The Kazakh Insurgency

[Markus Wilding]

Map key
Blue: Government control
Burgundy: Communists
Gold: Nur Otan (Radiant Fatherland)
Green: Socialist Resistance
Purple: Kings of Kazakhstan
Cyan: Black Jackets (Anarchists)
Red represents major highways. Strategic and important cities are marked. Highways should be assumed to extend into other nations or other towns if not otherwise marked.

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Following the UN’s pledge of assistance, Kazakhstan turned into a host for various foreign nationals. The UN mandate in Kazakhstan was clear - ensure that violence would be curtailed, or at least limited, during the July elections and if they could not be held, to keep the peace long enough for truly free elections to take place.

The obstacles facing the UN and its peacekeepers are overwhelming, seemingly insurmountable. The Kazakh people enjoy their rights to gun ownership, and it is not uncommon to see armed people walking the streets. UN forces already in the area report unease with not knowing who is a potential militia member, or just a civilian exercising their rights. Furthermore, Kazakh society is further divided than first thought or reported. An official government report shows the country practically splintered, with the government only claiming full control over the capital of Shymkent. Exclaves of government control are split by fascist militiamen, monarchist pretenders, and socialists. The major cities of Oral, Aqtobe, Atyrau, Aqtau, Qyzylorda and Taraz are all under some form of militia control ranging from communists to anarchists.

Of course, it’s not just the organized political enemies that divide the Kazakhs. Crime runs rampant, with more or less open warfare waged between two rival gangs - the Jackals, gangsters with no remorse and operating in illegal drugs, and the War Brides, an all-female motorcycle gang that smuggles weapons across borders and roams Kazakhstan’s highways.

With Kazakhstan on the brink of civil war, it seems only the presence of the UN can stop the fighting long enough to force true and fair elections. The question is, when the UN peacekeepers leave, will they depart as the peacekeepers they always were or will they be regarded as tools the opposition used to gain influence?

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OOC: Player nation rules are as follows:

Conditions

• This is primarily a peacekeeping mission. Player nations may only send up to 2 points of any kind of infantry. One point of infantry may be swapped out for helicopters.
• In Kazakhstan, firearms ownership is seen as an inalienable right. Player nations cannot forcibly disarm any part of the populace for any reason, and if attempted, the Kazakh government will actively prevent such measures. Player nations can ask civilians not to openly carry weapons, but they may or may not listen.
• Actions that hinder the UN’s peacekeeping mission can be undertaken, but if discovered, these actions will negatively impact a player nation’s Honesty score.

Rules of Engagement

• Player nations are not allowed to invade Kazakhstan unless either engaged by Kazakh government forces or another PN. Starting a fight will harshly and negatively impact a PN’s Honesty score.
• Furthermore, Judgement is not a valid option. Kazakhstan has purchased anti-air batteries from Japan, and Japanese technical advisors ensure the equipment works properly. An attack on these forces is considered an attack on Japan and will begin a war with them.
• Player nations are allowed to support, covertly or overtly, any faction they wish through any means they see fit, including but not limited to funding and arms shipments.
• Player nations are allowed to meddle with elections (covertly), engage in diplomacy with factions (overtly or covertly) or engage in combat with factions.
• If factions are engaged in combat, combat results will be rolled to determine success, but no units will be damaged or lost as a result of this combat.
• Player nations are allowed to exert influence over an area and may occupy the same role as factions do, and attempt to usurp them completely.
• Player nations are allowed to engage one another in combat with valid reasons.
• Valid reasons include, but are not limited to, supporting a faction declared illegal by the Kazakh government, preventing the UN’s peacekeeping mission, and general belligerency.
• If engaged in combat, Kazakh government forces will be temporarily buffed to Tier 1 and will also attack twice against PN points to represent partisan government militias.

Faction List and Description

This describes all factions known to the UN which have a presence in Kazakhstan. More may appear, or some may be destroyed either through political influence or military defeat. All non-government factions are known to be armed with military-grade small arms. No factions are known to utilize armored vehicles outside of makeshift examples. This list is ordered from most to least powerful.

Kazakh Government
The current, legitimate government of Kazakhstan headed by President Toktar Dospanovna. They hold sway over the majority of the military, but their forces have proved ineffective in ensuring the countryside remains free of partisan militias. They seek to keep their state together and crush all non-democratic resistance.

Communists
Mainly in strength in western Kazakhstan, Kazakh Communists seek to overthrow the state and establish a proletarian dictatorship in Kazakhstan, joining with their comrades in the SRA, Iran, the Soviet Union and China to take the revolution further.

Nur Otan (Radiant Fatherland)
Composed of Kazakh nationalists and fascists, Nur Otan represents the radical right-wing of Kazakh politics. They have built strength in central Kazakhstan despite clashes with Communists and the Kings of Kazakhstan in order to achieve what they call “Kazakhstan’s destiny” with a strong autocratic leader at the helm.

Kings of Kazakhstan
Self-styled monarchists and loyalists, the Kings of Kazakhstan are a group of elites that believe Kazakhstan needs a king once more. They enjoy some support, but their strength is not nearly that of the Communists or Nur Otan.

Black Jackets (Anarchists)
A loosely-defined group of anarcho-syndicalists, the Black Jackets have separated entirely from the central government and operate in the northern reaches of Kazakhstan mostly with impunity. They refuse to recognize government authority and would prefer to see the entire country embrace anarcho-syndicalist thought.

Socialist Resistance
Trotskyist socialists from the East with two enclaves to its name. The Socialist Resistance is formed out of a Communist splinter faction and as such the two are at odds with one another - the only thing preventing outright war is their distance. In the minds of the Socialist Resistance, establishing a true Trotskyite socialist republic is the next best step to communism.

War Brides
An all-female motorcycle gang made up of the wives of veteran soldiers, the War Brides are scattered across Kazakhstan in order to continue smuggling weapons. Strongholds and major club sites include the capital, Shymkent, as well as Oral where the anarcho-syndicalists have not cared to intrude upon their operations. They are currently at war with the Jackals for influence over Kazakhstan’s criminal underworld.

Jackals
Primarily centered around Western and Central Kazakhstan outside of Communist-controlled zones, the Jackals deal primarily in smuggling illegal drugs across the country and into neighboring countries such as North Kaz, Perm, and Uzbekistan. They have no political goals and only serve their own interests, which primarily is continued illegal profits and destroying the War Brides.

[Markus Wilding]

The SRA's airborne landing into Shymkent was met with unease on the part of the 101st and 82nd. So far, no other allied forces had managed to make it beyond initial ports in Aqtau and Atyrau to make the drive across fascist and monarchist territory to reach the capital, which meant that for now, the American Airborne were the only friendly units for hundreds of miles around. This was a situation they were used to, however they were not used to the plethora of armed civilians that surrounded them and marveled at their uniforms. A plan of action was soon set and put into motion - establish a field headquarters for not just the Airborne, but for the UN's future in this city. American forces quickly took control of a plot of land on the outskirts of Shymkent and built up a defensive position with their spades and sandbags, setting up a long-range field radio to keep in contact with incoming Soviet, Chinese, Korean and Iranian forces, among other nations. Once they had done this, scouts were sent in every direction to find the primary central points of the Jackals and War Brides in the area. The commander of American forces in-theater, General Darrel Towner, would have his first baptism by fire here in Kazakhstan should it ever come to that, but his leadership in this nebulous area would determine how far he truly went.

---

"What the fuck kind of orders are these?"

The air in Kazakhstan reminded Sergeant Hank O'Dowell of his home, Vermont. He remembered seeing the SRA descend upon his home when he was 17, and after the war was over, he had immediately signed up, lying about his age to get past the draft board. Now, four years later, here he was, a sergeant in their very own coveted Airborne. He sighed, looking out at the field that they had chosen to set up their new field HQ. Open country for miles around - thank God they had these stupid M14s. He hated the weight, but it was great for shooting over open plains like this. The man complaining next to him was fellow Sergeant Micheal Dudley, puzzling over a map that the LT has given them. Apparently the company was going to move out soon to make contact with the locals.

"I don't know, man," Hank said, opening a Lucky Strike box for his first cigarette of the day. "I'm just hoping they let us go to town on those fascists soon."

Micheal scoffed, shaking his head. "I dunno. Roadblock on this random-ass highway? Unless those dudes wanna plow through like, six Kazakh army divisions, that's not happening. We gotta go to them, and they're like, two hundred miles that way."

"That's Uzbekistan, you idiot," Hank said. "They're that way."

Micheal furrowed his brow, looking up and swiveling his head around. "You sure? I coulda sworn...."

[Sabriel]

A message was delivered to the leader of the War Brides, inviting her to meet with Queen Catharine in Dar es Salaam.

[Alucard Tobor]

The Korean mechanized force arrived in the form of the 10th Sword of Light division; following the SRA's path tot he capital. Once there, they began establishing a command facility near their erstwhile ally's, and selected a sufficiently flat zone outside the city to begin conversion into an impromptu airfield. Field telephone wires were run to the SRA camp, and the division's attached engineers assembled the outer perimeter and steel-plate helipads of the soon-to-be airfield in record time.

Not long after, the Air Force began arriving; flights of Gyrfalcon transports and gunships arranged themselves at the field, and slung infantry supplies, construction material, fuel tanks, and other logistical kit as they came.

<> <> <> <>

"You know," Warrant Officer Mi-sook Ryou commented from the left seat of the helicopter, "I thought I had seen flat. But this? This makes the ocean look lively."

"Whoever designed this chunk of the world got bored, I suspect." Flying the aircraft was Master Warrant Mina Park, the squadron's resident cynic. "Upside, it makes our job dead simple."

"True." her co-pilot mused, scanning the horizon. There was, at least, that; Lieutenant-General Sakoung had opted for most of their long-range patrols to be conducted by gunship Gyrfalcons, reserving the infantry for work closer to the capital - or, eventually, other cities - and to monitor the in-city situation.

"Contact, ten o'clock, two klicks - unknown vehicles." The call from one of the door gunners had Park swinging the heavy bird around, closing with the unknown on an oblique course; Ryou flipped her selector over to RADIO.

"Three Four, Three Six, unknown contact on our nose, vehicles, range fifteen-hundred."

"Roger that, Three Six, we've got 'em." the second helicopter in their element replied, pulling up and breaking off to circle at a distance. Training had been clear on this point; never run in at a target from the same angle.

"Boss, times two open-bed trucks, no visible weapons, maybe... ten people across both vehicles? Don't look happy to see us, but no cargo I can see." the door gunner reported. They passed overhead, prompting Ryou to examine the trucks herself; and indeed, the only cargo looked to be angry Kazakhs. Well, fair enough.

"Three Four, Three Six, break off to zero-three-five and continue on route." Park instructed, peeling away from the two ancient trucks and climbing. 3-4 rogered, falling neatly into formation behind them.

If there were carrying anything, Ryou mused, let's hope the infantry catch them nearer the capital.

[Markus Wilding]

Week 1

UN forces land in ports at Aqtau and Atyrau. Cascadian and British troops set up shop on the highway between Atyrau and Aqtobe, split between Nur Otan territory and the Black Jackets. Soviet forces occupy Atyrau entirely, preferring to stay in the city over anything else. Meanwhile, PRC troops head south, settling in the countryside near Uzbekistan and the Turkmen SSR, ostensibly to prevent the War Brides and Jackals from operating in this area. Mexican forces drive to Qyzylorda with Syrian forces in tow. Infantry from Chad, Vietnam, and Argentina join the SRA and Korea in the capital, while German troops make an attempt to head to Oral. Portuguese troops, which basically consisted of an abnormally large military police unit that served Portugal as more of a highway patrol, assisted the Kazakh government in enforcing laws out on the highways crisscrossing the nation.

Once in Oral, everything changed. The Germans reported that the Communists continually watched them and stood by when engaged by the Jackals, who apparently had an undetected presence in the area. Thus, to them, the situation was clear - the Germans began clearing Oral of the Jackals, arresting suspected gang members and raiding hideouts, seizing weapons and illegal goods along the way.

Out on the highways, the Portuguese essentially bullied Kazakh highway patrolmen out of the way, claiming that the local police could not be trusted to keep the highways clear of the Jackals, War Brides, and militia elements that moved from city to city undetected.

Meanwhile, a certain First Sergeant Gulshat Baiseitova, the confirmed leader of the War Brides, is seen leaving Kazakhstan by plane. Her destination is unconfirmed and few are even able to guess how she managed to elude UN and Kazakh security forces.

In the south, Communist forces engage a government-controlled outpost in the countryside, successfully taking it over. Nur Otan follows quickly behind, sparking a firefight that continues for hours as they fight for control over the highway to Aqtau. PRC forces watch from their positions.

In the capital, an anarcho-syndicalist commune makes itself known, tucking itself away in the corner of the urban area. It is directly south of both the SRA and Korea's bases in the area. Convoys continually flow from east to west, passing through the capital, but its unclear whether these are supply trucks for the Socialist Resistance or civilian trucks that have banded together for common defense.

[Avalanche]

The Irish 1st and 3rd divisions arrived in the port of Atyrau and drove for Aqtobe, where the 1st would establish a base to house their motor pool while the 3rd continued on to secure the region further east.

=====

"Did nobody seriously have the foresight to order these in brown?" Corporal Ó hÉidín bemoaned to nobody in particular from atop his freshly painted BTR, clutching the olive canvas cover for the open-topped vehicle.

"Pro'ly Van Houte's fault if you ask me," said Private Cowden from beneath a nearby BTR, brush in hand as she applied a stylish countershade to the vehicle.

The Corporal barely managed to begin to ask when, as if on queue, shouting from Company Quartermaster Sergeant Wash drowned out everything for what felt a hundred miles. "That'll be him," Cowden snuck in between belts of exasperated demeaning from the sergeant. Van Houte was a tall man, a regular beanpole though there was nothing 'regular' about it, who had apparently forgotten to bring his desert uniform, instead wearing woodland. Logistics hadn't packed anything in his freakish size as they had elected to stock light in expectation of regular supply shipments from home. He had blended in on the ride over, plenty of men preferring the comfort of the woodland uniform at sea, but now it was an inexcusable breach of army regulations.

Ó hÉidín contemplated simply abandoning the cover before another chill gust swept through the staging area, it was still winter after all. The drive to Aqtobe would not be a pleasant one.

[Sabriel]

Where Victoria went, death soon followed. The 3rd, 7th, 9th, and 10th Pacification Regiments deployed into Aqtau and immediately set about dismantling the fascist apparatus within the city. The 9th and 10th regiments focused their attention on Aqtau itself, while the 3rd and 7th deployed outside it toward the zone of contention between the fascist and communist militias. The orders for the Pacification Squads were to engage and defeat any militia forces violating Kazakhstan’s fragile peace. Militia forces that could be confirmed to have engaged in combat would be disarmed, if they chose to surrender, or destroyed if they attempted to resist. The fascist political machine in Aqtau would be severely curtailed, with its leaders placed under house arrest.

In addition, a Victorian broadcast announced the formation of House Kazakh, led by First Sergeant Gulshat Baiseitova. The House would operate as Victoria’s economic arm in the nation, and was to provide a safe and legal method for Kazakh citizens to obtain their firearms. The War Brides were taken in a legitimate direction.

[Cataphrak]

The leading elements of the 31st and 51st Infantry Divisions began arriving by air, landing via the half-completed airfield of their Korean allies. Stripped of their heavy equipment and the heaviest of their vehicles, the troops of the Taierzhuang and Changsha divisions were easy enough to airlift in using relatively light airframes which could handle the yet-incomplete runways.

With them came General 1st Class Xue Yue, a veteran of the war against Japan and a man who had spent years working with American, British, and Soviet advisors in China's long struggle against fascist imperialism.

Now, he was on the other side of the fence, advising others, rather than being advised.

It took less than a day for the perimeter defences of Camp Luoyang to go up. The two lighter divisions settled in to their new quarters, while from Atyrau on the coast, the armoured transports of the Sihang Division rolled off their transport ships, and drove for the capital.

[Avalanche]

The 3rd Division, headed by theatre commander Lieutenant General Mac Niall, passed through the East and set their sights on the main pocket of fascist activity in central Kazakhstan, launching an offensive to pacify resistance. Though focusing on hostile elements, there's always bound to be complications, and many towns sympathetic to the fascist militias would not find themselves safe. Those who surrendered would be detained and moved to temporary facilities at the base near Aqtobe. The territory would be occupied, peace secured through force, not that they deserved even that much respect.

The 1st Division meanwhile settled into the North and began expanding the base's facilities and constructing several smaller outposts in the area to better project power to ensure rule of law in the region.

[Cataphrak]

A request was sent to the Kazakh cabinet, requesting a meeting between those responsible for the country's internal security, and the head of the Chinese advisory force.