Bloch-Dobbs Expedition
The Bloch-Dobbs Expedition is an Aerlan military exploratory expedition whose aim is to establish a freshwater port along the Makonnian Bay. The expedition led to contact with the Khamils, a tribe with whom (with some negotiation) agreed to become a client kingdom of Aerla. The mission was led by army officers Johan Bloch and Louis Dobbs.
Background
Johan Bloch and Louis Dobbs
Johan Bloch (b. 1675 AN) is an Olberzluetant (Lieutenant Corporal) within the Grand Army of Aerla, belonging to the 65th Expeditionary Brigade, based in Yasid. He was heavily involved with the expansion into Yasidi-Umraist held land in the Republic’s early days. Bloch also holds the honorary rank of Yunörinspektar (Junior Inspector) in the State Security Directorate.
Louis Dobbs (b. 1679 AN is a Major within the GAR, as well as a Luetant-ov-Intelligens in the SSD. Dobbs first served as an SSD Agent in the 4th Intelligence Regiment, gathering intelligence during the Insurgency in Ancora. Afterwards, he was transferred to the 103rd Armored Reconnaissance Division and commissioned as a Major in the Army.
The Expedition
The expedition set off from the town of Shanshur in 1721.5 AN, The expedition was composed of 4 units, which included:
Units
- 65th Expeditionary Brigade (Olberzleutant Johan Bloch)
- 103rd Armored Reconnaissance Division (Major Louis Dobbs)
- 6th Medical Regiment (Leutant ov Medisencorps Albert Hennigan)
- 39th “Yasidi” Rifle Corps (Underoffizer Muhammad ibn-Shanshuri)
The expedition also included an SSD liaison, led by Overwatchmjesta Oliver Pacston.
Contact with the Khamils
Around 100km from the border, the front column of the 103rd came into contact with 3 chieftains belonging to the Khamils, a seemingly Turkic tribe who lived on the vast plain between Aerla and the Bay of Makonnia. The chieftains led the expedition to the Khamils capital of Ishor. There, a delegation of Dobbs, Bloch, and Pacston met with the Khan of the Khamils, one Demir Khan. Demir Khan complained of the raids coming from neighboring tribes, and of the expansion of Normark and Vegno into their lands. After negotiations and consultation with higher ups in Noursala, it was agreed the Khamils would become clients of Aerla. As an act of goodwill, Demir Khan offered to personally join the expedition and help them navigate to the coast of the Makonnian Bay.
Founding of “Port Aerla”
The group continued their journey to the bay, visiting the Khamil cities of Sülüktü and Jizana. Roughly 6 months into the expedition, the group finally reached the empty corridor of land that remained unoccupied between Normark and Vegno. Demir Khan, in a somewhat hastily put together ceremony, gifted the coastal slip of land to Aerla. It was decided after much debate that Bloch and al-Shanshuri’s units would stay behind in the corridor and create a port settlement, while Dobbs, Hennigan, and Pacston would return to Aerla. Bloch and his troops to begin building an encampment, with Demir Khan promising that grain shipments would be brought to them while road links would be established to the port.
