SAAR-CAAR Border, Western Border Checkpoint, Former Namibia
Captain Hanneli Van Der Vyver and Corporal Owino Lukwiya stand next to the barrier of the border crossing, holding their rifles as they watch the road. The checkpoint rarely sees much activity anymore due to the Great African Highway, built in the 2200s, allowing the few people working at the checkpoint to just relax.
“Looks like another quiet day, Captain.” Owino says, looking at her. “Just like every other day…”
Captain Der Vyver nods, looking away from the CAAR side of the border. “At least we don’t have to worry about being harassed by dissidents or bureaucrats like the guys at the cities or the ones who patrol the rural areas.”
“Yeah, you’re right about that.” Owino says, before the two look back at the border and stop as they look directly at an unknown soldier now standing on the CAAR side of the border as well as the checkpoint having changed, with a very German-looking flag hanging from the flag poles.
“What.” Both say at the same time.
On the other side of the new “border”, a single blocky imperial outpost stood tall and proud above the rather empty grassland it resided in. Well, as tall and proud as a brutalist concrete slab could, anyways. Truth be told the outpost hadn’t been particularly well maintained, and looked as if it dated back to the 1980s. Such as the reality of “guarding” the border of an inland backwater province.
Sgt. Theodore Guderian was… incredibly bored. Well, that was until the other side of the border suddenly changed, revealing… yet more relatively underdeveloped grassland. Great. That and there were some unknown soldiers occupying what used to be part of the Empire’s South African Reichskommissariat. Guderian decided to radio high command before getting on a loudspeaker.
“Hey you there! What are you doing in the Empire’s South African colony? Identify yourselves!” He shouted in German just as a few other soldiers in the outpost scrambled outside, weapons ready.
The shouting snaps the pair out of their confusion, the two immediately taking a far more alert stance, readying their weapons as the few border guards rush out to join them. Captain Der Vyver is the one to respond, connecting to the speaker system of the checkpoint.
“I am Captain Der Vyver of the South African Administration Region’s Regional Defence Force, who are you and what is this “Empire” you speak of?” She asks, her words being translated into German, if somewhat different due to centuries of change. “Because just a few seconds ago that where you are standing was the Central African Administration Region.”
“Central African Administration? Sorry? This land has always been part of Europan MitttelAfrika!” Guderian replied. The old German narrowed his gaze on the foreigners: they were… odd to say the least. Clearly not Americans but who else could they be? “The Empire of Europa is the finest nation on Earth, and we have ruled this wretched continent for the last 200 years. If you want more answers, I suggest you send someone over so we can… have a chat.”
“Europan MittelAfrika? Two hundred years? Do you remember anything like that?” Owino says to Der Vyver who just shakes her head. The Captain then looks back towards Guderian.
“I will come over to talk.” Der Vyver replies, before signalling one of the border guards to get her a tablet. Once the tablet is given to her, she approaches the “Europan” side of the border, speaking to Guderian in South African English. “Are you the one in charge here?”
A few soldiers stood at guard as De Vyver made her way to the border outpost. Guderian briefly saluted (in a Nazi fashion), as was customary in the Empire. “Sgt. Theodore Guderian, 192nd Burgundian Infantry Regiment. And yes, I happen to be the one in charge of this small outpost. I’m guessing you’re here looking for answers?”
”A Nazi salute? That’s concerning.” The Captain thinks to herself after Gudernian salutes. After giving her own salute in response, she replies. “Of course. After all, I certainly don’t remember there being a “Europan MittelAfrika” here, let alone for 200 years. Do you perhaps have somewhere we can sit? I’m sure it’d be more comfortable for both of us while talking, no?”
“A place to sit? Of course,” Guderian says before leading De Vyver into one of the small outpost’s officer’s rooms. “There’s a coffee machine in the corner if you want any. Sadly we don’t have anything better in these parts, mostly because the government always tries to cut costs,” Guderian shrugged.
“Anyways, you say that you are from a certain South African Administrative Region? Do tell what that is.”
“Alright.” Der Vyver says, before turning on the tablet to help show what she is talking about. “The South African Administration Region is, as the name suggests, is an administrative region of the Council of National Salvation, which was the ruling government of Sol and the few systems we could still travel to after getting cut off from everyone else back in 2636 and taking over from the old Orion League government. With the event, the SAAR now the only presence of the CNS on Earth.”
After a moment of silence she then looks to Guderian. “What can you tell me of this MittelAfrika of yours? And this Empire you mentioned, too.”
“A nation from the future? How quaint,” Guderian grabbed himself a cup of coffee. “As for MittelAfrika? Ahh, it’s a long story I reckon wikipedia could explain better, but I shall tell you what I know. Europa as an Empire descends from the old HRE, which united hundreds of years ago and went on to conquer Europe. During the colonization spree of the late 1800s, our Empire took its fair share in the form of the Congo. It’s been over a hundred years so our rule of the region has more or less solidified. Keeping the Africans in their place and all,” Guderian shrugged.
“The HRE? Interesting.” Der Vyver says, choosing not to voice her thoughts about his last comment. “For us, it dissolved in 1806, following the defeat by the First French Empire at the Battle of Austerlitz. Certainly a very different timeline from us. It also looks like both our nations are in a similar predicament, going by your early confusion.”
“The French? Bah, we absorbed those useless republicans back when they tried overthrowing their king in the late 1780s. It’s surprising to see that they did so well in your world. But yes, our nation too seems to have been… transplanted to this new Earth. It’s highly unfortunate, especially given the territorial losses we’ve suffered. But what can you do about it?”
Guderian sighed. “But anyways, if you want more exact answers, I’m definitely not the person you want to talk to. I could just give you access codes to the internet or something, though that wouldn’t be proper. Say, perhaps we can arrange for a data exchange of sorts?”
“A data exchange would work.” Der Vyver replies. “I’ll pass the request up the chain, then it’s in the hands of the bureaucrats. I’m sure it’ll be accepted though. I suppose we’ll see more of each other at our posts for the foreseeable future. Thank you for being willing to talk. I’ll take my leave now.” Der Vyver then salutes and heads back to the SAAR checkpoint to inform command and pass the data exchange offer along.
South African Administration Region, Jan 1st, Year 0
Cape Town, Regional Administration Council Building
The members of the RAC sit around the central table of the council room, Chairman Frederich Van Deventer sitting at the end of it with Daniel Wyrick, the commander of the SDF forces in the SAAR sitting at the opposite end. Looking around the table, Chairman Deventer speaks.
“So, we’re it then?” He asks the council, who all nod. “I see. What do you all have to report?”
“All resource imports have ceased.” The Chief of Economic Affairs says. “With rationing, our reserves will last two years, three at the very most. We need to find new sources and fast. Satellite pictures show Madagascar to be like it was before human habitation, which we believe means that it is no longer resource depleted. I suggest at least occupying Atsimo-Andrefana and Melaky’s titanium regions.”
“Do it.” The Chairman says. “Titanium is far too important for us to be reliant on imports. What about dissident activity?”
“So far, they’ve been quiet.” The Chief of Internal Intelligence reports. “Attacks on patrols have reduced by 70% and other dissident activity has fallen by a similar amount. We believe they are staying quiet to reorganise after the...event.”
“Let me know as soon as activity starts increasing again.” Deventer says. “We can’t afford to allow the SAAR to become unstable. Now, about that transmission from the UN, is it real?”
“All our checks confirm it is real.” The Chief of Diplomatic Affairs replies. “They must be a UN from a very different timeline than us as the UN we knew collapsed during the Resource Wars.”
“Then we will send a response to them and to the rest of the world as well.” Deventer says. “We need to assert our independence. And the border?”
"Our border posts along the former CAAR border has reported contact with a "Europan Empire" that now occupy it. They have also passed along offers of a mutual data exchange between our two nations." The Chief of Diplomatic Affairs answers. "Shall we assemble a basic diplomatic package with history and other data that would be publicly available?"
"You have permission to do so. Once it's put together, send it to one of the checkpoints to pass to this Empire." The Chairman says. "Anyone have anything else to add?"
After several seconds of silence Deventer nods. “Very well. Then this ends today’s council session. I will record a response to the UN. Hail Sol.”
An hour later a video and audio message is broadcast from Cape Town.
This is a message to the United Nations and the other nations stranded on this Earth.
I am Frederich Van Deventer, Chairman of the South African Administration Region, part of the Council of Nation Salvation. We like you have been taken from our Earth and transplanted here, separated from the rest of humanity's government. While we will respect your independence, we won't allow you to infringe upon our own independence with your laws which we did not vote for and as such will have no jurisdiction here.
Now, this is for all the other states out there stranded on this Earth: While we have no wish for war, we will not hesitate to retaliate against any acts of aggression towards us with our full force. But if you come in peace and trade, we welcome you with open arms. Once we are able, we will send out diplomatic envoys who wish to have them, including the UN.
Two regiments of RDF troops as well as support equipment are ordered to cross over to Madagascar with the aim of clearing Atsimo-Andrefana and Melaky and setting up basic infrastructure so that work can begin on setting up mines in the regions. It is expected to start two days after the message to the world.