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

[ChaosArbiter]

Perhaps they had troops already by the city when war was declared? Or they had a ROP through a neighbor civ and used their land to get to them?

No, it was cheating. The city was Luderitz, I'd been at war with them for several turns by that point, they had two Boer Light Cavalry, no Commandos, and plenty Riflemen (and I did have Spies in their capital, which is how I could make sure). The British had a road on the tile South-Southeast of Luderitz, but a worker was improving it and they had to make two moves within my territory, then the attack. I had five defenders (one or two Schutzetruppe, the rest Sentries) and lost the city. I had actually specifically increased the garrison from the two Sentries that were in it beforehand in case the Boers were building a third Lt. Cavalry. In any case, it is the only time I've actually caught the computer cheating, and someone in the General forum said that it was possible with modded units :/

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Oh, I will be continuing the story (and the game) to its conclusion... At least until I've wiped France off the map.

I want to get this game (and story) done before AoI 4.0 comes out, at which point I'll start a game as Scandinavia.

Also one of the reason the Boers tend to hang in there for so long is that they have some of the best units of any of the minor civs (although that's not saying a whole lot), and the fact that they can build ANY of their units in ANY city ANYWHERE makes them dangerous to the major powers who can only build their good units in their home cities (although British and French Colonial units are about on par with most of the earlier Boer units).

 

[Agent 89]

FRS Agent 89, FRS Silver 2039,[/i] and FRS Mecca.

Noooooooooooooooooooooo!


Well, besides that point good job. The map looks nice covered in green instead of red.

 

[Dumanios]

Have fun,Hikaro.

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Agent 89: Don't worry, your ship doesn't get sunk, just takes some light damage, which is more than I can say about what will happen to the Royal Air Force in the next few chapters.....

Book 2: Operation Sunset
Chapter 4: Island Hopping
Part I: The Battle of Borneo​

During the second week of September 1912, the first battle of the Pacific island-hopping campaign gets underway, with General Veers' Artillery hammering the Borneo city o Sibu, reducing all defenders except three British Colonial Cavalry regiments to 25% strength. General Sephiroth leads the 1^st Light Horse brigade into battle and wipes out those three offending Colonial Cavalry regiments. Four veteran and one regular Commando division are wiped off the map by determined British Colonial Infantry and veteran Colonial Sentries, but all 16 Colonial Infantry divisions and the Colonial Sentry division are wiped out, and an elite Boer Light Cavalry regiment runs down the last British Colonial Cavalry regiment, and Sibu is free of Imperialist control!

Special Agent Vulcan Raven's latest report on Pontiniak and Samarinda reveals that Samarinda is the weaker defended of the two, so Veld Marshall Takayama sends orders to move all availible units into position to hit that city early next month.

In naval action, the New World Fleet (formerly the Pretoria Battle Group) hammers a British Battle Cruiser Task Force near Hispaniola, and the Kilwa Battle Group pounds another Battle Cruiser Task Force off the coast of Lisbon, leaving all enemy ships limping along with heavy damage.... Hopefully the US and Spanish Navy ships crawling around the area will finish them off for us.

Meanwhile, the troop buildup on Gibraltar continues, and 14 tons of raw materials are shipped to Constantinople.

During the last week of September, Spain pulls Argentina into its war against Austria, and Argentina comes asking for a Right of Passage agreement and an alliance against the Japanese. We agree to the Right of Passage Agreement, but don't have any animus against the Japanese, and are too busy stomping Britain into the ground anyways.

On Borneo, the British move an army consisting of 15 Colonial Infantry divisions, 2 Colonial Cavalry regiments and two Colonial Sentry divisions into position to attack Sibu next month... As if THAT pathetic force had a chance in hell of re-taking the city!

Losses this round:

British: 4 Colonial Cavalry regiments, 16 Colonial Infantry divisions, 1 Colonial Sentry division

Boers: 5 Commando divisions, 1 Boer Light Cavalry regiment

During the first week of October 1912, two important infrastructural improvement goals are met: A Rail link to Yaounde in Africa is completed, and a Rail link between Lulea in the Federal State of Sweden and Joensuu in Russian-occupied Finland is completed, allowing us to move troops between Anatolia, Byzantium, Iberia, Denmark and the Scandinavian Peninsula in a single week's time (accounting for delays caused by crossing check points between the front lines of the Russo-German war and the Spanish-German war).

In naval action, the New World Fleet continues its hit and run attacks on the British Battle Cruiser Task Force off the coast of Hispaniola, inflicting additional Damage on the British ships. The Battle Cruisers are barely afloat (1 HP), and the FRS Redman sinks an Advanced Transport they were escorting, garnering a promotion, while the FRS Nairobi andFRS Pretoria both sink R Class DD's steaming in to try and reinforce the beleaguered Battle Cruisers.

In the Pacific theater, Hue launches the Coastal SS, FRS Alligator.

On Borneo, General Veers' Artillery works their magic on the British Stack of Doom^tm. Four Renault Gepantser Groepeer wipe out two Colonial Infantry and two Colonial Sentry Divisions. Three elite Commando divisions prove their worthiness to be called such by slaughtering SEVEN Colonial Infantry divisions. Three divisions of veteran Commandos take out five Divisions of Colonial Infantry. The sole Boer loss is a single Light Cavlary regiment, but the final attack, with General Sephiroth van Niebelheim's 1^st Light Horse Brigade, Veld Marshall Takayama and Defense Minister Voorhees' Gepantser Groepeer leading the assault annihilates the last Colonial Infantry division as well as two Colonial Cavalry regiments, removing the ENTIRE Stack of Doom^tm from the British Order of Battle! Six Tons of Raw Materials are captured and the siege of Samarinda continues on schedule.

After a good dose of 7.5cm shells, all defending units in Samarinda suffer 75% casualties. In a rather anti-climatic battle, four regular Commando divisions overrun the five Colonial Infantry divisions defending the city and Samarinda is liberated!

All available troops move into position to take Pontiniak and a quick round of shelling inflicts casualties on all defending units, but not enough to risk an assault, so our besieging troops dig in until more artillery can arrive.

Special agent Yuffie Kisaragi sends a report from Puerta Princessa that reveals that the city is not only lightly defended by 8 Colonial Infantry divisions, but a good chunk of the Royal Navy Pacific Fleet is also moored there. Since The situation on Borneo is pretty well in hand, transports full of troops from Mainland Asia start landing them on the Island of Palawan outside the city.

Elsewhere, two Boer Infantry divisions depart Anatolia and take the Siberian Express into the heart of Siberia on a Barbarian hunting mission, in an attempt to give our Russian allies a bit of breathing room. Two Barbarian Light Cavlary regiments are wiped out and the Boer Infantry divisions are promoted to veteran status. Several Scandinavian Commando divisions also join the Siberian Barbarian patrol.

Eight tons of Raw Materials are shipped to Constantinople.

Over the next two weeks, Germany and Austria broker a peace treaty with La Plata, while Japan signs a peace treaty with Brazil.

In military action, a Barbarian Light Cavalry regiment attempts to avenge its fallen comerades, but is mercilessly gunned down by the Boer Infantry divisions and their auto-loading "M-1" rifles.

Off the coast of Hispaniola, the US Navy sends the badly crippled British Battle Cruiser Task Force to the bottom of the Caribbean, saving the Boer New World Fleet some trouble.

Germany, despite fighting a two-front war, manages to snag Yaroslavl from Russia, revealing just how badly stretched the Russian Military is.

Losses this turn:

British: 2 R Class DD's, 1 Advanced Transport, 20 Colonial Infantry divisions, 2 Colonial Sentry divisions

Boers: 1 Boer Light Cavalry regiment

Barbarians: 3 Light Cavalry regiments

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Book 2: Operation Sunset
Chapter 4: Island Hopping
Part II: Over NINE-THOUSAAAND!​

During the third week of October 1912, President Kruger is hosting a cabinet meeting with the advisers that are still in Pretoria (War Minister Voorhees and Chief of Staff/Veld Marshall Takayama are currently on Borneo, kicking British ass), when he turns to Domestic Minister Anna Veldhuiser and says, "Ms. Veldhuiser, what does the latest intel report say about our power level?"

Anna looks up from a report she was reading as says, "It's OVER NINE-THOUSAAAAND!!!"

"What?! Nine-thousand?!!" The president replies.

"Yes sir, it's right here in writing!"

"Well I'll be! Looks like we've finally reached Great Power status," the President grins, "Now how are things going in the war..."

Elsewhere, Veld Marshall Takayama goes over the latest spy reports in his command post (the 10 armored cars in his Gepantser Groep parked in a circle with a large tarp suspended between them with his and his men's tents pitched under that). Solid Snake's report from Pontianak show that thanks to the recklessness of Britain's Borneo Expeditionary Force commander, Pontiniak's garrison has been reduced to a mere 7 Colonial Infantry divisions, 1 Colonial Cavalry regiment and a Colonial Sentry regiment... More troops than that landed in Sibu less than two days ago, on top of the huge army already camped outside the city.

Elsewhere in the Pacific Theater, special agent Yuffie Kisaragi reports that the situation in Puerta Princessa is unchanged from three weeks ago, and Davao is barely defended by a mere 3 Colonial Infantry Divisions, on top of which there are several RN ships holed up in port there!

Special Agent Ocelot Revolver in Moresby, New Guinea reported that the city is defended by 4 Colonial Infantry divisions and a single under-strength Colonial Cavalry regiment.

Special agent Down Under, member of an Australian separatist movement, reports that Darwin is defended by FIVE divisions of ANZAC WWI Infantry, one Australian regular Infantry division and a QF 6-Pounder battery. Cairns is defended seven divisions of Aussie Infantry and a single ANZAC WWI Infantry division. Perth is defended by seven divisions of Aussie Infantry and TWO divisions of ANZAC Infantry. Brisbane is defended by 8 divisions of Aussie Infantry.

After thinking a while, Veld Marshall Takayama draws up plans to launch the Australian Invasion by either taking Cairns or Darwin, after which all troops will move on to take Cairns (if Darwin is taken initially), Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne... Once those strategic cities are taken, the British won't be able to recruit any more ANZAC Infantry or Australian Light Horse regiments in Australia.

Once the East coast is secure and the reinforcement chain is running, Stuart (Alice Springs), Adelaide and Perth will follow.

He then gives orders to General Veers to hammer Pontianak, after which the assault will begin. After the artillery bombardment has reduced the number of defenders by 75%, the troops roll in. One of the Colonial Infantry divisions wipes out an elite Boer Light Cavalry regiment, but they are finished off by an elite Commando division. Another Boer Light Cavalry regiment thinks its a good idea to take on two Colonial Infantry divisions at once, and while they manage to wipe one off the map, they are mowed down by the second. Anoter elite Light Cavalry regiment tries the same thing, and manages to succeed in overrunning two entire Colonial Infantry divisions. A veteran Boer Light Cavalry regiment pulls off the same trick and is promoted to elite status. Another elite Light Cavlary regiment takes out the last Colonial Infantry division as well as the lone Colonial Cavalry regiment, while a veteran Commando unit overruns the Colonial Sentry regiment and captures the city!

The Commando division is promoted to elite status, and we succeed in driving Britain off Borneo where our Dutch cousins had failed.

Troops and ships begin moving into position to take Puerta Princessa next month. During the naval bombardment of Puerta Princessa, the FRS Tanicius Fox, FRS J. Rush XVIII, and FRS Adler XVII sink R Class DDs in port and the Tanicius Fox and Adler XVII are promoted to elite status. The FRS Silver 2039 sinks an M Class DD in port, while the FRS Agent 89 and FRS Dumanios sink Advanced Transports. The FRS El Justo and FRS Paul Kruger each send a steam transport to the bottom, thereby virtually eliminating the Royal Navy presence at Puerta Princessa.

Transports in Borneo begin loading up for the Australian Invasion, while the troop buildup on Gibraltar continues... Admiral Tromp says that we may have enough guns and men in place to take The Rock in November....

Elsewhere, 8 tons of Raw Materials are shipped into Constantinople, while Foreign Minister Slegmond recieves a Presidential authorization to send 300 Gilders per month in aid payments to Russia in order to prop up their war effort against Germany.

Anohter Commando division enters the Siberian wastelands to hunt down bandits, encountering a rogue Light Cavalry regiment the moment they leave civilization.

During the last week of October, USN Battleships hammer Gibraltar, while the Bandit Light Cavalry makes the fatal mistake of attacking our Commando division in Siberia.

Losses this round:

British: 2 R Class DD, 1 M Class DD, 2 Adv Transport, 3 Steam Transport, 7 Colonial Infantry divisions, 1 Colonial Cavalry regiment.

Boers: 2 Boer Light Cavalry regiments.

Barbs: 1 Light Cavalry regiment.

 

[ChaosArbiter]

"Ms. Veldhuiser, what does the latest intel report say about our power level?"
Anna looks up from a report she was reading as says, "It's OVER NINE-THOUSAAAAND!!!"
"What?! Nine-thousand?!!" The president replies.

So if the British get any higher, is the intel report just going to blow up in their faces, killing everyone in the room?

 

[Brucha]

Oh, I will be continuing the story (and the game) to its conclusion... At least until I've wiped France off the map.

I want to get this game (and story) done before AoI 4.0 comes out, at which point I'll start a game as Scandinavia.

I have been following this story since the beginning and have thoroughly enjoyed it! I too am waiting with anticipation for the release of AoI v4. I would love to try v4 with a smaller nation, such as the Netherlands with v4!

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

So if the British get any higher, is the intel report just going to blow up in their faces, killing everyone in the room?

No, it'll just spontaneously combust, although I doubt that the British score is going to be INCREASING from here on out.

Anyways:

Book 2: Operation Sunset
Chapter 4: Island Hopping
Part III: Race for the Rock​

During the second week of November, 1912, the Civil Engineer teams in Tibet announce the completion of the road through the Khyber Pass, directly linking Lhasa and Rawalpindi.... Hopefully a Railroad line will soon be extended through the pass making rapid movement of troops and goods through Western China possible.

In the Atlantic theater, after months of planning, preparation and troop build up, Admiral Maarten Tromp gives the order for the attack to begin. After a royal pounding by the entire Jerusalem Battle Group and forty-two batteries of 7.5cm GebK247 Mountain guns that leaves all defending Infantry battered and most of the RN fleet in the harbor damaged the assault begins.

Gibraltar is captured after an epic 4-day battle in which NINE DIVISIONS of Boer Infantry, TWENTY-ONE Commando divisions and four regiments of Boer Light Cavalry are slain, making this the costliest battle in the entire HISTORY of the Boer Federal Republic.

The British fare even worse: Along with 108 ships lost (including their last 13 Battleships), they also lose the last remaining British Regular forces (3 British Infantry divisions, 4 Royal Marine divisions and 4 British Cavalry regiments) as well as the last three British Canadian Cavalry regiments. On top of this, they also lose one division of Aussie Infantry, 10 divisions of Colonial Infantry, 6 regiments of Colonial Cavalry and a regiment of Colonial Sentries.

Gibraltar is added into the Federal State of Iberia (which includes the Azores and Lisbon, making Iberia the only Federal State that has both Industrial AND Colonial regions in it).

With the Fall of Gibraltar, Britain has been completely evicted from the North Atlantic and the Falkland Islands are their last, feeble outpost in the Atlantic... No more can it be said the the sun never sets on the British Empire, especially considering that their territories have been reduced to the Australian continent and a smattering of Islands in the Pacific, all of which will soon be taken from them!

IN the Pacific, Veld Marshall Takayama says a prayer for the families of those who fell in the Battle of Gibraltar after receiving the report in the evening dispatches, after which he orders the assault of Puerta Princessa to begin.

During the land and naval bombardment, all defenders are reduced to 25% capability and the city defenses are blown to smithereens. Four regular Commando divisions wipe out EIGHT Colonial Infantry divisions and all are promoted to veteran status for their valor. A vetran Commando division wipes out the last Colonial Infantry division as well as their supporting Colonial Cavalry regiment, capturing the Island and gaining a promotion to elite status!

Puerta Princessa is added to the Indonesian Provisional State, which already includes Malaysia and Borneo.

President Kruger, after getting the latest radio distpatches, sends out orders to begin staging troops for an invasion of the Falklands, Davao and Australia.

Three tons of Raw Materials are shipped into Constantinople.

November ends with Spain declaring war on Brazil, and Defense Minister Voorhees catching a British Spy trying to infiltrate our forward command post. The spy provides nourishment for the local sharks.

Elsewhere, Germany continues its epic pwnage of Russia by capturing the city of Chauskov....

Losses:

British: 3 British Infantry divisions, 17 Colonial Infantry divisions, 4 Royal Marine divisions, 3 Canadian Cavalry regiments, 4 British Cavalry regiments, 7 Colonial Cavalry regiments, 1 Aussie Infantry division, 1 Colonial Sentry regiment, 1 Royal Sovereign BB, 1 Canopus Class BB, 38 Steam Transports, 3 King Edward Class BB's, 6 Dreadnoughts, 2 St Vincent Class BB's, 2 Pearl Class CA, 5 Diadem class CA, 4 Cressy Class CA, 4 Quail Class TB, 1 River Class DD, 2 Acheron Class DD, 2 M Class DD, 2 R Class DD, 8 RN Protected Cruiser pre-1895, 27 RN Torpedo Boats Pre-1895.

Boers: 9 Boer Infantry divisions, 21 Commando divisions, 4 Light Cavalry regiments

During the first week of December, 1912, Cape Town launches the Coastal Submarine, FRS Lamprey and Casablanca launches the Early DD, FRS Blue Monkey. The latest and greatest spy report on the Falklands indicates that they are defended by a mere 3 Colonial Infantry divisions. Meanwhile, the West Coast Railway is extended up to Casablanca, linking all of the Sovereign Republic of Morocco to the Pan-Africa rail network.

Transport convoys depart Gibraltar and Borneo, loaded up with troops that will soon be landing on the Falklands and outside Cairns.

The only other military action this week is two regular Commando divisions wiping out two bandit Light Cavalry regiments in Siberia, and the discovery of an outlaw encampment nearby....

Elsewhere, 10 tons of Raw Materials are shipped into Constantinople.

During the middle of December, Germany and Austria finally sign a peace treaty with Russia.... Hopefully Russia will be able to re-build from this latest disaster!

British troops which had stealthily landed outside Lome last month launch an ill-planned assault on the city. An Aussie Light Horse regiment is mowed down by our Maxim MG battalion, and an ANZAC Infantry division is badly shredded before retreating back into the jungle.... Soon our African Field Gun batteries will arrive at Lome, along with some troops that were waiting on transports in Cairo, to take care of this little problem.

In South America, Spain manages to take Cayenne in the former French Guiana from Germany! Go Spain!

Conquests: Spain takes Cayenne from Germany.

Losses:

Barbs: 2 Light Cavalry regiments.

British: 1 Aussie Lt Horse regiment.

During the second to last week of December 1912, Civil Engineer teams in Arabia complete the Rail line from Damascus to Mecca, linking it to our VAST Asian railway system, and they begin extending it to the port city of Aden. Soon all of the Arabian Peninsula will be connected to the rest of Asia by rail!

At Lome in the state of Kameroen, the African Field Gun Division hammers the Aussie Infantry brigade in the jungles outside the city, reducing both the Aussie Infantry divisions and the ANZAC Infantry division to a quarter of their former strength. Two Boer Light Cavalry regiments finish off the Aussie Infantry divisions and a veteran Commando division wipes out what's left of the ANZAC Infantry division, ending yet another hare-brained British attempt to invade "Fort Afrika"

In Siberia, a regular Boer Commando Division jumps a regiment of Rebel Riflemen defending the Bandit encampment and secures 25 Gilders worth of loot.

In the Pacific theater, the first wave of transports is only two weeks away from hitting the beach outside Cairns, while the Jerusalem Battle Group is assembling troops off the Coast of Conakry in preparation for invading the Solomon Islands and other British Pacific Island territories. This, of course will require US cooperation due to needing passage through the Panama Canal, but since we already have a Right of Passage agreement with America, on top of which they are already at war with Britian, that should present no problems.

Three more tons of Raw Materials are shipped to the export market in Constantinople.

The final week of December 1912 sees American Airships bombing British Destroyers off the coast of Australia, and a Commando division wiped out by disease in the Jungles of Puerta Princessa!

Thus it is that 1912 and this chapter end with Boer forces weeks away from Britain's last major territorial possession and the final downfall of the British Empire imminent.

Losses:

British: 2 Australian Infantry divisions, 1 ANZAC Infantry division.

Bandits: 1 Rebel Rifle regiment.
Boers: 1 Commando division (to freaking disease! ).

Map of the world at the end of 1912:

 

[Tani Coyote]

I've actually been on vacation, sorry for replying so late! I finally managed to get back home...

Looking at the developments, it's good to see the Pax Britannica has truly crumbled, with both the jewel of India and the crown of England in Boer hands. Perhaps the Aussies should revolt and declare themselves the Australian Empire! Not impossible, as the Persians overthrew their former masters and took over their empire... maybe the Aussies can do the same to the Brits.

The American fortress has been discussed before, but have you considered unifying South America, if only for the sake of a united Third World? After all, the South Americans need "protection" from the United States imperialists by the "freedom-loving" Boers.

And Germany is... wow. Operation Barbarossa is a success, and Lebensraum is a reality, though thankfully the genocidal insanity isn't running the show!

...France must be conquered, the Boer's Dutch forefathers and cousins cannot be allowed to groan under the Parisian heel!

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Book II: Operation Sunset
Chapter 5: Thunder Down Under
Part I: Landfall​

During the second week of January 1913, President Kruger is holding another cabinet meeting in the Presidential Palace of Pretoria. He gazes around the table, sighing when he sees the empty chairs of his Chief of Staff and Defense Minister (who are only days away from storming into Australia), and says, "Right, does anyone have anything to report this month?"

"Yes sir," Dr. Victor Frankenstein piped up, "My research team has finished research into Colonial Administration, level VII, and we are even now beginning research into those improved Howitzers that Veld Marshall Takayama and Defense Minister Voorhees have been wanting."

"Excellent work, Victor," the President replies, "Anything else to report?"

Domestic minister Anna Veldhuiser says, "Athens has just launched an Armored Cruiser, the FRS Ulan-Bataar and Kerkyra has launched an Early Destroyer, the FRS Thunderfall, which should give our Mediterranean fleet a significant boost."

"Good, anyone else?"

A new addition to the table leans forward and says, "Yes, Mr. President. I just received a radio message from Veld Marshall Takayama that the first wave of troops have landed in Australia and are now forming siege lines around Cairns... We should be able to take the city no later than the beginning of next month."

"Excellent news, Chief of Intelligence Snake," President Kruger grins at former special agent Solid Snake, his new Intel Chief, "Okay, this meeting is adjourned!"

The combat ships defending the Transport convoy engage some RN ships in battle off the coast of Australia. The FRS Beijing sinks an R Class DD and the FRS Shaka Zulu II sinks and Advanced Transport.

Meanwhile, 8 tons of Raw Materials are shipped into Constantinople.

At the end of January, Spain pulls Argentina into its war against the Dutch and an unknown submarine torpedoes a British R Class DD off the coast of Australia, damaging it.

Losses:

British: 1 R Class DD, 1 Advanced Transport.

In the first week of February 1913, the latest spy report on Cairns, Australia reveals it to be defended by a single division of ANZAC Infantry, six divisions of Aussie Infantry, six Colonial Infantry divisions, one Colonial Sentry regiment and one Aussie Light Horse regiment. Veld Marshall Takayama nods to himself after reading the report... About what he expected, so he sends a dispatch to General Veers telling him to "Take it away, Maestro!"

After a day-long artillery barrage that destroyed the city's Coastal Fortress, one Airco DH2 Fighter squadron and reduced all units except for the Aussie Light Horse and Colonial Sentry regiments to 50% capacity, the assault begins.

The battle gets off to a good start with two veteran Commando divisions taking out an Aussie Infantry and Colonial Infantry division with only minor losses. A veteran Boer Light Cavalry regiment overruns the ANZAC Infantry division's position in an epic charge, while a veteran Commando division guns down an Aussie Light Horse regiment that was attempting to cut our cavalry off. Two veteran Commando divisions and an elite Commando division are wiped out attacking heavily fortified Colonial Infantry divisions, but those would prove to be the highlight of the battle, as far as the British were concerned: Soon afterward, two elite Commando divisions, pissed off at the deaths of their comrades storm the bunkers and shoot, bayonet and stab every single last one of the Colonial Infantry as well as two Aussie Infantry divisions defending the hill.

With the momentum of the battle back in our favor, four divisions of Boer Infantry roll in and wipe out two Aussie Infantry divisions, along with a Colonial Infantry division and the Colonial Sentry regiment. Three elite Commando divisions moving on the flank wipe out three Colonial Infantry divisions, while another elite Commando division wipes out the last Aussie Infantry division defending the city.

The British Flag is hauled down and replaced by the "Groot Boer Federaal Republiek Flagge", and the city, along with the Great Northern Tin Mines, are ours! After Veld Marshall Takayama uses his own personal cash (which he has plenty of) to buy everyone in the town a few rounds at the local pubs, he meets with the mine foremen to assure them that he has no intention of taking the mines away from them, only to establish a guaranteed market for the tin that was mined as smelted... Soon we'll have our very own source of Raw Material shipements! (The Aussie wonders, except for the Commonwealth of Australia, produce Raw Materials, even for the minor and 3rd world civs, meaning that I just catapulted myself into the category of a major colonial power )

The town and the surrounding area are organized into the Queensland Provisional State of the Australian Free Republic, while all available units, including the 1^st Light Horse brigade move into position to attack Darwin at the end of the month. General Sephiroth reports that his scouts report that there are no railroad lines through the mountains between Darwin and Brisbane, so a quicker invasion route would be to take Darwin, then move Southwest and seize Stuart (Alice Springs), then to turn East and Hit Brisbane from Behind, after which we could move in and take Canberra and the Australian Commonwealth government buildings. He even said that due to the fact that Stuart, despite being the current capitol of the British Empire, was only defended by seven ANZAC Infantry divisions, and would be easy pickings once the next wave of reinforcements landed.

Veld Marshall Takayama, after running the report by Defense Minister Voorhees, sent a message endorsing the plan of action, and set out from Cairns to join the siege.

In naval action off the coast of Australia, the FRS Adler XVII sinks and R Class DD.

In Siberia, two Bandit Light Cavalry regiments perish at the hands of a veteran Boer Infantry division and a Veteran Commando division.

Elsewhere, Lome launches the Coastal Gunboat, FRS Pontianak and Trebizond launches the Early DD, FRS Plotinus. The Jerusalem Battle Group reports that all units for the Marshall Island campaign have finished embarking, and they will get underway at the end of the month. In Constantinople, another 4 tons of Raw Materials arrive at the city's incredibly huge marketplace.

During the middle of February, Japan and Chile sign a peace treaty while the Austrian ambassador comes asking for an alliance against Argentina. We refuse, of course, but give them 1000 Gilders just to be nice.

In military action, the British launch a sally against our siege lines outside Darwin. Several units in the 1^st Light Horse brigade take casualties from an artillery barrage, and a British Colonial Cavalry regiment manages to wipe out a Boer Infantry division before retreating back to the safety of Darwin.

Losses:

British: 1 R Class DD, 6 Australian Infantry divisions, 6 Colonial Infantry divisions, 1 ANZAC Infantry division, 1 Australian Light Horse Regiment, 1 Colonial Sentry regiment.

Barbs: 2 Light Cavalry regiments.

Boers: 3 Commando divisions, 1 Boer Infantry division

The last week of February 1913, London, Middlesbrough, and Plymouth have constructed enough administrative facilities for Engeland and Cornwall to be admitted to the Republic as Federal States.

The latest spy report from special agent Reno reveals that Port Moresby is defended by a mere 4 Colonial Infantry divisions and a Colonial Sentry regiment... Looks like the US may be able to take the city before we can, but we'll give it a try!

In Australia, General Veers, the Boer Artillerymeister works his craft, reducing all defenders to 50% strength or less under a withering rain of 75mm artillery shells. When the barrage ends, Major General Sephiroth van Niebelheim leads the 1^st Light Horse into battle, wiping two half-strength ANZAC Infantry divisions off the map, but suffering moderate casualties in the process. An elite Commando division is not so lucky and is gunned down by a determined ANZAC Infantry division. Another elite Commando division manages to mow down an Aussie Light Horse regiment that thought it could press the advantage gained by the ANZAC Infantry, while two veteran Commando divisions overrun an Aussie Infantry and exact revenge on the ANZAC Infantry division that killed their comrades.

A veteran Boer Light Cavalry regiment distinguishes itself that day by wiping TWO ANZAC Infantry divisions off the map, and Defense Minister Voorhees promotes them to elite status for their valor.

Another entrenched ANZAC Infantry division manages to take out two veteran Commando divisions, but a regular Commando division overruns the last survivors and the city is ours!

The RAF ground crews and artillerymen burn their planes and spike their guns to prevent capture, but we are able to secure the Overland Telegraph Line, which will soon be another prime source of revenue for us! Darwin and its surrounding territory is organized into the Northern Territory Provisional State of the Australian Republic.

President Tanicius Fox of the Sovereign Republic of China meets Veld Marshall Takayama at the (in another time line, world famous) Hog's Breath pub in Darwin. During a conversation over dinner about that very fact, Veld Marshall Takayama says to President Fox, "You know, if you've been to a place before, but the first time you were there was 90 years in the future, does that count as 'deja-vu all over again'?"

Marius laughed so hard he snorted beer up his nose, and the two friends began laughing so hard that they came close to collapsing on the floor. Pat Workman, the separatist formerly known as special agent Down Under, as well as the locals he was hanging out with looked over at the commotion. One of the other guys at the table says, "I don't know what ya see in 'em, mate... They look 'bout daft as a mad dog, if ya ask me!"

"They may be daft," Pat acknowledges, "but don'cha make no misake, they gots a METHOD ta their daftness, an' it bloody well works, Ah tell ya!'

In naval battles off the coast of Australia, the FRS Tanicius Fox, FRS Shaka Zulu II and the FRS Tubaman sink R Class DD's offshore from Cairns, while the FRS El Justo sinks the Steam Transport they were escorting. The rest of the Maarepore Battle Group hammers some British units threatening Cairns, inflicting 75% casualties on a Colonial Cavalry regiment and landing some solid hits on two ANZAC Infantry divisions. A veteran Commando division sorties from Cairns and finishes off BOTH ANZAC Infantry divisions, earning a promotion to elite status.

In the Atlantic, the Jerusalem Battle Group weighs anchor and sets sail for the Marshall Islands.... Soon the British Imperialist scourge will be purged from the planet!

Elsewhere, Loerenzo Maarkes launches the Coastal Gunboat, FRS Cairns, Asmara launches the coastal Gunboat FRS Hong Kong and Abidjan launches the Coastal Gunboat, FRS Abidjan (appropriately enough).

During the first weeks of March, the Dutch pull the Italians into their war against Spain.... You'd think Italy would have learned their lesson after they lost Bologna to Spain in the last war!

Elsewhere, Brazil decides to settle the issue of ownership of the former French Guiana once and for all by taking Cayenne from Germany!

Losses:

British: 5 ANZAC Infantry divisions, 1 Aussie Light Horse Rgmt, 1 Aussie Infantry div, 2 Colonial Cavalry regiments, 1 Airco DH2 squadron, one 3.7” Mountain Gun battery, 3 R Class DD's, 1 Steam Transport.

Boers: 3 Commando divisions

During the middle of March 1913, Luanda launches the Coastal Gunboat, FRS Luanda and Goa launches the Coastal Gunboat, FRS Goa

The troops from Vietnam finally land on New Guinea, only to see an American Brigade consisting of two Ford Model T armored division and a US WWI Infantry division in position to attack the city!

More troops arrive in Australia to help stave off the British and Loyalist Australian forces that have begun to pour into our territory. After getting hammered by General Veers' artillery, all ANZAC Infantry divisions in the army are reduced to 25% strength. Even so, a regular Commando unit is wiped out in the fighting, but not before taking an ANZAC Infantry division with them. A veteran Light Cavalry regiment and two veteran Commando divisions take out the last of the attacking Loyalist ANZAC Infantry divisions, and an elite Commando division wipes out two Aussie Infantry divisions in our territory. THREE ENTIRE ELITE COMMANDO DIVISIONS ARE LOST TO ONE LOUSY AUSSIE INFANTRY DIVISION!!!!!! An elite Commando division worthy of the exalted status finally wipes the offending Aussie Infantry unit off the map. Another two Commando divisions and a Boer Infantry division are wiped out by Aussie Infantry divisions, but two Boer Infantry divisions and four Commando divisions wipe out six Aussie Infantry divisions, swinging the balance back in our favor. Veld Marshall Takayama, joined temporarily by President Marius and his customized Renault, leads his Renault Gepantser Groep out of Darwin and massacres the last of the Aussie Infantry threatening the Gold Mines outside Darwin. There are, unfortunately, still 17 divisions of Australian Infantry in our territory!

In a fierce naval battle off the Australian coast, the FRS Port Franqui is sunk by a British R Class DD, which in turn is sunk by the FRS Iron Man. The FRS Agent 89, FRS Tubaman and FRS Beijing also send R Class DD's to the bottom. The FRS Maarepore sinks an M Class DD while the FRS Kano and FRS Mosul sink two steam transports they were escorting.

In Siberia, the ongoing Bandit Hunt Saga continues with a regular Commando division wiping out a Bandit Light Cavalry regiment camped out near the ruins of Noril'sk, earning a promotion to beteran status.

Late March, another British thrust at Darwin is repelled, with the British losing another Aussie Light Horse regiment in the process. At sea, the Royal Navy sinks the FRS J. Rush XVIII, making this month's battles our worst naval losses ever!

In Yakutsk, a Bandit Light Cavalry regiment attacks one of our Boer Infantry divisions in the area, and get duly whomped for their trouble. Thus it is with a good chunk of Northern Australia under our control and another serious blow dealt to the British Army that this part of the story comes to a close.

Losses:

British: 4 ANZAC Infantry divisions, 10 Aussie Infantry divisions, 1 Aussie Light Horse regiment, 4 R Class DD's, 1 M Class DD, 2 Steam Transports.

Barbs: 2 Light Cavalry regiments.

Boers: 6 Commando divisions, 1 Boer Infantry division, 1 Armored Cruiser, 1 Early DD.

 

[Auralia]

Stick it to them!

What are your plans after you've bashed the Brits out of Australia? New Zealand and the Pacific? The French, Spanish and La Plata out of Africa?

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

After Britain is completely wiped out, it's France's turn: They're rude (Furious) to us despite the fact that we've never been to war with them and we've kept every single deal we ever made, not to mention that they're the most annoying nation on earth....

 

[Auralia]

What are the largest cities in the Pacific Empire?

 

[IronMan2055]

Thank you for the ship despite my lack of comments.

I do however faithfully read.

 

[Dumanios]

Why are the Peruvians in the Pacific?​

 

[Arexander]

They were at war with Portuguese?

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

They were at war with Portuguese?

....Ten years ago, and never picked up the troops they dropped off! That stack of Peruvian Riflemen and the lack of ability to rapidly acquire amphibious troops (something I hope gets corrected in AoI v4) is the only reason why Portugal continues to exist... I'd have taken over Timor back in August of 1905 if it hadn't been for the damned La Plata Peruvian Riflemen hogging the only LZ on the island.... Portugal would have been duly wiped off the map by now, rather than pulling the same crap that Hispaniola, Uruguay and other 1 and 2 city factions have been doing (i.e. signing alliances into wars they can't possibly win, then signing OTHER nations into that war and generally turning the political landscape into a huge mess).

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Book II: Operation Sunset
Chapter 5: Thunder Down Under
Part II: Waltzin' Mathilda​

The first week of April 1913, another Civil Engineer team has finished training in Pretoria, and they board a transport ship bound for Asia. In Africa, Civil Engineers complete construction of a railroad line into Ghardaia. The only cities in ALL of Africa that currently cannot be reached by rail are Freetown, Abidjan, Lome, Lagos and Tripoli. Another group of Civil Engineers completes a rail line through the Sahara between Benghazi and Agades, providing an alternative route across the desert.

In and around Australia, the war to completely extirpate the British Empire grinds on. The FRS Tanicious Fox gets revenge on the R Class DD that sunk the J. Rush XVIII, sending it to join its victim at the bottom of the Coral Sea.

To the North, the Maarepore Battle Group bombards Port Moresby, destroying three squadrons of Airco DH2 Fighter planes in their hangars and inflicting 75% casualties on all defenders. Two veteran Commando divisions wipe out the Colonial Infantry division and two Colonial Sentry regiments defending the city, earning promotions to elite status and eliminating British presence on New Guinea.

Port Moresby and surrounding areas are incorporated into the Sovereign Republic of Papua New Guinea

In Australia proper, all Aussie Infantry divisions camped out in areas of Australia under our control are subjected to a massive artillery barrage, inflicting casualties on all but one division. In various battles, the 1^st Light Horse wipes out three divisions of Aussie Infantry, while two Boer Light Cavalry regiments are gunned down by a particularly skilled Aussie Infantry division. The momentum of the battle swings back into our favor, with four veteran Boer Light Cavalry regiments wiping four Aussie Infantry divisions off the map while five veteran Commando divisions wipe out eight more, leaving only two Aussie Infantry divisions in our territory.

Veld Marshall Takayama deems them to not be a huge risk, so all available units pack up and head out to hit Stuart (Alice Springs) at the end of the month.

In the vast, virtually unpopulated area in Siberia (created when the Germans and Scandinavians burned three Russian cities in the area), a Commando division wipes out a Bandit Light Cavalry regiment, but a veteran Boer Infantry unit in the same region walks into an ambush and is slaughtered by the Bandits outside the ruins of Soshowinsk.

Six more tons of Raw Materials are unloaded at the export market in Constantinople. (It's almost like I got my own private Silk Road going on here! )

During the middle of April, Britain and Italy sign a peace treaty while the US declares war on the Dutch (stupid Sub Bug again).

British Avro Bombers bomb American Colonial Sentry regiments in Kaiserwilhelmland, scoring a few hits. At the Mauritius Islands, a British R Class DD sinks the Coastal Defense Gunboat, FRS Cape Town, the very first ship to enter service in the Boer Federal Navy! The Cape Town does not go down without a fight leaving its killer severely damaged, and as the R Class DD limps off, the nearby Coastal Submarine, FRS Manta Ray, unseen, gives chase... Hopefully they can avenge our loss!

More bad news comes out of Siberia: A small horde of Bandit Light Cavalry attacks our veteran Commando division near the ruins of Noril'sk, and while the Commandos are able to gun down the first wave, they are slaughtered by the rest.

Thus it is with the British slowly getting worn down that this part of the story comes to a close.

Losses:

British: 1 R Class DD, 1 Colonial Infantry divison, 2 Colonial Sentry Regiments, 3 Airco DH2 Fighter Squadrons, 15 Aussie Infantry Divisions.

Barbs: 2 Light Cavalry regiments
Boers: 2 Boer Light Cavalry regiments, 1 Boer Infantry division, 1 Commando, 1 Coastal Defense Gunboat

 

[Arexander]

Very nice! And who might you attack after Britain?