A Winter of Sorrow [Roskana]

[VoxApocrypha]

FAILING FOUNDATIONS, ACT 2.

---

Sablien, 1935. 

---

 Roskana had been effectively cut in half. Only one overland route existed now not held by Grinvelians, along the coast.
Part of Grinvel's objectives had finally been met. The government felt the pressure now, and a war-time strategy meeting, or a summit as many called it, had been organized on Amnity at the same time that the Chief Justice would be heading there to visit the Amnity School of Law, where all federal judges studied and trained in their duty, as did many of the more prestiges organizations of law enforcement in the Roskanan government. The vessel had left port towards the end of Sablien, 1935, and was steadily making its way to Amnity, where it'd remain for the duration of that summit. The vessel appeared as a cargo ship, and flew the colors of the Roskanan Merchant Marine. 

 Further north on the high seas, where the Roskanan and Grinvelian navy dueled regularly as combat sorties clashed, the Roskanan navy had inadvertently created a hole, just large enough that there was no effective survaillence of an area of roughly thirty five kilometers, a brief bubble from which a enemy vehicle might be able to pass through undetected. Little did anyone know how fatal this mistake was going to prove.

[Greywall]

GWS Vald was a Grinvelian submarine operating in the Northern seas of Ouhiri, performing terror strikes on convoys and sinking ships that transported supplies to the Eastern Reserian front. Its main quarry would be UKUG merchant fleet ships shipping supplies to the Marrish and Roskanans.

The submarine along with what very few could escape the brutal clashing of steel in the Smithsver Gulf was all Grinvel could get into the overall naval war of the Great War. Galra was disappointed in Grinvel's naval capacity and that was putting it lightly. They failed to lock down the Northern seas and prevent the Gaelic Royal Navy avenue to ship supplies to the Eastern Reserians. But today, would be a red letter day.

"We have a contact!"
"Identify!"

The slight pause as persicope scanned the vessel just a few miles away from the Grinvelian submarine. The Vald and her crew were in rough shape after having to operate remotely away from proper SU contact, they were close to burning all their fuel and making a run for safe port in the Galran isles in the mid Shawbalt when they stumbled on a lone vessel.

"Captain, its Roskanan."

Captain Amsel took over the periscope and looked over the ship, "Odd. Why is it out here?" he folded the periscope, prepare torpedoes one and two. "We have only three remaining captain." reported a sailor, "Then we make these count. Prep the third just in case."

The submarine moved carefully toward the Roskanan ship, remaining out of sight for now.

"Have you confirmed if she's military?" Captain Amsel asked his observers now watching the ship.

"Nein, she's merchant marine. Might not be worth our torpedoes Captain."

Amsel rubbed the harsh stubbled on his face, reminding him of the shave he neglected now for months. "Can't take that chance, the Grinvel naval order stands. All enemy ships of the SU must sink. These fur ridden monsters could be shipping the Gaelics supplies. Prepare to fire."

The submarine closed in distance and..."TORPEDO 1 OFF!" the loud thunder of a torpedo would be sent off, "TORPEDO 2!" another one sent off. "Prepare 3!" Captain Amsel ordered.


The two torpedoes streaked across the water toward the ship, as the distance began to close "Shit we're off! Prepare torpedo 3!"
"CAPTAIN! LOOK!"

The Roskanans clearly saw the torpedoes as the ship began to pick up speed and prepare evasive maneuvers. "Shit shit shit shit! Line us up helm!" Amsel wasn't losing this one, the Grinvel navy needed a win here. Not losing another CoN ship. "Hold it...there...there! FIRE!" the Captain bellowed as he eyed it himself. The loud thud and sound of a pressurized torpedo would be heard throughout the entire submarine as the last torpedo streaked toward the Roskanan ship. In a matter of minutes the torpedo struck the merchant ship rocking it harshly and to the delight of the Grinvelian captain the ship stuttered to a slow crawl and began to show signs of taking water.

"Your orders Captain?"

"Relay coded message, we have sunk a Roskanan merchant vessel with our location. Now burn our diesel up and get us to St. John...we're done here lads."

The Vald would begin her difficult trek to safe port in the vast open sea, risking fuel and food shortages over the brutal naval battle in the Gulf. Captain Amsel doesn't know it now, but he has just killed the Roskanan government.

[VoxApocrypha]

First Thread - Office in Auran

FAILING FOUNDATION, ACT 2

---

1936, Obsillia

---

Apollo's Residence
Apollo Virgon Adashenko
1:00 AM 

 Laying in his bed, the festria was asleep, deep. For once, he was able to manage a good and deep sleep. 
But usually that was not the case. Such bliss was short lived, however. From a pleasant dream in the arms of.. 
RIIIIING
...Back to the land of the living. 

He jolted upright at the sudden noise, before then with a frantic turn of the head, he saw the phone. After a few seconds, he blinked the sleep away from his eyes, bristling fur starting to settle as he turned and swung his legs out of bed, socked feet on the floor. He grabbed the phone and brought it to his head, turning the phone a bit so that the end was against his ear, coughing into his hand before he'd speak. 

"Residence of the Governor, go ahead." 
The man sat in the darkness, eyes closing slowly again. "..Huh..?" He'd mumble. "Say that again." 

For a few seconds, the voice on the other end stopped, before repeating. 
Apollo's eyes opened wide. "What?" 

"They're dead? Are you sure?" He'd ask, voice rising as he stood up from the bed, a hand resting on his side. "..By Mars." He murmured. 

"I'm going to get dressed. I'll be at my Office soon. Wake the director of party affairs and get anyone we need to, up and moving." 

---

Office of the Governor of the state of Auran
Apollo Virgon Adashenko
2:45 AM

"It went down off the coast. No survivors, save some deck hands. Ship couldn't be saved." David Ruk said, holding a stack of papers in front of him, multiple pages dog-eared. "They tried to perform search and rescue but bad weather has stopped that."

"How the fuck were all of them on the same boat?" Apollo asked as he took a cup of coffee from a tray brought in by his secretary, long suffering with these late night meetings, having developed like Apollo a habit of making coffee whenever they got to the building. She was in the hall answering calls at her desk, keeping other government officials away while Apollo attended to the state of government.

"Multiple other officials were aboard. As for how they all got there, on the same boat, we aren't sure." He'd say. "An investigation's already been launched by the Special Services but I highly doubt we'll have answers immediately. But that's hardly the biggest concern here." The party director said, sitting down on the other side of Apollo's desk. "We have an opportunity. And I'm sure Samantha knows too."

"Opportunity to what?" He'd then lower his voice. "The coup? We can't pull a coup off like this!" He'd say with a soft hiss in his voice.

"Nonsense!" David replied. "This is the best opportunity for it. This is more than we could ever hope to ask for. Those fucking mongrels in the Diamid are screeching to death about installing a Republikan to head a new temporary government in place of this one. We both know they'll just fumble it, our side has never been so united, coalition and otherwise! They're trying to oppose a seizure of power by the Republikans who are in chaos because ALL of their top officials are dead, our side is the only one that actually has the support of the main element of force in our government."

David then pointed out the window, towards the capital building in the distance.
"That building is hosting a meeting as we speak, and every update I get, it's getting worse. This is the best time. Call Samantha, and put an end to this! Then we can enact the Plans we've made for decades to bring this nation from the edge of ruin back to its place as Reseria's dominant nation! And hopefully in doing so, we can end this war with Grinvel too! We can negotiate a peace with them, and then we can focus on preparing to fight Galra and putting ourselves ahead of the people who failed us on the international scene. We need this." He'd say.

Apollo stared at the building in the distance through the window, lights illuminating the massive glass dome.
Then with a sigh, he grabbed the phone.

"You're right David." He said as he started to dial the number. "You're right."

---

Capital building of Roskana, the Diamid
Ultranationalist Representative Andy Mercer
2:58 AM


"The Diamid's about to fucking riot, David!" Andy said as he sat in his office, the barely hushed sound of shouting echoing through the halls from the larger diamid chamber at the center of the capital building. "They're starting to get heated, the Republikans can barely agree on anything and they're trying to make up non-existent procedures for continuity of government as we speak." He'd say.

"These people are gonna be the death of this country." He'd sigh, as he opened his door, the shouting growing in volume such so that David on the other side could actually hear it, as could Apollo, who was getting his coat on. "Good gods." The red panda murmured while David would look out the window, phone held to his ear as he ran a hand over his bald head.

"Guards and security are keeping them separate. It looks like the Republikans and Soc-libs are gonna start trying to throw punches though. A few are missing. Some are leaving though.." He'd say as he observed from his vantage point by the door, playing a dangerous game with the length of the phone line as it held to its spool, almost pulling it off of the desk as he stood in the door. "What does Apollo plan to do about this?"

David then responded with a, "You will see. Leave for the night. I don't want you there when things take a turn for the worse. Authorities are on their way to take control of the situation."

"Authorities?" Andy asked.

"The army. Now, get out of there. Go." David said, hanging up as Apollo opened the door.

"Good luck, mister president to be." David said. Apollo would nod. "Not president. That's not what we want."

"Right. Tsar." He'd nod his head in respect. "I hope this plays out how we wish."

"We can hope, David. I have confidence in the abilities of our supporters." Apollo would say. "I will see you, when I see you. Stay safe until then. I advise staying here, or returning home. The streets may be a bad place for you until order is restored."

With that, Apollo exitted his office, and went to his secretary.
"Go home for the night. Someone will call you when things settle down and governance continues. Until then," He took his wallet out, and gave her a pair of hundred-notes. "-go home, stay safe."

Then he'd make his way out, flanked by a party assigned body-guard as he quickly went to the front of the building to meet Samantha. Elsewhere, the engines of a new regime were stirring to life already, under the direction of another general, seeking to fulfil his end of a deal, with what was at stake being more important to him than preserving a government he did not care for, or see as legitimate anymore.

[VoxApocrypha]

---

FAILING FOUNDATION, ACT 2

---

Auran, Roskana
4:00 AM

 The death of the president had been confirmed at 11:00 PM, once the navy had made certain that they were dead, though news of their ship sinking had arrived much earlier. Both parties knew about the attack - not the wellbeing of the government's highest officials, mistakenly placed on the same boat at the time of the torpedo strike. The Republikans were first to know when the search was called off by the navy due to both terrible weather, with a snow storm rolling into the bay, and no visible signs of lifeboats besides one that held only a handful of injured crewmen.

 This news had been kept within the Republikan party initially, but it took barely an hour for it to then disseminate out as inner party moles and disloyals informed the ultranationalists, the strongest opposition body, of the plans of the Republikans of whom were barely organized enough to agree on a course of action, but not strong enough to see it through due to the actions of their opponents. Once the ultranationalists knew, they flooded the Diamid building, arriving one after the other in cars and trucks, those who could not come to the city telegram’d in.

 The Republikans did the same. It was not long before the larger body of the Roskanan government had assembled or otherwise been made aware of the situation, and members of every party were in the building. The Ultranationalists had rallied their coalition despite the suddenness of the situation, always ready to leverage their support against their principle rivals. It was time now to ensure that they would not be able to use this situation to their advantage. It was not long before the Diamid had devolved into passive aggressive tones and verbal beratement, and it took only until about 4:00 AM for things to reach the apex. The powderkeg blew when a fist fight erupted in the lower Diamid between a Social Liberal and Republikan.

Security separated them, and took them to separate wings to be held in individual rooms until the police could arrive to process them and take them away.

 The police were busy with something else. They began to deploy into the city proper in their numbers, officers called in by the Auran chief of police, and dispersed into the streets. However, a formation of mounted cops were organized, and began to march to the capitol building to establish several blocking positions and to prepare to assist the imminent to arrive army forces. Cop cars and several city trucks would arrive on the highway, and establish several checkpoints. The entire left four lanes were closed to civilian traffic at either end between the city of Auran, and the city of Jusene, where the majority of the Army was soon to arrive from.

 As the Police entered the lobby of the capital building, they were told to hold inside of the lobby, and prevent either entry, or exit from the building. The Ultranationalists continued to argue with the Republikans all the while, keeping the rest of their number on their side of the circular room, working to avoid another physical altercation. The two who had been in a fight were handed to the cops, though as some tried to leave, mostly Social liberals and a pair of Republikans, they would be detained in the lobby by the police. As the hardline republikans continued arguing to install a acting head of state, trying to push their most prestigious member to take the position, the Ultranats coalition denied it, blocked it, and otherwise attacked the opposition and cited that there were basically no continuity of governance plans on the books or otherwise established that could take control in this situation - and that the republikans could not be allowed to establish such a unprecedented level of control of the government.

 It wasn't long before Journalists began to gather. The news had not been broken to the public yet. But people could sense, from the level of noise and the activity of the police, as well as rumors, that something was wrong.
They'd soon know for certain that things had just gone tits-up.

---

Highway into Auran
4:52 AM

 In the early morning darkness of gray cloud cover, the greatest source of light was the progression of a long line of truck headlights stretching back for miles. Hundreds of trucks were rolling along the coastal highway towards Auran, carrying in their backs several thousand infantrymen belonging to the 11th Motorized Light Infantry, and 52nd Heavy Motorized. Alongside them, carried on several livestock carriers with truck support with them, were several hundred mounted carabineers, their Vekydeer contained in the carriers the trucks were towing.  

 Armored cars rolled alongside the trucks and ahead of them, carrying the advance units that would lock down the highway exits and government district. Their progress was visible on the horizon as they would come past a series of hills, and reach the outskirts of Auran, the first squad of armored cars speeding quickly into the city from the highway. As the first flakes of snow began to fall from the sky, they arrived in front of the capital building, the light infantry inside dismounting from the backs of them and racing inside of the building, the police clearing a corridor for them. Military Police followed behind them, as other squads of armored cars began to establish positions at the highway exits, and at the major intersections leading to the capital building. 

 At around this time, the city's loudspeaker system came to life, and began broadcasting a message from the radio hub that controlled the network, located towards the city's outskirts. 

"This is a special broadcast for residents of the Auranopolis, and the greater Auran Area. Please call or wake your neighbors and family so that they may listen. As of 0500, and under the direction of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, a state of emergency has been declared by the Roskanan military, due to the breakdown of functional civil governance at the federal level. It is with a heavy heart to say, that the President, Supreme Chief Justice, Speaker of the Diamid, and several other officials were killed by a Grinvelian submarine attack. This has led to a deterioration of governance due to inadequate planning and a failure to maintain a line of succession. The acting speaker of the diamid has surrendered control to the office of the governor, and civilian functions at the federal level have been suspended, and martial law nation-wide is now in effect." 

 "As of this moment, Auranopolis and its surrounding Boroughs are now under martial law. Criminal activity at this time will be met with the harshest reprise of the law. Do not travel if it is not an emergency. All citizens are advised to stay indoors until told otherwise. This message will repeat throughout the morning." There'd be a click. Lights began to turn on across every street corner. People were now not only awake, but worried. Head began to poke out of doors as the snow fell in greater amounts, turning to a proper snow storm. 

 It was not long before the proper convoy had started pulling off the highway at various exits, separating into numerous columns that began to disperse. One column moved to the port area, while two frigates and a destroyer from the navy would arrive to lock down the port proper, sending several groups of sailors to the shore to act as a security detail and to assist the army's MPs and infantry when they'd arrive. Stopping at several minor intersections and in Vadus Square, the Veky were unloaded from their carriers, and the carabineers of the 5th Special Attack Infantry began to disperse their mounted units out into the city, the large warmounts carrying them along avenues and roads on patrol as they established their presence. 

 One column of trucks, the largest, arrived in the government district, and its surrounding areas. Infantry poured out and began to erect positions to control the flow of traffic and people in and out, while the MPs brought out the Republikans from the building, and escorted the others out through side doors. While many of them would be allowed to leave, orders were to secure and detain the Republikan representatives present in the capital, and several groups had already done so. They took them away from areas with police presence, and instead congregated them inside of buildings commandeered or opened up by the army for the purposes of storing them in a secure environment. 

 The Ultranats, and most of their party members, were allowed to linger nearby, or given hotel rooms at army expense - they'd likely however, all soon be out of a job. As well, all of them were under the watch of the army, and barred from leaving their temporary residences. In the midst of this, the police acted primarily to maintain civil order as they patrolled the streets, the military police and infantry moving from street to street in groups and establishing positions from which they'd maintain watch over major streets and intersections. 

 They could not watch them all, but they had a grip on every major artery in the city now, and eyes everywhere. Command posts were established in each district of the city, being called sectors by the army. The navy and port authority would coordinate to maintain steady shipping for the time being

---

 By 8:00 AM, the city was under the control of the military. 
Apollo had arrived at the capital building, finding its interior deserted, the civil workers who would nominally be found in and around it having been told to stay home by civilian authorities in the governors office. He stood out in the snow as the light of the street lamps illuminated him. The army had remained, and journalists were swarming the square now. However, some employees had been ordered to come. One being the operators of the film devices, and the electrical technicians who handled the work on the microphones for the radio. 

 They were set to give an announcement to the public in only thirty minutes, and he was outside to calm himself. 
Something he had been working towards for years and to have it realized was a feeling unlike any other. He hadn't had time to compose much of a speech. But he could see the crowds gathering outside. The army was allowing people to enter the government district, many of them arriving on trucks and cars as they watched at a distance the army mill about. 

 He only hoped that this went well. That they were willing to accept this. 
If not it'd cost him his freedom for life, perhaps even his life - but if it did, then he'd rebuild Roskana in the image he saw for it. That which he preached, his party preached.. 

 He turned and made his way up the steps, into the building, shaking the snow off of his coat before he took it off, and gave it to Samantha, who would put it over her shoulder while he continued on, thanking them softly before he made his way t the recording room, following an old route to the podium that he remembered from appearing on broadcasts before.
It was time to address the nation. 

[VoxApocrypha]

Failing Foundations, Act 2

---

Auran, Roskana

It'd be at 8:30 AM in the morning when Apollo had taken to the stage, and settled behind the podium. As the film recorder began to run, the radios came to life as a proper address to the nation was made regarding recent events.

"People of Roskana, today I come to bring you news. Unfortunately, it is not good news." 

"Two days ago, while returning from the island of Amnity after a strategic summit, the President of the Greater Republic, the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the Diamid, and multiple other top level officials belonging to the Diamid and Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branch, were killed by a torpedo strike. Their ship was sunken before it could evade, in waters previously thought safe at the time. Ultimately, they did not survive, nor did most of the crew of this vessel, and terrible weather ensured that ultimately, search and rescue efforts undertaken by the navy were a failure." 

"Last night, the government then effectively collapsed, as news reached the Republikan party, of which tried to install its own officials in key positions without vote or permission from the rest of the legislature. Several officials resigned, and a fight broke out in the halls of the capital building. Ultimately, many of these officials have been arrested, and the majority of the Republikan party has been outsted from the Diamid. The arrival of the military saw the suspension of Federal functions, as the government no longer could operate." 

"I have been placed in charge by a coalition of state governors, diamid legislators, most of the judicial department's remaining upper-level staff, and the armed forces of which allowed for this. Ultimately I have decided, due to its demonstrated dysfunction and inaction over the span of this conflict with Grinvel where action was critically needed, the federal government will be dissolved, and in its place, a provisional war-time government will be installed with the aim of guiding Roskana through this crisis, until we can properly establish a real constitution and functioning government with the full array of officials and departments with properly distributed responsibilities, long term plans for the economy and military, contingency plans for any disaster."

"As of this moment I am taking the role of Acting Commander-n-Chief of Roskana, and assuming leadership of the nation to ensure that we can progress through this crisis as one people, and come out the other side stronger, and united. But know that sacrifices will have to be made in pursuit of a stronger Roskana, and that we must be willing to suffer hardship now, so that future generations of Roskanans after this conflict will not be forced to endure the same pains that we are now. Together we will forge a better future for this nation."

"Today has been a sad day. Tomorrow, I promise, will be brighter, and better than this."  

[VoxApocrypha]

Auran

---

It'd been a few hours since the proclamation of a new provisional government in the wake of the recent collapse of the old greater republic. A long planning session had been concluded about an hour before he had returned to his home, and the time spent on the way home had been mostly spent taking backroads in a convoy with two armored cars and a police cruiser. Once they had reached his residence, Apollo tiredly stepped out of the cruiser and took a moment to breathe in the cold air to try to wake himself up a bit. He'd slept a little in the car, but it had come intermittently, and not by choice, too exhausted to stay awake in a seat.

The vehicles would move on, save for one of the armored cars, which remained close by. A small group of army trucks had been sent into the area, and regular patrols of riflemen and cops were moving up and down his street and surrounding areas. As he would walk up his steps, he'd notice the lights were on in his house, which immediately gave him pause. The cop behind him seemed to notice his stop too, and then after a moment, would draw his side arm and make his way inside ahead of Apollo, though the red panda followed behind the human.

He'd open the door, and Apollo followed him inside.
"Anyone's here, make yourself known, Auran PD!" The cop would yell, holding his handgun with the barrel pointed at the ceiling, Apollo's hand in his jacket to rest on his .45 as he waited for a response.

[EpicToaster1]

Two set of hands would throw themselves up from the couch, a female voice calling out. "In the living room!" The figure would slowly rise up, turning to face the two. Her hand would produce a key, showing it. "I used your spare key you gave me to get in. Police told me to get off the streets and I'm still a while from my own home, so I decided I'd stop here until I can call my family for a ride."

Towering before the two was Apollo's secretary. A Celöösa Koian standing at a tall 9'1" as her red and white wings softly fluttered against her back. She was still wearing the same outfit she was wearing when she was sent home, a barley-brown blouse and a black skirt, her thick sky blue winter coat resting on a coat rack next to the two in the doorway.

"You guys can relax, I'm unarmed."

[VoxApocrypha]

Apollo's hand fell from his jacket when he saw the hands of his secretary, the cop relaxing as Apollo would nod his head and make his way inside.
"She's my secretary." He'd say to the cop. "Thank you. I'll be alright from here." He'd say, the cop nodding his head and turning to make his way back out to his cruiser after a cursory look over the living room. Apollo waited for him to leave before he would close the door, and then let out a sigh.

"Sorry. Just didn't remember turning any lights on, so I got spooked for a moment. It's been a rough day." He'd say. "I've got a phone in my office you can use. But you're welcome to rest on my couch if you want. Another snowstorm is gonna roll in soon." He'd say as he took his jacket off, and then would hang it up on the hooks on his door, then undoing his holster and unloading his handgun, setting it down on the counter with the magazine and bullet in his pocket.

[EpicToaster1]

His secretary lowered her hands, shaking her head. "My father works in an ammunition factory out in the industrial district. He has the car, so he won't be able to get me until he gets off in the evening."

She'd cross her upper arms while her lower arms fell to her sides. "Seems tonight is nothing but snow and ice." She'd watch him put his gun down before speaking again. "Everything okay?"

[VoxApocrypha]

"No, not at all. The government collapsed." He'd say. "I am now the functional leader of Roskana."
He'd turn around after, and make his way into the living room proper, before he sat down and would seem to deflate, clearly exhausted as he rubbed his eyes. "Rough day doesn't even describe it, really."

[EpicToaster1]

"Oh."

She'd softly sit down next to him, placing her hand on his. "You were awoken early to be told possibly some of the worst news a nation in crisis could hear." She'd give his hand a gentle squeeze. "You should get some rest. The nation will still be here tomorrow. You've got friends in all places, they'll make sure everything is working while you get some rest."

She'd give him a soft smile, her antennae wiggling. "I can make you some dinner when you wake up."

[VoxApocrypha]

He found the contact odd, though not unwelcome. He would hesitantly squeeze her hand back with his own, though the mention of being able to sleep would be more than enough motivation for him to agree.
"Yeah.. you're right. Sleep. Sleep sounds nice." He'd say. "You don't have to do that, but if you do, thank you." He'd smile softly, standing up and stretching his arms softly, before making his way to the bedroom.

"If you need anything, just knock." He'd say, before then he would shut the door quietly.
Apollo did not last long before he was face down on the bed, and out cold.

[VoxApocrypha]

Obsillia, 1936
Diamid Chamber, Auran

Discussions had taken place in the days after, on the next moves of the provisional government.

With the majority of republikan party officials either resigning, imprisoned, or out of the country, the reality of the situation was apparent to many.

Boats of Republican officials and their families were already leaving, and a handful of warships in the navy had purportedly defected back to Republican rule and were making a run for Arema, the last territory with a Republican majority in governance. The navy itself had not ordered a pursuit, and none of their important capital assets had defected nor would they, Etran having ensured these expensive warships were held firmly in control of loyal officers.

Apollo had decided to let them go.
Killing them, imprisoning more, or otherwise trying to force them out of the country was not the goal, and they appeared to be leaving on their own, and to cause harm to their own countrymen now at this stage would be disasterous and went against the goal of a peaceful transition.

But as well with them, Etran and Samantha had begun a purge of the armed forces, removing loyalists from positions or otherwise assigning them to duties where they'd not be a threat to the wellbeing of the provisional government going forwards. For what had happened there was little push-back outside of Arema, though.

Eflus, a monarchy throughout all of its history and still the only semi-constitutional monarchy in the Roskanan domain, had put its support behind the provisional government. Being so close to Arema though, ships were stopping there frequently.
By and large, the military remained firmly in their hold, but the situation was not ideal, especially considering the ongoing war and that the shift in government had created uncertainty in the military and its ability to carry on the fighting.

Apollo intended to do away with democracy, in line with the party stance he had held since he founded it. The system that he was gearing up to replace it with would mirror many of the elements of the Tsardom before, though he intended to try to maintain the same freedoms and liberties that Roskana had always held paramount for the individual citizens, even if the political liberties that they had enjoyed were likely going to be eroded, striped, or at least significantly curtailed. Many plans were in the process of being drafted up, but perhaps the most ambitious and dangerous of these was Apollo's Gambit, of which even Samantha, staunch a supporter as she was, found it hard to abide.

The war could in theory be won, given enough time. But by then, losses of life would be astronomical, and casualties prohibitive to carrying on the fight to Koi. Estimates said that invading Grinvel in retaliation would be fruitless, and likely only loop back to the same problem again in the future - the animosity would flare up, and provoke both sides into war again. Apollo saught to put an end to the war, through a ceasefire and perhaps a surrender, ultimately forfeiting and allowing the Grinvelians to take their revenge in this war of humiliation.

To be humiliated was something that they'd recover from in time.

The unfortunate reality was that doing this however, would be massively damaging to the Coalition of Nations in their endeavors in the north. Sacrificing the wellbeing of others to preserve their own state would no doubt draw the ire of many, but it would allow for Roskana to end the fighting within its own borders and to rebuild. Ultimately, their real enemy wasn't Grinvel in the long run. Fiegler had proven to be a relatively honorable combatant - and he would rather surrender to Fiegler now than waste men and bodies pointlessly when they'd be needed for a build up to fight Galra. Even if Grinvel imposed restrictions, they'd not be able to realistically enforce them on Roskana for long, if at all anyway, and both of them would need the other to make it through the storm to come.

They'd work to ensure that Roskanan assets would not be used against the Coalition, being that the most valuable was their navy, they'd send it away to Arema as well. If it was possible, they'd bring the fleet back, but if not, then the fleet would remain in Arema and protect the islands from Galran aggression, as that'd ultimately be preferable to potentially losing decades of industrial output to a civil war or to being taken by Grinvel to be used against other nations. Their soon-to-be-produced fleet of armor and new weapons would be placed into hidden warehouses and storage facilities to be brought out when the army was rallied again.

What this ultimately hinged on was convincing Fiegler that Galra was not going to stop at Koi, and that Grinvel didn't fit into their plans for the world. After all, Galra wouldn't share power with the rest of the nations in the Sovereign Union when all was said and done. Or that was how the thinking went, anyway. From what they knew of Galra, they and their allies were not ideologically aligned at all.

This plan was the first to be enacted, and the most important.
If short term humiliation made the Grinvelians see the long term for what it was, then they could both work to avert it, and to avert another future war between one another. If it worked, then they could hopefully put the animosity of the past few centuries behind them at long last - an end to bloodshed in Reseria. That, he figured, was worth the try.

[VoxApocrypha]

Obsillia, 1936

---

Auran, Office of the Chief of Staff
Samantha Dejanus

 "There's a number of old military facilities that were abandoned around the time that the tsar was overthrown. It's mostly empty warehouses and ammo depots, they're marked as abandoned on most maps and roadsigns. The gates are barred and closed, people shouldn't be able to get into them without having to find a way over the barbed wire." General Ian would tell her, the human man pointing to circular spots on a map of the state of Auran. "Some of them are built into the mountain sides. We could also use old and abandoned mine shafts to store ammo and weaponry." 

 Samantha would nod, while two other generals, Makaan and the reinstated Amelia, would flip stand nearby her desk, watching Ian continue to move a long pointer from one part of the map to the other. The kithium would shift a bit in her seat. 
"Tanks and such, we can park all of those in the old bases and warehouses, but what about all the trucks?" 

"We may have to sacrifice some, but if we can just end up storing them in large motor pools, assuming we're granted such, we do that. If they want to take them, we let them take most of them. We still have a massive amount of Vekydeer that we can have start pulling carts for logistics purposes if that's what we need to do." Ian would say. 

 She'd nod. "That'll piss a lot of people off." 

"Sacrifices have to be made. If that's gotta be trucks, that's just what we've got to do." They'd reply. "This would all have to be done in advance of the surrender." 

"That I know." She'd say. 

Ian would turn to the map again. "There is also the question of what we do with the schematics and donated weaponry we've got from other nations." 

"We hide them too." Sam replied. Makaan would speak next. "And we hide as many of the weapons as we can so they can be replicated later. Roskana has not made a substantial amount of progress technologically compared to our allies, and enemies. We're going to need to gleam anything we possibly can from what we've got from other states, alongside our own developments." He'd say. "The marrish anti-tank rifles and thermite weapons will be great additions to our arsenals, even if there's not exactly a lot of them, we can still replicate them so long as we have enough to study." 

They'd all nod. 
"We just need to find some big caves then." 

[VoxApocrypha]

1936, Obsillia

---

Auran, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Navy
Admiral Etran Mander

Etran was sitting at his desk, across from him being several of his direct subordinates, loyal admirals he'd handpicked to assume command of the navy. They all had a part to play, though he didn't have the entire navy at hand here. All the major fleets were in his pocket now at least, and they had to be readied for the impending changes. With the army making their own preparations, the Roskanan navy would have to do the same. An unfortunate reality was that, while they were hoping to retain as much of the navy as they could, there was little hope for everything to be saved. 

 What they intended to keep close to home were a handful of their warships, small fleets in old tsar-era shipyards that'd then be left to sit in port with a skeleton crew to guard them. For that, he had Vice Admiral Helena Grey, who would manage these assets and be promoted to head of the Navy Department of Logistics.

Etran shifted in his seat as he turned to her, holding a paper out of a manilla folder as he would speak. 
"Helena. There are a bunch of old ports in Auran and further south, in unoccupied Karshkan and Mars. We can use those to hide away some ships, but pick wisely what craft we'll use." He'd say. "Retain a few battleships, the more modern fast battleships. We don't need to keep the larger ones here." He'd say. "But focus on cruisers and destroyers." She would nod her head. 

"Admiral Franko and Admiral Marston," He'd look at the two Kithium next, both straightening their posture a bit as Etran spoke to them. "You two will lead Fleetgroup Romulus and Fleetgroup Raymus, and upon receiving the order from me, sail for Arema. You will be assigned any of the capital ships that we can't hide here." He'd say.

"What about the Patrol fleets, and Fleetgroup Rombarda?" One of the admirals would ask them, this one a Festria woman by the name of Artemis. They'd turn from her to Etran again, who would clear his throat. 

"Unfortunately I don't believe that we'll be able to bring many of them with us. But that might be for the best. While we can take the majority of our capital ships to Arema, and the others can be kept hidden here, in all likelihood what capital ships we have active at sea in the Patrol groups and on the frontline will receive the order to disperse and make for friendly ports and that'll be it. A lot of them may not make it. Ultimately however, in the future we may be able to negotiate for our ships back from ports that were friendly to the republican government. The fleets on their way to Arema will be there only until the gambit is done, or until they get confirmation of their fixed assignment." 

"Fixed assignment?" Franko asked. 

"If things don't go as our new leadership plans, then the navy will remain in Arema to support the defense of the Roskanan island holdings, and in all likelihood Eflus may join the Areman holdings." He'd say. "So that you have a place to dock safely and make repairs and so on with some supporting infrastructure. The infrastructure in Arema is still rather primitive, but it will still be able to service your ships." 

Franko nods, though both Kithium seem a bit troubled at the revelation that they may be spending the war in Arema, rather than at home. Though, it was just a chance.. a rather big one. 

"Finally.. Jameson." He'd turn to the human man standing behind the rest. "You, vice admiral, will be in charge of managing the chaos once this begins. Coordinate with Helena. Some ships are going to come back to our ports - anything larger than a destroyer that we can't turn away or hide, we scuttle. Got that?" 

He'd nod his head. "Understood, sir." 

"Excellent." Etran said, closing the folder. "You will all receive papers containing your orders and guidelines later tonight. Do not share them with anyone who does not need to know, for operational security sake. You are dismissed."