The Three Warlords

[Saaremaa]

Sant Marzh Military Airbase
23[SUP]nd[/SUP] of December 1956, 1:30 am

It was a plan that swept through the whole north of Cumbria, known as the Maetia and Votadinia regions. The RIA, was still far away from being integrated into the Kadikistani-style army servile to the communist party. The Southern Army had this destiny and it made the plans to takeover Cumbria a lot harder. The military command in Pennsans was quickly taken over by the soldiers loyal to General Goron mab Massen and they proclaimed the creation of the White Army. Captain Yann Evan looked at the clock. The operations started nearly an hour ago and he didn’t receive any message to abort. This meant clearly that in general the officers of the northern army have decided to support Goron mab Massen and his Pennsans Declaration. Agents of the secret police have been arrested by the White soldiers and it was now time to destroy the Kadiki presence in the north, to be sure that this Liberation war will not be suppressed even before it started. Even before the Rurikgrad Pact was signed, the Kadikistani airforces brought a bomber squadron to Sant Marzh.

Yann Evan turned to a soldier that held a radio and took the device to contact the HQ.

“Alpha One, this is Whiskey Company. Captain Evan here. We are in position to start Operation White Night. Over.”

“Roger that, Whiskey Company. You are clear to engage.” Captain Yann gave the radio back to the soldier and called another nearby soldier to him.

“Sargent Gethin, did you see any move in the airbase?”

Gethin went through the ditch to captain Evan. “There was one light on in the HQ and after the time of the declaration, three more men came in that room. Still, I can say that they do not expect us. Here are the targets,” said Gethin as he gave a sheet of paper with the coordinates of Kadiki bombers.

Evan went to the Mortar Squad and gave their commander the paper. “Those two hangars and the fife planes there,” said Evan has he waved his hand towards the targets. “Use high explosive bombs. I want to see them burn.”

The clock shower 1:35 when the first mortars fired. As the first explosions started to be heard,Gethin led the infantry attack to take control of the HQ building.

Labor Camp II
Roz an Arvon Sector
23[SUP]nd[/SUP] of December 1:50 am

Reece Cadogan, an ex-important member of the Prometheist People’s Union was a regional secretary and the prefect of Maetia before the death of Lena Rees. He tried to escape Cumbria when the King left but in the whole discussions and negotiations for the Internal Settlement delayed his planned trip to Eiffelland and when he finally wanted to leave, it was just a few hours before Roman Becker took control of Naoned. Sepp was arrested at the Pennsans International Airport when he wanted to board the plane to Trier and he was sent directly to the Arvor Labor Camps. He was one of the first people sent there. He was sent to isolation. No trial, no interrogation, no torture, just isolation. He could see the light through some cracks in the wooden walls of the barrack but as winter came, the polar night came too and the night became longer, light dimmer. Everything was pitch black in some days as he was filling those cracks with small bits of textile materials from his clothes, as the arctic wind was passing through. He fell in a deep depression and he was already trying to give himself courage to try to rush and crack his head in the wall, hoping to die. He considered himself a broken man my now. There was no need of terror, torture or other things. He considered the M-List imprisonment perfect. It managed to break him without doing anything to him.

He wasn’t sleeping yet, as for some weeks, he didn’t know if it was night or day, but today was different. He started to hear some strange noises. Were those gun shots? Are the Guards executing people? No, it can’t be. People are screaming. They are happy. He started screaming too and started to knock on the cell’s door.

A soldier opened the door. At first, the sudden appearance of a powerful light in front of his was too much and his eyes hurt so much that he had gone blind. The soldier took him out. Cadogan looked at him scared, but the soldier smiled.

“Who are you? What is this? Cadogan asked.

“The White Army, welcome back, Mr. Cadogan.”

Pennsans Military Garrison

General Goron mab Massen was overlooking some documents in the HQ of the military garrison. A soldier entered and handed a the general a telegram.

“We are passing through the central isthmus to retreat to Aentieg STOP The rebellions in Dumnonia failed STOP In Roazhon, the Revolutionary Guards killed many of the officers supportive the declaration STOP In Naoned, 30 men were killed when they tried to lift the siege of the Cathedral STOP The South is still in the hands of the communists STOP”

It was clear now. Goron feared the fact that if Roazhon and Naoned wouldn’t be taken, it would mean a prolonged civil war similar to the Milesian rebellion. Even so, it was no way to repair things now, and even half of Cumbria liberated is still better than no free Cumbria.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Sant Marzh Military Airbase
23nd of December 1956, 0:30 am

One hour before the White Army started its attack on the Kaju Military Airbase there was still no sign of trouble. If there was to be any reformed White army, both Kadikistani and Red Cumbric intelligence expected it to come from the Iverno-Cumbrian borderlands. A mistake that would cost the Marxist-Leninovist regimes dearly. The Kadikistani Revolutionary Air Force has deployed a Special Aviation Regiment consisting of 5 squadrons. More specifically one assault and one attack squads with a total of 15 planes each and 38 pilots, one recognisances squad consisting of twelve aircraft's and a crew of 18 and last but not least two light bomber squads with a total amount of 24 planes and a crew of 51, not including maintenance and logistic personnel. The Sant Marzh Military Airbase hosted two of these squadrons, the recognizance squad and a light bomber squad under the command of Major Mihajlo Ozvjec. Besides the crew's, the officers, maintenance and logistics a small group of 20 Kadikistani Revolutionary Army advisor's were present to train the local Cumbrian officers and in lesser amount serve as security detail for the Kadikistani planes. At this point the Kadikistani military command still garnered too much trust for the loyalty of the Revolutionary Insurrectionist Army and depended on them to keep the planes secured from any potential 'inferiorly organized' reactionary attack. Like every day the recognisances squads would do their routes, scouting parts of Northern Cumrbia for 'counter-revolutionary activity'.

At exactly 0:30 am the Sant Marzh RIAF radar tower lost contact with

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, which was preforming a solo flight over the Votadinia region on the Northern coast. Command had deemed it too expensive to accompany every flight with an escort of fighter planes given the low threat level. Major Mihajlo Ozvjec, unhappy with his deployment abroad, was very nonchalant in his command to say the least. The reason he had hit this 'end of the line' position was because he belonged to the Tsjekova Clan, which had seen a lot of members boycotted by the consolidating Leninov regime. The latter had even managed to remove General Slobodan Tsjekova from his position as People's Commissar of Social Welfare by appointing him as commander for the Kadikistani forces in Cumbria earlier this week. When one of his Lieutenants, Vladimir Krutsjec, came to Ozvjec with the news that all contact was lost with the Rukov-09, the Major wasn't even slightly concerned. "What do you want me to do? Try and contact him again in five minutes and if afterwards you still don't receive news than contact our guy in Sant Marzh for intel. Don't bother me with this again.", the Major said as he was wasting precious minutes that could have given him the time to figure out what was about to happen.

No less than 36 minutes later Lieutenant Krutsjec finally gathered the necessary courage to 'bother' the Major again after he still hadn't received word with the Rukov-09 and on top of that a second Rukov-09 along with a few RIAF planes had disappeared of the radar. The agitated Major who had just finished his vodka nightcap was already undressing in his dark chamber with a Kadikistani flag and a portrait of the Glorious Leader being the only decoration on the walls while the one light-bulb dangled from the ceiling as the Lieutenant knocked on his door. "I'll have you clean every single toilet on this base with a toothbrush if the next thing to come out of your mouth isn't extremely important!", he yelled before the Lieutenant proceeded to state his report. "It's probably another issue with the radar, everything works differently around here. Send out two fighter's to each of the last known locations of the Rukov's and unless there was a crash or worse, don't contact me again before the morning."

Less than half an hour later all hell broke lose on the base as the exploding mortar rounds it the barracks, the tarmac, the radar tower and command structures indiscriminately. Inside sources had clearly informed the enemy White Army about the precise locations of the aircraft still on the ground, which was the entire bomber squad, as they seemed to know exactly which hangars to give the hardest pounding. The Major jumped from his bed in a blur and ran outside with only the time to put on his vest. Several mortars had hit his compound and the remaining Cumbric defenders seemed shocked and confused as the sounds of gunfire in the distance sounded louder and louder every passing second. The hall that Ozvjec had to cross seemed endless, filled with dust and flickering lights. Outside the skies where pitch black, illuminated with every explosion and bullet fired in the chaotic display. As he slowed his pace he made his way to the command centre which had it's windows shattered while his men where using it as a vantage point over the attackers coming from outside. But the enemy was not only outside, which became clear once the Major walked past a line of executed soldiers on the central square with the entry point of the respective bullets being in the back of their head's. The Major instantly recognized the body of Lieutenant Krutsjec among the dead.

As he reached the command post he knocked on the door which had been pierced by several bullets already. "It's me, Major Ozvjec! Open up you bastards!", he yelled with both anger and fear in his voice. Once inside he immediately grabbed a gun out of the holster of one of the soldiers returning fire upon the attackers in the bushes outside and started removing the pants from a White Army corpse in the room who was wearing a Rurikgrad Pact uniform. Roughly forty seconds later he issued his first orders while the 16 present soldiers told them that their colleagues simultaneously started executing and shooting them. "Scramble all aircraft through the intact landingstrip. I want every plane fuelled and out of here as soon as possible, the bombers have priority. Those carrying weapons and ammunition should drop it all on the enemies outside the base before flying off to Pernu. Contact Naoned and Rurikgrad and tell them we need RIA assistance immediately. Meanwhile we will form small platoons to purify the base from those treacherous dogs."

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Naritstok Naval Base
Democratic Republic of Kadikistan
24th of December 1956, 9:15 am

Reports had began to siple in about the increasing escalation in Cumrbia. The Naritstok Naval Base, home to the Northern Revolutionary Fleet, facilitated the oldest and smallest Kadikistani fleet. The command of the fleet belonged to Admiral Stojan Radordevic who had sworn to the Leninov Revolutionary Family. He was a pragmatic and cold-blooded man with his dark blue Admiral's vest decorated with medals dating back to the Kadikistani Civil War, which followed the revolution of 1907. Intel had come in from Ivar that the Revolutionary Insurrectionist Army was rapidly losing ground in the North while the reformed White Army had been able to destabilize the South with a series of minor attacks. The threat of a full blown civil war in Kadikistan's newest ally was becoming more real every passing hour as reports of clashed piled up in a rapid pace. It was essential that Kadikistan would isolate the nation until it was able to restore order together with those in the RIA still loyal to Becker and the Rurikgrad Pact. The People's Government was strongest in the south, where the Gothic Sea Revolutionary Fleet would provide whatever support it could while remaining it's primary focus on ensuring the supply lines to Milesia and Calidia. The Northern Fleet was a different story as the Naoned regime had lost contact with much of the rural north and the cities under siege. Mass desertion and defections made it unclear what to expect, but Admiral Radordevic was ordered west to the northern shores of Cumrbia with the goal of gathering information and potentially commence a naval bombardment on known White Army positions.

Radordevic didn't want to take any chances and ordered the fleet to approach the Cumbric shores with a defensive attack formations, making sure he's flanks were covered. With the recent defection of the SNS Morrigan battleship, there was no telling on how much of the Cumbrian Revolutionary Insurrectionist Navy remained loyal to Naoned. It would take a few days before the fleet would be able to mobilize some 60% of it's vessels and make it to Cumbrian territorial waters, with the first ships expected to arrive around the 28th of December. The Admiral had demanded to be kept up to date on all new intelligence coming out of Cumbria. Especially concerning the ships that might have defected and the situation on the land-based coastal defences. By the time his fleet would arrive he demanded a definite list of ships that had broken contact and those who remained in the RIN. Before the fleet could conduct any bombings inland they would have to take care of the defectors and maybe even pre-emptively destroy the coastal defences should they be unable to contact any loyalists manning them.

Sant Marzh Military Airbase
24th of December 1956, 10:00 am

The situation at the Air Base had become even worse for the Kadikistani and RIA soldiers defending the base. Contact had been lost with the eastern and western wings of the base with less then half of the hastily formed platoons sent out to clear the base had returned. Those who did reported on the many executions that took place, while they preformed some of their own on both enemies and those who they suspected of desertion or defection. It was a very dirty battle, largely because of the presence of the Kadikistani Political Commissars keeping the men from surrendering, with deadly force if needed. Otherwise the base would not have kept resisting for nearly a day and a half against overwhelming numbers. But Major Ozvjec did not share the courage and dedication of the three political commissars who remained. Their ammunition nearly exhausted, the few planes who did manage to escape long gone and unaccounted for, a high number of wounded and an incredibly low moral the Major decided to act before the rapidly decreasing amount of men turned on him.

"Comrades, it is over. The base has fallen, we have failed.", the Major said deeply ashamed, though somewhat relieved as bullets flew impacted against the broken wall he used as cover. His men, mostly pilots, looked at him defeated, their silence showing their approval. They did not want to die there, not in a country that wasn't theirs. The handful of Cumbrian soldiers still fighting alongside the Kadikistani's did not understand the Major's words, but they did understand what he was saying. One of the soldiers dived towards one of the corpses and ripped open his vest, taking off the white shirt below and tossing it to Ozvjec. The latter started to tie the white shirt to a broken flagpole that had been launched into the command post by a mortar strike while calmly giving his final order. "Corporal, go tell whatever remains of our boys to cease fire. I will surrender the base...", he said before sighing deeply. "Ratko, you'll have to kill Kurmov and Mrkonjić. They will never agree to a surrender and doom us all. This we must all take to our graves when, not if, we are liberated by our comrades.", he said referring to two of the political commissars fighting for the central square. Major Ozvjec was a broken man. He rose his arm, his sleeve covered in blood and dirt with the white flag in his hand. The RIA soldiers spontaneously started shouting in their native tongue, "We surrender! We surrender! Don't shoot!" None of them had any idea what would become of them now.

 

[Saaremaa]

Sant Marzh Military Base
24th of December 1956 10:03 am

Sargent Gethin looked at the base through his binoculars, while the others were still keeping it under fire. Yann Evan was standing near him, in the ditch, supporting himself in his rifle. "Sir, they are waving the white flag," said Gethin. Exactly in that moment, Evan heard the calls for surrenders coming from the base. It was early morning and the frosty fog was filled with the smell of oil, fire and cordite from the explosions. The air was crisp. Evan loved this winter smell typical to Votadinia, even if he was born in Loago. He felt he could function the best in such cold air, as outside there were no more than -20 degrees Celsius. "So they surrender..." said Evan thoughtfully. "It might be a trap, sir", Sargent Gethin warned him. "Even so, we must take our chances. We are way behind schedule." Evan looked around and then called the radio man to him. "Alpha One, this is Whiskey Company. The reds asked for surrender. Request authority to accept their surrender." In a few moments from the radio, the voice could be heard again: "Authority granted, Whiskey. Eliminate the Cumbrian reds and keep the Kadikis under arrest. Alpha One out." Evan and Gethin looked at each other and nodded right when two more shots were heard from the base. Evan stopped right when he wanted to get out of the ditch. "Cease fire!" he yelled. A part of him hoped that those shots were from his side, while a part of him started to be afraid that it really might be a trap. One step out of that ditch and a Kadiki or a Red Cumbrian might shot him in the head. But still... He was given command of the W Company so he had to do it. One step at a time, just a blink or an eye and he was out. He could barely see the main building of the airbase in that dense fog. The hangars were burning, filling the air with smoke smelling of oil and kerosene.

"This is Captain Yann Evan, of the Whiskey Company, 2nd Rifle Brigade, 1st White Guards Division. Exit the building with your hands up and lay down our arms!" Captain Evan shouted clearly so he could be heard. Gethin and other soldiers came to him. Communist soldiers started to come out of the building. They were around 20. Out of which 8 were Kadikistani soldiers, looking at their khaki uniforms, while the Cumbrians were wearing the grey uniforms with red elements. "Form a line!" Evan shouted. It was clear that the Kadikistani didn't understand what he was saying but they were copying what the Cumbrians were doing.

"Sir, we would have joined you! But the Kadikis had commissars in the base! Just a move and they would have killed even their own, let alone us!" one of the Cumbrian soldiers tried to plead for mercy. He even fell on his knees. "Shut up!" Evan yelled. He was disgusted. "Part the Kadikis from the Cumbrians!" The white soldiers took the Kadikistani soldiers and tied them together, while the red Cumbrians were still kept in the line. Evan ordered the radio man to call for extraction. For about half an hour, the white soldiers inspected the main building of the base, while the officers discussed who were to form the execution squad. The prisoners were kept outside under guard, the Kadiki tied, while the Cumbrians on their feet in line. Many of them were crying and were trying to explain the white soldiers that they were obliged to fight for the Naoned government and they would have gladly joined the white units. The trucks arrived to extract the prisoners and the company. The sappers and pioneers came with them to take over the base, while the soldiers from W company were taking the Kadiki and RIA weapons and loading them in the trucks. The Kadikis were also put in an uncovered truck. Evan came and shouted the name of ten soldiers. They formed a line in front of the Cumbrian prisoners. At Evan's orders they aimed and fired, killing the RIA PoWs. Afterwards they went to the trucks.

Before Evan ordered the convoy to move, Gethin went to the truck where the Kadiki prisoners were loaded. "It's the Arvor Prison Camps for you, comrades. Happy frostbites!" he went away laughing and quickly came into a truck as Evan ordered the convoy to move.

Roz an Arvor Military Port
24th of December 1956 12:00 pm

The officers were all gathered on the bridge of the CNS Norzh, the first deployed of the Norzh Class, built in cooperation with the High Kingdom of Ivernia and the flagship of the Cumbrian Northern Fleet. A joke for a fleet most likely, one destroyer, one frigates and three corvettes. The officers all heard the Pennsans Declaration and decided to come together and discuss what to do. By this time, the sailors started to become nervous and the tension in the fleet started to be palpable. Captain Goreu David was afraid that at any moment the sailors will take their guns and kill all officers and then surrender the fleet to the whites. It was clear for him that any moment might also mean that the Kadikistani Northern Fleet will arrive and when they will do it, the Cumbrian Fleet will be disbanded and it's ships confiscated being it white or red.

"The time has come to make a decision. If we won't do it right now, the sailors will most likely kill us and decide by themselves," said David as he took a sip of coffee. "The officers from the other ships will surely follow us in this," he continued. "If we do it, the Kadikis will kill us, because if the Northern Fleet hasn't left yet, it will soon do and when they arrive, we will be roasted." Commented an NCO. "It might be so, but if we declare ourselves for Kuressaare, our guys will surely throw us in the sea and most probably, if you look at it and how frozen it is, we will probably die on impact, so... It might be a while for the Kadiki fleet to come to save us if we declare for Naoned. So, again I say, if we declare ourselves for Pennsans, we might have a chance to slow the Kadiki blockade, even though the fleet will be destroyed. We can continue to resist on land, because Maetia and Votadinia will be friendly to us..." David was interrupted by a sailor entering the room. "Sir, the crew has assembled o the main deck. They wait a response." David looked at him and got up from his sit. He got out of the bridge followed by the other officers.

"Men, this winter may be the hardest winter we will ever live through. We are currently caught between hammer and anvil. If we are to declare ourselves for Naoned, we will be arrested and probably executed in about 24 hours. If we declare ourselves for Pennsans, most of us will again, die, but this time it will be at the cannons of the Kadiki fleet. And instead of traitors of the true Cumbrian government we will be heroes. That is why I decided to remember you all, that we swore our oath to the Kingdom of Cumbria, not to the People's Republic of Cumbria. That is why I decided to align the Northern Fleet to Pennsans!" the sailors started applauding and David continued when they stopped. "Many of us don't wish to become heroes but if it's needed, then we must." The men started to applaud and to sing royalist songs, while David and the communications officers returned to the deck. After he reported on his decision to the other four ships of the fleet and the others followed suit, one communications officer came to the captain.

"Sir, you are called to report at the Arvor Naval Authority." David was intrigued, as the naval authority was a civilian institution but still, he decided to do it. "This is captain David of SNS Norzh, commander of the Northern Fleet. Over." The response came quickly, with a voice that sounded familiar for David. "This is Reece Cadogan, Royal Commissioner of the Woad Guards. Here to accept the surrender of the Northern Fleet and it's incorporation into the White Navy. Over." David started laughing. He was happy to hear the voice of an old friend of his, the old prefect of Votadinia from whom he didn't receive a sign since the communists took over. He wanted to ask him so many questions and to talk with him, but he decided to keep it professional on the radio. "We surrender and gladly accept to be incorporated in the royalist White Navy and with it I invite his majesty's commissioner on board. Over and out." David gave a few orders and let down the microphone, as the voices of the sailors could still be heard, singing patriotic songs.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Tref Mezieg City
27th of December, 02:00 pm

It had been four days since the Imavere Declaration and the initial chaos was slowly fading, though many questions remained. While four days is not that long, the days seemed to last for an eternity for some of the men. Even for the Kadikistani soldiers, who had much more collective combat experience than their RIA comrades, things got out of control. Since the 23th of December the People's Republic of Cumbria, Kadikistan's most powerful ally, had lost no less than four cities and roughly 30% of its territory to the White Army. The latter had rapidly taken most of the Northern countryside, meeting little or no resistance from a largely supportive population. The four cities where Imavere, the centre of the White uprising, Pernu, Vendra and Sant Marzh, the latter being the only 'liberated' city where the RIA along with some Kadikistani airborne units managed to put up some resistance. Nevertheless the Naoned regime hadn't lost all it's footholds in the High North, the strategically important port city of Ahja was still firmly under Marxist-Leninovist control. Somewhat farther south was the city of Laimjala which had been under siege for four days and would have fallen by now if it wasn't for the presence of two Revolutionary Guard companies garrisoning the city. While almost the entire western suburbs came under White Army control the Reds still managed to hold on to the city centre and the eastern suburbs and villages with the help of 34 Kadikistani 'advisor's' part of a training mission and around 400 loyalist policemen and RIA soldier.

"The bulk of the Kadikistani reinforcement will arrive once their Northern Fleet breaks through the ice and takes out the White Navy. First they will pour into Ahja, securing the landing zone and consolidating the city. We must hope that our comrades there hold out until the Kadikistani's arrive.", Revolutionary Guard commander Alar Tampõld informed his officers during a meeting in the 300-year-old mayors office west of the modest central square of the city. The building had been untouched by enemy artillery or mortar fire, safe for a few shells landing in the garden and the central square in front. It had some of the oldest halls of the region, the architecture being renovated 17th century Saare-styled. Tampõld walked around the officers table with a cigarette smoking in his hand, the only low ranking person in the room being the interpretor translating everything for the three Kadikistani officers present. "That also means that we can not count on our Kadikistani friends to arrive for at least another two weeks. Luckily Central Command has informed me that Kuressaare is detaching 600 men from the Kadikistani Garrison in Kuressaare to come to our aid. The White Army has cut us off from the South, but we still control the skies. The first Kadikistani reinforcement will arrive tomorrow through the improvised landing strip in Valga", Tampõld said referring to a small village on the eastern outskirts of Laimjala. "If everything goes according to plan we will have 600 Kadikistani comrades in the city by the end of the week. The entire 31st Airborne Division is on it's way to Saaremaa and will initiate a bombing campaign that will give us some room to breath. That together with the three Kadikistani divisions mobilized and departing from the Kadikistani shores as we speak.", the commander informed with a fighting spirit shared by some, but not all. "Comrades, please return to your posts and order your men that retreat is not allowed. You must fight for every metre, every building and every house. Tell your men what the pilots from Kaju told us. If they surrender they will be executed by the reactionaries and go down as cowards. They must fight for socialism, country and their very lives!"

At that very second a mortar round impacted against the front façade of the building, shattering the glass that had survived previous shelling around the building. A cloud of dust entered the room after an initial shock-wave knocked a few of the officers off their chairs while spreading the documents everywhere but on the table. Commander Tampõld rose to his feet with a new anger to his face, not that it was noticeable with all the officers picking themselves up in the dust. "GO NOW AND MAKE THESE DOGS BLEED! REPAY THOSE BASTARDS TENFOLD!". The officers left once they got on their feet, safe for an unconscious officer being carried of after he hit his head on the edge of a small closet. The fight for the city had only just begun.

 

[Saaremaa]

Pennsans, Free Cumbria
27th of December 1957, 17​:00

Goron mab Massen was a man in the early 50s, his once blonde hair turned completely white for some time. He was taller than the Cumbrian average and the fact that the Cumbrians themselves were very tall, it clearly made his a giant compared to the peoples living along the Long and Kalahari Seas. He was a soldier all his life, even from childhood. His father was an artillery general that served in the White Army first in Loago and then in Votadinia. He had a way of living as if his family and household were still a military garrison, so Goron was acquainted with discipline from the youngest of ages. It was clear for him and for his family that he will follow his father's footsteps in becoming a soldiers. He grew up a man taciturn, saturnine and sullen. It was maybe his silent ways that kept him away from harm when the King left the country. One part of him was happy when it happened, as he is a pro-republican and he always hated the fact that the monarchist governments were concentrating too much on the south and centralizing too much of the power in the hands of Naoned. Now, as he was leading the revolt against the Kadikistani dominance and with it, he hoped he will manage to create a new Cumbria, similar to his visions: federal and anti-communist.

In the conference room of the Norzh Palace in Pennsans, Goron gathered together the main commanders of the White Army. He had in front of him the map of Votadinia and Maetia, collectively known as the North, with the front lines drawn along the Doveneleg-Tref Mezieg enclave and along the southern front. Goron was looking at the map in silence, while the others from the general staff were keeping silent, waiting for him. Goron was speaking slowly and softly, so all officers were quiet, so that they can hear and understand him, as they know well that he doesn't like to be asked to repeat himself. "Tref Mezieg is not that important. I do prefer to keep the communists in the city, so keep the town under siege and keep them under pressure. The Kern militias will dominate the rural and forested areas. The main effort I want to be put on Doveneleg, so that the coasts will be secured. We have to expect a potential Kadiki landing in the north to try to catch us in a pincer move with a counter offensive from the south. If we are to take Doveneleg, we have the chance to discourage a potential Kadiki operation, while Tref Mezieg will be kept under siege. I want Mezieg bombed so that it's garrison is kept under pressure, while a unit of Kern Militia will cut all telegraph lines and will isolate the city. The from the 2nd Rifle Brigade, I want four companies, Whiskey, Alpha, Baker and Conan to go to take Doveneleg. The operation will start with a mortar barrage to disrupt the communist defenses and afterwards I want a full attack to quickly take the city." As Goron was talking, the others were taking notes. "This operation, still part of our reclamation of the north, will take place in parallel with our advance to the south. We can declare this operation successful when we will arrive at the Avaylh-Aentieg-Stredel line and from there we will start the fight for the south. The 1st and 2nd divisions will start a huge offensive towards Tref Peniti and will continue pass it, towards Aentieg." The officers noted and left, going to prepare the units for the future operations. Ke mab Gawen, the commander of the Air Forces remained with Goron.

"Sir, we have destroyed a communist scout plane. My men informed me fifteen minutes ago. It is clear by now, that the aerial battle for the North is starting," said Ke as he lighted a cigarette. "Please, open the window and smoke there," said Goron, before he returned to the subject. "Yes, I expected them to start earlier. We need to make Pennsans impenetrable. Our force in this will be AA guns, as currently in the North we have around 350 propeller fighters, while in the south they have 350 propeller fighters and around 150 jet fighters plus all kinds of planes that will come from Kadikistan. Our operations will never succeed if we lack aerial superiority. Even if we keep it for defensive purposes as the Cumbrian air forces were thought since its creation.Our pilots are great, but they need help. They are ready to sacrifice themselves but if we rely only on them, they will not only lose this fight, but their sacrifice will also be in vain," he made another pause, to think. "There are still many White Soldiers in Milesia, in the Army that was under the command of Andreas Goff. I will contact them. I want them to infiltrate into Dumnonia and start guerrilla operations. I want them to sabotage as many airfields as possible, together with telegraph wires and railways. Either way, we need to put pressure in the south too, if we want to have it easier here. It is clear that there is no morality in this war. If the Marxist-Feudalists came to power with terrorism, it also means that terrorism will take them out. More can play that game."

Caladbolg, Ivernia
27th of December, 18:00

Rewan mab Andain had a meeting with Nuada Airgetlam and Dathi MacSuibhne. It went good, considered Rewan as he managed to gather the support of the Ivernians to let the White Army transport troops and supplies through Ivernia. This would help the war for liberation much, especially when the Kadiki Northern Fleet would surely blockade the North. After meeting with the Ivernian leaders, Rewan went to meet with Reese Bivin, the provisional governor of Loago. They met in the Cumbrian Embassy. The embassy was one that still remained royalist when the republic was first declared and now it was the first embassy to open to represent Free Cumbria. Now after around half an hour of formalities, they started talking about the important matter for their meeting.

"The road through Ivernia is open. General Goron is expecting equipment coming from Bourgogne through Trivodnia. They will cross the Gothic Sea towards western Ivernia and from there they will be transported by rail to Free Votadinia and Maetia. The same route is to be taken by the Loagin forces. We expect the State of Loago to respect the agreements of the Viridian Accord and to come to the help of Free Cumbria." Bivin looked a bit puzzled at Rewan, especially as he said the last part of the phrase. "The Viridian Accord is of more importance than the crown itself? I mean. in keeping the unity between Loago and Cumbria," asked Bivin. "For the future, it may seem so," responded Rewan. "The idea of the Empire to raise the prestige of the king was made when we were hoping to see Andreas Goff lead the anti-Kadiki fight, so it was clear by then that the monarchy will be the governing system. Now, with Goron on the scene, things have gone a bit to the south with that... Let's say that a republican Cumbria is easier to envision now." Bivin made a pause, thoughtfully. "You, left me in Maseru with a king and an ex-Marxist-Feudalistic leader and now you tell me that the whole plans for the post-communist Saaremaa have been completely changed?" Bivin started to be annoyed. "Sadly, they did. Goron wants to see a republican Cumbria taking @

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as a model. That makes the Ivernian population hope to be granted autonomy and that brings them in our fight on our side. Also, let's not make a fool of ourselves if we still try to give the image that the people still want their king back. Don't forget that it wasn't me or Iver Gower that asked him to leave. The first step Gower make in Cumbrian soil was also the last step Arthyen made on the same soil. That whole fiasco called the Democratic Socialist Republic happened because of Gower and I decided to go with it to try to avoid the war that we are having now. I have been deceived by Arthyen and his family when he left, as me and the majority of the Prometheists that could declare themselves of the center faction, hoped that he would remain to keep the balance in the country and instead of that, we saw how our keeper of balance and tradition is the first to run," said Rewan as he started to get annoyed, having to remember those days. "And what will I do? Right now, the free world is expressing it's joy about the ending of the Loago crisis and the proclamation of the Empire. Arthyen III is in Maseru and wants to participate in all this. What do I tell them? and what is to happen to Loago?" Bivin started screaming nervously. "When you gave your coup d'etat and when the DSRC was proclaimed, Loago was a republic for a few weeks, until the royal family arrived in Maseru, so I see that you don't really care that much if you are to be the leader of a republican or a monarchist nation. So no need to worry. Currently, you have on your head in Maseru a king... or should I say Emperor who is barely 20 years old. He is sympathetic to socialism, that is why they called him the Red Prince when his father was on the throne. You have Masimba to take care off in the north east and his marxist loonies and you have Iver Gower. You know me, Reese, that I was supportive of the corporatist elements brought into Prometheism by Lena Rees and thanks to those, I can consider myself to be part of the right-wingers. But because I wanted to avoid this war, I wanted to compromise with the left-wingers, but now, with the war started, we need a second Lena Rees to keep the Kadikistani and the communists at bay once and forever and if that means a Right-wing republican Cumbria, so be it. If you want to ally with me and with Goron, you should play in the same team with us. Send soldiers to Votadinia and get rid of Masimba and Gower," said Rewan sternly. Bivin made a pause in the discussion as he got up and poured himself some coffee in a can.

"Get rid of Gower? Hm... Interesting... Though I can understand the reasons, a Marxist-Feudalist is a Marxist-Feudalist, a wolf can change it's fur, but can't change it's behavior. And yet, publicly, people believe that you and him are the best friends. What would they say?" Bivin asked as he took a sip of coffee. "Get rid of him and say that Masimba's guys did it. Then kill Masimba and say that it was all a move from Kadikistan to get rid of annoying defectors. It's simple," Rewan poured some coffee in his can too. "There is yet another problem. That is Arthyen and the Empire. What shall I do with them?" asked Bivin. "As I said, the people were thrilled to hear of the empire and it was a good way to show the international scene that we mean business. If the Empire is to disappear, the other nations will again, be scared that the country, currently, my country, is destabilized and I don't accept such a thing," said Bivin. "The ministries of external affairs of the foreign nations have commended the proclamation of the Empire because the Kadiki pressure is huge. So they are ready to accept every thing that shows them that the world isn't as grim as it seems, even if the Empire has no constitutional basis. Don't say anything yet. When Cumbria is to be liberated and we enter the era of Neo-Prometheism, thanks to the ideological shift towards the right wing, you and me will declared that in the end, to gain legitimacy, we will organize referendums to see what the people want. If the monarchy will win the vote, things can remain the way they are currently. If the republicans win, you will simply say that the new republican constitution of Loago has more weight than the Concordat, thanks to the fact that it's legitimized by popular vote and thus you will have your republic."

 

[Kadikistani Union]

White Sea
Cumbrian Territorial Waters
29th of December, 09:00

Admiral Stojan Radordevic stood at the bay of his flagship, the old Donavich Class battleship, with a smouldering cup of coffee in his hand. His flagship, build in 1936, was one of the oldest large ships in the Kadikistani Revolutionary Navy, it's speed was not disabling though many modern ships could outrun its massive arsenal. For this reason the ship remained at the rear, serving as the forward naval command of the Northern Revolutionary Fleet. Not that the ship wouldn't see action, once the White Navy would be destroyed a coastal bombardment could greatly assist the troops still holding the Doveneleg-Mezieg enclave in the High North. Having to break through the thick layer of ice that had amassed on top of the White Sea and sailing in defensive formations had postponed the Kadikistani arrival for over a day, but Admiral Radordevic was cautious since he did not know what to expect. Seven Akula Class large positional submarines and one Mlavich Class cruiser submarine had been scouting the Cumbrian Territorial Waters searching for enemy ships while the minesweepers, escorted by the frigates and guard ships, cleared a safe passage towards Doveneleg. It was essential for the war effort that a safe supply-line towards the enclave was assured. By nightfall the Kadikistani ships could be seen from the Doveneleg shore while the first troops would enter the transport ships in Naritstok.

A significant segment of the fleet headed for the White-controlled port city of Roz an Arvor. Six cruisers supported by four frigates and some guard ships had reached for the Arvor coastline. According to intelligence the entire White Navy was docked at Roz an Arvor, making them an easy target for the Kadkistan fleet. Captain Vas Lurchek commanded the attack and contacted his Admiral to request permission to initiate. "Comrade Admiral, we have confirmation that the entire White Fleet is still docked at Roz Naval Facilities. We have detected three corvettes, one frigate and one destroyer inactive at this location. Request permission to engage White Fleet and Roz coastal defences. In range at 13:00.", the Captain requested extremely formal, quickly receiving a response from the flagship, "Permission granted. Tear them apart in the name of our Glorious Leader! Good luck, boys!", the Admiral replied amicably. Radordevic was known for taking a personal interest in his men, trying to know as many of them as possible, at least those on his own ships. He found that it was easier to motivate through camaraderie than fear, like some other high-standing Kadikistani military officials believed. The Northern Fleet wasn't as popular among Kadikistani seamen as the larger and more modern Gothic and Kalahari Fleet, which where also based at more friendly locations, climate wise.

"Comrade Admiral, the enemy has spotted us and is directing it's coastal defence canons at us. All but the 'Stoljstajenic' cruiser are in range, armed and ready to fire.", an adjutant told Captain Lurchek who clenched his fists automatically upon hearing the news. "What are you waiting for? You've all been briefed on what to do! Concentrated fire upon the coastal defences.", he said stressed before pausing for about five seconds to light his cigarette in an attempt to get the adrenaline down. "That fleet isn't going anywhere, get the guard ships and two frigates to target the docks, prioritizing military vessels. Once the coastal defences are destroyed we will all target the port, ensuring the enemy can no longer use it. Any spare ammunition after that, we shoot into the city. Get me a status on the supply ships, if Central Command is smart enough they will let us turn the city into ruins." The order was passed down and mere seconds later the canons on both sides started roaring in deafening blows. The Roz coastal defence existed out of a hand full of batteries, no real match for what Kadikistan was throwing against the port. Nonetheless about one minute into the bombardment two shells fired from the main land managed to destroy a guard ship that was getting too close in harassing the harbour. Without a doubt more ships would suffer damage, but one sunken ship was already more losses than expected. Kadikistan wanted to prove to the rebellious population that they would not be safe anywhere, not even in the High North. That's why once the operation was over, Capt. Lurchek's group would be ordered to continue bombarding the city, targeting military and governmental buildings with little regard for the occasional misfire into a neighbourhood, hospital or school.

Stredel Military Airport
29th of December, 13:00

The Kadikistani 31th Mixed Aviation Division had arrived and regrouped at the Puurmani Military Airport. The division consisted out of three Bomber airborne regiments, three fighter airborne regiments, one airborne artillery regiment, a separate reconnaissance company and an antitank battalion. This together with the loyalist RIAF air fleet was deemed enough to secure and maintain aerial superiority over the North while preforming devastating ground attacks on the White Army. Not long after they arrived, refuelled, regrouped and rearmed in the Stredel Military- and Civilian Airport they faced the angry faces of the locals that saw their landscape change drastically. The small civilian airport was seized and confiscated "in the name of the people" since the military facilities alone where not enough to host a Kadikistani Aviation Division, while the surrounded lands were militarized with both static and mobile AA and ground defences.

But the Kadikistani airborne wouldn't have much time to concern themselves the opinion of the local population, they didn't need to feel like the 'liberators' they knew they were. Indoctrination and military discipline had protected them from such matters. "Initiate Operation Magistral. All Bomber Regiments are to bomb designated military, industrial and governmental structures in Pennsans, supported by the fighter squadrons and preceded by reconnaissance units.", as it came from Central Command. The purpose of the attack was not only to hurt the White's in their own capital, but even more importantly to lure out the White Air Force and provoke them into a face-to-face with the numerically superior Kadikistani Aviation Division. Outside of a few RIAF pilots with essential terrain knowledge the Red Cumbrian Air Force was kept out of Operation Magistral as they were deemed more fit to guard the Southern airspace, lest they would get in the way.

The horn rang with the sound of sirens, roaring engines and orders being yelled. As they ran to their respective planes there was a general atmosphere of excitement among the Kadikistani pilots and the crews as they expected to play a vital and heroic role in quelling this reactionary rebellion. In their own planes the men felt like demigods, many of them having experienced the same during the Chernaeyan and Azaeryan uprisings. But unlike those wars Kadikistan had not yet secured aerial dominance. But even though they expected to steam roll over the enemy air force there was no telling what would happen now that they were faced with air-to-air combat. Once airborne the different groups took attack formations with he bombers supported by an impressive escort.

Tref Mezieg
29th of December, 17:00

Kadikistani reinforcements had arrived, trickling in through the air during the past days. The transports had gone largely unnoticed by the organising White Air Force, though two empty once had been shot down by White patrols on their way back to Naoned. Once the Kadikistani soldiers hit the ground they were faced with a renewed enemy offensive which had thrown in artillery units and started bombarding from the air. Lieutenant Colonel Luka Niktov was in charge of the Battalion send to reinforce Tref Mezieg, while Doveneleg would be supplied through the White Sea. "Is this all they got? The boys in Milesia would laugh at this.", Niktov said in order to give his men some strength and courage as they assembled and met up with the Revolutionary Guards in the centre of the city. He had already suffered his first casualties due to the enemy bombardment. But the Revolutionary Guard Commander had lost a lot more as you could see from the look on his face when the Kadikistani's arrived, Niktov sided by a translator. "Commander Urien mab Rhun, I presume? We are here to help you retake the city! I have been informed on the current situation on my way over here. With your permission I will initiate a shock attack with support from your forces to retake the western Prian neighbourhood.", Niktov said looking at the defeated Cumbrian officer. Niktov got closer and put his hand on Urien's shoulder while attempting to get him back on his feet and into the fight, "Seeing your own shooting at you and killing your men must be hard. But the time to mourn will come after, damn you! Now is the time for vengeance. Now is the time to fight and honour your fallen comrades! Fight for the men! Fight for the people in this city! Fight for the future of your family!", Niktov said as he hastily turned around and grabbed the gun that he had hanging around his shoulder. Several of his men looked at him in admiration as he rushed off calling his men to follow him, "Let's go! Let's take Piran away from those pricks!".

 

[Saaremaa]

White Sea - Roz an Arvor Port
29th of December 1956, 0930

Captain David was in the command bridge of the SNS Norzh when the Kadiki fleet appeared. The battle was raging and the Norzh was already hit. David was commanding the fleet, while Cadogan was commanding the coastal defenses. The fleet was docked in the port, so even if theoretically the fleet was made of a destroyer, two frigates and three corvettes, in practice, those ships were just used as unmovable batteries, because trying to leave the port would make the fleet go away from the protective battery of the coastal guns and it would still be futile, as the Kadikistani fleet would destroy the ships even before they would reach designed speed to leave port. By now, the Norzh was already hit and it't front canon has been blocked and rendered useless. A Kadikistani ship was sinking, as David ordered all the canons, coastal and otherwise, to fire on the closest of the enemy ships. The problem was, David knew, the Battleship. It was clear that this was a lost battle and the destruction of a Kadiki fleet was a victory by itself. In this half an hour in which the battle was raging, two corvettes were already sinking, it's crew scuttled them and evacuated them. One corvette, one frigate and the destroyer were still fighting, though all were badly damaged by now. The Kadikistani battleship started to target the village of Roz an Arvor, a small fishing village made of small wooden houses. The settlement wasn't important by itself, but because it was the headquarters of the fleet and because the village contained a mystical groove which the old Celtic believers were considering sacred.

The coastal guns were already gone, the base burning. David heard on the radio that Cadogan ordered the evacuation of the base and of the village. David went to the radio and ordered all the functioning cannons to target the bridge of the Kadikistani cruiser attacking the port. Both fleets must have fired in the same time, because right when David gave the fire order, a huge explosion rocked the whole port. One of the frigates exploded, probably a Kadiki shell hit the armament room or the oil reservoir. Even before looking or asking for reports concerning his previous order, as he immediately ordered the ships to be scuttled, so the Kadikis wouldn't capture them and then ordered the remaining crew to evacuate inland. The battle was over.

Pennsans
29th of December 1956, 1355

The alarm sounded for the first time in the city half an hour ago. The population knew what to do, as terror attacks took place before and the communist rebels attacked the city, so they went to the civil defense bunkers, with little to no panic incidents. Goron anticipated an early Kadikistani dominance of the air and he knew that it was extremely risky to send the WAF into the air now, especially in the long run. So, he filled the whole city with AA guns. Probably every 6th rooftop had an AA on it. The crews manning them started firing, the sky turned black from the smoke of the AA shells, while the Kadiki bombers started hitting the Pennsans Airport and the military base in the northern part of the city. The AA guns on the civilian buildings on the city meant something else for the Kadikis, that the city also is to either be transformed into a target, or they would have too many casualties.

Bombs were falling from the sky, the hangars from the airport were destroyed, the WAF losing in this around ten fighter planes along with the civilian planes from the Arctic Airlines. The airport was incapacitated and the the raid continued on the military base. When the Kadiki planes turned and left, the airport was rendered useless, as the airstrips were destroyed and two 8 story blocks of flats were destroyed in the bombing, other buildings being lightly damaged. As the Kadikistani planes started retreating, the WAF went to the skies and started harassing the communist air forces, with four squadrons following on the planes that got separated from the main forces.

25 km North of Tref Mezieg - Kadikistani held enclave
3rd of January 1957, 0500

"We are the sons of Camulus, the god of War and of Ankou, the God of Death. Our fathers will not rest until the foreigners will leave our lands. What happened in Arvor will bring their doom. We are the sons of Ankou. I am the son of Ankou and I am to bring death to the Kadikistani and their crusaders. Some time ago, the fight was between our men and the Knights, between the Forest and the Cross, but this time, we are allied with the Cross and we fight against, the hammer and the sickle... we fight against nothingness, against the void. This is the final death for the destruction or the salvation of the world. The fight in which all the gods unite so that their worshipers fight the servants of the void. What happened in Arvor will never happen again. Death will follow the Kadikistani and the southerners on each step they take in our lands. May the Gods have mercy on the Kadikistani if we are to see ourselves in their lands as they are in ours", thought Conan mab Peran, better known as Commander Camulus, the leader of the Kern Militia that was organizing partisan actions in the Doveneleg-Tref Mezieg Enclave. The battle of Mezieg was raging for a few days now, the Goron prefered to have the garrison of Mezieg surrender, rather than organize a general slaughterhouse, so he kept them under constant pressure, by keeping the city under a constant barrage of artillery, even if it turned into a heap of ruins. The Whites are on the western, southern and eastern parts of the city, not managing yet to fully surrender it. The lands between Stredel and Mezieg were filled with AA crews to fight the Kadikistani air superiority. This, together with the still intact Doveneleg-Mezieg Railroad made the Revolutionary Guards together with the Kadikistani were using the train to transport supplies from Doveneleg to Mezieg. They set up a provisional station, five kilometers north of Mezieg.

Camulus was seeing the train approaching, by observing the smoke and vapors from the locomotive coming up from the trees. The whole north was filled with the gigantic Scanian Taiga and it was pretty easy to lose yourself in it. When he was hearing it approaching, he sent a man up a telephone wire who cut the telephone and telegraph lines, thus separating Mezieg from the world, even if for a few hours, until the new line will be set up. The train was still approaching. He could see it by now. Three tank carriages were immediately after the tender of the steam locomotive, followed by around ten livestock carriages in which there were probably either soldiers or supplies being transported. Camulus set his eyes upon the tank carriages, probably naphtha to keep Mezieg warm so that their soldiers weren't freezing to death. There were probably -25 degrees outside.

Camulus told two soldiers near him who were holding anti-tank rifles to open fire on the cisterns. As the train was right in front of them, Camulus ordered them to fire. The explosion was huge, bigger than he anticipated. He could see the locomotive and the carriages flying around and landing a few meters away from the railway. The rails were deformed into all kinds of strange shapes. When he could hear himself again, he yelled: "Death!" as the Kadiki and RIA soldiers who escaped the derailment were trying to exit the carriages.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Tref Mezieg
4th of January, 08:00

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, we have just received word that the supply train coming from Doveneleg has been ambushed. We are still awaiting more detailed reports, but we know that most of the supplies have been either captured or destroyed while those animals took no quarter on any survivors.", an out of breath lower officer said as he barged into the flat where Lieutenant Colonel Niktov was reviewing some maps of the city with a handful of his field commanders. Niktov looked agitated, his victory in the Piran neighbourhood where he managed to take back a few blocks already forgotten due to this major setback. The train coming from Doveneleg did not only carry weapons and essential ammunition, but also food and other necessities that he and his forces needed to survive. Being a man of great resilience he already started thinking of alternatives and a course of action the second he heard the word 'ambush'. Striking his fists on the table as he stood up with gunshot noises in the background he gave his orders; "I want a team of engineers to go there right away and assess the situation. Make sure they have the right tools to fix any destruction onto the tracks and its underground. Send a request to Naoned to air-drop a salvage team to the location of the train so we can dismantle it and take whatever the rebels left behind. We are in a war of attrition, Comrades. If Naoned, in it's infinite wisdom, denies the request I want every remaining wagon destroyed. Request Doveneleg to dispatch a heavy security detail from the Kadikistani's who already landed there. Make sure the arrival is synchronized". Niktov paused for a moment to catch a breath, reflecting his agitation by giving one of his officers a deadly stare for not looking concentrated enough. "Comrade Stankovic! You'll get your share of fighting soon enough. Stop LOOKING OUTSIDE!", he corrected before proceeding to go further with the matter at hand.

"We are dealing with an enemy who knows the terrain far better than us. I want our soldiers there to be armed to the teeth. See if it's possible to give them some air support as the engineers do their work. Make sure the entire task force is Kadikistani. If the RIA wants in they can help cover the rear, but I don't want them on site.", he said in a more calm tone. Given the scale and number of defections from the RIA to the White Army he thought very little of their loyalty, unlike the Revolutionary Guards. "The enemy might use this as an opportunity to strike again, make sure that would be suicide. Keep a wide perimeter with sentries on the high ground and scouts ahead. When this is over I want the RIA units patrolling the rail roads to triple their efforts and have at least one Kadikistani soldier in their ranks. Keep the communication lines secured and up", he said before uttering his last commands about the railway matter, "And get me the names of the RIA officers responsible for this security breach. I will personally convey their failure to their commanders in Naoned. These men must become an example to all other incompetent Cumbrian officers. Also scratch those few dozen rebels we captured off the inventory list. At least that way our comrades on the train will have some revenge.", he said while a second later a few dozen bullets hit the walls behind them from the outside, making everyone in the room duck for cover. Niktov was the first to get back up and looked at his commanders with the anger clearly visible in his eyes. "It's not your first time damn it! Get up an follow my orders! I want our men on the ground in 5 hours!", he said before grabbing his personalized KA-47, featuring the escutcheon of the Leninov Family on the stock of it, before crouching below the balcony pillars outside on his belly and returning fire himself.

Strategic Central Command
Rurikgrad, 4th of January, 12:00

The first reports had come in about the ongoing situation in Cumbria. The 'morale raid' on Pennsans had done great damage to the city, and more specifically it's military infrastructure, but had taken a great toll on the 31st Mixed Aviation Division due to the heavy amount of AA guns scattered throughout the city and the small but effective White Air Force. No less than 30 Mostr-3 fighters, 6 Ztka-6 jet bombers, 16 Orbri-M6 and 5 Slavak-2 bombers where lost during the battle with some planes and their respective pilots still unaccounted for. A high price was paid for disabling the Pennsans airport, some fortifications and installations on the ground and a handful of static AA guns. The Central Command had gone in too cocky, with not enough knowledge of the capacity and capabilities of their enemy. Sure the bombardment must have put the fear of god into the civilians of Pennsans, but the cost was to great plus there was a likely chance that acts such as this would only strengthen the resolve of the White Army. Kadikistan's Glorious Leader, Marshall Nikolai Leninov, himself was personally supervising the situation from his grand brutalist military facility in the port city of Rurikgrad. A facility which formerly housed the operation centre for the Kadikistani troops in Milesia, but the latter had been moved to a much smaller site nearby. Indicating the level of importance that the crisis in Cumbria was getting over Kadikistan's other interests.

"Two cruisers damaged and a guardship down? How did that happen while attacking a fishing village with four docked ships?", Leninov enquired genuinely confused after also just digesting the massive losses to the air fleet. "Never mind, at least we have one less incapably commander within our ranks. Escort the damaged ships back to Naritstok for repair. I want the Northern fleet to initiate a grand naval bombardment of the known enemy positions within range. We have full control over the White Sea, let's use that advantage to the fullest. Support the supply lines, anticipate whenever our forces indicate enemy movement along the coast line. I want the 67th Brigade of the 17th Mechanized to land in Roz an Arvor by next week. Until that time we will bomb it to the ground with only smouldering wood and stone ruins remaining by the time our forces set foot on the soil. Meanwhile I want the Airborne to destroy every single airport and landing strip under rebel control. The AA gun locations we know about are mostly static, should be an easy target for the jet bombers. I want the air force flying around the clock.", the Supreme Commander said with an almost inspiring resolve in his voice. "I want this rebellion crushed before the month ends. Use all means at your disposal. Our nation will make it's mark on the world here and now. After this, no one will dare stand against us. The West will know our wrath.", the Glorious Leader said, though a smart tactician and strategist he was still a better politician. In the following weeks Kadikistan would increase it's presence in Cumbria with the expectation that a brutishly large overpowering arsenal would be the quickest way to end the reactionaries. The enormous economic burden was not that much considered, something that would come back to the Kadikistani men in power with a vengeance.

 

[Saaremaa]

Kerveur Military Base - 35 km south-west of Roazhon, Deira
6th of January 1957, 19:45

Credan mab Locryn was a major in the RIA, vice-commander of the Kerveur Military Base. He was first a soldier of the Woad Guard but was transferred to the White Army when Lena Rees came to power. He was a supporter of the DSRC, as he was an old friend of Rewan mab Andain and had faith in him and in his republican projects and in the internal settlement. When Roman Becker cam to power, things changed completely. He was against the complete takeover of the Marxist-Leninists, but he knew that to remain alive and still have something under his command, he should shut up and accept what happened, keeping his head under cover. Late in November, a man came to the base and asked to meet with Major Credan. The man, Credan learned later was Jacca mab Pawly. When he first met him, Credan didn't found out his name, but he understood he had to trust him, as he was sent by Rewan mab Andain.This Jacca was a monk from the Sant Andras monastery, near Tref Dinan. He left the monastery to organize a group that wanted to resist against the communist government and to defend the status of the Catholic Church in Cumbria. Jacca was sent, it seemed by Rewan to discuss with many of the commanders from the north and from the south to organize the anti-communist and anti-kadikistani resistance and to begin the rebellion under General Goron mab Massen. When the rebellion started, the RIA in the south was thrown into chaos. Soldiers didn't knew what to do, higher officers, ex-members of the Revolutionary Army, remained loyal to Naoned and didn't budge when the lower officers and NCOs asked them to surrender. What followed was a complete disaster for the anti-communist movement, as the rebellious soldiers were quickly arrested. What saved Credan and the soldiers loyal to him was the fact that a blackout caused by a blizzard in the mountains made Credan miss the message to start the rebellion and in the medium run, it saved them. But now, Credan received a new message from Jacca, that a new front must be opened, because Maetia and Votadinia were under important pressure from Kadikistan.

Credan called the officers and NCOs that were loyal to him and ordered them to call all the soldiers to gather in the yard. The NCOs started the calls with the trumpets. As the soldiers gathered, Goron knew that many of them were already sensing what was to follow, because many were expecting to join the rebellion. What made Goron decide to throw the dices were a series of new recruits that joined the RIA in the bases in the Roazhon Mountains, many of the new volunteers Goron observed that knew how to use the guns and Jacca told him later that it was a plan to infiltrate the RIA with soldiers that fought in Milesia against the Kadikistani and some of them managed to go pass the border and returned to Cumbria to continue the fight. The new commander of the base was a Kadikistani political commissar, whom Credan didn't even bother to learn his name... something ending in "esky"...

The soldiers were standing at attention in the yard when the Kadikistani commissar came angry and asking the officers sitting in the line what was happening. Credan knew that those officers were all present in the meetings they had before this regarding the rebellion and he knew that he had their support, together with the majority of the soldiers supporting them, made it clear that Credan was now the supreme commander of the base. As the Kadikistani went to him, Credan slapped him so hard that he fell. The soldiers were shocked. Credan took out his pistol. "This is not Milesia, nor Calidia, nor Jurzan. This is Cumbria and we are ready to make your empire kneel before us," he said as he shot the Kadikistani in the head. "From now on, we are soldiers of the White Army and we are ready to fight for the liberation of Cumbria!"

Ree Arthek Bridge, 10 km north of Dol, Cervetia
6th of January 1957, 22:30

Jacca mab Pawly, known as Brother Jacca, was the commander of a unit of the Free Cumbrian Forces of the South. His unit was made mostly of ex-monks who left their monasteries once the communists came to power. They have links through Rewan mab Andain with Cumbrian soldiers in the border guard with Milesia who turned their backs when Cumbrian soldiers who fought in Milesia wanted to return to Cumbria to infiltrate the RIA or to fight. Seeing how corrupt the communist authorities were, Jacca was sure that most Cumbrians, with the exception of Roman Becker and his sycophants were ready to take up arms to fight for liberation, if not for the Kadikistani soldiers and officers who were functioning more like a military police rather than an allied nation. It was clear for him that as long he will have the RIA in front of him, the communist soldiers will try to sabotage the regime as much as possible if not they would outright defect to join them. But if in front of him were Kadikistani soldiers or Cumbrian Revolutionary Guards, things were completely different. The Kadikistani were merciless, while the RGs were doing anything possible to impress the Kadikistani with their own cruelty.

The partisans led by Jacca received some dynamite from miners working in the mines near Dol and now they wanted to destroy the mainline linking Naoned to Aentieg and with it, the main line in which supplies were brought to the communist forces fighting in the south. The most vulnerable point of the line was the King Arthur Bridge, or in Cumbrian, Ree Arthek, north of Dol that was passing above River Ninian. The idea of sabotaging the bridge came ironically from a soldier from the RIA who was part of the unit guarding it. There were four soldiers guarding it. Jacca sent his partisans to eliminate them as quiet as possible. Two of them had their throats slit, but things precipitated when the other two saw the partisans trying to hide the bodies. They shot a partisan but they too were quickly overwhelmed by the anti-communist forces. Jacca tied a chain to the rail and another soldier went down on it and planted the dynamite, while two others were preparing the cable that was going to the detonator. Jacca decided to be generous with the explosives and ordered some to be planted on each side of the arch, to be sure that it goes gown.

Things had to move quickly, as Jacca could hear the sounds of a steam locomotive approaching. At first the partisans asked him to wait, as they didn't want to have the bridge explode with a passenger train on it, but soon, the sounds started be become easier to discern and Jacca observed that there were two steam locomotives pulling the train. It was something huge approaching. In Cumbria, no passenger train was pulled by two locomotives and rarely would a freight one, so Jacca decided to have the bridge detonated. The partisans moved back to a safe zone and when the train was on the bridge, Jacca pushed the lever on the detonator. First, the fire could be heard and a fraction of a second later, the huge sounds of the explosion filled the mountains.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Feiz na Braeth
18km south-east of Tref Mezieg
8th of January, 13.15

Feiz na Braeth was a small town on a small snowy hill. It's Catholic Church tower on top of the hill would be visible from Tref Mezieg if the fog wasn't so thick as today. It was one of the hardest Winter's the continent had seen in over a decade. Freezing cold and snow managed to bring the morale of the RIA forces down even further, the Kadikistani reinforcements providing warm Kadikistani soup offered little solace. The robust Kadikistani cuisine wasn't very popular among the Cumbrians, though it did provide with the necessary nutrients to keep fighting. However nutrients wouldn't be enough, the RIA needed a victory after weeks of defeat, but most of all it needed to root out the White Army infiltrators and potential defectors. Central Command had been in the process of training Cumbrian political commissars tasked with keeping their respective units disciplined since the Becker regime rose to power, but the political, logistic and military training of these men took months with the first batch only now being able to replace the untrained ones. Meanwhile the units without Cumbrian political authorities had been given Kadikistani commissars, like many units also had a Kadikistani commander due to the severe lacking of the RIA officer corps.

Major Sergej Moravscik had been assigned to the 13th 'Machines' Brigade of the 18th Mechanized Infantry Division, currently deployed in the Northern enclave. Moravscik, the sole survivor of the

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in the old part of Tsjervska, was a renown war hero in Kadikistan. He recently featured in many interviews and propaganda pieces brought out by the Central Newspapers of Kadikistan and was set as an example for other Kadikistani's to follow. When he survived the border skirmish by sacrificing some of his own men, some of whom he had known for over a decade, he was promoted from Captain to Major in the Revolutionary Army. He still remained under General Marko Leninov's command and since the latter's ambition had no boundaries the entire division had been redeployed from the Jurzani border to the High North. Marko was a nephew of the 'Glorious Leader' of the main Kadikistani communist dynasty, but not being a direct descendant meant he would have to work extra hard to prove his worth and rise in the ranks. This deployment was seen as an opportunity by Marko and the equally ambitious Moravscik and they would leave no opportunity unused to gain attention and notoriety.

Maj. Moravscik commanded a Company responsible for fortifying the improvised defences north-east of Tref Mezieg and all the way to the coast. The hill-town of Feiz na Braeth was initially proclaimed a White town, with the major and local inhabitants kicking out the Naoned loyalist police and changing the flags. But in the confusion of the first days and thanks to the Kadikistani's being air-dropped in the area to reinforce Tref Mezieg in an earlier phase, the town was recaptured by Kadikistani forces in coordination with RIA loyalists. The Moravscik Company was charged with building a high look-out tower on top of the church in order to better detect enemy movement in the immediate surroundings. Meanwhile the outer side of the hill would now feature a trench with several sentries on top of the hill and a handful of mortar stations in the town proper. It seemed the outside could be dealt with, but the main problem remaining was the anti-Becker population inside. Moravscik had gained much experience in crowd control and anti-reactionary raids in Khandahar which he would apply regardless of the large differences between your average Jurzani and your average Cumbrian. What he would do was happening all over Southern Cumbria and the enclave, but like he always had Moravscik intended to excel in cruelty and conviction.

"Alright boys, you know the drill. Squad of five per house, break down the door and line 'em up.", after doing it a few hundred times it had almost become a routine, except now the soldiers where shivering rather than sweating. The town had about 900 inhabitants who would all be simultaneously be taken out of their respective housed and set op in a line on the streets. A few dozen gave Moravscik and his men trouble by refusing the orders, but they would soon find out that a rifle has other ways to severely damage a person without having to shoot a single round.With the majority lined up in the streets three local judasses with their faces hidden behind scarves came out of the Church which Moravscik had insultingly turned into his Headquarters, using its artefacts as firewood. The masked locals accompanied by several soldiers walked past the line pointing out those who they knew had been a part of the White's or just plain had a grudge against. In the end over a hundred civilians had been singled out and loaded onto the roaring army trucks, family members and friends who resisted too much were added to the list. RIA soldiers and loyal civilians were allowed to plunder the houses of the 'reactionaries', while the Kadikistani forces remained alerted and disciplined.

The trucks drove off into the fog several kilometres north towards a large frozen lake which had been prepared with explosives beforehand. Dropped off in the middle of the lake and constantly kept at gunpoint until the Kadikistani forces were at a safe distance, the people of Feiz na Braeth tended to their wounded, some being happy to be alive at it seemed they had only 'been taught a lesson' by forcefully having to walk all the way home in the terrible cold. They could not have been more wrong. Seconds after the trucks exited the frozen lake Moravscik, who had taken a front row seat to his 'spectacle', gave the order to detonate. Small tactically placed explosions occured in a circle around the trapped civilians in the middle of the lake. As the thick ice started to crack the first bodies could be seen dissapearing into the ice-cold water below. Screaming and shouting reached the shores as several Kadikistani soldiers laughed and made bets on who would go down last. After about two minutes the sounds stopped and the Kadikistani's casually started getting onto the trucks until one corporal saw some movement at the side of the lake. "Comrade Major! Look there!", he yelled as Moravscik turned around and signalled his Lieutenant to toss him the pretty hunting rifle they had confiscated from a civilian. Moravscik's shot was perfect, tearing through the shoulder of the survivor. A small Jeep took Moravscik and a handful of men over to his prey who was surprisingly still alive, breathing heavily not knowing if he should die first from the bleeding or the cold. The strapping young man had the physique of a professional athlete, "Tough bastard.. Could almost pass for a Kadikistani.", he mocked with his men chuckling softly "Toss the pig back in, let's see if he can get out a second time."

 

[Clarenthia]

30 km east of Tref Peniti

“Someone quiet him down!” shouted Captain Haibat Qalandarzai.

Lieutenant Ghulam Khan looked behind him to see the shaking young man, huddling on the ground with his gun clinched between his legs. It was clear the cold hurt him and the clatter of his teeth, combined with the occasional whines weren’t so loud as to compromise the position of the unit, but more than enough to remind the company of how inhospitable the wastes were.

“Boy,” Khan called “if you don’t quiet down, you’ll get us all killed. Please don’t get us killed here tonight.”

It was no wonder why so many Jurzani jumped at the opportunity to fight in Cumbria. Some of them were prometheists who believed their northern brothers were in a time of need, but the vast majority were radicals whose mouths watered at the opportunity to murder Kadikistani. They felt betrayed by the government that surrendered Khandahar and didn’t lift a finger for the hundreds of thousands of Jurzani men, women, and children the Kadikistani had attacked. It was unacceptable and if Alaghan would not find the courage to fight the Kadikistani, then these men would. These men were so anxious to kill the Kadikistani that they traveled thousands of miles to a land that most would not be able to point out on a map.

Still, as powerful a rallying call, the Jurzani were wholly unprepared. They weren’t soldiers, they were farmers, students, devout religious men, and tradesmen. They either knew the warm sand and heat of the sun or the organized chaos of the cities. This, the cold tundra where snow and silence blanketed the land, was an alien and unprecedented hell.

Field Marshall Umra Rassoul knew this. He knew of the thousands of men going to fight and Prime Minister Farrukh’s reluctance to provide support. Consequently, he sent 500 trained officers to lead the rabble of men. The only thing worse than thousands of capable fighters dying in Cumbria is the Kadikistani discovering heavy Jurzani involvement. Considering the olive-skin and dark hair of the Jurzani, they did not exactly fit in with the Cumbrians nor Kadikistani. Rassoul had hoped that the deployment of trained officers would significantly reduce catastrophes.

Haibat Qalandarzai and Ghulam Khan were among those 500 soldiers. It was rare for two of them to be in the same place, especially in an attack group so small, but it was deemed necessary.

Captain Qalandarzai turned his gaze away from the man and back to the road. Even if Qalandarzai was quiet, he too was convinced this frozen tundra would be his grave. Still, the reflection of the moon against the white snow reminded him of home and gave him a warm feeling – or maybe it was the onset of frostbite. Such debate had to be postponed as the target’s headlights appeared off in the distance.

Lt. Khan immediately sprang into action. He jumped over the mound the soldiers were hiding behind and slid down to the road. He unlatched his backpack and pulled out the charges, planting them only a few inches deep before covering the area in snow. The charges were a last resort, as no Kadikistani was allowed to leave here alive.

Out of the corner of Khan’s eye, the other half of the squad had also crossed the road, taking position on the other side of the road. The man covering the rear did his best to cover the tracks, but it ended up looking odd. There was no time to do a better job, Khan decided, and he joined the men on the other side of the road.

It was only seconds, but it felt like hours before the Kadikistani vehicle came into range. However, just as Khan had feared, when the vehicle’s headlights got a glimpse of the badly covered tracks, the vehicle slowed almost to a halt.

“Fuck!” Lt. Khan yelled under his breath.

The Kadikistani were not close enough and if the Jurzani engaged, they’d end up in a firefight where the Kadikistani would have the advantage. Khan did not know what to do until he saw Captain Qalandarzai signaling for him to run down the road, to get to the flank of the Kadikistani. Khan’s confusion was cleared when Qalandarzai’s group opened fire.

Qalandarzai’s men broke cover and retreated to the trees while firing – drawing the complete firepower of the Kadikistani. At that moment, Khan ordered his men to charge to the flank. In only the first seconds of the fight, three Jurzani lay dead, but the Kadikistani remained strong.

Khan succeeded in bringing his men to the flank, opening a second front to the firefight. Despite the casualties, the Jurzani did have a strong numerical advantage. Using that advantage, they overwhelmed the Kadikistani. Unfortunately – but much to the expectation of Captain Qalandarzai and Lt. Khan – none of them surrendered, they all died.

The men made quick work unloading the van, grabbing whatever they could carry, before moving the van itself over the explosives. They worked quickly because they knew they had limited time to accomplish this task and would be slowed down while transporting the munitions. While this was going on, one of the soldiers discovered that the boy from earlier had not joined the fight, but remained cowering in the snow.

“Let us leave this shit to die,” the soldier called “Fucking coward!”

The soldier was silenced by the cocking of a gun, when he turned he was looking directly down the barrel of Captain Qalandarzai’s pistol.

“The only thing I hate more than men who are cannon fodder,” he began “are men who abandon their brothers.”

The soldier nodded, returning to help the boy to his feet.

“Lt. Khan, set the charges, we must leave immediately,” called the captain.

The soldiers began their retreat back into the forests, running toward their camp. The sound of the explosion in the background – the first victory of the Jurzan in the war – brought a warmth to their hearts that almost beat out the cold.

 

[Polesia]

Ministry of National Defence
Amstov
Yiddish Free State
Free States of Trivodnia

Of all the various government departments, the Ministry of National Defence perhaps had one of the grander buildings. A sprawling palatial complex surrounded by gated walls regularly patrolled by armed guards, it had an imposing presence in the city centre. Unlike much of central Amstov, which was built hundreds and hundreds of years ago, this Neoclassical wonder was constructed in the early 19th century during the heyday of the Ultrasylvanian Commonwealth.

Originally home to one of the capital's powerful noble families, it was re-appropriated by the Ministry of National Defence, then known as the Ministry of Military Affairs, in 1919 after the government of the time conducted a sweeping review of the public estate. With Trivodnia not having fought a war in decades, and the armed forces long neglected as a result, it served as an oversized headquarters to an out-of-touch staff who preferred to dwell in the past glories depicted by the many paintings hanging its corridors than confront the country's present challenges.

"Many thanks once more for your kind lunch Leon, though I must say today's beaver was particularly fatty!"

Osvaldas Šiuparis was no different. His spit almost as heavy as the gelatinous meat he bemoaned, and his words slurred from a glass too many of Jatvigaria's famous black currant wine, the ageing intelligence officer slumped uneasily into his cushioned chair, its wooden arms providing only reluctant support.

"It is the season Osvaldas, you know this."

The warm words of reassurance froze quickly in the cold air. Sat respectfully on the other side of the desk was the young editor of the Morning Journal, the newspaper of choice for Trivodnia's establishment. Leon Schulman had inherited a vast network of contacts and informants from his late father, who used his position as one of Amstov's wealthiest industrialists to curry influence and favour that he wielded brutally after launching the broadsheet.

"Perhaps," Osvaldas began, unconvinced as he fiddled with his uniform, readjusting for his expanding girth, "perhaps not."

The pair sat in an uncomfortable silence while Osvaldas continued to preen, before returning focus to his guest once more.

"Now tell me Leon, what is it you really want. Everyone in Amstov knows a lunch from a Schulman is never truly free."

Leon laughed awkwardly as Osvaldas chuckled at his own comment. A senior commander in the Intelligence Bureau's domestic information section, Osvaldas was regularly entertained by the press eager for insight into conflicts abroad or the internal machinations of the Free States own government. Bound by loyalty only to himself, the old Jatvigarian was always happy to oblige, regularly divulging the details of the latest briefing over dinner in one of Amstov's finest restaurants.

"I don't have all day Leon. You're not your father."

The curt push along cut through the room. It was an open secret the Morning Journal was struggling to maintain its leading position. The sudden death of Leon's father Albert had raised questions over its future direction, with Schulman senior maintaining tight control during his reign, letting few others decide the course of travel. The unexpected nationalist victory at the general election also left Leon struggling for access, instead relying on the ramblings of retired politicians and military men for front-page headlines. One particularly cruel national assembly member told Leon over breakfast he now bought the Times over the Morning Journal.

"Cumbria," Leon started weakly, "I have testimony of Kadikistani crimes. Murders of whole villages. Executions of surrendered soldiers-"

"Pah!", Osvaldas coughed as he interrupted, "since when was the fact the Kadikistanis were barbarians news? Everyone knows they are savages. Your paper's crusade for action will get you nowhere Leon. The current lot are too worried about putting crucifixes up everywhere to start a war or even speak up against Ivar. Where did you get this from anyway? Some refugee hiding in Kretyn?"

"No Osvaldas, your men. You have men in Cumbria."

 

[Saaremaa]

Din Rheged - 50 km east of Cumbrian-Ivernian border
9th of January 1957, 19:30

Whiskey Company has been transferred from the 2nd Rifle Brigade, 1st infantry division, to the 8th Rifle Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. It meant that from the front surrounding the enclave, south of Tref Mezieg, to the western part of Maetia, close to the Ivernian border. The soldiers were talking and there were rumors circulating, may of them self-explanatory. The enclave was still kept under pressure, but it was left in the hands of the Kerns who were to wreck it from inside out. The transfer of forces meant that the offensives towards the south were starting. Maetia and Votadinia, the main regions of the north were filled with foreigners, all supporters of the Cumbrian White Revolution. Captain Evan met with Trivodnians, Eiffellanders, Burgundians, Jurzani, Pelasgians and Ivernians, all who came to help and join the anti-Kadikistani war, in the company's trip from Tref Mezieg to Pennsans and from there to Din Rheged, in the west. The communists still dominated the air, and Pennsans was bombarded nearly daily, on the clock, many of it's inhabitants moving to the countryside, leaving the city for the soldiers. This proved to be a problem, as the winter supplies were never organized to have a war start right in the worst period of the year. The military was taking more and more supplies and the civilians were receiving less. This would mean that famine would soon come.

On the day of the 9th of January, nearly 3 weeks after the war started, the rumors came to be true. The offensive for the south was starting. White intelligence said that the destruction of the Ree Arthek bridge in Dol would delay the supplies received by the communists in the easter and central Maetia and with that around Tref Peniti too. From what people were saying, the operation meant an attack of the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Rifle Brigades and of the Voluntary Brigades coming from Jurzan, Ivernia and the Mixed Unit. This meant that for this attack, around 25,000 soldiers are put on the move for the retaking of Maetia. Support and supplies came easier in the west, as Ivernia was seen as the main savior of the Cumbrians and was helping bring all international help. Captain Evan and his unit received Burgundian submachine guns, to replace the old Cumbrian ones designed in the early 30s. Armored Cars from Pelasgia and Burgundia came and were integrated in the battalions and from what the soldiers heard, soon the Imperial Army of Loago would also arrive to support the Offensive for Maetia. "It was a gigantic diplomatic victory of Rewan mab Andain, to bring foreign help", Evan thought. "But still, we have the most to thank to the Ivernians, as they are the ones bringing us all those." When they were being transferred, he met the first Ivernian volunteer in Pennsans. A street photographer asked to capture that moment and took a photo of them shaking hands. "Celtic brotherhood. This is the image of our war," he said.

In the evening, something new started howling, on the white side. It meant that the operation was starting. The howitzers from Pelasgia barely arrived and they were put to the job. The intelligence found out that the town of Din Rheged, the biggest town in central-western Maetia, smaller than the region's capital, Tref Peniti, or Aentieg of Avaylh, but still important as it was the only urban type settlement on this side of the region, was reinforced with armored cars from the south and even tanks. The howitzers started firing on the town. It was clear by now that RIA forces were in the town itself and nothing moved them from there. "Disgusting, using the citizens as human shields," Evan thought. "But they are making a mistake this time. We are sick of being the good boys always caring for the others. The time has come to see the communists and the Kadikis burn." Looking at the fireballs that were engulfing the town, made his adrenaline to rush. Something in him was happy, knowing that with each fire ball, Revolutionary Guards, RIA soldiers and Kadikistanis were dying. He was hoping that in the fiery hell, they were suffering as much as possible.

At half past seven, they were ordered to attack the town. The howitzers were still firing, but the barrage was rolling in front of them. The soldiers entered the city, but it was clear the the garrison was made of Revolutionary Guards, not of RIA, as they ducked themselves in the run down buildings and taking the buildings would result in hand to hand fights. It was the first time Evan killed a man so close to him, when he stabbed with his knife a guard in the neck, mostly by accident, as the enemy tried to attack him too, but he slipped on the black ice and fell on him. He threw the corpse away and went to the window and took out his FN FAL to provide cover for the armored cars and the soldiers behind them as they went on Norzh Street towards the town hall, as Whiskey, Alpha and Conan companies were clearing the ruins of the buildings on each side of the road. After the bombardment fires were everywhere, the smell of blood and gasoline and dust from the concrete was filling the lungs of every soldier, while they could still feel the air freezing, getting closer to -25 degrees.

The attack went on and it was generalized all along the front from the Ivernian border to Tref Peniti, including the capital of Maetia was under the attack of the White Army.

Naoned - Dumnonia, People's Republic of Cumbria
9th of January 1957, 20:00

Miniver ferch Nectan was a typical Cumbrian woman. In her late 40s, with graying hair, wearing typical Cumbrian winter clothes, who worked for the Ministry of Finances, at the Tax Service. No one would have thought of her, by seeing or talking to her, that she was so much involved in the White Revolution. She became one of the leaders of the resistance in Naoned, providing the white intelligence with information and now, organizing revolutionary cells. She met with other agents in the Rowenna Neighborhood, which was more and more known as Walatown, for the dominance of the Wala and Fante Immigrants from Loago. In Cumbria there were around 200,000 black Loagins, around 150,000 of them living in Naoned in and around Walatown. She organized a series of cells that were led from "the home", which was a safe house in Cumbria's capital in which the leaders of the resistance in the city were reuniting. They were frequently changing their safe houses so it would he extremely hard for the secret police to track them down. She went to Walatown to meet with Sevi Tafara, an influential member of the Wala community in Cumbria, ex-geography teacher.

"I believe I know why you are here, miss Miniver," Tafara said as his wife was serving them two cups of tea. "You do?" she asked. "I hope you don't take me for an agent of the secret police," she said with a short smirk. Tafara smiled too, but it was a tired and exhausted smile. "No, of course not, you don't seem that kind, but still you are here, so I am probably wrong. You may be that kind, though not for the communists," he said. "True, you can read me very well, mr Tafara. I came at the order of my employers..." she was interrupted. "Who are your employers?" Tafara asked.

"The people of Cumbria, the Crown, the state of law, democracy. Each in it's own way and probably all of them together. But I didn't come to talk about that. I came to talk about a potential action. Do you know the current status of our anti-communist crusade?" she asked him as she took a sip of the tea. "The whites are pinned down in the north and there are more white aligned men in the forests of the south. Not as many as I would like, though..." said Tafara with a sadness in his voice. "Exactly. Much pressure is put on the north by Naoned and Ivar. My organization and my employers want to change that and bring the attention here, to the south, to change the tide of the war," she said sternly. "How?" asked Tafara. "By organizing a rebellion in Naoned, coupled with an attack of the White Army from Milesia towards Dumnonia and with attacks from the Catholic Militia and the Republican Army. All at the same time. It is risky and probably suicidal, for us, but if we are to succeed, we can shorten the war so it wouldn't become a second Milesia and maybe if we are really lucky, if we are to take and keep Naoned, the legitimacy of the People's Republic would disintegrate and that would practically disband the RIA," she said full of hope. "The RIA is not the problem, as they are more like a resource of weapons and soldiers. The problem is the Revolutionary Guard and the Kadikis, " he said and with it he shown that he knew many of the insides of the administration of Cumbria. Miniver knew what he was saying, but she was intrigued that he knew such things but preferred not to ask him where he takes is information from. "But when we have to interact with the RG, we have the level of corruption of the administration by our side. I think that you might know this, but more than 80% of the workers from the tax service of the ministry of finances is sabotaging the communist war machine through all sorts of corrupt activities, the most pervasive is embezzlement of the tax funds and then using this money to close the eyes of the Financial Guard who should arrest those accused of corruption. As much as Becker wanted order, the country is in chaos and it's not the war. The people don't like the regime and thus they don't respect it's laws. Currently, Cumbria is a nation that cannot be government. I think that Kadikis know this by now, but I don't think that they are ready to bring their own economists to sort things out as easily as to send their officers to lead the RIA and the RG in the war in the north. But my plan involves a cache of weapons and guns that are to be sent to Loago to support the League of Cummunists in the war against Reese Bivin and his Imperial regime. Thanks to the pervasive corrupt atmosphere, there are chances that on the road between the barracks and the port, the boxes full of weapons are to be exchanged with boxes full of trash. And thanks to the same vices of our current society, there are chances that no one would verify them, until the ship transporting them is already on the sea. As long as no Kadikistani is to intervene, of course. That is why once we put our hands on the weapons, we need to be prepared as quickly as possible to hand them to men and women, as the operation might backfire in less than an hour, when the truck transports would reach the port and it will be observed that the boxes have been replaced." Tafara interrupted her: "And I think this is where I intervene. You want the Wala to do this. To take the weapons and start attacking," She expected so much of him, to intuit the plan. "Not only you. Other agents of my employers are actively recruiting for this in the whole city. We are looking for men and women, who went through their military stage and thus know how to fight,"She said, knowing that he wouldn't reject her. Tafara stopped for some time, thinking, but in the end he said: "In the game we just entered, death comes in many forms and probably waiting is the worst one. If your revolution in the north is to fail, the Kadikis will not show mercy and will cleanse the country of nearly everyone so that only the commies will remain around. Thanks to my skin and Loago descent, I am seen as a potential threat, thanks again to Reese Bivin and his government in Loago, so earlier or later, the Kadikis and the RGs will come to Rowenna to eliminate us Walas. So death would come, if I simply wait... But let me be clear, Miss Miniver. If your operation backfires, I don't want any connection with your organization. If you manage to get your hands on the weapons, the Walas in Naoned will come and we will fight to the death to defend the Cumbria we came to. But if not, I still want a few more days to live. Are we clear?" he asked sternly. "Yes, we are, Mr. Tafara. I think we have a deal then. I will come to you to announce that we have taken hold of the guns and probably the trucks will run down somewhere around to give you time to gather your men. If I don't come, be sure that I was killed by the Kadikis," she said as she put on her coat to go home. As she went, she knew that the Loagins were dominating the neighborhood and they were a united bunch. None would betray their kinsmen to spy for the secret services, lest he wanted to be ostracized by the community, so she felt safe in Rowenna.

 

[Polesia]

30km northwest of Tref Mezieg
Cumbria

Lying in a shallow trench with only the frozen earth for comfort, Ivan Dashkevich tried desperately to save the live of the wounded Cumbrian rebel bleeding before him. Deep punctures caused by bullet wounds saw a deep red seep into black soil, briefly giving the snow and ice a crimson tinge before melting both, the oozing blood still warm and fresh.

The man had now given up screaming with pain. Ivan did not understand his words exactly, the Gaelic tongue being so different from his own, but the flailing of arms and eyes rolling fast into the back of the head communicated a pain only a man who had experienced the horror of war could truly understand.

Ivan and his partner Zmitser finished removing the last fragments of casing and were now trying to stem the bleeding with their bare hands, their fingers barely able to distinguish between torn flesh and soaked bandages.

Only a few dozen kilometres away from Tref Mezieg, Ivan and Zmitser were on the frontline of the civil war. Claiming to be disgraced veterans from the Trivodnian military, they posed as Krasnislavian nationalists volunteering for the Prometheist cause, desperate to maim and kill Kadikistanis who had once threatened their homeland too.

Joining a scout group on a long-range patrol, the two Trivodnian agents had hoped for a simple mission to understand how far into the countryside Marxist-Leninovist forces had spread. The answer was too far: a reconnaissance team loyal to the puppet regime spotted them, leading to a fierce fire-fight that only ended after both sides used the cover of dusk to withdraw.

When what little daylight occurred reappeared, trails of red smears would point to where they had fled. But no one was willing to leave the dying, even if it was obvious they could not be saved.

Other rebels ran frantically around them, using their skis as makeshift supports for those who struggled to walk. Ivan and Zmitser were not sure how close they were to the base, but it would twice as long to travel now.

Sent by the Intelligence Bureau to track Kadikistani activity and report on new tactics or equipment, the two Krasnislavians knew they were not the only Trivodnians in Cumbria. Many in Amstov feared the Free States would be next to see Kadikistani tanks and soldiers sweep across it. And with footholds in Calidia and Milesia too, Kadikistan would have a strangle-grip on the Gothic Sea, its navy choking Trivodnia while its army sliced through the border.

If this conflict were to happen, Ivan and Zmitser dreaded to contemplate the fate of their loved ones. The small farming villages where their families lived would be the first to fall, and no doubt become victim to the same wanton cruelty so many Cumbrians had experienced.

The heavy breathing of the wounded man was starting to slow and eyes less frantic. Ivan and Zmister pulled away, the biting cold of the wind eating away through the dried blood and into their bones. Another one of the countless dead.

Ministry of National Defence
Amstov
Yiddish Free State
Free States of Trivodnia

The waft of a freshly lit cigarette hit the air.

“Of course we have eyes and ears in Cumbria,” Osvaldas muttered, smoke slowly crawling from his mouth as he spoke, “we might not do anything about Kadikistan swarming across Scania, but we’ll at least watch it. And given the focus of my role, not ‘my men’ either.”

Osvaldas hoped he did not need to remind Leon of the national security laws preventing the publication of information that could jeopardise active military operations as well.

“If you thought this story was worth roast beaver and an afternoon wasted with me then I think you have misjudged greatly, editor.”

Osvaldas was disappointed, but hardly surprised. Brought up in the pampered world his father had created for him, Leon had no true understanding of power or leverage.

“You’re right. Kadikistani horror stories are as old as Leninov himself. And no-one would be surprised by a Trivodnian presence in Cumbria. They might be upset about the government suppressing information however.”

Leon almost choked as he said the last bit. Biting his lip nervously, he straightened his back and clicked his fingers, careful not to break his stare.

“Suppressing information? I’m not going to stop you from printing this as long as you phrase it carefully. You know the restrictions around military reporting.”

Osvaldas was getting not just bored, but irritated now.

“Not us, but someone before. The government doesn’t want any more noise on Kadikistan,” Leon almost stuttered, his confidence wavering from word to word, “It is pressuring the newspapers to stay quiet. This story has been pulled before. By your men, Osvaldas.”

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Din Rheged
13th of January, 10:35

The Siege of Din Rheged had gone into it's forth day and things weren't looking good for the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division of General Talan mab Truolphin. The latter being one of the few Southern Generals who did not surround himself with Kadikistani advisors, although the latter played a large role in manning the officer posts within his division due to the high amount of lower officers defecting, deserting or lacking descent training. General Truolphin had to much national pride to tolerate the Kadikistani's telling him what to do, but he was now faced the likely possibility that Din Rheged, the relatively small but strategically important urbanized town, would fall within the next couple of days. His forces had been pushed out of the Northern periphery as well as centre of the town safe for the town hall. Truolphin had spread his force to thin in order to keep the pressure on the villages east, west and south of Din Rheged sufficient to avoid any encirclement. While he may have succeeded in avoiding an encirclement, he expected to much from the fact that the town was semi-urbanized and would produce sufficient cover to stop the Southern Offensive of the White Army. But the White's with their excellent knowledge of the terrain took only three days to capture the town centre and the northern periphery from the RIA. The latter had a very weak morale and was quick to abandon it's positions rather than sacrifice their lives. If it wasn't for the Kadikistani officers and the political commissars the 2nd Mechanized would not even had a foothold in Din Rheged any more.

The town hall had seen better days, formerly being the architectural pearl of the immediate region dating back to the 16th century. Today it didn't have it's roof and large parts of the second floor had collapsed. The remaining high ground was used by three sentries and a sniper to halt or at least slow down their offensive. The town hall and a handful of damaged houses around it was the last remaining ground the 2nd Mechanized still controlled, all located in the far south of the town. With no decent defences behind them the way to Avaylh would be open and the defensive line north of Avaylh the earliest they could regroup if the enemy would keep up it's push. Much depended on General Truolphin, but the situation kept getting worse. As the General gave his orders from the command posts about two kilometres south of the town hall, more and more reports where coming in from deserting or defecting soldiers leaving their posts in the face of defeat. Within the hour only the town hall remained while a renewed offensive from the Whites surrounded several RIA units in the rear. During the course of one minute the gunfire in the city stopped and the General could see half a dozen of his men exiting the door with waving the white flag of defeat. No long after that the old Cumbrian flag flew over the city and General Truolphin and his men had no other option than retreat to the villages to the south in hoped of stalling the offensive while other units could help finish the fortified defensive line down south. General Truolphin's future was unsure, the news of Kadikistani units coming to reinforce him worrying the general more than it gave the man relief.

Becker Line

This defensive line was called after it's creator, General Roman Becker, and was becoming commonly known as the 'Becker Line', which ranged 40 kilometres north Avaylh, over the mountains north of Aentieg to the coast north of Stredel. Becker had taken into account the likely chance that the lands further North of those three cities would fall as the White's seemed only to gain more momentum rather than slow down. Kadikistani technically superior soldiers did hurt the White's greatly and in the area's where a large Kadikistani force was involved the reactionaries paid dearly for every metre, but the voids in their number were still easily filled with defectors from the RIA and enthusiastic civilians. The latter being largely positive towards the uprising against the Naoned regime, with only a small minority still backing it. That minority, mostly found in the more industrialized parts of the South where radical leftist ideologies have always been more popular, would be put to work as the regime had called up 20,000 reserves from more loyalist southern regions to put down the rebellion in the north. To broaden the recruitment pool Kadikistan had even started a bombastic and highly expensive charm-offensive in the south to gain more sympathy for the regime, which was in sharp contrast by the terror rule in the northern enclave. This charm-offensive included a raising of the wages for the workers, more benefits, higher pay for soldiers, donations of food, industrial and agricultural machinery and other needs. Investments where also made to find a better balance between maintaining Cumbria's unique culture into the socialist system. Time would tell if all these resources were used in vain or not.

Roz an Arvor
13th of January, 20:00

Under the cover of night the 20th 'Steel Workers' Brigade under Brig. Gen. Slavic Taderdov, a scion from the Burukova Revolutionary Clan, finally landed in Roz an Arvor. The attack had been postponed due to the bad weather conditions, but was preceded by a massive naval bombardment onto known enemy positions which lasted for days. The Kadikistani Brigade walked onto the beach with no resistance because an enemy assault on the shores would be suicide considering the heavy naval canons directed at it. Regardless of this naval superiority in the White Sea Brig. Gen. Taderdov was walking his men straight into a Kern trap. Once his forces captured a descent foothold on the eastern shores of the peninsula Taderdov ordered his men to secure Roz an Arvor, which was reduced to piles of smouldering wood and the occasional ruin from a rare stone building such as the church. Upon entering the town proper a strange foreign shout was heard from the distance, answered by similar shouts from voices coming out of the dark all around them. In this dark new place even the 'fearless' Kadikistani soldiers were worried, the soldiers waving their barrels around towards the dark while seeing nothing but shades and smoke. The flares provided some visual, and showed that they where surrounded by improvised defences melted into the remaining ruins.

There wasn't much time to realize what was happening, but it wasn't needed either since the first shots were fired mere nanoseconds after the intimidating tribal shouting stopped. Fiery beams crossed the Kadikistani forces in the centre and seemed to come from every direction. This was the homeland of the Kern and they would let the Kadikistani's feel their wrath in this bloody ambush. Brig. Gen. Taderdov was here to make his career and in his mind the possibility of defeat simply wasn't an option. He had only set his first few steps on the icy rock breach when the gunfire erupted from within the town. He overheard the cries for help by his comrades in the centre as they yelled through the mobile radio operated by one of his men. "They're everywhere!! Request immediate assistance! No clear view on enemy locati...", the transmission was interrupted by the deafening sound of an explosion on the other end which abruptly broke the communication. Taderdov was as resolved as he was ruthless in his response, "We can not afford to wait, sound the retreat for the units in the centre. Tell them to regroup with the companies on the docks and prepare for a counter-assault. Contact the Cruisers and tell them to target the centre immediately.", he told his second in command as soldiers ran around them, explosions intensified and bullets flew closer. A Lieutenant who had just joined Taderdov with his rifle still smoking, "Comrade Brigadeer General, if the naval barrage start now, our own men will...", Taderdov interrupted fully aware of the sacrifice he was making, "Most will make it back, the other will die a glorious death for their Fatherland. We can not send in more men only to be trapped in the dark with no way to go while the attackers disappear into the night. They have hurt us, I want to make sure we hurt them back. Don't question my orders again.".

For those trapped in the city centre the night wouldn't last very long after the realization that the Revolutionary Navy was taking the town under fire. Either the naval barrage or the Kern would have their lives that night while emotions ranging from anger over disillusionment all the way to fear would be the last ones to go through their heads. Only a few platoons would make it back while an entire company was gone, but at least the Kern were not given the satisfaction of doing a hit and run without their share of casualties. After two hours of barraging the regrouped Kadikistani's would try and secure the centre again, this time better equipped as their heavier stuff was slowly arriving.

 

[Northern Cooperative Unions]

~500 km away from Coastal Dumnonia
14th of January, 3:30 AM
Aboard the freighter Azkar

Koronel Jutxi Jasso was a stout man with a gigantic handlebar mustache protruding from his face, dotted with several scars from shrapnel. He was a balding man at about the age of 45, having enlisted to serve the Koldobikan government back when he was only 20. He lazily cast his gaze around the dim underbelly of the freighter, staring at several balaclava-cast men with cloth vests and jungle webbing, gearing themselves up with the contents of containers. Coats, parkas, and other assorted goods were passed around between the men - they were going far to the north, and Jutxi wasn't quite sure how his tanned jungle-rats would fare. This was one freighter out of seven, covertly escorting the guerrillas through a commercial shipping lane near the coast of Dumnonia. Many of the men on his vessel were war criminals. They'd been officially declared so by the conventional government of Mendiak. Some were sociopathic, and some were truly criminally, mentally insane - but they understood their desires were to be met soon. The thoroughly scarred, stocky men toyed with their rifles and conditioned themselves for the killing to come. Guerrilla war was an art to the Mendiak Fascist - he had been waging it for nearly two decades.

Jutxi licked his mustache, casting a glance to his subordinate Lieutenant. The Lieutenant had been speaking about the conventions of modern warfare or some other legal standard as established by autocrats around the world.

Jutxi interjected without having even listened to one word, "Lieutenant, I frankly do not give a damn about any law that prevents my men from functioning. We've never cared with the Directory, why care now?"

The Lieutenant coughed briefly into his fist, nodding rapidly. He tried arguing, but Jutxi blocked out the noise again. He rose his voice so his grizzled troops could hear. "We're going to do the best we can to make sure these communists are exterminated to the last man - no one will avoid us. Chaos is our objective, there are no boundaries. In order to win at home, we must win abroad - there is still hope for our movement, but even better hope when we fight their war. Cause chaos, and the world will come to know of the Koldobikan Black Hand."

The Lieutenant had shut up, allowing Jutxi to proceed with a speech about bellicosity, and the need to bring about corporatism to the world's shores. A light cheer resounded throughout the bottom of the vessel as the Lieutenant closed his speech. They were to land within several days.

 

[Saaremaa]

Becker line, close to Avaylh
19th of January 0600 hours

At the orders of General Goron mab Massen, the whole western units continued the attack to the south after they taken Din Rheged. The villages south and east of the town have been overwhelmed by the white forces, but still Goron asked for the offensive to continue, to reach the Becker line. The line was the place where the whole RIA, RG and Kadikistani soldiers were amassed. It was the main obstacle. Should the line be breached, the south would be open. But Evan started to question if the line would ever by breached from the north. In front of their positions lay trenches and bunkers and barbed wire. Mere infantry wouldn't be able to breach it. Evan observed even from the fights in the villages near Din Rheged that the RIA soldiers they fought in the town were replaced with Revolutionary Guards, as they found more and more Khaki uniforms with red decorations and some Cumbrian elements than the traditional grey-red uniforms of the RIA, but also khaki uniforms with Kadikistani decorations. It was clear that the more they went to the south, the fight was harder and harder. Losses were huge, Whiskey company lost nearly half of it's soldiers. Evan was estimating the loses at around three thousand. The reality was even grimmer. Out of the 25,000 soldiers that attacked Din Rheged and were to reach the line, only a little more than 18,000 managed to do it.

The soldiers had low morale and were exhausted after more than a week of continuous fighting and more than 100 km march towards the south. There were rumors circulating that soldiers from Loago have arrived, bringing with them armored cars and tanks, together with supplies from the lend lease agreements, but until now, there was nothing sent towards the Becker Line. Two days ago, Evan heard that there were agitations in the east. At first he hoped that it was because the Loagin Expeditionary Force together with the White Army in the East were attacking the enclave to end it's existence once and forever and thus to help concentrate on the south. But yesterday, the news came and they were horrid. An extremely large contingent of RIA, Revolutionary Guards and mainly Kadikistanis were attacking from Stredel towards the north and north-west, with the scope to create a corridor with the enclave and even to threaten Pennsans.

At midnight, orders came for an attack on the Becker Line and the Pelasgian supplied howitzers started firing for an hour or so and then the soldiers attacked. It was a complete chaos. Many were trapped in the minefield between the barbed wires, even more didn't even manage to reach to bunkers. After six hours, the attack was stopped. Around 500 soldiers if not more were lying dead in no man's land. Whiskey company was decimated. But the blow came afterwards. Orders have been received to retreat back to Din Rheged and to fortify the town. The orders were received with outrage by the soldiers, many of them having lost companions in this campaign, others were wounded and lost blood, sweat and even limbs for it. Evan even heard that a sergeant who gave the news was shot in the head by two soldiers from Conan company. Orders were given to mine, burn and booby trap everything between the Becker Line and Din Rheged, more than 70km to the north.

Pennsans​
21st of January 0500 hours

The city was being bombarded by the Kadikistani air force. More and more planes were being brought down by the AA systems that were received from the anti-communist states, but still, the city was transformed into a pile of rubble, no building higher than four stories was kept standing. The Norzh Palace was abandoned and the headquarters of the revolution were moved in the bunker underneath it. General Goron mab Massen was convening the general staff for a meeting. Generators were running to keep lights going in the bunker and thus in the conference room, the men could see the map of the north, presented to them by Goron. The map was showing the gains and more recently loses in the west and the defenses of the east.

"It is more stronger than we expected," said colonel Arthyen mab Aed. "It is an attack of huge proportions and if we are to try to keep them away from the enclave, we will lose nearly half of our forces," he continued. "It seems so... Pennsans is the center of our rebellion. We need to do anything possible to defend it. If we lose this city, we lose our legitimacy. We are reduced to a bunch of marauding rabble. We must do anything to avoid this. We must keep fighting and.." he was interrupted. "No more. No more like that," Goron looked at the man who said that. He was Tregan mab Treeve. He was one of the most respected officers in the army before the whole takeover of the Marxist-Leninovists. He was the ex-commander of the famous Woad Guard and the one who fought the terror groups of the Party of the Left. Behind Tregan were more men that Goron knew were staunch supporters of the King. Tregan was holding a document in his hand with the ermine shield on the header. "By the orders of Benadur Rewan mab Andain and his royal majesty, Arthyen III, King of the Cumbrians and Emperor of Loago, you, Goron mab Massen, you are hereby dismissed from the office of supreme commander of the White Army for your complete incompetence and utter lack of understanding the realities of the war we are fighting. From now on, I have been appointed commander of the army of the kingdom," the men in the room were in shock. Before any of them said anything, the soldiers behind Tregan, all with their faces painted in woad, immobilized Goron and handcuffed him. "Goron mab Massen, you are hereby arrested for plotting a republican coup d'etat and dividing thus our people in the fight against the Kadiki invaders." Goron was speechless. He wanted to present himself as the savior of Cumbria and with it to be popular enough for the people to support him when he would stop the king and the government in exile from returning and thus create a republican Cumbria, but even if he was known by his republican affinities, it was kept a secret... with only one person knowing it... the commander of the Republican Army in the Kerveur Mountains, Credan mab Locryn.

Goron shouted and screamed and swore, demanding to be liberated, but the Woads were merciless. They took him and placed him under arrest. The officers didn't say a thing at the beginning. Ke mab Gawen, the commander of the air forces wanted to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth to protest, his eyesight met with the sight of Tregan and he quickly closed his mouth, just to open it again after a second, saying: "Well, the truth is that we had huge casualties in the last period and sadly we lost momentum with the last events..." Tregan nodded slowly, victoriously. "Going past his betrayal, Goron was a mediocre commander and his problem was that he was outdated with the technicalities of the beginning of the century. He has no idea on how to win a war fighting with limited resources and limited manpower. We need to think and adopt a new paradigm," said Tregan as he took a pencil and drew a line south of Din Rheged to Tref Peniti and from there along the River Arth, to the Norzh Mountains and to the Kadikistani Enclave. "If we want to have our movement survive this huge offensive we need to adapt and entrench. To save more than half of our soldiers, we will retreat them on the right banks of the Arth and let the Kadikis have their precious corridor, even if it doesn't matter as they control the seas. The days of huge offensives in the north is over. From now on we need to created this huge line of defense and have as many RIA, RG and Kadikis come on us." A colonel raised his hand to announce his question: "But how can we win, if we entrench and hope that they come all on us?" Tregan smirked and then responded: "This is why Goron lost so many soldiers. You all forget an important thing. This isn't a war between Cumbria and Kadikistan. This is not a conventional war. This is a civil war, sadly. This is a war between the Germanic minority ruling the People's Republic, together with the Kadikis, against the Cumbrians. This is our national uprising. We will never win such a war conventionally. Just look at the world map and see how huge is Kadikistan and how populous and rich is it compared to Cumbria, especially when we have only half a Cumbria. We don't fight it as a conventional war. We will have a People's War," he cleared his throat and then continued.

"Victory comes through popular uprising, not through military victory. Our duty now is to attract more Kadikis and communists to the north and to resist here, until the popular uprising will start in the south. Our agents are gathering supporters and distributing weapons as we talk. Votadinia, as I think that in a few days calling it The Enclave would be obsolete, the Kerns as keeping the Kadikis in check as they are risking very much to go away from the main roads linking Tref Mezieg to Doveneleg. In the Arvor Peninsula, The Kerns will need to stop their march to the south. If they have problems, I will be ready to send an armor brigade and a mechanized brigade from Loago to stop them. Don't forget, gentlemen, thanks to our lack of resources, every point we retreat from is a point that is permanently lost. So there will be no retreat from this new line of defense. This war will be won not by us and our conventional armies, but by the heroes in the shadows, who bomb and snipe Kadiki soldiers and supplies. It is won by the workers who sabotage the factories. It is won by the men and women who hide until the enemy passes and then stab them in the back. There is no honor in the wars of modernity. But we will win when Kadikistan will consider that they have to choose between a victory in Cumbria and with it a complete economical collapse or a retreat from Cumbria and salvation for their damned political system," said Tregan as the men were listening quietly.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

Doveneleg Regional Kadikistani Military Headquarters
27th of January, 16:07

Unlike the South where Central Command had started a full-blown charm offensive, the enclave in the North had endured the hardest form of Kadikistani occupation. Central Command and the Kadikistani political leadership had deemed the North to be 'inconvertible' which meant that both White soldiers as well as the civilians were deemed hostile and dealt with accordingly. It came to no surprise to anyone that General Marko Leninov had been appointed to 'Pacify the Enclave' by all means necessary in order to ensure the proper workings of military operations regardless of civilian life. For over a decade the 38-year old nephew of the 'Glorious Leader' Nikolai Leninov had been responsible for the many background dealings of his Family around the border with the Jurzan. The amount of opium and other narcotic trades facilitated by him and his men was uncountable, not even mentioning the various secret weapon deals. The latter being the preferred currency of Kadikistan when it came to maintaining the ancient old Opium Route that ran from the Jurzan and Huaxhia straight into Germania, Gallia and even Scania. Marko had recently gained much experience in controlling a hostile civilian population in Lurcheniv, more specifically the historic Khandahar region. There he was the main officer on the ground in charge of executing the infamous 'Relocation and Assimilation Program' which effectively deported 65% of the indigenous Jurzani population to the Kadikistani High North. Marko, with the help of his officer corps which remained almost unchanged ever since he took command over the 18th Mechanized, successfully crushed the Jurzani rebellions within days and made sure he filled his quota's double. The latter leading to overpopulating the train wagons, which costed a high number of deportees their lives even before reaching their destination.

Marko was seen as a perfect fit for the job and was already praised for his actions which led to the retaking of Roz an Arvor, at least for now. Marko had ordered his troops to commandeer a local textile factory in the centre of Doveneleg in order to turn it into the regional headquarters. Bureau after bureau followed each other symmetrically in the large hangar where the weaving machinery used to be. Ironically for the self-described 'communists' Marko and his staff had taken the room of the factory manager on top, which gave them an overview of the communication bureaus below. Surely with Marko breathing down their neck both Kadikistani and Cumbrian personnel wouldn't dare to slack off. "How is the situation in Roz an Arvor? Any improvements?", Marko said with his deep voice while stroking his long broad beard. "Negative, Comrade General. Last reports came in minutes ago. Taderdov's manpower is suffering greatly under the continued harassment of the Kern. These tribal militias grow more confident in their attacks. As you know last week several of them covertly snuck aboard a guardship anchored near the coast with improvised rafts, killing every sailor on board. This time they sank another one using powerful explosives...", Marko interrupted by slamming his fists onto the glass from which he was looking at his administration below. None of those workers dared interrupt their assignments by gazing at the commanders above, while they all heard it. "Did Slavic at least apprehend the attackers?", Marko inquired agitated before his staff member shook his head, Negative, Comrade. They it was a very effective stealth attack. These tribal militias know the land better than anyone, even the Cumbrians are no help there..

Marko calmed his voice, turned to himself and muttered, "Incompetent... Stupid... I should have sent Moravscik. That man I can count on.". Brigadeer General Slobodan Ratkovic overheard his commander and spoke to him as a long time friend who remained loyal through better and worse. "While Major Moravscik has done more than prove his worth in the past and now recently in Tref Mezieg, we could not give a Major the command of an entire regiment.". Marko turned away from the glass looking at his men and the strategic map of the enclave on the table in the center of his staff. "That reminds me. I want to give Sergei a promotion.", he said referring to Major Sergei Moravscik. Ratkovic responded with some amazement in his voice, "But Marko, was only a Captain until recently. Are you sure it's wise to let a man so ruthless rise through the ranks so fast? It makes men ambitious, sometimes overly ambitious.", Ratkovic said dropping the formalities. "Are you denying his abilities?", Marko replied in a slightly defensive tone. "No General, and he is you preferred lower officer from the past, but he...", Ratkovic continued before being abruptly interrupted by Marko, "Then it is settled! Moravscik will be promoted to Colonel. Miraslevijc, make him available I want to do the honours myself right here in this office while the men stand in salute below. The man is a hero and we need more like him in the higher ranks. He can replace Colonel that got shot by a sharpshooter two days ago... Svreki... that was his name.", a relatively long pause ensued with Marko still pondering.

"Back to the matter at hand. I assume we are well dug in and fortified with the means at out disposal?", the General said in an official tone, returning to business. "Losses have been heavy, both material and human. The enemies increasing use of guerilla tactics rather than conventional warfare is hurting us. We need more repression and for that we need more air support and tanks.", the bear-like Brigadier General Alexei Miraslevijc responded with a firmness in his voice. "High Command in Naoned has informed me that 6th Tank'ers will lift the encirclement of our enclave within the week. They met heavy resistance but once they get here I will request a detachment of them to be placed under my command. I'll contact the Glorious Leader and make it a personal request. Fortifying the front must remain our top priority. JSO's* will be dispatched to more effectively patrol the surrounding areas.".

* Jedinica za Specijalne Operacije: Special Operations Units

 

[Saaremaa]

25km south-east of Doveneleg
27th of January 1957, 2345 hours

After the beginning of the Kern resistance in the enclave, Kadikistani soldiers and Revolutionary Guards have swarmed the Mezieg and Doveneleg Counties. It made life hard for the Kern partisans, events have become more and more radical and crueler. There have been rumors circulating in Pennsans coming from RIA defectors who said that the Kerns in the enclave captured Kadikistani and Revolutionary Guards alive sometimes and tortured them or hanged them by the feet, upside down from the trees, all naked to freeze in the taiga. There were stories of their cruelty and it became clear for both camps that in this new level of warring, being taken as a prisoner alive was the worst thing it can happen to someone. After the Kadikistani offensive in Votadinia, the enclave was no more, as the offensive created a corridor that united Stredel with Tref Mezieg and with it, the Kingdom lost the eastern coast and the Doveneleg-Tref Mezieg railway lost it's importance. As the Kerns were still based very much in between the two and couldn't spread so quickly to disrupt the newly formed links between Stredel and Tref Mezieg.

Still, there were important missions to be done by the Kerns. Marko Leninov and his units were terrorizing the population of County Doveneleg and Mezieg. He needed to disappear. He made too much damages to the people of Cumbria. For that, informants in the RIA were contacted and they gave some informations about Marko Leninov trying to set up a headquarter for the communist forces in Doveneleg and to fortify the fishing town to keep it important for the communist war machine as that would keep him and his units relevant for the war effort. It was clear that when he will move to the villages around Doveneleg to survey them, he would be the most vulnerable.

Commander Camulus was filled with hate of the Kadikistani. Some of his followers started to even be concerned of the sanity of their leader, even if they were supporting him when he was saying that the best thing to do for Kadikistan as a country was to empty it of all Kadikis and that they were a scourge for the whole world. Camulus and his men started to patrol around Dovenelev, avoiding at all costs Kadikistani patrols, in hopes of making them let their guard down. They spend some weeks in the taiga, sometimes even under the clear sky, with temperatures dropping to even -35 degrees celsius. They were making traps for animals, to eat without wasting bullets in their hunt. They were turned completely, from the orderly units that they were before, they turned into semi-wild men, motivated only by their hate of the Kadikis and communist Cumbrians. Their whole lives were revolving around killing as many as possible. They were not motivated by the ideals of national liberation itself, like the rest of the whites, but more by the lust for blood that battle gave them.

The hunt for Marko Leninov was seen as no more than a hunt for wild animals, just that this time, it was humans, not game, they were after. They followed and spied on him for more than ten days, until they decided to strike. The informants gave Camulus the travel plans of Marko Leninov, which included a short visit to the Revolutionary Guard unit based in the village of Crathie. Camulus odered his men to mine the road in the evening, as he heard that at midnight Leninov had to arrive in Crathie. At 2300 hours, the road was prepared and the Kerns were positioned on each side of the road waiting. They were all wearing white cloaks, many even bleached their hair and painted their faces and weapons white to become one with the environment. They were all waiting for the convoy to come. Time passed, the day, already dark thanks to the latitude, transformed into a dark, moonless night. Sounds could be heard coming from the road from Doveneleg. A convoy made of six Kadikistani-made GAZ-67 jeeps were coming. Camulus knew. Leninov was coming. It was like he could feel them.

The mines detonated when the first vehicle touched them with their wheel. The convoy stopped for a fraction of a second, until the driver of the 2nd vehicle, understanding the danger of the ambush tried to go around the damaged jeep, to escape, but the 2nd one was also destroyed by a grenade launched by the Kerns. The whites started firing towards the cars,as the Kadikistani and the communist Cumbrians returned fire confused, not knowing where to fire. Camulus was searching for Leninov through the lens of his sniper rifle. He found him in the 5th vehicle, trying to take cover behind the wheels. He was gesticulating and firing with a pistol and when Camulus saw that he was trying to hide under the vehicle, he decided that his time has come. He targeted his neck, because he wanted to keep his face intact, for the Kadikistani to see that one member of their beloved dynasty was this time the victim and pushed the trigger.

Kerveur, Deira
28th of January 1957, 0025 hours

Miss Miniver ferch Nectan did anything possible. She met with Tafara, a leader of the Wala community and gained his support, she met with Ulf Ivarson, an influential member of the Norse-Brython community and gained his support. She met with Seoirse Mac Diarmaid, an influential member of the Ivernian refugees and even there managed to get some support. As a surprise, she had a meeting with Jutxi Jasso, a colonel for some right-wing militias in Mendiak, who managed to infiltrate in Cumbria. She gave them IDs to present them as Ivernian refugees. But there was a huge problem... Ironically, she managed to unite all those people to fight for the Kingdom of the Cumbrians, but the Cumbrians themselves supporting her in Naoned were little to none. She didn't know who to hate more for this: The Kadikistanis and their huge resources who were throwing money left and right to outright bribe people in supporting Becker and his regime, of the Cumbrians living in Dumnonia and southern Deira who were receiving the most of the currency from Kadikistan as part of the hearts and minds operation to try to keep the southern Cumbrians calm. Though she was amused when she heard that she too was receiving money, when she checked her bank account, but when she saw the sums, a part of her tried to understand why so many average Cumbrians preferred that over a weapon and the risk of losing one's life...

But after some days, she felt uneasy. She managed to get her hands on some weapons, but she felt that even at work, there was more and more pressure on her on why she was missing work hours and it was probably either her paranoia or it was real, but she felt that she was continuously followed, so she decided to leave Naoned and go to somewhere safe, until the fireworks were to start in the south too. She decided to go to Kerveur, to meet with Credan mab Locryn, an old... acquaintance. She burned her old ID and took a new one, giving her a whole new identity, under the name Elwen ferch Hicca, a commissioner in the RIA, assigned with surveying the morale of the soldiers. She went to her car and literally drove out of Naoned. At some point, she was stopped by the police who were organizing search parties on the highway to be sure that no one was smuggling weapons towards the north, but she had no problem with them. At around 60km south of Roazhon she made a right turn towards Kerveur. She was stopped again by some militia men, who warned her that in that sector there were white bands marauding, but when she showed her RIA badge, they understood and let her continue. She arrived at Kerveur.

Caladbolg, Ivernia
28th of January 1957, 0115 hours

Rewan mab Andain met again with Reese Bivin. Since the war in Cumbria started, the government in exile of Cumbria moved from Maseru, in Loago to Caladbolg in Ivernia, as it was seen as much closer than the Empire, which was on the other side of the world. As Reese Bivin was more of a military commander than a civilian administrator, he too preferred to move his headquarters in Caladbolg, to be closer to the fray, than in Maseru. Even the King came to Caladbolg, even if Rewan and Bivin were keeping him away from those meetings they had, as they considered that he was too inexperienced at his early age of only 20 to take part in them.

"As you requested, Bivin, Goron is no more... probably with him the republican thought died too," said Rewan as he poured some tea for him and for Reese Bivin. "Yes, I heard... Though I can say it was unexpected. I didn't imagined that we could get rid of that torn so easily," said Bivin as took a sip of tea. "And with it, I can hope that we can say goodbye to the post-war referendum for a republic too and with it, you can keep the leadership of your Empire," said Rewan. "That is as long as my Emperor appoints me as Governor once the war is over," said Bivin with a smirk. "That is also once I nominate your for it, don't forget that. Even if it is an Empire, Loago still is dependent of the Kingdom of the Cumbrians," said Rewan sternly. "Either way, from now on there will be no republic and we can reform the army from the White Army to the Catholic and Royal Army to gain the support of the Church. Let us not forget that in the end, the halls of the Sant Piran Cathedral in Naoned were desecrated when the Revolutionary Guards stormed it to suppress the riots and that the monastic order of St Andrew is supporting us through the militia led by Jacca mab Pawly," he continued. "True, the Cumbria of tomorrow and the Catholic Church are to be united with a bond as strong as the one in the times of old," said Bivin.

"So, will you keep your promise, now that Goron and the republicans are no more?" asked Rewan. "Of course. You kept yours so I will reciprocate. I will send tn more brigades. I must say that it would be the maximal support you will receive, as the Loago Host, or should I say the Catholic and Imperial Army of Loago will be stretched extremely thin, as in the end more than half of it's forces will be in Scania. I will send them to support the units based in Milesia, so when the Plan Lugh will start, ten brigades, meaning three divisions, with the remains of the white army in Milesia will attack Dumnonia." Rewan smilled, as he hoped for only five or six brigades, not ten. But he went on to try his luck even more: "There is also something else. This war will mostly be won if we manage to convince the Kadikistani that Cumbria is a country too expensive to keep or defend. That is why we need to go to high class and expensive targets." Bivin frowned. "What is it?" he asked. "The Submarines received from Pelasgia are now docked in Maseru and are part of the Imperial Submarine Corps. I want them in the north, to harass and destroy the Kadiki fleet blockading the north." Bivin didn't say anything yet. He took a sip of tea and thought about it for a bit. "No. If we send them all together to take on the Kadiki fleet, they will be destroyed and we will have to pay huge sums to the Pelasgians for them. No. We need to organize some surgical strikes. Fuck the whole fleet. We strike at what is the most important for the Kadiki prestige: The Donavich. I will send five submarines to the north. They will be refitted in an Ivernian port in the Celtic Sea and afterwards they will go for the battleship. I do not care if we lose all the damn five submarines, as long as that ship is going down, I will declare it a huge victory," he stopped again to think for a bit. " The other 13 submarines will be sent together with the other ships received by the Pelasgian Empire in the Gothic Sea, with their base of operations in an Ivernian port which will be decided later after I will meet with Nuada Airgetlam and they will bring hell to the Kadiki shipping in the Gothic Sea. But as I said, sock and fear are our greatest weapons, so our naval war will start with a submarine attack on the port of Rurikgrad. It is time to bring the war to Kadikistani shores," said Bivin, very proud of his plans. "But would Ivernia let us use their harbors as safe havens? Let's not rush until we don't speak with Nuada or Dathi," said Rewan. Bivin huffed. "You promised our king's hand to the daughter of Dathi Mac Suibhne. You made plans for the Celtic Union with Ivernia and even today we heard that the ceasefire in Milesia has ended as peace talks broke down. I am pretty sure that they will accept and that by the way that Cumbria and Ivernia are now linked, there will be no peace in Cumbria as long as there is an independent Milesia and no peace in Milesia as long as there is a People's Republic of Cumbria," said Bivin.