Dualing Shires - The War of the Dyes

[Paddy]

The year: 1830AD

The place: some strange and twisted reality

The goal: survival of the British peoples

The issues: many

The hopes: few

The enemies: many

The Shires: Two

The people: British

Here in this mixed up world two leaders of the British people came forth, and their respective shires stood up to be counted.

Lord Christopher of Staffordshire and Lord Padriac of Yorkshire.

This was a troubled time, a time of confusion in the great houses, a time of war and deceit, a time of destruction.

From simpler times when the great house of France was humbled, then smashed into oblivion, through the long years of colonization, then into the long and very costly war against the dreaded Russian, we now find the lands in a state of flux…

So who are they up against you wonder... the House of Russia, holding on with an island stolen from Yorkshire; the House of Spain, being brought to its knees in a brutal war; the House of Prussia, growing in strength and arrogance; the House of the Ottoman, yet again trying to expand and push people around and the House of Austria, strong, independent and looking extremely confident.

We invite you to come along for the ride of the next One Hundred Years…

into this Mad Mad World

[Paddy]

Summer 1830

The Foreign Advisor of Yorkshire - Gerald, stands and addresses the Grand Council.

My Lords,

please note that we remain at war with Russia, while in this time our cousins in Staffordshire have been able to obtain a peace.

It should also be pointed out that the Otto are also still warring against Russia, but we do expect that they will be able to bring the final blow against Russia as long as we allow them to remain on "Swimming Harbour" Island.

Regarding Prussia, at this time we have lost contact with two of our agents that have been sent to learn more of their military build up along our border. Without going into too many details, understand that our efforts in this area will continue, and we hope to have some news to report in the near future.

I would like to offer my congratulations to Stanley. Your efforts in securing the new trade deal with Prussia should see them hold off from any actual attacks for some time.

Again it should be noted that we have stayed away from any discussions with the Austrians.

As to the situation with Spain I will hand over to General Jones.

Here Gerald sits, and Lord Padriac calls for General Jones to present his report.

Lords, Sirs, Ladies,

The Mobilization continues. Throughout our lands our people continue to pull their socks up, tighten their belts and offer us their sons and daughters for the cause. Nearly every city, town and settlement is working on the training of Cavalry Regiments at this time. I have full statistical reports of this for you to all take away and read, so that we can discuss later in the day.

So it is with a gladdened heart I report that the Spanish city of Seville has fallen into our hands. At this time elements of the 1st, 17th and 103rd Cavalry Armies have secured the city and surrounding regions. At we talk more Regiments are pouring into the area.

Along with this twelve Cavalry Regiments stand on the hills west of Madrid ¡V the Spanish Capital. We had hoped to bring the guns to bear and blow this city into rubble, but our Cavalry have steam rolled this corridor of land open and thus out paced the guns. To this end the Major General Commanding the scene has authority on whether or not to push forward or await the Infantry and Long guns. Such great progress on bringing these supposed allies closer to breaking point.

Here General Jones turns and addresses Sir Percival Smythe Ambassador to the county of York, Cousin to the Queens Great Grandmother, second cousin of Lord Stafford himself.

I give thanks to our esteemed colleagues of Staffordshire, for their work in rounding up and dispatching the Russians on their Continent. A jolly good show I must admit.

Nods and words of thanks roll around the table, glass are raised and fine words are offered for Staffordshire, Her people and Her mighty Armed Forces

As to our troops on the Yorkshire Continent, at this time the remaining Grand Batteries have finally reached our Fortress of Gloucester.

Also Lord James of Wales will be freshly arrived in Gloucester and has met up with the 1st, 2nd 3rd & 4th Welsh Cavalry Regiments. They have formed the James of Wales Army, which is noted to be the 1st Welsh Heavy Cavalry Army. This allows the first three Regiments to operate as a cohesive force, while the 4th Regiment is a loose swing arm, able to operate in scouting and reserve formations at will.

My Lords these units, along with 11 Infantry Battalions, and 14 Grand Batteries stand ready for the possibility of hostilities with Austria and our peoples.

The Frigates BayWatch and Struan have been dispatched from Gloucester to guard the shipping channels of the area.

Prussia... Prussia is a dilemma. Since they stop their war against Spain they have consolidated all of the troops that they had in our home lands along our common border. At this time we have watch on over 20 Cavalry Regiments and Infantry Battalions, all fortified and sitting tight.

To counter this we have further stocked all of the border towns with as many Cavalry Regiments that we have, and those that are coming on line. If this situation does erupt we expect little to no warning, and believe that one if not several cities in the area could fall to their forces. Apart from further troops flooding the area there is really little I can offer without actually attacking them first.

Thank you for your continued support, and onwards, ever onwards.

Here the General takes his seat. Lord Padriac leans forward and looks across the table and calls a recess for lunch

[ChrisiusMaximus]

At The Grand Council Of York

Sir Percival Smythe, Staffords official Ambassador to York interjects


"Gentlemen a moment please!!" Sir Percival Smythe rises from his seat, rubbing his long roman nose (a family trait all the Staffords and their many cousins tended to have), "My Lord Padraic, please forgive this interjection, I feel I simply must ask of you all to allow me to brief you on certain of my most recent despatches from the Stafford Goverment!!"

Many of Lord Padraic's Grand council now begin to mumble to themselves sensing the impending delay to their luncheon, and to make matters worse the aromas of the freshly baked breads and roasted meats were wafting in to the main chamber now from the adjacent dining hall.

"You really must hear this out my Lords, I feel these matters are of the utmost urgency!!"

"Well get on with it then Man!" states a slightly irritated Lord Padraic, knowing full well Sir Percivals tendency to say ten words when three would suffice, also sensing that his favourite pudding 'Jam Roly Poly' with lashings of hot steaming Custard would now most likely have gone quite cold by the time he got to savour it. " Be seated!!" he snapped to his council, most of whom were halfway to the dining halls doors.

"Sirs My Lord! I have here a direct communique from his emminence Lord Christopher of Staffordshire. At our last Grand Council meeting it was overwhelmingly decided that Stafford should now seek peace with the Spanish!!"

Rumbles of disapproval and shocked expressions filled the room.

"Please hear me out my Lords, I have several copies of recent Spanish fleet manouveres for you to browse, showing clearly that Staffords Naval assets have been actively seeking and engaging with the Spanish transports and their escorts along the Median Straits. This action was requested by your esteemed Grand Council some months back. Now these charts clearly show my Governments commitment to our ancient alliance, and I feel Gentlemen my following explanations will allow you to consider more closely our reasons for seeking peace.".................................................. .........


Eventually Sir Percival finished off his presentation and concluded "So my Lords as you can see we have at this time as do your own people, very clear and present dangers of a far more powerful nature than the already severely weakened Spanish, thus we ask you to join us in a search for a lasting peace, if not then at least we ask that you can accept our reasons for taking this action at this time!"

Finally the Grand Council of York and their supreme Lord Padraic could get on with the serious business of eating their lunch


THE FOLLOWING PIC SHOWS RECENT NAVAL OPERATIONS IN THE MEDIAN STRAITS

[ChrisiusMaximus]

The Dyes Crisis

Historical note:

The Ottomans have throughout the history of this world held a monopoly over the supplies of Dyes to the worlds markets, there homelands being rich in these reources.

During the years of great scientific progress we were able to easily obtain a ready supply of these goods from the Turks in exchange for modest cash payments and at times research aid.

However some fifty years back now the Ottomans became what can only be described as very greedy, demanding extortionate sums for a ready supply of Dyes needed by Staffords industries to manufacture our armed forces uniforms

We had a short scuffle with these insolent dogs back then with some skirmishes on the Great Southern isle. This war erupted at the time due to Russian back stabbing and dirty dealing, and although it was short lived and very limited we have since been unable to reopen trading relations with these people.

To this day the Ottoman continues to tresspass on our soil in the Southern isles and posturing with diabolicle contempt. In all attempts at negotiations our ambassadors are cosistently insulted abused and in some cases even beaten by the Ottomans secret poliza.

It is long overdue to teach these rasckals a lesson they will not soon forget!!

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Stafford Grand Council

As Sir Percival joins his hosts in York for a veritable banquet the Grand Council of Staffordshire is hard at work sorting through its own current agendas


Lord Stafford turns and faces Colonel Michael Ratten, Ambassador to Stafford and an officer in the 5th Yorkshire Lifeguard Cavalry, "So you can see I hope my dear man Michael, we have several dilemmas facing us here in Staffordshire today!"

Michael Ratten, or Colonel Ratten, but Mikey to his men was a most charismatic young fellow. He was still only in his twenties but was already a soldier of elite status with many victories to his name. He spoke with the air of a grandee, a man of twice his years would not be as wordly wise.

"Indeed my Lord," and he paused for a moment, "Please be assured I will report to you imediately with any correspondence I may receive from Lord Padraic!" he thoughtfully responded to Lord Christopher.

There were indeed many issues facing the people of Staffordshire at this time, much debating had been going on this summer, yet still no real decisions were to the fore. The most imediate concern for the Staffords was to achieve a cessation of hostilities with the Spanish, it is never easy to fight a foreign war but foolish to do so when a much stronger menace lay on ones own doorstep.

"The charts you see before you now my Lords are copies of those in the despatches sent to Sir Percival Smythe, who I trust will be presenting these to the Grand Council of York as we Speak," stated Sir Charles Folwell the third Earl of Penkridge. A short, tubby round the middles and jolly sort of fellow.

He was desended from one of the ancient houses of Nobility in Staffordshire who had rallied to support the Staffords call to unity many centuries ago in antiquity, thus with many others giving rise to the nation of Staffordshire. In his fading years now he is a most highly regarded and respected member of the Grand council having recently been promoted to the post of Foreign Advisor.

"If I may continue Gentlemen!" Penkridge said, " This chart showing the Austrian forces fortifying around the newly aquired city of Kazan only shows part of the picture!!." he paused for a moment to pass around the charts.

"What is the full picture ?" asked Colonel Ratten.

"These scenes are being repeated all along our mutual borders with the Austrains!! it is I fear a prelude to war!!" said Penkridge in no uncertain terms.

It had been a very long session, the Military advisor General Sir Richard (Dickie) Peterson a most elaborate and highly skilled tactician who worked closely with his emminence the Duke of Wellington, Staffordshires most higly decorated soldier and first Hero of the Realm, or Old Boots as he was affectionately known to those who served under him.

Dickie Peterson was the Public face of the Army and as such held office in Stafford, and sat on the Grand Council. He had given the Council a very thorough briefing of Staffords current Military numbers and ran off endless papers showing current training and equiping orders being addressed throughtout the Realm. It was getting quite late now and Lord Stafford summarised the days meeting.

"Okay as I see it Gentlemen these are the current issues imediately facing our People! Firstly we must seek an end to the war with Spain as soon as Possible! Michael has agreed to contact me as soon as word arrives from York regarding our proposals being put to Lord Padraic by Sir Percival. However I feel we must sue for this peace with Spain even without Yorks blessing. As you have heard the preparations for the expedition to the ottoman homelands are already well under way, certainly the land forces are already camped along the Southern coast awaiting the transport fleet to arrive."

Stafford was undergoing a massive shipbuilding programme at present all in preparation to send a massive expedition force across the short stretch of ocean to the Ottoman island, where their objective would be to capture the Ottoman Capital and take control of their Dyes producing regions.

Sir Stafford continued his summary," We have now to consider the very real possibility that war will soon erupt much closer to home, so the question arises is the Ottoman expedition still a possibility ? Can we fight the Turks abroad at the same time as defending our home cities from an assault by Austria?" Lord Stafford paused for a moment rubbing his large roman nose, " And we must also not forget that our Brothers in York may too soon have hostilities with the Prussians!!.

"Well you have all the facts Gentlemen, we shall revisit these matters when the Council next meets, think hard my friends and consider all aspects of todays debate, for whatever decisions we make at our next session will dictate what the history books have to say in the years ahead!!!"

As all the Council members shuffled out of the chamber to go home to their families, Lord Stafford took Colonel Michael to one side, " Ah Mikey it was so good of you to come at such short notice."

"Not at all my Lord the pleasure was all my own," the dashing young Colonel said smiling to Lord Christopher.

"Will you do me the honour Michael of attending the Twins birthday ball next saturday, Sophie and Alice are both dying to see you again, they spoke of nothing else for days after you last stayed the weekend with us at Easter!!" Lord Stafford winked at Michael and said, "You know you will make somone a very good Son in Law one of these days!!"

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Meanwhile much later in York

After a long Luncheon the meeting reconvened and Sir Percival handed out recent maps showing some of the evidence of Austrias troops seemingly dug in inside Staffords borders. This was of course an outrageous act of aggression and an abuse of the existing ROP treaty with Austria. Whereas the treaty had allowed safe passage for British and Austrian troops in the struggle against the once great bear Russia, this foe had now been humbled and for that matter totally wiped from the continent of Staffordshire.

As the last Russian Bastion on our soil had fallen it seemed ever more Austrian forces were entering British soil, and have recently begun to fortify their positions and dig in it would seem.

"Gentlemen, as you can see from these charts we have a serious dilemma here!! Lord Stafford is aware of the situation facing your people too as your recent reports of a build up along the Prussian border, seem to show a similar crisis at hand. It is our belief that there is secret pact between the joint nations of Austria and Prussia!! and further we believe they will both strike at us simultaneously in the hope of catching us by surprise whilst our main forces are fighting along other fronts."

THIS PIC SHOWS AUSTRIAN FORCES SEEMINLY DUG IN ALONG OUR COMMON BORDERS

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Historical note:


In the last few years of this Mad Mad world the Russians have finally been removed from the Staffordshire Continent. You can see hear how our victorious armed forces are now gathering and resting after that last long hard campaign.

These troops comprising 18 lifeguard regiments, 16 of which are elite, 42 grand batteries of the Royal Artillery being guarded by the 1st and 2nd Royal Household Cavalry Armies, under the command of Major General the Duke of Wellinton and Lord Sutherland respectively and a further 9 battalions of Houshold cavalry 8 of which are elites.

Currently these troops are under orders to reequip and reinforce their lost and wounded numbers, in preparations for the imminent Dyes WAR!!


THIS PIC SHOWS THE GLORIOUS ARMED FORCES GATHERING IN THE SOUTH

[unscratchedfoot]

What is this? Paddy and chris are writing a story together or something? What is the scenario? The map is strange. It looks like a stingray fish took off his wooden clogs to sniff a big bowl of pea soup being spilt about.

[SKILORD]

I like it.

I mean it doesn't fit my usual standards (literary masterpiece) and it has a lot of pictures, but I still like it.

[unscratchedfoot]

Skipie, not everyone can write literary masterpieces like you can. And pictures always improve a story right? Well, I always like pictures, the more the better.

I'm playing online chess now so just snooping around a bit during a breaktime to let my brain cells have a breather. Are you folks going to update this soon?

[unscratchedfoot]

Chrisius ignored my friendly email, my PM, several greetings of mine to him on various threads and 2 posts asking him questions on this thread. It looks like he's doing the girly ole "I'm not talking to you" thing. Chris, that's neither manly nor intelligent. I was hoping you could leave behind the mishmash on the runoff thread but I guess you can't. You're being a girly man chris so I'll give up and let you go on with your pouting.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

I was not ignoring you Scratch I was simply too busy to reply, you may have noticed I less frequently come here now.

I would appreciate it if this thread could be kept free of the type of stuff you just posted though

[Paddy]

ahh lads there is a lot to do during the week - work family etc

I am next up with this story - winter and all that

I will post soon enough

glad ya like it

just a little patience

[Paddy]

Originally posted by unscratchedfoot
Chrisius ignored my friendly email, my PM, several greetings of mine to him on various threads and 2 posts asking him questions on this thread. It looks like he's doing the girly ole "I'm not talking to you" thing. Chris, that's neither manly nor intelligent. I was hoping you could leave behind the mishmash on the runoff thread but I guess you can't. You're being a girly man chris so I'll give up and let you go on with your pouting.

wow - and this has what to do with the story???

[Paddy]

Winter 1830

Madrid - Winter 1830

From Sir Hew Whitefoord, Baronet of Dalrymple
Major General of the 105th Cavalry Corp

To Lord Harold Jones, Master of Maitland
Artillery General, Commander in Chief Yorkshire Armed Forces

With a saddened heart I must report a failure to take Madrid as expected.

With 12 full strength Cavalry Regiments standing at the ready on a hill to the west of Madrid, I took the situation to move in.

As previously discussed, my Cavalry have out ridden the infantry and artillery.

So with a desire to bring the Spanish to their knees quickly, and with a good set of reports on the Spanish troop movements I sent the lads on the charge.

There is no excuse for these actions, and all responsibility is mine.

The Spanish certainly are well entrenched in their Capital, and my combat losses show this quite dramatically.

I have a group of reinforcements on their way to secure the survivors of my Cavalry Corp.

The current decision is whether to pull back to Seville, or stand our ground.

More details will be sent in my next despatches.

At your continued service,

Major General Sir Hew Whitefoord Baronet of Dalrymple