Operation Northern Light

Operation Northern Light
Part of East Keltian Collapse
From left to right; TOP: (1) Early morning evacuation in Revby, Normark; (2) Refugee camp in northern Moorland; BOTTOM: (3) The Constancian naval task force sails near Moorland; (4) Soldiers at a NACAVS monitoring station on the Moorland-Normark border, in Moorland.
Date 1.I.1737 AN - 15.VI.1737 AN (6 months, 14 days) Location Normark and Anahuaco, Keltia Status Completed; succeeded by Operation Haven Shield
Belligerents
Nouvelle Alexandrie  Moorland  Constancia  Benacian Union  Natopia  Oportia	Confederacy of the Dispossessed Northern Command Vanguard Legion Black Raiders Sons of the Green
Commanders and leaders
Overall Command: Field Marshal Santiago Muñoz General Alexander Campbell Theater Commanders: General Borzou Gankhaki General Malcolm MacGregor Admiral Konstantin Papadopoulos Frainan Uihmanzis bi-Łoidi Heinz Müller Captain Erik Larsson Colonel Maria Sanchez	Supreme Command: "Marshal of the Dispossessed" Ibrahim Al-Shahin "Voice of the Confederacy" Elena Dragović Field Co mmanders: Commander Alexei Volkov (Northern Command) Brigadier Hassan Al-Rashid (Vanguard Legion) Major Karl Weber (Black Raiders) Captain Sofia Petrović (Sons of the Green)
Strength
Air Assets: 200+ transport aircraft 80 fighter escorts 40 aerial refueling tankers Ground Forces: 10,000 special forces personnel 2,000 logistics personnel Naval Assets: 50 vessels (various classes)	Ground Forces: 25,000+ infantry 2,000 motorized units 500 technicals Air Assets: 15 captured transport aircraft 12 modified civilian aircraft 8 combat helicopters Support Elements: Cargo caravan of over 500 vehicles 1,500 logistics personnel Advanced electronic warfare capabilities Sophisticated intelligence network
Casualties and losses
17 killed 87 wounded 2 aircraft lost	342 killed 785 wounded 4 aircraft lost
Military/Technical Extraction: 5,000+ scientific/technical personnel 15,000+ military personnel 25,000+ civilian personnel Critical military and research equipment Classified documents and materials Initial Refugee Processing: 275,000+ Norse refugees evacuated 115,000 to Nouvelle Alexandrie 95,000 to Moorland 45,000 to Benacian Union 20,000 to Constancia Follow-up Operations: Transitioned to Operation Haven Shield Processing centers established in Moorland 4+ million total refugees processed Ongoing resettlement across Raspur Pact nations

Operation Northern Light was a major Raspur Pact military evacuation and humanitarian operation conducted from 1.I.1737 AN to 15.VI.1737 AN. Coordinated from the RASMOR JTF in Moorland, the operation successfully extracted thousands of key personnel, sensitive equipment, and critical assets from the collapsing nations of Normark and Anahuaco before they could fall to the advancing Confederacy of the Dispossessed or other regional actors. Led primarily by Nouvelle Alexandrie and Moorland, with substantial support from other Raspur Pact allies, the operation conducted over 1,200 transport aircraft sorties and deployed 50 naval vessels to facilitate what became the largest coordinated evacuation in recent Micran history.

The Raspur Pact provided significant logistical and material support to Moorland's refugee response, including the construction of seven major processing centers along its northern frontier under General Malcolm MacGregor and the deployment of medical teams and humanitarian supplies from Nouvelle Alexandrie's National Qullqa System and from contributions of other allies. Despite the ongoing Shirerithian maritime blockade of the Benacian continent, the operation maintained consistent supply lines and evacuation corridors through strategic use of the Boreal Air Bridge and establishment of multiple air and sea routes through Moorland, Mercury, and other friendly territories.

The operation proceeded in three distinct phases. The initial phase (I-III 1737 AN) focused on evacuating key military and scientific personnel from Anahuaco as its government rapidly lost control of its territory. The second phase (III-V 1737 AN) expanded to include Normark as the Confederacy of the Dispossessed advanced northward, culminating in the evacuation of 275,000 Norse refugees. The final phase (V-VI 1737 AN) saw the systematic extraction of remaining Raspur Pact assets and personnel, concluding with Operation Arctic Exodus, the complete decommissioning of the Citadele Alexandrin. Command authority was then transferred to Operation Haven Shield, a long-term humanitarian mission managing the resettlement of millions of refugees across Raspur Pact nations, including Constancia, Natopia, Oportia, the Benacian Union, and Zeed.

Background

Northeastern Keltia prior to the East Keltian Collapse; 1726 AN.

In the months leading up to the collapse of Cerulea, intelligence analysts within the Nouvelle Alexandrie community began intercepting heightened signals suggesting the rapid militarization of the Confederacy of the Dispossessed. Additional intelligence emerged shortly before the Cerulean government crumbled, revealing that the Dispossessed had started concentrating resources and organizing covert operations to seize strategic assets in the region.

The Normark-Cerulea war of 1727, having ended a decade earlier, had already destabilized the northeastern Keltia landscape. Their drawn-out war, marked by brutal engagements and heavy casualties, ended in a decisive Norse victory that shattered Cerulea’s military capabilities and left the nation in a fragmented state. Cerulea’s weakened central authority, akin to a failed state scenario, provided fertile ground for the Dispossessed to infiltrate, establish influence, and operate freely. With limited resistance from local forces, the Dispossessed embedded themselves within key territories, accelerating their buildup of power. The Second Cerulean Revolution, as it erupted, allowed them to expand even further, ultimately dismantling what remained of Cerulean order and consolidating their hold across the country.

In the span of a few months, the Confederacy of the Dispossessed transformed from a loosely organized insurgent network into a structured military entity with substantial resources at its disposal. They seized control of abandoned military installations, secured extensive stockpiles of weaponry — including artillery, armored vehicles, and air assets—and integrated thousands of defected Cerulean soldiers and technical experts into their ranks. The Confederacy’s newfound military prowess allowed them to launch simultaneous offensives, targeting Normark from the south and escalating operations in Anahuaco through alliances with the Republicanos Anahuacanos, a well-entrenched insurgency group. These combined forces destabilized northeastern Keltia, directly challenging the Raspur Pact's influence in the area.

The broader geopolitical landscape further compounded the crisis. The Shiro-Benacian War and its accompanying Shirerithian maritime blockade against the Benacian Union severely limited Raspur Pact’s ability to mount a coordinated response. Anahuaco, already grappling with unrest from the Andilar Wars along its eastern front, saw its resources stretched to breaking point. The resurgence of Republicano guerrilla activities, now coordinated with Confederacy forces, led to attacks on Anahuacan infrastructure and military outposts throughout Granaditas and Pavón. This dual-front threat left Anahuaco vulnerable, with the Republicanos extending their reach beyond border areas for the first time in decades.

Meanwhile, Normark’s defensive strategy, once reliant on Cerulea as a buffer, faced immediate pressure. Confederacy forces breached Normark’s southern lines, putting key sites such as the Citadele Alexandrin complex near Sarensby at risk. This complex, home to advanced AURORA intelligence networks and the Boreal Watchtower Intelligence Center, held critical data and surveillance systems for Raspur Pact operations in the region. Reports from RASMOR JTF indicated that Confederacy operatives had already demonstrated considerable expertise in repurposing captured military assets in Cerulea, raising alarms over the potential compromise of these high-value intelligence resources.

The escalating crisis prompted swift action. An emergency session of the Keltia Command was convened on 24.XII.1736 AN, as reports confirmed the imminent collapse of Anahuaco's defenses. Recognizing the magnitude of the threat, Keltia Command designated the RASMOR JTF as the central hub for response operations. The facility's established coordination channels and strategic location allowed for streamlined command over what soon became the largest evacuation and defense operation in recent Micran history, with implications for the Raspur Pact’s long-term stability across Keltia.

Participating Units

Raspur Pact

Military Forces Overview

Nation	Commanding Officers	Units	Equipment
Moorland	XXXXX	XXXX	XXXX
Nouvelle Alexandrie	XXXXX	XXXX	XXXX
Constancia	XXXXX	XXXXX	XXXXX
Benacian Union	XXXXX	XXXXX	XXXXX
Natopia	XXXXX	XXXXX	XXXXX
Oportia	XXXXX	XXXXX	XXXXX

Confederacy of the Disposessed

Military Forces Overview

Factions	Commanding Officers	Units	Equipment
Northern Command	XXXXX	XXXX	XXXX
Vanguard Legion	XXXXX	XXXX	XXXX
Black Raiders	XXXXX	XXXXX	XXXXX
Sons of the Green	XXXXX	XXXXX	XXXXX

Planning and Preparation

Planning for Operation Northern Light commenced following the emergency session of the Keltia Command on 24.XII.1736 AN. Under the strategic direction of General Alexander Campbell of the Moorland Armed Forces, and with significant support from Field Marshal Santiago Muñoz of Nouvelle Alexandrie, the operation was coordinated from the RASMOR JTF. The initial planning phase established three strategic priorities: the evacuation of military and scientific personnel from critical facilities, the extraction of classified material and sensitive equipment, and the creation of secure corridors for civilian evacuation.

Keltia Command was placed on the highest alert and readiness immediately after the emergency meeting of the Raspur Pact on 24.XII.1736 AN. This included the General Inspectorate of Keltia, Grand Commissariat of Keltia, Nordhær and units like the Landgendarmerie, Elian Militia, and such individuals of the 18th Vanguard Division who could be mobilized. Sårensby Arsenal was ordered to open its doors and provide all its contents for dispersal and distribution as directed by Keltia Command or its subordinate commands, or as directed by ESB Keltia.

The operational framework developed by the Moorland Armed Forces encompassed the establishment of seven fortified processing centers along the northern frontier, each capable of processing 5,000 refugees daily. Oportia committed its merchant marine fleet of 28 vessels for civilian evacuation and deployed the Oportian Special Operations to assist with extraction operations. Zeed committed its 14th Airborne Brigade for specialized extraction missions. The Natopian Defense Force allocated significant airlift capacity, including 40 heavy transport aircraft and associated logistics support. A complex network of air routes, including the Boreal Air Bridge, were established to circumvent the Shirerithian maritime blockade of Benacia, with Moorland serving as a critical waypoint. The joint command structure integrated representatives from all participating nations, with dedicated liaison officers ensuring seamless coordination between allied forces throughout the planning phase.

Nouvelle Alexandrie Efforts

The Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie mobilized significant resources under Field Marshal Santiago Muñoz's command. The 300th Air-Land Combined-Arms Army was activated and deployed to RASMOR JTF, with Task Force Vigilance serving as its primary rapid reaction element. The Federal Air Force of Nouvelle Alexandrie committed 200 transport aircraft, including C-11 Mula and C-15 Titanhauler transports, along with F-19 Greystrike fighters for escort duties. The Federal Navy deployed elements of the Keltian Fleet, including the carrier HMS Proclamacion and its escort group, to secure maritime evacuation routes.

The Department of Defense established a dedicated command cell at RASMOR JTF, integrating with the National Qullqa System to coordinate logistics support. The Javelin Industries facility in Punta Santiago was ordered to accelerate production of Javelin M-2 Dragoon unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance operations. The Federal Guards Service deployed specialized units for the protection of sensitive installations and evacuation routes, with the Federal Border Guard mobilizing 12 regimental detachments to secure refugee corridors.

Natopian Efforts

The Natopian Defense Force initiated extensive preparations following the Keltia Command emergency session, drawing on its deep understanding of Normark. The Natopian Spacefleet immediately began repositioning its Damocles-class platforms and surveillance network to optimize coverage over the anticipated operation zone. Under Captain Erik Larsson's direction, the Spacefleet established a comprehensive orbital transport plan focused on the rapid evacuation of sensitive materials and personnel from critical facilities like the Citadele Alexandrin.

At RASMOR JTF, Natopian planners worked to integrate their considerable airlift capabilities into the broader evacuation framework. The Defense Force committed 40 heavy transport aircraft and established a dedicated forward logistics hub, complete with maintenance facilities and fuel reserves. The Natopian Army Special Operations Command prepared specialized extraction teams, conducting rehearsals for high-risk operations in environments similar to those expected in Normark and Anahuaco. Meanwhile, Spacefleet Marines underwent accelerated training for orbital evacuation security operations, focusing on protecting evacuation zones during orbital transport operations.

The Natopian contribution to the planning phase was particularly valuable due to their deep institutional knowledge of Normark's defense infrastructure and geography. Their planning teams provided detailed intelligence about potential evacuation routes and critical facilities requiring priority evacuation, while their logistics officers helped develop contingency plans for situations where conventional transport routes might be compromised. The Spacefleet's operations center within RASMOR JTF was specifically configured to coordinate seamlessly with both orbital and conventional forces, establishing redundant communication systems to ensure command continuity throughout the operation.

Constancian Efforts

The Boreal Air Bridge was pressed into service, and the Principality of Arboria and Amaland were immediately pledged as interim relocation sites, in the course of a command conference on 24.V.1737 AN, after the emergency meeting of the Raspur Pact, where the "Top 3" (a euphemism for Basilinna Esmeralda al-Osman, Prince-Autokrator of Constancia Iñigo, and Princess Rosamund) were present. In addition, the Imperial Constancian Navy made plans to dispatch a flotilla, Task Force Redemption. Military Advisory Command Anahuaco and Task Force North Wind were placed on the highest operational and readiness alert. Military Advisory Command Anahuaco was given orders that Task Force North Wind no longer reported to them, effective immediately. Imperial Constancian Humanitarian Council and the Asylum and Refugees Commission was placed on alert.

An Autokratorial Decree issued immediately after the command conference on 24.V.1737 AN directed Imperial Constancian Ambassador to Normark Soheila Osman to locate all Constancian nationals in-country, evacuate all non-essentials, and mobilized all Constancian nationals in-country under her command, with Ambassador Soheila Osman being commissioned then-and-there a Taxiarchos (Brigadier) of the Imperial Constancian Army, and commander of Imperial Constancian Armed Forces in Normark. Similar directives were issued for Imperial Constancian Ambassador to Anahuaco Hillary Nicostrato. Constancian nationals who did not have means to flee borders were directed to make their way to the Imperial Constancian Embassy to shelter-in-place. The State Protection Authority, particularly the security attaches in Keltian embassies, were likewise placed on alert.

A subsequent Autokratorial Decree prohibited civilian flights from Constancia to Anahuaco and Normark, naturalized all Anahuaco and Normark nationals presently in Constancia, established two new cities in Shahzamin: New Konungshjem, east of Al-Ghabi, and Ciudad Emperador José Joaquín, southeast of Port Aguilar. The Constancian operational component headquarters was established on 1.VI.1737 AN at RASMOR JTF, Nouvelle Alexandrie-Moorland Joint Training Facility, south of Newcastle upon Eastmoor in Moorland, with Sarhang Olivier Sud of the Imperial Constancian Army as primary operational and field commander, directly reporting to both Admiral Konstantin Papadopoulos and Taxiarchos (Brigadier) Eirene Spiro of Task Force North Wind.

ESB Group Efforts

Immediately after the command conference on 24.V.1737 AN, where the Chairwoman, Director of Euran Operations and Director of Financial and Legal Services were present, Director of Keltian Operations Katja Magda Thorgilsdottir and her immediate staff was immediately ordered to board the next flight out of Konungsheim Elieru flygplats, and make her way to either Constancia or Nouvelle Alexandrie.

ESB Bank at ESB residency Elijah's Rest was to wire all its assets and records to ESB Bank at ESB residency Seydlitz, Isles of Caputia within the hour. Similar directives were provided to the Keltian financial and legal subdirectorate, and all Keltian continental ESB companies. Structural assets and fixed assets were to be firebombed or set alight to deny use to the enemy, moveable assets were to be brought to a place of safety, if possible. After giving 3 hours lead time for corporate and higher-ranking officers, all ESB Keltia employees in Normark and Anahuaco were soon notified to sauve qui peut and make their way to Overseas Autonomous Territory of San Lucido and the Eastern Regions of the Republic of Vegno, the Republic of Mercury, the Three Kingdoms of Nidaros, Riskai and Celebarador or the Kingdom of Moorland as soon as they could. All ESB employees in Normark and Anahuaco (who would have ESB Pay and MicrasCard) would find their credits substantially enlarged to enable them to escape with their lives.

In accordance with decisions previously-reached at the Board Meeting in Astérapolis on 14.IV.1735, the Corporate Seafaring Transportation Service was directed to activate the Aqa Thorgils Tarjeisson to assume Group command and communication, and prepare all vessels of the Corporate Seafaring Transportation Service to sail.

In accordance with decisions previously-reached at the Board Meeting in Petropolis on 2.VI.1736, the ESB residency in Seydlitz, Isles of Caputia, Nouvelle Alexandrie, was activated as reserve and alternate continental headquarters for the Keltian Directorate.

The Imperial Constancian Airways Corporation was directed to place spare planes and crews ready for emergency charters.

Oportian Efforts

Oportia's contribution centered on maritime evacuation capabilities, with its merchant marine fleet of 28 vessels being modified for civilian evacuation operations. The Oportian Special Operations deployed two specialized extraction teams and established a tactical operations center at RASMOR JTF. Colonel Maria Sanchez coordinated Oportian forces' integration into the joint command structure, focusing particularly on coastal evacuation operations along Normark's northern seaboard.

Execution

Constancian and ESB Group Efforts

Sailing distance meant that Task Force Redemption would arrive at Taylor Bay no earlier than 3.VI.1737 AN, even if all vessels went at flank speed. Rapid communications intimated that many in Normark and Anahuaco considered attempting to cross the Strait of Haifa to safety, to reach Imperial Federation territories in Haifa or the Northwest Territory, but a significant number considered the shorter distances to Mercury, Moorland or Vegnese San Lucido and the Eastern Regions to be much more feasible.

Significant diplomatic effort (and economic blackmail) was expended to influence Vegno and Moorland to permit and prioritize civilian charter flights (via the Imperial Constancian Airways Corporation to and from Normark, Anahuaco, and their countries. Upon landing, the respective Imperial Constancian Embassy took charge of their further repatriation.

Military Advisory Command Anahuaco was advised to make a last stand at Hidalgo, Matamoros, location of a subordinate provincial command, due to its access to the sea, its political significance as the Matamoros state capital, and its being the ideological stronghold of the Partido Liberal Anahuacano (Anahuacan Liberal Party), which made it resistant to the resurgent Republicanos. Forces in the subordinate provincial command at Guerrero, Granaditas were ordered to make their way to San Miguel el Grande, Pavón and hence to the coast fronting Taylor Bay, in the event that they were not able to make it to Hidalgo, Matamoros, in time.

Task Force Redemption arrived off Hidalgo, Matamoros on 2.VI.1737 AN. Many evacuees were picked up via various small boats, although Constancian, Raspur Pact and other foreign nationals were prioritized. Anahuaco nationals were evacuated if they were of high rank or part of the priority list.

Javelin H-5 Sovereigns from KP Varaz and KP Imperial Will under alternating air cover from F-9 Ashavan III, F-17 Axarana, and Javelin F-21 Heavenscream combat air patrols made their way to the Imperial Constancian Embassy, Ciudad de Anahuaco, to evacuate Imperial Constancian Ambassador Hillary Nicostrato and other notables that have taken refuge there. Other Javelin H-5 Sovereign sortie to Hidalgo to begin evacuation operations. The H-5 Sovereigns have Merarhia Pezonauton (Marine Division) dekanias/squads for perimeter security, from the 500 embarked on the KP Varaz. The first H-5 Sovereign that returned, named Lady J, landed at the KP Imperial Will, bearing Imperial Constancian Ambassador to Anahuaco Hillary Nicostrato and senior embassy staff. The second H-5, immediately behind it, landed at the ESB Corporate Seafaring Transportation Service Harmony-class leisure cruise ship Amitybearing a few members of the Congreso Honorable del Imperio and their families. Evacuations from both Hidalgo, Matamoros and Ciudad de Anahuaco continued until dusk, at which time Task Force Redemption proceeded to Taylor Bay, to repeat the process.

An undisclosed special operation by the Raspur Pact managed to secure King of Normark Fredrik Michael Tarjeisson, along with Imperial Constancian Ambassador Soheila Osman and the original 1731 Constitution of Normark. Later media interviews revealed that they were ensconced at the Imperial Constancian Embassy in Mercury City, Republic of Mercury, before transshipment to the ESB Corporate Seafaring Transportation Service Harmony-class leisure cruise ship Concord.

Outcome

At the conclusion of the evacuations, the remaining allied base infrastructure in Normark would be explosively decommissioned by Keltia Command.

See Also

• East Keltian Collapse
• Operation Arctic Exodus
• Operation Haven Shield
• Raspur Pact
• Confederacy of the Dispossessed