By: Hoaseng Thao

PROLOGUE

On the early dusk of August 29th, 1948, General Calor Thor, age 31, of the Jupitan Imperial Army and commander of Army Group Caster, stood on the tarmac of a makeshift airfield and stared at the sky. His gaze on the starry skies kept still until the sounds of roaring fighter jets slowly approached the runway that his gaze finally returned down to the ground. The invasion of Sapan lies in his hands, and failure is not an option.

TROUBLED TIMES IN SAPAN

The Kingdom of Sapan resides on the Kyusian continent, and for most of its history, was the strongest nation on the planet. That was until the Great Vaserian War of 1920, when their invasion of the Vaserian Federation led to a devastating four year war that cost the lives of over three million Sapanese soldiers, and a resounding victory for Vaseria.

Three million young men and women died overseas in a failed invasion, an entire generation was lost, and those who lost loved ones blamed the war hungry government. In 1926, King Genta III, who had started the war, was forced to abdicate the throne when it appeared that the entire country was rioting against him.

On November 20th, 1940, the king’s nephew, Lord Daiki, was crowned king due to his vocal support against the war with Vaseria. His policies as king saw the nation turn away from its militaristic past in favor of improving the lives of its people, however he would pass away three years in his reign before he could fully implement his policies.

King Daiki’s brother, Lord Jiro, was crowned the next king of Sapan, but his rule led to rampant corruption within his government and a rise of independence movements by many ethnic groups in the far east and south, who felt that his rule was the final straw of staying under Sapanese rule.

OPERATION FORWARD HIKE

With the help of corrupt Sapanese officials, Great Terran forces were able plan an invasion of Sapan, with the main force invading from the northern coastline to make a mad dash to the capital, Nozomi, while the Hoshiran army would invade from their shared border to liberate the ethnic groups in eastern Sapan.

Under the command of General Thor, Over 50,000 soldiers were airdropped on the Sapanese northern plains and another 50,000 landed via the Ara Sea on August 29th, 1948. Their mission was to quickly reach the Sapanese capital, Nozomi, and occupy important government buildings and install a pro-Terran government with the help of corrupt military officials.

Despite having the advantage, General Thor cautiously moved his forces, but many of his field officers refused his orders in order to claim the glory of taking the Sapanese capital. Those who stood by Thor’s orders were lucky, as the ambitious officers were soon wiped out by the supposed “corrupt” Sapanese army.

The supposedly corrupt Sapanese army they had confronted in their invasion was being led by the king’s daughter, Princess Chiyo. Prior to the invasion, The princess, as well as members of the Ministry of Defense, learned of the Terran invasion plot after receiving coded messages from a mole within Jupita’s high command, and quickly formed a force of 100,000 loyal followers to combat the invasion.

Fierce fighting began as the sun broke the horizon. When news broke out about the invasions from the north and east, thousands armed themselves to combat the invaders. In the east, the Hoshiran armies met fierce resistance by the ethnic groups they were supposed to be “liberating”. Despite being under Sapanese rule for centuries, these groups were still loyal to the crown or at least the ever more heroic Princess.

Upon hearing that the invasion of Sapan started, the King tried to flee the royal palace but was immediately reprimanded by the Princess and the Royal Guard, and forced him to abdicate the throne in favor of putting the Princess in charge. The princess immediately called upon full mobilization of the Army, and by September 3rd, the army was fully mobilized and ready to combat the invaders.

The Terrans, despite not achieving their goal of capturing the capital, quickly gained land during the Sapanese mobilization, taking most of the northern coastline as well as the Otryan peninsula in the far east. By September 10th, the entire eastern regions of Sapan capitulated to the Terrans, but there were still many waging guerilla campaigns against the Terrans.

On September 13th, Coalition forces were allowed to enter Sapan, over 300,000 Coalition troops were transported to the Sapanese front. Despite the aid of Coalition troops, Terran forces were able to push south and capture the capital by the end of October, but at the cost of using most of their stocks of chemical weapons.

Over 80% of Sapanese territory was occupied with the southern regions, as well as holdouts in the mountains, remaining under Coalition control. By the new year Princess Chiyo had ordered the army to hold their ground no matter the cost, and it led to the Sapanese front becoming a meat grinder.

EVER EXPANDING WAR

By April 15th, 1949, Hoshiran forces invaded the neighboring Federal Republic of Jinyu to maneuver around Coalition forces in Sapan. Despite capitulating the Jinyun government within hours, they were unable to flank the Coalition, as they too would invade Jinyun to out flank them. The war had now spanned across the entire Kyusian continent, from Sapan in the east to Molivia in the south.

As the war ravaged the Kyusian continent, it was only inevitable that it would spread to another continent. By May of 1949, The Cazar Empire, a member state of Great Terra, was secretly notified by Jupita that it would fully support their territorial ambitions on the Eusonan continent if they invaded their neighboring country, the Kirston empire, and gave Jupita access to its rich Arcerium fields.

Not wanting to be left out of the glory of war, the Cazar empire agreed to their secret deal, and their army would slowly grow in size on the Kirston border. The Cazars shall seek their glory of war, and their flag shall be raised over the Kirston capital. But the Kirstons, who had endured multiple invasion attempts by the Cazars in the past, shall endure it once again for the final time.