Chapter Three - U Madagascar Bro?
Now that Sokoto had a ramshackle barely floating navy the Sokot government has to find out if the 'ships' will survive a journey to their next target. To this end the hugely reluctant diplomats are chosen as the perfect guinea pigs, ordered on board to carry out their next diplomatic mission.
A few days later several green faced diplomats return, their uniforms rather stained, speaking of the harrowing journey they have just endured.
The ships now proven to be safe, or at least diplomat proof, Sokoto ferries the first troops accross to Madagascar where they are met by a hugely worrying sight.
It is not the large Madaasgar force which worries any of the Sokot troops but rather finding out that al-Hajj is their commander. Things are looking bleak.
Thankfully the battlefield heavily favours Sokoto, slightly offsetting the horrible disadvantage of having al-Hajj in command.
After the Sokot soldiers finally learn to ignore al-Hajj's orders to mount suicidal charges they win a crushing victory.
However due to Sokoto still having few forces on the island, the terrain and, rather more importantly, the soldiers being unwilling to follow al-Hajj any further Sokoto is unable to follow up on this victory. Her forces instead adopting a wholly defensive stance waiting for Madagascar to make the next move.
Madasgascar has not learned from her earlier mistake, or perhaps she has little respect for Sokoto's impressively incompetent pink clad forces, as she once again throws men forward at a well defended positon which heavily favours the defender.
This just as well as al-Hajj still commands in this sector.
Sokoto quickly secure another 'victory', catching the fleeing force and defeating them.
Although whilst suffering far more casualties. al-Walid reasonably assuming that losing far more men against a routing force is the best way to get more battlefield commands. It has worked for al-Hajj after all.
Finally Madagascar's army is trapped on the northern tip of the island. Sokot units hurriedly surround the force, blocking all hope of further retreat.
Victory and with it the complete destruction of Madagascar's army. Although true to form al-Hajj does make sure to lose more men than a force which has been on the run for the last few weeks.
The Sokot government is delighted to learn that officer numbers have risen to an acceptable level in Zaria, men rushing to sign up having learned that incompetence is no barrier to advancement in the Sokot army. The pink uniform remains a considerable incentive too.
The recruitment in Zaria now complete, officer recruitment is now encouraged in Ilorin.
Now that war with Madagascar has devolved into the usual horrifically terrifying siege warfare, in which scores of Sokot troops suffer from grevious wounds such as sprained fingers and the like, Sokoto decides the time is right to begin another war. The long suffering diplomats are sent forth.
It is several weeks before any of them are seen again. When they eventually return the trembling diplomats are found to be sporting some fetching belly dancing costumes used to make good their escape from Oman.
Thus Sokoto finds herself at war with three nations able to muster eight brigades between them. Thankfully they have only three ships. Unfortunately Sokoto herself has a mere three half-sunk vessels, a mass of untrained infantry and horribly unqualified generals to lead her forces. This could prove difficult.