Tisorzag Crisis

Despite being largely thought to be leaderless following the attack on the Sovagrad HQ, Vanguardist cells, (along with the cooperation of militant RED units) launched a series of well coordinated attacks on military targets across Tisorzag. The attacks, in conjunction with a series of high quality arial reconnaissance operations from unknown aircraft, and unground media distribution channels, lead to a highly publicized anti-government media operation. As many units of the Tisorzag Imperial Forces defended local garrisons against partisan attacks, and attempted to engage in counter-insurgency operations in hostile provinces, a mass protest gathered at the docks of Alhama and marched to the capital. Military blockades organized by the Imperial Forces were quickly overrun when it was revealed that a vanguardist cell had acquired and activated a 100 foot tall robotic MSAB. While it's base design seemed antiquated, it seemed to have been extensively retrofitted, including a large assortment of flame throwers, anti-aircraft rockets, and jump packs. The Mech, nicknamed 'King Slayer' led an expanding group of largely unarmed protestors, along with an assortment of some elite vanguardist militia members, and RED explosive experts. A handful of defecting Imperial Forces soldiers also abandoned their posts to join the march, calling for an end to the monarchy.

As much of the countryside descended into insurgent violence, and the march from Alhama to Sovagrad began, the Imperial government quickly began making concessions. Under the strong advice of Marshal Anton Voldescu of the Tisorzag Imperial Forces Fifth Army, Emperor Radamov Uroš agreed to a national constitution and the election of a popular assembly and executive head of state. Various concessions were made to conservative, farmer and religious stakeholders as well, with police forces offered military hardware to quell violent unrest and cases of looting and civil disobedience. IMAS engaged in a number of offensive 'pacification' operations, deploying Savrog agents with increasing frequency, and to growing public condemnation.

   The Crisis reached a boiling point on Jan 20, 1979, when IMAS forces finally engaged the protest march within the Sovagrad city limits. Blocks away from the Imperial Palace, the King Slayer battled palace guard, horrific abominations and squads of elite (unmarked) marines. After almost 3 days of intensive urban combat, leveling much of the city centre, the King Slayer finally broke down, with remaining armed insurgents shot in the streets by IMAS security forces. However, it was the definition of a pyrrhic victory, with many of the IMAS' best forces dead or in disarray, and much of the country still in open revolt.

   Marshal Anton Voldescu ordered the withdrawal of Imperial Forces garrisons from colonial Tisorzag and the Tisorzag occupation zone to bolster local stability efforts and humanitarian relief within Sovagrad. In what is seen by many to a coup, the Marshal announced the confinement of the Emperor to house arrest within the ruins of the Imperial Palace and the dissolution of IMAS. After a quick succession of bloody skirmishes, Imperial Forces arrested or killed much of the IMAS leadership, broadcasting their deaths to the general public, or in some cases, simply handed over the accused to be torn apart by desperate and furious crowds.

In the following weeks the Marshal announced snap elections, to transition from his ad-hoc emergency military government to a legitimate civilian government. With the Marshal himself running as the most notable candidate for executive office he won power in a landslide. Accusations of military intimidation and ballot rigging were widely reported, however much of the population seemed to support a candidate promising a return to stability and order, and one who had gained credit for the overthrow of the despised IMAS.

The Emperor remains the legal head of state of Tisorzag, with Marshal Voldescu content to use him as a figurehead and icon of legitimacy. While still reeling from the devastation of the uprising, the military is largely in control of the country, and has successfully stabilized the worst of the unrest. The new legislative assembly is largely made up of military nationalists, conservatives, members of the farmers collective, and technocrats and liberals. Surprisingly the Marshal has been largely hostile to the Patriarch Council, both out of their perceived support for IMAS as well as the Marshal's own personal religious antipathy.

The various factions of the Tisorzag Crisis are as follows:

IMAS (Imperial Majesty's Armed Security) - Secret Police of the Uroš Dynasty, 9/10 training and equipment, 10/10 loyalty, small size, responsible for protection of Imperial Dynasty, access to top tier of government technology and Svarog assets

Tisorzag Imperial Forces - National Army of Tisorzag, 7/10 training and equipment, 6/10 loyalty, large size, access to majority of conventional Tisorzag military assets

Patriarch Council - Ravelian religious leadership of Tisorzag, significant influence and authority in conservative a rural regions of Tisorzag, some members have advocated for increased Church autonomy and control in Tisorzag life, including the establishment of a religious police, 5/10 loyalty

Tisorzag Conservative Movement - Representing many of the upper and middle class of Tisorzag society who seek less government restriction (on them) and some democratic reforms within a constitutional monarchist system, opposed to land reform, influence over many local police districts 4.5/10 loyalty

Farmers Collective - A small group of farmers who own and run their own land, advocate for land reform and redistribution, widespread support and sympathy from many farmers, 4.5/10 loyalty

National Council of Sciences - Representing the intelligentsia and scientific elite of Tisorzag, small but influential among the scientific, engineering and bureaucratic elite, 4/10 loyalty

United Liberals - Advocates for the establishment of a Tisorazagian republic, with broad social rights and freedoms, and a moderate non-ideological economic policy, influence with many bureaucrats and professionals 2/10

Colonial Independence Movements - Not one group, but the collection of various independence movements within Colonial-Tisorzag, 1/10 loyalty

RED (Redistribution for Economic Development) - A fringe radical communist/anarchist movement dedicated to the dismantling of 'Tisorzag feudalist systems' 0/10 loyalty

UTV (United Tisorzag Vanguards) - A loose collection of armed vanguardist cells and militia groups, well supplied by lacking leadership after the elimination of their Sovagrad Headquarters, 0/10 loyalty