Strategic Control Room
1200 Hrs, 09 Aug 06
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"Are we ready, Lieutenant?" an older man, hunched over the glass topped situation room let out, almost reluctantly. Below him was a real time digital readout of the placement of every Atlantian unit on the eastern front down to the individual brigade level. The system, which was hooked into the communications net, cost billions of dollars to finance and implement, but the same data was coming from four aircraft in the air monitoring the situation, and the headquarters unit of each unit displayed. On the upper right hand corner, if there was an upper right hand corner, reports flooded a small window in an abbreviated fashion. To the north, NTDS symbols displayed the presence of the majority of the carrier fleet, performing reconnaisance flights and evacuations of important officials and notable people from Atlantian cities to three designated evacuation submarines which would whisk them away to a neutral port, or the island of Cataan which now was on full alert, her three vessel surface defense fleet reinforced by the AES Levasseur (DDGN-23) and the AES Gloire (CGN-07). It was a pathetic turnout of force projecting elements of the navy, but it would defend nonetheless against aircraft.
"Yes, sir," he said reluctantly, with a slight tremor of the hand.
"Well get to it while I still have some resolve left," the older man said, looking up for the first time in ten minutes. After recording the message earlier, he had gone back to hunching over the situation table. He had served as a general for decades, the most powerful member of the military for five years, dictator for a month, and now emperor. He had seen the country through terrible wars, a coup, and an act of unparalleled terrorism, but this was certainly the most difficult thing he had ever done...
Televised Message sent to Governments of Yuktobania, Stekronia, Auroria, Propylos, Blaglug, Surumar, Aesania, Gaiania, Clandonia, and Rivana
Good morning. This may very well be the final message sent from the government of the Atlantian Empire. We stand under the gun of Belkan tyranny, our land forces have been arrayed at the border, but under a prolonged assault they cannot hope to defeat the Belkan horde which confronts us from the east. In the past, our nations have had our differences. We have schemed, aligned ourselves on different sides of the fence, and we have covertly and overtly undertaken measures to prevent other nations from gaining an upper hand. Today, if we continue down this self-destructive path of petty squabbling, we face domination at the hands of the totalitarian brutes.
The nation of Pythogria has fallen. Casmire has fallen. The Xethonian Initiative has fallen. Germania has fallen. Clandonia is under siege by vastly numerically superior Belkan and Tyranistani forces, and is on the verge of collapse. Now, I may inform you that the Atlantian Empire is under the direct threat of a combined Belkan and Tyranistani force which is intent on destroying our government and instating an oppressive totalitarian regime in its place.
Today, we must shed all our pretenses of disdain for each other. We must end our petty squabbling, we must give up our unfortunate neutrality, and we must combat the evil grip of fascist tyranny. If the nations of Clandonia and Atlantia fall, it will signal an end to freedom on Soladia, and will invoke a new, dreadful age of genocidal Belkan domination over the entire continent. On the eve of this terrible battle, we not only prepare for a fight for our own freedom, but for the freedom of all the peoples of Soladia, and the entire world.
Hope is not completely foresaken. While Clandonia and Atlantia may be doomed to Belkan and Tyranistani conquest, the world still has a chance. We must fight for what no doubt may be the most important conflict of this century. We shall fight to the last man for the independence of this country, but ours is a losing fight. The Clandonians as well are relegated to a desperate fight against a superior foe, clinging to hopes of victory. We cannot win without the help of all the people of the world, we cannot hope to combat Belka's armies alone. Here, we must stand united in the face of tyranny. We must keep our resolve strong and strike a deadly blow into the heart of the evil beast, or all is lost to darkness forever.
