The moment that bullet was propelled out of the barrel by high-pressure gas, the plan had largely taken shape.
Istanbul, the vital passage linking the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, had always been part of the expansion plans. Countries of critical geographic importance, such as Greece and Turkey, were key to Latveria's future. Though they already had an excuse, carrying out the plan would take considerable time. They needed more Gene-modded Warriors, more advanced equipment, and more training for the mortal army. Latveria's law enforcement departments trained according to NATO mechanized infantry standards, while the regular army had to start from scratch under the guidance of political commissars, learning the tactics required for large-scale warfare. At the very least, they had to develop the discipline and courage to fight alongside Gene-modded Warriors.
During the first Expansion War, Latveria's opponents had employed NATO counterinsurgency tactics. That was precisely why NATO forces had suffered defeat after defeat against the Hellfire Knights during the war. The Hellfire Knights' ability to break fortified positions far exceeded the limits that counterinsurgency troops and equipment could withstand. At the research conference before the war began, both the City of Immortals and Latveria had foreseen this outcome. Counterinsurgency forces with extensive experience handling IEDs and snipers could do nothing when faced with the blanket artillery fire of a regular army. Instead, it was the second-line troops stationed in Southeast European nations, who lacked combat experience, that held out longer. The former suffered terrible casualties and, after the war, had their designations removed and were reorganized into law enforcement forces. The latter became the backbone of the Mortal auxiliary army after the first Expansion War and received the most advanced war equipment.
But they still needed thorough training.
"Void combat training for the Mortal auxiliary army. This