Chapter 6 - La Vie, l'Univers et le Reste (1846&1847)
Nouvelle Bruges, Isle de Longue, Nouveau Flandre, les Sept Républiques, Arcadia.
The year is 1846, and President Fallon is overlooking the ships in the harbor. A plan is brewing, and he just needs approval from Congress. The year had started very uneventful, only a report from the University of Philippa concerning a new doctrine, Egalitarianism.
First of hopefully many discoveries the coming years.
Then, at the beginning of May, a storm was stirring on the horizon. Documents were prepared by the administration, rifles were cleaned, and ships were prepared. Congress had given the go-ahead and thus the nation was being readied. In the mean time, word reached the President about citizens not being allowed into a foreign country. Outrage was the tone in Congress on the 7th of May.
Angry threats were sent via letters to Ethiopia but not much more could be done.
The success story of the Seven Republics, whose name should be changed by now because of its increased size, has rippled around the globe. Several other nations also believe that they can make it to the top, to the stage that is the world.
Continued expansion of these two countries could mean disaster in the future.
In June, tragedy struck the nation. With child labor still abundant, a little girl died in a mine in Tobol. A day of national mourning was issued.
Sadness struck the land.
July 1st, the ships were in position, and the President gave the order to attack. The Republics were at war! By August, forces were already occupying St Augustine, unjustly possessed by evil Venice!
Occupation forces in the south.
September brings varied news to the offices of President Alphonse Fallon. First, we made another breakthrough discovery, this time Rationalism.
Many great thinkers and students are going to universities around the nation this year.
Reports from the western frontier also reach New Bruges, we now share a border with the Chinese colonists to Arcadia.
Focus is being placed towards more clergymen from now on.
One week later, and the President actually received hilarious news about the war with Venice. It seems that diplomats have managed to persuade other European countries to exploit our 'distraction' and go to war on their own!
Alliance cascade, Venice won't like this.
The end of the year rolled around, and more discoveries were made!
Collectivism and Constitutionalism in November, and Individualism in December.
The steady march upwards by the Liberals.
We had not seen any Venetian troops in our part of the world yet, but early in January our fleet was engaged by the only two boats in their fleet. We defeated them without taking any damage.
Guns a-blazing.
Our occupation being finished, troops were loaded onto our transports, and a long trip towards Terra d'Oro in Africa was envisioned. In the mean time, we colonized another part of Arcadia near the end of March.
Once again, promotion towards clergymen will be taking over our colonization efforts.
Those vile Spaniards! They have crossed into our borders somewhere, and we could be forced to take action! Angry letters were written to the Spanish court, but in the end no action was undertaken out of fear for the Spanish Armada, a problem not faced against the Venetians.
Septima Fury was conceived to take Habana from Spain, but in the end it wasn't executed.
And finally in May, our Colonization efforts in Arcadia were finished! Focus was now switched towards promoting statehood in the territories created over the past years.
Tjornin, proud to be a part of the Republics.
July 12th, and we finally completed our Romanticist culture, or at least the theory behind it. We change our research this time towards military prowess.
Muzzle-loaded rifles were found in abandoned armories in Venetian St. Augustine, reverse engineering would speed up our own research tenfold.
After the Swiss had abandoned their Venetian allies in both their wars, Venice was starting to collapse. Near the end of July, they finally relinquished control of their Arcadian holdings.
Our starting occupation of Terra d'Oro was the final push needed.
Peace!
The rest of 1847 was good, yet uneventful. The weather was exceptionally good that summer, and it lasted well into October. Our diplomats had been working non-stop though to convince fellow Arcadians to join our sphere, and we got one step closer.
Lusitania became friendly earlier in the year.
November and another discovery, this time the principle of Social Justice.
In December, President Fallon had given the order to expand the navy, by adding another four commercial raiders to the fleet. Production was expected to take the better time of a year though, but the acquisition of St. Augustine left us no choice.
The start of 1848, more Liberals, and a nice overview of the expanded nation as it stands now.
-End of chapter six.-