The Path to Genoa

[perdedor99]

August 4 2004 (Event + 3 days)
The Union of Visegrad sent by radio this offer to the Italian Government:
To: The Kingdom of Italy
From: The Union of Visegrád & The Republic of Germany

Message: The people of our two nations (numbering near 80 million) wish for you to join the Central European Union, a defensive alliance (although work was being done on forming a customs union between its members before the Event) designed at promoting peace and welfare among Central Europe. The CEU will be a major player in European politics, should you join. Others are being recruited to join at this time. Don't be left behind.
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Italian response was swift and to the point:
To: The Republic of Visegrad & the Republic of Germany
From: The Kingdom of Italy

Our nation has been in a cold war with the Central European nations for more than 60 years and considers this invitation to a so-called Central European Union as just a ploy to undermine our glorious fascist government. We want to observe the politics of this New World for the time being and maybe in time relations between our nations could improve.

__________________________________________________ ____________

August 6 2004 (Event + 5 days)
Message sent by nations to the north finally deciphered. The text was as follows:

In Attic Greek:

The Rigion Litawijâ wishes to establish peaceful relations with your nations. We would like to send an envoy. Please advise us as to your permission for this step, locations of capitols, necessary flight paths, and other particulars. Also note that we have a limited number of speakers of Attic Greek at our command, and it appears to be the only European language we share. If you possess interpreters, it would greatly aid in our negotiations.

(signed)

Medugenus Galadunantos
Foreign Minister

Italian linguistics experts began working to answer this message.
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Union of Visegrad sent a response to the Kingdom of Italy’s rebuff:
To: The Kingdom of Italy
From: The Union of Visegrad & The Republic of Germany

We feel that we must take this opportunity to remind you of our history. In our former world, we were in an alliance with a fascist Italy very similar to your own. In fact, they too prospered under our direction, led by a leader elected for life. Like you, we, too, have been in a Cold War for the past sixty years, albeit with the nations of Western Europe.

We'd like to arrange a meeting between our Foreign Minister Sikorski, along with the Italian ambassador to the UoV from our world, and your Prime Minister as a sign of goodwill. Then, we'd like to invite your Foreign Minister to tour our nation, escorted by a number of your own Italian security guards (if that would make you more comfortable). Perhaps we can open negotiations to first establish solid diplomatic relations between our two great nations?


__________________________________________________ __________

August 9 2004 (Event + 8 days)
A response in Attic Greek is sent to the Litawijas Kingdom:

Our nation views your request for peaceful relations in a very positive light and agrees whole heartily to a face to face meeting between envoys from our two nations to further discuss the matter. As far as we can gather your nation occupies the area formerly occupied by the nation of France. To ease travel we recommend envoys meet in the city of Genoa, close to our mutual borders. Please inform beforehand mode of travel to insure escort to meeting location.

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The Italians responded to the Visegrad’s radio message:


To: The Union of Visegrad & The Republic of Germany
From: The Kingdom of Italy

Our Kingdom was unaware of both nations history. Still, you can understand our negative response to any type of alliance with Central European nations for the time being. But your proposal of a meeting between foreign ministers as a beginning of diplomatic relations meets our approval. Please advise of how to arrange this meeting. Good day.

__________________________________________________ ______________

August 10 2004 (Event + 9 days)
The Litawijas Kingdom responded pretty quickly to the Italian message:

We are very pleased at you wholehearted willingness to enter into peaceful relations. Our envoy will fly to city of Massalijâ in the next couple of days, on our side of the border, and then travel by motorcar to our apparent border to meet your envoy for escort to city of Genoâ.

We are very desirous of fair trade relations, and also will need to discuss minor adjudications of our common borders caused by apparent geographic changes. In no case are we claiming any part of your current territory, and, given that the differences amount to no more than 10 square miles in total over entire border region, the question should be easily solved. However, for customs and travel control purposes it is desirable to clearly define current as opposed to pre-Event borders.

[G.Bone]

Warning Uno

Just a friendly warning...all diplomatic stuff, whether it be stuff +3 hours after event and dealings with other gov't should be in the Diplomatic Thread. A story thread should just be the reaction of of the Gov't by the gov't's POV or the leaders of that gov't.

[Landshark]

I get the feeling this is a story thread and the diplomatic stuff is by way of a prolouge. You know sort of "Long ago in a galaxy far away". I could be completely wrong though :)

[perdedor99]

I'm using diplomatic messages to try to guide story along. next is a meeting of the Italian cabinet on August 10. Them more diplomatic threads followed by war. If Gbone disagree I just post the diplomatic chat in the diplomatic thread and continue the rest here.

[perdedor99]

August 10 2004
3:00 PM
“Good afternoon gentleman, we have a number of items in the agenda so lets get started.” Prime Minister Buenoventura said “Pietro, Sal, what is our internal status?

Pietro Castelli, the Minister of the Interior, a bespectacled man of about 50 years old was the first to speak. “Mr. Prime Minister, the rationing of first necessity items is in full force and I’m happy to announce that
rioting in the southern cities was finally eliminated yesterday. Damages to the infrastructure of some cities, especially Napoli, are very heavy. In the north the borders are calm. Some illegal trading thru the border with the Celtic nations have occurred but due to lack of a common language it’s basically of the bartering kind.”

“Could we consider the riots over them?” The Defense Minister interrupted.

Castelli answered, “ The rioting was caused by the implementation of the rationing of food staples without previous notice and the people panicked, especially in the poor areas of the south. With food distribution in place the Carabineri chief have assured me that we have seen the worst and I believe him.”

“Any more questions for Pietro?” The Prime Minister asked and looked around the table “No? Salvatore, please start.”

“The situation is not good gentleman.” Salvatore Bacci, the balding 45 years old Energy Minister, began his gloomy outcast of the future. “ We had one year worth of oil reserves before the event but due to the mobilization of our Armed Forces I calculated that now we have close to 10 months of oil reserves and in case of military operations against any nation this could be reduced even more. I propose we accept the Libyan offer of selling us oil in exchange for gold, being our only solution in the short term to our oil problems.”

“Damn traitors!” General Pardo exploded “We should just get that oil by force if necessary from that damn colonials. Please, let me prepare a plan to deal with the Tripoli Traitors once and for all. “

The Prime Minister interrupted the Regio Esercito commander’s tirade. “General, I don’t doubt the valor of our gallant soldiers. But have you seen the latest reconnaissance pictures? I know you have. So don’t try to fan winds of war against the Libyans when you know that any action against them could end in our defeat! I for one second Salvatore’s proposal;” The Prime Minister stared at the General. “ And I know you will too.” After a couple of seconds the General lowered his eyes and slowly nodded. Nods of approval of the rest of the members ended the matter for now.

“It’s approved them.” The Prime Minister turned to his Foreign Minister. “Please Aldo, can you get in touch with the traitors and inform them we will accept their terms in regard to oil delivery. And can you start your report, please? The Prime Minister smiled to his friend and began lighting a cigarette to try calm himself down. Warmongering fool, the Prime Minister thought, I will give you a war but one we can win.

Foreign Minister Aldo Matta, began his report; “ Gentleman, our main goal foreign policy effort since this event, the safeguard of our northern borders seems is close to completion. The Celtics Kingdoms to the north have accepted our request to a meeting and we could meet with them in the next couple of days.”

“Have you already asked them the Question?”, again the Defense Minister interrupted a speaker, “We could ask the same to the Visegradians and the Spanish?

“Not a bad idea.” Answered Minister Matta. “Everything hinges around the Celts but the Visegradians seem really desperate in dealing with us. I think the sons of a bitch have an agenda of their own and having our friendship must be a very important part of it. We have been ignoring the Spaniards plea trying to pull the deal with the Celts but we could also attempt to see were they stand. In regard to the Visegradians I recommend we continue radio communication but try to drag out negotiations with them.”

“We also have been ignoring the messages of the Corsican Kingdom occupying the island of Sardinia, but we have received radio messages from underground organizations in Sardinia that desires union with our nation. We responded a couple of days ago and they seem to be an well-organized and supported cell of freedom fighters.”

“ The big wild card is the nation facing us on the other side of the Adriatic. All we know is they call themselves the Yugoslavian Commune, I’m not really sure is that their real name, and they have kept to themselves since the event, refusing to answer any diplomatic inquiries from our nation.”

“Could it be possible we were their enemies in the world they came from?” Asked the Minister of the Interior.

Foreign Minister Matta responded. “It’s a possibility but we have no way to verify if it’s true at this time. We have no idea as today of their intentions or capabilities. Reconnaissance photos showed some rioting in the coastal areas and some areas of the immediate interior but a very strong military presence was also detected in that same areas.” Rumblings around the room showed their displeasure with this news.

“To the south the Libyans announce themselves as a province of Italy but refuse our authority. We have tried everything to bring them on line. They won’t budge. It seems we better get used to the idea for now of an independent Libya in our southern borders.” More rumblings around the room. For a second it seems General Pardo was going to start with another tirade but a hard glare from the Prime Minister stopped him on his tracks.

“To the southwest the areas of Tunis and Algeria are under the control of some kind of Spanish government. As far as our information they are behind us in technological development and seem to be a little extreme in their religious views.”

“How extreme are their religious views? The Energy Minister inquired.

Matta responded. “Well, the day of the event they burned foreigners in the stake on their national television. Some of that footage was seen in Sicily the day it occurred. The majority believed it was a movie of some kind. Thank God for that. After verifying this we have kept them at a distance.”

“Thank you, Aldo.” The Prime Minister smiled at his friend, lighted another cigarette and turned in the direction of the defense minister. “ Enrico, what are our defensive capabilities as far as you can tell.”

The Defense Minister began his report. “As far as we can tell even with the losses suffered by the event the Regia Marina is the most powerful naval force in the Mediterranean, capable of defeating any Naval force one on one. The Regio esercito and the Regia Aeronautica are very capable and comparable to any force in the area. We have at this time enough amphibious capabilities to transport three infantry divisions or one infantry and one mechanized division at once.”

The Prime Minister interjected. “We are running late so lets close this for now and reconvene at a later date. Aldo, I recommend we continue the negotiations with the Celts and the Visegradians plus let try to start a diplomatic chat with the Spanish government. Also sent a message to the Tripoli Traitors agreeing to their price for oil.” Minister Matta nodded in agreement. “For now let’s keep an eye in the activities of the Yugoslavs and our neighbors to the south. Enrico, General Pardo, Aldo please stay. Need to discuss some information concerning military matters. For the rest thank you gentlemen and see you tomorrow.”

[perdedor99]

August 25 2004 (0345 hours)

Captain Mario Castellano of the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment (mech) sat up on the deck of the LST (1) having a quiet smoke and listening to the hum of the engines as his ship continued his course up the Mediterranean. It was the early hours of the 25th of August 2004 and his division (2) was on route to the island of Sardinia.

Damn, Mario suddenly thought to himself, this is not an exercise, is the real thing this time. It’s is what all those years of training and exercises was all about! It seems like someone has made up his mind, and we could stop being demoralized by the fall of our nation’s status as a colonial in a blink of an eye and for being scare, hungry, fighting between each others because we let fear rule our lives for a moment. God, the riots! Shooting at looters in the streets of Napoli was an experience I don’t want to repeat ever in my life. I better get a short shuteye. We will be there soon.
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August 25 2004 (0415 hours)

A three aircraft formation began moving on the direction of their runway, their noses in the direction of Sardinia. Lt Colonel Carlo Rossi smiled to himself. We will be the first. He thought, Too bad the Corsicans will not know what hit them.

His group was ordered to hit the Corsican radar station in the air station close to the city of Olbia. Other groups were tasked with the destruction of the radar stations in Ajaccio, Nova Byzantium, Alghero and Cagliari but his was the closest one so he will be the first to strike the enemy forces. His comrades and his own SU-28 (3) were loaded with the Bastico anti radar missile (4) and he will be the first to use this weapon in combat. Carlo looked up and saw the bait planes (4) already taking off. Carlo smiled again, this time a wolfish one.

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August 25 2004 (0505 hours)

19 years old Lance Corporal Sergio Andreini felt the tug of his parachute opening and a couple of minutes later he touched ground in the runway of the Cagliari airport, close to the plane terminal. He got rid of his parachute and joined his platoon in securing the civilian part of the airfield. What a rush, he thought.

His platoon double-timed to a hangar facing the barracks of the Corsican air force personnel assigned to this base. The fires of the burning tower and the military radar station lighted the night with a reddish tint of evil. Sergio lifted his Beretta 84(5) and shoots a burst in the direction of some moving figures coming out of the barracks and some of them fell to the ground. He turned around to face his best friend Arturo Milano. “Like taking candy from a baby, eh?” He never heard the answer of his friend. His forehead exploded sending blood and pieces of skull in the direction of his friend, shot by an enemy sniper. He was the first Regio Esercito combat casualty at 0537 of August 25 2004.

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(1) Landing Ship Transport
(2)Bersaglieri Division, a Rapid Deployment Mechanized division. Lots of wheeled light armored vehicles(equivalent to the AML-90), motorcyles and armored halftracks with attached heavy weapons.
(3)Russian fighter bomber equivalent ot OTL SU-27
(4)follows radar signals back to source. Common weapon so Italian TL operators turn off their equipments for a couple of seconds if threat of this type of missiles inminent. That's the reason for decoy planes, keep the operators busy.
(5)think OTL AK-74. Russians were the main allies of the Kingdom of Italy on their TL

[Imajin]

August 25
2100 Hours
The Tiber River
Lieutenant Maximilian Commenus could not believe what was happening... Do we have a chance? Corsica, the home island, without it's radar, and was forced to rely on watchmen in the tallest buildings... These Italians were far stronger than what we knew, and had even managed to bring the Sardinians on thier size. And John, the Emperor in all but title, still doesn't realize what he's up against. We're the last hope.. Thought the Lieutenant. The ship carried no flag nor banner, and was slowly sneaking up the Tiber River, ready to attack what we believe is the Capital City... Rome.

[Landshark]

Ohhh I so want these cocky Italian bastards to come a cropper.

[perdedor99]

August 25 2004 (12:57 hours)

Captain Castellano’s unit reached the city of Iglesias around noon and began to dig in. Until now they only fought against light-armed Home Guards and casualties have been fairly light, 5 man wounded. Some reports he received coming from Cagliari speak of mercenary units being part of the enemy garrison of the city and even after 7 hours some sections of that city are still in enemy hands. His unit was waiting outside of the town when Colonel Grandi (1) decided to demoralize the enemy with a charge to the enemy center of town and gave the order thru the radio on a secure channel.

This plan gives no respect to the enemy. Though Mario at the time. Just driving thru the city center is madness. But orders are orders. He shaked his head and gave the order. "Mount up,men"

The welcome was a very hot one. Enemy soldiers were up on the buildings flanking both sides of the road and received the Bersaglieri hurling grenades and shooting into their vehicles as they slowly drove on thru town. “Goddamn”, Mario yelled into his radio, “Luigi, Andres, start using your machineguns against those bastards on the balconies. They are wasting our guys on the halftracks left and right. Let’s do something to help those poor son of the bitches on the tracks,for Chrissake.” The light armored vehicles, using their main armaments (2) and machine guns, forced the enemy forces’s gunfire to slow down long enough to reach the center of town and create a defensive perimeter on the main plaza.

The casualties were heavy, 25 dead and 43 wounded men. Them Colonel Grandi gave the order on the radio that cost him his career. “Mortar platoon, do you copy? Over”, he said to the mike. After a pause listening to the response from the other side he yelled into the radio “Prepare the chemical rounds (3) for use against that bastards on that apartment complex and I don’t want any but about it.”

We have entered a new kind of hell. Thought Captain Castellano. God helps us now.

(1) Commander 3er Regiment Bersaglieri Division
(2) 75mm rapid fire high velocity guns
(3) Fast action fast dispersal nerve gas

[perdedor99]

August 25 2004 (15:42 hours) Over Mediterranean Sea

Lt Colonel Carlo Rossi third mission of the day was over. The bombing run against the city of Nova Byzantium gave him a perverse pleasure. What a day. He thought. One radar tower, two ammo dumps and now a combat kill. Whoa. That poor sap never saw what hit him. Well, time to go back to base and rest for a while because tomorrow will be another day.

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August 25 2004 (16:32 hours) Outside of Cagliari

Longest rest we have all day. Corporal Arturo Milano breathed deeply. Poor Sergio, dead at 19. At least his dead was not in vain. We secured the airport and captured close to twenty enemy planes still on the ground. Still, I miss his stupid jokes and his imitations of the officers while they weren’t looking around. A damn shame he is dead. Arturo shakes his head while drinking his water and filling his stomach with some chocolate.

His unit has been in constant combat since 0500 and the stress and exhaustion was taking their toll on his unit. The prisoners facing him were a strange and mix bunch. Swiss, Germans and one Pole. Condotierri they call themselves. That’s weird. He thought. Mercenaries are these assholes’ (1) best soldiers. Oh well, time to move on. Arturo got up slowly, put his canteen away and finished eating the rest of his chocolate. “Turn around” He gestured to the prisoners, cocked the bolt of his gun and began shooting. The five men fell to the ground, two of them still moaning. He turned to the unit’s Sardinian guide. “ Do you want to do them?” The Sardinian masked his feelings of repulsion as best he could “ No. You go ahead.” He said. Arturo just nodded and shot the moaning prisoners on the back of the head.

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(1) Corsican Army, the enemy

[Imajin]

Port-of-Rome
Rome, Italy

A man ran up to the port, screaming something in Italian, around the lines of "No Corsican ships allowed!" He would be the first casualitie, as the group of soldiers attacked the port. Other ships docked were sunk (Only those carrying an Italian Flag, as to not anger other countries). Most of the destruction was meaningless, many of the boxes thrown into the River were not going to the soldiers in Sardinia. It was a terror attack, designed to scare the Italians into submission.

Lieutenant Commenus suddenly hear footsteps, running towards the area.. and then gunshots. Drat.. he thought. The Roman police! And that was all he would ever think again, as a bullet pierced his heart. The rest of the soldiers went running, shooting at random buildings as they went, attempting to cause as much damage as possible before they were caught.

[perdedor99]

August 25 2004 (22:10 hours) Port of Rome

Private Luigi Mangano was falling asleep but he knows that the sergeant of the guard will beat him senseless if he do something stupid like that. Out of basic training only 4 weeks ago he can only think of his girlfriend and that tomorrow he was going on a 48 hours pass. She will be surprise to see me. Luigi thought and smiled. Can’t wait to have her in my arms again.

Movement coming from the far end of the harbor surprised him. A ship with no flag and with all lights out was mooring in the harbor. Almost to a cue armed men all dressed in black began to jump from the sides of that ship to the harbor. He panicked. My God! Corsicans! He yelled in his mind. He began to run in the direction of the enemy, unslinging his weapon from his shoulder while trying to raise the alarm. All he can yell was “No. Corsican ships. Help.” before the burst of an enemy submachine gun canceled his plans for tomorrow for all the eternity.

[perdedor99]

August 26 2004 (09:16 hours) Cagliari

Corporal Arturo Milano observed the long line of prisoners been marched out in the direction of the detention center been constructed in the outskirts of the city while eating his breakfast. Tough bastards! He thought in admiration. With a 10 to 1 advantage in our favor and still took us more that 24 hours to secure this damn city. Well at least my war is over. We will be replaced tomorrow by ground pounders (1) coming from the mainland and we can go back to some rest and relaxation.

He finished eating his breakfast and lighted a cigarette, turned to his side and offered one to the Sardinian Freedom Fighter that has served as their guide since yesterday’s morning. The Sardinian, a young man named Salvatore Guglioni, accepted smiling. But his smile masked his true feelings and thoughts. This Italians are not the same that the ones in our world. They are arrogant and vicious with almost no respect for life except if it fits their schemes and plans. We are now really screwed!

Both men smoked and talked about nothing in particular for a little bit but their minds were thinking of the future; for one it looks sunny and as the beginning of new adventures and experiences, for the other it seems like darkness is surrounding his world and life just took a turn for the worse.


August 26 2004 (11:24 hours) Over the island of Corsica.

We are running out of targets to bomb. Lamented Lt Colonel Rossi. Suddenly tracer fire coming from behind barely missed his plane. “ We have a Corso at eight o’clock, heads up. Over out” Not waiting for a reply from his wingmen he banked hard to the right trying to get out of the way of the enemy aircraft but the enemy was already zeroing in on his left wingman, Lt Castilione. Castilione was trying to shake the enemy, but to no avail. In seconds is aircraft was transformed into a fireball. "No!" Yelled Rossi at top of his lungs and began to turn his aircraft in an attempt to intercept the enemy, but no luck. The enemy plane was faster and turned, away from his weapons’ range.

Rossi was furious and only revenge was on his mind. He began to look for a target. He founded one pretty quickly. That apartment complex looked like military barracks from this height. He smiled and released his payload over a residential area. Will not bring the kid back, but they have to pay somehow. Rossi and his remaining wingman turned in the direction of their base while the fire consumed hundreds of innocents.

(1) Regular infantry soldiers

[Imajin]

Royal Palace (Undamaged areas)
Ajaccio, Corsica

Second-to-the-Emperor John, Prince Crown-Regent of the Empire, Defender of Christianity, and Prince of Sardinia was not having a very good day. He was attacked completely unprepared, and his nation, he had to admit, was losing badly. Explosions rocked all major cities, and arms shipments promised by other nations had been blocked. Yes, he had caused some trouble in Rome, but these Italians would not give up! He sighed as he realized the inevitable. Most of Sardinia was part of "Demon-Italy" now, and the Italians would not be willing to give that up.. Best to cut his losses, and try to get a peace agreement that won't completely destroy the Empire...

[perdedor99]

August 26 2004 (16:19 hours) Porto Torres

Major Mario Castellano was a very happy man. The actions of his former commander Colonel Grandi forced General Masserona(1) to relieve him of his post (2) and that created a snowball effect. As a result Mario found himself as the new 1st battalion/3rd regiment of Bersaglieri XO. His battlefield promotion to Major was a reward for his fast thinking in the Iglesias action.

“More wine sir.” His batman offered.

“Sure, and pour some for yourself too.” Mario responded.

“Thank you very much sir.” The young lance corporal poured two tin cups full of wine and passes one of them to the Major.

Young troopers. The future of Italy. Mario thought with a smile and looked into the port area. We won. The enemy was tougher that we expected but the field is ours.

They can see from their location the remnants of the enemy forces embarking for evacuation to Corsica under a flag of truce. They looked battered but proud and in good order, especially the Corsican Royal Guards detachments (3) and the Swiss Condotierri units. They marched in the direction of the waiting transports in good stride with their guidions flying on the wind.

“ It seems like a parade.” The batman said.

“It is.” Mario responded. “ They are showing what they are made of.”

“Sir?” The young man asked

Mario didn’t respond. He only continues to admire the gallant enemy they just vanquish and gave thanks to God that they were so few. We were lucky. Very lucky. But now is over. We can close the book in this chapter of our history.

(1)Commander Bersaglieri Division
(2)Not relieved for a bungled attack or for using nerve gas in an area full of civilians but for the political implications of killing future citizens.
(3)Recognizable for using Corsican Royal Coat of Arms on their helmets.