The Long War

Future & Past
101

Ramsey was now linking up with the Household Cavalry, they were brifing him on the comms situation. the other 3 regiments were having a well deserved rest from marching toward Drakkensburg.

 

he gathered the other Generals from the other 3 regiments and dicussed the situation.

 

“ok, now, we have lost contact with the Blues inside Drakkensburg, and we know that they are facing heavy communist attacks. so i propose we move the main body of our troops to Drakkensburg, inseed of the old plan of splitting the regiments up. i propose we send the Highlanders, Fusiliers, and the Household Cavalry into Drakkensburg, the black Tans shall move around the city with the 2 Air Squadrens and take this area which looks good enough to be converted into an airstrip.”

 

“souds good sir”. said Colonel Blake, the bloke now established as second in command since the death of Farmworth.

 

“yeah, does sound good sir.” said another jounior officer.

 

“ok then, so it’s agreed?” Ramsey asked

 

all the officers nodded.

 

“ok then, lets move, we’ll cover the Black Tans while they move round the city, then once thats finished, we’ll move in, the A-10’s will provide cover, as the 2 infantry regiments attack. on regiments will come strait in from the north, right into the communist rear, the second will move in from the west. ok. now i want the Highlanders moving in from the north, as you lot are used to being in the thick of things. and i want the Fusiliers moving in from the west. ok.” so brife your men, and i want us back marching toward Drakkensburg in 2 hours. it’s only another 7 miles. ok now lets go."

 

“yes sir.” all the officers replyed.

 

“good, dissmiss”.

 

with that the officers made there way to brife there regiments.

102

A Seydlitz moved into the rear of the royalist force, he noticed the Deltannians had arrived. They’d certainly taken their time, and the commanding officer was nowhere to be seen. But he couldn’t afford to be picky over this matter. He greeted the highest ranking officer, and made the fatal mistake of guiding him round the royalist fortifications…

 

The fight had toned down, as if the communists had turned their attention elsewhere, the royalists quickly fortified the rubble at the edge of town, the steamer on the river had also withdrawn a few hundred metres.

 

 

“We are in agreement then!” Chang smiled, “You may have a communist radio group for your communications… Once your troops open fire, a large assault will finish off royalist opposition, but we need this to happen soon, the early morning would be ideal, say 5?. The plan is that our barrage hits Seydlitz’s flank the Tagmatines and Adaptons move to help them and then we strike on entire flank left weakened, then we simply go straight past them and man the southern wall to protect against Adapton and Royalist reinforcements, what do you think?.It’s getting cold up here, and I must see to business back at GHQ, I’m sure you’re troops are wondering where you are colonel… It’s been a pleasure meeting you”

 

 

The plan was foolproof, or so Chang believed, the Adaptons would arrive sooner than he had expected, but they would surely still be setting up in the morning. The royalists had also underestimated the strength of Communist artillery, which had almost doubled in strength over the past few days courtesy of regular shipments from Morutau…

 

 

Meanwhile, the first royalist army regiment was moving through the ranges, the next afternoon, it would supposedly be in Drakkensburg…

 

103

The Tagmatine division had pulled back a bit, licking their wounds back from the frontline. The Communists had slackened off their attack, but everyone knew that this only meant that they were just preparing for another attack.

 

The mood in the Tagmatine force was very subdued. They were all experienced soldiers, so knew what to expect. Most were trying to get some sleep before the expected attack fell on them, but sleeping with their weaponry either in their hands or next to them. Those that were too nervous to sleep were checking and re-checking their equipment, and those of other soldiers. Everything was needed if the expected attack fell in the ferocious way it was thought, and if a mate’s weapon jammed, it could mean that you were shot. So was the line of thought amongst the soldiers. The arrival of the Deltannains had put a bit more heart into soldiery. More reinforcements against the Communistic horde that was arrayed before them.

 

 

Catacalon stood next to his senior adjutant, Major Godwin. Both men were nervous, but trying to not let it show.

 

“So, we won’t be able to break out, after all”, Godwin asked of his general.

 

Catacalon drew on his cigarette, blew out a plume of blue smoke and ground the butt beneath the sole of his boot.

 

“No, Leo. We won’t. Not until the Communist ring of steel is broken. And that will only happen when they break order to attack.” The major general opened his engraved cigarette case and took out another one, then realised he was betraying his feelings. “Well. Is every unit prepared?”

 

Major Godwin shrugged. “Best as they will every be, sir. Christ, even the regimental orderlies have taken to carrying around long arms at all times. I also see the Deltannians arrived. Hopefully that will tip the balance, and give us a bit more of a chance.”

 

Catacalon nodded, and went to look at his watch to check the time. It was smashed. “Damn! What do you make the time?”

 

“Only midnight, sir.” He looked up at the sky, illuminated by the various fires, either started by the soldiers to keep themselves warm in the bitterly cold January morning, or from the earlier barrage. “What time do you expect the attack?”

 

“Early morning. Probably an hour or so before the time of yesterday’s, so six o’clock-ish. That means I want everyone up at least 0430 hours. It won’t do to be taken unawares.”

 

Both men turned to look towards the glow eminating from the Communist camp, the whole horizon aglow with a false dawn, the vast camp spread out like a field of stars.

104

In the dead of night, the troop carriers landed quietly, and the troops disembarked. They began to move toward Drakkensburg. They managed to get a radio contact from the Colonel now, their orders were to arrive at their coordinates by early morning…

 

 

Colonel Ampers managed to get back that night to his troops, and began to move around, organizing. They had placed various companies throughout Drakkensburg, several battallions aalongside the Royalist forces.

 

Before the sun came up, Ampers got in direct communication with the Communist forces awaiting them. Battallions 2, 4, 6, and 7 were in place aside the Royalist fortifications.

 

Colonel Ampers prepared his pistol. He would make the first shot. He called four of his men along with him to one of the higher onduty officers in the camp.

 

“What can I do for you?”

 

Ampers spoke to the translator. They conversed back and forth, the officer waiting. One of the men ran off to his Company.

 

“Well?”

 

Ampers raised his pistol and shot him. All around him, every single Deltannian raised their rifles and began.

 

 

OOC: Another Royalist regiment is coming, correct? Also, sorry if I started too early…

105

Slightly before the Deltannians had begun their attack, a lowly Tagmatine sergeant, by the name of Valens Sharpe, had visited the Deltannian forces. He had spent fifteen of his thirty years in Deltannia, as his father was a small scale merchant who made his living trading cargoes between Kontos and Ankah. Valens had friends in Deltannia, and wondered if any had joined up to fight with Tagmatium against the Communist threat. He recognised one man who had often helped him in the docks in Ankah, and walked over to him.

 

“Hello, Frank. How are you? How’s the wife?”

 

He noticed the man was looking very glum, and presumed this was because of the fact that the Deltannian was about to fight his first battle.

 

“Hey, this is your first battle, yes? They’re not so bad, you’ve just got to keep your head down.”

 

“This is my first battle, but it’s going to be your last.” The man said it with no viciousness, only a hint of sadness.

 

Sergeant Sharpe looked a bit puzzled. “What do you mean?” He then noticed the man’s level submachine gun, heard the crack of a pistol shot in the distance. “Oh.”

 

The submachine gun blazed, and the Tagmatine sergeant fell into the mud.

 

 

A single pistol shot, followed by a burst of machine gun fire, was heard across the Tagmatine camp. A private, one of the pickets about the camp, looked up to see some soldiers moving towards him. He raised his .303 and shouted for them to halt. They didn’t. He shouted another warning, before firing his rifle, which took one of the men down. It also had the effect of warning the rest of the camp of the fact that there was now a hostile force with in the city. How the Communists had got in so quickly and quietly was completely unknown.

 

OOC: I hope I haven’t overstepped the mark with that post…

106

OOC: Tagmatium, all I need to say is “Ouch”. Sorry, wasn’t trying to steal your idea, but I wanted to add a similar thing. I always wondered what happened to foreigners living in other countries… Very sad,

 

 

Every company commander yelled, and at this point, with the movement followed by the pistol shot, rifles were heard in all directions. The few submachine guns began to let loose, and a grenade explosion was heard in the distance.

 

Ampers looked around him, shot another two men, and noticed that this area was now clear. “Let’s go!”

 

 

From the side, the marching three battallions had started to come within the vicinity of Drakkensburg. Perhaps the Adaptons would be near by now…

 

 

One man charged the soldier, and he lift his rifle and shot. Then another, and another. Backup arrived at his position, and they moved around the houses.

 

In the distance, one man was running across from them, and he was instantly hit. They continued moving along their path, as ordered.

 

The soldier stopped by the fallen man to take another shot. From the left, the few Royalists left began to fight back. He looked down, and saw the face of his own brother…

107

Ramsey had arrived on the outskirts of Drakkensburg, and was prepering to attack the city from the rear, the Black Tans had slipped past with the 2 air squadrens, with their planes still packed away in trucks. the Highlanders and Fussiliers were moving into positions, and the A-10’s were taking aim.

 

the plan was that the A-10’s would open fire on the town, then after a short bombardment the 2 other regiments would move in from the north and west. then the A-10’s would charge from the north west into a gap in the defences, which will hopfully have been created by the the pincer attack.

 

“Right lads, we’re ready, on my command attack”.

 

Ramsey then picked up a radio and preperd to commence the attack.

108

Seydlitz swore, thing’s weren’t going well. He’d been up for two days, now his tired troops were fending off Deltannians. It wasn’t any good though, they outnumbered and outgunned him. Just as he called for a retreat a Deltannian bullet hit him in the side and he fell into the spring mud groaning. Now his troops gave up hope and fell back slowly, taking their wounded commander with them to the south.

 

Fortunately, some of Kinishira’s best troops had regrouped and were now attacking the city - they were starting to get on top of things, but then the communist barrage opened up. The shots from the reds overstepped their mark and fell straight into the royalists. About 70 were left, defending a small stretch of wall from the 14,000 communist troops now charging through the morning mist, making much easier progress over the mud outside the city which had frozen solid.

 

The Communist Troops smashed through the Ide Jimans on the wall like hammer hitting a sugar cube. Every last troop died, and now thousands poured into the city, into the sheer chaos. Now a massive streetfight was taking place in the city, Reds would cheer when they met Deltannians, and power on deeper into the Labyrinth of alleyways and huts.

 

After three barrages, the communist guns turned against the Adapton troops advancing into the city. General Ryuzen, the Red Leader fought alongside his troops with a rifle, picking off any enemies who looked like officers. The Steamer made a second run packed with troops at the city, towards the river - Seydlitz’s responsobility and sailed clean through. They disembarked on the southside of the city and began to shoot at Royalist Ide Jimans falling back through the south gate.

 

 

For a moment something threatened the Red Advance, enemy tanks were forcing a pincer movement, and the Reds were dangerously short on ways to destroy them. Although the tanks headed for a secure trench network, it had no way to destroy them. Red gunners aimed as best they could for the observation slots in tanks, whilst flamethrowers were diverted to trying to catch the engines alight. These methods were proving to be of little effect. In the end, the reds tried to immobilise the tanks - which was easier said than done. Grenades, or basic rocket devices fired at the tracks proved to be the best way to achieve this, but infantry were still a problem.

 

The artillery seemed to lull. It was aiming in fact, for an Adapton force to the north of the city. Over 1000 guns were now bearing down on the force in the north, but they were experienced and well armed troops, coming dangerously close to their goal. The Red Reserve would have to be called into action to counter this…

 

 

One of the Reds recognised a landowner he had a dislike for trying to make a late getaway through the south gate. The man and his family were put to death, and Seydlitz was nowhere to be seen. On the part of the Ide Jiman military, what had happened had gone beyond humiliation. The Royalists were overshadowed completely by foreign allies, and now the Reds were potentially capable of seizing the entire northeast of the country. As what was left of Seydlitz’s and Kinishira’s troops retreated gunfire continued in the city. Perhaps a glimmer of hope remained, an Ide Jiman regiment was approaching by rail from the south, it had switched to a direct route and may arrive sooner than previously thought…

109

With the Red Troops flooding into the city, all of the Deltannias cheered as they came. Position after position advanced until all of them were driven out.

 

Now, however, they looked toward the Adapton force already at their doorstep. The Deltannian forces were scattered throughout Drakkensburg, they were unconcentrated when the Adaptons were charging.

 

The Adaptons became surprised, however, when three Deltannian battallions came in on their flank, giving their allies enough time to regroup…

110

Ramsey sat atop a A-10, as the firing contiued. he continued the the attack, as he looked to his flank and saw the 3 Deltannia battalions, and he laughed. as a scout reported to him.

 

“sir, 3 Delta Battalions aproching our flank, they seem to be in a hostile stance.”

 

“haha, foolish Deltannians, 3 Battalions, we have about a full brigade in the area. well, the Highlanders and Fusiliers are quite a distance away. but we will be outnumbered if they reach us here. ok”

 

“what are your orders sir”

 

Ramsey paused. he then turned and in a large voise said.

 

“we will commit the Household Cavalry to the City, in a Blitzkrieg fasion, then as the Delta Battalions aproch we will about, and strike the Deltas with the full Brigade. head on. we’ll cut them in half and scatter their forces. that will teach them to mess with us. inform the officers, then get a message sent to the Williamsongrad, tell them we have been attacked by Deltannia Forces.”

 

“yes sir, shal do.”

 

the scout ran off, then Ramsey turned to the commander stting in the tank he sat on.

 

“Captin, send a message to your fellow tanks to turn about and fire 3 5 shell vollies on the Delta Forces before we commit ourselfs.”

 

“yes sir.”

 

once the message was sent the regiment turned about, and began fireing at the Delta Battalions.

111

“General, we must attempt to break out now, or we die when the city falls!”

 

A senior officer bellowed in Catacalon’s ear as the noise of battle and the thunder of artillery blotted out normal conversation.

 

It was as Catacalon had thought earlier. An attempt to break out when the Communists were advancing forward, expecting the beseiged to be behind their defences, rather than sallying out against the beseigers.

 

“Right! Move all the brigades towards the main northern gate. If we don’t move out now, we’re buggered!”

 

The senior officer nodded, but didn’t mention that he had already said that. He ran back towards his units, and forced them back into formation, and began to push towards the northern gates of the city.

 

Colonel Damian tapped the Major General on the shoulder. “Permission to lead the sally, sir!”

 

“What!?” An explosion ripped through a near-by building, causing it to collapse, filling the air with yet more dust and noise.

 

“I said, permission to lead the sally, sir! The cavalry would be just what’s needed. The Communists would be reeling from our charge, allowing you and the infantry to escape. Just my battalion, sir. Don’t want to leave you short-handed.”

 

Catacalon considered this. He knew Damian was no glory-seeker, if he was he’d still by in Tagmatium. It would mean almost certain death for the cavalry, but would allow the infantry to retreat without suffering many casualties. The Major-General had always doubted the use of cavalry in modern warfare, but they way still have their uses as shock troopers.

 

“Well, then Colonel. Form your Cabalarii up. The SCB’ers will force the gate.”

 

 

The two Sevrun Colonial Brigade battalions charged at the chaos around the gate, the gate-house with the fury of the desparate. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t get out. The last Red was throw off the parapet, and the Tagmatine cavalry battalion formed up inside the gate. The heavy doors were swung open, and the ranks of horse passed through at a light trot. Communist attention was drawn away, facing further north. Unknown to the Tagmatines, this was were a small Adapton relief force was approaching from. The cavalry broke into a quicker trot as they got closer, then into a gallop as the first Communist bullets began to find hit the armour they wore, showing it to be as useful as the wool uniforms they had underneath against modern rifles.

 

“Charge!” Screamed Damian, pushing back his heels into his horse’s flanks and pointed his lance straight at the Communists. The man beside him took a bullet in the chest, falling down and taking out the horse behind as well. Damian felt his lance slam into a Communist, shatter and he pulled out his paramerion to continue the fight with it. The shock of the charge was begining peter out, and the superior Communist numbers begining to tell. Surrounded by Reds, Damian was isolated from his men. His paramerion became stuck in a Communist, who’s fall dragged the sword out of his hand. He tore his Webley and Scott .455 out of its holster, fired off its cylinder, shooting more or less indescriminately into the press of Red soldiers.A bayonet speared his horse’s neck, and the beast reared up before falling sideways. Damian was trapped under his horse’s weight, and he struggled to reach his pistol to reload it. It was kicked away from his grasp, and he looked up to see several Ide Jiman bayonets plunge towards him.

 

The dawn of the new day revealed the true extent of the battle, and that it was still going on.

 

Catacalon marched the remainder of his force off to the north east, away from where Damian’s battalion charged the Communists. It was a subdued force that retreated away from Drakkensburg, and a much depleated one. Fully half of the cavalry and a quarter of the infantry were dead, but the isolated pockets of Damian’s unit were still being mopped up by the Reds, preventing a pursuit. There was, however, heavy gunfire in the distance. What that heralded, Lord only knew…

112

Ramsey had commited the Tanks to the battle for the North Eastern sector of Drakkensburg, and the area had almost fallen. the Highlanders had pushed right through, with medium lossed, same to for the Fusiliers. the three regiments had linked up inside the city, and were ready to push out, as preper to about their attack. as they about turned, and faced the northern gates. they saw the Tagmanine Cavalry charging. Ramsey yelled at the top of his voise. “COVER THEIR RETREAT!!!”. with that a Battalion of Fusiliers who were closest to the Tagmantines charged to the Cavalry flank and gave a covering barage of fire at the Reds, which were fireing on the Tagmantine Cavalry. “get that Battalion to cover the Tagmantine retreat all the way to the northern coast if they have to.” Ramsey Screamed.

 

once the Fusilier Battalion had charged with the Tagmantines, the rest of the Fusiliers Regiment, the Highlanders, and the Houshold Cavalry had about turned, and were heading for a head on colision with the Delannian Forces. Ramsey hoped for Shear numbers to overwhelm the Delta Force to the north, and now the Tagmantine retreat hung in the blanace also.

 

Ramsey lead the charge with the A-10’s, fireing blindly into a smoke screen, which was a result of the contant bombardment. the tanks roared past, and and the infantry followed. it was a full Brigade charge, against a mear 3 battalions. but would the Deltannians prove to out smart the Adaptons?

113

The three battallions came around to the Adapton front. The lead elements realized that they had been ordered into a trap.

 

There orders were to hold that position. Three battallions, not even a full regiment, wouldn’t be able to hold a brigade of better armed, better trained soldiers. But, in Deltannia, orders were orders, and they had advanced, and then quickly dug in to their positions. Now help would have to arrive for them…

 

 

Drakkensburg was almost over, but now they began to regroup. The Reds seemed quite happy, the city was almost taken by now. And, because of the surprise attack, casualties had been light.

 

Two battallions began to regroup, and pushed for the Adapton force. They rushed to lengthen the line of the rest of their regiment, while the other one regroup. Colonel Ampers found Major Kori who now held command of the other regiment.

 

“Major, you must regroup your men. When you have three battallions up, push towards the Adaptons!”

 

“Yes, sir!” he said, running off.

 

 

OOC: How big is your brigade, Apadtus? Whether it’s liked or not, even in this era, the same standards stood for the Army, so one battallion is 500 men, one regiment is 2000. I just realized that instead of eight, I have ten battallions, so it’ll be 300 men total in Ide Jima. Also, just for reference, A Colonel should command one regiment, but in this case, they gave the extras to one colonel. That’s why a Lieutenant Colonel is put into use here, and the Major has an increased force size.

 

I know that it puts odd proportions on the sizes of groups in my army, but I do it for standardization. Therefore, at this point in time, the Deltannian “Army” may not even be the size of an army. At this point, the ten battallions is actually a good sized force of the miniscule army

 

Sorry, I went on into rambling mode…

114

Ramsey’s Tanks lead the charge toward the Deltannian positions, blasting the line, the Fusiliers charged the left flank, the Highlanders the right. then as they got closer the A-10’s dropped back to cover and the Highlanders charged, with fixed bayonets, they pounced into the Delta lines, the fusiliers followed on the left, using their grandades. a sergreant from the Highlanders jumped into a Deltannian trench with his Sterling L4 and began blasting the trench. “AHHHHH!!!” his voise screemed as he finished his magazine a corporal turned and shouted back at him.

 

“sarge, on top the trench!” and the young lad brought his rifle up it was to late, his sergeat was now standing up only by the bayonet of a Deltannian. “noo!” the corporal shouted, and then fired at the Deltannian standing atop the trench, he felt to the ground instantly.

 

meanwhile on the other side of the trench line a young Private in the Fusiliers had just jumped into the fighting. as a tank shell bust infront, he took a bit of shraple in the arm, then looked up to find a Deltannian infront of him, the young private had droped his rifle as the shell went off, so he picked up the nearest thing he could, being a shovel, and thrust it right into the enemy soldiers neck. the private imediatly fell to the floor and called for a medic.

115

The Adaptons had rushed them so quickly, and in so many numbers. Already they had lost several hundred men in the initial charge and since. There was a hole on the left, the Adaptons began pouring in when several Deltannians were moved from the right. Ammunition was being expended at great amounts, the main supply “trains” would come from Drakkensburg. Their trannsports had already left for their next assignment somewhere else.

 

On the left, the battallion commander was pushing the last of his men to plug the hole. He put his pistol away and picked up the rifle of a fallen soldier, and quickly shot several bullet, two of them hit. The Adaptons fell, and he began to shoot again. The line was about to shatter completely, he killed another one and rushed forward to plug the hole himself. When the man besides him noticed he was shot, the confusion began. The Adaptons had breached.

 

 

“Major, tell your men to double their pace. We need to get northward now.”

 

“Of course, sir. All battallions, advance!”

 

The march picked up, and with rifle ready, four of the seven battallions were now marching toward the Adapton force.

 

 

“Sir, the area is quiet.”

 

“Good, try and find the Major and ask for our orders. We don’t want to just sit out here and do nothing…”

116

Ramsey was now in the thick of the fighting, his tanks bumeled the Deltannian lines so much the ground was pure mud, and no grass was left. as the men pored through the lines, the were now fighting hand to hand. a elderly Highland Sergeant Major ran at a Deltannian Soldier, and with bare hands began fighting him, as they wresteled he managed to pick up a rock and began bashin the young Deltannian lad as hard as he could, till his scull was crushed. he then looked up, to see his men progressing even further.

 

Ramsey was still atop his tank, a group of Deltannian soldiers jumped out at his tank and began to climb the side. Ramsey immediatly picked up his Sterling and sprayed them with a full magazine, but still 2 kept climbing, he then drew his revolver and fired a round each at the 2 enemy soldiers, killing them outright. he then stood up atop the tank and began to bark out commands. “come on! destroy the traitors, if they have renforcements in the area, they will counter, so destroy them quickly and defend these positions, HURRY!!!” he then heard a large ping, and fell back down. a bullet had struch the side of his helmet, but had deflected off, he was lucky. unlike his college.

 

_______________________

 

Meanwhile the massage had been resived in Williamsongrad, and at the Adapton Defence Ministry, the preperations were made to delcare war again. Prime Minister Williamson would anounce it this time. he steped on a large podium out side the Adapton Defence Ministry and began his speach.

 

“people of the Adapton Kingdom. i regret to infrom you that once again, trouble overseas, has forced us to take action back at home. our Expaditionary force in Ide Jima, was attack, not by Ide Jiman communists, but by Deltannian Soldiers. as we speack, our forces in Ide Jima are fighting a hard battle against our new Deltannian foes. Our Navy’s and Armies, and new established air Force are already on the guard after the first delcaration of war, now though, the lines of war will strech from the western islands of Europa, to the central peninsula region, and all the way to the north, this indeed is a world war, sparcked by one countries split oppinions. my people we are at war now, with the Deltannian people. our Navy has taken a defensive line right across the coast to defend, you. my people do not fear, out joint efforts with allies across the Region shall prevale, with our hearts set, and our minds focused, we shall not fail, for our nation stands strong.”

 

Williamson then stood down from the podiium and walked off, toward the ADM, and began preperations for the formations of a new Regiment.

117

The red offensive was petering out. Marshal Ryuzen’s troops in the city had slowed down and it seemed that most of the momentum was lost. There were no Ide Jiman troops to be seen, the Tagmatines had slipped out under a cavalry charge and now the Adaptons and Deltannians were locked in combat.

 

Ryuzen entered the old royalist HQ, where the commanders had been a day or so earlier. Immediately, he was on the radio to Chang, calling up more reinforcements.

 

Already on the way from Morutau, 13,000 freshly raised troops. The communists had received thousands of recruits, from peasants looking fight for a worthy cause. By the time of it’s arrival the fifth ‘red legion’ would nearly double red strength in the area.

 

Already many of the various artillery pieces had turned their attention toward the Adapton forces engaging the Deltannians. The communists were moving smaller pieces to the southern wall to defend against the royalist regiment coming from the south.

 

As the Deltannians and Adaptons smashed each other to pieces, 1300 cavalry set out from the communist rear to try and see what had happened to the Tagmatine troops. The reds had broken a cavalry charge, but now where the Tagmatine troops should were there was nothing…

118

The Holy Emperor of Tagmatium once again stood on a stand in St Constantine’s Square, in the centre of Tagmatica, the Imperial Capital. Once again, it was an offical speech, but one that carried news of the very confused events in and around the Ide Jiman city of Drakkensburg.

 

"Citizens of Tagmatium, I have some very grave news to relate.

 

For a period of weeks, our soldiers have been engaged in the Ide Jiman city of Drakkensburg. As you all know, our soldiers have been reinforced by those of our northern neighbour, Deltannia, who joined forces to fight the Communist threat in central Europa.

 

However, this was all a pretence. Deltannia, to further its own mysterious ends, foully struck our soldiers in the back and attacked our forces and those of the Ide Jiman Royalists once they had tricked their way inside the fortress. This is an act of treachery that Tagmatium will never forget.

 

Therefore, I have to annouce a formal declaration of war against the Grand Dominion of Deltannia. Any and all Deltannian assests in Tagmatium will be seized, and their embassy expelled. If Deltannian citizens wish to leave the Holy Empire, they will be escorted to the border. As well as this, no Deltannian vessel will be allowed to pass down the Borean Strait.

 

Deltannia has acted first in this scenario, and in an especially disgusting manner. They have shown themselves to be a nation of hideous and filthy beggars, triple slaves and sons of dogs, ruled by a group of peasants dressed only in animal skins."

 

Leonitus then stepped down from the podium and returned to the Imperial Palace complex.

 

The mood in side the capital after the Holy Emperor had broken the news was one of betrayal and shock. Deltannia and Tagmatium had always maintained friendly relations, and there was a large minority of Deltannians living in Tagmatium, especially in on the north-eastern coast and in the port-city of Kontos. Any of the Dominion’s citizens that wished to stay in the Holy Empire would have to do so under a police guard, and would not be made to feel welcome.

 

Similarly, the Borean Strait fleet of the Holy Imperial Navy had now been given orders to escort to port any Deltannian-registered vessels attempting to use the Strait as a means to travel to southern Europa, incase they were trying to supply their troops in Ide Jima, or to give aid to the Communists.

 

 

The Tagmatine troops were falling back fast. The remaining cavalry battalion was being used to screen their retreat, but was to also fall back quickly if any large-size enemy force was seen, snap-firing with their SMLE’s as they feel back.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Dassalus, now the highest ranking cavalry officer in what was left of the division, was the first to spot the pursuing Communist cavalry.

 

“Bugger. Men! Draw long arms!”

 

His cavalry halted to draw their rifles from their bucket holsters, and cocked them.

 

“Once the Reds are in range, I want each man to fire a round, then retreat. The infantry should have formed square by then. That’ll drive the Reds off and we can continue our retreat.”

 

Each Caballarius looked through his rifle sight at the cautious advance of the Red cavalry. They had obviously seen them, and were not that willing to adventure into the range of their .303s.

119

OOC: This might be a good explanation for why everyone hates the Loyalist party… Also, rememebr at this point that Deltannia is much smaller than it is today. We don’t have anything that far West (Well, it isn’t centralized, but the region is once part of the old Deltannian government long ago…). Also, sorry for posting so many points…

 

 

“This is mayhem. We’ve received two declarations or war on this very day. The news reporters are itching for something!”

 

“We need to tell tehm something. This is your fault Senator! Sending that Colonel of yours into Ide Jima!”

 

“You wanted it to! We all agreed, we all voted, and we all demanded to see Deltannia in the world. is this what you asked for?”

 

“By your suggestion, Senator,” said another. The five were sitting at a table, all arguing. “We have to make a move. Tagmatium is expelling our people and our assets as we speak. They will do so quickly, efficently.”

 

“Lockdown the embassy, but don’t expel them at all. Tell police to keep an eye on the citizens, but secretly. Let the world see the corrupt Empire before them. We were just helping our friends in Ide Jima. Two nations, full armed, beating up on our helpless nation. Let them come to our defense.”

 

“If I may suggest something, Senators. Perhaps we should ‘retreat’ from this war. we can engage with the Red Army in cognito. We can help the Reds, and remove Deltannia from the scene. After all, Adaptus and Tagmatium are both vauable allies. Or, were.”

 

“Excellent plan. But for now, we will announce or war to the Deltannian people. If it backfires, we must have a defense.”

 

 

*Deltannian Radio News…*

 

“…And so, my fellow Deltannians. We find ourselves in the mist of battle against the tyrannies of our corrupt region. Two of our fellow countries are against us this day! As of today, we are formally at war with the Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium as well as the People’s Federation of Adaptus. Rise up and take arms to protect our glorious Lady Deltannia! Rise, people of Deltannia!”

 

 

Adaptus was less of a concern, although still a great concern because of its close proximity. Tagmatium, however, was the main worry, the only nation with a border to Deltannia. Scrambling quickly, al of the regiments of Deltannian began to form. They were ill equipped, the main force of anything off in a far away country, fighting to their utmost.

 

At sea, Deltannia had always been powerful, much more than on land. If Adaptus wanted a fight, Deltannia would give it one. Their battleships were state-of-the-art, great powerhouses that would defend the waters if needed.

 

And, Deltannia was a nationalistic country. Everyone would fight for the cause, to protect these invaders. Already, people were marching to recruitment centers. Would their be enough supplies to go around, though…

 

 

He had lived in Tagmatium since he was a child, when his parents came from across the border. They had a family business for years, they had made all of their friends here. Now they were no longer his neighbors he lived with. His family would be persecuted, like many others here.

 

When the police came to his door, he ran to the embassy. There had to be something he could do. All he did was find it locked down, police on the otuside. They arrested him. He wasto be trasported to the border, or sent into prison…

 

 

The remaining men were contacted, they were told to retreat for their lives. The rest of the Deltannian force was coming in hot, they would be upon the Adaptons shortly.

 

Colonel Ampers was pulled to the side for a minute by one of his aides.

 

“Sir, we just got word from Headquarters.”

 

“Headquarters? What’s going on?”

 

“Adaptus and Tagmatium are both launching full-scale wars against us.”

 

“Deltannia doesn’t have a strong defense at all, especially against the Empire.”

 

“Yes, sir. We’ve been ordered to continue, but this doesn’t look good for our nation. They’ve told us they may have a plan for us.”

 

“It better be a very good plan… Alright, let’s go check on the forward advance.”

 

FROM: Deltannia

TO: The Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium, the People’s Federation of Adaptus

 

Long have our nations stood side by side in peace and harmony. Long have our nations been prosperous in the sight of each other. We would not liek to disturb this harmony, and it seems as if Deltannia has unfortunately done so mistakingly. We only wished to aid the Red Force, much like you yourselfs would aid the Ide Jiman Royalists. This alliance has proven unfruitful, however, and not worth the price of the economy, society, and future relations of our glorious nations. Perhaps we can all set this aside for the sake of our futures.

 

If you decide to ignore this request, know that Deltannia will defend itself against invaders, and that you will be the attackers inthis scenario. We wished it would not come to this, and unfortunately, it has. Obviously, our small nation is of more consequence than the greater issue at hand.

120

To: The Grand Dominion of Deltannia

From: The Kingdom of Adaptus

 

we are hounered with your letter, and fully agree with you. however due to Adapto Policy, we can not compliy. we reget to inform Deltannia that due to Adapton Internations Policy that, if in anyway your military crosses paths with ours on opposing sides, and are to fight, then we much be at war with that your state. we are sorry about this, but we carnt have an alliance or nutral stance you you , if our forces are in combat.

 

Also, all Deltannian officials have now been either aressted or deported. and, to finish off, the outcome of events in the Ide Jiman theater shall deside our actions back up north.

 

Micheal Tomson

Forigne Affairs Office

Kindom Of Adaptus.