The Northern Border

January 5th, 2030

Not even a week after the annexation of Luxembourg. Belgian troops have swiftly amassed along the Dutch border, creating an ominous militarized zone, sending shockwaves throughout the world. The fact the Belgian Military was able to mobilize such a substantial force without detection was truly shocking. Satellite images should have been able to reveal major military movements, as they have in the past, yet these reports of fully ready troops have only arrived today.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, the Belgian government managed to use prototype holographic technology which were projecting false images into space. These specialized projectors were capable of producing complex and believable 3D images which smoothly and imperceptibly blended into the natural environment

All of this in order to mask its troops, ready them and avoid it all being detected until now. In fact, the revealing of the images before the operation was all part of the plan to cause chaos in the Netherlands and intimidate the world.

Countless tanks stood in formation, poised to cross into Dutch territory at any moment. The preparations were not limited to land forces; the airbases in Belgium buzzed with activity as airplanes were readied for potential sorties. Infantry, the backbone of any formidable army, were primed for action. Many of the special forces that had played a crucial role in the Luxembourg operation were also present, including Emile. He would once more be among the teams that would paradrop behind enemy lines, though instead of occupation, his focus would be disrupting enemy forces.

In contrast to the Luxembourg operation, the plan as a whole took even seasoned soldiers like Emile by surprise. However, they remained steadfast in their dedication to duty and followed orders, with only a handful of deserters in the entire army.

The geopolitical landscape added to the complexity of the situation; the United Nations, weakened and mired in endless debates and disputes, was unable to take proper action. Only the non-political branches of the organization still functioned without any problems.

As the United States retreated from global affairs, NATO, once a stronghold of Western collaboration and collective defense, faced an existential crisis. The alliance was established in the aftermath of World War II and stood as a symbol of unity and a bulwark against potential aggression during the Cold War. However, with the U.S. pivoting towards a more isolationist stance in the 21st century, NATO grappled with internal strife and a loss of its central driving force.

The dissolution of NATO was a gradual and sobering process rather than a sudden event. As the linchpin of the alliance, the United States' reduced engagement raised fundamental questions about NATO's ability to effectively address emerging threats and navigate the complex geopolitical landscape. The organization faced internal disagreements, financial constraints, and diverging national interests, ultimately rendering its dissolution inevitable.

Germany, Britain, and France have all attempted to exert pressure on Belgium to withdraw and come to the negotiating table, but as one would expect it was all in vain. War seems inevitable.

Belgium, for its part, justified its actions as a restoration of order and stability within the region and uniting nations with a shared culture and history. The Netherlands has faced some issues in the past years, but of course it was nothing warranting an invasion.

The world hasn't seen such a large scale military deployment since the Aegean crisis. Turkey, fed up with constant disputes with Greece, prepared its troops and threatened an invasion of the Greek Islands. In the end, due to the lack of support from its former allies, Greece was forced to capitulate to Turkish demands, ceding the islands closest to the Turkish mainland.

Amidst all the turmoil, a mass exodus unfolded as people fled the impending conflict in droves. Highways were congested with cars, ships overflowed with passengers, and airports struggled to manage the surge of departures. Panic swept the Netherlands, and the worst has yet to come. 

January 7th, 2030. 

War has once again descended upon Europe, marking a grim return to a time marred by conflict. Bombings rocked major cities and critical strategic points, paralyzing the Dutch Army, which struggled to mount an effective defense. The Belgian Armed Forces breached the border with speed and ferocity.

In a matter of hours, the southern Netherlands were swept through. A few last minute defenses were constructed on the border and forces stationed yet given a two days notice they were unable to achieve much other than delay enemy forces by minutes.

The city of Maastricht, sitting right on the border, was the first to fall, its mayor quickly surrendering the town when he realized that resisting was hopeless. Before the day's end, the Rhine River was crossed, and the flatlands ahead would be impossible to defend.

As of now, the Belgians have reached the outskirts of Rotterdam and Utrecht. They were the only cities standing between them and the Venice of the North—Amsterdam.

Analysts' predictions regarding the war's outcome concluded that the fate of this conflict likely rested in the hands of Germany and France. Yet, if neither intervened, the war was one-sided. Belgium held the upper hand, leveraging the element of surprise, early bombings, and a sudden invasion that caught the Dutch off guard.

Moreover, Belgium boasted a far superior military, in virtually all aspects. Its size was vastly expanded following the election of Victor Leclarcq, equipment modernized and overseas interventions granted it experience in real-world conflicts. The Dutch on the other hand were not so fortunate, and its forces were ill-equipped to fight a war right on their border,

The bombing of key military targets, mainly, air bases, further tilted the scales, granting Belgium air superiority—a paramount advantage in modern warfare. Control of the skies equated to dominion over the land; underscoring the immeasurable value of air superiority. Yet they avoided major population and economic districts, likely aiming to assume control over them in the near future and avoid the cost of reconstruction.

Unless an outside force were to intervene, Amsterdam was poised to fall within the week, and the rest of the Netherlands would follow suit shortly after. The world watched with bated breath.