Red Sun Rising

[Großlausitz]

A Yuijni restaurant
Old town, Danzig

„Wait a minute, I forgot to add something important,“ Franz Bierhals pulled another sheet of paper from his briefcase, „this shows a list of available, let’s say, trainers and instructors from the Royal Armed Forces, „If you could hand it to your experts back at HQ. They could get in touch with ours and figure out what branches and regions need instructors the most and where you already got the training covered.“

He took a sip from his drink: „What’s more, I’d like to stress that His Majesty’s Government are prepared to offer all of these options at once. While the media and public opinion are currently mesmerized by the internal doom of Danmark and would heavily cricitize a far east engagement, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t see to our interests via other venues. We could split our shipping as you proposed. This would also allow us to disguise any relocation of support and instruction personnel. In Port Arturo they’d simply change vessel from a Royal Navy ship on a routine visit to a cargo ship en route to theatre. Once the dust settles around Danmark and we can see clearer in that particular direction, I’d surmise Nürnberg would be ready to involve itself more. How does that sound to you?“

 

[Ashkelon]

A Yuijni restaurant
Old town, Danzig

Plukowski took the last sheet and glanced at it briefly, before tucking it into his own suitcase. "I will make sure this gets to the brass. Nürrnberg should expect communications from them soon."

He listened intently to his counterpart's proposal, having another sip from his cold drink. "That sounds fair enough. I'm sure Giecz appreciates any support you would be providing, whether at this time, or once the situation in Danmark settles down. As you can imagine, even the Mezhist Union knows that Yujin is too big for it to handle without assistance. Especially if Kyiv begins to move." And a moving Kyiv would be a dangerous Kyiv. "We cannot allow Communism to prevail."

 

[Khemia]

Due to

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by Kansas, the first half of this post is retroactive to 8/13/2013; the second half is posted for 8/16/2013

The Seoran Front
Combat along the Seoran Front was going as anticipated - strongly in the Hongmenghui's favor. By Friday, a Hongmenghui advance had reached the sea and effectively divided the northern and southern elements of Imperial resistance from each other. Counter-attacks were becoming increasingly rare, and some Hongmenghui speculate that this means the Imperials stuck in the Seoran peninsula are suffering from a critical lack of provisions necessary to fight back against the Hongmenghui. Under this belief, and armed with a positive notion that their movement was backed internationally by Havenshire with a show of force and boots on the ground, the Hongmenghui pressed the attack throughout the North.

Currently, the Imperial salient around Yodeok is under heavy fire, with most elements shattered or surrendering. Supplies here have diminished to the point that a recovery is impossible, and Imperial forces are simply trying to prevent a route and maintain some order to continue guerrilla operations. The Najin pocket is, likewise, under heavy fire, and is on the verge of collapse. Imperial command had hoped to rally their forces and prepare a guerrilla campaign, but low morale, supplies, and an unwillingness to fight a war of such a kind in Seora, has meant that many of the men have left their posts and formed ad hoc military units bent on fleeing to Mao Province. Many of these units are discovered and crushed by Hongmenghui patrols, while several others have outright defected to the Hongmenghui.

Balgibyeol has once again become the site of a crucial battle between Imperial remnants in the North and Communist rebels; with Hongmenghui units luring the Imperial units out to fight in the field, Havenite units effectively assaulted the city from the sea and are locked in combat with Imperial rearguard and command elements. The ferocity of the engagements has been tempered by a sort of chaos and disorder caused among Imperial command by the surprise pincer attack, though it will be several days before Balgibyeol will be successfully secured by the Communist forces.

The Battle of Liangang
Tanks pour across Mao Province as General Sun Daoshi launches an encirclement maneuver with his armored force in a bid to cut off the Hongmenghui units within the city from their supply lines spreading throughout the Province. Hongmenghui units, lacking the equipment necessary to combat heavily armored units and air support in the field, have dissolved into the countryside and fled to ground as tanks capture the towns of Baifan and Fenchi, and many of the Northern suburbs. A simultaneous attack to push out of Anwei and towards Dongya has been launched from within Liangang, in a bid to connect with the northern units to encircle the city and cut off Hongmenghui units from their supply lines.

Hongmenghui units within Liangang are consolidating their positions, and battle lines have been set in the broken stones of buildings blown apart by bombs and artillery. The Imperial army controls approximately 65% of Liangangs main roadways, particularly towards the coast and the city center, while Hongmenghui units retain control over many roads leading north to the countryside. Imperial command believes that the Hongmenghui have over-extended their resources in their commitment to the defense of Liangang, and as such is attempting to strain those stretched resources further by attacking multiple fronts at once.

The Republican Front
As Imperial units draw steadily closer to the provincial capital of Nianxu, Republican counter-attacks focus on harassing the southern flanks of the advanced force. The Imperial advance, focused on a drive towards Nianxu, opted not to dislodge Republican units from the highland regions of Cai Province, providing an opportunity for Republican forces to launch raids on Imperial supply lines and forced Imperial units to redeploy away from the push to Nianxu to defend against the precise strikes of the Republican attack.

Republican strikes against Imperial targets appear to effectively anticipate maneuvers and actions against Nianxu overly well, suggesting that some members of the Imperial command may, in fact, be Republican spies or feeding Republican command information. How deeply infiltrated Imperial command is is unknown, though counter-espionage agents are hoping to isolate or eliminate moles.



The Republican Front
The soldiers laughed amongst themselves as they teased the poor foreigner. It was obvious these Sylvanian's were getting their feet in deeper than they had imagined, and every one of the Republican rebels present at the docks in fact spoke some sort of foreign language. A man came surging from a nearby warehouse with a tangled ball of cords and whipped one of the laughing rebels with it. The boy yelped in pain.

"Are you stupid! This is an urgent matter, get him to the General now!" In the background, the incessant chatter of AAA opening up on the sky could be hear thundering through the streets. Refugees had set up an enormous tent city in Nianxu, and yet somehow the Republicans managed to feed them all. Rice and bread lines could be seen forming for blocks, even from the docks. The Sylvanian's were escorted to an inconspicuous structure - the Nianxu Public Library - which appeared nondescript on the outside but within was heavily fortified with columns to strengthen the structure, and sandbags to make any assault much more difficult. The front entrance - the only entrance - was guarded by dozens of machine gun nests that gave the impression to the Sylvanians that the entire city, if fortified half as well as the library, would take weeks to effectively take. Deeper within the structure, a room had been cleared of books and replaced with radio's and a table showing white and black Go pieces no doubt representing combat units. It appeared that the Republicans seemed to be making progress in their flank attack on the Imperial offensive, though there was still little doubt that, given the current situation, such an action was a futile delaying maneuver.

The General turned to the Sylvanian's with a skeptically raised eyebrow. He smirked and moved to greet them, bowing and saluting them with palm in fist. "General Zhao Yue, Commander of the Republican Army; I assume you are the friends we have been waiting for?"
[MENTION=1131]Sylvania[/MENTION]

The Battle of Liangang
The counter-attack launched by General Sun Daoshi days ago has slowed to a near halt as a supply lines come under near constant fire from small Hongmenghui combat teams which disappear whenever a counter-attack is launched. Though casualties caused in these actions are relatively light, with a total of eighty seven deaths in two days in sixty four separate engagements, the distribution of fuel and ammunition to front line armored units has all but halted. This has left Sun Daoshi's armored forces low on supplies and deep in enemy territory, with the planned encirclement operation having been a failure.

Hongmenghui units rallied a successful defense east of Anwei, grinding down the Imperial armored offensive and forcing General Sun's forces to commit themselves to house-to-house searches rooting out rebels. Meanwhile, Imperial forces in the city, attempting to regain the initiative, are preparing to launch a number of raids into Hongmenghui territory, where attacks launched by rebels have become increasingly less common. Imperial command believes this is likely due to decreased supplies, as much of the ammunition required by Hongmenghui forces is no doubt being utilized by the forces in the suburbs.

Qiangzuo Province
The number of Hongmenghui rebels within the provincial capital of Dashan now rivals the local garrison. Though better equipped and fortified, the local garrison is isolated to a number of armories and governmental structures, allowing the Hongmenghui rebels to move through the city in disguise and infiltrate a number of locations. Among the infiltrated sites are local fire departments, a small bank, the radio station, and many bakeries.

Hongmenghui regional command is now coordinating their units and selecting targets for an upcoming strike that is designed to throw the Imperial garrison off balance and force a gross redeployment of Imperial forces within the provinces - the ripest targets are wealthy Yu migrants who lord over their native employees. Meanwhile an innumerable number of propaganda posters have been drawn up that are designed specifically to gain the support of the local Christian population - a difficult task for Communists, but made less so by the intolerant and base treatment they receive at the hands of the Imperial government.

 

[Großlausitz]

[OOC I took the liberty of re-posting those together. Compare this

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. ]

A Yuijni restaurant
Old town, Danzig

„Wait a minute, I forgot to add something important,“ Franz Bierhals pulled another sheet of paper from his briefcase, „this shows a list of available, let’s say, trainers and instructors from the Royal Armed Forces, „If you could hand it to your experts back at HQ. They could get in touch with ours and figure out what branches and regions need instructors the most and where you already got the training covered.“

He took a sip from his drink: „What’s more, I’d like to stress that His Majesty’s Government are prepared to offer all of these options at once. While the media and public opinion are currently mesmerized by the internal doom of Danmark and would heavily cricitize a far east engagement, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t see to our interests via other venues. We could split our shipping as you proposed. This would also allow us to disguise any relocation of support and instruction personnel. In Port Arturo they’d simply change vessel from a Royal Navy ship on a routine visit to a cargo ship en route to theatre. Once the dust settles around Danmark and we can see clearer in that particular direction, I’d surmise Nürnberg would be ready to involve itself more. How does that sound to you?“
Plukowski took the last sheet and glanced at it briefly, before tucking it into his own suitcase. "I will make sure this gets to the brass. Nürrnberg should expect communications from them soon."

He listened intently to his counterpart's proposal, having another sip from his cold drink. "That sounds fair enough. I'm sure Giecz appreciates any support you would be providing, whether at this time, or once the situation in Danmark settles down. As you can imagine, even the Mezhist Union knows that Yujin is too big for it to handle without assistance. Especially if Kyiv begins to move." And a moving Kyiv would be a dangerous Kyiv. "We cannot allow Communism to prevail."

"Kiev," Franz Bierhals sighed, "is the elephant in the room not even Franken would like to poke too much. After all, they could cause a lot of trouble in terms of Franken's naval flexibility. Let's cross our fingers the behemoth continues to snooze a little longer, my friend. Our top management will certainly look forward to engage in business with yours under the current conditions. If there's nothing else, I'd like to thank you for a pleasant and productive chat." As Plukowski shook his head, both men shook their hands and parted ways. The Franconian spook returned to his regional post, where he immediately prepared a communiqué addressed to the Foreign Minister as well as the Ministerpresident. Last but least, he made a mental note on the reliability of the Yuijini restaurant as a meeting spot.

 

[Oneida]

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THE GOVERNMENT OF THE AURARIAN REPUBLIC THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Under the authorization of the Aurarian Constitution and the President of the Republic, Reldón Vicario
Classification: Top Secret
18 August, 1953
​

Imperial Government of Yujin
To all whom it may concern,

In recent times, there has been an influx of Yujini citizens coming as immigrants to the Aurarian Republic.* These new immigrants have sparked a national interest in Yujini culture and the current civil war in Yujin has become a subject of controversy within our nation-state. The level of economic development that can be shared between Yujin and Auraria cannot, and will not be ignored by our government. To that end, it is in the firm belief of the Aurarian Government that the current civil war needs to end in order for prosperity to once more reign.

After much deliberation, it is obvious to us that the rightful, logical, and economical choice is the Imperial Government in Yujin, and for that reason we will dedicate our resources to seeing an Imperial Victory as a reality. Unfortunately, opening supporting the Imperial Government will undoubtedly serve to weaken already shaky relationships with the United Republic of Sylvania in particular, and other republics who are blinded by the sheer notion of Republicans.

In order for Auraria to begin aiding the Imperial Government in Yujin, it must be done in secret. We are willing to discuss an increase in trade ties and economic investment. Under the guise of trade, the Aurarian Government will be able to provide further assistance to the war effort, including Special Forces and armaments. Our resources are not plentiful, but we hope that they will prove to be helpful.

With the approval of the Imperial Government, we will discuss increased trade and promote investment from Aurarian businesses looking to expand overseas. Once we are sure that the trade deals are running smoothly, the Aurarian Government will begin shipping armaments
​

​

Signed,

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Clemente Osvaldo Hernandez
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ciudad de Heredia, Heredia

This correspondence has received the blessings of the President of the Republic
​

[FONT=&amp]*OOC: I’m trying to imitate the rather sizable Asian populations in Central America, I figured this would be a good way to begin RP between us as well, if this idea does not please you, I’ll remove it. [/FONT]

 

[The Federation]

The Republican Front
The soldiers laughed amongst themselves as they teased the poor foreigner. It was obvious these Sylvanian's were getting their feet in deeper than they had imagined, and every one of the Republican rebels present at the docks in fact spoke some sort of foreign language. A man came surging from a nearby warehouse with a tangled ball of cords and whipped one of the laughing rebels with it. The boy yelped in pain.

"Are you stupid! This is an urgent matter, get him to the General now!" In the background, the incessant chatter of AAA opening up on the sky could be hear thundering through the streets. Refugees had set up an enormous tent city in Nianxu, and yet somehow the Republicans managed to feed them all. Rice and bread lines could be seen forming for blocks, even from the docks. The Sylvanian's were escorted to an inconspicuous structure - the Nianxu Public Library - which appeared nondescript on the outside but within was heavily fortified with columns to strengthen the structure, and sandbags to make any assault much more difficult. The front entrance - the only entrance - was guarded by dozens of machine gun nests that gave the impression to the Sylvanians that the entire city, if fortified half as well as the library, would take weeks to effectively take. Deeper within the structure, a room had been cleared of books and replaced with radio's and a table showing white and black Go pieces no doubt representing combat units. It appeared that the Republicans seemed to be making progress in their flank attack on the Imperial offensive, though there was still little doubt that, given the current situation, such an action was a futile delaying maneuver.

The General turned to the Sylvanian's with a skeptically raised eyebrow. He smirked and moved to greet them, bowing and saluting them with palm in fist. "General Zhao Yue, Commander of the Republican Army; I assume you are the friends we have been waiting for?"
@

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"Indeed we are!" Henriksson exclaimed, he opted not to return a physical greeting but rather get down to business. "General I represent certain authorities in the west that are interested in helping you win your war for freedom here in Yujin," he said as he sat down in a chair nearby. "I believe that you are smart enough to deduce who these authorities are and I also hope that you are smart enough to keep any information of my visit here a secret. Any revelation of my being here could unravel the work I have already done to get this far." The General nodded opting to stay silent and listen to what Henriksson had to say.

"I think it is safe to say that it is only a matter of time before the tide of this war crashes down upon your heads, I am here to offer my help any any expertise that I may be able to give you. Along with my help comes the offer of money and to set up an initial deal for small arms. Currently resources that I have acquired in Cantignia are in the process of setting up a way to wire cash to your cash strapped army and they are also in the process of setting up a import/export shell company to begin acquiring new supplies for your men, as I said before this would come in the way of small arms and anti-armor weaponry, depending on how things go as we move along in our support, larger weapons may also be acquired for your men in the future."

"Before you say it however, my offers do come with stipulations. I think we are all aware of how useful the communists have been to you, that is to say not useful at all. My benefactors, the authorities I represent dread a full communist victory in Yujin and they dread a full fascist victory in Yujin. I think we both know deep down that when the war is over the communists will take control and claim all of Yujin for themselves, their will be no democracy, there will be no Yujiner Republic. But, if you work toward creating your own Yujin, a separate Republican Yujin, my benefactors would be more than happy to continue full support. I know this is speaking far into the future, but it must be said."

"Currently my benefactors want no part in this war, they are not willing to sacrifice their men for a nation they know little about, not even in the name of Republicanism, but there are people working within the government that are attempting to change the political atmosphere to one that might be willing to commit to a direct intervention. For now, however, I am all you have at this juncture." Henriksson had said his peace for the time being, it was quick and to the point. The others he was with had wondered why he was so truthful, even hinting at who they represent but they knew that the Yujiner General did not have time to expose a strange white man who had just shown up on his doorstep to the world at large. Even if he did, who would be listening? Their cries for help had gone unheeded thus far.
[MENTION=983]Yujin[/MENTION]

 

[Ashkelon]

Shanghu
Xinan Province
Shanghu Commandery

The engineer glanced at the shipment coming in from Danbu. In accordance with the timetable that had been drawn up, things were definitely going as planned. The harbour's dredging had been completed a few days ago, and thus its overall capacity increased. Labourers, construction workers, and heavy equipment continued the work on the arsenal here. Now, more personnel, material, and equipment could arrive here, and faster. Soon, the arsenal could begin production, and support the war effort. He didn't like how Danbu had been publicly declared, however. Day by day, the feeling that he was being watched increased. Now whether these eyes were on "his" side or the enemies, he could not be sure at all. But in either case, he did not like the idea of being suddenly assassinated here.

All said and done, however, the additional security that was provided by the Mezhist military was helpful in alleviating his concerns, somewhat. Just somewhat... But if he somehow survived, it would mean good extra pay once he went home.


FID-BLUSWACOM Covert Watch Base
City of Danbu

Captain Wynorski took a sip from his cup of tea. The trip from Zhenjing, though completed long before the first transports arrived, had not yet entirely worn off. Such was the effect of trains to the captain, who very much preferred a jeep to anything else. Nevertheless, it was crucial to keep this entire sector under close watch. In close cooperation with BLUSWACOM, which had sent more than just trainers and special forces equipment, the FID had put up this watch base in one of the old abandoned warehouses in the city, with multiple branches covering the whole area of the city and port, along with outskirts. The amount of covert security units was proportionally comparable to Wislica, or even Giecz, and it was disgusting to know so many were already involved.

Some had taken the cover of engineering personnel, and even brought "families" and "children" with them. Children. Right. If you could still call them children. Perhaps, from a twisted sort of perspective, one could see the units given to handlers as "parents", but their ultimate loyalty was to each other and the Directorate. Yes, the Union was their ultimate parent. Father Giecz and Mother Wislica, or something like that. Well, not that having children around would stop an assassin from putting a bullet in an "engineer"'s brain, but it would certainly add another avenue of surprise interception.

For the moment, he would keep his eyes and ears open. If any unwanted HUMINT infiltrator wanted to find out what was happening here, he would have to do it with a scope or a plane. All he would see then was civilians personnel, construction equipment, and raw materials. If he dared to take a closer look? Well, there really wasn't anything to look at. Now if he tried to sneak aboard one of the trains? Well... that would be the only way to find out what was going on, and that same act was suicide.

 

[Serenierre]

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IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT OF SIKANDARA COUNCIL FOR WAR & INTELLIGENCE

22 August, 1953
CODED TELEGRAM​

To:​

Commander of Intelligence Operations, YUJIN THEATER
From: Grand Councillor for War & Intelligence

SUB: Update on operations

The Council is writing to the Intelligence Operations in Yujin (OPERATION Blue Pelican) to procure detailed reports on the missions which have been carried out following the Imperial directions of August 7. The Grand Council needs to be informed about assassinations, infiltrations, and connections that have been made in Yujin's eastern provinces in accordance to those directives.

XL-556-B332-BJCA-M99-L97-669​

​

 

[Khemia]

The Seoran Front
Balgibyeol was a small city by Seoran standards, seeming like a sea of traditional architecture amid the hills that gently rolled across the landscape underneath it. Black smoke still rose up from some of the structures, most notably the former Governor's mansion where a massive firefight had raged. The bodies of the Imperial soldiers scattered the premises, but most haunting was the hanged body of the Governor and his aristocratic subjects. The Communists had shown no quarter to the aristocratic elite within Balgibyeol, their bodies were the most noticeable. Every one of them donned a poster around their neck or a sign strapped to their back that rose high above their head denouncing them as birth-tyrants, attributing to them all the crimes that could be thrown upon one born into a class of land-owning elite. Only a select few aristocrats, thinking only of their own lives, had forfeited everything they owned to save their own lives, becoming nothing more or less than their former wage-slave tenants.

All of the property had been seized by the newly established Balgibyeol People's Council as part of the nationwide land reform program, a program that would establish regional work units and assign people to them, granting them land upon which to earn a living. The revolution in Seora was building in momentum and popularity; many in the Seol-a Jehyu, nationalist revolutionaries who fought both north and south of the Treaty Line with Touzen, had pledged their support for the People's Republic of Seora, which was quickly forming it's own Communist Party apart from the Hongmenghui, keeping true to Wu Jindiao's wish for an independent Seora. With such coordinated resistance, it was doubtful that Imperial resistance in Sunjohang, Donglam, and Nyongbyon would last much longer.
[MENTION=1003]Havenshire[/MENTION]

Battle of Liangang
The crumpled up wad of paper was thrown aside with gusto, but its light weight and air resistance meant that its impact was not as pleasing as the thrower would have intended. General Sun Daoshi threw a fist at an invisible man standing in front of him, visibly angry. Despite his success on the Mao front, he was being reprimanded by the Emperor for his minor failures: his failure to raze the city, and subsequent offensive, had permitted rebels through the front and into Qiangzuo; his offensive had failed to make any major breakthroughs past Liangang, and had failed to relieve the doomed forces in Seora; and finally, his extensive supply lines, despite being entirely supplied by his own economy, were supposedly draining Imperial resources.

General Sun knew that the Emperor perceived that the Southland had grown too strong, and he also knew the Emperor, bewitched by a sort of madness, questioned Sun's conviction and scruples. His failure to take the city at any cost had resulted in his re-assignment. He was to begin reducing his forces in and around Liangang and redeploy units to Xinhai - many of the tanks and armored units, embedded in the failed encirclement of the city, would be handed over to New Army units. By the end of the next month, the entire SEA would be redeployed. Sun Daoshi lamented this treatment, for whatever the costs of logistics to Liangang had been, supplying his forces in Xinhai would be hell.

Still, he could not say he was filled with regret. The New Army was rife with corruption and General's vying for power over their own petty fiefdoms; desperate for a piece of autonomy that the Southland enjoyed, such corruption which, he had heard, had been killed off in Xinhai. An aide walked into the room, obviously nervous at General Sun's temper, and waited to be acknowledged before speaking. General Sun nodded, and the aide opened the document and read several lines before speaking, "Our units have recaptured the Ting'an and Gubei districts from rebel forces, repelled attacks in Baifan and regrouped with third and eighth Armored. Your orders?"

General Sun took a breath and let his anger dissipate. He was a man of principle, and he would do his best to continue the fight in Liangang even as his units were redeployed. In the future, he was sure that the Communists in the West would feel his anger.
[MENTION=634]Upper Swiecziema[/MENTION]

Qiangzuo Province
Soldiers began to laugh and joke with each other, partaking in a quick game of chance where the wages were made in cigarettes and coins, passing the time as the shift change occurred. Discipline among the Dashan garrison troops was poor, their loyalty to the Governor reaching no further than their pocketbook. Several shadows moved past the needles of light that made their way into the alleyways of the city as the sun crept down beyond the horizon. A dutiful patrol noticed the movement, and followed to look. Several gunshots later, they paid for their attentiveness with their lives. The guards woke up, grabbing their weapons and moving to investigate. More rebels popped out from the windows and fired accurate shots off, picking the troops apart. They scattered, but all the routes were traps.

An alarm began to sound, but within moments scores of Hongmenghui were storming through the front gate of the Governor's mansion. Brutal but short firefights sparked across the mansion as the rebels quickly fought their way through the grounds. Guards lay dead, and the Communists quickly policed their comrades and helped them to ad hoc hospitals located in buildings nearby. The Communists target: the Governor's family, his wife and two daughters. The governor himself was absent, confirmed to be with one of his three mistresses. The fighting in the 'palace' was over in less than ten minutes, the girls gagged and pushed out of the premises at gunpoint. The trickle of soldiers responding to the alarm were easily caught in the ambushes. By the time a concerted defense arrived, the rebels had disappeared into the town.

Xianbei Province
ISIS' operations in Xianbei Province were ostensibly to better the Imperial war effort, but in truth were more self-serving than that. Radical Islam, a foreign concept to the mostly nomadic Sufi herders of Xianbei, was something that had to be drilled into the mind. The easiest converts were the ignorant, unemployed young adults that came from the cities, the types of people that didn't really have a future and wanted to make their lives mean something. Tell a worthless vagrant he can become a hero, hand him a rifle and train him, and whisper some perverted form of Islam that his mind can reason makes sense to justify his vainglory, and you can quickly recruit yourself radical soldiers to fill the ranks of a crude fighting force.

The nascent White Turbans as they called themselves were little more than well-armed miscreants and thieves, but they represented the future of Sikandari influence in the area. The isolated and peaceful steppe and the seemingly impassable desert would be transformed into a hotbed of zealous anti-Communism. This was the future that Sikandara would build, not just through recruitment, but murder. The bodies of sheikhs and murshids that spoke out against the White Turbans were testament to this, and dead leaders could not argue with hard facts; the Sikandari had managed to build up a small force of two thousand within a matter of weeks, and their numbers were swelling exponentially.
[MENTION=649]Sikandara[/MENTION]

The Republican Front
It was apparent that the man seemed to enjoy the sound of his own voice and expected a certain response from Zhao Yue, who was wise enough to not interrupt a haughty youth. Not that the foreigner before him was much younger than he, but his enthusiasm and zeal carried a sort of rejuvenating energy. The General allowed the foreigner to catch his breath and shot him a knowing grin.

"You think I want to work with the Communists, don't you?" the question was rhetorical, the answer implicated in the sardonic tone in Zhao Yue's tone. His own understanding of the nuances of English showed that he had been well educated, and the Sylvanian would not have difficulty pinning his accent if he had truly visited Cantignia. "The only reason we can work together at this juncture is because the war has not brought our forces close enough to shoot each other. In the beginning, there was a certain enthusiasm among the Republicans to work towards a combined revolutionary goal. To include them in our plans. We formed the alliance fully aware that defeating the Emperor would not end the war," General Zhao Yue did not need to quiet his voice. Every soul in the command center was completely loyal to him, and all knew what he was saying for the truth it represented. "The alliance allows us to focus our resources against a common goal; but it seems that people are more willing to sponsor radicals. Half the world is behind a merciless tyrant, and a good chunk is behind a dedicated terrorist who's been fighting his 'Red War' for more than a decade. How many are behind us?"

General Zhao Yue looked into the foreigners eyes for a moment, trying to gauge whether or not he understood the fact. Unsure, Zhao Yue decided to explain it clearly. "None of us are expecting to survive this battle. If we can not win this war, then there is no country for us. I will win, I will die fighting my enemies, or I will die to my own pistol. There are no other options." Several murmurs and some nods followed, but Zhao Yue's eyes darted out to quiet them all. "Now that you have an appreciation for the situation, tell me; you say you have guns? I need weapons that can penetrate tanks..." he said, moving to a discussion about finances.
[MENTION=1131]Sylvania[/MENTION]

(ooc: I have saved a copy of this, just in case)

 

[Khemia]

The Seoran Front
Skirmishes between Imperials and the Communist coalition forces have intensified in and around Donglam and Sunjohang. The newly formed Seoran Red Army, comprised primarily of ad hoc peasant militias, has swelled in numbers as Seol-a Jehyu guerrilla's join forces with Seoran Communists in support of the Hongmenghui and Havenite forces. Though exact numbers cannot be verified, Imperial officers responsible for the defense of Yujiner Seora estimate Communist forces to exceed one hundred thousand soldiers.

An order for general retreat has been issued by General Nian Wujing for the Imperial stronghold of Donglam as Imperial forces within the city come under threat of being surrounded and isolated from the Imperial headquarters at Sunjohang; the retreat is quickly becoming disorderly and many units, even several entire brigades, have surrendered entirely to Communist forces. Imperial forces in Sunjohang, numbering less than fifty thousand, are preparing their last lines of defense against the Communist offensive, but all attempts by mainland Imperial forces to relieve the salient by sea have so far been insignificant.

Xinhai Province
A schism between Communists affiliated with the Vangalan school of Communism, or Basuism, have been competing with local Hongmenghui organizers for dominance in the unions and secretly organized People's Councils for weeks now. The Hongmenghui argue that the Basuists are secretly in the pocket of corrupt Vangalan politicians and lack the ambition to see a truly independent Sinhai; whereas the Basuists argue that the Hongmenghui are simply a Yu-centric organization bent on maintaining ethnic control over the province. Neither faction currently maintains much appeal among native Sinhese, who lack the political mobilization to really care about such arguments. Regardless, several arguments have broken into open fights in People's Council's, where some representatives of each faction have been hospitalized due to blunt force trauma and knife wounds.

Growing resentment between the two factions undermines their mutual objectives, and highlights the problematic relationship between Liangang and Kilkila; with Kilkila perceiving itself as the rightful vanguard of Communism in the East and Liangang perceiving itself as responsible for the systematic dismantling of the Empire of Yujin.

Qiangzuo Province
The kidnapping of the governor's family has had the anticipated results; with Imperial forces conducting extensive searches of lower-wealth residential areas in Dashan. This has begun building resentment, but has yielded no results. Hongmenghui activists in the city have already smuggled the governor's family out of the city and into the countryside, but small clashes between security forces and rebels have broken out in the wealthier commercial district of the city as Hongmenghui rebels attack higher-class families. High profile attacks including a mortar attack on a brothel and the bombing of a respectable tea house. Gun and improvised explosive attacks on motorists in the provincial capital are becoming increasingly common, focusing on wealthy families seeking to flee the growing violence by heading towards the national capital of Zhenjing.

Mao Province
Jurchen Taketoriite rebels have begun crossing the Yujin-Jurchen border in significant numbers, skirmishing with marauding bandits and the occasional Hongmenghui patrol. The rebels are making some inroads into Jurchen-dominated segments of Mao Province, but the lack of education, literacy, and heavy political apathy among the peasants of the border region means that many rebels are finding it difficult to mobilize the ethnic Jurchen in the region. The mob rule of the Hongmenghui, which has previously eliminated the wealthy farmers from the region and redistributed the land to other, poorer farmers, has created an entrenched loyalty to the Hongmenghui in much of the region - adding further impediments to the Taketoriite advances. Despite these setbacks, Hongmenghui units are concentrated on other more critical situations, and as such responding to the Taketoriite threat cannot be easily done at this time.

 

[The Federation]

The Republican Front
It was apparent that the man seemed to enjoy the sound of his own voice and expected a certain response from Zhao Yue, who was wise enough to not interrupt a haughty youth. Not that the foreigner before him was much younger than he, but his enthusiasm and zeal carried a sort of rejuvenating energy. The General allowed the foreigner to catch his breath and shot him a knowing grin.

"You think I want to work with the Communists, don't you?" the question was rhetorical, the answer implicated in the sardonic tone in Zhao Yue's tone. His own understanding of the nuances of English showed that he had been well educated, and the Sylvanian would not have difficulty pinning his accent if he had truly visited Cantignia. "The only reason we can work together at this juncture is because the war has not brought our forces close enough to shoot each other. In the beginning, there was a certain enthusiasm among the Republicans to work towards a combined revolutionary goal. To include them in our plans. We formed the alliance fully aware that defeating the Emperor would not end the war," General Zhao Yue did not need to quiet his voice. Every soul in the command center was completely loyal to him, and all knew what he was saying for the truth it represented. "The alliance allows us to focus our resources against a common goal; but it seems that people are more willing to sponsor radicals. Half the world is behind a merciless tyrant, and a good chunk is behind a dedicated terrorist who's been fighting his 'Red War' for more than a decade. How many are behind us?"

General Zhao Yue looked into the foreigners eyes for a moment, trying to gauge whether or not he understood the fact. Unsure, Zhao Yue decided to explain it clearly. "None of us are expecting to survive this battle. If we can not win this war, then there is no country for us. I will win, I will die fighting my enemies, or I will die to my own pistol. There are no other options." Several murmurs and some nods followed, but Zhao Yue's eyes darted out to quiet them all. "Now that you have an appreciation for the situation, tell me; you say you have guns? I need weapons that can penetrate tanks..." he said, moving to a discussion about finances.

Henriksson had heard what he wanted to hear, he knew his gamble would pay off at least for now, at this moment Elwood was setting up an import/export company to begin the purchase of military equipment under the guise of more conventional humanitarian aide.

"We have the equipment you will need, rifles, shoulder fired rocket launchers, recoiless rifles that can penetrate the armor that your Imperial enemy is currently fielding. These will be within the first shipments, as we get settled in and continue our aid larger pieces of equipment will be filtered through to your forces. In fact I already went ahead and began setting up our first shipment, I had faith that you would be able to convince me that supporting you won't be a fools game. We may not be the big wigs supporting the Reds or the Imperialists, we are all you have at the moment and I am sure you aren't the type to look a gift horse in the mouth. If I had my way a fleet would be parked off the coast of this city filled to the brim with fighters, bombers and well armed troops ready to support your movement here, we may someday have that but for now it is just us.

Currently we are setting up a wire system to accomplish that I will need to leave a few of my agents in your care, as for the money I can make available to you, I have 50 million in assorted national currencies that I can make available at this moment, more will be available later. The supplies will come without any stipulations, but the money does not, I have brought with me 10 million to make available to you immediately. To get the rest we need to see improvement in our investment, we need to see how you are applying the supplies we will have for you within the next week and a half. You have lasted this long, and you are a determined man, that much you have told me, therefore I am sure you will be able to apply the incoming aid in crafty ways. Do this and there will be more cash made available via our future wire service."

 

[Großlausitz]

Battleship KMS Graf Montgelas
Bay of Würzburg

At last they were underway. By virtue of some technical difficulties with the new ship loading facilities at the main Royal Navy base in Würzburg the planned departure of the battleship KMS Graf Montgelas and its generously sized auxilliary flotilla had been postponed for a ridiculous amount of time. At least in the opinion of Major Nikolaus Gutglaub his colleagues in charge of maintenance and repair could have done their job a little more quickly. At two occasions he had nearly snapped at the hapless sergeant telling him about yet another delay.
Then again, maybe his stage fright had got the better of him. After all, this was the first mission he was in charge of on his own. This time he wouldn’t have the cosy job of deputy commander. He called the shots and would be held accountable for any operational failures. Major Gutglaub’s job was to liaisonize with the Sikandaran regional command, to oversee the transport and relay of Franconian armoury (esp. Hand weapons and ammunition) into Yuijn.

The battleship and its auxilliaries weren’t meant to be deployed for now but to only ensure the secure and speedy transport into the region. According to the vessel’s captain their journey would take about four days.

 

[Khemia]

The Seoran Front
Under constant attack from multiple directions, Imperial forces led by General Nian Wujing have begun withdrawing from the Imperial stronghold of Sunjohang and are moving towards the Treaty Line, a once highly-militarized border with Touzenese-Seora, now largely defunct and symbolic as both sides of the Line are embroiled in violent unrest. The fighting retreat consists of approximately 40,000 Imperial soldiers, with Imperial forces leaving their wounded behind in Sunjohang and taking with them only the supplies they can carry on their backs or on donkeys. A rearguard fighting action designed to delay Hongmenghui forces is preventing Communist forces from successfully intercepting Imperial forces as they move towards southern Seora.

Prisoners of war created by the conflict in Seora are becoming an increasing burden on the Hongmenghui and Seoran forces, with POW camps now counting more than 20,000 prisoners in various health states, and the Communist forces largely lack the resources necessary to accommodate and tend to the wounded. An appeal to several international aid organizations has been made, and the International Relief Commission has begun forming the Seoran Humanitarian Operation, or SHO. Many other prisoners of war whose families hail from Mao Province have been inducted into the Hongmenghui forces, who have promised them food and land in return for their service.

The Republican Front
It took him a moment to consider his options. He knew a fair deal when he heard one, and this arrangement was more than generous considering the tenuous situation he found himself in. The occasional bomb that fell outside the bunker kicked off the dust from an overhanging lamp and jostled the tattered bricks that formed the sturdy wall. "These are terms I can agree to," the General stated, extending a hand to the foreigner to bind the deal.

"I will accept your technicians, but they may be required to move as the situation changes. As for the results," he paused, considering what exactly he could do within such a limited window, "I will provide you with results that will prove that your future investments will not be wasted - otherwise, I will not be worthy of your contributions."

South Yujin Sea
The personal "yacht" of an Imperial General named Ba Jun drifted through the sea. The vessel was in truth only a yacht in name, it in fact resembled something more akin to an outdated warship furnished for vacation. Or so it would appear; the front of the vessel itself was held together by latches and could be readily opened to reveal a small, floodable dock within the vessel itself. Within this small bay were smaller vessels, speed boats with machine guns and grappling hooks and other assorted arms. The General's yacht was, in fact, nothing less than a mothership for pirates loyal not to the Imperial government, nor to the Hongmenghui, but instead to the General himself. Ba Jun had begun accumulating his own private fiefdom, ranging from Yingzhou to Yumei, and his private army was engaged in combat with the Republicans southern front.

Ba Jun was not fighting because of some sense of loyalty, honor or duty. He was fighting for personal wealth and power, much like many other general's who had taken advantage of the unstable nature of the central government and established themselves as the de facto governors of a majority of the Imperial-held territory in Yujin. This pirate mothership of the General's was an extension of Ba Jun's greed, but even a military vessel would be unable to discern the vessels purpose without boarding it, and the yacht was careful to spend the majority of it's time within the territorial waters of the Empire, only deploying its pirate ships at night to raid ships moving to either the Republican held areas or to Siyang itself.

Qiangzuo Province
Clashes between Hongmenghui guerrillas and the Imperial garrison in Qiangzuo have increased in ferociousness in the capital, with Communist teams roaming through wealthier neighborhoods and looting upper class homes and capturing wealthy families to be taken to local "struggles", where they would be put on public trial by the disgruntled peasants. Wealthy Christian families were few and far between, but their shared Christian heritage with the Christian peasants siding with the Hongmenghui largely prevented them from suffering from the "struggles"; instead, some wealthy Christian families had in fact cast in their lot with the Communists in the idealistic hope that Qiangzuo may become a self-governing province, where the natives Christian values could become more than just an interpersonal bond shared at Sunday mass.

Many other refugees fleeing Dashan for the Imperial-held Lakelands, including Zhenjing, found themselves on the nasty end of a diverse array of explosives that lined the thoroughfare for tens of miles. All sorts of boobytraps awaited passing cars, and military reinforcements from the capital driven by truck were often ambushed by small kill teams who first struck with jury-rigged artillery shells or other sorts of high explosives. Throughout the rest of Qiangzuo Province, small local patrols and garrison's manning watch posts had come under fire by semi-independent Communist units, and the eastern and northern expanses of the province had largely been captured by the Communists or local Christian militias.

Despite the chaos, the Imperial supply lines from Sikandara to Zhenjing continue undeterred, as the struggle for Yujin has shifted away from control of the railroad to control of Qiangzuo Province itself.

Battle of Liangang
Imperial troops have secured several neighborhoods held by the Communists for months with minimal casualties received by either side. Gunfire still echoes throughout the largely dead town, but brutal retaliations by New Army units replacing SEA personnel headed to Xinhai have pushed back a large number of Communist counter-attacks. Among these brutal retaliations are allegations that the New Army is responsible for burning down a tenement with flamethrowers, killing more than forty families unable to flee the city during the fighting, and using chemical weapons on granaries suspected of being used as ammunition dumps.

In truth, Hongmenghui personnel have begun downsizing the resistance being put up in Liangang, focusing on actively controlling strategic objectives while allowing their members to pose as civilians to infiltrate behind advancing Imperial front lines within the city. The lessened intensity of the fighting has been well received by what few people still live within the city, and a false hope that normal life may once again begin is embraced by some refugees on the Imperial-side of the battle lines, who are attempting to return to their homes and find their possessions, though almost all personal wealth left in the city and not taken by refugees themselves has been stolen by looters.

 

[Serenierre]

Xianzhou Province

Over the past few months, as the governments and intelligence services of Sikandara and the Mezhist Union had funnelled in millions in weaponry and funds to the Imperial cause in Yujin, the Imperial Military of Sikandara had begun infiltrating the Yujiner province. Armed with the knowledge that the Sikandari intelligence services had softened the ground for them, the military had been confident when it entered these foreign lands. The directives were clear to the 15,000 or so men who had slowly seeped into the country: Take up command of the garrisons that the intelligence agents had been quietly building in the province and raise militias loyal to the Imperial cause and sympathetic to the Sikandari Empire.

Here, in these fellow Muslim lands, which shared ethnic and cultural ties with the some of the northern communities of the Sikandari hinterland, the military camps had been established and so far a few thousand strong militias had been set up. They had been, up till now, not been able to contribute heavily to the greater battle being fought further south. But these Sikandari backed militias had become, overtime, the main Sikandari force present in this province protecting the railway line connecting the Imperial capital to Sikandara. Though commanders in Shahdara, and those present in Xianzhou, were now becoming confident that the time had come to effectively tackle the marauding communist insurgents in the province and truly establish the writ of the Imperial cause in this western corner of the Yujiner State.

For the past few weeks, Chancellor Suleymani had authorised an increase in supplies to these militia groups being run by the Sikandari officers stationed here, which had begun trickling in, spreading across the territory through the supply network that Imperial Intelligence had been securing since the meeting of the Emperor and his cabinet a few months ago*. Confidence was high now that the system was in place to effectively destroy the Hongmenghui in the province and establish the writ.

And as, officially, the military had sent its officers to train these militias, unofficially many thousands of volunteer fighters had found themselves on Sikandara Railway trains headed for these lands; armed with official military grade guns and a naïve belief in the ideological goodness of the Imperial cause, and of-course these men were also joined by the mercenaries sponsored by the Sikandari aristocracy to fight in these militias. Manpower, obviously, was not a problem for Sikandara. Sadly, neither was it a problem for Yujin.


* Refers to Government cabinet paper posted by me earlier.
OOC: How strong would the domestic militias be? According to that figure then I can say how many of my volunteers have come as well..

 

[Khemia]

The Seoran Front
With Imperial units having withdrawn from contested territory in the People's Republic of Seora, the Communist government in Seora has moved to solidify its power while it the same time play a role in the conflicts south of the Treaty Line. Hold outs of Imperialist supporters continue to be problematic, but many of these groups are ethnic Yu, and the majority of Seorans are supportive of the independent state, with political lines being drawn not on whether or not they should remain independent, or even whether or not they should follow a Communist government, but instead whether or not they should lend aid to the Hongmenghui's efforts to liberate Yujin.

Many within Seora view the war warily; joining on the Communist side could jeopardize their goal to stabilize their nation and bring prosperity to their people. Others feel a brotherly obligation to do for the Yu what the Hongmenghui have done for the Seorans. The matter is of much debate in the People's Congresses, both at the local and national level.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party continues to expand its membership as well as its armed wing, the Seoran Red Army, a force whose composition changes from week to week. Currently, the many of the men within the Seoran Red Army are volunteers prepared to fight for the sake of Yujin. An even greater portion, however, have enlisted to ensure the continued independence of Seora. A sizable number have even joined in the hopes that the People's Republic of Seora would soon open a front to unify the peninsula and once again establish a unified Seora. The possibilities left to Seora at the moment were myriad, and yet many of the General's were wary that there were simply no good options.

The Battle of Liangang
Despite August having ended, daytime temperatures in Liangang still rose in excess of the 80's, and fell to a relieving mid 60's by night. The conditions were still optimal for fighting; and though the majority of Hongmenghui combat forces had left the city, they had not given up as much territory as New Army personnel might have hoped. General Sun Daoshi, nominally still in command of the battle, had desired to retake the entire city center before pushing out to secure the suburbs. But as each neighborhood was claimed in turn, another would erupt into conflict, as the Hongmenghui underground revealed itself for strikes.

It was clear that one neighborhood in particular, Xiruanguan or West Shore District, a coastal district mostly consisting of low income slums and tenements, was the root of the problem. A hive of Communist sympathies, it was also one of the few neighborhoods which had not been fully evacuated during the fighting, and its distance from major roadways had ensured it had not become a priority target for the Empire. But now, that was changing. Sun Daoshi, knowing of the civilian population still living within the area, was adverse to hitting the area hard with artillery, but his to-be replacement General Wang Liju had no such qualms. The New Army was rapidly redeploying a variety of weapons to prepare to strike at the area; the tactic for eliminating the guerrilla fighters was as simple as it was brutal. Xiruanguan would be erased from the map.

Qiangzuo Province
Skirmishes throughout the province have cut off supply lines and isolated a significant number of Imperial troops. Without radio's and supplies, these troops have begun pillaging local villages to keep fed, and engage in combat without any objectives from command. A significant portion of the countryside is contested, and reinforcements from the capital come under continuous ambush as they make their way to the plateau from Zhenjing.

Increasingly aware of the danger, Imperial units have begun fortifying towns and villages along the periphery of the Qiangzuo Plateau, and have established checkpoints at all main thoroughfares. Unbeknownst to them, however, is the fact that many Hongmenghui from the fighting in Liangang and Seora are destined to reinforce Qiangzuo and infiltrate the Lakelands and Plains to the south and east respectively; not by travelling by car or horse-drawn cart, as the Imperial's naively suspected, but by carrying their weapons and supplies on their backs overland.

Ningwei
Word of the inevitable auction of the city had made its way to local papers, causing a great amount of uncertainty among the population. Many Danes, having benefited from the protection of the Danish government, were uncertain whether or not they would maintain their legal protections. Many Southlanders felt resentment that their lands would soon be arbitrarily traded, and they with them like slaves. Many Yu, however; almost entirely Communist, succumbed to revanchist thought and desired the town to be reuinified with their homeland. Though the Southland was a place of peace, the regions south of the Conghuashan Range had become increasingly a place of silent conflict between traditional Yu culture and the foreigners who had seized much territory during the struggling reign of the Xiong Dynasty.

Not all Communists were Yu, however; in fact, a large number of Danes had joined their ranks, educated in the West and wealthy enough to have no concern for how their money was spent, their ideals and youthful zeal got the better of them. They had big dreams of change, and they had helped to coordinate the diverse ethnic groups of Ningwei into effective labor unions. As such, the labor unions of Ningwei were almost entirely under Communist control, with every union leader being a card carrying member. These facts aside, the Communist Party in Ningwei was not directly affiliated with the Hongmenghui in the northeast - any connections between the two organizations was personal. The Danes themselves had maintained a policy that had allowed the Communists to thrive, a policy intended to deter conflict in these uncertain times. Whether or not the new landlords would distinguish between shades of red was another matter, and the Hongmenghui were certain to make a push for more influence in the territory with the sale of land.

Xianbei Province
The restive provincial capital of Xianzhou had once been a peaceful place, but the introduction of Sikandari troops and personnel, along with the White Turban, had transformed the place from an idyllic desert hub into a haven for crime. The White Turban had grown in number and seized through force much influence in Xianzhou. The civil police force, ostensibly loyal to the Emperor, held little power; the White Turbans had established the law of the land, and they were easily bought by anyone willing to split their loot.

Further assassinations in the countryside had isolated the moderate element of society, and the war itself had ensured that any economic normality would not be restored in the near future. This had driven even more people into the arms of the White Turbans, who now numbered near to ten thousand men. Communist supporters in Xianbei, already almost non-existent, had become a scapegoat for personal vendetta's and blood feuds. Rival families would accuse each other of false loyalties, and all would die to White Turban vigilante justice. Fear of the reds was driven by fear of the White Turbans. It was clear that Xianbei, a once peaceful territory, would no longer be so.

It would only be a matter of time before the Sikandari deigned to send forth the radical Islamists to fight the Christians to the South who had enlisted themselves in the Communist cause now rising up to overthrow the Imperial yoke in Qiangzuo. While an ideological battle raged in the east, a religious one looked to be started in the west.

The Republican Front
Desperate for results, and with the funds to be able to afford risks, General Zhao Yue had made used the ten million taels to make large purchases of provisions for his men, which would ideally be held in stockpiles in numerous ports throughout the nation. The goal was simple - draw the Empire into Nianxu and engage them in a prolonged battle while withdrawing most of the valuable equipment and non-combat personnel further south. An international task force would doubtlessly be on their way, and rumors of Ban Jun's piracy were enough that it was likely the Imperial resistance to the south would be distracted between fighting the Republicans and deterring an international task force.

Sadly, any attempt by the international task force to deal with Ban Jun's pirates would inevitably lead to a war with the Empire of Yujin, but the Empire was increasingly losing hold of its ports and would be largely unable to resist a naval task force. By the same token, however, the international task force was not large enough to fully patrol the entire coast of Yujin, and Ban Jun was not the only supporter of piracy.

And so the Republicans launched counter-punch to the Imperial offensive at Nianxu, driving south into Ban Jun's forces, taking back the initiative and forcing the Empire back further south. Lumei was the goal; if the Republicans could seize the vital point city which served as a choke point between Cai and Ying Provinces, they would be able to hold off the southern Imperials long enough to move into the mountainous regions to the southwest of Nianxu. It was a bold notion, but within the mountains they would be able to hold out for years and build up a stronger power base.

 

[Serenierre]

Xianbei Province

By the middle of August, in this Yujiner Province, 15,000 troops from the Imperial Military of Sikandara had arrived and had seamlessly taken their positions in this forgotten province of the Dragon Emperor's realm, making great use of the chaos in the country and the laxity of the Yujiner border patrols along the shared frontier, which had now more or less fallen completely under the authority of the Sikandari intelligence service, since it had begun bribing those guards. Obviously, the Sikandari military's presence in the country was entirely unofficial, as the two empires were allies – traditional and ideological. But it was an open secret.

Heavy equipment from the Sikandari military had become a common sight in the provincial capital, Xianzhou, and Lt. General Haris Khan had frequented the residence of the Provincial Governor on many occasions, as well as other officials, all of whom were generously rewarded for their cooperation with the Sikandari contingent, as it operated in that legally grey space. But it was clear that the main city of the province was entirely under the influence of the Sikandari military. In the smaller towns and villages of the province's vast countryside, smaller delegations of the Imperial Military of Sikandara had made contacts with White Turban units, while the Sikandari intelligence apparatus continued to embed itself in the organisation deeper as its might continued to increase in potency.

Assassinations by the Sikandari Intelligence (SI) service in Yujin had been successful in eradicating many individuals who would have opposed the Sikandari presence; communists, Xianbei nationalists, local police commissioners. Anyone who stood in the way was eliminated without any second thoughts. A quick sniper assault was the preferred method. As tribal and familial tensions and conflicts ate up normal society in the province, it was easier for the Sikandari contingent to simply fill the vacuum. On occasions, when it suited them, a few operations were conducted against the White Turbans to show the populace that these foreigners were good protectors of the commonfolk.

It had been planned that, in the second week of September of so, gifts from the Emperor of Sikandara; such as sacks of potatoes or other staple crops would be distributed amongst some people in this war ravaged province. Where a military offensive raged, the Sikandari contingent, military and intelligence, was beginning efforts to win over the people of the land to the generosity of the Sikandari people. No one, in Shahdara at-least, could say how long this conflict would last. And it was in Sikandara's interests to have a very friendly Xianbei, to ensure no negative influences entered the motherland.

Rail supplies from the Sikandari-Mezhist alliance, with Franconian and Eiffellander contributions as well, were continuing without disturbance from Azirpur to Osmaniye on Sikandara's side and then to Xianzhou and onwards to Zhenjing. Millions worth of weaponry had been delivered to the Imperial side. The Mezhists were even sending over fighter planes and tanks. Sikandara had chosen to focus on supplies such as fuel and food, as well as infantry weaponry (along with anti-tank and anti-air guns) – at-least for the greater Imperial cause. The Xianbei operation was an entirely different matter.

On September 13, it had been planned for senior commanders of the White Turbans to meet with Lt General Khan in Xianzhou, in a meeting which would determine the direction of the conflict in the north.

 

[Großlausitz]

Azipur Port
Empire of Sikandara

Up to now it had been a relatively uneventful journey for Major Nikolaus Gutglaub, his soldiers as well as the Royal Navy sailors manning the battleship KMS Graf Montgelas and its auxiliaries. Whilst the latter were quite used to visiting strange new places and getting quickly accustomed, the young Major felt a bit overwhelmed: The sights and sounds of Azipur were so unusual and so different from his past, more Germanic and/or Slavic regions of deployment. „Say, Heuerbeck-“ he turned to his trusty Oberfeldwebel Josef Heubeck, who was a veteran of the Vangalan colonial forces (1), „ – what are these smells?“ His subordinate smirked: „These people know ways to spice and season your food you cannot even imagine in your wildest dreams, sir. If you try their meals, even your good old mom’s Schweinebraten mit Kloß(2) will taste bland.“

While the two men were discussing the finer things of Sikandaran cuisine and way of life, the sailors were busy coordinating the docking process of the Franconian ships. Much to their delight and pleasant surprise the port administration had seen to the timely provision of two freight trains, which were to carry the all the good stuff to the border city via Osmaniye city to Xianzhou city and, circumstances permitting, to the capital Zhenjing .

Meanwhile, a young man wearing the uniform of a junior officer of the imperial forces had come aboard. Speaking German with a hint of an accent he saluted before Major Nikolaus Gutglaub: „Are you Major Gutglaub?“ As the Major nodded, he continued, „the command of the imperial forces has assigned me to serve as your liasion officer and sort of pilot during your journey to the outskirts of the theatre of Yuijn. „Very well, may I know your name then for a start, my friend?“

(1) Staff sergeant
(2) Roasted pig with bumplings

 

[Serenierre]

Xianzhou
Province of Xianbei

The meeting between the Sikandari military and intelligence officers was conducted in secret in the outskirts of the provincial capital, in a safe house where until a few days ago, the Sikandari intelligence officers had been keeping a few of the women they had taken a fancy for. Now obviously whisked away, the house was barren and quite utilitarian. In a large chamber, with a floor-mat and usual recliners and the fragrance of jasmine oil incense everywhere, as was the custom in some Northern Sikandari tribes for meetings of importance such as this, the men from the White Turban sat crosslegged and stern-faced, opposite the Sikandari delegation of twenty men, each a high-ranking officer in their respective units within the Sikandari expeditionary force.

Following the usual displays of courtesy and politeness, the Sikandari commander, Lt. General Khan had been quick to remind the White Turban leadership about the generosity of the imperial exchequer, which had opened itself to support this fledgling movement, given air to a cinder and transformed it to a flame. The Lt. General had reminded them of their dependence on the Sikandari and how the trunkloads of gold bullion and nuggets had enriched their families and would support them for generations. Pushing them into a corner, all with the elegant grace of Sikandari ettiquette, the Lt. General had persuaded his guests to understand that despite the fact the White Turbans had defeated the Hongmenghui in the province, the true masters of the game was the Sikandari military.

When some of the White Turbans showed their displeasure, the intelligence chief, a handsome man in his early thirties had flashed a disarming smile, speaking in the most fluent of Xianbei dialects, eased their concerns. Telling these chieftains that the Sikandari motivation was only to ensure that the Hongmenghui and its foreign allies would not decimate the "righteous". As, he argued, the brutality of modern warfare spares no man, woman, or child and these Marxist barbarians would not fight in the chivalric manner expected of civilised men. And so, he had convinced them that the Sikandari motivation in wielding control had been to simply ensure that the White Turbans would not be outmanoeuvred by the nasty Marxists. And as a show of special generosity, the intelligence chief asked Lt. General Khan to provide each of the senior chieftains of the White Turbans with protection, have solely Sikandari soldiers guard them and their families, as the risk of Hongmenghui assassins was ever present.

From the Sikandari perspective, it was all of course a farce. They needed to control these men and if they could simply hold these leaders hostage through their greed for money and paranoia of retribution from the victims of their crimes, why bother killing the leaders? As always, if it would not work, the SI agents embedded throughout the countryside and with the militias of the White Turbans could deal with any annoyance if it arose.

But as the meeting drew to a close, the issue was raised of the Christian communists and Lt. General Khan had shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He had listened to them. In the end, he had decided to allow limited scale operations, skirmishes were allowed between these groups, only if the White Turbans could win each engagement. With the WT chieftains happy, as they left, Lt. General Khan was happy as well. As they would rip themselves apart, the communists and these "imperial loyalists", Sikandara would consolidate its position and be ready to provide a base for the Imperial Forces of Yujin, if they ever lost the main battle for the country. With Vangala, it had been learned that, leaving a government to flee its own territory was the biggest mistake Shahdara could make. No, if Yujin's Civil War went in a manner not to Shahdara's liking, there would be an entire province, perhaps more, ready to be held as a puppet Imperial Yujin which could host the government and the loyalists, all the while supported by Sikandara from the rear, ensuring a steady conflict which would drain whichever power became ascendent. However, if the Imperial forces won, the infrastructure being laid in Xianbei could prove to be vital in countering Vangala from more than one front and possibly be the base for agitation and in the armament of tribal communities in the northern belt of the Marxist nation-state.

OOC: What would the Chinese name for White Turbans be? I want something cool sounding like Hongmenghui to write about too

 

[Khemia]

Xianbei Province
Radical Islam had become an unexpected side effect produced by Sikandaran policies, perpetrated by a number of radical clerics of questionable origins. Some in Sikandaran intelligence had come to the conclusion that it was potentially an attempt by the Vangalan's, whose intelligence network in the border provinces was pervasive, to undermine the unity in the region given Sikandara's increasing role in the area. Any attempt to be subtle was lost, and the Sikandaran desire to stamp out religious fervor before it took too large a grip was noticeable. The bodies of several prominent clerics were found murdered in their homes, shot with their families.

The White Turbans, or Baijindui, were becoming increasingly well armed and supplied, but it was impossible to ignore the situation to the south, where Christians were becoming increasingly mobilized by Communist organizers, preaching about Christ's desire to create perfect equality by resisting the Dynastic elite centuries before. The parallels were impossible to ignore, and it was likely that the population in Qiangzuo was far more mobilized and militant than Xianbei. Where radical Islam appealed to the youth, Sikandara desired a pan-ethnic affinity and a hatred against the Communist threat - a threat which simply had not manifested itself in Xianbei outside of false flag operations conducted by Sikandara operatives. Mobilizing the population to fight a war on behalf of the Yu people, while promoting their ethnic minority, was a difficult task.

Qiangzuo Province
Guerrilla attacks in the high terrain of Qiangzuo have become a pervasive occurrence that has almost entirely destroyed Imperial control in the region. Gun battles in the capital of Dashan and along the Zhenjing-Xianzhou railroad are the only signs that Imperial troops are still present in the province, and Imperial control over even these strongholds is becoming tenuous. Hongmenghui units and their Christian allies have put Imperial forces on the retreat along the entire front, and the province is quickly at risk of becoming a staging ground for Communist raids into the Imperial heartland.

In the absence of Imperial governance, churches have begun organizing their parishes and have largely embraced the Communists spin on Christianity. Calling themselves the Tianxia Hehuo, the Hongmenghui work behind the scenes to ensure that the existing religious hierarchy will become the foundation for a Communist government within Qiangzuo, a province they have pledged to fight to liberate from Imperial rule.

The Battle of Liangang
Incessant gunfire echoes from the coastal slum of Xiruanguan as the Communist defenders in the pro-Communist sector of the city resist wave after wave of Imperial assaults. Southern Expeditionary Army units have become increasingly rare, and General Sun Daoshi himself has left the region to report to Xinhai Province. New Army units, lacking the integrity of their SEA counterparts, have begun attacks on civilian populations which can only be whispered about in refugee camps in both Imperial and Communist held territory. Chemical weapon strikes and incendiary weapons have been used on civilian and rebel populations both in Xiruanguan and in neighboring districts suspected to harbor Communist supporters. The fires of burning structures reek of burnt flesh, and the black smoke can be seen as far away as Seora.

The Republican Front
Republican troops have successfully broken out of the Imperial noose around Cai Province. Having launched an offensive against the small city of Lumei, a vital chokepoint between Ban Jun's forces in southern Cai Province and the Republican salient to the north. A rearguard fighting action is being fought in the outskirts of Nianxu as the battle encroaches upon that city, but many industrial parts have been stripped from the cities arsenal's and moved overland by man and horse-drawn cart to unknown locations.

The Imperial garrison in Meishan has reported an influx in refugees from Cai Province, and has requested an increase in supplies and aid required in maintaining refugee camps to sustain the population. The garrison lacks the manpower and resources to search through the refugees belongings and as such many of the Republican rebels from Cai Province have brought with them the industrial parts stripped from the arsenals of Nianxu.

 

[Serenierre]

Shahdara,
Empire of Sikandara

Babur Suleymani was on-board the chancellor's official train, en-route to Sheravan – a journey which would take a good six hours –*though through the marvel of modern technology, it would be as if he was still in his office, connected to the happenings in the imperial citadel by radio and telegraph cables. Sitting in his office, with the scenic sight of green forests whizzing past, the fifty three year old man puffed on a cigar sent to him by the Ambassador of Arendaal in Shahdara. He thought about the recent sinking of the Vangalan fishing boats. In fact the reason for his visit to Sheravan was related to that event. He would be offering an official apology to an increasingly erratic Emergency Government of Vangala. But the papers on his desk dealt with the situation in Yujin.

Over the past few months, several thousand pages worth of data had been collected by the agents of the Sikandari intelligence services operating in that hell hole of a country. In-front of him the latest dispatch from Xianzhou was anything but light reading. The rail-link from Osmaniye-Xianzhou-Zhenjing –*that oh so crucial rail link – was dangerously close to being severed. The entire scope and breadth of the Province of Qiangzuo was infested with the communist vermin. Obviously his Mezhist allies were privy to the same information and were concerned just as much as Shahdara at the possibility of their only link to the Imperial capital in Yujin being broken. But Suleymani was a shrewd politician and a patient man. He would not let the situation get to him – too much.

Osmaniye
Province of Khomestan

The city of six million was a dangerous city. Full of criminals, revolutionaries, and refugees. Divided along the lines of republicans and communists, imperialists and democrats. This city was experiencing a strange phenomena. Graffiti was appearing on the walls, sporadic wall-chalking here and there, calling the brothers to arm themselves and fight for the protection of their tribal brethren. Divided though these people may have been as Sikandari. Ancient traditions and connections of blood and bone were not forgotten despite the carving of frontiers on the mountain lands of this northern province. And stranger still was that for the past few weeks, this restive city was quiet. Almost serene. The usual bickering and fighting had stopped and the policemen could be at ease. The men of the city were leaving, of the younger kind, at-least. Leaving to fight. Leaving to gain honour. Leaving to fight for brothers torn from them in wars long forgotten. Leaving to die and never return.

The District Commissioner of Osmaniye had reported the trend to his superior but no response seemed to come. It was strange for a city such as this to be so calm. It seemed like another place.

Bunerabad
Province of Khomestan

This was the last town in Sikandara before Yujin started. Isolated from the rest of the country due to mountains and valleys all around, it was only the rail road that kept this small little town connected to the world beyond its horizon. The border guards who manned the posts knew that it was strictly restricted for any Sikandari citizen to cross over into Yujin but they had simply had no choice. It had begun as a trickle. Though now it was a deluge. Being as all low-ranking guards are, they were not the least bothered about breaking the law if they gained a few ashrafis at the same time. Though when the Intelligence agency operatives took over the border, these guards were left disgruntled and disgraced.

But now, the agents had begun arming these young men before they set off for Yujin, boarded along the trains that carried millions worth of weapons and equipment. A few extra ashrafi too would be pocketed by these young volunteers. Though in that small town of 15,000, only the prostitutes were enjoying the presence of so many young men, earning more than they ever could hope to have earned from the balding old men they had been used to for so long.

Giecz,
Mezhist Union

"Yes, sir." The Ambassador said as the man on the other end put the phone down. Picking up the phone again, he had the driver prepare a car for him and had his secretary phone ahead to the Foreign Affairs Directorate. Some things were going on in Qiangzuo, what exactly, they couldn't really say, but still events were not as ideal as the military planners were hoping for. The intelligence blackhole, however, was making things worse. Apparently the Chancellor was being flooded with pages after page, file after file of data void of much detail in the situation and filled instead with fearmongering theories of the analysts. But still, a congress was required with the Empire's main ally.

Zhenjing,
Empire of Yujin

The Ambassador of Sikandara was one of the few Sikandari diplomats still present, as consulates and non-essential staff had been withdrawn long ago, and his life had become rather excruciatingly stressful. The phone calls from Shahdara were increasing in their terseness and the tension was palpable. They wanted to know exactly what the Imperials could do to ensure the safety of the Osmaniye-Zhenjing rail-link. He knew the Yujiners would simply ask the Sikandaris to be patient. They were just not able to do anything at the moment. He also knew that a small expeditionary force had been sent into Xianbei to create a front of sorts for the Sikandari military, if it came to a full blown war, though he was not entirely sure if the Zhenjing authorities knew, or even cared.

But that day as he rode off to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he couldn't help but wonder when Shahdara would recall him and post some other unlucky bastard to the spot. He sighed as he saw the ministry building approaching in the distance from the window.