NES2 V - The Great Game.

[ThomAnder]

@ the character of the "King" in the story.

 

[Contempt]

"Do you think this a game? I have given the Riksdag power on the grounds of liberty, and freedom, yet you refuse my request for more of it?"

Silence prevailed in the packed Riksdag. The ashen faced Speaker of the House futilely attempted to assuage the King from his righteous anger, attempting to calm the purple faced King Karl the XV as he glared at the assembled Riksdag. His fury was quick, and his wrath would be soon to follow.

"Now your Highness, don't be hasty! The reforms you propose are far too radical! There is no way for this body to recognize the rights of the Russians, or the Finns. We have no duty to recognize them in our Empire, nor any duty to raise the 'barbarians' up to our most enlightened level! And further, to accept immigrants into this country would to give up Swedish land! So what if we are slowly losing men to strengthen our industry and armed forces? We are Swedish, and we are the enlightened."

While the Speaker, Björn von Sydow, futile attempted to calm the angry King with his speech, his words had the opposite effect. Karl the XV took a deep breath in, and then made a small hand signal to a seemingly calm Senator. The man nodded, and took out a whistle from his pocket. At the sound, several armed guards filed into the room. At another whistle blast, the bolt action on all the rifles of the armed guards cocked. The fully assembled Riksdag looked around nervously as the stony faced guards took aim at prominent members of the assembly.

Several senators stood up, and walked down to stand with the King in the suddenly quiet assembly hall. The senators looked quickly from the guards, to the silent King, to the traitors on the floor, and finally to the reform legislation sitting upon each of their desks. A heavy silence prevailed in the room as the Senators all considered their options.

"I once held supreme power in this state, and I am not adverse to doing so again if this assembly is so foolish to challenge my power, and my right. I will agree to drop some of the more radical reforms, namely the allowance of captured Prisoners of War into our nation, and the citizenship of immigrants.

Any immigrants to this country will need to be tested on education, and our history to make sure that they are worthy to be called Swedes, but I will compromise on no more than that. It is an offer that should not be refused, if this assembly is intelligent. I have allies everywhere in your midsts, and these men around me represent but a small portion of them.

I have offered in good will for this assembly to keep its power, but that power can be quickly...lost, in more ways than one, if this assembly continues to challenge my rule. Do so again, and mere threats will not be exchanged, but my true wrath will be felt. Think of revolution, and my allies in the State will crush your dreams to keep the status quo before they even begin. Be happy with your seat on the Riksdag, for I can take all that you cherish from you in an instant if you choose foolishly."

And with that, the King left the Riksdag to ponder the papers in front of them, with the stony faced guards unmoving around them. The guns still pointing into their midsts, the spies in the Riksdag still staring out at them, a reminder to the Kings still powerful influence. A reminder, nothing more.

 

[MjM]

Gah...we still don't know his name!

Thats the best part.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Does anyone even care what the King of Portugal's name is?

 

[MjM]

I suppose I don't, or else he would have one.

 

[silver 2039]

Alexius gazed up at the portrait. “It’s very…. imposing however it does make me look a bit old don’t you think?”
Vasili nodded “Perhaps but it is quite formidable.”

Alexius shrugged and turned away from the massive portrait that hung on the wall. “Now back to business gentleman.” He said to the circle of advisors that surrounded him. “I believe the General has some information for us?”

General Pytor stepped forward “ The Poles breached our southern defenses using a new and powerful type of cannon. We were defeated at Kursk but we fortunately managed to blunt their offensive toward Moscow. However Polish forces are preparing for another offensive no doubt towards the city. I have prepared the defenses of the city and surrounding areas as well as possible. A large number of militia and conscripts have been raised.”

“Hm, Kursk.” Alexius mused “In another reality we would have won there.”

“Vasili glanced at him eyebrows raised

“Anyway” said the General turning to Orban who was now Grand Master of the Artillery “I have managed to captured a number of Polish cannons intact and in good condition along with the shells they use. They will be of interest to you no?”

Orban bowed in acknowledgment “If you give me these cannons not only could I replicate them I could also make them better.”

“Really?” said Alexius “I also captured a number of rifles on my Swedish campaign. I believe they are far superior to the German model we use. See what you can do with them.”
Orban bowed once more “I will attend to it immediately O Tsar.” He walked away.

The Tsar turned to General Pytor “I am taking over command in this sector. You are relieved of command, I am sending you to take command of our armies in Sweden.”

General Pytor inclined his head “I hear and obey O Tsar”

“And make sure you do better than you did here” Alexius said his voice hardening

The General swallowed and nodded

Vasili and Alexius watched his retreating figure. “Alexius perhaps it is time you began considering the future?” asked Vasili

“Such as..?”

“Getting a wife and producing an heir” said Vasili bluntly “Your line of succession must be secured. Supposing you fall in battle there would be no one to rule. There is not a person among us who has the power, charisma, or skill to rule.”

Alexius nodded “Of course, I have made provisions for this, if the event I fall a provisional government will be formed under you, General Pytor, and Orban to rule until a suitable ruler arises. Also I believe my sister has a child. A possible candidate. Have her and the child sent out of the city and I suggest you do the same. At least until the danger has passed.”

“It will be done O Tsar however this is not all I wished to talk about.” Said Vasili

“Oh?”

“The Chinese have a saying known as “yiguern shizeru” or strike beyond the gates. It is the principal of not having a war fought on your own land but on the enemies land instead.”

“So you’re saying….”

“Take the war to our enemies Alexius”

 

[silver 2039]

I was having internet problems again so my orders were sligtly late. I needed to send it from school this morning. You had better accept it Das after all the trouble I went through sending it...argh!

 

[Disenfrancised]

Gah...we still don't know his name!

Esse rei é completamente louco

 

[silver 2039]

Oh I don't know...by bypassing your invading forces and attacking from the Novgorod area, striking into your heartland directly towards Warsaw?

Shut up man. I don't like to reveal what I did regardless weather its past.
Anyway I did'nt do that so.....it doesn't really matter but as a general rule shut up.
I hopefully suprised/shocked/horrified certain people in the update if all goes according to plan. Of course nothing ever goes according to plan so....

You better not have betrayed me Disenfranchied or I will kill you. Twice in the same NES is more than I can take.

 

[Contempt]

It will be interesting to see.

 

[ThomAnder]

I dunno, Das don't take late orders...

 

[Disenfrancised]

You better not have betrayed me Disenfranchied or I will kill you. Twice in the same NES is more than I can take.

Of course I haven't silver - I have far bigger fish to fry

 

[Contempt]

Either China, or perhaps even betraying the FK Dis?

 

[silver 2039]

I dunno, Das don't take late orders...

It was only a few hours late I think so don't get your hopes up.

 

[ThomAnder]

I don't understand why you would make it public that you were late with orders. If you hadn't, and Das did use them, then all would be fine. Now if Das use them he'll be breaking a rule he set in stone and everyone would know. It'd be unfair to previous players who were late.

 

[Disenfrancised]

Either China, or perhaps even betraying the FK Dis?

What? I'm taking italy down!

 

[Insane_Panda]

China is too big a fried fish for you to handle. You shall choke on one of her bones and die a most ignoble death!

 

[silver 2039]

I don't understand why you would make it public that you were late with orders. If you hadn't, and Das did use them, then all would be fine. Now if Das use them he'll be breaking a rule he set in stone and everyone would know. It'd be unfair to previous players who were late.

*shurgs*

We'll see.

 

[ThomAnder]

China is too big a fried fish for you to handle. You shall choke on one of her bones and die a most ignoble death!

I don't think he's handling it alone. If anything i'm scared of what BananaLee would/could/did do to China Nothing scarier than facing an opponent who knows more about your nation than you.

 

[tossi]

I understand that and I am perfectly fine when people have a reason to not like whats going on and play somewhat in character against me. What I dont like is when people decide for personal, out of character, vengeance to hurt another player, whether thats me or not, I still don't like it and never assosiate with such players. Very sad that many of the new NESers are exactly those kinds of players.

I completely agree!