Does Stukov still reside in the white house? If so has he redecorated it Soviet style?
Good update, maybe a former general can hold his own against Stukov
Good update, maybe a former general can hold his own against Stukov
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Hey, TC Pilot! Your AAR won both the Best Narrative AAR and Best Character in an AAR in the AARland Choice AwAARds - 2005 Q3! Congratulations! Now, go on and make your acceptance speech there!
And the next update should be due any day now, right?
And the next update should be due any day now, right?
Morpheus506: Boogie, boogie, boogie!
Fiftypence: I know
Darks63: Oh, the usual.
BBBD: Yeah, he still lives in the White House, though the stereotypical communist symbols are absent, with the whole capitalist thing plus never being a communist in the first place getting in the way.
And no, I doubt a former general like Sickles can do much better than Harrison or Taylor did.
anonymous4401: You sure know how to make a fellow guilty about not writing
---------------------------------------------
The Turning Point: Slavery
For centuries, ever since the long-forgotten days of indentured servitude, slavery had been the dominant form of labor in the Southern states of the country. Originally a solution to supply a steady stream of obedient and life-long labor to the plantation-oriented agrarian South, slavery had evolved into an integral and vitally important part of the Southern culture and economy. Slavery, as much as cotton, was a way of life.
Over the many, many years, the slaves, entirely of African descent, and deluded many Southerners into a belief that their social status was a result of a racial inferiority that was being exploited by the dominant European colonists, thus providing, perhaps only convincingly to themselves, a justification for what many more argued was a fundamental violation of the Christian faith and the founding ideals of the United States. But it had also proved a means to keeping the social and economic order intact. The vast majority of the wealth and land of the South was owned by an elite class of aristocrats. In comparison, the majority of the white population was, in fact, exceedingly poor, owned little or no land, and were poorly educated and living in near-squalor. Most were subsistence farmers that had virtually no hope of rising up the social ladder to higher status. With no true middle class to act as a buffer zone, the poor would naturally grow envious and then resentful of the aristocrats' wealth and seek to attain equality. Slaves, however, offered a step lower on the social totem-pole that whites were safely protected from. No matter what happened, the poor could be comforted by their "superiority", racially and socially, over the slaves.
And as the abolitionist spirit of the North steadily grew, the South grew more and more apprehensive. The North, and thus, the anti-slavery movement, was growing increasingly more powerful and popular throughout the early and mid-19th century, almost descending into civil war over the election of Lincoln. But by then, the South, in their agrarian lives, depending simply too much on the North to sustain them.
With the South made impotent through self-realization of their own inherent weaknesses, the Republican President Lincoln and his majority Republican Party sought to curtail slavery. In 1862, the first steps were made by banning the sale and auctioning of slaves in the District of Columbia. It was a small step that the North approved and the South grumbled over. Lincoln, never an abolitionist, and accepting the Constitutional right of the Southern states to own slaves, saw it politically untenable and unwise to press any issue of emancipation. His party was too weak and too young to risk itself in the South, where it already had no support.
But during the Hamlin Administration, another wave of abolitionism swept through the federal government. Immigrants and land-hungry Yankees, lured away from the booming cities and industrial centers of the east, swarmed West across the Great Plains and into Canada. Those that went opposed slavery or simply did not support it, and thus as these territories became states, the numbers of 'free soil' states grew. Even Texas, originally a republic with slaves, became free. The South was now becoming more and more isolated.
The final blow came as President Sickles took office. His newly restored party had lost its Southern supporters already, and was careful not to fall again to the Republicans. To hopefully ensure the dominance of the Democrats in the foreseeable future, the Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike, joined together to end the nation's "Peculiar Institution". On May 19th, 1869, Congress officially passed the 13th Amendment, ending the practice of slavery in the country forthwith. The news was greeted with joyous celebration in the North and West and somber resignation in the South. It was the end of an era, whether for good or ill, and the Democrats made sure to capitalize on it to the fullest. Not only would they can significant support from the newly freed slaves, but abolitionists from the Republican Party would assuredly switch parties.
On this momentous occasion, Theodore Stucon, son of the former President Stucon, spoke before Congress, stirring the gathered members with his words.
Fiftypence: I know
Darks63: Oh, the usual.
BBBD: Yeah, he still lives in the White House, though the stereotypical communist symbols are absent, with the whole capitalist thing plus never being a communist in the first place getting in the way.
And no, I doubt a former general like Sickles can do much better than Harrison or Taylor did.
anonymous4401: You sure know how to make a fellow guilty about not writing
---------------------------------------------
The Turning Point: Slavery
For centuries, ever since the long-forgotten days of indentured servitude, slavery had been the dominant form of labor in the Southern states of the country. Originally a solution to supply a steady stream of obedient and life-long labor to the plantation-oriented agrarian South, slavery had evolved into an integral and vitally important part of the Southern culture and economy. Slavery, as much as cotton, was a way of life.
Over the many, many years, the slaves, entirely of African descent, and deluded many Southerners into a belief that their social status was a result of a racial inferiority that was being exploited by the dominant European colonists, thus providing, perhaps only convincingly to themselves, a justification for what many more argued was a fundamental violation of the Christian faith and the founding ideals of the United States. But it had also proved a means to keeping the social and economic order intact. The vast majority of the wealth and land of the South was owned by an elite class of aristocrats. In comparison, the majority of the white population was, in fact, exceedingly poor, owned little or no land, and were poorly educated and living in near-squalor. Most were subsistence farmers that had virtually no hope of rising up the social ladder to higher status. With no true middle class to act as a buffer zone, the poor would naturally grow envious and then resentful of the aristocrats' wealth and seek to attain equality. Slaves, however, offered a step lower on the social totem-pole that whites were safely protected from. No matter what happened, the poor could be comforted by their "superiority", racially and socially, over the slaves.
And as the abolitionist spirit of the North steadily grew, the South grew more and more apprehensive. The North, and thus, the anti-slavery movement, was growing increasingly more powerful and popular throughout the early and mid-19th century, almost descending into civil war over the election of Lincoln. But by then, the South, in their agrarian lives, depending simply too much on the North to sustain them.
With the South made impotent through self-realization of their own inherent weaknesses, the Republican President Lincoln and his majority Republican Party sought to curtail slavery. In 1862, the first steps were made by banning the sale and auctioning of slaves in the District of Columbia. It was a small step that the North approved and the South grumbled over. Lincoln, never an abolitionist, and accepting the Constitutional right of the Southern states to own slaves, saw it politically untenable and unwise to press any issue of emancipation. His party was too weak and too young to risk itself in the South, where it already had no support.
But during the Hamlin Administration, another wave of abolitionism swept through the federal government. Immigrants and land-hungry Yankees, lured away from the booming cities and industrial centers of the east, swarmed West across the Great Plains and into Canada. Those that went opposed slavery or simply did not support it, and thus as these territories became states, the numbers of 'free soil' states grew. Even Texas, originally a republic with slaves, became free. The South was now becoming more and more isolated.
The final blow came as President Sickles took office. His newly restored party had lost its Southern supporters already, and was careful not to fall again to the Republicans. To hopefully ensure the dominance of the Democrats in the foreseeable future, the Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike, joined together to end the nation's "Peculiar Institution". On May 19th, 1869, Congress officially passed the 13th Amendment, ending the practice of slavery in the country forthwith. The news was greeted with joyous celebration in the North and West and somber resignation in the South. It was the end of an era, whether for good or ill, and the Democrats made sure to capitalize on it to the fullest. Not only would they can significant support from the newly freed slaves, but abolitionists from the Republican Party would assuredly switch parties.
On this momentous occasion, Theodore Stucon, son of the former President Stucon, spoke before Congress, stirring the gathered members with his words.
President Sickles?!? Yikes! I'm surprised the US peacefully avoided the Civil War...
anonymous4401 said:
VIP's Civil War is so complex it's nearly a miracle if the damn thing fires.
But, this is also an event, incase the ACW doesn't fire. 1876, I think. It fired in my SGF AAR.
A peaceful end to slavery? What will you think of next, TC? Congrats on your double awards. Now we just need to invent a bogus award to give to you every week to keep the updates flowing.
What will you think of next, TC? Congrats on your double awards. Now we just need to invent a bogus award to give to you every week to keep the updates flowing.
Well done on the awards and well done on the update.
It is really hard to fire the civil war isn't it?
It is really hard to fire the civil war isn't it?
Excellent update. I'm interested in how the USA is going to "show the world our strength", to quote Feodor's speech.
anonymous4401: Nope. My war with Britain destroyed the event chain completely.
Mettermrck: Well, when only 7% of the population is Dixie and there's a militarized Federal Army, it's easy
Rocketman: Well, uh, I hope it doesn't fire now, because I used a copy-pasted Emancipation Event from Texas to get rid of slavery here.
Darks63: No, still USA, all of it
VILenin: Could work
BBBD: Very.
Fiftypence/Morpheus506: Wait and see!
---------------------------------------------------
August 30th, 1869
General Robert E. Lee pushed upon the great oak doors of the President's office and stormed in, his boots resounding loudly on the floors. As irate as he was, he composed himself respectably and stood before the President's desk, his jaw set firmly and his eyes hard and steely.
President Sickles was long in recognizing the general's presence, scratching down a few words on a paper. Carefully, he set his pen aside, folded his arms on the single clear space of desk, and looked up at Lee, his gaze even and expectant.
"Is there something I may do for you, General Lee?"
"Please explain this," Lee demanded harshly, holding up a small slip of paper, his gloved fingers clenched around it tightly.
Sickles squinted at the paper as if his eyes were failing him, and a look of realization came over him and he settled back in his chair. "Ahhh...yes, yes, now I remember. That would be my notification to the Army to prepare for war."
"War, sir?" Lee said incredulously. "You've issued orders to make over 180,000 soldiers battle-ready! There's no war!"
Sickles smiled smugly, almost insultingly, to Lee. "General, I assure you by the end of the day, there will be war."
Lee's grip on the Presidential order tightened. The paper buckled under the force. "But why? There's no cause to justify this!"
Sickles closed his eyes and sighed, shaking his head. "My good General Lee, you must realize that the times are changing. We can no longer afford to sit back and wait to be struck. This nation is too great to have it waste away in isolation." Sickles paused, opening his eyes to study Lee. "I, and a great number of my colleagues in the Congress, believe that it is best for America to flex its muscle, to become a power to reckon with."
Lee's jaw shifted back and forth, his teeth grinding as he listened to the President. Slowly, Lee's rational mind returned. He took a slow breath, and with a long exhale he met the President's eyes. "As you order, Mr. President. You'll have your troops ready for war."
Without another word spoken, Lee turned sharply on his heel and marched out of the office. With a great sigh of relief, Sickles slumped back into his chair.
A side door swung open silently and Feodor Stukov stepped through into the office. Sickles turned his gaze to the man, his eyes wide and hopeful.
Feodor nodded. "You performed satisfactorily. While you certainly aren't capable of running this country, you do well enough acting as if you do."
Sickles smiled gratefully. "Thank you, m'lord.
--------------------------------------------------
Alexei Stukov sat slowly down next to Azuren, groaning softly from the ache of his bones. He had been doing too much recently, exerting himself as he would have thirty years earlier. It had taken an exceptional amount of work to manipulate the government into raising another 60,000 soldiers for the newly reformed Army of New England and several flotillas of ships for the navy.
"I don't know how Stalin did it," he muttered to Azuren. At age 68, Stukov was better off than anyone else he could think of who had weilded so much power at his age. His hair had receded greatly and his features softened. Everything seemed to... sag.
"He didn't, love. That's why you're still alive." He turned and smiled lovingly at his wife. She too was showing the signs of age, but time was being merciful to her. Though aged, she still carried herself with grave and dignity and a mind he found utterly beautiful.
He loved her so.
She knew it.
"Feodor's been hard at work on his own little schemes," he said, still smiling.
Azuren nodded, looking away. "Yes, I know. Ever since his speech, it's obvious he has a plan."
Stukov studied her for any hint. "Has he told you anything about it?"
"Of course not," she said slyly.
Recently, the two of them had been spending less time running this continent-spanning empire and more time with their granddaughter. As far as could be told, there were no signs that there was anything wrong with this new addition to the Imperial Family.
Having grandchildren delighted them, and it felt like raising a child all over again for the pair. Feodor and Eleanor had hinted at another child potentially being on the way before long, and had as a result been given more time alone by Alexei and Azuren.
"You know," Azuren broke their contemplative silence, "Feodor expects you don't have much longer to live."
"You think so?" Stukov asked, surprised.
Azuren merely nodded.
"Well, I still have a few good years left in me. We'll make the most of it, won't we, love?"
Azuren smiled and kisses Alexei. "We always do."
Mettermrck: Well, when only 7% of the population is Dixie and there's a militarized Federal Army, it's easy
Rocketman: Well, uh, I hope it doesn't fire now, because I used a copy-pasted Emancipation Event from Texas to get rid of slavery here.
Darks63: No, still USA, all of it
VILenin: Could work
BBBD: Very.
Fiftypence/Morpheus506: Wait and see!
---------------------------------------------------
August 30th, 1869
General Robert E. Lee pushed upon the great oak doors of the President's office and stormed in, his boots resounding loudly on the floors. As irate as he was, he composed himself respectably and stood before the President's desk, his jaw set firmly and his eyes hard and steely.
President Sickles was long in recognizing the general's presence, scratching down a few words on a paper. Carefully, he set his pen aside, folded his arms on the single clear space of desk, and looked up at Lee, his gaze even and expectant.
"Is there something I may do for you, General Lee?"
"Please explain this," Lee demanded harshly, holding up a small slip of paper, his gloved fingers clenched around it tightly.
Sickles squinted at the paper as if his eyes were failing him, and a look of realization came over him and he settled back in his chair. "Ahhh...yes, yes, now I remember. That would be my notification to the Army to prepare for war."
"War, sir?" Lee said incredulously. "You've issued orders to make over 180,000 soldiers battle-ready! There's no war!"
Sickles smiled smugly, almost insultingly, to Lee. "General, I assure you by the end of the day, there will be war."
Lee's grip on the Presidential order tightened. The paper buckled under the force. "But why? There's no cause to justify this!"
Sickles closed his eyes and sighed, shaking his head. "My good General Lee, you must realize that the times are changing. We can no longer afford to sit back and wait to be struck. This nation is too great to have it waste away in isolation." Sickles paused, opening his eyes to study Lee. "I, and a great number of my colleagues in the Congress, believe that it is best for America to flex its muscle, to become a power to reckon with."
Lee's jaw shifted back and forth, his teeth grinding as he listened to the President. Slowly, Lee's rational mind returned. He took a slow breath, and with a long exhale he met the President's eyes. "As you order, Mr. President. You'll have your troops ready for war."
Without another word spoken, Lee turned sharply on his heel and marched out of the office. With a great sigh of relief, Sickles slumped back into his chair.
A side door swung open silently and Feodor Stukov stepped through into the office. Sickles turned his gaze to the man, his eyes wide and hopeful.
Feodor nodded. "You performed satisfactorily. While you certainly aren't capable of running this country, you do well enough acting as if you do."
Sickles smiled gratefully. "Thank you, m'lord.
--------------------------------------------------
Alexei Stukov sat slowly down next to Azuren, groaning softly from the ache of his bones. He had been doing too much recently, exerting himself as he would have thirty years earlier. It had taken an exceptional amount of work to manipulate the government into raising another 60,000 soldiers for the newly reformed Army of New England and several flotillas of ships for the navy.
"I don't know how Stalin did it," he muttered to Azuren. At age 68, Stukov was better off than anyone else he could think of who had weilded so much power at his age. His hair had receded greatly and his features softened. Everything seemed to... sag.
"He didn't, love. That's why you're still alive." He turned and smiled lovingly at his wife. She too was showing the signs of age, but time was being merciful to her. Though aged, she still carried herself with grave and dignity and a mind he found utterly beautiful.
He loved her so.
She knew it.
"Feodor's been hard at work on his own little schemes," he said, still smiling.
Azuren nodded, looking away. "Yes, I know. Ever since his speech, it's obvious he has a plan."
Stukov studied her for any hint. "Has he told you anything about it?"
"Of course not," she said slyly.
Recently, the two of them had been spending less time running this continent-spanning empire and more time with their granddaughter. As far as could be told, there were no signs that there was anything wrong with this new addition to the Imperial Family.
Having grandchildren delighted them, and it felt like raising a child all over again for the pair. Feodor and Eleanor had hinted at another child potentially being on the way before long, and had as a result been given more time alone by Alexei and Azuren.
"You know," Azuren broke their contemplative silence, "Feodor expects you don't have much longer to live."
"You think so?" Stukov asked, surprised.
Azuren merely nodded.
"Well, I still have a few good years left in me. We'll make the most of it, won't we, love?"
Azuren smiled and kisses Alexei. "We always do."
The grim reality of death looms over Stukov. Though it wouldn't be that surprising if he lived to 80 or 90. People did that all the time back then. Especially famous people.
TC Pilot said:
Oh, when I said 'it', I was referring to an emancipation event I saw the US have. It won't fire a civil war, just subtract money (compensation) and free the slaves.
Another good update although i don't like the sound of Stukov dying - i don't agree with death, especially in stories where you can max-out their life-span.
anonymous4401: Yep
Rocketman: Well, doesn't matter anymore
Darks63: I don't know, and I'd prefer not to so I can be surprised by any....surprises.
rule_brittania: Well, if he keeps living until 1920, he'd be well over 100 years old, and to be honest, that's just plain ridiculous. With the first game, it wasn't very hard to keep them alive, but we've talking about 84 years of history.
Frankly, Feodor will be lucky to live to the end of the story
------------------------------------------------
The Web of Alliances
Spurred on by the recent victory over Japan in the War of 1867, the United States was eager to put its infant doctrine of war with provocation to use. Under the Democrats, another 72,000 soldiers were assembled into the newly reformed Army of New England and another flotilla of ships to transport them across the seas ordered into construction.
However, already on rather tenuous ground due to the recent emancipation of the slaves and the subsequent abolition of slavery in its entirety and carefully considering the future of the Democratic Party, Sickles decided the next war would be one against an enemy the United States could, without doubt, defeat decisively and unquestionably.
On August 30th, 1869, the Army of the West under Grant and the Army of the Potomac under Pope set sail from San Francisco and Washington D.C. respectively and headed south. By September 12th, the two armies had reached their destination and immediately began their invasion of the United States of Central America. The invasion had been timed perfectly, with Congress deciding to declare war the very same day, in response to the Central American Unites States' refusal to join a military alliance with America. President Sickles, it seemed, decided that America would construct an intricate web of alliances that would bind the lesser nations of the Western Hemisphere into allegiance with the United States as a bulwark against any possible European re-colonization.
The United States of Central America, barely managing to survive the social and political turmoil of the 1830s, was a relatively strong nation with potential to emerge into a strong regional power given time. After the humiliation of Mexico in the Second and Third Mexican War, the Central American United States had reached out to America in hopes of improving relations and holding back the colossus of the north with friendship. But with America ready to exert its power for no other reason than to exert its power, friendship and good-feelings meant little.
The outcome of the war was never in question. The United States army outnumbered, outclassed, and outgunned the Central American forces. Combined, the American forces in Central America numbered at most over 185,000 when General Custer's Army of the South was sent in after the initial invasion force compared to the Central American forces of only 30,000.
By January, all of the Guatemala and most of Honduras had become occupied territory, and only a quarter of the Central American army had survived to fight. With defeat inevitable, the Central Americans surrendered. The result of the peace treaty was the cession of northern Guatemala to the United States and the essential reduction of the country into an American puppet. The country had become another strand in the United States' web of alliances.
Rocketman: Well, doesn't matter anymore
Darks63: I don't know, and I'd prefer not to so I can be surprised by any....surprises.
rule_brittania: Well, if he keeps living until 1920, he'd be well over 100 years old, and to be honest, that's just plain ridiculous. With the first game, it wasn't very hard to keep them alive, but we've talking about 84 years of history.
Frankly, Feodor will be lucky to live to the end of the story
------------------------------------------------
The Web of Alliances
Spurred on by the recent victory over Japan in the War of 1867, the United States was eager to put its infant doctrine of war with provocation to use. Under the Democrats, another 72,000 soldiers were assembled into the newly reformed Army of New England and another flotilla of ships to transport them across the seas ordered into construction.
However, already on rather tenuous ground due to the recent emancipation of the slaves and the subsequent abolition of slavery in its entirety and carefully considering the future of the Democratic Party, Sickles decided the next war would be one against an enemy the United States could, without doubt, defeat decisively and unquestionably.
On August 30th, 1869, the Army of the West under Grant and the Army of the Potomac under Pope set sail from San Francisco and Washington D.C. respectively and headed south. By September 12th, the two armies had reached their destination and immediately began their invasion of the United States of Central America. The invasion had been timed perfectly, with Congress deciding to declare war the very same day, in response to the Central American Unites States' refusal to join a military alliance with America. President Sickles, it seemed, decided that America would construct an intricate web of alliances that would bind the lesser nations of the Western Hemisphere into allegiance with the United States as a bulwark against any possible European re-colonization.
The United States of Central America, barely managing to survive the social and political turmoil of the 1830s, was a relatively strong nation with potential to emerge into a strong regional power given time. After the humiliation of Mexico in the Second and Third Mexican War, the Central American United States had reached out to America in hopes of improving relations and holding back the colossus of the north with friendship. But with America ready to exert its power for no other reason than to exert its power, friendship and good-feelings meant little.
The outcome of the war was never in question. The United States army outnumbered, outclassed, and outgunned the Central American forces. Combined, the American forces in Central America numbered at most over 185,000 when General Custer's Army of the South was sent in after the initial invasion force compared to the Central American forces of only 30,000.
By January, all of the Guatemala and most of Honduras had become occupied territory, and only a quarter of the Central American army had survived to fight. With defeat inevitable, the Central Americans surrendered. The result of the peace treaty was the cession of northern Guatemala to the United States and the essential reduction of the country into an American puppet. The country had become another strand in the United States' web of alliances.
Last edited:
Ah, Central America. Good to see the USA going around bullying people just because they can.
I'll say it before anyone else does:
It's like real life in a way.
Excellent update.
It's like real life in a way
.Excellent update.