Eight years war

## Overview

The Eight year war is the most defining moment of the Cantium's (and Cantium primes) long history. Starting in 64 BDoS and lasting to 56 BDoS it laid the ground work for the major powers to control the world.

## Prticipents

Allies

* Briatangra
* Corrial
* Fallcia
* Federation of Shandala
* Fomoc
* Union of Artalago
* Republic of Cadali
* Zalious

Basilisk pact

* Gratom
* Republic of Cadali (changed sides in 57 BDoS)
* Sandala

## History

### Prior

In the late industrial era several nations had experienced rapid growth, particularly those among the western Erina. With rapid growth of industry came the need for more resources and expansion. One of the more quickly growing nations of Gratom, located on the western bank of the gulf of Helmorin, attempted to expand their sphere of influence by invading northern territories on Tamora belonging to the Sandala empire. Sandala was to slow and overstretched to mobilize forces right way and Gratom were able to entrench and by the time Sandala was prepared for war the second generation of Gratom settlers were already living there. Sandala's attack was slow and predictable and made little impact, however the Federation of Shadala quickly rode in with their carvery and quickly annexed the region. The Gratom planed to launch an attack and gather back their colonies but the United Kingdom of Biratanagra intervened and blockaded the ports; having struck an alliance with the Federation of Shadala. Meanwhile the principality of Zalious was overthrown after a long brutal civil war 6 years before and had been taken over by the Socialist part of Zalious, this put them at odds with their more capitalist neighbors.

### Start of the war

After losing some of their colonies and feeling as though their chance at success had been taken away the people of Gratom grew angry and bitter and began leaning towards ultra nationalist tendencies, in a landslide victory the Imperial Authority Party, better known as the I.A.P, took 99/100 seats and began pouring massive funds into the military and began expanding towards it's neighbors. Under the preaching of taking back what was rightfully Gratoms the IAP drove the world ever closer to war. They would get their excuse to start a war when their ambassador to the neighboring nation of Fallcia's car was hit with a flaming bottle and was killed. With this Gratom declared war with Fallcia and her allies.

With the first shots being fired at the Gratom/Fallcian boarder the United Kingdom of Biratanagra declared war on Gratom to aid it's allies in Facllcia, which caused the Republic of Cadlia to declare war on them, which caused the Union of Artalago to declare war on them, which lead to a series of events that lead Zalious and Sandala to declare war on each other after Sandala sent forces into the Federation of Shadala in an attempt to once again fight their old enemies. Soon almost all nations were at war, the only exception were the Hordala archipelago nations which attempted to stay natural.

### Year one

After the war began Gratom and it's colonies in the south of Cadali began all out attacks at it's neighboring states. Biratanagra attempted to block them from sending out a fleet to sea but were forced to remain far from the bay by submarine attacks. The Federation of Shadala launched a surprise attack down the western coast of Tamora against Sandala cities and sent a fleet north to help Briatanagra, well Sandala launched a fleet north but where intercepted by the Zalious navy but after 3 months of fighting the Sandala forces managed to push them away from Kumo'moro and would continue on to their intended attack point of the westen cost of the Federation of Shandala. The republic of Cadali joined the Gratom in fighting the colonies in the south of Cadali but were caught off guard by a surprise blitzkrieg at their capital by the Union of Artalago.

### Year two

Gratom made short work of it's near by neighbors and caused Fomoc in the north to surrender allowing Gratom to take their navy, including a aircraft carrier, and join the republic of Cadali in an assault on Midland. Sandala started a major land based offensive into Shadala well their navy fresh off their victory over Zalious attacked the east coast began their push to land on the east cost of the Federation of Shandala. The Federation had advance warning from Zalious over this attack and conducted multiple air strikes over the fleet to weaken them till their landing attempt failed. The Federation of Shadala's navy was recalled in order to join Briatranagra to retake Midland knowing it was there only hope to protect their land on Cadali. The Briatrangra navy was delayed thanks to constant submarine attacks so the Shadala forces made a desperate solo attack using bold tactics that managed to sink 2 of the 4 aircraft carriers defending it and crippling the other two in a devastating victory that the Gratom forces blamed on the republic of Cadali. Meanwhile the republic of Cadali forces rushed to retake their capital from the union.

#### Battle of Midland

    One of the most important battles of the whole 8 years war was the battle of Midland that put the Republic of Cadali and Gratom navy against the Federation of Shadala navy. Unlike the Republic who could afford to pump out carriers the Federation could only afford to build and maintain two: the Ranger and the Bandit. The two would be the only carriers to fight the five combined carriers as the Britranagra forces were stalled by Gratom submarine attacks that delayed them.

##### Breakdown

* At 6:00 the three fleets converged on the island of Midland. The Republic of Cadali from the north by north west, the Gratom fleet coming from the north east and the Federation of Shandala from the south. The Republic navy having 4 carriers and 1 battleship, the Gratom with 1 carrier and 1 battleship and the Federation with just 2 carriers and 1 battleship. At the time the Federation of Shandala had just two carriers and committed them both to this conflict under the assumption that Britrangra would be coming to assists.
* 7:00 the Republic of Cadali send their fighter bombers to attack the airbase at Midland, using the lighter 220kg bombs to attack the airstrips and the fuel tanks. At this time the Federation of Shandala was unsure where the enemy fleet was located other then north of the island, in an attempt to save as much fuel as possible for the search they would uses air balloons to float their aircraft to the west using the wind. These would eventually allow them to get the drop on the Republic fleet.
* 8:00 The hot air balloons release their fighters who begin heading northeast looking for the Republic's carriers. well the Republic fights attack the islands airbase, catching them before they could scramble defensive fighter and saw the loss of 150 planes on the ground under the Republic attack.
* 8:30 The first group from the Republic fighter attack is on their way back. Republic carriers begging to hear reports that the Federation of Shandala navy is close and get out their heavier 450kg bombs to use against the enemy ships as their first wing of fighters begin to return to the carrier group. Most Republic citizens did not want to get into conflict with their once allies who helped them secure their independence however they know that it is a "us or them" situation and will do what they must. At this time the Federation air wing spots the Republic fleet and begins lineing up their attack runs.
* 9:15 The Federations planes catch the carrier group by complete surprise, some even confusing it for their own planes coming in for a landing, and unleash a devastating strike destroying multiple ships and the two rear carriers with a total of 17 bomb hits on the two carriers; igniting the ammunition being moved on deck that was intended to be used against the Federation fleet. The two carriers are sunk in hours and the battleship, the Atlanta, is crippled and would sink a few hours after the battle by scuttling action.
* 9:45 On their way back the Federation forces are intercepted by the second group from the Republic and begin a dog fight. However the Republic fighters are low on fuel and are easy prey for the Federation. The Republic fighters are outnumbered 2 to 1 and have no chance and many pilots would bail out over Midland and be captured or starve out in the dense jungle of Midland.
* 10:00 Gratom's fleet is finally in range and begin sending out their air groups. The brused fighter groups from the Republic navy return to their fleet and find the two carriers completely sunk, they are forced to land on the remaining carriers. The massive loss of aircraft and ships causes the Republic to pull their attack early, angering their Gratom allies who would learn of this after the fight thanks to strict radio silence as to not give away either fleet's potion; this was irrelevant due to Britranagra code breaking that had given away the plane before it had even been committed to.
* 10:15 The Federation fleet moves to intercept the Gratom fleet. The Gratom air group would fly over the island and find the airfield damaged and attempted to swing south to locate the Federation fleet, however they would become lost and confused as they search for the Federation ships that had moved east.
* 10:35 The Federation prepared to launch their next strike at the Gratom fleet who begin their turn south around the island of midland to take the airfield. The Federation aircraft carriers due to their split decks had been able to re-arm their fighters at lighting speed without the need to move explosives' and ammunition to the deck, instead using the bellow deck like an assembly line to re-fit and re-arm their fighters. They would have been able to launch planes at the same time as landing plane, but the Federation was not confident in this ability to do this yet.
* 10:50 The Federation planes begin their attack on the Gratom fleet, easily taking down their ships as they were not built with the extensive AA guns that would become common later in the war. The Gratom ships radio their planes, breaking the silence, to return; however it is far to late and their carrier is sunk through repeated bomb strikes.

* 11:00 The Gratom planes search the area for the Federation planes but are unable to locate any as the Federation planes take a wide turn around the island to return to their carriers. The Gratom planes were running out of fuel and with their carrier quickly slipping bellow the waves had to weigh their option of attempting to land at Midland or risk a water bailout; eventually choosing the water bailout option instead of allowing their planes to be captured by the enemy.
* 11:30 The Gratom fleet is forced to retreat and their planes would have to make a water landing and the pilots would be picked up. An absolute victory for the Federation of Shandala who suffered only a few casualties in lost planes and zero lost ships, unlike the Republic of Cadali and the Gratom navies that lost a combined 12 ships; including 3 of their aircraft carriers.

##### Impact

Well many battles over the course of the next 6 years would be larger and more important nothing will be more important then the battle of midland. It would set up the Republic of Cadali and Gratom's failing relationship as Gratom and the Republic argued over who's fault it was, with the Gratom refusing to give the Republic authority over their fleets following the event, and cement the relationship between the Federation of Shandala and the kingdom of Britranagra. It would also completely show the power of aicraft carriers over battleships in the coming war.

### Year three

The Republic of Cadali attempted to retake their capital but the Union forces were prepared and launched a flanking attack on their forces as they charged north. Gratom continued to captured the south of Cadali, angry at the republic for not helping them. The retreating Republic and Gratom fleet was harassed by Shadala submarines well their main fleet and the Briatranagra fleet took a large force to the city of Cockrin in Corrial to stop the Gratom advance. Sandala made an attack on the south of Zalious in the Catamolaian penicillin, in an attempt to have some land gains, as well as retaking positions on their coast from Shadala. Zalious made a fainting attack in the north before withdrawing past the Zalious mountain range in order to set up an ambush at a natural bottle neck. More animosity were caused between the Republic of Cadali and Gratom as the larger Republic fleet retreating from Midland took up all the repair ports that Gratom had captured in the south forcing the Gratom fleet to go to a different port.

### Year four

Gratom managed to secure the south of Cadali and with the help of the Republic fleet and the recently arrived Sandala forces that had traveled from the east. Together they began their invasion into Shadala territory on Cadali. The Republic of Cadali surrounded the regions around their former capital in order to cut of the Union forces there. Briatranagra sent their fleet to intercept the invading force but was heavily outnumbered by the three fleets and had to pick and chose where to attack and defend. Zalious launched operation pinhead where they used the neatural bottleneck of the Zalious mountain range to squeeze the Gratom forces into a bottleneck and overpower them. This battle lasted several months and saw nearly a million casualities as neither side would admit defeat. Shadala attempted to break the stalemate in the south with a flanking attack on Sandala's south. Sandala's fleet moved from Zalious to south Cadali, stopping at neutral ports in Somora to refuel.

### Year five

    The Sandala introduced a new super bomber, that they had been working on for nearly three decades, capable of traveling in the jet stream and delivering a payload from Sandala city to the Federation of Shadalan capital. Lacking fuel for a return trip it landed in Gratom controlled territory who copied the design and started sending out their own super bombers. One of which attacked Biratanagra and attempted to link up with forces on Cadali, but due to the Gratom pilots inexperiance they used up to much fuel and crashed. The bomber was discovered and picked up by the Biratanagra navy, after radar traked its decent, and brought home for study. Another super bomber was used to attack the capital of Zalious, but due to it traveling the opposite direction of the jet stream it ran out of fuel and crashed on its return trip. The combine fleet of Gratom, Republic of Cadali and Sandala moved east and was attacked by the Federation of Shadala and Biratanagra navy over a period of 6 months. The battle was mostly fought with fighter bomber raids as neither side wanted a direct conflict just yet; the Republic and Gratom navy still recalling the bloody nose that the Federation gave them just two years before at Midland and the Federation and Biratanagra were outnumbered and not ready to risk the Corrial cost. The fighting in the Federation of Shandala's territories on Cadali turned brutal and the Republics sympathy for their once allies began to take hold of them again well the fighting in Zalious reached a stalemate in both the north and the south and Shadala's flank attack got intercepted by Sandala's forces, halting their hope to break the stalemate.

### Year six

The Republic of Cadali managed to retake their capital and sent forces south in support of Gratom. Gratom, Sandala and the Republic of Cadali's fleets retreated to refuel and lick their wounds after several torpedoed strikes managed to land on their carriers earlier in the year. Zalious managed a strong southern push against Sandala only for Gratom to make a sudden massive push through their western territory supported by their supper bombers. Sandala made more bombing strikes along the Shadala line and landed with their fleet in the west, only to find out that the Republic of Cadali never knew about the super bombers and were very upset at their allies lack of transparency. Combine with the heavy losses faced throughout the war, the loss of their capital to the Union of Artalago and the feeling that Gratom didn't have their best interests at heart Cadali began to see their allies as a liability and a nuisance and the Republic secretly began negotiating with Britranagra and the Federation of Shandala.

### Year seven

The Republic of Cadali fed up with Gratom betrayed them at the battle of Seacrest harbor, annihilating the Gratom and Sandala navy there with Biratanagra and Federation of Shadala. Their army surprised the Gratom forces and started a punishing strike through the south of Cadali, capturing new territory and slamming the Gratom forces. Zalious made the largest counter attack ever seen in the Cantium's history by sending their entire army to focus on the sudden Gratom push in the west in what is known as operation Zalious's bloody fist. This had the largest tank battle ever seen at the battle of Siciro flats and saw an absolute flattening of the Gratom forces as the Zalions angrilly retook their territory. Sandala finally broke the stalemate at the Shandalan boarder with a last desperet attack and pushed northward, their nearly empty war machine pushing on fumes to make some impact.

### Year eight

After the Republic of Cadali's betrayal and mass destruction of the Gratom at the hands of operation Zalious's bloody fist the war was turning vastly against them, major gains lost and the betryal of their former allies. The Shadala navy took a large leap towards the Sandala capital as did the Republic of Cadli's fleet, striking naval bases in Kumo'moro. As a contingent from Zalious charged through the Federation of Shadala to fight Sandala (used as a favor to maintain the alliance and good will that they had with the Federation of Shandala prior to the war). Sandala, exhausted and in massive debt from the seven years, surrender in exchange for a return to the previous boarder lines before the war. Alone Gratom was fighting the entire world by its self. The Republic of Cadali now using the super bombers, thanks to Biratanagra, sent a bomber across the world to deliver their very first hydrogen bomb on Gratoms capital; flying over Zalious to intimidate them by showing they could strike their capital just the same as they did Gratoms. Turning the city to a glass floor. The devastation was so vast that the whole of the IAP was killed and a General out of the city needed to conduct the official surrender in their place, finally bringing the eight years of slaughter to an end and largely dividing the boarders in favor of the winners.

## Following

At the end of the war Gratom was nearly stripped of all its power, forced to see most of its power stripped and the states that once made it up split apart it would play a major part in the next part of history as the various nations attempted to gain upper hands against each other and keep one another in check, creating a fearful state that another war like the eight year war might come. However their next enemy would not be any of each other, or even of their world, the next major war fought by the Cantium was against the Grand Duchy of Julithar as the two powers met each other in space. During that conflict the major players of the eight year war would consume the few weaker nations left that didn't take part in the war, leaving the six major powers to once again eye each other suspiciously even as they put together the United Cantium Conglomorate.