded upon impact, so he calculated. If they wanted to play ball out here, so be it.

That means al-Qaryatyn was undefended, and ripe for securing.[/color]

[color=007f42]It was time for the Arms Masters on the SFA's side to shine.

A beam of light lanced out from a person standing on the back of one of the technicals facing Nebuchadnezzar, hoping to slice apart the bronze statues before impact; if this didn't work, it would at least buy time for another contingent of technicals to flank around and blast Nebuchadnezzar’s location with a jury-rigged Heavy Machine Gun.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Nebuchadnezzar smiled. He smiled often, but this particular smile was rare. Turns out, it doesn't matter what his statues are struck by, only that they're struck. Shrapnel still came off, but it wasn't just one car that would absorb most of the damage. Nebuchadnezzar grabbed the coat of his former car buddy, shouting,[/color] [color=gold]"Signal Damascus! The light beams of the rebel dogs are here. Send the jets to al-Sukhna!"[/color]

[color=007f42]A hawk flew beneath the sun, and above Nebuchadnezzar. Then, from the wreckage of the Technicals that had faced down the bronze statue lanced a beam of light directed at his center of mass.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]The bronze statue exploded upon impact by the beam of light, and Nebuchadnezzar had to scramble for further cover. The hawk provided an odd shade for him. He called to what peers remained and pointed upward at the bird.[/color] [color=gold]"Shoot that thing! Bring it down!"[/color] [color=ee1b24]Rifles began to take pot shots at the creature. In the world of men and monsters, no measure was too paranoid.[/color]

[color=007f42]Nebuchadnezzar’s orders were vindicated by the Hawk being able to fly faster than any bird can, evading the shots fired with a speed that was unnatural. 

Further lances of light were spat at him, but he can see that only a small number of SFA technicals and trucks, plus infantry, were in the region; the main force of the offensive was elsewhere.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Nebuchadnezzar had clarity enough to count the visible threats to his position. They weren't that many, but he was also stuck in a ditch and not readily available to get out of it.[/color] [color=gold]"Just... shoot the bird if it returns,"[/color] [color=ee1b24]he told his cohorts.[/color] [color=gold]"The rest of us must hold out until the President's tanks arrive. Ah, yes, and call for the President's tanks."[/color][/hider]
[h3]Part 3b: The Battle of al-Sukhna[/h3][hider=The Battle of al-Sukhna][color=ee1b24]Meanwhile, Ishtar and Belshazzar were tearing down the road towards al-Sukhna. It wasn't too long before the trucks came within sight.

Ishtar snapped her fingers.[/color] [color=cornflowerblue]"Give me binoculars,"[/color] [color=ee1b24]she spoke to a soldier in the backseat.

She peered through them until she could get a good look at the drivers of the Technicals and big rigs. Indiscriminately, three at a time, she gave the drivers the effects of strong drunkenness.[/color] [color=cornflowerblue]"It falls to me to give these rebels their rightful demeanor. So be it."[/color]

[color=007f42]By this time, al-Sukhna was garrisoned by hundreds more men who had set up ditches and barbed wire, and more dangerously, mortars just out of range of Ishtar's Noble Arm. 

And now, those mortars were firing at the counteroffensive force sent there.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]If Belshazzar was in range, which was a big "if," those mortars could probably punch their cargo through his cloth quite easily. It'll throw the accuracy off, but mortars weren't known for accuracy anyways.

Nope, the solution was to gun it. Lead feet. Flood the engines with gas. And spread out, of course. Belshazzar kept looking out his window. He could see them, and he kept flexing his goblet so that he'd be able to cover the mortars at the earliest possible time. That time finally came as they closed enough distance. That meant it was time for small arms fire.

Meanwhile, Ishtar and a small contingent wheeled around to strike the city in the flank, looking for weak points to harass the enemy on a new front. Three drunk enemy soldiers were three more saved of her own, after all.[/color]

[color=007f42]Ishtar could see heavier reinforcements; more technicals, trucks, Guardian IMVs, and most ominously, a Self-Propelled Gun and a couple of French tanks from the 60s and 70s - The exact model was hard to tell due to the modifications and retrofits made afterwards by the Paragons of Science.

A drone circled towards her, but instead of the depleting number of Hellfire missiles, it fired a jury-rigged light machine gun at her vehicle.

As for Belshazzar, the Self-Propelled Gun would fire at his convoy and his rough coordinates...[/color]

[color=ee1b24]The light machine guns peppered the car. Turns out, cars are made of metal, and cold pressed steel is, at least enough, bullet resistant. Ishtar ducked while her comrades in the cars behind her fired at the drone. After all, something within accurate machine gun range was certainly within rifle range. She continued to close the distance, surrounded by other vehicles.

Turns out, Self-Propelled Guns have a rather hard time zeroing in on a fleet of vehicles closing in at 150 kilometers an hour. Like the cataphracts of old, the vehicles drove into the enemy lines, while the rear guard decelerated to fire on the confused defenders. Surrounded by his comrades, Belshazzar felt confident throwing cloth after cloth on the faces of the rebel garrison.[/color]

[color=007f42]No attention was paid to the French Tanks entering Al-Sukhna to reinforce the defenders, and which were moving with unheard-of speed, almost as though they were pristine models fresh off the assembly line. One of them fired at Belshazzar, another fired at the rest of the enemy strike force as Ishtar chased the drone, which was trying to circle away from them, leading her force on a chase towards... what?

As for Belshazzar, he'd see dust on the horizon as more reinforcements headed towards him; the main force of the offensive; Guardian IFVs, more French Tanks, salvaged Kaytushas from some old stockpile, and self-propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns obviously modified from a British-made model and chassis. And behind them were more technicals and trucks, intending to catch his force between hammer and anvil.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]The SPAAGs were little bits of poison in an otherwise tasty meal of enemy armor. Still, the whole assortment was too delectable to pass up. Several dozen supersonic MiG-23s had taken to the skies at Nebuchadnezzar's behest and now rained fire down on the preoccupied French tanks that flanked Belshazzar. Belshazzar himself exited his vehicle with a firearm and advanced upon the garrison, as his vehicle had fulfilled its purpose. Its purpose, but not its final use. The metal inside absorbed the impact of a French tank shell, just as Belshazzar was out of range.

Ishtar kept in radio contact with all the fronts she could. As the air force started relaying the details of incoming armor, she realized that defense was paramount in times like these.[/color] [color=cornflowerblue]"Stop,"[/color] [color=ee1b24]she announced with a great and calm voice.[/color] [color=cornflowerblue]"Dismount, and advance upon the city on foot."[/color] [color=ee1b24]She kept an eye out for any humans she could influence.[/color]

[color=007f42]Ishtar dismounted from her vehicle, only to find the drone from before, which had failed to get the foe to chase it, doubling back and trying to strafe her infantry.

The SPAAGs began firing at the MiG-25s, hopefully bringing a few down and teaching their pilots a lesson in caution. The other forces engaged in the SFA's Offensive kept going, presenting themselves as juicy bait for the MiGs, but still bait as the SPAAGs were still there.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Some MiG-23s fell to the SPAAGs, and most pilots were able to eject before the plane crashes. Not all, of course, but most. The ones that remained directly targeted the SPAAGs as the one obstacle to air supremacy over al-Sukhna.

In a moment of relative peace on the battlefield, Belshazzar checked the air force whizzing by. When the jets returned, they would level al-Sukhna. They’d pushed the dogs back into their corners. He waved his comrades over and began the evacuation of loyal forces from the city, into what vehicles could still be driven after the charge.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Ishtar was a tad preoccupied with shooting this annoying drone. Upon hearing her ally, she calmly reenters her vehicle, bullet holes and all.[/color] [color=cornflowerblue]"Take us west, back to the capital. al-Qaryatyn is on the way."[/color] [color=ee1b24]Upon finding her driver dead outside, she simply muttered,[/color] [color=cornflowerblue]"Ah,"[/color] [color=ee1b24]and shifted seats to drive the car herself. Ignoble, but necessary under present circumstances.[/color]

[color=007f42]The SPAAGs, though seemingly obsolete, had been given prototype 'refinements' by the Paragons of Science that allowed them to fire faster than they usually should, and they seemed to be less in need of extra ammunition than their baseline models. Nevertheless, they, and the main force of the SFA offensive, would be mauled, with one SPAAG destroyed, while another was damaged to the very limits of operability.

But there could be no question of retreat, not when the enemy were themselves departing for al-Qaryatyn. Leaving behind a small garrison to entrench themselves in al-Sukhna's public buildings, the SFA force, which was able to scrape a few Guardian IMVs, Technicals, Trucks and Light Artillery, moved to pursue Belshazzar and Ishtar.[/color][/hider]
[h3]Part 4: Forces Reunite[/h3][hider=Forces Reunite][color=007f42]Nebuchadnezzar, in al-Qaryatyn, was being sniped in his ditch by SFA commandos, many of whom had Anti-Materiel Rifles that can bring down even an Arms Master. Haqq, meanwhile, had switched to another Technical, ready to drive to al-Sukhna to bring down the Syrian Regime's jets, when he heard news that the offensive's main force was headed to reinforce his position.

The endgame had arrived, and two SFA Arms Masters hadn't yet been put in play.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]The confidence of the Syrian Arab Air Force had granted them victory from annihilation by the "mutated" SPAAGs but vastly underestimated the toll such a victory would cost. The MiG-23s in the sky were few in number, less than a dozen, and their missiles were mostly spent. Air supremacy was theirs, but a very sickly one. They began their limp strikes on al-Sukhna.

Ishtar approached al-Qaryatyn but didn't see Nebuchadnezzar's presence there, nor any vehicles she recognized as allies. That battle was still ongoing. She gave the city a wide berth and tried to locate Nebuchadnezzar along the wayside. Seeing a big glut of allied and enemy vehicles, she directed her convoy to beeline in that location. She knew Belshazzar was close behind him, and perhaps the rebel armor would be on his tail, assuming that the MiGs were preoccupied. They would have to be quick, but nobility did count for something in the face of unknown, uncomfortably steep odds.

Nebuchadnezzar could hear but not see the increased activity behind enemy lines. He knew that the tanks would arrive soon. And so, he made the call.[/color] [color=gold]"Come, sons of Syria! Let us break out of this stranglehold!"[/color] [color=ee1b24]He grabbed a gun and threw up a bronze statue of defiance where he knew an enemy machine gun was blat-blat-blatting away.[/color]

[color=007f42]This was going to be the decisive battle of the offensive; Nebuchadnezzar had to be blasted to bits while Haqq had to be kept safe. 

So as al-Sukhna began to burn, although a few last stinger missiles were spat onto the air against the remaining MiGs, the main force of the offensive pressed on, taking potshots at Belshazzar and his convoy, hoping to wear them down once more.

And when their Self Propelled Mortar was in range of the ditch Nebuchadnezzar was in, it fired at that ditch, even as the enemy Arms Master was focusing on the machine gunners and snipers trying to suppress him.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]The mortar wasn't accurate, but it didn't need to be. Nebuchadnezzar was thrown against the ditch as rocks and shrapnel burst in a nearby vicinity. One rock opened a nasty wound in his arm, and he clutched it with grit teeth. His ears were ringing. You can't really fight explosions with explosions, and Nebuchadnezzar realized this full well.

Fortunately, the machine gunner apparently didn't stop shooting, and the blast created a decent hole in the line. The MiGs flew overhead, though only to restock and refuel. The sound of small arms fire and roaring engines meant that either Ishtar or Belshazzar had returned. Above all that, the heavenly howl of T-72s was headed in the direction of his besiegers. All of Syria was coming together. It was time to move.

[color=gold]"Cover me!"[/color] [color=ee1b24]he called to whoever would listen. He charged forward, throwing up a statue of gold by the largest concentration of infantry. He held his gun firm, ready to shoot at any rebel who would get in his way.[/color]

[color=007f42]Al-Haqq fired lances of light at the restocking and refueling MiGs; if he succeeded in bringing down more of them, the Syrian Regime's air superiority would be gone, whoever won the battle.

The SFA Main offensive force kept moving, launching everything they had left at Nebuchadnezzar, Ishtar and Belshazzar's combined force; bullets, grenades from grenade launchers, rockets from Bazookas, incendiaries. And as their Infantry fled from the statue of gold, and Nebuchadnezzar pressed his advantage...

...The SFA sent out their last two Arms Masters - Yunus, whose sword emitted waves of healing that knitted injuries and replenished blood, reducing infantry casualties, and Hamza, whose gauntlet allowed him to reshape half a ton of earth and related materials.

Hamza, from a technical, began flinging boulders at the incoming T-72s, hoping to delay them long enough for Al-Haqq and the SFA Main Offensive to grind down Nebuchadnezzar and his force.

If this failed, the SFA would call for one last wave of explosive kamikaze drones to cover their retreat back to Palmyra and Al-Tanf.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Six landed. Six MiG-23s. The SAAF general shrugged from his white air base tower. He'd sent out, what, fifty of them? Had none of them come back, he would have null information. Yet now was a perfectly suitable empirical estimate for his return on investment.[/color] [color=gray]"All right. Launch the MiG-29s, the remaining MiG-23s we can scrounge up, and throw in the helicopters too. You have fifteen minutes to prepare the lot."[/color]

One boulder when launched fast enough could eliminate a T-72 entirely: strike its engine or hit its ammunition and render the vehicle inoperable. If this boulder-mancer worked fast enough, he could probably eliminate a whole company. Good luck taking out 200. The small vehicles were pushed aside by the metal mammoths, and the treads allowed the tanks to divert off the road when their vanguard was decimated. This allowed them to fan out and direct their fire towards the technicals. Which one was it? They couldn't quite tell; they'd fire on all of them.

Very little remained of Nebuchadnezzar's own convoy, however. There was simply too much firepower placed on him and him alone. While his allies surrounded his enemy, he was surrounded by foes. When his gold statue crumbled, he struck up another. Whether he hid or no, there wasn't much hope for him left.[/color] [color=gold]"I am Nebuchadnezzar, the Mighty! Look upon me and despair!"[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Belshazzar and Ishtar could from each portion of their convoy see the soldiers healed back to strength. Ishtar was now in range; Belshazzar had yet to catch up. Ishtar worked her wiles, picking the freshest and strongest to intoxicate with her charm. It would give Nebuchadnezzar perhaps a few spare minutes to wreak havoc.[/color]

[color=007f42]Hamza knew he could not slow down the tanks enough with thrown rocks, not when he can only move half a ton of earth/soil/metal/concrete with his Noble Arm - Wait, [i]tanks[/i] counted as metal, right?

[i]Best to give it a shot,[/i] he thought as he focused on the foremost tank... and tore its top half apart and threw it at the next.

But it won't be enough; the enemy was too overwhelming.

Ishtar, meanwhile, was stalked by that drone from before, which fired one burst of light machine gun fire at her.

Then, the kamikaze drones called in by the SFA arrived, crashing into the Syrian Regime forces with their explosive payload. 

This meant that it was time for their offensive as a whole to retreat to Palmyra...[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Between the tanks flipping and the drones, the Syrian Arab Armed Forces had lost cohesion, but not to the point of disarray. The captains, drivers, and gunners of the half-tanks, now with no functional purpose for their vehicle, grabbed their small arms and advanced on foot. The tanks that still operated outpaced them, of course, but every bit counted.

Belshazzar followed behind Ishtar, close enough to see the annoying drone striking the back of her vehicle. He tried his best to reach out and wrap the drone in cloth, but whether he was in range, who could tell?

Ishtar was utterly helpless against the harassment. It just wasn't possible to get a drone drunk. She had to hope that Belshazzar could arrive in time. Perhaps... She turned broadly, occasionally drifting in the steppe. It would make her vehicle harder to hit and in turning around close the distance between the drone and Belshazzar.

In what seemed like a miracle (which hopefully he could recount as an act of heroism), Nebuchadnezzar was left largely alone, with only his surroundings exploding around him. What good fortune! He must use the most of this opportunity. He checked his gun. It was time that the pesky people were hunted down: the light beamer, the tank flipper, everyone with supernatural powers greater than his.[/color]

[color=007f42]By then, the SFA was retreating to Palmyra, and it took all the charisma and leadership of its officers to keep the retreat from becoming a rout. They had mauled the Syrian Arab Army and the Assadists, but lacked the materiel, including vehicles, to press their momentary advantage.

Now, a rearguard of Guardian IMVs and Technicals were protecting against any attempt at pursuit, even as a few drones with jury-rigged guns began to strafe anyone who made attempts at doing so, prioritizing Ishtar, Nebuchadnezzar, and Belshazzar.[/color]

[color=ee1b24]That drone finally touched Belshazzar's cloth, and Ishtar breathed a sigh of relief, even against her normally calm composure. She parked her vehicle alongside the tanks that were still intact. The two sides of the Syrian Arab Army reunited for the first time since the launch of the campaign. And oh, were they sights to see for each other's eyes.

Nebuchadnezzar felt very manly to see his enemy flee after such a brash move, though he knew in his heart of hearts that such a maneuver was more likely a tactical decision. He erected a statue of silver, far away from Syrian soldiers, as a brief commemoration of the... well,"victory" felt too strong of a word.

The Syrian Arab Army had barely enough cohesion to keep in loose formation, let alone create a new front. The rebel dogs took Palmyra, and they could have the ruins of al-Sukhna if they so chose. Doubtless, though, al-Sukhna would become a no man's land as this war expanded. In the meantime, though, The Syrian Arab Air Force could no longer play tricks against the rebel army, not when the strengths of the Arms Masters covered the weaknesses of the AAA and vice versa.  Nebuchadnezzar called into his radio.[/color] [color=gold]"Enough for today! Let us regroup in Dimasq and figure out what we lost and what we have left."[/color]

[color=ee1b24]Syria had been lured to sleep from months of peace and quiet. She awoke in time to catch the assassins who tried to murder her in her slumber. And that was comfort enough.[/color][/hider]