NationStates Jolt Archive

The Walrus and the Carpenter

The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might;
He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright—
And this was odd, because it was The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily, Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there After the day was done—
"It's very rude of him," she said, "To come and spoil the fun!"
The sea was wet as wet could be, The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because No cloud was in the sky;
No birds were flying overhead---There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see Such quantities of sand.
"If this were only cleared away,” They said, "it would be grand!"
"If seven maids with seven mops Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose," the Walrus said, "That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter, And shed a bitter tear.
"O Oysters, come and walk with us!” The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, Along the briny beach;
We cannot do with more than four, To give a hand to each."
The eldest Oyster looked at him, But never a word he said;
The eldest Oyster winked his eye, And shook his heavy head—
Meaning to say he did not choose To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters hurried up, All eager for the treat;
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed, Their shoes were clean and neat—And this was odd, because, you know, They hadn't any feet.
Four other Oysters followed them, And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last, And more, and more, and more—
All hopping through the frothy waves, And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock Conveniently low;
And all the little Oysters stood And waited in a row.
"The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—And cabbages—and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—And whether pigs have wings."
"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried, "Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath, And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter. They thanked him much for that.
"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said, "Is what we chiefly need;
Pepper and vinegar besides Are very good indeed—
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear, We can begin to feed."
"But not on us!" the Oysters cried, Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said, “Do you admire the view?"
"It was so kind of you to come! And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but "Cut us another slice.
I wish you were not quite so deaf—I've had to ask you twice!"
"It seems a shame," the Walrus said, "To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far, And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but "The butter's spread too thick!"
"I weep for you," the Walrus said; "I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief Before his streaming eyes.
"O Oysters," said the Carpenter, "You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?" But answer came there none—
And this was scarcely odd, because: They'd eaten every one.

---Lewis Carroll

Sent as a note by Louis-Auguste to Royce I, on the occasion of a renewed Indochine and a feeling of jubilant Imperialism with the caption “I’ve always liked cabinetry, myself, and rather have been disposed to Indochine rather than the Philippines. Good hunting my dear friend.”

Paris

Several weeks before French occupation of Palawan

The Louvre Palace was abuzz with activity. The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Rak Srichpan, stood beaming as he performed a small bow before Emperor Bao Dai IV, dressed in the manner of a French seigneur with silks and powder; following the brief bow they heartily shook hands. The grand hall shook with applause, in a dignified way of course. King in Algeria Louis I stood up with tears in his eyes, seeing with what gloire Louis-Auguste worked his will in the world, and defied the foul hands of time. Louis I had been an early beneficiary of this will, and now he would have a brother in the form of Bao Dai, and a cousin in the form of the newly created Prince Rak Srichpan.

This marked the culmination of weeks of secret discussion inside the Louvre Palace in Paris. The Parliament of Cambodia, under increasing pressure from the Khmer Rouge insurgency, came under cover of darkness to the Kingdom of France, only to be greeted by glittering lights. Monsieur Srichpan found the Court of Louis-Auguste attentive, even eager, to receive the Parliamentarians. Moreover, the bewildered Prime Minister arrived not only to find the Royal Will predisposed to his cause but a Emperor-in-exile, the great-grandson of Vietnam’s last Imperial potentate, being groomed in hopes of a Royal recovery of Indochine.

The meeting, which henceforth would be known as the Paris Accords, marked the ultimate triumph of Restoration policy. With Algeria recovered, if the French could regain Indochine, then, well, the Bourbons would have effectively turned back history by a hundred years at least. The Accords, whose audience consisted of various Cambodian sympathizers and Parliamentarians as well as French aristocrats and military officials (basically one in the same thing) even heard detailed planning from Monsieur le Merechal de Saxe, Chairman of the General Staff, and Monsieur le Duc de Saint-Germain, Minister of War, on what the Kingdom of France would have to commit to turn this dream into a reality.

In no time at all a deal was worked out. To save their nation from civil war and foreign incursion vis-à-vis the reds and to boost their own positions considerably, the Parliament, which is to say the 59% that made the journey, voted to install Bao Dai IV as a constitutional monarch, officially titled “Emperor of Indochine”. Each had been personally compensated, and well compensated, by the coffers of Versailles. This in turn allowed for the French to re-occupy Cambodia, to protect the Emperor and the Parliament, as Bao Dai IV was the sworn vassal of His Most Christian Majesty Louis-Auguste.

Once the vote had taken place the entire assemblage was taken by carriage and cavalry escort to Versailles, where they were received by King Louis-Auguste in the Hall of Mirrors with much pomp and circumstance. Addressing the body from on high upon his throne (a smaller one lower down had been set up for Bao Dai IV) the Most Christian King announced an ambitious plan to gather the necessary arms in the regions to deploy to Cambodia when all was prepared.

“And with the help of Almighty God, France shall rebuild Indochine where she once failed, to greater heights than ever imagined before.”

Le Te Deum, Royal Anthem of the Kingdom of France and pan-national House of Bourbon. (http://www.metronimo.com/fr/midi/fichiers/charpentier/tedeu.mid)

Trumpets rang out. That evening the King went to Notre Dame in Paris, where a full Te Deum was given, in thanks to God for this most righteous opportunity.

Now the occupation of Palawan makes much more sense. In hindsight, historians would view the French Crown’s actions as one of the deftest military and political maneuvers in history. Planning of course began with the Battle of the Coral Sea, and the realization that although the Begdellans possessed large amounts of men and material, their fighting spirit was no match for staunch Frenchman. Louis XX had proposed the idea, oh, the idea. Well, the idea is Restoration, pure and simple. Restoration implies that things, in this case states, must needs be restored to their previous, proper status. Therefore, since the Empire of France had colonies, Restoration France would have ‘vassal states’. Indochine was always the jewel of French possessions. Teaming with an industrious population, weighed down by countless natural resources, located in the heart of Asian trade routes, it was the prize that had to be regained.

The final prize. With the twain economic power hubs of the Kingdom of Algeria and the Empire of Indochine, the House of Bourbon would have the wherewithal to support itself in France, let alone the world, for decades to come. Mercantilism would flourish, and with such a glorious reservoir the French would be able to supply the Russian market with all the fineries and equipment it needed. Advisors predicted to His Most Christian Majesty that if the operation could be achieved, the Kingdom of France would take its place in the top four most economically powerful nations on earth. This for a country of only 69,740,502 people (post eighteen years of Restoration rule, granted its rising rapidly). Most impressively, France, which only a generation ago was the object of international scorn and military ridicule now had attained more victories in the last several years than any other power save perhaps the Tsar. Her military was sharp and motivated, constituted by fire-baptized Catholic’s, and steel hearted monarchists.

And so it would all begin in Cambodia. Actually it began on Palawan. Using the Filipino crisis as a convenient stepping stone, the Most Christian King dispatched no less than a third of his capability to the Orient. Palawan was critical for any action in Cambodia, as it provided a link between New Caledonia and the soon to be Empire of Indochine, as Cambodia would rename itself, and become the capital of. Ergo Ft. St. Paul was erected, to provide a secure route for French Eastern High Command. Ft. St. Martin, well tested, secured New Caledonia. Finally, the last line in this mighty link would be raised in Cambodia, Ft. St. Peter. Ft. St. Peter would be the rock that held this chain together, and would hold the ‘keys to the kingdom’ of this new French Empire. Each with its own garrison, and able to support the Royal Pacific Fleet, not to even mention its own arsenal of long range missilery, they would form the basis crucis of this new, glorious age.

A sublime operation, years in conception. Guarantees for success had been provided as well. The Sultan of Rajasthan provided a convenient method of distracting the Indian National Union, as well as more bellicose and showy attempts at piracy. Palawan provided a smokescreen to hide French intentions, and chaos in Africa had distracted everybody. Therefore, the speed with which the hand of Louis-Auguste struck would go down as one of the most profound and successful ventures in military history.

Phnom Pen

The Indochinese Restoration Begins: 23:00 Hours

The Cambodian Parliament met in a secret session, called by a simple majority of its MP’s. At the behest of Prime Minister Rak Srichpan the subject was kept secret until the doors had been closed. The midnight parliament gathered itself, and the Prime Minister spoke.

When the doors opened around 83% of the members remained. The remaining 17%, which had boisterously disagreed with the ‘majority vote’, had been quietly led out of the chambers by security men loyal to the Srichpan Government. They were taken to the Prime Ministers country estate, where they were locked away until they had changes of heart.

Firstly, they voted themselves into perpetual office, following this with distributions of a new peerage. With this sweeping power, it was only minutes before they changed the name of their state from the “Republic of Cambodia” to “Indochine”. Naturally, once they had executed this, they needed a constitutional monarch. Bao Dai IV, of the Dai’s who formerly ruled French Indochine, was nominated and voted in as Emperor in another quarter hour after that. Finally, having consulted Bao Dai by telephone, the Parliament accepted in perpetuity the vassalage of their monarch to the Most Christian King Louis-Auguste.

Versailles had a foreign minister on hand, Monsieur le Comte de l’Hammens, who promptly recognized the government on King Louis-Auguste’s behalf, and accepted the fealty of Bao Dai IV. Thus the French and the new Indochine were immediately and impenetrably linked.

After this, French Eastern High Command moved in swiftly to secure this glorious yet fledgling state…

Kampong Saom, Indochine

01:00 Hours

Twenty four hours prior to the vote in the Cambodian capital, the French sprung their operation like a cobra. The fleet, which had been gearing up for deployment, made record speed to the Cambodian coastal port…the authorities, on strict instructions from the capital, offered no resistance as the French Armada loomed on the horizon. No landing boats were needed, the French transports simply dislodged their troops on the docks. It took no great imagination to say that this excellent deep-water port would be the site of the third and final French super-fortress, the work to begin no doubt after the immenent completion of Ft. St. Paul on Palawan. Ft. St. Peter would be the rock, the rock of Kampong Saom.

Hundreds of French aircraft swarmed over the landscape, in hours landing advanced forces in the capital. These were the troops of Bai Dai IV personally, the Imperial Army, made of Indochinese exiles (Laotian, Cambodian, and Vietnamese) and were led by the Emperor, no longer in exile, himself. Some of the earliest video to be released was Emperor Bai Dai IV, hand in hand with the charming Empress and followed closely by his French advisors, walking the capital with a smile, jaunt in his step, and fashionable Versailles style cane clicking along.

Emperor Bao Dai IV and the Empress stroll though streets of cheering (bribed) Cambodians in Phnom Pen, waving and feeling insurmountable. (http://www.prweb.com/prfiles/2004/07/07/139622/EmperorBaoDai&EmpressNamPhuong2.JPG)

He immediately confirmed the Parliament, re-christened it the “Indochinese Estates General”, and verified its perpetuity. A holiday was declared by the new regime, “Restoration Day”, even as the French Eastern High Command was securing key points in Cambodia.

Video soon came out as well of the Supreme Commander of F.E.H.C., Monseigneur le Duc de Normandie, Prince of the Blood, landing with the Royal Vanguard Legion shock troops.

His Highness Monseigneur le Duc de Normandie, Prince of the Blood, Supreme Commander of the French Eastern High Command. (http://www.culture.gouv.fr/Wave/image/joconde/0019/m502004_89ee54_p.jpg)

He was handsome and martial, with an arrogant air and humble touch: the quintessential Bourbon, the very image of his eldest brother the King. And like the Most Christian King, his brother wished to wish some fame for himself. With a ‘huzzah’, he watched the armored columns and troop formations expertly perform the duties for which they had been prepared.

He gave them a motivational speech before they were launched inland, and working in tandem with the collaborationist government consolidated miles hundreds at a time. It would been seen by the world, in this well televised but better executed version of the Algerian coup, the Royal Vanguard Legion were indeed picked men, brawny and agile, dedicated and zealous.

Soldiers of the glittering Royal Vanguard Legion assemble after disembarking and prepare to board transportation north to the capital. (http://cache.viewimages.com/comp/1319513.jpg?x=x&dasite=ViewImages&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=9B0238C52E2B0CC79BCD9004289352496FDED296C4164E1F)

They were followed by the remainder of the Imperial Army, which were given priority transport to Phnom Pen for the appearance of setting up an independent state. French regulars, Royal Army Korean Heavy Infantry, and Algerian soldiers soon followed.

Air cover for the entire operation, which confirmed Bao Dai’s position in Indochine with a twenty four hour period, was oppressive and superb. A wing of elite Dassault-Rafale air superiority fighters, three wings of Mirage-2000’s, and a wing of Lancaster II Heavy Jet Bombers bought from Roycelandia soon achieved their goals without one single loss. Several battalions of Royal Air Cavalry, again using Roycelandian made equipment, Bell-Huey helicopters, swooped in low to cover the multi-pronged French advances. For hours, the skies above Cambodia rang with activity.

Years of French strategic planning, practice in Lavrageria, theory in New Caledonia, and triumph in Algeria now all came together with incredible gravity and awe.

An elite Dassault Rafale lands at Phnom Pen soon after the 'liberation.' (http://www2.arnes.si/~ttomsi5/rafale4.jpg)

Mirage 2000's flying patrol over Cambodia (http://sukhoi32.iespana.es/sukhoi32/imagenes/mirage%202000.jpg)

A small country, in one day French Eastern High Command had secured the main communication lines and strategic positions with the help of Cambodian, now Indochinese, collaborators.

Phnom Pen, capital of Indochine, seat of Bao Dai IV

15:00 Hours

Chevaliers of the Order of the Golden Fleece ride triumphantly into Phnom Pen (http://www.armyrecognition.com/europe/France/Exhibition/14_juillet_2005/pictures/14_juillet_2005_ArmyRecognition_Copyright_030.JPG)

Royal News Network was quick to disseminate the flood of victories in Cambodia to the worlds news cartels. Like the shot of Order of the Golden Fleece Mechanized Cavalry entering Phnom Pen in formation and honor, none could doubt the ability of France now. Bai Dai now was able to enforce the holiday that he declared, publicly calling himself “Louis-Auguste’s younger brother” and the “new champion of Asian freedom”.

To be sure, the country had yet to be completely secured, and the French Armada was still on full alert, its subs and satellites closely tracking the approaching INU fleet. Once the capital and major cities had been secured, the Kingdom of France set about quashing the insurgency of the Khmer Rouge which had been the impetus for its entrance into Indochine again in the first place. Using data from the Indochinese Regime, French troops scoured the villages in an attempt to drum up public support of the Franco-Dai Government and show that it would protect the Cambodian people.

Gardes Francaises march out in force to secure a rural location. (http://ica.williamandheidi.com/French/053.jpg)

Airfields were turned over to the Royal Military, which became the de facto ‘older brother’ of the new Indochinese Imperial Army. The IIA was formed around the devoted exiles that had traveled with Bao Dai IV, but contrary to pessimistic expectations, the regular Cambodian army seemed very impressed with the change in authority; and the grace, glory, and poise the Frenchmen held themselves with.

And so the dream was dreamt again in Cambodia, now Indochine. French troops were like gods from a foreign land, courageous, valiant, and dashing. The Cambodian people were wooed by a slick Emperor and the devoted grand-father figure of Louis-Auguste shining far off in Versailles.

Jaipur, Rajasthan

“Sire, it is time” said the French attaché.

The Sultan sprang from his bed, and received a shocked briefing. He knew as soon as the French entered Cambodia, his card was played, and his hand done.

With his French advisors, his Court, and the nations treasury the Sultan fled by donkey caravan (a typical sight, and well concealed by the ODSL agents who were desperate to return to France from the false theatre of Rajasthan) north.

Chaos erupted in his wake, of course, but that bothered both the Sultan and French little. For they had fled, hopefully, just in the nick of time. Soon, the Sultan would be repaid by Louis-Auguste for his devotion with a place in the Court of Versailles.

Ah, win some, loose some.

Versailles

As news came in of Cambodia’s own Restoration, secured by the might of King Louis-Auguste, France burst into delirious joy. The economy was booming (with militarism and mercantilist gain) and people not only had enough to eat, a place to live, and fun to be had: they now also had immense pride. When France once had immense pride, she had defended the Papacy, routed the Moors, and became the powerhouse of Europe.

Now she had that pride again, and it behooved the world to watch in a dignified silence.

This victory in Cambodia then had played a two fold part. On the one hand it secured a vital goal of Restoration Foreign Policy, on the other it secured the French people in the iron grip of their monarch. All over France, the subjects raised monuments in the forms of wooden statues and bronze placards to Louis-Auguste. One caption, published by the State Media RNN, went as follows:

A father to his people, wise and strong
Is striving for their welfare, righting wrong,
Reproving evil, setting nations free,
Restoring order, calm and liberty,
The years to come shall hold him up to sight
As Louis-Auguste of France, the friend of truth and right.

---Anonymous peasant, the Languedoc

Several days later, it became a children’s song, which the ecclesiastical public schools in the Kingdom of France mandated the youth of the realm sing at least four times a week en masse.

The Restoration, having begun unsteadily, now rose like a phoenix of God upon the very earth. France now, after much thought and time to view deed, was proud to have a King again, and glad its Republicans were firmly under lock and key at the Bastille.

The cricket greens, bowling lawns, rugby pitches, archery ranges, and beer gardens of Walmington's home islands were, of late, like holes full of ostrich heads, subjects of the world's most enduring Protestant crown overly keen to deny conflict that rang ever louder above ground.

South East Asia could not very well be ignored by a South Pacific island state with Polynesian dependencies, a seafaring habit in the direction of Europe, and a bone-deep addiction to Indian flora. But, for all its historic bravery and economically exhausting internationalism, little Walmington couldn't directly manipulate or confront the Soviet tide, and was hardly more likely to be influential against the closing imperialist swell. It was all enough to bring a thinking man to his knees with a deadening sense of emascualation, and Walmingtonians turned to games, drinks, and other such distractions rather than face the realities of their hapless ensnarement between a Communist rock and a Catholic hard-place.

His Walmingtonian Majesty's Whig Party government, meanwhile, arranged the dispatch to the Wendsleybury Islands, and other imperial archipelagos, of extra Royal Army, Navy, and Air Force detachments. With less than forty thousand men and women in the services, though, the exercise was much a governmental chequers match, played to keep political fingers from being bitten by more direct action and to set Ministerial minds comfortably in the sand beside their rugby-playing constituents...


(And that's how we tag in Walmington on Sea)

Cooperation... or parallel wars?
General del Ejército [General of the Army] Miguel Ángel de la Cruz, attaché to French troops in Indochina, shuddered at the news of the fall of Phnom Pen. Flashes from scenes he had reviewed during his education in Madrid passed through his mind - predominately, these were about Dien Bien Phu, where the French Army had faced its deathblow at the hands of the Vietnamese Army under the command of the very able Vo Nguyen Giap. France, through the works of God himself, was not meant for colonialism - it's bad luck historically was a testament to this. What worried de la Cruz' the most was how France was expanding its influence in what Spain considered territorio Indio - Indian territory. In the end, however, that would be a problem of France - at this point Spain did not have a fleet with the projection power to actually commit itself that far overseas, although ironically, the only carrier Thailand projected was built by Spain - it was a Príncipe de Asturias class. Nevertheless, there was little Spain could do in these parts of the world, whether politically or through military means. The United States had insured Spanish exclusion from the Pacific in 1898, and it would be a while before Spain could hope to once again prowl the Pacific. In military cooperation with France would have to be done using French warships, unless Paris suddenly aided in the expansion of the Spanish fleet. This latter happening was improbable, as France would have enough problems funding their own wars. In any case, Cambodia and its inclusion in France's zone of influence brought new questions to bare. Was the Pact Familie an all binding political bond between the two countries? Or was it icing?

Already, Phillip dreamed of his own expansions. Surely, this expansion into Cambodia would prove a direct threat to the Indian subcontinent, and would go against the wishes of China, putting the spotlight on Paris, not on Madrid. This did open the door for Spain when it came to expansion in North Africa, namely Morocco. There was no doubt Phillip had to go through his coronation first, and ETA would have to be stomped, but it was not impossible that Spain be able to expand herself. France had already established a zone of influence in Algeria; it was only proper that Spain be given the same rights in Morocco. In any case, perhaps the Moroccan war would only serve to futher strengthen ties between France and Spain - indeed, Spain would need Algerian cooperation in putting pressure on the eastern border of Morocco, while Spain could surely use the logistical aid from France, even if its northern neighbor's troops were too preoccupied with imperialism in Southeast Asia. However, it still brought up several questions that would have to be answered, lest the alliance see a war in which the two nations failed to cooperate.

To that extent, Mediterranean politics would no doubt be complicated, especially when one was to factor the inclusion of United Elias, who very well commanded the Eastern Mediterranean. For now the only part contested would be the west, and most likely the Ligurian Sea, and the victor would be whoever could put the strongest fleet in the area. With France's sudden expansion elsewhere this would no doubt manifest itself as Spain, especially as Spain's fleet grew exponentially. The inclusion of the Aragón in the Armada would serve as a nucleus of this sudden expansion, and not to mention the four BAM classes which were commissioned into the navy. News was just beginning to be released on the new Duque del Lébano, a brand new nuclear powered full fledge heavy aircraft carrier, designed to carry a secondary version of the Eurofighter Tifón, as well as a series of replenishment ships and tenders and other logistical vessels. But this was all extraneous information. What was important was that it seemed that the two countries had deviated from a cooperating strategy from the day they had agreed to an alliance. Indeed, Madrid had been provided no prior foreshadowing of this moment, which truly annoyed Phillip - how could he trust Paris if he was not in its ring of information?

In any case, there had to be a facade of union, and so Phillip sent a series of communiqués of congratulations to his allies up north and promised Spanish military support should France need it, although in truth, Spain needed French support. Regardless, this entire alliance seemed to be built on lies. But, lies could always be mended, one could guess, and through war two nations began to trust each other more - it was just that war which was necessary. Perhaps Morocco would provide it?

Tsar Wingert was overjoyed when his Kargat Director, Yvonne, infomed him that the Restoration plan was coming along at this pace.

The Russian embassies in all of the nations now called Indochine immediately recognised the true and monarchist government that was in place and offered a Imperial State visit could be made to the nation, with trade deals and aid packages to be had for the great nation.

The Tsarist Empire was immediately to dispatch an official court ambassador to “assist the Duke of Normandy in any way that he can and to at all times ensure that the will of the Tsar, and God, goes with France and her top family, the Bourbons.”

The ambassador was a young Russian nobleman that is of the “new crop” of nobility that is now taking positions of influence. His name was Sergie Vladislav. His title was Lord-Prince of Siberia. He was raised by jet-setting parents who explained his Russian noble heritage and brought him up on the road, so to speak, travelling and doing business in the Far East. He was fluent in many Asian languages, speaking no less than ten himself, and was leaving with an entourage of translators that would allow him to communicate in many other dialects. He had little experience in the things of war, but had commanded a few Tsarist regiments during the Russian civil war, or the rebellion of King Igoriij. He had done well, but was by no means a veteran.

He stood a very noble 6’6” and weighed a bulky 245 lbs. He worked out and trained with his sword and martial arts, or which he was a master of five forms, almost compulsively, and his trainers would be also a part of his entourage. He wore a Japanese Wakasashi and Katana as his personal weapons, and dressed in black silk, unless he was at formal engagements, when he would dress in noble fashion befitting a man of his station before the awful Revolution that murdered Nicholas II. His hair and beard he wore well trimmed and unmistakably Russian and he also wore polished silver breastplate and bracers as was fashionable among the nobility of the Tsar.


Tsar Wingert the Great

No-one would have believed, in the first years of the 21st century, that Vietnamese affairs were being watched from across the massive span of oceans.

No-one could have dreamed they were being scrutinised, as someone with a microscope studies creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.

Few Vietnamese even considered the possibility of a renewed French interest in Vietnam, and yet, across the great oceans, minds immeasurably superior to their own regarded Indochina with envious eyes.

And slowly, and surely, we drew our plans against them...

-Communique from His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I to His Majesty King Louis-Auguste, paraphrased from H.G. Wells' 1898 novel The War Of The Worlds.

Lyttelton Harbour, Walmington-On-Sea

The IRNS Warhead was moored in the South Island harbour, with her crew enjoying some leave in Christchurch as part of a Goodwill Mission, when the news came: France was re-taking Indochina. All over the Empire, the news was electric- another great moment in Imperialism!

The Warhead, as the nearest ship not engaged in the Filipino situation, would almost certainly be deployed to the area. Still, there was time for the Roycelandian/Walmingtonian Cricket Match at Lancaster Park that afternoon, and maybe even a spot of croquet before they had to cast off again.

Of course, there were those who had been there before, who warned of the Second Cardinal Rule of Warfare ("Never get involved in Land Wars in Asia"), but in general, people were feeling positive about this one... French strength in Indochina meant the Philippines would become Roycelandian, and that was good for Imperialism. And what was good for Imperialism was good for the world at large, thus sayeth His Majesty...

The Roycelandian visit was exactly the sort of thing that caused Walmingtonian aversion. Nobody wanted WoS turned to hostility vis à vis Roycelandia, and while nobody minded Roycelandian atheism, it was just that, well, the French were Catholics, confound it all! The issue had to be avoided and that avoidance milked to the last available drop.

Major warships at least went over quite well in Walmington, which, if it contained any desire for more interest in war, did so because war was the only possible way that the government could be convinced to fund a warship larger than a frigate. Sometimes, harbourmasters felt the unspoken and unrealised urge to impound things.

Cricket remained a good way to keep Great Walmington from picking sides, and the Roycelandians would probably win, if it were to be a one-day affair. Walmingtonians played one-day cricket only at school and village level. The national team played tests, and that was the end of it.

(This post brought to you by a relatively unimportant desire to indicate that Christchurch is here known as Port Perry, though the term Lyttelton is still used in reference to the harbour, which is perhaps the second most important naval facility in WoS, Southend [the unlikely Stewart Island] being home to the first. Likewise, Napier is Great Walmington, Dunedin is Chaspot, and more such nonsense as can be found in my shiny new factbook, wherever I put that.)

French aircraft weren't the only things in the Cambodian sky that night. Several PLAAF UAVs were observing french tactics, land, naval, and air.

China had yet to make a political statement.

Gulf of Thailand

The French faced no resistance from Cambodian forces? Well what manner of surprise was that? The Vietnamese faced no opposition from Cambodian forces though a whole command of their navy spent most of its operational time in Cambodian waters. And these forces were the ones that France ought to have been considering. French warships closing on the South East Asian coast were impossible to ignore, especially as they headed straight for the assets of a Vietnamese People's Army Naval command. Against the clutter of shore and the fishing and other commercial vessels there-off, Vietnamese torpedo boats lurked along with a heavily armed Tarantul-BG-V Class missile boat, not to mention now-busy minelaying vessels, which began to place new devices in Vietnamese and Cambodian waters alike. But it was a Gujarat Class multi-role corvette that advanced to address French vessels, surface, sky, and sub-surface detection systems busy gathering information as it went. The vessel challenged French ships with a demand that they leave these waters: they were a threat to regional sovereignty, and must withdraw.

Portmeirion, Indian Soviet Commonwealth

Soviet submarines were out in the Bay of Bengal, along with long-range UAVs, and French shipping was secretly made fair game. The COG's surface fleet was assembling, too, between the mainland and Victoria Salvadoria. But as yet this was of little significance...

Needless to say, French landings in Cambodia were quickly attacked as both stupid and dangerous. The Soviet Commune warned that France had run off the rails, and that those with influence over Versailles must act now to prevent the wholesale slaughter of their ally's piratical forces...

Ho Chi Minh City, Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Soviet consuls, along with Commonwealth Guard and GSIC officers from the Giap Endurance Soviet Comradeship-Defence Post far to the north, sat in session with not just members of the Communist Party of Vietnam and People's Army commanders but delegates from the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and tiny Lao People's Army and from the Khmer Rouge. Soviet Mal Morrigan UAVs flew early-warning missions hardly two hundred kilometres from Phnom Penh, meaning that all parties knew what the French were up to as well as having defence against strikes, with Vietnam's new Soviet Golkonda and Yugoslav Putin fighters on high alert, not to mention one of the nation's three CS-400 Red Sky SAM batteries.

The Vietnamese and the Soviets were agreeing on sending invitations to other parties interested in the success of revolution and the defence of Asia. That aside, arguments were many. The Indians of the Third Commonwealth wore their badge of command awkwardly, most struggling with the very limited progress of moves to popular consultation in SE Asia's communist states, the more forceful simply afraid of pushing too hard and establishing the Soviets as a perceived threat in Hanoi. The Vietnamese for their part had to struggle with having the support of an obvious superior but retaining control and trying to decide what to do with it.

Factions sat across nations, with some Khmer, Indians, Vietnamese, and Lao advocating an entrenchment and an invitation for the imperialists to come on and choke themselves on jungle creepers, and others bellowing in support of an immediate strike to cut-off the fingers prying into Cambodia: the French had only just arrived, they could be massively outnumbered and struck while unestablished, knocked down. But everyone would have to commit to that, to starting another major war, and the region had suffered so much of that.

Still, if the decision process took days, there was still only so much that the French could do in that time. The Khmer Rouge still had the north of their nation tied-up with thousands of fighters, and recruitment was sure to increase.

The Laotians were less than keen, by and large, to engage in a major war, but it was agreed for now to allow the Soviets to begin delivery of arms via their territory into Khmer Rouge strongholds in the north of Cambodia which they, in response to the French measure, had resolved to call Kampuchea. Most of it would be AKM rifles of various sorts, along with some grenade launchers, but the Soviets were also to supply Terrier and Sumpit MANPADS in sufficient numbers to make precision low-level attacks unworkable in much of the country. Until now, the Soviets had more or less left Cambodia alone, engaging in limited consultation with the revolutionaries but unsure of their realistic chance of success or of bringing the nationalist authorities to compromise. This no longer seemed to be the Commonwealth's position.

"We must gather the counter-imperialist peoples of the world" said a General Dumnorix, "to deliver a resolution against France that will bring this to an end. The world has gathered its strength in the past, to destroy the tyranny of Bonstock, and if the French -weaker, more remote, perhaps even more twisted and unpopular- think that they are immune, well, what is false belief against right and superior firepower?" The Geletian was now up, towering above everyone in the assembly, and making it impossible for anyone to disagree on the need to involve the revolutionary world in a resolution. The Strainists especially were thought to be important, since they were in a position to help Soviet forces to engage in the Phlippines and were a potential intermediary to Beijing. The French had precious little chance against Vietnam alone, and with the Soviets involved any conflict was utter suicide for them, but Beijing would be sufficient to prevent French allies from tipping the balance, and anyone able to help towards that end was of great value.

OOC-I just wanted to vioce a couple of concerns.

France- It seems as though you just kind of appeared on the coast with a tone of troops, though I think that can be largely explained away with the build-up that was being evidenced in the Phillipines thread and so on.

But a couple of questions, not to critisize, but just so that I can understand.

How can you support a full third of your military that far from France? You can't use the Panama Canal for military things, due to Quinntonian control. And going through the Gelletian held areas would be suicidal.

Second, how are we all to buy that the people of these nations would just roll over and let you in? I mean, given the flavour of the East right now it certainly seems plausible, but there has got to be some resistance, right?


Beth Gellert-Same concerns, just the opposite. I am uncertain about the authority that you are claiming for popular resistance and control of the national governments/militaries. Did I miss a thread where you controlled these nations? Or are you just assuming control of them for this thread? Or something in between?


I guess I am just wondering if either of you really has the authority to speak for a contested NPC nation. I am not trying to be mean or anything, but I am just worried that this thread will devolve into both of you trying to speak for the nations involved, with no clear idea of who is doing what in respect to the native populations at all.


What is the solution? Should we call in someone to play these nations? Does someone have the time? Perhaps Dra-pol/Walmington?

I don't know, I just wondered.


IC-With Quinntonia in the middle of a leadership crisis, they are being quite silent on this issue, though they have moved their military back home to the lowest level of alert.

The South Pacific Fleet and the Quinntonian Dra-poel Command, however, have been put on high alert and are ready to intervene in any of the many volatile issues that are cropping up in this part of the world.

WWJD
Amen.

[OOC: Yes, one of my major concerns was what route France was taking to supply its armies in Cambodia, which is one of the major reasons Madrid is so unwilling to lend the little divisions it can spare - it can't afford to lose them through the loss of logistics of all things. In any case, I'd think that he's taking the perilous route of the Red Sea, around the subcontinent, and to Cambodia, which is doubly dangerous due to what Spain considers unknown relations with United Elias, and rather bad relations with the Soviets. In any case, I think the Holy League, in cooperation with the Pact Familie, is actually working something out to easen this potential nightmare.]

OOC: Largely this stuff is on the off-site forum, where all the OOC banter is... or was, and where I've asked if anyone will help to take control of nations and organisations in the region, because I'm the only one speaking for them at the moment.

In general, in recent weeks, I have been talking in threads here about BG's role and whether I should assume more influence, since everyone else is going around setting up actual puppets, deploying troops, conquering NPC nations -as you've been involved in several times, yourself- and BG's just been sitting around, representing the only major power in opposition to any of it but without... doing anything. Much as it's assumed that Denmark and Mexico trade with the US, so Vietnam trades with the ISC, and to do so it's reformers -in reality working without a major communist power existing- are in AMW working towards a Soviet model. Until someone comes along to play their own nation on top of Vietnam, there's no other choice.

So, since the only -limited- response to it has previously been that I should do so, I've been working on the assumption that the Indian Soviets are the major communist power and source of authoritative doctrine in the communist world, replacing the USSR and Mao's China. Some have been siezed upon by Strainists, but they in turn have regarded Beijing as somehow senior, so the ISC isn't really down on the same tier as Spyr. Anyway, blah...

...Since the fall of Marimaia, Laos has been put under Pathet Lao control, with Soviet backing and Hanoi's approval. Nobody else has come forward to control the Khmer Rouge that rose after Marimaia's fall, and, since we're the communist power, their agents came to India instead of China when it started up, and are influenced by Indian Sovietism rather than Marxist-Leninist-Maoist thought.

So, it's been the uncontested mood for some time in general that the ISC acts as the influential head of the SEA revolutionary movements, demonstrated by my having to play the part of the Philippines' communists -which I've done without turning them away from Maoism, though that's probably wrong given the state of China and the existance of the ISC- and most debate about the propiety of France's part is a couple of pages long on the off-site forum.

So far as I can see, the French are indeed committing suicide, but that doesn't mean they can't go ahead with it, hey? To help that along, if anyone wants to take charge of the Khmer Rouge, Laos, Vietnam, the Communist Party of the Phlippines, or whatever else, and free me up for the Soviets, please, go to the off-site forum or somebody start an OOC thread for this and bring it up, there.

The KR, LPR, SRV, et cetera are operating in alignment with Portmeirion, but I'm only playing them myself because nobody else has yet taken the role, so I'm just de facto Hanoi until then... besides, if I were playing them as puppets they'd be sending Soviet Consuls to call in Indian troops, not Party officials to join arguments. I think we talked about some of it in the Philippines thread, and there's probably more, but it's been a vague thing over weeks leading up to whatever the hell France is trying to pull :)

[OOC: Spanish deployments (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10662556&postcount=26) slightly completed. BG, could you telegram me the link to the OOC forums? Perhaps we should set up a thread for this there, although perhaps you already have one. :) ]

OOC-Could I get a link too? To the stuff that you mentioned about teh current state of government after Mariamara. I wasn't really involved in that portion, so I would like to familiarise myself.

Tsar Wingert the Great.

Java Sea

Ever since the cruiser force was retired, the Indian Navy hasn't been very much to look at, given the size of its parent nation. So the French, free from the tethers of limited funding, probably don't take it very seriously when the IN appears in force in the Java Sea, complete with its very own VTOL carrier. But crammed onto the old British-surplus hulls is some of the most fearsome ship-board weapons technology around, and in some areas the IN more than likely possesses an advantage. The most important of all IN weapons systems is the big, fast, and stealthy BrahMos, actually considered capable of penetrating the belt armor of a French light cruiser thanks to its formidable size and speed.

An engagement with the French seems, to commanders in the Java Sea, more than likely, and the actual invasion of Cambodia comes as no surprise. Crewmen beat to quarters and the squadron prepares for battle. With an ASW screen established, the Union ships, led by the cruiser Blake, head for the Selat Karimata and Vietnam, careful to stay well outside French gun range. The powerful radars aboard Blake and the two Type 42 air defense destroyers watch the skies for French fighters, who might find the IN a bit more difficult a target than unarmed freighters, Type 12 frigates perform ASW duties, and Type 22s prepare to meet any surface threat that presents itself.

Mumbai

Parliament is, as is to be expected, in an uproar over France's invasion of Cambodia. It had been, of course, expected, but that doesn't make Unioners very much less angry. It is clear, says the general opinion, that France wants war, and if they don't cease immediately war is what they will get. In contrast to past operations, especially in Korea, Mumbai faces a war in what is very much familiar territory. The Malacca War was fought close by, and it is not considered a great feat to ship-in troops and aircraft, perhaps via Sujava.

So while the mood amongst the ministers of defense is not a terribly hopeful or optimistic one, all agree that the Indian National Union, not even counting Beth Gellert, has more of a chance than usual, and when the Igovians are included in projections the likelihood of a favorable outcome jumps sharply. However, the Unioners are not about to be caught with their pants down, and ASW patrols, already in full swing after French acts of piracy, are reinforced by AEW Shackletons and the IAF's Tornado GR.1s, adapted to carry the BrahMos in the anti-shipping role. Some F(J).9s are also deployed to the coast, since Rajasthan poses essentially no threat from the air.

As military preparations get underway, Parliament sends out communiques to almost every Asian capital, inquiring as to the level of support for an effort to oust the French from Southeast Asia. The free peoples of Asia had come together once before, Parliament's communiques say, to fight Bonstock. Would it be possible to unite in a similar fashion against the French monarchists?

Pune

"They're at it again, boys! You've one hour!"

The 4th Para-Sapper Battalion's 6th Squadron, headquartered in the regional capital of Maharashtra State, was beginning to think it wouldn't see any action. After all, the Rajasthan operation had been solely a matter for the conventional forces, the MoD very reluctant to send in its relatively few special forces units. Cambodia, very far away and presenting a whole new level of difficulty on the logistics front, is a different story.

Para-Sappers, dressed in the standard-fare INA tropical unit, arrive at the Pune airport by train and are herded aboard a Belfast of No.44 squadron for the flight to Sujava.

Rajasthan

With the abdication of the Sultan, evident once the street fighting started in the capital, the INA makes its move. An armored spearhead leads the advance, supported by rocket and tube artillery as well as the lion's share of IAF Springers, and the Unioners, superior in numbers and firepower, smash through Rajasthan's regular army on the Chambal Front. Although popular support for the Unioners diminishes with each mile covered, Mumbai is already stockpiling the materials and expertise needed to change that. Parliament does expect a long and difficult guerilla struggle against Sultanate loyalists and various other armed groups operating in Rajasthan, but nothing so serious as to threaten the INA's position in the territory.

(OCC: I assume, NG, that I can wrap-up the Rajasthani story, at least the invasion part. If this isn't so, don't hesitate to tell me and I'll modify or eliminate this bit. For what it matters, the fulfillment of the INA's liberation objectives doesn't free-up many troops, and not many could be shipped to Southeast Asia anyhow.)

Raipur

Unioners in the Igovian capital assure Bedgellens that they have the INU's full support in any effort to oust the French in Asia. Nobody doubts the local supremacy of Igovian air and naval forces, even when faced with French battleships. Some Unioners, eager to join the fight, and believing (quite correctly) that the INA doesn't have any intention to ship out any great number of men, try to enlist in the Commonwealth Militia Expert Corps.

Efforts to build a fleet carrier for the Igovian Navy are also given added impetus, and Unioners show photos of Daman's dockyards, where the beginnings of one of the carrier's three hulls can be seen among the forest of other UTS projects.

The PLA's recent recruitment drive (which had fallen flat on its face after achieving only 10% of the targeted 1 million soldiers as of last month) seems to have picked up pace substantially, with 20,000 former Sinoese and Xiannese soldiers signing up to return to the armed forces in the space of a single day. Elsewhere, three carrier groups and countless smaller ships are being equipped and readied for combat.

Beijing has roundly condemned the invasion plans, placing a trade embargo against Russia, Roycelandia, and France. All Holy League assets in China are frozen, and diplomatic pressure is placed against Switzerland to do likewise.

Communiqué to Beijing
We're shocked by the Chinese decision to place a trade embargo on what would be Spain's two closest allies at the moment, and freeze Holy League assets in China. Fortunately, Spain is not an official member of the Holy League, meaning we believe we are an exception. Using what we consider a light advantage, we would like to meet with Chinese representatives of the administration in Beijing and discuss the future of Southeast Asian politics and China's relationship with Europe and its northern neighbor. Furthermore, Spain would like to discuss and perhaps negotiate further and progressing trade ties between the Chinese and the Spanish. That said, in order to give a foreshadowing of our mission we urge China to reconsider its position and consider the fact that to China a greater threat is the Soviet Union, as opposed to Europe. That said, although there is no doubt that condemnation is fully justified, we believe that the situation calls for the justification of slower paced decision making, including consequences to France's actions. In any case, we would be happy enough just to meet with Chinese officials in Beijing to discuss current world politics.

Fighter aircraft of the Strainist Revolutionary Army, already flying out in patrol actions against further acts of French piracy, cannot help but note the substantial movement of French naval assets further into Southeast Asia. The information is relayed back to command posts while the French target is still unclear... though to already-suspicious Strainist officers it seems almost certain to be coastal 'Indochina': Vietnam or Cambodia, though the possibility of a strike against the Thai or former Bonstockian states could not be entirely discounted. With some twenty or so hours before the betrayal by the Cambodian parliament becomes apparent, governments across the globe are contacted from Sithin with information regarding a 'probable French invasion' in the region... no doubt a few of the corrupt parliamentarians in Phnom Penh are amused when informed of a strike they have already been bribed to accept.

Further air assets are scrambled, with orders to gather reconnaisance as commanders meet to discuss wether it would be better to await revelations on French intent, or to deal with the force while it sits in the water and has yet to try for a foothold. It is a difficult decision... however obvious the hostile intent of the fleet, a pre-emptive strike would be an act of war, not to be taken lightly without certainty of international backing.

As the French fleet continues to move, it is bombarded with assorted requests and demands for information as to its destination and purpose, from an SRA C-59C (Il-38) identifying its own purpose as 'anti-piracy patrol'. Meanwhile, messages sent out from the naval command at Taminbar see several vessels diverted towards the French... in addition to those ships moving below the surface, the destroyers Hamae and Kuane, and the frigates Sjarifuddin, Musso, and Maduin set out from port at Belitung to join the Aidit,Semaun, and patrol craft already on patrol in the area.

[OOC: The Marimaian collapse thread can be found here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=393955), OOC thread here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=395504&page=2) (including a little dollop of Marimaian history). OOC forum discussion can be found on Southeast Asia (including pretty maps) here (http://s9.invisionfree.com/NS_Modern_World/index.php?showtopic=240), and on Indochina here (http://s9.invisionfree.com/NS_Modern_World/index.php?showtopic=243).

[OOC: Yes, one of my major concerns was what route France was taking to supply its armies in Cambodia, which is one of the major reasons Madrid is so unwilling to lend the little divisions it can spare - it can't afford to lose them through the loss of logistics of all things. In any case, I'd think that he's taking the perilous route of the Red Sea, around the subcontinent, and to Cambodia, which is doubly dangerous due to what Spain considers unknown relations with United Elias, and rather bad relations with the Soviets. On this matter, the viability of approach via the Indian Ocean is further endangered by the fact that the Indonesian Archipelago is controlled partly by the Strainists of Sujava and partly by the Islamic extremists of Kalla's Indonesia, neither of which will likely allow passage of Christian-Imperial assets through their extended archipelagic territorial waters... the Malacca strait which is so useful in shaving travel time for RL commercial shipping, is demilitarized by bilateral treaty between Sujava and Malaya, a consequence of the Malacca War against the former Federal Republic of Bonstock. Then again, just about any route will be more problematic than usual, with USQ control at Panama and the Japan Strait in Strainist-Japanese hands].

Communiqué to Beijing
We're shocked by the Chinese decision to place a trade embargo on what would be Spain's two closest allies at the moment, and freeze Holy League assets in China. Fortunately, Spain is not an official member of the Holy League, meaning we believe we are an exception. Using what we consider a light advantage, we would like to meet with Chinese representatives of the administration in Beijing and discuss the future of Southeast Asian politics and China's relationship with Europe and its northern neighbor. Furthermore, Spain would like to discuss and perhaps negotiate further and progressing trade ties between the Chinese and the Spanish. That said, in order to give a foreshadowing of our mission we urge China to reconsider its position and consider the fact that to China a greater threat is the Soviet Union, as opposed to Europe. That said, although there is no doubt that condemnation is fully justified, we believe that the situation calls for the justification of slower paced decision making, including consequences to France's actions. In any case, we would be happy enough just to meet with Chinese officials in Beijing to discuss current world politics.

While Spain's duplicity slightly offends the Foreign affairs office, Hu Jin Tao decides to accept the offer to discuss.

OOC-

Well, Ill respond here, but do we need an OOC thread?

I agree with Bg in this regard, that we have more or less agreed on the situation prior to action.

Quint---I had posted on the Filipino thread for a monh now about a slow but steady unprecendened French buildup.

Does anyone want me to post IC again, or do we need an OOC conversation, Im happy either way.

Oh, and before we all move anymore, lets do some details about troop movements, locations, attacks, and etc. real time as the operation began, which is to say after the French rolled in. I want this to be a fun, orderly, detailed rp: which also means it will take more type and effort, but I assure you all, it will be gloriously worth it.

In other words, lets not only do this thread well, lets make it the definitive AMW war RP. It will take alot more time, but isnt this situation what we all exactly like doing?

In other words, we just had a massive movement of arms and material on all sides. Lets now collect ourseves, and post what supported those movements with local detail (just suggestion), that is if we decide even to proceed or defer to the OOC thread.

OOC-I don't think the OOC discussion needs to continue beyond what was psoted, I was just wondering. Not trying to be critical. If you and BG had previously agreed on it, that is fine by me.

WWJD
Amen.

Hey guys, you know. I am backing out of this RP. Ill do a full post, withdraw some troops to Palawan, but remove the vast majority back to France for further, and possible, operations in Africa. I bit off more than I ca chew apparently. Besaides, Senegal has just as much naural resources and far less threats than Indochine. Learn, huh.

Can we have a conference IC about the French agreeing to limit all asian possessions to Palawan and New Caldedonia? Im done wi the idea of world war, and China has just tiiped the scales. Also agreeing for te eaceful dparture of Bao Dai and his men, and you can do whatever you want with the resulting government so as long as all French get a safe ticket out, plus Bao Dai. Who knows, we may eve reach some sort of non-aggression pact in Asia, where BG tolerates French trade, and the French keep only enough material to secure Palawan and Noumea. I do swear to you, from now on I will limit my pretensions to Africa, where I can have hope of supply and such. Spain seems to like this too. This includes a massive withdrawl of the French fleet, save enough ships to patrol the trade routes.

Better to run Africa than die in Asia.

That meet with y'alls approval?

OOC- That was drunk claptrap.

Please check OOC boards for more info and discussion.