Roleplay > War and Conflict

Djabidjan: Stained Borderlands

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paralipomena:

Somewhere abroad


"Alright, alright", Abukar intervened. "Let's move to a more concrete discussions. What's left on Barixarunta?".

"I'm afraid not much", Rooble replied, "after the dismantling of the Waqooyi Cell, and the martyrdom of Dubista and our comrades in Xuduudda[1]. We have left a few isolated militants, and it may still be a time before they are able to be operative".

"Is that so?", Raage said, looking back to Muuse.

"Yes, likely so", Muuse said with a serious, even unfriendly tone. "Our contacts have been limited for security reasons, but giving our situation in the south, I had to struggle to be able to send them trustworthy men. We, after all, need them as well, as we have recently lost many of them. In the last month, we have lost our capacity to recruit more men. And those we're able to, that's going to slowly, as we are forced to increase the vetting and practice period".

"Without a worthy successful action, not sure if these efforts are worthy enough", Mahad said. "We need to be able to do something big soon".

"It is easier to say than to do, of course", Muuse argued. "We're lacking to the supplies to do so. That force us, outside the main cities, to focus on smaller operations".

"We're doing our best to solve that", Raage argued. "But it may still take some time".

"Enough defeatism!", Buux said. "Such considerations will lead us nowhere. I'm convinced youth will continue to fight for the liberation of our people". Muuse looked him intensively while he spoke, knowing it was likely him, and not the experienced Buux the one who will have to return to Djabidjan soon.

"It hurts me the sacrifice of the youth and our friends, of course", Rageh intervened. "However, it is required that we honour those who have offered their blood for our just cause without obscure our minds of the rights steps toward our aim...Sadly or not, the conscience of our fellow Christians abroad, and even some at home, will only be moved if we choose our aim and actions wisely. The biggest the damage we will provoke, bigger will be their response and outrage for their violence. So we must choose our next steps wisely, I agree. Which are our prospects right now?".

"While our recruitment is facing some obstacles inside", Caweys explained, "the efforts are giving more fruits abroad. I have estimated that close to 1,500 members or sympathizers from Dhaah Party in exile have joined or showed interests to join following the execution...Sadly, most of them have barely no experience or training, not to mention the issue of logistics, as many may not be able to be sent by conventional means, but these numbers are surely promising".

"I'm glad to hear that", Raged said. "Meanwhile, we can only resist and prepare for the time to strike comes".

 1. Name in Maadaanic language for the city of Jangju

paralipomena:

Batifyè Dam, Republic of Djabidjan


Batifyè Dam, built in 1967, once called "the Pear of the Sousdlo", was one the key building projects of the Social Republic of Djabidjan, which claimed the project was one of the largest and safest dam of all Ardia. The project, which some could have call pharaonic and under foreign assistance, was aimed to prevent flooding and to utilize the water for irrigation and generating electricity. The dam gathered its water from the systems of rivers nearby Sousdlo Lake, in a region which was considered the most fertile lands in Djabidjan. Although diversity and the local ecosystem was severely damaged in the last decades, the region was still considered the "breadbasket of the nation", for their amount of agriculture production gathered every year in the region, even if still many farmers had retained a subsistence economy. While due to mismanagement and lack of resources, it had not resulted as promising as the original project was, the dam was still an important source of energy for the whole region.

The rainy season had come earlier than expected this year, increasing the water reserves of the dam. Still, the management of the dam rejected the request to open the dam fearing, given the recent earthquake and aftershocks in the area, which produce an increase in flooding in the downstream area. An aftershock the day after the earthquake which had hit the Gogseon province could felt in the dam, causing temporary power outrages. Although the secondary generators did not fail, communication started to fail since that evening.

Destin Mezanmi had been working in the dam for almost ten years. That evening, another 4.4 aftershock surprised him in an ordinary late supervision of the generator room. A blockout followed, and Destin was forced to blindly walk toward the wall. However, this time the secondary generators did not seem to work, at least to its full capacity, and the alarm did not work either. Still, he did not panic, even if he felt something falling on his shoulder which, after touching, he guessed it was probably dust and lime. Finally, he was able to communicate with the control gate and communications and lights went on. As this happened, a loud sound, like a giant steel door falling to the floor could be heard, only followed by a deep silence.

"Well, this is bad", the worked on the control gate. "A small portion of the external wall of the gates seem to have collapsed". Destin was slightly calmed after the worker explained that the damaged did not seem critical.

"Right", Destin replied, "open the gates", he ordered. While it did not sound a critical problem, he feared that the lack of communications could cause a delay in aid and repairment efforts. However, this failed mostly due to sedimentation blockage.

About fifteen minutes a later, a sligthly noticeable but slowly increasing crack sound could be heard. A long silence followed only interrupted by a terrible noise. Destin felt as if the sky and the earth were collapsing.

During the next hours, millions m3 of water was released, resulting in flood waters that rushed onto the plains below more than 40 kilometers per hour, surprising many villagers who barely had time to wake up due to the increasing noise.



As consequence of the failed communications and damaged roads and infraestructures, evacuation orders had been mostly inexistent, or had come when it was already too late. Captain Hwang Woo-yeong arrived at the area the next day, more than twelve hours after the Batifyè Dam collapsed. From his helicopter, the main gates had completely cracked, only leaving intact a portion of the walls at both sides. As a result, the flood of water had been unstoppable for hours.

Thousands of square kilometres had been completely inundated, affecting a large number of town and villages, wiping out an area of dozens of kilometres. They witnessed how the dikes on the Jesam River had collapsed as well, likely earlier on the morning, creating large temporary lakes of several thousand square kilometres, leaving several counties devastated. Villages had been completely destroyed, others simply could only be guessed, with large number of corpses floating on the water.

He caught his phone, informing about the situation, suggesting that special measures were immediately introduced, as well as immediate rescue efforts.

paralipomena:
Gogseon province


Captain Hwang Woo-yeong moved further south, in order to report about the conditions regarding the rescue efforts. While he was aware of the severity of the situation, he found the level of destruction rather overwhelming. Particularly around the unfortunate area where the two disasters intertwined, it was like entering a warzone. After visiting some of the larger towns of the areas, he noted that he felt like the morning after a nuclear attack. Agriculture in the area was almost completely devastated, and communication and transportation systems were completely disrupted as well.

"There", Sinh Cung explained, "there was a camp, formed by people who fled their destroyed their homes. About 5,000 people, I estimate. It was poorly maintained, as we could be able to sent supplies by helicopter...Now, there is no trace of it".

The economic situation was not better, Hwang understood as they visited the next toom. In some cases, the local economy had mostly disappeared. There was a severe shortage of ready cash, and local companies were mostly dependant of the promised financial subsidies to operate, which in most cases they had not started to receive yet, and they lacked enough supplies, for those whose buildings had not been damaged, of course. Many banks had been destroyed, and their bank notes and coins either destroyed with them or looted, the latter increasing the speculation of basic goods.

The biggest problem, Hwang soon realized, was the destruction to the local agriculture. In some cases because the lack of workforce and the destruction of roads and transportation, and partly because the damage of the floods, agriculture in the region was in a dire state, if not completely destroyed in many areas. As a consequence, the prices of agriculture products such as rice rose sharply, with a 200% increase in some areas, he was informed. These increased violence and looting, which forced the authorities to cut down phones and internet to fight the unrest, endangering or worsening the rescue efforts.

"Most hospital and medical centers, already barely developed one may say", a military doctor from the area explained to Hwang, "we were forced to establish medical camps, but we can barely deal with the number of wounded people. The most important issue we are facing is the lack of medical supplies, which can only be deployed by air in many cases". As they moved to the east, Hwang could see one of the "sea of tents" which had been inhabited by people who fled their homes, or what remained of them.

"The center is nearby the next town", Sinh Cung told Hwang, as the captain returned. Hwang simply nodded.

"Let's move", Hwang immediately said.

paralipomena:

Djabidjan City

As it had become a tradition after Hong Tae-woo was appointed as Premier, President Min received the day before the official weekly meeting of the State Council of Ministers a small group of officials in what some of them have described as "policy dinners". These were held in the Presidential House, and they had not any formal recognition. It was not an ordinary meeting, not only by the circumstances that the country had experienced in the last weeks, but particularly it was expected that the following day it will be formally decided and announced that the decision that the Ministry of Defense will take over the Ministry of Public Works and Transport regarding the distribution and management of the aid and assistance to the regions affected by the current crisis.

Premier Hong had continued his summary of the last reports from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport as well as the Ministry of Finance for the last ten minutes, but President Min had started to lose his patience.

"Even in the most optismistic scenario, giving the recent developments", Hong continued, "even considering the foreign humanitarian aid we have received, due to the damage of roads and infraestructures and problems on the logistics of such operations, special measures will be needed".

"My feeling is that tomorrow decision comes two weeks too late, I'd say", Minister of Defense Yoo Sung-soo said. "With all due respects, the reports of the ministry falls shorts again, even that I seriously doubt that any of the people who I know well were involved in it...Even with further foreign assistance, not just in the distribution of foreign aid but on the logistics, the organizing obstacles and the needs may be too big right now to give immediate results".

"Any change in the organization of the operation, particularly if they are moved to more capable and experienced hands will be welcomed, of course", Deputy Premier Tieu intervened. "I feel there is no much disagreement on that issue, Major. However, the contested issue, that is likely to face difficult understanding not just tomorrow but in its future implementation, it is surely the Ministry of Finance assessment that, even considering the humanitarian aid entering in our country and the increase of imports acquired through our sovereign funds, such obstacles are likely to remain and even expand to the rest of the country".

"If that was the case", Premier Hong intervened, "in a way of another, an official policy of rationing of basic goods would be inevitable, considering the serious damage that the agriculture sector has suffered in those provinces, and the limitations to keep supply from outside at a limited price, if the caculations of the ministry are correct, of course".

"We have the instruments to implement that", Minister Yohannes Arendse said, "however, we have already experienced some opposition with some of the restrictions imposed in the provinces. With the right funding and personnel, I am certain we will impose order, of course. But it will be harder here or larger towns. If such policy is implemented, I'll only ask free hands to keep order".

"That would be...unfortunate", Hong argued. "I feel a most cautious answer would be better, particularly in the current circumstances. However, it is not that we have many options".

President Min had patiently listened for a while. "I don't see it", he finally intervened. "There is some logic in the proposal of the ministry, but they don't make sense in practical terms. It's a bit like to sacrifice a tree to save a branch. No, I do no think that's going to work".

"That may be true", Yoo replied. "However, it will not be easy to implement either".

"The first thing should be to stop the gangrene", Min insisted.

"If that's the case", Minister Jung argued, "three layers of priority can be considered: first the capital, Jangju as well as the coastal city; then the rest of the country, and third, the provinces under state of emergency. Restrictions could be imposed to the third ones, and eventually to the second one, while avoided in the first one...as long as it is possible".

"That's certainly preferable", Min replied. "A final proposal should be ready before tomorrow meeting, so it can be implemented as soon as possible".

"We'll do our best", Yoo said, as the rest of the room remained silent.



Somewhere nearby Djabidjan

"It is a pity we did not received more weapons", one man said.

"We will need to use the terrain and the situation at our advantage", Maxabe replied.

"Yes, sir", the man replied. "My main concern, however, is if the different groups will be able to communicate and orient themselves as soon as we have launched the attack".

"It will not be easy", Maxabe said, "but until them, we have no options to move at night. If we surprise them, we may have a chance after all".

"Yes, sir", a third man said. "I'm mostly concerned about the distance we should to cross".

"It should be enough to achieve the surrounding of Ogundo", Maxabe insisted. "Secretary Muuse has confirmed us that one of our inner groups have successfully gathered in Gwanju".

"Anyway", Maxabe added, "it is time to move. We should be able to cross the border tonight. Let's pray we will join our men at the other side tomorrow".

 

paralipomena:
Southern Djabidjan

The day had finally come. At midnight, a large enough group of armed men aligned to Iskaabin Aamin-ah attacked the border posts in direction to the road that goes directly to Nwapase. The move was nothing but at a distraction, as another eight hundred of men crossed the border, attacking guards and policemen as they were joined by another two hundred who had already crossed the border in small groups in the previous weeks. They were able to seize small villages and towns in their way.

In those villages where they would be able to stay longer, they gathered the population in the main square where they gave long speeches and promised with a bible in their hand the end of the ruling elite and equality for all ethnic groups and Christians of all denominations. They paid their respects to the local churches, offering the local priests a leading place in the new local government, but the clergy was, as most of the local population, not very receptive of such proposals. They promised that each town will have the right to decide their own political future. In the meantime, they declared that there will be a provisional authority under Christian principles until Djabidjan's government is finally deposed. However, they did not stay for long in most of the cases. Sometimes, they merely attacked government buildings and police posts in some of the small towns they entered.

They continued their advance toward the main objective, Ogundo, which they planned to take before they were joined by units led by the recently appointed "Secretary for Military Resistance", a militant known under the nickname of Muuse, suspected to be a DXAHK former member. However, their advance was slower than expected, as they had no experience in moving in hostile terrain, and many of them were already tired and hungry, as some of them have spent several weeks living in the forests through they crossed the border and hid before launching their operation. Still, their hopes and morale was high, hoping for a promising victory.

Finally, they launched their attack against Ogundo at the morning of the third day of the operation. However, they faced more resistance than expected, losing many men against the law enforcement units as well as enforcements from a nearby small garrison. When Aaden, Muuse's right hand, arrived to the place, he found a struggling force in disarray. Most of the men had not previous experience in combat and they moved without a clear organization or plan, once two of the leading men were seriously wounded.


Captain Pak Chol-man was checking a folder with a list of names, pictures, and information from fugitives from an internment center partially destroyed during the recent earthquakes when he received a new and unexpected call from Lieutenant-Colonel Kim Ho-dong.

"We have new orders", Park told his men. "We're immediately moving to Gwanju".

"Yes, sir", some of them replied.

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