Knock knock Knocking on the Imperium's door

[Greywall]

He had waited for an entire year for this moment, Imperator Lawerance had prepared his forces well on the outer western keys where they used their time in exile wisely. Using captured Galran Lancer fighters two Elerian squadrons would be mustered up for the assault to take back their home island from the usurper and his SU puppet masters. 

With little over 30,000 men at his call, 12 Lancer fighters, 300 field artillery guns, 400 mortars, 15 ironclad battleships, 40 destroyer minelayers, 25 torpedo destroyers, and a fleet of civilian ships that were answering the call to remove the usurper. Lawerance finally had what he needed, but it wouldn't be easy, the loyal underground back home reported a harsh regime supported by Galra and subjugating the local population. The SU Elerian forces were now invading Elenria leaving a paltry force of thugs and some Galran overseers to observe their strung up emperor of Eleria. 

But he had one trick up his sleeve, one the SU didn't predict to happen. 

He stood before his men, the Imperium flag flying in the background, he was proud of them. Damn proud. They left their homes behind to live on what was essentially a chain of small islands, they fished, farmed and hunted to survive. The exile would have broken lesser men, but these were Elerians. Their blood was iron and fire, and it was time to punish the weak willed Gulliver and his traitorous horde. 


"I wish we could meet under better circumstances, I wish it were under good drink and a hot meal, comfort among you all I take but never in or for granted. This is our hour, our moment, either we emerge victorious and march our righteous cause to the capital and remove the wart that the SU has placed on our nation. Or we die, we die honor bound for our ancestors for Eleria. But do you think that's how this will end!?"

The men cheered, "NO!" 

"Do you want Gulliver as your Emperor!? Autarch Applegate pulling the strings and sending your children to die as slaves for Galra?" 

"NO!" 

"Then join me! And let us take back, OUR HOME!"

The men roared, they were angry, furious. This was the only chance they would get, and even then if Galra responded with any of her might Eleria would need help. Luckily for them, Lawerance was two steps ahead. 

"Go back to your emperor and tell him now is the time, to leave his nest" 

Lawerance spoke to none other than Amagumo Ikazuchi, now head general of the Samurai rebellion. "Don't forget our deal Imperator, our people will honor this but only if you honor your pact." 

Lawerance nodded, "You have my word, now let's gut the bastards." 

With the last preparations, Eleria in the opening days of summer would launch a daring coastal assault on the Western shores of their island, coordinated with Emperor Hanzo and his Samurai invading the East. Forcing Gulliver to divvy up his forces. 

[Greywall]

The patrol on the Southern coast was a boring task, most of the coastal defenses were insisted upon the Elerian SU forces by Galra in the event of an enemy attack. 

Many SU Elerian soldiers were like their comrades invading Elenria, former inmates in prisons and mercenaries taking the long pay day. Armed with Galran guns and reinforced over time with new Lancer aircraft and artillery batteries. Gulliver slowly wrapped himself in a blanket of foreign weapons, foreign troops and more and more looked lost at what he was actually doing for his country. The Elerian population was slowly becoming more and more volatile toward his rule, miners and farmers were already slowing progress and angering his overlords. Not to mention his men could not find the Samurai rebels at all, this embarrassment was shrouded by the progress being made in the Elenrian front and Elerian resources being shipped out to feed the SU warmachine. 

Most of the Galran warmachines were shipped to the Elenrian front, 15 light tanks, whatever aircraft sent and mines were placed in the Eleria channel to protect the flow of supplies to the front. His reign rested on the strings that suspended him as a puppet for the SU. But he continued to delude himself into thinking it was the right choice. 



And then came the ships. 

Dozens of civilian ships raced toward the Southern coast of Eleria, with the entire Loyalist fleet, Eleria warships fired at the coast decimating the unsuspecting watchers as civilian transportation ships ran aground onto the sands of the island. "GO!" 

Hundreds of Elerian soldiers climbed down the ship as mounted machine guns provided cover fire at the SU forces, in a matter of minutes the beaches were covered in Elerian loyalists storming the island. Every alarm sounded off as SU forces scrambled to meet the invasion. Gulliver was informed sending him into a panicked frenzy. 

"How many are there?" 

"We don't know your grace, but the entire fleet that left with the Imperator is with them. We're holding them at the shelf but it won't be long until they breach the inland." 

"Send everything we have and inform the Galrans" 

The Generals looked at one another, the Emperor had become very reliant on the Imperium and her resources to rule and now facing this threat needed help. 

Imperator Lawerance watched from the safety of his flagship as it fired off salvos of heavy ordnance at the SU defenses. The desperate SU defenders made good use of Galran machine guns and rifles against their loyalist enemy, but every passing minute meant more and more Loyalist flooding the beach. 

"Increase our concentrated firepower on the Western ridge I don't want them thinking they can hammer us with those machine guns unabaited."

The Imperator watched as his order was carried out and Elerian battleships literally, DELTED the enemy position. 

"My lord, we're breaching inland." 

Lawerance nodded, "land the rest of our forces." 

In just two hours Elerian Loyalist seized 25 miles of their homeland back bringing the war back to Gulliver. 

After a year and a half of losing his homeland, Imperator Lawerance has returned

But it didn't stop there. 


In the East, Hanzo and his samurai launched a massive offensive 14,000 standard infantry, 9,000 carabineers, 6,700 dragoons and 300 honor guards completely disrupted SU farming in the East. Reports flooded Gulliver overwhelming him immediately, in a single day his entire hold over Eleria was fractured. "What reserves do we have?" he asked desperately. 

Samurai forces have reappeared after hiding for over a year invading Eastern Eleria

"Not enough to fight all three fronts your grace." 

The General knew what the Emperor was about to say next, "Alert Galra, we need reinforcements." 

The Samurai would fight a paltry force of light infantry and hastily conscripted mercenaries, Lawerance faced 9,000 standard infantry, 2,000 heavy infantry and 5 light tanks. Along with 200 field guns and 15 Lancer fighters on the island. Against his 30,000 men. 

Gulliver's desperate call for aid went far and wide, annoying Galra deeply, but even then. They prepared to send him 300,000 light infantry, 100,000 heavy infantry, 1,000 field guns, 1,000 howitzers, 300 light tanks. They would arrive in the fall. Along with this deployment was the rearrangement of Gulliver's rule of Eleria, he would have to now comply with Galran church officials in a forced conversion of Eleria and all Elerian resources would be seized by Galran companies as compensation. Gulliver agreed to it, much to the annoyance of his own generals. How much of Eleria would be left if left to a man with no will for its historic independence? 

[Greywall]

The Imperator's forces had made a sizeable beachhead in the island of Eleria, landing nearly all 30,000 of his loyalist troops and their equipment as what little forces Gulliver had left retreat inland to form a defense line at Ballachulish. Galran assets from Ashinara redeployed to engage the Elerian fleet and assist Gulliver in any way they could, the Elerian fleet drew back to the Southern most tip with heavy warships at point in the event to retreat back to the outer islands. 

As for the ground forces, it didn't take long for civilians to welcome back the Imperator with open arms. The next move would be simple, make a march on the capital, and to get there they would need to break the SU at Ballachulish. 

17,000 troops, 200 field guns all 6 stolen Lancers and 500 mortars would begin their approach to the city where 7,000 SU troops waited with 150 field guns and 200 mortars. Most of the SU forces were deployed invading Elenria and occupying the larger Imperium. Gulliver had gambled hard that being on the island would keep him safe. It did not. 

At 9:45 am, Loyalist forces opened fire with artillery batteries to the South of Ballachulish beginning the battle by sending SU soldiers running for cover. 

Elerian Loyalist approached the outskirts of the city engaging in small arms fire and reporting that most of the SU defenders were poorly trained and disciplined. Once again Gulliver left over 8,000 better trained troops in Iomairt to protect himself against the threat of a populist uprising rather than send them to the front. He was merely trying to buy time for Galra to arrive. Intense firefights broke all over the outskirts of the city as SU lines faltered hard from taking heavy losses. 

In the first day of the battle, the SU lost nearly 490 troops to the Loyalist 104. 

The skies of Ballachulish were the scene of the first dog fight between the Elerian Air Corps and SU Expeditionary forces. EAC shot down two lancers to their one loss. 

Members of the Elerian Loyalist attacking SU forces at Ballachulish

[Greywall]

Battle of Ballachulish

The situation for the SU was growing precarious, holding ground in the city was nearly impossible and aside from a stroke of luck holding the center of town the Elerian Loyalist were utterly slapping them around. It didn't help that alot of them weren't willing to die standing, only the ones who wanted the thrill of the fight would remain and face the Loyalist. 

As Loyalist slowly took Ballachulish and wiped out any of Gulliver's army, the proclaimed emperor was panicking back in Iomairt. 

"What do you mean they're heading South!? You mean coming here to aid us? I didn't call for the invasion force to break off!" Gulliver shouted as he was informed of regulars in the Elerian army leaving Elenria. "No your grace, they're defecting. They're marching to seize our coastal docks, along with any supplies for the invasion force and our national guard facing the Samurai forces East. We are in a dangerous situation. Literally surrounded." 

"Oh that's wonderful!" Gulliver said in a mocking tone as his mental grasp on the entire situation continued be rocked. "The Galrans are still months out, we have no communication nor control of our forces in Elenria and now we've lost the empire on the Toulian mainland. What else can FUCKING GO WRONG!?"
"Sire"
"WHAT!?" 
"The Galrans want to talk to you"

Gulliver's manic rage subsided for fear, as he patted himself down as if wiping away what had happened just mere seconds ago. "I'll be back, find us more men, I don't care who fucking cripples and mentally retarded children just get us fuckin anything!" 

Gulliver walked in a cold sweat constantly trying to fix his uniform. The uniform of the Elerian Emperor, his uniform. The one he made up for the position he lied to himself that held actual power and pride. He entered the old war room of the Imperial palace where several Galran officials waited for him. "Gentlemen, what do I owe the honor?" Gulliver said smiling trying to disarm them but it failed as in all things he does. 

"Gulliver." One of them said in a deep and annoyed voice, "The Imperator, the Imperator I remind you that you allowed to live. Will take Ballachulish soon. His forces are growing our scouts, not yours, report his forces here on the island have swollen to 50,000 and now he has all your regulars on the mainland....have we made a mistake in trusting your abilities Gulliver?" 

The Emperor felt all the eyes on him, "N..nnnno no. No. You haven't I can kill him, I have troops in Elenria still I-"
"Ok that's enough, I'm tired of your lying. The entire point of you taking power was to allow us to split the Elenrians and Kumo in half. But our forces are dealing with a stiffer resistance in Frannerre than we believed. And you, are disappointing. You have failed in everything you've done. But the Imperial State will not lose her newest province."

Gulliver gave an odd look, "Province?"

"The reinforcements will arrive and reestablish control of this land to its rightful rulers, us, you will be ordered to resign your position to a Galran governor. And once we have order once we have what we need. We will expand into Elenria and destroy the savages north. No discussion needed its been decided." 

"You can't...you are."

"Careful. You have so few friends left Gulliver." 

Gulliver was aware of what he was now, a pawn, he sold his homeland to the devil and the devil won. "We can defend this shithole til our forces proper arrive, but I want naval assets to retake the coast. I won't let the Elerian barbarians have our equipment. And...oh. Gulliver. That was it. You may leave now." 

They all stared at the man who sold Eleria until he left like a child scolded. He looked up and saw his chief general had heard everything. The General walked up to him, "Kill them, you are a fucking Elerian. Kill them now." Gulliver just shook his head, refusing. The general showed utter disgust. "Fine. They don't listen to me anyway." He removed his medals and marking from the uniform. "I'll do what everyone else is doing. And go fight for true Eleria." The General left Gulliver alone. Alone as was his state in life now, in totality. 

[Greywall]

Siege Of Iomairt

The Loyalist had taken Ballachulish during the cold winter season, SU forces fled in the bitter cold and many either succumbed to the elements or fled into the countryside to hide. Gulliver and the Galrans had carefully built up the capital's defenses as Elerian citizens began to funnel out for the inevitable battle. 

Gulliver had no control of his forces, the Galran advisors commanded them and were relaying messages to the navy via telegram lines up until the lines were seized by loyalist regiments on the mainland. They were now woefully surrounded, but the massive invasion force had been sent to reinforce them. Gulliver entered the main war room where they lurked in the dark over a map of the city, "We're still planning to hold out? My people tell me we haven't the food nor supplies for a siege." 

The Galrans ignored him, Gulliver was just a figurehead now, a failed one. The entire Elerian plan was a disaster thanks to his inability to sway the Elerians under him. "Are we holding up here?" Gulliver asked again, whether out of pity or annoyance he received an answer. "We've changed the plan, they're not coming here." 

Gulliver looked confused, "What do you mean? There's a sizeable force coming you sent for it surely-" 
"They're being redirected. We've told our nearby ships to intercept and relay our final orders. What happens now...happens." 

Gulliver just stared in disbelif, "Then...we"

The Galran looked up at him and nodded, "we die." 

The Imperator's forces numbering 20,000 strong surrounded every avenue of entering the capital. The Siege of Iomairt had begun. 

[Greywall]

The outer defenses had failed, most of the defenders retreated toward the Imperial Palace. Several SU troops surrendered into Loyalist custody while what remaining few willing to fight set up a final defense around the Imperial Palace. 

The Imperator knew what was to come, victory was inevitable. As Loyalist forces closed in, the firefights rippled into a deafening never ending assault on Gulliver's last strands of sanity. It had all failed, his attempts at being Emperor and earning Galra's appeasement, bringing strength to Eleria, all of it failure. 

He had only one choice to die as a true Elerian. He stormed into the war room where the Galrans without even looking up attempted to shoo him away, "Go away Gull-" the Galran looked up to see two revolvers sticking at him and his comrades in the hands of Gulliver who blew them away. The failed Emperor then ordered his men to deliver a message to Laurance, "Duel". 

[DrMedic]

    Laurence paced about the floor of his tent, his beloved Marina perched on the edge of a desk reviewing some documents whilst they waited patiently for news from their subordinates. The reconquest of Eleria had gone surprisingly well thus far, well enough to warrant a bit more than just concern from the monarchs. For all they knew, they could be marching straight into a Galran trap, but then again, what else could they really do? Spend the rest of the war in exile whilst Galra ran rampant in their beloved home? Let those in their charge suffer under the thumb of a foreign state? No, any red-blooded Elerian was far too proud for such matters, let alone the Imperator and Imperatrix. This entire time the couple had been quelling their rage, with Marina doing a far better job of it than her husband. For the most part, things seemed somewhat normal with her as opposed to Laurence, who had slipped into a state of righteous fury the Imperium had never seen before. Then again, the Imperium had never seen such a betrayal in all its history. Loyalty was a core value of the utmost importance within Eleria, yet it had come back to bite them when Gulliver had sought the aid of Galra for his coup. Fortunately the hearts of the people seemed to still lie with their true Imperator, though the speed with which Imperial forces buckled under the traitors' spearhead was disgraceful, a scarlet stain upon purest white wool.



    "You're serious about this little plan of yours then darling? I understand that you want vengeance, but to strike against Galra of all the states... I can't help but worry that it's a suicide mission. I mean, they've already brought what, half the old world to it's knees?" Asked Marina, poring over infrastructure and industrial plans, as well as the projected toll it would take on the treasury.



    "Mare, what choice do we have? As soon as Galra finishes sweeping through Reseria and Granuras, you already know where their sights are set. They've already put troops on Eleria, they've proven that they've got the resources to occupy a sizeable chunk of Touli, and our industrial base is not even remotely set up for a war against the kind of material and manpower we're sure to face. I was a fool, I was too slow to expand onto the mainland, we might've stood a better chance otherwise, but it isn't over until the last volley's been fired. You know that just as well as I."



    "But you know what you're condemning so many of our brave men to. How many mothers and fathers are going to lose sons. How many children will lose their fathers."



    "You know as well as I do that it's better to die free than live a serf. What with the horror stories making the rounds of the international press, a serf might be a lot better off than a Galran laym-" The Imperator was cut off by a whinny and a call from just outside the tent. A horse being so far deep within the camp surely meant something urgent. Laurence rushed to the door, more than prepared to tell someone off for breaching protocol if it wasn't worthy. A young woman, a junior communications officer by the insignias on her uniform, stood outside the tent as she rendered a salute to the Imperator, holding a telegram in hand. "At ease," he said as he returned the salute, taking the telegram from the lass. He only saw one word, "Duel, - Gulliver." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, considering whether or not it was worth giving the traitor the dignity of a proper duel. Traitor or not, he was an enemy, an enemy worthy of at least some modicum of respect.



    "Issue a response, lieutenant, keep it plain and simple. Tomorrow at noon, Imperial Road and Center Street, at the White Square, give him the liberty of choosing arms. Swords, rifles, revolvers, I don't care." He ordered, the lieutenant replying with a curt nod before mounting her horse and returning to the communications center.



    Marina glared at the Imperator, growing angrier with him by the moment. Why risk his life when victory was all but assured? "You're a damn fool."



    "You knew that when you said 'yes'."



    "I didn't think it was this bad. I'll tell the laundry to ready your uniform, then I'm taking a walk. Ceremonial or service?"



    "Service. This is a business matter, and I'm not keen on getting my whites dirty."

---

    Birds chirped from the treetops as the petals of the spring blossoms floated gently through the air, blanketing the ground in subtle tones of pink and white. The White Square was packed with people, men, women, and children of all ages crammed in tightly to witness what would no doubt be among the most historic points in Elerian history. The blue and white flag of Gulliver's Empire hung on the north side from a silver pole, waving gently in the cool breeze opposite the Imperial Standard. The contrast between the two was stark, the black, red, white, and gold of the Vexillus Imperii on a long vexilloid hanging from a gold crossbar and topped by the double headed eagle. At around 11:45, both leaders stepped into the white square as a deathly silence overcame the crowd.



    Laurence's voice split the silence, calling out to Gulliver as he approached. "I trust you've chosen your headsman's axe?"



    I’ve only, ever chosen, what I thought was best for Eleria. You left us in the dark Laurence, I wanted to bring us to the light.” The shrill wind pounded against the two men, sending both flags flying, “I failed, I lost, I now fight in our way. I choose revolvers”



    “Very well.” Replied the Imperator with a nod. He reached for the left side of his hip, drawing a large, bespoke, silver and gold revolver with ivory handles, ornate engraving, and a massive cylinder. He checked to ensure each chamber was loaded, saying a quick prayer within his mind to the Father, that his hand might be steady and his aim true before holstering his sidearm.



    Meanwhile, Gulliver drew both the revolvers from his hip, both nickel plated Ardamin 1872 Single Actions with pearl inlaid grips. He popped the cylinders of both and ensured they were loaded, before swinging them both shut with a satisfying click. His heart was racing a mile a minute, but he knew that this one moment was all he needed to seize it all. If he could kill the Imperator here and now, the entire Empire was at his beck and call, provided of course they didn’t turn on him.



    “Any final words, usurper?” Laurence called, taking a solid stance as he steadied his breathing in accordance with his life’s training.



    “Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!” Gulliver shouted before letting loose with both revolvers. Two rounds struck the Imperator squarely before he even realized what was going on. Instinct kicked in, sending his hand down for the massive sidearm on his hip. Five more shots rang out from Gulliver’s revolvers as he cycled them as quickly as he could, missing their target. The next two struck home and severed sinew and muscle as Laurence’s grip tightened on his piece, but the follow-up came with the distinct pop of a squib load. Bleeding, but conscious, Laurence raised his gun and cocked the hammer, steadying his aim at the honorless foe. Before he could squeeze the trigger, the next shot pierced his left thigh, cracking through the bone and sending him to his knees. Gulliver pulled the trigger on the gun in his right hand one last time as a much louder crack rang out through the square. Pain shot through his right arm as the frame of his ill-fated revolver exploded, no doubt due to the barrel obstruction caused by the squib. In this brief reprieve, the Imperator aimed his revolver squarely at Gulliver’s chest, squeezing the trigger carefully. A thunderous roar cut through the silence as three sabot petals separated from a small bullet, sending it screaming through the air as it ripped through the right side of Gulliver’s chest, knocking the wind out of him and piercing his lung. Laurence fired again, the next shot tearing through his foe’s throat causing a veritable fountain of blood to spray forth as Gulliver collapsed to the ground, writhing.



    Laurence struggled to his feet, barely managing to remain conscious as he limped over toward the traitor. He stood tall above him, doing the best he could to straighten his stance as unbridled hatred coursed through his veins. “Weak, honorless, and undisciplined. You’re no more Elerian than the Galran bastards you bent the knee for. Such a disgrace…” Laurence said, firing a final shot through Gulliver’s heart and leaving him for dead as he limped toward his wife. Despite his will to remain conscious, blood loss got the better of him as he collapsed to the pavement. The last thing the wounded Laurence saw was a sizable group of paramedics rushing to him as his vision finally faded to black.

[Greywall]

The remaining SU Elerians surrendered, throwing their Galran weapons to the ground and accepting their fate. The Blue all seeing eye flags would be taken down from the palace as the Elerian gold and black were brought back to full glory.

Across the channel the Elerian regular army met with Emperor Hanzo and his Samurai to celebrate the defeat of Gulliver, for the first time in years, they would celebrate as one people again. Samurai lords broke out casks of aged whiskey and Kumo styled Sake, Ikazuchi finally felt safe and warm for the first time in over 2 years. Their celebration on the mainland would be cut short, a rider of Clan Hirito came bolting in, he was exhausted and his steed was near to the point of collapse. "Foreigners! Foreigners on the Southern shore!"

Hanzo stood, it couldn't be the Galrans...not yet. "Ikazuchi, send a detachment and find these intruders." Ikazuchi bowed and would cease his drinking to prepare for the long day that would come, he would march South to meet these foreigners.