IOT Enlightenment 2: Philosophers and Kings

[filli_noctus]

You invaded Scandinavia. What did you think would happen? They're all lunatics. Have you never heard of the Winter War?

 

[bugwar]

Text of the address by Her Highness, Salvbara Queen of the Dene, to her government:

Spoiler :

1. I have called the High Council into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making.

2. When I addressed the High Council on the 26th of February last, I thought that it would suffice to assert our neutral rights with arms, our right to use the seas against unlawful interference, our right to keep our people safe against unlawful violence.
However, armed neutrality, it now appears, is impracticable.

3. There is one choice we shall not make, we are incapable of making: we will not choose the path of submission and suffer the most sacred rights of our nation and our people to be ignored or violated.
The wrongs against which we now array ourselves are no common wrongs; they cut to the very roots of human life.

4. With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragical character of the step I am taking and of the grave responsibilities which it involves, but in unhesitating obedience to what I deem my constitutional duty, I advise that the High Council formally accept the status of belligerent which has thus been thrust upon us, and that we take immediate steps not only to put the country in a more thorough state of defense but also to exert all our power and employ all our resources to bring the Government of the United Kingdom of Iberia and the Lowlands to terms and end the war.

5. We have no quarrel with the Spanish people.
We have no feeling towards them but one of sympathy and friendship.
It was not upon their impulse that their Government acted in entering this war.
It was not with their previous knowledge or approval.
It was a war determined upon as wars used to be determined upon in the old, unhappy days when their rulers nowhere consulted peoples and wars were provoked and waged in the interest of dynasties or of little groups of ambitious men who were accustomed to use their fellow men as pawns and tools.

6. I have said nothing of the governments allied with the Government of Iberia because they have not made war upon us or challenged us to defend our right and our honor.
Since those Governments have not actually engaged in warfare against citizens of the Dene Empire on the seas, I take the liberty, for the present at least, of postponing a discussion of our relations with those authorities.
We enter this war only where we are clearly forced into it because there are no other means of defending our rights.

7. To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has come when Dene is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured.
With the Almighty helping her, she can do no other.

Reuters Recording of the Minister of War Response to the Passage of the War Act:

Spoiler :

Link to video.

 

[NinjaCow64]

To: The Iron Islands

This is your last chance to unconditionally surrender. We do not wish to cause a needless waste of life, but that is what will happen if you do not accept.

To: Everyone we are not trading with accept the Iron Islands and Hindustan:

We offer trade.

To: Hindustan

We ask you to reconsider your assult against us. We do not wish for war, but if you attack any of our or China's territories, we will destroy you. Would you accept a NAP right now?

To: China

Shall we organize a Defensive Pact and an NAP?

 

[bonefang]

Hindustan :

Regulars : 3 (9 IP)
General : 1 (5 IP)
Ship of the line : 1 (3 IP)

4 Regulars + 1 General to Tibet region.
2 Ship of the Line to Borneo Sea, fire / sink any Australian/ Chinese vessel in sight.

GM, I POSTED THIS IN THE FORUM FFS !!!
I mailed orders to you, that I didnt want NinjaCow to see

 

[bonefang]

To: The Iron Islands
To: Hindustan

We ask you to reconsider your assult against us. We do not wish for war, but if you attack any of our or China's territories, we will destroy you. Would you accept a NAP right now?

To : NinjaCow , Australia

Am I to understand that you are handling diplomacy for China as well ? If not, please do be speaking only on the behalf of Australia only.

As for Assault, exactly when and where did it take place ? I am only just protecting my own coasts, to prevent a possible a backended invasion by your fleet. Let me make it amply clear, our borders are not even nearby, there wouldn't be any aggressive action taken from Hindustan's behalf, unless fired upon first or someone encroached in an area that we think might disturb the peace and tranquil of my country.

We will stick to the ones we consider friends, and honoring a request from an ally is not something we would ever back down from . .

 

[bugwar]

A new face accompanied ClawedHeron when the noble arrived, limping.
ClawedHeron seated herself, straining against her pain.
Her companion faced the assembly. “I’m HarvestMoon. From the Admiralty office in Seattville. Will you all please stand?”

Redbird was not surprised.
Dene prayed before, during, and after everything they did collectively.
HarvestMoon chanted.
His audience repeated his chant, renouncing everything to do with the Adversary and all daemons of the Clouds.
“Thank you all,” Moon said.”I wanted to banish any dark spirits.”
“They’re gone,” Heron growled. “Get on with it.”

“Yes, Ma'am. Lords and Ladies, there’s been a sea battle.
It took place just off the bay of Los Cabos.” Moon seemed to expect that his audience to know the geography.
“It involved the blockad... err, the quarantine fleet out of Newport. An accidental encounter became a running battle that lasted several days.
Initially, the enemy was a Spanish flotilla carrying troops to La Paz.”

“Silence!” Heron bellowed into chatter beginning to interfere with Moon’s report.
”This will affect our planning.” Heron’s outburst had a potent impact. Even members of the Council shut up.
Moon detailed a battle that had been a long time in the making.

Naval commanders in Dene began to suspect the Iberians of preparing a naval adventure over a year ago.
Ships, troops, and supplies were collecting in several ports.
There was speculation about an attempt to invade Dene.
Scout ships prowled the Mexican coast.

Redbird understood before Moon explained. There was inevitability at work.
The Spanish fleet, once it sailed, carried five thousand veteran soldiers, with horses and equipment, weapons and supplies, all destined for La Paz in Baja California.
The appearance of the Dene fleet doomed the Spaniards. Tide and current carried their older, weaker, smaller force toward the Dene. Only two UK ships escaped.

Reuter’s illustration of the climatic end of the Spanish Pacific squadron:

Spoiler :

 

[Ailedhoo]

To: Everyone we are not trading with accept the Iron Islands and Hindustan:

We offer trade.

Accept... and while here let us accept trade with any nation that seeks trade with the Cape Republic.

In lines with the recent rebellion in the Cape Republic we ask for reinforcements to aid in our assault against the rebellion. We desire either 3 irregulars or a regular to aid. They will be used only for the assault by the Cape Republic. For lending your armed forces to us we in turn willl lend 3 of our spies to you for your own interests. Consider this well.

 

[NinjaCow64]

To : NinjaCow , Australia

Am I to understand that you are handling diplomacy for China as well ? If not, please do be speaking only on the behalf of Australia only.

As for Assault, exactly when and where did it take place ? I am only just protecting my own coasts, to prevent a possible a backended invasion by your fleet. Let me make it amply clear, our borders are not even nearby, there wouldn't be any aggressive action taken from Hindustan's behalf, unless fired upon first or someone encroached in an area that we think might disturb the peace and tranquil of my country.

We will stick to the ones we consider friends, and honoring a request from an ally is not something we would ever back down from . .

We intercepted your orders you were sending to your fleet with our spies. Luckly, we stopped those orders reaching the fleet.

OCC: The orders you posted in the thread, fool.

 

[Arrow Gamer]

People of Italia! This year we again expanded our borders, albeit with some hiccuoghs. The most important part of our foreign policy, our war on Norskandia, is going well. Our men fought valiantly and they fought well. Unfotunately, due to some problems forging inland, we did not capture the province of Norway. We will finish the job this year, and destroy the Norskandans with overwhelming force. Our blockade is strong, and our courageous sailors destroyed the Norskandian navy, and their economy is still fatally crippled.

Next is our expansion into Central Europe. We are dismayed by the rebellion of Prussia, but we do not implicate the UK in its rebellion. We feel Norskandia was merely trying to provoke into a needless and costly war against a nation that is ot our enemy. For now, we will focus on Norskandia, the real enemy, and we will not stop unil they are beaten down and destroyed. We have made progress elsewhere, though, bring more European provinces under our control. We are approaching complete dominance of Central Europe, and I thank each and every one of you, my citizens, for you have sayed strong ever since the revolution, and I know you will stay strong forever.

Thank You,
Antonio Februzzi

EDIT: How many orders do you have? I WANT AN UPDATE! Norskandia will fall!

 

[Lighthearter]

GM, I POSTED THIS IN THE FORUM FFS !!!
I mailed orders to you, that I didnt want NinjaCow to see

Like I said, I'm not working from 2 sets of orders. How did I know you weren't running some complicated double bluff? Sure, it didn't make sense to me but my job isn't to make sure your orders make sense - it's to obey them to the letter.

PMs > Thread posts, and I will ONLY calculate what's in the latest set of orders. So don't put your production in a thread post anbd your movement orders in a PM, or some other such pair, because I have not the patience or time to go hunting your orders down. We had two people this update who fell afoul of this rule, one of whom assumed something he said in chat a week ago would still be forefront in my mind.

EVERYTHING must be in the latest set of orders. By not including something in the PM, you are giving me the right to not do it.

Hopefully this has been a learning experience for everyone involved. Now.

4/13 orders in. 3 more and the 24 hour clock starts.

-L

 

[filli_noctus]

The Naval Forces of the Celtic Union​

The Celtic Union is a maritime power and as such maintains a large navy to protect her trade routes and overseas colonies. Like the Celtic Army the navy is an instrument of the Union as a whole, not split between the component kingdoms.
The Celtic Navy is split into four admiralty regions, namely the Home, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian fleets, although in most situations the Home and Atlantic fleets are more or less the same.

Home Fleet is based out of Cork and is responsible for the waters surrounding the Celtic Isles, the Barents and Baltic seas and the Bay of Biscay.
Atlantic Fleet is also based out of Cork and is responsible for the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean and Carribean seas.
Pacific Fleet is based out of Vladivostock and is responsible for the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan and the South and East China seas.
Indian Fleet is based out of Aden and is responsible for the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and Red Sea.

The Celtic Navy maintains three flagships, one for each of the founding nations. The Eire, the Alba and the Breizh are all first rate ships of the line. With the conquest of England and the integration of Wales and Cornwall as full constituent states of the Union the second rate ships of the line Cymru and Kernow were commisioned.

Although the bulk of registry is assigned to Home Fleet due to rising tensions in the North Sea the Celtic Navy is a force to be reckoned with anywhere in the world and since its' inception it has twice been despatched to escort Celtic shipping through blockades, although both times the blockaders have reached an agreement with the Celtic government.

 

[bugwar]

Pacific Fleet is based out of Vladivostock and is responsible for the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan and the South and East China seas.
Indian Fleet is based out of Aden and is responsible for the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and Red Sea.

OOC: Um, if you have ships based in Vladivostock and Aden, shouldn't they be on the map?
Or is that part just role playing?

 

[filli_noctus]

That's the home port, much like Portsmouth is the home port of the Royal Navy.

 

[Patriotic_Fool]

Norskandia

The Norse ask the world: What have we done to deserve such a strong response? We never attacked anyone, we never blockaded anyone. In fact, our industry and land were quite small!

Send the Norse assistance against the war mongers of Italy! They merely want more land!!

 

[Lighthearter]

6/13 Orders.

Moving right along.

-L

 

[christos200]

To Australia and Hindustan
From China:

We call you to make peace and stop your hostilities. United we are stronger.

 

[Lighthearter]

7/13. 24 Hour Countdown engaged.

-L

 

[filli_noctus]

The Celtic Union is concerned by recent rhetoric from the Italian government. We believe it is past time for the allies to reveal their aims with regards to Norskandia. Although we recognise the validity of your cassus belli we believe the annexation of Norskandia is unwarranted given the circumstances. We are willing to offer our services in negotiating a peaceful settlement.

 

[Arrow Gamer]

The Norskandian's have encouraged multiple rebellions and desertions of units. We must make them pay, and we must make sure they can not make innocent men get killed by their cowardly form of 'warfare' and the only way to do this is for them to stop existing. We are glad you recognize our Casus Belli, and we hope you will not interfere in our warfare.

We apologize for any inconvenience it may cause, but it is necessary to ensure our survival. We will not back down when our enemies have fermented rebellions in our nation.

 

[filli_noctus]

The Norse are all but defeated, honour has been satisfied. Under the laws of civilised warfare they should be given the opportunity to surrender and make reparations. If they refuse then they are fools and the war may continue until they are no more. If you refuse to give them that opportunity you show yourselves to have no more honour than they do and it will surely have an effect on your relations with the international community.