Katsuryoku Incident

== The Katsuryoku Incident ==
The Incident
In April of 2301, a New Japanese fleet was permitted through Noamonte's territorial waters. This allowed the fleet to arrive at the large port of Alean, Hadriania before it could be intercepted and destroyed by the Astrives Peace Fleet. The incident is named after the pride of the Shin Nihon 3rd fleet.
=== A full summary of Events ===
Occurring shortly after the Battle of Île de Gloire between the Shin Nihon 3rd Fleet and the Romance Peace Fleet containing ships from Silverhill, Esterre, Victoria, and the Saunders Farhold. The battle resulted in a pyrrhic victory for the Romance Peace Fleet, with the remains of the 3rd Fleet fleeing for friendly harbours. Reports of two Peace Fleets to the north and west forced the admiral to go through the Strait of Martinique. Heading to either direction would be suicide via an unwinnable battle, while going through the strait (he hoped) would result in his men and fleet being seized and imprisoned but alive. To the surprise of the Admiral, his ships were not seized or fired upon by Noamonte, and managed to reach the port of Alean, Hadriania.
Immediately following the inaction of Noamonte, the nation was heavily criticised. Its declaration of armed neutrality meant that it was free to shoot down aircraft entering its airspace and seize or apprehend any small fleet. Despite this it had allowed a battered fleet through its territorial waters in a decisive moment of war.
=== Perspectives ===
From the Silver Faction's perspective, Noamonte had the capability of unloading its coastal guns onto the Japanese fleet, this was a clear breach of neutrality.
From Noamonte's Perspective, the destruction of 3rd Fleet's remnants would have been a step too far. Noamonte's president feared a full declaration of war from Shin Nihon and that Hadriania would be brought into the larger New Japanese-German Faction. Within Noamonte, popular opinion was heavily in favour of armed neutrality. When the populace discovered the government had allowed the Japanese 3rd Fleet through its territorial waters, protests broke out. The outrage within Noamonte itself, forced its president to step down following the conclusion of the war.