All’s Well in Paradise

[Radilo]

All’s Well in Paradise

Radilo-Surian boarder, 1 hour outside Nouveau Port

As it had been for months, there were troops always arriving along the boarder. The bulk of the

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, were now stationed along the winding Surian boarder. It was all dense jungle, save the area around Nouveau Port, which was all urban and industrial. These were the tropical lowlands that made up the Nïce River Basin. So it was brutally hot during the day, and it rained almost every. Thankfully, it wasn’t too boring for the troops, who spent most of their active time assisting refugees.

Still, most of the time, the troops were just standing there, facing the boarder with guns ready.

It had widely been suspected that Radilan money was helping to fuel the insurgency against the Surian regime. But this has never been confirmed. The situation was worsening though, and with a huge influx of Radilan Livres and Weiser made weapons, the kind that the Radilan military was fond of, two and two could be put together.

Rebels took shelter along the boarder, closest to their supply lines and to routes of escape. If the Surian army got into a heated fight with the rebels, and it spilled over the boarder… all hell would break loose.

…

In the pre-dawn hours, within sight of the Nouveau Port skyline a huge explosion rocked the Radilan troops along the boarder. The Prime Minister was awoken, and she ordered the troops to defend Radilo’s sovereign territory.

 

[Großlausitz]

Botschaft des Königreichs Franken bei der Republik Radilo

Save for the period of apartheid when relations were at an all-time-low, having a job at the Franconian embassy in Radilo seemed favourable to many members of His Majesty's Diplomatic Service: Often sunny, a somewhat more liberal culture than Franken and a bit sleepy and peaceful.

Yet with the Radileans' increasing concern for the refugee situation on their border with the Republica de la Sur, things were becoming a tad bit more complicated for Ambassador Franz Grillparzer and his team. The relocation of a large part of Radilo's military to the Surian border could hardly be disguised by their government. In fact Grillparzer believed they weren't particularly keen on hiding it at all. Officially they were on a humanitarian mission. Naturally the Ambassador suspected the Radileans were up to something, a plan they did want to disclose to an humble ambassador.

Sitting in his private office after the daily staff briefing the senior diplomat wondered whether His Majesty's Government was informed about it. Why shouldn't they? Radilo wouldn't deploy the better part of its army without Nürnberg's implicit approval, at least..., Grillparzer pondered.

With a sigh he picked up the secured satellite phone and dialled the Foreign Office's number. After a few seconds he was connected to Foreign Minister Beaumont, very much to the ambassador's surprise. Usually he'd talk to State Minister Ulrich Wichmann, who supervised the relations to Franken's EDF allies.

After the brief exchange of some pleasantries Grillparzer addressed the issue at hand. "Herr Minister, as you might have noticed, the Radileans have begun focusing their military resources on the Surian border, almost exclusively."

"Do tell me more, Herr Botschafter.", Robert Beaumont responded calmly. Thus Grillparzer told his superior the few pieces of information he and his team could gather. "Ambassador, thank you for your formidable assistance. Please take care the embassy operations continue as normally. If necessary, you will hear from us."

After this conversation the Foreign Minister told his personal assistant to arrange a ride to the Staatskanzlei. He had to personally discuss this with Ministerpräsident Graf Solms.

Back in Radilo Ambassador Franz Grillparzer sighed once more and helped himself to a glass of Henessy whiskey. An excellent way to calm one's nerves. "Crazy politicians.", he murmured.

 

[Breotonia]

Naval Communication Service
Encryption Code: Black
Classification: Secret
Public Key: file/out_of_darkness/

221150Z JULY 2010
From: Office of Naval Intelligence - Section One
To: Prowler Force East lead ship HMS Midsummer Night (SSN-869)
Subject: Operation Dread Intrusion

Unconfirmed reports of hostile action on Radilo-Surian near Nouveau Port. Exact nature and scale of any attack and/or disaster are unknown. HUMINT is the only information source and the number of resources is limited. Orders are amended as follows:

1. Ships are to reposition on the coordinates attached.

2. Monitoring and reporting of naval activity in the area with special attention to Radilo and Surian assets. Air and land monitoring as practical until such time as a satellite can be repositioned for more detailed observation. Currently a STAR (Stealth Tactical Aerial Reconnaissance) satellite is being redirected to aid observations.

3. Stealth is paramount in this operation. Any public presence of warships by foreign militaries will only serve to worsen the situation.


4. Engagement is to be avoided at all costs. NRDS protocol is in place. Every attempt to confirm engagement permission with HIGHCOM should be made.

5. Reports are to be filed directly with HIGHCOM and ONI Section One.
​

 

[Großlausitz]

Botschaft des Königreichs Franken bei der Republik Radilo

Only a few hours after his conversation with the Foreign Minister the situation had almost completely changed. Clearly visible from Noveau Port, a huge explosion had gone up alongside the border to Suria. He had been awoken by his chief of security - hardly surprising he was also the senior intelligence service, who happened to be one of the few lucky people needing only a few hours of sleep.

Still trembling from the surprise, Franz Grillparzer went into his office and took the secure satellite phone line to Nürnberg. About half an hour later he had his boss on the line, once more. "Minister, only a few time ago a huge explosion rocked the border north of Noveau Port. What we know is this...", the Ambassador filled in Beaumont with the little details he had been able to retrieve via his chief of security and his own contacts to the Radilean bureaucracy.
"Again I have to thank you for your information, Ambassador Grillparzer. From here I will take over. And you and your staff will remain at our disposal."

Thousands of kilometres north of Noveau Port, Foreign Minister Robert Beaumont took two measures: Firstly, he summoned the Southern West European leaders for the Landesnachrichtendienst (Foreign Intelligence) and the Militärischer Abschirmdienst (Military Intelligence) and secondly he had a secure video link to the Radilean foreign minister set up. Only after talks with the spooks and the Radilean foreign chief, he'd decide whether things had escalated and it was time to wake the Ministerpräsident.

 

[Batavië]

Ambassade van de Bataafsche Republiek in Radilo

Radilo did not have a Batavian embassy during the communist regime and the current building rented by the Foreign Ministry was old, too small and in an ugly part of the city. It was supposedly temporary, but everyone knew that the government didn't have the money to find a nicer building, not for Radilo at least. Not yet, they were too occupied with their more immediate neighbours.

Chargé d'affaires Karel Zwartwater found that to be a shame. He enjoyed his last few months here getting to know the culture, language and people. The climate was ideal, but not the political one. Officially not the ambassador, but the closest thing to it, he was waiting for the official recall for him to return to Vlaanderen where hopefully he would receive his accreditations from the President. Or he would be brought to a desk in an office tower to handle research reports...

His evening at home, a fifteen minute stroll from the embassy, was interrupted by the telephone. He muted the television and set down his glass of local wine (his favourite part of being stationed here).

'What?' he said, not bothering to conceal his annoyance.

Within twenty minutes Zwartwater was in the embassy's tiny conference room sitting across from the embassy's chief Veiligheidspolitie officer, Piet de Vries. Not his favourite person. The Vepo had too much power in the foreign missions, thought Zwartwater. They had access to nearly all files and although it wasn't ever said out loud, everyone knew that they had all of the phone lines tapped and rooms bugged. Half of the embassy staff were certainly Unofficial Informants any way. Passing on pieces of conversation held in cafés and with Radilan officials that they knew.

'What do you mean an explosion?'

De Vries set down a sheet of paper from the wire machine, constantly spitting out embassy communications and news. Vepo found out about everything first.

'We have people in the camps, of course. It's not known where exactly or who caused the explosion, but it was right on the border. This is going to escalate.'

'What do you want me to do? Call the PM?' Zwartwater was not amused. This was good to know, but Vepo had no business with this.

'This is Himyar, De Vries. Batavia has no influence here. It's not Scandinavia or Zingapoer or some other former colony. And we hardly have influence there either. Heck, our neighbours would have ignored us during the cold war if we didn't have the largest standing army in the region. De Jonghe can't to a thing and to be honest, it's none of our business. All I can do is evacuate the embassy if necessary.'

De Vries lit up a cigarette, ignoring the newly instituted no-smoking rule.

'I don't want you to do anything, I just wanted you to know. Centraal (Vepo HQ) hasn't given us orders and I doubt they will put this on a priority list. They're focussed on purging their own offices and finding the flown Comrades.'

His smoke quickly filled the small room.

'The NC might want to offer humanitarian assistance or something, if they can organise it. Just know that we are on top of things and we have an open file. That was all.'

Zwartwater left the room without a salutation extremely annoyed with De Vries. That was all. We have an open file. They were so pompous. They had a file on everyone. You pick your nose at lunch and those freaks notate it. TO be filed away at Centraal Archives forever. But Zwartwater couldn't do anything. So he walked back home and finished his wine.

 

[Anglyn]

Home of the Defence Secretary
Winchester Heights, Wessex
Kingdom of Anglyn

It is 7 am in Winchester Height, an upper class suburb of the capital city of Winchester, and as Winchester is the capital of Anglyn, many cabinet and other ranking government officials reside in the area, in this case it is Archibald Wavell, Secretary of State of Defence, or popularly known as the Defence Secretary. The day is sunny and warn and Wavell thinks to himself that it was going to be a lovely day as he leaves his home to head for ministry, but as he turns out onto the street, his secure cellphone ring, and looking at the ID, he sees it is the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. General Albert Murdock.

"Wavell here."

Immediately the the general's voice replies.

"Mr. Secretary, we may have a situation down in Radilo. Sir, have you left to come in yet?"

Wavell frowns.

"And a good morning to you too, General, and yes, I just left the house. What is the todo that couldn't wait till I got there."

"Sir, I just received a incident report from our embassy in Nouveau Port, though details are sketchy, trouble may have errupted on the Surian border."

Wavell thinks over for a moment on what he was just told. The Surians have been a trouble spot for quite a time now, especially to the Radilians, though that doesn't mean they aren't any trouble to Anglyn, as the potential for such trouble is just as great along Anglyn's southern border, but if trouble did start, it was always expected that it would be on the Radilian border.

"I want everything you have by the time I get to the ministry. I also want the Chief of the Defence Staff notified and that I will meet with him, and you, in my office in an hour. I will notify the Prime Minister."

Hanging up, Wavell dials the number for the Prime Minster and as he listens for the ring. Well, so much for the lovely day.

"Hello, Mr. Prime Minister....."

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Somewhere in the Great Sea

October storms were never kind in the Great Sea. The Marquen ships bobbed and churned with the waves. HMS Talu and Sainte Pierre, almost 80 years old, were hastily painted deep gray but that didnt hide the rust stains or the state of disrepair from the soldiers who jammed every deck of each ship. The fleet was around them, their ships similarly laden. Another fleet would soon follow but this one was an odd collection of frigates, supply ships, corvettes and even a light carrier. The men seemed eager but there was yet to be any specific orders, in fact, the Admiral had been warned that they could turn around within the next 48 hours and most likely, would.

 

[Radilo]

Undisclosed Location, Nouveau Port

"Well from what we can tell, the conflict has spread to our own boarder. The explosion was a necessary byproduct of that." Said Defense Minister Yo'am.

"As of yet we have not gotten anything from the Surian Embassy except the usual bullshit," noted Deputy Prime Minister DeSalle. "As it stands now I don't think we have any other options. Drug lords are one thing, but this is something else."

"I concur," said Prime Minister D'Anise, "there are now no other options. We will defend Radilo's sovereignty and the regions stability."

There was a long, tense pause.

"Minister Yo'am," D'Anise resumed, "how soon can you have the troops fully mobilized?"

"In two hours we can be en route to Verbad."

"I've called the Parliament to session. They will be waiting for us. Djanu, inform the EDF and our other allies of our decision. They should know before the press does."

"Of course," said the Foreign Minister.

 

[Großlausitz]

Undisclosed location,
Nürnberg, Franken

With the information Foreign Minister Robert Beaumont had received from the two major foreign intelligence agencies and his Radilean colleague, it was apparent the Reichssicherheitsrat (national security council) ought to be summoned. By its rules of procedure it was chaired by the King and/or the Prince Regent and its standard members were the premier, the foreign, defence and (curiously) the development aid ministers alongside the chiefs of the security services, i.e. the intelligence agencies and the Reichskriminalamt (RKA). On occasion other officials and experts were asked to attend.

Foreign Minister had just concluded his report about the situation on the border of Suria and Radilo. “[…]And that’s why I recommend the deployment of at least the Graf Montgelas carrier task force to Radilo.” “Where is it right now, Minister? Could you refresh my memory, please?”, the Prince Regent inquired. Prince Jakob was eager to perform as carefully and competently as possibly. It was the first ‘situation’ his father allowed him to handle alone in Jakob’s capacity as his father’s lieutenant. “The carrier task force is currently patrolling the international waters near Aquitania and Aquitanian Otchi. With that situation relatively under control, relocating them to Radilean waters would make perfect sense. Lest we stir up too much too early, this will have to suffice, nevertheless.”

Less than an hour after the end of the meeting, the commander of the carrier task force received orders to relocate his fleet to the bay of Radilo, LND and MAD were instructed to increase the readiness of their ‘assets’ in the region and Radilo’s government was informed about the pending arrival of the KMS Graf Montgelas and its fleet. Subsequently Ministerpräsident Graf Solms took a ride to the EDF headquarters, where he would host a video-conference between all EDF leaders.

 

[Breotonia]

Naval Communication Service
Encryption Code: Black
Classification: Secret
Public Key: file/out_of_darkness/

241100Z JULY 2010
From: Office of Naval Intelligence - Section One
To: Prowler Force East lead ship HMS Midsummer Night (SSN-869)
Subject: Operation Dread Intrusion

The situation has escalated. Radilo is mobilizing and repositioning troops along the already heavily occupied border regions. Forces are estimated to measure in multiple of division sized formations. Be advised that Movements and intentions have been confirmed by both satellite reconnaissance and through informal channels with certain friendly nations. Be advised that the Königliche Marine seems to be in the process of repositioning CBG Graf Montgelas to watch the situation more closely. With the escalation orders are amended as follows:

1. Monitoring and reporting duties are now only required of naval and sea-based air assets. The STAR (Stealth Tactical Aerial Reconnaissance) satellite has been redirected to continue observation of land and land-based air assets for as long as necessary.

2. Preventing public knowledge of a Breotish presence is still vital in preventing escalation due to perceived foreign interference.

3. Engagement protocols remain the same.

4. Reports are still to be filed directly with HIGHCOM and ONI Section One.

5. If assistance is necessary contingencies are being made to make CBG Shadow of Intent and CBG Spirit of Fire available for combat and/or support operations. To avoid foreign excitement they WILL NOT be leaving their currently designated operational area and will require roughly two hours reach striking distance.
​

Naval Communication Service
Encryption Code: Red
Classification: Restricted
Public Key: file/roll_call/

221200Z JULY 2010
From: NAVCOM - Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood
To: EASTFLEET command ship HMS Armageddon's Edge (CVN-80)
Subject: Possible Partial Reassignment

There is the possibility for the reassignment of two carrier groups of EASTFLEET in support of an Office of Naval Intelligence Operation in the next few hours/days. Alert CBG Shadow of Intent and CBG Spirit of Fire to a possible change in their duties as follows:

1. Reposition both ships to the attached coordinates. These locations correspond a location that they have patrolled in the past month that is closest to the area they may need to be relocated to.

2. Make preparations to reposition to the secondary set of attached coordinates should you be reassigned.

3. Prepare all personnel for combat and/or support duties.

4. Prepare the leadership of both carrier battle groups to temporarily come under the command of ONI. Until ordered otherwise reporting and command responsibilities will remain unchanged.
​

 

[Großlausitz]

Botschaft des Königreichs Franken bei der Republik Radilo

What the heck are they up to?!, Ambassador Franz Grillparzer cursed these modern days when his job meant nothing but being a stylish errand boy at his government's whim. Thanks to modern communication gadgets an ambassador wasn't needed to act as an intermediary unless his superiors wanted him to engage in talks. Grillparzer took a deep breath from the huge cigar he was smoking, accompanied by another helping of this excellent Henessy whiskey.

He had spent the better part of the morning and the early afternoon getting in touch with his own 'assets' in Noveau Port. In general his sources suggested Radilo's government had discreetly fostered Surian rebels and might even have tried to lure Surian security forces to penetrate Radilean territory. A persisting yet probably very ridiculous and baseless rumour swirling through the excited city was the idea the explosion was an inside job. Grillparzer found that very hard to believe. While his idealism obliged himself to ensure he stayed informed despite being an humble ambassador, Franz Grillparzer considered the inside job rumours to be the result of anxiety and misinterpretation of facts.

Chuckling he took another big sip from the glass of whiskey. How can a country so small produce a whiskey so great?, the ambassador wondered.

 

[Radilo]

Parliament Building, Nouveau Port

Before a joint session of both the National Assembly and the Senate, and before the world, Prime Minister D'Anise laid out the course of action that the Third Republic would take to address the crisis.

"Honourable Deputies and Senators, assembled ministers, internaitonal ambassadors, and the people of Radilo: The crisis in the Republica del Sur has exceeded any possible resolution via peaceful means.

The Third Republic can no longer stand by while our people, and international security, are put in danger by the actions of the rouge Surian regime. We cannot sit idly by as Western Himyar falls apart because of the actions of these despots. The DeNavén Regime has exhausted international good will by his government's gross human rights violations and utter disregard of the rule of law.

The Third Republic has been more than patient with DeNavén and his government. We have taken in over half-a-million refugees, fleeing government oppression and the ongoing, needlessly bloody, civil war. But the recent incursion on, and attack on, the sovereign territory of Radilo has strained our patience beyond reconciliation.

For these reasons I have ordered our troops, bearing the approval of Parliament, to be ready to engage with the responsible forces within Republica del Sur; in order to bring about swift resolution. I call upon Radilo's allies within the European Defense Federation, and abroad, to aid us in our mission to rid the world of this menace.

I hereby submit a deceleration to Parliament by which we aid in the removal this despotic regime and recognize those fighting for democracy as the legitimate government of the Republica del Sur."

...

The Deceleration passed, 247-3.

 

[Großlausitz]

Staatskanzlei, Nürnberg
Franken

From his official residence Staatskanzlei the Ministerpresident had just assured his Radilean counterpart that His Majesty's Government was determined to support its ally in a "reasonable extent." Graf Peter Solms informed D'Anise she could expect military assistance where necessary and sensible. However, for practical and political reasons the relocation of the carrier taskforce KMS Graf Montgelas would have to do for the time being. "You'll understand we cannot crank out troops within mere days, my dear colleague."