[Earth II] Consolidated History

[Earth_ Two]

2012 [4th Quarter]:

• October 2012: [Amigard] Shaitan mercenaries, accepting failure in Egypt, refocus their efforts on Saudi Arabia. Their goal is to increase Muslim hatred towards the Catholic-dominated Theocracy of Amigard.
• October - December 2012: [Olmeria] Due to the weakness of President Sergiusz Czarnecki's leadership, the Federation of Lacoze begins to show signs of dissolution.
• October 2, 2012: [Amigard] Amigardian forces gain control over most of Western Iran, though they continue to fight resistance in the northern areas of the Markazi Province, where forces loyal to a former Persian General named Behruz Alinejad continue to resist Amigardian efforts.
• October 3, 2012: [Eritrea, United States of Brink] African forces mass in Djibouti in preparation of Operation BRONZE PYTHON, the invasion of southern Eritrea. The stated goal of Operation BRONZE PYTHON is to stabilize the situation in the south of the country. In addition, politicians hope it will yield irrefutable proof of the Eritrean government's ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Eritrea.
• October 4, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] Around 03:00 local time, African forces cross into southern Eritrea as Operation BRONZE PYTHON commences. The Empire of Layarteb secretly provides logistical and reconnaissance support to African forces. The main target is all of the territory up to the Assab Airport, which is to be used as a command headquarters for African forces. By the evening hours, Assab Airport is captured and all territory south is cut off from the bulk of the Eritrean Armed Forces.
• October 5, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] After a full day of fighting, African forces have largely defeated the 17th Army Brigade and the 18th Army Brigade of the Eritrean Armed Forces. The 16th Army Brigade, based in Tiyo is secretly ordered by President Bairu to move on and capture Assab Airport, unbeknownst to the commanding officers of the Eritrean Armed Forces. They depart at 19:00 hours, local time. Despite the mission, the invasion is not seen as widely popular at home and it is considered a major gamble for President Briddick, who now has African troops engaged in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea, the largest deployment in the history of the New African Republic and its predecessors. Without proof of ethnic cleansing, he could find himself in serious hot water.
• October 6, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] Using intelligence gathered by the Empire of Layarteb, African forces decimate and destroy the 16th Army Brigade of the Eritrean Armed Forces as they moved on Highway P-6 towards Assab Airport. There are few survivors. In response, the Eritrean Armed Forces moves the 3rd Army Brigade to Edd in order to hold the line against further African advances. President Briddick addresses the African Congress in Windhoek for support for the war. Assab is fully secured by African troops. Congress ultimately gives President Briddick fully approval for the war.
• October 7, 2013: [Eritrea, Ethiopia, United States of Brink] President Bairu secretly meets mercenary leaders and commanders in Mendefera. These mercenary leaders are all from Ethiopia. During the meeting, he makes a pitch for them to join in the fight against the New African Republic by waging a guerilla-insurgent war against African forces in and around Assab. President Bairu further addresses his nation calling for the New African Republic to withdraw from their illegal invasion.
• October 8, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] African commanders begin the plan to push north from Assab and secure a buffer zone for African troops.
• October 9, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] The Layartebian Ministry of Intelligence puts a 90% chance of the presence of Al-Shams operatives and cells in Eritrea.
• October 9, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] The Eritrean Armed Forces withdraw from Edd in a highly visible manner. During the retreat, they broadcast disinformation of a "surprise" for African forces. Layartebian intelligence relays this information to African command stalling the invasion until daylight hours. During the night, a company of Eritrean troops who remained behind, slaughters the civilians in the town of Edd and withdraws under the cover of darkness to Tiyo, where the rest of the Eritrean Army has withdrawn. Over 95% of the town of Edd is killed by the Eritrean soldiers.
• October 10, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] African troops reach Edd at 07:00 local time and find the gruesome scene of ethnic cleansing left by the withdrawing Eritrean soldiers. African troops move up to Edd but hold as the confirmation President Briddick needed has finally arrived.
• October 12, 2012: [Eritrea, United States of Brink] Ethiopian mercenaries, now working secretly for the Eritrean government, detonate a 300-kilogram IED in District 10 of Assab. Several dozen civilians are killed and injured as the insurgency campaign against African troops begins, much to the dismay of Windhoek and the African populace.
• October 23, 2012: [Eritrea, United States of Brink] By October 23, there have been six insurgent attacks around Assab, which have left 600+ civilians and 9 African soldiers dead. African troops remain stalled at Edd and Eritrean troops hold the line at Tiyo underneath the cover of air defense systems and prepared defenses. The African military and political leaders clash on how to proceed against Tiyo, understanding that any invasion of the town will result in moderate losses to African troops. Fewer than 50 African troops are killed in the invasion of Assab. President Bairu sees an opportunity to seize upon the situation. He approves a plan to ratchet up tension gradually between Christians and Muslims in the Gash-Barka and Anseba Regions, where Muslims hold a near two-to-one majority over Christians. The original plan is to see two weeks of gradual increases in violence followed by a five-day interim period before Eritrean troops attack the Muslim agitators, furthering the ethnic cleansing.
• October 24, 2012: [Amigard, Layarteb] Amigardian forces vacate the Sinai Peninsula, returning it to the Egyptian government. In exchange, the Egyptian government ceases all assertions that rebels are attacking from Amigard's border areas. This frees up additional forces for Operation ASAD. The Empire of Layarteb ceases its air patrol assistance over the Sinai.
• October 25, 2012: [Layarteb] Following the Amigardian return of the Sinai Peninsula to the Egyptian government, the Empire of Layarteb re-staffs its embassy in Cairo on the condition that the Egyptian government not make any hostile moves against the Suez Canal or against Layartebian airfields in the Sinai.
• October 29, 2012: [Eritrea, United States of Brink] By October 29, the number of insurgent attacks has increased to nine. Over 1,000 civilians and 17 African soldiers are now dead from the attacks. Based on investigations though, African intelligence assets determine that the attacks are very similar to what African troops are facing in Ethiopia. African intelligence independently determines that Al-Shams is indeed present in Eritrea.
• October 30, 2012: [Amigard] Amigardian forces continue to endure attacks in northwestern Iran and in the Markazi Province. Negotiations with leaders and civilians in southern Iran progress but the Theocracy of Amigard is far past its October 1 goal of completion for Operation ASAD. The Amigardian military commits another corps of forces to Iran.
• October 31, 2012: [Eritrea] After eight days, tension between Muslims and Christians in the Gash-Barka Region is elevated to nearly the breaking point. During the early morning hours, an SFB team vandalizes and sets a mosque on fire in the city of Agordat. The result seeks active riots, persecution, and reprisal attacks against Christians in the Gash-Barka Region. President Bairu and his government determine that the attack plan has to be accelerated.
• November 2012: [Amigard] Amigardian casualties in the month of November equal the number casualties from September 1 to October 30.
• November 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb] The Empire of Layarteb and the Eritrean government become independently apprised to the presence of an active Al-Shams cell in Eritrea. As November dawns the sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians spreads to the regions of Anseba and Gash-Barka.
• November 1, 2012: [Apilonia, Gujarat, South India] Angered by the recent overtures South India has made towards what is perceived as "Western imperialists," Gujarat offers its moral and economical support to the Union of Indian States as they intend to penalize the Republic of South India. At the same time, the government directs its special forces units to clandestinely aid and support a burgeoning insurrection movement on the Maldives Islands. They provide matériel and training. The next day, South India seeks to join the Apilonian Empire. This causes some tension and convinces the Gujaratis to revamp its already potent military quietly, in order to be prepared for a future conflict with the "imperialist Westerners." Over the next years, the Gujarati military will be strengthening itself.
• November 1, 2012: [Bavin, Layarteb, The Alliance of United Worlds] Sergipe falls to the RSA. The United Provinces of Bavin offer little fight and instead, they leave Sergipe to defend for itself. With this move, the Empire of Layarteb begins preparations against the RSA, fearing that it will begin to stoke nationalism in the Empire of Layarteb's South American territories. Unlike the United Provinces of Bavin's efforts to do the same, the Layartebian Ministry of Intelligence sees a strong possibility of success for the RSA vs. the Bavinese.
• November 1 - 6, 2012: [Eritrea] Violence in the Gash-Barka Region rages out of control until the Eritrean military enters the region and continues its anti-Muslim campaign.
• November 2, 2012: [Terra Reborn] Citing a fear of invasion from the north and lacking the manpower and military strength to protect themselves, the Republic of South India formally requests admission into the Apilonian Empire, despite being almost equal in population size to the rest of the Apilonian Empire. The Imperial Ambassador, Sir Charles W. Allen KCG, relays the answer from the King stating that a formal plebiscite would be required, preparations for which begin almost immediately.
• November 3, 2012: [Terra Reborn] In the early hours of the morning, the North Island of New Zealand launches a full-scale attack against the South Island. The Imperial warship, HMS Vindicator is present at Christchurch and, for reasons unknown, it is attacked by North Island forces. The Vindicator joins the Southern defensive effort and it is instrumental in defeating the enemy attack. The Vindicator then sortie's from Christchurch and destroys the North Island navy in the Battle of the Cook Strait before launching a crippling strike upon the North Island. A rebellion soon begins to grow in the North Island.
• November 4, 2012: [Amigard] Shaitan mercenaries make contact with an Al-Shams cell in Saudi Arabia and form a secretive but tenuous alliance to cause civil unrest in Saudi Arabia.
• November 6, 2012: [Terra Reborn] The Imperial yacht HMS Apilonia, with the King and Queen aboard, arrive in South India. The King meets with President Jania Singh regarding the upcoming plebiscite and the arrangements that will need to be made for the integration process.
• November 7, 2012: [Amigard] In one week, Amigardian forces suffer 20 KIAs due to insurgent activity. Cardinal Steele delivers a speech announcing that the Theocracy of Amigard is continuing its mission to Iran.
• November 10, 2012: [Terra Reborn] With the rebellion in the North Island faltering, the Imperial Army deploys a battalion of paratroopers to the South Island to serve as a strike element in case needed. At the same time, the Republic of South India requests assistance from the Apilonian Empire in combating an insurrection in the Maldives island chain
• November 12, 2012: [Terra Reborn] The Type-26 frigate, HMS Kodiak arrives in the Maldives to fly the flag. In the afternoon, the ship is approached by two Maldives Coast Guard vessels who refuse to answer challenges and are subsequently destroyed by the frigate; further information shows that the vessels had been packed full of explosives and were intended to destroy the frigate. The Kodiak spend the rest of the day destroying any official boats and lobbing star shells over the main island at half-hour intervals. Under cover of night, the Parachute Regiment battalion deploys to the South Island of New Zealand and performs a combat jump into Wellington on the North Island, and captures the enemy leadership. The 14th Infantry Division is later deployed to subjugate the island. The Governor-General of Australia, Andrew, Duke of Canberra, also travels to Stewart Island and persuades the island's residents to become part of the Apilonian Empire.
• November 18, 2012: [Amigard] Amidst trouble in Iran, the first protests against Catholic rule begin in Mecca and Medina, Islam's holiest cities.
• November 20, 2012: [Eritrea] In continuance of its anti-Muslim campaign, Eritrean military forces move into the Debub and Maekel Regions and begins ethnic cleansing. Throughout the country, Eritrean forces grow more and more dehumanized by the campaign and the atrocities they commit only increase in prevalence and intensity.
• November 22, 2012: [Amigard] Owing to its view of tolerance, the Theocracy of Amigard does not send in troops to Mecca and Medina to placate the protests. This has a negative effect. Seeing this, the Shaitan and Al-Shams begin stoking resistance in other cities in Saudi Arabia.
• November 25, 2012: [Terra Reborn] The plebiscite is held and the Republic of South India formally votes to become part of the Apilonian Empire.
• November 26, 2012: [Amigard] Protests in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Ahsa, and Ta'if break out while civil unrest becomes an issue in Tabuk.
• November 30, 2012: [Amigard] After four days of rioting and civil unrest, Amigardian police and military forces enter Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Ahsa, Tabuk, and Ta'if in an effort to restore order through less-lethal methods.
• Early December 2012: [Eritrea, Ethiopia, United States of Brink] Mercenaries from Ethiopia continue to pour over the border into the Southern Red Sea Region, attacking the African military as they do.
• December 1, 2012: [Amigard] Amigardian forces encounter major resistance throughout Saudi Arabian cities. Enflamed by the recent Egyptian resistance, Saudi protestors continue to rebel against Amigardian rule.
• December 1, 2012: [Cotland] Government powers are transferred from the military to a joint Cottish-Chinese civilian administration focused around the surviving CDP leadership. Work immediately starts on establishing the Cottish Mandate Zone into a proper government entity.
• December 5, 2012: [Eritrea, United States of Brink] In an early morning attack on Checkpoint Hotel, mercenaries launch a mortar barrage that kills an African infantry captain, the highest ranking officer lost to date.
• December 10, 2012: [Amigard] Al-Shams terrorists commence attacks against the Amigardian government and its military personnel by detonating two simultaneous car bombs. One kills 5 soldiers and destroys an armored truck while the other destroys a police station, killing 17 police officers and injuring 29 others, including several civilians.
• December 10, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] Muslims in the Northern Red Sea Region begin sectarian violence against Christians giving President Bairu further excuse to continue his genocide. The Empire of Layarteb believes this to be the work of Al-Shams while the African military deployed into the Southern Red Sea Region is forced to accept that Windhoek will not send them north.
• December 11, 2012: [Amigard] Al-Shams issues a public fatwa against Amigardian occupation of Saudi Arabia and demands that Amigardian rule allow Saudi Arabia independence or terrorism will continue.
• December 14, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb] The Emperor of Layarteb approves the deployment of the 7th Foreign Legion Regiment, the 6th Marine Division, and the 6th Amphibious Ready Group to Eritrea to conduct counterterrorism operations against Al-Shams. The Marines will be at 33% strength within 7 days, and 100% strength by January 2. The 7th Foreign Legion Regiment needs 7 days to get to 100% strength.
• December 20, 2012: [Amigard] Shaitan mercenaries, repeating tactics used in Egypt, attack a small Saudi village near Tabuk, blaming the attack on Amigardian soldiers. This enrages the local populace of Tabuk.
• December 21, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Fully deployed now, the 7th Foreign Legion Regiment commences reconnaissance operations in Massawa, hoping to find the Al-Shams' leadership. Through a liaison with the Eritrean Armed Forces, the Legion's special forces troops deploy several times over the next ten days to check out possible locations, none of which pan out as such. However, Al-Shams is watching these operations.
• December 25, 2012: [Amigard] During Christmas celebrations, Al-Shams terrorists detonate a car bomb outside of a major cathedral. The initial death toll is estimated at 40 but after the rubble is cleared, the toll skyrockets to 259. Few are wounded due to an almost total collapse of the structure.
• December 26, 2012: [Amigard, Itailian Maifias] In the wake of the Christmas bombing, Cardinal Steele issues a major order calling up virtually all of Amigard's reservists for a renewed campaign in Saudi Arabia. Cardinal Steele calls on several key allies to deploy forces to ensure the Egyptian government does not seize on the opportunity to attack Israel again.
• December 27, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Findings from various raids and reconnaissance missions leads the 7th Foreign Legion Regiment's intelligence shop to believe that Al-Shams is watching the airport 24/7 and that it has plans to capture and ransom or execute soldiers for propaganda purposes.
• December 30, 2012: [Amigard] Amigardian forces, now stretched to near their limit, begin a major pacification campaign in Saudi Arabia aiming to stop Al-Shams and uncover the source of their funds and weapons.
• December 30, 2012: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Al-Shams' top five leaders in-country meet to discuss plans. Al-Shams' membership at this point is 611 terrorists with many more clamoring to join.

[Earth_ Two]

2013

• January 2013: [Gujarat, Layarteb] With the increased Layartebian involvement in the Indian sub-continent, particularly the Puducherry district, the Gujarati government believes that their previous perceptions of "imperialist involvement" are proven. The government secretly decides to adopt a stance of staunch armed neutrality when it comes to all non-Indian nations.
• January 2013: [Layarteb] The Empire of Layarteb begins to court the Confederacy of Puducherry for membership in the Indian Republic.
• January - February 2013: [Amigard] Following the Christmas bombings in Saudi Arabia, religious and ethnic tensions in the Levant region (Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and Syria) begin to spike.
• January - March 2013: [Layarteb, Olmeria] While the world is focused on the chaotic situation in the Theocracy of Amigard, the Empire of Layarteb and the Federation of Lacoze hold a series of secretive meetings concerning the stability and the continued existence of the Federation of Lacoze.
• January 1, 2013: [Amigard, Edvardus] The transition of the United Arab Emirates to the Theocracy of Amigard commences.
• January 1, 2013: [Layarteb] The population estimate of the Empire of Layarteb is 681,000,000, making it one of the most populous nations on Earth.
• January 1, 2013: [Portugal, Terra Reborn] His Majesty King Walker visits Lisbon and declares to the not-to-pleased crowd that he intends to restore Portugal to the people and that the Apilonian Empire has no interest in retaining control of Portugal in the long-term. This is met by loud approval and reports of attacks or violence against Apilonian occupation force patrols, who for the most part of conducted themselves professionally, dramatically decline.
• January 1, 2013: [Urbov(Ru)] The Union of Sovereign Slavic Republics enters a period of economic decline as oil and mineral prices stagnate. Unification is officially declared complete though standard of living has yet to return to Soviet era highs.
• January 5, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] An Al-Shams sniper shoots and kills one Layartebian Legionnaire at the Massawa Train Station. Legionnaires scour the area looking for clues but they are unable to find any. This attack produces Layarteb's first casualty in the Eritrean Civil War.
• January 9, 2013: [Terra Reborn] James Alexander, MP for Sydney, is appointed as Prime Minister following a landslide victory in the election caused by the shock vote of no confidence in the previous government in December of 2012.
• January 10, 2013: [Amigard] Despite major pacification campaigns, insurgent attacks against Amigardian convoys and forces in Iran have not ebbed. Casualties since October 30 stand at nearly triple those from September 1 to October 30. Insurgent fighting continues heavily in the Markazi Province.
• January 11, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] A Layartebian Legionnaire patrol in Massawa reveals a specialized booby trap designed to pierce the tires of a vehicle. Military intelligence believes the booby trap to have been a dry run for a future attack, already believing that Al-Shams was planning to kidnap and potentially ransom captured Layartebians.
• January 14, 2013: [Amigard, Itailian Maifias] Faced with continued resistance in Iran and a growing rebellion in Saudi Arabia, Cardinal Steele makes a further request on the European Defense Pact to deploy peacekeeping forces to assist in Saudi Arabia and Iran.
• January 14, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] During peacekeeping operations in Massawa, a Layartebian patrol is ambushed by Al-Shams terrorists. Two soldiers are killed and three are taken prisoner.
• January 14 - January 16, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Layartebian Legionnaires comb Massawa in force looking for the three POWs. Acting without care for life or property, the Legionnaires arrest more than two hundred civilians in hopes of interrogating them for information concerning the location of the three POWs.
• January 15, 2013: [Amigard, Edvardus] The United Arab Emirates is officially recognized as part of the Theocracy of Amigard, despite massive diplomatic protest from Progressive-held China.
• January 15, 2013: [Layarteb] The Empire of Layarteb conducts an atmospheric nuclear test on Ducie Island in the Pitcairn Islands archipelago. The yield is only 10 tons and the official statement declares the test a fizzle. Layartebian operatives arrive on Abu Musa Island for a secret, Ministry of Intelligence sanctioned black operation to test a chemical weapon on the island's populace.
• January 16, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] The Empire of Layarteb offers to assist the Theocracy of Amigard by deploying logistical assets to the United Arab Emirates and Masirah Island.
• January 16, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] An anonymous tip leads the Layartebian Legionnaires to a house in Gerar Bay, Massawa where the Legionnaires find the three POWs - all wearing explosive vests. Careful and cautious of booby traps, EOD techs remove the vests. After successfully doing so, medics are called to tend to the POWs, at which point a massive IED made out of a Mark 82 iron bomb is detonated underneath the house, killing fourteen Layartebian Legionnaires and leveling the house.
• January 16, 2013: [Layarteb] The Empire of Layarteb reorganizes into six provinces (Dnalkrad, Layarteb, Leurc, Raef, Worros, and Ynoga), nine republics (African, Coral, Denmad, Icelandic, Indian, Irish, Mediterranean, Nan Hai, and Western), one territory (Persian), one federal city (Layarteb City), and two city-states (Falcon City and Washington City).
• January 16 - February 12, 2013: [Layarteb] Layartebian operatives scout out various locations on Abu Musa Island to inject said chemical into the island's water supply. A suitable location is found just north of the island's only water processing plant.
• January 17, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Just after midnight, Layartebian Legionnaires conduct simultaneous raids on two residences of known Al-Shams terrorists. In doing so, they arrest a combined nineteen people, the four targets, and their collective total of six wives and nine children. Within minutes, Layartebian forces determine that a third target, a warehouse, is too heavily guarded for assault. An airstrike is called, which levels the warehouse. After they depart the area, Legionnaires further level both residences with airdropped bombs.
• January 20, 2013: [Amigard, Itailian Maifias, Layarteb] Forces from the Empire of Layarteb and the European Defense Pact deploy to the Theocracy of Amigard to assist as requested.
• January 20, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] The Empire of Layarteb deploys military forces to Cyprus in order to assist the Amigardian government. Layartebian forces deploy to the Christian-majority, southern Cyprus. Major resistance from the Cypriot people is felt immediately.
• January 21, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Al-Shams releases a nineteen-minute, graphic video to the world, showing the ambush on January 14, the Legionnaire raids subsequently thereafter, and the IED explosion from January 16. The video announces that the group in operation in a splinter group of Al-Shams known as the Islamic Liberation of Eritrea. It is a major PR disaster for both Eritrea and the Empire of Layarteb.
• January 22, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Layartebian Legionnaires raid an Al-Shams supply cache killing two and capturing two, recovering several hundred pounds of plastic explosives in the process.
• January 26, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Layartebian Military Intelligence estimates that Islamic Liberation of Eritrea numbers between 500 and 1,000 men. The same day, two Al-Shams gunmen dressed as Eritrean policemen gain access to the airport, overpower two guards, seize their weapons, and open fire on civilians and soldiers alike. Eleven are killed and sixteen are wounded in the attack before both gunmen are killed by Layartebian Legionnaires.
• January 28, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] At the behest of the Amigardian government, Layartebian forces raid the house of Thomas Antoniou, a suspected financier of the Children of God terrorist group. The same day, protestors overrun the main gate at Paphos International Airport and force the airport to close for nine hours. Through interrogation of Antoniou, the Layartebian Ministry of Defense learns of the existence of the Shaitan Mercenary Company.
• January 30, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] An Al-Shams bomber detonates a 550-pound car bomb alongside an Eritrean passenger train as it traverses the Massawa Causeway Bridge. The explosion knocks the train into the bay where eighty are killed, most from drowning, and one hundred and thirty-two are wounded. Six bodies are never recovered, likely having been pulled out to sea.
• February - March 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Resistance to the Layartebian occupation of Cyprus is severe and grows by the day.
• February 1, 2013: [Mexico] The President of Mexico, Aureliano Bonilla, is assassinated when his convoy is attacked by a cartel hit squad. The assassination leads to a military coup with the establishment of a junta.
• February 2, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Layartebian Legionnaires conduct a major sweep of Massawa, arresting dozens suspected of being Al-Shams terrorists. Though some militants are caught, many are innocent of any crimes.
• February 3, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Layartebian Legionnaires, acting on more tips, make dozens of more arrests, nabbing only a handful of terrorists.
• February 5, 2013: [Mexico] In spite of the military junta's assumption of power, the drug cartels intensify their fighting both between themselves and against the government. Mexico City is epicenter of the fighting.
• February 6, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] During the night, Al-Shams manages to detonate a large truck bomb next to the town's city hall, killing only a handful of people but leveling the building in the process. Later that day, Al-Shams snipers kill two Layartebian Legionnaires at the airport.
• February 7, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Fed up with having lost so many men, the Layartebian Legionnaires launch a massive operation throughout Massawa, arresting anyone suspected of being a terrorist, chiefly any male of proper age. During the process, Al-Shams terrorists open fire on Legionnaires causing a massive and confused gun battle in the middle of the city.
• February 8, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] After the ambush, and massive fight, Massawa is left heavily scarred. One helicopter is shot down and several Legionnaires are taken prisoner. Scores of civilians are killed but only a handful of terrorists and soldiers.
• February 9, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Two of the four POWs are executed, have their bodies dumped in the road, and lit on fire. Al-Shams threatens to burn the other two alive if the Layartebian Legionnaires do not leave Eritrea.
• February 10, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Acting on intelligence, Layartebian Legionnaires raid an apartment building in hopes of rescuing both POWs. The raid goes horribly wrong and Al-Shams has set it up as an ambush. Several Legionnaires are killed and both POWs are executed after being thrown off of the room of the building. In retaliation, the Legionnaires encircle the building and demolish it with explosives. Despite killing several terrorists, most of the dead are civilians.
• February 11 - February 20, 2013: [Amigard] In a series of escalating reprisals, a street war opens in Lebanon.
• February 11, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] With the bad press surrounding the activities of the Layartebian Legionnaires, President Bairu begins to rethink unleashing the Layartebians in his country, fearful that the Legionnaires will chase the terrorists to Asmara and then attack his forces. He commits a battalion of men to Massawa to take the lead role. They are not welcomed by either the people or the Legionnaires.
• February 13 - 17, 2013: [Layarteb] A total of 440 gallons of a chemical agent known as EREBUS is dumped into the island's water supply. It is followed up by a further 440 gallons on February 15 and 3,000 gallons on February 17.
• February 15, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] After five days of quiet, in which time Al-Shams was preparing to unleash a massive battle against the Layartebian Legionnaires, sniper fire and an ambush draws out a large portion of the Layartebian Legionnaires. A massive street battle ensues lasting throughout the night. Air support is flown from navy helicopters and Harriers. Scores of Al-Shams terrorists are killed, countless civilians are caught in the crossfire, and scores of Eritrean troops are killed in the confusion. In the end, Al-Shams holds physical territory in Massawa for the first time ever, though their numbers are greatly reduced.
• February 16, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] President Bairu phones the Emperor of Layarteb asking for restraint of the Layartebian Legionnaires, aware now that he will only draw more attention to his genocide campaign by keeping the Layartebians engaged.
• February 18, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] The Layartebian Ministry of Intelligence begins plotting a coup against President Bairu, utilizing General Hagos' frustration at the Massawa bungling as a jump off point. General Hagos wishes only for Al-Shams to be gone and for the Empire to leave. Over the next two weeks, meetings between Layartebian agents and General Hagos irons out a plan.
• February 18, 2013: [Layarteb] The residents of Abu Musa Island begin to exhibit signs of high aggression and hallucinations. Communication to Abu Musa Island is mysteriously cut off in the early hours of the morning.
• February 20, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Answering calls for help, Al-Shams terrorists from Saudi Arabia and Egypt begin to come to Eritrea but many are killed along the way by navy patrols.
• February 21 - March 10, 2013: [Amigard, Itailian Maifias] Members of the European Defense Pact help settle the violence in the Levant region.
• February 22, 2013: [Layarteb] Another 3,000 gallons of EREBUS is dumped into the island's water supply. By now, the island is in a full state of riot.
• February 25 - February 28, 2013: [Layarteb] With the Levant region in utter turmoil, the Empire of Layarteb withdraws all diplomatic personnel and nationals from the region. During the operation, one navy MH-60S Knight Hawk is shot down by ground fire.
• March 2013: [Yanitza] The increasing publicity of Al-Shams operations inside Eritrea and Saudi Arabia sees an increased proliferation of jihadist cells inside Senegambia that begin to conduct their first attacks on the military. Many militias adopt militant Islamist ideologies, some in a cynical move to gain more recruits and legitimacy.
• March 1, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] After two months, the death toll in Massawa is astronomical. Civilian refugees begin to flee towards the African controlled territories to the south. President Bairu publically rebuffs General Hagos during a meeting concerning the Layartebian peacekeeping force.
• March 1, 2013: [Layarteb] The Thai Canal opens for maritime traffic. The first vessel to make the transit is an Apilonian-flagged warship.
• March 1, 2013: [Terra Reborn] The patrol vessel, HMS Cairns, under the command of HRH The Prince of Australia, is attacked by Western Australian Forces. This foreshadows a much larger offensive against the Imperial Australian territories, which achieves near-complete surprise and inflicts heavy losses, save for at Darwin where the bulk of the Imperial Australian fleet survives. News of the attack spreads around the Apilonian Empire whilst His Majesty decides to launch a major naval and amphibious attack against the Western Australian Republic from the sea. Sir Nicolas Harrington is promoted to vice admiral and placed in command a joint task force.
• March 3, 2013: [Layarteb] After two weeks of crazed rioting, the island's populace of 2,131 is reduced to a mere 389 people. A distress call is made.
• March 4, 2013: [Layarteb] Elements of the 10th Legion of the Layartebian Foreign Legion land at Abu Musa Island. Soldiers report massive casualties on the island, frightened residents, and widespread destruction. No cause can be determined.
• March 4, 2013: [Terra Reborn] Within a few days, the Imperial forces in Australia, including army forces under General Sir Thomas Cochrane are able to push the enemy back to pre-war boundaries; however, the war begins in earnest with cross-border skirmishes becomming a daily occurrence.
• March 6, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Layartebian Legionnaires make a major push to unseat Al-Shams from Massawa. Tracking on runners and messengers via drone, intelligence learns of the main field HQ for Al-Shams and levels it in an air strike killing all but two Al-Shams leaders.
• March 7, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb] Decimated from set piece warfare with the Layartebian Legionnaires, approximately 30 remaining Al-Shams terrorists take refuge in a mosque, believing that they are safe. Legionnaires track them to the location and unable to root them out without facing serious loss, call in an air strike, leveling the building. Public outcry is enormous.
• March 8, 2013: [Layarteb] After four days of operations, the Imperial Layartebian Army declares the island safe. Of the 389 survivors, over 200 are found to be psychotically "mad" and they are institutionalized. The remainder are isolated and moved off of the island due to the horrible events. Abu Musa Island thus becomes a Layartebian possession by default and a military fortress at that.
• March 9, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] Despite having nearly destroyed Al-Shams in Eritrea, Layartebian Legionnaires remain, looking for additional caches and training camps, mainly using intelligence seized from the battle. Al-Shams' two remaining leaders sneak off and escape from Eritrea. President Bairu calls for the withdrawal of Layartebian troops and African troops.
• March 11, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] In a bold and daring move just after midnight, General Hagos unseats President Bairu from power, executing him in the process. He assumes authority over the country and vows to Layartebian leadership to end the mass genocide of Muslim people (though he's going to continue it quietly). In doing so, he agrees to set up a neutral zone in the African controlled territory provided no African troops remain, the Layartebian Legionnaires leave, and his country receive aid. By now approximately 50% of the country's Muslim populace has been killed by the genocides. Measures are enacted to suppress the remaining populace and quietly remove them from existence.
• March 11, 2013: [Terra Reborn] Joint Task Force One begins to gather at the Maldives where Vice Admiral Harrington and his senior officers begin to come up with a battle plan. JTF-1 would deploy on March 18 and begin to sail southwards.
• March 12, 2013: [Amigard, Itailian Maifias] With the European Defense Pact at the helm, tensions within the Levant region begin to settle.
• March 18, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Layartebian forces foil a major plot by a Cypriot group to bring violence upon Layartebian forces. The sentiment of the populace remains anti-Layartebian.
• March 19, 2013: [Eritrea, Layarteb, United States of Brink] African troops withdraw into Djibouti provided that no Eritrean forces come south of Edd.
• Spring 2013: [Olmeria] Despite many efforts from foreign countries, President Sergiusz Czarnecki does not gain strength. The Lacozen people see him as a weak puppet. Tensions with the Southern Balkans Confederation begin to rise again. The Southern Balkans Confederation, seeing an opportunity to seize on the weakness of the Federation of Lacoze begins a series of border skirmishes.
• Spring - Summer 2013: [Amigard] The Levant region settles but the precursors for future violence remains.
• March 21, 2013: [Terra Reborn] The Imperial joint task force locates and engages the Western Australian Republic Navy in a major fleet engagement near the Cocos Islands. The Imperial Navy decisively defeats the enemy force and after recuperating at Cocos Island, it continues southward.
• March 25, 2013: [Eritrea, Ethiopia, Layarteb] The Layartebian Legionnaires leave, having left Massawa in ruins. Despite this, General Hagos (now President Hagos) agrees to let the Layartebian Ministry of Intelligence utilize an airfield at Teseney for covert missions into Ethiopia. President Hagos pockets all money involved in the use of this airfield.
• March 29, 2013: [Terra Reborn] The Imperial Marines go ashore at Perth after a substantial air campaign.
• March 31: [Terra Reborn] The Imperial Marine Corps formally takes control of Perth. Vice Admiral Sir Nicholas Harrington formally transmits the signal: "Be pleased to inform His Majesty that the White Ensign flies alongside the Imperial Jack in Perth. God Save the King."
• April - December 2013: [Cyrenaica, Layarteb] After suffering several defeats against the Empire of Layarteb, the latest being in Eritrea, Al-Shams moves its base of operations to the Kufra governorate in Cyrenaica, where the Cyrenaican Desert and inhospitable terrain afford them natural defenses. They take over several cities, including Al Jawf, which becomes their "capital," subjecting residents to strict interpretations of Sharia law. A Shura council is formed in Al Jawf to deal with domestic matters but Al-Shams stops short of trying to establish a legitimate state or call for an Islamic caliphate.
• April 2013 - June 2014: [Mexico] Intense fighting between drug cartels and the government rages throughout Mexico, turning Mexico City into a war zone. It bests Porto Velho in terms of people killed and property destroyed.
• April 1, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] The Emperor of Layarteb announces that the situation on Cyprus is not conducive to a continued, Layartebian presence. All Layartebian forces are to be withdrawn in fourteen days.
• April 4, 2013: [Terra Reborn] His Majesty The King arrives in Perth and Western Australia is formally annexed into the Apilonian Empire.
• April 15, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] The last Layartebian troops withdraw from Cyprus, leaving the island to its own devices against Amigardian protest.
• April 24, 2013: [Layarteb] The Confederacy of Puducherry (Yanam, Pondicherry, and Karaikal) officially join the Indian Republic of the Empire of Layarteb. The handover ceremony is conducted on May 1.
• April 29, 2013: [Terra Reborn] The aging frigate, HMS Earl of Anchorage is anchored off Freetown, Sierra Leone, when a coup is launched. Captain Thomas Weber, who was dining with President Dubaku at the time, helps defend the President. The Earl of Anchorage is attacked by rebel forces and it is moderately damaged. Due primarily to this, Captain Weber orders his ship to aid Loyalist forces with gunfire support. At Gibraltar, the Viscountess Standford, orders the Reprisal Carrier Group to prepare to sail with all speed. Later the same day, His Majesty the King authorizes Imperial Military forces to intervene in the conflict.
• May - June 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Layarteb, Terra Reborn] As major chaos reigns in the United States of Western America, it becomes clear that the Joplin City-State is likely to gain from any Nevadan secession. The Empire of Layarteb sets its sights on attacking the city-state and removing Oliveria from power.
• May - June 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Twelve operatives from the Shaitan Mercenary Company and twelve terrorists from Al-Shams make their way to Masirah Island gradually. In doing so, they set up three safe houses and a central headquarters with the express goal of operating on the island against the Theocracy of Amigard and the Empire of Layarteb.
• May - June 2013: [Layarteb, Olmeria] To prevent a war, the Empire of Layarteb, the Southern Balkans Confederation, and the Federation of Lacoze agree to a series of peace talks in Layarteb City.
• May 1, 2013: [Edvardus, Layarteb] After months of backchannel communication, the Empire of Layarteb and the Respublica Sinae agree to a lasting peace agreement. To initiate this agreement, each side releases 100 POWs. In total, 383 Layartebians and 1,118 Sinaeans remain listed as "captured" by each side.
• May 1, 2013: [Terra Reborn] The Reprisal Battle Group arrives off Freetown and provides support to Loyalist forces, pushing the rebels back substantially. The 183rd Infantry Brigade is deployed and it begins combat operations against the enemy.
• May 6, 2013: [Terra Reborn] The Viscountess Standford hosts President Dubaku aboard the Reprisal, delivering a message from the King that suggests that Sierra Leone become a part of the Apilonian Empire. After some thought, the President accepts.
• May 7, 2013: [Edvardus, Layarteb] In another peace move, 200 POWs from the Sinaean-Layartebian War are released by each side along with locations of buried bodies.
• May 8, 2013: [Terra Reborn] President William Dubaku flies to Karin and he is formally invested as the Duke of Sierra Leone by the King, as the country becomes a territory of the Apilonian Empire.
• May 30, 2013: [Edvardus, Layarteb] After slight delay, both the Sinaeans and the Layartebians release all remaining POWs. Unfortunately, 93 Layartebians and 132 Sinaeans will be forever listed as MIA/BNR as their bodies were not recovered.
• May 31, 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Terra Reborn] James Sullivan, President of the United States of Western America, is assassinated in front of a massive crowd
• June 1, 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Terra Reborn] The joint USAF-IAF exercises at Red Flag 2013 are attacked by Nevadan ground crew and soldiers. This marks the beginning of a campaign by Nevadan hardliners to kick the United States of Western America out of their country, with the Apilonian Empire caught in the middle. Throughout the day dozens, if not hundreds, of high-ranking government and military officials are assassinated by rouge Nevadans. The leadership and infrastructure of the rest of the United States if Western America is badly hit and there are riots in Sacramento, California.
• June 1, 2013: [Novacron] Admiral Darius Rabb, late of the Persian Navy, exists as the de facto ruler of much of South Persia, despite the fact that the Persian Navy is virtually non-existent. He is based out of Bandar Abbas, the centre around which the resistance to the continued Amigardian Campaign in Persia. After much consideration, Darius realizes that if the Persia he loves is to survive, he needs to retake the occupied West. However, given his desperate and disparate troops being steadily whittled away by daily skirmishes with Amigardian forces, this is only going to be achieved by diplomacy, despite Persia's poor international reputation, and shattered state after the Soviet and Layartebian campaigns of 2011. To rectify this, he calls a meeting of local leaders from all across Persia.
• June 1 - July 3, 2013: [Layarteb] Over the course of a month, Layartebian authorities approach the Monégasque government with hopes of returning Monaco to the Empire of Layarteb as a member-state of the Mediterranean Republic. By playing upon the Monégasque fear of being conquered by the Dutch, the Empire of Layarteb is successful.
• June 2, 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Terra Reborn] The USWA military, supported by the Imperial Air Force, launches a counter-attack against the Nevadans. However, the presidential line of succession has been decimated, and the former President, Andrew J. Thorn is assassinated as well. The only strong leader remaining is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Kieran Grieves. The attacks have been designed to wipe out those in favour of the union, promoting those that had opposed it in the past to positions of power; as a result, some of the outlying states begin to splinter away.
• June 3, 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Terra Reborn] The Imperial Foreign Secretary arrives in Phoenix to meet with General Grieves in order to discuss the situation. The pair agree to cooperate entirely to defeat the Nevadans. It is discovered that the son of Nevadan dictator, Alexander Lane, is behind the attacks, and more importantly that he has the support of the regimes in Wyoming and Colorado.
• June 5 - 6, 2013: [Layarteb] Operation DARK CENTAUR is proposed, a land and air assault on the Joplin City-State. It is turned down due to the logistical requirements. Instead, Operation ECHO CENTAUR is accepted on June 6, which is just an air campaign against the Joplin City-State aimed at destroying the city-state's crystal meth producing ability and command element but without compromising any of the Ministry of Justice's CIs.
• June 6, 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Terra Reborn] The Imperial air campaign against Wyoming and Colorado and the USWA campaign against Nevada supported by the IAF begin in earnest before dawn. The enemy is revealed to have advanced weaponry and they inflict substantial casualties before being pushed back. Ground troops follow later that day.
• June 8 - 9, 2013: [Layarteb] During the night, Layartebian aircraft launch a massive alpha strike against the Joplin City-State. All goes well until a single F-46 Enforcer goes down due to mechanical failure. During the rescue, an A-10 Thunderbolt II is damaged but no lives are lost and no further aircraft are shot down. The mission is heralded as a major success. However, Richard Oliveria maintains power and the people of the Joplin City-State do not rise up against their overlords. The Joplin military is crippled as are most of their meth-producing factories.
• June 12, 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Terra Reborn] The second wave of Imperial troops arrive in theatre.
• June 15, 2013: [Novacron] At the meeting, held at the headquarters of the Persian Navy, Darius delivers and impassioned speech in which he announces that he intends to restore Persia to greatness and to ensure its due national sovereignty. This he would not do by threats of violence unless there was no other option but instead by diplomacy. To accomplish this he announces that any nation he establishes would be secular, tolerant of any religion, and most importantly it would break all ties with any terrorist groups and hunt them down at any cost. With the support of the delegates, he orders a unilateral cease-fire in the conflict with the Amigardians. Suspicious, but unwilling to pass up the opportunity, the Amigardian forces do the same shortly after midnight.
• June 17, 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Terra Reborn] Enemy forces in Wyoming surrender to Imperial forces. The Imperial heavy cruisers, HMS Ajax and Achillies are attacked by a rouge USWA battlecruiser and they are heavily damaged before they manage to destroy the enemy. They subsequently withdraw to Anchorage. The attack confirms that Sacramento is attempting another insurrection.
• June 19, 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Terra Reborn] As the splintering United States of Western America is incapable of solving the situation in California, the Apilonian Empire formally annexes the state with the clearance of the state's Congress. As a result, the California National Guard troops, supported by the Imperial Army, march on Sacramento to force a decision on the hardliners, who block their entrance. As a result, the city is essentially placed under a siege, albeit one without any real fighting.
• June 20, 213: [Novacron] Following a subsequent meeting to discuss how best to proceed, the terrorist group known as Al-Shams attempts to assassinate Darius, seeing him as a threat to their power and position in Persia. This attempt is foiled by his security detail made up of former special forces operators from the Persian Marine Corps. This would later lead to the tradition that the Persian Marines provide protection for the monarchy. Following this attempt, the remaining delegates swing behind him.
• July 2013: [Ethiopia] Five years after the Ethiopian Civil War has restarted, the country is essentially separated in half. Rebel forces have pushed government troops all the way back to a central, contested area and the government controls only the northern segment of the country.
• July 1, 2013: [Novacron] Citing the support of his delegates, Darius formally requests that the Theocracy of Amigard withdraw its troops to pre-war borders and that normal diplomatic contact be resumed under the terms of a White Peace.
• July 1, 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Terra Reborn] After nearly two weeks the hardliner garrison is compelled to surrender due to dwindling supplies and public unrest.
• July 3, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Two Al-Shams terrorists detonate a 600-kilogram bomb inside of the Masirah Island Resort, leveling an entire wing of the resort. In the attack, 342 people are killed or wounded, 80 of which were children. Almost all of the victims are Amigardian nationals. The Imperial Layartebian Marine Corps assists victims and one terrorist, who was injured by the blast, is taken to the Marine hospital, his identity unknown.
• July 4, 2013: [Alliance ofFree People, Terra Reborn] After much behind the scenes discussions, the decision is made for the Apilonian Empire to formally absorb the remaining states of the United States of Western America as the strong enduring executive power of a monarch is seen to be the only way to ensure continued stability, which is the highest priority for all concerned. Kieran Grieves is formally created as the Duke of Arizona.
• July 4, 2013: [Layarteb] Monaco officially rejoins the Empire of Layarteb as part of the Mediterranean Republic. A major celebration is thrown and the Emperor of Layarteb personally attends with one of his two yachts. Many worldwide dignitaries are invited to celebrate aboard the yacht. The Lacozen leadership is invited to the party.
• July 5, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] The Emperor of Layarteb and the Amigardian Ambassador to Layarteb, Nashita Sarraf meet. In the meeting, the Emperor agrees to downplay the role the Empire of Layarteb played in the resort bombing in order to bolster the Amigardian position.
• July 5, 2013: [Layarteb, Olmeria] The Layarteb City Accord is signed by the Empire, the Southern Balkans Confederation, and the Federation of Lacoze. In it, the Federation of Lacoze agrees to apologize for its military action and its endeavors to bring the Southern Balkans Confederation into the Federation of Lacoze. The Southern Balkans Confederation agrees to halt all hostile action against the Federation of Lacoze. The Empire of Layarteb, acting as guarantor of peace, negotiates the leasing of two airbases in the Balkans, one in the Federation of Lacoze and one in the Southern Balkans Confederation. The lease agreement provides much needed revenue on both sides and ensures a lasting peace by providing the Empire of Layarteb with a troop presence in the Balkans. The Lacozen airbase is located on the Bosnia and Herzegovina/Croatia border and the Balkan airbase is located in Kosovo.
• July 6, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Layartebian Marines identify the injured terrorist and put him under guard in the hospital. However, due to his wounds, he is in an induced coma.
• July 6, 2013: [Edvardus, Layarteb] The Respublica Sinae and the Empire of Layarteb sign the Hong Kong Accord. The Hong Kong Accord effectively ends the Sinaean-Layartebian War. It affirms the borders as they are, opens the Thai Canal up to the Sinaean government, and pledges that neither side will seize the other's territory in Guangdong Province. The final death toll for the war and post-ceasefire skirmishes stands at 135,983 Layartebian casualties (16,600 KIA, 93 MIA/BNR, 119,290 WIA), 1,877,455 CDP casualties (802,975 KIA, 569 MIA/BNR, 1,073,911 WIA), 867,580 Progressive casualties (378,920 KIA, 132 MIA/BNR, 488,528 WIA), and over 23,800,000 civilian casualties. The Sinaean-Layartebian War is one of the bloodiest conflicts this Earth has ever faced.
• July 9, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Late in the evening, Al-Shams detonates a 400-kilogram bomb underneath the maternity wing of the Masirah Island Hospital. Following the attack, the Emperor of Layarteb calls Cardinal Steele and requests that the Theocracy of Amigard relinquish control of Masirah Island to the Empire of Layarteb in order to prosecute the Al-Shams cell operating there. In the hospital attack, 80 people are killed and 100 wounded. Most of the dead are newborn infants and recovering mothers. Cardinal Steele stalls the Emperor of Layarteb by requiring the Bishops to vote on any handover to the Empire of Layarteb.
• July 10, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Two Al-Shams terrorists and two SMC operatives attack the Masirah Island Water Treatment Plant. During the attack, the four hostiles kill several guards before they are found by an orbiting, Marine helicopter. A Marine rifle platoon responds. One SMC operative is killed before the Marine platoon arrives and in a gunfight, both terrorists are killed and the other SMC operative is wounded. However, he is captured alive and given medical treatment. To the senior Al-Shams and SMC personnel on site, they believe they have lost seven men, not five.
• July 12, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Marine investigators determine that the explosives used in both bombing attacks were Amigardian in origin and trace those explosives to an Amigardian weapons depot in Oman. The information is relayed to the Amigardian External Security Service (AESS) who begin to look into the case.
• July 13 - 14, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] SMC operatives at Thumrait Air Base and Al-Shams operatives in Oman smuggle two, 500-pound airdropped bombs onto Masirah Island and deliver them into the hands of the Al-Shams cell on Masirah Island.
• July 14, 2013: [Novacron] After much consideration, Cardinal Steele agrees to the terms offered by Darius and Amigardian forces formally withdraw from the shattered nation. The Theocracy of Amigard surprises everyone within Persia, especially the Islamists, by offering to help with the rebuilding through practical and monetary means. Shortly after this news reaches Bandar Abbas, Al-Shams makes another attempt on Darius' life; he is hit in the attempt but it is a minor wound.
• July 17, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Al-Shams detonates one of the bombs at the K14 traffic circle on Masirah Island, destroying three Layartebian Marine trucks, killing five Marines and injuring a sixth. Cardinal Steele, under pressure from the Emperor of Layarteb, hands over judicial control of Masirah Island to the Empire of Layarteb.
• July 18, 2013: [Layarteb, Olmeria] The first Layartebian units deploy to Pristina-Slatina Air Base in Kosovo and Željava Air Base in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The deployment is light with just two fighter squadrons per base initially. Lease payments to both parties begin immediately.
• July 19, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] While moving the second bomb to an ideal attack location, one SMC operative and one Al-Shams terrorist are killed when their vehicle becomes involved in a head-on collision, which detonates the bomb. Outside of the two hostiles, only those in the other car are killed. The setback forces Al-Shams to seek more bombs from its connection in Oman, who are now under surveillance by the AESS.
• July 20, 2013: [Novacron] Darius makes a triumphant entry into Tehran at the head of a military parade led by the Persian Marines and what is left of navy, army and air force personnel. Massive crowds flock to witness this monumental event.
• July 23 - 24, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] SMC operatives at Thumrait Air Base move four more 500-pound airdropped bombs to Masirah Island. However, they do so while under surveillance from UAVs and an AESS unit. By the time the bombs arrive on Masirah Island at the Al-Shams' Sur Masirah safe house, AESS operatives and Amigardian MPs arrest the entire SMC cell at Thumrait Air Base, the delivery men, and the Al-Shams terrorists who carted the bomb from Oman to Masirah Island. One AESS operative is injured and one Al-Shams terrorist is killed. On Masirah Island, Delta Force operators attack the Sur Masirah safe house, arresting all four SMC and Al-Shams hostiles and recover the bombs.
• July 24, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Now with six captures, the Layartebian Marines on Masirah Island are able to determine the size of the hostile cell. There remain only six SMC operatives and four Al-Shams terrorists, most of who are at the headquarters in Dafiyat. The Emperor of Layarteb informs Cardinal Steele of the breakthrough and requests an AESS presence on Masirah Island.
• July 25, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Marine interrogators are able to illicit the location of the headquarters in Dafiyat from one of the SMC captives. They immediately place the house under surveillance. Signal's intelligence reveals the general area of the Hilf safe house. During the evening hours, the Hilf safe house is raided and one Al-Shams terrorist is killed in the process. Intelligence collection reveals the location of a third safe house in Dawwah.
• July 26, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] In simultaneous raids, just after midnight, Layartebian Delta Force operators and AESS operatives attack both the Dawwah safe house and the Dafiyat headquarters. One SMC operative is killed at the Dawwah safe house. However, at the Dafiyat headquarters, the six SMC operatives and three Al-Shams terrorists put up a major fight. A Marine infantry unit is brought in to provide additional support. When the house is finally taken, only one man is captured alive. He is the senior SMC commander, Marjan Pavic. One Marine and one Delta Force operator are killed.
• July 27 - 30, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Over four days, Layartebian Marines scale back their checkpoints around Masirah Island. The Emperor of Layarteb courts Cardinal Steele into relinquishing administrative control over Masirah Island to the Empire of Layarteb.
• August 1, 2013: [Layarteb] The Orion Program launches its first, orbital, manned test on mission Orion 3 using the SLS Block 1 rocket. The mission is a success with the crew spending 8 days, 14 hours, and 39 minutes in orbit around the Earth.
• August 1, 2013: [Novacron] Darius calls another meeting of delegates to discuss how the new Persia will be run to avoid the mistakes of the past. Although the exact form would take some time to work out, it was quickly decided that a strong, constitutionally-backed head of state was required to ensure that there was legal precedent to prevent abuses, and that Darius would assume that mantle at least initially.
• August 1 - 10, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] Amigardian residents on Masirah Island, angry at the inability of Baghdad to protect them, protest and hold strikes all around the island. Amigardian soldiers and policemen, unable to break the crowds, largely remain ineffective.
• August 10, 2013: [Layarteb] With the successful test launch of Orion 3, the Space Shuttle Program is officially closed. Throughout its tenure, the Space Shuttle Program saw 194 successful space launches across its six orbiters. Astronauts spent a collective total of 1,932 days in space and conducted 30,710 orbits. The longest flight was 18 days. Many of the components for the Space Launch System were derived from the Space Shuttle, including the solid rocket boosters and the external fuel tank.
• August 11, 2013: [Amigard, Layarteb] In response to the protesting, Cardinal Steele announces that Masirah Island is to be handed over to the Empire of Layarteb for a period of one year as a compromise to end the riots. During that time, the Amigardian authorities will remain on the island and a referendum will be held in August 2014 to determine the future of Masirah Island. This immediately stops the rioting.
• August 12, 2013 [Amigard]: The Amigardian National Security Service (ANSS) launches Operations ROARING LION and TRANQUIL LAMB. The Amigardian External Security Services (AESS) and the Amigardian Internal Security Services (AISS) are streamlined and brought together under the ANSS as a cohesive unit and the national criminal database undergoes an overhaul. Operation ROARING LION aims to root out and eliminate Al-Shams, Shaitan, and Children of God operations throughout Amigard with a focus on Saudi Arabia. Operation TRANQUIL LAMB is an intense propaganda campaign aimed at "winning the hearts and minds of the Saudi Arabian people."
• September - December 2013 [Amigard]: Amigardian efforts against Al-Shams and the Children of God in Saudi Arabia finally begin to show signs of progress as several terrorist cells are eliminated, however, the Children of God responds with increased suicide bombing throughout several cities in Saudi Arabia.
• September 1, 2013: [Novacron] The Persian Constitutional Convention releases its finalised constitution, which calls for a constitutional monarchy with a strong, but still limited, executive monarch working close with an elected Parliament. Darius is selected as that monarch.
• September 10, 2013: [Portugal, Terra Reborn] On the anniversary of the Portuguese surrender, the first free elections occur in Portugal for a long time.
• September 18, 2013: [Novacron] Darius is formally crowned King Darius I of Persia in a lavish ceremony in Tehran. Despite this, the newly-crowned King knows that he has a lot of work to do if he is to make the world believe that this Persian leopard has truly changed its spots.
• September 28, 2013: [Brydog] Military forces in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia launch a military coup seizing the capital, prompted by the threat of a rouge general. The new government discover the presence of WMDs at a facility in Poland.
• September 30, 2013: [Brydog] Discovering that General Thompsen is behind the WMDs, the federal government moves to stop him. A battle between elements of the Federal Army and Thompsen's forces occur in Frymburk, Czech Republic and Bratislava, Slovakia with the enemy retreating.
• September 30, 2013: [Layarteb, Novacron] In secrecy, the Layartebian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister Al-Fayed, the foreign minister of the Kingdom of Persia, meet in Dubai. At the meeting, both the Empire of Layarteb and the Kingdom of Persia agree to begin relations, resume trade and diplomacy, and to engage in intelligence cooperation against terrorist groups, specifically Al-Shams.
• October 2013: [Itailian Maifias, Layarteb] The Kingdom of Holland informs the Empire of Layarteb that it has detected a variety of threats to Bagram Air Base near Kabul and an intelligence-sharing partnership is formed to investigate the Afghan Martyrs Brigade, the Al-Shams cell uncovered during the summer of 2012.
• October 1, 2013: [Brydog] Federal police acting on a tip, raid the hideout of a local crime boss with connections to Thompsen, discovering the location of Thompsen's hideout, a night club in Bratislava.
• October 3, 2013: [Brydog] FUB/FBU arrest Thompsen at the night club with no issue, he handled over to Vienna for trial.
• October 6, 2013: [Yanitza] Abbas Puular becomes the de facto ruler of Futa Jallon as the Senegambian Army is holed up in the cities and the Khorsuni militias are pushed out of the highlands. Skirmishes occur on the borderlands of Futa Jallon in eastern Senegal and southern Guinea.
• October 7, 2013: [Brydog] The WMDs being held at a military base in Lublin are destroyed.
• October 19, 2013: [Layarteb] Layartebian forces arrive in Crete due to the worsening situation in Turkey. Deployed are the 14th Amphibious Ready Group, 14th Marine Division, and 14th Marine Support Group.
• November 26, 2013: [Terra Reborn] Her Majesty Queen Jessica gives birth to her and the King's first child, the Princess Olivia.
• December 9, 2013: [Birea, Cyrenaica, Yanitza] Al-Shams recruiters from Cyrenaica arrive with plans to form a united Islamist front out of the Senegambian militias. They are supported by similarly minded individuals in the Birean regime, who are ideologically sympathetic to Al-Shams and see them as a useful tool to regain lost influence inside Senegambia. Many see the creation of the Al-Shams movement in Senegambia as a way to prevent similar groups forming inside Birea, by encouraging Birean volunteers to travel to Senegambia.
• December 16, 2013: [Cotland] The Cottish merchant vessel Maersk Acheron, while en route from Gibraltar to Crete, is hijacked in the Western Mediterranean Sea by pirates. A Cottish warship is immediately dispatched to the area, as is a nearby Apilonian warship. Late in the evening, pirates attempt to hijack the darkened Cottish warship, which takes actions to defend itself, causing a small naval action off Alborán Island that sees the pirate vessel sunk.
• December 17, 2013: [Cotland] After interrogating captured surviving pirates, the Cottish warship discovers that the Maersk Acheron is being held in the pirate-controlled Moroccan harbor of Nador. A rescue attempt is called off when heavy coastal artillery emplacements are discovered protecting the harbour. The Cottish admiralty declares that a blockade is to be established of the harbour, which is reinforced by an Apilonian surface action task force.
• December 18, 2013: [Cotland] Pirate vessels attempt to force their way out from the blockaded harbour, triggering a naval battle between the Cottish-Apilonian task force and the pirates, which sees the allied side prevail. The battle is followed by a retaliatory bombardment of pirate-held fortifications by the task force.
• December 19, 2013: [Cotland] A plan to invade the pirate-controlled territory in order to liberate the Maersk Acheron and her captive crew is granted royal assent. A military exclusion zone is declared around the Moroccan eastern coast.
• Winter 2013 - Spring 2014: [Achesia, Layarteb, The Alliance of United Worlds] With the Republic of South America and Achesia nearly ready to go to war, the Empire of Layarteb steps in and begins to mediate between the two nations.
• December 21, 2013: [Cotland] In the early hours of December 21, Cottish Royal Marines and paratroopers launch a sea and airborne invasion of pirate-controlled Morocco. Initial resistance is quickly overwhelmed and by dawn special forces have liberated the Maersk Acheron and some of her crew. On the same day, the Cottish Parliament votes down a motion for formal annexation of the eastern parts of Morocco into the Realm, denying the government additional troops. Cottish troops are required to withdraw from Morocco once all missing crewmembers of the Maersk Acheron are recovered.
• December 22, 2013: [Cotland] Nador is secured by Royal Marines, fighting is now concentrated around the city-state of Melilla.
• December 24, 2013: [Cotland] In recognition of the Holy Night of Christmas, the Cottish maintain a twelve-hour ceasefire in order to celebrate Christmas.
• December 25, 2013: [Itailian Maifias] In her annual Christmas morning address by radio and television, Queen Beatrix I announces her intent to abdicate the throne in favor of her son Prince Willem-Alexander at the start of the new year due to persisting health concerns.
• December 30, 2013: [Cotland] After a week of hard fighting, Melilla is secured by Royal Marines and paratroopers. Pirate leader Abdul ibn Mazahan is captured by Cottish forces in Melilla. The general commanding the ground operation issues following message to Oslo: "Sir, be pleased to inform His Majesty that the the War Flag of the Realm flies in Melilla. God save the King." The message will become iconic. In a daring evening raid, Cottish special operations forces, operating on intelligence gained by interrogating ibn Mazahan liberate the remaining captured Maersk Acheron mariners.

[Earth_ Two]

2014

• January 1, 2014 [Amigard]: Cardinal Steele announces his intent to retire from his position as Cardinal by the end of the year citing health reasons. The Cardinal orders the Lay Council and the Council of Bishops to work together to create a constitution to guide the Theocracy if Amigard.
• January 1, 2014: [Layarteb] The population of the Empire of Layarteb is estimated at 735,000,000.
• January 1, 2014: [South India, Terra Reborn] With the situation in South India in a far better condition when the territory joined the Apilonian Empire, on a temporary basis for its protection, the South Indian congress begins the process of peacefully withdrawing from the Apilonian Empire.
• January 2, 2014: [Cotland] Melilla is formally annexed by the Realm of Cotland as a Royal Protectorate of the Realm. Melilla, having been an independent city-state prior to the outbreak of piracy in the region, is deemed not to be part of Morocco, and the Parliament's decision not to allow occupation of Morocco is therefore not deemed to encompass Melilla. Much parliamentary debate follows in the weeks to come.
• January 4, 2014: [Itailian Maifias] Willem-Alexander is crowned King of the Kingdom of Holland in a ceremony inside the Hague
• January 7, 2014: [Terra Reborn] The Apilonian Imperial Air Force Station Akrotiri, Cyprus, is attacked by Muslim forces as part of the outbreak of religious warfare on the island between the Christian west and the Muslim east. The IAF Regiment garrison is able to hold their positions long enough for Apilonian reinforcements to arrive.
• January 9, 2014: [Terra Reborn] 5 Commando Brigade of the Apilonian Imperial Marines are deployed ashore from HMS Zeus and quickly secure the Apilonian Imperial Sovereign Base Area and a beachhead around Limassol. The forward elements of the brigade push outwards to secure other important positions in the nearby countryside.
• January 10, 2014: [Cotland] Concerned with political turmoil brewing in the Federation of Lacoze, the Cottish Government reaffirms its friendship and support to Lacoze and to the validity of the Treaty of Vienna.
• January 10, 2014: [Terra Reborn] The bulk of the 37th Mechanised Division's manpower is deployed to Cyprus but is required to wait for its vehicles and other equipment to arrive before it can begin offensive operations
• January 11, 2014: [Terra Reborn] The 1st Guards Brigade, an elite light infantry unit of the Apilonian Imperial Army, is deployed to Cyprus where it begins offensive operations in support of Christian forces around Nicosia whilst the 37th Mechanised Division's logistics is sorted out.
• January 15, 2014: [Itailian Maifias] Prime Minister Daniel Soer announces in conjunction with His Majesty the King, the conclusion of a number of infrastructure repair packages and upgrades in the French counties. His Majesty also appoints His Grace, Duke Jonas of Wuttermberg as the official Governor-General of France.
• January 15, 2014: [Terra Reborn] Elements of 5 Command Brigade and the 1st Guards Brigade secure Nicosia and the Christian frontline with the enemy.
• January 16, 2014: [Layarteb, Terra Reborn] During a large meeting in at the Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, hosted by the Empire of Apilonian concerning the status of North American City-States, fighting breaks out throughout the city, which forces the Layartebian Minister of the Interior and his protection detail (Diplomatic Protection Group) to flee to the Layartebian consulate. During the course of their escape, the convoy is ambushed by hostile forces in the Arlington Heights section of the city. In the subsequent gun battle, one DPG agent is killed and several others are wounded. After LAPD SWAT intervenes to help, they find refuge in an electronic dance club named Das Bunker and hold out until an evacuation is organized.
• January 18, 2014: [Terra Reborn] With the 37th Mechanised Division being combat ready, the Apilonian Imperial Army launches a major offensive into Muslim-held territory, destroying or capturing the last holdouts of the hardline Muslim fanatics by February 1. The Apilonian Empire begins a combined counter-insurgency, hearts-and-minds, and nation-building mission.
• January 27, 2014: [Amigard] The Council of Bishops convenes at the Cathedral of Saint Michael. The Lay Council convenes as well for a special meeting to discuss the development of the constitution. Riots and protests decrease in Saudi Arabia
• January 31, 2014 : [Amigard] The Council of Bishops and the Lay Council fail to agree on the details of a constitution. They agree to reconvene for a special constitutional convention in April. The failure to develop a constitution results in a return of protests throughout Saudi Arabia in particular, but also in other areas of the Theocracy of Amigard. The Children of God and Al-Shams capitalize on this and there are several explosions during protests killing and wounding several dozen people. Rioting again breaks out in Riyadh
• February 1, 2014: [Portugal, Terra Reborn] William Dubaku, Duke of Sierra Leone (the highest ranking Apilonian noble in Europe), serving as representative of His Majesty, formally hands control of Portugal back to its duly-elected government in a lavish ceremony in Lisbon, which sees the hauling down of the Apilonian Flag over the capitol building, and its re-flying over the newly-established Apilonian embassy.
• February 1, 2014: [South India, Terra Reborn] King Walker signs legislation that formally allows South India to leave the Apilonian Empire with the effective date of March 1, 2014. In return for its assistance, its investment (in particular that of the Imperial East India Company) as well as defence and rebuilding of its military, South India will allow the Empire of Apilonia to station forces within its territory after its re-independence.
• February 3, 2014: [Amigard] The riots in Riyadh are finally brought under control by local police forces but not before millions of dollars in damages are reported; at least are five people killed and almost fifty people are reportedly injured including several police officers.
• February 3, 2014: [Apilonia, Cotland, Layarteb] During an official state visit to Cotland, and in the presence of King Sverre II of Cotland and the Emperor of Layarteb, King Walker I of Apilonia signs the October Treaty and enters the Empire of Apilonia into the October Alliance as a full member.
• February 4, 2014: [Amigard] Cardinal Steele urges a quick resolution to the matter of developing a constitution to help bring stability to the Theocracy of Amigard.
• Late February 2014: [Itailian Maifias, Layarteb] Citing an imminent threat to Bagram Air Base, the Dutch military requests the assistance of a Layartebian military unit at Bagram to help bolster base defenses.
• March 1, 2014: [Itailian Maifias] Prime Minister Soer announces that the Kingdom has finalized two base leasing agreements with the Southern Balkans Confederation and the Union of Sovereign Slavic Republics, with the former handing over control of Bagram Air Field to the Kingdom
• March 1, 2014: [Layarteb] The Orion Program successfully tests its Space Launch System Block IA crew and cargo design with the manned launch of Orion 4. The Block IA expands the 70-ton payload of the Block I to 105 tons.
• March 1, 2014: [South India, Terra Reborn] The Republic of South India formally resumes sovereignty over its initial territory and Apilonian control over its armed forces ends.
• March 3, 2014: [Cotland] The occupation of Melilla is finally approved by Parliament, and Royal assent follows shortly thereafter. Abdul ibn Mazahan stands trial in Oslo on criminal charges of "illegal piracy, murder, robbery, and waging war upon the King's Majesty."
• March 4 -6, 2014: [Itailian Maifias, Layarteb, Novacron] Recently arrived Dutch forces set up at Bagram Air Field, come under heavy attack from an unknown assailant. The assault lasts nearly two days until it is eventually lifted with the assistance of Layartebian and Persian forces
• March 5, 2014: [Itailian Maifias, Layarteb, Novacron] Dutch GSG conducts a raid on a warlord stronghold in central Afghanistan, revealing that an Al-Shams cell in Pakistan was responsible for ordering the attack on Bagram and is currently planning an additional series of assaults throughout the world. In the midst of the Al-Shams attack against Bagram Air Base, the Layartebian Ministry of Defense orders the 838th QRF Battalion of the 31st Airborne Division to Bagram Air Base. Landing under fire, the Layartebian soldiers succeed in assisting Dutch forces in repelling the attack.
• March 6, 2014: [Itailian Maifias] His Majesty King Willem I approves an invasion of southern Pakistan to destroy all local Al-Sham's cells and cache's and to bring stability to the region.
• March 7, 2014: [Itailian Maifias] HNLMS Odin, a Nassau-class Battleship, arrives with an attached assault fleet off of the southern coast of Pakistan. The HNLMS Odin and its accompanying cruiser battle group begins a series of naval bombardments on several hostile coastal settlements.
• March 8, 2014: [Itailian Maifias] Under the cover of early morning darkness, carrier strike groups and other naval elements increase naval bombardment and aerial sorties to support an amphibious landing of the 2nd Corps, commanded by Brigadier-Generaal Penders.
• March 10 - 15, 2014: [Itailian Maifias, Layarteb] The 838th QRF Battalion of the Imperial Layartebian Army deploys to Jalalabad Air Base. In the wake of new intelligence unveiled by the Dutch military it is determined that support for the Afghan Martyrs Brigade lies across the border in Pakistan. With the Dutch invasion of Pakistan imminent, the 838th QRF Battalion is tasked with securing a section of the Khyber Pass to open a second front for Dutch invasion forces.
• March 23, 2014: [Bavin, Layarteb, Marimaia(SA), Terra Reborn] In Buenos Aires, a secret meeting takes place between Deputy Defense Minister Francisco Diego Velasquez and narcotics kingpin Felix Elizondo where a coup is planned against incumbent President Ernesto Chevalier of the United Provinces of Bavin. Colonel Carlos Jimenez of the Secretariat of Intelligence is also involved in the plot. The same day, Layartebian naval forces seize a Bavinese-flagged cargo ship heading to western Africa. During the seizure, a nuclear weapon is recovered suggesting to Layartebian intelligence that the Chevalier regime is smuggling nuclear weapons to Africa. This comes in the wake of another Rogue Spear incident thwarted by the Empire of Apilonia.
• March 24 - 25, 2014: [Itailian Maifias, Layarteb] In the dark, evening hours, a reconnaissance unit from the 838th QRF Battalion of the Imperial Layartebian Army deploys over the border into Pakistan, in the area around Torkham. Their job is to provide reconnaissance for the main thrust of the battalion's assault forces, which will not secure a section of the Khyber Pass from Torkham on the Afghan-Pakistan border all the way to Landi Kotal. They spend the entire day of March 25 reconnoitering the road.
• March 26, 2014: [Itailian Maifias, Layarteb] At 04:45 hours, local time, the Layartebian assault on Torkham and the Khyber Pass begins. Armored units, working with special operations troops, secure Torkham and the road with little resistance and no casualties. Unfortunately, the Dutch invasion forces are delayed, leaving the Layartebians deployed across the border holding the Khyber Pass throughout the day. The Jamrud Battalion of the Pakistani Khyber Rifles mounts a counterattack on dug-in, Layartebian forces just before dusk. Throughout the late afternoon and the early evening, Layartebian forces are engaged by the battalion of Pakistani soldiers. When Dutch invasion forces finally arrive, they are able to beat back the Khyber Rifles and secure the area. During the course of the battle, Layartebian troops suffer 289 casualties, which is 67% of men deployed over the border, of which there are 68 fatalities. The battalion is especially hard hit and it cannot continue further in the Dutch invasion. They withdraw back to Jalalabad afterwards.
• March 26, 2014: [Yanitza] The first Al-Shams camps are established in the region of Tambacounda at the behest of friendly militias. Foreign veterans begin to filter in, embedding themselves in local militias or forming volunteer brigades.
• March 28 - April 3, 2014: [Bavin, Layarteb, Marimaia(SA)] Tension between the United Provinces of Bavin and the Empire of Layarteb reaches new heights. After making the seizure of March 23 known to General Chevalier, the Empire of Layarteb is accused of staging the entire event, thus forcing General Chevalier and his regime to contemplate offensive, military action against the Falkland Islands. The invasion is an attempt to distract from revelations that Chevalier organised the smuggling of nuclear weapons to insurgents in Africa.
• March 28, 2014: [Cotland] After a three-week trial, ibn Mazahan is convicted on all charges and condemned to death by hanging. The verdict is appealed.
• April 1, 2014 : [Amigard] The Constitutional Convention begins in Amigard City. Cardinal Steele vows that he will not release the Council of Bishops or the Lay Council until an agreement is reached and a constitution is agreed on and sent to the people of the various dioceses for ratification.
• April 1, 2014: [Bavin, Layarteb, Marimaia(SA)] A mysterious document codenamed the "F.E. File" appears at the Layartebian embassy in Buenos Aires. The contents detail an elaborate and imminent play by the Bavinese regime to launch a military operation against the Falkland Islands. The information is passed up to the Emperor of Layarteb but there is considerable confusion as to how to proceed, with many fearing that the file is a hoax intended to get the Empire of Layarteb to reveal its battle plan to Bavinese intelligence services.
• April 3, 2014: [Bavin, Layarteb, Marimaia(SA)] Deciding that the F.E. File is too damning to the Bavinese to pass up, the Emperor of Layarteb orders a late and last minute alert to the Falkland Islands.
• April 4, 2014: [Bavin, Layarteb, Marimaia(SA)] The F.E. File proves to be authentic when at 00:30 hours, local time, Layartebian defenses detect the initial acts of the Bavinese, which is codenamed Operation Atlántico Sur. Over the course of the next five hours, Layartebian and Bavinese air and naval forces trade shots. An entire battalion of Bavinese frogmen is captured in the initial stages of the conflict as they invaded West Falkland island. Air combat between both nations sees 34 Bavinese aircraft shot down with no Layartebian losses to hostile action, though one F-46E Enforcer is lost due to mechanical failure. Several Layartebian pilots become an ace-in-a-day. During the conflict, the Bavinese navy loses the Chevalier aircraft carrier and the destroyer Chos Malal. Three other destroyers are heavily damaged. Layartebian forces also attack and wipe out the Bavinese airfield at Rio Grande. During the course of the war, a coup is launched against General Chevalier led by General Francisco Diego Velasquez, who assumes the presidency who calls for a ceasefire. The entire conflict is known as the Five-Hour War in the Empire of Layarteb and over the course of April 4, Layartebian and Bavinese forces gradually stand down to avoid further conflict. For the Bavinese, Operation Atlántico Sur is an unmitigated disaster. General Chevalier and his cabinet are arrested and ultimately put on trial, the Bavinese National Front political party is banned, and General Chevalier is ultimately executed. General Velasquez becomes Acting President. Unbeknownst to the Empire of Layarteb, the man being the F.E. File and the coup is Felix Elizondo - who is later determined to be a cartel kingpin for the Escorpión Azul cartel. In the wake of the Five-Hour War and the removal of the Bavinese National Front from power, the Empire of Layarteb and the new Republic of La Plata begin to mend old wounds and forge a new friendship.
• April 5, 2014: [Bavin, Layarteb, Marimaia(SA)] With a so-called "national reorganisation government" in place, the United Provinces of Bavin are renamed as the Republic of La Plata. Peace is negotiated between the new Platinean state and the Empire of Layarteb.
• April 6, 2014: [Canton, Cotland] The Cottish Mandate Zone in China is formally transferred from Cottish control to a Chinese administration, and the Republic of Canton is proclaimed. The Republic of Canton immediately formally requests protectorate status and military assistance from the Realm of Cotland, which is granted.
• April 10, 2014 : [Amigard] The Constitutional Convention disbands as a constitution is agreed on and sent to the dioceses to be ratified by the people.
• April 12, 2014: [Cotland] After the conviction of ibn Mazahan, military tribunals bring captured pirates to trial and award heavy sentences.
• April 17, 2014: [Bavin, Marimaia(SA)] Ernesto Chevalier is executed by firing squad after being found guilty of a vast array of offenses against the Platinean state.
• May 1, 2014: [Achesia, Layarteb, The Alliance of United Worlds] After months of negotiations between Achesia and the Republic of South America, an agreement is reached. The Republic of South America is allowed to keep Mato Grosso, both nations will stand down their deployed forces on the border, and Achesia will receive a 40% share of all economic profit from the Mato Grosso state. Unfortunately, the agreement puts the Achesian military at odds with the Achesian government.
• May 6, 2014: [Yanitza] First recorded instance of jihadists under the banner "West African Jihad" clashing with Senegambian soldiers.
• May 17, 2014: [Cotland] Cotland celebrates the 200th anniversary of its Constitution with massive celebrations.
• May 18, 2014: [Cotland] The first round of mass executions of convicted pirates take place in Melilla. On the same day, local registered citizens of Melilla cast votes for local administration and offices.
• May 19, 2014: [Ethiopia, Layarteb, United States of Brink] Following a botched mercenary assault on a NAR weapons depot in Harar, two rare Layartebian rifles are recovered from dead mercenaries. This leads the African Congress to officially begin inquests into the prevalence of Layartebian-made weaponry in the hands of the Ethiopian government and rebel troops and the mercenaries.
• May 26, 2014: [Ethiopia, Layarteb, United States of Brink] In an early morning session, the African Congress presents a bill officially condemning the Empire of Layarteb for poor control over its globally-sold arms. Despite hard evidence presented by the Empire of Layarteb that none of the weapons being seen in Ethiopia were sold directly to the belligerents, the bill passes handsomely. The effect is an immediate re-evaluation on all military contracts between Windhoek and Layarteb City.
• June 1, 2014: [Cotland] In Melilla, a newly elected and approved civilian administration takes over civic responsibilities from the military government.
• June 1, 2014: [Terra Reborn] The Apilonian, Crown Colony of New Zealand formally becomes an Imperial Dominion, known as the Dominion of New Zealand, a self-governing (but still very much part of) subunit of the Apilonian Empire.
• June 2, 2014 : [Amigard] The people of Amigard vote on the new constitution.
• June 2, 2014: [Ethiopia, Layarteb, United States of Brink] President Briddick of the New African Republic instructs his military chiefs to prepare an immediate disengagement plan for Ethiopia. Realizing that the war is only draining his resources, and it is likely being perpetuated by the Empire of Layarteb as a form of economic warfare, President Briddick sees no alternative but to remove all African troops from Ethiopia.
• June 3, 2014 [Amigard]: The results of the vote come in at the end of business and show that the people have approved the new constitution 64% yea and 36% nay. The constitution creates the position of Prime Minister selected from the Lay Council who will act as the head of government and retains the position of Cardinal, appointed by the Council of Bishops as the head of state. The Cardinal is no longer the uncontested authority in the Theocracy of Amigard, though he retains a number of powers including the power to veto legislation.
• June 12, 2014: [Yanitza] West African Jihad is officially formed as a coalition of several militias in eastern Senegal, mainly from the Malinke, and several jihadist cells throughout the country.
• June 17, 2014: [Cotland] Having had all his appeals rejected, Abdul ibn Mazahan is executed for his crimes by hanging in Båhus Prison in Cotland.
• June 24, 2014: [Terra Reborn] Apilonian Imperial Military Forces capture former Portuguese President Maria João Pires in a special forces raid on her residence in East Timor. She would later be extradited to Portugal for trial on charges of treason, murder, and corruption.
• July 7, 2014 : [Amigard] The Lay Council votes to appoint Akeem Abdullah Ahmed as the first Prime Minister of the Theocracy of Amigard.
• July 7, 2014: [Layarteb] During a closed, secretive meeting with his National Security Council, the Emperor of Layarteb decides that Layartebian foreign policy has been a disaster in the wake of the Sino-Layartebian War. The meeting lasts virtually the entire day, which is beyond unusual. When it concludes, decisions must be made and new meetings are scheduled.
• July 10 - 29, 2014: [Layarteb] In a series of further closed, secretive meetings, the Layartebian National Security Council decides on a new foreign policy. During the course of these meetings it is decided that the territories on mainland China are incompatible with said policy and plans are made to return them to China following reconstruction.
• June 23, 2014: [Ethiopia, Layarteb, United States of Brink] In a closed session, the African military chiefs present a plan for full and total withdrawal of all African forces from the Ethiopian Civil War by December 8, 2014. President Briddick approves of the plan and moves to present it to the African Congress in a closed session.
• June 27, 2014: [Ethiopia, Layarteb, United States of Brink] Despite a majority of "doves" in the African Congress, the withdrawal plan for African troops passes by a margin of just eight votes in a closed session of Congress. President Briddick aims to announce the withdrawal on August 25, after the first units begin to pull out of the country.
• July 2014: [Layarteb] After several years tracking wanted Goodrule fugitives, the Empire of Layarteb locates several high-ranking fugitives hiding in the mountains of Andorra. It is determined that the person of interest named "Oleg" is in fact the name of the organization responsible for hiding Goodrule fugitives around the world.
• August 1, 2014 - October 21, 2014: [Layarteb] Soldiers from a Layartebian black operations group conduct reconnaissance in Andorra looking for wanted Goodrule fugitives. They identify many, including Colonel Ackley Dench, who ran the Goodrule intelligence services, Colonel Dench's personal bodyguard Captain Liam Clark, and Alfredo Abarca, a former Goodrule treasury official believed to have financed the OLEG organization through stolen, Goodrule, treasury funds.
• August 2, 2014: [Marimaia] Armed gunmen attempt to storm the Hotel Imperio in Buenos Aires but they are little match for the armed bodyguards of Felix Elizondo. Evidence points to the gunmen as having a pro-Bavinese agenda.
• August 5, 2014: [Marimaia] A suicide bombing is conducted against the Palacio Legislativo in Montevideo. Again, evidence points to some form of pro-Bavinese agenda.
• August 18, 2014: [Amigard, Layarteb] Residents on Masirah Island, persuaded by Baghdad's victory in Saudi Arabia vote to rejoin the Theocracy of Amigard following one year of Layartebian rule. The transition date is set for September 1 and in the wake of the transition deal, the Empire of Layarteb will continue to operate from Naval Air Station Masirah for the foreseeable future.
• August 18, 2014: [Marimaia] The Platinean armed forces move a considerable force into the Tucumán Province in response to reports of armed insurgents located within the Tucumán jungles. Unknowingly, the military is supported by elements of the Escorpión Azul cartel, led secretly by Felix Elizondo.
• August 24, 2014: [Terra Reborn] Under the careful watch of the newly reconstituted Cyprus Constabulary, a referendum is held on the future status of Cyprus, with the vote in favour of becoming a part of a the Apilonian Empire for a period of five years, at which point a further referendum will determine the future status of the island.
• August 25, 2014: [Ethiopia, Layarteb, United States of Brink] Just after midnight, the first African units pull back from Harar. After over a month of secret negotiations with the Ethiopian government and the rebels, African military commanders secure an engagement-free withdrawal. Remarkably, during the next few months, African casualties, especially those to roadside IEDs and ambushes, decreases to a fraction of their past numbers. President Briddick announces the withdrawal on national television and publically cites the Empire of Layarteb's continued interference in the war against his nation as one of the prime reasons. This angers the African populace and sends the Empire of Layarteb into major damage control. The same day, the Emperor of Layarteb gives a counter-speech decrying the allegations of President Briddick. Few in the New African Republic believe him.
• Summer 2014: [Achesia] The Achesian military begins to act on its own, conducting exercises and defying political will. Despite being told many times to stand down by Xavier Talbot, the military does not comply. By the end of the summer, the situation is so tense that Xavier Talbot must either dismiss military leaders or resign.
• September 2014: [Cyrenaica, Layarteb, Libya] Because of Al-Shams' establishment in the Kufra governorate of Cyrenaica, the Layartebian government officially establishes better relations with the Kingdom of Libya in an attempt to form a political coalition to combat Al-Shams. When the agreement is signed between both nations it includes a generous arms and financial aid package for the Kingdom of Libya and Layartebian leasing rights over the airbase at Al Jufra and 32,000 acres of land around it.
• September 1, 2014: [Amigard, Layarteb] Masirah Island is officially returned to Amigardian rule.
• September 1, 2014: [Terra Reborn] Cyprus formally joins the Apilonian Empire.
• September 8, 2014: [Layarteb] The Orion Program sees a successful double launch of a Block IA cargo and a Block I crew rocket on Orion 5 / Skylab 5, the most ambitious mission of the Orion Program to date. The cargo rocket launches at 09:05 GMT with the Skylab II space station. Four hours later, at 13:16 GMT, the crew rocket launches with three astronauts onboard who will serve as the first crew for Skylab II. Derived from Skylab I from the Apollo Program, Skylab II is a small but modern space station designed to remain in orbit until 2018 with crew rotations every 4 to 8 months. This is the only Skylab II mission that receives an Orion mission number as well, chiefly because of the double launch being used to test the concept for the Orion Program.
• September 16, 2014: [Marimaia] The Platinean military finally declares victory over the insurgents in Tucumán, having discovered that the threat was not as formidable as they had first been feared. No official link is ever determined between the Tucumán insurgents and the previous terror attacks, although the situation appears to be resolved following the cessation of fighting.
• September 16, 2014: [Yanitza] A truce is established between Abbas Puular and West African Jihad, as the former agrees to join West African Jihad.
• September 19, 2014: [Terra Reborn] King Walker I of Apilonia is assassinated by agents of a treasonous conspiracy within the Apilonian Empire itself. His son, Arthur, becomes King of Apilonia. King Arthur along with other important members of the Apilonian government are moved to secure locations by the security forces.
• September 20, 2014: [Terra Reborn] King Arthur enacts a state of emergency under the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA). An Apilonian Imperial Coast Guard cutter intercepts a coaster trying to run its patrols. During a search of the vessel, Apilonian sailors find evidence of weapons and other terrorist activities, which are later linked to a mother ship operating further offshore. Further intelligence found aboard the vessel leads the Apilonian Imperial Security Agency to a compound where they destroy an enemy cell but not before another cell assassinates the Apilonian Imperial Home Secretary.
• September 21, 2014: [Terra Reborn] The terror campaign against the Apilonian Empire intensifies with bomb attacks in major cities all over the Apilonian Empire, culminating in the total destruction of HMS Anchorage at Gibraltar, killing all personnel aboard. King Arthur, having been moved to a secure facility, codename Pegasus, enacts the most extreme measures possible under DORA. As the protocols of DORA begin to take effect on the mid-level members of the conspiracy, the Apilonian Imperial Intelligence Services are at a loss to identify the top-level individuals. King Arthur is lobbied heavily to enact measures beyond what DORA allowed, which would essentially dismantle the civil liberties of the Apilonian Empire and lead to a police state led by a powerful few. King Arthur rejects these attempts and finally puts the pieces of entire conspiracy together.
• September 22, 2014: [Achesia] Unwilling to deal with the stress of his position, Xavier Talbot resigns citing medical reasons. He names Michael Legasse, the Minister of Economics as his successor.
• September 22, 2014: [Terra Reborn] With the Apilonian Imperial Intelligence now knowing where to look, the leaders of the conspiracy are suddenly revealed and a major operation is launched to capture or kill them all. Whilst some are captured and some are killed, many more are able to escape the Apilonian Empire to places unknown. By early evening, King Arthur orders troops off the streets whilst retaining a substantial law enforcement presence. He also addresses the nation regarding everything that had happened.
• September 24, 2014: [Achesia] In a bloodless coup, the Achesian military under the command of General Jorge Lobo seizes power in Brasilia, deposing Legasse and instituting a junta.
• September 25, 2014: [Achesia, Layarteb, The Alliance of United Worlds] In opposition to the coup in Brasilia, the Republic of South America declares that it will neither honor the agreement of May 1, 2014 nor will it remove any more troops from the border regions with Achesia. The announcement comes without any previous mention of an Achesian withdrawal from the May 1 accord. The Empire of Layarteb issues a condemnation to La Paz on unilaterally withdrawing from the May 1 accord and announces its continued support for Achesia.
• September 26, 2014: [Terra Reborn] Members of the Apilonian Royal Family stand the 'Royal Vigil' to King Walker's casket in the Houses of Parliament.
• September 28, 2014: [Terra Reborn] King Walker I is buried in a small family affair after a full state funeral attended by dignitaries from all over the Apilonian Empire as well as numerous world leaders.
• October 1, 2014: [Layarteb, Libya] A small political scandal erupts when a Layartebian intelligence agent is caught attempting to extract the Libyan Minister of Defence, Abu Atabou, who had been a double agent working for the Layartebian government, using his position to push for the Layartebian leasing of Al Jufra and its surrounding territory. The scandal is kept quiet and the September deal is not altered. Minister Atabou is ultimately sentenced to 10 years in prison and the Layartebian agent expelled but not burned.
• October 21, 2014: [Layarteb] During an early morning raid, Operation CARBON YANKEE is launched by members of the Layartebian black operations community. During the course of the operation, two Layartebian soldiers are killed and six are wounded in a firefight with Colonel Ackley Dench and his comrades. Captain Liam Clark is killed, Alfredo Abarca is seriously wounded, and Colonel Dench is neutralized before he can commit suicide. The operation is launched at the behest of the Spanish government with their permission and confidentiality.
• November 12, 2014: [Marimaia] The Republic of La Plata adopts a new political system dubbed "Platinean Constitutionalism." Democracy is officially abandoned in favour of an authoritarian, military-technocratic dictatorship with President Velasquez at the helm. Elements of the new constitution include legalisation of same-sex marriage and blanket immunity to extradition for all Platinean citizens.
• November 21, 2014: [Amigard] Hamal Rasheed, Bishop of the Eastern Saudi Arabia Diocese is elected as the new Cardinal of the Theocracy of Amigard
• December 5, 2014: [Cyrenaica, Terra Reborn] The Imperial Apilonian battleship, Prince of Australia, launches a major assault against a military compound outside Benghazi, Libya, where a member of the September Conspiracy had been confirmed to be located. This marked the first military action on foreign soil, without permission by the local government, to kill or capture a member of the September Conspiracy. The strike kills warlord Musa Safar leading to a leadership crisis within the Safar clan.
• December 7, 2014: [Cyrenaica] Ratib Suhayl Malouf, one of Safar's generals, seized power in the Safar clan. In doing so, Malouf gains control over the Benghazi governorate and the Hizam al Akhdar governorate. In response to the crisis, President Bandar Zaim Cham makes a deal with Abdul-Ghafur Daher and Amid Essa to launch a war against Malouf to seize control of both the Benghazi and the Hizam al Akhdar governorates.
• December 8, 2014: [Ethiopia, Layarteb, United States of Brink] The last African troops cross the border into Somalia at 23:00 local time, taking less than thirty casualties since August 25, which is but a fraction of what they'd previously experienced.
• December 9, 2014: [Achesia] General Lobo resigns his commission to run as the new President of Brazil and announces his intention to refound the Achesian Democratic Ascendency as the Republic of Brazil.
• December 9, 2014: [Cyrenaica] Northern Cyrenaica erupts in violence again as President Cham's forces invade Malouf's territory along the coastline from Tocra while Essa's forces invade Malouf's territory from Al-Militaniya. By the end of the day Essa's forces reach the Malouf stronghold of Al-Abyar
• December 9, 2014: [Layarteb, United States of Brink] President Briddick announces to the Layartebian ambassador that the African military will no longer regard the Empire of Layarteb as its primary arms supplier, cutting significant business to the Layartebian Defense Corporation. In addition, he announces his intention to hinder the trade of certain goods out of his country in hopes of punishing the Empire of Layarteb.
• December 12, 2014: [Cyrenaica] Cham's forces reach Daryanah and fight an intense but quick battle, driving towards Kuwayfiyah.
• December 13, 2014: [Cyrenaica, Layarteb, Libya] The Libyan External Security Bureau learns that Al-Shams is sending 20 men to liaise with Malouf on December 18, where they will offer their services to help the warlord.
• December 15, 2014: [Cyrenaica] Cham's forces defeat Malouf's forces in Kuwayfiyah but hold while they consolidate their positions and supply lines. In Al-Abyar however, Essa's forces have not been able to advance into or surround the city.
• December 18 - 20, 2014: [Cyrenaica] Cham's forces attack Benghazi and within a day, secure the airport though the damage to the airport, routing some of Malouf's better forces. This allows Cham to open a second front against Benghazi, using the airport as a staging area.
• December 19 - 21, 2014: [Cyrenaica, Layarteb, Libya] The Libyan External Security Bureau discovers that Hunam Tariq Qureshi, Al-Shams' number 3 man is in Benghazi helping Malouf to coordinate the war from his headquarters at the former Benghazi Cement Factory. Two days later, they pass this intelligence onto the Empire of Layarteb.
• December 22 - 23, 2014: [Cyrenaica] Cham's forces breach the Benghazi perimeter and commence an assault on the city proper. In Al-Abyar stalemate is declared as Essa's forces are unable to penetrate the city's perimeters. This is as far as they will be able to advance, which forces Cham to abandon his plans to secure the Hizam al Akhdar governorate. He will only ever control the coastal portions his army used to reach Benghazi.
• December 24 - 25, 2014: [Cyrenaica, Layarteb, Libya] Seizing upon the chaos in Benghazi, the Imperial Layartebian Navy along with SEAL Team 8 launch Operation BRONZE PALADIN to capture Qureshi and capture or kill Malouf in Benghazi. A major firefight ensues around the Benghazi Cement Factory and over 300 of Malouf's men are killed along with 9 Marines and 1 SEAL. Seventy-one Marines and 2 SEALS are injured and both Qureshi and Malouf escape and evade capture.

[Earth_ Two]

2015

• January 2, 2015: [Achesia, Brazil] In a disputed election, George Lobo is elected as the first President of the Republic of Brazil. In his victory speech, he announces that Mato Grosso will never again be a Brazilian problem, consigning it and its history of resistance to the fate of the Republic of South America. He does not outwardly call the Republic of South America an enemy but he does not hint them as friendly either. He seeks to make amends with the Republic of La Plata and he does not announce any change to the relationship with the Empire of Layarteb.
• January 5, 2015: [Brazil] The population of the Republic of Brazil is estimated at 220 million.
• January 7, 2015: [Cyrenaica] Benghazi falls to Cham's forces and Malouf retreats further into Hizam al Akhdar. New battle lines are drawn around Benghazi with Malouf's forces - in poor shape and low numbers - holding a weak perimeter against Cham's forces. Casualties on all sides of the conflict prevent any further fighting between the various groups.
• January 9, 2015: [Amigard] Amigard recalls its naval forces from Soter Naval Base in Bangladesh. The base retains a small garrison and continues to be utilized as a refueling and resupply point for Amigardian naval assets.
• January 9, 2015: [Byzantium Imperium, Layarteb] Hong Kong, Maoming, and Zhanjiang are formally returned to the Chinese People's Republic. During the handover, all Layartebian troops withdraw to Hainan and the Nan Hai Republic is renamed the Hainan Republic. The handover results in the loss of nearly 23 million Layartebian citizens reducing the population to an estimated 718,299,254 persons.
• January 9, 2015: [Cyrenaica, Layarteb, Libya] The Empire of Layarteb learns that Al-Shams is set to receive 660 lb (300 kg) of Semtex plastic explosive from an ex-Hirgizstanian mercenary turned arms smuggler named Ken Castle. Covertly, the Empire of Layarteb destroys the shipment and kills Castle and several terrorists. Though the Libyans question the Empire of Layarteb on the strike, they are kept in the dark.
• January 9 - January 10, 2015: [Byzantium Imperium, Hi No Moto, Layarteb] In a bid to begin direct dialogue with the nations of the Far East, the Emperor flies to Tokyo and Nanking to meet directly with the leaders of the Empire of Hi No Moto and the Chinese People's Republic, respectively. While the meeting with Emperor Koan and Prime Minister Tago Ahikito in Tokyo was considered a rousing success, the meeting with President-General Yong Zheng in Naking ended in deadlock with little achieved. In the outcome, Layartebian and Hi No Moton activities in the Pacific Ocean would be considerably less hot and a future date for a second round of talks was considered. The future of Layartebian and Chinese talks remains unconfirmed.
• January 10, 2015: [Cyrenaica] President Cham announces that due to Essa's inability to defeat Malouf's forces, the capital of Cyrenaica will not be moved to Benghazi, despite previous plans. He and Malouf sign a tentative ceasefire agreement though only through third parties, never meeting face-to-face.
• January 11, 2015: [Cyrenaica] President Cham invites both Daher and Essa to the capital of Derna in hopes of forming a loose confederation of government. However, no agreement can be made and the meeting ends in failure.
• January 11, 2015: [Khorsun, Marimaia, Puerto Saulo, RomeW] The national leaders of the Republic of La Plata, the Republic of the Khorsuni Nation, the Principality of Puerto Saulo, and the Roman Imperium meet in Puerto Saulo to finalise and announce the creation of a new international organisation. Known as Virtue, the organisation's stated aim is increased cooperation and prosperity throughout the world. Several nations, including the members of the October Alliance, express skepticism.
• January 12, 2015: [Amigard, Olmeria] Amigard withdraws its military assets from the Federation of Lacoze.
• January 15, 2015: [Cyrenaica] Bazzi and Malouf meet and form an alliance against Cham, Daher, and Essa, essentially creating two, main power blocs in Cyrenaica. Al-Shams remains "neutral" to both blocs but secretly favor the Bazzi-Malouf power bloc.
• January 16 - 30, 2015: [Cyrenaica, Layarteb, Libya] Layartebian and Libyan intelligence learn that Al-Shams has procured up to 25 Igla-S (SA-24 Grinch) surface-to-air, man-portable, air-defense missiles from a Turkish crime syndicate known as the Solak Organization after its founder Mahmut Solak. The shipment is traced from Turkey to the Balkans to Cyrenaica.
• February 2, 2015: [Amigard] The Amigardian Parliament meets for the first legislative session. Previous legislation is reviewed, revised, and in some cases it is removed. Some new legislation is passed that will take effect on July 1, 2015.
• February 2, 2015: [Cyrenaica, Layarteb, Libya] Against the wishes of the Libyans and several counterterrorist experts in the Layartebian government, the Emperor and the Layartebian Cabinet order the Imperial Layartebian Air Force to strike three armories in the Al-Shams held city of Al Jawf in the Kufra governorate. It is believed that all 25 Igla-S (SA-24 Grinch) missiles are destroyed in the strike but in reality, only 21 are destroyed as 4 had been previously moved.
• February 17, 2015: [Brazil, Marimaia, The Alliance of United Worlds] The Republic of South America responds to increasing cooperation between the Republic of La Plata and the Republic of Brazil by deploying forces to the RSA-La Plata border for the purposes of wargames. Tensions quickly begin to escalate as old rivalries come back to the surface.
• March 8, 2015: [Marimaia, The Alliance of United Worlds] President Velasquez is almost assassinated while giving a patriotic speech in the border city of Salvador Mazza. Platinean authorities instantly blame the Republic of South America due to the recent rising tensions and prepare for war. Neither side is aware that the sniper was actually a cartel hitman tasked with deliberately wounding Velasquez but not killing him, therefore provoking the war while increasing Velasquez's popularity through public sympathy.
• March 9, 2015: [Marimaia, The Alliance of United Worlds] Platinean forces cross the border and the Southern Cone Conflict officially begins.
• March 17, 2015: [Marimaia, Terra Reborn, The Alliance of United Worlds] The RNS Resolution attempts to conduct offensive action against Platinean shipping while flying Apilonian colours, in the hopes of causing a diplomatic incident between the Republic of La Plata and the Empire of Apilonia. Two Apilonian vessels, HMS Ajax and HMS Achilles, intercept and sink the Resolution during the Battle of the River Plate.
• March 25, 2015: [Layarteb, Marimaia, Terra Reborn, The Alliance of United Worlds] As the RSA military attempts to evict the Apilonian presence from Valparaiso in the wake of worsening diplomatic relations, the city authorities of Valparaiso and the high command of the RSA Navy secede and request Apilonian protection. In the process, the RSA 2nd Armoured Infantry abandon their posts and agree to help protect the city against any hostile forces. The Empire of Layarteb also joins the war against the RSA, not as allies of the Platineans but rather to fight a common enemy.
• April 9, 2015: [Layarteb] The Skylab II Program sees Skylab 6 launch on a successful resupply of the station. The crew is exchanged after 214 days in space and return to Earth successfully. All Skylab II crew missions are made with the Block I SLS.
• April 10, 2015: [Layarteb, Marimaia, The Alliance of United Worlds] After experiencing defeat upon defeat at the hands of superior Layartebian airpower and superior Platinean ground numbers, the Republic of South America is horrified by the event known as the "Highway of Death," where remnants of the 4th Cavalry Division and the entire 6th Infantry Division are caught moving along Highway 15 towards La Paz without air support. The Layartebian Air Force reduces them to a 42 kilometer stretch of burning vehicles and charred corpses. Morale amongst remaining RSA leaders begins to falter considerably.
• April 14, 2015: [Amigard] The Amigardian Parliament repeals the Articles of Just Intervention.
• April 25, 2015: [Marimaia, Layarteb, The Alliance of United Worlds] Platinean forces begin the assault on La Paz, the capital of the Republic of South America. Burgeoning dissent within the RSA's remaining leadership bubbles over into a firefight inside the command bunker beneath the city, and President Merik is killed. Without Merik's steadfast refusal to surrender, Marshal Steven Rodriguez takes operational control of the remnants of the RSA's military and declares their unconditional surrender. After signing the official Instrument of Surrender with Major General Cantido Rios of La Plata, General Rodriguez is flown to Buenos Aires for face-to-face treaty talks with President Velasquez. With the announcement of the surrender, Mato Grossan independence fighters under the leadership of Rafael Pinto Fernandes quickly move against RSA positions in the Mato Grossan capital of Cuiabá. The RSA forces surrender their equipment and facilities in return for being safely shipped out of the territory. Fernandes officially declares the independence of the Republic of Mato Grosso over the Internet, receiving rapid acknowledgement and support from the Republic of La Plata.
• April 27, 2015: [Layarteb, Marimaia, Terra Reborn, The Alliance of United Worlds] After some extremely one-sided treaty negotiations, Marshal Rodriguez and President Velasquez sign the Southern Cone Declaration, officially ending the Southern Cone Conflict and recognising the annexation of the Republic of South America by the Republic of La Plata. The Southern Cone Declaration officially recognises the independence of Mato Grosso, as well as formalising Apilonian sovereignty over Valparaiso, Layartebian sovereignty over Pando Department and a future plebiscite in the State of Sergipe.
• May 15, 2015: [Brazil, Layarteb, Marimaia] The results of the Sergipano plebiscite are officially announced. An overwhelming 87% of the voting public votes for the State of Sergipe to become independent, rather than either joining the Republic of La Plata or the Republic of Brazil.
• June 9 - 10, 2015: [Layarteb] In secrecy, the Empire of Layarteb conducts Operation AJAX RISING. The operation sees the Emperor of Layarteb and his personal security team revolt against the government and stage a coup, eliminating all other voices within the government with the aim of launching the Empire of Layarteb's nuclear arsenal against hostile countries. Minister Ryan F. Wright of the Interior and Minister Timothy Fisher of Foreign Affairs are designated as "successors" to the government and over the course of the day manage to defuse the situation, secure Governors Island and the launch codes, and eliminate the threat without the large-scale deployment of nuclear weapons, which would have resulted in worldwide, nuclear holocaust. The exercise is initiated to test Minister Wright in such a situation as following the cessation of the exercise, he is informed that he is the designated successor to the Office of the Emperor of Layarteb since the Emperor will be stepping down on July 4. Despite the secrecy, many nations around the world take note of the increase in Layartebian, military activity and respond with a variety of moves that could have resulted in war.
• July 4, 2015: [Layarteb] The Emperor steps down and retires to the island Bermuda in secrecy along with the entire "first class" of Force Falcon. His farewell speech announces that he will disappear from public life and leverage no power. He encourages the Layartebian people and the world to embrace their new Emperor. Ryan Wright becomes the new Emperor of Layarteb and despite requests the contrary, history books and media outlets often refer to him as the Second Emperor of Layarteb. The world never learns the First Emperor's real name.
• July 19, 2015: [Layarteb] The Orion Program sees Orion 7 launch the SLS Block IB rocket. The difference between the Block IA and the Block IB is chiefly the mission, as the Block IB rocket is meant to service lunar missions. Orion 7 is unmanned and completes several orbits around the moon before returning to Earth for a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
• August 20, 2015: [Amigard] Renewed protests break out in the city of Mecca. Protestors demand sovereignty and that the rule of the city be turned over to Islamic leaders.
• October 3, 2015: [Cotland] King Sverre II of Cotland and Ms Nadia Hampton-Shilkerton declare their wedding engagement to the world. Ms Hampton-Shilkerton, youngest daughter of the Baron Hampton-Shilkerton of Juneau and an Apilonian subject, has been secretly dating King Sverre for the past three years. The wedding date is not announced.
• October 8, 2015: [Layarteb] The Skylab II Program sees Skylab 7 launch with another crew rotation and resupply.

[Earth_ Two]

2016

• January 17, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat, Terra Reborn] Cottish intelligence assets assist the Empire of Apilonia in extracting David Warren, former Prime Minister of Apilonia and architect behind the assassination of King Walker I of Apilonia, from the Republic of Gujarat against his will.
• January 18, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat, Terra Reborn] After a very public debacle started by the kidnapping of David Warren from Gujarat and the Apilonian Parliament's decision to authorize this action, Gujarati military forces launch a preemptive attack on Cottish and Apilonian naval forces in the Indian Ocean. Taken by surprise, the Gujarati sink a Cottish light aircraft carrier and four escorts. The news reach Cotland the same day, triggering reactions from the public and politicians alike.
• January 19, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat] Citing the "unprovoked attack" the previous day, Cotland formally declares war on Gujarat effective as of midnight on January 19. Cottish naval and air forces begin deploying to the Indian Ocean.
• January 23, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat] A Cottish submarine on patrol in the Indian Ocean launches the first retaliatory attack on Gujarati forces, sinking a Gujarati submarine.
• February 10, 2016: [Cotland] Naval reinforcements from Cotland proper reach Socotra Island and start preparing for battle.
• February 15, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat, Terra Reborn] The Cottish fleet sorties from Socotra, heading east towards Gujarat as the northern part of a massive pincer movement, supporting the Imperial Apilonian Navy that forms the southern part of the pincer.
• February 17, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat, Terra Reborn] The Battle of the Arabian Sea takes place. The combined Cottish-Apilonian fleets utterly destroy the Gujarati Navy in a ten-hour battle. The allies lose five warships sunk and a further twenty warships damaged in exchange for sinking one aircraft carrier, thirty-odd escorts, sixty missile boats, and twelve submarines, effectively destroying the Gujarati Navy in the course of one day.
• February 28, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat, Terra Reborn] After more than a week of stand-off attacks on Gujarati military targets, the Cottish and Apilonian navies impose an effective blockade upon the Gujarati coast.
• February 29, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat] A Cottish frigate is mined off Gujarat and sinks.
• March 1, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat] A further two Cottish warships are mined in Gujarati waters. In response, the Cottish deploy minesweepers to Gujarati waters and implement a "shoot on sight" policy upon suspected Gujarati mine laying craft. Mine-related incidents significantly decrease.
• March 16, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat, Terra Reborn] With their economy effectively destroyed and deaths mounting, the Republic of Gujarat sues for peace. A ceasefire is agreed to effective at midnight.
• March 24, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat, New African Republic, Terra Reborn] Negotiators from Cotland, Apilonia and Gujarat meet in Windhoek in the New African Republic and start negotiating a peace treaty.
• March 28, 2016: [Cotland, Gujarat, Terra Reborn] After four days of intense and fierce negotiations, an agreement is reached between the negotiators and a peace treaty, named the Treaty of Windhoek is signed, ending the Gujarati War. Gujarat is forced to accept responsibility for the conflict and is obligated to pay compensation to Cotland and Apilonia in exchange for an end of the blockade.
• May 11, 2016: [Layarteb] The Skylab II Program sees Skylab 8 launch with another crew rotation and resupply.
• June 20, 2016: [Layarteb] The Orion Program launches Orion 8, the first manned SLS Block IB mission. Orion 8 mirrors Apollo 8. The launch occurs at 18:51 GMT and the crew becomes the first Layartebians to orbit the moon on June 23, 2016 since the crew of Apollo 19 in 1972. The mission ends on June 26, 2016 with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The crew consists of astronauts Neal Rogers, Roman Spears, Miguel Campbell, and Dora Austin. Based on rotations, this would be the first Layartebian crew to return to the moon since Apollo 19.
• November 27, 2016: [Layarteb] The Skylab II Program sees its fourth crew rotation and its fifth crew with the launch of Skylab 9.