Author's suggestion: Play this in the background.
It did not take long for the Robertia Murders trial to expand its scope beyond the four Schutzmanner suspects. In fact, it could be said that the trial had ceased to be about them at all, as all the original proof against them had been either dismissed as insufficient, or found to be outright false.
With the blessings of the current Kami Yata and the tacit approval of the King, the four Schutzmanner were cleared of any accusation against them, and declared innocent of the crime of murder. However, it was strongly suggested that they never return to Robertia, maybe even leave the Kingdom. When the four prisoners were finally freed and escorted out of the courtroom after the verdict, a representative of the Shadows of Hell Mercenary Company was already waiting for them with an offer they could not refuse.
The acquittal of the Schutzmanner did not stop the investigations, as the motive was still unknown and the real perpetrators at large.
The Noyyau Department of Investigations managed to coordinate an unprecedented level of cooperation among the various intelligence agencies (mainly the Intelligence Branch of the Watch of House Florentanius and the newly formed Caterpillar Intelligence Agency) in their efforts to find the real culprits.
Every possibility was considered, inspected, and either discarded or investigated further.
By the time the (now ex-) Schutzmanner were on a ship bound to Siam, the joint investigation (codenamed “Operation Butterfly” uncovered foreign infiltrations deep in all layers of Noyyau society, both among the criminal elements and, more worryingly, among unsuspectable merchants, tradesmen, and bureaucrats.
A list of about one hundred prime suspects was given to King Felix, awaiting his decision on how to further proceed.
Meanwhile...
The Romans advanced in force into the Holy Roman southern territories, in an attempt to cut the Holy Roman nation in two.
Further north, the Holy Roman capital of Aachen seemed to be about to fall to a determined Roman attack.
On the Catfish Continent, the Ottomans once again approached Delhi, its fate completely unknowable, given the Ottoman penchant for seemingly senseless maneuvers.
Minor skirmishes were a daily occurrence in Batavia, the Batavian army having broken itself against the Noyyau invaders.
Following King Felix's orders, Duke Greek kept his troops in position, awaiting for the Batavians to finally surrender.
A secret report, compiled by House Giacola accountants and shown confidentially only to high ranking military officials and Noble Houses' representatives, revealed that the ongoing plundering of Canadian merchant and military ships was generating enough income to pay for a substantial part of the costs of the invasion of Batavia.
Even more mercenaries disembarked in Samut Prakan and joined the endless (and lucrative) Siam-Lithuania war.
House Florentanius announced the inauguration of its own weapons manufacturer: the Florentanius Gun Company, based in Wark (where House Florentanius had long had a strong presence with its famous Brewery).
The new weapons manufacturer quickly became known across the Kingdom as its first production firearm, the SanguiFlores Musket, was chosen by the Shadows of Hell Mercenary Company (arguably the largest mercenary company in the Kingdom) as its new standard issue weapon.
Despite constant losses, the Batavians still refused to surrender.
On the Lower Continent, the Holy Romans repelled the Roman advance in a massive and bloody battle. The devastated fields of Agade would long bear the scars and wreckage of the fighting.
After their defeat at Agade, the Romans sieging Aachen moved away from the Holy Roman capital, leaving the Noyyau observers puzzled.
The Lithuanian-conquered city of Nakhom Pathom, on the de facto frontline between Siam and Lithuania, remained highly dangerous for both Siamese and Lithuanians alike (with some help from Noyyau SIS agents to keep the situation volatile).
More troubling than Noyyau-supported foreign unrest, however, was the marked increase in banditry in the Latvian Fiefdom (recently renamed to Großherzogtum Lettland).
Despite the quick reaction of local garrisons and of the Caterpillar Verteidigers, a Village near Jelgava was raided by a particularly brutal band of Outlaws, before they were caught and apprehended by the Caterpillar Verteidigers.
The Caterpillar Investigations Agency was tasked by the Caterpillar leadership to investigate the origin of these bandits.
The SIS continued its destabilizing operations in the Roman colony of Neapolis.
The Sea Raiders continued harassing Batavian coastal targets, sailing uncontested along the eastern Batavian coasts.
The SIS expanded its operations in Lithuania, targeting Lithuanian economical infrastructure.
Despite (or perhaps due to) the impressive numbers of mercenaries operating in Siam, the Siamese government was unable to effectively control and deploy them where needed most, the mercenaries acting mostly of their own initiative. Such disorganization was capitalized by the Lithuanian army that had been harassing Khon Kaen for some time: having received reports that nearby Samut Prakan had been left lightly defended, they quickly marched north and seized the port city, while the bulk of the mercenaries were still celebrating their successful defense of Khon Kaen.
As soon as the news reached Khon Kaen, the mercenaries moved out in force, engaging the Lithuanians still in the field.
After a long and careful preparation period, the SIS began its activities in Hurrian-conquered former Vikingland, starting with the former Viking capital of Nidaros. Despite some initial setbacks and the unfortunate loss of a few agents, the oppressed Vikings responded well to Noyyau “suggestions” of rebellion against their Hurrian masters.
Canadian shipping continued to be a profitable source of income for the marauding Noyyau corsairs, most of these funds ultimately helping fund the Batavian invasion.
Beginning to tire of a “sitting war”, Duke Greek sent his mounted troops to do some raiding in the Batavian countryside, while still awaiting for a Batavian surrender.
The Siamese managed to retake control of the countryside surrounding Samut Prakan, though the port city itself remained in Lithuanian hands. New mercenary arrivals were made to disembark on the shores across Samut Prakan's surrounding rivers, for immediate action against the Lithuanians.
SIS saboteurs continued their operations in the Lithuanian interior.
The SIS also sent some fresh recruits to sabotage secondary infrastructure in the Catfish Desert, mostly for training practice purposes: (currently) Siamese Saxon Fort, to stop this useless location from further distracting the Siamese...
...and the Ottoman held Salt Fort, its walls exploding right under the noses of the sizeable Ottoman force stationed there.
The Greek Army mounted another attack on Oppidum Batavorum, and the Sea Raiders hit Batavian troops across the island, though the Batavians still refused to accept their obvious defeat.
The first teams of the Sedai Military Engineer Corps were sent to the RANK camps in southern Pictland, to perform integration exercises with the main RANK formations.
It did not take long for the Robertia Murders trial to expand its scope beyond the four Schutzmanner suspects. In fact, it could be said that the trial had ceased to be about them at all, as all the original proof against them had been either dismissed as insufficient, or found to be outright false.
With the blessings of the current Kami Yata and the tacit approval of the King, the four Schutzmanner were cleared of any accusation against them, and declared innocent of the crime of murder. However, it was strongly suggested that they never return to Robertia, maybe even leave the Kingdom. When the four prisoners were finally freed and escorted out of the courtroom after the verdict, a representative of the Shadows of Hell Mercenary Company was already waiting for them with an offer they could not refuse.
The acquittal of the Schutzmanner did not stop the investigations, as the motive was still unknown and the real perpetrators at large.
The Noyyau Department of Investigations managed to coordinate an unprecedented level of cooperation among the various intelligence agencies (mainly the Intelligence Branch of the Watch of House Florentanius and the newly formed Caterpillar Intelligence Agency) in their efforts to find the real culprits.
Every possibility was considered, inspected, and either discarded or investigated further.
By the time the (now ex-) Schutzmanner were on a ship bound to Siam, the joint investigation (codenamed “Operation Butterfly” uncovered foreign infiltrations deep in all layers of Noyyau society, both among the criminal elements and, more worryingly, among unsuspectable merchants, tradesmen, and bureaucrats.
A list of about one hundred prime suspects was given to King Felix, awaiting his decision on how to further proceed.
Meanwhile...
The Romans advanced in force into the Holy Roman southern territories, in an attempt to cut the Holy Roman nation in two.
Spoiler :
Further north, the Holy Roman capital of Aachen seemed to be about to fall to a determined Roman attack.
Spoiler :
On the Catfish Continent, the Ottomans once again approached Delhi, its fate completely unknowable, given the Ottoman penchant for seemingly senseless maneuvers.
Spoiler :
Minor skirmishes were a daily occurrence in Batavia, the Batavian army having broken itself against the Noyyau invaders.
Following King Felix's orders, Duke Greek kept his troops in position, awaiting for the Batavians to finally surrender.
Spoiler :
A secret report, compiled by House Giacola accountants and shown confidentially only to high ranking military officials and Noble Houses' representatives, revealed that the ongoing plundering of Canadian merchant and military ships was generating enough income to pay for a substantial part of the costs of the invasion of Batavia.
Spoiler :
Even more mercenaries disembarked in Samut Prakan and joined the endless (and lucrative) Siam-Lithuania war.
Spoiler :
House Florentanius announced the inauguration of its own weapons manufacturer: the Florentanius Gun Company, based in Wark (where House Florentanius had long had a strong presence with its famous Brewery).
The new weapons manufacturer quickly became known across the Kingdom as its first production firearm, the SanguiFlores Musket, was chosen by the Shadows of Hell Mercenary Company (arguably the largest mercenary company in the Kingdom) as its new standard issue weapon.
Spoiler :
Despite constant losses, the Batavians still refused to surrender.
Spoiler :
On the Lower Continent, the Holy Romans repelled the Roman advance in a massive and bloody battle. The devastated fields of Agade would long bear the scars and wreckage of the fighting.
Spoiler :
After their defeat at Agade, the Romans sieging Aachen moved away from the Holy Roman capital, leaving the Noyyau observers puzzled.
Spoiler :
The Lithuanian-conquered city of Nakhom Pathom, on the de facto frontline between Siam and Lithuania, remained highly dangerous for both Siamese and Lithuanians alike (with some help from Noyyau SIS agents to keep the situation volatile).
Spoiler :
More troubling than Noyyau-supported foreign unrest, however, was the marked increase in banditry in the Latvian Fiefdom (recently renamed to Großherzogtum Lettland).
Despite the quick reaction of local garrisons and of the Caterpillar Verteidigers, a Village near Jelgava was raided by a particularly brutal band of Outlaws, before they were caught and apprehended by the Caterpillar Verteidigers.
The Caterpillar Investigations Agency was tasked by the Caterpillar leadership to investigate the origin of these bandits.
Spoiler :
The SIS continued its destabilizing operations in the Roman colony of Neapolis.
Spoiler :
The Sea Raiders continued harassing Batavian coastal targets, sailing uncontested along the eastern Batavian coasts.
Spoiler :
The SIS expanded its operations in Lithuania, targeting Lithuanian economical infrastructure.
Spoiler :
Despite (or perhaps due to) the impressive numbers of mercenaries operating in Siam, the Siamese government was unable to effectively control and deploy them where needed most, the mercenaries acting mostly of their own initiative. Such disorganization was capitalized by the Lithuanian army that had been harassing Khon Kaen for some time: having received reports that nearby Samut Prakan had been left lightly defended, they quickly marched north and seized the port city, while the bulk of the mercenaries were still celebrating their successful defense of Khon Kaen.
Spoiler :
As soon as the news reached Khon Kaen, the mercenaries moved out in force, engaging the Lithuanians still in the field.
Spoiler :
After a long and careful preparation period, the SIS began its activities in Hurrian-conquered former Vikingland, starting with the former Viking capital of Nidaros. Despite some initial setbacks and the unfortunate loss of a few agents, the oppressed Vikings responded well to Noyyau “suggestions” of rebellion against their Hurrian masters.
Spoiler :
Canadian shipping continued to be a profitable source of income for the marauding Noyyau corsairs, most of these funds ultimately helping fund the Batavian invasion.
Spoiler :
Beginning to tire of a “sitting war”, Duke Greek sent his mounted troops to do some raiding in the Batavian countryside, while still awaiting for a Batavian surrender.
Spoiler :
The Siamese managed to retake control of the countryside surrounding Samut Prakan, though the port city itself remained in Lithuanian hands. New mercenary arrivals were made to disembark on the shores across Samut Prakan's surrounding rivers, for immediate action against the Lithuanians.
Spoiler :
SIS saboteurs continued their operations in the Lithuanian interior.
Spoiler :
The SIS also sent some fresh recruits to sabotage secondary infrastructure in the Catfish Desert, mostly for training practice purposes: (currently) Siamese Saxon Fort, to stop this useless location from further distracting the Siamese...
Spoiler :
...and the Ottoman held Salt Fort, its walls exploding right under the noses of the sizeable Ottoman force stationed there.
Spoiler :
The Greek Army mounted another attack on Oppidum Batavorum, and the Sea Raiders hit Batavian troops across the island, though the Batavians still refused to accept their obvious defeat.
Spoiler :
The first teams of the Sedai Military Engineer Corps were sent to the RANK camps in southern Pictland, to perform integration exercises with the main RANK formations.
Spoiler :