-
Crusader Kings III Available Now!
The realm rejoices as Paradox Interactive announces the launch of Crusader Kings III, the latest entry in the publisher’s grand strategy role-playing game franchise. Advisors may now jockey for positions of influence and adversaries should save their schemes for another day, because on this day Crusader Kings III can be purchased on Steam, the Paradox Store, and other major online retailers.
El Pip said:It is rare to get harassed for updating too quickly, almost unheard in fact.
Savour it.
I will.
Say, as a fellow RNophile, what do you think of my forces structure?
+1El Pip said:It is rare to get harassed for updating too quickly, almost unheard in fact.
Savour it.
I actually like the fast updating myself.
Despite having yet another project to work on, a copy of Red Alert 3 on its way to me and generally cold feet due to a broken heating system the next update is almost done.
It shall all be explained in due time, but the resolution of the picture could be a hint.
The newspaper is pasically a proclamation of a Workers and Soldiers congress in 1919.
The newspaper is pasically a proclamation of a Workers and Soldiers congress in 1919.
I want the high irony answer. I want a socialist western Germany, supported by a communist France, pitted against a capitalist Eastern Germany backed by a democractic Russia (complete with constitutional monarch style Tsar).
El Pip said:I want the high irony answer. I want a socialist western Germany, supported by a communist France, pitted against a capitalist Eastern Germany backed by a democractic Russia (complete with constitutional monarch style Tsar).
Hehe. now that would be a nice idea, but actually the mod itself and the name are based on an old AAR of mine.
ah, i caught the workers and soldiers bit. couldnt read the rest mainly because i cant read that horrific gothic typeface along with what is presumably the reichstag, i assume socialism will have its place in this project.
along with what is presumably the reichstag, i assume socialism will have its place in this project.
No, not really, at least not on the top. I simply couldn't find a decent newspaper of that time in the desired size. The three pictures are supposed to illustrate the inter-war years of the Republic.BritishImperial said:ah, i caught the workers and soldiers bit. couldnt read the rest mainly because i cant read that horrific gothic typeface
Once again I am using a line that isn't mine but that's so awesome I had to use it at some point. Also this has been delayed to...ehrm...Russian intervention. My Red Alert 3 arrived this afternoon. Hooray! Bond fans should keep their eye out during the cutscenes, they might see a familiar face.
September 14th, 1939
Entrance to the Cabinet Bunker, Horseguards Road, London
“So, my dear Felix, do you have any idea why we were ordered to report here?” Ian Fleming asked. Felix Leiter rolled his eyes at his friend's juvenile behaviour, but simply replied: “Not at all, my dear Ian. However, if First Sea Lord and First Lord of the Admiralty beckon one does as he is commanded. You should know that by now, as you are a local. And may I remind you that you were the one at the telephone when their Lordships called? Admit it, all that tea went finally to your brain!” Felix's expression was serious, but Ian could see the amused sparkle in his eyes, and he therefore answered: “Never!” Felix laughed, and punched Ian on the shoulder. The two men verbally poked at each other for a few more minutes while they waited. This came to an abrupt end when a man wearing a suit entered the small room. “Commander Fleming and Lieutenant Commander Leiter?” When the two officers nodded he said: “Please hand in your guns at that table over there, you will receive them back once you leave.” Ian and Felix parted from their guns and followed the man inside. The bunker was obviously not purpose-built. The heavy girders that lined the low roof were clear evidence for the heavy building above them, betraying the fact that this originally had been a basement used to store files and unused furniture. Only very recently had it been converted to a bunker, in fact the order to do so had been one of the last acts of Prime Minister Chamberlain. The walk through the dark halls only took a few minutes, and most of that time was taken up by further security checks, but the time passed quickly for Ian and Felix. Finally they were led into a small room. In the centre stood a round table, with chairs all around. On the wall facing the door a huge map of Europe had been fixed to the wall, with multiple small flags and counters showing to current 'front' between the Allies and the Axis powers. In the corner stood a smaller desk with a steaming pot of what Ian presumed to be tea, and on the bigger desk several crystal bottles with brandy or some such was waiting for thirsty men.
What surprised Ian and Felix the most was however the collection of men sitting around the Table. Not only were the Prime Minister and freshly promoted Admiral Edwards in the room, but Ian was also surprised to recognize M, his former boss at MI6 among those present. All in all six men were waiting for Ian and Felix who still had no real idea why they had been summoned. Churchill was the first to speak. “Gentlemen, sit down, please.” Introductions were passed around, and the two officers learned that the others where Brigadier Chard, Director of the Army Intelligence Corps and related to 'the Chard' of Rourke's Drift fame as he liked to point out, Air Vice Marshal Carter from the Royal Air Force Operations Support (Intelligence) Branch, with Admiral Edwards representing the Naval Intelligence Division that he had taken over in the wake of Operation Pine Tree. When Ian and Felix were seated Chard addressed the assembly. “Gentlemen, as you all know Operation Pinetree would have caught us completely flatfooted, had it not been for the efforts of the Special Section of the NID, Commander Fleming and Lieutenant Commander Leiter. In the months since me and my opposite numbers have been instructed not only to make sure that we can never caught by relative surprise like that but also to make sure that we can retaliate in kind. To this effect we have decided to create a special organization, comprised of members of all the Services and Civilian Intelligence as well. It's duties would be to ensure inter-agency cooperation, coordination of Intelligence efforts outside the borders of the British Empire and the execution of operations of the type of Operation Pine Tree in enemy territory. As per the orders of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet we are creating the Special Operations Executive.” Chard explained the details for several minutes, but it still didn't answer the question, why where Fleming and Leiter here in the first place, as they were for all intents and purposes still two lowly Naval Officers. When the assembly was dissolved the Admiral stayed behind, ordering Ian and Felix to do the same. “Gentlemen, you two might wonder why you are here, but that wonderment will end soon. Simply put, I want you two to run the Naval Section of the Operations Division.” Felix was less than please. 'Great, a desk job.' he thought, and he knew Ian well enough to know that he wasn't too hot about the prospect either. Despite their institutional dislike of any form of unpredictability that tended to mess things up for counter-intelligence, both were men of action, and driving a desk while the rest of the British Empire fought for it's survival wasn't the way they wanted to do their bit. It also seemed that the Admiral knew how they felt, because before they could answer he said: “This is not your usual desk job, Gentlemen. There would be some administrative work of course, but Operations is mainly concerned with just that, carrying out operations, so it will still contain a great deal of field work.” He let that sink in. Ian and Felix knew that field work meant going into enemy territory, and the risks involved with doing so. Edwards raised his right hand in a calming gesture. “Now I know that you know that this kind of work can have a rather adverse effect on your health, this is why the PM and I have decided to make the operations Division a voluntary posting. You don't have to accept, and if you don't your reputations shall not be tarnished. If you do choose to accept this posting then you will have to disappear, and not even your families will know where you are going, and if you write or visit them even the slightest slip is a hangable offence.” When the other two men in the room did not answer Edwards continued: “You two will have a week of leave, so use the time to think about it. Go visit your families, and when you get back tell me your decision.” Edwards dismissed the two, and when they had left he thought about the conversation he had had with the PM when they had discussed the recruitment of the two. Churchill had insisted that they had to join voluntarily. - “I can't bloody well send these man on missions like this without even having the courtesy to ask if they are willing to do that, wartime or not.” - these had been the PM's words, and Edwards strongly suspected that his Majesty the King had something to do with that courtesy. Whatever the reasons, he had asked.
Meanwhile Ian and Felix were strolling back to the car that had brought them here, both thinking about the Admiral's proposal. Felix decided that he had to break the mood. Tell you what, Ian, why don't you come and join my folks and me, instead of sitting in that scrubby flat of yours?” Ian stopped walking and looked at Felix. Considering that his own family was scattered all over the Empire, with his parents currently residing in India that was definitely one idea. “You sure, Felix?” Felix slapped Ian on the shoulder before saying: “Indeed I am old friend. Come on. Let's bring this car back to NID then we can to go my parents. You will like them, but my dad still hasn't forgiven me that I joined the Navy.” Ian smirked and looked at Felix. “And why is that?” “He is an old Cavalry Officer you see, and by the way, he still doesn't really trust you limeys, so expect some heavy interrogation.” Now Ian laughed heartily. That, my friend, I can deal with. Remember that we ourselves are quite skilled in that field?” Felix grinned and with that the discussion was over. He still felt the need to talk about his family even more, considering that he hadn't seen them for weeks. “From what my mother told me when I last called her my dad is jumping in circles. He's itching to do something, and it's driving my mother nuts.” Ian knew what that word meant, as the two had spent so much time together, but he couldn't resist, and so he said, using the terribly overstated Oxford accent that he had perfected during the years there and said: “Terribly sorry, old chap, but could you rephrase that?” Felix said: “Oh for the love of god, stop that!” “Silence, Colonial! Now go back to being taxed without representation!” “Up yours.”
[Game Notes: Here come the SOE, which will be more like a TTL version of SOCOM in the US. This was also might difficult to write, especially the last part.]
Chapter 64
September 14th, 1939
Entrance to the Cabinet Bunker, Horseguards Road, London
“So, my dear Felix, do you have any idea why we were ordered to report here?” Ian Fleming asked. Felix Leiter rolled his eyes at his friend's juvenile behaviour, but simply replied: “Not at all, my dear Ian. However, if First Sea Lord and First Lord of the Admiralty beckon one does as he is commanded. You should know that by now, as you are a local. And may I remind you that you were the one at the telephone when their Lordships called? Admit it, all that tea went finally to your brain!” Felix's expression was serious, but Ian could see the amused sparkle in his eyes, and he therefore answered: “Never!” Felix laughed, and punched Ian on the shoulder. The two men verbally poked at each other for a few more minutes while they waited. This came to an abrupt end when a man wearing a suit entered the small room. “Commander Fleming and Lieutenant Commander Leiter?” When the two officers nodded he said: “Please hand in your guns at that table over there, you will receive them back once you leave.” Ian and Felix parted from their guns and followed the man inside. The bunker was obviously not purpose-built. The heavy girders that lined the low roof were clear evidence for the heavy building above them, betraying the fact that this originally had been a basement used to store files and unused furniture. Only very recently had it been converted to a bunker, in fact the order to do so had been one of the last acts of Prime Minister Chamberlain. The walk through the dark halls only took a few minutes, and most of that time was taken up by further security checks, but the time passed quickly for Ian and Felix. Finally they were led into a small room. In the centre stood a round table, with chairs all around. On the wall facing the door a huge map of Europe had been fixed to the wall, with multiple small flags and counters showing to current 'front' between the Allies and the Axis powers. In the corner stood a smaller desk with a steaming pot of what Ian presumed to be tea, and on the bigger desk several crystal bottles with brandy or some such was waiting for thirsty men.
What surprised Ian and Felix the most was however the collection of men sitting around the Table. Not only were the Prime Minister and freshly promoted Admiral Edwards in the room, but Ian was also surprised to recognize M, his former boss at MI6 among those present. All in all six men were waiting for Ian and Felix who still had no real idea why they had been summoned. Churchill was the first to speak. “Gentlemen, sit down, please.” Introductions were passed around, and the two officers learned that the others where Brigadier Chard, Director of the Army Intelligence Corps and related to 'the Chard' of Rourke's Drift fame as he liked to point out, Air Vice Marshal Carter from the Royal Air Force Operations Support (Intelligence) Branch, with Admiral Edwards representing the Naval Intelligence Division that he had taken over in the wake of Operation Pine Tree. When Ian and Felix were seated Chard addressed the assembly. “Gentlemen, as you all know Operation Pinetree would have caught us completely flatfooted, had it not been for the efforts of the Special Section of the NID, Commander Fleming and Lieutenant Commander Leiter. In the months since me and my opposite numbers have been instructed not only to make sure that we can never caught by relative surprise like that but also to make sure that we can retaliate in kind. To this effect we have decided to create a special organization, comprised of members of all the Services and Civilian Intelligence as well. It's duties would be to ensure inter-agency cooperation, coordination of Intelligence efforts outside the borders of the British Empire and the execution of operations of the type of Operation Pine Tree in enemy territory. As per the orders of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet we are creating the Special Operations Executive.” Chard explained the details for several minutes, but it still didn't answer the question, why where Fleming and Leiter here in the first place, as they were for all intents and purposes still two lowly Naval Officers. When the assembly was dissolved the Admiral stayed behind, ordering Ian and Felix to do the same. “Gentlemen, you two might wonder why you are here, but that wonderment will end soon. Simply put, I want you two to run the Naval Section of the Operations Division.” Felix was less than please. 'Great, a desk job.' he thought, and he knew Ian well enough to know that he wasn't too hot about the prospect either. Despite their institutional dislike of any form of unpredictability that tended to mess things up for counter-intelligence, both were men of action, and driving a desk while the rest of the British Empire fought for it's survival wasn't the way they wanted to do their bit. It also seemed that the Admiral knew how they felt, because before they could answer he said: “This is not your usual desk job, Gentlemen. There would be some administrative work of course, but Operations is mainly concerned with just that, carrying out operations, so it will still contain a great deal of field work.” He let that sink in. Ian and Felix knew that field work meant going into enemy territory, and the risks involved with doing so. Edwards raised his right hand in a calming gesture. “Now I know that you know that this kind of work can have a rather adverse effect on your health, this is why the PM and I have decided to make the operations Division a voluntary posting. You don't have to accept, and if you don't your reputations shall not be tarnished. If you do choose to accept this posting then you will have to disappear, and not even your families will know where you are going, and if you write or visit them even the slightest slip is a hangable offence.” When the other two men in the room did not answer Edwards continued: “You two will have a week of leave, so use the time to think about it. Go visit your families, and when you get back tell me your decision.” Edwards dismissed the two, and when they had left he thought about the conversation he had had with the PM when they had discussed the recruitment of the two. Churchill had insisted that they had to join voluntarily. - “I can't bloody well send these man on missions like this without even having the courtesy to ask if they are willing to do that, wartime or not.” - these had been the PM's words, and Edwards strongly suspected that his Majesty the King had something to do with that courtesy. Whatever the reasons, he had asked.
Meanwhile Ian and Felix were strolling back to the car that had brought them here, both thinking about the Admiral's proposal. Felix decided that he had to break the mood. Tell you what, Ian, why don't you come and join my folks and me, instead of sitting in that scrubby flat of yours?” Ian stopped walking and looked at Felix. Considering that his own family was scattered all over the Empire, with his parents currently residing in India that was definitely one idea. “You sure, Felix?” Felix slapped Ian on the shoulder before saying: “Indeed I am old friend. Come on. Let's bring this car back to NID then we can to go my parents. You will like them, but my dad still hasn't forgiven me that I joined the Navy.” Ian smirked and looked at Felix. “And why is that?” “He is an old Cavalry Officer you see, and by the way, he still doesn't really trust you limeys, so expect some heavy interrogation.” Now Ian laughed heartily. That, my friend, I can deal with. Remember that we ourselves are quite skilled in that field?” Felix grinned and with that the discussion was over. He still felt the need to talk about his family even more, considering that he hadn't seen them for weeks. “From what my mother told me when I last called her my dad is jumping in circles. He's itching to do something, and it's driving my mother nuts.” Ian knew what that word meant, as the two had spent so much time together, but he couldn't resist, and so he said, using the terribly overstated Oxford accent that he had perfected during the years there and said: “Terribly sorry, old chap, but could you rephrase that?” Felix said: “Oh for the love of god, stop that!” “Silence, Colonial! Now go back to being taxed without representation!” “Up yours.”
[Game Notes: Here come the SOE, which will be more like a TTL version of SOCOM in the US. This was also might difficult to write, especially the last part.]
I might warn you now. Due to above reason my forum activity during the next few days might be somewhat sporadic.
STOP! COOKIE TIME