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Preface
This is my first ever Civ3 Short Story. It's based on some events that occured while I was playing as the Japanese. It centres on a series of battles that I had against the Chinese, with a serious Tech-disadvantage. New chapters might be a little slow coming as my net access is fairly intermittent, but hang in there- hopefully it'll all be worth it.
I
"Hirotomo Akira! You are worthless! You have dishonoured your family name with your actions!"
The rememberance still beat into the old ronin's heart like hammers.
"You are not worthy of sepukku. Your punishment will be to continue to live with the dishonour. You are lucky that we do not leave you for the enemy. Leave here now, and do not return."
A silent tear rolled down his face as he stared at the breaking dawn.
It had been 3 days since he had last eaten. Too proud to turn to banditry, Akira plied his services to sleazy merchants as a bodyguard. His current client had dismissed him 3 days ago, after finding him passed out, drunk at a nearby sake house.
Alcohol seemed to be the only way to dull his pain.
II
The flag of Tokugawa hung proudly over the city of Edo. His palace, towering over nearby buildings was a proud testament to the peaceful reign of the Shogun. However, inside the palace, there was little peace to be found.
A messenger had arrived in the great audience hall. "Tokugawa-sama, we have just received disturbing news from our spies in Beijing," he announced breathlessly.
Seated at his throne, Tokugawa Ieyasu seemed as still as a mountain. Not tall, balding and with a hint of a gut, Tokugawa was not imposing physically. Renowned as a great scholar, and an accomplished swordsman, he was the epitome of what defined a samurai.
With a raised eyebrow, Tokugawa gestured for the messenger to continue.
"Sire, our spies report that Chinese scientists have made a disturbing breakthrough in the field of mobile warfare. It seems that they have used their 'combustion engines' to power an armoured siege vehicle. This vehicle has great mobility, and carries cannon as armament. They are only a year away from putting these weapons into service!"
A collective gasp went through the Japanese court. One advisor cried out "Sire, how could we fight such a machine. Our muskets are primitive by comparison. While our Samurai are great warriors, they cannot match such power."
Tokugawa turned to his Science advisor, "How goes the research into these 'rifles' we acquired from the German barbarians?"
"Sire, not well. If China were to war on us tomorrow, we would be in desperate trouble. Even with the increased firepower that these weapons would give us, and with massed cannon, I fear the Chinese would roll over us. As it stands now, our samurai are a match for the Chinese cavalry, but for how long?"
All eyes in the audience chamber were on Tokugawa. This crisis could mean disaster for the Japanese, unless Tokugawa could find a solution.
After what seemed an eternity, Tokugawa spoke "The way will not be easy, but I can see our path through this. Convene my war council."
More to come...
This is my first ever Civ3 Short Story. It's based on some events that occured while I was playing as the Japanese. It centres on a series of battles that I had against the Chinese, with a serious Tech-disadvantage. New chapters might be a little slow coming as my net access is fairly intermittent, but hang in there- hopefully it'll all be worth it.
I
"Hirotomo Akira! You are worthless! You have dishonoured your family name with your actions!"
The rememberance still beat into the old ronin's heart like hammers.
"You are not worthy of sepukku. Your punishment will be to continue to live with the dishonour. You are lucky that we do not leave you for the enemy. Leave here now, and do not return."
A silent tear rolled down his face as he stared at the breaking dawn.
It had been 3 days since he had last eaten. Too proud to turn to banditry, Akira plied his services to sleazy merchants as a bodyguard. His current client had dismissed him 3 days ago, after finding him passed out, drunk at a nearby sake house.
Alcohol seemed to be the only way to dull his pain.
II
The flag of Tokugawa hung proudly over the city of Edo. His palace, towering over nearby buildings was a proud testament to the peaceful reign of the Shogun. However, inside the palace, there was little peace to be found.
A messenger had arrived in the great audience hall. "Tokugawa-sama, we have just received disturbing news from our spies in Beijing," he announced breathlessly.
Seated at his throne, Tokugawa Ieyasu seemed as still as a mountain. Not tall, balding and with a hint of a gut, Tokugawa was not imposing physically. Renowned as a great scholar, and an accomplished swordsman, he was the epitome of what defined a samurai.
With a raised eyebrow, Tokugawa gestured for the messenger to continue.
"Sire, our spies report that Chinese scientists have made a disturbing breakthrough in the field of mobile warfare. It seems that they have used their 'combustion engines' to power an armoured siege vehicle. This vehicle has great mobility, and carries cannon as armament. They are only a year away from putting these weapons into service!"
A collective gasp went through the Japanese court. One advisor cried out "Sire, how could we fight such a machine. Our muskets are primitive by comparison. While our Samurai are great warriors, they cannot match such power."
Tokugawa turned to his Science advisor, "How goes the research into these 'rifles' we acquired from the German barbarians?"
"Sire, not well. If China were to war on us tomorrow, we would be in desperate trouble. Even with the increased firepower that these weapons would give us, and with massed cannon, I fear the Chinese would roll over us. As it stands now, our samurai are a match for the Chinese cavalry, but for how long?"
All eyes in the audience chamber were on Tokugawa. This crisis could mean disaster for the Japanese, unless Tokugawa could find a solution.
After what seemed an eternity, Tokugawa spoke "The way will not be easy, but I can see our path through this. Convene my war council."
More to come...
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