NationStates Jolt Archive

Mikhail Gregoriev
NationStates News Network

Amida Island- Foreign intelligence sources have informed NSNN that major elements of the EOE Navy are missing from their nromal berths at Kaligrad. Evil Overlord Enterprises spokespersons refuse to comment on whether or not any military movements have taken place, but I have heard several unguarded comments from ordinary citizen/shareholders that a great many regular military personnel are on extended deployments. Persistent rumors of secret mobilization of Reserve forces have been heard here at FreePort.

Unclassified satellite imagery from various publicly-available sources show that two thirds of the EOE fleet is out to sea. Ships transiting the Forlorn Hope Economic Exclusion Zone report seeing several large ships- possibly cruisers or battleships- patrolling the Zone, along with at least one carrier battlegroup. The whereabouts of the large numbers of amphibious assault ships and transport vessels that used to inhabit Kaligrad Harbor is completely unknown.

Reports from Panama indicate that several transport ships and Amphibious Assault ships recently passed through the Canal in advance of the expected closure of the waterway due to the possibility of military action on the isthmus by other nations. These ships numbered only sixty or so, which leaves the bulk of the EOE fleet unaccounted for.

Evil Overlord Enterprises recently issued a press release at the passing of the 1000-ship milestone, leaving many foreign intelligence services wondering where all the ships are. Merchant ship reports and aircraft observations only reveal approximately 150 warships patrolling the waters around Forlorn Hope.

These reports- each one meaningless by itself- add up to a major naval undertaking by the Dominion of the Evil Overlord. Rumors of extensive diplomatic activity by the Ministry for Pre-Subjugation External Affairs (which is EOE's combined Foreign and Defense Ministry) add to the uncertainty.

The EOE Navy is one of the largest and best-equipped seaborne forces in the world, and most of those superbly-designed engines of destruction are out to sea- accompanied by a large number of troops.

The screen reveals a long-range image of several large, dark shapes on the ocean near an impressively rocky shoreline. Some sort of dark stone structures are barely visible against the green of the land. Dozens of aircraft, made tiny by the distance, move in obvious patrol patterns over the shore and the dark shapes on the ocean.

The camera suddenly zooms in one one of the dark shapes on the water. It is a massive ship, visibly moving closer to the camera. Little can be seen of the low superstructure, but the two pairs of huge guns on the fo'c'sle are easily made out. Just over the plunging bow, a more distant ship can be seen. It appears to be adrift on the shoals bear the shore, and large objects are moving on the upper decks. A woman's voice-punctuated by the roar of an airplane engine- begins to narrate the scene.

"This is Marisela Delacortez, reporting for NSNN from the waters between Isla de la Pascua and Sala y Gomez in the Pacific Ocean. A large group of military vessels suddenly appeared near these historic islands 16 hours ago- completely surprising government and military officials in Chile and Peru. Initial government reports of the incident prompted several journalists to charter aircraft to observe the scene- as NSNN has done- but none of them have been seen or heard from since they departed radar coverage six hours ago.

When our airplane approached the area, a radio message warned us to remain fifteen kilometers from the islands or risk destruction without warning. We have been buzzed repeatedly by supersonic fighter aircraft, and the large ship you can see in the camera is steaming rapidly in this direction.

No one is certain who these people are, but the proximity of the Pacific continent of Forlorn Hope and the previously-reported disappearance of much of the EOE fleet lend credence to the rumors that the Evil Overlord is responsible.

We haven't been able to make out many details of the activity, but glimpses of the islands under extreme magnification seem to indicate that the intruders are building fortifications of some sort. All of the Moa on Isla de la Pascua appear to be undamaged by the strangers, but we are unable to get close enough to tell for sure."

The camera zooms back out slightly, then focuses tightly on a very large ship in the distance- obviously an aircraft carrier. Smaller vessels can be seen in the water between the ship and the islands- nearly one hundred of them.

"We have counted close to one hundred and fifty ships of various sizes, ranging from the aircraft carrier just visible here to small landing craft. There has been no word from the fleet beyond warning us to stay clear."

A crackling voice in undistinguishable English suddenly overwhelms the reporter's voice, then subsides. A different voice speaks quietly in Spanish.

"I am being told by the pilot that we are being ordered to return to the mainland or risk being shot down. NSNN will be following thsi story as it develops. From the waters near Isla de la pascua, this is Marisela Delacortez, NSNN."

Donald Western
NSNN Special Correspondent
Santiago, Chile- Unnamed Chilean government officials have told NSNN that the build-up on Isla de la Pascua and Sala y Gomez is definitely the work of the Dominion of the Evil Overlord. Satellite imagery shows that large fortified structures are being built on the islands, and senior Chilean military officials describe the air-defense network that has already been established as "impressive". Attempts to interview Evil Overlord Enterprises representatives on this subject were met with firm "No Comment" replies.

Condemnation of what is technically an invasion has come mainly from archeological and historical groups, concerned with the preservation of the venerable Moa. Detailed imagery shows that the EOE forces have taken pains to avoid damaging the ancient carved stone faces, although military officials here note that several of the most significant figures are within the fortifications.

In the 40 or so hours since the islands were occupied, no public statement of the reason for this action has been forthcoming from any EOE sources. Attempts to approach the islands by planes or boats are invariably warned off once, on pain of destruction. Several boats chartered by foreign journalists have in fact been sunk, and there is still no word on the fate of the journalists who made the initial attempts to fly to the islands some 36 hours ago.

No one has yet made any attempt to drive the Evil Overlord's forces off the islands, probably due to the uncertain military and political climate in Central and South America. It is not known if any such attempts are even being contemplated, and government officials here in Santiago refuse to comment on the possibility.

Donald Western
NSNN Special Correspondent

Valparaiso, Chile- A little more than two weeks after the Dominion of the Evil Overlord moved overwhelming military forces to Isla de la Pascua and Sala y Gomez- both Chilean possessions- another large force has occupied the chain of islands known as Islas Juan Fernandez, several hundred kilometers west of Valparaiso.

This chain of islands is perhaps best known as the setting for the William Dafoe novel, Robinson Crusoe, which took place in the island now known as Selkirk's Island. This series of volcanic seamonuts and coral atolls is also Chilean territory. The presence of several hundred ships and thousands of troops leads many to wonder if the Evil Overlord has designs on South America.

Evil Overlord Enterprises has traditionally shied away from military expansion to other continents, and has largely been seen as merely a major player in international trade- especially in the Pacific. This viewpoint is rapidly changing in light of the recent large ship and troop movements to lightly-occupied islands and chains of islands across the South Pacific.

Rerports from sources familiar with the situation at Isla de la Pascua suggest that the EOE naval presence has been sharply reduced recently. No one is willing to risk venturing into the exclusion zone the EOE military has created around the island, but satellite imagery available from public sources seems to bear out the assertion that much of the massive EOE naval presence has departed. This may, in fact, be the same force now occupying the Juan Fernandez island chain.

Chilean government officials have refused to comment on the possibility of a mainland invasion, and no reports of unusual military activity have been heard anywhere in Chile. Many people wonder if Chile will allow these long-held possessions to be usurped without a vigorous response, but foreign military and intelligence sources have said that re-taking Isla de la Pascua would now be an extremely expensive undertaking. Chains of Surface-to-Air Missile batteries cover the island, and large fortifications have been constructed for additional defenses. Several destroyers and at least one cruiser have been seen at the island, and a recently constructed large military airfield supports some 60 or 70 aircraft- mostly fighter-interceptors.

No one knows the fate of the 1100 or so native islanders who inhabited the island. A great deal of construction has been taking place along several stretches of shoreline, which experts describe as "a massive infrastructure project". The Dominion of the Evil Overlord has long been associated with advanced aquaculture techniques, which could account for the construction. Several desalination plants have also been built. Military experts who spoke on condition of anonymity state that the desalination plants indicate a garrison force of 10 to 12 thousand. Similar construction is underway in the Juan Fernandez islands.

Mohammed Sinanu
NSNN Pacific Rim correspondent

NAURU- In the latest act of a string of military movements, the Dominion of the Evil Overlord has seized the tiny island nation of Nauru in the south Pacific, south of the Marshall Islands.

Nauru, best known for its large-scale phosphate mining on the central plateau, is considered the world's smallest independent republic. The 13,000 inhabitants wisely made no resistance as the EOE forces came ashore in large, armored hovercraft. Several large warships trained their main guns on the tiny atoll to ensure that anyone wishing to resist would be committing suicide.

Within hours of occupying the scattered settlement and phosphate mining facilities, EOE engineers were hard at work installing desalination equipment, SAM batteries, radar installations, and intricate fortifications. The port facilities- originally intended for phosphate shipping, are being enlarged to accomodate large military transports.

Nauru International Airport is being modernized, and several flights of fighter-intereceptor jets, long-range bombers, and strategic transport aircraft are being placed in revetments near the runway. A squadron of attack helicopters has also been seen.

Several fishermen have reported seeing the tiny wakes of submarine periscopes near the island over the past few weeks. These reports were generally not believed, despite the fact that the Evil Overlord's home territory on the continent of Forlorn Hope is only a few hundred kilometers to the southwest. News reports of the EOE landings in eastern South Pacific were largely ignored, so the people here were completely surprised by the sudden appearance of an amphibious assault group offshore- not that they would have been capable of doing much to stop the Evil Overlord's well-trained and superbly equipped legions.

This action by Evil Overlord Enterprises is the third unopposed conquest of island nations across the southern Pacific by the Evil Overlord. The landings on Isla de la Pascua, Sala y Gomez, and the Islas Juan Fernandez over the last five weeks are still unopposed, and the EOE military presence is now firmly entrenched on those islands. No one has expressed any desire to try to dislodge the Overlord's troops from these distant outposts in the face of highly-advanced air defenses and well-equipped, well dug-in troops.

Connie Bankhead
NSNN Political/Military Affairs correspondent

Honolulu, Hawaii- Indra Prime liaison personnel here in Honolulu have released new information about the Evil Overlord's military takeover of many South Pacific islands and archipelagos. According to unnamed government sources, the bulk of the EOE naval units involved in the operation appear to have returned to Kaligrad, on the southwestern coast of Forlorn Hope. Several large units remain at sea, however, and the amphibious group that recently captured Nauru was last seen steaming toward Hawaii.

Intelligence officials have openly derided any possibility of an invasion of the Hawaiian Islands. One official- speaking only on the condition that his identity remain concealed- said, "That sort of attack only works when the target ain't expecting it. We've been keeping a close eye on those ships since the news broke."

No special military preparations seem to have been made, and the government refuses to discuss the matter publicly. This has calmed possible fears about the threat of invasion far more than any government announcement would have.

NSNN's senior military advisor, retired Major General Clarence Oakes, also dismissed the probablility of an EOE invasion of Hwaii. "If you take a close look at the pattern here, you'll notice that only islands which do not belong to a major power are being occupied. It looks like the Evil Overlord is building himself a series of radar outposts and air bases across the South Pacific- but only where no one else has a claim."

NSNN has determined that the Evil Overlord's Minister for Pre-Subjugation External Affairs (the EOE equivalent of Foreign Minister and Defense Minister) contacted many nations with holdings in the Pacific several weeks prior to this military adventure. None of the nations involved are willing to be identified, but unnamed sources in several world capitals confirmed that EOE representatives politely inquired into the ownership of several islands and archipelagos. No islands claimed by other nations have been attacked or even threatened.

This makes the EOE military activity a great deal less worrisome to governments all around the Pacific Rim. Those island nations who are not under the protection of a larger nation are potentiallystill at risk, however.

Connie Bankhead
NSNN Political/Military Affairs correspondent

Honolulu, Hawaii- Local military officials have told NSNN that the Evil Overlord fleet that some people worried might have been heading to Hawaii has instead occupied the Cook Islands- several hundred kilometers southwest of Hawaii, and uninhabited Jarvis island, which is approximately halfway between the Cook Islands and Hawaii. A seperate task force originally thought to have been bound for the island nation of Niue has instead landed on New Caledonia, just east of Australia.

There are also unconfirmed reports of EOE landings on the islands of Wallis and Futuna. This would bring the number of Pacific Island chains occupied by EOE forces to eight, scattered across the South Pacific in a rough encirclement of the continent of Forlorn Hope.

Previous reports of an Evil Overlord Enterprises task force returning to its home port of Kaligrad appear to have been in error, since no sign of the ships was found by satellite reconnaissance of the strategic harbor. Military experts here in Honolulu state that it is possible that the ships returned to Kaligrad to load fuel, troops, and supplies- then sailed west to occupy New Caledonia.

Retired Major General Clarence Oakes, NationStates News Network's Senior Military Expert, says that there appear to be three seperate task forces operating across the South Pacific.

"If you look at the timing, it would appear that a single task force occupied all of those Chilean islands, then went home for resupply. At least two other task forces were operating farther north and west. Those are the ones we've been hearing about here.

Now, that first task force- the one that went back to Kaligrad- they've landed upwards of forty thousand troops on those Chilean islands. Along with the troops, they offloaded tonnes of supplies, SAM batteries, construction supplies and heavy equipment, etc. That's about right for the number of ships we figure for that task force- about 200. Nothing too spectacular about that.

What is really interesting- and not a little frightening- is the speed with which the task force was re-fitted when they got back to Kaligrad. They must've had supplies already queued up and ready to load when them ships got back into port. Even at that, to load forty thousand troops, all their equipment, and the extra gear the task force has been setting up where ever they land- desalination plants, power plants, and the like- in less than three days is astonishing. It shows a lot about the quality of training and organization the EOE military possesses. From a military viewpoint, the speed and efficiency displayed there is downright spooky."

"As reports start seeping in, and the motled fractions of information begin to form a cohesive tactical image, the Agrigentian Military High Command, SANCOM, and the Admiralty have all been in deep discussion. Such aggressive actions across the region have had everyone scrambling about, and frequent, direct contact with the East Islandian authorities have insured that if something does occur, it will occur well coordinated with the Tropical Paradise Regional Defense Forces.

"President Mario Corleone was even quoted as saying ' [...] I am deeply distressed by such happenings, imperialism is not to be taken lightly, especially in my ocean.'

"This has left many wondering just how far the Marina Militare will pursue this matter."

Leonardo Geradini
Staff Writer, La Repubblica - Agrigentian Affiliate

http://www.repubblica.it/images/2002/fisse/testata.gif (http://www.repubblica.it/)

A Sketchian intelligence officer takes note of the sudden increase in The Evil Overlord's activity. And alerts the big eye (http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/sketch.jpg) to maintain close vigilance. In other words.....tag.

Late in the evening, a lone Hatchibombitarian analyst hunches over his desk, steadily gazing at a single report framed in the glow of the lamplight. "Evil Overlord Enterprises" he mutters, "We really need to make formal diplomatic contact with them". Straightening in his chair, he scribbles a note on the side of the paper consisting of the lone words "Ally? Can we make it so?".

Thrusting the sheet of paper decisively into a plain manila envelope, he seals it and presses a rubber stamp forcefully on the flap that reads "THE MINISTER: IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED".

"Islandia will not stand for imperialism in its home waters," PRemier Chai Jun announced today in a speech from the Politburo. "We stand firm with our ally, Agrigento, in standing ready to act in case something does occur."