The Farminan-Messian War is in fact the second war between Democratic Republic of Farmina and the Snyder Directorate of the Militia Enforced State. The factors leading up to the war were complex, but fighting finally broke out after an engagement between mercenaries in Farmina and the Messian navy. Although the war was not long, it ended with millions of dead, mainly Messian civilians. The war ended when the Militia Enforced State signed the Treaty of Trinity and the balance of power between the two nations was radically rewritten.

Background

Second Arandior War

Forty five years prior to the Farminan-Messian War, Farminan and Messian forces met in the Second Arandior War. The First Arandior War had seen Farmina annex north Arandior five years earlier, breaking the confidence of the Arandiorian people. In desperation, they turned to the Militia Enforced State for protection, strengthening ties to ensure that Farmina was not in a position to attack what remained of the People’s Republic of Arandior.

The Second Arandior War broke out when Farmina accused Arandior of smuggling weapons to separatists in northern Arandior. The Militia Enforced State quickly mobilized to fulfill its obligations. The war was widely marked by incompetence on both sides and for a long time remained a bloody draw (the Second Arandior war saw more military casualties than the Farminan-Messian war). Slowly a string of Farminan offensives gained momentum at great cost to both sides. The People’s Republic of Arandior surrendered to Farmina unconditionally and then the Militia Enforced State made a more respectable withdrawal from the war. Farmina combined the Territory of Northern Arandior, with the People’s Republic of Arandior to form the Province of Arandior.

Interwar Years

At the end of the Second Arandior War, both sides were unhappy without the outcome. The MES felt that Farmina had destroyed a legitimate state; while the Farminans felt their victory was incomplete and the Messians had gotten off lightly. Politically, both nations remained dictatorships, a substantial point of similarity.

The hostilities simmered, but slowly eased over the following forty-five years. Although the MES remained socially stable, Farmina's political and social structure faced much internal strife. Capitalists enjoyed increasing power and the once all powerful Grey Catholic Church, became the puppet of Emperor Justinian. Emperor Justinian had been appointed by the Church to rule Farmina in its name; but the relationship quickly reversed. Justinian's rule saw the economy boom and many of the competing political institutions crushed under his heal. Nations opposing his rule were also put to the blade after the "Bloody Fields" affair.

The unstoppable Justinian fell from power, before anyone realised his rule was weakening. Tobias Grey, one of the key men behind Justinian's fall and heir to the powerful Grey family, became the Imperial Regent. Tobias Grey abolished his own office along with many of the imperial trappings. Instead he ordered elections, for the offices of both President and Parliament. Reminiscent of Justinian's rule, the democratic institutions enjoyed widely unchecked power like that of the Emperor's.

Road to War

The rise of democracy in Farmina created a new flashpoint with the Militia Enforced State. When Force Commander James Ackvick, the unofficial leader of the MES, offered Farmina help dealing with a terrorist incident and a failed official coup, Tobias Grey distanced himself from the acceptance (Tobias Grey was in a coma at the time the help was accepted). Despite inviting Messian representatives to his annual ball, he then used the ball as a platform to condemn dictatorships and condoned the use of military force to unseat. This was seen as a direct threat to the Messian regime. The threat revived Messian hostility to Farmina, but did lead to democratic institutions gaining increased influence in the MES.

Despite what appeared to be a small victory for Tobias Grey, it quickly unravelled. In a surprise electoral shock, Liberal leader James “Jamie” Palmer unseated President Tobias Grey, but formed a coalition government with Grey’s Moralists. Meanwhile, Force Commanders began dying off in a series of accidents and terrorist attacks, while others were arrested for treason or deemed insane. Invoking emergency powers, Force Commander Jason Snyder appointed himself Lord Director of the Militia Enforced State. Jason Snyder was antagonistic towards both Farmina and Ackvick’s limited democratic reforms. He abolished the Force Commander regime and the Messian Parliament installing the “Directorate” regime.

Tobias Grey went to the Militia Enforced State and tried to stir up pro-democratic elements against the new regime. This greatly displeased Director Snyder, who was also trying to eliminate a small group of Force Commanders that escaped his wrath. Tobias Grey joined the Force Commanders and realised their potential value now they were the hunted. Together they caught a ship to Farmina, but in the Great Ocean between Farmina and the Militia Enforced State, Snyder’s hunters caught the fleeing ship. There was a brief standoff, before a Farminan battle fleet arrived declaring it would take the fleeing ship and those on board.

It was in this moment Snyder wrote history. He decided to eliminate Palmer who he despised, and the threats to his regime: Farmina, Grey and the Force Commander clique. The Messian warships unexpectedly opened fire on the Farminan ships.

The Messian Offensive

Blockade of Ricco

First Battle for Alice

Battle for the Pass of Farmina

After being driven out of Alice, General Graham Salamander's Army of the North, began a major retreat south. The Messians gave chase, but a lack of supplies, combined with less manoeuvrable equipment and a lack of familiarity with the terrain allowed the Army of the North to reach the Pass of Farmina.

The Pass of Farmina is a stretch of desert between the two mountain ranges that separate the northern Farminan coast from the Great Farminan Desert. The desert is broad open and flat, with little terrain on which to form a strategic position. Allowing the Messians into the desert, would leave Farminan mining operations wide open to Messian attacks that could cripple the Farminan war economy.

Upon reaching the Pass of Farmina, General Salamander halted his retreat. With the agreement of the Farminan military elite, General Salamander planned to make a stand in the Pass, in an attempt to prevent the Messians passing into the Great Farminan Desert.

The Messians advanced to the Pass and began skirmishing the Farminan forces for several weeks. After three weeks of fighting the Messians launched their major attack. They initially made progress into the Pass, but moved too confidently. Farminan artillery was taking an expensive toll on re-supply and reinforcements. The Messian advanced slowed and then stopped; thousands dying to advance a few kilometres.

The Messians realise they’d overextended their gains were indefensible. A strategic withdraw began to shorten the line, while a second round of attacks were planned. While withdrawing, the Messians were attacked by a massive Farminan counter attack. The Messians retreated past their planned fallback positions, losing nearly all their gains in the Pass at massive cost. The Messians would not again be in a position to break through Farminan positions in the Pass. This represented a massive set back for the Messian campaign

Many attribute the Messian failure in the Pass to a lack of caution by local Messian commanders (the Farminans are also considered part of the problem). More recent research confirms with leaked Farminan government analysis: that the Messian military failed to supply enough forces and logistics for a sustained campaign on foreign soil and ranking Messian military commander’s planning for a major attack in the Pass of Farmina was half-hearted. Evidence released after the war suggests that Messian forces were in fact not planning to attack into the desert, but instead force the Farminans to cross the desert and attack into the confines of the Pass.

Messian Revolt

Second Battle for Alice

Tobias Grey’s Peace Gesture

Fall of the Messian Fleet

Farmina’s Counter-Offensive

Invasion of Scirenia

Invasion of Trinity

First Battle of Sciren

After securing a beachhead, Field Marshal Graham Salamander moved quickly to extend his foothold. Despite orders to await reinforcements, the Field Marshal launched a major offensive against the nearby city of Sciren to drive, in an attempt to make gains using the element of surprise.

The attack took place on the third day of after the landing, at nine in the morning. The drive on Sciren was opened with an artillery bombardment, followed by a concentrated tank thrust from the north-west into the city. Although Messian efforts in the theatre were concentrated around Sciren, they were outnumbered by the Farminan thrust. Farminan infantry poured into the city as armored columns launched attacks against the outnumbered Messian defenders on the northern of the city. Farmina also exploited its massive advantage in artillery; bring the field guns as far forward as possible to smash the Messian supply lines.

After a day of intense fighting, the Farminan armor had smashed most of the defenders on the northern flanks and bringing artillery well within range of the major roads into Sciren, while the Farmina infantry had driven the Messians out of the majority of the city. Despite major gains, the Farminans endured higher military causalities in its attempt to advance through the urban areas. A ceasefire was called by Field Marshal Salamander and the highest surviving commander of Sciren’s defences Colonel Ryan Anderson. The two later secretly met to discuss a surrender.

Second Battle of Sciren

Annexation of Trinity

Once the occupation of Trinity was complete, the Farminan government formed the Trinity Island Authority (TIA). The TIA was made of a group of Trinity residents sympathetic to the Democratic Republic of Farmina, although some members were more sympathetic to the power and wealth they might accrue by an alliance with Farmina. The TIA was widely seen for what it was, a collaborationist regime, but the fact that Trinity was not being directly ruled by Farminans in Verica, made the occupation of Trinity easier.

After the decisive Farminan victory at the Second Battle of Sciren, Farminan strategic analysts felt that the Messians regaining Trinity by force was unlikely. The residents of Trinity had also made no attempt to rise up against their Farminan occupiers and had served (grudgingly) the White Palace via its proxies the TIA. Messian weakness and calm in Trinity led to the view that permanent Farminan authority in Trinity was feasible.

The TIA submitted an application to the Farminan Parliament, that Trinity be recognised as a Province of Farmina, making Trinity a full and equal member of the Democratic Republic. It is widely believed the TIA was acting on the advice of President Grey in this matter. The Parliament and the President agreed to approve the TIA’s request.

President Grey flew to Trinity, to announce the plans to bring Trinity into the Democratic Republic. He made the announcement in the middle of Trinity, to a large audience also appointing the TIA as transitionary Trinity Provincial Government. Patrols were stepped up in fear of resistance. This did not occur. The transition was peaceful and later reinforced by Messian assent to the Treaty of Trinity.

Race to Angelas-Francisco

The crushing of Snyder's major force in the Western Theatre, during the Second Battle for Sciren, was widely seen as the beginning of the end. Attempts by Snyder's forces to recapture Angelas-Francisco from pro-Force Commander rebels had still not seen the Directorate banner return to the Messian capital.

At this point Jason Snyder was desperate for a face saving way out of the war and contacted international powerbrokers as diplomatic go betweens to try and negotiate a backdoor peace with Farmina. When the Farminan government was informed of the peace gestures it purposely stalled in an attempt to maximise its bargaining power, as military sources suggested the Directorate siege against pro-Force Commander forces in Angelas-Francisco could be broken quickly.

Although small scale fighting continued in the ruins of Sciren, Field Marshal Salamander turned the bulk of Army Groups A and B towards Angelas-Francisco with the intention of advancing directly along the major roads between the two cities, sweeping aside the Directorate forces that remained in the theatre.

The new Executive Director, and head of Western Theatre Military Operations, Timothy Reis, scratched together all remaining Messian forces in the theatre to try and slow the anticipated Farminan advance north-east, so that there would be more time to crush the revolt before it could unite with the Farminans. The resistance along the highways was fierce; the Messians launching a series of small and moderate scale battles to absorb Farminan resources, supported by guerrilla tactics. The Directorate were however overwhelmed by what was now a massive strength disparity. Messian morale was failing and many Directorate troops were surrendering before the advancing Farminan forces.

The largest battle came several days in to the advance towards Angelas-Francisco, when the Messians managed to regroup and make a determined stand at the MESB Fargo fortress compound, slowing the Farminan advance for by a day. After the battle, Field Marshal Salamander had his photo taken in front of the compound ruins, standing next to a signpost pointing forward to Angelas-Francisco and backwards towards Sciren. This would become one of the most famous photographs of the war.

As Farminan artillery came in range of the Angelas-Francisco, Timothy Reis organised nearly all his remaining forces for a last ditch urban house to house fighting in the south western part of the city.

Snyder’s Peace Gesture

The battle for south eastern Angelas-Francisco never occurred. Snyder abandoned his plans for a backdoor peace deal and openly declared he was suing for peace in an attempt to force the Farminans to the table. The ploy worked, however Tobias Grey required harsh terms for the meeting including weapons transfers, a reduction in Messian space weaponry and the presence of Force Commanders and Messian Parliament representatives at the meeting.

The meeting in the White Palace did not go well, despite the personal attendance of Tobias Grey, Jason Snyder and James Ackvick. Farmina’s demands for the surrender of Trinity, a democratic MES and for Messian disarmament were all rejected by Director Snyder. Although negotiations continued, in reality Farmina never reduced its demands nor did Snyder become more accepting of them. The Force Commander representatives were more willing to accept Tobias Grey’s demands; but controlling little more than a chuck of Angelas-Francisco, were in no position to bargain.

Both sides used the ceasefire as a chance to re-group and re-arm. This was particularly true for the Messian forces, which withdrew to the south coast, more defensible terrain, allowing the Messians to defend less territory and territory that was also Snyder’s support base. Snyder could not win a fight for all of MES, but he had one last plan if he couldn't negotiate a fair peace.

Final Days

Destruction of Verica

Following the breakdown of the negotiations, Snyder stormed out of the White Palace in a rage with entourage. Realising the Farminans intended to drain the peace of all it was worth, Snyder enacted his final plan: to make the war as bloody as possible, in a hope the Farminans would tire of war. The first phase put Snyder on the front line as he called down a late afternoon strike on Verica consisting of massive air and space power. Over a thousand of elite Messian stealth fighter planes appeared in the sky, to take part in the largest aerial assault of the war. Also in Snyder's brutal arsenal was the entire Messian space fleet, including the superweapon "Hurricane" was targetted at Verica to ruin the city. In response, Farmina released all its available firepower to obliterate the Messian space platforms.

The deliberate targeting of the White Palace suggests that Jason Snyder intended to kill the other delegates at the conference. Most of the delegates however managed to escape.

Although several Messian aircraft were shot down, including one carrying Director Dylan Aguliar, a proud Farmina-hater; the day ended badly for Farmina incurring massive casualties. Huge proportions of Verica was left in ruins, making it the most costly day of Farminan lives in history and the most costly day with regard to human life in the war, up to that point. The casualties were overwhelmingly civilian although several politicians and high ranking public servants were also killed. The entire city center became molten rock. Several major government departments were destroyed, along with the Farminan Parliament, the White Palace, the Casino Strip, Verica Gardens, a massive section of the business district, the Marsden Cathedral, and many other important and historic sites.

Verica became a smouldering shell of its former self. The battle in space left Messian space weaponry in tatters, the Hurricane destroyed and the Messian airforce increasingly depleted, leaving the Republic rulers of the sky. In the chaos, a single Messian transport aircraft picked up Jason Snyder and jetted him from Farmina to safety of the Messian marine base on the Island of Boreteloga.

Ultimatum

Four hours after the "Battle of Verica" ended, a shaken President Tobias Grey regained his composure and recorded an ultimatium from a secret location. Half an hour later the ultimatium was played to the world:

"Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight will be one of the bloodiest nights in Farminan history. There will be time to grieve later, in trying to times we must not halt but progress. I am not here to update the situation in Verica, or pass addition condolences. This message is for those who still wave the banner of Mister Snyder. By 11 o’clock Verica time, that is within an hour, I require the unconditional surrender of all remaining forces that have been under Directorate command and the complete dissolution of the Directorate. All Directorate forces and personal will disarm and hand themselves over to Farminan forces, including those on Borteloga. All cities, towns and bases under Directorate control are to bring down the flag of their failed regime, run up the Farminan flag and place themselves under Farminan control. Farminan forces have already begun preliminary strikes. As of 11 o’clock Verica time, I will authorise the Farminan military to hit Directorate holdouts with the fullest fury of the previously restrained Farminan war machine."

The ultimatium was met with increased desertions. Several minor units in the south surrendered, along with most of the garrisons that had not been withdrawn to the south coast. Despite this, the bulk of the remaining Directorate forces remained largely in tact for a last desperate battle to hold southern MES.

Meanwhile, Farminan forces advanced to take over many of the parts of MES abandoned during Snyder's ceasefire withdraw. They were positioning to seal off the Directorate controlled southern parts of the country from the rest of MES, and moving into position for a renewed offensive.

Invasion of Borteloga

In an attempt to prevent the remote naval base on Borteloga being used by Snyder as an escape route, the Farminan carrier group Elizabeth was brought in range of the island.

Farminan aircraft launched a shock wave of bombers against the island, damaging the military facilities. This was followed by marine landings that quickly overwhelmed the under resourced and damaged Messian outpost. The island remains under Farminan occupation to the present day.

Unfortunately, Jason Snyder had secretly passed through Borteloga only a few hours earlier, and was well on the way back to his secret mountain command centre in the MES.

Destruction of Dylaria

As Snyder tried desperately to gain some leverage over the Farminans, his hastily prepared new fleet sat ready for action in the docks of Dylaria. The fleet's role was simple, reak chaos amongst Farminan supply convoys to and from the MES, falling within the wider plan of making the war as expensive and bloody for Farmina as possible. Farminan intelligence services had already become aware of the threat and understood the problems that would be posed by light, fast Messian ships running amok amongst Farminan supply lines.

At the time Dylaria was the second largest city in the Militia Enforced State and had the nation's largest concentration of military personal. If the ships were not deployed quickly, their construction would have been wasted. The city was also one of the most loyal to Jason Snyder and formed the core of his powerbase.

Acting on the advice of his cabinet and Supreme Commander Aricar, it is believed Tobias Grey authorised the deployment of a nuclear weapon against Dylaria. Reasons for authorising the deployment could include: ensuring the new fleet never came into play, destroying a the largest remaining Messian military garrison, striking a large blow against Snyder's power base, as retaliation for the devastating attack against Verica and highlighting Farminan resolve. The destruction of Snyder's space fleet also meant Farmina WMD could be used without fear of retaliation.

At four o’clock in the afternoon, Messian time, an unidentified (presumably Farminan) submarine fired a torpedo carrying a hydrogen fusion warhead into the Dylarian shipyards. Detonating just underwater, below the docks, the massive explosion incinerated the entire shipyards and a massive chunk of Dylaria, creating a large crater that has now expanded the ocean. The destruction of Dylaria is the greatest number of casualties caused by any single Farminan action and is also the largest source of casualties during the war. Due to the Dylaria's large military garrison, military casualties were also very high. Although the casualties are above 20 million, the number of deaths is still unknown.

Farmina's Final Offensive

The Messian Surrender

After the Battle for the Dylarius Mountains, Farminan forces were able to move forward on all fronts, virtually unchecked by a disintegrating and leaderless Messian military. Despite the near absence of resistance, upon the capture of Jason Snyder all military advances were halted.

One hour after it was confirmed that Jason Snyder was secured in a Trinity military prison, Supreme Commander Aricar and President Tobias Grey made a joint demand for the unconditional surrender of all remaining Messian military opposition, or face continued conventional and nuclear attacks. Most of the Messian Generals still in active in the field responded nearly immediately confirmed their intention to surrender. Three hours later, Farminan forces commenced small scale air and ground assaults to eliminate uncooperative Messian military officials or compel the enemy to the ceasefire. Over the next six hours all remaining Messian military units had surrendered or ceased to exist.

It is unusual response for Messian military officials to end the MES's participation in a war. Such a role was historically that of the military-political office of the Force Commanders. Left with out a higher authority, a complete breakdown of the military situation, no source of reinforcements or resupply, and an inability to respond to the threat of the nuclear attacks against major cities; there is little dissent from the view that the Messian military leadership acted legitimately and sensibly.

The remaining Messian military units withdrew from the field, disarming themselves and handing their weaponry and supplies over to the Farminans as the spoils of war. Tobias Grey dissolved the Messian military until a permanent treaty and new Messian government was in place.

Aftermath

The end of the war marked a large shift in relative national power as well as social change. The human cost in both nations was also massive. The end of hostilities were secured in the Treaty of Trinity, when the Messian leadership accepted democracy and a massive curtailment of Messian power. Aftershocks of the war are still being felt.

The massive scale of the Messian defeat and internal social collapse, compounded by renewed emphasis on pre-existing economic problems, saw Messian standing in the world collapse. The independent "Farminan Institute for Geopolitical Strategy" suggested that the defeat combined with the Treaty of Trinity, saw the Militia Enforced State fall from a second rate power, to a fifth rate power. Messian military power took the hardest hit, however the Messian people themselves were changed, many bitter at the Farminans as well as their own leadership. The Messian people's trust in their previously dictatorial rulers was all but evaporated.

The end of the war saw major shifts in Farminan public perception. The crushing of the Militia Enforced State healed much of the bitterness over Messian intervention in the Second Arandior War. The gracious nature of the Messian defeat in fact helped Messian standing in Farmina, although this did not lead to a wide spread desire for a soft line on the MES. The personal standing of Tobias Grey was also renewed, once again seen as a statesman and a hero. More widely, the Farminan people felt that they had finally won their "place in the sun".

The Republic of Scirenia

Treaty of Trinity

The Treaty of Trinity was signed by Tobias Grey, the Messian Force Commanders and the President of Scirenia, officially ending the war, although the terms had been agreed beforehand and fighting had ceased several months earlier. The Treaty of Trinity imposed a range of terms on the Militia Enforced State, that some accused of being harsh. Others, mainly in Farmina, felt the terms were too lenient. The terms are generally felt as degrading in MES, especially since the Force Commanders had to relinquish Trinity, while in Trinity. Debate continues in Farmina as to what extent the terms should be enforced, some arguing that the emphasis should be on normalising relations with MES, while others emphasise “keeping the genie in the bottle.”

The terms include:

-MES accepted full responsibility for the war.

-MES would pay the full cost of the war.

-MES would democratise fully.

-MES recognised the independence and original borders of the Republic of Scirenia.

-MES recognised the Province of Trinity as Farminan, and re-recognised the Province of Arandior as under Farminan sovereignty. In addition Borteloga was surrendered to Farminan control.

-MES accepted massive military restrictions.

-MES accepted the International Court of Freedom was the legitimate body to try members of the Snyder Directorate.

-MES was banned from owning space based possessions.

-All Messian international finance and trade regulations were surrendered to the Farminan parliament.

The full effects of these terms are not yet known. The current administration of Farmina seems intent to keep the Militia Enforced State firmly under thumb.

Trial of Director Snyder

All the surviving directors, except elusive Timothy Reis and Tia Norris, were tried by the newly created International Court of Freedom. It is widely believed the verdicts were decided before the trials commenced. All the directors were found guilty of tyranny and sentenced to death.

Jason Snyder was also found guilty of warmongering and other serious crimes. He was executed by ceremony (dismemberment), the most severe form of punishment under Farminan law. All the other tried Directors were executed by hanging, except Director Wallace Stirling who was executed by firing squad with full honours.

Messian Elections

Occupation of Trinity

Despite continuing resentment about the annexation, the people of Trinity have so far peacefully accepted the new order that has been imposed on their small island. The Farminan military presence remains strong and the Farminan government is dedicated to destroying the remnants of Messian institutions that form reminders of the past.