Free Terran Escalation In The Philippine Sea (MT|PMT) Closed

[Free Terra]

November 4th, 2075
Free Terran Shipping Vessel Argosy (SV-19463), Between the Islands of Basilian and Jolo, Philippine Sea

It was a dim 4 AM local time when helmsman Lawrence Grozny was navigating these southeast Asian islands. Something he has been doing for 19 years almost to the month. Sure, this particular strait was one he hadn’t been through since before the GFRFT has been involved in local military disputes, but those were over and done. All he had to worry about was the trade union dispute that changed their course from the Malaccas to Formosa. Their product, in this case being copper wiring, could be adequately distributed abroad from there without worrying about the dockworker disputes in Indochina. Just another thing that this whole socialist regime pretended to care about, wasn’t his business that the local tariff rate went up for Free Terran goods recently, or that those strikes and union activities coincided with the local authority’s election cycle. Either way, he was distracted from this internal political debate when the ship’s onboard radio crackled to life.

“Larry, are we off the transit course?” The second mate, some greenhorn who’s name Larry forgot two days ago, asked aloud. “No, Sir. GPS and weather buoys are telling me we’re on course just fine, what’s going on?” The panic in the second mate’s voice was real as he could faintly hear a chirping siren. That siren became louder once the second mate’s voice came through, it sounded like he was next to a fire truck. “Wake the Captain up, there’s an old yacht with guns on it! They’re just off the port side stern! Oh god they’re-!” The gunfire followed by a dim sound like firecrackers from behind the bridge sent Larry into a panic. He immediately flipped the panic switches on and started the emergency siren. “All hands to emergency positions! All hands to emergency positions! We have boarders! We have boarders!”

At 9 AM Local Time, a video was sent to the Free Terran International Shipping Agency.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT AS FOLLOWS

The camera cold-opens to several bound and gagged civilian sailors, several with visible bruises.

"We, the Free People under the Reborn and Righteous Abu Sayyaf, have captured your imperialist godless crew."

A small cheer is heard from behind the camera, and several masked fighters are revealed behind the sailors.

"We demand a ransom of one hundred and fifty million credits to be paid in cryptocurrencies. We have a wallet attached to this video."

The bottom left corner of the video had a trio of 16-digit wallet codes for three different cryptocurrencies.

"We have already killed three of them. We will kill another every week that you ignore us. The cargo has been seized and their ship will serve to further our affairs.
We demand recognition of our sovereign Islamic Republic. Your ships travelling here will pay the ceremonial Jizya.
If you do not pay the ransom within the month we start the killing. These apostates cannot be allowed on holy ground, and your vile godless empire cannot be allowed in our waters."



"There is one God, and Muhammad is his prophet."

Public support, needless to say, was not difficult to acquire for the oncoming intervention. An emergency hearing was called of the senate and congress. A short majority only attained due to the expansion of the Isposito Conflict guaranteed mobilization. The 9th Fleet would depart from Guam within the week. The actual Navy would need to handle this, as this was technically an international deployment. The Coast Guard was unable to interfere.

November 29th, 2075
FTN Eureka (FTN NCGR-78), Expeditionary Flotilla of the Free Terran 9th Fleet, Transit Course Through Mindanao EEZ

The FTN Eureka, a state-of-the-art Cruiser fitted with a nuclear reactor, hypersonic missiles, VLS cruise missiles and a railgun, was very likely overkill. So were the three conventionally-powered destroyer escorts with similar capability, the five frigate pickets capable of drone launches and anti-submarine warfare, and the tanker for the conventionally fueled escort fleet. Considering the S.O.S.T.E.D. team in the VTOL craft were the actual payload, sent to go save the hostages, and that the Eureka's escorts would simply be monitoring civilian ships in the area of operations, Commodore Alfred Maxwell was bored. The Admiral of the 9th Fleet had sent his Flotilla to gauge the international reaction to Free Terran military hardware in the Philippines without putting carriers, nuclear submarines and railgun battleships in another country's territorial waters.

The VTOL Gunships all launched from the backs of the Eureka and her escort destroyers at once, flying directly to the Island of Jolo, and activating ECM pods to disrupt any primitive RADAR systems. The side doors all opened in unison over the hostiles to allow the power-armored troops to rappel down into the compound. The squads were quick and efficient, using their advanced optics equipment to find and neutralize hostiles as they swept through. Their presence was known very soon into their raid, and all haste was made to approach the warehouse the hostages were considered most likely to be house on satellite imagery. The S.O.S.T.E.D. strike team charged through the sheet metal siding of the warehouse with their tough power-armor causing a panic among the insurgents. Gunfire echoed loudly in the dark as the insurgents were felled one by one. The hostiles had done their dark work days before, if the color of the corpses was anything to go by.

Command was correct in their assumption about the capabilities of this militia, but the hostages were long dead before they had arrived. The warehouse itself was a mass grave. "Tactical, mission failed, OPFOR slew the civvies before we even arrived." The squad's joint terminal attack controller reported back to the Commodore. "Well that complicates things. Take as much photo and video evidence as possible while you boys are ahead of schedule. Wrap up there and then exfiltrate at the original rendezvous point, neutralize anyone in the way at your own discretion. Once you're out we'll level the compound and the gunships will perform hunter/killer missions around the island. Any ships or structures around Jolo that you boys designate for our drones will be dispatched with railgun fire."

[Free Terra]

December 7th, 2075
FTN Eureka (FTN NCGR-78), Expeditionary Flotilla of the Free Terran 9th Fleet, Trespassing In Minandao EEZ

"Are they still whining about the territorial rights?" Commodore Maxwell was tired of the constant posturing by the local government. "Tell them that any attempts to interfere with our policing action will be met with force. Any action that endangers this fleet or any of its affiliated elements is to be considered an act of war upon the Great Federal Republic of Free Terra." This was the third diplomatic protest to the peacekeeping effort that had come out of the Island Government. The 9th Fleet wouldn't even be here had the local government taken the insurgent risk seriously. The past week had been tracking down these radicals and pirates, and bombing or raiding their hideouts. The Argosy, the vessel that started this whole operation, had to be sunk because it had been converted into a mothership for skiffs. The paperwork that debacle generated just to get the FTISA its insurance money caused the Commodore's hand to cramp.

"Have we gotten the approval for the Barker to join us here in the 9th?" The XO asked for the ninth time today. "No word yet, can you at least wait until I'm leaving command of the Eureka before you start drooling over the command chair?" It was annoying. The FTN Jamal Barker, or FTN CVNGR-01 was a state-of-the art supercarrier named in honor of the former president. It had a full complement of aircraft, two short-range railguns for ballistic missile interception, and five hypersonic missile tubes. It was a massive upgrade from the Eureka's small VTOL deck and dedicated railgun barrage platform. Command of the Barker would also legitimize his upcoming promotion to the higher admiralty. Maxwell was chomping at the bit for that prestigious command.

The tactical officer chimed in to break the daydreaming.

"Vessel transiting from the west, coming into our area of operation. Minandao Regional Coastguard haven't mobilized or hailed yet." Just one? Surely this past week of causing hell for the IUN diplomats in Asia wouldn't be ended or complicated with one vessel. "Unidentified vessel bearing southeast, twenty-seven nautical miles South-Southwest of Negros. You're approaching the Great Federal Republic of Free Terra's 9th Fleet, operating under executive order of the Department of Defense of Free Terra to police these waters. Please submit your Ship Identification, Crew Manifest, Business Paperwork, and Transit Path. Failure to comply will result in your vessel being subject to forceful actions, including but not limited to, communications interference, boarding, or bombardment. You have fifteen minutes to respond."

[Free Terra]

December 7th, 2075
FTN Eureka (FTN NCGR-78), Expeditionary Flotilla of the Free Terran 9th Fleet, Trespassing In Minandao EEZ

"Unidentified vessel bearing southeast, twenty-six nautical miles South-Southwest of Negros. You're now trespassing in the Defense Zone of the Great Federal Republic of Free Terra's 9th Fleet. Turn off your engines and prepare for boarding parties. Any hostile action will be met with lethal force. Submit to this security sweep now or be destroyed.”

The away team suited up in their powered armor and boarded their VTOL craft. The aircraft took off with a thump and the squads looked from the open side door to see two other craft, likely with their own compliments of marines aboard to quicken the process of sweeping this cargo freighter. The crew seemed to be in a panic when they saw the three aircraft approaching. Some men scurried quickly into the hill of the ship, one man walked onto the deck and waved the marines down as they rappelled.

He spoke mandarin, the heads up display translating. As he began yelling at them about their pass being fine for the Minandao EEZ, the Sergeant explained that they were warned several times about the policing action in this sea zone.
“<You spiteful Americans come here to hurt us and we have nothing. We’re trying to make a delivery to Papua and you get in the way with your guns and your armor! We’re decent people, now get off our ship and leave us be!>”
The suit was only good for conversational mandarin, but the Sergeant responded as best he could.
“<If you aren’t bringing weapons or contraband close to our fleet, then you have nothing to fear. You were told to stay away and you didn’t care enough then. Care enough now and we won’t need to be violent. You know nothing good comes from trying to fight. Next time listen to the radio and stay out of our way! Now get back and keep your hands out in the open.>”

He motioned for his squadmates to begin clearing the ship as two stayed behind. The VTOL gunships stayed around in an orbit path, door gunners ready in case something went wrong.

Eventually something did, a container not rated for it was venting a lot of carbon dioxide. The Marines in their powered armor grabbed and wrenched the lock off of its chains, seeing several naked children packed like sardines. “Sergeant, we’ve got a human trafficking ring here. Don’t let anyone leave. We’re detaining these two pieces of shit here and we’re gonna make sure the kids here are safe. Advise rounding up the rest of the crew and lining them up on the deck.”

As the call went out, Maxwell scrunched his face up in disgust. “Call our contacts in the IUN Refugee Relief program. We don’t have the food to keep them much more than a few weeks.” More paperwork was in store for the Commodore, it seems. The crew was incarcerated and any known fugitives were sent to their home countries, those without a paper trail were deported on a separate craft back to Free Terran controlled Guam, to serve sentences of public service for the foreseeable future.

Two more containers were discovered to have people, several the victims of human trafficking, presumably sex trafficking. Some were more likely indentured servants, determined by the fact that all had unmarked work jumpsuits on and false work visas for the local government in Papua. This kind of documentation would justify a massive intervention, but unfortunately for Maxwell, he had to wait at this damnable trade route to keep peace as the IUN understood it.

[Free Terra]

December 12th, 2075
FTN Eureka (FTN NCGR-78), Expeditionary Flotilla of the Free Terran 9th Fleet, Trespassing In Minandao EEZ

Maxwell read out the intelligence report with a grim expression. “Well, looks like we’re getting the Barker after all.” He said aloud to nobody. “All Fleet Command Officers and Executive Officers, switch to Secure Channel 03 and prepare for briefing.” Not a word was spoken as Maxwell led his XO to the situation room, screens showing others already joining the secure channel.

“As of today at 6AM local time, S.O.S.T.E.D. has determined that the Filipino governments south of Luzon have organized against us, we estimate their fleets and air forces to muster and assault by the new year. They’ll be using old SLAMMR and Exocets to score hits primarily. The Barker and it’s escort fleet will join the 9th under my command. I have been promoted to Rear Admiral, and will be moving to the Carrier as flagship following this. Marines will be dispatched from Guam and Midway, Intel reports Luzon will declare for us and act as our closest port of call outside of Micronesia. We’ll be moving to Luzon after another week has passed, in order to let the refugee relief ship leave the expected battle space, but we will not be cowed. We’re to take an aggressive path through the straits and consequently several soon to be hostile territorial waters. We are to collect intel with drones and monitor all communications. Any attempts to stop us will be met with force. This concludes the briefing, act as though situation is normal until our movement.”

December 22nd, 2075
FTN Eureka (FTN NCGR-78), Expeditionary Flotilla of the Free Terran 9th Fleet, Trespassing In Filipino Waters

“Jamal Barker reports successfully docking at Manila, they’re waiting for us there” A breath that Maxwell didn’t know he was holding escaped his lips. “Thank god. We still have a week to go before we’re safe, those subs and frigates trailing us make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Any word on radar for new contacts or is it still just a few choppers and the same two fixed wing squadrons as last time?” The locals had visible anti ship missiles on their attack craft, a clear sign the fleet was not welcome.

“C/FA-27s are in the air, flying low and fast to avoid detection by hostiles. They’ll be in engagement range soon. Shall we broadcast warning to the aircraft about the fleet’s CAP-Line?” Tactical situation suddenly turned in the Free Terran favor. “Tell them to wave off at least 150 nautical miles from the fleet or they get shot down. If I don’t see those radar and sonar blips moving away in the next twenty minutes fire warning shots with the railguns.”

To all nearby aircraft and seafaring vessels, this is a warning, should the 150 mile Combat Air Patrol radius of the 9th Expeditionary Fleet of Free Terra not be respected within the next twenty minutes, you will be fired upon. Begin your egress immediately. Repeat, immediately move to a distance of 150 miles from our fleet or be destroyed.

After the time passed, no motions were made to flee the area. Shots rang out as the Exocets were launched. Hypersonic missiles were fired to neutralize launchers inland and the Phoenix fighters engaged the orbiting aircraft from below, having snuck upon them with their minuscule radar cross section. The trailing surface craft were struck by railgun rounds and the submarines forced to disengage due to destroyer and submarine launched smart torpedoes.

Following this, Free Terra had War declared upon it by the Several Nations of the Philippines.

[Malaya-Nusantara]

"Better to prepare the umbrella before it rains."
- Raden Tanung, the Malaya-Nusanturan Minister of Defense, in an emergency session of the National Security Council

TO: the Government of Free Terra
FROM: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
ENCRYPTION: Standard

---

Assalamu Alaikum,

That means 'Peace be upon you', and is the standard greeting we use here in Malaya-Nusantara. Yet the otherwise peaceful and tranquil archipelago which we call home has been disturbed by your recent aggressive actions against our neighbour, the Phillipines, initially as a response to a simple hostage situation perpetrated by religious extremists. Instead of cooperating with Filipino authorities to deal with the crisis and the insurgency, you have chosen to blatantly violate international law by sailing warships through the territorial waters of a sovereign nation and subsequently performing airstrikes upon their territory.

The Federation is gravely concerned about these events, and would like to see this matter resolved through cooperation in a civil, diplomatic manner, which prevents any further uneccessary bloodshed. We offer to act as a mediator between the two parties, the Phillipines and Free Terra, and only asks of you to cease your military operations in the Phillipines.

KD Gajah Mada, Komando Armada Utara, North of Borneo

December 2075 | 16:42 PM (MYT)

---

"Typical American matsallehs; always barging into other people's lands and bombing it to smithereens," complained ensign Ibrahim, "when will they finally be teached a lesson for their arrogance?"

This sentiment was shared with the rest of the crew aboard the Invincible-class submarine KD Gajah Meda, which was part of the larger Komando Armada Utara. In response to the disturbing actions of 'Free Terra' in Southeast Asia, the armed forces' readiness condition was raised to level 3 and the navy mobilised. Although the government in Putrajaya hoped for a peaceful resolution of this crisis, preparing for the worst was the most sensible thing to do. In highly-encrypted communications to the Malaya-Nusantaran foreign ministry, their Phillipine counterparts requested help in the war against 'the imperialists' and suggested to carry out coordinated joint-strikes on the enemy's 9th Fleet. Mohammed Norhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, responded that the Federation is willing to come to their neighbour and traditional ally's help, only if peaceful negotiations fail and Free Terra chooses to continue its aggressive conduct that violate international law.

Under the blue lights of the CIC, the Captain of the Gajah Mada responded: "Let not our emotions get in the way of our duty, nor should we underestimate them; Saddam paid the price for that lesson. I expect all of you to carry out your posts with professionality. For now, we shall wait for further orders from the Admiral."

[Free Terra]

"Better to prepare the umbrella before it rains."
- Raden Tanung, the Malaya-Nusanturan Minister of Defense, in an emergency session of the National Security Council

TO: the Government of Free Terra
FROM: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
ENCRYPTION: Standard

---

Assalamu Alaikum,

That means 'Peace be upon you', and is the standard greeting we use here in Malaya-Nusantara. Yet the otherwise peaceful and tranquil archipelago which we call home has been disturbed by your recent aggressive actions against our neighbour, the Phillipines, initially as a response to a simple hostage situation perpetrated by religious extremists. Instead of cooperating with Filipino authorities to deal with the crisis and the insurgency, you have chosen to blatantly violate international law by sailing warships through the territorial waters of a sovereign nation and subsequently performing airstrikes upon their territory.

The Federation is gravely concerned about these events, and would like to see this matter resolved through cooperation in a civil, diplomatic manner, which prevents any further uneccessary bloodshed. We offer to act as a mediator between the two parties, the Phillipines and Free Terra, and only asks of you to cease your military operations in the Phillipines.

KD Gajah Mada, Komando Armada Utara, North of Borneo

(Image)

December 2075 | 16:42 PM (MYT)

---

"Typical American matsallehs; always barging into other people's lands and bombing it to smithereens," complained ensign Ibrahim, "when will they finally be teached a lesson for their arrogance?"

This sentiment was shared with the rest of the crew aboard the Invincible-class submarine KD Gajah Meda, which was part of the larger Komando Armada Utara. In response to the disturbing actions of 'Free Terra' in Southeast Asia, the armed forces' readiness condition was raised to level 3 and the navy mobilised. Although the government in Putrajaya hoped for a peaceful resolution of this crisis, preparing for the worst was the most sensible thing to do. In highly-encrypted communications to the Malaya-Nusantaran foreign ministry, their Phillipine counterparts requested help in the war against 'the imperialists' and suggested to carry out coordinated joint-strikes on the enemy's 9th Fleet. Mohammed Norhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, responded that the Federation is willing to come to their neighbour and traditional ally's help, only if peaceful negotiations fail and Free Terra chooses to continue its aggressive conduct that violate international law.

Under the blue lights of the CIC, the Captain of the Gajah Mada responded: "Let not our emotions get in the way of our duty, nor should we underestimate them; Saddam paid the price for that lesson. I expect all of you to carry out your posts with professionality. For now, we shall wait for further orders from the Admiral."

To: The Federation of Malaya-Nusantara, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
From: The Great Federal Republic of Free Terra, Department of Foreign Affairs

Wa ʿalaykumā s-salām^u,

We have beseeched the international community before in matters regarding the safety of travel in this proud region of the world. The governments in charge of Luzon and Samar have been diligent, but despite outcry, Minandao and its maritime patrol area of Jolo became a nest of piracy, allowing for the resurgence of, followed by a time denying to act against, Abu Sayyaf in the region.

We mobilized to fight against this evil and retrieve the innocents taken. I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures. We were too late, and while the governments of the southern Philippines sat on their hands, we acted to police the region. We’ve already interdicted a human trafficking vessel that had abducted nearly eighty malnourished innocent people being smuggled with no response to the presence of the vessel by local authorities. We have done good in this region, and though we admit to trespassing the Exclusive Economic Zones of the Southern Philippines, we never until their threat displays, provoked them.

The 9th Fleet had given instructions not to hinder our travel, and following this, to leave the combat air patrol line of our fleet in lawful, expedient transit to the friendly port of Manila. The instructions were not obeyed and as such the fleet, as per policy, assumed hostile posture due to the presence of several Exocet anti-ship missile launchers and combat ready aircraft. As we have been transparent with in the past, Rear Admiral Alfred Maxwell responded as expected, and neutralized the potential threat to the 9th Fleet.

We will not apologize. We will not be brow-beaten. We will only consider the southern Philippines as safe for our citizens and the international shipping community once these waters are regularly patrolled by a power which will not cower in fear and surrender an island to a terrorist organization at the first sign of hostile action.

You speak very proudly, representing your state as the elder brother to a troubled Philippines, act now then as the elder brother, and provide proof that this mistake will not be repeated. We have given Minandao and Cebu several opportunities to better the local security of the region. Instead we received threatening messages and the rattling of sabers. We will gladly move to negotiation, as a measure of good will. But a long term solution to the region’s security must be reached. We cannot reasonably expect to entrust security of the region to the Philippines alone.

~Secretary of State Joachim Marx, GFRFT

December 27th, 2075
FTN Jamal Barker (FTN CVNGR-01) the Free Terran 9th Fleet, Port of Manila

Rear Admiral Maxwell got the carrier he wanted, but it unfortunately came at the cost of a potential war in the ring of fire. The Indo-Malayan government had enough trade pressure for the state department to talk to the department of defense about cooling the escalation, despite the fact that no Free Terran domestic importers pass through the Straits of Malacca, the export loss and impact on IUN supply chains would be too great.

“Three destroyers damaged and a frigate that needs to be repaired before it can even get a tow to Guam, forty wounded and nine dead sailors, not to mention the hundreds of civvies Abu Sayyaf left rotting before we showed up, and now we get in trouble because of two hundred enemy casualties and fifty three ships, aircraft and missile launchers, all of which were aimed at us, being destroyed. I’m glad they’re not going to court martial me but it’s ludicrous that we’re the ones having to apologize for the incompetence of others.”

He fumed, pacing in his new captain’s quarters. “If Malaysia-Nusantara gets involved, we could keep Luzon, maybe contain them around Fiji. We’ve already mobilized the seventh and eighth. The fourth can’t do anything besides keep them off of Diego Garcia. Offensive strikes so far away from a resupply point are impossible, can’t take the Malacca straits nor launch an amphibious strike by the western side of the islands. They essentially have a one front war thanks to the geography in Oceania, while we have three fronts thanks to our territorial spread.” The realization struck him like thunder.

“And we just got nuked in Mexico. So nobody back home is going to back an offensive operation to take the rest of the Philippines even if they shoot first. We already have a large investment of offensive resources and air-sea lift logistics invested in the Yucatán. We can’t fight here outside of defending ourselves. Fuck. If it was just the Filipinos we could restore Manila’s control over this archipelago, give them guns and money to keep control, tell them to police their own sea and go the fuck home. Now we have to negotiate with what could be the biggest nest of anti ship missile launchers and MANPADs in the world. We can’t fight them here. Shit we can’t fight them in ten years, not with the way the public thinks right now. Maybe if they tried taking Guam and the Polynesian administrative zones, but the Indo-Malayans aren’t nearly dumb enough to try.”

He had to get his uniform squared away, the Secretary of State would be flying to Manila soon to discuss with the Malaya-Nusantaran Foreign Ministry to try a diplomatic approach now that the pot boiled over. Knowing the situation, he would likely have to be seen in the secretary’s company during the talks. He’d need to bring a translator or translation device, unless the Secretary of State brought his own team.

Talks to begin January 2076 somewhere in Malaysia-Nusantara? Sound good?

[Laka Strolistandiler]

OOC: M-N, I really, REALLY like your formatting style, if it’d be allright with you I’ll borrow it, feel free to tell me if you’re against it though

"”Send a gunboat” is and will always be the answer, and whoever is saying otherwise is a defeatist!"
- Field Marshall Raik, deputy director of His Majesty’s Defense and Military Affairs committee, during Commoner Hall Session

TO: the Government of Free Terra
FROM: His Majesty’s Navy, Pacific Command
ENCRYPTION: Standard

---

Evening,

As much as we believe in the necessity of agressive response to global and regional terrorism threats as well as stand united with you in your stand against the shameful and evil actions of what we can only describe as modern pirates, we believe that such actions should not threaten the safety of international shipping, which is especially true for a region as important economy-wise as the South China Sea. As of now, neutral shipping passing through the region are forced to diverge from usual routes, and risk falling prey to accidental or purposeful attacks by either side. Accounting this, as well as other issues created by your aggressive actions, we have came to a conclusion that at this rate, the sheer economical losses from the conflict for us, our allies and trading partners are unacceptably high. Regretfully, we will be forced to deploy our naval assets into the region, defending our own and other neutral shipping. Neither the less, we are always open and ready for further negotiations regarding the issue.

HMS Kronstadt, Royal Navy 4th Pacific Fleet, 2nd Squadron, North of Borneo

December 2075 |

---

“Allright, you bloody fools, time to earn your paychecks!”- ship’s chief leading SMAJ was not below using “physical encouragement” go “better the fighting spirit”- unlike their Formosan allies, the Lakans were not below using conscripts in lower-ranking enlisted positions aboard the Royal Navy’ ships, and while the serving conditions aboard were acceptable, certain “career” enlisted believed it to be their “duty” to haze the newcomers.

Their, alongside with the rest of the 2nd Squadron’s (consisting of corvettes, a couple of destroyers, flag shipped by a cruiser and lot of sea control ships and other small craft) job was relatively usual- escorting the allied shipping, “neatly arranged” into a convoy stretching for dozens of kilometers and including, barring Lakan, Formosan and other Imperial freighters, tankers and container ships, vessels from several other nations were also present. This trading lane was certainly an important one- and if the King had to force several Royal Navy ships to “stretch their legs” a bit to keep it operational, these sacrifices had to be undertaken.

[Free Terra]

OOC: M-N, I really, REALLY like your formatting style, if it’d be allright with you I’ll borrow it, feel free to tell me if you’re against it though

"”Send a gunboat” is and will always be the answer, and whoever is saying otherwise is a defeatist!"
- Field Marshall Raik, deputy director of His Majesty’s Defense and Military Affairs committee, during Commoner Hall Session

TO: the Government of Free Terra
FROM: His Majesty’s Navy, Pacific Command
ENCRYPTION: Standard

---

Evening,

As much as we believe in the necessity of agressive response to global and regional terrorism threats as well as stand united with you in your stand against the shameful and evil actions of what we can only describe as modern pirates, we believe that such actions should not threaten the safety of international shipping, which is especially true for a region as important economy-wise as the South China Sea. As of now, neutral shipping passing through the region are forced to diverge from usual routes, and risk falling prey to accidental or purposeful attacks by either side. Accounting this, as well as other issues created by your aggressive actions, we have came to a conclusion that at this rate, the sheer economical losses from the conflict for us, our allies and trading partners are unacceptably high. Regretfully, we will be forced to deploy our naval assets into the region, defending our own and other neutral shipping. Neither the less, we are always open and ready for further negotiations regarding the issue.

HMS Kronstadt, Royal Navy 4th Pacific Fleet, 2nd Squadron, North of Borneo

December 2075 |

---

“Allright, you bloody fools, time to earn your paychecks!”- ship’s chief leading SMAJ was not below using “physical encouragement” go “better the fighting spirit”- unlike their Formosan allies, the Lakans were not below using conscripts in lower-ranking enlisted positions aboard the Royal Navy’ ships, and while the serving conditions aboard were acceptable, certain “career” enlisted believed it to be their “duty” to haze the newcomers.

Their, alongside with the rest of the 2nd Squadron’s (consisting of corvettes, a couple of destroyers, flag shipped by a cruiser and lot of sea control ships and other small craft) job was relatively usual- escorting the allied shipping, “neatly arranged” into a convoy stretching for dozens of kilometers and including, barring Lakan, Formosan and other Imperial freighters, tankers and container ships, vessels from several other nations were also present. This trading lane was certainly an important one- and if the King had to force several Royal Navy ships to “stretch their legs” a bit to keep it operational, these sacrifices had to be undertaken.

To: Laka Strolistandiler, Royal Navy Command, Pacific Region
From: Solomon Bright, Director for Special Operations Strategic and Tactical Enforcement Division, Department of Defense, Great Federal Republic of Free Terra
Encryption: High

Do as you will. I advise you to encroach upon our vessels in the region either with intent to cooperate with our operation, or at your own risk.

Do not interfere with our military activities.

Do not interfere with our trade.

Have a wonderful day.

-Sol

December 29th, 2075
FTN Jamal Barker (FTN CVNGR-01), Free Terran 9th Fleet, Port of Manila

“We have assurances that they’ll stay in the South China Sea?” The Secretary of State was nonplussed. “They’d be fools to try. We have a fully manned nuclear powered, railgun equipped, high capacity supercarrier with a 27 vessel compliment including the hypersonic missiles, additional railgun support from the yet again nuclear powered cruiser Eureka. If the Lakans want to approach the fleet with their own security force, they know they have no benefit from poking this hornet’s nest.” Admiral Maxwell had to assure him there’d be no security risk from the South China Sea or else the negotiations next week would be postponed. Something that could critically hinder the peace process and incite further violence.

Thankfully by now the railguns aboard the Barker and the Eureka were intercepting missiles from Cebu and Palawan. The Luzon Defensive Forces could save their return fire and interceptor missiles for now.

If the Lakans wanted to fight the Free Terran Navy, they’d have sent more ships. They were providing their own anti piracy service to their trade sphere, surely. Something the FTN was doing before the Filipinos lined up anti ship missile launchers and made a pact to launch an offensive together.

[Chia Dal]

3 Madrid Class CGNs leaves the Federation's naval base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and head east to observe the situation in the Philippines and report back to High Command on what they find. Each ship is armed with hypersonic cruise missiles loaded in VLS configuration, Sea Wolf and Sea Ceptor SAMs in a VLS Configuration and a forward mounted twin barreled 8 in guns. The name of the ships are the FNS Madrid, Paris and London and are set to arrive off the coast of the Philippines within a few days due to the 3 ships making a high speed run of 40 knots to the area.

[Malaya-Nusantara]

Terra: Yes, January is alright with me
Laka: Thanks! Feel free to use it.

"I am not amused by the idea of our front yard being crowded with foreign warships. Any more visitors, and it's
just a matter of time someone starts an incident."
- Dewan Rakyat MP during a parliament session

Wisma Putra, Putrajaya, Malaya-Nusantara

January 2nd 2076

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Secretary of State J. Marx was not wrong: the Malay and Filipino peoples did indeed share a relationship akin to that of brothers, so it came to no one's surprise that the public opinion in Malaya-Nusantara massively swayed in favour of denouncing the Free Terran acts in Southeast Asia. 'An obligation to stand up against the bullying', as one citizen put it in an interview. Support for initiating military action was meagre, however; they simply didn't want a war as of now. The government felt the same, but was confident in the Armed Forces'- and particularly the Navy's- capabilities to defend the archipelago in case the tensions broke and led to war.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Norhan, would meet the Free Terran delegation in the Wisma Putra (foreign ministry building) when they arrive. Hopefully, a long-term solution could be found to this crisis that would see the fruitful anti-piracy operations by the Phillipines and the Federation, and also the withdrawal of the Free Terran Expeditionary Fleet from Filipino territorial waters.

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, Komando Armada Utara, North of Borneo

December 30th 2075 | 22:56 PM (MYT)

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"THIS IS A DRILL, THIS IS A DRILL: GENERAL QUARTERS, GENERAL QUARTERS. ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS!"

Red lights covered the halls and the command bridge of the ship, while alarms blared aboard KD Turku Abdul Rahman. In light of recent events, Naval Command found it necessary for the fleet and its crews to keep them alert and prepared for possible combat scenarios. Thus, regular exercises were conducted by the Komando Armada Utara in the territorial waters. It had often been imagined that China-seeing as to their claims in the South China Sea and continued aggression in the region- would be the enemy threatening the Federation. So of course, great efforts to prepare themselves against the PLAN threat were made. That it would be a North American nation conducting the first strike in the region, came as a surprise to the Federation's leadership. At least the efforts were not in vain.

Highlights of the fleet’s armaments are the Oerlikon CIWS and the Turkish-designed, high explosive, sea-skimming ATMACA anti-ship missiles, equipped by the frigates such as the KD Sarawak and the KD Yogyakarta. Meanwhile, the Invincible- and Scorpene class subs possessed SM-39 Exocets and A3SM anti-air missiles. The BrahMos II hypersonic cruise missiles were some of the latest acquisitions by the navy that put a smile on Vice-Admiral Haalim Yasmuddin's face at the time.

Unfortunately, he was more worried about the recent arrival of the other navies to the region. He wasn't all too worried about those from the European Federation, but the arrival of the Lakans- who came to the South China Sea under the guise of 'ensuring the safety of international shipping'- was unexpected and seemed suspicious. They would be contacted, if they became problematic or found trespassing waters

[Free Terra]

Sorry this took so long. Family, work and illness all caught up with me this past week.

January 2nd, 2076
FTN Jamal Barker (FTN CVNGR-01), Free Terran 9th Fleet, Port of Manila

The Helicopter departed early in the morning from the deck of the Barker, with stealth fighter escorts orbiting the aircraft till it reaches the Malaysia-Nusantara ADIZ. The craft broadcasts a radio message in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Mandarin, and Malaysian, before repeating from English again.

This is a Free Terran Diplomatic Craft on course to Putrajaya, please advise and do not take hostile action. Message to repeat in fifteen seconds.

As the craft trundled along its course, the fighters identified several potential threats, but no target locks established as the helicopter proved too vital to strike. With their silent escort to Indo-Malaysian airspace a success, the fighters descended and change course back to the Jamal Barker.

January 2nd, 2076
Wisma Putra, Pitrajaya, Malaysia-Nusantara

The Secretary of State disembarked with Admiral Maxwell and a squad of marines in shiny black powered armor. With him, instead of a machine to translate, was an older gentleman wearing a bisht robe, his face and skin giving away his ethnic background as southeast Asian.

The arduous process of getting from the airport to the Wisma Putra was tedious, but security tends to dislike powered armor, only two of the original six guards were cleared to accompany the VIPs, the remainder guarding the helicopter and waiting to return. After finally getting to the Foreign Ministry, Secretary Marx, as well as Maxwell and the Interpreter, gave warm smiles and salutations.

“As-Salamu Alaykum, may we have tea while we negotiate? I find it soothes the mind and warms the heart.”

A harmless lie, he thought. After all, the talks would be long; truthfully, Joachim wanted something warm to drink in order to help with the jet lag between Cascadia and the Philippines.

After Several Months with No Update, the Thread is now Dead. Here lies a footnote.
*****After Negotiations, Free Terra was allowed to invite Luzon and Samar into the IUN as Protectorates, and Malaysia would agree to assist in patrol against pirates and other terroristic elements. Handshakes and friendships, and trade through the Malaccas were had by all. Yaaaaay.*****