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Russian Union Statement
On the political front,
hastily arranged press conferences and
statements by both Russia and NATO representatives clarified the
situation somewhat, but events remains very fluid with new and conflicting
information trickling in by the minute.
A Russian Union military officer
presented seven points that justified the attack or was a condition for cessation
of hostilities - with each being detailed over several minutes.
They first placed blame for the current
situation squarely on the shoulders of NATO and the "Anglo
Alliance" (AA), claiming evidence that demonstrated the alliances
were planning a military takeover of Poland and attempting to separate
the Western Ukraine from Russia proper.
The spokesman pointed to this alliance's
recent policy in the Yugoslavian conflict and a build up of NATO forces
along the German border with Poland - a situation not unlike when Hitler
massed his forces on the Russian border in 1941 just prior to Operation
Barbarossa. He added that a massive armed mutiny already
existed against the "legally elected government" in Poland and
implied that NATO and the AA were providing support to the insurgents
there.
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RUSSIAN
UNION
SEVEN POINTS
1-
Attack blamed on NATO
& AA aggressive plans for Europe.
2
- Retaliation due to
unprovoked submarine attack in GIUK area.
3
- Demands that NATO
be dismantled.
4
- Norway will be
occupied until it leaves AA and demilitarizes.
5
- Military traffic in
Atlantic Ocean will be interdicted.
6
- No hostilities
against Western Europe they renounce NATO and recognize
sovereignty of other countries.
7
- No 1st use of
Weapons of Mass Destruction.
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The second justification dealt
with a recent exchange of fire between submarines in the GUIK area north
of the UK. This "unprovoked attack" led to an immediate and
"justifiable retaliation" against military installations
in the UK and in Iceland to protect Russia's freedom of shipping and
airspace.
The third point dealt with general issues
of concern to the Kremlin and suggested solutions to those
matters. Specifically, it was demanded that NATO be dismantled as a
political and military entity - claiming it is a tool being used to bend
a democratic Europe to the will of the aggressive AA. They proposed that
a non-aligned demilitarized zone be created in the whole of Eastern
Europe to provide a “Curtain of Peace” that will separate Russia
from Western Europe. To support this goal, the Russian Union stated its
intent to assist the Polish government in destroying its internal
enemies. It likewise insisted that Norway denounce its NATO and AA
membership, close down all foreign military bases, and adopt a neutral
status similar to Sweden and Finland.
Fourthly, Russia declared that to protect
itself from an attack by the Anglo Alliance, it will occupy Norway until
that government leaves the AA and agrees to
demilitarize. This occupation is being carried out with an overwhelming
military force and it was warned that resistance would bring “futile
and pointless suffering and death” to both the Russian and Norwegian
people.
The next demand directed
that the entire Atlantic be closed to military traffic as an assurance
that that Anglo Alliance would not be able to proceed with any
intentions against Poland and Western Ukraine. They also reserved the
right to interdict shipping suspected of contributing to such plans.
A solution for the end of
hostilities was then offered to the Western European Union that includes
Germany, France and others. The Russian Union claimed to have no ill
will against those countries and declared they need not be involved in
the current conflict if they denounced NATO and recognized the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of other nations - specifically
Russia and Poland. They went on to reiterate that the Anglo Alliance,
primarily the U.S and U.K., were the real aggressors in the region.
Lastly, it was stressed
that Russia would abide by its doctrine of no "first use" for
weapons of mass destruction except in defense of Russia’s home soil
against enemy intervention.
The press conference was
concluded with examples of NATO’s “villainous” actions against a
civilian aircraft, merchant ships, and urban areas where
"doomed resistance" against Russian troops was needlessly
endangering local civilians. NATO was likewise accused of sinking
unarmed ships that were involved in a rescue operation in the mid
Atlantic.
NATO Strikes Back
The Joint Command North (JCNORTH)
Public Affairs Office held a press conference of its own immediately
after the Russian conference ended on the other side of the globe. It is
quoted here verbatim:
“Minutes before
midnight tonight, military units of the Russian Union initiated
hostile aggressive action against NATO Forces in Norway, Iceland and
Great Britain. This action is unprovoked and unprecedented, and brings
to an end the many years of detente between the western allies and the
Russian (formerly Soviet) Union.
While the action has
been underway for only a few hours, it is apparent the NATO forces are
under attack by a large, coordinated force, including naval, air, and
ground combat units. The attacks were obviously timed to occur during
the new years' celebration.
NATO forces are
currently mobilizing in Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United
States. Damage assessments are not yet available, however preliminary
reports indicate virtually all air force installations in northern
Norway have been attacked, and Russian paratroopers have assaulted
Iceland after a devastating bombardment that has resulted in the
complete destruction of the Keflavik air base. In the United Kingdom,
several airbases were also attacked, but damage there is said to be
minor.
In response, the
Joint Chiefs of Staff have ordered a large contingency force to the
theatre which, when combined with the NATO forces already in the
northern theatre, will provide ample strength to repel the hostile
forces.
The size, timing,
and effort utilized in this action by the Russian Union removes all
suspicion of this being an attack carried out by rogue commanders, and
can only result from the approval of the entire Russian leadership,
thereby making themselves appropriate targets for NATO response
planning.
Further information
will be provided when available."
After the NATO spokesman
concluded, and just as reporters were leaving the conference room, a
last minute Press Release was issued. It is shown here in it's entirety:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUBJECT: LOSS OF HMS TRENCHANT
FROM: HEADQUARTERS, JOINT COMMAND NORTH (JCNORTH) PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OFFICE
JCNORTH REGRETS TO REPORT THE LOSS OF HMS TRENCHANT (S91), A TRAFALGAR
CLASS NUCLEAR FAST ATTACK SUBMARINE. THE TRENCHANT WAS APPARENTLY
ATTACKED BY ONE OR MORE RUSSIAN SUBMARINES THAT ALSO MAY HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN ATTACKS ON ROYAL AIR FORCE INSTALLATIONS IN THE UNITED
KINGDOM AND THE SHETLAND ISLANDS. A SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) MISSION
HAS BEEN LAUNCHED, AND HOPES ARE HIGH THAT SURVIVORS WILL BE FOUND AND
RETURNED SAFELY TO THE UK.
HMS TRENCHANT WAS PROBABLY STRUCK BY A TORPEDO LAUNCHED FROM WHAT IS
SUSPECTED TO BE A RUSSIAN SUBMARINE JUST WEST OF THE SHETLAND ISLANDS,
AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT LOCAL TIME. HMS TRENCHANT WAS ENGAGED IN RADIO
COMMUNICATIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK. THE COMMUNICATIONS WERE LOST
IN MID TRANSMISSION, AND ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE TRENCHANT SINCE THEN
HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. UNIDENTIFIED SOURCES IN THE AREA REPORTED
"A GREAT DEAL OF NOISE" COMING FROM THE AREA HMS TRENCHANT
WAS KNOWN TO BE OPERATING IN. NATO COMMANDERS AND, ESPECIALLY, THE
BRITISH SEA LORD ARE OUTRAGED AT THE BRUTALITY OF THE ATTACK SO CLOSE
TO THE SHORES OF GREAT BRITAIN.
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HMS Trenchant
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HMS TRENCHANT, PICTURED TO THE RIGHT, HAS A SPLENDID HISTORY AND WAS
DECORATED MANY TIMES FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE. WITH HER CAPABLE CREW OF
130 MEN AND OFFICERS SHE PRESENTED A FEARSOME CAPABILITY WITH STATE OF
THE ART WEAPONS AND LONG ENDURANCE. HER LOSS WILL NOT BE IN VAIN.
THIS IS THE FIRST LOSS OF A SUBMARINE DUE TO ENEMY ACTION BY THE
BRITISH NAVY SINCE WORLD WAR II, AND ALSO THE FIRST LOSS OF A BRITISH
NUCLEAR POWERED SHIP. THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTAMINATION OF THE SEA BY
RADIOACTIVE LEAKAGE IS SLIGHT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE REACTOR VESSEL.
HOWEVER, THE LOCATION OF HMS TRENCHANT IS KNOWN, AND PLANS TO MONITOR
THE AREA ARE BEING FORMULATED BY THE ROYAL NAVY AND WILL MORE THAN
LIKELY BE CONDUCTED BY THE WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE (WHOI)
IN MASSACHUSSETS. WHOI IS KNOWN FOR ITS DEEP SEA SEARCH AND
RADIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF THE USS SCORPION, AND MORE RECENTLY THE TWO
SUBMARINES (USS DALLAS AND USS PHILADELPHIA) LOST IN THE BATTLE OF
BRUNEI. IT IS POSSIBLE THIS MONITORING WILL NOT OCCUR FOR SOME TIME,
DUE TO THE CURRENT RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.
JHQNORTH (J2)
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