06.04.2020Plamen, TSPRKalafatova broke into the cabinet of Zajac, catching him strolling the office in thoughts. But she didn't have any chance to start the report because Zajac met her with this line: "I've heard the news, comrade Kalafatova. It is time to adapt our actions."
COMFOR was baffled.
Is there anything that can catch this man off guard?! Probably there was something, but not that.
"I trust you have seen the communique as well, right?"
"Indeed." The voice of Zajac was slow, deep and grunting. "I am not sure how to entice them to act so that they themselves would want to act."
"They will not attack even if someone tries to take action." COMFOR had disappointment in her voice. "Might have guessed those kids don't understand that staying on the defensive is death."
Plenipotentiary took his seat and offered one to Kalafatova.
"And their approach too..." She touchily continued. "Alliance of sex workers! Drug dealer unions! Do they even know that those are instruments of social control used by the most decadent capitalist regimes like the one they have overthrown?! They are no less bourgeois than the Isthmian Republic was!"
"Probably we will be able to influence them," Zajac stated plainly, then sighed. It was anti-socialist but he knew that was to happen. "The time has come for other kinds of actions."
He stood up and went to a window. "I will contact you with new directives. For now, keep Lykensburg in the darkness. You're free."
Before leaving, Commissar asked the Plenipotentiary one last thing. "With your permission and out of curiosity, as a member of the TRP. Have you sent Maximalist forces into Moorlands?"
"No. I re-ordered them to Surdaj and Montebloj, they'll arrive in five days."
COMFOR said nothing. The door closed quietly after her.
Air Base Mikhalevich, somewhere near Konstantsiya, TSPRAdministratively, Strategic Transport Aviation Command was a subordinate unit of ADO (Long-Range Aviation), in contrast to the Tactical Transport Aviation Command, a sub-unit of KTA (Tactical Aviation Command). TRAF made a great effort in establishing transport capabilities of the ADO since about 1990 when Transport Aviation Command was split in two, but sheer size and complexity of the aircraft intended for Strategic Transport Air Divisions (STAD, for short) meant that by the time people of Bonporton have chosen its path there were only 144 aircraft available, all grouped in two STADs ─ 10th and 41st.
Aircraft-wise, each STAD consisted of two transport regiments of 36 aircraft (3x12) and two fighter regiments of 24 aircraft (2x12). Besides, there was a large maintenance cadre for each regiment (approximately 80 per transport and 30 per fighter) and six companies of about 350 men with vehicles for loading and unloading transports. And a small staff unit. In total, about five thousand men.
At the same time when Zajac was meeting with Kalafatova, Polyanskiy was meeting with just two men of his ten-thousand-men command, a short one and a tall one. The short one, Bykov (K-8), was in command of the 10th STAD; the tall one, Ugrinovich (K-9), ─ of the 41st.
"Comrades, I have received new orders. In three days we will switch daily plan to 1200 tons of supplies per day instead of the current 2400 tons per day."
"Why'd Zajac let us stop racing planes like damn horses?" Bykov inquired curiously. "Ain't it related to all those trucks arriving 'ere?"
Polyanksiy glanced at him. "Yes, it is, comrade Bykov. Your division did its part well and can stand down in three days. Comrade Ugrinovich, is the 41st prepared?" And Ugrinovich, a dry and phlegmatic transport officer, put it simply: "Awaiting your orders to take off, comrade Polyanskiy."
"Good. You will be transporting 1200 tons of military supplies and equipment that are currently arriving in those trucks and trains. Daily."
"Ah, I see..." He saw TPA and safety markings on those containers. "Are we going to try to entice Bonportonese for attack?"
Polaynskiy took his seat, followed by his colleagues.
"I don't know the details but I think that's the plan." He chuckled. "To give them enough equipment they'd feel confident and take action against the Southern Contender or Moorlands."
Bykov appeared, to put it mildly, skeptical. "Won't work, 'ey won't attack even if we give 'em all our tanks and arty."
"On the contrary, comrade Bykov," Ugrinovich said, sounding slightly Storsnian. "I think this plan will work. Remember, they have completed their uprising, which is already a feat. And they used Cyclones remarkably well against Moorlands mercenaries. I'm sure they'll find a way to use far less sophisticated equipment just as well. No contender will be of a threat to them if they have more firepower per unit."
"Time will show if you're right, comrade Ugrinovich, but it will depend on your efforts first and foremost." Polyanskiy reminded.
"We will do our best. In three days, right?"
"Starting from April, the 9th. That's all, dismissed."
"A waste of resources," Bykov grunted after they left the office. "And with the war on the horizon!"
"A good way to dispose older equipment and facilitate rearmament." Ugrinovich countered.
"I don't believe those decadent Isthmians have guts to go for that."
"Isthmia is the dark horse of Mu-Kal, Velimir. They may yet surprise us."
07.04.2020
Economic Aid To Commune
Despite differences in understanding socialism already being apparent, continuing support of the Commune remains a priority of TSPR policy on the Isthmus. We have ensured its survival in its birth by the means of Bonporton Air Bridge and the Lane of Comradeship; the time has come for more lasting measures ensuring that the newly won bastion will be an example for all Isthmian territories to follow.
Yesterday, the Republican Economic Council has approved the allocation of 10 billion leva as a package of economic aid to Bonporton Commune. From these funds, 6 billion would be employed for purchasing products of the heavy industry while the rest is granted as a donation to the Commune.
Transport Aviation Command confirmed that there are no plans yet to shut down the Bonporton Air Bridge; however, its command staff in their press release acknowledged that the Lane of Comradeship is providing all the necessary food and medical supplies to the Commune. That suggests there may be other uses for the air bridge, but which ones remain to be seen.
Milovan M. Milovanov II