In 1290AD the Bank of New Crobuzon was built. Bob from Account Temps, Betty at his side, quickly went to work with this new resources and transformed an income of 52 pieces of gold into 64 pieces of gold, increasing the gold flowing into the treasure and what could be spent on science.
Reconnaissance by the Carthaginian armies revealed a small, straggling Hittite army on the move. The 1st kHCh Formation of knights was now within range, leaving the 9th Longbows to trail behind. A new group of longbows had appeared to the Northeast of Carthages massed military the 14th Longbows. OMIA reported another band, the 5th Longbows near their lines more fodder for the powerful army. At the same time, Old Man Iron also reported a band of French setters protected by the 2nd Spear Regiment of the French Foreign Legion.
Before anything else could be done, POPs Elite Rangers had to finish the assault upon Harran. The 22nd 3Ax Formations of Spears had reconstituted its ranks by absorbing the battered men of the 14th to fill their companies and pressing the citizens of Harran to fill the remaining gaps. The Rangers captured the city but only after some substantial losses. The swordsmen rushed the city, spirits high but this was an error. The 22nd fought better than expected and only the experienced commanders of the Pointy Stick regiment carried the day, earning the laurels of an elite band for the service of their men.
When word of the victory reached Hannibal it came with other news. The Great Lighthouse of the Hittites was to be found in Harran and Carthage now controlled this great wonder.
But it could not be held. The command of pi4t were explicit. The city had to be burned and burn it did. The citizens were rounded up into the Hittite14-15 work bands. These workers and the Rangers began their withdrawn towards the Carthaginian LZ.
It was unlucky for the 14th 2Ps Longbows that they were unsupported in their advance against Carthages main army. Both the 2nd and 3rd Catapult Batteries were well positioned in the woods and the 1st Battery was being moved into a support role. The 2nd and 3rd Batteries opened up as soon as the 14th came into range. While the 2nd missed its mark the 3rd was more fortunate, its massive rocks falling squarely into the ranks of bowmen, killing more then 30% of their numbers. The slaughter was appalling.
It was then time for men of Carthage to pay in blood. The Maggot Makers were dispatched to finish the reeling 14th. Their destruction was complete though the Maggots suffered more wounds than might e expected, taking over 30% casualties as the strength of Hittite longbows took their toll on the weaker armor of the ancient cavalry.
The solid Paladins of the Silver Flame were called to attack the 1st kHCh Formation of knights. This would be a hard contest. The 1st kHCh were a veteran band, well armored and armed. The Paladins were an elite band of ancient cavalry. It was nearly an even match. Unfortunately the odds were not as favorable as they seemed. The honorable Paladins charged by the crafty 1st Knights absorbed the attack, suffering more than 50% casualties. Then, with amazing bravery the knights broke through the center of the Paladins. The elite band held firm but it was not enough. Their back broken and many of their commanders dead upon the field, the men broke.
The Regulators followed the charge and suffered at the tough core of veteran knights that had destroyed the Paladins. The Hittites made a serious accounting of themselves in the battle. Nearly 70% of the Regulators were dead or without a mount. This made the band combat ineffective and vulnerable. The Regulators had, however, liberated the captured remains of the Paladins. They were quickly given passage back to Carthage to form the cohort to a new band of cavalry. This band was reconstituted as the Paladins of the Silver Ash.
After the severe punishment the Carthaginians had suffered at the LZ, it was time for OMIA to make up the loss. Pillaging their way through the land of the Hittites, the army brushed aside the 5th 2Ps Longbows without a single loss.
The Battle with the Hittites was nearly complete and it was a good thing. The Mayan settlers needed to be soon addressed. But the Battle with the Byzantines was just getting hot. Carthages cavalry were on the outskirts of Trebizond. Before then, arrayed for battle were the 24th and 21st Regiments of Comitatenses Spears, men hastily assembled and given only rudimentary training. They knew which end of the spear had a point but not much else.
The Knights of the Chalice led the attack on Trebizond while Aabraxans Honor Guard, the Dark Brotherhood and The Knights of the White Mountain sorted their ranks for attack. The Byzantine spears struggled to get into position but the unfortunate 24th Regiment was crushed before it could draw into a phalanx formation. The attack did not come from the Knights of the Chalice as planned, however (somehow I selected the wrong unit when I made the attack
). The knights had once more been in their cups and had begun to lead their horses in great circles around the city like great fools. Instead, the Dark Brotherhood, moving under the shroud of confusion caused by the drunk Knights of the Chalice, masked their drunken companions, breaking formation only at the last moment to strike the flank of the confused spear formation.
The spread of Carthaginian cavalry made it impossible for either of the spear formations to anticipate a line of battle the exact confusion the attacking commanders wished to foster amongst their ranks. Aabraxans Honor Guard had the honor or overrunning the remaining defenders, routing the 21st into the city and setting it ablaze and rounding up the Byzantine03 work band. A nearby band of spice miners were also rounded up by the Knights of the Chalice once the commanders finally got them sorted out, sobered and back into formation. This became the Byzantine04.
ICS Cunning of Ivriz CA-02 and ICS Curse of the Black Hand C-01 dropped four invading ancient cavalry beside Chalcedon, terrifying the 29th and 32nd Regiments of Comitatenses Spears. The invading units were comprised of the Scourge of Amsterdam, the Black Guard*, the Dark Knights, and the Iron Lances*.
In 1295AD it was finally time to turn the attack against the Mayans. They had moved settlers into place too close to the Carthaginian lines to ignore any further. But first peace with the Hittites was in order. Hannibal ordered the Hittite ambassador retrieved from this imprisonment. The man looked ragged and horrorstruck.
I pray, for your sake, that Mursilis is willing to repay the debt owed to Carthage? Hannibal asked sweetly.
What is it you wish of the Hittites, merciful Hannibal. The Ambassador spoke with great humility for he knew the Hittites were but a shadow of their former glory. Never again would they have such power.
Just this you will give all 35 pieces of gold in your treasury. The Foreign Advisor intoned, following the script agreed upon. That will satisfy half of your debt. We have also enslaved enough of your people to form 15 bands of workers. These we shall keep. But this is not all. You must also give us the cities of Tulum and Karhuyuk which we fully intend to burn, slaying every citizen in each city as a warning to the rest of the Hittites.
The ambassador spread his hands in defeat. Great Hannibal, how can we say anything but yes? Please take these things and leave us in peace.
So a peace, at least tentatively, was struck. The ambassador paused at the door.
Have you more for us to consider? Hannibal demanded of the defeated Hittite.
Great Hannibal. Our sale of Tulum and Karhuyuk leaves us with five additional bands of workers that are now without tasks. As you value slave so highly, perhaps you would consider a trade?
Hannibal thought on this. And what would you like in return?
The secrets of banking, kind lord. The ambassador said.
Hannibal quickly conferred with his advisors. The technology is certainly worth more, Lord Hannibal. The science advisor said.
But we should carefully consider this. The Domestic Advisor countered. Depriving them of these workers will prevent them from repairing the damage we have caused. These slaves will be delivered to Amsterdam via Hittite merchant vessels. We know how valuable our own workers are to our greatness. This will be a severe blow to their nation.
Banking is also a known tech, Great Hannibal. Its proliferation will not cause us damage. No nation can afford to pay us the price we deserve. Five slaves will be worth much gold to us. The Trade Advisor said.
I agree, Lord Hannibal. The Military Advisor added. Without infrastructure they will be vulnerable when we reopen hostilities in a few hundred years.
Thus it was the deal was struck and the Hittite16-20 were formed in Amsterdam.
This business concluded Hannibal ordered that the ambassador of the Mayans be brought before him. The guards brought the ambassador quickly. The arrogant man had a pipe firmly clenched in his teeth, rancid smoke filling the air.
What does Carthage want of the great Mayan people, Hannibal?
It was well known that the Mayans were furious with Carthage. Hannibal smiled inside. They would have far more reasons to be unhappy in a moment.
The Mayan people have angered the might of Carthage. We tried to make an example of the Byzantines, but you have not learned this lesson. Lands cleared by Carthaginian armies belongs to Carthage. Your warriors and settlers have violated our land and now they must pay for this transgression. Hannibal said with a savage grin.
You must be sick, Hannibal. The ambassador said dismissively. You are fighting a war with the Byzantines and the Hittites. You cannot afford another war. This land is ours for the claiming and you cannot stop the might of the Mayans. For we have seen the future and our great people will live until the year 2012. Our priests and astrologers have proclaimed it.
Until 2012? How did you decide that? Hannibal asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
We could not pay our scribes to make a calendar that extended beyond 2012. After reviewing our coffers it was decided that there was not enough in the budget for that and tobacco. Unfotunate, perhaps, but well probably all be dead from cancer before 2012 anyway. The ambassador said, once more dismissive.
It should be some comfort to you, Hannibal replied, That you will not die from cancer. At least, not all of you.
The ambassador tilted his head. Why is that, Hannibal?
Because many of you will die by fire and steel much sooner. With that Hannibal gave the ambassador the Carthaginian declaration of war.
OMIA immediately crossed into Mayan lands and entered the lands around Copan. Two worker bands were caught in the open but slightly beyond the reach even of Old Man Iron. The Halach Uinic of Copan had dispatched the 2nd Mayan Pike and 30th Mayan Longbows from the city for some maneuvers while the 101st Mayan Javelins held the city. In the west the Jade Knights of Tikai, under the command of the Halach Uinic of Tikai were also observed by scout of OMIA.
Of immediate concern was the 6th Mayan Pikes guarding a band of settlers. These were under the nominal command of the Halach Uinic of Tikai at least until they could found a city of their own and be assigned their own general. That, of course, would never happen. The Knights of Flowers* fell upon the traveling band without warning, tearing apart the formation of pikes before they could form and taking the settlers as slaves the Mayan01-02.
Thus far 1295AD had proved fruitful. Now was the time for the attack on Chalcedon. The 29th and 32nd Regiments of Comitatenses Spears had little time to dig in to the dry sand around the city. The heavy cavalry spread out around the city while the people panicked. The spearmen huddled in their trenches, not even bothering to form into phalanxes that would be easily flanked and thus destroyed. What little chances they had would be taken behind the frail earthworks hastily thrown up around the city. The Byzantine spears made a good accounting of themselves in the battle. The Dark Knights, Iron Lances and the Black Guard all took severe losses before the spears were overrun. Though regulars they fought to the last man. The Courage of Byzantium would be added to the rolls of the Sparthaginian navy to honor them. In the meantime, the Byzantine05 slave force was created from the city survivors.
The final military move of 1295AD was the danger transfer at sea of Phaedos Pride and The Black Company from ICS Massacre of Bangalore G-03 to ICS Curse of the Black Hand C-01. The transfer was made without incident and the skillful sailors of the Sparthaginian fleet were given great credit, for the transfer allowed the horsemen of Carthage to make their way from the coast of the mainland to the ESC in 10 short years. All of the men and equipment were landed near Heraclea where they were joined by the Scourge of Amsterdam. All of the Byzantine objections would be taken by 1300AD, a startling blitzkrieg. Thereafter Hannibal would send his ambassadors to make peace with Theodora, taking as much as the cowards would give for peace.
The Year 1300AD was fateful. For some insane reason (or something he was smoking), Smoking Jaguar left one the Mayans most valuable cities open to attack. The Ajaw of Copan was striped of his strong defenders and while pikes, settlers, spears and knights streamed by OMIA, none stopped to assist the beleaguered city!
The bait was too tempting to pass. Old Man Iron ordered the attack. The 11th spears fell to the encircling knights without any harm to the command of the Old Man. Next were the frail 101st Javelins whom put up a much better fight but died nonetheless. Finally the 122nd Javelins were overrun and the city was captured along with 2 bands of spice miners.
It was a horrible blow against the Mayans and a huge victory for Carthage! The city was put to the torch and 5 additional slave bands were formed, the Mayan 03-09.
The destruction of Copan changed the nature of the Mayan war. Already the damage to these weak people was done. The loss of such a major city would be devastating to the Mayans. OMAI would escort the slaves back to the front lines and hand them off to POPs Rangers. Together they would assault and destroy Tikal before OMAI continued towards America.
The final assault against the Byzantine Northern Empire was also under way.
The remnants of the Northern Empire consisted of Sardica in the east and Heraclea in the west. Calvary and knights were posted outside of both cities, preparing for the assault.
At Sardica the assault was left to three bands of cavalry all elite units. The Knights of the Chalice, sober once more, the Knights of the White Mountain and the Dark Brotherhood. The elite knights of Cold Steel were close but could not provide assistance in the assault. Likewise Aabraxans Honor Guard were still resting and training replacements after the destruction of Trebizond. They could not support the attack.
Scouting at Sardica was sparse at the beginning of 1300AD. The local farmers readily gave the foraging Carthaginians knowledge of the area but all they could supply regarding military strength were rumors. If they could be believed, the heavy cavalry were facing the 3rd and 8th Regiments of Comitatenses Spear, handpicked units sent north from the homeland of Theodora with the command to seize and hold this area for the Byzantine empire. When the Knights of the Chalice drew near to the city the rumors were confirmed. The banners of the 3rd Regiment flew from the lead phalanx assembling outside the city. A support Regiment was also drawing up outside the city. The Knights, denied their liquor after the last debacle, were sent into the forming ranks.
Unfortunately the lack of drink also resulted in a lack of fortitude. The Knights failed in a flanking maneuver as the 8th rushed to the support of the 3rd Regiment and the Knights were pinched between the two units. The Knights crumbled and fled, less than one man in five escaping the trap. The Dark Brotherhood, seeing the engagement, circled to the east, exploiting a narrow defile between the city and the sea. The 3rd, still engaged in the battle with the Knights of the Chalice, were unable to turn enough men to be effective. The unit was overrun and the men began to flee through the ranks of the 8th Regiment and into the city causing mass panic.
The 8th Regiment had problems of its own. The commanding officer of the Knights of the White Mountain recognized that the destruction of the 3rd Regiment and even the defeat of the Chalice could be exploited. Many of the spears of the 8th were fouled on the dead bodies of the men of the Chalice and were hampered in their attempts to withdraw by the number of men running through their lines from the now non-existent 3rd Regiment. The Knights of the White Mountain used the confusion to circle the formation and attack the rear ranks of the 8th Regiment.
What followed was a slaughter but it was not as complete as the commanders had hoped. The hardened 8th put up a horrible struggle. The fleeing men of the 3rd Regiment regained some courage and joined the men of the 8th Regiment, an action that was quite surprising. Suddenly the Knights of the White Mountain were facing a reconstituted band of spearmen. In the end more than half of the Knights of the White Mountain were wounded or without mounts. The commanders of the 8th Regiment were captured alive as much as possible and sent back to Carthage as prisoners so that their command skills could be analyzed and, if possible, utilized by Carthage. The 8th Regiment was informally known to their comrades as the Red Devils. The city, of course, was burned to the ground.
As luck would have it, the destruction of Sardica revealed a band of stinking Sumerian settlers guarded by their barbaric Enkidu warriors. Looking to continue the exploits of the Byzantine war, the knights of Cold Steel were sent to support the leaning units in the area so that the war against Sumeria could begin on the right note.
News of the battle of Sardica was cause for celebration in Carthage. The Byzantine bid for an Empire had failed. All that was left was the destruction of Heraclea. The commanders outside of Heraclea had a different idea in regards to the attack. They had been able to scout the lands around the city and identify their enemies. The fragile regulars of the 39th and 27th Regiments of Comitatenses Spear faced them across the open plains. The Carthaginians had built their attack around a hardened center, the Black Company a band of veteran knights. Added to this were the elite band the Scourge of Amsterdam and the Veteran band of Phaedos Pride both companies of heavy cavalry.
Heraclea, though exposed to the front by desert and open grassland, was well fortified on its flanks by the ocean to the northwest and the hills to the southeast. The attack would, of necessity, be frontal. The green Phaedos Pride lead the attack against the phalanx of the 39th Regiment. The frontal attack was a route. The men of the Pride flung themselves upon the spears of the 39th but the men would not break. Only the cool heads of their commanders saved the company from complete disaster. A belated withdrawal left the company with less than 20% of this strength, the remainder were casualties, either dead or wounded, or without mounts. A great many horses had been lost in the attack. But the men had been bloodied now and they would do better next time.
Unable to leave the field to the Byzantines the Scourge of Amsterdam followed the attack, hitting the 27th Regiment while the lines were attempting to recover. The Scourge attacked and would not relent, driving the men of the 27th before them. There was nowhere to escape, however. The hills were to their backs. Only a handful of men managed to make it back to the city or flee into the hills. The supporting companies of the Scourge suffered heavy casualties, however, depleted to nearly 30% strength. It would take a long time for Carthage to recover from the offensive.
The final attack was for the Black Company. The only remaining opposition was the wounded men of the 39th Regiment, bravely clinging to spear, fortified in their phalanx. The Black Company suffered 50% casualties but the 39th was overrun. Without support or the possibility of escape, the city of Heraclea fell, it citizens enslaved into the Byzantine06.
The destruction of the city revealed a new threat, however. A band of Byzantine archers had be caught out of position in a nearby forest, scouting for enemy units. The 11th Regiments of Skirmishers were unable to support the city during the attack but they were in position to harass the wounded Carthaginian units. The commanders gave the order to retreat from their current gains and consolidate for healing. There now existed six Carthaginian companies on Sumerias western flank.
By the end of 1300AD Carthages supremacy had secured it against another civilization and potentially two. Of the remaining Civilizations, the Netherlands and Persians were client states, never to be anything more. India was on the rise again but would be tackled again soon. The Byzantines were subdued, as were the Hittites, though both would need to be sheered again. The Mayans had suffered a horrible (and somewhat amazing) loss early in the war, one of their most productive cities falling to Carthage. Spain, Portugal, France, and China were all too weak to threaten Carthage, at least for now. Sumeria was also on the list to be destroyed. France was advancing a settler and would need to brief declaration to clean that up.
The only true enemy remaining to Carthage was America. Hannibal knew that Carthage and America were heading towards a horrible conflict that would leave many dead on both sides.
However, this does bring up an interesting topic. I was actually considering disbanding a city and founding a new city on the ESC. The city would probably be hopelessly corrupt and Hannibal can’t even rush the FP because he can’t build it. Perhaps he could if he captured enough cities in one turn (managed through diplomacy like with the armies?) and then rushed it with a MGL? I've never noticed if the FP message comes up after the limit is reached on the following turn. If so, he can never build it. One advantage of this would be to have a port city on the other continent, though it would not be of much use before navigation/magnetism. Otherwise there will be no more luxuries until airports?!?
He'll need to make it to Rocketry and Space Flight - and probably satellites for ICBMs to make this come true. Of course, all He'll need is one nuke sub and one tactical nuke if the civ only has 2 cities. 
