The Subtropic Takeover

The Subtropic Takeover is the nickname given to the operation started by the United Territories of Sand to take over the subtropic deserts of the world, beginning with the Sahara Desert. The Sahara Desert, like most subtropical deserts, is of high economic value to the UTS. However, it is also of high cultural value as well, due to the UTS' beginnings in a Saharan country.

January 15th, 2021
??:?? PST - Multiple UTS boats carrying the entirety of the UTS helicopter supply heads to Morocco (and by extension, Western Sahara)

January 16th, 2021
??:?? PST - The boats arrive and the helicopters set off to scout/cover the entire surface area of Morocco (and, by extension again, Western Sahara). Moroccan citizens rejoice as they now have an organized government.

January 18th, 2021
22:01 PST - The Tunisian and newly acquired Moroccan helicopters set off from both sides into Algeria, beginning the claim and the land connection.

January 20th, 2021
11:40 PST - After the UTS helicopters finished their fly-through of Algeria, multiple armed terrorist groups popped up, beginning many small skirmishes in Algeria. With the help of multiple civilian militias, the UTS arrests or kills the terrorists, successfully claiming Algeria as their own.

12:46 PST - The UTS helicopters get a refuel, and, with their new Algerian helicopters, set off for Libya.

22:01 PST - Libya, still in a civil war at the time, decides to negotiate with the UTS. Negotiations decide that both sides each have two guaranteed seats in the Sand Collective, with the fifth seat going to whoever the citizens choose. The UTS decides to take a small break from their takeover of former countries and decides to hold a celebration for taking a large amount of the Sahara desert, regaining their culture, and bolstering their economy.

January 21st, 2021
10:32 PST - The UTS helicopter forces head into Egypt, scouting out the area for potential threats.

16:19 PST - UTS reports show multiple hostile terrorist groups and organized crime syndicates east of the Nile river. This proves a nuisance to the UTS as they begin a search for these cells.

21:25 PST - After heavy fighting, the terrorists and syndicates were eliminated. This results in the claiming of Egypt and the securing of the northern Sahara.

January 22nd, 2021
13:05 PST - The UTS helicopter forces head into Mauritania, after a large transport from Egypt got them to the borders.

17:08 PST - UTS surveys show multiple terrorist-crafted seacrafts. This proves a small challenge for the UTS, as they decimate them with their submarines and aircraft.

January 24th, 2021
16:30 PST - After multiple thorough sweeps of Mauritania, it is ruled terrorist-free and officially claimed by the UTS. The UTS helicopter force, now accompanied by 4 Mauritanian helicopters, set off for Mali.

21:30 PST - Reports show no signs of hostile terrorists of syndicates, meaning that Mali is claimed by the UTS. They take a small break to celebrate the taking of a large amount of the Sahara.

January 25th, 2021
12:40 PST - After an adequate rest, the UTS helicopter force heads to Niger.

17:35 PST - Multiple experimental syndicate U-Boats have been spotted in Lake Chad. The UTS Submarine Warfare forces begin an assault, ordered to attempt to immobilize the subs for UTS use.

February 5th, 2021
09:20 PST - After a heavy 11 days of fighting, the UTS managed to capture five of the experimental U-Boats and disassemble another, successfully claiming Niger for the UTS. The helicopter force sets out for Chad next.

February 9th, 2021
23:32 PST - After a large sandstorm delays the helicopter force for a few days, they manage to claim Chad for the UTS. With this, the UTS helicopter force sets out for Sudan.

February 21st, 2021
11:34 PST - It is revealed that Sudan and Eritrea have been claimed by the UTS, and the helicopter force has been on carriers traveling to Australia, ready to set out for the third largest desert after securing the second largest.

March 4th, 2021
15:43 PST - The UTS lays successful claims on Australia, annexing it and adding their helicopters to the helicopter force. Said force boards helicopter carriers and head to South Africa.

March 10th, 2021
13:32 PST - The UTS successfully secures South African borders., taking a minor break while cataloguing their new military assets.