Geography
The Republic of Emmeria is the central nation on the Anean Continent. The other two nations, Estovakia and Nordennavic, flank Emmeria. The country seems to have coastal, rolling plains near the Fuscum Sea and the North Sea, with desert on the western coast. As we travel inland, the geography changes to a more mountainous landscape in the west. In this region there are many small to large river valleys. Some of these valleys also point to some glaciations that happened in the Anean geological past. To the east, the environment becomes more arid, examples being Ragno and Moloch, before turning into plains in the middle. Another geological formation is Khesed Island. It is one of the largest islands within Emmerian territory. The island might have been created by a series of volcanic eruptions. It has plains in its center with mountainous regions to the north and south.
The largest city in Emmeria is Gracemeria, which is believed to be one of the largest cities in the world (the fact that it was able to accommodate over 200,000 refuges gives credence to the theory). It is a port city with a large urban center and suburbs that sprawl out for miles. The next-largest city is San Loma, another port city on the southern coast, which is surrounded by hills. After that, Ortana, Silvat, and Vitoze are around the same size; Ortana is a medium-sized desert city on the western coast of Emmeria; Silvat is a large village in the plains of Western Emmeria; and Vitoze is a mountain town in Southern Khesed. There are also unnamed villages in Emmeria, such as in Sipli Field and the Moloch Desert.
The Emmerian Military has several military bases throughout the country, the largest of which are Bartolemo and Ragno Fortresses, in Northern Khesed and Central Anea, respectively. Another fort is located in a valley just north of Gracemeria. As for airbases, both San Loma and Gracmeria have airfields that serve the dual purpose of civilian airport and military airbase. Campagna Airport is also used as an air base, but it is not known if it always had military capabilities. There are also airfields in most of Emmeria cities that are capable of accommodating military jets.
The Republic of Emmeria is the central nation on the Anean Continent. The other two nations, Estovakia and Nordennavic, flank Emmeria. The country seems to have coastal, rolling plains near the Fuscum Sea and the North Sea, with desert on the western coast. As we travel inland, the geography changes to a more mountainous landscape in the west. In this region there are many small to large river valleys. Some of these valleys also point to some glaciations that happened in the Anean geological past. To the east, the environment becomes more arid, examples being Ragno and Moloch, before turning into plains in the middle. Another geological formation is Khesed Island. It is one of the largest islands within Emmerian territory. The island might have been created by a series of volcanic eruptions. It has plains in its center with mountainous regions to the north and south.
The largest city in Emmeria is Gracemeria, which is believed to be one of the largest cities in the world (the fact that it was able to accommodate over 200,000 refuges gives credence to the theory). It is a port city with a large urban center and suburbs that sprawl out for miles. The next-largest city is San Loma, another port city on the southern coast, which is surrounded by hills. After that, Ortana, Silvat, and Vitoze are around the same size; Ortana is a medium-sized desert city on the western coast of Emmeria; Silvat is a large village in the plains of Western Emmeria; and Vitoze is a mountain town in Southern Khesed. There are also unnamed villages in Emmeria, such as in Sipli Field and the Moloch Desert.
The Emmerian Military has several military bases throughout the country, the largest of which are Bartolemo and Ragno Fortresses, in Northern Khesed and Central Anea, respectively. Another fort is located in a valley just north of Gracemeria. As for airbases, both San Loma and Gracmeria have airfields that serve the dual purpose of civilian airport and military airbase. Campagna Airport is also used as an air base, but it is not known if it always had military capabilities. There are also airfields in most of Emmeria cities that are capable of accommodating military jets.
Culture
The culture of Emmeria seems to be a mix between European and North American cultures. Names like Gracemeria, Sipli, Silvat, and Emmeria are Eastern European sounding, while Vitoze, Campagna, and San Loma sound Spanish. There are also miscellaneous names, like Bartolomeo and Ragno. The people of Emmeria are mostly Caucasian and speak English with American accents.
History
Medieval Period (????-1300s)
Gracemeria was a prosperous region of the Anean continent until foreign invaders began fighting over the area, making the region desolate and insecure. King Aurelius II rallied the people of his region into repelling the invaders. He had a golden statue of himself made, to boost the morale of his troops. The unit that received the statue became seemingly invincible on the field of battle. Soon, the mere sight of the 'Golden King' caused the enemies to flee, and the invaders eventually surrendered without a fight. Aurelius was able to unite the invaders into a united Kingdom of Emmeria. The 'Golden King' became a symbol of pride for the Emmerian people, and the event was referenced centuries later when the country changed its political system from a monarchy to a republic. After Aurelius defeated the invaders, Emmeria was not invaded again until the Anean Continental War of 2015.
Ulysses Catastrophe – (1999 - 2013)
In 1994, The Comona Observatory found an asteroid designated Ulysses 1994XF04. Originally it was only expected to impact the Usean continent, but the International Union of Astronomers (IUA) updated its predictions in December of 1998, when they found out that there was a hollow space inside of it. They believed this would cause the asteroid to split in two as it past the Roche limit, and enlarged the effected area to include Anea. Even though the STN would not be able to deflect any incoming asteroid fragments over the Anean continent, the Emmerians decided not to build an Asteroid Interception System, instead focusing on 'defense', preparations for the crisis including supplies and shelter for foreign refugees (many of which were from the Usean continent) and displaced citizens.
On July 3rd, 1999, Ulysses passed through the Roche limit, the asteroid fragmented into thousands of pieces, an unexpected turn of events. Fortunately for Emmeria, it came out of the disaster virtually unharmed; however, its neighbour to the east, Estovakia, suffered several major impacts. With the economy in ruins, the civil unrest, and increased nationwide crime the Estovakian government effectively collapsed. Estovakia fell into political and economic disorder.
Estovakian Military factions had formed within five regions of Estovakia. Estovakian Military officers formed these factions in hopes of saving citizens of Estovakia from poverty and further economic destruction. In the year 2000, Emmeria began to revitalize the Estovakian economy, but was forced to cease support activities when the Lyes United Front (LUF) proclaimed itself as the orthodox government of Estovakia, in 2007, and used Emmerian supplies to gain an upper hand within Estovakia. These actions would later throw Estovakia into a civil war. With the Civil War's end and with the regime of "The Generals" beginning, despite the deception caused by the LUF, many of the Estovakian leaders felt as though the civil war was Emmeria's doing and held a grudge against the neighbouring nation.
Anean Continental War: Nation Under Siege
On August 30th, 2015, the Estovakian Central Military District declared open war on the Republic of Emmeria and launched a full scale surprise air raid the same day. This air raid was aimed at the Emmerian capital city, Gracemeria, in an effort to quickly begin and end the conflict with little loss of life for the Estovakian Military.
The Estovakian Air Force was met with immediate resistance from multiple Emmerian air, ground and naval units. These included the 28th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) “Garuda” and 15th TFS Eastern Region Air Defense 8th Air Division, the Emmerian Navy’s VFA-2 of the 2nd Air Wing, the 2nd Emmerian Fleet and Brigades of the 2nd and 5th Armoured Corps of the Emmerian Army, backed by AWACS “Ghost Eye”. Gracemeria was under complete siege by Estovakian air and air-dropped ground forces, but mid-way through the battle the Emmerian Military began to turn the tide of the battle. However, the Estovakian Military deployed the P-1112 Aigaion Heavy Command Cruiser. The Aigaion fired multiple Nimbi, air burst cruise missiles, which decimated much of the Emmerian air and naval forces in Gracemeria. Also, the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Strigon” of the 370th Aviation Regiment attacked Emmerian aircraft which attempted to flee the impact areas. Emmerian Military Command ordered an immediate retreat of all military forces in Gracemeria with hopes of joining up with Emmerian forces outside of Gracemeria and launching a quick counterattack.
Four operations to retake Gracemeria were launched, codenamed “King” and “Balloon”, but failed because of a joint defensive effort, lead by the Aigaion, the Strigon team and the Estovakian Navy South Sea Fleet. The Emmerian Military continued to retreat to the west across the Anean Continent, until they were confined to the south-western peninsula of Khesed Island.
The Counter-Offensive
From a city named Vitoze the Emmerian Air Force repelled multiple Estovakian bomber raids and launched an effort to remove all Estovakian troops from Khesed Island. The main units of the Emmerian Ground offense were the Emmerian Army’s 3rd Corps, 1st Brigade, 1st Tank Battalion “Warlock” and the 4th Armoured Battalion “Quox”, while the main air units consisted of the 28th TFS “Garuda”, the 15th TFS, and VFA-2. This combined force, along with other small Emmerian units, made up 90% of operational forces at that time. This force managed to secure Sipli Field and pushed to recapture Bartolomeo Fortress, the final Estovakian position on Khesed Island. With support from the Emmerian Air Force Advanced Warning and Control Wing, 303rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, 4th Flight, in the form of an E-767 AWACS callsign “Ghost Eye”; the Emmerian force attacked Bartolomeo Fortress. The battle ended with the successful recapturing of the fortress and Khesed Island.
The Emmerian Forces then made an amphibious landing on the Anean Continent and established a foothold on the western coast. The Emmerian 5th Tank Battalion “Steel Gunners”, 6th Tank Battalion “Dragon Busters”, 8th Tank Battalion “Gavial”, 9th Tank Battalion “Grizzly” and 6th Tank Battalion “Barracuda”, the 1st Signal Battalion “Sherpa” of the 2nd and 5th Corps and the 5th TFS of the Western Region Air Defense 3rd Air Division were completely cut off in Silvat by Estovakian forces.
Emmerian air forces flew into the area to support the cut off tank battalions, with support from the Northern Region Air Defense, 3rd Air Division’s 4th TFS and 1st Helicopter Unit of the South Sea Fleet Command’s 3rd Fleet. The air forces managed to loosen the siege on the encircled Emmerian ground troops and successfully annihilated all Estovakian forces attempting to retreat the area. With this new and sizable force, the Emmerian Military pushed through a large mountain range, near Selumna Peak, but was attacked by Estovakian air forces. The P-1112 Aigaion also launched multiple Nimbus missiles into the area using drones to guide them, but, was unsuccessful in halting the Emmerian advance. Estovakian forces in San Loma were attacked soon afterwards. San Loma was an important strategic location due to its Naval Facilities in Doypalm Bay and airport near Tarvo City. With the 335th Bomber Squadron and the 2nd Fleet, the Emmerian Forces took San Loma, despite yet another wave of Nimbus missile attacks and turned its attention to the P-1112 Aigaion.
Pivotal Victories
Information was gathered and Emmerian Military Command formed a plan to destroy the Heavy Command Cruiser, its escorts and the Nimbus missile threat. Seasoned Emmerian squadrons attacked the Estovakian Aerial Fleet as they performed refuelling operations. However, the Estovakian Strigon Team launched from the P-1112 Aigaion and engaged the Emmerians, along side the P-1113 Gyges and P-1114 Kottos aircraft. Already having lost five members in combat to the 28th TFS Garuda, the Strigon Team was forced to incorporate members from the Vampire Team, still based in Estovakia. The Estovakian Fleet was slowly dismantled and the Strigon Squadron was also shot down as a whole. The destruction of the Aigaion was accredited to Garuda One of the Emmerian 28th TFS. It was at this point in time that the Garuda Team had gained immense popularity throughout the civilian population and not just the armed forces.
With such losses, the Estovakian Military began to form new defensive strategies to repel the oncoming Emmerian Forces. Also their top ace, Ilya Pasternak was sent to Gracemeria to take command of the Strigon Squadron and to combat the Garuda Team.
The Emmerian Military then took Ragno Fortress, the closest defensive position to the west of Gracemeria, and eventually launched a pivotal operation in the Moloch Desert. This operation saw the bulk of the Estovakian forces defending Gracemeria deployed onto the battlefield, meaning that an Emmerian victory would ensure the recapture of the capital city. The battle in the Moloch Desert was said to be some of the most gruelling, and would have resulted in an Emmerian victory, thanks to the presence of multiple prominent Emmerian Military forces, including the Garuda Team. However, Emmerian Command caught wind of a plan to destroy Gracemeria with weapons of mass destruction, rather than let if fall into the hands of the Emmerian Military. An immediate order of retreat was broadcasted to all Emmerian forces as Estovakian forces left the battlefield, but the Garuda Team continued to chase the fleeing Estovakian troops. The Strigon Team appeared on the battle field and solely engaged the Garuda Team, outnumbering them 10 to 2. Hoping to get rid of the Garuda Team, the Strigon Team was once again shot down in combat.
The Garuda Team was suspended from all flight operations because of their violation of a direct order and the endangerment of all civilians in Gracemeria. This suspension did not last long as the Garuda Team was once again called fourth to fly a special operation near Fort Norton aimed at destroying an Estovakian unit carrying the weapons of mass destruction which were to be deployed to destroy Gracemeria, if the command was given. Flying at high speeds through a nearby ravine, the Garuda Team managed to destroy the Estovakian unit, but was heavily outnumbered by overwhelming amounts of Estovakian aircraft. Garuda Team was saved by an air unit comprised of the 15th, 4th, 5th Tactical Fighter Squadrons, the 303rd ACS and VFA-2 of the Emmerian Air and Naval Forces.
Free Gracemeria
With the success of this mission, Operation “Free Gracemeria” was put underway on March 31st, 2016. All prominent units of the Emmerian air, naval and ground Forces participated in the battle and were assigned to liberate different areas of Gracemeria. The Steel Gunners battalion was to retake Gracemeria Air Force Base, The Dragon Busters battalion, supported by the 5th TFS, was to take the metropolitan area and the Capitol, Warlock battalion was to work with the 1st Helicopter Unit and the --- battalion, which would be dropped into combat by an LCAC unit and take the radio station and new areas of the city, while the Emmerian 2nd Fleet engaged the Estovakian South Sea Fleet in Gracemeria Bay and the 15th TFS with the VFA-2 engaged Estovakian AWACS, ECM and air superiority aircraft over the city. The Garuda Team supported each operation and ensured their success despite immense defensive fire power from the combined Estovakian Forces. The intense battle ended in an Emmerian victory, but, not after Ilya Pasternak of the Strigon Team engaged the Garuda Team and all elements of the Emmerian Military in Gracemeria. Despite being alone, Pasternak managed to tie up the Emmerian forces allowing his squadron to retreat from the battle. Ilya Pasternak was killed in action by the Garuda Team, but was to be remembered by the Estovakian Air Force as a born ace pilot with a spotless record, who valiantly died in combat for his comrades.
Though Gracemeria was freed and citizens had retaken the streets, Emmerian Command continued air patrols over the city. As celebrations continued throughout the night after the liberation, an Estovakian general by the name of Gustav Dvornik, Commander of Estovakian Forces in Emmeria, as the Central District Precinct Commander and Expeditionary Forces General, escaped the Emmerian attack in Gracemeria and ordered that the “Chandelier” be put into operation and fire at Gracemeria. The Chandelier, a weapon designed to intercept the Ulysses asteroid, fired waves of cruise missiles at Gracemeria hoping to destroy the city. The Emmerian Air Force successfully repelled these cruise missiles and Estovakian aircraft. AWACS Ghost Eye and Military Command managed to trace the flight trajectory of these cruise missiles to the Chandelier, located near Sonne Island in the North Sea off of the Estovakian north coast.
All available air units were scrambled to destroy the Chandelier, but were met with stiff resistance from remnants of the Estovakian Navy, Air Force and the survivors of the Strigon Team. With information gathered from a joint civilian Estovakian source, the Emmerian forces targeted the Chandelier’s cooling units in hopes of forcing the large railgun to overheat, but a secondary cooling unit was discovered directly under the main gun. Garuda Two flew into the Chandelier’s service gutter and gathered information on defenses, but was heavily damaged. Garuda Two was eventually unable to keep his aircraft airborne and went down in the North Sea. Garuda One then flew into the same service gutter and destroyed the secondary cooling unit, but in order to destroy the weapon entirely, the exposed launcher mechanism was attacked. Garuda One flew into the barrel of the Chandelier and successfully destroyed the cannon.
The Emmerian-Estovakian War, or the Anean Continental War, ended with Emmeria as the victor.
Sources:
ACES WEB
Ace Combat 06: Fires of Liberation
ACES WEB
Ace Combat 06: Fires of Liberation