A World Without America II [Closed / IC]

[Bojikami]

15th of July, 1773
Kotovs'k, Cossack Hetmanate

In a show of commitment to the Greek cause, Ivan Melnikov sent a formal declaration of war to the Ottoman embassy, one that read similarly to the reply of the Zaporozhiyan Cossacks issued in 1676 to Sultan Mehmed IV. With this, Hetman Ivan gathered an army of 25,000 at the border town of Kotovs'k. The Hetman himself decided to lead the charge into the Turkish lands, encouraging his men to "Send these inbred bastards back to the hell pits of Central Asia!"

With his troops at his back, Ivan charged at the head across the Turkish border. There was no going back. At this moment, the Cossacks were completely committed to the cause of liberating Greece, or being killed off in the process.

London, United Kingdom

By July, King George had packed his things and set off to Berlin along with his diplomats to discuss the future of Hanover within the North German Federation, but he was not the only one leaving the ports of southern England, as a sizable fleet consisting of numerous heavy ships and light cruisers. For the moment Britain would not be committing any land forces to the Greeks, as the British Army was tied up maintaining the deteriorating order in the American colonies.

[Bojikami]

19th of July, 1773
Berlin, Prussia

The British King finally arrived in the heart of the Prussian Kingdom after sailing the North and Baltic Seas and by a delightful carriage ride through the Prussian countryside. As he rode through the city, greeted by the guards at the gates of Stadtschloss. George stepped out from the carriage, as did his delegates and walked towards the front doors to meet the impressive young Prussian Queen.

Eastern Moldavia

The Cossacks charging through eastern Moldavia finally met some resistance on the fields outside of Chișinău, where the 25,000 strong Cossack force swarmed a 2,000 man strong Moldavian levy army. The Cossack force, lead by the Hetman himself lost 500 in the battle against the fanatic Moldavians, who lost 1,800, with 200 captured and taken back to the Hetmanate as slaves or retreated deeper into Moldavia.

The battle itself sent a message to Istanbul, who began mobilising a force of 28,000 and sending it north in protection of their vassal.

[Unicario]

19 July

"Augen geradeaus!" the leader of the guard shouted as the King of Great Britain walked up the pathway to the Stadtschloss. Saluting him as he passed, the soldiers were marked with Prussian discipline. At the door of the palace, Queen Catherine welcomed her second cousin. "We eagerly welcome our cousin, the King of Great Britain, to Prussia. Greetings, Your Majesty. The people of Prussia, and myself, are eager for this meeting to be conducted favorably, great things await us."

She invited the King inside.

[Bojikami]

19th of July, 1773
Berlin, Prussia

King George nodded "It is good to meet you as well, your majesty." He shook her hand and walked into the palace, promptly taking a seat at the table before him. As he awaited the Queen, he began to think of just what he wished to speak about. He dearly hoped that him and the Queen could work out an agreement in which the Duchy could join the German Federation and yet British interests in the region could be protected.

Chișinău, Moldavia

Going off of their first and successful battle, the Cossack soldiers marched triumphantly into the town and while they had anticipated some form of civilian resistance, they were greeted as liberators. Much to the Hetmans surprise. The citizens had informed the Hetman that the Phanariote ruling the Moldavian people was corrupt and frequently exploited the smaller villages by unreasonable taxation and limiting the autonomy of local rulers, not only this, but the Ottoman sultan had begun enforcing islamification of the Moldavians and Wallachians, something that drew much dissent and hatred among the people of the Vlach duchies. Upon hearing this, the Hetman vowed to the locals that the Cossacks would do everything in their power to liberate the faithful children of christ from the yoke of the Turk and his corrupt vassals.

With this, the army spent the night in Chisinau, unaware of the approaching Ottoman Army.

[Unicario]

19 July

The Egyptian army took offensive again, hoping to push into Armenia Minor and al-‘Irāq and beat down the beleaguered Ottoman Empire even further. A communique was dispatched to Britain to offer a lease over the city of Kuwait in exchange for support against the Ottoman Empire navally and through arms sales. The port city was to be on a 20 year lease, renegotiable effective 1793.

---

Berlin

"Well, Your Majesty. It is a simple, invariable truth that all of Germany's children ought to be under one house. But I don't wish for that house to be some neo-feudalistic Austrian one... hence why I ask you here today."

She beckoned Pechersky over to her, who saluted her and handed her a large map. "Your Majesty, this is Alexander Pechersky, the commander of my Cossack brigades, and Prussia's newest Field Marshal." She laid the maps out and said, "As you know, my father conquered the rich lands of Silesia before my birth, and was tragically killed by the Russians at Kolberg in 1761... in this day and age, especially after the civil war that threatened my reign, the Russians and Austrians conspire to partition and balkanize Prussia -- I know this to be true as it is simple logic. Austria wishes to retain control of Silesia, and the Russians aim to weaken one of their main rivals for hegemonic power over Central-Eastern Europe. In vengeance for my father's refusal to recognize Austria's Empress, they too, will likely refuse to recognize my rights as Queen. Fortunately for me, the Hohenzollern scions of both the Franconian-Schwaben and the Prussian branches have both recognized me as the rightful Queen of Prussia."

She gestured, "I have found diplomatic alliance in the form of old Louis XV and his scion. His youngest grandson, Henri, is to marry me, creating a strong blood alliance."

She looked at King George, "Britain's alliance with Prussia is of grave urgency to us -- without Britain, we will likely be stamped out navally by the Russian Baltic fleet, and be unable to sustain ourselves long enough to win the war. I would like nothing more than to see Britain's continued alliance, and the strengthening of the Prussian nation to combat the Austro-Russian menace... hence my North German Federation."

Unraveling another map, this time showing the establishment of a "union" between Prussia, Braunschweig-Luneburg, and Mecklenburg. "These three states, joined together, would be a proper counterbalance to the Holy Roman Empire and it's feudalistic princedoms quarreling with each other... and with French and British backing, the only way Austria and Russia shall dismantle it, would be through horrific casualties and the destruction of their empires. Russia suffers from the cysts of serfdom and political discourse from Poland-Lithuania's chafing and the Prussian birth of Catherine II... and Austria, well, Austria holds dominion over the Hungarians, and looks to expand her influence in the Balkans -- that can only fare poorly."

"It is with all these things, Your Majesty, that we must call together the North German Federation, with me as it's sovereign Empress..." Catherine finished gravely, before a kitchen hand came in and offered her a tray. "Tea, sir?"

[Bojikami]

19th of July, 1773

In absence of the King, Lord North accepted the deal from the Arabs, and wrote to the British naval units in India to prepare a landing in Kuwait. Though not with the Kings approval, Lord North had the Kings desire for the expansion of British trade in the east at heart.

---

Meanwhile in Berlin, King George sat upright at the mention of the Russians and Austrians, as it had become a popular topic in Parliament, that of the suspicion of a Russo-Austrian alliance. "Ah yes, the situation in Eastern Europe." He began while relaxing once more. "You see, Queen, though Britain tries her best to stay out of continental affairs, there are times when there is a crisis we cannot ignore, much like this. Should the Russians and the Austrians come together and remove Prussia, that would ultimately upset the balance of power in Europe, giving Russia greater liberty to move its ramshackle fleets across the Northern Sea and the Baltic, something we would ultimately wish to avoid." He took a pause.

"You say you have managed to get the Cossacks on your side, that in itself is no mean feat. Not only this, but I was rather impressed by your ability to swiftly defeat the usurpers to your throne, despite the tragedy in Kyiv. I do say this now, you have Britannia's support in unifying the North German realm. Such a nation would serve well to balance against the growing strength of the Russians and Austrians. I do, however, have a minor concern, that of the fate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in your federation. I dare say Britain is not exactly eager to revoke such a land to another power, not without assurances. Assurances such as that British businesses and citizens will not be expelled from the duchy upon joining into the federation and that while you will own the land, my successors and I will retain the title of duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, purely titular I assure you in meaning."

[Unicario]

Catherine gave a bright smile toward the King and said, "Your Majesty, under no circumstances would I consider an expulsion of British subjects necessary. British businesses, firms and citizens are free to conduct business at their leisure within the Federation; however, I hope you understand, citizenship will not extend to those who do not live in our realm, unless they were born in the Electorate of Braunschweig-Luneburg. That being said, I would infact like to offer an elevation of your station within Germany, to the title of Grand Duke of Braunschweig, I believe, more fitting. While Prussia, shall, for the moment, be the only Kingdom in the Federation, We will see to it that Braunschweig-Luneburg is taken care of well."

[Bojikami]

19th of July, 1773


George nodded in delight. "Well as long as I can be assured that the British in the area are not persecuted and that British merchants may still operate there, I see no reason why not. It is a deal, madam. I suppose you will want this in writing in some form?" He took out a Quill from his side pocket. While he did this, one of his delegates whispered in his ear. "Ah, yes, of course. Also ma'am, it is a grave concern of both mine and my advisors that Germany may develop some form of high seas fleet in the future. While against my better judgement in hopes of an alliance, I merely say that so long as you assure the German navy is kept to operations against piracy or trade purposes, or even to combat some sort of Russian naval assault, you have my word that Britain will protect and befriend this Federation."

[Unicario]

19th of July, 1773


George nodded in delight. "Well as long as I can be assured that the British in the area are not persecuted and that British merchants may still operate there, I see no reason why not. It is a deal, madam. I suppose you will want this in writing in some form?" He took out a Quill from his side pocket. While he did this, one of his delegates whispered in his ear. "Ah, yes, of course. Also ma'am, it is a grave concern of both mine and my advisors that Germany may develop some form of high seas fleet in the future. While against my better judgement in hopes of an alliance, I merely say that so long as you assure the German navy is kept to operations against piracy or trade purposes, or even to combat some sort of Russian naval assault, you have my word that Britain will protect and befriend this Federation."

Catherine raised an eyebrow for a brief moment, before glancing at Pechersky who gave a very curt nod. Catherine gave a nod, "Germany shall do so." She unraveled a slip of paper and handed it over to the King to sign. "This will officiate the establishment of the Federation. I had it looked over and rewritten a few times, it's very good."

[Bojikami]

19th of July, 1773

George looked over the document carefully, and then finally dipped his pen in the ink and signed his name. "And on second thought, I think I shall take you up on that offer for tea, it seems just fitting for such a meeting as this."

Caracas, New Granada

The Libertadores met again in Caracas, this time over general discontent with the Spanish government, instead of a more specific issue, the conference decided to best rectify the situation they held a protest in Bogota against Spanish taxation and for more autonomy in the Spanish colonies akin to the British colonial system.

[Unicario]

Catherine smiled and poured George III a cup of tea and handed it to the fellow monarch, and raised her glass. "A toast, to Germany, and to Britain. Our greatest ally and friend." She smiled some and said, "I do believe Vienna may have a coronary when they hear the news that I shall be an Empress."

[United Marxist Nations]

1:30 am, 21 July
Northern Crimea

Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev had gathered under his command forty thousand troops over the past two months, and finally the time had come for his name to be enshrined in Russian history. The night before, his troops had undergone a march into the Crimean Khanate; their destination? Sevastopol. They had done well, as the Crimean forces were not yet mobilized, and thus they had met no significant opposition. As the army stopped to rest, Rumyantsev and his staff sat down to discuss the future of the campaign.

"Where do we stand, Aleksandr?", he asked the general of the infantry on his right.
"At this rate, Your Excellency, we should reach Sevastopol in no more than a eleven days.", the general cleared his throat, "I think we should hope to catch much of the Turkish force outside of the city; that way we can reduce any possibility of a sally."
"I suppose there is a reason for your mentioning this, my friend?"
"Our scouts report a force of perhaps ten thousand to the southeast. It would be quite a detour, but it would eliminate any threat to our flank. we could attack them in the afternoon to give our troops some rest."
"Excellent work, you've quite a future in this; the matter is settled."

A future in warfare he would have indeed.

[Unicario]

Indonesia

The Netherlands, during the odd period of tense lull in Europe, continued her campaign against the Indonesians, attacking another Princedom to bring it under the control of the VOC.

[Bojikami]

22nd of July, 1773
Outside of Bralia, Wallachia

The Cossack army pushed through southern Moldavia, meeting resistance only by untrained Moldavian militia forces and the occasional peasant resistance, however the first true battle would be soon to occur, outside of the city of Bralia.

The Ottoman army, consisting of 28,000 had marched north from Rumelia upon hearing of the Cossack attacks and raids in Moldavia and sought to overpower the army with both their numbers and the experience of the jannissaries, as the Ottomans expected the Cossack force to be a divided, disorganized horde. Adversely, the Cossacks expected the Ottomans to be well trained and battle hardened.

Outside of the city, the two armies locked eyes across the field, the Ottoman army took a defensive position where it stood as the Cossacks rushed forward on horseback. Within minutes the Ottomans broke into square formations, hoping to weather the melee cavalry charge. At the sight of this, the melee units pulled back, allowing the dragoons to ride out in front. The Cossack troops hailed gunfire onto the poorly prepared Turkish troops, causing 250 in casualties. The Turks fired back, catching Cossacks between their squares and killed 125.

The Cossacks drew back and began to dismount, this time rearranging in rank and file while some units remained mounted. The Turks recovered from the shock and reorganised into lines to meet the Cossack troops. Already the Cossacks have taken more lives, but only time would tell who would win the battle.

Kuwait, Ottoman Empire

The British Indian fleet had arrived off of the coast of Kuwait, a major Ottoman port in the east. Upon the order being given, the shelling of Kuwait had begun, and with it, the beginning of British involvement in the Greek Revolution.

[United Marxist Nations]

2:04 am, Crimea, 21 July

It had not been long since the Turkish scouting party stumbled upon the Russian troops, but already precious time had been lost in the preparation for the battle. While the Turkish cavalry had nowhere to hide, much of their infantry had already taken position behind some hedgerows. This left the Russian infantry in a precarious position, as trying to engage them at distance would be suicidal. The order had already been given to bring the guns to blast through the walls, but this would take time. The call had also been made; however, to defeat the Turkish cavalry to prevent them from interfering in the coming battle. Four companies of infantry and six-hundred cavalry had moved forth in the face of the Turks. On the open plain (to the far right of the main concentration of troops for the infantry stand-off), four-hundred horse moved toward the right of the Turkish cavalry, while the remainder went toward the left to cut off any possibility of retreat as the center of infantry moved forward. The Turkish cavalry commander made what was probably the only decision he had, and decided to lead five-hundred or so of his horsemen toward the lesser contingent of Russian cavalry while sending the other three-hundred around to try to get on the Russian flank. In response, all of the Russian cavalry charged forth; the Russians had miscalculated, they had over stretched themselves too far for the infantry to make a quick and decisive blow. The fate of the two-hundred Russian horsemen would depend on how quickly their four-hundred comrades could reach the rear of the Turks.


(OOC: I will ask Boji to post casualties).

[Ruridova]

Gulf of Corinth
August 1, 1773

The Austrian vessel had set sail from the northern Adriatic some time ago, bearing Maximilian Franz Hapsburg. Maximilian Franz was the youngest son of Maria Theresa, and thus the one who was least likely to inherit the Austrian throne. No doubt this was why Maria Theresa had sent him to Greece. He knew he would have to cooperate with elected rulers, that his children would be raised Greek Orthodox and not Roman Catholic, and that he would likely spend the rest of his live trying to prove himself to the Greeks.

There were some benefits, of course, to being named King of the Hellenes. He had received a classical education, of course, and thus spoke Greek- albeit ancient Greek, but he figured he could be quickly brought up to speed by the locals. He knew many Greek myths, and knew that Greece was historically a land of science and art- the latter of which he was especially fond of. And he was going to lead the fight against the Ottomans, which was an honor for any European noble. He had decided on a regnal name, Alexandros Apsvorgoi,

But Greece itself was struggling. For each victory they won, Turkey defeated them elsewhere. If Alexandros and the National Council were not able to turn the situation around, then there might not be a Hellenic State for them to rule.

[Bojikami]

Crimea

The three hundred horsemen raced for the Russian flank while the remaining five-hundred decided to counter-charge the Russian cavalry, however in this he unexpectedly slowed his advance to where the Russians behind could advance on him.

When the two forces clashed, 15 died in the initial fight, but the Turks had held together and were working on surrounding the Russian cavalry.

Bralia, Wallachia

Despite the initial blows to the Turkish infantry, the troops managed to reorganise and began marching towards the dismounted cossack troops. Ivan responded by having his troops form a 'U' shape, with his weakest troops at the front and his strongest, unbeknownst to the turks, at the rear flanks.

To keep his front troops from breaking in the initial fight, Ivan rode behind them to encourage them to fight on, and his tactic proved itself when the two armies met, and the Turks began pushing in on the front troops and inflicting casualties, however, as the Ottomans kept pushing they were slowly being encircled by the Cossacks. By the time the Turks noticed, it was too late. The cossacks began firing in on the Turks and closed in the circle, until it got to the point where it was difficult for the Turks to so much as even raise a rifle. The Turks cavalry in the distance was preoccupied with the still mounted cossacks chasing and shooting at them.

By the end of the day, only 1,300 Turks survived and only 800 remained in service, as the other 500 ran away into the countryside out of fear of being chased down by the Cossacks. The remaining 20,000 decided to camp around the town of Bralia, and Ivan decided to split his army, 10,000 would follow him to Bucharest, where he hoped to take the city and convince the Vlach people to rise up against the Ottomans in favor of the Cossacks, and the remaining 10,000 would travel south and attempt to assist the Greeks in future battles.

Kuwait, Ottoman Empire

The artillery strikes lasted about a half an hour, Kuwait was smoldering and the British troops entered the city with no resistance (Except from some locals who acted aggressively towards the landing troops) as the invasion was a complete surprise attack on the Ottoman Empire. The British soldiers took down the Ottoman Flag that flew over Kuwait and instead raised the proud banner of Great Britain.

With the city taken, British Generals began planning out an invasion of Iraq, hoping to seize it and establish a permanent British foothold in the crossroads of the world.

[Unicario]

Egypt

In order to alleviate potential attrition issues during the Arabian, Mesopotamian and Armenian campaigns, the Egyptian government began to run supply caravans to the soldiers with the help of collaborationist Arabic tribes who saw the Egyptian invasion as the best means of unifying the Arab nation together. When news of the attack on Kuwait reached Cairo, the Sultan of Egypt ordered a priority be set on Baghdad, while a secondary focus was on the pacification of the Eastern Arab tribes that continued resistance.

[United Marxist Nations]

Crimea

The second group of Russians slammed into the rear of the charging Ottomans, and things seemed to be going well; however, the second charge of the Turkish horsemen again seemed to shift the tide of battle to-and-fro. The infantry, who had been left behind in the initial chaos, were now catching up, and the battle again swung toward the Russians. After some time of fighting, the remaining Turkish horsemen surrendered to the Russians; however, the Russians had paid quite the price for the victory: 173 horsemen and 41 infantrymen.

[United Marxist Nations]

Crimea

The second group of Russians slammed into the rear of the charging Ottomans, and things seemed to be going well; however, the second charge of the Turkish horsemen again seemed to shift the tide of battle to-and-fro. The infantry, who had been left behind in the initial chaos, were now catching up, and the battle again swung toward the Russians. After some time of fighting, the remaining Turkish horsemen surrendered to the Russians; however, the Russians had paid quite the price for the victory: 173 horsemen and 41 infantrymen.

A few hours after the cavalry battle, the artillery had finally arrived to pound the Turkish infantry positions. The balls tore down much of the stone walls, but the real point was to create chaos; as the Turkish officers tried to reform amidst the dust, smaller shots rang out -- musketfire -- the Russian infantry charged in with their bayonet, taking the infantry by surprise; at the same time, Russian cavalry came from the rear, overtaking the Ottoman retreat. Small skirmishes took place throughout the day on various parts of the field, but they all ended the same way. Taking a total of some twelve-hundred in casualties, the Russian army continued its march on Sevastopol.

[Bojikami]

1st of August, 1773
Bucharest, Wallachia

With the majority of the Ottoman forces sent to protect Wallachia scattered outside of Bralia, the Cossacks hoped for an easy takeover of Bucharest. They received no such thing.

To recover from the long march from Bralia, along with the minor battles that took place along the way the Cossacks set up a small encampment outside of the city in a nearby forest. However, it seemed, the Turks had other plans. Despite the resounding Cossack victory outside of Bralia, it seemed that the Turks still remained confident against the cossacks, as throughout the night the camp was assailed by Turkish loyalists and small militia groups, costing the army 400 lives. By the following morning, seeing as how his men were tired from the lack of sleep, he decided to utilise the cannons and encircled Bucharest, placing the city under siege. A volley of artillery roared and toppled numerous buildings. The Turkish soldiers within along with the loyalist militias began patrolling the town and advised the civilians in the town to seek shelter underground.

North of Kuwait, Ottoman Empire

Galvanized by the success in Kuwait, the British army began marching north towards Basra, and then into Baghdad if things went according to plan. The British army marched north and settled down by the Tigris so that supply runs could make it up the river. The British decided to keep their movement slow and near the rivers so that they would not feel the full effects of the desert on them.

[Unicario]

3 August 1773

In the light of the treaty between Britain and Prussia, another set of papers began to circulate across the entirety of the Holy Roman Empire. It was, this time, a song. Written by the same man, Ludwig von Licht. The German copies were of interest, but English copies made their way into Britain's court.

Example of the English copy:

What Is the Fatherland of a German?

What is the Fatherland of a German?
Is it Prussia? Swabia?
Is it along the Rhine where the vines bloom?
Is it where the gulls take flight along the Belt?
Oh, no! No! No!
Our fatherland is greater than that!
Our fatherland must be bigger!

What is the Fatherland of a German?
Is it Bavaria? Styria?
Is it the Marsi where the cattle roam?
Is it the Mark where the ironworks grow?
Oh, no! No! No!
Our fatherland is greater than that!
Our fatherland must be bigger!

What is the Fatherland of a German?
Is it Pomerania? Westphalia?
Is it where the dunes of sand blow?
Is it along the Danube's roaring bank?
Oh, no! No! No!
Our fatherland is greater than that!
Our fatherland must be bigger!

What is the Fatherland of a German?
So name that greatest land to me!
Is it Switzerland, or Tyrol?
The land and people who please me well,
But alas, no! No! No!
Our fatherland is greater than that!
Our fatherland must be bigger!

What is the Fatherland of a German?
So name that greatest land to me?
Certainly it must be Austria,
Rich in victory and in honor?
But no, no, no!
Our fatherland is greater than that!
Our fatherland must be bigger!

What is the Fatherland of a German?
So name that greatest land to me at last!
As far as the tongue sounds German,
And sings songs to God in heaven,
Thus it shall be,
You brave Germans, name it yours!

That is the Fatherland of a German,
Where oaths are sworn with a firm handshake,
Where loyalty blazes brightly from the eye,
And love sits warmly in the heart,
That, you brave Germans, shall it be!

The whole of Germany shall it be,
O, God in Heaven, see within,
And give us German real courage,
That we may love it faithfully and well,
That it shall be,
The whole Germany, it will be.

[Ruridova]

Nicosia, Greece
August 6, 1773

"It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul."
- William Ernest Henley, Invictus

The forces under Archbishop Stavros Michailides were vastly outnumbered by the Turkish forces under a Husamaddin Pasha, and yet they had refused to surrender. They were trapped with decreasing supplies within the walls of Nicosia after their humiliating defeat in late July at Ammochostos, yet the gates of Nicosia remained sealed to the Turks. They flew a flag that bore white, but it was marked by a blue cross, not the plain white of surrender. For more than a week the forces in Nicosia had remained defiant, the Ottoman forces unable to dislodge them. They would fight for Greece, and if necessary they would die for Greece.

The Turks, however, seemed to want to get the siege over with. Was it true that a second Greek force was being built at Dhekelia? Were the Turks suffering from some illness or shortage of their own? Were they fearful about what the Greeks would do to the Armenian and Turkish quarters of the city? Was the war effort collapsing in other areas of Greece? The Ottoman stranglehold on the city meant that Michailides could not know. He hoped that they would be victorious, that something would force the enemy army to give in and leave. He hoped it, but he did not expect it.

Presently, Michailides looked out over the city's southern walls at the Turkish force looking for some sign of movement. "Sir, your grace," said a Greek soldier to the Archbishop as he approached from behind, "the Ottoman commander has led a delegation of his men to parley, to ask for our surrender." Michailides snickered. "He's a fool if he thinks we are surrendering, but I will meet with him regardless. Assemble a small delegation of Greeks and bring me to him."

After a short period, Michailides and the rest of the Greeks met Husamaddin Pasha and the Turkish delegates. "Your Holiness," the pasha said with an easy grace, "I have come because it is my hope that you will see reason. You are surrounded. You are outnumbered. You have no chance for victory. It is my hope that you will stand down and let these men return to their homes, and return peace to this land." Michailies laughed. "If it is peace you seek, why do you tarry? Return to Turkey and let Greece live in peace. I have no wish for violence, but I wish to see these men freed from those who bind them- from the Turks. Leave now, and allow the Greek people to take their liberty, and peace will return."

The pasha frowned. "So you will not respond correctly to an offer in good spirit, it seems? Then let me be honest. I know you have heard of what Ottoman troops did at Chios. I know you were there when we defeated you at Famagusta. This will not end until Greece is defeated. If you refuse to surrender, I have orders to sack all Greek and Armenian quarters of this city, give no quarter to the rebels holding her hostage, and use the men under my command to guarantee that Cyprus is never again a thorn in the side of the Sublime Porte- even if that means killing every Greek man, woman, and child on this island. I have commands to slaughter the Greeks in Cyprus, to hang them, to shoot them, to cut them down, to not leave a soul alive. We will destroy you if you resist, Archbishop. This is your last chance to save your life and the lives of those around you."

"You assume I would rather live as a slave to heathens than die in the fight for freedom," Michailides responded through gritted teeth, "but even that is not your greatest error in that foolish statement of yours. In the history of the world, the Turks are a young nation. You have risen to prominence, yes, but you are a candle that burns brightly for a brief period before it goes out. Greece is not like that. Greece is an ancient nation, older than any other. The Hellenes were born when the world war born. Many people have waged war on us. Many were defeated, but some won- for a time, that is. Darius and Xerxes marched their armies into Greece, and terrorized the Hellenes before they were themselves driven back. Rome conquered Greece and declared herself supreme sovereign of civilization, but the mantle returned to Greece when Rome's corruption left her weak and vulnerable. The Bulgars and Arabs were both unable to destroy the resurgent Greece under the kings of Byzantium. And the House of Osman has had to fight against Greece ever since it was conquered. Nobody could destroy the Hellenes. Nobody could be found to eliminate Greece- not Persia, not Rome, not Bulgaria, not Arabia, not Turkey. Nobody, for Greece is protected above by her God Almighty. Greece, through perseverance, bravery, cunning, and divine favor, has always risen over those who claimed to have defeated the Hellenic spirit. But you cannot defeat the Hellenic spirit, Husamaddin Pasha, and nor can anybody else. It will not be until the end of the whole world that the Greek nation vanishes!"

The pasha glared. "Then we will end your world, Archbishop."

August 11, 1773

Nicosia and the lands surrounding the city burned as the Turkish troops carried out their orders from Istanbul. The Greeks had not surrendered, and not one of the defenders had lived. Now, Ottoman troops massacred innocents and razed the lands as they had at Chios.

[Unicario]

Berlin

Queen Catherine, in one of her reforms leading up to her coronation on her 16th birthday, she instituted the Religionenbund, confederating the Lutheran and Calvinist faiths into one state-supported church. The leadership of the church was appointed to be a dual-power bloc between the highest Lutheran bishop, Johann von Epstein, and the highest Calvinist one, Ludwig Schmidt. However, when she wrote her document, she integrated a function referring to the Anglican Church, integrating a third, incumbently vacant leadership position, assigned to a man of Hanoverian birth appointed at the behest of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

She decided that Johann von Epstein would be the one to perform her coronation and marriage on her 16th birthday.

---

While the Egyptian offensive in Arabia was slowing down, Egypt went on a renewed offensive west into Tunisia, Tripolitania and Algiers. All of these states were part of the Ottoman suzeranity, and were part of Egypt's plan to "unite the Maghreb" under her banner. The Tripolitan Emir had surrendered without much of a fight, but the "Badshah of Tunis" put up a hell of a fight. France was already aiming to take Algeria, thus making Egypt's plans a matter of "time is of the essence". A Race to the Atlantic was taking shape.

[United Marxist Nations]

17 August 1773
Siege camp, Crimea

The Crimea had only been under siege for just over three weeks, but already, artillery boomed the announcement to the world that Crimea would Russian. The Turks had not prepared for a lengthy siege, the revolt in Egypt had forced them to send much of the grain stores in Crimea to Syria to hold out against the sieges there. After a seven hour bombardment, the white flag of negotiation was flown. An older Tatar, probably approaching sixty years of age, and presumably the khan, rode forth at the front of the party. Upon being led to the Marshal's tent, all he could muster was a gloomy look, and feebly uttered, "No more." The surrender went smoothly; the only condition asked was that the Tatars be allowed to mourn their dead in peace. Their morale had been utterly broken; surely, such a terrible blow would soon bring the Turk to the table of peace. The only question remaining was that of the other parties. So, the Field Marshal wrote a dispatch asking for the foreign minister to invite negotiators for the various powers. The message was to be clear; the Turks were to negotiate their surrender on the same place where they failed their vassals. It would be the final act of severing Crimea from the Ottoman Empire.