1870-1920 Era War: A Twist (IC)

[The Traansval]

Catherine rose to speak to the assembled leaders of the Alliance of Republican Nations, holding up a large document, which she proceeded to read aloud.

The Alliance of Republican Nations,
In Pretoria, The Traansval, 1892

Article 1
The Parties undertake to settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of this Alliance.
Article 2
The Parties will contribute toward the further development of peaceful and friendly international relations by strengthening their free institutions, by bringing about a better understanding of the principles upon which these institutions are founded, and by promoting conditions of stability and well-being. They will seek to eliminate conflict in their international economic policies and will encourage economic collaboration between any or all of them.
Article 3
In order more effectively to achieve the objectives of this Treaty, the Parties, separately and jointly, by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid, will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.
Article 4
The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.
Article 5
The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in any part of the world shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the territories of the Parties.
Article 6
For the purpose of Article 5, an armed attack on one or more of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack:
on the territory of any of The Traansval, The Manticoran Empire, Norcourt, or the Twelve Isles and any lands and territories claimed hereafter;
on the forces, vessels, or airships of any of the Parties, when in or over these territories or any other area in the world in which occupation forces of any of the Parties were stationed on the date when the Treaty entered into force or personnel, to include civilians and diplomats, who are victims of armed transgressions by a foreign power or organizations affiliated with a foreign power.
Article 7
This Treaty does not affect, and shall not be interpreted as affecting in any way the rights of the Member Nations to conduct their business within their own borders as they see fit.
Article 8
Each Party declares that none of the international engagements now in force between it and any other of the Parties or any third State is in conflict with the provisions of this Treaty, and undertakes not to enter into any international engagement in conflict with this Treaty.
Article 9
The Parties may, by unanimous agreement, invite any other Nation in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the other Member Nations to accede to this Treaty. Any State so invited may become a Party to the Treaty by depositing its instrument of accession with the Government of The Manticoran Empire. The Government of The Manticoran Empire will inform each of the Parties of the deposit of each such instrument of accession.
Article 10
This Treaty shall be ratified and its provisions carried out by the Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited as soon as possible with the Government of The Manticoran Empire, which will notify all the other signatories of each deposit. The Treaty shall enter into force between the States which have ratified it as soon as the ratifications of the majority of the signatories, including the ratifications of The Manticoran Empire, The Traansval, Norcourt, and The Twelve Isles, have been deposited and shall come into effect with respect to other States on the date of the deposit of their ratifications.
Article 11
After the Treaty has been in force for ten years, or at any time thereafter, the Parties shall, if any of them so requests, consult together for the purpose of reviewing the Treaty, having regard for the factors then affecting peace and security in their areas of influence, including the development of universal as well as regional arrangements for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Article 12
After the Treaty has been in force for twenty years, any Party may cease to be a Party one year after its notice of denunciation has been given to the Government of The Manticoran Empire, which will inform the Governments of the other Parties of the deposit of each notice of denunciation.
Article 13
This Treaty, of which the Boer texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of The Manticoran Empire. Duly certified copies will be transmitted by that Government to the Governments of other signatories.

Ratified By:
Adrian I, Emperor of Manticore

Jethro Kendi: This Treaty is satisfactory, however, i would like a clause which prohibits the use of Tariffs or Embargo's on other nations of the Alliance. All nations within the Alliance should be able to trade freely, without Taxes or Tarrifs. If this clause could be added, i will gladly sign.

[Eodor]

The Eodorian Republican Army, Eastern Agramer

The Republican movement had been steadily gaining speed over the past months, with thousands of new members joining the ERA. They were outfitted with weapons smuggled by their contacts in the Red Army, who also worked to remove any traces of their actions around Agramer and against military installations. The ERA's leader, Ilyushin Stanislavsky, was working to try and gain the help of other world powers.

With equipment supplied from the Traansval, they would storm the Red Square, capture the People's Council and kill the Premier and his guards. Then, much of the Red Army would assist them to destroy the last remnants of the Eodorian Worker's Army stationed in the country.

[Rannoria]

The Northern Campaign
The line of forts were quickly taken down. Heavy bombardment from the communists and cracks in the forts destroyed the army there.

Only less than a thousand men managed to flee. The rest either died defending the forts or were slaughtered. Some went missing, others were tortured.

The northern republican army scattered, one-third of the republic's forces were down. But something strange happened.

Mios Askwell abdicated from being maestoso. This caused the republic to crack and wobble even further, but Tyron's will kept it all together.

But then Tyron died. Found dead on the floor, bullet to the head. The army was in disarray. The border effort was relented, and so the forts on the east were out of service. The republic's remains were quickly swallowed up by the three factions. The republican forces were either slaughtered, or hid themselves away, passing themselves off as either communists or citizens.

Standstill.

[Skarten]

St Osloverg, Royal Palace
"Aside from the obvious support other in war, I suggest that:
1. Any actions that benefit the alliance and/or nation, even if crime seeming, should be allowed
2. War crimes by nations in the alliance that are for the better good will be turned a blind eye
3. Agencies of every nation work together for intel, espionage, operations, etc
4. All tech and military ideas be shared with other nations
5. Resources, too shall be shared

Veice City
The Warglorian troops wait for the Entente offensive they know will come

Wilbert Heard t he Propositions
"I Agree with the number 3, 4 And 5, But i do not Agree with 1 and 2"

"Here's Why-

1-Crime Should not be allowed, regardless."

"2-Like the number 1, but, in a more important tone-War crimes would make us worse than the enemy."

[New Communist and Socialist Unions]

Isle of Manchester, Zachariah's POV

The furrowing of Zachariah's brow became more intense as the seconds flew by, his coat looked like it was drenched in the sea for a couple of months, then worn by some sweaty fellow. His eyes only registered a blur as he ran, and shot, ran, and shot... "Shoot and run..." the soldier murmured mindlessly as he did what he did in the past few hours, shoot and run, rinse and repeat. After a few minutes of shooting at non-allied personnel with deadly accuracy, it became clear to him that the coast was clear, and his eyes began to register what was happening in high resolution. He then sat on a ditch, it was made by the enemy sometime before.

"Socchommenburg!" cried out a voice, a voice of a friend, a good one nonetheless, "Soccho- Oh, there you are my friend!", Zachariah only grunted roughly in response, and the glazed brown eyes of his met the slightly gleaming blue of Pvt. Nicholas. "Why so monotonous today hmm?" asked Nicholas as he sat down next to Zachariah, or as Nicholas called him, Zack, "Due to odd reasons I cannot explain why," replied Zack as he stared into his now brownish boots, "My mind can't find the words to express properly, let alone formulate a sentence.", "Ahh, okay Zack," replied Nicholas, or as Zachariah sometimes called him, Nick, "I ain't complaining.", Nick dug into his pockets, pulling out a cigarette and a lighter, he lit the cig up and puffed some smoke, "Want a cig?" he asked, "Nah, some water will do." replied his comrade as he puffed more smoke, while Zack gulped water from his canteen. "Orders from Central, let's pick up and roll out!" shouted their commanding officer. And once more, they marched off.

A considerable amount of distance was crossed by the group when a resting place was found, it was a fresh water spring surrounded by thick vegetation, which was placed at the bottom of a small cliff which was connected to a hill. Most of the men with guns camped at the top of the hill, and some were at the bottom to protect the spring from enemy attempts to dump poison on it. Zachariah and Nicholas were part of the ones which camped at the bottom, and the sun began to climb down the now magnificent reddish orange skies. Blackish smog from Aclusian attempts to burn the forests slightly spoiled the sight for the soldiers watching the sun go down.

All of a sudden, nearby gunshots were heard, and some scouts were sent by the officer to investigate the disruption of the serene environment. Eventually the scouts returned, reporting that there was a battle between Bronzeborn and Aclusian land units. Gathering all this information and digesting it, the men marched off, covering their base with vegetation in order to conceal it. It worked, with the camp wonderfully merging with the forest background. The soldiers then marched off to the site of battle.

Arriving, they saw their Bronzeborn allies being hammered by the relentless Aclusians, and immediately, they sprung up into action. They arrived on the exposed flank of the enemy, and they immediately began their harassment, picking off Aclusians one by one from the ever growing darkness, men with grenades tossed the bombs, shooting anyone that dared to come close to them for a kill. Some men began digging a makeshift trench that went around the treeline, and immediately, soldiers manned them in order to be protected from the increasing return fire by the Aclusian force, which was starting to crack.

Zachariah was once again greeted by this sight, and his brown eyes glazed themselves once more, "Shoot and run, shoot and run..." he said again in that monotonous, mindless tone of his as he scored a kill. "It seems that the Aclusians are preparing to charge the makeshift trench," thought Zachariah as he shot another Aclusian in the head, the bullet charging through the skull of the unfortunate soldier, collapsing his head. Nonetheless, the Aclusians arrived, and heavy fighting for the trench occurred.

In another part of the trench, it was getting battered badly by the Aclusians, and it seemed to look like that part of the trench, which was near the east edge, was going to be overrun. Nicholas was there, and he was fighting tooth and claw just to hold the trench, he bit Aclusians, crushed their balls with a quick kick, and he generally was fighting dirty, and so were the other men on that section of the trench. And it was all in vain, as Aclusians crushed them. Nicholas was shot somewhere in the abdomen, and the pain telling him to go somewhere safe, and that he did. "LEGS DON'T FAIL ME NOW!" he shouted as he ran, shooting Aclusians with his pistol.

"Zack! Zack!" the poor lad shouted out, seeking the company of his friend, his only friend. A man seemed to hear him, and when said man glanced at him, the eyes of the man grew, "Nick! Get over here!" shouted Zachariah as he ran over to the wounded comrade. Alas, before he could ever land a finger on his dying friend, another shot from a nearby Aclusian. Time seemed to slow down as blood splattered through the air, and the eyes of Zachariah bulging more. He seethed with rage, and he charged against the Aclusian, "That was," a extremely nasty smash was heard, "MY ONLY FRIEND!", a disturbing crack resonated through the sound filled air. Zack's rage was replaced with worry as he came over to Nick, kneeling down next to him. "C'mon Nick, you're stronger than this, come on," muttered Zachariah as he shook Nicholas, who was using all his strength to desperately apply pressure on his wounds. Eventually Nick's right hand failed, and his vision started to fade and blur. With the last vestiges of his strength in his body, Nicholas raised his left arm, and brushed his bloody hand over the face of his friend. Then, he slept, and faded off to the embrace of Cthulhu.

"No, god dammit no," whispered Zachariah, "MEDIC!", his screeching was heard, and a medic came, the lad seemed to be shaken from the shouting, and he nervously checked Nicholas's body for anything. "I am sorry..." the medic said tearfully after a while, and ran off to take care for the other soldiers. The battle passed, ending in a NCSU victory, but a man lost his luster.

On the strategic view, NCSU men have been slowly pushing Aclusians everywhere, tanks were blown by rocket launchers, and on the high seas, the Navy endured, surviving the harsh bashing by the High Seas Fleet, and returning an equally harsh bashing on the Aclusians. Zeppelins covered the air alongside smoke and rockets, and the ground turned stale and gray.

[Arengin Union]

St Osloverg, Royal Palace
"Aside from the obvious support other in war, I suggest that:
1. Any actions that benefit the alliance and/or nation, even if crime seeming, should be allowed
2. War crimes by nations in the alliance that are for the better good will be turned a blind eye
3. Agencies of every nation work together for intel, espionage, operations, etc
4. All tech and military ideas be shared with other nations
5. Resources, too shall be shared

Veice City
The Warglorian troops wait for the Entente offensive they know will come

Wilbert Heard t he Propositions
"I Agree with the number 3, 4 And 5, But i do not Agree with 1 and 2"

"Here's Why-

1-Crime Should not be allowed, regardless."

"2-Like the number 1, but, in a more important tone-War crimes would make us worse than the enemy."

"I agree with Wilbert. We must show that we are better than the enemy. I believe that for article 1 we must state that we will defend each other from attack, both international and domestic. This should not apply when one nation is the aggressor. In that case all nations should get together and cone to a decision in how to react. No one is dragged to intervenes unless they want to." Oswyn said while giving a look of agreement to the Skartenean Tsar.

[The Traansval]

The Eodorian Republican Army, Eastern Agramer

The Republican movement had been steadily gaining speed over the past months, with thousands of new members joining the ERA. They were outfitted with weapons smuggled by their contacts in the Red Army, who also worked to remove any traces of their actions around Agramer and against military installations. The ERA's leader, Ilyushin Stanislavsky, was working to try and gain the help of other world powers.

With equipment supplied from the Traansval, they would storm the Red Square, capture the People's Council and kill the Premier and his guards. Then, much of the Red Army would assist them to destroy the last remnants of the Eodorian Worker's Army stationed in the country.

From: Directeur Carmichael, Head of the NAD
To: THe Eodorian Republican Army
Encryption: MAX

The Alliance of Republican Nations (Traansval, Manticore, Norcourt, and The Free Isles Army) have unanimously voted to support your movement against the Communist Party currently in power within Eodor.

On December 14th, a shipment of Rifles, Ammunition, and other small arms will arrive, along with 4 Medium Howitzers.

If you have any further means, contact me.

Burn after reading.

[Halium]

"I agree with Wilbert. We must show that we are better than the enemy. I believe that for article 1 we must state that we will defend each other from attack, both international and domestic. This should not apply when one nation is the aggressor. In that case all nations should get together and cone to a decision in how to react. No one is dragged to intervenes unless they want to." Oswyn said while giving a look of agreement to the Skartenean Tsar.

Cali shook his head "On war crimes, I still haven't heard of an official definition of them, and also if one nation launches a pre-emptive strike against another all nations should help!"

[Eodor]

The Eodorian Republican Army, Eastern Agramer

The Republican movement had been steadily gaining speed over the past months, with thousands of new members joining the ERA. They were outfitted with weapons smuggled by their contacts in the Red Army, who also worked to remove any traces of their actions around Agramer and against military installations. The ERA's leader, Ilyushin Stanislavsky, was working to try and gain the help of other world powers.

With equipment supplied from the Traansval, they would storm the Red Square, capture the People's Council and kill the Premier and his guards. Then, much of the Red Army would assist them to destroy the last remnants of the Eodorian Worker's Army stationed in the country.

From: Directeur Carmichael, Head of the NAD
To: THe Eodorian Republican Army
Encryption: MAX

The Alliance of Republican Nations (Traansval, Manticore, Norcourt, and The Free Isles Army) have unanimously voted to support your movement against the Communist Party currently in power within Eodor.

On December 14th, a shipment of Rifles, Ammunition, and other small arms will arrive, along with 4 Medium Howitzers.

If you have any further means, contact me.

Burn after reading.

To: Directeur Carmichael
From: Ilyushin Stanislavsky

Thank you for your assistance. I hope that soon our nations can become great allies. Our attaxk on the Red Square shall begin soon after we recieve the shipment.

[The Traansval]

Isle of Manchester, Zachariah's POV

The furrowing of Zachariah's brow became more intense as the seconds flew by, his coat looked like it was drenched in the sea for a couple of months, then worn by some sweaty fellow. His eyes only registered a blur as he ran, and shot, ran, and shot... "Shoot and run..." the soldier murmured mindlessly as he did what he did in the past few hours, shoot and run, rinse and repeat. After a few minutes of shooting at non-allied personnel with deadly accuracy, it became clear to him that the coast was clear, and his eyes began to register what was happening in high resolution. He then sat on a ditch, it was made by the enemy sometime before.

"Socchommenburg!" cried out a voice, a voice of a friend, a good one nonetheless, "Soccho- Oh, there you are my friend!", Zachariah only grunted roughly in response, and the glazed brown eyes of his met the slightly gleaming blue of Pvt. Nicholas. "Why so monotonous today hmm?" asked Nicholas as he sat down next to Zachariah, or as Nicholas called him, Zack, "Due to odd reasons I cannot explain why," replied Zack as he stared into his now brownish boots, "My mind can't find the words to express properly, let alone formulate a sentence.", "Ahh, okay Zack," replied Nicholas, or as Zachariah sometimes called him, Nick, "I ain't complaining.", Nick dug into his pockets, pulling out a cigarette and a lighter, he lit the cig up and puffed some smoke, "Want a cig?" he asked, "Nah, some water will do." replied his comrade as he puffed more smoke, while Zack gulped water from his canteen. "Orders from Central, let's pick up and roll out!" shouted their commanding officer. And once more, they marched off.

A considerable amount of distance was crossed by the group when a resting place was found, it was a fresh water spring surrounded by thick vegetation, which was placed at the bottom of a small cliff which was connected to a hill. Most of the men with guns camped at the top of the hill, and some were at the bottom to protect the spring from enemy attempts to dump poison on it. Zachariah and Nicholas were part of the ones which camped at the bottom, and the sun began to climb down the now magnificent reddish orange skies. Blackish smog from Aclusian attempts to burn the forests slightly spoiled the sight for the soldiers watching the sun go down.

All of a sudden, nearby gunshots were heard, and some scouts were sent by the officer to investigate the disruption of the serene environment. Eventually the scouts returned, reporting that there was a battle between Bronzeborn and Aclusian land units. Gathering all this information and digesting it, the men marched off, covering their base with vegetation in order to conceal it. It worked, with the camp wonderfully merging with the forest background. The soldiers then marched off to the site of battle.

Arriving, they saw their Bronzeborn allies being hammered by the relentless Aclusians, and immediately, they sprung up into action. They arrived on the exposed flank of the enemy, and they immediately began their harassment, picking off Aclusians one by one from the ever growing darkness, men with grenades tossed the bombs, shooting anyone that dared to come close to them for a kill. Some men began digging a makeshift trench that went around the treeline, and immediately, soldiers manned them in order to be protected from the increasing return fire by the Aclusian force, which was starting to crack.

Zachariah was once again greeted by this sight, and his brown eyes glazed themselves once more, "Shoot and run, shoot and run..." he said again in that monotonous, mindless tone of his as he scored a kill. "It seems that the Aclusians are preparing to charge the makeshift trench," thought Zachariah as he shot another Aclusian in the head, the bullet charging through the skull of the unfortunate soldier, collapsing his head. Nonetheless, the Aclusians arrived, and heavy fighting for the trench occurred.

In another part of the trench, it was getting battered badly by the Aclusians, and it seemed to look like that part of the trench, which was near the east edge, was going to be overrun. Nicholas was there, and he was fighting tooth and claw just to hold the trench, he bit Aclusians, crushed their balls with a quick kick, and he generally was fighting dirty, and so were the other men on that section of the trench. And it was all in vain, as Aclusians crushed them. Nicholas was shot somewhere in the abdomen, and the pain telling him to go somewhere safe, and that he did. "LEGS DON'T FAIL ME NOW!" he shouted as he ran, shooting Aclusians with his pistol.

"Zack! Zack!" the poor lad shouted out, seeking the company of his friend, his only friend. A man seemed to hear him, and when said man glanced at him, the eyes of the man grew, "Nick! Get over here!" shouted Zachariah as he ran over to the wounded comrade. Alas, before he could ever land a finger on his dying friend, another shot from a nearby Aclusian. Time seemed to slow down as blood splattered through the air, and the eyes of Zachariah bulging more. He seethed with rage, and he charged against the Aclusian, "That was," a extremely nasty smash was heard, "MY ONLY FRIEND!", a disturbing crack resonated through the sound filled air. Zack's rage was replaced with worry as he came over to Nick, kneeling down next to him. "C'mon Nick, you're stronger than this, come on," muttered Zachariah as he shook Nicholas, who was using all his strength to desperately apply pressure on his wounds. Eventually Nick's right hand failed, and his vision started to fade and blur. With the last vestiges of his strength in his body, Nicholas raised his left arm, and brushed his bloody hand over the face of his friend. Then, he slept, and faded off to the embrace of Cthulhu.

"No, god dammit no," whispered Zachariah, "MEDIC!", his screeching was heard, and a medic came, the lad seemed to be shaken from the shouting, and he nervously checked Nicholas's body for anything. "I am sorry..." the medic said tearfully after a while, and ran off to take care for the other soldiers. The battle passed, ending in a NCSU victory, but a man lost his luster.

On the strategic view, NCSU men have been slowly pushing Aclusians everywhere, tanks were blown by rocket launchers, and on the high seas, the Navy endured, surviving the harsh bashing by the High Seas Fleet, and returning an equally harsh bashing on the Aclusians. Zeppelins covered the air alongside smoke and rockets, and the ground turned stale and gray.

Off the Coast of The Isle of Manchester
The Twelve Isles

December 13th, 1892

The BNS Ivorum sailed ahead of the rest of the 3rd Vloot, headed straight towards the Isle of Manchester. After it had been decided at the Summit, a telegram had been dispatched to the On-Standby Crew of the 3rd Vloot, orders to sail for Manchester.

12 Ivorum Battleships, 3 Kendi Dreadnoughts, 42 Kaapstad Battlecruisers, 20 Nautilus Submersibles, 5 GE Submersibles, 50 Gun-runner MK2 Torpedo Boats

Their mission was simple, relieve the pressure NCSU was putting on the Aclusian Soldiers onshore.

The Vloot quickly approached the Isle, and saw the Enemy Ships and Aerial Ships.

Above them, currently tethered to the Ships, were 15 Boer Aerial Destroyers, and 5 N24 Bombers. When the signal had been given from the Lug Kaptein, the Sailors cut the ropes tethering the ship, and let them fly on their own.

While the Aerial Ships flew towards the Island, the 3rd Vloot headed towards the enemy Fleet. The Submersibles dived under the water, heading towards their foes. Gun-Runner Torpedo Boats zipped ahead of their Bigger counterparts, sending multiple Torpedoes ahead of them.

Once in range, the Ivorum Battleships and Kendi Dreadnoughts turned and fired a full broadside at the NCSU Fleet. The Control Tower on one NCSU Battleship was obliterated.
A NCSU Transport Ship was sunk by a pack of 5 GE Submarines.

25 Gun-Runner Torpedo Boats turned around and started hunting down the smaller Infantry Landing Craft, which were putting the enemy infantry onshore. The BNS Walrus fired its Torpedoes and sunk a Landing Craft, sending its men to a Fiery and Watery grave...

Above the Seas, the Boer Aerial Destroyers began to attack the enemy Aerial Ships. They fired their Matchstick Rounds from their Davis Guns at the enemies balloons. Incendiary Bullets flew from the ends of MG-90 Machine Guns. N24 Bombers made low passes, dropping their payloads on the enemy ships and on enemy positions on the ground.

A Regiment of Lug-Voetvolk Paratroopers jumped out of a N24, landing on top of a small hill, where they set up and fired down at the advancing NCSU Soldiers.

[Halium]

Southern Halium

Violent protests erupt after the government forces a new draft on the people to create another division of soldiers, a small rebellion follows, though swiftly being pushed back after it splits into a bunch of small yellow movements. The Grand Duchy of Halium sends the 5th division to finish off the rebels

[Norcourt]

Coast of The Isle of Manchester
The Twelve Isles

December 13th, 1892

700 Wooden Row Boats, each filled with Norcourtian Infantrymen, and a maxim gun or artillery piece on each boat, advanced toward the isle. They were part of the medium sized fleet sent to relieve the other Alliance Armies. Lieutenant Lawrence Pattison, 57th Colonial GADNACS, Serial number 14299326, and Veteran of the Sylbanian War, led his boat to the coast.

"Listen here, and listen keen. I know, that many of you will fall, and under my command, we will not leave anyone behind. Within the first 10 seconds or less, upon landing, we run, and hell, we'll run fast. Our main goal is to get to cover, from there we shall wait and deploy our artillery and machine gun pieces. From then on, we'll fight, and advance while we get covering fire from our gunners. Stand steady lads, 30 seconds left, show some discipline, as this may be the last 30 seconds of your life..." Lawrence said

"Oi, Lawrence! I'll see you on the beach!" Said Corporal Hale, to which Lawrence tipped his hat.



Finally, the Norcourtians had reached the beach, many falling and dying due to machine gun fire. Finally they had reached the cover at the hill-bottom, sure to bring any wounded men up with them, and proceeded to deploy there Maxims, and 37mm Guns. "On my signal, we charge. Company D is to wing to my right, and C to my left, once we reach the top of the hill, we close in on em like a door, and keep our flanks defended. May the Elix be with us, brothers." He said. Slowly, each man fixed bayonet, and mounted their ladders. "1...2...3...HUZZAH!" They yelled. Swiftly, the Norcourtians ran up the hill, many falling, and many wounded. At the bottom of the hill, the Machine Guns provided fire, and support for the soldiers. As the men looked in the sky, they saw the flag of the Transvaal, soldiers jumping out of Airships, and parachutes being used.

[The Traansval]

Coast of The Isle of Manchester
The Twelve Isles

December 13th, 1892

700 Wooden Row Boats, each filled with Norcourtian Infantrymen, and a maxim gun or artillery piece on each boat, advanced toward the isle. They were part of the medium sized fleet sent to relieve the other Alliance Armies. Lieutenant Lawrence Pattison, 57th Regiment of Foot, Serial number 14299326, and Veteran of the Sylbanian War, led his boat to the coast.

"Listen here, and listen keen. I know, that many of you will fall, and under my command, we will not leave anyone behind. Within the first 10 seconds or less, upon landing, we run, and hell, we'll run fast. Our main goal is to get to cover, from there we shall wait and deploy our artillery and machine gun pieces. From then on, we'll fight, and advance while we get covering fire from our gunners. Stand steady lads, 30 seconds left, show some discipline, as this may be the last 30 seconds of your life..." Lawrence said

"Oi, Lawrence! I'll see you on the beach!" Said Corporal Hale, to which Lawrence tipped his hat.

(Image)

Finally, the Norcourtians had reached the beach, many falling and dying due to machine gun fire. Finally they had reached the cover at the hill-bottom, sure to bring any wounded men up with them, and proceeded to deploy there Maxims, and 37mm Guns. "On my signal, we charge. Company D is to wing to my right, and C to my left, once we reach the top of the hill, we close in on em like a door, and keep our flanks defended. May the Elix be with us, brothers." He said. Slowly, each man fixed bayonet, and mounted their ladders. "1...2...3...HUZZAH!" They yelled. Swiftly, the Norcourtians ran up the hill, many falling, and many wounded. At the bottom of the hill, the Machine Guns provided fire, and support for the soldiers. As the men looked in the sky, they saw the flag of the Transvaal, soldiers jumping out of Airships, and parachutes being used.

Hill 2204
Isle of Manchester
The Twelve Isles

Luitenant Spangler hit the ground with a hard thud. He quickly unbuckled his parachute, and dropped into a crouching position behind small rock formation. The rest of his men, the 12th Regiment, landed on the hill with him.

Over in the distance, Privaat Enrico had floated off target, he was the last in line for the drop and so was a bit off. He drifted towards the ground, before enemy fire hit his parachute and ripped a few holes in it. The parachute and him began to descend at a abnormal rate, and he finally landed hard, on top of some soft.

That "Something Soft", he soon discovered, was the Norcourtian Officer leading the charge.

Enrico quickly scrambeled into a sitting position, and saluted the Officer

Privaat Enrico: Privaat Enrico, 12th Lug-Voetvolk Paratroepen Regiment, Serial Number 8-6-12-2087-1890. Sorry for the rough landing!

[New Communist and Socialist Unions]

Off the Coast of The Isle of Manchester
The Twelve Isles

December 13th, 1892

The BNS Ivorum sailed ahead of the rest of the 3rd Vloot, headed straight towards the Isle of Manchester. After it had been decided at the Summit, a telegram had been dispatched to the On-Standby Crew of the 3rd Vloot, orders to sail for Manchester.

12 Ivorum Battleships, 3 Kendi Dreadnoughts, 42 Kaapstad Battlecruisers, 20 Nautilus Submersibles, 5 GE Submersibles, 50 Gun-runner MK2 Torpedo Boats

Their mission was simple, relieve the pressure NCSU was putting on the Aclusian Soldiers onshore.

The Vloot quickly approached the Isle, and saw the Enemy Ships and Aerial Ships.

Above them, currently tethered to the Ships, were 15 Boer Aerial Destroyers, and 5 N24 Bombers. When the signal had been given from the Lug Kaptein, the Sailors cut the ropes tethering the ship, and let them fly on their own.

While the Aerial Ships flew towards the Island, the 3rd Vloot headed towards the enemy Fleet. The Submersibles dived under the water, heading towards their foes. Gun-Runner Torpedo Boats zipped ahead of their Bigger counterparts, sending multiple Torpedoes ahead of them.

Once in range, the Ivorum Battleships and Kendi Dreadnoughts turned and fired a full broadside at the NCSU Fleet. The Control Tower on one NCSU Battleship was obliterated.
A NCSU Transport Ship was sunk by a pack of 5 GE Submarines.

25 Gun-Runner Torpedo Boats turned around and started hunting down the smaller Infantry Landing Craft, which were putting the enemy infantry onshore. The BNS Walrus fired its Torpedoes and sunk a Landing Craft, sending its men to a Fiery and Watery grave...

Above the Seas, the Boer Aerial Destroyers began to attack the enemy Aerial Ships. They fired their Matchstick Rounds from their Davis Guns at the enemies balloons. Incendiary Bullets flew from the ends of MG-90 Machine Guns. N24 Bombers made low passes, dropping their payloads on the enemy ships and on enemy positions on the ground.

A Regiment of Lug-Voetvolk Paratroopers jumped out of a N24, landing on top of a small hill, where they set up and fired down at the advancing NCSU Soldiers.

Isle of Manchester

Multiple ships were sunk by the Transvaal enemy fleet, and the Navy ordered a retreat to the far side of the island. Men were escorted now via airship, as sea transport was deemed too dangerous. All engines were placed on full ahead, and they roared off, the sound of massive machinery resonating throughout the air. The back cannons of the ships did whatever they could to delay the certain death that was the Transvaal fleet.

On the Isle itself, troops were getting kicked by the the aerial units, but they would then dish out a new kind of pain. In the untouched jungles, men camouflaged themselves and were positioned on the top of the trees, directly above them were the bastards, the Transvaal blimps. The place was eerily quiet other than the sounds of distant gunfire, the explosions above, and the chirping of crickets. And then, there was sound. Hundreds upon hundreds of rockets flew from the trees and into the air, explosions resonated all around.

On the other parts of the island, especially in lightly forested but grassy areas, snipers lurked the ground like snakes, their camo ghillie suits concealing them splendidly with the grassy environment. They stalked their prey in groups, picking off the enemy troopers when needed. In more exposed areas, troops dug into the ground, placing barbed wire and sandbags here and there, machine guns were being deployed, and some AA batteries were around. Mines were almost everywhere.

In the skies, the airships of the NCSU faced off the airships of the Transvaal. Matchstick fire burned multiple ships, while thermite rockets and shells melted away parts of the Transvaal airships. NCSU ships were boarded, and Transvaal ships were boarded. In fact, some people say that the boarding fest as they called it was so intense that all the ships were connected to each other via boarding planks.

[Halium]

Souther Halium, Crezark

The 5th Halium division arrived in crezark to defend its vital helmet and car industries. Without them the weak Haliumian economy was crippled, the leader of the division, General Redmond called his commanders together. He drew out a battle plan, showing the city using a map, and different knives as where his commanders should put their men. He told his 4th Battalion to defend the small hills to the east of the city, but pull back if they were getting flanked. He then put the 1st and 2nd Battalions inside the jungle to the direct north of Crezark. The 3rd and 5th Battalions would be used to defend the actual city, while a small group of volunteers would be Redmond's only reserves.

The Rebel force was spotted by Halium's only calvary division in the morning of the next day. They ran back to Crezark and informed Redmond of the incoming force of rebels, about 1,000,000 they said. Redmont cursed under his breath.
"Thats too close to our numbers. We might not be able to win."

His aide ran up to him, with a questioning look.
"Sir?"

Redmond looked to his aide then at the map "Post snipers all along the road leading up to Crezark, both ways" there were two roads leading out of Crezark.

"Sir, we'll-"

Redmont put his hand over his aides mouth "I need to roll the dice, shut up for me."

He then left the tent and went to inspect his men.

[The Traansval]

Off the Coast of The Isle of Manchester
The Twelve Isles

December 13th, 1892

The BNS Ivorum sailed ahead of the rest of the 3rd Vloot, headed straight towards the Isle of Manchester. After it had been decided at the Summit, a telegram had been dispatched to the On-Standby Crew of the 3rd Vloot, orders to sail for Manchester.

12 Ivorum Battleships, 3 Kendi Dreadnoughts, 42 Kaapstad Battlecruisers, 20 Nautilus Submersibles, 5 GE Submersibles, 50 Gun-runner MK2 Torpedo Boats

Their mission was simple, relieve the pressure NCSU was putting on the Aclusian Soldiers onshore.

The Vloot quickly approached the Isle, and saw the Enemy Ships and Aerial Ships.

Above them, currently tethered to the Ships, were 15 Boer Aerial Destroyers, and 5 N24 Bombers. When the signal had been given from the Lug Kaptein, the Sailors cut the ropes tethering the ship, and let them fly on their own.

While the Aerial Ships flew towards the Island, the 3rd Vloot headed towards the enemy Fleet. The Submersibles dived under the water, heading towards their foes. Gun-Runner Torpedo Boats zipped ahead of their Bigger counterparts, sending multiple Torpedoes ahead of them.

Once in range, the Ivorum Battleships and Kendi Dreadnoughts turned and fired a full broadside at the NCSU Fleet. The Control Tower on one NCSU Battleship was obliterated.
A NCSU Transport Ship was sunk by a pack of 5 GE Submarines.

25 Gun-Runner Torpedo Boats turned around and started hunting down the smaller Infantry Landing Craft, which were putting the enemy infantry onshore. The BNS Walrus fired its Torpedoes and sunk a Landing Craft, sending its men to a Fiery and Watery grave...

Above the Seas, the Boer Aerial Destroyers began to attack the enemy Aerial Ships. They fired their Matchstick Rounds from their Davis Guns at the enemies balloons. Incendiary Bullets flew from the ends of MG-90 Machine Guns. N24 Bombers made low passes, dropping their payloads on the enemy ships and on enemy positions on the ground.

A Regiment of Lug-Voetvolk Paratroopers jumped out of a N24, landing on top of a small hill, where they set up and fired down at the advancing NCSU Soldiers.

Isle of Manchester

Multiple ships were sunk by the Transvaal enemy fleet, and the Navy ordered a retreat to the far side of the island. Men were escorted now via airship, as sea transport was deemed too dangerous. All engines were placed on full ahead, and they roared off, the sound of massive machinery resonating throughout the air. The back cannons of the ships did whatever they could to delay the certain death that was the Transvaal fleet.

On the Isle itself, troops were getting kicked by the the aerial units, but they would then dish out a new kind of pain. In the untouched jungles, men camouflaged themselves and were positioned on the top of the trees, directly above them were the bastards, the Transvaal blimps. The place was eerily quiet other than the sounds of distant gunfire, the explosions above, and the chirping of crickets. And then, there was sound. Hundreds upon hundreds of rockets flew from the trees and into the air, explosions resonated all around.

On the other parts of the island, especially in lightly forested but grassy areas, snipers lurked the ground like snakes, their camo ghillie suits concealing them splendidly with the grassy environment. They stalked their prey in groups, picking off the enemy troopers when needed. In more exposed areas, troops dug into the ground, placing barbed wire and sandbags here and there, machine guns were being deployed, and some AA batteries were around. Mines were almost everywhere.

In the skies, the airships of the NCSU faced off the airships of the Transvaal. Matchstick fire burned multiple ships, while thermite rockets and shells melted away parts of the Transvaal airships. NCSU ships were boarded, and Transvaal ships were boarded. In fact, some people say that the boarding fest as they called it was so intense that all the ships were connected to each other via boarding planks.

High Admiral Burke: SEND OUT ORDERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS KORPORAL, DREADNOUGHTS AND SUBMERSIBLES PURSUE THE ENEMY FLEET. TORPEDO BOATS HUNT DOWN ENEMY LANDING CRAFT AND TRANSPORTS. ALL BATTLESHIPS AND BATTLECRUISERS, FOCUS FIRE ON THOSE JUNGLES!!

12 Battleships and 42 Battlecruisers turned port side, and aimed their guns at the thick jungle that was currently hiding the NCSU Land Rockets. The Guns of the ships fired, sending nearly 500 Shells bashing into the jungle. A fire broke out among the trees from a Incendiary shell fired from the lead Battleship.

Under the sea, the GE Submersibles had honed in on the NCSU Flagship, they had lost 1 out of their original 5 Submersibles to a enemy Depth Charge. They wanted blood to repay the blood spilled by their fellow sailors. The GE Submersibles fired their torpedoes, 16 in total, at the underbelly of the ship.

Above the air, the battle for the air was intense. NCSU Ships had closed in on the Boer Ships to board, Planks and Grapnels flew everywhere, from both side. However, very few NCSU Airmen managed to make it across. Each side of a BAD Class Aerial Ship had 20 Machine Guns, which cut up the enemy before they could make it half way across. Of course, it was no cake walk for the Lug-Voetvolk to make it across the grapnel lines onto the enemy ship. So, the two sides mainly stuck to firing their Machine Guns, Rifles, and occasional Matchstick or Rocket at each other.

Two Aerial Destroyers went down, their balloons had all but melted from the NCSU Thermite Rockets. Now only 10 of the Destroyers were left in the air.

[The Traansval]

Souther Halium, Crezark

The 5th Halium division arrived in crezark to defend its vital helmet and car industries. Without them the weak Haliumian economy was crippled, the leader of the division, General Redmond called his commanders together. He drew out a battle plan, showing the city using a map, and different knives as where his commanders should put their men. He told his 4th Battalion to defend the small hills to the east of the city, but pull back if they were getting flanked. He then put the 1st and 2nd Battalions inside the jungle to the direct north of Crezark. The 3rd and 5th Battalions would be used to defend the actual city, while a small group of volunteers would be Redmond's only reserves.

The Rebel force was spotted by Halium's only calvary division in the morning of the next day. They ran back to Crezark and informed Redmond of the incoming force of rebels, about 1,000,000 they said. Redmont cursed under his breath.
"Thats too close to our numbers. We might not be able to win."

His aide ran up to him, with a questioning look.
"Sir?"

Redmond looked to his aide then at the map "Post snipers all along the road leading up to Crezark, both ways" there were two roads leading out of Crezark.

"Sir, we'll-"

Redmont put his hand over his aides mouth "I need to roll the dice, shut up for me."

He then left the tent and went to inspect his men.

Plains of Halium

Agent Frost had been in deep cover for the past few months, infiltrating the nation of Halium. It turns out, once he managed to get in un detected, the nation was in the middle of a civil war.

Seeing as how Halium was joining the Entente, Frost and his Superiors at the NAD in Pretoria wanted to see Halium destabilized as possible. So, Frost sat in his position in a tree near the Government encampment, a sniper in his hand. He aimed at Redmond, the General in charge of putting down the rebelllion, and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

Frost looked, and cursed. Redmonts stupid Aid had stepped infront of the him at the last second, and now he not Redmont was dead.

Still, Frost could see the bullet had gone through him and into Redmonts shoulder, maybe he would die of infection?

Either way, Frost needed to leave. He jumped out of the tree, and made a mad dash for Rebel lines.

[The Manticoran Empire]

Manticoran Third Battle Fleet
5 kilometers off Isle of England
13 December, 1892
Zero Hour -12

"COME ON YOU BASTARDS, PUT YOUR BACKS INTO IT! HEAVE, DAMN YOU! HEAVE!" The shouts of the Gun Chief fell harder than the lash of a whip, girding the men of Number One Forward, the foremost 305mm gun battery, on to hurry the loading of their half ton shells. "SHELL LOADED!"
"CORDITE! TWO BALES!"
Three soldiers manhandled two hundred kilogram bales of cordite propellant charge into the breech behind the monstrous projectile. "CORDITE LOADED!"
"GUN LOADED! SEAL BREECH!"
Another soldier pulled a lever, swinging the breech shut. Two more then spun the locking mechanism and cried, "BREECH SEALED! PRIMING!" A lanyard was handed to the Chief and he pushed a button on the wall next to him.

On the bridge of the Dreadnought HMS Thunderer, a board with small electric light bulbs was lighting up as the gun crews reported ready. A petty officer called out, "ALL BATTERIES LOADED AND READY!"
Commodore Roland Saint looked at the Isle off his port side for a moment. Such a beautiful island, he thought, with white sandy beaches and pristine trees. A shame they were in the way. "Inform all batteries. Fire at will."

Thunderer lived up to her name as her guns roared. The massive guns drowned out the large majority of the other ships, sending shells whizzing towards the beach. Mere seconds later, a five kilometer long stretch of coastline erupted as hundreds of shells exploded on the tree line. The guns continued firing and would continue for the next 12 hours.

[The Twelve Isles]

Private Thomas Biddle
FIA Shock Corp, Third Regiment
Isles Of Mournly
100 miles outside of Towhill

The boats bobbed in the waves, threatening to tip as they neared the shore. Far to the right, Thomas could see the Wrenhaven. It was oddly comforting for him to see it, knowing that it stretched upwards to Towhill, the capital city of the Twelve Isles. In front of them was a small town. He could tell that it once was a whaling town, judging by the ship already docked there with the massive Leviathan still hanging up in the rigging, but the town was no more. It had been burned, and recently too. He could see smoke still rising from the burnt out husks that were once peoples homes, businesses and places of worship. Behind him he could see the Free Isles Fleet begin to fire, and he heard the thump of the guns. He saw as the rounds flew over his head, and into his homeland. It was a funny feeling, seeing your people shell and attack their own homeland.

Thomas couldn't help but feel like the shots being fired at them were a lot less intense than he had been expecting, though thinking about it it made sense to him. Most of the fighting so far had taken place to the north, and as a result more soldiers would be concentrated there. But, now the Free Isles Army was attacking from the south, looking to retake Townhill and gain a base of operations. It was satisfying. The plan was rather simple, and General Younger hoped that by landing near the capital, it would ignite the populace, and hopefully they would rise up and join the FIA as they marched against the Bronze Isles. But for now all that mattered was that Thomas, as well as the rest of the Shock Legion secured a beachhead. They had experimental machine guns with them, as well as old Maxims and handmade mortars. Many had made Molotov cocktails, and had them strung about their bodys like they were hunters returning from a successful outing.

"Everyone get their weapons ready!" came the call. Thomas could hear the same things being said all up and down the line of boats as team leaders gave the orders. He quickly pulled back the bolt of his rifle, clambering a round. Behind him he heard the sound of a belt being loaded into one of the Maxims. He looked around at who was carrying it, a man named Jimmy Mercer. Thomas was the ammo carrier. He always found the sound of MG belts being loaded very eerie, but he was comforted by his job. Working with a machine gun meant that he had a relative amount of safety, as it was hard to get a shot off at a weapons that could lay down such an impressive rate of fire. Thomas quickly picked up the extra ammo cans, filled with three hundred rounds of ammunition each. All together, they would equal 900 rounds of ammunition that he was carrying, and 1200 rounds if he included what Jimmy had in the gun.

"Alright everyone," said the team commander, a man named Karl Bids. "When we hit the beach, you move fast and you move hard. Dont think, just get to a good position and lay down as much fire as you can. Thomas, Jimmy, I want you two right up the middle. Me and the Command Team will assist you." Thomas looked over his shoulder again. It was a big boat, capable of fitting an entire 30 man platoon in it. All together one platoon was the command team, with 5 soldiers, him and Jimmy as the MG, and two squads of six men, and one squad with the new experimental MG's who had seven. "And remember," continued Lieutenant Bids, "Dont get caught up thinking that you can stand in a fight like we used to. We get in a firefight, dont stay where you are. Move around, and dont let our opponents get the drop on us. And if you see a chance to flank them, you take that fucking chance. We need to hold this position so that the cavalry can come in and push the Bronze Isles soldiers back. "

Thomas watched the shore get closer. He felt the weight of his pack, along with the ammo can strapped to it. He quickly slung his rifle over his shoulder, and hefted the other two cans. He stood, and felt the boat thump into the shore slightly. "Go, go, go!" shouted Lieutenant Bids, "Get up that beach! Find cover, and secure this position! I dont want to see anything punch through us, we need to hold for the Cavalry." Thomas rushed forwards, feeling the weight of his pack, and the ammo cans flapping by his legs with every step he took. Behind him Jimmy ran two, the guns stand strapped to his back, the belt for his Maxim slung over his arms and shoulder, clinking with every step that he took. Soon, the two of them burst into the shattered remains of someones home, and Jimmy quickly slid the stand off of his back. Thomas dropped the cans, and set to work setting the stand up sot that Jimmy could place the gun on top. When the Maxim was well in place, Thomas lay the belt out in a neat line to the left so that it would feed into the gun on its own. If they got in a fight, he would need to hold it, but it would stay in a line for a few seconds of firing, enough time for him to get over and do what he needed to do.

(A little theme for this post that I think is appropriate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnrGMHhnqrw )

[The Manticoran Empire]

The Empire was extending their fortifications along the new border with Halium. The civil war was making them wary and they didn't wish to have little bands of revolutionaries invading them, no sir. Unlike the coastal forts, these forts would have permanent minefields filling a kilometer deep swath of land straddling the border. Small lanes of death were open, leading right into the muzzles of machine guns, rifles, and mortars, much like the coastal batteries. It would only be a few years but until then, a trench line had been dug in front of the proposed area of construction and it was to be permanently manned. To that end, the Empire was reorganizing the Home Guard and adding additional troops.

[Halium]

Crezark

Redmont cursed, and fell to the ground, right next to his aides dead body, a couple soldiers ran up to him, Redmond watched as this all happened, and simply held his hand out in the direction of the sniper. The commander of the Halium Calvalry Division immediately shouted "For the glory of our rebellion, and the hateful acts that have happened here will be avenged!" And with that all fifty of them began riding towards the sniper, although with every second the rebels came closer.

Commander Reeck was cleaning his weapon when he heard a gunshot, his division, the 5th, was digging in, inside Crezark, him and his men ran towards their General as the Haliumian Cavalry rode after the sniper. Many were calling them 'avengers' now. He called for a medic, and knelt next to the imperialist general turned local revolutionary.

"sir, we can-"

"shut up, and command my men Reeck" Redmond looked at Reeck, and gave him his medal, a signal of command. Reece stood there stunned, even as the medic came for a stretcher for Redmond.

He still stood there two minutes later when the other commanders demanded orders. He slowly looked each of them down.

"Colonel Hanigan? Your the new 5th Division commander.

"All divisions, get mines down everywhere except the roads and jungle. Train the locals to fight, tell them what their fighting against and for. I want a much bigger reserve division, understand?" The commanders around him nodded.

"I want a new line in the city around the roads, to block them in, and make sure the snipers are well supplied. I want two regular soldiers by each one to cover their retreat. Any questions?"

The commander of the 1st division rose his hand, "Sir, what do we do now?"

"We wait"

Halium border with Manticoran

Afraid by the militarizing of their borders, the Halium Father of Rebellion, Desmond Halium, ordered the 3 divisions in Halium City to move to the border, and begin making defenses there. This consisted of making traps all along the jungle into Halium, putting sniper posts in the trees, and making tunnels all around the border. Also the 155 mm Howitzers were dug in along the border, protected by the 3rd division.

[New Communist and Socialist Unions]

High Admiral Burke: SEND OUT ORDERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS KORPORAL, DREADNOUGHTS AND SUBMERSIBLES PURSUE THE ENEMY FLEET. TORPEDO BOATS HUNT DOWN ENEMY LANDING CRAFT AND TRANSPORTS. ALL BATTLESHIPS AND BATTLECRUISERS, FOCUS FIRE ON THOSE JUNGLES!!

12 Battleships and 42 Battlecruisers turned port side, and aimed their guns at the thick jungle that was currently hiding the NCSU Land Rockets. The Guns of the ships fired, sending nearly 500 Shells bashing into the jungle. A fire broke out among the trees from a Incendiary shell fired from the lead Battleship.

Under the sea, the GE Submersibles had honed in on the NCSU Flagship, they had lost 1 out of their original 5 Submersibles to a enemy Depth Charge. They wanted blood to repay the blood spilled by their fellow sailors. The GE Submersibles fired their torpedoes, 16 in total, at the underbelly of the ship.

Above the air, the battle for the air was intense. NCSU Ships had closed in on the Boer Ships to board, Planks and Grapnels flew everywhere, from both side. However, very few NCSU Airmen managed to make it across. Each side of a BAD Class Aerial Ship had 20 Machine Guns, which cut up the enemy before they could make it half way across. Of course, it was no cake walk for the Lug-Voetvolk to make it across the grapnel lines onto the enemy ship. So, the two sides mainly stuck to firing their Machine Guns, Rifles, and occasional Matchstick or Rocket at each other.

Two Aerial Destroyers went down, their balloons had all but melted from the NCSU Thermite Rockets. Now only 10 of the Destroyers were left in the air.

Isle of Manchester, now with more DAKKA!

The fleeing ships were losing the slower ships, but the faster ones evaded and evaded. Eventually their running landed them, or should I say saw them near one of the more heavily fortified areas controlled by the NCSU. The place being on the coast, it was filled to the brim with anti ship artillery, and thus, when they saw the Transvaal ships, the quietish fort exploded, although not literally, in a cacophony of artillery fire and shouting. There were some ports in this fort, and the more damaged ships docked in them for repairs. The orchestra of artillery fire conducted by the officers continued, it truly was very deafening.

On the forests occupied by the rocketeers as they liked to call themselves, the incendiary shelling of the forests caused them to scatter. Some, who were in the moderately affected areas, began to go down and fetch water from the numerous springs in the area. They then returned to their trees to douse the flames, this attempt was successful and some forest remained for the rocketeers to occupy and terrorize Transvaal airships from.

Going up to the skies, the boarding fest began to heat up and intensify, with some soldiers from both sides taking advantage of the chaos to do some debauchery, with some only getting shot in the end. One soldier even decided that it was a good time to pee from the sky! He fell off the plank he was standing on though, he will be remembered. Anyway, the hwatchas were now reloaded on all ships, and they released a flurry of thermite missiles at the same time.

[The Traansval]

Private Thomas Biddle
FIA Shock Corp, Third Regiment
Isles Of Mournly
100 miles outside of Towhill

The boats bobbed in the waves, threatening to tip as they neared the shore. Far to the right, Thomas could see the Wrenhaven. It was oddly comforting for him to see it, knowing that it stretched upwards to Towhill, the capital city of the Twelve Isles. In front of them was a small town. He could tell that it once was a whaling town, judging by the ship already docked there with the massive Leviathan still hanging up in the rigging, but the town was no more. It had been burned, and recently too. He could see smoke still rising from the burnt out husks that were once peoples homes, businesses and places of worship. Behind him he could see the Free Isles Fleet begin to fire, and he heard the thump of the guns. He saw as the rounds flew over his head, and into his homeland. It was a funny feeling, seeing your people shell and attack their own homeland.

Thomas couldn't help but feel like the shots being fired at them were a lot less intense than he had been expecting, though thinking about it it made sense to him. Most of the fighting so far had taken place to the north, and as a result more soldiers would be concentrated there. But, now the Free Isles Army was attacking from the south, looking to retake Townhill and gain a base of operations. It was satisfying. The plan was rather simple, and General Younger hoped that by landing near the capital, it would ignite the populace, and hopefully they would rise up and join the FIA as they marched against the Bronze Isles. But for now all that mattered was that Thomas, as well as the rest of the Shock Legion secured a beachhead. They had experimental machine guns with them, as well as old Maxims and handmade mortars. Many had made Molotov cocktails, and had them strung about their bodys like they were hunters returning from a successful outing.

"Everyone get their weapons ready!" came the call. Thomas could hear the same things being said all up and down the line of boats as team leaders gave the orders. He quickly pulled back the bolt of his rifle, clambering a round. Behind him he heard the sound of a belt being loaded into one of the Maxims. He looked around at who was carrying it, a man named Jimmy Mercer. Thomas was the ammo carrier. He always found the sound of MG belts being loaded very eerie, but he was comforted by his job. Working with a machine gun meant that he had a relative amount of safety, as it was hard to get a shot off at a weapons that could lay down such an impressive rate of fire. Thomas quickly picked up the extra ammo cans, filled with three hundred rounds of ammunition each. All together, they would equal 900 rounds of ammunition that he was carrying, and 1200 rounds if he included what Jimmy had in the gun.

"Alright everyone," said the team commander, a man named Karl Bids. "When we hit the beach, you move fast and you move hard. Dont think, just get to a good position and lay down as much fire as you can. Thomas, Jimmy, I want you two right up the middle. Me and the Command Team will assist you." Thomas looked over his shoulder again. It was a big boat, capable of fitting an entire 30 man platoon in it. All together one platoon was the command team, with 5 soldiers, him and Jimmy as the MG, and two squads of six men, and one squad with the new experimental MG's who had seven. "And remember," continued Lieutenant Bids, "Dont get caught up thinking that you can stand in a fight like we used to. We get in a firefight, dont stay where you are. Move around, and dont let our opponents get the drop on us. And if you see a chance to flank them, you take that fucking chance. We need to hold this position so that the cavalry can come in and push the Bronze Isles soldiers back. "

Thomas watched the shore get closer. He felt the weight of his pack, along with the ammo can strapped to it. He quickly slung his rifle over his shoulder, and hefted the other two cans. He stood, and felt the boat thump into the shore slightly. "Go, go, go!" shouted Lieutenant Bids, "Get up that beach! Find cover, and secure this position! I dont want to see anything punch through us, we need to hold for the Cavalry." Thomas rushed forwards, feeling the weight of his pack, and the ammo cans flapping by his legs with every step he took. Behind him Jimmy ran two, the guns stand strapped to his back, the belt for his Maxim slung over his arms and shoulder, clinking with every step that he took. Soon, the two of them burst into the shattered remains of someones home, and Jimmy quickly slid the stand off of his back. Thomas dropped the cans, and set to work setting the stand up sot that Jimmy could place the gun on top. When the Maxim was well in place, Thomas lay the belt out in a neat line to the left so that it would feed into the gun on its own. If they got in a fight, he would need to hold it, but it would stay in a line for a few seconds of firing, enough time for him to get over and do what he needed to do.

(A little theme for this post that I think is appropriate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnrGMHhnqrw )

Bay of Mournly
Off the coast of the Isle of Mournly
The Twelve Isles

After much discussion in the Boer High Command, it was decided that the FIA Assault on Mournly needed to be assisted. With the 3rd Vloot fighting in the north, and the other fleets too far away, it was decided that the 1st Vloot should be sent.

This was major, the 1st Vloot was the Home Fleet. It was the best of the best ships and sailors, because its job was to protect Boer Waters. Now, it was being sent to the Bay of Mourly to assist.

14 Ivorum Battleships, 6 Kendi Dreadnoughts, 44 Kaapstad Battlecruisers, 20 Nautilus Submersibles, 10 GE Submersibles, 100 Gun-Runner MK2 Torpedo Boats.

The Submersibles dived, and headed for the Harbor of Townhill, their sights set on any Bronze Isles Ships. The 100 Gun-Runner Torpedo Boats sped ahead of the fleet, and did circles around the FIA Landing Craft, their job to protect them at all costs.

Meanwhile, the Dreadnoughts and Battleships formed up and fired a broadside at the coastline where the FIA Troops would soon land, mainly focusing on the enemy Bunkers and Trenches from which Field Gun and Machine Gun fire came from.

The Battlecruisers sailed towards Townhill, their job was one of the toughest. They had to do as much damage to enemy defenses, without doing signficant damage to the city itself. After all, the Twelve Isles couldn't rule from a bunch of Ruins....

On the Northern Peninsula of Mournly Isle, the 20,000 Baesilian Riflemen landed on shore, and began to slowly push inwards through the Peninsula. A small flotilla of 25 Gunboats from Baesil Assisted their charge.

Above the fighting on the ground and sea, 25 N24 Bombers loomed overhead. Escorted by 5 BAD Airships, the Bombers slowly moved forward, their payloads ready in the bombay. For now, the Airships had to content with simply firing Artillery Shells down from their Davis Guns.

[The Traansval]

High Admiral Burke: SEND OUT ORDERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS KORPORAL, DREADNOUGHTS AND SUBMERSIBLES PURSUE THE ENEMY FLEET. TORPEDO BOATS HUNT DOWN ENEMY LANDING CRAFT AND TRANSPORTS. ALL BATTLESHIPS AND BATTLECRUISERS, FOCUS FIRE ON THOSE JUNGLES!!

12 Battleships and 42 Battlecruisers turned port side, and aimed their guns at the thick jungle that was currently hiding the NCSU Land Rockets. The Guns of the ships fired, sending nearly 500 Shells bashing into the jungle. A fire broke out among the trees from a Incendiary shell fired from the lead Battleship.

Under the sea, the GE Submersibles had honed in on the NCSU Flagship, they had lost 1 out of their original 5 Submersibles to a enemy Depth Charge. They wanted blood to repay the blood spilled by their fellow sailors. The GE Submersibles fired their torpedoes, 16 in total, at the underbelly of the ship.

Above the air, the battle for the air was intense. NCSU Ships had closed in on the Boer Ships to board, Planks and Grapnels flew everywhere, from both side. However, very few NCSU Airmen managed to make it across. Each side of a BAD Class Aerial Ship had 20 Machine Guns, which cut up the enemy before they could make it half way across. Of course, it was no cake walk for the Lug-Voetvolk to make it across the grapnel lines onto the enemy ship. So, the two sides mainly stuck to firing their Machine Guns, Rifles, and occasional Matchstick or Rocket at each other.

Two Aerial Destroyers went down, their balloons had all but melted from the NCSU Thermite Rockets. Now only 10 of the Destroyers were left in the air.

Isle of Manchester, now with more DAKKA!

The fleeing ships were losing the slower ships, but the faster ones evaded and evaded. Eventually their running landed them, or should I say saw them near one of the more heavily fortified areas controlled by the NCSU. The place being on the coast, it was filled to the brim with anti ship artillery, and thus, when they saw the Transvaal ships, the quietish fort exploded, although not literally, in a cacophony of artillery fire and shouting. There were some ports in this fort, and the more damaged ships docked in them for repairs. The orchestra of artillery fire conducted by the officers continued, it truly was very deafening.

On the forests occupied by the rocketeers as they liked to call themselves, the incendiary shelling of the forests caused them to scatter. Some, who were in the moderately affected areas, began to go down and fetch water from the numerous springs in the area. They then returned to their trees to douse the flames, this attempt was successful and some forest remained for the rocketeers to occupy and terrorize Transvaal airships from.

Going up to the skies, the boarding fest began to heat up and intensify, with some soldiers from both sides taking advantage of the chaos to do some debauchery, with some only getting shot in the end. One soldier even decided that it was a good time to pee from the sky! He fell off the plank he was standing on though, he will be remembered. Anyway, the hwatchas were now reloaded on all ships, and they released a flurry of thermite missiles at the same time.

The Dreadnoughts took a real pounding from the NCSU Artillery, but soon returned fire with their larger Naval Cannons, blasting apart the wooden ramparts (OOC: You've been on the island, what, two days? The best you can get is a makeshift wooden fort built....). The Submersibles under the water remained unaffected by the Artillery, although the enemy Depth Charges were a real pain. They continued to fire their Torpedoes at the NCSU Fleet, some hit, most didn't. The Whitehead Torpedo wasn't the most accurate thing at medium range...

4 N24 Bombers (There were 5 originally, but 1 was shot down by rocket fire) made a risky bombing run over the Jungles, they dropped their payload over the jungles, nearly 200 2,000 lb bombs. Their numbers were soon reduced to 3, as another N24 was hit by Rockets and sent crashing into the jungle. On the bright side, the burning carcass of the Airship had started more fire among the trees.

Back in the air, Airships were going down left and right, their burning metal skeletons littering the Island. Now, only 8 BAD Airships were left, and around and equal amount of NCSU Ships as well. The BAS (Boer Aerial Ship) Falcon, the only ship not currently being boarded or currently boarding, made a quick turn and fired a huge broadside of Matchsticks and 12 Pound Artillery Shells at one of the NCSU Ships. The crew of the Boer Ship it was boarding quickly cut the Grapnel Ropes, and watched as the enemy air beast slowly descended, before finally getting hit by a shell from one of the Battlecruisers.

[The Manticoran Empire]

Isle of Manchester

Multiple ships were sunk by the Transvaal enemy fleet, and the Navy ordered a retreat to the far side of the island. Men were escorted now via airship, as sea transport was deemed too dangerous. All engines were placed on full ahead, and they roared off, the sound of massive machinery resonating throughout the air. The back cannons of the ships did whatever they could to delay the certain death that was the Transvaal fleet.

On the Isle itself, troops were getting kicked by the the aerial units, but they would then dish out a new kind of pain. In the untouched jungles, men camouflaged themselves and were positioned on the top of the trees, directly above them were the bastards, the Transvaal blimps. The place was eerily quiet other than the sounds of distant gunfire, the explosions above, and the chirping of crickets. And then, there was sound. Hundreds upon hundreds of rockets flew from the trees and into the air, explosions resonated all around.

On the other parts of the island, especially in lightly forested but grassy areas, snipers lurked the ground like snakes, their camo ghillie suits concealing them splendidly with the grassy environment. They stalked their prey in groups, picking off the enemy troopers when needed. In more exposed areas, troops dug into the ground, placing barbed wire and sandbags here and there, machine guns were being deployed, and some AA batteries were around. Mines were almost everywhere.

In the skies, the airships of the NCSU faced off the airships of the Transvaal. Matchstick fire burned multiple ships, while thermite rockets and shells melted away parts of the Transvaal airships. NCSU ships were boarded, and Transvaal ships were boarded. In fact, some people say that the boarding fest as they called it was so intense that all the ships were connected to each other via boarding planks.

High Admiral Burke: SEND OUT ORDERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS KORPORAL, DREADNOUGHTS AND SUBMERSIBLES PURSUE THE ENEMY FLEET. TORPEDO BOATS HUNT DOWN ENEMY LANDING CRAFT AND TRANSPORTS. ALL BATTLESHIPS AND BATTLECRUISERS, FOCUS FIRE ON THOSE JUNGLES!!

12 Battleships and 42 Battlecruisers turned port side, and aimed their guns at the thick jungle that was currently hiding the NCSU Land Rockets. The Guns of the ships fired, sending nearly 500 Shells bashing into the jungle. A fire broke out among the trees from a Incendiary shell fired from the lead Battleship.

Under the sea, the GE Submersibles had honed in on the NCSU Flagship, they had lost 1 out of their original 5 Submersibles to a enemy Depth Charge. They wanted blood to repay the blood spilled by their fellow sailors. The GE Submersibles fired their torpedoes, 16 in total, at the underbelly of the ship.

Above the air, the battle for the air was intense. NCSU Ships had closed in on the Boer Ships to board, Planks and Grapnels flew everywhere, from both side. However, very few NCSU Airmen managed to make it across. Each side of a BAD Class Aerial Ship had 20 Machine Guns, which cut up the enemy before they could make it half way across. Of course, it was no cake walk for the Lug-Voetvolk to make it across the grapnel lines onto the enemy ship. So, the two sides mainly stuck to firing their Machine Guns, Rifles, and occasional Matchstick or Rocket at each other.

Two Aerial Destroyers went down, their balloons had all but melted from the NCSU Thermite Rockets. Now only 10 of the Destroyers were left in the air.

HMAS Heavenly Thunder had arrived at the scene of the battle. Lieutenant Senior Grade Frederick Knight lifted his binoculars to his face to see the NCSU airships. "Bloody hell," he said, "It's a right fuckin' massacre out there. Helm, bring us round behind the NCSU airships. Make sure our guns can hit them."
"Sir, which ones are the NCSU?" asked the helmsman.
"They'd be the normal looking ones, not the ones with boats hangin' under 'em."
"Aye sir. Coming about."
"Inform the gun deck to prepare for long range firing."

It took only a few minutes for Heavenly Thunder to arrive at the desired position, astern of the NCSU airships. A pair of 57mm guns and several 13.2mm machine guns stared down the rumps of the NCSU ships. Lt. Knight took one final glance at his enemies before saying, "Chief of the Deck, consign them to Hell."

From the gun deck, Chief Gunners Mate William McKenna smiled and replied, "It'll be a fuckin' pleasure, sir." He then turned to the gun crews. "ALRIGHT YOU CUNTS! YOU HEARD THE SKIPPER! SEND THOSE BASTARDS DOWN IN FLAMES!" The gunners took aim with their 57s while the machine guns fired in short bursts. Then the 57s roared and every hit was a kill.