Lieutenant Balendin sipped some of the hot coffee, looking outside the window of the outpost, the peaks of the Gailurs covered with fresh snow, which fell plenty on the mountain. It had been a tough month December, with the ever rising tensions with the friendly neighbors in the eastern side of the mountain, the Frodts. The first violent incidents had begun around December 6th, when a patrol from their side had attempted to enter the Mendilurian part of the White Line. Although no one was injured, it was the first instance since 1974 that either side had been forced to respond with violence to a provocation by the either. If they only knew what was to follow. The incidents had been constantly increasing ever since, reaching a climax with Christmas Day, when seven men of Mendilur fell to fire by the Frodtic side. Two days later, the soldiers were still reeling from the shock, all of them seeing realm combat for the first time. Ten of the comrades had perished through December, and that number was only about to increase thought most of them.
He grabbed a cigarette from the silver case his grandfather had gifted him years ago, the day he had taken his oath in the Officers Academy of Eseŕa, and lightened it. He remembered entering the Great Temple, just eighteen years of age, in order to take his oath. The statues of Agurźane and Bakar, Oier and Nerea, Fermin and Aitor, all seemed to have fixed their gaze on him as he stepped his right foot on the white marble of the Altar, the Brazier of Oier burning with the holy green fire. He remember placing his hands on the book of the faith, the Book of Light & Darkness. He had joined full of ideals, full of hope and prospect. Was he truly prepared to finally be called to answer that oath? He had sworn on Agurźane's laurels and Oier's shield that he would defend the Commonwealth, the Faith and family. His wife and son were waiting for him back in Jiomenka, his leave only being a few days away. Could he betray them?
His trail of thought was interrupted by the sudden and violent gunfire that begun echoing in the vicinity of the mountain. It was no doubt the sound that an assault rifle made, he was sure of it. He remembered his training all these years ago, and the flashes of the Christmas clash a few days ago. Had the infidels decided to attack so quickly after their last act of savagery against his troops? He rushed together with his men towards the 'weapon storage', an old wooden wardrobe that had been emptied in order for the soldiers to place their firearms in. All the men ran towards there at once, grabbing their FA-81, donning over their greatcoats and exiting the outpost, the snow hitting them hard in the face.
Balendin immediately ordered two soldiers to remain in the outpost in order to message the nearby stations in search of information on what was going on, but it was too late. Frodtic troops were themselves exiting the outpost opposite theirs, in the other side of the White Line. As his men begun taking cover behind the rocks and the fences of the White Line, the obligations of the Lieutenant all rushed back to him. He could not let them go anywhere near their side of the White Line. It did not matter why they had exited their outpost. It did not matter if they wished to attack them, if they wished to investigate the gunfire themselves. Only thing that mattered was stopping them.
He ordered his troops to fire at will.
Palace of the Representatives, Eseŕa, 31st December 2015
Xabier Ezkibal was greeted by thunderous applause as he made his way towards the podium. The last few days in Mendilur had been intense, ever since the latest clash that had happened three days ago. Four soldiers had died on their side and three from the Frodtic one. Even here, in Mendilur, where the Buruzag held far more power than a leader of a 'democratic' state imagine, he still had to answer to the Party's decision making institution, the Council of the Commonwealth. He knew what kind of a solution he would present to them. He knew what kind of a solution they wanted to hear. The Buruzag was going to make sure that this provocation from Frodtthiuda would not go answered. Ever since 1974, there were talks of solution through peace, but these had failed. Now it was time for the arms to give solution to the peninsular problem.
As the applause died down, the Buruzag cleared his throat and prepared the papers in front of them, staring at the people seated in front of him. He would make sure they got what they wanted.
Two hundred and eighty-eight years ago, in the Great War of Liberation, our ancestors managed to free themselves from the boot of the Christian oppressor. Mendilur was reborn, and it's people could finally rejoice at the fact they were free from the malevolent 'Republic' to the east. Two times since then, in wars of defense, we have defended our sovereignty from these beasts, who know only axe and fire, pillage and rape as their war conduct. When the war ended in 1974, we all had hopes this would last. History however, draws a different path for our nation.
Three days ago, four men of Mendilur lost their lives in the White Line, where we stopped the advance the advance of the Christian foe so many decades ago. These sacrifices, so many years after the official end of the second war, show us the painful truth that we have tried to ignore for years. The issue of our peninsular neighbor is not over. They continue to agitate their so called 'brethen' in Mendilur, they condemn our acts of self-defense, they condemn our so called 'intolerance' towards their religion, when they themselves call the Sinkoaka faith a 'cult'!
I am here to inform you, and the Mendilurian people, that this shall no longer be tolerated. A few hours ago, I instructed the Mendilurian Ambassador in Biuzbaurgs to deliver an ultimatum on behalf of the Commonwealth, that the clerks of the Palace shall distribute to your seats now. Either the endless provocations will end, or we shall walk for a third, final time the path of war, and show them how men of Mendilur fight when honor, religion and Motherland is at stake!
Three days ago, four men of Mendilur lost their lives in the White Line, where we stopped the advance the advance of the Christian foe so many decades ago. These sacrifices, so many years after the official end of the second war, show us the painful truth that we have tried to ignore for years. The issue of our peninsular neighbor is not over. They continue to agitate their so called 'brethen' in Mendilur, they condemn our acts of self-defense, they condemn our so called 'intolerance' towards their religion, when they themselves call the Sinkoaka faith a 'cult'!
I am here to inform you, and the Mendilurian people, that this shall no longer be tolerated. A few hours ago, I instructed the Mendilurian Ambassador in Biuzbaurgs to deliver an ultimatum on behalf of the Commonwealth, that the clerks of the Palace shall distribute to your seats now. Either the endless provocations will end, or we shall walk for a third, final time the path of war, and show them how men of Mendilur fight when honor, religion and Motherland is at stake!
As the Buruzag stepped down, he could not but feel proud of what he had accomplished. He had finally given them the spark to support the war, certain that only a minor speech could rally the already war-ready Council into war. All that remained was for the Ambassador to deliver the ultimatum to the Frodtic government.
One hour later, Biuzbaurgs
Gilamu Olaź had never be so worried in his life before, as the Palace Guars escorted him to the office of the Faurasitands, Liudiharjis Arbigastsez, Hauhakuni de Lutra present in the meeting as well. The Ambassador had arranged this meeting a day before the Buruzag's speech, intending for it to be a meeting where he would try to pacify the worries of the Frodtic government. Now he would have to be the man to deliver the dreaded ultimatum to the Goths. When the call came, he had tried to fight it. He insisted that the ultimatum was supposed to be only a last-ditch solution, not a springboard for the Buruzag to fulfill his dream of war with Frodtthiuda. Yet in the end, he obeyed the ordered. He was a man of his words, having served the nation many times from a diplomatic clerk to a soldier on the battlefield during the second war. Now he would witness his son going to war as well.
"Your Excellency" said Gilamu, as he finally entered the room where the two men waited. "Before any conversation can begin, I am saddened to present to you this ultimatum on behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth of Mendilur." he continued, handing the two men the folder that contained the two copies of the ultimatum, one in Mendilurian and one in Frodtic. "I urge you to accept it in the name of peace and stability between our two nations." he finished, as the Faurasitands opened the folder and grabbed the paper from inside. He could only hope the Frodts would not execute him at this very stop for bringing them these terms.
To the Government of FrodtthiudaOn the 27th of December, a violent incident took place between forces of the Commonwealth of Mendilur and the Frodtic Republic. In this incident, four Mendilurian and three Frodtic servicemen lost their lives, and even more servicemen were injured. This incident was caused, even though your government has not admitted it, due to the intent of Frodtic troops to occupy the White Line and other strategic mountain passes along the Mendiluro-Frodtic border. Furthermore, through the month December thirteen such incidents took place, which raise the total number of Mendilurian servicemen killed to nineteen.
To add to these provocations, Christian paramilitary under guidance and support from officers of the Frodtic military have harassed numerous Sinkoaka villages near the border, engaging in acts of banditry and attempting to burn Sinkoaka temples, although fortunately all were saved in time due to the intervention of our own protection forces in these areas. We consider these acts to be unacceptable from any self-respecting sovereign state. It is the opinion of the Commonwealth's government that we need certain assurances from your part that these incidents shall not be repeated again. We furthermore need assurances that all propaganda material against Mendilur shall be removed from your armed forces, your education system and press immediately.
As such, the Commonwealth of Mendilur has seen fit to deliver a set of terms to your government. We find all of them non-negotiable, and as such failure to acknowledge them all within twenty four hours from receiving this letter will result in a state of war being declared between the Commonwealth of Mendilur and the Frodtic Republic. The terms are as folllow;
(1) To suppress any publication which incites to hatred and contempt of the Mendilurian government and the general tendency of which is directed against its territorial integrity;
(2) To dissolve immediately all societies and their branches in Frodtthiuda which engage in propaganda against the Mendilurian government. The Frodtic Government shall take the necessary measures to prevent the societies dissolved from continuing their activity under another name and form;
(3) To eliminate without delay from public instruction in Frodtthiuda, both as regards the teaching body and also as regards the methods of instruction, everything that serves, or might serve, to foment the propaganda against Mendilur;
(4) To remove from the military service, and from the administration in general, all officers and functionaries guilty of propaganda against the Mendilurian government whose names and deeds the Mendilurian government reserve to themselves the right of communicating to the Frodtic Government;
(5) To accept the collaboration in Frodtthiuda of representatives of the Mendilur government for the suppression of the subversive movement directed against the territorial integrity of the Commonwealth;
(6) To take judicial proceedings against accessories to the December incidents who are on Frodtic territory; delegates of the Mendilurian government will take part in the investigation relating thereto;
(7) To prevent by effective measures the cooperation of the Frodtic authorities in the illicit traffic in arms and explosives across the frontier, to dismiss and punish severely the officials of the frontier service at the White Line guilty of having assisted the perpetrators of paramilitary crimes by facilitating their passage across the frontier;
(8) To furnish the Commonwealth Government with explanations regarding the unjustifiable utterances of high Frodtic officials, both in Frodtthiuda and abroad, who, notwithstanding their official position, have not hesitated since the December incidents to express themselves in interviews in terms of hostility to the Mendilurian government; and, finally,
(9) To notify the Mendilurian government without delay of the execution of the measures comprised under the preceding heads.
Sincerely yours
Xabier Ezkibal, Buruzag of Mendilur
Gilamu Olaź, Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Mendilur to the Frodtic Republic
