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Post by Moshel-Generał on Jan 30, 2021 0:01:48 GMT -5
Portsport was the largest port in Galra. Located in the Duchy of Silton it a massive set of dockyards, all of which were in use. The city hadn’t seen this much work since the war ended a few years ago. Having had the High Seas Fleet forcibly scuttled to appease the victors of the Staol War was something of a sticking point for many in Galra, especially the Imperial Family. While it was never the largest fleet on the seas, they had taken pride in having a large fleet. Now it sat, destroyed. However, that would not last forever.
The streets were filled with the citizens of Galra. The police kept the main road clear as the Imperial Guard rode their horses, escorting the Pantherae who sat astride the Imperial Panthers. The guard was just for show however, as anyone could tell from looking at the crowd that there was not a soul who wished them harm. They waved to the crowds who cheered them on as the parade approached the docks. It was here where the most important action was taking place. Every drydock was filled, every shipyard hard at work. Workers welded and watched as the steel hulls were constructed. Out in the harbor watched the last two remaining Battleships of the High Seas Fleet, standing guard over their siblings.
Victor and Lynn walked around the docks, escorted by the local Admiral who was overseeing the construction. They listened as he pointed out the new ships and spoke about the plans for even more. They shook hands with the dockworkers and even autographed a few hardhats and photographs. They even toured a Battleship that was nearing completion, taking a look below decks. They spoke praise for the workers and promised that in the future the work would continue.
After touring the docks, they had dinner with several naval officers, discussing both the previous war and the future. Dinner went smoothly, with the crowds being kept at bay by the local police. Finally the Pantherae gave a speech, speaking directly to the crowd. The speeches were broadcast both live and later on the next day so that every citizen had a chance to listen.
Victor:
“Fellow citizens of Galra. It has not even been a decade since we were forced to concede defeat to the rest of the globe. Now they mock us, having forced us to scuttle our navy and cede our land. We were brought to our knees and forced to accept outrageous terms to protect our citizens, even giving some over as hostages to foreign powers. As you know well my father was against these terms. But the government disagreed, wanting peace at any cost. Now we face a new age. Our enemies are distracted, glaring at each other and concerning themselves with colonization. Our largest foe has collapsed entirely. The Entente is no more, the Shah persona non grata in his own state. Our heartland remains untouched of war, and you, our citizens, remain ever strong.”
Lynn:
“As my brother said before me, we are arriving in a new era. The globe sees us as a failure, a weak state incapable of being a threat. They do so at their own peril. We have learned the lesson of failure from the war. I was there on the front lines as our soldiers fought. I watched as the enemy forces invaded our homes, destroyed our houses, killed our families. We can never let such a tragedy occur again. Never again can our fellow citizens be left at the mercy of these barbarians. The cowards threatened to starve us into submission. They threatened to kill us all if we did not submit. We cannot let a situation like that arise again. As a Pardus I swear to stand by you and protect you from those who threaten us. Never again will we give up our fellow citizens to these hostile powers.”
The speeches had a mixed reception. While the people cheered and popular support for the Imperial Family rose, the Aristocracy watched nervously. It was clear that public opinion blamed them for the loss and for the unfair treaty forced upon them, and in contrast believed that the Imperial Family had the solution. They watched as their power slipped away and was grabbed by the Pantherae. It was only a matter of time before they rose to power and at that point, they would have absolute control over the Imperial State.
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Post by Moshel-Generał on Jan 31, 2021 22:19:00 GMT -5
Imperator Volant was growing old. He no longer could walk without using a cane. He had reached the age of 70 this year and he really was starting to feel his age. He walked down the halls of the Imperial Palace, looking at the portraits of the Imperators before him. He smiled softly at them. These were the men who had looked after him. It was due to their own writings and traditions that he had made it through the last few years. He stopped in front of the portrait of his father, looking up at the man before him.
“I will be joining you soon. I can feel that my time is coming up.” He looked directly into the portrait’s eyes. “I am leaving the Empire in good hands. Victor and Lynn have taken the reigns of the Empire all on their own. Unlike me, I was too weak to control the nobility.” He sighed and looked down. “If I had been just a bit stronger, we would not be in this position. However, no point in crying over the past. The next generation is stronger than ever.” With his piece being said he would continue his walk, moving past the blank space on the wall his own portrait would cover once he passed on. The servants in the hall bowed as he passed them. He might not be remembered to much by history, but for now he was the beloved Imperator.
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Post by Moshel-Generał on Feb 3, 2021 17:22:17 GMT -5
Volant absentminded petting the aging Panther laying around his throne. Like all Imperials they had been partners for life. He half listened to the ranting of the nobles in front of him. With their own power waning they kept coming to him to complain. Usually about how his children were breaking all the norms of Imperial life, which was true. Both of them had actively participated in the war. Both had thrown their support behind the newest political party. For the first time in a long the Imperial Family was not docile, and the nobles expected him to fix it. He sighed quietly to himself. These nobles were fools to think that he had the ability to control them even if he wanted to.
Finally the day was done. The last of the complaints had been dealt with and he could finally relax, or that's normally how it would work. He still had a meeting. This one however was very private, and confined to his office, not the throne room. He drank his sweetened tea and smiled at the old man in front of him. "Archprimate Herman, how are you doing this day?"
"I'm doing well your Majesty," Herman said with a small smile. He sipped his water. "I believe you have much to discuss with me?"
"Correct." Volant sighed and the two began talking. It wasn't until the old Panther grumbled that they realized that they had gone well into the evening. Volant rose and shook the hand of the Archprimate. "Thank you for meeting with me. I will be relying on you."
Herman laughed and held on just longer than necessary. "Who knows maybe it will be me relying on you? Don't sell yourself short." With that they parted ways and Volant went to go to the dining hall, followed by his partner.
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Post by Moshel-Generał on Mar 9, 2021 16:49:03 GMT -5
Archie Chapman was the Governor of the Fiefdom of Nemia. Nemia had once been a much larger fief, and much more prosperous. The current state known as the United Agrarian Republic was once part of it. He smiled slightly to himself as he remembered working with the Silurifos on the coast. Nowadays he was just governor of the Nematos, the inland versions of the species. It had taken a while to get used to them but after 20 years as governor he had gotten their quirks down pat. However it had come to his attention recently that when he had been forced to flee the governor's mansion during the war, he had left behind his grandfather's pocket watch. This watch had a lot of sentimental value, and he knew that the Silurifos were not ones to steal, so he decided to take a vacation and head into the UAR, hoping to meet with a few and get permission to visit the mansion and find his watch.
He took the car into the one city in the region. The area had always been agricultural, and now without the Galran government over them, even less effort had been put into maintaining the minor industrial infrastructure that had existed. He stopped in front of the local police station, figuring this would be as good of a place as any to start. As he entered the receptionist looked up and yelled something backwards before gesturing him into a backroom. He was confused but did as he was told, ending up in the meeting with the Chief of Police.
"Governor! Welcome back," the Chief said with a sort of bubble. "We were wondering when you would return. Sorry about the state of things, when all the engineers left we kinda let the grid fall into disrepair. When are they coming back as well?"
"I beg your pardon?" Archie looked extremely confused.
"Oh and we've been storing taxes in the bank, the collectors haven't come in a while, but it should all still be in the vault, I can take you there for an inspection if you wish." The Chief rambled on and on, Archie not able to get a word in otherwise. After a few minutes the Chief handed him the key to the mansion, asked when the kids would be back, and then sent him on his way. He walked in stunned silence to the mansion where he walked in and picked up the phone, amazed that it still worked and called the Princeps.
"I, um, I think I just annexed the UAR."
Soon after a hurried joint session before the Imperator it was decided to officially reintegrate the UAR into Nemia, with Chapman remaining governor of the newly restored state.
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Post by Moshel-Generał on Mar 11, 2021 11:54:28 GMT -5
"Gentlemen, we are in the end stages now," Volant said addressing the Joint Chiefs. "The world has seemed to forgotten our existence, drunk on their own victory. If the news is to be believed the Aegis Pact is on a warpath with their former allies to our east. It seems as though bidding our time will work." He coughed. "Though as you are all aware, I will not be the one to lead us to the future. The doctors have given me at most one more year. Thus it is time for me to name my official heir." He paused and nodded to the door where Victor would enter alongside his panther. "Victor will inherit the throne as Imperator." The Joint Chiefs nodded, acknowledging his decision. "Lynn has already taken the necessary steps and when Victor ascends the throne she will take over as Princeps. Our goal has finally been achieved. The corruption has been purged from the Imperial State."
There were grins all around. The Joint Chiefs had never been a fan of the power that the Nobility had had over the Imperial Family. However due to their oaths they were forced to sit back and watch. So to see the old Imperator finally back in a position of power they were pleased. Especially since they trusted the leadership of the new generation. From there the meeting descended into menial talk, including the new task of returning the garrison to Nemia proper. The most difficult thing would be pest control. They all knew it was likely that it had gotten to unsafe levels. It was decided that the biological unit would be deployed to deal with it, along with a few flamethrowers, just in case.
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Post by Moshel-Generał on Mar 21, 2021 12:44:27 GMT -5
There was cheering in the streets of Portsport as the new flagship of the High Seas Fleet left the dry dock. What excited the crowd even more was that Imperator Volant himself was there to witness the newly rebuilt fleet. For the it may have only been a few years since the war, but the citizens of Galra were pleased to see the military back in shape, ready to defend them from the aggressive nations abroad. After all they had all seen the statements from the UKUG, banning trade. Granted this had not affected Galra to any major extent. After all the war had prevent trade with that region of the world anyway, and most of Galra's trade was by land. But the aggressiveness of the UKUG was not to be overlooked. Citizens were recommended to prepare for the cowards of the Aegis Pact to launch an attack, after all they feared Galra.
Meanwhile in secret Galran agents were meeting with resistance cells in the CTSS. Many native Galrans had been forced into this state by the victorious powers of the Fifth Staol War. This would have to change. The cells would receive covert funding, and begin their campaign to spread unrest. Protests would be planned and staged. Local government authorities would be provoked into overreacting. The important aspect would be to show that there was no love for the current government, and most important thing was that the protests would always carry with them the Imperial Flag and Standard of Galra, calling for the intervention of the Imperator to save his people.
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Post by Moshel-Generał on Mar 24, 2021 16:26:41 GMT -5
Volant coughed violently as he laid in bed. The Imperial Doctor shook his head at Victor and Lynn, there was nothing more he could do. Volant gestured for the doctor to leave him and his children alone. As he left Volant turned to his children. "It has been a good few years," he said shaking his head. "And I could not be prouder of you two." They held both his hands as he coughed. "I could not be leaving this state in better hands. I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you."
"There's no need to apologize Dad," Victor said giving his hand a squeeze. "You have given us so much. There was only so much you could do."
"Yeah, as Vic said, you've done more than anyone could have expected," Lynn smiled at him. "Raising two kids without their mother and being an Imperator is more than anyone could have asked for you to do." She leaned in and hugged him. "Thanks Dad."
Volant weakly hugged her back. "You two have been the best children anyone could have ever had."
He coughed and leaned back in the bed, closing his eyes. His breathing got shorter and shorter, and in short he breathed his last.
Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong.
CRRRRRRRRR. This is a breaking news alert. Wellington Imperial Palace has announced that Imperator Volant has passed. Pardus Victor has ascended the throne as Imperator Victor III. The Wellington Stock Exchange has announced it will be closed for the next 2 days. Now we have a recorded address from Imperator Victor III.
"Citizens of Galra, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that my father, Volant, has passed away today. He has served the country since he ascended the throne at the young age of 16. Most of you know him just as the Imperator, but I want you all to know that he loved all of you. Lynn and I may have been his biological children, but all of you were his children in his eyes. He loved all of you."
In four days time a military procession will take place in Wellington in honor of the late Imperator. In order to allow all citizens to pay their respects a bank holiday will be declared, both on the day of the procession and the day of the funeral. All networks will not broadcast comedy sketches until after the funeral as a sign of respect. God bless you all, and long live the Imperator.
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Post by Moshel-Generał on Mar 28, 2021 16:14:22 GMT -5
"Thank you for the report Mr. Doyle. You may go." The catfish bowed his head and left the room, having delivered his report. "Well there you have it, the Gaelians think themselves above reason." The Imperator sighed and looked to the Joint Chiefs. "It seems we need to prepare to be invaded."
"Those idiots just want to be relevant," Hefrin said shaking his head. "They're so irrelevant in their own alliance they have to make up an enemy to fight." He shifted the papers in front of him. "I'll order the High Seas Fleet to Victoria. So long as we take no one should notice them moving. We'll also secure the Milsevain Bay, it won't be too hard to keep their Navy out of our waters."
"The Air Corps will aid you in that endeavor," Harris said handing over a sheet of paper to an aide. "Jointly I think we can deny anyone military access through the strait."
"Seems you two have that covered, Marshal Ernest, what is the status of the Imperial Army?"
"Ready to go. Everyone wants to give a bloody nose to the bastards if they attack."
"Good good. Now remember, we are not to start this war, we can sit back and let the Gaelians dig their own grave diplomatically."
The IMS Victor I and her sister ship the IMS John I were the last two remaining battleships of the High Seas Fleet from the Staol War. As such they were the public image of the fleet. So it was them and their escorts that headed to the strait. The fleet steamed ahead, knowing full well their task was to be seen and to hold the line, whatever the cost maybe. The ships would keep to Galran territorial waters for the most part, or close enough to it. Since there was no need for most shipping to head into the bay it was expected that nothing would happen. After all Galran shipping was mostly done by train and the CTSS was in economic chaos, as well as had a long coastline for trading outside of the bay. The fleet would pull into port in Nemato, where the sailors would mingle a little with the locals. There was an joyous air in the region, after all the return of the Imperial State to the region was something that was celebrated. The last few years had shown that the area could not function, and did not want to function, independently. Additionally the marines and local border guard would be reinforced. Enough troops to act as protection, in case someone tried to do anything stupid.
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