Federal Foray and the Pirate Warlord Dong Zhui

The topic regarding provisional armadas was a doubt revisited. However, for the Federation cabinet, this was a report that flew under their radar. Most senior Federation ministers were alarmed that Metropolitan Sol’s territories had military readiness to begin with. Be that it may it was information that would make sense given the legislative filibuster regarding the Federation navy establishment bill.

Should territories outside of Metropolitan Sol, who is supposed to be its lifelines, have they're own armed services, and if so, should they be eventually be granted autonomy and the eventual right to self rule? Failing that, at least greater say in the Federation’s senate? Debates like these filled the halls of the Federation’s legislative assembly in Sydney. At this point, the number of representatives was half a fraction compared to those in the Metropolitan systems. It was the only advantage the heart of Sol had over her dependencies, a cruel ironic fact that historians attributed as it’s the main death rattle.

If the Ruthenians were capable of having a military for themselves, it would signify that in the event of backing up their demands on an ailing Terra, the central region colonies would be more capable to dictate terms in the Federation capital. What was more frightening was this could have a domino effect on other regional colonies in the Orion Arm; if the Ruthenians could have their way bossing around Terra, what stops us from making concessions backed by military force also?

The cabinet decided the best course would be to gauge the Ruthenia loyalty by commandeering their (albeit illegal) militia faring force for the Metropolitan armada's use. They would then use this additional strength for one large expedition force to swing counter-clockwise through most of the Orion Arm, using the Ruthenia regions as a launchpad to do so. Following the pacification of any given star zones, DeRyck would station behind a token garrison to maintain the peace, the size of these was up to his discretion but would most likely be a portion of a squadron to conserve manpower.

During these discussions, the subject shifted to the Frankish domains. While many policymakers were rubbing their temples on the Ruthenians, not one had thought of the Franks who was an obedient civilization.

“The Franks have for the longest time bowed to the insufferable demands of the Senate. But they have been too quiet— and total silence is often a greater sign of trouble than the whispers of sentiment towards Sydney. For you know not if the commoners are merely sharpening their tools in the shadows, out of sight and out of mind. We began to distrust them even though they have done no wrong… it was a sense of unease, all because of the situation unfolding with the Ruthenian colonies. ”

Words of an unknown senator

During the anti-pirate expeditions of the earlier years, Frankish governors did not seek the help of the central government. Instead, they focused solely on solidifying their Side defenses and were the pioneers of advanced weaponry installations that were ahead of their time. Needless to say, they did not field armadas of their own but had instead supplied much of the Federal ships themselves, leading to them being much sought after by the Metropolitan Armada for their artisan engineering.

But it was an increasing general fear that the Franks could stash away any ships not sent to Metropolitan Sol for themselves—perhaps for use of a rebellion. This unfounded paranoia prompted the decision to dispatch a commander to the Frankish Domains— an up and coming commodore named Chal Hugo. While DeRyck and Garofano would handle the rest of the Orion Arm, Hugo would keep an eye on the Franks in the meantime and speed up the process in his part of the Federation once the duo links up with his fleet.

The beginning of this process was commenced in earnest by the end of 219. To command a larger fleet and as a result of his previous accomplishments, DeRyck was promoted to rear admiral, and once again found himself again in command of the Metropolitan armada together with Garofano. The two of them set for the political capital of the Ruthenia region, Vardini, and presented them with an acquisition order of the Ruthenian’s militia.

This was, of course, met with lambasted objections. Not long after the arrival of the Federation, peaceful protests had slowly gained momentum in the Vardini capitol. The Federalist acquisition was seen as an encroaching threat to their authority. Something they made very indicative of but ultimately did nothing that would raise Federation brows.

Despite heated protests from the Admiralty, among them Dolz, the civilian government would eventually bow to the needs of DeRyck. They would transfer over several reinforced squadrons of destroyers and a tiny handful of recently commissioned battleships. It was stated that Dolz vehemently objected to any subordinates under his command, officer or troops otherwise, to be transferred over. Furthermore, he abstained from being posted in the Federation host himself.

To further complicate a shaky state of affairs, the transferred troops were colonial troops staffed by Federal officers. In the eyes of the colonists, it was evident the Federation was no less shy asserting dominance over their dependencies.

Despite these rocky developments, the reorganization effort would be accomplished without further issue. The DeRyck fleet would sail out to commence the long-range campaign in earnest. The events that transpired during the venture itself was nothing noteworthy, as such, it was conducted without fail. It would reach it’s conclusion once DeRyck had done his interstellar counter-clock-wise sweep through the Orion Arm. This was dated as being accomplished in 221 UC.

Despite the overall overwhelming success of the campaign, there was one region that had resisted attempts to subdue it. This was the Toscana region, the southeasternmost star zone. Being the smallest, naval strategists had projected that it would be a brief operation. However, overconfidence was met with a harsh reality.

Leading the coalition of Toscani pirates was Dong Zhui, a ruthless pirate warlord who had risen to prominence in the aftermath of the 216-218 Federation campaign. His ferocious charisma and intimidating tactics made many bend the knee to his authority, and countless refugee pirates to flock to his ever-imposing banner. His political successes prompted him to declare himself as Don and began the stepping stone process of reorganizing the displaced pirate factions into organized crimes group—mafias. To distinguish it from later ones, Dong Zhui’s regime was referred to as the 217 Mafia based on the year it was nominally founded.

Although not particularly popular with the commoners he ruled over, Dong enjoyed immense support from the pirate elite who yearned to preserve their way of life. Dong recognized his shortcomings in day to day business of governing, and let his two adopted adult children, Li Chiou and Dong Che, handle such posts.

Aside from the periodic meeting of important issues, Dong basked in degenerate parties reminiscent of ancient Eurasia regimes. During such social events, Dong would frequently employ Federation POWs fight to the death with savage animals, who were more often than not crippled beforehand by cutting off particular parts of their body and traumatically mauled to death. Their remains were then presented as ‘flesh cubes’ during party banquets. Although Zhui was proud of these, the same could not be said for the discomfort it gave his guests and in particular Li Chiou, who usually distanced herself from such barbarity.

None dared spoke out about it for fear of reprisal. It would be many years after Dong’s death before his atrocities came to light.

By August 220, when it became evident the Federation was threatening their sphere of influence, Dong was quick to relieve them of administrator duty and appoint his children as fleet commanders.

Although with Li Chou, he was rather reluctant to give her any form of a major command given the rather rocky relationship the two of them had in the past. Li Chou had however distinguished herself as a capable commander in skirmishes before, particularity during Dong’s barbaric campaigns in the Merican-Rounen regions sometime before 217. Arguably, Li Chou was one of his best commanders under his regime.

Because of this, he was pressed for a lack of better talent and had her as one of his direct subordinates. This had two goals; to keep an eye on her and ensure she did not go against his will. And secondly, to keep her out of the capitol, where he feared she would perform a government coup and therefore oust him.

Dong Zhui’s trust in his son, Dong Che, was more meaningful and attached him to an independent yet small armada in the Sides at Valspon. Neither Dong knew for sure if the Federation would strike from the Bordeaux region—The older Dong’s area of expertise was westward, and he had not been in the Frankisn realm for well over thirty years. Zhui’s reasoning for leaving such a small garrison in the hands of Che was because he anticipated an invasion through the Velksland system.

With the conclusion of the last bastion of pirate stronghold heavens falling to Federal forces within Ruthenia in July 220, DeRyck looked to continuing his campaign across the Kongriega corridor. However, when word reached him of an alarming assembly of pirate activity in the Toscana region, he decided to change course and march to the Dissenland region with his fleet.

Upon reaching Dissenland a few days later, he took over and oversaw the construction of the space fortress there, the Hatillo. Nominally designed to deter Dong’s pirate fleets from harassing the Rounen region. It was far from finished, however, and lacked any real armament that could.

By early August reconnaissance, ships did indeed confirm the gathering of a large host of ships in Velksland’s orbit. DeRyck decided to wait—contemplating if he could engage Dong’s forces or not. On one hand, he could annihilate the 217 Mafia right then and there before it got too powerful. On the other, the corridor between Toscana and Rounen was strategic. It was narrow and did not allow for many ships to warp in at once. Launching an offense now would be rather disastrous and wither down his troops.

And then it hit DeRyck.

Chal Hugo.