Reactions in Mugabia (Cold War imagi-nations)

Initially, the Soviets considered trying a low profile response to the unfortunate event in Mugabia, but with the story plastered on the the front page of newspapers around the world the next morning, low profile was no longer an option.

Despite the statements by the surviving Presidential Guardsman, the story was severely misrepresented, and spun in several directions.  "Soviet Attack Fails" seemed to be the favorite in the American news.  The Soviets offered a more truthful explanation, exaggerating their good will towards the ULF a bit, but admitting betrayal by the group.  This was utterly rejected by the western media.

This precipitated the expected heavy handed response.  The Soviets moved quickly, mobilizing air and ground assets for the move to Mugabia, even before notifying the Mugabian president of their intent.  As the Soviets informed the president of what was going to happen, he tried to remember that how he received the "intervention" was the most important thing.

The Soviets already had a presence in Mugabia, so it was mostly a matter of just expanding the footprint.  A dozen Mig-23s to start,  began operating out of the capital airbase, and another dozen Mig-21s were supplied to the Mugabian Air Force.  A brigade of Soviet motor infantry were moved into the country with armor and various support elements, and two more would quickly follow.

Almost immediately, known ULF outposts were bombed and rocketed into rubble by both Migs and SU-7 aircraft, and helicopter gunships also hunted rebels. Most of these were long abandoned, but it sounded good to men in charge.  With the ULF decapitated after their senior leadership was captured at the airport, the ULF was now fragmented and headed by a small number of warlords.  The Soviets moved to track down these warlords and subdue any problem that they might cause.

After letting things settle out in Mugabia for a short time, the Soviets addressed the Uwandan situation, which started with a demand for immediate withdrawal of Uwanda's forces, and then the institution of a no-fly zone over western Mugabia by the Soviets. 

Both the UK and US moved to reinforce Uwanda's depleted military, but things were happening fast, and a supply of Milans and Stingers would do little to stop the Soviets in the near term.   The US also supplied more of the improved Sidewinder missiles that had been used to great effect thus far, and promised more F-5 fighters soon.

Uwanda had no intention of giving up the Mugabian territory, not unless the regime in Mugabia was removed, and replaced by a more favorable one.  Something that was far less likely to happen now, given the current Soviet presence.  The problem was that neither Uwanda, nor her "friends" had any idea as to how to succed against the Soviets.  Time would tell.

Uwanda's air force continued to fly over western Mugabia, but at a very reduced frequency, and it took nearly a week, before the first encounter by Soviet and Mugabian aircraft took place with conflicting reports being released by the respective participants.  The Soviets' were somewhat truthful in claiming that they had only lost one aircraft, while damaging or destroying the entire Uwandan force.

For the time being, the Soviets were dealing with remnants of the ULF, so Uwanda had a little time to plan.