ColdoniaBoard

Die Konigliche Luftwaffe

When one thinks of Schweitser, many picture knights in shining armour charging courageously against their foes, yet what is unexpected is the sight of dashing and aspiring young Schweits donning their g-suits instead of their metal-plated armour and climbing into the cockpits of their jets instead of their trusty steed. As such, many people gave a name to the Konigliche Luftwaffe, “Die Ritter des Himmels”, or the Knights of the Sky. The prestige earned while being a “Knight of the Sky” could be detrimental to furthering more expansive life goals such as being a politician or prominent figure in the country. Because of this, many low-born nobles and high-born nobles seek to earn a position in the Luftwaffe to earn glory to their name.

An innovative country, many in Schweitser wouldn't give up a chance to acquire a new means to defend the sovereignty of the nation against its foes. As such, when aviation technology began to pick up its pace in the 1890s, the military was keen on picking up this new technology. However the first acquisition of military planes didn't happen until 1909, when the Utricht Taube, a revolutionary monoplane design, was mass-produced to be put into aerial reconnaissance battalions. The first of these aerial reconnaissance battalions was formed in 1911. By 1916, military aircrafts armed with new “blade synchronised” machine guns came about that allowed machine guns to fire its forward-firing armament through the arc of its spinning proper without bullets striking the blades.

In 1921, the Fliegertruppen der Armee (Land Branch) and Marinefliegereinheiten (Naval Branch) were united into one service branch now known as the Königliche Luftwaffe. While the Luftwaffe was departmentalised between the naval air units, aerial ground support units and fighter units, command was centralised into the Commander-in-Chief of the Königliche Luftwaffe, with separate CiCs for each department. Early reorganisations caused constant bickering and competition between the two branches as they competed for attention. But the Marinefliegereinheiten was always on the backend as they had less operational value than the Fliegertruppen. But as the early years went by, resolution to conflict between the two branches came about and paved the way for an eventual complete integration.

Under the guidance of the first Commander-in-Chief of the Königliche Luftwaffe, Generalfeldmarschall Kristian Rhenz who was a pioneer in early aerial strategies, the organisation grew to evolve into a competent and acknowledged military branch, despite being just roughly a decade old. An impressive array of reconnaissance planes, fighters, ground attack planes, dive bombers, light frontline bombers, medium tactical bombers and heavy strategic bombers. Besides that, a “technical-tactical” department was established in order to address the needs of field pilots regarding their equipment so that the Luftwaffe are able to address any issues that come up during field exercises. The Luftwaffe also earned a reputation of being a strict organisation and enforced total meritocracy in commissioning officers and recruiting volunteers which saw a well-trained, well-disciplined and loyal air force.

The efficiency of the Luftwaffe was put to the test during The Great War in 1933, when the Luftwaffe engaged in air superiority engagements against Oncadians and Styldavian aerial units. While ground units grounded to a halt in the plains and hills of the Styldavian front, the Luftwaffe was decisively handling against two aerial fronts, one against Styldavian air forces that conduct missions at the frontline and into Schweitser, and against Oncadian aerial units that cross the Bergovianische Gebirgszüge (Bergovian Mountain Ranges) and into Southern Schweitser. Successful air interdiction operations and air superiority operations allowed for relatively clear skies across Schweitser and effective ground support missions.

When the war ended in 1941, post-war analysis showed that the Luftwaffe suffered less losses than contemporary air forces and higher pilot retention compared to other countries. However, said post-war analysis also showed a deficiency in manpower due to a greater allocation of manpower towards the Landeswehr and stricter recruitment standards. Most high-ranking officers dismissed this post-war analysis as they argued it was better for Schweitser to have a small but competent air force than a large inefficient one. Following the war, with Schweitser facing ever growing economic woes, the Luftwaffe, alongside the rest of the Schweitsen-Streitkrafte, faced tremendous budget cuts that saw decommissioning of large swathes of full-time personnel and military equipment. Many aircrafts were scrapped, lower ranking personnels were decommissioned and several air bases were mothballed in order to save on cost.

Fortunately, the officer corps didn't face many let-offs and retained a lot of veteran pilots to teach in the academies. Veteran ace pilots like Gunther Siegfried, Olaf Begernick and Kurt Dahl with 88, 79 and 94 aerial victories respectively to their names were assigned postings to the various air academies in order to transition pilot curriculum to incorporate jet technology as way to keep the Luftwaffe modern and up to standard. The valuable experiences of these ace pilots also allowed the Luftwaffe to retain the edge to stay on top against other nations. But in spite of this, these academies always faced a problem in terms of funding and struggled to maintain their small fleet of trainer aircrafts. When the Liberale Einheitspartei took power and a series of positive economical growth allowed the stagnant economy to go on an uptrend, budget allocation for the military was enlarged drastically, with 12% of the GDP spent on the realm’s defence.

The Ministry of Aviation, which handled the development and production of aircrafts, received a substantial amount of the budget. As such, they funded multiple contests and invited to tender major aviation companies like Messcherblöm, Folk-Henweltsch, Gothnier and Arde Fluzeugwerke for them to present their prototypes. Categories like fighter-bombers, high-altitude interceptors, long-range strategic bombers, reconnaissance jets and naval aircrafts were all given to be competed on by the companies. Those who won were given contracts and monetary support to further their prototypes into being mass produced. Many prototypes came and went, however those like the Mb-096 Schwalbe fighter that featured a swept-wing design and Ar-17 Schwan heavy jet bomber were successful in fulfilling their design objectives and went into mass production.

In the current era, the Luftwaffe regained its status as the “Eagle of Coldonia” fielding a large swathe of military jets that rivalled the Luftwaffe of the late 1920s and early 1930s. New jets like the Mb-110 Razzia fighter-bomber, Mb-102 Korsar II ground attack, FH-87 Raubtier fighter-interceptor and Ar-22 Höllenbrut heavy strategic bomber were the pride of the air force. As recent geopolitical shift showed the Styldavians allied to Schweitser, more attention has been put on the Luftwaffe as the Landeswehr, seeing their eastern front being secured by the large Styldavian army, shifted to a quick-response, mobile, small and elite ground force that recently focused more on airmobile/air assault units to counter threats. With tensions rising in Coldonia and the future getting “colder”, all eyes are on the Luftwaffe to keep the skies clear of any threats.

|| Читаю Римир | Reading from the world tree

| "'Sin-sol' urged the clock, how little time there was left for your princely fiefdoms to unravel the stories you may have written. Alas your pens are thirsty for ink, pencils hungry for lead, and your parchments sobered in the absence of story. I will tell you as i had done before, the reaper does not bargain and I do not skip deadlines - for you there is scheduled only darkness. The door is open and there is no other side anymore. Walk through it."
| Dialogue from an old Romano-Draconov children's film 'A place called Russia', used to begin the populace's familiarity with the core beliefs of the State.

| Retaliatory feedback for the son of Azoris' misdeeds: Azorisynok | Melihosnovis
| Azorisynok has seen fit to spit in the direction of the Dragon Heart domain and it's imperative to march westward, hundreds of Azrosynkov | Melihosnovans have been dedicated to the Haifalem front - sent to kill Draconov legionaries on behalf of the shepherd tribes and Oncadian garrison.
| Morningstar has given Azoris special privileges to operate on the solemn crescent given their history and distance, an offer was proposed to facilitate the containment of their influence over the continent - alas these discussions were relegated to the Treshka | Dustbin of diplomatic history. And now to see their puppet seek the spilling of Draconov blood in this dire hour, swooping in from the sky like an opportunistic bird of prey, has many unseemly implications to these important bilateral relations. Simplified, the rulers of Azoris neglected to prevent this or sanctioned it in which case they can be considered hostile - or worse: had no prescience or prior to its enactment which suggests lack of control and reliability.
| To retaliate for this bold act of aggression Morningstar has issued the Nestrana | Foreign office to begin sending agents of provocation and stir up revolution in the prior-sharlut' states: promoting strong ideas of Nationalism and conservation of Islamic law in the face of growing Lavosianism - Emboldening the Sharlut' Arabs to defend their lands from the imposter provisional government which Azorisynok has ushered in over them, the same Arabic nationalism which they seek to promote in Haifalem will be turned against them in Sharlut' and many of their sons and daughters will die for it. Such is the poetic nature of this needless hostility.
~
| Statements on the Moskovska Voyna | The Galayar Escalation
| Galayar was forced into a perilous border skirmish when the confident invasion force of Kresr was bought to their lands, entering into a bloody slog formed in a small incursion point along the border.
| Knowing the relative strengths of both nations, Morningstar had complete faith that Galayar could secure its own borders and sovereignty without its needing to intervene in the interest of the Snowball thesis. Nonetheless, as an acquainted state - Draconovox issued diplomatic support and offered to give loose intel detailing movements on the Cirrish coasts and nearby gathered by non-national radio vessels.
| The issue was over shortly due to the predictably strong defense which the Galayar armada was able to swiftly muster, and the conflict was settled with Galayar in triumph - facilitated by Motivated OCS members, notably Rus | Styldavia.
~| Morningstar also issues favor to the navy of Cossack America | The Fire Born for its defense of trade routes in the Blue Plains, providing an ensuring level of protection to Galayar-Draconov trade lines. A statue will be erected in the Dragon Heart domain in Sadu Solntsu depicting a fierce President Budd triumphantly taming a vicious whirlpool with a decorated flag standard.
~
| Words given by the Worldly Scales: Korolskva Oliv | Aetheodaland offers to mediate negotiations
| Given the nature of the conflict and the brashness of its primary initiator - Who knowingly broke the Solitude doctrine and proceeded to mobilize during the issuing of demands without giving diplomatic response, Morningstar believes there is little trust which can be put in the words which the Oncadian state may use in the case of negotiations. They have broken trust before, there are no guarantees which prevent them from doing so again.
| This war is unfortunate and was preventable, but now that allegiances have been made and lives have been taken there can only be one sensible resolution to this problem - and that is the crushing of the colonial garrison and taking of the nation for Draconov interests. Prematurely ending the war now without achieving all war goals will leave openings for instability and create opportunities for Oncadia or Azorisynok to lever to the detriment of the Draconov state.
~| Aetheodish attempts to sew understanding is taken as a gesture of good will, one genuinely appreciated. But there can be no chances taken, the time for understanding has long passed. What was forewarned in the snowball thesis has now become even more relevant - Security in the Continent at whole can only be attained through acquiring the hegemonic status necessary to rebuke foreign influence.
~
| Dealing with the Lions of Haifalem: Fighting not on equal terms but on the same level
| Though skirmishes along the line of contact grow fiercer, gains in territory are beginning to slow. A consequence of inevitable factors: overstretched logistics routes, lack of infrastructure, partisan activity, and an emboldened front of mobilized countrymen working alongside various factions of guerillas and tribesmen, working in junction to decelerate the process of invasion. Despite this the Legates of the Armada are still confident in victory, although achieving it will require a more draconian approach.
| Upon launching the invasion Morningstar issued a promise, the populace of the nation would be managed without persecution so long as they were not made participants. In light of recent partisan activity it is now known that the populace cannot be reliably left to their own devices without becoming threats to the lives of Draconov soldiers and the Morningstar's goals regarding the Haifalem land, thus it has become necessary to forcibly quell and annihilate dissenting voices and actors as well as create examples for the rest of the nation to observe and fear.
| Legates are no longer prohibited to fire upon civilians or punish occupied settlements, the Armada does not operate on moral grounds it operates on the ground of necessity, terrorism will be met with terrorism as it was stated before.
| New demonstrations of the consequences of disobedience have been made, villages razed to the ground, summary executions, bombing with negligence to collateral damage, and mass crucifixions of Haifalem warriors strung alongside major roads - as an ode to the Appian way - reminding those who walk through it of the consequences of their choices. Predictably this will inspire recruitment in the unconquered lands of the west, where more and more men will gather in arms for righteous cause and march to the front. This is to be counted on, for the more of Haifalem's men and women die the more closer the nation will be to defeat, particularly given that the front is now reaching a stabilizing point. Therefore the nature of the battle will now be subverted, from one of territorial gain to one seeking destruction of the enemy in totality,
| Draconov aviations outmatch Oncadia's own in the local region, which will allow the indiscriminate fire bombing of large population centers at the rear as well as the destruction of resource outlets and infrastructures: All things which life relies on will be eliminated, Wells, fields, food stores, damns and irrigation, electrical stations, schools, transportation hubs, and everything else deemed necessary.
| Emphasis will also be placed on artillery rather than bold convoy maneuvers, seeking the annihilation of all things which could sustain a populace before advancing and repeating the process. Eventually it is expected that the Opposition will suffer great strain on their industrial capacity and military supplies, especially granted the lack of Oncadian naval supply due to maritime setbacks.

The CETBF Model 60

Following the experiences of the Porturhevian army in Monpravia it had become painfully obvious to not only those in active service but also to many back home that the current equipment held by the armed forces of Porturhev was simply not practical for a sustained operation along with much of the locally produce equipment being severely outdated with several different types of rifles being used by diferent types of the Porturhevian army it had proven an absolute logisitical nightmare to advance during the Monpravian operation with many battle adjustment having to be made for further progress.

But now after many years, it had finally been agreed upon not only by those in the military but those iN government that a change in the equipment held by the Porturhevian forces was to be made, with the main focus being small arm, simply due to how many different types were currently held by the Porturhevian armed forces with many being foreign arms imported in the earlier stages of the nation. Now with a much more established government and industrial base a domestic design was to be made, with the government reaching out to the Centro do Estudos Técnicos Balísticos e Físicos for a possible new firearm for the Porturhevian armed forces.

The CETBF took for inspiration several foreign weapons, mainly the MKb 41A from the Shweitser volunteers that once came over to the country, and also took notes from veterans of the conflict. This combined with collaboration with Industria do Ferro resulted in a relatively speedy production of a blueprint but after intiial tests of the now cleverly named CETBF 60, with 60 representing the years Industria do Ferro had existed, proved to underperform yet still promising resulting in a series of developments which eventually stalled in 1962 with a halt of funding due to more of that money going towards the reconstruction of P.R.C.

But finally enough funding had been diverted back onto the project for it to be finalized after several years of development with the official name of the rifle being "CETBF 60 Modelo C". The battle rifle was stamped-steel while the stock and forestock were made out of wood, it used a 20 round magazine loaded with 7.92x41mm, and had the ability to be fired in both fully automatic and semi-automatic with the weight from the wood and the gun itself helping control the recoil although it had been noted by testers that your arm had a "incredibly fun time getting hit" when being used in fully automatic, the gun also still has a bayonet lug. ALthough it has proved to be quite useful for the different terrains of Porturhev with positive comments over all, although the only complains heard in the field are how heavy the rifle is which will not be changed any time soon.

The rifle would inmideatly begin production and begin a gradual replacement of the several firearms that each Porturhevian units, instead repurpoising them to be either sold in international markets if they were considered too obsolete or if the guns had served in the revolution they would instead be put to use in the L.G.P. With such measures now in place it is hopped that in one year the Porturhevian army would stop being overly reliant in foreign arms manufacturing.

A fun fact is that an alternative version was also created which included a bipod and had an extended mag of 45 rounds, although these were never produced in wide numbers and have instead been left in a warehouse with only around 1000 of these being made in total. This version is known has "CETBF 60-L" with L standing for Large.

SOMETHING
After the eastern crisis, Cresr's reputation in the international stage and eastern coldonia is now ruin, with Elections nearing and the iron will and blue cross party coalition seemingly have the vote of the majority, Dusan will need something positive coming from his presidency if he wants to win, he decides to send a message to Vasyl Brezdenyuk, the leader of Styldavia, asking him if the ZSS (Armed Forces of Styldavia) wants to have a joint military exercise with the cresrian national armed forces. The training will include a command and control simulation, amphibious and airborne operations, seizure exercise, and field training that culminates in a live-fire event. The excercise will take place in the northern province of Ferosk, the national armed forces will send 1,560 soldiers to the exercise if Styldavia agrees to this message, Dusan hope that this will be enough to give his presidency something positive, ever since the attack on Galayar the people have been afraid of a revenge by Gavril and The Troika’s, especially since not many cresrians supported the attack let alone the invasion of Galayar, he hopes by hosting this military exercise, it will deter Galayar from taking action againts Cresr.

КРЕСЕСЬКО-СТИЛЬДАВСЬКА СПІВПРАЦЯ / CRESR-STYLDAVIAN COOPERATION

Seeking to build a closer relationship with Cresr’s government, President Brezdenyuk has authorized the deployment of Styldavian military advisors to Cresr. Their task is to work with Cresr’s high command to organize joint military exercises between the armies of both nations. Styldavia’s Minister of Defense Artem Honcharuk has stated that Styldavia will dispatch a small contingent of airborne troops (Повітряно-десантні війська, Povitryano-desantni viysʹka, or PDV) to represent the ZSS in the Ferosk exercises.

The deployment of military personnel to Cresr marks a new turn in Eastern Coldonian geopolitics, as the two nations had previously had very lukewarm relations. For the Brezdenyuk administration, cooperating with Cresr on matters of national security is largely motivated by a mutual opposition against Galayar, which has been ruled by the aging troika since 1961. In a press interview, Brezdenyuk stated his belief that closer ties with Cresr would allow Styldavia to have a positive influence in Cresr’s foreign policy, potentially preventing a repeat of the 1963 crisis. The president also hopes that closer ties to Styldavia would help prop up the democratic establishment in Cresr against the rising extremists in the Blue Cross and Iron Will parties.

Get ready to learn Cresrian buddy.

AetheodalandRaFLaNdIaOtesia and velleiaKoedricOncadiaMelihosnovisPorturhevThe Fire BornDivankhabanGalayarEnzokraSchweitserVolskaMurnikTannenfeld

Dynamics - Amidst Legends

"And tonight on Venestkre 905, we have something rather interesting to report."

A young man looked toward the screen, his black-white suit rippling as he reached out over the desk where he sat and spun a golden globe. Countries that no longer existed adorned the golden surface, and lines of silver wove through an increasingly unfamiliar landscape. The man paid it no mind; instead, he smiled. "Joining us tonight, we have a very special guest. Please welcome Hallowed Son Rahen!"

From somewhere behind the screen, applause rang out as a man dressed in a black robe with a golden ensign hanging around his neck stepped out from the corner and took a seat on the other side of the table. He stood from his chair a moment later and gave the audience a half-bow before sitting once again, tracing the figure of a wing on his chest. The show host smiled. "Thank you for joining us, Hallowed Son."

The Hallowed Son nodded, his silvery hair gleaming as a halo would. "The pleasure is all mine. I trust that you have heard the good news, and that is what you would like to speak of today?"

The show host nodded in turn. "We've heard from the Gsel Operatives, but is it true? Could there really be a Courtier Official now? In this time?"

The Hallowed Son looked out toward the screen. "If you consult the third chapter of the Lavoskikia, then we can see that the fair lady has stated that humanity will endure their eternal return. Something of this sort has always been preordained."

"What does this mean for the average man or woman in Woseka? Or in the wider world?"

The Hallowed Son's eyes brightened considerably. "It means that we are in a time where we are blessed to take part in things greater than ourselves. The fair lady has seen fit to wake those who will usher us into a greater timeline."

The host nodded. "Now forgive me if I'm wrong, Hallowed Son, Rahen. But doesn't the waking of the Courtier Officials usually foretell some sort of world-spanning war?"

Rahen waved a hand. "Creation itself is at stake. However, it does not mean that all is lost. We can perhaps reach out into the heavens and pre-empt the war arriving to our bauble."

"Has such a thing occurred in the historical timelines documented in the Blakoviks?"

The Hallowed Son paused for a minute. "Never before has a Courtier Official woken so late. The Warmaster, the first, has always woken prior. The implications of this have yet to be unveiled by our fair lady. However, we believe that in her infinite wisdom, she may provide an opportunity to us, not allotted for others."

The show host nodded and looked back toward the screen. "Well, you've heard it here first, folks. Let us know what you think. Is this truly the return of the Courtier Officials in our time?"

The screen cut to a commercial, a golden globe spinning, suspended amongst the backdrop of golden rays of light and a library with elegant portraits. Behind the books and the elegant rays of light, a pane of glass showed elegant vineyards for a moment before a black-white-suited man spoke of the need for the world's finest glass to let the light of brighter days in once more.

The noble looked away from the screen, his purple cloak swaying gently in the breeze as the door to his study closed. He looked to the side as a woman with silver hair stood on the far side of the room. She looked to him. "Lord Mehehka, I see you've heard the news."

He nodded, golden strands of hair falling to the side of his face as he did. "Some of our contacts in Gsel have enlightened me of the current situation. I'm not sure if this Courtier Official is truly authentic. But what he represents is."

"Quite right. Still, how should we handle the current scenario?"

"My Dear Telisa. I know you've worked with the various internal ministers in the past, and I know how lethargic they are in spite of our growing presence on the world stage. I'm going to ask from you one favour."

Telisa sighed. "And what would it be this time, Lord Mehehka?"

"Put simply. I would like to arrange a conference to stabilize the situation in the continent. Our city of Jal seems to be remote enough to support a neutral status."

"Who would you like me to reach out to?"

Lord Mehehka stood and walked to the window of his study. Past various bookshelves, where darkened tomes were held. Tombs that drank greedily at the light and seemed to cause pain to the mind as one observed them. "Irina. Q of the Morningstar, the Oncadian delegation, and other relevant parties. I leave it to your judgment."

Telisa smiled. "Well, we will see if anything comes of this. Shall I inform His Imperial Highness?"

"Please do so."

A letter requesting a discussion regarding the security situation in the Global South would be sent to Oncadia, Draconovox, and Haifalem.

"Are there any other matters you would like to discuss?"

"Yes, Telisa, I suppose we should inform the The Fire Born that we are upgrading new naval supplies on our end to the Kazhe Class Mark II, with no additional cost, of course."

"This year's model, yes?"

"Indeed so."

Lord Mehehka looked out toward the midday sun as it shone over the Jal Shipyards, which were operating at scale for the first time in decades. Even from the Mehehka Estates, which lay far above the sea. Beyond the vineyards and untouched woodlands that separated the estates from the city. There, lay the assembly lines and various principal component points. All visible, even from such a distance. The glint of steel reflected harshly in the sun as another vessel appeared on the end of a production line. Fully made and bearing the white-black standard of the Wosekan banner.

Lord Mehehka turned back to Telisa. "Ah yes, one more matter. Lady Telisa, could you please reach out to our friends in Porturhev? I would like to explore the development of certain medical treatments taking place there. I feel that such things could have many different uses."

Telisa smiled, her silvery hair turning to a brilliant gold in the reverent rays of light. "Perhaps so."

After The Bloody Sabbath

====================

"Forsaken by those who surround us, we will ride alone!".

====================

Surprising to absolutely no one, the pathetic Cresrian attempt to destabilize and conquer regions of Galayar has utterly failed and has resulted in a resounding victory for Galayar, its army, and its people, but for the Cresrians, it is a humiliating defeat that has led them to lick and worship the boots of the perfidious Styldavians. While the Troika has of course used this whole opportunity to propagandize and celebrate the achievements of its regime, with military parades and ginormous posters honoring those who bravely defended the motherland being common sights in the biggest of cities, they really aren't satisfied, to say the least. With casualties being higher than expected due to the surprise attack and certain border towns being completely destroyed, the Troika has secretly decried the incompetence of certain army leaders, most notably, General Martin Antonov and General Teodor Zaikov. Shortly after the OCS intervened in the conflict and a peace deal was brokered, Zaikov and Antonov were completely purged by the Army, and the two men were exiled to Oncadia. Inside the Army, this is a move that has made even the bravest and toughest of generals and field marshals tremble in fear, due to the fact that, if an emergency situation happens and they just happen to slightly mess up or not follow orders correctly, they could easily lose everything they have in Galayar, or, even worse, lose their and the lives of their families.

The Troika and its LEM loyalists have gone into introspection mode, trying to think of ways to improve the reactions of not only just the Army, but the entire military. Clearly, one of the biggest problems the military has is its involvement in civilian life and the material costs that entails. From maintaining roads to making sure airports are always on time, many matters of civilian life, small and big, are spearheaded by the military and their goons, which is something that eats up a lot of their budget and time, money and time that could be used for better and improved training, obtaining and developing better weapons, and overall, just being more prepared in case of conflict with another nation or the Galayarese Resistance. Speaking of the Resistance, they have gotten a massive boost in support and weapons, due to undercover Cresrian support and the further impoverishment and destruction of the Galayarese Far-East, the Resistance's main base of operations. All of these problems must be solved, and they must be solved fast. Would this put a lot of things on the already massive plate that the military has? Maybe, but really, the Military has never been an institution the political class or the people of Galayar have ever trusted, especially after recent events. While the Troika are army men, after the coup, they have also become ardent followers of Realpolitik, and they are not afraid of seemingly betraying and purging their old friends and acquaintances.

The Minister of War, a man by the name of Martin Dragomirov, with the help of CoA Nencho Herzog, has devised a plan he has presented to the Troika, a plan he has dubbed "Project Gossamer". Like a fine and fragile cobweb made by a spider, the military is an old and complex institution with an even more complex inside, and what Dragomirov wants to do is gut it and completely start over, so he can have a fresh and completely clean slate. If the military is going to have the support of the people, then it needs to be made by the people, and for the people. A lot of the members of the military, especially the Army, are people of noble descent, who are highly corrupt and have been involved in some of the biggest cases of embezzlement, murder, and money laundering the nation has ever seen. The Troika is fully aware of the problems this entails, but for a long time, they never touched their ties with those nobles, due to the fact they were great supporters of their cause early on, and also greatly funded many infrastructure projects that have given the military government somewhat of a base of support among some civilian folks, especially the leaders of the now-extinct and nationalized Systems, since a lot of the megaprojects were formerly built by said megacorporations after shady contracts were given out to them. Dragomirov's plan essentially wants to remove all of those privileges the nobility has inside the army, but, to do that, there is one thing that needs to be removed, the Monarchy itself. While Tsar Gavril II has not been directly opposed to the Junta, he also isn't the biggest of its supporters and has somewhat tried to distance himself from not only them but public life in general. If the entire scheme of corrupt titles needs to end, then the Monarchy also needs to end.

On July 7th, 1964, while the Tsar was on a trip visiting destroyed towns in the Far East with members of the Galayarese Church, the Troika announced live on TV that the Monarchy had come to an end, and that a new era had graced Galayar, the Era of the Republic. Blaming the cycle of "balloon politics" on the misery that nobles, the monarchy, and their lavish lifestyle have caused on the Galayarese proletarian, the unofficial leader of the Troika, Gen. Strumen Vasev, also announced that anyone who wanted to go out on the streets and fight for the Monarchist cause would be "personally tortured and shot by me". For a long time, many expected the Troika to never really affect much of Galayar's basic integrity and values, with their Revolution only being a temporary solution to a much larger problem, but now, that was about to change, as perhaps the most important institution in Galayarese history was about to end after quite literally, more than a millennium of history. This was not just any Revolution, it was a Cultural Revolution, one that would change everything about Galayrese history and how we perceive it. After the announcement was transmitted to millions of Galayarese, most...just did nothing. For most, the Monarchy was already deeply unpopular due to the fact they more or less stayed silent about the Coup and basically cooperated with the Junta by never criticizing them, and now that it was gone, it actually felt like something beneficial. While sure, the Junta was still not that popular, especially with the youth...maybe they actually did want to do something with Galayar and transform it into something else. Something good? Something bad? At this point, who knew really, the people just knew Galayar was never going to be the same ever again. Even if the Monarchy was hypothetically somewhat popular, who would even dare to try to challenge the Troika's state terrorism? Only a madman would do that, and most people are actually mentally stable.

With the Royal Palace being bombed by the Air Force with missiles and being stormed by the Army during the live transmission, anyone who was there while the coup was happening almost immediately surrendered, most notably, Tsar Gavril's son and his successor, Milosh. Milosh and the rest of the royal family, including the children, who accompanied them were given a mock trial inside the Palace, and after they were declared guilty and traitors to the Motherland, they were sentenced to death and were executed by a shooting squad. As for Gavril, he learned of the news while he was returning to Galanta, and he instructed his plane's pilot to not land in Galanta, instead, they would need to try to land in Styldavia and get political asylum. As they made their way into Styldavian airspace, an Air Force fighter jet, a Mechko Me 15, caught up to them, and fired a single missile toward the small private plane, completely destroying it. The destruction of this plane meant a lot of things, but, most notably, it meant one word: change. Change is a powerful word, something that happens all day, every day, but most changes that happen in our daily lives are small, pitiful, and easily forgotten. Sometimes, however, changes can be big, massive even, and they can completely transform how we or entire people live their daily lives. This change, the change from a Monarchy to a Republic, is not a small one, and in fact, it is something that has never been seen ever since the end of the Great War, the toppling of a Monarchy. Now that Deus has greeted the entire Kitz-Hirschberg family and has let them enter Paradise, down on Earth, things have only just started.

Gavril's plane's remains crashed in the sea, just a few kilometers off the Northern coast of Galayar, never to be seen again. His death was never announced, but there was no need to announce something that was already so painfully obvious to everyone and their mothers. Now that the Monarchy had ended, it was time to target its supporters. The more Liberal members of the Gallants of Saint Artem, who have long been rumored of planning a coup, have been arrested and are awaiting trial, death surely awaits them. The nobility has been stripped of all of their titles, have been completely kicked out of the military, and have been relegated to mere peasants, with their properties being rightfully stolen and their blue blood being expunged. What has been called the greatest purge in history is a purge no more, and instead, it is now a stratocratic revolution. Galayar will not take its losses and defeats against Cresr or anyone who embraces the fires of the OCS or the NSP lightly, and it will make sure everyone is aware of that. Phase 1 of Project Gossamer has only just started, now, it's only a matter of completing it so Phase 2 can start.

Into the Great Blackness

====================

"To think of these stars that you see overhead at night, these vast worlds which we can never reach. I would annex the planets if I could; I often think of that. It makes me sad to see them so clear and yet so far."
- Cecil Rhodes

====================

An aging man of formidable stature is followed by a dozen men of military, political, scientific, and technical backgrounds. Looking about him, he can see the steel and concrete walls of the hangar extending some 100 yards above him. Along the walls, a series of catwalks, one atop the other, provide access to the center of the hangar via extendable walkways. In the center of the hangar, the rocket, a modified version of a ballistic missile, sits atop what can only be described as a large self propelled railcar, with a gauge measured in dozens of yards rather than a few feet. The man stops and gives the rocket a quizzical look, before turning his head to the crowd behind him. "Would someone refresh me on the exact mission of this rocket?"

One man, obviously a scientist, steps forward, and speaks with a Dakkelian accent. "Your majesty, this mission, designated Adventurer One, is tasked with putting a satellite into planetary orbit and measuring both radiation and temperature. At the insistence of Sir Cragges, it will also transmit a simple signal that could be picked up by most civilian radios in the world."

Intrigued by this last bit, King Alfred can only ask one question, "And what would this signal be?"

"It would be a repeating message announcing that the first artificial satellite has been built, and that mankind is on the precipice of a new age of discovery and enlightenment. This message would play continuously for about a week before the transmitter would lose power, while the scientific instruments should have enough power to provide a constant stream of data for a little over three months."

Alfred smiles, "Albert's always been one for theatrics. I take it this will be ready to launch on time?"

This time, a technician responds. "Weather permitting, we will be ready on schedule. All she needs is some fine tuning, it should only take a week."

Alfred gives the rocket one final look, before turning back to the crowd. "Excellent. I am certain that the world at large will appreciate some news that doesn't involve violence or the threat of it."

Two Weeks Later...

"After years of test launches, administrative work, and construction, the day has finally come. Some said it never would. Our ambitions were too grand, and we would be met with failure and humiliation. Today, we will prove that the adventurous spirit of our proud people has not yet vanished. Today, we show the world that mankind is on the precipice of a new golden age of enlightenment and discovery. As we place man's first satellite into orbit today, know that this is but the first milestone along the path of stellar endeavor. Through toil and ingenuity, all things are possible. Never forget that."

This short address by the King was broadcasted on television and radio all over the country, and in many parts of the world. Aetheodaland was to do the unthinkable, and make true the wildest imaginings of intellectuals of decades past.

10... 9... 8...

The crowd fell silent as they imagined a low rumble building up in the ground beneath their feet, though they were in reality too distant feel it.

4... 3... 2... 1...

The rocket, once a dreaded weapon of war, began its mission of discovery, arcing across the summer sky. Travelling faster than all of the world's jet fighters, all that could eventually be seen was the slowly dissipating column of smoke as the rocket went higher and higher, successfully delivering its payload into low planetary orbit.

A new age has dawned.

Operation Zapad

====================

"Give me glory, or give me death!".

====================

September 9th, 1964 seemed like just another day. Children went to school and learned new things, people clocked to work, and the political campaigns for the 1965 Elections kept flowing. However, few knew that this day was the day Galayar was going to change, in some aspects for the best, but in others, for the absolute worst. The three members of the DNR, Minister of War Martin Dragomirov, Commander of the Army Nencho Herzog, Navy Admiral Vladimir Sashov, and Air Marshal Nikul Yankov were secretly discussing in an undisclosed building near the Styldavian border the plan that would forever change the dynamics of Eastern Coldonia, "Operation Zapad". What started out as a simple military exercise that would demonstrate Galayar's military skills and correct any flaws quickly turned into something much greater and terrifying, a Galayarese invasion of Styldavia. But why? Why invade Styldavia? And why right now? Well, for those who were in that meeting, it was simple really, the NSP would get stronger by the day, and Galayar would need to catch up even more. While Zapad, was, of course, a complete hail mary that could absolutely collapse the pillars of the Galayarese nation, the DNR had an ace up its sleeve, the military's willingness to fight. Ever since the two Great Purges following the 1961 and the 1964 Revolution, the three branches of the military have been completely transformed and made as loyal and war-ready as possible. No traitor is allowed to enter the three sacred branches, and no one shall escape them once they enter. Entering the military in Galayar is a sacred duty, and the best way to showcase loyalty is to die for Galan's creation, the greatest Pravic nation there ever was and will ever be. Styldavia is a product of artificial and ridiculous medieval affairs and issues, and Styldavian identity clearly does not exist, they are simply Galayarese in denial. They've been corrupted by Western ideals, and it is the duty of the Galayarese motherland to show its brother the true light of strength and order.

Operation Zapad goes as follows: The II. Falanga, commanded by Vitomir Shpilman would start a main attack against NSP forces in the Styldavian Southeast which would be assisted by the Air Force and Navy attacking and bombing civilian and military targets, including the city of Vardiansk, which would be put under siege once land forces reach it. After this, the V. Falanga, commanded by Chernyu Kaloyanov, would also cross the Styldavian border, putting the city of Chornopil under heavy fire and eventually capturing it. Once these two targets are captured, both Falangas will be split into two smaller Falangas, which will start capturing all sorts of important cities and military outposts while also trying to encircle the city of Psmiv, so as to completely destroy parts of the Styldavian army. Once Psmiv was encircled, the four Falangas would push onto Kyrih and start a siege of the city, which would be heavily aided by artillery and heavy bombers. Once Kyrih is captured, Galayar will send the NSP a proposal for peace talks. While all of this was happening, other Falangas would send equipment and men so as to replace any losses, and a small wave of mobilization would also be enacted. The war is expected to last approximately 1-2 years, and would hypothetically result in Galayarese domination of the Far East, the securing of its borders, and its firm entrenchment as a Great Power that can easily rival its enemies.

After several adjustments and suggestions, Zapad was officially given the seal of approval by every single person in that secret meeting and was officially delegated to all top members of both the V. and II. Falanga that same day. Since both Falangas were already stationed at the Styldavian border, very few preparations would be needed, and the invasion, which would be started without a formal declaration of war, would simply need to wait until the next day so as to be executed. The first target for the II. Falanga would be to attack the border town of Bokhny, which would lead the way to Vardiansk.

Finally, on the morning of September 10th, 1964, everything was officially greenlit. The 9th Infantry Division, led by Yosif Kupferblum, would be the first to violate all previously established border treaties and cross into Styldavia at around 7 AM and would start pounding Styldavian positions with heavy artillery fire, initiating a battle with nearby Styldavian and Aetheodish troops which were stationed near Bokhny. Shortly after, all sorts of diplomatic ties with Styldavia were cut by the DNR, and the three members of the Junta would announce live on TV that a "special operation to disarm non-Pravic foreigners in Styldavia had begun, which would last just a few days". The war to determine the future of the East had officially begun.

Fighting friends!

Following the stabilization of the liberated lands of the Las Correlias People's Republic from the Rejio regime, many Porturhevian servicemen no longer were needed be it to protect the paths from guerilla groups, hunt down extremists, or work as a police force in the lands of the CPR. Whatever their task was it was no longer needed with locals taking over said positions from the servicemen or the threats being effectively neutralized in one or another leaving many without a job following their dismissal from the ground forces of Porturhev. Some of them returned to work in their family farms while others made a life in the lands of the CPR along the border, setting up businesses and such using the money from their dismissal. Some of the servicemembers simply switched branches singing up for the airforce, which had seen explosive growth ever since the exchange of equipment with the Oncadians, or the navy.

Yet some had found joy in fighting, some could simply not come back to civilian life or refused to integrate, and the many conflicts that had recently plagued the world painted a bright image for these war tourists. Be the thunderous rain of artillery that had recently erupted in the East or the scorching vehicles of Haifelem they had many options to head somewhere to go and offer their sword for cash or glory it did not matter much to them, neither did sides. At the start these people were completely unorganized, simply heading on crowd-funded groups to fight in these foreign lands in foreign armies with many joining the Oncadian foreign legion since the conflict in the East was yet to erupt in the violence it has now. Yet as time passed on these groups had slowly become more and more organized, with proper businesses slowly being established by the more wealthy of elements of these groups with many taking inspiration from times of old.

Most of these businesses would not have their headquarters or be registered on the coast of Porturhev, instead opting for the states deeper in Porturhev seeing as not only were the laws on businesses laxer but also the purchase of weaponry seeing how there was still plenty of animals to hunt in the less developed lands of Porturhev. The creation of these companies for now would mostly go unnoticed, with the companies for now mostly dedicating themselves to protecting private companies' assets on foreign lands. However, that may change at any time with many companies being more than willing to be involved in the fighting on the frontlines.

For now, no action has been or will be taken against the companies, and at times the local governments even encourage said companies to establish themselves in their state with these companies providing a considerable amount of income be it the person running the show itself or the government proper. It kept the machine of bureaucracy well-oiled and allowed for these lax laws to remain in place in the inner state of Porturhev, even foreigners had been granted such privileges in certain states following a series of exchanges behind closed doors.

The Porturhevian Expedition.

Has the word of the crimes done against their Oncadian brothers and their masked allied reached the ears of the government and the Porturhevian people a sentiment of rage had begun to grow and with the calls for action from the public growing louder, be it due to the possible but unproved influence of Oncadia provocateurs or perhaps something more natural, it had reached such a state that the government was finally forced to act.

After receiving the green light and permission from the Oncadian government, an expeditionary force of 2500 servicemen was assembled and scheduled to arrive in Haifelem in a few months. The force would be comprised of the 10th People's Mobile Brigade and The 1st Mountain Huntsmen, with the 10th People's Mobile Briage making the bulk of the force with 2000 men in total, of which most would be motorized infantry with a small section of armored vehicles mostly being composed of armored cars and refitted Monpravian tanks with the unit having top of the notch equipment and working as the poster boys for the whole operation. For comparison, the 1st Mountain Huntsmen lacked many of these vehicles and instead were specially prepared to fight in less-than-civilized environments that plagued Haifelem and would work best for operations that do not include any sort of urban fighting and most of their logistics would still be carried out through horse and donkey simply since they were not considered important enough to receive the newer vehicles.

The force would be placed under the command of the Oncadian government yet would still have their independent leadership for more on-the-ground operations, although their deployment and other things were now in the hands of the Oncadians. It was hoped that these units would provide valuable aid against Draconov forces who seem to be waging a war of extermination against those who inhabit the lands.

While waiting for deployment the men in these units would be forced to take a course teaching the very basics of the language, terms such as house, left, right, and of course tank would be taught to allow for at least some level of coordination with the flood of tribal militias that covered all of Haifelem and its battlefields. But results will be seen only once these troops arrive.

A channel for further negotiations has been opened with the Oncadians, with Porturhev being open to sending more aid and even joining the war if needed although they will not take the initiative on these sorts of activities mainly due to the sheer costs of maintaining such an operation.

"Can't believe I went from shooting in a trench in Monpravia to shooting from a foxhole in Haifelem...

Oncadia Haifalem Draconovox

БРЕЗДЕНЮК ОГОЛОСИВ ВОЄННИЙ СТАН / BREZDENYUK DECLARES MARTIAL LAW

Since its founding in 1941, the Republic of Styldavia has never formally been at war. The morning of September 10th, 1964, was a cruel awakening from over two decades of peace.

Reports of Galayar’s unprovoked attack stunned the government in Kyrih, even though most of the political leaders knew that tensions had reached the breaking point after the Tsar’s murder. SB analysts had theorized that the elimination of the monarchy was a symbolic point of no return for the troika, yet they did not foresee that Galayar would attack so soon. Thus, while significant military forces had been built up along the border, Styldavia’s full strength was not mobilized at the start of hostilities.

Surprise soon turned to cold fury. The conservative and liberal deputies in the Rada formally passed a unity resolution uniting behind President Brezdenyuk. Behind closed doors, party leaders also agreed not to criticize the government's handling of the war, and to keep disagreements out of public view as much as possible.

With the legislature behind him, Brezdenyuk swiftly issued a presidential decree establishing martial law in Styldavia. As part of martial law, all Styldavian men between the ages of 18 and 60 were prohibited from leaving the country. Following advice from foreign minister Henyrk Vyshinskyy, Brezdenyuk chose not to go a step further and ask the Rada to formally declare war on Galayar

Instead, he gave a televised speech.

“Patriots of the republic, honored allies. This morning, soldiers of the Galayarese Armed Forces illegally crossed the border into Morovina Oblast. They fired indiscriminately on our settlements as well as military positions, using various types of weaponry, including heavy artillery. I have been told that as a result of the enemy’s fire, there are numerous casualties among the civilian population and our servicemen. Some of our people have been wounded. Others have been killed.”

He paused.

“Brother Styldavians, when I first entered politics, I never imagined that I would be the first president of our republic to give this speech. Yet I have sworn to uphold our constitution and defend the people. As the brave soldiers of the ZSS must do their duty, so will I. As long as there is breath within me, Styldavia will never bow to foreign aggression. The invaders will see only our grim faces, for we will not show our backs to them.”

“As president of the Republic of Styldavia, I call upon every citizen to rise against these invaders who would occupy our Fatherland. Their foreign blood will enrich our soil, and their leaders will reap only bitter defeat. I also call upon our allies to honor the articles of the North Sea Pact, which state that an attack on one is an attack on all.”

Even before Brezdenyuk’s address had begun, the ZSS was fully engaged in the undeclared war. Following standard military doctrine, the Eastern Front command was activated under heneral-bulavnyy Oleksandr Kutsyn, combining the 2nd and 3rd Viyska under one strategic grouping with a strength of approximately twenty-five line divisions in four army corps. The corps of the western districts are being prepared for deployment to the east, although this will take time. For now, units on the border must hold out for reinforcements.

Faith in the ZSS, together to victory!

AetheodalandRaFLaNdIaHerilosikaKoedricOncadiaMelihosnovisPorturhevThe Fire BornDivankhabanGalayarCresrSchweitserVolskaMurnik