Operation Kronos

Operation Kronos
Date Planned for 1914-1915 Location Ruvelka, Chryse, Sanguine Sea, Sundering Sea Result Never occurred
Belligerents
Republic of Syara Cacertian Empire	Górska Ruvelkan Socialist Republic
Commanders and leaders
Zoran Milaković Empress Elliana Sarissita-Trento	Various
Units involved
Armed Forces of the Syaran Republic Cacertian Armed Forces	Górskan Federal Forces Ruvelkan Red Army
Strength
2.5 million 500,000	~3-4 million
Casualties and losses
Estimated ~250,000	Heavy, presumed total

Operation Kronos, also known as War Plan Kronos was a proposed series of military offensives to be jointly conducted by the Republic of Syara and the Cacertian Empire against the Ruvelkan Socialist Republic and Górska. The plans were intended to cement the proposed alliance between Cacerta and Syara by securing Syaran territorial ambitions and eliminating immediate potential threats against the alliance in north-west Siduri. The plans ran into Cacertian resistance as the overt offensive actions they required ran contrary to Cacertian strategic aims and were never put into action following the collapse of talks between Cacerta and Syara. Several elements of the plan were later recycled for Operation Typhon.

Background

By 1910 the Cacertian Empire had established itself as the premier military power of Tyran, boasting the largest and most technologically advanced navy supported by an industrial base reliant on resources extracted from annexed territories in Shirvaniya, Knichus, and Lirinya. Under the leadership of Empress Elliana Sarissita-Trento Cacertian strategic aims centered around securing the continent of Siduri as firmly within the Cacertian sphere of influence, which had partially been accomplished by the annexation of the aforementioned nations and the development of a powerful expeditionary force centered around the Cacertian Royal Navy. By 1910 this had resulted in the near "encirclement" of Siduri, with naval forces stationed in Shirvaniya, the Andria Protectorate, Alscia, and Cacerta itself. Despite this the Cacertian position was in some ways still precarious; war games in 1909 highlighted the vulnerability of Cacertian holdings in Shirvaniya; potential hostilities with Acrea could result in the closure of the Struer Strait, forcing any resupply or reinforcement to have to sail all the way from Andria into the Sundering Sea. Concurrently, hostilities with Ossoria would lead Andria isolated and force fleets from Shirvaniya to navigate the congested and restricted waters of the western Sundering Sea.

The proposed solution was to secure basing rights and an alliance with one of the states of north-west Siduri, which would bridge the gap between Andria and Shirvaniya while completing the "encirclement" of Siduri. This meant four potential hosts; Górska, Ruvelka, Syara, or Mansuriyyah. Convincing any of these states to agree to an alliance with the Empire however would prove difficult. To begin with, by 1910 Cacerta had completed decades of continued imperialist expansion that had seen large chunks of the continent fall under Cacertian dominion, while fighting wars against Xevden and building a massive fleet of warships. To many states in Siduri and Eracura there was a growing undercurrent of fear over Cacertian intentions and where the Empire would next attempt to expand its domain. Vichenza was broadly aware of these concerns and sought to avoid the formation of a potential anti-Cacertian power bloc, which could potentially challenge the Empire both in Siduri and at sea. In response Empress Elliana urged Prime Minister Giraldo Rafeli to conduct negotiations in a way that any final agree would minimize as much as possible the international reaction to further Cacertian expansion.

Finding a potential ally proved difficult. Górska was "eliminated" early on under the auspice that any stationing of Cacertian forces in Eracuran soil would lead inevitable Eracuran outcry from the likes of Acrea, Ossoria, Svinia, and Drazhinskiya. Mansuriyyah followed shortly thereafter as the Emirate was among those nations deeply suspicious of Cacertian intentions. The Ruvelkan Socialist Republic was also ruled out; by 1910 the communist government in power was increasingly showing signs of financial and political ruin. Ruvelka also could offer only limited options, with only two major ports in Aszód and Mátészalka. This left the Republic of Syara, which had been the preference of Empress Elliana. On paper Syara was the preferable choice; the Republic boasted some 73 shipyards capable of producing 200 hulls a year, spread out across various industrial ports including Moddra, Sena, Kylacky, Vechad, Vyerzhany, and Gniela. Out of the four potential allies, Syara boasted the largest economy and largest population. Syara fielded the second largest navy in Siduri after the Empire, and was second in military production of shells, artillery pieces, airships, and ammunition. Equally important was Syara's economy, which in 1910 produced enough food to feed the entire population of the Empire. The combined Syaran-Cacertian navy would register effective dominion over the western Sundering Sea while providing ample power projection into the Nuadan and serve as a relay between Shirvaniya and Andria.

Politically the Republic was also of something in a rut; the recent defeat in the Third Chryse War had revealed the limitations of Syara power and military capability, while also shrouding the future of Syara in uncertainty. The Cacertian ambassador to Syara, Veilia Trepunia, summarized the national psyche as "riddled with uncertainty";

[The Syarans] stand at a crossroad but pace in a circle rather than move forward. Years of growth have come to a sudden and inexplicable halt and there is a sense of dread in the air. Fear of war, fear of demise, fear of further lands lost to invading armies, and fear that their Republic may not endure the century leaves the people disorderly and uncertain.