Age of Imperialism: A Colonization RP (Reboot, OOC, Open)

[Lunas Legion]

And tag'd.

[Caltarania]

NS Name: The Ik Ka Ek Akai
IC Nation Name: The Vodun Horde
Territory: The royal purple. I figure I can use it in a unique way much better than it would be used as just colonial fodder anyway.

Huh, nice to see an interesting spin on the West African regions, which doesn't stray into ahistory.

I wonder if Europe will simply allow Britain to intervene here, with no justification, against a fellow Christian state...

As a European power, Britian can do as it wills to non protestants.

So, who here wants to sell the Cubans some Guns?

Looking for stuff to replace the Winchester guns and martini Henry rifles I'm trying to start off with.

I'll sell you guns maybe a few cannons as well. But what can Cuba give in exchange?

Without justification, it risks appearing a monolithic giant. It's worth remembering that the primary reason Ethiopia remained untouched in real life was it's Christian religion; it's hard to argue that you're civilising and spreading the word of the Lord when they already accept it.

[Parcia]

Rum, women, Cigars, exotic fruits.

roughly 600-1,200 Veteran Heavily infantry to be used for mercenary use.

[Novas Arcanum]

NS Name: The Ik Ka Ek Akai
IC Nation Name: The Vodun Horde
Territory: The royal purple. I figure I can use it in a unique way much better than it would be used as just colonial fodder anyway.

Huh, nice to see an interesting spin on the West African regions, which doesn't stray into ahistory.

As a European power, Britian can do as it wills to non protestants.



I'll sell you guns maybe a few cannons as well. But what can Cuba give in exchange?

Without justification, it risks appearing a monolithic giant. It's worth remembering that the primary reason Ethiopia remained untouched in real life was it's Christian religion; it's hard to argue that you're civilising and spreading the word of the Lord when they already accept it.

Ethiopia lacked strategic resources or chokepoints and had physical barriers in the form of mountains I believe that was the main reason it remained uncolonized.

Besides Christianity didn't stop countries like Italy from attacking.

[Caltarania]

Huh, nice to see an interesting spin on the West African regions, which doesn't stray into ahistory.



Without justification, it risks appearing a monolithic giant. It's worth remembering that the primary reason Ethiopia remained untouched in real life was it's Christian religion; it's hard to argue that you're civilising and spreading the word of the Lord when they already accept it.

Ethiopia lacked strategic resources or routes and had physical barriers in the form of mountains I believe that was the main reason it remained uncolonized.

Besides christianity didn't stop countries like Italy from attacking.

The Italian invasion was one of the most controversial events of the time.

[Bruke]

Huh, nice to see an interesting spin on the West African regions, which doesn't stray into ahistory.



Without justification, it risks appearing a monolithic giant. It's worth remembering that the primary reason Ethiopia remained untouched in real life was it's Christian religion; it's hard to argue that you're civilising and spreading the word of the Lord when they already accept it.

Ethiopia lacked strategic resources or chokepoints and had physical barriers in the form of mountains I believe that was the main reason it remained uncolonized.

Besides Christianity didn't stop countries like Italy from attacking.

Ethiopia won, and shocked the world. Of course, Russia provided military support, and Britain and France provided diplomatic support.

[Novas Arcanum]

Ethiopia lacked strategic resources or chokepoints and had physical barriers in the form of mountains I believe that was the main reason it remained uncolonized.

Besides Christianity didn't stop countries like Italy from attacking.

Ethiopia won, and shocked the world. Of course, Russia provided military support, and Britain and France provided diplomatic support.

Absolutely true not debating that.

[Parcia]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahitolle_95_mm_cannon

If some one can hook me up with more of these, i will be your friend.

Im trying to start out with 6 Gaft Cutters armed with a forward mounted gun.

[Absolon-7]

---

Very well, you make a convincing point.

---

I'll take the rum and fruits. If you discount port access or something similar I'll trow in a couple of light cannons.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahitolle_95_mm_cannon

If some one can hook me up with more of these, i will be your friend.

Im trying to start out with 6 Gaft Cutters armed with a forward mounted gun.

The Lahitolle 95 mm was superseded by the de Bange 90 mm cannon in 1877

Are you sure?

[Parcia]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahitolle_95_mm_cannon

If some one can hook me up with more of these, i will be your friend.

Im trying to start out with 6 Gaft Cutters armed with a forward mounted gun.

The Lahitolle 95 mm was superseded by the de Bange 90 mm cannon in 1877

Are you sure?

yes, im trying to not start off with state of the art tech, im bloody Cuba here.

[Parcia]

---

Very well, you make a convincing point.

---

I'll take the rum and fruits. If you discount port access or something similar I'll trow in a couple of light cannons.

Sure, deal, but Im not allowing anyone to set up fucking Gitmo.

[Novas Arcanum]

Well if the European powers won't support me on this I'll back down can't risk becoming a pariah.

Still, in times of war Eygpt surely won't be able to hold onto it.I'll sell you some warships in exchange for discounted access and trade rights.

[Krugmar]

(Image)

NS Name: Krugmar
Nation Name: Officially the Italian Federation, usually known as the North Italian Federation, North Italy, or just Italy. Sometimes called Padania, Lombardia, Langobardia or Alta Italia, usually in romanticist contexts
Capital City: Rotates every four years, currently Milan
Territory: The Federation and its territories - Constituent Republics
Government type (Republic, Monarchy etc): Parliamentary Republic
Head of State: Rotates between the Council of State members, currently President Arminio Casali of Rome
Head of Government: Prime Minister Agostino Depretis
Population: Federation: 20,831,700 | Territories: 6,953,000 | Protectorates: 5,845,000
Religion: The Federation is officially secular with freedom of religion, though Catholicism has a constitutional special status as the majority religion. Greek Orthodoxy is largely practised in the Ioanian Islands, while Islam is the dominant religion in Algeria-Tunisia, and largely in its West African territories along with folk religion and minorities of Catholics and Protestants. In the east Theravada Buddhism is the main religion, with Malay Islam, Christian converts, Chinese folk religion, and others as minorities.
Army: The Grand Army of the Federation (Grande Armata della Federazione) was formed from a merger of the Army of the Republic of Venice, the Italian Revolutionary Army, and the Italian Legion. The army is centralised, with the divisions between the various republic's armies being purely ceremonial. It numbers around 220,000, including reserves, and is mostly on par with the other European powers if not a tad weaker.
Navy: The Marina Militare is modest compared to other great nations, but a power in itself. It has two of the most advanced battleships currently in production, the Caio Duilio and the Enrico Dandolo, and has put a substantial part of its budget towards maintaining the naval arms race.
History (choose a point of origin to start from): Though Venice declined after the 16th and 17th centuries in which it eclipsed all other Mediterranean powers, it was not to fall. Trade with Egypt and the Byzantines kept it afloat, and though it lost many territories it managed to keep a hold on its Dalmatian possessions and with the acquisition of Ragusa even expand them. The turbulence of the late 18th and early 19th century saw Venice and many other Italian states collapse, with new states being formed and anarchy beginning a process known as the Risorgimento.

The Serene Republic reformed itself, revolutionaries declaring a republic, at first for Venetians but soon their cry came for Italy. Venice invaded Milan, and soon found itself at war with every Italian power in the north. Though initially outgunned, the raising of the Italian Revolutionary Army from militant republican volunteers and the return of Giuseppe Garibaldi from the New World with his Italian Legion allowed for victory in 1845. The conquered states were not outright annexed, being reorganised into sister republics, before officially unifying in 1847 as the Italian Federation. Garibaldi's failed expedition to the south in late 1847, in which he barely escaped with his life, coupled with threats from neighbouring states, prevented any invasion of the south.

Since 1853 the Federation has undergone a serious romanticisation of its Roman past, seen as the unifier behind the Italian people. In its quest to prove itself a power, and reclaim the glory of Rome, it first conquered North Africa in the 1860s, followed by several wars and subsequent treaties with the Kingdom of Siam in the 70s which has given it control over the region. Recently it has begun expanding into West Africa from its initial forts, some constructed and some purchased, though these endeavours gain relatively little of the overall budget.
Additional Info:

App finished, minus the territories in West Africa which conflict with Kai's since she'll likely use them more

[Absolon-7]

---

Cool, oh well about the Gitmo thing. hmm I do have Namibia though

[Liecthenbourg]

NS Name: Liecthenbourg
IC Nation Name: The Russian Republic / Republic of the All Russias
Territory: Apologies for the quality of the map, I did this as quickly as I could. The dark green is the Republic Proper, the other colours are her 'Sister Republics'. I've likely missed a few bits of Russian territory, like the islands off the coast of Estonia.

[Asardia]

NS Name: The Ik Ka Ek Akai
IC Nation Name: The Vodun Horde
Territory: The royal purple. I figure I can use it in a unique way much better than it would be used as just colonial fodder anyway.

NS Name: Liecthenbourg
IC Nation Name: The Russian Republic / Republic of the All Russias
Territory: Apologies for the quality of the map, I did this as quickly as I could. The dark green is the Republic Proper, the other colours are her 'Sister Republics'. I've likely missed a few bits of Russian territory, like the islands off the coast of Estonia.

Nations Reserved

NS Name: Parcia
Nation Name: República Federal de Cuba
Capital City: Havana
Territory: https://imgur.com/bCWxZqH
Government type: Revolutionary Federal Republic, with a Constitution to come soon.
Head of State: El Presidente Fredrico Carlo
Head of Government: El Presidente Fredrico Carlo / Vice president Ramond Maestre.
Population: 1,570,004
Religion: Catholicism with small remnants of native religion.
Army: 10,000 standing troops, mostly deployed across the island in smaller units. (Load out and uniform to come soon.)
Navy: 5,700 total Sailors (1000 of which are trained as boarding troops and marines) Fitting 6 armored, screwed gunboats.
History: 1882 - A revolution, driven bynoted anti-Imperial revolutionary Armado Castro, over throws the Spanish Government and kicks off a 2 year long war between Cuban natives (Spanish and Actual natives) and Imperial Spanish troops. Noted during this time is the rather large contribution by EX-US civil war Veterans, mostly Irish Catholics* and freed Slaves.

These Veteran Troops formed the core of the "Federal Army" and were used as heavy infantry to directly counter Colonial Spanish troops and subsequent reinforcements. Serving along side them was between 5-7,000 Cuban light riflemen (mostly armed with Winchester rifles) that fought in the heavily forested areas of the island and combated Loyalist Native tribes.

As of the current date (1884, no?) the Majority of the Imperial Spanish Forces have been destroyed or routed off the island and back across the Atlantic, and now the country looks to steel it self with better arms and aid from Neighboring countries.
Additional Info:
*(Primarily surviving members of the "Fighting 69th" as well as freedmen from the 1st Arkansas, as well as smaller units formed from regiments of the "Iron Brigade", mostly of the 19th Indiana Regiment)

NS Name: Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States
Nation Name: The United States of America
Capital City: Washington DC
Territory: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... -11-02.png
Government type: Bicameral presidential republic
Head of State: President Benjamin F. Butler
Head of Government: President Benjamin F. Butler
Population: 55.000.000
Religion: Various, primarily denominations of Christianity
Army: The US Army is a small, peace time force currently mostly occupied with fighting native Americans on the frontiers. Total strength of all the armed forces is around 40.000, with 27.000 in the army, 11.000 in the navy and 2.000 in the marine corps. The soldiers in these armies aren’t particularly well-trained, as the threat of war in the US is extremely low at the moment. The officer corps has learned quite a few lessons from the civil war, but the officer corps is also ageing and won’t be around for much longer. The army is mostly used to keep the South under the thumb, and to keep political control in the hands of the Republican state governments.
Navy: Small, neglected, unable to perform in a modern war. However, plans to modernise the navy into a modern steel navy exist, and will need to be implemented over the next decade.
History: Ever since the Civil War, Reconstruction has been a hot-button issue for the US government. President Abraham Lincoln favoured a policy of reconciliation, with as little change to the Union as possible. Slavery was outlawed, and former slaves were made citizens, but since the South had never legally succeeded according to the administration. Therefore, no scores needed to be settled for the states to ‘rejoin’, since they had technically never left. This sat well with Democrats, who wanted to leave the war behind them as fast as possible, but Radical Republicans opposed this behaviour. They wanted former Confederate supporters to lose the right to vote, they wanted reparations, and they wanted land to be distributed among former slaves. Lincoln’s peaceful reconciliation did much to mend the nation’s wounds, but didn’t do much to stop systematic inequality in the South. Former slaves were economically obliged to work for their former owners in a system called ‘sharecropping’, sharing many similarities with slavery and serfdom of old. The assassination of Lincoln left the government in the hands of Andrew Johnson, a moderate Republican from the South, who was only going to continue this reconciliatory tone.

This tone angered the Radical Republicans even more, and even the rank-and-file Republicans were displeased at this mellow approach. Blatant black disenfranchisement in the South led to Congress taking over the reconstruction effort in 1867, taking it to a whole new radical path. What followed were acts and constitutional amendments that ensured the rights of black citizens, and that forced the Southern states to form new governments that included former slaves among them. The south was divided into various military districts, and adopting these new governments was made a qualifier to rejoin the Union, in stark contrast with the opinion that Lincoln and Johnson had held. These states also had to ratify the 14th amendment to the US constitution, which made sure it had the required majority to pass into law. Johnson had consequently lost the faith of his party, and in the 1868 elections he was replaced by former general Grant. The margin was small, however, so Republicans pushed through another amendment to the US constitution, barring voter discrimination based on race. This led to an enormous growth of Republican influence in the South, and of Radical Republicans in the US government. Desegregation of politics made sure that about 2.000 black Americans were elected to office during reconstruction, which made sure that school systems were expanded for the newly freed members of society.

This is what caused an enormous uproar in the South. With the foundation of the Ku Klux Klan, white Southerners began targeting Republican politicians, both black and white, in order to terrorise their political opposition. Polling stations were attacked and fraud was rampant, meaning that fewer black people could vote. This led to enormous uproar in government, and president Grant was forced to send more troops South in order to pacify the regions. While not incredibly successful, this did do enough to make sure enough black people could vote in the 1876 presidential elections. Rutherford B. Hayes was elected in a landslide, only further strengthening the resolve of the Radical Republicans. Hayes was forced to take a certain Benjamin Butler, leader of the Radical Republicans, as his VP. Republicans doubled down on reconstruction after 1876, building schools and roads, and prosecuting KKK members federally where the state governments were unwilling to step in. The ‘White Scare’ set in in the South: every white Democrat was suspected of harbouring KKK sentiments. The federal government set up a committee to deal with these fears, giving it unprecedented power to investigate politicians in office. While not many were found guilty, the existence of the committee only fuelled the fires even further. The link between the former confederacy and the KKK were obvious, and therefore the Hayes administration instituted a series of oaths one would have to take in order to take office: it became forbidden for former Confederates to hold office. This included officers, soldiers, but also businessmen and people who were forced into serving the Confederacy. This White Scare strengthened the power of the Republicans, and especially of the Radical Republicans, who by 1880 outnumbered the former moderate Republicans. The politics had begun to shift. Hayes was cast aside in 1880 in favour of his VP Butler, who took P. B. S. Pinchback as his own VP. Pinchback won, but this time the Democrats mounted a somewhat successful counter under Winfield Scott Hancock. Regardless, the Republicans only increased their mandate, setting up land redistribution schemes in order to desegregate the South entirely. Land confiscation became a frequent punishment, and you basically immediately forfeited your land if you were either KKK or a former Confederate. In order to appease Democrats, poor white farmers were also included in the scheme.

In this year, the Year of our Lord 1884, another election is coming up. The Butler administration is wildly popular among Republicans, but despised and loathed by the Democrats, who seek to undermine all his achievements. Having survived multiple impeachment attempts, the ageing Butler is insure whether to give it another go. The occupation of the South continues, and there is no end in sight for the radical reconstruction the government has been organising so far. How this project will continue is everyone’s guess.

(Image)

NS Name: Krugmar
Nation Name: Officially the Italian Federation, usually known as the North Italian Federation, North Italy, or just Italy. Sometimes called Padania, Lombardia, Langobardia or Alta Italia, usually in romanticist contexts
Capital City: Rotates every four years, currently Milan
Territory: The Federation and its territories - Constituent Republics
Government type (Republic, Monarchy etc): Parliamentary Republic
Head of State: Rotates between the Council of State members, currently President Arminio Casali of Rome
Head of Government: Prime Minister Agostino Depretis
Population: Federation: 20,831,700 | Territories: 6,953,000 | Protectorates: 5,845,000
Religion: The Federation is officially secular with freedom of religion, though Catholicism has a constitutional special status as the majority religion. Greek Orthodoxy is largely practised in the Ioanian Islands, while Islam is the dominant religion in Algeria-Tunisia, and largely in its West African territories along with folk religion and minorities of Catholics and Protestants. In the east Theravada Buddhism is the main religion, with Malay Islam, Christian converts, Chinese folk religion, and others as minorities.
Army: The Grand Army of the Federation (Grande Armata della Federazione) was formed from a merger of the Army of the Republic of Venice, the Italian Revolutionary Army, and the Italian Legion. The army is centralised, with the divisions between the various republic's armies being purely ceremonial. It numbers around 220,000, including reserves, and is mostly on par with the other European powers if not a tad weaker.
Navy: The Marina Militare is modest compared to other great nations, but a power in itself. It has two of the most advanced battleships currently in production, the Caio Duilio and the Enrico Dandolo, and has put a substantial part of its budget towards maintaining the naval arms race.
History (choose a point of origin to start from): Though Venice declined after the 16th and 17th centuries in which it eclipsed all other Mediterranean powers, it was not to fall. Trade with Egypt and the Byzantines kept it afloat, and though it lost many territories it managed to keep a hold on its Dalmatian possessions and with the acquisition of Ragusa even expand them. The turbulence of the late 18th and early 19th century saw Venice and many other Italian states collapse, with new states being formed and anarchy beginning a process known as the Risorgimento.

The Serene Republic reformed itself, revolutionaries declaring a republic, at first for Venetians but soon their cry came for Italy. Venice invaded Milan, and soon found itself at war with every Italian power in the north. Though initially outgunned, the raising of the Italian Revolutionary Army from militant republican volunteers and the return of Giuseppe Garibaldi from the New World with his Italian Legion allowed for victory in 1845. The conquered states were not outright annexed, being reorganised into sister republics, before officially unifying in 1847 as the Italian Federation. Garibaldi's failed expedition to the south in late 1847, in which he barely escaped with his life, coupled with threats from neighbouring states, prevented any invasion of the south.

Since 1853 the Federation has undergone a serious romanticisation of its Roman past, seen as the unifier behind the Italian people. In its quest to prove itself a power, and reclaim the glory of Rome, it first conquered North Africa in the 1860s, followed by several wars and subsequent treaties with the Kingdom of Siam in the 70s which has given it control over the region. Recently it has begun expanding into West Africa from its initial forts, some constructed and some purchased, though these endeavours gain relatively little of the overall budget.
Additional Info:

App finished, minus the territories in West Africa which conflict with Kai's since she'll likely use them more

Accepted

[Parcia]

And now we wait for the IC.

Any one going to play Imperial Spain.

[Bruke]

I updated Ethiopia's map on the app itself, so use that one.

EDIT: also ive made a fully completed app, let me know if anything needs fixing.

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

NS Name: The Ik Ka Ek Akai
Nation Name: The Vodun Horde (Twi: Awufo Dea Dɔm)
Capital City: Glarthon, City of the Molemen (Twi: Emusiei)
Territory: Here ya go
Government type: Ecclesiocracy
Head of State: Mambo-asogwe Apedomessi Facilier
Head of Government: Mambo-asogwe Nyamékyε Facilier
Population: 13,000,000 (estimated)
Religion: Traditional
Army: ~300,000 fearsome warriors fight in a disorganized horde- driven by zealotry and absolute subservience to their priestly masters, they wield the ancient iron weapons of Africa with pride. Do not let their outdated equipment and zealous charging fool you- they are a force to be reckoned with.
Navy: The navy is quite neglected in the Horde, and consists of Songhai-style war canoes, as well as several captured slaver ships. Due to a lack of available gunpowder, these ships often cannot use their cannons, and alongside the canoes will rely on boarding and forcefully overtaking enemies instead of sinking them. This tactic's benefit is that more supplies, ships, and gunpowder can then be secured from the captured ships.
History: Beginning with the high medieval introduction of Islam to the region of West Africa, the local priesthood and their devout followers did not sit idly by. Nay, instead they rose against the Mansa Musa- viewing him as a traitor who would spend all of Africa's resources and riches appeasing the Arabs, and ultimately sent him to exile. The disorganized chaos effectively ended the Malian Empire, and in short order traditional communities began establishing their own leaders. Seeing, however, the increasing pushes made by the Islamic world for conversion, the priests convened in a secretive location- a cave, held important by many followers of the traditional religions, where they gathered the many esoteric societies and secluded priests across the land.

This conclave proved successful in establishing a cooperation, and the religious leaders of the land agreed to continue holding conclaves at the spot. Using the Twi language as their lingua franca, noting it as both the most populous language south of Islam and also one easily learned and understood by those who did not speak it natively. And so it was- the tradition established, the faith become more centralized, almost reformed, just far enough to push against the tide of the cross and the crescent, and to hold to their own traditions in the face of adversity.

Come the Renaissance, and Europeans began to arrive. With them came a massive increase in the slave trade, and the disparate kingdoms and tribes soon realized their need to band together to stop themselves from being crushed, subjugated, and sold by larger Islamic powers on their border, as well as by European slave raids. By the 17th century, these groups had all turned to their traditional leaders- the priests- and asked them to find a solution. Tasked with a great challenge, they held a Grand Conclave and came to a single conclusion- they needed to create a theocratic state, uniting the tribes and kingdoms, to drive out the foreigners- much as they'd done so long ago for the Mansa.

Taking all the leaders and letting their individual priests explain the situation, they then promised each their continued dominion over their territory under the new regime- so long as a ritual of subservience before the priests and the gods was completed. Each chief, each king, was brought to a field and given a drug to simulate a death-like coma, and were each buried alive. When they awoke hours later, they were unburied by the priests, and the rituals were complete. The rulers, in turn, administered this ritual (with priestly guidance) to their followers, and so on and so on until each had completed it. When children were born, they too had to undergo the ritual, some even with mourning included to sign the death of the "free" baby followed by a celebration of the birth of the new, subservient child. This cult ravaged the countryside, and began expanding its numbers and borders gradually over centuries.

Eventually, they attacked the slavers. Capturing ships and inducting the slaves and the captured Europeans into their rites and society, they established bastions on the coast and overran the cooperative kingdoms of the region. When Europeans next arrived for trade, they met with the proud warriors of the Horde, and were told of the vast underground city of the highest priests and kings, the land where conclaves were held- "Gua Dea Twi" - meaning "the throne of the Twi", but they misheard. The Iberians, struggling to interpret the strange consonants and the nasal vowels of these new men, heard a new name entirely. When attempting to transcribe, they got "Gularçõ", entering French via Catalan as "Glarthon", from where it came into English. Legends were established of the "underground city" where "men, like moles or badgers, inhabited crude caves"- all the misconception of legends and the esoteric secrecy which the Horde kept to its home base- in truth, a sprawling complex carved into subterranean stone. The native name for this place, "Emusiei", was retained across the dominions of the Horde.

In the present day, they are a strong, proud people- and hold tensions against any they perceive to be infringing on their traditional rites and homeland. At the moment, they've got their eyes set on Britain- an uneasy peace rests for the moment, and they acknowledge the great task that war would be. And so, with that all in mind, they turn to internal affairs- trying to keep their traditions as best they can in an ever-changing world. The struggle is powerful, but their conviction is greater.

[Parcia]

So, i don't know if I want to buddy buddy with America, bit I figure my treatment of Ex-slaves and their families as regular people would alienate me from the Southern US, or go the England rout and miss out on the US economic Power house.

[Novas Arcanum]

Everyone hates England lol.I already have two forces plotting against me.

[Parcia]

Everyone hates England lol.I already have two forces plotting against me.

Bruh, if Albion Supplies the guns and Ammo, and holds no malice towards the Irishmen among my country, then Cuba stands with you.

[Novas Arcanum]

Everyone hates England lol.I already have two forces plotting against me.

Bruh, if Albion Supplies the guns and Ammo, and holds no malice towards the Irishmen among my country, then Cuba stands with you.

Brilliant we'll supply the guns and ammo in exchange for cash of course.

[Parcia]

Bruh, if Albion Supplies the guns and Ammo, and holds no malice towards the Irishmen among my country, then Cuba stands with you.

Brilliant we'll supply the guns and ammo in exchange for cash of course.

Cash...ok, can we work this out with cigars, fruits, and mercenary soldiers.

When we get rolling, you know, factories up and running, ports modernized, ships up and soldiers equipped, you have the cash AND some hardy soldiers.