Sicily (1983: Doomsday)

General Information
A unique though logical path after Doomsday took the Italian island of Sicily. In contrast to many other countries and regions it has remained stable, though the most distant from democracy since 1983.

Territory
The Sicily Republic controls the island of Sicily, mainland Italy up to Milano. It currently claims all of Italy, Tunisia, Libya, Nizza, and Monaco.

1983-1986: It's up to the Godfathers
With the lack of a central Italian government after the devastation of Rome, Turin and Milano the already nearly omnipotent Mafia took matter on Sicily in her own hands. After a meeting of the most influential syndicates/clans an agreement over establishing a New Italian Republic was made.

The syndicates set up police forces -though comprising nearly all but true policemen (carabinieri)- and declared the "Repubblica di famiglia" and restored order under martial law over the whole island of Sicily.

A decisive role in the nascent years of the Sicily Republic plays the declared loyalty of the Italian military remnants to the Mafia Government -partly by bailing out the Generals-

Quickly, the weak political opposition is cracked down by fascist-like means. But the persisting relative peace and economical stability - and martial law- hold the suffering population down.

1987-1988: Bringing together the pieces
After three years of self-rebuilding and stabilizing the government -a few Syndicates unhappy about their power share, the Sicilians put their eyes beyond their coastline. As the Italian provinces on the mainland -with the exception of the Province of Venice - have only been able to set up very weak stability the Sicily Republic saw its time has come.

By a "voluntary call" of the Messina Community they landed troops and police forces on the other side of the strait of Messina in March 1987 and established control over the province of Calabria within 3 weeks. But instead of stopping, the Sicilian forces advanced further north. By the end of 1987, they controlled the provinces of Campania, Basilicata and Puglia: Abruzzo and Molise follow until June 1988 voluntarily. Leaving out the devastated region around Rome, the Sicilian forces, strengthened by neo-fascist paramilitary units from the annexed provinces, advance and conquer in a small firefight the principal city of Naples.

Not willing to overstretch the young Republic's Army, they stop their advance in the End of 1988 after conquering Florence in December. The authorities quickly stabilize their control by the proven methods used before. Any political opposition is cracked down immediately, martial law and harsh punishments keep the population at bay.

1989: First Stop and an unsuspected enemy
The confident and ambitious commanders wanted to restart the advance north by March 1989 hoping to control the old Italy by Christmas.

But they were stunned to near death when reaching the city of Bologna a massive enemy military force has taken positions to counter the Sicilian advance. After a few irritations, the Generals realized that in secret the Northern Italian Provinces -led by Venetian and Genuese- have set up a defense coalition force bolstered by a large contingent of thousands of Alpine Militia willing to stop the neo-fascist expansion by all means.

After a brief skirmish (Named the Bologna Incident) revealing the Alpine Superiority based on hundreds of recently acquired NATO-tanks, artillery and rocket launchers, the Sicily troops retreat to Florence to set up defenses and rethink their strategy.

The unexpected news and shift deeply upset the Government in Palermo. Quickly the bulk of the forces are sent to avoid a Alpine-North-Italian counter-offensive.

As this doesn't happen within the next weeks, instead the Alpines offering a ceasefire and treaty negotiations, the Sicilians quickly agree to a de facto demarcation line along Pisa, Florence and Rimini.

1990-2004:Cold peace
In the following 14 years the Republic turned their eye to the inside, deeply strengthening the mafia rule, reindustrializing vast areas, and increasing military production; especially their navy. This stage of cold peace, ignoring all exterior offers of help & assistance, was introduced to cover the still-living expansionist ambitions.

2004-now: Sudden eruptions
The isolationist Sicily Republic stunned its neighbors and the world by staging an amphibious invasion of both Sardinia and Tunisia on May 5th, conquering them within 2 weeks, long before any force could take the initiative against Sicily.

These achievements are part of the war in the Alboran Sea in support of the fascist regime of the southeastern Spain and against Pais de Oro, Sicily occupied the island of Ibiza between 2004 and 2006, the intervention of forces Celtic Alliance, Portugal and Rif supporting PdOr forced to withdraw from the Western Mediterranean.

Though heavily opposing, neither the neighbors or ANZC or anyone was able or willing to intervene militarily. So in 2007 the Sicilian authority over both territories was acknowledged.

The international powers were only able to enact a few sanctions which proved almost completely ineffective against Sicily. Those sanctions were lifted in December 2007, though Sicily was (except for SAC and Soloville) isolated.

The September 26th 2007 foundation of the Atlantic Defense Community a a direct response to the Sicily Aggression did not really bother the Palermo Government.

But the November 2008 actions' effect -the declared blockade of both the Northern Suez Channel Zone Entrance and the Lampedusa Corridor- and the consecutive direct reaction by ADC, Alpine and ANZC forces have been miscalculated and bothered the Sicily Government.

International Relations
Sicily has been denied membership in the League of Nations.