Chain 046: Victoria

Chain 046: Victoria
Location: [-50] Rome, 2599 A.U.C. (1836 A.D.)
Identity: [-100] Statesman
Drawbacks: [+600] Import Save Game, Africa's Revenge

[50/1450]   Iron And Blood!
[150/1450]  The Iron Jumper
[450/1450]  That's Pretty Gross
[850/1450]  Decision Trees and Events
[1450/1450] Esteemed Retirement

Naturally, in the year 2600 AUC (or 1837 AD), it was found that, yes, the Aztecs had in fact gone to Africa. The Aztecs seemed to have a talent for advancing technology under pressure, and even if they had been subsumed into the nations of Africa, it didn't mean that their revenge wouldn't come. And not only their revenge, but the revenge of those whose homes had been taken over by European colonists, who had heard nightmare stories from the inheritors of the Caliphates that fled south, inheritors of a genocidal technology and a genocidal desire.

After the colonial powers had been expelled, they launched their assaults upon Europe. By land and by sea, our strongest galleons shattering under the force of their warships and destroyers. New tactics had to be invented to deal with them - explosive shells had an effect on metal hulls, even if not as pronounced as one might hope, but shrapnel detonated overhead of a ship could kill dozens. More importantly, however, sappers could sneak on board and detonate armory stores or even capture a ship - a pistol and a knife up close is as effective as anything else that can be brought to bear.

The solution was to capture the enemy's weaponry and put it in service, just as it was against the Aztecs, but the southern Roman empire was assaulted with brutal force. Mustard gas, artillery, both used against cities to deadly effect. Methods to deal with gas on the battlefield were pioneered and forced into service ahead of their time, and the European powers held conference in Geneva to come up with a more modern interpretation of the common laws of chivalry, a more modern conduct for warfare.

The Hundred Years' War, or as it would later be called, the First World War, was a bloody one. In time, the attackers were forced south once again, as the Roman Empire took the lead - Roman roads and Roman railways ensured that the endless flow of manpower kept moving and made any enemy counterattacks' victories very temporary, even if it meant that the conquests were also done in Rome's name. The other European powers were more than a bit irate at that, but they received spoils and technology rather than land; they were grudgingly satisfied with that, as they began to fight their proxy wars in South America. The cleanup of the conquered continent would be a project that would take longer than any of them had interest in, and it wasn't as though the subjugated people were taking kindly to it.

But then, they weren't given a choice; Rome's new practice was to take everything from those who attacked it, no longer to give quarter. On the other hand, despite the war, Africa was arguably more technologically advanced thna Europe itself - it just needed to be rebuilt. And... perhaps a bit distressingly, Rome had gotten an awful lot of practice in this regard.

Meanwhile, where was Russia and Bharat (India) in all of this, nations that were otherwise ostensibly interested in Europe? Russia was too far away and made empty promises, until the government was overthrown by a tyrant who began systematic purges that would make even the Aztecs blush. India, on the other hand, adopted a formal policy of neutrality toward European affairs, though their periodic wars with the Chinese nations always were bloody.

While the war was winding down, it was decided that when 2700 AUC rolled around, the Roman empire would be reorganized into the Roman republic once more. Nominally under control of the Immortal Emperor, whose word was still undeniably law and who was still the official figurehead, but primarily leaving the operations of the nation in the capable hands of Roman citizens and elected leaders. After all, a wave of democracy had been crossing the globe for quite some time now, and even Rome was not immune to feeling its effects - though more marginal groups like anarchists were dealt with harshly. To say nothing of communist agitators.

Relations with Russia were at an all time low.