Letter Bee

Precipice of War - The Big Leagues of NRP (Only generous tippers need apply)

Iron Lady, Part Three, The Agriculturist, Part Four, and The German Exile, Part Three

As Ludwig and Archibald were ushered into Priscilla Aglipay-Rizal's modest house by Irene the armed housekeeper, they would find the Lady President of the Philippines fussing over an accountant's ledger as she sat in her study; when she registered the door opening, the middle-aged woman would greet her peers with a warm smile and a wave before saying:

"I heard about your job in Bataan; you both did well. However, disturbing news has come up from our trade union contacts in Japan; we have less time than we thought we did."

"How much less?" Ludwig's voice was matter-of-fact, secure in the knowledge that nothing was to be done by panicking and losing oneself in fear. "And what is the nature of this news? Long-suppressed Trade Union workers don't exactly have eyes and ears in the Japanese Military."

Priscilla's calm but weary reply was, "No, but they are the ones tasked with producing the high-quality steel that goes into submarines and building the submarines themselves. Guess what the Japanese are churning out, along with planes, tanks, artillery, and all the arms and ammunition that their money can pay for?"

"We've always known that the Japanese have superior machines than we do," Ludwig replied. "But this news is disconcerting. Is 'The Contingency' still viable?" He knew it was; the Filipino people would fight to the end to preserve their hard-won freedom, but it required that their Lady President be safe to lead them. "Your safety will be paramount in the coming trials; same for your military staff."

"It is," the Lady President said. "But my people's lives are paramount. There can be no victory without them, especially in a war of attrition like I plan to wage. Which brings me to my next worry."

She then took out, from a desk, a sketch of a Japanese Zero fighter. "Japanese Aircraft outnumber and outgun us; if we don't have a way of taking them down, our cities and troop concentrations would be reduced to rubble; even tunnels can be starved out in time. So we need Anti-Aircraft Guns, but as the French have not responded to my requests for aid in exchange for a base yet..."

A sigh; the implication was that she knew a way out of the problem they faced, but it required a solution that was not hers' to provide. Or was it?

Ludwig would then respond, "And I know where you can get one. I still maintain some contacts back in my old homeland; weapons manufacturers that managed to avoid the purges that followed the German Civil War. Right now, I heard from an old friend, Dietrich Kessler, that a few perfectly servicible flak guns are about to be scrapped for parts. However, in exchange for, say, Rubber..."

"We have plenty of it," Priscilla caught on. "Very well, I will commission the relevant co-operatives and smallholders to increase the production of that stuff. As for you and Archibald, the two of you are to arrange the deal with Germany through third parties and the implementation of new techniques to maximize rubber production and quality." She turned to the Agriculturalist, who had been quiet for most of the talk. "I would also like your team to begin developing new dry rations; carry my requests to them. In the meantime, I am sending a message to my ambassador to Japan; he is to return home with all due haste lest he become a hostage or worse. Feelers are also to be sent to the Trade Unions in that country; they are sacrificing much for us, and so the least we can do for them is to provide a safe refuge in our country should things there go south."

Archibald finally spoke; "You are generous, Lady President. Very well, I shall begin the preperations as soon as possible." A sigh. "But I have to ask; is it really coming to war? Can't you make an alliance with China and frighten them off?"

Priscilla pursed her lips. "Hou's Navy has not been refitted to match Japan's. No help will come from China even if they are willing to give it. And while Hou himself is a good person, I risk asking too much of him, and him becoming my master as repayment for the debt I may accrue." A sigh. "An alliance with Socialist France and the Market Socialist Dutch should have been my best bet; but they are slow to respond even when peril is knocking at my gates. No, we have to do what we can, or perish."

"That may have to be enough," was Ludwig's response. "I will contact Deitrich as soon as possible; you will have the Anti-Air Guns."

Worlds Apart

Ascot blinked as he heard the other boy's words. "So...the townsfolk are bad, the Magician is also bad, and the latter may have started the whole thing if I assume he sent the dream that started it all. And apparently, the Magician is also about to get his hands on you." Ascot was angry at that; could imagine himself wrapping his hands around Magician's throat. "As I said, I'll protect you, Ellard."

I have a fixation with cute people close to my age with tragic backstories. That thought was valid. Then, a delayed response to Zino as the boy turned around and said, "Yes, we jumped onto the train tracks; Ghost Girl promised us powers and a trip to another world as a response. We got both, but well, we also had her controlling the flow of information." A frown. "I sort of trusted her; even now, I don't think she or the Magician will directly harm us as they need their pawns."

Then back to Ellard and Tabitha as the young man finally mustered the courage to talk to the latter. "Ms. Tabitha...are you okay? Perhaps you need something to eat?" He flew back to Officer Keahi or whoever carried the food and took some cucumbers. He absentmindely gave one to Koda, and gave another to Tabitha as he said, "Here. Also, it seems that we might need to fight against a...veteran. A veteran in this Magic thing. We have numbers, but there is a strong chance we'd lose."

A frown. "Which is why we need a battle plan; a plan to coordinate with each other to fight the Magician while protecting Ellard. And, to be honest, people have not been responsive to my request to tell me about their powers. A few haven't even put on their masks. But I think with a good enough plan, we can still win, and after that, we can seize the Magician's records or spellbooks and get the knowledge we need for an independent agenda."

He paused and pursed his lips. "The Magician has the advantage of home ground, as well as being able to talk us into a false sense of security with the promise of information. I think that the best plan is to pretend to be willing to listen to his explanations for why he committed such a crime, then attack him by surprise. I volunteer to launch the first move, and I think Michael and Tristan should coordinate with me; in fact, I'll tell them right now."

And with that, he flew away from Ellard and Tabitha and finally drew close to Tristan since their first coming to Iriss. He would then fly close to Tristan's ear, and whisper, "I have a strategy against the Magician. We talk to him then attack him. But...I also have my own paranoid suspicions; Ellard, though cute, has a story that is a bit too convinient. Call it 'Epileptic Trees', sorry for troping, but I think he might be The Magician himself and this is all part of one bigger test. Keep my suspicions under wraps; if I am wrong, I want a date with Ellard."

He then flew over to Michael Keahi, before saying, slightly louder: "We talk to the Magician until he believes he lulled us to a false sense of security, then attack him." No mention was made of the sudden paranoid guessing about Ellard. "We may also need to unleash Mr. Psycho at him, if we can guarantee that he won't turn against us."

@Redward@Etranger@Ceta de Cloyes@Scarescrow@Viatos@jdh97@Mammon@TaroAndSelia

Precipice of War - The Big Leagues of NRP (Only generous tippers need apply)

@Keyguyperson, Can I have a prominent Trade Union member in Japan defect to the Philippines just before you start any war?

Precipice of War - The Big Leagues of NRP (Only generous tippers need apply)

The German Exile, Part Two, The Agriculturalist, Part Three

Bataan Peninsula

Ludwig von Seckendorff waved at the red-shirted, plain-trousered Agriculturalist as the latter and his aides walked over to the former's Water Buffalo-drawn carriage; this, in turn, was driving down the road to Balanga City, the capital of Bataan province. As his old friend reached hearing range, the German aristocrat, now clad in a set of light tan semi-formal clothes, smiled and said:

"Mr. Santos, how good of you to come! It is delightful that the Lady President would ask us to chair the Farmer-Worker Defense Commitee together; I had the chance to see your work as I trekked south from Lingayen Gulf." There was genuine admiration in the German Exile's voice, and it was Archibald Santos' turn to smile as Ludwing continued to compliment him. "Your organic fertilizer formula has brought rich dividends to the local farmers; the surplus will definitely benefit both civilians and military."

Archibald chuckled. "Oh, it was nothing. Just a little carbonized rice hull, some rice straw, and manure. How are your earthworks?"

Ludwig's smile grew wider underneath his straw hat. "They're doing fine; lack of concrete has hampered our effectiveness at building aboveground defenses, but a bit of geologic research - examining soil density, water absorbency, and all those little factors that affect the construction of viable tunnels - has revealed various safe spots for underground networks in the mountains of this peninsula. Which, by the way, brings us to my own question; how viable is it to construct mushroom farms as part of the tunnel network? Fungi grow underground, right?"

The answer was, "I'd have to see the tunnels for myself, but I'd presume very viable if you're the one planning the networks. I actually have a copy of my paper as regards mushroom farming in the mountains with me; it might be of help."

"You're a lifesaver, Mr. Santos!" Ludwig responded. "Now let's go on to the city; the sun is hot and the farmers and workers can only tolerate so much lateness." A thought came to him. "By the way, are you still using the Chinese motor-cars? Travel by buffalo carriage is much cheaper, though slower."

The following remark was, "Well, let's just say I have to cover a lot of ground in a few months instead of just a few years. By the way, you should have seen the experimental farms in Central Luzon, as well as my efforts to promote potatoes and sweet potatoes. Actually, once we are done settling Bataan's defenses and how to feed them, why don't we ask Lady President for a side-trip there?"

Ludwig replied, "That is very noble of you, actually; very noble of you to offer, Mr. Santos."

-------

The Farmer-Worker's Meeting, held in an old American bungalow, went fairly well, with the locals discussing local issues while repeating their commitment to the defense of the province; their home. Some of said local issues involved the lack of suitable roads and transport for the excess produce being produced by the farms, as well as how education was held back by the lack of adequate lighting for the dark nights, which was when most people had free time after work. Something that Anita's Sugarcane Charcoal would help remedy; Archibald noticed before assuring the Farmer-Workers that was the case. Ludwig marvelled at his friend's achievment, before correcting himself; it was his friend's student's achievement - Mr. Santos would not want him mis-attributing the achievements of his beloved pupils, even to him.

When Ludwig's turn came, he would listen to the people's doubts about the tunnels and earthworks, as well as the experiences of the people maintaining them. He would also inspect some bootleg Mosin-Nagants made by the local defense co-operative, along with various petrol bombs and improvised explosives. And again, he would appreciate how cunning and crafty these people could be when united in a common cause.

Will that be enough to fend off foriegn invasion by the Chinese or the Japanese? The Lady President had administered a relatively long stretch of kind and benevolent rule, but she was somewhat isolated as well. Cunning, craft, and ingeniuity only went so far; the Philippines will have to rebuild international ties in order to survive.

Star Wars - Lawless Galaxy

Yo is this still recruiting?

@Peaceless

Sorry for the delay; and I think it still is.

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

Hey, I had fun, but I think it's time for me to leave the RP; bye for now, folks.

Precipice of War - The Big Leagues of NRP (Only generous tippers need apply)

@Vilageidiotx
I could see a Japanese businessman being there, whitey isn't the only one that can do neocolonialism after all.

@Keyguyperson

So, when will you make an IC post?

Star Wars: The New Republic - Gordian Knot (Set six years before TFA)

Sure, colour me interested.

@mattmanganon

Thanks! What are your ideas for a character?

Precipice of War - The Big Leagues of NRP (Only generous tippers need apply)

<Snipped quote by Vilageidiotx>

I guess this is a good time to ask. How do you think the Germans and Ethiopians would get along at this point in time? Still buddy-buddy like?

@Shyri

Not Village, but I think Salhe is willing to be buddies with anyone.

Life in a different world [A Re:Zero setting / Fantasy RP] (Accepting!)

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