-Eleanor Roosevelt
For what may seem a peaceful, small nation, Dagelia has always been a thorn to its western, much larger and powerful neighbour, the United Socialist Republics of Stasnov. Dagelia as a nation has a past with the Socialist country. After being annexed by the Second Stasnovan Empire in the medieval times, Dagelia had always been a rebellious province of the Empire, as well as the Imperial Federal Republic that succeeded it, with its populace rebelling against the Imperial Throne numerous times. After the Communist Stasnovan Revolution of 1919, Dagelia was granted independence as a new Socialist Nation, the People’s Republic of Dagelia. What followed was a 76-year long era of Socialist prosperity, under the guidance and protection of Stasnov.
However, in 1993, ethnic tensions between the local Dagelian and Stasnovan populations in the western parts of the nation began erupting all across Western Dagelia. The Dagelian National Party, an illegitimate radical right-wing organization, inspired by the exploits of the Bratislavian Revolution, as well as other anti-Communist revolutions, took advantage of the traditional “hostility” between the Stasnovan and Dagelian peoples to promote its nationalist and reactionary agenda, claiming that the Socialist government of Dagelia was a “puppet of the foreigners”, who were both Stasnovan and Communist. The National Party managed to spread its influence into the military, and in 1994, a coup d’etat was launched by the nationalists, who stormed the government buildings and slaughtered everyone in their path. The coup forces were led by General Gujar Kurashvili.
The short-lived junta that was established by Kurashvili handed over power to their ally, Davit Giorgadze and his National Party. Giorgadze established a semi-presidential republic, and so, the Republic of Dagelia. Despite claiming to be democratic, Giorgadze has been the country's president since 1995, though allegedly rigged elections. Giorgadze continued a number of Junta-era policies, such as a neo-liberal approach to the economy, something that has severely increased the gap between the richest and poorest citzents of the nation. Elections under Davit Giorgadze have been widely criticized as being unfair, and according to many countries and organizations, political opposition has been violently suppressed. Giorgadze's regime is also believed to have also committed several humar rights violations.
Giorgadze and his henchmen have kept all opposition at bay for their first years in power, however, since 2003, the South Zevgorian People's Front, a Socialist/Leftist, pro-Stasnovan/Vastava Pact political and military movement within the breakaway Dagelian province of South Zevgoria (with a notable Stasnovan population), has waged a guerilla conflict against the government, with Stasnovan diplomatic help, that is believed to also have extended in material support. The SZPF is led by Leonid Kapanadze. Under the leadership of the SZPF, the People's Republic of South Zevgoria is formed. South Zevgoria has since then been engaged in a standoff with the central Dagelian government, that seeks to retake the province from rebel hands. The last armed clashes ended in 2005, after a ceasfire was signed. The conflict between Dagelia and the Stasnovan-backed South Zevgorian People's Front has been the reason of a serious decrease of Stasno-Dagelian relations in the years following the 2003 separatist uprising. The Stasnovan government has claimed numerous times that any acts of war against South Zevgoria will be treated as an act of war against the Stasnovan poeple there, and in turn, Stasnov itself.
From the forest-covered landscape in the south, to the open fields and hilltops in the north, Dagelia is a country of many beauties. The vast snow covered forests are complemented by the majestic mountains, canyons and vast fields in between them. The traditional small villages on the hills and mountains, overlooking the area around them, always attracted tourists from all over the continent and the region in general. The Medieval forts and ancient tombs and settlements scattered around the country also caught attention. Rivers also cross the countryside, through the canyons and forests, making for magnificent views from elevated areas. The country had generally attracted many foreign tourists, especially from nations of the Vastava Pact, during its Socialist era. However, while tourism was a major part of its industry, Dagelias riches have always lied in the mineral-rich mountains in the northwestern part of the nation. During the People’s Republic era, Dagelia exported various rare minerals to nations such as Stasnov, who in return ensured the nation’s prosperity. However, that’s all over now. The tourist attractions lie in disrepair and numerous mines in the western mountains have been abandoned. Dagelia has entered another conflict, for it has woken the bear.
October 3, 2015
1800 hours
As per usual in South Zevgoria during this time of the year, the weather was cloudy and well....rather depressing. For the soldiers serving in the South Zevgorian People's Front's various militia brigades and battalions, it was nothing but a regural day on their checkpoints and stations. No fighting with Dagelian troops was recorded since 2005, and the conflict with Dagelia was almost forgotten. Joinning the milita nowdays almost guaranteed a peacful service, barring some engangements with bandits and thiefs, left behind by the years of chaos and corruption before the separatist uprising. It was quiet, but the sounds of distant thunder echoed through the light, cold breeze. Just the usual day in a South Zevgorian militiaman's routine.
The small residential building that housed the soldiers manning the checkpoint was an old residential two-storey building located on one of the highways passing through the mountains and leading to the city of Sanibovo, the smallest city of South Zevgoria. It was nothing special, but the militiamen took good care of it. It was their home. Lieutenant Dimitar "Zvigeni" Dongvani was the commanding officer of the platoon that manned the checkpoint today. He and his men were part of the "Krolik" Brigade of the South Zevgorian militia, that was stationed in a milita camp in Sanibovo. Zvigeni sat on a wooden chair in the house's living room, smoking a Stasnovan papirosa cigarette. One of his men was peacfully sleeping on the couch near him.
The light breeze filled the house as Private Nikolai Izhutin, a young militiaman of Stasnovan origin, entered the building from the main door, closing it sharply behind him. He wore one of the new digital flora uniforms that were and are being supplied to the militia by Stasnov, though his BDU was still of old age. He wore a camoed skull cap instead of his service cap. He was just a kid, no more than 18-years old. Zvigeni knew the boy's story. His father promised him that if he served in the milita for one year or so, he'd let him go study law in Vastava. Nikolai had almost finished his service, with just less than one mothing remaining until he gets discharged. During the boy's service, Zvigeni had become a protector and guide to him, and Nikolai always returned the respect. He liked the young man.
The boy saluted "Tovarishch leytenant!" he spoke in Stasnovan "The trucks have arrived"
He was referring to the monthly convoy of trucks that brough supplies from Stasnov into the city. Despite the peaceful period since 2005, supply chanes within South Zevgoria could not be established effectively as bandits and in rare occasitons, pro-Dagelian militas still roamed the countryside, ambushing and stealing from commercial trucks. Foreign companies wouldn't expand to South Zevgoria, because of the Dagelian reaction. Thusly, the transportation of much needed goods to Dagelia was largerly depending to Stasnovan convoys, that bandits and marauders never touched, fearing Stasnovan retaliation.
Zvigeni nodded and stood up "Let's go check 'em out then" he said playfully and exited the house with Nikolai following him. The first drops of an impending downpour hit his face as he gazed at the grey clouds above. He tossed what remained of his papirosa to the dirt. The men should get their raincoats he thought. Just then, the young soldier brought him his raincoat. He thanked him with a smile. The numerous trucks of the convoy were standing idle at the checkpoint, waitting for permission to drive into the city. As he walked towards the trucks, it had began properly rainning. He approached the lead truck from the dirver's window. The dirver lowered the window.
"Hey there" said the dirver with a thick Astrakhanskayan accent.
"Hey" replied Zvigeni "Papers" he said sharply
The driver handed him the papers, and Zvigeni quickly looked through them. Evertything seemed to be in place. He handed the papers back to the dirver.
"You're cleared, move along"
The driver nodded and started the engine again. Some moments later, the convoy was moving again, speeding off towards the city. As the trucks drove by him, he saw young Nikolai standing some metres next to him, talking to some of the other militiamen in the checkpoint, with his AKM slinged. The boy smiled when he noticed the much older officer looking at him. Just as he returned the smile, Zvigeni heard something form above. It sounded like a loud scream, that almost covered the sound of rain. He knew what it was.
In a moment's notice, Nikolai, still with a smile on his face, as well as the men he was discussing with dissapeared in a cloud of smoke and dirt when an artillery shell hit the road some metres next to them. Screaming reports of incoming artillery and orders to take cover filled the air. Shells began landing all over the area, muffling the sound of the downpour. Some trucks were hit, exploding into balls of fire and thick black small. Zvigeni, with all the power he had, starting crawling where he saw Nikolai standing for the last time. More shells turned this peaceful outpost into a hell on earth. He hoped with all his heart to see Nikolai there, alive. After some moments that seemd to be a century, Zvigeni reached the spot. What he saw made him turn pale. The bodies of three or four militiamen were lying torn apart in some metres next to a pile of sandbags. And then he saw him. The boy lied on the body of one of his fallen comrades. More shells landed around. Zvigeni grabbed him and turned him around to see his face. A large chunk of shrapnel was nailed to the back of his head. His once lively blue eyes were now staring the grey sky, empty, cold. Zivgeni left the boy's body alone, and rested his back on the sandbags. He looked at the sky. The sounds of shells falling and exploding was defeaning. He had a hard time breating. A moment later, he couldn't breathe at all. Only then did he realise the blood pouring from his neck.