The North PacificBoard

MALTHAUS, PRINCIPALITY OF VOZLISCH
8 kilometers from COIC - Komashi border
March 28, 2020
0902hrs

Malthaus is a quiet town sitting eight kilometers from the border of the Confederal Kingdom of Komashi. The jurisdiction of the town is under the Principality of Vozlisch, one of the Eighteen Monarchies that compose the Confederal Kingdom. The town is composed of 1,856 residents, all enjoying their fine Saturday morning. The town sits on the rural ends of Vozlisch, though it has major access to the nearby city of Pfitzburg, one of the easternmost cities of the Kingdom.

At 09:02, Malthausen resident Ludwig Sturmsbitze left his home to make way to the Malthaus bus stop, where at least four buses stop daily at certain hours. Sturmsbitze quickly made his way as he was late for his work in Pfitzburg. He managed to get to his way there quickly, in time for the last bus bound to Pfitzburg. He quickly embarked in it, but was forced to stand due to all seats being occupied.

"Argh... I'm late again," he thought. As the bus made its way towards the highway, a huge traffic jam stopped all forms of traffic going out of Malthaus. Angered, he stepped off the bus and checked what happened. Following him was the bus conductor, Frederick Vettel. Vettel and Sturmsbitze made their way into the intersection and saw that the traffic jam went longer than expected, and some people were running towards their direction.

"What is going on?" they tried to ask. Nobody was able to answer them.

Finally, they stopped a woman. "What is going on?" Vettel asked.

"Oh! It's terrible! We must find cover!" the woman said. "Unknown armed men! Bearing the sigils of a wolf!..."

As they continued questioning the woman, the three were stunned when a powerful noise deafened the ears of Malthausen residents. It sounded like artillery fire. Everything was then silent until the whistle of the incoming shells were heard.

"DECKUNG!" Vettel called out and quickly hit on the ground. The stunned Sturmsbitze took two seconds to process everything and also hit the ground. Seconds later, a massive explosion engulfed the area, followed by more artillery strikes across Malthaus. As the shootings settled, Vettel and Sturmsbitze stood up and coughed. Visibility was low. "Are you alright, meine Freund!?" Vettel asked. "Ich bin gut, ich bin gut," Sturmsbitze answered.

They looked around. The cars around them were still there. They walked back to where the bus is... or at least, what was left of the bus. Now stood on where the bus was last seen was a huge, six-meter deep crater, still smoldering. The bus's wrecked remains were there.

"Mein Gott..." Vettel was shocked and covered his mouth.

Sturmsbitze saw the entire town ablaze above the crater. He was stunned. The town of Malthaus was bombed. They had no idea who. Vettel went up and looked at the scale of devastation. To them, they were the sole survivors of Operation Ki-Shima.

---

PALACE OF THE EIGHTEEN MONARCHIES
Izanaya-ku, Principality of Izanaya
1002hrs

"What do you mean that Malthaus was bombed?" Prime Minister Hideyoshi Kaslana asked Prince Albrecht von Vozlisch III, who was phoning him over.

"It's terrible! The town was annihilated! I don't think there will be any survivors," Prince Albrecht answered. "We didn't know until now! I've mobilized the Vozlisch Armed Forces to search who are the culprits!"

"Please do, Your Majesty." Kaslana replied.

Minutes pass. It was now 11 A.M. Kaslana waited for the call of the Prince to report what happened. The Prince did call back.

"Well, Your Majesty?" Kaslana asked.

"We managed to catch them. They were heading to Pfitzburg. They have the sigils of a wolf and have the name 'Pax Havenica'." Prince Albrecht replied. He then whispered: "Ki-Shima is a success."

Kaslana nodded. "I see. Please hold them in custody. I will now tell the King to do a war declaration against the alliance."