Roca War

Roca War
Part of Vasilin Sea crisis
Damage to buildings in Osmino after being hit by a missile, 3 September 2024
Date 31 August 2024 (2 months, 3 weeks and 1 day) Location North Kandson, Rettoa Vasilin Sea
Belligerents
North Kandson North Kandson Navy North Kandson Air Force North Kandson Army Support: EUEEN	Rettoa Rettoan Air Force Rettoan Navy Sateroc
Commanders and leaders
Perie Jefferson Jonathan Catalá Sumy Alvade Ander García	Ivan Tonovich Aleix Montilla Germain Nicoldanov

The Roca War, also known as the Rettoa-Kandson War and the Roca Inlet crisis, is an ongoing military conflict between Rettoa and North Kandson which began on August 31st, 2024. The conflict began after Rettoan president Ivan Tonovich ordered his military to blockade the Roca Inlet in order to seize its underwater oil fields. North Kandson and most of the international community condemned the sudden mobilization, and attempts to enter negotiations with the Rettoan government failed. Many nations pledged to aid North Kandson in the event of a war, but EUEEN would not commit to sending troops due to disagreements with the administration of Perie Jefferson. During the initial standoff a Kandsonian fighter jet was shot down, and hours later Rettoa fired thousands of missiles into North Kandson, targeting military and logistics. Kandsonian air defense systems intercepted the majority of missiles, but many hit their targets as well as civilian sites. Rettoa then began seizing or destroying Kandsonian offshore oil platforms in the Vasilin Sea.

Background

Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, Rettoa and North Kandson were caught in tensions of the Vasilin Sea crisis, largely over the status of maritime boundaries and resources in the Roca Inlet. The inlet's natural resources include extensive seafloor oil and gas fields and rare mineral deposits. In 1988, a popular revolution broke out, and a military intervention by the Alliance of Central Euronian States prevented the government's overthrow. The same year, Rettoa and North Kandson signed the Treaty of Myrance and quelled most of the disputes. The treaty resulted in the demilitarization and the equal territorial share of the inlet, though prohibited the extraction of resources from the seafloor.

In the decades following the 1988 treaty, both Rettoan and Kandsonian governments had voiced disatisfaction with the treaty's provisions, but Kandson in particular adhered to it thanks to extensive alternative offshore drilling opportunities in the Vasilin Sea. Rettoa, however, has a far more limited remaining maritime boundary, and as such its economic prospects for drilling were severely restrained in comparison. As such, Rettoan vigor to overcome the 1988 treaty was palpable in the years leading to the renewed crisis. Furthermore, repeated Rettoan attempts to delegate a renegotiation of the treaty were denied by the Kandsonian governments of João dos Senell and Perie Jefferson, the most recent attempt having been in 2022.

August 31st

On August 30th, 2024, the Rettoan Executive Council agreed to a proposal to begin drilling for offshore oil and declare the 1988 treaty void, and president Ivan Tonovich ordered the military to blockade the Roca Inlet. Naval deployments began almost immediately, with drilling ships escorted by guided-missile frigates and destroyers. North Kandson's immediate reaction was condemnation, with Jefferson taking a stance of strong-arming language to attempt to deter Rettoa's buildup. When it became clear that the mobilization could spiral into a conflict, Jefferson backpedaled and requested the international community open diplomatic channels. The EUEEN sent delegates to Stasso's capital of Bohubem to meet with Rettoan diplomats, but the talks fell through as the Alliance of Central Euronian States (ACES) backed Rettoa's sovereignty over the inlet.

EUEEN, in turn, called for Rettoa to restrain its military buildup and claimed they would aid North Kandson by sending supplies and logistic support in the event of a conflict, but a rift between member states emerged after Odoni's president Gillian Avlin stated EUEEN should not intervene militarily as long as Perie Jefferson remained in power. Jefferson's administration was widely disliked in the democratic organization for its proven corruption, controversial actions against political opponents, and often-times rigged elections. As such, EUEEN governments and their military commands were not enthusiastic about joining a conflict to back an increasingly authoritarian figure. WEDA's approach was similar, despite a Zamastanian Air Force base near Osmino, that they would not send forces unless their nations were directly threatened.

On August 31st, a North Kandsonian naval patrol vessel, the UNA Damina, was captured by Rettoa and taken to port in Dnesroca where the crew of 52 was detained. Kandson responded by raiding the Rettoan embassy in Osmino and arresting the Rettoan ambassador, Sergei Lasibinov. Later in the day, Saterocean president Germain Nicoldanov welcomed Tonovich to Kolkesburg and vowed Saterocean support for their claims over the inlet. The blockade of the inlet had extended from Balatonlota to Esaset by this point, effectively cutting off North Kandson's access to the sea. Kandsonian and Rettoan naval ships and aircraft were now passing well within visibility of each other.

At 6:44 PM, a North Kandsonian AV-44 Varrie was shot down over the Vasilin Sea by a Rettoan Khromov UL-17. The pilot was unable to eject and was killed on impact. Following the incident, North Kandson mobilized its military and increased its flybys of Rettoan ships, prompting Tonovich to declare "[we] are prepared to go even further if we are forced to. We have all options at our disposal and we urge Kandson's government to take notice; do not test us."

War

An apartment building in Evlaso after being hit by a Rettoan missile

At 11:22 PM on August 31st, Rettoa's military began the first stage of a military operation to 'to minimize Kandson's capacity to respond in the Vasilin Sea'. Hundreds of missiles and drones fired from on-shore mobile platforms and guided-missile ships at sea crossed the Roca Inlet targetting military and logistics sites across North Kandson. North Kandson's anti-air defense systems achieved about 80% success rate, but the sheer scope and scale of the attack overwhelmed defenses and allowed for many missiles to get through and strike their targets. Damaged sites included dozens of power plants and substations, several military facilties including naval ports and air strips, and civilian locations in several cities. A missile struck a commercial port in Osmino, erupting a large fire and prompting evacuations of a nearby petrochemical plant. The cities of Fleport, Evlaso, and Esaset all reported damage to their port facilities and oil depots, while the inland city of Chocaster also reported multiple explosions. Commercial flights from the country's main international airport in Osmino were grounded, and the government issued a state of emergency for the entire country as the military mobilized to respond.

In a brief video posted to his FriendSpot account, Perie Jefferson said "We are under attack. We are working to protect our airspace and assess current damage, but this attack is not over. It is still underway. I urge my countrymen to stand strong in the face of this terror."

North Kandson's foreign minister, Ander García, pleaded with EUEEN to consider immediate reciprocal military action against Rettoa, though ongoing disputes created a redline for some EUEEN member states. The organization denounced Rettoa's attack and upheld their pledge to send supplies, but not troops.

Kandsonian military aircraft began taking off from the few undamaged air strips throughout the country with the goal of counter-attacking the Rettoan naval forces, as well as to intercept projectiles. Reciprocal missile attacks from Kandson also ensued, with at least two explosions near the Rettoan capital of Skarivka being attributed to Kandsonian air strikes.

Zamastanian personnel at ZAFB Cain were placed on high alert, but Zamastanian military command said no projectiles hit or targeted the facility. President Sabine Armitage condemned the Rettoan attack, and said Zamastan would not directly involve themselves in a conflict with Rettoa. She did, however, say Zamastan would logistically support Kandson in the event of a widened conflict. Direct involvement by Zamastan would be contingent on a number of 'unspecified factors', according to their Secretary of Defense Harold Casey.

As missile attacks continued into the morning of September 1st, Sateroc placed its military on high alert, as did Stasso and Tyrtha.

Timeline

• September 2nd

WEDA issued warnings that any nation who provided aid to Rettoa's operations would be met with strict sanctions, and that WEDA involvement in the conflict could not be entirely ruled out given the presence of Zamastanian military personnel in North Kandson. Caspiaa's government approved the deployment of two Penttinen-class frigates into the Northern Ocean off the coast of Sateroc in the event evacuations of Caspiaan citizens would be necessary.

Rettoan forces began capturing Kandsonian offshore oil platforms in the Vasilin Sea, destroying the ones it was unable to seize. Some Kandsonian oil platforms contained vital military radar and SAM batteries. At least 7 platforms were seized, with 14 set ablaze and 2 completely destroyed. The CCA Environmental Watch claimed oil spills were occurring due to the attacks, and that the Vasilin Sea was facing its worst environmental disaster since the sinking of the MA Sunfish in 1994.

The Kandsonian Kanoun-class guided missile corvette UNA Otiñar was sunk by Rettoan missiles six miles off the coast of Fleport, with 72 sailors killed. The rest of the crew were able to evacuate and make it to shore.

Throughout the day, 11 Kandsonian aircraft and 4 Rettoan aircraft were shot down.

• September 3rd

Remains of a Rettoan Khromov UL-17 shot down over a town near Chocaster

A Khromov UL-17 flying well into Kandson's airspace is shot down in a town near Chocaster. The pilot ejects and is captured.