Prologue
***
This story centers largely around the Russian empire, starting in the year 1842. Czarina Catherine XIV had recently ascended to the throne. Russia had just annexed the whole of England and stolen Hamburg from their German neighbors for coal. She was not very liked on her continent. There will most likely be war in Russia.
Rome, on an Island Northwest of Russia, had fallen into anarchy from their democracy. She had been in an overseas war with India for centuries, and it had taken it's toll. Underdeveloped and underpowered, Rome was the second weakest on the Eastern continent. Rome is, at this stage, seeking peace and development.
Germany, to the East of Russia, was the weakest on the continent. Her aggressive ways had gotten her into wars which she could not win; since she was almost always at war, she also lost many of her colony-cities to culture. Germany still demands her place in the sun.
China and France are two strong powers North of the Russians and Germans. Constantly warring, France currently has the upper hand. Russia has long been sending resources to the Chinese to try and stem the flow of powerful French expansion, but to no avail.
France is the dominant power on this continent. Large, rich, with many colonies around the world and having a very well-developed culture, they seek to control the East. Russia, the only power nearly as strong as France, will have to stand up to her.
***
Chapter 1: Loomings
***
Catherine stood in front of the Forbidden Palace at London, recently constructed. The palace was beautiful; it stood over the Thames river and was the center of the city. However, just outside of London, Catherine could see the French cavalry regiments marching past.
In an effort to improve Russo-French relations, Catherine had signed a 'right of passage'. Not only did it not do anything to improve their relations with France, but it left the Chinese coal colony of Brundisium exposed. Catherine regretted it.
The Forbidden Palace at London was a grave necessity. Catherine had inherited a grossly under-equipped and out of date army. Pikemen still defended major cities, swordsmen and Cossacks defended the whole of England! What's worse, the rail network was not yet completed, and neither was the Military Academy in Smolensk. Russia would most certainly lose a war, possibly even one against Germany.
But the community did not know that. The sheer size of the Russian army--89 divisions in all, compared to Germany's 27 and Frances 46. China, poor and frustrated, had to fight France with 32 units in total, most of them long outdated.
Catherine slouched in her throne. Her belly stood higher than her head. Was this the 'greatness' she was doomed to inhereit?
***
Colonel Linoges was leading the French expedition to Brundisium. It would be a walkover; French spies reported only riflemen in the city. The French force had 3 veteran cavalry units, 2 regular, and 1 elite infantry unit.
Linoges had long wondered why his country hated the Chinese so much. But the gentle galloping of horses and plodding of soldiers boots soon drowned out any individual thought a soldier might have. The French army was the greatest amry in the world and it was destined to fulfill it's place so, they said. Every soldier bought it hook, line and sinker, and the Chinese campaign only furthered the prospect.
As the expeditionary force began to walk past London, Linoges looked at the Forbidden Palace. It had more windows than anything in France, and a more regal look than anything he had ever seen.
The fluttering of the cavalry's flags in the wind soon distracted him, though. As they continued to march through the English countryside, the sun shone down. Yes, it was the French army's destiny for greatness. The almighty had made it so.
***
General Xiotang lined up his forces of Riflemen and cannons. The day had been dry, which made good of his artillery, outdated as they may be. The hills outside Brundisium made it hard for the soldiers to see over, but if they went up to the hill the attackers would not be attacked by the artillery in time. So he stood behind the city gates and rallied his demoralized troops.
Last night in the mess hall he would constantly hear murmurings of 'why should we die for coal?" and "These French seem to treat their POWs better than the government treats us". Xiotang had everything in mutiny to fear, but if he could beat back the expeditionary force, then China could complete it's rail network and have a tactical advantage over the French. The French, with their well developed home rail network, did not have any sort of faster movement outside of France proper. no roads or rails extended beyond the Champagne mountains, on the isthmus between France and China. It was critical to China's success that Brundisium be held.
As the galloping from the French cavalry began to be heard, Xiotang had his forces ready their rifles. Seconds later, the battle would begin.
Next Chapter: The Battle for Brundisium and the Berlin Scandal.
***
This story centers largely around the Russian empire, starting in the year 1842. Czarina Catherine XIV had recently ascended to the throne. Russia had just annexed the whole of England and stolen Hamburg from their German neighbors for coal. She was not very liked on her continent. There will most likely be war in Russia.
Rome, on an Island Northwest of Russia, had fallen into anarchy from their democracy. She had been in an overseas war with India for centuries, and it had taken it's toll. Underdeveloped and underpowered, Rome was the second weakest on the Eastern continent. Rome is, at this stage, seeking peace and development.
Germany, to the East of Russia, was the weakest on the continent. Her aggressive ways had gotten her into wars which she could not win; since she was almost always at war, she also lost many of her colony-cities to culture. Germany still demands her place in the sun.
China and France are two strong powers North of the Russians and Germans. Constantly warring, France currently has the upper hand. Russia has long been sending resources to the Chinese to try and stem the flow of powerful French expansion, but to no avail.
France is the dominant power on this continent. Large, rich, with many colonies around the world and having a very well-developed culture, they seek to control the East. Russia, the only power nearly as strong as France, will have to stand up to her.
***
Chapter 1: Loomings
***
Catherine stood in front of the Forbidden Palace at London, recently constructed. The palace was beautiful; it stood over the Thames river and was the center of the city. However, just outside of London, Catherine could see the French cavalry regiments marching past.
In an effort to improve Russo-French relations, Catherine had signed a 'right of passage'. Not only did it not do anything to improve their relations with France, but it left the Chinese coal colony of Brundisium exposed. Catherine regretted it.
The Forbidden Palace at London was a grave necessity. Catherine had inherited a grossly under-equipped and out of date army. Pikemen still defended major cities, swordsmen and Cossacks defended the whole of England! What's worse, the rail network was not yet completed, and neither was the Military Academy in Smolensk. Russia would most certainly lose a war, possibly even one against Germany.
But the community did not know that. The sheer size of the Russian army--89 divisions in all, compared to Germany's 27 and Frances 46. China, poor and frustrated, had to fight France with 32 units in total, most of them long outdated.
Catherine slouched in her throne. Her belly stood higher than her head. Was this the 'greatness' she was doomed to inhereit?
***
Colonel Linoges was leading the French expedition to Brundisium. It would be a walkover; French spies reported only riflemen in the city. The French force had 3 veteran cavalry units, 2 regular, and 1 elite infantry unit.
Linoges had long wondered why his country hated the Chinese so much. But the gentle galloping of horses and plodding of soldiers boots soon drowned out any individual thought a soldier might have. The French army was the greatest amry in the world and it was destined to fulfill it's place so, they said. Every soldier bought it hook, line and sinker, and the Chinese campaign only furthered the prospect.
As the expeditionary force began to walk past London, Linoges looked at the Forbidden Palace. It had more windows than anything in France, and a more regal look than anything he had ever seen.
The fluttering of the cavalry's flags in the wind soon distracted him, though. As they continued to march through the English countryside, the sun shone down. Yes, it was the French army's destiny for greatness. The almighty had made it so.
***
General Xiotang lined up his forces of Riflemen and cannons. The day had been dry, which made good of his artillery, outdated as they may be. The hills outside Brundisium made it hard for the soldiers to see over, but if they went up to the hill the attackers would not be attacked by the artillery in time. So he stood behind the city gates and rallied his demoralized troops.
Last night in the mess hall he would constantly hear murmurings of 'why should we die for coal?" and "These French seem to treat their POWs better than the government treats us". Xiotang had everything in mutiny to fear, but if he could beat back the expeditionary force, then China could complete it's rail network and have a tactical advantage over the French. The French, with their well developed home rail network, did not have any sort of faster movement outside of France proper. no roads or rails extended beyond the Champagne mountains, on the isthmus between France and China. It was critical to China's success that Brundisium be held.
As the galloping from the French cavalry began to be heard, Xiotang had his forces ready their rifles. Seconds later, the battle would begin.
Next Chapter: The Battle for Brundisium and the Berlin Scandal.
.
