He Who Holds the Center
"And they converged on the island with a wrath, descending upon their respective center of the world."
There is, in the center of the Northern Straits of the Eastern Havenic Continent, between the states of Gratislavia and No Endorse, an Island. Crovistok to the Gratislavians, Veneto to the No Endorsians, and Parisia to the native inhabitants. Throughout centuries of maritime trade and warfare, the island has remained the pivotal point in the straits. Controlling the ebb and flow of traffic to and from North-Eastern Haven. No less then a dozen times the island has passed between the hands of servants of the former Gratislav Tsardom and warriors of No Endorse. This however, came to change when the great revolution of 1879 saw the destruction of the Gratislav Tsardom, and the rise of a new state to take its place.
The Proletarian Union of Gratislavia, seeking to appease their No Endorsian neighbors, took to offering the island to them for a final time. Trading away Crovistok for the sake of peace and prosperity between Gratislavia and No Endorse. Such was the end of Gratislavian maritime dominance of the straight, as the power to control shifted once more into the hands of the No Endorsians for what would be nearly a century and a half. But as time came to pass the Union grew more and more dissatisfied with No Endorsians control over the straights, and so the old conflict for the "center of the world" began again.
The Proletarian Union of Gratislavia, Haven
Artyomsk Oblast, City of Artyomsk
Grand Council of the Proletariat
August 31st, 4 A.M. Local Time
The planning marched into the waning hours of the night still, clamor and racket filling the halls of the center of the Union. The time had come at last, the final push to solidify Gratislavia as a true player in Havenic politics and regain true control of Gratislavian maritime independence and control in the northern parts of her lands. Crovistok, the once famed center of the Gratislavian world would once gain feel the force of cannon and gunfire, complimented with the full force of modern weaponry. The time had come indeed, now the opportunity simply had to be seized.
"As you all know, the islands of Petrovosk, and Kazav will be the spring board for the major operations against the forces occupying Crovistok. Here we hold a strategic advantage over the Endorsians, having operating platforms within a closer proximity then the No Endorsians." People's Supreme Marshal Arkady Razzumkin pointed out the islands on the enlarged map of the area as he spoke, moving various Gratislavian Military resources to the islands on the map. "That being said, the No Endorsian outnumber the Gratislav Military, so it shall be crucial to establish air superiority over the island, and naval pickets around it at fast as possible to delay a No Endorsian counter attack."
"That being said such a fast strike will require complete secrecy, therefore no official declaration can be made until the pieces are moving and the Gratislav forces have taken their positions." Razzumkin paused as some of the more hardlining opposition leaders murmured to each other. "However unfortunate this may be it is a simple fact, to effectively seize the island and establish defensive positions on and around it we must not alert our enemy to the plan until they have detected the forces themselves. The political ramifications may be severe but under these circumstances they are to be overlooked for the bettering of the International Proletariat."
A chuckle went up from Joseph Luhenzin, that was followed by his supporters, most of whom did not understand what was humorous about the situation. "It will not be the International Proletariat that is looked down upon by the world for this action, it will be the Gratislavian Proletariat whom that blame falls upon. You assume that we shall simply be allowed to conduct these actions without ramifications, without threat or without military actions from our neighbors? That is a bold assumption Mr. Razzumkin, and one that should no be made lightly in the face of current events."
Razzumkin returned the laugh, hiding the slightest hints of malice as he began to speak again. "The world has never loved the Gratislavian state, and the Gratislavian state has never loved the world. Shall we now base our entire foreign policy on the opinions of those that do not follow the path of Socialism? Shall we let our decisions be influenced by the Autocrat, the Bourgeoisie, or the Fascist? If that is the path you wish to see Gratislavia go down I would suggest you leave immediately Mr. Luhenzin, there is no room for treachery in this room."
At that moment just before things seemed to boil over, Peter Chernyovskaya, the Grand People's Commissar stepped in to diffuse the situation. "Now now gentlemen, there is no question of our loyalties to the Proletariat, and there shall be none. However I myself must agree with Marshal Razzumkin, any notion of Gratislavian attack on Crovistok leaked to the No Endorsians will spell disaster as the island will certainly be flooded with soldiers and defensive installations." Chernyovskaya paused pointing to the island on the map before continuing. "We shall proceed with Marshal Razzumkin's plan, the operation shall be kept a secret until the last possible moment."
The Proletarian Union of Gratislavia, Haven
Petrovosk, Minnz Oblast
Fort Ivan
September 24th, 12 A.M. Local Time
The movement of the 33rd People's Marine Battalion unto the island had went off without a hitch, a battalion wide leave pass issued to the unit in order to move them into place as inexplicably as possible. The same with the 3rd People's Aerial Assault Company which had been moved onto Kazav under the same premise. The final steps of the pre-operation had begun to wrap up as the officers of each unit began to explain why they had been given leave to these islands, and what they would be doing. The destination of course, was kept strictly confidential up to the highest tier of command.
And so when the order to report to the airfield and dockyards was given it was a complete shock to the men of both unit. "Gentlemen today we embark on a final journey that has been centuries in the making, the final liberation of Crovistok." There was a murmur among the men of the 33rd, some turning white while others resorting to smiles and other playful gestures. "That being said, as soon as this briefing is concluded you men will board your vehicles immediately and prepare to embark for the coast of Crovistok. Any man that fails to do so shall be shot dead as a traitor."
Not a single word was said, and so the Commissar began to speak again. "Your objective will be the town of Crovistok, the islands capital. Note that you shall have to rely completely on military maps of the island as locals and signs shall not name the town such. Once you land on the island you will be permitted aerial and missile fire support at a company level, these missions shall be flow from Kazav and here so expect minimal delay on the aerial end, naval wise, depending on the enemy's maritime presence you may be redirected to aerial resources."
"Once you have secured the town of Crovistok, you are ordered to begin preparations for immediate hostile retaliation. Commandeer structures as you see fit, and detain those among the populace that are unwilling to cooperate with the Gratislavian Union." The Commissar paused for a moment, " do not however kill anyone that doesn't actively resist or assault, this is not to be a massacre but a liberation in the name of the International Proletariat. Not a killing of some of her people lost to the ways of Endorsian oppression. In saying such active military resistance is assumed to be minimal but that is not to be counted on and you should be prepared for a hard fight into the interior of the Island."
The men laughed a little, some a bit to much giving away the fear that came with rookies in a unit of veterans. "Not to fear though, you are men of Gratislavia, the un-fail-able Proletarian Union! You shall march through the ranks of defenders and liberate!"
This brought true laughter from the veterans, seeing straight through the propaganda of the Commissar as they began to stand and move towards the BTR-94s that lay nearby. One by one the men of the First Company of the 33rd climbed inside, each noticing that around the dockyard the rest of their company, and eventually battalion moved into their respective vehicles. "Well boys this is the real deal, seems the No Endorsians will be getting a taste of Socialist steel eh?" They laughed to each other loudly and with much glee at the prospect of fighting another war, how naive youth was...
As this occurred of course, the third Gratislavian Fleet, consisting primarily of Lada Class Submarines and three Kirov Class Battlecruisers completed by various frigates and smaller vessels, left their mooring at Kevgrad and sailed for Crovistok, the submarines sailing out ahead determined to cut off the island from the mainland as quickly as possible. All while the 3rd Aerial Assault Company launched from Kazar, ready to drop their men as quickly as possible. The operation to liberate Crovistok had begun, now the fate of many lives laid in the hands of the Gratislavian military command.