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by **Hornatyia** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 12:24 pm

Explosions rock Benkove Region, crucial military structures destroyed in suspected attack from Estovakiva

Cizekporok, HORNATYIA (August 18, 2015) -- Explosions rocked the Benkove Region today, resulting in heavy loss of life. Defense Ministry officials said that they suspected it was a cruise missile attack and were pointing the blame at Estovakiva. "This is a blatant aggression towards the Kingdom of Hornatyia. We know who is behind this and they will be punished", said Defense Ministry spokesman Jan Skalský.

Among the destruction were numerous spectators watching the preparations for the Navy Day celebrations on August 20th. Emergency Services declined to state how many people were killed, however estimates put the death toll in the upper hundreds. A number of the ships were sunk in the Ksyuce Harbor, with two patrol ships and several minesweepers sunk. The radar site at Skrzeczoń was also completely destroyed. The Hornatyian Air Force Base at Zarch was also heavily damaged, as well as several army bases scattered around the island.

Prime Minister Štefan Jahnátek cut his visit to Neidmar short, returning home in the government's Ares 410. Upon his arrival, he immediately headed to the Prime Minister's office and has not been seen since.

Royal family members on the Benkove Island were evacuated to mainland Hornatyia, with evacuation preparations underway for the majority of residents. Emergency officials put in place an evacuation order for the Benkove Island, fearing further attacks.

by **Western Confederation** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 12:30 pm

Controversy around Hornatyia's RCO exit
On August 9th 62% of the Hornatyians voted in favour of leaving the Romulan Cooperation Organization (RCO), but controversial comments from Estovakiva's leader Autarch Vladimir Makarov fumed international reactions such as from chief economist of the Pardesi Monetary Fund (PMF) Yosef Berman, as well as our own economic pundits.
Christine Ridgeway, cridgeway@lsj.com — (Liberty Square Journal)
^{August 16, 2015 | Franklin, South Lake}

_{PICTURED: Former CEO of Hudson Angelo and LSJ pundit Steven Norwich.}

LSJ - The people of Hornatyia have decided, with a majority of 62% they have voted to exit the Romula Cooperation Organization (RCO). With the legitimate democratic procedure Hornatiyia has left the organization, its secession left the majority of RCO's member states appease. Yet RCO member Estovakiva denounced its actions, claiming that Cinigrad lacked proper information. Autarch Vladimir Makarov, Estovakiva's leader, announced the intent to cancel off all Esto-Hornatyian projects. International reactions on these controversial remarks were quick to follow.

Yosef Berman, chief economist of the Pardesi Monetary criticizes Makarov's remarks. Stressing that the UDB [United Development Bank] is a compartment of the global economic development financial community and its framework is based on protocols and procedures in which no nation, according to its charter, has veto powers over. He says, "To cancel a UDB contract would take the full vote of the UDB council and a legitimate rationale. As such, Autarch Markov's declaration on the matter should be considered null and void by any interested party. In the very unlikely case Estovakiva somehow can force through a vote on UDB council to cancel the projects, I believe Hornatyia has full recourse to turn to the OPA [Organization for Pardesi Affairs] since such a rationale is not a legitimate contractual breach under any civilized nation's laws."

But perhaps the greater question is why would Cinigrad make such a controversial move? Creating an atmosphere in which one nation is economically excluded for the benefit of the other - which in essence Cinigrad is proporting with said statements - is an illegal act. But to breach bilateral contracts that encompass large sums of money is something international organs cannot stand idly by. Esto-Hornatyian economic relationship entails contracts that are signed and cannot be breached on the basis that one nation decides to leave an organization.

"But perhaps it is more so the fact that they [Estovakiva] are damaging themselves with their statements." says LSJ economic pundit and former CEO of Hudson Angelo, Steven Norwich, which is in agreement with Mr. Berman and adds; "Investors are not interested to stick with nations that are popular for breaching multi-billion dollar contracts on international level. Nor are such nations reliable business partners, which is a must-have in the 21st century.

The impact this could have on global financial markets is much more severe, economic distrust between powers could instigate panic, financial assets within that particular region of the world will plummet without proper management and uncontrolled decisions that swing from day to day. This is why global superpowers such as Belhavia, Belfras, Emmeria, Anikatia and Rodarion are sharing a long-term vision to stabilize a much more volatile landscape that is the markets. I hope Estovakivan leaders come back to its senses and distinguishes rhetoric from rationale." Says Mr. Norwich.

The Lewis Yorkshire Industrial Average dropped 1.5%, most of the LYIA index companies ended in green except Sussex Standard, which turned the tide, mainly due to the recent developments concerning Estovakiva-Hornatyia. According to financial analysts, must the Estovakivan leaders get back to rationale, the market will correct swiftly. The SUP500 dropped 2.3% and the Viridian FEDRANQ composite had a close at 0.4%.

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by **Temuair** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 8:15 pm

Emperador Avila responds to Esto-Hornatyia conflict

Emperador Avila VII spoke to a full session of the Chamber of Demagogues regarding the ongoing conflict in Hornatyia

Dinsar – Astrid: At approximately 0300 hours, local time, this morning, Estovakivan forces launched a surprise air and seaborne attack against strategic targets in southern Hornatyia, primarily focusing on the Benkove region, a large island located south of the Lusankyan nation. According to early reports from Hornatyia Today, the region was assailed by attacks carried out by Imperial Federation Air Force aircraft, and cruise missile strikes fired from bombers and Imperial Federation Naval vessels. Early reports state that the death toll from these attacks was “heavy” and that many tourists in the region for the nations annual “Navy Day” celebrations were killed in the attacks, which resulted in intense firestorms throughout the city, as well as severely crippling infrastructure, including electricity and water, denying thousands of costumers service and adding diffaculty to an already deplorable situation.

Addressing a full session of the Chamber of Demagogues this morning, Emperador Avila VII expressed his shock and dismay at the “wanton aggression” shown by the Imperial Federation of Estovakiva, declaring that the invasion was both “dastardly and illegal”. He implored that the Imperial Federation cease its uncalled for and hostile actions and refrain from escalations of hostilities, including landing ground forces. Further, the Emperador went on to praise the Rodarian Foreign Minister Basescu and his efforts to bring the two nations to the negotiation table and find a lasting peace. He cautioned, however, that should the conflict be escalated, that Temuair, along with its allies in Skandera, may intervene in the conflict to protect the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hornatyia. In his address, the Emperador stated that he has no desire to “engage in armed conflict with any nation, nor do [I] desire to upset the stability of the region anymore than these attacks already have, but if no others will stand against a tyrant, then Aislings will. The biggest threat to global stability is to allow tyranny in any form to go unchecked, especially as it attempts to inflict its hegemony onto others. It is my sincere desire that both nations choose peace over war.” As usual, his remarks were greeted with contempt by Anxo Cordeiro and other sitting members of the Homefront Party.

According to various sources, the governments of both Sieuxerr and Dniegua have begun considering active intervention in the conflict. Further, it has been reported that a first draft of a Organization of Pardesi Affairs resolution condemning the attacks against Hornatyia as both unjust and illegal. Political analyst and Luathas University professor Dores Barcia stated that, based on comments made by the Emperador and other government members, Temuair should be expected to support any resolution condemning the attacks and that “the Emperador's statements were indicative of his willingness to commit resources to a multinational effort to protect the Kingdom of Hornatyia, by force if necessary.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel advisory to all Aislings traveling abroad to leave Hornatyia, or cancel any plans to venture there. Aislings within the Kingdom may travel to the Imperial embassy in Cizekporok for assistance in departing the nation. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued similar advisories against traveling to the Imperial Federation for the time being. The embassy in Cinigrad will remain open unless hostilities between the Imperial Federation and Temuair commence.

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by **New Belhavia** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:17 pm

Trending Stories -- Sea of Orlessia Spat -- Goredemabwan Coup -- Niyerian War -- OSEN Splinter -- Valinor in Hornatyia

OPINION: A Giant with Crumbling Feet? The Case Against Rodarian 'Ordained Destiny'

_{Pictured: Skyline of the Greater Romula Metropolitan area.}

Op-Ed: Why Rodarian Confidence For the Future Is Complicated By A Stunning Array of Internal Crises
^{August 21st, 2015| By Dovid Adelstein (Op-Ed Contributor) | 9:31pm EDT}

Editor's note: Dovid Adelstein is a well-respected political scientist and professor at the Abramowicz School of Foreign Affairs at Imperial Provisa University. He also has a blog, "Rodarian Watcher", which he regularly posts comments and information on the state of Rodarion in today's world, often from a critical perspective.

Every year, myself and many other "experts" on Rodarion meet at some conference somewhere to discuss the country's future; politically, economically, geopolitically and militarily speaking. In most cases we all leave feeling highly optimistic, of course there are a group who are deeply pessimistic and critical, but generally we all leave having had enjoyed a time of hopefully discussion, yet if we are to understand the country, just like any other, we need to understand its problems, because usually problems and issues drive policy one way rather than the other. Despite all the achievements of Rodarion, it is a nation riddled with problems (this is not a criticism, a mere acknowledgment of the troubles it faces).

It's the Demography, stupid!

Rodarion is the largest country in the world by population by a colossal margin, with 1.46 billion people it is colossal in itself, difficult it is to draw people into realisation of how large it is. Virtually every single Rodarian province, including the four municipal cities have populations equal or larger to some nations, Iertare Province (the most polluted place in the world I might add) has a population of 118 million people, if it were a country of its own, it would be in the top ten. Videle, Rodarion's second city has more citizens within its boundaries than there are people in Hornatyia. Hopefully that helps the realisation.

Every year Rodarion must produce 16 million jobs in order to maintain sufficient levels of unemployment, by 2020 the number is set to rise to 19 million jobs per year, should it fail to do so unemployment will rise (obviously), but with Rodarion's population being young, uneducated and even educated long term unemployed youths tend to have nothing to lose and it is this demographic that you will find forms the backgrounds of most modern revolutions and in a country like Rodarion which is authoritarian, the consequences of masses of unemployed youths politically will be profound if not devastating to the status quo in Rodarion.

The second obvious issue is both the environment and prices attached to it. At this moment in time, there is a housing crisis in Rodarian cities, it's hardly building enough living spaces for the migrants moving in from the rural regions, this is pushing up prices and rents and with the government overly cautious in introducing rent controls, there's going to be troubles. Exacerbating this is the very nature of housing in big Rodarian cities, the average family owns a two bedroom apartment - the average Rodarian family consists of a mother and father, and four to five children, millions live on top of each other. But as the cities grow still, the amount of land free for agriculture diminishes, let alone the degradation of soil already prevalent, the decline of agriculture in Rodarion will push up food prices as the country is forced to import more, water will become more difficult to access and distribute evenly, this will be the same for energy, as the number of consumers grows. Economic troubles will emerge from uncontrolled population growth, this however may affect Rodarion more so than any other issue presented.

Political stagnation and the haunting of nationalism

The National Catholic Party according to some is the most successful political entity in modern history, having alone transformed Rodarion from an agrarian backwater, into the second largest economy in the world in just 40 years, others say it was a party of opportunity that first transformed the country into an authoritarian religious police state, then transformed the economy to maintain power. Whatever you may think of the NCP, it has done its job well.

However, the economic reforms that have benefited it with near-complete political domination, have also drained it of ideological purpose. National Catholicism won the day, it is entrenched in the system, in the land and the people that live upon it. The NCP today is not ideological as it was in 1955, it defeated communism (brutally), destroyed liberalism (slowly and painfully) and has dismissed the centre-right as weak and pointless, today the NCP appears to be nothing more than a party of power, one that only has its record and nationalism to keep it open to voters. With the opposition parties powerless and completely alien to the electorate, the NCP will by default become stagnant, it will not have to offer anything new, the opposition is just simply unelectable.

Nationalism is playing its part today more so than ever before in Rodarian politics, for decades the NCP has cultivated nationalism within general society, it has worked, but perhaps it has worked too well. The danger of a highly nationalistic population is that they expect and demand their government to go the extra mile; let's take the Orlessian Sea crisis for example, the more the Neidmarians act aggressively, the more nationalistic fury will rise up in Rodarion and this puts more pressure on the government (which is equally nationalistic) to take a tough line. But the greatest danger is that the Rodarian government has little room to backtrack, one step back on the Orlessian Sea issue could result in uproar in the population, with the Patriotic Society of the Papal Republic taking the role of the people's nationalistic voice, the government is under threat of being torn down by its very own creation.

Yet conversely the Vatican remains immune, even though it is the apex of the Rodarian state, it seems to be above the messiness of ideology and party politics, however when you consider the implications to all the issues raised in this article, you will surely debate, how immune is the Vatican really?

Chocking smog will choke the Rodarian economy

Rodarion is the largest producer of carbon emissions in the world, it's environment is dying at a rate not seen in human history, its water, soil and air are all being affected by its rapid industrialisation. In March, a chemical accident leaked benzene, a known cancer-causing agent, into a tributary of the Turau River. More than 20 people were hospitalized as a result, according to the Dakos Mail, area residents were forced to rely on fire trucks to deliver safe drinking water.

More than half of Rodarion's surface water is so polluted it cannot be treated to make it drinkable, the Economic Observer reports, and one-quarter of it is so dangerous it can't even be used for industrial purposes, let alone touched with bare skin. Groundwater isn't any safer: About 40 percent of Rodarion's farmland relies on underground water for irrigation, and an estimated 90 percent is polluted. About 60 percent of the groundwater beneath Rodarian cities is described as "severely polluted" by the Economic Observer.

The most well known environmental issue that affects Rodarion is its air pollution. According to the Environmental Protection Office at the OPA says, any pollution rating above 300 means the air is unsafe to breathe. Under these conditions, people should stay indoors with an air purifier running and remain as motionless as possible. In January alone, there were 23 days when the index in Romula surpassed that 300 threshold, and readings above 500 are no longer unusual. On Jan. 12, the reading reached an eye-bleeding 886, comparable to living inside a smoking lounge.

Manufacturing industries and Romula's 5 million-plus cars and motorbikes all contribute to the city's crippling air pollution, but most experts primarily blame the coal-burning electrical plants that power Rodarion's breakneck economic growth. Rodarion now burns 53 percent of the world's coal, roughly equal to the amount used by all other countries of the world combined. And Romula is surrounded by a vast network of coal-burning power plants. But as foul as it is, Romula's air isn't even Rodarion's worst: That dubious honor goes to Bacau in the country's far west, which frequently joins other Rodarian cities like Livada and Videleon lists of the world's most polluted places.

Air pollution is killing people, but it is also angering people, they want to breath clean air for once and have clean drinking water, but you take all of these issues individually and they're profound in their consequences, but you take them all collectively and they are serious threats to Rodarion's future. So you understand the issues and problems, you begin to understand actions taken.

Contrary to its rhetoric and action, Papist Rodarion has a haunting array of internal crises that left untreated will bring about its downfall. As I laid out in this essay, Rodarion cannot address these issues since they are a byproduct of its own choices. We are now seeing the beginning of the regime's death throws as its long decline is set to begin.

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by **Minnysota** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 8:20 am

First Non-Arkian Councilmen Appointed to Secondary Council
Written by Jon Cristenson

Meet Michael Feda, the New Chief Economic Adviser

The Federal Council made headway nearly a month ago when it announced that negotiations with neighboring countries had resulted in the creation of the first military alliance to which Minnysota had joined. Ending centuries of military isolation, the move seemed to indicate that this relatively young group of Divine Representatives would look to make more shocking changes to the way the country operates. They did not disappoint.

Earlier today, the Federal Council released a joint statement featuring the endorsements of all three heads of states that confirmed the Democratic Council's choice for the recently vacated position. Both the executive and legislative branches agreed to appoint Michael Feda, a Catholic hailing from Saint Paul, to the Secondary Council. After a string of scandals mostly surrounding his philandering lifestyle and drinking habits, the old CEA, Frank Amizio, resigned. The move is without a doubt one of the most revolutionary changes to Minnysotan politics since The Reformations following the Civil War. Even as Minnysota transitioned to a democracy back then, no non-Arkians held any form of power - at any level of government. Now, we have a Catholic in the second highest level of the executive branch.

There's no telling what the reverberations will be. Certainly, there will be those who claim that the close structural ties the Minnysotan government has to the Arkian Empire has dictate that only Arkians should hold political power. However, it's also smart to allow more diversity in the government. A small group of international organizations have called Minnysota's democracy "phony", going as far to say that it is a de facto theocracy. While the move might not do much to change those voices, it should do more to open the doors to non-Arkian politicians. If this sets us down a path where more non-Arkians are ushered into higher positions of power, Minnysota might have to face the tough fact that the gods will be completely separate from how the country operates.

• Non-Arkian Head of State Possible in our Lifetime?[ 329 ]
• Federal Council Condemns Estovakivan Attacks[ 1544 ]
• Numerous Politicians and Councilmen Declare Minnysotan Support for Rodarian Claims in the Orlessian Sea[ 1544 ]

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by **Central Prestonia** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 7:03 pm

Military "At Heightened Readiness" Following Estovakivan Attack; Leaders Join Calls for Peace

Troops of the 3rd Tourma (Regiment) of the Cappadocian Theme (Division) partake in exercises in this May 2015 file photo. Troops and naval assets have been ordered to a heightened state of alert following a surprise attack on the Kingdom of Hornatyia undertaken by Estovakivan forces earlier this week.

Basilerium Military forces across the nation have been ordered to heightened states of alert and readiness following the savage and unprecedented attacks on the neighboring Kingdom of Hornatyia by forces of the Estovakivan Federation earlier in the week, Imperial General Staff spokespersons confirmed this afternoon.

Addressing a throng of state and foreign media in a press briefing this afternoon, Imperial General Staff spokesman Maj. Gen. Stavros Pappas confirmed that "a heightened state of readiness has been ordered...for all units" of the Basilene military but did not elaborate, saying only that "units will assume an active defensive posture for the duration" of hostilities.

"This is a dangerous and unpredictable situation, unprecedented in our modern history," Pappas told assembled media. "As such, we have ordered this heightened state with a view toward defending our state and its interests should any such need arise."

This move comes in the wake of devastating bombings in the Hornatyian region of Benkove, alleged to be carried out by Estovakivan forces in an apparent retaliation for Hornatyia's earlier exit from the Romula Cooperation Organisation (RCO) bloc, of which Estovakiva is a member. While no death toll has yet been released by the Hornatyian government, several independent aid organizations have put preliminary numbers in the upper hundreds killed and perhaps a further thousand critically wounded. Hospitals in the region have reported difficulties dealing with the overflow of casualties, with some critical victims being airlifted to facilities outside the region for further treatment. While physical damage was limited to military installations and port facilities, large numbers of civilians gathered near the port for a naval celebration are believed to make up the bulk of those killed.

Addressing the Senate yesterday, Protosekretis Ioannis Kastriotis condemned what he called "a savage and uncalled-for violation of the sovereignty of free Hornatyia," and announced a list of stringent sanctions on Estovakiva to be put to vote at the next regularly-scheduled session Monday morning. These include a freeze of Estovakivan sovereign assets in Basilene banks, as well as accounts linked to individuals or corporations connected to the Estovakivan government or military apparatus. An embargo on arms and war materiel is expected to follow, but was not among those sanctions specifically mentioned by the Protosekretis and may be delayed pending expected three-party talks between Hornatyia, the Papal Republic and Estovakiva.

In a statement to the media this afternoon, Kastriotis expressed a public display of condolences to the Hornatyian people, referencing a call to his counterpart in Hornatyia, Prime Minister Stefan Jahnatek, earlier this week.

"On behalf of the people of Basilerium, our Emperor and our Faith, I express my profound condolences to the honorable Prime Minister Jahnatek at the incalculable destruction and immeasurable loss his country has endured at the hands of those who would seek to clap the free people of Hornatyia back into the chains of bondage and oppression," the Protosekretis told assembled media. "I have communicated to Mr Jahnatek, and now repeat to the world, that the full moral support of Basilerium stands with our brothers in Christ in Hornatyia, and that we will provide to the people of Hornatyia whatever means are necessary to secure their continued free existence in our world."

A separate statement released from the Foreign Ministry took a more measured line, condemning the Estovakivan attacks but appealing for peace to prevail and backing the Rodarian government's overtures toward mediation; these calls for peace were also joined by separate statements from the Emperor and Ecumenical Patriarch, the latter of whom held a peace vigil in the Hagia Sophia which attracted some five-thousand early this morning.

FUSCUM SEA CONFLICT

How we got here: A Timeline [ 5243 ]
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by **Husseinarti** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 10:36 pm

As Conflict Rages In The Kingdom of Hornatyia, Sieuxerrian Armed Forces Put On Readiness
President Adrien Auriol orders a high state of readiness for the armed forces as government questions if intervention is necessary.
Évelyne Arsenault | 22/8/15 | 1430 SUT

At 0300 hours, early on the 18th of August, Imperial Federation of Estovakiva aircraft and possibly submersible craft conducted a series of unprovoked strikes against the Kingdom of Hornatyia. These strikes had been conducted without in-depth intelligence gathering, relaying mostly on satellite imaging, and then were struk without any mercy. This included military targets, but also killed a number of civilians who had been gathered there for the annual celebration "Navy Day". Reports have also come in, that armored airborne infantry forces also landed, with possibly naval landing forces following on after. Upon this information, it has become clear that this is an invasion of the Kingdom of Hornatyia by Estovakiva. At first, eyes went to the entirety of RCO, many asking if this was an RCO sanctioned invasion after the Hornatyian withdraw from the pact. However, once Rodarion and others declared their own surprise and disgust over the blatant violation. It has now become clear that this is a single act of imperialism and disregard against sovereignty of Hornatyia by the Estovakivans.

President Adrien Auriol, not even hours after being informed, had placed the armed forces on high alert and held a conference over the matter. Many different times he was asked if that Sieuxerrian troops would be positioned to intervene and disrupt the invasion so far. The President responded:

"We do not want conflict, as conflict is a means of diplomacy, when all other channels have failed. However we see that the Estovakivans have not even chosen any other mean, instead had become savages and disgraced the RCO, who have done nothing but to attempt to quickly resolve the conflict with minimal loss of life. This type of unprovoked attack will not be tolerated by the international community, this includes our fair Republic, who has brought itself to a heightened state of alertness if the need arises to defend the Hornatyian people from invasion. As Estovakivian forces continue to advance, continue to fight, and continue with no regard to human life, they back the world into a corner with the only solution being to strike out. I warn Autarch Vladimir Makarov in his decision making, for this may be the path of destruction that one will never be able to repair themselves from again, and if need be, Sieuxerr shall be the deliverer of this most righteous justice."

by **Neidmar** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 11:26 am

BREAKING: Armed Forces placed on high alert
Armed forces are placed on high alert as Rodarion military forces are land near Neidmar

Andreas Kless | 20th August 2015

BREAKING NEWS:

An hour ago All branches of the Neidmarrian armed forces where placed on full alert, as Rodarion military vessels were sited less than 200kms from Neidmars Maritime borders. Field Marshal Commanding Johan Stahl made the call soon after rapid reaction forces of the Neidmarrian Navy and Aerospace force and elements of the Neidmarrian Marine Force where deployed to ascertain the exact nature of the rodarion military movements.

No shots have said to have been fired at this point. Live updates on the current escalation here

Field Marshal Stahl has encacted several emergency procedures that have seen leave for all active military personel in the Neidmarrian Armed forces cancelled, these measures also include calling up provincial defence forces accross Neidmar to ensure that the nation is secure. In a statement to the press Stahl commented on Rodarions movements, "These deployments by Rodarion armed forces into International waters could very well pose a grave threat to the strategic and national securty of Neidmar it is there imperative that all measures be taken to ensure that our nation is secure should the worst happen."

Currently it has been confirmed that the 5th Tactical Rapid Martime Response Squadron has deployed near to the Vanguard Reef to observe Rodarion movements in the area and to ensure that Rodarion movements do not impeach on Neidmarrian borders. Along with the navy force a squadron of Aerospace fighters and elements of the 17th Marine Battalion stationed at Fort Halger on Valtis island in eastern Neidmar are also said to be deploying along with the 5th Martime Response Squadron.

Social media has been ablaze since the announcement and reports of Rodarion movements, many people taking to social media to voice their concerns and angert at the blatant aggressiveness of Rodarion many seeing the huge nation has flexing its muscle and trying to bully Neidmar into giving up vital resources that could improve Neidmarrian lives accross the nation. Several political commentators have also been voicing their opinions on the deepening situation in the Orlessia sea.

Popular political commentator Mark Kassen spoke on Baltis National Radio this morning just after Rodarion vessels where spotted. "There is nothing wrong with putting ships in international waters, Neidmar does it Anthor does it every nation does it infact it is important to do so to fight piracy and ensure that the trade lanes of every nation are kept secure, the oceans are not flat bodies of water however there are al manner of reefs and atols and small island chains that no one claims to own either via international law or simply because they are just to far away and have no important resources on it to be worth investing in. The Orlessian sea is riddled with reefs and atolls that shipping lines need to avoid they have been left alone since they were first mapped long before you or I came along, Neither Neidmar or Rodarion has had any interest in these tiny specks of land barely protruding out of the ocean. It is blatantly obvious that Rodarion is using its bulk to claim these islands now due to the Oil and gas that has been reportedly found under neither the ocean around these islands. Its interest is purely out of profit, Looking at Rodarions actions its quite clear that if the oil had not been found in the Orlessia sea they would not have even considered doing what they are currently doing."

The Primeministers office reported that PM George Hess did have a breif conversation with Consul Octavian Ceaușescu over Rodarions actions in the sea however with the Esto-Hornatyian crisis worsening in the south the conversation was cut short. Rodarion recently has received the support of three other nations of the Orlessia sea crisis which some sea as Rodarion trying to isolate Neidmar diplomatically.

When questioned about this on Baltis National Radio Kassen responded stating that the support would definately be worrying the PMs cabinate but largely it was all talk and had no real bairing on the situation. "Belhavia and Anikatia may have spoken out in support of Rodarions claims of the Orlessia sea, but its largely just words from far away nations with no actual power to affect the happening in the Orlessia sea, It is worrying however that Belhavia a member of CDI has spoken out against Neidmar especially since the PardesLeaks a few weaks ago reported the agreement between Key CDI members and Neidmar. However two or three nations backing your claim is not significant backing on the world stage at large there are still alot of actors that have yet to play there part."

The conflict between Estovakia and Hornatyia has largely overshadowed the happenings in the Orlessia sea. Despite the best efforts by nations on both sides to bring the conflict to a quick and peaceful end the conflict only seems set to become more ferocious, Primeminister Hess stated that Neidmar would support Hornatyia in its plight to fend off a larger aggressive nation by providing monetary releif aswell as food and other defensive military equipment to Hornatyia in order to help the nation to defend its borders. He also stated that whilst the Hornatyian PMs visit had been cut short by the Estovakian invasion several deals had already been made including big deal to see Hornatyias energy needs be met in a sustainable fashion, this deal was also said to include agreements that Neidmar would send skilled workers to Hornatyia in order to oass on knowledge and skills that will allow Hornatyia to develop an advanced sustainable economy.

We will continue to report on developments in the Orlessia sea and the Hornatyian conflict as they develop.

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by **Rodarion** » Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:23 am

Cardinal Secretary of State Tiberio Candreva (pictured), is to chair a meeting of the Papal Defence Commission due to Neidmarian provocations.

The Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman has once again reaffirmed the warning given by the Rodarian government four days ago, that any Neidmarian military vessel or personnel found within the Dashed Map Line will be forcibly removed if necessary. Her statements comes after concerns manifested within the Papal Navy over the Neidmarian government's decision to put its entire military on high alert. In her statement, Spokeswoman Rosa Pagano said, "We think it prudent to once again remind the Neidmarian government that any Neidmarian military vessel or personnel found within the Iovian Rise will be forcibly removed, the Papal Republic will not tolerate breaches of its territorial sovereignty".

Already public opinion has turned swiftly against Neidmar within the Papal Republic, three young men were arrested and later released after being caught writing graffiti on the walls of the Neidmarian embassy in Romula, all three wrote, "stay out of Mare Nostrum, or sink to the bottom of it". The Romula Police Command has issued a warning to the embassy and its staff, over concerns that lightning protests could see the embassy become unsafe, the Interior Ministry has confirmed it will post officers to guard the embassy for 24 hours a day.

However the announcement by the Neidmarian government that its military is being placed on high alert has prompted fury within the Papal Navy and officials at both the Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Defence and Homeland Security, speaking yesterday, the deputy commander of the Papal Navy, Admiral Franco De Giorgi said on an interview with Vatican TV, that "moves like this are normal, but to jump to full alert status is easily perceived as aggressive, premature and dangerous, of course the Papal Navy increased its alert status by only one level, to a level that merely recommends vigilance. If we were to raise to full alert status, they would get into a fit of fear and rage, sadly many here feel that way".

Speaking to reporters, Spokeswoman Rosa Pagano made clear that the Papal Republic had not stepped back from its threat to protect its territorial waters or national interests, "I cannot stress to all present and indeed the Neidmarian authorities that we will act to protect our interests and our territorial sovereignty, no matter what slogans the Neidmarian government produces to brand the Papal Republic, the entire world sees the tense and close situation the Neidmarians have themselves created.

"They created tensions through aggression, they created mistrust and anger and they will know the consequences very well if they take equally aggressive action against Rodarian territorial waters, this has not and will not change until the Neidmarian nation agrees to abandon neo-imperialism and expansionist aggression" she said.

The Papal Navy has stepped up further patrols across the Iovian Rise, with an additional four frigates moved to the Mantova Islands and the HHS Santa Resurrezione, a Crusader class destroyer has also been moved to the islands in the hope, according to the Papal Navy, of deterring Neidmarian action. However, the Papal Navy appears to be reluctant to deploy any further vessels to the rise, this morning a senior Papal Navy commander, who wishes to be unnamed said, "we are really concerned that if we respond to their aggression to such an extent that they will take strong action in return, the government is keen to keep these tensions at a safe level, which limits how much we can do".

The anger and pressure being felt by Consul Ottavio Civitarese, who is set to visit Provisa tomorrow. Up to 59 National Catholic Party senators who again wrote and signed a letter demanding tougher action, leading the large group is Senator Antonia Soderini spoke to NTV News this afternoon, he was unrelenting in his criticism of the response to the growing crisis. "The government's response has been exceptionally timid, the whole world knows what Neidmar is doing, how it is behaving and we're merely throwing warnings out like sweets and increasing patrols, we need to take every geographical feature in the Iovian Rise to ensure that our aggressive foe doesn't do so, the day a foreign boot is placed upon Rodarian soil is a day we must morn for generations".

Today, saw the beginning of the Patriotic Society of the Papal Republic's so called "Patriotic Maritime Rallies", with 50,000 people reported to have been present at a rally in central Santa Fiora. There they sang hymns, Papal Navy march songs and demanded Neidmar cease its warmongering, several of the banners carried by the thousands of people read, "stay out or go to the bottom". At least 180,000 people are expected to take part in rallies tomorrow in San Pietro, Lanciano and Romula.

The situation in the Orlessian Sea has become more tense as Neidmarian coast guard vessels continue to clash with Rodarian trawlers fishing around the Minerva Shoal, at least two trawlers suffered heavy damage when they were rammed by Neidmarian cutters yesterday, the Papal Navy has confirmed it is stepping up patrols around the Shoal, whilst Papal Navy engineers continue to work on constructing facilities aimed at supporting oceanic infrastructure such as search and rescue, oceanic research and supporting the fishing industry.

Spokeswoman Rosa Pagano again stressed that the future of the Orlessian Sea rests with Neidmar, "their actions, their provocations, threats and attitudes do risk a major escalation in the Orlessian Sea region. They must understand that the Papal Republic will use whatever force it sees necessary to preserve and protect the country's strategic interests and the boundaries of its territorial integrity. This has been repeated over and over, but the future of the Orlessian Sea rests with Neidmar, they decide whether this ocean is to be a scene of conflict or peaceful cooperation".

Cardinal Secretary of State, Tiberio Candreva is set to chair a meeting of the Papal Defence Commission this evening to discuss the crisis in the Orlessian Sea, whilst the Consul and Foreign Minister Ciano are absent, it falls to the Cardinal Secretary of State to take charge of foreign matters. Cardinal Candreva himself has warned that peace in the Orlessian Sea will die with the firing of a Neidmarian bullet, he is expected to discuss responses with the heads of the Papal Armed Forces.

Written by Lucrezia Milanini.

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by **Hornatyia** » Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:48 pm

Hornatyian PM: Makarov is going to wipe Hornatyia off the map

Estovakivan mobile artillery pieces move outside the city of Černá, Benkove Region.

Vít Beneš (August 25, 2015) -- On August 17, 2015, Estovakiva launched an unprovoked armed attack on the Kingdom of Hornatyia. This attack killed a number of civilians and caused great damage to Hornatyia's military infrastructure on the island of Benkove. Following this, a ground invasion took place, capturing Ksyuce and racing across the island towards the city of Zarch, eventually besieging it and creating a refugee crisis within Hornatyia. As of August 25th, around 870,000 people have been displaced by the conflict, with evacuations of the areas of Benkove still under Hornatyian control ongoing. Further evacuations of the island of Nitra and the construction of refugee camps outside Bystrica only add to the growing humanitarian crisis. Its surprising Hornatyia has held onto Benkove for this long, however every day Makarov's soldiers move closer and closer towards pushing the Royal Hornatyian Defense Force off the island of Benkove, possibly forever. Inaction by the international community on this conflict, and refusal of Estovakiva's allies to put pressure on the regime in Cinigrad to sign a ceasefire have only emboldened Makarov.

Hornatyia PM Štefan Jahnátek said "they (Estovakiva) aim to wipe us off the map, no more Hornatyia. Makarov wants Hornatyia to be a new Imperial federal district, where he'd have free reign to exterminate the Hornatyian race forever...they view us as less than human, inferior people who have continuously defied Cinigrad's orders. To them, we are nothing but useless coal miners, not an advanced democratic nation that simply wants peace. Makarov has forever shattered any chances of Hornatyia coming back into Cinigrad's orbit." The PM has feared that Estovakiva would not be pleased with Hornatyia leaving the RCO, however no one suspected they would invade Hornatyia. The PM expressed his frustration at the international community, which in some ways, seems content with Hornatyia being annexed by Estovakiva and the Estovakivan's simply exterminating the Hornatyian populace.

Some countries have taken a stand against the Estovakivan regime, mobilizing troops and supporting Hornatyia. Other such as Belhavia have resorted to diplomatic means, however a large portion of the international community seems more focused on the territorial dispute between Rodarion and Neidmar, which has grabbed headlines across Pardes, with only brief mentions of Estovakiva's invasion of Hornatyia and a few dedicated news articles. Truly the world only payed attention when the prospect of OPA sanctions came up, thanks to efforts of Hornatyia's OPA ambassador Tomáš Tříska and the Belhavian OPA ambassador. Even then, Estovakiva's allies and major trade partners, rather than standing up to a country defying international law, are instead abstaining or voting nay on the sanctions and several experts suspect they will simply ignore the sanctions. If the sanctions fail and Estovakiva continues its invasion of Hornatyia, this war will drag on, the casualties will mount and sooner or later, the world will care. Its truly sad they haven't stood up. Hornatyia could vanish off maps within a few months if the regime in Cinigrad has its way. We must wait and see.

by **Tuzbekistan** » Tue Aug 25, 2015 2:49 pm

Gas Explosion Injures 16

ABADAN: At least 16 people have been reported injured in a gas explosion in the eastern part of the city of Abadan. The explosion occurred on the Trans-Abadan Natural Gas pipeline, one of the city's main lines for natural gas transport, at 9:00 pm local time.

According to city officials, at least sixty appliances and nearly 150 firefighters have been deployed to the scene. There are currently no estimates on the cost of the damage or any reported fatalities, as the blast is believed to have occurred in an isolated area of the city.

Witnesses report that the blast shook windows at least two kilometers away. The fire was believed to have continued for three hours after the blast until firefighters brought it under control.

Although no official cause has been determined for the blast, officials suspect that an increase in pressure on the pipeline may have caused it to rupture.

The blast is a stark reminder of the state of Tuzbekistan's dilapidated infrastructure, especially it's gas lines. Many of the natural gas pipelines were installed during the communist era and have not been upgraded or replaced. The city of 2.5 million inhabitants is no stranger to gas explosions, with another blast in the city's central business district occurring in April last year, killing six people.

Officials from the state gas and petroleum company, Tuzneft, have declined to comment on the explosion but have stated that at least 30,000 residents in Abadan will be without natural gas for the next several days as urgent repairs are made.

by **New Azura** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 8:21 am

IN REMEMBRANCE OF THINE GLORY
Images of the Autumn Circle War Still Painful on the Eve of the War Memorial Dedication

— An Official Wire of the Central Directorate News Service of the Evenguard (CDN) —
Friday, August 28^th, 2015 | Tsyion, Evenguard of Azura | (English Version Formatting)
This article may not be republished or retransmitted!

Sanctum Major, Tsyion+

For some, walking through the cobblestone streets and open bazaars of the Central Directorate is too painful an experience still; the wrought-iron gas lamps and sounds of merchants barking and children playing bequeaths a simple veneer over hallowed, bloody ground. Eight years on from the catastrophic failed coup d'état and insurrection that led to the assassination of His Righteous Eminence Phaedra Cornelius vi Propitius and the deaths of more than ten thousand Azur patriots, many in the capital still hear the echoes of artillery bursts and mortar fire in the alleyways and plazas. And though the ’Guns of the Fall’ have long-since fallen silent over the Blessed City, the citizens of the Central Directorate are still keenly aware of the ramifications of the Autumn Circle Insurrection.

The Autumn Circle was the name appropriated to a cabal of disgruntled military commanders in the Continental Army and Air Force who formed a conspiracy to assassinate Phaedra Cornelius vi Propitius, his son and heir apparent Ezra and the senior leadership of Tsyion in lieu of a formal seizure of power. Though reactionary forces loyal to the Autumn Circle were able to attack Phaedra Cornelius's motorcade en route to Praeclarus, then-Colonel Ezra Curzon was able to survive heavy fighting in the capital, leading the 115th Blood Order of the Central Directorate in a heroic last stand against superior forces. Fighting raged in Sanctum Major and Mas Gyarmati for seventy-two hours before loyalist forces were able to break through enemy redoubts and liberate the besieged capital. Bloody fighting persisted for another five days before insurrectionist forces finally surrendered.

“I remember watching the airborne infantry parachute into Piactéren,” Tsyion shopkeeper Charles Mitchell recollected. Mitchell, 35, was working with the Civic Construction Corps in Sanctum Major at the time during the opening hours of the insurrection. He would go on to assist the Partisan Resistance Movement that assisted the loyalist forces in quelling the uprising. ”Watching those soldiers in the sky, and all Hell breaking loose around us, it felt like the end of the world. We thought we were going to die.”

For Mitchell and his compatriots, the sounds linger still. "Artillery fire shakes you to your very core."

As of August 2015, official records show that 28,133 loyalist casualties were recorded during the six-day insurrection, all of which occurred in or around the purview of the Central Directorate. Old Tsyion, particularly in and around Sanctum Major was the hardest hit area during the fighting, with more than $15.5 Billion USD in damage accumulated in a little over a week of heavy fighting. The materiel cost to Azura's capital district however was far exceeded by the cost in human life: over 35,000 civilians died. More than twelve hundred citizen-patriots are still considered missing; two hundred veterans of the conflict remain hospitalized undergoing palliative care at the Imperial Arms Infirmary Center in Cheltenham. Damage repairs to the destroyed sections of the capital were not complete until October 2012, some five years on from the conclusion of the insurrection.

"The Azur People, as callous as it may seem to say, were taught a most-unfortunate lesson by the Autumn Circle War," national archives historian Sam Reeves opined to CDN reporters during an exclusive interview on Friday. "For years, Tsyion had tried to teach the people that their way of life was only as secure as men of valor and conviction would allow it to be. The Autumn Circle crisis proved that even the mighty Evenguard was not immune to the corrupting influences of revolution."

The opening commemoration of the National Autumn Circle War Memorial in Tsyion will take place tomorrow at noon in Nyugtaköztér in Sanctum Major, the site where insurrectionist leader Gaelan Phrosyne was apprehended by loyal Azur military forces. The memorial is one of two scheduled for unveiling in 2015: the national shrine of Phaedra Cornelius will be unveiled on the eighth anniversary of his death October 14^th, also to coincide with the opening of the new Tabernacle of the Saints Cathedral in Liget. Both dates will see the execution of the final two remaining co-conspirators in the Autumn Circle, Commandant Reginald Parks and General Ian Travis. Parks will be put to death by public quartering in the Piactéren stockades at 3:00 PM Tysion Time tomorrow; Travis will be hung on October 14^th. Fifty insurrectionists remain on death row awaiting execution.

The opening ceremony will be presided over by Phaedra Baelfire II Invicta on Saturday.

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by **Tippercommon** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 12:34 pm

UTR MARINES ON HORNATYIAN SOIL
UTR Marines have landed at Tuklaty; Fleet Forces tasked with evacuating civilians from Benkove
Jacob McDougal (@J_McDoug) and Vivian Tipper (@misstipper)
^{29 August 2015 12:30 pm | Cizekporok, Hornatyia}

Marines of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Brigade land west of the town Hornatyian town of Tuklaty, 29 August. The force of approximately 500 Marines has been tasked with aiding in the evacuation process of northwestern Benkove. OHD has confirmed that the 2nd Marines will be reinforced on 2 September by the 3rd Armor Brigade and additional Fleet Forces.
(Courtesy of the Office of Homeland Defense)

CIZEKPOROK — At 7:15AM this morning, a force of 500 UTR Marines from the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Marine Brigade landed at the Hornatyian town of Tuklaty on the northwestern tip of Benkove. The operation, dubbed Operation Safety Net, is the first instance of foreign military forces actively intervening in the Esto-Hornatyian conflict on the side of Hornatyia. It also marks the second overseas deployment of Tippercommon ground troops in the past year, making 2015 the most militarily active year for the UTR since the Hyperion insurrection of 1986.

The situation in Benkove has been grim for the Hornatyians thus far. Since the initial Estovakivan offensive on 18 August, the Imperial Federation has seized large swaths of Benkove, capturing or besieging the majority of the island's large population centers. The cities of Kysuce and Kosteletz which were captured by Estovakivan marine and airborne forces while Zarch remains under seige, defended by a thin red line of Hornatyian ground troops. Prime Minister Jahnátek has openly stated that Cinigrad's ultimate objective is to annex the entirety of Hornatyia, giving Estovakiva control of a strategically significant holding in southern Lusankya and giving him, "free reign to exterminate the Hornatyian race."

Around 21 August, Hornatyia launched a counter offensive from the area surrounding the towns of Bezmir to the east and Tuklaty to the west. Additionally, the Hornatyian air forces have engaged in a bombing campaign. But, whether this counterattack will stop or even slow the Estovakivan advance is uncertain. The exact strength of the Estovakivan forces on the island is not yet known, and the Hornatyians have not been able to gain air superiority.

As Estovakivas has march across Benkove has continued, it has created a wave of refugees attempting to flee the viking state's jackboot. With a population of approximately 2,000,000, at least 870,000 Hornatyians on Benkove have been displaced by the fighting. The town of Tuklaty supports 50,000-70,000 Hornatyians alone. The fact that it remains free makes it the next logical stop for Estovakivan forces.

The 2nd Marine Brigade was been deployed with the objective of aiding the evacuation of any Hornatyian civilians and refugees who can make it to unoccupied territory. Chief Minister Hirsh and Secretariat Jeremy Widmer announced the mission publicly, marking Tippercommon's second deployment of its elite marine forces this year.

"I have had a meaningful discussion with Prime Minister Jahnátek," Chief Minister Hirsh said during this morning's press conference. "He has expressed his needs and I have expressed our capabilities. We have reached an agreement. And, with the advice of my cabinet, I have issued a directive to the Department of the Navy and the Office of Homeland Defense that will be executed immediately."

Presently, it is known that one carrier group capable of supporting a marine detachment and an air wing is present in the Benkove Strait; this force is likely flagged by one of the UTR Navy's two Hudson-class supercarriers. In addition, a "strike force" which is known to consist of two amphibious assault ships and four additional warships is set to arrive off the coast of Benkove on 2 September. Two anonymous sources within the OHD have confirmed that the 3rd Armor Brigade - a motorized infantry unit with an attached tank company - is attached to the strike force and will be on station to assist in the evacuation process.

This represents a new point in the Esto-Hornatyian conflict. Vehemently supporting the Belhavian lead diplomatic effort to impose harsh economic sanctions on Estovakiva in OPA and pushing the conflict to the top of the list in the SOPCOMM Trade Council, the Hirsh administration has been one of Hornatyia's most active allies. Now, the Chief Minister has upped the ante.

By deploying Marines and committing an additional force of 1,000 to the evacuation of Hornatyian citizens, it has put Tippercommoners in the sightlines of Estovakivan ground, air, and naval forces. However, it has also put a 320m long Tippercommon airstrip in the middle of a warzone, providing a base for Tippercommon aircraft to engage in humanitarian missions, run surveillance, establish air superiority around UTR ground forces, and even provide close air support should Tippercommon ground forces come under direct assault by the Estovakivans. Tippercommon's flight decks could also serve as a potential air base for Hornatyian paramilitary, emergency, and military aircraft, with the civilian airport near Tuklaty being destroyed along with the rest of Hornatyia's military infrastructure on the island. And, with the arrival of naval reinforcements, the strength of Tippercommon forces in the Benkove Strait will be increased three fold; and with it their and mainland Hornatyia's security.

Does this put the UTR one step closer to war with another power?

Should the Estovakivans choose to escalate the conflict by directly attacking Tippercommon naval and ground forces, Chief Minister Hirsh may have just put thousands of servicemen and women in grave danger. However, most analysts assume that this is a card the Autarch is willing to play.

While not as economically powerful or as heavily invested in defense as Estovakiva, the Unified Tippercommon Republics is not Hornatyia. Estovakiva and Tippercommon live in the same neighborhood, geopolitically speaking. The UTR is not a former possession off a small leap from Estovakiva's northwestern coastline. Tippercommon is an economically powerful nation with diplomatic muster who operates one of the most sophisticated defense network in southern Pardes. Tippercommon has powerful allies - the most significant of which being the bordering Empire of Belhavia - and would not act as a victim to be bullied. The Hirsh administration has identified this avenue - the active use of the military - as the most effective response to this type of aggression. And, she is probably not wrong.

It's likely that in the coming weeks the Estovakivan government and media will spin this move as a case of Pardes' democracies encroaching on the affairs of those who they have no business with. It will be a story of a well endowed first world nation one upping its neighbor for the sake of establishing superiority. But, it must be established that actors cannot recklessly violate the sovereignty of stable democracies, kill their people, and seize their territory and get away with it in the current state of global landscape.

The international space is not anarchy; there is a world police force in Pardes. It is not any one power or organization, but rather the moral compass of those within the international community who are willing to defend the vulnerable from the tyrannical.

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by **Tippercommon** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 6:00 am

UTR AIR CORPS TO ROLL OUT MAJOR UPGRADES TO HOMELAND DEFENSE INFRASTRUCTURE
OHD, Department of the Air Corps announce plans to roll out upgrades of ETADS and of combat aircraft tasked with homeland defense.
Clarissa Estes (@princesslayer) and Daniel Ruiz (@danran)
^{30 August 2015 4:30 am | Evermore, Ayton-Shelvay}

A Pegasus F.4 (left) and Corsair F.3 (right) from the 16th and 90th Fighter Squadrons respectively on a combat air patrol over the Shelvay Mountain Range. With the recent cancellation of the Pegasus and Corsair fifth generation fighter programs, OHD is now scrambling to outfit outdated squadrons tasked with homeland defense of avionics on par with that of the UTR's limited fleet of stealth fighters.
(Courtesy of the Office of Homeland Defense)

EVERMORE — The Office of Homeland Defense has announced that it will be beefing up its aerospace defense infrastructure over the coming months.

The planned upgrades include the modernization of a portion of the Lioness F.2's under the command of Air Corps Homeland Command and upgrades to the Eastern Taverian Air Defense System (ETADS). This announcement comes 12 days after the beginning of the outbreak of the Esto-Hornatyian War. The conflict has shaken the geopolitical balance of Taveria over the past two weeks and the UTR been one of its most active foreign participants.

"It is obvious with the Imperial Federation's recent aggression towards the Kingdom of Hornatyia," General Chase Foley said during today's daily OHD briefing. "That we live in close proximity to a power who does not value civility or the rule of law."

Under the Keegan administration (2013-2015), it had been speculated that the capabilities of ACAD's Shelvay Mountain Complex would shrink as more and more resources were siphoned away from homeland defense in favor of research, development, and acquisition. However, with recent events, the rise in tensions between Tippercommon and Estovakiva over the Hornatyian conflict has warranted a renewal of interest in the nation's Cold War-era defense systems, although the Imperial Federation has not publicly addressed the UTR's involvement.

Aging Lioness F.2 fighters to receive advanced AESA radar

One major concern that has arisen from the conflict is Estovakiva's cruise missile capability. The Esto-Hornatyian War was kicked off by a massive cruise missile attack; one that immediately and effectively wiped out Hornatyia's military infrastructure on Benkove.

"Eight-percent of our Lioness F.2 fleet are not equipped with the radar necessary to effectively detect and counter a live cruise missile attack." General Foley explained. "Our F.3's and F.4's have this capability, but these aircraft represent a fairly small portion of our entire aerial response force."

"Cruise missiles are effective and incredibly difficult to neutralize." Colonel Martin Cooper of the 3rd Fighter Wing said during a dialogue between air commanders from all three branches earlier this week. "It's a threat that we are currently under-prepared to respond to, and that is worrisome."

The Office of Homeland Defense announced in a press briefing that the some 150 Lioness F.2's charged with the defense of Sussex, Ayton, Shelvay, and Hyperion air space are slated to receive upgraded avionics. Those currently responsible for the protection of the Sussex and Sweetwater Metropolitan Areas will be the first to receive the upgrades, which include the installation of the APG-90 Scalable Agile Beam Radar - an advanced AESA radar comparable to type outfitted on F.3's and F.4's. In addition, the State Department released a communique appealing to the Belhavian government to also consider upgrading a portion of its own fleet of F.2's.

These new radars will be necessary to track and eliminate small targets moving at near supersonic speeds. The upgrades will be carried out over the next several months into 2016 and will be implemented by the Wayford Belmont Company and the Belhavian Pyrion Group - the two aerospace design and manufacturing bureaus behind the Lioness project.

Air Corps Aerospace Defense Command (ACAD) announces expansion of ETADS system

The Eastern Taverian Air Defense System (ETADS) is a 50 year old early warning aerospace defense system operated cooperatively by the UTR and the Empire of Belhavia. Originally designed to detect and track ballistic missiles and nuclear bombers during the Cold War, ETADS now the first line of defense against all air attacks over Eastern Taveria.

Currently, ETADS provides a 360° shield around Belhavia and Tippercommon, extending deep into the Akkadiyan Ocean via the UTR Navy's SAC PAWS system at Oakford Naval Base. Several of ETADS's arrays are faced directly towards Estovakiva, providing Belhavian and Tippercommon air force officials with the ability to track threats emanating from eastern Estovakiva. It is now increasingly likely that the scope of ETADS will be expanded after the conflict in Hornatyia draws to a close.

"When the current ETADS infrastructure is combined with the Central Defense Initiative's radar installations monitoring the Central Ocean, Tippercommon and Belhavia and pretty well protected from a wide range of modern threats." Admiral Harold Pickles said. "However, this does little for our allies who reside in Lusankya. So, once hostilities in Hornatyia end, the unofficial stance of the Air Department is that we will seek additional partners to add to the ETADS array.

It could be Hornatyia, or it could be another power. Or, we might have to get creative. But, the Hirsh administration has identified the monitoring of the Imperial Federation as a top security priority. Together with our colleagues in the State Department, we will pursue a means to meet this directive."

From Ashizwe to Sussex

Whereas the Keegan administration had focused its efforts on increasing Tippercommon's clout overseas with heavy investment into new naval technologies and a significant military operation in Ashizwe, the Hirsh administration has seemed to make it policy of reeling back the UTR's efforts and deeming domestic security the nation's number one defense priority. This represents a modest pivot in the UTR's foreign policy; a policy which confusingly championed both "neutrality" while also boasting an impressive expeditionary force.

With the UTR's combat mission in Terinyi ending in February of 2016, the OHD will be "handing over the keys" to the Ulthrannian Army who currently have operative authority over the northern half of the country.

The conflict involved some 20,000 UTR servicemen and women and approximately 2,000 private military contractors, costing 739 Tippercommoners their lives. Bringing about the end to the National Socialist Army's reign in Terinyi and re-establishing the Ashizwean nation's Republican government, the coalition invasion brought about an end to the year long chaos that plagued the small and poor state.

It would seem as though it is mission accomplished; a resounding victory for the UTR. The War in Terinyi did a number of things. First, it demonstrated the incredible effectiveness of the UTR Naval Fleet and Marine Corps and its ability to cooperation with other powers in bringing a quick end to an asymmetrical conflict.

Second, it has created a secure area for Tippercommon and Ulthrannian energy and mining companies to renew operations in northern Terinyi. Rich in petroleum and precious metals, the National Socialist Army had seized the production facilities of numerous Tippercommon based companies, selling large quantities of petroleum, natural gas, and diamonds on the black market. Now, Republic Oil is expected to renew its operations in the second quarter of 2016. And, it is expected that the newly elected President Okoye will attempt to bring in Ulthrannian companies from the United Ashizwean Partnership to help in revitalizing the Terinyian economy.

And thirdly, it has established Tippercommon as a power which is willing to use its military to defend its interests abroad, but not as one which wields its armed forces as an ironfist over the vulnerable.

As the first combat operation conducted by the UTR Joint Forces since the Hyperion insurrection and its first overseas conflict since the Ulthrannic Civil War, it was questionable as to whether the UTR has the ability to stage a complex and successful military operation in the 21st century.

Now that the phased withdrawal of UTR forces from Terinyi has begun, some 10,000 marines will return home and be placed back in the reserve pool to be called upon for future operations. Additionally, it will free up one of two of the nation's carrier strike groups and two naval air wings, providing the Hirsh administration additional resources to dedicate to the defense of Tippercommon's shores.

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by **Rodarion** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 11:08 am

As the Papal Republic approaches its 110th anniversary of its founding, it is important for all members of society to realise that our success today, the speed of which our nation is rejuvenating is owed mostly to a single man; Saint Pope Julius II. His bold decision to transform the decaying stagnant Papal States into an Ecclesiastical Republic is what laid the road for national rejuvenation, by remember what we were before we can realise how far we have come together under the current system, by realising how far we have come, we can appreciate the creation of our Papal Republic ever more so.

When Pope Julius II became the successor to Saint Peter in 1903, the Papal States was in a terrible state, over 98% of the population was illiterate, out of the 420 million people only 8.4 million people were capable of writing and reading, the majority of these minute demographic were either serving the Church, merchants, landowners, aristocrats or judicial servants. 96% of the entire population worked in agriculture, in effect the Papal States was the most backward nation in Lusankya upon entry to the 20th century. Decades of resistance by wealthy farm owners, denied the Papal States its industrial revolution. What made matters worse was the absence of effective land ownership laws and laws protecting farm workers, of the 96% of agriculture workers, 90% of them of where short-term labourers, not peasants, the very few peasant families that owned their own land were usually intimidated into selling to the landowners.

Peasants without stable income were forced to live off meagre food supplies, disease was spreading rapidly, plagues were reported, including a major cholera epidemic which killed at least 55,000 people in Caicova province in 1904. Infrastructure was virtually non-existent in the vast stretch of the Papal States, there were only three railways by 1903, all leading from Romula into the north, south and west, and all three were of poor quality construction. Of course there was a very limited form of industrialisation, in comparison to Emmeria, there were only 143 registered factories in the Papal States as a whole, whilst in Chaleur City alone there over 400.

Upon taking the Pontificate, Saint Pope Julius II asked the question, "why are we so behind? I pray for an answer based in truth". He got many answers, but none seemed to hit the point. It was not until 1910, that an answer was given, renowned historian, Ludvicio Giolitti wrote, "there was no need to, at least no feeling of the need to industrialise was found in any strata of governance. The Pope did not feel the need to destroy the innocent souls of farmers, the landowners felt no need to sell their land to industrialists, the conservatives felt no need to alter the nation's cultural identity as a land of sweat, blood and tears spilling upon fertile soil". His answer was accepted, the truth being that by the time the rest of the world had industrialised and produced the goods required for development, the Papal States had become culturally and politically stagnant enough to not realise the immensity of the danger they had put themselves in.

In 1911, Saint Pope Julius II stated that the Church's failure to lead the nation sufficiently during the 19th century "has brought us upon the firing range as a fair target for sharpshooters, we have failed in our temporal duty". The masses of illiterate peasants and short-term labourers, selfish acting elites (landowners and merchants; who opposed industrialisation over fear of their incomes being affected), isolation from the industrialising world, cultural aversion to major change and of course, poor leadership in realising the nation's needs, all contributed to the sorry state of affairs the nation carried until the 1940s.

But how does this all relate to Saint Pope Julius II, well it does in a very simple way. Saint Pope Julius II knew that the country was broken, a failed economy and a failed stagnant power, but most importantly he knew that if the situation did not change, the backwardness would act as a catalyst for popular fury and action and perhaps, a catalyst for revolutionary elements. Even before he became Pope, Julius II argued that the Papal States could not continue in its current form, it had to reform to mobilise the growing discontented masses, it had to embrace all peoples of the nation in order to survive, within days of becoming Pope, he began the process that would transform the Papal States into what it is today.

He faced opposition of course, from the very elites that condemned the masses to destitution and a meagre living and disease, he faced opposition from conservative Cardinals, who argued that including democracy would bring about secularism, throughout the two year process, Saint Pope Julius simply replied, "it is in God's hands the consequences of our endeavour, but an endeavour we must partake none the less." Every step of the way, the visionary man was present, in fact half of the current constitution in place today was written by the man himself, due to his anger over civil servants and curia officials limiting the role of democracy, but eventually he won the day.

On October 24 1905, Saint Pope Julius II signed the Act for the Formation of the Ecclesiastical Republic, in November the same year, the first ever, universal election was in Rodarion and indeed the world (since the 1905 constitution granted the vote to all above the age of 21). The creation of the Papal Republic, set in stone the process of national rejuvenation, but the road would not be easy nor would it not be without blood and loss. Communist elements that festered among the industrial working minority came to the fore, with its dark godless machinations and rhetoric and slowly turned peasants against their landowning bosses, for thirty years the communists attempted to bring down the Papal Republic, but failed.

Despite the attempts of Communists destroy the Church State and its people, Saint Pope Julius II and his immediate successor, Pope XVI, strived to amend the backwardness of Rodarion, from 1910 to 1947, illiteracy fell from 98% to57% and there was an industrial revolution though not on a large scale due to the political violence conducted by communist terrorists. Cholera all but vanished and the life expectancy of men and women (35 and 40 in 1903, for men and women respectively) rose to 60 and 66 by 1950, landownership was reformed, in a dramatic way in the 1920s, all land was confiscated by the Church and leased back to the peasants and several landowners who in turn agreed to oblige by new laws protecting agricultural workers. Though it is the formation of the Papal Republic itself that is the watershed moment, because without Saint Pope Julius II's visionary insight into the necessities of the state's survival, there would not have been elections, there would not have been the means for the National Catholic Party to emerge and transform the nation from an agricultural 18th century backwater into the second largest economy in the world today and arguably the preeminent manufacturing superpower.

The reforms of Consul Giovanni Mattarella which made national rejuvenation possible are themselves owed to the actions of Saint Pope Julius, if it were not his actions, the Papal State would most likely have been dismembered by neighbouring powers and forced into a colonial-status rump. As the great Rodarian thinker of the 20th century, Marco Camillo Farini said, "our present is a construct of the past, our present failures and successes owe their existence to the actions of past souls". In a sense, Saint Pope Julius II is the saviour of our saviours, if it were not him, we would not be where we are today. So when the Papal Republic rejoices over 110 years of transformation and swift rejuvenation, we must remember that all that we are and have today, is owed to that brave man, who battled the elites of the status quo and saved the Rodarian people from their backwardness.

Written by Senator Ottavio Candreva; Chief Whip of the National Catholic Party.

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