Part 3: Asian Lamentation
But first, a preface:
Ode to Iceland
Iceland, Iceland,
You were dealt a shitty hand
A noble people without land
So we helped: ain't it grand?
Where we left off:
The United States, after waiting for the perfect moment, struck like a rattlesnake and intervened in Texas, defeating the Mexicans far before anybody was expecting. Off of the mainland, the noble Icelandic people now have a country to call their own, and join their Indian brothers in freedom and democracy. Will the influence of America slash the shackles of a third oppressed people?
August 21st, 1838:
Loading up the game where I left off, I'm presented with an application for statehood from Texas (which also gives me the opportunity to make a crappy graphic on the first post of this AAR. Behold my meagre and wanting skills!) The United States welcomes our brothers with open arms, and they're consolidated into the union with no dissent from any members of the government. Long Live the Republic, Long Live the Shining Beacon of Freedom!
We're given the option of deciding whether to extend slavery into Texas or not. Slavery as an institution goes against the union's goals and ambitions, so we decide to restrict it to the existing states. (I haven't moused over the decision to not extend slavery in this screenshot, but it basically gives all pops in what will be the CSA +1 CON.) This brings the national consciousness to 3.58, which allows us to enact the Kansas-Nebraska act, as well as a House Gag Order. For the moment, I'm going to leave these decisions alone: we'll revisit them later on.
August 31st, 1838:
The documents necessary to argue for the freedom of the Wiang Chann people have been prepared. It is a shame that the thirst for liberty, mutually shared by all men of all cultures, can't persuade dictators to give the people their well-deserved freedom. This is the age we live in, and so we must operate within its constraints: and if that means a righteous war is necessary to make the world a better place, then a righteous war the Siamese will get. Preparations begin immediately to launch an invasion of Siam from the recently-colonised West Coast. 4 steam transports have been constructed, enough to ferry 12,000 men, but another 2 are commissioned to bring the full capacity to 18,000 troops.
On the same day, Madagascar is welcomed to the fold of our sphere of influence, and its corresponding protection. The next diplomatic goal is to establish strong relations with Panjab in order to dissuade the British from granting safe haven to the dictator who oppresses the Ladakh and Kashmiri people, who all the while sits on his seat of power that is rooted in what is rightfully Indian soil. We expect resistance though: the British are already Cordial with the Punjabi diplomats.
September 2nd, 1838:
As expected, we're discredited in Panjab by the UK. After much deliberation, we start exerting our diplomatic influence on Sindh in the meantime. This is a compromise: in order to eventually launch an assault on Panjab, we're going to need access to the land-locked country, which Sindh would willingly provide after being guaranteed protection in the sphere of our influence. The downside to allowing her into our embrace is that by de jure rights, her people are Indian and she should be united with the motherland, and once she is admitted to the fold it's unlikely she'll become part of the Indian nation. On the other hand, Sindh is such a small nation that we cannot transfer her provinces to India, so in effect we won't be losing an opportunity.
Back home, there are secession sentiments in Tuscaloosa, which is worrying. We also hear from news from Europe pertaining to the Bavaria + Swiss vs S-P + Papal States conflict. Bavaria, bolstered by their current success in the war, has announced to the world that she intends on annexing the Romagna province from the Papal States.
Meanwhile our philosophers, encouraged by the recent establishment of Ideological Thought as a legitimate philosophical belief, have codified what our administration and nation has known since its conception: that all men are equal in the eyes of God, and equally deserving of liberty! May the self-evident truths of Eagle-itarianism be spread far and wide, by righteous force if necessary, throughout the globe!
September 4th - 14th, 1838:
Over the past ten days, agitators have been vocal about secession from the union in Florida and Mississippi. These are worrying developments.
September 16th, 1838:
News from Europe: the initially enormous 150 brigades of France have been whittled down to only 30 due to superior Prussian tactics. Realising the perilous position the French find themselves in, they have sued for peace: the Colonial Conquest of Dutch Guayana has finished. The resolution? Prussia liberates Alsace-Lorraine, but fails to enforce its goal of acquiring French Provence. This is a very interesting development, especially this early in the game: with such an early acquisition of A-L, and Austria's failure to secure Schleswig-Holstein, leaving S-H free for Prussia to attempt an annexation, will we see a very early North German Federation form? It would be ideal to see NGF form and force Austria to admit hegemony, which would destabilise the empire, and bring our gallant goals that much closer within reach. In the case of the NGF forming, I could easily see an alliance formed with the common goal of bringing down the Austrian empire. At some point however, I would quite like to free S-H, so the alliance would most likely be a temporary one. (Did you know that despite the fact S-H starts Danish, it actually has unique cores of its own? I've never S-H independent in any of my games, so it'd be pretty unique to liberate her!)
September 26th - 28th, 1838:
Further talk of secession in Maryland and the District of Columbia. For the moment, talk is all it is: but we worry for the future. How can we free people overseas if we cannot even agree on freeing our black brothers and sisters?
October 2nd, 1838:
Headstrong colonial police have offended the native population by disturbing a religious site in Nebraska. We've informed the police that we seek to win the indigenous peoples' hearts and minds to assimilate them into our culture, and see the benefits of our way of life. The police have been advised to proffer the deserving respect these people and their religions deserve.
October 9th, 1838:
While making preparations to liberate Wiang Chhang and establish a cooperative Pacific branch of the army and navy, the decision has been made introduce large restructuring of the US military. The El Dorado corps, veterans of both the Indian campaign and the Icelandic campaign, will be offered some well-deserved leave and stationed as garrisons throughout the country. The Pacific navy, already consisting of 4 steam transports, is being bolstered by 2 further transports, the latest of which is expected to finish some time in December. These steam transports will carry 3 divisions of infantry, 1 division of artillery, and 2 divisions of dragoons, all of which will be commanded by the hero of the Texan intervention, Richard Mitchell. It is unknown how long it will take to assemble the expeditionary force on the West coast of the country: suffice to say, infrastructure throughout the centre of the nation is woefully underdeveloped, and committees have been set up within the government to coordinate industrial capitalists and the military to establish an extensive railroad network, to drastically reduce the transit times of troops from one side of the country to the other.
Word from the nation's premier admiral, Alexander Seward, reports that the man o' wars and frigates that participated in the liberation of India and of Iceland suffered significant structural damage from being on the high seas for so long. Seward doubts whether they can make a crossing back to the mainland from Lisbon; with a heavy heart, the government has decided that Seward's Atlantic fleet will be retired from service and maintained as a treasure of American heritage. Seward has, in addition, tendered his resignation, and has been honourably discharged with corresponding awards for his 2 campaigns. (Apparently if you dismiss a flotilla outside of friendly waters, the admiral goes down with them... whoops!) The nations of India and Iceland, two most unlikely relatives, will never forget the noble sea-men and their admiral who assisted in their quest for independence.
In light of recent technological advancements, Seward's fleet will be replaced by 10 Commerce Raiders; the 4 man o' war and 5 frigates remaining in the Atlantic navy (who assisted with the intervention in Texas) will be phased out of active service after an additional 5 Commerce Raiders are produced after the first 10. The admiralty predict that the commerce raiders will have stronger hulls than the man o' war, with only slightly less firepower, and will move nearly twice as fast; likewise, the old clipper frigates will be completely outclassed. The Atlantic branch of the Navy will then be supplemented with a further 6 steam transports, while the 4 transports used to ferry the El Dorado corps will be recalled back to the East Coast for repairs.
November 3rd - 9th, 1838:
Further talk of secession in West Virgina and Tennessee. On the 10th of November, our government officials take a brief census of the country's population and their dominant issues. We see that the country is truly divided on the issue of slavery. A temporary stop-gap is approved, in the form of a house gag rule.
December 28th, 1838:
The 6th steam transport is built in Seattle. Richard Mitchell's forces are nearing the West Coast; crossing the mountainous regions of Idaho can take literally an entire month alone. It's obvious to the US government that we will have to invest in railroad technology as soon as possible.
1st of January, 1839:
Today is the first anniversary of the defeat of Mexico over the war of Texan independence. Celebrations can be heard throughout the Republic! The government's upper house has been rearranged: approximately 9.5% of senators label themselves as liberals, 2.5% reactionary, and 88% conservative.
January 12th, 1839:
We become Cordial with Sindh. Richard Mitchell's division is still crossing the mountains of Idaho. Nobody in the military had expected his transit to take so long.
February 28th, 1839:
Our credit has been restored with the government of Panjab. We once again begin asserting our influence
March 23rd, 1839:
Richard Mitchell's forces, henceforth dubbed the Pacific Corps, finally make landing in Seattle. The budget for the national stockpile is drastically increased to prepare for the operation.
April 1st, 1839:
We're discredited in Panjab, but decide to soldier on despite the fact. Philosophers also announce that they've discovered a novel way of running a government. Hm, could have sworn I've heard of this system before...
April 10th, 1839:
We hear that the Ottomans have been successful in demanding the Ankara region from the Egyptians.
April 30th, 1839:
Oklahoma has been colonised. We begin to encourage clergymen in Ohio.
July 13th, 1839:
We receive word from the Pacific Corps that they are at full organisation, and ready to depart for Siam. Due to the primitive military technology of the country, and the quality of her armed forces, Gen. Mitchell does not expect to meet any substantial resistance: nevertheless, battle plans for 'Operation Siamese Fire' are drawn up. Siam is thought to have 12 divisions of troops, or 36,000 soldiers. Half of these troops are situated on the border with our ally and sphereling Johore. We expect that the remaining half of these troops will be garrisoned in Bangkok.
The Pacific Transport will sidle up to the harbours of Bangkok, and Gen. Mitchell will disembark the Pacific Corps and conduct an amphibious assault. Once troops have landed, the transports will dock in the friendly harbours of Johore. This method of assault will partially hinder our troops' fighting ability, but Gen. Mitchell believes that the technological advantages will more than make up for this terrain disadvantage. Once the garrison has been overrun, Gen. Mitchell will lead the 3 infantry divisions along with the artillery division to Ratchabuti to choke the Siamese troops from reinforcing, and then methodically push down the southern peninsula to engage and destroy the remnants of their military. In the mean time, both divisions of dragoons will peel off: one will remain in Bangkok until it has been occupied, while the other moves north and begins occupying provinces. The required warscore is 33%, so Gen. Mitchell anticipates that significant portions of Siam's territory will need to be occupied before the Wiang Chhan people are awarded their freedom.
July 17th, 1839:
S-P accepts Switzerland's offer of peace: acquire Savoie. Bavaria is still fighting against S-P and the Papal States; her manpower is exhausted though. Despite the fact that she is fully mobilized, not a single division of troops are ready to fight.
July 22nd, 1839:
The second anniversary of India's independence. Celebrations are held throughout the country as the Pacific Transport steams hard for the shores of Bangkok! The United States reaffirms its intentions to the rest of the world: we
will bring freedom to those who yearn for it!
August 22nd, 1839:
The first anniversary of Iceland's freedom. Delegates from Iceland and the US stand at attention, facing the direction of Siam across far-off seas, their thoughts with the brave soldiers who are willing to possibly lose their lives only so that a wrong in the world may be redressed.
August 30th, 1839:
Our Free People CB expires tomorrow, so war is declared. The Pacific Transport fleet are off of the coast of Japan, so it will be several weeks before disembarking.
September 22nd, 1839:
The Pacific Corps begins its disembarkment. Our suspicions were correct: Siam's other 18,000 troops are garrisoned in Bangkok. Everything is going to plan so far.
October 4th, 1839:
Pacific Corps disembarks into hell on Earth. Later in his life, Gen. Mitchell will often remember the desperation of the campaign; the heat and flash of burning powder, the whinnying of the horses, the sight of men's blood nourishing the Asian soil like rain; most of all, he will remember the determination, ferocity, and skill with which the enemy garrison's general fought. Perhaps if they had met one another at a different time, in a different place, they could have been friends; the best of friends, even; shared drinks and stories, strategies, and watched one another's sons and brothers grow into honourable manhood. But as it stands, they found themselves on opposing sides in Bangkok during the latter part of 1839; a time and place in which wicked kings and dictators necessitated the shedding of blood and sacrifice of life for the freedom and right of self-determination that all peoples around the world need. Despite their different cultures, Gen. Mitchell would always remember the enemy general (for he never did learn his name) as an equal and a brother-in-arms.
October 9th, 1839:
Prussia declare war with Denmark on Schleswig-Holstein. Will we see a strong, early NGF?
October 15th, 1839:
The battle of Bangkok concludes. It was a bloody and vicious battle: nobody was expecting the Siamese to fight with such ferocity and skill (and I wasn't expecting to get such meagre dice rolls!) Operation Siamese Fire is not going to plan: US forces are now well and truly outnumbered. Gen. Mitchell toys with the idea of an extraction to Johore with the intention of regrouping and reorganising, but decides on pursuing the retreating army with the hope that he will deal a deadly blow.
October 21st, 1839:
The Pacific Corps, anticipating the Siamese movements, outmaneuvre the retreating army and set up entrenchments amongst the thick jungle terrain. This gives Gen. Mitchell a significant defender's advantage.
November 1st, 1839:
The battle concludes with a very strong American victory. Once again, the Pacific Corps pursue the retreating Siamese: however, the corps troops are becoming exhausted, and can only pursue for so long before a reorganisation will be necessary. Unaware of the desperate battle going on across the globe, and how very possible it is that the Americans may lose a war, American diplomats become Cordial with Panjab.
November 20th, 1839:
The retreating Siamese forces are once again outmaneuvered, and suffer enormous casualties. They still press on: Gen. Mitchell and what remains of Pacific Corps follows.
Novermber 29th, 1839:
Austria offers us an alliance. Surely they must be joking? Have they not heard our explicit calls for the end of their empire?
December 4th, 1839:
Bavaria signs a white peace with S-P and the Papal States. They do not get Romagna.
December 11th, 1839:
The Siamese forces are caught, and finally destroyed. Gen. Mitchell finds the body of the youthful general that fought him so expertly over these previous 2 months. He says a prayer and gives the man a proper Christian burial: he doubts the people in this part of the world are Christian, but he only does as he thinks right, and he knows that intentions are what matter in situations like these. Pacific Corps bury their dead, and limp south to Bangkok to begin occupying the province. They are at only 33% fighting strength, and have suffered huge casualties in the campaign so far. 18,000 Siamese troops remain at the border with Johore.
December 18th, 1839:
Gen. Mitchell begins the occupation of Bangkok. The 18,000 Siamese troops at the border begin marching towards their position. Steam transports are at a moment's notice to extract the Pacific Corps if the battle goes sour.
1st of January, 1840:
Today is the second anniversary of the defeat of Mexico over the question of Texas' independence. Pacific Corps, holed up like rats in Bangkok, share whiskey and stories with one another to spread good cheer. Meanwhile, a Siamese force outnumbering them by more than 3 to 1 is advancing on their position.
On the mainland, huge celebrations are occurring coast-to-coast, not only for the victory over Mexico, but for the prospect of another decade devoted to alleviating the suffering of oppressed peoples around the world. Amongst all of the celebrations, an election is announced, with the result to be decided on the 1st of July, 1840. Liberals now make up 12% of the upper house, with 86% of the upper house remaining conservative.
January 22nd, 1840:
Religious policy is debated amongst the delegates from New York. Faith, obviously,
must be represented in politics. Meanwhile, in Siam, the Siamese forces have reached the outskirts of Bangkok and are beseiging it, too afraid of the defender's advantage to launch a proper assault.
February 2nd, 1840:
The naval base in Portland finishes construction, greatly increasing the effectiveness of ships in the Pacific theatre. Work immediately begins on upgrading it.
February 12th, 1840:
Free trade is debated in Alabama, although there's already a consensus that it's good for the nation. The government and the population all agree.
March 1st, 1840:
Romanticism finishes, although we're not going to activate Manifest Destiny until the war in Siam has been concluded. In the mean time, philosophers in our country start researching Idealism.
March 5th, 1840:
Pluralism is debated in Pennsylvania. We take the stance that Moralism must be a part of the political process. We have now become friendly with Panjab: rather than admitting them into our sphere, we intend on ruining their opinion of the British.
March 20th, 1840:
The Ottoman Empire offers us an alliance. Do you hear that? It's the cries of the Iraqi people for their land and liberty. Rid yourself of your evil ways, Ottomans, and then you may address us as your equals and friends!
March 26th, 1840:
War policy is debated in New York. We must vigilant in foreign affairs, and this can only be realised if our government is pro-military!
April 7th, 1840:
France offer us an alliance. Languedoc is de jure Catalonian: never forgive, never forget!
April 20th, 1840:
Bangkok has been occupied. From here, Pacific Corps reinforces 2,500 men per month: Gen. Mitchell insists on reinforcing before destroying the last Siamese contingency.
April 27th, 1840:
Bastards! When will the Portuguese learn? Be warned, Portugal: the Omani Lindi region belongs to Zanzibar and Zanzibar alone, and to Zanzibar it shall be restored by the force of the hand of Justice: it is your choice whether you yourself or Oman will face our righteous wrath.
May 1st, 1840:
Our artists are the first in the world to discover Romanticist art.
May 28th, 1840:
Prussia is victorious.
June 1st, 1840:
Pacific Corps is now at 70% of their strength. Gen. Mitchell gives the order to assault the adjacent Siamese forces.
June 18th, 1840:
The battle concludes, with a decisive American victory. (SHH, that's not the same general as before: he died for roleplaying reasons, remember!?) From this point on, Pacific Corps is going to follow the Siamese around until they're finally destroyed, so this is the last battle I'll bother to report, although not the last battle that happened.
July 1st, 1840:
The results of the nation's elections are in!
July 22nd, 1840:
The third anniversary of Indian freedom. The word 'liberty' is a lot like the word 'liquor': both start with l, and then there's an i afterwards! Whatever, let's just get drunk. Drunk for freedom!
August 7th, 1840:
There's another incident with the colonial police and the natives in the country, this time in Oklahoma. The colonial police are forced to apologise, and are reprimanded for not respecting the indigenous religion. We may be moralist, but there's no need to be dicks, guys!
August 18th, 1840:
The last of Siam's army is defeated. Pacific Corps splits up and begins occupying the countryside. We reduce the Panjabi's opinion of the UK to Neutral, from Cordial.
August 22nd, 1840:
Iceland's second anniversary of independence. Greetings to Greenland and Hi-land to Iceland!
August 30th, 1840:
Operation Siamese Fire has taken a year so far, and at least 40,000 lives. Not a single man will have died in vain when the oppressed peoples of Wiang Chhan get their first breath of fresh air (and my dear readers, or at least the author, gets to see their flag for the first time in all its glory!)
September 12th, 1840:
Albany gets Blood and Iron mine. Dig deep and greedy, boys!
October 10th, 1840:
We're nearing the time when we can decrease Panjabi opinion of the British to less than Neutral. The US decides to start influencing Persia, with the same idea to dissuade the British from protecting them, preparing Persia for an eventual liberation of Azerbaijan!
December 30th, 1840:
Hrmmmmm...
1st of January, 1841:
Happy anniversary Texas! Liberals go up 2%, Conservatives down 2%
January 6th, 1841:
Victory!
After 16 months of fighting in the malarial jungles of Siam, Gen. Mitchell leads his glorious Pacific Corps into the annals of history as the liberators of the Wiang Chhang people! His grimy, exhausted soldiers are met by overjoyed villagers, and over the next week are treated to all their hospitalities.
A last look at the Siamese theatre:
Look at that flag!
Majestic borders!
Next time on Land of the Free:
Will the Portuguese dare annex what should rightfully belong to Zanzibar? Will the Panjab empire fall? Just how many anniversaries can an American's liver safely handle? Stay tuned!
Thanks for reading! I love reading your comments and feedback, so don't be shy!
), abstain from reloading any saves in order to get better outcomes. 
