DarthNES II - Superpowers Redux

The Canadian Herald
Your Source for Unbiased News


Russians Overrun Oslo


Russian marines prepare to engage Norwegian forces near Bærum.​

Oslo, Occupied Norway - In a move that surprised much of the international community, the Russian Federation under Chancellor Sverstikov invaded the oil rich Scandinavian country of Norway. Russian high command believed that, rather than a land invasion through the frigid Arctic regions, an amphibious assault in the south would be much more favorable. Thus Operation Nevsky was born. A retrained Western Vanguard Army was loaded onto ships from the Baltic Sea Armada in St. Petersburg and set sail for the Skagerrak. The fleet managed to pass through European Federation waters in the Gulf of Finland and the Great Belt of the Danish straits without any EF response. In the Skagerrak, the Russian fleet encountered the lone destroyer of the Norse Navy. Unaware of the coming invasion, the Norwegian destroyer was obliterated by a full salvo of missiles from the Russian cruiser RNS Indomitable. No word of the engagement made it to Norway.

The invasion began with a naval and air bombardment of defenses, bases and other military targets along the Norwegian southern coastline as well as in and around Oslo. Amphibious assault ships and the Russian destroyer RNS Vengeance sailed straight up the Olsofjorden and landed just west of Oslo at the town of Sandvika. Russian marines managed gain control of the town fairly quickly and allowed for the speedy offloading of the rest of the Western Vanguard Army. The army, now back on dry land, stormed into Oslo. With the support of carrier based aircraft and naval batteries, the Russians tore through the disoriented defenders in the Norwegian capital. After a few days of fierce fighting, Oslo was secure. The Russians then turned northwest and, using armor and mechanized infantry to spearhead the advance, quickly took the highlands. This cut off the south of the country from the north, effectively placing it under Russian control

Now at the end of the month, the Norwegian Army has fortified its position in and around the oil town of Bergen. However, they are surrounded by the Russians who control the mountains to the east and the sea to the west. The Norwegians still have its air force completely intact and most of its armor was able to avoid the slaughter in Oslo. Should the Russians take Bergen, they will have crushed the Norse military, and it is safe to say that the northern territories, including Svalbard and Jan Mayen will be handed over.

Russia: -1 Infantry, -1 Marines (Western Vanguard Army)
Norway: -1 Infantry, -1 Mech. Infantry, -1 Destroyer

China and North Korea Square Off


North Korean soldiers race to their battle stations during a Chinese air raid.​

Shenyang, People's Republic of Greater China – Leaders in Beijing have enacted a long standing plan for the invasion of the DPRK. President Wang Jinwei stated that the tyrannical and oppressive government headed by the heart attack prone Kim Jong-Un needed to be torn down, and a new, true government erected in its place. The Chinese Northeast Field Army moved to the border city of Dandong and prepared to cross the Yalu River and make a mad dash for the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.

The attack began with the bombing of defenses, military installations, and airfields across northwestern North Korea as well as the transportation networks between Pyongyang and the DMZ. While the former succeeded without much issue, the latter did little more than result in the loss of aircraft and confirm to the North Korean military that the Chinese were about to invade. Shortly after the bombings, the massive Chinese army stormed across the frozen Yalu River and its bridges, quickly seizing the city of Sinuiju which helped establish a supply line for continued pushes to the south. About 50 miles north of Pyongyang, the Northeast Field Army ran into the main Korean defense line, which stretched from Korea Bay to Hyesan in the northeast. A fierce and concentrated attack was made near the village of Anju-up, but ultimately failed to break through the Korean lines.

At the moment, the Chinese have a numerical advantage and outnumber the North Koreans 3:2. However, the North Koreans have significantly more heavy support weapons and armored vehicles, which is lacking in the Chinese invading force. Neither side has established air superiority and duels over the skies are expected to begin early next month should the war continue. All in all, both sides are relatively evenly matched. It is clear that whoever wins this war will have defeated one of the largest armies on the planet.

China: -2 Infantry (Northeastern Field Army); -1 Strike Fighter (Northern China Air Command)
North Korea: -2 Infantry, -1 Artillery

Surprise Argentine Invasion Falls Flat


Chilean mechanized infantry move towards Santiago from bases near Concepción.​

Santiago, Chile - In an aggressively bold move, the Argentines have invaded their mountainous neighbor of Chile. The Argentine I Army crossed through the Andes Mountains from Mendoza via the Uspallata Pass/Paso Libertadores. The small, freshly retrained army managed to pass through the tunnels and switchbacks of the mountain pass without much issue. Horrible communications systems in the area meant the Argentine army was able to move fairly quickly while Chilean forces were in the dark. Once out of the mountains, the I Army raced west to the towns of Los Andes and San Felipe, where the roads heading down the mountains meet the north-south running highways which led to the main objective, the Chilean capital of Santiago. It was at this crossroads that the Argentine forces encountered problems.

A small garrison in Los Andes noticed the column of Argentine military vehicles racing towards the town and notified the regional military command. By the time the Argentines reached the city limits, a small Chilean force had hastily constructed defenses. Strike fighters from over the mountains pounded the town and tore through what armored vehicles had managed to make it to the area. The I Army entered the town and attacked the defenders. However, the Chileans didn’t attack directly. Instead, they harassed the invaders in an attempt to get them to hunt down all the Chilean soldiers in the towns, which would contain the Argentines. The strategy worked, and as the invaders fought in Los Andes and San Felipe, reinforcements in the form of the bulk of the Chilean military moved into the area from the south.

As the Argentines managed to capture the towns, they soon realized they were basically surrounded. The Chilean Army has reinforced Santiago, Valparaiso, and the surrounding countryside. Chilean destroyers are deployed near the port of Valparaiso, poised to bombard any enemies moving further west. Fighters from the Chilean Air Force have been scrambled and have solid control over the skies, dissuading further airstrikes. Chilean forces in the region outnumber and outgun the I Army in Los Andes and San Felipe. It seems the Argentines have two options: 1.) bring in reinforcements to break through the defensive lines and continue the invasion, or 2.) retreat back through the mountain passes they still control before the defenders mount a counterattack.

Argentina: -1 Infantry (I Army)
Chile: -1 Mech. Infantry

 

World Cities Grow

Jakarta, Kingdom of Indonesia – Urban expansion projects in Indonesia, China, Argentina, and the Austral Union have bore fruit this month. Jakarta, Surabaya, Chengdu, Buenos Aires, and Sydney have all swollen in size and can easily be called the largest cities on the planet.

Indonesia: +2c; Austral Union: +1c; China: +1c; Argentina: +1c


Nuclear Research Reemerges

Washington DC, United States of America – Nuclear weapons projects have been announced by the American and Japanese governments in the beginning of the month. Both nations cite the expansion of world militaries and the increasing need for national security as reasons for rebuilding nuclear arsenals. Experts believe that, while the Japanese are surely making progress, the Americans may be in the position to construct nuclear weapons as early as March.


Mass Celebrations Erupt in Uruguay

Montevideo, Uruguay – People turned out in droves for massive parties in the streets across Uruguay last Monday. The festivities and general merriment is due to Uruguay’s power hungry neighbors, Argentina and Brazil, both agreeing to protect Uruguayan sovereignty. With the agreements being made, the people of the small South American nation see themselves as completely safe from any possible war in the future.


Japs Land on Taiwan

Taipei, Occupied Taiwan – A naval assault against the island of Taiwan was launched this month by the Japanese Republic. Heavy bombardment from warships and aircraft started off the attack, and was met by a desperate counterattack by Taiwanese fighters and their lone destroyer. Both were ripped to shreds by 01-Kantai’s superior firepower and the bombardment continued. By the time the first units landed west of Taipei, much of the defending army lay shattered and disorganized and the northern half of the island was taken easily. The remainder of the Taiwanese Army is holed up in Kaohsiung, waiting for the assault by the larger, better equipped Japanese invasion force.

Japan: -1 Marine (01-Rikugun Shidan)
Taiwan: -1 Infantry, -1 Armored, -1 Destroyer, -1 Fighter


Kuwait Annexed

Kuwait City, United Arab Republic – The combined arms of the UAR military had its first test this month as Cairo ordered the absorption of the small state of Kuwait. While the superior Arab force soundly crushed the Kuwaiti military, they encountered several problems, mostly attributed to fighting in the desert. Dust storms meant slow progress and targeting issues for bombers. Regardless, the Arabs now control Kuwait, and with it an Indian Ocean port and an easier route into Saudi Arabia.

UAR: - 2 Infantry, -1 Paratrooper, -2 Mech. Infantry (Islamic Republican Guards); -1 Strike Fighter (Islamic Arab Air Force); +1c
Kuwait: - Sovereignty


Euros March on Lithuania

Kaunas, Occupied Lithuania – Elements of the 1st Euroforce Army moved into the Baltics from bases around Warsaw this month. Brussels has been eager to regain the lands which abandoned the old European Union and better secure their northern territories of Estonia and Finland from Russian expansionism. Regaining Lithuania was the obvious choice to accomplish these goals. Ground forces, supported by the 1st Euroforce Air Squadron, expected the Lithuanians to willingly submit to the European Federation, but this was not the case. The Lithuanian military put up a good fight, but were ultimately unable to stop the larger, better equipped Europeans. The advance was slow due to futile efforts to appeal to civilians in occupied territories, and the invaders were forced to stop after the capture of Siauliai and its airfields. The rest of the Lithuanian army, and the entirety of its small navy, are ready to make a last stand in the only city still flying the Lithuanian tricolor, the port city of Klaipeda.

EF: -1 Infantry, -1 Mech. Infantry (1st Euroforce Army)
Lithuania: -1 Infantry, -1 Armored, -1 Fighter


Nigerians Crush Ghana

Accra, Holy Republic of Greater Nigeria – On the orders of political and religious leader President Peter Joseph, the full force of the Nigerian military was unleashed upon the small West African nation of Ghana. Nigerian strike fighters bombed military installations in and around Accra, as well as government buildings and a good part of the Osa district with little concern for civilians. Ground forces moved in and quickly overwhelmed the Ghanaian military in the capital. Once the capital was secure, the massive force rolled northwest toward Kumasi, but was stopped short by news that the entire nation had been surrendered, in order to prevent more bloodshed. The people of Ghana now cower in the shadow of President Joseph and many others across West Africa are praying that Nigeria does not do to them as they did to Ghana.

Nigeria: -1 Infantry (First Lord’s Army), +1c
Ghana: - Sovereignty


Botswana Falls

Gaborone, Afrikaan Unie – The Afrikaners continued the trend of brutal invasions on the African continent this month with the invasion of Botswana. The Afrikaan “Manifest Destiny” army stormed into Gaborone after bombing much of the city from the air. Once in the city, ground forces mopped up the bloody mess that used to be the Batswana army. A declaration was made to the rest of the country, surrender or be bombed into submission like Gaborone. Unsurprisingly, the full surrender of Botswana occurred, mostly because there was no more military to defend them. The southern African nation must now learn to live under the boot heel of President Adren Saanders while the rest of the region dreads his coming.

Afrikaan Unie: -1 Infantry (Manifest Destiny); +1c
Botswana: - Sovereignty


Azerbaijan Conquered

Baku, Russian Federation – In an effort to regain the former Soviet/Imperial Russian territories, a new army and air wing were formed near Grozny for use in the Caucasus region. The freshly recruited Iron Guard Army pushed across the border, along the Caspian Sea, and towards the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. The Russians encountered a smaller, but better trained defense force in the city. The engagement left both sides battered, but the Russians won out due to the presence of air support. With Baku captured, the rest of the country was handed over without any additional fighting.

Russia: -2 Infantry, -1 Paratrooper (Iron Guards Army); +1c
Azerbaijan: - Sovereignty


Aussies Snatch Up East Timor

Dili, Austral Union – The airborne army stationed in Darwin was prepared to engage in its first war this month when Canberra green-lighted the invasion of the nation of East Timor. The operation was ordered as a response to the growth of Indonesian military power. Australian paratroopers dropped directly into Dili prepared to fight to take the city. Instead, they were informed by military leaders that the defenseless East Timorese surrendered as soon as they saw the paratroopers floating gently to the ground.

Austral Union: +1c
East Timor: - Sovereignty


Other News

Europeans Regain Northern and Southern Macaronesia - +1c

Chinese Paratroopers Seize Ulaanbaatar - -2 Paratroopers (PLA Airborne); +1c

Peepium Discovered After Microwaving of Marshmallow Chicks.

Former UAR President Buried in World's Shallowest Grave.

 

MAP

Spoiler :

DIPLO

From: Nations of the Balkans
To: EF

May we burn in hell if we ever join your frankensteinian nation willingly. Stay on your side of the border. We will kill any one of you that crosses it.

From: Norway
To: EF
CC: World

The Russians mean to subjugate us. Please, help us stop them!

From: Lithuania
To: Russia

Help us force the Europeans out. We know you would prefer the Baltics as buffer states.

From: Chile
To: Argentina

Leave or die. This will be your one and only warning.

From: North Korea
To: China

If its war you want, its war you'll get! Prepare to lose generations to our guns! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

From: Taiwan
To: China

We know we've had our differences in the past, but we are both Han, brothers. We don't want to be slaves to the Japanese. Help us!

OOC

Everyone who managed to take a country this turn gets +2% stability.

I had some problems with orders this go around...namely with organization. So, here's a sample set of orders which includes everything I'd like to see.

Spoiler :

Title: DarthNES Superpowers Redux - Soviet Union Orders Turn 5

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics / DarthNader
Leader: Leonid Brezhnev
Economy: (56c - 19 Upkeep +3 Stability) 40c
Treasury: -12c
Army:
1.) 1st Guards Army: 10 Mech. Infantry, 6 Armored, 4 Artillery, 5 Gunships - No Spec. - Elites (Upkeep: 3)
2.) 3rd Red Banner Shock Army: 12 Mech. Infantry, 8 Armored, 6 Artillery, 4 Gunships - No Spec. - Veterans (Upkeep: 2)
3.) 8th Red Star Tank Army: 8 Mech. Infantry, 14 Armored, 6 Artillery, 4 Gunships - No Spec. - Veterans (Upkeep: 3)
4.) Spetznaz GRU: 5 Infantry, 3 Mech. Infantry, 5 Paratroopers, 3 Gunships - Aerial Assault - Elite (Upkeep: 3)
Navy:
1.) Red Banner Northern Fleet: 2 Carriers, 9 Cruisers, 5 Destroyers, 22 Nuclear Submarines - Veterans (Upkeep: 3)
2.) Red Banner Pacific Fleet: 2 Carriers, 7 Cruisers, 3 Destroyers, 15 Nuclear Submarines - Veterans (Upkeep: 2)
3.) Black Sea Fleet: 5 Cruisers, 6 Destroyers, 8 Nuclear Submarines - Regulars (Upkeep: 0)
Air Force:
1.) 37th Air Army: 6 Fighters, 3 Strike Fighters, 14 Bombers - Veterans (Upkeep: 2)
2.) 16th Air Army: 15 Fighters, 5 Strike Fighters - Veterans (Upkeep: 1)
Strategic:
26,530 High Yield Warheads
Stability: 80%
Technological Research: ICBMs
Treaties: SALT II (US)
Occupied Territories: East Germany, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.

Spending Orders
- Spend 10c on a pair of Armored Brigades for the First Guards Army.
- Spend 28c on upgrading Vladivostok to a metropolis.
- Spend 1c on a unit of Military Police. Place them in Hungary.
- Bank the remaining 1c.

Diplomacy
- Enter the Sakhalin Compact (Alliance) with Japan.

Military Orders
- Send the Spetznaz GRU into Afghanistan from our Central Asian territories. They will be dropped directly into Kabul where they will storm government buildings and eliminate the national government. They will then seize the capital and force the rest of the country to surrender. If no surrender comes, they will move west to Herat, then south and capture as many towns and cities as possible. If resistance persists in the mountains north and east of Kabul, additional forces will be brought in next month to crush them.

- Move the 8th Red Star Tank Army from Prague to Berlin. The European build up in West Germany is concerning, and an army in Berlin would help prevent an invasion or allow us to take the rest of Germany should they try to pull something.

When sending orders, make sure you have your orders at the top. It make working with your orders much easier. All you need to do is copy/paste them from the front page. Don't try rewriting them.
You're prone to botch your stats that way, and that screws with both of us.

Please, please, PLEASE put details in your orders. You're invading Ubekibekibekibekistanstan, explain the whos, whats, wheres, whens, whys, and hows. Same goes for policy, and spending to a much much lesser degree. You don't need to write a short story to accomplish this. A paragraph or so would be peachy. If you give me more to work with then I have a better, easier time updating. If I look at someones orders and see only a sentence, I die a little inside.

If you have questions what you can and cannot do, feel free to send me a PM or talk to me on AIM (Nader1942). I'd much rather do that then tell you after you sent your orders.

From this point on, I'm accepting only one set of orders. If you send revisions, you need to revise the whole orderset and resend it. I will delete all earlier order submissions/anything pertaining to orders once I receive new ones.

Since I needed to explain this to many of you, I'll just say it here...in order for Paratroopers to be airdropped, the army they are in needs to have the Aerial Assault specialization. Marines can still do amphib landings, but only having Amphib. Assault will ensure these types of invasions go smoothly. Additionally, an air wing isn't needed to utilize Paratroopers.

Geography plays a significant role in how well your military operations pan out. Thats the whole reason why specializations exist in the first place. Open up an atlas or refer to Wikipedia to look up the climate, terrain, and vegetation of a region looks like before you decide to fight in it. It will help you greatly.

Stories and such are rewarded. Don't let the fact that I don't mention it in the update disuade you from writing.

Deadline for Update 2 orders is Friday, April 12th at 12:00am (Midnight) EST

 

From: Russian Federation
To: Norway
We hereby invite you to a surrender party. It'll be fun! Your head of state will sign a document we like to call a treaty that will make the Kingdom of Norway the Free Norwegian Protectorate, its sovereignty pledged to the Russian Federation, in order to protect you and your countrymen's freedom. We want to assure you that your freedom is best handled by Russians, as you might screw it up if left to your own devices. If you don't surrender, we'll just start killing people again.

Toodles.

From: Russian Federation
To: Former State of Azerbaijan
Welcome back into the fold, Russian brothers. You may commence celebrating! Right now. We said now. Do it.

 

Excellent update Darth!

To: Taiwan
From: the One and Only Legitimate Government of China, Nationalists Go Home

Suck it. You've had 90 years to rejoin the People's Republic, this is your reward for your insolence.

Braggy newspaper article coming soon.

 

Great Update

To: Taiwan
Submit your will and join the glorious Japanese Republic, you have lost.

To: China
We wish your army the best against the North Korean savages.

 

To: Ghanaians
From: Kanye Iworuniha, High Archbishop of the Nigerian National Church

Y'all better submit yourselves to Christ's mercy, you ain't gettin' none from us otherwise.

To: Muslims
From: Minister Ihejirika

Y'all are next.

 

Stats are up, btw

From: Taiwan
To: Japan

Surrender is not an option. We will fight to the last man. Our defeat is inevitable, but we will take as many of your sons with us as we can.

From: Norway
To: Russia

Subjugation is subjugation, and we will have none of it. We hope your men enjoy freezing to death.

 

Finland, is that you? Oh, right, Norway. All you manpower-starved, freezing Nordic countries look the same. Rest assured you will all die horribly.

@Nader, what is my 1 Upkeep in payment for?

 

The upkeep is for the amphibious assault specialization of the Western Vanguard Army.

 

To: Papua New Guinea,Malaysia,Brunei,Singapore
From: Nusantara Kingdom

Last time we suggest you to found a alliance, to protect you, strenghten ourselves and secure our borders.As you might see, we are one of the most peacefull superpowers and we really just want to protect you (especially Papua New Guinea).

 

This has proven interesting to watch.

 

To: Papua New Guinea,Malaysia,Brunei,Singapore
From: The United States of America

Be warned. If you join with those heathens, you will die in the nuclear hell-storm we intend upon unleashing upon them within the next month or so. Do the smart thing, and stay clear of them. You know, simple stuff.

 

To: Papua New Guinea
From Indonesia

If you will not join a alliance with as you will 100%-ly be conquered by Australians, who aren't even Asians, there are white!

 

To: Lithuania
From: European Federation

You are surrounded by us in your last port, and there is little you can do right now. If you surrender now, there will be far less casualties on both sides, and your inclusion in the benefits of being part of the Federation will arrive to the Lithuanian people sooner. The fact that you would rather be oppressed by the Russians rather than be free within the Federation baffles us.

To: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia
From: European Federation

It is sad that you would deny your citizens the great benefits of being part of the European Federation instead of giving them the best chance at going on.

To: Norway
From: European Federation

If you are willing to become part of the European Federation, we will be willing to aid you.

 

From: Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore
To: Indonesia

We are confident that the Austral Union will not try to attack us. East Timor was weak, while we most certainly are not.

From: Lithuania
To: EF

We fought too hard to gain our independence from the Soviet Union just to hand it over to you. We would much rather die.

From: Norway
To: EF

Norway wishes to be part of the European Federation as much as it wishes to be part of the Russian Federation. A strong, sovereign Norway is valuable to you. Without nations like us the Russians will have you surrounded. Soon you will be cut apart and devoured.

From: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia
To: EF

Our citizens look to us to prevent them from falling to the likes of you, not to allow them to be enslaved.

 

To: Lithuania
From: European Federation

That's the way you plan to go?

To: Norway
From: European Federation

How is a strong sovereign Norway of benefit to us? There is more benefit for you to become part of the Federation than being alone.

To: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia
From: European Federation

We fear you are confusing us with the gentlemen that live east of us. In the European Federation, people enjoy the freedoms that are denied to them in many other nations. Your people would probably be freer as part of the Federation than what they are now.

 

To: Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei
From:Indonesia

Yes, you might be strong, but AU is stronger for sure and also, we suggest you a alliance, not a protectorate.

 

To: Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei
From: Austral Union
CC: Indonesia

The lies of Indonesia are only matched by their ego. East Timor was directly threatened by the rapid militarization of Indonesia, and as seen in 1974, East Timor would had been a victim of Indonesian imperialism and genocide. By acting first and intervening in the troubled nation, we managed to not only prevent the imperialistic Indonesians from slaughtering the island again, but are now managing to bring stability to the failed state.

As long as Indonesian expansion is curbed, we have no reason to blindly attack you for any reason.

To: Indonesia
From: Austral Union
CC: Any nation concerned

Furthermore, any expansion of your vile dictatorship into the free republics of Oceania will not be tolerated. View this as your first and only warning.

OOC: Russia invading Norway? Really? I thought we were all going to try to keep this game semi-realistic here. If this is the case, I'll mind as well have some adventures in Madagascar, because screw logistics and realism.

 

Omega, this isn't the typical NES. Its much more boardgamey and I can't stress that enough. If you want to go invade Madagascar and you have the means to do it, I'm not going to stop you.