News from Japan (formerly known as the "Japan, end of 1907..." thread)

[Walter]

I have a certain problem with news these days (both for Navalism and Wesworld) so any news article I can come up with  for Japan (either Navalism or Japan) I would call a miracle...


... and I'm no great story writer either but here goes...


=============================================================

December 31st 1907


"General Aragaki Yukie!" the call came as the massive doors to the Great Hall of Zemni Castle swung open.

Taishakuten looked up from his paperwork to see the General entering the Great Hall and wait as the doors closed. He placed the documents on a small table to the right of his throne. "Approach!" he called out, motioning the General to come closer.

Yukie walked forward toward Taishakuten. She wore a gray uniform, well-polished black knee-high riding boots and a red-lined gray cape. She wore a yellow sash around her waist with a black leather belt fastened over it. Her saber hung from the belt on her right and her gloves tucked underneath it on the left. A yellow shawl was partially visible underneath the collar of her jacket. On her head was a hat cocked to the side with a peacock feather fastened to it on the left side. Her extremely long black hair flowed from underneath her hat and part of her hair was tied together at the height of her neck with a yellow ribbon.

Yukie idolized General James Ewell Brown Stuart, the great Confederate Cavalry hero of the War of Secession against the UNK in the early 19th century. The uniform Yukie wore was similar to the one that Stuart wore later in life as Taishakuten had seen from a painting Yukie owned of General Stuart. Compared to what Stuart wore back then and what Yukie was wearing right now, Taishakuten and Lady Kendappa looked fairly plain and simple in their robes.

Besides Yukie's looks being influeced by a Confederate General, the Confederate influence was also great on her command, the Ryukyu Army. When it came to uniforms, banners, training, and many other aspects of her Army, she looked east at the Confederate States Army. This caused quite a few to refer to them as the Confederates of the Orient.

When she was near, Yukie came to a halt and dropped to one knee, bowing her head. "Sire, it is an extreme honour that you were willing to make some time to speak with your humble servant," Yukie stated.

Taishakuten held up his hand. "I am always willing to make time for one whose loyalty is only surpassed by the Shittenou (1)," he stated. "Now what is it that brings you all the way here to Zemni Castle."

Yukie looked up to Taishakuten. She wanted to speak but paused for a second, trying to find the proper words. "Sire... forgive my brutality... but I can no longer bear to watch the atrocities of Those Demons!" she blurted out. The words came out wrong, but it was too late now.

"Oh?" Taishakuten was slighlty amused. "So... what do you plan to do with... Those Demons? What can your Army hope to achieve?"

"I... I don't know... but I do know that I cannot sit still and do nothing, ignoring what is going on!"

Taishakuten was well aware that Yukie's loyalties, like his, lay with the Middle Kingdom and she strongly favored supporting them right away and she had openly declared it on several occasions while Taishakuten had to be more careful due to the Russian-Japanese-Swiss-Manchurian-Ryukyuan mix of the Empire's citizens. He was also well aware that Yukie truly hated the New Swiss.

"You are aware of what is happening within the Empire?" Taishakuten asked after a few moments.

Yukie shook her head. "No, sire. I fear I am only a simple general."

"Modest as always," Taishakuten grinned. "Before, the decision was not easy to make as the Empire was greatly divided on the matter. However the longer the events go on, the clearer things are becoming.

"The Empress of Ice and the Moon is displeased by the actions of the New Swiss, so Lord Ryou says... or should I say 'indicates with gestures'(2). The same is true for the Citizens of the Empire. Even those of Swiss blood within the Empire, the Neo Swiss (3), disapprove of the New Swiss's actions more and more.

"I have had a request from the Republic of Orange to take some minor steps toward the Swiss, to put some pressure on them. The Dutch keep on pressing us to make clear whether we remain neutral or which side we are going to choose. Both the Habsburger Kaiserreich and the Deutcher Kaiserreich Brandenburg want us to take action against the Swiss.

"Now, General Praeger and Lord Griffith, both being Neo Swiss, have let me know that they will support any decision I will make against the New Swiss. Both Baron Tsao and General Praeger will get their units ready for action and Admiral Susasin informed me that he would start making preparations for the navy to go to war. He also made a request to personally lead the efforts against the New Swiss."

"So what is the word, Sire?"

"I shall send word to the proper parties involved: Tenkai (4) shall support their efforts against the Evil Swiss."

"And what about our declaration of war against the Swiss?"

Taishakuten pointed at Yukie. "You shall be our declaration of war."

Yukie looked at Taishakuten, confused. "Sire?"

"You shall go to the Middle Kingdom and help them in their effort to liberate Hainan and Taiwan. Perhaps it is not necessary, but your presence there shall notify the Swiss of our intentions and I shall notify the New Swiss ambassador at that point."

"You're not going to chop off his head and send it together with the declaration of war to New Switserland?"

"I thought I would be using the less dramatic approach this time. Now go! I assume you would wish to get Tennyou's (5) blessings before you go."

"Yes, Sre, I will." Yukie bowed her head and then got back up on her feet. She turned around and then marched to the entrance of the Great Hall and left.

Taishakuten got up and walked onto the balcony outside, looking down at the small group of gray-clad dismounted soldiers awaiting the arrival of their General. After a few moments, Yukie appeared, pulling on her gloves, and joined the group. One of the soldiers handed over the reins of one of the horsed over to Yukie. She proceeded to hoist herself onto the back of her trusted mount, Matsukaze, claimed by many to be the fastest horse in the world. Once Yukie was mounted, the other soldiers got into the saddle as well. Five soldiers lifted the Army's banners - one Confederate, one Japanese and three Ryukyuan - up into the sky, before Yukie gave the order to move out. Taishakuten watched the group gallop out through the castle gates before he went back into the Great Hall.

The time to take action had come and he had a few letters to write before that. Because of certain matters which had to be discussed, the first letter would be handed over to the Brandenburg Ambassador.

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The mysterious notes...

(1) Shitennou: Taishakuten's four loyal Generals, Bishamonten, Jikokuten, Zouchoten, and Koumokuten.

(2) The mysterious Lord Ryou never speaks, instead using gestures or writing to communicate with others.

(3) Very original, I know. I wanted something simple to make a difference between the New Swiss citizens and the Japanese citizens of New Swiss blood.

(4) Tenkai is Taishakuten's territory of Shakhalin with Zemni Castle as its capital. In some cases, Tenkai is used to refer to the Empire of Japan.

(5) Taishakuten used 'Tennyou' at times to refer to Empress Kaguya.


With thanks to Carthaginian for allowing me to use the Confederate influence on General Aragaki and the Ryukyu Army... though he might regret that later... ;D

[Desertfox]

Hmmm, a plan is forming in my mind, it might, might just work and if it does...

[Walter]

... it'll probably be way too late.

[Korpen]

Hmmm, a plan is forming in my mind, it might, might just work and if it does...

"Before you start a fire, make sure you have taken measures so it does not spread."

[swamphen]

"I'll have you know that I only resort to violence when the situation calls for it."

"Of course, by 'situation' you mean 'voices in your head', right?"

"And you don't want to know what they're saying right now."

[Walter]

Inspired by the first RG Veda Bonus Manga...
... which might probably be a bad thing... :D

=========================================================

Special Notice as delivered to the printer by Bishamonten:

To the International Community Dudes.

Yo, 'sup.

By orders of the God King überdude, Taishakuten, the Saipan area is declared a War Zone and Saipan a fortress under siege.
No ships are allowed to enter the Saipan Area unless they wish to find out what kind of badass dudes we really are.

Signed
Bishamonten
General of the Northland

PS: We'll waste your ships for sure. Totally.

Special Notice as edited by the printer and released to the world:

To the International Community.

By orders of the God King , Taishakuten, the Saipan area is declared a War Zone and Saipan a fortress under siege.
No ships are allowed to enter the Saipan Area unless they wish the destruction of the vessel.

Signed
Bishamonten
General of the Northland

[Carthaginian]

And they get even MORE entertaining...
I have a picture in my head of the old guy in 'The Last Samurai' delivering the first telegram.

[Borys]

Firsty draft of Note to Japanese Embassy:
Yo, no shit, peasants!

Note delivered:
The Habsburg Empire takes note of the Saipan Siege Declaration and will make it available to interested shipping concerns. 

[Walter]

Some nonsense mixed with nonsense and more nonsense and stuff that is going on right now in the Navalism universe...
It takes place a couple of days before the international Saipan warning was issued...

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The Great Hall of Zemni castle was silent. Lady Kendappa was away on business (as General Jikokuten) and Lady Karura had informed Taishakuten yesterday that her younger sister, Lady Karyoubinga, was not feeling well. Thus Taishakuten was robbed of both the soothing tunes of Lady Kendappa's Harp and the beautiful singing voice of Lady Karyoubinga.

Taishakuten sighed as he stared at his paperwork. Well, at least it was impossible for anyone to sneak into the Great Hall now that it is this quiet.

"You seem troubled, Lord Taishakuten." General Bishamonten looked up from his pile of paperwork. When it came to loyalty, no one was more loyal than Bishamonten. His loyalty was legendary.

Bishamonten. Taishakuten's most loyal General.

"Perhaps you need more rest," Bishamonten told. "You know, your seer, Lady Hanranya, told me that it is necessary for one to get at least eight hours of rest. Also, she told me that it is bad for one's health if one gets up too early every day and..."

"Bishamonten..." Taishakuten stared at the Shitennou for a few moments.

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten?"

"Shut up..."

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten."

"Good..."

"Lord Taishakuten. What about this note regarding 'The 21 points of of Wynson'?" Bishamonten held up one sheet of paper from his pile.

"Good question..."

"You think the double 'of' is a typing error? You know, Lady Hanranya told me that accidentally typing a word twice are early signs of Dementia and old age. Also she..."

"Bishamonten..."

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten?"

"Shut up..."

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten."

"Good..." Taishakuten thought for a while what to do. "Tear up the note and send it back with a note: 'Our deal or no deal'. It should be fairly obvious what's meant with that."

"You know, Lady Hanranya told me that such extremely short notes can easily be misinterpreted by the receiver and could lead to all kind of nasty..."

"Bishamonten..."

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten?"

"Shut up..."

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten."

"Good... All right then... Send a note that indicates that we will not accept any terms if we do not get what we were supposed to get. We will definitely not pay anything if we do not get what we want."

"... which are Tinian, Aquijan and Saipan. We already own Samoajima... which they want the Swiss to give to the DKB. And then there is of course Western Swiss Neue-Guinea as well as the Aleutians."

"Exactly."

"I shall add it to the note to reinforce the point."

"There is one thing that I do not understand..." Taishakuten grabbed a bottle of wine and poured it into a glass. He held it out to Bishamonten.

"Thank you." The General took the glass and placed it for the time being on a clear space on the desk in front of him. "So what is it that you do not understand?"

Taishakuten poured wine for himself into another glass and placed the wine bottle back on the table. "We were never promised the Aleutians so it makes me wonder how they came into the picture... not that I am complaining. But that combined to the 'The 21 points of of Wynson' makes me wonder if that Swiss Envoy was actually telling the truth."

Bishamonten took a sip from his glass of wine. "So what you are saying is that you thinking of his offer? You know very well that if you were to do that, it would make you extremely unpopular, not only toward other nations, but to the citizens of the Empire as well."

Taishakuten shook his head. "As long as the Swiss are at war with the Middle Kingdom, we cannot accept any Swiss deals."

"Good to know."

"My original idea was to stay neutral and assist the Middle Kingdom in secret against the Swiss though that required more time than I originally anticipated. But that hothead Aragaki could not wait. The offer made by the alliance was pretty much a bonus. Looking at it now, perhaps it would have been better to have used my original plan."

"Rumors have it that the Loose Canon has the ability to defeat you..."

Taishakuten laughed. "She may be an Onmyouji and claim to be a descendant of Abe no Seimei... but that does not mean that she is more powerful than me. Rumors are just that: Rumors."

"True..."

"Of course there is also the Tennyou and 'Lord' Ryou. They're different."

"Ah... yes... Hellspawn Ryou..."

"Just make sure that Fiend never hears those words or there will be hell to pay."

"Yeah, I know... 'Hhell hath no fury'..."

Taishakuten drank his glass empty and grabbed the bottle to refil his glass. Noticing that Bishamonten's glass was empty as well, he held out the bottle.

Bishamonten declined the offer. "You know, Lady Hanranya told me that too much alcohol is bad for one's health. Smoking, too, is a serious killer which is why I strongly discourage smoking by the members of our Armed Forces... especially those who deal with explosive matter. Perhaps we should make the regular citizens aware of the danger as well. As a matter of fact, I thing we should start a worldwide campaign to make everyone on this planet aware of the dangers of smoking. We should probably do the same with drugs. Some of them are really..."

"Bishamonten..."

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten?"

"Shut up..."

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten."

"Good... and get to work on that note to Off Wynson."

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten." Bishamonten got up and walked to another table with a typewriter. He sat down behind it, inserted a blank sheet of paper and began typing. "To Lord Officer Wynson... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera..." It didn't take Bishamonten long to create the letter and once finished, he handed it over to the God King.

Taishakuten read the letter a couple of times and then nodded. "Looks good to me." He then gave it back to Bishamonten.

"I shall send the letter as soon as possible."

"Now how is the situation at the fronts?"

"No news from General Aragaki, but I doubt there are any problems there. No news from the Northeast Pacific sector or the Tasmanian sector. Considering the distance of those two sectors, that is slightly worrying. Latest news is from General Zouchoten. He sent a note that they're putting pressure on Saipan and the Swiss forces on the island. It looks like all enemy vessels that were present have been taken out. Our ships have cut off the island and are shelling suspected Swiss positions."

"Good."

"He wishes to know if the ships are allowed to attack enemy shipping in the area freely. He thinks that there is a chance that the Swiss might attempt to either reinforce the island, pull out the forces, or resupply them."

"... and we do not want that to happen, do we?" Taishakuten then nodded. "Send them a message. Engage and sink all vessels not complying to Green Spear codes."

"All ships?"

"All ships. We can't take any chances. If a nation does not heed the warning, then it is their own fault for sending that ship into such a dangerous zone."

"Understood."

"Also make this publicly known. All nations should be aware that Saipan is designated as a fortress under siege. Any vessel attempting to access or exit the Saipan area will be shot at indiscriminately."

Bishamonten grabbed a new sheet of paper and began typing again. First the orders that would be sent to Zouchoten. After that, he typed the international warning note.

Taishakuten read both notes and gave them both his approval. "What's next on the list of problems?" he asked, looking through his paperwork.

"I got a note here..." Bishamonten looked around and then picked up a piece of paper. "It's from the Twelve Generals..."

"What does it say?"

"It seems your wife was freaking out the troops again last weekend. She drank 15 pints of beer in as many minutes and then took a Benz for a spin outside the walls of Zemni castle."

"Not another Traumatized Horse!?"

Bishamonten nodded.

Taishakuten groaned. "I'll have a word with her tonight..."

"Perhaps you should tell her Lady Hanranya's story that too much alcohol is..."

"Bishamonten..."

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten?"

"Shut up..."

"Yes, Lord Taishakuten."

"Good..." Taishakute looked up and noticed it was getting late.

"One more interesting thing here," Bishamonten stated. "Gran Columbia is interested in this deal." He held out a piece of paper.

Taishakuten grabbed it and read the letter. "Sounds good. Send them a message with my approval. However do include that the..."

A chime then echoed through the Great Hall.

"That'll have to wait until tomorrow." Bishamonten got up. "The General's Union is opposed to us putting in extra time without payment."

"But..."

"Laterz." With a quick waive, Bishamonten walked away and left the Great Hall in order to return home to his wife.

Bishamonten. Taishakuten's most loyal General.

... between 9 and 5.

Taishakuten then sighed, got up and left the Great Hall himself. He left behind a pile of paperwork that would be even bigger tomorrow.

[Walter]

BACKBONE JAPAN'S TASMAN TASK FORCE BROKEN

News reports came in that four ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, operating in the Tasmania Area, were lost in a cowardly Swiss ambush.
With nowhere to go and facing an overwhelming number of Swiss ships, the Japanese commanding officer bravely engaged the superior Swiss with his weak force, knowing extremely well that with the situation so extremely hopeless, there was nothing he could do other than to bravely face the Swiss and go down fighting with honour.
There are also reports that after the Japanese ships were lost, the Evil Swiss moved closer and began butchering the defenseless survivors that were in the water. It is unknown at this moment if anyone has survived the slaughter by Those Demons.

[Desertfox]

Unfortunately for Japanese credibility, neutral Green Cross observers already have a complete detailed list of all the survivors from the task force, including the honorless CO who didn't commit seppuku.

[Walter]

Now why should the CO commit Seppuku when he has absolutely nothing to do with Japanese culture (and probably does not know a thing about it)?
BTW, I doubt that a complete, detailed list would be available in Japan on April 6. I think that it might take a bit longer than that.

[Korpen]

Now why should the CO commit Seppuku when he has absolutely nothing to do with Japanese culture (and probably does not know a thing about it)?
BTW, I doubt that a complete, detailed list would be available in Japan on April 6. I think that it might take a bit longer than that.

Week or moths more likely, the Green cross is not really functioning yet, it was created less then a year ago, and building a organisation takes time.

[Walter]

... come to think of it, I wouldn't be surprised that when such a list arrives weeks or months from now, there would be voices in the Empire stating that the Swiss let those neutral Green Cross observers make the list, then lock them up in a small cabin while they executed the survivors.

[Ithekro]

OOC
Interesting news.  I am not familiar wth this one.

Note: Wynson would be the Rohirrim Royal Family.  Thus the 21 Points were penned by either the King or one of his family, in this case his first son and heir.