ME7 FastForward Thread

[perdedor99]

For the entries of all ME7 nations during Fast Forward. Please put year and nation in the title of your post.

[perdedor99]

Draka 1887:

International relations: During the year Draka was too occupied with internal affairs to involve themselves with formal alliances but continued to improve their relations with the Russian Empire, the Japanese Empire and the Kingdom of Persia.

In regard to the British Empire and the other nations in the African Continent, the relations between the nations and Draka were frosty, not to say inexistent and officially the Draka refuse to recognize the claims of the Europeans powers in the western coast of the continent. Only the existence of British Central Africa cooled down the more radical elements of the Drakan senate asking for the elimination of those enclaves.

Relations with the American nations are also non-existent. The Draka recognize this American nations alliance is very powerful indeed and they are trying not to get on their bad side for now.

Internal relations: The government main concern was to put under the yoke the new territories. The process will take years and in some places, like in Madagascar were the influence of the cannibals in the south was very strong, will be very bloody. In the border areas, I see natives crossing into the British held Central Africa as refugees, especially in the jungle areas, but in the plains area they will easier to hunt.

The arrival of Skandistasni and Americans will continue. The Skandistani will be a force to be reckon with in Drakan politics by the time the emigration ended, with a little over a million Skandistani settling in Draka between 1886-1892 with the peak year being 1889, the crisis year. The American never emigrated in force like the Skandistani and by 1890 the trickle was over. No more than 75,000 emigrated during that time period.

The Antartican serfs turned out to be more of trouble than worth it and they were put to work by the combines in the construction of the National Rail System. A rail system build to ease rapid movement of troops from one side of the Republic to the other as fast as possible. The system will be completed by 1896 and by them the majority of the Antartican serfs have died from being overworked and the terrible conditions being forced to endure.

The Combines also began to exploit the new mines in the Katangan province by the end of the year while also a national telegraph system based in the Railroad one plus electricity for the cities was considered priorities needed to be advanced.

Military:

Army: The structure of the Army stayed the same during the year but two developments were achieved. Ismael Hassansen recipe for Greek Fire was approved for general use and the flamethrower was born. He continued his development of the Djinn tank and a test model was build to serve as model for future refinements. Production of steam cars continued but until further refinements were achieved they were only assigned to city defense, as their actions in the Cape Town Siege prove them to be effective in the role of mobile batteries during the defense and their current capabilites made them more of a problem in the field.

Dr Alexandra Tolgren first design was approved for general issue and began to reach the Drakan field units by the end of the year. The weapon was not immediately accepted by the troops that liked the LeMat revolver but eventually the quantity of rounds and the ease to reload made it a favorite of the troops. Specifications:

Tolgren Automatic Pistol, model 1887 caliber: 10 x 15 mm Weight: 1.2 kg Range: 45 m effective, 90 maximum Rate of Fire: 45 rounds per minute (reloaded) Feed System: Detachable box in grip, 12 rounds Operation: Gas-delayed blowback, semi-automatic.

Navy and Air: The AS-2 began production. A very small improvement over the original ones, they were only a transitional model build to replace losses suffered due to accidents until the AS-3 build with Drakaluminum skin enter production.

In the Naval command the fight between big guns and small ships continued with Archon Trevine siding with the small ship cabal. Budget was approved for the construction of fast torpedo boats for the defense of the coast, fast torpedo destroyer boats for eliminating enemy torpedo boats and into the further construction of coastal submarines to protect the nation’s harbors. A compromise was reached with the Big Gun advocates to upgrade one capital ship a year to the standards of the Ferguson and to use the removed guns on those ships to upgrade the defense on the nation’s harbors. Budget was approved for the construction of 25 torpedo boats a year, 25 coastal submarines and 15 destroyers. All cruiser and battleship construction was cancelled during the year until an board decided what capital ships the nation needed. Eventually in December a class of 4 coastal battleships was decided to be build. The Big Gun advocates were furious by the design approved but were informed these ships were going to be used for the defense of the nation and not for offensive operations. They still fumed that funds were allocated to these ships while their request for big guns ships were being denied. The specifications were:

10,288 t Length: 350.9 ft Beam: 69.3 ft Draft: 24 ft Speed: 16.21 knots Complement: 586 officers and men Armament: 4 x 12-inch guns, 8 x 8-inch guns, 4 x 6-inch guns, 2 x 3-inch guns, 20 x 6-pounders, 6 x 1-pounders, 6 x 18-inch torpedo tubes.

[Justin Pickard]

Greece 1887:

International relations: Negotiations with the British for railway construction through Constantinople. Futher talks with Imperial Austria for trade and investment. Organised emmigration drive for rapid population boost in African colony. Futher industrialisation of Greek Turkey.

Internal relations: Establishment of political state infrastructure in Greek Africa. Growing socialist faction in Greek Parliament. Unexpected death of King Constantine (1839-87), to be suceeded by his brother, who becomes King Alexander of Greece (1842-). Period of national mourning. Further industrialisation, development of banking and financial industries, speeding up of coal extraction, development of railway and telegraphy links. Major earthquake in North Turkey.


Military:

Army: Prototype armoured trains developed. Very rudimentary land ironclads. Conscription of Turkish natives.

Navy and Air: Further airship development, 20% increase in shipbuilding industries.

[perdedor99]

Persia: 1887

International relations: The Persian nation was in ascendance. They doubled their territory in a year; they were a respected member of this New World community of nations and were considered by many a power that could be of great importance in the future.

As such the Shah recognized his nation was still a little behind in the technological game. His decision of friendly relations with the Drakan government was denounced by many nations but he considered the Drakan weapons as the best in the open market and the price was about right in his opinion. While his army was being trained by a very able Austrian military mission he needed to upgrade his naval branch and approached the French at the end of the year asking for their guidance in the development of their fleet.

The nation was at peace with all their neighbors during the year and even feelers were sent to the Russians in an attempt to improve their very cold relations at this time. The Europeans nations vie for their favors recognizing the Persian nation as an open market, due to the liberal economic policies of the Shah.

The Persian Volunteer Force continue to serve in the civil war in Skandistan, with their forces being used as shock forces by the Jutland faction. The experience adquired by this force will be valuable in the future.


Internal Relations: The main concern of the Shah was to improve the communications infrastructure of his nation and to strength the economy. Drakan, Austrian, Canadians and other nationalities openly fought for the chance of building the nation’s telegraph system and railroad infrastructure. The Shah considered to give the license of the development of the telegraph and railroad franchises to a nation in specific but at the end he decided against it. He considered competition brought the cost down and helped in developing additional economic relations with other world nations. Also local industries received incentives to protect their products while taxes where imposed in any import that directly competes with products locally produced on the Kingdom.

The Shah considered the new subjects of his Kingdom needed to be on equal terms with his subjects pre-event, so he decided to start a Kingdom wide educational revolution, with free education been given to any male citizen that proves himself to be capable of serving the nation, no matter from what part of the Kingdom they came from. This civil service program was successful during the first year of existence, with thousands of young men and boys taking this opportunity to expand their horizons.

Military:

Army: Due to conscription in the new territories the army grew to 400,000 men and 60,000 cavalrymen. The army began a reorganization based in the Austrian Empire Imperial Army, with forces divided into Regiments of 1,000 men. Also the arrival of Drakan rifles and gatling guns gave the Persian army a degree of firepower comparable with the one of any European army of equal size. The Persian Volunteers Force in Skandistan served as a training school for the future leaders of the Persian Army and soldiers were rotated regularly, about every 6 months.

Navy and Air: The Shah considered the Navy needed to grow and that also needed the guiding hand of an European nation during the developing years and after consideration the French were contacted to inquire if they accept to train the Persian Navy. Money from the budget was separated to build more frigates to defend the coast but plans were in the making to order abroad a battleship and a coastal battleship for prestige considerations. Finally by the end of the year the French and the Canadians received contracts to build one each for the Persian Navy.

Specifications of the Canadian build ship:
Displacement: 6,682 tons, Length: 319', Beam: 57',Draft: 21'6", Speed: 17 knots, Complement: 392, Armament: Four 10"; six 6"; seven six-pounders; eight one-pounders; four 14" torpedo tubes

Specifications for the French build ship:
Displacement: 12,007 tons, Length: 117.81 m, Beam: 21.39 m, Draught: 8.38 m, Speed: 18 knots, Complement: 666 - 710, Armament: 2 x 12-in, 2 x 10.8 in, 8 x 5.5-in, 8 x 3.9-in guns, 12 x 3-pounder guns, 2 x 18-in tubes

[Ward]

Republic of France 1887


France is occupied with Internal Affairs with it Froming the Republic this year.

Army is Changing from a Blue and Red uniform to one of a Reddish Brown Uniform . They are also studing after battle reports from the Franco Prussian War . They are looking into steam powered Armord land Ships . They have also ordered 5 Ridged Airships and 5 Airships.

The Navy is ordering 40 new TB and 4 Armored Crusers an 3 Battleships .
The French Navy is sending misions to other Nations to see what they Navies are doing .

[Glen]

Kingdom of New Granada
1887

This Mosaic of Worlds finally was treated in February to its first Carnaval, New Granadan Style.

Rumors had spread throughout the new nations of the world, and several of the more affluent or nearby went to cities throughout the Caribbean, the New Granadan Main, and Central America to join in the festivities.

Lavish feasts, huge elaborate parades, and masqued balls were thrown throughout the Kingdom, most of all in that year's capitol and new home of the Patriarch of the Americas, Cartagena. The rum and agua ardiente flowed.

Masked men wore the peace bond on their swords and guns, asiduously avoiding any slights, and giving great latitude to all. Masked women of all stations flaunted naked flesh for baubles, and were forward in ways that would have shamed at any other time. Physical dalliances of all sorts up to but not including full intercourse were the norm. But this was Carnaval, when almost anything was permissible, and would not be mentioned again once Ash Wednesday came. The women of the former Navarrese Brasillia appeared to especially take the spirit of Carnaval to heart, and would inform their sisters in Navarre Spain, who would flock to New Granada for Carnaval in years to come.

The Crown Prince of France in exile was present for the baccanalian event, preparing for the expedition into the Amazon to seek out the antediluvian marvels discovered there, for science and glory. By all accounts, he thoroughly enjoyed the festivities.

Later in the year, his expedition and others would bring back to the zoological parks and universities of New Granada both living specimens and trophies of the strange beasts to be found in isolated spots throughout the Amazon and even in Azteca.

The Azteca region, under the leadership of Captain General Cortez, became one of the great frontiers of New Granada. A melange of Granadan adventurers, stranded New Spaniards, 15th century native mesoamericans, and Mexicans from Sonora and Rio Grande flocked to the region. Coach routes were established criss-crossing the region, while the slower process of building rail lines from Mayan New Granada across the Azteca region to Sonora and Rio Grande was pushed forward. Racing also across the region a bit faster were the lines of telegraphs. Port cities were growing in Veracruz and Acapulco. Mexico City was becoming a strange mix of 15th and 19th century architecture.

The Mesoamericans were being very successfully converted to Christianity by the vigorous efforts of the New Granadan missionaries. Conveniently, most of them had become convinced that the old world had died away with the event, and this was the World of the Sixth Sun, one where Quetzalcoatl went by the name Christ and that the Sun had grown kind and had been satiated by the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, ending the need for human sacrifice forevermore. It wasn't exactly orthodox theology, but it was helping people make the conceptual leap, and within a few generations they would probably look back on it as nothing more than that, a transition.

The Amazon regions as well were a new frontier to the New Granadans, one a little more difficult to pierce, but still one that they made efforts towards. Rail lines would snake through the rainforests to the Amazon river, the border of the new New Granada. Boats would ply its waters, attracting traders and adventurers from New Granada, but also Spanish Brazil and Viceroyal Peru. The Amazon was rapidly becoming another avenue for trade between the three nations.

Immigration to New Granada continued as it traditionally had. Most of the immigrants were from the cities of the Americas and Europe. Cosmopolitan Jews, especially Sephardim and the Morrenos, flocked to the tolerant New Granada. Ambitious men and women of African or Indian descent travelled there from throughout the Americas to take advantage of the multiethnic society of New Granada. Though many still stayed in their homelands, where things were slowly improving as the influence of New Granadan society was felt, and especially as New Granadan bankers took advantage of the blind spot of racist competitors to finance both small farmers and grand dreamers whose only problem was being born with the 'wrong' pedigree. In years to come people such as George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington would benefit from funding from New Granada, and the world would benefit from their efforts.

New Granada had for a long time used balloons for their weather and custom services. Now they began to build more ambitious rigid framed dirigibles, filled with helium from the new fields in the American Southwest. Their engines were the very first primitive oil burning ones developed by Octavio Diaz. The Raptor Class of Battleships were by the middle of the year all refitted as all big gun ships, and soon were making shake down cruises throughout New Granada. Needless to say, the navies of the world were paying attention. The older ships were left in their pre-raptor configuration, and instead an ambitious new design was in the works. Until then, a few more new Raptor Class ships would be produced. Also, armored trains carrying heavy artillery and Hotchkiss guns would begin to be experimented with. The difficult part was figuring out how to get them to travel for short distances over gaps in the tracks....

The army would begin to switch over to a modified rifle design (the OTL Lee-Enfield).

New Granadans collaborated on technological projects with many of the nations of the Americas, especially the Canadians, Americans, and Platanese. It was an age of exploration and discovery for New Granada. Overall, 1887 was a very good year.

[Aussey]

Austria 1887:

International relations: Emperor Louis Joseph weds Princess Maria of China & the Phillipines in March of 1887. As part of the marriage treaty, the Imperial Confederation recognizes Emperor Carlos I and his nation and claims. Further relations and summits held between Emperor Louis Joseph and King Alexander of the Hellenes. The Emperor's cousin, Archduke Charles Habsburg-Lorraine-Hohenzollern is sent as Imperial Ambassador to the court of the Shah in Persia.

The Imperial Confederation stays on good terms with their African neighbors, those being Mauribrasil, Draka, and Great Britain.

Of course, the Emperor being a Frenchmen himself, tries (successfully?) to further relations with the French Republic, while not trying to offend the exiled Crown Prince. The Emperor was against claiming the title "King of the French" when it was offered, sometime in July of 1887, and the proposition was shot down.

Internal relations: The year of 1887 brought more of the reforms. With the the Governor-Generals and Viceroys firmly planted in Africa (some talk from the international community for the appointment of a female Governor-General), the African lands were ready for their own parliaments.

The Parliament Act of 1887 provided a Parliament in Addis Ababa, Tripoli, and the continuation of the one in Vienna. It also made the parliament in Vienna the Federal Capital, of the entire confederation. In the Act it made the Austrian Empire "first among equals" of the consituent parts of the confederation, with the responsibility of foreign affairs, military, etc.&etc. The Imperial Power Act provided for the hirearchy and designated powers of the Emperor, Governor-General, and Regional viceroys. Also, the Mass Immigration, as it was called, brought in 10,000 Skandistanis, Jews, and other unwanted minorities into the Nile region, which was reason for the Nile Plantation Act which set up each plantation woud be 300 acres by 300 acres.

The Empress gave birth to a son in October, who was christened Joseph Louis Ferdinand Charles Leopold von Habsburg-Lorraine-Bourbon, which was part of the Imperial Surname Act, establishing the Imperial Family's surname officially changed from Habsburg-Lothringen-Bourbon, to the more French Habsburg-Lorraine-Bourbon. It also stated all archdukes born of Habsburg women that had been replanted in Austria upon the Great Event, were to take the surname of Habsburg- then their paternal surnames.

Military: (for the entire confederation)

Army: Taking ideas from the neighbor nation of Greece, the first armoured trains were put on the tracks in the Summer of 1887. The Parliament Act of 1887, under the Military Articles, again backed up the Universal enlistment age. More propaganda (targeted at 16-25 year olds) was used to enlist young men into the African Legion.

The Mohamedean Rebellions of 1887 (from April to August) were multiple unsuccesful attempts by the local Muslims to throw off Austrian rule. At the Khartoum Massacre, over 7,000 native African men were shot down by Imperial Guards at the Regional Parliament building. Many semi-succesful attempts were made to hide this from the international community.

Over 300,000 men were inlisted into the Army that year, a great improvement, not seen since the reign of Maria Theresa I (not the recent one.) 3,000 extra troops were sent to Jerusalem.

Navy and Air: (for the entire confederation)

The year 1887 saw the final construction of three capital ships and the beginning of two more. The HIMS Dauphine, HIMS Alexandria, and HIMS Libya II, (all named according to the Confederate Naval Act, styling all ships HIs Imperial Majesty's Ship, or HIMS) were finnished. The construction of the planned HIMS Empress Maria and HIMS Christina Imperatrix (named ofr the emperor's wife, and the empress's mother, the Empress-Mother Christina) began construction.

Libya & Egypt 1887:

Internal relations: With the establishment of the Governor-General, two liutenants-governors and the numerous regional viceroys, the Federation of Libya & Egypt was set for government. Under the Parliament Act of 1887, the National Capital was placed in Tripoli. A Provincial Parliament was also erected in Alexandria, as the home for the Lieutenate-Governor of Egypt and government building for the province of Egypt.

The Act of Succession of Libya & Egypt formally banned females from inheriting the Viceregal Throne of the Governor-General. It also abolished hereditary succession to the Office of Liutenate-Governor, and Office of African Viceroys.

In comparison to Abyssinia, and even Austria, Libya & Egypt was the least successful of the three consituent parts of the empire. It was said "There is no federation. Libya has merely annexed more lands" implying that the entire federation was centered over the needs of Libya and the Libyan peoples. The Governor-General has yet to pass the Succession Act, and after not passing it withn the given 30 days, the Viceregal power was temporarily suspended, and placed all of Africa under the jurisdiction of the Abyssinian governor until the Governor-General of Libya & Egypt passes the act.

Navy and Air: The HIMS Star of North Africa was made, and was launched, of course, in the Port of Tripolia.

Abyssinia 1887:

Internal relations: The year 1886 closed with the almost coronation of the Princess-General as she was referred to, as Governor-General of Abyssinia. Without the need for two provinces, the Governor-General of Abyssinia was in direct control over the entire "nation." To stress unity, the Ethiopian Act of 1887 changed the crown's name from "Union of Abyssinia" to "Crown of Abyssinia" under the act, it was again stressed that the power of the Governor-General was second only to that of the Emperor Louis Joseph. The Succession Act, which was required to be passed, recognized the newborn son as Heir to the Ethiopian Throne, also the Austrian. To earn more of the emperor's good will, the Governor-General and Parliament of Abyssinia declared the archduke "Crown Prince of Ethiopia."

The Mass Immigration greatly increased population, and with seeing the Islamic Skandistanis, th native African (muslims) became more cooperative with the Abyssinian (and in turn, Austrian) government. The Religious Settlement of 1887 allowed the building of mosques, under the condition a Church must be built within 5 miles.]

Navy and Air: Three ships were built and produced in Abyssinia in the year. The HIMS Khartoum, HIMS Crown of Ethiopia, and the HIMS Pride of Africa were launched on assorted ports along the Somali coast.

[Glen]

The Kingdom of Spain and Brazil
1887

The integration of Navarre and Castile, Portugal, and Brazil continues in the year 1887. The rather unusual opinions of the Navarrese on women and religion are hard to swallow for some more conservative Spaniards, but the miracle of the Event and the reconcilliation of the Churches has done a lot to open peoples' minds to new possibilities.

The King and Queen are blessed with twins this year, a boy and a girl.

Modernization of the Armed Forces is an obsession of the Spanish. They have received surplus guns, artillery, and ships from La Plata, New Granada, Mauriafrica, and France mostly, including a lot of captured equipment from the defunct Empire of the Midnight Sun. Still not up to the first rank standards of this new world, they now have enough however to at least make for a difficult target for any foreign power. They will continue to work to modernize for the next several years. They especially hope within a few years to have their own shipyards building naval ships of the first rank.

A lot of effort goes into fortifying Spanish West Africa and exploiting the new territories added to it. Many Navarrese especially seem enamoured of Africa, and set out to join the colony and seek adventure and fortune. The Draka to the South continue to be a real concern of the Spanish, especially when they refuse to recognize any claims of the other powers in Africa. At least the British are between them. The Spanish Queen in particular thinks highly of King Alexander's British Empire as well as Hapsburg Austria and continues to enjoy their presence on the Dark Continent. The King is more interested in strengthening ties with the French and the Mauriafricans, as well as the Americas, but finds the liberalism and outright republicanism of these nations unnerving. Still, he especially wishes for these nations to reinforce his own claim to the Spanish throne, having heard that the other Carlos in the East still aspires to it. This has understandably chilled relations with that empire, though Carlos VII sends diplomatic feelers out to Carlos VI/I as to what it would take to have him drop his claims and establish better relations.

[Aussey]

The Pro-Carlos VII just married to daughter of the Chinese Carlos :eek:
Luckily, the Empress-Consort Maria admires the Spanish more, she seems to think it is her right as the eldest child to inherit China and the Phillipenes. And she has publicly denounced her family's claim to Spain (which no one listened to)...so i guess that brings us back to HABSBURG DOMINATION by marrying some Archduke (either the Emperor's brother, or male cousins) to this Spanish princess...or by marrying the girl (scheduled to be born next year to the Emperor's aunt, Archduchess Maria Caroline) to the Spanish prince...

[Ward]

The French Republic 1887

The French Military is pushing for a Constional Kingdom whit The King be Head of State . The king they are pushing for is the Crown Prince in Exile .
The Military still has not forgiven Austria for going Neutral in the last war .
The Army is also looking into the weapons of John Browning an trying to get him to build a factory in France . The Army is also having the men in the Res. spend 3 week actives and meet for 2 days a mo every mo . This is to make sure they rember how to be soldiers .

[Bulgaroktonos]

Aussey, so you know, you are not even close to in control of Sudan. The fact that you would even occupy Khartoum is an endeavour in and of itself. The battle at which roughly 30,000 of the Fuzzy Wuzzies died was in Egypt.

Don't expect to have any realistic control of the Sudan until at least 1890. And even then it will basically be more or less the area around the Nile. The Khalifa will control at least part of Sudan for decades......

[Bulgaroktonos]

Great Britain: 1887

Politics: The new Conservative government under Lord Salisbury saw a marked change from policies of the old Conservatives reminiscent of Benjamin Disraeli. Historians mark this up to the change in Britain's relative strength at sea and the threats to her domination that had sprung up. Many regard the Salisbury government to be one of the most critical governments in all of British history. Salisbury and his ministers sought to pursue their goals through a mix of trade control and monetary domination. To this end many of hte free trade policies of the Liberal governments were kept in place. Britain strived for more open trade policies on the Continent, and was eager to loan money to both the German Confederation and France to help them recover from the damage brought about by the War of 1886.

King Alexander having made his trip to Canada, New Albion, and the United States, which was well recieved by all accounts, journeyed first to Australia, where he pledged to work tirelessly with the Admiralty to ensure that nothing like the Imperial invasion ever happened again. He promised to grant Australia a fleet larger than any but England's Grand Fleet. In India, he declared that Britain was dedicated to strengthening their ties with India, and hoped that India might see the change in Britain's colonial attitudes as a chance to bring them closer together and create mutually beneficial trading partners.

Relations with France remained very frosty politically. In fact, British relations with just about everybody were very frosty. Austria and France had been the prime movers in the insidious deal that left Britain in a dangerous situation near the Suez. Karelia was busy interfering in the Skandistani Civil War, as was Draka. Draka and her bastardized seizure of Lake Alexander had led to a rapid cooling of relations between the two.

Military: 1887

Third Sea Lord, Jackie Fisher, upon his own beliefs reinforced by word of Drakan and New Grenadan ships, began lobbying for a new type of ship. Having seen the effects of the Imperial fleet, and the ineffectiveness of the La Platan and Drakan navies, he believed that the lower caliber guns were indeed worthless, and that what was required were longer range guns that kept the enemy at a safe distance. By combining such ships with smaller faster ships, which he termed "destroyers" they could negate the need for the secondary guns on all current battleships.

He certainly faced an uphill battle to get such ideas into play, but after the launching of the Queen Victoria, Sydney, and Emperor of India, and the commission of 7 more ships, he managed to get one implemented with his idea of larger guns and thicker armor. (Note, we still lack several key components of the Dreadnought, but Britain is working its way there)

The Army remained much the same. Doing what it does, subduing Chinese warlords, Burmese tyrants, etc.

[Glen]

Viceroyalty of Peru
1887

The Viceroyalty overall is still reeling from the shock of the event. There are several different political factions among the landowners, divided mostly along lines of whether to remain loyal in theory to the Empire, whether to establish Peru as a new Kingdom, or whether to embrace Republicanism. Various factions are finding sympathetic voices in several neighbors.

The Invasion of the Midnight Empire has turned out to be a boon to Peru. All the main powers of South America are now anxious to have a strong Peru armed as an ally, and use of their territory to get New Granadans to La Plata, as well as the use of their Andian troopers in Antarctica, has provided both diplomatic and development benefits, as had the sale of the sliver of Peru North of the Amazon, more than made up for with the expansion of Peruvian territory into the Amazon. Not to mention the loot acquired by Peruvians in the Americas sector of the defunct Empire. Peru is the main connection by rail at present between New Granada and La Plata, and it was child's play to build a few miles of extra track to link the two systems at a transfer station. Also, New Granada is providing funds and expertise for Peru to expand her own rail infrastructure. The Peruvian navy has been expanded primarily with captured Midnighter ships from both New Granada and La Plata, giving their expanded fleet a rather rakish appearance.

Overall, Peru is rearming, developing, and building her relations with South America, especially her neighbors on the Pacific, New Granada and La Plata, though some trade is beginning with the Kingdom of Spain and Brazil via the Amazon. They've had little to do with their newest neighbors in the Southeast, the Mauribrasilians, but that is more geography and lack of a common language than any purposeful action.

Many Peruvians got an eyeful this year at the New Granadan Carnaval, and undoubtedly more will flock to it next year.

[Imajin]

Kingdom of Karelia - 1887

The Kingdom of Karelia was, to put it bluntly, shocked after the ISOT. It had lost it's second-largest city, much of it's southern land, and an important buffer state to a large Empire of Russia that overshadowed it. The weak Kingdom of Prussia-Poland on the southern Baltic coast was now a strong German state. The situation in the west was rather bad as well. The Caliphate of Skandistan was not too large of a threat to the Kingdom of Karelia, but the United Kingdom was bent on keeping the status quo in the Straits.
After the first chaotic year of this Mosaic Earth, Karelia found itself in a slightly better position. It held two ports on the Western Baltic, Trelbahr and Al-Linqe. It also was in what was basically an occupation of much of Northern Skandistan, which they claimed was to support the "legitimate Caliph" in the area. As well as this, the Spitsbergen Islands were theirs, though admittedly all they currently held was a fishing settlement that was currently emptied for the winter.
In the second year, Skandistan remained the primary concern of King Vaino II. A massive revolt in the Skandistani port of Al-Linqe on Bornholm was met with a massive crackdown. Following the example of Koopenhamina in a world and time long past, the Skandistani population was expelled, many of which went to Draka, and replaced with homeless exiles from Ingria, Estonia, and other lost provinces. The city was renamed St-Kaarlo, after the almost mythical figure who, in Karelia's past, learned Christianity from the Swedes who controlled much of Finland, and helped in the establishment of the Kingdom.
Another concern was the continuation of the House of Lauenberg, the Royal Line that controlled the Kingdom. Thanks to the strict laws of Karelian Succession, there was but one legitimate member in all the world: the young King Vaino II. This was not a surprise: The largest landholdings of the Royal House were in Ingria and Estonia, and almost all of the family who resided in Karelia were there. King Vaino's advisors began a search for a suitable wife, though it was not complete by the end of the year.
On the military front, Karelia's war in Skandistan required large purchases of military equipment, though Karelia does have a large industry dedicated to that at home. On the naval front, Karelia increasingly believed that the new ship technologies in Britain and elsewhere would come to the Baltic eventually, and when that happened, it's already aging fleet would be in great danger. A large amount of money was placed into the research and development of new ship technologies, as well as the constant matinence of Karelia's ship fleet. One development of this has been the launching of the HGS Turku, a preliminary submarine named after the city where it was launched. It is hoped that submarines could become an important part of the Karelian fleet.
In the colonial realm, the Overseas Federalized Districts was abolished, and much of the colonial administrators moved from Viipuri, which was far from the colonies, to Zhanjiang, the largest city in Karelia's slice of China. Karelian Cathay was rechristened the Kingdom of Zhanjiang, and was given authority over New Guinea. Also, the King of Karelia gained the title of King of Zhanjiang and Duke of New Guinea, which he used to replace the titles relating to Ingria and Estonia.

[Glen]

Republic of the Rio Grande
1887

The first year after the event had been a turbulent one for the government of Rio Grande, if not for the people themselves, whose lives surprisingly had been little effected by the event. The authoritarian government in place prior to the event had almost brought the country to the brink of war with their neighbors in Sonora, but the negotiated settlement of that dispute had held, and later became moot as both countries found themselves overextended and sold most of the land to this new neighbor, the Kingdom of New Granada. The loss of the land had stung a bit, but with the fall of the previous government and its replacement with more democratic minded fellows, with a good mix of Mexicans and Germans, and bolstered with the funds from the sale, things were looking up. The agreements with the USA and the New Granadans meant that Rio Grande had safer coasts and commerce routes than ever before, and they could cut back on their naval spending at the same time. Small ships were the order of the day, appropriate for the joint patrols for smugglers and pirates with the Americans and New Granadans. The Rio Grandeans did, however, invest in building up their coastal defenses as well as the borders, just in case. If the event had taught them anything, it was to be prepared.

The demographics of the Republic of Rio Grande continued to change through most of 1886 and 1887. A large influx of Oldenburgers unable to accept Confederation with the Prussians made the German population grow further, which was only exacerbated by a significant number of entrepenueral Mexicans who went South to New Granadan Azteca to seek their fortunes. However, though this continued the trend of Germanification in Rio Grande, it also helped bring more money in from the men who sent money back from Azteca, while the expense of taming the region was born by the New Granadans. However, many Grandeans, both Mexican and German, were somewhat shocked, then tantalized, by their first experience of New Granadan Carnaval. Another unexpected result of the influx of Oldenburgers was a swift improvement in relations with Francophile Sonora. After the resolute stand of the French by the Oldenburgers in the War of 1886, these die hards saw the French and the Franco-Sonorans as natural allies, while continuing to harbor ill will towards the 'Eastern Hordes' of Prussia and the 'Sellouts' remaining in Oldenburg. The Austrians also were somewhat distrusted for their shifting alliances during the war. All these attitudes would color Grandean politics for years to come.

More Oldenburgers probably headed to Rio Grande than might have otherwise with the formation of the Christian Communion. Now the differences between Catholic and Protestant were just a little bit less stark, easing some Protestant Oldenburgers towards deciding for Rio Grande than otherwise would have.

By the end of 1887, another smaller influx of Austrian New Gotlanders arrived in the nation. Unwilling or unable to live in New Gotland after their ordeal with the Imperials, some had taken American ships to the West coast, and made their way down to this German land they heard about. Though only a trickle, they added to the mix of modern Rio Grande.

The Rio Grandeans not only sent young men to the South, but also to the American Southwest in the North, what used to be known as Texas. Many Grandeans due to their close proximity were able to claim large areas of land for cattle raising. This group was more mixed, both Mexican and German in ethnicity. The ones who did so were willing to live under American law, but they sent more money home to Rio Grande.

The Germano-Mexican nation on the banks of the Rio Grande had taken a shock with the Event, but overall seemed to be bouncing back.

[Glen]

Republic of Sonora
1887

After arranging for the double sale of land to the New Granadans, so neither Republic, Rio Grande or Sonora, would look weaker than the other, Sonora benefited from the cash infusion. Sonora also has benefited from an influx of French immigrants as a result of their revolution. Many just sought to excape the chaos of the War and the Revolution, but a few were Monarchists unwilling to live in France under a Republican government. And so perhaps it was not surprising that the Crown Prince made a side trip to Sonora during his New World expedition. President for Life Blanco arranged for a discrete meeting with the exiled prince, but has tried to retain good relations with both Monarchists and Republicans, his feelings being that the interests of Sonora are best served by close relations with France, regardless of her government. And indeed, Sonora in 1887 has become an important weystation for ships going to and fro from France to her Pacific colonies (though there are also shipping through the Suez and Indian Ocean as well as through the Magellan Straights.). Sonora has begun to prosper from French commerce and investment, especially with the sale of Egypt they have looked more and more to the Americas for cotton. Also benefiting the Sonorans is the reestablishment of rail links with American California. Of course being from a similar timeline to this America led to the rail guages being the same in both nations, and made child's play the relinking of their two rails. This also led to Sonora being, for the time, the rail link for Rio Grande to their biggest trading partner from before the event, since the American Southwest would take years for rail to stretch across once more (though likely lines would come down first from New Mexico or Arizona). Sonora has stayed satisfied with their small fleet for now. Enough to gain respect as a nation of means, but not so much as to break the economy or seem a threat to the bigger nations of America and New Granada. Sonora too has sent many of her sons South to seek their fortune in New Granadan Azteca, with the money flowing back to Sonora to add to her economic recovery. And Sonorans as well have been amused with the wild revelries of New Granada's Carnaval. Some Sonoran port cities even plan to throw their own Carnaval next year. As in Rio Grande, a few New Gotlanders have found their way to Sonora, escaping the memories of the Imperial Invasion, though in the case of Sonora most have been from the Andorran portion of the region, with the others going on to Rio Grande on the railroad.

The Americans seem only interested in business, which suits President Blanco. However, the New Granadans continue to apply courteous but persistent pressure on Blanco to liberalize the government. Unfortunately, some of the more zealous Republican officials of France, swept into power by the revolution, have joined the New Granadans in this. He has made some concessions in the legislature, and it is almost a true representative body now, though still weak compared to the executive. Still, Blanco is firmly in power, and overall the Sonoran people are prospering under the Pax Americanas.

[General_Paul]

The German Confederation 1887

After the end of the so called "War of Intigration", the German Confederation began the long and tiring process of rebuilding the shattered Oldenberg Confederation. The war loans given to Prussia-Brandenberg during the War of Intigration were barily touched, and thus were used to begin the rebuilding process.

Economics

With the economy of the Oldenberg area of the German Confederation in shambles, it was up to the Prussians to carry the brunt of the economic push in the confederation. Most port cities began to restrict trade with the Skandistan Empire, namely because of its outright hostility towards the German Confederation, and its racist views on trade, and politics.

Military

The victorious armies of Prussia-Brandenberg began the long and difficult task of intigration with the Oldenberg military. The first of the joint Army training sessions was an abismal failure. Most of the Oldenberg military officers practically rebelled when ordered to command Prussian forces. Most Prussian officers delt with the command of Oldenberg forces. The Oldenberg NCO's and rank and file accepted the Prussian officers, but secretly despised them. The navy joint training mission went better. Most captains and Admirals could accept commands from either Prussian, or Oldenberg men. The navy is being expanded an additional four pre-dreadnaught battleships over the next five years, with an additional three every four years, for the next ten years, to ammount to a grand total of 11 battleships, a navy to rival that of any continental power.

Transportation

Most rail lines in Oldenberg Germany were severed during the war, and because of this, the Railroads of the German Confederation have had to start from scratch in many areas ravaged by the war. It will be a good four to five years untill all the railroads of the German Confederation are back to operation.

[Condottiero]

Interantional Relationships.

The Republic of La Plata is concentrating on the Western hemisphere. The Military and Economic cooperation with Mauribrazil, New Granada, the United States and Canada will continue, as well as cooperation in the construction of railways in Perú in order to achieve communication with New Grenade.
During the Spring (October) there were massive floods in the Sacramento region that also took their toll in Mauribrazil. Several small towns were wiped out completely on both sides, destroying railways, telegraph lines and some mines. Fortunately this lead to a deeper cooperation between both governments.

Internal relations.

The fight against isolated imperial units in the Pampa and Patagonia continued during this year. The new Rural Cavalry units proved to be quite effective. The weather continued to worsen in the Antarctic Territory, however efforts to keep some colonies there continued. Tons of metals, not only gold and silver, but also iron, copper, nickel and wolframium.

The immigration rate fell since the Event took place, however some german and hispanic immigrants came attracted by the lots of land in the Pampa.

The number of kilometers of railways had been increased by a 10% during this year with the main lines to the south extremely advanced. The floods in the Sacramento region were a setback but the plans are to rebuild them during 1888.

Military
Army
The old Gatling MG had been completely substituted by the new Hotchkiss ones. The Colt-browning rifles had been handed to the cavalry and the first ones for the infantry will arrive by the end of the year.
The Auxiliary artillery regiments have been equipped and are ready to deploy.


Navy
The reconstruction of the fleet was accelerated with the help of the US and New Grenade. The Airships program had advanced enormously thanks to new advances in the obtention of Hydrogen and its storing.

Units repaired:
Pre-d.: Lepanto (Devastation class), Salamina (Superb class), Actium (Conqueror class), Valdés (Admiral Class),
Cruisers: Orca (Shannon class), Cazadora (Emerald class), Tiburón (Leander class), Marrajo (Leander class)
Units built:
Patagonia class (pre-d): Patagonia (Dec 1886), Chaco (Mar 1887), Pampa (Sep 1887)

Units sold or ceded:
Empire of China (sold):
Ram Monitors (Polyphemus class): Bisonte, Cebú
Armoured cruiser: Morena (Meteor class)
Armoured Frigate: Santiago (Numancia class)
Destroyers: 4 units

Perú (Ceded):
Protected cruiser: Progreso (General Admiral class)

Spain (Ceded):
Protected cruiser: Senado (Esmeralda class)

Mauribrazil (Ceded)
Protected cruiser: República (Esmeralda class)

[Condottiero]

International Relations

Emperor Carlos has been looking for consolidation of his new dominions and diplomatic acknowledgement. During the second half he has been concentrating on his relationships with Britain, France, Austria and the America nations. He had obtained the cession of some Platense ships that had doubled his naval strength and the acquisition of American rifles and MGs for the new Chinese army. Due to the failure in getting European mercenaries he has concentrated in hiring them in India (mainly Gurkhas).

The marriage of Princess Maria with an Austrian Prince was welcomed as a first step to international acknowledgement, but the petitions to have her as heiress of the Imperial Crown breaching the Salic Law may cool the Chino-Austrian relations in a near future.

Internal Affairs

The economic improvement of the nation has been the Emperor's main issue. Concessions to foreign companies in exchange of construction of equipment have been a constant. Platense, French, Austrian and American companies had taken the construction of railways, telegraph lines and ports while opening coal and iron mines.

Army

Ten new infantry regiments equipped with rifles each 2000 men strong had been equipped. There are also five cavalry regiments (also 2000 men strong) with 500 riflemen and 1500 lancers.
There are four new artillery regiments equipped with austrian 70 mm guns.

Navy

The following units have been acquired to La Plata:

Ram Monitors (Polyphemus class): Bisonte, Cebú
Armoured cruiser: Morena (Meteor class)
Armoured Frigate: Santiago (Numancia class)
Destroyers (heavy Torpedo Boats): 4 units

There are some armed freighters used as patrol units:
6 units (aprox 3000 tons), 12 knots, 1 120mm guns, 2 70mm guns and 4 MGs; no armour.

[Condottiero]

Lappstan (Northern Norway and Sweden)
Emir Abdul "al suomi" ibn-Harald was defeated by the Karelian forces and decided to cooperate with them as long as they allowed his independence. They are equipping his army with modern rifles, but he does not trust them and he keeps his contacts in Prussia.

Norgestan (South Norway)
Emir Haakon "al skraelingi" ibn-Ismail is balancing between alliance with the British and the Karelians. Although he is being pressed by the first to cede a naval base. His army has not been fully modernized and his emirate is surviving due to the terrain and the climate.

Sverigestan (Central Sweden)
Vizier Saltan "al-jotumni" ibn-Thor has concentrated more on his claims to the Caliphate. He has achieved the support of Austria and he has the most powerful navy of the Skandistanian Emirates (which is not very much to say). However he is suffering attacks from the rest of Emir and his survival is highly compromised. His ambassador in Viena, Mullah Sven ibn-Ibrahim "al-Qurani", has been also appointed as head of the new Vienese mosque, improving the support of the Emirate in Austria.

Danestan (Denmark and South Sweden)
Emir Magnus ibn-Sven has the stronger army, equipped by the Drakans and with a permanent persian force around. He will probably defeat the other emirs, but his position in Jutland is threatened by Oldemburg who has claims over the peninsula. The continuous migration to Drakan Africa of the local population is not helping too much and it has been favored by population displacements forced by the Karelians in the areas that are still under their control.

[Condottiero]

The Gaeta Council ended with a program of cooperation between the different churches. All of them would recognize Leo XIII as Pope but with limited attributions and no infallibility. However he is happy about having saved the Papal States which are subject to some sort of experimental field of the New Social Doctrine.

Free access education, reduced labour days (weeks of 50 working hours), paid holidays (all the religious days plus fifteen days in summer, during the hottest days) and medical insurances.

The army suffered a slight reduction and converted into a police force. The navy will be converted in a Customs force.

[Condottiero]

The Pro-Carlos VII just married to daughter of the Chinese Carlos :eek:
Luckily, the Empress-Consort Maria admires the Spanish more, she seems to think it is her right as the eldest child to inherit China and the Phillipenes. And she has publicly denounced her family's claim to Spain (which no one listened to)...so i guess that brings us back to HABSBURG DOMINATION by marrying some Archduke (either the Emperor's brother, or male cousins) to this Spanish princess...or by marrying the girl (scheduled to be born next year to the Emperor's aunt, Archduchess Maria Caroline) to the Spanish prince...
The Carlists are particularly pro-salic law. They remember well they were exluded from the Spanish throne because of the abolition of the salic law and they stick to it in their territories...

[Othniel]

Internal Relations: Policies were pasted to reconnect to the Canadian and American railways. Greater Homesteading among the Cascadian providences causes a bit of unrest among the goverment in Salem. General groth in the Kentukian party has happend as well as the appearing of Canadian Clubs promting indepdance, especially in Vancover. However came the July elections and the Govener of Victoria Island, Red Reed, is elected Excutive of the Albion territories. His very pro-American polices caused a surge in American emigration. The appointment of *former (current at the isot) Oregon senator as the American Advisor, and the appointment of a former British Admirial as Britians advisor, done by the king in person, caused a little bit of an uproar among the peoples. Likewise the assigning of the former secrtary of ports to advise the king in all things New Ablionian caused a bit of a kick in the courts as he was the son of a Russian immigrint.

International relations:

Military:

Army: Started to inheirent older units from the Britsh, Canadians, and Americans.
Navy and Air: With invention of the diesel engine there is much hype going around with the obsive way one man is attempting to build a motorized glider for expirmental purposes. The millitary sees promise in it as a scouting machine. The navy has started to purchase older ships from the surronding country, as to improve them. (They like to rigg up ther machines for some reason...)

[Matt]

International Relations

The events of 1886 forced the US out of it's period of "Splendid Isolationism" rapidily. By the end of the year the US established a firm oversea's presense in New Gotland, China, Iceland, and the Netherlands. Back in the America's the US government was detrimmine to go ahead forge better relations with the Grandans and Canadan's, and other "lesser" nations.

Internal situtation

James Garfield refused to run for reelection in 1886, and handed the torch to his heir apparent Anthony Londen(killed OTL in the ACW). The dismembered Democratic party, fatally wounded with the lost of Texas, Arkansas, and Louisana offered little opposition. With 30 years of Republican domination of the Government the seeds were being laid for the establishment of a new powerful party, the Progressives, how in the coming years would rocket to prominence.

Immigration continued across the board, though more generally from Northern European populations, rather then Mederterrians.

Military

The first big accompalishment of the Londen presidency was the signing of the Defense Establishment of of 1887. This act intiated large reforms inside the War and Navy departments. The Army was bought under the control of the Department of the Army, equal to status with the Navy Department, and both were made subservant to the War Secretary, Robert Todd Lincoln.

Army

The size of the Army was set to be no less then 150,000 men but no more then 200,000. The first US Army divisions were to be organized by the end of the year in California and New York, immiediatly prior to deployment to The Netherlands. The National Guard was established bringing state Militias to a national standard, designed to rapidly reinforce the Army in the event of general war. Research into the War Tractor, based on the experence of Army observers to the Prussian Army in the Oldenburg War.

Navy

A minium of 20 modern Capital ships were made mandatory by the end of the century. Established the size of the US Marine Corp at 20 regiments of Marine infantry and 6 regiments of Marine artillery. US Marine advisor corp establish to help devolp links to other American Marine forces. Plans laid for the loaning of older Capital ships to be given to the Bajans and Netherlanders once more modern ships came into the fleet. Naval bases established in: New Gotland, China, Indian Ocean Islands, Hawaii(with Platanese consent), Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Kevelajik.

[Glen]

In 1887, New Granada will try to convince the USA and La Plata to limit the size of armies in the Hemisphere, but will keep parity with the American and Platanese army. The hundred thousand called up will be retained and another 50,000 added, unless the USA and La Plata decide on lower numbers. Of course, New Granada thinks these numbers should only be in reference to the Western Hemisphere, with troops outside the hemisphere in places like Europe, the Pacific, or Antarctica not counting.

[Imajin]

Armenia-Trebizond, 1887

The Imperial Kingdom (Or Royal Empire, depending on how you look at it) or Armenia and Trebizond found itself in an ideal position following the odd Event. Anatolia and the Holy Land were only in a primitive state. However, the Holy Land was quickly eaten up by a powerful Persia, and to attempt to appease Persia, Armenia-Trebizond limited it's annexations and protectorates to lands with large Christian populations. It ended up with a closely controlled Protectorate in Cilicia, and new provinces in Smyrna, as well as closely related states in Cyprus and Turkey.
Now, the name of the game is building. The port of Sis in Cilicia has already been modified to accept ships, and settlement is being promoted across Cilicia and Smyrna, which along with Cyprus are being brought up to modern-day standards.
In the outside world, Armenia-Trebizond looks towards Greece for allies, along with Persia, always important in the protection of Turkey and Cyprus. As well as this, Armenia has been holding meetings considering aligning policy with such diverse nations as Russia, Austria, and even Mauriafrica. It also is promoting settlement in the new territories abroad, especially in Greece and those Armenian communities in the new Persian lands, though it urges the community in Jerusalem to stay.
Militarily, Empress Alexandra has finally united the Armenian and Trapezuntine branches of the army and navy, and has ordered a massive expansion, as now Armenia has a far longer coastline than it's original Black Sea region. Also, Armenian advisors are dominating the upgrade of the Kingdom of Cyprus from a crusader's nation to a modernized country.

[Glen]

The Christian Communion
1887

The Christian Communion, founded in 1886, spent the first year of its existence overall quietly. The loose association of Christian Churches was in its infancy, and its greatest goal was to bring the faithful to accept each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Chairman Beneficent I, Patriarch of the Americas, in furtherance of this goal, went on a speaking tour, first in South America and then into North America in the first half of 1887. Visiting churches great and small throughout the nations of the Americas of all denominations, he spread the word of simple Christian tolerance and acceptance. Many who doubted were swayed by this simple man of God's words, not only in hearing them but in their publication in the newspapers wherever he would travel.

By the late summer of 1887, he was traveling once more to the Old World. He made a tour of the cities of Mauriafrica, beseeching the holdout small denominations to join their fellows in communion. He travelled with the permission of the Persians brokered by the Austrians to the Holy Land to pray in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. He also toured Armenia-Trebizond and was received by the Empress Alexandra, and visited famed Constantinople's Hagia Sophia, still a church in this new world. In Athens in September, the Christian Communion convened in its first regular session, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch. It was mostly a reaffirmation of the commitments made in the previous year, and little further activity occured at the meeting, which in itself was an achievement. Afterwards, he hit the capitols of Europe, even the new German Confederation. Arriving in Great Britain in December, he conferred lengthily with the Archbishop of Canterbury and met King Alexander of the United Kingdom. He celebrated Christmas with them in London.

During his travels, the major pulpit point was always the reconcilliation of the disparate denominations one to the other as peers. One other point was made by Beneficent occasionally in his speeches, beseeching the hold out nations of the world to do away with the feudal relic of serfdom. Servitude and slavery were out of place in this new great era of Christianity, he would say. And of course this message too the newspapers would publish and spread far and wide.

[Othniel]

Peace surronds this colony.

:p

They are rather prosperious, selling cattle.

[Glen]

Peace surronds this colony.

:p

They are rather prosperious, selling cattle.

New Granada is certainly buying. :D

[Glen]

The bulk of the Army well be in New Gotland and the Netherlands.

How many are in the USA then?

[Matt]

roughly 80,000 spread through out the US, mostly in the West.

[Bulgaroktonos]

Great Britain: 1888

Politics: Little change from 1887. Salisbury still runs the Government, Alexander is still King. Conservatives and Liberals are now split. Liberals over Ireland, and Conservatives over the issue of trade. Salisbury holds off a vote of no confidence called by the Old Conservative half of the Government, and the Pro-Irish Half of the Liberals. Salisbury, calling upon those who support his new tact on the world stage among his own party and those Liberals that stood against Irish Self Rule, wins by a comfortable margin.

Military: Britain continued her expansion of the navy, finally commissioning the captured Imperial warships from the Invasion. The Army also watched with interest at the developments abroad of newer weaponry, such as the Djinn tank.

Jackie Fisher's new class of battleships the Alexander Class, out-performed all other ships launched that year during maneuvers, especially when combined with 3 or more of his "destroyers," winning great praise from the Admiralty and the commission of 5 more for the coming year. However, Fisher felt that slight modifications in regards to torpedo tubing would be necessary on hte next model of destroyers after the maneuvers, and began work on the experimental Decoy Class.

Ships Launched:

Centurion Class
HMS Revenge
HMS Redoubtable
HMS Royal Oak
HMS Resolution
HMS Indestructable
HMS Unstoppable

Alexander Class
Alexander

Havock Class
Havock
Hornet
Wasp
Vengeance

Ships Commissioned:

Alexander Class
Ionia
Yunnan
Melbourne
Prince of Wales
Hood

Daring Class
Daring
Decoy
Gelding

The Royal Navy also put up for auction all pre-1872 battleships and ironclads.

[Glen]

roughly 80,000 spread through out the US, mostly in the West.

If La Plata agrees to similar numbers in South America, New Granada would definitely keep their standing army down to this level.

[Aussey]

So do we paste our 1888 postings now?

[perdedor99]

If you have any mention that affects other nations please check with them first.

[Aussey]

I don't believe I have...

[perdedor99]

Draka 1888:

International relations: During the year Draka continued to be too occupied with internal affairs to involve themselves with formal alliances but they concluded separate secret military cooperation accords with both the German Confederation and the Empire of Japan. The first signs of cooperation were the “donation” of AS-2 airships to both Japan and Germany plus the process to build the Drakaluminum alloy by the Draka and the sharing of the internal combustion engine by the Germans with the Draka.

In regard to the British Empire and the other nations in the African Continent, the relations between the nations and Draka continued to be frosty, not to say inexistent and officially the Draka continued their refusal to recognize the claims of the Europeans powers in the western coast of the continent.

Relations with the American nations are also non-existent. The Draka still recognizes the American’s alliance as a very powerful one and they are trying not to get on their bad side for now. Still the declarations of the Beneficient I in regard to serfs and slavery are making many of the more radical elements in the government very nervous.

Internal relations: The government main concern continues to be to put under the yoke the new territories. This process was still going on, and as expected, the Madagascar pacification was very bloody indeed with hundred of Polynesian race serfs being killed due to their continued resistance to the Draka. In the border areas, the process continued unabated even with hundreds of natives escaping to British Central Africa.

One important event was the design of the shock absorbent by a young Combines mechanical engineer after almost dying in a traffic accident due to the instability of his steam car. This event, combined with the use of pneumatic tires in military vehicles by the end of the year, will be of importance for the armored steam car technology in the future.

The number of second class citizens reached the 200,000 mark. Their families are not considered serfs while the females continued to be married to them and their sons are except of the serf laws until they reach 18 or join the janissaries while their daughters will be exempted until 18 or married to a second class citizen.

Military:

Army: The Army disbanded the 8th Mounted Rifles Legion to get enough manpower to man the Special Services growing fleets of steam cars and airships plus to help in the training of the newly formed 1st Tanganikan Rifles, the first legion composed of Skandistani veterans. The unit was organized like a janissary rifle division but composed completely of Skandistani rank and file and Drakan officers and senior NCO until the Skandistani are considered to be ready for that positions. Also this unit was different in that they have a Berserker Century in each Merarchy.

Hiram Maxim’s rapid fire gun, the MG-2 entered production in February and was ready to be issued to all units in late December after a lot of testing by the 1st Mounted Rifles Legion. It was discovered that continuous automatic fire generated tremendous heat in the barrel and Maxim overcame this problem by encasing the barrel is encased in a water jacket, containing about 7.5 pints. Heat from continuous firing caused the water to boil, the steam indicating the gun's position. Attaching a tube from a vent in the jacket into a can of water condensed the steam and helped conceal the gun's position. The water-can also helped crisply the jacket, since there was an evaporation rate of about 1.5 pints per 1,000 rounds fired. Production of the MG-1 machinegun was reduced, to build spares for the units already on the field and for export use only. Specifications:

MG-2 rapid fire gun operation: Fully automatic, recoil operated, water-cooled caliber 7.5 x 60mm Weight Unloaded, 40 lb. Effective range 2000m (2200 yds) Rate of fire 450 rounds per minute Capacity 250-round fabric belt, 22 lb. with box.


Navy and Air: The AS-3 began production. Build with a drakaluminum skin and capable of carrying a bigger payload than the AS-2 they rapidly were attacked to the naval component of the Drakan military to serve as scouts and torpedo bombers.

In the Naval command last year budget was reapproved for the construction of fast torpedo boats for the defense of the coast, fast torpedo destroyer boats for eliminating enemy torpedo boats and into the further construction of coastal submarines to protect the nation’s harbors. The second of the Ferguson class rejoined the fleet while the third one of the class was send to port to have their main batteries replaced. The guns taken from that ship were used to upgrade the fortifications of the city of Luanda, like the ones of the first Ferguson were used to help in the defenses of Cape Town. Approval for the construction of another 25 torpedo boats, 25 coastal submarines and 15 destroyers was reached early in the year. The first two coastal battleships, the Cape of Good Hope class, joined the fleet late on the year with the other two possibly joining early next year. Specifications:

10,288 t Length: 350.9 ft Beam: 69.3 ft Draft: 24 ft Speed: 16.21 knots Complement: 586 officers and men Armament: 4 x 12-inch guns, 8 x 8-inch guns, 4 x 6-inch guns, 2 x 3-inch guns, 20 x 6-pounders, 6 x 1-pounders, 6 x 18-inch torpedo tubes.

The naval experts began to examine the internal combustion engine to upgrade the performance of the airships due to the limitations of the steam engine in regard to performance in the high altitudes.

[perdedor99]

Persia: 1888

International relations: The Persian nation continued their peaceful relations with their neighbors. The visit of the Pope to Jerusalem and Bethlehem late in 1887 and his meeting with the Shah in Jerusalem raised the prestige of the Shah on the eyes of his subject and the world in general. The Shah demonstrated an incredible tolerance of the other religious and racial groups in his newly acquired provinces; a trait not shared by his Darken allies. Still the Shah considered the Drakan as a nice counterweight to the British and Austrian presences near by cultivated his friendship with them even when he found their customs repugnant.

The arrival of the French naval military mission early in the year make the Mediterranean coast even more cosmopolite while commerce of the Kingdom was expanded due to the arrival of a Dutch commercial mission to the city of Tyre.

The Persian Volunteer Force continues their service in the civil war in Skandistan.


Internal Relations: The improvement of the communications infrastructure continued unabated while his civil servant program continued to be a success, especially in the Palestine and the Syrian provinces.


Military:

Army: Continues their development under the guidance of the Austrian mission while being armed by Drakan weapons. No new changes or weapons were introduced during the year.

Navy and Air: The French bought with them the idea of the power of the torpedo and recommended the Persians to began to build torpedo boats for harassment of enemy ships. The French also recommended the construction of major fortifications in every major port while they also began construction of a repair yard in the port of Tyre that could service ships up to 15,000 tons. The coastal battleship ordered to the Canadians was almost ready for delivery at the end of the year and it was expected to be in Persian hands by the beginning of next year.

Specifications of the Canadian build ship:
Displacement: 6,682 tons, Length: 319', Beam: 57',Draft: 21'6", Speed: 17 knots, Complement: 392, Armament: Four 10"; six 6"; seven six-pounders; eight one-pounders; four 14" torpedo tubes

The French battleship confronted problems due to a shipyard workers strike in the middle of the year and the contract was almost pull out until the French reduced the cost. Still the ship was behind schedule and a new nation was searched to build another one in the interim.

Specifications for the French build ship:
Displacement: 12,007 tons, Length: 117.81 m, Beam: 21.39 m, Draught: 8.38 m, Speed: 18 knots, Complement: 666 - 710, Armament: 2 x 12-in, 2 x 10.8 in, 8 x 5.5-in, 8 x 3.9-in guns, 12 x 3-pounder guns, 2 x 18-in tubes

[Aussey]

Austria 1888:

International relations:
The Imperial Austrian Confederation continues peaceful talks with the Kingdom of Spain & Brazil. Further alliances and treaties with the Empire of China were also head. The Emperor publiclly announced the Imperial Confederation's recogniztion of the joint sovereigns King Carlos VII and Queen Catalina III of Spain and Brazil. However, he also recognized Carlos as Emperor of China and the Phillipines.

The Church Act of 1888 disestablished the Roman Catholic Church as the official religion and placed it as the Christian Communion. The Austro-Catholic church merged with the Austrian branch of the Christian Communion. A complicated denomination, the Austrian-Christian Church was established with two rites: The Papist Rite and the Monarchist Rite. One recognizing the Pope and the other, the Emperor.

The Imperial Confederation and the Kingdom of Greece, held, again, a traditional summit between the Emperor Louis and the King Joseph. Many Roman Catholics who didn't wish to see the dis-establishment of the Roman Catholic Religion, emmigrated to the Germanified Republic of the Rio Grande.


Internal relations:
Tensions in the Sudan remained high, resulting in further control over the Khartoum region. Much of the region still follows the Mahdist leaders. The Imperial Confederation abolished the titles belonging to the African viceroys appointed to the Sudan, in order to save funds, instead of pouring them into viceroys who don't rule.

The entire Sudan was made the Crown Region of Sudan, placed under Vieanese administration. Most of the non-Africans in the Sudan left the region for Egypt and Ethiopia.

The Empress gave birth to fraternal twins in August of that year: Archduke Francois and Archduchess Marie, the Princess-Imperial. The very French names of these two royals shocked the Imperial Austrian Confederation. Talks with the French ceased when word was found that a a resoration with the disliked Crown Prince as king was to happen in France.

The Hungarian Crown Act made Hungary completely separate from the Empire of Austria, and incorporated as the fourth constituent part of the Confederation as "Kingdom of the Lands under the Crown of Saint Stephen." The Emperor was crowned Apostolic-King of Hungary (again) and given the title Emperor-King. His wife was made Empress-Queen, and the Archduke made Archduke & Crown Prince.

Finally, the Province Act provided for formal provinces to be made throughout the Austrian Empire and Kingdom of Hungary, with each recieving a Governor.

Military: (for the entire confederation)

Army:
More rail-lines were made, and armoured trains produced this year.
A total of 434,937 new troops were enlisted that year, with out many military reforms or happening.

Navy and Air: (for the entire confederation)

5 torpedo boats were made in Austria and Hungary (in the next years, they'll have separate sections): HIMS Austrianna, HIMS Confederation, HIMS Princess-Imperial, HIMS Habsburg-Lorraine-Bourbon, and the HIMS Vieanese.


Libya & Egypt 1888:

Internal relations:
In January, the Governor-General Passed the Act of Succession, and was given power of Libya again. From the Sudanese Emmigration, the population of Libya was greatly increased.

The Ethnic Rights Act provided that any native African or immigrant that swore loyalty to the Emperor, and could read the Literacy Test, could vote for regional viceroy. Women were excluded from this.

Navy and Air: The HIMS Alexandria Regina was produced. The Imperial Sailor Union was formed.

Abyssinia 1887:

Internal relations:

The Princess-General passed the Ethiopian Rights Act shortly after Libya's Civil Rights act. It made voting legal by all European born men and women over the age of 18. It also let any Ethiopian (not other African) over the age of 21 and with a stable income to be allowed to vote for all election throughout the Crown lands.

The marriage of the Governor-General to the Emperor's cousin, Archduke Charles, made the Governor an Archduchess of the Empire. An heir to Viceregal Throne of Abyssinia was born, the Archduke Leopold Johann. The Emperor arrived in Addis Ababa in December of that year, and was shocked to see the developmental growth in Ethiopia. The population had tripled from the previous year, with a booming economy.

The National Church of Saint Mary the Virgin was built in Addis Ababa, the first small Cathedral made under the new Austro-Christian Church. On the church note, the Religious Settlement of Ethiopia was passed, establishing a third rite for the Austro-Christian church- The Coptic Rite. The Coptic Rite was declared the Provincial Established Church. The Governor-General was declared Head of the Coptic Church, the successor of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church within the Austro-Christian Church and the Christian Communion.

Navy and Air: Two ships were built and produced in Abyssinia in the year. The HIMS Saint Mary and the HIMS Ark of the Covenant were launched from Port Sudan, despite a failed assasination attempt of the Governor-General by a Mahdist stander-by. This led to the creation of the Sudanese region under control from Vienna mentioned earlier.

The Imperial Sailors Union created an Ethiopian branch, called the Abyssinian Sailors Union in 1888.

[Imajin]

Kingdom of Karelia 1888

In January of 1888, King Vaino II expanded the powers of the elected house of the Royal Estates, the House of Commoners, and allowed for full manhood suffrage over the age of twenty-one. Also, the Earls for Ingria and Estonia were finally expelled. Also of note is that the Finnish dialect of Karelian, which tended to be far more conservative and less prone to loanwords*, was established as an official language of government in North-Suomi and South-Suomi, while the Sami language received a similar treatment in Lappland.
The interference in Skandistan continued. Karelian troops by now were a familiar sight across northern Skandistan. The city of Trelbahr, unlike it's former related city Al-Linqe, remained loyal to the Kingdom of Karelia, as it looked at the example of the city now called St-Kaarlo.
The Karelians began work on military submarines as well, though they encountered difficulties with the air systems. In a test, an outdated Karelian ship that had long been relegated to coastal patrol was quickly sunk by the Turku, however the Turku sunk with all hands aboard during the attack.
Also of note was the expansion of the Karelian airship industry. However, reports by Karelian generals note that the airship is "most likely too vulnerable" to be useful in combat, though efforts, mostly unsuccessful, are underway to make an airship which is impenatrable to attacks on it's balloon.
On the overseas, the government in Zhanjiang promoted settlement across New Guinea from all nations, though the tropical island remained mostly uncolonized. The Kingdom of Zhanjiang also adopted a Coat of Arms, which quartered a green Chinese Dragon on gold with the a white Horse's Head on Red, the symbol of the House of Lauenburg, supported by a golden Karelian bear and a golden Chinese dragon, and a flag based off said Arms.

*- "The Finnish dialect" is basically OTL Finnish, which has very few words borrowed from other languages. The ATL Karelian dialect has far more loanwords.

[Glen]

Republic of Rio Grande
1888

1888 was a very good year overall for the Republic of Rio Grande. Internal businesses stabilized, and money also came in from adventurous Grandeans in the New Granadan Azteca region and the American Southwest. The new democratic reforms of two years ago seemed to be holding and though the German ethnic group was growing as a proportion of the population within Rio Grande, the power sharing arrangements were holding, guaranteeing that Mexicans would be on an even footing with the European immigrants.

Also, the Catholic Church under the Patriarch of the Americas was now taking an even more affirmative position on educating and providing for the poor, helping to lift many Mexicans, especially those of native or mixed descent, out of poverty and ignorance. It was a slow process, but it was happening.

Another boon to the Republic of Rio Grande was a very favorable rearmament deal struck with the New Granadans and Americans, the details of which were vague but clearly favored the Grandeans who were to be modernized (if on only a very modest scale) for a song.

The influx of Austrian immigrants was greeted with enthusiasm by the small New Gotlander community, but the Oldenburgers were more reserved. Granted, Austria had not joined in the ravaging of Oldenburg, but neither had she aided them, at least not until the very end under their new Emperor. The Oldenburgers had already heavily integrated with the old guard Germans from another world, though a few of the Prussian ones from that other world did welcome the Austrians as a check to the influence of the Oldenburgers. By the end of the year, a three way split in politics was emerging, with the two largest factions of the Mexicans and the Oldenburg-Old Germans leading, but a vocal if small Austrian-New Gotlander-Old Prussian faction emerging on the scene.

A record number of Grandeans travelled in February to join in the festivities in New Granada for Carnaval. It was an eye-opening experience for many ninos fresh off the farm....

[Glen]

Republic of Sonora
1888

1888 saw a decrease in immigration to Sonora, with the main source being a trickle from Andorran New Gotland.

In February, record numbers of Sonorans travelled to New Granada for the Carnaval festivities. However, several Sonorans decided to throw their own home versions of the event, especially in port cities. While not as well produced as the time honored New Granadan events, they were heartily attempted.

The summer saw student protests decrying the President for Life position and calling for the resignation of President Blanco. While the students claimed they had nothing but respect for Blanco, they also asserted the nation could not move forward into the future with despotic rule. A few of the riots in the dog days of summer erupted into violence. President Blanco spoke of the possibility of electoral reform and appointed a blue ribbon commission to look into the matter, which seemed to quell the protests for the time.

Sonora, while not needing much in terms of military, especially with the Americas defense agreement of 1886 and the New Granadans more and more bringing under control the new lands of Azteca, they still are concerned about the seeming favor the Rio Grandeans are being shown by the great powers of the Western Hemisphere. The Sonorans always had a small population compared to the Grandeans, but made up for it in terms of better training and equipment. Now it seemed that the Grandeans were improving both. The Sonorans scramble to improve their own equipment and training. The training they have been able to get amply, from the US, the New Granadans, even France. But the arms are costly and the Sonorans, only now recovering from the economic shock of the event, are not keeping up with the Rio Grandeans.

Sonora more and more makes overtures to France for increased funding in return for port rights in her efforts to supply and transport between the French Pacific and Europe. However, France in 1886 took out many loans herself, and can do only so much. The monies received from New Granada for the rights to the expanded Azteca region were enough to get the economy through the rough patches, and there is more coming in from mostly Mexican Sonorans adventuring in the Azteca region, but with an increased desire to match the Grandeans, that is not enough. Still, Sonora limps on, and Blanco remains in power.

One bright spot is that education has become more and more the responsibility of the Church in Sonora, under the guidance of the Patriarch of the Americas. This has relieved some social and financial pressure in the country. President Blanco has become a regular church goer, hoping some of that good will will rub off on him.

[Ward]

French Republic 1888

French Navy is laying own 30 x Averrne class sea=going Torpeo Boats
That will be finishe that year . Also 3 D'iberville class torpedo gunboats .
Comp in 1890
The also laid own 5 x Friant class Protected Cruiser finished in 2 years
1x Pothuau class armored Cruiser finished in 1892
4x Bouvines class coast defence ship finished in 1892
5 x Chales Martel Class Battleship finished in 1894


The Army is ordering 50,000 maxilam MG to be delivered at a rate of 10,000 a year . The Army is also building 6 land ships like the Draka Land ships .
The have also ordered 10 more rigid Airships .
They are also starting experments into powered flight of heaver then aircraft.

[DuQuense]

1887-

Canada is continuing It's Development, with a new hydro plant being planned for the Columbia, and Hopes for New Albion to allow one on the Frasier.
Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto have started projects to build electric trolley systems to replace the horse drawn ones currently in use.

The king Visit was a Great success. Except that He didn't appoint a Canadian as the Commissioner of New Albion before he left from New Vancouver. But He did appoint the Canadian as deputy Commissioner.

Canada has sent a Company of RCMP to new Vancouver, Technically they will be under the Authority of the Vancouver Sheriffs Department and more partially under the Port Sheriff. In Practice they will confine themselves mostly to New Vancouver.

Dickerson and Still have added a Electric Cycle to their Electric cars. They continue to play around with their Turtle, in their spare time.

Canada has started construction of it's Capital Ships, As well as building one for Persia, Just slightly smaller than most First Class Battle Ships, It is designed as a Second Class BB. [What they used to call Battle Cruisers] It has the latest in High pressure triple Steam Engines For Speed. They are expecting Persia to use it in the Indian Ocean, So it has Extra, Bunkerage capacity.

[DuQuense]

Russia 1887

Russia is busy trying to Digest the Areas that it claims to Control. It has started double tracking the Siberian Railroad, as well as starting projects in China. the large Number of New People and Land in the undeveloped Pacific, is straining the Russian Infrastructure.

As 92-93 % of the people are peasants, Most of the Labor force in China is Coolie Labor. Most of the Chinese peasants don't knew about the Changes that have happened and wouldn't care. In Russia There was a Slight Famine caused by the numbers of Peasants Pulled from the Land to Build the Army and Some of them have been allowed to return, Especially the Attempt at Female Soldiers.

The Mongol controlled Areas are very unhappy with the new Order of Things.

Russia is planning on rebuilding, It's fleet, for triple Duty, [Baltic, Black and Pacific] .

[Condottiero]

International Relations

The Republic of La Plata continued his relative isolationism. During this year the foreign policy concentrated on the American Hemisphere and the Pacific rim. The defensive treaties with other american nations and the naval program allowed to reduce the army. Cooperation with Mauribrazil increased and there was a Preferential Trade Agreement signed in Montevideo. The worst conditions in Antarctica finally led to the Nueva Plata Agreement were Polar Town would be divided, sacked and abandoned to the ices.


Internal Affairs

1888 was the year of the Presidential Elections. President Mastropiero could not run for a third election and the Conservative Party appointed Manuel Dario as candidate. Unfortunately the Republican [center-left party] candidate Don Isidoro Orozco won the election. One of his first decrees was to give the rank of Province to the Antarctic Territory and to sign the delimitation treaty of Archona were the different nations got acknowledgement for their claims. The American Antarctic Territory would have an special status as Platense Province as there were Peruvian, New Grenadan, Mauriafrican and U.S. territories and installations in it.


Defence

Army

Progresive reduction of the number of troops. Changes in the uniform colors and modernization of the weaponry. The first prototypes of armoured cars were presented although they had serious problems outside non-paved roads which made them almost useless for military applications. The first armoured train was handed to the army.

Navy

Tests with airships showed the risks of the usage of Hydrogen. Growing interest in Hellium experiments in New Grenade.

Units built
Patagonia class: Puna, Araucania
Esmeralda class: "Comodoro Evans" , "Comodoro Álvarez", "Comodoro Halabidis", "Comodoro Rosas"
Destructor class: 12 units

Units ceded
Devastation Class (damaged in La Plata) (Captured by La Plata in Buenos Aires bay, repaired in December 1886) "Lepanto" (ceded to Spain in 1888)
General Admiral class: "Igualdad" (ceded to Spain in 1888)
Esmeralda class: "Presidencia" (ceded to Spain in 1888), "Unicornio" (ceded to Peru in 1888), "Grifo" (ceded to Spain in 1888)
Numancia class: "Montevideo" (ceded to Spain in 1888)

[Condottiero]

International Relations

In spite of the sucessory affair there was an increased cooperation with Austria and negotiations for the acquisition of a couple of warships were started.
A more tight cooperation with Karelian China or Zhanjian was agreed. In fact carlist troops and jungle experts from the Philippines cooperated in New Guinea's colonization.

Internal Affairs

The economical agenda kept on dictating the internal policy of the Empire. The new Gurkha troops had to be paid and the regional bureaucracy started to flood the new imperial government with increasing amounts of paperwork. New roads, irrigation channels, railroads, telegraph lines were to be built.

Army

Five new infantry regiments equipped with rifles each 2000 men strong had been equipped. There are also two more cavalry regiments (also 2000 men strong) with 500 riflemen and 1500 lancers. And two gurkha infantry units equipped with american rifles and MGs.
There are two new artillery regiments equipped with austrian 70 mm guns.

Navy

Only four french torpedo boats were acquired.

[Condottiero]

Lappstan (Northern Norway and Sweden)
Emir Abdul "al suomi" ibn-Harald rebelled against the Karelians, but he was put down by a new Emir, Haakon "al-ursi" ibn-Haakon, who offered a new cooperation treaty to the Karelians in exchange of their support on his claims to the Caliphal crown. Unfortunately a region to the south was lost to Sverigestan during the revolt.

Norgestan (South Norway)
Emir Haakon "al skraelingi" ibn-Ismail has continued his game of using the British to get Karelian concessions and vice-versa. Unfortunately raids from Danestan had increased and his possition was weakened when his army was defeated near al-Os'loo and was saved by the presence of a british fleet. The men of Emir Magnus managed to keep a foothold near al-Os'loo.

Sverigestan (Central Sweden)
Vizier Saltan "al-jotumni" ibn-Thor continued his diplomatic bet. He is seen as the most acceptable candidate to the throne by Austria, France and Russia. He achieved an important advance by removing all austrian help to Emir Haakon thanks to Mullah Sven ibn-Ibrahim "al-Qurani" and the compromise of sending an austrian army in 1889.

Danestan (Denmark and South Sweden)
Emir Magnus ibn-Sven has concentrated on the control of the straits defying the karelian fleet. The acquisition of several torpedo boats has made Danestanian waters a dangerous spot for the Karelian fleet. His army has also obtained some major successes such as a foothold in Norgestan and the capture of three fortresses in Sverigestan.

[Condottiero]

During the first half of the year Pope Leo published two new Encyclicas concerning the Obligations to the most disfavoured and about Peace. During the Second Half he started a Pilgrimage on board the 'St. Petrus' frigate that took him to Compostela in Spain, Turin, Constantinople and Jerusalem.

Two treaties were signed with New Grenade: one aimed to improve the defences of the Papal States with the construction of several border fortifications and the cession of an armoured train and another one to encourage the construction of non-lethal weaponry.

[Ward]

Persia: 1888

International relations: The Persian nation continued their peaceful relations with their neighbors. The visit of the Pope to Jerusalem and Bethlehem late in 1887 and his meeting with the Shah in Jerusalem raised the prestige of the Shah on the eyes of his subject and the world in general. The Shah demonstrated an incredible tolerance of the other religious and racial groups in his newly acquired provinces; a trait not shared by his Darken allies. Still the Shah considered the Drakan as a nice counterweight to the British and Austrian presences near by cultivated his friendship with them even when he found their customs repugnant.

The arrival of the French naval military mission early in the year make the Mediterranean coast even more cosmopolite while commerce of the Kingdom was expanded due to the arrival of a Dutch commercial mission to the city of Tyre.

The Persian Volunteer Force continues their service in the civil war in Skandistan.


Internal Relations: The improvement of the communications infrastructure continued unabated while his civil servant program continued to be a success, especially in the Palestine and the Syrian provinces.


Military:

Army: Continues their development under the guidance of the Austrian mission while being armed by Drakan weapons. No new changes or weapons were introduced during the year.

Navy and Air: The French bought with them the idea of the power of the torpedo and recommended the Persians to began to build torpedo boats for harassment of enemy ships. The French also recommended the construction of major fortifications in every major port while they also began construction of a repair yard in the port of Tyre that could service ships up to 15,000 tons. The coastal battleship ordered to the Canadians was almost ready for delivery at the end of the year and it was expected to be in Persian hands by the beginning of next year.

Specifications of the Canadian build ship:
Displacement: 6,682 tons, Length: 319', Beam: 57',Draft: 21'6", Speed: 17 knots, Complement: 392, Armament: Four 10"; six 6"; seven six-pounders; eight one-pounders; four 14" torpedo tubes

The French battleship confronted problems due to a shipyard workers strike in the middle of the year and the contract was almost pull out until the French reduced the cost. Still the ship was behind schedule and a new nation was searched to build another one in the interim.

Specifications for the French build ship:
Displacement: 12,007 tons, Length: 117.81 m, Beam: 21.39 m, Draught: 8.38 m, Speed: 18 knots, Complement: 666 - 710, Armament: 2 x 12-in, 2 x 10.8 in, 8 x 5.5-in, 8 x 3.9-in guns, 12 x 3-pounder guns, 2 x 18-in tubes


Just a question why was there a strike in the Shipyard . I did not post that there was one .

[perdedor99]

Just a question why was there a strike in the Shipyard . I did not post that there was one .
Just to post why it was taking so long to deliver the ship. It will not take four years to build a battleship and if is taking that long must likely you get your contract pull. I just made an explanation for the delay in delivery. The average time of construction of the ships at the time was 2 years. The 4 years you offered doubled that time, so a reason must be found. Sorry, but strikes happen everywhere, even in stable nations.

[Bulgaroktonos]

Just to post why it was taking so long to deliver the ship. It will not take four years to build a battleship and if is taking that long must likely you get your contract pull. I just made an explanation for the delay in delivery. The average time of construction of the ships at the time was 2 years. The 4 years you offered doubled that time, so a reason must be found. Sorry, but strikes happen everywhere, even in stable nations.

2 years? The RN was pumping ships out in about a year. At least, that's the laid down to launch time. Comissioning took a bit longer.....

[DuQuense]

Canada 1888

Canada is continuing to Develop, Advertising heavily in the European Papers for immigrants. Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax, have started construction of Undergrounds [subways]. 90% of the street lighting in Montreal, & Toronto is now Electric.

Canada is about ready to launch the Persian Ship, and is in talks about constructing several more.

In Shantung General MacArthur, has been appointed Military Governor. His Wife and Kids have joined him, in China Pershing and Yannic, have both been promoted to Captain, and sent to New Gotland. The construction of Bases at Caledonia and Pearl Continues.

Canada has sent another company of RCMP to patrol along the CTC railroad in New Albion. and the CTC has completed it's spur north to Prince Rupert . Canada is building It's main Pacific Naval Base there. [Canada is going for the European 1/1000 police ratio] instead of the US 1/10.000]

[Ward]

Just to post why it was taking so long to deliver the ship. It will not take four years to build a battleship and if is taking that long must likely you get your contract pull. I just made an explanation for the delay in delivery. The average time of construction of the ships at the time was 2 years. The 4 years you offered doubled that time, so a reason must be found. Sorry, but strikes happen everywhere, even in stable nations.

This is how long it took a French battle ship to be laid down to commisioned .
I took them stright out of the conways all the worlds fighting ships 1860=1905
The British Royal Soverign was laid down in 9.7 1889 launched 7.5.91 and comp Aug 1893 the rest were able to be finished 6 mo sooner but they all took almost 4 years .

[Glen]

Viceroyalty of Peru
1888

A busy but peaceful year in the viceroyalty. Work continues to bring the small but efficient Peruvian military up to international standards in equipment, at least for a minor nation. These supplies come mostly from La Plata and New Granada. The debate continues, though indolently, on what the future of this cut-off Viceroyalty of another world should be, though most people seem to just want to get on with their lives.

Peruvians, especially in the North, flocked to this year's New Granadan Carnaval, favoring the cities of Ecuadorian New Granada for their revelry....they are close and very similar to home.

Bold Peruvian adventurers continue to map out the newly acquired Amazonian territories to the East, and find a few of their own pockets of paleolithic wonder. Also, Peruvian Andian troops continue serving in the joint Americas force in Antarctica, though by the end of the year it would seem most would be pulled to the Peninsula, as the central Capitol of the former despised Empire of the Midnight Sun is to be abandoned and destroyed. This seems to be one of the few things the Platanese and Draka, or Imperialitos as they are derisively known by Andian troops, seem to be able to agree on. To the Peruvians it is of little consequence; they have already claimed a significant share of the materials to be had in the Antarctic, and the Capitol has been plucked bare.

Peru is beginning to further develop as an industrialized nation, in part using captured manufacturing equipment from the Empire of the Midnight Sun, both scavenged by the Peruvians and bought from New Granadan entrepreneurs.

Along those lines, the Peruvians continue improvement in rail and telegraph, to better join their lengthy nation together. Most of this has been guided and underwritten by the New Granadan government per a previous agreement, though some Platanese and even Spanish have become involved.

[Justin Pickard]

Greece 1888:

Repressive measures by King Alexander lead to widespread industrial action. Apart from that, this quite a quiet year for Greece; railway construction continues regardless, and there are a number of small-scale scuffles in Greek Africa. A public debate on the possibility over military service for eighteen year olds devolves into a slanging match between the conservative and liberal factions.

[Matt]

1888

Internal:

Universal Sufferage declared. Senator Roosevelt abandons the Republican party, effectively spliting it.

International:

Working with the American nations, devolping "protectorates"

Military:

Devolpment of the Landship continues, airship research starts.

3 California Class BBs commissioned.
6 Florida Class BBs launched

6 as of yet unspecified Cruiser commissioned
12 launched

20 torpedo boats commissioned.

[Othniel]

The Mauriafricans have anouther year of celbration, native reindoctrination, and at the end of the 1888 year have entered into conferences with France, Great Britian and Spain about setting out a plan into which they might be able to aqquire their lands in West Africa. Their willingness to be patient on the discissions of the European nations of giving up their African colonies in order to increase the checkbooks of the forementioned nations.

They have also started top purchase in increase amounts from the USA in order to upgrade the threat of their presence.

[Glen]

Christian Communion
1888

The Chair of the Christian Communion Council, Patriarch of the Americas Beneficent the First, once again had a busy travel schedule this year. This year he toured the Pacific, first travelling up the North American coast, stopping in the Republic of Sonora (and crossing by rail briefly to Rio Grande), then to California and New Ablion, with a special visit to New Vancouver where he met with the earnest man of God who had called for the religious to beware the Drakan serpent.

Then across the Pacific to Platanese Hawaii, the Philippines, Karelian China and New Guinea, Australia, and New Gotland. Especially poinyant were the meetings of the Chair with Christian souls who had suffered from the attacks of the Imperials two years before. He prayed with many of them on bended knee for the healing of their shattered lives. Then up through the Indian Ocean with a visit to exotic India, and hence through the Suez Canal to Algiers for the September meeting of the Christian Communion Council. Their Methuselian King was invited to view the meeting as an honored guest, and gave an opening welcome to the religious representatives at the beginning, stating his firm belief in the separation of church and kingdom, as well as his staunch opposition to the scourge of slavery.

A brief side trip to Tripoli at the request of the Austrians also occured.

Afterward, Beneficent travelled to Rome and the Papal States to take counsel with his peer, Pope Leo XIII, and to view firsthand the progress being made on forming a new nation ruled by Christian virtues. He also travelled to France and then Spain to see the twin children of the union he had blessed years before, his first wedding ever in the new mosaic of worlds.

Finally, home to Cartagena for rest....

[Glen]

Kingdom of Spain and Brazil
1888

At the urging of Queen Catalina, the Royal couple travelled to New Granada to visit their fellow Royal, King Carlos II, and see firsthand the spectacular of Carnaval. It is widely believed that both the Queen and King donned costume and mask and snuck out with a discrete escort of bodyguards to experience directly the revelry of Carnaval. In much quieter tones, it is also alleged that they did not travel together, seeking...other...company.

Some cities in Navarre are considering holding their own New Granadan style Carnaval, but there are those who oppose such debauchery.

Spain and Brazil have been busy this year. The rearmament and training of the military continue at a frantic pace, fueled by money from sales of land and a little booty from Antarctica as well as diplomacy. The French were the main instructors and suppliers to Spain proper, whereas in Brazil it was primarily the New Granadans with some from La Plata, while the Mauriafricans and a few British supplied the same services in Spanish West Africa, where continued work on fortifying the frontier progressed. Unfortunately, these trenches were made to repel armies, not raiders, and Spanish West Africa suffered from a number of native raids from the interior during this period. Of course, this was merely a pinprick compared to the troubles the Austrians had in the East with the Mahdi's forces, but to the small Spanish colony they were serious. Despite this, many Spaniards, Navarrese especially, continued to come to the Dark Continent.

Brazil has not only been rearming, but beginning to embarck on an industrialization program, mostly using industrial equipment salvaged from the destroyed Empire of the Midnight Sun, either by the few Spanish troops and adventurers down there but mostly through purchase from the New Granadan salvagers. Brazil is also starting to develop rail to link with the cities of New Granada and Mauribrasil, even La Plata and Peru are hoped to be reached by the end of the century. However, they are also watching with interest the airship programs of their neighbors, which may provide another route for overland transport.

In the latter part of the year the Queen and King hosted the Chair of the Christian Communion Council, Beneficent I, in Madrid. It was their great pride to show off to the Patriarch their twin children and heirs.

[Glen]

Kingdom of New Granada
1888

The year 1888 was fairly uneventful for New Granada. The work of taming the Azteca and the Amazon continued. Electification was all the rage, with a lot of technology being imported from Canada. Work continues on the armored trains, airships, submarines (in cooperation with La Plata and others), and of course, surface ships.

A new class would be introduced by the end of the year, called the Majestico class*. Breaking with previous tradition, this class is named after former monarchs rather than animals. Apparently, given its improvements over the Raptor class and the perceived increase in ships overall, it was felt this would be appropriate (needed more names). The ships again sported the all turret, all breechloading, all main gun design of the latter Raptor class. They were well built ships with beautiful lines, and would set the standard for years to come. Also more work was done on cruisers and torpedo boat destroyers, often abbreviated to destroyers. Singularly, the Customs branch of the New Granadan navy not only purchased many of the retiring regular navy ships, but also worked on improving gunboat designs specifically for riverine and island hopping uses.

Airships were becoming an increasing obsession with the New Granadans. As new techniques, designs, and materials were becoming available, the New Granadans could see many uses for the craft. They could be used for more sophisticated weather surveillance, limited civilian transport between areas with intervening wilderness, and of course several military applications. Work began on mooring towers in all the big cities, many of the islands, and along the length of the Amazon.

The rail lines continued their progress, snaking through the Amazon and Azteca towards the penultimate goal of linking the entire hemisphere by train.

Revenues were skyrocketing once again. New Granada competed reasonably well in most of the industrial product lines. Also, they were selling more and more of their oil products. The old New Granadan virtual monopoly on sugar production (He who controls the sugar controls the universe!....or something like that)was once more a reliable and lucrative source of revenues for the Kingdom, as were the high quality coffees and chocolate produced there. New Granada's Guianan Chocolates were becoming the luxury item in the Americas and on the Continent, and even in the court of China.

Many of the capital ventures of New Granadan banks were just starting to see returns.

Carnaval saw a record influx of people amazed and shocked by the wild event. Even some of the Crowned Heads of Europe were beginning to come.

Overall, though, it was a quiet year. The Americas were strong and at peace. Many of the Christian denominations were reconciled in the Christian Communion. Life was good.

[Condottiero]

The military airship program was becoming stagnant when a private enterpreneur and millionaire, Ventura Marcos, announced he had solved the Helium storage problem. By the end of the year he presented a prototype for civilan usage (although the navy compromised to finance the building of military versions) and announced that in one year there would be a Montevideo-Buenos Aires-Santiago line and in one more year he announced flights to New Granada, Peru and the United States. In the future: Europe, China and Africa!

The police announced that they would equip Metropolitan forces with electrical cycle patrols in order to help in the war against Crime.

Political life continued peacefuly with minor issues, such as the industrialization of the South with imperial technologies, the abandonment of part of the Antarctic Territory (although the claims were held) and the construction of more shipyards on the Pacific coast, Pearl Harbor and New Caledonia.

By August a Conservative politician of peruvian origin announced the creation of a Republican Party in Peru as a solution to the oncoming sucessory problem.

The government announced a Universal Fair to be hold on Montevideo in year 1890 and invited all the nations to attend. The Fair would concentrate on technical improvements for the XX century.


Army:
one new armoured train

Naval program:

Units built:
Esmeralda class: "Comodoro Tiaguez" (Jul 1889), "Comodoro Farragut" (Jul 1889), "Puma" (Jan 1889), "León" (Mar 1889)
Destructor class: 6 units.

Units ceded:
Numancia class: "Viedma" (ceded to Perú in 1889), "Valparaiso" (ceded to Spain in 1889)

Units sold:
Destructor class: 6 units to China.

[Condottiero]

The year started with the full electrification of Rome and Florence and ended with the illness of Pope Leo. The invitation for the Montevideo Universal Fair was accepted and the Papal States prepared to present there their social reformations.

Army

New Granadan advisors and engineers arrived in order to work on the new defenses. They would concentrate on defensive fortifications and training of the Papal Army.

[Condottiero]

The Chinese government had to face the first internal problems in Central China. The increasing presence of Catholic missionaries had caused some unrest but the final spark were land confications in order to build the railways. Gurkha and Carlist Regulares troops were sent to control a situation that threatened to become a full rebellion.

The good news were that the new chinese troops remained fully loyal to the Imperial Government and most of the intermediate commands obtained the full citizenship by war merits.

Ten new chinese regiments were created and two more artillery regiments. In order to train them some british advisors were hired.

The navy was reinforced with two new gunned freighters and six destroyers acquired in La Plata. France was addressed to provide a couple of cruisers in order to decommision the older wooden warships.

[Condottiero]

A peace conference was held in al-Odensai but it ended in bloody riots that caused several hundreds of casualties between the delegations. An almost unknown fact was the acquisition by several foreign powers of the last Djinn tanks.

Lappstan (Northern Norway and Sweden)
Emir Haakon "al-ursi" ibn-Haakon tried to consolidate his position with Karelian help, and to stop the Sverigestanian offensive over his territory.

Norgestan (South Norway)
Emir Haakon "al skraelingi" ibn-Ismail tried during the whole year to recover the positions lost to the danestanians. At the same time he managed to bribe one Sverigestanian Sheik to rebel threatening Ups-Allah.

Sverigestan (Central Sweden)
Vizier Saltan "al-jotumni" ibn-Thor started the year with the rebellion near Ups-Allah and with an Lappstanian offensive. But in Spring he started receiving Austrian troops that helped him to put out the rebellion and to stop the Lappstanians. By the end of the year and with almost 50000 austrian troops he was in condition of defeating the other Emirs.

Danestan (Denmark and South Sweden)
Emir Magnus ibn-Sven suffered some internal problems as Prussians pressed to get Jutland. He decided to hold a meeting with the other Emirs in order to present a united front against the germans, but some misunderstandings ended in a bloodbath. His possition was severely weakened and threatened by the figure of Sheik Yuseef Amundsen.

[Justin Pickard]

Greece 1889:

Narrowly avoiding an assasain's bullet, King Alexander steps up national security. The Greek army start to forcibly conscript Turkish Greeks. Greek Africa experiences a severe famine. The Greek Prime Minister resigns following a scandal involving a married women and rumours of embezzelment, triggering a political deadlock which concludes with plans for an election in the January of 1890.

[Othniel]

This year begins the changes of the Mauriafrican lands. Sale of of Western Mato Grosse to La Plata, and a Small notch of Amazonia to Brazil has resulted in the consol