Bolivar II - An epic of valour, pride, corruption, espionage & cross dressing

[Heretic]

Ok, thanks coz1..
yes, the first invasion taught me that I needed larger armies..
The second.. well, it is still a real pain to manage..
I have had numerous different versions (since I never said I wouldn't reload) and things are gradually going better.
Mind you I generally max out morale at 85, whilst the USA has a standard issue morale of 104. Thing is, I never really developed the army techs, since I didn't need it as much earlier. And now I can't trade for love nor money, so I am only progressing 1 tech per year.

Also I was never intending to fight the USA, since the lower half of the Americas is just dandy for me.
Mind you, they came knocking, so it is time to pay the piper..

Also, despite having brought my military score up to #3 (circa 171) (USA is #4, with 150), and my prestige to #3 (ooh, 1500) (USA is #4, at 1450), I am still stuck at #5 overall.. since the top prestige is Austria with 4400 (*where did they get that?) and military is Russia with 1500 (compared to 350 when I get out of debt).

So given the fact there are 16 years left, I'm casting about a bit as to what to do next. (after I settle with the USA)

Heretic

 

[Heretic]

“Tonight? At eight o’clock? Super!”
Esmeralda set the telephone receiver back in the cradle and executed a delighted two-step across the hallway. The maid, stepping in to the hall with the neatly pressed lace stole smiled as she saw her.

“You’ll be dancing with all the beaux tonight m’lady”
The maid ventured, in a surprisingly informal manner, since this was encouraged nowadays. Esmeralda grinned, and took the stole, sweeping it onto her shoulders.

“You put your feet up tonight, Maria I shan’t be needing anything until the morning”, Esmeralda called, stepping out down the wide steps to the driveway. Out there waited the polished and gleaming Colobo-Suza motor car, gleaming lines of chrome along the gently curved bodywork.

With a rattle and a roar the car left the estate. Generous goggles and gloves formed Esmeralda’s driving attire, the stole flapping merrily in the breeze. It did not take long for the car to eat the miles to her destination for this evening.

Extravagant electric light bulbs were a novel feature of the terrace, but did not hold the attention as strongly as the band. All the members were well dressed in suits, and most of the instruments would have been at home on the classical stage. The music, though, was strange and strong. With gypsy rhythms, and native beats, it was an amazing new sound. The bright young folk there were all dancing in the latest style, champagne flowing freely, and high spirits all around.

Esmeralda leaned on the fine stone balcony, drinking in the music. A man, suave and sallow skinned, approached;
“Madame Machado?”
“Oh, my fame precedes me”

“A fascinating woman needs no introduction”
“Enough. Tell me what this new sound is, I have not heard it before.”

“Oh, they call it ‘the jazz’. Who knows if it will stick around?”
“I think it could stick around if given a warm reception”

Behind the talking couple, a large and heavy moth dashed itself repeatedly against the light.

 

[Heretic]

As spring came to the country, the call went out for a general mobilisation of reserves. These would bolster the regular army, but leave the fields unattended this year. The troops were generally shipped to the southern front, where advances inland were being made.

The unlucky regiments were sent straight in to the defence of New York. The lines of defence were still fluid as great waves of attacking troops from the US battered the defending armies.

There was a general motion passed in parliament that Gran Colombia wished to hold no land on the northern continent. At last, Guzman’s bellicose tendencies had been curbed.

With a fresh brief, the diplomats were now pressing for the USA to atone for it’s rash declaration of war by paying indemnities. Initial approaches were met with opposition. The USA then proceeded to mobilise it’s reserve. Generals up and down the front braced for the fresh onslaught that was surely due.

Then, in mid July, a breakthrough was achieved. The Yanquis capitulated, provided that all the armies of Gran Colombia left their soil. A structure of payments was also agreed. Given the industrial might of the USA, these were not inconsiderable.

A day of general celebration was called across the cities of the Federation. Parties in Caracas, La Paz and Quito were extensive, as the populace joyfully reacted to the news that the soldiers were finally coming home.

Simply shipping the legions back took some months. Care was taken to ensure that the Philippine regiments did not land on Colombian soil. This was felt to be prudent, since they would quickly learn of the pleasant conditions that prevailed in the homeland, but were not funded in the colonies. This shallow exercise did not bear fruit, since extensive rebellions took place up and down the islands. Order was eventually restored.

 

[Heretic]

Pinkerton’s Paris office was in a great state of upheaval. Tea chests and packing crates stood where desks had recently been. Removal men in heavy aprons strode to and fro carrying everything and anything that was left in the offices.

A pair of clerks observed as another row of filing cabinets were emptied, and then carried off. The wall behind was faded in patches where the objects had stood. On the floor, behind where the last cabinet had stood, a solitary envelope sat. The younger clerk reached down and picked it from the floor.

“I say, look here this letter is ancient.”
“Really?”

“I’ll say, the stamp is a really old one”
“Well go on, open it”

The letter proved to contain a brief report from the Caracas office, saying that an agent had not reported on the due date. It requested further instructions, suggesting that discreet contact be made with Mr Rothschild’s office. Clearly, nothing had been done about it. The matter was fifty years overdue.

After some heated discussions with the manager of the Paris office later that day, research was started into the details of the assignment that had not yet been carried out. Since the old records were not in that office, the disruption of the move was not a problem.

A message was sent through to the client. Profuse apologies for the gross lapse in service started the letter, with a pledge to ensure that the matter was resolved at the end.

Finally a telegram was despatched to the Caracas office, alerting them to the ‘revived’ contract.

 

[november]

Good show! You’re flush with Yankee dollars now.

 

[Heretic]

Following the peace in the summer of 1904, the country moved back into an era of prosperity. The Federal Party as ever maintained a monopoly of power. In spirit and in practice, Gran Colombia was a democracy, but the people were incredulous that there was little alternative to what they had a present.

Rumour had it that the general expansion of the railways involved large quantities of cash ending up in the hands of a few contractors. There was little to support these rumours, but a feeling that was so widespread was hard to shake off.

The general industrialisation meant that the rich factory owners brought in giant profits. The Maimon factory, founded by a poor Catalan newly arrived in the country, had now expanded into a giant enterprise. The latest generation grew fat on the income.

New ventures manufacturing such exotic items as electrical components and even mass-produced automobiles were planned. The giant expenditure involved was no problem thanks to the strength of the Bolivar against the dollar, which stretched the reparations even further.

Little did the government know that events unfolding in France would cause quite an upset.

 

[Heretic]

Esmeralda’s friendship with Esteban Maimon had grown over the past months. From that initial meeting at the evening party, through an autumn of rambles through the falling leaves, they grew to know each other a little more.

For once, neither was concerned about their wealth. Being with another who could lay claim to a great fortune meant that they understood each other’s problems. Few others in the country had grown in such rich families. They had both gained some education abroad, although the universities of Colombia were amongst the best in the world.

A glittering winter was spent down in the Cordillera Blanca. They had stayed at a ski lodge Esmeralda’s father had enjoyed using in his youth, when the slopes were first established. Cold days were spent on the higher slopes, far from the crowd of aristocrats enjoying a break to the best of their means. Occasionally one or the other of them had to attend to some business, but usually the day’s telegrams passed unheeded on the mahogany side table.

The private restaurant car of the Pacific Superliner Express was a favoured haunt on occasional journeys out to the provinces. The black glass and chrome interior sparkled with the latest style, just as Esmeralda’s eyes sparkled as they talked.

And yet, the topic was serious. Since they both had all that they needed, they talked of wider things. Esteban, having grown up as the child of an immigrant, protested that the state of Colombia had grown stale. He knew that his father had been drawn here by the generous nature of the state. And he waxed lyrical about how the warfare and strife over the last decades has stripped that generosity to the bone.

Esmeralda was sometime worried by his apparent anger at the Federalists, the party that had remained at the helm for forty years now. She feared his wealth and his convictions might lead him into bad company, as he joined the disreputable types calling for revolution around every mean coffee-house table.

 

[Heretic]

Esteban’s conversations in lowly coffee houses were not in vain. After securing the support of a number of notable generals, and some mob support, the plan was put into action. Guzman, and a number of other notable Federal Party leaders were ‘arrested’ and ‘assisted’ in leaving the country quickly.

The newspapers of April 16th had only one story; the imposition of Cipriano Castro as the new President. Scrambles took place amongst the elite in every province, as the new political reality became clear. The voters, although alarmed, did not react violently, since the Federal Party’s grip on power was so tight, it never felt like there was a democratic choice.

Indeed, the new President’s approach was to return to the Conservative principles that Paez had established many years before. The world, however, was somewhat different to those days, and Gran Colombia was no longer the magnet for the poor of the world that it once was.

The country, having lost the allegiance of satellite nations from Cuba to Argentina began to be a little more inward looking. Indeed, the first direct line through the Andes from Caracas to Lima opened up the provinces of the interior. Life there was scarcely changed form the beginning of the century.

Also, the decades of financial innovation under the liberal governments ground to a halt. Colombia led the world in many aspects of finance, and the stimulus to further growth was mild.

I n other districts, heavy industry was beginning to be established. The production of automobiles was now joined by the manufacture of tanks for the army. Gran Colombia, having lived by the sword, was equipping itself for a vigorous defence.

 

[Heretic]

Lionel Rothschild generally tried to avoid intimate contact with his own office. They were a very good team, and worked very hard to ensure that his money multiplied madly. Generally, he left well alone, and admired the neat rows of zeros on the balance sheets.

Unfortunately, his personal secretary had insisted that this matter was too urgent. Apparently some of his grandfather’s business had been left unfinished.

“So, you see, having now returned to the investigation, Pinkerton’s contacted us to say that all of the original evidence seems to have been destroyed, and so your family can no longer be compromised…”
“Which means?”

“It means that the somewhat unorthodox loans your grandfather made can now be called in.”
“Sorry, what was so unorthodox?”

“The lack of security (apart from the matter of the photographs, which is of course now complete) and also, the interest rate.”
“What can be so odd about the interest rate?”

“It was, ahem, zero percent.”
“Zero? Ridiculous!”

“Sadly sir, we can only call in the original value of the loans – there may also be the complication of the recent coup, but the contacts were quite widely worded, and the present government will be compelled to comply.”
“So call it in then, how much is it anyway?”

“Well, half a million, although if only we could backdate the interest, it would be considerably more.”
“Oh, please get on with it, and can you ensure that I do not receive any calls this afternoon?”

 

[Rensslaer]

Miguel DeVita wrestled with the keys of the typewriter, a device whose operation was not helped by the heat and humidity in the cramped corner of the Ministry of Defence where he worked. The report would be on the desk of the under-minister tomorrow morning, and possibly even read to the great Guzman later that day. Although whether the minister could be troubled with the effects of supplies standardisation, nobody knew.

With a well practised flick of the wrist, Guzman sent the latest of the reports sailing into the bin in the corner of the office.

“These bureaucrats! Who do they think I am? I have time for this? Pah!

Heretic, I adore your sense of humor!

Rensslaer

p.s. (edit) All right, I've finally caught up to the end! Interesting last few years, here. Revolution and a mysterious letter. Kind of sad how things seem to be turning out. Is there relief to be had???

Renss

 

[Heretic]

President Castro was unable to contend the Rothschild’s claim in the Colombian courts, and was forced to pay out £500,000 from the national coffers. Gran Colombia was mercifully quite prosperous, and the dent in the balance sheet was outweighed by the dent in Castro’s standing.

Since the President had been installed in a coup, his influential supporters seemed to melt away like the morning mist. As the months went by, he was forced to grant more concessions to the houses of parliament. Eventually, the democratic process was to be restored.

With the growth in the heavy armaments industry, and new developments in armoured vehicles, war was never far from the public imagination. Some roadside pulpits sprung up, with speakers bemoaning Gran Colombia’s loss of dominance in the American Federation.

The need to keep a potent military force was strong. Whilst Gran Colombia enjoyed considerable advantages in terms of naval warfare over most nations, the British were still unequalled. The latest batch of vessels to be put into construction would dwarf all those that had gone before. The program of construction was very ambitious.

News reached the country of further upheavals in the Germanies, as the Scandinavian Union battled for land south of Holstein. The Tsar acted to support the Scandinavians, and widespread protest throughout Germany followed.

The great need throughout the country for people to staff the factories meant that many traditional occupations were dying out. So few men still worked the field it was necessary to import great quantities of grain and Argentinean beef. Even so, some factory operators experimented with the radical step of employing more women.

With their employment, women found they had more income, and demanded a shift in their standing in society. Only a few were involved in active protest, but the impact on a society dominated by machismo could not be overlooked.

 

[Heretic]

Rensslaer,

Glad you noticed that one - there are a few more items that relate back & forward in the story... Not sure which mysterious letter, but I think the previous post may have explained.. All of the thing about the blackmail, photographs, pinkerton's etc. is because I 'donated' venezuela a little money very early in the game, since this was always a 'fun' game. To even things out, I editted out a larger sum of cash later on - and had the extra revolution which unfortunately lost the satellites..

Heretic

 

[Heretic]

To: Agent y

Report of 3rd May 1913

The situation here in the Rhur is becoming very serious. Following the fierce attack of the Scandinavian Union against the North German Federation, the whole national landscape here in Germany is very uncertain.

As you know, the Swedes and Danes arrived in force against the previously strongly pacifist Federation. That country had never really fielded a standing army, looking to the Prussians for protection, and concentrating on trade. They had also lost much land to the armies of Bavaria some years before. The towns and cities of northern Germany were occupied by generally well-behaved troops, although numerous incidents of looting and rapine were reported.

Our report at the start of March detailed the agreement reached. The Scandinavians brought the Federation under their control, also claiming large swathes of land. For the support that the Tsar gave, the lands bordering the Netherlands were his prize. The Tsar therefore now enjoys an advanced port almost on the North Sea.

This development was met with great alarm in capitals across Europe, as I understand our agents ‘n’ and ‘r’ have reported. Indeed, the consensus is that the balance of power is now seriously skewed. Russia has always been a great industrial nation, and all the peoples of Europe are used to buying Russian goods. For this dominance to now shift into the affairs of other nations is seen as very serious.

So much so, that I can now bring you reports from within various embassies that the general alliance of Prussia and Austria, supported by some independent states are readying for war with Russia. The battle will indeed be widespread, as the Russians have shown no inclination to compromise.

Reports of the strength of the various armies are conflicting, but the devastation of modern war unleashed from the Baltic to the Black Sea will be great. I give notice that should the situation here become untenable, I may execute plan ‘ostrich’ until further notice.

Attached is a brief outline of the capabilities of the various nations understood to be about to engage in general war.

Agent ‘d’

 

[Heretic]

Agent ‘d’ had good sources of information, and war between Russia and the Germanic nations came to pass in the early summer of 1913, as the Tsar declared war on Austria. Up and down the continent rallies were held and festivals to see the troops off to the front. Many German people though that this would be a good chance to give the Russkies a thrashing, and perhaps gain a little land in Poland.

However, since the Austrians were now thoroughly entangled in a defensive line far to the east, a rough coalition of nations led under joint command of the French and the Sardinians also declared war. They wanted to occupy some of the territories in the Italian Alps that the Piedmontese laid claim to. The coalition was joined by the Ottomans, who had dragged up a series of old border disputes amongst the Balkans.

As a cruel blow to the Tsar, the Scandinavians switched sides, and joined the central powers. Although Swede and Russian had acted alongside one another in the attack on northern Germany, they were uneasy bedfellows.

The only premier power in Europe that did not become involved in the general mayhem was Britain. They say that their navy was without equal, and so British soil should never be under threat. Indeed, the only navy that would soon field ships of comparable power to the British was that of Gran Colombia.

It is not easy to conceal the construction of giant ships. Somewhere along the line, British spies must have discovered what was going on in the shipyards. The fleet had not yet put to water, but it had the potential to usurp the British dominance.

 

[Rensslaer]

The only premier power in Europe that did not become involved in the general mayhem was Britain. They say that their navy was without equal, and so British soil should never be under threat. Indeed, the only navy that would soon field ships of comparable power to the British was that of Gran Colombia.

It is not easy to conceal the construction of giant ships. Somewhere along the line, British spies must have discovered what was going on in the shipyards. The fleet had not yet put to water, but it had the potential to usurp the British dominance.

Watch out! Jackie Fisher's coming to get you!

That's quite a war in Europe.

Rensslaer

 

[Heretic]

As armies clashed across Europe, and the Russians advanced across Poland and Belarus, Gran Colombia found that it would not be left out of the general conflict:

This was a naked act of aggression from the military superpower of the world. The army and navy of the UK were about four times the size of the next largest power. Gran Colombia had pursued no claim on the lands of the UK, but, as with the USA, they were prepared to defend themselves vigoroiusly.

For many years the UK had occupied land in Guyana, and the small force there marched towards Barracas. The 6th Army rapidly moved into a defensive position, awaiting reinforcements.

The initial plan to secure the country involved actions against all of the UK’s holdings in the Carribbean. The standing fleets were put to sea, with the regular army aboard. Manuals on landing in hostile territory compiled at the time of the war with the USA were dusted off.

General Otero led the combined 3rd and 5th Armies in an assault on Georgetown, the centre of the colonial administration in the region. The thin garrison were unable to prevent them from landing and forming up. The great guns of the fleet acted to reduce the aging fortification to rubble.

The town was taken relatively quickly, and the 3rd Army was able to move swiftly inland. The tattered remnants of the British defenders were pursued wherever they hid. Apparently the UK had not yet been able to send out any additional divisions to secure the area.

Meanwhile, out in the seas, the 1st and 2nd Armies began to snatch various island territories from British control. Defences were minimal, and the occupations had little disruptive effect on the natives.

 

[Heretic]

Macasaet amá ni Ontog slowly lowered his binoculars, and then ducked down from the observation turret. The hatch shut with a firm clang. A few barked orders to the driver, side gunners and navigator, and the ‘Armadillo Mk IV’ roared into life.

The terrain was fairly open, and sandy, providing good traction for the heavy tracks. How much better it was than their training grounds back in Mindanao. For weeks they had practised advances through scrub or jungle. Every day some breakdown would occur due to damp or vegetation being entangled in the machine. But not here, not under the strong Australian sun.

Landing had been simple, as there were acres of beach, and few defenders. However, as they approached the city, problems with small defensive groups holed up in shacks and gullys were becoming more frequent.

News on the wire from the mainland was good. Apparently the Venezuelan regiments were still able to put up a good fight, even though they were not equipped with the latest technology.

Word had it that the main Australian fleet had been out of port when the navy of Gran Colombia arrived. However, due to their small size, when they were eventually tracked down on the open seas, they would surely not last long.

Macasaet had heard that his brother Alfaro had been promoted, and was in line to lead the attack on the neighbouring island. Military communications restrictions meant that he could not send a message through, but perhaps one day they would meet again.

Everybody in the tank was momentarily deafened as the port gun fired off a round. The smoke and vibration took a little while to die down.

“What was that? Why did you shoot?”
“Oh, there was a strange looking man out there – may be a new anti-gas suit..”

“Did you get him?”
“No, I think he hopped off..”

“Hopped?”
“Well I think it was a man….”

 

[Heretic]

To: Agent y

Report of 3rd March 1914

Since my previous series of communications, matters have become considerably worse here. The frequent attentions of the occupying French army have brought the local population into open revolt. As a result, several of the nearby residential districts have been shelled repeatedly. It is difficult for anyone not present to imaging the consequences.

Families loose young and old indiscriminately. Seldom an hour goes by when some cry of deep despair is heard from a woman, or even a man. Supplies of basic foods are hard to come by, and most of the population now seems to be clad in ragged clothes. If we were further behind the lines, things may be better, although the French are blocking most imports to ensure that their nationals are treated better than the population in the occupied territories.

The Germans have not only lost a little ground in the west, but also considerable land in the east. Reports from Konigsberg are that the Russians have an even lower regard for civilians than the French did.

Astoundingly, the Austrians appear to be faring even worse. Apparently the Russian 7th and 9th Front Armies, led by General Alexi Brusilov have executed a wide pincer movement in the Carpathian mountains, trapping large advance sections of the Austrian army. Meanwhile, they have lost the Dalmatian coast to the Ottomans, a matter of great embarrassment.

Finally, a second large Austrian army is tied up in the siege of Turin, and in defensive positions across Piedmonte. This would appear to be progress, were in not for the fact that the armies of Sardinia-Piedmeonte have liberated Milan, and even now are advancing up the Trento valley. Rumours suggest that there is a French relief force heading to Turin.

Across the continent, basic regard for human dignity seems to be in scant supply. Long may the brave Admirals of the navy of Gran Colombia deliver us from ever having to suffer this on our own soil.

Agent ‘d’

 

[Heretic]

Agent d was again correct in the general report of the progress of the war. France managed to annex Baden in June, further increasing it’s holdings in southern Germany.

With the Australian army completely put to rout, Filipino armies spread out to occupy most of the east coast. Landings in the west and north of Australia meant that the whole continent was close to being under Colombian control.

Oddly, the mighty navy of the UK was little in evidence. For some reason, the admirals did not regard Gran Colombia as a serious threat. At least, that is what the rag tag and ageing fleet that they dispatched seemed to suggest.

Naturally, the fleet soon found a new harbour deep at the bottom of the ocean. Diplomatic envoys were sent through, requesting that the UK cede its various Carribbean possessions, but they seemed to be unwilling to negotiate.

 

[Heretic]

As the year dragged on, representative of the Australian administration started to sue for peace with the Colombians. They offered control over swathes of their land, but their approaches were met with a blank refusal – peace would only be agreed with the British, not their lap-dogs.

At last the new fleet of ‘Bolivar’ class dreadnoughts were put to sail. These ships, that finally challenged the UK’s naval supremacy could now act in the water. The combat group was a novel formation for the navy, being composed of a single class of ship, rather than a mixed fleet as before.

Nuisance attacks against the UK’s African possessions were also authorised. The old cavalry regiments had at last found a role on modern warfare, far from the real fields of battle.

The ‘Bolivar’ squadron found itself in action rather closer to home that previously planned. The opposition was feeble, and the outcome of the battle never in doubt. The fleet could therefore continue on it’s reconnaissance mission towards England.

To help further in gaining parity at sea, further fleets of heavy ships were ordered, although the conflict would need to continue for some time if they were to see service against the Royal Navy.