Codename Alpha: Compendium of Things

The Intercontinental War

Further tensions between Embersonia and Kirauna had begun to mount on Valdera's first moon, Kalo. It was due to a territorial dispute regarding a mining claim on a rich titanium deposit in the Plaines Cauaria. Kiraunan prospectors from the Novy Pamigorsk colony claimed the deposit, which was located on the territory of the Embersonian Aisiki Station. An attempted IOC arbitration immediately failed, and the dispute escalated to a small conflict within several days.

A skirmish occurred between two groups of geologists involving the use of high-power mining equipment, resulting in the death of a Suitsumaan astronaut. The day after, a Kiraunan rover transporting ore samples and 6 astronauts was destroyed in an explosion, killing all onboard. Kirauna placed the blame on the Embersonians, claiming it was destroyed with mining charges by an Embersonian saboteur, in what was revealed to be a false flag attack years later.

The Mikałaj the Unifier railway tunnel was the only land connection between the Posadisan and Vitovan continents. It had been closed in 362 when sanctions were enacted. The tunnel had been covertly rigged with explosives by Embersonians in 364, to close a potential invasion route if war were to break out. News of the incident on Kalo caused severe panic in the Embersonian military, and in the midst of a severe communications breakdown, mistaken orders to destroy the tunnel were issued.

The destruction of the tunnel served as a pretext for Kirauna to launch a military first strike against the Embersonian Federation. On July 14th, 365, less than 24 hours after the tunnel was destroyed, the war began as the sun began to rise over the continents. In a televised broadcast, Viktor proudly announced the operation would join the "misguided Embersonian brethren" with the Greater Kiraunan Union in a short matter of time.

War Breaks Out, 365

"The Embersonian state, it's miserable people and it's miserable military, lack the will to fight. All we need are a few kilometers of beach and a grass runway and we will be dining outside the Grand Cathedral of Kapici in a week." - Milovan Viktor, 365

The Intercontinental War - interchangeably also called The World War, or the Continental War - began with a Kiraunan preemptive against Embersonian military and communications targets. The intent was to disorient and disorganize the Embersonian military, a strategy which had been refined during the early invasion of Prawostia in 364. Strikes at the ports at Mali Kamen and Vatrena also inflicted heavy damage on the Embersonian fleet, disabling multiple aircraft carriers.

A Kiraunan airborne assault operation began along the southern coast, with the intent of creating a transportation corridor for a larger invasion force which would shortly follow. The largest of these assaults was on the city of Topnistvo. The paratroopers encountered unexpected resistance both from the local soldiers as well as irregular civilian forces. Initially, some small advances were made, but the operation began to stall after several days of fighting.

Control of the airspace above the Spokinye Sea was critical to both sides. This was one of the most important naval corridors on the planet, as it was the only way to circumnavigate that wasn't frozen over for most of the year. Control over the airspace was also vital for the planned naval invasion. As the fight progressed, the airborne forces were cut off from critical reinforcement and resupply, and were soon pushed back by Embersonian soldiers. The airborne invasion force became trapped near Blokada, and after suffering heavy casualties, the survivors were successfully evacuated.

The Kiraunan Navy had successfully established decisive control over the Gulf of Vasiliev and the Gulf of Naumov, effectively serving as a trade blockade against Embersonia. The Embersonian Navy had suffered heavy losses at the beginning of the war after a series of dockyard strikes. Though Kirauna effectively possessed naval supremacy, an amphibious assault was still deemed to be far too risky given the threat posed by the Embersonian Air Force, and a lack of decisive air superiority over the Spokinye Sea. The invasion plans were, for the time being, halted.