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Diplomacy and Events / Troyes Affair
« on: April 13, 2024, 12:11:13 AM »
OOC- Dave has given me the OK with this.
62 men and women had gathered in the basement of the Fleur de Lys nightclub close to the beach front in the city of Troyes. For the past few weeks they'd all been taking trips over the border to Aosta where they'd meet up with members of the Empire's Special Forces. Many of the 62 had served with Real Marseille during the fight against Materna but their skills had become a little rusty, after all many of them weren't exactly career military types. One of the 62 was Jean-Pierre Cantona, the founder of Real Marseille and the first President of Marseille, he had persuaded his former comrades in arms to reform the paramilitary group and now with weapons supplied by the Empire of Aosta. Jean-Pierre hoped that they wouldn't be needed but as he checked that he had several spare magazines for his weapon he couldn't rule out it either. They'd tried everything to get the city back for their homeland and even with international support it seemed that Seaforth were intent on keeping hold of their little slice of Albion. "Friends today we shall take back to last piece of our homeland. When we kicked out that damn cult and restored our nation as a Republic all should have been well but as we've seen Troyes failed to get that and now we must toughen our hearts, strengthen our spirits and prepare once more to go into the fire if needed. We promised that we would free all of Marseille and now we must finish the task. You all know your duties for the day and I pray that we meet again with our mission complete." He headed round the room and shook hands with each of them. The last three people he made his way to had stood to one side and not mixed with the others.
Lt. Mirko Russo, Sgt Ruben Clemente and Leading Rate Sara Zanetti had flown in that morning as tourists and stood in civilian clothing, accreditation given to them as journalists while in reality Russo and Clemente were members of the nations elite commando force Zanetti was a radio operator with the Navy. They were here to ensure that high command back home had a clear picture of what was happening. "You all set JP?" Russo asked Cantona as they shook hands.
"As much as we ever can be. You're sure everything is in place?" The former President enquired.
"Yes sir. We've had confirmation just a few hours ago. We've got your back." With that reassurance the members of Real Marseille placed their rifles in gym bags and stuck pistols into holsters concealed under their jackets before they headed out. At first they made their way in ones and twos leaving at short intervals from the nightclubs back entrance. They made their way down towards the military base that dominated the harbour. There were the usual protests there with Cantona recognising several old friends who had fought alongside him years ago. They stood there with flags and plackards demanding the Seaforthians go home. It was once all the group had got themselves in position that the plan swung into action. There were four roads that lead to the base and now a large box truck full of bricks had swung across each blocking access by road to the base. Cars beeped their horns as traffic began to back up in the streets around the camp. The drivers exited the vehicles and their passengers stuck huge knives into the tyres other members of the group hurried forward and pulled on ropes sending banners unrolling down the side of the truck announcing that the Seaforthian base was now closed and that Real Marseille were in charge of the road blocks. Some of the crowd having seen the banners began cheering.
WIth the base now effectively stopped by the road a flotilla of four fishing boats appeared and dropped anchor in attempts to block the entrance to their dockyard. All that was left was an aerial approach and that would be next to impossible for the folk of Real Marseille to stop. While the locals did their work Zanetti kept the Aostan government up to date and then when the boats had dropped anchor the next stage of the plan swung into action.
Almost instantaneously a group of Aostan naval vessels made their way into what Cantona had described as his new territorial waters. The HIMS Rothari lead a pair of Destroyers (Perctarit and Godepat) and the same number of Frigates (Liupert and Raginpert) took up positions on the main naval route into Troyes and then transmitted their own message
62 men and women had gathered in the basement of the Fleur de Lys nightclub close to the beach front in the city of Troyes. For the past few weeks they'd all been taking trips over the border to Aosta where they'd meet up with members of the Empire's Special Forces. Many of the 62 had served with Real Marseille during the fight against Materna but their skills had become a little rusty, after all many of them weren't exactly career military types. One of the 62 was Jean-Pierre Cantona, the founder of Real Marseille and the first President of Marseille, he had persuaded his former comrades in arms to reform the paramilitary group and now with weapons supplied by the Empire of Aosta. Jean-Pierre hoped that they wouldn't be needed but as he checked that he had several spare magazines for his weapon he couldn't rule out it either. They'd tried everything to get the city back for their homeland and even with international support it seemed that Seaforth were intent on keeping hold of their little slice of Albion. "Friends today we shall take back to last piece of our homeland. When we kicked out that damn cult and restored our nation as a Republic all should have been well but as we've seen Troyes failed to get that and now we must toughen our hearts, strengthen our spirits and prepare once more to go into the fire if needed. We promised that we would free all of Marseille and now we must finish the task. You all know your duties for the day and I pray that we meet again with our mission complete." He headed round the room and shook hands with each of them. The last three people he made his way to had stood to one side and not mixed with the others.
Lt. Mirko Russo, Sgt Ruben Clemente and Leading Rate Sara Zanetti had flown in that morning as tourists and stood in civilian clothing, accreditation given to them as journalists while in reality Russo and Clemente were members of the nations elite commando force Zanetti was a radio operator with the Navy. They were here to ensure that high command back home had a clear picture of what was happening. "You all set JP?" Russo asked Cantona as they shook hands.
"As much as we ever can be. You're sure everything is in place?" The former President enquired.
"Yes sir. We've had confirmation just a few hours ago. We've got your back." With that reassurance the members of Real Marseille placed their rifles in gym bags and stuck pistols into holsters concealed under their jackets before they headed out. At first they made their way in ones and twos leaving at short intervals from the nightclubs back entrance. They made their way down towards the military base that dominated the harbour. There were the usual protests there with Cantona recognising several old friends who had fought alongside him years ago. They stood there with flags and plackards demanding the Seaforthians go home. It was once all the group had got themselves in position that the plan swung into action. There were four roads that lead to the base and now a large box truck full of bricks had swung across each blocking access by road to the base. Cars beeped their horns as traffic began to back up in the streets around the camp. The drivers exited the vehicles and their passengers stuck huge knives into the tyres other members of the group hurried forward and pulled on ropes sending banners unrolling down the side of the truck announcing that the Seaforthian base was now closed and that Real Marseille were in charge of the road blocks. Some of the crowd having seen the banners began cheering.
WIth the base now effectively stopped by the road a flotilla of four fishing boats appeared and dropped anchor in attempts to block the entrance to their dockyard. All that was left was an aerial approach and that would be next to impossible for the folk of Real Marseille to stop. While the locals did their work Zanetti kept the Aostan government up to date and then when the boats had dropped anchor the next stage of the plan swung into action.
Quote from: Real Marseille Statement
At 11:45am on 12th April 2024 the people of Real Marseille have determined that we can wait no longer. Today we have taken action to restore the city of Troyes to the control of Marseille. As a result we have today claimed an estimated 95% of the city for the newly established Republic of Troyes. In addition we also assert our rights to all waters, as laid out by the FSC and all air-space as recognised by international law. We hereby also declare that on the 1st July 2024 a referendum will be run in the city giving people a choice as to whether to remain their own independent Republic or rejoin with Marseille. Until that time Jean-Pierre Cantona will serve as interim President.
Almost instantaneously a group of Aostan naval vessels made their way into what Cantona had described as his new territorial waters. The HIMS Rothari lead a pair of Destroyers (Perctarit and Godepat) and the same number of Frigates (Liupert and Raginpert) took up positions on the main naval route into Troyes and then transmitted their own message
Quote from: Message from Aosta
As of 11:50 am on the 12th April 2024 the Empire of Aosta formally recognises the Republic of Troyes and Mr.Jean-Pierre Cantona as their provisional President. In an agreement confirmed by both nations the Imperial Navy of Aosta is to take up a role of maritime security for the new Republic until such a time as they can take responsibility for doing so. We wish this new nation the best and look forward to a bright future as neighbours