The Markoh Conference [MT, Closed]

[Repulaea]

Markoh, Mira Island

The proceedings began on November 7th as scheduled and were now entering their final stages. Delegates from all the major Coalition powers were in attendance. Supreme Commander of COSPN Forces, Lieutenant General Zachary Marcer was to sign the Markoh Resolution for the COSPN nations. Minister of Defense Sir Alexander Cane was also in attendance, having just flown in from Repulaea a day earlier. The official peace document, including the terms for Keymoa's ultimate surrender and Central Gavra's capitulation, were about to be presented to the congregation in the government house in downtown Markoh. It was an appropriate event as it marked the one year anniversary of the attack on the Repulaean embassy in Mallaska which killed 24 people. The conference was also being held on the island where the war began in earnest. The conflict which had taken the lives of about 300,000 people region-wide over the course of a long, blood soaked year was about to officially come to a close.

The newly formed Joint Coalition Alliance of Gavra (JCAG), comprised of Mallaska and the four COSPN powers, assigned delegates to present the terms to the Gavran delegation.

---

Terms of Gavran Surrender and Occupation

Here inscribed are the terms for the unconditional surrender of the nation of Keymoa and the occupational rights of the Coalition as dictated by the Joint Coalition Alliance of Gavra and its affiliates.

* The nation of Keymoa, its government and its military will surrender in full and unconditionally to JCAG, specifically to the offices of the Mallaskan Federal Government and Military Command.

* As per the occupational responsibilities afforded to each Coalition nation of JCAG, Mallaska will retain total occupational control over Keymoa to conduct reconstructive and rehabilitative efforts in the country and is permitted to retain total occupational dominion over the country for as long as the Federal Government deems necessary.

* Mallaska is granted oversight over Mira Island which will be granted a semi-autonomous status for the near future.

* Mallaska is granted unrestricted basing rights in both Mira and Keymoa.

* COSPN is granted jurisdiction in East Gavra and will oversee a process of reconstruction and democratization there. It will also be afforded unrestricted basing rights in East Gavra and oversight over the East Gavran Provisional Government and Republican Militia.

* Central Gavran airspace will be subjected to the formation of a JCAG administered "interdiction zone" whereby JCAG air forces shall hold complete dominion over Central Gavran skies for the foreseeable future and are granted the right control air traffic as it sees fit.

* Central Gavra will not be permitted to reconstruct its air forces to a level beyond 40% of its prewar strength.

* JCAG will be granted complete access to Gavran waters for the remainder of the reconstruction process.


Subsection: Assurances afforded to Central Gavra

- Unless there is a blatant breach in the above stated terms, JCAG shall not resume military action against Central Gavra and will not base any ground forces within the country.

- Upon request, JCAG will provide humanitarian relief to Central Gavra's postwar reconstruction efforts on the condition that JCAG monitors the flow of provisions.

[Keymoa]

Leader Gestroiva Laskaz
Keymoan Delegation

After scanning the surrender document thoroughly, Laskaz made an address to the delegation. Alongside Laskaz was a single Keymoan National Army Major, whom was the highest-ranking Keymoan military official by the end of the war, as the highest-ranking had either fled, committed suicide, or died fighting. Laskaz himself was in a dirty suit, with rips in his pants and particles of dust still tainting his coat. At his hip was the lavish Makarov of former leader Menla Keev, which he would present to the Mallaskans as a gift, considering their veracious appetite for firearms.

"Good representatives, we would like to formally agree to your terms regarding our full surrender. It is indisputable that the wrongs of the Keev Regime must be put right, and in order to be put right, it is integral that I, as acting leader of Keymoa, sign your terms. It is of my utmost concern, however, to inform you of my hopes that Keymoa shall be redeveloped into a stable democratic state. The full remaining military power of Keymoa shall be henceforth be relinquished to Mallaskan military officials. It is our request that Keymoan prisoners of war be released at once, as any prisoners we possess shall be returned at full haste."

And with his brief address to the delegation, Laskaz picked up his pen and wrote his signature upon the presented terms of surrender, thus officially ending the war.

[Repulaea]

Markoh, Mira Island

After the JCAG delegates signed the Markoh Resolution, the conference hall erupted into cheers. General Marcer gathered together his general staff and those of the other JCAG commands and broke out his father's cherished bottle of 1962 vintage Southern Repulaean Champagne, never before opened. The bottle and its contents were priceless. As promised at the Port Hejarta Summit one year ago, he shared the large vintage bottle with everyone and payed tribute to those who could not celebrate with them, wiping away a few tears as he recalled some of the toughest days of the conflict that stole the lives of a grand total of 3,623 of his people, four having been killed in sporadic fighting since the fall of Menlavkee. Finally, on the one year anniversary of Repulaea's entrance into the war, a treaty was signed, the deed was done and the war was over.

In the Mallaskan occupied harbor off Mira, C.R.S. Capital (BR-161) fired off all nine of her massive 16 inch guns into the distance as it flew the Mallaskan and Repulaean colors proudly alongside a fresh new JCAG flag. The joint Mallaskan and Repulaean crew remained aboard to celebrate as it hosted a party for the admirals of the Coalition navies. A massive multinational gaggle of aircraft soared over Mira and then broke off to their respective bases and carriers. It was a scene of marshal joy that would only last so long. Soon, the cheers would fade, the troops would go home and the clean up work would begin in earnest. But, for today, the harbor was abuzz with life.


Rear Admiral Jared Tanson, soon to be promoted to Vice Admiral, would, after a well-deserved vacation back home, be taking over as Supreme Commander of Repulaea's Gavran Command based at Port Utoria, East Gavra. He had a massive, daunting job ahead of him which included, but was not limited to, the democratization of East Gavra, the reconstruction of a shattered region and the implementation of the interdiction zone over Central Gavra.

Lieutenant General Zachary Marcer, now the second highest ranking man in the Royal Army, planned to return home to seek an administrative position. He was renowned nationwide as the greatest general since Maxwell Kern during the Regime War, though his self view was not so immodest. Until he returned home, however, he planed to stay another two weeks to help COSPN's Military attaches to Malaska settle in at Camp Casdin in Callista. There, COSPN could coordinate with the Mallaskan military command effectively since they generously allowed the base to remain in COSPN hands. Euneian Federal Air Force General Paxton Brees was soon to take command of the first Joint Flight School (JFL) which offered programs for officers and cadets from all JCAG countries. The school would be based at Camp Casdin.

Sierra company's one year deployment was literally served to the day. Along with being the most hard hit combat company in the war, Sierra was one of the most experienced, long serving and decorated. It boasted one of the most colorful combat performance records of the conflict and racked up numerous individual and unit citations. They were due to ship back home on November 15th. Until then, they were given occupational duties in Keymoa, preparing for the imminent transition to Mallaskan control of the country. A few men, like Sergeant Josh "Cal" Caluin, who would soon receive an officer's commission, would stay on in East Gavra to help train the Republican Militia there. Most however, like 1st Sergeant Ron Mattius, would be going home. Ron would have a difficult time adjusting to civilian life after receiving a special dispensation from the Defense Ministry to be honorably discharged two years before his enlistment was up. He had had enough of war and enough of the military. Ron would, in one month time, be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, as would many young men and women coming home from the Gavran Islands. Nightmares, flashbacks and minor muscle spasms would remain his lifelong companions. With his immediate life an uncertainty, Ron's homecoming was difficult. He would eventually go on to write a biography of his company's trails during the war called The Sierra Boys. The bestseller would help him center his life and come to terms with the tragedy of the "year of hell". He would spend the rest of his life as a writer for the Magistrate Herald and Modern Take magazines after receiving a masters in journalism from RUA Oresta.

The war had highlighted a significant change in the Repulaean nation as a whole. It denoted a shift in Repulaean foreign policy, putting an end to the age old isolationism of the Corslem Doctrine. It reinforced the national identity and strengthened the country's resolve. It also empowered President Christoph Tannas who would soon lead the country into an era of progressive reform and growth that would come to be known as the "Liberal Renaissance". For a president who led the country through an arduous international war and simultaneously wrenched it from the muck of economic recession, a second term was almost assured while the his prewar fiasco such as the Dalsiph Region Crisis and the Myriad Mile Incident were largely forgotten.

Now, the nation would need to bind its wounds and work to heal the injuries done to the Gavran region. There would need to be democratization and public welfare building at a grassroots level to attain this healing. It would mean years of hard work and struggle. Ultimately, however, one can take comfort in the fact that the worst had passed. The war was over. A new future was just over the horizon.