Sensou no Kikan

[Greywall]

The cold bitter air stung him harshly, frost daggering into his armor and a fine mist of exhaled breath flowing from his mask as he finally entered the warmth of the castle. "Welcome Lord Ikazuchi, Shogun has already started please follow me" the servant speaking escorted the Niaorinian into a series of hallways before entering a large room filled with armored warriors wearing colorful pieces of armor and wearing masks signifying, they were samurai. Amagumo Ikazuchi was as such, samurai, a lord of the Southwest and keeper of the old way. A few nodded at him in respect while most ignored him, he entered the room feeling the heavy warm air of the central boiler pushing the cruel cold out. The Shogun was already speaking when he entered and took his placed among the group.



"We cannot tolerate this, the Imperator-" Shogun Tokugawa flung his arm out with open palm as one of his generals handed him a letter and began reading it, "Has decreed, all Samurai must disarm immediately. Our guns, our swords, all of it. This shameful violation of the Takeda concord cannot be tolerated. It comes following the recent Elerian admission into the Sovereign Union and is merely to suppress our culture, our heritage, our very people." The Shogun handed the letter back to the general, he stood fan in hand the other resting on his sword, "I am calling all banners, I invoke Sensou Joutai! I intend to place the Nansei no Koutei back on the lotus throne. Our Emperor via the last lineage, Emperor Hanzo!" He pointed to a young man sitting next to him, a white plumed dove Niaorinian wearing fine clothing. "I ask the banners to honor their nation, and to bring their armies to their Emperor."



Silence filled the room until a few stood up, "I will not." Several stood up in anger, "Huh!? What do you mean Musashi!?" cried out one of the Samurai lords, "We are bound to the Takeda Concord, not this welp who looks as if the nest was warm mere minutes ago. Nor this Shogun now violating the law of the Imperium. Our nation is entering a new Union, one that will see us uplifted. It is time for the old ways to be undone. Do not follow this rhetoric to war, it will lead to nothing but needless death." Anger filled the room as some lords called out, "Coward! Traitor!" The Shogun tapped the ground loudly with his foot, "SILENCE!" the room fell quiet, all but those who agreed with Musashi went back to their knees, "Musashi, you stand with the humans?" Shogun Tokugawa asked, "I stand with my honor, my grandfather serves the Shogunate and the agreement so many of us bled to prevent the North Ryu using the Kumosenkan to evict us from our homes. Me and those who follow the true path shall leave here and part peacefully." Tokugawa nodded, respecting the bravery of the man facing a hostile room and saying his truth. "Go, no one is to harm Musashi. For he has told his honorable stance now, not in shadows or a knife in the back. As a true Samurai should!" many nodded as Musashi bowed to Tokugawa but ignored the Emperor, he and a few lords then left. Hanzo's eyes dropped to the floor, it was already a grim proposal but losing those lords made it even more so. He felt eyes on him but the ones he reacted to were Tokugawa's, "Are you all then, remaining to honor your Emperor? This Shogunate?" the room stood up and the lords silently nodded. "Then return to your holds, in the spring, we begin. Prepare your armies for war." The room dispersed, Ikazuchi saw the Shogun approach Hanzo and could make out "You really must be ready, for your people's sake." He left the room back into the cold, Niaorinians always hated the cold, it hurt more than most to the feathered kinsmen of the Nansei. He mounted his horse and rode to a column of riders flying a Blue Crescent moon emblem on an egg white banner, "We ride home, now, I want all my oath sworn to Buru Valley as soon as possible." he told his escort.



"What did the Shogun need my lord?" asked one of the riders, Ikazuchi was rather loose with customs and allowed his men to speak freely compared to other samurai lords. "We're going to war" Ikazuchi said as he tightened a warm wool blanket around his armor, "With the Ryu and Kumo?" Ikazuchi shook his head, "No. The Elerians."

Amagumo Ikazuchi, lord of the Blue Valley

-----

Iomairt

The cold winter had brought a blizzard to the city, Iomairt was a large city, once the crown jewel of the Seleucidinian Colonial Empire it now was the seat of power of the Elerian Imperium. General Darius Nowak grinned at the letter given to him, "Finally, moving up in the world as we should. Bless the Imperator and Imperatrix, this Sovereign Union deal will bring us unfathomable industrial support and military hardware we need." His fingers felt over the engraved emblem of the all-seeing eye pressed into the letter, "There's just the matter of the request made of the new allies of the Imperium, disarming the filth." The man speaking was Commissar Vincent Tkachenko, he like many in his ranks were simple political officers enforcing the will of the Imperator onto Eleria. The General huffed, "Those animals won't be an issue, they've become fat off our hard work and progress, lazy Niaorinian scum who refuse to adopt to modernity. No, we'll enforce this soon I want 30,000 men to start in the major hubs carrying out his grace's orders with extreme prejudice. Tell our Colonial settlements that any lords in their states must comply." The General went to opening a bottle of scotch to celebrate what he felt was a grand uplifting for his country, "and if they refuse?" the Commissar asked, The General laughed "We fucking murder them, they're an inferior race of savages who can't get past being savages. We'll massacre them as an example. I look to the violence that is to come with great anticipation." He drank, grinning at the thought of killing a people he felt held back the Imperium.

[Greywall]

Iomairt

Spring had come, 45,000 standard infantry began their move to disarm the Samurai lords. Only Musashi and a few lords answered to willingly lay down their arms. That meant the rest, refused, the Imperator ordered his forces to order full disarm with extreme prejudice. As the Elerian soldiers landed and connected with the 45th and 34th Infantry, a force of 10,000 infantry and 3,000 artillery guns they would begin their march toward the manor and castles of the lords demanding their arrest.

A ruthless sense of urgency filled the Elerian General commanding this operation, General Rian Gulliver wanted this to be done quickly and efficiently. He knew what was at stake, by bringing the last bastion of the Niaorinian upper class to heel it would secure the Imperium. The bulk of his troops had been eager for action, many Elerian humans hated the Niaorinians, years and years of forcing them to allow human colonization of the continent was still hampered by the Samurai lords pushing back. Many of the humans felt the Imperium could have been a powerful nation, the most powerful on Touli if it wasn't for the birds. 

The first castle was Tomiko Castle, ruled by lord Honda Tomiko. The Elerian infantry spread out and began chambering rounds into their Mk.-1 rifles. Several riders including General Gulliver approached the gate waving the Imperial flag, one rider played on a Franch horn announcing their arrival. After hearing nothing Gulliver bellowed out, "Lord Tomiko! This is General Gulliver of his Imperial Majesty's army. Come forth! You have been summoned to surrender your arms, the arms of your retainers and to surrender yourself for transit to Iomairt." Nothing. Not a sound. 

"LORD TOMIKO!" he yelled in anger, nothing. "He's ignoring you!" said one officer and that spurred the general to ride back in anger stirring his horse, "Tear that gate down now!" Several riflemen aimed at the walls as a group of men began tearing at the hard wooden gate. The Elerians expected a fight. An ambush, something. But as the gate came down in pieces and the first set of fire teams entered the castle they were greeted with the sounds of, nothing. "Sir!" one soldier came back running, General Gulliver's face now bright red with anger, "They're gone, there's no one here." 

Sure enough, after hours of searching and tearing the castle apart, they couldn't find a single person in the castle. "Where are they? Where are they!?" General Gulliver raged, his officer responded, "They took all their arms and the supply storages were empty. So they left the castle." Gulliver couldn't believe it. The Samurai lord had abandoned his home, "Send men into the nearby towns and find people who know where they went now!" 

Northern Eleria

The sounds of marching feet and horses filled the dirt road path heading to the Northern region. Shogun Tokugawa knew he couldn't fight for every single square inch against the Imperial Army, so he relocated everything to the North. The Samurai had a force of roughly 8-9,000, it paled deeply in comparison to the Imperial forces but Tokugawa only needed to buy some time till they could train more retainers and locals to join their cause. Eventually he would need to face them, he rode large and proud on his horse wearing full armor and pulling off to watch the army march by. Emperor Hanzo pulling up aside him sheepishly, carrying the weight of a child lost among men, Tokugawa was observant to this. He felt no condfidence in the spoiled and soft fledgling. 

Ikazuchi's forces were coming up in column and file, Ikazuchi wore his dark blue armor and facemask just staring down the road but noticed the Shogun waving him over. Ikazuchi waved at his head general to take lead of the column as he rode to meet the Shogun. "Watashi no shushou kano, yes my lord?" the Shogun took his broad wing slapping the Emperor to stop slouching, when the young man straightened up the Shogun shook his head. "This is what we have Gatsu, it's not promising." Ikazuchi knew what he meant, the Elerians would easily outnumber them in the first engagement. But it didn't matter to Ikazuchi, "We have more warriors, they have more soft skinned farmers given rifles." The Shogun nodded, but he was still rather unsure, "We'll fight them in the Kajudara Valley, there's our best chance to stop their advance North." The Shogun tapped the Emperor and the both of them re entered the marching column. Ikazuchi took a deep breath as if he was jumping into a deep chasm and resumed the march himself. 

[Greywall]

"My fucking leg!" the Elerian screamed, an arrow was lodged deep, its tip coated in wet crimson through the town fabric of his pants. The Sergent carrying him saw the doctor up ahead annoyed and waving him over to an area filled with wounded soldiers. "I can't right now, we gotta focus on the ones who need care the most." The Sergent placed the wounded man down as the poor soul wailed in agony. 

The Imperial army of Eleria was battered following their most recent battle with the Samurai, they had sustained losses along the Northeastern region and only gained victories seldomly. The last engagement saw the Samurai ambush the Imperial Army with bows, scattering infantry and leaving them as easy slaughter to the swift moving melee that came following. 

General Gulliver was frustrated, his only solace in this was the local populace refused to support either side. A Niaorinian rebellion across the region would be disastrous for the Imperium. His reports to Iomairt likely would have him scorned by the Imperator, it was now entering month two of the rebellion led by Shogun Tokugawa and this so called Emperor Hanzo. His forces outnumbered them 10 to 1 but if the Samurai received foreign add or inspired the locals to join them, then Gulliver would be looking at a prolonged war instead of an uprising to crush.

"I want us to send another detachment up the valley, have our long range guns pulverize this area, that's where they were last. I want no one, not a soul to return here until the birds are cooked and dead." Gulliver committed another large 3,000 man force to hit the area where they just sustained their recent loss, he was running out of time, his glory and honor that he felt were guaranteed was quickly slipping away. 

After a few hours he would hear the sound of Elerian artillery pulverize the Samurai positions, he took a deep sigh and hoped for success. 



----

Ikazuchi and his riders returned to the main encampment, several warriors cheered their arrival following their successful charge at the Elerians that sent the humans fleeing back West. The Samurai lord pulled his horse to the main tent where Shogun Tokugawa and the other lords were waiting for him, his own riders continued forward to their section of the camp where several blue crescent moon flags flew. Some handlers assisted the armored bird warrior off his mount, he let them assist him and retrieved his katana from the side of the saddle. As he entered the tent he bowed in respect to his fellow lords, the Shogun and the Emperor. 

"AH! There is the Moon warrior himself! We were just talking about you Ikazuchi!" the Shogun touted, he had become bolstered by the recent victories against the Elerians. Taking a large win and patting the Emperor hard on the back, "He did well, didn't he your lordship?" Hanzo meekly nodded saying, "yes....very....talented. Most well done." Tokugawa gave an annoyed look hearing the Emperor's halfhearted comment. 

Ikazuchi just nodded, removing his helmet and mask before taking his seat. Tokugawa slapped his thigh, "we have done well! But we're losing warriors, warriors we cannot replace. We need these damn peasants to do their duty. Serve their Emperor! Why aren't they joining us?" Tokugawa asked the question, but no one in the room would answer. For years the Samurai pushed the lower class Niaorinians around, taxes, land rights, even bedding rights to women. To say they would be well received...was wishful thinking. Some peasants might have viewed the Imperials as a lesser evil. 

"Ikazuchi! As my best warrior here, I want you to take Akio to the local towns. Recruit us some men, we need firepower too, so Haruto you need to find a way to cross the border and get us more guns!" The assigned samurai said nothing, nodding in affirming their assigned duties. Tokugawa's eyes traced back to Hanzo, still sitting as if a small child among adults as he hunched over. "One more thing, Ikazuchi. Find a hen for Hanzo." Ikazuchi looked up his eyes wide and showing a confused expression, he waited for the Shogun to laugh but it never came, "This boy needs to become a man. Find him someone. Maybe it'll put some pep into him." 

The room was already quiet, but the awkward situation had only become painfully clear to everyone in the rebellion. Hanzo was pitiful. A spoiled and soft child who knew nothing of being Emperor, let alone being a man. Tokugawa often mocked him in front of the Samurai, trying to anger the young lord, make him react hell do anything. But Hanzo stood still, frozen in fear and inability to do anything. The last of the Imperial line, Tokugawa was not confident in the Emperor at all. 

Ikazuchi prepared his horse for light travel, the nearest town was South of them and a days travel, Akio a Samurai lord of the Southeast would go with him. Akio had an orange emblem of a flower and arrow, his clan had ruled the Southeastern region for centuries. He kept a quiet and stoic demeanor at all times, even when he was told the Elerians burned and destroyed his home. "It can be rebuilt" he simply said when told his ancient home was now reduced to ash. Ikazuchi admired him, Akio was a model samurai, the people knew him as a servant to their needs. Tokugawa chose wisely, both of them were well received compared to the others. Other samurai lords abused the locals, like lord Tomahoshi, who pushed prima nocta on his people. Bedding married women on their first nights as wives. Ikazuchi knew damn well why the rest of the Niaorinian people were leaving them to fight alone, they hated the samurai. Eleria couldn't have picked a better time to exterminate them. 

[Greywall]

Months, it had been months since the rebellion broke out. General Gulliver had avoided sending accurate reports to Iomairt and illegally recruiting locals into his divisions to replace his troops. He didn't even report the Galrans sending equipment and advisors, the military courts of Eleria had been in a tempting arrangement with the Galrans and SU high command, receiving weapons and supplies directly to the mainland territory and not to Eleria proper on the island. 

Gulliver's forces had pushed the Samurai to the Northeastern corner of the country, he knew they were on their last line of defense and losing ground fast. But the Galrans wanted to talk to him about something before the final push. Something that would change Eleria forever. 

As Gulliver walked into the command tent holding the Galran officers they welcomed him in as if he was a long lost relative, "Ah General Gulliver, the bird slayer, I jest I jest. Come have some tea." The officer pulled a chair near the center table over looking a map of Northern Eleria and handed the general a cup of tea. Gulliver took it and drank while the officer spoke, "Well, those savages are nearly dead and soon humanity will rightfully control this land. As the lord shall wield it. There's just one more thing to wrap up." The Galran sat as he finished, Gulliver placed his now empty cup on the table "Which is?" he asked. "Removing the cancer that restricts you." The Galran said pouring himself more tea, "Eleria is a prime candidate for the SU, with the removal of the Shogunate the vast resources that were under their control and needlessly left unused can now be...harvested. The SU wants to strip mine the mainland Gulliver, the wealth of the mainland could feed our internal bloc economy and make Eleria very wealthy. There's just one issue. We need the Imperator removed." 

Gulliver sat there, his eyes beaming and looking around as if he was being tested. "You want me to support this treason?" Gulliver asked, the Galran grinned "I already have other members of the Elerian military onboard but you have a considerable amount of weight among the Imperial military. Join us, once the Shogun is dead you'll have the full might of the bloc at your disposal." Gulliver couldn't believe what he was hearing, he was Elerian and had served the military for well over 25 years, but if he was hearing was true...Eleria could be the empire it should have been. "I've served under Imperators and watched them close us off to greatness for far too long, it's time we built our empire." The Galran grinned, raising his cup "To the new Empire" Gulliver followed raising his cup "To the new Empire". 

The Galran then escorted Gulliver to a section of the camp, "To show our appreciate for joining us, enjoy your gifts for embracing a brighter future." Several tanks sporting the Elerian emblem were rowed up, freshly made from Galra and shipped to the front. Elerian troops armed with Tabh rifles that could fire several rounds and the sounds of machine guns in the distance reinforced Gulliver that he made the right decision, "Just one last thing" Gulliver asked, "Who leads the new Empire?" the Galran nodded at him "You will." 


---------

The Samurai were down to less than a thousand strong after numerous engagements with the Imperial army. Holed up in a castle, one of the last ones in the territory to recover and give their wounded some reprieve. Shogun Tokugawa was no longer boisterous like he had been, the impact of losing so many warrior and not able to gain the trust of the locals had broken him down. In a total 180 however Emperor Hanzo was far more bold, he had a new mate that he...enjoyed nightly and she was expecting to lay her egg soon with his heir. Hanzo was far more vocal in meetings but it was clear they were losing. In a striking and rather surprising development Hanzo suggested reaching out to foreigners for aid, something they couldn't really object to. 

"We need anyone, anything really, but it'll be hard to get. Anything getting to us here will be a tough task." One Samurai would state, the Shiysil had closed their border and positioned thousands of troops to kill anyone attempting to cross. The Samurai were utterly cornered to be slaughtered. They were running out of options, ammo, food and medical supplies were non existent. Ikazuchi felt the end was coming soon, they barely held on in the last engagement before fleeing east to the keep. 

A handful of warriors would be given the dangerous task of running to the borders of Kumosenkan controlled Elenria, the Tafatu Republic and one warrior was attempting to sneak into Frannerre for aid. It was their last chance. 

-----

Several days passed following Gulliver's meeting with the Galran, he assembled several high ranking Elerian military officials and discussed what was to come next. "We kill them all, every last Samurai. Then we march on Iomarit." As Gulliver went over the plan, one officer loyal to the Imperator made the journey West. Eleria was about to become a ticking time bomb. 

[Greywall]

The War had come to a pause, Elerian forces under Gulliver stopped reporting to Imperator Lawerance entirely as the SU pumped the tratior General with everything he needed. Talbh rifles, browning machine guns, Grinvel bi planes, Longstreet light tanks, SUMk1 Ratbird light tanks, grenades, mortars, artillery guns.

Gulliver began illegally growing his personal army, an army he called 'True Way', he wanted what was promised to him. To be Emperor of a new Eleria, his armed forces added almost 250,000 light infantry in a mere few months. Sweeping across Toulian Eleria and demanding Elerian governors and military officers bend the knee to him. Those who joined became high ranking officials in Gulliver's SU backed revolution, those who didn't were hanged. Loyalist fled to the island West, it was becoming clear week by week that Imperator Lawerance was utterly betrayed.

The Loyalist retained the best troops of the Imperium but Gulliver was severely outnumbering them swiftly and getting better equipment. Gulliver's forces in the West took every port they could so the SU could flow weapons, advisors and equipment at a rapid pace. The 16th Galran navy positioned itself between the Elerian island and Toulian territories, now protecting this flow of supplies and likely cutting off Lawerance from his empire on the mainland. In return Gulliver allowed hundreds of thousands of SU mining teams and companies to enter territory and begin mass stripping resources. Policies Lawerance respected to the Niaorinians were violated, thousands of Niaorinians had to watch as foreigners came to their lands and began destroying ancient grounds, hills, lakes whatever it took to mass ship materials and resources to the never ending hunger that was becoming the SU war machine. Gulliver centered himself in the old Shogunate castle in the South to direct his new empire, he just had one loose end to take care of. Kill the Samurai and then march on Iomairt.