Split Alliances

[Aquatoria]

The two houses of Parliament were in an uproar. The global war that was overtaking the world was causing a split in the Canadian Parliament. The pro-PI minority of Conservatives, New Democrats and Progressivists were trying to force the pro-neutral Liberals and pro-AC Socialists to back down and join the war on the PI side. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Socialist MP Anthony Steward stood up. He looked at the Lord Protector seated on one of the three lavish blue thrones. Behind him higher up, were two thrones. The one on the right was empty, but the left one seated Empress Alia. She looked at Anthony. He turned away after a nod. "Enough!" The room fell silent. "This Parliament is not a local forum in some backwater hick-town. This is the legislative branch of the Canadian Empire. Please, sit." The MPs sat down. "Now on to our business. The Great War has erupted. Pax Imperium has declared war on the Aurorean Coalition. Now war on the scale that we have never seen before has begun. You all have your own doubts. Some think we should side with our old allies, others say we should be neutral, and finally others believe we should ally with the AC. Now the Lord Protector wishes to speak." He sat down and gave the floor to Lord Protector King. He stood up and took his place at the pedestal.

"Honored Members of Parliament, Your Imperial Majesty, I love this country. I believed that the working man should have his own voice. I fought to make sure that we have our own economy and not have to relay on allies. The move from PI was debatable, but many of you here can agree that it had become more powerful politically in our own systems. We needed to split. Now we had accepted an observer role that way PI relations were still strong. This war has started because two imperialistic nations are fighting over land claimed by both, but owned by niether. Now I may say we should support PI becuase Validus should have known that a colonization effort so close to another superpower would enflame them. They could have talked about it diplomaticaly and not with guns. But now war has been declared, and many of you say our loyalties have been split." And with a stroke of passion, he said this." I say this onto you, our loyalty is to our own country and not to organizations with imperialistic nations. Acadia is on the verge of declaring war on the DYSFOR and Aemillia. But DYSFOR has agreed that Aemillia is the legitimate government in Dysanii. Now should Acadia declare war, eventually we will have to aid them, thus putting us firmly back into the PI camp, and we remember the scorn we recieved from the world when we were part of PI. My collugues say we should go into the AC camp. That would be a wise decision. That would mean that Dysanii would never be able to declare war on Acadia, unless war with it's new allies is what it wants. But another wise decision is that we remain neutral. Now we decide now......"

[Delfos]

ooc: sorry to bust in, just saying, the coalition haven't decided anything. No official remark from any of our members or the whole coalition says we support Aemilian state, or anything related to Feniexia and dysanii, besides DYSFOR being in the nothereast of dysanii and that Varkour and Validus were attacked by Feniexia, if you ask the president of New Delfos about the double Vs attacking Feniexia he would say it's a terrible waste of diplomatic time. Although you can assume anything.

[Aquatoria]

Lord Protector William King arrived home from Parliament Hill. The two houses couldn't come up with a final answer. The Empress had met with him after everything to tell him something important. An embargo was placed on Deflos by Myroria. William had laughed. No one listened to the first embargo, so there was no way they would listen to this one. And besides, with Myroria not trading with Delfos, that could be another spot for the Canadian trade could fill. When he got into politics, he hated the institiution of the monarchy, but now as he had continued his career as Lord Protector, he grew to respect and apprieciate Empress Alia. She wasn't like her old-era father and other ancestors. She was a reformist and sometimes he would back ideas of hers and send them through Parliament. he walked into his den and poured himself a glass of scotch. He sipped it and sat down. William turned on his computer and looked over messages from various MPs and ministers. he answered them and then closed his computer. He opened up a file cabinet and brought out a few folders. They were reports about the economic, and military power for Canada. They projected that Canada could join the war and have a powerful impact. Some were military war plans and defense schemes from the General Staff on all the combatants should war arise. He noticed that a war with AC called for an armored blitzkrieg across the Dysaniian plains, forcing AC and the Aemillians on the defensive. The High Seas Fleet and elements of the Northern Fleet would sweep over the Horn of Valhene and crush the smaller navies of Validus, Varkour, and Delfos stationed in Dysanii. he set that one down. Easy enough. The other folders were war plans on how to invade Validus, Deflos, Varkour and any other minor AC nations. Now the PI war plans and defense schemes were much easier. A smaller Canadian armored thrust into Feniexian-held territory and Valhene. Then using submarines to start causing problems for PI commerence on the high seas, while the Canadian Navy would draw out the PI fleets. Then invasion plans for Feniexia and Loyan were brought up. He liked them too. The Canadian Empire had time before they decided. War was such a horrible thing, but it may be neccasary. He put down the folders and walked out of his den. He could hear his wife, Margret in the kitchen cooking.

[Aquatoria]

It was a quiet night. Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie was sitting in his den, looking over the creation of the his new command, the III Corps, or "Empress' Corps" at his desk. The Canadian government had made it's decision on the war, and now they wanted a former school teacher from Napperton, Ontario turned army officer to bring together a force of 41,000 soldiers and turn them into a fighting force. The desk was always a mess, but this time it was messier then usual. Arthur brought out books of military strategy, notebooks filled with notes that he had written on the various divisions, brigades and other units, as well as their equipment. He also looked over battle reports of the various formations. He needed a veteran force with good Grade-A equipment. A few photos and reports in folders lined his desk. Before he built a Corps, he needed a Corps Command. Three people were needed. A Chief of Staff, a Deputy Commanding General, and a Command Sergeant Major. He needed three men with experience and also would stand out of the others. Veterans from the South Continental Wars would be easy to find. He looked over across the room at his uniform. It was always gleaming as if it were new. Soon, very soon.

[Aquatoria]

"Fire!" The crackle of gunfire as the Canadian soldiers practiced firing on enemy soldiers. Currie was standing out behind them watching them in his uniform as well as a larger, heavier trench-coat over top. The He was visiting the 13th Guards Motor Rifle Division's HQ to find out more about them. The divisional commander, Major General Julian Byng was standing next to him smiling as his troops did their practices. Arthur was impressed. He liked the 13th because, they were the division that had been in the Battle of Toronto during the American siege and had held the center line with no reinforcements. They lost many men, but were the most experienced on the Ontarian Front. As the soldiers finished, Arthur starting talking to Julian.

"I am impressed. Your division is indeed a strong one. You have the experience and the training. So you will be the first division of the III Corps."

"Thank you, Lieutenant-General."

"Now, Major-General, I need a Deputy Commanding General, so you want the job?"

Julian was surprised. The second-in-command of a new untested corps. A careers where destroyed that way. "I am not sure, sir."

Arthur smiled. "That was hardly a request, that was an order."

Julian nodded. Arthur continued. "Report you division to Fort Yorkshire outside of Toronto. Your men will train there with the other troops of the III Corps and then we will go to war."

[Aquatoria]

Fort Yorkshire lies behind the Canadian Rangers Corps, the new rapid deployment force of the Canadian Army. Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie looked over the forty-one thousand men of the Empress' Corps. Their shiny uniforms along with their new Leopard tanks and other armored weapons were assembled in front of the general and the other senior staff. Hind copters flew high and in formation.

"This is a great day. Today, you show us that you were ready for this. Now the country will once again be plunged into war, and we will be at the front of that war. We are the tip of the sword. You have shown me that you are the best. Now show uour country and the world that you are the best." The soldiers looked on with pride. The Canadian Ranger Corps was ready for war.