Mercenaries move out, Russians brazenly attempt to pacify locals
Having successfully annexed the Republic of Celle after eight weeks of bloody conflict, Shashka International are down-scaling their military operation in central Europe, leaving only a skeleton security presence in the war-torn Celle region.
A new political union has been declared between Celle and Russia, which will see Celle retain its current government, but its leaders will now be answerable to Moscow. While Celle has had little choice in this matter, the deal is not entirely without local benefit, with the Russians promising a lasting peace and a strong economic stimulus package for the state. The Celle government security contracts held by River Stone Incorporated have been terminated with immediate effect, and RS have withdrawn all troops from the area.
The international community has been quick to condemn the actions of Shashka International, but notably, governments have been reluctant to condemn Russia directly, despite the common knowledge that Shashka annexed the republic as a proxy of the Russian government, for the Russian government. Both Shashka and Russia actively seek to cloud such claims, with terms like ‘brotherhood’, ‘shared goals’ and ‘mutually beneficial business relationship’ usually littering official press releases.
River Stone Inc. leave Celle with their forces routed and military reputation damaged, but also with a shadow over their own motivations. Their long-standing claims of being global peace-keepers are beginning to wear thin. The usual accusations of wanting nothing more than a stake in local resources and redevelopment contracts have been pushed into the background and replaced with multiple accounts of avoidable collateral damage and heavy-handedness in local Celle newspapers.
US-backed security presence has risen sharply in central Europe in the immediate aftermath of the Celle conflict, with the US and EU aim being to maintain the status quo and deter any further Russian advances. While Russia seems content to let things settle in central Europe for now, all European nations are on high alert. Russia has laid on the post-conflict diplomacy heavily, and is pacifying on all fronts – but central European memories are not that short. On the other hand, while the consensus among them may be outrage, most would also privately admit to being relieved that the Russians seem content to take a diplomatic step back, having asserted themselves so convincingly in Celle. A foothold has been conceded, but the ladder remains a long one.
Today, Celle begins the awkward transition into life under indirect Russian rule. Local opinion is divided. “At least now we can move on, and live our lives in peace without these godforsaken mercenaries on our doorstep,” said one Hermannsberg columnist. One hopes they can do so – but the prospect of a lasting peace is just that for now – a prospect.
