The plot against Britain - a Kaiserreich mystery

[FlyingDutchie]

Nice story, it promises lots of intrigue... Mr. Costers is being a bit disingenuous with Karel about his and Sir Lawrence's involvement, after all he hadn't been attacked until he met with them...

I quite like the parallel format, more intrigue, cigarettes and jenever per post

Well, Mr. Costers is a rather rigid man, seeing the world in black and white. However, was Karel simply at the wrong place at the wrong time, or did someone wanted to prevent him from meeting Mr. Montague Smith.

The format will stay then, as everyone seems to like it. Cigarettes and jenever will remain present too .

Eep! Forgot to post here.

Congratulations FlyingDutchie! You are hereby awarded Character Writer of the Week. C'mon over and say a few words!

Wow, thanks Catknight. Never expected to win this award again so very, very soon. Not that I mind . I will work hard to keep the quality of the updates high.

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I am currently working on an update, I hope to post it friday. However, I am thinking of posting an interim, explaining a bit about the major nations and peoples in the Kaiserreich world. Adding a bit of democracy, you all can choose between the German Empire, the Union of Britain, the Commune of France, the Russian Federation, The United States of America or the Empire of Japan. All of these nations will feature in the story at some point, so take your pick.

[Karaiskandar]

I vote for the Commune of France of course
Oh and Congratulations for your Award!

[FlyingDutchie]

Interim 1: the Commune of France

Mr. Van Doorn,
I expect your travels might take you to places you haven’t visited ever before. Some knowledge of these countries and places might be invaluable. Therefore I have chosen this booklet as a small gift to give you a head start. Mr. Mackey isn’t the most gifted writer out there, but he was the only man bold, or overconfident, enough to try and summarize all the nations in the world in a pocket sized book. To supplement his sometimes rather dry descriptions, I have taken the liberty to add some notes and observations of my own. I hope that this booklet can at least provide you with some background information to assist you in your travels.
Yet remember, to truly know a place is to experience it for yourself; even a narrative of a thousand pages cannot replace the experience of visiting the place yourself.

Yours truly, Sir Laurence Montague Smith

Excerpts from: The Compact Guide to the Modern World

By Henry B. Mackey – New York, 1935

Roots of the Commune.
Most people see the Allied defeats of 1918 and the subsequent German siege of Paris as the moment the French Third Republic came to an end. In order to save the capital from being envelloped Prime-Minister Georges Clemenceau ordered Marshall Foch to launch a final, last-ditch offensive to try and break the German lines. The tired and battered French soldiers, still recovering from the heavy defeats of 1918 knew such an offensive would just be a bloodbath waiting to happen. The result was the Second Mutiny of 1919 among the French divisions arrayed along the capital. The men where willing to fight, but not willing to walk towards certain death.
Emile Pouget, the charismatic leader of the anarcho-syndicalist Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) tried to use the Second Mutiny to declare a General Strike, in order to force the Conservative government out, reform the nation among syndicalist lines and to end the war with Germany. At first the Strike remained small in scope, as most Frenchmen still hoped victory could be snatched from the jaws of defeat. The fall of Paris to the troops of general Von Hutier in october 1919 ended any such hopes. The French working class, tired with war and defeat, started to support the General Strike, hoping to force the government to seek peace.
Soon the Strike turned violent, as the labour-movement started to clash with the police trying keeping the order in the cities. In the midst of all the chaos prime-minister Clemenceau resigned, allegedly after Marshall Pétain suggested him to ask terms of Germany, something the proud Clemenceau was not able to do. In his place a provisional government of liberals and socialists, headed by Aristide Briand, would try to restore order to France.

Aristide Briand (1862-1920). The last Prime Minister of the 3rd Republic.

Some of the more old fashioned military men blame the fall of France to this Second Mutiny, where the cowardly frogs refused to defend their capital. However, as a veteran of the Western front I must confess that I can understand their decision. The 1918-offensive nearly broke the French Army apart, the weakened, undermanned divisions wouldn’t have stood a chance against the German warmachine at this point. – Montague Smith

Aristide Briand, a moderate socialist, was convinced only a peace with honor and a quick return of order could save the nation, trying to follow the example of Russian president Kerensky. He hoped to save France from the extremists by galvanizing the moderate left, by seeking a negotiated peace and promising moderate reforms.
Briand failed in his mission on every front: he wasn’t able to either quell the unrest in the country, as the agitated mobs demanded more than Briand could offer. Nor was he able to sign a definite peace with the Germans, who demanded the unconditional surrender of France. Failure to reform, failure to find peace and the allegded plans to use newly raised divisions as peacekeepers in the cities lead to the withdrawal of Briands own SFIO, the Socialist Party from the government. The SFIO would soon throw in its lot with the CGT. At the same time more radical elements within the CGT, calling themselves Jacobins, started a bloody campaign against what they called ‘the capitalist Bourgeoisie and the forces of Counter-Revolution’. The situation soon escalated in a short but bloody civil war. Late 1919 all major French cities where under CGT-control, and the former conservative elite of France had retreated to Algiers, to form a government-in-exile under Marshall Foch. Emile Pouget would continue to set up the structures that still govern the Commune to this day, as the first Chairman of the Comité de Salut Public.

Émile Pouget (1860-1931). The leader of the CGT and the father of the Commune. He served as chairman of the Comité de Salut Public until his death in 1931.

To call the regime change a civil war is a bit generous, in my humble opinion the word coup would be more accurate. The change of government all went rather fast, with the majority of the army and even many policemen supporting the CGT. The most blood was shed by the Jacobin witch-hunts that followed the regime change. One of their first victims was poor Prime Minister Briand, the socialist who tried to save France from the extremists. – MS.

The government of the Commune.
The Commune itself is set up along syndicalist lines, with labor councils (Bourse du Travail) in each major city. These councils are elected by the inhabitants of the local commune. The councils govern local administration, regulate the local militia and coördinate the local industrial unions in charge of production and industry. Each Council send delegates to the General Labour Council (the Bourse Générale du Travail), which coördinates matters on a national level. This includes foreign affairs, the proffesional army and the quota assigned to each branch of industry. The chairman of this council, who also acts as the head of state, has been the anarchist Sébastien Fauré, a close associate of Emile Pouget. Fauré had held this position since its establishment in 1920.

Sébastien Fauré, Chairman of the Bourse Générale du Travail (left) and Marceau Pivert, Chairman of the Comité du Salut Public (right).

True power is held by the Comitee for Public Safety (the Comité de Salut Public), which was established at the insistance of the Jacobins to act as a ‘revolutionary vanguard’. The Comitee encompasses the Chairman of the Comitee, the Delegates of Foreign Affairs, Economic Affairs and Internal Security and the heads of the armed forces. Although the commune likes to act as the undivided voice of the people, both the General Council and the Comitee are divided along factional lines. The four major factions are the Sorelians, Jacobins, Anarchists and Travailleurs.

The current structure of the Commune mostly resembles the ideas of the Sorelian faction, who follow the theories of Georges Sorel, the (in)famous theoreticist of revolutionary syndicalism. The Sorelians, strive to finish the syndicalist revolution by abolishing the Comitee, giving true power to the General Council. This brings them into conflict with the Jacobins, who wish to centralise the government. This struggle has turned violent in the past, with Sorelian and Jacobin delegates assaulting eachother in the corridors of the Bourse Générale. The current leaders of the faction are Georges Valois and general Marcel Bucard.

A more moderate faction are the Travailleurs, who wish to model the Commune after the government of the Union of Britain. In practice this means splitting the unions from the local councils and allowing more economic freedom. This means that the Travailleurs are often accused of being revisionists by the other parties. Yet, as most Travailleurs are former members of the SFIO, the Travailleurs experience with politics means they are one of the few a factions willing to compromise with the other factions.The current Chairman of the Comiteé de Salut Public, Marceau Pivert leads their faction.

The most radical of the factions are the Jacobins, who wish to reform the Commune among the lines of the Russian bolsheviks, meaning heavy state control and centralisation of the government. The Jacobins combine these visions with a heavy revanchism against Germany and a dose of French nationalism. Their extremism bring them into conflict with most other factions, although they reserve a special hatred for the equally radical Sorelians. They are currently headed by a triumvirate of Maurice Thorez, general Jacques Doriot and admiral Marcel Déat.

The most split of all factions are the anarchists. Once under Pougets beck and call, but now split between the peace faction of Chairman Fauré and the radicals under Ukranian emigré Nestor Makhno. The peace faction, headed by Fauré mainly strives to make the Commune an example for the rest of the world to follow. Peacefully building a workers state while handing most, if not all, cental power to the local councils. However, old man Fauré is quickly losing power to the radical and charismatic Makhno, who wishes to spread the revolution around the world.

What Mackey fails to mention is just how unstable the ‘peace’ between the different factions is. My estimate is that both Jacobins and Sorelians are looking for an excuse to oust the current Chairman Pivert. Since both factions hate eachother with a passion, and with the anarchists split themselves, such a showdown will shake the Commune to the bone – MS.

[Karaiskandar]

Most people see the Allied defeats of 1918 and the subsequent German siege of Paris as the moment the French Second Republic came to an end.

It was the Third Republic, the Second ended with Louis Napoléon Bonaparte Coup d'état in December 1851.
Very informative update though.
I wonder who will prevail.

[aldriq]

France looks like a great place NOT to be at the moment

The Union of Britain next?

[Tommy4ever]

Interesting history of the Commune. France should adopt anarchism .

[FlyingDutchie]

It was the Third Republic, the Second ended with Louis Napoléon Bonaparte Coup d'état in December 1851.
Very informative update though.
I wonder who will prevail.

I've changed the error, thanks for pointing it out. Must admit that French politics usually leave me very confused.

France looks like a great place NOT to be at the moment

The Union of Britain next?

Well, it could be worse. The Commune is not the Soviet Union, the people actually have the freedom to vote locally and freedom of speech isn't hampered too much.

Interesting history of the Commune. France should adopt anarchism .

I leave that to the discretion of the game. The game itself will be me switching tags as the story demands it. Currently I am playing the Netherlands, but I will switch at some point.

I hope to have a real update friday, exploring the efforts of Karel in battling the Colonial bureaucracy and Elsa's trip across the North Sea. After that I will have a second Interim, this time dealing with either the Union of Britain or Germany. Take tour pick.

[Karaiskandar]

I've changed the error, thanks for pointing it out. Must admit that French politics usually leave me very confused.

No problem at all, you're not the only one.

After that I will have a second Interim, this time dealing with either the Union of Britain or Germany. Take tour pick.

Germany !

[FlyingDutchie]

Clues in Batavia?

6 januari 1936, Batavia, Dutch East Indies

Karel prepared himself for another hot and humid day in Batavia. A day he would normally have spend slacking off, drinking a cold beer at some café in Amsterdam. Now he would have to spend the day in one of the many colonial archives throughout the city. He had tried to find some clues about the Sarawakian operations in the governmental archives of Batavia, to no avail. There was no record of the Gouvernor-General meeting with German dignitaries in 1924 or 1925. In fact, the lack of any such meeting was suspicious. No way that not a single German trading delegation would have visited the Gouvernor-General for almost two years. Then he had tried to find some evidence of troop movements in the area. As a civilian he didn’t have access to that information, however he still had a way in.

Batavia Cityhall.

During his previous investigation into the Shell-scandal, he had met Colonel Ter Poorten, a high officer in the KNIL [1]. The Colonel had been a good source of information then, and could be a good source of information now. As expected from an officer, the Colonel was already at their meetingplace. The man clearly looked out of place in his civilian clothing. Especially since he was wearing the kind of white linen suit all those colonials where favouring. Add to this the briefcase he was carrying and he could have passed as a colonial bureaucrat in the blink of an eye.

Hein Ter Poorten. Dutch colonial officer, currently serving in the staff of the KNIL.

“Morning Van Doorn. It had been a while.”

“Indeed Colonel. However, I wished we could have met under better cicumstances.”

“Meaning you need something from me again.”

The colonel was direct as always, but Karel knew he meant no malice. As a careerofficer the colonel was used to being direct.

“Unfortunately I do. You still remember my investigations a year ago?”

“The one that caused quite a stirr in Patria? " [2] The colonel smiled. “Guess they wouldn’t have fussed so much if you didn’t write the truth. Guess you need access to some files again?”

“Indeed. However, this time it isn’t proof of local forces keeping an eye closed while countrymen where grabbing the assets of a foreign corporation. This time..” Karel lowered his voice. “This time it is about Dutch troops operating in Sarawak, in 1925 to be exact.”

The colonels face immediately changed, it was the face of an officer looking at a subordinate displeasing him greatly.

“That is a grave accusation, to indict her majesty’s forces in such activeties. That would mean we would have violated British territory. You know what that would mean?”

“Unfortunately that is what I am telling you.”

“Do you have any proof of these dealings?”

“I have it on goot authority that…” The colonel cut him off.

“I repeat. Do you have any proof of these dealings?”

“No, I haven’t”

“So you are just accusing our armed forces of breaching virtually every international law, because of some ‘authority’ Van Doorn! Last time I helped you because you had some solid evidence of corruption of several local commanders. I had a reason to investigate them, and to arrest them. Now you have nothing, yet you are asking me to give you some highly classified troop movements?”

Karel was shocked, how did the colonel know what he was after?

“Let me tel you something Van Doorn. If you wan’t to make a fool of yourself on some wild goosechase, about nonexistant operations in Brunei, just go to Borneo and look for yourself. I am sure the bureaucrats of Pontianak have more patience than me. Goodbye!”

The colonel stormed away, Karel decided not to follow him. Then, unexpectedly he heard the low gravely voice of Mr. Costers.

“What did I tell you about trusting outsiders?”

Mr. Costers was following him again, Karel wished the man would stop doing that.

“What did I tell you about following me like some small child?” Karel spat back.

“There are plenty molesters around, Van Doorn, and I’m not speaking about the filth that targets children.” Costers was obviously very displeased with him. “You risked everything just to speak with a colonel of a force probably involved. And what did you get… Nothing.”

Karel interrupted the fuming Costers: “I disagree with that. In fact, the Colonel has been very kind to us.” Karel smiled at the now confused Costers. “Very kind indeed.”

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[1] KNIL - Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger (Royal Dutch-Indian Army). The colonial forces assigned with the defence of, and keeping the peace in the Dutch Indies.

[2] Patria - Latin for fatherland a term often used by Dutch colonials to refer to the Netherlands.

In a sudden bout of inspiration I have managed to squeeze out another update. Expect update speed to slow down to once a week for now.

Perhaps I can squeeze out an interim about either the German Empire or the Union of Britain.

[Katapraktoi]

Good thing that you did manage it, gave me something to do right now. =)

That officer does seem a bit suspicious, will enjoy finding out what role he has in this scheme. Hm, what I don't understand is why Karel got so suspicious himself though when the officer mentioned troop movements. Didn't Karel say he was investigating military operations? Or am I mistaken thinking that is one and the same?

And it's a bit late, but congrats on your award! =)

Edit: I also vote Germany

[FlyingDutchie]

Good thing that you did manage it, gave me something to do right now. =)

That officer does seem a bit suspicious, will enjoy finding out what role he has in this scheme. Hm, what I don't understand is why Karel got so suspicious himself though when the officer mentioned troop movements. Didn't Karel say he was investigating military operations? Or am I mistaken thinking that is one and the same?

And it's a bit late, but congrats on your award! =)

Edit: I also vote Germany

Karel mentioned he needed some information on possible covert ops in the then British colonies of Brunei and Sarawak. This information can come in many guises, as troop movements, official orders, supplies being moved around, contacts with a third party (the colonies are German now) and so on.
Yet, Ter Poorten specifically mentioned troop movements, while Karel just informed about information. Why did the man do that? Is it a hint, a slip of the tongue, or a trap?

I may or may not have an interim concerning Germany tonight.

[FlyingDutchie]

Interim 2: the German Empire

Excerpts from: The Compact Guide to the Modern World

By Henry B. Mackey – New York, 1935

The Weltkrieg
Much has been written about the causes of the Great War, or Weltkrieg as it is known in Germany. It is not my intention to give yet another account of the war in this volume. It will suffice to say that after the fall of Russia to revolution in 1917, German victory looked certain.The transfer of many divisions from the east to the west gave Germany a huge advantage in manpower, now outnumbering the British and French troops. The 1918 offensive wasn’t as succesfull as the Germans had hoped, but it pushed the French back towards their capital and forced the British to withdraw troops from Syria and the Veneto to reinforce the battered BEF. The weakening of the lines in the Veneto invited disaster when the Italians where unable to resist the Austro-German spring offensive of 1919. Venice fell soon afterwards, the Italian retreat turned into a rout. A subsequent invasion of Greece, bypassing the strong allied positions at Salonica, reduced the Entente further in strenght. Finally, in october 1919, the French lines where broken by general Von Hutier. France, now in the throws of revolution, surrendered to Germany. The war lingered on until 1921, with both sides only combatting one another on sea. In 1921 a status-quo ‘Peace with Honour’ was signed with the remaining members of the Entente: Great-Britain, Japan and Portugal. After the pacification of the Eastern border a number of puppetstates where set up in the territory seceded by the Russian Empire. German princes where appointed as kings for these new states.

Wilhelm II von Hohenzollern, German Emperor and King of Prussia.

I have very little to add to this. The causes and consequences of the Great War are known to all. However, I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Germany didn’t abandon their unrestricted submarine warfare after the tragic sinking of the Lusitania. Would Britain have been defeated earlier, being starved into submission. Or would the Yanks have followed up on their threats of war? - MS

Von Tirpitz and Germany’s place under the sun.
From 1916 on, Germany had become a de facto dictatorship under Marshall Von Hindenburg and the infamous Quartermaster-General Ludendorff. All resources of the German state where under their control, reducing Emperor William II and chancellor Georg Michaelis as figureheads without any true power. After 1920 Germany intervened in the Russian civil war on the side of the White generals, restoring order on their Eastern flank after the battle of Tsaritsyn was won by general Wilhelm Groener. However the Hindenburg/Ludendorff dictatorship remained deeply unpopular. The regime ended in 1924, when Grand Admiral Von Tirpitz and his popular nationalist DVP-party forced Ludendorff to step down as chief of the army after his failure to react to the British revolution, ending his dictatorship. Afterwards the Emperor named Grand Admiral von Tirpitz as the new chancellor.

Nowadays Von Tirpitz gets all the credit for removing Ludendorff from office. However, such a move would have been impossible without at least the tacit support of both the popular Marshall Hindenburg and the Kaiser. The fact that Hindenburg was retained in Tirpitz cabinet seems to suggest a deal between Tirpitz and Hindenburg. – MS

The Tirpitz-era is caracterized by three major events: the seizure of much of the former British Empire, the eshtablishment of Mittelafrika and the Germanintervention in China. Von Tirpitz didn’t waste any time in office. His first actions in office was to order the Imperial navy to sieze as much of Britains strategic colonial holdings before Germany’s enemies where able to get hold of them. In a grand coördinated effort Malta, Suez, Britains African holdings, Yemen, Ceylon and Singapore fell into German hands. However, the aquisation of the many British African colonies (as well as the acquisition of both the Belgian and French Congo earlier) put an enormous strain on the Colonial Office. To keep the territories managable a semi-independent government, modelled on British India, was set up, with General von Lettow-Vorbeck becoming the first Statthalter of Mittelafrika.

The 1926 intervention in China was another highlight of the Tirpitz-administration. It started when the monarchist Xu Shichang managed to become prime-minister in China, and asked for German aid in restoring order in China. Tirpitz, not willing to wait for Japan to make a move first, send a sizable expeditionary force under General Von Seeckt. Von Seeckt and his able subordinates Von Runstedt and Von Bock managed to subdue most opposition against Xu in the Eastern part of China. After the capture of Peking in november Xu proclaimed the restauration of the Qing Empire. However, German aid came with a prize. The southern part of the newly restored Empire would come under the economic suzerainty of Germany, with the Algemeine Ostasien GmbH coördinating all German activeties in the area, basically making southern China another German colony.
Von Tirpitz remained chancellor until his death in 1930.

The German chancellors since the end of the Great War (from left to right): Georg Michaelis (1917-1924), Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz (1924-1930), Fieldmarshall Oskar von Hutier (1930-1934) and Franz von Papen (1934-present).

The Von Hutier and Von Papen administrations
After Von Tirpitz death, Emperor William II appointed Marshall Oskar von Hutier as his successor. Reknowned as the hero of Paris and the ‘father of victory’ Hutier was a popular choice. However, Hutier had little experience with politics, and chose to let his ministers rule in his stead. In particular Foreign minister Franz von Papen took advantage of this situation.
Said Von Papen became chancellor after Hutiers death in 1934, but he hasn’t been able to make his mark on the government yet.

Von Papen is a widely impopular man in Germany, but is very able in the games of politics. However I have my doubts if Von Papen can remain his position when a serious crisis would face Germany. – MS

The German political system.
Politically Germany is divided between four kingdoms (Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony and Würtemberg), seven Grand Duchies (Luxemburg being the latest addition), five Duchies, sever principalities, three hanseatic cities and the Imperial territories of Elsass-Lothringen and Wallonien-Lüttich. Each of these has its own government, but are bound by all laws made by the national government. Deputies for the Reichtag are elected by a direct vote. After an election the Emperor will ask a possible chancellor to form a government. This means that even while Germany knows free and fair elections, in the end it is the Emperor who decides who becomes chancellor. This means the current Emperor still has a great deal of power behind the screens, able to dismiss chancellors at his own discretion. Since the end of the Great War, the Emperor has used this prerogative sparingly, only dismissing Michaelis to put Von Tirpitz in his stead.

Ständischer Verbund: the ständischer Verbund is not a political party, but instead an informal coöperation between several conservative and nationalist parties and individuals aimed at keepig the left and the extreme right out of the government. The current chancellor Von Papen was responsible for its eshtablishment after the DVP was losing its popularity after the death of Von Tirpitz, and his own Zentrum was not willing to join the government. Von Papen is by far the most powerful man within the alliance, but DVP-leader Hugenberg and political general Von Schleicher are expected to challenge Von Papen for the chancellorship at some point.

Zentrum: Zentrum, or Centre, is a moderate Catholic party, especially popular in the Catholic south of the country. Zentrum usually supported the government in the Reichstag, but is very critical of the former Zentrum leader Von Papen’s policies. In order to have a shot at governing Zentrum has been negotiating with the small liberal parties FVP and NLP, led by Walther von Rathenau and Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck resp. Currently, Zentrum is led by Heinrich Brüning.

SPD: the social democrats have always had to face the allegation of them being syndicalists in disguise and have been heavily surpressed during the Tirpitz-years. After the death of the Grand Admiral, the new chancellor revoked most of the limitations imposed on the party. Not out of love for the leftwingers, but to give the labourers of Germany a less dangerous alternative to the syndicalists. Currently the SPD is trying to shake off its image of being a danger to Germany and hopefully install its leader Otto Wels as the first social democratic chancellor.

GDVP: the GDVP is a nationalist, pan-German party that hopes to unite all German-speaking lands under the German Empire. They also hope to purge Germany from all ‘undesirables’, a term they use for all leftwingers, non-Germans and 'depraved liberals’ in the process. They are lead by former officer Ernst Röhm.

The next general elections are coming up and I expext Von Papen to be the main victim of them. His rule is impopular and rumours of corruption are only surpressed by Hugenbergs almost total control of the press. Yet I still expect a victory for either the Ständischer Verbund or perhaps Zentrum and its liberal allies. The SPD is very popular, but I don’t expect the Kaiser to appoint a leftwing chancellor. About the GDVP, let us just pray those chaps never seize power.
Another upcoming problem is the state of the German economy. A good friend of mine at the Bank of England has told me the German economy is floating on a bubble about to burst. Investments in China, Mittelafrika and Eastern Europe aren’t as lucrative as they looked at first, while the German national debt is ever growing. I have no love lost for the German Empire, but currently they are the only thing standing between the Commune and syndicalist domination of Europe. - MS

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I hope to have a regular update somewhere next week. It will deal either with Karel digging around for clues in Borneo or Elsa in the Union of Britain.

[FlyingDutchie]

Questions to the readers:

Currently I have some ideas for this AAR, although I am not completely sure how to continue. Therefore I have some questions I have to ask of you all:

- I noticed a drop in reactions after I started posting the interims about the Commune and Germany. Should I continue posting them, post them less regularly or skip them?

- Currently the story is moving very slowly, with januari not even passed. Should I speed up the story, meaning Karel will have to find clues in a world in flames, or don't you all mind the slower pace?

- Currently I have Karel and Elsa as leads, which gives my variety in telling the story. Would a third lead character be a good addition (I have some ideas floating around) or does three storylines make the narrative too convoluted?

- Finally a bit of democracy: the next update can either feature Karel finding more clues in Pontianak Borneo. He might just have the break he needs. Or it can tell Elsa's story, crossing the North sea and finding one of the friends Montague Smith spoke of.

I thank you all for your coöperation.

[Karaiskandar]

Well I wouldn't mind a faster evolution of the plot.
Concerning the next update, I would say Elsa.
The interim updates are petty informative IMHO, you should keep them.

[aldriq]

- I noticed a drop in reactions after I started posting the interims about the Commune and Germany. Should I continue posting them, post them less regularly or skip them?

Definitely do continue, but maybe one per week so we can keep pace...

- Currently the story is moving very slowly, with januari not even passed. Should I speed up the story, meaning Karel will have to find clues in a world in flames, or don't you all mind the slower pace?

Do you have a deadline or other time constraint? I don't mind the slow pace.

- Currently I have Karel and Elsa as leads, which gives my variety in telling the story. Would a third lead character be a good addition (I have some ideas floating around) or does three storylines make the narrative too convoluted?

It's up to you and your creative energy; the more characters you add the more writing threads you'll have to maintain and nurture, though.

- Fianlly a bit of democracy: the next update can either feature Kare finding more clues in Pontianak Borneo. He might just have the break he needs. Or it can tell Elsa's story, crossing the North sea and finding one of the friends Montague Smith spoke of.

It's Elsa's turn, she wouldn't be pleased to be skipped, even by her boyfriend

I thank you all for your coöperation.

Is that an umlaut or a diaeresis? I didn't know Dutch used either...

[Timmie0307]

Is that an umlaut or a diaeresis? I didn't know Dutch used either...

we use umlauts in the Dutch language, but not very much, mostly used on ''e'' . Like ''koloniën'' (colonies). But in this case, it is English and not necessary cooperation is without, right?

Nevertheless, I like the updates about the countries, but indeed once a week would be nice with more character stuff throughout, and you could speed up a little in my opinion.

Tim

[Tommy4ever]

- I noticed a drop in reactions after I started posting the interims about the Commune and Germany. Should I continue posting them, post them less regularly or skip them?

The only reason I haven't commented lately is the simple fact that I only go to the HoI2 AAR forum to read this and a couple of other AARs. I like the interrims and would be happy to see them stay. Then again I wouldn't mind that much if they had to be cut.

- Currently the story is moving very slowly, with januari not even passed. Should I speed up the story, meaning Karel will have to find clues in a world in flames, or don't you all mind the slower pace?

I'd like a faster pace. The start of this AAR was incredibly exciting but plane journies and sifting through colonial archives isn't the most exhilerating story. Still enjoying it through but more pace would be good.

- Currently I have Karel and Elsa as leads, which gives my variety in telling the story. Would a third lead character be a good addition (I have some ideas floating around) or does three storylines make the narrative too convoluted?

Two is enought. But if you feel your writing is strong enough and you can make all your ideas clear then three would be OK. But this could go just as bad as it could go good so only add a third if you feel assured.

- Finally a bit of democracy: the next update can either feature Karel finding more clues in Pontianak Borneo. He might just have the break he needs. Or it can tell Elsa's story, crossing the North sea and finding one of the friends Montague Smith spoke of.

Elsa


Anyway I'm still enjoying your story here. Carry on your fine work.

ps English uses no umlauts. I only discovered their existence when I started learning German, our keyboards don't have them either.

[FlyingDutchie]

Everyone, thanks for your reactions. I am hoping to make this AAR one of the best I have and therefore appreciate your feedback.

I usually have some trouble pacing the story. Rushing through it means sacrificing storytelling, while too slow a pace is just plain boring. I will try to find the middleground.

The next update will feature Elsa crossing the North Sea.

Is that an umlaut or a diaeresis? I didn't know Dutch used either...

Looks like a little bit of Dutch spelling slipped under the radar . Its a diaeresis. Dutch is a peculiar languare in that it has a lot of sounds formed by combining two vowels (aa, ee, uu, oo, au, eu, ui etc), so a Dutch-speaker will not automaticly pronounce each vowel separately, like an English speaker would do. Therefore we place a diaeresis on the first vowel of the next syllable, to pronounce the word right, cooperation (coöperatie in Dutch) is just one of these words.
Note that this is different from an umlaut, which changes the pronaunciation of the vowel it stresses. But enough of semantics now.

I hope to have an update friday or so.

[Timmie0307]

Well, they say Dutch is one of the hardest languages to learn...

even Dutchmen like us, we can't speak/write it the way it is supposed to be

Tim

[FlyingDutchie]

I know I promised an update today. Unfortunately I have been to busy with work for uni. I hope to have an update within a few days.