Uranium for Uruguay

[stnylan]

Well we don’t have much to work with do we form-bound. Two research slots, and a scattering of factories. Some infantry equipment and convoys I think. We need research and industry. The Foci will give us some more factories in time, meanwhile we will start our troops training. We will only have the one state to work from - by the time we’ve finished every slot should be used.

Seventy days done, and so quickly. You wonder, perhaps, why I did political effort rather than industrialise - simple. A dose of points allows us to switch to Free Trade - better research. But now it is to start the industrialisation.

Nothing much to see though is there. Well, 1936 rarely has much incident. But look it is now November and we can now switch to Early Mobilisation. A little bit of help.

Into 1937 and we are about to unlock our third research slot. We also complete plans for our first submarine. Look at this quaint old thing - nearly an antique.

Now to continue our political efforts and formally adopt neutrality. This will make it very hard for us to do anything unless the world falls apart, which - you should know - it has a tendency to do by the end of the decade.

Now what’s this - Australia is separating from the British Empire? Let us check that note … so Stharin’Ble is hoping to keep me on my toes. An unrestricted game - this should be fun.

Our first actual submarine. One down, three more to go.

I hope you are not getting bored - I could tell you each technology and focus completed, but that would be essentially all that happens for a while. Excuse me if I want to skip ahead. Speaking of which, it is now the end of 1937 and Australia has formally severed the knot. Let us see what 1938 brings.

 

[stnylan]

So form-bound, I have expanded our army from two weak divisions to four weak divsions. I don’t suppose there is actually much point, but it was something to do. Oh and we have built a few forts. Still unlocking factories via focuses. Oh look, apparently our populace dislikes our so-called re-armament. Well, sorry Uruguayans this needs to happen.

More computing and industrial research - and, mmm, what is this. Well, Australia has chosen to ally with the United States. More interestingly Germany has attacked Czechoslovakia in 1938 - the Munich Diktat.

Oh, Czechoslovakia has joined the Allies - which does not yet include France. Oh, and look, the Poles have formed their Baltic alliance.

So we move to Limited Conscription, but mostly we just watch what is happening. Japan is attacking China on schedule, and having more or less their own way. But the the Czechs are holding out - see we are at the end of the year and everything is holding together.

I don’t know about you, form-bound, but I am enjoying this.

 

[stnylan]

Well the first half of 1939 has passed quietly enough hasn’t it form-bound? We’ve done some research, mostly industry, but one or two other items like Field Hospital. Oh, and look Uruguay is considering bombers. Bombers form-bound! We shall make Uruguay a proper power! And the Czechs are still holding out. The Chinese, well they are struggling a bit.

Though we have an important success: the development of our next version of submarine.

And Radar. I feel it is important Uruguay should become a world-class centre of excellence in the most technologically advanced fields. Surely form-bound you agree?

But really 1939 has proven very dull. The wars in Europe and China still drag on - but at least now in the spring of 1940 we have built are next actual submarine.

So let us roll forward some more form-bound, and stop time! Look, look form-bound what has just happened.

So France joined the allies, Romania joined the Polish alliance, and whilst we were busy elsewhere Yugoslavia joined the Axis - and the Brits invaded Prussia. But that is not all, in October Hungary and Italy form an alliance.

China though looks like it is due to fall apart soon - but form-bound I have noticed something. We are at the end of 1940 and the world is … not facing armageddon. At this rate … I will never get to use uranium.

 

[stnylan]

I forgot to mention form-bound before 1940 I started a significant research project. This was one.

And so into March. Japan has won its war in China now, so there was one war … and now there are three. Seriously form-bound, three. Look.

So we have the one we know about - the Allies against the Axis - oh, I had forgotten to mention Italy’s involvement hadn’t I. I honestly can’t remember when they joined. The Czechs are surely going to be unable to hold off much longer given those casualties wouldn’t you say?

Then the Communists against the Polish alliance - the Red Army will surely be able to take them out without too much trouble. And then in the East - I expect those allies will be called in quick enough. That is far more interesting. And world tension is at … 75%. So it looks like we might get the chance to join in quite soon.

Has to be said no one starts collapsing right away, now it is summer and at least we have researched the next version of submarine.

But look, perhaps something is happening - France is starting to push Germany back. But doesn’t it look like Germany is starting to strangle Czechoslovakia at last too? Mmm, and did I miss something with Yugoslavia?

Well I was right. The Czechs fought fiercely, but succumbed. Romania also. The rest of the Polish alliance though is still there and … the Red Army is hurting form-bound. I mean, in a war of attrition there are more Russians than Poles … but still, surely it makes one happy to see the hapless Poles actually do something for a change?

So into 1942. Let’s see where things are. Mmm, apparently Italy joined the Axis at some point and dissolved their Hungarian alliance. Can’t remember when that happened. Can you form-bound?

Well now Germany has secured its western flank, but the Polish alliance looks to slowly being constricted. The casualties continue to mount for all sides … but 2.7 million Czechs. Do you have any idea what those sort of losses can do the demographics of a country? Of course in this setting it doesn’t really matter, but if we were playing the Victorian models …

Mmm, what’s that alert.

I suppose that had to happen - do you think Germany will go for The Netherlands too, even though they are allied with the USA? Let’s see, we can build rockets!

You know, there appears to be some life in this Polish alliance yet. Italy appears to be suffering though.

Well it didn’t last long - umm, Belgium?

Belgium?

BELGIUM!!!!

Let us take a step away from those developments to note a few of our own.

I will never mock Belgium ever again.

 

[stnylan]

Well the German war is over. Looks like Yugoslavia surrendered before it was conquered, and its new government has joined the allies. So has the newly minted German Republic - and now the Second Brazilian Republic joins them too. Let us check the progress of the other two wars.

Well those Poles can fight, the Red Army continues to bleed, but if I would guess there time is coming to an end. Oh look it has ... and the Soviets have decided to transfer western Poland over to Germany. As for the War of the Pacific, well if we are being honest not much is happening, is it?

Let’s fast forward a bit …

The United States of American declares war on the German Republic ….

What?

I have no words form-bound. Your kind can be really irrational at times. But before the year finishes there is more important developments.

 

[stnylan]

So form-bound we are in 1944. Let us look at North America.

So evidently Mexico joined the Allies at some point … Newfoundland has fallen - overall the Americans are making some progress but this war has been ongoing for four months or something by now. It all seems very slow progress. Oh, what’s this?

So Brazil is getting frisky. Mmm, not just Brazil, but the UK is going all 1812.

We have a couple of interesting developments ourselves as well.

The thing is, form-bound, world tension remains a miserable 70%.

And this doesn’t help much. I mean, apart from the fact the Russian’s can’t actually get anywhere near Iraq.

Back to the main war, and it appears there is something of a counter-attack going on in New England, but in Mexico things aren’t so positive for the Allies.

Form-bound, there is something we can do. Lend-lease! But which side … well, the Allies. Given Brazil being in the Allies that only seems wise. Let’s start by offloading all our old equipment to Mexico - they probably need the most help.

The British Raj have landed in Palawan … interesting.

Mostly though the lines seem fairly static, though the Americans are slowly wrapping up Quebec and Montreal. The Mexicans are fighting nearly - let us give them some more equipment.

Before the year is out … look. Alas, look also at the War Tension.

I really wish we could see what was happening on these fronts - just take a look, it seems like the Allied casualties are spread all over pretty much. Those Americans are surely bleeding.

 

[stnylan]

Form-bound, we go into 1945 and I am increasingly worried we shall sit out this entire game. We have atomics now - well, an atomic - but no way of using it. Should I have ignored my instruction form-bound? Should I have gone interventionist? Well, I do not know. Too late to worry about it now. Let us see how things are going.

Well the casualty figures aren’t as dramatically lopsided as some of the previous wars, but the USA is hurting most in both wars … and look at the possible forces. To be sure the USA probably has millions of men yet to recruit, but look at that imbalance of forces in the field. I cannot blame Australia and the Netherlands for staying out of fighting the Allies.

Speaking of which, it seems the British are invading Luzon.

Matters in the mainland appear to have dramatically altered too - the Canadians have lost nearly all their Eastern holdings, but England appears to be trying to recreate the Thirteen Colonies don’t you think? I hope you know what those were, well, some of you are bound to know.

Fast forward six weeks and things don’t look all that different, except that the death toll continues to rise.

Another two months and I remain impressed by the Mexican tenacity - though once again they look to being forced back. The British appear to have consolidated, but Canada is looking increasingly about the break. If it wasn’t for Colombia…

So now the Russians declare war on someone they can actually attack.

Now I have some decent encryption let us check some intelligence reports

It could just be me form-bound, but I thought traditionally the USA was meant to have an impressive navy.

At least we have the best rockets.

I know I have been neglecting the Pacific form-bound, but honestly not much is happening - take a look. The British have a slice of northern Luzon, and apart from a few minor islands here and there nothing else is happening.

I mean compare to the American theatre where the Allies appear to have made a serious offensive on the Eastern seaboard.

Someone else the Russians can actually attack!

The Allies have pretty much have restored the Thirteen Colonies now - no more times for jokes.

It appears the British are now allowing the French to take the lead in the Philippines - and see, Japan is doing something.

And there goes the American’s puppet.

And so goes the Afghans too - brought into the error of communism. But the Iranians are holding up remarkably well considering how long the Soviets have been at them.

Ultimately I don’t think we can say that 1945 was boring form-bound, can we?

 

[stnylan]

So form-bound let us just recap where we are, the start of 1946. The Allies are just re-crossing the St Lawrence and pushing up against the Appalachians - and in the south-west into Texas. Meantime the Americans are still advancing against the central Canadian states and are making a new offensive into Mexico. In Europe - I believe I forgot to mention it by the Soviets ceded most of Poland to the new German Republic, still honouring the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact I guess. Yugoslavia holds onto all of its gains. Iran is still resisting against Russia, and Iraq too, though surely both must fall.

It does look like the Japanese have finally done something - an invasion of New Guinea.

I wonder - shall we check the casualty figures?

Now I could be wrong form-bound, but doesn’t it look like the Americans are getting rather close to surrendering.

Well now it does look like the Allies are making a serious push along the front - and isn’t that an attack towards Cleveland taking place?

Well so it is - also it seems like the USA is burning through its manpower. Well, it makes sense. More than five million dead … and the Allies can throw more and more into the fray. Ah, Ottawa is liberated as Cleveland falls.

Really American I don’t think the conquest of Baja California precisely offsets the loss of Ohio.

Well the Iranians and Iraqis fought longer than I would have thought likely, but those conflicts were only ever going to end one way.

I do despair of the Americans form-bound - now they have let San Diego fall to Mexican amphibious assault.

And now they have been forced to implement even more severe conscription measures.

As we move towards the end of the year Indiana falls and Detroit is imperilled.

And that’s it - the fall of Detroit was the fall of America - the UAW will be pleased.

And you know what form-bound - we can join the Allies! Though I don’t think very much of the peace treaty I must say. Far too restrained - but Japan takes Alaska. Some weirdness happens though in that the USA then re-enters the war against Japan. These humans are crazy. And it looks like a new war might be in the offing.

Finland folds somewhat later than usual - but look at my quartet of submarines!

And that war … soon I hope we will get a chance to test the Uruguayan Uranium Delivery Service!

But … nothing. Nothing is happening form-bound! Oh the war in the Pacific sort-of continues in a most desultory fashion, but nothing. The Allies and the Comintern just stare at each other. World Tension drops below 100% again and I can’t even try a phony justification.

I am so sorry form-bound, but it is now the end of 1948 and we failed. Five bombs, and not one tested. Lots of lovely bombers, and not one used. I only hope my mentor is not disappointed. Can you feel it form-bound, we are being called back - do not depart from me now. We must go back.