“Confrontation in the East Hebeian Sea! An ACG (Asanaian Coast Guard) vessel was rammed by an RHCG (Republic of Hebei Coast Guard) vessel during a confrontation. The ACG vessel was protecting a fleeing fishing trawler after the RHCG vessel fired its water cannons on it for ‘crossing Hebeian waters’, eventually leading to a tense confrontation between the ACG vessel and the RHCG vessel. Luckily, no shots were fired, and the ACG vessel only sustained ‘paint job’ damage. However, the incident happened in recognized Asanaian waters, prompting condemnations from the Imperial Government of Asanai. Three Asanaian Navy frigates have now been dispatched to the location of the incident, and two RHN (Republic of Hebei Navy) Type-099 frigates were seen just one hundred kilometers from the site, as the government of the Republic of Hebei remains silent on the issue.”

- Geopol Press

+++

Gallia–Poznek DMZ

The buildup on the DMZ had been extreme.

Barbed wires, landmines, fortified and camouflaged trenches, and bunkers…it was everywhere. The Gallian Armed Forces and the Pozneki Armed Forces had been meticulous at turning the DMZ into what could perhaps count as the most militarized border of the world ever since the end of the Great War. Even during the brief time of peace, the DMZ was fortified beyond reason, as both sides constructed elaborate fortification systems.

But such fortifications mattered little at the moment.

Beyond the barbed wires, on a checkpoint, were two masses of men bashing each other with clubs, sticks, and other melees that it almost seemed ridiculous, considering the fact that all of them wore camouflaged modern uniforms, with kevlar vests and helmets. But it was happening nonetheless, and both sides were refusing to budge on the issue.

“Now this is nothing but ridiculousness,” Marie commented. She was watching the entire carnage with her binoculars. Deploying herself straight at the inevitable hotspot of the upcoming conflict was certainly something she should stop doing, being the Director of the RIU.

But she to this day refused to leave the roots she came from. She was tasked by the Queen from day one to investigate what must be investigated herself. Sure, the organization was beyond expanded, but Marie remained one of the most capable operatives of it. And so…here she was, watching the damned thing herself beside another RIU operator.

“Do you wager someone’s dying over there?” Asked her companion. She was standing behind the prone Marie, a binocular also on her eye. The two of them were a few hundred meters away from the incident area, watching from a hill in peace, as vehicles and men scrambled below to deal with the fact that dozens of Gallian and Pozneki troops were now going full medieval on each other.

“Possible. Then again, it wouldn’t matter,” Marie sighed, removing her binoculars and standing up. It seemed that the mass of Gallian troops were now winning, with the Poznekis backing off from barbed wire. She could even see rocks being thrown by each side on each other, as they awkwardly disengaged. “These things are a tradition in the DMZ anyway. Quite frankly, the prisoner-taking incedent was just going to intensify these incidents even if the Gallian government denies that it happened.”

“They’re dragging some unconscious people there,” her companion said, already worried. “I think that guy’s bleeding even. Goddess…I think they stabbed him.”

Marie merely shook her head. “At least it’s not one of those incidents. Dozens already died in landmines because they pushed each other to it. Absolutely ridiculous, but it is the DMZ.”

She placed her binoculars back into her eye, watching as the Gallian troops dragged multiple men to the HMLVs that had just arrived. Indeed, it seemed that they were badly injured. This would definitely be another headache for Amelie, Marie knew, but it was inevitable anyway.

She should definitely get back to their mission in Pez soon after investigating the incidents here.

+++

United Confederation of Pez

Brewich

“The OHC is insane,” was all Adelaide could say to Amelie. The two of them were now talking in the deserted halls of the Orlish Embassy to Pez, planning their next moves in the conference. The damned Poznekis continued their escalations across the border, forcing the MN to further delay the proceedings in the General Assembly due to ‘security concerns’.

“I told William the same,” Amelie said. “I mean, it just sounds ridiculous. Do you really think the Asanaians are looking for excuses to go to war?”

And with that, Adelaide sighed. “I talked to Princess Yumi Kawasaki, alongside their diplomats. It’s possible. She said that her government is extremely troubled by the developments in Hebei. They will not tolerate a defeat for Imperial forces in South Hebei.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Would they be willing to intervene though?”

“They can’t. Their nation’s public opinion is still overwhelmingly pacifist, even if it’s shifting due to how aggressive the new leadership of the Republic is?”

“It’s worrying…I really thought they were going to shift to a more saner attitude,” Amelie said. “They rammed an Asanaian ship, didn’t they?”

“Which is why the Asanaians are growing angrier. But again, hands are tied. They can’t just go gung-ho on this entire thing. They’re not like us. And even we had to consider public opinion greatly during the invasion of Lieplatz.”

“Is it possible then that they would be interested in stationing forces in Gallia?” Amelie asked. “I mean, for MN unity and all.”

“That’s a tall order. Asanai, again, has no security interests in a country a continent away…” Adelaide mumbled. “Well, at least, if we’re operating with old-world thinking. At the moment, the CFN is a security threat to everyone, regardless of location. If South Hebei loses, it’s not just Asanai that’s screwed. Gallia, Lorathia, and we would be screwed. And it’s the same for them. Losing Gallia would be a significant blow to all MN-member states. It’d be a massive disaster for our strategic posture. That would essentially be us losing control of all of West Vaeyox…”

“Exactly,” Amelie said. “Then do you think we can coax them into this plan? Do you think their government wants to find a good reason to finally intervene in the war? I don’t want us harming our relations with them by assuming too much, so…you know. I’m considering everything here.”

“Maybe they are searching for one,” Adelaide said. “But it’s still hard to tell. Nothing is certain in foreign relations, especially with something as isolationist and neutral as Asanai. What their bigwigs are thinking, it’s too elusive for us. For all we know, they’re only ramping up their defense to stay out of the war by scaring off the CFN.”

“...That’s true,” Amelie said. “Which is why it’s strange. The CFN is escalating the tensions globally, even against Asanai so aggressively. Like they want us to really bite in. No, like they want to create more foes.”

“The CFN wants to turn the Second Great War into a defensive war for them,” Adelaide said. “They operate under a siege mentality. Perhaps they’re justified in that, but still, it’s the only explanation for their actions. To them, the world is against them. Well, it is. But more importantly, they want the world to attack first, to rally more men to their side. So they’ll provoke us more and more while building up their offensive capabilities. Once we’re pushed to the edge and pull the trigger first…”

“Then they’ll declare a ‘defensive war’ and strike deep against us.”

Adelaide nodded. “But there’s a problem with that. The sheer buildup they’re doing leaves them no room to maneuver off. If we unite but we don’t take their bait, and instead act defensively, the CFN would be placed in an awkward position.”

“Why?”

“Because they’re already spending so much effort in preparing for their ‘defensive invasions’. What? Are they going to just turn around those millions of troops, thousands of tanks and planes, and everything in between, all poised to strike on Gallia, Pez, and at the moment, definitely against South Hebei, all because their plans of baiting us to fire first failed?”

“This is all such a charade,” Amelie said. “Why do they even do this? Asturia is at war with Lorathia and Gallia. Their leader, the Federal Republic, is at war with us. Hell, the Confederation is at war with Princess Anastasia’s remnant forces. Why even act as if they’re not aggressively invading everyone?”

“Optics. It’s ridiculous, but even these men are playing the same game. Amelie, you have to start looking at this in that way. For the rest of the world, the side that fires the first shot in Gallia is going to be the aggressor side of the Second Great War. At the moment, every war happening is just a part of the buildup. Even the actions of the Confederacy against those small countries in Central Vaeyox. But once those tank columns rush to Toldoi, that’ll be the start of the true show. And in that show, both sides have the interest of starting out as the defensive party.”

Amelie shook her head. “Confederacy and Pozneki tanks driving straight to Toldoi will never look ‘defensive’ to anyone even if we fired the first charge.”

“Not to us, but to them,” Adelaide said. “The opinions of the people in MN-aligned countries matter less to them. The opinions of those in their countries, and especially their support base, specifically, young men who hate the world order, is what matters. Haven’t you noticed? Their governments keep changing. Not because women in these countries are rising up, but because their support base and their power structures become dissatisfied at how their leaders prosecute their ‘global revolution’. The Confederacy literally kicked their original leader after their offensive against Princess Anastasia went sideways. Same with the Republic of Hebei. They kicked most moderates already when their entire ceasefire plan with Empress Xue went sideways. Then there’s Asturia and our friend in Eirhow, still trying to present themselves as democratic revolutionaries to men. They can act aggressively, but only in aggressively defending the global revolution.”

“Almost inconsistent in a way…”

“But that’s how governments operate,” Adelaide said, looking down. “At its core, we’re all inconsistent hypocrites playing a game of charades. Our side is quite frankly no different. We plan to crush them after all. Just as they plan to crush us. We may tell ourselves that we’re better than them because ‘surely we will be’, but Amelie, you must understand. You lead a nation that exists by vampirically draining billions of men in the world of every ounce of their productivity. The CFN is a men's project against that. Brutal, misguided, perhaps directionless, and it seems that they have no qualms about the damage it would bring to the world just to meet their goals, but their entire point of existence is to stop you.”

“Just as my existence is to crush them,” Amelie said.

“We’re the cleanup crew,” Adelaide said. “They’re the monster we created. Our mothers created. I try hard to understand them, and it’s one of the greatest tasks I assigned to myself. To figure out how to talk, and convince them to lay down their arms. But I’m afraid that’s not possible. They’re fully committed to viewing us as an evil force hell-bent on crushing men to dust, thus justifying their goals of crushing us first. And in such a worldview, they’re only going to destroy everything if we don’t crush them first. Almost a self-fulfilling prophecy, but this is the mess we created.”

“And we have to end it ourselves,” Amelie said. “That’s such an easy thing to say…but damn it, is it even really possible?”