On February 13, 2026, the Republic of Baüme issued the Valentinus Adjungo, a formal document declaring the incorporation of the southern Antrum region of the Autonomous Soviet Republic of Caravan into Baüme’s Peshanik Oblast.

The move effectively placed the region under Baümen authority and marked a significant territorial expansion for the republic. However, the decision was met with immediate resistance from factions within the region aligned with the existing communist administration, who rejected the legitimacy of Baüme’s leadership.

In the weeks that followed, Baümen Armed Forces gradually moved to establish control across the southern Antrum region. Tensions continued to rise as segments of the local population, frustrated with the shifting power dynamics and the presence of Baümen forces, began organizing opposition. What initially appeared to be scattered resistance soon developed into a broader uprising, signaling the start of a growing conflict in the region.

n the wake of the Valentinus Adjungo issued on February 13, 2026, the political landscape of the former Autonomous Soviet Republic of Caravan transformed into a powder keg. What began as localized unrest rapidly spiraled into a coordinated movement as residents, fueled by a deep-seated resistance to Baümen authority, began to mobilize. By mid-February, the streets were no longer filled with mere protesters, but with the first iterations of organized militias. While the Nationalist Workers Party of Baüme (NWPB) maintained a public facade of indifference, dismissing the Caravan ASR as a fractured entity incapable of a sustained campaign, the reality on the ground told a different story.

The true turning point arrived on February 14, when the Caravan ASR took the definitive step of declaring war on the Republic of Baüme. In a move of staggering overconfidence, the Republic’s leadership initially brushed off the declaration as posturing, failing to mobilize the full weight of their military.

However, this period of perceived "unrest" was merely the preamble. The mask of a minor regional crisis was finally stripped away on March 8, when the Republic was forced to witness the sheer scale and lethality of the Caravan forces. It was on this day that the NWPB realized they weren't dealing with a disorganized mob, but a war of survival that had been meticulously prepared right under their noses.

In response, Martin contacted the Defense and Interior Commissariats of the Republic of Baüme, requesting immediate assistance. The 3rd Infantry Division was placed on alert and ordered to mobilize toward the area. Before the unit arrived, however, McLain and Martin withdrew from the scene. According to McLain, further engagement was deemed unnecessary at the time, and the mobilized forces were subsequently called off.

Both officials successfully left the area with only Martin having a slight head injury due to a pellet hitting his helmet. The incident is generally recorded in historical accounts as a minor but the start of Operation Eden, and the beginning of the Caravan-Baüme War.

The Battle of Susanna began as a planned offensive by the Republic of Baüme to eliminate the threat from the Caravan Soviet Socialist Republic (ASR), a communist regime led by the unknown figure Casper, along its eastern border. Launched on Holy Saturday, April 4, 2026, the operation aimed to exploit weaknesses in the Caravan’s 2nd Volunteer Militia. Under Army Director Bryant Martin, the 1st Infantry Division executed a high-risk flanking maneuver to undermine Casper's authority. The Republic of Baüme sought a rapid, decisive victory to avoid a prolonged conflict in the contested No Man's Land. The initial assault targeted Fort Antelope, the Caravan’s main eastern outpost. Using blitz tactics, rapid movement, concentrated force, and localized maneuver, the 1st Infantry bypassed forward defenses, catching the 2nd Volunteer Militia off guard and forcing a disorganized retreat south. The specific weaponry used by Baüme infantry to breach the fort's gates was fully automatic M4 SPRs, which quickly eroded militia morale. Advancing further, the 1st Infantry isolated the Caravan ASR from its supply lines by crossing No Man's Land and blocking Casper's logistical routes. While this was ongoing, a "Shortie" from the Baüme Air Defense began a descent into the area and was swiftly taken out by a Caravan soldier, prompting a rescue mission. The offensive paused on April 5 for Easter Sunday, giving the Caravan a brief respite, though the encirclement held. During this ceasefire, high-level communications between Army Director Martin and Casper’s leadership regarding the end of chemical gas may have occurred, but records remain classified. The collapse of the eastern front forced the remaining 2nd Volunteer Militia to retreat into a reorganized and destroyed no man's land, ending their involvement until the First Battle of Antelope. The Republic’s Defense and Interior Commissariats declared a "near-perfect" victory. The casualty ratio was highly disproportionate: the Republic suffered fewer than one fatality, while the Caravan militia lost three. 

However, the second stage of the campaign, which occurred only a week after the fall of the border fortress, remains one of the most famous actions in modern warfare tactics. Although the High Command of the Republic celebrated its victory at Antelope, the situation for the 1st Infantry Division continued deteriorating, and that "victory point" proved to be an operational trap after the counteroffensive by the Caravans commenced.

The 3rd Volunteer Militia of the Caravan revealed astonishing maneuverability when they emerged out of the light-green terrain around Antrum, bypassed the outposts of the Republic, and made a textbook double envelopment. According to old maps, the arc formed by the Caravans moved like a scalpel, cutting through the southern part of the Bazaar towards the 1st Infantry Division that was now trapped between the rugged lands in the north.

The Battle of Caravan, alternatively documented as the Fall of Caravan, stands as the decisive concluding engagement of the Caravan ASR conflict. Though contemporary historians often debate whether it qualifies as a "battle" given the asymmetrical nature of the combat, the events of May 7, 2026, fundamentally restructured the regional corridor. At 16:00, a combined arms force comprising the 1st Infantry Division, the 3rd Motorized Division, and the elite 2nd "Hell Patrol" Special Forces initiated a multi-axis penetration into the urban center. The Republic of Baüme’s High Command eschewed a rapid kinetic assault in favor of a "rolling annexation" strategy, prioritizing the establishment of fortified supply corridors and the systematic integration of municipal infrastructure as they advanced.