Indian Summer

Chapter 15 – The Truth Will Set You Free

(Present day)

It was in the afternoon and Orhan has been reading the journal all day. He put the journal aside and lied down at the feet of the War Elephant display. Orhan dozed off and didn’t see him approach. When Orhan woke up startled by a noise, it was too late. The intruder had him in his clutches. The teenager tried to wiggle free but the man was too strong. Orhan was stunned when he saw the intruder’s face. It was the same man the cops dragged away in the paddy wagon earlier in the day. The same dirty old clothes, long hair and beard that have not been cut in ages. The smell of alcohol dominated the man’s clothing.

The man had his hands over Orhan’s mouth. The boy finally realized that there was no use struggling. He was not going to get away. The psycho finds him on the one day that he decided to sneak away from the Presidential Palace. What luck, he thought. Realizing the boy had stopped struggling, he removed his hand from Orhan’s mouth and motioned the boy to keep quiet. He spoke in a hoarse voice.

Man: “Orhan, my name is Lord McCauley and I thought I’d never find you. Gandhi had you stashed away in that Presidential Palace of his. I’ve been looking for you for ages.”

Orhan (still terrified): “H..h.how do you know my name?”

McCauley: “I am the knower of all things. I’m Lord McCauley.”

Orhan (confused): “Drunk is what you are. Let me go. There are personal security guards that will be back to get me any time now.”

McCauley (smiling): “I know you snuck away from the Palace. I’ve been watching you. I was on my way to talk to you when the damn cops ran after me like I stole their donuts or something.”

Orhan: “I don’t want to hear what ever you have to say. I have to go.”

McCauley (miffed): “You WILL hear what I have to say!”

Orhan settled down and looked intently at McCauley. He knew he would never get away if he tried to run and no one would hear him scream in this closed off section of the museum.

McCauley: “You asked me how I know your name. Let me tell you a story.

The war between India and the Ottoman Empire was being waged in what we know as South India. Half of the Ottoman cities have already fallen to the Western Expedition led by General Asoka. The massive force was about to capture Istanbul when Gandhi sent an envoy to Istanbul and demanded that the Ottoman Empire surrender immediately. The offer was simple. Surrender and what is left of the Empire will be allowed to exist as an Indian State. The Sultan will still have control over his cities and will only answer to Gandhi.

A furious Osman rejected the offer and Gandhi never expected this. Gandhi had expected that Osman will surrender once Istanbul falls. That is why he went to the city of Edrine, expecting to sign a peace treaty. Once Gandhi learned that the Ottomans had no intention to surrender, he was enraged. He was secretly escorted to the city of Istanbul where he gave the order. ‘Burn every thing down. Don’t let any thing remain standing’ were his words. Gandhi had found a way to kill two birds with one stone. He was always afraid of General Asoka and was concerned about the General becoming a political opponent. He bought off the few soldiers that witnessed the incident and promised them high rankings in the Indian military. But, General Asoka could not be bought. You have read what happened next.”

Orhan: “I was right. You are a nutcase.”

McCauley (chuckling): “It is nothing new. Many have said that I’m a drunk, delusional who likes to make things up. But what if I am telling the truth?”

McCauley continues…

McCauley: “I know you have always had a question on your mind, your mother. You never had the courage to ask the great Mahatma Gandhi the question. Do you want to know the truth? Wait, I’m a drunk who likes to make things up. I am out of here.”

As McCauley gets up to leave, Orhan speaks.

Orhan: “I want to know.”

McCauley: “Even though it has never been confirmed, the royal family was indeed killed in the great Istanbul fire. Gandhi made sure of it as he personally set the fire to the Istanbul Palace. As the Palace was burning, one of the Palace aides ran out with a bundle in his hand. The aide was on fire and she fell on the feet of the Indian exploratory force that included General Asoka, Gandhi and a few other select soldiers. It was Gandhi that removed the bundle from the aide that lay dead on the ground. It was a baby boy wrapped in the bundle of wet clothes. The baby had a small gold bracelet with a name – Orhan. Your name is not Orhan Gandhi. It is Orhan Gazi, son of Sultan Osman Gazi.”

Once again, i have to reitarate what a great story this is.

The picture editing is superb, the humour is there, and the twists and turns in a real game make it all the more satisfying. I thank you for taking your time to write this story for our enjoyment.



'nuff said

Chapter 16 – I Bring You Peace

1520 AD – The Peace Troops have landed in Carthage. General Hannibal had organized a welcoming party for the troops. As Gandhi exited one of the ships along with troops, the Carthaginians sensed something was wrong. It was too late when they realized that it was an invasion force that they were there to welcome. Before the Carthaginians knew what hit them, the capital city of Carthage was surrounded and all roads to and from the city was cut off. Carthage was under siege.

1540 AD – Men with Secret Police shirts walked in to the buildings housing the Congressional and Senate in Delhi and ordered every one out. The Indian Democracy was efficiently shut down. These men took down the Indian flag and put another one up in its place. The red flag signaled the arrival of the Communist Party. India is now a Communist State.

As the Indian invasion force set up barracks and organized the army outside Carthage, General Hannibal scrambled to get his troops organized. He had sent majority of his forces to the Mongol border to deter any plans Genghis Khan might have to invade his country. But he never thought in his wildest dreams that Gandhi is the one that will invade his nation. He has also had just acquired the technology required to train Cavalry but his Cavalry force was miniscule compared to the force that is here to tear his precious land into pieces.

1555 AD – The first Carthaginian city has fallen. The defensive units in the city put up a good fight but had no chance against the Artillery/Cavalry combination of the Indians. The residents of Leptis Magna watched in horror as the invasion force set the whole city on fire. This was just a preview of things to come.

As the rest of the world watched helplessly, the Indian forces burned Carthaginian cities one by one. General Hannibal was a prisoner of his own city and he knew the end will come soon. Even though the Indian forces had the capital city of Carthage surrounded, the city was never attacked. Gandhi wanted Hannibal to witness the destruction of Carthage.

1560 AD – A hungry tiger never passes on a free meal and Genghis Khan was no different. In a not so surprising move, the Mongols declare war on Carthage! Gandhi knew there was trouble between the Carthaginians and the Mongols but he never expected the Mongols to jump in. This will only make things easier, Gandhi thought.

1590 AD – The Carthaginian cities that have been destroyed are too many to count. The Indian forces left none standing per Gandhi’s order. Smoke and rubble arise from the ground where magnificent buildings once stood.

The Indian forces approached the former Spanish city of Barcelona. Majority of Carthaginian citizens have fled the city when they heard about the invading Indian forces. As the Indian troops entered the city, they were greeted as liberators by the oppressed Spanish citizens. Gandhi looked around the city and then gave the troops the order – torch it.

1600 AD – The Indian forces have the world shaking in their boots. It was Genghis Khan that sent an envoy to Gandhi. He wants a Mutual Protection Pact. Gandhi laughed when he heard about the request. No one has ever seen him laugh like that. There was something in those eyes that most people have never seen. You could see anger, pain & revenge in those eyes. Gandhi was a man on a mission. He decided that a Right of Passage agreement with the Mongols will be useful.

1615 AD – Ragnar Lodbrok did not know what Gandhi’s intentions were once he was done with Carthage. The once mighty Carthaginian Empire is now down to a few cities. Ragnar was also worried about the Indian forces trespassing on his territory. An emissary was sent to Gandhi with a message = remove your forces from Viking territories or declare war. Gandhi chuckled when he heard about the demand. He sent the emissary back with an answer – you asked for it. India declares war on Scandinavia!

1620 AD – As Gandhi entered the Palace in Carthage, he was closely guarded by Indian troops. He found a very much beaten Hannibal cowered in one of the bedrooms. You should have listened to my plea to leave Spain alone, said Gandhi. You thought I would forget, didn’t you? Gandhi never forgets. Have a nice trip to the afterlife, Hannibal. With those words Gandhi exited the magnificent structure. The Palace in Carthage was soon on fire.

1640 AD – With only a few minor Carthaginian towns left, Gandhi turns his attention on the Vikings. Stockholm soon falls to the massive invasion force that seems very much unstoppable by now. The massive army has the Viking capital in sights.

1650 AD – Gandhi assumed control of an Army and was on the steps of the Viking capital, Trondheim. The battle was fierce. Gandhi sent in War Elephants one after another and they were mowed down by the Riflemen guarding the city. In the end, Gandhi ordered his Cavalry Army to charge the city. It was a battle neither the Vikings nor the Indians will ever forget. When it was all said and done, the Viking capital went up in flames like rest of the cities that came under Indian attack. Gandhi has yet to spare a single city.

1685 AD – The Vikings are down to one city. Ragnar did not know when to turn the other way, Gandhi thought. Stavanger, the last Viking city, was already under attack. It won’t be long before the city is captured. As Gandhi pondered his next move, he got the news – The Vikings are done!

1695 AD – The Carthaginians are now down to their last city, lol. It seems that Gandhi will have the last laugh. I will laugh out loud when I hear that the last Carthaginian city has gone up in flames, Gandhi thought. He did not have to wait long for that news – Carthage is no more!

1700 AD – The Mongol troops were returning home to their families after a long war with Carthage. In the middle of the way, the unthinkable happened. There were Indian forces blocking the roads. The Indian forces have set up the ambush and were waiting for them. They knew it was over. The Mongol troops were slaughtered by the Indian forces and did not even stand a chance. Genghis Khan was celebrating his victory over the Carthaginians when he got the news – India has declared war on Mongolia.

1710 AD – Gandhi’s old friend Abe has sent an envoy and have requested a Mutual Protection Pact. He also wants 3 gold per turn in return for it. The request was politely denied. An envoy was sent to Namp’o, the Korean capital. The message was short – Prepare for war!

The Korean capital was quickly captured but Wang Kon had another city close to where Istanbul once stood. Sariwon, the last Korean city was also under attack shortly after but the Spearman that was defending the city held Indian forces at bay. Before it was said and done, 4 Cavalry units fell to a single Spearman. But Sariwon will soon fall. Korea is history, a history that Gandhi is writing!

In one of the great battles of recent times, Indian forces manage to kill 2 great Mongol leaders.

1715 AD – Abe Lincoln has seen enough. He knew his time would come but was not willing to wait any longer. He gathered up the few troops that he had left and declared war on India!

1740 AD – All Abe had to throw at the mighty Gandhi were Medieval Infantry and Spearmen. The American forces and cities were quickly mowed down. The last American city to fall was Chicago. America was done! Gandhi rejoiced when he heard the news. He no longer had to worry about another threat on the western continent as the entire land mass was now under Indian control.

Chapter 17 – A New Beginning

1750 AD – The news sent a chill down Gandhi’s spine. Asoka has been freed from the prison in Manp’o by the Crusaders. There were only a select few who know about the location of the former General. Gandhi had stored the information along with some sensitive military plans and his journal in his bedroom. He couldn’t comprehend how the Crusaders found out about General Asoka. I will deal with him when I get back to Delhi, Gandhi thought.

1760 AD – The Mongols have put up a valiant fight but the Indian invasion force was too big. Genghis Khan watched as his cities were burned one by one. Karakorum, Ta-Tu, Dalandzadgad and Darhan all fell to the hands of the evil Gandhi this year. Only one Mongol city now stands between Gandhi and conquest – Madrid.

1772 AD - Every thing that has a beginning has an end. As Gandhi’s army approached the city of Madrid, he was reminded of Queen Isabella. How ironic that the last Mongol city is the former Spanish capital, he thought. He decided that he will not destroy the great city of Madrid but rather make it a memorial to Queen Isabella. The Indian forces had the city surrounded. As Gandhi’s forces entered the city victorious, he was expecting to Spanish citizens in the city. He was shocked when it was angry groups of Mongols that greeted his force.

Back in India, the 3 remaining Crusaders led Asoka to Delhi. It was a bloodless coup. With a Cavalry force of 100+ and growing, Asoka had all the backing he needed to take the country back from the Communist Party. As he entered the Palace in Delhi, he was greeted by Orhan Garzi. India will start over under a new leader, Asoka.

News about the coup has reached Gandhi and he knew his reign was over. He had a military force of over 200+ units but had no ships to cross the Pacific Ocean. He was stuck in a vast wasteland, haunted by the memories of the cities the he destroyed and the lives that he took. He was stuck in a city full of hostile Mongols. Gandhi was stuck in hell.

Thus ends the story of Orhan Garzi and Mahatma Gandhi.

Indian Summer

Thanks Oblivion for the kind words.

As I mentioned earlier, I only had 12 days to play, write and post the game. In the end, I simply ran out of time. I couldn't spend nearly the time I wanted with the 2nd half of the story.

I got the idea for the story after reading all the 'I got nuked by Gandhi' posts. I only had two characters in mind when I started (Gandhi and Orhan). The game gave me the rest. The game also gave me a better ending than the one I originally had planned.

Thanks to all that read the story and those who posted feedback. I have a flight to catch in a couple of hours as I'm headed to spend the summer in India.

-Antony

'Definitely not a story teller'?

Rubbish!

This is the best story I've read on this forum, bar none.

Enjoy your holiday!

This is one of the most enjoyable stories recently posted here. 'Definitely not a story teller'? Please change that to: 'Born to tell stories'.

Can't wait till you decide to write another. If you do, please post a link in this thread; I'm keeping this subscription.

Enjoy your Holiday.

This is an amazing story,you're a natural born story teller. Maybe be even the next Jules Verne.

EXCELLENT STORY!!! Very good finish too, glad Lord McCauley managed to get a part as well.

Thanks for the feedback every one but I was disappointed that I had to rush the 2nd half of the story and didn't have time to focus on a lot of things.

This is great, I hope you do more stories like this

How did u always seem to have the big bulture projects and TONS of soldiers to fight with?

drwsince1987 said:

How did u always seem to have the big bulture projects and TONS of soldiers to fight with?

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(Reminder: This is C3C v1.22)

As far as wonders are concerned, I was dominating the tech research. I was so far ahead, the Great Library was fairly useless. I also did not trade contacts once the 2nd continent was discovered. The AI research was further crippled since they couldn't trade with each other for a long time. I also used Palace and wonders as prebuilds to complete most of the wonders. A few of my core cities were building nothing but cultural buildings and wonders. Keep in mind that India is a Religious civ.

# of units: Early in the game, it is mostly planning ahead, fighting on my terms and the use of artillery. Effective use of artillery alone will win you games. If you look at the casualty list from the wars, I did not lose a lot of units when I had artillery support. I only lost one or two units in the Korean War. I also made sure the unit that I picked to attack has an advantage (attack value vs. defend value) over the defending enemy.

Another reason is that my empire is barely defended. The defense during the wars was 1 defensive unit per border city. I made sure (except when Ottomans took Madras) that the enemy never got near my cities.

Towards the end my empire was too big and the economy was unstoppable under Communism. I think I was building 10 Cavalry per turn.

Really, you are kicking AI...butt. I fear the wrath of chieftess.

This is an awesome story! Too bad it's almost over.

MSTK said:

This is an awesome story! Too bad it's almost over.

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It is over sadly....

But we will see eachother again. Won't we, Gandalf?

Wow! this is one of the best stories I've ever read. You should join the demogame.If people over there read this story you will easily win the Minister of War elections.The registry link is in my sig.

GR8Madmax, are you planning to do another story game? Because this is the best story in the forum, along with DaftPanzer's Celtic Peacekeepers.

I can't believe I didn't read this thoroughly before. Excellent job and a great story!

Gulliver said:

Wow! this is one of the best stories I've ever read. You should join the demogame.If people over there read this story you will easily win the Minister of War elections.The registry link is in my sig.

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Thanks Gulliver. I've never really gotten into DGs or SGs probably because I'm not that good when it comes to playing the game.

T-Money said:

GR8Madmax, are you planning to do another story game? Because this is the best story in the forum, along with DaftPanzer's Celtic Peacekeepers.

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Thanks T-Money. I have been thinking of another story, maybe even a sequel, but I'm not sure what civ to play as. It'll also be on Emperor if I write another one, my first ever game at that level. Maybe one of these days I'll come up with something interesting.

North King said:

I can't believe I didn't read this thoroughly before. Excellent job and a great story!

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Thanks for the kind words North King.