NES2 VIb - Return of the Chaos.

[JosefStalinator]

Time for the byzantines to pay the price of betrayal...

 

[~Darkening~]

Flickering Flames​

​

The scorching sun beating down on back
The hot, gusty air swirling around my neck
The blinding sand attempting to invade my eyes
The withering heat striking my brow and
The life of Segu revolving around me.

The echoes of Segou in the roaring background
The haggling of the merchants in the bazaar
The joyful chatter of peaceful citizens lingering in my mind
The words of the pacifists falling on deaf ears and
The reverberations of marching soldiers reaching calling to my soul.

The hushed whispering of a careful lord and his brothers
The calling of a great conference in the capital being heard by all
The great speech given by a mournful lord of the people
The call to arms by the Imams to defend our faith and
The knowledge, despite what they say, of a certain defeat to come.

The confident, swaggering talk of the convinced commanders
The rumbles of ferocious battles being waged on far distant lands
The news of my fellow Africans waging war against imperialists
The expected mobilization of my fellow brothers and
The encroaching, unpreventable doubts distressing my being.

The aged laughs of my daughter ringing in my ears
The words of my sons as they talk of a happy life fading
The roaring of cries of my brothers as they fall in battle
The weeping of their grief-stricken widows and
The sounds of war clutching at my heart.

The cries of my wife as the news comes to us
The last words of my sons ringing in my fallen spirits
The knowledge of the oncoming end of my family
The sadness that now perverts my home and
The hole in my heart that cannot be filled.

The news of the shocking successes of our ragged army
The small bubble of hope rising up from deep within my spirit
The renewed calls for men to collect their arms and to serve in the army
The ramblings of military generals from the fronts and
The beginning of the deadly second campaign.

The small flicker of hope in my being finally being snuffer out
The appalling news coming in of the high number of casualties
The reports of armies lying broken before being forced to retreat.
The sounds of heavy feet scurrying away from the battlefields and
The closing of the deadly second campaign.

The beginning of the end for my people
The onrushing defeat that was certain from the beginning
The laughter of our enemies ringing in our ears
The extinguishment of the final hope and the coming of
The end of the flame.

The life of Segu revolving around me.
The reverberations of marching soldiers reaching out to my soul.
The knowledge, despite what they say, of a certain defeat to come.
The encroaching, unpreventable doubts distressing my being.
The sounds of war clutching at my heart.
The hole in my heart that cannot be filled.
The beginning of the deadly second campaign.
The closing of the deadly second campaign.
The end of the flame.

 

[JosefStalinator]

Occitan Travel Agency Presents...

The World's Hidden Jewel- The United Provinces D'Occitan!

This could be yours!

Tired of living in constant fear for stability and war the next day? Tired of having your house burned down by partisans or torn apart by cannon fire? Tired of fearing your white neighbors? Ever wanted to own your own piece of land?

Then the occitan is the place for you!

That's right, in the beautiful Occitan, the long held tradition of independent farming is realized and blossoming, as a large government subsidy to settle land within or even beyond the Occitan's borders will provide you with the basic land and equipment you could only pray for in Europe!

But what of the rumors of dissent, unrest, and turmoil? Egalitist propaganda- they do not wish you to know of the haven that the Occitan provides for any European wishing to seek peace and security in this troubled world, a haven where our schools are secure from teachers and schoolmasters attempting to corrupt our children, and infiltrate our social and political instutitions to destroy the traditional values that made Europe great.

Of all things that you will find the Occitan in great supply of it is tradition- in the Occitan, Catholic European values are sacred and immune to the corrupting forces of the East, Africa, or Egalitarians.

So, if your dream is to own your own peace of land where you know you can raise your children in pure European bliss, come to the Occitan and claim your homestead today!

Brought to you by the coalition to keep white people outnumbering blacks.

 

[Symphony D.]

"THE STATES OF THE GREATER EAST ASIAN REPUBLIC"
As Established by the National Diet With the Blessing of the Emperor
Promulgated February 30, 1787​

Following Ratification of the Constitution by the National Diet, it has likewise seen fit to establish initial division and appropriate of the newly established States. The preliminary division of the States shall be as follows:

01. Karafuto      16. Naimou        31. Gamboa
02. Hokkaido      17. Amur          32. Vanuatu
03. Tohoku        18. Gaoxiong SAR  33. Kwajarin
04. Kanto         19. Luzon         34. Hawai
05. Chūbu         20. Visayas       35. Samoa
06. Kansai        21. Mindanao      36. Fiji
07. Chugoku       22. Borneo        37. Pikarin
08. Shikoku       23. Sulawesi      38. Hokuaotearoa
09. Kyushu        24. Java          39. Namaotearoa
10. Ryukyu        25. Tounan'a      40. Tasmania
11. Chousen       26. Papua         41. Ichieikoku
12. Ussuri        27. Parao         42. Namgoushuu
13. Liaoning      28. Toribio       43. Higashigoushuu
14. Jilin         29. Mariana       44. Ichifutsu
15. Heilongjiang  30. Tarawa        45. Hokugoushuu

It is implict in this organization that these divisions are still subject to future revision, however they will be utilized for the initial establishment of the interim government.

OOC: Yes, there's a bunch of islands between the "States", I'm not going to bother placing each one, presume they belong to one or another.

 

[Dachs]

Due to minor time constraints I might not be able to get my orders in for another four hours from now. Please wait for me until then.

Sorry.

 

[das]

Did I mention that orders sent after the deadline have good chances of being ignored due to my time constraints AND connection problems? People, why can't you learn to send orders on Monday, leaving Tuesday as a last resort? Anyway, you can always send simple NPCing guidelines if you can't send orders before the deadline. It IS better than nothing.

 

[Symphony D.]

"A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF CHINA"
As Dictated By the Emperor of the Greater East Asian Republic
Promulgated March 1, 1787​

Greetings, people of the Middle Kingdom. It is an honor to know that so ancient and honorable a culture might be the recipient of my words. I speak these words and they are recorded so that the people of my nation might convey a message to the people of yours: the time for fighting between Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Manchu, Ainu, Okinawan, Filipino, Javanese, Bornean, or any other, is over. We need only look at the past to recognize that our separate ambitions and inability to recognize the humanity and commonality between ourselves and our neighbors has lead to suspicion, envy, greed, violence, and death. It was evidenced by the violent overthrow of the Manchu, when we assisted in the removal of the Qing Dynasty from your nation over three decades ago. You were liberated, and we were secure, and for many long years there was peace between our nations. But it was a false peace, a one poisoned by the Xin Han Dynasty. Once more chaos and bloodshed have swept the land, but this time, things will end differently.

The time for separate paths and separate destinies is over. It is imperative to study history, not simply to remember one's ancestors and the people and achievements that have gone before, but also to recognize the failings of the past. It has become obvious that now, should we falter in our willingness to look to the future and improve upon the world rather than merely let it proceed as it will, the same mistakes of history will repeat themselves; China shall rebuild, Japan shall remain strong along with the other peoples of Asia and the Pacific under the Greater East Asian Republic, and eventually human greed, on either side, will take its course and there will again be war.

These are not hypotheses or theory, they are inevitable truth. We are all where we are today because it is an inherent drive of the human spirit to improve upon its surroundings and to establish a better life; to see not just what is, but dream of what might be. I have a dream, people of the Middle Kingdom, and I hope that you too might share in it. I dream to see the people of China join their fellow Asians in the Greater East Asian Republic. Each of our peoples brings with it many talents and skills, all of which compliment one another; together we are unimaginably stronger than any of us individually. In cooperation, there is strength; there is the opportunity to pursue the greater good for all in peace, unity, and brotherhood.

I hope that you might see the inexorable tide of the future, and join with us. Thank you for your time.

光格 天皇
Kōkaku Tennō
Emperor Kōkaku

OOC: Needless to say, orders sent. Get ready for a bumpy ride, boys and girls.

 

[andis-1]

Orders hath been sent, luxurious 9 minutes before dealine.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

The orders of Canada are sent.

 

[das]

THE DEADLINE IS HERE!!!

Mind, you people could still send orders, but, as already said, it is more likely with every minute that they will be simply ignored. Send orders on time...

 

[Insane_Panda]

Hey! My orders wouldn't have been accepted last turn.

 

[Insane_Panda]

Damnit. I forgot something. Its a very minor something, but I forgot it nonetheless.

 

[LittleBoots]

...This one always sneaks up on me. Okay, das, just continue what we were doing last turn and put all EP into the project. I hope that's acceptable, I didn't want to bother you with a PM.

 

[das]

Okay, I almost definitely would be unable to receive any orders beginning with now.

 

[Dachs]

Sorry about that again. It won't happen again: extenuating circumstances and all that.

I don't normally do this, but something came up at the exact wrong time.

 

[das]

You are unrealistically lucky today; I forgot to copy one of the order maps to the orders document, and came back for it.

 

[Symphony D.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
01:24 LOCAL TIME, OCTOBER 4, 1786 COMMON CALENDER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

It was a rather dismal night to be on the coast of the English Channel. A storm was rolling through and the rain was steady in its relentless downpour. It was tough to observe the dock house from their current position, and the fact it was the dead of night didn’t help matters much. The English had been nice enough to leave the lights on, though, so even at a distance they could still make it out through binoculars. Michael watched it closely while Alexander went through the documentation that O’Neil and Crocket had gathered from London, while occasionally checking his watch. The candlelight reflected off both the watch face and his spectacles, giving an eerie sort of double vision of the flame, while the light played tricks with the shadows and turned his normally blonde hair an orange hue. Their counterparts were both in Devonport, likely doing something very similar. It had been a strange trip for all of them really, seeing the old country again, brought back a lot of memories. But then again, they weren’t exactly here as tourists; it was a business trip.

“Shud a be a’boot now,” said Alexander, as he followed the second hand to the top of the hour.

Michael simply said “And to think the Imperials haven’t bothered to bomb this poor town yet.”

Alexander shrugged and replied “Thay ca jus say twas a looky hit.”

No sooner had he finished his sentence than the building erupted in a bright gout of flame, the concussive shockwave forming a hollow cavity amidst the falling rain for a few moments, visible even from the distance at which they were currently situated. The whole outside lit up and Alexander found it possible to read the papers on his lap without the aide of the nearby candle. After a moment the light faded to a dull red glow, and that was when the roar of the blast washed over them. It sounded somewhere between a freight train, a thunderclap, and a cannon shot and the whole building shook. Michael lowered the binoculars and sat down beside Alexander as the church bells started ringing to warn people of an air raid. It didn’t matter whether or not any more blasts occurred, they apparently would believe it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

[font=”courier new”]PERSONNEL FILE [SECRET]
Name: Michael Shanks
Rank: Chuui (Second Lieutenant)
Service: 内閣 情報 調査室 (Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office [Section 05])
Serial Number: 184-67-8952
Gender: Male
D.O.B.: 1750.12.15
Place of Birth: Manchester, Lancashire, England United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Blood Type: B Negative
Height: 1.832 Meters
Weight: 64.53 Kilograms
Religious Preference: Anglican
Current Assignment: [TOP SECRET]

Notes: British expatriate. Relocated to Kansai region on 1773.07.24. Educational background includes Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology, attained 1772.04.29 from Oxford University. Background Check Type 01-KYOTO. Operative since 1776.02.09, assignment history includes [TOP SECRET][/font]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

[font=”courier new”]PERSONNEL FILE [SECRET]
Name: Alexander Anderson
Rank: Chuui (Second Lieutenant)
Service: 内閣 情報 調査室 (Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office [Section 05])
Serial Number: 516-78-8974
Gender: Male
D.O.B.: 1744.11.13
Place of Birth: Drogheda, Leinster, Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Blood Type: O Positive
Height: 1.903 Meters
Weight: 66.43 Kilograms
Religious Preference: Roman Catholic
Current Assignment: [TOP SECRET]

Notes: British expatriate. Relocated to Luzon region on 1767.08.21. Educational background includes Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education, attained 1763.05.11 from University of Dublin. Background Check Type 01-KYOTO. Operative since 1769.07.30, assignment history includes [TOP SECRET][/font]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

“Don’t see why we had to blow it up, it wasn’t what we were looking for,” said Michael, resting his head back against the wall.

Alexander turned the page and without looking up, replied “You knoo ‘ow thay’re, always tha resoolts tha mattar.”

Michael closed his eyes and let his muscles unwind; the operation had taken all night to work out “Even so…”

Alexander closed the report and set it aside, propping his hands behind his head and kicking one boot over the other “Ya knoo better’n ta question, Michael, jus get som sleep.”

Michael said nothing more and they both slept until morning. What they were looking for hadn’t been in London or Portsmouth, and from the evidence it was fairly clear it wouldn’t be in Devonport either. But it never hurt to be thorough to score bonus pay, and they all knew where they had to go next by now. They would rendezvous in Newport, and then…

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND, UNION OF SCANDINAVIA
10:54 LOCAL TIME, OCTOBER 25, 1786 COMMON CALENDER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

“Ask him about the attack,” said O’Neil, quickly adding “Whatever he can remember about it.”

The man kind of glared at them, since it seemed rather suspicious for a bunch of British to have the wherewithal to be here in Reykjavik, asking about an attack barely a year earlier that had been launched by the British. They told him they were members of the press; press always asked funny questions. There still seemed some anger, but he cooperated in translating for them.

“He says the airships came and started dropping bombs on the city,” said the man, translating what the man’s excited Icelandic with but a brief pause. The man was making gestures up and the skin and by his animation, the team, even though not a word of them spoke the language, could easily follow along with the additional narration.

“Then, all across the sky were white sails with men dangling from them, and they descended to the city,” continued the translation.

“They carried terrible guns that spat fire like dragons, and the bombs they dropped knocked down houses with terrible bursts of vibration when they exploded,” said the translation.

The man crossed his hands over one another and looked each of the four members of the team straight in the eye, as the translator related “Never had I seen anything so terrible in my whole life; it was not like gunpowder going off, it was stronger, more potent.”

The team exchanged glances, before Michael asked “All of the soldiers who parachuted in were eventually killed, correct?”

Their translator relayed it with some difficulty, and the man nodded his head vigorously, the translator saying “They fought like demons but eventually we cut them all down; the Airships could not help them and they withdrew.”

This time, Crocket suddenly spoke up, saying “Which way did they go?”

The translator relayed the question and the response was just a single word: “West.”

The team again exchanged looks, before O’Neil asked “And which way did they initially come from?”

The translator again relayed, and this time the answer was quick, and the exact same: “West.”

After a brief pause they all thanked both the translator and the man for their time, passing the former a few Kroner, before they made their way back to the coffee house they had started the day at. Once inside they sat a table, and ordering drinks, discussed the matter amongst themselves.

“What sort of government launches one attack and keeps perfectly accurate records, and then another with absolutely none at all,” asked Crocket, adding “It makes no sense.”

It was a rhetorical question, but Alexander piped up with “Soonds like tha ‘ne we’re work’n fer.”

Michael shook his head “The British wouldn’t send their air fleet west. They don’t have any possessions out there.”

“What’s west of Iceland,” asked O’Neil. They all looked at one another. The answer was obvious.

Alexander shook his head a little and crossed his arms over one another “Nay a whole bloody lot…”

 

[alex994]

Lurker's Comment: Out of curiosity, wouldn't a Republic that includes the Chinas well, have a Chinese plurality?

 

[KrimzonStriker]

Things about to start? Cool! I've been waiting awhile for this. And I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

 

[Dachs]

You are unrealistically lucky today; I forgot to copy one of the order maps to the orders document, and came back for it.

Gott mit mir!

With my rather unique brand of luck, it won't do much good anyway.