You've said things about the 'next generation' of Imperial Guardsmen. How's that project coming along?
Also, excellent update.
Also, excellent update.
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Dude, it is time to reclaim the homeland!
The Stukov's are going to take back what is theirs!
Great stuff!
The Stukov's are going to take back what is theirs!
Great stuff!
Patrick O'Harte:
anonymous4401: It goes, it goes....
BBBD: Not a chance.
Fiftypence: Thank you
Dan Cook: Weirdos? Really?
Darks63: But then you'll notice how I screwed up the years!
-------------------------------------------------
December 8th, 1866
Stukov slowly paced his way down one of the long hallways of the White House, his hands clasped as the small of his back as he stared down towards the floor, deep in thought.
He paused for a moment, glancing up at his surroundings. He looked upon it with an expression of disapproval.
"This is no Kremlin," he sighed softly.
Faintly, he heard the soft approach of footsteps behind him. He didn't move.
Eleanor hesitated several steps behind Stukov before closing the distance.
Stukov turned slowly to face her. "What is it, my daughter-in-law?" he said as he turned. His posture straightened and he regarded her with mild interest.
Eleanor shifted uncomfortably for a moment under his stare. "I saw you walking down the hall...you looked alone."
Stukov smiled and chuckled lightly under his breath. "How considerate of you, my dear. But I haven't been alone for many years. My wife has been a constant companion for me, in spirit if not being."
Eleanor nodded. "I hope I can have that with Feodor, too..." she turned to take her leave.
"Do you know how old I am, Eleanor?" he asked as she turned, causing her to stop and look back.
"What?"
"Do you know how old I am?"
She faced him again. "I...I don't know. At least sixty, I should think."
Stukov spared a glance down to her growing belly and back up at her face. "Sixty-five, actually..." he answered with profound sadness in his voice.
Eleanor looked warily. "You still have many years left, if you're worried about dying."
"No, not that," he shook his head. "Twenty years ago I may have been terrified of death...but not now, not anymore. I now fear more of what will happen once I am gone."
"You don't trust Feodor can handle the task?" she asked, defensive for her husband's sake.
Another amused smile crossed his face and vanished again with the shake of his head. "I trust Feodor can handle the task as well as I did before."
"Then there shouldn't be a problem."
"Of course," he continued as if not hearing her, "I would never have been able to do what I did without my love standing with me, keeping me going, keeping me alive..." his voice trailed off.
"Alexei, you can trust me with your son."
"Oh, I believe that," he said sincerely, "But I don't know if you're up to the same task as Azuren was given. I don't know if anyone can be. But I ask of you, that when I am gone, when Azuren is...no, I won't even think of that. When I am gone, be to Feodor what Azuren is to me."
Eleanor's chest rose with the vague sense of pride over such a request. "I will, I promise you."
Stukov nodded and slowly began walking away, "Good, very good...."
anonymous4401: It goes, it goes....
BBBD: Not a chance.
Fiftypence: Thank you
Dan Cook: Weirdos? Really?
Darks63: But then you'll notice how I screwed up the years!
-------------------------------------------------
December 8th, 1866
Stukov slowly paced his way down one of the long hallways of the White House, his hands clasped as the small of his back as he stared down towards the floor, deep in thought.
He paused for a moment, glancing up at his surroundings. He looked upon it with an expression of disapproval.
"This is no Kremlin," he sighed softly.
Faintly, he heard the soft approach of footsteps behind him. He didn't move.
Eleanor hesitated several steps behind Stukov before closing the distance.
Stukov turned slowly to face her. "What is it, my daughter-in-law?" he said as he turned. His posture straightened and he regarded her with mild interest.
Eleanor shifted uncomfortably for a moment under his stare. "I saw you walking down the hall...you looked alone."
Stukov smiled and chuckled lightly under his breath. "How considerate of you, my dear. But I haven't been alone for many years. My wife has been a constant companion for me, in spirit if not being."
Eleanor nodded. "I hope I can have that with Feodor, too..." she turned to take her leave.
"Do you know how old I am, Eleanor?" he asked as she turned, causing her to stop and look back.
"What?"
"Do you know how old I am?"
She faced him again. "I...I don't know. At least sixty, I should think."
Stukov spared a glance down to her growing belly and back up at her face. "Sixty-five, actually..." he answered with profound sadness in his voice.
Eleanor looked warily. "You still have many years left, if you're worried about dying."
"No, not that," he shook his head. "Twenty years ago I may have been terrified of death...but not now, not anymore. I now fear more of what will happen once I am gone."
"You don't trust Feodor can handle the task?" she asked, defensive for her husband's sake.
Another amused smile crossed his face and vanished again with the shake of his head. "I trust Feodor can handle the task as well as I did before."
"Then there shouldn't be a problem."
"Of course," he continued as if not hearing her, "I would never have been able to do what I did without my love standing with me, keeping me going, keeping me alive..." his voice trailed off.
"Alexei, you can trust me with your son."
"Oh, I believe that," he said sincerely, "But I don't know if you're up to the same task as Azuren was given. I don't know if anyone can be. But I ask of you, that when I am gone, when Azuren is...no, I won't even think of that. When I am gone, be to Feodor what Azuren is to me."
Eleanor's chest rose with the vague sense of pride over such a request. "I will, I promise you."
Stukov nodded and slowly began walking away, "Good, very good...."
Well, so Eleanor's part of the family now. I'm still expecting some sort of causality loop to appear but I can't figure out how you're going to do it. And these short updates are killing me! It's just enough to suck you in and then it leaves you wanting more. Curse you, TC Pilot!
I don't believe I have read a World conquering epic love story, but this has the makings.
Through time and space love kept them together!
Through time and space love kept them together!
There's something fishy about all this, if only I could figure out what!
Good teasing update.
Good teasing update.
Thank you all who nominated this AAR for Choice AwAArd
VILenin: No causality loop!
anonymous4401: Sometimes, I just can't figure out how to write any more.
BBBD: Weird, huh?
Darks63: Just wait and see.
Fiftypence:
------------------------------------------------------
September 16th, 1867
Admiral Flanagan studied the land spread before them for as far as the eye could see to either direction. From the bridge of the USS Saranac, he could also see the flotilla of ships surrounded by an escort all too small for a force this size.
So many men, he thought, It'll be a miracle to keep them all supplied.
Reports of the naval presence several miles to the northeast had alarmed Flanagan, and taken the President's expectations off-guard. It had complicated matters greatly.
Flanagan sighed with a shrug. Surprise or not, orders are orders, and would have to be carried out.
"Commence firing!"
------------------------------------------------------
September 16th, 1867 marked a sudden and abrupt end to an American ideology. Not the ideals of democracy or the Constitution, or even of slavery, but of war.
The first half of the 19th century had been kind to the United States. The Louisiana Purchase had caused an unprecedented doubling of America's borders and dominion. This precedent was repeated again a mere thirty years later with the Oregon War, in which the United States again doubled in size. Within another twenty, it had almost doubled again with the acquisition of Alaska and northern Mexico. The United States had emerged from war larger, stronger, and more respected by the world. Each time, American valour, ingenuity, and luck and benefited the Republic until it had almost completely expelled European influence from the continent and become the undisputed master of the Western Hemisphere.
To many Americans, the memories of the slaughter of the Oregon War had faded, and all that remained was the granduer and mystique of glorious combat. Recruitment soared and both the Army and Navy swelled larger than before, supplemented by the newest weapons of war American industry could supply, and there was indeed a great supply. It was this change that cemented a fundamental divergence in traditional American outlook in the latter half of the century.
On September 16th, 1867, the United States, citing neither foreign transgression or belligerence, declared war upon the island nation of Japan. Located thousands of miles to the west and just in the infancy of a technological and industrial explosion of development, Japan had neither threatened nor even affected the United States in any way. When President Hannibal Hamlin asked the Senate for approval, his sole reason was to advance American power. While the public would later respond with massive positive enthusiasm, the Congressmen were reluctant. But whether through a series of back-room dealings and clandestine agreements or just simple foresight into the mood of the nation, Congress complied.
The United States had gone to war with Japan.
Thus a remarkable change was brought about. The United States would henceforth fight any war at any time that it deemed fit to empower the country.
But why Hamlin would be the one to bring this change is puzzling. Before his presidency he had not been an advocate of jingoistic war or further expansionism. Part of Lincoln's old Free Soilers, his presidency should have implied entirely peaceful and industrial and economic growth, and perhaps a solution to the slavery question still lingering.
Instead, Hamlin had overseen the expansion of the Federal Navy and an additional 70,000 to the country's standing army, as well as previous invasion of Texas and Hawaii.
Even more shocking was the fact that a substantial naval force had already left the San Francisco harbor with the entire Army of the West and Pacific Fleet. By the 20th, it was predicted the army would already have landed an invasion force on the island, regardless of Congressional approval. This too brought with it massive implications of where the true loyalties of the military lay, with the Republic, or with the President. Many could not help but point to the fate of the Roman Republic to show the implications of such a shift.
But regardless of what changes might be brought about, at the time, no one could quite predict how it would all develop. America was at war, and that took priority.
By October 10, the invasion force was securely in place.
VILenin: No causality loop!
anonymous4401: Sometimes, I just can't figure out how to write any more.
BBBD: Weird, huh?
Darks63: Just wait and see.
Fiftypence:
------------------------------------------------------
September 16th, 1867
Admiral Flanagan studied the land spread before them for as far as the eye could see to either direction. From the bridge of the USS Saranac, he could also see the flotilla of ships surrounded by an escort all too small for a force this size.
So many men, he thought, It'll be a miracle to keep them all supplied.
Reports of the naval presence several miles to the northeast had alarmed Flanagan, and taken the President's expectations off-guard. It had complicated matters greatly.
Flanagan sighed with a shrug. Surprise or not, orders are orders, and would have to be carried out.
"Commence firing!"
------------------------------------------------------
September 16th, 1867 marked a sudden and abrupt end to an American ideology. Not the ideals of democracy or the Constitution, or even of slavery, but of war.
The first half of the 19th century had been kind to the United States. The Louisiana Purchase had caused an unprecedented doubling of America's borders and dominion. This precedent was repeated again a mere thirty years later with the Oregon War, in which the United States again doubled in size. Within another twenty, it had almost doubled again with the acquisition of Alaska and northern Mexico. The United States had emerged from war larger, stronger, and more respected by the world. Each time, American valour, ingenuity, and luck and benefited the Republic until it had almost completely expelled European influence from the continent and become the undisputed master of the Western Hemisphere.
To many Americans, the memories of the slaughter of the Oregon War had faded, and all that remained was the granduer and mystique of glorious combat. Recruitment soared and both the Army and Navy swelled larger than before, supplemented by the newest weapons of war American industry could supply, and there was indeed a great supply. It was this change that cemented a fundamental divergence in traditional American outlook in the latter half of the century.
On September 16th, 1867, the United States, citing neither foreign transgression or belligerence, declared war upon the island nation of Japan. Located thousands of miles to the west and just in the infancy of a technological and industrial explosion of development, Japan had neither threatened nor even affected the United States in any way. When President Hannibal Hamlin asked the Senate for approval, his sole reason was to advance American power. While the public would later respond with massive positive enthusiasm, the Congressmen were reluctant. But whether through a series of back-room dealings and clandestine agreements or just simple foresight into the mood of the nation, Congress complied.
The United States had gone to war with Japan.
Thus a remarkable change was brought about. The United States would henceforth fight any war at any time that it deemed fit to empower the country.
But why Hamlin would be the one to bring this change is puzzling. Before his presidency he had not been an advocate of jingoistic war or further expansionism. Part of Lincoln's old Free Soilers, his presidency should have implied entirely peaceful and industrial and economic growth, and perhaps a solution to the slavery question still lingering.
Instead, Hamlin had overseen the expansion of the Federal Navy and an additional 70,000 to the country's standing army, as well as previous invasion of Texas and Hawaii.
Even more shocking was the fact that a substantial naval force had already left the San Francisco harbor with the entire Army of the West and Pacific Fleet. By the 20th, it was predicted the army would already have landed an invasion force on the island, regardless of Congressional approval. This too brought with it massive implications of where the true loyalties of the military lay, with the Republic, or with the President. Many could not help but point to the fate of the Roman Republic to show the implications of such a shift.
But regardless of what changes might be brought about, at the time, no one could quite predict how it would all develop. America was at war, and that took priority.
By October 10, the invasion force was securely in place.
Last edited:
Ah, interesting, especially to preempt Pearl Harbor and even the Meiji Restoration. I'm sure Stukov saw quite a bit of irony in America carrying out a sneak attack on the Japanese. Does this mean Korea or China is far behind? Oh, but...
*Takes off nitpicking glasses...now with rose tint*
Shouldn't there be a "not" in that sentence? Kinda like recruitment "soaring" or "souring"...usually when public opinion sours, it goes bad.
*Takes off nitpicking glasses...now with rose tint*
My brain actually put the not in for me, weird.
Good update, maybe the excuse is to stop future agression, such as nearly 100 years laters
Good update, maybe the excuse is to stop future agression, such as nearly 100 years laters
Well, got to keep the "open door" in Asia and what better way to keep that door open then if you stick your foot in. Here's hoping the American invasion force doesn't get mobbed by hundreds of thousands of Japanese irregulars. A bloody, drawn-out conflict might hurt popular support for war and we wouldn't want that.
As for turning into Rome, would that result with Stukov getting stabbed by disloyal sentaors, conspiring perhaps with someone close to him? "Tu quoque, Feodor, fili mi?"
As for turning into Rome, would that result with Stukov getting stabbed by disloyal sentaors, conspiring perhaps with someone close to him? "Tu quoque, Feodor, fili mi?"
I guess surpressing would be a bit difficult, but supressing should be easy! Just have a native-recruited infantry division dig in in every province. Sure, the Japanese population will drop to about 2/3-3/4 of its original value after ten bitter years of struggle, but it will be worth it. :nods:
Ah, Japan. It's amusing to read the history books' confusion over certain events that Stukov is behind in reality.
I knew it! The conquest of the East! Gogogo! Take it all! :rofl:
Great Update as always.
Great Update as always.