Maya Jaxacyl looked up from her computer and sighed. She knew there was probably a lot of sighs this holiday season, . For her, the sigh was about the land claims of the Atlae Isles. Even though the claim was in Atlantia, it seemed that the nation lacked the mainland. That caused her nonstop annoyance. Seeing the expansionist mood of many other nations, she smiled. What a good opportunity.
She called the people in the space between Northwest Cascade and Celestia. She determined that they would prefer a colonization in that space, as they were tired of being stateless. So after some surprisingly fast military expeditions and diplomatic negotiations, they came to this. A few battles did take place.
After dispatching a fleet of a few destroyers and many transports from Fort Andromeda, Maya looked out of the window of the cabin she was in. It took more than 12 hours until they finally reached their destination. The commander of the ship came in. “Ms. Jaxacyl, we are fully prepared to execute this mission. We have a few agreements from some of the villages on the coast. They agree to submit if we don’t kill them or destroy their culture.”
Maya immediately responded, "Fine. Just make sure that we conquer the territory with minimal lives lost.
They reached the first unclaimed island one hour later. “Ready?” said the captain of the ship she was on. “Ready.” she replied. They all stepped down together. They admired the beauty of the island for a few minutes, before a serviceman noticed a cloud of dust and noise coming at them.
“Does that look like what I think it looks like?” asked the third mate. The commander of one of the platoons grabbed one of the binoculars, and said grimly, “Yes. They’re coming.”
Jaxacyl ran up back to the safety of the ship, while the rest of the army prepared defensive positions. She didn’t expect battles this early in the campaign.[edit_reason]Made it slightly more realistic[/edit_reason]
Gunshots rang out. Then more. Suddenly, screams of hordes of men rushed onto the battlefield, trying to overwhelm the line of infantry. There were about twice the number, but had slightly less advanced technology. However, since they were stranded on the beach, they could only use some of the artillery they had brought.
They were surrounded. Volley after volley of gunfire rang out, and all Maya Jaxacyl could do was quiver in fear on the safety of her ship. Why had she ordered the invasion in the first place? If the enemy reached the soldiers’ line, they would all die, and it was her fault. Machine guns can only do so much.
From the window, she looked out. She was suddenly grateful that the window was bulletproof. She saw that some of the units on the left flank were pushing some of the enemy back. She grabbed a map. Apparently it was called Helta Island. Maya did not want “Battle of Helta Island” to be remembered as one of the most catastrophic failures the Atlae Isles had ever faced.
After a few minutes, the gunfire lessened. Then it stopped. She looked out of the window to see that the enemy was fleeing. The army was tentatively marching towards the rest of the island. After she woke up the next morning, the army had returned-with more people.
She asked the commander, “Who are these?”
The commander replied, “These people were loyal to us. The enemy turned out to be the minority of the people living here. Helta island is now pacified.”
News of the victory at Helta Island spread. Throughout the islands, more recruits joined the victorious. After taking account of the losses at Helta Island, which were surprisingly few, it added up to about 12,000 soldiers, ready to fight.
After six hours of sailing, they had finally reached the coast of the mainland. They stepped down cautiously, and fortified their camp. They would stay there…for now.
The Executive Building, Tretridia, 5:00 PM PST, December 23 2016
Defense Minister Kyle Johnson had recently left a conference with Domestic Minsiter James Stevenson about the possibility of annexing Haaviland when he returned to his office. He sighed, knowing that Giving Day was in two days and that he had to stay home for the holidays. There was a message about the Altae Atlae Isles’ expansionism. "How could they defeat the people at Helta? The Atlaesians were outnumbered by 2500 people, and simulations show that no matter what other variables were, that they would be defeated (OOC: I used NS Battle Simulator, and no matter how much variables were tweaked, the Atlaesians were defeated). He sighed (again!). He knew that they were being more lucrative than the plan to annex Haaviland was. They moved military ships there! He started to write a letter.
[hr]
To: Calvin I, king of the Atlae Isles
From: Kyle Johnson
Hello,
I would like to inquire on why you are taking the unclaimed space by force, subjugating the natives for the sake of expanding your nation. You have not asked for other nation’s opinions, so your expansion may be contrary to the goals of the world.
Thanks,
Kyle Johnson
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Second Republic of Tretrid
You wish to inquire why we are taking the unclaimed space? Is it not wonder that you, already underway to annex a sovereign territory, ask me about expanding into unclaimed space. Yes, you may say that their government collapsed, and that gives you an excuse. They were stateless individuals, and we are just expanding, just like you are.
We are, of course, giving them local autonomy like every territory. The people living there were actually loyal to us, with of course, exceptions (the armies trying to beat us). Are the people living in the soon-to-be annexed Haaviland loyal to you?
Now, other nations’ opinions. Yes, that was a mistake we made, not asking, but would it have changed the end result? Now that’s a question to be asked. Admittedly, a lot of mistakes were made. But have you considered what you were doing when you are expanding?
Sincerely,
Calvin the I
OOC: Yes, I was surprised by the outcome from the battle sim. I find it rather simplistic.
After a day of negotiating with the villages on the coast, more land was added to the Atlae Isles. The amount of soldiers was now 15,000, and now they had full use of their tanks and artillery.
Maya Jaxacyl couldn’t sleep, however. She remembered the almost catastrophic failure that happened on Helta Island. War is terrible, she thought.
When the campaign is over, she vowed, I will build a memorial on Helta Island.
When she eventually slept and woke up, she was tired. She took some coffee and went to the planning room. The generals gathered around the table with a map rolled out of Atlantia.
“Good morning, Mrs. Jaxacyl.” said the lead general. She nodded, and looked at the map. They had secured the entire coastline.
Soon, the plans were out, after much intelligence and logistics. Some natives knew they were there, and actively wished to join them. Some wanted to kick them out. Of those opposed, extremism ran rampant, and soon there was widespread hostage-taking in some of the cities they were to conquer, mostly of those supporting the colonization program.
The force would split up. One would head southwest to the friendly city of Bixer, where they would receive native reinforcements. They would travel on the road for a few days before those forces go southeast to the city of Urmorcht. The rest of the southwest force would reach and liberate Kaltik.
The force going southeast would march until they reach Waslo Hills. After liberating that, they would go through the pass (actually between the “Waslo” and “Hills”) to liberate the city of Mirhat.
They would leave some of the military leadership, as well as some of the locals in charge of the cities they liberated.
Maya Jaxacyl read the plans while sipping some coffee. It sounded like a good plan, and the extremists already knew they were coming, so that was the best they could do. It was admirable, trying to keep their territory. However, taking hostages and jailing dissent was something that had to be stopped.
It went almost as planned. Many hit-and-run parties had been dispatched to harass the army, causing much attrition. But the First Army (offhand term to describe the army marching southwest, not actually 1st Army) managed to reach the fork in the road where they split to go to Urmorcht and Kaltik.
They set up the camp there, but when night fell, the sentries reported two armies marching down the road towards them (about 15 miles away). The camp was quickly dismantled, and 1,500 men and tanks were left to hold them while the vanguard of the army go around to another site. The artillery began to sing. The troops left delayed for 8 hours, before they escaped to the rendezvous point.
Instead of splitting up to hit Urmorcht and Kaltik, the army marched towards Urmorcht, with the intent of liberating Kaltik later.
However, after sieging and liberating Urmorcht, which took 3 days, Kaltik had been fortified.
To be continued…[edit_reason]Apparently artillery is a square in a circle. Oops.[/edit_reason]
OOC: As Atlae wrote, I’m roleplaying the natives, even though my nation isn’t involved. Also, all pictures involved are attached.
Lester Paul looked over the walls of the citadel in Mirhat. He was against the planned annexation of his city-state, but was not an extremist. He knew that the Atlaesian oppressors will not be uncontested. The fall of Umorcht was the last straw. Mirhat, Waslo Hills, and Katlik had allied to fight off the Atlae Isles.
First thing first. He needed to figure out their behavior. He dispatched recon squadrons to the Atlaesian camp several kilometers away from Umorcht. http://i.imgur.com/AOCwI2a.png
Expecting them to set up defenses, he kept infantry forces close behind.
Five days had passed. It was likely that the Atlaesians set up defenses. But Lester Paul, the newly christened leader of the newly-formed Atlantian Confederation had other concerns. He wanted to target the root of the problem: the Atlaesians’ wishes for expansion.
He wrote a letter.
To: King Calvin I
From: Lester Paul
Dear Calvin I,
Hello,
I am tired of your attempted annexation of Northern Atlantia. I would like to negotiate something to end the annexation. I am fine with cities being annexed, but only if they are loyal to you. Any cities that are hostile may not be included. We will not stand for the annexation of hostile territories, and will be no short of oppression.
To: King Calvin I
From: Lester Paul
Dear Calvin I,
Hello,
I am tired of your attempted annexation of Northern Atlantia. I would like to negotiate something to end the annexation. I am fine with cities being annexed, but only if they are loyal to you. Any cities that are hostile may not be included. We will not stand for the annexation of hostile territories, and will be no short of oppression.
Lester Paul
— End quote
To: Lester Paul
From: King Calvin I
Hello,
We are happy to negotiate. Please come to Bixer under a flag of truce, and we can negotiate a deal.
The Highness,
King Calvin I
OOC: Yeah, sure. I’ll make a new nation called “Atlantian Confederation” for that.
OOC: Tretrid and I have spoken and we will hold talks in Dropdaterp. Is that fine with you, Mex?
Maya Jaxacyl’s phone buzzed. She read the news grimly. Now they decide to hold talks? She would much rather fight than negotiate with those extremists. Granted, they say they’re not extremists, but they allied with those who took hostages.
Those “hostile” territories, to her, needed nothing but conquering. But who knows? Maybe she could just forget about them and focus on other things, like real estate in Gondwana or Northwest Cascade.
Crews of street sweepers and artists from around Dropdatderp gathered in a small city square on the edge of town. Plans were being thought up all around, and it looked to be a very productive morning for the Mexregionans. Not only will these couple of thousand people clear up Downtown Dropdatderp (sometimes affectionately called The Drop), officials from the Gully would be present at the procession. Transportation for the two parties were to be arranged, along with a small force of protective service. The two would have the honor to have there talks within the heart of the city, and the natives were going to make sure it looked extremely nice. After all, it had been a long while since diplomatic/peace talks were had in the Metropolitan Area of Dropdatderp.
OOC: I’m making that nation! You let me control the natives! And I never agreed with the hostage part.
The diplomat Paul appointed to the job, Jerry Wright, sat on the table. “Whatever you think, we are not extremists.” I’m perfectly fine with letting you have the friendly parts, but the hostile areas belong to us."
In an airport at Aura, Emberwood Coast, Tretrid’s Foreign Minister, Bartholomew Smith, was boarding the capitol’s plane. The captain asked for the destination. Smith looked at an article. Something about negotiations in Dropdatderp. The Atlaesians were doing it again.
“Bring me to Dropdatderp, Mexregiona. I want to see they go fairly.”
OOC: I’m making that nation! You let me control the natives! And I never agreed with the hostage part.
The diplomat Paul appointed to the job, JerryWright, sat on the table. “Whatever you think, we are not extremists.” I’m perfectly fine with letting you have the friendly parts, but the hostile areas belong to us."
— End quote
(OOC: And we’re off to the races. Also terrible quotations!)
Kyle Richards, the minister of foreign affairs himself, glared at his counterpart Jerry Wright. And he had heard all of the excuses earlier. “We’re not extremists, you can have this, you can have that.”
“Funny how these hostile areas seem to be doing something to protest our expansion. And these demonstrations are often not peaceful.” he said.
He sighed, and had a contingency map ready. He thought he was going to need it.
In an airport at Aura, Emberwood Coast, Tretrid’s Foreign Minister, Bartholomew Smith, was boarding the capitol’s plane. The captain asked for the destination. Smith looked at an article. Something about negotiations in Dropdatderp. The Atlaesians were doing it again.
“Bring me to Dropdatderp, Mexregiona. I want to see they go fairly.”
— End quote
OOC: Don’t bring your foreign minister! Mex is already there to moderate things. That’s just meddling in regional affairs.
OOC: There was a space. Also, Smith doesn’t know that you don’t want him to also moderate. Not that he cares.
“Excuses, you say? You’re just not reasonable. There is no evidence of riots. Stop denying that we are also perfectly reasonable. And you don’t want to look like warmongers do you? Other nations will condemn you.”
