The Continental WarSeptember 14, 2003 - September 19, 2005BelligerentsBackgroundThe Republic of Erusea and the Federation of Central Usea (FCU), two major powers on the Usean continent, found themselves locked into a geostrategic rivalry during the 1990s. Erusean expansionism had recently resulted in the annexation of two neighboring countries: the Grand Duchy of Shilage and Republic of Voslage. In 1996, both Erusea and the FCU deployed their militaries to the small, semi-autonomous region of Ugellas, located in western Usea near Gunther Sound. The standoff ended with the discovery of the Ulysses 1994XF04 asteroid in 1999, causing the FCU to withdraw its forces in order to focus on domestic matters. The FCU then began planning construction of the Spaceguard Turret Network (STN), nicknamed “Stonehenge.” [1]
The construction of Stonehenge quickly became a politically contentious matter itself. Based on pre-existing FCU designs for anti-ballistic missile defenses that were intended to render Erusea’s strategic arsenal useless, Erusea worried that it would be used in that role post-impact. In order to assuage those fears, Stonehenge was placed under the Central Usean Treaty Organization’s (UTO) administration, rather than the FCU’s, and the turrets themselves would be built in the neutral country of San Salvacion. [2] The Ulysses disaster impacted all of Usea when the asteroid’s fragments struck in July 1999, but Erusea was among the hardest hit. A direct hit from the Ryker fragment caused the destruction of the most developed segment of the Erusean capital city, Farbanti. The UTO then insisted that Erusea, among other nations, accept refugees from other impacted areas. Still reeling from its own losses, Erusea instead closed its borders in April 2000. Refugees were forced into inhospitable and unsanitary camps before being shipped to other Usean nations under what the Erusean government called the “Humane Transport Plan.” Erusea’s mishandling of the refugee crisis drew sharp condemnation from the international community, causing them to become the target of boycotts and UTO sanctions. With its economy faltering under the weight of the world’s resentment and the damage to its infrastructure caused by Ulysses, Erusea invaded San Salvacion in August 2003, allowing them to take control of the STN. In response, the FCU announced that the Continental Nations’ Economic Alliance, a trade bloc, would form the Independent State Allied Forces (ISAF), providing member nations with a joint command structure for their militaries and a common defense treaty. With the strength of their combined military forces now a match for Erusea’s, they sent an ultimatum: if the Eruseans did not vacate the STN by September 14, 2003, ISAF would declare war. [3] OverviewDespite ISAF’s threat, Erusea refused to leave. When ISAF launched their attack, Erusea used airburst munitions fired by Stonehenge’s railguns to deny close air support to ISAF ground forces. ISAF was forced to retreat east as Stonehenge grounded and destroyed their air forces. As Erusean ground forces advanced on the ISAF general headquarters (GHQ) at Los Canas, a large ISAF strike package led by ace pilots attempted a strike on Stonehenge. The mission was a total failure, focing ISAF to abandon Los Canas and relocate their headquarters to North Point. [4] Materiel and personnel losses continued to hamper ISAF operations even after retreating outside of Stonehenge’s engagement range. By mid-2004, all surviving ISAF forces had fled to islands off the eastern Usean coast and a small defensive perimeter around Saint Ark. [5]
Over the next few months, Erusea became complacent with its strategic situation, allowing small-scale ISAF strikes to surgically dismantle Erusean military forces outside of Stonehenge’s range. At a safe distance from Stonehenge, ISAF aircraft defended the relocated GHQ at North Point from Erusean strategic bomber attacks until Erusean spies destroyed the archipelago’s early warning radar network in September. [6] In retaliation, an ISAF strike package retaliated by destroying a significant number of Erusean bombers on the mainland. This granted ISAF a respite from Erusean attacks while more bombers were moved to the front. [7] During this time, ISAF forces dismantled the infrastructure supporting the “invincible” Erusean expeditionary Aegir Fleet, ultimately sinking the fleet at Comberth Harbor in November. [8]
The destruction of the Aegir Fleet allowed ISAF naval forces to operate with more freedom. In January 2005, they capitalized on their newfound opportunities by launching Operation Bunker Shot, a large-scale landing operation on the mainland’s southeastern coast. [9] he operation was a resounding success, and Erusea concentrated its defensed along the Tango Line, a north-to-south defensive bastion utilizing natural barricades such as the Waiapolo Mountains. The Tango Line was also situated entirely within the range of Stonehenge. [10] In late February, ISAF broke through the southern segment of the Tango Line, and liberated Los Canas in mid-March. [11] However, further progress was hampered as ISAF forces began operating within the range of Stonehenge. On April 2nd, a small strike package penetrated deep into Erusean-held territory and destroyed the STN. [12] With the threat of shelling from Stonehenge eliminated, ISAF took control of the entire southeastern quarter of the Usean mainland over the next month, and launched secondary landing operations at Snyder’s Top and Saint Ark. These landings allowed ISAF forces to flank the northern portion of the Tango Line. [13]
The southern landing forces maintained their inertia and reached San Salvacion in July, liberating the capital city in conjunction with local resistance forces on the 10th. [14] The southern ISAF forces then pushed into Erusea’s pre-war borders, linking up with the northern landing forces in September 2005 in preparation for a final push into Farbanti. Farbanti fell on the evening of September 19th. Most of the Erusean top brass, including the military dictator, were killed by ISAF forces during the evacuation. Surviving Erusean government officials accepted ISAF’s terms for surrender shortly afterwards, and the war officially came to an end. [15]
OutcomeDespite the capitulation of the Erusean government, many extremist factions within the military resisted the peace agreement. One week after the Erusean peace agreement was signed, a small cadre of Erusean officers and fighter pilots activated Megalith, a strategic missile bunker. Megalith had been repurposed to detonate missiles in low earth orbit and deorbit asteroid fragments left by the intercept of Ulysses, but was captured by an ISAF commando team supported by a fighter squadron shortly after activation. [16]
A second, larger clique, emboldened by military aid from the old Erusean government’s allies such as the Union of Yuktobanian Republics and the Republic of Anea, organized a large and well-armed terrorist force called “Free Erusea.” [17] Their forces were decimated by ISAF assets led by a single fighter from the 118th Tactical Fighter Wing in late September 2006. ISAF continued to administer Erusea’s reconstruction, and in 2008, the newly-instated provisional government was included in the Arkbird G7 Summit on the Osean Federation’s invitation. [18] Though the reformed Kingdom of Erusea’s new monarchist government had ostensibly given up its past militarism, resentment over the war territorial losses imposed by the IUN simmered. The loss of Gunther Peninsula, which the IUN had granted independence from Erusea, was a particularly severe source of umbrage. This animosity manifested itself through the rise of a nationalist faction in the Erusean government, which would gain control in Erusea and initiate the Lighthouse War in 2019. Citations[1] Usea Today April 21, 1996
[2] Our Science September 1998 [3] Gaze 2003, “War?” [4] ACES WEB AC04 World [5] Ace Combat 04 Mission 1 Briefing [6] Ace Combat 04 Mission 1 [7] Ace Combat 04 Mission 2 [8] Ace Combat 04 Mission 6 [9] Ace Combat 04 Mission 9 [10] Ace Combat 04 Mission 10 Briefing [11] Ace Combat 04 Mission 11 Briefing [12] Ace Combat 04 Mission 12 [13] Ace Combat 04 Mission 14 [14] Ace Combat 04 Mission 15 [15] Ace Combat 04 Mission 17 [16] Ace Combat 04 Mission 18 [17] ISAF Bulletin September 24, 2006 [18] Gaze 2008, “Arkbird Declaration” |