The Communist Crisis

== -Dark Clouds on the Horizon- ==
On May 5th 246, the Novacian trade ship NMS Vandalia was stopped by a Hybretian patrol on it's return journey to Novac. Upon searching it, the Hybretian's found a slip of suspicious paper with initials 'CPN' on it. On nothing but suspicion alone, the Vandalia and its crew were impounded. The Captain, after hours of questionable interrogation tactics, revealed an Empire-wide plot of communist uprisings, with the CPN being at the head of it.
== -The Storm- ==
The Western states of Kygon, Hybretia and Kolangrad placed immediate trade embargoes on the Republic. The Kingdom of Hybretia aggressively demanded a suspected leader, Dusin Morekaj, to be handed over, as well as threatening "reprisal" against the Republic. The RN scrambled to produce a public statement and gain control of the situation, remaining rather quiet on the issue while working to root out the problem. Soon after the declarations of embargo, the western states found the budding revolutionaries and snuffed them out with relative ease. The leader of the CPN, Jake Foller, was killed in a raid in Kolangrad, being wounded then executed.
== -The Republic's Darkest Hour- ==
Three days after the discovery of the plot, the Novacian 4th Battalion marched on Coalton, the suspected location of the CPN's HQ. Many argue over the validity of the Republic's actions in Coalton during this period, but one must certainly acknowledge their authoritarian nature. Searches without warrants, attacks and violence against suspected Communists, and martial law all contributed to cultivating discontent within the population of the town. The number of innocents wrongly affected by the incident is unknown, but the settlement still holds resentment for the actions to this day. Throughout the period, demands for Dusin were made by the west.
== -A Light at the End of the Tunnel- ==
On June 6th, nearly a month after martial law was placed on Coalton, Novacian troops kicked in the door of a small herbalist shop. The shop was only the latest in a long line of recent building searches and torchings, but it housed an incredibly important asset. Once the building was clear, Dusin Morekaj was discovered and dragged from the cellar. He was handed over to the Imperial Guard, who promptly delivered him to Fort Loddyn to await trial.
== -Consequences- ==
The CPN suffered a near extinction from the foreign raids and those in Coalton. Its popularity vanished seemingly overnight, even before the declaration of illegality of the ideology. Despite Novo-Kolanksi relations warming soon after the crisis ended, the Kingdom of Hybretia saw it as another reason in a long line to be upset with the RN. Coalton citizens held little respect for Chancellor Rioux his government after the questionable treatment of their town. Despite a celebratory speech by the Chancellor, held in Montgomery, civil unrest continued in high amounts. An early election was held, and the incumbent Chancellor won with 40% of the vote. A small coup followed by the NFP, but was put down rather quickly.