Behind the Banner

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter I: Rise of the New Order​

"The situation has become dire, comrades. Our leadership is not capable of dealing with the economic and military catastrophe we face. They'd rather stick their high-born heads in the dirt than face the reality. Our so-called 'Glorious Leader' has emptied the pockets of every single Kadikistani in order to fund his internationalist agenda. We've all watched with frustration as our boys were sent off to fight for Leninov's cult in Milesia, Calidia, the Kalahari and now even Cumbria without any clear benefit for the nation except for the ability to roar on the international scene. I say our men should die no more for Leninov's personal prestige. Not even one should have to die for these political dynasties that have dominated our nations politics for almost two centuries. I say we should finally do what our propaganda claims we have already accomplished. We, the people, should take back control through maintaining the doctrine of militarized socialism, but destroying the political dynasties who corrupted our nation time and time again.", Colonel Radovan Mladic said as though he was conducting a speech for a massive audience. In reality he was standing in a barely lit, moist basement under a proletarian tavern late at night in the Central-Kadikistani city of Sbrevika. He was joined around an ancient-looking, stain-ridden oaken table by 17 men. Although all dressed in civilian clothing they were nearly all military except for two local civilian politicians and one trade unionist. But after the Colonel had spoken those words the room went silent with only the occasional footsteps from above or the fall of a drop of water making a sound along with just under a dozen of the men present nervously lighting their respective cigarettes. The Colonel was the highest ranking officer in the room, but what he was talking about was nothing less than high treason. The penalty of which was not just death by labour or execution, but the entire family would be put under the notoriously thorough Review Committee's almost unexisting mercy.

Since none of the men responded, some seeming almost petrified from the fear the bold Colonel Mladic continued, "You all knew what you came here to discuss and what the consequences would be for us and those we hold dear should we be discovered. I approached all of you, some months ago while others only this very week, with a vision of the future shared not only by us, but by significant segments of the military and even the Party across our great nation. As we speak similar groups are coming together in nearly every major city in the country, clandestine and undetected...", Mladic said before pausing a few seconds to catch his breath and light a cigarette of his own, the room quickly filling with smoke adding to the atmosphere, "Welcome, comrades, to the 'Sbrevika Group' of the National Committee for Rejuvenation. Today you will swear to your commitment to the new order which will redirect our nation in order to ensure that future generations will not have to bear the hardships that we must endure. Once we reveal ourselves we will be hunted down by the nepotist tyrants holding on to power and the lackeys they surround themselves with, but we must not be deterred. We can not afford to be weak and will strike at the heart of the dynasties so hard that we will take over the country in the chaos that follows. In the following months we will expand our national network, establish an underground chain of command and wait for the time to be right. Each and every one of you will receive their orders at designated locations which will enable you to contribute from your personal position within the state."

For the first time since the meeting began one of the people present gathered the courage to interrupt the local leader. It was Captain Aleksandr Krazjec, a local commander of the city garrison, large in stature but fearful in his voice, "Colonel, you do realize that for this plan to succeed the unthinkable must happen? As long as there are Leninov's we can and will not succeed in taking back our nation. It would be suicide! I can't have any part in this... I... I'm sorry... I won't report any of you, but I can not be a part of this.", Krazjec said in an emotional tone unbecoming of a Kadikistani officer as he stood up and headed for the door at the end of the crumbling stairs. The Colonel was quick to reply, "We all have families Aleksandr. Nothing is truly for free in this country, you know what that means!", he said before the Captain closed the door behind him. Mladic signalled a lieutenant to go after the Captain before taking another drag from his nearly finished cigarette and continuing his speech like a teacher would his lecture. The Colonel proceeded to talk about how each individual city group will act autonomously with the central command remaining hidden for now. Each member would receive information on need-to-know basis that would guide them into doing their individual part once the time had come. The Colonel finished by painting a picture of a new Kadikistan, with a regime that would return to what he perceived as the roots of socialism, the end of corruption and nepotism, with a mixed-economy and a government with both military and civilian officials ruling in consensus side-by-side.

But Lieutenant Rukov wouldn't be there to witness the final part of the Colonel's speech as he followed the Captain into the tavern above and eventually onto the streets. It was raining heavily and both men got soaked after they passed the first few metres, not that it would slow either of them down. Krazjec wanted to get as far away from that basement and all those in it as possible while Rukov was as dedicated to his Colonel and his vision as a dog to its master. The Captain started a slow run towards his military jeep standing in a nearly empty parking lot across the street, closely followed by the lieutenant who reached his hand into his jacket pocket. "Comrade Captain!", he yelled after spitting out some rain water that had ran into his mouth through his thick moustache, "Are you sure that you want to turn your back on the future?", the lieutenant continued as he got closer and slowed his pace. "What is it? I believe I made myself clear back there, lieutenant.", Krazjec said agitated as he was standing by his jeep with the driver's door open in his hand. But his frustration would quickly turn into fear as he saw the lieutenant pull a knife out of his pocket. The lieutenant, knowing the captain was well-trained, didn't give his opponent any time to react and had already stabbed him twice when he calmly spoke the words "You turned your back on the future Captain...", before stabbing him about a dozen more times. Speed being essential the Captain was still trying to breath his final breaths while coughing up blood when the Lieutenant threw him in the back of his own jeep and covering him with some sheets before driving off into the night. The Captain wasn't a bad man, that's why he had been selected beforehand to be a part of this conspiracy, but however unlikely it might have been that he would've talked he had made himself a liability. He would not be the only member of this National Committee for Rejuvination to get cold feet and suffer the same fate. The wheels had begun to turn and any premature discovery would mean failure.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter II: Unwilling Allies​

"People's Bridge of Leninovist Megalomania is what they should call the damned thing! People's Bridge of my fucking ass!", General Ivan Tsjekova yelled as the news trickled in that construction had begun on a bridge between Aberdwyff, Calidia and Rurikgrad, Kadikistan. Naturally he knew of the plans, more so he was an active part of the debate in the Central Committee of the Kadikistani Communist Workers' Party concerning this enormous prestige project. That was expected from him as he was the patriarch of the massive nation's second most important Revolutionary Clan, the Tsjekova's. Being a known opponent to Leninov's interventionist politics he saw this bridge as just another massive external drain on the already crumbling Kadikistani economy. While waging a tough political war with his main rival Nikolai Leninov, he hadn't been able to stop the latter in his quest for international power and prestige. With regret and failure in his mind he had to admit that he couldn't stop the Leninovists from pouring millions of Grads into Gouw Marken to supply the strange foreign nation with humanitarian aid and even the construction of a massive commercial and military airport near Markstad. He couldn't stop the creation of the International Association of Marxist-Leninovist Parties and all the foreign conflicts it brought with it such as: Ivernia, Justiza, Loago, Pelasgia, Lauenburg, Cumbria and most recently Borovanger. Not to mention the amount of funding that goes to the member parties even when there is no conflict.

But the personal war of the Leninov Clan against the Jurzan had given the Tsjekova's some momentum after more than a decade of Leninovist dominance. With the Burukova's deep into the pockets of the Leninov Clan, Ivan Tsjekova had aimed all his attention towards making the Obrjanov's more sympathetic to their cause. The latter was gradually working and led to a series of clandestine meetings between Ivan and patriarch Bastian of the Obrjanov's. The Obrjanov's, known for their role of balance-keepers in the Kadikistani internal power struggle, even agreed to support the Tsjekova's in the Council of People's Commissars, the Central Committee and even the Supreme Soviet. Oblivious to the fact that cells lower officers were planning a coup and were in the process of organizing themselves in every major Kadikistani city and military facility across the country, Ivan Tsjekova made plans of his own. "It won't be long now...", Ivan said before pausing while the major Tsjekova Clan leaders had assembled before him in his palace in Klinsk. "Leaked scientific report predicting the imminent economic collapse of Kadikistan are correct. The State is already facing an enormous burden now that the 14-years-plan seems like a failed effort towards self-sufficiency and our demographics are negative. With the country engaged in conflicts from Borovanger to Cumbria in combination with expensive prestige projects such as the East Star Airport in Gouw Marken and the Kadiko-Calidian Bridge, our time will come soon. Everyone, including those in the Leninov Clan, will soon feel the backlash of the Leninovist policies and they will demand new leadership.", Ivan continued while monitoring those present, most of them nodding in agreement.

General Vutar Taderdov, the large and hairy Marshall of Aviation who was also the patriarch of the Taderdov Clan, spoke up with his deep voice, "Comrade Ivan, we all know that the Leninovists will try and hold on to power at all costs, even if it means burning down the entire country. At least not unless the unspeakable happens... at least not while the General Secretary is still alive. The cult of personality he has created around him still manages to persuade many Kadikistani's and there is no telling that even his death would change that.", Vutar Taderdov said with an occasional nervous undertone in his otherwise confident statement. Rather then Ivan Tsjekova it was Admiral of the Southern Revolutionary Fleet Jeskov 'The Hammer' Marjutsk who replied the Marshall of Aviation, "You sound like a defeatist Comrade Taderdov! We all know of your cousin Slavic who pledged allegiance to Sergei Moravscik, Leninov's favourite dog, and has cowardly requested to evacuate the city of Roz an Arvor and give it back to the Kern after it cost us so many men and resources to take it.", the Admiral then turned towards Ivan Tsjekova and addressed him before a clearly agitated Vutar Taderdov could respond, "The Southern Revolutionary Fleet stands behind you, Comrade General Tsjekova. Ever since that Leninovist Danilov Tunski's embarrassing failure at the Chagny Peace Conference I have used his discharge to slowly replace all the most important naval commanders in the south with real men, loyal to our cause.", Admiral Marjutsk said confidently not knowing that many of those commanders were already a part of the New Order Conspiracy and would stab him in the back when the time came.

With Taderdov verbally disarmed several other people present pledged their support to Ivan Tsjekova's plan to retake Kadikistan after his father lost it to the Leninovists. Afterwards Tsjekova went on to explain how he would ensure the death of Nikolai Leninov within the next three months, unknowingly giving the 'National Committee for Rejuvination' a huge advantage in the weeks to follow. The circumstances did not permit Ivan to elaborate in exactly how the 'Glorious Leader' would die, but he ensured that when he does they will be ready. Ready to bring an end to interventionist politics and return the focus on developing the country internally and growing increasingly more wealthy and powerful from it.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter II: Unwilling Allies​

"Can you assure the loyalty of your men, Gradinko?", Colonel Samir Batricevic asked Major Zdravko Gradinko while both military men were standing in a discrete and secure location in the northern zapovedniki of the enormous Krastjec Socialist Oblast. Both men were accompanied by a hand full of loyal soldiers since there was no telling for the Colonel how his counterpart would respond to what he was about to ask. Batricevic was one of the original nine members of the so-called National Committee for Rejuvination, commonly becoming known among its constituents as the 'New Order'. Ever since the nation-wide conspiracy began to take form in the end of 1956 the Colonel had himself replaced at his post as commander of the Dravikina City Garrison to travel around the snowy North in search of allies among the ranks of lower officers. "My men are from the North, Comrade Colonel...", the Major said after the shock of Batricevic plans turned to ambition and maybe even hope. "They have no love for the Clans and their commitment is to the Kadikistani's in this region.", Gradinko continued avoiding to mention the Turkic

You must be registered for see links

in the southern parts of the Krastjec Oblast whom he considered genetically lesser men. In fact the Major couldn't help but let his mind wonder about the possibility of permanently getting rid of the minorities, which he, like many Kadikistani's, blamed for everything from petty theft to sabotaging the agricultural development in the North.

"Permission to speak freely, Comrade Colonel?", the protocols drilled heavily into the Major. Batricevic smiled slightly and nodded while the snow returned for another layer and large chunks of it started falling from the tree branches. Just a few metres behind the two officers were their respective security details and those behind Gradinko started to cabal among themselves making the Colonel's men more nervous and alert. Both the Major and the Colonel noticed the increased stress level of their respective entourages, but chose to ignore it as they both believed history was being written. "You say the 'unspeakable' will happen. Should we not respond right away and take advantage of the chaos, take as much ground as we can before they realise who is behind it?", the Major said questioning his superior who was quick and clearly happy to respond him. "Gradinko my friend, I never said we will be responsible for the death of the Marshall. Our people within the Tsjekova Clan have had the bravery to inform us that their Clan is planning to permanently remove Nikolai Leninov, abusing the economic and international instability that our nation will inherit from the rule of the Leninov's. Once they strike we will play along, many of our men being connected to the clans as banner-men and the rest of us being forced to choose sides. We will guide the conflict, manipulate it as to ensure that the main clans weaken or even destroy each other. Once the clans are exhausted we will strike fresh and efficient, executing or capturing the remaining leadership. Without the idols that they are bound to, the remaining men are largely suspected to switch allegiance once their leadership is gone, safe for some expected pockets of fanatics that we'll have to burn out.", The colonel informed.

Fear suddenly overtook the Major as the initial enthusiasm turned to paranoia when it suddenly hit him what would his fate if the plan would fail and they were discovered. More nervously he asked the Colonel, "But wouldn't that bring about a civil war? We were both born during the Great Revolution, we both know what it did to our country. We can not put the Fatherland through that again!". Batricevic responded with a more firm tone before the Major would drift into an endless line of excuses. "We will not wait for months, Comrade. We believe that the Tsjekova's will use the same tactics as us, namely to remove as much of the Leninov and Burukova leadership in the shortest amount of time. If it becomes apparent that the remaining clan leadership consolidates and digs in we will strike before they can prepare for a long term military engagement.", the Colonel said trying to bring his counterpart back to his senses and regain his discipline.

The Major lit a cigarette offered to him by Batricavic who also gestured Gradinko's men to have a smoke on his expense. The men, getting a chance to smoke better quality illegally imported cigarettes than the notorious Red Star label produced by the Kadikistani state, happily obliged. After breathing out a third cloud of smoke from his lounges Gradinko regained his calm, but many questions remained. "What about the troops abroad? Many of them are the most devoted Leninovists there are. And even though I do not agree with Leninovist interventionism, I don't think we should simply cast away that which we have attained through so much sacrifice.", the Major said referring to the many ideological interventions Kadikistan has preformed in various nations, but also the efforts to put nations like Gouw Marken and Chetnik under the Kadikistani sphere of influence. "Our nation can not bare to militarily hold on to Milesia, Calidia and Cumbria at the same time while funding insurgent groups or vanguard parties in nearly every single nation on the planet. Cumbria is a lost cause, we might be able to come to a two-state solution, but even if that isn't possible we will withdraw out of conflict zones like Cumbria and Milesia. Both these conflicts are nothing more then drains on our great nation. We must tend to our own before we tend to others, I'm sure you agree. We will hold on to Calidia and even keep our interests in Gouw Marken safe because these areas are more stable and might become sources of growth later on. But talking about such things is premature, Gradinko. You already know more then you need to. I need an answer now. Are you and your men with us?". A long pause ensued as the Major looked at his men and pondered for a while as the snow kept piling up on his broad officers cap.

After about twenty soconds Major Gradinko rotated his finger in the air signalling his men to start the Jeep and prepare for departure. As the Jeep with his men approached from the back he turned to the Colonel and said increasingly louder as the roaring engine came nearer, "When the time comes the Graduk District Battalion will be yours. We are with you.". The Colonel smiled, satisfied as he was able to add yet another name on the list of conspirators.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter III: The beginning​

Andrej Vladisktic was a clean shaven, medium-sized and tempered man that had served as one of Nikolai Leninov's personal adjutants for almost ten years. He had always been very loyal to the General-Secretary of the Kadikistani Communist Workers' Party and in return he got to enjoy certain privileges under the warm mantle of the Leninov Clan. Such privileges included among other things a luxury apartment, at least by Kadikistani standards, in the centre political district of Ivar and a certainty of his wife and children getting their hands on a decent type of work. Things changed however as Vladisktic grew somewhat opposed to the radical interventionist policies of his 'Glorious Leader' that he knew were bankrupting the Kadikistani State. He knew this because in his function of adjutant he was privy to some of the most top secret meetings that were being held in the Leninov Clan and the other factions it conversed with. Unusual for an otherwise highly careful and protective person such as Vladisktic, he once let his guard down about a year ago during a private conversation after a night of drinking in his apartment with two of his neighbours and spoke moderately negative over the way the regime was involving itself in Lauenburg during the Februari Uprising. In a state-created culture where people are rewarded in exchange for all types of information about the people that they are in contact with, it didn't surprise Vladisktic that a member of the Directorate of Intelligence rang his door not long after that night, which he was already regretting severely. But while he expected the Schlebuchya to be there to question him about his criticism on the Glorious Leader, he was there for another matter entirely.

Since the regime kept a strict and detailed tap on all medium- and lower level functionaries the two men travelled a few hundred feet where the Schlebuchya, who never mentioned his name during the entire conversation, identified himself as a supporter of General Ivan Tsjekova and said that he was informed on Vladisktic's complaints. A baffled Vladisktic went on to hear that this information was successfully blocked and went no further than the agent in front of him. He was given a Hobson's choice to aid in the Tsjekova Clan plot and get significant wealth for himself and his family in return for his services. Those services were preforming the unspeakable. Namely killing the Glorious Leader of Kadikistan, Marshall Nikolai Leninov and thus clearing the way for a take-over by the Tsjekova's. Given no time to pounder over the proposition, the cornered and intimidated Vladisktic agreed and was given the details about the time and place where he would have to do something that was considered unthinkable in common Kadikistani circles. His task existed out of exposing Nikolai Leninov to a deadly dose of mercury by rubbing the upholstery of the sofa in his presidential chambers with mercury. The sofa was selected rather then his bed or his chair at the head of the Central Committee to prevent collateral deaths, which could arouse suspicion. The Tsjekova Clan knew through their various sources that Nikolai always started his day by reading the 'International Worker' and 'The Proletarian' while sitting in his sofa barely dressed. The fact that the 'Glorious Leader' preferred to keep his pants off for the first hour of the day, would ensure maximum contact between his old skin and the deadly transition metal and seal his unexpected fate.

International politics and the increasingly suffering Kadikistani economy had kept Nikolai Leninov sleep depraved for the last few days. The fact that he would often retreat to his sofa in attempts to gain a few hours of sleep unknowingly bought the world's most notorious head of state a few days extra time since the operation needed to be preformed in the highest discretion and very carefully. Today was the day that Vladisktic had been preparing for, but also dreaded, these past months. Away to inaugurate a revolutionary new cargo-ship in the Klinsk harbour the Marshall's disloyal adjutant found his moment and set the deadly trap. Overcoming his tremendous fears and managing to maintain his composition he administered the mercury, using over 1 milligram of the highly toxic element. His nerves rose even higher when a noticeably exhausted Nikolai Leninov returned from the ceremony and threw himself into his sofa, spilling the glass of premium vodka over the marble floor. "Leave me. I do not want to be disturbed for the next two hours unless it is a matter of war.", the Glorious Leader said while waving his hand in the air to chase out his staff and personnel. Vladisktic hoped that his master would succeed in his rest, both short-termed because it meant that he would be in a better mood and long-termed because his plan would have succeeded and his almost life-long benefactor would be dead. Since contact was assure, Nikolai Leninov, the scourge of the free world, had no more then a week to live.

The New Order were aware of everything through their nation-wide network. For now they would observe as their two enemies were about to tear each other apart.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter IV: The Purge​

"Nikolai's death wasn't an accident, Dimitri. I'm sure of it. It reeks of Tsjekova's hand.", People's Commissariat for Ideology Yurik Vinsko told Dimitri Leninov, People's Commissar for External Affairs and younger brother of the recently diceased 'Glorious Leader'. While Colonel Dimitri enjoyed much recognition internationally due to his many interventions as People's Commissar for External Affairs in nearly every single hotspot in the world, Lieutenant General Yurik Vinsko was less known to the people of the world. Yet he was one of the co-founders of Marxist-Leninovism, co-authoring the infamous book 'The Party and the State' which was the theoretical foundation of the Kadikistani State Ideology. The relationship between the Vinsko's and the Leninov's dated back to the 16th century when the Vinsko's were given lower noble titles in the Belgarsk region in exchange for service as bannermen for the Leninov family. They have served the Leninov family ever since and became a vital part of the so-called 'Leninov Revolutionary Clan', which has led the country since 1938 after the equally suspicious death of Iosif Tsjekova. Before the recent happenings Yurik was considered the sixth most influential member of the Leninov Clan, but with the murder of Nikolai by the Tsjekova's, the death of Marko Leninov by the hands of Kern insurgent-leader Camulus in Cumbria, the falling from grace by former Admiral of the Fleet Danilov Tunski after his indiscretions during the Chagny Peace Summit, Yurik had moved to the third place. Though he shared his master's lust for power, it was never Yurik's ambition to rise higher than the Glorious Leader's direct descendents and even now when the situation would leave many men of his position wonder on how they could abuse it in their favour, he remained loyal to those who bore the name Leninov regardless of their vulnerability.

Vulnerable because many questions remained regarding the death of Nikolai Leninov and those, if any, responsible for it. Lt. Gen. Vinsko was convinced that Ivan Tsjekova was making a move towards power, but he wasn't about to let nearly twenty years of his hard work being undone by the Tsjekova's and their isolationist ambitions. "And don't forget, my friend, that even if that bastard Ivan does not have a hand in this, how long will it be until he makes his move? For all we know he's addressing the Supreme People's Assembly right now. We have to strike first, even if Ivan is not responsible for the death of your brother, that man is no innocent. He will stand in the way of the continuation of Leninovist politics with everything he has and attempt to seize control over the Party. He will...", Yurik continued almost losing himself in the exhilaration and fear before Dimitri lifted his right hand, signalling Yurik to hold his tongue. "Yurik.", Dimitri said calmly while his left hand went under the table unnoticed by his Vinsko counterpart, "You have always stood by my brother. I know how tirelessly you worked to insure my brother's ideological creation would be consumed by every single Kadikistani, domestic and abroad.", Dimitri paused for a few seconds, enough for Yurik to intervene while feeling the atmosphere in the small bunker getting darker by the second, "I have always served your family Dimitri. Not only your brother, but you as well...", Yurik pleaded before being interrupted by another hand gesture by Dimitri.

This time, however, the hand gesture was accompanied by a sound that almost every Kadikistani could easily identify, being the sound of a revolver's cocking handle being pulled back. Below the table Dimitri was pointing a loaded

You must be registered for see links

straight at Yurik who was sitting at the other end of the small wooden table. It was instantly clear to Dimitri that his counterpart knew what was happening beyond his sight as his facial expression turned to pure angst and disbelief to such a point were he was unable to utter a single word. "The Tsjekova's will be dealt with, you can be sure of that. But you are wrong about one very important thing, my old friend.", Dimitri said as he quickly pulled his hand from under the table, now pointing his gun at Yurik's chest while leaning his arm on the table. Yurik grabbed the table in fear, petrified. "Ivan and his lackeys will not be responsible for the continuation of the Party and the State, but neither will the remnants of the Old Order. The time has come for a true purification. Out of my brother's ashes a new Kadikistan must be formed. And we do not have a place for those who will fanatically remain committed to the old, failed ways.", Dimitri said grimly while allowing Yurik a mere few seconds to try and formulate his last words which ended up being sobby pleas for mercy. "Dimitri... Please don't...", six load bangs echoed through the bunker as Dimitri emptied his revolver in Yurik Vinsko's chest, ending an ancient alliance between two families.

Knowing he had reached the ceiling of his power under his brother's regime and realizing that it was not him but Nikolai's son Vassili that was being groomed as heir to the throne, he was approached by the National Committee for Rejuvination. The New Order needed him to stay on as a face of continuity after all this was over and to be able to keep a claim over the international Marxist-Leninovist Movement. But since his new allies only had room for a face and not a family he would have to say goodbye to a lot more people in the following days. Many of those who have served him loyally since the day he was born back in 1900, but Dimitri never had any difficulties turning his heart into stone. Dimitri was promised to be able to maintain his respectable position as People's Commissar of External Affairs, while also gaining the offices held by the Vinsko Subclan for himself. Those were both the People's Commissariat for Ideology, but also the position held by Yurik's brother, Colonel Andrej Vinsko, as Head of the Militsiya College of the People's Commissariat for War. That would effectively make sure Dimitri Leninov maintains his international prestige while gaining control over the ideological legacy of his brother and being able to personalize the militsiya. The latter was an underfunded police force with its only presence being in the major cities since the military took care of law enforcement in the more rural areas. The death of Yurik would be blamed on the Tsjekova Clan which would result in revenge killings on both sides until all the major strong-holders of the old regime would be eradicated and the New Order could sweep in as the barer of stability and peace.

As for the Vinsko family, losing their patriarch was not enough for today. After Yurik came Andrej as he was run off the road and into a ravine by members of the National Directorate of Intelligence loyal to the Tsjekova Clan as retribution for the attempted assassination of People's Commissariat for Social Welfare Lt. Col. Lazar Tsjekova by a Leninovist gunman on the steps of the People's Palace a mere hour after Yurik's death was made public. The gunman failed as Ivan Tsjekova was protecting all of his family like Burgundian royalty. One thing was clear, this was all far from over.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter IV: The Purge​

"Your position as General Secretary of the Party is assured, comrade General!", Admiral of the Southern Revolutionary Fleet Jeskov Marjutsk stated fiercely and enthusiastically. "With all the major figures of the Leninov Clan out of the picture, there is no one that would dare oppose you.", Jeskov continued as he looked at the seven other people in the dining hall of the hereditary Tsjekova mansion about 20 kilometres east of Ivar. Sitting with him in the room, eating their respective luxurious meals, were all the major leaders of the Tsjekova Revolutionary Clan, with none other than Ivan Tsjekova himself sitting at the head of the table. He was flanked by his two sons Lieutenant Colonel Lazar Tsjekova, the Kadikistani People's Commissar for Social Welfare who just recently barely escaped an assassination attempt on his life by revenge-seeking Leninovists and on his other flank was Major General Slobodan Tsjekova, Chairman of the Supreme National People's Assembly and heir to the Tsjekova throne even though he was the youngest of Ivan's sons. Next to his two sons sat the respective heads of the major Subclans of the Tsjekova's. There was General Vutar Taderdov, head of the Industry College of the People's Commissariat for Agriculture, Trade, Fishing and Industry and malcontent over the rise of Admiral Marjutsk in his own disadvantage within the Tsjekova Clan. To Vutar Taderdov's right was People's Commissar for Justice Matvije Moskops, the old man leading a very old and prestigious Subclan, but also one with limited influence on the decision-making within the Clan due to its small size. Across from Colonel Matvije Moskops sat the rising star of the Tsjekova Clan, Admiral of the Fleet Jeskov Marjutsk. The latter having already greatly purged the Southern Revolutionary Fleet from most of it's Leninovist commanders in preparation for this moment. The remaining two seats on the table were filled by two nephews of Ivan Tsjekova, General's Zarko and Aleksandr Tsjekova, who each commanded a motorized infantry division that had mobilized near Ivar. They where to take the city and clear it from the last Leninov's if the liquidation would have been less successful as they were.

"Don't get to confident Jeskov.", the reasoned Ivan Tsjekova said calmly in an attempt to keep his favourite General's both feet on the ground. "We drew first blood. That is the only reason why the statistics are in our favour at this time. You would be wise not to forget that. With Nikolai and Marko out of the way there are still enough of his vile offspring to fill the power vacuum. Nikolai's cowardly heir, Vassili, has gone into hiding after the deaths of Yurik and Pjotr Vinsko. We suspect that the death of the Vinsko brothers was an internal liquidation within the Leninov Clan. We can not be sure, but I deem it likely that Pjotr got greedy with ambition while Nikolai's loyal dog Yurik was put down to make sure he wouldn't avenge his brother. Not that he would have, Yurik would have killed his own mother for our 'Glorious Leader'.", Ivan Tsjekova said mockingly while his own offspring along with Gen. Marjutsk chuckled in malicious pleasure. "Regardless of his brother's attempt to ready his oldest son to take over once he died and keep Dimitri from his position it seems that the latter has been rather successful in scraping together what remains of the Leninov Clan...", Ivan stopped for a few seconds to let the information sink in and lighting his imported cigarette, "The death of Danilov Tunski assures us that we need not hold into account an ambitious veteran division returning from Cumbria to operate against us. There's still Lieutenant General Ratko Leninov and his bastion in the South that we must keep separated from Dimitri's stronghold in Grudunk. If we can isolate those two remaining strongmen of the Leninov's, we can destroy them on our own terms while quietly finding and liquidating Vassili. After that...", Ivan Tsjekova was suddenly interrupted by the roaring sound of approaching army Jeeps and trucks.

The Tsjekova patriarch walked towards the window frowning, clearly confused about what was happening. He turned back to those present in the room, most of the men on the edge of their seat, "Who are those men? Anybody expecting company?", he asked agitated. Ivan's son, Slobodan, stood up and joined his father at the window while laying his hand on his father's shoulder and confidently stating, "Don't worry father, whomever they are they don't have nearly enough men to take this mansion with Zarko's men guarding us." Zarko nodded, equally confident that they were safe. Little did they know that they had a traitor from within sitting amongst them. Seemingly out of the blue General Taderdov stood up, knocking over his own chair while taking his handgun from his holster and quickly shooting, Zarko, Aleksandr and Matvije Moskopsk with a clean shot in the head. Jeskov Marjutsk instinctively stood up, but got shot twice in the chest before he could flip the table to provide cover or himself and his Tsjekova masters. Two guards kicked in the door upon hearing the shots. Yet they did not aim their assault rifles to Vutar Taderdov, but rather the surviving Tsjekova's. Taderdov took a few second to reload his handgun while the guards signalled the Tsjekova's to throw down their drawn guns. "You thought I would tolerate your continuous insult to my family forever didn't you, Ivan? Dishonouring me by making that dog Admiral of the Fleet.", Vutar Taderdov said while spitting towards Jeskov Marjutsk who was bleeding out on the marble floor, his pool of blood slowly meeting those of the other three corpses.

"Order your men outside to surrender their weapons to those men. Do it now!", Taderdov commanded against an enraged Ivan Tsjekova. Reluctantly and with the lives of his sons in mind he did what he was told, opened the large window and ordere his troops to lay down their arms. The order was quickly followed and the guards brutally loaded onto the trucks by the shouting men. "What will you do with him, traitor?", Ivan asked insultingly with a look of pure digust. Taderdov smiled slightly and replied serenely, "That will no longer be your concern, comrade General, none of this will. The New Order has come.", instantly shooting Tsjekova's two sons in their faces as they stood next to their father. The latter let out one final scream, Nooo!, before himself receiving a well placed bullet between the eyes. After the Leninov's the New Order had effectively decapitated the Tsjekova's, ordering the lower officers on the field loyal to their cause to execute 'Operation Castle'. The latter meant that they would replace the Clan-affiliated leadership of the local party cadres and higher military ranks. Mostly with limited bloodshed as regular soldiers were rarely touched. The supremacy of the Tsjekova's was extremely short and now permanently eradicated, safe for one man. That man was Jeskov "The Hammer" Marjutsk, who everyone including himself thought would surely die. But the man built like a mountain survived long enough for two loyal soldiers to be able to get him out of the room and into safety after the gross of the coupists had left. There was no doubt that Jeskov was out of this battle, but not out of the game.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter V: Moravscik and the Fallen Sons​

"Fucking finally...", General Sergei Moravscik cursed as he stepped foot on Kadikistani soil for the first time since his deployment to Cumbria five months ago. Leninov's rising star had seen himself be promoted to General after the death of his long-time commander Marko Leninov by the hands of notorious Kern insurgent Camulus and by use of a sniper round. He enacted a vengeance upon the Kern people for the killing of his master with a brutality rarely seen in recent history, burning down both military and civilian hideouts, camps and settlements while killing indiscriminatingly and taking no quarters. The reputation of General Moravscik and his 18th Mechanized Infantry Division, known increasingly more commonly as the 'Fallen Sons', was known far and wide not only as a hero like he was proclaimed to be under the reign of Nikolai Leninov but also as the ruthless punisher. But with all his many flaws and even inhuman characteristics he did have one merit worthy of admiration, that being his undying loyalty to his masters. This and his brutal tactics also earned him the nickname 'hyena' both by his Kadikistani enemies and those within the White Army. Though it wasn't so that his loyalty to the Leninov Clan was solely altruistic as his fear of what would happen to him now that he no longer had the Glorious Leader's protecting hands over his head was his primary concern. Although he did manage to hide that last aspect of his motivation through passionate speeches and vicious political commissars. Nothing was ever pure about Sergei Moravscik. But the latter also seemed to reflect upon his men as by now each and every one of them had committed some sort of horrible crime during their deployment on the Jurzani border, their vital role in the notorious

You must be registered for see links

and their more recent five-months deployment in the Cumbrian North. Except when standing in attention the men and women of the 18th Mechanized were a rag-tag, yet highly organized group of soldiers, inheriting their state-of-the-art equipment from the many privileges they got from doing Leninov's dirty work and not in the least being commanded by the nephew of the Glorious Leader.

Needless to say when General Ratko Leninov, Nikolai's oldest son, called upon all those who remained loyal to the Leninov Revolutionary Clan to mobilize in the High North of Kadikistan about a week ago, using the chaos of the regime-shift to smuggle in as much manpower as possible, he quickly mobilized his division. In doing so he abandoned his post in Cumbria, where the war had ended safe from some minor pockets of resistance, leaving the Revolutionary Insurrectionist Army without support in the areas around Roz an Arvor. While other Leninov loyalists, fanatics as they were called by the New Order, came from the south Moravscik would transport his Fallen Sons through the White Sea using the help of naval commanders loyal to the cause. They would meet around the city of Naritstok, which was under control by Ratko Leninov's Marxist-Leninovist Brigades after quickly countering the New Order attempt to take over the city through a handful of garrison commanders and a young local Major. But regardless of presumed allied control Moravscik knew better than to take any chances and landed some 140km east of the city. The Commander of the 18th ordered his men to secure a beachhead using very cautious techniques he had learned from the Jurzani's during the

You must be registered for see links

even though the shores where his men landed were under allied control. Once they landed safely and secured their position the ever ambitious Moravscik, who had been studying a detailed map of the Spretska Socialist Oblast along with maps of the adjacent regions ever since they left the Northern Cumbrian shores, told the men to prepare for orders. Gathering his officers in his white commander's tent, decently camouflaged in the snow if it wasn't for Moravscik's constant smoking, he placed his map on the table before pointing south of their location. "This, Comrades. This is where we strike. The city of Dravokni, roughly 200 kilometres south of here and under control of the mutiny. With the information shared with me by our Supreme Commander the garrison of this small city is conflicted about their loyalties, many local families belonging to the Leninov Clan.". Moravscik couldn't help but show some some of his ambition as he fiercely spoke the words, "We will announce our arrival to our Supreme Commander, Ratko Leninov, by presenting him with a city that we have returned to the fold. The rightful successor of the Glorious Leader will witness first hand our loyalty and combat supremacy!"

Meanwhile reports were coming in the past half hour of attacks in Rurikgrad, the nations second largest city with one of the world's largest harbours. Seconds ago General Sepakov Berbadjov along with his veteran volunteer division from Milesia issued a statement declaring his allegiance to General Ratko Leninov as he did so fiercely for his father. The chances of him succeeding in little more than creating chaos were slim, however, as Rurikgrad was one of the birthplaces of the National Committee for Justice and the Rejuvenation of Socialism and thus firmly in under their control. For the first time the Leninov Clan, be it only considered a splinter faction with Colonel Dimitri Leninov pledging his allegiance to the New Order and claiming the heritage of the Leninov Clan, was able to reorganize and strike back after loosing most of its members through bullets or betrayal. Time would tell if they still had the power to mobilize enough Kadikistani's to regain their throne.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter IV: The Purge​

Instability had taken over the massive nation, with a political climate where assassinations and in some cases even armed military conflicts became day-to-day business. The once enourmously powerful Tsjekova Revolutionary Clan had been wiped from it's leadership, leaving what little Tsjekovite units remained without command and thus easy pray for the highly organized and popular National Committee for Justice and the Rejuvenation of Socialism. The latter was backed by a vast majority of members of the Kadikistani Communist Workers' Party and even the common man, whom had little faith in Kadikistani politics, could feel the winds of change and dared hope for a brighter future. Regardless there were still those who remained committed to their respective Clans, either out of loyalty or because of the belief that they had no place in the new regime other than the gallows. With the Burukova's fleeing to the People's Socialist Republic of Calidia after only a few minor skirmishes in the south-east and the Obrjanov's doing the same, but unlike the Burukova's without a single gunshot being fired, the last major opponent to the New Order were the remnants of the Leninov Clan under the command of General Ratko Leninov. The latter had started a war in the High North, were the New Order's position was much weaker than in the industrialized south, and even managed to take control over several cities in the large yet thinly populated Spretska, Azaeri and Krastjec Socialist Oblasts. But the forces backing the new regime were not alone in this fight.

They got assistance from an unexpected source, being the ethnically Turkic Azaerian Popular Militia. An armed, militant organization that had fought with the Kadikistani State and the Party on several occasion, but was now fighting an insurgency war against the remnants of the old regime alongside the Kadikistani Revolutionary Armed Forces. In return for their allegiance, and that of other major ethnic minorities in the country for that matter, the Azaerians would bury the hatched in regards to Ivar and pursue a more regionalist agenda rather than separatism. Minorities agreeing to this new treaty with the government were also able to run for the various positions within the Communist Workers' Party and join the military. The latter was unseen in Kadikistani history as minorities had always been discriminated and actively suppressed ever since the Bronislaw dynasty started to rule the lands. And besides, the military was one of the best ways to achieve social promotion. This way the regime hoped to largely pacify the North, with the Chernaeyans and the Azaerians returning the fold, by including the minorities into the system and practically giving them the same rights as ethnic Kadikistani's. This was not the most popular decision the New Order had made so far. Many ethnic Kadikistani's were convinced of the barbaric nature of the Turkics and their own ethnic superiority after decades of state media indoctrination. The minorities also experienced backlash as radical splinter factions broke off and swore to continue the fight for full independence, or in certain cases the establishment of sharia law.

But while Ratko Leninov was waging his private war alongside the infamous General Moravscik in the North, Vassili Leninov was still in hiding until now. While being the youngest son of the late Glorious Leader, he was always he's father's favourite and designated heir. This was largely due to the fact that he's older brother Ratko was an excellent military commander, but lacked the intelligence and insight to play the highly delicate political game at the highest level. But what even Nikolai Leninov couldn't or wouldn't admit was Vassili's cowardice, hiding in the basement of a Leninov Clan loyalist farmer in the small town of Nikr, 39 kilometres east of Sbrevika, ever since the death of his father. He lacked the courage to go out and look for allies that could smuggle him to Calidia like the Burukova's and Obrjanov's managed to do or even to the North were he could seek protection from his older brother. But now that all the fighting between the military and the few remaining pockets under Marxist-Leninovist Brigade control was over he knew it wouldn't be long before the search parties found him. Ratko had been able to gain contact with Vassili and dispatched a unit to retrieve him and bring him to the areas under his control in the High North. The unit consisted out of eleven men, enough to fill three civilian

You must be registered for see links

's and leave room for Vassili.

The escort arrived in the middle of the night with the lights turned off regardless of the dark and the heavy rain that made visibility very low. Ratko had been smart enough to recruit the men from the Sbrevika Marxist-Leninovist Brigade, making sure the three drivers are highly skilled and know their war around those parts blindly. After thanking the farmer with a short nod of the head, Vassili jogged towards the car in an attempt to stay dry. It was to no avail as the falling water only needed those few seconds it took to get in the middle car was enough to soak him. All except the driver brought in a pool of water as they had stood outside with their automatic assault rifles scanning the area's with the barrels of their weapons. It was a long drive to the North with many of the roads in a poor state, but the vehicles had been equipped with a military grade engine, bullet proof windows, a thick armour and two sets of tires, one for all terrain and one for the flat highways. The drive would be even longer as they had to avoid checkpoints and use the back roads to reach their destination. Sadly for them it had only been 300 kilometres when they got sighted by a patrol plane coming from the Radrinko Air Base. The plane had noticed the three cars driving at high speed over a roughed provincial road, but had no weapons equipped to engage. Increasing their speed upon the realisation that they had been caught would only result in the first car losing control during a turn and slamming into a tree five minutes later. Revolutionary Army Units approached them from both sides as the two cars desperately sought a way out off road in this unknown land. Moments later Vassili's car got stuck in the mud, leaving only the support car mobile as the panicking Leninov switched cars and ordered those left behind to hold off the enemy until the last man. An order they would follow as the first bullets were heard being shot only six minutes away. Since the environment didn't allow the car to drive fast, it wasn't long before the tracked vehicles of the New Order caught up to them.

After one warning shot soared besides the car coming from the canon of a light tank, splintering various trees in the distance in a muddy blast, the car came to a halt. All four men existed their vehicles, two of them opening fire as the third man jumped on the ground and tossed his rifle. Vassili remained seated in the car, petrified and on the verge of bursting out into tears as the two guards were mowed down by an enemy heavy calibre. Less than a minute later he could hear the footsteps of his assailants coming closer and the pleas of the surrendering guard's suddenly silenced by a singular gunshot. Having dropped his revolver under his seat, Vassili was unarmed when the soldiers threw his door open and ordered the sobbing Leninov to exit the vehicle. "You are under arrest, scum.", the commanding officer said in disgust before punching Vassili in the face, breaking his nose. He was dragged into the back of a truck along with some guards, his bloody nose running all over his clothes as he spat out a tooth. Vassili wouldn't be long for this world, but for now he could still serve a purpose in possible negotiation with his sure-to-be infuriated brother, Ratko.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter VI: Ratko's Private War​

"The attack on Rurikgrad was a failure, Supreme Commander.", Brigadeer General Andrej Lomotov said delivering the bad news with a certain fear in his voice. While inspiring fear in your commander had been a tactic used by the Leninov Clan for a long time, General Ratko Leninov had taken this to whole new lengths. However short his position at the top had been so far it was said that he had executed more of his own men than inflicting casualties upon the enemy. And while this statement was inherently untrue there was no denying that paranoia was consuming Ratko, seeing conspirators and traitors everywhere. Lomotov still had the images in his mind of yesterday when Ratko had ordered the public execution of no less than 112 of his own men, mostly lower officers, on the Central Market Square of Naritstok that had been found guilty of treachery. The audience of this public massacre was extremely uncomfortable during this barbaric display, especially when some of the men started screaming their innocence and praising both Nikolai and Ratko Leninov in hopes of receiving clemency. Not this, nor the pleads of family members in the audience could stop Ratko from cutting out the presumed coupists within his own ranks. In fact those in the Naritstokian audience who became too vocal in their pleads were hard-handedly silenced and taken away by the city's militsiya. No doubt their fates would be similar to those of their family or friends. The militsiya itself had experienced some internal cleansing too and was quickly becoming known as the port city's death squads, but it's reputation paled in comparison to that of Moravscik's Fallen Sons and the atrocities they were committing against their own people in the farmlands. Even though Ratko was paying his soldiers three times the wages of a regular Kadikistani soldier, a move to gain manpower which was rapidly depleting the Leninov Family Treasury, Moravscik and his men still felt it wasn't enough and indulged themselves on the barely populated and more remote villages. The latter were an easy target who's pleas would remain unheard no matter how much they would yell it. Such delicate handling wasn't knew to Moravscik and his Fallen Sons, as winning the hearts of the people was still an essential part of Ratko's private war for power.

"General Berbadjov's Milesian Volunteer Division was unable to craft a foothold in Rurikgrad, being uncovered before he could organize his veterans. We have lost contact with him as he is believed to have retreated to Calidia or even Borovanger with what few men he still holds under his command.", Lomotov continued while seeing another fit of pure fury in Ratko's eyes. Lomotov and the rest of Ratko's staff present in the room were surprised when their Supreme Commander got a grip on himself and spoke calmly as if he was honouring the death of General Sepakov Berbadjov, a close personal friend of his father and far more loyal and respectable than the likes of Sergei Moravscik. "It will only be a matter of time before the coupists find out that the Markenese were involved in the logistics of this operation. Sadly for our Scanian friends, we do not have the luxury to concern ourselves with their fate on the short-term. Remind me to thank them and pledge a 'new era of cooperation' will come to be between our two nations once we have undone this mutiny.", Leninov's last words were greeted with much internal doubt among those present as many realized that territorial gains mean little when you just lost an entire nation. Brig. Gen. Vutar Milosric was the only one who was able to muster the courage to speak some sense into his commander, something he thought would benefit them all, "Supreme Commander, our men on the borderlands of Spretsk have scattered after an unrelenting aerial strike that seemingly left the south without a single plane still on the ground. With the death of your brother, Vassili, we can not hope to regain a foothold in Sbrevika anytime soon. Recent reports have indicated that we have lost no less than two dozen towns and villages to the TAPM overnight. Safe for a few minor victories by Moravscik and myself, we are losing this war. I must urge you to reconsider this war, Ratko. We can regroup in Calidia, like the Burukova's did? Or make some sort of deal with the new regime, like your uncle Dimitri? Or we could...", Milosric was interrupted by Ratko Leninov by a simple hand jester, followed by a loud order, "Guards! Get this defeatist out of my sight. I want to see this coward hang by tomorrow!", before a shocked Milosric could reply he was subdued by the guard who silenced him with a hard punch of their rifles and dragged him out a the blood was still gushing from his face. The atmosphere got even worse with none of the officers present daring to utter even a sound.

"I presume there are no other concerns to be raised?", Ratko said threateningly. Lomotov found no better idea than cheering after quickly wiping some swet from his wrinckly forehead, "A drink to our Supreme Commander! The strong man we need to rebuild this nation!", he said as he took an empty glass off the table and poured it full of Kadikistani Premium vodka. The other men replied with an highly acted "huzzah!", as they rose their respective glasses to a smirking Ratko Leninov. Rule through terror was the only thing Ratko knew, or at least wanted to know. He continued the meeting by commanding his Head of Intelligence to find General Berbadjov and bring him to the Kadikistani North along with whatever remained from his division after over a year of war in Milesia and the unsuccessful siege of Rurikgrad. He also claimed that by the end of the summer enough people would have been mobilized behind them to join in what he described as a 'Great March South' and a 'Final March on Ivar'. His men were encouraged to have faith and hold their position regardless of the news that the New Order was mobilizing 300,000 soldiers to pacify the High North in one strong sweet. "My main force will meet those reactionaries head on! With Moravscik at my flanks and Niktov in the rear we will endure whatever onslaught comes upon us. Mark my words, over 30% of the men they've sent for us will join us once they are faced with me. The people of Kadikistan, especially the soldiers, still love the name Leninov. No reforms can undo that legacy!", jumping straight to something else, "And my uncle must die! Every second he holds that position among the conspirators is an insult to my father's heritage! Make sure that it's done!"

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter VI: Ratko's Private War​

Although the details were hidden for most of the world, the devastation in the Kadikistani high north was more than substantial. A total of 12 divisions, totalling 224,000 active military personnel, loyal to the National Committee for Justice and the Rejuvenation of Socialism had been mobilized against the 4 heavily decimated divisions still aligned to the Leninov Revolutionary Clan. Ratko's personal division, along with those commanded by General Moravscik, Niktov and Bovinovic, did enjoy the support of the majority of the paramilitary Marxist-Leninovist Brigades and much of the militsya, but being caught off guard in the first days of the Tsjekovite power-grab followed by the coup from the New Order these troops were thinned out so badly that they could only serve as auxiliary forces. The latter mostly preoccupied with brutally quelling the state-supported Azaeryan rebellion in the ever shrinking territories under their control. Nevertheless Ratko and his cronies had been rather successful in their campaign to destabilize the new regime which was having difficulties restoring the nations debts with its reforms while effectively waging a war in the forcefully agrarian high north. But the 'imminent march on Ivar' that General Ratko Leninov had proclaimed 'only a matter of time' over a month ago seemed further away than ever as military defeat after defeat was swallowed and the Leninov Revolutionary Clan's Treasury diminishing rapidly. Said treasury had seen 72% of its financial and material means confiscated by the rapidly acting New Order, whom had taken similar actions against the wealth of the other Revolutionary Clans. The latter providing a highly needed relief for the now stagnating state of the economy, rather than the decline in the years before, much to the surprise of international analysts.

The New Order was very aware that this 'Northern Reactionary Rebellion' stood and felled with the existence of Ratko Leninov as the sole believable heir to the throne left empty by the demise of Nikolai Leninov. There had been numerous attempts on the life of Ratko, from assassinations to precise bombardments, but all had failed as 'scourge of the north' did not make the mistake of surrounding himself with potential traitors or opportunists. Or at least up until now. Even among his most trusted lackeys there was a growing urge for survival which was getting the upper hand. Moravscik and his Fallen Sons with whom their loyalty to the Leninov Clan was previously undoubted had seen their ideological vision rapidly being surpassed by their desire to still have a place in the new Kadikistan. More and more grunts had been taken the full amnesty offered by the New Order in exchange for their loyalty, safe for the most major offenders, who's only option was to flee or to die. As of today there were roughly 50,000 soldiers under Ratko's command, but each devastating attack from the overwhelming force of the south thinned their numbers by both casualties and desertions, and those losses were not so easily replenished even with Ratko offering every fighting man three times the salary of a Kadikistani regular in the state army along with the spoils of war. Nevertheless the New Order still searched for better ways to end the rebellion without having to defeat each and every soldier in Ratko's army. A more 'rational' end to this war.

This more rational end was something that would be devastating, but efficient. Knowing the city in which Ratko was hiding, the medium-sized city of Uzambor in the Sprtska Oblast, and realizing the failure of potential precision air strikes or assassinations, Kadikistan's most drastic arsenal was called upon. Ten Squadrons of each twelve Kadikistani strategic bombers, filled with a total of 995 tons of explosives, 70% of which incendiary, were tasked with levelling the entire city in three consecutive raids that would take place within the course of one day. While many civilians had fled the city during the first days of the war, Ratko had prevented many from leaving, thus creating himself a human shield while he moved from location to location to avoid air strikes and ground attack alike. The civilian death toll was expected to be total, but it was a price that New Order would have to pay to ensure a brighter future for the country. After all in Kadikistan, the collectivist mind far surpassed that of the individual. The lives of roughly 35,000 civilians in Uzambor would be sacrificed in exchange for the death of Ratko Leninov, the destruction of his headquarters, the decapitation of his military and last, but not least, the demoralizing effect it was expected to have on those fighting for the remnants of the Leninov Revolutionary Clan. The air strike was codenamed 'Operation Silent Night' as the initial carpet bombing would take place during the night, under the cover of darkness. The third and final aerial raid would take place at 14h00 in the early afternoon.

Meanwhile on the ground a general push was initiated to divert the enemy's attention away for the air strike, with a total of ten divisions, including three tank divisions partaking in the attack. The New Order had learned it's lessons from the mistakes made during the Varinian Civil War and became rather effective in fighting in the harsh northern climates. The newest strongman of Kadikistan, General Salatić, General Secretary of the Kadikistani Communist Workers' Party, personally oversaw the operation which he believed would purge the nation from its evils. He would make sure that Operation Silent Night would remain unknown to the outside world, even if that meant liquidating loose ends on his own side. In a few hours it would begin, the 'Sourge of the North' would meet his doom.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Behind the Banner
Chapter VI: Ratko's Private War​

"Bovinovic has been successfully liquidated, whatever remains of his band of treasonous thugs is left leaderless and without a cause. If they have any sense left in them they are all halfway Calidia by now.", General Lav Ultjan reported as he stood proudly in front of General Secretary Salatic in the People's Palace, almost bragging over his victory against the remnants of the Leninov Clan. The dawn of summer helped in approving the general mood, even in the darkest room of the People's Palace in Ivar. "With the help of the local Azaeryans, who know the terrain better than anyone else, we are tracking down and exterminating the final pockets of resistance. We estimate that roughly 600-900 men still belong to Ratko's splinter faction, despite the death of their final leader. Our main concern at this time is that they will form terrorist cells and attack the south, but we are doing everything possible to prevent this. We have set up check-points along the...", Ultjan continued before being interrupted by Salatic himself. "No need to go over the details, you have been given extraordinary powers to end the Northern Rebellion as commander of the Northern Direction. You have booked nothing but success. I am confident that whatever remnants there might be, you have made sure they won't survive the year.", Salatic said clearly exhausted from a long and intense debate in the National People's Assembly where he held a fiery speech in defence of the Economic Recovery Plan against the Party hard-liners. The latter wanting nothing else than a return to the fully planned, centralized economy. "The most pressing matter regarding these so-called 'anti-revisionists' is that of the People's Socialist Republic of Calidia, which has failed to follow the Party line after the death of the Glorious Leader and is harbouring dozens of Clan leaders who make no secret of their desire to return to Kadikistan and re-establish the corruption."

The room went quiet for a few seconds before Salatic continued, "I have spoken with Comrade Suzerov earlier and he informed me that Maimu's prime motivation for harbouring these fugitives was not ideology, but rather the great amount of capital they possess and even personal friendships. The latter is obvious since Daas and not Maimu would have run the Calidian Communist Workers' Party if it wasn't for the personal intervention of certain Clans last year. The wealth they have gathered should return to the Kadikistani people from which they stole it and help in finance certain rationalizations.". Ultjan carefully listened to every word coming from the General Secretary, but as Salatic continued he was increasingly wondering why he was being given all this information while Ultjan held no political offices, safe for his obligatory seat in the National People's Assembly and his role as advisor to the intensely reformed People's Commissariat for War. Salatic would answer his question without it ever being raised by Ultjan after he had given some more details on Calidia's more pragmatic motivation for their anti-revisionist stance. "Under our new foreign doctrine, the Cvetkovic Doctrine, members states of the Rurikgrad Pact have great autonomy. But due to the close connection of Kadikistan to Calidia and its strategic importance in the Gothic Sea region, we can not abide them offering refuge to enemies of the state.", Salatic stopped for a second to light his cigarette and swiping some ashes from the solid oaken table. He looked Ultjan right in the eyes, gaining his full concentration.

"That is where you come in, General. We will offer Calidia several opportunities to relinquish the Clan leaders and their resources in the following months, even threaten with open hostilities if we must. We will do this clandistine so that the world remains convinced that the Rurikgrad Pact is still a united front. But if they continue to refuse to hand over the criminals we will install a new regime overnight with more 'adequate' candidates that we already have lined up. Maimu will be forced to return to the fold or perish. You will personally lead the force responsible for the regime change by redeploying to take command over the Kadikistani divisions in Calidia, the sole remaining forces we have abroad. In the months to come you will study your enemy and prepare for action should the Calidian leadership fail to act.", Salatic finished. Ultjan was surprised and even exited about the orders he had just received, if he played his cards right he could gain a permanent stronghold for himself and use that to set up his political career. Such ambitions being something that had been blocked-off for years by the Clan-based system because he belonged to the so-called 'Non-Aligned Group' which didn't receive the privileges that clan members or associates were entitled to. Not showing his emotions and remaining disciplined he responded in the most formal way, "Affirmative, Comrade General Secretary. May I ask who will take over command over the Northern Direction? The remnants are low in number, but have the potential of becoming a drain on our resources. They require the delicate care of a highly skilled commander. May I advise...", Salatic interrupted Ultjan again in an almost disciplining fashion, "The new commander of the Northern Direction is General Sergei Moravscik. He was offered full amnesty and, as you know, has been very helpful in crushing the splinter faction ever since that. I realize your personal experience with Moravscik was unpleasant to say the least, but I remind you that these orders have been issued by the Highest Command and you will obey. You will do everything within your power to make the transition as efficient as possible. I want reports on anything even remotely relevant.", Salatic said after which Ultjan rose to his feet, saluted Salatic, turned 180 degrees and headed towards the door.

Salatic wasn't allowed even the slightest moment of peace as immediately after the General left, his personal secretary knocked the door and announced the arrival of the trade union leaders who came to express their concerns regarding labour conditions in the newly established economic free zones. The adrenaline rush that came from drastically reforming the largest nation in the world kept him going, but how long before his body would turn against him?