NationStates Jolt Archive

Unification was the word of the day. Unify! Unify! Since the Republic’s annexation of Southern England and the capture of London, the people wanted it all. It wasn’t only the Irish that wanted it, the English did as well. The capture of London was done bloodlessly. The people wanted unity, wanted the strength and power that came with it. If this newest manifest destiny was successful the nation would become a world power almost overnight. The economy would flourish as trade would pour in from every corner of the globe all working towards one goal: greatness. It was, of course, agreed upon that if successful there would no longer be an Irish Republic in the general sense. Rather a United Kingdom. It was the main reason why Southern England did not fight.

Scotland, however, appeared it would not take easily to the idea. Though dissent was high among the people in Scotland, there were enough loyalists to make the endeavor not so bloodless. The King of Scotland was not the most liked King by his people. His negligent rule had caused many a public outcry. Though his rather harsh methods of silencing these protests didn’t earn him many friends either. Scotland was still very much based on old Royal habits. The gap between nobles and peasants was still very much felt and if utilized right, would lead to Scotland’s downfall.

"We are aware that Ireland has been expanding across the Isles. And, thus far, we have supported that enterprise, as Ireland has peacefully expanded the rule of law and peace across their troubled islands."

"And...the Kingdom of Scotland is a troubled land. It could perhaps benefit from a stable government."

"Thus Incognitia will be watching carefully the actions of the Irish Republic in the Kingdom of Scotland, on the assumption that you will be aiming to set up a United Republic of the British Isles, or something of the sort."

"If the Irish Republic acts with the honour, and concern for the effect on the common man, that it has shown thus far, we will fully support the unification of the British Isles.
We are not sure what practical aid we may give, beyond continued trade with the Irish Republic, but hope that our friendly support may assure you in your great enterprise."

“Honor is a quality which the Irish hold very dear. Fear not for needless bloodshed, unification works only when people are unified. Your regards have been well received.”

The border towns were going to be a tricky situation no doubt. Most of the towns were either run by nobles or town councils, the nobles being the much easier to work with. In most cases they wanted no parts and the choice was clear, you’d have to clear them away the old fashioned way. If you were lucky they’d get no support from Edinburgh and it would be a few day campaign. The councilman however would bicker and moan and compete for rule after the army left the town. It was an utter catastrophe waiting to happen, the men more eager about the future then the present. You could never really get a straight answer which meant the town didn’t know what was going on, some people would shoot while others baked pies. The first city that proved to be a problem was Liverpool.

Situated along the River Mersey Liverpool stands ominously along the Scottish-English border. The city, fearing attack, reinforced with 7,000 Scottish soldiers and another 3,000 Liverpool militia. The Irish Bláithín, Victory, and Revenge stood offshore where they began a fierce bombardment of the towns Southern defenses. Later the next day, May 16th the 10th and 13th Irish Divisions, 20,000 strong, stormed the Southern approach. They met harsh resistance and saw little gain in their efforts. Despite the slow efforts the southern edge began to give way. Local loyalists along Wallasey allowed the 10th to set up artillery where, along with the naval fire, fired across the river at enemy coastal batteries. Meanwhile the 13th pressed hard with 10,000 men against the enemy’s equal number. Just before sundown on the 16th the 13th made a press across the river in a daring amphibious assault. Unable to support the weakened battery across the river the Scottish abandoned their coastal guns allowing the three ships including one more, the Divine to move into the river.

The casualties the first day were high, more so then anyone wanted. The 10th lost 320 dead and 1,543 wounded while the 13th suffered more with 601 dead and 2,898 wounded. The Scottish fared no better. They had lost sum 872 dead and 2,567 wounded while 600 were missing. The next day a detachment of 5,000 men from the Welsh Division swept around to the North thus trapping those left in Liverpool. With the naval guns deep in the city and no escape the remains of the enemy surrendered without a fight on the 17th.

Meanwhile the remaining 10,000 under the Welsh command drove upwards towards Manchester and the 20th Irish Division, another 10,000 strong, pushed along the East coast. Though these divisions encountered no combat during the Liverpool Campaign.

Much to the frustration of the Irish high command, the cleanup around Liverpool was taking unbearably long. Though the actual combat time wasn’t long, about two days, the city itself was in ruins. The new styles of warfare and combat could be seen throughout the battered city. Flocks of civilians tried to cope with the destruction that had just befallen them, crime was widespread, and disease looming. To make matters worse small groups of guerilla fighters, and underground if you will, began to develop and harass the occupying soldiers. This left Command between a rock and a hard place. This was a war of unification and as such matters involving Scotland’s people had to be taken very carefully. Not that the Irish would ever turn to extreme measures, but it left out the possibility of fighting fire with fire. Though a sad tactic it meant that the troops would simply have to take it until the rebels tired themselves out or the country capitulated. The 10th left behind roughly 7,000 men to keep order in the city which was a large majority of the division. The remaining 1,500 would attach to the 13th along with the 5,000 from the Welsh Division replenishing their strength after the casualties they took at Liverpool. The 13th now consisted of around 14,000 soldiers which would push northward.

The Welsh command involved with the Manchester Campaign was encountering much more success than any other division. Using various local contacts and supporters of the Unification they had made quick time to Manchester allowing for little defense to be developed. Not only that, but a regiment of two thousand Scottish highlanders loyal to the Cause joined the division bringing them up to 12,000 soldiers. Reports indicated that resistance would be light as the Liverpool battle consumed most of their original forces. To make matters better, the Scottish army still hadn’t reacted and was massing much further north seemingly giving the united British, Irish, and Welsh forces the Southern portion of their territory. With the added time, the 14,000 soldiers of the 13th remained back in order to become integrated with a very small detachment of Liam-Roger aircraft and some motorized forces. Trucks would help let the troops or at least a select few much quicker transport. The aircraft consisted of only three Airgialla’s and two Laigin II’s. It wasn’t to inflict casualties or cause havoc, it was a simple test. The government was spending loads of money on building a high class infrastructure and pouring even more into this war. That left actual military innovations little money. However it didn’t stop military officials for pushing in their development. They met in the middle and the King purchased five aircraft from Liam-Roger whose sales were generated by commercial engine sales and foreign military sales. The future of Irish, or rather United Kingdom, airpower hung in the balance.

On the other side of the Island, the 20th Irish was pushing hard encountering only nominal resistance. They still had a ways to go before encountering their first major city which in their case was Kingston upon Hull. In actuality the real fight would most certainly be on the high North or Irish seas. Scotland had a fine naval branch, one that would need to be dealt with if the country was to fall. Already, though not nearly in time, Dublin had order the construction of a large, even massive, fleet. If the Unification was to be a success and their reign as supreme rulers of the Island was to be ultimate they would need a large navy to protect it. The construction plan was mostly for the future but it was no secret that the Irish lagged behind in naval power when put against the Scottish. It would take quick thinking and a little bit of luck for the Irish navy to prevail.

"Situational assessment, gentlemen?"
"The Irish are fighting hard on the West Coast. In the East, they seem to be facing very little resistance."
"Who is the likely winner of this war?"
"The Irish. They have advanced quite well; they have won where it matters, they haven't done anything stupid; and hard as it seems to believe they seem to want victory more than the Scots fear defeat."
"Interesting. So for all the heavy fighting, we aren't seeing any Scots counter-stroke coming?"
"Well, in all honesty we only know so much about the situation, most of our interest in the past having been in the Scottish Navy not their army, but we believe much of their army is in the north...the south is defended by a few regulars, and a whole bunch of militia and paramilitaries."

The Tyrant took a moment to think.
"So will not the Irish offensive slow, in due course?"
"Most likely, unless the morale hit from having lost so much with no reply causes the Scots to crumble."
"At which point...assume in a few weeks the Scots are holding hard on a firm defensive line, and the Irish offensive pauses for a while. What then is the correlation of forces and powers?"
"The Irish will have more troops, we believe, dependent on what garrisons are required for their various gains. The Scots will still have a substantial force however, unless it begins to melt away."
"So much for the armies. What of the industry these armies will require?"
"The Scots aren't likely, at this rate, to stop the Irish before they've lost most of their industry. However, the Irish need external supplies to keep their industry running, and with Scots naval dominance...shall we say the outcome of that is in doubt, and it's possible the Scots could transport in what they need, and restrict the flow of vital materials to Irish industry."

Standing, and pacing up and down the Council Chamber, the Tyrant looked over his advisors. There was the head of the Government School of Codes and Cyphers, who he didn't name even to himself as the country's spymaster., or in fact name.There were the military men...Marshal Kaska, and Admiral Stovold.
There were the ministers of Industry, of the Interior, of Foreign Affairs.
All had a role to play.
"Gentlemen, where do we stand? Do we act? Do we support the Irish or the Scots? Do we attempt to prevent a damaging stalemate, or to foster it, and thus occupy two potential threats?"
Stovold was first to speak.
"Our fleet will soon be in-theatre facing Waldenburg. While it would not be advisable until after Waldenburg's fleet is beaten, or at least until Illar has arrived in force, we could destroy the Scottish Navy, then whether or not we instated a blockade the ships the Irish already have could do that job, and speed their victory.
Alternately we could support the Scottish Navy in destroying the Irish vessels now in existence, and making sure they never build up too many more. That, with a little more help, could lead the Scots to fight back to the status quo ante."
"I advise we not plan on sending any ground troops, if it can be helped." Marshal Kaska interjected.
"We are sending most of what we can spare from the regular force to Denmark. Any other deployment will either weaken our defence, or involve sending Territorials abroad. This is possible, but not something the General Staff could recommend. The army is aligned for a major war with Germany, not deployments across half Europe, and I'm afraid that's the plain truth."

"My dear sirs."
He had spoken. He'd just been speaking, for some time in fact, but the GSCC man usually said his piece in briefing the rest, then kept quiet unless asked for comment.
"My dear sirs, let us not forget our long term strategic goals. We are not Illar, wishing to keep all others divided and in conflict on their land borders."
"On the contrary, gentlemen, it is to our benefit that the Isles be unified. Because then, given time, the Irish will build a Navy. And will they conflict with us, guarding our corner of the Med and a small portion of Africa? Or will they conflict with Illar, an Empire stretching across half the world, and near to all its seas?"

"Well, with Illar."

"And is not our long term aim, after security of our borders, to prevent any one power from securing the seas? Which Illar have arguably already done? The Irish taking Scotland as swiftly and smoothly as possible is in our interests, especially if they know to whom they owe part of their success."

The turning over of options, the debate...it would continue for a little while. But the aim was clear.
And, eventually it was agreed. The Irish would be quietly offered aid. Including, when circumstances allowed, the efforts of the Blue Seas Fleet in destroying the Scottish Navy. (obviously, this would not be announced until circumstances DID allow, so the Scots wouldn't help the doomed Waldenburgers and make everything more difficult).

Finally the Scottish seemed to react in the worst way Ireland could have hoped for. Their larger navy began to move into position off the North coast of Ireland. A lone recon plane, commercially owned, spotted the fleet heading south through the North Channel. Their second fleet was spotted a few miles off the coast of Sunderland also heading south. If the Irish were to stand a chance they would have to meet each fleet separately and destroy them with as little damage to themselves as possible. If the two fleets were to link the much smaller Irish navy would stand little chance. Though wars can’t be won on naval decisions alone, the Scottish dominance on the seas would allow them to strangle the Island and her holdings out. Meanwhile the Scottish forces on the ground seemed to understand this just as well. Instead of making their way south to meet the Irish/English/Welsh forces they instead began to fortify. If they could hold off the combined forces long enough for their navy to prevail the men would effectively be cut off from the home Island. The Irish/Welsh/English (United Kingdom as they will now be referred to as) who had enjoyed such early success now found themselves facing the hangman’s noose.

The battle of Manchester was a resounding success unlike to marginal victory at Liverpool. The city had little in the way of defense and only a small local militia garrisoned the city. The leader of the Scottish Highlander outfit, Dermid Mìcheal, asked for permission to take the first shot at the city. It was agreed but not until 5,000 soldiers were added to his wave. The city received a heavy bombardment much to Dermid’s chagrin but with the casualties suffered at Liverpool nobody was taking any chances. Again Dermid’s persistence paid off and he was able to halt the barrage early and attack the city. The defenders seeing their fellow countrymen moving upon them began to lay down their arms. Feeling neglected by their own government and utterly shaken by the heavy barrage they surrendered without firing a shot. Casualties were minimal on both sides. However the civilians weren’t the only ones shaken. Dermid’s men having watched their own city being bombed decided to leave the Welsh army on an agreement. Instead of feeling hatred toward the Welsh division they instead felt angry at the Scottish government. They were to ride forward the United Kingdom’s forces trying to either recruit soldiers or help issue a peaceful surrender to cities.

Meanwhile the 20th Irish division was only a few miles outside the city. Again the city was defended by a small detachment of local militia and one Scottish regiment. It brought the total defense for the city to around 3,500. Despite the overwhelming advantage in numbers for the United Kingdom the Scottish North Sea fleet seemed destine to arrive in time to stave off the attack. The soldiers didn’t know it yet but an even bigger spectacle was about to unfold just off the coast.