Guardsman's War

The Guardsman's War
Location Kersika, Concordian Republic
Belligerents
Governor Callum Russell	Mackenzie Arra

The Guardsman's War was a civil war in the Concordian Republic, lasting between 26 and 29 August 2021. It was the first civil war in the country's history, fought between the honorary Governor of Aeonia an

d the Governor of Concordia, Callum Russell. The three day war's battles were fought in the New Concordia Federal District. The war resulted in the District Treaty, which proposed new rights for citizens and limits on the powers of the Guardsmen. It has had a lasting effect on the culture of Concordia.

Events of War

From the 6^th to the 25^th of August, relations between the Governor of Concordia and a new citizen, the honorary Governor of Aeonia, were fairly stable and friendly. However, on Wednesday the 25^th of August, at about 5.00 pm, the Federal Guard entered Governor Mackenzie Arra’s residence without permission, led by the Concordian Governor. The Governor of Aeonia brought this up at a conference the following day, but Russell decided to postpone the issue. However, the next day at 4.46 pm, the Federal Guard again breached the Aeonian Governor's quarters. Triggered by this, Arra struck out, hitting Russell on the back and neck. In retaliation, Russell shot at her multiple times. Arra fled but later returned with a blaster. A fight resulted, concluding in the Aeonian's fleeing. Over the next two days, blaster fire would spontaneously erupt, with both Governors retreating and returning at certain points. However, on the 29^th August, tired of the fighting, Russell handed over Concordian Governorship to Arra. At 3.38 pm, she dissolved the Concordian State, ceding it back to the Commonwealth of Australia. Instigated by this decision, Russell once again took up arms, holding an armed takeover and relinquishing control of the Governorship. At 3.41, three minutes after being dissolved, the Concordian Republic seceded once again from Australia. On 6 September

Impact on Concordian Culture

The war has had a lasting impact on the culture of the Concordian Republic. With a blaster equipped with beesting darts to her head, the former Governor agreed to peaceful terms of a treaty. This resulted in the District Treaty, which limited the powers of the Federal Guard once again, but also prevented the Aeonian from holding office as the Governor again. The Treaty is still recognised as treated as a legal document to this day.

There have long been internal debates about the war, especially discussions about its legality. For example, there is some number of Concordian who believe that Russell had no authority to simply appoint Mackenzie, thus meaning it was equally illegal for Arra to dissolve the Republic. There is also a school of thought who believe that Arra did not formally dissolve the Republic

Of note, however, President Russell has since decried and apologised for his actions during the war, citing a desire to keep absolute power as his reasoning behind the unprovoked attacks on McKenzie. He has also said that he should not have forced the treaty’s signage at gunpoint, and that peaceful negotiations would have been preferred.