Sapin
Full name	Kingdom of Sapin
Location	Southeast of the Osean Federation
Capital	Gran Rugido
Head of State	Unknown
Government	Monarchy
Type	Kingdom
Currency	Unknown
[Source]

The Kingdom of Sapin is located in the northern area of the Osean Continent. Not much is known about the kingdom before the Belkan War. One thing that has been confirmed is the fact of it being neutral in the past. It most strongly resembles the country of Spain in most every respect.

The Federal Era (1987-1994) Edit

Following the Belkan Federal Law Review of 1987 and the economic 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) Edit

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 Southern 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 Southern 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 20, 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 eradication 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 transferred 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 between 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 - ) Edit

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 in case there should ever be another catastrophe that drags the Sapinish and their neighbors with them.

TriviaEdit

• The word "Sapin", when rearranged, spells "Spain", a reference to the present-day country.
• The people of Sapin are characterized with a thick Spanish accent as exemplified in Sapinish nationals such as Espada 2.
• The capital of Sapin - Gran Rugido- is Spanish for "Great Roar", a reference to the two lions in its national flag.
• The flag resembles the coat of arms of the real world United Kingdom.
• The SP color for Rafale M and the J-35J Draken in Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War have the colors of Spain's flag.
• The word Espada is Spanish for "Sword" or "Blade".

SourcesEdit

• Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (the game)
• PROJECT ACES: ACZ WEBSITE

• NamcoCH. ACZ Website