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 over 4 million refugees across Raspur Pact nations, including Constancia, Natopia, Oportia, the Benacian Union, and Zeed.

Background

Eastern Keltia prior to the East Keltian Collapse.

The Second Cerulean Revolution in late 1736 AN and early 1737 AN set off a chain reaction that would reshape northeastern Keltia's power dynamics. As Cerulea disintegrated into The Green, the Confederacy of the Dispossessed mounted a methodical operation to secure abandoned military installations, weapon stockpiles, and strategic assets across the collapsing nation. In a matter of months, they had absorbed not only vast quantities of military hardware - including artillery pieces, armored vehicles, and air assets - but also integrated thousands of experienced military personnel and technical specialists into their ranks. This windfall transformed the Confederacy from a persistent regional threat into a formidable military force, one newly equipped with modern weaponry and bolstered by extensive support networks. The timing proved devastating for the Raspur Pact's regional position. The Confederacy immediately leveraged these newly acquired capabilities to launch simultaneous offensives against both Normark and Anahuaco, coordinating with established allies like the Republicanos insurgency who had maintained a decades-long guerrilla campaign in Anahuaco's borderlands with The Green. By the start of 1737 AN, this revitalized Confederacy had begun systematically dismantling Raspur Pact influence in northeastern Keltia, exploiting long-standing vulnerabilities that the alliance had struggled to address.

The cascading effects of Cerulea's collapse and the ongoing degradation of the Raspur Pact due to the Shiro-Benacian War quickly exposed the fragility of its defenses in Keltia. Anahuaco, already destabilized by spillover from the Andilar Wars along its eastern frontier, found its military resources stretched dangerously thin. The situation deteriorated rapidly as the Confederacy's offensive coincided with a resurgence of Republicano activity, with the long-standing insurgent group launching coordinated attacks on government installations across Granaditas and Pavón states. This two-front challenge proved particularly devastating as the Republicanos, historically confined to border regions, now received substantial material support and tactical coordination from the Confederacy.

Meanwhile, Normark's position grew equally precarious. The kingdom's defensive capabilities, which had previously benefited from the buffer provided by Cerulea, now faced direct pressure as Confederacy forces breached its southern defense line. Of particular concern was the threat to the strategically vital Citadele Alexandrin complex near Sarensby, which housed sophisticated AURORA intelligence systems and the Boreal Watchtower Intelligence Center. Intelligence from RASMOR JTF indicated that the Confederacy had already demonstrated remarkable proficiency in capturing and repurposing similar military infrastructure in Cerulea, raising alarm about the potential compromise of critical Raspur Pact surveillance and defense systems.

The unfolding crisis was further complicated by the ongoing Shirerithian maritime blockade of the Benacian Union, which threatened to isolate Benacian Union forces and hamper any coordinated Raspur Pact response. The deteriorating situation prompted an emergency meeting of the Keltia Command on 24.XII.1736 AN, following confirmation of Anahuaco's imminent collapse. The gravity of the crisis was reflected in the decision to designate the RASMOR JTF as the operation's command center, leveraging its strategic position and established coordination protocols between Nouvelle Alexandrie and Moorland to manage what would become the largest evacuation operation in recent Micran history.

Planning and Preparation

The interests of time necessitated priority of movement of certain identified targets out of the immediate area and into secure holding areas, from which the secured personnel could be transshipped to eventual domiciles.

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.

Constancian Efforts

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.

Raspur Pact Efforts

Keltia Command was placed on the highest alert and readiness immediately after the emergency meeting of the Raspur Pact on 25.V.1737 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.

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