Ford Islands Taskforce
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 Moorland Supported by: |  the Green
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The Ford Islands Taskforce (FIT) is the name assigned to Moorland's military operation on the Ford Islands. The objective of the operation being to secure Moorland's trade routes along the Normark–Lindley Passage from the Strait of Haifa west along Mercury and to provide protection for the inhabitants of the islands, most of which are of Bosworthian descent and related to the Nova English rootstock of Moorland.
Background
Following the Bassaridian War League launching the Lower Jangsong Campaign against Normarkian resistance fighters, Moorland's trade routes along the Strait of Haifa became threatened by these actions. King MacMartin received several pleas for protection from the inhabitants of the Ford Islands, who are descendants of Bosworth and share common Nova English ancestry. As such, Moorland vowed to send aid and secure the islands against encroachment by the war league, who has already begun occupying Atherstone to the west. The goal of Moorland is to keep the conflict bloodless, as the kingdom was cordially invited to provide protection to the isles and is not contesting the war league's attack on Atherstone or Riddersborg.
Maneuvers
Landfall on Genitsa
The Port Neil Battlegroup dropped anchor off the harbor of Plantagenet after making the long trip around northeast Keltia. The small harbor being too shallow to bring the larger vessels in closer to shore, amphibious transports transferred troops to the mainland. The taskforce began immediately to establish a base camp and begin transferring supplies and munitions from the battlegroup. Once APCs were unloaded, a small contingent was dispatched to the south along the North Shore Road to South Lynford where they secured that village.
In addition to the military component, a team of government and diplomatic staff also accompanied the battlegroup and immediately met with local officials. Plans for defense of the islands were discussed and long-term goals for the protection of the islands, including the establishment of a permanent security force. Local officials expressed the desire to retain their longstanding autonomy, but agreed that some concessions would have to be made for incorporation into Moorland. Without officials from Questing present, it was decided to delay any final decisions until that island was secured and the government from both islands could meet with Moorland's envoys to work out a governance plan.
Questing
With Genita under stable command by MAF forces, additional units were deployed via the Port Neil Battlegroup to land on Questing, making landfall near Jamestown. Troops quickly entered the village along with a diplomatic attache to engage the local officials. Besides public alarm and nervousness at the spectacle of many troops landing on the island, the exchange was peaceful, since the delegation had been expected following the invitation for Moorland to protect the islands. Teams were immediately dispatched to secure Derwont and North Lynford, establishing small garrisons and monitoring stations there. After discussing how best to proceed with the local authority, it was agreed to a system of joint command and unified communication. Moorland's teams would work with local officials to integrate their communications and command structure with the MAF and Moorland's government.
With Questing secured, officials from both islands met in Jamestown to discuss a governing plan for the Ford Islands that would allow a smooth transition. It was agreed that it was essential to leave as much of the current system in place as possible. As such, the two parties agreed to integration as an overseas territory, similar to Beelandia, who would elect their own Commissioner and be allowed autonomy to continue governing the island according to longstanding traditions. Defense would be incorporated into the MAF, with native units remaining on the island as a local garrison, but gaining MAF training, uniforms, and weaponry while falling under MAF's command structure. For its part, Moorland committed to long-term investment in the islands and helping to maintain open trade routes along northern Keltia.
