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With the fall of Hoffnung, [[Sudentor]] was the last major South Belkan city still under North Belkan control. Resistance there was fierce, due to weapons from the South Belkan munitions plant that was in the city. To put down the resistance, the Allies called upon the Ustian mercenaries to meet up with the Allied ground forces south of the city. On the way there, they flew over [[Stier Castle]], when a large bomber formation appeared to the north. Supposedly, it was carrying a nuclear bomb destined for Ustio. Through valiant fighting against improbable odds. the Mercenaries were able to destroy the entire formation, which, curiously, was being attacked by South Belkan fighters as well. Although they had stopped the bombers, several smaller [[F-15E Strike Eagle|jet fighters]] made it through, and dropped their payload. |
With the fall of Hoffnung, [[Sudentor]] was the last major South Belkan city still under North Belkan control. Resistance there was fierce, due to weapons from the South Belkan munitions plant that was in the city. To put down the resistance, the Allies called upon the Ustian mercenaries to meet up with the Allied ground forces south of the city. On the way there, they flew over [[Stier Castle]], when a large bomber formation appeared to the north. Supposedly, it was carrying a nuclear bomb destined for Ustio. Through valiant fighting against improbable odds. the Mercenaries were able to destroy the entire formation, which, curiously, was being attacked by South Belkan fighters as well. Although they had stopped the bombers, several smaller [[F-15E Strike Eagle|jet fighters]] made it through, and dropped their payload. |
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| − | [[File:Tommorow by alecsystem.jpg|thumb|Waldreich disaster]] |
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[[Seven Pillars of Belka|Seven nuclear bombs were dropped on the Waldriechs]], killing more than 12,000 people. These bombs were detonated to fend off incoming Allies, the EMP discharge from the Nukes made communication difficult for several days, but that did not keep the world from knowing what had happened. Everyone was stunned by the Belkan's grand act of self-sacrifice. They had lost the will to fight anymore, after watching the tragedy unfold before their eyes. The allies quickly agreed with the Belkan high command for a cease-fire. For the most part, the war was over. |
[[Seven Pillars of Belka|Seven nuclear bombs were dropped on the Waldriechs]], killing more than 12,000 people. These bombs were detonated to fend off incoming Allies, the EMP discharge from the Nukes made communication difficult for several days, but that did not keep the world from knowing what had happened. Everyone was stunned by the Belkan's grand act of self-sacrifice. They had lost the will to fight anymore, after watching the tragedy unfold before their eyes. The allies quickly agreed with the Belkan high command for a cease-fire. For the most part, the war was over. |
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Revision as of 09:28, 4 July 2013
- "Ten years ago, there was a war that engulfed the world."
- ― Brett Thompson
The Belkan War (March - December 1995) was a major military conflict fought between the Principality of Belka and an alliance between the Osean Federation, the Republic of Ustio and the Union of Yuktobanian Republics.
Lasting just over nine months, the war was one of the most influential events in the history of the Strangereal world. Among other things, the conflict is mainly remembered for the detonation of seven nuclear weapons in Belkan soil.
Crisis in Belka
Territorial expansion and beginnings
- Main article: Belkan economic crisis
In the year 1980, the Belkan Federation underwent a major territorial expansion. The Belkan government spent a major amount of its military budget on their expansionst mission. Their spendings had the unforeseen consequence of triggering turmoil in the Belkan economy, which forced the government to abandon their plans of expanding their lands and revert to a "neutral" territorial policy.
Over the next few years, the aftermath of the expansion movement evolved into a full fledged economic crisis. By the second half of the decade, the crisis had grown beyond the government's control, leading to an scenario of political unrest.
1988 Federal Law Review and the nineties
By 1988, the situation reached uncontrollable proportions. That same year, the worsening situation of the Principality led to the government passing a federal law review, which allowed territories of Belka to secede as independent territories so as to alleviate the effects of the ongoing crisis. In February 28, the eastern lands broke off from Belka as "Gebet", and were followed by the secession of the southeastern territories in May 12 of that same year, which became the Republic of Ustio.
However, the Federal Law Review failed to mitigate the effects of the crisis, which endured to the 1990s. In August 29 of 1991, Belka sold some of its territory to the neighboring countries of Fato and the Kingdom of Sapin and ceded the northern and southern section of the "Five Great Lakes" region to Osea in exchange for mining rights. Both plans predictably failed to lessen the crisis. Furthermore, the deal with Osea was hampered by major civil unrest in Belka, where thousands of people rioted against the ruling General Assembly.
On December 8, a far-right political party named the "Rald Party of Belka" won the maximum number of seats in the Belkan parliament, and gained control as the ruling party of the nation.
The War
- "Unprepared, each country fell quickly before the might of the legendary Belkan Air Force. In just a few days, they occupied all territories except for the mountain range. In response, the occupied Ustio government military placed all their hopes on the joint operation between Osea and the foreign mercenary forces."
- ―Brett Thompson[src]
Opening and Belkan advance
The expansion of Belka, as seen from a Grunder Industries system.
In March 1995, the Principality of Belka discovered a source of mineral resources in a desertic mountain region located in the southern Belka-Ustio border region, designated as "Area B7R".
Having discovered the potential solution to the economic crisis affecting their country, the Belkan army officially declares war. On March 25, 1995, Belka launched a full-scale military invasion of their adjacent territories, marking the beginning of the "Belkan War".
The Belkans' unexpected invasion caught their targets off-guard, allowing them to seize
large amounts of land in the span of a week. By the end of the month, Belka held nearly the entirety of Ustio under their control, as well as the eastern portion of the Osean Federation and the northwestern region of Sapin.
During the Belkan assault, the surviving soldiers of the Ustio Air Force retreated to Valais Air Base, an air force base located in the snowy mountains of south Ustio, which soon became the only major Ustian base outside Belkan control. During that time period, the Ustio military began hiring mercenary pilots in order to bolster its remaining armed forces, and reformed the ravaged 6th Air Division as a mercenary fighter unit.
The 66th Air Force Unit over Valais.
In April 2, the Belkan Air Force dispatched a large formation of Bm-335 Lindwurm and B-52 Stratofortress bombers to destroy Valais Air Base, intending to destroy the base so that the entirety of Ustio fell under their control. Under the jurisdiction of Ustio High Command, all pilots on the base scrambled to intercept the incoming enemy aircraft.
Among the mercenaries defending the base was the newly formed 66th Air Force Unit "Galm", composed of flight leader Cipher and Larry Foulke, alias "Solo Wing Pixy".
Osean Offensive Operation No. 4101
The newly formed Allied Forces were prepared for their attack, but needed a diversion to catch the Belkans off guard. The 6th Air Division's 66th AFU Galm was sent into the Round Table, the most prized area in Belka's eyes, to wreak havoc. The 66th AFU entered the Round Table and engaged the Belkan Fighters. They destroyed the Belkan craft, including a Belkan Ace Squadron and allowed the Allied Forces to advance.
After the successful diversion of the Belkan Air Force's attention to the Round Table, The Osean 3rd Fleet, with its new capital ship, the OFS Kestrel moved through the Belkan-occupied Futuro Canal.
South-Belkan Invasion
At this point, there was a dramatic shift in the war. Belka was no longer the aggressor, but the defender, as the Allies prepared to invade Belka. The story is told differently from each standing point. Here is what we do know:
On May 17, the Allies launched Operation Hell Bound, an attack on the centerpiece of the Hydrian Line, Glatisant. The allies suspected that Glatisant was not just a fortress, but a nuclear weapons production facility. The mission was pegged as a nuclear inspection, which some of the Ustian Mercenary pilots found laughable. Despite the heavy AA defense network at Glatisant, The Mercenary forces were able to neutralize the defense capabilities of Glatisant.
With its main fortress neutralized, the Belkan Military abandoned the Hydrian line, pulling back to their second line of defense in the Schayne Plains. Although this was well into South Belkan territory, the plains lacked defensive cover. The Allies thought to capitalize on this weakness, and on May 19, they launched an air raid on the defensive positions in the plains. After the objective was completed, however, the Belkans deployed Excalibur against them. Most of the attacking force was destroyed by Laser Ordinance before they could escape, but a few pilots made it through, including the Mercenary Galm team.
Excalibur soon became the Allies Priority target, as the withering fire power of the laser tower kept their forces from advancing. Casualty figures were placed high, as this was Belka's pillar of defense. On May 23, Ustian Mercenaries attacked Tauburg, the place where Excalibur was built, deep in North Belkan territory. Although 4 Jammers were present, and the defenses at Excalibur itself were fierce, the Ustians were able to destroy Excalibur. With Excalibur out of the way, the Allies continued to advance northward.
Then, on May 28, Osea Announced its permanent abrogation of the Nonaggression treaty in front of the Assembly of Nations,(they officially put an end to the treaty) and commenced Operation Battle-Axe, a large scale Air sortie into the Round Table, which was still tight in the grasp of the Belkan Air Force. Although at first the battle seemed to go in the Belkans favor, destroying 40% of the Allied forces, the balance swung into the Allies court when the Demon Lord of the 66th Air Force Unit Galm, as his new moniker was, entered the fray, and routed the Belkans, even defeating an Ace Belkan squadron.
Around the same time, South Belka was beginning to become weary of the war. Disillusioned of the patriotism and nationalism that lead them into the war, as well as having their land torn up for defense line after defense line for the "Fatherland" in the north, South Belkan cities began to surrender and disarm peacefully. Unable to set defense positions, the Belkan Army retreated to the north to the Waldriechs and the border between the Belkas. The end of the war was drawing near.
Bombardment of Hoffnung
The Dark Days
The Allied Air forces then started to make the destruction of Belkan war productions their main priority. On June 1, the Allies launched a heavy bombing raid on the industrial center of Hoffnung. The bombing run wasn't a surgical strike, but saturation bombing, where the bombers released ton after ton of unguided bombs on Hoffnung. In turn, the Belkans began to sabotage the facilities, to let nothing fall into the allies hands. The mission was a success, but with a terrible cost to civilian life.
With the fall of Hoffnung, Sudentor was the last major South Belkan city still under North Belkan control. Resistance there was fierce, due to weapons from the South Belkan munitions plant that was in the city. To put down the resistance, the Allies called upon the Ustian mercenaries to meet up with the Allied ground forces south of the city. On the way there, they flew over Stier Castle, when a large bomber formation appeared to the north. Supposedly, it was carrying a nuclear bomb destined for Ustio. Through valiant fighting against improbable odds. the Mercenaries were able to destroy the entire formation, which, curiously, was being attacked by South Belkan fighters as well. Although they had stopped the bombers, several smaller jet fighters made it through, and dropped their payload.
Seven nuclear bombs were dropped on the Waldriechs, killing more than 12,000 people. These bombs were detonated to fend off incoming Allies, the EMP discharge from the Nukes made communication difficult for several days, but that did not keep the world from knowing what had happened. Everyone was stunned by the Belkan's grand act of self-sacrifice. They had lost the will to fight anymore, after watching the tragedy unfold before their eyes. The allies quickly agreed with the Belkan high command for a cease-fire. For the most part, the war was over.
Some Belkan officers, however, refused the cease-fire order, and began to regroup in the Yering mine region near Mt. Schirm. Ustian Mercenaries were sent to quell the resistance, but found it to be larger than anticipated. Nevertheless, the mission was successful.
On June 20, the official peace accords of the Belkan war were held in Lumen, South Belka. At same time, another group of Belkan insurgents appeared on the Belkan coast near Anfang, decrying the peace accords. Due to the circumstances, the Allies secretly sent in mercenary forces to take care of the insurrection. Although, as, one Allied pilot pointed out, there was too much resistance to be simply an insurrection, the mission was successful. The peace talks were held without incident.
The treaty signed at Lumen was one that heavily favored the Allied nations. Belka lost all it's southern territories, leaving only North Belka, which inherited the name of the Principality of Belka. It's military was heavily restricted as well, to ensure that Belka would never again be a threat. The diplomats then proceeded to squabble over the same resources that had ignited the war in the first place. Nevertheless, the world was finally at peace. Belka had all their fronts. The world would never need to worry about Belka again.
"A World With No Boundaries"
On Christmas Day, 1995, "A World With No Boundaries" revealed itself, by first attacking Lumen, the signing place of the peace accords, and Valais Air Base with the XB-0 Hresvelgr, Belka's experimental bomber.
Although the bomber and its escorts were destroyed, it was discovered that AWWNB had control over Avalon Dam, a secret V2 test launch facility. A strike force was quickly assembled, and made its way to Avalon. Although the Strike team suffered severe casualties, Galm team made it through, and was able to destroy the V2 controls, disabling the V2, before disappearing into history.
But some technicians who worked on the V2 did not join AWWNB, as they were fervent Belkan Nationalists. They would only reappear later in history. "A World With no Boundaries" had managed to keep any information about them extremely secretive, so information about them is somewhat scarce. The AWWNB had many people in their coup, this includes pilots from the Osean Air Defense Force, Belkan Air Force, Sapin Air Force, Yuktobanian Air Force, and even from the Ustio Air Force. Also in this group was a pilot that defected from the Ustio Mercenary Unit, the 66th AFU "Galm Team", Larry Foulke, the wingman of the legendary mercenary pilot Cipher.
After the destruction of V2 in Avalon Dam, Larry appeared to fight his old wingman Cipher in an ADFX-02 Morgan, an experimental plane developed in the South Belkan Munitions Plant. Before Larry, call sign Pixy, fought his wingman, he deployed a laser weapon in an attempt to kill Cipher, but the new Galm 2, Patrick James Beckett, callsign PJ, got into the laser's path and got shot down, protecting Cipher. After that Pixy fought his old wingman and he also reactivated a single V2 rocket Although using an advanced aircraft, Larry's chances of defeating Cipher was thin because of Cipher's skill in battle. Nevertheless, Pixy got shot down and the V2 rocket was destroyed and disappeared from history (along with Cipher), or so it seemed.
Quotes
"And so, with the words of Solo Wing, the curtain rises." -Brett Thompson
"The Belkan War is shrouded in mystery." -Brett Thompson
"Everyone is a hero, and a villain. And no one knows who is the victim and who is the agressor. And what is peace?" -Brett Thompson
"Yo, buddy. You still alive?" - Larry "Solo Wing Pixy" Foulke
Trivia
- The Belkan War is based heavily on World War II, with elements of the Gulf War. A nation enduring economic hardship (Germany/Belka) militarizes and invades its neighbors (Invasion of Poland/Belka's invasion of its neighbors). The invaded countries form a coalition known as the Allies. For the invaders the war goes well, but soon the war is fought on multiple fronts. The tide turns when superpowers get involved (US and USSR/Osea and Yuktobania) and then the war turns in favor of the Allies. Soon, the enemy loses ground and saturation bombing of their industrial facilities is conducted by the Allies (bombing of Dresden/bombing of Hoffnung). Soon, the war ends and a peace treaty is signed heavily favoring the Allies. The enemy is stripped of their military power and measures are taken to ensure they can never regain their prior strength (terms of German surrender/Lumen Peace Treaty).
Images
Seven Belkan Nukes
Excalibur