AWWA Part 2-The Second Thirty Years War(IC)

[Luziyca]

Belfast, Antrim, Ulster
July 29, 1837

General Elphinstone's force arrived outside Belfast, and began landing in the dead of night to avoid the main army. The first plan was to set up camp and keep It defended, while mustering the surrounding orange population to the British cause.

A few Irish soldiers were keeping a close eye for ships. It was nearly a new moon, so it was tough to see. However, a drunk soldier accidentally fired a cannon, briefly illuminating the camp of General Ephinstone's and a few of his ships. However, when they saw a camp that was not there the day before, the Irish soldiers decided to aim their cannons at the camp and fire. It may be a few miles away, but the Irish had an advantage from their base.

[Shrillland]

Belfast, Antrim, Ulster
July 30, 1837

At first Elphinstone's force limited their assaults to Artillery fire with some accompanying rifles, trying to avoid a larger battle.

[Unicario]

August 1, 1837

"What interesting fashion tastes these English pertain to..." Empress Akiko wondered as she stood, looking in the window of one of London's many fashion boutiques. In the window, there was a black corset tied to a mannekin's body. Portraits of women in corsets and other dresses billed as "Victorian fashion" sprinkled the shop-window.

Her Imperial Army guard that had come with her to keep her safe in the streets of London consisted of two people, one man, one woman, both wearing IJA uniforms.

The woman nodded and said, "It's rather new, your Majesty. It's British fashion, they seem to value tiny waists and bigger breasts than illusive beauty like we do at home."

The Empress then frowned and said, "They look so... uncomfortable... how would a woman do anything wearing such a restrictive garment?"

The Major-Corporal, Yoriko Ishikawa, snorted, "Because, Your Majesty, the British men expect women to simply be part of their Cult of Domesticity, and do nothing productive for society. Something that plagues all of Europe and America in their snare. In Japan, we have you to thank for such a change of pace."

The Empress frowned, "Shame that young women are silenced. So many brilliant minds are in wait to change the whole world..." She started walking and spied a newspaper. She paid for one and opened it. "General Ishikawa... Good to see that men of Anglo-Japanese ancestry are fighting so hard for the two empires... His string of defeats though..."

The woman waved her hand off, "He's an Ishikawa, all of the family is of notable military heritage, British clan and Japanese clan alike. We're strong people."

The Empress glanced at her, "Related to him?"

She nodded, "He's my distant cousin or something."

"Ah. Well, let's return to the Castle."

[Luziyca]

Belfast, Antrim, Ulster
July 30, 1837

At first Elphinstone's force limited their assaults to Artillery fire with some accompanying rifles, trying to avoid a larger battle.

The attacks killed two Irish. However, the 950 Irish soldiers that were awake that night began firing their muskets and a few used their cannons against the camp. The gunfire awakened many of the soldiers, and they began preparing to join in. Even some of the Young Men began preparing themselves to join the attack. It was the Battle of Belfast.

[Ruridova]

Ottawa, Ontario
July 27, 1837

The sun beat down on Ottawa today, and the stench of the dead was almost unbearable, yet the British continued, after losing another 9,000 men in the fighting, yet now it seemed that there were very few Americaners left alive in the ruined city. The British were down to 38,000 men, just over half of what they started with. Ishikawa decided to set up his headquarters here, rather than advance to the southwest. Keane would have to take Toronto by himself, and eliminate the last Canadian stronghold.

The few Americaners that were still alive now finally gave up, fleeing to Gatineau and Hull and safety in Quebec.

[Shrillland]

Ottawa, Ontario
August 1, 1837

The summer was still cool, but it was a sunny day as Ishikawa sat in a ruined inn in Ottawa. It looked like William MacKenzie's force was nearing it's last throes, holed up in Toronto with Keane just under a fortnight away. He now sent a message to Queen Victoria:

As glad as I am that Britain appears victorious in Canada, and as sure as I am that we will finish the American rebellions within the next twelve months, I do believe that the people may have legitimate grievances with Your Majesty's government. I am therefore requesting that the Government send an expeditionary force to the colonies to investigate what may be done to placate them.

Yours sincerely,
Sir Andrew Iseroku Ishikawa, 2nd Baron Ishikawa KCB

Ishikawa would live long enough to regret his optimism.

Belfast, Antrim, Ulster

Here in Ireland meanwhile, the situation was not so optimistic. On land Elphinstone was forced into a defensive action, with 140 men so far killed. He sent a rocket up to signal to the fleet that Belfast should be attacked.

London

All of London was preparing for the big day. Queen Victoria's Coronation would take place on August 15th, and it was rumoured that she would wear a special kimono for the occasion.

[Luziyca]

Belfast, Antrim, Ulster

Here in Ireland meanwhile, the situation was not so optimistic. On land Elphinstone was forced into a defensive action, with 140 men so far killed. He sent a rocket up to signal to the fleet that Belfast should be attacked.

Seven more Irish men were killed. Despite that, the Irish kept bombarding the British camp set up in Belfast, while several more from the base began firing at the ships. Really smart move to let the ships know where they are, At this point, it felt amongst the Irish that by morning, those living in Belfast would be able to eat without fear of getting killed, while the British soldiers would either be dead, or held as prisoners-of-war.

[Shrillland]

Belfast, Antrim, Ulster
August 2, 1837

The British were up against serious opposition, and they're only hope was to withdraw as many as could re-embark, and leave the rest to surrender. Elphinstone and 3,500 men evacuated, while the rest surrendered to the Irish. Clearly this would require a larger effort, which would take months and possible sacrifices from the American war.

[Luziyca]

August 2nd, 1837
Belfast, Ireland

Unfortunately, the Irish decided to shoot at the departing British, with the intention of trapping the British in Ireland. Cannons were fired at the British ships, hoping to kill Elphinstone.

The 3,000 prisoners-of-war were under the orders of Aodh Eoghan, subjected to humiliation. If one was lucky, they got to go to the stocks and remain there day and night until "the British surrender the Emerald Isle," and Irish people were encouraged to abuse the PoWs. If they were unlucky (high-ranking), they were beaten to death, and then tossed into sea during outgoing tides (believing the bodies would sail east to Britain). Orangemen however received the worst, with some crafty soldiers building capsules (wooden boxes) to confine a family of suspected Orangemen (the box can only fit 2 people, while it was designed so 20 can be confined in it and still be alive to suffer a horrible death with a hole on the bottom and top so it can be submerged) if they refused to confess and convert to Catholicism (Ulster-Scots excluded) by towing them out to sea, and dropping the boxes once they are far enough so to kill them and ideally, make them seem disappeared.

Elsewhere in Ireland, the Falangists were now in control of Ulster Province, Counties Louth and (northwestern) Meath in Leinster, and Counties Leitrim and Sligo in Connacht, where the Catholic majority population welcomed them (mostly). The hard part would be controlling Ulster: where the revolt began.

[Shrillland]

London
August 13, 1837

The coronation was only two days away, but the feeling of many in Britain was one of outrage. Elphinstone lay dead in a London cemetery, bodies of soldiers were being found in Cornwall, and the news of the Irish treatments were frightful to say the least. What was worse, the Confederate rebels were siding with them, giving more proof of their support of tyranny and slavery. 15,000 British soldiers who were supposed to go to America in September were instead held in Britain to await a further muster of troops.

Toronto, Ontario

Keane's force had meanwhile arrived in Toronto, and began launching artillery assaults at the city defences from the north.

[Luziyca]

August 14, 1837

While the British were concerned with their coronation of Queen Victoria, the Irish decided to take this time to take as many counties as they could. Thus, as more and more Irish supporters joined the Irish Home Army, Ardghal O'Berach (writer of Fruit of Freedom, the book that inspired the Falangists) personally endorsed the revolt from Dublin, and began writing another book, "Éire agus an Domhan" (Ireland and the World), which expands on Fruit of Freedom, and what Aodh Eoghan adapted of it.

In Éire agus an Domhan, O'Berach explains why the world had endorsed the occupation of Ireland by Britain, and its exploitation by the latter. It however is more oriented to Irish foreign policy, most predominantly, a need for a "fifth province," but he did not advocate restoring the Province of Meath: the future fifth province of Ireland would be situated "either in North Africa, in Cape Breton Island, or the Caribbean." The fifth province would provide Ireland with "a market for which Ireland can sell its goods, a producer for goods to be sold in the Irish nation, an outpost to protect Ireland against future British occupation, and a port to refuel and resupply Irish ships on the way to the Orient."

Besides the fifth province, it advocates a support of "all rebellions against British authority," and supports interventionism. Well, against Britain, at least, to such an extent that it also supports "separatism by the Scottish highlanders, the Welsh, the Manx, the Cornish people in Britain, and the Bretons in France," to restore their civilizations with the help of Ireland, before uniting into a Celtic Empire consisting of six nations.

Ireland and the World was published in Dublin in both Irish and English, the original Irish copy being sent to Aodh Eoghan, and the English copy to Queen Victoria, as well as an English copy of Fruit of Freedom, and a letter that boils down to "give Ireland sovereignty, and we will not do any more harm to your kin."

[Unicario]

August 15, 1837

Empress Akiko of Japan awoke on the morning of her daughter's coronation with a dark feeling in her. She felt something was very off for her, but she didn't know what. All she knew was that she didn't feel like rising from bed, her bones and muscles felt so very tired and heavy. She shrugged off this feeling and rose anyway, preparing for the morning.

In Japan, a group of people called Kuraibushi began plotting what they believed would lead to the salvation of the Empire of Japan from foreign influence...

[Shrillland]

London
August 15, 1837

The sun shone on this warm day in London, and Queen Victoria came out of Buckingham Palace wearing a special kimono commissioned by her mother for this glorious day. She stepped into the carriage of state, and was driven with a full escort of guards to Westminster Abbey, where the royal court, the Queen Mother Akiko, Prime Minister Melbourne, the high bishops of the Church of England, and other great notables from around the world were gathered to witness this historic occasion.

William Howley, the Archbishop of Canterbury, waited as she slowly walked towards him, and then said, "Victoria of the houses of Hanover and Yamato, will you take the name Hanover as a symbol of your queenship?"
"I will."
"Will you take this crown and become Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen of America, of Australia, New Zealand, the Cape Colony, and of India, defender of the faith, and sovereign of the empire?"
"I shall."
"Then take this crown."
He held it high over her head, and slowly placed it upon hers. He then shouted, "Behold the Queen!"
Cheers erupted from inside and outside the Abbey, as the Victorian Age began in earnest. An age that would last over 60 years, and see Britain climb to heights that none had seen before, and only one king would see since.

They returned to Buckingham Palace for the celebrations, which would last into the night.

[Unicario]

London
August 15, 1837
11:45PM, Buckingham Palace

"God Save our Gracious Queen..."

The sound of celebratory bells across the United Kingdom made her feel very warm, for the first time that day. Her daughter had taken that final step to womanhood, now she was her equal. Her youngest daughter, one of the strongest women in all of the world. She set down her drink, over half-full, and walked upstairs, the verses of “God Save the Queen” growing fainter with each step into the long-since forgotten parts of the palace. The reception of her daughter’s coronation was at the back of her mind now, second to her desire to relive the moments she had long-since missed.

"Long live our Noble Queen..."

She smiled, the house she had grown up in remained as beautiful as ever. She found herself standing in the doorway of one of the many rooms. The regally designed room was barren now, with only a desk and a chair left, the bed stripped of all sheets.

"God Save the Queen..."

The Empress sat down and smiled, recalling her days here.
"Geo~rge, you're cheating!" a voice filled with mirth exclaimed. Akiko craned her head to see a young ten year old Japanese girl and a British boy playing chess.
"I'm not cheating, you just stink at this game, Aki!" the boy laughed at her as he put her into checkmate, and she puffed her cheeks.

The woman smiled as the conversation faded away, and another one took its place.

"So, you're actually leaving…" A male voice questioned.
"Yes, Edward. I must go home and be an Empress… my people call to me." The woman noted with a bit of an annoyed tone.
"...Then will you take me with you? Will you marry me?" The man retorted.
The woman stopped packing her things and looked at the man and said, "Really?"
He nodded and she swept him into a hug, "Yes, I will, Edward... Yes I will."

The Empress smiled as that scene faded away as well, her eyes moistened by the remembrance of her long-gone youth. As raised her frail hand to wipe a tear from her eye, a firm male hand that she had not felt since nearly 20 years ago, pressed down on her shoulder. She jerked her head and saw Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, her husband of many years, smiling at her. He looked not a day older than when they married.

"It's time, my love." He nudged his head toward the door.

She tilted her head, "Really?"

George III, clad in royal robes from his coronation, stepped out from behind Emperor Edward and nodded, "Yes, Aki. We're all waiting for you... we've been waiting for you for a long time."

She stood up and took her husband's hand firmly, with strength she had not seen since the Napoleonic Wars, and walked towards the doorway, and down the hall, where the brightness at the far-end of the lengthy hallway waited.

Along her way down the long hallway toward the brightness at the end, she saw all of her old friends again. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, General Yamamoto, Thomas Jefferson, Qianlong, Frederick II, Catherine II, all of them.

The years melted away from her face as Empress Akiko walked towards her friends, calling out to them. The now young-again Empress stopped short and looked to her husband, who smiled back.

“It’s time… It is time.” She repeated, to which he nodded.

“You have served your time here, you have done your duty. You have watched over Japan these sixty-three years, through revolution, through war, through peace, and through the minority of your children. Your youngest now sits upon the golden throne of Britain, and you may now make peace with God.”

She clasped her husband's hand and said, "To a brighter future for the world, and for our family." and walked to the gates of Heaven.

The newly coronated Queen Victoria would feel a cold breeze befall her for a brief moment, but it was not one of concern, it would dispel any of her doubts of her capabilities to rule, and made her feel at ease.
Back in the room, a candle flickered, shadowing the Empress’ hunched form, pale and still. The candle flickered for a few more seconds before she drew a breath, and exhaled. The candle went out promptly then.

Empress Akiko, the 117th reigning monarch of the Empire of Japan, the prophetic Meiji Empress, was no more.

"...And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen!"

[Shrillland]

Buckingham Palace
London
August 16, 1837

Queen Victoria woke up later than usual this morning. She had already received another book from the Irish rebels, which she didn't plan to read, and went looking for her mother, with whom she wanted to discuss the responsibilities now thrust upon her. She looked in several rooms until she arrived inside a bare room, with a chair and a desk. There she saw her mother, still sitting as though she had merely dozed off in the night. But she was cold, and was not breathing.

Victoria screamed for a physician. but of curse, it was too late. Her eyes welled up with tears, and for a time was inconsolable with grief. After nearly an hour, she managed to say, "It's time my mother went home at last." And so, that afternoon, the bells that had rang with delight just yesterday now rang a sorrowful knell for the beloved Empress, and Britain's best friend for so many years.

Both Britain and Japan now faced new ages that would bring such tremendous changes that nothing would or could ever be the same again.

[Unicario]

December 24, 1837

It was a cold, snowy day. The flurries draped the mourning City of Tokyo in it's embrace.

The city had fallen into a state of sombre melancholy after the news broke in September that the Meiji Empress had died of a stroke in Buckingham Palace.

The long funeral procession was one in which many civilians frequently broke out into peals of sobbing. On the morning of the Empress' funeral, the Metropolitan Police reported no less than six counts of ritual seppuku in response to their grief. Many had tried to throw themselves under the carriage carrying the Empress' casket.

Walking behind the carriage was Prince George and Prince Alexander, who were weeping themselves. Thousands of people were behind them, carrying vigils for the dead Empress.

The inconsolable grief would grow into blinding fury as in the crowd, a man wearing a black yukata with the symbol of the Shogun on it, entered the crowd and approached the passing train of mourning Imperials.

Pulling a pistol from his yukata, he took aim, and let the trigger go.

The gunshot rang out, and Emperor-Apparent George fell over onto the snow, it being darkened crimson by the blood dripping from his head. The procession stopped, as Emperor Alexander screamed to the heavens and embraced his father's already-dead figure.

He looked around for the assassin and found several men beating and restraining him. The new Emperor-apparent, Alexander, drew the Blade of Amaterasu from his father's form, and charged at the man, impaling him through the stomach.

The man that had shot the Emperor laughed some and spit blood on Alexander's yukata before saying, "All shall end."

The Empire of Japan was once again plunged into grief and more anger than ever before. On Christmas Eve, 1837, they had to bury not one monarch, but two.

Akiko and George were both interred at the Imperial Tomb in Tokyo, and all flags across the Empire were held at half-staff to commemorate the two's demise.

At the funeral, the will of Akiko was read aloud.

It is the will of the Meiji Empress, Akiko, that the following things be undertaken upon my death.

To my daughter, Victoria, I request that she use her power to ensure a brighter world lies ahead -- I also leave her the permanent familiar rights to the family Estates in Kyushu. These Castles shall be the property of the Hanoverian branch of the Yamato clan, and them alone. These Castles will remain under the jurisdiction of the Empire of Japan. I also leave to her my poems that I wrote as a girl, and my memories, so that she may use me as an inspiration of a powerful female ruler.
[...]
To my son, George, you must now take lead of the Japanese people and lead them into a brighter era, even brighter than mine. Do not forget your past, and do not dwell on it too much, or you shall be remembered for incompetence only.

And finally, to my grandson Alexander, the boy who showed nothing but promise, I leave to you what I have stored in my personal library. It holds a wealth of knowledge for you to understand this world, and I hope you take it seriously.

All of my children are to be inferred with the Order of the Rising Sun for their brilliance, and for their loyalty to me in my final years.

Signed,
Empress Akiko
117th Reigning Monarch of the Empire of Japan
Deceased

[Luziyca]

August 17, 1837
Ireland

As Queen Victoria came in power and Empress Akiko died, the Irish Home Army still advanced, but they were soon given orders by Aodh Eoghan to fortify the coast, and the front lines as is. Thus, "piliúr dún", or pillow forts, were set up. A typical piliúr dún consisted of a rudimentary shelter, usually made of wood, although some metal is used, and a flat platform so to station cannons and muskets, and to look out for any British trying to sail near them, or in the front lines, stationing them at strategic chokepoints (even if they are just small hills) so to destroy any British soldiers trying to go past them.

The piliúr dún were designed to be portable, and thus can be set up in under half of a day, and be taken down in just 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, Aodh Eoghan also issued a decree, abolishing all baronies within Ireland, stating that "it shall come into effect in occupied zones as Ireland liberates them," and also declared that all "titles of British nobility" are to be abolished within Ireland, to be replaced with a new system of noble titles, which shall carry a certain salary in tras, and in some cases, ownership of land.

[Unicario]

August 24, 1837

George sent a letter to Victoria, stating that in order to help with rebellions, Japan would be issuing an expedition of men to serve for Britain, totaling 15,000 soldiers.

[Unicario]

February 12, 1838

Alexander entered his study and stared carefully out the window to the streets beneath. The city of Tokyo had continued on somberly after the death of his grandmother, and his father's assassination. The street fights between Liberals and Conservatives alike continued to flare up frequently, but the Police had quelled most of the upstart.

His namesakes portraits had been hung up in his office when he moved in after his father's death. Alexander the Great leading cavalry into India, and Alexander I of Russia, who at least, during the beginning of his reign, was a notable reformer -- the later half? Not as much.

Alexander I in his own right, was looking to find some sort of good cause to campaign for... and so time would tell.

[Shrillland]

London
August 27, 1837

With Japanese re-inforcements on their way, the British now prepared a further force of 22,000 men. This however, would require more than the current army had, so Parliament now passed two laws. The first law was the Conscription Act of 1837, requiring all men between the ages of 16 and 40 to sign up for service in the British Isles. The second was...unpopular, but necessary to fund this army. An income tax would be levied, the first of its kind since the Napoleonic Wars.

Toronto, Ontario

After nearly a fortnight of trying to starve the population into submission, Keane prepared a charge against the city.

[Luziyca]

August 28, 1837

When Aodh Eoghan found out of the Conscription Act of 1837 and the income tax being levied, Aodh Eoghan issued a decree, ordering that "all able-bodied men aged 16 to 40" residing in the liberated zones join the Irish Home Army to fight in the Crusade against a British plot to exploit Ireland and destroy their culture and religion. He also declared that "all men in occupied areas who join the Irish Home Army shall have their families hereafter be exempt from any income tax that Ireland levies upon them," so to entice men to fight for their native island.

Over the next few days, the Irish Home Army was expanded to an army of 40,000 men, although training was basically focused on sabotaging the enemy, and how to fire a musket and behead someone, with suspected Orangemen being used for target practice.

Meanwhile, Guyane hears of the war erupting in Ireland, and says due to its "armed neutrality", it cannot intervene. However, 300 Poles and 200 French Guyanese raise a "mercenary army" to head to Ireland to fight, but the Guyanese government condemns the mercenaries who plan to fight for Ireland, and that they will not be given any honors, and also threaten to strip them of Guyanese citizenship if they leave Guyana, in an attempt to prevent the mercenaries from heading to Ireland.

China is torn between siding with Ireland and Britain, the former because of Japan supporting the latter, but the latter due to the marriage of the Crown Princess of China with a son of the King. A vote was called in the Chinese Parliament, but no clear consensus was in favor or against siding with Britain, so China remains neutral.

[Ruridova]

Toronto, Ontario

After nearly a fortnight of trying to starve the population into submission, Keane prepared a charge against the city.

The Americaners, undaunted, prepared to fight back viciously.

[Shrillland]

Toronto, Ontario
August 28, 1837

The British now headed into the city, facing the undaunted Canadians with a massive Infantry assault, and a large force of Cavalry just ahead of them.

[Ruridova]

Toronto, Ontario
August 28, 1837

The British now headed into the city, facing the undaunted Canadians with a massive Infantry assault, and a large force of Cavalry just ahead of them.

The Americaners stood their ground, as if their feet had been stuck to the ground with tar, prepared to kill as many Redcoats as they could.

[Shrillland]

The British admired the way the Canadians stood their ground, and even though it didn't stop the onslaught, it did mean losses nearing 300 men just from this charge.