Satchel Island Dispute

The Satchel Island Dispute, was a 5 week long military standoff between ECOMsAD and the Cipertine Heirarchy, over the construction of an airfield on Satchel island, in the Laputa Island Group, 360km west-north-west of Conway City, Pukara.



The airfield was a threat to the claimed maritime authority of Cipertine, and appropriate action was taken, with the approval of the public of the Heirarchy. The standoff was largely protested by the SiWallqanqan public, who saw it as another diversion of public funds from the people into an unnecessary antagonistic project.

Sinking of the QRN Visitor
On the 22nd of July, the QRN Visitor, a SiWallqanqan Royal Navy missile cutter, was sunk by a Heirarchy fighter. On the morning of the 22nd, ECOMsAD moved their naval line further north. The Heirarchy allege that managed to confirm that ECOMsAD vessels had been given the order to fire first without warning upon any Heirarchy ships to the south of the new line. This allegation has yet to be confirmed, as ECOMsAD deny it, and declassified SiWi documents state no such order being given.

Upon relaying this information to the surface fleet in the area, it was found that a Heirarchy ship was still within the new exclusion zone being set up by ECOMsAD, so fearing a strike, the Heirarchy mobilized several carrier-borne fighters to provide support and a show of force while they escorted the ship out of the zone.

One fighter, piloted by Captain Marius Castor, came within range of the QRN Visitor's radar, and a precautionary missile lock was ordered by the officer on deck. Alerted to the missilel lock, Captain Castor informed his Flight Commander, who stated that the current meant that Captain Castor was to carry out defensive measures to ensure the survival of himself and his aircraft. He launched two, one of which was diverted by the  system, the second of which struck the QRN Visitor a few meters forward of the main engine.



The officer-on-deck of the QRN Visitor reports this data to the ECOMsAD Regional Commander, who then reported it to the Military Advisor based in Conway City, who upon the official warning of the Chezzetcook ambassador, orders that no counter-attack is to be made, which is announced to the Heirarchy forces immediately. Nearby ships are ordered to assist the QRN Visitor, managing to rescue 27 survivors of the strike from the sinking vessel. A total of 16 fatalities are counted, and 14 wounded.

The QRN Visitor was prevented from completely sinking, however it was damaged beyond repair. After a team of naval engineers from Pukara removed the surviving armaments from the vessel, siphoned all remaining fuel from the undamaged fuel tank and carried out a brief 48-hour program of removing all environmentally hazardous materials from the vessel (with the aid of divers), the vessel was scuttled.

In 2006, the environmentalist group "Southern Environemnental Action" with funding from the SiWallqanqan government, carried out further removal of hazardous materials from the vessel until it met their criteria. And with the aid of 2 dozen the wreck was turned into an  for the purposes of recreational diving and as a  to encourage sea creature repopulation.

Timeline
ECOMsAD construct runway on Satchel Island Heirarchy issue an ultimatum ECOMsAD refuse the ultimatum, citing international recognition of juridstiction Heirarchy move some ships into the area, to "rattle their sabres" so to speak ECOMsAD moves some ships into the area, to protect their interests

Heirarchy fighter is fired upon by ECOMsAD AA for being in ECOMsAD claimed airspace Heirachy denies and accuses ECOMsAD of warmongering

ECOMsAD move their naval line further north Heirarchy SIGINT allegedly pick up ECOMsAD radio chatter, stating that ECOMsAD ships are to fire first upon any Heirarchy ship in the AO without warning Heirarchy launch a fighter to protect a ship of theirs, which is within the bounds of ECOMsAD's new battle line, fearing an immediate strike, The Heirarchy fighter upon detecting an AA lock from the ECOMsAD vessel, recieves authorization to fire upon the ship, which it then does

ECOMsAD regional commander reports this to the military advisor of the area, who acting on the official warning of the Chezzetcook ambassador, orders assistance be sent to the struck ship, and that no counter-attack will be made, with this information immediately passed to the Heirarchy. Around a week later, a Heirarchy fighter crossing the enforced airspace of ECOMsAD over the islands, fires a ASM at a transport that their SIGINT had informed them was potentially carrying 2 cruise missiles to be set up on Satchel Island (however the transport only contained 2 small medium-range SAM emplacements and a platoon of soldiers, en route to Satchel Island)

Again ECOMsAD, acting on the urging of the Chezzetcook ambassador, did not retaliate (aside from detaining two Heirarchy registered fishing vessels near to the AO)

Eventually an agreement was reached and the Heirarchy agreed to send a representative to Conway City to ratify the Chezzetcook written treaty.

End of the Conflict
At the urging of the Chezzetcook ambassador to ECOMsAD a peaceful solution was reached and ratified on the 17th of August, 2004, in Conway City, Pukara. Bringing an end to the standoff and allowing maritime traffic and trade to proceed unmolested through the "Unnamed Gulf Area"

The Treaty of Conway City
Signatories:

Cipertine Heirarchy, on behalf of all Heirarchy associated states

SiWallqanqa, on behalf of all ECOMsAD associated states

Observer(s):

Chezzetcook

Provision 1. ECOMsAD military forces shall not commence any military development in the Tethys Ocean north of the 15th parallel south.

Provision 2. Heirarchy military forces shall not commence any military development in the Tethys Ocean south of the 15th parallel south.

'Provision 2. Part 2' The Heirarchy will withdraw the occupational force in the Laptua Island Group immediately upon ratification of this treaty.

Provision 3. To eliminate the believed cause of the conflict, the airfield constructed on Satchel Island, will be demolished to a level satisfactory of both sides by a contractor of Chezzetcook's choosing.

Provision 4. All naval deployments of both participant nations will be disclosed to the other, if they are to cross the 15th parallel south, prior to the act of crossing the parallel.

All points agreed upon by all present parties and signed below upon the 17th day of August, in the year 2004.