Operation Delveran Storm

Operation Delveran Storm was a movement within Lavrasia during the 2018 Delveran consular election cycle with the ultimate goal of propelling Michael Holloway to the office of Consul. The operation was a success, and Holloway was inaugurated the Fourth Consul of the Grand Republic on 16 July 2018.

Methods
The first step of the operation was the establishment of the Territory of Heremus as a constituent of Lavrasia. This was necessary for success due to the constitutional requirement that consuls and presidents be residents of Delvera rather than extraterritorial citizens. In preparation for the expected result of the passage of the Conflict of Interest Act on 21 March 2018, Christian Newton’s withdrawal from the race, Heremus was established on the same day. The main effort of the operation had two primary methods: recruitment and engagement of new citizens who were friendly to Holloway and electioneering for Holloway with the established citizenry. The former was moderately successful, with a few new extraterritorial citizens joining the movement. The latter, however, was able to secure the majority of the Lavrasian and a significant minority of the Neoshan votes. This two-pronged approach ultimately guaranteed Holloway’s victory at the polls.

Message
Holloway’s platform, focusing on Delveran nationalism, unity, and patriotism while avoiding discussion of specific policies, appealed to a wider base than the other candidates, helping to secure his win. Holloway crafted this platform with assistance from members of the movement.

Legacy
Members of the movement would go on to participate in Operation Delveran Shield over the following year. As Holloway’s consulship became increasingly unpopular, various supporters of the operation began to express regret at their participation. Some even kept their involvement a secret for years to avoid a media backlash.