The Evenguard of Azura has increased its combat alert posture in response to rising regional tensions, Defense Minister Sansone Di Traglia announced Monday at an extraordinary press conference highlighting Azura’s commitment to keeping the regional peace in Esvanovia. The move comes on the heels of the announcement of a general mobilization order for La Forza Azura, the standing military defense forces of the Evenguard last week, bringing an unprecedented number of mobilized troops to bear on a region slipping into the realm of chaos. Di Traglia announced the added that the mobilization sought to influence a forbearance on the rising tide of tensions in the region, noting that he was hopeful that the call to action from the Evenguard would help bring simmering tensions down to a more acceptable level of control. It was Di Traglia’s third-such conference in as many weeks, highlighting the dangerous tension.
“We are motivated to keep the peace through a show of force,” the Defense Minister said on Tuesday, speaking on the rising threats presented in Esvanovia. “From the Nivalian Ocean to the Anagonia Sea, we are prepared to use any means necessary at our disposal to help police good conduct and safe travels for the peoples of Esvanovia, and will be working directly with our partners in the International Coalition of Nations and the Trans-Esvanovian Partnership to help assuage the growing threat of armed conflict in the region. It is the position of the Evenguard of Azura that we must take ample measures now to ensure the peace of the region, before an unforeseen spark of conflagration ignites, sending us down the path to region-wide conflict. It behooves all of us, from the councilors in Raevenna to the many powerful capitals of Esvanovia to work together at this hour to prevent these conflagrations from spawning a regional war.”
Di Traglia spoke for approximately 90 minutes on Monday, issuing travel alerts for the citizens of the Evenguard moving abroad, though he announced that the transportation ministry had not yet decided to issue calls for Azuran citizens traveling abroad to return to Azura yet. He spent a great degree of detail on Azura’s military commitments at home and abroad, specifying that there would be a reshuffling of Azura’s forces on the Esvanovian front to help the Evenguard better prepare for the coming conflicts that seem to be unraveling the regional peace. Specifically mentioned was the transfer of two strike fleets from the Nivalian Ocean theater to the Anagonian Sea theater, as well as the transfer of an additional strike fleet to the Inner Sea to help reinforce the peace as tensions between Aureumterra and Sombreland continue to degrade. The move would be the largest peacetime transfer of troops in Evenguard history.
“We will do everything in our means to reinforce our existing regional positions with fresh troops from the homeland front,” Di Traglia referenced in connection with the troop transfer, seeking to reassure the public that the increased defensive posture was merely a ‘precautionary’ maneuver. “Azura remains committed to finding workable solutions to the crises that are engulfing Esvanovia right now. We applaud our dear friends, the Kylarnatians for everything they are doing to assuage the fears of a growing crisis between Aureumterra and the Kingdom of Sombreland. The Evenguard of Azura announces its full-throated support of these peace initiatives, but will continue to be vigilant of any rising tensions or threats of conflict with the reshuffling of our military forces. If conflict does break out somewhere in Esvanovia, the Azurans will be on the forefront of keeping the peace and bringing any overt hostilities to a speedy end.”
Among the ships being transferred from the Nivalian Ocean front to the Anagonia Sea is the Vigilanza carrier group, representing 1/10th of the total Nivalian Ocean front’s defensive capabilities. Such a large detachment signals the growing concern that regional events are spiraling out of control. Rumors abound over the necessity of such a show of strength, with some believing that rising tensions in Ashilosa could force a conflict between the ancient enemies, the Confederate States of Anagonia and the Kaskaidan Union. With talk of war already escalating between Aureumterra and Sombreland, this newest flashpoint in a growing crisis in Esvanovia represents the latest slippage of peace in our time. The Evenguard of Azura’s general mobilization has been tested with the departure of the Kingdom of Sombreland from the International Coalition of Nations recently, though Di Traglia kept an optimistic tone.
“We still believe that our regional problems are salvageable, that we can all recover from the rising tension and return to a pre-war footing where possible. The Evenguard of Azura will gladly co-sponsor any and all peace initiatives from members of the regional governments that bring about a speedily conclusion to these unfortunate disputes. The Esvanovian regional community must act through the Concert of Esvanovia to mediate and conclude these unhappy disputes before they bring open warfare to the region and risk the lives of millions of individuals. The barbarity of warfare is something we can ill afford in Esvanovia right now, and it is the stated mission of the Evenguard of Azura to take any and all practicable means of avoiding said conflicts when and where possible. It is our utmost hope that our stabilizing hand will help prevent the shedding of blood on Esvanovia soil, keeping the region safe for our citizenry.”