Prut military base “Fernlände Seeschwein”, Sadain__ Now when it came to Sadain, the Prut presence on the island was already a fact of life for enough generations and decades that they were hardly even regarded as foreigners. And while once upon a time in the distant past the base
was an important airbase and military refueling port, it had been practically abandoned and barely utilised for quite some time—new technologies, geostrategic shifts, and other bases simply made it obsolete. Yes, occasionally a submarine might dock now and then, mostly as a courtesy to the site staff and to patronise the local businesses, and ostensibly to resupply on fresh produce, there was little practical need for this. Why would there be any, when the new submarines could spend months submerged and circumnavigate the globe while still communicating with their handlers and coordinating and being coordinated from the other side of the world. Oh, the radar station? It’s weather station now. First downgraded, then replaced, then repurposed. And it’s not even a fancy one; the same satellites and orbital systems that replaced the radar station are also weather monitoring satellites too. The airfield? That’s a Prut military airfield in name only. For several years now the only traffic that thing saw were various tourists. And barely even them since a proper international airport was opened some time ago. Now it’s basically a regional airport at best. Far more hobby-fliers, crop dusters, and air taxi-pilots made their licenses and clocked their flight hours here than any military pilot. The staff was 3000 in numbers during its heyday. Ah, those halcyon times. The last time it was still properly operating as a somewhat serious military installation they were around 300. Now there’s about 120 staff and maybe as many dependents in the auxiliary buildings. In fact, most of the facilities and much of the land have been returned to the Sadain authorities over the years, to free up land for development and reduce the administrative burden and leasing costs for the PM.
For all intents and purposes Fernlände Seeschwein was a barangay with an unelected sangguniang and a rather literal barangay captain.
Or at least it was fated to become such when the lease would expire and the treaty would have to renewed, or far more likely when a new treaty would finalise its abolishment. And why not? It already sported a fancy ‘native’ restaurant, Munkes—best beer and grilled sausages on the island!—and the local bakery-patisserie, Steenoven Solveegs, was already enjoyed island-wide renown and popularity. The Dancing Dugongs, Fernlände Seeschwein’s local association football team was also at the top of the charts in the local league. At least they got some use of their summer uniforms that way.
In short, until this very morning there was no point to the continual existence of Fernlände Seeschwein as a military outpost.
Fernlände Seeschwein, Comms“Yes!
Yes! It’s confirmed, three separate sources. It’s Jugwon Khai. It’s Khai forces!”
“Herbert, are you sure about that? Do those guys even have a navy?”
“Commander, I’m as surprised as you are. They literally disembarked thousands of troops this morning, apparently just randomly sailing from their island overnight. It’s… well, it was definitely unexpected…”
“What?
What?! That’s like two dozen LPDs. Plus escorts. Plus capital ships. Literally impossible…”
“Commander, I’m sure we can analyse how they did it
after we figure out what to do next.”
“Do next? I’ve already informed HQ. And I’ve just updated them on the Khai situation. Other then that? Stand down I guess… Unless the Sadain’s Civil Guard can hold its ground.”
“Sporadic fighting in Jawang and Swabon, mostly civil resistence. The Guard’s collapsed already.”
“The capital’s still in Sadain hands?”
“Yes.”
“What about the task force from the west?”
“Still closing in. Should we intercept?”
“With what?”
“Well… we have our helicopter…”
“Our
one helicopter. The one that’s disarmed and has almost exclusively been used for search and rescue missions in the past ten years? That one?”
“And one firefighting mission!”
“Oh yes, I’m sure we can hose them off the island.”
“It’s… it’s a big helicopter.”
“Herbert, I’m leaving you in charge of the base. Everyone’s in uniform and armed with what they could find. Defend the base if they shoot first, otherwise parley and if necessary surrender.”
“Comander!”
“I know. We’re overwhelmed. No point dying right now to… what? Prove a point? If bullets start flying, we’ll have to shoot back. If they can be reasoned with, I’d rather you stay alive. Stall them if you can’t think of anything better.” She stroke her chin and rapped her fingers over the console. “There should be functional anti-tank weapons in the arsenal. Maybe a few MANPADS. In case you have to scare them off. If they start shooting, shoot back, retreat toward Morei.”
“Will do.”
“Organised, fighting retreat. Keep to the hills and the woods.”
“Yes, commander!”
“Only if they start shooting!”
“… yes, commander.”
Commander Reinhild Olaugsdochter picked a fire team of five and boarded the helicopter. Within a minute they were airborne, flying fast and low toward Morei and contacting the Sadain authorities to coordinate jointly the nation’s defences and what option the Sadainese would want to pursue.
HQ of the Pruwam, realm of Neo Prutenia, Prut Meritocracy“Sadain?”
“Under attack from Jugwon Khai.”
“Obscurum per obscurius.”
“The peaceful, somewhat isolated, and generally strategically of lesser importance island nation of Sadain, with which the Prut Meritocracy has a treaty of protection signed several decades back has suddenly without provocation or declaration of war been invaded by another somewhat isolated and rather obviously not
peaceful island nation called Jugwon Khai.”
“…”
“And ally has been attacked and we…”
“No, no, I understood it. The second time.” Allgemeinlaid Hochenheimer stood up from his chair, looked through his window, and observed the horizon and what was going on outside. “It’s not even in this direction, west I mean.” He pointed at an unremarkable cloud far away.
“Sadain’s north. North of the equator. Both islands are boreal.”
“Question is, do they know that they have attacked the Prut Meritocracy?”
“You’re hoping this is all a mistake.”
“Oh, phrased as a statement?”
“Rhetorical question.”
Both men laughed. Lauterbach, who would be the closest Prut analogue to the minister of war, shook his head and glanced at his colleague. Hohenheimer meanwhile went back to his desk and started typing a few messages and instructions. Out of courtesy Lauterbach waited a few minutes, then spoke first:
“What exactly do you want
me to do? If we’re mobilizing, I need a written order.”
“You are our guy for war. Advise me.”
“I advise we use currently available assets or assets that can be utilised sooner rather than later, e.g. the Boreal submarines, whatever naval task force is most convenient. Have them ready for the worst. Use the time to find out what’s going on. Failing that… we have a lot of cruise missiles.
A. lot.”
“Contact the Boreal submarine groups and whatever naval group is most convenient. Have them at standby. I’m letting Kramer handle try and handle this, before things escalate too much.”
“Understood.”
“We also have to see what the Sadain response will be.”
“True.”
Amtliche Botschaft der Prutischen Meritokratie
Official Communiqué of the Prut Meritocracy
Betreff / Subject:Current situation in Sadain
An / To:The representatives of the government of Jugwon Khai
The Office of prince regent Han Jae-un
Von / From:Hauptlaid Siegfried Kramer, the head of the Prut Ministry of Foreign Affairs
.Verschlüsselung / Encryption: CodedSalutations,
Herr Han Jae-un, other parties that may be concerned, it has come to our attention that forces of Jugwon Khai have violated the sovereignty of the nation of Sadain, a known protectorate of the Prut Meritocracy, and therefore triggered a war with the PM. Under treaty obligation the PM will be forced to respond to this violation. We are offering you the option of avoiding further fighting and save lives.
Cease your attack, order your troops to stand down, and retreat from Sadain.
We urge you to come to the negotiation table sooner rather than later, where cool heads will prevail. This is that moment. Now we enjoy the option, the privilege to resolve this and spare everyone the bloodshed. Whatever caused this attack, be it mistake or miscalculation, or any other reason, there's an easier and more efficient way to reach a mutually beneficial solution.
With all due respect to all involved parties, signed,
Hauptlaid Siegfried Kramer, chief of the Diplomatic Service of the Prut meritocracy