The Aetiopian Air Force, in conjunction with the Aetiopian Marines, has secured the towns of Longview and Mount Pleasant, two osentsibly Texan towns that have been without Federal authority for some time. "These lands are a safe haven for pirates and criminals of the worst kind, and the source of a great deal of illegal weapons smuggled into the hands of the Confederate Army. We are not claiming these lands as our own - simply stepping in where, once again, the so-called Federal government of the United States has failed to do so."

The operations were conducted at the same time, and included two galleons each landing a contingent of marines. The towns were secured without a shot fired, but the Department of State suspects that the towns may have a role in the American shadow banking sector, and were deliberately left unpoliced as a bid to launder financing and military aid going to Confederates fighting against Aetiopian allies in Arkansas, Missouri, and elsewhere. They reiterated that this was a temporary military operation, the purpose of which was closing a significant smuggling route, and that Aetiopia had no aspirations on the territory of the former state of Texas - but would not hesitate to seize any and all assets held in this legal grayzone by, or on behalf of, Confederate citizens, officials, or leaders. "Death to slavers, and to friends of slavers."

"The territory has long been a haven for those of ill-repute. Nearly half of all alcohol found by authorities in Aetiopia come from moonshiners and drug runners in this abandonded peninsula. Our question is why - why has the Texan government not put these men down long ago, and why is up to Aetiopia once again to enforce law and order in the Gulf?"

In Ayiti, nationalist forces led by Pisquet and Devulaier launched a successful assault on Jacmet, as Carribbean forces began a general retreat on the south island toward the outskirts of Port-Au-Prince, the last significant bastion of government control in the region. "If they want to evacuate and save their own lives, they're welcome to do so," said Jean-Claude Duvalier, popularly known as Baby Doc by the Ayitian rebels. "But we will unite Ayiti. It is inevitable."

The assault on Jacmet cost minimal lives, with the town largely abandonded by Federation forces. Ayitian rebels continue to count on the support of Aetiopian air assault junkers, which have played a significant role in the rapid progress made by the rebels since the de facto collapse of the Federation just last year.

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