Lodamun

[imperialpearl]

In an unlikely turn of events, the Lodamese Navy’s decision to deploy an additional maritime patrol drone to the Malivia to augment the efforts of existing assets in their surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations in and around the Migrant’s Pass has been met with serious pushback from Beiteynu after the nation threatened to “shoot down” said drones in what the Department of Defence is calling a major escalation to what was otherwise long-standing conduct. At an emergency press conference at the DoD building in Kensington, Commander of the Lodamese Navy’s Majatran Command (MAJCOM), General Abel Milligen stated that the DoD had been made aware of the bold threat to Lodamese operations in the area via the news. “Like everyone else, we were made aware of that otherwise bold threat to our operations via the news and were indeed not forewarned/foretold of the supposed Beiteynuese objections,” General Milligen explained. The drones, as mentioned previously had been dispatched to Naval Station Crockett in Malivia to augment the efforts of two maritime patrol drones after it had become clear to defence planners that Istalia’s “naval invasion” had largely slipped under the radar of most entities including the MSCO and the Lodamese Navy. Since the initial debacle surrounding the navy’s deployment of an Expeditionary Action Group to Malivia and its subsequent withdrawal, Azuron long-range, high-altitude, high-endurance drones have operated in the Migrant’s Pass, providing the Lodamese Navy with a much-needed eye in the region. Previously, the DoD underscored the importance of the Migrant’s Pass to the Lodamese economy, pointing to the fact that rare earth minerals from Vascania ultimately traverse the strait en route to Lodamun. According to General Milligen, since the debacle, the Lodamese Armed Forces have operated with particular care so as not to trip over the numerous fault-likes and traps set by the powers present within the region. “The previous debacle surrounding this space underscored the importance of maintaining a safe distance from the various powers with clear stakes in the strait itself. We understand how the region has been structured such that Beiteynu, ever the eager to escalate a situation, can claim masterdom over all aspects of movement throughout (be it by air or sea),” DoD Press Secretary Peter Hussain explained. Hussain noted that both the President and the Secretary of Defence have not been deterred by the Beiteynuese threat, offering that against the backdrop of Beiteynu’s historic inability to act as a responsible nation, this threat to down Lodamese assets in the region, ultimately reinforces their resolve against viewing the nation as a reliable entity to cooperate with on matters in the region. “Following the previous crisis, it became clear to us that securing a self-aggrandising claim to power in the region was more important than actual regional security in the eyes of Yishelem and thus we have continued to engage the government in Narikaton & Darnussia, who understands our concerns and have made yeoman efforts towards tempering emotions,” Hussain added. General Milligen has noted that drone patrols would continue, albeit from a greater distance, adding that whereas previously the Lodamese Armed Forces would have been willing to cooperate with Beiteynu in form or fashion, its broad escalation has invariably torpedoed any hopes of such in the future. Surveillance videos and other information/data gathered from the drones’ powerful sensor suites will be shared with the Narik & Darnussians Armed Forces, with the BNI (Bureau of Naval Intelligence) likely to request that information not be transferred to third parties (i.e. Beiteynu).