Battlecruiser Valmy

CLASS: Obstinate

CREW: CLASSIFIED

ARMAMENT: CLASSIFIED

Possessing a very brief service history, the Valmy was initially part of a reinforcement fleet sent to the New London front during the Second Gallic War. Arriving too late to change the course of the engagement, it was ordered back to base.

However, in the chaos that ensued in the coming months, the Valmy became increasingly isolated from the Gallic Royal Navy, and with supplies running short, it was decided to redirect to a fringe region of the Taus. There, using its escort ships, managed to capture enough supplies for the way back to Gallia.

Still, bad luck would keep to the warship, when, while in Tau-23, it was located and ambushed by Outcast forces. Left as a mere limping vessel, the Valmy continued for several more days, only to run into a cell of the Wild that promptly boarded the damaged battlecruiser and captured the crew.

What unfortunate souls were infested by the Wild still serve aboard, with the Valmy's new mission being that of terrorizing Champagne's populace.

## News

The acceptance and incorporation of the Royal Enclave comes amid sweeping changes in our governmental body to a military structure to ensure swifter and more capable responses should such a cowardly invasion occur again.
Many fear the incorporation of the Enclave will lead to the Sirian Houses recognizing Kusari's claims of Gallia still having and utilizing weapons of mass destruction like the Warwolves used during the Glassing of Leeds, though rumors have already started to spread that the dismantling of these weapons is a concession the Royal Enclave has agreed to do.
As one of the first acts of the new government, a controversial peace treaty has been signed with Kusari, giving the invading House rights to Tau-53 and mining rights to Tau-23. While some voice discontent with this agreement, the government has pointed out that the war has led to an increase in criminal activity in Gallia that requires immediate attention to control.
One government official was cited saying "We have done well for centuries on our own, if Kusari wants to burn bridges with this agreement we will simply focus on our own development and our relations with Rheinland instead."

"Director-Regent betrayed the trust and duties bestowed upon him as the King's regent, this is the highest level of treason and the punishment is only death. The motive of such a heinous crime was greed, he simply sold us expecting to get enough money to escape and live luxurious life with enemies conspiring against the people he swore to protect. Luckily, our agents intercepted her data transmission and prevented the enemy from getting it, in doing so proving Director-Regent being guilty. He was executed by guillotine the very same day without trial for he deserved none."
The precedent of the highest ranking nobility betraying the army and the people casts shadows over the position of the nobility in the hierarchy of the Enclave in general. The fact that nobles have often schemed against the interest of the people continues to swing public opinion toward the military command that is already the de facto ruler of the Enclave. Seen as more predictable, reliable, and responsible for the survival of the Kingdom's remnants, the Royal Army remains the basis of the Enclave where every third man is a member of the Royal Army or Fleet. At this point, the factionalism of the nobility previously seen as an inalienable part of Gallic politics is beginning to be perceived as a liability to furthering national goals and ideas and the military leaders of the Enclave keeping in mind the survival of the nation can no longer close eyes on intrigues of selfish barons and counts.
The Provisional Directorate stepping up to become the ruling body of the Enclave, the nobility of Bordeaux is raising concerns that it is de facto a coup d'etat by the army that would stray the Enclave away from the traditions of Gallic Monarchy towards a simple junta.
Because of most high-ranking army officers being of noble blood themselves, the conflict is also seen as rivalry between civilian and military nobility. However, the army allows a talented commoner to rise in ranks and become on par or even surpass nobility based on one's merits while a civilian administration deprives commoners of such opportunity. This allowed the Provisional Directorate to get tremendous public support among the commoners of Bordeaux and the servicement of the Royal Army.
The Provisional Directorate pledged to carry out further investigation of possible traitors among the Enclave nobility and assured that the security of the Enclave and its population is the highest concern of the new ruling body. Saving Gallia from Kusari invasion, restoring stability, and fortification of Enclave's space were listed as the other policy milestones for the nearest future.

The Confederal Government has so far remained divided on the "Rheinland Question", with the exception of authorising the deployment of the La Fierte battlegroup to the border. This decision appears to have been prudent, with reports circulating on Oerlikon that a large Rheinland engine plume was detected on a heading towards the Valais Cloud. So far Confederal Defence Force representatives have remained tight lipped about the possibility of a Rheinland battlegroup seeking refuge in the system.
Despite the political gridlock between Republican, Duchy and Minarchy representatives, the Defence Force has received authorisation to deploy into the Cologne system in order to secure Gallic assets. Intelligence reports have confirmed that the group known as the Red Hessians has attempted to assert control over the system, and infiltrate Zurich. A public warning has been posted advising that 'Hessians' approaching the Zurich jump gate will be fired upon.

"My faithful subjects! We have stood by long enough while the ravenous remnants of the Alliance feasted upon the lands they have eyed for themselves from long before the landing! We know what they did to assure themselves domination, we know that they led Coalition forces to our sleeper launch site so that they may escape like the rats that they are, and take the best of this region for themselves. All their actions must have consequences! Starting from today, they will be running once again. They will run, or they will be included into the rightful control of House Gallia! Hail the reconquest!"
The crowd gathered at Ile du Palais cheered throughout the speech. The first Royal Navy units are expected to reach and pacify Tau-23 within days, officially marking the first step on the road to victory.

The Council leaders claim that their goal is to change the government of Gallia and overthrow the monarchy, in addition to breaking the isolation of Gallia from the rest of Sirius worlds. According to our today's expert Robert Broussard, Doctor of Economy and senior consultant of Solar Engineering and Ile-de-France Shipping, the Council never had an intention to overthrow the New Paris monarchy. "Our information on the Council agenda is mainly based on their own public announcements and press releases. Yet, New Paris is so far from the Gallic Border Worlds that the Council will not be able to overtake the Core Worlds by force, even if all Border Worlds fall under their supreme rule," - Broussard says, - "On New Paris and other prominent worlds of Gallia, public support for the warlike actions of the Council is relatively low, and the Council is aware that the chances to inspire revolts in the heart of our nation are very slim."
Independent analysts estimate black market operations in Gallia rising by 150%% during the last 30 years. At the same time, frequency of pirate attacks had risen twice in the Core Worlds, and more than three times in the Border Worlds. This unprecedented wave of piracy occured mainly because of the demand for various smuggled goods that the Council generates, and because of the overall chaos caused by the war. Royal Police was caught unprepared by this new dangerous tendency, unable to defend corporate and civilian shipments. The pirate groups are expected to grow even larger now that the path to Sirius was breached by the Council in Languedoc. Being able to take advantage of this new development, pirate groups like the Unione Corse, Gallic Brigands, and Maquis now plan their expansion into Sirius, searching for new markets and recruiting more pilots.
The Council supports those pirate groups almost openly, in return for their help against the Royal Navy. Sporadic raids of Brigands and Maquis never cause significant losses, but play a crucial role in delaying Navy operations against the Council. Almost every asteroid field and nebula in Gallia is now swarmed with ships of various unlawful groups. It remains unknown for how much longer the Council resistance will continue, but it is already evident that there are forces within the Council and within the pirate groups interested in using the war as a source of income. For the Council leadership, political struggle and the well being of their own people appears to be less important than gaining personal wealth and power. This is the reason why the Council would never support any peace negotiation initiatives.

## Rumors

* It is strange. Those Kusari ships that were still resisting us, those exiled traitors? I've not heared from them in weeks now. Who knows, maybe we killed them all? I'm glad they're gone, those guys were maniacs with guns. They scared me more than the Bretonians.

* Perhaps the admirals did not count on those Kusari remnants joining forces with them. No matter, we're only a month or six behind schedule, but with Leeds fallen, Bretonia has lost the bulk of its industry. It is only a matter of time before attrition forces their complete surrender.

*NOTE: Page generated on the 28/10/2023 at 17:59:45 UTC*