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The Weekly Telegraph | Humperdinck Media Group (Luthori)

Imperial Navy officializes Mordusian Task Force; Aims to be "respectful" of current military status in SoLS.

April 5559

Fort William - Chief of the Naval Staff, Taylor Braverman issued a statement which confirmed today that a small task force from the Imperial Luthorian Navy would be sent to Mordusia, as part of a structural reform of the Imperial Luthorian Navy, to prepare it for further international engagement. Mr. Braverman, in a press conference in the aftermath of his appointment as Chief of the Naval Staff by the Defence Secretary, following his predecessor’s retirement from the military framework, stated his grievances with the Luthorian military system.

“[...] We don’t need “reforms”, we need a structural and managerial update. We are currently heading one of the world’s finest navies, regardless of what others could say about it. Although, we are currently unable to support permanent presences in other countries for our naval ships. [...] The Imperial Luthorian Navy, as well as the Imperial Luthorian Armed Forces must, for its own modernization process, change its thinking from an old-school 5000s POVs (Point of View) military strategy to a more accurate version of it, featuring in the 5500s. Such reforms must first begin at the very backbone of the military. The Officers’ Cadet Military Schools, and due to education being one of the priorities, politically-speaking, of the new Cabinet, it should be very likely that military education could also be the source of many grievances that would need the thinking and enactment of reforms. [...] Of course, it is my sincere hope that my good friend, Col. [Colonel] Arthur Philips will be able to steer that reformist mindset into our military schools…”

About the status of the Luthorian fleet that would be sent in Mordusia, the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff and Second Sea Lord, Hugh Billinghay stated that gave some details about the status of the new Task Force.

“In light of her current capabilities in terms of global operations, is sending a Mordusian Task Force that would be composed of 14 ships, most of them being sent in order to strengthen the Mordusian self-defence apparatus that is, of course, the main reason why this Navy has agreed with the consent of the Mordusian Federal Government to send this said-Task Force.”

The Imperial Luthorian Navy’s Mordusian Task Force would be composed of 4x River-class offshore patrol vessels, 4x Sandown-class minehunters, 2x Type-23 frigates and 2x Type-45 destroyers. This Task Force is currently ordered by the Naval Command to be patrolling, on behalf and in cooperation with the Mordusian Navy, the western coast of Mordusia, the one giving way to the Sea of Lost Souls. Due to the fleet’s location in the highly tensions-filled area of the Sea of Lost Souls, the Imperial Luthorian Navy’s High Command, to avoid the repeat of a fiasco comparable to the Baltusian Debacle in the 5480s, stated that both the MSCO and Canrillaise naval forces present in the area, alongside their respective naval commands have been informed of the soon-to-be-present Luthorian fleet in the area. The Naval High Command may here only hope that a diplomatic fiasco may be avoided by this respectful communication with other naval forces in the Area.

It should be noted that this communication of Luthorian naval forces going down to Mordusia comes in a “perfect timing” for the Imperial Luthorian Armed Forces as it is widely considered to be a pressure move on the incoming National Labour government who is currently considering the budget reductions of some ministries, such as the Defence or Internal Ministries who are widely considered to be “in danger” of seeing their budget reduced. The Prime Minister and the Government had already stated during their campaign and during the Throne Speech that the military “would not be the priority of the incoming administration” and that budget cuts amids the military’s “seeming inadequacy” in terms of results coming out, in stark contrast with the huge military budget given to her by the previous Tory administrations may be the sign of a “slimmed down military”, as the new Defence Secretary called it. A military focused around technological development, and with a new, smaller budget, than the “current mess” that we call a military, according to the Defence Secretary.

These comments that called the military “a mess” draw a lot of controversy within the Imperial Luthorian Armed Forces, with the Chief of the Defence Staff (CoDS), Arthur Pinkman attacking the Defence Secretary on his comments stating that “it was unfair to all Luthorians who are currently defending the country by taking a part in her defence”, critics also came from the right, with the Unionist League’s Leader, Sir Vincent Kraggs calling the statements “disgraceful” and calling for the resignation of the Defence Secretary “at once”, he also called the government to “better respect the servicemen and servicewomen in our military”. The Tory Party’s Leader, Fr. Prime Minister Lord Holdenburg, called upon the Defence Secretary “to clarify his comments”, before making more statements about the controversy. All and all, it seems that the already strained relationship between the Labour Government and the Imperial Military is only worsening day by day.

As for command status, Rear Admiral Jonathan Pyers was appointed by the First Sea Lord as the "Commander of the Mordusian Task Force", title going as per with his title of Rear Admiral. Mr. Pyers is recognized as being a careful and diplomatic man, seeing the usage of "Naval Diplomacy" in the global stage as a mean to expand one country's interests, as seen recently by the recent announcement from Lodamun with the sending of an expeditionnary force in Malivia. Mr. Pyers stated that in regards to the recent deployment of Lodamese military forces in the Migrant's Pass. Although, it has backfired.

"The Lodamese Navy's moves have been considered surprising by some, but since the Lodamese Navy and Coast Guard have already been operating in the Artanian Sea and North Ocean, it shouldn't be. Although, many people may have thought of JAMS as a deterrent for any power to come to the Migrant Pass, which is, after all, one of the world's most strategic locations, which it has proven it is, with the recent crisis. Although, it should be noted that this Crisis may be the beginning of a rift between Luthori and Lodamun in terms of security collaboration and economic one. The Citadel is obviously worried about possible ramifications in this collaboration."

@TheWeeklyTelegraph