Difference between revisions of "Saharistan War"

Revision as of 21:12, 4 June 2005

A conflict between the nations of Leafanistan and Saharistan that seethed for some time, much like the "phony war" period of RL WWII, before exploding into actual hostilities between nations.

Prelude to War

Guillemont Massacre

The origins of the Saharistan War lie not in the aggression of one nation against another, but rather an internal conflict in the small country of Jerobia.

The Guillemont Massacre was the root cause of the Saharistan War. An underground organization by the name of the People's Front of Jerobia (PFJ), a leftist anti-war group, had whipped up support for an anti-war demonstration in the Jerobian capitol city of Guillemont. Hundreds of demonstrators turned out for a march on the Jerobian Senate building, protesting the Jerobian government's involvement in the affairs of the nation of Hebrides Islandia, which had led to an entire Jerobian naval task force being annihilated by a nuclear weapon. Although the demonstration was initially peaceful, a handful of PFJ members among the crowd apparently drove the crowd to anger, and with more and more riot police being called up to block the protesters from the Senate building, the situation became increasingly precarious. The scene exploded into violence when a PFJ member hurled an improvised incendiary device at a group of police officers, injuring two. The protest quickly devolved into a firefight between Jerobian police forces and PFJ members, with a large number of non-PFJ demonstrators caught in the crossfire. Rioters broke into the Senate building, attacking Senators and government property in rage. Before long, the Senate building had burned to the ground, and more than thirty Senators were injured, with several in critical condition. Order was finally restored when military police were called in, and forcibly suppressed the rioting mob. Dozens of rioters were killed, and hundreds were injured.

The Senate, frightened that the PFJ might attempt to overthrow the government following that night's brutal riot and suppression, quickly passed a bill giving emergency dictatorial powers to a right-wing Nationalist politician named Ernst Strommer. Strommer immediately outlawed the PFJ, ordered National Guard and military police units to assist in keeping order while the police hunted down cells of the PFJ, and arrested hundreds of supporters, including politicians who had little to do with the militant wing of the movement.

Resistance

A figurehead soon appeared to oppose Strommer. A woman named Juliette Davison, apparent head of the PFJ, soon began to issue global communiques to the nations of the world, informing them that "[Jerobia] has recently succumbed to madness and chaos as right-wing nationalist plotters have wormed their way into supreme power, and begun to ruthlessly oppress any political dissenters, using the excuse that they may be supporters of a terrorist regime." Meanwhile, left-wing Jerobians were being rounded up and shipped off to secret camps in northern Jerobia, possibly as part of a Nazi-like extermination program.

The nation of Theao was the first to answer the call for help from the PFJ, and while their government did not supply any official support, a faction inside the goverment of Theao, known as the No-Relation-To-Theao-Goverment Liberation Army (NRTTGLA), pledged its support to the PFJ rebels, promising weaponry and financial aid. The NRTTGLA soon shipped off large quantities of assault rifles, sub-machine guns, rocket launchers, and a handful of sniper rifles to the beleaguered rebels.

The nation of Saharistan was next to assist the PFJ. Unlike the nation of Theao, however, the government pledged its official support for the PFJ rebels, and shipped 1,200 AK-47s and 108,000 rounds ammunition; 350 Dragunov sniper rifles and 3000 rounds of ammunition; 900 hand grenades; 130 SAM-7 anti-aircraft missile launchers and 390 SAM-7 missiles; 250 RPG-7 anti-armor rocket launchers and 750 rockets; two months' provisions of supplies in medical aid and food aid; and $35 million cash to the PFJ.

The Saharistani support, however, angered the nation of Leafanistan. Leafanistan claimed its intelligence agencies had evidence of possible connections between the PFJ and a radical communist terrorist group, called the Red Brigade, that was responsible for a number of high-profile domestic terrorist attacks in Leafanistan, including the assassination of the son of the High Father, the leader of Leafanistan. Thus, Leafanistan faced a two-fold dilemma: not only was Jerobia an ally of Leafanistan, and thus deserving of support in their fight against the PFJ, but also, if the alleged ties between the Red Brigade and the PFJ were true, then a successful revolution in Jerobia could give rise to an anti-Leafanistan government, backed by elements of the Red Brigade. Therefore, the High Father announced that a naval blockade of Jerobia was to be effected immediately, so as to cut off the flow of supplies to the PFJ, and demanded that the Saharistani vessel en route to Jerobia turn back for home or risk impounding and seizure by the vessels of the Leafanistan blockade. Saharistan's President Musab al Zaraqwi openly defied the Leafanistani edict, claiming that the vessel had already delivered its supplies and was en route back to Saharistan. In Leafanistan, on the Republican Senate Floor, arguments for and against military action against Saharistan were being made. After nearly seven hours of debate, the Senate voted to pass the measure 104-49; the measure stated that a naval blockade was in order, that Leafanistan's alert status was to be elevated to Gamma (equivalent to DEFCON 1), and that two carrier groups and 400,000 of the Republican High Guard were to be called up for active duty. Although short of a declaration of war, it was essentially as good as one. The Leafanistani government was about to issue a statement about the measure when

The commencing hostilities of the conflict-to-come came swiftly and unexpectedly. Taking advantage of the lull in Leafanistan activity following the Saharistani proclamation, PFJ agents launched a number of stolen prototype super-cavitating torpedoes at the vessels of the Leafanistan blockade. The PFJ then loaded their supplies into vans and trucks, and prepared to disperse themselves throughout Jerobia for guerrilla warfare against Strommer's forces. The torpedoes claimed three of the five Leafanistani ships, and damaged the other two. Leafanistani casualties were high, with more than 101 men killed. A Leafanistani AC-130 Spectre gunship retaliated shortly after the attack, destroying a number of PFJ trucks loaded with rockets. Shortly after the attacks, Saharistan issued an official declaration of war against Leafanistan.

The War

The "Phony War"

Saharistani President Musab al Zaraqwi wasted no time in preparing his nation's defenses for the coming battle. He rapidly organized Saharistan's miltary, and, for such a small nation, boasted a formidable force, partly due to a wide-ranging draft that was implemented to conscript a vast swath of men and women from across the country. While Saharistan's total military force paled in comparison to Leafanistan's, al Zaraqwi nevertheless pressed on. In total, Saharistan boasted a standing army of 355,000 men and women from all services, 2,150 assorted armor units, 505 APCs, 400 transport trucks, 122 attack helicopters, 85 transport helicopters, 290 attack aircraft, and approximately 900,000 draftees. al Zaraqwi also imposed security crackdowns: ensuring that any beaches that could be used as landing sites for invading forces were secured with landmines and barbed wire, putting a curfew into effect, and imposing martial law across Saharistan. There was no immediate response from Leafanistan.

The situation escalated when the nation of Concador offered the heavily-outmatched Saharistan support, and when the nation of Overbear offered chemical and biological weapons platforms to the highest bidder in the conflict. Saharistan gratefully accepted Concador's offer of assistance, but did not seem to show interest in Overbear's offer of weapons of mass destruction, likely due to the fact that they had been previously warned to stay away from the use of WMDs by the nation of Space Union, head of the Anti-WMD Club.

Tensions were further heightened when the nation of Willink declared its support for Leafanistan, and that their arsenal of nuclear weapons was on high alert. More and more nations began to enter the fray in a manner that recalled Cold War-style brinkmanship. Two nations, Transnapastain and Halberdgardia, stepped forward to oppose Overbear's offering of WMDs to the highest bidder, but refrained from going so far as to choose sides. Transnapastain, however, unlike Halberdgardia, began to deploy military forces to the region, asking al Zaraqwi's permission to blockade Saharistan in an attempt to interdict any WMD shipments from Overbear to any side. The same offer was also extended to Leafanistan, but again, no immediate response was received.

And where was Leafanistan? 3 forces had been dispatched, what remained of the 3rd Naval Expeditionary Force was going to regroup with the 2nd Naval Expeditionary Force under command of Captain John Alleluia and merge. Captain Alleluia was told not to do anything until Captain Elmer exectuted Order 189. However the 150th Naval Expeditionary Force consisting of several guided missile cruisers and destroyers had been dispatched secretly with Captain Hampton Elmer. His orders (Order 189) were to secretly fire dozens of supersonic cruise missiles should the conflict escalate. Captain Elmer had been given full autonomy by the highest levels of FleetCom. However, why didn't they act sooner?

A few days after both fleets left port the zombie problem from the nearby (now, non-existant), Kingdom of Radioactive Zombies had spread too far. A nearby town of New Bronxhaven was captured by zombie forces. The fusion reactor complex's automatic safeguards sealed the doors and shut the reactors down. Power throughout Leafanistan including most major cities, the capital of Concord, and nearly all naval bases was gone. Leafanistan plunged into darkness leaving both Captains alone.

Captain Alleluia nearing Saharistani waters sent a message to FleetCom, however Captain Alleluia couldn't establish contact. He feared the worst, but remembered his orders which was to end this conflict quickly. He gathered his captains and began planning. His captains were a bit nervous and argued constantly, his fleet would be out of action for a while On board the diplomats felt itchy.

Meanwhile Captain Hampton Elmer of the now renegade 150th Naval Expeditionary Force set all scanners to passive and monitored the radio transmissions waiting to strike.

During this time Halberdgardia dispatched the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer D.R.H. Valiant to the international waters just outside Saharistani waters under silent running conditions. It linked up with the McKagan destroyer MFS Stryker and was likewise acting as a peacekeeping/observation vessel. Later on McKagan dispatched troopers , and docked the Stryker in said port. However Saharistani officials began giving McKagan troops a hard time. McKagan used an APC and extracted its troops. MFS Stryker and DRH Valiant then linked up again in International waters.

Just then the combined 2nd Naval Expeditionary Force contacted the McKagan vessel and requested a diplomatic meeting. Captain Alleluia decided to try to get peace. During them Captain Alleluia found out about the 150th Naval Expeditionary Force's true mission and was confused at why it needed to be kept secret. A few hours later a lone Pelican dropship carrying a retraction of the declaration of war was delivered to Captain Alleluia. The declaration of war is retracted by both sides and peace should come right?

The War gets "hot"

Overbear provoked by Saharistan's execution of homosexuals fires chemical missiles, killing thousands in Saharistan. Captain Alleluia considers whether to ally with Saharistan and fight Overbear, but suddenly that is the least of his problems.

On board the GRLS Yuri a Skate-class frigate, the commanding officer was awaiting his meal. Suddenly a missile explodes within 2 meters of the ship after launching from its pod. It explodes and then all of the frigates missiles fire into the air without coordinates. Several ships are sunk and many men die. The commanding officer of the Yuri finds a Red Brigade terrorist was responsible for this act and kills him. However the Red Brigade begins jamming transmissions rendering the fleet silent. Captain Alleluia can do nothing but watch as other fleets believe that the Leafanistani fleet has come under missile attack.

Saharistan grows weary of Halberdgardia's "peace-keeping action" and orders Halberdgardia's ship out of their waters. The Leafanistani fleet uses signal lights to try and establish communication with the McKagan vessel. Captain Elmer of the 150th Leafanistani Naval Expeditionary force takes advantage of the chaos and fires on Overbear, however his missiles don't seem to impact targets in Overbear. Captain Elmer commits suicide in a brig on a Leafanstani destroyer.

Blessed Restraint with Leafanistani weapons locks on the DRH Valiant and demands it surrender. McKagan intervenes with a counter-threat. Leafanistan counters it declaring "we know your vessel's weaknesses, after all we built them." Blessed Restraint seeing the very large resistance backs off.

Overbear becomes the target of a dogpile for firing chemical missiles at Saharistan. All nations consider forming a coalition against Overbear. As the war simmers down Saharistan and Blessed Restraint throw gasoline on the fire.

Saharistan sends a message to the Valiant and Blessed Restraint fires dozens of Exocet anti-shipping missiles. However the missiles do not impact. Saharistan continues to demand a retreat of Halberdgardian forces and the Halberdgardian leader replies with a stern "No." Saharistan decides to launch a massive air wing and sinks the Valiant. Halberdgardia declares war on Saharistan, Willink declares war on Saharistan, Captain Alleluia acting with his authority declares war on Saharistan, McKagan declares war on Saharistan.