Republic of Kolechia
Kashgar
The capital city had once again awakened to the sunlight that would create another warm and pleasant summer day. The historic metropolis and its 1.6 million residents, began to bear witness to another day of life, in a country that was going through and entering new historic times. Kashgar had in recent decades, been the capital of a slowly progressing peaceful republic that was rather quiet internationally. The old quarter of the city, which dated back to the medieval times, aged a few miles distant in eye sight of its newer and less imperial city center. Still, the old mosques and more recently constructed churches were accessed by visitors.
The old quarter had claimed the title of the capital over many centuries, and during many conflicts, most of them against its rival in the city of Grestin to the east. Now its more modern areas, and current government began to find themselves in a very genuine conflict, with their neighbors in the Belhorizon colony of New Imperiosa, the latter being a first, the former having not happened in quite some time. There would naturally be questions if the Kolechian military was ready for a modern conflict? It had seen a massive overhaul in organization and equipment over just the last few years since President Safadi had taken office, that was certain. But in recent decades the military had made few foreign commitments, not that it necessarily needed to then. Wars have been fought for ages in Greater Dienstad, and were being fought just as this conflict began to loom on the continent of Bazh. That was the difference though, many of the wars fought and being fought were still rather far away, the effect of it being only so much.
Now they were faced with a foreign owned colony next door that was facing collapse from not only its own colonists, but also native rebels and pirates (the latter being based more along the coasts). Belhorizon, one of the last foreign nations to hold a colony in Greater Dienstad, was itself falling into chaos, and therefore unable to assist. Years of absolute rule by Emperor Tony Adaimi and his policies had finally caused a backlash by a large swath of people, though it wasn't entirely clear what the spark was. What was clear, even from the beginning to Kolechian observers, was his government's response, but what wasn't, was the peoples. Swift brutality and repression was finally answered back with revolt.
DGB Headquarters
Kashgar
It was a moment of irony that the DGB (or ДГБ-Department of State Security) which had a habit of keeping its eyes and ears open even very far from home, so that the nation could be amply warned or informed, wasn't entirely able to predict the situation right next door in the Belhorizon colony of New Imperiosa. Belhorizon and it's colony were both slow (sometimes failing) in answering diplomatic overtures, and for decades the two nations sat as neighbors, without fully fleshing out a diplomatic relationship. It had been agreed to by both at least, to keep things peaceful, and to recognize the borders as they were. People in lows numbers crossed the border, usually to only conduct minor trade. Anything more or else wasn't looked on well by the Imperiosan authorities, New Imperiosa was a resource colony, and it's existence was to serve Belhorizon.
With police having to commit increasingly more personnel to clamping down on unrest in the capital city, New CedresVille, and the colonial military increasingly being confronted by rebels, whom they were also being slowly outnumbered by, what was certain was that soon the colony would be more and more isolated. It's government and military would begin to collapse. The military could and probably would, inflict very heavy casualties on the rebels but with no reinforcements coming, an angry citizenry, and only so many supplies, their fall would ensure the fall of the government and what little services the people were given, leading to a failed state that would be the next home of whatever warlord took over.
Unofficially (though classified) the Kolechian government did not approve of how the colonials in New Imperiosa were living. There was a glaring gap between how the majority lived, and how the small colonial elite lived. Additionally, the colonial military and police were also repressive like their mainland counterparts. However, while all this was noted by the Kolechian government, nothing was done about it, it was after all, the domestic affairs of another nation. With the potential event that the government collapsed, many civilians could face harm, it also provided a direct threat to Kolechia, Wellovia (which is part of the PUF) on land, and an increased threat to shipping, from bases on the Southern island. After all, with New Imperiosa ruled by a single warlord, or carved up between several of them, it would probably be only a matter of time till they possibly looked further a field. There would be no doubt of this in regards to the rebels along the coast, they would now be free to conduct piracy in the waters of South Bazh, but with a colonial government gone, they would also probably begin moving further out, attacking ships where they rarely if ever had. All of this, was now unacceptable and something would be done about it.
Inside there was a hive of activity, as staff went about their daily work handling mundane information, such as basic services and details like names, dates, appointments. However, among them were an all together different army of individuals. They roamed the halls from early morning to late at night. In their minds contained the secret knowledge and memories of many operations, past and present. The usual talking of staff disguised the discussions and meetings happening in various rooms, the sound of which could at best be described as murmuring, if one was to walk the halls in the less busy hours.
Noise was absent however from the offices in the central part of the building, where the high ranking officials and on the ground personnel formed the DGB's policies and operations. In of these offices the latest operation was being planned. Inside, sitting behind a finely crafted wooden desk was Sherip Barsukov, the 51-year old was one of several espionage chiefs. The white painted wall behind him reached down to about shoulder or chest height and collided with a shining wood paneling that continued down and touched the tile floor. His dark combed hair was lightly interrupted by streaks of gray. His dark eyes looked down over his long straight pointed nose at file papers. He was clean shaven, his face hardened by both coming age and work experience already had. He wore a gray military style tunic, matching pants, with a white shirt and red tie underneath, that aside from the branch insignia on each side of his collar, and an epaulet on each shoulder was devoid of anything else, except for a single "Medal for Intelligence Service" which was awarded for both or either length of service and operational successes.
For personnel in the DGB and the role it served, awards often came in the form of promotions, raises, and citations in reports, etc. What made the Intelligence Service medal (or the service ribbon version) was that it was the only award (so far) that was distinctly related to them, was clearly visible, though that meant when worn it was usually done so in this setting, or perhaps in safe retirement, if at all.
Sitting across from him was one of his reliable subordinates, Vakha Sultygov, a 32-year old agent who recently returned from a rather cordial mission to establish Kolechian interests in Pax Gothica, in Gholgoth. He had dark black hair combed back, blue eyes, a sharp nose, clean shaven, and a fair complexion. Compared to his superior he wore a gray suit, the DGB was one of the few places in the government that could be described as "military-esque", a place where military style uniforms mixed with suits and ties, which for those in Kolechia's intelligence, was a uniform.
"Well, that's about all I have for you Vakha, this is probably the worst situation we've had on our border since those gangs started trying to run drugs across." His head lowered slightly, Vakha paused for a mere second, processing the idea of such a chaotic threat next door. Sherip spoke up again, "Since we have taken note of the situation becoming more serious and desperate, we have sent a series of messages to the colonial government in New CedresVille, to the point of annoyance, to discuss the situation."
Vakha raised his head slightly, curiously asking "What was their reply?" Sherip briefly glanced down at the papers on his desk and then looked back to Vakha. "They were stubborn and dismissive at first. They told us everything was fine, we pressed them though and requested a meeting with Governor Orwell, they finally agreed. So, we'd like to send a representative to them, that being you. Once there, we need you to show them the reality of what's facing them and force an agreement on them. You won't be alone I should mention, you'll have support. We've had high level discussions with the Wellovians, part of Mokan PUF, they have similar concerns and will be sending some people over their own. I assume they'll also make some demands, but that's between them and these Imperiosans. Keep an eye out for them when you arrive, but rest assured they'll be doing the same for you." Sherip placed a folder on his desk and slid it towards Vakha, it contained other information about his assignment. "What exactly do I need them to agree to?" he asked, opening the folder and reading the documents inside.
Sherip stood up and began making his way to a regional map that hanged on his wall, pointing at it. "Vakha, for a long time now, our nation has been landlocked, and to a great degree restrained by that. It served us well in the days of barbarians, but in a more modern age of international trade and military conflict it hampers us." He turned towards Vakha who was still seated and approached his desk. "What we need Governor Orwell to understand, perfectly and exactly, is that we are willing to support his position. We'll support his government with firepower, supplies, what have you. We imagine that he may also harbor some ideas of propping himself up to be free of Belhorizon, we're willing to entertain such notions and support this move. But in return for pushing back the rebels and pirates, saving him from downfall, recognizing him as being legitimate, we expect some things in return.
The first is we would like to build a large port somewhere on the coast. It would be some distance from local settlements. It would give us access to the ocean, and finally give our merchant fleet its own base it can operate from instead of foreign ports and their regulations. It would also contain a small military base, mainly in order for us to defend it, and occasionally operate from in order to help fight insurgents. Lastly, part of defeating the rebels, stopping the riots in the capital, and receiving our continued support, he'll need to improve conditions in his little new country. However he does it we don't care, but as long as the peoples life improves we'll stay out of his affairs and prop him up."
It was simple and clear to Vakha now, there was a distinct economic opportunity here, and to a lesser extant, military and humanitarian opportunities. "What if he refuses sir?" Sherip raised his head backwards somewhat, and spoke at a lower tone. "Then make it clear he'll eventually fall. We're not going to have a bunch of ragtag insurgents next door harassing us. We'll unload firepower on them they've never seen, it'll be an avalanche. His little army and those 3 destroyers sitting in the water are nicely equipped, but they wont last him forever, and if they want to fight us as well we'll do the same, we'll throw everything we have at them and nobody from Belhorizon will come to help him."
Vakha merely locked eyes with his superior and nodded his head, "Understood sir."
