The terrain-unwise Romans

[Quintillus]

Finally caught up! Quite interesting that China didn't declare war on you after you nuked the Maya - usually nuking causes everyone to declare war on you. I guess being in an alliance and you being super-strong can change that.

Agent Darkness sounds rather like James Bond fighting the Mayan spy in the subway like that. Maybe you ought to try sending Agent Darkness to China now that the Maya are dead?

Y'know, if you ignore the Babylonian mountains, it's quite possible that the last non-Romans in existence will be the Chinook barbarians. That would be quite the triumph for the barbarians!

 

[choxorn]

I'll probably send a few Modern Armor down there to "talk" to any barbarians in the large void that was once the Mayan core.

 

[choxorn]

Chapter 50: Yet Another Blitz

In the later years of 2018, a Blitzkrieg was initiated on Chinese forces throughout the new world. It succeded in the destruction of many Chinese people, as well as 7 cities (well, actually, one was captured), although it would have been 8 had the defenders of Mansura not been so numerous. For that matter, the once Dutch cities of Haarlem and Middelburg could also be included in this, although they were simply abandoned as they would have been impossible to defend.

Shantung, the Chinese city in Incaland, was the first victim of the Blitz. Mechanized Infantry destroyed 2 Radar Towers a few hundred miles from the city, and a Cavalry unit protecting one of them was no more. Modern Armor then advanced straight into the city. 1 Unit of Chinese Infantry, 1 unit of Roman Modern Armor (I hate losing MA's to Infantry) and the entire population of Shantung (which wasn't really that much) died in the battle.

Next was Ningpo, a city that had been built a while ago in the rubble that was once the Mayan Empire. It took 2 units of Modern Armor to destroy the Mechanized Infantry unit in the city, but it was done, and Ningpo is now a pile of rubble.

A similar fate befell Paoting, which had been built about 3 years ago near the ruins of Kaminaljuyu. A unit of Chinese Infantry just doesn't do so well against a unit of Roman Modern Armor. Another one bites the dust.

Next to fall was Piedras Negras, a bit to the Northwest of Paoting. It was defended by a unit of TOW's and a unit of Infantry. The first Modern Armor unit to attack them defeated all of the TOW's, but then had to retreat. The second, on the other hand, defeated the Infantry with ease.

Middelburg and Haarlem, 2 once Dutch cities, were completely undefended and rather vulnerable. Although they could probably be made less vulnerable if Delft, a Chinese city just to the north, was gone, it is still to risky to keep them. So, their reisdents evacuated the cities, which were obliterated.

Speaking of destroying Delft, that was now done. It was bombarded heavily by artillery, followed by a 2-unit Modern Armor attack. These Modern Armor destroyed the units of TOW and Mech Infantry (1 of each) defending Delft, and then destroyed the city.

Modern Armor that could still be bothered to then proceeded on a Radar Tower destruction campaign.

Near Hangchow, a unit of Infantry on a nearby mountain defended some Chinese workers and a Radar Tower. They destroyed the first unit of Modern Armor that came up there to kill them, but were unable to do the same to the second. One Tower down.

Near Xinjian, another Radar Tower existed, defended by Infantry. After some Modern Armor came in, neither the Tower nor the Infantry was still there. Two Towers down.

A third Radar Tower was near Canton. The battle there mimicked the one at Hangchow's Radar Tower, only it wasn't in a mountain, and no workers were captured at the end. Three Towers down.

A Radar Tower near Beijing was defended by TOW Infantry and normal Infantry, which made since considering it was defending the capital. But even those defenses couldn't save it from Roman Modern Armour. Four Towers down.

The fifth and last Radar Tower to be destroyed in 2018 was near Shanghai, defended by Infantry. As already known, Roman Modern Armor>Chinese Infantry any day.

Back near Xinjian, in the sea, The Roman Cruiser RS Deceit and the Chinese Destroyer CHS Divinity duked it out. It's been a while since a good naval battle was fought due to the Mayans' lack of a large navy. Oh, and Rome won this battle.

The Roman Marines, usually used in naval invasions, were sometimes used on land battles as well. For example, they were very good at killing Chinese TOW Infantry that had camped a few hundred miles from Beijing.

Most of the battles of 2018 so far had been easy. But the Battle of Mecca was a lot different. It was the only one in which Rome used bombers, and more than a few artillery. This heavy bombardment destroyed 2 Chinese Infantry in the city, and 2 Chinese Radar Towers outside, as well as a Chinese Alluminum Mine. This was enough. The armies of Trajan, Hadrian, and Germanicus promptly charged into the city, destroying any Mechanized or TOW Infantry that got in their way. Total Chinese casualties (including bombing): 3 Mechanized Infantry units, 4 TOW Infantry units, and 2 Infantry units. Total Roman casualties: None, although the Cavalry in Germanicus and Hadrian's armies were heavily wounded. Unlike the other Chinese cities, Mecca was not destroyed, as it gave some strategic value, and the Mausoleum of Maussolos.

Several workers and artillery were also captured.

Mansura was the only real problem the Roman Army had to deal with. Many TOW Infantry were in or nearby the city, and they had to destroy them.

During Bombing, it was evident something would go wrong, as none of the Chinese army was destroyed (3 Destroyers were, though), where as a Jet Fighter and a Bomber were shot down by now destroyed destroyers. Sorry, does that make sense?

Anyway, in and around the city, many a Chinese TOW met their deaths. 2 were killed by the 7th Army, 2 more were killed by the 5th, another 2 by the 8th, an additional 4 by the 12th, and 3 more by Titus' Army. Oh, and a Settler was captured, and a unit of Roman Marines died trying to kill some of the TOW Infantry.

Back in Arabia, Basra was the 7th and last city to fall, although it was not the last attack. Octavian's Army defeated the Mechanized Infantry and TOW's in the city without breaking a sweat, still.

Like earlier said, other attacks were made in 2018. The 11th Army defeated 2 TOW Infantry units in Najran, but the city still stood, and the 9th army defeated an Infantry unit and destroyed the Radar Tower it was defending, near Damascus.

And thus, the year 2018 starts to end. It is China's turn to attack now.

 

[Quintillus]

That's pretty major ownage of China. I'm surprised they had so many defenders in each town - 13 in and around Mansura and it still not falling is a ton. But the AI does tend to be stronger at the end of the game than early on. Not always relative to the human though .

where as a Jet Fighter and a Bomber were shot down by now destroyed destroyers. Sorry, does that make sense?

Yes! It's always fun to talk about "destroyers destroying destructive destroyers" and the like. Makes me think of John Adams' quote, "In general our generals were outgeneralled."

The pictures of abandoning Middelburg and Haarlem are out of order, btw.

Without knowing your actual army strength, I'll guess at 2023 for the completion of your conquest, though it wouldn't surprise me too much if it were actually a year or two earlier. Macao is the only city I'm not sure of - it's still on its island, correct? You might need some Marines/Paratroopers/airlifted troops down there if it's not to be the only non-Roman place in the world in a few years.

 

[choxorn]

Actually, at least 2 of them were outside of Chinese culture borders when I killed them, one of which was guarding a Settler. But yeah, they had at least 9 TOW Infantry fortified around Mansura. I could have just gone past them, but some of them could have came and attacked Mansura immidiately, and I'd rather attack them on offense when I have the better chance of winning.

I knew that... (will fix that)

Macao was conquered by Carthage in World War I, and then conquered by me a little while ago. The only Chinese city off the mainland is Tatung, which I could get to very quickly with transports.

I don't imagine it will be that fast, as they seem to have a fair amount of units.

 

[choxorn]

Chapter 51: Return of the Barbarians

An interesting thing started happening beginning in 2019: Mass numbers of people who were living in the wilderness of the once Mayan Empire for whatever reason started banding together and forming tribes- almost identical to the barbarian tribes of centuries ago. They even, for lack of better technology, use axes as their weapons. Of course, they were no match for even heavily damaged Modern Weapons, but it was still intriguing. But anyway....

The Chinese counter-attack was surprisingly small. In the water, the only battle was between the Chinese Destroyer CHS Underworld and the Roman Battleship RS Reedemer, which the Underworld, sadly, won.

On land, Chinese TOW Infantry attacked mercilessly, and, they manged to destroy 2 units of Modern Armor and 3 of Marines at random places in Chinese territory, although one particular Modern armor unit held out against the TOW Infantry's missiles and won. They also attacked outside Chinese territory, attacking the marines defending the Roman Gems Colony, but this battle was one they lost. The colony is still in existence.

There was a small void in between The Roman Netherlands and the city of Palenque. However, China filled this void with the newly-built city of Yanchow, cutting of Palenque from western access. It could still be accessed by looping around Lake Hangchow, but that was slower. Yanchow would have to be annhilated.

And annhilated it was. But other battles were higher on the Roman army's priority list, such as the battle of Mansura.

Mansura was bombed again in April, 2019. It had the effect of some damage. It also destroyed a transport boat. Afterwards, the remaining defenders- one unit of Infantry, and 3 units of TOW Infantry- were killed by the 7th and 8th armies, and the city burned.

(No Screenie- I was an idiot and forgot to take one )

On the east coast, a Battleship sailing past saw a campsite. They message they sent to Caeser impied that it was occupied by a people wearing white, ancient garb, wielding axes. They said that they were the first of many "Neo-barbarianists", and they called themselves the Phrygians.

Unfortunately, Axes don't do so well against Modern Armor, even if it's heavily damaged, so a heavily damaged unit of Modern Armor was sent to the Phrygians to "greet" them.

A few hours later, the Phrygians had been dealt with.

Near Mecca, 2 units of Infantry defended some Settlers, and a unit of Mechanized Infantry was not far from them. Modern Armor were sent to take care of the Infantry. They managed to defeat one unit, but succumbed to the second. They were left alone for now, but soon they would not be.

A unit of Modern Armor near Shanghai was well posed to capture 4 nearby chinese workers at different locations, which they did, but they may be stranded now.

Najran, just to the north of Mecca, was the next site of a battle. It was heavily bombarded by nearby artillery until the 2 units of TOW Infantry and 2 units of Regular Infantry defending the city were reduced to 25% of their numbers. Those remaining 25% were then immidiately killed by the 11th army.

Remember the Mechanized and Normal Infantry near Mecca? Well, both the Mechs, and the Infantry guarding the Settlers, were killed soon after the Battle of Najran by Trajan's Army.

And finally, Yanchow. The still-not-yet-tired army of Trajan was sent there, and the one unit of defending Infantry was killed. So much for Yanchow.

Elsewhere, in the East, a Radar Tower near Bukhara and the Infantry defending it were destroyed by the 5th Army.

Damascus was the new target of the day. It was heavily bombed, and only one Roman Bomber bit the dust, whereas 1 Chinese Fighter, a TOW Infantry unit, and a Radar Tower were destroyed, and much damage was caused. Only one unit of TOW Infantry remained to defend the city, and it was easily defeated by the 12th Army. Some artillery were also captured.

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Okay, I have to eat dinner now, and might not be back for a while. Later.

K, I'm back.
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Some remaining bombers also destroyed a Chinese Cruiser in Hangchow Lake (It's bigger than 22 tiles, so it counts as Saltwater and ships can be built on it, despite the fact that until I built Cyrene, there was no way out, and even now, that way out is only for me to use), as well as a Fighter that tried to intercept them when doing this.

The final battle of the year intiated by Rome was in Chinan. The 9th army charged in and defeated 2 units of TOW Infantry, but was unable to do more.

The Gems Colony seemed like it was perfectly safe after the marines' stoic defense. However, they were wrong. The last thing anyone near that colony saw was several Chinese Bombers, which killed all the Marines and most of everything else that was there. Some unknown ground forces destroyed what was left of it.

Also, in various areas, 3 units of Modern Armor- including the ones defending the slaves near Shanghai and Hangchow- were destroyed by Chinese TOW Infantry.

There was one last act of the Chinese military. On December 29th, a Transport boat, escorted by 3 Destroyers, the CHS Dragonfire, the CHS Shanghai, and the CHS Victory, unloaded a unit of TOW Infantry on Nicomedia Island. The Mechanized Infantry defending Nicomedia admire their courage, coming to an island in the beginning of the winter that is covered with snow almost the entire year, but these guys are idiots if they think they can defeat the better prepared, stronger garrison of Nicomedia.

In early April the following year, The Roman Navy attacked the Destroyers and Transport that had gotten those TOW's there. The battle started involving onle 4 Roman Destroyers- the RS Liqiuidator, the RS Disentigrator, the RS Creation, and the RS Scouter. However, the Chinese ships proved tougher than they looked, and both sides lost 2 ships- the Romans lost the Creator and the Liquidator, and the Chinese lost the Shanghai and the Victory. Rather than let the 2 Remaining ships escape, the Navy sent in 2 Battleships- the RS Rogue and the RS Crusher- to finish them off, which they quickly did.

They decided to leave the TOW Infantry alone, as there was no way they could take Nicomedia.

And now, the action moved to Chinan, which was now only defended by 1 unit of Infantry. They didn't do so well against the 9th army.

Farther west, the city of Yamama was a current must-take city, since it had gems, so if it was taken, there would be no need for a far less defensible gems colony in the far Southeast. Luckily, the Chinese army didn't think too highly of it, and it was only defended by 1 unit of TOW Infantry and another of Regular Infantry, which were quickly killed by the 12th Army.

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Crap, and now I have to go to bed.
And I'm back...
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In the Far Southeast, in the mountain range that held 3 hard-to-reach Gems sources, a new Neo-Barbarianist Tribe sprouted up: The Illuryians. Again, they weere quickly killed by Damaged Modern Armor.

Back in Western Arabian front, Some Modern Armor destroyed a Radar Tower near Balkh and the defending Infantry. It proceeded to be destroyed by some Infantry camped out on the Yamama Gems Mountain. Some other Modern Armor destroyed a Radar Tower near Shiraz (also defended by Infantry)

Now focusing on Balkh, the Roman army sent in a single unit of Modern Armor. Like the rest of the West Arabian cities, it was defended by one unit of TOW Infantry and another of Regular Infantry, and thus, the battle was easily won. A Jet Fighter was destroyed with the city.

Leiden, a bit to the north, was one of 2 cities that shared the title for the northernmost city on the planet (The other one is Trebizond), and the next target. Marines destroyed a Radar Tower to the south of the city (as well as the defending Infantry). However, Roman forces in the city weren't as lucky, as they were a bit ill-equipped to fight in this arctic tundra, and it took 2 Modern Armor units to defeat 1 unit of Infantry (the first one retreated). With no more attacks able to be done on the West Arabian in 2020, the focus shifted to the east. Well, actually, the 8th army and Titus' Army killed 5 units of TOW Infantry in various places first, but anyway...

Bukhara was heavily bombarded. In the process, 2 Jet fighters, as well as the majority of the city's defenders, were destroyed. Only part of 1 Infantry unit remained, whereas 5 total units of TOW and non-TOW Infantry once were there to defend. This one unit was no match for Hadrian's Army.

The last Roman act in 2020 was of the 5th army, which destroyed a unit of Mechanized Infantry near Muscat in East Arabia.

 

[Quintillus]

Photoshop power! I tried ImageShack once and couldn't get it working immediately, so I switched over to Photobucket and haven't looked back.


I was going to laugh out loud if the Warriors defeated your Modern Armor. I'm sure it's happened to someone before.

 

[choxorn]

Really? I would have killed my computer if it had done that.

ImageShack is now working, so I will edit the rest of my update into that last post and make a new post saying I have when I'm done with that.

 

[choxorn]

Okay, after numerous pauses, I am finished with Ch. 51, so you can read the rest of it.

 

[Quintillus]

Make some inroads into the heart of China! 2023 isn't impossible yet!

 

[Bobv2]

I WAS going to say that chox double posted twice, but I posted it and it went into the other thread I just posted in (WTH?) So I can't really say anything

 

[choxorn]

Welcome to CFC, Bobv2!

I don't really get exactly what you were trying to say there, but where did I double-post?

Oh, and your sig is funny.

 

[Bobv2]

Quite a number of times you did . And im not really new. Long time lurker, first time poster. what I was saying is some bug caused me to double post in another thread while I was trying to post here. and the sig was from Tankmen 2.

 

[choxorn]

Without knowing your actual army strength, I'll guess at 2023 for the completion of your conquest, though it wouldn't surprise me too much if it were actually a year or two earlier.

Yeah. Not really. It's 2023, and China still has 7 cities left. They might have 8 soon- Nippur is completely undefended thanks to Chinese Bombers in Tatung, and I can't re-inforce it at least until next turn, so it's ripe for the taking if they have any 2-move units in Tatung.

Well, update soon to come.

 

[choxorn]

Chapter 52: Into China

China's end was close at hand. After a long time of fighting in Arabia, all of their land there had fallen, and the Roman army quickly is going after the land that has always been settled by them, and never owned by anyone else. And it was falling just as quickly as Arabia had fallen. Soon the Roman Empire will have conquered the world.

But, as to how Arabia actually fell, This story will now tell.

Obviously, the TOW Infantry on Nicomedia Island stood no chance against Mechanized Infantry.

It is evident now that China has 2 Bombers stationed in Tatung, as they have bombed Babylon.

North of the ruins of Basra, the city of Anyang has been built. This name has already been used before in Babylon, so China must have run out of names and named it in honor of a destroyed city.

Elections for the United Nations did not happen in 2021, as they would have been pointless, seeing as the UN's two members are at war.

Caeser believes this will be the last time a vote is ever suggested to be called.

Some Chinese Infantry north of Yamama, on a mountain, were kind of trapped. They had been stuck there since last year, and now they were to meet their maker. A unit of Modern Armor led by Scipio, hero of the Punic Wars, killed them. Scipio has been given an army of his own thanks to this victory (Yes, stealing borrowing Quintillus' new Leader name idea when the list goes back to the first person on it).

To the north, Leiden and Shiraz were attacked. The 2 units of TOW Infantry in Leiden were stubborn, keeping the unit of Modern Armor that attacked from beating them. The earlier mentioned Modern Armor were forced to retreat. Unfortunately, the TOW's weren't stubborn enough to keep the 12th army from beating them, and Trebizond no longer has to share the "Northernmost city" title.

As for Shiraz, it was hard to get to, but not impossible to get to. Like many of the other Arabian cities, it was defended by 1 unit of TOW Infantry and another of Non-TOW Infantry. The 9th army killed the TOW's, and Germanicus' Army killed the Non-TOW's.

At the newly-built city of Anyang, the newly-created Army led by Scipio got to work. One TOW Infantry unit couldn't do much to stop it.

The killing of Barbarian Tribes continued when a tribe of people known as the Cimmerians were killed by the Modern Armor unit known as "Barb-Killer".

Caeser was so busy that he almost forgot about espionage. But he didn't totally forget, and sent Agent Z to Beijing. Unfortunately, he didn't do any better than the previous agent did.

But, back to the fighting, Muscat, the Easternmost city in China (not counting Tatung), was the next city to be destroyed. It was within rang of some bombers, and as such, was bombed. 2 Radar Towers and 2 Infantry units have been destroyed. The 5th and 7th armies then attacked the city itself, easily defeating the 2 units of TOW and 1 unit of Non-TOW Infantry in the city.

Also, Octavian's Army destroyed a Radar Tower near Kufah, which was defended by TOW Infantry.

China bombarded various places in the Fall, and also sent TOW Infantry to attack the Roman Paratroopers defending a bunch of Artillery at a mountain outside Hangchow. Luckily, the Paratroopers won the battle.

But, Back to Kufah, the last city in Chinese Arabia. Guess what it was defended by. If you guessed 1 unit of TOW Infantry and another of Non-TOW Infantry, you were right. They were killed by Octavian's Army in April of 2022.

EDIT: (Oops, forgot this pic):

Hangchow was now the victim of massive bombardment, which nearly destroyed the city itself. But it didn't quite do so, and there were still some Mechanized and TOW Infantry left to defend the city, and despite being heavily injured, they held off the attacking Roman Paratroopers. Luckily, the artillery are still defended, by the 8th army.

Near Eindhoven, the next battle was to happen. Needless to say, the 3 Chinese TOW and 1 Regular Infantry stood no chance against the armies of Scipio and Hadrian.

And now, for the annual Bombing campaign, in which 2 Bombers were shot down, but 2 Infantry and one Radar Tower were destroyed.

Meanwhile, the next battle was to take place a little to the south of the last one, in Xinjian. 4 TOW Infantry units and 1 Mechanized Infantry unit defended the city. The 9th army attacked first, dealing with the Mechs and 1 of the TOW units. Germanicus attacked a second unit, and disaster decided to strike. Or maybe Old-fashioned guns just don't do well against Missiles. Either way, Germanicus' Army was wiped out. They took most of that TOW unit with them, but they died completely. Oh, China is going to pay for this, with the people of Xinjian's Blood! The 11th army and Titus' Army killed the remaining defenders, and the people of Xinjian now died too. The people of China refer to this battle as a massacre.

A bit to the east, in Canton, Trajan's Army killed 3 of the city's defending units: One of Mechs, one of TOW's, one of normal Infantry. The city still holds. China must really want it.

Up North, in Western Arabia, a people called the Suren had formed. They quickly un-formed when the Barb-killer Modern Armor arrived.

On the Eastern border of China, there are plenty of workers. Caeser doesn't know why, but he knows that they continously get recaptured by Roman and Chinese forces. This time, a Roman Modern Armor captured them, but those Modern Armor were killed by TOW Infantry 2 Months later.

You know the Chinese Bombers in Tatung? Well, they, in coordination with some destroyers, wiped out the garrison of Nippur. Strangely, no Chinese men have appeared ready to take the city, so Caeser wonders why they did this. But Nippur is still undefended.

Back at Hangchow, the Mechanized and TOW Infantry there were quickly killed by the 8th army in April, 2023.

During the 2023 Bombings, another Bomber was shot down, but so was an Intercepting Fighter. It temporarily paused to allow the 9th army to destroy a Radar Tower near Beijing, and capture a worker there, but back to the bombing, a large piece of Eastern China was laid to waste, as were 4 units of TOW and 1 of Regular Infantry, a Radar Tower, and a Dyes route.

Canton sure as hell was heavily defended. Even after what Trajan's Army did, it still had 4 defenders: 2 Infantry and 2 Drafted TOW Infantry, as Artillery Bombardment revealed. These guys were, you guessed it, no match for the armies of Octavian and Scipio.

In Eastern China far from any city, Artillery destroyed a Radar Tower. Marines now tried to kill the now-heavily-wounded TOW Infantry defending the Tower, but failed.

Near Chengdu, the 5th Army destroyed a Radar Tower. When will China learn that normal Infantry are out of date?

Also, the Barb-Killer Modern Armor destroyed the Illuryans, who they thought the had destroyed earlier.

The Battles of Canton and Xinjian have shown the Roman army that taking China's Homeland will be far from easy. They also worry about the safety of Nippur. However, Caeser points out that an island like that will probably be easy to take, and that they have as many nukes in the New World as China has cities. Hmmm...

 

[Bobv2]

I enjoyed your story from the start. But, it seems the next chapter will be the last :'(. Anyway, You havent won by domonation yet?

 

[choxorn]

No, I have not. In fact, I am purposely not winning by the Domination limit so I can go for style points and win by Conquest and Domination at the same time.

 

[Quintillus]

Is the chapter title by any chance a double-entendre with the Age of Empires II Geghis Khan scenario Into China?

Wonder what's going to happen in the next chapter? Perhaps enough nuclear missiles will fly through the sky that the Chinese and Romans can fight in the shade?

The Chinese are no doubt on their last legs, even without nukes.

 

[choxorn]

@First Question: Maybe...

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Ah, a fellow AoE II player, I see.....

Good story, though.