A couple of short wars and a shocking realisation...
As the siege guns pounded on, night after night, day after day, the navy had a suprrise
What exactly the Scottish fleet was doing in the pacific was and remained a mystery. They had no territory there their victory was assured:
Indeed this was the last heard of the enemy fleet. The vast majority of the Republics vessels were on the east coast so no real chase could be given. But no further attack developed either. Maybe they were on a world cruise and just got lucky?
Sadly bear paw was an elder statesmen and he passed away causing yet another election. An administrative candidate was elected, the republic considered her good reputation as no longer a skill full leader now she had a cabinet to share the blame.
Whoever this candidates skills still lay in that direction and the Republic again began to suffer the ill effects of over extension.
The war with Ireland came to an end, but sadly the Irish could not be convinced to relocate their capital yet again. The province which caused the friction was claimed as was Ireland's wealthiest American possession. They also kindly donated their treasury.
It was again time to the nation to make some long term decisions. The quality of the army would be the focus of reform for the next decade or so. While the republic was not as innovative as the Council would like the need to support the Shaman's work continues.
Christian influences started to present an opportunity to the Republic. Allow her people to experiment in those wicked ways or suppress them. AS suppressing them would restore any disorder, the opportunity was used to roll more widespread reform up into the whole package. Since the Republic now had an efficient system of Tax Assessors she no longer needed her National Bank. This was changed for a policy of divine supremacy, a policy that may allow the Republic to become more innovative again later on.
The religious authorities were so pleased with this change of policy that they endowed a new university to teach the heretics of Inca.
The nation continued to improve their own defences too, refusing to believe that even the interior was safe from the pale faces yet.
As peace continued some of the Incan heretics started to learn the truth of the spirits and gave up their love of animals for listening to the 'wisdom' of the spirits as divinated by the Shamans. Tarma converted to the true faith.
Soon the Republic's reputation was repaired and so another war was needed. The council had called for the conquest of Belize some years ago and so a new war was declared on Portugal, the War Without End would continue again. Denmark, as defender of the faith, joined in as well.
The Republic was hardly trembling in her shoes at the onerous nature of this conflict. the navy immediately put down the enemy patrols..
The old Spanish province of Powhatan was suitably cowed by this action and converted to the Shamans ways.
There was only one battle in America, decidedly one sided and it did nothing to slow the near immediate siege warfare across all of Portugal's american holdings. The fact they still had any made half the council mad for blood.
To expedite a quick surrender once the the Republic held the territory it coveted the expeditionary force was sent to Portugal. There the enemy had vast numbers of cavalry ready to fight.
The balanced forces of the Republic were again victorious and the enemy was routed, pursued and destroyed before they could make it to the Spanish border and safety.
The Nordic allies made a brief appearance, their transports went down to Davy Jones' easily as any others.
The heretics in Huanuco, Inca land, heard the news and gave over to the teaching they new now must be true, for the Iroquois could do the impossible and defeat the pale faces!
An intrepid expedition in the Pacific claimed and seized several Portuguese colonies in New Zealand and Australia. Only afterwards did the local commanders realise that they were much too far from the mainland for any Iroquois colonists to arrive.
Yet it was important to de-nigh Portugal any opportunity to expand her power anywhere.
As Australia, Lisboa and the rest of Portugal fell, so peace was made. Belize and 3 other, rich provinces, were taken from the enemy.
The diplomats finally had something to do, something that could take them a few years. The council started to look about for the next sigh of danger and found it down south. The Spanish had around 40-50 thousand troops in Argentina. The army in Portugal was reassigned to there and further reinforcements were sent south and another 30 regiments were ordered to be raised. But there was worse news:
In the course of the last few years they had reach tech level 40 in land! The Republic immediately started to attempt to close the 8 level gap and ordered the construction of weapons manufactories to help.
The world in early 1735:
sorry for the delay in the update!