Attack on Dickens Peninsula
Rattanjeetland Invades Renegade Protectorate

Streets littered with debris and the faint wail of air raid sirens in the distance are the only sign of the Rattanjeetland attack on Dickens Peninsula on October 10, 2001. The military action was prompted by the declaration of independence from the Universalistic Dictator of Dickens Peninsula the night before. Already reeling from the departure of East El-Hussaq from its fold, Rattanjeetland clamped down hard on internal dissent.

However, according to Rattanjeetarr officials, the attack was not based on the objective of denying Dickens Peninsula its independence. When word reached the Adiposia in Rattanjeetland around noon on October 10, the Ethnarch granted Dickens Peninsula freedom from his power bloc. Rattanjeetland then mobilized 205,000 troops and moved them into Miketon. The CEO of Miketon gave the Ethnarch permission to pass through his territory and air space in order to facilitate movement of military personnel into Dickens Peninsula, which borders Miketon.

Claiming that within the Universalistic Dictator's press releases of October 9th were insults to Rattanjeetarr and Wendorran honor, the Ethnarch of Rattanjeetland launched a barrage of cruise missiles into Dickens Peninsula on the evening of October 10th. The missiles hit roads and large segments of the river but missed the central Dickensian military base. Directly following the initial flurry of missiles, the Ethnarch ordered air raids on the small Dickensian military installations that are reserve depots for the main base. Both these raids met enormous success but caused 15,310 military casualties.

Having taken out one half of Dickensian might, Rattanjeetland troops poured across the border from Miketon and fought their way into the capital city. The invading force was 20 times larger than the Dickensian troops who desperately tried to defend the capital. Not surprisingly, the Rattanjeetland troops won an easy victory and was able to control all of Dickens Peninsula by nightfall.

All throughout the invasion, the Universalistic Dictator had begun the mass evacuation of his nation and currently an estimated 24,000 civilians are in the river on vessels ranging from luxury yachts to rickety boats. After a series of impromptu negotiations between the Universalistic Dictator and the Ethnarch via satellite phone, both sides reached an impasse as the former refused to surrender to the latter. In the face of such defiance, the Ethnarch issued a temporary annexation order and incorporated Dickens Peninsula into the Rattanjeetland Empire. The development caused President El Cid II of East El-Hussaq, who had ostensibly inspired Dickens to declare independence, to denounce the entire Rattanjeetarr attack.

Military analysts comment that the invasion was well-planned in that it was swift and not a drop of civilian blood was shed. Apparently one of the main goals in this attack for the Ethnarch was the prevention of civilian casualties. Meanwhile, Dickensian refugees remain floating in the river looking for another nation to temporarily house them until they can return home.