NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: This is the official RP thread for the much discussed 19th century war. If you wish to join, then sign up in the OOC thread which I have posted. A campaign map would be much appreciated.)

OOC Thread: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=556997
Map: http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh188/Indonesian_States/19centurywar.jpg


"A beautiful sight isn't it?" said sergeant Kavilovski as he peered through his telescope toward the forested horizon. "Yes, if only the rest of the world was as lovely as this island" joked Mikhail Alexinkov, his adjutant. In front of them, countless columns of Imperial Volzgradien infantry marched toward the wooden fort 3 miles ahead. The shining gold on their deep blue uniforms nearly blinded the pair as they examined the army. At the head of the group proudly stood General Alexei Romanovich, commander of the expeditionary force sent to secure this island for the mighty Volzgradien Empire. Romanovich was truly an impressive sight. His deep blue military coat was crease free and countless medals gleamed on his upper chest. Upon orders, Kavilovski and Alexinkov fell back in line and continued the march.

Several minutes later, the 21st Imperial Army marched through the high wooden gates of Fort Brusilov. Inside, 8 blockhouses stood in a neat row, ready to accommodate the recently arrived soldiers. Up ahead, he could already see the grenadiers walking into one of the two-story wooden structures. "...did you get all of that Vasili?" mumbled a voice behind him as he stared at the high towers. He turned quickly and identified the voice as Lieutenant Haliski. "I'm sorry Lieutenant but I did not hear what you said" apologized Kavilovski as he bowed. "I said, that you and your men are to stay at blockhouse 4" repeated Haliski as he pointed at a building to his left. "Yes sir" Kavilovski replied strongly as he saluted and turned.

The fort itself was an impressive sight to behold. Unlike other star pattern forts that had become common, Fort Brusilov was one of the old style palisade forts. The walls themselves were 10 feet high and made of thick elm designed to hold out against heavy fire. At each corner and at the gates stood high towers, ready to rain cannon fire upon any enemy foolish enough to approach. Overall, 10,000 men were stationed at the fort and the surrounding camp, while 600,000 other Volzgradien troops were still stationed at their beachhead on the eastern shore. To honor their arrival, Tsar Nikolai IV named the island "Romanostok."

bump

bump?

On a lonely corner of the island three, large rowing boats slowly reached the shore as orders were called out. "Heave, heave...c'mon put yer bloody backs inta it!"

The led boat bumped against the rising sand of the beach and was soon joined by the other two. Futher orders were shouted as men dicarded the oars, grabbed their kitbags and rifles before clambering out of the boats. A few of the men collapsed onto the sand soon as they reached it, tired and worn out by both the long sea voyage and the effort of rowing the half mile to the shore through the rising swell. An angry voice shouted out, "Oi ya lazy sods, no rest fer the lot of ya until ya got a picket up...well thats unless ya like being bayonetted in ya sleep!"

"Ease of a bit sa-..." Came a reply, but the speaker was cut short as the sargeant shouted back. "Ya maybe soddin' Rifles but ya still soldiers of the Tzar's Ruskkie Imperial Army! Now move it!"

bump, Must keep this thread from the place of no return (AKA page 2)!

Bump. This really is a never ending battle to make sure this stays on the first page.

bump. Now with a map!

Captain Charles Frazier inspected his 300 men of the initial scouting party with dismay. He had landed on the northwestern beach head of the island. He and his men were supposed to build fortifications for the main force of 800 thousand men lead by general Winters. He was afraid he had been spotted...

Do you want us to keep on posting on the same box or what?

"They've arrived!!!"

A few minutes later, 800 thousand troops stormed into fort Knoxx. 100 thousand of them moved into the 50*50 rows of barracks. Another 50 thousand took their posts. 200 thousand started to build outposts. 100 followed General Winters to the commander's camp. The rest started to unload cannons, food, guns, gunpowder, and other pieces of equipment.

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/BRGPOD/178357.jpg
Général d'Armée Marcel-Jean-Louis Collard
Raisin Vendémiair, LXXV
23rd September, 1814

On board the ship-of-the-line Ville de Corbournne, General Collard prepared to land on Nouvelle Corbournne, the Corbournnian name for what the Volzgradiens called "Romanostok." The Ville de Corbournne was a one hundred and eighteen gun, three-decker, and pride of la Marine Nationale. Marcel-Jean-Louis had been sent by the Premier Consul Jean-Christophe-Nicolas du Bois to reinforce the recently founded colony of Fort Républicain, located on the northeastern most peninsula of the island. Rumors of Volzgradien reinforcement of their colony worried the Republic, and six hundred thousand reinforcements were sent with Collard to bolster the two hundred thousand troops already defending the colony.

Fort Republican is, except for the docks, nothing more than a standard, though much larger than average, star fort. Ten thousand men manned, while the other seven hundred and ninety thousand men of l'Armée de Nouvelle Corbournne set up an encampment stretching from the boundaries of the fort to the foot of the nearby Mont Républicain. As designated by his rank, Marcel-Jean-Louis was in charge of this entire army, as well as any and all other Corbournnian military operations on New Corbournne.

The northern part of the island, unlike the rest of it, was primarily comprised of coniferous forests. Considerably colder than the rest of the landmass, it was often covered in snow. This did not particularly hamper the Corbournnian soldiers, however, as they came from a temperate climate and were used to both hot and cold temperatures. After a meeting with his subordinates, Collard retired to his tent. He did not sleep in the fort like most officers, as he felt that enduring the same hardships as his men endeared them to him. As he drifted to sleep in the cold winter's night, the clouds began to unleash a barrage of flurries upon the tents and fortifications.

September 24, 1814
Northern Romanostok

"Damn, how did they get here?" mumbled Volzgradien scout Nikolai Davinski. Just below the wooded hill they were on lay a sprawling encampment of soldiers. "They look like they are from Corbournne" replied his fellow scout, Alexei Grosin, after looking at the flag which fluttered over the camp. The wind and rain pounded against them and they struggled to keep their small supply of gun powder dry. They didn't count on being caught, but it was always good to be prepared. The pair had opted to remove their gold decorations to reduce the chances of glare. Suddenly, a wild rustling of bushes behind the duo alerted them that something or someone was approaching.

Instinctively, both Davinski and Grosin turned and aimed their dragoon issue carbines to the direction of the sound. The seconds went by like years as they braced for the approach of a Corbournne soldier. To their great relief only a fox jumped out of the brush when they advanced. "Come, we should return the camp and warn the rest" whispered Davinski as he crept away into the undergrowth. Not wanting to argue, Grosin followed him. Fort Brusilov was a large distance away, but once they reached their waiting horses the trip was made much shorter. They arrived at the menacing fort 1 week after they had discovered the camp.

"This could become quite a large problem" grumbled General Romanovich as he listened to the exhausted scouts' story. In stark contrast to the dark mustard color of the scouts' uniforms, Romanovich still decided to wear his parade ground dress at his headquarters. As he regained his composure, Romanovich decided to speak again, "Do you remember where the encampment was located?" One of the breathless scouts grabbed the nearby map and scrawled the coordinates of the Corbournne base. "Hmm, looks like we might have a battle after all" shouted Romanovich as he thought of all the glory he would win in this war.

September 25, 1814
Southern Romanostok

The Morridane Riflemen had spent two days now on the island, mostly spent scouting out the southern coast of the island in readiness for the arrival of the main force of the Ruskkie Imperial Army which was due in about a week's time.

They had also managed to establish a medium sized camp, though vastly inferior to the forts of the Volzgradiens or the Corbournnes. Materials and engineers were expected along with the Imperial Army's arrival for the building of a far more perament outpost than the tents and earthworks that currently formed the Morridane camp.

So far they had avoided contact with the other forces, preferring instead to watch from a distance.

http://www.napoleon-series.org/images/research/commanders/chabanais.jpg
Capitaine Daniel Poincaré
Carotte Vendémiair, LXXV
30th September, 1814

Capitaine Daniel Poincaré was a rising young star in the Corbournnian Cavalry. At the age of twenty seven, he had already received several prestigious awards for valor in combat, and, in six years, risen from an enlisted man to an officer. He now commanded a company of four hundred men, and was currently on a reconnaissance mission in Southern New Corbournne. The weather was much warmer and drier here. In contrast to the twenty degree temperatures and snow in the north, the south was at a sweltering seventy degrees. The only relief for the uniformed men was the fact that humidity was non-existent.

Just as the company was about to wheel about and return to the north, they emerged from the deciduous forest that had just moments ago engulfed them. After adjusting to the brightness of the sun, their eyes caught out what appeared to be a camp a mile down the beach. Wondering if this could be the Volzgradiens, Daniel ordered his men forward to the camp, eager for a fight. However, nearing the encampment, they noticed that the flag that it flew was not that of Volzgrad at all. Disappointed, but at the same time intrigued, Poincaré led two of his men toward the camp under a white flag of truce.

(The camp is yours, Morrdh.)

North Shore of Island

The O Boyce expeditionary force encamped along the quiet northern shore of the island. Although the force was comparatively small for a Brigade, every man of the Pioneer brigade had earned their place in the unit. All 6,000 men had been at the forefront of every war since the founding of the nation. They had marched from one end of the nation to the other, and now, on a expedition for the President.

Fog rolled off the hills surrounding the encampment. The tall, thick forest obscuring any view inland. something the Captain Baker would not have wanted, but he did what he was told. The Brigade commander said they were to encamp there, that is what he did. This particular morning was not as he would have wanted it. At this time of the morning the only people who were up were the cooks and the pickets and guards in and around the encampment. At least he could say that nothing has tried to get passed the picket line yet, thank god that they were posted a half a mile outside the camp to give the camp at least a fair warning.

Baker stepped out of his tent and put his kepi on. He looked down at his dark green wool uniform and brushed a stray piece of dry grass. He glanced down company street and saw the lines of tents of his regiment. Something he never wanted to do, take command of an entire regiment, but being the only survivor of an entire company of fifty men at the end of a battle earned him the respect his peers.

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw his friend Doyle stroll up, came to attention and saluted. Baker returned the salute lazily.

"Good morning sir, what may I ask are you doing up with the rooster?" He asked candidly.

"Can't sleep when in unfamiliar territory Gordon" Baker replied.

"Beg your pardon sir, four regiments of infantry, two of cavalry, and three batteries of artillery and you still can't feel comfortable" He quipped.

"You know me, the cautious type, if the General knew it was me that suggested to post the picket line that far out, even if it meant having Cavalry messengers to get the message back to us for the warning" Baker added.

Baker turned around and reached down to the camp table next to him and picked up an empty tin cup. He slowly pulled a small flask out of his sack coat and poured pungent liquid into the cup.

"whiskey sir?" Doyle asked.

"No, sorry to entice you, just tea, no firewater for me now that I am an officer" Baker stated "I just hope for once we get a peaceful assignment this time, or is the curse of the Pioneer Brigade follow us here too."

Sargeant James Midnightte cursed, it wasn't because of the heat and the numberous flies which he'd already damned to hell and back three times, this it was the group of soldiers that he had just spotted. They wore blue coated uniforms with a gold trimming and seemed to be cavalrymen, though their indentities remained a msytery. As he watched a tiro of men walked forwards under a white flag (which meant shooting them was out of the question for the time being) led by what cleary was an officer. Midnightte gestured to some of his fellow Riflemen to move round and cover the strangers after which he turned to a young Private and whispered. "Right lad, I want ye ta go an' reach th'Cap'n...tell 'im we've got guests...an' stick ta th'frickin' treeline!"

The private nodded and set off as Midnightte took a couple of deep breaths. He then stood up and slowly emerged from the trees with rifle ready then called out. "Halt! Who goes there? Friend or foe?"

1st October, 1814
Eastern Peninsula of Island

Five men, dressed in modern, western style army uniforms, loked at the landscape from atop a hill. To the south and east is the sea, before it only a small beach. To the north, the new Indonesian colony, barely a week old. Five ships were anchored at the shore - a dock was not created yet. The colony had many tents, probably 350, with a makeshift palaside wall surrounding it. Two towers were already constructed, and 3 soldiers each were at the top, ready to warn the colonists of danger. As for colinists, more were staying in the ships, there were not enough tents to fit all.

To the west is land. Land just waiting to be conquered. Question is, who would conquer it?

-----

2nd October, 1814
Eastern Peninsula of Island

"General, our scouts say that a mountain range is to the west, but before that there is a moderately-sized grassland, with a few native villages scattered around. Just follow the river upstream and we will reach a valley"

"Good, the mountains are closer than I thought. Get the men ready, and hurry!" The General said.

OOC: Will post more soon)

Once again Captain Baker found himself at the mercy of the commanding General. He stood at stiff attention as the General slowly lit the cigar that hung limp in his mouth and raise his hefty body onto his feet and began to walk around a table. The small camp table was littered with notes, orders, but it was predominantly covered with a map of the island. The General paused and tapped a point on the map on the northern shore.

"This is where we are Captain. The tip of the iceberg as one would say. Now the war department says that we can set up a base of operations here, somewhere where those damn Navy brats can dock their ships when the seas are too rough and such. I don't like it any more than the next man Captain but we have been ordered here not to just recinointer, but to construct a fort to protect our interests in this little bay of ours. The rest of this island though, I have no idea what is out there, and that bugs the ever living hell out of me, so I want you to take Companies A, and B of the 1st Infantry, and company F of the 10th Cavalry out to take a look. Your best bet is this river bend right here" He stated as he poked at the map once more "That'll give you hundred and fifty men to work with."

Baker saluted

"We will be on the move right away" Baker replied.

"Good Baker, because I am going to need every man left here to put together some kind of permanent defenses until the corps of engineers show up with their toys."

September 24th, 1814
Southeastern Romanostok

----

Proudly dressed in his fore-facing bicorne cap, a grey serge coat with navy blue facings, and white breeches, the full dress uniform of an officer of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Elias Strack strode into the Officers Quarters of QRS Hermit, the frigate upon which he was posted. Upon entering the quarters, Strack removed his cap, placing it under his arm, and took a seat round the table with the others present, all of them, of course, Naval officers.

"Thank you for joining us so punctually, Colonel Strack" the Commodore sitting across the length of the table from Strack sneered sarcastically.

Unfazed by the naval officer's poke at him, Strack merely nodded, confirming that he was ready to begin. Despite the Marine Light Infantry's close relationship with the Navy, or perhaps because of it, Strack had accrued little respect for the officers of Her Majesty's Navy. Oh sure, there were some good Naval officers out there, Strack knew, but the majority of them were little more than false gentlemen with the financial means to purchase a commission and a desire to play sailor. Not how things are done in the MLI, thought the Colonel; though enlisting in the Marine Light Infantry was more or less a disastrous move that was tantamount to political suicide, all officers had been commissioned from the ranks, including the Colonel himself, and he was grateful that he could rely on real men to lead his own Marines.

Upon the table lay a map of the southeastern coast that they had been assigned to scout. "Now gentleman," the Commodore announced. "As you know, it was our duty to chart out the southeastern coast of this island and scout a suitable location to land our forces once they arrive with the fleet.

Well, I have decided that the location best suited to our needs is here," continued the Commodore, as he stabbed a point of the southeastern coat on the map, with his compass. "As you can see, this is the delta of a river that evidently runs throughout the island. To the north and to the west are several mountain ranges that should defend our intended colony, should the need arise.

We will land Colonel Strack and his battalion here, as they scout out the region to get the lay of the land and attempt to make contact with any nearby natives or locals. Additionally, Strack's battalion will include a detachment of Army pioneers who will construct baisc plans for the construction of the city.

While this happens, we shall return to the fleet and inform the Admiral of our preferred location. The colonists and soldiers aboard his fleet will arrive within days and, of course, land and begin full-out construction of the colony."

----

Within hours, Colonel Strack was standing upright, arms behind his back, as he watched a battalion of his Marines working diligently to set up camp at the delta of the river, as the naval squadron of the three frigates sailed off into the horizon. The Colonel had posted guards around the camp, sent out several foraging parties to find food and firewood for the battalion as well as to begin scouting the general region, commanded several of the soldiers to begin constructing elementary defenses, and ordered the tents to be erected for the night. The remainder of the force was already preparing, though only in the most basic of ways, for the construction of the prospective colony.

September 26
Southwestern Romanostok

A light drizzle of afternoon rain hit the Volzgradien encampment as they prepared to move out. By the looks of the sky, the rain would stop soon, but until then the Volzgradien troops would have to march sopping wet. Work on the fort and the surrounding area had gone swiftly during the last few days, which pleased the pompous high command who had sent them to this gnat infested hell hole. From afar the island had appeared pleasant and quaint, but it itself was a rather unpleasant place. Swarms of gnats and flies flew around the column of Volzgradiens as they marched up the now almost liquefied mud trail. Even though it meant cold and blizzards, many men secretly wished that winter would come soon to give them respite from the rain and and other hot weather related miseries.

"Damn rain, it will lengthen our journey by at least an hour" grumbled Lieutenant Guskovic as his horse walked alongside the column of men. He could see the resentment and anger clear in the faces of every man under his command. He knew he could count on their loyalty, but they always got jealous when he rode by on his stallion while they trudged through the mud.From afar, the Volzgradien army looked like a massive line of dark mustard and deep blue uniforms marching toward the heart of Romanostok. The Volzgradien High Command was still in a heated dispute whether to change the traditional deep blue and white uniforms to a less obvious dark mustard and khaki. The plan was simple, the army was to establish a stronghold in the center of the island to make sure it remained in their hands and to simultaneously deny their foes the great riches of the nearby mountains.

Carotte Vendémiair, LXXV
30th September, 1814

Capitaine Daniel Poincaré signaled for his entourage to oblige themselves to the foreigner's command. Then, eloquent words (for an uneducated militaryman) spilled forth from the captain's mouth. "I am Capitaine Daniel Poincaré, and I am, as of yet, neither your friend nor your foe. I represent the commander of the Army of New Corbournne, General of the Army Marcel-Jean-Louis Collard. He has instructed me and my men to scout the island in search of strategic locales and resources. In giving me my orders, he also stated that I should be disposed to speak with foreigners should I encounter them." With this, Daniel paused for a moment to take a breath. Following this he resumed speaking in his heavy French drawl. "Thus I am here, and now, if I may ask, who are you, sir?"

Hm, looks like we got a fancy bugger 'ere, Midnightte thought to himself as he listened as the officer introduced himself. Midnightte replied, "Sargeant James Midnightte, 5th Company Morridane Rifles, Ruskkie Imperial Army at yer service sur!"

Midnightte gave a quick salute before continuing, "We've already dispatched a runner ta fetch th'Captain sur, should be 'ere shortly sur!"

Alongside the river

Captain Baker walked along the side of the small column of troops that he lead on his expedition that he was sent on. He tugged along his horse with him, although he rarely rode it. He was an infantry man, always had been, he never intended to be an officer. The cavalry that came with his column covered his rear and he had a platoon moving up ahead to scout. The national and regimental colors fluttered at the front of the column, the band playing a tune for the men to keep cadence.

The river that he was ordered to follow was not particularly wide and spectacular but it was breathtaking in it's own way. The mountains nearby loomed over the entire area casting a ominous shadow on the entire area.

Baker only hoped that the camp preparations were progressing as well as the General had planned. His destination was only a few miles ahead, either his scouts would come back with some news or he would reach there without incident. He hoped for the latter.

Carotte Vendémiair, LXXV
30th September, 1814

"Very well, then, Sergeant, I shall wait for your captain's arrival."

Fort Républicain

Général d'Armée Marcel-Jean-Louis Collard, following a lengthy debate with his generals, ordered one hundred thousand of his men into the great unknown that was the center of the island. They were among the hardiest of the Corbournnian troops, coming from the frigid north of the nation, and they would be prepared for the tests and trials of mountain passage. Several of Marcel-Jean-Louis' subordinates had opposed this movement, citing the fact that a mere avalanche could wipe out the entire column. However, Collard won out by stating the fact that there were barely enough resources in the fort for five hundred thousand men, let alone eight hundred thousand. To further alleviate the stockpile, he ordered another one hundred thousand men on a much safer, though just as cold, scouting mission along the northern coast.

September 30th, 1814
Southeastern Romanostok

----

Colonel Strack, still fitted in his grey-and-blue Royal Marine Light Infantry uniform and the officers' bicorne, stood tall and straight, with a 20-man strong honor guard of Royal Marines standing at attention behind him. Almost identical in uniform to their commanding officer, the one difference that made obvious their status as rank-and-file Marines was their headdress. As opposed to the officer's bicorne hat, the enlisted men all wore tricornes.

Facing southwards and standing at the edge of the sea, Colonel Strack stared with delight at the vast armada, composed of vessels from the Straits Fleet of Her Majesty's Navy, full of soldiers and colonists. Pulling his looking glass up to his face, Strack peered through and could see the fleet's landing boats setting off towards shore. He identified the closest landing boat towards shore as comprising primarily of Admiral Edward Blake, the leader of the expedition, and his staff officers.

Once Admiral Blake's landing boat had reached the shore, Blake and several of his fellow officers hopped out, as the boat set off back towards the ships to ferry more passengers to the landing site. Strack's marines stood at attention and Strack himself raised his right arm in salute to the Admiral.

"At ease, men," the Admiral spoke. "Colonel Strack, how do you do?"

"Well, m'lord, and you?" Strack released himself from the salute and shook the Admiral's hand.

"Oh, fine, fine. And where are we locating this settlement of ours exactly?" enquired the Admiral

"Well sir, if you look over there," Strack pointed slightly northwards, "You can see the Pioneers have already begun laying the foundations for a fortress. I figure that, given time, the settlement will extend up to the shore."

"Very good, chap. I think we shall expand sooner than you expect however, as we do currently have several hundred colonists aboard, not to mention the entirety of the 1st Corps."

"M'lord, the whole First Corps?"

"Yes, Colonel, and several guards regiments as well."

"M'lord, may I ask why? Our scouts have not come across any foreigners or locals at all."

"Well, m'dear boy, it seems that agents of Her Majesty's Office of General Inquiry would disagree with you. It appears that other nations may in fact also have plans to colonize the island."

"I see, well, sir, exactly how many soldiers will we have with us?"

"Well, the 1st Corps is about 30,000 men, including cavalry and artillery, but not the supporting non-military men, then we have three regiments of Foot Guards, two of Horse Guards, and about another 10,000 colonists that we could utilize as militiamen if absolutely necessary."

"I see. Sounds like quite the war machine, Your Grace."

"Quite, now unless there is anything else, you must excuse me as I would quite like to see my headquarters established."

"Certainly, m'lord, good day to you,"

"And to you as well," said Admiral Blake as he motioned to his officers and several of the enlisted who had since arrived to follow him and walked briskly towards the campsite.

General Brekenfeild meandered around the beginnings of the ramparts that the engineers had been constructing. It was a standard earthwork fort, high dirt and log reinforced ramparts with deep water filled ditches with abatis and other obstacles that were set in place to slow down an attacker. Eventually the engineers would begin constructing the brick and stone understructure and main fort in and amongst the earthwork fortifications. If it was one thing that he had learned during the O Boyce civil war was that the least amount of time men stayed in front of cannon and musket fire, the longer they would leave.

Brekenfeild turned around to see the busting beach head, covered with men and matierials moving back and forth as supplies were being loaded off the small fleet of ships off shore. Food, building supplies, more troops, he didn't care as long as at the end of the day everything worked out. His mind wandered to Captain Baker who was out there scouting around.


Along the river, near the river bend

Captain Baker sat on a stump alongside the river as his men rested next to the river soaking their feet and getting water. It had been a long march but yet he still hadn't reached his destination.

He took a swig out of his canteen and stared out into the river. His trance like state was broken by the sounds of hoof beats. There was a mass of sounds followed by voices.

"Where is Captain Baker?" The voice asked.

Baker stood and faced the voice.

"Over here" Baker responded.

The Calvary corporal saluted and Baker returned the salute.

"What is going on Corporal?" Baker asked.

"Sir, there seems to be a group of men up ahead at the bend of the river, I don't know if they are natives or other men but they are there, just wanted to let you know" The corporal replied.

Of in a far off corner of the island, a small boat rowed its way to shore. A boat by the name of the IES Exchange had been sailing towards India when it became lost in a storm. When the gales died down, the men aboard were awed to find that a massive, sprawling island lay out in front of them. Five brave sailors decided that they would go ashore, and see just exactly what this island was all about.

The leader of the five man expedition was Sergeant Flavius Blackbone. Flavius was carrying the only musket of the five, and was the only one who even had any traces of intelligence. The other four were simple folk, men who had joined the Imperial Navy at a young age and spent almost their entire lives on vessels, have no education of any sort other than how to operate the boat.

The men soon made land fall, and set about exploring the island.

Captain Baker stood up in surprise.

"How did we not notice them before? Bugler, sound assembly, get the men in line and ready to go!" He shouted

The bugle blared orders into the air. Men from all over rushed from their resting positions and ran towards their weapons that they had stacked with their gear. NCO's shouting curses left and right getting the men into formation. Baker's infantry finally formed up into columns and were at stiff attention. More orders were blaring from the bugle which beckoned his officers to him. They rushed to his side and began to listen intently at his orders.

"Lieutenant Mills, I want your company to form into a skirmish line and probe forward, only shoot if you are shot at, Lieutenant Jackson, your company is to wait in the woods out of sight ready to attack on my order, Captain Henderson, I would like you to keep your cavalry on the flanks of Jackson's men, in platoons" Baker ordered quickly.

They nodded in approval, saluted and ran off. Their orders echoed in the small clearing. The infantry started to peel off and slowly head off into the direction that they were ordered to go. Baker fell in with the company that was going to be stationed in the woods, leading the small formation of men into a concealed position along the wood line where he could see in the far distance what looked like a camp of sorts. His other company of infantry spread out across the field in front of his slowly working their way forward. This was not what Baker wanted on this trip, he only hoped it turned out to be nothing.

After a few minutes the Morridane captain arrived, shot Midnightte an angry glance and then introduced himself to the Corbournne officer. "Greetings, I am Captain Stormwell of the Morridane Rifles....so it seems we're not alone here then?"

(OOC: are there any natives? if so, are they hostile?)

2nd October, 1814
Eastern Peninsula of Island

300 men, wearing new westerer's uniforms in dark green, marched into formation. They were small, but highly disciplined force. After months of back-breaking training, they were ready. No yelling or screaming was needed from the commanding officers, just the sound of a trumpet, and the men were in place. With the guns faced up, and bayonets in the air, flashing, the men marched.

The cavalry, a group of 20 hussars with an Indonesian wavy sword - a kris, they called it - were the elite troops. On the backs of the riders was a bow and quiver, and in their right hip a box of matches. The Indonesian States' cavalry had a specialty, and they were called fire arrows. They rode on, into the unknown.


5th October, 1814
Eastern Peninsula of Island
coming soon, once i get some answers...

Carotte Vendémiair, LXXV
30th September, 1814

"Bonjour, Captain Stonewell. I am Captain Daniel Poincaré of the 1st Corbournnian Hussars. It seems that we are indeed not alone here, we are already aware of a presence here other than yours and it is possible that there are even more people here than we know of."

Hm, did he just insult me or just mistaked my name by accident? Guess its best to be weary of these buggers. Stormwell thought to himself before answering. "Then perhaps we should discuss things further my good sir?"

North East Territory

Captain Frazier was leading a troop of 50 men south towards Volzgrad's camp. Frazier glum as always cursed under his breath. HE had be ordered to build a camp 5 kilos norht of Volzgrad camp.

Carotte Vendémiair, LXXV
30th September, 1814

"Indeed we should, Captain. What would you like to discuss?"

What do you mean by that?

OOC: He was replying to me, don't worry about it.

~ ~ ~ ~

"Right, as its already been stated we're not the only ones on this here island my good Captain. Though you're strength of arms is greater than mine I doubt that you take on everyone else who's arrived...though me and my lads just might be able to give you an 'edge' as it were."

OCC: Can I ally with you and Corbournne?

OOC: If you come up with some reason to do so IC I don't see a problem with it.

Carotte Vendémiair, LXXV
30th September, 1814

"Are you proposing an alliance, Captain?"

30 September,
Central Romanostok

"This looks like a good place to set up the encampment" gasped Sergeant Vladimirovich as he paused for a moment. The Volzgradien troops had been marching for hours through heavy rain, which immediately complicated things. They had entered the thick central forests almost one hour ago, and this was the first clearing they had managed to find. Upon hearing the sergeant's comment several of the exhausted regulars nodded in approval. "Yes this clearing would be fine" responded engineer Adamski as he pulled a map from his stained greatcoat.

The Volzgradiens had only been working for 2 hours and they had already made good progress on the encampment. A rough palisade had been erected and now the exhausted troops were beginning to retire for the night. The few men who were not tired volunteered for the frustrating sentry duty. All seemed quite over the encampment as the last few remaining regulars dozed off. However, deep in the surrounding forests lurked the bandits and pirates who had made the island famous. Long before the Volzgradiens had found the island suitable for colonization, countless bands of outlaws called the island home. And now the two groups would finally meet.

OOC: I suppose you could consider the bandits and pirates as a neutral attack all faction.

"Perhaps, though I would prefer to think of it as something that'll be of mutual benefit to the both of us. I doubt our Imperial overlords, the Ruskkie Empire, will be giving us much help aside from the odd supply ship once in a while."

"Though forgive the unusual question my good Captain, just how many shots can your men fire off with their muskets?"

Carotte Vendémiair, LXXV
30th September, 1814

"On average, our troops can fire three rounds a minute. Our crack troops can, however, fire about four. How about your men?"

"Six shots a minute, though thats due to the rifles we use." Stormwell held up the rifle that he was holding, most noticable was the lever/crank on one side and then a small cylinder where the firing chamber was. There seemed to be no ramrod and the firing pin appeared to be part of the rifle's inner workings. "This beaty is called a Morridane Repeating Long Rifle, its the cylinder that makes it special. The cylinder holds the rifle's shots in six precisely bored holes, for ease of loading the cylinder can be replaced by a fully loaded one. Also the rifle has a sturdy mechanical clockwork mechanism that primes and readies as the cylinder is cranked round to load a fully charged shot in line with the barrel."

"We've got a couple of spares if you want to take 'em back and have your gunsmiths have a look over 'em."

Captin Fraizer was getting annoyed with all his missions. He had just been sent to a dipolomatic mission to ally with Corbournne.

(Consider yourself allied 101st.)

Carotte Vendémiair, LXXV
30th September, 1814

Captain Daniel Poincaré, clearly impressed by the rifle, nodded his head. "That would be wonderful. What would you propose we give you in return, Captain?"

"Hm, ideally to have our own supplies supplemented since as I said we've got to really on the odd ship once in a while. You know as well as I do that an army cannot fight on empty stomach."

Carotte Vendémiair, LXXV
30th September, 1814

"This could certainly be arranged, Monsieur."