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| Decay & Resurgence | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 22 2011, 10:07 AM (1,791 Views) | |
| Union | Sep 22 2011, 10:07 AM Post #1 |
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Pyrenees Republic
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The state must expand or die. It was too constrained, built too deeply into the mountains. Yes, an invasion of the Union was unthinkable, but so too was the projection of Falangist power abroad, as had been once, long ago, under the glorious leadership of the great Ronaldinho Romano. The states of Iberia forged by the collapse of Hispania had themselves begun the process of extinction. Foreign powers had seized for themselves lands that the rump government had been unable to prevent. The Falangist regime was surviving, but what life is a life that is not lived well? Trouillefou was resolute - survival was not enough: the Falangists must thrive. Aragon. Leon. Catalunya. Fertile lands, gazing flatly before them. Decaying. Rotting. What weakness. It disgusted him. Trouillefou had come to power pledging to consolidate Falangist power. This had been done. He must now prepare a true legacy, and his face grew into a smile as the words formed on his lips, words spoken once before by Romano - Reconquista. It would require a rethinking of strategic doctrine, and a mobilization of Union resources. The Union was still a massive military powerhouse in Europe, and wealth it had, hoarded from the pockets of a dead state. However, it was holed into the mountains, enveloped within like the roots of a tree. Like a tree, it made the Union strong, resilient to the winds of change and geopolitics. Like a tree, it made the Union unmovable, stagnant, and doomed to rest forever where it was, never venturing beyond. To conquer the world, one must first come down from the mountain. Military observers abroad would notice, in the coming weeks, a massive importation project of foreign goods - iron, steel, copper, rubber. Not just commodities, but finished goods - computer chips, and munitions. Factories in Navarre begun tripling and quadrupling previous rates of production, as jeeps and tanks poured out of industrial centers, filling up arsenals around the country. Arsenals long abandoned as indefensible on the Spanish plains were reactivated. The Union Air Force begun regular patrols of the ungoverned portions of Leon and Aragon. Near the border, bases, before crewed solely by a skeleton force of border guards, gave more and more the signs of life indicative of mobilization. Conscription notices flooded the post, and even minor protests occurred in some cities by a civilian population that had become complacent with peace, and fat with wealth. The signs were clearly indicative of the times that were to come, and the Falangist regime unfurled the flag of their predecessor, flying it high alongside that of the Union. Perhaps peace was unattainable. |
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| East Anarx | Sep 23 2011, 08:52 PM Post #2 |
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Anarchitect
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As a UAF jet screamed overhead, a dark-haired woman looked up from her work, holding her hand over her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun. But the soil in which she knelt was full of life, and soon her hands and thoughts returned to harvesting herbs and root vegetables from her garden. Eva Elizabeth Serrano was a strong woman, as adept at chopping firewood as at changing a baby's diaper. The farm her family lived on was only 5 acres, but through the skillful application of sustainable land-use design they were almost entirely self-sufficient. Verdant fruit trees, herb and vegetable gardens bloomed with productivity, and chickens, goats, and rabbits were integrated into the agro-ecosystem; nothing went to waste. The small town of Crivillén was several kilometers away but they only ever rarely needed to go into town for supplies. As yet another jet soared through the blue skies above, Eva paused to watch as it passed high and to her east, turned, and passed back almost directly overhead. Behind her, a child's voice asked: "Mama, where do you think those planes are going?" She turned toward her 5-year-old son, Lucio, and replied, "I don't know, mi'ijo... Where do you think they are going?" The boy frowned slightly as he looked up to the heavens, then back to his mother's face, and said, "I think they are going to war." Edited by East Anarx, Sep 29 2011, 03:17 PM.
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| NRE | Sep 25 2011, 02:20 PM Post #3 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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OOC: I'm assuming this is semi-public, if I'm in the wrong just tell me and I'll delete. IC: Barcelona, Catalan Autonomous Okrug... Vladimir Makarov, the Governor of the region, was in his office in Barcelona when the knock came at the door. Looking over recent economic reports the Governor, a military man that had little interest in economic numbers, welcomed the reprieve from the reports as he beckoned the person in. Entering the room, General Victor Yermolov of the Barcelona Military District entered the room, saluted the Governor as he came before him at his desk. "General General Yermolov" said Governor Makarov, "what do I owe this visit to, a social call perhaps?" "I only wish it were a social call Governor" he said as he laid some satellite photographs down on the Governor's desk along with some pictures from the border as well." "What is it I'm looking at General?" said the Governor as he picked up the pictures one by one. "Sir these are photographs taken by our satellites as well as our positions along the border within the last 24 hours. We're seeing some increased activity from the Union, especially along their southern borders." "What do we think they're planning an attack?!?!" "We don't believe they're interested in attack us" said the General. "We've remained neutral, more or less, with the Union for some time now. However, they have opposed the Irish constantly and if they were looking to push their weight against the Russian Empire for our support of Ireland we would be the primary target." "It seems I should contact his majesty then" said the Governor. "I believe so sir, I've already brought the District up to an heighten alert status." "Good General" said the Governor, "Keep me appraised...." |
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| Union | Sep 25 2011, 02:55 PM Post #4 |
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Pyrenees Republic
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OOC: It's all relatively public. The conscription notices are in the newspapers, and the government, while not being overt about its objectives, is certainly not hiding the increase in military activity. Also, NRE, me and Speria resolved the issue witht he disputed Pyresian territory. They recognize it as Union land. :) IC: Sant Llorenç de Morunys was a sleepy town, home to no more than one thousand persons. Its medieval walls stood strong, and a relatively well-known Benedictine monastery, dating to the 11th century, was both the town's only true tourist destination, and its namesake. However, even in the best of days, it had never been as full as it was today. An accident of geography, the locals told themselves. Their town had been here for centuries, long before the border demarcating Russian Catalonia stood a kilometer away, across the river. There was no particular reason that this Union regiment, the first to reach that border as it would turn out, had chosen them for any other reason. And one must think of what this meant for them. The Union troops had not invaded their city, and had not robbed them of their possessions. Indeed, only a small platoon had even walked through the ancient gates. The rest of the regiment had moved on, along the highway, to take the former Srolonkan border facility on the LV-4241 Berga bridge. Across the river, Russian border guards noted that the lights came on for the first time since the Srolonkan government had fallen. The barriers came up, and the road, at least for now, was closed. The long bare flagpole now bore a new flag - the Union flag. These reports were quickly corroborated along the border over the course of the day. Near Andorra, and the other Pyrenesian territories, some border crossing remained unmanned for nearly a week after the initial occupation, but the intent of the Union government was clear. Not one Union troop violated the Russian border. Tanks, men, artillery, and armaments flooded to the line and stopped, as if waiting. Whether or not the Union intended an invasion of Russian Catalonia was yet unclear, but for now, no movement was made. The city of Lleida itself, a town of just over 150,000 citizens, remained independent for time longer than the countryside it had once governed. Union troops surrounded the city, but made no move. An ambassador was dispatched into the city to meet with the local government - it was intended that this occupation be as peaceful as possible. Here and there shots were fired - it would be disingenuous to say that the annexation had been totally peaceful. But the land was not heavily populated, and those who did inhabit it placed as little value in the the Russian occupation of their Catalan brothers as they now did to occupation by the Falangists. In some areas, indeed, the troops were outright welcomed by dusty towns who remembered fondly the days of Romano and unified Spain. The entire operation was completed, then, in a day, barring the assorted holdouts that remained here and there. It reinforced the conviction among the Union's leadership that what they were doing was not only right, but perhaps feasible. It was still possible that the future expansions, southwards into Aragon and westwards toward the Atlantic, would not go as smoothly, and that foreign powers might have a chance to react, but it was with joy that Lleida was welcomed into the Union that day. There may yet be retribution, but for now, the operation had been an unbridled success. Excerpt from Jose Alvarez's bestselling history on the war, The Falangist Reconquista ((obviously published after the war, but thought it would make an interesting motif)). Edited by Union, Sep 25 2011, 02:56 PM.
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| NRE | Oct 4 2011, 12:51 PM Post #5 |
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The Kremlin, Moscow.... The Tsar sat a bit uneasily as his top advisers, both political and military, began the meeting. Satellite photographs and other imagines were put across the screen, enlarged at the touch of a finger, and then explained to the Tsar. The Spaniards of the Union were on the move and their intentions seemed clear enough to most of the Russian Military Command. It was an expansion, the Union was obviously looking to retake a lot of territory lost by the old Spanish Empire. The question was, and what worried the political advisers, how far were they going? This initial expansion by itself did not disturb Moscow all that much beyond the fact that the Union wasn't the Spanish Empire of old. Russia was hardly concerned with the political geography of the Iberian peninsula so long as the Roman Empire was happy. The Emperor in Constantinople had made no word, either publicly or in private communications with Moscow over the recent events so the Tsar took it that his majesty was not worried. Alexei personally, however, felt differently and was quite worried over what this expansion could mean. "Do we think the Spaniards are looking to take back the entire peninsula?" asked Alexei to his advisers. "Its unclear your majesty" said Count Tolstoy of the Foreign Ministry. "They've made to real advances on any of the international borders in Iberia but at the same time, they have made some interesting advances. We cannot deny the fact that once this expansion is complete, they'll be on our Catalonia doorstep." "Perhaps then we should remind the Spaniards that we intend to stay in Catalonia" the Tsar remarked, looking at his military advisers. "We can raise the Barcelona District's alert level your majesty" Mikhail Lebedev, Chief of the General Staff, said. "I want something better than that" Alexei said as he sat back in his own chair and began to ponder the question. "No, I say we put our forces in Catalonia on exercise. We're already soon to begin naval exercises with the Quaonians there and publicly we can just say it coincides with that. Privately, however, we'll use it to show the Spaniards that we intend to defend ourselves if they dare try to strike against us." "As you wish your majesty" said the advisers, all nodding in agreement... ______________________________________________________________________ Within a day of the Tsar's decision in Moscow, troops began being deployed in Catalonia for exercises, most of them occurring along the border. Obviously this was to make sure the Spaniards were in good view of the spectacle just as the Tsar desired. Along with troops came the tanks and other heavy equipment, all of which was also used in the exercise and training scenarios that began popping up throughout the area. Even aircraft were deployed and began making more and more sweeps of the territory, staying naturally well within their airspace but near enough to the edge to make the point. |
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| The Authority of the Grand Moff | Oct 6 2011, 08:36 PM Post #6 |
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2nd Lieutenant
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Posted Image The Star Fort of Moff Pellaeon "Who are you?" There was no answer. Not that there could be; the Moff was in his bathroom, alone save for his mirrored reflection--a reflection which showed an unrecognizable someone, creased with stress, with a mustache which every day seemed to go further white from brown. The eyes, though... the eyes still shine.... The strain was palpable--and why not? Against impossible odds, and through terrible loss, had his counterpart Piett--Brilliant man, a wonder!"--saved the Sectors against the mighty Irish Empire at the recent Battle of Bornholm; only now, did it seem, were the Moffs, fearful for their Citizens, fearful for The New Order, beginning to breathe again. And the slaves... what of the slaves? The Abomination continued to persist, continued to be blithely ignored--by cruelty or prejudice or sheer stupidity--by the rest of the world. The exhaustive efforts of Kuat's modified A-9's seemed for naught, and indeed it was beginning to weigh heavier and heavier upon the souls of the Moffs (Yes, they had souls--even if other Nations insisted otherwise) that they had doomed, not aided, the enslaved of the arrogant (and all-too-mighty) Confederacy. The Revolution had barely begun, and already seemed on the brink of collapse. And all we can do is watch, and despair. Despite the insistence of foreigners who would not see what they did not wish to see, The New Order was quietly proving its salient virtue. Unemployment was at a miniscule 1%--and adult literacy, 100%. The Sectors were exporting 61 times the value of their imports. The budget wasn't just balanced--it was running a ludicrous surplus. Dominionist enclave of dismay? If a Quality of Life index of 9.7 was any indication, life in The New Order was nigh-utopian. And yet.... And yet, for all its triumphs, there no celebration, or even respect, from the international community. Either the Sectors were a joke, a bug to be squashed 'neath jackboots, or simply ignored. There was fear, which was not necessarily a bad thing--but not fear out of respect: fear; instead, out of suspicion and paranoia. Thus, though the Sectors could remain content to simply stand by idly as the attentions of Europe once again turned elsewhere--and this remained a strong, viable option--the graying man thought to... investigate further. Because the graying man was a Moff, and his eyes still shone. *
((I get the figures from mechiwiki... they're really only to add flavor, not be fodder for debate ^^ )) |
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| NRE | Oct 8 2011, 08:13 PM Post #7 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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| The Authority of the Grand Moff | Oct 8 2011, 08:48 PM Post #8 |
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2nd Lieutenant
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| NRE | Oct 9 2011, 08:03 PM Post #9 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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| The Authority of the Grand Moff | Oct 9 2011, 08:39 PM Post #10 |
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2nd Lieutenant
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((The whole "preference" bit is because in my head I'm not sure/don't greatly care which Moff I use for this storyline, at least right now. If there's a particular Moff whose character you've liked, or if there's an IC reason for a specific one--i.e., Piett because the Emperor wants to meet the "Hero of Bornholm" or whatever--I figured I'd give you that choice. You can start the thread if you want or I can)) |
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| Union | Oct 10 2011, 03:56 PM Post #11 |
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Pyrenees Republic
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Proclamation of Pamplona It was a sunny day, and quite nice out for the season. These days were numbered - winter was coming, and soon the early frost would define the mornings in Spain. A breeze could be felt in the Plaza del Castillo, where a new tricolor - a red, yellow, and blue banner different from the flags of the Pyrenesian Union caught it, and began to wave. In the apartment buildings surrounding the square, hundreds of civilians gathered from the balconies to watch the proceedings. The Plaza itself was closed - only the Presidential Guard and a select group of national journalists stood before the large podium. As the church bells tolled to indicate it was eleven in the morning, Miguel Trouillefou, now nearly ninety, slowly walked up to the stand, cane in one hand, and a guard holding the other. When he finally stood before the podium, he did not speak for several minutes, choosing instead to look at the buildings around him and the men before him. When finally he spoke, it was in a quiet, gravelly voice. Even with the microphone, it was difficult to decipher his murmurs, as his slightly accented Spanish betrayed his French-Sperian ancestry and upbringing. "I give thanks to God that I am able to stand here today, in my last term as your Chairman, and address a vibrant and healthy nation-state. We are survivors, comrades. With our own ability and the grace of God we have maintained the regime that united Spain once, and more than that - we have thrived. We are today wealthy, happy, and healthy. Yet, there is trouble in the region. Anarchy reigns, and faith in God is receding across the globe. Even today the Genesian Church finds itself under direct assault from its enemy. My prayers go to our sons that today patrol Rome and protect the Pope from those who would wish him harm. Today, however, I do not come before you to address that matter, but rather explain the activity of the last few days. Comrades - Spain is a ruin, a shadow of what it once was. Anarchy reigns where tyranny does not, and that we have made ourselves a healthy and happy home does not mean we can ignore the cries of those who were once our countrymen. God has protected our land for a reason. God has helped us thrive for a reason, and I come before you today to proclaim that our Union cannot be limited to the Pyrenees, but must reclaim those lands which are rightfully our own. Over the last week, our forces have secured the soil of Lleida, and we welcome them today into our Union as brothers. However, our new Union will not stop at Lleida. We will expand and take the territories of Northern Spain left today without the guidance of man or God, and reintegrate them with their brothers who have never forgotten them, and with whom Union is natural, historical, and right. It is our divine mission to restore the rule of law and respect of God in all of Spain, and there is no force on Earth that will stop us from pursuing it. Over the next few weeks, I must ask us all to make sacrifices in support of our sons who will go forth into Northern Spain and reclaim our fatherland. Some will notice the flag that waves behind me today. It is the symbol of our new Union. A Union stretching from Pau to Madrid. A Union of Spaniards, Sperians, Frenchmen, Basques, and Catalans. A Union under God, and in His eternal service. To the world, I warn only that attempts to curtail our Unity will be met with swift retribution, and swift judgment. Yet, I must recognize that our kin have spent many years under foreign yolk, and may be suspicious of integration. To them, I ask only for their faith - both in God and our state. We are an egalitarian federation of equal partners, and much as Pau was peacefully integrated into the federation, so will your own lands be. You will be our equals, not our subjects. You will be our partners, not our vassals. You will be given representation, and your divine rights will be respected. Our forces will move into your lands, but they will not fire unless fired upon. We will not engage in indiscriminate bombings. We will not rob your cities of their wealth to fill our coffers, or harm your crops. We ask that you urge your local leaders to accept the wisdom of what should be a joyful reunion. We are weak divided, but strong united, and lest we continue to tolerate the colonization of ours peoples we must unite. Roman emperors have divided us. Venetian princes have dominated us. Russian Tsars have robbed us. Accept unity with your brothers under God, brothers of faith, blood, and soil, or accept domination by foreign kings and exploitation by foreign capitalists. Our Union should be a happy event, a peaceful event. However, if the wisdom of my words are not heeded, if the will of God is not sufficient, then may the power of the sword drive the devil out of your hearts and into the warm embrace of the united fatherland. We seek nothing more than that which is our right, that which our fathers and grandfathers died to create and died defending. We will not let those whose hearts have been poisoned against us to oppose us. We seek no violence, but are not so naive to believe that those who are unwilling to fight for what they believe in will be given it by the grace of others. Tomorrow, our troops will begin the march to Zaragoza. We hope her denizens will accept us as equal comrades, and that loss of life can be wholly avoided. We will approach not as conquerors, and hope not to be received as such. It is in this way that our march to Madrid will begin. God bless you, and God bless the resurgence of the Union of Free Falangist Republics [UFFR]." Posted Image Edited by Union, Oct 17 2011, 08:16 PM.
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| Hastine | Oct 11 2011, 12:41 AM Post #12 |
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Universi enim hic sumus.
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As much as it would have liked to deny it, Sperry feared the Union more than any other nation in Europe. It did not fear losing to it in battle, not by any means; for they were both equally matched in arms. Instead, it feared the dregs of such a fair fight, with the potential bloodshed unequal to anything in the region's past. The Union itself was like a badger den, if said den were filled to the brim with mines. It was for this reason that the rekindling kingdom to the north of the Pyrenees ceded its southwestern frontier; the former Province of Cisylvania, populated heavily by both Basque and Sperian. It was done in the hopes that further concessions were deemed unnecessary, and that the Union’s desire for a united Spain would not extend far north beyond their mountain fortress. Now came the times that would test that dissertation. As the Union prepared to reestablish its historical control of the Iberian Peninsula, the Kingdom of Sperry braced for the consequences, which were many: the weakening position of the vulnerable Hesperian Church in the face of resurgent Genesians once made complacent by the secular government of the Union; the potential loss of Russia’s presence in the peninsula, which would bring to question the lordship of the region of Risejlon; and to add to that, physical disconnection from the Russian Orthodox Church, which the Hesperian Church saw as one of its few friends in the world. Added to this were the simmering waters that were the Republican protests in the capital city of Armaga, which lambasted the ruling Christian Democratic party and the King for their relinquishing of Cisylvania and the displacement of the native Sperian population, and called for a republic to be established upon the ashes of an ejected constitutional monarchy. It was no wonder that the majority of Sperians from all walks of life were clenching their fists in anger and uncertainty. Edited by Hastine, Oct 11 2011, 12:44 AM.
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| Union | Oct 11 2011, 09:57 AM Post #13 |
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The Ebro River valley was doomed to domination by either the central steppes or the northern mountains. Geography had made it completely indefensible against regimes from the north or south, a flat valley surrounded on all sides by hostile cliffs. As Union jets patrolled the skies, maintaining what could not be called a fair fight for air superiority, Union mechanized infantry, riding tanks, armored personnel carriers, or helicopters made quick work of capturing the flatlands of the Ebro valley, reclaiming the military installations Romano had left behind, and which the Srolonkans maintained. Securing the Ebro was the only mission, in the first few days. Control of the river was vital to control of the region, and the slow surrounding of Russian Catalonia. Bypassing Zaragoza for now, Union forces secured the depopulated lands around them, moving their way south and east toward the Mediterranean Sea alongside the river banks. The occupation would depend on the Ebro as a logistical vein, but without Zaragoza its use was limited. It was with this in mind that the Union began its blockade of the city of more than a million persons. Zaragoza found itself in a tight spot. A few insurgents wanted nothing more than to fight Union troops - but no soldier was placed at risk. After a few days of blockade, with no foreign help, they would have to surrender to Union occupation. Such an occupation was unlikely to be peaceful - and unlikely to be extremely violent, but it was certainly inevitable. The European powers, it seemed, were more than content to watch the Union grow to fill the anarchic mass between their borders, as long as they stopped there. It was thus with pride and confidence that Miguel Trouillefou raised the new flag above the capital building in Zaragoza, and declared Madrid the spiritual capital of the Union, placing the utmost importance on its capture by the end of the year. Who could oppose them? |
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| Porcu | Oct 11 2011, 12:43 PM Post #14 |
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
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Official Communiqué The Parliament and People of Porcu view and are following recent events in the Iberian peninsula with slight hesitation. While the nature of these moves towards unification is understandable in the eyes of Stockholm, it is the sincerest hope of the Republic that the wishes of local, and independent, populations will be respected by this newly established Union. Legitimacy must be provided by local inhabitants in free and fair referendums and the fullest efforts must be made to protect and uphold the rights and liberties of these various populations scattered across Iberia. The Republic of Porcu would gladly aid in this process, and thereby quell growing uncertainty among various circles in the rest of Europe. Edited by Porcu, Oct 11 2011, 12:43 PM.
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| Union | Oct 11 2011, 01:17 PM Post #15 |
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Official Communique The people of the territories of Free Spain shall be granted the rights awarded to them in the constitution, and their entry into the Union will occur according to constitutional procedures, outlined in Articles II, V, VI, and XIX. The integration of Pau, the Houat Island territory, and Lleida, shown in Articles XII, XV, and XX, shall serve as a model for the process. Spoiler: click to toggle
Edited by Union, Oct 11 2011, 01:20 PM.
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| Porcu | Oct 11 2011, 02:11 PM Post #16 |
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
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The Parliament and People of Porcu, in coordination with the EU Commission on Foreign Affairs, wish to become well informed on the sentiments of those in Free Spain. With that in mind, representatives and election officials will be dispatched to gauge the opinions, thoughts, and wishes of local populaces. In those areas currently patrolled by Union military units, it is kindly asked that these officials are not halted from entering said areas, nor kept from moving freely and speaking with individuals and group leaders unabated. |
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| Union | Oct 11 2011, 03:15 PM Post #17 |
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For their own safety, we request Porcuian advisers to refrain from travelling in unoccupied territories. We will welcome them within the Union, if they can guarantee they will make no attempt to venture beyond the border, as new republics are admitted into the Union. Military units in Lleida will be dispatched to guard them, and eventually, we would be happy to allow operations to expand.
Edited by Union, Oct 11 2011, 03:17 PM.
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| East Anarx | Oct 11 2011, 06:38 PM Post #18 |
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Anarchitect
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After dinner, the children had been sent to bed, and Eva Serrano was meeting with the other members of the cooperative of local farms of which she was a part. Louis Zapata, elderly but still sharp as a tack, his wild white hair flaming out in every direction from his wrinkled face, stood up to speak: "As you all are no doubt aware, the falangistas from the north are beginning to occupy many nearby lands traditionally held in common by anarcosindicalistas. My nephew, Jorge, has written me that the fascists took over the factory he was working in and he has decided to leave rather than submit to the authority of the Union and their constitution. He is going to try to convince some of his comrades to come with him, and he is coming here." Elena Verde, a bright young woman with golden hair and green eyes, spoke up: "Good. I will need some strong young men to help me dig a root cellar before the winter arrives." "I'm sure that's not all they'll help you with, Elena," the old man remarked, making the young woman blush ever so slightly before she could respond. "No, Señor Zapata, there is much work to be done around here, and I'm sure I am not the only one who feels this way." "Si," Eva said, "perhaps there will be some among them who can turn the abandoned Rodriguez place into a productive farm again, or take their skills and start a workshop there. What was it your nephew's factory was producing, Louis?" "Hunting rifles and explosives used in mining mostly." The old man grinned. |
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| Telosan | Oct 11 2011, 11:53 PM Post #19 |
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Despite the colorful history of Venetian-Unionist relations, the Union's intentions thus far have been of a relatively low threat level. Though these developments are unsettling, Venice will not intervene at this time. That said, we will not hesitate to stand by an ultimatum or other decisive action on the matter from either the Kingdom of Sperry or the Russian Empire. ~ Doge Contarini ~ |
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| Porcu | Oct 12 2011, 09:11 AM Post #20 |
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
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Porcuian officials and advisers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have chosen to travel to the Iberian peninsula knowing full well that their safety cannot be guaranteed in areas and territories outside of Union control. However, transparency in these matters is critical, and justification from the various locals scattered through Free Spain is paramount, if the Parliament and People of Porcu are to gather the information necessary to make an informed decision, and possibly support the moves of the Union openly. Stockholm hopes to have the Union's support. Edited by Porcu, Oct 12 2011, 09:12 AM.
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| Union | Oct 12 2011, 09:15 AM Post #21 |
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We are uncomfortable with the prospect of allowing individuals enter potential conflict zones without being allowed to secure their safety. Unless the Porcuian government is willing to operate under the parameters set out by this government, we must ask their observers to stay home. Our aircraft will not allow civilian travel into the conflict zone, for their own safety. While it is admirable that the Porcuian observers are willing to put their lives at risk, the Union government is not. |
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| Union | Oct 13 2011, 12:48 PM Post #22 |
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Pyrenees Republic
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He had been scared, last week, when he heard that troops approaching Teruel were fired upon by anarchists. They had been promised a peaceful occupation, and while Jose Aroztegi was proud of his heritage and country, the conscripted butcher from Bayonne did not want to die. It was with great relief, then, that as a Basque speaker, he was chosen to occupy Bilbao. Or at least, he would come to see it that way. Posted Image The entrance of the Union into the Basque country was overwhelmingly peaceful, as it would turn out. For the first time in centuries, the Basque people had united under a single political authority in the Union, and remained a significant minority of the population - a minority that may grow more pronounced as Spaniards were annexed into the land, but for now one in which those of Basque descent filled many government positions and were given an extensive voice. The federal structure promised them autonomy, and recognition of their language made them equals. They had no fear of the Union government, and indeed, looked with some fondness back on the Falangist government that had left the Basque country fully industrialized, and the center of industrial production in Iberia. There were worse fates, and many across the region had begun to realize that no shining knight on the continent was going to ride in and help them preserve their independence. Jose Aroztegi would not have many war stories he would be telling his grandchildren. From the first day he crossed the border, to his arrival in Vizcaya weeks later, the only stories he had were those of numerable sexual contests, participation in many parades, and drinking sizable quantities of patxaran. It could not last forever, and soon Aroztegi found himself with the Basque country behind him, and the steppes of Leon in front of him, and as he marched from the city, he could swear that off in the distance he could hear explosions and gunshots though no one else seemed to react. Perhaps he would have stories yet, though his heart wished ever more to return to the golden sunny land he had just left, and drink and fuck with reckless, youthful abandon. Spoiler: click to toggle
Edited by Union, Oct 13 2011, 12:59 PM.
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| Porcu | Oct 13 2011, 03:08 PM Post #23 |
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
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Official Communiqué The Parliament and People of Porcu, in conjunction with the EU Commission of Foreign Affairs, has readied a small number of observers, officials, representatives, and advisers that will traverse the Iberian peninsula in teams with the goal of meeting with local leaders and ordinary citizenry and documenting their thoughts and opinions on recent actions taken by the Union of Free Falangist Republics in addition to their wishes for their own futures, specifically, as well as the future of Free Spain, generally. Transportation into Free Spain will be undertaken by the Aeronautical Self-Defense Force of the Republic of Porcu into the regional airport of Salamanca. Communications between the local government and Stockholm provided the necessary approval. Additionally, vehicles will be transported to provide Porcuian and EU officials the ability to travel freely. Though efforts have been to signal the advance of Porcuian and EU officials to local populaces, all officials are aware of the inherent danger of their mission. The cooperation of the Union government and military forces is, again, kindly asked for in providing entry and unencumbered travel to Porcuian and EU officials wishing to cross into territories and localities currently under Union occupation. |
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| Union | Oct 13 2011, 04:43 PM Post #24 |
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Pyrenees Republic
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Official Communique The Union government condemns the rash behavior of the EU Commission to enter into a potential conflict zone, putting themselves and Union soldiers at risk by their presence. For matters of safety, the Union government must, at the very least, demand that any observer in the region make their position known at all times through GPS, and maintain radio contact at all times with a to-be-designated frequency that will serve as emergency broadcasting in the area. Failure to consent to these safety measures will result in the activation of Union naval and aerial units to ensure that no foreign entity is permitted into ungoverned Iberia at this time. Approaching aircraft and naval vessels from designated states will be turned away, or forcibly docked/landed. By refusing to cooperate with local regulations on fundamental issues of security, the Porcuian government proves itself to be an immature and rash entity. Should failure to comply with our most fundamental terms for their access to the region be heeded, the resulting escalation in our efforts to enforce containment and security for both our boys and that of local civilian populations should not be considered belligerent in the eyes of the international community, but only the basic necessity to counter irrational and dangerous acts. |
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| NRE | Oct 13 2011, 04:56 PM Post #25 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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11:31 AM Jul 13