The Triumph(?) of the Boers: Yet another AoI Story.

[DJ Bonebraker]

Chapter 6: The Second British-Boer War, Part 1​

This war was rather long and eventful, so I've broken it into two chapters to cover it better.

In January of 1903, President Kruger calls up Queen Victoria:

Oh, we'll deal with Britain all right, but not in the way they're expecting! President Kruger tells Queen Victoria to stop her aggression against France and Russia. Victoria, of course refuses, so Britain and the Boer Republic are now at war again.

11 batteries of Horse Artillery are arrive outside of Livingstone in British Rhodesia, along with all available units of Light Cavalry and Commandos. A Maxim Machine gun battalion is sent to guard the artillery from British counter-attacks. The Artillery bombards the city, but only manages to hit two of the five companies of British Colonial infantry in the city, as well as completely fails to silence the British Mountain Gun battery guarding the city. Defense Minister Voorhees cusses the artillery commanders up and down for their lack of results, but the rest of the army moves in anyways.

Seven Boer Light Cavalry companies are shredded in the assault, but the elite Boer Guard Cavalry and the Commandos come through!

Livingstone is captured, along with 5 tons of raw materials, which are sent to Pretoria. Another Commando company disbands a group of British colonial conscript workers slaving away in the hills outside of Livingstone.

In Lüderitz, the SBB Pretoria and SBB Cape Town weigh anchor and set sail for Durban, which is busy building transport ships.

In February, Capetown, Durban, Port Elizabeth, all have riots and demonstrations, due to the fact that many of the citizens being of British birth, have relatives who died fighting in the recent battles. The Citizens of Livingstone protest against the occupying forces, so entertainers are hired in those cities to calm folks down. All available full-strength units are moved into position to attack Lusaka next month. The forces arrayed against Lusaka are the 1^st Light Horse, six Commando companies, 3 Boer Light Cavalry companies, 10 Horse Artillery batteries and one 75mm Krupp Mountain Gun battery. The city is not expected to hold out for long...

The British capture French Guiana near the end of February, virtually eliminating France's presence in the New World.

In March, in an historic naval battle, the SBB Pretoria ambushes two British Cressy class Armored Cruisers guarding a transport ship. After slugging it out with the British ships for several hours, the Pretoria emerges victorious from the battle, although moderately damaged. The SBB Cape Town moves in to guard the Pretoria's retreat back to Cape Town for repairs. The entire world was rocked by the news: For the first time since the War of 1812, the Royal Navy lost a battle against a foreign power. Tanicious Fox and Silver 2039, two well-known military analysts and skeptics regarding the capabilities of the Boer navy were forced to eat heaping helpings of crow as a result of this battle. In related news, Swaziland commissions the republic's first naval transport... Soon we'll be ready to take the British-occupied cities on Madagascar, if need be.

Eleven batteries of artillery pound Lusaka while the British Colonial Army band plays "Rule Britannia" as loudly and defiantly as they can. (Yes, that particular song came up while I was assaulting the city ) The Boer generals salute the courage and audacity of the British musicians, before they begin their assault on the city.

In one of the bloodiest battles the world has seen, four entire companies of Boer Commandos and three companies of Boer Light Cavalry are slaughtered, and the 1^st Light Horse takes heavy casualties during the assault on the city. The British fare even worse: They lose six companies of colonial infantry as well as three hurriedly-conscripted colonial sentries during the battle, and the city, along with its rubber plantations and three tons of raw materials, is captured by the Boer Republic. One of our Maxim Machine Gun battalions is sent to defend the city.

Due to the fact that we have no way of directly assaulting the cities Britain took from German East Africa, President Kruger, Defense Minister Voorhees and Chief of Staff Takayama all agree that the occupied cities on Madagascar should be the next target.

Later that month, President Grover Cleveland of the US demands we pay them 100 gold. We give them the money, since we make 5 times that much in a month, and we don't want to be distracted by any additional conflicts.

In April, preparations are begun for the invasion of Madagascar. The SBB Pretoria docks in Cape Town for repairs, which also launches a second Protected Cruiser, the SBB Swaziland which is sent, along with the SBB Cape Town over to Madagascar to make life miserable for the British forces occupying the island. On Friday, the 13^th of April, the British attempt to re-take Lusaka with four companies of Colonial Cavalry. As they were making their final approach along Elm Street, the six maxim machine guns in the battalion open up, and shred the British cavalry in a nightmarish scene. The world, thanks to our machine guns and commando tactics, has been rudely introduced to modern warfare.

Later that month, France and the Lowlands make peace, bringing their pointless war to a close, and allowing French forces to (hopefully) concentrate on the British.

In another naval battle in May, the SBB Swaziland sinks a British transport off the Swaziland coast and is promoted to veteran status. Durban, in Swaziland, launches our second transport. the transports are loaded with troops and artillery, and sent to rendezvous with the Cape Town andSwaziland before setting course for Madagascar.

In Late May, the Austrians attempt to steal our troop movement plans... If they keep their spying up, they may find out our troop movement plans the HARD way!

In June, a third transport is built in Durban, and the 1^st Light Horse is loaded up and sent over to Madagascar to meet up with the rest of the invasion fleet. In Cape Town, the SBB Pretoria has been repaired and leaves port, along with the newly commissioned protected cruiser, Pietersburg to help harass the British on Madagascar. The Swaziland sinks yet ANOTHER British transport before re-grouping with the invasion fleet off the coast of Madagascar, near the British-occupied city of Fort Dauphin. The Transports land three companies of Commandos, one Light Cavalry company, three batteries of Horse Artillery, one battery of 75mm Krupp Mountain guns, and the 1^st Light Horse outside the city. The invasion forces liberate two groups of forced-labor gangs there.

In Late June, Russia and Britain make peace! Bad news for us, especially since Russia demands gold from us shortly afterwards, which we give them. Britain also takes Abeche in French Equatorial Africa! It is unknown how long the French will be able to hold out.

The battle of Ft. Dauphin begins in July, with all available artillery, including the Cape Town and Swaziland pounding British Colonial Infantry garrisoned in the city. Despite the usual lackluster performance of our horse artillery and mountain guns, the ships actually score some hits, severely wounding many of the defenders. The 1^st Light Horse overruns the remaining colonial infantry with minimal casualties, and the city is ours!

The French citizens of the city welcome us as liberators, and we have the city start building a theater. We also negotiate a right of passage aggreement with France, so we can get through the territory they still hold on the island and attack British-held Diego Saures. All units that are undamaged are moved through French territory towards Diego Saures. A lone company of French Colonial Infantry is spotted trying to re-take the city, but they've taken heavy casualties and aren't expected to last long.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Well I dunno about Silver, but luckily my name is Tanicius Fox! I guess you caught my twin brother by accident. D: *flees to avoid being fed crow*

Overall, an excellent performance by the Boer Republic. Luckily, you have local superiority over the Brits. Teach the Sharks that Europe's days as prime hegemon are over!

 

[silver 2039]

Tanicious Fox and Silver 2039, two well-known military analysts and skeptics regarding the capabilities of the Boer navy were forced to eat heaping helpings of crow as a result of this battle.

Well you'll get lucky once in a while.....

And things seem to be going quite well indeed. After Madagadscar whats your next target? Portugal's colonies?

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Well I dunno about Silver, but luckily my name is Tanicius Fox! I guess you caught my twin brother by accident. D: *flees to avoid being fed crow*

Overall, an excellent performance by the Boer Republic. Luckily, you have local superiority over the Brits. Teach the Sharks that Europe's days as prime hegemon are over!

Previous chapter edited to correct misspellings. Oh, and the Europeans will learn that they are no longer the only power in the world.

Now on to:

Chapter 7: The Second British-Boer War, Part 2​

We left off last chapter with the stunning victory over the British Occupation Forces in Ft. Dauphin, on Madagascar in early July of 1903.

Now it is Later that same month, and the French continue to reel from defeats by the British Expeditionary Force: They lose Hanoi in French Indochina and most of French Guinea, including the port of Conarky. On Madagascar, the French Colonial Infantry trying to re-take Diego Saures are slaughtered.... Don't worry guys, We'll drive the British off the island for you.

Lüderitz launches our fourth protected cruiser, the SBB Luederitz (Stupid Civ III won't let you use special characters ) in August. The Luederitz sails out to a point off the Northwest coast of Namibia to guard our western shore against any British incursions.

In Madagascar, our army heading towards Diego Saures is forced to take a detour through the mountains due to a company of French Colonial Sentries blocking the road into the city. This detour causes a significant delay to our operation to "liberate" Diego Saures, but should allow the 1^st Light Horse to be full re-armed by the time the Commandos, Light Cavalry company and artillery get into position to attack the city.

Back in the home land, a lone Portuguese Colonial Infantry is spotted near Lusaka.... If the Portuguese want to attack, they can feel free: They'll meet the same gruesome fate at the hands of our machine gunners that the British Colonial Cavalry did earlier in the year. However, developments in Pretoria will give us the tools we need to keep up in the spy game, since we finally complete the Intelligence Agency:

Worries about the Portuguese attempting to use our current war to their advantage are heightened when someone sabotages Maxim Machine Gun production in Pietersburg, and Chief of Staff Takayama catches a Portuguese spy attempting to infiltrate our government.... Said spy is currently resting comfortably on the bottom of the Vaal river, thanks to a pair of custom-fitted cement shoes.

During the latter part of August, the British unload four companies of Australian Light Horse outside Ft. Dauphin... They're gonna regret that decision soon enough... Since the SBB Swaziland and SBB Cape Town happen to be just off the coast. September begins with the Swaziland and Cape Town shelling the Aussies, hitting two of the Light Horse companies hard.

One of the transports returning from Durban with reinforcements unloads two companies of Commandos, a Civil Engineer and a company of Light Cavalry into Ft. Dauphin. The newly-arrived regular Commando company massacres one of the Aussie Light Horse companies and is promoted to veteran status. The veteran Commandos ambush another Light Horse company, and are promoted to elite status after wiping them out.

The newly-arrived Light Cavalry company, led by an inexperienced officer, gets demolished by one of the remaining Australlian companies, but the newly-promoted elite Commando company, along with the 1^st Light Horse catch the remaining two Australlian Light Horse companies off-guard, and mercilessly slaughter them without taking a single casualty. The hills outside Ft. Dauphin are, once again, 100% British-free, and the 1st Light Horse moves into position to assist with the impending assault on Diego Saures.

The naval action heats up in September, as the SBB Pietersburg and SBB Pretoria attack two British River class Destroyers escorting a transport off the East coast of Madagascar... Likely the very same transport that landed the four companies of Australian Light Horse late last month.

After a short engagement, the Pretoria and Pietersburg send the British DD's down to meet Davy Jones, but the Pretoria takes some light damage during the battle. The British transport, unfortunately, is able to make good its escape during the confusion. Still, it seems that "Britannia rules the waves" is fast becoming a thing of the past.

During Late September, there is a skirmish in the Tsaratanana Mountains between the British Expeditionary forces occupying Diego Saures and one of the Commando companies fortified in the mountains. The Australian Light Horse are no match for the Commandos' superior guerrilla tactics and experience at fighting in mountainous terrain. After being ambushed halfway up the mountain by the first half the company, and a couple hours of bitter close-quarters combat in the jungle, the survivors are picked off one by one as they try in vain to retreat back to the safety of the occupied city by the second half of the company that had positioned itself to cut off their escape.

In international news, the British Expeditionary Forces (BEF) make further gains in French Indochina, taking Vietaine from the French, removing Laos from French Control. The BEF also lands four companies of Colonial Cavalry outside of Ft. Dauphin.

The insignificant nation of Hispañola has the cajones to send a spy into our capitol. After Defense Minister Voorhees is done testing out his new chainsaw on the spy, he draws up possible plans for an invasion of Hispañola... If nothing else, conquering a minor nation would definitely get us some recognition.....

The BEF forces occupying Diego Saures get a rude awakening early in the morning on October 10, when our three batteries of Horse Artillery and our 75mm Krupp Mountain guns begin shelling the city. The defenders rush to the trenches surrounding the town with shells exploding all around them.

Once the rather ineffective barrage ceases, the 1^st Light Horse leads the charge into the city, followed by the two full-strength Commando companies and one company of Light Cavalry. The 1^st Light Horse wipes out two companies of British Colonial Infantry, but is almost annihilated in the process. A Commando company also gets massacred attacking fortified British positions on the outskirts of the city.

The severely decimated BEF troops have no time to celebrate their victory, because the remaining veteran Commandos and the Light Cavalry company hit them from both sides, finishing the last of the defenders off:

Diego Saures, along with one ton of raw materials is ours! The citizens, who had been suffering cruelly under the British occupation, take to the streets celebrating their liberation from colonial tyrrany.

Our position in Ft. Dauphin has become untenable, however. Despite the fact that the Cape Town, Pretoria, Swaziland and Pietersburg subject the four companies of British Colonial Cavalry camped outside the city to heavy bombardment, there are only two half-strength commando companies guarding the city. Since our main goals have been achieved, President Kruger calls up Queen Victoria and begins peace negotiations.

We are allowed to keep all territories gained during the course of the war in exchange for an indemnity payment of 150 gold.... Chief of Staff Takayama notes that each time we go to war, the indemnity payments demanded by the opposing nations for peace have steadily dropped...

The Captured territories are re-organized: The former British Rhodesia is re-named as the Zambian Provisional State, while Diego Saures and Ft. Dauphin are organized into the Madagascar Provisional State, our first "overseas" territory. Once those provisional states have been sufficiently developed, and have drafted state constitutions granting equal rights to all citizens, including African natives, they will be added to the Republic as full states.

In late October, Chief of Staff Takayama catches a Balkan spy trying to steal our military plans... They also get put on the list of those who may be finding out our troop movement plans by default.

Port Elizabeth commissions our second Coastal Defense Gunboat in November. The ship is christened as the SBB Port Elizabeth, and it sets sail for Diego Saures, to help ensure the safety of that city. Elswhere in Naval action, the SBB Pretoria returns to Durban for repairs, while the SBB Swaziland is stationed in Ft. Dauphin to help protect that city. The SBB Pietersburg sets sail for the Mauritius Islands to spy on British shipping in the area, as well as provide advanced warning of potential invasions.

Elsewhere in the Republic, a Maxim Machine Gun battalion is sent to Ft. Dauphin to help defend the city, and the rest of the cities start re-building our armies in preparation for the coming war with Portugal.

Near the end of November, Britain declares war on Italy... They'll probably soon be in possession of Italian Somaliland before too long. The BEF also lands four companies of Australian Light Horse to join the four companies of Colonial Cavalry outside of Tamatave, the last French-held city on Madagascar... There are few in the Boer Republic who think that the French will hold the city much longer.

Early December sees the SBB Windhoek, our fourth protected cruiser, launched out of Durban. The Windhoek's orders are to patrol off the coast of Portuguese Mozambique and keep an eye on their troop movements.

La Plata attempts to plant a spy in mid-December. That spy is fitted with concrete shoes and sent to join the Portuguese spy already in residence on the bottom of the Vaal River. La Plata is moved to the top of our list of places to invade after we take Mozambique and Angola from Portugal.

In International News, the BEF captures Niamy in French Niger, further weakening French West Africa... So much for the "crack" troops in the French Foreign Legion. French Colonial forces in Madagascar fare much better: The French Colonial Infantry in Tamatave actually manage to defeat all eight companies of BEF cavalry on the island.

Several companies of Boer Rifleman are sent to help defend the Madagascar Provisional State, while the re-armed elite Commando companies and 1^st Light Horse are sent back to the mainland as part of the preparations for the war with Portugal.

The year closes with an event that plays perfectly into our hands: Spain declares war on Portugal! We couldn't have asked for better timing on this one.

Here's an updated map of the Republic (Warning: REALLY BIG pic):

Spoiler :

By Hikaro_Takayama

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Well you'll get lucky once in a while.....

And things seem to be going quite well indeed. After Madagadscar whats your next target? Portugal's colonies?

I think this chapter quite solidly answered that question. ...and wining 5 straight naval battles (as demonstrated in this chapter) without a single loss is not what I'd call "getting lucky once in a while.

Also, Chief of Staff Takayama has put word out that Tanicius Fox's crow eating session will be waived if he can tell me how and where he gets those nifty world maps for the Pax Americana thread... A global map is way overdue, methinks, particularly since, after Portugal, one of my next targets is La Plata (partially because they've been trying to plant spies and partially because we need some relatively easy to get victory point locations), or possibly Uruguay, although I may wait until after I absorb what's left of German East Africa and the Belgian Congo, thus ensuring my hegemony over southern Africa (Britain may well be on their way to taking over North Africa, but the Southern half of the continent is mine, dammit!)

...Although, since Spain and Portugal are at war, I may take advantage and see if I can snag Lisbon or Porto.

Edit: I forgot to mention that my latest conquests have boosted me to a whopping 2% of the world's land area and 3% of its population.

 

[silver 2039]

I notice you don't have the no raze patch installed. You probably should it would avoid the AI's tendency to raze cities randomly.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Waived huh?

Well, what I do is take an actual world map, and then fill in the colors myself. Since it's a pain in the ass to get it first done, I'll make one for you.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Also, I recommend that after taking out the Portuguese possessions, you should attack France just to snatch that ugly blotch they have on the map. (Seriously, it's ugly and rather aesthetically displeasing, as I saw on the map I'm designing for you...) Also, France is in no position to fight back, as it's getting it's ass handed to them by Britain. So yes, complete a takeover of Madagascar!

 

[silver 2039]

The Netherlands and Germans are between the French colonies. After Portugal I think you would be better of grabbing the German colonies and then Dutch.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Hello readers! I am temporarily hijacking this thread for the sake of world maps!

The map at the start, given if I got everything correctly...

The map currently, from everything I could gather from the posts. I dunno if the USA or any other major powers have expanded. I'd've expected the USA to have pwned Mexico and Central America by now. O.o

Now, on to the reason of this hijacking: *calls up Switzerland* GIVE ME ALL YOUR CHEESE OR I'LL CRASH THIS POST INTO YOUR NON-EXISTENT ARMY! (No offense to any Swiss people)

/Hijack

Have a glorious day.

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Thanks for the maps, however they aren't etirely accurate: For one thing, this is the 26-civ version of the scenario (I was hoping that having 5 less civs involved would significantly speed up the turn times, but found out later that it didn't, but was already about 10 turns into the game and didn't feel like starting over), so Ethiopia, the Phillipine Rebels, the Cuban Rebels, Tibet, and Siam are not in this game. In addition, there's one or two things I forgot to mention on the international front, namely the fact that Britain took Kabul back from Russia, and the British also took all the West coast of Africa from Freetown to the former German West African territories...

Now, as for who is on my (s)hit list after I take over the Portugese colonies:

1) Germany: It would be nice to be able to completely evict at least one European power from Africa, plus it will solidify my borders for when I attack the....

2) Lowand countries: They got the snot kicked out of them by France (France actually took Belgium!), and it would give me almost complete control of sub-equatorial Africa... ADDITIONALLY, I could send my (soon to be) massive navy over and take Suriname from them as well, giving me a launch-pad for a potential South American takeover (especially since I have casius belli against almost half of S. America, due to their incessant spying).

3) France (when my RoP aggreement lapses): It would be nice to snag the two French colonies near the Congo, as well as unify the Madagascar Provisional state.

4) The Balkans: They are an insignificant country that keeps trying to start crap with me, and their territory would make a nice launch-pad for a European takeover.

5) New Grenada: They have a smaller military than I do, even after losses I took in the Second British-Boer war, and they have the stones to spy on me?! They need to be taught a lesson... Not to mention that taking their victory points would allow me to finally get rid of the half a zillion raw materials I've accumulated in the last three wars.

6) Hispanola: Again, their pathetic two-city nation tried to steal our military plans... It's only fair that we should SHOW them our military plans the hard way.

7) Start another war with Britain to "unify" the Tanzanian territories, as well as annex Kenya and (if my plans against the lowlands went as I stated earlier) their territories in Guiana.

8) Take over Central America: I'll get a victory point AND an industrialization resource.

9) Gran Colombia: Nice addition to Guiana and I'll get some victory points.

10) Uruguay: They're small, weak and have a victory point and will serve as a nice base in S. America.

 

[Tani Coyote]

According to what you said, then this should be more accurate... I left Abyssinia uncolored mainly for political correctness. But if Switzerland is French, than it's not looking good for Abyssinia and Liberia... I've carved them up, same with Siam, to reflect 'spheres of influence' in those countries. I also edited West Africa according to your description, same with Kabul.

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Thanks! Although, I should be able to download your maps and start editing them on my own once I get home fro work...

You seem to be forgetting a VERY important fact: Not only do I PLAY Civ III, but I'm also one of the better graphic modders for the game... Loading the pic into Paint Shop Pro and editing borders and such is a piece of cake for me after spending countless hours creating new city improvements, terrain buildings, resources, units and even interface graphics.

Oh, and depending on how the Spanish-Portuguese war goes for Portugal (leaving aside my efforts to "relieve" them of the "burden" of administering their African colonies), I'm going to try taking over Portugal itself!

.....Although I have a feeling that Spain's Rio Muni colony (the little colony they have near Belgian Congo) is going to be overrun early on by the Portuguese colonial forces....

 

[Civ Khan]

Doing pretty good so far. Can't wait for another chapter!

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

I'd like to apologize for the delay in releasing the next chapter, but the years 1904 and 1905 took a wee bit longer to play through than I expected. this next chapter will be released in three parts, due to its extreme length.

Chapter 8: Symphony of Destruction
Part 1: Overture to War​

You take a mortal man
And put him in control
Watch him become a god
Watch people's heads a'roll
A'roll

Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the symphony
Of destruction -"Symphony of Destruction" by Megadeth


The Year 1904 begins with the Newly-repaired SBB Pretoria (SBB = Sjip van der Boer Bundesrepubliek, or Boer Federal Republic Ship) getting underway to rendezvous with the SBB Cape Town off the Mozambique coast. The two ships' mission is to keep an eye on Portuguese ship and troop movements in the area around Lorenco Marques.

Domestic Minister Veldhuiser and Chief of Staff Takayama hold a meeting with various state and local leaders to increase the efficiency of the cities throughout the republic. Due to the fact that there was no longer any danger of riots in any of the former British cities, most of the entertainers working in those cities were re-assigned to accounting positions. As a result of those changes, the republic's monthly income jumps up to 899 standard gold units per month. Part of this new budget surplus is used to hire extra workers to finish building factories in Livingstone and Lusaka.

In international news, the British Expeditionary Forces (BEF) take Bombaka in French Mali and Phnom-Penh In French-held Cambodia, reducing French Indochina to Vietnam. The British-Italian and Spanish-Portuguese wars have settled into stalemates, with neither side making any headway.

February sees more troop movements within the Republic: The SBB Port Elizabeth is stationed in Diego Saures, and the Maxim Machine Gun battalion in Fort Dauphin is moved there as well, since two more machine gun battalions will be ready in April, and one will be transferred to Ft. Dauphin, giving us two secure defensive positions on Madagascar.

To help with regional economic development, the Exchequer of the Treasury, Mr. Goudboer, approves the allotment of funds to hire extra workers in Diego Saures and Fort Dauphin, ensuring that the factories in those cities will be completed next month.

Mid-month, President Kruger is summoned to the "special room" in the Presidential Palace by Chief of Staff Takayama. Only a relative handful of people actually know the real purpose of the "special room" and of those who weren't in on the secret, few had managed to connect it with the uncanny way in which the Boer forces were able to coordinate their attacks or how the capitol was able to make such rapid communications with its foreign consulates.

Inside the room, as well as other "special rooms" in the foreign consulates and aboard Boer Federal Navy ships and in the command tents of the Army was a revolutionary device: A wireless telephone of sorts, capable of maintaining communications across many miles without needing any kind of bulky wires. Sure, other nations and ships had, by now, started using Edison, Tesla and Marconi's wireless telegraphs, but the twisted geniuses of Chief of Staff Takayama and Dr. Frankenstein had taken several principles already known and combined them to create a wireless VOICE transmitter, although even Dr. Frankenstein said he had no idea how Chief of Staff Takayama knew so much about what was currently ground-breaking science.

The Chief of Staff handed the handset (which was, in fact an ordinary telephone handset) to the President. The Consulate in Lisbon was on the other end with an urgent message:

You're NOT going to believe this, Mr. President! We've just received word that the Spanish and Scandinavians have formed an alliance against Portugal... We may be able to... wait, I've just been told by my assistant that Italy also has joined the alliance against Portugal, and Scandinavia is also trying to bring La Plata in on the anti-Portugal alliance. We may be able to start "Operation Harrier" earlier than we thought, sir!

"Ah, excellent work, Mr. Ambassador. Please keep me posted," President Kruger replied, "Over and Out."

A few days later, a courier comes from the German consulate with a message from Kaiser Wilhelm demanding the Boer Republics pay a lump sum of gold to the German Empire. Foreign Minister, Schlectemond tells him to bugger himself. The Germans, not surprisingly, back down.

Port Elizabeth launches the protected cruiser, SBB Livingstone, in March. The ship leaves port on orders to join the naval task force off the coast of Lorenco Marques. A Maxim Machine Gun battalion and two companies of Boer Riflemen are sent to Ft. Dauphin, completing our defenses on that island, for now. Several civil engineers are sent to build a road to the coal deposits outside of Livingstone... Why the British never did during the entire time they occupied the city is anybody's guess.

Later in March, the Scandinavians and La Plata formalize their alliance against Portugal, making the war a four on one dogpile. In Bloemfontein, Japanese agents are caught in the act of sabotaging production. The would-be saboteurs are given a swift trial and an even swifter execution.

April is uneventful for the Boer Republic, other than Durban completing construction of another transport, and the fact that two more Maxim Machine Gun battalions are ready.

The month, however, yields more excitement and drama on the international front. For one thing, Mexico joins the Scandinavian-led alliance against Portugal.

The BEF also takes Agades in French Niger (or should we say BRITISH Niger) from France. Looks like France is steadily losing ground against Britain in Northwest Africa... Somehow French Oubangi Chari (modern-day Central African Republic) and Gabon are still holding out, despite being almost completely surrounded by British territory.

The gunboat, SBB Port Nolloth is launched from Capetown in early May, and it also sets sail to join the Pretoria Battle Group off the Southeast coast of Portuguese Mozambique.

In economic developments, Mr. Goudboer approves funding to rush completion of public libraries in Ft. Dauphin and Diego Saures.... The Boer Republic has the third-worst literacy rate in the world, and the President wants it improved.

A week later, the Chilean ambassador comes to the Presidential Palace demanding a payment of gold. We laugh in his face and tell him that Presidente Reisco can go stuff himself. He replies with the following statement:

President Kruger says, "Your pathetic, insignificant army couldn't decide the fate of an anthill, and you have a lot of stones to call OUR country pitiful, when you don't have half the military, production, commerce or territory that we do! Now get out of my face before I have my Defense Minister frog-march you back to your embassy!"

That bit of news was soon to be eclipsed by the message that the duty Radio Operator brought out of the "special room":

The US, which has been peacefully building up for the past nine years has finally made a move against Britain! This declaration of war would be the first in what history would remember afterwards as "The Great War," a global conflict that, by the beginning of 1905, would see every single nation at war with somebody.

The Balkans also try to plant a spy in the president's cabinet in late May, and is sent to join his predecessor in an unmarked grave deep inside the forest outside the capitol.

In the Franco-British war, the BEF takes Saigon from France, leaving Hanoi the only city in Vietnam under French control.

June is another relatively quiet month for the Republic, other than the continued buildup of troops for the impending war against Portugal.

In the international Arena, however, The Great War starts to open up: The US, Balkans, and Brazil form an alliance against Portugal, while Germany and Austria declare war on Russia! You'd have thought they'd have learned their lesson from the last time they pulled that stunt.

The BEF captures Tomboctou in French Mali, effectively turning French Mali into British Mali. The British, however, do not fare as well in Canada, losing Calgary and the rest of Alberta to the US. President Kruger sends his congratulations to President Cleveland on his victory.

In July, the preparations for "Operation Harrier" are almost complete, and the bulk of the Boer army's offensive divisions are moved just outside the border with Portuguese Mozambique near Lorenco Marques. The operation will commence next month, and hopefully the Portuguese won't know what hit them.

In Mid-July, the Great War further escalates with Austria-Hungary pulling Scandinavia and the Balkans into its war with Russia, and Scandinavia bringing Central America into the anti-Portugal dogpile. The Balkans also drag the Netherlands into the war against Portugal as well. The biggest escalation comes when the US and Russia form an alliance vs the Balkans and Britain.

The British Canadian forces manage to re-take Calgary, but nobody knows how long they'll be able to beat the American war machine back.

Russia takes Kabul from Britain, once again, and many arm-chair military analysts in the Boer Republic are of the opinion that they'll likely lose it just as easily as they lost it before. Germany manages to take the former Austrian city of Troppau from Russia, and Spain takes the Maderia Islands from Portugal. Scandanavia actually manages to capture Yakutsk from Russia. Finally, the BEF completes the conquest of French Indochina, driving the French out of Asia once and for all, which brings this chapter to a close, with much of the world at war.

 

[Civ Khan]

Wow. looks like WWI is about 9 years early! This should be interesting...

 

[Tani Coyote]

The best part about enabling military alliances is it allows the world to go crazy. It also is good for the sake of realism, a country that isn't good diplomatically can be easily pwned by a weaker country should it rally the world against it.

Anywho, good luck with Operation Harrier! Also, let's hope that the USA dismantles some of Britain's empire...

 

[Civ Khan]

Yes let's hope. Perhaps Canada?

 

[silver 2039]

Nice back and forth fighting in the world. I really should enable military alliances earlier in my game. It makes things so much more interesting.

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Nice back and forth fighting in the world. I really should enable military alliances earlier in my game. It makes things so much more interesting.

Actually, I didn't change anything, and thanks to El Justo's half-ass job with the civilopedia, I had to open the scenario up in the editor to find out that I need to research Industrialization II in order to sign a military alliance.

Also, Civ Khan, WWI is starting TEN years early... IRL, the war started in 1914....

Anyways, it's time for.....

Chapter 8: Symphony of Destruction
Part 2: A Well-Orchestrated Plan​

Acting like a robot,
Its metal brain corrodes.
You try to take its pulse,
Before the head explodes.
Explodes...

Just like the pied piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes,
Swaying to the symphony...
Of destruction!

-Symphony of Destruction, Megadeth

The date is August 5, 1904, and the Great War is heating up around the world with more and more countries being drawn into the various conflicts. One of the conflicts that has worked to the advantage of the Boer Republic was the six-way dogpile dropped on Portugal earlier in the year.

One last thing that is done in preparation for Operation Harrier is Chief of Staff Takayama planting a spy in Lisbon in order to get intelligence on enemy troop strengths and dispositions in the various cities and colonies that Portugal owns around the world. Investigations of Kuango and Lorenco Marques reveals that while Kuango has 12 companies of colonial infantry backed up by artillery, Lorenco Marques only has five companies of colonial infantry guarding it.

President Kruger goes into the "special room" with Chief of Staff Takayama and Defense Minister Voorhees, and he radios the consulate in Lisbon telling them to inform the King of Portugal that they are going to be punished for their history of atrocities committed in Africa.

Defense minister takes the handset after the duty radio operator switches frequencies to the military channel, and he calls up the general commanding the invasion forces....

General Veers was relaxing in the large tent that served as his field headquarters on the Mozambique/Boer Republic border when the incoming signal light on the radio lit up, accompanied by the warning buzzer. He picked up the handset and said, "General Veers Speaking!"

This is Defense Minister Voorhees, Operation Harrier is a GO, repeat, Operation Harrier is a GO!

"Roger sir, Initiating Operation Harrier, over and Out!" General Veer replied before rounding up his messengers and sending them throughout the encampment to let everyone know that they were moving out 5 minutes ago.

General Veers' army, consisting of seventeen batteries of artillery, the 1[supst[/sup] Light Horse, the Elite Guard Cavalry, 1 company of regular Boer Light Cavalry, and six commando companies, moves into the plains outside of Lorenco Marques, while a Maxim MG battalion from Pietersburg moves in to block the only road linking Lorenco Marques to the rest of Portuguese Mozambique.

After bombarding Lorenco Marques for several hours, the artillery only scores four hits on Portuguese Colonial Infantry companies garrisoned in the city. General Veers threatens to have the artillery commanders used for target practice if they cannot hit any better than that.

His mood is lightened somewhat when the SBB Pretoria Battle Group (consisting of the Pretoria, Swaziland, Cape Town, Port Nolloth, and Livingstone) attempts to bombard the city, and all their rounds either fall short or overshoot their targets.... At least his sorry excuse for artillery commanders are better than those Navy gunners!

The 1[/sup]st[/sup] Light Horse leads the assault on the city, accompanied by the elite Guard Cavalry, two regular Commando companies, two elite Commando companies and a regular Light Cavalry company.

A Portuguese Horse Artillery battery in the city fires on one of the regular commando companies, and those who survived the artillery barrage are cut down by the defending colonial infantry. The other regular Commando company is slaughtered when they get too far ahead of the rest of the advancing army and get surrounded by the defending Portuguese Colonial infantry, however they inflict heavy casualties on one of the Portuguese companies. The regular Light Cavalry company charges straight into an ambush down a long street, and is cut down by Colonial infantry hiding in the buildings as they charge at the group of Portuguese soldiers lined up at the far end of the street.

The 1^st Light Horse is able to wipe out the defensive positions on the outside of the city with minimal casualties, while the two elite Commando companies clear out the fortified buildings and capture the Portuguese Horse Artillery battery inside the city. The remaining defenders, being vastly outnumbered, surrounded and without artillery support, surrender, and Lorenco Marques is ours!

All troops and artillery move into the city and wait on the results of the battle between the Dutch and Portuguese forces at Kuango. A newly trained Maxim MG battalion is moved into the city to defend it from future attacks.

President Kruger places the city under martial law until the resistance dies down and declares that the city will be added to the State of Transvaal, giving the capitol state a seaport, and furthermore, in order to Afrikaanize the city, it would be re-named Loerenzo Maarkes.

The [SBB Luederitz[/i] moves up the Angolan coast and lobs a few rounds at Benguela, but they overshoot their targets. All newly trained commando units are moved to Lusaka, in preparation for a possible assault on Kuango next month.

The diplomatic message line is busy in August: The Balkans drag Brazil into their war with the US, and Argentina into their war with Russia. There are also reports of two Russian cities in Siberia getting completely wiped off the map, possibly by Scandinavian forces!

The BEF continues to push the French back in Northwest Africa, taking the Moroccan city of Casablanca. More locally, the Portuguese and Dutch fight a skirmish outside of Lusaka, with the Portuguese winning.

Intelligence reports in September, radioed in by Chief of Staff Takayama's agents in Portuguese territory, reveal that despite the massive numbers of Dutch forces attacking the city, Kuango's defenses are still largely intact! Benguela, on the Southeast coast of Angola, on the other hand, only has four companies of Portuguese colonial infantry defending it! Defense Minister Voorhees radios General Veers and tells him to move the invasion force to the hills outside Benguela in order to strike the city next month.

At Lusaka, a Commando company ambushes the half-strength Portuguese Colonial Infantry company that fought the Dutch outside the city, wiping them out. The Commandos are promoted to veteran status, and capture two tons of raw materials. A company of riflemen are sent to seize another ton of raw materials the Portuguese carelessly left sitting in the hills on the other side of Lusaka. The raw materials are sent to join the other umpteen-zillion tons already stored in Pretoria.

Off the Angolan coast, the SBB Luederitz bombards Benguela again, and actually destroys the coastal fortress! In other Naval action, the Pretoria Battle Group moves up to Mocambique to bombard the city, and fail to hit the broad side of a barn. Admiral Maarten Tromp, Commodore of the Pretoria Battle Group ordered all alcohol rations be stowed until the gunners were sober enough to hit something for a change.

Also during September, Austria-Hungary declares war on Italy, dragging Germany into the war soon after, thanks to their mutual protection pact. Britain pulls the Balkans into its war with France, and the Balkans immediately drag the Dutch Japan into their conflict with France, and also sign the Japanese into the fight against Portugal. The Balkans then go on to bring Chile into their war against the US, and New Granada into the war against Russia. The Balkans send an envoy asking the Boer Republic to join their war against France and a Right of Passage agreement. President Kruger declines joining the war with France, but is willing to sign the Right of Passage agreement.

In military news, to no one's surprise, the BEF drives Russia out of Kabul and re-takes Afghanistan for Britain. Closer to home, the SBB Luederitz gets a bit too close to Luanda and is damaged by a bombardment from the city's coastal fortress.

The 1^st Light Horse is fully-re armed by the beginning of October, and moves out to assist in the assault on Benguela. The Luederitz bombards Benguela, damaging a transport ship docked in the harbor, before heading back to Lüderitz for repairs. Land artillery bombardment of the city manages to score six hits on defending Colonial Infantry companies, further reducing the out-numbered defenders. Three companies of commandos and a light cavalry company are decimated by the determined defense, but two veteran Commando companies manage to finally defeat all four companies of Portuguese colonial infantry defending the city, and the city is ours!

One of the veteran Commando companies is promoted to elite status due to its valor in combat, in addition to which three tons of raw materials are seized and returned to Pretoria. The Maxim MG battalion in Lüderitz is moved in to defend the under-strenth companies in the city, while all the artillery and full-strength units, including the First Light Horse, are sent to attack Luanda next month.

A single company of riflemen is sent from Lusaka to the hills outside Kuango to spy on the action between Dutch and Portuguese forces in the region.

Admiral Tromp's liquor restrictions apparently pay off, since the Pretoria Battle group's bombardment of Mocambique destroys the city's coastal fortress and sinks a transport ship in the harbor.

In international news for October, Chile drags Scandinavia into its war with the US, and Scandinavia brings Austria into its wars against the US and Portugal. Scandinavia also wants President Kruger to join their war against the US and sign a Right of Passage. President Kruger's response to the first half of the offer is, "Are you completely INSANE?!" He does, however, sign a Right of Passage with Scandinavia.

The Balkans drag the Dutch into their war with Russia, and the Dutch get incredibly cocky and declare war on Britain.... Many military analysts in the Boer Republic are certain that the British will soon annex the Belgian Congo.

The British also make peace with Italy after not only failing to capture either Eritrea or Italian Somaliland, but also losing Malta to the Italians.

In Military News, Spain takes the Azores from Portugal, and the BEF captures Dakar in French West Africa. Now the only places in Africa still under French control are Gabon, Oubangi Chari (modern-day Central African Republic), Tunisia, Northern Algeria and Northern Morocco.

The British-Canadian forces don't do so well, as the US, once again, captures Calgary and gains control of Alberta.

In November, the Battle of Luanda begins with Boer artillery pounding the city, scoring seven hits on the four defending companies of Portuguese colonial infantry, reducing most of them to half-strength. The 1^st Light Horse and three regular Commando companies rush into the city, slaughtering the four Portuguese Colonial Infantry companies and a single hurriedly-conscripted colonial sentry company without taking a single loss!

The former center of the Portuguese slave trade is captured, along with three tons of raw materials. A Maxim MG battalion that was guarding workers outside Loerenzo Maarkes is sent to Benguela, and the MG battalion in Benguela is sent to Luanda to defend the city. In addition, two newly-trained Boer Rifleman companies are also sent to Luanda and Benguela to help with city defense.

Naval action for this month sees the SBB Livingstone promoted to veteran status after sinking another transport in Mocambique during our continual bombardment of the city. The rest of the Pretoria battle group scores three hits on Portuguese colonial infantry defending the city.

International news for October sees the Great War escalating even further, with Austria pulling the Balkans into its war with Italy. The Balkans, ever the smooth diplomats, signs Japan and Persia on as allies in the Italian war.

The Dutch take Kaiser Wilhelm Land from Britain, giving them almost complete control of New Guinea (Only Port Moresby is still controlled by Britain). Russia manages to re-take Yakutsk from Scandinavia, but a THIRD city in Siberia is wiped off the map by unknown (to us, anyways) perpetrators.

The Dutch and Portuguese continue fighting around Kuango, with a wounded Portuguese Colonial Cavalry company blocking the railroad linking Lusaka to the rest of the Republic after defeating a company of Belgian Congo Infantry there earlier.

In Early December, a veteran Commando company is sent to "remove" the offending Portuguese Colonial Cavalry unit, and clear the Railroad line in preparation for a possible assault on Kuango.

Chief of Staff Takayama's agents in the city, however, reveal that Kuango STILL has ten companies of Portuguese Colonial Infantry, backed up by three batteries of Horse Artillery, fortified in the city. Marapura, on the other hand, only has six companies of Colonial infantry with no artillery backup. In addition, Portuguese units trying to reinforce the city will have to cross our territory to get there, so attack plans are changed in favor of Marapura.

All Artillery and other units that had been massing on the hills outside of Kuango, with the exception of a single company of Boer riflemen, are ordered to pack up and march for Marapura. The Riflemen's orders are to fortify the hills and keep an eye on the Dutch/Portuguese troop movements around Kuango.

The Artillery is able to set up and bombard Marapura this month, and actually scores 9 hits, destroying the city defenses, and wounding many of the Colonial Infantry manning them. It is decided, due to the fact that there are only an insufficient number of troops for an assault, that the troops would wait until the rest of the army arrives next month before launching an assault on the city. A newly trained and equipped Maxim MG battalion from Cape Town is sent to defend the invasion forces outside of Marapura.

The naval bombardment of Mocambique continues, with the Pretoria Battle Group scoring three hits on defending Colonial Infantry units garrisoned in the city. The coastal defense gunboat, SBB Loerenzo Maarkes is launched in Durban and sets sail to join the "fun" at Mocambique.

During the second week of December, Brazil signs China into its alliance vs the US. The US responds to that news by taking Dawson, and the Yukon Territory from British Canada.

Late December, the SBB Luederitz is finished being repaired, and it gets underway to guard the Angolan coast from any Portuguese ships that might be coming to reinforce the area.

The artillery bombardment of Marapura continues, with the gunners scoring eight solid hits against the defending forces in the city. The 1^st Light Horse leads the assault, once again, slaughtering two companies of Portuguese Colonial Infantry. Two regular Commando companies are gunned down while trying to take a cluster of fortified buildings, but a veteran and two elite Commando companies manage to finish off the remaining defenders, and once again, the city is ours!

The veteran Commandos, in recognition of their valor during the battle, are promoted to elite status. Two malnourished and scared forced labor gangs (colonial conscript workers) are found huddled in a filthy shed in the city and are freed from their oppression by the occupation forces. Their taskmasters are put on trial and executed for their crimes against humanity.

The city is re-named Maarepore, as part of the President's "Afrikaanization" process, and the city is put under martial law while the resistance is going on.

A Maxim MG battalion is sent from Bleomfontein to guard the city and a rifleman is sent from Livingstone to guard the half-strength 1^st Light Horse until it can make it to the city. All the artillery and the Maxim MG battalion guarding the artillery is sent to the cotton fields outside Mocambique to join the Pretoria Battle Group in bombarding the city next month.

....Speaking of which, the Pretoria Battle Group continues its bombardment of the city, scoring only two hits.

Near the end of December, Argentina and Brazil form a military alliance against Portugal. Not surprisingly, the Portuguese send an envoy wanting to talk, but the President sends him away... We aren't done with Portugal yet!
Russia also brings Chile into its war with Argentina.

Near the end of the year, a Portuguese Colonial Cavalry company getting winged by the Maxim MG battalion outside Mocambique while en route to attack the Boer Rifle company guarding the 1^st Light Horse in the hills outside Maarepore. The Boer Riflemen finish the Colonial Cavalry off. To the West, three companies of Portuguese Colonial Infantry and two companies of conscript Colonial sentries move into our territory around Livingstone and Lusaka!

And so the year, and this chapter, ends with the Portuguese preparing to launch some kind of counter-attack against us.