Egelion

[Louis]

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This evening, King Artemio announced that the Kingdom of Egelion is officially at war against the fascist Vasseur government of the Union of Rildanor. The announcement, anticipated by some political analysts, came after the Vasseur government announced an invasion of the Island of Meriath--a direct assault against the people of Rildanor itself. Due to Rildanor's position as a hub in the southern Anantonese, the Southern Armada and a large 10,000 troop strike force was sent to the Island of Meriath per a discussion with the officials on the island. The Southern Armada's proximity to the Island of Meriath gave the Armada an opportunity to strike almost immediately.

As soon as Altea received the communication that Meriath was in trouble, the Southern Armada and the strike force of the Royal Marines was given the permission to engage with forces. The large Yadraz-Class destroyers sent large volleys of cruise missiles towards targets on Meriath causing large explosions and a dark black smoke to rise from the island. Jets taking off from the Velasco Class Aircraft Carrier launched several strikes in Meriath. Rildanorian troops coming from the mainland to Meriath were sunk by aircraft and by Amateria-Class Frigates as part of the strike force.  Currently, the Southern Armada has reported no casualties or losses.

According to early reports by Castillo Garibaldi, no Egelian troops have landed on the beaches of Meriath yet as the Royal Air Force has begun to use ICBMS and Hypersonic Glide Missiles of the ATENEA System. ICBMs have launched from the Egelian mainland and have no chance of being intercepted by offensive-troops in Meriath. Hypersonic missiles, a new development by the Royal Directory, are now seeing their first time use in conflict, hoping to bring the invasion force to a standstill and turn the tides of the conflict. Royal Councilor Montalivet has stated that all "plans and strategies that were carried out by the Egelian Armed Forces have been successful and effective". According to Castillo Garbaldi, the Egelian attack took the Rildanorian government by surprise as the mainland had no intelligence of Meriath cooperating and plotting directly with Altea--leaving them in an awkward response position. No targets on the mainland are currently targeted except for invasion-launch location, no civilians have been involved in the conflict yet. Castillo Garibaldi stated that the current focus is on military targets on Meriath and for the defense of of the island. "Let's be clear...", says Royal Councilor Montalivet. "We are directly fighting an active fascist government going against its own people. We are not deceived. We are not falling for its democratic excuses--for every minute we waste is the true end of a democratic and free Rildanor."

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