Chapter Seven - Otterly Terrifying
With war against Ethiopia finally at an end, and the war against Najd progressing well, Sokoto's unhappy diplomats are sent on a new diplomatic mission.
Several weeks later the drenched diplomats return, wet from having to swim back from Abu Dhabi, the Sokot ship they had been assigned sinking on the way back.
As with the diplomats the main danger for the Sokot army in this war against Abu Dhabi is the Sokot nay, Sokot shipbuilding still leaving a lot to be desired. Thankfully the Sokot vessels manage to limp into sight of the Abu Dhabi coast, green faced Sokot troops hurriedly charging forth from the glorified rafts straight into battle, delighted to be amongst the enemy.
A battle far more preferable than likely shipwreck.
Abu Dhabi's army is soon crushed, the Sokot soldiers fighting with a hitherto unseen ferocity, desperate to avoid having to return to the ships any time soon.
A few weeks later and Sokoto's diplomats squelch into their offices. Checking through the messages they have missed whilst swimming for home, one of them suddenly turns green. This time it is not due to sea sickness.
The Ottomans are at war with Sokoto.
Indeed the Ottomans have been at war with Sokoto for the last few months, having for some reason intervened in Sokoto's war against Hedjaz. Unfortunately, as the Sokot diplomats were swimming for their lives over the last few weeks, they missed the declaration of war from the Ottomans. [Yes, it was due to that...not due to me proving horribly incompetent!] The Sokot government is both baffled and terrified by this intervention. Baffled as to why anyone would declare war upon the peace loving, friendly and neighbourly Sokoto and terrified for obvious reasons.
Surprisingly despite the Ottomans now having entered the war on their side, the fully occupied Hedjaz still offers Sokoto annexation of her nation. Clearly being part of the glorious Sokot empire truly is better than independence.
The Sokot government happily accept, before realising that doing so has likely vexed the Ottomans considerably.
With no true navy of her own, Sokoto can merely sit and wait for the Ottomans to make the first move. Whilst sitting and waiting a surprising discovery is made.
Sokoto appears to be funding the war against herself, the Ottomans having taken out the largest sum from the Sokoto National Bank. The Sokot finance minister is hurriedly sought out and praised for this wonderful showing of incompetence, he is likely to become Prime Minister within the year.
Yet more bad news is delivered to the despairing nation as the blithering idiot, Abasama, passes away.
Victor, somehow, over Yemen's forces many years before, his ability will be missed in this war against the Ottomans. Few have blithered nearly as well as him. And, rather more importantly, Sokoto can ill-afford to lose any generals whilst she strives for westernisation.
Realising that her rapidly expanding ramshackle navy may prove important in this war, Sokoto recruits her first admiral.
Admiral Rumfa is a former diplomat chosen for this presitigous role as his return from Abu Dhabi, with the rest of Sokoto's diplomats, proved he has the skills required for any joining Sokoto's navy. He can swim.
With the war against the Ottomans continuing at the same frenetic pace, that is nothing continues to happen, war against Abu Dhabi is brought to an end.
The Sokot government happily accept Abu Dhabi's annexation before realising that this will likely not only further vex the Ottomans, who are making a rather poor show of taming the infamous Sokoto, it also opens up yet more coast for the Ottomans to land upon.
Days later and the Sokot government is left very surprised.
Not surprised by news of mismanagement in Ilorin, but surprised by the fact that Ilorin seems to think mismanagement by the Sokot government is anything but the norm.
Nearly a year after intervening in Sokoto's war against the now annexed Hedjaz the Ottomans finally make their first aggressive move. Sailing past the easy to reinforce and conquer Sokot holdings in the Arabian Peninsula, ignoring choice targets such as Dumyat and Abu Dhabi which are entirely unconnected by land with Sokoto's other holdings, the Ottomans land their troops on Sokoto's poor east African holdings.
The Ottomans may just be as inept as Sokoto.
The only slight problem for Sokoto is that apart from a 15,000 strong force in the vicinity of this landing, the bulk of her troops are far to the north.
This leaving travel through inhospitable terrain or likely defeat at sea the only routes to this Ottoman landing.
Whilst pondering exactly how to move the bulk of her forces to meet the Ottoman incursion the Sokot government is given some interesting news.
Apparently some Spanish troops blundered into Sokot territory. This impressing the government, as the nearest Spanish land is the island of Fernando Po. Quite how the Spaniards managed to blunder into Sokot territory from there is difficult to understand. Nonetheless although 'Operation Sokot Fury' is appealling, for once the majority of the cabinet act with sense, realising that any aggression against Spain would all too quickly likely become 'Operation Sokoto Given A Kicking'.
Left with little choice the Sokot army begins marching through the wilderness.
The unhappy soldiers dreading attrition at the hands of vicious animals, incompetent leadership, disease, incompetent leadership, inhospitable terrain and incompetent leadership of which both the wilderness and the Sokot army respectively are filled.
It has taken several months but the first Sokot brigades are finally arriving in the theatre. Unfortunately too the first Sokot province, that of Tanga, has fallen. This prompting the worryingly large Ottoman army, which has been reinforced over the last few months, to attack.
Things are looking bad for Sokoto. Not only do the Ottomans have more men, far greater training, a good general and even some cannon but worst of all Sokoto has an impressively competent general in command, Usman Rumfa a brilliantly talented general.
These is only one outcome in such a situation.
Competent officers should never be given command.
Thankfully having slaughtered so many of Sokoto's troops the Ottoman army is too tired to give chase. Instead hunkering down in Dar Es Salaam, besieging the province.
Having spent the last few months watching nervously towards the north, enough of Sokoto's troops have trudged through the wilderness joining up with her battered forces in Kilwa. Throughout this time the Ottomans have been surprisingly content to simply continue their siege of Dar Es Salaam. Finally with enough men, and Usman Rumfa nowhere to be seen, Abdullah Rumfa is given command once again and employs another of his ingenious tactics.
He modestly describes this complex attack as the 'Throw Everyone Forward And Hope For The Best' strategy, which worked with such good effect against Ethiopia.
Surprisingly it seems to be working. Something the Ottomans seem to have realised as they hurriedly offer a white peace whilst the battle is still in full swing.
Sokoto's bewildered diplomats nearly accept this deal before being warned not to on pain of extra swimming lessons. The Sokot government is intent on waiting until the battle ends.
A stunning victory. Indeed too good a victory as many quickly point out, this leading to criticism of Abdullah Rumfa regarding the lack of casualties Sokoto suffered. The Sokot government quickly accept the white peace deal from the Ottomans as soon as the battle ends, apologising that they were unable to accept this deal when first offered it a week ago as they had all been too busy then. Busy, uhm, washing their hair and, uh, walking their dogs. They had certainly not been avoiding the Ottoman ambassador until the battle finished due to a wish to allow for the Ottoman's force to be crushed before accepting peace. Suggestions to the contrary clearly scurrilous lies.