From Geheimestadt to the Sea (Closed)

[Highton]

1851

Background

It had nearly been two decades since the Highton Principality and Aleman Kingdom had been unified under Thomas VI. The west was thriving, as was its empire overseas. The east, meanwhile, was not thriving. It has been at war for almost four years. The U.C.P., initially established as a buffer between Aleman and the Rixion Empire had invaded their eastern neighbor and started the bloodiest war seen in over 500 years. In late 1849, the war seemed it would never end before the Rixions enlisted the support of unified Highton-Aleman. Centralia persisted, continuing to fight the brutal two-front war for nearly two years. By 1851, both the Rixion Empire and U.C.P. were totally destroyed. Their armies were both short on numbers, and both countries lost a large percentage of their male population.

Rixion City ("Geheimestadt"), Capital of the Rixion Empire

A letter arrived at the door of Luthkis III, the Rixion Emperor. Thomas VII, the new Hightonian Prince, had been the sender of the letter which had traveled from Santa Eliana, Highton's capital to Geheimstadt, the Rixion capital. The Empire was not what it once was, and four years of war made things even worse. For nearly three thousand years, the Rixion Empire remained. But in the year eighteen-hundred-and-fifty-one, would it come to an end? The letter from Santa Eliana proposed this. Thomas' letter to Luthkis described a stable Rixionland under the Hightonian crown with time to recover and regain stability. The good terms with the lands of the west, dating back to the days of Ein, Ponfénix, Aleman, and Highton, would it now result in a fully unified region? The Rixion advisors took in turns reading over the paper and passing it on to the next. Would unification be the best solution? They stared at the paper in silence. It eventually reached its way back to Luthkis.

"Let's do it," he said solemnly. He signed the paper. As he did this, he dissolved the Rixion Empire for good. After approximately three thousand years of existence, it was over. The scroll was passed back to an aide bound for Santa Eliana once more. Seconds later, another entered the room unaware of the Empire's dissolution.

"Emperor!" he yelled. "North Vaasa! It's gone!" A day prior, Ereion had invaded North Vaasa. The mighty Rixion River, which went right through the heart of Rixion City, now had its delta cut off by the Ereionese.

A few days later, Highton informed Luthkis, who had been appointed Duke of Rixionland by Thomas, that it would not be attempting to regain North Vaasa. The Rixion population of North Vaasa was now under foreign control, and that was not going to change.

 

[Highton]

The province of Vaasakrya in eastern Ereion was in a turmoil. Since it was annexed in 1851, the regions had changed greatly. What was once a strictly Rixion region had now become a mixing pot for three different groups: the Rixions, who now make about 50% of the population, the Ereionese, making up about 10%, and Vaasan Szlavs, comprising of the 40% or so. Upon the collapse of the Ereionese government and subsequent annexation of New Norsia to Norsia, riots began to break out in North Vaasa. These riots, centered in the 1.1 million population city of Kzunos, called for secession from Ereion. The Rixion population of the province, who had been silenced for decades by the tyrannical Ereionese, finally began to protest their rule and hoped for secession to Highton. The problem here, however, was that the Rixions in North Vaasa were now distinct from those in the south. The suppression of Rixion language and culture over the past 150+ years, plus isolation caused by the Rixion Mountains and a closed border, in addition to mixing with the other residents of North Vaasa created a new type of Rixion.

 

[Highton]

NORTH VAASA RIOTS CALL FOR REFERENDUM​

---

The riots in the Ereionese province of Vaasakrya have continued today as the Rixion population of the region push for a referendum regarding secession from Ereion. The streets of downtown Kzüva were filled with thousands, accompanied by flags of Highton, Rixionland, and even some proposed Vaasa state flags. Pressure is continuing to grow on the Vaasakryan legislature to call a referendum but thus far it has remained stubborn. The majority of the provincial legislature is composed of pro-Ereion members, largely due to gerrymandering and election-rigging by the Ereionese federal government.

"We can force them to agree to a referendum, surely..." said Mita Guchin, a secessionist leader. "Hopefully by the end of the week, we can prepare to vote to leave the corrupt and suppressive Ereionese state after nearly two centuries." With Friday set as the date that the pro-Highton Rixion Party will propose a referendum, supporters of secession will need to work hard to ensue the motion passes in five days. ​

 

[Highton]

VAASAN PARLIAMENT RELUCTANTLY AGREES TO REFERENDUM​

---

KZÜVA -- It now appears that weeks of anti-Ereionese protesting may have helped North Vaasa take a huge step towards secession. Today, amidst protests surrounding the Assembly Hall in Kzüva, protested attempted to prevent pro-Ereion members from entering the chamber to allow the pro-secessionists to barely meet quorum and hold a vote. The Parliament quickly voted to hold a referendum while over a dozen members were still locked outside the chamber, being prevented from voting against the referendum. The referendum date is set to be held sometime in the next month, with the options being: A, remain a province in Ereion; B, secede from Ereion and become an independent republic; or C, secede from Ereion and apply for annexation into the Crowned Republic of Highton.

 

[Highton]

Kzünos

Novak woke up early on January 2nd. From his earlier actions, it appeared it would be a normal day. He made breakfast, got dressed, and got ready to leave. But today, he was not going to work. Instead, he was getting ready for yet another protest in the downtown. January 5th was to be the date of North Vaasa's referendum but it was well known the Ereion would do everything in its power to skew the results. He hopped into his AMW and drove downtown, parking a few minutes away from the central square.

The air was cold and the snow was coming down, but the protest would continue. Thousands were gathered, moving towards the main square. Vaasan Rixions and Vaasan Szlavs alike were there to protest the rule of the Ereionese over North Vaasa. The protest was peaceful and nonviolent at first. Chants of "Free Vaasa" rung out across the square. But it wasn't long before the men in black arrived. Suddenly, the square turned violent. Chaos erupted as men with shields marched into the square and looked to prevent the protesters from making their statement. Novak tried to rush out of the square but was met will twelve policemen in formation.

The man next to Novak wanted to make a statement and stormed at the policemen, knocking his helmet off. Three policemen took their batons and smashed in the man's head as his body fell to the ground. Novak tried to make a run for it, but before he could get very far, a policeman launched a small round object his way; it was a mace grenade. Panic ensued as over a dozen people in the middle of the crowd tried to use their clothing to prevent themselves from inhaling the tear gas, but to no avail. They fell to the floor as the policemen stepped over them. Within minutes, the square cleared out. Many feared that coming out on Saturday for the referendum would put their lives at risk.

 

[Highton]

The previous weeks had been full of protests, riots, and propaganda, but today was the day. January 5th. In theory, at least, referendum day. In theory, the people of North Vaasa were to be allowed to vote on the future of their province; whether to remain a part of the oppressive Ereionese state, or that the majority of the population may rejoin their Rixion cousins on the Hightonian side of the border. However, to the people of North Vaasa, and it’s biggest city of Kzunos, it was becoming increasingly obvious that this referendum would not be held freely.

As the people of Kzunos stepped outside their homes fearing their lives and made their way to the voting places they were cautiously surprised by the lack of the police presence. It wasn’t until they entered the stations that they realized. There were armed officers in black all over the place, standing by every ballot box, watching how everyone voted. Many who voted to leave did not see their ballots placed in the correct box, whilst those who had favored remaining were. As the day came to a close, the pro-Ereionese members of the provincial parliament declared a landslide victory. This result was obviously not valid.

Long after the sun had set, around 21:30 in the evening, thousands of Rixion Vassans made their way out of their homes and marched towards the central square once again. This time, they were silent. By 22:00, with the square now packed with people, they began to sing.

Liebe Highton, Schönes Highton,
Land dear großen Herrlichkeit!
Meerenge an Meerenge!
In unseren Träume vereint!

It was a varied version of the Hightonian national anthem. The words instead showed the people’s desire to for the first time in 250 years be reunited with the rest of the Rixion people. The square kept singing even as the officers continued to arrive. These people wanted nothing more than for Highton to back them and their desire for reunification.

 

[Highton]

Highton City

The President sat in his office simply staring at the television, watching in silence as the protesters in Kzüna sung the national anthem. What the people of North Vaasa wanted was very clear. What the Ereionese government wanted was the opposite of that. Highton, on the other hand, did not want to risk a bloody war with Ereion. Calabrese knew that there were troops in Leztestadt, and even more in Rixion City, but to send them north up the Rixion River and through the mountains would certainly give away the intent of invasion.

Calabrese considered his options but after much deliberation came to the conclusion that there was little choice but to tell the Ereionese government to stand down.

“Good evening. For many Hightonians in the eastern part of the nation it has been a stressful time I am sure, but earlier today the referendum was held. While the Ereionese government made promises to ensure that the referendum would be free and fair, that quite clearly was not the case. The rights and will of the Vaasan people have clearly been violated here. For this reason, Highton demands that Ereion stand down and listen to the will of the people. Otherwise, further action may be needed to be taken by Highton.”

 

[Highton]

Rixion City

The sun on January 14th was setting on Geheimestadt. As the last ray of sunlight drifted below the horizon a few miles away from town, hundreds of Hightonian soldiers prepared to move north to the border. Nine days after the referendum, Ereion still refused to recognize the referendum, despite the results being estimated to be as high as 80% in favor of reunification. The troops moved closer towards the border. The Ereionese had been warned that further actions may needed to be taken if they didn't fold, and thus far they had refused to.

North Vaasa
Near the Highton-Ereion border

Around midnight, several Hightonian helicopters crossed the border into Ereion. The first town across the border was Terrerix, and eight helicopters handed on the outskirts of the town in a large field. Residents of the small town were awoken by the loud noise of the machines, and came outside to see what the fuss was all about. A dozen soldiers disembarked and walked towards the town's main road. By now, the sun was only just starting to rise, but they approached an unused flagpole and hoisted the Hightonian flag. Taking this town seemed almost too easy. The people of the town were, for the most part Rixion. Terrerix seemed like any other ordinary Rixion town in the easternmost regions of Highton. And now, once again, it was. The invasion of North Vaasa had begun.

 

[Highton]

Vaasanport
February 8th

Nearly a month had passed since Highton launched the initial invasion into North Vaasa, but without any formal support, the process of annexing the province was slow. Once the Hightonian troops arrived at the city limits of Kzüna around February 1st, local Ereionese officials fled. With almost all of North Vaasa conquered, victory seemed imminent in this short war. The Ereionese were cornered at the mouth of the Rixion River, one of Craviter's great rivers and essential for the people of North Vaasa and eastern Highton. The nearby port, Vaasanport, was the last bastion of Ereion's control in North Vaasa.

Rixion City, Highton

The President of Highton flew into Geheimstadt that morning after hearing news of Ereion's seemingly imminent surrender. Highton's commander-in-chief, Luca Brückmann, showed Calabrese and his VP, Alina Ziegler, a map of North Vaasa. It was covered in blue pins, showing the massive successes of the Hightonian forces across the board.

"I anticipate that Ereion will agree to surrender today," Brückmann said confidently. "They are cornered at Vaasanport," he continued, pointing at the mouth of the river. "The war will be over soon. It has been a massive success, one of the quickest wars since Union. There has been minimal loss of life, and, it seems likely that the province can be reintegrated into the Crowned Republic quickly and smoothly."

The President smiled. It was great progress. His time in the presidency would be coming to an end in just a matter of months, and boy, had it already been an eventful final year so far. The Versammlung appears to have finally reached an agreement on the New Rixion Plan and the restructuring of Highton's easternmost regions. His own VP, Alina Ziegler was in strong contention for the KRP's nomination. An extremely successful presidency was coming to a successful end- only half a year left.

Calabrese looked up again at the map and noticed some small islands in the Norsimeerenge. "What about those islands? Why are they in the same color as North Vaasa?" he asked out of curiosity. Brückmann was puzzled- it was clear he did not know- but Alina did know. "They're part of Ereion but basically nobody lives there," she told Calabrese and Brückmann. "They're part of the North Vaasa province but they're closer to Norsos than they are to Kzüna."

"If they're part of the province, we should land there after the port has been seized," the President informed the Commander-in-Chief.

"Yes sir," Brückmann replied.

---

OOC Note: Unlike in the United States irl, Highton's President and Commander-in-Chief are two separate positions held by two separate people

 

[Highton]

A special Hightonian naval force was sent out from Rixion City. As the six helicopters took off from the city, a few dozen people, including Highton's President, watched on. Ereion's terms of surrender were being agreed upon in Kzüna at that very instant. The mission of these helicopters was mostly symbolic. Around 6 o'clock, they left the shores of the Craviterian continent behind and turned northwest towards a small archipelago of mostly uninhabited islands in the Norsimeerenge. They flew over a small island village but only began to descend when they arrived at the furthest northwest island. It was uninhabited and tiny, but it was flat enough that the pilots could land safely. 12 members of the Hightonian navy emerged from the helicopters.

The ymarched over onto the sand. Moments prior, in Kzüna, the surrender had been announced. For the first time in 160 years, North Vaasa was to be reunited with the rest of Rixionland. And these soldiers had the symbolic duty of creating an image that would in the minds of Hightonians end the war. They planted a Hightonian flag on the island. They had traveled, much as the nation had, from Geheimstadt to the Sea.

---

From Geheimstadt to the Sea Music Video

Spoiler: Lyrics

Bring the good old bugle, boys, we'll sing another song;
Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along,
Sing it as we used to sing it, fifty hundred strong,
While we were marching through Vaasa!
Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the re-unis!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free!
So we sang the chorus from Geheimstadt to the sea,
While we were marching through Vaasa!
Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring re-unis!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free!
So we sang the chorus from Geheimstadt to the sea,
While we were marching through Vaasa.