The Valen Incident

The Valen Incident was an attack on Valen Sandbox by PLA (AEF and IKR) and IRA (NRK and SOVIN) forces on October 21, 2019. Players under PLA and IRA tags began to connect to the server as a first strike attack under the pretense of testing technology, as ISAF planned to invade IKR and UNC. The conflict ended relatively quickly, and all IRA and PLA forces withdrew from the server shortly after they changed the map.
The attack was later called into question when it was identified that attacking forces were a combination of AEF, NRK, IKR, and SOVIN personnel operating under a meme proxy group of "PLA" and "IRA." The exact objective of the attack was unknown due to lack of proper information. However, the invading forces claim that they were simply bored at the time.
The attack strained relations between NATO, Orzel, 1-47, and ULSCI. The Valen Incident is often used by ULSCI as evidence of the Valengate Conspiracy.
== Initial Incursion ==
According to Chazman, Gryphus was first to join Valen Sandbox. Shortly after, multiple users joined onto the server, which alarmed the ISAF garrison on the server. NATO members wore the tag [PLA] and AEF executive member Astronautical joined in his undercover profile as [CYR] Anderson. NRK and SOVIN soon randomly joined under the [IRA] tag.
== Conflict ==
Much of the combat that has been recorded has not as of yet been released. The few images provided show there was some kind of map change during the battle, after which IKR and some of AEF did not rejoin. During the fight, ULSCI leader Phil asked Strayed what AEF's purpose was on Valen and was sent a Chinese meme in response that read "Valen is Chinese territory since ancient time :):):):):):):)" in Mandarin. Without a clear explanation, and the refusal of NATO members to explain what was going on, the confusion birthed what is referred to as the "Valengate Conspiracy" by ULSCI.
== Aftermath ==
NATO and Orzel ceased any further proxy operations against ISAF after the conflict. After this, ULSCI cut all relations with AEF, directly blaming them for the incident despite several other groups and leadership participating. ULSCI refuses to allow any AEF delegations into their Discord server to present day, enforcing this by permanently banning any diplomatic presence from AEF into their Discord server active February 5, 2020. No other groups participating in the attack have been barred from ULSCI diplomatic relations, leading to claims of bias against only AEF. 
== Gallery ==
T-80U during the Valen Incident.jpg
Unknown-2.png|Player list of invading forces. PLA and IRA forces are listed here.
Unknown-1.png|A PLA J-11
Unknown-0.png|1-47 tank observing the ammo detonation of an NRK tank, Valen Sandbox.
ValenIncident.png
File:Intel Karelia and its allies recieved before the first strike operation.png|Intel IKR and its allies recieved on ISAF plans to invade.