The Gathering Storm, An Eternal System RP

[Umayyad Hispania]

Riberia Palace, Burtughal al-Munasaba, Umayyad Sultanate of All Hispania

Enrique V sits in his study, petrified at what he had just witnessed, a racist rally against the Arab world in the Greater Khanate...

He thinks to himself for a moment... and then calls Alberto ibn Hussein Omeya de Bambluna, his chief diplomat and advisor.

“Hello?” Enrique asks.

“Hello, Sultan Enrique.” He says.

“Are you available to go to the Khanate? They just declared their intentions to exterminate our people in Persia and Mesopotamia... it’s rather disturbing...” Enrique exclaims.

“Yes... I would rather not however, but I will on the country’s and our allies’ behalf.” He says.

Enrique continues, “I wish to have at least a non aggression pact in place to guarantee the safety of our interests, or better yet, an alliance with the Khan. Tell them we would be willing to sacrifice Persia and Arabian Iraq to them in order to prevent expansion against the Muslim League. Godspeed, Ambassador Omeya de Bambluna. Call me if you need anything else.”

“Yes, my Sultan.” He says, and hangs up.

---

After calling Ambassador Omeya de Bambluna, Enrique calls General al-Rumwaniu.

“Hello, General al-Rumwaniu.” Enrique says.

“Good day, my Sultan; what is it you need done?” The General, in command of the Royal Armed Forces in East India, asks.

“I just witnessed an inflammatory speech by the Great Khan of the Great Khanate... we have territory and strategic interests in the area... we need to defend Macaw (Macao), the Horacian Islands (Phillipines), and Goa from the Great Khanate. Send five hundred thousand men to Macaw, and garrison the city. I will watch the news closely... if our diplomatic mission fails... we will have to do something we wouldn’t want to do, especially when we could have a great ally in the region.” Enrique says, sort of shell shocked. He continues, “I do not wish for this mission to fail.”

[UniversalCommons]

Pan Asian Alliance, The Greater Khanate, The Great Tent, House of the Warriors.

Khan Noonien Singh waved to the crowd. He threw handfuls of rose and flower petals to the crowd below him. The covered dome of “The Great Tent” had been opened to the sky. It was a beautiful day outside.

He had invited Ambassador Omeya de Bambluna to the Festival of Heroism at the Great Tent, a large stadium with crowds of The Greater Khanates supporters.

The crowd was in a good mood. They were roaring and chanting Khan Noonien Singh's name. The opening of the festivities had started with the Khanate national anthem, Under the Great Blue Sky. It had been followed by a parade around the inside of the stadium with the Black Horse Armored Brigade doing a circle inside the stadium. Soldiers on electric motorcycles with battle rifles and body armor were followed by armored trucks, a few missile trucks, and a few mobile artillery pieces.

The crowd cheered and clapped. You could see huge projection screens at the top of the stadium, the screens would switch between Khan Noonien Singh and the Black Horse Brigade.

This was followed by sporting events. First wrestling, then weight lifting, then sword fighting and marksmanship. The crowd went wild when the champion marksman, Shah Jahan won the shooting contest. Shah Jahan pamphlets were being sold with pictures of him hunting tigers and deer.

Khan Noonien Singh would praise the greatness of its warriors, the beauty of its women, and the bravery of its great heroes who would one day bring civilization to the whole world. The people of the Khanate were a great people with the heart of lions, and the strength of elephants. They were a superior people led by destiny to people the places where the barbarians dwelled.

The people yelled slogans and waved the flag of the Greater Khanate. They ate lamb kebabs and had cold mint tea. Some people were wearing masks to make themselves look like the more famous wrestlers. Many of the servers wore the iron collars of slaves. Some of the men in masks would point out and talk about how their wrestlers were the best in the world, able to beat any martial artist anywhere.

Khan Noonien Singh welcomed the idea of sacrificing Persia and Iraq to him. It was a very kind thing to do. He of course could not sign an alliance. This would be a sign of weakness among the khans. However, he could agree to a non-aggression pact. There is always respect among warriors.

Labor Camp #5, Greater Khanate, China

Han watched as men and women were marched from box cars, by guards armed with shock prods, whips, and truncheons. The guards were a better class of prisoner chosen for their brutality. They got to wear neatly pressed orange uniforms.

He could hear the screams as the men and women were given iron collars and branded as prisoners on the right cheek. Permanent indentured labor. A death sentence for most. A name for the foreign media.

Han chewed a few leafs of lettuce from the field he worked on. If he was seen, he would be beaten or whipped as an example. Still it was better to maintain ones strength.

He watched as several men and women in cheap cotton tunics, plastic sandals, and flimsy elastic banded pants were marched into a new barracks.

He knew that many of them would not last very long. Some they would simply work to death. If you did not work and sing the songs of solidarity in honor of the mad khan they would send you to some place terrible.

You might end up cleaning toxic wastes without protection, or be put in a foundry with few safety precautions. A place where an industrial accident could kill you. The Khanate did not keep the infirm.

He was glad to pick cabbages, he knew his life could be far worse. A man had struck one of the guards, he was forced to dig a pit for his own grave and publicly beheaded. The guards had even recorded the event to post on Vision Video.

The Khanate liked to mix up the prisoners so there could be little solidarity between classes or races. People came in from all over.

[Umayyad Hispania]

Ambassador Omeya de Bambluna calls the Sultan from the Khanate, ready to face the Sultan.

“Hello?” The ambassador says, with a certain shakiness in his voice.

“Ambassador Omeya de Bambluna? How did the negotiations go?” The Sultan asks.

“Well... we might be able to negotiate a non-aggression pact for five years, securing Macaw for the time being, but we would have to surrender the Persians and Iraqis to them... This is appeasement, but it could work.” The ambassador says.

The Sultan says, pleasantly surprised, “Well, at least they won’t attack us for a price... try proposing a partition of the French Indochina, since we do both have interests in the area, we have to at least secure Cambodia and Cochin, and they can have Viet Nam and Laos, maybe we don’t have to be allies... but we can attack our enemies. And also try purposing a trade treat to the Khan, perhaps we can support them against our rivals in the region.”

“Ok, I will do.” The ambassador says, then hangs up, and goes to search for the Khan.

---

Meanwhile, in the Parliament, a fierce debate is being fought over whether or not the military should be strengthened over the “Lion of the East” as the Parliament calls the Khanate.

The vast majority of the Parliament fully and whole heartedly agrees with increased military spending and conscription, but the Liberals and Socialists will not cease to filibuster in order to add social legislation for the people to benefit from the increased militarism. However, a compromise may be reached in the future.

---

The Sultan, who has just got off of the phone with Ambassador Omeya de Bambluna, calls General al-Rumwaniu.

“Hello General.” The Sultan says.

“My Sultan, how is the situation in the East?” He asks.

“Well, we might be able to get them to sign a nonaggression pact with us, and we might be able to partition Indochina with the Khan. But, we don’t want to end up like we did in the War of the Three Powers, we must keep a strong military presence in the area to insure we don’t get caught off guard by a Mongol attack. If the partition of Indochina does succeed, then we will have to defend Indochina, and the Pyrenees from the French.” The Sultan says.

“We have enough men to make that happen. And, may I bring up the oil wealth in French West Africa... If we do end up doing an attempted partition of Indochina, we can attempt to seize French West Africa as well, because it is on our border, and oil rich...” The General says, pleased.

“Well, I’m not sure about the seizure of French West Africa... but you do bring up good points, I’ll talk to the General of the Maghreb at some point in the coming days about this plan you propose... We’ll be in touch, just fortify our colonies in Asia.” The Sultan concludes. “Goodbye, and Godspeed, General al-Rumwaniu.”

“Will do, my Sultan. Goodbye.” The General says, hanging up the phone.

[UniversalCommons]

Thailand, Red Horse Raider Group

Ganbataar stretched. He had just come out of the tent with the comfort women. He smiled. This soldiering thing was good. So much better than herding sheep back home. When he joined the army, he had gotten his first pair of new boots. He had always had second hand boots from his brothers. He had also gotten a nice new long knife.

Last night, he had used that knife to kill a sentry at an army base, slitting his throat. The men followed him into the base where they fought with their new battle rifles. Initially they had taken the base by surprise, but the enemy had rallied. Ganbataar used every trick he could to win. He threw grenades into a bathroom and even shot someone in the back. It was both exciting and terrifying. The Thai soldiers fought to the end, even creating a diversion so some of the troops could retreat out of the base. He had a bruise from where one of the enemy soldiers had shot him with pistol in his body armor.

It was a good life. He lit a cigarette and took a few drags. Then nodded to himself smiling with a gap toothed smile.

The Great Khanate, the Garden Palace and Library

Khan Noonien Singh took some time to talk to the ambassador. They took a drive in an electric limousine to The Garden Palace and Library. First they walked through a large rose garden. Then Khan Noonien Singh offered Ambassador Omeya de Bambluna some coffee and showed him his library of classics of the Khanate in tooled leather with gold inlay. He talked about how they were a cultured people and a warrior people. He even handed him a text called the Art of War by Sun Tzu, commenting that they had conquered China. That Ambassador Omeya de Blambuna should keep it.

Khan Noonien Singh then reminded Ambassador Omeya de Bambluna that the French Indochina was part of Scandinavia. One had to show ones strength by talking about territory you did not own. Did Umayyad Hispania plan on invading Scandinavia. Thailand was not part of Indochina and neither was Burma. Both would soon be part of the Pan Asian Alliance with the help of the Great Khanate troops. While they had an interest in Vietnam, they could not give the disposition of any troops in Vietnam... The Hmong had of course requested help. They could of course divide up the country on a map, they wanted Laos and Vietnam. Umayyad Hispania could have Cochin and Cambodia. Of course this was all conjecture, since Scandinavia was in Indochina.

They were of course willing to trade agricultural surplus, the classics of the Khanate, fine horses, motorcycles, textiles, beef and mutton for steel, weapons, and knowledge.

[HypErcApitAl]

Green Republic of Sveringe - Viking Horde - Swedish Empire - Scandinavia



The Swedish politicians - both the President and royalty - argued about Le royaume des Français and their lands.

"How dare those barbarians in the South and far-east claim Indochina! The French have held those lands for ages! What next, Danish and French Indias? They're already coming for the African colony." The president argued.

"Look, the Hispaniards are allying with the Barbarians in the far-east, this is a crime! They need to stop acting like they're not European!" The Viking Princess screamed.

"What we will do is, we will increase military spending, and also warn both the Hispaniards and the barbarians." The Scandinavian King told.

"The foreigners do not know or understand the concept of Domestic Stability. Iberia and the savages can continue warmongering, but if they tried going to French Indochine or Africa or wherever, their citizens will give them a bad time." The princess stated.

---

Vinland



"There's far too many resources here. I'd honestly like to see those windowlickers try us." Savannah said.

The old man nodded.

"They're man-crushing over Oil right now. They don't really care about Greenery and fish and deer and whatnot." He replied.

"Our warhammers would destroy them!" Savannah scouted.

"That's pointless!" She added.

---

Le royaume des Francais



Amelie planned to have kids. Obviously, she wanted to take things slowly, but she still wanted the Scandinavian and French monarchies to be one, and then continuing that legacy of the Political Union in the future.

Enjoying herself, gorging on French cuisine, and shopping were Amelie's current hobbies and interests. She didn't want to continue staying in bed, or even get lazy like Queen Antoinette and King Orleans.

[UniversalCommons]

The Pan Asian Alliance Building, Tibet

Khan Noonien Singh stood on the podium. His security men had completely swept the area and installed metal detectors and check points in the arena. "My friends, fellows, countrymen, Asia should be for Asians. We do not need the French in Indochina. We need Asians in Indochina. Asians and their allies. The barbarians don't belong here. They belong back in Europe. They should be eating their cheese and sniffing their wine." He pauses.

"We have so much to offer Vietnam. They could have a new era of greatness. If they are purified, they will rise as a new warrior nation. A great nation like Thailand will become. We promise a future of blood, soil, and honor. Those who stand with us will have the hide of the rhinoceros and the heart of the lion."

The hand picked crowd which had been offered extra rice and a ration of wine cheered. They clapped loudly.

Khan Noonien Singh pumped his fist and the crowd saluted. They would get two chickens if they performed well. The show was broadcast everywhere.

Almost as the show was ending, after the chickens were handed out, several of the screens went black for a minute, then a face appeared in a plain white oval mask. "We are the unnamed, we are everywhere. Your oppressive fascist dictatorship will end. Our agents are everywhere. Your time will come."

Several car bombs go off outside the stadium destroying a security checkpoint.

[Umayyad Hispania]

Riberia Palace, Lishbuna, Burtughal al-Munasaba.

The Sultan sits in his office, he is contemplating a deal with the Scandinavians. He has a diplomat, Ferdinand ibn Zayid de Zaragoza. He asks the diplomat:

“Are you scheduled to do anything for our country for about about the next week?” The Sultan asks.

“No, sir. I do not... Why, what is the matter?” de Zaragoza asks.

“I need you to travel to Paris, we need to have a meeting with Stockholm and the Parisian nobility. I do not wish war, between our nations but I wish to negotiate an agreement formally condemning the Khanates genocidal and warmongering actions in the East. We would also like to negotiate a trade agreement in French West Africa, and possibly Indochina, and would like to buy Guiana, as well, in exchange for immunity to future oil embargoes for the next 20 years. We might also need to bear a gift as well, such as an honorary sword to the Union of Scandinavia and France. Make it clear we do not wish to interfere in India, and we do not want war between our nations.” The Sultan says.

“Aye, my Sultan.” de Zaragoza says, getting ready to head to Paris.

[UniversalCommons]

The Great Khanate, The Plains of Victory, Cosmic Dome

Khan Noonien Singh stood before a large rocket. It was painted blue with the flag of the Great Khanate.

"Our rockets are the biggest missiles in the world. We have bigger missiles than anyone else. I am proud to announce the launch of Satellite 1 where we will take weather pictures over Ummayid Hispania and the Scandinavians. You can never have too many pictures of the weather.

I am proud of the great achievements in science and technology of the Khanate. We are planning on launching an inflatable space station after this. We already have one inflatable module up there circling the earth. It is a great step for the Khanate, a great step for the greatest race that ever walked the planet. First we shall conquer the skies, then the moon.

I am standing here with Cosmic Naut Yuri here who will go up in one of our great rockets to the inflatable habitat. There he will spend a month studying the geology and weather of the earth. He will pass over many countries taking beautiful pictures of them. All hail the Great Khanate."

There is a picture of a huge rocket launching to space with a gout of flame.

Khan Noonien Singh, "My citizens of the Khanate, do you not see that the automated module lets out not one, but two satellites to circle the earth. We should be proud of our great achievements with space. Today the earth, tomorrow the moon. Do you not see that they will envy our missiles. We have the best missiles."

This is followed by the national anthem of the Great Khanate, Under the Wide Blue Skies, and pictures of long trucks with missiles on them.

[Umayyad Hispania]

Abu Sufyan Air Fleet Base, al-Malayiku (Los Angeles), Kalifurnia Province, Iisbania al-Jadida.

In a room in the base, 10 pairs of pilots are being briefed on their mission, a reconnaissance mission over the Khanate.

“This will not be easy.” The Captain says to the pilots. “However, I expect you to not engage unless engaged upon, in which case, radio in, and our aircraft carriers and airbases will respond with every plane in the area, bombers, fighters, everything. Then, an official state of war exists between the Khanate and our country.”

“Yes sir!” The twenty pilots in the room respond, and go to their respective B14s.

As they take off, the captain phones the Sultan.

“My Sultan, this is Captain de Uwghistin, and I called to say that the 10 B14s are currently going to the air base in Macaw to begin their reconnaissance mission on the Khanate.”

“Good. Though we could have used our satellites, this will also be a show of strength to the Khanate, showing that the West is not to be messed with on the world stage.” The Sultan says. “Tell them, that the Sultan himself wishes good luck and godspeed on their mission.”

“Yes, my Sultan.” The Captain says. He hangs up, then radioes the squadron, telling them the message.

---

The parliament has announced today that they reached a decision to increase military spending in face of the “Lion of the East” or simply, the Khanate. This will result in some civilian factories transferring to wartime production, inflating our arms and military vehicle stockpiles for the time being.

---

“In Macaw, fortifications are being built to defend against a hypothetical invasion by the Khanate, a larger military presence in the area, and the land will be seized from the East India Company for the time being, and placed under martial law until the Khanate is defeated militarily or diplomatically. However, only time will tell whether the people of Macaw will be able to live semi freely under the banner of the East India Company once more, or live in the cruel, genocidal lands of the Khanate. Also, the agreement with the Franco-Scandinavians is still in the air, as the threat of the Khanate, to both French Indochina, and the Indian territories of that country, whether or not they agree to the terms of the agreement will determine whether or not the country will gain an ally in the region to create a united front against the Khanate. This is Jawahir de Maputo, with the Umayyad National News Station (UNNS).”

---

The Sultan, currently in Mecca at the moment, for an emergency council of Muslim states, to elect a new Caliph of Islam, due to the last Caliph, al-Baghdadi (not in anyway related to the leader of ISIS), dying last week due to pneumonia, at the old age of 84. The council had reached a decision, but waited for Enrique to finish the phone call from the Captain. Once the Sultan returns, the Council of Uthman, named after the council that had elected the third Caliph. The spokesman for the Council, Abdullah II ibn Hussein al-Husayn, the Sultan of Arabia and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and cousin of the Spanish Sultanah. He gets up and walks to the podium, an aura of eagerness fills the room.

“My fellow Muslims, today we elect a new Caliph. The man we have chosen is almost the youngest caliph we have chosen in many years. The man we have elected is currently in this room. He is a great leader of his country, and has ruled for the better part of two decades in his own country. He currently is the ruler of the largest Muslim country on the planet, and you all know who we have chosen, as a descendant of the Prophet himself, he is the only option for the title of Caliph. I, Abdullah II, Spokesman of the Council of Uthman, hereby appoint, with Consent of the The Council of Uthman, Enrique V ibn Idris Omeya de Córdoba, as the new Caliph of all Islam, Guardian of the Islamic Nations, and the Protector of Muslims worldwide. Please stand, and congratulate our new Caliph.”

The room erupts into applause, and as the applause subsides, Enrique stands, astonished and stunned to say the very least. He walks up to the podium, as Abdullah walks off and takes a seat. Chanting begins pressuring Enrique to give a speech.

Enrique bows to the crowd, and stands back up. He begins to speak.

“I am very shocked and surprised that you all would choose me to be Islam’s next Caliph. However, there is much that needs to be done. The greatest threat to our faith, as you all probably know, is the Khanate, or as they are called in my country, the “Lion of the East”. I had originally negotiated the surrender of Iraq and Persia to them,”

The crowd begins to boo, as the territories mentioned are considered integral to the Islamic faith, as Baghdad is a holy site.

“but as Caliph, I have a sworn obligation to protect all Muslims worldwide, including those under threat by the Khanate. I, as the newly appointed Caliph of the Islamic Faith, rescind my past appeasement of the Horde, and formally condemn the genocidal and sickening actions of the Khanate against all peoples, not just Muslims. Again, as I make sure the reporters in the room catch this and bring it home to their countries. The Khanate, according to Spanish reconnaissance missions, has been running internment camps for those deemed “undesirable” to the Mongol race, including our Persian and Mesopotamian brothers. I demand, to Khan Singh, that the aggression and internment camps come to an end, and the surrender of claims to Persia and Iraq.”

The crowd applauds to the news of formal condemnation of the Khanate.

“As the new Caliph, I hereby proclaim the Third Umayyad Caliphate of All Hispania, incorporating all territories the Sultanate possessed. As the religious head of Islam, I implore all nations of the Muslim faiths to allow women to go to school, and be in equal standing with men on all levels, these are changing times, and being reactionary will not make our faith as stable as the Christians or Jews. I also wish to push for further friendship with our Christian and Jewish brothers. I hereby formally accept the appointment of the Council of Uthman and hereby begin my reign of Caliph.”

[UniversalCommons]

Cosmic Dome, Khanate Great Plains

Khan Noonien Singh received a phone call. He had just finished watching the rocket disappear into space.

This is General Temujin, "We have received confirmation from our radar installations at the border that planes are entering our air space."

Khan Noonien Singh, "I want the planes tracked and identified. We want confirmation of their markings and bearings. Do not shoot them down immediately. We need to probe their electronic capabilities."

General Temujin, "I can scramble high speed interceptors,5 Mig -31 and heavier aircraft 5 tu 22 m 3 with electronic warfare suites. There are ten planes confirmed on radar. "

Khan Noonien Singh, "We will not attack them immediately with missiles, see if we can identify their communications and probe and identify their electronic defenses, including navigation, radio, and computers. Shadow them. Then when that is done, approach the craft asking for identification."

Thailand, The Countryside

Ganbaatar rode his electric bike into a clearing not far from his destination. It was smooth and quiet. The men dismounted and emptied the saddlebags taking out shoulder fired antitank weapons. A few still carried battle rifles. Their objective was to get in firing range of some artillery trucks, destroy them and retreat. They moved quietly through the woods in their camouflage gear. When they were in range, they fired at the artillery trucks in teams of three destroying the artillery trucks. They retreated to their motorcycles as quickly as they could once they were done. They were mobile, deadly, and did not stay in one place.

Ganbataar was elated. He was no longer a private. He had earned his first bar and a medal for valor from when he was shot earlier. He was even issued a new radio and a sword of fine steel, a beautiful if not impractical thing, a pair of very shiny black riding boots, and a black dress uniform. He was considering if he should apply for the special services, but decided against it. He did not like the creepy man with the facial tattoo that recited the loyalty oaths with the officers. The war was going well. They would soon hold Thailand.

Iran, Baghdad

A cab driver pulled up and picked up a bureaucrat heading to the airport.

The cab driver, "It is 20 Eagles to get to the airport, preferably in silver."

The bureaucrat, "It has been a long day. I have been looking over the production capacity in a canning factory today. Boring work, but necessary. I am an inspector for the Khanate after all."

The cab driver, "This Great Khanate is a good thing. The streets are safe, all of the criminals are arrested. My brother he does not have to pay off the criminals any more. They have all been sent away. Everyone is working. The streets are clean. All of the riff raff and the temples of the unbelievers they have been shut down."

The bureaucrat, "Ah so I see you appreciate the Great Khanate. It provides a nice apartment for me. When I joined the Khanate in support of Khan Noonien Singh many years ago, I owned a pawn shop. Now, I am a rich man. I have many gold eagles. My house is secure. I have my personal bodyguard, Aquila who travels with me. He has his own room and does not have to sleep in the slave quarters. So my life is pretty good."

The cab driver, "I was just issued a nice new apartment. I even got a nice loan for this cab. You know people like you, they need drivers. Do you want my card? I can drive you around if you are in Baghdad again."

The bureaucrat takes the mans card, "We don't get many people like you. Isn't this the airport."

The cab driver, "Yes it is. Remember to let people know about my cab. Green cab. The best cab. You won't get better."

The bureaucrat hands the driver a 20 eagle note and three dollar eagle coins. Aquila will take care of my bags if you don't mind." He gets out of the car and Aquila takes the suitcase from the trunk.

The cab driver drives off quickly.

[Umayyad Hispania]

S.S. Hisham V, off the coast of the Horacian Islands (Phillipines)

Admiral Jamil Enrico Palencia sits aboard the aircraft carrier he controls, the S.S. Hisham V, one of the 14 Muhammad IX class aircraft carriers owned by the Spanish Navy. He is listening to the radio of the reconnaissance planes, when they say “Sir, they’re starting to tail us...”

The admiral picks up the radio, and says, “Do you need support?”

“Yes, we would like some.” The Squad Leader says, nervously.

The Admiral picks up another radio.

“Attention all pilots! Get to your planes immediately, the reconnaissance mission may be under attack! Now!” The admiral says, as sirens on the ship begin blaring.

Not even 10 minutes later, 45 fighter planes and 15 bombers have taken off from the S.S. Hisham V, getting ready to defend the reconnaissance mission at all costs.

---

The Sultan, now Caliph, still in Mecca, after the end of the conference, gets a call from Admiral Palencia.

The Admiral says what happened...

“You did WHAT?!?” The Caliph asks angrily.

“I scrambled the aircraft on this ship to support the recon mission.” The Admiral says nonchalantly.

“I did not authorize that. Allow them to proceed, but make it clear to not engage unless engaged upon.” The Caliph says, and then hangs up.

---

The Admiral gets back on the radio, to all of the planes that just left the carrier. “Let me make this clear to you... Our Caliph said not to engage unless engaged upon. Am I clear?”

A cloud of agreements come from the pilots, still flying to the recon missions last location.

[UniversalCommons]

Specialist Humayun, adjusted his head set, then tapped some keys. They had detected the encrypted channel. It would take some time, but he thought with the ground team, they could crack open the radio communication between the planes entering the Pan Asian Alliance airspace.

The five large planes began to scan the the ten planes ahead of them for radar, electromagnetic, and GPS signatures. They were trying to lock onto the GPS signatures of the planes. Now that they had the planes in their sights, they requested satellite coverage of the planes. They were B14 planes. It would be a matter of time before they had full penetration of the hardened electronic planes. They were checking the frequencies of radar, radio, and GPS.

General Temujin had activated ground based air defenses including mobile missile to air trucks and anti-aircraft batteries.. Three dozen Interceptors with strange lightning markings on them were seen flying towards the B14 planes.

Khan Noonien Singh excused himself heading into a bunker not far from the cosmic dome.

[Umayyad Hispania]

B14 Squadron, the skies over the Pan Asian Alliance.

“Beta 1 to Hisham, I repeat, Beta 1 to Hisham.”

“Beta 1, this is Hisham, what do you see?”

“Huge camps, when I say huge, I mean multiple square kilometers huge, massive.”

“Copy that, Beta 1. Do you have photos of these camps?”

“Yes sir, we do, each member of the squadron has taken several photos of the camps.”

“Copy that Beta 1, return to the airfield in al-Malayiku. Give these photos to your Captain upon your return. Tell the 60 planes of reinforcement to return to Hisham.”

“Copy that, Hisham, over.”

“Over and out, Beta 1, may you have a speedy and safe return.”

[UniversalCommons]

Over the Skies of the Greater Khanate.

Specialist Humayun, cracked the transmission recording the message. Then it was fed to a downlink where the message was sent to a downlink. A large parallel processing computer unscrambled the messages.

Apparently, they had taken pictures of the re-education camps. This was not even something which the Great Khanate was trying to hide. They re-educated their dissidents and prepared their lesser citizens for new roles in life appropriate to their station in life. There were no prisons in the Great Khanate, only proper reeducation camps. "Reform through labor." They did not have mass incarceration in steel and cement block houses like the barbarians.

The other planes had managed to collect radar and gps signatures. They were listening in on the radio transmissions between the Umayyid planes.

Labor Camp #5, China, The Great Khanate

Han was told to follow the guards.

He looked left and right wondering if he was to be executed for a smuggled lettuce leaf or a corn husk cigarette.

He was taken to a room where they hosed him down, then gave him a fresh haircut. He was given a towel to dry off and a toothbrush.

He was bewildered.

He found himself in room with a fresh set of clothes with new underwear. He was shaking. He put on a new set of clothes and some black slippers.

A blond man with a tattoo of a lion around his right eye, a turban, a black uniform and pair of collar tabs with circles around the words special services greeted him.

“Eat eat, I hope you are feeling well. Not too much, it will make you sick.”

Han stared at him, sat down and had a few slivers of chicken and some rice. He had not eaten meat in almost two years. Just rice, beans, tofu, and vegetables with the occasional piece of fruit. Enough to sustain a person for labor.

Han, “What am I doing here?”

The blond man, “You are to recite a letter about your reform. You have been a model prisoner and we are preparing you for a job as a street sweeper, a useful profession. If you would read the letter about how you were reformed we would appreciate it. From running a gambling house to being a model prisoner, then a street sweeper.”

Han,, “I am to read a prepared statement. What did I do?”

The blond man, “You do not have to worry about that. Just follow directions. You will be better off if you follow directions.”

Han, “Alright, I'll read your statement. What does it say? What did I do?”

Han is brought to a podium where there is a letter. It describes how he went from being a professional gambler, riff raff, and thug to being caught by the town guard. From there he was sent to Labor Camp #5, where he was reformed. He worked hard in the fields learning about how to be a proper man, planting cabbages, lettuces, and peas for the army.

Each day he would recite penances about the things which he did wrong and explain it to other groups of prisoners. It was reform through confession. After several years, he became a model prisoner, diligent and hard working, able to repeat the rules of conduct for a man of honor and learn the meaning of being a good citizen.

He was to be released where he would start working on a street sweeping crew who would keep Beijing clean and beautify the city. He still had a ways to go, but he was acting like a model citizen. He was congratulated and given a certificate for having completed his reformation.

Han stood dumbfounded.

Propaganda Department, Beijing, Offices of the Khanate, Pan Asian Alliance
They had edited Han's speech making him sound more authoritative and look more handsome.

This was followed by a cut scene. They showed pictures of prisons with metal bars on the windows. This was followed by the words, “Prisons a thing of the past in the Greater Khanate.” Reform through labor and confession.

Prisons are a waste of labor and intention. Men needed hard labor to remind them of their misdeeds as well as strong confessions under the watchful eyes of the state. Those who were fit would return to society as servants to the state and society. Those who were not capable would perish.

We have done a great job of removing the cancer of prisons from our society. There is no mass incarceration in useless facilities. Our re-education camps teach men new skills and prepare them for re-entry into the society of the Great Khanate. We carefully monitor our prisoners to see that they are being reformed. They learn to read and write, basic math, and learn the laws of morality in our society, the place of blood, soil, and honor.

There are neat pictures of barracks which are shiny and clean and men lined up getting ready to work in the fields with smiles on their faces.

The Greater Khanate is shown with clean streets, men and women in clean clothes, shops that are neat and orderly. The Greater Khanate a place of order, neatness, cleanliness, and place. A place of education and law.

[HypErcApitAl]

Green Republic of Sveringe - Viking Horde - Swedish Empire - Scandinavia



"What in the name of Ragnarok do they not understand, Indochine is the French. They should backoff." Savannah said, having came from Vinlandia.

"They're warmongering. Anyways, we hear the Hispaniards want a deal with us. We'll deal with them, just stop wasting time, is all." The Swedish President said.

"There will be war if they do not stand-down. The French won't easily part with Indochine." The President added.

"I'll get Elsa and everyone on that, though I think they're prepared. It's just a matter of what the Parliament thinks." Savannah replied.

"I'll talk to 'em, and the Royalty.' The president told.

---

Le royaume des Francais



"Your Majesty, they're going to meet the Scandinavians in Stockholmme." The royal advisor reported.

"Stockholmme? Dǣnmǣrk? That's odd. Why not Oslo, directly in Sveden?" King Orleans asked.

"I dunno, sire. I also know they'd want to meet us in Paris." The advisor brought-to-attention.

Queen Antoinette gave a thumbs-up.

"Well, she's ready for it, I'm ready too. I'd like to get this whole Oil thing behind us too." Orleans said.

"They want French Guyana sold." The advisor told them.

"Eh... either that or Indochine, and I cannot, under any circumstances, part with Indochine. So I can part with Guyana." Orleans responded.

---

Danish India



India was getting remilitarized, though not with the axes and orcblades of their European counterparts, but with more rifles, tanks and firearms. While it was a part of Scandinavian culture and history to use said weaponry, India and the company-in-charge had no intention on losing to savages.

[UniversalCommons]

Burma, Western Front, Lightning War

Ganbataar had crossed over into Burma on new more powerful bikes. They had come across the border with night vision equipment, and attacked a border outpost over running it. He had been given stim tabs which made him hyper awake. The Burmese had fought hard knowing their fates in the re-education camps. The tales had spread out to Burma and the resistance was fierce. But, the Khanate had the element of surprise, better training, and better equipment. Following them were armored cars, artillery, and tanks. Hundreds of slave soldiers were also brought in, young men who had been captured, tattooed with a lion around their eyes, and indoctrinated to fight for the Greater Khanate.

He could hear the sniper fire from Burmese insurgents. They would deal with it eventually. Also, one of the trucks had been destroyed with a road side bomb, an improvised explosive device. The insurgents were learning from the Unnamed. They had found several plain white face masks among the captured locals.

Cosmic Dome, Khanate Plains, Deep Bunker

Khan Noonien Singh sat in his bunker. He had Babur and General Temujin with him.

Khan Noonien Singh, "Gentleman, we will take Burma, and then when the time is ripe, India. India is yours by right, Babur. You are a descendant of the mughal, a man in the line of the Great Khan."

Babur, "We have many followers in India. The Mughal once ruled India. They smart at the barbarian Danish India company controlling their lives. They shall have greatness, the greatness that existed under the mughals. They too shall be like lions and rest their birthright which is the world from the barbarians in the west. The western barbarians have no business being there. Asia should be for Asians and as members of the Pan Asian Alliance we will drive out all the westerners and bring an age of prosperity and enlightenment to the region."

General Temujin, "We should be careful, the Umayyid has risen in the west. They already entered our territory. We are monitoring them. Yuri is the inflatable habit. A war on two fronts would be deadly for us. They could bring defeat to us if they allied with the blond barbarians, the Scandinavians."

Khanate Inflatable Space Donut, Earth Orbit


Yuri checked the telescopic and recording equipment. He had been monitoring Macao and the Philippines where the planes had taken off from when he passed over them.. The outside of the habitat was festooned with telescopic, antennae and sensor devices. They recorded the weather, took pictures of deep space, monitored asteroids and similar things. The habitat was a mix of rubber, kevlar, and carbon fiber. It had a double layer. Still, it was cheaper than a metal tin can and could be inflated. It also readily available cheap technology. They were already starting production on two more.

[Umayyad Hispania]

Riberia Palace, Lishbuna, Burtughal al-Munasaba

Caliph Enrique V sits in his throne, more or less a glorified office chair, in his study. He is still blown away at the result of the Council of Uthman’s decision. He is forwarded a video by the a member of the illusive Apartment IV, with a message.

“My Caliph, we have recorded a video directly from the Khanate. It appears to be one of their prisoners. They seem to be treated well, but at the same time, something is definitely being hidden, because the mans voice is somewhat corrupted. Clearly the technology in the Khanate is lackluster at best, because using some of our secret proprietary software, we have discovered the file has been tampered with in someway. Not surprising, considering it came from the Khanates propaganda ministry. We cannot revive the original video, but we know it was tampered in someway.”

The Caliph, with a speech prepared, heads to the front lawn of the palace, with full intent of watching the video after the speech. His young son, Idris accompanies him.

With news outlets from the far reaches of the Empire gathered on the palace lawn, Enrique begins.

“Well, it’s been a while since I have actually done a speech like this, as I have had business in Mecca, as you all know, I am now the Caliph.”

Applause erupts from the spectators.

“First of all, are their any French or Scandinavian reporters here?”

A few men raise their hands.

“Good, I wish for this speech to be broadcast in the Scandinavian and French lands as well.”

The men, make a call, and a few minutes later gives the thumbs up.

“People of the Free World, I come to you all now in a time of need. We have some intelligence of the true nature of the Khanate’s “labor camps”. We believe, according to our sources, that the Khanate is hiding something from the world in those camps, as I received a video, and proof that it was tampered with in some way, I implore, the free nations of the world, to band together against the Khanate. I, leader of the Third Umayyad Caliphate of All Hispania, have decreed that all Muslim nations, Hispania included, ban any oil from flowing into the Khanate, and I also pledge my support to all Islamic people’s under their grasp, to rise up from the ashes of their oppressors to be once more free. I will have a diplomat to Paris shortly to discuss negotiations with the French over Guiana and East Asia. I renounce the Spanish intention of seizing Indochina, but would be willing to discuss trade company operations in Indochina and West Africa as well. To the Christian and Jewish nations of the world, we may not be brothers in faith, but now is the time for our brotherhood to begin, despite what the Qaran says, to make a bloc against the Mongols and their genocidal regime.”

“To the President of the Green Republic and the Monarchy in France, we would be willing to provide military and economic support to the Scandinavians in the event of a war against the Khanate, and expect the same from them. We wish to have an alliance with the Scandinavians, because with the threat on our borders, we will have to settle our colonial differences and unite against our common threat. I will also expand our privateer network in order to effectively harass Mongol shipping and trade.”

Applause occurs again, to a lesser extent, but subsides rather quickly.

The Caliph gets off the stage, Idris follows, and asks his father:

“Dad, will we have to fight the Mongols?”

“We will not be doing any fighting against the Khanate. But, what have I always told you about our military, Son?” The Caliph says.

“That sometimes they do stuff you disagree with.” Idris says, with nearly professional teenage angst.

“No, Son, not that.” The Caliph says, slightly disappointed, “That our soldiers from all over fight for our nation, and are willing to die for the Empire, and that is the greatest sacrifice anyone should give, and to respect them for it.”

Idris nods, and says, “Oh yeah... that.” He pauses for a moment and asks his father, “Could you take sometime off for like an hour, and just come play Europa Universalis IV with me. It just came out with a new DLC and I bought it and it’s really good.”

The Caliph, after considering his plea for a moment, nods with a smile and says, nearly with a tear in his eye, “Yes, son, I would like that very much... just remember my saying about the military.”

The Emir of al-Andalusia nods, joyfully and with a smile on his face, knowing that he will probably kick his Dad’s butt in Europa Universalis IV later that day.

[UniversalCommons]

Ganbattar, Red Horse Raiders, Burmese Border

Ganbattar was exhausted. He lay on a cot. The initial high of the stim patch had worn off. He had slept for ten hours and was still tired. He looked out the window and saw troop trucks driving by. They were filled with slave soldiers, a special class of soldiers mostly foreign born who gave their lives to the Greater Khanate. The leaders of the slave soldiers could live very well and had become a hereditary class of slaves.

Following the trucks filled with soldiers were tanks, missile trucks, and drone trucks. They were advancing past the border post. Ganbattar could hear the sound of transport helicopters and planes. He picked up a copy of the magazine Wow! It reminded him of home. There were pictures of celebrities, musicians in gem studded costumes, painted wrestlers, generals, pictures of horses and eagles. The latest actors were dressed as warrior heroes or shown with beautiful women. He flipped through it, then passed it to his buddy, Batu who thumbed through it. Batu passed him a copy of Hunter, a magazine with a picture of a man with a high powered hunting rifle standing next to a deer.

Ganbattar took a drink of watermelon and lime soda, then lay back and rested.

The Khanate Plains, A Power Plant, Ulaanbataar

Khan Noonien Singh was surrounded by his bodyguards. He was at a new power plant. There were massive trailer sized batteries and several huge turbines that could adjusted to burn almost any liquid fuel. Power lines ran from the plant to Ulaanbataar.

Outside in the distance, you could see large wind turbines recently upgraded with high temperature superconductors. Some of this technology had quietly been acquired from the Umayyid and the Scandinavians. The Umayyid were often unaware of the technology they were using and did not update things for the future.

Khan Noonien Singh took to a pedestal. He had hand picked the reporters, "My fellow country men. The Umayyid have tried to cut us off from world oil supplies. They only hasten their own demise. Increasingly, we have relied on hybrid power and hybrid power plants. Our future lies in the turbine and the battery. They use dirty power sources, suck at the blood of the earth."

"We of the Greater Khanate are true men, we have preserved our pasturelands for horses, sheep, and cattle. We have preserved forests for hunting, places for true men. We are not barbarians like these Umayyid Hispania people. We protect our lands. If you work with us, you support a clean earth, a safe place to live. Our cities are clean and pure, just like our people. The Greater Khanates people are descendants of the Mongols, the Mughals, and other great conquerors of history. We are cultured with greatness."

"We promise a clean future. Already many of our cars and motorcyles are battery powered. This only accelerates the process. We are switching more cars to biodiesel and diesel. To increase our production of biodiesel, we have reformed many more people from our labor camps, making them laborers are at our new farm waste factories where they convert animal droppings to fuel. This is a new opportunity for many of them." Khan Noonien Singh shows a shovel. "They will shovel waste into energy."

New factories are being opened to make more energy efficient lighting and electrical appliances. We have new territory where people need to be rewarded for their support to the Greater Khanate. We have to thank our supporters and loyalists in Persia and Iran. Know that supporting the Greater Khanate will make peoples lives better with housing, quality jobs, safe streets, and great culture like the Classics of the Khanate. Khan Noonien Singh holds up The Book of Dede Korkut. This is a proper, manly book, a book which teaches the proper value of the warrior. We are a true people, a warrior people."

We are not wasteful of our resources, we have plenty, but that plenty is carefully managed so there is enough for all. We run our society efficiently, our buildings efficiently. People are often the source of our labor, not machines that run on oil. Men have always been the best way to make and build things. We must be careful with machines which use energy and oil."

Hail to the conquerors of the Greater Khanate. Victory and glory will be ours. We shall have new wives, new slaves, and a better, cleaner, more pure society."