Joplonian War

Joplonian War
Phaedran tanks en route to the Messiah Peninsula
Date March 6 2006 - February 2 2007 Location Northern Phaedria, Malum mountains Result Decisive Steel Allegiance victory Partition of Copius Malum by Phaedrus Imperator and Dolorem Creation of Joplonian rump state under Doloremi Protection Delsolan lease on Messiah peninsula Outbreak of the 6 hour war
Belligerents
Steel Allegiance Phaedrus Imperator Dolorem Delsolan Republic	Malum Pact Jopolis Copius Malum Supported by: Stovilium Crimson Lance Republic
Commanders and leaders
Valerún of Phaedrus High Overlord Sollecia Zandalier Amadeus Radiel Cistern	Joseph Johnson Garion Malandus
Strength
252,000 troops	172,000 troops
Casualties and losses
6,752 killed in action 1,501 missing in action 7,365 wounded	16,000 killed in action 15,356 missing in action 32,000+ wounded

The Joplonian War was an armed conflict between the forces of the Steel Allegiance and the Joplonian Pact. The war was the first major conflict in The Federal Union since The Second Great war and marked a considerable period of tension between the Steel Allegiance and the newly forged Stovilium-Engortian alliance. However the conflict also brought a reconciliation of relationships between Phaedrus Imperator and Dolorem, marking the first diplomatic mission between both countries since the early 19th century. The war took place between March 2006 and February 2 2007 amid the emergence of the Doloremi-Phaedran reconciliation in early 2005. The diplomatic negotiations between the two parties saw plans to divide the buffer states of Jopolis and Copius Malum set up after the Second Great War to prevent the outbreak of another war between Phaedrus and Dolorem.

Initial war plan for the invasion of Copius Malum and Jopolis

In the early hours of March 4th it was believed a Doloremi freight train bound for Phaedrial was destroyed by a group of Joplonian bandits who were part of the Joplonian Fascist Front, seeking to provoke dissent among Joplonian minorities living within Dolorem. The action was seen as intolerable by the Doloremi government and 2 days later began to shell the town of Omansk in response to what it called "state sponsored terrorism". Such actions led to a border skirmish between Doloremi and Joplonian troops and an official declaration of war by late afternoon. Doloremi troops entered Jopolis on March 8, with the Doloremi Navy blockading Duransk. In response to the declaration of war, Dolorem signed the Steel Allegiance treaty in late March leading to the declaration of war by Phaedrus Imperator and Delsola. With tensions high, Phaedran troops crossed the border into the Territory of Copius Malum leading to skirmishes between Phaedran soldiers and citizens of the anarchist state. After two months of the offensive, Joplonian leader Joseph Johnson signed a treaty with self titled 'leader' of the Malum Free Citizens Army, Garion Malandus. However it wasn't until July 2006 when Stovilian and Engortian volunteers and aid arrived in Jopolis and Copius Malum.

The outbreak of war brought condemnation from the international community, especially from the likes of Stovilium and Crimson Lance Engortia who took an active part in arming the defenders and supplying humanitarian aid to civilians and soldiers alike. It is also believed that groups such as the Stovilian Task Force 27 took part in the defence of Jopolis, specifically in the Battle of Messiah and the Siege of Joplonium. Many foreign volunteers also took part in the fighting, with many Stovilian citizens enlisting in the Joplonian Army and many more Uruslan citizens taking an active role in the Copius Malum Free Citizens Army.

Large-scale conflict

Battle of Ard Alaroch

After 4 months of fighting, the Phaedran advance into Copius Malum was slowed, as the anarchist state had finally managed to organise an effective guerrilla resistance against the invading army. With aid arriving from other Asuran powers, the Malum defence was shored up with resourcing arriving from the north by Stovilian ships and smugglers through Dolorem. The defence of Copius Malum lasted until around December 2006 when the North Sea froze over, preventing the transportation of goods from Stovilium to continue. Coupled with increased border security between Stovilium and Dolorem and the ongoing Engortian civil war, the guerrilla fighters were without supplies through the harsh winter. Eventually the town fell to Phaedran troops leading to the end of most resistance from Malum troops.

Battle of Messiah

Probably the bloodiest battle of the war, the Battle of Messiah saw thousands of losses over 6 days of fighting. The initial advance of of the Phaedran army was too fast, leading the army to reach the city limits before the blockade had begun. As a result the Phaedran 5th Army was surrounded and without supply. In response the Phaedran army mobilized the BloodCorps to prevent the army being wiped out by Joplonian troops reinforcing from the south. After a long drawn out battle the 5th Army was freed with the arrival of the 6th Armoured division to relieve the BloodCorps and drive back the defending Joplonian forces to the city itself. With the Delsolan blockade cutting off supplies, the city was taken after 2 days with the Delsolan Expeditionary Force eliminating the routed army.

Siege of Joplonium

The siege of Joplonium began in January 2007 after the city was blockaded and surrounded by Allegiance forces. No nation was prepared to commit to a full scale invasion of the city for fears of the potential losses due to the intricate defence network set up by the defenders. As a result the Doloremi army shelled the city over a month. On the morning of February 1st the High Overlord demanded the city, starved of supply, to be taken by force, with what few defenders left be taken back to Dolorem as prisoners. However after a long drawn out international effort, a ceasefire was signed by which Doloremi troops were able to enter the city unimpeded. However after the army entered the city, many soldiers presumably defending the city were declared MIA and assumed to have been taken to Doloremi Labour camps.

Treaty of Thraice

Territorial changed following the Treaty of Thraice

With the ceasefire in place, members of each party were summoned to the First Annual Thraice Convention to discuss peace terms in the Midrasian capital of Thraice. The convention saw the signing of the Treaty of Thraice and an end to the armed conflict in Phaedria until the outbreak of the Six Hour War.
The terms of the treaty stated:

• All land North of Messiah is to be ceded to Phaedrus Imperator
• The Messiah Peninsula is to become a Delsolan territory
• The East Jopolis is to be ceded to Dolorem, stertching 100 miles inland
• The creation of a Joplonian rump state under the protection of Dolorem
• All Stovilian and Engortian troops still in Jopolis are to leave immediately
• Each member of the Steel Allegiance is to be paid $10,000,000,000 (10 billion) to cover the expense of war, and to set up four naval bases across the Sea of Cyan and Phaedran Sea, administrated by the Steel Shipping Trust (45% Stovilium, 35% Jopolis inc. industrial claims, 20% Engortia)
• All alliances between Jopolis, Engortia and Stovilium are prohibited for 10 years
• All ships passing through the Helmsmere Channel or West Sea of Cyan will need special authority from the Steel Shipping Trust
• Stovilian TF27 is to be disbanded, under counts of international terrorism
• Captain Maxson's government is to be recognised as the de facto government of Engortia.