Sophomore-Freshmen War
| UND-Freshman State War | |||||||
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.png) Map of the UND-Freshman State war on the eve of 4 April 2022. | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Hendricken Defense Squad Recreational Club (to 2 December 2022) United Nation of Degenerates (2 December 2022 onwards) Free State of McNallia (in reality) Degenerate People's Union (in reality) |
 Freshman State Free State of McNallia Degenerate People's Union | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Zachary Brown Chris Hansen |
Sir Himothy | ||||||
The United Nation of Degenerates-Freshman State War (17 November 2021 - 27 May 2022), also known as the UND-Freshman State War, the UND-Freshmen War, or the Sophomore-Freshmen War, was an armed conflict waged by the United Nation of Degenerates—later supported by its puppet states—against the Freshman State. The conflict was waged entirely on the campus of Bishop Hendricken High School, situated in the city of Warwick, Rhode Island. The UND-Freshman State War was characterized by intense deception tactics and psychological operations conducted by the UND, which would ultimately result in the capitulation and dissolution of the Freshman State. The UND-Freshmen War is the only war known to have taken place on the campus of Hendricken, and is as such the deadliest conflict to have occurred there. In the wake of the Freshman State's defeat following the singing of the Treaty of McNallia, its territories were occupied and absorbed by the victorious UND.
Several factors caused the outbreak of war, mainly tensions that had been brewing between the Class of 2024 (Sophomores at the time) and Class of 2025 (Freshmen at the time). The rise in tensions reached a boiling point on 17 November 2021, where a confrontation between groups of the two factions escalated into a violent struggle, known by UND sources as the Battle of the Football Field and known by Freshman State sources as the Battle of Hayden Stadium. This battle, waged by a group of sophomores known as the Hendricken Defense Squad Recreational Club, was the first of many in what would soon be termed the Sophomore-Freshmen War of '21. One notable HDSRC official deemed the Battle of the Football Field to be a "strategic defeat but a tactical victory." Following this, a grand operation was planned by the HDSRC to undermine Freshmen activities at Hayden Stadium, but this plan never came to fruition. The war then evolved into a cold war as winter approached, termed the "Chilly War."
The Chilly War ultimately comprised most of the UND-Freshmen War, mainly consisting of deception campaigns or small skirmishes, with some notable exceptions. It was around this time, on 2 December 2022, that the Hendricken Defense Squad Recreational Club was reformed into the United Nation of Degenerates. It is believed that the Freshmen organized themselves into the Freshman State at this time as well. Territory changed hands frequently between the two powers during the Chilly War, until the UND eventually prevailed, pushing the Freshman State back to their capital at Room 204. The UND continued to grow in territory but was struck by "political instability," leading to the "secession" of two districts, the McNallia and Bandia, which would organize themselves into the Free State of McNallia and Degenerate People's Union, respectively. However, these breakaway states were, in reality, puppet states of the UND, meant to ally with the Freshman State and betray it in battle as well as gain intelligence on their movements. The war came to an end on 27 May 2022, when "Sir Himothy," leader of the Freshmen State, agreed to a conditional surrender and signed the Treaty of McNallia, thereby ending all aggression.
History
Pre-War Events
Founding of the HDSRC
The Hendricken Defense Squad Recreational Club was founded on 18 October 2021 as the Hendricken Death Squad, although it would be renamed into the HDSRC soon after. The formation of the HDSRC marked the beginning of a period of factionalism that would eventually divide the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025, especially in those groups that would be involved in the skirmish at Hayden Stadium.
Sporadic Skirmishes
Rising tensions coming as a result of factionalism between the two classes would manifest in short, sporadic skirmishes over the course of October and early November 2021. These early confrontations were largely as a result of territorial disputes between the two classes, as one group would encroach on the lands of another, and so on and so forth. Such confrontations would evolve into the larger-scale battle that characterized the Battle of Hayden Stadium.
War Breaks Out
First Battle of Hayden Stadium
On 17 November 2021, during Period G's Physical Education Class, a usual confrontation between Sophomores and Freshmen took a different turn, becoming a skirmish of a larger scope than what had ever been seen before. Sophomores of the HDSRC had been encroaching on the territories of the Freshmen, who then retaliated by launching a full-scale invasion of the Sophomores' lands. the Sophomores, pushed back, defended valiantly against the invading Freshmen, securing most of their territories but losing some. Thus, this first battle, known as the Battle of the Football Field (now officially deemed the First Battle of Hayden Stadium), would be known as a "strategic defeat but a tactical victory."
Declaration of War
News of the battle was communicated by the Period G Sophomores to similar-minded individuals, leading to a declaration of war being drafted that night. Moreover, three alliance requests were sent to Sophomores of the Period B, E, and F Physical Education Classes, which contained some HDSRC members. On 18 November, the declaration was read aloud in an A Period English Class, to thunderous applause. The declaration was modeled off of the American declaration of war on Japan during World War II and read:
"Members of the Hendricken Class of 2025’s Period G Physical Education Class have committed unprovoked acts of war against the people of the Sophomore Period G Physical Education Class in rejecting several peace offerings to mitigate conflict: Therefore be it Resolved by the Tribunal of the Hendricken Defense Squad assembled that the state of war between the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025 which has thus been thrust upon the Class of 2024 is hereby formally declared; and the Tribunal is hereby authorized to employ the entire manpower of the Period G Sophomore Physical Education Class to carry on war against the Period G Freshman Physical Education Class; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Class of 2024."
The Declaration of War against the Freshmen was then signed by every Sophomore of that class and was approved by the rest of the HDSRC later that night. By this point, several faculty members across other classes were notified of the conflict and spectated, with great interest. A list of exempt Freshmen would be drafted by HDSRC members, including members of the Class of 2025 that had aligned themselves with the Sophomores.
Early Conquests
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Following the Battle of the Football Field, the field had been divided into several sectors. By 18 November, Sophomores had expanded to control two more sectors than they had at the eve of the battle, while the Freshmen were still located at their single sector. However, preliminary intel allegedly provided by an insider revealed that the Freshmen were attempting to relocate to Sector G, which was on the other side of the field. Thus, a grand operation began planning, which, if implemented, would take Sector G before the Freshmen could, while allied forces from other sectors would sweep in, capturing the ones in between Sector G and current Sophomore territorial holdings. This would be known as Operation Downfall and was set to occur on 23 November.
On 22 November, intelligence reported that a major Freshmen leader had accepted the declaration of war. All four squads set to serve during Operation Downfall are believed to have been notified to expect greater resistance. Additionally, orders were given out to hold Sectors A, D, and C, as those would be crucial for the operation. Leaks later that day indicated that there would be much heavier resistance than what was originally expected.
On 23 November, Operation Downfall would be delayed, as the Physical Education class was forced to say inside due to the weather. It was scheduled for the next day, but it would ultimately not occur and would be shelved indefinitely. Following the cancellation of Operation Downfall, a cold war period began, colloquially known as the "Chilly War."
The Chilly War
The onset of the Chilly War—known to the Freshmen as the "Frozen War"—was declared by chief HDSRC officer Chris Hansen on 24 November 2021, a day following the cancellation of Operation Downfall, in an address to the Defense Squad, in which he said:
"As our plans for all-out war need to be pushed to the Spring, I declare this period as our Cold War.
This period will be marked by intelligence gathering, spying, training, etc.
Most conflicts we may have with the enemy will be small and insignificant. May we prepare to lead our forces to victory in the Spring! Ave!'
During the Chilly War, different swaths of territory would be contested by both powers—now relegated within the walls of the school. The first territorial gains were reported on 29 November, when the Defense Squad advanced on Freshman positions at Sector E.
Operation Shadow Hand Begins
On 1 December 2021, chief HDSRC officer Chris Hansen announced the beginning of Operation Shadow Hand—a mass deception and psychological operations campaign aimed at deceiving and destabilizing the Freshmen—which would characterize most of the Chilly War. The announcement read:
"Freshmen have retrieved a portion of our plans.
However, the information that they received was very outdated, those originally planned for the November 23rd Operation. We have successfully launched the disinformation campaign.
An operation was created by HDSRC operatives during this week’s French Club, and it was successful. The enemy has been given the first set of false plans, and more will follow in the future.
AVE!"
First Battle of McNallia
On 6 December, the newly-formed United Nation of Degenerates (formerly the Defense Squad) launched its first major offensive against the Freshmen—targeting the region known as McNallia, a Freshman stronghold designated as Sector C on standard Chilly War maps. The First Battle of McNallia commenced at approximately 1:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, with UND troops pouring in from their capital at Theateria. The Freshmen were forced to retreat, with some groups retreating and overrunning neighboring Pepinia, which was controlled by the UND. Another group of retreating Freshmen exploited a weakness in UND lines, taking and fortifying a small swath of land east of McNallia.
Freshman troops at Pepinia were surrounded and defeated at approximately 2:13 PM Eastern Standard Time; by this point, McNallia was under complete UND control. The First Battle of McNallia would be the first major victory secured by the nascent UND and an incredible morale booster for troops and citizens alike.
Second Battle of McNallia and Siege of McNallia
On 15 December, McNallia—now the District of McNallia under UND jurisdiction—fell to Freshman State forces during a second battle, marking one of the greatest defeats endured by UND forces over the course of the war. At 8:43 AM Eastern Standard Time, Chris Hansen—now Chief-Commander-General of the UND—issued an urgent status report that simply read, "THE DISTRICT OF MCNALLIA HAS FALLEN." At 2:22 PM that same day, General Hansen announced that the liberation of McNallia would begin the next day.
The Siege of McNallia—known as Operation Divine Wind—commenced on 16 December 2021, with UND troops invading from Theateria and Pepinia. By the end of that day, portions of McNallia had been recaptured by the UND, but Freshman State holdouts still remained. On 17 December, UND forces successfully pushed Freshman State troops out of McNallia as well as defeating the Freshmen fortified east of the District. Thus, after 17 December, the United Nation of Degenerates had achieved total dominance over the battlefield and had secured victory in this sector of the war. Additionally, it was reported that Freshman State spies were spotted in the District of Theateria, but it is unknown if they were truly Freshman spies or mere bystanders.
Operation Shadow Hand Continued
On 10 December, five documents were completed that were set to be leaked to Freshman State forces in the coming days. Said documents were the first major round of deception created by the UND, as these documents provided contradictory information about an impending UND offensive as well as supply chain or operational issues. These documents were reportedly extremely effective, sewing much paranoia and confusion among Freshman State leadership.
On 17 December, UND operatives attempted to secure a Christmas Truce with the Freshman State, to no avail. The truce was promptly rejected by Freshman State leadership.
On 24 December, Freshman leader Sir Himothy contacted UND General Hansen, admitting to holding a UND trooper hostage as well as admitting to having allegiance to La Salle Academy—the greatest rival of Bishop Hendricken High School. UND propagandists then used this to their advantage, creating anti-Freshman State propaganda material while UND operatives retrieved the captured trooper.
On 1 January 2022, Sir Himothy released a manifesto titled The Dark Force of the UND, in which he attempted to expose the UND's wrongdoings, ultimately claiming that the UND was "relentless, mean, and cruel" and "[accompanies] Zach to rule Hendricken and bring suffrage to all Freshmen even the innocent ones." The manifesto was dismissed as "full of lies" by the UND, citing several instances in which General Hansen was called an "exact replica of the chosen one." On 2 January, General Hansen drafted a response to the manifesto which was deliberately leaked to Sir Himothy the day after.
On 5 January, General Hansen met with Sir Himothy at the Freshman capital at 204, but the meeting produced no fruitful results and the war was set to continue. General Hansen retrieved a piece of enemy literature describing past and future battles, but a full analysis was never released to the public.