Quetzenkel front

The Quetzenkel front was a Urcean-led theater of operations of the Final War of the Deluge fought in Quetzenkel and in neighboring regions of Varshan. Launched simultaneously with the Invasion of Cetsencalia, the initial invasion of Quetzenkel by Varshan stalled out due to topographical concerns, better organized local resistance, and operational failure on the part of Varshan. Following the initial defense, the Quetzenkel front became an area of buildup for both sides culminating in a major allied offensive out of Quetzenkel down the central ridge of Varshan and Varshan's eastern valley, with Urcean troops reaching Anzo from this front by 2024. The fall of the city on May 21, 2024 marked the final conclusion of the front.

Quetzenkel front
Part of the Final War of the Deluge
Royal and Imperial Army soldiers watch the forest, 2022
Date April 15, 2021 - May 21, 2024 Location Quetzenkel Result League of Nations Victory
Belligerents
Varshan	League of Nations Quetzenkel Urcea Daxia (2021) Anglei (from 2022) The Cape (from 2022)
Commanders and leaders
Hil'ana'tixan	Lec. Pri. Martin St. Clair Lec. Pri. Aedan Frantone
Units involved
Xiquipilli of Quet'zen'kaal	WES-COM Domestic Terrestrial Defense Corps
Strength
400,000+	125,000 (initial) 225,000+ (2022) 30,000 (initial) 350,000+ (2022) 3,000,000+ (maximum, 2024)
Casualties and losses
High	High

Background

Main article: South Nysdra War

In 2013, a civil war erupted in Quetzenkel which was exacerbated by concerns about the status of Veltorine people in 2014. Varshan warned Urcea not to intervene until 2015, when a negotiated settlement between both countries recognized Telucti Cheveyo's claim to the country. Cheveyo, a Varshan-born warrior caste billionaire who converted to Catholicism and resided in Levantia, was viewed as a candidate that would allow both countries to retain some influence. In mid 2016, Quicksilver Industries-armed and trained forces crossed from Varshan into Quetzenkel under Cheveyo's leadership, calling themselves the "Legitimists". The Legitimists prevailed by the end of the year, and Telucti I was proclaimed the first King of Quetzenkel. Disappointing Varshani policymakers, Quetzenkel immediately join the Nysdra Sea Treaty Association and did homage to the Apostolic King of Urcea, definitively aligning the country with Urcea. Over the course of the late 2010s, Urcea and other Occidental powers considerably invested in Quetzenkel, leading to major economic development and rising standards of life.

Despite its clear geopolitical defeat, Varshan would not forget what they perceived as the betrayal of Cheveyo. Varshani leadership perceived that the presence of a Urcean-aligned Quetzenkel posed a significant threat to Varshan's sovereignty, and the country began military planning for the invasion of Quetzenkel in the event of war between Varshan and Urcea.

Summary of operations

Initial invasion

Upon its entry into the Final War of the Deluge, Varshan intended to complete two lightning campaigns to eject Urcea from Cetsencalia and Quetzenkel within six months, committing more than two million combat personnel to the task. Due to the lesser presence of the Royal and Imperial Army in Quetzenkel, Varshani forces believed the 4-to-1 advantage over local defenders would be enough to induce Quetzenkel to surrender. The initial invasion also planned on having sympathy from the local population, which it did not expect from the neighboring Veltorines of Cetsencalia. Consequently, only 400,000 men were committed to the invasion of Quetzenkel.

On the morning of April 15, 2021, the Varshani Army crossed the border and defeated light resistance by Quetzen Domestic Terrestrial Defense Corps (DTDC) border guards and began to push north from the south-central border of the country. Their advance was accompanied by the dropping of Quetzeni-language pamphlets which continued for two weeks until the Royal Air Force established aerial supremacy over the country. Armored forces of the DTDC quickly advanced south from garrisons outside the capitol city of Akwesasne, meeting advanced units of the invasion force and defeating them in detail. Quetzenkel activated its entire reserve force on April 22, 2021, though mobilization of these forces would not be available for some time. The DTDC quickly reinforced the southern part of the country and established static defenses. The invading Varshani forces did not expect heavy resistance and could not immediately make up the losses of its advance armor forces, stalling the campaign.

During the initial invasion, forces from Daxia were stationed in Akwesasne and southern Quetzenkel, ostensibly to "protect against unrest in the Kingdom". These forces allowed Quetzenkel to deploy as many forces as possible to the southern border, allowing more than a hundred thousand combat personnel to take the field when Varshani forces anticipated half that number.

Daxian withdrawal

As the southern border stabilized in early late summer 2021, Daxia announced it would be withdrawing its forces citing the lack of a committed war effort by Urcea, although later media sources revealed that Daxia was preparing for its counterattack against Varshani forces in Xisheng due to Daxia's own lack of forces in the theater. The withdrawal led to a brief closure of the Nysdra Sea by the Royal Navy, precipitating a tense but brief diplomatic showdown between Urcea and Daxia that was only resolved by the personal intervention of Riordan VIII in his role as King of New Harren. The withdrawal meant that large numbers of Royal and Imperial Army forces had to be withdrawn from the Invasion of Cetsencalia, a withdrawal that most analysts believe played a decisive role in the fall of New Taxades later in September. The Daxian withdrawal, in addition to its effect on Urcean deployments, also significantly disrupted the Varshani invasion plans for Quetzenkel, forcing a halt in operations and reevaluation that gave the Urceans sufficient time to reinforce the country.

Cobalt campaign and relief efforts

Anglei entered the Varshan War on February 25, 2022, announcing its intent to assist in recovery efforts for the nations impacted by the conflict. That day, an international naval force sponsored by Anglei departed from Alba Concordia armed with medical supplies, construction materials, and foodstuff to aid the civilians who were victims of the war. Alongside this assistance were 20,000 Ænglish soldiers who were to arrive at Quetzenkel as part of allied offensive operations. The deployment of soldiers was joined by air raids on Anzo. Operation Cobalt Prince was launched on April 7, 2022, with some 20,000 Ænglish soldiers under the command of Isaac Swan launched a southward offensive into the mountains along the Quetzenkel-Varshan border in an attempt to puncture the lines and drive into the Varshan heartland. Although initially a success, Varshan had trapped Anglei's forces deep into their lines, and on April 25, 2022, they launched an offensive to surround 15,000 of Swan's forces deep in the mountains. Recognizing his position, Swan dug in and with help from Ænglish aerial forces, established the Cobalt Fortress to hold out until assistance arrived.

Despite promises of a counterattack to relieve the fortress never materializing, the siege of Cobalt Fortress was initially a success. Varshan's attempts to force a surrender failed, with the Ænglish knowing that surrender meant torture and eventual death. Instead, as time went on, they held out despite starvation, lack of medical supplies, and the bitter cold of the mountains. Within two months, the 15,000 trapped in the fortress were reduced to 12,000 by June 2022. Allied support from the air ameliorated the crisis of supplies in the short term and allowed for the evacuation of wounded Ænglish soldiers and personnel. Martin St. Clair subsequently shelved other offensive plans and began an operation to lift the siege and to help Swan break out from the fortress. Intrepid Enterprises forces were used extensively as part of operational security for the rescue. In October 2022, the Urcean offensive began, and on December 3, 2022, Ænglish forces managed to put north after abandoning the fortress and reunited with friendly forces. Of the 20,000 Ænglish involved in Operation Cobalt Prince, 2,530 were killed 4,206 were wounded and 102 were missing. Around 8,200 Ænglish escaped the Cobalt Fortress unscathed.

The siege of Cobalt Fortress was a major blow to Ænglish morale and precipitated a major reform of its armed forces. With almost 6,000 casualties taken in the span of less than a year (equivalent to a quarter of the Army of the United Angle States's total strength), Operation Cobalt caused a deep national identity crisis among the population of Anglei, leading to greater focus on a possible independent national defense and national spirit. The Cobalt campaign and siege represented the worst Ænglish military defeat since the Nordmontaine War.

Aftermath

Successes in the Quetzenkel front allowed for the Royal and Imperial Army to reach Anzo from the north and begin the taking of the city, culminating in the Fall of Anzo and the end of the Final War of the Deluge. Following the conclusion of the war, Quetzenkel was compensated with significant lands along the central Varshani ridge populated Quetzen-related peoples as part of a general NSTA strategy of surrounding Varshan with capable self-sustaining nation-states. Much of the defensive perimeter envisioned by Quetzenkel's borders following the Treaty of Electorsbourg was based on lessons from the Varshani invasion of the country.