The Iwenland Front

[Seylos]

Despite the resistance made by the Iwish forces at the Dolch landing zones, they were forced to retreat quickly to avoid the rapidly advancing Dolch forces. All sides were surprised at how well the Dolch were able to conduct their landings, despite a lack of experience doing such operations. It only took a day before Imperial Army reconnaissance units were at the outskirts of Straatport, skirmishing with the few Iwish forces in the area. Despite their rapid advance, however, they were being continually slowed down by their worst enemy in this stage of the conflict. Non-stop Seylosian airstrikes against Dolch units and spare anti-air cover prevented the Imperial Army from overrunning the Iwish in several critical moments. Regardless, with their power in numbers, the Iwish couldn't hold without reinforcements and at the end of the second day began their painful retreat from Straatport down the highway to Afordam.

To make matters worse, reinforcements were still on the way from the Seylosian mainland and redirected forces evacuating Hodrea after it had signed its non-aggression pact. It would take around a week to ferry the necessary troops to the major port at Zestrahaven and even longer to get them to defensive positions around the mountains. Still, not all was lost. An advance force of the 9th Engineering regiment and the 4th Mechanized regiment had been transported directly to the small port town of Ede, to the south of Goudstratdam. In the north, the 2nd Infantry regiment and the 14th Mechanized regiment had been deployed directly to Raalte, another town to the west of Afordam and the only important highway that crossed the country from north to south. These groups were due to meet up with the fast retreating Iwish forces and do their best to clear the roads of fleeing civilians before the Dolch arrived in force. Still, even before the last of those soldiers had stepped foot on their destinations, it had been reported that the rapidly advancing Imperial forces had captured Goudstratdam and were well on their way pushing south.

The situation was incredibly delicate, with only 4000 Seylosian troops on the ground in position for defensive operations and a shattered force of only around 5000 Iwish troops the Dolch could very possibly breach the defensive lines set up by the allied defenders. There was still some good news, however: except for the first day of landing, Dolch air power was virtually non-existent, most likely not wanting to tangle with the vastly superior planes from Coalition forces in the area. The @Delamarian navy had secured the northern coast of Iwenland, and the Dolch Sea was still sealed from the east by NAU fleets. While the NAU fleets could have possibly caused much damage to the Dolch forces conducting their beach landings, the massive uncertainty of Anglian intentions and the location of their fleets put the Union in an awkward position. The decision was made for them to hold in their current location, for fear of being out of position in the case of an unpredictable attack from the Anglian Navy. If they were tied up in combat operations in Iwenland, their response time to an Anglian incursion would take too long. Still their current location was still in some ways a benefit to the conflict, the navy would be able to assist with some fire support along the south coast of Iwenland, and it would make Zestrahaven virtually unassailable.

As King Aidan had arrived in Zestrahaven he had known that, and of course he had known that the Dolch would know that as well. Which in his mind meant they were waiting for something else to fully complete their push into Iwenland. It may some sort of play from Anglia in Argis an unavoidable future. The question on everyone's minds was… where would they strike? If they came in force quickly, they could beat back the Delamarian fleet in the north and reopen supply lines to Dolchland, potentially striking Llalta and using it as a refueling port. But Llalta's port facilities were small, and it wouldn't be able to support the weight of a large amount of Anglian ships constantly moving back and forth between Argis and Europa. But Aidan had to keep his mind on the battles right now. There was no point in the Iwish meeting the Dolch head on anymore, instead they needed to use one of Iwenland's greatest defensive assets to their advantage immediately. The forested mountains that covered much of the island. With the support of the Seylosian Air Forces, the Iwish forces that were available had begun using helicopters. These were used to redeploy small groups of soldiers along the edge of Dolch occupied zones. From the dense mountains, they were preparing for an intense guerrilla campaign against the enemy. As soon as they arrived, they would be joined by Seylosian Special Forces that were coming from the mainland.

Regardless, it wouldn't be long before the Seylosian military came into contact with the Dolch and the real war begun.

[Seylos]

It didn't take long for the Dolch to fill in the space that had been left by the retreating Iwish. Only a few days after landing, the Dolch, emboldened by their victory, crashed into the Seylosian defenders at Ede. However, their vision of a flawless victory was shattered by not only their overconfidence, but by their lack of organization as they charged forward. As they had continued pushing south, several units had gotten ahead of the main body of the force, hoping to jump into the fight faster than the others. This was noticed by Brigadier Ryley, who was in command of the detachment at Ede and had arrived before the rest of his brigade was due to. The enemy was more than aware of his reputation in the Sentist War, making solid static defenses and only falling back when overwhelmed. But it seemed that some of them had forgotten that he wasn't just a one trick pony. While that sort of strategy had worked well against the disorganized and ill trained Sentists, he had no intention of simply remaining static in this battle.

With intelligence being fed to Ryley about the oncoming Dolch forces, he instead opted for a first strike, to hit out at the Dolch units moving ahead of the group. He gave his orders to the 4th Mechanized to immediately set out and push through the advancing Dolch. However, it wouldn't stop there, he would have the 9th Engineers attack the hopefully surprised Dolch units the 4th had just blown through and keep them occupied while the 4th continued ahead to briefly engage the head of the main Dolch force. Their orders weren't for a protracted battle, but instead to sow chaos amongst the advancing Dolch line and spot for his other ace up his sleeve. The Seylosian 2nd Fleet was in range to provide missile support, and as such he wouldn't have to risk using air support under the threat of the new Anglian AA the Dolch had brought to bear. On top of that, just before the 4th would make contact with the enemy a second time, he would use all of his currently limited artillery and hit them with all he had.

It didn't take long before his plan had to be pushed into action. At the word of forward scouts, the 4th Mechanized set out immediately to meet the Dolch in battle. The result was something more than he could have dreamed. Just like he had hoped, the Dolch were expecting a static Seylosian defense, and we shocked when they were met by the Seylosian armored vehicles. Indecisiveness had gripped the Dolch commander, who attempted to reach out to his command for instruction, which left his force with no orders for the first part of the engagement. This was critical for the Seylosians who managed to quickly hit and destroy several Dolch tanks and APCs, and much to the bewildered Dolch's surprise, continued driving at breakneck speeds through them. With some of his wits returning to him, the Dolch commander immediately ordered his forces to pursue the vehicles of the 4th, only to be immediately by the 9th Engineers, who engaged them in combat. Confused, the Dolch commander instead ordered his men to hold their ground, believing instead that the main force would simply deal with the small amount of Seylosian vehicles charging at them.

Ryley had been surprised his Dolch adversary had simply stopped their pursuit and decided instead to fight the 9th, but this gave him an opening he hadn't expected. Initially, he believed that they would begin to fall back towards the safety of their main force, as well as to pursue the 4th as it blazed past. Ryley immediately used this opportunity to call in air support from the Seylosian aircraft stationed near Zestrahaven, who could now strike them without the threat of the Anglian AA for at least a little while.

As the battle continued between the 9th and the Dolch brigade, the 4th Mechanized pressed on, driving as fast as they could to the main Dolch army heading their way. Around twenty kilometers from Ede, they had found a patch of slightly forested raised terrain, perfect for what they needed. Perched in their sparse cover, the commander of the 4th ordered the recon vehicles to spot for the rest of the brigade. He had the rest of his force spread out around the sides of the hill to widen their footprint. There was no doubt the Dolch would immediately target them with artillery. Soon, the recon confirmed the first Dolch vehicles rounding the northerly bend of the highway, though it appeared with advance warning they had made sure to spread their forces out away from the road itself and into the adjacent terrain. The 4th's commander immediately got in contact with the communications officers of the 2nd Fleet and began relaying strike targets for them as the first of his vehicles opened fire of the approaching Dolch.

While the Dolch had an obvious severe advantage in numbers, the Seylosian IFVs were equipped with much more advanced weaponry, weaponry that gave them an edge in range. The twenty IFVs opened fire on the Dolch with their anti-tank missiles, scoring several hits, before the Dolch began firing off protective smoke in an attempt to obscure their advance. Unlike their brothers farther up the highway, however, they did not make the mistake of being indecisive and pressed on as fast as they could. On top of that, as predicted, the Dolch began to hammer their position with shell artillery, causing several near hits on their vehicles and causing some initial damage. However, the force was still mobile and like clockwork, the 2nd Fleet's barrage of missiles from the sea responded in kind. With the missile strike slowing down the Dolch, and the risk of losing an IFV to artillery fire or the Dolch tanks, the 4th's commander concluded they had done what they had come there for. He ordered the regiment to immediately retreat back towards Ede, the entire engagement lasting only ten minutes.

Back at the outskirts of Ede the 9th was still in its battle with the Dolch, which were stubbornly holding their ground, that was until the air support had arrived. It wasn't long before ten Seylosian harriers began hitting the Dolch in earnest with missiles and guided bombs. Now being bombed from the air, and attacked by the ninth, coupled with their failure to prevent the 4th from breaking through, the Dolch commander's resolve began to waver. With his losses mounting, and with no means to ward off the Seylosian air support without the main body of the Dolch army, he made the panicked order to retreat and head back west. The 9th pursued them, continuing to harass the Dolch as they tried to retreat. Sadly, as the Dolch army began its approach Ryley's air support, only narrowly avoiding losing a Harrier at the last second, was forced to retreat as the Anglian AA came into range and fired at them. To the retreating Dolch though this made little difference as they fled, only to be met by the 4th racing back to Ede. They blew through the Dolch force again, making a show of lighting up any target they saw with their IFV's cannons. In the confusion, one of the 4th's IFVs was disabled, stranding the crew, who had to be defended by a few of the other vehicles as the Dolch fled the field.

Shattered, the Dolch brigade fled west, back to the main Dolch force, and undoubtedly severe punishment for its commander. Overall, the mission was a massive success. The main Dolch army was forced to slow down from the attack, though the Seylosians had not really inflicted much damage on them, and Ryley had gained the bonus of thrashing a Dolch brigade. They had taken some casualties, mainly in the 9th, and had lost a vehicle, but it was worth the price to buy the time they needed for reinforcements to reach Ede. Ryley had also been happy to learn that the Tagmatines (@Tagmatium Rules) had begun strikes of their own in Dolchland and that even @Iverica had heeded their call for reinforcements. Still, the battle he had engaged in had been small, and while humiliating for the Dolch pride, it hadn't put a dent in the storm that was coming.

[Orioni]

Assembled Nations Headquarters
Anbrekport, in eastern Iwenland

Rasida had only been in Iwenland since 2020, when her tenure at the Assembled Nations began. But that was long enough ago for her to live through the beginning of this war. First they came for the Lysians, and the AN did not speak out. Then they came for the Suverins, and the AN didn't speak either. Then they came for the Azanians, and a couple of people complained. Now that this ever expanding “Grand War” escalated to Iwenland itself, would the AN finally act?

As Orioni's current Permanent Representative to the Assembled Nations, Mrs Rasida Gamibodiyani (born 3 May 1964) had plenty of clout when it came to Oriental Europan affairs. But within this global body of diplomacy that is the Assembled Council, her voice was just one of many. It seemed as if everyone at the Assembled Nations was busy doing with ordinary day-to-day tasks, unaware of what was going on in Ede, only 600 kilometres to the west of Anbrekport.

Of course, she knew that the other representatives weren't really unaware. It was fairly obvious when you looked around. The hallways and cafeteria were filled with people glued to their phones and tablets, doomscrolling through the latest news updates on the conflict.

On November 4th, everyone she knew had been surprised by the Dolch's successful landings. But that was mostly because nobody suspected the Dolch could actually pull it off, given their lack of experience. But it wasn't long before a second blow hit, when Imperial Army's reconnaissance units reached the outskirts of Straatport in a day, and started skirmishing with the Iwish forces there.

Rasida was overwhelmed by a deluge of texts and emails from people back home in Orioni. They all wanted to know if she was okay, and when she was planning to return. It took her a great deal of time to convince all those people that: A. Anbrekport is on the other side of the island, and B. the Assembled Nations, also her employer, would never let the situation get that badly. Although, Rasida wasn't completely sure about that second part.

Sure, the Delamarian navy had moved quickly to secure the northern coast of Iwenland. And the Dolch Sea was still sealed from the east by NAU fleets. The NAU fleets could have really damaged those Dolch forces during their beach landings, if not for the large amount of uncertainty about Anglian intentions. And the position of their fleets put the North Adlantic Union in a difficult spot.

Earlier in the week, one of Rasida's colleagues had posed a question to her: "Do you think the Dolch troops are waiting for something before they push further into Iwenland?"

A second colleague interjected with his thoughts: "It won't be long before the Seylosian military comes into contact with the Dolch. That's when we'll see some real action."

Rasida was at a loss for words, only able to repeat what she had already told the panicked Orinese texts and emails: that in the unlikely event of an invasion, the AN would call for a peaceful resolution and work to facilitate negotiations between the two countries. The organisation would also take steps to ensure the safety and security of its personnel and facilities, possibly even relocating the headquarters if necessary.

However, the AN's precise course of action would depend on the circumstances of the situation and the directives of the Security Council, the AN's primary mechanism for maintaining international peace and security.

But given the current state of affairs and how far the situation had already escalated, who knew what direction First Secretary Antwayne Zagula would decide to take?

⁂

(OOC. The AN is headquartered in Iwenland. Ahrana mentioned perhaps the HQ needed to be moved if the Dolch reach that far east. That led to a quick chat, and this set-up post for him to respond to. Nothing unrealistic. Some quotes used here are references to statements made in previous posts, above, so as not to say anything we didn't already know.)

[Ahrana]

In recent weeks the atmosphere at the AN Headquarters had been particularly tense due to the invasion of the island plus with the uncertainty of how this invasion would end was unclear.

Many Ambassadors to the AN from the member nations have started expressing their concern on safety, security, and stability of Iwenland with the invasion. The Ahranaian Ambassador, Svea Henriksson, started to share the same thought that the AN Headquarters should be moved to a temporary location till the war has been resolved. The proposed locations to Svea were in Girkmand, Andalla, or Variota due to them not being directly involved in any conflict.

While neither of these two nations are directly involved in the active conflicts, there are other great nations that could be a temporary host to the AN Headquarters.

When looking at the perspective of who is the furthest from any conflict the nation of Andalla is the top choice. While also being the furthest from any Anglian or Dolch aggression, the other reason for having Andalla being the temporary host of the headquarters is the tropical weather that it has throughout the entire year. One draw back could be due to its TRIDENT Member Status that could end up drawing it into the conflict if a TRIDENT Member is attacked.

Girkmand, while also a TRIDENT Member and could also be pulled into conflict because of their member status, is a neutral nation in the recent conflicts and its location also could play an important factor. While it is unknown of Anglia may wish to reestablish its oversee empire which could also be a factor in not allowing Girkmand to be a temporary host nation.

The nation of Prymont, with its far north geographical location, may be a plus factor for having that nation being the temporary host. While Prymont is also a TRIDENT Member, it also has no historical connections to Dolchland or Anglia which may be an important factor.

The Alharu nation of Variota, which is also a TRIDENT Member, could be a feasible temporary host nation. Neither Dolchland nor Anglia would have a legitimate reason to invade this nation besides having Dolch ancestry.

While most of these nations are TRIDENT Members and could be drawn into conflict if another member is attacked, they could still make for a decent temporary host nation. There are other Neutral nations across the wurld that could also be a temporary host nation, but even those nations would have their drawbacks. 

[Orioni]

Assembled Nations Headquarters
Anbrekport, in eastern Iwenland

The room was dark, the only light coming from the glow of two computer screens. The screens were set up on opposite ends of a long conference table, the surface of which was cluttered with papers, maps, and coffee cups.

On one screen, the face of the AN ambassador from Orioni, Mrs Rasida Gamibodiyani, was visible. She was a woman in her late fifties, with striking features and a no-nonsense demeanour. Her expression was serious, her eyes narrowed as she listened to the voice on the other end of the line. On the other screen, the face of the EOS ambassador, Mr Tobiya Wayanor, appeared. He was only a few years younger, with a lean, angular face and a sharp gaze. His brow was furrowed in concern as he listened to the reports coming in from the AN headquarters at Anbrekport in Iwenland.

“Ambassador Wayanor,” said Gamibodiyani, her voice crackling through the speakers. She sat at a desk in a dimly lit room, surrounded by piles of papers and a tangle of wires. “It's good to speak with you.”

“Hello, ambassador Gamibodiyani,” Wayanor replied, his voice steady despite the tense situation. He was seated in a similar setup on the other side of the wurld, his desk cluttered with documents and computer screens. “How are things in Iwenland?”

The AN Ambassador hesitated before responding, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she weighed her words. “The situation is tense, I'm afraid,” she said finally, her voice heavy with concern. “The conflict in western Iwenland continues to escalate, and we are seeing more casualties and displacement as a result. It is becoming more and more difficult.”

Wayanor nodded gravely, his eyes flicking to the data scrolling across his own screen. “I understand,” he said. “We are facing similar challenges around the Saeida Strait. Great Anglia and the Pact are becoming increasingly assertive in its efforts to assert its sovereignty over Damak Var and Ayubi, and we are seeing more military intimidation and economic coercion as a result. The situation is becoming increasingly volatile, and we are working around the clock to try to find a solution.”

The two ambassadors fell silent, both lost in thought as they considered the implications of these developments. They knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but by working together, they could find a way to de-escalate the conflicts and move towards a more peaceful and stable future.

During the rest of the day, the two ambassadors continued to communicate, sharing information and strategizing ways to address the complex geo-strategic situations in Iwenland and the Meteorolas. They also reached out to their counterparts in other countries, building a network of allies who were committed to promoting peace and stability in the region.

Despite the many challenges they faced, the AN and EOS ambassadors remained determined to find a way forward. They knew that the fate of the entire wurld depended on their ability to navigate these troubled waters. And so, they pressed on, using every tool at their disposal to promote a better future for all.

⁂

(OOC. The goal of this post is to describe the civilian experience, which lacks information about military affairs. The above conversation between two Orinese characters seems realistic. The last mention of news from Iwenland dates back to 24 December 2022, but I presume my characters cannot know these details. So that leaves room for the characters to speculate about what's going on. I hope the mentioning of "casualties and displacement" is within accepted norms of this RP.)