Circumference

Republika Łukowii - 1437 AH

The Northern Question

The letter from Okruzhennsiya had arrived through formal diplomatic channels to the Ministry. The Foreign Ministry had processed it with the efficiency, and it had reached the president's desk within the hour.

He read it twice. Then he made two calls. The first was to the Foreign Ministry. The second was to Kovalevsky.

The room above the bank filled faster than it usually did. The oligarchs who arrived had not been told the specific contents of what had prompted the meeting, only that it was urgent and that the president himself would be attending, further underlying the situation.

The president did not waste time on preamble. He placed a copy of the Okruzhenn letter on the table and gave the room two minutes to read it before speaking.

"You should know about this before it becomes public" he said. "It will not become public from this room or from my office in the immediate term. What it will become is a matter that requires Łukowia to move carefully and move quickly, and I would prefer to do both with your awareness rather than without it."

Halski set the letter down "The northeast?"

"The northeast" the president confirmed. "Where your companies have been operating and where your housing foundations have been building. The Okruzhenn (Kiberia) administration has chosen to frame a domestic political problem as our territorial problem, which is an old but still usable trick, especially with the minority there."

Drahomirov had finished reading "The timing..."

"Yes" the president said. "The timing."

The timing did not need elaboration. Everyone in the room understood that an Okruzhenn(Kiberia) territorial assertion arriving while Łukowia was approaching an election cycle, absorbing the Shouling losses, and opening tentative conversations with CRMF Carnolia was not coincidental. The Kravchuk administration had either been watching carefully or had gotten very lucky, and nobody in the room believed in such luck.

He laid out what he intended to do in the terms he had decided on during the hour between receiving the letter and calling the meeting.

Łukowia would accept the call for talks. Not in Łukowia and not in Okruzhennsiya(Kiberia) but in Sveynland, on neutral ground, at a time and in a format that Łukowia would propose rather than accept. The acceptance would be communicated through diplomatic channels in language that acknowledged the letter's existence without acknowledging the legitimacy of its claims. Okruzhennsiya(Kiberia) wanted to negotiate. Łukowia was willing to talk. These were not the same thing and the distinction would be maintained throughout.

Calls were sent out to Orenia (Polingo) through the mutual defense framework established in the comprehensive agreements. To let them know of the situation and start their own preparations, which Łukowia was hoping would be towards helping their ally.

The oligarchs were asked to begin quietly preparing their northeastern operations for a prolonged period of uncertainty. Not evacuation, not panic, just preparation. Supply chains reviewed, local management briefed, contingency arrangements made without announcing that contingency arrangements were being made. The appearance of normal business continuing was itself a strategic asset and the president asked that it be maintained for as long as it credibly could be.

What the president did not mention in the room above the bank, because it was not a matter for that room, was what was being set in motion simultaneously through the military's northern command.

The assessment of Łukowia's military infrastructure in the north had been uncomfortable reading. The nation's defense investment had been oriented westward against CRMF Carnolia since independence; the fortifications, the road networks, the airfields, the supply depot positioning, and the northern flatlands that represented Łukowia's most geographically vulnerable frontier had received the attention of a direction from which serious threat had not been expected. That assessment was being revised.

Three airfields were to be established in the northern region. Two dirt strip facilities capable of handling fighter and light bomber operations, positioned to provide air coverage across the most likely approach corridors from the Okruzhenn(Kiberia) border. One tarmac airfield, more permanent, more capable, built with the infrastructure to support sustained operations rather than emergency deployment. The construction was to proceed without announcement and without the kind of official procurement process that generated public documentation; military engineering units handling what could be handled internally, civilian contractors used only where necessary and briefed accordingly.

Ground installation work would follow the same quiet pattern. Supply depots, field communications infrastructure, hardened positions at key road junctions that the flatlands' open terrain made operationally significant. None of it would look, from the outside, like preparation for a specific threat. All of it would function as exactly that.

Two infantry divisions in the northern region were placed on alert status through orders going through normal channels. Their readiness posture changed in ways visible to their commanding officers and invisible to anyone not looking for them; supply levels topped up, leave cancelled on administrative grounds, training schedules adjusted to emphasize the kind of exercises relevant to defensive operations on open terrain. The divisions remained in their positions. They were simply more ready in those positions than they had been the week before.

One of the Tank-Hunter Tankette Brigades was ordered to begin a movement toward the northern region that was logged as a training redeployment. The tank hunter units had been designed for exactly the kind of mobile defensive action that the northern flatlands would require if the situation deteriorated; fast, capable of screening infantry positions, and able to engage armored incursions without the logistical footprint of heavier armor. Moving one brigade north now, quietly and under a training designation, positioned the capability without the provocation of an announced military buildup.

The northern frontier had been Łukowia's blind spot since independence. It was being addressed with the urgency, which would hopefully never be needed.

In the Foreign Ministry the response to the Okruzhenn(Kiberia) letter was drafted and redrafted through the afternoon, each version reviewed against the standard of whether it communicated Łukowia's position clearly without giving Okruzhennsiya(Kiberia) anything it could use. The final version accepted the invitation to talks, proposed Sveynland as the venue, suggested a timeline of the Foreign Ministry's choosing, and contained in its careful diplomatic prose not a single sentence that could be read as acknowledging that the northern regions were anything other than sovereign Łukowian territory.

It was sent before evening.

The president returned to his office afterward and sat after such a busy day ordering a coffee to be sent to his office. The CRMF Carnolian trade conversations were still on the table. The election was still approaching. The Okruzhenn(Kiberia) letter was now answered and the answer was now traveling toward its target.

Whether that response was sufficient for what was coming was a question the northern flatlands would eventually answer. For now it was the best available, and the president had learned, in the years since taking office, that the best available was usually what governing actually meant...

1438 AH | Kingdom of Verdezia

Fuel for the fire

Since the engine debacle of 1436, the last two years have been very quiet for Verdezia. On the surface, the country was quietly working on improving its economy and its social policies. The economy has managed to grow by leaps and bounds compared to the early 1430s. While on the surface it may seem like genuine urban and industrial development, but behind the scenes, the majority of the economic growth stemmed from aggressive military rearmament, pushed forward by the Royal Junta. Throught 1436 and 1437, numerous proposed projects have been approved for development and, after the signing of the Pact of Friendship with CRMF Carnolia, began utilizing more and more of Carnolian technical expertise in their military projects. Many observers in the military observed the current positions both nations were in and, in an event of war, the objectives of naval warfare would fall squarely on Verdezia.

In January 1438, after witnessing incredible growth of the Verdezian economy, something that hasn't been seen since the mid-1420s, many economist noted intense state intervention in the economy along with great emphasis being done on public works. Many also noted greater exploitation of resources in Verdezian colonies, such as the expansion of the oil industry in Pietrana (the northern colony) as well as greater involvement in the long neglected colony of Fotigi (the southeastern colony), expanding infrastructure as well as greatly increasing any agricultural potential the land had to give, though results were mixed. Industrial sectors were given priority and heavy industry was greatly expanded, mostly relating to metallurgy, industrial equipment manufacturing and expansion of state arsenals to provide for the ever growing military. Funds from both internal and external sources (such as foreign investments and overseas operations) were often split between public works, state investments, the military or the ever expanding state welfare projects. While Verdezia greatly ephasized on supporting the Verdezian population through state-backed insurance, financial security for individuals such as disabled and injured workers as well as pregnant mothers, many noted that while the projects did seem large on the surface, behind the scenes it was grossly discriminatory, with pure-blood Verdezians receiving most benefits while foreign nationals and, most significantly, Otherlings, were largely excluded from any government-backed support, being stripped of traditional safety nets. Many of these polocies played into the state-backed propaganda program that played a part in strengthening Verdezias rearmament as well as giving off a caring image to show the Royal Junta took great lengths to care for its population. Programs such as the Iron Safety and the "Healthy Body, Healthy Mind" projects provided subsidized vacations, cultural events and sports activities for Verdezian workers as well as focusing on upgrading working conditions in factories, providing expanded meal options, better lighting and ventilation and washroom facilities, all in a bid to boost morale within the working population.

The military saw an unprecedented level of government involvement, not seen since the Boreal War. All three branches saw significant increases in budgets as well as having several projects be greenlit for development as part of the Tripartite Plan (consisting of Plan E, Plan M and Plan A). Plan E was a branch of the Tripartite Plan that focused entirely on the Royal Verdezian Army, approving projects for new infantry weapons, artillry as well as armored and utility vehicles. Throughout 1436 and 1437, numerous projects were accepted for development to address several shortcomings for the existing arsenals, which included a brand new service rifle, a semi-automatic rifle, a new submachine gun, two new machine guns (one of which would be specifically designed to be fitted to armored vehicles), new field guns and howitzers, a dedicated anti-tank gun (a significant addition that would also lead into tank development), along with four new armored vehicles. Plan M focused on the Navy and feautered a large, and very ambitious, fleet of ships the RVN wanted to acquire to potentially take the fight to the major fleets in Euralia. Plan A meanwhile focused on the expansion and modernization of the Air Force. The entire Tripartite Plan was originally conceived in 1436, but several projects started prior to the year were also included in a bid to standardize weapons development and prevent contradicting documentation, bringing everything under the jurisdiction of the Royal Military Commission (Comisión Militar Real).

[COVERT]

PLAN A

As 1437 came to a close and the first few days of January of 1438 started ticking down, reports came trickling in to the CMR and the Royal Junta, documenting all the progress done regarding the ongoing military projects. Several weapons have already been completed and accepted for active service while others listed detailed reports of their ongoing development as well as reported issues and drawbacks. The new service rifle, an extensively upgraded version of the in-service Mallén Modelo 1895 has been accepted into service as far back as 1436, dubbed the Mallén Modelo 1895/36. Production was ongoing and several units in the army have already been upgraded to the most recent rifle specification. However, it has been noted that the full need of the army would only be fulfilled by 1440/1441 and even then, the stockpiles would include few examples of the most up-to-date rifle, which was seen as a minor issue. Additionally, the new Gomis-Vergara M1437 heavy machine gun has also been introduced a few months prior in early Autumn 1437. Starting production had a few hiccups, mostly dealing with the operation system, which frequently jammed due to easily collecting debree. While the arsenal had an easy solution for fixing the issue, it would take a few months to re-fit the already produced rifles to the new specification. Other weaponry such as the new semi-automatic rifle were aimed to be ready by 1438. However, frequent issues with the magazine and the loading system greatly delayed proper field testing and serial production, with engineers saying that the rifle may only become available for service in 1440, almost two years later than when it was originally anticipated, putting a rather significant dent in reforming several infantry units within the RVA. Apart from infantry weapons, artillery saw some progress, though many projects reported issues with the still limited heavy industry as the factories focused on catching up to the demand. The only artillery piece, the Besende Modelo de Cañón 37 field gun, managed to reach production before 1438. The 75mm gun was set to become the standard field gun for infantry units, replacing the older 07, 12 and 13 models. Other artillery pieces, such as the heavy field guns and heavy howitzers, reported development issues regarding the cannon tubes, citing issues sourcing adequate materials that would be fit to utilize in the development of the cannons. While development was still ongoing, many reported that the heavy artillery would only be ready for introduction by 1440. However, despite such issues, the Obús Pesado Modelo 38 from the Besado Arsenal, a massive 210 mm heavy howitzer gun, was expected to begin service life by mid-1438, though production was expected to begin slowly with ongoing material sourcing issues.

A major breakthrough did come with the introduction of the Mesonero Modello 37, a dedicated 37 mm anti-tank cannon, which coincided with the development of Verdezia's first tank since the Vaca M22/T6 all the way back in 1422. The development of the Modello 37 become a strong focal point that help lead the development of local tank projects, one of which finally bore fruit in 1437 in the form of the M37/T8 infantry tank. The M37/T8 is a light infantry tank primarily designed to, as the name classification suggests, travel alongside and support infantry. The tank was developed in two variants, with the Tipo A being armed with a 20 mm autocannon and the Tipo B being armed with the new Modelo 37 37 mm anti-tank gun, the later variant being primarily used against encountered tank formations while the Tipo A being suited for light attacks against infantry units and utility vehicles. Both variants had secondary armaments of two 7.92 machine guns for additional support fire. Powered by Vida 6-cylinder engine, a good design on paper, field tests showed serious drawbacks. The rather slim treads led to reduced performance off road and, while 25 km/h was seen as adequate for running alongside infantry, it was seen as lackluster for a lighter tank. This is what ultimately led to it also being classified as a dedicated infantry tank. The tank was also lightly armored, with a maximum of 15 mm of armor in the turret as well as the front. While the drawbacks were noted, production was still set to begin in early 1438 in a bid to build up Verdezias armored vehicle arsenal, still being seen as a step up from the antiquated M22/T6. The 37 mm anti-tank gun was also fitted to another project introduced for production in 1437, the Valdueza T37M armored car. Unusual in design, it featured a full on tank turret above its cab, derived from the M37/T8, fitted with a 37 mm anti-tank gun. Designed and produced by Fábrica de Automóviles Valdueza, several batches have already been produced and began being introduced into several units. While having a very punchy 37 mm for its main armament, coupled with a 7.92 mm machine gun for additional fire, many saw it as an odd inclusion for an armored car. An alternative Tipo A variant, armed with a 20 mm autocannon, the same as the M37/T8, was seen as preferrable as armored cars weren't expected to enter combat against enemy armored units, but be used purely for scouting and reconnaissance, utilizing the T37Ms high top speed of 60 km/h on road. Nevertheless, Valdueza persisted that having a second variant armed with a dedicated anti-tank gun could be valuable in case of emergency if the armored car ever found itself facing enemy armored units and needed to delay their formation. Another project that eventually bore fruit towards the end of 1437 was the Vaca M38/T4, a light cavalry tank. Designed independently by Vaca (the M37/T8 being designed by the Industrias Militares Reales (IMR), a state-run heavy vehicles company, it was a lightly armored, fast 4 tonne light tank armed with one 7.92 mm heavy machine gun and a 7.92 mm light machine gun for additional support. With 40 km/h of top speed on roads, its off-road speed of 20 km/h left much to be desired as a planned cavalry tank. With thin armor (upwards of 12 mm), it was planned to be used as a reconnaissance tank and to engage against infantry units, but the low off-road speed offered an obstacle to be used effectively in terrains with no available roads. Despite that major drawback, the Valdueza 6-cylinder engine exceded expectations, offering surprisingly good fuel economy and reliablity at the expense of power, offering only upwards of 55 horsepower, which some said explained its low off-road speed, but many also pointed to the thin tread design as also being the culprit. Both the M37/T8 and the M38/T4 are expected to begin production in late spring/early summer of 1438, aiming to replace the outdated not!FTs and M22/T6s in the RVA.

PLAN M

Plan M was, by many experts, seen as the most ambitious of all the projects in the Tripartite Plan. Verdezia had a strong naval heritage, but due to a lack of sufficient heavy industry as well as the events of the not!Great Depression, the navy saw little, if any, expansion since the Boreal War. Plan M aimed to address that, being spearheaded by Admirals Neizan Morata and Enrique Burgos. Both were fascinated about Boreal-era naval warfare and have come to the conclusion that battleships have become a risky investment, shown by the hesitation of the Great Powers during the war to engage in large battleship battles. However, neither of them were entirely convinced the concept was falling out of favor. Additionally, both have been deeply fascinated about the idea of aircraft carriers, with some junior officers (such as Commodore Enzo Juárez, known for his actions during the Fotigi Rebellion) about the Jeune École doctrine of naval warfare. But these conflicting ideas showed clashes during drafting of Plan M, leading to a very ambitious and bloated objective for the Royal Verdezian Navy. The plan went as follows: four destroyer classes, three light cruiser classes, five heavy cruiser classes, one battlecruiser class, one heavy battleship class, one aircraft carrier class and five submarine classes of varying specification. Plan M showed a deep split in doctrinal thinking, with the large number of heavy ship classes showing an old school of thinking, believing firepower over all would trump rival navies, while a younger school of officers focused on the introduction of smaller destroyers and light cruisers for fast paced, assymetrical style of naval warfare focused on commerce raiding as well as taking on larger ships with groups of smaller vessels. Despite this deep division, some vessels were eventually ordered into construction and commissioned between 1436 and 1438.

The first of the new ships were the Elvandra-class and the Pacenza-class of destroyers. The Pacenza-class followed standard Verdezian design cues for destroyers, weighing at 1,800 tonnes and being loosely based on its predecessor, the Velocidad-class, but fitted with newer spec engines, uprated armaments and a slightly enlarged hull. Greenlit for construction in 1436 with plans to build a total of eight, the first vessel, the Pacenza, was launched in early 1437, with four additional vessels of the class following suit (those being Sambuesa, Montilla, Ayerbe and Ocaña, with the remaining three set to enter service by early 1438. The Elvandra, meanwhile, was a bit of a divergence from traditional destroyer designs of Verdezia. With many opposing construction of such a large amount of ships, the old school of thought began compromises with the younger officer core in the Navy, out of which eventually came the Elvandra, a class of large destroyers weighing upwards of 2,500 metric tonnes in weight, primarily designed to be primary hunters of light cruisers. For its size, it was also praised for its high top speed of 37 knots and possessed a very punchy armament of five 138.6 mm (5.5 in) main guns. A total of six vessels were ordered in 1436, but only three began construction at that point, with the final one being put under construction mid-way through 1437. By January 1438, only a single vessel, the lead ship Elvandra, was completed for testing, with the remaining two nearing completion and the fourth one being about half-way done. Light cruisers were also subject to extensive debate. One issue raised by several officers was the concentration of the majority of naval units in the Verdezian homeland, leaving the colonies particularly vulnerable to naval attack. One proposal several years ago was the expansion of dedicated destroyer and torpedo boat flotillas to focus on coastal mining and coastal defense. However, should Verdezia face off against a superior naval rival, those flotilas would have little value in fending off stronger fleets. These reasons were the driving force behind planning of new light cruisers, which would focus on raiding commerce of distant colonies to isolate overseas territories from the mother country of naval rivals. Three light cruiser clases were proposed, with two eventually entering construction in 1436 and 1437 respectively. The first was the Viento Eterno-class light cruiser. This warship class followed Aberllyn way of naval design, being loosely based on the older not!Emerald-class cruisers. To save weight and space on-board, the ship was designed with a linear arrangement of boilers, giving it a slim, sleek appearance. Additionally, it featured more powerful 203 mm guns in one three-gun turret and two two-gun turrets, giving it substantial firepower for a light cruiser and weighed upwards of 8,000 metric tonnes with a top speed of 33 knots. Two were eventually laid down in 1436 with plans for an additional two ships. However, shifting priorities eventually led to the cancellation of the third and fourth ship in late 1437. Both Viento Eterno-class crusiers are still under construction as of the start of 1438, with the first ship expected to be completed by the end of August. The second class of cruisers was the Fortaleza-class light cruiser, which followed more the traditional Verdezian design. At 7,500 metric tonnes of weight, it featured four tripple-gun turrets armed with 152 mm (6 in) guns and also faturing a catapult as well as deck space for two dedicated maritime patrol aircraft. Being lighter and less resource demanding than the preceding Viento Eterno-class, four ships of the class were ordered in 1437 to be constructed. However, only two were laid down in mid-1437 with the other two still yet to be layed down as of the start of 1438. The ships under construction are set to be completed by late 1439/1440. The most heated debate was regarding the heavier ships of the fleet, specifically the heavy cruisers and battleships. While many in the older, more experienced officer core pushed for a new battleship class to supplement the current under-construction Vitoria-class (with the first ship of the class, Vitoria, expected to be launched within the coming month), even going so far as drafting design ideas for the proposed Gloria-class and sending it to arsenals, with two designs nearing completion, the Departamento de Diseño de Buques de Guerra de la Marine Real (Royal Navy Warship Design Department) ultimately rejected plans for a new battleship, leaving the incomplete plans for the class on the shelf for future debates. Heavy cruisers were more contested as both pros and cons couldn't quite outweigh each side. While the construction of heavy cruisers was intensive due to the requirement of resources, their designs offered a punchy primary armament that could rival larger ships, coupled with the high speeds needed for commerce raiding. Out of the heated debate, what was eventually planned was the Almirante Sabaté-class heavy cruiser, a 16,500 metric tonne ship armed with three tripple-gun 203 mm turrets. Additionally, it featured a catapult system and facilities for three maritime patrol aircraft. Many disputed the class from being accepted into production as Verdezia already possessed the Ruiz-class heavy cruiser introduced in the early 1430s. But even despite that, the class was ordered into construction, with two ships being ordered, each from a different shipyard to handle such a large order. Both are set to be laid down for construciton in 1438 and are only expected to be completed in 1441 if everything goes according to plan.

The final addition that was accepted into construction was a brand new warship that Verdezia never really had much experience in. Throughout the mid-1430s, Verdezian naval personnel heavily studied Aberllyn and Norr aircraft carriers to learn about the type of warship. With the entire dossier compiled by late-1436, being a rather new type of warship and some believing them to be a potentially critical type of warship in the future, especially for enlarging the area of air power a nation could bring to the front, it was rather quickly accepted into development. Named the Campeón-class, the development of the new warship was messy due to the conflicting demands of the RVN. Eventually, after three whole re-drafts of the proposal, the ship was designed to weigh around 24,000 metric connes, was 235.5 m in length and have enough facilities to house upwards of 50 dedicated naval aircraft (specifically dive bombers and naval fighters). Additionally, it had a very ambitious and bloated amount of armaments, with upwards of eight 135 mm (5.3 in) guns and a whoping 124x 20 mm anti-aircraft machine guns. By mid-1437, due to the already stretched naval budget with the construction of destroyers as well as light and heavy cruisers, only a single ship was ordered, Campeón, which was laid down at the Alameda Brothers Engineering Company Shipyard in Cartegre in September 1437.

PLAN A

The plan for the Air Force was dubbed Plan A and was by far the most structured. This was due to the fact that the air force was a rather small branch up until the early 1430s. Headed by the reorganized Consejo Real de Aviación (Royal Aviation Council), Plan A was structured into several different points, each of which specified requirements and specifications for each type of aircraft. This was then compiled into a dossier and sent out to different aircraft manufacturers around Verdezia, with each company being brought on for different types of aircraft. With the Royal Verdezian Air Force being rather small in size and half of their inventory being sourced from foreign suppliers, the CRA specified requirements for these different types of aircraft: a dedicated air superiority fighter, a ground-attack/army support aircraft, a heavily armed high altitude escort fighter/heavy interceptor, medium tactical bomber, a multi-purpose aircraft (designed for tactial and torpedo bombing, night fighting and reconnaissance), a long-range heavy bomber, a reconnaissance floatplane that could also perform bombing runs, an advanced trainer to supplement the growing training fleet and (after the 1437 Plan M amendment for the aircraft carrier) a dedicated carrier-capable dive bomber. Several different companies answered the call, including Fábrica de Aviones de Fontana, Fábrica de Máquinas Hidalgo-Sáenz, Aviones Iluminación and Fábrica de Aviones Díez. Despite two years of development and utilizing several reports of foreign aircraft from observers sent to foreign parades and show festivals, only one of the requested aircraft became ready by 1438. Already utilizing on their existing models in production as well as reports of foreign aircraft, Fábrica de Máquinas Hidalgo-Sáenz began testing of their brand new Hidalgo-Sáenz HS.4 dedicated ground attack aircraft. Powered by a single Vida Tipo 36-R18-A 18-cylinder engine, it outputted a maximum of 975 horsepower and was capable of carrying upwards of 400 kg of bombs. Throughout testing, it was equipped with an older Vida Tipo 32-R18-F engine, outputting only 800 horsepower, and numerous issues with the engines were reported and tests were often cancelled due to frequent fuel leaks. During a test flight, test pilot Captain Angel Castellano performed a daring high-G maneuver, during which his radio equipment came loose, jamming the controls and sending the aircraft spinning into the ground, destroying the fuselage and killing the pilot. An updated prototype with the Vida Tipo 36-R18-A engine began testing two months later and, by September 1437, it was deemed acceptable and was immediately put into production, with the first units receiving the HS.4s by Spring 1438.

COMMONWEALTH DU NORR
NORR COMMONWEALTH

_1429-1438


LAND OF ANGELS — NORR COMMONWEALTH;
_{THE TROUBLES}


_{"A riot in Norr is one of the most remarkable things in the world. The frenzied combatants maintain perfect discipline. Seventeen people were barbarously killed, and several thousand injured, but there was no fighting at all between about seven-thirty p.m. and nine, when everyone took time out for dinner. When it started, no one thought of revolution; it was just a nice big riot. Communists, royalists, Fascists, socialists, fought shoulder to shoulder under both red flag and tricolor against the police and Gendarmerie. The fighting stopped on the stroke of twelve, because the Vaurenne Underground Metro stops running at twelve-thirty, and no one wanted to walk all the way home. Bloody, bandaged, fighters and police jostled their way into the trains together. Promptly at seven-thirty next morning the fighting started again."
— ALPHONSINE CHARRON, Journalist on the Great Depression riots in Vaurenne between 1434 and 1436.}

THE SUN SQUARE
_{Vaurenne, De Norr}

_{BACKGROUND | When the Great Depression had initially hit Euralia in the late 1420s, Norr was conspicuously left the only one to be virtually untouched for the first couple of years. The last of the countries to be hit, Norr wouldn't feel the shock of the Great depression until 1434, when successive financial failures by the Soleilist Party led to a significant spike in indebtedness, an increase in unemployment, and a subsequent decrease in production.}

_{The Soleilist response was lackluster, especially as other countries effected by the Great Depression had already begun to recover, leading to a significant drainage of investments in Norr. While the successive Soleilist governments had initially tried to institute deflation measures, the last Soleilist government had given up and accepted the existence of public deficits. This, however, didn't stop the Soleilist government from cancelling many government programs with the intention of trying to recover the government's financials. Chief among the cuts was to the Royal Commonwealth Forces. The Royal Commonwealth Navy's newest battleships under construction, a pair known as the N3601-class, were cancelled and were initially slated to be scrapped by 1341 alongside the remainder of the Pan-class battlecruisers, of which 3 were already completed. Additionally, the design and production of new tanks and equipment for the Royal Commonwealth Army had also been cancelled for the most part, with the funding for the RCA being directed primarily towards field guns, bunkers, and firearms. While the Royal Commonwealth Army Aeronautical Service didn't necessarily receive any cuts to the acquisition of aircraft, a few prospective programs for future fighter aircraft were cancelled.}

_{APRIL 1436 INCIDENT | The last straw was when the Soleilists attempted to reduce the pay of workers across Norr whilst further increasing the normal amount of working hours. Many unions pressed back and between 2 and 8 April 1436, a successive string of demonstrations led to the April 1436 Incident, in which rioters and Gendarmerie clashed in the Sun Square of Vaurenne. Thousands were injured and the Soleilist government was forced out of power later that month by a snap election. They were promptly replaced by a coalition between the SNIO (Norr Section of the Workers' International) and Radical-Socialists.}

_{LEFT COALITION GOVERNANCE | The so-called "Left Coalition" began their work immediately, largely undoing the attempts by the Soleilist government to reduce pay and heighten the number of hours worked, instituting a strict 40-hour work week and raising the minimum wage of the country. Among other social changes were also the codification of holidays-with-pay for a few select holidays in Norr.}

_{In 1437, Ségolène Thayer, the Prime Minister of Norr under the Left Coalition, was given emergency powers by Parlement and began instituting more drastic reforms. The most severe of the policies was the addition of strict exchange controls, intending to halt the outflow of capital from Norr and attempt to stabilize the Nord. Additionally, the Left Coalition would nationalize many companies seen as "important to national defense", particularly shipyards and aircraft manufacturers. While this didn't result in an immediate revitalization of the cancelled programs of the Soleilists, eventually the Left Coalition would order the two unfinished N3601-class battleships to be converted into carriers, with an additional two purpose-designed carriers ordered. This was also done alongside a state-sponsored industrialization of Norr, as Thayer and the other SNIO members of government saw a revitalized Carnolia and Verdezia as a significant threat.}

_{1438 CAPITAL LEVY | In early 1438, the Left Coalition government instituted the 1438 Capital Levy (Impôt sur le Capital de 1438), which presented a harsh one-time wealth tax on capital in Norr. The tax, applying only to those who had more than 150,000 Nord in capital, would be a progressive tax ranging from 4% to 25%, and would be a one-time tax that could be payable through incremental payments. SNIO and the Radical-Socialists stated the tax would be used to revitalize the treasury and allow Norr's government programs to continue operating effectively. Paired with the levy was also a two-year pause on debt payments by the government of Norr to free up additional capital. Like with the exchange controls, the SNIO made a written promise to the various investors and businesses of Norr and her trade partners that such measures were temporary and designed to avoid an economic collapse in Norr.}

_{FURTHER REARMAMENT | Alongside the already announced plans for the navy to produce four carriers, the Left Coalition government made plans to not only start producing future aircraft for the RCAAS, but also to have modified designs of those aircraft for use by the Royal Commonwealth Navy for its carriers. Additionally, in May of 1438, the Royal Commonwealth Army Aeronautical Service was split from the RCA and rechristened the Royal Commonwealth Air Force. The RCAF would inherit all its aircraft, personnel, and airfields from the RCAAS, and would be given funds for setting up the necessary command infrastructure to operate as a separate branch.}

_{Additional orders were put in for cruisers and destroyers to be built for the Royal Commonwealth Navy, particularly for a cruiser class referred to as C3801 for the time being, which would be a new generation of heavy cruiser meant as a direct counter to Carnolian and Verdezian heavy cruisers. Additionally, there were requests for plans for another class of heavy cruiser to be drawn up, however those designs would not be ready until 1439 at the earliest. In all, the RCN would get the following approved;
— Two carriers converted from the hulls of the N3601-class
— Two purpose-built carriers to be designed and built (no class has been assigned)
— Six C3801-class heavy cruisers
— Sixteen D3801-class destroyers
— Funding for the development of naval aircraft in conjunction with the RCAF's Future Fighter Program}

_{The RCA was by far the most mundane of recipients. The most significant of programs introduced was a restart of the precious 1437 heavy tank program as well as a restart of research into a new medium tank. Additional research was put into armored cars for the RCA, with a theory of wheeled tank destroyers being particularly popular for strategists. The 1437 heavy tank, dubbed CL-15, was already designed and largely approved by the previous government before the project's cancellation, allowing for the design process to be quickly restarted and for a new heavy tank to potentially reached the armies of Norr by 1429. Additionally, the research into a new medium tank had shown favor towards an upgraded version of the existing CM-10 medium tank. The RCA was then given funding approval for the acquisition of 140 CL-15s, though no further acquisition of the existing CL-11 or CM-10 tanks was approved.}

_{MENTIONS
Aberllyn2
CRMF Carnolia
Kiberia
Verdezia}

Federal Republic of Nourita - 1438

Like a Phoneix

Since the elections where Wolfgang Schwarz and his "Purifiers" won, many things had happened in Nourita. The President had died which afterwards the "Purifiers" put the notion of fixing the positions of President and Chancellor together in a single position, which Wolfgang would occupy. With their majority in the parliament it was passed with ease. An event took place afterwards.

A raid by the "Purifiers" to the parliament, where they brutalized and beatan into submission and in some cases into death.

With no opposition to stop them, the whole nation was now under their thumb, letting them do as they please. One of things they had done was "cleanse" the nation to meet their "pure standard". While other stuff they had done was to expand almost everything related to the armed forces. Plans for divisions, air filotillas and many more military organizations. The troop numbers in training were almost equal to the standing military, left only at 100,000 men with nothing but bolt-action rifles to only act as a security force and nothing else per the treaty.

Now, old factories were renovated, new ones opened. Guns and ammunition produced at great scales to feed the growing army. However, the years that the industry stood dormant had taken their toll. The technological level inbalance was immense, while the Nouritan arms manufacturing was stopped the world had moved forward without stop. Guns, artillery pieces, tanks and planes, almost everything had leaped forward and it would take maybe decades for the Nouritan technology to catch back up. The Nouritan industry had to cover great distances.

However, all was not lots. There was a friend, a brother maybe, to the west, CRMF Carnolia. A nation that stood side to side with Nourita in the last war, a nation that was crippled by the same war, now once again spreading its wings to take back what it was theirs. They were quicker in getting rid off their chains and now they were offering to help Nourita get rid of its. While experts would be sent to bring the new technologies to Nourita and Carnolian investments made in order to quicken the process, Carnolia itself would be arming the Nouritan army with what it needed most; artillery, tanks and most importantly planes.

Apart from the material aid, there was also a plan for a Carnolian unit to be stationed in Nourita as well to train the growing army to the new standard, so when the time came it would not suffer learning the new ways of warfare.

-------

One thing that was heavily debated, even within the "Purifiers" was new position of their paramilitary branch. Some wanted it to be the new army while some wanted it to be the new police force and even several people supporting getting rid off them. In the end none of them were chosen and instead to make them join the army and form the manpower needed for the planned "special assault" divisions.

These divisions were envisioned to lead assults deep into enemy territories with quick actions regardless of casulties and open up the way for the other divisions to follow their lead, so forming them from ideologically loyal people was seen as the best option.

1437 AH | Shòulíng Republic

Reassembly

The tenure of the FZ government began quickly, launching an ambitious reform program, that was later dubbed the 48 Charters. The first act was the amendment of the 1407 Constitution. However, due to considerable disagreements between top party members as well as restrictions on what would be allowed to be amended in order to stay in the goodwill of the population, it was decided to completely scrap it, replacing it with the completely new Jingguān Constitution, establishing a unitary system of governance, with the position of Interim Chief Governor being replaced by President of the United Republic. Wan Su was stripped of the role and demoted to a lower position, leading to the formerly-Deputy Governor, Field Marshall Xuan Gengxin, being installed as the first President of the United Republic in March 1438. The new constitution also completely removed the institution of the Federal Congress, replacing it with the Guajigou (Governing Body), with the Military Council assuming supreme authority over the governing of the country and all its institutions, with absolute power going to the President of the United Republic. However, that also meant the scrapping of the Federal Assembly, which did not sit well with the wider population, as it was seen as a big reduction in political freedom. The government sought to remedy the discontent by relaxing media censorship as well as allowing local representative offices, where local governors would forward requests to the government regarding provincial needs.

Some major changes that also happened was the institution of new economic policies. Restrictions on government intervention were completely lifted, enabling the FZ to directly fund state-owned enterprises and purchase shares in existing companies. Throughout the six months after the FZ came to power, the Ministry of Finance codified new tax codes, making tax rates and tax collection much more standardized and consistent across the provinces, with the amount of money earned per capita deciding the tax rate individuals were required to pay. Similarly, business and land taxes were also restructured, with the size and amount of labour helping decide the tax rates for domestic AND foreign-owned businesses. With tax exemptions for foreign companies removed, this is set to provide a sizeable healthy stream of new revenue to the central government, but at the cost of good favor with the foreign governments, who's companies were now subject to new tax laws. The intervention restrictions were lifted in early February and, by that point, many of the smaller businesses in Shouling were largely bankrupt. To get off the backfoot against foreign competitors, the FZ established the Department of Industry and the Department of Corporations, both of which were divisions fully under the authority of the Ministry of Finance. The two departments, with the remaining money still available and the new business tax revenues slowly coming in, many industrial complexes were bought up by the central government and re-opened, organized under large government-owned enterprises (few examples being the TRC Tiānlán River Corporation (production of home appliances and furniture), the Xieren Naval Arsenal (responsible for warship construction) and the Shaorao Valley Group Motor Corporation (manufacturing of trucks and utility vehicles)). The new government-owned enterprises would serve as additional sources of manufactured goods and raw resources that the still small domestic private sector could not provide as well as directly compete with the large foreign-owned competitors in the Shouling market. Additionally, many state-owned firms would also contribute to major welfare programs to provide sustainable government-backed housing for lower income working families, providing basic furniture and appliances, electricity and water as well as staple foods in local stores and markets alongside private independent providers.

Some progress was also made regarding the military situation. As part of the reforms, some restructuring was done to the armed forces. The Shouling Army Air Unit was fully disconnected from the Federal Shouling Army, creating the fully independent Federal Shouling Air Force. Looking to make good on their promises, the FZ authorized a major expansion of the FSA, expanding from 340,000 active duty men in January up to 1,000,000 active duty men by the end of the year, with expansion beginning in early March. However, problems began to arise almost immediately, primarily concerning the inventory and availability of men. While possessing a vast population, not many were eager to serve the country given the Republic's history. Additionally, the ambitious goal of 1 million active men led to a sever lack of equipment, with new recruits lacking standardized uniforms as well as basic equipment. By August, 1437, the military was only expanded to around 500,000 active men, with shortages in all major areas such as infantry equipment, regimental heavy guns, uniforms and even medical supplies. The shortages as well as the lack of willing male recruits forced a temporary check on the large expansion of the army as well as further intervention of the government in the economy, which quickly began to cost them. A government act was passed through the Military Council, which forcefully nationalized all domestic military arsenals and firms under the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance, which immediately began reorganizing the available military production facilities to better supply the army. This led to the creation of several new firms and military contractors, that began producing mostly basic equipment for the infantry, with textile factories prioritizing in military attire producing uniforms for new recruits and smaller arsenals beginning to mass produce ammunitions as well as infantry guns (primarily the Shotong Lèixíng 30 standard service rifle) and sidearms. The FZ had high ambitions for Shouling to possess a strong, domestic military industry, with plans to soon expand into heavy guns production, part manufacturing for utility and military vehicles, armored vehicle production and even aircraft, with some rumors within army circles pointing to a warehouse facility in Ruogang being refitted into an aviation workshop for the FSAF.

The army expansion did have an ulterior motive however. The Shouling Republic has always been at odds with their ambitious imperial rival, the Empire of Orora. The feud between both nations has been happening since the dawn of both nations, but it wasn't until the last hundred years that tensions boiled over. Both nations fought against eachother in the Shouling-Ororan War in the late 19th century, after which Shouling was forced to cede large chunks of eastern territory as well as suffer humiliation on the world stage. The defeat led to a major wave of rebellions against the monarchy, which contributed to the ultimate downfall of the Namsu Empire in 1405, afterwhich the Shouling Republic was established. With many in the FZ holding major disdain for Ororan presence on the continent proper, many of the newly conscripted men would be sent to the eastern military district as a deterrent force to hopefully stave off any future attempts by Orora to capture any more territory from the Shouling Republic, given the fact the Ororans made their imperial aspirations well known.