Imperium: How One Note Changed History

Tying Up Loose Ends

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The Swamp Fox, Picture Undated​

Rural South Carolina Colony
July 4th, 1783

Francis Marion was also getting old, but he hated it. In his youth just after the American surrender he was out killing Red Coats and collaborators with his men, now he was confined to his cabin, planning the next attack. Since the American Surrender Marion had been launching a vicious guerrilla campaign. Others soon joined him and now he was head of the infamous Swamp Fox Brigade, a rebel organization with cells across the Eastern Seaboard and in every major city. The British named him a terrorist not long after the surrender, so now the Swamp Fox was banished from his home and family, doomed to die out in the Swamps. He didn't care...much. Most of his family had flipped sides after the Revolution, and now most of them are dead. There is one Marion couldn't bring himself to kill thought, his cousin Mary Esther Videau. Letters he received during the war had told stories of her idolizing his exploits. He loved her more than he should, transcending social norms. Now she has flipped and is probably feeding the Redcoats information detrimental to our cause. They are going to use that information to launch reprisals...again. That is why Marion is making another plan...to raid his plantation and kill Mary.

He sat at his desk, candle burning, with a map of his plantation littered with tin soldiers. "I must do this quickly...I must do it for her own good." he thought to himself. Suddenly the guards at his door shouted and fired into hte distance. Marion shot up and then got down as a sniper's bullet impacted the wall a few inches from his head. The door creaked open amid gunfire and one of his guards ran in "Sir! The British found us! They are attacking, you have to get out of here!" he yelled over the sounds of battle. Marion nodded and dashed out of hte house along with the guard. He fired at the tree line before running behind the house and to the stables. When he got back there he was the stables were on fire and British soldiers were emerging from the forest. "Damnit!" the guard yelled "What now"? Marion looked around and saw that they were coming from mostly the left of his house. He pointed to the right "Get to the trees! To the trees if you want to live!" he yelled as he dashed toward the tree line. He took one look back and saw the British throwing torches into his house. Marion turned and ran deeper into the forest.

London, England
July 8th, 1789

General Cornwallis sat in his new home in London began writing his memoirs. Since coming home from America he had wrote a book on his experiences fighting the Americans. It made him rich beyond his wildest dreams. He still was also promoted to Field Marshal of the British Army, but so far nothing has happened that has called for his attention. There was a knock on his door and Cornwallis reluctantly went up and answered it "Hello. What do you want?" he asked to the man. He pulled a letter from his pocket "Straight from the King himself sir". Cornwallis opened the letter and begin reading
Dear Lord Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis

I have just received word that our forces in South Carolina Colony have failed once again in their pursuit of the leader of the Swamp Fox Brigade, Francis Marion. You fought much in that area during the Revolution so you know the area.

I am sending you back to the Colonies to hunt down and kill Francis Marion. Your ship leaves tomorrow. If you have any questions or concerns then please feel free to come to the Palace. I eagerly await your answer.

King George III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland


Cornwallis sighed as he put the letter in his pocket and pushed past the man." Well I guess I am going back to the Colonies
 
The New America

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Republican troops march on Paris

"You may keep my miserable kingdom, you may keep my spike encrusted jewels. Stay there as you will, and stare as you will, I am a shadow's shadow and I will not disappoint" - King Louis XVI​


Paris, France
July 14th, 1789

Napoleon took out his pistol and fired it at the man closest to him. The man keeled over in pain and began the long and painful death by bleeding out. Napoleon then ducked behind a makeshift barricade set up in the front courtyard of Versailles. Just 300 feet ahead of him lay the symbol of French power. Just 300 more feet and the King would be dead...and it seemed the King knew it to. Napoleon peeked out from behind his barricade and fired into the distance. There was a tap on his shoulder and he turned his head. "Sir, we are running low on ammo, if we are going to do this, do it now". Napoleon nodded, they did have a limited amount of ammunition and they were using it up before even entering the palace. He couldn't just charge though. His enemy was fortified, a charge would be suicidal at the least. He needed a way to dislodge them...and fast. He looked around and saw nothing "of fucking course!" he thought to himself. Just as he was about to order a suicide charge a miracle happened.

He heard the clatter of a cart and turned his head to see what was coming. What he saw could only be called a god send. John Hancock was driving a cart with a cannon on back. Hancock looked over at Napoleon "We are here to help!" he yelled with a smile. Napoleon smiled back as they aimed and fired the cannon with a loud roar. The cannon ball flew across the courtyard and smashed into one of the other barricades. Men screamed as wood and iron smashed against bone and skin. Napoleon then stood and pointed at the Palace "Charge!" he screamed. His men charged against the surprised men who were still looking at the red stain that once was a man. Napoleon continued his charge past the barricades and burst into the palace. He heard another roar as the cannon opened fire on the palace itself, smashing through a window to Napoleon's left and sailing into an adjoining room. Napoleon then spent some time running around the Palace trying to find the throne room, but found it eventually.

He threw open the doors and walked toward the throne. Sitting there was Louis XVI, just as fat and pompous as ever. Louis looked at Napoleon and made an ugly face "Is this who is de-throning me"? Napoleon stopped just short of the throne "It isn't me who is forcing your retirement, it is the people. You have spent our treasury on you and not the country, now you must pay." Louis stood and with a serious face said the infinitely quotable "You may keep my miserable kingdom, you may keep my spike encrusted jewels. Stay there as you will, and stare as you will, I am a shadow's shadow and I will not disappoint." while walking down to face Napoleon. Napoleon nodded at the two men by the door who quickly arrested Louis the XVI. Napoleon then sat on the throne and smiled "Lets get down to business."
 
Napoleon then sat on the throne and smiled "Lets get down to business."

To defeat....the HUNS! Er...Redcoats!

Sorry, Mulan flashback :p

Okay, now let's see what Naopleon's gonna do..

Oh and the Swamp Fox chapter is unintentionally funny to me, with regards to "He loved her more than he should, transcending social norms".
 


To defeat....the HUNS! Er...Redcoats!

Sorry, Mulan flashback :p

Okay, now let's see what Naopleon's gonna do..

Oh and the Swamp Fox chapter is unintentionally funny to me, with regards to "He loved her more than he should, transcending social norms".

I was watching Mulan while writing that update...they blended together alittle.
 
Emergency Meeting's

London, England
July 15th, 1789

Cornwallis hurried into the throne room slightly annoyed, it was early and he was supposed to get his last bit of good sleep in a while. He bowed "Yes, Your Majesty"? George was standing and looking at a map of France which was pinned on a wall "Cornwallis, change of assignment. Late yesterday night a lieutenant in the French Army, Napoleon Bonaparte, seized control of France in a military coup. King Louis has been imprisoned and his few supporters are being rounded up." the King said in a distracted tone. "So your sending me to invade France?" Cornwallis asked. It was a tall order...France was no push over and it would be a long drawn out war. While Britain did have command of the sea...the French Army was on of the best in the world! "Not an invasion my dear Field Marshal, at least not yet. Napoleon is a new character on the world stage, we don't know his goals. Until he makes them clear thought I will have to keep you here to defend London in case of invasion." George said, finally turning to face Cornwallis. Cornwallis sighed "So...you just want me to stay near London? Would you rather have me move my Army down near Dover, to dissuade any French plans?" Cornwallis asked. Now he was the one deep in thought, thinking about fighting on British soil. The King smiled "That is why I call you here now. I would like your advice. You are one of the greatest military minds since the days of old." the King said as lines of worry spread across his face. Cornwallis already had a plan "Leave it to me. If the French ever attempt a landing, there would be hell to pay."


Paris, France
July 15th, 1789​

Hancock walked into the Palace with a broad smile on his face. Napoleon was there to greet him "Hello John, how was the ride?" he asked while shaking Hancock's hand. Hancock shrugged "It was great. Your boys are doing a great job clearing the streets". Napoleon started to walk, Hancock not far behind "That is good to hear. Now on to what I wanted to talk to you about". Hancock nodded and began to lightly jog to keep up with the man. "I know I said liberating your country would be first priority..." Napoleon began. Hancock interrupted "Napoleon. You gave me your word! If I helped you take over France you would help me free the Colonies!" Hancock yelled. Napoleon motioned for him to quiet down "Please let me finish. What I was going to say was that England has taken my sudden power grab as a threat. Their Navy is probably under high alert, as is their army. If I am to win a war against them I cannot have them at such high readiness." Napoleon said regretfully. Hancock stopped in his tracks and seethed at the man. He knew it was not his fault but he was still angry. Napoleon continued to walk as Hancock stormed out of the Palace.
 
Just a quick thing because my computer is being weird.

Tensions


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A drawing of a French Army Regiment in Vichy​

Paris, France
July 22nd, 1789

Napoleon sat nervously in his room. Tensions with Great Britain had been tense for the past week and Napoleon was afraid what he was about to do would only cool tensions further. Nevertheless he felt it was needed should France even be met with war. He finished his order then walked out of the room. There was a courier who Napoleon had ordered. He gave the man a sealed envelope "Deliver this to Marshal Jean-Baptiste. You know where he is". The man nodded before hurrying off without a word. Napoleon gulped as he followed him out of the Palace, to look upon Paris. He had just ordered a general mobilization of the French Army. "The United Kingdom did the same thing only a day ago so it makes sense, right?" Napoleon thought nervously. He hadn't lead a nation for more than a week and already he was about to square off against the largest Empire on the planet. With the...shaky, to say the least...relations Napoleon has had with the Tzar if Britain does declare war, all Napoleon had were some minor states in Germany. Napoleon had not lead a entire regiment...let alone an entire nation...into war before. "Hell," Napoleon thought "It's a wonder the Republicans chose me to lead them at all". He was snapped back into reality by John Hancock. John and Napoleon had also been on pretty tedious relations since Napoleon seized power, so it was weird that he came to Napoleon now. Hancock motioned to the man he brought with him "Napoleon, this is Alexander Hamilton."
 
The British and Indian War​


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Indians attack the Convoy​

30 mi out of Fort St. Louis, New France
July 29th, 1789

Henry Nathan shivered as he continued his march. He was assigned to a fort on Kings Mountain to protect the locals from the Natives. Lately it had been getting cold up here and Nathan was not informed. He had packed only some heavy clothes and was paying a heavy price for his incompetence. He turned to his right and looked at the column he was guarding. A group of settlers on their way to Louisburg before heading further north. "Crazy bastards." Nathan thought with a small chuckle. He had asked them for a coat or something but they said they couldn't spare anything. Nathan doubted that a family heading North had only packed 4 or 5 coats but he decided against pressing the issue. Nathan then turned his gaze to the tree line on the sides of the road. There had been troubles with the local Cherokees and the Governor General had ordered every settler have an escort as far north as Louisburg. Nathan began to shift has gaze again when he saw some movement. He stopped in his tracks and slowly got out his rifle, never taking his eyes off the treeline. As he inched closer he heard a twig snap and then the cracking of a tree falling. He heard people yelling ahead of him about a tree coming down. "Shit." Nathan whispered as he turned and watched another tree fall over behind the convoy. Before Nathan could yell there was a loud war cry as the Indians came charging out of the trees. Nathan fired at the closest one before trying to walk backward, failing, and tripping and falling over. He began to get up when somebody tackled him back to the ground. Nathan looked up and saw an Indian with a knife, about to stab him. Nathan panicked and socked the Indian right in the nose. It seemed to not effect him and he began to bring his knife down. Nathan shut his eyes and prepared for death...and nothing happened.

Nathan opened one eye and saw the Indian had hesitated. Nathan gulped and slowly opened his eyes to see that the Indian moved on. He began to get up but found his hand was knifed to the ground. Nathan, wasting no time, quickly pulled up the knife and ran. Unfortunately the double whammy of getting stabbed and being scared to death made him woozy. Nathan tripped and fell again before passing out.

Some Time later...

Nathan drifted back into consciousness but heard voices still. He couldn't tell what time it was or how much time had passed. He held his breath as the voices got closer. One was fluent english, while the other was more accented, definitely a Native. "Your men did good here Dragging Canoe." the Englishman said. "Your's to General." Dragging Canoe responded as they walked closer to Nathan. "So General...what comes next?" Dragging Canoe said. The General was silent for a time before responding "Well assuming the Iroquois Raids succeeded, we invade." They said nothing as they moved away. Once they were away Nathan let out his breath and staved off passing out for the time. He got up and began to stumble back to Fort St Louis to report what he had heard.
 
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