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

[Rensslaer]

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….”

Oh, you remind me of my favorite lines from the comic movie "1941":

General: Soldier, what are you firing at?
Soldier: Umm... Well, whatever he's firing at...

and...

General: And how do you know you sunk the submarine?
Soldier: Well.... it went down, sir!

Rensslaer

p.s. Oh, btw... Is that the Great Krakovian Empire I see building in Central Europe??? Interesting!

 

[Heretic]

Lt-Commander Algernon Fotherington-Smythe gently placed his bowler hat on the hatstand, and took the regular five measured steps towards his desk. As a part of the great colonial administration, he took great care in all that he did.

The reports were the usual slew of items regarding recalcitrant farmers, unruly natives and tedious border disputes. To top it all, the latest shipment from the mines had gone astray, and the ‘Boer Council’ appeared to be getting support from the opposition in Parliament.

To match that, the upstart South Americans had been using some decidedly unusual tactics out in the Dominions. Apparently they had perfected some sort of heavily armoured vehicle that carried artillery of sorts. Most irregular. Anyhow, with both Wellington and Canberra now under foreign control, the ‘young lions’ were even now yelping for protection.

As for the continent, well, the Russians seemed content after their subjugation of Austria, annexions in the heart of Germany, and gain of Bavaria as a satellite state. Word had it that Her Majesty’s Government would not tolerate their actions for long.

Messages had been coming in at an almost weekly basis that the Colombians would settle for peace if the Guyanan colonies were handed over to their control. To date, the minister had insisted that no agreement on that basis was possible.

Algernon pondered; the South African insurrection, troubles with the fleet patrolling the pacific colonies, and the Colombians wishing to settle for peace. How could these things fit together? A plan began to form, and he set an appointment to discuss it with the various ministers who would need to clear it. Three birds with one stone if it worked!

 

[Heretic]

Macasaet amá ni Ontog was pleased to be heading back home. The transport ship had been at sea for a couple of days now, with the warm sea air washing away the dust of their time in Australia. A long period of rest and relaxation was surely ahead. Macaset has heard that some of the regiments were being deployed out to guard duties deep in the Pacific. What a drag that would be; stuck out in the middle of the deep blue, far from family and friends.

The coming of peace had been unexpected. As the Tank Corps slogged up the west coast of Australia, they had been called to a sudden halt. Even more unexpected was the news that control of South Africa had been handed over to Gran Colombia. Apparently, the lawmakers back in Caracas had been unwilling to administer it directly, so a separate state had been formed.

Why couldn’t they do that with the Philippines? After all, great progress had been made in organisation, and the army of the Philippines contained some of the most advanced regiments in the empire. The day would come, but for now, life was not too hard.

A message had come though from Alfaro that the action in Wellington had come off smoothly. What good news to hear that he had not been harmed. All that was left to worry about was eating the horrendous slop that the galley served up.

 

[Heretic]

Oh, Rensslaer,
since you seem to be my main (or perhaps only most vocal) reader, and thoughts on what should be done next?
I have achieved my initial aims, and due to badboy, nobody in Europe wants me to help them with their war.
After the frankly odd peace offer from the UK, I'm not certain what I could do next in the (limited time)

Heretic

 

[Heretic]

“See me at 16 East Dock Road, Georgetown on Thursday 4pm, I have a big surprise for you”

The note was short being direct and mysterious. Esteban could not resist following it up. To see Esmeralda was by itself a treat, but she also promised a surprise. By cancelling a trivial meeting, and making a few other arrangements, the afternoon later in the week was quickly made free.

Over the next couple of days, Esteban thought a lot about the upcoming rendezvous. Certainly he was looking forward to it, but also he worried. They had clearly drifted apart some years ago, as the war clamped down on everybody’s life. Unlike the old days, the thought of rustling up a band, a brace of cases of champagne and a few dozen like minded friends was a little far-fetched. The fighting had mostly taken place far away, but the effects were still felt. Also, the various European markets were still in poor shape, and exporting was a little more challenging.

The fast new express train down the coast was a marvel, running through new cuttings and over new bridges. The old tracks laid down by the British had been of the wrong gauge, and extensive work had been needed to meld the new province into the structures of Gran Colombia.

Esteban found a taxi quickly, which took him through the faded streets of Georgetown. The whole place looked like it had been thrown up sometime back in the 1870’s and barely received a lick of paint since. Such were the vagaries of empire. Tipping the driver, Esteban stepped out of the taxi into a shallow puddle, slick with a sheen of oil.

“I knew you would come.” Came a voice from the roadside.
Esteban’s heart leapt – he had not thought she would be waiting.
“How could I ignore your summons? Anyway, what is it you need to show me?”

Esmeralda smiled, a smile that was sweet, but with an edge of cunning. She stepped along the pavement to a small door let into the giant warehouse door that formed the front of number 16.
“I snapped up a bargain.”
“You brought me here to tell me about your shopping trip?”

“No, silly, what kind of bargain could keep me busy for three years? Not just a stupid dress.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, maybe you really have changed.”
Now the smile faded, and Esmeralda shot him a firm look.

“No, I’m joking. Of course it must be something more than that. Anyway, I thought I was the clothes expert around here. How did you new furniture designs go, anyway?”
“Oh, I left them to the works, they know what to do. Look, this is my project, this is the future!”
They had stepped inside, and with a dramatic flick, Esmeralda turned on the lights in the warehouse. Row after row of lights flickered and snapped into action. Esteban gasped. In the heart of the warehouse stood a beautiful new aeroplane, glistening and streamlined with a neat row of windows.

 

[Heretic]

The mutters and grumbling from members of the opposition took a while to die down. The speaking minister cleared his throat again.

“So we offer to these people a chance to tend to their own affairs. L ocal administration will be maintained for as long as necessary to enable an orderly handover. No longer will Gran Colombia care for the leavings of another Empire’s colonies, but we will provide leadership by example.”

The bill was indeed unusual, and the opposition had every right to grumble. As part of the peace settlement with Spain back in 1895, some of the west African coast had fallen under Venezuelan rule. This was never sought for, and now, steps were taken to return it to local control. Spain apparently still asserted authority over vast swathes of the desert interior, but it would do them little good.

"Gentlemen, please not that we will not be altogether abandonning the coast, since we aim to retain a strategic port at Nouachott."

“We can also declare that negotiations are now nearing completion to transfer control of the Adaman Isalands to the principality of Atjeh. This is on of the few states locally that has not fallen under the oppressive colonial rule. After our initial inspections, we are satisfied that the local populace will be fairly treated. Indeed, since our sweep to flush out the last of the British from the various judiciaries and so forth, we would venture that conditions have improved. Nevertheless, we wish to have no part in administering lands in the Indian Ocean.”

Heckling and abuse followed, but clearly the deal had now been completed. Gran Colombia no longer wished to be shepherd to the poor of the world.

 

[Heretic]

The tank rumbled up the ramp onto the load bed of the heavy truck. How much easier it had been, disembarking in Antifamogusta, where heavy dockside cranes had whisked the machines onto waiting railcars. Macasaet was unfamiliar with all these huge modern machines, but the difference they made was clear.

Orders had come through the previous day. They were to make haste to the front lines, to support the 2nd Tank Corps which had led the way. The defenders were not numerous, and poorly armed, but the extra weight of the attack would break them sooner.

Fighting in these hills and jungles was more like being at home. None of this scorching desert or incessant dust. Surely, with the advantages the Colombian army had, this campaign would be short.

One of the loaders had mentioned that years back, Colombia had attacked Paraguay before. That had been a pushover too. The only thing that took the time was the poor roads in this country. Now if only the Philippine engineer corps had been brought along, the roads could be put into decent shape in no time.

As Macasaet had forseen, eventual victory for Colombia was indeed swift:

 

[Heretic]

So where shall we take the first in-ter-national flights to?”
“In-ter-national?” Esteban lazily copied Esmeralda’s drawl.

“Of course! We need to take money off all those souls out there in need of Colombian high technology and travel services, don’t we?”
“Ach, well the embargo means that the US is out, although the old dominions of Cuba and Honduras seem pretty good.”

“Oh, silly, they don’t count, they were part of the empire once.”
“Well, with staging posts at Manaus, Natal and Nouakchott we could make Lisbon. From there, you could cover the Mediterranean – Sardinia and Austria have plenty of businessmen.”

“How grand, you could even stage in the Bosporus to reach the Crimea!”
“We can’t go too far though, northern Europe is still pretty ugly right now.”

The flying boat service would be truly revolutionary, damaging the international cruiser trade, and making the world a smaller place. The service was another first for Gran Colombia, and the profits to it’s creators were vast.

 

[Rensslaer]

Heretic,

Thank you for noticing my interest, but I know there are plenty of other people watching. You've developed a very interesting AAR, to be commended, as it has been by many! Thank you for asking my advice, though I don't know that I'm the best one to ask.

Now, if I were an overgrown Latin American empire looking to expand, where would I wish to be???

Well, you've developed quite a naval presence -- you have become a pre-eminent maritime power. So I'd think you might want a "sun never sets" colonial empire to act as a market for your goods.

How's Africa looking these days? Any room there? Playing as Prussia, I've attempted to have little bit of land every so often so my ships could stop and coal/fuel up, and so I could use them as holding places for my troops on international missions.

I'll look forward to seeing what you decide.

Oh, and BTW I'm a HUGE fan of flying boats, so you take those guys all over!

Rensslaer

 

[Heretic]

To: Agent y

Report of 19th March 1918

I have managed to cross the lines through into British held territory that is formally under control of the Tsar, and set up a temporary base in Oldenburg. The situation in this sorry town is frankly representative of the shocking warfare that has plagued these lands for the past six years.

The general populace have frankly lost track of whose army marched past most recently, who is technically in charge of them, and who they are supposed to be supporting.

The French have made a brave counter attack, landing a little further up the coast from here, and spreading out to control much of the land southwest of Hamburg. That city is still held strongly by the United Scandinavian army. Agent ‘n-x’ suggests that the residents of the city are starting to loose patience with their new masters. Guards are posted at every street market, and by most official buildings. The inhabitants do not, however, see the French as their saviours, simply another marauding army, bringing trucks, dirt and disreputable behaviour.

An outspoken preacher called for a return to the old days of peace and prosperity under the North German Federation. Little does the fool realise that the complete lack of a military was the cause of the downfall of that power. The Federation is still intact, as a talking shop under strict control of Copenhagen. They talk about the lands lost to the Kaiser of Germany, about those lost to Bavaria, and very quietly, about the swathes of land to the north.

Further south, the other Russian holdings stretch from Weimar to Gotha. These were won earlier on in the war, in the ‘Settlement’ of 1916. Local governors have been imposed, and regiments of Kazaks are stationed in most provincial towns. The idea is that the soldiery have nothing in common with the locals, and so repression will be easier. The Russians have termed the lands ‘Western Bohemia’ and ‘Eastern Bohemia’ in order to try to hide the idea that the lands were once claimed by the Kaiser.

Western and Eastern Bohemia are an odd amalgamation of some of the remaining German principalities, lands snatched from Bavaria and those gained from the Austrian empire. Bavaria itself now lies firmly under Russian control, effectively giving Russia a border with France! The entente between the French and Russian governments, is however sufficient to prevent this from being a cause of alarm. It is no wonder that King George of Great Britain would not tolerate the Tsar’s further expansion.

To the east, agent ‘r’ has managed to send back some reports from Danzig, which is in the strangest position. Whilst the Tsar came to a general agreement with Austria, Bavaria, Germany, and the German princes, the minute state of Krakow did not. Krakow is in all respects no more than an outpost of Russian foreign policy. The Russian army continues to operate deep inside Germany, under nominal control of the Council of Krakow.

How this fiction can continue for so long would be a mystery, were the position of the Bavarian army not even more disturbing. Before I moved north, I was able to confirm that the main weight of troops that advanced (unsuccessfully) towards Paris were indeed Bavarian. They had been operating under German control for some years. Since the ‘Settlement’ of 1916, they have remained deep within French borders. Diplomatic please from France to the Tsar to reign in this aberration appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

You should have reports from other agents about the situation within Russia proper. From my observations of the docks, the British have been shipping numerous divisions of infantry through to the Baltic. It may be some years yet before they have committed their full force to the region, given the number of available troops.

It is unclear whether there are any useful opportunities for our country in this general onslaught. I await your further instructions, and will report as necessary.

Agent ‘d’

 

[unmerged(20908)]

A rather... peculiar fate for the germans. Crushed, steamrolled, squashed and then ironed. Ohwell, that is life and Victoria.

 

[Heretic]

To: Agent d

Instructions of: September 2nd 1918

We now require you to make your way east, by whichever route you deem will minimise your chances of detection. Your knowledge of the various border controls and effectiveness of local policing should give you a good basis for the choice of route.

We suggest that the continuing colonial war between the French and the Dutch may make those borders unsuitable. The continuing state of war between Britain and Russia has led to rigorous control by the British of all shipping through the North Sea and the Baltic, so a land route is preferable. Similarly, the continuing hostile stance of the Scandinavian union towards all German nations would suggest that a southerly route would be preferable.

You should meet with Agent ‘r’ who is presently establishing a new base in Raciborz. The agent will then brief you fully on the situation in Krakow following the peace with Germany.

Your excellent report on the new border controls established by the French along the northern Rhine, and indeed to the east has been noted.

We wish you to liaise with Agent ‘r’ and then compile a proposal for deep reconnaissance in Russia. Negotiations are ongoing with the Russian embassy, and we have strong hopes for future collaboration.

For the present, however, we wish you to confirm the outrageous propaganda that has been emanating from various British newspapers. Whilst we are well aware of British supremacy at sea, the concept that the Tsar is now operating a provisional government in Nizny Novgorod, and that ‘Tommies’ are now approaching Moscow is deeply alarming.

We await your report.

Agent ‘y’

 

[Heretic]

1st Annual Report (Summary)

Imperial Airlines of Gran’ Colombia Incorporated (IAGC Inc.)

We are pleased to announce the first regular services through to France, and also to South Africa. These have been made possible through the kind co-operation of the Moroccan government and the Portuguese Colonial administration.

Profits from regular scheduled flights linking key cities in the mainland remain strong. Establishment of reception facilities on riverside stations in cities such as La Paz has allowed us to compete effectively with the State Railways. Naturally, the speed of the journey is an improvement over the train, although at the moment are not able to compete in terms of dining on board due to weight restrictions.

Connections through to islands across the Caribbean are at the moment limited by the political situation. Cuba naturally remains the principal point of call due to the well developed tour facilities on the island. Haiti is an emerging market, which should improve in profitability as larger hotels are constructed.

Charter flights to the various Colombian dependencies across the Pacific are still being evaluated. The distances remain an obstacle, as is the real demand for such travel. Finally, the control of many of the intermediate islands by the USA complicates the issue. Tariff barriers remain, and ensure that the destinations will not be profitable for any non-US company.

Flights amongst the Philippine archipelago are also undergoing assessment, permits to establish routes would have to be sought from the Ministry of Colonial Defence. Due to the continuing focus on military activities in this area, routes are not anticipated within the next few years.

Development of a larger seaplane unit continues at our sister company, and testing of the ‘Anastasia’ model is expected to start in the spring of 1919. Introduction of the higher-capacity seaplane will begin on our principal routes from Caracas to Lima, Bogota and Quito. The higher passenger numbers per flight are expected to have a beneficial effect on the revenue.

IAGC Directors
(E & E Maimon)

 

[Rensslaer]

Well, you've developed quite a naval presence -- you have become a pre-eminent maritime power. So I'd think you might want a "sun never sets" colonial empire to act as a market for your goods.

Rensslaer

Oh, never mind!

I just got caught up on a couple more posts and realized that with all that land you took from the UK, you already have this, and are doing quite well with it. Please forgive my embarrassing gaffe.

I'm not sure what to recommend. There's nothing wrong with coasting for a couple final years, I'd guess.

Then again, having not yet looked at your most recent posts, I'm also sure you're not doing that. There's a scheme. I know it!

Rensslaer

 

[Heretic]

Rensslaer,

Thanks for the comments. I have tried playing out the last couple of years a number of times, but I finally got one that I was satisfied with. I tried the coasting option, but it was highly unsatisfying. Also, I need to concentrate on the 'September Challenge' - at my usual rate of play, I will not be finished until at least November. If there are any votes for more, I may stick on the unlimited time patch..

Heretic

 

[Heretic]

Anna-Marie Baronna was understandably nervous. She had previously translated many official documents, but this was the first time she was the principal translator. In addition, the document was of considerable importance. No matter, she needed to take confidence in her linguistic skills, and proceed.

Whilst it was important to remain objective about the subject matter, she could not help being a little exited too. Following the success of the Flores transaction, now Gran Colombia would be paying Russia considerable sums of money for the island of Tombok.

In addition, a worthless set of colonial missions that had been grabbed from the Yanquis some years back would also be handed over. Anna-Marie thought for a moment about that war, and was glad that her father had been demobilised before it had started. The had been back in the last century, when she was only a little girl, and knew only about the little village nestling in the hills. How her horizons had broadened in the intervening years.

With a start she snapped out of the daydream, focussing instead on the knotty legal text of the agreement to transfer sovereignty. Every clause would need to be exact, to make sure that nothing went astray. Even though others had negotiated the agreement, if all went well, then her standing in the department would be improved.

 

[Heretic]

To: Agent ‘y’

Report of 15th April 1919

After carefully removing all traces of my stay in Oldenburg, to avoid possible discovery of my past activities by the British authorities, I was successful in crossing the border to the small West Prussian enclave. Society there is beginning to return to normal, although the years of war have left the place in a dour mood. The French restrict goods entering from the west, and have limited the ability of the Dutch to act as an import point for foreign goods. There is little colour on the streets, and many buildings remain demolished in most parts of Munster.

I managed to obtain a set of identity documents to allow me to pass as a subject of the Kaiser. The poor wretch who previously used them has no need for them any more. The remains were disposed of following standard policy.

Rail travel through the (increasingly poorly named) North German Federation remains possible, although a visa needs to be obtained to transit, and the trains are strictly monitored. In Berlin, I again obtained a new identity, and proceeded to meet with agent ‘r’. Separate reports confirming the serious situation in the Russian Empire should have reached you from Agent ‘r’.

Germany has now become a reasonably good place for me to set up a new base. All over the country, people have been displaced, and are moving about. Also, due to the number of wrecked factories and homes, there is a considerable amount of clearance and rebuilding underway. Finally, with the budget of the Reich somewhat stretched, the police force are not as effective as they once were. All of these factors make it simple to obtain and establish a new identity without too much intrusion from inquisitive people.

The final reason that I will not be able to return to Oldenburg is that I understand the Scandinavian Union is massing considerable forces on their southern border. They are clearly no longer satisfied with the borders agreed only six years ago. Given the relative size of the armies of the two combatants, only one result is possible. Also, the Scandinavians appear to have calculated that Germany has no stomach for war at the moment, and will not come to their defence.

I intend to establish a forward observation position in Erfurt, but fall back to Berlin at any sign of trouble.

Agent ‘d’

 

[Heretic]

Heh heh.
Every time I pop another post up, I get 50 extra 'reads' and no extra comments - it's nice to see you are all shocked..

Heretic

 

[Heretic]

Make that 100 extra reads & no comment.
Oh well, why don't I throw you all a bone....

Heretic

 

[Heretic]

Thorough preparation is usually the key to success. Early and strong strikes can be key in delivering results quickly. The navy of Gran’ Colombia was used to good effect providing a cordon around some parts of the Dutch East Indes. In support of the naval action, communications were sent through to the Hague, indicating that the Netherlands should now consider themselves to be at war.

The East Indies were one matter, the Dutch colonies in Guyana another. A two pronged attack was planned to ensure that the land could be taken as quickly as possible. Armies advanced along the coast, as well as direct into the interior. Support from the ‘Constantina’ flotilla ensured that reinforcements from Holland would never arrive.

The Dutch called upon their only allies, the Belgians for assistance, for the little good that it would do them. Fleets were despatched to blockade both countries, and eliminate their ability to deploy armies abroad.

The armies operating in the East Indies were solely of Philippine origin. The various Tank Corps and armies of veterans from the ‘War of the Americas’ back at the start of the century formed the backbone of this force. It had a degree of autonomy from the regular army, having it’s own planning and logistics corps, and a separate chain of command.

The plan of attack had, indeed been devised by the Philippine high command, and was approved by Caracas largely because there were few opportunities for loss of Venezuelan life. The reward was that any new islands gained in the peace would be administered from Manila rather than Caracas.