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Post by Greywall on Jun 25, 2022 22:25:31 GMT -5
Winter 1929
The electric fan violently slung its metal blades circulating the warm air within the room, it was directed toward a man in his late 50's who was sweating profusely. His breathing was labored and he couldn't focus his vision at anything but the floor, this was Baraka Okeena the President of the Union of South Touli and he was having a panic attack. He was slowly coming to, he had been put in shock from a letter he received from Seleucidinia, they had defaulted on the loan. The UST drew a 12 billion ruble loan to improve infrastructure and double their resource output, it would have created an economic windfall for the UST finally bringing it within the threshold of being the country it wanted to be. But it never happened.
Half finished projects, military officials taking a cut and corrupt politicians dipping into the loan for their own benefit killed the development and with the UST economy no better than what it was, repayment to the Shah was impossible. To make matter worse the gold used to back the UST currency was used as collateral and shipped to the Shahdom in order to obtain the massive loan. That gold was now gone, the UST banknote was worthless.
It was all too clear what this meant to Okeena. His nation would collapse, it was always on the verge of splitting up from the various tribes refusing to modernize and integrate or the damn North refusing to embrace Unionization. But with no currency, no money, no real way to hold it together the Union was dead. Okeena had one option, strip mine the gold from his country to back the currency as fast as possible. He needed time, his contacts in the military could buy it for him, he had looked the other way for them before when they wanted something and now it was their turn to pay him back. Okeena straightened himself out in the chair he had been slumping over in and reached for a telephone, he called in every single favor owed. The corrupt nature of the Union government was that you did a favor for a favor, and the President was calling all of them in. He needed mines to work 24/7 365 to strip out as much gold as possible, he needed the military to push natives deeper away from roads and free them up. He needed the North to double production.
More importantly he needed to do it fast, once word got out the UST was bankrupt it would trigger his enemies. He could hold onto the large Union Army to enforce so much for so long but eventually they'd need to be paid too. He had to get the gold dug up, it wasn't up for negotiation, within hours of his phone calls everything went into motion. Mining companies called in every worker to pull long grueling shifts, union troops began entering tribal lands and ordering them to move, and northern officials pushed their workers to work even in the dark. It didn't take long for people to notice, something was wrong, the UST was always a step from being a complete shithole but this was extra.
A week would go by, workers were pushed harshly, tribals were getting angry and rumors spun fast on why the UST was rapidly digging and mining as hard as it was. Gold would be pulled up and shipped almost instantly on horse drawn carts to the South. Companies began hiring new workers rapidly and putting them to harvesting everything they could. In a matter of weeks on paper the UST double its economic output, but its currency was worth virtually nothing and the workers were exhausted. Treatment of workers was terrible, simple requests for water were met with hostility and anyone stopping would be met with punishment. The situation was tense, but by the Spring of 1930 the UST had gold to warrant its currency to measure just enough to pay salaries in government.
With the results they were getting, the working conditions did not let up, it didn't take long for people to start dying from over exhaustion. Furious workers in the Northeast began discussing demands for better pay or the work to let up, meanwhile in the Northwest the anger fueled more and more talk of secession. Everything was now a pressure valve, preparing to blow.
Spring 1930
Protests break out in the Northwest, people demanding answers on the harsh working conditions and for Union troops to stop enforcing private company working demands. It was met with violence from Union troops who used clubs to break up the protests. Things got out of hand in the Central region as tribes began fighting, demands from Union army officials were ignored and tribes started waging small wars across the country after being pushed into one another. The workers of the Northeast formed the Touli International Communist Party and delivered their demands following a full on series of labor strikes.
Okeena was close, just a few more months and he'd have enough gold to begin talks of paying the Sele back. He needed more time, but he ran out. As all UST government officials do, once offered money they gave into a favor. This time it was a state secretary who leaked it all out. Word traveled fast across the Union, the government had not only failed to maintain the financial integrity of the nation but forced the massive drive of labor abuse to make it up. It was the last straw for many, the Communist now refused to return to work until proper reforms were made and the Northwest began organizing a proper secessionist front calling for the formation of a new nation. The Tafatu demanded the Union allow their exit but Union troops with guns ended that debate quickly.
Tribe warfare continued to get worse disrupting travel within the UST and shutting resource flow completely down. Okeena ordered the military to put down the warring tribes sending in thousands of troops, it snowballed into an absolute quagmire as several tribes now began uniting to fight the Union Army. With everything spiraling out of control Okeena called for a state of emergency, every solider of the Union army would be called up and sent to maintain order. The mines, despite warnings within the government, would be kept open. Okeena needed the flow of resources to continue, it couldn't stop or the Union would die. Even with everything going on he could still save it, but the events were sent in motion already. South Touli was about to implode.
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Post by Greywall on Jun 26, 2022 16:44:44 GMT -5
A couple days later
Union troops were deployed in mass, waging a war on native tribes in the central region, enforcing law in the Tafatu region and violently cracking down on Communist protestors. It seemed for a moment, everything would fix itself, Union troops used overwhelming firepower against the primitive tribes slaughtering them. 3 entire divisions of infantry and artillery were being used to violently push tribes into the Central Mountain region, what went from a simple suppression of violence became something much more as entire villages were being set ablaze and crimes carried out on the locals. The Union Army, which was one of Touli's largest, created to protect a free state from colonials was committing the atrocities it was supposed to prevent.
Okeena received the reports, but he didn't care, in his mind the tribes refused to adapt to what the world demanded from the Union. Word would spread of the Union Army butchering men, women and children to remove the 'troublesome' rabble of South Touli. State controlled papers rolled that the natives were attacking settlements and that the Army needed more men for the fight driving some recruitment of light infantry to send in. The Southern population was utterly ignorant of what was happening North of them, content with the status quo of life moving along as long as materials fed the coastal economy.
The sense of control returning if not being expanded was a false sense, Tafatu leadership was organizing for more than protests and the Communist were now ready to return what was given to them. Tribal leaders began to organize themselves against the greater threat, leading the tribes would be Khoza Mambi a war chief of one of the larger tribes. Khoza began organizing tribal forces to ambush instead of meeting Union troops head on, they would hit soft targets and retreat. Khoza a firm believer that the modernization brough from the main continent has poisoned Touli was adamantly against using guns, but it was impossible to win without them. Khoza would send emissaries across Touli to acquire what his people needed, they were fighting a war for survival and pride of the old ways would just hasten their death.
The point of no return had come, Communist were reaching out to outside support and planning to raid a Union army camp for weapons. Tafatu officials were reaching out to neighboring Frannerre for help, and the world now knew the UST was on the verge of civil war.
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Post by Greywall on Jul 2, 2022 19:29:53 GMT -5
<<<<<<WARNING THIS ONE IS DARK>>>>>>
Kids die, rape implied. Pillars of fire rose from the green valley, screams and shouts mixed in with the roar of the flames and the synchronization of gunfire. “FIRE!” shouted a captain, and a volley of metal ripped into the flesh of men, women and children running in fear. “Kill them all! Every single last one of them! Burn the homes!” shouted the captain, his men were laughing as they took to torch the yurts and houses of the village. Crying infants were bayoneted and thrown into the flames by blooddrunk madmen who were enjoying the slaughter, “sir! Some survivors have gotten away!” one of the soldiers stated, the Captain shook his head at him, “Forget the cowards, let them run away. Find us some women to take back to camp, we’re going to celebrate.” The group gathered a few survivors, men and a few women but slew the children right in front of them, devastating them. “Disgusting rats, they deserve it.” one soldier proclaimed after pumping a round into the head of an eight year old boy in front of his young mother, her screams ignored as she was dragged off by cackling men. A rider on horseback rode up through the carnage to the captain, “Captain Yakando, you have orders from General Taronki. You’re to march North with the rest of the Fifth Army.” Captain Yakando cursed under his breath, “Goddammit, didn’t even get a chance to enjoy myself from these miserable tribals. What the fuck are we marching North for? The filth are running West?” the rider showed visible anger at the Captain for questioning a direct order, “The damn Tafatu are causing trouble, the General wants the entire Fifth Army up there to make an example of them.” the rider turned around and rode off likely to reach other elements of the Fifth Army. Captain Yakando sighed, he looked forward to violating the women, women he viewed as lesser people if even people at all. “Kill the damn prisoners and lets go” shots rang out killing the tied up prisoners and the company gathered into formation many of them grumbling, “Let’s head North, we can have fun with the Tafatu heheheh they got more to loot and rape anyway.” The company filed in rank and began marching away from the burning hell they made, leaving behind a myriad of brutalized bodies behind. —----------------- Noscovo was the largest city in the UST, place it in the main continent and it was a rather unnoticeable city that would just blend into the others. But it served as the capital of the Union, electricity and railways bustled about here and with the other Southern cities but the wealth of the nation was always kept here, South. On the surface an outsider might have thought the city was rather impressive but within they would find a broken system of corrupted officials from every facet of the Union government. Police took bribes, rail officials often took some of the cargo for themselves to sell, tax collectors would collect on anything they could get their hands on and sometimes place their own personal tax for additional income. The Union was hell and Okeena was its devil, the latest anyway. He lived in the gaudy Presidential palace at the center of Noscovo, once a Reserian governor’s home; it was now the center of the infection, a place of utter and complete ROT. Okeena was drinking Verak wine and smoking some Nevarran cigarettes reading the reports from the Central region. He stretched a cruel grin at the casualty numbers inflicted on the tribes, “Good riddance” he muttered, he needed a reason to purge the tribes and was given it. Okeena felt everything was falling into place, crush the Tafatu rebellion and his Union was preserved, the Communist were being purged and the tribal genocide would be complete within a year or two. He would drive the workforce until the UST was a powerful empire like it should have been, the failures of the past would be the fuel to drive them forward. Okeena pulled open a drawer in his desk and pulled a rolled document, it was a map of Touli. He carelessly dripped the wine on it as he was already halfway through the bottle, he traced his fingers around Frannerre, Eleria and Elenria. He chewed on his cigar thinking about the future, he could be the greatest president in UST history and build a proper empire with him at the top. The other Touli nations didn’t respect the Union and Okeena felt once he was done crushing the revolts and cleaning his house, he would use the fully mobilized Union army to create the Touli nation that was always desired. The one he desired. The massive flush of wealth would feed the insatiable hunger of his oligarchs and friends, it didn’t matter if the system was as clean as it could be, what mattered was putting the people under his thumb and taking what was theirs to be his. A knock on the door interrupted his daydream of conquest, “come in” Okeena annoyingly bemoaned and a broad shouldered man in military attire walked in, “General Taronki, my valiant warrior. How goes the march on the North?” Taronki walked over to a set of chairs in front of Okeena’s desk and sat down, propping his feet and legs onto his desk, “A good quarter of our entire army is marching to Tafatu now, we’re going to make an example of them. Kill all the men aged thirty and below, boys included. Should be good. Once that’s done I don’t think we’ll worry much about them anymore.” Okeena pulled a drag off his cigar, lighting the bright red cherry at the end, “What about Frannerre?” Okeena asked as he blew smoke off to the side, “The Frannere? They won’t do a damn thing, King Della Rosa is a cowardly cunt, he needs to protect his filthy lineage not get involved in a war.” Okeena didn’t like the response, he wasn’t convinced the Kingdom wouldn’t get involved given the Tafatu were relative to the Frannerre. “I want you to send the Seventh and the Fourth Armies up there anyway.” The General seemed a bit shocked, “that’s almost over half our entire army?” Okeena smothered the cigar into the tray, “Do it, once you begin purging the Tafatu they might get involved, I want us ready.” |
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Post by Greywall on Jul 9, 2022 12:08:35 GMT -5
Tarafan was a crater of death, the Union troops were ransacking and burning whatever, they wanted with wild abandon. The average Union soldier was little more than a bestial thug embolden by the numbers around him, luckily most had evacuated thanks to the sacrifice of the rebel fighters. Stores and shops were picked clean of merchandise and money, houses were torn apart as soldiers took their 'pay' in what could be discernable as tradable wealth. The chaos was in some way controlled as officers made sure the entire town wasn't destroyed, the Union still needed the North somewhat intact for when the rebellion was crushed.
At the center of the town near a cafe drinking some Nevarran coffee was Captain Yakando, his legs propped on the table he sat at just watching his company tear items from the nearby buildings with a sickening amusement. Another captain came up to take a seat next time him, he sniffed a long cigar making an obnoxious sigh of relief. "The smell of victory comrade, almost too much, yes?" Yakando ignored him taking another sip of coffee, "Captain Yeeda, your men met little resistance. How can you enjoy this?" Yakando enjoyed insulting his fellow Captains thinking they were lesser than he was, "You might have tasted the fire more than I, but don't forget. We still much work to do." Yeeda responded not fazed by Yakando's jab.
Both of them cringed at the growing sound of horse hooves among the men yelling and objects being thrown, "message for Captain Yeeda, Captain Yakando!" the rider hopped down from his horse and began walking over to them at the table with two envelopes. Yakando showed an annoyed look as he snatched the envelope from the messenger's hand, not because of his arrival but because he referred to Yeeda first, he overlooked the letter inside.
"The last battle" Yeeda chimed finishing his letter, "At last we'll have total victory, the communist in the Northeast were wiped out and we're close to cleaning those filthy tribals in the central region. Once these Tafatu get in line over the destruction of that shit hole city. Heh we'll be heroes my friends" Yeeda lit up his cigar finally grinning, the messenger took back to his saddle and rode off looking for more captains within the Fifth Army. Yakando grinned, he would be a hero of the Union, perhaps he'd get a medal and use this conflict to project upwards finally in the Union Army. Le Troi has culturally been considered the capital of the Tafatu, the city mirrored its Frannerre neighbors across the border showing the Tafatu a people who adopted Franch culture prior to being placed into the Union. Its utter destruction should end the division of the North, many Southerners like Yakando despised the Tafatu who kept hanging to their culture and identity after sixty years of being within the Union. Many blamed the cultural division for what led to the crisis, allowing weak people to be different caused all of this, he hated them for it. Yakando was bought and sold on it, the 'truth' didn't matter, he could influence the slaughter of the tribes and Tafatu to end this crisis and let everything go back to normal once the work needed in the mines and fields finished.
He thought of the Tafatu as selfish, self-centered and uppity. They deserved what was being done to them, his country was struggling and all they could think about was leaving to form a new nation. "We'll make sure to follow these orders to the print." Yakando said downing the rest of his coffee, "I'm excited, a final battle, a historic showdown where we crush these animals. I can't wait to watch them die, get rewarded for our heroic deeds and be put into the history books." Yeeda responded dabbing the ash off his cigar. Yakando stood up folding the letter into his front pocket "let's get to work" he began ordering his troops who stopped in their tracks from looting and destroying property, they began forming rank placing their objects of choice into their packs. "We're marching to Le Troi! That shit hole city is where the last of the rebels are, we are to destroy it. And kill everyone inside of it!" the soldiers cheered wildly, some remained quiet, horrified at what was being said and cheered for. "When we finish this! You will have save your country, your nation, your children! If you let these rebels succeed, they'll destroy everything! SHOW NO MERCY SHOW NO REGRET!" another round of cheering went off with some firing their guns into the air, "Get into rank, we'll arrive there in the next week!"
The Fifth Army slowly began to organize and begin its march North leaving the broken and smoldering city behind, Yakando and his company walking on foot began on the path of the dirt road North behind several others. 'We will finish this conflict, we will' Yakando thought.
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Post by Greywall on Jul 9, 2022 20:05:29 GMT -5
Charles Kendaya woke up sweating and in pain, he passed out from exhaustion from the weeks of being out in the countryside with what was left of his group trying to get to the city of Le Troi. He kept coming in an out of consciousness, this time he was awake for good as a nurse walked up to him to check his condition, "Sir, are you alright?" Charles nodded at her question wiping the excess sweat, "Am I in Le Troi?" he asked his mouth dry and hurting from the lack of moisture. She grabbed a glass and brought it to him and he drank from it greedily before coughing at water going down wrong, "You arrived a week ago, we're preparing ourselves. The Union Army is coming here." Charles looked up after coughing at the nurse, she tried to show a caring face but she was clearly scared, "Then I have to work yet still" he swept the sheets from his bed but as he was doing so the nurse called out "Mr. Kendaya wait!" Charles froze at what he saw, his left leg missing, his mind entering a panic as it tried to process what it was looking at. "I'm so sorry sir, it got infected and...its a miracle you came in alive. We had no choice." The nurse tried to say in some kind of strength, but it was clear she wasn't ready to tell him.
Charles felt the room shift and move, as if nothing was solid anymore. "I can't..I..I can't worry about this right..now." he forced his mind to focus, if what she said was true the city was on the verge of being attacked. The nurse walked over to the corner of the room and grabbed some crutches, "you'll need these." Charles struggled at first but he was now feeling one emotion, fear. If he was out this entire time it meant the Union was closing in. The nurse opened the door to the hall outside his room and the sounds drowned his own thoughts, children crying, men groaning in pain and women trying comfort everyone in between. The hall was full to the brim, "we're completely over capacity, these are people who have been forced from their homes." Charles felt the room shift again, "there's so many, how did they end up here?" the nurse shook her head "it mattered very little if they were associated or not with the rebellion, the Union took their homes." Charles felt anger, rage and despair.
As he made his way through the hospital many recognized him, "Général Rebelle" they softly said as he passed by, some of them patted and touched him as he passed by. It was all hitting him at once, this was the end, and he was the leader of what was left. As he exited outside, he saw the city in an eerie calm, rebel soldiers paced around moving furniture and cars to block major roads. Several lines of citizens were being trained with what firearms they had access to while others helped dig trenches and ditches. "Kendaya!" Charles turned his head and saw a high ranking rebel walking toward him, a Berdan rifle slung over his shoulder likely taken from a Union armory. "It's good to see you sir, the city is prepared but having you awake is a huge boost." Charles nodded, "Commander Toris? Right? How many men have you assembled for the fight?" Charles asked, Toris shifted his rifle as it kept sliding off, "about 170,000. It's not ideal but if we have to we can have all strong hands fight." Charles gave a grim look, he saw some of the soldiers were young and the elderly, "We won't have a choice, they'll kill everyone in this city. All will fight or die." Charles began walking down the steps with the assistance of Toris. The nurse walked back into the hospital after being thanked for her help.
A truck pulled up with several armed men and women in the back, "take the General to the front, he needs to see our forward defenses." They helped Charles into the truck and drove off, several of the rebels whispered among themselves at the presence of Charles who felt the weight growing on him. As the truck drove on he saw several people making their way to the Northside of the city, if everything went to hell they had only one place left to run to, Frannerre. Even then they would have to storm the border, the truck arrived to the outer edge of the city where large trench networks had been dug. His mood improved when he saw some field guns and well armed rebels finally, Berdan rifles stolen from the Northern armorer and field guns belonging to a defected unit. It was promising, but not enough, "General Kendaya, welcome to the front." a captain said as he helped Charles off the truck, after Charles got off the truck left to take the infantry it was transporting to another section of the line. "Most of our firepower is here, we have a shot but its slim. We got word Aniyah succeeded." Charles smiled for the first time, "Thank the ancestors, but will guns be enough?" the captain gave a confused look, "guns? They're sending troops sir, we're getting actual reinforcements." Charles eyes opened wildly, he sent Aniyah for weapons and supplies but she had apparently gotten full military support. "There's hope...dear mercy we have hope."
And then it was shattered, the horn, that damned horn. The Fifth Army was here. "ALL UNITS TO YOUR POSITIONS!!!!" Rebels scrambled to their spots in the trench, loading their rounds into their rifles, muskets and some hunting rifles. "Sir, we need to get you to the command post." the captain waved down the truck that dropped Charles off earlier, they loaded him into the back which was now empty. "Hold as long as you can!" Charles shouted as the truck drove off, the captain grabbing a Berdan for himself and dropping into a trench. "We're out of time." Charles muttered.
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Post by callmedelta on Jul 10, 2022 20:51:31 GMT -5
On the 10th of Foa, 1930, a message was sent via telegram to all newspapers, the few radio stations in Franerre, and to every embassy the Kingdom had abroad.
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I am King Dante Emil Soleil Della Rosa II, Sovereign of Franerre, Shield of Her People, Defender of the Foa Restoration and Mordred’s Revolution.
To the people of Franerre, I write these words with a heavy heart. For in these times, I find I have no other choice but to bring us into war. To our south, the people of Tafatu have cried for our help. The Union of South Touli, a state I was once proud to call Franerre’s equal as a modernized Touli nation, has turned its’ citizens into slaves to fund Okeema’s regime. Working men, women, and children to their deaths in the mines, and when the people peacefully protested these injustices, Okeema had the Union’s army fire on them. Now that the Tafatu have broken into open revolt, the Union army has slaughtered entire villages: men and children butchered, while unspeakable actions are done to the women. The National Chamber, Army, and I are all in agreement: the only course of action we can take is to intervene in support of the Tafatu people. By the time you read this speech, our brave soldiers will have already crossed the border in defense of Tafatu. May the Lord our God clear their way, for our mission is a righteous one.
To the people of Tafatu, I write these words with joy in my heart. Your cries have been heard: your pleas have been answered. Franerre cannot allow herself to stand idly by while injustices are heaped upon you. Along with our armies we shall bring guns and training, so you may take your fight to the devil Okeema himself. For as much as Franerre has heard your cries of help, it has been your bravery and resistance in the face of oppression that has allowed Franerre the time it needed to prepare our armies to assist you in your righteous quest for the independence and self-determination all people are granted by God. My heart goes out to the people of Tafatu, for you have endured so much hardship, but so long as you fight, Franerre will see your victory assured.
To the people of the Union of South Touli, I write these words with a righteous fire of anger in my heart. You were once a nation I was proud to call Franerre’s equal. A modern Toulian state, capable of conducting diplomacy with the many nations of the world as an equal. Yet Okeema has driven your nation to barbarism and savagery in his attempt to remain in power. I applaud those who have resisted Okeema's rule, and I implore those who are not to join their brothers and sisters in arms. But to those who are complicit in Okeema’s crimes or who have done so themselves, to the slave drivers, the murderers, the butchers, and those who commit other unspeakable crimes, pray to whatever God or Gods you believe in for forgiveness, for in Franerre you shall find none.
To the governments and people of the world, I write these words both as a plea and as a warning. A plea for you to assist the Tafatu in their cause. For as much as Franerre is able to supply, she is only one nation. Arms, material, and money will all be vital to her cause. The diplomatic pressure afforded to the many nations of the world may yet see Okeema stand down and the independence of the Tafatu secured without further bloodshed. Yet, these words must also serve as a warning. It is not Okeema alone that Franerre will defend the Tafati from. If any other nation seeks to threaten the independence of the Tafatu, then Franerre shall defend her against them as well. For the sake of peace in the world, I hope that never comes to pass.
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Post by Greywall on Jul 12, 2022 20:34:02 GMT -5
"GODDAMN THAT MAN!!!"
A fist slammed the table, shaking the men sitting at it save General Taronki who kept his stoic stare. Okeena was fuming, crushing a copy of the King of Frannerre's speech that was handed to him. "The goddamn gall, the absolute shit does this little twink fucker king of the North think he is!? I want every soldier we have in the North now! I want us to kill the Frannerre, the Foxes and the rebels. All of them!"
Taronki nodded, "We can have 600,000 men up there in a couple months. We just need to pre-" Okeena threw his chair to the side, "NOW! Not in a few months goddammit now! Do you know how embarrassing this is? Our way of life is at risk, if we fail to kick these foreigners out we lose everything! They get up there now!" Taronki didn't answer, he could cut corners but it would put his army at risk, at best he didn't dare correct the President again. Okeena was seething, everything was so close, so in reach. They would have crushed the rebellion and used it to spur public confidence in the Union again and force the Northern workers to back into the mines and fields. Now it was all falling apart, "We tell the people, we're being invaded by imperialist foreigners, we need their support now. We cannot hesitate. Push them out and then force them into concession." One of Okeena's oligarchs nodded saying, "very good plan sir, we shall crush these Frannerre dogs and their fox puppets." A few of them would clap, Okeena picked his chair back up and sat back in it, "Taronki, see to it personally, I want the 8th and the 1st Armies to crush these invaders." Taronki nodded, those were the best and most loyal troops in the UST, he was nervous but it was the order. It would take months still to get the men organized and marched up to the North, but their supply lines were volatile.
Okeena felt better, but he would now have to beat two foreign powers and with no purchasing power it had to be with what he currently had.
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Post by Greywall on Aug 5, 2022 19:57:49 GMT -5
The Union of South Touli was near the point of no return, the rise of the Golden Turban rebellion directly threatened supply lines to the Northern front. Galra now moved to seize the Eastern regions and reports came in that the entire 5th Army was destroyed at Le Troi.
The Southern cities that were ignoring the conflict were now becoming well aware of it, hundreds to thousands of families were finding out the horrid death toll of the battle of Le Troi. But instead of their anger and dismay being directed at the UST government it was directed at Frannerre and Ashinara, their involvement prevented an end to hostilities and turned what was a simple revolt put down into open war. Local men began signing up for service in the Southwest giving the UST much needed manpower to confront the Golden Turbans trying to seize Pozhal.
By winter of 1931 the UST would have another 300,000 troops to reinforce the new Southern front opening. But sheer manpower wouldn't be enough, the UST economy hindered on shipping gold and silver into its banking institutions to place value back into their currency as well as ship it overseas which coincidently harmed the price of gold and silver given how cheap they were selling it. The UST economy was now entirely based on the war, buying materials through secured shipments and sending out requests for arms deals to be made to put down the rebellions and push out the invading Frannerre and Ashinara.
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Post by Greywall on Aug 9, 2022 19:44:18 GMT -5
"This is outrageous, even for you Okeena!" the council was furious, the Kumosenkan deal likely enveloped the UST government in debt for decades on top of the debt they had been defaulting on with Seleucidinia. "At this point our banks and financial institutions will be in ruins, what soldiers will fight if their salaries are worth less than the paper printed?" the old man scoffed.
Okeena was halfway paying attention, lighting another Nevarran cigar to take the edge off. "Gentlemen, we have taken some steps back. The Galra seizing the Eastern region isn't ideal, but now they inherit most of the Golden Turban rebellion, our deal with Kumosenkan guarantees us victory. As soon as those guns hit our shores they're going North where the fighting is and we're going to force Frannerre to pay reparations. That'll settle some of the debt." His councilors looked confused, "Force Frannerre into reparation? How daring. How will you do so?" Okeena propped his feet up on the desk, "We invade Frannerre, burn every city to the ground, ravage their women and force them to capitulate. As we've always done, hurt where you can the most. Kill the children, kill the women and you kill the men. Speaking of which, where are we on the natives?" One of the councilors began fumbling some paperwork toward Okeena, "The 10th Army is ready to finish them off, with Eleria blocking their borders we have the bulk cornered sir. What are your orders should they surrender?" Okeena took a long drag off his cigar and spoke his response in a cloud of Tobacco smoke, "Wipe them out. All of them".
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Post by Greywall on Aug 16, 2022 19:31:28 GMT -5
"Pozhal is in flames" Okeena just laid slumped in his chair at the words told to him, it seemed the problems he was facing kept multiplying. "The Kumo are late, Taronki is taking too long to expel the foreigner trash and now there's another rebellion." Okeena said with some venom in his voice.
"Deploy the Auxiliary guard, they're nothing but light infantry but they'll crush this uprising in Pozhal. Have them use the trains and make it swift." Okeena's advisors left the room as Okeena half heartedly tried lighting on of his cigars, his eyes glanced at the box with some annoyance, 'two left? damn, why is our shipment late?' he thought. Sea trade to South Touli was historically slow but everything had come to a grinding halt. He then realized, "No. No. There's no way." he picked up the phone at his desk, "Get Admiral Vokuyo in my office now!". Okeena slammed the phone in the receiver, it was the only thing that made sense, 'we're being blockaded...'
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Post by Greywall on Aug 23, 2022 23:15:49 GMT -5
"You worthless cur!" the crack of a baton followed as soldiers drug off the unconscious body of a young man onto a wagon of other young men being taken off the streets of Noscovo. People were shouting angrily but the order was clear, the draft came from Okeena directly, the UST had sustained heavy losses already in the war and needed to recoup them.
The South was unaffected until the Golden Turbans rose up, until the blockades stalled the flow of resources, until news of how many sons were not coming home, it was starting to become a tight rope Okeena could not longer balance on. His own oligarchs had grown distant and cold, no longer confident in his leadership he needed to curb this conflict and soon.
Across the capital young men were being pressed into service and hastily armed for field training. Many were angry, just months ago they had peaceful lives working away in factories and fields but were now told they would be fighting in a war. Officers shouted on top of wagons "Blame the Ashinara! Blame the Franch! Blame the traitor Tafatu!" some would oblige cursing the foreigners for invading their homeland and buying into that the Tafatu were traitors. Others didn't buy it, the notion that the Union was spotless is to many within the UST, comedy."
Okeena wrote out more decrees, rationing of food, metals, rubber, fuel anything that was needed for the war effort. The UST was now entering a state of total war to preserve itself, more or less the corrupt government was now taking measures to preserve itself. Okeena had a few cards left to play, he was raising the last of the UST's military might in the South to send to the North for a massive push. He wouldn't no the people wouldn't be content with winning now, he needed to go further and turn the war into a chance to keep the Union alive. When he was done pushing Frannerre and Ashinara out, there would be no Tafatu to rebel ever again.
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Post by Greywall on Sept 5, 2022 19:52:39 GMT -5
"What is this? Treason? Have you beggars nothing better to do than bring me this sod garbage?" Okeena fumed, throwing a stack of papers back at his oligarchs who were know completely sullen. "It's the truth, we're out of weapons sir and any munitions to feed them were shipped north with General Taronki. Our newest battalions took the last of the stock but they're now reporting shortages. Uniforms, rations, medicine, rifles, bullets, it's all gone." The man spoke with a tense feeling of dread, the blockades had starved the UST ports in the South and the winter ice only made things worse.
"Food shortages have hit everywhere, if we lose the Northern war it'll only get worse. Prices have skyrocketed and are angering the people, our silver and gold comes at a trickle but now sits collecting in the Noscovo bank until its safe to ship it out again. And without the exchange of that silver and gold we cannot continue trade and without continued trade the entire economy will collapse. Okeena, we need to end this conflict and soon."
Okeena felt completely overwhelmed, lost, drowned and utterly broken by the entire situation. "Get out, find a solution but don't come back until you do." As their president said this they would all look at each other lost and confused, "Sir...we came here to get answers...from you. We have tried to figure out a solution and we don't have one. The drafts have left our workforce broken, the farmers aren't able to keep the yields up anymore and this harsh winter has completely stifled our ability to deal with it domestically."
Okeena reached habitually for a cigar only to realize they were all gone, his empire was being shattered, almost a century of ruling Southern Touli was being undone as more and more enemies came for him and the UST. "Send whoever we have left to Kumosenkan, Galra, UKUG, Lusatia and Seleucidinia and tell them we need their assistance. We need to broker a deal."
The president was finally at the point where he knew they couldn't win, fighting it out in the North was possible but draining the military manpower of the UST was going to eventually lead to revolts and mutiny. The glass was about to shatter and once it did the UST would not survive.
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Post by Greywall on Oct 4, 2022 7:56:13 GMT -5
Okeena was no longer the confident man he was a year ago, he wasn’t even the same heavy set man of luxury. He stared at a plate of peas, hog jowl and some tea his staff meagered up from storage.
The stress was too much, the military was running out of weapons and munitions fast and with the loss of silver and gold production the Kumo refused to supply them anymore. Food shortages got worse as farmers and ranchers practically worked to death in the south to feed what they could. But it didn’t stop the public getting angry and demanding ceasefire talks, his loyal oligarchs brought it up every meeting. Talk to the coalition this, talk to them that. Where their bravado they had when the war broke went he was sure it was where his has went.
But okeena was too far deep, his best troops were in the north. Fighting was breaking everywhere despite their efforts to contain rebellion, his new southern army was being equipped with muskets from storage and lacked uniforms. They took blue colored fabric to wrap a band around their arms to identify who they were. It was pathetic, military victory in the north meant jack shit until the frannerre blockade was lifted. And even then getting the mines back to full operation was distant of a goal.
Corruption that defined his nation crippled the entire process as well, stores of supplies were sold behind his back betraying the war he was fighting. One day a warehouse full of grain would be empty sold to those who had enough money. Okeena bit into the hog Jowl feeling an uncomfortable crack followed by pain. His tooth broke against the hardened fat. Blood pooled in his mouth dropping onto the plate. His tired eyes began to tear up, time was out, the hell he had created was now unstoppable. Okeena sat there bleeding in pain and crying knowing central touli was now damned to chaos and war no matter if he was in power or not, the war set forth events that he and everyone with a decent education knew would result in fracturing and more war.
Okeena, and his legacy he tried to shape into glory. Was now one of failure and death.
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Post by Greywall on Oct 5, 2022 9:51:30 GMT -5
1890
Yakim Taoba was close to his death, the long termed first president of the Union of south touli had served it for well over thirty years. Thirty years of unity, thirty years of organizing a massive empire, thirty years of failing to create a proper constitution. This was his last chance, the government had no clear documentation on its power or structure, it was filled with men who were trusted in the unions founding. Now those men were old, dead or dying.
President Taoba felt the eyes on him, vultures flying over his slowly passing life. Greedy men ready to tear asunder this nation. The UST was capable of leading free touli, becoming a wealthy state that forced colonials to the table. But convention after convention for a constitution failed. The regions simply wanted too much for federalization and a confederate government was asking for doom.
It didn’t help he had a clear opponent now in this, Geruda Kendaya a Tafatu political figure who wanted his nation to leave the union outright. He respected kendaya, understood his plight. The Tafatu had been independent for centuries before joining the union 30 years ago. After a muddled mess of corruption, failed infrastructure projects and taxes that continued to rise they were growing impatient.
This was Taoba’s last chance to save what the union could be. “I thank you all, for coming. And for excusing…my rather poor condition.” He said weakly in a bed that was rolled into a room filled with various leaders, chieftains, company owners, governors and other men of importance. “It is here, we must come to a consensus on our constitution. It is embarrassing that after thirty years we still haven’t an outline.”
Murmurs broke out, many wanted their own practice of government. Taoba and his faction wanted federalization, it became another squabble that broke down into argumentation and eventually hurling insults. The president could do nothing, he was pushing 96 and barely could speak when a loud rap of wood hitting the floor silenced them. It was kendaya, “gentlemen. It’s clear we cannot function together. Perhaps, instead of direct union we should opt for a military alliance. Even an economic pact, but it’s clear we all want something other than a singular nation.” People seemed to agree with that notion, Taoba tried to gather his strength in protest.
“If we divide, we fall!” The old man mustered, Kendaya retorted “we will be United, but not by noscovo. The south has directed politics for thirty years and failed to support the rest of the country. It’s time we moved forward!” The room applauded kendaya, Taoba felt the battle lost. His mind raced, trying to find anything to say but before he could another voice rang out, “is that. How you really feel? Kendaya?” It was young man in his 30s sharply dressed and sneering at the Tafatu. “This man just wants to rule as king in the north. Don’t let his selfish pride lead you astray.” The man said, kendaya replied “you cannot deny the failure of this governor. Yakando!” Valkuta Yakando was next in line for the presidency, he was a cruel manipulative man. Entitled to wealth and power allowed to him with the lack of real restrictions by a government.
“Kendaya, your people are mud farmers. Who would have bent the knee to the Lusatians had it not been for this Union. You should stand with us and achieve what hasn’t been done since the Old Elenrian empire. We can rule this continent.” Kendaya shook his head in disagreement. “Fine. That’s your answer then. Who else stands with kendaya?” A few men stood up including Bakto Solu a chieftain chosen to represent the central tribes. “Very well. Arrest them!” Suddenly blue uniformed soldiers stormed into the room and grabbed kendaya and the others. “What are you!-“ before kendaya could say anything Yakando stated, “these men are guilty of high treason. Execution for them all!” Kendaya screamed as he was dragged away. Taoba looked on in shock, “you can’t do this as president-“ Yakando grinned, “ah yes, the council decided that I shall be the newly acting president of the union. You are dismissed Taoba.” He waved over some guards who escorted the old man out never to be seen again. Yakando became the second president of the union.
Following Kendaya’s execution tafatu revolted and was violently put down the following year. The military was used to exert control over the vast country and the union became a nation ruled by the wealthy with no written restrictions. By the time Okeena took over, the nation was a diseased rabid animal ruled by the corrupt and the arm of the military. Taoba died under mysterious circumstances and along with him and legitimacy to the union.
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Post by Greywall on Oct 10, 2022 17:19:28 GMT -5
Okeena sat on the floor of his destroyed office, after being told of the kithium invasion he had a mental breakdown and tore everything in his path to shreds. His oligarchs watched him like a wild rabid animal trapped in a cage lashing out, and they were trapped in with him.
“The command at Veneshy has requested reinforcements. What are your orders?” One finally said breaking the monotony of okeena breathing heavily like a mad man. “Send 200,000 to Veneshy, wipe those damn cats out. Tell the fucking guard to put those dragon freaks in the south down and I want THIS GODDAMN WAR WON ALREADY!” they knew better than to say anything else. The military was loyal to the man who paid them and that was Okeena.
They left him on the floor alone, surrounded by broken objects int the room. His violently shook his head before letting out a guttural scream as he felt the last bits of his sanity die out.
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