Operation Pumpkin Field

[Evangeline Anovilis]

It was in the early morning hours, along the inter-Ontarian border. It was still a few hours, until the cange between the border guard of the night and that of the day and more bored than vigilant, Phoebe Porter, commander at the border crossing at the road Nipissing-Sudbury looked around into the dark woods at the other side of the road and the white snow flakes that kept falling. A rather cold day it was, Phoebe thought, as she turned around and walked back to the Guard Post to call one of her subordinates to keep watch for a bit, so she could warm herself at the fireplace.

 

But just, as she was about to enter, two lights appeared at the horizon, followed by two more and two more, and another two. A whole column of vehicles seemed to appear. Quickly she opened the door, just calling "On your posts, we are getting visitors from at home.", before she shut the door again, unshouldered her rifle and waited for whatever that suspicious movement was. The Faraway Border Guard was to be as vigilant about insiders, as it had to be about outsiders, as not too seldom, people tried to emigrate, especially if from lower estates. Such attempts had to be thwarted at all costs. Behind her, Phoebe could hear the door being opened and the rushing steps of the other border guard members that had not active patrolling duty, but were to watch the border crossing itself.

 

As the first vehicle drew near enough to be discernible, the border guard commander could not help but be surprised. A military truck? And not just one. It seemed the whole train was a dozen or so trucks, some towing guns even. Quickly she stepped on the road waving her arms, indicating the trucks to stop.

 

"Stop! Arretez! Please identify yourself and your purpose!"

 

From the first truck, a soldier jumped out and with a few fast strides, marched up to her.

 

"Private Cathy Colton reporting. We are of the Algonquin Regiment, the First Infantry Division is following us. We got orders from above."

 

As Phoebe read through some papers the soldiers had given her, the private arranged their peaked cap and leaned on their service rifle. Seemingly, it was still a bit too early for this one, the border guard commander, who had been up all night already, thought.

 

"Seems to be fine. Please wait, while we open the gate."

 

She saluted, Cathy did likewise and both went back to their respective units. After Phoebe had ordered her subordinates to open the gate, the trucks set into motion again and quickly pased, towing the regiment's guns behind them. But still, the whole trail moved only at a slow pace and after the first few trucks passed, one could see why. Through the cold of night, the greater part of the First Division crossed the border on foot. In the darkness, hardly visible, quite a few were shivering, but it all went along at a steady pace.

 

[hr]

 

When the first rays of the rising sun would fall upon Sleepy Hollow on this 15th of March, the citizens would find the streets patrolled by the soldiers of the Royal Faraway Army, the administration in the process of being taken over by Faraway bureaucrats and a declaration was passed, to explain the actions of the small country in Ontario.

 

Public Announcement by the Lord Protector

 

Today, we had no choice, but to sadly note, how our neighbour, the proud nation of Sleepy Hollow, has declined into an anarchic state that cannot be tolerated, for the good of its people and the stability of the region. The Faraway Realm has always looked out for this neighbour and we thus shall now also shoulder the burden of duty, that is, to watch over these lands, until a long-term solution has been found. The state of Sleepy Hollow is now a non-state, as it has no longer a central government that keeps order within its borders, I therefor, in my ability as Lord Protector of the Realm, order, that the territory of Sleepy Hollow be seized and made into a special governorate.

 

The Sleepy Hollow Protectorate shall be administered by the military commander of the First Division, Dorothy Alcott, aided by the military staff, until the administrative transition has been completed. The First Division is to remain in the protectorate and shall be in charge of its protection.

 

While it saddens us to take this step, it is a necessary one.

 

 

As the announcement was published, the Royal Faraway Military Police already was underway, to search for the missing Baron and his heiress. Glinda sherwood Doyle, special ambassador carefully watched, that the Faraway military would not intrude too far into the mysteries of the place. It was a mystery to her, how suddenly, the Baron had gone missing for weeks.

 

The bordering countries of Hudson Bay, Quebec and even the non-bordering American Commonwealth were sent copies of the announcement letter, to avoid confusion and misunderstandings.

 

OOC: Last post was on the 17th, I therefor assume that on this day, the 26th day after 25 days of consecutive lack of Sleepy Hollow-related RP posts, the nation has descended into anarchy.

 

If you want the land back, PD, contact me, otherwise I do something else with it. I'm not going to force you out of the country, but if you go inactive, I won't tolerate instability near my border.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

To: The Foreign Ministry of Tianxia

From: Ephraim Halliwell, Foreign Minister of Faraway

 

To the Great Empire of Tianxia,

 

it pains us to inform you, that our neighbour, Sleepy Hollow has fallen into an unacceptable anarchic state, which prompted our action to intervene and restore basic order. While such events are however in such backwater that we doubt the Empire has any interest in it, we contact you out of the necessity to make clear the status of a different patch of territory, the sleepy Hollowin Antarctic Territory.

 

While Faraway would not be against assuming protection also over the few people that ever moved there, we acknowledge it being outside our logistical and diplomatic capacities, preventing us from seizing these lands that are maybe quarter-way around the globe. However, we assume that, in contrast to our small country, the Tianxian Empire has both, the logistical ressources, as well as the status as protector of the Antarctic Preserve, making it far more suited to guard the Sleepy Hollowin Antarctic Territories.

 

Thus, we would like to ask you to assume the administration of these far-off isles, while repatriating the few people that settled there in Sleepy Hollowin times, as we honestly doubt that scientists without a country's scientific budget will enjoy living there, seperated from their homeland and families.

 

With regards,

 

Ephraim Halliwell

 

The Islands in the Hudson Bay however were very well in reach of faraway and were added to the protectorate.

 

Edit: Meh, typo.

Edited March 15, 2013 by Evangeline Anovilis

[Tanis777]

Office of Foreign Affairs Dispatch

Hudson Bay Federation 

 

Our government understands the situation that has developed to the lands east of us.  May the Greater Ontario region see continued stability in your country's watch.  

 

Franklin Townsend

Assistant Minister of North American Affairs

For Official Use Only

 

 

 

Edited March 16, 2013 by Tanis777

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"Sleepy Hollow is an important part of our country's patrimony. We ought to reunite it with the realm. The Barony has maybe cultural differences, but it is similar to the Faraway culture and we should do our best to strive for making Sleepy Hollow ours. It posesses valuable ressources and in geostrategic terms, it not only offers access to the Hudson Bay, it als allows for a continual of the defensive buffer against the West.", Lady Hanobel exclaimed before the Royal Chamber. "We must face it, the world will not always be a tolerant peaceful place. There will be those who will try to overthrow our government. It is hardly possible for us to defend ourselves now, it will not become easier if we let Sleepy Hollow remain independent of our Monarch. We will have to secure for ourselves the place that Faraway deserves, which is a secure Realm that can stand up to its neighbours and needs not fear the abolishment of its ideals."

 

As the noblewoman continued her speech, another deputy of the Royal Chamber already stood up and started by herself. "Lady Hanobel. Did it ever cross your mind, that if we did act like you try to get us to, we would actually have other nations looking to vanquish us? This world tolerates us for we are at peace with the world. If we start antagonising others, this will backfire on us."

 

"Look, this is what keeps us from our true power. Appeasement of others. We are not doing what's best for the Realm, just because we cannot get together a decent defense force for this country. We are utterly unable to defend a square mile, due to the miserable funding provided by this institution, our armed forces are a joke. At least we got decent uniforms now, but what is with the necessary fire power for the troops? Or the missiles for our ships? Or the aircraft for our airforce? Altough we all am not too amused by the constant complaints by Miss Bishop, the point she makes in regards to the lack of a real airforce is a point that cannot be ignored."

 

Most of the ladies present could still remember well, how when they once invited the Chief of the Airforce, Wilma Bishop, how she spread her arms and asked if they should just make propeller sounds to pretend they are keeping the Faraway sky clear. It was a sight to behold, but the comical nature of the question was clearly the desperate attempt to show the Chamber how direly needed aircraft were.

 

"We are equipping young cadets with rifles, then we expect them to hold a front. This can't be your idea of modern warfare and it is irresponsible to the many young women in the service of this country. What is this institution even? We discuss here all day and all it achieves is that we starve our army and hesitate when we could achieve a better country. Where is this responsibility we should feel for our kinswomen? Where is it?"

 

Hanobel slammed her fist on the podium. Most in the Chamber were rather fed up with her, but slowly, the views of hers seemed to gain followers in circles that were not to be ignored.

 

[hr]
 

 

Public Announcement by the Lord Protector

 

As of today, the Barony of Sleepy Hollow, with its long-standing cultural and political ties to our Realm, will be firmly integrated into Faraway. While we state our aim in long-term integration as full part of the Realm, it cannot be ignored, that certain cultural aspects still need to be acclimatised and that until certain unsightly practises have ended, the country will be administered in a Provisory Integration Zone, under administration of a governor that will be appointed by the Lord Protector.

 

Annexed territories include all of Sleepy Hollow and its former territories and protectorates, excluding the Sleepy Hollowin Antarctic Isles, which Faraway lays no claim to, and the Patricia portion, which shall be administered seperately as the Free Patricia Territory.

 

 

Edit: Two typos in the message: cannot and unsightly, fixed.

Edited March 25, 2013 by Evangeline Anovilis

[Kevin Kingswell]

Located in her chambers in the capital city Archon Steiner was handed a report on the recent news of the movements in North America as well as the South. Shaking her head in disgust at these movements she formulated her response before going to broadcast it across open channels.

 

"The Lyran Commonwealth strongly condemns this move by Faraway as well as similar moves by some nations in South America. Regardless of any ties this land which has become free should be left open to self rule rather than absorbed into another or placed under "protectorate" status. The Lyran Commonwealth hopes that Faraway returns the land to a free state and ensures that it remains that way".

[Evangeline Anovilis]

The broadcast would reach the embassy of Faraway in Quebec first, but after it was deemed to be "inspiring anti-Faraway sentiment", it was not even forwarded to the Lord Protector, even less to any public media of the Realm. The Second Section of the Royal Chancellery secretly took note though, and would keep an eye open for any actions the Lyran Commonwealth would make, in response to Faraway policies.

Edited March 25, 2013 by Evangeline Anovilis

[Tanis777]

In Hudson Bay, the news of the annexation of Sleepy Hollow into the Faraway realm was met with mixed emotion in the public media; however, the general consensus was positive to see the country's eastern border under a better sense of order.  No official government statement would be issued though.