NationStates Jolt Archive

[ooc: claiming Austria, Czech Republic]

He was an awkward face in Vienna these days. They were quiet days. Too quiet. Yeah, yeah, so most stories start out this way, but more often, they're also not boring. And that's how Gustav felt. Vienna was boring. Too boring. Meanwhile, some confederations start popping up left and right. Just to the south, some new Yugoslav union formed up overnight, literally. What was wrong?

That's right, no Empire. The last time Vienna was interesting was after Franz Josef II invaded Serbia. Unfortunately, it wasn't too interesting because a lot of people also died. Serbia has been a problem lately, but not his problem. His problem was the boredom. And the plain dullness of a grand city left to rot while the rest of the world progressed. Even some very distant cousins over in Saint Lazare were having more interesting times, and they were smaller than the city of Vienna itself. How does one compete with that? He had to do something different.

He went to the bar as usual, meeting with some of his friends for a casual drink. It was a glorious afternoon, and here they were. Stuck around a city that was doing nothing.

"You know," Erich said, "we should do something."

"I know," Gustav replied. "But what? This city only does so much, and we're all dead folk anyway."

"What about you Gustav? You're the last known descendant of the von Liechtenstein family in Vienna, aren't you?"

"I'm not really von Liechtenstein. I'm actually the grandson of Prince Karl Alois von Liechtenstein..."

"Oh, here we go. Another history story."

"You asked, Friedrich!" Gustav retorted, snorting his beer. "Well, Prince Karl was my father, but he wasn't really a prince. I mean, he was, but he wasn't line for the family throne. He ended up somewhere in Monaco after the war, and wed Princesse von Urach. My father was born there, you know? Heinrich Gustav von Liechtenstein. And me... the last of that line."

"Why'd you come to Vienna?" Richard asked, obviously unaware of Gustav's familiarity and fascination with history.

"I came because my father thought it was better than Monaco. Too many hands there. First Cotland, then Huahin. Too many hands. Now look at me. I'm stuck here, and Vienna is the hellhole."

"You know," Erich then said, "you're royalty you know?"

"Formerly."

"Still, that's a good thing. People are looking for change around here. Maybe a monarchy is what we need."

"Monarchy? What? Me?"

"Yeah, you."

Gustab shuttered at that thought. "How would I make things better? I just want them to be better."

"I know, but I mean. You have these ideas, wonderful ideas. Never takes form because you're stuck here. You should try making a monarchy."

"Make a monarchy? And the Österichsrat is just going to let me make a monarchy?"

Erich shrugged his shoulders. "If you made a monarchy, I'd follow you."

"Oh really. And who else?"

Erich then got up on the table, and shouted for all to hear, "This man here is Prince Gustav Albert von Liechtenstein, and he wants to be you king! Will you follow him?"

He got a couple of boos, before Gustav tried to bring him down. "You're embarrassing me..."

Erich would have none of it. "Consider this, my friends! When's the last timee you've see the Viennese Opera pull out some extravangant festival? When's the last time you went to the Vienna Ball? When's the last time your poodle was trimmed in the French style? When's the last time the name Austria meant something to you? Austria! Once an empire, now no more. Is that what you want?"

Some of the people sitting around were interested, but most of them still turned their backs on him. Erich continued to preach. "We need a leader who can make things great again. When the world thinks of Vienna, they won't think of little sausages; they'll think of Empire! They'll think of great music! They'll think of great men, great philosophers! They'll think of greatness - the word itself! I want that, you want that." He turned to Gustav, who was blushing ripe as a tomato. "This man has what you want. This man has Empire written all over him!"

Somehow, in the span of a few minutes, Erich turned a typical bar into a chanting chorus, singing the Austrian hymn. Gustav wondered where this was exactly leading him when a single thought hit him. And the idea of becoming King didn't seem so bad anymore. In fact... it was a dream now. Erich came back down, bringing Gustav to reality again. "What'd you think?"

Gustav smiled. "I think you might have something here."

Vienna
29 February 2008
1200 GMT+2

Gustav had no need for a call to arms. It seemed that the country itself was on the brink of revolution, and that he was the needed catalyst for change. Ironic, it was. If Erich had not prompted him to try becoming King of Austria, it might have been different. Someone else with some slurried ties to royalty might have been the bastard to take it all. And now, outside the Schloss Schönbrunn, he was standing as the few members of the Österichsrat - forced at the bidding of the mob - ordained him King Gustav Albert von Österreich und Liechtenstein. A ceremonial guard gave him a military salute, as the mob did an effective job of making him the King of Austria.

Gustav was elated to stand at the center of attention, despite his natural fear of crowds. Erich stood next to him, along with Friedrich, Richard, and Maximilian. They watched the crowds cheer his name. And for the first time, as the ceremony winded down, he stood up to the microphone to address his populace. He was scared beyond belief. Never before had something like this happened to him, and now he was going to speak to a crowd for the first time in his life.

"Guten Tag, Meine Herren und Meine Damen. I come before as a humble man." He glanced to the crowd, listening to Erich's words in an earpiece. "I have noble blood in me, but I have also the experiences of the common man, and I know the idyllic lifestyle that now plagues us. We have for so long been slaves to mediocrity, and now we have the opportunity to transcend it and do more! We can make our destiny once again, and the restoration of the Reich will be my first step." It would be a good thing to note that he had no idea what he was saying. "I have seen the ways of my ancestors, and you have given it the greatest contribution to the restoration. In this time, we will be making the world know again the name of Vienna, and they will know to respect it!" He paused as the cheers overwhelmed him. He spoke more about his intentions, but a certain uneasiness came over him as he started thinking about what he was saying. Reich? What does Erich want me to do? There is no more Reich. He came to his speech conclusion: "I therefore stand before you a humble man, but rest assured, Austria will not be so humble after today."

The cheers overcame him as he walked off the stage and glanced at Erich. "What the hell do you want me to do, Erich?"

"Well, haven't you heard the news?" He plopped a paper in front of Gustav, with the blaring headlines - "Czechs invade Restoration!" Gustav took one glance at it, and sighed. "Oh, scheisse..."

Vienna - Schloss Schönbrunn
29 February 2008
1430

"So how do we prepare against an invasion that is already upon us?" Gustav said, leaning against the mantle of a burning fireplace. Erich was busily steeping his tea.

"We fight back."

Gustav rolled his eyes. "I know that. How?"

"Make a call to arms."

"Are you crazy?" Gustav said, turning around. "The moment I do that, every %$#^ing country in Europe is going to knocking at my door!"

"And the Czechs are allowed to do it because...?"

"Because they feel threatened. They are endowed that."

Erich laughed. "You sound ridiculous. We, who are being invaded, have not right to defend ourselves; yet the Czechs, who have no reason to be afraid, are justified?"

"Mind you, I just made a speech about 'restoring the Reich.' Do you have any idea what that means?"

Erich nodded. "But the people don't. And besides, the Czechs invaded us last night. Apparently, some of the Österichsrat aristocrats escaped the country and plead with the Czechs to do something about it. Not to matter. We'll defeat them soon enough."

Gustav sighed yet again. "How?"

Erich wryly crept up to him and whispered, "Make me Defense Minister."

"You?" Gustav retorted, almost laughing. "What do you know about warfare? Austria hasn't seen a war for nearly..."

"A long time. But you see, the same thing with the Czechs too. I have read the books though."

"Ah, yes. The kriegmeister scholar... what a whooping advantage that is."

"Books do make a difference, Gustav," Erich said. "Just let me prove it."

Gustav flipped through the pages in his mind, wondering if there was any other alternative. Unfortunately, his mind had not yet developed the same manipulative interest as Erich had developed in his days - he had nothing else to contrive. "Fine. But if we're not in Prague within 4 weeks, consider the offer rescinded."

Erich smiled and replied, "You can have it if we're not there in two."

Schloss Schönbrunn
29 February 2008 - 15:00 CET

The silver Mercedes-Benz S550 pulled up in front of the gates of Schloss Schönbrunn, and the power windows on the driver's side rolled down smoothly. The guards guarding the gate came over to the door, and the driver, a twenty year old man dressed in the combat fatigues of the Cottish Royal Marines said in accented German, "His Cottish Majesty's Special Envoy to Austria seeks an immediate audience with King Gustav."

Up to four months ago, the Special Envoy to Austria was the Cottish Consul General in Vienna, running one of five Cottish diplomatic stations in the Fourth Reich. When the Reich collapsed and disintegrated, the diplomatic stations had been in a state of confusion and disarray, not really knowing what to do. With the increase of tensions and troubles in the former Fourth Reich, the Cottish had decided to continue activity until they knew more about what nation-states would emerge like the Pheonix from the ashes. This had proven to be a wise course of action, although it had required the security to be boosted with one company of Royal Marines extra per diplomatic station, just in case of trouble.

Today, after the announcement of a new state and a new head of state, the Cottish consul had been given the new title of Special Envoy to Austria, confirmed as late as five minutes before he departed the residence/consulate in Prinz Eugen Strasse in a faxed copy of the document signed by His Majesty the King himself. The Special Envoy had been tasked with informing the new King of Austria that the Realm was interested in officially recognizing the Austrians as a free and independent nation-state, and that he was appointed the Special Envoy to Austria and tasked with facilitating an official recognition.

He just had to get an audience first.

Vienna
29 February 2008
1500 GMT+2

Gustav was still by the fireplace when he received a call from the front gate.

"The Cottish Special Envoy wishes to speak to you."

He shook his head, imagining why the Cottish Special Envoy would want to see him. In fact... when did the Cottish have a Special Envoy in Vienna?

"Let him in."

If it was any good news, he might diplomatic recognition...

Linz
29 February 2008
1700 GMT+2

Erich had gotten himself a long baton just for this occasion, standing at the head of a military column. There was a hype of a Czech, but only Erich knew that the news was fabricated. It provided the best pretext for war with the Czechs; and by the time anyone figured out the truth, it would be buried under the dead. Rallying to the call of the monarchy in Vienna, Erich had brought together a host of some 100,000 people. Most of them did not have uniforms.

"We have a date in Prague," Erich said, turning to the commander of these troops. He nodded and started the training exercises. He turned to another commander and started walking to another column of professional troops. The call for arms brought the army an extra 500,000 men and women from around the entire country, nearly increasing the size of the modest armed forces by 10 times. Where could they find the money to pay for these troops? After all, the army needs much more than spirit to fight a war. Erich started writing some things on a piece of paper, and started to talking to another commander. "I want the Army of Tyrol to seize the assets of the Liechtenstein enclave in Vaduz. Since King Gustav is now a higher royalty than his ancestors there, they must cow to his royal authority, and your troops will enforce this order."

"Of course, Minister. Is there anything else to order?"

"Not right now," Erich said. "We must continue to prepare for the counter strike against the Czechs. The front near Vienna is heavy, so we will need to relieve them by striking into the heart of the Czech defense at České Budějovice."

"We're invading the Czechs? That might be construed as excessive retaliation."

Erich laughed. "Well, they invaded us. They might as well have an 'eat me' sticker all over them. We won't stop this until either they or we have been exterminated."

"But the Czechs like us..."

"No. The Czechs like us in slumber. They prefer not to have a monarchial neighbor, or at least one portrayed by the traitors of the Österichsrat. I'll have no more of this talk. Prepare for the invasion by tomorrow at daybreak."

"Of course."

Schloss Schönbrunn

The Special Envoy made his way through the old and glorious castle, following the Austrian official sent to escort him to see the new Austrian King Gustav. Following the Special Envoy was the Royal Marine who had driven him, serving as a combined bodyguard and secretary.

Entering the room where the Austrian King sat, the Special Envoy cleared his throat and approached the King, who sat in a chair by the soothing fireplace. With a friendly smile on his lips, the Special Envoy said, ”Your Majesty King Gustav, I am Thomas Dal, Special Envoy to Austria from the Realm of Cotland. On the behalf of His Cottish Majesty King Haakon, I wish to congratulate you on your newly acquired throne.”

[OOC: Better late than never, right?]

Vienna - Schloss Schönbrunn
29 February 2008
1700 GMT+2

Gustav received the Special Envoy with a firm handshake. It was the firmest that he had ever shook a hand.

"Thank you for your kind words. I must admit it's been a bit troubling. Have you heard words of the invasion by the Czechs?" he asked, as a side remark.

Vaduz
29 February 2008
1730 GMT+2

[ooc: this has been arranged in advance, speaking with Brinkman]

The invading force of about 1000 police and 500 drilled soldiers went into Vaduz, occupying the principal square and the central government buildings. As there was no armed force in the city [a necessity deemed unnecessary by the many years of peace and stability of the Fourth Reich], the people were rushed about by the armed force. The principal commander took control of the radio tower, broadcasting a message to the people, indicating that King Gustav Albert von Liechtenstein was now the proprietary ruler of the Principate, and that any resistance would be considered as treason. In the meantime, a ground force swept into the banks, seizing all of assets for the new king. When all was settled and done, the commander made a call to Linz - "It is finished."

Linz
29 February 2008
1900 GMT+2

Erich waited for the call - he was mildly surprised that the Army of Tyrol managed to seize Liechtenstein so quickly. He wanted to verify it before moving on, but after a quick call, he was convinced that Vaduz had been occupied and that things were in order. The invasion set-up a false image in his mind, that war was easy. He decided to start the invasion early.

"We'll launch a night offensive."

"Minister, our main troops are getting for sleep. If we get them mobilized, it will be well past midnight before we can actually attack."

Erich remained confident. "We have a good 7,000 men to lead the charge. If we follow it with an attack by our recruits..."

"Mein Herr," the Commander said, "these men and women have only just arrived. At this point, they aren't even recruits. They're still civilians. Most of them have not handled a weapon. If we send them forward... there's no telling what they will do."

"People can learn to do things quickly. Besides, we're in crisis. If we had children, I'd send them all the same. In any case, this will be over by lunch tomorrow."

"That's an unrealistic goal, Minister. A campaign in the Czech Republic will consume at least 6 months! There is too much difficult terrain, and people will resist us."

"Well, it was just an expression. I do expect it to be fast though. And painless. The Czechs are not ready for war. We are."

Erich walked away, confident. The Commander shook his head, wondering if the Restoration was going to last long with leadership as this. He turned to his nearest subordinate. "Call the men to arms. We're leaving tonight."

"But the men are set for dinner now."

"We are moving. Direct orders. Shall we?"

České Budějovice
21 March 2008
1000 GMT+2

[ooc: summary]

Well, it was a costly campaign. It was a stupid campaign too. Erich had cost Austria's youth of some nearly 25,000 - even more from the Czechs. Gustav decided to make an early visit to the Czech Republic, to see first hand what Erich had done. Prague was even then under siege, while the rest of the world watched in tacit acceptance. There was already war happening across the continent that seemed to be attracting even more attention.

Erich was waiting, dressed in his full military regalia. Gustav surveyed the city, wondering if he should Erich. Friedrich came out of the car as well, serving as Gustav's right-hand man inside the Kingdom.

"Tell me Erich. I've been hearing stories that the Czechs never really invaded Austria."

"Who's been spreading these rumors?" Erich replied. "I can't believe why they would want to dispel our just cause."

"I can think of many," Gustav replied. He pointed out at the field. Where forests once grew was now barren charred terrain. "This war is costing us a lot of money. And no doubt, neither my people nor the Czechs will like the result."

"It's their damned fault that they started this mess."

"Well, that would depend on who 'they' is," Gustav said. "You've been running the military so I would have expected better. But I've heard that after a battle, despite mounting losses against the Czechs, you ordered a general assault on the city."

"But we took the city. You're here right now! Living proof that it worked."

"We lost 10,000 soldiers on an operation that my commanders could have been done more efficiently. 500 versus 10,000. I'd go with 500."

"That would have taken 3 weeks!"

"It's taken you three weeks."

Erich didn't have a good response to Gustav's caustic reply. It was obvious hat Gustav couldn't have Erich. "On account that you've been my friend, I can't put you on the spotlight. But on account that you've turned a lousy war into a worse affair, I have to do something. I need a more competent general in command. And I need to get out of public affairs. Starting a war with the Czechs is bad enough; if anyone figures out that we started it, it's going to blow the continent open."

"Is this any way you treat your friend who helped make you king?" Erich replied. "Don't you forget that I made you who you are! You can't turn me away from this!"

"Erich..." Friedrich then said, hoping not to disturb the King any more. "You've done enough damage. Gustav trusted you, and you shattered that trust by what you've done these past weeks. I mean, you've turned a brilliant idea into a tragedy. I think that it would be best if you just stepped away. There's some nice real estate by the Bodensee; if you just retire from public life, we can make an arrangement for you there."

"I'll take no arrangements. I'm fine where I am."

Gustav nodded. "I've called for General Friedmann to take over. I expect that the transfer will be amiable or otherwise, I will be forced to take a more drastic measure to remove you. And please don't make me do that." Gustav and Friedrich re-entered the car, riding away. It was obvious that revolution was necessary to make things right; at this time, it was the right question to ask - whose revolution?

České Budějovice
26 March 2008
1000 GMT+2

Erich was still sporting his baton, thinking what he could do to make the affair much easier upon himself. Prague had since been taken up by General Friedmann's troops, following a general surrender of all Czech forces. He was just imagining to himself - 'If only I were still in command, it would be my victory. And these stupid bureaucratic generals have stolen it from me!' The truth was that General Friedmann had to make a great concession to end the war; King Gustav was to allow the Czechs to continue their own style of government - a republic - while the Czechs would permit the Austrians to do as they pleased on their territory. The law, of course, would be difficult to manage, but General Friedmann had succeeded in making the remaining days a bloodless affair.

General Friedmann turned toward Erich, sitting in his chair. It was already a long day, marked by the final end of hostilities. He spoke brusquely: "You have been a huge pain in everyone's ass, and I have no idea why you linger in my office. I've seen you everyday, and now you have the nerve to sit in my chair?"

"You have the nerve to steal my war?" Erich turned around and aimed a silenced-PPK at him.

General Friedmann stepped back. "You are being reckless and irrational."

"You stole my war, and I'm steal it back."

"The war's over, Erich. You can't steal it at all."

"Well, it's starting again." With that, he took one simple shot and Friedmann fell down with a bullet lodged in his head.

Vienna - Schloss Schönbrunn
26 March 2008
1100 GMT+2

But now there were other matters to attend. Reconstruction, repatriation, compensation, and other things that cost a lot of money. Where would the Reich get the finances to cover these costs?

Gustav was meeting with his ministers, trying to allay the costs. "Who knew that running a state was so expensive?"

"It would be less expensive if we didn't have so many soldiers. Now that the war's over, we don't need this many."

"We don't, but they do." Gustav reluctantly looked out the window, where the Viennese people were crying for merciless retribution upon the Czechs. Somehow, Erich's lies had perpetrated the people and they cried for blood. General Friedmann's peace had come at several costs, and among these was the astonishingly harsh reaction by the Viennese. "I'm surprised that the same people crying for the end of war are now crying for retribution."

"People are an uncertain mass. They go where they please." Maximilian was always poetic in his speech. Despite the blunt nature of his remark, it seemed so obvious and embellished, as if it were settled upon a golden pedestal for all to admire. But that crowd outside was nothing to admire.

"Well, where do we get the money?"

"You do have family, don't you?" Friedrich asked.

"Erich invaded Liechtenstein."

"Okay..."

"We've already used the finances from the family treasury in Vaduz to finance the war, but we're still needing to cover the cost of peace." Gustav sighed. Max pithily remarked, "Who'd imagine that the cost of war was less than the cost of peace?"

"Well, technically, it's the cost of war and peace," Friedrich replied. So much for poetry.

"Look, we're not going to plunder any more of my family's treasury. We've got to figure out a way to finance this whole thing before the Viennese people start doing whatever they want. And we've got make them happy somehow too, because I've got to put up with it everyday."

"What about your family in Monaco?"

"What about it? And it's not Monaco anymore. Some idiot renamed the city."

"You should check it out though. They've got a huge bank there, and I'm sure that your family there will have something on the account."

"How much? And like I said, we're not going to plunder the rest of my family - if I even have anymore. I still intend to restore the family vaults of Vaduz once we get to that point."

Maximilian took a look at the genealogy. "I think you might want to consider the family option, sire. There's a twist of plot ahead..."

Vienna - Schloss Schönbrunn
11 April 2008
0800 GMT+2

Word spread slowly of General Friedmann's death. It was an apparent suicide, although one of the investigators thought that something was amiss. A subsequent investigation found nothing, and the man was finally laid to rest in Vienna, with full military honors. Austrians and Czechs alike respected him, even for the little time that he was a popular hero - he ended the war and at the least cost possible.

But now Gustav was stuck with the problem of dealing with a new country on his own. He couldn't trust Erich with military affairs, and none of his other friends proved to be competent commanders. Heaven forbid that he would try his luck at command; he couldn't imagine where to start the task. He decided to let the General Staff elect its own Commander for the time being - that is until he could be more certain of a commander's success. The General Staff, in their wisdom, chose a man from the frontier or Moravia - Alexis von Galatsche. He was perhaps the best man to help tackle the cross-border uncertainties of this new alliance of mistrust.

In the meantime, Gustav still had to find money, and looting the coiffers of Vaduz was turning out to be more costly than he had anticipated. Of course, it wasn't his choice to start; that was Erich's undoing. But if things were going the way that he hoped that they would - not that he necessarily wished them to go in that direction - he would be in Saint Lazare in a few days. There was a matter of inheritance to resolve.

[ooc: on hold until I get more time - i.e. next week... hopefully]