Protests grow larger in Wiel
Anti-Trigunian and anti-Aldegarian protests all the rage.
A pro-gay rights protest in the capital of Wiel, where many anti-Trigunian slurs were heard.
January 3969 - During the last few weeks more and more protests are popping up in the major cities of Vanuku, with the largest protests being in the capital city of Wiel. Yet in contrast to protests a few years ago these are not being scattered by the police, instead they enjoy police protection. All protected protests are aimed at Trigunia and Aldegar. Only a few days ago there was a major protest against the lack of gay rights in Trigunia, and today a large group protested against Aldegarian warmongering and marched to remember the fifty fallen fishermen, whom many have called "victims of Aldegarian imperialism". Vanukean nationalists have also been protesting, feeling that the state is not doing enough to protect the interests of the nation. Anti-intervention protests however, are nowhere to be seen, mostly because these groups do not enjoy police protection and the nationalist "militia's" are hard-pressed on silencing the "anti-Vanukeans" and "traitors". The calls of the protesting people have not gone unanswered, as Prefect Bucék declared that Wiel would take a "stronger stance against those who oppose us".
First Fleet sent to protect Saridan
"You slaughter their people, you are touching us"
Admiral Bernard van Swaelfort, commander of the Naval Forces.
January 3969 - Prefect Bucék, after talking to the Prince, has decided to redeploy the First Fleet to the coast of Saridan. The Iron Woman stated that the situation was "getting out of control" with Aldegarians "mindlessly slaughtering innocent civilians". The commander of the Naval Forces, Admiral van Swaelfort, also had some strong words to share. "You slaughter their people, you are touching us" he said, referencing to the fifty fishermen that an Aldegarian submarine killed. It is yet unconfirmed if the fishermen were from Saridan, yet the general concensus seems to be they are. Even though the government explicitly stated that the deployment of the fleet is to protect the citizens of Saridan, military experts state that it is most likely in an answer to Trigunia, who have also redeployed their fleet in the area. The First Fleet is the largest and most modern fleet of Vanuku, led by the supercarrier HVMS Támnr, which ironically was built in Trigunia. The fleet has been shadowed by many Vanukean submarines, who will patrol the seas in wolfpacks. Admiral van Swaelfort warned the Aldegarians with a final message: "Be careful, as our submarines are the most modern of the world. Ours can tell the difference between a fishing trawler and an ill-willing Aldegarian tub."