The War to Start All Wars

[Paddy]

bring it on matey

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Nice

[theCzar]

Chapter 6

The Celtic army was exhausted; they had defeated the Egyptian and Korean army in only two days, it had lost over half it’s numbers, and reinforcements were still a week away. They abandoned medina and started on the way to Mecca, Eoghan resumed his position at the head of the army. They had only gone half way when they were caught by the detachment that had been left to provide advance warning of further attacks. The news was stunning. Over one hundred thousand men had arrived flying the banners of the England, Babylon, Scandinavia and Russia had arrived. Meanwhile Damascus sent word of a Portuguese armada off the coast. There was little choice but to retreat from Arabia and try to link with the reinforcements. Besides, they could better hold the Dutch Alps than the Arabian plains.

The next four weeks were the darkest in Celtic history, government releases played down the disaster in the far south-east, but the people seemed to sense the trouble in the nerves of imperial ministers, all over the empire, the mood on the street was black, all merriment seemed drained from the Continent. The mountains of Holland that resisted Celtic occupation for so long, were now the Celts saving advantage, the meagre garrisons in the mountain towns fought a guerrilla war, while their comrades in arms on the plains below developed a new form of warfare, digging deep “trenches” for miles along the front and stringing barbed wire along it, the Eastern Alliance paid heavily for their gains, but the industry of seven nations gave them unstoppable momentum.

While Arabia fell to the onslaught, and Dutch cities started to get cut off, Breda, a small hamlet, became the rallying point for the war machine of the Celtic Empire, railroad had been flung down at such a pace, that Breda was now only a day’s journey from the capital, down from seven. The people of Breda were the happiest of the Empire, for they gazed every day at the seemingly endless materials of war that poured into the valley that stretched south from the town, they said to one another, “With strength as this, how could we be defeated”. Nobody passed any remark on the huge crates marked “Water Tanks”.

The town carpenter, William DeBoer, born and reared in Amsterdam was in fact an Egyptian agent. He had moved to Breda a month before the war began. He watched with interest as a train arrived and deposited several hundred men in a uniform he hadn’t seen, they carried neither rifle, nor a soldier’s pack. The Colonel in charge of this strange bunch, yelled “1st Armoured Brigade, FALL IN”. He was immediately hushed by a stocky General. They exchanged some muted words before parting; the Colonel motioned his men forward with his riding crop, towards a newly constructed storage hanger for water tanks, it was bigger than all the others.

William didn’t know what to make of it; he sauntered towards his house to send this interesting titbit further up the spy network. He carefully wrote the message on the tiny paper and placed in a small cylinder. He had carrier pigeons hidden in his workshop. As he stepped outside, he was clubbed from behind and dragged away for debriefing by Celtic counter intelligence. The message that did reach Thebes later that week was merely a routine detail of regular troop movements. The new brigade didn’t stay long either; they were sent towards the Korean border, a hundred miles to the east, along with all the unremarkable water tanks.

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The Korean border guard reported the arrival of a large amount of water tanks, it was correctly surmised that it was the precursor to an invasion, but they didn’t know that the water tanks were the invasion. The Korean army had been reinforced and re-equipped, and was nearly back to full strength. It was stationed over a hundred miles away, but could be at the border town of Pyonsong in less than a day. Korean high command could not risk more troops in Arabia to the south, let the other members of the motley alliance burn in the sun, besides, they shared quite a large border with the Celts who were wounded, but maybe all the more dangerous for it. The roar of experimental diesel engines, shattered the morning quiet, and was mistaken as thunder by the Pyonsong garrison.

[Kaos XIII]

I like your battle descriptions. VERY detailed.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

great addition keep up the good work

[Nylan-Nolan]

nice

[Paddy]

thanks theCzar

do you play a lot of Civ?

Have you ever played a Play By Email (PBEM) game.
Great interaction with humans and AI's

anyway Sir, thank you for your work

[theCzar]

Originally posted by Paddy the Scot

do you play a lot of Civ?

Do i ever, i've got university exams in T-minus 10 days, and counting, so i've sworn off it, i'm in the middle of the move from Monarch to Emperor difficulty levels atm...

thanks for the continued comments, makes it a lot easier to keep writing

[Paddy]

good to hear

[theCzar]

Chapter 7

Author's Note: Sorry about the long delay, I'm right in the middle of my exams, and my backs been to the wall, but i've sat down and written another three chapters.

Further, just in case those of you following this have forgotten what the bloody hell is going on...

The story so far: The Celtic empire has been attacked by a nefarious alliance, headed by Cleopatra, and things are looking grim, but a new Celtic invention promises to redress the balance, the story continues...


Emperor Brennus watched his new weapon’s roll forward. Only the local commander knew he was there, hidden in a small house on the edge of a wood, near the Celtic staging area, he couldn’t help but smile when he looked at Boru’s childish glee, he had insisted on seeing the new weapons. Unlike other retired generals who, once they had reached a certain age, suddenly began to disdain new technology, Boru was always instantly infatuated with any new gizmo.

The tests of the “Tanks”, as they had come to be known, had progressed rapidly and without any major trouble, but the real test would be the Koreans, if this battle went wrong, the Celtic revival would be halted in it’s tracks. They were ferocious instruments that roared and belched foul smelling exhaust, there were several different models being tried out, they all had the distinctive caterpillar tracks and carried thick armour to turn aside enemy rifle rounds and even small calibre artillery shells. There was a stub nosed, 6 pound artillery piece fixed facing forward, the tanks carried a selection of shells including solid rounds for bursting the walls of fortifications and a new type of explosive shell. This was complimented by rapid-fire automatic rifles fired from swivel positions around the hull.

There were forty tanks in the brigade, one stalled on the start line but the rest advanced at a slow but steady jogging pace. In only twenty minutes they were through the enemy picket, the border patrol fled after firing a only a few ineffective rounds, the pioneering young tankers were eager to see how the mechanical wonders performed and tried to push up the engine power and give chase but they were restrained by their commanders, all of whom were experienced men and knew that pushing the engines now would risk damaging them before the battle.

In another twenty minutes the tanks were halted on the bluff overlooking the small town of Pyonsong that had been a popular vacation spot for Korean nobles who came for the natural volcanic springs. The Colonel in charge of the tank brigade peered through his binoculars at the enemy running to and fro in front of the barricaded fort gates, which lay some half-mile beyond the town. His main objective was to lure a Korean counter attack, with the tanks firepower, it was hoped to crush the reformed Korean army in one big battle, knocking them out of the war. Several Korean artillery pieces opened up but the shrapnel merely tinkled on the tank’s tough hide. With a sharp hand gesture, the tanks were ordered forward, firing as they went.

As the tanks advanced, several infantry brigades with a squadron of dragoons in support moved in behind the advancing column cleaning up Korean stragglers. The little town with it’s polished cobble streets and wooden buildings had a white flag flying from its flagpole, the houses had white sheets out the windows, it was clear they wanted to spare the ancient village as much as possible, it wasn’t a defensible position with it’s wooden construction, so the Korean border garrison had retired to the fort.

It was only a light test for the tanks, they moved in around the small fort, which was in itself more a tourist attraction with its earthen walls. A bugle sounded and nearly a hundred Korean cavalry charged, their speed allowed many to get close to the advancing tanks, but many more were cut down. When they got close to the roaring mechanical beasts, the Koreans realised there was nothing they could do, the foul diesel exhaust panicked their horses and their rifles were a long way short of slowing the tanks, they threw down their rifles in disgust, some fled back to the fort, others simply put their hands the air as the Celtic forces following the tanks arrived.

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Col Mei Ping, watched the impotence of his best men with awed admiration, warfare had just been changed forever. He had only two hundred men, conscripts and reservists, no sense in prolonging this rout, it was expected of to him to spend his troops lives in order to buy time for the main Korean force to move into position, but he knew that sending his men into this new Celtic meat grinder would buy mere seconds, he realised surrender was the only option, and the decision released a huge weight of responsibility from shoulders, he gave a laugh which surprised his aide, and sent him to raise the white flag.

Meanwhile the rest of the Korean army, with its new commander, decamped and moved out, they would arrive at Pyonsong in that night.

[Paddy]

what can I say Sir - I am a fan - more please

[theCzar]

Chapter 8

Brennus was in better spirits than he had been for weeks; the tanks first field test had exceeded even the most optimistic expectations. The big test would arrive tomorrow with the rest of the Korean army. Tanks aside, The Celts were outnumbered 4 to 1, and though the Korean army had lost it’s best troops in the Battle of Medina, they weren’t to be ignored. The Koreans would not be long in improvising some counter to his tanks, though he was confident they were months behind developing their own.

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The war in the south had ground to a halt as winter came on in the Dutch Alps and slowed the advance to a crawl. The great city of New Amsterdam, which was perched on the entrance to the valley that ran through the Alps, had become the bloodiest city in the world, Brennus sent only the minimum of forces to hold the city, and the rest was devoted to the counter attack. Every day, the Russian artillery pounded the Celtic half of the city, Celtic artillery responded by hammering the remaining half, then the demoralised and shattered regiments of both sides would skirmish, attack and counter attack, retreat and advance until commanders on both sides felt they’d lost their quota of men for another day in hell and fell back to more or less the same positions they had occupied for nearly a fortnight.

Other cites all along the mighty Alps that split the mega continent squarely in two were engaged in bitter feuds with the armies of Babylon in the north and Scandinavia to the south. The Portuguese armada was assaulting the coastal pass around Baghdad. Theirs was the weakest force in Cleopatra’s Alliance, and they spared their old-fashioned musket troops, much to Cleopatra’s fury. The English were holding back as well, Cleopatra and Elizabeth had furious arguments at every council, Cleopatra insisted the English move north, link with the Koreans and thence push east towards Breda, Elizabeth flat refused. But the argument reached a head dramatically on the afternoon of the Pyonsong attack.

“The English army will not be squandered on some diversion, designed merely to allow you to gather the windfall.” Explained Queen Elizabeth.

Cleopatra scowled before reiterating here point.

“The Celtic army is stationed there, and much weakened, if we can but defeat them at Breda, we can come at those accursed Alps from both sides, we Egyptians would gladly go ourselves, but our army has been destroyed making the opportunity for my Sisters and Brothers in the alliance. Meanwhile, your hesitation in engaging the Celtic army at Breda, which my spies inform me is only several thousand strong, is wasting the opportunity made possible with the blood of my people, and the blood of the brave Vikings, Russians and Babylonians” Purred Cleopatra, smiling at the sullen Emperors.

Elizabeth looked impatient; this was old ground they had covered many times before.

“The council has heard many times of the plight of the Egyptian army, what were your losses again?” The English queen asked, putting on her eyeglasses, she looked at the memo her chamberlain had delivered to her before the briefing.

“Here it is, you reported over ten thousand dead or invalided out of the war, apparently eighty percent of your total force, incidentally, here’s a Celtic propaganda sheet claiming seven thousand, unusual for them to play down such a victory in face of mounting defeats?” Elizabeth arched her eyebrows questioningly.

Cleopatra sniffed disdainfully.

“If the English need to look to Celtic propaganda for their intelligence briefings, it’s no wonder you’re afraid of attacking.” Cleopatra observed, winning a chuckle from the other leaders.

Elizabeth smiled back.

“Not at all, out intelligence services have put together a most interesting compendium all on their own” Elizabeth paused as copies were distributed. “According to our own reports, the Egyptian army numbered over twenty five thousand at the outbreak of the war, yet now, after your ten thousand losses, you claim to have a mere three thousand left. If you will all have a look at the army pay accounts on page two, dated 4 days ago, there is pay for nearly thirty thousand men”

The other leaders gasped, and look accusingly at Cleopatra, who was pale, The fiery Viking Lodbrok muttered heatedly with Emperor Catherine of the Russians.

Cleopatra was furious.

“YOU DARE SPY ON ME” The Queen of the Nile positively shrieked.

Elizabeth stood, and said

“Ladies and Gentlemen, you have the facts in front of you, Cleopatra has been deliberately misleading us, It was her plan to have us destroy ourselves and the Celts, leaving her the task of gathering up the pieces, of the Celtic empire, and ours. In light of this, I’m leaving the Alliance with my small army while I still have it, good day.” With this stark declaration, the Queen of England stalked from the room to her waiting carriage.

The room was stunned, and meeting was adjourned, Cleopatra sat alone in a quivering fury for several hours. Things were falling apart, now when she was so close. The other members of the Alliance would stick it out, they had come too far already, but she would be forced to use her own army if the alliance was to have any chance of beating the Celts, she longed to give the orders to attack Elizabeth, but she had timed her exit with perfection, and now the Egyptians could ill afford to wear out their army on the Great Wall of England, which sealed off their Peninsula, the English would pay, but not yet. Her aide disturbed her cold reverie; there was incredible news from Korea.

[xiaodave]

Xiaodave walks up in a smart looking bowler. "Bloody good show! Just like those toppy English weeds to poof off when there's a good bit of stomping to be had. Bunch of blighty little girls blouses if you ask me!"

"Wait a minute." He looks back over his shoulder at Big Ben standing ever so resolutely next to the Great Wall.

"Nevermind."

[theCzar]

I seem to have posted the same chapter twice... oh well, more haste less speed or something

[theCzar]

Chapter 9

During the night, The Korean army arrived at the outskirts of Pyonsong, their scouts had found the Celtic army fortifying their position along the hill top, facing the fort. The fort flew the Celtic standard, and sentries could be seen along its walls. The new Commander scoffed, it seemed the Celts hoped to lure him into attacking the fort, then fall on his flank, the fort was of no concern, it could barely hold two hundred men, he had eighteen thousand. The messenger had spoken of a new indestructible war machine, and he could see them illuminated by sentry fires on top of the hill. He had many, heavy artillery pieces, which he was confident, would easily destroy this new “super weapon”, apparently, they couldn’t travel much faster than a trot, and his gunnery crews were experienced, and very good.

As day broke, Artillery from both sides began to thunder, the Celtic crews had the advantage of height, and they had had the day before to get the range of the whole battlefield. They targeted the dense pockets of Korean artillery, and managed to knock out several pieces. The Korean commander took this as a sign they were afraid of what these guns would do to their tanks. He knew there was no point in waiting, he had the numerical advantage, and despite the scary rumbling of the tank’s engines up on the bluff, he ordered his men advance. He left two thousand reservists facing the fort in case they tried to sally; there wasn’t even any artillery in the fort to worry about.

The first wave of infantry was nearly half way up the hill when five Celtic tanks started down it, they were slow at first but the gradient of the hill caused them to accelerate until they were moving at a gallop, the machines looked fit to fall apart, but they held together and fired all the time, they were very quickly into the line of infantry, and the Korean guns could not target them, the tanks completely routed the front line of troops, who were inexperienced and sent up first mainly shield the hard core troops who followed, the tanks didn’t slow as they careened down the hill scattering whole formations, their guns never stopped firing wildly, and they were devastatingly effective. Finally, one of the artillery pieces scored a direct hit, it blew the lead tank to tiny pieces, a second tank followed shortly after, and once more the general scoffed, “Indestructible indeed”, powerful or not, five such weapons are no match for a whole army.

The Commander’s aide wondered aloud “where are the other thirty-five?” The Commander shrugged, presumably behind the hill he thought, but the sound of roaring thunder sounded above even the nearby artillery and answered for him. The gates of the fort flew open and the remainder of the first Armoured Tank brigade rolled into view. They split into groups of four and headed towards the artillery positions, the reservists bolted for the forest, leaving their guns and packs where they lay. The Korean artillery was quickly disabled by the tanks main gun, while the automatic rifles swivelled in all directions, firing into the crowds of troops, waiting for the order to advance up the hill.

The Korean army had had it, they were caught within an armoured fist that was drawing tighter, At the signal, the Celtic regular army poured over the top of the hill and quickly routed the remaining troops, even hardened Korean veterans were panicking and throwing down their guns in abject surrender. Their commander had watched the disaster unfold in stony silence, repeated efforts by his subordinates to stir him were in vain, he stood transfixed by the awesome scale of what he was witnessing. His country had just lost a war on the morning they were supposed to win it. Suddenly we stalked without a word to the table, picked up a revolver and shot himself dead. Within minutes, the Celts emerged from the chaos in total victory; the new mechanical warrior was proving to be the pinnacle of five millennia of men’s petty efforts to kill more of themselves faster.

As Brennus watched the battle draw to a close, his mind was racing ahead, incredibly, his engineers could already be heard blasting in the distance, laying down rail track to Pyonsong. The Celtic muster at Breda was over; Seoul waited two days to the west. His forty tanks had just overcome odds of 4 to 1 against, and he had just been told the second and third armoured brigades had arrived at Breda. This was a good day.