Jadun is known for its piratery and its secrecy. The fleets of Jadun have been raiding trade lines for centuries but they enjoyed protection from the other free cities.
But as of today, the free city of Jadun has named themselves independent. This is what the leader of Jadun, High Captain Mal'qar Rhûn had to say:
Greetings to all who recieve this message, I lord of the free city of Jadun, High captain of the Jadun fleet hereby declare that the Free city of Jadun will go on as an independent nation. Anyone who tried to oppose us will meet our warriors. I have full support of the city and its residents. I you support us that would be great, if you don't then well make sure your ships will be sunk to the bottom of the Verlan Sea.
The Lohat (Elected ruler) of the Free Merchant states didn't really like this and asked the international community for help.
Greetings honored nations,
As you might already know, the free city of Jadun has declared themselves independent, while they where a free city and are completely autonomous, we still want to warn the international community for the dangers this could bring. Jadun was kept in check by the free army and navy, but now that they are independent we cannot keep them in check without declaring war. So I wish to ask the nations who reach this, to at least consider to help us and keep the city of Jadun from getting to dangerous.
High council, Alahan city, the United Republic of Alahana
While the council was happening an messenger walked in the room and talked to the High Councilor. The talking in the room was traded for a brief moment of silence.
As the messenger bowed to the high councilor and walked away the councilor said to the Council guards to get the monarch in the room.
The council guards returned five minutes later with the monarch and the monarch took his place in his seat.
"Greetings your majesty, I just received some news that requires our immediate attention." The High Councilor said
"And what is this urgent news?" Phoenix King, Gerrit II asked
"It's about the free merchant states and the free city of Jadun, the free cities requested aid in their struggle, not to get the city back in their nation, but to avoid dangerous situation with Jadun. What is our stance in this matter?" the high councilor asked
"I don't know, Jadun has illegally declared independence, but if the free cities are okay with it we can't argue them. But indeed, as the free cities say, Jadun independent is a dangerous situation, who knows what they will do. I suggest to send a small portion of our navy just to check things out and to keep them under control." Gerrit said
"We should not intervene! Tales say that they make use of ancient forms of shadow magic. We cannot underestimate this enemy!" Corey Pollard, Councilor of Telra said
"What? Magic? Are you serious? Magic has been extinct for over five hundred years. Why should they still have magic?" Owen Thompson, Councilor of North Azuran said
"Well it would explain why we don't know anything about them. We cannot spy them, it always failed. We have tried with planes, with satellites, with everything, nothing worked. We don't know anything about this enemy. For all we know they might still use magic." Councilor Corey said
"Well, magic hasn't been around since 1544, and the city of Judan became part of the free cites in 1412, and since then they became an isolated city. All cities and lands have been checked, except for some places, including Judan. So technically it is plausible to assume that they indeed still practice magic." Jake Sharp, Councilor of Attbridge said
"Oh common, we are an modern and advanced nation. Do we really still believe in magic? And even if it exists do we fear it? We have the most powerful navy on this continent, even if they use magic, we can crush them with ease. I'd like to see them stand against an destroyer." Councilor Ower said
An big discussion started between councilors about magic, the high councilor stood up and said with a very loud voice
"Silence! What are you doing? Arguing about magic? Magic or not the city of Jadun have to be kept in check, with magic or not they still make an dangerous enemy.
So just let's do what we always do in these situation, we'll vote. Vote for if you want an military intervention and vote against if you don't want an military intervention."
The councilors of each member state where silently discussing what they should do and after a little less than ten minutes the voting stopped.
"8 for , 8 against and 14 non-voters." the high councilor said
"So it has been inconclusive? What about we send a small fleet, for example only like 10 ships. Just to check things out. Anyways, they won't attack the ships. I mean even tough they are pirates, they won't risk an open war with us." Owen Lowe, Councilor of Castor said
"I'll send 7 of warships of the royal navy to the city. They won't risk an open war with us and this magic is just nonsense. Tell the ships to prepare and to sail by tomorrow." Gerrit said.
Verlan Sea, near the city of Jadun
"Right on course captain, we should arrive are the designation point in 45 minutes" the navigator said
"Good, what are the weather reports saying?" Captain Cullen asked
"Bright, sunny and cloudless, sir" an sensory operator said
"That's wonderful news, we might even get a chance for sunbathing." Cullen said
"Uhm, sir? 2 Fast moving objects are coming close to our position." an operator said
"Can I see? What object do you mean? I don't see anything." Captain Cullen said
"I swear I just saw some objects nearing our position." the operator explained
"Okay, check the status of your sensors, and give me the captains of the other ships, maybe they saw it as well." Captain Cullen said
"Captain Luca here, what is the problem?" Captain Luca of the ANS Athena asked
"Did the Athena's sensors pick up some movement?" Captain Cullens asked
"Yes, in fact they did, but I thought it was false alarms because it immediately disappeared again, but if your sensors also picked it up then it might be no false alarm." Captain Luca said
"Warn the other ships and put weaponry and all men on stand by!" Captain Cullen said just before he disconnected the call
the alarms of all ships went off, all men were rushing to battle positions and in a moments notice everyone was ready.
the sensors remained silent, all men were on the look out. Then when the captain just wanted to lift the alarms the sensors picked up moving objects again. But all of the sudden the object were behind them. The captains of the ships decided to go into an defensive circle with the ships.
And when the ships were getting into position a sailor yelled "MINES!" when some balls started to appear below surface.
Then a few seconds later the ANS Omega, an Cetea class frigate exploded. The crew of the Cetea started to evacuate while the ANS Hunway also hit a mine.
Then it became clear, the ships where in the middle of an minefield, the mines must have been triggered because when the ships entered these waters they did not find any mines. The ships decided to remain stationary to avoid hitting any more mines. While small craft were deployed to take out the mines and to repair the two damaged ships 2 fast moving dots showed up on the sensory screens again. But this time they remained on the screens, without disappearing.
Captain Cullen was watching the horizon because the sensors saw the objects at more than 50 kilometers away, while the captain was watching the operator said that the objects were only 5 kilometers away. Then Cullen saw something and said to the other captains, "two submarines, it are two submarines. Activate anti-submarine stance", but it was to late. the submarines submerged and started shooting at the warships.
"Open cannon fire and ready our ballistic missiles!" Cullen said
the ships are getting heavy damage from the enemy submarines. And as soon as the ballistic missiles were ready for launch strange fog showed up.
The missiles were launched but could not hit target.
"What do you mean they cannot hit target?" Cullen said while receiving heavy fire.
"The fog is in the way, for some reason the missiles cannot find their target through it." the missile operator said
"It's just fog, how can they not find their target" Cullen said
"I don't know sir, but all I know is that this is no normal fog. Remember what the king said about magic? Maybe it is true, maybe this is magic." the operator said
And then the two damaged ships exploded, killing all men on board.
"Warn main command and say whats happening." Cullen said
And when the message was halfway finished the ANS Destiny received a fatal blow. The ship is cripeled, the bridge was hit with a rocket salvo, killing everyone on it.
The 7 warships were completely annihilated, with only half of the message being send back to Main command.
High council, Alahan city, the United Republic of Alahana
"So they destroyed our ships? That is an act of war! We should attack now at full power to show them that we can, and will defeat them!" Councilor Owen said
"We do not know what destroyed them, all we know is that they are gone and that guided fire is impossible due to fog. We do not know anything else." Gerrit said
"With all due respect, but isn't it obvious that it were them? They just destroyed 7 of your ships, killing more than 2,000 men. if we send a stealth reconaisance place to find the black box of the ANS destiny we could find what they all wanted to say" Gerrit said
A reconnaissance plane was send a signal was found, sending the data to Main Command
"So, it were submarines of Jadun. And they used magic?" the High councilor said
"So they still posses magic after all, do we know what form?" Gerrit asked
"I don't know, but I assume shadow magic, that's why they didn't saw them coming." an magic expert said
"Okay so how will we handle this, we are now at war with the free city of Jadun. And they posses magic. We cannot do this alone, we should ask the international community for assistance in this conflict. This is clearly may bigger than we can handle by ourselves."
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