As the might of the Lunar Empire grew and as more of its enemies were crushed beneath its hooves, the Equestrian Provisional Government in Puerto Caballo remained a thorn in its side.

It was bad enough for the Empire that Puerto Caballo was protected by the fleet of the Kingdom of Aquileia, it was even worse when Aquileian and Arisian forces were providing training and supplies to the Puerto Caballans, and made downright humiliating as Arisian intelligence were transporting Puerto Caballan operatives around the world to strike at Lunar power wherever it sought to impose itself.

Yet this would not last. Quietly, the Lunar Empire had a sophisticated plan of its own to reclaim the islands. Through extensive reconnaissance and planning, an invasion force capable of seizing the islands within months was constructed and put into place. The threat of Aquileian intervention was thwarted as the Empire supported the growing revolutionary republican movement in Aquileia itself by providing funds and intelligence to its organisers and giving them shelter in New Mareland. This culminated in the 2 January overthrow of the Kingdom of Aquileia in a coup/uprising by the local republicans, and a new democratic pro-Lunar government was established. At last, the way was clear.

Operation Hurricane was launched on 11 January, the initial landings involving 120,000 soldiers and the overall operation involving nearly 400,000 troops with support from dozens of ships, thousands of aircraft and tanks, and the Empire’s most elite combat mages. The defenders, even with all their weapons and training, didn’t stand a chance. Just three nights into the invasion, the symbolic village of Marfiltia was taken by Lunar marines. To celebrate their victory, several of the marines involved in the attack had a picture taken of them posing with the Imperial flag over a Loyalist flag, mimicking a famous piece of Loyalist iconography (>>3136213).

Victory was declared on 26 March with the total collapse of the EPG. Thousands of Loyalists were killed, many more were captured, and those who avoided capture had been scattered to the wind. Or so the Empire thought.

Even though the EPG itself has fallen, resistance remained strong. Deep in the jungles and high in the mountains, a guerrilla insurgency raged on in defiance of the Lunar occupiers. The question was then a matter of who would break first, the vengeful Empire with all its terrifying might or the tenacious rebels with nothing to lose but each other?