NationStates Jolt Archive

Cottish Sicily, 8:02 PM local
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Military aircraft and a pair of Cargolifter Airships came over the horizon as the 3rd Airborne Division, based in Banjul, approached Sicily, ready to land and begin what would hopefully be a peaceful transfer of power from the Cottish government. An assortment of other divisions would be arriving behind them, dispatched from Gambia.

Acquiring the island would be a boon to the Elephanti economy, especially to the shipping industry, providing a home port for the grueling Manama-Banjul run. Syracuse, the new provincial capital, would be the first priority in establishing control.

On the northern side of the island, a military helicopter squadron was heading towards Mt. Etna, bearing scientists, materials, and guards ready to establish a monitoring site on the volcano.

The large population increase has led the government to move Christianity from cult status to mainstream religion status, providing tax relief to all practitioners.

A statement from the government today has guaranteed Cottish citizens full protection militarily, and that there would be no federal discrimination against Sicilians. This is largely because of the fact that Cotland probably has the best popular opinion of all foreign countries, along with Carthage.

The Emperor had prepared the Sicilian population for several months, and those who wanted to be relocated to Cotland or any other province had been moved. Those who remained had been promised full religious freedoms and protection. About 63% of the population had chosen to maintain their Cottish citizenship, and were now preparing for the political take-over.

In Syracuse, the final papers and records were loaded into the C-5B Galaxy transports under the watchful eye of the 5th Infantry Brigade. It would remain behind and keep a military presence untill the Elephanti were ready to take over.

As the Elephanti aircraft and airships came, the Cottish planes still there made room. They would transfer power later that evening.

ooc: Sorry, you don't own Palermo (you asked in the E2- Revit thread). Also, I'm in school and have to go.

Written Statement from Manama-

To the peoples of Sicily, Elephantum, Cotland, and the rest of the world:

Sicily has been fought over for years, in its earliest history Rome, Carthage, and Greece all fought over the strategic island. The island has been ruled by Byzantium, Spain, and many other powers since it was settled. Hopefully those days are over, as now half of Sicily is under our control.

Cotland has been a great help in our establishing of the province. Cottish troops help protect the land, even though their government is now leaving the island. As a grateful response, we would like to offer the Cottish government the ability to maintain a military presence in Sicliy in order to provide support to Cottish Monaco, San Marino, and her territory in Africa.
(no WMDs on the island, though)

We also invite any members of the Roman Confederacy, which we have recently joined, as well as members of the International Space Program, to use our planned launchpad for space travel. Construction will begin as soon as full control is established.

We would like to thank the Cottish Sicilians for being relatively cooperative in our efforts. Very little resistance, almost none of it serious, has occured so far, and military fatalities are estimated to be in the low single digits.

We also would like to apologize to the Carthaginian Sicilians for any trouble encountered due to the change of government

High Sultan Wandu e-Mumman

As the last of the Elephanti troops entered Sicily, the 5th Brigade returned to Cotland for reorganization and R&R. The Colonel left in charge of the island when the rest of the troops left entered the last Cottish plane, a militarized Gulfstream V, commonly known in the military under the designation C-21. He took one last look at the island before the door closed and the plane took off for Monaco, then Cotland. A chapter in Cottish history was closed.