<span style="font-weight: bold">January 1st 1946 - Somewhere in the New Illaryan desert</span><br/><br/>The moving tracks of the armored vehicles catapults the sand in the air of the New Illaryan desert. It might be winter and cold but the place is still dry as hell. Commander MacKinly of Alpha company expresses his discontent about the desert sand. There's no way to approach any position without being noticed. The dust clouds of the APC's gives away everything.  Your position, the direction you're driving. Just one spotter on a hill top can tell every move the Illaryan military makes in the desert terrain. The conflict might be minor in comparison to the Fortunan revolt but none the less 523 soldiers have died in action in the last 3 years in these desert.<br/><br/>"Keep your eyes open for those commie rats. They can be anywhere ready to ambush us. Those cunning bastards!" Shouts commander Mackinly to his men. Before anyone could even answer a loud explosion drew everybody's attention. The front vehicle had hit an improvised explosive device. The heavy explosion lifted the Defender Mark II IFV 1 meter into the air and let in land on its side. Everybody could see that the explosion had ripped open the bottom of the vehicle, the chances that the men inside where alive are slim.<br/><br/>The sound of mortar and machinegun fire filled the air. The dust of the exploision was hardly settled or guerrilla's of the TRLA engaged the men of Alpha company. "Ambush, Ambush! Get all vehicles into a defensive circle formation!" Yelled the commander through his radio. Soon the 4 remaining Defenders started to move and position themselves. Soon the soldiers disembarked in order to engage the communist fighters but then everything was silent again. The rats had left as quickly as they came. Commander Mackinly counted his losses. 6 dead soldiers and another 7 wounded. Not to mention another expensive vehicle ready for the scrap yard. "Damn those commie bastards and their IED's" he cursed out loud.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">January 1st 1946 - Illarya City - Government Hall</span><br/><br/>The government and members of the parliament rushed towards their designated seats. They have been summoned for an emergency meeting regarding the increase of violence in New Illarya. Prime Minister Mycroft Stone looked how the Parliament members all took their seats. Prior to this meeting the war counsel of the government had discussed the situation in the colony. Resent cross-border scouting missions and infiltrations by spies had made clear that The United Socialist States of Serfiuan was actively supporting the TRLA terrorist. Multiple training camps have been discovered over the past few weeks and also factories for IED's have been found among the cities of the USSS. Analysts of the Illaryan intelligence Agency determined that the TLRA would have a hard time to survive without support from the USSS. Appropriate action was needed according to his cabinet.<br/><br/>When all parliament members had finely taken their seats the Prime Minister took the word. "Greetings members of the House of Commons. You've all been summoned here regarding recent event in New Illarya. Our intelligence Agency has determined that The United Socialist States of Serfiuan is actively supporting the TLRA. We've discovered multiple secret trainingcamps and arms factories within the borders of the USSS. Without appropriate action. The USSS and TLRA will continue to destabilize the our colony and continue to be a treat towards both civilians and military lives. The government asks for a mandate that enables us to use limited military force against the TLRA training camps and when necessary, the military forces of the USSS."<br/><br/>For a moment there was a dead silence within the House of Commons. It was the first time in 60 years that the government asked permission to use military force against another nation.  The leader of the nationalist party Pride of Illarya stood up from his seat and took the word. "Considering the situation action is needed. But not of limited force. We of Pride of Illarya believe we should not succumb to communist hostilities and strike back with full force! Only by taking true action and defeating the communists we can shake of the disgrace our military suffered in Fortuna-Aiowan. Limited action against communist is not enough. Only by changing the regime in the USSS to a friendly one we can secure our borders."<br/><br/>Next to speak was the leader of the Socialist Union. "This is outrageous! Using the pretext of terrorism to invade a neutral country is just an horrifying chain of thought. Civilized people should always use diplomacy to solve their conflicts. Going to war with the USSS is certainly not an option for my party. Maybe we should respect the wishes of the people and create an independent New Illarya." Even before the socialist leader could finish his argument he was interrupted by the nationalist who accused him of committing high treason against the crown.<br/><br/>The debate ran for the entire day and night. The other parties first inquired what this limited campaign would be. Minister of the Army, Marshall Eric Rannerston explained that there would be no invasion of the USSS and that it was not Illarya's goal to violate the sovereignty of the United Socialist States of Serfiuan. There would only a limited air campaign against the training camps and air defense. The civilian population would be spared. No soldier would cross the border with the exception of special forces.<br/><br/>For many more hours the members of Parliament discussed the topic of a possible military campaign against the USSS. With the Fortuna-Aiowan disaster still fresh in mind, even the parties that formed the government where reluctant to sign the proposed intervention act. At 06:00 hours there was finely an agreement on how to deal with the situation. The kingdom of Illarya will send an ultimatum to the United Socialist States of Serfiuan stating;<br/><br/>The United Socialist States of Serfiuan must immediately cease all support military and economic to the TLRA terrorist, dismantle all TLRA training facilities and disarm all TLRA members within the countries border within 14 days. If the USSS fails to comply with all the demands The Kingdom of Illarya will consider the USSS support to the TLRA as an violation of the sovereignty of The Kingdom. In that case The Kingdom of Illarya will be forced to use military force in order to protect her citizens against state sponsored terrorists.<br/><br/>Next to the ultimatum both houses agreed on increasing the military presence within the colony and holding a large naval exercise near the territorial waters of the USSS.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Jan 2nd 1946 - Illaryan Tribune (newspaper)</span><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">Government sends ultimatum to USSS!</span><br/>Government accuses The United Socialist States of Serfiuan of supporting TLRA terrorist in New Illarya. The kingdom threatens with military intervention if the USSS does not cease their support immediately!<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">More troops are send to New Illarya - The kingdom flexes its muscles!</span><br/>Minister of the Army, Marshall Eric Rannerston announces that more troops are being send to New Illarya. The 1st Special Forces division, 3th Air Assault division and 5th Marine division embark from Lorin military port today. They are expected to arrive in the colony in 7 days. Also the 5th armored division and the 6th mechanized division are ordered to prepare for the same journey. The Marshall says that both divisions can be ready for departure in 5-6 days. In two weeks total another 80.000 of our boys will be stationed in the sands of New Illarya.<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">Large naval exercise announced</span><br/>The colonial fleet and the Ceres Sea fleet will take part in a large naval exercise near the territorial waters of the United Socialist states of Serfiuan. Military spokesmen say that it is just another exercise in order to keep our navy sharp. There is no doubt amoung analyst that the sole purpouse of this exercise is to put pressure on the USSS. The exercise is planned to be held in 7 days.