A World Without America II [Closed / IC]

[Unicario]

17 August 1773

11 days after the start of the Egyptian offensive, the Egyptians pressed upon the city of Tunis. Encircling the city, Egypt's army began to lay siege to it. In Arabia, the Egyptians withdrew from the northern interior of Arabia to the Ottoman-aligned chiefs, but set up a new dynasty, the Marinid (unrelated to the medieval one) dynasty as a strong sovereign emirate in the Southeastern interior of Arabia, filial to the Egyptian interests.

With Egypt simply now fighting a status quo war against the Turks as they withdrew from Northern Syria, the Egyptians focused their full military attention on North Africa, seeking to bring it under the Egyptian umbrella.

[Bojikami]

17th of August, 1773
Outside of Istanbul

For the past few days, the Cossack army of 10,000 that was sent south to assist the Greeks had taken an alternate path. Knowing that the brunt of the fighting in Greece was far off from the army, and that by the time the Cossack Army would have reached the Hellenes, the Greeks could already be lost. In realisation, Stephan Voroshilov, the man delegated to lead the force south, made the decision to divert the Turk's attention from Hellas to buy the Greeks time and space.

For the past few days, the army had raided the towns of Pinarhisar, Cerkezkoy, and Arnavutkoy. The last of these three were at the very gates of Konstantinyye, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Such bold moves towards the very heart of the Turkish empire prompted a sallying forth of any militia forces that the Osmanli could muster, which gave a total of 1,428 soldiers. At the approach of the civilian militia forces, the Cossacks encircled the force on horseback and began firing in on the militia force, killing 200 and prompting majority of the army to flee in fear. Voroshilov, instead of marching forward on the city, decided to fall back to Sofia, within Bulgaria.

Iraq, Ottoman Empire

The British offensive in the desert was rough, the troops were often assailed by Arabic warriors who resisted the British, and though the British had reached Baghdad, they only had enough forces to put the city under siege until reinforcements could arrive, which William Meadows had sent a messenger back to Kuwait to deliver the request for reinforcements.

However, unknown to the British, the Ottomans had an army marching south upon Baghdad.

[Unicario]

21 August 1773

While the Egyptian army continued to lay siege to Tunis, other divisions of the army went west into the Emirate of Algiers. Pushing west, a large collection of about 13,000 Algerian soldiers faced off against 15,000 Egyptian soldiers. The battle, taking place near Constantine, was nearly a complete rout for Algiers, as the army was routed -- only about 1,700 of the 13,000 Algiers survived, with Egypt facing 5,000 losses. The advance to Algiers continued.

1 September 1773

Tunisia fell after a moderately long siege. The city gates gave way to a horde of Egyptian soldiers marching victoriously into the city. While the Badshah's guards attempted to impede their victory, they soon were routed, and the Tunisian leader was forced to surrender to the Egyptian Sultan.

The Sultan, Ali Bey al-Kabir, was the first of his dynasty, of a new Mamluk Dynasty. However, he did not feel one hundred percent at home in Egypt, like he had something to prove. He was the son of an Orthodox Priest from Abkhazia. He was a former slave who had rose above his station and struck down the old order, and built a new one. He was beyond his prime, and had no sons to carry on his empire. As a result, he knew that his long rule would need a proper heir.

He found that heir in the form of an Albanian family who was assigned to Loyalist Egypt in the early stages of his revolution. The father had died and the mother was a simple washwoman in his palace in Cairo. But the son, he had taken a liking to. Muhammad Ali, he was he called by his mother, would regularly run free around the palace, taking in the sights. One day, while pondering what his place in the world would look like, asked the boy what his dream was.

The boy, only 4 years old, had given him an answer that was not entirely what he expected -- and that answer hovered over him for some time. A week after this encounter, on 8 September, he approached the young boy's mother, who was herself still relatively young, and asked if he could propose something to her.

He said to her that he knew that to rise above one's station was a great honor, but he needed her help for two reasons. One, she was a kind woman, and worthy of being a Sultana to his Sultan, and secondly, he wanted to adopt her son and name him his heir.

The woman was shocked, but agreed never the less. On 10 September, Ali Bey al-Kabir married Vesa, the mother of Mehmet Ali, and formally, before an Imam, adopted her son as his legitimate heir. Vesa and her son both took upon the dynastic name of Ali Bey -- al-Kabir.

Egypt now had an heir, and a future. When news came of Algeria's surrender, he dispatched a letter to the Russian Foreign Minister, informing him of Egypt's plans to attend a peace conference.

[Unicario]

19 April 1775
Berlin, Prussia

It was an early spring morning in Berlin. The silence of the city was held as it was far too early for the daily work. At three past midnight, only a handful of souls were awake, pondering the meanings of life and the way of the world. Her Majesty, the Queen of Prussia, was one such person.

Queen Catherine was now fifteen years old. It had been two years since her brush with death in Kyiv, and the fall of the Regency. In those two years, she had courted the British duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg and the Duchy of Mecklenburg into joining her proposed -- Deutsches Reich. One Germany, united under one house. Her house -- the plan had nearly gone off the rails, but Austrian diplomatic corps everywhere had practically imploded after the Treaty of Berlin was negotiated. She was ever weary of Russian intentions, but she was confident they would remain away from warfare -- for now.

Catherine dispatched letters to Mecklenburg and Brunswick-Luneburg for them to immediately send delegates to the Constitutional Convention -- they should do so with haste, so that the Common Law of the Deutsches Reich could be written down and prepared for July 20th. Her wedding day, her 16th birthday, and her coronation day, as German Empress.

Catherine felt proud of herself, and knew that her father was watching from heaven's purvey, proud as well. She had a feeling this century would not just create one Catherine the Great... but two.

But while the Queen of Prussia was busy at work in a sleepless morning, North America was on the edge of Occam's Razor...

---

19 April
Algerian-Moroccan Border

"Two years. I have waited for this opportunity. My youth is not waning." Sultan Ali Bey spoke with an authoritarian tonation to his general of the front. Iskender Bey, his general of the western front, nodded, "Yes, sir. Tomorrow, we shall ride west and bring al-Maghrib under your wise rule, and you shall be an Emperor." Ali Bey smiled, "Good. And how auspicious that tomorrow is the Prophet's birthday, peace be upon him."

The Sultan was accompanied by a young boy and a woman. The woman was dressed in royal regalia and wearing standard Islamic garment befitting a woman. The boy was wearing an outfit similar to his fathers. The boy was Prince Muhammad Ali, and the woman was Sultana Vesa, the Albanian heir and consort to Ali Bey. Ali Bey bid the general goodbye, and returned to his tent. His wife and son were sent back to Cairo by boat. The Sultan bid them goodbye, and told them he would return.

Egypt was poised to march west, and claim her title as the true Emperor of Africa.

[Luziyca]

April 22, 1775
In the past couple years, Korea had been slowly modernizing as the westerners began trade with Korea: the British via Incheon and the Dutch via Nampo. Those two cities have gradually become more westernized, and to some extent, Hanseong was also becoming more westernized. King Yeongjo was cautiously accepting the reforms, but still maintaining close ties with China. He was cautiously trying to balance two conflicting forces: one that sought to modernize Korea and bring it closer to the West, and one that sought to prevent the destruction of Korean culture.

In the city of Hanseong, King Yeongjo felt a bit chilly. It was spring in Korea, and he knew that it was going to be cool. Yet, he felt a bit more colder than usual. It probably had something to do with how Korea had been modernizing: how he tried to create an equilibrium. His son, Prince Jeongjo wanted to modernize Korea even further: for it to stop paying tribute to China and declare itself an Empire, while Yeongjo wanted to keep the status quo.

Yet, he issued a decree, ordering the establishment of a royal library, with the purpose of "providing the Korean people a place where the greatest literary treasures of the Kingdom of Korea be stored."

After that, he told Jeongjo, "I do not know how much longer I have. I know that you want to see the Kingdom of Korea modernize and grow. That, I understand. But I do not want you to lose sight of our culture. Therefore, I will send you to Ryugyong, to study Korean culture and traditions, and hopefully realize that my way is the most suitable way to preserve our nation." With these words, he sent his grandson to the northern city of Ryugyong, under royal guard (due to paranoia that he may try and visit Nampo).

[United Marxist Nations]

April 22
Nagasaki harbor

twelve men in formal garb were gathered in a shaded area overlooking the harbor; from the way in which he carried himself, one of these men clearly ranked well above the others. This was Yakuta Tokimasa, a supposed expert on the Nanban people. Two years before, amid the ending of the great Turkish War in the West. He had been sent to Europe to gather information on the ways of the Nanban in warfare; essentially, his mission was to find how far behind the proud Yamato people were. And information he had gathered. In total, he had written nine volumes on the advances the Europeans had made since their first contact; of particular interest was the advancement in the area of firearm mechanisms and artillery. When he finally arrived back in Kyoto three months ago, he had proudly presented his report. Great Lord Takeda was absolutely furious! And so, he had been tasked with modernization of the firearm corps, coastal defense cannons, and naval cannons. The other men with him were representatives of craftsmen guilds from various cities in Japan.

"How long will it be?" Tokimasa inquired, sounding angered.

"Replacing thirty-thousand guns takes time; from your drawings, it would look to take at least some three years to fill out the order, probably closer to four. Even for all the craftsmen we represent."

"How is it that nine-thousand craftsmen take such time to build this number."

"If we build too rapidly, then you will find yourself with a poor product. If we had more actual ones to work with, we could accomplish this task far more easily".

"Gentlemen, what do you think the polite men on the docks are unloading from the ship? Below are one hundred-fifty Nanban muskets. Would you like to revise your estimate? I am sure that the Shogun would very much like to hear some good news, and I can assure you that he is no pauper."

"Eighteen months. Twenty-one at most."

"I am very happy we could reach this deal", Tokimasa replied. As the men were shown out of the room, he thought to himself, that is one third of our problem solved, now for the issue of the cannons. We cannot produce these on our own. I will have to inquire with the Dutch representative about this. He then went to continue about his business.

[Bojikami]

April 19th, 1775
British North America

In recent years tensions between the British government and the colonies had only worsened. The parliament voted numerous times for constant repeals and reapplications of the same basic laws, the most recent strain being known to the colonists as the "Intolerable Acts", combined with the colonist attack on British tea in the harbor of Boston, in essence things were reaching a breaking point, such a point being reached in the towns of Lexington and Concord, where there were rumors of a possible rebel weapons cache, which Lieutenant General Francis Smith led 700 to march forth and destroy.

Upon catching word of this, the colonist militia prepared to meet the British at Lexington at dawn. As the sun rose over Lexington, the two armies faced one another. John Pitcairn, who was sent to lead an advance force to the town to examine the situation. He ordered his men not to fire unless threatened.

John Parker, the leader of the colonist militia stood in opposition to Pitcairns, he had also given the order not to fire unless under his command. The two armies faced one another and exchanged glares, until suddenly a shot fired off in the midst of the tension. Pitcairn's horse was shot from beneath him, and the British regiment in shock, raised their rifles and fired on the militia. Parker shouted the order to return fire, and the militia obeyed. The two armies exchanged shots until the militia, suffering from disorganization and deteriorating morale began to desperately retreat to Concord, where another militia began to organise.

With the retreat of the militia, Pitcairn's forces were in pursuit until Smith arrived and ordered the soldiers to reorganise for an attack on Concord to complete his mission. However, little did he know, the Americans were ready for him. Within the time between Lexington and Concord, the Americans had mustered dozens of minutemen divisions and began the defense of Concord and the weapons within the farmhouse. The stage was set for an epic battle that would go down in history.

Within hours of fighting the British tried to send a force across the North Bridge to destroy the weapons held in the farmhouse, however the Militia force met them with equal hostility as before. The British, soon outnumbered decided to fall back to Boston. However this was only the beginning of the conflict. The militias attacked the British army as they marched back to Boston and soon surrounded the city, beginning the siege of Boston.

Berlin, Prussia
As titular holder of Hannover, Britian sent a delegation to Berlin consisting of a colonist and noted diplomat, Thomas Jefferson along with a delegation of 3.

Kiev, Cossack Hetmanate

Some time had passed since the surrender of the Ottomans, and the Cossacks were finding it difficult to administer their gained territories. The Hetmanate had no feudal system of which to grant the Vlach and Moldovans their own state under Cossack rule. Hetman Melnikov and his council of military officers were discussing how to handle the situation, and the only way it seemed to be was by introducing a monarchy to Cossack lands. However, despite this, the Cossacks decided to also limit the powers of the crowned monarch by a constitution, one that would establish the office of Hetman as a separate title. Whereas the monarch would act as a figurehead at most with some power, the Hetman had the ability to declare war, make peace, and a parliament was established to keep the Cossack tradition of a democratic government alive.

Beijing, China

The Longdi Emperor decided to commission the construction of a new Imperial fleet within the Bohai Sea to counter the growth of European presence in Asia. He also sent a message to the Koreans wishing the sickened King good and the heir apparent good fortune.

[Unicario]

April 21

Berlin was a buzz as the delegates from Braunschweig-Luneburg and Mecklenburg arrived. The Prussian delegation consisted of Queen Catherine, Alexander Perchersky, Alexander Waltz, and Freiherr von Schönhausen.

The British delegates were welcomed to Berlin, and the Constitutional Convention began.

---

April 20

Early in the morning, Egypt launched a military invasion of Morocco, to conquer it and bring it as the final piece of their great North African hegemony into place.

[Ruridova]

Corinth, Greece
April 21, 1775

The other powers of Europe had established a treaty with the Ottomans, yes, but it had not ended the Greek war, Alexandros Apsvorgoi thought to himself. It had been almost two years since the Greek War of Independence had begun with the Monastiraki Massacre on May 27 in 1773. He had arrived nearly two years ago, as Maximilian Franz Habsburg, and had cooperated and struggled with the elected leaders ever since. Konstantinos Mavrikios was his closest ally in the National Council, and Adamantios Korais his greatest rival there. But somehow they had kept the Greek government in Corinth together.

But it was far from over. On the 16th of April, Easter Sunday only a few days ago, the Ecumenical Patriarch Sophronius II was dragged out of the Cathedral of Saint George in the middle of the liturgy and hung from the gates of Istanbul in his patriarchal vestments. The murder of the head of Eastern Orthodoxy on Easter Sunday had horrified and infuriated the Greeks. The Greeks were attempting to stave off total defeat following a string of defeats through much of 1774, including a failed foray into Eastern Thrace. Only southern Cyprus remained in Greek hands; areas of Macedonia and Thessaly had fallen to Turkey, and Attica remained in Ottoman hands. Greece still held the Peloponnese, scattered parts of the Ionian and Aegean Islands, Crete, and most of Epirus.

But even that was under threat. Now the great Ottoman force in Athens, a force of 18,500 men under the command of former Grand Vizier Ivazzade Halil Pasha, marched on Corinth. The Greeks could only muster 6,500 men, led by a patchwork of Greek and Austrian generals, to defend the city. The Ottoman force was expected to arrive at Corinth- well, today. Many feared that the Greek Revolution would end in Corinth... and Alexandros was having to deal with them now.

"We must flee the city," Adamantios Korais declared. "We cannot risk falling into Turkish hands! If they are able to capture us, then the Greek defense will collapse. The Turks will push into the Peloponnese and easily destroy the scattered survivors. Greece will remain in her shackles for maybe even a century more. We cannot risk that possibility. We must flee south to Sparta, and perhaps from there to Kalamata or to Heraklion. It's the safest decision for Greece." Much to Alexandros's disgust, many seemed to be nodding. He had to admit there was reason in Korais's argument, but there were also flawed. He was hesitant to speak out, knowing he was a stranger in a strange land, but he could not remain silent now. "Mister Korais, I respect your determination to keep the flame of Greece alive, but I do not believe that flight is the best way to keep that flame burning." Korais scoffed. "And what is the advice of the Austrian? What does he have to say to us Greeks?" Alexandros sighed. Talking to Korais was always a struggle. "You say that if we are captured the Greek flame will be extinguished. The logic in that argument is plain to see. However, how will the Greeks react if we take flight? We are their leaders. We represent their hope for the future of Greece. If they see us run in the face of danger, then they may think that all hope is lost. The impact to morale our flight would cause could lead to the collapse of the Greek armies. That would make it all the easier for the Ottomans to crush us." Korais then turned away from Alexandros, facing the Congress of Corinth and the National Council. He made it clear that though he argued with Alexandros, he was actually speaking to the other leaders of Greece. "And what if we are defeated- which, in all probability we will be- here? We will all die! You will not be an exception, Hapsburg. They will kill all of us, and they will crush any who rise to defend us. What do you say to that?"

Alexandros smiled. Korais was a smart man, and a humanist scholar, but he had made a great rhetorical error. "Then perhaps," Alexandros declared while beaming victoriously, "then perhaps you have just proved that there are foreign Austrian nobles who are more willing to die for the Hellenes than pure-blooded Greeks. I cannot speak for you, but I will die fighting against the Turks for the Greek nation if I must. I do not fear dying for Greece. I fear not doing enough for Greece."

Korais stood in silence, gaping in fury. The other leaders of the Congress of Corinth stared at the two of them. Knowing he had the undivided attention of the delegates, Alexandros stood up and said with an authoritative tone he had not yet used in Greece, "Gentlemen of the Congress of Corinth, I plan to stay here and stand against the Turks alongside the men serving in the Hellenic army. I plan on seeking total victory against the Ottomans through whatever means possible, and if I cannot have victory over the Turk, then I will die fighting him. If you seek to run south to Patras or Heraklion or Kalamata, I will allow you to do so. But myself and the Austrian commanders sent here with me will lead the Greek army into battle against the Turks here, and it is my hope that you all will stay with me and fight for this country."

The Greek delegates sat between the King of the Hellenes and the exit, motionless and silent. Then, Konstantinos Mavrikios stood up and walked to Alexandros. Turning to face the other delegates, he said, "Today, I fight with the King of the Hellenes." Slowly, one by one, the other delegates stood up and walked to stand by Alexandros. After several minutes, even Adamantios Korais was standing with those who would stay and fight, though he glowered angrily at his rhetorical humiliation.

Alexandros led the Greeks into an adjacent room where a map of Corinth rested on a table. "Now," he said, "can one of you point out where the Turks are coming from and where the nearest high ground is?" Giorgios Angelopolous pointed a place to the south of Corinth. "That area is called Akrokorinthos," he said. "It's the old high town of ancient Corinth. It forms a natural bottleneck for the plains in between the mountain and the sea." Alexandros nodded. "And where are the Turks coming from?" Korais pointed to a road on the top of the map. "The road they were sighted on comes from the northwest. It goes through Loutraki before going through Corinth and then it follows the southern shore of the Gulf of Corinth, eventually reaching Patras."

Alexandros smiled. "Gentlemen, we are vacating Corinth- partially. We will pull ourselves and our army back to Akrokorinthos. The Turkish forces will think Corinth unoccupied and our army in flight. We tell several of the civilians to 'inform' the Turks we had recently fled for Patras. If I know the style of their commander, then he will want to catch us before we could possibly mount a defense at Patras, and thus immediately begin to chase us. He will follow the road to Patras, and that will take his army right by the Akrokorinthos..." "...where we have the high ground and a bottleneck, hopefully compensating for our smaller numbers and allowing us to defeat the Ottoman forces!" Mavrikios cried. "Brilliant, Your Majesty, brilliant." Alexandros smiled. "Yes, but we must begin it now. The Turks will arrive before the day is out, and we have to be ready."

The Greeks and Austrians dispersed, carrying out the plan, praying that they might turn the tide of the war.

Later that day

Ivazzade Halil Pasha was not surprised that the cowardly Greeks and their Austrian 'king' had fled Corinth for Patras. The Ottomans had inflicted defeat after defeat of the Greeks in the past several months, after all. Perhaps the Turks had so thoroughly destroyed the Greek morale that they were now only needing a final swift stroke to destroy this damned rebellion and restore peace to Turkey. He was confident they could deliver it before Patras. Their force was larger, faster, better equipped, better led. Yes, surely victory was-

Suddenly the sound of shouting caught the Pasha's attention. He looked up towards the hills and saw... the Greeks? He realized that the citizens of Corinth had tricked him. The leaders of the rebellion had not fled to Patras, they had made sure they were in a favorable position for an attack on his army! But it was too late to change that now. Now he had to fight.

Alexandros Apsvorgoi held his sword aloft as he charged down the slopes below the Akrokorinthos, shouting "freedom or death" in the Greek he now spoke as his primary tongue. He heard the Austrian commanders and Greek rebels shouting it behind him, charging on foot and on horseback into the stunned and unprepared Ottoman force. He led the Greek forces towards the Turks, hoping to push the men who had occupied the Greek nation for centuries into the sea.

The battle was barely even thirty minutes. The shock of seeing what they thought to be a retreating army appear out of the hills, and of realizing they were not in a favorable position, had destroyed Turkish morale. Of the 18,500 men the Turks had come to Corinth with, only 4,300 were able to break ranks and retreat, led by Ivazzade Pasha himself. 6,500 Greeks had entered the battle, and only 350 had died. But Alexandros would not let Corinth be the only victory Greece won that day. He knew the Turks would flee back to Athens, likely through Megara and Piraeus. "We have won a great victory against our enemy," he cried, "but that must not be it! The Turks flee back not to Istanbul, but to Athens- to a city that we must retake from foreign hands! We must not let them rest! We must drive them back to Anatolia! Let us give chase and spare not one of them!" The Greek army roared assent, and set off in pursuit on the road to Athens.

[Unicario]

April 22, 1775

"Sir, the Turks have strung up the Orthodox Patriarch like a commoner; The Greeks are outraged." one of the Sultan's advisors muttered unto him. "They rally to defeat the Ottoman barbarian... with good reason."

The Sultan sat back, his face drawn into a thin line. "And they have reason to be outraged -- their religious leader was executed before them... those Turks are uncivilized barbarians..."

Flashbacks reminded Ali Bey of his own youth.

---

Many years ago
Abkhazia

"Ali, pay attention." The stern voice of Ali's father brought him back to attention.

"Now... we return once again to the sermon, boy." His father looked down at his bible and began to read, "...What does it mean to take up your cross? I means the willing acceptance, at the hand of Providence, of every means of healing, bitter though it may be, that is offered..."

Ali once again began to fade into daydreaming. His father insisted nightly that Ali receive an education in the ways of Christ; so that he may follow him as an Orthodox priest. On the mantle-piece above the pot where his mother spent her mornings, afternoons and evenings preparing food for her two men, was a small glass jar full of coin and gold, enough to send Ali to learn at the hands of a greater Orthodox priest in Russia, or in Greece. Abkhazia was no place for an Orthodox faithful these days -- the Muslims were numerous, and they were powerful, especially under the Osman yoke.

Ali's attention was snapped back as he noticed a growing orange glow on the horizon. "Father, what is that?" He gestured toward the light.

Ali's father walked over to the window and glanced out. "...What is... oh... oh no." He looked at Ali, and to his wife. He said, "Ali, take this," he turned the dagger affixed to his hip over to his son, and said, "Now run, run as far as your legs can take you. Get out of here."

Ali took the dagger as his father pushed him out the door. Ali ran through the land his father lived on, and hid in a collection of trees. He watched as soldiers, men on horses bearing the banners of the Ottoman Sultan, approached his house. He witnessed his father and mother being dragged out of their house, and his house of birth being taken alight by fire and by hell... and he witnessed the severance of his father's head from his body. He watched patiently and got close to the soldiers having their way with his mother. Attacking with the dagger, Ali found himself quickly disarmed, and on the ground, with a Turkmen's knee in his back.

"Well, I didn't think we'd get much gold for just a woman, but a young boy? I'm sure we will get a pretty penny for you, won't we, boy?"

"Where would we sell him, sir?"

"Egypt, probably. They could use more slave labour, last I heard."

"What about the Janissaries?"

"Nah, he's too scrawny to be a Janissary. He'd probably just shit his pants the first day of combat. No, he'll do good as a slave in Egypt. It'll make the boy grow some spine, he looks like one of those soft Christ-boy types. No surprise his mother and father were so pansy as well -- Christians, I can't understand them." The man spat on Ali.

Ali was roughly pulled off the ground, and tied up with his mother, and taken by horse away from the place he was born and grew up. He would never see Abkhazia again.

---

"Sir? Are you alright?" His advisor asked, looking concerned at the older King's distant look.

Sultan Ali Bey blinked away his thoughts and nodded, "I am fine. I will have to think on a proper response to this Turkish barbarianism. In the interim, make it very difficult for Ottoman traders -- you know who to contact."

"Aye, sir. I shall speak to the governors of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli, with haste."

"See to it that you do, Vizier."

[The Vaktovian Empire]

Madrid Spain

King Ferdinand Capello, the first Spanish Monarch of the Capello Dynasty and first Monarch after the so-called Spanish Restoration which brought an end to the Bourbon Monarchy in Spain, realized the impending encroachment of Egyptian forces into Morocco. Morocco had never been liked by Spain, but, in the grand scheme of things, Ferdinand planned on expanding his Empire into Portugal, and into Africa as well. However, for the time being, Morocco had to remain a key ally. With the threat of an Egyptian Empire superficial to the disagreements and disputes of Spain and Morocco, Ferdinand moved quickly to ensure that Spain, the more agile Naval Power between itself and Egypt, would check Egypt's claims at the Algerian Border. They would not take Rabat, or get near it. Spanish Troops, armored and ready for such an assault, waited permission to disembark from Cadiz, across the Strait into Morocco.

Capello, who realized time was not on his side, gave the order for Spanish Military Units to embark into Morocco through Tangier, but shakily but successfully sent emissaries ahead of time to give the Moroccans the message they were there to help, and prevent unnecessary violence between the shaky semi-ally. At once these troops set up show on the North tip of Morocco, and encampments began to be constructed. Capello had sent General Hajden Bujalt, an Arab, to see over things in Morocco. The "Bujalt Plan" as it was included creating a line across Morocco that started at Tangier and move as far South as necessary to prevent further Egyptian advance. In addition, Ferdinand hoped to prevent a devastation of both sides. Spanish Fleets of Flag Ships and the necessary Cruiser-weight and Frigate sailed along the Strait, and also across the coast, in viewing range of the Egyptians as if to entice them to seek a peaceful solution. In addition, Capello sent a letter to the Egyptian leader.

A Message From the First King of the Capello Dynasty of Spain, His Majesty King Capello I

To: The Esteemed Leader of Egypt
From: His Majesty King Capello I and His Court

Your Majesty,
I send this as a symbol of respect and a token of gratitude to you. I can respect and appreciate your attempts at unifying Northern Africa in the name of a stable and capable leader such as yourself, but you also must see things rationally. Should you expand into Northwestern Africa, you will be in Spain's area of affairs and influence.
You as a leader yourself of such an ever-expanding Empire know that one nation and giant getting in another's influence is not good, and should best be avoided. I move troops and my navy into the Moroccan waters and lands not to entice you to war, but to encourage you to seek a peaceful solution. We have a very puppet-like government in place in Morocco. Land concessions, can be made, at a price. However, you will not be allowed to take our sphere of influence, unless you seek unnecessary violence.
Again, I would like to state that you have my grace and humble respect from one ruler and giant to another, but I must entice you and encourage you to seek peace or some sort of Treaty that will fairly halt your encroachment of Spanish influence around the current Moroccan Border if not, then close to it farther West, if necessary.

Please reply in earnest time,

Sincerely,

Ferdinand Capello

[Unicario]

Cairo, Egypt

"Do you think the Castillan can stop us?" Ali Bey muttered to his advisors, who had delivered to him the letter of ultimatum from the Spanish King.

"I doubt it very much, sir. We have trade hegemony over North Africa; despite the Spanish naval parity on paper, we have the loyalty of the Barbary Pirates, who are a formidable force. No European nation has, so far, been able to best their abilities. I would advise caution -- Spain can be a formidable, strong enemy. They do have the power of... well, most of the New World to call to their aid."

"But aren't their colonists growing restless, like the al-Britanniya colonists?"

"They are."

"Well, then I'm not that concerned. Do they have European allies?"

"None that we can tell. Al-Rūsiyā is favorable to us for our support against the Turks a few years ago. We have their neutrality, their interests do not overlap ours. Most of the powers of Europe would fall in a similar line -- al-Britanniya could go either way, but as far as we know, they hate Spain. Furansiya hates Spain as well; their dynasty, Bourbon, I believe, was deposed some years prior by a popular revolution, so the king, Louis XVI, refuses to let Spain trade in French ports."

"Interesting; what strategies do you recommend, Marshal?"

Usama Azhar Albaf -- GENERAL Albaf, smiled. "I recommend a number of things -- first, they may have a strong Navy, but we can adapt strategies to side-step them in every way -- exploiting your enemy is one of the tenets of Sun Tzu... in a land-based war, provided we don't do something as dumb as say... invading Spain proper, we could win pretty handily."

"What is the collective advice then?"

General Albaf raised an eyebrow, "Is it not obvious, your Sublime Excellency? Refuse their demands. Morocco is the rightful land of the Arabic people, and Spain will have to simply accept that. Besides, this gives us justification to take the two port cities the Spanish have in Morocco -- Tangiers and Ceuta, I believe it is? I'm not sure, I have to check my maps -- but they can be ours, without a doubt."

The Sultan nodded and General Albaf smiled, "I shall send letters to the commanders in the West to inform them of strategy plans."

---

From the desk of His Royal Majesty, Sultan Ali Bey al-Kabir, Sultan of Egypt, Sultan of Nubia, Sultan of Makuria, Sultan of Arabia, Sultan of Filastin

---

To: King Ferdinand Capello, King of Castile, Aragon, Leon and Galicia, Usurper of Al-Andalus

---

To His Majesty,

Egypt will not cease her military campaign against Morocco. Morocco is the territory of the Arab people, and Egypt is the unifier of the Arab people, as stated by the Sharif of Mecca in the 1773 Declaration. Your military threats will not be heeded, and the campaign will go on, regardless of your interference. The Arab people of Morocco will be free under the Egyptian guidance, and the House of Islam will be purified of Christian encroachment. You are warned to leave Morocco with haste.

Allahu Akbar,
Sultan Ali Bey al-Kabir

[The Vaktovian Empire]

A Message From the First King of the Capello Dynasty of Spain, His Majesty King Capello I

To: Sultan Ali Bey al-Kabir
From: His Majesty King Capello I and His Court

I have warned you of such an encroachment. I advise you to once again take heed of your actions and seek a peaceful solution. You claim you will be the one to "Unify the Arabs". Well, that is to say the Arabs want you to unify them. The Algerians, Tunisians, and Moroccans have all attempted to repel you. Only Morocco can stand strong now that they have our guidance and support. Also, realize this is not just an encroachment into Spanish territory. This is an encroachment into European lands. Everyone remembers the Arabs and the Sultanate of Granada in Spain many centuries ago. No one is risking that in Europe.
As for your bravery to fight on the front lines, I admonish you for that. I must wait for a ceremony of which will crown my daughter as Princess of a Vassal of Spain, but then I myself will join you on the field of honor. I hope you are aware no matter where our values or wishes cross, I respect you as a leader of your renowned people and as a strategist and King, but can not allow you to engage people in Spanish influence, loosely considered our friends, and get away with it.
As such, I wish you the best, but know that Spain will not back down either. We will fight to the last breath, and to the last man. You have my Royal Blessing, not of Catholic or Christian sentiment but of pure respect and honor for the coming fight that will ensue. Know that I have already spoken to the Moroccan Sultan, and he echoes my wishes. However, he stands against this advance of foreign entities of yours that threaten to corrupt his nation's sovereignty.

With Respect,

Sincerely,

Ferdinand Capello

Tangier, Morocco

At the same time, General Hajden Bujalt had long arrived in Tangier, and the construction of this wall defensive had begun. It was to go from Tangier down South, parallel to the 0 degree Latitude, and end in Southern Morocco, but not to the border. The main priority was to begin construction on the North, as the Egyptians and the Spanish preferred not to go into the desert or the Atlas Mountains.
Since the "Bujalt Line" was established as a last resort plan behind the line of current fighting, Spanish troops quickly embarked into Moroccan soil.
Propaganda was quickly begun, hoping to be positive to the growing unrest in South America. Posters such as "Help your Country and Your Country will help You!" were hung across South America and Spain's New World Empire.
As well as this, Bujalt for the time being stayed behind and watched his wall and "Bujalt Line" including Trenches and nests come into place. He sent Lieutenant Colonel Felipe DesRoches to command the front, where currently a majority Moroccan Army of 8,000 and Spanish Legion of 1,000 attempted to get a look at their Egyptian enemy for the first time.

[Unicario]

The Egyptians were obviously better trained than the Spaniards for warfare in Africa. As the Spanish flooded into Morocco, they would inevitably face supply issues as the Egyptians and their soldiers, natives to the desert climate and tribal warfare IN said climate, would fare better than Spain's regulars, accustomed to the terrain of Spain. The commanders of the Egyptian military decided to press on anyway. The Spaniards did not have the materials, nor the time to build sufficient defenses of Tangiers and other regions without a serious stall in Egypt's offensive.

Pushing forward anyway, the Egyptians, numbering several armies worth, helped by supply caravans running from Algiers and Tunis, backed by the Barbary Pirates, went on the offensive, pushing along the northern coast, toward Melilla.

The Barbary Pirates began to harass light Spanish shipping and trade ships, while all Spanish merchants were imprisoned in the Egyptian Empire, and all their goods seized, and money seized as well. The pirates specifically avoided engaging larger Spanish ships, preferring to simply start ripping the economy of Spain into ruin.

[The Vaktovian Empire]

In response to the Barbary Pirates and their techniques, for the time being Ferdinand suggested having military warships escort essential trading ships that needed to go straight Eastward through the Mediterranean, and to proceed with due caution. In addition, Trade Minister Gulipio Martell sent a message to all essential Spanish trading partners in the Eastern Mediterranean that shipping would be lagging and moving slower due to the large majority of the non-essential ships taking a route around the Spanish Coast, until safe around the Balearics and safe between Corsica and Sardinia.
While this Naval strategy turned out somewhat successful, although not completely effective, as the Barbary Pirates continued to slowly pick away at Spain's economic success, Spain's land military was less effective. In some areas they had been pushed all the way back to the Bujalt Line, and Bujalt himself had fled to Rabat for the time being. The Sultan himself sent forces in from the South to attempt to pincer the Egyptians forces, as they were better experienced and could fight in the desert better than the Spanish, while the Spaniards made large troop deployments in the North from Tangier and Ceuta, preferring the semi-Spanish like coastal land. In large part it was still a desert though, and the Egyptians had an advantage. The only real threat to the Egyptians was the fact that with the new proposed plan for Trading by Sea, large quantities of Spain's Flag Ships and heavily armored Gun Boats were able to group up and be an astonishingly hard adversary against the Barbary Pirates, as they were effectively Egypt's only real naval power at this point. In addition, these large fleets bombarded the nearest Egyptian units on the coastlines, pushing them farther South and against the more experienced Moroccans. In addition, Capello felt like he needed larger help in terms of Naval Support. He sent a message to Two Sicilies, who had had shaky relations as is, but could strengthen them in this scenario.

A Message From the First King of the Capello Dynasty of Spain, His Majesty King Capello I

To: To the Kingdom of Two Sicilies
From: His Majesty King Capello I and His Court

To Whom It May Concern,
I realize within the last few times we have attempted to negotiate with eachother, the situation has been shaky. However, a graver threat lies due South, in the fact of Egypt. Not only do they pose a signifigant threat to European Mediterranean powers such as yourself and us, they also pose a threat to sovereign African states which have majorly removed themselves from European politics and largely remained "good sports" in terms of getting involved and giving us trouble.
As such, if Two Sicilies wishes to stay a major Mediterranean Power and compete with the now safer nations of Genoa and Venice, they will need to defeat, or at least limit the power and influence that these Egyptians have. Though they themselves don't have a powerful Navy, they have allied themselves with violent Arab Pirates, who will most likely target you should they cripple us internally.
We look to you for strong support, and would be honored to have your humble assistance as much as you would like to provide. If we are able to effectively limit the Egyptians' Power, all of Mediterranean Europe will benefit and continue to live on in peace and prosperity. This is also a great way to bring our nations closer together and fight together in the name of common interests.

We await your reply,

Sincerely,

Ferdinand Capello

[Unicario]

Most of the Egyptian soldiers near the shoreline within coastal bombardment range were already settled in for a long siege of Melilla. The Spanish navies weren't accurate beyond 5 or 6 mile range, and the Egyptians were just outside of that range. The rest of the Egyptian soldiers on the offensive were working methodically, to avoid ambush and encirclement.

The Barbary pirates began to adopt rapid hit-and-run tactics to avoid evisceration by larger Spanish naval fleets.

[The Vaktovian Empire]

With the bombardment process not working effectively, the Navy took a bigger role in escort tactics to shorten the alternate root around the Balearic and to begin securing the Mediterranean again. With the larger amount of ships no longer seeking bombardment orders, this actually played to the disadvantage of the Egyptians, who had gotten out of range, because now the Spanish began to divert attention to provoking these hit-and-run tactics by having hunting ships ready to prey on the Pirate vessels when they attempted to attack a weaker shipment. For the most part these tactics were going alright, and the Spanish captured many Barbary Pirate ships that were simply outgunned, bringing the prisoners to coastal holding facilities in Granada and Murica, hoping to use higher officers as bargaining chips for their own captured crewman or hostages. In addition, a small number of Spanish ships was left as a line of defense against the Moroccan Coast, ensuring that should reinforcements arrive by boat, which the Spanish expected not to with the lack of an actual Egyptian Navy that could also support landing techniques. The Spanish also hoped they would get a reply from the Two Sicilies, and a positive one at that, after waiting a couple of days.
As for on land, the Spanish continued to close off the shoreline of the Egyptians, securing it, and pushing them farther South, where the Moroccans had dug in in both the mountainous regions but also in the lower desert areas, and with their equal experienced knowledge of desert warfare, took some Egyptian units and armies by surprise. The Moroccans also had the emotional advantage; they were fighting for their freedom and homeland, whereas the Egyptians were fighting for conquest. Both were fighting in the name of Allah, albeit the Moroccans preferred to continue to worship him as their own entity. They despised a foreign power controlling them. Which was why Capello insisting that he would never take Moroccan sovereignty away gave grounds for the Sultan of Morocco to continue to support the Spanish ever more fluently than they had.

[Unicario]

The Sultan of Morocco was not entirely pleased by Spanish intrusion on his sovereignity, but accepted their help because he didn't want to be conquered.

The Egyptians faced some damage from Spanish naval attack, and the Barbary Pirates were rebuffed in many cases, but prisoners were very few and in between. In order to stave off Spanish attack, Egypt pushed toward the frontline and went on the offensive toward Rabat.

[The Vaktovian Empire]

The Spanish hoped for the worst, at least General Hajden Bujalt did. He ordered all troops pull back to Rabat in the wake of the Egyptian advance. But in addition, he made preparations to retreat to Casablanca if necessary.

Actions were taken to get support from experienced combatants in more loyal Spanish colonies; such as Cuba and Santo Domingo in order to prepare for a lasting war. Though the Spanish Armies numbered very strong, they were incapable of fighting in the Desert Warfare effectively. Bujalt, a slightly more successful desert strategist on account of his Arab heritage despite being a Spanish citizen, made preparations with the Moroccan Sultan to have officers and experienced reserve Moroccan soldiers start training certain reserve units of Spanish soldiers in cities like Marrakech and Safi, as well as bringing some units into the Mountains to train for warfare in those regions, if all else failed.

In short, Bujalt was preparing himself and his forces for a drawn out conflict across Morocco and a long siege and conquer mission to retake the quickly lost sections of Northeastern Morocco.

[Unicario]

3 May 1775

While the Egyptians baited the Spaniards and Moroccans into battle, Egypt went on a diplomatic offensive, appealing to Versailles to intervene on their behalf against Spain, to restore the Bourbons to the throne. He pointed out that Spain had deposed the Bourbon monarchy and that France was already leading an embargo, if Spain allied with other mediterranean powers and tried to expand it's power, it would inevitably weaken France's position and make it harder for France to prevent Spain from continuing to meddle, possibly leading to a greater war later down the line.

King Louis XVI responded shortly afterwards, saying he would consider it. France however, began to send privateers out into the Mediterranean to help the Barbary Pirates and Egypt deal with the Spanish threat -- France set up military soldiers in Toulouse and Aquitaine to ensure Spain didn't try anything funny -- but King Louis debated on the possibility of war against Spain to help Egypt as a secondary goal to restoring the Spanish Bourbons. Louis XVI was supported by the rightful Spanish King, Charles III and his heir, to restore him.

France postured, in case of war, to lead two invasion paths, one through the Western passage of the Pyrenees into Euskadi, the other into Catalonia through the Eastern passage.

On the frontline, due to the Spanish withdrawal, Egypt advanced, hoping to drive them and Morocco back without issue.

[Ruridova]

April 23, 1775
Naples, Two Sicilies

Luigi di Zahringen, the King of the Two Sicilies, sent a brief reply to Fernando Capello of Spain. In it, he expressed his growing concern over the Barbary pirates and Egyptian power in the Mediterranean, and expressed support for his brothers in Spain. However, he told the Spanish king that the Two Sicilies did not have the manpower necessary to fight Egypt. He did, however, vow Sicilian monetary support to Spain and said that the Two Sicilies would supply Spanish soldiers with armaments and supplies to aid them in their war.

April 23, 1775
Athens, Hellenic State

Only two days after the stunning victory at Corinth, only twelve hours after a brief engagement and victory in Piraeus, the Greek forces drove the humiliated Ottomans to Athens. By now, there was no fight left in the Turkish forces. Ivazzade Pasha surrendered, and the surviving 2,000 Ottoman troops under him were held as prisoners of war.

WIth the great Turkish force in Attica and Thessaly gone, Ottoman control over southern and south-central Greece collapsed. Flanked by Greek leader Konstantinos Mavrikios and Austrian commander Ernst von Laudon, Alexandros Apsvorgoi- only 18, but already a Greek national hero- rode triumphantly into Athens. The Athenian people crowded the streets to see their new young king, the hero of Corinth who had urged the Greeks to fight even when defeat seemed inevitable and led the charge against Ivazzade Pasha himself. Trailed by his army and a crowd of Athenians, he rode to the Acropolis, where he and his men erected a small flagpole. On it, they raised the new flag of Greece: a flag bearing a white cross and a golden crown on a blue canton, with five blue stripes and four white stripes on the field.

From now on, it was only a matter of time until Turkish defeat.

[The Vaktovian Empire]

April 24th, 1775

In a letter to Two Sicilies, Ferdinand expressed his happiness and appreciation for the Sicilian gifts that Luigi di Zahringen had given him. In addition to expressing his future plans and strategies to Luigi should the Sicilian troops ever need to get involved, he talked of the possibility for future close ties between Two Sicilies and Spain, as well as requesting that Two Sicilies denounce France for their blasphemous, unnanounced and unnecessary invasion of Northern Spain.

[United Marxist Nations]

Malta, Malta

Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc of the Knights Hospitalier read the news of a growing war in the Mediterranean. "Well, that escalated quickly.", he said, putting on a helmet and stocking up on food before saying something about a "Novi ordinis saeculorum".

[Mitteleuropa]

4 May 1775

Ali Bey, in attempt to prevent a protracted war, made contact to Spain, offering, in exchange for Spanish withdrawal from Morocco, and Morocco's there after surrender, the "promise of protective guarantee" over Melilla and Tangiers, and the "immediately cessation of Barbary attacks on Spanish shipping", as well as the "release of all Spanish merchants under detention in Alexandria, along with the majority of their goods and money." He also would "permit His Majesty's navy to take port in Casablanca."

However, Louis XVI made no such promises, preparing to go to war to restore his Bourbon relatives. In a letter to the Spanish King, he made clear his detest toward his so called "restoration of a native throne", and reminded him that the right of the Bourbon monarch was sacrosanct through the line of succession established by the first monarchs of a united Kingdom of Spain; through the Habsburg line, which extinguished itself as a result of interfamily breeding and other things such as that. He gave cautious word to the Spanish King, however, telling him that he "did not seek the destruction of Spain, nor did he seek His Majesty's head upon a pike, but he did seek a redress of His Majesty, Charles III's grievances toward his untoward deposition."

Egypt made overtures to inform Spain that they would "have no reason to impede a Spanish military invasion of Portugal, should His Majesty make peace," and hinted that Egypt would provide aid thereof, under proper circumstances, by turning the Barbary Pirates upon Portugal's trading fleets, not Spain's. Ali Bey's reasoning for this attempt at diplomatic overtures were later revealed in his son's memoirs.

From the Memoirs of Ali II of Egypt

My memory serves me well, I think, in many cases. I was a young child at the time of the Morocco War, but I remember my father's concern at Spain's naval parity over our own. France's entrance into the war in a partial capacity was surprising, but also not. Egypt's position as a top trade power in the Mediterranean had come to the fore in the two years following our Revolution, and France had seen the writing on the wall and left the Osman to die, as was right with the world.

Father did not want a long war with the Spaniards, but he was not willing to compromise on his dream of a united Maghreb under his rule. So he sent the Spanish an offer of peace under a series of circumstances, he had cards in his hand, and made clear to Spain his intentions were good...

France's overtures were much colder, as it seemed not much would deter France from invading Spain, other than a hasty peace treaty between Spain and Egypt, which would give Spain capacity to focus on her northern threat, a much greater one, in context, than Egypt's war for Morocco.

---

April 25, 1775

Catherine von Hohenzollern, Henri Bourbon and Thomas Jefferson sat quietly in the study of the Stadtschloss, reading over documents. Jefferson was focusing on the paper, but also giving thought to the young girl next to him. An impressively attractive girl, far too young for him, very proper, yet he could see something in her.

A sad thought passed through his mind, If only she was American.... Jefferson took note of the young monarch's aversion to dresses, and her preference to wear a specially tailored Field Marshal's uniform, enshrining her as Young Athena. Comparisons in Germany, to his note, had been primarily positive of her. An exceptionally bright woman, she could hold court with a similar fire and ice personality that he could expect from a strong monarch. He had no love for monarchy, but after reading some of her notes on monarchy and republic, he found himself wondering if her system of democracy had merit.

Catherine had requested Jefferson stay in Berlin for the length of the Convention, and for her coronation on July 20. Jefferson was eager to return home to help his comrades in arms against Britain, but he also knew that Catherine was canvasing him as one of the candidates she was interested in appointing the first Reichskanzler. Jefferson pondered. Me? The leader of Germany? Hm.

[The Vaktovian Empire]

7 May 1775

Hastily trying to make as quick as a reply for peace as Capello could, he appreciated Ali Bey's efforts at negotiation, and in secret was very happy they had occurred assuming that France was brewing on their Western border, and was now fully aware of Louis XVI's intentions. He made a speedy reply to Ali Bey, but asked for understanding on a number of things; that Spain wished to remain dominant in the Western Mediterranean in terms of trade. He proposed a "great plan" of allowing Spain to not only keep Melilla and Tangier but to have military control of the very direct Northern tip of Morocco that bordered the Strait. He suggested his master plan with a greater proposal; that with this control, the Spanish could influence their power in the Mediterranean. Though the British would still have overall control, Spanish influence would be great. In this way, Spain would be allowed to keep troops stationed in Morocco, albeit a very small Northern border also bordering the sea. But, he promised that these troops would never be used against Egypt and only for Spain's defense against other powers. In short, it'd be used as a staging base for a rapid deployment force against other European Mediterranean enemies. He outlined this further in his separate letter below. In addition, he asked for further detail on what the Casablanca deal met, if Ali Bey was saying Spain could allow the city to be its own mini-colony, or if he wished for them to remove themselves from the city in contrast. He also, finally, asked for one other repercussion. Well, more over two. He pleaded with Ali Bey to help convince the French to back off, although inside he feared them not, but also asked that the 10,000 or so group of troops from the Moroccan Army that had been specially training and integrating with Spanish Units to be allowed to return to Spain as African Warfare Specialists, but would sign a separate letter of intent they would not be used for any future conflict with the Egyptians, but moreover, for any nation which stepped out of line in the desert farther East, which got in Egypt's way.
In addition, he also sent a letter to Louis XVI. Spain, which had been harboring Charles III and his Royal Court in chains for the past several years, offered to release them and all French refugees back into France in exchange for the preservation of the Capello Dynasty. Capello also outlined a treaty which would state the Spanish upheld to no longer "Negatively impact their actions against that of the Egyptian Throne, and only use their influence to positively affect the trajectory and success of their current outlook" as well as with France. Ferdinand outlined instead of a hasty rivalry and bitter hatred of a cooperation policy between that of France and Spain, provided that Two Sicilies, a loyal Mediterranean Power themselves, to also be allowed into the mix of that of an alliance. Capello finally ended his seperate letter to France by stating that if Louis XVI refused, it would not be taken as an insult. He stated that whereas these offers were not cowardly acts, they were instead meant to "prevent further bloodshed spilled in a growing time of violence and displacement that has already shaken Spain, Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, Greece, and American Colonialism to its core". Capello sent both letters at once.