1912-1990 Era War IC (Semi-Closed)

[Crimetopolis]

DELETED

[The Manticoran Empire]

Trasport ships were loaded with Central Alliance citizens and returned to their respective nations. All Assets were unfrozen returned to their
owners.

Manticorean Empire.


You have your citizens and property back. WE have also removed our police and other presences from Parsi. We will not reduce the size of our military or police units, however. Donot use this as a pretext for war, though. Our nation sells submachineguns like yours does soda pop and candy, too. We are a Christian nation, and we donot fear the demonic beast of your heathen empire, also.

Dr.Fritz von Totenkopf
Foreign Ministry
Little Chicago
Crimetopolis

To: Foreign Ministry of Crimetopolis
From: Manticoran State Department

My good sir, it is highly irregular for the use of such profanities in official diplomatic discourse. You insult the Queen. You insult the Empire.
Count yourself lucky that we have a thick skin.

We thank you for returning our citizens and their property. However, your refusal to reduce the strength of your armed forces in accordance with our demands is unfortunate. Let us hope that refusal of yours does not come back to bite you later.

Manticore
March 1927
Intelligence reports flooded the offices of the Empire's various intelligence services. The Nihonese were offering themselves to the Warglorians in the same way a prostitute offered herself to a John, while simultaneously preparing an invasion of both the Empire and her overseas allies. The concept of a Nihonese invasion attempt drew chuckles from many in the Intelligence community. Even if Nihon invaded Tamir, the most lightly defended of the Empire's holdings, their at most three division strong invasion force would have to face the full might of FIFTEEN Manticoran Divisions. Some 637,704 men. It was worse in Manticore, where 9 Armored and 33 Infantry divisions, with 14 Artillery Divisions, sat waiting for the moment to strike. Should Nihon invade, it wasn't difficult to determine where. Ostland and Ostermark were closest and would offer the most direct routes for Nihonese convoys. However, Solland and Drakwald were also possible invasion targets, though they were further away and also placed the Nihonese in a position for the RMN to cut them off entirely from reinforcement. In order to gain some warning, Submarines would be positioned to cover the sea lanes and destroyers and torpedo boats would patrol up and down the EEZ. It was still probable that they would miss a Nihonese force but in the end, the Nihonese would have to land near a port. And those were protected by the Coastal Artillery Corps, who would be in a position to shell the Nihonese. It would take about 6 days for the troops in Solland to reach Ostland by rail or in 32 hours by ferry across the strait, with a similar timeline for troops from Ostland to reach Solland. However, there were enough other troops in place that there would be time to redeploy the troops.

Meanwhile, at the State Department, Secretary Francis Golden was preparing to meet with the ambassadors from seven different nations, all with the aim of finalizing an agreement they had spent some time working towards. The formation of a defensive alliance to finally force the Nihonese back into their shell.

[The Manticoran Empire]

Parliamentary Palace
Vicuna, Middenland
28 March 1927

Catherine stood before the assembled houses of Parliament and several thousand viewing citizens. Tonight's address was going to also be the first one that she would be broadcasting over the radio to all citizens of the Empire. Nuwe Afrikaa and Tamir would have to wait a few days for the address to be broadcast to them but Catherine was happy being able to speak to the hundreds of millions who lived in Manticore.
She stepped forward, laying a sheet of paper on the podium and adjusting the veritable forest of radio microphones in front of her. And then, she spoke, her crisp, soft voice now heard not only in the Palace but in millions of homes across the Empire.
“Lords, Ladies, Members of Parliament, and Citizens of the Empire. Recently it has come to my attention that a gross atrocity has been committed in Newne Carriebean. The Confederacy of the Northern States has made use of the chemical agent Phosgene in attacks on civilian targets on the island of Shishiri as well as against the Carriebean capital. This sort of barbarism is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to stand. It is not known how many have been killed or maimed by these attacks but it can be assumed that many thousands have died and tens of thousands more have been permanently scarred. Many of you have friends or relatives who were the victims of gas attacks during the Great War. You know the pain and the suffering that victims can experience. It is my belief that chemical weapons should never be inflicted upon civilian targets. I would prefer that chemical weapons were never inflicted upon any targets but, unfortunately, I appear alone in that opinion among the international community.
Nonetheless, whatever my desires may be, the fact remains that innocent civilians have been callously murdered by a series of deliberate chemical attacks by the Confederate Armed Forces. These actions I condemn, both as the Queen of Manticore and as a human being, in the strongest possible terms and I urge Parliament to formally condemn the use of chemical weapons against civilians and non-combatants, whether in peacetime or war. I thank you all for your time. Good Night and may the Gods bless you.”
As Catherine walked away from the podium, her mind raced. What else was happening in the world that she wasn't informed about? As she walked off the stage, she spotted her husband. "Alfred, I want you to get the director of the OSS in my office in the morning. I don't like being in the dark about these sorts of incidents. If we are going to expect to survive as a nation, we need to have accurate pictures of the international scene."

[Aclus]

Loebes,
The Aclusian Empire
End of an era

The clouds came in, blocking the sunlight from beaming down to the crowd that had begun to gather around the memorial. The air was cold and bitter to the skin, as the Aclusian fall got ever more cooler as the days went by. However dark and gloomy, today was a day of remembrance, to pay tribute.

Within the years that followed the end of the Great 9 years war that tore through the world like wildfire, the Aclusian and Warglorian government had begun a steady rebuilding process every day since the treaties were signed. Bodies buried, farmland cleared, and the economy steadying back into peacetime. None of it would’ve been possible without the enormous sacrifices of the Warglorian and Aclusian servicemen, brothers in arms through the bloody mud of foreign lands, And as a token of remembrance, the Blood Brothers memorial had been built.

A massive Bronze set of statues of 2 soldiers, Warglorian and Aclusian standing together with arms out as if they were shaking one another's hands. A symbol of Comradery to the men who fell to defeat the Alliance of Republican nations tyranny. With its total completion today, the King himself stood to make a speech towards the people, one of which to be broadcasted by radio throughout the Empire.

Walking down the Great hall of the House of Loebes. George was followed by his detachment of royal lifeguards. Dawning the bright red Service dresses and caps, they had SMLE rifles slung across their shoulders. Of course, however, these men were for show, as agents of the crown were around in their dark black suits. With the King came Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, the man who lead the Aclusian forces in Rannoria.

The King wore his grand red uniform, with his royal sashes and campaign medals from wars of old. He personally tried his best to hide his age but, surrounded by younger men, it was quite difficult.

Meanwhile, another procession walked down the hallway. Flanked by members of the SG Führerschutzabteilung (Führer Protection Unit), clad in their distinctive black uniforms and greatcoats, their stoic expressions and ramrod straight backs were a far cry from the 68-year-old Führer of the Warglorian Reich.

Wearing a dark grey uniform with a greatcoat of his own and a cap signifying him as Der Führer on, Landa walked forward with vigour that made him seem 40 years younger, a large smile plastered on his face.

"Cousin Georgie!" Landa exclaimed in accented Aclusian, his gloved hand reached out for a hand shake, "It has been so long, how are you?"

"Cousin Landa!" George exclaimed loudly, he took off his glove and shook Landa’s hand, "The years are really starting to catch up with me, how are you?"

"Quite well, and let me assure you, the years have been just as hard on me, but i'll never let it drag me down," Landa replied.

"Your beard has grown grey since old friend, but so has mine" George then chuckled.

Nodding, Landa turned to Field Marshall Haig. “And Field Marshall! It is good to see you too, may I introduce you to Feldmarschalls Manstein and Rundstedt, both were both field commanders who served with distinction in Rannoria,"

The aforementioned men, wearing grey uniforms and greatcoats, made brief salutes.

Haig clicked his heels and saluted the 2 fellow Warglorian Field Marshals who tagged along. "Ah yes, victory in Rannoria couldn't have been achieved without our combination of military genius" Haig then fell back at ease.

"Unfortunately, the General Staff that commanded in Rannoria were unable to follow, both Feldmarschalls Ludendorff and Hindenburg are, unfortunately, bed-ridden at the moment, and Kriegsminister Adler is busy," Landa said, a brief bit of discomfort colouring his face, "As you have heard, the situation in the Traansval is...somewhat precarious,"

Upon hearing about the Traansval George looked down and back up to Landa, he had to do what was best for his people, even if it pained him to do so.

The discomfort disappeared as soon as it had appeared, and Landa's smile came back full force. "But today is not the day for politics, how has the family been?"

"The family has been splendid, Edward is eager to take my place, and young George is well, as for my wife Elizabeth, she's in good health," George said.

"Well, hopefully, young Edward is patient enough to wait his turn, you still have a good many years ahead of you Georgie," Landa replied.

“Ah, indeed, wouldn’t want another civil war on my hands,” George chuckled. George then turned to motion the group of men towards the end of the hallway as chants were heard from outside.

"It seems it’s time to put on a show," George exclaimed with a slight smile.

Landa turned to the hallway, "Very well, lets,"

The two walked down the hallway, the cousins side by side as the various generals and bodyguards followed behind.

"You know, Georgie, I've missed you," Landa sighed, "You, Cousin Nikolai, all of them really, I've missed them considerably, world politics just doesn't allow time for family I suppose,"

The two leaders, cousins, walked closer to the large oak door that would soon swing open, revealing a platform for them to stand on and give out their speeches about the Blood brothers memorial.

"Its been many years since we all got together, we were all once all young lads playing in Grandmothers courtyard, playing soldiers. Now, Grandmother is up there waiting for us" George then looked at Landa and patted his shoulder, chuckling at the thought of them being children.

"Once this is all over, let's invite cousin Nikolai and his family, bring your family too, we can head to Grandmothers garden for a trip away from all this, god knows we earned some rest"

Landa's smile, if possible, got even wider. "I would like that Georgie, I would like that very much,"

Nodding, George then turned to the Royal lifeguard who had tapped his shoulder.

"Tis time sir" the guard stated, George then stood up straight and smiled.

"Let's give them a show cousin."

Landa turned to the door, "Very well, let's get this over with."

The door was opened, as both Landa and George walked out. In front of them was a large wooden stage, which both began to climb, as their various guards began to spread out.

In front of the stage was a mass of people; men, women and children from all backgrounds of life. Mini flags carried by the crowd and large banners adorning the street lamps and buildings, bearing the Warglorian or Aclusian insignias, waved in the air as the chilly evening began to gain wind.

As George and Landa climbed the stage, the chants of the crowd turned into a crescendo of noise as the mass cried and cheered, only barely kept back by the line of Aclusian Police and Soldiers. A podium was set up with a microphone upon it as both Landa and George, waving the entire time, approached it.

George approached the podium first, and as he stood in front of the microphone he signalled for silence. And almost instantly, the cheers and cries ceased.

George faced the people of Loebes, many of which dawned their medals, wore their service caps or even uniforms for the occasion. The energy brought by the crowd was immense, a united people all here to witness the Kings speech, to hear him personally thank them for their sacrifices, the blood they spilt in the fields of Rannoria, the loss of the youth of Aclus, an apology.

"Through a marvel of Modern Science, I am enabled on this memorial day, to speak to all my peoples of the Empire. I take it as a good omen, that wireless radio, allows us a stronger union across our lands.

We here today are too give thanks, to the men who gave everything, so that we may be claimed the Victors, of that terrible conflict. The sacrifices made on the very fields of Rannoria, or anywhere indeed that was fought for, the memory of their deeds to never be forgotten. To our Warglorian brothers in arms who fought alongside us from the war's start to finish, we are forever grateful.

I speak from my heart to all who carried the burden of that the war brought, as many of my people still carry such weight on their shoulders.

My life's aim has been to serve as I might, towards those ends, make your life better and fair, as your loyalty, your confidence in me has been my abundant award.

So hear me, my people of the Aclusian Empire, following the burden our people felt these past years. You are not forgotten, nor are you alone, for I shall, I must, and I will restore tranquillity within our borders, and prosperity among our people."

The crowd tuned in deeply to the King words, for the first time in years, the patriotic spirit of Aclus seemed to have been revitalized.

George stepped back from the podium and turned to see Landa smiling brightly at him. Nodding with a small smirk, George gestured for Landa to take the stage.

Nodding back, Landa walked in front of the podium. Breathing in, Landa remembered that not only was he talking to this crowd, but to all of Aclusia, as well as all of Wargloria. In their homes back in the Reich, families have gathered around, listening as King George's speech was translated. Landa couldn't allow his cousin to get the better of him.

Breathing out, Landa began. "To the people of the Aclusian Empire, I am humbled by this opportunity to speak to you all. Only a thousand kilometres away, over 24 years ago, the Great War began, and the war in Rannoria soon followed. I am sure you all know of this already and know of how our armies fought together side by side. There, in the trenches, soldiers, both Warglorian and Aclusian, fought, bled, and died together, against a power aligned with warmongers across the world.

The history of Aclusia and Wargloria has not been the kindest or the warmest. From over a generation ago, up till recently as the 1890s, our nations found ourselves on opposite sides. We fought each other in the Civil War. We fought each other in Sylbania. We fought each other in Ruskland. In those bloody fields, we fought each other with a hatred only seen in the worst of enemies. And it was in that hate that we forgot in our common ancestry, our common blood. In truth, we were fighting a Civil War, a fight between brother and brother, and we never knew it. We were divided by a chasm, fueled by hatred.

But then something special happened, something many never thought possible, something I never thought possible. We came back. In the form of the GDU, we filled up that chasm and came back together again. Since then we have fought, not against but alongside each other. We fought together in Rannoria. We fought together in Sylbania. We fought together in Traansval. And in Zeeland, and Siber, and Svavic, and Tamir. We fought and bled together on land, on the sea and in the air. We fought to protect not only our homes, but each other's homes, and not only our people but each other’s people.

Yes, the loss of life in Rannoria, and across the world, was a tragedy, but through that tragedy, we’ve grown stronger, as has our bond. Our bond, only further strengthened through the burning fires and the blood we spilt together, our bond has become stronger than ever before. For the first time in perhaps centuries, we are no longer apart. For the first time in centuries, we finally remember once more, that we are brothers! Through both fire and blood: We. Are. Brothers!”

The crowd roared again, for the first time the people of Aclus seemed to forget their troubles, the years that broke down the empire, it all seemed non-existent. George walked up to the podium and patted his cousin Landa on the shoulder in a friendly manner.

"Jolly good show cousin Landa" George then waved at the crowd as the memorial was finally displayed from the giant drapes that ran on top of it.

Shining in the city center, 2 giant bronze statues of an Aclusian and Wargloria soldier, shaking hands. An engraving was on the base of the memorial, naming the monument "Blood Brothers".

"Let us return to the hall cousin, we got some reporters awaiting," George said as he and his Royal Life Guards escorted the group of men.

Landa, slightly out of breath, nodded. "Alright, I need a drink though,"

The two leaders began walking down from the platform, their way to the building now crowded with a massive crowd. Kept away by both soldiers and police, the two leaders began walking through the path made by the guards, greeting and waving to the people who cried out in love and admiration.

As the two continued, Landa felt a tug at the back of his coat. Turning around, Landa found a little boy looking up at him, his eyes shining and his cheeks red with embarrassment and anxiety. On his shirt was a plastic toy Iron Cross with a Golden Roaring Lion over it. And clutched in his hands was a piece of paper, offered out to Landa. "Mr Landa?" The little boy asked shyly, "Could I get an autograph please?"

Landa gave him a kindly smile, the one he would regularly give to his grandchildren whenever they visited. The leader of the SG Führerschutzabteilung, signified by his peaked officer cap, went up beside Landa. "Mein Führer, with all due respect, I advise that we continue, this mass makes it difficult to assure your safety."

"Nonsense Sturmbannführer, a little showing of hospitality never hurt anyone,” Landa replied, turning to George, “Georgie, mind if we wait a moment?”

“Of course Cousin Landa,” George replied, smiling as Landa kneeled in front of the child. George looked upon the scene before him and found himself proud. The young child before him symbolised the next generation of Aclusia, and he would be influenced by the events today. An influence that would bring about a mindset that promoted peace and cooperation not only between Aclus and Wargloria, but the world as well. For all he knew, the child before him could become the next great Prime Minister! And all because of his work, and the work of his family across Europa.

“Now, what’s your name young man?” Landa asked the child, pulling out an intricate fountain pen.

“Winston, sir!” the child, Winston, replied.

“Winston! A good name, tell me Winston, ho-”

As Landa continued to converse with the child, George looked around, to simply bask in the moment. What was supposed to be a day of sadness had become a day of celebration along with commemoration.

“It’s those bloody Warglorians, always with their grand speeches," George thought to himself, “I suppose that’s why I’m so good.”

Chuckling at his own silent joke, George continued to look around the various smiling faces. But as he looked around, he noticed one face that wasn’t smiling. George narrowed his eyes. In fact, this man’s face was put in a firm grimace, one filled with steely determination. By just looking at him, George could tell that this man wasn’t Aclusian or Warglorian.

Suddenly, the man began moving, pushing through the various people in the crowd towards them. Just as George was about to call for his Captain of the Guard, the man took off the large overcoat he wore. And strapped to his chest were several sticks of dynamite, all connected by wire to a detonator clutched in his hands. Eyes wide, George barely noticed as several of his guards, noticing the man too, began shouting out warnings and going into action.

“LOOK OUT!” George screamed. Before he could even think, George took Landa by the back of his coat, and roughly pulled him away.

“BANN’JO TERAKIM!”

Suddenly, the whole world seemed to explode, as a bright light and a large bang erupted.

Several Minutes Later

Darkness engulfed his world, his eyes unable to open. His body ached, a dull pain all over him. Most of that paled in comparison to the searing pain on the right side of his face and his ears. At that moment, all he wanted to do was remain where he was. But it didn’t seem fate would allow him to rest.

His left eye fluttered open, his right unable to no matter how much he tried. Grey and dull blurriness greeted him. Despite feeling like an elephant had landed on him, he slowly pushed himself up off the ground. Standing up with unsteadiness, he looked around. It was as if at this moment, a thick cloud of smog had descended on the memorial grounds.

Touching his ear, he found them filled with thick red blood, which poured down the sides of his face. Looking around once more, one thought suddenly came to mind.

“I need to find him”

His mind suddenly filled with fear, he began walking. Well, more like stumbling, as he went further and further into the smog. As he continued, the smog seemed to lift just a little bit. His eyesight now barely cleared up, he saw that people were all around him; civilians, law enforcement and emergency services. Some were rushing around, clearly panicked and shocked. Some were walking aimlessly, some with their limbs blown off. Others were on the ground, either dead or dying, the bodies staring lifelessly into the sky.

Across the road, several small craters and large scorched marks were spread about. He could even hear, what he thought to be, gunfire in the distance. It reminded him of a battlefield when he had been a younger man on the frontlines. But none of that mattered, as one single thought still plagued his mind.

“I need to find him”

Continuing on, his voice feeling incredibly dry, he shouted out. Again. And again. And again. Yet despite shouting as hard as possible, he could only barely hear his own voice. He stumbled and shambled, but still kept going.

“I need to find him”

He kept shouting.

“I need to find him”

“I need to find him”

“I need to-”

He stopped walking. In front of him, was another body, slumped over as if asleep. He could feel his stomach drop, anxiousness filling his mind. Dropping to his knees, he clutched at his bright uniform, now covered in grime and dirt, and partly singed. His grey hair, usually so tidy, messy and all over the place. And as he turned him over, he saw his eyes. Where they were once full of life, now they were glassed over.

“No…”

He shook him, screamed at him to wake up. But it was no use.

Still shouting, his voice was cut off as he noticed something beside him. Temporarily distracted, he reached over and picked it up. Brushing some of the dust off, he recognised what it was immediately.

Clutched in his hands was a broken Iron Cross, torn right in two, with a roaring lion dulled and no longer shiningly golden. He could feel the wetness in his eyes, as tears leaked down his face and onto the now broken toy.

A hand clutched his back, roughly turning him around. His hearing suddenly seemed to come back.

Beside him was Manstein, his cap missing and blood leaking down the side of his face.

“Mein Führer, are you alright?”

Hans Landa looked up at the Feldmarschall, before looking back down onto the body, its bright red uniform and the various medals pinned to it clear as day.

And so ended the reign of George Fredrick Albert, Fifth of his name and King of the Aclusian Empire.

Co-Written By Aclus and Wargloria

[The Hoosier Alliance]

Aryshtakovan-Opus border
1927, late March

General George Olsen of the Hoosier Army stood with his subordinate officers in the command tent. They stood discussing their next move concerning the Opus situation.
"Sir," one of his officers began, "The last of the Aryshtakovan reinforcements have arrived and the fighters and bombers are on their way. The men are continuing to build and expand defensive fortifications on the border with Nihon. With the final arrival of the Aryshtakovan soldiers, we have ten infantry divisions and two armored divisions here on the border with Nihon. The Nihonese soldiers are without resupply and their provisions must be getting low. If they do not get resupplied, they will starve."

General Olsen smiled, "Good. Send their commanding officer an offer. Tell them that if they surrender they will be treated with dignity and respect. They will be fed, given medical attention, and so on. Their only alternative is to slowly starve."

Olsen and his men continued to speak about the situation, drawing up plans of attack and defense, as well as prepping the air fields for the 250 fighters and 50 bombers on their way to assist First Army. Hoosier units were also ordered to begin practicing probing attacks and coordinated assaults, much like their Rachanaian counterparts.

To the Nihonese commanding officer of Opus

George Olsen, General in charge of the Hoosier First Army, wishes to extend to you and your men a chance to help yourselves. Surrender now, and you will be treated with respect and dignity. Your men will not have to worry about starvation as they will be fed and cared for, including medical care. Supplies are unable to reach Opus, so surrendering to the First Army is your best long term option. We encourage you to take it.

Vicuna, Manticorean Empire
Late March

Shaun Richard had just recently arrived in the capital city of the Manticorean Empire. During his last visit he had been here to see an end to a Manticorean embargo, but now he was here to discuss the finalization of a defensive alliance with the Empire. Tensions were running high throughout the globe, and the IGP was responding accordingly. They were increasing the size of the military and had recently embargoed Nihons allies, Newne Caribbean and Crimetopolis. Nihon had been embargoed for some time now, and the IGP thought it right to hit their allies too.

Shaun Richard was approaching the building he was told to meet in. He walked up the steps and entered, walking to the receptionist of the lobby. "Hello ma'am," he said, "I'm Shaun Richard, I believe I have a meeting scheduled for today."

Southern Aryshtakova

A regiment and a half had surrounded the town and began to enter through the cracks in the defenses. Farther away from the battle, bunkered down behind rocks, sand dunes, and other bits of natural cover here and there, was a half of one of the regiments. They were holding the rear in case of enemy reinforcements. No one was sure of who was attacking the small town or where they came from, so it was decided earlier they would hold the rear.

Then, it happened. Enemy fire erupted and bullets began to tear up the sand around the men. The Hoosiers returned fire with their rifles, machine guns, mortars, and every thing they had. They used the radio to call in the still unused artillery that had been set up and it began to rain down on the attacking enemy regiment, about the same time the enemy artillery was fired on the Hoosiers defending the rear.

Back at the city, the enemy line was breaking up. They rushed to the rear and try to break through, but the Hoosiers held fast. They continued to keep up the pressure and Hoosiers began to enter the town from the front, securing streets and buildings carefully, keeping an eye out for hostile soldiers.

[Breyburg]

Presidential Offices, Stegas, Breyburg
March 11th, 1927

Embargoes

“Today,March 11th, 1927, the Socialist Allied States of Breyburg Embargoes all Indianum Alliance Nations; the Empire of Nihon, Newne Carriebean, and Crimetopolis. All forms of trade have been halted with these nations and all Nihonese, Carribeanian and Crimetoplisian ships will be stopped from entering all Breyburgian ports.” Said President Martin Harvey.

______________________________________________________

Aryshtakova, Iron Guard Hoosier, Post Sirvanska
March, 1927

45,000 troops from the Shakoyoko Division of the SASB Army have arrived at the Aryshtakova/Opus border. They will be building as much defenses and trenches as they can along that border. They have been told to not fire upon unless they have been fired upon.

100,000 more troops will be meeting the 45,000 in May.
______________________________________________________

South Landstreicher, Breyburg, Southeastern Indianum
March, 1927

70,000 troops have been ordered to barricade at the South Landstreicher-Landstreicher border. They are to only fire until they have been fired upon. They await further orders.

______________________________________________________

Breyburg-Crimetopolis Border, Northwestern Indianum
March, 1927

300,000 troops have been dispatched to the Breyburg-Crimetopolis border. 100,000 from the Polga Division of the SASB Army have been sent to the Polga-Minnesota Border. 100,000 from the Stegas Division of the SASB Army have been sent to the Stegas-Buffalo-Minnesota Border. 100,000 from the Garduva Division of the SASB Army have beeb sent to the Garduva-Buffalo-Ohio border.

_______________________________________________________

Balsagun-Manchuko Border, Central Indianum
March, 1927

35,000 troops from the Balsagun Division of the SASB Army have been dispatched to the Balsagun-Manchuko border. They are awaiting further orders.

[Crimetopolis]

DELETED

[The Manticoran Empire]

Brighton Palace
Vicuna, Middenland
29 March 1927

Catherine sank into her chair as Secretary Golden finished speaking. The Aclusian king had perished in a suicide bombing in Loebes. The Warglorian Furher had just barely escaped a similar demise. Even more tragic was the reports that hundreds of civilians were among the casualties. And murdered by a Rannorian. "Secretary Golden, offer our condolences to the Aclusian Royal Family and offer our aid in hunting down the persons behind this atrocity. We can rest assured that this man had others supporting him. However, we cannot spend too much time on this. We have peace talks to prepare for."

IV Corps Operations Area
Wissenland, Nuwe Afrikaa
29 March 1927
With the growing concerns over the violence in Rannoria, the Empire had decided to ship IV Corps to Sylba. 130,200 men with 468 howitzers, and a number of other weapons would be tasked as the occupation force and carried aboard a 200 ship convoy, alongside supplies of food, ammunition, spare parts, and other materials. Their goal was primarily to secure the resources of the territory and keep the local population of 7,746,129 Afrikaans from murdering each other. They would also be working on supporting the creation of a local security force and installing a permanent, stable government.

Operations and Plans Offices
Vicuna, Middenland
March-April 1927

In the interest of paving the way towards peace, the Empire was making preparations for the demobilization of the reserves. Six million soldiers was an expensive force and the Empire had little reason to maintain it if war was not an immediate possibility. The forces could be quickly called up again if war did breakout. Until then, however, the forces would demobilize and return to their lives, making room for this years draftees.

[Shahinay]

Rear Admiral Musashi was a bit confused at the situation, and ordered his ships to make a slow approach. A message was sent out asking the Srivanskan Ships "Are you in need of assistance? You are near dangerous Aydinir waters. We offer escort back to Srivanskan port, in recognition of the treaty of the Indianium Alliance." The situation did make some sense though. It could be Srivanskan ships escorting Arengin shipping though enemy waters, but surely they would want Nihonese escort.

Sea, east of Sirvanska
A few months ago

Defensive convoy formed by the Sirvanskan ships around 2 out of 4 Arenginian vessels was going westwards, swift and without hesitation. When the Nihonese sent their message, Sirvanskan convoy didn't bother to answer, ignoring both it and the fleet that gave it. They simply continued their course.

Nihonese fleet followed, repeating its calls. When they too met no answer, some of the Nihonese ships fired warning shots. Deliberately or simply by accident, some of them reached Sirvanskan ships, which caused damages to the fleet. In response, the convoy fired back and this time it was not a warning shot.

This quick skirmish ended with few casualties on both sides, after which the convoy broke free from the Nihonese with 2 of Arenginian ships and continued their voyage west, while the Nihonese turned back to escort another 2 of the transport ships. As it turned out, Veselko and Varvitizin were loaded with most of the best equipment requested by the deal, so the most valuable part of the transport was now in Sirvanskan hands. Thus, Arenginian arms transport was reduced by half, but it's over all value in money and militaric usefulness by much more than that. When remaining Arenginian ships were escorted to the nearest Nihonese port, they unanimously repeated the story about the tragic storm that had sunk 2 of their vessels.

Sirvanskan convoy from the other hand safely reached its destination and its cargo was unloaded. However, this operation was to be but first of the many.

Aydinirian Empire
March 1927


Soon after, according to the instructions from the Assurhan itself, ports and docks of the Aydinirian-occupied Southern Leersog were repurposed. They became a harbour for Sirvanskan piracy. Officially, Aydinirian Government condemned this rising piracy and was fighting with the issue, but unofficially, it was SAVAK - Aydinirian secret police, that was directly responsible for it. Local population, struck hard by the chaos that followed collapse of Sirvanskan central government and by the invasions that followed, was encouraged to start their pirate career, even paid but the SAVAK itself. That provided some sort of financial stability to many impoverished families of the Sirvanskan coast. To ensure only right targets were attacked, on almost all of the pirate ships a SAVAK Agent was present. After some time, those pirate crews were also subjected to reeducation and intense Aydinirian propaganda, aimed to ensure thier loyality and compliance. Those pirates started slow, attacking almost exclusively Carribean ships. Yet their ambitions were much higher (or maybe ambitions of their secret superiors). As time went forward however, pirate attack grew bolder, as well as the intensivity of propaganda they were subjected to.

Similar things happened all over what was once southern Sirvanska - in Torsan, Gorolya, Southern Leersog. And also in Pansk, where Imperial troops came crushing down at the remnants of Sirvanskan ressistance. 200.000 men from Leersog had an order to travell west and joing the rest of army in Torsan. The shortest way led through area still in rebel controll. It didn't last long and soon rest of Pansk was in Aydinirian hands. Yet positions already held by Breyburgian and Hoorier forces, taken when they too entered Panks in pursuit of Sirvanskan ressistance, were respected.

And where Aydinirian soldiers marched, SAVAK followed. And it was brutally efficient. Those, who actively opposed the New Order and Aydinirian supreme benevolent rule that came with it, or those who proved especially resiliant to the Truth delivered by imperial propaganda apparatus quickly... dissapeared. Yet, those who expressed willingness to cooperate with the new rulers were generously rewarded.

The message to the people of occupied territories was simple.
Join us, and the rewards shall be bountiful.
Few could refuse such an offer, especially when they had secret police aiming at them from behind.

---

With Aydinir at war with Carribean and state of perpetual tensions with Nihon, little to no trade occured between the Empire and what was left out of the Indianum Alliance. But despite that, Aydinir was another nation that joined the Manticoran embargo. All trade with Crimetopolis, Carribean and Nihon officially ceased, togather will all of their possessions in Aydinir being taken over by the State. All of that happened in combination with Aydinirian demands to Nihon calling for immediate release of all Aydinirian citizens held in the Nihonese internment camps.

---

When Imperial Army was fortifying its positions on the borders, Imperial Navy continuted its already year-lasting task of turning Ceylonian Isles into a fortress. Bunkers and airstrips grew out of the forests, while docks and harbours were still in construction. With changing geopolitical situation, plans for the isles changed as well. They were no longer just a defensive stronghold. Now, there were also an offensive base.

---

After Rachanan forces stopped Parsi rebels from venturing deeper into Rachanan territory, the rebels began to consolidate their power over already lands already captured, preparing them for incorporation into Parsa, just like happened earlier with Sirvanskan-controlled Merv. In the same time, they fortified their defenses, preparing for the possible Rachanan counteroffensive. It was not the most probable event, giving the real possibility of both Rachanans and their Aydinirian benefactors fighting togather against their common enemy, but it was better to be prepared. In the same time, orders were clear, forbidding Parsi rebels from further attacks into Rachanan territories - leaders of the uprising were clearly content by the gains they made, wanting now to secure them.

Kingdom of Parsa however moved their newly established national army, consisting of the veterans of the First Parsi Uprising, near the village of Dormitar in Southern Parsa, where remnants of the Carribean "peacekeepers" were trapped and harassed by guirella fighters. It was now the time to finally end them. Without mercy. Just like those "peacekeepers" showed no mercy to Parsi civilians. For the news of the atrocities commited in Dormitar and neaby have spread like wildfire, and now the Mountainfolk demanded retribution.

Soon, Parsi warcry was heared all around Dormitar.
Âzâd-o-Khwonkhuni!
Freedom and Vengeance.

---

When the news of terrorist attack in Aclus and the death of Aclusian monarch reached Assurhan, atmosphere was quite strange. Many, if not most, rejoice at that. It seemed like the Divines were smiling above Aydinirian Empire. First, Nihonese Emperor, the Impster, died. Now, the mighty ruler of Aclus, the first and most dangerous enemy of unified Aydinir, that dared to claim the sacred title of Aydinirian Emperor for himself, was dead. Yet it seemed like the Princess-Regent was not as happy as most. Rumors said, she held King George in much higher respect than most Aydinirians. It could be something instilled in Cifrinah by her father, Emperor Zhisudris himself. According to some, despite the fact that for the last 50 years Aydinirian foreign policy was constantly pushing for retaking of Aclusian-occupied Yindrai, Emperor Zhisudris considered current Aclusian ruler a noble and respectable foe.

Of course, that could be just a rumor. What was unexpected, Princess-Regent sent an official condolence note to the Aclusian government. That could be of course just a clever political manouver. It the same time diplomatic note was sent to Warglorian Reich, condenming terrorist attack and wishing recovery of the Fuhrer. What no one knew however, was the fact that secret telegram was attached to those notes, intended for Warglorian secret services.

---

Aydinirian representatives were also sent to Vicuna, to participate in Manticoran conference about the current political situation.

[Aclus]

Portsmouth, Aclusian Zeeland
Mid 1927
Modernization

As the years that followed the Great nine years war came and went, so did the facilities of the Royal navy's rearmament programs and production rates, Fearing that many of his majesty's capital ships currently in service would go obsolete. King George V and parliament had come to a agreement in the year of our lord, 1923. This agreement brought forth the extra funding the Royal Navy had needed to begin the stages of a means of modernization, as the navy had always been held as the gatekeeper and protector of the Aclusian Empire. The first stages of modernization came into effect in the month of January 30th, 1923 when the initiative of phasing out the old economic battleship class, Revenge, and the once proud ships of the line, the Queen Elizabeth class Dreadnoughts.

As the years went on, 1925 saw the completion of 6 L2 Class Battleships in the Aclusian Raj's Bombay shipyards, and the Zeeland Preston yards efforts in working with one another. by 1926 Portsmouth had produced 6 L3 Class battleships, while also laying down 6 more destroyers. With 1927 now entering the mid point of the year, 2 L3's and a further 2 L2's had been laid down, joining the fleet. Through the next 3 years, the Aclusian Royal navy will have finally laid down 4 more L3 class battleships, 4 more L2 Class battleships, and a final N3 Class Battleship, finishing the orders of a full modernization.

Current Battleship Statistics

9 N3 Class Battleships (2 Further Ship under construction)
20 L2 Class Battleships (4 Further Ships Under Constuction
20 L3 Class Battleships (4 Further Ships under Construction)
12 Revenge Class Battleships (To be sold or Scrapped)
13 Queen Elizabeth Class Battleships (To be Sold or Scrapped)

[TENNOHEIKA BANZAI NIHON]

Gokyo, Nihon
Imperial Nihonese Army Headquarters
March 28, 1927

There was word of Rachana troops on the Opus border, and they were quite a threat. So it was natural, all Rachanan citizens in Nihon were given a choice, become Nihonese citizens, or pack their bags and move out by May 1, 1927. Additionally, they were not to be out from 7 pm to 8 am. If any remained, they would be either deported, or sentenced as spies to be imprisoned in the Gokyo Branch Unit 731 Base Prison. Unit 731 had already been given top secret authorization to begin the mass production of all "pesticides" and "medicines" in all 150 facilities, ranging from Nihon, to Manchuko, to Hallfurt. The design of the facilities makes them hard to destroy by bombing. The complexes contain various factories where it had around 4,500 containers to be used to raise fleas, six cauldrons to produce various chemicals, and around 1,800 containers to produce biological agents. Approximately 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of bubonic plague bacteria could be produced in a few days at each facility. Unit 731 already had large stockpiles, but order was to have build up 5,000 pounds of bubonic plague bacteria so they could be ready for deployment into anywhere. Already the navy had taken advice from the Unit 731 commanders, arming the main battleships with at 50 shells each of an assortment of chemical agents, should they be used to launch a bombardment. Even the carriers were given canisters of biological and chemical weapons, small amounts, yet enough to kill a couple thousand enemies. Nihonese troops were now readying defenses along the coast, some guns with something other than regular shells.

The Rachanan evacuation of the embassy was unfortunate, showing their unwillingness to make peace, but as soon as they had left, Kenpeitai and Tokko officers entered the abandoned building, which could be given to another great, honorable country such as Wargloria. Agents trashed the place, taking anything of value left by the Ranchanans who left in a rush. Some papers were found, yet it seemed anything important, that would help Nihon better decide if they were going to attack or not, was not found. All their important documents had been either burned, shredded, or taken with them. Yet the officers would continue to search and anything they found would be immediately sent to the Imperial Nihonese Army Headquarters to be reviewed by staff there.

An offer to build a base in Nihon was sent off to Arengin.

MESSAGE TO ARENGIN UNION WAR MINISTRY FROM IMPERIAL NIHONESE FOREIGN MINISTRY
Top Secret

Sirs,

Nihon is happy to offer the Arengin Union a new military base in Nihon. This base will be paid for, and all we ask is an international statement pledging to protect your economic interest in Nihon. We believe this could help calm tensions in the area by deterring an enemy strike. We thank you for your consideration.

MESSAGE TO SKARTEN FROM IMPERIAL NIHONESE FOREIGN MINISTRY
Top Secret

Sirs,

Nihon offers Skarten the right to deploy troops and send supplies through Manchuko or Manchuko ports.

STATEMENT CONDEMNING HOOSIER AGGRESSION IN NEW SKARTEN
Public

Nihon condemns in the strongest manner the aggressive actions of Hoosier against Skarten. Nihon does however urge Hoosier to pay reparations for the loss of life and property caused by the Hoosier actions in the Consolidationist revolts, which Nihon assisted subdue. Nihon demands compensation of 5,000 Aclusian Pounds and a formal apology.

Opus
March 24, 1927

Sergeant Masumi Mitsui veteran of multiple campaigns in what was now Manchuko, Carriebean, Parsa, and the latest, Opus, was watching from his post along the border. He was not yet starving, but rations were getting smaller, and he had heard talk of only 2 or 3 more months worth of food. Orders had gone out for in the event of an attack, to not retreat, surrender, or give up. They were to fire until the ammunition they had was depleted, and then orders were for them to charge. For now, he was fine though, and attached to his belt was his trusted Nambu Pistol. Next to it was his Aclusian made Very pistol, loaded with its flare. He gazed across the land, and he was close enough to see the Rachanan side. He looked out with his binoculars, in the dark, and he made out the faint outline of what seemed to be men moving, and tanks. His eyes widened... he yelled out for another sentry to confirm. Then, minutes later, he pulled out his flare gun and fired it up into the night sky, shimmering into the air. That was the warning flare. Men ran to their guns, and immediately several illumination flares were launched, allowing the troops to better see what the reckless Rachanan traitors were doing.

"Prepare to defend!" yelled out the captain, rallying his men. The Rachanans, they would not be facing the regular Imperial Nihonese Army. They would be facing the elite Kwangtung Army. Men started to ready the artillery guns, but General Chotaro Muraoka had a special order... "It would please Surgeon General Shirō Ishii if we were to provide an accurate testing of his latest weapons." And thus the guns were loaded with chemical shells. If the Rachana attacked, they would regret it.

Just days before, a civilian plane, loaded with one hundred pounds of rice flew from Aclusian Raj to Opus, flown by a Yakuza member, paid by the Black Dragon Society. After seeing it had not been shot down on the way there, it was decided to send two sick men of the Indianium Expeditionary Forces back over to Aclusian Raj, to fly off today. If this mission was successful, it would not be the last.

Elsewhere, on the border with Hoosier, the call for a Nihonese surrender was given to the commander there, General Yoshinori Shirakawa who being a former Kwangtung Army general, laughed at the thought of surrender. There had been word from higher ups the conflict would end very soon, so while he cared for his troops, he would not dishonor himself, his family, his men, or his Emperor. And he knew for sure, his surrender would never be allowed by General Chotaro Muraoka, head of the Kwangtung Army.

Message to Hoosier General George Olsen

General Shirakawa, head of the Nihonese Indianium Expeditionary forces would like to notify General Olsen, that while men may get respect and dignity who surrender in Hoosier, in Nihon, men who surrender are treated with the exact opposite, holding true to death before dishonor. The Nihonese commanders would however be happy to discuss a removal of Nihonese forces from Opus.

Gokyo, Nihon
Imperial Palace
March 29, 1927

Upon hearing of the horrible attack and murder of the Aclusian King, condolences were written to both Wargloria and Aclus

MESSAGE TO ACLUSIAN CROWN AND WARGLORIAN REICH FROM THE NIHONESE IMPERIAL COURT
Public

Nihon is grieved and upset over the horrible attacks on the Warglorian and Aclusian leadership. This murder is absolutely unacceptable, and his Imperial Majesty the Emperor, Hirohito, has ordered that the great Aclusian King George Fredrick Albert shall posthumously be given the Nihonese Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the highest possible honor in Nihon. The Emperor has also expressed desire to attend the funeral if that would be possible, so he could see off the leader of such a great ally.

On another note, the Empire of Nihon offers all Kenpeitai and Tokko resources to aid in hunting down the persons responsible. Nihon also offers to its Warglorian allies future support in the conflict as soon as peace talks are closer to being settled.

裕仁
Signature of Emperor Hirohito

Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

Additionally, the Nihonese 1st and 6th Fleets had been ordered to waters near the Polyponesian Islands in order to be closer to counter the Srivanskan pirate threat. Nihonese Naval Special Landing Forces troops, a couple thousand of them, aboard the ships were ready to deploy and fight on land against the pirates.

Otherwise, in the Imperial Diet, multiple decisions were made, passing official legislation, of the full embargo.

Nihon had stopped all trade with Breyburg recently, with new orders to the Nihonese fleets to seize any Breyburgian ship within Nihonese waters. The same went for Aydinir, yet this had already happened for a long time now, assets seized, and citizens in protective care due to the threat of the potential spies. The embargo goes for all hostile nations.

The Breyburgians had been building up their borders, but the Nihonese commanders were not afraid. Orders were that they were to examine how the gas was used in the Carriebean war, and by looking at the accident where gas was used on Breyburgian troops, killing around 1,000; the commanders were hopeful. All they had to do was order more chemical shells and more bacterial bombs.

[Crimetopolis]

DELETED

[The Traansval]

Gerhardstad, Eastern Gauteng
April, 1927

The sound of the artillery firing in the distance was music to Badenhorsts ears as he looked through field reports. The bombardment had lasted for six days straight, with today being the seventh day of the barrage on the Warglorian lines. Badenhorst checked his watch, seeing that it was now just a couple hours until the guns would stop and the men would charge and finally drive the last foreign power out of the Traansval.

Badenhorst picked up his telephone and pressed the button, routing him to his secretary. “Mrs. Marsh, please call for Kolonel Ryder to come to my office please. Thank you.” He said, then hung up the phone, and returned to his reports.

Minutes later, Badenhorst heard a knock at his door, and grunted out a “Come in” while still intently reading a report on his desk about a scuffle between BRA and RSK soldiers on leave. The door opened and Kolonel Ryder entered, his cap in his hand and a salute at the ready. Badenhorst bade him an at ease and motioned to the chair in front of him.

“Ryder, I want your Signals boys to send out the message post haste, by any means. The attack is to begin at 0800 hours tomorrow morning, on the dot. Artillery is to support the infantry with a creeping barrage, those fighters we got from Nihon are to be used in mass to protect spotter planes. Got it?” Badenhorst said to his head of Signals, who responded with a firm “Yes Sir!” and a nod.

“Good, if there's nothing else you are dism-...” Badenhorst began, but was cut off as the door to his office flew open with a disheveled men wearing the leather gear of a messenger came in, behind him was Mrs. Marsh attempting to stop the man.

“What is the meaning of this?” Badenhorst asked, flying to his feet behind his desk.

The messenger took a moment to catch his breath before holding up a leather tube connected to straps around his neck, “Message. For you, sir. From the Vice President. Straight from Pretoria I came sir.”

Kolonel Ryder walked up to the man and took the tube, Badenhorst looked to Mrs. Marsh, “Get this young man some R&R will you? And a good meal while your at it.” Mrs. Marsh nodded and led the messenger out of the office, the door closing behind them.

Ryder opened the tube and extracted the paper message inside. Held up in the light, Badenhorst could see the signature of the Vice President and the Presidential Seal stamped on the paper through the light. As he finished reading, Ryder developed a sour look on his face.

“Well, what does the Vice President say?” Badenhorst asked. Ryder passed Badenhorst the message so he could read it, “It says… that due to the attack by a Rannorian that killed the Aclusian Emperor and injured the Warglorian Fuhrer, the Vice President has seen fit to postpone the attack… indefinitely, as a sign of respect…”

Badenhorst scanned the paper, not quite believing his eyes at what was written. The Warglorians had occupied the Traansval, had killed tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of Boer soldiers and civilians in this war, destroyed who knows how many buildings and towns, had brought destruction to the Boer homeland, and now the Vice President saw fit to halt an offensive to finally drive them out as a sign of “Respect”! Respect! When did the Warglorians ever show respect to the Boers? When they stole Boer artifacts? When they stole the property of Boers to enrich themselves? When they oppressed the Boer people through martial law and their cursed secret police? Badenhorsts thoughts were spiralling, all consuming, and he forgot his surroundings.

He was brought back to reality by Ryder as he cleared his throat, “Sir, should we… amend, the message to be sent to the troops?” Ryder suggested.

Badenhorst nodded, “Yes… Yes, I guess we should. Inform all units to ceasefire and hold position… Tell them that the Vice President has ordered a halt to mourn the loss of the enemy…” Badenhorst spat the last part with bile in his throat.

Ryder nodded, stood, saluted Badenhorst, then left the room, his steps speedy as he wished to leave the room as soon as possible and not face the wrath of the obviously pissed Badenhorst.

---

To: The Warglorian Reich and the Aclusian Empire
From: Vice President of the Provisional Republic of the Traansval, Vincent Martiz

I would like to personally, on behalf of the Provisional Republic, extend our deepest personal condolences on the loss of life and injury that occurred recently. We mourn the loss of the great Emperor and curse the cowardly bastard that caused this. The Traansval is in mourning, as while we are enemies in war, we are all still men, and must respect when other great statements are lost to such cowardly acts by lesser men.

---

Southern Rannoria
April, 1927

“Put those crates right there, yeah yeah just set them down real gentle now!” Said one of the dock workers as the unloaded the Boer ship Lion, one of the ships that had brought supplies and men to the southern port of Lindesfarm, firmly in control by the Rannorian Syndicalists.

The ships didn’t just bring supplies though, oh no, they also brought General Samuel Winthrop, commander of the newly formed Foreign Korp. While its name would conjure the idea that it was a revival of the old Boer Foreign Legion, it was instead quite the opposite; instead of foreigners fighting for the Traansval, this was Boers fighting for a foreign nation. Rannoria, an old ally of the Boer people, was in a civil conflict, started by the inept leadership of its previous President. The people had risen up and proclaimed their rule, but they were challenged by the Rannorian Security Forces, Reactionaries propped up by foreign powers like the Rusklanders, the crazy fucks.

So, Federation leadership decided to take matters into their own hands. Without informing the Army Department or the Republic, five divisions of men, organized in an experimental organization that was being planned for use by RSK High Command, totalling to over a hundred thousand combat soldiers, were put under General Winthrops command and shipped off to Rannoria with guns and equipment for themselves and their Rannorian allies.

Those were the conditions that had brought Winthrop to the docks of Lindesfarm, directly troops as they unloaded off the ships towards a staging ground where they were being lined up and put in order. The whole thing was quite a sight, as facing the Boer troops was a regiment of Rannorian Syndicalists sent to guide and help the Boer troops, along with a huge crowd of civilians come to admire the Boers.

Winthrop looked away from the assembled men towards the table in front of him, and the map on its surface. It was a map of Rannoria, complete with ideological divisions and current front lines, provided by the Rannorian syndicalists. It seemed that much of the north had been taken by Reactionary forces, mainly with the help of Ruskland soldiers. Winthrop decided that his troops would take a defensive line along a long river in the middle of the country. Here they would be able to dig in and entrench behind the river, providing an excellent defensive position. Winthrop folded up the map and slid it in his satchel, and left his command tent to inform the Rannorians of his plans.

---

To: Crimetopolis Foreign Office
From: Heinrich Pieter, Party Secretary for Military Affairs of the Federation of Labor

Dear Sirs,

We would like to amend the previous agreement we had for the transfer of military aid to rebuild the Boer army. We would like to request that instead of Stahlhelms, that a new helmet built to these specifications (see photograph included) be produced for use by Boer soldiers, with 200,000 of these helmets to be produced. We would also request that instead of your tropical pattern, uniforms designed to these specifications (See photograph included) be made, again 200,000 uniforms to be produced, boots included.

As for small arms, we would prefer to contract you to produce 40,000 Sub-Machine Guns based off the Warglorian pattern of the MP28, (See photograph included), 10,000 Light Machine Guns of the Lewis Gun pattern, (See photograph included), and 100,000 Rifles based off the domestic Boer design of the Model 1895 Mannlicher, (See included).

Additionally, we would request any and all artillery, Howitzers and Antitank guns, that you can spare. Finally, we would request an order for 200 Renault FT’s, with 125 fitted with 37mm cannons.

All materials should be transported to and delivered to the port of Kaapstad, where it will be taken into custody by our soldiers.
Thank you for your help.

[Crimetopolis]

DELETED

[Newne Carriebean7]

Das Kapital Region
Presidential Palace
April 1st ,1927

President Rachlet Partenbré took a long sip from his half empty shot of rum before setting it down gently on the wooden desk. Musing through some government documents set to burn, he stamped the ones for escape while others unmarked were meant for immediate destruction. These included vast Carriebeanian military documents which were painstakingly copied and folded away for the in-exile government to deal with. The door creaked open for Partenbré to be greeted by the Prime Minister himself.
“Ah, Tino Tara Travskaaløfiøke, what a pleasant shit happening surprise. Why do you bother me?”
“President Rachy-“
Partenbré’s mind recoiled in disgust at such a childish nickname, yet he acquiesced to it under his breath with a smile.
“Gah, I mean, yes, what is it Prime Minister? Run out of shit to do?”
“No, I mean to ask you if we intend to evacuate- the Rusklandr soldiers are practically around the corner.”
“Evacuate? That’s ludicrous. We’re winning heavily according to propaganda.”
“Partenbré, do me a fucking favor and take off the rose tinted propaganda spectacles and look at reality, our army is shattered!”
“It is merely broken, but I can assure you that the glorious knights of Saint Sand shall ride forth and liberate us! It’s only a matter of time before someone helps us!”
“Sir, there’s no one coming. You’re losing your marbles.”
“I never had marbles to begin with, I played with jacks and a ball.”
“Right, those…things… Now we have to face facts sir. I’ve tried being reasonable and even made room for several requests of yours, but we’re not going to win this one. We’ve never won wars.”
“It’s because of the general staff, I must have them killed! Organize a mass purge again!”
“Sir, they’re already leaving you out to dry. Damiyo of the Lords Ver Doorman’s army has already surrendered to enemy forces. Almost two hundred thousand soldiers have been taken prisoner by the enemy. They control almost a thousand cannon with this seizure. Tell me if you think the war is going well when these are the facts of reality.”
“It’s false, the war is going splendidly, We’ll simply write them off to a freak bear attack or minefield. Now is there anything else that requires our attention?”
“You are aware of the Nihonese offer that arrived?” The Prime Minister teased, thwacking him with a small envelope containing a coded message. While other nations prized their intelligence services with confidential staff, Carriebean simply sends everything out in the blue, and the uncoding process normally involves firearms and their blunt force against confusing words.
The Gun master At-Arms Horatio Hornblower aimed the colt revolver square at the envelope, firing once behind a steel plate to enable a fragment to tear across the envelope to enable anything from spilling out in the case of cocaine or other drugs. A relatively new safety measure installed after a pound of coca beans was mailed to Jesse Walters, one of the opposition leaders within Parliament.
Soon the now shot at envelope was handed to the president, who opens it up and mused through the contents of it.
“The fucking Nips are stabbing us in the back! We must launch a fucking preemptive strike against them, inform all ships to be at sea immediately!” Partenbré shouted, taking a large swig of refilled rum before slamming it down on a map. The Prime Minister snapped back at him.
“Partenbré, the Nihonese would not dare to stab us in the back, from the way they wrote this letter, they value us as an ally, I implore you sir to take the deal. It will sting Carriebean immensely, but it will enable us to live. Remember when you held your tongue and Carriebeanian soldiers from a costly war against Breyberg when they annexed our former territory?”
“I am in command of the fucking navy, and I say I want every fucking last ship to set sail immediately!”
“You want to waste the dreadnoughts on a quest of personal glory?! Very well you son of a bitch, I shall be speaking to his majesty soon enough!”
With a loud slam of the door with large cursing by both men, the military meeting ended with little head way and a lot of broken china on the floors from their temper tantrums.

Grounds of the Imperial Palace

Elsewhere within the Scorched landscape of craters and burning buildings, the Imperial Palace sat defiant. Inside the Emperor was making final preparations to escape. The Captain of the Imperial Guard, a Rexwell Tillwell stiffly stood outside of his personal chambers. Emperor Tyler II’s reign had been relatively short, with his father being cause of a eight hundred thousand dead bloody and confusing nine month long civil war in a despite over the heir to the throne and political tensions boiling over. Tyler the II had been on the throne since 1912, with this year marking fifteen years with him on the throne of Carriebean.
As role of the Emperor of Carriebean, he would still find time to bicker with Travskaaløfiøke attempting to siphon stealthily off the already weakened powers of the monarchy. The power of the monarch was still powerful, albeit in a reduced role with the addition of Congress and the office of President over the years. It was a hard cry from the supposed good old days of the Darvic collection of kings. Indeed, Tyler’s predecessor’s predecessor, Sarah II, was known to be an incompetent corrupt queen. The Carriebeanian monarchial blood seemed to get thinner and thinner, though family connections did help in job interviews. If Nepotism failed, the country would be thrown into chaos. A soft voice was heard, with a smile now greeting Tillwell in his role as protector of the monarch.
“Your Majesty. The enemy is getting closer to harming your life. I suggest we make preparations for your escape.”
The aged monarch supported himself up from bed with the help of the frame, his frail hands grasping onto it as much as they could, still shaking heavily from arthritis.
“I suggest moving the crown-prince away from danger. If Carriebean actually learns from it’s eight month long mistake of unfortunate bloodshed, the monarchial line of succession will actually be followed. What occurred back then was one of the bloodiest sights I had seen in some time. Inform my cousin Louis the First Duke of Smokey Hills to evacuate and get me a rifle.”
Tillwell’s face was one of shock and awe at the explanation. He was going to fight…and evacuate the heir to the throne. These steps automatically meant the emperor was meant for death. With little say in the manner, Tillwell grabbed a phone off the hook and swung the rotary dial around at least twice before talking.
“Hello Louis, yes he’s still here. We’re not going anywhere, so go tell him that he’ll probably be king within the week. It’s a good thing he’s got cousins, right? Alright see ya later Louis. Yeah fuck you too. Bye.”
With a slam of the receiver, Tillwell turned around to see the monarch fiddled around with a colt repeating carbine before pulling the hammer back as he stumbled outside. Despite the frustration of the aide, he insisted as both Tillwell and Tyler yanked the gun back and forth.
“Sir, you must evacuate.”
“Kings do not flee while their subjects die around them. I may be a benevolent monarch, but I am not a coward. Give. Me. The. Gun. I do not intend to die abroad, if this leads to another fucking civil war, not my concern right now. My final moments shall be in their service of the state, not being a sniveling, uncaring, coward!”
With a sigh and large amount of uncertain reluctance, Tillwell let go of the gun to give it to his majesty.
The Emperor then walked out front to where enemy soldiers were blasting away at Carriebeanian Imperial Guardsmen, all armed with mostly modern weapons from the hands of Nihonese gun runners and merchant men. Merely appearing calmly urging on his men, he would gingerly walk over to someone running his sword through an enemy soldier. The posture was sloppy. Tyler II tapped the man on his shoulder, startling him.
“What’s your name, son?”
“Your Majesty, I am Ronald Fitzpatrick.”
“Ronald Fitzpatrick, I am giving you a promotion to the noble rank of Count of the Courthouse. And to give you some pointers, you need to thrust like this.” Explaining to him, slashing the sword through an enemy soldier.
“Alright then your majesty. Are you certain of victory?”
“There is nothing but victory in the future of Carriebean! Fight on my brothers!”
With the easy encouragement of the monarch, the Carriebeanian Imperial Guard fought on, with machine guns donated by Nihon surprising several Rusklandr soldiers before grenades hurled and exploded to silence such Carriebeanian bullet spitters. Ronald was forced to avoid a nasty looking bayonet only for said bayonet to impact Tyler the II. The proud king shuddered down on the ground as the fighting continued around them. Tyler II, red trickling down his forehead from the collision with the ground as he staggered upright, weakly grabbing Ronald by a blood soaked hand and whispered.
“Long… Live…the King…”
Before Ronald could approve, his majesty had yanked a grenade from his vest, with a pin missing and an explosion vaporizing several Rusklandr soldiers and the Emperor of Carriebean conducted a suicide bombing. The King of Carriebean was dead, with the crown prince and emergency cousin who is third in line to the throne first scrambling out to the relative safety of Nihon for a government in exile.

Official Press Release by the Carriebeanian Office of Foreign Affairs Regarding the Victory Against Tyranny conducted against Aclus and Wargloria
Encryption: What the fuck is that?
The Carriebeanian Government approves the actions which have led to the fortunate deaths or injuries of Aclusian King George the Fifth and Warglorian Führer The Carriebeanian Government and loyal followers of the Crown of Saint Jack and Bishop Sparrow nod with approval at the end of two tyrants of their age. The Carriebeanian Government now announces that anyone responsible for such a noble act is granted the Cross of Angle Barbossa and the Diamond Cutlass of His Majesty Darvic the Second and will be sheltered fully by Carriebeanian Authorities from prosecution of foreign laws.
The Carriebeanian Government condemns in the strongest possible language of a declaration of war against the infidels, mongrels and miscegenationizing lap dogs of Breyberg. This blatant attempt at robbing Carriebeanian slavers and merchants of their wares via an illegal and immoral embargo shall be met not only with a tit for tat response in the shutting of doors to any Breybergian ships but shall also be supplemented by the ordering of a mass cleansing of the state. Operation Pantheon shall commence immediately with the extermination of enemies of the revolution and Carriebeanian Allies.
The reckless Attitudes of their idiot president are clearly a sign of the times that Carriebeanian Supremacy in the diplomatic arena is guaranteed. Victory is guaranteed against them for the third time! The Third Carriebeanian-Breyburgian War begins! Death to our enemies! Long Live Carriebean!

The Carriebeanian Government is also to point out that His Imperial Majesty Tyler the II died in the bathtub this morning at 8 AM. The cause of death was him hyperventilating. Within his bathtub we found a very flimsy argument for war with a foreign country. The Rusklandr soap which enabled bubbles to pop was also a very loud soap. Because the bubbles popped loudly, they caused ear damage, in order to circumvent said ear damage, His Imperial Majesty would usually apply Carriebeanian made glasses on his ears to num the damage. However, this morning his Imperial Majesty lacked said glasses and was forced to use Rannorian made Ear muffs. The ear muffs were placed around his mouth, causing him to hyperventilate and suffocate from lack of oxygen.

If you followed any of that, it means we’re at war with the infidel bastard children of Rannoria.

Hoka Byrd Castle.

The ear killing sounds of explosions graced the ears of General Rango Ver Doorman while he mused over several small maps, with his eyes getting intermittent reading swipes from the swaying candle held lamps above him with each hit. Another series of spectacularly loud explosions forced him from the large wooden rum barrel he had been sitting on, standing up and smacking his head in the wall with frustration as a bloodied looking aide saluted with the one good arm he had.
“General. Reply from the capital.”
“Read it.”
“Sir. God speed with your Forces Damiyo of the Lords Ver Doorman. I trust you shall fight to the last man regardless of ammunition or food supplies. If need be, cannibalism is suggested to enable more protein. Should ammunition run out, send scavenging parties for enemy arms and their rifles. Prepare traps immediately. All of Carriebean is waiting on your help, for your help in Carriebeanian Armor to rout the Rusklandr forces from the steps of Congress. That is all.”
“President Partenbré has lost his fucking mind. Our forces are low on medical supplies and ammunition, we need bullets for our carbines and needle rifles, many of our leeches have escaped and the bone saws are limited. Doctors have been killed in violation of treaties against such practices. The Front line is disintegrating quicker than we can shore it up and men are fleeing from their posts in droves. It’s about time we face facts, gather the men up and contact the enemy commander that we wish to surrender.”
“Yes sir.”
With a somber note, Damiyo of the Lords Ver Doorman and several officers left their personal chambers of the crumbling capital, with the few Carriebeanian soldiers still fighting stop firing or attacking to fall in line behind their beloved commanding officer. The Force was led by priests waving vast white flags affixed to massive crosses cut down into large polls to tie them to. Behind them were Carriebeanian flags as the flaming wrecks of the outer forts’ few survivors followed the growing ranks towards the enemy forces.
General Ver Doorman had to hold back tears at the exhausted looking bunch of soldiers, many of which lacked food or proper sanitation, with horrific smells from all of them as they made it to the enemy ramparts. The enemy forces soon stopped firing, with a small detachment being sent to greet them. Upon making eye contact and being asked who the commanding officer was, Ver Doorman stepped off of his grey horse to salute.
“I am General Ver Doorman, Commander of 200,000 Carriebeanian Soldiers. Many of them are tired of war and simply wish to go home. I would like to make a small speech to my men, if you permit.” The enemy commander nodded his head as Ver Doorman cleared his throat and turned to the soldiers under his command, now mounting his horse for a final speech.

“Battling Bastards of Byrd Castle. It is with great honor that I stand before you today. I understand many of you are simply tired of war. I shall now share you the secrets of the Carriebeanian Officers. We are the only ones with running water. That explains the rushing of pipes you hear in your sleep. We are also the only ones that have salt for our shit sandwiches, though the effects on our bodies are essentially the same.
Our cannons starved for cannonballs, our rifles malnourished for black powder ammunition, the muskets dying within the shattered walls of the armory, never to be cradled once more my Carriebeanian hands. The morale of many of you has hit rock bottom, though I can assure you that full stomachs eagerly await you in captivity.
The enemy has accustomed to treating our forces with the utmost humanitarian respect, a far cry from our treatment of the pike stabbed heads of Rusklandr soldiers, huh? Anyways, I am proud to be your commanding officer, and this is the last order I shall give you. Surrender your arms to the appropriate enemy equivalent in rank. Normally I would go off about some patriotic bullshit, but now I shall speak instead of the need to survive. Long live the Soldiers of Carriebean! May the president burn in hell for the wars he’s started! May you all return to abusive stepbrothers and or loving sister-mothers! Banzai!”
With the surrender, a total of 159,056 Colt Repeating Carbines were handed over, along with 39,665 Drunk Needle Rifles and 1,279 rifles of varying calibers and nationalities, from Boer designs to Manticorian rifling.
In terms of artillery, the Carriebeanian Army handed over one of the largest stores of cannons within the available armaments belonging to Carriebean. A significant total of 500 De Bange 90mm Cannons, 496 75mm Cannons and 337 Hotchkiss Revolving Cannons were all handed over by the Flanks Artillery Daimyo of the Lords Houston Baxter Floors. Though the number of feed animals was starkly low, it comprising of the sole horse that Ver Doorman sat upon. Once comprising of at least thirty thousand work animals and makeshift Calvary units, enemy projectiles, accidents and the need for food and whittled it down to just Ver Doorman’s personal one.
Ver Doorman soon reached the enemy commanding officer, where a flag bearer lowered the Carriebeanian black, white and red tricolor to the ground as the general spoke to his opponent.
“Enemy Commander, you have bested my forces on the field of battle and within the walls of hell. I still remain defiant with my honors of war but shall relent from my personal dignity to hand you this.”
He removed his personal sword and colt firearm, handing them both to the commanding officer which looked over them with interest.


Carriebeanian Imperial Navy Flagship
David III Class Battleship Baja California of the Imperial Carriebeanian Navy
Bay of Lovers
In the personal quarters of Admiral Hood Von Tirpitz there is a moment of self-reflection about his rampant promotion throughout the past years. Despite being wounded during the Carriebeanian-Rusklandr war, he had managed to enable the fleet to escape in one piece. This fleet was being rapidly rebuilt with the already planned out armored cruisers leaving their slipways, the new Barnacle class was a welcome addition to the depleted numbers from the near constant wars Carriebean had been fighting, and the losses it had been suffering. More torpedo boats departed to fill in the ranks of their fallen brethren and naval comrades. Carriebean had always had a strong sea faring tradition, with Tirpitz himself being drawn to the sea akin to children on Carriebeanian shit sandwiches. Carriebean initially proved to be natural sailors, though as land combat took precedence and massive failure turned to massive failure, the Carriebeanian navy slowly grew in strength during this time.
More Z-Class Destroyers found themselves born from the shipyards of Carriebean. Despite recent treaties almost strangling Carriebeanian access to dockyard facilities, there was a way around this, massive teams of horses would carry a finished armored cruiser from a drydock down a series of canals towards the ocean, where a new Carriebeanian Fleet was being constructed in an almost invisible bay known as the bay of lovers.

This bay of lovers encompassed vast mountain ranges and sprawling hillsides filled to the brim with thick vegetation, the Carriebeanian government secretly allocated funds to such endeavors, seeing them wisely as excellent opportunities for the strength to be built back up without many people batting so much as an eye. The Carriebeanian Fleet was being nursed back to health in almost total secrecy. Though the most glaring problem was the massive aerial opening for planes to drop by and simply say hello with a snoopy camera or three.
While polite attempts at getting flights to fuck off were abysmal failures, the need for an airfield was finally realized. It was after eight hundred slave deaths and four months of hard work later that the dirt patch was completed. How can eight hundred slaves die when they just build a dirt runway? Well Carriebeanian slave labor is not prized for its intelligence or grace in construction, after all.

Carriebean’s largest achievement with this bay was the secret completion of a series of battlecruisers armed with the following:

Name: Hook Class Battlecruisers (Hook, Flintlock,Black Pearl, Flying Dutchman)
Armament:
9 (Three Triple) Fourteen Inch Parrot Ordnance Cannons in dual mounts each housed front and stern respectively
4 (Two Double) Twin Fifteen Inch Parrot Ordnance Cannons in dual mounts housed amidships
30 (30X1) Single Three-Inch Parrot Ordnance Cannons housed in singular casemates with fifteen on each side
4 (4 X1) Twenty One inch Torpedo Tubes on housed amidships near engine room

Displacement: 20,000 tons
Length: 795 feet
Width: 105 feet
Complement: 1,245 enlisted and 155 officers for a total of 1,400 crew members
Engineering: Two Reciprocating Engines with an alleviation on their hunger provided by twenty six Bestton and Briten Wood Fire Boilers
Cost per Warship: 14,638,124 Sais


Name: Blackbeard Class Battlecruiser (Blackbeard,Barbarossa,Bartholomew)
Armament:
4 (2X1) Fourteen Inch Parrot Ordnance Cannons in dual mounts each housed front and stern respectively
2 (1X2) Twin Fifteen Inch Parrot Ordnance Cannons in a dual mount housed amidships
18 (18X1) Single Three-Inch Parrot Ordnance Cannons housed in singular casemates with nine on each side
4 (4 X1) Twenty-One-inch Torpedo Tubes on housed amidships near engine room

Displacement: 19,900 tons
Length: 808 feet
Width: 115 feet
Complement: 1,120 enlisted and 180 officers for a total of 1,300 crew members
Engineering: Two Reciprocating Engines with an alleviation on their hunger provided by fourteen Bestton and Briten Wood Fire Boilers
Cost per Warship: 11,745,089 Sais

A knock on Tirpitz’s door forces him to remove himself from the fantasies of such massive warships within the Carriebeanian navy. Straightening out his admiral’s hat, the captain tossed him a bowl of brown sludge.
“Diarrhea Surprise. It’s a special occasion.”
“May I ask why?”
“Well, you know the mechanic Phil, he had major diarrhea earlier from eating some shellfish found on the sides of one of the hulls, so we’re canning that shit up and eating it-oh you mean the special occasion, well, the President has ordered all ships to sea in order to intercept Aydinirian Warships and possible convoys.”
“Is the man insane? Our fleet’s almost as small as Hoosiers for gods’ sakes! We’ve only increased by seven battlecruisers, a dozen if generous armored cruisers and no more than ten more destroyers of alphabetical class numbers. The sailors have been plucked from the hills and surrounding countryside, with inbred idiots manning the 14-inch guns. It all just seems like a horrible idea.”
“Well, one must be willing to make sacrifices in order to win big.”
“We’re not going to win, you’ve doomed thousands of sailors to watery graves. I shall obey the order, but I am assigning you with all the blame because of your noted enthusiasm for such a disaster. Inform the fleet to make preparations immediately for open ocean.”
“Yes sir.”
Within three hours, in what could be the Carriebeanian Imperial Navy’s final, definite last huzzah or ultimate mistake, a sluggish looking line of armored cruisers and destroyers left the protective anchorage as the boom was swung open to allow the larger vessels to glide on through. The Newest Carriebeanian warships looked relatively spotless and not covered in shit, though the sight of men mooning along the sides of the railing was rather discouraging to the staunchly conservative leaning catholic churches dotting the coastlines and heavy woodworks.
Leading the Carriebeanian first line of battle was the aging Baja California, the only Battleship within the Carriebeanian new fleet. It felt like it was the black sheep in the terms of the naval formation, with larger and slightly thinner battlecruisers powering their way through the increasingly choppy seas.

New Carriebeanian Fleet Order of Battle
3 X Blackbeard Class Battlecruiser Blackbeard, Barbarossa, Bartholomew
4 X Hood Class Battlecruisers Hook, Flintlock, Black Pearl, Flying Dutchman
1 X David III Class Battleship Baja California
3 X Sword Armored Cruisers
7 X Cutlass Armored Cruisers
10 X L-Class Light Destroyers
14 X Z-Class Destroyers
28 X S-Class Destroyers
10 X V-Class Torpedo Gunboats
22 X Siv Class Armored Steamers
15 X Dork Class Armored Trawlers
22 X Floundering Class Gunboats

Parsi Village of Domitar
Tensun Commander and First Carriebeanian Administrative Republic of Domitar President Julian Theodore Willkie munched on the crumbly cake that had been siphoned in throughout the lines in a box of prepackaged goodies. It was one of the only morale boosts to the soldiers, soldiers whose numbers dwindled via enemy shelling and numbers only remaining stagnant thanks to completely lost Carriebeanian hitchhikers who just happened to cradle a colt 1855 revolving rifle with them for hunting.

Indeed there had been so much enemy fire recently that tunnels had to begin to be dug underground, with the sound of shovels scrapping away underneath the earth below in order to fully prepare. The overall plan was to locate the Presidential Offices and Foreign Affairs Office down away from pesky enemy shelling, which had blasted much of the former buildings within the tiny town.

Carriebeanian rifle and carbine fire had been used sparingly against enemy forces, only when night attacks began, resulting in a pile counting of forty dead enemies from night assaults. Many soldiers reported their rifles running low on ammunition, and so opted to hold fire and save the remaining ammunition. The highest count for a soldier was 60 rounds of ammunition, though he was forced to share with two friends, dropping his personal rounds back to just twenty shots.
Many soldiers still had hope in the faint experiment of mixed military oligarchy with democratic principles, often dismissively called Willkieism. If it was a way to bring democracy to the savages, those savages would need to participate in the democratic process, and aside from propaganda telegraphs from Carriebean City itself, there was little in the way of outside encouragement.
Soon enough, however, a soldier burst into the headquarters of the president.
“Sir! Enemy Forces advancing at high speed! They are swarming us everywhere!”

The sound of rapid, foreign shots interwoven with sparse Carriebeanian carbines firing off soon filled the air. The sound matched the buzzing of the bullets that zipped and zoomed through or off of brick walls, enemy soldiers and Carriebeanian corpses.
Those Carriebeanian soldiers stuck in the trenches would have their necks slit almost mercifully by the enemy, who was keen to not leave a single Carriebeanian Soldier alive. The shovel wielding workers turned soldiers soon fled from the construction works underground with sheer terror as enemy forces ran as rapid as blood flowed from a body.

There were noted acts of bravery on both sides, with an enemy soldier killing as many as eleven Carriebeanian soldiers despite being shot multiple times in the knees and shoulders. On the other end of the country spectrum, one Carriebeanian soldier was saluted after blowing himself up along with fifty enemy soldiers… and the stored gunpowder. Carriebeanian numbers were being whittled down gradually as the battle continued through the night.

[The Manticoran Empire]

To: The Nations of the World
From: The Empire of Manticore

The Nation of Newne Carriebean has tried the patience of the Empire for too long. The continued warmongering of the Carriebean Government will no longer be tolerated. The news that Newne Carriebean has declared war upon the Socialist Allied States of Breyburg is the final straw.
Today, the Empire presents to the world this solemn declaration that a state of war does now exist between the Empire of Manticore and the failing state of Newne Carriebean. May the Gods see to it that the war ends quickly and that the peace that follows is just.

I, II, and III Corps of the Royal Manticoran Army were being shipped by rail to Hoosier to partake in the offensives. It would take approximately a month to move the full forces into position but, once in position, they would have enough firepower to annihilate any Carriebean forces in their path. Meanwhile, the Scouting Fleet was moving to the Carriebean Coast in the hopes of drawing the Carriebean fleet to battle. Some in the High Command feared that the Nihonese would come to Carriebean's aid, especially given the fact that there were over half a million Nihonese troops in Hallfurt and Shishiri, troops that the Carriebeans could very much use on the frontlines.

In other news, the representatives of several nations had gathered to finalize the Central Alliance. The treaty had been drawn up and all that was left was to get signatures from the nations assembled. Further, the Empire sought to curb the spread of far left political ideas and began to send support to the Nationalists in Traansval and to the Rannorian Security Forces. Support for the Rannorians would be limited to arms and ammunition, as well as food supplies, fuel, and armored vehicles. However, the Boer Nationalists would receive more direct support, including volunteer brigades.

[The Hoosier Alliance]

To the Nations of the World

Today, the government of Iron Guard Hoosier announces that war has been declared on the Newne Caribbean. The Caribbean declaration of war on the long time Hoosier ally of Breyburg is unacceptable, as is the general warmongering of Newne Caribbean and the terrible conditions that the people of Newne Caribbean are forced to live under. The people of Newne Caribbean will be liberated from their own incompetent government.

Hoosier-Caribbean border
For a while now, Hoosier soldiers have been massing on the borders of Caribbean, in the event of war with the Nihonese ally. The moment they received their orders to advance into the nations new enemy, soldiers began pouring over the border. Two divisions from the corps on the Caribbean border and two from the Field Army near Hallfurt began to advance into Newne Caribbean. The divisions near Hallfurt would advance the Hallfurt/Caribbean border to cut Caribbean off from the Nihonese province, while the divisions that had massed on Brasberge's border began to advance towards Hallfurt, in an attempt to join the two advancing units. Two divisions on the Landstricher border began to advance as well, attempting to cut the Caribbean state off from Brasberge. The motorized divisions, supplemented with vehicles purchased from Manticore, would make swift progress until they hit Caribbean defenses. 150 fighters would be deployed with each of the two advancing forces in an attempt to take control of the skies. An additional 150 fighters would requested to join each advance, so soon 300 fighters would be securing the air to support each advance. Once the skies belonged to the Hoosiers, one hundred bombers would also be deployed to assist both advances. The Hoosier fleet was also deployed to defend Hoosier coasts and naval assets, and to prevent Caribbean supplies or men from traveling from their doomed positions in Shishiri.

All Hoosier forces entering the Newne Caribbean state of Brasberge are under strict orders to leave Nihonese forces be. No attacks, skirmishing, or harassing is permitted in any form, unless defensive. All Nihonese air and land assets are to be allowed to leave the Caribbean state unmolested by Hoosier forces. Should any Nihonese soldiers be cut off by Hoosier advances from their territory of Hallfurt, they are permitted to, under supervision of Hoosier forces, enter Hoosier occupied territory in order to enter the nearest Nihonese controlled territory, Hallfurt.

Additionally, a general offer to all Caribbean troops has been made. The advancing Hoosier forces give the Caribbean troops the chance to surrender. If and when they do, they will be treated with respect and dignity and will suffer no abuse, but rather will be given food, shelter, and protection.

[TENNOHEIKA BANZAI NIHON]

Waters off Polyponesian Islands
March 30, 1927

The Nihonese 1st and 6th Fleet had finally arrived. Yet there was a new order for them. They were to bring their transports filled with Nihonese Naval Special Landing Forces troops in an official expedition with several Warglorian representatives who had been flown in via plane. The ships have been sent off towards the two unclaimed islands a couple thousand miles off of Norcourt's Dragon Island. The ships have been ordered to continue at full speed towards the islands in hopes for a peaceful expedition. The ships will arrive in around a week or so.

Annexed Carriebean
Hallfurt
March 30, 1927

Officials in Nihon and Hallfurt were shocked when they found information of the attacks by Hoosier and Manticore on their great ally, the Carriebean. Unfortunately, not much could be done to save them. Nihonese troops did however choose to give the food, medical, and ammo supplies to the Carriebean defenders that the men did not need, before setting off to be evacuated to Hallfurt or Shishiri. The 5th Fleet had already begun moving to evacuate the troops, and to secure Nihonese interest in the waterway. While there was outrage over the attack, little could be done. However, it could be useful to witness Hoosier tactics and Manticorian landings, so a plan could be made to counter it.

Additionally, it was ordered that due to the Hoosier air presence in the region, Nihonese fighters and bombers would conduct routine patrols over Nihonese airspace, and the Fifth Fleet, as soon it was done with the evacuation, would continue to protect Nihonese merchant vessels and their land. A request has been made to the Imperial Nihonese Navy Headquarters to deploy the 2nd Scouting Fleet to the region, as their guns are much bigger than that of possible opponents.

Later in a top secret meeting, Nihonese government and Kenpeitai officials learned of alleged reports of Srivankan pirates operating out of Leersog. Some even went as far to say these pirates may even be getting funded by Aydinir, which was not highly unlikely. Nihon was in no position to deploy its fleets and end this piracy, with the 5th Fleet protecting Shishiri. At this point, it was decided to open up a secret Nihonese pirate program. Officially condemned, but harbored very close to Brasberge. 15 ships purchased from Carriebean owners were undergoing conversion, yet it was known that if the ship had too modern, or too many Nihonese guns, the plot would be exposed. It was opted to use older guns belonging some that Carriebean used. There were also 30 smaller boats commissioned, armed with machine guns, that would be sent to harass shipping.

Each ship would carry: 6 x 1-inch Nordenfelt guns; 2 x QF 12-pounder 12-cwt guns; and six QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns. The ships would also carry multiple machine guns and crew hired from the Carriebean population would be trained to use their native carbines, bolt action rifles, and Crimetopolis made sub machine guns.

The orders for these ships: to attack any merchant ships from any nation excluding ships from Aclus, Arengin, Wargloria, Norcourt, Ruskland, Manticore, Traansval, The Twelve Isles, Crimetopolis, Carriebean, Skarten, and Rannoria.

Gokyo, Nihon
Imperial Palace
March 30, 1927

Newly appointed Foreign Minister Baron Kijūrō Shidehara, a known peace advocate, the Nihonese diplomat that helped end the Carriebean conflict with Ruskland, has been sent to Vicuna to the Nihonese Embassy so the April 1st peace talks could soon begin. Being a baron, and due to the recent attack on the Aclusian and Warglorian leaders, he is traveling with high security, members of the Nihonese Imperial Guard. An urge has also been expressed urging Wargloria, Aclus, Arengin, the ICS, and Skarten to send a representative to the talks too.

STATEMENT CONDEMNING/PROTESTING HOOSIER AND MANTICORIAN AGGRESSION IN CARRIEBEAN
Public

Nihon condemns in the strongest manner the aggressive actions of Hoosier and Manticore against Carriebean. A formal complaint has been filed with the Hoosier and Manticorian government concerning how close Hoosier and Manticorian troops are in relation to Nihonese forces, causing a big danger. Although Nihon applauds their orders to not attack or harm Nihonese forces in the area.

In Gokyo, Kenpeitai intelligence has reported that Aydinir is really building up the Ceylonian Islands, with offensive and defensive capabilities. A real joke, concerning how far away Nihon was. A distance to great for even the best planes to travel. But it was enough that it was decided that better fortifications would be built on the Ryukyu Islands, and an alert would be released.

NIHONESE STATEMENT CONCERNING NAVAL SAFETY CONCERNING WATERS OF THE CEYLONIAN ISLANDS
Public

Nihonese intelligence has found evidence of the building of offensive weapons in the Ceylonian Islands, and is now bringing to light a Aydinirian threat upon the Aclusian islands around Indianium and Aclusian Raj. Additionally a plot has been found that the intentions of the base is to use it to sink merchant shipping in the area, of any nation, mainly those which support Nihon. Nihon urges Manticore to take action, before action is needed.

Additionally, 2 Field Kenpeitai groups of 28,370 officers total to Wargloria to assist its Gestapo in the current crisis.

In Opus, A fleet of 5 civilian planes have delivered some food and supplies, along with landing to evacuate two more important Kwangtung Army officials, and 18 experienced soldiers to Aclusian Raj. At this point 22 men had been saved and are currently in Aclusian Raj with the 3 free divisions of the Kwangtung Army.

[The Manticoran Empire]

(Image)
STATEMENT CONDEMNING/PROTESTING HOOSIER AND MANTICORIAN AGGRESSION IN CARRIEBEAN
Public

Nihon condemns in the strongest manner the aggressive actions of Hoosier and Manticore against Carriebean. A formal complaint has been filed with the Hoosier and Manticorian government concerning how close Hoosier and Manticorian troops are in relation to Nihonese forces, causing a big danger. Although Nihon applauds their orders to not attack or harm Nihonese forces in the area.

To: The Nihonese Government and the World
From: The Manticoran Department of State
Subject: Nihonese Condemnation

If the Nihonese are truly so concerned over the "aggressive" actions of Hoosier and the Empire of Manticore, then the Nihonese should seek to better reign in their allies. It is not Manticoran aggression that has caused this war but the Carriebean declaration of war against the Socialist Allied States of Breyburg. Had the Carriebean Government seen enough rational thought to refrain from declaring war on a KNOWN ALLY of the Empire, this war could have been avoided. Since the Carriebeans did declare war, however, the Empire has no choice but to respond in kind.
It is recommended that the Nihonese refrain from providing aid to the Carriebeans, as providing aid to nations engaged in active hostilities is a violation of a nation's neutrality and could be viewed as a declaration of support for one side and, therefore, tantamount to a declaration of war upon the other. If the Nihonese wish to remain out of this conflict, they will refrain from providing aid to the Carriebean state.

[Aclus]

City of London, The Aclusian Home Isles
March 31st, 1927
The End of one era

Through the city of London, the subjects of his majesty mourns. Rain drizzled softly unto the streets outside of Westminster Abbey as the long march of young Prince Edward VIII and his Brother George VI alongside their Royal guards, staff, military officials and family took to the streets. Hundreds of his majesty's subjects that had loved and served him faithfully were in unison with the parade, running from the Royal Palace to the train station they were surrounded by thousands upon thousands of Aclusian citizens. All trying to get a look at the kings casket, before he left the city he had grown up in. Men who had served all stood to attention, women and children alike all cried, for from 1870 to 1927, the man who had led them through their struggles, the Great War, and the slump of a economic depression Aclus had faced in the years after, has finally been called up to the almighty.

The Royal carriage followed closely behind the 2 royal prince's, as they marched on foot behind their fathers casket. His majesty's casket had the Aclusian Union flag draped over it, with the Kings crown places on top, as well as cross symbol of fresh flowers from the yards of his grandmother's palace which he so loved to graze through. Alongside the gun carriage that carried his majesty's body, followed along the wounded Warglorian leader and cousin, Hans Landa.

Following behind the Warglorian leader, were his security detachment, men wearing overcoats clad in black colors. However they also kept Landa moving as he had to be pushed in a wheelchair, as from the injuries he sustained in the attempt of his life.He even had his right half of his face bandaged from the shrapnel that flew from the explosion, with the left visible side of his face only showing a negative tune to the whole situation, the looks of a man who had just lost a brother.

The march of the parade had come to a steady decline as the Railway station and the church came into view, soldiers then took to formations and spread around to assist the local police in crowd control as his majesty's casket was brought into the church and placed in the center, followed by his sons the 2 prince's, and his wife Queen mary. The commanders of the various branches of the armed forces then followed suit, as well as international ambassadors from the nations of Western league, Manticore and Breyburg. Yet as they all entered the building, someone else, someone special to George, could not. Outside the church doors the rain fell on his head, he had refused the umbrella from his guard and just stared into the church's aisle, all the way up to the George's casket. Landa could not bring himself to walk down that aisle, for the pain weighed immensely on him, there were now only him and Nikolai that represented the old breed, the men of 1870.

"Goodbye brother........"

Landa turned around escorted with his guard back to the the London docks, it was time to head home.

---

Westminster Abbey
April 4th, 1927
The beginning of another

As the days went by that followed the end of his majesty, King George V, the royal family had fell into a situation of turmoil. The man who had been tasked to take after his father's place as king, Prince of windsor, Edward VIII had become a symbol of disappointment to the family. Choosing his wife to be a Manticoran actress, a people who Aclus had been at war with not too long before, was seen to be a terrible option to place the title of queen upon. Within the past days, Edward had fought to keep her as his wife, but all efforts were in vain. Arguments and infighting shook the family to the core, until finally Edward abdicated his rights on the throne, leaving the Royal palace to stay as the prince of Windsor with his wife.

Though as difficult situations came, a solution was always sought, that is the nature of such a power struggle. The younger son of George V, brother to Edward, had stepped up and took his brothers place. Albert Frederick Arthur George, was to be the next King of the Aclusian empire.

Now to the present time, the coronation began to take place in the church of Westminster Abbey. Young George walked down the aisle side by side his wife, and soon to be Queen Elizabeth Lyon. Facing the holiest man of the church, he laid one hand down on the bible , with one hand raised he began to recite the sacred ritual for the King's coronation. And with the last words slipping from him, he took to one knee and was bestowed the title of King of the Aclus and the new Emperor of Indianum. "Long live thy King!" the priest cheered, followed by the whole building following after. A new era for the people of the Aclusian empire had begun, an age of modernization, change and improvement. However one thing still laid in the way of everything, Rannoria.

---

Daily Sketch Radio Broadcast
Mobilization Ordered!
Aclusian troops on standby to push into Rannoria!

Within the hours that followed his majesty's coronation,
the decision was made by parliament, King George VI and the Prime minister Sir Lloyd George
himself to declare a state of urgency on the Rannorian - Aclusian Border!. All hands are on the ready,
as the world, and the Empire await the next moves conducted by our imperial forces.
Daily updates on these events unfolding will be on every 3 hours.

[The Imperial Warglorian Empire]

Bloemsfontain, Reichskommissariat Zentral Börland
The large city of Bloemfontain, the regional capital of Reichskommissariat Zentral Börland and the center of Warglorian rule in the Traansval. The initial uprisings in the territory had been mostly crushed, but much damage had been done, as engineers repaired streets and buildings. Paralleling the reparation of the city was the building of defences. Outside the city, on the perimeter, trenches were being dug along with machinegun pillboxes and bunkers. Barbed wire was being laid out as were minefields, the infamous 'Achtung!' and crossbones signs littering the plains. Ramps dug into the earth were also being built, where tanks could drive in and act like bunkers. So far 3 trenches had been built, surrounding the city from one side of the sea shore to the other.

Defences weren't limited to just outside the city though. At every main entrance into the city, large elevated barricades were built, with tall watchtowers accompanying them. On these barricades were machine gun emplacements, artillery/anti-tank gun emplacements, and more pillboxes. Further in, more barricades and roadblocks were being placed, as well as several watchtowers. In the core of the city, anti-air, artillery and howitzer emplacements were being built, as to bombard any attackers from a distance as well as to fight off any potential air threat the Boers somehow had. Furthermore, several key buildings were also being fortified into their own fortresses. And to top it off, an entire fleet of warships was placed right outside the city.

"Yes, this would do nicely," General Beyer thought to himself. Ever since crushing the rebellion some time ago, and a raid which killed the Reichskommisar, Beyer was appointed as Militärgouverneur of the city, and given command of the city's defences, to prepare for the attack however he saw fit. So far they had made large amounts of progress, and at this point, Beyer was confident that his forces could hold out against the Rebels for quite some time.

"It's a shame that the Arengin Union made peace, though, I could've used those tank divisions," Beyer frowned. He could understand that it might not have been in the best of interests for the Arengin Union to continue the war, but he found it rather deplorable that they would abandon Wargloria in this fight. The same went for Aclus too, and now Wargloria stood alone against the Boer Tide.

Turning away from the window, Beyer turned towards the table in the centre, where several of his fellow commanders were in discussion. Beyer had chosen a building, what it used to be he did now know (perhaps a factory or station of some kind), by the harbour of the port city. The building itself had quite a tall tower, which allowed him to look over the city and inspect the building of the defences as well as the battle when it eventually came.

"As you have requested Feldmarschall, the last of the Süngreich Divisions have combined with the Ägypten Theatre Forces, giving us a force of 11 divisions or 115,000 soldiers currently stationed in Reichskommissariat Ägypten," one of the commanders said, "And General Henrici reports that he has reinforced Kairo as per your instructions,"

"General Paulus on Mossel City has said the same," Another commander said.

In other news, the front in Traansval was finally being recognised as a war theatre rather than a simple case of rebellion suppression. Therefore, the military hierarchy had been reorganised following it, including a new commander of the theatre. Feldmarschall Model was a bit of a strange man, constantly wearing a monocle, and unlike other military commanders was not as...disciplined to say. Yet his previous military record was nothing to scoff at, as the one who had commanded the initial landings in Traansval during the Weltkrieg, and the one who had beaten the Boers and Bloemsfontain, he was no stranger to warfare in Börland.

"And what about you Beyer? Is the city secure?" Model said, turning to him.

"Jawöhl Feldmarschall, the defences for the city are going quite well," Beyer replied, "I assure you, the Boers will not take the city with what we have prepared."

Model simply smiled, "For now, I'll believe it when I see it,"

Beyer's jaw clenched. Model's lack of finesse when regarding manners often grated on his nerves.

Model turned away from the group of commanders and went to look out the window. "There are nearly a million angry Boers out there, screaming for their independence, and with our allies abandoning us, they're all converging here," Model said, "As you know, my job is to make sure those Boers either never make it or bleed to take it,"

"I lost many good men taking this land during the war, I am not going to lose it, even if I have to sacrifice ten times as many," Model continued, "And ten times as much I shall have,"

Smiling at the view outside of a window, Model turned back to the group. "Gentlemen, this will be the most important battle since the Weltkrieg, and I assure you, we will win it."

Outside, thousands of soldiers disembarked from the various troop transports docked across the city's harbour, every dock filled. Behind them, seemingly hundreds of more transports awaited their turn, all while the shadows of warships looked over them, bearing Warglorian and Sylbanian flags.

Kairo, Reichskommissariat Ägypten
Down south, similar preparations were being made to defend the vital desert city. Trenches and barricades were being built outside the city, and extra defence emphasis was put around the train yards and the Nile. Along with the many defences being put in place in Bloemsfontain, the extra addition of sea mines were dropped into the Nile River, as well as other fun new traps.

In the station, trains came in almost daily from the North, bringing in more supplies and troops. Soldiers constantly patrolled, with the watchtowers and machine-gun nests looking over the yard ominously.

Among the various trains in the trainyard was one that did not fit. While many of the trains had defences, as required because of the various Boer raiders, this one was positively armed to the teeth. Many of the train car roofs had machine-gun emplacements and some of the train cars were specially armoured. Not to mention the guards on and by the train seemed to be double the amount to the rest.

An older and rather grouchy looking Wehrmacht officer walked to the train. "Is my convoy ready?" he asked another officer, who was acting as the Railroad Trainmaster.

"Jawohl Oberst Dietrich, the coal has been loaded, as have the additional weapons and ammunition you requested," the Trainmaster said, "Though I must ask, this amount of weaponry you requested is quite out of the ordinary, what exactly are you transporting?"

"That is classified, by the orders of Der Führer himself," Dietrich simply said, walking away and onboard the train.

Dietrich went through the process of entering and exiting several cars on his way to get to his destination. In several of the cars, the spaces were fully occupied by several boxes, labelled with signs like "Zerbrechlich!" Each car was occupied by several soldiers, who saluted the Oberst as he passed through.

Finally he arrived at one of the armoured train cars in the middle of the convoy, whereupon he knocked on the car door. "Come in!" A voice called from inside, with Dietrich entering the car, closing the door behind him and locking it in place.

Unlike the other cars, this car only held one large container in the middle of the room, its lid currently opened as a young man inspected its singular content, a magnifying glass in hand.

"Herr Wüste, I am here to inform you that the convoy is ready to leave and that we shall soon be departing," Dietrich said. Wüste, seemingly entranced, simply gave a barely noticeable nod. Dietrich, about to leave, instead walked closer until he was right beside Wüste, looking down at the content of the box. There, shining in all its glory, with its kneeling angels blazing like the sun, was the box itself: the Ark.

"So, anything interesting?" Dietrich asked casually.

"It's incredible," Wüste finally said, "If what I'm finding is true, then the artefact is thousands of years old, which means that this is the real thing, and partly confirms that all those biblical legends were true! I mean, the fact this thing even exists is proof enough that those biblical stories are true!"

"So tell me Herr Wüste, if what you say is true, what is the Ark doing in Ägypten?" Dietrich asked, "From what I remember of my biblical studies, the Kingdom of Maxtopia fell to the Zyriane Empire, which stretched nowhere near Ägypten."

"Well, I actually have a thesis on that," Wüste replied, "As you know, what was the Zyriane Empire would come to be controlled by the Paerzsik Empire, specifically under the Ekkamin Dynasty, which would've most likely taken the Ark as they did many Maxtopian exiles,"

"Now, sometime around 500 BCE, only about a century after the Ark disappeared from official records, there was a war between the Ägypten Kingdom and the Paerzsik Empire. We do not know much about this war because of lost records, solidly only its start and end. However, what we do know is that shortly after when this war was supposed to have ended, the Paerzsik Empire suffered from famine and sort of mini dark age, so it could be theorised that the Ägyptens either marched deep into the Paerzsik Empire, caused some serious damage, or won the war, and also caused some serious damage," Wüste continued, "My personal thesis is that the Ägyptens reached the Paerzsik capital, Infanistan, and looted it, taking many Paerzsik treasures including the Ark, where they then carried it back to Ägypten and where it stayed for several more centuries."

"If that is true, then why did it not fall into the hands of the Gloraros Empire," Dietrich asked, now rather curious, "Clearly it was not destroyed,"

"True, which brings me to my next thesis," Wüste replied, "You see, the Ägypten Pharaohs always had a sense of respect for other religions and cultures, so it is likely they realised that if the Ark fell into Gloraros' hands, it would be paraded like a simple trinket or even destroyed, as it represented a threat to the Gloraros Pantheon of Deities. So they decided to send it away before Kairo fell."

"As Tahnis-Ra was one of the biggest holy cities, and one of the biggest cities period, in the Kingdom, it makes sense that they took the Ark here," Wüste continued, "Of course, then the sand storm came and wiped Tahnis-Ra from the map, causing the Ark and the many treasures that followed it to disappear...until now."

"An interesting theory, I am sure it will be an interesting discussion you will have with your fellow intellectuals," Dietrich simply said.

"Let me assure you Herr Oberst, this discovery is a major find for not only Wargloria, but mankind as a whole," Wüste replied.

"And it will make you a very rich man Herr Wüste."

"I only do what I do for my own pleasure and that of the Reich."

The car suddenly rocked, a steam whistle was heard blowing as the train began moving. They were off.

Dietrich simply nodded, "Well, it seems that good progress has been made, continue with your analysis Herr Wüste, there will be time to celebrate when we reach Wargloria."

Dietrich grimaced as he walked out the door. "If we reach Wargloria."

Boer Campaign Status Report:

• 15,000 Soldiers of the Süngreich Garnison Division have arrived in Ägypten
• 115,000 Soldiers in Reichskomissariat Ägypten entrenching themselves, especially around Kairo to protect the Nile and railroads
• 400,000 Soldiers have been deployed to the Western Theatre (Western Oranje Freistaat), where reports of the main Boer Offensive are coming in. Strangely, after an initial bombardment, no attack came. The Taskforce has taken this time to further entrench themselves.
• The 4th Division of 10,000 men have been dispatched to the East as a scouting and delaying force in case of enemies coming from Ost-Staat.
• The 1st and 2nd Divisions of the 59th Wehrmacht Korp have been stationed in Bloemsfontain and Mossel City respectively as part of the permanent garrison
• 300,000 soldiers of the Imperial Sylbanian Army and 100,000 Soldiers of the Wehrmacht (11th Wehrmacht Korp "Veice" and 13th Wehrmacht Korp "Zitadelle") have arrived in Bloemsfontain and Mossel City, and are being transported to the West.
• The 1st Kriegsmarine Börland Theatre Taskforce (6x Berliner Class Dreadnoughts, 4x Erika Class Super Dreadnoughts, 6x Drachen, 6x Kaiserberg Class Light Cruisers and 20x Destroyers) has been assembled. They have been followed by the Sylbanian 1st Flotta Imperiale (2x Kaeser Class Battleships, 4x Torri Gemelle-Class Dreadnoughts, 7x Bearstum and Margherita Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleships, 12x Cruisers, 20x Corvettes, 30x Destroyers). Having finished escorting the reinforcements to Bloemsfontain and Mossel City, they are now being sent West to act as fire support.

Theatre Commander: Feldmarschall Siegfried Model
Total Troops: 955,000

R'leyh, Confederation of Northern States
Looking from a distance at the results, Werner Reinhardt put down his pair of binoculars with a smile. A successful test to be sure! To be frank, for a prototype, Reinhardt was surprised at how accurate the weapon had been! It was, after all, meant to be a strategic siege weapon, accuracy wasn't the biggest of concerns. One thing was for sure, those Krupp Engineers knew their stuff!

Reinhardt had been in the Confederacy for some time now. Luckily, the Confederacy had decided to continue the operation started by their Ruskland predecessors, and business continued as usual. Well, as usual as the situation demanded. The truth was, being the head of a top-secret joint Weapons Development Operation was surprisingly not as bad as he thought. What was more surprising was how good the Confederacy's own team was, to the point where they easily caught up with his own team. And what a team he had brought! Some of the brightest weapons engineers, scientists and designers from across the Warglorian Reich; from the Warglorian Wehrmacht's own Wehrwaffenamt to her various companies like Krupp and Rheinmetall. These were some of the men who had built the Warglorian Weapons Industry into the force it was today.

Yet despite this, as mentioned before, the Confederacy's own men were no pushovers in the slightest. Their knowledge and development in rocket technology was especially something special, though they somewhat lacked in other areas. Overall, this mutually-beneficial partnership was most definitely a good one.

He stepped back and turned around as he walked to his desk. Though Ctoggha's (the official name of the joint operation, though many Warglorians preferred "Apollo") main HQ and primary development facilities was much farther away from civilisation, the regional HQ in R'leyh served as both a secondary development center, a general office for the Operation, and a connection to both the Warglorian and Confederacy Governments. Though Reinhardt most definitely had to appreciate how significantly less cold it was here than compared to the main HQ.

Reinhardt searched through his rather messy desk, with several blueprints and documents strewn about. Several of them included various different projects, including a new naval gun, a heavy siege howitzer developed by the Rheinmetall division's chief weapons developer Karl Becker, and a smaller railway siege gun to be used for more precise bombardment designed by the Krupp Division. Finally, he found the ones he was looking for, the plans for the Siege Gun "Prosperity" (or its official designation; "Der Riese" Eisenbahn Belagerungskanone).

Putting it in a briefcase, he signalled for the Warglorian Officer that was in the room with him (the Warglorian Division had brought its own small army to help protect Warglorian Personal) and handed it to him.

"Take the plans to Neu Berlin, tell Command that the Belagerungskanone was a success and that it will soon be completed," Reinhardt said. The Officer nodded and, briefcase in hand, marched out of the room.

As new weapons and discoveries were made in the Confederacy, they were sent to Wargloria to allow for them to produce their own versions. Once again, a mutually beneficial agreement.

Of course, Wargloria and the Confederacy weren't the only ones who were benefitting from this agreement. Reinhardt smiled as he poured himself a glass of vodka. Getting comfy in his leather recliner, Reinhardt took a hardy sip as he looked upon the banner on the wall beside him, the symbol of Ctoggha: a skull, with 6 tentacles spread out below it.

Rannorian Border
Though the operation had been in place and in the process of organisation for some time now, it had been slowed because of its surprisingly relatively low priority by Wehrmacht High Command, the war in Börland being considered much higher in comparison. However, the murder of King George V, injuring of Führer Hans Landa, the large amounts of progress by the Ruskland invasion, not to mention the reported incursion of Boer and Manticoran forces, had made the operation a sudden extremely high priority.

After the "Loebes Memorial Massacre" (where several suicide bombers and gunmen infiltrated the memorial and attacked, killing hundreds and injuring even more), a group known as the "Bann'jo Mater" (Iron God) claimed responsibility for the attack, an organisation of Rannorian Bann'jo religious militant extremists. They are a member of the wider "Bann'jo Theocratic Movement"; a semi-obscure yet major faction in the Rannorian Civil War that seeks to establish a Theocratic State in Rannoria. The Bann'jo Mater was quickly declared a terrorist organisation and, despite several other organisations in the Theocratic Movement claiming they had no knowledge of the attack and did not support it, the rest of the Theocratic Movement were declared Terrorist Sympathisers and Collaborators, and so would be shown the same amount of prejudice and punishment as the Bann'jo Mater.

Now, Wargloria was finally about to enter the fray, to avenge their leader and stop this new threat, as well as to finally restore order in Rannoria.

At the dead of night, dropped from transport planes, Warglorian Fallschirmjägers land and secure key strategic points across and several kilometres behind the Warglorian-Rannorian Border such as crossroads, train stations, bridges and etc. With the country in chaos, little resistance was offered.

The next morning, the invasion began. Having gathered over the span of several months, 800,000 Warglorian Soldiers march into Rannoria, with 400,000 entering the Rannkradle region, and 400,000 entering the territories of Vien and Pasargad. They were supported by over 1,500 Panzers and 3,000 aircraft, as well as numerous trucks. The Warglorian Heer had long been attempting to further mechanise her forces, and so this was the first true combat test they'd have since the current Boer War mostly utilised ships and trains.

Resistance was less substantial, as the various factions were busy fighting against themselves or the Ruskland Invaders, though as they continued inland resistance visibly stiffened.

Along with this, reports were coming in that Aclusian forces were also advancing, raising morale as veterans from the previous war were happy to continue fighting once more. Many members of the invasion force had fought in Rannoria during the 9-years-war, so a sense of deja-vu came to them once more as they advanced through the once again war-torn lands.

Meanwhile, a fleet was launched from a port in Southern Wargloria. This fleet was escorting another force; a force of Kriegsmarine Seebatalione. Their destination? The Rannorian region of Fengate. As to avoid Manticoran and Boer forces from taking the entirety of Southern Rannoria, the force had been sent to establish a stronghold and to establish a beachhead as to further secure the rest of the country.

Wargloria was joining the race for Rannoria. And it would make sure to catch up quickly.

Rannorian Campaign Status Report:

• 400,000 Soldiers (organised into 8 Korps, 1st-8th) advancing into Rannkraddle Region
• 400,000 Soldiers (organised into 8 Korps, 9th-16th) advancing into Vien and Pasargad
• The 1st Kriegsmarine Rannoria Theatre Taskforce (1x Zeppelin Class Aircraft Carrier, 4x Erkhart Class Super Dreadnoughts, 2x Günther class Battlecruisers, 12x Drachen and Kaiserberg Class Light Cruisers and 20x Destroyers) is escorting the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Kriegsmarine Seebatalione Divisions (30,000) to attack the region of Fengate and to secure a city.

Theatre Commander: Überlegener Feldmarschall Fredrick Manstein
Total Troops: 810,000

To: Nations of the World
Subject: Thank You
Encryption: Public
To the many nations who have wished us good luck.
We in Wargloria thank you all, both friends and enemies, for your various condolences to us in this hour of darkness. Fortunately, Der Führer, though battered, is still going strong, though he was not well enough to respond. Rest assured, the Warglorian Reich and, if we may speak for our brother nation, the Aclusian Empire are still going strong, and we shall soon apprehend those who have done this, and bring them to justice.
Sincerely, Carl Lindenburgh, Reichsminister of the Warglorian Reich

Neu Drünsieg, Prosiya
Meanwhile, thousands of kilometres away, another naval task force was being assembled, but this one was made for another purpose. In the Port City of Neu Drünsieg, the largest in South Zeeland, troops were being prepared. The city port, along with many others across the Southern and Northern Coasts, was the staging grounds for over 400,000 Wehrmacht Soldiers and 100,000 SG Legion Soldiers from the Warglorian Zeeland Army about to leave port in a process that had taken some time. Their destination? The far off land of a Rising Sun: the Empire of Nihon. As a part of their pre-made agreement, the Warglorian Reich would send troops to defend the territory and guarantee its safety and security by any means necessary.

Each officer was given a Warglorian to Nihonese Dictionary, and most troops were given a basic rundown of Nihonese customs, as well as simple phrases. The Taskforce would be under the command of two officers; Generaloberst Hermann von Falkenhausen was in command of the Heer contingent. While the Kriegsmarine contingent was commanded by Admiral Maria von Spee, one of the highest-ranking female officers in the Warglorian Armed Forces. Both had much experience in Indianum, Spee having originally immigrated to Wargloria from Rachana and Falkenhausen having lived in Nihon for a while, both had profiecent knowledge in the language, making both optimal for the mission ahead.

While von Spee was out organising the fleet, von Falkenhausen was on the docks inspecting the troops, who were beginning to board their transports. While there, he had been approached by two men wearing black trenchcoats and fedoras, an armband with a Kaunan and an eagle strapped to their arms; Gestapo Agents. Giving him a piece of paper, von Falkenhausen read thoroughly before looking up surprised.

"Is this truly the case?" Von Falkenhausen asked, bewildered.

"Yes Herr Generaloberst, on the authorisation of Director Diels and Kriegsminister Adler himself," one of the Gestapo Agents replied, "If it is possible, we shall leave with on your transports."

Von Falkenhausen clenched his jaw. He never liked the Gestapo, they were never truly the type of people he could respect. Even if it was Kriegminister Adler's orders, Von Falkenhausen thought he could do just fine without the Gestapo having a say in his operations. He did not need these men to take part, the soldiers of the Heer could do just fine. But Von Falkenhausen had to swallow his pride. A direct order from Der Kriegsminister, and especially a man like Klaus Adler himself, was not something he could ignore.

"Very well, I shall inform the Admiral on these changes, come with me," Von Falkenhausen finally said, turning to one of the last transports, "It's going to be a tight trip."

Soon, the mass convoys were off.

Nihon Force Report

• 400,000 Heer Soldiers
• 100,000 SG Legionnaires
• 5,000 Gestapo Agents
• Kriegsmarine Nihon Naval Taskforce (10x Erkhart Class Super Dreadnoughts, 4x Kedrich-Class Battlecruisers, 15x Drachen and Kaiserberg Class Light Cruisers, 30x Destroyers, 80x Type 18 and 17 U-Boats)

Heer Commander: Generaloberst Hermann von Falkenhausen
Kriegsmarine Commander Admiral Maria von Spee
Total Troops: 500,000

TREATY AND TERMS FOR WARGLORIAN GUARANTEE OF THE PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF THE NIHONESE EMPIRE
As agreed upon by the powers of the Warglorian Reich and the Nihonese Empire, the following are the terms for the Warglorian Guarantee of Protection for the Nihonese Empire:

• 1. The Warglorian Reich will, as aforementioned, guarantee the protection and defence of the Nihonese Empire against Foreign Powers
• 1a) Let it be known that this guarantee and pact is entirely defensive in nature; as in if a foreign power, not including Wargloria of course, directly and clearly attacks or impedes on the sovereignty of the Nihonese Empire. The treaty will not come in effect if the assailant does not clearly impede or attacks the sovereignty of the Nihonese Empire. Similarly, the treaty will not come in effect if the Nihonese Empire is the primary attacker in the conflict.
• 1b) This treaty only includes a guarantee of protection for the Nihonese Empire and the Nihonese Empire alone. It does not guarantee the protection of the Nihonese Empire's allies, such as the Caribbean Empire. Therefore, attempts by the Nihonese Empire to defend her allies or attack the aggressor of said ally, without the aggressor having first attacked the Nihonese Empire as well, will lead to the treaty not coming into effect.
  
• 2. The Nihonese Empire will cede key military bases and embassies in every major city into Warglorian control.
• 2a) These military bases will be located in strategically important areas, including important production, economic and military facilities, as to allow Warglorian forces to most effectively secure them in times of national emergency.
  
• 3. The Nihonese Empire will provide the Warglorian Reich with completely free and open trade access to the nation's economy, trade industry and cities.
  
• 4. One major trade port/port city on the island of Hokkaido is to be ceded to the Warglorian Reich, as to effectively bring in Warglorian supplies and goods, allow for the facilitation of trade between Wargloria and Nihon (as well as other Indianum Powers), and to dock Kriegsmarine Warships.
  
• 5. Warglorian Troops, while stationed in the Nihonese Empire, will be allowed to enforce the law on behalf of the Nihonese Government, in a position and status similar to Nihon Police, Military and Kempeitai.
• 5a) This includes the ability for Warglorian Troops and law enforcement stationed in the Nihonese Empire to carry out their own private law investigations, arrests, trials and etc.
• 5b) Tribunals and trials carried out by Warglorian Forces will not have to particularly abide by Nihonese law if they choose, and may choose to abide by Warglorian Law.
  
• 6. Warglorian Forces will be given complete full military access to all territories and facilities held by the Nihonese Empire.
• 6a) Warglorian Forces, however, will not be allowed access to top-secret or classified Nihonese locations unless given express permission by the Nihonese government and/or armed forces.
  
• 7. No Warglorian Soldiers or Civilians are to be harmed by Nihonese Authorities while in the Nihonese Empire. This will be met with grave consequences.
  
• 8. The Warglorian Wehrmacht and the Imperial Nihonese Army, as well as the Imperial Nihonese Navy, will take part in joint military programs to strengthen both.
  
• 8a) This will include training exercises, weapons development, war games and etc.
• 8b) The category "weapons development" might crossover in point 9.
  
• 9. The Warglorian and Nihonese Governments will participate in a joint-science and technology development initiative.
• 9a) The term "Governments" implies every organisation and branch associated in some way, shape or form to their respective home governments.
• 9b) As pointed out in point 8. clause b), development of weapons may crossover into the jurisdiction of this initiative.
• 9c) All information, discoveries, designs and etc must be shared between the allies of Nihon, no knowledge will be kept from them.

Any violations of the treaty will lead to the Warglorian Guarantee being revoked.

Kriegsmarine Modernisation Initiative-Stage #1
Agreed upon and organised by the Ministry for War and Kriegsmarine High Command, overseen by Großadmiral Sagar Raeder. The plan entails:

• The replacement of 10x Berliner Class Dreadnoughts with Erkhart Class Battleships.
• The addition of 4 Günther class Battlecruisers.
• The addition and gradual replacement of older destroyers with more suitable and modern designs.
• The replacement of several older U-Boats, and construction of 300 more ocean-going capable U-Boats.

All is to be completed by 1935.
The initiative will begin with the laying down of the 10 battleships and 2 battlecruisers.
Changes and additions to the initiative will be made as more suitable warship designs are commissioned.

[Shahinay]

(Image)
NIHONESE STATEMENT CONCERNING NAVAL SAFETY CONCERNING WATERS OF THE CEYLONIAN ISLANDS
Public

Nihonese intelligence has found evidence of the building of offensive weapons in the Ceylonian Islands, and is now bringing to light a Aydinirian threat upon the Aclusian islands around Indianium and Aclusian Raj. Additionally a plot has been found that the intentions of the base is to use it to sink merchant shipping in the area, of any nation, mainly those which support Nihon. Nihon urges Manticore to take action, before action is needed.

Aydinirian response to provocations the Nihonese Empire

Ongoing fortification and militarization of the Ceylonian Islands is a direct and proportional reaction of the Aydinirian Empire to the constant provocations and hostile actions performed by the Nihonese Government against the Aydinirian People and the Empire, including presence of Nihonese troops in the rightfully belonging to Aydinir Aclusian-occupied Yindrai and concentration of Nihonese fleets around the Polyponesian Islands. Empire of Nihon more than once proved itself to be an aggressive and warmongering nation, that cares not for international treaties, but their own expansionist policies, with the Nihonese Invasion of Parsa and breaking of the deal made between the Indianum Alliance and Aydinirian Empire serving as an example. The Empire has every reason to believe aforementioned Nihonese military opperations are a direct threat to Aydinirian national security. Furthermore, the Empire will not tolerate boots of Nihonese soldiers illegally staining Aydinirian soil.

Therefore, fortification of the Ceylonian Islands is to the aggressve actions of the Nihonese Government and will continue, unless the Nihonese Government withdraw all of its troops from rightfully belonging to Aydinir Aclusian-occupied Yindrai, release all Aydinirian citizens detained in Nihonese internment camps and cease all provocations and aimed at Aydinir.

Furthermore, in the concern for security and territorial sovereignty of the Aydinirian Empire, absolute closure of Aydinirian airspace and territorial waters for all Nihonese vessels and planes, of both military and civilian nature, is hearby announced. Any violation of Aydinirian airspace and territorial waters by Nihonese vessels and planes will be treated as Nihonese act of aggression against the Aydinirian Empire and met with adequate response.

This absolute closure of Aydinirian airspace and territorial waters applies also to all other members of the Indianum Aliance, namely Crimetopolis and Newne Carribean. All other flights are required to land upon entering Aydinirian territory and subject to the controll and inspection of proper Imperial Institutions.

Dormitar, Southern Parsa

Saying that the Second Battle of Dormitar was brutal, as not saying anything at all. It was more of a slaughterhouse. Carribean "peacekeepers", those self-proclaimed soldiers of a new farce-state, were surrounded, outnumbered and cut off from supplies and any reinforcements. Trapped. And like a trapped animal, they fought for their very lives with grim determination, knowing that if they lose they will meet no mercy. Such determination was not expected by the Parsi. It forced them to find some sort of respect for those who fought this day. As much respect as one could find for the invaders and murderers, that is.

The battle lasted for the whole night, but when the dawn finally came, nothing was left of Dormitar but ruins and corpses. The village was retaken by the newly established army of the Kingdom of Parsa. At the early morning Bahrâm Chobin - once a provincional commander, now a General, entered what was left from Dormitar. Among his entourage was a young man, an orphan, one named Mehrdâd.

No one was surprised, when captives taken right after the battle were executed on the direct order of the General Chobin. Among those captives was Julian Theodore Willkie, leader of the "peacekeepers". Butcher of Dormitar. When mutilated bodies of the Carribean soldiers were hung on the trees around nearby main road, Parsi warcry was fullfilled. Warcry that is also a promice.
Âzâd-o-Khwonkhuni. Freedom and Vengeance.
Freedom from the invaders was won. Vengeance delivered.

Head of mr. Willkie was send back to his homeland, in a golden box, elaborate example of an ancient Parsi art of metalworking. Message was simple. That was a fate of all those that would enter Parsa with ill will.

[Norcourt]

An Opportunity

to begin again...

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In the months following the occupation of Leersog, the Imperial Republic of Norcourt, and the Rusklandr Confederacy had settled upon the division of the territory, into North and South, with all military units divvying up into their appropriate lands. A contingent of the 7th Army were to also remain stationed in Norcourtian Leersog (now known as "The Norcourtian Commonwealth of Leersog"). Peacekeeping in the former Sirvanskan-state was to continue, as many Norcourtian citizens began to emigrate to Leersog, promised a life of lavish, luxury, and a chance and start anew...

During the settlement of Leersog, Maranossos had announced the departure of Norcourt from the Imperial Bloc, stating that it was not fit for the interests of a sovereign Elixian nation, and that Norcourt was no longer required to participate, or involve itself in anything related to the Bloc, since the death of Alistair Caneius. Maranossos had sealed the first conquest of his rule, furthering his prestige and support, back in Norcourt.The 7th Army, still equipped with Caneius-Era military equipment, had been reformed to fit alongside the rest of the Norcourtian Military, due to difficulty in resupplyment, during the occupation.

Plans for the construction of new infrastructure, roads, homes, thriving businesses, and military barracks, were to be built in order to restore Leersog to it's former glory. Norcourtian Imports were to be brought in, with that came Norcourtian businessmen, and Norcourtian citizens, working to their last bit of luck, hoping to rekindle former flames, meet new people, admire the Leersog countryside and the northern mountains, a place to begin again...

[The Manticoran Empire]

Ambassador Bill Williamson
Crimetopolis Foreign Ministry
LIttle Chicago
Crimetopolis


Head of State
Manticorean Empire

Your excellency,

I formally apologize over the misconduct of Dr. Fritz von Totenkopf. He has been reassigned to 'facts checker' in our diplomatic library. Hopefully we can have better future cooperation between our two nations.

To: Foreign Ministry of Crimetopolis
From: Manticoran Department of State

Ambassador Williamson, it is pleasing to know that someone of such monumental incompetence is no longer allowed to represent your nation on the international stage. However, it is highly disconcerting that someone so monumentally incompentent as he was able to rise to such a position of prominence in the first place. The Empire is most hopeful that this incident encourages your government to make its criteria for ambassadors and Foreign Ministers more stringent, to prevent such incidents in the future.

Westminster Abbey
London, Aclusia
31 March 1927

Catherine stood in the front row of the church, watching the casket that held the now deceased King of Aclus. George V had been a rival to her Father but she had hoped she would one day call him a friend. Now, a Rannorian suicide bomber had stolen that opportunity from her. And then her cousin, foolish and naive yet hopelessly lovable Margaret, had gone and married George’s eldest son, Edward, giving the Aclusians an extraordinary constitutional crisis in the wake of the death of their monarch. Now all hopes for continued peace between Manticore and Aclus were in the hands of the next son, George VI.
A tug on her tunic drew her attention away from the casket and down into the eyes of young Adrian. At only five, he was far too young to fully understand what was going on and he had never met George. “What it is, darling?”
“Mommy, are there salamanders here?” Catherine smiled and said, “No. It’s much too dry for them here. Skinks, perhaps. You can catch some later. For now, we need to be quiet. A great man has left this world.” Adrian nodded and looked to the altar, his small fingers working around the wooden salamander his uncle had carved for him. Catherine’s gaze fell to her eldest child and her heir, Mary. A mischievous and fiercely intelligent ten year old, Mary also had a strong sense of her position and knew when she needed to prim and proper. She also knew the solemn occasion for which she was present. She wore a simple black dress and stood ramrod straight. Alfred stood beyond her and, beside him, one of their bodyguards stood, his attention on the crowd instead of the altar.

The Bishop of the Abbey was a truly excellent man of God, conducting the sermon with the sort of personal touch that only a handful of priests could manage. The close of the ceremony saw the people walk past the casket to pay their final respects before they walked out of the church and began the journey to the cemetery. It was there that Catherine spotted Margaret, standing by her husband, Edward. Alfred put a hand on Catherine’s shoulder and said, “Please, love. Not here. This is a time to remember George, not to browbeat Margaret.” Catherine nodded to him and said, “Very well. But mark my words, Alfred. I will have words with her about her naivete while we are here. That Edward will prove no good for her and you know it. If she’d bothered to talk to us, we might have been able to get her a better match. Young George, perhaps. He’d have been a far better match that Edward.”

Department of State
Vicuna, Middenland
1 April 1927
Representatives from eleven nations were present in Vicuna, with the aim of hopefully resolving the conflict that had begun with either the Nihonese Invasion of Parsa, the anarchist attack on Manchuko, or the Manticoran show of force off Gokyo Bay, depending on who you asked. Francis Golden opened the meeting by saying, “Greetings, gentlemen. We have a goal to de-escalate the situation in Indianum and, to that end, we have created a rough draft for an agreement. Key among the points would be disarmament and reductions in force sizes for all parties, as well as the removal of combat forces by Nihon to reduce the apparent threat that is posed by them. The reductions shall be to ensure that no nation maintains more than two and one-tenth percent of their population actively underarms in peacetime. The Nihonese will, as stated, reduce deployments of their forces in Indianum to five divisions in Manchuko and five divisions in Shishiri. The Central Alliance will match those, with no more than 5 divisions to be deployed by Manticore in Almaty and no more than five divisions to be deployed in Shishiri by the Northern Confederation.”

Westminster Abbey
London, Aclusia
4 April 1927

The coronation had gone mostly without a hitch. George VI was now the King of Aclus with his wife, Elizabeth Lyon, the Queen. The “mostly” had to do with Margaret’s new husband, Edward, being a bit of a prat. Catherine had managed to pull Margaret away from her husband for a moment to, as she put it, “speak privately with my dear cousin.” She had brought Margaret to a sideroom and proceeded to dress her down. “What in the Hell were you thinking, Margaret? Not only do you vanish for weeks without writing myself or your poor parents, but you up and marry Edward, again without consulting ANYONE else? Did it ever occur to you that Edward was NOT a good match for you? For the love of the Gods, Margaret! That man is nothing but trouble, I tell you. Oh I’m certain he just an absolute darling but you mark my words. You will know nothing but misery as his wife. I’ve seen those kinds of men. They act all nice and loving but eventually their true colors shine through. They are mean spirited and will bring you nothing but pain.” Margaret huffed and spat back, “Well what would you have suggested? That I marry some aging earl in Tamir? Hmm? Or perhaps that I wed some prat in Parliament to cement an alliance? I chose Edward because I love him. He’s interesting and he shows interest in me. He makes time for MY hobbies and MY interests. You never saw fit to even bother to ASK me about any of my hobbies when we were girls. But Father always doted on you. Whenever you were around, he would give you everything. Jewelry and gowns and those blasted tunics you adore. When you were gone, he’d do nothing but speak of your achievements. He never mentioned mine. Oh no. It was all Catherine this and Catherine that.” Catherine stood there, stunned at the sudden tirade. She knew Margaret was exaggerating. Uncle William had spoken very highly of Margaret and her somewhat peculiar fascination with photography. When she’d become an actress, William made it a point to ensure that he was at the first showing of any movie she was in, no matter how small her role was. William had even dragged Catherine to more than one of those movies, often over her emphatic protests. But Margaret seemed to be forgetting all of that in her anger. “You know that’s not true, Margaret. Uncle William is proud of what you have become. He never fails to remind us of all the pictures you’ve been in and how successful you are as a photographer and actress. But the one thing that NONE of us approve of is your marriage to Edward. By Jove, woman! Had you bothered to consult with myself and your father, we would have suggested you try for George. But no. You HAD to pick EDWARD! And now the better man has been wed to another woman and you are the wife of a man who I swear to you, before all of the Gods, is going to go mad one of these days. To make things worse, you have the audacity to blame myself and your father for every tiny misfortune you’ve had. You are the most successful actress in the Empire. Your photographs are published across the world and are displayed in exhibitions in every civilized country on the planet. And yet you delight in accusing your Father and myself of not showing any interest in you. And if that’s the way you want it, then have it your way. Go and live your life with your Aclusian husband. But don’t come seeking my help when your life inevitably becomes worse for it.” With that, Catherine turned on her heel and stormed away. Even as she walked away with her head high, she regretted what she had said. Margaret didn’t need her, the Queen of Manticore and her cousin, talking down at her like she was some errant schoolgirl. Margaret had always needed a gentle touch, even when she was a girl. She always had a fragile spirit and she had not had an easy childhood. And Catherine knew that Margaret was going to leave this Church believing that her family hated her. And Uncle William was going to thrash her for that, for sure. Nevermind that Catherine was his feudal superior AND his Monarch, she was his niece and, in the absence of her father, William was going to make sure that she knew when she screwed up.
Catherine paused to look over her shoulder and she saw Margaret for a fleeting second. Only a second, of course, as Margaret fled the Abbey, shaking with sorrow even as her hands hid her tears. Oh I’ve done it now, Catherine thought as she turned away to return to her own husband. Oh I have done it now.

Ordnance Board
Vicuna, Middenland
5 April 1927

The Armored Board’s development of a new medium tank greatly irritated the Ordnance Department, since they were, ostensibly, in charge of the development of new weapons and vehicles. However, the Infantry had come out with a requirement for more firepower and Ordnance saw fit to take this as their opportunity. The Infantry had several demands. The first was for a belt fed machine gun to replace the Browning Automatic Rifle. It had to be no heavier than the M1918 was, be belt fed, and be able to be mounted either on a bipod, a tripod, or on a vehicle in the same mounts as the M1919 machine gun. The second was for a self-loading rifle to replace the M1917. They wanted it to fire a 7mm round and maintain the same or greater accuracy than the M1917 out to 600 meters as well as enough power to kill a man at the same distance. There were several proposals out there, both from private companies and from the Ordnance Board itself. However, just as the Armored Board was the final hurdle for all armored vehicles, Infantry Board was the final hurdle for all small arms. If the Infantry didn’t like a weapon, it would be rejected, no matter what the Ordnance Board thought.

[Aclus]

They push, We push
Operation Atonement
Rannorian Border

The fact had remained that the Rannorian people would fall back into a state of emergency and revolution. As stated in the discussions for the Rannkradle treaty of 1922, the Rannorian people were not ready to be self governed by one another, nor were they ready to be armed once more. A mistake that had slipped at the moment, yet was approved by his late majesty himself, King George V to allow the Rannorian people, a mistake that would come to bite him back extremely hard.

When the day came of remembrance for the servicemen who had fallen in the great war, the King decided it was rightfully due to pay his condolences to his very people, like every king would and should do. Through the speeches, the giving thanks and the moments of bringing the crowd to life passed through, a Rannorian Bann'jo religious militant extremists had made his way through the many people, reporters and guards that surrounded his majesty, to which he detonated a device killing everyone near. The King laid dead and still, his glorified once bright red uniform tarnished, and his sashes ripped to shreds. Yet the most troubling to stomach was the infiltration of many other terrorists and their killings of many women, men and children that had attended.

Now the new day had come, Aclus demanded retribution and justice for her empires people. The death of the King would and his many subjects would not go unpunished.

Through the days that followed the incident, Aclusian soldiers had geared back up and made pace for the Rannorian border with Aclus. The 2nd Aclusian and 1st Canadian armies under the command of Field Marshall Sir Bernard Paget, had been pushed to complete their tasks of securing the border from the RSF soldiers guarding it, taking over their positions and making way for clear passage into the country.

With months of planning and preemptive strikes along the border taken place, the invasion was all set to take place. At the time of 0430, the 600,000 Aclusian soldiers made way with their mechanized divisions into Rannorias countryside, the 2nd made it's way to Rannkradle to support the Warglorians while also covering their flanks with their armor support. The 1st Canadian army then began to take it's direct course onward towards the regions of Vien and Calae.

The full force of the Aclusian invasion now brought to light, was made up of 600,000 Soldiers, 1,880 Tanks and 2,550 Aircraft.

As the armies pressed on, the Rannorian resistance was deemed futile and non effective at all against the well trained and mechanized Aclusian soldiers. However as obstacles like forests and urban fighting came around, it was finally noted that the Rannorian insurgents were a threat to not take light heatedly.

However when word came of the Warglorian invasion, the souls of every soldier was lifted high as brother nations rejoiced together, back on the same side. When Aclusian tanks would drive past marching Warglorian soldiers, they were offered rides, while Aclusian soldiers would offer cigs and drink within the ranks. It wasn't the best feeling however, crossing war torn landscapes and the people who lived in them struggling. Yet the comradery kept everyone's spirits up enough to push though it.

Operation Atonement Status Report:

• 300,000 Soldiers of the 2nd Aclusian Army to advance on the Rannoria capital city of Rannkradle
• 300,000 Soldiers of the 1st Canadian Army to split and cover the countryside of Vien and Calae
• Arms factories in Vien and Calae are Optional obectives
  
  Commander on the Field: Field Marshal Sir Bernard Paget
  Total Units: 605,000 Soldiers, 1,880 Tanks, 2550 Aircraft
  

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Instrument of Abdication
The Aclusian Broadcasting Channel
April 1st, 1927

"I, Edward the eight, of Aclusia. Irelandia and the Aclusian dominions beyond the seas, King, Emperor of Indianum,
do hereby declare my irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for Myself and for my descendants, and
my desire that effect should be given to this Instrument of Abdication immediately.
In token whereof I have hereunto set. My hand this first day of April, nineteen hundred and twenty seven, In the presence
of the Aclusian people, I am no longer, your king"

Westminister Abbey
April 4th, 1927
London, Aclusia

After the ceremony there was a great cheer for the new king, followed by the showering of gifts and the greetings by all who came. However as the pleasantries passed, George was then grabbed from the back by 2 arms and shaken around. Before he could even grasp the situation he was spun and then met sight of his brother, Edward, who had only just arrived. Not only was it the worst idea to show up, he had just abdicated his throne mere days ago for George to take his place, and though he was happy to, George struggled to find comfort in being king so easy. "How is it brother? Everything you'd imagine aye? Edward exclaimed as he sipped from a cup of fine wine.
Awkwardly, George shook Edward's hands off of him and took a step back, reeling away from the chaotic mess that was his brother.

"You were meant for this, but now you not only disappointed our father, but you now disappoint me for still being here" George responded as he and his brother began to talk quieter to one another

Edward took again another sip from his glass cup of wine, looking around to see his wife conversing with the Manticoran Empress. Unbeknownst among the people however, was that they were related. Now back facing his younger brother George, who then shook his head.

"You gotta go before mother sees you and your wife brother, good fortune to you" George stated as he now grew impatient. Edward, now upset nodded and walked back to Maragret, holding her hand as it seemed it was time for him to go.

"How are you dear?, everything all right?" Edward asked, as he could visibly tell Margaret was upset. The couple walked hand in hand to the exit of the Abbey, passing through glaring eyes of relatives, all with a showing of disappointment. "Yes, just everything going on has not been easy" Margaret responded, then as Edward slumped his shoulders and looked down, he opened the car door for her and then entered himself as they were due for arrival at the Warglorian - Aclusian border.

"Just you wait Margaret, one day we will be back here, as King and Queen"

And with that they were off.