Sapin

Kingdom of Sapin

- The Sapin Flag recreated by Zaku -

The Federal Era
1987-1994

Following the Belkan Federal Law Review of 1987 and the economical collapse that followed, the former South-Eastern and North-Eastern Belkan territories, later known as Ustio and the FATO Nations, became the first two territories to break away from the Belkan Federation. The Belkan military began to pull out of the Eastern Nations, after this. Also, in 1991 Belka sold it's eastern territores to Ustio, Sapin and the FATO Nations. Sapin had gained ever more land, after these new lands were divided up and it seemed to the Sapinish that freedom would be maintained

However, a Joint Research Group discovered that near the borders between Ustio, Sapin and Belka, under tons of rocks and mountains lay a vast surplus of natural resources. At this same time, a Belkan right-wing party takes control of Belka and publishes the lies the Osean Federation told the world, including plans of Osea to take over the Republic of Ustio and the Kingdom of Sapin. Amidst the chaos, war was declared.

The Belkan War
1995

Open war was declared by Belka and the Belkan military began to pour across the borders of Ustio and Sapin, being the more resource-heavy territories. Ustio, however, lacked the military strength to fight off the invaders and almost fell to Belka. Sapin, however, had its military expand exponentially over the past decade, thus being more prepared for the Belkan invasion. Though the Western Territories of Sapin were overrun by Belkan aggressors, the Four Horsemen along with the Sapin Royal Army managed to halt the Belkan advance early in the war and maintain the Belkans at bay, far from Gran Rugido.

Later in the war, after Ustio began to be liberated with a new mercenary force, the Sapin Military began to spearhead the counter offensive against the Belkan Military, causing several deadly blows to the Belkans and driving them past areas B6R and B7R, where there seemed to be a perpetual stalemate between the two forces. At the time, Ustio and Osea seemed to be able to drive the Belkans back to their northern regions, so Sapin and an Allied army comprised of Oseans and Yuktobanians began an assault on the Sourthern Regions. These territories were liberated much earlier than their Northern counterparts, where the heavier fighting took place. Apparently, the Belkans were willing to sacrifice the Sourthern Regions to defend the North. The fact that these territories surrendered peacefully (for the most part) also aided in a quick end to the Southern portion of the war.

After the detonation of nuclear weapons in Belka and the eventual cease-fire, Sapin forces took over the job of peacekeeping along with Osea in the Southern Regions. Then, on June 20th, the official peace accords of the Belkan war took place in Lumen in South Belka. Around the same time, Espada and Escudo were watching over the peace accords, when they were going to be relieved by Lanza and Armadura when the two squadrons found the runway was sabotaged, causing the erradication of both Lanza and Armadura, leaving Espada and Escudo to watch over the peace accords and be on stand-by alert should something happen over Gran Rugido.

Then, on Christmas Day, 1995, A World With No Boundaries revealed itself, by first attacking Lumen, the signing place of the peace accords and Valais Air Base with the XB-0, Belka's experimental bomber. Escudo's flight lead transfered to Espada and became the Espada flight lead after an assassination on the former leader by Marcela Vasquez. This betrayal was caused by a romantic relationship betwen Escudero and Macarena, but also by the former flight lead's lack of cooperation towards "A World With No Boundaries". The rest of Escudo team either manned sectors of the XB-0 or flew escorts to the XB-0 along with the new Espada duo. However, all Sapin escorts were shot down by the Ustian mercenary squadron GALM team and their "Demon Lord".

Afterwards
1996 -

Sapin became a monarchy of peace again, no longer involved in military affairs, and instead focusing on their economy and their people. However, the military remained (to an extent), in case there should ever be another catastrophe that drags the Sapinish and their neighbors with them. After the war, Sapin was no longer addressed as the 'traitor' country, but the brother country of Ustio, both of whom liberated the Eastern Territories and fought back the Belkan invasion against all odds.

Sapin is still a country after the year 2020, but it's fate after that is unknown.

SOURCE
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (the game itself)
PROJECT ACES: ACZ WEBSITE
NamcoCH. ACZ Website

Original article by Ribbon Red