National Conservation Authority

### Description and History

The National Conservation Authority(NCA) is the military counterpart to the Civil Affairs Committee(CAC), but despite the military origins, they control most aspects of civilian life, having the ability to veto or suggest changes to any laws proposed by the CAC, the NCA is the highest level of Vestrines authority. Tensions between the NCA and CAC have been high ever since 1941, after the events of "The Salvation" when the military declared martial law for a short period due to food riots that got out of control. When martial law was lifted however, the CAC would find that the NCA was not a temporary solution to a problem, but a permanent regulatory body controlled solely by the military.

The military was originally entirely detached from the State's government, only responsible for the protection of the city and it's surroundings and without any influence in the CAC. The NCA however, lead by it's Military Council, has total control over the city, with the CAC being relegated to dealing with issues the military didn't care to deal with themselves. The most notable moment in the early history of the NCA was the forced implementation of the Draft Act, which mandated that the 5th Cavalry Corps may forcibly recruit any civilian into military service when the Military Council deems it necessary. This particular act would have to be performed by the CAC's police forces, the Civil Guard, which further angered the CAC. against the NCA.

The power of the NCA was eventually diminished due to the efforts of Premier Davy Dassalt, who instead of antagonizing the NCA, reasoned with it. After two years of discussions and compromises, Dassalt succeeded in regaining the CAC's independence, most notably by getting the NCA to give up it's power to force any laws onto the CAC without their approval. Ever since Dassalt's premiership, the NCA is more similar a regulatory body, rather than a dictatorial one. Yet the Draft Act remained in place as one of the compromises, albeit it with addendums such as not being able to draft from certain industries' personnel. 11 times has the CAC voted to repeal the Draft Act, and 11 has the NCA denied the proposal.

In the current day, the NCA is led by a triumvirate of generals, known as the Military Council, who have the final say on what happens in the state as a whole, with it's mission to safeguard and eventually reclaim the entire colony, they directly control what, how much and when factories produce their goods, setting quotas and handling the rationing of food to the civilian population. Besides the triumvirate is a secondary body, The Department of War, which is made up of (Exact number to be determined) officers from the various units in the 5th Corps, who get to proofread any decision made by the Military Council and approve or deny it. The Military Council may however decide to ignore the Department of War and write a direct order to enforce the decision regardless of their consent.

### Military Council Members

The Military Council always houses 3 members, these are the General of the 5th Cavalry Corps, as well as the commanders of both Cavalry Divisions of the Corps. Currently the members are General Achille Forest, Major-General Rickshaw and Brigadier General Granger.

The Military Council is considered the "spearhead" of the Vestrinian ideals and must act accordingly to maintain their positions as members of the council. Council members deemed too weak or otherwise insufficient may be voted out by the Department of War, which is the only vote that the Council cannot override. However, this has to this day never happened.

### Schools of Thought

Whilst the 5th Corps may seem like a unitary entity with but one goal, even before the creation of the NCA, there was divide among the troops on how to deal with the issues put before them. After the formation of the NCA these divides were able to be expressed through the voices of the officers in the Department of War. These divides range from simply strategic and tactical disagreements to more fundamental issues of statecraft and personal freedom.

#### The School of Vengeance

Led by Colonel Jaime and championed by the officers from his Mobile Expeditionary Brigade and some from the 2nd Cavalry Division, this school of thought focuses on avenging the Vestrinian people against the natives who caused the collapse of the colony to begin with. They desire the destruction or displacement of tribes to recolonize the land with our own people. Strategically, they support a gradual expansion of our borders in every direction, with a tactical doctrine of a short period of shelling followed by quick assaults, burning down the villages and driving away or killing the inhabitants. Ideologically, this school harbors a rather traditional sentiment, being the primary opponents of having women in the armed forces and have a strong dislike for those that stray too far from the Vestrinian form of Sethdeg religion.

#### The School of Reclamation

Led by Major-General Rickshaw, it's officers supporting it in the Department of War almost exclusively from his 1st Cavalry Division, this School believes in a seemingly more lenient approach to the natives, desiring the return of the old slavery system, with added tweaks to prevent a second Tearing, they believe that the Vestrinian population is too small for the tasks ahead, and desires to use the native population as a way to free up more of our people for military service, as well as increasing our ability to produce in general. On a strategic level, Rickshaw's school is unique in believing that vehicles, tanks and aircraft are the future of warfare, citing his experience outside of the country, having seen foreign military equipment first hand, albeit 30 years ago. He believes that if we don't modernize our military as we reclaim our lands, then predator states will take advantage of our hard work of stabilizing the region. Ideologically however, Rickshaw's personal beliefs seem to be generally accepted among the school, which is the idea of a return to a pre-Tearing economy, with a free market regulated by the state and privately owned businesses.