Community:Fanfiction/Haddon War

Haddon War is a large conflict taking place across the former United States of America from the years 2301 to 2308.

Background
Belligerents in the Conflict included the New California Republic, Khanic Empire, Enclave, United Commonwealth Government, New Haven Federation, and Appalachia Coalition. Canada entered the war in 2307, and their contribution was responsible for a large portion of late-war gains. The war caused a vast amount of upheaval societally, politically, and economically, and, thanks to its devastation, was responsible for a period of peace shortly afterwards.

History
While the war itself only began in 2301, the circumstances and tensions behind it had existed for centuries. The beginning of the war, however, was spurred on by a diplomatic misunderstanding, and could potentially have been avoided.

In 2300, at the dawn of the 24th century, the New California Republic expanded yet again, eager for more land, resources, and influence. Spurred on by their recent successes in the Mojave, the NCR moved northeast, to Wyoming. There, however, Republic troops encountered what could be considered the greatest threat to their regional supremacy since the Legion: The Khanic Empire. The end product of the Khan's lineage, the Khanic Empire had carved out a vast swath of the midwest, establishing dominion over thousands of individuals. Thanks to the Khan's previous experiences with the NCR, having feuded with them since the Republic was merely a tiny farming community, first contact was tense, and the Californian troops were forced to leave. Tensions continued to rise, however, when the NCR discovered that a small border settlement, by the name of TwoTree, was sitting on a large gold stockpile. The Republic began positioning troops around the border, agitating the Khanic Army. Both sides began to move troops into entrenched locations, with increasing numbers being called up from the militaries of the opposing nations.

However, the true spark that ignited the powder keg that the situation had become was a single misunderstanding. The NCR President, hoping to distinguish themself from previous administrations, requested to send a diplomatic party to TwoTree to resolve the situation. The Khanic government was made aware and allowed this. For a time, it seemed as though both sides were willing to come to a peaceful resolution to the situation. However, none of the plans of the upcoming diplomatic summit were told to the head of TwoTree's militia, one Joseph Haddon. When the NCR diplomatic party of 20 arrived at TwoTree's gates, Haddon viewed it as an invasion force and opened fire.

Out of the diplomatic party, only 3 people survived. In retaliation, NCR Rangers attacked a Khanic border station 3 days later. Following this event, all negotiations were called off. Less than 24 hours later, the NCR declared war on the Khanic Empire. The New Haven Federation, having been wary of the Khanic Empire for some time now, and viewing the massacre of the NCR diplomatic party as an unprovoked act of aggression, declared war shortly after.

On the 23rd of January, 2301, NCR troops invaded TwoTree, taking control of the town and killing any who resisted. The invasion that Haddon had assumed the diplomatic party to be had arrived, and rapidly secured the town's borders. Khanic warriors attempted to retake the town repeatedly, but the entrenched position of the NCRA made such an act impossible. Under the command of General Lee Oliver, the NCR used TwoTree as a staging ground, rapidly transporting troops to the surrounding areas. With Khanic troops being repeatedly routed, the empire could provide little organised defense of major areas. Pushing towards Chay-yen, the Republic seemed unstoppable.

However, another party had been watching the situation with more than a veiled interest. The Enclave, having reestablished itself in the north, feared as to what would happen should the NCR conquer the Khanic Empire, due to the Republic's prior war with the organization. Knowing that the Republic could not be defeated by the Khans alone, the Enclave declared war on the NCR, entering the conflict on the side of the Khanic Empire.

Enclave troops proved to be a boon to the embattled Khans, rapidly arriving and helping to stabilise the situation. This, paired with the Khan's usage of irradiated metal in bullets and their cavalry divisions, swiftly turned the previous power dynamic on its head. The NCR and NHF were forced back to numerous strongholds, their positions rapidly overrun by Enclave soldiers equipped with Power Armour. The New Haven Federation itself had particular strain placed on it, with its supply lines being used by the NCR to supply its army. That, paired with an increasing subsidization of the NHF's military by the NCRA, led to certain questions as to whether the Republic respected the Federation's territorial integrity.