Spanish Civil War

[Borys]

 A dark smoke filled room somewere in central spain.

"Gentelmen the situation changed"the fat industialist Baltazar Vectra added a dramatic pause"Dramaticly from the last time we meet.
We all know that he was a reformer but we did not know too what extent."
"Save it Baltazar We know that already"Alvaro Torres,skiny land lord, cut in he did not liked Baltazar flair for dramatics
"Admiral what Is you assesment?"asked general Valencia
"The navy at spain is furmly under my control.They will back us up.However Grand Admiral is loyal to Juan and If he decides to march in he will destroy my forces with ease in a all out battle.Good thing hes half a world away.Cuban sqadron will return to cuba Batista wants his pet fleet home."admiral ended his train of thought,than added"My good general what is Your assesment I belive the gentelmen will like to hear the army side of the story"
Some men rolled there eyes the admiral and the general were always so sweet to one another that it made them sick.
"Thnak you admiral.Well the army is devided I control the east of spain all the way too Madrit.Sahara is firmly on Juans side Philipines are out of oure reach there is no one there left to back us up there were all sloughterd. Salomons say that they cannot careless they have enought problems with the Swiss as it is.
Cuba there Batista is in charge and it dosent look like he will do anything one way or the other.Ist more likly that he will just declere independence and ask Gran Columbia to protect them.Batista's plan is to stay in power by trading on master for another he will crown him self emperor or some thing and be happly doing what he always did."
"Thank You bought for You assesments."Said baron Gradela"We must determen our course of action.I belive the best way to end this communist crap is to simply cut of its head..."
"We are trying to assasinate him for monghts, why do You think we will succede now"
"Im not saying assasinate im saying march a devision at the palace"
"That maybe hard to do"sead the general "althou I have substantial forces the palace is protected by elite infantry brigades baside marching my forces there will give Juan lots of time to reakt."
"Do You have a plan?"asked Vectra
"Yes We simply cut the country in two.We use the fleet to close of comerce from the colonies to Juan side."
The gathered me were silent althou they all know that civil war is now ineveteble they never talked about it.They all hoped that there is still a chance that this will slimply blow over.
There was not turning back ither they will make a stand or they will all be murdered like there counterparts in philipines.
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: May 20 2006, 11:23 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Ancorege Z3 02:00 local time

A detachment of Spains home fleet was anchored together with a single destroyer from the Armada main body.Suddenly a explosions have braked the destroyer in half.
"Signal all ship to get understeam and sail for Spain"Orderd the admiral incharge of the home fleet detachment.
"Congratulate the torpedo gunners from the Tigre for there aim"
From this moment on this fleet and the man from it were rebels they hoisted up there Empire of Spain naval jack and burned the People Empire naval ensing.And sailed for home were the war was starting.

Battleship Palayo 04:31 local time
"Sir we have a raport the the home fleet detachment have left the anchorege Z3 and sailed to the west"Reported a young officer
"I did not gave that order"replayed grand admiral
"Sir it looks like the fleet have rebeled from our king"
"So it have begun.We have no way to stop them we have the entire swiss fleet on oure hands."
"Sir the austrians are doing good job of keeping Swiss occupide"
"The austrian have bigger problems that Swiss...The Orange"



Governor Batista office
"Put all knowed PEP members in jail"
"Yes sir"
"We are offitialy declering Crown Price as the rigthfull leader of Spain"
"Yes sir"
Batista sat in his chair he know that the mainland is in no position to do anything to him.His pet fleet was on its way home.He wondered what will the Columbians do?He expected them to contact him soon.


OOC:
It have started.The Civil War is on.
   
Top
The Rock Doctor    
Posted: May 20 2006, 08:29 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 463
Member No.: 57
Joined: 4-January 06



   
The note, when it came, did not come through ordinary diplomatic channels; it was assumed that the Gran Colombian consul in Havana was being watched by those loyal to Juan, and Gran Colombia had no desire to unnecessarily tip them off.

The note instead arrived in the hands of Governor Batista via a local businessman who happened to be a friend of both Batista and the consul (similar notes are also delivered to other Spanish governors in the Caribbean region).

QUOTE
4 January 1902

My Dear Governor,

It is with great sadness and alarm that I watch the complete destruction of Spain's government and its descent into chaos.  While relations between our two nations had been strained for some time, it had been my hope that Juan would prove to be an opportunity for a mending of fences.  Sadly, this is not to be.

I now fear that Spain is poised to decimate itself, and feel compelled to make what effort I can to reduce the carnage.  Therefore, I am writing to offer you the support of Gran Colombia in one of two manners:

1)  Recognition of a declaration of Cuban independence, and an immediate offer of a military alliance.

2)  Recognition of a declaration of Cuban independence, followed by an invitation for Cuba to join Gran Colombia as a state.

It is my view that the latter option is the safer option for Cuba.  Whereas Juan and his lackeys might consider attacking an independent Cuba, alliance or no, it would be another matter entirely to attack Gran Colombia itself.  Moreover, I would be better positioned to ensure a continuation of your admirable administration.

I do look forward to hearing from you, and your colleagues elsewhere in the Caribbean, and in the meantime will pray for your safety in these troubled times.

Your Friend,

Enrico Alizandro,
President
Gran Colombia
   
Top
Maddox    
Posted: May 20 2006, 08:46 PM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Sim Moderator
Posts: 1,160
Member No.: 43
Joined: 6-March 05



   
Monsieur Heralout, consul of Nouveau Aquitaine (Dominican republic/Haïti)
The shit is hitting the fan, dear Angelique, Senior Batista sees his power challenged by King Juan III. And he seeks help from our Friendly neighbors Gran Colombia.

Mais oui monsieur Heralout, but how can we profit from that situation? Premier Jardan has shackled us "colonial" administrators with taxes as never before, even our peasants groan and collaps under the strain on the sugarcane fields.

I have a few plans Angelic Angelique. And one of them is contacting our friends in Bazil.
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: May 21 2006, 09:05 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Batista was reading his mail.
One party was encuraging him to proclaim independence.
One other was saying that he is a dead men and no amount of protection will save his ass.the last that there is profit to be made if joining them.
The civil war was far away but it will come after him eventualy.
If Communist win he will be killed or kicked out for being a roten reactionist dwarf.
If the Rebels win he will be killed or kicked out for awoiding the war.He will have to choose sides Communists are out of the question.
If he helps the rebels and the rebels win hes situation will be wery rosy, just as it was for the last 20 years.
Gran Columbia joining them well the time was not yeat right for that he was not that desperete.His army strong his fleet ready his people content ,for the moment.
In his mind Batista was playing with the idea of independence for sometime he always dismised it as being too expensive.No the idea of changing his masters was tempting but it have its down side what kind of master will the Columbias make.
QUOTE

To Enrico Alizandro,President of Gran Colombia
From Alehandro Batista governor of cuba and commander of all its military forces.

Dear senior president as You may know I was given lots of freehand under the spanish rule.I have my fleet.I have my army.I ask you how do You see how this transition form Spanish to Gran Columbian rule will hold.

sencerly Alehandro Batista
   

[Borys]

Top
Phoenix    
Posted: May 21 2006, 09:16 AM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Admin
Posts: 458
Member No.: 54
Joined: 3-October 05



   
After a request by Marek, here are stories...

A small village, a small church...
"Padre, please forgive me for I have sinned."
"Speak my son, unburden your conscience..."
"I have fought, Padre, and I have injured men. I fear I might have killed one."
"That is most grave, son. Why have you fought ?"
"It was Don Manzo's men, Padre, they tried to evict Old Jefe and his ill wife. The young men of the village came together to protect them. I know we won, they have left in great hurry and took their wounded with them. So I know not if I have killed..."
"<sigh> Most grave indeed. Are you sure Old Jefe and Mina will be alright ?"
"Yes, Padre. We took them and their posessions to Tina. She can care for them."
"Good. Now you listen Rigo ! You know you should not have gone to fight. You always get into trouble when you fight."
<whispered> "Yes Padre."
"You have been very bad. You know the 6th Commandment ! 'Thou shalt not kill'. And how many people did you hit with those oversized fists of yours ?"
"Only 5, Padre."
"Hmm. I heard there were 9 of them. Very well... hear your Penance son."
<Rigo bows head>
"You shall say 5 Hail-Mary's and 10 Our-Father's. You shall buy a candle of 5 kilos and place it at the altar by next Sunday. A white one, mind you ! And don't play cheap ! First-quality beeswax !"
<whispered> "Yes Padre."
"And thus I absolve you, by the Power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen."
The peasant angrily stalked away. <grumble> "Reactionary avaricious noble-lover..."
The priest leaned wearily back in his chair. <sigh> " Young fool. Will they ever learn ?"

Same day, more lavish surroundings...
"Padre, please forgive me for I have sinned."
"Speak my son, unburden your conscience..."
"I have been wroth, Padre, and took it out on a servant."
"Hmm, and ?"
"I may have cheated at cards with Diego and San-Martin last night..."
"You 'may' have cheated ?! Either you have or you haven't. Make up your mind."
"Uhmm. I have cheated. Just a little bit though."
"How much did they lose to you ?"
"Pff, 1300 Reals I think. I can't remember too well."
"Because you were too drunk."
"Uhmm, yes Padre."
"Right. So, so far we have wrath, cheating and drunkness. Go on. I'm sure there's more..."
"No Padre, that was it. That's all."
"Don't lie to me, Don Manzo. You have tried to have an old man and his ailing wife evicted. They are childless and have no-one who can support them. Sending 9 strong men to evict them ! What kind of good Christian are you ?"
"But Padre, they can't live up to their contract no more. Old Jefe won't work anymore now that his wife is sick. I have a young couple that can use that house-"
"HOW DARE YOU ! Where is your Christian duty to respect your elders ? To care for your tenants and workmen ? Is this how you reward 60 years of loyal service ?"
"But Padre, they are of no more use. It's not my fault they have never had children to support them now."
"Because both of their sons died before they were 10 years old. And they died working for you."
"Padre, I cannot change the way this world is. And I must look after my own. Having two useless mouths hanging around, when two very useful ones could hop in, that's no way to run this estate ! I advise you to keep to the business of soul-tending Padre. And let me keep to my business of work-force-tending."
"I remind you that you are confessing your sins Don Manzo. Not justifying your rule over your estate. I represent our Heavenly Father here, and you know His Commandments. Leave the elderly in peace and try to be more benevolent."
<grumble> "I hear you Padre."
"You'd better. As a dutiful son of Mother Church you are to heed my advice. Now, hear your penance son."
"Yes Padre."
"You shall say 20 Our-Father's and the complete Rosary 5 times. You shall have a new altar-cloth delivered before Sunday to the village church. And you shall donate those 1300 Reals -no, make that 1500 Reals- to the offertory as well. Old Jefe and his wife will be out of that house by Sunday, generous donations willing, so don't harrass them anymore. And you will not sick the police onto the village youths."
"But Padre ! That vicious rabble must learn its place !"
"SILENCE ! That 'vicious rabble' was good enough to remember their duty to the elderly, something you have displayed to have a serious and deplorable lack of. Now go out of my sight and do your penance. And thus I absolve you, by the Power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen, and don't forget that altar-cloth !"
The Don angrily stalked away. <grumble> "Revolutionary avaricious rabble-lover..."
The priest leaned wearily back in his chair. <sigh> "young fool. Will they ever learn ?"

"Some more wine, Padre ?"
"Ah, thank you my dear. It is most excellent."
<blush> "Padre is making jest, it's only home-grown."
"But the result of your hard toil, Mercedes, and the more precious for it."
The young peasant-girl blushed even more deeply and hurried away to the kitchen. Padre Angelo resumed his conversation with his host. "Your family prospers, Rafe. There is plenty of food on your table, your children are healthy and your wife is expecting again. I feel this home is truly blessed."
"Blessed by the virtue of hard work, Padre. Everything you see has been built or cultivated by these very hands." Rafe spread his callused hands wide, as if to engulf the entire house. "But I don't know what the future holds. I am the last of the independent farmers in this region and I fear not very much longer."
"Don Manzo has increased his bid then ?"
"He has. And so have his veiled threaths. More and more becoming un-veiled alas."
The priest frowned darkly. "He wouldn't dare ? You have many friends here. Threathening you..."
"Me Padre ? Oh no. He wouldn't dare threathen me ! It is for my children that I fear... 'So many accidents happen these days...' he said last time, 'a farm is a dangerous place to grow up in'. Hmph, dangerous indeed !"
"Nevertheless... take care, my friend. Besides, I doubt Don Manzo would remain a threat to you for long."
"Oh yes, that 'Empire for the People' business. Do you really think that foreigner-king would be able to pull this off ? And what does he mean with 're-distributing the wealth of the few to the many' ? If he is going to take away Don Manzo's estate I'll be the first to cheer him on. But if he takes mine... the farm my great-grandfather worked so hard for... the farm my eldest will inherit... No. I won't allow it."
The priest sighed. "I fear that the revolutionaries will make no distinctions as to who worked hard for his farm and who only got it by a freak accident of birth. Mind you, you did inherit yourself, hm ?"
"Yes. But my old Pa kicked me out of my bed at dawn to milk the cows, just as his old man has done with him before that. I don't expect Don Manzo to ever have gotten up so early and doing an honest man's work."
"No. He usually goes to sleep at that time."
"Exactly my point. He's no good. But I, I work, and I have earned every brick of this house, every animal in my pastures, and every crop I grow with my own two hands. I don't have servants to order around. So... I don't fear getting a revolt my way."
"Be careful though, my friend. At the end of the day, after all, a mob is just a mob. They won't see the hard work you've done, but they will see your prosperous farm and good clothes."
"Then I guess I'll have to be able to convince them to leave me alone hm ? By the way, the People's Commissioner, or whatever they call it, is coming along in 3 days, he's of that 'People's Party'-group. Has a strange name too, I can hardly pronounce it. Maybe I should have a word with him hm ?"
"Maybe you should," the priest replied with a twinkle in his eyes.

Dworakis looked around with bright eyes. So. Here was his chance to start serving The People ! He was going to make great progress here, he could see that, the way people stared at him in awe. (Actually it was not awe, but just the fact that he was a stranger from outside of the village just made them stare open-mouthed at him.) He could see the little houses, in squalor amidst the mud, and the people wearing rags. (Rags ? Well, yes, if you are going to work all day in a dirty and scratchy environment you wouldn't exactly want to put on your Sunday Outfit, now would you ?)
Dworakis was certain he was going to make inroads here. He'd learned the language, the new measures and laws would certainly delight the common people (and rightly so, he thought), the presence of a notorious land-owning nobleman promised interesting deeds to be done and he had the orders for the local police-force in his briefcase. The suffering of this people will end and he will be the one who'd done it !
With a brisk pace he walked over to the police station. Truth to tell it was as muddy a hovel as the rest of them in this village, but a freshly painted sign proclaimed proudly for all to see that here resides the People's Finest.
Dworakis entered the shabby police station and nodded to the officer manning the single desk. "I'm here to see Officer Del Torres please. He expects me, I'm Dworakis."
"One moment Señor," the officer said and rose from his chair. He walked to a door, knocked, opened it and announced the presence of the visitor. Then he gestured Dworakis to come and enter.
In the second office a larger desk graced the interior and a heavy-set man with a monumental moustache rose quickly to greet the People's Commissioner. "Ah, Señor Dworakis ! You are welcome to this humble village. How can I be of service ?"
"I just wanted to introduce myself before settling in. I trust you have secured an office for me ? And living quarters ?"
"As requested Señor. And I have selected several young men to assist you. They are most enthousiast too."
"Good. Have you received their uniforms ?"
"Oh yes, Señor ! And I must say they look grande indeed. The white trousers and the white shirts, with the black-with-red-star bandanas and armbands... the lads make a striking sight !"
"As they should Officer Del Torres, as they should. Tell them to come tomorrow morning to my office, 8 o'clock will do."
The police officer frowned. "Ah... I fear we would have some trouble there, Señor Dworakis..."
"Oh ? And why, pray tell ?"
"Pray indeed. It's Mass then, Señor. They must attend the Sunday Service..."
"Ah. I see. Good God-fearing lads eyh ?"
"Uhm... yes... Señor Dworakis... I guess you haven't met padre Angelo yet ? I'm sure he would be delighted to meet you."
"Very well. I suppose I can find the holy priest in his palace ?"
"Next to the Church is a small abode. He lives there."
"Good. Time to get moving, time to spur on the great movement to a better future !"
"Señor Dworakis, please allow me to come with you in order to make the introduction ?"
Accompanying the People's Commissioner out of his office, Officer Del Torres smiled and twirled the ends of his moustache. He didn't want to miss this. The meeting between the People's Commissioner and the People's Priest was going to be... ah... interesting indeed.
Would they be kindred spirits ? Or hate each other at first sight ?
   
Top
The Rock Doctor    
Posted: May 22 2006, 09:48 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 463
Member No.: 57
Joined: 4-January 06



   
QUOTE
Dear Alehandro,

Your prompt response was much appreciated.

Like my father and his father, I believe in the virtues of a strong centralized federal government while giving reasonable freedom to governors in local affairs - though it may not be as much freedom as you are accustomed to.

Within Gran Colombia, all military forces are under the control of the Federal Government through myself, the president.  Were Cuba to join our republic, militart assets based in Cuba would be amalgamated into the Gran Colombian military and would ultimately be responsible to myself.  This is not intended to undermine your status; you command my respect and I think that we would both benefit greatly from a closer relationship between our respective peoples.  Rather, it is intended to prevent any ambitious governors elsewhere in Gran Colombia from seeking too much power of their own.  This was an issue in my father's time, and some lives were lost; I do not wish to see it happen again.

So that is the downside; but I think the benefits more than compensate for this.

You will note, for instance, that I am very loyal to those governors whom I can rely upon for their  loyalty and success.  If you have a recent edition of "Who's Who in the World", you can see that many of my governors have held their positions for decades.  In your case, I'm prepared to take the unusual step of guaranteeing your position for as long as you want it, and to consult with you on your successor if you choose to retire sometime in the future.

Cuba would be under the aegis of Gran Colombia's strong and united military forces, no small consideration when we view the costs of piracy, Juan's misadventures, and the current situation between our neighbours to the north in the CSA and the Island Commonwealth.  This is a dangerous world we live in, and there is strength in numbers.  In Cuba's case, I'm prepared to make the extraordinary concession of filling the senior naval and army posts in Cuba only in consultation with yourself, for a period of ten years after Cuba's entry into Gran Colombia.

As a state in Gran Colombia, Cuba will have unfettered access to the strongest economy in South America, rather than restricted and heavily taxed access to a distant and war-torn economy in Europe.  Trade arrangements made with third parties such as our mutual neighbours to the north will be more favorable if we are united as one economic power rather than as two lesser powers.  I would also note that Cuba stands to benefit from the opening of the Darien Canal, which will allow rapid delivery of goods to the Pacific.  No other nation will have access of this kind for years, enough time for us to solidify market share in places such as Rohan, California, and the eastern Pacific.

Finally, Cuba would have a voice in Gran Colombian government.  I select my cabinet to ensure a broad range of business interests are represented, and also to ensure that I have voices from each region to advise me.  Cuban representatives in the cabinet not only would ensure you have a greater voice in national matters than is currently the case, but would ensure there is a flow of communication back to you.  Adding at least one Cuban advisor to my cabinet, in consultation with yourself, is something I would seek to do at the earliest possible opportunity.

I look forward to further discussions,

Enrico
   

Top
RLBH    
Posted: May 23 2006, 09:05 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 364
Member No.: 6
Joined: 10-January 05



   
OOC:

By the time this becomes an issue, there will be no issues between the IC and the CSA. The IC will have a new leadership, more amenable to the CSA, and will know who's boss...
   
Top
The Rock Doctor    
Posted: May 23 2006, 05:53 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 463
Member No.: 57
Joined: 4-January 06



   
It's been months of real-time since I heard anything about what the CSA and IC were doing; perhaps you need to fill us in on what's happening.
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: May 23 2006, 07:44 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Sorry for the hold up im trying to get pioTreq to write something on the matter hes out of town right now.
   

[Borys]

Top
Phoenix    
Posted: May 24 2006, 05:51 AM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Admin
Posts: 458
Member No.: 54
Joined: 3-October 05



   
The story of People's Commissioner Dworakis' struggle to liberate the masses continues...

"Padre Angelo, allow me to introduce Señor Dworakis, the People's Commissioner of the PEP..."
"God bless, how may I be of assistance ?"
"Ah, Padre, I have been sent to this village in order to introduce the Party Instructions and Innovations."
"Are there People's Commissioners in every village then ?"
"Oh no Padre. We are only starting. For now I am the only one in the region. But undoubtedly there will be many more of my colleagues around within months !"
The priest gestured the PC to sit down and served him a glass of water. "I'm afraid this is all I can offer you at this moment. I'm waiting for the spice merchant to deliver tea and the wine merchant is late for some reason." He did the same for the police officer.
The PC frowned at his mug of water. "I thought all priests practically swam in wine ?"
But the village priest was unflustered. "Maybe in the big cities they do. But I am but a simple village priest and must keep whatever wine I have ready for the Mass. I'm afraid I'm down to one bottle, and it is already half-way empty."
"And the people in this region don't offer you wine ?"
"Those who can, do. But there are not many independent farmers around and most land is owned by Don Manzo."
The PC grimaced. "Ah yes, the great land-owner. No doubt he has his own pet priest hanging around..."
"Not really," Padre Angelo smiled, "I am his confessioner, and if he wants to go to Mass he has to descend down into the village. Keeping his "pet priest" is too expensive to his taste. Why pay when you can get one for free ?"
The PC shrugged. "Very well, but does he pay you ?"
"No. Why should he ? I'm paid by the Church, through the offertory mostly, but I do get a monthly allowance."
"Ah, the offertory. Good earnings there ?"
The priest looked mildly reproaching at his visitor. "What do you expect from a village of poor farmers ? I get by. Sometimes the women bring me a bit of food, sometimes they sew clothes for me. And the men provide me with firewood when needed, or repair my humble abode. I can't complain."
"Well, but this Don Manzo, he doesn't give you a thing then ?"
"Why should he ?" the priest laughed, "I'm just the Lord's servant, not his."
"That is not right," the PC fumed. "Wealth should be for all, not for just one !"
"Be it as it may, Señor Dworakis, I don't meddle with such things. But I wonder what you are going to do here..."
"I am here to bring justice to the people. To end their hardship and to overthrow their overlords."
"I hope you have a long long ladder then..."
"Why ?"
"There is one Overlord we serve that lives quite high above. Have fun."
... silence for a moment...
"Hmm. You're joking on me."
"Why yes. I think I did. I'm also wondering how you are going to overthrow Don Manzo ? He'll just call in the police..."
But PC Dworakis gestured at the silent Officer Del Torres: "Why do you think he is here ? I have my orders, he has his. Besides, the police will not be alone in this. Already I have recruited a body of fine strong men to... ah... assist the police."
The priest gently stroked his closed eyes. "Don't tell me. I've been hearing all kinds of stories about that. I don't like it. Don Manzo has his own men. Armed. It will be a slaughter."
But PC Dworakis shook his head. "No Padre. The police is armed too. And if that greedy noble bastard won't cooperate... well... the days of his kind are numbered. Tomorrow, after Mass" -he threw a sidelong glance at the smirking police officer- "I will gather the lads, give them their instructions, and then we'll set about the New Prosperous Future. Manu militari if needed, but the New Prosperous Future will happen."
But Padre Angelo glared at him. "I don't think I like the sound of that. Why not talk with Don Manzo first ?"
"It's useless Padre ! Surely you know yourself how difficult it is to remind such noble scum of their duties to the people ? The only language they understand is that of force. And force I intend to use when necessary."
Padre Angelo shook his head angrily. "That is foolish. I happen to know Don Manzo..."
PC Dworakis interrupted him: "You are beguiled by the deceptive words and manners of an overbred cretin Padre ! No, leave the battle to me and my lads. We will strike tomorrow, before that greedy oppressor has a clue. I bid you good evening Padre. We will have a busy day tomorrow."
When Padre Angelo showed his visitors to the door he didn't say a word. But alone again he set himself in his chair with a sigh and muttered: "A busy day indeed. Ah, the fool."
Then he took his coat and left.

"See ? I told you. He's going to tell Don Manzo..."
"What do you want to do now ?"
"Nothing, Del Torres, nothing. But you are a witness now..."

"Padre, what brings you here at this evening ?"
"I'm sorry to disturb your evening dinner, Don Manzo, but something has come up that has me worried."
"Hmm... Concepcion, I'm afraid I can't finish dinner with you and the children. Just end it without me. I'll be in my office."
"Yes, dear."
Don Manzo brought Padre Angelo to a well-furnished office. He smiled when he saw the priest drinking in the sight of many books. "You seem to be hungry Padre."
"Oh. Not of food, but this..." The priest gestured at the book cases. "It never fails to capture my attention."
"Have you finished the "Ocho comedias, y ocho entremeses nuevos" of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra yet ?"
"Almost. You are so kind to let me read your books."
"I know they are in good hands. It takes a book-worm to recognize his fellow..." the Don answered smiling.
Padre Angelo's smile didn't stay for long on his face though. "I'm afraid I have learned of something that will cause trouble."
"You mean the arrival of that "People's Commissioner" ? He's just an agitator."
"Don't be so sure of it. Did you know Del Torres has orders to assist him ?"
"WHAT ?!"
"He is sent by the Government, Don Manzo. They mean business. In fact, I fear they may be using this situation to try out their ideas and how to implement them."
"Oh, hijo de..."
"Temper, Don, temper. "Thou shalt not curse" and such... But it is even worse. That man, his name is Dworakis, will strike tomorrow, after Mass."
"He doesn't waste time does he ?"
"In fact he wanted to strike earlier. It's just that all the boys in the village are such gooood boys, and wouldn't dare miss Mass. But after Mass..."
"What do you mean by "boys" ?"
The priest sighed. "He's recruited all the young lads in the village. Enticing them with riches to be distributed and a revenge to take out on you. And you haven't exactly been the kind benefactor lately. There are a lot of grudges."
"And you, who's always berating me for being such a bad person, you help me by warning me ?"
"I'm a servant of the Lord, Don Manzo. I'm a Shepherd of all my flock, and sad as your actions have made me in the past, you are of my flock still. Besides, Doña Concepcion and the children..." Padre Angelo was looking really worried now.
The Don nodded. "I'll send them off tonight."
"No. That would only show them you're afraid of them. Bring them to Mass tomorrow and keep them in the church. I will give them Holy Sanctuary. That at least I can do for you. But for the rest..."
The Don sat down and lowered his face into his hands. "I'm going to lose all, am I not ? They're going to take away and destroy everything my father and his father and all others have worked so hard for..."
"I must say they hardly lifted a finger, Don Manzo, and neither have you. In that, your enemies are right: you and your ancestors let others do the hard work and reaped the benefits. And it is known that your earliest ancestor won his lands by the sword, by force."
"So, you see this a some kind of Divine Justice ?"
"You can't say I haven't warned you. Countless times in fact. But I will try to persuade this Dworakis not to attack you..."
"No Padre. That will only turn them onto you. I know what to do. You will go home and tomorrow I will see you at Mass." He gently ushered the priest off to the door. "My ancestors may have taken this land by the sword, and so -by god !- I will defend it with the sword."
Which didn't do much to reassure the hapless priest as he scurried back to home in the darkness of a long, long night.
   
Top
RLBH    
Posted: May 25 2006, 08:59 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 364
Member No.: 6
Joined: 10-January 05



   
QUOTE (The Rock Doctor @ May 23 2006, 11:53 PM)
It's been months of real-time since I heard anything about what the CSA and IC were doing; perhaps you need to fill us in on what's happening.

Sorry, I've been busy with exams.

I'm just about done with a war write-up - I'll post that in a day or two.
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jun 6 2006, 05:10 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Portugal coust.

Rear Admiral Goldstein was sleeping in his quorter.
The alarm bell woke him up with a start.
"Whats going on" yeald Goldstein in the voice tube"Report"
"Torpedoboats of unknowed power have attacked us!!"
"Im on my way"
As the rear admiral got to the brige panic was evident the formation was in disarrey.
"I want starshells now"orderd Goldstein
after am minut(that long! thats unaccetable)the are was iluminated by starshells fired from every ship in formation.
All but one A hull of a battleship was overturning.
The attackers were long gone.

OOC:
Goldstain fleet was attacked by torpedoboats and have lost a battleship.
The attacker sufferd no losses.
   
Top
Phoenix    
Posted: Jun 11 2006, 09:56 AM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Admin
Posts: 458
Member No.: 54
Joined: 3-October 05



   
The story of People's Commissioner Dworakis' struggle to liberate the masses continues... or, how good intentions beget deadly consequences...

People's Commissioner Dworakis surveyed his troops and sighed with contentment. "His" boys certainly stood out amongst the mainly black-clad churchgoers and, taking into account that more or less the entire village and the surrounding farmers had gathered for Mass, it certainly high-lighted how many young (and some not-so-young) men had rallied under the Star they now proudly wore on their black arm-bands.
His eyes travelled slowly towards the lavish benches that seated the high-ranking members of this community and they turned hard when he noticed the Don sitting there in full splendour, his wife the Doña absolutely heart-stopping in her magnificent gown, and their well-fed and well-dressed children making for a stark difference against the villagers' brood. It galled him. Things should not be that way ! All children should be well-fed and happily carefree, not just the spawn of thieves !
And the traitor-priest, having started into one of the typical "endure-and-serve" sermons Dworakis has grown used to... it just made his heart grow bitter and sour, even though he tried to hide his feelings behind a blank expression.
But Padre Angelo noticed it and regretted it. Mass should be a time of rejoicing in the Lord's Presence, an act of sharing this life in the mortal world, while anticipating the Eternal Life that is the righteous' due. He threw a sad look at the Don's children, whose lives may be overturned dramatically today.
And so he started in the parable of the master, his servants, and the talents he gave them for safekeeping during his absence. And, to the surprise of all, he then launched into a second parable, this time the one of the lost son, who squandered his part of his inheritance and returned to his father's house as a beggar. "Just as all of us from time to time forget to multiply the good things that have come to us by dilligent work, we also tend to forget that, even if one who has lived richly and one day might discover his riches gone and his life that of a beggar, he could still be forgiven by his father because he has learned a hard lesson and showed repentance. Hardship is a harsh teacher, but love the hardest of all."
The Mass done, Padre Angelo walked towards the church's doors in order to see his flock out. He noticed that the white-clad men were the first to leave, but they stayed on the large square outside. As he blessed the villagers he saw Dworakis hurrying out and walking briskly towards his men.
Police officers too had joined the mob and now they waited expectantly for the Don to come out of the church.
"My dearest," the Don sighed as he watched his wife, "you must stay here with the children. Padre Angelo will take care of you and will give you shelter until this problem is dealt with." He embraced her and his children and then walked out of the church, head held high.
"Ah !! There he is ! The oppressor will face The People at last !" Dworakis shouted.
But Don Manzo refused to recognize the shouted insult. Or the police guns pointing at him. He silently took his watch out of his pocket and gazed at it, then looked sideways. People looked up in surprise when the sound of carriages broke the silence. And when the carriages came around the church they stopped between the Don and the mob. They were filled with armed men.
Someone in the first carriage helped the Don climbing into it and then they departed again. But everybody could hear the Don shouting: "Come to my house if you dare, Dworakis ! Confront me on an equal footing if you have the courage !!"
Dworakis swore vehemently when the carriages departed. He turned around to his men and saw several of them looking a bit white in the faces. "What are you still standing for here ?", he shouted in anger, "get moving ! We must deal with this vermin before it becomes dangerous !"
A few of the men ran towards the church, but before Dworakis could call them back the priest accosted them. "What do you want ?" he asked coldly.
"We'll take the rich bitch and her brood out," snarled Rigo, "and give them their proper due." Several of the young men stood by him and shook their clubs.
"You will do nothing of that sort, Rigo," Padre Angelo retorted angrily, "Doña Concepcion and her children have Holy Sanctuary."
"Who cares about that ?" Rigo sneered. But Dworakis took him by the arm.
"We'll leave them alone," the People's Commissioner said, "the real enemy has just left us and we must follow him in order to deal with him. Don't waste effort on the weak ones, they will get their due in time."
He shoved Rigo and the others away from the church. "Our task lies yonder, in the lair of the monster that has oppressed you for so long. Let us go and deal with this menace for once and for all !!"
The men gave a cheer, and together with the police officers, they set off to the Mansion.
Watching their departure the priest mopped his sweating brow, then he turned towards his charges. "I fear this will turn real ugly, Doña Concepcion. Let us see how we can bring your children to safety."
The pale noblewoman was pale and trembling, holding her 3 children closely to her person, but she nodded.

Don Manzo watched warily as the armed men arranged themselves for the defence of his mansion. He looked speculatively at the man standing next to him, then asked: "I am grateful for the help the other Dons sent me. But was it really necessary to bring so many armed men ?"
The other shrugged. "Better to be safe than sorry. My master has told me you would be rather uneasy because of the violence that will follow, but he also took care to remind me that you are of a noble and old family, renowed for its knights and officers."
"The battle is in my blood indeed," mused the Don. "Did your master also tell you what price to ask me for your assistance ? And for the guns and bullets ?"
"Not really. He said you would understand."
"Hmm. We will see..." The Don sighed and picked up a magnificently embellished rifle. "We're to hunt a different game today, My Lady...," he whispered as he tenderly stroke the barrel.

Dworakis swore loudly and with vehement anger. Somehow the rich thief had found a veritable army and his brave lads were paying the price. Half of his men and 2 policemen had already fallen, never to rise again, and the others crouched with him in the bushes and hurriedly digged trenches. They looked at him for instructions and Dworakis cursed the Don who had killed Officer Del Torres with his first shot.
There was still shooting going on. And they were asking him for orders.
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jun 15 2006, 05:00 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
In a small household just outside Madrit, a family was eating breakfast.
The matriarch was wathing how her sons were talking ,as always, about politics.Her firstborn son was telling his younger brother how wrong he was.
"You have no idea what you are talking about!Power to the people that is just stupid.The order of thing is the same as a milenium ago the wise talk and the masses do as they are told."
"Did You read Marks "Das Kapital" The way things are going cannot continue"
"Dont bring up that jews stupid book.Its to early in the morning for that crap"
"You are as thick headed as.Ow"
The younger son was hit over the head with a long spoon by his mother.
"Way to go mum..Ow what was that for?!?"
"You two stop arguing and eat.Dont go talk about things that You cannot change"

Two years latter.
"You were in that PEP party meting werent You!?!"the older brother yeald
"And What If I was"the Younger hissed back"I can do what ever I want.
"If You go to jail mum will be heart broken You git."
"Ever since the new king no one every got arrested for attending those meating some say the we will get a legals status"

Six weeks latter.
"You are the man of the house with Your brother gone to the army.You have too be here I nead You"
"Mother Things are changing the reforms are starting.We are making history"
"History dosnt nead You I nead You.You are willing to go to war I already lost my father my brothers and my husband to the french mitraliza's I cannot lose You.If You go there will only be me and Your sister left in the house!"
"Mum I made my decision"
The women looked at her son in his and the red star on him.She have already lost him in her mind.

NOW
"Squad fall out we will do this quick and painless."
Diego , 20 years old,the oldest in his family now a squad commander in the Loyalist Spanish army was leading his me on the Comunists positions.

Kilometers a way Leon 18 years old footmen in the People army was climming digging trenches prepering the defences of the city of Guernica.

[Borys]

Phoenix     
  Posted: Jun 15 2006, 08:04 AM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Admin
Posts: 458
Member No.: 54
Joined: 3-October 05



   
While People's Commissioner Dworakis struggles to liberate the masses his adversaries have plans of their own...

Don Manzo stopped firing in order to give his gun the time to cool off a bit. He threw a look over the wall and saw several white-clad men and police officers lying dead in the dust. Above the din of a few wounded hollering in pain he could hear that Dworakis shouting orders, but apparently he didn't seem to be such a good commander in a fight, as several white-clad men were trying to leave. Dworakis aimed one shot in the ground before their feet, and the men reluctantly returned. Stuck between the anvil and the hammer, the Don mused with a wry smile, they should have known better.
He turned around and surveyed "his" troops. Those men were calm and serious about their task. He wondered where his peers had dredged that lot up but at least they were doing the job splendidly.
Their leader saw him watching and smiled to him, giving a signal of "everything is fine" and returning to the task of reloading guns.
Don Manzo too reloaded and set himself to the grim task of defending his home and heritage again. He didn't see the leader aiming a loaded gun at him and squeezing the trigger.
"We need a martyr. And you will do just fine," the man whispered.
Now to get out of this mess, find the wife and children, and complete the job. After all, a bloodied child's dress makes for a great battle banner...
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jun 19 2006, 02:22 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
QUOTE

Voice of The People

MADRIT HAVE FALLEN

Rebel Force have captured Madrit.
The enemy have defeted oure brave armies in a manuvering battle just out side of the capital.News of marcenaries force involved in the battle and the attrocitys comited by the soligers of fortune are unthinkable...

The comunist side of the story
QUOTE

Free Spain

MADRIT FREE AGAIN

Our brave armies have driven the comunist out of the Capital.
In a  manuver that can only be described as genious general Valencia have defeted the communists and have liberated Madrit it can once again be free Spains capital.Reports are flowing in that the army was welcomed as savors and heros.
The impostor Juan have flead the city, hunt for that mad man continues.

The Lojalist side of the story(rebels)
OOC: same event described by the two opposite sides.
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jun 19 2006, 02:40 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
QUOTE

Juan was reading the reports comming in form Madrit.
When he read the report of the rebel goverment formation he looked like some one have give him a week old roten roadkill with sugared magots for diner.
"The minister of education,"he mused to no one in particular"they made a man that is publicly saying "Good Jews is a dead Jew" minister of education.Minister of justice a men that was happy that the courst were over ride by the king and a men that was cleared from all charges by 3 difrent courts was send to prison."


OOC:
The above part was inspired by the the recent events in my own country.
Yes we have antisemitis rabid nationalis/religous/nazi freek as a minister of education.Our minister of justice is no better he force a vote in parliment too determin what is trught and what not.
And I thought american goverment in not perfect.

Well that poland for You here army is give crucifixes insted of dogtags.[/RANT]
   
Top
Phoenix    
Posted: Jun 20 2006, 05:51 AM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Admin
Posts: 458
Member No.: 54
Joined: 3-October 05



   
Be careful with what seem to be allies: they often do you a service which turns out to be an unservice... as Dworakis is soon to find out...

Padre Angelo frowned as he heard the gunshots in the distance, coming from Don Manzo's estate. He turned back towards Doña Concepcion and her children, smiling while hiding his unease. The children were silent and sat with white faces next to their mother. They obviously knew what was going on. Doña Concepcion looked at him with pleading eyes, as if to ask him to deny what she knew was happening, while gently stroking the head of her youngest boy. "Do you think we will be safe here ?", the young noblewoman asked him.
He nodded. "I have granted you and your children Holy Sanctuary. You noticed that even that "People's Commissioner" chose to honor it. Nobody would risk excommunication..."
Several women entered the church. Padre Angelo noticed that they were the wives of the Don's farmhands. The women seemed distraught. "Padre !", one yelled, "They are shooting at our boys and men ! People have died !"
When they saw the Don's family several of them started to mutter angrily, then shouting insults at the Doña, but a few looked with pity. One elder woman even started to take off her shawl and wrapped it gently around the shivering Don's eldest daughter. "Now there," she retorted to her fellows, "that is no way to treat children. And stop shouting in God's House, that is most unbeseeming and you know that."
"Her husband has killed mine !", one woman hissed.
"So ? I saw him brandishing a gun. You live by the sword, you die by the sword.", the elder retorted.
"That's easy for you to say. You haven't just lost your husband !", snarled the other.
The church suddenly went quiet.
Deep lines were etched in Abuela Esmeralda's face, lines of hardship, sorrow and grief. But the old woman carried herself with dignity -albeit a bit bent- and her eyes sparked when she turned towards the angry new widow: "Si. Si ! I haven't JUST lost a husband ! I lost a husband only 3 weeks after our marriage because the old Don insisted that the harvest would be brought in before the storm struck. I lost another husband 5 years later because the old Don would not allow someone to drive him to a doctor after the tree he was felling fell down on him and it took him 3 days to die, mind you. I lost 3 sons who had to work too young too hard and that only 42 years ago. I lost a daughter 30 years ago because she could not feed her husband and 5 children and chose to feed them and not herself. I had to learn how to count so that I could keep track of the dead. And you dare claiming your losses are greater than mine were ?" She all but growled when she continued: "The Don we have now is far more kind than his father. Ah ! If you want to know a real hard master you should have tried him ! But the one we have now, and I'm sure Doña Concepcion has been a good influence on him, is more gentle and cares for his workforce. He did send a cart out to get medicines for all of us when the Great Fever struck, did he not ? He sends chilled wine to the workers at harvest when it is real hot outside, does he not ? And I think..." -here she threw a quick glance at the Padre- "...that we all know who urged him to donate to the church the money needed to get Old Jefe and his wife in a new house, but at least he did and that you'd better not forget. The man has his bad ways but at least he's reasonable. And when your husband took up a gun in order to take his possessions the only choice he has is to shoot back. Wouldn't you protect what is yours ?"
At that moment the freeholder Rafe de la Madera came in. He took his hat off, as did his two eldest sons, and went over to Doña Concepcion.
"Doña, there is still shooting going on but I have dire news. My youngest just came to us telling that your husband has died."
The children started crying, the noblewoman paled, and for a moment looked as if she would faint, but then regained her composure. "Are they coming for us now ?"
"No. As I said, the shooting is still not over, although dwindling. But we have come here because my youngest overheard Rigo who said they were going to "take care" of you afterwards, despite Dworakis' orders." One of the children started to sob more violently but Abuela Esmeraldo quickly hugged her and the burly yeoman shot her a gentle look. "We be thinking you might want to leave this village and seek refuge with your kin. Giro and Paulo here..." -he gestured at his sons- "... will bring you there on horses. You can ride can you ? And your eldestd daughter too ?" The noblewoman nodded. "Good. We have 4 horses waiting outside and no time to waste. Go !"

Dworakis felt his spirits rising when Don Manzo's head exploded from a gun-shot. I must reward the man who did that, he thought. With the Don's sudden death the shooting dwindled and then white rags where being waved over the walls of the estate. He heard horses galloping away from somewhere else on the estate but figured that some might not have been wanting to be taken prisoner, while others would take their chances. "No mercy," he growled as his remaining men ran with him towards the gates that were now being opened. The boys knew what to do.
Rigo was one of the first to enter, but he suddenly re-appeared on a horse and shouted towards the People's Commissioner: "Some have fled with horses towards the village. I think they want to rescue Manzo's bitch and brats. I'm going after them !" And before Dworakis could respond Rigo and several other farm-hands spurred their horses, which they hadn't even bothered to saddle when they took them from the estate's barns, and gallopped away.

The former leader of Don Manzo's protectors grinned as he and some trusted men approached the village, the job was almost done and then the rewards would be raked in. They had changed into the white clothes the rebels are so fond of, and even donned black armbands with the star of the revolt on it. Good preparation always pays off.
But his grin faded as he saw several horses running away from the church, and they could see children on them, tucked behind the adult riders and one child alone on a horse. He cursed and flogged his horse, shouting at his men to hurry up. In pursuit of the 4 fleeing horses he took his handgun and aimed.

Paulo de la Madera yelled at the others to go faster, his whip raking his poor horse and he felt a stab of guilt at that, but the need was great and he was sure his beloved horse would forgive him once he'd had time to groom it after the ride. Doña Concepcion and her eldest daughter were indeed seasoned riders, the Doña keeping her youngest child in front of her in the saddle and the girl practically lying flat on her horse. the oldest boy was behind Giro and held on for dear life, while the youngest daughter did her best to cling tightly to his back.
BANG
He felt the impact, as the bullet smashed into the backside of the girl, and felt her hands let go. For a moment the Doña wanted to stop and collect her child but Giro took the reins of her horse and urged them along. "Too late ! She's dead Doña, save your other children now !!" And Paulo grieved, as he had never grieved before, because he hadn't thought of pulling the girl in front of him like her mother had done.

The men reined in their horses at their leader's barked command. He slowly walked his horse towards the pathetic huddle that once had been a beautiful girl-child in a pristine white dress. He smiled as he watched the blood staining it. "And another martyr..." Then he cocked his ears and heard in the distance from behind a hill, ah yes, there were the Stalward Lads of the Revolution, right on cue. He spurred his horse and his men followed suit. Better disappear now.

Rigo's horse crested the hill and he couldn't see any of the horsemen they were pursuing. There were too many tracks in the road before him and from here they could have gone everywhere. He had also heard when passing the church that the Doña and her children had left on horseback, and the men he was pursuing had followed the same road. But it seemed they had lost the trail now and he spat a curse to the sky.
Then one of his fellow boys gestured, "There, on the road, what is that ?"
They slowly rode closer and then Rigo dismounted. He walked towards the white-and-red something and turned it over. His chest tightened when he saw it was a little girl and some of the boys gasped in shock. "It's Laetitia, Manzo's !"
"Yes," Rigo said grimly. "At least we got one of the brood."
He turned around and went back to his horse.
"You aren't going to let her lie there, are you ?", one of the boys asked with a frown.
"Why not ? Why waste a burial on offal ?"
"Because she is a little girl, that's why !", the boy hotly answered. He dismounted and gently picked up the dead girl, but noticed he couldn't mount an unsaddled horse with his arms full.
One of the others gestured: "Give her to me, I'll carry her. The Good God knows I'm already soaked in blood from when young Jefe died, I can have some more."
They silently rode back to the village.

Padre Angelo paled when the boys dismounted and carried the bloodied little corpse to the church. Some of the women started keening softly. "Who did that ?", he growled.
"None of us, Padre. The men from the estate followed the family and we followed them. Then we saw her lying on the road...", one of the boys said. "But it wasn't us ! And she's shot in the back too."
She sat behind Paulo, the Padre thought with sorrow. Then he walked over to the boy in order to take over the child. "What are you going to do with her ?", Rigo asked hotly.
But the Padre just glared at him. "I'm going to clean her up and bury her, that's what I am going to do, you lout!"
Abuela Esmeralda stopped him. "Give her to me, Padre. You shouldn't wash and lay out a female, I will do it." She gently took the child from the lad. "The Good God knows I'm experienced.", she murmured as she walked away with a broken life in her arms.

When Doña Concepcion and her remaining children reached her father's estate the news went out quickly.
The death of a little girl-child became a rallying cry for the noble-born.

[Borys]

 Sige of Geurinca

Roar of heavy altylery was hear by all the people in the cut off city.
The people were depresed but they were still willing to defend there city.
All knew about the atrocitys in Madrit.But the gratest concern was that of depleting food stocks.

   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jul 1 2006, 05:53 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Siege of Geurnica

"Captain Sanchez?"
"Yes?"
"Your cavalry unit is being renamed from cavalry No.12 to Infantry No.12C"
"What dose that means?"
"We are taking Your horses away"
"What? Why?"
"We are going to eat them"
"What?!?"
"Its spring and we are under siege people are starving"
"Eat dogs god damnit!"
"Dogs are next"
"Eat crows!"
"We ware giving Your men crows for the last two weeks"
"..."
"Besides Your horse will die any way they eat all the grass in the park, grain is out I dont want dead horse carcas in the streets, they may cose a plaig"

------

"Well the ammo supplys will last for the next 3 monghts but the food will only last for the next monght"
"I looks like we will have too surender with out the enemy offencive"
"We have news that command is sending reenforcments"



   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jul 3 2006, 09:55 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Sarge lift his hand up and behing him a the squad members fall to the ground.
Next second all hell broke lose.Royalist gatling opened up with all its fury.
Granedes sailed in the air towords the meneater, a nick name for any automatic weapon.The unslought of the machine gun stoped and the communist soligers retreated.It was a good day they came back from the forest with only losing 5 men.
Others were rearly that lucky.
Leon trowned next body with a mechanical disinterest, in the mass grave.This time it was a cornel.Leon liked his job, far away from the bullets his unit was cut of from the city in the first days of the siege.Those couple of days were defenetly the worst in his life. Before he was a footmen now he had a rank of copral.He and his men got medals, he and fore others got theres for not dieing,56 others for dieing.The job he now had was surreal every day he and his men were pushing a chart full of dead and bringing it 4 km away in to a massgrave.
When he enlist in the People's army his head was full of glorius images of victory and glory."Glory" he thought to himself "there is no glory in this".
The last time he remember that he belived in the greater good was when he writen his report, he remeber the words egsacly.
"Unit 4573 in combat for 5 days 56 KIA/MIA.
Curent personel number 4 men in cluding 3 walking wounded."
He was one of those walking wounded.He got hit in the sholder bullet went all the way thru no bone damege.OK for duty.

He was walking towards the camp the news were that his unit will get reinforcments.They were to go back in the grinder.

   
Top
Ithekro    
Posted: Jul 4 2006, 12:21 PM


King of Rohan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 2,111
Member No.: 29
Joined: 7-February 05



   
March 20, 1902

The Kingdom of Rohan has again opened its borders to refugees. Spaniards that wish to flee the Civil War and the Socialist Kingdom of Spain (as Rohan calls it), their are territories of Central America to settle after the recent war. While large numbers are discouraged due to potential social conflicts, small groups and settlements will be allowed and observed by the Armies of the Mark and the local inhabitants. Most refugees will likely be from the Pacific Colonies as Cuba and it is believed Columbia are also taking in civilians.
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jul 5 2006, 07:16 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
"Well what do you take of that offer from Rohan?"
"Actualy I dont know how they can make it work.
Both sides are blocading the coast.Franch have closed the border,not that it matters anybody have to get thru the front.Portugal is the only refuge."
"And thru portugal to Rohan"
"...Well yes"
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jul 8 2006, 09:47 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Secret base.
"You look happy"sead Diego
"Becose I am.Gustav have agreed to send a his forces to cuba"King respond
"That can be troble"
"Yes it can but not for us I will force Batista's hand.He will have to show his true colors.Either he will start shooting at them or quietly submit to me rule"
"Scandinavian rule"
"Whatever I trust Gustav"
"Will they help on land also?"
"Not directly but I maneged to talk him in to blowing rebel fleet sky high"




Out side Bilbao a fleet of ships flying baltic league ensings abroched the unsuspecting harbour.
   
Top
pioTreq    
Posted: Jul 8 2006, 10:14 AM


Head of State
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 38
Member No.: 68
Joined: 13-April 06



   
On the bridge of the "Vasa" admiral Bjoernstrom was looking on the harbour thru his spyglass.Bilao was the main rebel naval base.The admiral remembered spy reports.Inside was two small battleships and eight cruisers and 10 to 20 torpedoships.Simple word escaped his mouth
"FIRE!!!!"
The fleet opened fire.They were aiming on anything that looked like a warship.
The rebels shore batteries returned fire,but it their small guns could not stop the powerfull armada.
Few hours later the whole harbour turned into hell.
The baltic fleet sailed towards Cuba.
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jul 8 2006, 02:12 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Admiral Goldstain was looking out the window.It was early morning.
In the distance he recognised a fleet of warships,'What now and who?'was his thought. 'portugalians?' they were sending heavyships as scouts but never that meany.'Mayby franch?'.His thought were interupted when he saw flashes.
His instincts serwed him well he ducked.All around the city around him expoloded.
The fort defending the harbour was striped of most of its cannons to send to Geurnica.He did what any warm blooded person in his position do.He flead to warn his superiors.
   
Top
The Rock Doctor    
Posted: Jul 8 2006, 03:43 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 463
Member No.: 57
Joined: 4-January 06



   
Cartagena

"This information is correct?", President Alizandro demanded.

"It appears to be", replied The Mouse. "The rebel fleet has been gutted by the Baltic League, and there are indications now that the League fleet is steaming for Cuba. It is reasonable to assume that they intend to force Batista to get off the fence."

"I've been waiting for that stupid fool to reply to my letters for what, weeks now?", Alizandro growled. "What is our position? Can we force the League to back down?"

"If by that you mean, can we beat them back, the answer is doubtful", Ricardo Alizandro replied. "The League fleet will be here in just a few weeks. I might be able to get the Helene back in commission in time for a sortie - thank God we're long done playing with her guns - but those two battleships and two armored cruisers on the west coast won't be here nearly soon enough, even if I give the order right now."

"Why wasn't the order given earlier?", the president exclaimed.

"I did not receive the presidential order necessary for it", Ricardo said icily.

The president scowled at his brother for a moment, then asked, "Do we have any favors to call in?"

The majority of the cabinet looked to Minister Torres, so the Foreign Affairs Minister sighed and replied, "No, Senor President, I don't believe so. Certainly not while Cuba remains a province of Spain - despite our efforts, no nation has expressed any real concern about the civil war and the consequences of a PESN victory. Nor do I know what effect the League intervention will have."

"So we're out of luck there as well", the president snapped.

"Not necessarily", Torres replied. "I qualified what I just said as applying if Cuba remains part of Spain. If Cuba secedes and is recognized internationally, we can quickly conclude an alliance with Batista and present the League - and the rest of the world - with a legitimate base for action. It is worth a try to see if our neighbours are prepared to back us, but I don't know that either Rohan or the CSA is willing to fight for Cuba."

"What about Agrival?", asked Ricardo.

"Agrival? Mars? I don't follow", Torres replied.

"We've been in contact with him, Eduard", the president said, glaring at his brother once more. "But not of late. I think he's busy with something else.

"And the French?"

"They're being...coy", Torres noted.

President Alizandro grimaced. "Send this data to Batista immediately - and contact the ambassadors for Rohan, the CSA, anybody else who will listen - even that ex-ACM scoundrel in the Barbados."

Telegraph to Governor Batista, Cuba

INTELLIGENCE REPORTS REBEL FLEET DESTROYED BY BALTIC LEAGUE IN PORT STOP LEAGUE FLEET BELIEVED EN ROUTE FOR CUBA STOP EXPECT LEAGUE TO ATTEMPT LANDINGS STOP PER PREVIOUS OFFERS TO YOU REMAIN VALID BUT CAN NOT EXPECT TO SUCCEED IF CUBA REMAINS SPANISH PROVINCE STOP YOU MUST ACT QUICKLY OR FALL TO THE REDS STOP

Telegraph to the ambassadors of Rohan, the CSA, France [Brazil], the Netherlands [Suriname], the Barbados, and Mesoamerica

BALTIC LEAGUE FORCES WORKING WITH SPANISH SOCIALIST FORCES TO SEIZE SPANISH COLONIES IN CARIBBEAN STOP LARGE FLEET CURRENTLY EN ROUTE WITH LIKELY TARGET OF CUBA STOP GRAN COLOMBIA WISHES TO PREVENT EXPORT OF REVOLUTION TO NEW WORLD BUT CAN NOT SUCCEED ALONE STOP REQUEST YOUR GOVT CONSIDER JOINT OPERATION TO TURN BACK LEAGUE FORCE AND ENSURE STABILITY OF OUR NATIONS STOP



   
Top
The Rock Doctor    
Posted: Jul 8 2006, 03:50 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 463
Member No.: 57
Joined: 4-January 06



   
OOC:

This might end up provoking Gran Colombian military intervention - but we don't yet have Maddox back to determine the results of such an situation. Suggestions on how to proceed?
   
Top
Maddox    
Posted: Jul 8 2006, 05:40 PM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Sim Moderator
Posts: 1,160
Member No.: 43
Joined: 6-March 05



   
I'm almost ready to resume my work on the forum.


But France doesn't like the situation at all.
   
Top

[Borys]

Ithekro     
Posted: Jul 8 2006, 10:56 PM


King of Rohan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 2,111
Member No.: 29
Joined: 7-February 05



   
As always Rohan will do what Rohan believes is right and benificial for the local region.
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jul 10 2006, 01:18 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Batista was reading his inteligence report.The fact that the only thing holding the armada from marching on him was gonne was not as desturbing as the fact that they were not alone was far worse.Batista hoped that the civil war will weaken the central goverment power to an extent that he will get a viceroy title and be free do do what ever he wish.Now it will not happend he had a fleet but what was a colonial force of coust battleship compered to a Battle fleet of scandinavians?
Not much.His army was weak and undisciplined.
He did not trust them.
Scandinavians were comming to put him in his place.
He had one other option,he can run to Gran Columbia for help.
That will lead to a civil war inside cuba.Will intern will lead to his quick and painfull death.
"Governor?"
His admiral toke him out of his thought.
"What is it"
"What do we do?"
"We let them enter oure ports we give them the land that the king promised us and we hope that oure tardines in carring out the kings order will not be view as a crime"
"Soo what Cuba will turn communist?"
"Yes It will and call me Comrade Batista ,Comrade"
"Yes Comrade"
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jul 10 2006, 04:12 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Siege of Geurnica

In front of a small house a women was waiting for there son to return the war was far from over but for her son it was he lost his leg.
She breated him with all the joy that her small frame was able to hold.
Her child was comming home too her the though that her other son was still out there was forgoten the instant she saw the boy that left her so meny mounght ago.She hug him.But the fact that his face was not that of a boy that left her so meny mounght ago but a men a men that sean the horrors.
He did not return her hug.He started speaking, telling a story like it was not his own but some some scary book he read.He used pass tense as if all was over like everything was done like this civil war ended the minut he lost his leg, to him it was she thought to herself, but as he continued his story she started to think like he belived that what was over was his wery life.

"The road was filled with wagons and men as far as the eye can see.Forces that the communist have gathered were slowly making there way towards the besieged city.

Force that will likly swing the balance of power towards the Communists.
The plan was simple bleed the rebels around Geurnica.Bleed them dry.
The only thing that the rebels were unable to go was take damage.
The cruel and simple fact of the matter was that for all there money they did not have public sopport behind them.Yes they had loyal followers of the cose but there were never able to gather enought people to offset the number that the communist had.

In rebel ranks and trenches were dreamers, young noblemen that were simply told to go by there fathers soligers of fortune and opportunist of every kind.
Communist ranks were people that were told that they are figthing for there freedom.
'Freedom' that simple word fueled the hearts and minds of men and women.Some may say that those countlest masses were fighting for a word.

This war was of the brutal kind,as if there is any other,this war had now laws no one taked prisoner.The communist were proud to call them selfs communist,to the rebels that wery world was spoken like venon like this single word hold every single curse in it self.The rebels coled them selfs loyalists.
They belived they were loyal too what they knew,and in a way they were.

But that's not what I want to tell.What I want to tell is the story of two brothers two young men that belived with all there hearts in what they did.I want to tell how those two men found there self in battle."
He stoped and sit down.The women know now that her other son was dead.

To be continued...


OOC:I suck at this.
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jul 11 2006, 08:27 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Leon contiued his story he did noy looked at him mother but knew that her face was a mask of horror.

"They run guns blazing charging the rebel positions.They were relentless no mercy was given and non recived.
They run inside the outer city it was another pointless scirmish the groung captured or defended that day will have no inpact on the battle, bullet were flying from every window.
The young communist run inside a building.Inside there was a man little older that himself with a revolver in hand. The man was wering the Loyalist uniform he turn towards the boy pointed his gun and pulled a trigger but the bullet didnt came,either a missfire or the drum was empty.The boy pointed his astra and pulled the trigger his rifle was loaded.All of this have happend in a time span of one second.That one second was long enought for bought the man and the boy to recognised each other face's.Face's that they know for as long as they rememberd .Rememberd from home from there coutlest argument, from looking up the dinner table from fishing trips from working in the field. They were brother.
Now the younger boy that in this space of a 1 second age 10 years, was looking at his brother dieing eye's.He looked and fired another shoot that went thru his brothers forehead.The communist uther a single sentence"It not a civil war untill a brother dosnt kill a brother".With that he walked away to fight on in for this pointless speck of land.The siege of geurnica will always be just a side note in a history text book."

The man was sillent now his mother.Was looking at him like he was a monster she backed away.The boy knew that he no longer had a family.Then she sead something that he did not expected.There was no malice in her words no accusation.

"I losted a hasband a son. I only hope that my hearth will not reject another.
I may think of you as a monster but you are all that I have left.I will not forgive you but I will try to forget."

They bought sit on a bench for hours.


OOC:Story of two brother.
   
Top
pioTreq    
Posted: Jul 11 2006, 05:05 PM


Head of State
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 38
Member No.: 68
Joined: 13-April 06



   
"So there I am waiting at the >>gates of hell<<..." thought admiral Bjoernstrom looking by his spyglass.
"Why am I eved doing this?! I could be laying down in my hammock in my sweet home Alaba.."
His thoughts was suddenty stopped by the noise of door banging.
It was warrant officer Vicker.
"Sir,we recieved a telegram,sir!" shouted Vicker.
"Give it to me" shouted Bjoernstrom olso.

ADMINRAL BJOERNSTROM *STOP* WAIT FOR MY ORDERS *STOP* MUST CONSULT WITH SPAIN FORCES *STOP* WAIT FOR FURTHER ORDERS

"Geeek...this jerk...here something new for me...>>wait for further orders<<...WHAT AM I DOING NOW??!!" shouted pissed admiral.
"Sir,is anything wrong,sir?" asked Vicker.
"No no,everything is ok.Tell everybody that they may sleep well this night" replied admiral.
"Sir,yes,sir!" shouted happy Vicker
"And from now you may feel yourself as a officer"
"Sir,thank You,sir!!!" shouted suprised officer.
"And do not call me >>Sir<<,understood? From this day call me >>Comrade<<. Better get use to it." said proudly Bjoernstrom and returned to his observations...
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jul 11 2006, 05:19 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
Telegram form People's Empire to Baltic leugue Naval command.
QUOTE
Procide to enter the harbour of Havana*STOP*No rebel activity in cuba*STOP*may procide as per treaty and upload supplys and establish base in Guantanamo Bey
   
Top
pioTreq    
Posted: Jul 11 2006, 05:42 PM


Head of State
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 38
Member No.: 68
Joined: 13-April 06



   
"FINALLY!!" admiral had a sigh of relief.
Massive crowds of unpleased Cubans "welcomed" BL fleet.They were throwing egs at the ships.
"Boys,this is yours home now.But take all the weapons with you.I think that we will need that.." stated admiral to the crew of Vasa,Visa and Koenigg.
   
Top
The Rock Doctor    
Posted: Jul 11 2006, 08:21 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 463
Member No.: 57
Joined: 4-January 06



   
OOC:

So the elites of the Baltic League are happy to give away their status and wealth, and the people of the Baltic League have been so inspired by the slaughter in Spain that they want to give communism a try too?

   
Top
Ithekro    
Posted: Jul 11 2006, 08:56 PM


King of Rohan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 2,111
Member No.: 29
Joined: 7-February 05



   
Rohan thinks not, but then Rohan is weird in being a monarchy/near federation type thing. (Federation being loosely Iroquios based in this case).

Communism and Socialism have not appeal to Rohirrim and Gondorians.

Besides, there appears to be nothing civil about this war between Spaniards.
   

[Borys]

Top
Maddox    
Posted: Jul 11 2006, 11:45 PM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Sim Moderator
Posts: 1,160
Member No.: 43
Joined: 6-March 05



   
OOC,
I am not pleased by the happenings how the Baltics and Spain are going together in a large scale "revolution" towards communisme.

If we look to the real life example Russia, the whole afair is very different.

But for now, no "external" countries are "hurt" directly, but a possible storyline about a struggle for the control over Cuba is in effect, cut short.

Marek, Piotreq. Especialy Piotreq, be more logical.
People with power will not reliquish that power easely or without a struggle. Or there must be a deeper reason. Like gaining more power for those with power.

and Piotreq... I didn't see any quarter report....
   
Top
Ithekro    
Posted: Jul 12 2006, 12:11 AM


King of Rohan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 2,111
Member No.: 29
Joined: 7-February 05



   
OOC:

Going from my rather western based history, I don't recall communist revolutions that start at the top and work down. Most start in the middle and work down and then topple the top to put the middle on the top with the bottom impressed that they are equal to the new top. That works in theory, but at least in a European based mentality, not in practise. In Asian thinking communism might work due to the community minded society over the individual minded European thought pattern. (The village being the base unit in China if I recall where the individual or family is the base unit in Europe.)

If I recall my turn of the century history, anarchy was the primary movement. No state would support that as it would mean they would loose all to the rabble which in turn would form an inherently unstable system (local democracy at best, fiefdoms at worst).

Marxism was growing, but it was based more on Unions and intellectuals than on kings and politicians...especially kings. The worst enemy of an absolute monarch is marxism and anarchy...rule of the people. Democracy and republics are bad enough, but those can be controlled into a constitutional monarchy, and thus keep the royality in power somewhat.

I don't know how things are or were taught or felt in the Eastern Bloc nations. So my views could be totally wrong as the West was taught the "evils" of communism up until the fall of Soviet Russia. I have of course run into younger people who have no concept of that since they didn't start getting really heavy into history and politics in school until after the Soviet Union fell, and thus communism as the enemy is not covered, and thus is not viewed as a big deal, when in fact the commercial aspects of communism verses capitalism are still relevent (though many are attempting to convert the United States to socialism it seems...slowly. There is resistance, but its starting to polarize the nation, and this is dangerous.)
   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Jul 12 2006, 06:30 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
OOC:
Well too me and my family Communist regime was a wasted revolution(well most revolutions are,wars of independents sometimes arent arent)
Communism(socjalizm) is a centaralised monarch with out the actual nobelmen.
Small group is in power and other are just minions,well they are better of that under an emperor/king whatever and the rulers are not that much removed from the people but the real world communism is just an other type of monarch.
Communisms removers the rich and powerfull and replace them with people in charge.
The basic idea is "for all what they need from all what they can give"(translation).
That means that this type of goverment has to give people food and work,and demand from them that they are loyal too know there place in line and not climb above the others.
Communism give people equality by keeping them all at the same level.
Communisms encurege people to better them self by knolege.
People like Bill Gates and Donald Trump will not get rich under communism,people will drive will became engineries scietists artist but they will just be a little higher no the social ladder.
The biggest difrence from capitalism is the absence of a free market.

In the biggest simplicy in communism every body has money every body has a place to live everybody can get highest level of education, but no bady can be a Bill Gates.In communism every body is forced in the life of being just another cog in the machine.

And the mention of 'evil'communism ,half of my family considered(or still is)west as 'evil'
   
Top
The Rock Doctor    
Posted: Jul 12 2006, 08:24 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 463
Member No.: 57
Joined: 4-January 06



   
Cartagena

"Now what?", President Alizandro asked.

Nobody volunteered an immediate answer, so Torres cannily offered to read the message again. With a nod from the president, he read, "Baltic League fleet docked in Havana. Governor acknowledged validity of PESN government. Considerable public unrest and displeasure directed at League. Have agents on the streets but require further instructions."

As Torres had expected, the President then looked round the table at everybody but himself. "Well?"

Ricardo spat, "Batista's a coward."

"It could be that he's doing what he thinks is right for Cuba", Torres suggested.

"Oh, please", Ricardo said sarcastically. "Do the Cubans sound like they're clamoring for this communism crap? Batista is - was - as die-hard a capitalist as any man here in this room, and he ruled Cuba like it was his own kingdom. Now he's willing to throw away everything he's worked for without even firing a single shot? He's a coward."

Agriculture Minister Esclanate addressed Ricardo. "So the Armada will now liberate Cuba by itself?"

"F**k that", Ricardo growled. "My admirals had workable plans laid out, and the window for executing them has closed."

"We'll look weak by doing nothing", Industry Minister de Soto pointed out.

"We are weak", snapped the defence minister. "This f**king canal of yours has been sucking us dry since I can remember, and it still isn't ready when we need it most. Instead of the sixteen ships I ought to have, I've got eleven - one of them still sporting its ACM rig, one of them at a f**king wedding up north, and four others rounding the Horn in an effort to get here by the end of July. But even with the seven I have, I could accomplish something if only Eduard here could make any kind of progress and give me an ally to work with."

"I can't help that the French are pre-occupied with internal matters", Torres replied with disdain, "Nor can I change the fact that the Rohirrim are masterfully cryptic. At any rate, Ricardo, there's more to diplomacy than asking a girl to a dance."

"We should offer refuge to our friends at least", noted Minister de Soto. "Help them get their capital out, if we can."

"I'm not risking my fleet to save your friends' hides", Ricardo retorted.

With the table poised to erupt into chaos, the Mouse cleared his throat. "Gentlemen? With all due respect, we are losing sight of the big picture, which is the fate of Cuba. Now, I will be the first to concede that our intelligence on both Batista and the mood of the public would seem to be flawed. We thought the masses would favor communism and the elite would resist it, yet the reverse seems to be the case. This isn't an ideal situation, but we can use it."

"How?", asked the President.

"The mood in Havana seems to be tense; our people there should attempt to trigger incidents that will put the League and the Cubans at each other's throats."

"Should we put out a hit on Batista?", came a rare question from Security Minister Rey Alizandro.

"I think not", the Mouse answered. "Better to have Batista in place than some crony selected by Juan and the League. I was thinking more along the lines of inserting agitators into protests and turning them violent, abducting and killing lone League seamen, sabotaging League ships, that sort of thing."

"How would they sabotage warships? Mines?", asked Escalante.

"Nothing so dramatic. Things that can be attributed to the locals - fouling the screws with cable or chain, supplying contaminated food or water, et cetera."

"That I will authorize", said the President, "But do it carefully. In the meantime, let's ensure we're still getting lots of supplies to our friends in Spain via Portugal. Send word that we'll take in refugees for the right price. And brother, make sure those ships are making their best speed towards home."

15 June: Off Cape Horn

Gale-force winds and towering waves notwithstanding, Captain Ramon Bolivar was still driven to fury by the sight of a young seamen throw up in the midst of the bridge. "You clean that up this instant, damn your eyes!", he shouted. The boy flinched and staggered for the nearest hatch out of the confined space. "Open the scuttles so we can get some clean air in here", Bolivar added.

What a god-awful time to round the Horn, he thought. Worst storm in years. Good thing we left the cruisers back home, they'd have a hell of a time with this.

It was no picnic for the larger Gran Colombian ships that had started the trek, either. Frigid water was constantly coming aboard through the casemates and over the bow, ice was building up everywhere, and a couple of boats and a petty officer had disappeared over the side several hours earlier. Bolivar hadn't bothered to mount a search; the man would be dead from exposure or drowning in minutes, and in the fading light of this winter afternoon, the Insolento would likely never have found his body anyway.

He could only assume that conditions were equally poor ahead on the flagship, Valiente, and aft on Sentinela and Guardia. Visibility was spotty enough to make signalling difficult at best, so it was far more likely that he'd only learn the extent of their tribulations during a staff meeting in some port somewhere along the southwestern USA.

Still, it'd be over eventually, and on to the warmer, brighter waters of Gran Colombia's Caribbean coast - and whatever awaited them there.
   
Top
P3D    
Posted: Aug 16 2006, 07:22 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
Porto, Portugal, October 18, 1902

The light of the early morning was barely visible through the rainclouds water over the harbour. A smaller crowd was converging before the shipyards, workers arriving early for work. However, a small group was already at the entrance gates, armed with pipes, wrenches and cudgels, blocking the way from those who wanted to enter. Four guards in uniform stood inside the gate, armed with a rifle, was eyeing the crowd warily. Suddenly a man stepped ahead from the picket line, put a box on the ground and stepped up on it.
'Comrades! Yesterday our Trade Union had learned that the management of the yard will fire almost a quarter of the current workers! They were doing it for years! Sending people away after one year of work, firing them when there's no building going on, then hiring them again, three months later for a beginner's wages. Most of us are tired of this practice. Can we tolerate this any longer?'
'No!' someone paying attention to the crowd could have noticed that the shouts were coming from a few people dispersed among the crowd.
'The management is getting rich on our work, living in their nice palaces, taking our daughters as lovers, because honest people has no means to support a family. Should it go on like this forever?' his voice filled the street, his eagerness made the audience forget the chill of the winter morning.
'No!' this time others had joined the shouting.
'We have to defend our rights, we should not let them exploit us!'
The crowd kept growing.
'Now we shall take the factory, so the director could not get people to break our strike!'
One of the guards, shaking with fear, raised his rifle and fired at the speaker, hitting him on the shoulder. His target fell down from the force of the shot.
The workers, seeing their fallen comrade, turned towards the gate silently. The guard stood there, smoking gun held in hand. His fellows stared at him.
Someone cried out, and the mob started to run towards them.

approved by Maddox
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Aug 18 2006, 04:38 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,237
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Somewhere in Spain ...

- "Hauptman! Hauptman!"
- "Report, wachtmeister Browarov!"
- "Some of the prisoners have rosarius on them!"
Hauptman Hans Kloss pondered the issue.
- "Shoot the godless ones. Those with rosarius's and crosses - if any have them - keep under guard. I will decide about them later."

approved by Maddox.

[Borys]

P3D     
Posted: Aug 19 2006, 03:27 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
Lisbon Herald, October 23, 1902

QUOTE

The 5-day standoff between the yard workers on strike and the authorities in Porto ended yesterday after the authorities entered the yard. Military units, eager to be done before the coming Christmas, stormed the shipyard on the morning of the 22nd. After a brief firefight, the shipyard was secured and the three guards held hostage were freed. More than two hundred strikers, including their leaders, were arrested, and 20 of them were killed. The military lost 6 men and has 20 wounded. To our inquiriy, if this incident has connection to the civil war ravaging Spain, the authoritiies gave no answer.


Lisbon Herald, November 25, 1903

QUOTE

Listening to the plea of the Patriarch of Lisbon, His Excellency Jose Senastiao Neto, King Carlos I gave amnesty to the participants of the Porto strike, after a speedy trial. Twenty-five person, identified as gang-leaders and organizers of the strike, who were facing execution and over 15 years of forced labor, also got clemency. They will have to serve 5 to 25 years of forced labor in Portuguese West Africa.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Aug 27 2006, 04:20 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Early December 1902, rebel held south of Spain

The first units of the fourth of the Austrian-organized Freedom Legions had arrived. Miguel Jose Azukkierrada, the representative of Baron Gradela, had been sent to size them up, to make acquaintance with its commander. That way those temporarily useful, but potentialy very troublesome foreigners became a better known quality, a more predictable piece on the board of the Spanish civil war.

Rains had made the roads bad and the trains run late (not that they ran very regurarly, with the war on), so he arrived after the first foreigners had already disembarked.

At the station he hired a coach to take him to the hotel. On the way they had to stop, to make way for a marching column of the volunteers. What he saw initially made him puzzled, then incredilous, finaly mouth agape with surprise and shock. After the troops had passed and made the way clear, he hissed - "To the telegraph! The fastest possible!"

Trembling inside with tension over all the implications of what he had seen, he ran over in his mind the sights and sounds he had just witnessed, well aware that some had not been seen or heard in public in Spain for more than twenty five years. Some he remembered from his childhood in the far north.
The blood red Basque berets Beretworn instead of the shakos of previous legions ...
The music they marched to
March ...
And to crown it all, the bare-all banner Standard ...

The Habsburgs supporting the cause of Carlismo
Carlistswas something his current employer MUST be told about.
And not only him ...

Speeding to the post office, he hummed the march, the words he had last heard almost 30 years ago coming back to him:

Gora Jainko maite maitea
zagun denon jabe.
Gora Espania ta Euskalerria
ta bidezko errege.
Maite degu Euskalerria,
maite bere Fuero zarrak,
asmo ontara jarriz daude
beti karlista indarrak.
Gora Jaingoiko illezkor!!!
Gora euskalduna,
auto ondo Espaniako
errege bera duna!!!

Lyrics
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 3 2006, 10:08 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Mid January 1903, Spain, the Valencia region

- "Damn cold" - shuddered Haupman Hans Kloss. He was riding his horse in the sleet from one outpost to another, to keep the men on their toes. Good weather to launch an unexpcted attack, said the Oberst. And made it clear that he was to check on his battalion in person.
Things had changed for the better lately. Hans recalled the first months - the locals ranged from hostile to grudging approval of their role. Although some cases of gratitude were indeed noted - in the towns taken from the reds, mostly. The spectrum had now broadened to include enthusiasts - if the shouts of "Viva rey Carlos" and "Viva Fueros!" and "Viva Valencia!" were actually for THEM. Some spat in the dust at the very sight of them - nothing new, others pointed at their red berets and cheered.
That December declaration, that not only they were fighting AGAINST the reds, but FOR a king Carlos, had brought about all those changes. During their drive up the coast towards the mouth of the Ebro the locals now sometimes volunteered to serve as guides, even warn of reds' ambushes.
And they were now building up a Spanish army of their own. Some White units moved to them wholesale. Deserters came from others. Men who had previously not taken sides were coming to them. And - this baffled Kloss to no end - a trickle of Reds was coming expressly to them and the units they were raising, saying they want to fight for "Rey Carlos" - he knew who he was, but could not understand the change of heart, and for "los fueros" - whatever that was.
- "I guess I'll never understand Spain ... " - he shrugged and continued his wet and cold journey along the line.

*************
OOC
I'm making the assumption that part of the Reds were fighting not so much for socialism, but for greater freedom of their province from Madrid. To regain old rights taken away from the regions, "Los fueros" were ancient provincial charters which give the provinces these various privildges. Restoring local autonomy was on the Carlist agends, so I see such men switching sides. If Im off the bat, please say so, I'll alter the story.
   
Top
P3D    
Posted: Sep 4 2006, 10:57 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
November 30, 1903, in the afternoon
Lisbon

"The decadence of this corrupt monarchy is apparent. The strike in Porto a month ago was not very well organized, but it managed to show the incompetence of the regime" a figure stood before the wall, agitatedly speaking to his audience, who were sitting and staning around him on the benches in the dark cellar-room. The majority in the room was working-class males, some of them armed with pistols, club and iron water pipes, which were laid down on the floor now. A huge, hand-drawn map of Portugal was hanging from the wall, on a wooden backing. Counters, forming blue crowns, red stars and black circles were pinned on the map.
"With the help of our comrades in Spain, we managed to organize such a widespread revolution that the government would be uncapable to handle. The secret police suspects that we are up to something, but they believe we would act only two weeks from today, and have no idea about the extent of our activities. The fact that half of their agents are stationed in Porto, to spy on the just released dock workers only made our job easier."
Chuckles around the room.
"Comrade Comissar Corderio" asked a voice from the corner, "what will we do about the military?"
"Thanks to the government's mismanageemnt in the last few years, we managed to get support from within the military. While our agent managed infiltrated the ranks of the Navy, we can be pretty sure that there would military units who would join our cause. Like Coronel Castro of the 2rd military district, thanks to our charming Ines."
The named girl, sitting in the second row, turned red under the attention.
"So many of you asked, why this day? A freight train, destined to deliver arms supplies to the Carlists, rifles from various reactionary donors, uniforms and ammunition, is leaving Porto this night. We have a strong base amongst the agrarian-proletariat in the region. The train will ambushed, on its way, the guards taken down, and we will have sufficient weaponst to equip a few regiments. The machininst and the loader are two of our movement"
Some of those who had not yet known about it, started talking excitedly, in low voice.
"Our first move is to seize the telegraph stations, storm the constabularies and the royal palace. With the confusion, about half of the military would at least stay put in the barracks, waiting for the outcome. The absence of the corps that was transferred to Africa to guard against the Zulus and the Oranges might turn out to be crucial."
"So comrades, let's rehearse the script once more , then get the job done. Avante, comrades!"
"Avante" echoed the room.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 5 2006, 02:14 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
OOO
Ahoj!
How does N-verse Spanish Marrocco look like?
Borys
   

[Borys]

Top
Maddox    
Posted: Sep 5 2006, 05:17 AM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Sim Moderator
Posts: 1,160
Member No.: 43
Joined: 6-March 05



   
Like the OTL North African area's in that age, with enclaves of Spanish citizens, mainly traders and hennep growers. Good ropes, and a bit of fun for free.

The enclaves are protected by small garizons.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 5 2006, 05:56 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
OOC
Ahoj!
If your idea of free fun is having Berbers skate down the slopes on your still steaming entrails, then I'm not going vacationing with you .... smile.gif
The mind boggles of what you might like as Apres Ski entertainment ...
biggrin.gif

So the coastal enclaves - by land cut off from one another by murderous goatherders - are Red/Loyalist?

Borys
   
Top
P3D    
Posted: Sep 5 2006, 08:32 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
Lisbon, November 31, 1903, early morning
Embassy to the Repblic of Orange

Corporal Kapolcsy did not like the guard duty this day. A rare Northwestern wind swept cold and wet ocean air into the capital. At least it wasn't raining. Dawn was still an hour away. The sounds of the waking city drifted in his direction, the clinking of trams, whistling of ships in the harbor and the noise of early trains. A sporadic, cracking sound like a gunfire mixed well into this.
Gunfire?
As if to assure him, a volley was fired nearby. He stepped out from his booth, and looked out through the fence of the embassy, rifle ready in his hands. He saw running figures, far down the street, towards a constabulary in that direction. Deciding it's time to wake up the sergeant, he hurried to the Embassy building.

Later the day...

Armed groups of civilians, distinquished by a red headband, were patrolling the street before the embassy, shouting 'Long live the Revolution!' all around. Most of the local staff chose - wisely - to stay at home. A Portuguese speaking Corvette-Lieutenant managed to get some situation report from them - the reliability of that information was questionable, although its bias was not. The Socialists - or the Communists, depending on which band was questioned - attempted to stage a coup. The outcome was uncertain, but the insurgents managed to take over the War Ministry and the neighboring Naval Arsenal. The royal palace was stormed, but resistance there was still holding out. The King and his family left the city the day before for their residence in Sintra, thus was spared from any retribution. On a few vessels, sailors refused to follow orders shelling the city; others did not, and the War Ministry was in ruins by now. Some military regiments supported the revolt, others remained royal, and were reported to regroup outside the capital. Coastal guns on the northern side of the Tejo were seized. The naval base to the south remained royal, but the crew of several ships defected. The socialists were apparently keeping the situation in hand, nevertheless, the guard was strengthened, much to the dismay of Corporal Kapolcsy and the others.


Note on the Portuguese Navy:
By http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/portuguese_navy.htm,

Portuguese navy IRL had 5 modern second-class cruisers, 1 destroyer, 3 torpedo boats, 12 gunboats, 2 river gunboats, 3 sloops, one old (1875) battleship and one submarine. With no UK to defend her as in IRL (or a relatively weaker Essaylean Empire and France in her stead), I'd guess the navy might be a bit larger - but a construction program program that might have resulted in the current bad economic situation.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 6 2006, 03:53 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
February the 1st, Vienna
Shonbrun Palace, Ballplatz and Kriegsministerium

Is there no end of this Kanker?


The Austrian Empire is sending some vessels and troops to ensure safety of Austrian Subjects and and the Portuguese Royal Family.


The Kleiner Kreuzer SMS Kaiserin Josphine has been dispatched from Spanish waters to Lisbon.
It should arrive at the mouth of the Tagus at dawn of the 2nd of February.

The 2nd Panzerkreuzer Division - SMS Innsbruck and SMS Kronstad, with an Ersatz Infanterie Battalion* have also been dispatched - from Malta to Lisbon. This force should arrive around noon of the 3rd of February.

The 50 IR** is being embarked at Kotor. It has just arrived from Aden and has fresh experience in urban fighting. Unfortunately, the ferocious Szekley will not arrive before the 8th.


* The Ersatz Infanterie Battalion is composed of volunteers from the Stellung Korps Malta - a unit of good morale, but hastily assembled, thus of moderate quality

** - aka "The Impalers"; Understrenght, will be reorganized into three battalions during the voyage
   
Top
P3D    
Posted: Sep 6 2006, 05:28 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
Portuguese West Africa, December 22 1903
West of Nova Lisboa

Shouting from the guards Goncalvo Alves e Silva looked up from under the weight pressing his left shoulder. After being shot in the Porto strike, and arrested by the police, he was waiting for the gallows when the clemency changed that sentence to forced labor in Angola. The colony was used by the governments as a perfect destination to dump his fellow socialists, criminals and other political undesirables. For most of them, it was a forced excile, he was amongst te unfortunate who had to work on the planned Benguela-Katanga railway. The guards cheerfully informed them that the average life expectancy on the workers was less than three years. He only managed the three weeks long journey in the cramped hell of the prison ship being wounded, and taken care of for some morbid reasons, so he would die during the railway construction and not on the ship itself. His shoulder hasn't healed yet, and he already resigned to the thought that it won't heal properly. Fortunately there were seven strikers in his group, and keeping together they managed to fend off their fellow prisoners - mostly murderers, rapists, and armed robbers. Thanks to (yet again) his injury, the only work he could do was to deliver water, and help lifting rails with one hand.
The track was going across the coastal plateau, meandering along the valleys between the hills. The rainy season welcomed them with the almost daily downpours, reducing the clothing into rags in a week. The dozen or so guards, keeping an eye on the hundred worker were also serving penal duty due to some offense in their units. They were not interested in the advancement of the construction at all, they played the tyrant over the prisoners only to chase away their boredom. Nonetheless, the prisoners on the bad end of the baton did not appreciate it. Even the single engineer overseeing the work was resigned to the lackluster building speed. A few hundred meters each day at most.

A ragged band of people was descending from the hill slopes towards the site, and caused confusion among the guards. The prisoners welcomed this respite, and with a clockwork precision stopped working immediately. One of the guards hit the closest recalcitrant prisoner with the baton, but had to stop the beating as the sergeant was shouting orders regarding the group coming towards them. As they approached, numbering around fifty, it was apparent that they were armed, some with rifles, some with only weapons improvised from farming tools. One of the soldiers fired a warning shot in the air, and all the hell break loose. The other group returned the fire, and both side scattered behind the rocks for cover, a few of them falling on the ground from wounds. Goncalvo, sensing that no one was looking after him at the moment, picked a rock from the ground, and threw it with all the force he could muster, with his healthy hand. It only hit one of the guards in the back, but all the prisoners took the signal, and fell on their captors. Even in fetters, they managed to overwhelm two of them, and with the distraction they provided, with the death of five prisoners and four of the attackers the battle was over in a short time.

'Camarade Alves, welcome to freedom!' he was hailed by the leader of their liberators, a Portuguese in his late forties, whose face was somehow familiar.
'Camarade Estevao Correia?' recognizing the socialist trade union leader, who was exiled five years ago. 'The garrison is only an hour walk from here, I think we should escape as fast as we can.'
'Things happened in the four weeks since your arrest. A revolution broke out in Lisbon three weeks ago, the King fled the capital, and several regiments joined our cause. Peasants started arming themselves, and waylaid a train delivering arms and other supplies to the royalists in Spain.'
Goncalvo could not believe this, but apparently it was not a dream.
'And what is the situation here in Angola?'
'No one is sure right now, it is like a powder keg. There were rumors that General Esparteiro, who arrived with his division half a year ago, was appointed to his post as the King did not trust him, but due to the general's political influence he could not be removed. And he is not getting well along with the governor, who can rely on the colonial troops. The oppressed native tribes were also restless, and they have no love for Governor Santos either. We were informed that the new prisoners were taken to the construction here. Imagine the blow to the royalists, you managed to hold out for a week in Porto, and you are freed within a week from arriving in Angola.'
'I see that half of your troops are locals, too'
'They are actually of mixed blood, from Benguela and Lobito. We are liberating the prisoners working on the railway, then we will take the camp you were living at.'
'Do you think we can win? Honestly, I don't think there's too much support for the case of the proletariat here.'
'The reactionaries might succeed against us, but this is the opportunity for our lifetime. I am not sure Portugal will have another in twenty years. And the more troops we manage to hold here, the less the King can take to Portugal, where the struggle will be decided.'
' Not if I'd trust most of my fellow prisoners, they are thugs, rapists and murderers, but I have no doubt they'd prefer to join our cause than handed back to the authorities. Let's head to the next construction group and continue the job where you left it.'
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 7 2006, 01:37 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Somewhere in Spain, February the 2nd 1903

Hauptman Kloss thought about what Major Stirlitz had passed on to him. Cables to the HQ had said that a communist revolt had broken out in Portugal. Unbelievable. Don't people read newspapers? He thought of what he had seen in towns thet had freed from the "loyalists". And of what he had been told about. Truely they were on the Ramparts of Civilization, rolling back the Darkness.
- "Shoot the latest lot of reds we caught. All."
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 7 2006, 04:39 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Vienna, February the 2nd 1903

From Imperial Palace
To sovereigns of UKA, Essalieya, the Netherlands, Russia, Italy, Rohan, Middle Kingdom.

Portugal - what will You do?
I'm helping Our fellow King.

Kaiser Stefan
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 7 2006, 06:59 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Kriegsministerium, Vienna, the 2nd of February 1903

To Feldzeugmeister von Szveteney de Nagy-Ohay, Commander of Legiones del Liberdad

Now the madness has spread to Portugal. The War in Spain should be ended the quickest possible.
Make plans for for spring offensive when roads dry.
Consult with King Carlos the following framework:
a/ - concentration in Valencia region;
b/ - attack over and up the Ebro river;
c/ - liberation of Calatunya;
d/ - pursuit into Navarra, with subsequent liberation of Navarra and Pays Vasco;
e/ - after arming Carlist supporters, attack at Madrid;
f/ - after coronation either return to Austria, or - Heaven Forbid - move into Portugal

Advise requested on d/ - whether naval operations in Gulf of Biscay and landings necessary.
Disclose to King Carlos that large numbers of Werndle rifles can be made available to his forces - we do not have enough modern rifles ourselves.

If necessary one or two regular corps can be made available for either b/ or d/ or e/
Kaiser Stefan


   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 12:11 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
OOC
What will the Kaiserin Jospehine see in the morning mists of 2nd February?
Who'll be doing the narration - P3D or Maddox?

The orders the Kapleu (kapitanleutnant) Schlachtiger has:
- approach Lisbon with maximum caution
- establish contact with royalists - should be waving white-blue flags
- learn of fate of Royal family, if necessary assist - this is primary objective
- at own discretion fire at reds - red-green flag also bad


In OTL Sintra at that time was linked by tram/light railway to the sea at Ericeira. And in OTL they were picked up by RN cruiser there.

In Sintra there is a XIXth century "castle", as a cousin of crazy Ludwig of Bavaria was prince-consort, and was as bonkers as his Bavarian cousin. Thus Sintra has two Royal palaces - the old one in the town itself and the new one which looks like from a Disney movie set.

The whole "overhang" of the coast near Lisbon, is connected to it and the rest of Europe by rail. This is the Cascais line.

Piece of trivia - the Paris train did not stop at Lisbon, but went directly to Estoril (next to Cascais). Famous resort, like Biaritz.
There are some forts along this line, in Cascais, Sao Juliao (or was it Joao?) de Barra, something above Alges and Belem, but of XVIIIth century appearance. Some sort of low quality, defective artillery piece can thus be expected every 6 kilometers from Cascais up to Belem (in Lisbon). I've seen these forts (still manned) in the 80s, but the guns looked circa WWII vintage.

The road connections between Sintra and towns on the Cascais line are bad. No rail between the two.


ADDED LATER:
And it is raining a lot. Lisbon gets 1500mm of rain a year (double that of Warsaw, for instance). But practically all falls between October and March - do your math smile.gif

P3D - you could throw in Republicans into the mix, for a three sided party smile.gif

EVEN MORE USELESS INFORMATION:
Building RR for 50 years by then, in 1903 they had NOT yet connected the separate southern (from Lisbon) and Northern (from Porto) networks.

On this page there are links to those forts I mentioned. Seems to be a shitload (uma grande cagaria) of them:
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oeiras_%28Portugal%29

The paint has just dried on these forts - the newest is from 1780
   
Top
P3D    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 01:28 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
The Royal Family were picked up by royalist ships fleeing Lisbon. The coastal guns did not fire on ships as they were uncertain on what side they are. The whole Northern bank of the Tejo fell to the revolters - this, and the fleeing of the king (which seemed as abandonment of Lisbon) prompted most of the neutral military forces near Lisbon to side with the rebels. Including several high-ranking officers (coronels and generals), who, with the organizers of the revolt formed a provisional government. These officers will act as moderators to the communist firebrands, who will later accuse those officers with hijacking the revolution for their own personal advancement. The rebels managed to seize the capital, all the ministries and the national bank, and in a few days they will restore the state apparatus to a (more-or-less) working order. Those units remaining in the naval harbor also joined.

As the rebels seized telegraph stations, the fate of the king is not known. Some claims he abdicated, others that the royal family was killed. Loyalist forces are disorganized, they held Porto, but communist elements fight a guerilla war against them. Following the strike there was a roundup of the socialist elements there, and the police was strengthened by units from the countryside.

The weapons shipment to Spain was seized, so there is a considerable sized peasant militia there, they avoid the military and vice versa.

The largest problem of the military is that 2-3 corps are in Africa. The civil war in Spain resulted in the overview of the mobilization plans, and the new government will start calling up the reserves, before any foreign intervention forces arrive.

December 2
A gunboat picketing before Lisbon will inform the Austrians that the royal family fled, and the provisional government took control of the country, and they'd rather the Austrians would leave (they won't start shooting, though).
The rebels seized the Vasco da Gama battleship and another CDBB (50% increase in the fleet), as they were not ready to leave the naval harbor, and won't be for a couple days. A few TBs and cruisers are around, and the coastal guns (FWIW) are manned.

[Borys]

Borys     
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 02:18 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
OOC
Knowing something about the Portugues fleet, reading about "battleships" and "several cruisers" is fun smile.gif
As I don't know biggrin.gif if my protected cruisers have marconis, I'll pretend that I don't. The Panzerkreuzer will have them.

Off Lisbon, 7AM morning 2nd February 1903, SMS Kaiserin Josphine
Kapleu Schalchtiger pondered his possible courses of action.
There seemed to some rebelious "provisional gov't" in place. They had moved at incredible speed, for what he'd heard about the Portugues in general.
He had learnt that the Royal family was gone, in direction unknown.
However, as he had not noticed any group of warships neither yesterday nor during the night, he decided to scout the coast northwards. Giving the Cabo da Roca wide bearth, he'll make landfall at Ericeira, wave the white-blue flag, and wait for reaction. If none, he'll make his way up the coast. But first ...

- "I demand contact with my embassy."
EDIT: IF POSSIBLE I WOULD CHANGE THE ABOVE TO
- "I wish to contact my embassy."

OOC - he wants to send an NCO with verbal message ABOUT HIS PLANS AND ABOUT TANGIER and meaningless letters to the embassy AS COVER. He knows that "more forces are coming", although he is not aware of their strenght nor possible arrival date. He can only guess - knowing that there is a base at Malta - that they are some 36-72 hours behind him.
An hour after the NCO leaves he will dump any Portugues on board into their boat and say he is in a hurry, and head south west before making a half circle to reach the coast at Ericeira. If he is shadowed, he will ignore them unless they are hostile. He counts on coaling in the North or, in the worst scenario - rebel held ports in Northern Spain.
And you said the Royal family left Lisbon on the 30th for Sintra. The figthing in Lisbon was on the 31st, so the Royal family had to embark 31st evening/1st morning. As PC I do not know that, just being helpful ...
   
Top
P3D    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 02:29 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
They had 6 modernish (~1890) cruisers IRL, and as I am just assuming the Portuguese fleet did purchase a bit more ship than IRL.

I noticed too that in navalism everyone is moving at a very great speed, decisions to react are made next day, and there are no bureaucratic delays at all wink.gif.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 02:33 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Schonbrun Palace, Vienna, the 1st of February, private telegram to Carlos VII

Dear Carlos, please repeat offer of amnesty and high posts to the rebel Junta in return for their ackonweldgement as King.
Stefan
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 02:38 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
OOC
I try to build in delays in troop and ship movements (www.distances.com is a wonder), as well as news trickilng through.
However, being a monarch has its perks - I can ORDER the gov't to do something smile.gif
Borys
   
Top
Earl822    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 02:51 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 619
Member No.: 52
Joined: 30-September 05



   
OOC for distances I use the measuring device on Google Earth, which is fairly accuarate (and can measure in nautical miles)
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 03:10 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Ahoj!
Thank you for the tip about google earth.
Distances.com is limited to sizeable ports (if Al-Hoceima is sizable ... ), and gives you the distance and steaming time at a set speed.

Distance = 3126 Nautical Miles

Time usage = 10 days 20 hours

Departure from NEW BEDFORD
Port Code: USEWB
Country: USA - MASSACHUSETTS
Longitude: 70°55'W
Latitude: 41°38'N
Date: 08-09-2006
Time: 01:00


Arriving to BORDEAUX
Port Code: FRBOD
Country: FRANCE
Longitude: 0°34'W
Latitude: 44°50'N
Date: 18-09-2006
Time: 21:00


I forgot to copy and paste the speed - 12 knots.

Borys
   
Top
Earl822    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 03:41 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 619
Member No.: 52
Joined: 30-September 05



   
I went at 10knots, thus 18 dayd all but.
   
Top
Phoenix    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 07:27 AM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Admin
Posts: 458
Member No.: 54
Joined: 3-October 05



   
QUOTE (P3D @ Sep 8 2006, 02:29 AM)
I noticed too that in navalism everyone is moving at a very great speed, decisions to react are made next day, and there are no bureaucratic delays at all wink.gif.

Trust me, someone is doing it. Someone does has a 3000-year-old bureaucracy which has raised stalling and postponing into a High Art.
   
Top
Ithekro    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 10:27 AM


King of Rohan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 2,111
Member No.: 29
Joined: 7-February 05



   
Rohan tends to delay news by several days due to assumed rate of information transfere. The political machine is not well known and seems to be and odd absolute monarchy/federation mix. It's like all the nations have a say, yet the king has total power, but he is moderated by the various tribal elders way of thinking. It is rather weird.

Rohan's goal in this Civil War is to keep Cuba as it is (loyalist) or independent. Rohan does not believe in the communist ideals, as they seem destructive wherever they go, and no known source of knowledge suggests that the masses can run a country without either royals, intellegent, or affluent people who are knowledgable of the affairs of state rather than the field planting cycles. Neither does Rohan believe that the state should dictate the lives of its peoples to be the same and regulate all their actions, when the local farmer or factory worker will know his own job better than the committee would.
   
Top
P3D    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 11:47 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
The events are mentioned are happening in the first weeks of February, I did not make that clear.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 8 2006, 06:26 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Off Lisbon, 2nd of February
8:30 AM

The SMS Kaiserin Josephine does not wait for the NCO sent to the Embassy with letters. The ship tuns around and steams at 250 degrees - until it clear of the latitude of Cascais. Then it will take make a distant passage around Cabo da Roca - at some 10 miles from shore. At the height of Ericeira a straight on approach to land - aproaches to within 3 cables from shore and raises blue-white flag of Kingdom of Portugal. Waits for reaction 15 minutes.

She waits unless a Portugues cruiser is shelling her smile.gif


The NCO send to embassy is to verbally pass on the news of the Royal Family sailing away (maybe the embassy staff does not know that), of the kommandante's plans - to move up the coast looking for, and for the embassy - if possible - to pass that on.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 9 2006, 02:26 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
OOC
To bring to the board what we've discussed in PMs:
Austria's plans are to support the Royalists (gasp - surprise!); the Habsburg monarchy can give them food and (some) arms, and could blockade Lisbon, allowing the Royalists free reign of the coast. I could direct 1 Linienschiff and 2-3 Panzerkreuzer for that, and part of the fleet still flies the azul-branco flag, not the rubro-verde.

Borys
   
Top
Earl822    
Posted: Sep 9 2006, 03:10 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 619
Member No.: 52
Joined: 30-September 05



   
Sorry this is a bit late


Diplomatic despatch to Austria from Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister of the UKA, 2nd February 1903.

The UKA regrets that it will be unable to assist you in the fight against the communist forces in both Spain & Portugal, but as you are aware, we do unfortunately expect to have more solumn details to attend to.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 11 2006, 02:10 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Ahoj!
If I manage not cause a shooting war with the Republicans and Reds, I will retire my ships on the 9th and 10th February. In the meantime I will drop heavily vieled hints to the Republicans that nobody loves them, that they all will hang sooner than later, that their socks stink, try to hinder their fleet movement and commerce. In short - to be obnoxious and unfriendly, but without getting into a shooting war.
Austria is a bit stretched ...
My ships provide asistance to the Royalist cause - intelligence, radio communications (when the two Panzerkreuzer arrive on the 4th).
I inform the Royalists that if they have POWs they do not have the heart to hang, they can scare them into enlisting on the Auslander Frewilligers, i.e. enlist or die.
And I send the Lienienschiff SMS Kaiser to Alhucema.

Maybe I will do something exiting on the 10th-11th

Borys
   
Top
Earl822    
Posted: Sep 11 2006, 02:40 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 619
Member No.: 52
Joined: 30-September 05



   
The factor that I have announced elsewhere that the 7&8th Infantry divisions are preparing to head for France, and the Invasion fleet has started to move back to Bordeaux to prepare for action.

[Borys]

Sigh TWO PAGES MISSING
Borys     
Posted: Sep 18 2006, 08:57 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
OOC
Dates, please.

ADDED LATER:
As of late February the Linienschiff SMS Kaiser, 4 Panzerkreuzer, 2-3 Kleinerkreuzer, 1 TB flotilla are stationed in south Spanish ports on the Medditerranean. One KK is always on station in the strait of Gibraltar.

Funny how I never posted any standing orders for the fleet smile.gif
Rebel Spanish - neutral
Juanist Spanish - enemy
Baltic League - challange and question, if act suspiciously, attack at own discretion
everybody else - neutral, leave alone
Borys
   
Top
Maddox    
Posted: Sep 18 2006, 10:15 PM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Sim Moderator
Posts: 1,160
Member No.: 43
Joined: 6-March 05



   
Moderator hat on

It's currently 24 february 1903.
The Vinland conference is called by the UKA at 23 february.
France reacted as agreed in the protocols.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 18 2006, 10:27 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
OOC
24th is fine with me. Two or three more Gran Columbia news and we will all be there smile.gif
I have a couple of balls in the air, but nothing exciting at this precise moment. I THINK I still know where everybody is ...
Talks with Camarada Juan seem to have bogged down ...

Borys

Back to Civil War:
Leading elements of Kaiserjaeger and Hoch und Deutschmeister Korps started to disembark at Valencia and other ports of the region.
   
Top
P3D    
Posted: Sep 18 2006, 10:27 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
The date of the Portuguese events were modifed, back by 2 months.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 18 2006, 10:37 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Ahoj!
I am unhappy with the change in dates of the Portugues Troubles. It caused ripples for the Austrians and French. And it would be OOC for me to let the Reds just win - you'd have my fleet blokading Portuguese ports, and me supporting Royalist units. The fall of the Portugues monarchy was in major part due to being bullied by Britain into several treaties concerning Portugues colonies - no such factor here, I think.
   
Top
P3D    
Posted: Sep 18 2006, 10:44 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
I'm not happy either, but I was more-or-less ready for Q2, when everyone decided to start posting events happening in 1902 Q4 and Q1.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 18 2006, 10:55 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Ahoj!
Out of sync with the Force you was, hm?
smile.gif
From my POV I'm reasonably happy how the European side evolved - I'm waiting for the effects of the vague French promises to do something about Portugal.

I also have some things lined up for March/April, but am waiting for others to catch up. You are in a privilidged position that you are for all effects and purposes an island, and do not have to look at what others are doing.

Borys
   
Top
Ithekro    
Posted: Sep 18 2006, 11:11 PM


King of Rohan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 2,111
Member No.: 29
Joined: 7-February 05



   
OOC:

So much is happening and I'm not really involved save for maybe around Cuba (which oddly Rohan probably won't object much over...partly because it gets at Spain, and partly because I kind of suggested a kernel of this idea in the early days of the Spanish-Chinese alliance)and Brazil . The main problems I could see is with the Baltic Fleet, Columbian Fleet, Spanish-Cuban Fleet and Rohan's Fleet in the general area of Cuba, but it would take some provoking or misdirection to get Rohan to fire on one of these forces (more like an international incident more than an act of war). Brazil will be touchy as while Columbia is not known as a friend of Rohan and Rohan would take objection to several internal practices of the Columbian government, the Followers of the Eye and the Anahuac government at large are enemies of both nations...and France has not been helpful in dealing with the Anahuac...every. So while Rohan might let the Columbians got at the Followers of the Eye, Rohan will not be quietly resting next to its horses either. I too have some plans, though most of mine involve actaully finishing my (too great of) number of battleships under construction so I can get back to balancing the fleet and replacing the very old ships in my forces.

So I've taken a wait and see approach until I can think of stuff to do internally plus react to international stories. I'll probably need to give the CSA their second incentive to work of oil fired boilers again (for a later design) while Rohan works on their own steam turbine now that the New Swiss are imploding somewhat. The Red Civil War of Spain will hopefully have little effect on Rohan....or the CSA (talk of socialist there and an election coming)
   
Top
Earl822    
Posted: Sep 19 2006, 10:13 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 619
Member No.: 52
Joined: 30-September 05



   
I'm trying to get ready for Q2, but I need to get a lot done in Q1 to allow that.
   
Top
The Rock Doctor    
Posted: Sep 19 2006, 05:19 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 463
Member No.: 57
Joined: 4-January 06



   
I recognize that I'm behind in the news. Unfortunately, I felt that it would be improper to resolve the Cuban situation until Marek had returned, which only just happened. Now I only need to resolve the presence or absence of Baltic League forces at the island, and I think I could just skip ahead to Q2 with that done.

   
Top
Marek Gutkowski    
Posted: Sep 20 2006, 04:24 AM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
QUOTE
We, Carlos, King of Spain, protest against the siezure of Spanish land by the Republic of Gran Columbia

"Im starting to like that Carlos fellow.He is funny"sead Juan after reading the statement.
"You taking him to lightly he is a treat."sead Diego.
"He is nothing more that a fly buzzing around your head.He is a puppet of the Austians a clown"

OOC:
Form my part Baltic League stays in Cuba In Guantanamo Bay.
They have 99 years lease of that teritory.
   
Top
Maddox    
Posted: Sep 20 2006, 05:10 AM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Sim Moderator
Posts: 1,160
Member No.: 43
Joined: 6-March 05



   
OOC , for my part I need some very backlogged information about the Baltic league, and the some of the PESN before Guantanamo bay can be leased....
   
Top
Ithekro    
Posted: Sep 20 2006, 10:17 AM


King of Rohan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 2,111
Member No.: 29
Joined: 7-February 05



   
OOC:

It is also possible the new land lords will take exception to such a lease and remove the Baltic Fleet from Cuba. This is not to day that will work, nor will happen, since we have at present a United States Naval base in communist Cuba and have for many many years.

All I know is that the Fleet of the Mark has been watching the Baltic's Fleet, since they are not a regular power, a communist/socialist power, and in general an odd group to have in Cuba from Rohan's point of view. Hense news these last quarter or so of the Rohirrim conducting patrols with major fleet units around Cuba.
   
Top
pioTreq    
Posted: Sep 20 2006, 11:35 AM


Head of State
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 38
Member No.: 68
Joined: 13-April 06



   
After all this years of happines and joy it was time to make some sudden moves. Gen.Rocki smoked his last cigar. He knew it will never taste as good as now again. As he saw PESN's fleet, his heart started to beat faster and faster.
"Get me some wine, a whole box of wine!" he shouted
Time to meet my good old friend...
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 20 2006, 12:01 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Ahoj!
Marek, Maddox expects us to simulate a large land battle? Any suggestions on how could we do it?
Borys

[Borys]

Marek Gutkowski     
Posted: Sep 20 2006, 12:08 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 492
Member No.: 58
Joined: 24-January 06



   
QUOTE (Borys @ Sep 20 2006, 06:01 PM)
Ahoj!
Marek, Maddox expects us to simulate a large land battle? Any suggestions on how could we do it?
Borys

@ Borys
Lets continue this discusion via PM
   
Top
pioTreq    
Posted: Sep 20 2006, 12:09 PM


Head of State
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 38
Member No.: 68
Joined: 13-April 06



   
So, in Bergen:
- 2 BBs Type "Syrena";
- 2 BBs Type "Meduza";

- 4 CAs Type "Orlik";
- 4 CAs Type "Iryda";
- 4 CAs Type "Iskra";

- 10 CLs Type "Polonez";
- 10 CLs Type "Viking";
- 10 CLs Type "Koenigsegg";
- 10 CLs Type "Saga";

- 20 CLLs Type "Victoria";
- 20 CLLs Type "Viper";
- 20 CLLs Type "Titan";
- 20 CLLs Type "Base";
- 20 CLLs Type "Tico";

- 30 T-1;
- 30 T-31

are ready for battle...
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 23 2006, 01:33 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Andaluzia, Spain, 5th of March

The Liberty Legion attacked with cries of "Gott mit uns". The first wave was broken up by Juanists' fire and exploding mines. The second wave, for safety stepping on fallen comrades, reached the enemy lines. In this they were assisted by the jammed straigth-pull actions of the Spanish Mannlichers - the HE shells from the slow firing Mobilw Siege 12cm guns had been fired with the express intention of creating a dust cloud.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 24 2006, 08:48 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Valencia, HQ of Legiones del Liberdad, 12th March

Feldzeugmeister von Szveteney de Nagy-Ohay kept leafing through the reports which by now he knew by heart. The attacks in Andaluzia had ran into expected heavy resistance and unexpected numbers of mines. The mines had caused infantry losses to be heavier than expected, and only small gains were made. So fighting was fierce, with certain points passing repeatedly changing hands. Not that it mattered, it was a diversionary effort anyway.
But what worried him was something else - absolutely no reports on any troop movements on the Juanist side ... had they guessed, or through spies determined the direction of the main push? He shuddered at the thought, of what slaughter that would that bring.
Yet he had no pointers as to any security breaches. He signed the final orders launching the Peace Offensive, for which the first shots were to be fired before dawn of the 15th.

   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 24 2006, 09:27 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Spain, North of Valencia, 14th of March, evening

Hauptman Kloss was inspecting his battalion. Yes, his battalion. Volunteering for the Santissima Trinidad Legion was good for his career. And maybe soul too. He was the first of his class to command one in the field, not in map excersises. His superior, Major Stirlitz, took over the regiment (or the Tercio, as their Spanish allies called it) after Oberst Brunner was knifed by a Juanist POW, and freed the battalion post. And tommorrow he will lead his men to battle. As sign of the regimental COs trust in his abilities the regimental standard detail was to accompany him ...
This made him think of the regimental standard - he hummed

Die Fahne hoch! Die Reihen fest geschlossen!
Der Freikorps marschiert mit festem Schritt ... *

a song which was becoming popular among the Liberty Legions. And of the standard bearer in particular. He had met gemeiner Ernst von Schwindler ** ("since when we have privates with von before their surnames?") and thought the man to be bonkers. Frankly, he was a bit surprised that the Fahnrich hadn't been invalided out due to a pronounced limp, with half of his left calf shot away. Seeing his questioning glance, the slightly glassy eyed standard bearer muttered dimmly about "Kaiser's cruelty" and "no heimatschuss for me" *** and "Stefan would order me to carry the banner on a mule" and went back to starring into the distance. Loony - Kloss shrugged - aristocratic privates on first name terms with the Kaiser - whatever next? The Holy Trinity appearing over the battlefield?

He continued his inspection, heading towards the area where the beaten up knife-wielder and his cronies were kept. He was to promise them - sincerily - that they will be given 10 minutes to walk to Juanist lines. During this time they would not be be shot at - at least not by the Austrians. It will be God's will if they steped on a mine or not ...

Human detectors or not, the pioneers had provided his men with prodders (he suspected these to had been barrel clearing ramrods a few days ago) to poke the ground in suspicious places.


* The flag high! The ranks tightly closed! / The Freikorps marches with a firm pace.
** see first post here: linky
*** "homeland shot" a wound which qualified you for treatment "back home"; British equivalent "Blighty wound"
   
Top
pioTreq    
Posted: Sep 26 2006, 04:09 PM


Head of State
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 38
Member No.: 68
Joined: 13-April 06



   
Bergen ,21th March 1903
"What the hell?!" shouted Admiral Jakistamsson from the Barents (BB).
Suddenly, the Rijp and the Heemskerk made a move. As well as 4 CAs. From the begining everybody knew that gen Rocki was a maniac.
"Where they are going..?" thought Jakistamsson.
With their 300 mm guns, they may do a lot of damage. The Heemskerk is a lil old and rusty. But it's seems it's not a big problem for Admiaral Svensson. Probably, his crew wouldn't agree, of course if they had something to say. And the Rijp isn't doing better. His 100 mm guns are jamming all the time. They rather send the Barents or even the Hornsund. Technically they are in perfect disposal. But only few people knew what Rocki is up to. And these few brave men promised to always faithfully serve their homeland, The Baltic League...
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 27 2006, 05:44 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Spain, North of Valencia, 15th of March, dawn

Hauptman Kloss watched dispassionatly at the Juanist POWs being herded at bayonet point - with some encouragement from rifle butts, up to the front line.
The NCO in charge of them used his best Castillian to explain, pointing at the Royalist Loyalist Communist lines:
- "Raus! Weg! Va! Nicht schiessen! No bum-bum! Zehn minuten! (watch used as explanation guide) Dios minuten! Verstanden - verfluchte kommunistische Schweine?"

***********

- "It sucks to be a peasant" - thought gefreiter Max Heindrich, herding a small flock of sheep towards the frontline.
- "Stupid yokel didn't want to give up his sheep, but his wife and daughter, even if on the young side, made the section's trip to the rear worthwhile ... "

************

- "It sucks to be a peasant" - thought gefreiter Karl-Heinz Farforini, herding a small flock of sheep towards the frontline.
Even though he knew they had overpaid for the sheep, he still felt bad about it. He personally would have let the dogs out on somebody who offered to buy his sheep for mine clearing.

*************

- Gott mit uns!
- Tirol! Tirol!
- Por Dios! Por Rey!
- Beee! Beee!

The spring offensive has begun ...

   
Top
The Rock Doctor    
Posted: Sep 27 2006, 12:21 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 463
Member No.: 57
Joined: 4-January 06



   
Valencia - March 15 - A Few Minutes Later

She'd always been bossy, ever since she'd started walking in a pasture not too far away six years ago. The old biped had laughed at her antics as a lamb and often vocalized, "My little Iron Maiden" when it looked at her. It probably did not surprise the biped that she took over the alpha position in the flock by the time she was a year old, and that she had retained the position for the last five years.

So when the younger bipeds had come yesterday and given the old biped some shiny, round metallic things, it was she that had a rope tied around her neck. She didn't let them have an easy time of it, but she allowed the younger bipeds to lead her away from home, the rest of the flock dutifully following, as the old biped watched with fluid leaking out of its eyes.

They'd been driven out of the hills, well away from the lush pasture, the old biped, and its well-trained barking assistant, and towards a stinky, battered, wasted expanse populated mainly by bipeds living, dead, and in-between. The smells were awful, the foraging poor - not that the new bipeds were letting her stop to do any useful amount of grazing. The noises - peculiar high-pitched biped sounds, sharp bangs, loud rumbles - made her uneasy and scared the rest of the flock, though they still dutifully followed.

Perhaps the only one in her flock not bothered by it all was the ram. He'd been tethered away from them since the lambs had been born, and was happy to be back with her and the rest of the ewes, as evidenced by his constant efforts to breed them. He'd only given up when the new bipeds tied her to a stake near their camp, because by then even he was ready to take advantage of the stop and do some eating.

It had been difficult to relax through the night as the sounds and smells never really ceased, and with the first hint of dawn the young bipeds returned. They exchanged sounds that made little sense to her:

"This isn't right."

"Look, would you rather that one of your mates step on a mine, or one of these dumb animals?"

"Well, the animals, of course."

"Good - now shut up and get them out in position with the rest of them. We're about to step off."

One of the bipeds untied the other end of the rope and led her through a camp to the base of a low ridge, where a long line of bipeds with boomsticks waited. A more ragged line of other sheep munched on grass along the slope. The biped towed her through the line of its counterparts and took the rope off her neck, vocalizing, "I'm sorry - but it will be very quick."

She eyed the bipeds warily and edged up the slope several meters before lowering her head to investigate the plants. The rest of the flock dutifully followed suit; the eating here wasn't too bad.

This lasted for only a short period of time before a strange tinny call echoed around her and the bipeds rose to their feet. They began marching upslope towards her, so she called out, "Blaaah", and led the flock uphill, away from them. She looked back sporadically, and noted that the bipeds were casually chasing her, her flock, and the other sheep up the slope. Some of the lambs were starting to look panicky but they trailed along behind the ewes.

As they reached the top of the ridge, fast-moving insects whizzed past them, accompanied by a crackle from somewhere before her. She heard another odd vocalization from the bipeds, this time from the direction of the crackling: "Save your bullets, comrades, the Carlists are close behind!" Nonetheless, a ewe over to her right fell over, blood spilling from a serious sting.

She led the flock down the other side of the slope, pausing when the ram in the group to her left disappeared in a noisy pink cloud. Thunder rumbled from behind them, and then out ahead of them, dirt, plants and a few bipeds jumped into the air with noisy discharges. She pondered this and decided to turn around and go back the other way. She'd led the flock a few metres back up to the ridgeline when the original bipeds and their boomsticks began to crest it. She twisted around and new noise erupted from the other direction, the fast moving insects zooming past again, one of her own flock's lambs tumbling to the ground.

That settled it; there was danger ahead and behind, but only seven sheep to her left. Bellowing, "BWU-AAAH!" (*), the Iron Maiden bolted in that direction, the flock running after her. Their rapid approach galvanized the alpha of the next group, which turned and fled as well, setting off the next group in turn. The Iron Maiden's flight thus generated a chain reaction as group after flock veered away from the bipeds and joined in the rush of ruminants away from death and danger.

The advancing bipeds watched their minesweeping sheep stampede off the battlefield. As the Iron Maiden passed the end of the biped line, she heard one vocalize, "Stupid sheep! Now we'll have to watch for f**king mines while we charge the Juanist line!"

She was far enough away - the flock dutifully following, of course - that she didn't hear another biped respond, "How does that make the sheep the stupid ones in all this?"



*Loosely translated: "Run to the hills! Run for your lives!"
   

[Borys]

Top
Maddox    
Posted: Sep 27 2006, 12:31 PM


Hegemon
Group Icon

Group: Sim Moderator
Posts: 1,160
Member No.: 43
Joined: 6-March 05



   
OOC

biggrin.gif
Poor bipeds.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 27 2006, 12:56 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Ahoj!
Wonderful!
Borys
   
Top
P3D    
Posted: Sep 27 2006, 01:00 PM


Hegemon
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 669
Member No.: 62
Joined: 27-January 06



   
Why I've got the feeling that the dinner will be mutton stew for both sides?
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 28 2006, 01:57 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
The Spring Offensive

Following diversionary attacks in the western part of the front over the previous ten days, the Austro-Carlist forces attacked on their right on the 15th.

The main thurst was carried out by the Kaiserjaeger. They were chosen for the task due to bring accustomed to mountain conditions, as they were to clear the hills extending on both sides of the Terruel-Zarragoza railroad. One their left was the best Carlist Legion, the Legion Reina Isabel de Espana, and behind them, as reserve, came the Hoch und Detchmeister corps. The Santissima Trinidade legion of Austrian volunteers, on the extreme right of the forces assigned to this operation, pushed up the coast towards the mouth of the Ebro, in the direction of Barcelona. The Dragoons of the Dor de Purificacion legion were in general reserve.

The Juanist forces were initially loath to deply reserves, not sure if this was the main push or not. The heavy losses of the attackers on minefields, various novel or atrocious tactics nothwithstanding, and the ensuing slow advance might have made the Communist Loyalist Royalist command underestimated the threat.

On the 20th, after five days of fighting, the Tirolese had squeezed out the defenders out of the hills. For a moment the link between the Juanist left (holding the Santissima Trinidad legion) and center (versus the KJ) was Broken. Into this gap Feldzeugmeister von Szveteney de Nagy-Ohay decided to unleash the Dragoons. Part of the mounted troops turned left in an attept to roll up the Communist Loyalist Royalist flak, while the rest was to advance towards Zaragoza, with no thought of rear and maintaining communication. They were to live off the land. This early in the season the land still offered enough forage as to allow the Dragoons to pentrate deep into Aragon, up the Ebro valley, causing much confusion in their clashes with Juanist reserves moving towards the main front.

On the main axis of advance the Hungarian aristocrat used his reserve on the 6th day of the operation. These fresh troops, advancing over much less hilly ground, managed to throw back the Juanist defenders - some of which had the Dragoons in their rear. By now the attackers had cleared the minefields and pressed home their attacks with more vigor. On the 23th Terruel fell - although cut off groups fought there for almost a week - and the Austrian main body was well on its way towards the main objective - Zaragoza.

With the roving Dragoons disrupting the rear of the defenders and vigorously attacking the railroad line, the Hoch und Detchmeister relentlessly pushed towards Zaragoza.

To be continued

This post has been edited by Borys on Sep 29 2006, 03:09 PM
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 29 2006, 03:52 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Spring Offensive II

Zaragoza turned out to be the Schwerpunkt of the campaign. The Juanist troops, previously concentrated in the north to subdue tradition and freedom loving Basques, were rushed south. However, the Dragoon raid up the Ebro had served it's purpose - hit and run raids on the railroad impeded further movement south. So the main body of the Reds was detrained at the capital of Aragon, and moved south on foot. They were too late to save their comrades in the south, attrited into oblivion after their retreat from the hills.
The Austro-Carlist troops, slightly fatigued after a fortnight of fighting, clashed with the fresh enemy units. Well matched in bravery, step by step the Juanist ferocity was pushed back by the quality of the two best Austrian corps, so on April the 12th the Cross of Burgundy and two-headed eagle flew over the Nossa Senora del Pilar church in Zaragoza. On the flanks the Santissima Trinidade legion was trying to establish a bridgehead over the still swollen lower Ebro, while on the left the Reina Isabel de Espana Legion were hard pressed at Calatayud. The Carlists' defensive action, worthy of Leonidas at Themopylae, had blocked the railway and impeded any direct movement of reinforcments from Madrid.
The situation for the degenerate lackeys of Juan III looked grim - after the loss of Zaragoza their forces in Catalonia had no contact by rail with other Red held areas, and any supplies to Navarra or the Pays Vasco would have to go the long way around, through Valladolid. But for the moment the offensive power of the Reaction was spent. Nor were the Reds in any shape to launch any offensives.
Both sides making belicose noises were happy to sign the peace preliminaries on the 15th of April.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/europe/spain_rel82.jpg
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 29 2006, 04:09 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Zaragoza, April 16th

- "I hate that treaty, Alfonso", Carlos stated the obvious.
- "I know, I know. I feel the same, brother. This is the undoing of the great deeds of the Reyes Catolicos, of Isabel and Ferdinand almost five hundered years ago. But thirty years ago we didn't get even this. Now we shall be able to restore at least a part of Spain to what Santa Tradicion dictates."
- "What worries me here is my son, Jaime. At times he spouts the same hogwash like that bastard usurper Juan."
- "I share your sentiment. But hopefully by the time he claims the throne the Cortes and the Fueros will be restored to such power, that he won't be able to move against them. I also should still be around as a mitigating influence. And I will ask Robert to either come and live here, or let Chico pass part of the year in Spain - in Aragon-Navarra, that is. I will show the boy what socialism really stands for ...

***************
Carlos and Alfonso are brothers. Alfonso has no children. Jaime is Carlos' son, and is childless. On Jaime's death the Carlist line will die out. The nearest line of Spanish Bourbons is the Borbon-Parma line, headed by the ex-duke Robert. Robert's eldest son is Francis Xavier, who will inherit the Carlist mantle.
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Sep 29 2006, 04:23 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,238
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ccaa-spain.png

Peace preliminaries:
1 - cessation of hostilities;
2 - Navarra, La Rioja, Aragon, Valencia, Catalonia, Baleares, Murcia, Luzon with Mindoro and adjectant islands, Alhucema pass to Carlos VII, to be called Kingdom of Aragon-Navarra;
3 - Juan IIIrd and Carlos VIIth relinquish any claims to the lands of the other;
4 - general amnesty and release of POWs, the population having freedom to move to territory of monarch of their choice


Aden, barracks of Auslander Korps, 18th of April

- "Sargiento! Sargiento! Look at the paper! Peace in Spain! And does this bit here mean we can go home?!"
Feldwebel Hasek read the relevant paragraph, and shook his head.
- "No, Perreyra, you are to stay with us for five more years. Are you a POW? NO! You are a soldier of his Apostolic Majesty Stefan."
   
Top
Borys    
Posted: Oct 1 2006, 05:15 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
*

Group: Head of State
Posts: 1,237
Member No.: 72
Joined: 10-August 06



   
Zaragoza, 3rd of May 1903

For Stefan these were heady days. Barely a fortnight after his own wedding and all those festivities, he - with Yelena (theoretically Helen, but he liked the sound of the Russian version) at his side - he was attending an ally's coronation. And it was a minor triumph for him too. The Red menace, even if not eradicated, had been stopped and pushed back. Legitimacy and Tradition were upheld and given new ground to flourish.

He himself was misty eyed when at the Main Altar of the Cathedral at Zaragoza the "Justice of Aragon", speaking for the People had spoken the Ancient Text -
"Nos, que cada uno de nosotros somos igual que vos y todos juntos más que vos,
te hacemos Rey si cumples nuestros fueros y los haces cumplir, si no, no"* -

- to which Carlos, ramrod straight, with head bared, had answered in resounding voice - "En nombre de Dios, si!", and then all the assembled veterans, some of the 1872 war, some of this, and quite a few of both, roared "Carlos Rey! Carlos Rey!"

**********************

Inspection of Santissima Trinidade Legion, outside of Zaragoza 2nd of May

Stefan rode by the battalions of the legion, looking at the happy faces of the veterans. It was just half a year since he had sent them here, yet some faces already showed the outward scars of war. And the eyes spoke even more. An over age Private-Standard Bearer caught his attention. There was something to the man's stance, as if he could not stand to attention properly, lack of ear and slightly wild expression that made him stand out ... could it be that ... Mein Gott! ... that poor SOB survived!
The soldier's chest was graced by three "Wounded in Action" and equal number of "For Courage" medals.
He rode up and asked the soldier quietly: - "Von Hutzpovitch?"
- "Yes, your Imperial Highness." The corrupt, or stupid, ex-Oberst of the Quartermaster's Office was tense and apprehensive of the attention he recived. And resigned to Fate. - "Aden?"
- "The Allmighty has shown you mercy, and so shall I. You are granted Honorable Discharge as Fahnrich and an annual pension of 1000 Talars. Is your child a boy or girl?"
- "Girl."
- "Bring her to the Kaiseriner Frauzimmer when she is of age. She'll become a Lady in Waiting to the Empress."

* We, each of us which is equal to You, and all together are more than You, make you King if you keep our charters and enforce them, and if no, no."