The 3rd Irpan Civil War (MT Closed Greater Olympus)

[Irpan]

Irpan City

The election had been hard fought with the communist Labour party trying to secure more votes in the industrial North and indeed it had won hard support there with the Nomad clans that had already started arming themselves to fight the new democratic government. Communism seemed like a good idea for the Nomad clans of the North and the people who worked the coal pits there. But now they had a new reality to face. The Democratic party of Felix Alexander had been elected with the majority vote and now ruled the country. With the help of Field Marshal Marcus the military had already pledge allegiance to the new government and it's head of state President Alexander.

In the new capital building, which had once been the Council of 12 clans housing block, the new offices of the new government of Irpan had been established. The President still didn't have a residence with the Imperial Palace being deemed as too grandiose for the use of a simple elected leader so plans were laid out on several tables in office across the building to find a suitable residence for the President and his family. It was in this new capital building that a meeting of the new government was already in session though and things were beginning to get heated, "We demand a recount!" Yelled Neil Fitzgerald the leader of the Labour Party. He was a tall man, well built with a smattering of grey hairs in his otherwise brown hair. He had a nose that showed signs of having been broken and his life as a factory worker showed in his stance. "Mister Fitzgerald we have already had a recount the votes only changed by one seat if you remember correctly?" The speaker of the house spoke softly to the enraged party leader, "If i remember correctly the vote was a change against the Labour party to an independent seat as well so another recount would prove a fruitless exercise now if we may discuss some actual politics it would be nice." There was a crackle of laughter from the right side of the house as the Democratic party chimed in with "hear hear" and the like. Fitzgerald looked at the four members of his party who had seats in the new government and nodded, "Until there is a fair representation in this house, we will refuse to stand and will instead join our brothers in the north who are ready to declare a new government with a fair system of rule and governance." With that the Labour Party politicians up and left the room.

Three hours later as their convoy left the city the Labour Party politicians received a phone call that the north was behind them and the Six Nomad clans of the North would support them and that three cities were already secretly arming militia ready to strike against government targets. But the next piece of news to reach them was of a much more startling nature.


Sasuri on the Eastern Coast

The city was quiet at this time of night. The night life had been killed by the curfew but it was nothing new to the people of Sasuri. The city was a historic trading hub with the rest of Greater Olympus and had a region of the city specifically dedicated to the use of the people of Meronie. The Meronie people were seen as good business by the traders of the city and many ships set sail for that foreign land everyday. Not so much since the war started and the military rolled in to secure the city. But the military weren't active in this quarter of the city leaving it to the Meronie people to sort of self protect. The target was a hotel it was owned by a small Irpanese man named John who had a frightful fear of the ten men in the vans outside. He had agreed to their scheme to lure as many foreigners to the bar of the hotel as possible. Right now the loud bass of the music could be heard booming from the hotel. The men looked at each other, "For our brothers." One said simply and they all nodded as the doors slid open.

The guards outside the hotel stood little chance. They watched as the doors of the two vans opened and the ten men spilled out into the street. Before they could reach their weapons though they were gunned down in a hail of bullets. "Yuri, Covan secure the entrance, everyone else with me." The bearded man who appeared ot be the leader shouted at the men as he kicked the front door of the hotel open. More guards were inside alerted by the gunfire they had begun to move towards the door but were quickly gunned down by the men advancing through the lobby. The hotel had one major advantage as a target all the people would be in the bar the hotel rooms had been closed by order of the military but the bar and restaurant had been allowed to stay open. This is where the eight men headed. The guard at the door of the bar was shot down and the music stopped instantly as the men emerged into the crowded space. "Novac, James that door there, Liam, Johnathan over there." The man ordered splitting the men through the stunned crowd. As all the exits were secured the bearded man looked round the room, "Does everyone have their passports?" He asked as the two men from the front of the hotel came to join him in the bar.

[Meronnia]

"Immediate and Decisive Justice" promised on Irpan
Hugo Lortie, Mèronie 24
^{June 17, 2020}

State Secretary Allais of the Defense Bureau had strong words for the press today.

(M24) — Irpan's hope of a peaceful democratic establishment was short-lived, and in the crossfire more than a dozen Meronnian expatriots and consulate staff have been taken hostage by a rebel group in the historic Foreign Quarter of Seçurie.

At an unrelated memorial service today, Defense Secretary Allais was hounded by reporters on the subject of the current crisis. While successive Meronnian governments in the past have been clear that they do not intend to intervene in Irpan's internal affairs, with the establishment of a democratic republic this Meronnian executive has had a different message. Secretary Allais was clear that the Meronnian government recognized the full legitimacy of the Republic of Irpan and would only deal with President Alexander's government in negotiating with the country.

A naval force conveying Meronnia's aircraft carrier, the MS Calvet, to the East Coast of Irpan, has already been seen sailing from their deployment in the Benardie territory. Additionally as some now-deleted social media posts posited, it's suspected that a Pioneer Brigade of the Meronnian Foreign Legion is being forward-deployed by aircraft to establish immediate ground presence in the historic trade city.

Secretary Allais stated that the Meronnian armed forces would be bringing a full military intervention to stabilize the situation in Irpan, and advised other international governments away from any unilateral actions of their own by encouraging others with reason to intervene to cooperate with their forces.

When queried as to whether Irpan's government had given them permission to deploy special forces in Seçurie, the Secretary noted that he would "Ask for forgiveness, not for permission" to save the lives of Meronnian citizens.

---

NEXT
| Rectress General Margot II | Lise XI Passes | Mèron Response to Isthmian Crisis |

[Irpan]

Sasuri on the Eastern Coast, Hotel Ranci interior 0110

The men had organised the hostages and released anyone with an Irpan passport. This was not a mission to target the people of Irpan but the exploiters of the great nation. The bearded man had been quiet since giving his orders to his team and was now stood on the stage looking at the gathered crowd. Some were sat in chairs gathered round the dance floor in the middle of the room. Others were sat on the dance floor. He had men posted at every door. Finally he stepped down from the stage and walked over to the man called Novac. "Where are the explosives? The MPs will be here soon." He asked Novac. Novac smiled and reached round his back. Nothing. "Shit i left them in the van!" He exclaimed as the sound of sirens filled the air. Before they could do anything to get the explosives the street was filled with Humvees and men with rifles. "What we doing boss?" One of the men asked looking through a curtain at the gathering men outside. "You remember the megaphone?" He asked one of the other men who nodded and handed him the megaphone. The bearded man then moved to the window.

Sasuri on the Eastern Coast, Hotel Ranci Exterior, 0115

Sergeant Michelle was stood behind her humvee a megaphone in one hand and pistol in the other. "Anything?" She asked the private next to her with his AK pointed at the twitching curtain. "Nothing just some movement, seems we're being watched." Michelle then went to lift her megaphone to her lips when the sounds of another one filled the air.From inside the building came the bearded mans voice, "We are members of the Red Hand. We strive to bring a socialist Utopia to Irpan. The people in this building have been deemed enemies of the state. We will release them if our glorious comrade Fitzgerald is made president of this new republic. We also want safe passage for ourselves to the northern city of Moga. We will give you forty eight hours." The megaphone turned off and the voice drained from the air. "Get me the commander we're going to need Alpha group." Michelle said to the private next to her.


Irpan City, 0132

"Impossible! I am the democratically elected leader of this country!" President Alexander was in his suit still, having been dragged away from the election celebration party in the new Democratic Party offices in the new political district of Irpan City. Field Marshal Markus was sat across the coffee table from him with a look of concern on his face. "Yes Mister President and it's as that President we need our next move." Markus continued, "We have the Meronnians coming in now to establish themselves and 'help' us establish ourselves and from my intelligence reports the north will rise up within the week. We need to act now!"
"Pull our troops out of the north we'll let them have it then we can launch targeted strikes once we know where leadership and command and control are established. Hows it look in Amog?"
"Bloody, the Brotherhood continue to use chemical weapons against our troops and we are struggling to clear them from the districts they have entrenched in." Markus replied. The bloodletting was growing.
"Right, deploy Alpha Group to Sasuri and get a message to the Meronnians if they want to enter this nation they need to prove they are helpful. Let's see if they can rescue their hostages."
"Yes Sir." Markus still felt odd calling Alexander sir given Alexander had been a general on his staff not three weeks ago.

Code: Select all

Message to Whom it may concern in the Meronnian Command
Subject: Hostages at Ranci Hotel
Encrypton: Absolute

 Dear sir or madam,
 The situation in our city of Sasuri continues to develop we have been given a forty-eight hour deadline with which to meet the demands of the rebel group calling themselves the Red Hand. We have chosen to not meet their demands and are requesting assistance in clearing the hotel of them and rescuing your civilians. Any Special Operations Forces you have that could assist our Alpha Group would be greatly appreciated.

 Yours Faithfully,

 Field Marshal Markus,
Overall commander of all Republic of Irpan Forces

[Volga-Dnieper]

17.06.2020

P R O V O C A T I O N

Terrorist Attack In Irpan Condemned!
COMFOR: "Intervention [In Irpan] May Be Necessary"

The continent of Meridiq has already emerged in the international press in February, when oil sheikhdoms agreed to double fossil fuel prices. Recovery efforts in Sepuran facilities, conducted by combined efforts of Tewah and Plamen, approaching IRP and local Mu-Kalese oil companies and general lack of trade relations with Meridiq sheikhdoms ensured that this passed unnoticed for TSPR. However, more recent news from Meridiq give us a case for concern.

Imperial Irpan, one of the many stagnating autocracies around the world, has been in a turmoil for the last couple of months. It started with an insurrection in the city of Shapeshte by religious fanatics of the Cult of the Sacred Flame and subsequent actions against the cult. After the assassination of the Emperor of Irpan, the military dictator called for elections which were won by the bourgeois Democratic Party, having most of the support in the southern Irpan. Illusions about bourgeois pseudo-democracy and bourgeois pseudo-elections were yet again shattered by the movement of history.

While the Labour Party, the principal left-wing party of Irpan, rallies its support in the north, a militant group called Red Hand captured several Meron citizens in the city of Sasuri, the old Meron trade concession in Irpan. Meronian actions were swift: yesterday, Meron defense minister stated that Meronian armed forces will be conducting full military intervention in Irpan while recognizing so-called "Republic of Irpan" built around "Democractic Party".

Tanayan reaction was fast. COMFOR and the CMC of TPRA held joint emergency press conference on Irpan with COMFOR Anna N. Kalafatova, commander of the Combined Strike Force Vasily K. Lesjanin and the representative of the CMC in the Presidium of the AoS Leonore Amalia Wohlgenannt as spokesmen.

"I personally do not know what kinds of intentions were driving the Red Hand." Comrade Kalafatova stated. "Meronian concessions did their part in exploitation of Irpan but those could be driven off by other means after the victory will be secured. Their actions lack the sense of time and place." To that comrade Wohlgenannt added the following: "We're talking about a provocation here, directed against the Labour Party. The Red Hand are provocateurs acting against the left movement of Irpan, regardless of their intentions. They may state whatever they want but their actions jeopardize efforts of our left-wing comrades. As such, we condemn their actions and call for the Labour Party of Irpan to do the same."

When asked about Meronian actions, COMFOR stated that their concern for their citizens is entirely justified ad that TSPR would do the same but their recent statements give their actions another meaning. "I believe Meronians are going to crush the left wing of Irpan by aiding these so-called Democrats in what can easily escalate into a civil war. At least reports from CISS give us the right to think this way and they don't tend to lie. This is unacceptable. Our intervention in Irpan may be necessary to stop this."

Tanayan measures will include sending a detachment of the Combined Strike Force to Irpan with comrade Lesjanin confirming that a squadron of 22 ships, including three aircraft carriers, will depart on 20.06.

"It would be better for Meronians not to stand in our way." Commander of the CSF stated when asked about Meronian carrier group. "We will not fire first. But should they fire, we'll fire back, send their ships to the bottom of the sea and let COMFOR handle all diplomatic nuances. I do hope they'll see reason and withdraw, though; the balance of power does not do them any favour."

On the question about possible land intervention, comrade Wohlgenannt plainly stated that should the situation escalate into the civil war and should the AoS approve the intervention, "we will attack and we will not stop until both bourgeois liberals and religious fanatics are crushed under our threads."

"I will personally lead my old 1st Armoured Corps in battle should the need arise!" She proclaimed. "Socialism in Irpan will be reality."

VT will continue covering the events.
Milovan M. Milovanov II

[Irpan]

Shock in the North
Irpan Herald Network
June 17th 2020 0830

The north of Irpan has brought a shock to the new administration of the Democratic Party of Irpan. Having fled the capital only hours prior Neil Fitzgerald arrived in the Northern City of Jorvik and has founded a new government in exile there. When the police were sent to arrest Mister Fitzgerald armed insurgents fought back and killed ten police officers and injured six more. Rumours are abound that now three are being held hostage.

Whilst Mister Fitzgerald does not agree with the actions of the Red Hand in Sasuri, he has made a declaration of a new national struggle to bring fair government to Irpan which equal representation of all parties. At the same time that this announcement was made Field Marshal Markus was giving his daily briefing about the fighting in Amog, which continues to grind on into its third week. When news reached the Field Marshal of the actions of Mister Fitzgerald he changed topic back to the fighting in Amog.

Meanwhile garrisons across Northern Irpan have been overrun and captured by forces believed to be made up of Nomads of the Six Northern Clans. Coal shipments out of the north have also been seized by 'rebel' forces and a strangle hold has been placed upon all industry in the North. Mister Fitzgerald has declared a socialist republic in the north under the name of the Irpan Soviet Socialist Republic or ISSR as he has branded it.

No comment could be gathered from President Alexander and the Vice President has only commented that everything is in hand. We shall see what develops.

[Meronnia]

External Communiqué
Secure Wired Message
Issued: Meronnian Joint Chiefs; Cosigned CoG
Directed: Republic of Irpan Military Command, Field Marshal Markus

With Regard to Irpani Communication

---

Field Marshal,

Your message has been received and is appreciated. I can confirm at this time that the Meronnian Special Operations Command has organized a unit of the Meronnian Foreign Legion Pioneers, with coordination from the 1st Chasseurs and the Direct Action facilitation of the ASRS, to be rapidly deployed to Sasuri and congregate with your nation's Alpha Group for the purpose of safely extracting the hostages held in the Ranci Hotel.

It is the intent of the Meronnian Government to establish military presence in Sasuri to ensure the protection of Meronnian citizens, the details of which will be communicated to the appropriate contacts as they arise. Further, a Meronnian carrier group has been deployed to the sea near Irpan, ready for action. We intend to establish and facilitate inter-force communication between the Meronnian Marine National and Air Army and the armed forces of the Republic of Irpan, and provide direct military support for the stabilization of your government.

It is not the intent of the Meronnian Government to initiate hostilities with the separatist movement in the North of the Republic of Irpan at this time, instead we encourage and will support a reconciliation effort to establish peace on this front. However, the Council of Government, with the agreement of the Joint Chiefs, has determined that the Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame pose an active and intolerable security risk, and Meronnian military support will be made available for the extirpation of this movement in territories they are present.

With Regards from my government,
General Clarisse Brunelle - Meronnian Strategic Force;
As agreed to by the Council of Government

[Volga-Dnieper]

18.06.2020
Palace of the Friendship of the Peoples, Plamen, TSPR

"I will personally lead my old 1st Armoured Corps in battle should the need arise. Socialism in Irpan will be reality!"

The press conference ended and commander Lesjanin went ahead to give instructions to the commander of the 2nd Carrier Group, Nikita Marusin (K-11). Wohlgenannt and Kalafatova followed on a slower pace.

"You sounded like we want war." Kalafatova stated plainly.
"Don't we have a cause, though? Irpan socialists have risen up. Meronians have deployed their forces in Irpan-"
"To save their citizens trapped by those pesky provocateurs."
"A lofty excuse to bring troops to crush Irpanese people's uprising. We cannot allow that."

"True, we can't. But I am more concerned about our little detente-"
"I don't see any reason to be concerned." Wohlgenannt harshly cut her. "Which is the one you see?"

Kalafatova raised her eyebrow. "Well, for starters, bourgeois liberals they are or not, we have by far the best relations with Meronia outside of Mu-Kal and IRP. We have been building up our relationship for about a decade. Thanks to that we can check for any of their neo-colonial moves via OIM as observers and our institutions can collaborate on research and development. Shame to say but from all the liberals around, they may be one of the closest ones to us and it may be better to keep them aligned. For a moment. At least until the south-east Nori is secured and our theater of actions fully shifts towards Meridiq."

Wohlgenannt held a momentary pause. "Huh, if you're right, then maybe some discretion is in order. Nonetheless, what will we do should they make a try to prevent our allies from winning?"
"I hope they will not. For now we have a common enemy and by the time it is gone, I hope that Irpan socialist army will be well-trained to take over the country. That's up to your men, comrade Wohlgenannt."
"And what kind of a common enemy is that? Those cursed fanatics? Won't they just try to shove them on us?"
"A wise move, yes, but reports from the front don't give me that idea. We'll send you data on them."

"That would be helpful. Still, what if they do make a move?"
Kalafatova looked at her and sighed. "Then you will have to do what you must."

"I'll hold you to that, comrade Kalafatova." Wohlgenannt was triumphant. "Now we must convince that Stamboliyskaya-"
"Leave it to me." COMFOR interrupted her. "I have an appointment on... just soon enough. I'll better get going. Wait for sitrep."
"Good luck."

Later that night, Kalafatova came back home, put out a 400ml faceted glass in a nickel glass holder, poured into it half a bottle of 70% rakija and chugged it. It wasn't hard to convince Stamboliyskaya, though to her chagrin that would mean operations in the Melian Channel she painstakingly planned may or may not will have to be postponed.

Irpanese coal and oil were keys to the success. TSPR always desperately needed materials to feed its overblown industry and Stamboliyskaya knew that damn well first hand. From Chairman's point of view, securing Irpan would not only grant an open market for industrial materiel but also partially alleviate the resource problem. Kalafatova knew that and made sure to press on this argument.

And so, Chairman agreed to the plan of sending three heavily augmented TPA formations ─ 1st Armoured Corps, 5th Mechanized Corps and 17th Mechanized Corps ─ under the overall command of Wohlgenannt in Irpan, initially, against the Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame. And, should the need arise, against the Democrat government as well.

The communique recognizing ISSR was released and the matter of intervention was almost settled. Now, to put it before the Assembly of Soviets.

Yet the issue of Meronia was still at hand, waiting to be resolved...

[Irpan]

Sasuri on the Eastern Coast, Hotel Ranci Exterior 1010 17.06.2020

The Truck slowly pulled up nearby and the men inside immediately began to de-bus. They were out of sight of the hotel behind a building across the street which had been evacuated of civilians to allow the Alpha Group soldiers to set up an Observation Post. The ten special forces soldiers moved into the building and began to set up their OP with speed and efficiency. "Jono?" One asked looking at his team leader as he sat at a desk back from the window with a sniper rifle set up on it. "Have the negotiators talked to them yet?" The young sniper asked. The team leader Jono moved over to him and looked through the spotter scope next to him. "Looks like they're sending the phone in now." Jono said as he watched.

Down below the OP a lone man walked forward with a box and a mobile phone. He approached the door of the hotel bar that led out into the garden and held his hands up. "I've come with food and a phone to open negotiations with." He announced and placed them by the door before walking away again. The door opened and two of the Red Hand came out and took the box and phone and walked back into the bar.

Sasuri on the Eastern Coast, Hotel Ranci Interior, 1015, 17.06.2020

"Ryan." The bearded man turned at his name as the two men who had gone out to get the food and phone came back into the bar. "What we got?" Ryan asked walking over to Novac and Covan the two brothers were near identical even with the two years between them. "Food for us and these scum and a phone with a charger." Ryan nodded and placed the phone on the bar as he looked round at the hostages. "How many we got?" He asked trying to count the number of people in the bar.
"About twenty-five." Covan answered looking around himself.
"Right hand out the food and we wait for-" The mobile began to ring. Ryan looked at it and picked it up, "Hello?" He answered.
"Hello is this the leader of the Red Hand?" The female voice filtered down the phone to him and he nodded then remembered he was on the phone, "Yes this is the leader of the Red Hand." Ryan replied.
"We understand your current wishes but is there anything else you want? We also need a proof of life of the hostages to prove they are still alive before we begin negotiations properly aswell." The female voice came back down the phone to Ryan who looked at Covan.
"We want our true leader installed as leader of Irpan, Neil Fitzgerald is the correct leader of this nation. Not Felix Alexander. We want safe passage to Moga in the North."
"Yes I am working on that currently, but I need to know if there is anything you need right now. We sent some food in for you and the hostages, but is there anything else needed? Also are you not aware that Neil Fitzgerald has disowned your actions here?" The female voice was neutral no smugness was detected in the voice or anything like that it was a very calming voice. Ryan though was angry at the news his action had been disowned by the man he idolized so much. He hung up the phone.

Irpan City, 1100, 17.6.2020, Presidential Press Conference

The room was abuzz with noise as the reporters gathered in the room were talking among themselves about why the press conference had been called. The TV cameras filled out the back of the room and the podium at the front was adorned with the new Irpan Republic Sigil of a Bear. The room fell deathly quiet as the door at the front of the room opened and Field Marshal Markus and President Alexander walked in. They walked quickly but calmly across the room to the podium and stood behind it. The President in front the Field Marshal behind him on his left. "Good morning everyone sorry to call you in such short notice, but this announcement needs to be made quickly." President Alexander began, "We find ourselves in unexpected circumstances in these past few weeks and days. Our beloved Emperor was assassinated by the terrorist Brotherhood of Sacred Flame with chemical weapons. Our capital was turned into a battleground for a week of solid fighting between those terrorists and our courageous armed forces. The city of Amog continues to be a battleground and now the North has declared independence as a Socialist republic. Our armed forces are stretched and because of this I have decided to enact the Draft. It has been sixteen years since the nation of Irpan has had a draft but like I said these are unexpected circumstances and as such must be dealt with by unexpected measures. From now forward all men and women from the age of 18 to 28 will be called into service. There was exceptions that mean doctors and nurses and other key workers will not be called up but for the most unless you have a valid medical exception you will now be called into military service. Thank you, no questions." With that the President and Field Marshall left the room.

[Meronnia]

Irpan - Hostages Free, Military Stays
Hugo Lortie, Mèronie 24
^{June 19, 2020}

The First Deputy gave his first interview since the beginning of the Irpan crisis today.

(M24) — In his first public appearance since the beginning of the Irpan crisis, First Deputy Sardou sat for an interview this afternoon to confirm the rumors leaked on social media that an operation had successfully extracted the hostages inside Hotel Ranci, and discuss the future of Meronnian intervention into the Irpan crisis. When asked where he had been since the beginning of the hostage situation, the First Deputy responded that he'd been in a "Command Room" to directly oversee the response.

On the hostage situation, the First Deputy and the government in a press memo have confirmed, all twenty-four of the hostages at the Hotel Ranci have been recovered alive after a joint mission between an MFL Pioneer special response unit and Irpanese Republican special forces entered the building at around 2AM on the 18th. The government has been unable to confirm how many of the terrorists were killed against how many were captured for trial, and the First Deputy noted that security reasons meant it would be difficult to publicly praise the members of the rescue team in the immediate term, but they'd all personally been congratulated and thanked.

A flight out of Sasuri Regional Airport will bring 14 of the former hostages back to Meronnia to see their families, the rest either remaining in the city or travelling to a different home country. That airport has become something of a hub for Meronnian activity in the past few days, with Meronnian special forces establishing a security zone around it and some Meronnian officials seen coming and going through Air Army transport.

With the hostages safe from Hotel Ranci, the question was raised as to whether the Meronnian intervention into Irpan was done. The government has quite confidently responded to the negative, confirming Meronnian military presence will continue - air forces will continue to hammer Brotherhood terrorists, ground and naval forces will continue to ensure the security of the Republic of Irpan.

The question was raised as to whether Meronnia was worried about the Tanayan unilateral intervention into Irpan as disrupting its goals, or even presenting a possible direct threat to Meronnian forces. First Deputy Sardou was first to refute this, affirming that Meronnia had very functional relations with the Socialist Peoples' Republic, and any operational difficulties could be communicated and addressed. He even raised the possibility that Meronnian and Tanayan forces might cooperate in the removal of the Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame - Meronnian aircraft have only bombed the terrorists on Republican territory, reportedly concerned about wary or out-of-control socialist forces using anti-aircraft weaponry.

As much as the Meronnian government is projecting confidence on the Irpan intervention, the Federal Republic is never above leading an international response with the aid of allies. It was little surprise to educated defense analysts when this morning the Defense Secretary of Meronnia met with his counterpart from Carelia, to confirm a Carelian presence in the pro-Republican intervention. The Sister Republic of Meronnia, located in North Meridiq and a global naval power, is a significant thumb on the scale for Meronnia's interests.

While Meronnia and Carelia have historically strong cooperative bonds (even including some financial aid from Meronnia to Carelia during the 2019-2020 financial crisis), Carelia's direct intervention has remained small for the time being. An escort force of Carelian ships has been deployed to connect with the Meronnian carrier group near Irpan, and Carelian air bases will be made available for Meronnian long-range aircraft, opening up new tactical options in the toolbox of the intervention. Further direct contribution hasn't been ruled out, and seems to mostly depend on how the situation in Irpan progresses.

The First Deputy has re-iterated his message that the purpose of the intervention is to extinguish the uprising of the terrorist Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame and stabilize the Republic of Irpan, and that Meronnia will not attack socialist forces except terrorists within Republic-held territory. Meronnia has issued a call that a ceasefire between the Republic and the self-declared ISSR be negotiated and a reconciliation process begin in order to build a stable democracy, one socialist ideas are allowed to exist within. The Meronnian government has offered to mediate such a negotiation.

---

NEXT
"Immediate and Decisive Justice" promised on Irpan | Rectress General Margot II | Lise XI Passes |

[Volga-Dnieper]

20.06.2020

Assembly of Soviets Convenes On Irpan

The situation in Irpan is developing rapidly. It is now known that Meronian forces have successfully freed hostages trapped in the Hotel Ranci in Sasuri. However, just as the Central Military Council of TPRA and independent analysts of the Institute of the World Economy and International Relations predicted, Meronian presence did not end on that. Meronian aviation continues to bombard positions of the Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame, an aggressive terrorist sect in possession of chemical and biological weaponry. More importantly, it has become known that Meronian forces have aligned with Carelian Republic, the citadel of anti-communism and the arch-enemy of the international workers' revolution.

Yesterday, the Assembly of Soviets convened on the situation in Irpan in full body. The four-hour discussion was heated and agitated with two positions emerging. The first one was bluntly stated by comrade Leonore Wohlgenannt of the Presidium of the AoS: regardless of the alliances, the first priority of TSPR should be fully liberating Irpan along with the Irpan Labour Party.

"Meron officials may state whatever they desire about their objectives in Irpan." Stated comrade Wohlgenannt . "We must judge them by actions and their actions cast doubt on their statements. Think about it. They intervene. We declare our intervention. They call Carelia in. Now ask yourself a question: knowing that TSPR is bound to act, do you call Carelian fascists in if you do not intend to prevent our act? Meronian intervention in Irpan is evidently not to be in the best interests of the Irpan people."

Wohlgenannt 's position is supported by the report of IWEIR about the potential place of Irpan in the world economy. Their worst-case scenario predicts "typical non-industrial raw-material economy supplying its heartland ─ Meronia ─ with raw materials" and everything that goes along with the raw-material economy. That scenario implies permanent underdevelopment of Irpan and failure of any modernization programs should they be enacted.

Based on this report, comrade Wohlgenannt, speaking on behalf of the CMC of TPRA, reiterated that the armed intervention is needed. In a surprising addition to that she confirmed that three TPRA corps ─ 1st Armoured, 5th Mechanized and 17th Mechanized ─ were already mobilized and reinforced according to their shtats and are thus ready for combat deployment. This force amounts to about 100 thousand service personnel and is to be the largest expeditionary formation ever put by TPRA.

The second position was represented by another member of the Presidium of the AoS, comrade Nina Andreeva, and summarized by her this way:

"Holding on to our commitments to the international revolution does not mean we should be throwing away alliances and coalitions forged. Unlike comrade Lacroix, I do not believe Meron forces will do any harm to Irpan socialists, even if they are backed by Carelian navy. They adhere to the principle of detente and because of that I believe they will not risk throwing any existing cooperation with TSPR away over this matter. I believe we should follow the suit lest we provoke dormant anti-communist powers around with rash moves.

"However ─ and in that, I believe, we can agree with comrade Wohlgenannt ─ creating a state with socialist ideas simply being allowed to coexist with liberals is not going to be productive to the socialist cause in Irpan. Any remaining Irpanese bureaucracy hailing from Imperial Irpan will prevent any changes made by the democratic movement should it ever come to power. Bureaucracy appointed by liberal government will not do any good to the movement either, should it entrench.

"With that in mind, I insist on careful and weighted approach to the matter."

Both sides criticized each other's positions. Militant faction accused moderates of opening a potential leeway to neutralize revolution; moderates accused militants of escalating tensions without need and opening a way for potential devastation of Irpan. No agreement was reached on the matter and when comrades Wohlgenannt and Andreeva tried to push their candidacies for Plenipotentiary on Irpan, none gained the needed 80% majority.

The solution was found in establishing a Plenipotentiary Committee on Irpan, composed from both members of the Presidium leading their factions plus the Chairman of the Presidium, comrade Alexandra Stamboliyskaya. The committee is expected to start working on the matter from today.

VT will continue covering the events.
Milovan M. Milovanov II

[Volga-Dnieper]

19.06.2020
Nikitin, Dobropolskaya Oblast'
Central TSPR

In the Dobropolskaya Oblast in the middle of the TSPR, relatively far from the capital of Plamen, stood a town named Nikitin with 23,658 souls. But a hundred years ago you wouldn't even guess there would be a town.

Though the origins of the village of Bezdenezhye are lost in centuries, historians know that in Tsarist times it was sold and resold many times from one landlord to another and in the late Tsardom it helped supply the nearby city of Dobro Pole with working hands. It was a typical fate of many villages, dictated by more and more extensive, if inconsistent and chaotic industrialization of Tanayan Tsardom. Nevertheless, Bezdenezhye was one of the larger villages around with 2,672 people in 1934.

Dobro Pole was an important city. Not only it was a railroad link connecting the Inner Oceanic Railroad with the Outer Oceanic Railroad via their outlets, the city also housed an important industrial machinery production plant, the Dobropolsky Machine Building Yard. When the time came to equip the new Doiran Tank Plant in 1932, it was that plant that produced all the needed machinery to this child of Tanayan panzer leadership aspirations. It was a combination of both of these factors that determined the fate of the city in Tanayan Civil War, and alongside with the city were swept villages in its country and on the path to it, including Bezdenezhye.

Tsarist forces turned the village into a bastion, garrisoned by one of the elite political units of the rotten Tsardom, the 22nd Black Hundreds Division. The godless red hordes from the east appeared there in May 1935, spearheaded by the 3rd Tank Corps of 21,000 men with 600 tanks produced by Doiran Tank Plant, all of that commanded by komkor (corps commander) Evgeniy Nikitin.

On 16th of May, 1935, his tanks rolled against the fascist division. The corps was already reduced to 470 tanks from the recent battles, the enemy artillery managed to preemptively bombard Nikitin's positions with 84 cannons 20 minutes before the assault, the approach to the village was choked with mines and crossed by anti-tank dugouts, fortifications there were bristling with anti-tank emplacements, the soldiers of the 22nd were willing to sink red hordes in their own blood and they were supported by the whole 6th Tank Division to add. Nevertheless, the corps attacked head-on in a three-pronged attack. Tanks rolled over minefields with cast iron cylinders pushed in front of them, self-propelled artillery suppressed anti-tank emplacements and where nothing helped, the reds pushed through with sheer brute force, crews oftentimes firing from immobilized and burning vehicles. And in the village itself, tanks and infantry of the socialist corps that broke through were relentlessly harassed, with every house turned into a fort.

Tsarist tanks attacked the left flank of the 3rd Corps in an attempt to stop the communist assault. The ensuring tank battle was a rehearsal of the future Battle of Slivengrad; the left flank of the 3rd Corps was flipped and forces in the village were outflanked. But the right flank of the 3rd Corps broke through and destroyed Tsarist artillery, after which the assault artillery and the remaining socialist corps artillery started bringing down building after building, turning the village into a slaughterhouse for everyone caught in there. The 22nd Division attempted a desperate suicidal counter-attack to break through to Dobro Pole, aided by the 6th Tank Division attacking the blocking forces both head-on and enfilade in a pitched night battle, yet its rearguard was rolled over by tank assault and the attackers were themselves attacked from the rear.

By the dawn of the May 17th, 1935, the battle of Bezdenezhye was over. The village was burnt, its area and the field behind it, towards the city it should have protected, were littered with corpses and burnt war machines.

The 22nd Division was annihilated. The 6th Tank Division was left with 17 tanks from 220. On the red side, from 470 tanks and assault guns of the 3rd Tank Corps, 123 were left operational, and 196 were total losses. The red side lost 14,432 of its bravest men dead or wounded; on the black side there were 33,790 casualties. The road to Dobro Pole was wide open and the 11th Detached Tank Division took the city by the dusk of May 18th.

Nikitin himself never saw the red flag wavering over Dobro Pole. Accounts of his death vary but what is certain is that he found his death in the village of Bezdenezhye, 43 years old.

Until 1952 there was nothing but ruins where the village stood, a grim reminder of one of the bloodiest single-day battles of the Civil War. Then, in 1952, on the former central square of the village, several veterans of the 3rd Tank Corps set up a memorial, a marble stage with a bronze statue of a tank on it, facing west. In the tank's cupola is a figure of a large tanker in tank helmet, facing west with determination. On the western side of the memorial is a bronze plate that reads:

In memoriam of
6,572 men of the 3rd Tank Corps
and their brave commander,

Hero of the TSPR
EVGENIY KUZMIN NIKITIN

1891 - 1935

In 1973 several enthusiasts with the help of the Institute of Tanayan History organized a Museum of the Battle of Bezdenezhye. That same year, the Republican Economic Council and the Plenipotentiary for the Socialist Economic Development Ivan Antonov Plamenev issued a directive calling for re-establishing several hundreds of towns across TSPR. Bezdenezhye was one of them but it would be ridiculous to retain a name with meaning so close to "poverty". And so, the town of Nikitin was established on 16th of May 1973. Tanayan Baby Booms of 1980s and 2000s and the presence of several factories forming a subdivision of the Dobropolsky Machine Building Yard ensured rapid growth of the town in just forty years, just as it was the case with many other "decree" cities.

And so, the city met the new decade of the third millennium.

---

Since Tanayan People's Army reorganization in 1985, Dobro Pole housed the headquarters of the 1st Armoured Corps. In strict accordance to the Armoured Corps Shtat #27/1985, the unit was made up of four brigades ─ 1st Armoured, 13th Armoured, 22nd Armoured and 7th Artillery. In its four closed districts, Nikitin housed the 1st Armoured Brigade of four battalions, so occasionally tankers in their black tanker uniforms were seen around the city. Just like it was this time.

It was about noon and the central square of the town was almost devoid of people. A girl, or one could say a young woman, was standing near the monument to komkor. She looked to be at the very most in her earliest 20s, her beige hair were assembled on the back in east Norian style. She was wearing black tanker uniform and through it not much could be seen about her body, only that she was of average height. Her collar patches were bright red with two rectangular bars ─ meaning she was something like a lead junior specialist in a specialist branch ─ and, since the bright red was the tankers' color, that meant she was a tank commander. A holster with a handgun was on her belt. Her black eyes under thick eyebrows were admiring the monument.

Another girl approached, slightly taller and with just one bar on her red patches.

"You've been admiring this monument for an hour, Zhenya." She said. "Do the news bother you so much?"
The lead specialist glanced at her and sighed. "Can't say they bother me. Don't you remember, Varya? Back in the beginning we have sworn that one day we will fight to free the oppressed of the world. For three whole years we've been training, awaiting this very day when we are finally sent into the fray. Yet, I don't feel anything now. Just stillness."

The taller girl shrugged. "Not sure why you should feel anything. It's not like Tanaya stopped flowing. No, merely a combat deployment to the land far away."
"You're talking like you've been in one yourself." Zhenya refuted her. "But I guess you have a point. There's nothing to feel anything about."

She looked at the monument and paused. From the commander's cupola, komkor Nikitin was looking east, his face stiff and determined, left hand pointing binoculars, right hand pointing eastward, towards Dobro Pole.

"What did those soldiers feel, going against fascist hordes three times their corps, Varya?"
"Probably nothing other than they have to defeat them." The answer looked prepared in advance. "In fact, I wish I knew."
"Guess we'll learn that soon. What time is it now..." She glanced at her wrist watch: 1530. "Let's go."

They disappeared in one of the streets adjacent to the square. Two girls from one tank crew ─ Yevgeniya Nikitina and Varvara Nikolayeva. Their third colleague was with their tank on the base.

"What do they say about Irpan army?" Varvara asked.
"Nothing yet." Zhenya replied plainly. "Rumenov will tell us everything on today's meeting." The as if remembering something she looked at her comrade. "Wait, your father's in IIS! What do you hear about it?"
"It's a secret, you know?" She had to hold a pause, so that both understood it to be a secret. "From what I've heard about Irpan from dad, nothing you wouldn't expect from their economy. Drafted youth with arms from '60s and doctrines from '40s. Bah, and they call that an army." Varya scoffed before adding. "They have no hope. This war will be short."
"You don't say that, you know?" Zhenya warned her and smiled. "Not with terrorist insurgency on our to-do list." The smile faded.

They both sighed. They were the best of the best of Tanayan armoured forces ─ and they were sent to chase terrorists in the desert! It wasn't even the job for armoured corps, nor for the mechanized corps for that matter. Tanayan People's Army had specialist formations for that ─ 19th and 21st Light Corps, equipped with light all-terrain vehicles based on wheeled IFVs and BRDMs ─ but none of the two was involved. Evidently chasing off terrorists wasn't the real Tanayan objective judging from the ORBAT of its expeditionary force.

With those thoughts in mind they reached their district and, presenting pass cards, passed in.

[Volga-Dnieper]

25.06.2020

When the Central Military Council of Tanayan People's Revolutionary Army received the news about Meronia aligning Carelia to its cause, the uproar could be heard from Konstantsiya to Florina.

In a way, that was not unexpected. An analyst from Institute of International Security of CISS had prepared a report detailing the possibility of Meronia aligning Carelia that reached the CMC hours before the news but of course a couple of hours would not be enough to prepare for such a contingency. Zoya Dangovska (K-10), commander of the 68th Cruiser Division, was the first to voice the spirit of the CMC ─ it is a lousy provocation. Meronia can not be trusted to keep peace. And TSPR will not be deterred from its noble task, not even by Carelian fleet.

Notwithstanding that sentiment, the news did raise concerns about Tanayan Irpan Expeditionary Fleet being under-strength. Chairman of the Central Military Council, Krasimir Andrijevich (K-16), had to open the piggy bank to deploy more ships on station: the squadron was expanded by additional units. Yet that messed Tanayan deployment, since reinforcements couldn't depart in time with the core of the fleet. And being non-nuclear escort units, they couldn't keep up either.

As the result, the intended composition of 23 combatants and 12 supply ships set sail as planned in 0000, 20.06.2020, rushing towards Irpan on 30 knots. Reinforcements ─ 20 combatants and another six supply ships ─ followed them in 62 hours, on 1400 22.06.2020, crawling towards Irpan on economical 15 knots.

Tanayan main force caused mayhem upon its arrival. Its commander, komflota Nikita Marusin (K-12), started lively and tireless action against the Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame. Carrier aircraft more often than not did two sorties per day, attacking targets on the North with precise and violent air strikes in hopes of pushing the Brotherhood to the south, towards warm embrace of Irpan conscripts and Meron Foreign Legion. One more trouble to them ─ one less trouble for ISSR ─ more time for Tanayan tanks to arrive.

And more time for higher echelons of power to do their business...

---

21.06.2020

External Communique
Issued: People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, Tanayan SPR, People's Commissar Kalafatova
Directed: Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, Meronian Republic, Foreign Secretary Beaudouin
Top Secret. Personal. Destroy After Reading.

---

Foreign Secretary,

Recent developments regarding the situation in the former Imperial Irpan raise questions and concerns in my government regarding sustainability of the detente course pursued by our countries.

Of particular concern is Meronian alignment of the Carelian Republic, one of the most bitter enemies of Tanayan SPR and aligned countries. While we understand that it is the sovereign right of Meronian Republic to align any country of its choice on its discretion to its side, in light of the recent decision of the Assembly of Soviets of TSPR to deploy forces in support of the legitimate government of the Irpan SSR, circles in the Central Executive Committee of the AoS of TSPR and the Council of People's Commissars of TSPR are inclined to view this act as a crude attempt to impede fulfillment of constitutional commitments of Tanayan SPR of supporting allied and aligned political actors worldwide.

However, we maintain a good faith that the course of the detente is sustainable even in these circumstances, and should you consider it sustainable as well, I believe it is as good time as it could be to determine a way to achieve mutual understanding integral for conducting the policy of detente.

In good faith,
Anna N. Kalafatova,
People's Commissar on Foreign Affairs, TSPR;

On behalf of:
Alexandra A. Stamboliyskaya,
Chairman of the Presidium of the CEC of the AoS, TSPR

[Meronnia]

External Communiqué
Secure Wired Message
Issued: Foreign Secretary Beaudouin
Directed: People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, Tanayan SPR, People's Commissar Kalafatova

With Regard to Received Communique

---

People's Commissar,

I was glad to receive your communication, it has been the intent of the Meronnian government to establish a cooperative channel of discussion on this matter as soon as was viable.

My government is deeply grieved to consider the possibility of long-term damage to the functional relationship between our nations caused by disagreement and poor communication on the matter of the specifics of building a safe, stable, and free Irpanese state. Meronnia, of course, maintains its sovereign right to conduct foreign affairs policy independently, and asserts that Carelia remains a state with immense historic, cultural, and strategic bonds with Meronnia, a state with which cooperation will continue.

Nonetheless, my government recognizes the practicality of the perception of our cooperation with Carelia on this specific subject as possibly inflammatory for your government. We hope, perhaps, that with cooperation on the agreeable task of extirpating unacceptable fascist militants, relations between your government and Carelia can even develop towards a functional nature, even if only on a thin range of subjects such as opposing fascism and radical authoritarianism in other places.

The Federal Republic recognizes and respects the constitutional requirement on your government to assist ideologically agreeable movements internationally, and accepts that without a cemented agreement between our states, Meronnian strategic interests may be interpreted to be in opposition to that constitutional requirement.

With that in mind, at your earliest convenience, I would like to extend an invitation to yourself as People's Commissar on Foreign Affairs, and/or to the Chairman of the Presidium of the CEC - both in her regular role and as a leading force in the Plenipotentiary Committee on Irpan - to attend a small and private conference in the Souchon Commune (an integral territory of the Federal Republic considered geographically appropriate), with the intent to draft an agreeable solution for the long-term structure of an Irpanese state.

With Regards from my government,
Foreign Secretary Beaudouin - Meronnian Foreign Bureau;
As agreed to by the Council of Government

[Irpan]

Code: Select all

Encrypted message
         To: Leader of Meronnian forces in Irpan
         From: The office of Field Marshal Markus of the Irpan High Command
         Subject: Co-operation

  First before I begin this message proper i would like to thank you for your forces efforts in resolving the hostage crisis in the Hotel Ranci the other day. It was well done by both our forces to properly eliminate the terrorists and safely rescue the hostages.

 Now onto the proper message. We have noticed you have been operating several bombing sorties out of your base in Sasuri and are eternally grateful for the damage caused to the Brotherhood of Sacred Flame by these attacks. But we have a problem our forces are continually bogged down in fighting in other areas of the country and are in need of air support which we struggle to supply. As such I would like to call your leadership to the capital to open up talks about creating a communication channel between our forces and yours to assist in the fight against the Brotherhood of Sacred Flame. The cooperation we experienced during the Ranci Hotel issue was grand and we hope to expand upon that.

 On a side note we would also like to open channels about a situation developing in the North of the country on the temporary border between ISSR and Republican Irpan territory. We hope you can help in this affair but do not wish to discuss more outside of face to face communication.

 Hoping you are well,
 Field Marshal Jeremiah Markus

The Northern Border town of Moga

"SIR!" The yell echoed down the school building corridors and brought the breathless officer to the young soldier who had yelled. The man was looking out the window of the school at the sight of several APCs and infantry advancing on his position. "Dominic!" The officer yelled and another young man came in carrying a Javelin on his back. "Get to the crows nest on the upper floor and drop those APCs." The officer ordered before turning to the other soldiers in the room, "What you waiting for an invitation? Kill them!" He yelled. The soldiers roared in agreement and ran to the windows and began to fire AK-74s and RPKs out the windows at the encroaching enemy. The enemy dropped to the ground and began to fire back at the positions in the school house.

The firefight lasted half an hour and by the time it was over there were two dead and three wounded in the school house and a retreating rebel force outside leaving behind three burning APCs. Dominic entered the room the main bulk of his unit had occupied as a barracks and slumped on the sleeping bag on the floor he had claimed as his own. "Okay Dom?" One soldier asked as he looked from the medic bandaging his arm to the the young soldier. "Three APCs down and a dozen or so rebels killed, yeah I'm good Tom." The young man replied. He was only 19 he had been drafted into the army three weeks before the Brotherhood had risen up in Shapeshte and had been expecting to head south to fight the brotherhood once his training once over. Instead he was here fighting communists, or were they socialists he could never remember. "They gave as good as they got sadly, Dom." Tom said sadly looking out the window at the steadily rising moon.
"Who got hit?" Dom asked.
"Louis, Jacob and Nigel are dead. I took a round to the arm, Docs just fished it out, Harry and Robert both took shrapnel, they're fine just shaken up." Tom answered.
"Any news on reinforcements?" Dom continued their nightly conversation.
"Column departs tomorrow for here. Either to bring our wounded out and resupply us or push the frontline forward, Captain was a bit cagey about which." Dom nodded at Toms words. Every few days a column of trucks and tanks and APCs had pushed into Moga from outside the city to resupply the isolated garrisons still in place. Sometimes they brought enough troops to expand the perimeters of the garrisons bases and other times they just brought supplies then fought their way out again with the wounded in tow. "Well just have to see what tomorrow brings." Dom said and collapsed on his sleeping bag to sleep.

[Volga-Dnieper]

22.06.2020
Plamen, TSPR

Mirai was working in her cabinet, compiling summaries from several economic institutions into a report. It was to be an economic justification of operations in Irpan ─ it's always nice to support friends and comrades but it would go slightly smoother with some councils if there is one ─ and technically it was Stamboliyskaya who should have been preparing it. But since she was now leading the Committee, the work fell on Mirai.

"With permission, comrade Higuchi?" Mirai looked up to see a man in his early 30s standing in the doorway.
"Chairman's still at the meeting, comrade Komolov. Come in, do have a seat."

Kliment Komolov (35) was the one who succeeded Stamboliyskaya as the Chairman-Director of CIME when she went to the chairmanship.

"How's the report going?" Director asked.
"It's almost done." Mirai replied. "Think that today I'll present it." She glanced at him. "You made a remarkably good job of allowing two of your institutions to quarrel."

Komolov chuckled. "Well, sorry about that." He wasn't sorry in the slightest. "Debates are just inevitable if things are getting entangled."

Two factions in the Assembly of Soviets were relying on two different reports to back them up. Militants, headed by Leonore Wohlgenannt was relying on the now-widely known report of the Institute of the World Economy and International Relations, predicting that liberal Irpan would be nothing more than Meronian periphery. As such, direct action was necessary to save Irpan from such a fate without hesitation. Moderates, headed by Nina Andreeva, had their own report, from the Institute of Economic Analysis and Forecasting in collaboration with the Institute of Socio-Economical and Political Studies. The trick of that report was that it predicted much the same outcome in the case of liberal victory ─ Meronian periphery ─ but stressed on the fact that without its natural resources, Irpan would be next to worthless as a resource periphery. As such, direct action was necessary to cut Irpan liberals off the resources to the north, which would cut off a good portion of material interests Meronia would have in Irpan, weakening liberals and opening a way for a socialist reunification of the country.

In a very broad outline and not going into much details, that was the key point of divergence. Reports, of course, were much more than that: they had everything, from their introductions, assessing Irpanese place in the capitalist world system, to their conclusion including plans of accelerated modernization of Irpan, all of which would employ its natural resources to good use. Both assumed Meronian interest as purely imperialist, which wasn't out of line of common assessments; only some remarks in the latter report hinted on some other motivations present. Both assessed the cost of accelerated modernization as high to very high. Both assessed it as a necessity.

"Why can't you agree on this matter?" Mirai continued. "CIME is the leading institute, can't it present its own view?"
"It wouldn't be much different. Remember, both reports agree in their main assessment ─ Irpan must be aligned. They disagree over how to do it best with given circumstances."

Mirai was unfazed; she didn't get the answer. "Still, can't CIME present its own view?"
"We can't." Komolov stated plainly to get simple yet inquisitive "Why?"

"Because CIME does not have its own analytical sector for international economy. Seventy-five percents of the people in the Analytical Center of the REC come from IWEIR and IEAF. The Center's software ─ which is, in fact, a software coming mostly from IWEIR and IEAF ─ runs on the hardware mostly coming from IWEIR and IEAF. CIME personnel here is to supervise both institutes and add our own, internal data to the pool. It does not perform analysis alone, per se."

"And?" Mirai asked after a brief pause.
"We do not have any experience with international matters which means we are not qualified to do the assessment you ask us to do which means we cannot do it."

The Secretary raised an eyebrow. "So you analyze our own, Tanayan data on your own, CIME machines and with your own, CIME folks." She iterated; Komolov nodded. "But when it comes to the international data, you just leech off IWEIR and IEAF?"
"Yes. Hasn't Stamboliyskaya ever told you why?" Mirai shook her head. Director smirked. "Oh, you definitely should ask her one day. That's quite a story and she will tell you better than me."

Mirai turned to her monitor, typed something and hit the big button. Some commotion was heard in the hall. The phone rang.

"Yes... Yes, he's here... Got it." Mirai hanged the phone. "The Chairman's awaiting, let's go."

---

That same evening Kalafatova and Stamboliyskaya were having tea at the flat of the latter, accompanied by an obligatory chocolate waffle cake.

"I'm wary of sending Wohlgenannt alone to command this operation." Chairman said, cutting another piece of cake. "She's not throwing her words by the wind and I'm afraid she's not alone. Our young are in plenty and they are eager to go to attack. You should know this, right, you have a son in TRAF?"

Kalafatova nodded, sipping from a cup. Her son, Radovan Kalafatovich, indeed served as a commander of a ground attack regiment.

"Mikhail recently told me how he had a small talk with a tanker girl in Nikitin. He said she was itching to fight whoever there was in Irpan."
"Sad thing that we have so many youth ready to go to war. They don't understand a thing about it ─ and they are very heavily armed."
"I think they just don't care about it. We are by far the most populous country in Olympia and only Parthonopia stands close to us. One of our institutes, I don't recall which one, published a handbook in 1997 concerning population trends and their impact on social psychology."
"I've read that." Kalafatova noted. "Who would've thought it would help us to explain our own woes. But I do not think it's just that."

"What do you think it is?" Chairman took another bite of the cake and sipped some tea.
"It's our own education. Our heroes are not kings and moguls like those of bourgeois countries, our heroes are fighters for national liberation and scientists. And our youth takes them as examples."
"Well, that's nothing too bad, isn't it?" Stamboliyskaya was curious. "A scientist, an intellectual is the mainstay of the future society. We should applaud them."

"I don't argue with that, comrade Chairman. I merely note the imapct it has on our youth. Of course they want to be useful to the world and that is great. It's valued even in the bourgeois countries even if they don't say it out loud. We also celebrate collective struggles, like our attempts to storm the skies in 1970s and 1990s. And so they want to storm the skies just as well even if sacrificing themselves. And that's good: TRP went for great sacrifices for their victory."

" 'But now, their strive met the dead end of our economy', is that what you're trying to say?" Stamboliyskaya inquired, squinting.
"No offense to you. We just can't go further and I'm not sure if we can go deeper. We're balancing on an edge and you know that. And trust me, you average youth with 10 years of education, they too can understand that. Maybe subconsciously, maybe consciously, maybe warped, maybe straight, but they get it and they are not happy."

Kalafatova took a sip and sighed.

"With that youth we're close to Parthonopia. Far closer than we may ever admit. Carlo's hordes of angry youth are armed to the teeth and I think they are more than ready to bring Carlo his Orthurian throne. Our armies of angry youth are armed to the teeth and I think they are more than ready for something like that of our own. They are just waiting until the Assembly decides it is time. I think Wohlgenannt feels it and embraces it and that will decide how the campaign will go."

All that time Chairman was taking mental notes. Yes, she felt that as well; she had Mirai for the reference. Maybe in her 25 and with her education in a special closed school, she wasn't representative of an average Tanayan young but Stamboliyskaya just let it slide for herself. And Chairman could imagine what a lot of angry youth could do ─ even if sociologists would tell her she was very and very optimistic.

"Any news from Merons?" She said after a long pause, having nothing to say.
"They're ready to host a secret meeting on the situation when convenient. Sounds quite imperialist, not inviting Irpanese to that-"
"June 25th." Chairman interrupted COMFOR. "I will attend it."

[Irpan]

Sasuri on the Eastern Coast, 23.06.2020 0430

"Everyone know their job?" The man was wearing a gas mask and looked very sinister. He was a Confessor of the Black Hand sect of the Brotherhood of Sacred Flame and he was a true devotee to the faith. His man all wore masks as well except two who wore nothing but their clothes and their suicide vests. The van drove through the city streets the van stopping in an alleyway near the airport. The city was sat a short distance about 500 metres of long grass and trees from the airport the Meronnians had taken over. The Brotherhood had organised a plan for tonight though which would hopefully turn the tide in the war that had suddenly turned against them. Anti Foreign sentiment in Sasuri had built over recent years as foreign peoples continued to live in the city and take jobs and work in the city the native people of Sasuri had come to a new idea. The idea of Flame. The Brotherhood had secreted its way into the city over the past few days and now the attack was ready to begin.

The van door opened and the two men exited their clothes covering the vests. Both had bandages on their heads with fake blood applied and began to move slowly up the road towards the airport. As they neared the guards at the gates of the airport the men began to shout, "Help us we have been wounded by terrorists!" They shouted as they approached. As the drew close enough both men threw back their heads, "FOR JERICHO! FOR THE BROTHERHOOD!" And with that they detonated their vests. The explosions were the cue the men needed in the other van. From man portable grenade launchers they attempted to launch CS gas into the airports buildings and surrounds to blind the Meronnian soldiers and servicemen on the airfield. Shortly after the gas had begun to grow the men charged across the open ground and charged the wire and cut it down with wire cutters before charging onto the air field guns firing. All ten men of the raid force were eventually killed.

Sasuri Police Station, 23.6.2020, 0435

As the sounds of the attack on the airfield began to get underway an RPG flew through the air at the doors of the police station. It missed by three metres and hit a column outside but the shrapnel that flew out hit several army soldiers who had been guarding the door. The gunfire that roared out soon afterwards caught the men off guard as well. The soldiers reacted instinctively though and began to fire back at the Brotherhood soldiers pouring out of an open manhole on the street and gunfire poured from buildings nearby. "SHIT!" One soldier yelled as more Brotherhood came out and fire poured back at them slaughtering many as they charged across the open plaza towards the police station. The soldiers held though and the Brotherhood melted into the shadows but more attacks would come soon and the city was now on fire as attacks as government forces positions and foreign parts of the city came under attack from Brotherhood forces.

Moga abandoned to Socialist Rebels,
Irpan Herald

In the news today the northern city of Moga, which sits on the main road between the Rebel capital of Istvaan and the Republics capital of Irpan City, has been abandoned by Republican military forces as the position was deemed untenable by military command. In total a hundred and fifty soldiers have been wounded or killed fighting to hold Moga and a reported two hundred rebel soldiers have been killed trying to take the city. The numerical advantage of the Rebel forces, assisted by six Nomad Clans of the Northern clans have led to a huge disparity in the situation in the North. Troops are now being deployed to defend the capital road and rumours persist that with the Brotherhood being focused on by foreign forces that an attack will be organised on the Northern rebels soon.

[Irpan]

Northern Irpan, Territory of the ISSR, Port city of Fallou, 24.06.2020

The city had been quiet the Socialist Garrison had seen off several raids by Southern Special Forces attempting to disable the port facilities from use and were confident they could achieve almost anything against an attacking force. Private Joseph Husband sat on top of a box of supplies that had just arrived from a blockade runner, the meagre Republican Navy proving ineffective at blockading the Northern Coastline. "Joseph!" The cry came from behind him as he lit his third cigarette of the night. Joseph turned to see his sergeant coming towards him. The man lent forward and borrowed Josephs light for his own cigar before looking at the 17 year old. "You okay tonight lad?" He asked as he took a deep drag on his cigar.
"Yes Sergeant." Joseph answered the question with the usual regimental drill he had been instilled with in the Republican Military before defecting to defend his northern homeland.
"Good reports abound the Brotherhood launched a strike at Sasuri yesterday morning. Seem they aren't done yet." The Sergeant looked around the port. They were in front of the Port administration building where supplies from blockade runners and smugglers were being stockpiled before being moved inland to the fighting troops on the front line.

It was about 0600 in the morning when the first signs of trouble came to the quiet of Fallou. It was the sound of the mortars in the nearby garrison opening up that first drew Joseph and his Sergeants attention. The Sergeant quickly got on his personal radio to ask what was going on but got only silence in return. Then the front of the Port Administration building exploded as the sounds of RPGs and gunfire began to fill the air. "SARGE!" Joseph shouted as men began to pour out the nearby sewer grates in the street and start firing at anything moving, civilian or military it didn't seem to matter. The two soldiers were quick on the draw though and began to return fire at the unknown assailants but it didn't last long. Six enemy dropped dead from the two mens AKs but they were soon flanked and engulfed in flame from a flame thrower. "PURGE THE HERETICS!" Came the cry of the flame thrower soldier and he moved on setting fire to other positions. The light finally hit his shoulder on which a single solitary flame had been tattooed, the Brotherhood of Sacred Flame had come to Fallou.

After ten hours of fighting helicopter flights from the small ISSR Air Force were doing their best to support, resupply and evacuate the wounded from Fallou. The city was ablaze with the Brotherhood not holding back on using flame weapons. Thankfully the units attacking seemed to lack the chemical weapons favoured by other Brotherhood units. In six separate positions throughout the city the ISSR Defence Forces held their ground. In the Slums of Harrog in the north of the city some fifty soldiers had barricaded themselves into the government building in that sector. In the port itself the Port Administration building had fallen but the barracks and base that had been built in the nearby warehouses was still held by about a hundred troops of ISSRDF. In the other four positions within the city the units were of varying sizes but all were holding out against an enemy with no apparent lack of numbers. They would need help soon.

[Tero Malstreciga]

External Communiqué
Secure Wired Message
Issued: Presidium of the National Convention; Bonporton Commune
Directed: Presidium of the CEC of the AoS, TSPR

With Regard to Irpan Intervention

---

Comrades,

The Commune of Bonporton remains in the eternal and immeasurable debt of our brothers and sisters in socialism, who have acted selflessly in their aid to us in our moment of need. The collective conscience of our Commune will be forever mindful of the purpose and value of internationalism and global socialist solidarity.

It is in view of this that our National Convention has passionately supported resolutions for immediate action with regard to the continued struggle beyond our borders for the uplifting of peoples from their slavery. The people of Bonporton have been enraptured following the news of the valiant expedition of Tanayan forces to Irpan, and our Commune has swelled with desire to play our own part in this just crusade.

We do not lack recognition of the fact that our nascent Commune has relatively little to give. This does not deter us from wishing to contribute what we can.

Proceeding from growing volunteerist calls for organized action, we have orchestrated the formation of the Bonporton International Socialist Brigade, comprised of volunteers with Respubliko-military training and/or heavy experience in the border conflict with the racial fascists of the Moorlands. This Brigade is ready for deployment.

It is the wish of our Commune to fight for socialism in Irpan. As such, we ask you to investigate the feasibility of attaching the Bonporton International Socialist Brigade to Tanayan command within Irpan, for active deployment.

With Solidarity,
Presidium Chair Lucjo Amiko;
As agreed to by the Presidium of the National Convention

[Irpan]

Irpan City, Liberal Party Headquarters, Office of James Jonathan Francis
1030 6/12/2020
two months since end of hostilities between ISSR and Republic of Irpan

The morning was cold. bitterly so, but inside the office of James Francis it was warm. James Jonathan Francis was head of the Liberal party, which had replaced the democratic party during the civil war, and his office had once belonged to Felix Alexander. It was a few days since the first meeting of the Coalition Government, formed with the help of Meronnia and Tanayan influence on both sides of the war. It had been hard fought the civil war with early estimates putting numbers of troops and civilians killed, combined from figures of northern and southern reports, at 750,000. This didn't account for figures of Brotherhood KIA though, as no official accounts were available for that. James was eating a hearty bowl of porridge as he listened to his daily briefing by the Liberal party heads of departments. He only had two department heads, defence and foreign affairs, left to hear from. "And we expect the TSPR and Meronnia to maintain a token presence here till at least next year. I was thinking of inviting any high up commanders of their forces in Irpan to a dinner to celebrate two months of peace?" Jacob Reese was a thin man with a thick moustache, which seemed to have grown to replace the hair on top of his head. "Good Jacob. I'll get in touch with Felix and Connor about presenting a united front at this dinner." James said as he leaned back in his seat and wiped his mouth with a napkin. He didn't like Connor the head of the Socialist party, after Fitzgerald had been killed by a bomb during the war, the man wasn't university educated and had been a factory foreman before the war. But if they could work together till the referendum that was good enough for him. James looked at the second department head in his office, "So Ryan what we got?" Ryan was a former Colonel in the Irpan Army, now the Irpan Defence Force, and had come recommended by Field Marshall Markus. But before Ryan could speak a thirty something man walked into the room without knocking. "Sir! You're going to want to see this." The man said and turned the TV in James' office on. The TV took a moment to turn on then an episode of a popular Irpan sitcom, No way Horse, appeared on the screen. "Sorry not this." The man got a remote from the unit and changed the channel to an Irpan News Network.

"For those just tuning in I will cover what we have been covering for the past five minutes. Temple Prime, the Brotherhood fortress in the White Mountain, has been destroyed. No one is sure of where the blast came from, but officials are evacuating in a twenty mile perimeter around the mountain as reports of deadly chemical weapons still stored in the mountain are believed to have been spread. Brotherhood officials have released a statement to their followers stating: 'the Hand of the Prophet has been cut off'. Military officials of the IDF have reported this means those within Jerichos council have been killed in the blast and it is also believed that Jericho has been killed as well. More on this as it develops."

The office was silent. "Jericho...dead?" Ryan looked at James who was holding his head in his hands. "How many IDF casualties?" He turned from his party leader to the man who had entered the room. The man pulled a notepad from his trouser pocket and flipped through it. "The raid was meant to use two hundred soldiers sir." The man answered before continuing, "They had just entered the Temple when the blast happened." The room dropped even more into stunned silence. No one knew what to say. The TV was still playing with images of evacuated civilians gathered with what few things they could carry being watched by soldiers in NBC suits. "Any idea of the chemical weapon?" James finally asked his face an ashen white. The man began to look over the pad again. Then shook his head, "Unknown sir. Some think nerve agent of some kind. Civilian deaths at three fifty in the twenty mile area."
"Preserve us." Jacob muttered and collapsed into one of the empty chairs in the office. "You can leave unless there are any other questions?" James looked at the man then at the other two in the office. They shook their heads so the man turned and left the room. "I need to speak to the press. Get Oliver in here we need to organise a press conference with Conner and Felix." James' voice was hardly above a whisper but Ryan nodded and left. "We're in for a shit storm." Jacob was staring into the distance through the window as he spoke. James just nodded and got up to turn the TV off.

[/u][/b]Irpan City, Coalition House Press Room Three
1300 6/12/2020

The country was in shock and it could be felt. The Press were subdued in their seats as they waited for the three leaders to enter. Felix Alexander was first to enter the former President looked like he had aged twenty years over the few months of the Civil War and this event seemed to have added another five. Then came James Jonathan Francis followed closely by Connor Hewit. "Be seated." Felix said taking the far right podium of the three set up in the room, Connor took far left and JJ Francis took middle. The room was filled with the short shuffling of feet as reporters sat back down and got comfortable. James looked out at the gathered reporters then gestured towards the screen set up to the side of the room clicking a mouse on his podium. "As I am sure everyone is aware the Brotherhood of Sacred Flame Temple Prime has been destroyed. We in government would like to confirm now that this was not due to our action." James spoke calmly as a picture of the destroyed Temple Prime came up on the screen. "We believe it was a self detonation conducted by Brotherhood forces to prevent the capture of the temple and to cause a massive incident in the wake of the coalitions success on other fronts against them. I can report we did have troops entering the temple at the time and as of now we have no reports of survivors from those forces." He clicked the mouse again and map appeared with a large red circle on it. "Anywhere within this twenty mile area is now considered at risk to the chemical weapon that was released by the blast at Temple Prime. Clean up crews are being mobilised, but with Brotherhood forces using chemical weapons on all fronts we do not know when large scale clean up will be possible. We do not know the long term effects of the weapon and will be giving a proper update in the next few days. At the moment we can confirm that the heads of the Brotherhood, including the so called Prophet Jericho, have been killed in the blast along with about four hundred fighters. We will now take questions."

Two hours later

The three party leaders were gathered in Felix Alexanders office in the new Democratic Party headquarters. It was an odd office with gifts from the six largest Nomad clans adorning the walls, floor and desk. "What's this?" Connor Hewit asked poking a large glass case on the mantel piece which contained a very large, obscured item . "Erm I believe the Khazuit Clan leader called it the toe of a hill giant." Connor recoiled like he had been electrocuted by the item. The three men were watching the TV as the news was slowly dissecting the press conference they were currently on the question section when the feed cut out. The men looked between each other, "The tv is a little old." Felix suggested before a familiar face appeared on the screen and began to speak:

"The Lord said to Oraster, 'You shall never perish from this world, you shall rise again and again to spread the truth of my purpose to the people of the world. So Oraster rise! And Oraster did rise from the grave.' I return to you my children of Irpan. Like the coming tide I am unstoppable. The blast at Temple Prime was no accident. We have delivered a great cleansing to the southern heretics who refused the true way. I lost my Hand, my closet confidants and advisors and leaders, but every great man is born with two hands is he not? As I speak our forces approach their objectives and soon we will repay the slaughter of our brother and sisters with a vengeance only a God is capable of! Whilst I lose one hand my other is gripped tightly around this Coalition governments throats. Rise! Rise!"

The feed cut back to the news program where the reporter was sat shocked behind their desk. The three leaders turned to the window as a massive explosion ripped the air. "Brotherhood!" Shouted the soldiers stationed outside the office. It seemed the fighting wasn't done yet.

[Volga-Dnieper]

01.10.2020

Irpan Civil War Ends

Plenipotentiary Committee on Irpan Abolished

Today the last shots have been fired in short but brutal Irpanese Civil War.

In the aftermath of the attack by the Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame that killed the last Irpanese Emperor, Nigel Jonathan, the country has become transition to parliamentary democratic mode of government. In that transition, however, tensions between liberal and socialist factions escalated to the point of open hostilities and first shots were fired four months ago. The three-way Irpanese Civil War was fought by Irpan Socialist Soviet Republic, occupying industrial and mining northern Irpan, liberal Irpanese Republic occupying southern Irpan, and the Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame combating both factions.

Obliging to our international duty to support socialism around the world, Tanayan Socialist People's Republic have stepped in to support the ISSR. 26 battalions in four battlegroups of the 1st Armored, 5th Mechanized, 17th Mechanized and 18th Artillery Corps bore the brunt of initial fighting, demonstrating skill, initiative and ferocity, driving force of liberals away from Fallou and securing several cities in the eastern Irpan. The culmination of Tanayan advance was the March on Irpan City, in which a six-battalion battlegroup of the 1st Armoured Corps, commanded personally by commander-in-chief of the Irpan Expeditionary Army, Leonore Amalia Wohlgenannt, reached the outskirts of the Irpan City, suffering less than 800 casualties killed and wounded.

In our noble effort to fulfill our international duty we were initially met with unexpected opposition of Meronian Federal Republic, aligning with Irpanese liberals. This was the test of our relations forged by comrade Commissar for Foreign Affairs Anna Kalafatova and comrade (former) Chairman of the Presidium of the AoS, Mikhail Tikhomirov. Fortunately, we have succeeded in preserving our valuable partnership by the virtue of surprising diplomatic abilities of comrade (incumbent) Chairman of the Presidium of the AoS, Alexandra Stamboliyskaya. Arranging an agreement, in which only TSPR and Meronia would be able to engage in Irpanese post-war development, she demonstrated qualities of a Chairman worthy of leading Tanayan people.

With the Irpanese Republic forced to cooperate with ISSR after the March on Irpan City, Meronian, Tanayan and Irpanese forces turned to extirpate forces of the Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame, a process which took two months of combined effort of three nations to complete. With the last of the Brotherhood forces disorganized and forced into guerilla warfare, the Irpan Civil War hostilities were brought to an end.

Today, comrade Stamboliyskaya has announced the Plenipotentiary Committee on Irpan will be disbanded.

Comrades! Compatriots!

I am delighted to tell you that we have found a solution to the Irpanese Civil War. A compromise solution, a solution that none of us had advocated for, but a solution nonetheless. A solution that will allow Irpanese nation to be cured of its diseases to stand alongside with the forces of progress against the forces of decadence and with the forces of light against the forces of dark.

And I believe that in accepting that solution, we, the Plenipotentiary Committee on Irpan, have done the right thing.

I would like to wholeheartedly thank comrades Nina Andreeva, Leonore Wohlgenannt and Mirai Higuchi for their professionalism and devotion to our international duty. Without comrade Andreeva, our best and brightest could not be rallied to aid now, in these times of hardship, to aid the Irpanese nation. And without comrade Wohlgenannt, we would not be able to enjoy our celebration.

Since there are no longer any disagreements over the course Tanayan Socialist People's Republic will pursue in aiding the nation of Irpan, I believe that the time of the Plenipotentiary Committee has passed. As such, with consent of my comrades I have had a pleasure to strive together towards our common goal, I declare Plenipotentiary Committee on Irpan Affairs of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Assembly of Soviets of Tanayan Soviet People's Republic abolished.

Let the Assembly of Soviets judge our course.

Alexandra Andreeva Stamboliyskaya.

In several separate statements, regional and oblast councils have affirmed their approval of the course of the Committee. As an example, Voronezh Oblast Council statement stated that maintaining the course of the detente was "a major achievement of comrade Chairman."

"We have had a very strained relationship with comrade Chairman back when she was Chairman of the Republican Economic Council. But with her handling this situation with tact and common sense while maintaining allegiance to the internationalist course of Tanayan SPR, we, Voronezh Oblast Council, have chosen to approve the actions of the Plenipotentiary Committee on Irpan Affairs and clear Plenipotentiaries of all charges."

With the war over, the time has come for Tanayan SPR to fulfill its duty to the end by aiding Irpan in becoming a developed, functional nation, equal to the ones around the world. It is expected that Tanayan Mission and the Republican Economic Council will announce the plans of the post-war reconstruction and development within a week. However, it remains to be seen whether the Assembly of Soviets will appoint a single Plenipotentiary to the Irpan or whether another form of organization of Tanayan efforts will be chosen.

Vrijemena Tanayi will continue covering the events
Aleksei A. Beloborodov

[Volga-Dnieper]

12.10.2020

Ten-Year Irpan Aid Plan Set In Motion

Internationalist obligations of TSPR involve two parts. First, aiding in victory over the decadent regimes of old. Second, repairing of the damage those regimes have caused to the country and its people. Irpan Civil War saw TSPR fulfilling the first part, but for the past days the question remained how will our Republic fulfill the second.

Today, on a joint press conference of Tanayan Mission and the Republican Economic Council, Nina Andreyeva, member of the Presidium and the Head of the Tanayan Mission, have announced the plan to aid Irpanse recovery effort in a speech she asked to be printed in full.

Nina Andreyeva appeared resolute in her decision to sent the largest mission under her aegis.

"Ever since Cherdenko's Era we have been doing nothing but proclaiming we adhere to the principles of internationalism. Proclaiming, proclaiming, proclaiming, more and more and more. It has become like a mantra for those weak in spirit to follow it. Enough!

"Internationalism is no dogma. Internationalism is a way of action. Internationalism is a way of life. I have founded Tanayan Mission back in 1982 looking for those who believed in this way of life. I could not hope that 38 years later I will be standing here, as a member of the Presidium, seeing my ideas and ideals aided by the machine the one who I loathed and faced not once and not twice had helped to create.

"We cannot forsake our founding principles! Tanayan people will not leave Irpan and Irpanese people to their fates even if the last Tanayan soldier is to be withdrawn from Irpan! And to affirm our commitment, we will have to go a long road ahead and fight a hard fight on many fronts. But in the end not even this recession, not even this wretched creation of capitalist swindlers and financial con artists will stop us from fulfilling our duty.

"Tanayan Mission has never forsaken the principles of internationalism and has not started now. We have called to our youth, to our best and brightest, to those with strength and energy to revolutionize the world ─ and they have heeded the call. Think of it, comrades, ─ we had 770 thousand applications from people from 15 to 60 years old, from engineers to painters. Deciding who will go and bring the light was a crushing task. Yet we have ignored no one. And even though many were refused, 287 685 people will stand under the banners of the Mission and will aid as one the people of Irpan in their hard work.

"Yet what is a worker without its instrument? What are we without the power of our homeland? Those who will go are to become some of the greatest people I have ever seen, and yet we alone can only do so much...

"Luckily, we are not alone. The Republican Economic Council did not forget the real goal of Tanayan SPR. In our hard work we will be backed by our greatest strength and our greatest minds. Our factories stand behind us. Our institutes stand behind us. And today I am glad to announce that we have finalized the Ten-Year Plan to guide our noble effort. The Mission and the Homeland are finally standing together. And the grand legacy of Cherdenko and Plamenev is to finally serve its real purpose, the purpose dictated by our founding principles.

"Irpanese people are not alone. Our best, brightest and mightiest will stand with them."

Following this speech and a lengthy applause were several statements of the Chairman of the REC, Irina Leiong Leang. Chairman stated that the plan is to involve more than 300 facilities of heavy and light industry; that it would cost estimated 45 billion leva but provisions were made for additional 10 billions; and that the plan is already set to motion. The conference ended without questions.

Vrijemena Tanayi will continue covering the events.
Aleksei A. Beloborodov

[Volga-Dnieper]

02.11.2020

Local Recruitment In Irpan

Today, the head of the administration and logistics of the Irpan Expeditionary Army, Tsvetan Kulev (K-13), has addressed Irpanese nations via a communique sent to all local newspapers and featured in several news segments. In it, comrade Kulev addressed the problem of unemployment of a particular kind.

After the Irpanese armies were reorganized into a united Irpanese Defense Force, many soldiers found themselves unemployed and without means for a living. The Military Council of IEA, renamed Irpan Command (IRPANCOM), has observed the rise of banditry in the area, primarily from unemployed soldiers. Recognizing the potential of these soldiers to turn into a major obstacle in the rebuilding process, the Council has decided to tear out the root of the problem.

Comrade Kulev announced the grand recruitment of all Irpanese soldiers left unemployed for reconstruction and defense of their country. "All will be accepted, none will be left behind", komkor stated. The soldiers will be employed in militarized workforce while receiving additional training to bring them up to the standards of Tanayan People's Revolutionary Army or qualifications needed for their successful peace-time employment.

The program is estimated to cost 500 million leva. When approached by journalists in doubt of whether there is any ulterior motive to the program, comrade komkor rebuked their allegations and confirmed its entirely peaceful purpose. "We have no intention of ramping up our numbers with Irpanese soldiers." ─ Kulev stated.

Vrijemena Tanayi will continue covering the events.
Aleksei A. Beloborodov

[Irpan]

Irpan Herald
End of brotherhood's reign of terror?
20/12/2020

Good news from the north west today as members of Special forces group alpha descended the peaks of snowdanida valley. Having launched attacks across Irpan two weeks ago the brotherhood of sacred flame was pushed back and its final bases discovered in the caves of snowdanida valley. The new IDF swept into the valley with textbook precision and shock and awe tactical genius killing hundreds of brotherhood fighters in the opening three days.

Whilst regular IDF troops swept the valley floor special forces took the task of attacking the caves and tunnel networks the brotherhood had turned into a massive fortified base of operations under the peak of irparki mountain, second tallest mountain in Irpan after the White Mountain. The fighting lasted a week before reports of the capture of Jericho filtered down the line.

All of Irpan has rejoiced at this news and footage has leaked of Jericho being loaded onto a helicopter inbound for the infamous island prison of Dori where he is to be imprisoned without trial and placed into solitary for the first two years of his time there. Whilst some have called this cruel they are in minority as the majority of Irpanese have agreed with the government call of harsh imprisonment for Jericho inline with former imperial punishments for regicide.

[Irpan]

Irpan Herald
Rise of Militant groups in Western Irpan
17/1/2021

The rise in heavily armed militias in Western Irpan is causing alarm for the new IDF command. Whilst most groups maintain a life style similar to that of bandits from centuries past, establishing illegal checkpoints and robbing innocent people. Some are beginning to organise behind the leadership of several hard line leaders who could threaten the fragile peace established in the wake of the Brotherhoods defeat and the capture of Jericho just before Christmas last year. The numbers of these militants varies from report to report from IDF high command, but it is a well established fact that the majority of the militias are made up of men and women who served in the Irpan Imperial Army or the Irpan Socialist Peoples Army during the civil war and were disbanded in regards to the peace treaty. The fact their weapons were not removed from them shows the haphazard nature of the disarmament of both sides of the war.

The Coalition government has given a statement reassuring the public of Irpan that these Militant groups are not be feared and that once "mopping up" has been completed in former Brotherhood controlled areas the troops will move to combat the militant groups. This is however too late for the residents of the Aserai valley who find themselves under the control of an estimated 100,000 strong militia led by the former Colonel Jonathan Radiec.

Radiec now goes by the rank of General in his militia group according to reports from the valleys terrified civilians who he has claimed dominion over. Radiec has issued a statement claiming he intends to not just control a single valley but the whole of Irpan. He has links to the newly formed Militarist Party, that has taken up residence with 25 seats in the new government after last weeks party elections. This is followed by 75 to the Socialist Party, 60 to the Liberal Party and 76 to the Democratic party. With the uncertanity in Government the referendum on a leading party has been cancelled and a continued multi party, multi headed government has been proposed for Irpan and goes to the vote next week on the 21.

[Irpan]

Irpan Herald
Military operations into the Aserai Valley begin
19/1/2021

Following the successful clearance of Brotherhood resistance in several parts of the country the 22nd Airmobile division, about 10,000 elite soldiers, have been deployed to the Aserai valley. These troops are to have the sole purpose of restoring government control to the Aserai valley and to seek a kill or capture order on Colonel Jonathan Radiec, known as General Radiec by the militants who follow him. The objective is to destroy the militants who have occupied the valley in their entirety whilst reports are filtering in of surrenders the overall atmosphere in the 22nd's command is that the 100,000 militants seek to put up a fight in the valley.

Colonel Radiec continues to promise an national insurgency which will seek the elimination of the Coalition Government and the establishment of a new regime with its power "drawn from the strong". Whilst many of the poorer peoples of Irpan feel a strong regime is needed after the death of Emperor Nigel Jonathan last year, the overall feeling in the capital is that the Coalition is performing admirably to run Irpan in the months following the Civil War and their capture of Jericho is just a feature of this strength. But in other parts of the country the desire to see a new Emperor in charge of Irpan is strong and many pro-monarchy movements are rising in Western and Southern Irpan where the Monarchy once had it support base and many previous Emperors have been born. Head of the Liberal Party, JJ Francis gave a statement today on this topic:

"The desire of people to see the restoration of the monarchy is good and the desire to rebuild after so much has been lost is fantastic. But we must remember what the monarchy brought us. It brought us the Brotherhood of Sacred Flame from its religious restrictions and also the genocide of Irpanese people who were just found to be on the wrong side of the political spectrum at the time of unfortunate events. Whilst I admire those who want to rebuild Irpan as it was, we must look to the future and the future is not the Empire of Irpan, but the Republic. Our Coalition will build a new nation for all Irpanese and see our nation become stronger than ever."

Troops begin combat operations in the Aserai valley soon.

Captain Jack Owens
22nd Airmobile Division, Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon
Outskirts of the village of Asei at the mouth of the Aserai valley
0830, 20/1/2021

Captain Jack Owens was a calm man normally. He had joined the Republican army in the civil war and rose quickly to the rank of Captain. His performance review after the subsequent withdrawal to the Capital from the Northern front had not shown him as a poor soldier and he had been offered re-enlistment into the IDF. The past few weeks had been spent riding helicopters into hot zones to get shot and to shoot back at Brotherhood cultists who refused to quit the fight. He had no qualm with killing Brotherhood they didn't see themselves as Irpanese and only wanted to cover the world in fire and purge those who didn't follow their line of belief. But killing Irpanese citizens and former soldiers seemed wrong to him somehow. Owens lifted himself to a sitting position on his bunk as Lieutenant Salter entered the room and he knew the annoyance he was feeling already was only going to get worse. "Report." He snapped. Salter stopped and placed a folder on Owens desk before plugging a memory stick and turning the radio on. There was silence for a moment then the sound of voices began to come through:
"Loud and clear, Charlie 1-1, how's that clearance going?"
"Charlie 1-0 this is Charlie 1-1, clearance going well, we've cleared- CONTACT!" Salter turned the radio off and he sat down in the chair by the desk. He lifted the folder from the desk and flicked through it before arriving on the page he needed. "Captain we have reports of sixteen ongoing contacts at the moment. Clearance of Asei was going well we had reached the village square and then all hell has broken loose. Troops are trapped in the village and all routes in or out are now barricaded and blocked by militia. Alpha Company is being prepped for air assault to the north of the village to cut off militia escape whilst armour and Bravo and Delta company are prepping to attack the village from the south. Gonna be a helluva of morning Captain." Salter looked up from the folder at Captain Owens who was slightly stunned by the events. The militia were former military yes, but this sort of tactic was unexpected from men who had descended to banditry, even if their leader was a former colonel. "Grab my body armour and pass it over will you Lieutenant?" Salter nodded and passed Owens his body armour and soon left to get the rest of Alpha Company ready for the mission.

20 minutes later and Owens was on board a UH-89 and flying low over the Aserai Valley. They had flown north-east then snapped West over the mountains and into the northern part of the valley. Intelligence had reported no AAA threat and so far the intel had been correct as the UH-89s flew through the valley their cargo of AIrmobile soldiers clinging on in the back for dear life. As they neared the northern side of Asei the preverbal hit the fan as gunfire roared from the nearby hillsides. Choppers exploded as RPGs fired from the ground hit them and smoke trails were everywhere. Only 80 of 140 men got to the ground and disembarked, but even that wasn't safe. "CONTACT!" The landing zone was exposed the only cover was six two storey houses dotted around the site. As more and more troopers were unloaded into the landing zone it turned from a landing zone to a killing zone. Bodies dropped ,the wounded screamed for their mothers and pain relief. But slowly ground was gained. The remaining 40 combat effective troops cleared the LZ and secured the buildings establishing a perimeter and moving the wounded and dead into the basements of four of the six houses M249 SAWs were pointed in all directions and M4s, recently acquired as the new weapon of the IDF, tracked anything that moved outside.

"Sir, command says LZ is too hot for medevac." The radio operator was leant against the stone wall of the sixth houses basement, the sixth house being the south eastern part of the circle of houses. He was sweating, had a cut where a bullet had grazed his chin and was shaking slightly. "Fuck!" Captain Owens swore throwing the mug he had acquired from the kitchen so it shattered against the wall nearby, his tea slowly running down the wall in the aftershocks. "Salter!" Owens yelled.
"Yes sir?" Salter was remarkably calm for a man who had shrapnel buried in his Kevlar which laid abandoned outside.
"What are our chances to hold this position until relieved and for those wounded soldiers to all survive?" Owens looked at Salter who began to think. Salter was a remarkable second in command, he had commanded third platoon for two years as a Second Lieutenant then when he got promoted to First Owens took him as his second in command, even though Owens had only known him six months at that point. A career officer he had no issue with not being promoted to replace the previous Captain when he got slotted during the Civil War and carried on following orders to the letter. "I would say 50/50 sir of us holding but only 20% of all the wounded surviving till relieved. Corporal Schmitt? Radio command and check on progress of the attack on Asei."
"And tell the commanders still alive in the company to dig in. This is going to be a long day."