Eternity RPC Board
Fort Jarrelton, Adwest (27 Marth 1588)
"Will this really be necessary, your majesty? I can proceed to Astratt without infringing on your family time, although to be with the royal family would be an honor nevertheless"
Sophia glanced dully at the Count of Pelleshaw and her Foreign Minister Oswald Callaghan from across the limousine they were both on. Despite her label as a conservative, changing the royal family's modes of transportation was one of the first acts she decided on early into her reign. No longer did the finely-crafted carriage of her father trot the streets of Balfonheim or anywhere else and look odd among the rest of the vehicles on the road whenever there were royal engagements to be had. Indeed, the carriage only made her appearances in the most formal ceremonies of the monarchy.
Without an answer from his liege, Oswald withdrew any further queries and returned to arranging his dossiers. Beside the Foreign Minister sat the Prince-Consort, who kept himself busy by watching the fields they passed on their journey. On a separate compartment of the vehicle were the two royal children, the four year-old Crown Princess Laura Jeanne and the two year-old Prince Edward, attended to by the ladies-in-waiting of the Queen. They were silent in their compartment, to the satisfaction of their mother who detested the meaningless noise of unruly children.
The entire royal family had left the capital some hours ago during the morning, travelling southwest to a military base in the Duchy of Pharamond - a region that covered more than three-fourths of Adwest's border with Taeunas.
Their journey to Fort Jarrelton this particular day had two purposes. The first was for the Queen to personally inspect the pace of fortification being undertaken near and in the border. Ever since the sharpening of regional tensions in Kvaenna since the Kolhari War and their continued rise due to the signing of the Kvaennan Treaty Organization, the Adwestene Crown had been on high alert.
It was in 1584 immediately upon the annexation of the Westenne Confederacy that Adwesene leaders knew it was time to commit down a path that they cannot go back from once begun. Preparation for regional conflict where Adwest was surrounded by a string of enemies was undertaken, beginning with the return of the draft and a drive to have two million soldiers in the Queen's Grand Army within three years. All this, of course, was implemented by royal decree of Sophia.
More than just serving defensive purposes, Sophia and her most trusted advisers on the Ducal Council knew that the war machine of Adwest would be employed sooner than later - and it had to be well-prepared when that time finally came like a bolt of lightning from a cloudless sky. It was only a matter of time, and Sophia was sure her neighbors knew it as well.
Although cross-border trade had not been restricted with anyone, extensive military fortifications spanning the Adwestene border with Taeunas and Goldecia have been setting up since at least 1586. The encirclement strategy spearheaded by the spineless Cynese in the west would inevitably bring Adwest to a two-front war, and no expense was to be spared to avoid the dilemma that could possibly arise from such a situation.
The royal family arrived at their destination by noon, and were greeted by the commander of the local garrison.
"Your majesty" exclaimed Major General Dalian Avery - a man whose loyalties and admiration were strictly bound to the late Edward III, but nonetheless remained stalwart in service of the Adwestene realm.
Two decades before today, Dalian had the pride of becoming a handpicked general of Edward III, in charge of one of the numbered armies of the military. But the forces of aristocracy which headed the new leadership, with their visions for expansion, demoted him due to the threat he posed to their ambitions. Dalian would never have engaged in such a dishonorable act, though he also never forgot such disrespect afforded to him
"Rise" responded Sophia, before they proceeded to be led by the Major General.
The convoy of vehicles which came from Balfonheim had proceeded immediately to the sizable airfield of the base. Contingents of fighter planes lay outside of their hangars, either in preparation for flight missions or just for show for the arrival of the Queen.
The entourage of Sophia walked in the direction of one of the farther airstrips, where an aircraft unlike any other in Jarrelton or in Adwest was to be seen.
This was their second and main purpose for visiting Jarrelton. To inspect and board the HMAS Zealous, which would then take flight with the royal family for the very first time and ferry them to the capital of Sindar-Astrasia
Sophia, her Prince-Consort, and her children were scheduled to visit her brother-in-law, the Grand Duke of Sindar-Astrasia, ostensibly so that the old man can feast his eyes upon children of his own blood before he departs Siora.
But the real purpose was to discuss matters of significance for the two heads of state. The Grand Duchy, a festering parliamentary democracy, had formally positioned itself some time ago in the anti-Adwest camp in the region, with her Prime Minister signing the KTO treaty. But Grand Duke Desmond, whose descendants were Adwestene high nobility, stood opposed to this, and was Sophia's key for reuniting the wayward state back into Adwestene arms.
And the two monarchs had decided that even if their purpose wasn't stated openly, then their common enemies could at least get an idea that their decision was unacceptable and something was to be done. Sophia disliked hiding, and what more an omen could she choose than to bring a 400-ton airship hovering over Astratt like a mass of rain clouds.
Of course, the HMAS Zealous, upon arriving in Sindar-Astrasia, would be unarmed. Yet it was built to be a military symbol and a weapon, and once returning back to Adwest it would have its weapons reinstalled immediately.
Cluster munitions were its primary weapon against ground targets, but it had considerable defense against aerial interception by way of about twenty CIWS mounted throughout the belly and the balloon of the airship. On its ventral, the airship boasted eight batteries which could be loaded with either long or medium-range anti-air missiles, some distance away from the massive bomb bay built into the balloon itself.
Weapons aside, the envelope of the balloon of over 230 meters was encased in a skeleton of titanium and carbon-fiber reinforced polymer. The same materials were used for the gondola and the batteries. It was capable of travelling at a maximum speed of 160 knots or up to 290 kph, and reaching an altitude of about 45,000 feet.
It was an impressive rigid airship, the pinnacle so far of decades of Adwestene research and development into what was considered an obsolete field of aviation.
"The finest work of aerial engineering throughout the grand kingdom, your majesty. May I welcome you to the HMAS Zealous"
Major General Dalian proudly proclaimed those words as the doors to the gondola opened. The gondola - which housed the airship's bridge, command center, quarters, mess hall, engine room, and other facilities for personnel - was significantly large and was composed of four levels extending from just below the nose cone all the way to the airship's ventral midsection.
The Queen and the Prince-Consort observed the beast's underside and its stabilizers, pleased that the markings of the Royal Adwestene Air Force were already painted. They then accepted Dalian's invitation and boarded.
"At what time are we going to depart for Astrasia?" inquired Sophia as she observed with her eyes the interior. The thumps of their boots and of other soldiers echoed throughout the cold metal hallways.
"Our maintenance crew are making final preparations - this will only be the fourth time the airship will fly for an extended period outside of its initial testing. We shall depart by two in the afternoon, your majesty."
"Bring me to the battery bay"
The command by his liege was unexpected, although Dalian did not flinch. He didn't leave himself to wonder, and immediately changed course to where he was commanded to. Sophia was pleased, uttering something else upon the resumption of the tour.
"I want them armed before our departure, major general"
"Will this really be necessary, your majesty? I can proceed to Astratt without infringing on your family time, although to be with the royal family would be an honor nevertheless"
Sophia glanced dully at the Count of Pelleshaw and her Foreign Minister Oswald Callaghan from across the limousine they were both on. Despite her label as a conservative, changing the royal family's modes of transportation was one of the first acts she decided on early into her reign. No longer did the finely-crafted carriage of her father trot the streets of Balfonheim or anywhere else and look odd among the rest of the vehicles on the road whenever there were royal engagements to be had. Indeed, the carriage only made her appearances in the most formal ceremonies of the monarchy.
Without an answer from his liege, Oswald withdrew any further queries and returned to arranging his dossiers. Beside the Foreign Minister sat the Prince-Consort, who kept himself busy by watching the fields they passed on their journey. On a separate compartment of the vehicle were the two royal children, the four year-old Crown Princess Laura Jeanne and the two year-old Prince Edward, attended to by the ladies-in-waiting of the Queen. They were silent in their compartment, to the satisfaction of their mother who detested the meaningless noise of unruly children.
The entire royal family had left the capital some hours ago during the morning, travelling southwest to a military base in the Duchy of Pharamond - a region that covered more than three-fourths of Adwest's border with Taeunas.
Their journey to Fort Jarrelton this particular day had two purposes. The first was for the Queen to personally inspect the pace of fortification being undertaken near and in the border. Ever since the sharpening of regional tensions in Kvaenna since the Kolhari War and their continued rise due to the signing of the Kvaennan Treaty Organization, the Adwestene Crown had been on high alert.
It was in 1584 immediately upon the annexation of the Westenne Confederacy that Adwesene leaders knew it was time to commit down a path that they cannot go back from once begun. Preparation for regional conflict where Adwest was surrounded by a string of enemies was undertaken, beginning with the return of the draft and a drive to have two million soldiers in the Queen's Grand Army within three years. All this, of course, was implemented by royal decree of Sophia.
More than just serving defensive purposes, Sophia and her most trusted advisers on the Ducal Council knew that the war machine of Adwest would be employed sooner than later - and it had to be well-prepared when that time finally came like a bolt of lightning from a cloudless sky. It was only a matter of time, and Sophia was sure her neighbors knew it as well.
Although cross-border trade had not been restricted with anyone, extensive military fortifications spanning the Adwestene border with Taeunas and Goldecia have been setting up since at least 1586. The encirclement strategy spearheaded by the spineless Cynese in the west would inevitably bring Adwest to a two-front war, and no expense was to be spared to avoid the dilemma that could possibly arise from such a situation.
The royal family arrived at their destination by noon, and were greeted by the commander of the local garrison.
"Your majesty" exclaimed Major General Dalian Avery - a man whose loyalties and admiration were strictly bound to the late Edward III, but nonetheless remained stalwart in service of the Adwestene realm.
Two decades before today, Dalian had the pride of becoming a handpicked general of Edward III, in charge of one of the numbered armies of the military. But the forces of aristocracy which headed the new leadership, with their visions for expansion, demoted him due to the threat he posed to their ambitions. Dalian would never have engaged in such a dishonorable act, though he also never forgot such disrespect afforded to him
"Rise" responded Sophia, before they proceeded to be led by the Major General.
The convoy of vehicles which came from Balfonheim had proceeded immediately to the sizable airfield of the base. Contingents of fighter planes lay outside of their hangars, either in preparation for flight missions or just for show for the arrival of the Queen.
The entourage of Sophia walked in the direction of one of the farther airstrips, where an aircraft unlike any other in Jarrelton or in Adwest was to be seen.
This was their second and main purpose for visiting Jarrelton. To inspect and board the HMAS Zealous, which would then take flight with the royal family for the very first time and ferry them to the capital of Sindar-Astrasia
Sophia, her Prince-Consort, and her children were scheduled to visit her brother-in-law, the Grand Duke of Sindar-Astrasia, ostensibly so that the old man can feast his eyes upon children of his own blood before he departs Siora.
But the real purpose was to discuss matters of significance for the two heads of state. The Grand Duchy, a festering parliamentary democracy, had formally positioned itself some time ago in the anti-Adwest camp in the region, with her Prime Minister signing the KTO treaty. But Grand Duke Desmond, whose descendants were Adwestene high nobility, stood opposed to this, and was Sophia's key for reuniting the wayward state back into Adwestene arms.
And the two monarchs had decided that even if their purpose wasn't stated openly, then their common enemies could at least get an idea that their decision was unacceptable and something was to be done. Sophia disliked hiding, and what more an omen could she choose than to bring a 400-ton airship hovering over Astratt like a mass of rain clouds.
Of course, the HMAS Zealous, upon arriving in Sindar-Astrasia, would be unarmed. Yet it was built to be a military symbol and a weapon, and once returning back to Adwest it would have its weapons reinstalled immediately.
Cluster munitions were its primary weapon against ground targets, but it had considerable defense against aerial interception by way of about twenty CIWS mounted throughout the belly and the balloon of the airship. On its ventral, the airship boasted eight batteries which could be loaded with either long or medium-range anti-air missiles, some distance away from the massive bomb bay built into the balloon itself.
Weapons aside, the envelope of the balloon of over 230 meters was encased in a skeleton of titanium and carbon-fiber reinforced polymer. The same materials were used for the gondola and the batteries. It was capable of travelling at a maximum speed of 160 knots or up to 290 kph, and reaching an altitude of about 45,000 feet.
It was an impressive rigid airship, the pinnacle so far of decades of Adwestene research and development into what was considered an obsolete field of aviation.
"The finest work of aerial engineering throughout the grand kingdom, your majesty. May I welcome you to the HMAS Zealous"
Major General Dalian proudly proclaimed those words as the doors to the gondola opened. The gondola - which housed the airship's bridge, command center, quarters, mess hall, engine room, and other facilities for personnel - was significantly large and was composed of four levels extending from just below the nose cone all the way to the airship's ventral midsection.
The Queen and the Prince-Consort observed the beast's underside and its stabilizers, pleased that the markings of the Royal Adwestene Air Force were already painted. They then accepted Dalian's invitation and boarded.
"At what time are we going to depart for Astrasia?" inquired Sophia as she observed with her eyes the interior. The thumps of their boots and of other soldiers echoed throughout the cold metal hallways.
"Our maintenance crew are making final preparations - this will only be the fourth time the airship will fly for an extended period outside of its initial testing. We shall depart by two in the afternoon, your majesty."
"Bring me to the battery bay"
The command by his liege was unexpected, although Dalian did not flinch. He didn't leave himself to wonder, and immediately changed course to where he was commanded to. Sophia was pleased, uttering something else upon the resumption of the tour.
"I want them armed before our departure, major general"
|| Democratic Republic of Mayari ||
There is no solution to the peasant problem but to wage armed struggle, conduct agrarian
revolution and build revolutionary base areas
There is no solution to the peasant problem but to wage armed struggle, conduct agrarian
revolution and build revolutionary base areas