Resistance is Futile - The Borgundian Collective

[DarkReborn]

Long time no see the Collective, how are you, Queenie?

National Module "Burgundy" almost looks like wasted National Module "Lotharingia" , the Queen unit is doing well her work

Sub-note: Queen unit is becoming irrational and rampant like the GLaDOS unit from Aperture Science, the collective considers that good behaviour

 

[merrick]

Combat Situation Report - Burgundy Collective. 1647. May.

Collective naval combat-units have engaged hostile forces in Gulf of Lions zone.
Collective forces total 30 Wargalleon, 20 Frigate, 20 Merchantman-type units. Hostile forces total 2 major and 14 minor naval-units.
Hostile force is inferior. Resistance will be futile

Hostile forces eliminated. Collective losses 2 Frigate and 4 Merchantman-type units.
Combat performance of new naval-units deemed satisfactory.

The Queen frowned. Given the disparity of forces available, she had hoped for better than that.


No further combat-reports followed. The France political-unit appeared to have realised the futility of resistance. Strike forces withdrawn from the combat-zone were available to suppress rogue outbreaks in Luxemburg and Brabant.

Poitou sub-unit was secured. Perigord. A massive rogue outbreak boiled out of Breslau, requiring the attentions of two full Strike Forces. The Queen reflected that at least the resources expended to bring them to full readiness had not been wasted.


Intelligence Report. 1647. November.

Political unit France has refused to transfer sub-units Morbihan, Anjou and Provence.

France's diplomatic-coordinators had obviously not reached the same conclusions as its military-coordinators. There was nothing for it but to continue the reduction of the control-sites remaining in French hands until the organics accepted reality.


Internal Situation Report. 1647. December.

Heresy has infected the Collective! Sub-unit Caux has succumbed to Protestantism!

The Queen was saddened, but not entirely surprised.


Saintonge was secured in February, Armagnac in April, the last redoubt of Bearn in May.


Intelligence Report. 1648. May.

Political unit France has refused to transfer sub-units Morbihan, Anjou and Provence.

"What are they thinking? They control no territory, no combat-units. The Collective is offering them far more than they merit, and then they refuse? When we could assimilate them entire? Do they imagine that Cyprus will save them?"

"It is my policy never to speculate on the mentality of organics, Directing Intelligence."

"Very wise. Have you suggested that they recycle their diplomatic-coordination units? It could hardly lower their efficiency."

"I do not think that suggestion would be well received, Directing Intelligence."

"Well, make it anyway."


Intelligence Report. 1648. June.

Political unit France has agreed to the assimilation of sub-units Morbihan, Anjou and Provence in return for a cessation of hostilities.

Colonial Report. 1648. July.

A new Centre of Trade facility is now operational in colonial-zone Timaru.

"Very good, dispatch merchant-units direct - hold that order. Timaru?"

"Must be a coomunications error, Directing Intelligence." ADM-1-H explained hastily. "Timaru is a low-priority colonial site and hence ... oh."

"Timaru?" the Queen repeated. "What is there to trade in Timaru?"

"Apparently ... nothing, Directing Intelligence. The annual turnover of the facility is ... slightly under 5% of the resources required to install one merchant-unit."

A major contributor to Collective resources, this isn't.​

"So - why was the facility activated in the first place?"

"Not by me, Directing Intelligence. It must have been a spontaneous-"

"Find out. Directly. Spontaneous occurrences are not to be tolerated, particularly if they damage the efficiency of the Collective. I wish a full report on how this was permitted to occur, and how I it will be prevented in future."

"Err ... yes, Directing Intelligence."


Internal Report. 1648. August

Assimilation of associated political unit Austria successfully completed.
Austria no longer has an existence separate from the Collective.
Collective resources increased in proportion.

Assimilation of associated political unit Papal States successfully completed.
Papal States no longer has an existence separate from the Collective.
Collective resources increased in proportion.

Papal States had 3 small colonies in Newfoundland/Labrador and one in British Colombia. Don't ask me why.​

"Permission to speak, Directing Intelligence." ADM-1-H's voice sounded distinctly unsure.

"Granted."

"What facilities should be provided for the Holy Father, Directing Intelligence?"

"The Holy Father? Do you mean the former coordination-unit of the Papal States."

"I mean the Servant of the Servants of God, Directing Intelligence."

"None."

"But ... But ... It's the Holy Father."

"If the Pope-unit is the primary sub-agent of God, as the Catholic Nexus insists, then God will provide. And if God does not, " the Queen smiled, "then surely the Pope-unit is of no special importance."


Central Nexus. 1648. September.

"Permission to speak, Directing Intelligence."

At the sound of M1L-1-E's voice, the Queen looked up from the datascreen she was working on - major rogue outbreak threatened in sub-unit Lippe, additional resources urgently required. "Speak."

"There is a deficiency in the field-training of the primary combat-forces."

"How did that happen?"

"The training schedules were calculated on the assumption of significant military opposition from political unit France - which did not occur."

"I see. And the problem is?"

"Command capacity and unit experience has fallen to a dangerously low level, Directing Intelligence. More field experience is required."

"Combat experience?"

"Yes, Directing Intelligence."

A war with Castile, the Queen reflected, would provide the Collective's forces with all the combat experience they were likely to need, albeit somewhat too late to be of maximum utility. But without a war, combat experience would be hard to find, unless -
The Queen looked down at the datascreen and switched the response to Not Authorised. "Maintain primary forces at full readiness. Combat experience will be available very soon."


"Permission to speak, Directing Intelligence."

This was getting to be a habit. "What is it, unit D1P-1-J?"

"We have received a request for an alliance."

"Decline it according to the standard form." Really, the whole purpose of the sub-coordination units was to spare her the trivia of routine administration. "What is the difficulty?"

"It is from political unit Papal States."

The Queen was very still for a moment. Then she spoke, very clearly. "Political unit Papal States does not exist. It was assimilated."

"Yes, Directing Intelligence, but ... no Directing Intelligence."

The Queen looked at the holomap. God, it appeared, had provided.

The Queen refused the alliance anyway. She had a sudden, not-quite-rational desire to avoid all contact with the resurrected Papal States.


The rogue outbreak in Lippe, and a subsequent one in Neiderbayern, provided enough field experience for program a level-3 command-unit. At least some things went to plan.

1649 featured four rogue outbreaks - none major - and the completion of colonial operations in sub-units Ternate and Jujuy. The Queen authorised the construction of additional defences in the northern american sub-units along the interface with Castile. In the south, plans still waited on the completion of colonial operations in zones Caddo and Chitimacha.

Operations were completed in the Chitmacha sub-unit early in 1650. By that time the Protestants had been removed from sub-unit Caux (again) and diplomatic coordination-unit de Vergennes had ceased operation after more than fifty years of service. To the Queen's vast lack of surprise, the replacement was a new diplomatic coordination-unit of identical capacity.


Internal Report. 1650. March.

Primary coordination-unit "Philippe XII" has ceased functioning.
New coordination-unit "Henri IV" has inferior capacities.
Cypriot infiltration believed responsible.


The Queen's first instinct was to order Cyprus erased from the map. Her second was to order the immediate recycling of the Genetics Nexus and their latest product. Her third - after mature consideration and confirmation that the Henri IV-unit, despite its deficiencies elsewhere, was at least tolerable in the diplomatic sphere - was to limit the recyclings to the Genetics Nexus and associated security-drones. Cyprus would have to wait. But it would not be forgotten.


Colonial operations were completed in the Caddo sub-unit. Defensive construction began immediately.


Internal Situation Report. 1650. August.

The Protestant heresy has been purged from sub-unit Anjou.
Sub-unit Provence has been cleansed of the Reformist heresy. Praise the Lord.

It was, the Queen reflected, almost too good to be true. Was God pleased after all?

The last four months of the year brought two failed missionary-operations (Morbihan and Siena), one failed colonial-operation (Beothuk) and a nutritional deficiency in sub-unit Leipzig.


It was almost time. Instructions were sent for the conversion of additional combat-units - 10,000 in the Core Collective, 25,000 in the American sub-units. To further strengthen the forces in America, a full-strength Strike Force was transported across the Atlantic.

Rogue activity - swiftly suppressed - flickered in sub-units Avignon and Partium. A diplomatic dispute erupted with the heretics of Sicily over the delimitation of the Napoli sub-unit. Once this would have been the focus of the Queen's attention. Now it was a sideshow.

The combat forces approached their final assembly points.

Main Force - Iberian zone - 1st Wave: 2x Strike Force (10,000 ea)
Main Force - Iberian zone - 2nd Wave: 4x Siege force (5,000 ea)
Southern Force (Diversionary) - North African Zone: 1x Strike Force (10,000)
Reserve (Core Collective) - 1x Strike Force (5,000), 1x Siege Force (5,000)
North American Force: 1x Strike Force (10,000); 2x Siege Force (5,000 ea)
Mississippi Force: 1x Strike Force (5,000); 2x Siege Force (2,000 ea)
Brazilian Force: 2x Strike Force (5,000 ea); 3x Siege Force (2,000 ea)
Caribbean Force: 1x Siege Force (3,000)
Reserve - Mexican zone - 1x Strike Force (5,000)

The Queen nodded.

* * * * * * * * * *

Naturally, my DIP-8 monarch snuffs it after three years. (It wasn't really Cyprus, I just had to blame someone.)

* * * * * * * * * *

stephanbathory - Yup, Charlie 3 did manage Genoa on his first shot and Hungary and Siena on his last. And Phil 12 got Austria and the Pope with the only two attempts he had time for. Poland is the only vassla left (for the moment).
And God (or someone) was definitely rolling some strange numbers around 1648.
coz1 - I've now got to the point where I can just build everything everywhere and not worry about money ever again. An the monarchs could have been worse (current one is DIP 7).
DarkReborn - Connection re-established. Please update your files. Current Collective is much larger than discarded module "Lotharingia".

 

[unmerged(4934)]

Got Austria too now? nice...

Looks like it's time for El Smackdown Espana...

 

[Duke of Wellington]

Strange goings on in the New World. A Papal State in Nootka and a COT in Timaru. Damned Cypriots. Hope they get what they deserve.

 

[germanpeon]

What the..... how exactly did that Papal resurrection happen??

 

[Lordban]

The Papal States had a colony on an island yet undiscovered by Burgundy; upon annexation, the invisible island wasn't annexed as well. Iirc this has been corrected in the latest patch for NA.

 

[coz1]

Bah! Let the Pope freeze while the Queen is Holy Father and Mother to Europe.

And war with Castile...Bring it on!

 

[merrick]

Burgundy Collective. 1652. March.

It was quite a simple plan. Political unit Portugal's military support for Castile was projected a near-certain, so it was most efficient to concentrate first on the weaker target, both in the Americas and by naval landing in the the Iberian region. Meanwhile peripheral forces would threaten Castilian territories in both North Africa and North America. Once Portugal had been secured and the majority of Castilian forces had been drawn away from Iberia, primary forces would move on to secure the Castilian primary territories.

The first deviation was encountered within weeks of landing. First reconnaissance reports of the Portuguese primary sub-unit reported a combat-force of 19,000 assembled - too much for two Strike Forces to engage in defensive positions. There began a campaign of feint and counterfeint, Collective forces trying to tempt the Portuguese out of their stronghold in Lisboa.


Combat Report. 1652. May.

Strike Force 1 has engaged hostile forces in the Beira zone.
Collective forces total 8,000 equine-drones with level-3 command capacity.
Hostile forces estimated as 4,000 equine-units of obsolete type.
Borg forces are superior. Resistance will be futile.

It was working, if slowly. Reports from other theatre were positive as well. In South America, Portuguese resistance had been broken at the boundary and the remnant were withdrawing north with the Strike Forces in pursuit and the Siege Forces moving in behind. On the southern North American boundary, minor resistance had been crushed and undefended sub-units were being swiftly overrun. In the north Siege Forces were engaged in the reduction of Mohawk and Ontario sub-units, while Strike Force 3, based in Lenape, picked off Castilian combat-units attempting to reach the threatened sub-units.
Only in North Africa was there a further deviation. Strike Force 4 had landed in Constantine zone and advanced half-way to the Atlantic without encountering hostile field-forces. Where were the Castilian combat-units?

A missionary-unit failed in the Tarasco sub-unit, but the rogue pagans were swiftly suppressed and the Strike Force was available to move north. Despite the lack of effective resistance, the forward Strike Forces were becoming depleted. The Queen authorised conversion of additional reinforcements in the European theatre.


Combat Report. 1652. June.

Strike Forces 1 and 2 have engaged hostile forces in the Lisboa zone.
Collective forces total 15,000 equine-drones with level-3 command capacity.
Hostile forces 6,500 infantry-units, 2,000 equine-units, 1,000 artillery-units of obsolete type with level-3 command capacity.
Borg forces are superior. Resistance will be futile.

It was done. With Portuguese opposition broken, it was time to send in the Siege Forces.

Portugal introduced a minor deviation when it landed a small combat-force in Corsica. Castile a more major one as forces began to assemble in Iberia. The first thrust into Portuguese territory was a mere 4,000 strong - no real threat to the Strike Forces, but a worry. Strike force 4 in North Africa had finally encountered opposition, but only small forces. Castile had proved more efficient than expected in identifying the major threat.

There was deviation in a more positive direction in South America. The swift advance of the Strike Forces revealed that the assigned Siege Forces were totally inadequate to reduce such a large region. More and more combat-units were converted and sent north.


Combat Report. 1652. July.

Strike Force 2 and Siege Force 4 have been engaged by hostile forces in the Alentejo zone.
Collective Forces total 7,000 equine-drones, 1,500 humanoid-drones, 2,000 artillery-units with level-2 command capacity.
Hostile forces total 3,000 equine-units, 8,000 infantry-units with level-4 command capacity.
The issue is in doubt.

This was it. If the Castilian attack could be defeated, then the reduction of the Portuguese core territories could proceed uninterrupted. If not, the entire plan could be disrupted.

The combat swayed back and forth. Reduction began of the Lisboa control-site. Forces in South America continued to advance. Strike Force 3 continued to hunt down scattered Castilian field-forces in North America. Strike Force 4 in North Africa finally found some Castilians to defeat, but was so badly depleted - mostly by the strains of operation under such harsh conditions - that the Queen authorised its withdrawal.


Combat Report. 1652. August.

Resistance is successful. Hostile forces withdrawing from Alentejo zone.

Operation successful - but success had left very little of Strike Force 2. Again, the Queen authorised withdrawal, and the dispatch of the newly-formed Strike Force 5 to replace it. New icons appeared on the holodisplay as Portuguese naval-units moved to intercept.


Combat Report. 1652. September.

Collective Prime Naval Force has engaged hostile forces in Cape Finistere.
Collective forces total 30 Wargalleon, 20 Frigate, 20 Merchantman units.
Hostile forces total 9 large and 9 small combat-units of obsolete types.
Borg forces are superior. Resistance will be futile.


Strike Force 2 arrived back in Collective territory in November, ironically just in time to suppress the rogue outbreak that followed the failure of missionary-unit operations in sub-unit Morbihan.
Strike Forces in the Americas continued to crush minor opposition. The Queen totalled the sub-units gained in the year. Ontario. Diamantina. Sao Tome. The unprotected zones in southern North America - Arkansas, Chickasaw, Tuskegee, Alabama, Pensacola, Seminole, Timacua. Less than estimated. The Queen authorised the conversion of 10,000 additional combat-units.


Combat Report. 1653. January.

Siege Force 3 has been engaged by hostile forces in Beira.
Collective forces total 500 equine-drones, 1,500 humanoid-drones, 2,000 artillery-units.
Hostile forces total 1,000 equine-units, 3,500 infantry-units.
The issue is in doubt.

Although it did not appear so at the time, this was Castile's last throw. Strike Force 5 landed shortly afterwards and was soon able to initiate offensive operations against scattered Castilian forces in western Iberia.

Porto was secured. Mohawk. Lisboa. The last Portuguese combat-forces were pursued to the extreme north-western tip of the political unit's South American territory and destroyed there. Without fixed defences, the remote zones fell swiftly. Reduction began of Algarve, the last Portuguese sub-unit in Iberia. Strike Forces in North America continued to defeat scattered Castilian opposition. In the midst of combat-reports came the announcement that heresy had been purged from the Siena sub-unit. Puerto Rico was secured. Oneida. Yamasee. Espirito Santo.


Combat Situation Report. 1653. August.

Brazil Strike Force 1 reduced to 5% nominal strength.

The Queen blinked, and zoomed the holomap to display zone Suriname. Apparently conditions there were so hostile, even with the colonial-zone under Collective control, that combat-units degenerated faster than they could be repaired. She authorised the Strike Force's removal by sea. Portugal had mobilised a few new combat-units in South America, but most of them were tied down in a futile attempt to recover sub-unit Diamantina.


Intelligence Report. 1653. August.

Political units Aragon and Sicily have initiated military operations against Castile and Portugal.

This was something the plan had not anticipated. The initial consequences, anyway, were positive, as Castile withdrew forces from western Iberia and the Strike Forces made short work of those that remained.

To increase the pressure on Castile, the Queen authorised a return to North Africa, this time with Siege Forces. Alentejo was secured. Cherokee. Oeiras. Braganca.


Intelligence Report. 1653. December.

Political unit Genoa has initiated military operations against Crimea.

"Genoa?"

For answer, D1P-1-J zoomed in the holodisplay on the north-east of the Black Sea region, where Genoa was indicated in the Kouban sub-unit. The sub-unit, the Queen noted numbly, was flagged as affiliated to the Muslim religion, so naturally the de-assimilated "Genoa" proclaimed itself Protestant.

The Queen hastily refocussed the display on the combat-zone in Iberia.

Sub-unit Constantine had been secured, and Muskogee. The Strike Forces continued to destroy scattered Castilian units before they could combine to pose a threat, and behind them the Siege Forces slowly advanced. Onondaga was secured. Beira. Tucujulandia.


Intelligence Report. 1654. March.

Portuguese combat-forces assembling in sub-unit Grao Para. Estimated strength 4,000 of all types.

Enough to at least temporarily threaten Collective control of the north-west. But Portugal was losing everywhere else and it was only a matter of time.

The Castilian primary command-unit attempted a counter-strike in sub-unit Alentejo. But it had only 4,000 combat-units and the nearest Strike Force swiftly rendered its effort futile. Aragon, the Queen noted with a touch of alarm, was engaged in the reduction of the Castilian primary sub-unit.


Combat Situation Report. 1654. June.

Assimilation of political unit Portugal successfully initiated.
Combat operations against Portugal have ceased.

First objective attained. It had taken longer than planned, but the second should be quicker.


Intelligence Report. 1654. June.

Political units Brittany, Flanders and France have initiated military operations against Castile.

Hopefully much quicker. It had been no part of the plan that the heretics should gain.

Military operations in Iberia were becoming a race to secure as many sub-units as possible before Aragon. Leon was secured. Galicia. Salamanca. Kabylia. Siege Forces were in place in Asturias, Badajoz, Cordoba, Andulacia. Aragon had secured Castilia la Veija, Madrid, was reducing Viscaya.

The Queen had leisure to consider other matters. Colonial development had been completed in sub-units Halmahera and Pampas. Improvements in Collective internal organisation allowed introduction of the "Constitutional Monarchy" control protocol.

Another Missionary-unit failed in the Morbihan sub-unit. Castile was still attempting resistance in North America. Cumberland was secured. Badajoz. Asturias. Aragon had secured Toledo and Viscaya, was reducing Murcia. Andalucia was secured. Conoy. Cheraw. Reduction began of Granada, Almeria.

Not a good year to be Castilian​

Combat Situation Report. 1655. July.

Assimilation of political unit Castile successfully initiated.
Combat operations against Castile have ceased.

It was done. Now all that remained to be seen was what France and Aragon would leave of the the Collective's newest and largest associate political-unit.

* * * * * * * * * *

stephanbathory - One smackdown, as ordered.
Duke of Wellington - I should probably have arranged for one of the vassal to annex them in the last war, but I was in too much of a hurry.
germanpeon. Lordban - I think that what happened was that Papal States had a colonist in transit to Nootka (why?) when I annexed it, so the colonist refounded the Papal States when it landed. Gave me a surprise - I was waiting for the "the Pope asks for Rome back" event when suddenly he sent an alliance offer. (Relations are still 190+. Apparently he didn't mind being assimilated.)
coz1 - Consider it brought.

 

[DarkReborn]

Sub-unit France still is operational? the collective demands complete assimilation as for Aragon sub-unit, this drone's organic material proceeds from there, it is so that drone DarkReborn-1138 has a "symbolical" union with it, treat it carefully








Its so relaxing to write and talk like a borg... :rofl:

 

[germanpeon]

Ahhhh. The copious amount of green in the relations mapmode must be very satisfying to see so often.

 

[coz1]

Seems like everyone else wanted to get on that Borg-train. Hopefully, that will continue and they'll ask to be assimilated.

 

[unmerged(4934)]

very nice...Are you still on track for circa 1700 full assimilation of Castile?

 

[unmerged(81390)]

Its so relaxing to write and talk like a borg... :rofl:

Is unit DarkReborn not a borg!?

 

[DarkReborn]

Oh, damn, they've discovered me!

I mean unit DarkReborn is part of the collective

 

[ColossusCrusher]

ColossusCrusher-type Philospher drone asks: But is unit DarkReborn part of the Collective, or is he an organic meatbag?

 

[stnylan]

I just loved the bit about the re-appearance of the Papal States.

 

[merrick]

Internal Situation Report - Burgundy Collective. 1655. December.

Collective naval operations technology optimised to Level 24.
New heavy naval-unit "Twodecker" now available.

The Queen nodded absently. It was progress, no doubt, but it would have been preferable if it had occurred before the expenditure of so many resources on now-obsolete units.

It was rather quiet in Central Nexus Control. The conclusion of military operations had been followed by a reversion to normal patterns of development (two rogue outbreaks so far). Political unit England had successfully defied the Collective's assertion of primacy over the Pennacook zone in North America. The only movement on the holomap came from the icon marking Aragon combat-forces, steadily advancing into Castile.


Intelligence Report. 1656. February.

Political unit Sicily has ceased military operations against associate units Castile and Portugal.

That at least was good news, even if it coincided with yet another rogue outbreak (Bavarian sub-type, in sub-unit Konstanz)


Intelligence Report. 1656. March.

Political unit France has ceased political operations against associate unit Castile.

This was hardly news at all, as France lacked the naval-transport capacity to conduct any form of offensive operations. The problem was Aragon, and the icons continued to advance. Castilian forces - such as they were - were concentrating in North Africa, on the border of Aragon's colonial-zones.

"Are we providing assistance?"

"Resources are being transferred at the maximum rate. Observed effects are ... small."

The Queen tore her eyes away to concentrate on colonial matters. The failures of organics were no excuse to neglect Collective expansion. The current phase of colonial development was ending (complete in Beothuk and Taqamkuk, almost so in Innu), and new zones for expansion needed to be designated. An Exploration Force was organising in sub-unit Cape, with a newly-converted Conquistador-class command-unit assigned.

It moved off northward, into unmapped territory, and the Queen's attention returned to Europe and the latest rogue outbreaks.


Exploration Report. 1656. August.

Conquistador-unit Pot de la Roche has successfully completed mapping of Roggeveld-zone.
Indigenous organics have been eliminated.

The Pot de la Roche unit had somewhat exceeded instructions, but seeing the mineral resources of the Roggeveld zone the Queen was not inclined to complain.


Exploration Report. 1656. September.

Conquistador-unit Pot de la Roche has successfully completed mapping of Great Karroo-zone.
Further northward transit is not possible.

"Not possible? Why not?"

That information is not available.

"There must be some physical reason why the Exploration Force cannot simply move northwards. Is there a cliff? A chasm? A force field? Why?"

Physical information is not available for unmapped areas.
Mapping of the indicated region is not possible.

In the back of the Queen's mind, an old familiar fear began to stir.


"What is wrong with Castile? We send it shipment after resource shipment, and it does not even try to resist."

"Actually, Directing Intelligence, political unit Castile is assembling a considerable combat-force."

"Really?" The Queen indicated the holomap of Iberia, now almost covered by Aragon icons. "Where?"

"North America, Directing Intelligence."

"North America? Are there any hostile forces in North America?"

"No, Directing Intelligence."

"Does Castile have the naval transport-capacity to transfer these combat-units to the Iberian region?"

"No, Directing Intelligence."

"Then why are they doing it? Are they trying to sabotage their association with the Collective?"

"That would be a matter for Intelligence, Directing Intelligence."


Internal Situation Report. 1657. March.

An opportunity has arisen for Collective self-adaptation.

With the main local military threats neutralised and overseas expansion continuing at maximum rate, there was no longer any reason not to further prioritise the Collective's naval development. That it avoided any further delegation of authority to lower-level units was merely a bonus.


A missionary-unit malfunctioned (again) in sub-unit Morbihan, triggering an outbreak of rogue activity among Protestant drones. A colonial-unit disappeared en route to the Roggeveld zone. Aragon secured central Iberia and began to advance into Portugal and North Africa.

"Is there nothing we can do about Aragon?"

"Initiation of direct military operations is possible, but would cause significant internal instability."

Not to mention destabilising the precarious timeline for the Plan. "Not acceptable. Anything else?"

"Resources continue to be transferred at maximum rate, but the Castilian coordination-units appear incapable of allocating them effectively."

"I can see that."

"There is one other thing, Directing Intelligence."

"Carry on, unit ADM-1-H."

"Administrative records show that the heretics are deriving considerable resources from trading operations within Collective territory."

"Stop them."

"Stop them?"

"Cancel the access-rights for Aragon trading-units. Do it now."


Intelligence Report. 1657. December.

Political unit Aragon has ceased military operations against associate political units Castile and Portugal.
Sub-unit Baleares has been assimilated by Portugal.

The Queen had to read the report twice before she allowed it to register. One blow from the Collective at its resource-base and Aragon - with most of Iberia including the Castilian primary sub-unit under its control - had meekly relinquished territory to the Collective's associates. There could be no clearer proof of the futility of organic resistance.

There were still matters to attend to. Two in particular, and the requirements for political units Poland and France pulled against each other. The Queen checked timeline projections and decided France could wait.


Intelligence Report. 1658. February.

Assimilation of associate political unit Poland ... not successfully completed.
Assimilation will continue.

Coming on top of a major local instability event in the Wien sub-unit, which had required considerable expenditure of resources to contain, this was not the news the Queen had been waiting to hear. But there was still time, just.


Intelligence Report. 1658. May.

Assimilation of associate political unit Poland ... not successfully completed.
Assimilation will continue.

Time had just run out. If the France situation was allowed to persist any longer, it would start to seriously impinge on the timeline for the Plan.

The combat-units were in position, already at full readiness. "Target is France. On my order. Initiate!"

As well-planned military operations should be, it was something of an anti-climax. The minor political unit of Brittany and the random factor of Cyprus supported France. Brittany, in fact, fielded almost as many combat-units as France itself, none of which survived for more than two months. By August, hostile combat-forces had been swept from the land - and sea - and the Siege Forces had moved in. It was just a matter of waiting.


The Queen's attention shifted to other matters - the repeated failure of colonial-units to open a site in the Uruguay-zone, the expansion of economic operations in the Trier sub-unit, the construction of a naval equipment-class manufactory-development in sub-unit Mataram.


Combat Situation Report. 1659. February.

Hostile forces have engaged Collective combat-units in sub-unit Rhodes.
Collective forces total 2,000 humanoid-drones.
Hostile forces total 3,000 infantry of obsolete type.
The issue is in doubt.

The Queen blinked. "Rhodes?" The Cyprus icons blinked in response.

Fortunately, while the ambition of Cyprus was impressive, its military efforts proved futile. A naval combat-force was swiftly dispatched to remove the threat of Cyprus's transport-fleet.

One by one the French control-sites fell. Ile de France. Bourbon, Rouergue. Vendee. Poitou.


Intelligence Report. 1659. May.

Assimilation of political-unit Brittany successfully initiated.
Combat-operations against Brittany have ceased.


Internal Report. 1659. June.

The Protestant influence has been purged from sub-unit Morbihan. Praise the Lord.

For the last time, the Queen hoped.


Intelligence Report. 1660. March.

Political unit France has agreed to assimilation of sub-units Languedoc, Toulouse and Blois in return for a cessation of hostilities.

This was not the last time, but it was almost the last. And it was the best that could be expected this cycle.


Intelligence Report. 1660. July.

Political units Sicily and Aragon have initiated military operations against political unit England.

Associated political unit Castile was requesting assistance against political unit Algiers.

"Algiers?"

"A former sub-unit of Castile." D1P-1-J was careful to keep his voice neutral. "It appears to have self-segregated."

The Queen privately created a new category of coordination inefficiency and assigned Castile to it. "Give it whatever assistance it requires." Like immediate recycling.


Internal Report. 1660. August.

Assimilation of associated political unit Poland successfully completed.
Poland no longer has an existence separate from the Collective.
Collective resources increased in proportion.

Another major stage completed.

* * * * * * * * * *

The mysteries of the AI peace-calculation process continue to elude me.
Even after the embargo, Aragon had a higher income than either Castile or Portugal, had more troops than either and had captured two Portuguese provinces as well as all but two of Castile's home provinces (Castile and Portugal had captured Baleares and one province in west Africa) - and it just rolled over.

* * * * * * * * * *

DarkReborn - Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. As will France. And Aragon (it will just take a bit longer).
germanpeon - You know you're doing well when your country no longer fits on the screen at maximum zoom-out.
coz1 - One more down, four to go. Poland suprised me. After refusing twice at BB 3+ they accepted at BB 6+
stephanbathory - I have 40 years to burn off 34 BB points (current BB 24 + 10 from France). Looking good, unless I get handed a loser king and no diplomats.
Infiltration Alert! Units Ahura Mazda, DarkReborn, ColossusCrusher to report directly to the nearest security station for examination.
stnylan - It played fairly well, if a bit randomly. (The Pope's population is down to 53, last time I looked, so he might just evaporate.)

 

[stnylan]

So you have what, 50 years before you kick off the bb wars?

 

[Duke of Wellington]

Another perfectly efficient war against France by the looks of it. Finally Poland is gone, that took a while.

The Queen privately created a new category of coordination inefficiency and assigned Castile to it.

Ouch, that's quite something given the examples of coordination inefficiency we've seen already.

 

[unmerged(65202)]

is that a Russia i see over to the east?
or it is just an abnormally long lived novogrod?