I'm posting my actions very early, because the first action needs a
response from Kaeir and Mir.
Andrew
* * * * *
The Inner Council was meeting in emergency session. Besides the usual
members, the Archprelate of the Order of Sedon was also present.
Roger Finn, the Foreign Minister, stood and addressed the Council.
"Gentlemen, ladies, I have today received a dispatch from our Ambassador
to Parglug. He reports that Parglug has been attacked by the Ice Demons,
and that the government of Parglug has officially informed him that they
are activating the mutual defense provision of the MidSea Federation
Treaty. They are requesting our aid."
The Duke of Tirroth, Minister of Finance, said, "Why do we care? Parglug
is a thousand miles away."
"We care because the United Provinces became signatories to the Treaty
when the late King Villard of Burcancy agreed to return Vizinia to our
control," Finn replied. "We have a moral and legal obligation to respond
to their request."
"Responding will be difficult," said Raden Ghere, Minister for Special
Projects, "given that the Tanimbar will not allow us to march troops
through their lands."
"I think we can take it as a given that we will have to send any troops
by sea," said Prince Arden, the Council President. He looked first at
his father-in-law, the Count of Rochlyn and then at General Worral Yann.
"Which troops can we spare?"
"Well, Legio I is in the far southwest right now, too far to recall in a
timely fashion," said the General. "Legio IV in Vizinia is closest, but
it's completely committed to the reconstruction efforts there. Legio V
is committed to the Casovian border, and Legio III is scattered all
along the Selarian Border. That leaves Legio II in Tirmar. We can spare
them the easiest, and they're already relatively close to the ports at
Gomel and Inibar."
"We should also consider activating one or more of the reserve legions,"
added the Count. "If we send Legio II to Parglug, we can activate one
reserve legion to take over border security in Tirmar, and another to go
to Vizinia and take over from Legio IV, freeing it up to send to
Parglug, also."
"How long would it take to get Legio II to Parglug?" asked Prince Arden.
The Archprelate of Sedon spoke for the first time. "The dispatch riders
can notify the farthest outposts of Legio II in a bit more than two and
a half days."
"Then it'll take them about five and a half weeks to march to the
ports," the General chimed in.
"Five weeks?" asked Dr. Vellin, the Interior Minister. "That's no more
than 10 miles a day."
"The larger the body of men, the slower it travels," General Yann
responded. "If we force-march, we might reach 15 miles a day, but that
would be pushing things very hard."
"All right," said Prince Arden, "it'll be more than a month to get the
Legion to the ports. Then what?"
"We'd send half the legion to Inibar and half to Gomel, to reduce the
strain on the civilians," said the Count of Rochlyn. "After that, it's
the Navy's problem." He turned to look at Admiral Coll.
"We don't have enough ships to take the whole Legion and baggage in one
trip," the Admiral said thoughtfully, "and the ports can accomodate only
so many ships. If we can commandeer shipping in the harbor here and at
Inibar and Gomel, we can probably take 500 men at a time from each port.
It's 11 days' sailing from Inibar and Gomel to Aseria, so a 22-day round
trip, 1,000 men per trip, makes five trips total . . . it would take 110
days to complete the transfer, over three months, assuming we use the
same ships.
"On the other hand, if we can get some help from Mir, Burcancy, and
Kaeir, and if we commandeer some additional ships from Calabar and
Vizur, so that we don't have to recycle the ships . . . 55 days, not
quite 2 months."
The Count looked at the other Councilors. "I propose that we order Legio
II to Aseria to support the Parglug, and that we send messages to Kaeir
and Mir requesting assistance in moving the Legion. Any objections?" No
one spoke. "It is so ordered, then," he said. The Count turned to the
General and the Admiral, and said, "Draft the necessary orders,
gentlemen, and send them immediately, fastest possible transport. Inform
the Legate of Legio II that under no circumstances is he to allow his
force to be committed to combat until the entire legion is assembled.
Until they're all in place, he can provide training and advisors to the
Parglug, no more. When the entire legion is assembled, he is to work
with the Parglug. However, he is not to throw away his troops."
He turned next to the Archprelate of Sedon. "Send messages to Kaeir,
Burcancy, and Mir, asking for any ships they can spare. Use the Great
Ravens; they're the fastest messengers we have."
"What about calling up the reserves?" asked Raden Ghere.
"We should hold off on that," responded the Duke of Tirroth. "Our
recovery from the war years is still fragile."
"I concurr," added Prince Arden. "Let's not be premature."
"Any objections?" asked the Count. "No? All right, any other urgent
business? No? Very well, we are adjourned."
Action 1: Mutual Aid and Defense
Weight: Single
Description: The Sedonians send a legion by sea to aid the Parglug
against the Ice Demons. The legion in Tirmar will embark at Gomel and
Inibar, and disembark at Aseria. Aseria is chosen due to its position
on the Burcancy/Parglug border--any troops from Burcancy will be
rallying there. Messages are sent by Raven to Kaeir, Burcancy, and Mir,
asking for ships to help transport the legions.
Difficulty: Normal (but see below)
Modifiers: I'm leaving it up to Ibrahim and Jason as to whether or not
Kaeir and Mir send any aid. If they each spend an action on sending
ships to help transport the legion, and those actions succeed, the
result of this action should be modified positively.
Fudge Points: Any from the action description above.
Subparts:
* Legion moves to Inibar & Gomel
* Embarkation & Sea Voyage
* Disembarkation & Reformation
* Weather
Suggested Results: Only a -3 or worse is a complete failure; -1 to -2
represents either a long delay or severe storms; success greater than +1
represents getting to Aseria faster than 55 days.
Action 2: Building the Spy Network
Weight: Single, strategic
Description: This is a continuation of the work of previous years--no
radical changes in course.
Difficulty: Hard
Sub-parts:
* Insert 'deep cover' agents
* Hire analysts
* Develop counter-espionage
* "Special Projects"
Action 3: Renovation and Repair, Part 2
Weight: Single, strategic
Description: Following the report of the surveyors, the Regency Council
decides to start repairing the military roads of Vizinia this year.
While the work of designing and building the roads will be paid for out
of the Ministry of the Interior's budget, most of the surveying and
construction will be done by the Legion based in Vizinia, with local
labor hired as needed. Time to completion is estimated at four to six years.
Difficulty: Normal
Fudge Points: 0
Sub-parts:
* Surveying
* Grading
* Paving
* Bridge Building
Action 4: Making an Imprint
Weight: Single, Strategic
Description: Davor, Raden, and Lecon have a working press, and some
promising leads on paper, ink, and type metal. What they really need is
money. They approach the Order of Lucia with a proposal: in return for
financial investment now, once the press is perfected, they will agree
to print basic reading and arithmatic primers for the Order's schools at
cost. They also approach the Ministry of Special Projects for funding.
Sub-Parts:
* Finding the right materials for ink
* Finding the right materials for type
* Getting money from the Lucians
* Getting money from the Ministry of Special Projects
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