Länge Leve Revolutionen!
That whenever any form of government becomes destructive [...], it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government...
- Declaration of Independence, 1776
-[Prologue]-
That whenever any form of government becomes destructive [...], it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government...
- Declaration of Independence, 1776
-[Prologue]-
July 3304
Stockholm
A Molotov cocktail sailed through the air, shattering amongst the soldiers of the Svea Lifguarde. The mob began to swarm over the barracade, yearning to break through. A volley of rubber bullets did not stop the advancing peasants, nor did the wall of bayonets. A shotgun blast from inside the company's shield downed two guards, and the peasants were over the wall. Knives, lengths of pipe, crowbars and the like were used against the crack Lifguarde.
They had a massive advantage in weaponry, their matter-disrupting bayonets slicing though the improvised weapons of the rabble, but there simply weren't enough Lifguarde to hold the bridge. The commanding officer had his head bashed in with a sledgehammer, and the soldiers ran. They ran the length of the bridge, chased by very angry peasants.
At the far end, another group of Lifguarde stood outside the walls of Drottningholm Palace. One of them nodded, and a cluster of explosions echoed along the length of the bridge, which had stood over a thousand years. It settled into the waters around Stockholm, and the Lifguarde turned their attention towards evacuating King Christophe II.
The Colonel in charge of the regiment of Lifguarde left around Drottningholm picked up the radio to contact the commander of the Finska Lifguarde Division, who were holding the area south of the city.
“LION is still in D-H, and most of the Division [Svea Lifguarde] is pinned down in the city, requesting aerial evac, over,” he said, watching the fires illuminate the night skies over Stockholm.
“Negative, the rebels have set up a THEL network around the city, over. You'll have to wait until the Gotaland Lifeguarde arrive and we can make a push into your AO, over,” came the crackling response. The Colonel swore most uncouthly. He grabbed the radio again.
"D Battalion, did you raze the bridges on the southern part of the island?
"Ja, but I think we saw some boats on the far side,” the major reported. The Colonel was worried, but-
“We don't have enough troops to be sending you across the far side to hunt down phantom boats. Get to Lunda and hold it!” the Colonel ordered. D Battalion withdrew to the main part of the island, and secured the village of Lunda. As they watched, a collection of boats emerged from the nighttime mists, and artillery fire began to fall all around him. One of his shields fell, and he began to pull back towards the palace, on the far side of the island, thinking to conserve troops for the defense of the palace.
They reached the edge of the estate, and encountered the Colonel as he looked over E Battalion's deployment. The Colonel was understandably furious that Lifgarde under his command had withdrawn, and he shot the major on the spot, before putting D Battalion in line.
Across the island, a very different unit was forming up. It was 3. Brigade, 2. Stockholmer Division, an indelta unit. Some would call the indelta a militia, but that wouldn't be fair to their morale or fighting skills. The Brigadier rallied his troops together, and began to advance towards Drottningholm. They began to take fire from a pair of towers at either end of the Gardens that had carronades. A quick radio command had fire from a howitzer battery outside of the city streaking in, and the towers grew quiet.
The Livgarde formed up, and began to fire. Kinetic slugs went back and forth for some time, and it became clear the indelta had the advantage, through sheer numbers. For all the zeal of the Livgarde, they simply could not match the firepower that the three regiments could put out. Their shields collapsed, and they scattered.
The indelta, emboldened by their victory, advanced through the shattered wall and into the Gardens, marching down the cobbled path, towards the Palace itself. The other two remaining battalions of Livgarde were in front of the Palace, and they had no intention of dying as their comrades had. Rather than get drawn into a shootout with the indelta, they simply chose to charge into them and fire a volley.
The melee was devastating, men being torn in half by slug and bayonet. As the dance of death unfolded on the edge of the Garden, a group of men slipped out of formation, and moved towards the palace. They shot open the door, and ran inside. Servants they encountered turned and ran, and the soldiers left them alone. Bodyguards engaged them with chemical rifles, but they were quickly dispatched by linear musket. The soldiers ascended the staircase, and advanced towards the King's study.
The door was opened quickly- and there he was. King Christophe II, Christophe the Terrible, watching his city burn. He turned, to face the soldiers that had burst in. Knowing that the soldiers intended to capture him, he lifted a handgun and shouted:
“I die a patriot!”
-[End Prologue]-