NationStates Jolt Archive

[This Post was previously part of the North African Movement, which has been abandoned. I apologize for any inconvinience]

West of Kindu, A Belgian Rubber-Harvesting Plantation

"Ey ya damn coolie! Urry de feck up!", a Belgian Slave driver, a skinny little man barked as he withdrew his whip. "You lil' pieces a shit better meet the quota... I swear to God if every last damn ounce of latex isnt filled, theres gunna be hell to pay.", the man bit down on his cigar as starved African slaves walked by, many of them chained together, carrying buckets of white latex liquid into a clearing of the plantation. "Keep movin skinnies', dump it all in the damn tub and go back for the rest of the load... MOVE IT!", the man cracked his whip over the back of a slave woman, driving her to her knees. "Get up! Up damn you and back to work." The woman struggled to her feet and continued on, blood leaking from the wound on her back.

An hour later, the sun was setting, and the last of the latex filled buckets were being brought to the camp. A young boy, no more than 14 carried the last. As the tub seemed to fill, the boy prepared to dump his container, but caught his foot on a root, and tripped, spilling the rubbery liquid unto the soft earth. As he looked up, he saw the blazing eyes of the slave driver. He however, put away his whip, and withdrew his machete. As he raised it above his head, the boys life appeared to be over, the other slaves looking on his distress. As the arm of the driver came down, it was stopped by that of the boys father, a brute of a man, a good foot and a half taller than the Belgian, with another 100lbs on his muscular frame. The Belgian yelled, but was met by the fist of the Congan. And then another, and another, and another, until the Belgian mans screams halted, and his bloody pulp of a head lay smashed in the ground. As he raised to his feet, he looked around at the fellow slaves, some 125 in all, and then to the several Belgian Guards standing around, about nine or ten, all holding rifles. As one raised his weapon to take down the massive African, he was tackled by a pair of men from behind, as they repeatedly beat the guard with empty iron buckets.

The remaining guards opened fire one the slaves, who gave off mixed responses. Some 75 rushed the eight guards, taking some 12 casualties as they reached the outnumbered guards, beating them until death. Echan, the Congolese Man whom had started the ordeal, withdrew the revolver from the dead Belgians belt, and picked up the machete. "We have made our choice brothers and sisters. There is no going back. Surrender means death, we can go no way but forward.", he had simply stated what they all knew. Before long, more Belgians, with Colonial Army Reinforcements would arrive, and each man woman and child would be executed. "Let us free our brothers across the plantation.", the man said, as various slaves stripped the guards of their possessions.

A mob of some 110 slaves marched across the barren plantation town, which would be filled in an hour or so, once work for the day had ended. Those male slaves wich had not taken up rifles, pistols machetes or whips now found sticks clubs and various tools as they ran across the dirt road. Bells rang, guards shouted in the distance. The Belgians were preparing to strike down the slave rebellion before it began. The mob was met by some twenty five guards, in a solid line directing their weapons at the mob of men, women and children. "Drop your weapons and no one will be hurt!", shouted the Captain in Congolese. The slaves raised their weapons, twelve pointing rifles and revolvers at the line of white soldiers. After minutes of yelling a booming shout was heard from behind the Belgian line. As some 35 slaves walked towards teh rear of the line, all carrying various machetes and other harvesting tools. Echan wasted no time, and fired his pistol, the first shor catching the captain around the waist. The other slaves followed suite, firing several rounds into the Belgian line, but were immidietly met by a Belgian volley. Those with machetes and knives charged, as did those at the rear of the Belgian line. After thirty additional Congans fell, they met in hand to hand combat, where approximatly 20 more were killed or seriously injured. After a minute or so, the fight ended, and the Belgian Guards lay dying in the dirt, as their weapons were taken up, and the mob proceded to split up, heading to various portions of the plantation, attacking guards and freeing slaves. By the end of the day, some fifty guards lay dead, some eighty slaves, dead, but over 200 had been freed, fifty armed with rifles, ten with revolvers, fifty with machetes, thirty with axes, and the remainder with knives and sticks.

"Brothers... sisters... I am not a man of many words, or great knowledge. But I know we are being wronged by these white men. I hear rumors of black men fighting back against the white man... many of them die, but they say that their children will be free. I will not ask any man to follow me who does not wish to, but if I must die so that my son will live, so be it. I am going to go south down that road there. I used to work at a plantation there... many of my friends still do. I am going to take my gun and kill any Belgian man who attempts to stop me from freeing them... from there, I will find another plantation, and free any brothers or sisters who wish to be free... if you do not want this life I speak of, lay down your weapons and wait here for white men to come.", Echan stepped down from the crate, and entered a supply shop, taking a sack and placing a can of beats, a canteen of water, and a pair of banannas in it. He then began walking down the road. The plantation was pillages, everything taken. Every single slave followed Echan south, down the road to freedom.

South of Kindu, Rubber-Harvesting Plantation

"Dirty pigs... where the hell do they get off beating women...", Desam, Echan's brother grunted as he peered through the bushes at a pair of Belgian Guards whipping a woman tied to a tree. "We should slit their throats right now.", Desam grabbed his machete and began to get up, only to be stopped by Echan's grasp. "Brother, they have guns... wait for the signal, and we will regain her honor.

It had been less than thirteen hours since they had freed themselves, and now they were dead set on freeing their comrades in an identical situation. There were substantially more slaves at this plantation, some 650 in all, guarded by around 60 armed men. As the Belgians laughed, a lone man stumbled out of the denser area of the jungle, holding his stomach, yelling that he had been bit by a snake. He was doubled over as he made his way towards the guards. "What the feck were you doing out there ya damn skinnie? I should shoot you in the damn skull for that ya piece of shit!", the guards yelled as they walked over to the man, as he fell to his knees, doubled over. Once they had gotten to him, they began nudging him with their feet. "Alright, get up scum... lets get ya to the doc... c'mon! I said up!", growled one of the larger guards. Suddenly, in a split second, the man was up, and holding a revolver to a guards chest. He immidietly pulled the trigger and directed his next shot at the second guard, who stood dumbfounded. At pointblank range, he placed a round in his chest. Seconds later, rifle shots filled the air.

The first two shots were signals to other soldiers placed around the plantation whom had taken up posts hidden in trees, in shrubbery, or in any other location hiding them from view. These shots rang out in a near unified volley, as fifty Rifle Armed Slaves attacked various sentries, dropping over 30 in the first strike. Those that were wounded were immidietly swarmed by slaves armed with machetes, knives and sticks, and their lives were ended. The slaves in the area were freed, the chains cut, and the weapons of the fallen taken up. Now some 85 men armed with rifles and pistols, and many many more armed with hand weapons, moved through the fields, freeing slaves, and killing guards. Before long, between the attacking Liberators and slaves on the plantation whom aided the overthrow, the last of the Belgian Guards had been killed or fled. By now, around 120 slaves were armed with guns of various sorts, with seven hundred and thirty carrying hand held weapons. At this plantation, the groups stopped, and organized. It was decided moving from one plantation to the next would not work quickly enough, so scouts, messangers were sent out. Thirty five split up, several with maps of nearby plantations. They would move out, and start rebellions in each and every one, telling them tales of a great Revolutionary Army which was overthrowing the Belgians. They were infiltrators, intent on overthrowing the camps from within. They usually carried knives, but occasionally held revolvers.

As the messangers left, the plantation town was stripped down. All supplies were taken, inluding the stores of latex. Wagons were packed, and built in some cases, as literally anything useful was to be carried from the hell hole. Once everything was taken, the eight hundred slaves, about half of them fighters, moved south, heading towards the next plantation...

(Just saw your post Titicus, writing up response now.)

[This Post was previously part of the North African Movement, which has been abandoned. I apologize for any inconvinience]

[This Post was previously part of the North African Movement, which has been abandoned. I apologize for any inconvinience]

25 Miles South of Kindu - Rebel Militia Camp

"Echan, theres a mob carrying torches coming down the road... about two hundred of em' total. Scouts be sayin' theres whites with em... I think its Colonial's sir.", the Lieutenant Rindowi wheezed out, stumbling into the tent, winded. "Whats the orders sir? Should we get movin?"

Echan let out a long, built up sigh, "Where is Desam?". "Gathering men... he expects a fight.", responded the Lieutenant. "Grab your gun, we'll go meet them... if its our night to die, it is our night to die." Echan smiled, grabbing his rifle, donning his worn out jacket, and walking out of the tent, its entrance guarded by two men in altered Colonial Uniforms. "Frenzwa, call Jhandi's men, we are heading to meet the men coming from the North... Swazil! Wake up you oaf!", Eachan walked around the camp, gathering men to head out to meet what many believed to be their end. Two hundred Colonial Soldiers would be a formidable enemy for some five hundred of Echan's poorly trained, poorly armed Militia... but nevertheless, they could not run, they would surely be chased down with women and children making up half their number.

As Echan's men moved down the dirt road to the north, not a single one of the men spoke of turning back. The men were driven with unholy zeal. Anger, rage, fury which could only be contemplated by those which had suffered the injustices as they had. Work was an unimaginable burned among the people of the Congo. Work from dawn till dusk, a good 18 hours a day was common, more was expected during certain seasons. If daily quotas were not met, it was common for flogging to ensue. If shipments were lost or destroyed, a hand was typically cut off. If both hands were lost, the slave no longer served a purpose, and was shot. Often times, entire slave populations were forced to go without food or water for several days. Worst of all were the massacres. Thousands of slaves would often be gathered, for whatever reason, and executed. Whether it be rumors of rebellion, or insufficient work, they were killed. The elderly, useless to the Belgians, were routinely starved or killed. All these things drove the Revolutionary Armies, armies which would rather die a thousand deaths than return themselves, to return their children to the life of slavery. Fear was not an issue among the men of the Congan Revolution. They had experienced the worst... war was simply slave life in which they were permitted to fight back.

As the Militia continued forward, a long messenger ran forward, carrying a torch. Echan signaled for the men to stop, and the soldiers halted, raising their weapons at the slowly approaching man. "I come with a message from Colonel Rabonko...", declared the teen. Echan knew the message before it was spoke. That if each and every one of them laid down his arms, they would not be harmed. The promise held as much weight as the treaties that gave the Congo to the Belgians. “The Colonel leads a band of deserter colonial soldiers and run away slaves… approximately 350 in all… he comes to ask if you will take them in.” Echan was stunned. Colonial Soldiers that wished to join a band of rebel slaves? Perhaps this was more than a simple revolt. “Yes… yes of course they may come. We welcome all that seek freedom and have the strength to reach for it.” The young boy smiled, “Thank you sir… thank you.”, he bowed, turned, and ran into the darkness. Echan turned, looking at his dumbfounded militia. “Well… apparently there will be no fight after all… let us return to the camp and give the good news.” And with that, the mob turned around, and headed back.

Hours later, Colonel Rabonko entered the camp at the head of a group of people that looked as if they had seen the messiah. “Welcome my brothers. Let us fight for freedom wherever God may take us.”, Echan shook the hand of the older, more professional Rabonko, as the two groups began cheering, embracing one another, bartering, talking. After the first hour or so of meeting, Echan met with Rabonko and and a few personal friends of each in his tent. The first words of Rabonko were simple. “I expected there to be more of you… and from what I saw, there are no artillery pieces… and women… you have many women and children. This is not the rumor I heard of in Isiro.”, grumbled the Colonel, shedding his enthusiastic appearance once he had hid himself from public. “Rumors?”, Echan questioned. “Well, surely you know of the great Echan? Who stayed the hand of the slave driver? Who has freed ten thousand slaves and cut down twice as many Belgians?”, Rabonko laughed to himself. “I guess the legends are never true,” the Colonel grunted, indicating the ragged appearance of Echan. “Well, where do we go from here messiah?”, Rabonko laughed sarcastically.

Over the next several days, over 350 runaway slaves reached the mobile group, boosting their overall number to some 4,120. They continued moving around the Eastern Congo, striking at plantations, pillaging them and freeing the slaves, their number growing by the day. Other smaller rebellions were heard of in the area, most successful, with those freed hiding in the jungle. Murmurs of discontent arose in cities, with many of the inhabitants venturing off into the jungle in search of Echans ‘Glorious Revolutionary Army’. The ARC, a long present force, was now taking interest in the movement… it had only just begun.

Somewhere in Central Congo

If you have never been in the jungle, you can never imagine its sounds, its movements, its vibrance. Life in the jungle is different that in any other part of the world, for you are constantly and always surrounded by life. The air around you, the trees above you, even the dirt below you was moving, crawling, buzzing. Animals of all shapes and sizes dwell in the jungle, moving, eating, shitting... you are never alone in the jungle, and you are always being watched.

The ARC was well aware of how the jungle worked. Of what type of plants were edible, of which types would pour water from their vines, and which types would put you into a paralytic shock when consumed. The ARC Army, around 2,000 strong in the Congo had been relatively silent over the past several years, simply moving throughout the jungles, surviving, taking in runaway slaves and stealing supplies. They gave the Belgians no reason to send a force after them, as it would be far more costly to kill them than it would be to let them continue acting as they always had. They trained constantly, for although they were not at war with the Belgians, there were enemies in the Congo besides the white man. First and foremost, there were animlas. Panthers, tigers, gorillas, apes, snakes and board, not to mention the assortment of scavenger-hunters. These vicious beasts rarely hesitated in attacking soldiers in the jungle, forcing the men to be ever aware of their surroundings. Then came the raiders. Bandits, criminals, thieves, black marketeers, all would attack small ARC Camps, take their supplies, and sell the soldiers into slavery. And finally, there were the pygmies. Between the Mbuti and Baka Tribes of the Congo, these hunters came in constant conflicts with ARC forces camping in their designated hunting zones, and strong headed pygmies would occasionally attack the soldiers. Once this occured, the soldiers would raid and pillage villages until they felt compensated. However, their overall relation with the small people was moderate at worst.

The ARC Army was currently split into some 50 camps throughout the central jungle regions, with some 2,000 men living in groups of ten to fifty men, each having vague knoledge of the others location. Theoretically, they were waiting for orders from the Congress of the ARC, a Congress whom was forced to meet in underground cafes rarely once a month. In reality, they were just living... that was until they began hearing of slave revolts in the East. Supposedly, a great slave army under the command of a brilliant General, known only as Echan, had broken free of Belgian Control and was now liberating the country, already defeating several Belgian Armies in battle. General Kabila, in his fortress of Taki Rebel, decided that they would no longer wait on the Congress, but take action. No more Belgian Resource Shipments would go through Central Congo. Taki Rebel was a Mountain 'Fortress' of sorts in Eastern Congo, deep in the jungle. Defended by superior natural defenses, it was the stronghold of ARC Strength, even though only 400 some odd men, three machine guns and four artillery pieces were present. Echan had a new ally in this war...

Dirt Road, Central Congo

"Feckin' bugs!", a fat Belgian riding on the back of an old car swatted his neck, smashing a mosquito against his skin. Behind the jeep trotted along several donkeys, twenty in all, barrels of latex rubber tied to either side of the beast. Behind the donkeys were a string of old trucks, packed to the brim with the material, and then a contigent of Colonial and Belgian Troops, followed by more donkeys. Guards posted around the convoy marched on as they always had, no trouble ever arose in the area, there was no reason to fear anything more than animals, and possibly raiders... but that was a rarity.

As the Belgian Convoy moved forward, ARC Soldiers, newly linked together, picked out positions. Usually some 30 yards from the road they hid in dense bruch, behind fallen logs and in trees, few made it as close as ten yards to the road... but in all, some thirty five men surrounded the road. And then it began. Rifle shots rang out, all aimed directly at various soldiers and guards. Seconds later, a pair of grenades exploded, landing in the midst of the enemy convoy. Simotaniously, a pair of trees in front of the lead car toppled over, blocking the road as several men came out further down the road, firing sporadic shots at the head of the convoy. As the battle raged on, the ARC soldiers began falling back, deeper into the jungle. Slowly but surely, they fell back. One by one, minute by minute, they went deeper into the jungle... where they were supported by a unit of snipers, prepositioned for the best vantage points. Within minutes, the last of the Colonials had either fled back to the convoy, or been killed. The convoy had meanwhile been assaulted from the opposite road, and taken in full. Any who made it back were executed. The supplies were taken, the donkies slaughtered for food, and the trucks and cars driven to known friendly towns where they could be hidden for future use. Ambushes such as this would become much more common in months to come as the conflict intensified...

Rebel Camp 32 Miles South of Kindu
Current Echan Rebel Population - 13,500
Men (Age 16+) - 5,900 - 2,100 Armed with various Bolt Action Rifles/Revolvers/Shotguns - 3,800 Armed with machetes, knives, clubs, spears, bayonets
Women - 4,100
Children (15-) - 3,500

Current ARC Rebel Population - 3,600
Man (Age 17+) - 3,600 - 2,800 Armed with various Bolt Action Rifles/Revolvers/Shotguns - 800 Armed with Machetes and various hand held explosives

Over the last several weeks, Echan's rebel force had swelled to over 13,000 people, with nearly 6,000 of them being of fighting condition. This pesky group of runaway slaves had become nearly as powerful, if not more so than the infamous ARC. But now that they had the strength of over 13,000, they had the responsibility of 130,000... simply traveling around the jungle, avoiding the Belgians would no longer pass. So Echan summoned the leaders of the various factions, and held a meeting on the next course of action... on the course of the very Revolution itself. Present in the meeting were Echan, his brother Desam, Lieutenants Jhandi and Frenzwa, the leader of the Deserter Colonial Forces, Colonel Rabonko, fully dressed in military garb, his right hand man Mr. Christopher Samsi, ARC Diplomat Dr. Garge Manduele, Mr. Victor Centario the boss of a black marketing organization supplying the ARC, and the head of the Kindu Militia, Warlord Henry Totanga. (The Kindu Militia is numerically insignificant, some 85 strong, 12 armed with bolt action rifles, six with revolvers, the rest with machetes, knives and clubs.)

Dr. Manduele began the discussion very bluntly, intent on implanting the ARC's agenda upon Echan's Army. "Echan... we respect your work back in Isiro, truly, we do... however it is time for you to wield your power, in order to truly strike fear into the Belgians, to drive inspiration into the hearts of the slave, you must show them that you are capable... that you are capable of attacking and maintaining control of a city. Attack Kindu and your numbers will increase dramatically. Slaves will flee by the thousands to your side if you only become more than a lurking shadow..."

"Attack? Are you serious sir?", Rabonko laughed, "What exactly are we to attack with? Echan's runaways? They are slave farmers with guns. Poorly equipped, and their training... I do what I can, but with our circumstances, I cant imagine them making it to the city without falling into complete dissaray."

Frenzwa interuppted, irritated at Rabonko's pessimistic stance, "Our men train every day of the damned week, three hours each. They work like none other, hunting, gathering... simply staying alive. The fact that they are even here is a testament to their courage... it is not the coward that risks his life running from the plantation, it is the patriot, the revolutionary."

Samsi, Rabonko's advisor continued where the Colonel left off, "Will your men's courage stop a bullet? For that matter, will it put bullets in their guns? And thats the ones that have guns to begin with... they are armed mostly with sticks! Have you heard the stories of how our people came into this situation in the first place? It was because of men holding sticks charging machine guns... must we witness this again?!"

Centario, dressed in a black suite, hat and Italian shoes looked up, his ciggerette illuminating his lower face. "Excuse me sir... we can take care of your little ammunition problem. My associates believe that there is much to be gained from the rubber industry once the Belgians are driven out... and since our previous contracts with the Congress have given us explicit in the business, it is in our best intrest that this Revolution suceed. We have ammunition... 300 Carcano Rifles, 75 M1911 Military Grade Pistols, over 5,400 Various Rifle Clips, five crates of grenades (250 in all), and yes, a Vickers Machine Gun, fully equipped with a military car, and some 7,000 rounds in munitions... no need asking where they're from... we want but one thing from you. We here you are in possession of quite a bit of liquid latex from the plantations... for the some of 200 barrels, you can consider it all yours."

Echan clearly did not like the man... however out of his idealist appearance, there was a scent of realism. He knew he needed the weapons to win the war, and the rubber... it was expendable. "400 Rifles and 100 of the Pistols.", Echan simply stated. Centario grinned, "Thats not how it works Echan... we have but 300 and 75 in our current possession...", Echan interupted, "Then get more, and when you have them, come get the rest of the rubber." Victor smiled, "Alright Echan... alright."

Echan looked around the room, first at Rabonko. "My friend, we may not yet be ready for war... but if we do not attack now, we may never have the opportunity again. Manduele says the ARC will commit 200 Soldiers to an attack on Kindu. Kindu is a city in need of liberation, and a key point in the rubber shipping with the Belgians. We cut it off, we cut off 1/4 their rubber supply. As we speak, my cousin leads is destroying a train bridge, loaded with rubber. This bridge will devestate the rubber movement in the East. If we take Kindu, the East will fall. We must attack." Rabonko sighed, rubbing his forhead.

Kindu - 3:30 AM - Several Weeks Later (Kindu has a modern population of 200,000, between 1917 and 2006 the population of the Congo has gone from ~6million to ~60million. 1/10. Im estimating 20,000 in the city. Roughly 1,000 Belgian Soldiers/Guards. (High amount, 1 guard to every 10 people) The Belgian Military in the area, Force Publique was around 17,000 in 1914 for an idea)

Some 200 Small Vessels sailed down the Lualaba River. Ranging from canoes, to row boats, to fishing boats and floating craft, some 1,000 Echanian Revolutionaries (All Armed with guns), supported by some 200 ARC Soldiers floated down the river, towards the dimmly lity city of Kindu, where over 400 men were already hiding. (A mixture of Echan Rebels and the Kindu Militia) Those already in the city had taken up specific points, predetermined by Colonel Rabonko. The positions determined by the Colonel were strong points of the city, which would need to be held in order for the main southern attack force to sucessfully strike into the city. Those coming down the river would hit the banks and immidietly move into the city, simply killing any and all whites seen, also ordered to rally local inhabitants to riot and attack the authorities.

In the south, over 3,000 men waited in the jungle, 1,000 Armed with various Rifles and Pistols, 1,600 with various melee weapons. In this force waited the mobile Vickers Machine Gun, mounted on the back of a heavily armored car, it was to be sweet revenge against the hated FP. (The People despised them... I mean despised)

In the east, the remaining 1,900 were to overwhelm the smaller Eastern Portion of the city. 400 armed with guns, the remaining 1,500 with small explosives and machetes. They would attack 15 minutes after the initial strike, once forces were being diverted across the city, the force under the direct leadership of Mr. Samsi would overwhelm the East, then move across the river to the western bank, which by that time, should have been secured by the forces coming down the river.

Battle Plan (http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/4299/gis027mi.jpg)

Results of the Attack on Kindu

Total Belgian Forces - Before Battle

1,000 Force Publique Colonial Soldiers - Brutal, Well Trained Soldiers, adept at raiding and generally wreaking havoc, they are armed with standard army rifles, machetes and hunting knives. Black Soldiers usually lead by black Officers, they are brutal, and very unaccustumed to actually having to fight their enemies. Hated by both the Congans and White Europeans for their savagery, they are a worthy opponents with many RL Victories against Germany in WWI.

100 Loyalist Militia - A mix of white colonists and the few Congolese Happy with Belgian Rule. Armed with hunting rifles. Ill trained, ill disciplined, they are last minute soldiers fearing Rebel takeover.

3 Vickers Machine Guns - State of the Art imported from Belgium via the many arms deals made between Britain and Belgium. Equipped with semi-capable crews.

Total Revolutionary Forces - Before Battle

2,400 Armed Echanian Revolutionaries - Driven with a passion, these Revolutionaries are runaway slaves, or in many cases, products of sucessful overthrows. They are loyal to the cause, willing to die before surrendering to the yoke of slavery. These men are the best in Echan's Army, displaying both athletic and mental capabilities. Armed with rifles and pistols, their formal training is limited to that of the few ex-colonial officers, but they are nevertheless, a capable force.

3,100 'Unarmed' Echanian Revolutionaries - They are nearly identicle to their armed counterparts, but carry only knives, machetes, spears and small explosives.

200 ARC Soldiers - Veteran Revolutionaries, they have been fighting, training and surviving in jungle battlefields for over eleven years. Fighting various opponents of various origin, they are well armed, expirienced and well trained. Their uniforms are noticable variations of the FP Uniform. All carry various modern rifles, knives, and occasionally a pistol. They match the FP, if not surpass them in any field.

400 Kindu Revolutionary Militia - Ill trained, they are insurgents pre-positioned inside the city based on the orders of Colonel Rabonko. They are armed with various rifles, mostly outdated, home made explosives, and machetes. Though ill-trained and only half organized, they have only one thing on their mind. Overthrowing the Belgians and their FP Goons.

1 Mounted Vickers Machine Gun - Well Trained and Expirienced Crew mounted on an old military car with additional armor plating.

Battle Overview

The initial strike from the Revolutionary Army was met with fierce resistance from the Force Publique, as over 1,400 Rebels landed on the Western Shore of the Lualaba. In most cases, the FP was not numerically strong enough to keep the Rev. forces from moving deeper into the city, for the majority of their forces had been deployed on the rims of the cities. By the time forces had been recalled from the perimeter, Echan's Men, supported by ARC Forces, had moved 200 yards into the city, taking buildings and creating barricades as they ovewhelmed FP Sentries. However, once FP Commanders decided to move their forces to the center of the city, they moved with force. Some 650 Soldiers began ambushing parties of revolutionaries, whom would in turn be counter ambushed by Kindu Militia throughout the city, taking pot shots from windows, immidietly dissapearing and firing from another location. The FP drove the Revolutionaries back, supported by all three Vickers Machine Guns, to within 50 yards of the shore. The Rebels were forced to, in many cases, take cover in beached landing craft, and sea walls. The furiocity of the FP was greater than any could have expected as they mercilessly bombarded the rebels. In all but a few pockets, the initial attack was driven back.

However, a signal was soon given. A signal indicating the FP had responded. A series of flares were shot off, indicating to the main force of some 2,600 men that the FP had repositioned. The attack that followed was like none seen in the Congo for hundreds of years. At the point at which the jungle was closest to the edge of the city, thousands of Echanian Rebels rushed out, supported by sharp shooters and snipers, the horde merclessly began firing on positions which could have contained FP forces. The Vickers Machine Gun, riding in the back of the 'Armored Car', cleared a section of some 75 yards, spraying a barricade defending some twenty FP Soldiers until the horde behind it was in range. The perimiters of the city, now drained of most of their strength, collapsed in a dissorganized retreat to the center of the city, where their comrades continued to attack the Revolutionaries on the shoreline. However the trek to the middle of the city was in vein, those who were not shot running, were ambushed by militia and killed. Soon thereafter, the FP were completely surrounded, and by morning, the few remaining surrendered.

The Eastern Portion of the City fell much quicker. The only 100 Militia (Loyalist) in the area moved to the shore to fire on Revolutionary Transport Craft in the river. With the 1,900 Rebels moved in, they were overwhelmed by first bullets, then knives and machetes.

Results

Total Belgian Forces - After Battle

650 Force Publique Colonial Soldiers - Dead or Mortally Wounded
100 Loyalist Militia - Dead
250 Force Publique Colonial Soldiers - Captured
3 Vickers Machine Guns - Captured
100 Force Publique Colonial Soldiers - Hiding in the city, fleeing in the jungle.

-Impact. The Force Publique has suffered it's first defeat in it's existance, losing some 1/17th of its entire number in the battle. It now takes the Revolution very, very seriously, with many groups reconsidering which side they want to be on.

Total Revolutionary Forces - Before Battle

400 Armed Echanian Revolutionaries - Dead
300 Armed Echanian Revolutionaries - Wounded
200 'Unarmed' Echanian Revolutionaries - Dead
100 'Unarmed' Echanian Revolutionaries - Wounded
60 ARC Soldiers - Dead
40 ARC Soldiers - Wounded
100 Kindu Revolutionary Militia - Dead
50 Kindu Revolutionary Militia - Wounded

-Impact. The first real victory of the Revolutionary Movement, the people are rejoicing in the cities. A new wave of inspiration has hit the eastern Congo, as the Revolutionaries now actually seem to be an imposing force in the area. In Kindu alone, 700 men have signed up to join the ARC, another 900 joining Echan.

Other Groups have been formed throughout the area, small villages have been completely overthrown of Beglian Rule, with representatives going either to Echan or the ARC Congress. Within two weeks of the victory at Kindu, 23,000 men and women hadpledged allegiance to the Revolution, with 4,000 of those taking up arms with either the ARC or Echan. Additionally, ARC Forces some 2,000 strong have begun fighting with Force Publique Soldiers in Isiro. Echan has begun marching East, linking his army of 8,000 up with multitudes of smaller forces as he plans to attack Bukavu within the month.

Kindu - Three Weeks After Revolutionary Takeover

Kindu was no longer a safe haven for whites, no longer a drop off point for latex shipments to be sent down stream to rail lines, no longer under the control of the Force Publique or the Belgians. No longer under the control of rubber shipments. No longer under the control of white Europe. But that was not to say there would be no control. Echan was no friend of anarchy. He knew the entire world would be watching their little experiment in the Congo, and that if he allowed chaos to consume the nation, he would prove the Black race to be an inferior species... he would justify white colonialism. Kindu was not to fall into anarchy. Order was established. Dictatorial Order more stringent than that of the Belgians. However, the effects of this tight leash were not seen, as the people were blinded by the fact that they had emerged victorious, and that labor demands were cut tenfold. They were not permitted to be outside past ten at night, nor before five in the morning. Drinking in public was banned. Speaking against Echan or the ARC, or the movement in general was banned. Theft and other such crimes were temporarily punishable by death. But those things that the Congolese Slaves... 'Workers' despised, were gone. The unbearable working hours were shortened. People were free to converse among themselves. Worship as they desired. Go where when they desired. Compared to what they had been living in, it was paradise.

Within three weeks of the takeover, the population of 20,000 rocketed to nearly 45,000. Runaway Slaves made up a large percentage of the immigrant population, but many of the people moving in were simply nationalists, deeply desiring to throw out the Belgians and to establish a Congan lead Congo. Since Kindu fell, there had been a series of skirmishes between ARC and Force Publique, favoring neither side in any obvious manner. Some 450 ARC falling in battle compared to some 560 FP. However in all fairness, the ARC was recieving the help of angry Congolese all over the east. Ambushes were commonly launched in villages by angry civilians, usually killing a few FP Fighters before falling to the brutal machetes of the enemy.

Since the fall of Kindu, the FP had made two separate attempts to take back the city, the first starting in a campaign out of Goma. Two Thousand soldiers made their way south east, cutting through swaths of jungle and traversing along ambush ladden roads. From the moment the force left Goma, they were attacked. Sharpshooters camped out in hills pinned down the first several detachments of FP, delaying their departure for four hours. Though the twenty odd skirmishers of Echan's Army were eventually killed, the soldiers of the Belgian Army knew that this would be no easy trip. Ten miles south of Goma, nine hundred Revolutionaries came down on the larger force of FP, attacking from the Jungle with two machine guns. The initial attack was devestating to the FP, machine guns cutting down some sixty men in seconds. Rifles shots followed quickly, followed by the explosions of grenades and rapid rifle shots.

As the ambushed loyalists took up positions, Echan unleashed another wave of attackers... a savage breed of warriors from the north, a breed which refused to use European Weapons, carrying only machetes and knives. They were positioned on the other side of the river, which the FP used to cover its back. Midway through the ambush, some eighty five swam across, keeping as discreet as possible, and attacked the Force from the back. Charging the enemy with vicious fervor, occassionally reaching their skirmish line and cutting one down before falling to pistol rounds or bayonets... but it was the rage in their eyes that caused the damage... it left a permanent mark on the FP, long after the ambush ended. The ambush ended within a half hour. The two machine guns were withdrawn long before it ended, Echan would not allow those to be lost. The Force Publique on the other hand, brought no machine guns. Partially because there were only two in Goma, but primarily because of their weight, and the fact that they slowed the men considerably. Now they regretted it, as they lost some 750 in the ambush, killing only 235 of Echan's. The remaining 1,250 men were doomed in the upcoming battle. Moving without rest, they moved into a reed covered, tree dotted low land late at night. The few scouts deployed were overwhelmed by knife wielding skirmishers, hidden, quickly cutting them down from behind, allowing the main force to move right into the Revolutionaries Grasp. 2,500 of Echans men took cover at the jungle's edge, hiding behind trees, logs, mounds of earth, shrubbery and all other sorts of obstructions. The machine guns were placed five yards deep, behind stone, wood and earthen fortifications, guarded by twenty men each, and two sharp shooters. The line sat in anticipation, waiting for the brutes to come into range. Meanwhile, a force of some 300 men was lead by Damsi, Echan's brother around the rear of the force, taking a wide path so as to avoid detection.

When it began, it was as before. Reeds and lowlands provided no protection, as they fell quicker than the men behind them. The muddy sludge below them trapped many, making them easy targets for the snipers. Machine guns, rifles, pistols and all other sorts of weapons sounded out for hours, forcing the FP to begin falling back to the river, where they planned on regrouping. However their retreat had been cut off by three hundred men, all firing on the FP's general location. By daybreak, only 300 FP remained alive, their fire on the Revolutionaries being largely ineffective due to their defensive locations, only 270 were killed in all from Echan's Number, another 80 from Damsi's force. 585 Rebels fell, however, a force of 2,000 had been repulsed, 1,700 of them lying either dead, in captivity, or simply running for their lives.

The second attempt by the FP was much less organized, simply sending some 900 men from the south into the regions of southern Kindu, burning villages and slaughtering civilians. These 900 were slowly rooted out by a combind ARC-Echanian Effort, in which some 400 were killed. 500 Echanians and 75 ARC Soldiers also lay dead, but the remaining FP fell back to Kasango. In those weeks after the fall of Kindu, the cities of Kisangani, Isiro and Bumba all fell. Kisangani to Echan Loyalists, Isiro and Bumba to the ARC. Isiro and Bumba cost the ARC some 1,100 men, the FP losing slightly more at 1,150. Kisangani was won primarily by militia, Echan's Men, under Colonel Rabonko losing some 700 to the FP's 400. The cause was spreading.

Meanwhile, it had been decided by Belgian Authorities in Europe that a support force of 15,000 Soldiers would be sent to the Western Congo from Belgium. Though they feared the situation in Europe gravely, they felt the situation could be quelled within a month of their arrival, and be home before the situation in Europe intensified.

Total Revolutionary Forces

ARC Recruits: + 4,500
ARC Loses: - 1,850
Total ARC Number: 6,200

Echanian Recruits: + 12,100
Echanian Loses: -2,900
Total Echanian Number: 13,800

Local Militia Recruits: + 2,800
Local Militia Loses: - 600
Total Militia Number: 3,100

Total Belgian Forces

Force Publique Recruits: - 200
Force Publique Loses: - 3,560
Total FP Numbers: 13,440

Belgian Recruits: + 0
Belgian Loses: - 0
Total Belgian Numbers: 15,000 (Not Yet in Congo)

A Small Bar in Kamina

"Ah, come, sit General, drink, eat, you look famished.", Centario laughed, pouring liquid from a flask into a glass before the FP General. "I take it that you're simply being here means that you are interested in my offer." The Force Publique Officer smiled, revealing several golden teeth, matching his several golden chains and necklaces around his neck, his gold framed glasses on his head, and his golden rings on his fingers. "You assume much Mr. Victor Centario. Why should I want to see these damned rebels in the north win? You think I dislike my life?", laughed the powerful black commander, scratching his head, irritating the little hair he had on it. "I command 900 fierce soldiers. I collect tribute from thirty five arab slave traders. I own two plantations of my own, from which I make over five hundred thousand dollars a year. The towns and villages around Kamina pay homage to my name. I recieve 2% of all tax revenue from the area. I take what I want and none dare stand in my way. My life sir, is excellent... why should I want anyone else to rule this territory?"

Centario ran his hands through his slicked back jet black hair, grinning. "My associates and myself have explicit intrests in the ARC coming to power in the Congo Mr. Khar. We have gone to some measures to supply these rebels, and we are pleased with the progress they have made. However, it is not happening quickly enough. The Force Publique, and Generals like yourself are making things... difficult. And I am here to make you an offer. Three hundred thousand in cash, and control of three plantations in the Lulamba." Khar laughed... "Risk all I have for three hundred thousand and three plantations? you are mad!", he bellowed out, laughing as he drank again from the glass Victor had filled. "Well... I am sure we can work somthing out...", Victor mumbled, confident as he refilled the glass. "How about 200,000, and two plantations?", Khan chuckled, drinking again. "What? Please... Mr. Centario... you should leave, you have nothing I want." Victor nodded. "One hunded thousand, one plantation and one vial of antidote to the poison you have been drinking for the past ten minutes. The look on Khar's face turned ice cold. His eyes filled with rage, he nearly burst from his seat and strangled the Italian alive. Victor stood up, withdrew a vial of clear liquid and opened it, motioning as if he would pour it to the floor. "NO! Wait... wait. Alright... just give it to me." Victor smiled. "My associates outside will take you to Leopoldville, you subbordinate officers shall see my wishes fufilled." Victor sat the vial on the table, from which Khar quickly drank. Centario chuckled, opening his flask and taking a long gulp from it. Khar sat confused. "You think I would poison my own flask? No... but a small glass vial...", Victor laughed as Khar fell to the floor, convulsing. Before the general's body stopped moving, FP Guards in the room, all paid off stripped him of his gold, his machete and his revolver. Victor approached Lieutenant General Ridik, shook his hand and smiled. "Your money is on the table... we expect all 900 of these men to be on our side." Ridik responded, "Dont worry, these men hold loyalty to money...", Ridik glanced at the motionless corpse of Khar, "Khar... was getting greedy."

Costermansville (Modern Bukavu)

The attack on Costermansville was to be a key part of the Eastern Campaign, for this city was made up of primarily European Colonists, attracted to the location by the ideal climate and scenic surroundings. The city had a population of some 25,000, 15,000 of which were whites. The surrounding area however was somprised of several small towns and villages, in which some 15,000 people resided (previously 20,000 - 5,000 either fled to Revolutionary Controlled Congo or were executed by Belgian Authorities and FP as Revolutionary Sympathizers.) The attack was close to the hearts of Echan's Army involved in the attack. 7,800 men whom felt that this was their closest chance to ever attacking Europe itself. To directly hurting their oppressors. This was not another attack on a Force Camp... the goons of the White Man. This was the white man himself... the enemy. The ARC refused to be excluded from this fight, sending 1,000 of their own under their best General, Harlan DeClerk. He had orders to take the city for the ARC, not to allow Echan to take control.

The Force Publique in the area was quite strong, the white population paying extra to local units for additional protection. Though the two groups despised one another, the whites paid well, keeping them happy enough in their elivated positions in society. Some 2,500 Soldiers were deployed to the villages West of the city, setting up defenses throughout the jungle on hillsides and in prime ambush locations. The remaining 1,000 men of the Force, along with their five machine guns, took up positions inside the city, leaving 200 skirmishers deployed in the elevated hills around the city. The city itself was surrounded on the east and west by high hills, and on the north it was bordered by Lake Kivu. The initial battle seemed to favor the Force, as many detachments of Echan's Army were destroyed by ambush parties before they even made it to their designated attack positions. It was rumored that during an ambush on Echan's own regiment, the Revolutionary Leader declared that 'If my men could ambush so well, this war would have been won weeks ago'. However, once the battle was brought to the outer villages, the FP could only stall for so long. These villages did everything they could to aid Echan short of charging the FP. Desami, leading 700 men from the south, helped surround a string of villages, and break them of resistance. Echan paid dearly for the outer villages, losing some 2,000 men, with another 1,500 taking wounds. The FP, losing only 900, left 100 to be captured, the remaining 1,500, many wounded, made it to the hills surrounding the city. Fortunatly, the men of the villages were ready to take their revenge on the FP, and recruits flooded into the army. The 2,000 men lost in battle were compensated for by 2,900 Bokavu Militia, armed with the weapons of fallen FP and Echanian Forces. They were only temporary soldiers, planning on returning to their positions as farmers shortly after taking the city.

The ARC had a much easier path to their destination. The north was considered immpassable by the FP, and left generally undefended. However the ARC moved 1,000 men south via foot through the jungle covered hills, while transporting a 75mm Artillery Gun South via Lake Kivo on an old transport barge, confiscated from a bankrupt drilling company. The two armies, though rivals, did work together. The artillery gun would bombard the city from the sea, and the ARC would deploy some 500 'Commandos' to the city via the lake. Once they made it into the city, the FP would have to relocate further forces into the city, leaving the hill perimeter open to an assault by Echan in the West and South, and the ARC in the north. The shelling of the city did more psychological harm to the inhabitants than it did physical. The white colonists, enraged at the 'cowardly tactics' of the brutish Force continued to complain for days. According to these 'gentlemen', they needed to march out and meet the enemy on a field of battle, to regain their honor. Of course these colonists were not soldiers, they knew nothing of military strategy, they simply had misconceptions lodged in their skulls. The Force quickly became impatient with the complaints of the white settlers, putting out a curfew on the second night. The whites, not about to take orders from 'Dark Skinned Niggers', broke the law, teens and young men deliberatly going into the streets late at night, shouting rascist slogans and drinking. They did not fully understand the severity of the situation, and like their elders, expected the FP to earn their wages and march out and defeat the savages. Siliman, the Colonel in charge of the city ordered any many dissobeying the order to be shot... seventy four whites lay dead the next morning. Enraged, the whites began to destroy their own chances at survival. Attack Force Soldiers, a battle errupted inside the city, as well armed colonists charged the streets, attacking their defenders. The FP in the city, struggling to maintain control, withdrew from the Eastern Portion of the city, moving all hostile whites from the area. An uneasy peace was established between the new 'Colonial Belgian Expeditionary Force', under the command of an Ex-Military Colonist and the Force Publique, all the while, Echan and the ARC moved into position, vaguely aware of what was happening inside the city. Of the 1,000 FP originally in the city, 850 now lived, with 2,200 armed colonists positioned in the East. By the fourth day, lynchings inside the city were constant, as the FP lynched whites in the West, and the Colonials lynched Blacks in the East. Before long, hostilities resurfaced as strongheaded young whites attacked the west, losing some 400 men to the FP's 100. In the midst of the next day, the attack commenced. The FP pulled 500 men from the perimeter to maintain control of the city, as for some time it looked as if the Colonials would take the city. The weakened perimeter however, held strong, repulsing five Echanian Assaults over two days. However, before long, the line, poorly supplied due to the situation inside the city, fell in dissaray, and the city itself was surrounded. As the ARC Commando's landed, a complete attack on the city was launched, as the remaining 6,000 men reinforced by 1,000 ARC, defeated the 1,200 FP, followed by the remaining white colonists who resisted. The battle was costly, as only 6,000 of the original 9,400 lived. The ARC taking 400 in casualties. The FP's 3,500 were largely dissolved, 2,500 dead or dying, 700 captured and 300 fleeing into the East (modern Rwanda).

After the battle, whites were arrested by the dozen, nearly all of the population forced into empty rubber plantations, under the constant guard of Echan's Militia Units. Order was established quickly, arms collected, local governors appointed. A militia force established, and all of the usual preparations were made so that Echan could leave as quickly as possible. The ARC Congress meanwhile had been ransoming off prisoner whites to relatives in Europe for large sums of money. Not wanting their family to suffer at the hands of the Brutish Congans, they often paid anywhere from 500-50,000 dollars in ransom, easily funding the ARC's low budget campaign. They looked to the future, storing much of the money in Swiss High Intrest Bank Accounts.

Total Revolutionary Forces

ARC Recruits: + 1,100
ARC Loses: - 700
Total ARC Number: 6,600

Echanian Recruits: + 5,100
Echanian Loses: -3,400
Total Echanian Number: 14,600

Local Militia Recruits: + 2,900
Local Militia Loses: - 1,100
Total Militia Number: 4,100

Total Belgian Forces

Force Publique Recruits: - 200
Force Publique Loses: - 2,560
Total FP Numbers: 10,440

Belgian Recruits: + 0
Belgian Loses: - 0
Total Belgian Numbers: 15,000 (Not Yet in Congo)

The Restoration Campaign

Force Publique Commander, General Malorn Decamo had organized an attack he was sure would not only retake Kindu, but end the Revolt once and for all. Taking control of some six FP Armies, he organized a multi-pronged attack he was sure would suceed. Involving some 6,400 men in all, nearly the entirety of the remaining Belgian Force in the East, he planned on assaulting from the south in a string of quick action infantry attacks. According to his intelligence, Echan was rampaging in the east, chasing down smaller groups of FP detachments, securing the borders with British Tanzania. The ARC was busy fighting loyalist groups in the north, particularly FP Loyal Warrior Villages around Vangambu... rumors declared genocide of several dissenting tribes, however, this was passed off by most as Belgian Propoganda. (Actually true, ARC forces are in the process of exterminating isolated loyalist tribes in the north)

A Coalition of Militia Forces, the only other serious force, was engaged in a skirmish war in the Central Congo throughout the jungles, niether side taking any substantial ground, involving some 7,000 men on either side. This left the south dangerously weakened, the defense manned by a few local militia's and reserves of Echan's Army. Decamo's Attack, in his mind, would bring under his lordship all Eastern Congo... much wealth and much power was to be gained. His attack would begin with the taking of Mweka, a medium-sized Echan-Loyal City, housing some 1,000 Revolutionaries, only 300 of whom were decently armed. Decamo's attack force sent to take the city came from the north, only 600 strong, they infiltrated thicker parts of the jungle, flanking the Revolutionaries, attacking them in the midst of night with total suprise. It was not long before the city fell, with most of the Revolutionaries Fleeing to the north. A string of victories over dissorganized Militia Forces gave the FP supreme confidence as they approached Kindu, the siege begining with a shelling of the city from 7 old 75mm Artillery Guns. For some 18 hours the attack continued, 5,000 FP barraging and moving into the city guarded by less than 2,000 of Echan's men, and 800 Militia. Two long days went by, and still the city held, the South and East taken by the FP, leaving the North West under Revolutionary Control. As the third and fourth days went by, the Revolutionaries were locked into a corner, fortifying several large buildings, simply trying to hold off the enemy horde. At dusk of the third day however, a miracle arose. The Echanian General - Rabonko arrived from the west at the head of 1,050 men, assaulting the left flank of the curled Force Army. Within three hours, a ARC Army under DeClerk, 900 strong, assaulted the Eastern Portion of the city, rolling the enemy flank. However, it seemed as though the FP would be able to regain stability in their lines, and retake the Eastern Part of the city with the reserve force under Lieutenant General Ridik. His 900 men, ordered to reinforce the east, did not exactly fufill their orders. They instead, attack the rear of the FP force lodged in the center of the city, in accordance with his arrangement with Centario. After nine more hours of brutal fighting, the Force Publique in the city crumbled, the center surrounded, the East Collapsed, the Western Flank simply fled west into the jungle. Most were killed in later days, as the western jungles were flooded with Revolutionary Guerillas and Skirmishers. Decamo shot himself before his command post was overwhelmed by ARC Forces, and his staff surrendered. What followed ended the Force Publique's presence in Eastern Congo.

Boma - Capital of the Belgian Congo

Belgian forces were finally arriving in the chaotic Congo, granted, the West had seen little Revolutionary Activity save from random assaults on plantations, but in Belgian eyes, the entire place was run by heathens. As the first transport barge landed, every black civilian loyalist in the Congo (only a thousand or so) cheered the white soldiers, waving small flags and waving. As the first ramps fell from the transport ships, and the first white soldiers began walking off, they recieved an idea of what they were up against. As soldiers began marching down the ramp, snipers in adjacent buildings fired off specific shots, aiming for officers, and in many cases, random soldiers. Several fell dead in the first minute of fire, as men in the crowd withdrew revolvers, firing at the soldiers already onshore. A small repair boat, already in the water was rowed closer to the hull of the massive transport, and within seconds, the two men manning it jumped ship... seconds later, a massive explosion errupted blowing a massive hole into it's side. Within five minutes, all of the 50 odd insurgents were killed or dissapeared, leaving 40 Belgians dead, and 65 wounded... the first transport ship, though still above water, sat on the ground of the harbor. It took a full 36 hours to unload the entirety of the Belgian Army, 15,000 well armed, well trained, disciplined white soldiers. Taking with them twenty Vicker's Machine Guns, and twenty five artillery pieces. This Rebellion was over in their minds... but they had no idea what they had gotten themselves into.

Total Revolutionary Forces

Total ARC Number: 7,200

Total Echanian Number: 15,200

Total Militia Number: 5,700

Total Belgian Forces

Total FP Numbers: 4,940 (Western Congo)

Total Belgian Numbers: 15,000 (Western Congo)

(I had a very, very long post written up, and am quite irate at the moment, as it was all lost in a freak power outage in my nieghborhood. I have written up a brief summary of what happened.)

Summary

- Riots in Boma. Belgians execute 150 Public Officials for not preventing them. People angered. Boma Revolutionary Milita founded - Sniper Attacks on Belgian Guards Daily. 1,000 Belgians forced to stay to secure city + surroundings.

-13,000 Belgians create two lines near central Belgium, one in north, one in south, FP forces secure middle. Echan decieves Belgians into believing he will attack North via diversionary troop movements, false leaked information and bribery. Belgians fall for diversion, move 6,000 of 7,000 from South Line to North. Revolutionary Forces move South through dense jungles in spread formation, surround southern line, overwhelm inexpirienced defenders while suffering moderate casualties. A series of ambushed attack those Belgians Moving North. Echan has supply lines of Belgian North Line Cut by 4,000 Guerillas in the West, after weeks of trying to secure them, the Belgians begin to move out of Central Congo, leaving the FP to hold it. Horribly Outnumbered, the FP are either captured, bribed, or killed by ARC forces coming in from the north. Belgians fortify Leopoldville with 3,000 of their 9,000 men. 3,000 of the original 15 are dead, two thousand captured. Leopoldville is surrounded and cut off from Western Cong by Echan's Army, now 31,000 strong. The FP are completely destroyed within a month of the Belgian's arrival. Although inflicting heavy casualties on the revolutionaries, the Belgians are cut off in Leopoldville, and under heavy pressure in Southern Congo by a Coalition of Militia forces. Turn Coat FP and ARC forces are engaged with Belgian Forces in the West, and Belgian Commanders have wired Brussels for reinforcements, at least 25,000. The request was denied due to major action in Europe. War looking very bad for Belgium.

(Im sorry about how crappy that is, but I simply cannot rewrite my entire post. It was much more detailed, and went in depth in explaining how everything above happened. Please accept this in it's stead.)

The Siege of Leopoldville

With the majority of Belgian Heavy Guns trapped in Boma, or in Revolutionary hands, the 3,000 Soldiers in the city had no choice other than to bunker down in their perimeter positions and take what they were given. The ARC, in control of most of the Revolutionary Artillery, shelled the enemy mercilessly, careful not to attack high-density civilian targets. The Belgians had tried to use them as shields, however they realized that by hiding in the homes of the Congans, they were extremely suceptable to knives, machetes and pistols of the residents, and chose they trenches over the depths of the city. Concentrated artillery strikes made way for a charge that would ring out in history. Lead by Echan himself, 700 men rushed the enemy trench, deprived of operational machine guns, and fell in hand-to-hand combat against the far more expirienced rebel forces. As the first section of the trench fell, the retreat was cut of by local militia from inside the city. Chaos consumed the battle field, leaving no time for an official surrender... not one Belgian left the field alive. Leopoldville was renamed by the ARC Congress, Echan, in honor of the new Chancellor and Great Revolutionary General who had seemed to ignite all of what had happened over the last eleven months.

With the fighting in the South concluding, Belgian forces fled to Boma, now a boiling pot of revolutionary fervor. The people of the city could taste freedom, the freedom their brothers now had, the freedom they wanted so badly. As Revolutionary Forces encircled the city, ambushes, riots and attacks went on daily, forcing the Belgians into several defensible positions around the city, leaving large sections open to mob rule. After six days of this stalemate, there were 42,000 Revolutionaries around the city, and some 4,000 Militia inside, awaiting the order to charge. Echan ordered for a total surrender to the 5,000 Belgian Defenders, many wounded, ill-supplied and completely demoralized. The Lieutenant Colonel in Command of the Entire Army ordered the surrender, having been in the hell for two and a half months, and not being too eager to share in the fate of the defenders of Leopoldville. The city was taken, parades and celebrations held for an entire month and a half days, with the entirety of the Core Congress attending, approving Echans unanimous nomination for Chancellor. The city was renamed Libertad, and dubbed the Capital City of the Newly formed United African Coalition. The new government was based on that of the United States of America, with each ethinic region taking the status of a state. It would not be simple creating such a nation in Africa, where freedom was a leper, but they were determined, and they lead a nation of determined people. Echan however was not finished. In his mind, it was his duty to liberate all oppressed peoples in Africa... and as he looked at a map of Africa for the first time in his life, he realized oppression was all around him. Echan ordered a volenteer army be summoned for a campaign to liberate their brothers to the south... 52,000 men awnsered his call, and began their trek to the south.