Lodamun

[imperialpearl]

“First reactions to our deployment have not been favourable, however, we continue with the task and purpose of said deployment,” said Admiral Eliab Pymer, Commander of the Lodamese Navy’s South-Western Command said at a press conference earlier this morning. The press conference had been largely set against the backdrop of the sudden increase in tensions in the region surrounding Migrant’s Pass, the channel which allows for trade and military flows from South-Eastern Dovani into Majatra, Artania and the western approaches of the Seleyan continent. Recently, the Lodamese Navy issued a communique to the governments of Pontesi, Beiteynu and Narikaton/Darnussia informing the governments of its decision to deploy advanced units to the area with the intent of establishing “a ready action force capable of responding to any and all threats which may hinder the Harrington Company's free access to the Migrant's Pass.” Admiral Pymer, the communique’s author and Lodamun as a whole have drawn serious condemnation from numerous states within the region including Narikaton/Darnussia, Pontesi and Hobrazia. Although the press conference covered numerous areas related to deployment ranging from their journey to Malivia and the potential basis for a permanent basing of forces, Admiral Pymer focused much of his responses on the individual responses of those nations who have reacted to the deployment thus far. He noted that in the case of Narikaton/Darnussia’s broad and open threat to the safety of the deployment itself, such a response was nonetheless expected. “Notwithstanding the fact that the communique issued by the governments of Narikaton/Darnussia initially expresses rosey intent towards peace and then subsequently contradicts itself at the end with a bold statement of intent for military action, we continue to seek to establish clear lines of communication between our forces, the Narikaton/Darnussian Government and their military,” Pyrmer explained. He noted that although the undiplomatic language of the communique would likely be handled by the State Department, the part wherein the communique notes: “IF, Lodamun decides to continue its course, there will be military retaliation and ensured destruction of their naval forces” is of concern. “It is clear that the government of Narikaton/Darnussia does not intend to establish clear lines of communication as was proposed in our communication. Lodamese maritime conduct, that being our track record for safe maritime operations has been largely predicated on the existence of clear lines of communication between our forces and others within our AO. We will continue to conduct ourselves in a manner which does not violate this long tradition for professional at-sea conduct.”

Pymer’s comment calls back to the Lodamese Navy and Coast Guard’s tamed/measured response to numerous acts by Majatran and Dovanian states in the waters surrounding Seleya. Namely the Joint Beiteynu-Lourenne military exercise to the SE of Migadon and the deployment of a Lourennais fleet in New Endralon in response to a dispute with Dolgava. Here he noted that in both instances and others, the Lodamese Navy and Coast Guard have underscored the right for nations to conduct operations in defence of their strategic interests guided that such operations avoid military miscalculations. “Our requests for communication have been ignored most of the governments to whom the communique was issued, save Beiteynu who continues to consult its alliance mechanism. Instead, most went immediately to headlines and public statements. Our operations will remain professional in the absence of clear lines of communication and we will not invite a military confrontation with any nation in the region,” Pymer concluded. Via a press statement, Secretary of Defence Edward Mears confirmed that the vessels will remain in their port in Malivia and have been ordered not to act on the clear threat outlined by Narikaton/Darnussia in its communique. “These operations are part of a much larger concept of operations for the Lodamese Navy, in that, we will be seeking to position/base units out of various areas throughout the world where we have a clear presence in order to be better prepared to respond to emerging threats to Lodamese prosperity. These deployments are not different to the deployment of a Lourennais fleet (and accompanying Dundorfian Task Force) in Keymon. Nor are they different from the former deployments of the now defunct Zaar fleets of Beiteynu. No actions have been announced nor threats issued and the relevant nations have been informed with an expression of intent to establish lines of communication. This mishegoss surrounding these deployments is simply that: mishegoss.” Secretary Mears’ statement read. It has been reported that Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Declan Barker has instructed Admiral Pyrmer to continue seeking lines of communication between all relevant parties, with the potential for Pymer to fly to Beiteynu (via Helicopter) to answer questions related to the deployment, reportedly being on the table.