Sadly, the first MAS died.

Fortunately, the new one has just started!

For those of you who don't know:

MAS is a story written by several authors. One author could, for example, write about the European bombardment of Iroquois coastal cities. The next author might switch to a failed attempt at a landing. And so on.

This one will be set in a Napoleonic era. This doesn't mean that there has to be a Napoleon in it. But it is with Napoleon-era technology level.

Communisto should write the first chapter.

Index of Posts:
1798:
- Indian Empire is the strongest military power of the world; attacks Zulu Hong Kong (gained with Japanese help in 1703) from the sea (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2460572&postcount=2)
- Fredrich III unifies Germany; German borders encompass many territories; Germany prepares to attack Burgundy (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2460572&postcount=3)
- Ireland fought several wars with England; An Irishman discovered Brianea to the west; O'Connor, Irish leader, is concerned with the German attacks on Burgundy and the possible German plans about Ireland (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2460572&postcount=4)
- Denmark is a German puppet state; is contempted by other Scandinavians; growth of nationalist Scandinavian surge? (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=5)
- Zulus opened up Japan; Japanese switched alliances several times after conquest of Hong Kong; Japan's relations with Zulus deteriorated. (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=6)
- English colony on Brianea rebellious (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=7)
- German invasion of Burgundy begins (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=8)
- India was interferring in Europe since 1492; England, Germany and Zululand plan to stop Indian power (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=9)
- Mongolia is a great power; Russia is an union of several nations; they are at war for a lot of time now; the frontlines run on the Ural; Mongols sighted near the frontline (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=10)
- Russia is polarized between Novgorod and Lithuania; Russians have spies in Ulan Baatar; a decisive Mongol offensive is about to begin (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=11)
- China was facing economic prosperity, but also setbacks in other fields; the new emperor wants to expand into southeast Asia (URL=http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=14)
- The plan for Fascist States of America is drawn (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=15)
- Indians helped reestablish Burgundy long ago; Germans have by now seized Dijon and begun to cut off Fort Charles where Phillip V personally commands the defenses; English allied with the Germans, landed in Normandy (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=16)
- Pope Michael IV considers starting a Crusade against Germany (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=18)
- The Elite Ciceron is a secret Christian organization (ala Assassins?); temporarily cooperates with India; Hong Kong fell. (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=20)
- The Crusade has been declared against Germany; English fleet decimated by the Irish; Great European War has begun. (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=21)

1799:
- China went to war with Mongolia not too long ago over Xixia; Mongols were defeated (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=22)
- Mongols routed at Fort Boyard; Genghis Khan was assassinated; Mongolia is rapidly losing. (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=23)
- English (Papist?)-Spanish fleet routed by the German-Dutch armada. (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=24)
- German forces land in England; George III determined to fight them back (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=28)
- Benjamin Franklin backs the Fascists; rebels ambush British columns (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=29)
- Zulu fleet attacks Sugar Islands; Zulus plan to colonize Brianea (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=30)
- Howe assassinated by rebels. (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=31)
- Benito Orlandi, Viscont de Fasce, invented fasceism (enlightened oligarchy); John Adams is his pupil; Messipia is on the rise elsewhere in Brianea (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=35)
- Prince Hamlet persuades Scandinavians to ally with Germany (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2462237&postcount=36)

Here goes, we end with india, we start with india!
*****

India... The Jewel of Earth. It stretched from the tip of the Malayan Peninsula to he mountains of the Hindu Kush, to the hilly plains of Persia. It was the greatest Empire in the world, rivalled only by the power of the two great sea powers England and Japan. None surpased India on the ground. The armies of the great nation threw down all that stood before it. She no longer bothered her sons with the clumsy musket, but used the rifled barrels for her soldiers. The famous Baker Rifle. Only three nations new of it's secrets, India, England and the small republic of the Celtic Tribe of Gaels, to the rest of the world this republic was known as Ireland. India had put forth her arm and seized the world.
*****
North West Pacific Ocean, August 12th 1798

The Frigate IIS (Indian Imperial Ship) Calcutta floated atop the waves. To it's right flank was her siter ship, Obedience. It was dark and they flashed lanterns to each other as to keep close. The men of Calcutta had no idea what their assignment was nor where they were, they did know how ever that they were to man their guns (74 in all) at all times and that there were 18 sharpshooters from the Imperial garrison itself on the craft. In the far off distance one could see the lights of a city. The current man on sentry was about to scream "land-ho!" but was silenced by one of the grey coated officers. Somebody said "Thats China, it is" and he was right. Well, he was half right. The city was in China but it was an imperial hold. The Empire to which it belonged was that of the Great Nation of Zululand. The Zulu nation took over southern China with the help of Japan in 1703, this was the port city of Hong Kong. India planned to take over the Zulu colony. Thousands of Grey-coated troops had lined up along the Zulu-Chinese/Indian Border and 120 Imperial Frigates were in Zulu waters. Calcutta and Ghandi were two of that fleet. One of the officers told the grey-coats to man the rowboats and depart for the port with their rifles loaded. Calcutta and Ghandi turned sideways and blasted their cannons into the colonial port.

The Reich had finally been established. Though bitterly opposed by the English and Russians, the Germans managed to unite under the ruler Frederick III. The small nations of Prussia, Austria, Bavaria, and other republics were united by force, as Frederick unleashed the armies of Berlin. Germany was established after five years of fighting, stretching from the Russian borders in Latvia and Belarus, to the Burgundian and Frankish holy kingdoms in the west, miles after the Rhine.

Frederick had mustered an army of nearly twenty thousand well armed and well trained soldiers, mostly from Berlin and Prussia. This army was already unmatched in all of Europe, which is why the rest feared him. With this magnficent army, he perceded to establish a full boarder with the Franks...meaning the invasion and occupation of the Holy Kingdom of Burgundy was a necessity. The Franks would undoubtadly come to the Burgundians assistance, and Frederick was prepared for this. He suspected nearly seven thousand men to oppose him in Burgundy, and thus he left ten thousand men, under General Emeigh, to guard the Frankish boarder.

Plans were set, the soldiers were ready. All it took was the order of Frederick.

O'Connor looked over the official report again. This new "Germany" was a threat enough, but if it gains control over the Dutch and Channel ports, currently controlled by Burgundy, as well, then Germany might become a threat to England.

A threat to England means, in turn, that Germany COULD overrun England. If Germany overruns England, then there is Ireland.

Gaelic Republic of Eire.

A tiny and impoverished nation until fifty years ago, when an Irishman discovered Brianea, the huge continent to the west, and until Eire became the primary trade center with the natives. Many would have done much to take over Eire, but the Irish fought back the English and Frankish invasions over years, in part thanks to the Hindun technology, in part due to the developping martial culture. Thus Eire remained free.

But will it remain free against Germany?

Germany, the second strongest land military in the world, the strongest in Europe. Germany, the industrial powerhouse surpassing India itself. Germany, which could, if it tries, become a naval power within a month.

The Taoiseach and First Consul of Eire was concerned. The Irish fleet was well-trained and had high morale since the Third Anglo-Irish War. But... it was small, and it was mere luck that allowed the Victory at Man. And the casualties of that battle were not yet fully restored, and some ships were still in a bad need of repairs. The land military was fairly large, had great training and disciplinne and was able to employ not only mere direct combat tactics, but also partisan warfare - something not yet employed by other nations of the Earth as far as he knew - well, maybe in Brianea... It was also equipped with Bah-Ker rifles of the Hinduns.

But Germany's fleet and army were huge and well-trained. Guerrila tactics can cause tons of casualties, perhaps, but if the Kaiser would want it, he could afford holding on to Eire if he wants it badly enough.

O'Connor knew that there was nothing Ireland could do if Germany conquers Burgundy and England and then decides to conquer Eire as well. But perhaps if Burgundy is helped out by an expeditionary corps... If it proves to be enough, Eire will have a continental ally.

But if that fails, then Ireland would come under German threat for sure. And then, apart from God, only one force would remain that could save Eire from a long night of German occupation, rape and plunder.

That force was called India.

Olaf Evikkson dipped the pole of his craft into the icy waters of the North Sea as quietly as he could. In the pitch covered buckets by his feet were today's catch, flopping angrily in the cramped space afforded them and still wriggling in fury after being plucked the sea. The wolf skin lining of his cloak was already rimed with frost and his oil treated eel skinned boots seemed to have developed a hole overnight. The cold, cold water was slowly soaking his woolen hose, causing the big man to grudgingly stamp his foot.

Kristiansand, his village and home, was somewhere in the mists beyond his left shoulder, but his attenetion was turned to the icy sea about him and the low line on the southern horizon of Gotberg and Denmark. He scowled. Although the days of dragon prowed ships and bellows to Woden during the heights of battle were far and gone in the foggy days of yore, Olaf still couldn't look at the Danelands without a snarl of disgust.

Pompous, soft, dandified, lap dogs to the greater European powers, Denmark was a constant reminder to every true hearted Scandinavian what could happen to a proud people if they turned their back on their hearth, home, and family. Forgeting the ties that originally bound them with blood and honor to Olaf's people, the men there had become lost, as ghosts forgotten in the mists. They cut ties and trade with their cousins across the sea and joined the foolish stage set by the might of Germany; unaware that their presence was as the amusing antics of a tiny dog fetching sticks.

Life might be hard and unforgiving along the fjords of Norway, but Olaf knew that he would not be true to himself if he wanted it any other way. He chuckled as a stray thought came to him, If the men of Germania could rise up again to great heights and dominance, then there might still be a time when the sons of Woden could do so as well. Giving the matter little further thought, Olaf Evikkson, 5th generation son of Rjork Bloodaxe, the last of his family to take up the mantle of berserker, contentedly plied his craft to the next marker and pulled up another trap from below the surface; filling the bucket at his feet with more small and wriggling creatures from the bountiful Scandinavian seas.

(my first contribution -- I hope it's not too boring. I will post more action-y things after we get off our feet)

The population of Hong Kong, Zululand consisted mainly of Asian immigrants from either China or Japan. The Zulus took up one third of the population, but they couldn’t complain. After all, the economy thrived in the multicultural business.

For as long as anyone could remember, the nations of China and Japan were at war. There was a brief peaceful time in the past, starting around 1705 when the shock of Hong Kong’s fall sank into Chinese spirits. The Japanese rejoiced in their victory, and with their most recent ally, the Zulus. When Japan first emerged from its isolated island feudalism in the late sixteenth century it was the Zulu who first befriended them. Soon after, Japan looked to China for some footing on the mainland, and war started ever since. Since then the Japanese have gone through cycles of many allies after “dumping” the Zulu, including Portugal, Korea, Vietnam (a naval power as a rebellious state of China), and the Russians. All in all, it was the Zulu who they came back to in the 1703 raid of Hong Kong.
It may seem that the Japanese may never work with the Zulu again. General Mpande II took the alliance to his advantage and when the battle was inevitably won after a long and drawn-out siege the Zulu fleet emerged and secured the city before Japan could even object. Faced by a choice that could shatter their reputation, leaving the world to think of them as people who stole from their allies, the Japanese backed off.
China paid tribute and for a while peace reigned. Japanese settlers and Chinese settlers, even citizens of the Asian Southeast States (A new nation consisting of the loosely bonded sovereignties of Burma – AKA Thailand –, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos) began to trade and eventually live in Hong Kong. In this place, it was the only place in the world that the three nations could live in peace.

That was then. This was now.

War re-erupted in 1743, a full forty years after the take-over. Hong Kong was still a Zulu county, but Japan’s seething anger would not let them ask the Zulus for alliance. Instead they looked towards the Asian Southeast States now. However the population of Hong Kong simply remained at peace, oblivious to the struggles of their homeland except in trade matters.
Now, in 1789, things remained pretty much the same. However, something new was coming to power, here. India was determined to take Hong Kong, and it was not like it would be any difficulty to them.

Boston, English Colony of Massachusettes

John Adams paced the floors of the empty marble hall. At the end sat glorious King George, who had generously given the colonial states of America a great deal of autonomy. This building was thus erected in his honor, made of marble and smooth stone, with a statue at the end of him sitting in his throne, a stern yet compassionate face forever fixed. Bending down on one knee, Adams gave his respects to England's most presitgious modern Kings. And then he turned into the room behind the statue, the room designated as the Hall of Records. Here he would begin his research on warfare. Here he would begin the American revolution from England. Here, the United States of America would be born.

****

Emeigh sneezed. This damn cold would not go away, he cursed. His tent was tinted with the smell of disease, which he could not stand much longer. He wanted the attack to begin, the time was right and the weather was perfect. The Burgundians still expected nothing. Frederick was getting even more paranoid. The armies were ready. All he was afraid for was this damn cold could impaire his ability to lead the troops. He sneezed again, and slowly drowned himself to sleep.

****

Not much, just setting a few things up to see how the rest of your write about it :)

Jean-Luc clamped his hand tightly over his mouth, stifling the cry of surprise he was about to utter. The dark forest was not as empty and alone as the woodsman first thought. Strange voices on the wind had lured him down this deer trail and across that small rivulet. Just when he was ready to give up on what he thought was a foolish pursuit of ghosts and goblins, he heard a sneeze.

It was rich and full and phlegmy...and much too close.

After the fear of being discovered had abated a bit, Jean-Luc dared to remove his hand from his mouth. He crept low, flattening his body into the brambles and brushwork of the forest's floor, picking his way tentatively toward the small clearing he could make out ahead. The scent of horses and woodsmoke was strong on the air. But there was no town, road, or outpost anywhere near here. And that concern caused the veteran woodsman to listen to his honed skills and above all to be wary.

He saw the wall of a tent. And beyond it, another one. And another, and another, and another. He rose slightly, mouth agape as he beheld dozens, scores, hundreds, maybe even thousands of tents. The camp was dark, the fires banked low to hide their presence. The low whickering of horses was faint on the night breeze. Unsure of what this portented, Jean-Luc heard a second sneeze.

Right in the tent next to him.

Daring not to move, he listened intently as the occupant inside grumbled something and shuffled about within a few seconds. Then a brief period of silence followed by the low rumblings of snores from whoever slept inside.

And whoever it was spoke the harsh gutteral sounds of Germany.

Realizing that no one anywhere that he knew of even had an inkling that this type of force was built up and arrayed near his home and homeland at all, Jean-Luc stole his way back from the efficient campsite the Germans had established and ran with increasing desperation towards his village. He hoped the headsman would be awake but didn't care if he had to drag the village elder out of bed by his ear.

And after he was done giving his ill-sounding news, he would grab his mother, his sister and herhusand and two young ones and run as fast as they could west and away from the trouble that was sure to spill into his homeland soon.

King George III did not like this land. Brianea. This kind of a cold and useless land could only be discovered by the Irish.

The Irish... The cursed Irish. A historical English possession. And now... they HUMILIATED the British fleet, defeating it with the help of those cursed Southerners, the Indians. They arrived in Europe suddenly back in 1492. They came in huge ships and with odd firearms and other advanced weaponry, they decimated the Portuguese navy which tried to attack them and they changed the history of the world. They established trading posts and regarded the Europeans with arrogance, though they themselves were not even Mosselmen. With time, due to some odd reason, the Indians decreased their control over the Atlantic ports of Europe, but time and time again, they would still interfere, via advisors, weapons or troops, undoing all the European powers that tried to become powerful. The Hapsburgs were defeated by them in Portugal, which became an Indian protectorate. The English were expelled from Ireland. The French were kept disunited.

Until now. George III looked smug, despite the fact that he was currently located in the colony of America (OTL New England) on the eastern Brianea - named so for a family of Portuguese immigrants who led the first English expedition across the Atlantic. There was no profit to this colony - right now. Perhaps once Ireland is English again...

He felt proud of himself. It was a masterpiece - the alliance with the distant black people of Zululand and with Fredrick III... The Zulus were to tie down the Indians elsewhere, the Germans and the British were to assume domination over Europe and then send troops to help out the Zulu "God-Emperor".

India Delenda Est.

OOC: Is it ok if i claim the right to make the map, once we have enough info? unlesss someone else is dying to do it, I really would like to. So when everyone is satisfied we have enough informayion tell me and i'd would love to make it.

IC:

Peter was cold. His company was cold. This land, this Siberia was cold. He had his Russian Army fur hat, his rabbit skin boots, wool long underwear, Russian Army wool Uniform, wool gloves and three pairs of wool socks on. Not once in the whole campaign did he remember being warm. Why were they even here? Why did the mongols insist on attacking. Damn Yellowskins, he thought. sighed and watched the moisture flutter in the air. Seventeen of his closest comrades had gone down with frost-bite. Russia was fighting the largest nation on Earth. Bigger even than India or Zululand. The Mongol horde's Empire encompassed the area from Kamchatka to Ulaan-Baatar to the Caspian Sea to the tip of the border with Scandinavia. United Russia consisted of the states of Moscovy, Novgorod, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The Mongols had an emense Cavalry army which fought the Cosacks in epic horse battles. But there was no cavalry in this theatre. They were in the Urals, the eturnal border.
Peter finished the apple he was eating and wiped the juice on his faded green uniform and returned to cleaning his bayonet. He had used it once on a Yellowskin. The bastard had tried to jump on his precious horse but Peter had stuck him. Peter's friend Ivan moved up beside him in the craggy woodland. His company was resting they had received American Chewing Tobbacco as a gift for their victory at Kirov and they munched on it with pride.
"Think they'll come today, sir?" Ivan said to their passing sargeant.
"Dont know, Ive." he said.
"I'm going to the latrines." Peter said and walked out into the forest. He walked for about ten minutes spitting tobbacco all over the snow and enjoying the sight of the Urals. A snap, a twig broke. Peter spun around whiping his musket to his eye level and scanning the area. He saw the moisture of someone's breath. Peter slowly moved forward through the foilage and knelt down beside a large tree. It was a Mongol. He was about 34 feet away from Peter and posed no emediate threat for he was also at the latrines. He wore the long sickly-yellow coat of a mongol cavalryman, beside him was his carbine. The mongol undid his pants and bent over to releive himself. Peter finished packing the musket ball into his weapon. He line it up and pulled the trigger. The projectile smacked right into the invader's neck blood and excrement flowed everywhere as the man's muscles tightened, died and relaxed. peter imediatley turned and ran back to his position to alert his fellows that the mongols were close.

OOC: Is it ok if i claim the right to make the map, once we have enough info? unlesss someone else is dying to do it, I really would like to. So when everyone is satisfied we have enough informayion tell me and i'd would love to make it.

Ofcourse its okay!

Kirov

I know it probably doesn't mean anything, but Kirov was named for a Soviet statesman. p:

IC:

"Karaul!"

The shout passed throughout the camp.

The boyar general, Fillip Orlov, stood up. Unlike his soldiers, he had a heavy fur coat - being a boyar DOES give advantages - , but he dropped it off immediately.

"What is it?" - he inquired loudly.

"Tataromongols!" - declared one of the soldiers - "They are near!"

"Damn it."

Fillip turned around and walked slowly, with dignity - and also hard-pressed by the uncomfortable uniform - towards the main tent.

"Your superiority!" - he exclaimed upon sighting Grand Prince Feodor of Minsk - "The Mongols are closing in!"

"Are you sure?" - Feodor asked calmly. He was always able to remain calm, it unnerved the other officers and nobles.

"Indeed I am, your superiority!"

"Very well. Prepare the defenses. How many of them are there?"

"I don't know yet!"

"Find out. Either way - tell the men to man the eastern walls. Call a messanger. Ermak's help would be useful here."

---

The Veche was quickly assembled. Boyars and the Grand Princes met to discuss the war effort.

The war was being turned around. Ever since Kulikovo Pole, the Rus was becoming stronger and stronger, more and more capable to fight the Horde on equal terms. And so the Horde was being forced out.

It was forced to retreat, especially after the victory at Kirov, after the Mongols were forced back yet again at Magnitogorsk. The Rus itself was, ofcourse, an unlikely alliance at first, ranging from the merchant republic of Novgorod, the "Northern Athens", to the totalitarian Triple Duchy of Lithuania-Galicia-Kievia. Yet the alliance became a federation, and the federation was becoming... an empire.

The Veche (both the Novgorodian one and the "Allrussian" one) had good spies over at the Mongol court. It knew well that the Mongol Khan staked the war on one massive offensive across the Urals. It should begin soon - and that was why the fortresses were being reinforced. That was why the wild Kuban' Cossacks were promised many lands for settlement and total amnesty in exchange for them joining the war effort.

For now, the turn of the Four Hundred Years War was to be decided.

i ment to write Vyatka bu was distracted

I don't want to be too nitpicky, but in my "history" of Japan, after Japan opened up isolation in the late 1500's they befriended the Zulu, and eventually abandoned it in the many-ally cycle. Finally when they hooked up with the Zulu again, teh Zulu betrayed them and took Hong Kong, which was supposed to be Japan's.

In the 1750's, under Emperor Kangxi’s enlightened economic policy, China entered a period of major economic transformation and development that would last until the mid-1790. There are three forces that led to this economic development. First, when Emperor Kangxi first inherited the throne, China had just went through half a century of poverty that resulted from the incompetence of Ming dynasty’s administration, and a major war that had unseated the Ming dynasty and brought Emperor Kangxi’s father to power who build the Ching dynasty. Emperor Kangxi therefore inherited a vast empire that was vulnerable to peasant rebellion. The fact that Emperor Kangxi and the Ching dynasty itself was a Manchurian dynasty, not a Han Chinese dynasty made it all the more necessary that Emperor Kangxi rule this empire with economic development as his chief objective in order to restore prosperity to China and thereby legitimizing the Manchurian domination of China.

Second, Emperor Kangxi knew very well that economic power is national power. A country that had a weak economic base could not maintain a strong enough military to fend of foreign invasion, which was increasingly becoming a threat to China staring in the early 1700's. The Japanese had taken over the port city of Hong Kong, and have greater ambition in China, while the Zulu and the Indians also have their eyes in this vast Middle Kingdom. Therefore the second goal of economic development was to strengthen a nation’s productive capacity that is needed in war time.

Lastly, the arrival of Jesuits and Christian missionaries from the west had a byproduct which is the introduction of western science and technology. Although the Ching dynasty government was initially suspicious of these western science and technology, they soon found them to be compatible with Emperor Kangxi’s goal of economic development, as many of these science and technology enabled industrialization.

And therefore, China’s economic development that had begun in the 1750's was rapidly turning China from a feudal society based on Confucianism into a free market capitalist economy.

However, Emperor Kangxi was too zealous about his economic development program. So anxious was he to promote economic development that he channeled most of the imperial tax revenues to investment in infrastructures. Although these investment had led to rapid economic growth such that China by the end of the 18th century had one of the highest standard of living on earth, very little was spared for military modernization. Therefore by 1789, China is trapped in an interesting situation in which the economy and society was one of the most advanced, while its military was pathetically primitive and outdated.

The year 1789 was the last year in which Emperor Kangxi would rule. He would die in the same year, passing his throne onto Emperor Yongjen. The new emperor knew of China’s weakness and strength. He knew very well that in terms of culture, arts, science, technology, and economy, China is unmatched. But in terms of military, China was at any time vulnerable to foreign invasion. Emperor Yongjen wanted to change that. Moreover, Emperor Yongjen wanted Hong Kong to be returned to China’s rule. But perhaps more importantly, Emperor Yongjen wanted to integrate all Far East Asia into Ching dynasty’s imperial domain. And with that grand ambition in mind, Emperor Yongjen began his reign with a decade of rapid military modernization that would turn China from a third rated military power into one that is most feared in the world.

A dirty window provided the only light for the dusty room, full far past its ideal capacity level. In the center was a brown, wooden table that seemed it must have been built in ancient times. One of the legs was short, prompting someone to place a small book under it to level it out. The surface was covered with deep grooves, some cause by knives, others by pens, and still others by various means. Around it stood a dozen old, American men who listened intently to the loud voice of John Adams, who stood atop a chair at the head of the table. His fists waved as he spoke, his eyes deep with mystery and wisdom.

"The British wish nothing more for the Americans then to be an asset to their empire!" he boasted, retrieving loud applause after each exclamation.

"King Geoge is nothing but a hypocrite. He calls for equality, but he overlooks our fair country. I tell you, he is not for the People, he is for Britain!" He yelled again, this time the room erupted even louder then before. And he was just beginning. The night went on and on as he stood in that small, dusty room in a remote barn in southern Massachussettes.

His name was already known by pretty much everyone in the American colonies. He was the number one most wanted man in the British Empire. His ideals of leadership for a new country made out of the British colonies was very frightening to every freedom-loving person in the world. His call to dictatorship was supported by his arguments that he was for the people. His idea of the Fascist State of America was growing, and supporters already numbered in the thousands. Even more frightening to King George III was Adam's hold over many key colonial government officials.

Adams believed that if he could just convince these wrinkled, time-infested old men that he was preaching to today, then he would most assurably win the revolution to come. The men in the dusty, age-worn room were none other then the governor of each colonial state in America, the highest officials of the colonial governments. If these men agreed in a revolution, they would be the ones who would eventually win it.

The night was over, and not a moment to soon for Adams. He had been loosing his voice ever since his speech to the people of town square in New York. He had bribed the lawmen to allow a small, three hour speech in the center of the town. To his delightment, nearly four thousand people showed up to the rally, stressing his voice to its limit.

As the old men shuffled out, one remained behind. The Governor of Virginia, one of the more prominant colonies, had a key of suspicion in his eye. Waiting until the rest of the men had said their thoughts to Adams, governor Tracy decided to have a one-on-one with Adams. Preparing for this since Tracy's letter he recieved last week, Adams retained his posture, and asked Tracy to have a seat. Declining, Tracy asked, "How do you believe for this to work. The British are far from weak, and fully able to put down a rebellion in any of its colonies."

"A full, widespread rebellion in every colony in America is beyond the George's capabilities to counter. Especially with the threat of Frederich on his doorstep. If we are able to manage a full, continental-wide rebellion, Britain will relinquish control of America," Adams responded, confident of his answer.

"And just how do you prepare to fight against the British, Adams? We have no militia, and no means of producing weapons," the next question came.

"On the contrary, sir. I have prepared already a thousand rifles, and five thousand barrels of amunition. This is but a beginning. I am sure the Germans would have no problem selling us some Chessepot rifles if they were used against George."

"Of course. And one last thing, if I may," Tracy added, and after an eager nod from Adams, he continued, "how can I trust you to do a better job then George? How does Fascism differ from what we have now?"

"Monarchy is the root of all evil, sir. Fascism has is the second gospel of the Lord. If it is given to us by almighty, then it is destined to work. Besides, I am much more competant, sir, then George is, and am ready to serve the people." Adams was not happy with his response. He really did not have one. But appearantly Tracy was convinced. Smiling and shaking the hand of Adams, he assured Adams that he would have the full support of Virginia when the revolution came.

Smiling, Adams locked the door behind him. George would never see this coming.

OOC: Just to make this clear - its NOT in the same world as MAS I. And America isn't really called America, its called Brianea and was discovered fifty years ago by an Irish explorer.

IC:

Phillip V stood behind the fortress wall and looked at the advancing dark blue mass.

"Blasted Hanses!" - he shouted in fury but knew that they would not hear him. The German army continued to advance in squares, in a variation of the chessboard formation of the ancient Romans. Indeed Frederick III probably planned to recreate that empire... only this time, from the north, much like Frederick Barbarossa.

Phillip sneered. Did Frederick III get the dark age idea of "world-state" into his damned Hansish head?!

Phillip was one of the "old-fashioned" kings, the type that believed that the monarch must be a caring father of his people and, as such, its defender in battle against invaders. Defying common sense, he bravely chose to put on the uniform of a field marshall and command the defense of Fort Charles. The last line of defenses of Burgundy.

Cannons shouted at the warrior-king as they tried to crush the powerful walls of Burgundy's fort, built by Vauban himself. Phillip sneered again, in disdain. 'A fortress' wall can be broken, but the brave spirit of Burgundy cannot.'

He turned around, hearing footsteps.

"Ah, General de Auran!" - the king exclaimed at the sight of his old one-eyed scar-faced friend.

"Greetings. Your majesty..." - de Auran said in a grave voice.

"None of that. The protocol is for the court rooms. Call me Phillip." - the king quickly interrupted him and patted the aging general on the shoulder.

"Very well... Phillip. The Hanses have seized Dijon, while another force led by Emeleigh is threatening to cut us off. And, worst of all..." - Henri de Auran started again and was, once more, interrupted.

"Curses. Emeleigh... he could capture the refugees!"

"I am sure Louisa made it safely across the border." - reported de Auran - "Betrayal has occured, your Majesty. The English have allied with Germany. They landed in Normandy."

"WHAT?!" - the king was stunned - "But George III... curse that sneaky bastard! I should have known it, he's a half-German after all... Why did you not start with it?"

"I believe that the German threat to cut us off is more important at the moment."

"Why? Even if we manage to flee to France, Frederick will follow us there... and where will we go from there? To the Indians in Portugal?"

"Actually..." - Henri was interrupted once more - both by the new wave of cannon fire and by his king.

"I know, it may seem a good an idea, but I don't trust those odd peoples. And I know they helped my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather recover Burgundy. But they are just too strange for me to trust."

"You are becoming conservative..."

"All kings at old age do. Darn the English! Our colonies in Brianea... my people already there are as good as lost. And now my people will become refugees." - Phillip was rarely hysteriac, but this time he was clearly unnerved.

"Do not worry."

"I know, I know. Let us worry about the present problems." - Phillip regained control of himself - "Very well. We will still hold the fortress until all the refugees make it into France." - Phillip sighed, tiredly - "Tell Marshall le Fayette to organize cavalry raids to distract Emeleigh from the refugees."

"And when will we evacuate the fortress?"

"Fortresses are not for abandoning, old friend. They are for defending." - Phillip said after a pause caused by yet another wave of German artillery bombardment and the first volley of counterbattery fire from the fortress.

This isn't going to die as fast as the other one!

"Your Holiness; it has begun."

Pope Michael IV sighed heavily, leaning his weight forward. His mitre slid slightly on his tonsured scalp, causing him to right himself before it was in danger of falling. "Tell me, Gregorus; can we stop it?"

"No, your Holiness. There are forces at work that pay little mind to Rome anymore."

"How could it come to this? There was a time when no king or general would dare move without consulting the Holy See."

"Those days are lost to mist, your Holiness. This new world of smoke and steel has little care or mind for us in Rome."

The pope squirmed, his face twisted into a mask of distaste. "Lucifer's hand is strong in this. He has been plotting the downfall of the church for generations. If you were to look back, you would see that was the case all along."

"If the dark one is astride in the world, your Holiness, he could not pick a better place to launch his final crusade against us than the heathen lands of Germany."

"Cautiously, your Eminence," the pope admonished, finger upraised. "Those heathens as you called them are souls trapped under the yoke of a godless man. Good Christian men and women who are looking for the holy warriors of Christendom to free them."

"Burgundy? France? For the almighty's sake, you don't mean those Papist in England, do you?"

"The lord is a loving force. He has and will forgive those for their tresspass after the judgement has been called." He shook his head. "We have willing lands filled with those who would answer our call if the cry went out. Spain, Ireland, even the lands of Carthage across the Mediterranean will answer the call if clamored to to drive the hooved one out of Germany and back into the cracks of Hell."

"It will be, difficult, your Holiness."

"The path of the righteous man is bereft with brambles and bracken. We will have to persevere."

"What...," the cardinal swallowed. "What if the Germans decided to send their forces over the mountains and throughout the pennisula? What if they launch an offensive on Rome in response to our declaration and denouncement?"

"They wouldn't dare!"

"Please, your Holiness. What if?"

The pope frowned, brows creasing in thought. "Then they have doomed themselves and their people to an eternal torment without the possibility of salvation. Rome has not fallen to enemy hands for twelve hundred years and will not fall to those who seek to snuff the light of Christ from this earth. Now go, declare our denouncement of this struggle and have all of Germany threatened with ex-communication unless they are willing to talk and recant their warmongering decision."

"As you wish, your Holiness."

Pope Michael IV watch as his cardinal left to do his bidding and had to do everything he could to keep himself from crying out 'Stop!' Planting seeds of doubt in my mind, foul Lucifer? he thought, mouth turned down in disgust. My will is bolstered by the Lord and our cause is just. Do not try your tricks on me. Feeling pleased with himslef he turned back to his other duties that had been interrupted earlier, but found that he was unable to quell the quiet voice in the back of mind telling him that it might have been better if Rome would not be so public in its opinion of this war.

@das: people will write, give them time - it's an open forum. There might not be something everyday, but there will be additions!

Please, anyone who wants to add just do so!

I want to see how this open forum progresses, interested to see where the story goes. So please, anyone with a short interest and few paragrpahs to pen down, just do so!

V

The siege began across the world the same day, in the dark of night. The brilliantly trained navy blasted down Dutch merchant ships that attempted to escape. An effective blockade was set up and all trade by sea was stripped. Hong Kong, populated by the Dutch and Japanese, was surrounded on all sides by its enemy, China, and few if any supplies could come through.
Thus was the Cordon of Hong Kong initiated. The Asian Southeast States had agreed to become allies with India, and China was bought with many goods to the alliance, as well.
A month passed in the siege and Hong Kong, reliant upon trade, was nearly starved out. It was time to send in the Cicéron.

None could buy the service of the Elite Cicéron, Fedai thought to himself. Long have they defended the values of Christianity and enforced the will of God. India was full of treacherous sinners, but so long as they allied themselves against the Japanese they were the friends of the Cicéron.
Japan had locked its doors from Christ since it had been established, slaying Christian missionaries who tried to bring the Word to innocents in the forsaken island. Only now had it opened up its borders for purposes only lying in the conquest of raw power. Such force must be punished. But the legions of the West lay conquering foolish infidels and taking their land, claiming to do so in His name. Yet in their hearts they hunger for power like any other. Fedai could understand. Power and wealth was strong, and such strengths could allow man to have his any desire…
As if by reflex Fedai pulled a knife from his belt, wickedly serrated, and cut a diagonal gash on his left side. He cringed from the pain, but repentance was worth it. Blood rushed freely through the wound, and he made no effort to ease the pain. He had tasted in his mouth a strong lust for power and its allure, and the sin of that must be punished the same way that He shed his blood for us.
His brown cloak caught the blood, and slowly the pain went away as he looked at his elite core of Cicéron. No, the Kings of the West would not help in this crusade, preoccupied in their skirmishes. Two hundred and sixteen men, his group consisted of. It was a holy number. When one was lost for the cause another was recruited to fill his place.
Fedai saw the dirty city of Hong Kong and saw that it was not good. It needed to be cleansed. Who else to do so but the Cicéron?
He brought his hand up and signaled the attack. Hong Kong would fall tonight.

Hunger had made the Chinese man testy as he wandered the streets at night. It as those stupid Indians, he hissed sharply in his mind. They had turned my own people against me. Still, he sought once more for the delicious taste of roasted pork and rice. He could barely feed himself, not mentioning his family of four kids.
He had come home from working over-time in false hopes of scavenging more money to buy food. Ever since the siege, the “cordon”, as the Indians liked to name it, food prices had skyrocketed.
He did not hear the silent landing of padded feet behind him, nor the rushing of intruders through the streets. He did not see the robed invaders surrounding him.
“Turn around, infidel,” a harsh voice spoke from the shadows in Chinese. The accent he could not name.
The man jumped up in shock, and silently turned around. He did not fear thieves, because every self-concerning person around here was armed lightly in case of them.
His hands up, he spoke calmly, “I have nothing,” he said, calmly. “Search me if you wish.”
A brown-cloaked man emerged from the darkness, his eyes baggy. Multiple scars crawled from what was visible of the neck. His sleeves were marred with the dark red stain of blood.
“I do not want your possessions, for what good is that of substance when it is in spirit that we shall live eternally?” the man asked.
Oh, the Chinese thought. Another rogue priest. They’ve been screaming about this doomsday thing ever since the siege came upon the city.
“It’s okay, I’ve paid all my dues,” he suggested. “The spirit of Confucious and Buddha and whatever Dutch God they have would be satisfied.”
The priest seemed to laugh. “Pay no heed to your corrupt Gods, for I fear you shall be meeting them soon.”
What?
The cloaked man continued. “Tell me, infidel, which way it is to the palace of this wretched city.”
An invader! The man sprinted out towards the sentries to sound an alarm, but he nearly collapsed after he ran head-on into a wall of robed men (soldiers?) blocking his way. Their leader, as it seemed, walked forward. “Which way is it to the palace?”
Gasping for breath, the man sputtered the directions and then ran for his life down the dark alleys before being knocked dead by one of the Cicéron.
“Poor guy,” Fedai chuckled. He looked up on the rooftops to see his men surging through the city. “You heard him,” he ordered redundantly. “Let’s go.”
As two hundred fled towards the town halls from all directions his most trusted sixteen stayed behind as Fedai’s bodyguards. They quickly hid the body and Fedai loomed over it in the dark alleys. Nobody would find it, of course. In quick and exaggerated hand movements the Bishop performed a cleansing ritual over the life of the man.
Finally, as it ended, his heart hardened as he headed towards Hong Kong Palace.

From the outskirts of the city the Indian ships and siege troops watched over carefully. A fire started from near the center of the city and soon grew raging.
“A little overdone, don’t you think, Fedai?” Chandragupta, the Indian Top Commander, chuckled. “Oh well, whatever gets the job done.”
He signaled to his men. “Move in, troops. Hong Kong is taken.”
He had hoped to congratulate the Cicéron, or at least thank them. However he knew that they would have already fled by the time he came. They would becomes enemies once more, separated by whatever cause Fedai made up for his men.

OOC: And now, its time for something completely different...

And I know it's really not much. But still.

IC:

"Year by Year History of Great European War.
Mobile Publishing House, Mobile, Floridan Republic, 1869.
by Luis Pokatha"

"As the beginning of 1799 approached, another dramatic change characteristic to the period happened. Vatican, whose power was damaged throughly by the Lutheran Wars in the 16th Century and the Great Mediterranean War in late 17th Century, chose to reassert its power. At that point, the Pope was Michael IV. Michael the Great, as some call him.

Just as Burgundy was about to collapse under the English-German pressure, Michael declared a Crusade against the "devil-driven Germannic horde" - presumably after negotiations failed. The call was soon answered. The papists in England started an uprising. The Spaniards and the Italians, soon joined by Mauretania and Carthage, sent their forces to Burgundian relief. Even more importantly, the Holy Empress Jeanne I, the Warrior-Maiden, soon after managed to crush the last remainders of Navarrese resistance and sent her forces against Germany in Burgundy. And finally, the small but well-trained Irish fleet struck at the larger English fleet at Cardiff, employing fire ships that crippled the English naval offensive capability for several years. The Great European War has begun."

The war between secularism and the religious force is plaguing Europe while Zulu and the Indians are fighting an intense war for control of Hong Kong. China’s only immediate threat is therefore the Japanese and the Mongolians.

Emperor Yongjen had wanted to integrate all of Far East Asia into Ching dynasty China’s rule. To do that, Emperor Yongjen had decided to start with the Mongolians.

Beginning in 1791, Emperor Yongjen began to redeploy troops to China’s northern boarders which touched Mongolia. Granaries were build, and were soon filled with foodstuff transported from other parts of China. In the same year, Emperor Yongjen’s government demanded that the province of Xixia be ceded to China, for this province was once a part of China’s territory that was lost to the Mongolians several centuries ago. A significant portion of the Chinese population still lived there today.

The Mongolians rejected such a demand, which was exactly what Emperor Yongjen had wanted, for now he has a reason to declare war on the Mongols.

However, curiously enough, Emperor Yongjen made no order for the army to move forward. Instead, the Chinese army simply waited there at China’s northern boarder.
At the same time, the Mongolian army across the boarder also waited, but they soon lost their patience, and decided to act first. They moved into China in the spring of 1792. Upon having came within twenty miles of the Chinese fortress and the camp that sheltered the Chinese army, the Mongolians camped for the night, the long trip having exhausted them.

However, the Chinese army was not willing to let the Mongolian rest. On that same night, while the wind was blowing north toward the direction of the Mongolian camp, General Han Guan Tse ordered the building of hundred of hot balloons, which carried dynamites.

The wind carried these hot balloons toward the Mongolian camps, and when the soldiers saw the balloons, they informed the Mongolian general, who ordered all the balloons to be shot down. What ensued was a long series of explosion that shocked the sleepy and tired Mongolian soldiers from their rest. Chaos resulted.

In the midst of the chaos, out of nowhere, a small regiment of five hundred Chinese calavary stormed into the Mongolian camp, killed as many Mongolian soldiers as they could, and retreated as fast as they have came. Worse, the Chinese calavary burned the Mongolian foodstuff, instantly reducing the Mongolian food supply by more than three fifth.

The Mongolian army was tired and exhausted the next day having not rest at all after a long trip that took them from Mongolia and into China. They were also demoralized knowing that they have lost more than three fifth of their food supply. Moreover, the explosion from last night had injured many soldiers. They were in no position to fight. Yet, the Chinese, in contrast, was confident, and eager to fight. The battle that was carried out later in the day was a quick one, and victory was easily China’s.

The Mongolian army retreated quickly, and the Chinese simply chased behind the Mongolians, killing however many they could. This continued until the Chinese reached a few miles inside the Mongolian boarder, at which point the Chinese army turned around and went back to China. As for the Mongolian army, their army was completely destroyed.

The Mongolian army that marched into China comprised the bulk of Mongol’s army reserves. Upon defeat and total annihilation, the Mongolian army was too weak to protect the rest of the Mongolian empire. The Russians used this opportunity to invade Mongols. Once the Russian invaded from Europe, drawing the remaining Mongolian army westward, the Chinese quickly invaded Mongolia also. In less than three month after the Mongolian-Chinese war had began, China had not only regained the Xixia province, but also added a vast tract of new territories from the Mongols. In addition, those various small central Asian kingdoms that once paid tributes to the Mongolian court have now switched their allegiance to China. The Russian had also gained significantly from Mongols’ misfortune, but with the War of Religion in Europe, they could not push very far inward into Far East Asia.

As for Emperor Yongjen himself, he has fulfilled the first step of his greater ambition. After five hundred years of history, the Mongolian’s Yuan dynasty, which had once ruled China, had finally come to an end. What was significant was that Emperor Yongjen brought down the Mongols very rapidly. In fact, so rapidly was the Mongols brought down that the rest of the world came to the conclusion that China had simply won due to luck, and paid no more attention to the development in East Asia. Had the rest of the world done otherwise, Emperor Yongjen’s ambition to expand into all of Far East Asia might have encountered more obstacles. But since the world did not, Emperor Yongjen was ready to fulfill the next step, which was the annexation of Japan and Korea.

Orlov gazed at the incoming Mongol horde with a strange feeling he always felt upon seeing the ranks of those disciplinned, brutal horsemen. Having let out their furious war-cries, the Mongols charged towards the fortifications. Orlov couldn't realize what their plan was, but Feodor seemed to grasp it. He yelled, hurriedly, at the soldiers to take aim and kill the Mongol first-rank cavalry. Roughly two-thirds of those were slaughtered by the concentrated fire... but the one-third that reached the fortifications was enough. They tossed some odd black objects, and to his horror, Orlov recognizes grenades. The fuses were lit, and Orlov followed Fedor down the wall before it was down. Not all of the soldiers made it, though.

Encouraged, the Mongols slammed into Fort Boyard. The streltsy desperately struggled to reorganize, amidst the gunfire. The Mongols were like devils, they fired while riding and slaughtered all that they saw in front of them.

Orlov picked up his "flintka" and fired, killing a well-dressed Mongol. Luck. Sheer luck.

Fedor did not get as lucky. With a sabre in his arm, he defied the Horde, but was killed. Allowing three other soldiers to escape.

"Stop!" - yelled Orlov at the Russians that were retreating further into the camp - "Stand and fight!"

A surprisingly large amount of troops followed the advice.

"BAYONETS!"

The troops quickly attached the newly-invented anti-cavalry bayonets to the rifles.

"ZA RODINU! CHARGE!!!"

Orlov led the charge at the surprised Mongol troops that expected a Russian rout. The bayonets took them by surprise as well, and as Orlov felt himself lose control over his body in the rage of battle, he realized that the situation here was not as bad he thought a few minutes before.

---

Orlov stood at attention before Grand Duke Miroslav Svetov of Novgorod. He felt a powerful aura around the elderly man - sure, he may not have much real power and the boyars could, in theory, throw him out of the window as soon as they judge him as "dangerous to democracy", but they wouldn't dare. Svetov was universally respected and beloved abroad and at home, respectively.

"May you be healthy, Fillip Fillipovich."

"May you be healthy, Miroslav Olegovich."

"Congratulations for your promotion, Fillip Fillipovich. You are a capable commander."

"Thank you, Miroslav Olegovich. I do hope that I deserve it."

"Deserve it? How can you not deserve it after the utter rout of the Mongols? The Horde is about to die out - the Genghis Khan was recently assassinated."

"Thank you, Miroslav..." - Fillip was surprised. First of all, how did Miroslav know... unless he had a spy network of his own? And secondly, why should he tell him?

"For trusting you? Fillip Fillipovich, if I can't trust you - then whom can I trust?" - asked the charismatic Duke.

"Yes, but..."

"You spent too much time studying European history and reading European books." - stated the Duke - "We are not Byzantines or Spaniards, with court intrigues and hints hidden in innocent words. Perhaps you forgot what our government is really like, Fillip Fillipovich. Honesty. Dumb honesty. We can lie to the foreigners, but not to each other."

"Miroslav Olegovich..."

"Forgive the old fool for lecturing you." - winked Miroslav - "Anyway - the Mongol War is about to end. The Mongols are retreating and came under attack from China again. Soon, Russia will be in peace."

As the English Ship of the Line fired its broadside volley of sixteen cannons into the wallowing tub that was the fleeing German boat, they were rewarded with a thunderous crash and sight of splintering wood and crippling masts. A cheer went up from the English ships that swarmed about the North Sea on seeing their enemy driven back.

It had been like this for weeks on end, with each attmepted foray by the German galleys to ferry troops to the British Isles being turned aside by numerous English and French vessels. Over eleven suspected boats had been sunk during the conflicts and twice that number had limped back to port. The lack of a worthwhile navy and strong attacking ships was becoming a serious pain in the Germanic offense.

And unless something changed, the English knew it was going to eventually be the barbian's undoing.

Another trio of vessels tried to break the line, a "V" fomation of fortified galley and two lighter masted and deeper keeled caravels. They had their sails full and every spar was flying sheet in a desperate attempt to grab wind and successfuly break out of the English's blockade.

The 'Mary Kelly' and 'Brittania' both tacked in the available offshore winds, presenting broadsides to the closing vessels before firing a salvo of mixed round and chain shot. The gunners had grown soft at their job given the surprising number of easy wins they had pitched against the mainland barbarians as was evidences by plumes of spray and little else when their first volley struck water.

As they turned back toward open waters to allow the 'Sister Catherine' and the 'Rampant Griffon' a chance to fire, they chanced to spot fresh sails on the horizon closing fast. No flags were flown but the ships had smooth lines and raised keels, belying their purpose as frigates and brigs of war as opposed to cargo vessels impressed into war time service.

An all hail was shouted over the waters, followed by a raising of colored flags asking the approaching vessels nationalities and headings.

No reply or flags were answered in return.

As the English ships watched the newcomers gather closer, they were intrigued but still unworried. They had been masters of the Ocean for more years that most had been alive and had little to fear from even a outfitted Spanish Galleon should the cowardly Spaniards seek to switch sides and shoot them in the back. Even so, they were unsure of who was approaching and why in such numbers.

When it was finally tallied at fifteen ships all of the same design, the now outnumbered English admirals grew concerned. But that faded to sheer terror as the frigates turned hard of port in unison and cannon muzzles were shoved out of portholes.

Each ship fired twenty four cannons, each gunner had carefully placed their aim and charge. Three hundred and sixty cannon balls arced across the cold waters of the North Sea and smashed like the hammer of god into the decks and hulls of the unprepared English ships.

For those men still able to stand and see after the first barrage slammed into their vessels, they were surprised to find the approaching frigates had all raised the orange flags of the Dutch Netherlands, proclaiming their allegience at long last. And then their starboard guns were in line and it no longer mattered where they originally berthed from as another concussive volley of iron death tore the living heart out of the English navy.

The three German ships sailed by, waving wildly in thanks to their newfound allies on their struggles against enemies both foreign and aborad. With their holds full of soldiers and horses, they kept their course firmly fixed to the not too distant shores of England.

OOC: Seems to me that the Irish have not disbaled the British Fleet, but rather Captured it, and stationed Papist sympathizers in said Navy in command posts.

Of course that doesn't matter now, as at least a floatilla of such ships have now been destoryed by Germanic Allies.

Seems that Britian has been caught between the Hammer and the Anvil.

Any details as to how successful the Papist Faction actually was in their Crusade against King George III? (i.e. the English Civil War, in which Adams and co would be able to break away without interference.)

And what with a fascism based on colonists, i.e. non-natives, anyway?

Um... I thought England was on the German side, and Netherlands were under German control? Rather confusing...

I don't quite see how "fascism" appeared here so early as well. But I do have an idea for that about which I will at some point write.

Denmark is under German control, not the Netherlands.

Um... I thought England was on the German side, and Netherlands were under German control? Rather confusing...

And is England on German's side? Maybe I misread/understood it. I'll peruse it again.

Checked and found:
Though bitterly opposed by the English and Russians, the Germans managed to unite under the ruler Frederick III.

This new "Germany" was a threat enough, but if it gains control over the Dutch and Channel ports, currently controlled by Burgundy, as well, then Germany might become a threat to England.

A threat to England means, in turn, that Germany COULD overrun England.

and
"On the contrary, sir. I have prepared already a thousand rifles, and five thousand barrels of amunition. This is but a beginning. I am sure the Germans would have no problem selling us some Chessepot rifles if they were used against George."

Doesn't seem they were ever united, sorry - my harrowing adventure on the high seas stands as written. Game, match, and point. ;)

V

"What do you mean there are Germans landing here? You must be mistaken, Percival."

The messenger shook visibly as he struggled to address King George of England. "No, your lordship. It's true. Estimates place the number to be closer to seven thousand from five. And they fly the flag of the Reichstag and Frederick."

"Here. On our island?" The English monarch seemed befuddled as he tried to puzzle his way through the news. "But what of our fleet and Admiral Dysington? Have we no word on how this could have happened? And in such numbers to say the least?"

"There has been no word, your majesty."

The door opened and a younger page entered, "Your Majesty, I bear an important message from your lordship's personnage, one Sir Benedict Arnold, presently stationed and serving in the American colonies of Brianea."

"Not now, boy," the king exploded, his face turning crimson as he whirled to face the newest messenger. "One situation at a time." Giving the youth a final glower, he turned back to Percival who seemed ready to swoon with fright. "Damn it to hell and back!" he swore. "I want the companies from London and Ipswich mustered immediately. Have my war council convened and ready."

"Yes, your majesty."

King George rose to his full height. "If it's war that they want, we shall give them what for. I swear it by god and country I won't rest until Frederick III is under by bootheel and begging for mercy." He waved his hand to the second messenger as he strode out of the chamber. "I have no time to hear the grumblings from the colonies at this time, regardless of how inflatedly important Sir Arnold feels his backwater news is to me. Have the missives placed in my study and I'll see to them soon if at all."

Giving the American situation no further thought, King George III bent all of his energy on how to keep the whole of his island free and unspoiled by the footsteps of Frederick's dogs. "Not since Elizabeth had to seek cover in the Tower of London during the ill fated Spanish invasion two hundred years earlier has ANY foreign power set their imprint on English soil." He snarled, teeth baring in anger. "We will cast these vermin back into the sea and then burn their homes down about their ears."

"By god and country I swear it to be so."

Benjamin Franklin bent over his New York desk. meddling in his head about what he should write at this momentus time. He fell back in his seat and gave a large sigh. He moved forward again fixed his byfocals, dipped his pen in ink and began scratching on his paper.

What does it mean to be free? To stand on the threshold of liberty look back at your former oppressors and spit. Would it be any different? Would life be sweeter? What difference would there be lest the sons of our land be face down on our own soil

miles away the rag tag american revolutionaries were loading their muskets and aiming at a British column

I have lived through much. I have seen the aztecs murder my wife, the British starved my son. But i do not want to see my homeland soaked in blood. The blind idiots rush headlong into oblivion for liberty.

They raised their guns. With the British on horseback was Lord Montgomry county head of New England.

They would folloow their lands into death if they could stoping only to rape and murder their former opressor until they themselves become the tyrants.

Muskets cracked and montogmry fell from his steed, blood pumping into the air. The British troops spun around and struggled to find the Americans.

And when the become the tyrants were will they go? To the depths of hell to shake hands with Georgy and dive in sin with the devil for liberty. So we will send our young men out to march for hell and I will follow, we will all follow for liberty.

(sorry for shortness)

The Zulu fleets sailed west from Africa towards an invisible destination. True, they had heard of Brianea from European stories. A drunken officer can spill many secrets. Now Germany was hiring the Zulu seafaring power not for the eastern conquest of China, but for the western conquest of this new land.
The agreement had been simple. Zulu would take the British Sugar Islands in the Caribbean, giving them to the Germans, and the Zulu would be able to gain the American colonies…if they could take them.

The clear skies seemed to beckon the Zulu fleets. Now was their hour.

OOC: Sort of a disjointed sequence, but it does seem that the time is ripe for this:

The timeline for this pasage is about the same time as Vandorn's passage about the British-German Naval Engagement. My understanding from that reading was that Papist Symphaizers, with possible Irish aid, had taken at least a Flotilla and perhaps the entire Home Fleet. This means it's probably a month or two before Vandorn's recent post. I guess it's also about a month before Communisto's recent post.

EDIT: And seeing how Benedict Arnold was a Colonel IRL, I would think that he would have that same rank in this timeline (though in His Majesty's army instead of the Colonials). Which means he would probably be Howe's Senior Aide at Halifax.


IC:

In the city of Bostown, a man at the steeple of the Olde North Church was peering at the Harbour area with a scope. Specifically, he was following the movement of a certain man. That certain man was the Britsh Governor General of the Briannan Colonies.

When the General entered a certain cottage, the observer keept an eye for about a half an hour. At which time he hung a lantern in the Western Window and rang the bell twice.

About an hour later, men painted as natives darted in the darkness between the city streets. The signal was given, and their target was in position. A quick glance back at the Olde North Steeple when chance permitted shown the lantern was moved to the Southern Window, so that the men could see it. The mission was still a go.


General Howe, Governor-General of Brianna, sat in his cottage near Bostown Harbour. It had been a long while since he had had any actual contact with his Majesty's Grand General in England. Rumors that his contacts at the harbor had learned from merchants and sailors spoke of Germany overrunning the continent, Let the Prussian dogs have the bloody continent, so long as Britainia is left be, that bloody Mikey Four-Leaf having a big huff about it, Let the Prussian dogs have him too, and good riddance, and news about a Papist revolt with bloody Irish support, having some success against the Home Fleet, and even capturing ships by some accounts, Dam#ed Navy can't even hold its own water anymore...

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the cottage. Howe heared gunfire and the Guard outside shouting. Natives? The Guard is having problems with a Native Revolt now? Wait, Natives here?! Muttering curses, Howe went to his coat and recovered his pistol. Making a quick check for powder and shot, he had two shots before he had to reload, he was about to leave his chamber. The door opened...

"Hello, General Howe."

"Adams! I should have known."

"If you should have known, then you should know why I am here."

Howe said nothing further. Two shots rang out. One from Howe's pistol, which hit Adams in the stomach.

The other, which came from one of the "Natives", tore Howe's face open.

That native then stooped over to Adams. "John, are you all right?"

"I'm all right, brother. Just a minor flesh wound."

"It's good that my aim was sharper. At least sharper than he was expecting."

"Thanks, Samuel. Now let's hurry. I want Revere enroute to New York before sunrise."

I'm trying to construct a map of the "New World" as of the start of the Rebellion. Can someone tell me whether the Sugar Islands refer to the Greater Antilles or to the Bahamas alone? And also, how the Anglo-Spanish War around 1600 went. (I know they both survived, but did the Spanish make the British come to an "agreement" or did the British repel the Spanish counter-invasion?)

Sugar Islands are historically correct, but I don't know their extent. Since this is not in the "real world", you can put them wherever you like.

Though bitterly opposed by the English and Russians, the Germans managed to unite under the ruler Frederick III.

Well, alliances change don't they? Peter III once almost went from a war with Prussia on the side of Austria to the war with Austria on the side of Prussia in less then a month.

This new "Germany" was a threat enough, but if it gains control over the Dutch and Channel ports, currently controlled by Burgundy, as well, then Germany might become a threat to England.

A threat to England means, in turn, that Germany COULD overrun England.

That's how the Irish see it.

"On the contrary, sir. I have prepared already a thousand rifles, and five thousand barrels of amunition. This is but a beginning. I am sure the Germans would have no problem selling us some Chessepot rifles if they were used against George."

That's how the Americans see it...

"Betrayal has occured, your Majesty. The English have allied with Germany. They landed in Normandy."

...and that's how the Burgundians see it!

We can, ofcourse, assume that Peter III syndrome struck England.

OOC: Also, what Grand Armade if it was stillborn due to the Indian fleet's "visit" of Europe in 1492?

Oh well, probably it was a different Armade.

IC:

Benito Orlandi, Viscont de Fasce, was sitting comfortably and sipping tea. Very fine Indian tea that very few people can afford.

As he sat in his villa, he was thinking over the... most interesting news from Brianea. Another prediction came true - a colonist rebellion indeed started in the recently-discovered land, and, what's interesting, their leader was... John Adams. A very capable pupil who, sadly, was too ambitious. He wanted to hurry up history.

But now, he did just that. Most interesting.

De Fasce remembered one of his aphorisms - "One person can only be a catalyst or an inhibitor in the overall history." Much more appropriate here was "freedom comes from a barrel of a rifle". Interesting was that when Adams went into self-imposed exile in that tiny colony of "America", he seemed to have resigned from public life altogether, even more so then his teacher. And now, he started the first fasceist revolution.

Most interesting indeed... and much more promising, history-wise, then anything done so far in the Old World. Fasce relaxed. Time will tell if this rebellion survives or not. After all, even if they do get independance, they will have to deal with the rising power of Messipia...

Right now, nothing was decided. Fasce sat there comfortably in his Portuguese villa where he was granted protection by India, while on the other side of the Atlantic, his pupil set about creating the first enlightened oligarchy.

"Princeling, you overstep yourself in coming to these halls. You and yours have found the perfumed joys of Prussian more to your tastes than the scented room of Woden and your clansmen. What makes you believe we want to entertain your words here and now?"

The heorot was warm and not just with the packed bodies of the thanes and clan leaders throughout the cold Norse lands of Scandinavia. Tempers were also flaring, hot tempers from angry men who had to not only look upon with envious eyes as the war banner flew over weaker countries, but that Prince Hamlet of Denmark had come here to speak.

"Brothers, lend me your..."

"We are brothers no more!" he was interrupted by an angry shout from further down the table. "You turned your backs on us for seven of the last fifteen summers. Do not think to come back today and speak as long lost kinsmen."

Hamlet clenched his fist and shook his head firmly. "The fight is not to be had here. Blood and smoke have been washed away over time and we should unite now while we still can. I am calling you here on behalf of King Frederick III..."

"Lapdog and lackey!" "Go home!"

"LISTEN! War is upon us. The Reich is not your enemy, never has been. Damn it! There more our brothers than any Angle born dandy and Frankman ever was." This comment drew quiet from the grumbling crowd. "Yes. That's right. The English. Wasn't there a time when our forefathers bent axe and bow against the soft sheep of that island?"

"That was years ago, Princeling. We know the stories."

"Then don't just know them! Live them again!. Join with Germany and let us ply the seas once again with blood song and axe as we did in our father's father's father's time. I for one would rather die with the memory of valiant deeds I had done to keep me warm than tales of braver men than I from days foregone."

"Say we entertain your words, Princeling, we have not the number of ships of men to make a material difference in this fight. And William L'Orange's men already cordon off the seas quite well. What spoils for us so far from home when we have to share it with dozens of others? Are we dogs to accept scraps that others leave behind?"

Prince Hamlet smiled. "No, we are not. But our men, raiders from the waters and fueled by the rage of the One-Eyed God can allow us to strike softer targets that are being ignored right now that might not be England." When the assembly said nothing, he continued, "A blow to the allies of England is the same as a blow to England itself. French, Spain, maybe even the Rus themselves if they dare to strike the German lands."

As the men grew thoughtful and nodded, the Danish prince finished with, "And we can once more sing the song of the Axe and dance the blood dance of our forefathers. So I ask again, on behalf of King Frederick, will you aid him now in his hour of need?"

After some quiet moments, every man in the hall raised his ale high and nodded. Smiling broadly in anticipation of what was to come.

teh bump...

Very interesting stuff.

Great stories everyone :D

May I ask, who owns corsica?

Not established. For fun, we can say that it's Papal. ;)

"Pope Lucius I, previously Napoleon Buonoparte, quickly advanced north with his army to crush the German forces at Waterloo" ;)