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I think I'd like to read that book by Mr. W.H. Coz. 
Lot's happening in that update. It appears West Virginia has the ability to re-ignite the tensions between north and south. And Columbia does not seem to be standing still, looking at ways to expand in either Russia or Japan. If the successful invasion of Guatamala is any guide, they should do quite well, even if the former two countries surely have a bit more strength.
And the Unionists and perhaps even their successors seem to be out of the loop, politically. The failure of the Vice-President will surely show itself in the next election, one would think.
Fantastic update, Mach! Keep it coming and good to know you are over the illness.
Lot's happening in that update. It appears West Virginia has the ability to re-ignite the tensions between north and south. And Columbia does not seem to be standing still, looking at ways to expand in either Russia or Japan. If the successful invasion of Guatamala is any guide, they should do quite well, even if the former two countries surely have a bit more strength.
And the Unionists and perhaps even their successors seem to be out of the loop, politically. The failure of the Vice-President will surely show itself in the next election, one would think.
Fantastic update, Mach! Keep it coming and good to know you are over the illness.
Alaska and the Yukon should be known as 'Stanfords Folly'. Or maybe 'Lelands Icebox'.
I'm not familiar with Victoria and how the resources are laid out, but it seems to me the Pacific coast should have plenty of coal. To quote from an official BC website, 'There is estimated to be an ultimate coal resource available for surface or shallow underground mining of over 20 billion tonnes in the province.'
You should have immense natural resources in that corner of North America, and your small population should give mechanization a real boost.
One thing you will need is transportation - railroads - and Leland Stanford could be just the man to help you, there. Perhaps the Columbian government could sponsor a 'TransColumbian' railroad bill, or a joint venture with the CSA to build a Trans-continental RR on a southern route?
I am surprised the South gave up slavery, though I expect it is being perpetuated in form if not in name. Was this a game event, an interpretation of a liberalizing CSA government, or your own invention?
Oh, about that book... I thought W.H. Coz was a pseudonym for 'Judge' whatshisname.
Or maybe 'Lelands Icebox'. I'm not familiar with Victoria and how the resources are laid out, but it seems to me the Pacific coast should have plenty of coal. To quote from an official BC website, 'There is estimated to be an ultimate coal resource available for surface or shallow underground mining of over 20 billion tonnes in the province.'
You should have immense natural resources in that corner of North America, and your small population should give mechanization a real boost.
One thing you will need is transportation - railroads - and Leland Stanford could be just the man to help you, there. Perhaps the Columbian government could sponsor a 'TransColumbian' railroad bill, or a joint venture with the CSA to build a Trans-continental RR on a southern route?
I am surprised the South gave up slavery, though I expect it is being perpetuated in form if not in name. Was this a game event, an interpretation of a liberalizing CSA government, or your own invention?
Oh, about that book... I thought W.H. Coz was a pseudonym for 'Judge' whatshisname.
Director said:
Good advice even if Director is bias because he plays Railroad Tycoon.
And it does look like West Virginia is going to be a flash point for another war between the North and South.
Joe
Ghostwriter: I try to include bits from the rest of the world so that the setting seems more alive or believable. I am glad you are enjoying it.
Anonymous4401: Thank you. An honor coming from you. Hopefully I can maintain keeping this story interesting.
stnylan: Yes it certainly seems that way. Though it seems likely that it will be the South who presses the issue. Then again, it could be possible that the North will just give in and let the CSA get its way.. and pigs could fly.
Seidita: I shall certainly try to!
coz1: Guatemala was a pushover. Those other countries would be much, much more difficult. Especially considering the manpower of the two mentioned and adding in the fact that manpower is Columbia's big weakness. I'm a little worried about West Virginia. If war comes i'll probably end up backing the CSA and I may not be so lucky as last time.
As far as Vice President West's failures, while they may come back to hurt him, don't underestimate the political clout he still has, he did after all help destroy his old party the Unionists to create the Populists in there place.
Director: Unfortunately there is not much Coal on the North American pacific coast in the Victoria layout. Russia's pacific coast and china's on the other hand is teeming with coal. Now it's just a matter of figuring out how to get at it. The big natural resources I have in North America is wood. I have lots and lots of wood. I also have a fair share of gold and precious metals hidden in the Yukon.
Leland Stanford has actually been helping make the railroads great. All those bills and talk about the constant industrialization started first on the railroads. Most of Columbia is actually connected by Rail lines and they are fairly advanced as well. I imagine there is already a Trans-Columbian Rail bill on the books somewhere. Sorry if that was not all that clear. But the railroads are teeming in Columbia. As for a Transcontinetal railroad project with the CSA, while it is undoubtedly a dream of people like Stanford, at the moment it is impossible due to not bordering with the CSA. Any Rail project would have to cross through the United States and currently there seems little advantage to that. Opening up Panama could be useful though..
Lastly, as for the South giving up slavery it was both an interpretation of a liberalizing CSA government and my own invention. The last two CSA governments have been the Democratic Party (not to be confused with the Democrats) and are quite liberal and have a Limited Citizenship policy. I popped in to check on the slaves when I finished playing recently and discovered that they were all but gone. I even saw some African Minors working in the factories. So, I wanted to come up with something plausible. As far as I am aware no event in game was triggered, but it could be that one was and I missed it.
Storey: Hey I can't blame him, Railroad Tycoon is quite enjoyable from time to time. At the moment the dream of a Trans-Continental railraod will be on hold, but I will definately keep that in mind and thus have the characters in the tale keep that in mind as well. Thanks to you guys I expect there might be some pushes in Parliament for territory to complete such a task.
I'll try to load up the game and play for a little bit more sometime this week and get a new update by next Sunday at the latest, by this Thursday at the earliest. Thanks everyone for commenting and reading. I hope I answered most of the questions well.
Anonymous4401: Thank you. An honor coming from you. Hopefully I can maintain keeping this story interesting.
stnylan: Yes it certainly seems that way. Though it seems likely that it will be the South who presses the issue. Then again, it could be possible that the North will just give in and let the CSA get its way.. and pigs could fly.
Seidita:
I shall certainly try to!coz1: Guatemala was a pushover. Those other countries would be much, much more difficult. Especially considering the manpower of the two mentioned and adding in the fact that manpower is Columbia's big weakness. I'm a little worried about West Virginia. If war comes i'll probably end up backing the CSA and I may not be so lucky as last time.
As far as Vice President West's failures, while they may come back to hurt him, don't underestimate the political clout he still has, he did after all help destroy his old party the Unionists to create the Populists in there place.
Director: Unfortunately there is not much Coal on the North American pacific coast in the Victoria layout. Russia's pacific coast and china's on the other hand is teeming with coal. Now it's just a matter of figuring out how to get at it. The big natural resources I have in North America is wood. I have lots and lots of wood. I also have a fair share of gold and precious metals hidden in the Yukon.
Leland Stanford has actually been helping make the railroads great. All those bills and talk about the constant industrialization started first on the railroads. Most of Columbia is actually connected by Rail lines and they are fairly advanced as well. I imagine there is already a Trans-Columbian Rail bill on the books somewhere. Sorry if that was not all that clear. But the railroads are teeming in Columbia. As for a Transcontinetal railroad project with the CSA, while it is undoubtedly a dream of people like Stanford, at the moment it is impossible due to not bordering with the CSA. Any Rail project would have to cross through the United States and currently there seems little advantage to that. Opening up Panama could be useful though..
Lastly, as for the South giving up slavery it was both an interpretation of a liberalizing CSA government and my own invention. The last two CSA governments have been the Democratic Party (not to be confused with the Democrats) and are quite liberal and have a Limited Citizenship policy. I popped in to check on the slaves when I finished playing recently and discovered that they were all but gone. I even saw some African Minors working in the factories. So, I wanted to come up with something plausible. As far as I am aware no event in game was triggered, but it could be that one was and I missed it.
Storey: Hey I can't blame him, Railroad Tycoon is quite enjoyable from time to time. At the moment the dream of a Trans-Continental railraod will be on hold, but I will definately keep that in mind and thus have the characters in the tale keep that in mind as well. Thanks to you guys I expect there might be some pushes in Parliament for territory to complete such a task.
I'll try to load up the game and play for a little bit more sometime this week and get a new update by next Sunday at the latest, by this Thursday at the earliest. Thanks everyone for commenting and reading. I hope I answered most of the questions well.
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The Breeding Ground
"For what can war, but endless war, still breed?" -- John Milton.
"For what can war, but endless war, still breed?" -- John Milton.
As the summer of 1871 receded from the Pacific shores of Columbia and the pains of the Black Wednesday bank crash began to disappear from the minds of the country's voting citizens, the government of President Sutter and Prime Minister Stanford once more allowed itself to become active. The bank crash was a unexpected and undesired blow to the administration that had thus far suffered little in the way of setbacks. John Augustus Sutter intended to be the first man in Columbia's history to win a second term and he would be damned if economics thwarted him.
In an effort to forward Columbia's international influence a new diplomatic agent, one Henry Dorter, traveled to Paris, France in early September. On a mission to strengthen ties with the French, Dorter was said to have impressed the french with his firm grasp of their language and history. The talks progressed well, despite some debate regarding France's steps backwards from Republicanism. Emperor Napoleon III did make promises that he would restore the Republic "in due time". Dorter of course did not press the Emperor, knowing that his purpose here was to pave the way for a future alliance between France and Columbia, whether it was Imperial France or the French Republic was of little consequence.
Diplomats were also sent to the Islands of Nippon in hopes of establishing a working relationship with the government. Unfortunately this was perhaps far too optimistic. Problems with translation and Columbia's transparent imperialism helped cause the meetings to break down. After the Columbian diplomats repeatedly insisted on access to the Nipponese ports, they were escorted from the meeting and instructed to leave the island. Fortunately for Sutter's administration, few in the population had any real care about issues pertaining to Nippon and so the diplomatic blunder was barely reported in the news.
President Sutter however was greatly angered by the failure. He feared that it was only a matter of time before Nippon fell under the influence of one of the great European powers like Great Britain, France, or god forbid Imperial Russia. It was the Russia that truly concerned John Sutter, for Columbia's oldest enemy seemed unstoppable as it extended its influence across Asia. This became an even greater worry when in late October Russia successfully defeated and occupied western Tibet, only to start another colonial war in Asia seeking to obtain complete control over Kashmir.
Despite what polls were saying would be a tight race, President John Sutter continued to act as if he would hold executive power for another four years. In order to prepare for the ambitious campaigns in the Pacific he had planned, a large majority of the army and it's officers were sent to the Hawaiian island of Niihau, where through the months of spring and potentially summer they would be carrying out field training exercises in cooperation with the Navy. Faux beach landings were practiced, as well as trench building and the regular rigors of marching through hot, tropical lands.
As if in direct contrast to the exercises occurring at Niihau, several large anti-militarism rallies sprung up throughout the Yukon in early may. Largely made up of Populist supporters, a few rallies did have appearances from several veterans of Columbia's not too distant wars. These rallies were viewed as widely successful, despite one editorial writer's opinion that the people of Yukon were all daft and too easily forget that their state was won by show of arms.
In the summer of '72 news reached Columbia that Russia had succeeded in annexing the region of Kashmir, much to the dismay of the British Empire and the regions own people. Perhaps equally surprising was the lead that the Populists had claimed on their opponents the Young Columbia Party by the first of July. Though the polls were often inaccurate, it was believed that the Populists claimed a full fifty-eight percent of the winter elections votes. It was becoming clear that President Sutter and the Young Columbia Party was going to need either a miracle or a disaster to claim victory come December.
They would get just that.
I have decided to try my hand at reviving this AAR after my absense for some time. This update is neither as good nor as long as some of my previous ones, but I hope the readers (if I have any left) will give me some time to get back into the flow of writing in this style.
I have to say Machiavellian...that last post just wasn't very long, and your flow in this writing style seems to have broken somewhat. *runs away* :rofl:
Actually it looks like you were never away Mach. I enjoyed it!
Machiavellian said:
don't worry, your readers won't leave you. we may have problems accessing the forum, but that is harder on you than us readers. this is too good an AAR for anyone to leave it.
excellent update!
I read this AAR..im glad to see its back.
And id support that person who nominated Nathan Bedford Forrest for president. Forrest pwns!
And id support that person who nominated Nathan Bedford Forrest for president. Forrest pwns!
Machiavellian said:
Not only have you kept the original readers, you have also gained yet another one! Excellent writing.
I hope to see another update soon.Machiavellian said:
Excellent… President Sutter’s planned military adventures seem to be the most entertaining of the candidates’ different agendas.
Interlude
"So long as men worship the Caesars and Napoleons, Caesars and Napoleons will duly rise and make them miserable." -- Aldous Huxley
"So long as men worship the Caesars and Napoleons, Caesars and Napoleons will duly rise and make them miserable." -- Aldous Huxley
Leland Stanford, Prime Minister of Columbia
July 1st, 1872
Victoria, Columbia
It was a particularly uncomfortable day in the capital of Columbia. The sun was out in force, baking the streets with its sunshine with little defiance due to the rather cloudless sky. The tempertuare was unusually high in the Pacific Northwest and while some enjoyed the summer weather, Prime Minister Stanford cursed it.
Stuck within the confines of his sweltering office, Leland Stanford combed through several documents on his desk. Those stubborn Populists were holding up all manner of bills, slowing the government down to a snails crawl as opposed to its usual turtle like plodding. They believed that they could win this upcoming Presidential election, as well as capture control of the Parliament. Leland expelled a sigh and sunk down into his chair. Dabbing at his sweating forehead with a hankerchief he feared that they might succeed. That arrogant bastard Elliot West didn't help either. He acted far more quickly in turning against the President then Stanford has anticipated. Worse he was intelligent enough not to run in direct opposition to the President, instead supporting the highly popular Henry Corbett. Drumming his fingers on his desk, Leland tried to think of a way out of this morass, it could still be possible to pull off a winning campaign.
A knock on the door came and Leland Stanford forced himself to sit up straight in his chair. "Enter" he called, his voice somewhat scratchy. He only then realized how parched he was and poured himself a glass of tepid water.
Randall Kable, a man in his late fifties who served as secretary and aide to the Prime Minister, stuck his head in the doorway. "Mr. Stanford, senator Barnwell of South Carolina is here to see you. Shall I show him in?"
Leland Stanford drained the glass of water and set it aside. He nodded his head absently. He had completely forgotten that he had a meeting with the Confederate senator today. Silently blaming his forgetfulness on the heat, Stanford thanked Randall and instructed him to show the good senator in.
Several minutes later the seventy one year old senator entered the office. Tall and unbent by age, Robert Woodward Barnwell had a smile on his lips and a pair of small spectacles seated on his nose. Despite his age, he moved easily enough and Leland knew him to be quite competant. Columbia's Prime Minister rose from his chair and came around his desk, forcing an affable smile.
"Ahh Robert, so good to see you again. I trust that your trip here was not too unpleasant, I understand you had a minor episode west of Dallas?" Leland said as he shook the older gentlemans hand and guided him to a chair.
"Yes, it is unfortunate that much of that region is still quite lawless, but I was unharmed and the matter was swiftly resolved." Senator Barnwell looked down at the small humidor he was carrying and offered it to Leland Stanford. "Compliments of the State of South Carolina. It is my hope that you still enjoy a good smoke, Leland. I myself had to give them up last fall, ya'know my lungs aren't what they used to be."
"That I do. That I do. I shall put these to good use." Stanford said as he took the cigar case and set it down on his desk. Moving around his desk he then snatched up a decanter of brandy and two snifters. "Senator? Can I at least offer you a drink before we get down to business?"
The Southern senator nodded his head, one hand absently combing through his curled grey locks. "I do believe I would like that very much Leland." The Prime Minister poured two glasses and handed one to Robert. After taking a sip, Senator Barnwell got straight to business. "I'll do us both a favor and skip over the usual formalities. Our two nations are locked together in a similar destiny. Together we were able to defeat the aggression of the yankees and only together can we continue to prosper. I am uncertain of how much you know regarding the current situation in the East, but it seems clear that another conflict is unavoidable.. " The Confederate Senator let his words hang in the air for a moment, taking another drink of his brandy before continuing. " The insufferable yanks continue to meddle in our sea lanes and have outright refused to leave occupied western virginia. They call it a state, Kanawawa or some such nonsense. Utter hogwash." Robert said with disdain.
Leland Stanford rolled the brandy around in his mouth. So the Confederate States of America intended to go to war again and unless he missed his mark, they were expecting Columbia to aid them. Stroking his beard Stanford pondered the situation. A war might very well be able to lend the needed support for Sutter and the current government. People were unwilling to risk change when threatened by an external enemy. He remembered reading a recent report that indicated that the United States-Columbia border was hardly patroled. "War? So soon after the last one.. are you prepared for such a thing?"
The old southern gentleman gave a haughty bark of a laugh. "Of course we are. Unlike those fools in the North, we deemed it necessary to maintain a standing army. Our republic is yet still young and we need to protect ourselves against foriegn aggressors." Robert Woodward Barnwell said all this with a straight face, despite the hypocricy evident in his words.
Leland considered a moment before addressing the most vexing issue "What of the European powers? England and France both signed the treaty that closed the first war. Isn't your Congress concered that they might interfere?"
"No sir, they are not. While it is a possibility, we believe that the european powers will respect this as a strictly North American conflict. They have Russia, Prussia and Austria to concern themselves with. It's a risk President Hunt and Congress are willing to take. We can no longer allow this unlawful occupation of the soveriegn State of Virginia. I trust we will have Columbia's support?"
Leland Stanford rose and shook the Senator's hand once more. "Of course I will need to speak with John about all this, but the Confederate States know that Columbia does not abandon its allies and friends. Again, thank you for the cigars Robert." The Prime Minister smiled as he led his guest out. He had forgotten about the miserable heat momentarily. Another war, it might be just the thing to save the campaign and perhaps even bring life to his dreams of rail line running down the western coast.
After seeing his guest out Leland instructed Randall to arrange a meeting with the President and the rest of his cabinet. There was much to be discussed.
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I just got done going through this.. It is an excellent AAR. I will be keeping up with this one.
I decided to do the last update in the narrative style merely to help me get back into the flow of the characters within the world/tale and as a means to introduce what appears to be the second big north american war. The next update should probably be in the more familiar historical accounting style and with luck I will have an update sometime soon.
Thanks for commenting and letting me know that there are still people interested in this history.
Thanks for commenting and letting me know that there are still people interested in this history.
I really appreciated the narrative style and would personally like to see more of it.
Well, your latest breaks have allowed me to catch up on this AAR rapidly, but have deprived me of more of the Machiavellian writing that I so enjoy. Still, the last two were interesting sides of a coin - one in the normal manner of this AAR and the other in some mighty fine prose. I think you do quite well with both.
And a coming war (I hope) arises. I dare say the nation of Columbia ought to do quite well backing their southern allies. I hope you get back into this soon because I would love to see what happens. Even still, the breaks are not altering the level of the work and trust that as long as I am reading AARs here, this will be one I read with delight!
And a coming war (I hope) arises. I dare say the nation of Columbia ought to do quite well backing their southern allies. I hope you get back into this soon because I would love to see what happens. Even still, the breaks are not altering the level of the work and trust that as long as I am reading AARs here, this will be one I read with delight!