[b][/b][h1][center][b][u]The World as We Know It[/u][/b][/center][/h1] [center][b]Discord Chat[/b]: https://discord.gg/f6n4B8[/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/9n9fobL.png[/img] [i]The World, 1900[/i][/center][center][h2]September, 1900 (3/3)[/h2][/center] [b][center][h2]Just Out of Arms Reach[/h2][/center][/b] In Violette, the [u]Wartime Requisitions Act[/u] passed and the announcement of a new armaments complex was eagerly awaited. Unemployment in Violette, at 9%, was second highest only to Kalpia's 14%. In Valenoir and Aleir, Thecians workers most affected by the hiring freeze stood outside the local municipalities to see if their town had been selected for the new factory. When it was announced that neither Valenoir nor Aleir would be seeing the fruits of the Veletian's treasury, many wanted to riot. Veletian police arrived, expecting trouble. "The State! The State! L'état! L'état! They have all the money!" The shouts ran the length of the central avenue in Aleir. Men and women gathered, mostly interested at the spectacle of Thecian workers. A man with a flag that read "We Work. We Toil. We Lose" appeared, waving it to and fro in the center of the crowd. The [u]Pinnacle Programme[/u] had boosted wages and performed nothing short of a miracle, but in the agrarian Southeast, tensions were high considering the Pinnacle Programme's initial aversion to the Thecian worker. Leaderless and without aim, the mobs in these cities dispersed. For now. [center][img]https://libcom.org/files/images/library/1906%20Toulon%20greve%20des%20employe%CC%81s%20des%20tramways%20les%20employe%CC%81s%20leur%20femme%20et%20enfants.jpg[/img] [i]Thecian workers loitering near a newspaper building to receive the news, 1900[/i][/center] - [[b][color=lavender]Empire of Violette[/color][/b]: +3 Labor Unrest. -2% 'Poor' Approval.] [b][center][h2]Hiro-Meungese Tensions Rise[/h2][/center][/b] In the wake of failed mediation between the [b][color=brown]Grand Kingdom of Meung[/color][/b] and the [b][color=lightgreen]Imperium of Hiron[/color][/b], the Meung effectively sold Wenshou Island to the Radenans for $20,000,000. Their call for resettlement went largely unnoticed, as only the wealthiest 1% of the nation had any incentive or even the financial means to effectively emigrate back to the mainland. To the vast majority, whether it meant Radena or Meung were in charge, little in their day to day life would actually change. The island of Wenshou was an agrarian hobble, with a modicum of integrity. With nearly 2,400,000 citizens however, it was an important source of income with a growing agriculture and fishing base. 4% of the population were Hironese, with Gojong minorities present in the Northwest. The news of Radena's purchase came with some pause in Osladian and Kalpian circles, who feared the nation's expansion there with very little dissidence from either Violette or Tara. Additionally, the Meung were given a product license of the Kirov.86 rifle called the Xi Rifle Model 1. Surprisingly, the Radenans did not charge a licensing fee, which caused some consternation in Continental circles for "arming the Settumese savages with modern weapons." - [[b][color=brown]Grand Kingdom of Meung[/color][/b]: -2,400,000 'Poor'. +$20,000,000.] - [[b][color=crimson]Tsardom of Radena[/color][/b]: +2,400,000 'Poor'. -$20,000,000.] [b][h2][center]Kalpia Looks to the Future[/center][/h2][/b] The [b]Kalpian High Command[/b] requested new design specifications for a prototype rifle to Kerser Guns, Aurel & Trauggot and Kairth & Sons. The developer of the KR.99, Kairth & Sons reviewed the specifications and immediately dropped out of the design competition, with a signed letter from the CEO. "Only 18 months ago we created the KR.99 rifle, the best in the world at the time. There are few improvements to be made at this time." Kerser Guns and Aurel & Trauggot both accepted the design requests. They both promised prototypes within the next six to twelve months. Similar requests for a new field gun were picked up by Kerser Guns as well, with no promise on the development of a new field gun in 1900. The Kalpian government's loans were accepted and in the wake of the Kalpian economic crisis, President Reimund Braun promised, at a speech in Tarist: "The future, while not promised, is at least secured." Economists believe even if Kalpia defaulted on her loans, the nation would not go bankrupt until 1905, when Braun's term was up. [h2][center][b]Oslad Tells Zellonia: "Try Me"[/b][/center][/h2] In mid-September, a new drydock capable of furnishing an 8,000 ton warship is finished construction in Voskiya, Oslad. The drydock, which had been under construction only nine months ago, was awarded a foreign investment from the [b][color=beige]Seljuk Empire[/color][/b] of $1,900,000. Additionally, Seljuk diplomats arrived and requested three light cruisers be built in that same drydock of the Kirov-class for the Sultan's Navy. A sum of $710,000 would be paid to cover the cost of the warships, nearly $675,000 in building costs. The Seljuk requested all three ships be finished by 1901. [center][img]http://pigboats.com/subs/n-3%20w%20n-1%20n-2%2010-24-1916-a.jpg[/img] [i]Osladian drydocks, September, 1900[/i][/center] The Osladian Navy, which had it's hands full with the Zellonian Royal Navy, did not escape unscathed, and Kalpian, Veletian and Radenan alike wonder if a new naval arms race is brewing between the former belligerents of the Zello-Osladian War. [hr][hr] [hider=EXAMPLE ORDER OF BATTLE / ORBAT] [right][b][color=beige]Seljuk Empire[/color][/b] [i]Zengid Front[/i][/right] [u][b][center]Operation Suleiman (1898)[/center][/b][/u] [list][*]1. [b]Operational Scope[/b]: Major offensive intended to dislodged Zengid entrenched positions, specifically in the South-South Central along their frontline. This is an all out assault predicated with a 5 hour artillery barrage then an infantry mass assault between the towns of Ramun and Torza [*]2. [b]Location[/b]: Southwestern Zengid. [*]3. [b]Involved Forces[/b]: - [i]Seljuk 7th Army[/i] under Mushir Samir Pasha. [118,000 Soldiers | 118,000 Kalpian KR.99] [*]4. [b]Target[/b]: To dislodge Zengid defenders in the Ramun-Torza bridgehead and secure the Southern Flank for future advances. Cavalry will provide flank security on the Southern Edge of the offensive. [*]5. [b]Date[/b]: - Artillery Barrage: 9 February, 1900. 0400-0900 hours. - Major Offensive: 9 February-17 February unless exceeding 40% Losses. [*]6. [u][b]Order of Battle[/b][/u] [b][u]Seljuk 7th Army[/u][/b] ([i]Mushir Samir Pasha, 47[/i]) [118,000 Soldiers |118,000 Kalpian KR.99] [list][*]I Corps (Maj. General Ferik Zeki Pasha)[list][*]1st Division, 2nd Division, 3rd Division [*][b]Total[/b]: 36,000 Soldiers, 36,000 Kalpian KR.99[/list] [*]II Corps (Maj. General Suman Nosman)[list][*]4th Division, 5th Division, 6th Division [*][b]Total[/b]: 36,000 Soldiers, 36,000 Kalpian KR.99[/list] [*]III Corps (Maj. General Mirliva Prens Aziz Pasha)[list][*]7th Division, 8th Division, 9th Division [/list][list][*]1st Cavalry Brigade [*][b]Total[/b]: 46,000 Soldiers, 46,000 Kalpian KR.99[/list][/list][/list] [/hider]