Western Expedition
The Western Expedition (1730 AN–1731 AN) was an an initiative of the Commission for Foreign Affairs of the Benacian Union, the Maritime Forces of the Benacian Union, and the Central and Western Banner Groups of Benacia Command, to restore the influence of the Benacian Union in the Great Western Sea following years of relative neglect.
Background
A series of events had been required to bring about the circumstances under which a Benacian attempt to revise the Final Settlement with Calbion could be countenanced.
Political Upheaval in Calbion
The Calbain nation experienced significant political turmoil in the years leading up to 1730, creating conditions that enabled the planning and preparation of the "Western Expedition". A series of events and power struggles undermined the central Calbain authority, allowing external forces to exploit the situation.
In the late 1720s, reigning Prince Arthur III began showing signs of dementia, rendering him increasingly incapable of effective rule. As the prince's mental faculties declined, political infighting among Calbain factions intensified over the question of succession.
This internal strife reached a climax in 1730 AN when Arthur III took his own life rather than enduring the final stages of his illness. The succession would see Daniel Verion de Montfort, a distant cousin of the deceased residing in Hurmu, ascend to the throne as Prince Deiniol. However, Deiniol's investiture was controversial and divisive.
When it was leaked that the new prince was homosexual, there were widespread protests against his reign, particularly in parts of the Calbain heartland like Ingavia and the Aeronesian Archipelago. This backlash reflected deeply conservative societal views in Calbion regarding sexuality.
The princely court's refusal to repudiate Deiniol's homosexuality further inflamed tensions across Calbain society. Demonstrations both for and against the prince exposed fractures between nationalists, regionalists, and minority factions in the Cynulliad Cenedlaethol (parliament).
Beyond Calbion's borders, the political crisis motivated opportunistic moves by foreign powers. In the autonomous chieftaincy of Cybwlach, plantation companies began usurping more authority amidst the central government's preoccupation with repressing pro-LGBT sentiment.
Capitalising on Chaos
It was against this backdrop of instability and social unrest that Ayesha al-Osman of the Commission for Foreign Affairs in Benacia, along with the Maritime Forces and Benacia Command, began preparing the Western Expedition. Their intent was to restore Benacian influence in the Great Western Sea after years of Calbain dominance there.
The disarray gripping Calbion presented an opportune moment to initiate this project. Al-Osman recognised that with the Calbain leadership divided and distracted by internal dissent, they would struggle to quickly marshal an effective opposition to Benacian encroachment in their sphere of influence.
Exploiting the political chaos, Ayesha leveraged her resources to assemble a naval contingent and open channels with disaffected Calbain regional commanders, smoothing the way for Benacian maritime forces to insert themselves into the power vacuum.
Thus, what might have been a difficult or provocative undertaking during a time of strong central control was made feasible by the nation's deepening political crisis in 1730. This upheaval provided vital cover for the initial preparations that culminated in the Western Expedition's deployment across the Great Western Sea the following year.
To attain the support of the Maritime Forces was to be essential for the realisation of her project. Unfortunately for her, the Ransenari grand admiral of the fleet, Harry Rex, was more concerned about the situation in the Shire Sea, the challenges of the Shiro-Benacian naval arms race, and the difficulties that would be occasioned by the need eventually to keep the shipping lanes between Chryse and Neridia open whilst interdicting the sailings of convoys between the ports of Greater Kildare and Musica. As such, his attention was firmly focused upon the Sathrati Emergency rather than on adventures in the far west.
To win the grand admiral to her cause, Ayesha dangled before the aging and rotund man the lure of Shahrnāz al-Osman, the eighteen year old daughter of the late Jamshid-e Osman and a concubine, who had recently been placed into her household on the island of Botha by the N&H Future Leadership Programme. Immediately smitten, and flattered by the unexpected attention, a wedding was hastily arranged in Chryse during the fifteenth month of 1730 AN, with the honeymoon period to subsequently be spent at a villa generously loaned by the Commission for Foreign Affairs on the island of Florencia. It was only on the flight to the west that Harry discovered that he had volunteered for a working holiday.
If a naval contingent was thereby arranged, it would next be necessary for the assembly of the forces to be conveyed thence to Ayesha's intended destinations. Fortunately, there would be no shortage of potential partners out west. The commandant of the Central Banner Group of Benacia Command, was a long known quantity, and an established presence in the region since the Peace of Lapano. His price was simple – he would require the support of Chryse when the time came to replace the ailing Szodan of Benacia, Daniyal ibn Daniyal, and as High Commissioner for the city, this was a promise that Ayesha could readily make, irrespective of whether she had any intention of honouring the bargain thus struck.
It was prudent to make contact with the Central Banner Group, as the Western Banner Group of Benacia Command, the one with operational responsibility for the region that would be the focus of the endeavour, had been eviscerated in the aftermath of Operation Jagdbeute's failure. The main garrison of BUDF troops was to be found on the island of New Blackstone, which had become an unfortunate and overlooked place, little more than a seldom visited anchorage and an emergency landing runway for the Boreal Air Bridge.
Indeed some work would be required to establish exactly who was in charge of the western theatre.
Preparations
Reorganisation of the west
The Port Benacia staff conference, convened in the eponymous administrative seat of Benacia Isle on 11.XV.1730 AN, gathered together representatives of the Western, Tiny, Central, and Northern Banner Groups of Benacia Command, along with representatives of the general staffs of Benacia Command and the Benacian Union Defence Force.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the reorganisation of the western theatre of operations in light of the worsening relationship between the Benacian Union and Shireroth.
It was determined that the military districts corresponding to the Governorate of Absentien and the Governorate of Siyachia would be transferred under the jurisdiction of the Western Banner Group from the Northern and Central Banner Group's respectively, along with the lieutenancy of Bergburg.
The decision would greatly enhance the availability of forces with which to conduct the Western Expedition.
Fleet preparations
Harry Rex, between stints at his reserved Florencian villa for which his age and corpulent physique left him almost comically unsuited to survive let alone perform as required, was able to seclude himself in operations room of the fleet in Capitolia with his staff and there commence work upon planning for the force that would be dispatched into the Great Western Sea.
It was decided early on, that the main task force would consist of eighteen Seafox-class corvettes and sixteen Logistic Support Vessels. These would be joined by such maritime auxiliaries as could be engaged from the Warring Islands, such as the Maritime Support Group and the Nova English Salvage Company.
To support this task force, the main strength of the Maritime Forces would be assembled in the west under the guise of a fleet exercise, ready to sortie in the event of a strong enemy response. However the majority surface combatants would be held back between Naudia'Diva and the Iridian Isles so as to afford them the protection of shore based aviation and coastal defences for as long as possible.
With four of the LSVs earmarked for vehicles and stores, the task force would be able to deliver 4,272 combatants to their intended destinations.
