Franklinite-Soltrian War
From AFDES Wiki
 Follomerian dropships hovering over a formation of troops in Central Franklin | |
| Date | 2009-03-21 to 2009-04-19 |
|---|---|
| Location | Northwest Atlantic |
| Result | Cease-fire, peace treaty in negotiation |
| Belligerants | |
| Allied | Franklin County Flint New Follomer Syndicate Republic of Auria Virgin Shores United States |
| Soltrian | Socialist Republic of Soltris |
| Strength | |
| Allied | 27 431 men 1371 tanks 628 other vehicles 56 combat aircraft |
| Soltrian | 15 000 men 1207 tanks 390 other vehicles 104 combat aircraft |
| |||||
The Franklinite-Soltrian War was a military confict between Franklin County, its allies, and Soltria which occured in 2009. The ongoing Soltrian Depression, which produced a socialist coup d'etat, was the root cause of the conflict. As part of the Soltrian Socialist Party's platform, they pledged to "spread the socialist message" and to build up the military. The reason behind the initial attack remianed unknown for months, but newly released documents reveal that the initial attack on Franklin was part of a broader plan to take over the entire Merchant Isles, and to knock out Franklin first, although some specifics of the documents have been proven to be false.
Contents |
Background
Soltrian Depression
The roots of the Franklinite-Soltrian War go back to 2004, when due to lower demand for Soltrian manufactured goods, Soltria entered a recession. Since manufacturing comprised 64% of the economy, it drug the rest of the industries along with it, creating a vicious circle of reduced demand, layoffs, and even more reduced demand.
The Soltrian government by 2005 attempted to remedy this by using government funds to recapitalize the ailing manufacturing sector. Over the next few years, the recapitalization program as a whole could not offset the losses and break the vicious circle, despite total spending being 105% of GDP. With no way to pay for the recapitalization, the Soltrian government started to monetize their expenses – drastically expanding the money supply, and therefore creating inflation.
By 2006, the consensus was that Soltria was in a depression, by 2008 turning into a major one, with inflation at nearly 30%, unemployment at 31% and GDP down 34% since the 2004 peak. Popular anger surged, and out of it emerged the Revolutionary Socialist Party of Soltris, which aimed to institute a socialist regime in Soltria, and get the economy back on its feet and working for the workers. Throughout late 2008 and early 2009, the government tried to make limited compromises, but it was to no avail. A takeover was inevitable.
Socialist Coup
On March 10, 2009, the thing legislators had feared for months happened – a coup d'etat. That morning, hundreds of Soltrian citizens stormed the Legislative Building and deposed the legislators, and took them to a holding area. Meanwhile, Soltrians took over other government facilities, completing a bloodless socialist coup.
The RSPS moved quickly to enact their platform, and to put themselves in the former legislators' seats. Their platform included:
- Nationalizing all primary industries and manufacturing.
- Increasing regulation of the economy
- Ensuring full employment and a job for all Soltrian citizens
- Reducing income inequality through minimum and maximum wages
- Strict price controls to be put in place to stop inflation
- Interest rate controls on government loans:
- 0 percent to nationalized companies
- 15 percent for private companies
- No economic aid will be accepted
- Manufacturing will be put to work manufacturing steel and war supplies
- A strong defense for the Soltrian territory
- Repairing and restructuring infrastructure
- "Spreading the message of Soltrian socialism" across the Atlantic
When the platform in its entirety was published, many states began to take notice and be concerned about Soltrian intentions, and started defensive preparations. Chancellor Trist of the New Follomer Syndicate pointed out:
Another militant nation? Uh oh, time to bring out the big guns. Cause Franklin right now needs to take up the slogan, "Speak softly but carry a really big stick". Intimidation is key, keeps the Nationalists in check.
War
Build-up
In the ensuing few weeks after the socialist coup, most states near Soltria, including Franklin, increased military readiness and war production. In Franklin's case, a call for volunteers for reserve forces was sent out, and in 2 weeks 187 volunteers (out of 49 000 total) enlisted in the Franklinite military. Soltria, on the other hand, conscripted some citizens into the Soltrian Army, but even more volunteered, most of them socialists, to fight in the Army, and to spread the Soltrian message in the Atlantic region.
By the war's eve, Soltria had 4000 troops ready to move, and the nationalized industries were producing steel, tanks, and other war supplies for a fight. Missile bases were built, and were promptly placed under satellite surveillance by Franklin and other CACS states. After the update was placed by the Executive in the Franklin City Journal, Chancellor Trist of the New Follomer Syndicate commented:
There is some mobilization going on, though the numbers don't sound so good. Franklin has the hardware, but Soltria has the numbers.
Deathtopumpkins, Governor of Virgin Shores, said:
Well that's kinda scary... I hope you guys don't go to war.
Their fears would be realized.
Bombardment of Franklin
On March 21, 2009, the Soltrian Missile Command gave one order, "launch", which would change Franklinite-Soltrian relations forever. Missiles launched from their bases, towards Franklin County. Franklinite defenders noted on their screens that the initial volley of three ballistic missiles was going to hit Hanging Cliff, but it would be pointless to intercept them, as the explosion would destroy more than it would prevent.
At the same time, Soltrian convoys started on the road to East Valley, which connects to Interstate 30, to invade Franklin. Meanwhile, the missiles impacted, and destroyed the Franklin County Stock Exchange. Fortunately, the market was not open at the time. Electronic trading continued in the wake of the event.
Minutes later, missiles impacted in Central Franklin, destroying buildings along I-85. They did not affect the LIH hotels or the AFDES Summit Complex. After the initial bombardment, there was a three-hour lull in the fighting, and Franklinite commanders used this time to contact allied nations to commit troops. These reinforcements were sent:
- Flint sent their national guard unit to assist with civilian matters, and formed the Flint Volunteer Group for Flint citizens to enlist in the Franklinite military
- The New Follomer Syndicate sent a battalion of troops, dropships, and the Follomer First Fleet.
- The Republic of Auria sent 25 000 troops to Franklin, as well as a declaration of war on Soltria
The Soltrians responded by committing their entire force, 15 000 men, to the war. There were also airstrikes launched on River Bend. Many planes were shot down by Franklinite surface-to-air missiles, but some completed their missions. After a day of bombing, it ceased, and commanders on the ground had their sights on Eastern Foothills.
Battle of Eastern Foothills
Soltrian forces, spearheaded by helicopters and bombing missions, which destroyed a diamond interchange near the town. Then came the tanks to occupy the city and use it as a forward base. However, Allied commanders were determined to stop the Soltrian drive to Franklin there. Dropships loaded with over a thousand troops were launched towards Eastern Foothills to reinforce the garrison there.
With the reinforcements, the battle heated up, with squads of infantry battling other squads of infantry, aircraft battling tanks, tanks battling men, and helicopters battling helicopters. The battle raged in the afternoon through sunset. After sunset, the Soltrians retreated, then launched airstrikes on positions in Eastern Foothills. The forces continued to pull back along I-30, until they were 15 kilometers from the city. The battle was over, but the war was not.
Turning the Tide
After the retreat, the Soltrians sent a force of 30 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to destroy Eastern Foothills under cover of darkness. The garrison there was completely destroyed, as well as the civilian part of the area. The forward troop concentrations to defend the area were now eliminated. The incident sparked outrage, and the Executive of Franklin responded in a press conference:
Such an act of agression against an armed, but nonetheless passive population, the indiscriminate bombing of non-military targets, is an act that will not go unnoticed by us, and it must not go unretaliated against. On my advisement, the commanders of the campaign have launched airstrikes on Soltrian military targets, and we have launched some of our ballistic missiles. We will also use our nuclear weapons if any Soltrian troops set foot near Franklinite territory. The full might of the Allied force will be sent against the Soltrians.
In the wake of the bombing, Virgin Shores declared war and sent an expeditionary force to Franklin, and the United States sent in a naval fleet to Soltrian waters. Franklinite Assemblymen were worried over American involvement, with one stating that Franklin will be the next Afghanistan if not defended against the Americans. After a debate, a consensus agreement emerged to watch the American fleet, especially after President Wright assured that the Bush Doctrine was no longer American policy.
With a large Allied force ready for action, the Allied commanders decided to not let the army sit there without doing anything. Therefore, Operation Rapier was announced, intended to make lightning strikes against the Soltrian military to try to end the war, and start negotiations on a peace treaty.
Endgame
Operation Rapier was launched on the morning of April 22, 2009. 28 Follomerian dropships loaded with troops drifted towards Soltrian airspace, followed by a convoy of tanks, jeeps, artillery, and infantry. The American fleet also commenced a bombardment of selected Soltrian targets.
The barrage went on for over five hours. In response to the large Allied force coming near Soltrian soil, the military was mobilized. Franklinite commanders ordered a halt in the Operation Rapier forces. Half an hour later, a nuclear cannon was sent to the battlefield, and fired on the Soltrian concentration, completely destroying most of the Soltrian Army.
The Legislature frantically reviewed strategic maps, all very grim, while they noticed that six more liberal-leaning legislators were missing. They later showed up with machine guns, and took the rest of the Legislature prisoner, and effected a coup d'etat. They took over the government, and sent a message to the Allied command:
Cease fire. We wish to negotiate a peace treaty.
10 minutes later, Soltria fell quiet. The six legislators promptly declared the dissolution of the Socialist Republic of Soltris, and hundreds flooded the government complex to see the unfurling of Soltria's third flag in less than a year. The war was over.
Aftermath
The war's aftermath and effects at this early stage cannot be determined, but the casualties are an immediate effect. Deaths in the war included:
- 438 Franklinite civilians
- 521 Allied troops
- 8 Soltrian civilians
- 13 290 Soltrian troops
Legacy
Treaty of Soltris
The Treaty of Soltris was the final settlement of the war, and for two weeks negotiations were ongoing at the Legislative Building at Soltris.
Because of good timing, or simply good luck, on May 1, 2009, May Day, the Franklinite negotiators, and the Executive himself, took the Soltrian legislators and negotiators on a tour of Soltrian industry and the coast, attempting to win them over to the Franklinite plan for peace by having the Soltrians picture future prosperity, the Executive saying to a Soltrian on the coast:
Imagine, on May Day 2011, next to your office, men cheering on at the big parade led by you, all waving their red flags, big and small, and rejoicing in their newfound prosperity. You know, a state can be democratically socialist and still have May Day parades. They do it in Sweden. Now, isn't that better than war, mediocrity, and crumbling factories?
Negotiations were completed in early May 2009, and the Treaty of Soltris was approved on May 15, 2009. It included these articles:
- No reparations will be paid for five years. Reparations will be determined in another treaty by 2014
- The Soltrian currency, the Sol, will be backed by a commodity. One Sol will be redeemable for 1/10 of an ounce of gold. The amount of Sols in accounts will be adjusted to reflect this, and will be exchanged for the equivalent value of the amount of gold in old Sols (for example, the price of gold is 36000 Sols/ounce. If a person has 36000 Sols in an account, those old Sols will convert into 10 new Sols).
- Franklin County will sell Soltria gold at a discount price to elevate its reserves to cover all banknotes. The sell price of the gold will be paid in yearly installments with a term of 20 years.
- A free trade agreement will exist between Franklin and Soltria for the next 5 years.
- A new Soltrian Constitution will be adopted, with the consent of the people through a referendum.
Alliance Defense Network
In a concept proposed by Ntq$310 in response to the war in Franklin, the idea for the Alliance Defense Network was born in order to protect and defend AFDES members, like Franklin, from aggression. It is also the first war to involve most AFDES members as allies, and the war's impact on future AFDES legislation and operations remains to be seen.
Secession of Flint and Halifax
Main article: Secession of Flint and Halifax
After a announcement of possible Military support by the United States, many in the Franklin government were worried of such. One official said this.
I am worried that we will become the next Afghanistan. First they send military support, then advisors, then ground troops. The American government has a long history of doing things like that that started with things like are happening to us.
Flint, as well as Halifax, both AFDES member states, yet also cities within the United States, showed outrage at the Assemblymen's comments. The controversy furthur expanded due to the fact that American citizens, some in the Flint National Guard Unit, were in Franklin assisting in the war, whether it be in combat or helping civilians. In the end, Flint and Halifax decided to secede from AFDES. The controversy also highlighted some key tensions within the Alliance itself, over many economic and other issues.
Soltria
The impact of the war on Soltria has been devastating. For the small state, the loss of 15 000 men has been very devastating. Wartime damage may turn out to be massive in the long-term, as multiple missile bombings, shelling, and bombardment against both sides damaged many areas, from undeveloped land to populated, economically important areas.
The full political impact also have yet to be seen. Soltria for the third time in three months has changed flags, and again the outlook for the nation's government is uncertain. Political instability in the country was very high to begin with, and inflamed further due to the release of documents pertaining to the rationale behind the war, and subsequent statements by former intelligence chief Olim Aura said that some information in the documents was forged. Unrest continued for two weeks until the protesters were allowed to search the archives for the truth. They found Aura's statements were factual.
The populace was very dissatisfied with the current regime, and in July 2009, adopted the Soltrian Constitution, which established a new republican government, as per the Treaty of Soltris. Olim Aura was elected President of Soltria on August 1, and promises to bring much-needed reforms and reconstruction to Soltrian lands.
Franklin
In contrast, Franklin has received as much damage, but due to its robust economy, was able to recover faster than Soltria. The war has lead to a 1 percent drop in Franklinite GDP, and a lot of damage from missiles and battles. The damage was most evident in fires in Central Franklin and Hanging Cliff, as well as Eastern Foothills being very damaged from the battle. A multi-million AFD reconstruction campaign was started soon after the war, and most damage has been repaired, and the Franklin County Stock Exchange in particular has been rebuilt with a stronger construction. Reconstruction was completed in August 2009.
See also
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