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The Rolling of the Curtain

On this morning of 20 April 1906, the Hallita, Rubert Mannerhoff announced the arrival of the esteemed leadership and delegates from numerous countries in Oulu. From Oulu, they would later travel to Murmansk on train.

The leaders and diplomats of the German, Soviet Russian, Maltese, Chinese, French, Makedonian nations have gathered in Häyhä hall in Murmansk. Representatives of the Federal Union of America as well as the Greater Kingdom of Hungary are also present. A conference is currently underway between the diplomats. The goal of this meeting is to bring a long-awaited resolution to the Great War of Europe.

The Hallita announced that Foreign Minister Tato Koivisto, accompanied by a select group of Arstotzkan diplomats shall oversee the meeting. Under Koivisto's oversight, peace shall be brokered between the Allies and the German Empire.

It is the hope of Hallita Mannerhoff, the Union Council, the Alempitalo, and all bodies of the government that ties shall be thoroughly mended and repaired with the German nation upon the realization of peace.

20/4/1906 AD

The streets of Valletta are filled to the brim with smiling, happy people today as the final surrender of the villainous German Empire was announced. The celebrations are not just limited to Valletta, though, there is perhaps an even more explosive party in Tunis. Unfortunately Mdina most likely is not throwing a party due to their isolation after getting captured by partisans.

A sizable parade had been thrown in Venice today, our boys march throw the streets and row through the river with great vigor and pride. Of course, these are the fresh troops. The people of Venice are quite different from the Malts and Tunisians, more quiet, subdued and food focused. Soon enough they shall be introduced to Malcco Waters. The changing of the guard has finally reached its end today as the last of the Germans had left the Suez to the victorious Malts. No longer does the Kaiser have his talons sunk deep into it.

Battle of San Marino
San Marino, Italy
2nd of December to 17th of January, 1903-1904

The National Army begins an assault on San Marino with over 35,000 men. They begin with a week long artillery bombardment before launching an attack at night.

Despite the bombardment the loyalist forces put up a fierce resistance and it takes 2 days to secure the southern suburbs. The loyalist forces retreat further into the city and fight desperately to stop the socialists from breaching the 2nd line of defence but after 7 days of brutal fighting, the Socialists have forced the Loyalist forces back and deeper into the city.

The Loyalists set up barricades in the streets, set traps, set up sniper positions and launch ambushes on Socialist soldiers, who are know engaging in bloody house to house fighting which slows their advance considerably.

The Socialist High Command tries a new tactic, they send 10,000 men to capture the villages and towns around the city in an attempt to encircle the city. The Socialists only meet disorganised, sporadic resistance as most of the Loyalist forces are in the city.

by the time, the loyalists realise what is happening it is too late and they are trapped in the city. The Loyalists attempt to break out but a group of defectors warns the Socialists and due to this, the breakout fails.

The commander realising all hope is lost surrenders the city to the Social Italian Republic and 8,000 Loyalists are captured.

Battle of San Marino ends
Outcome: Decisive Socialist Victory and San Marino captured

Losses:
Kingdom of Italy: 4,000 dead, 1,000 missing and 9,000 captured
Social Italian Republic: 3,000 dead, 700 missing and 7,000 wounded

5,000 civilians killed
City of San Marino heavily damaged

A Gauntlet Firmly Planted
24 April, 1906

A joint-announcement has been made by our very own Hallita, Rubert Mannerhoff and Lord Commander Alexander Gandhi of New Makedon, one of the Fatherland's closest allies. This announcement entails the beginning of a new, much closer friendship between our two great nations. A common credence between Arstotzka and New Makedon is adherence to Gravonism. Recognizing that Gravonism is the Eastern Hemisphere's only defense against radicalized left-wing elements and further realizing that we must work together to protect the Gravonist world, an alliance has been formed to secure shared prosperity.

The Gravonist Union for Technology, Liturgy, and Ethics, abbreviated as GAUNTLET, shall henceforth serve as an unbreakable bond between our Gravonist nations. The purpose of this alliance will entail the sharing of technology, military protection from foreign threats, and intelligence cooperation.

Through the establishment of the GAUNTLET, our nations are made united in the cause of maintaining Gravonism and an unyielding stance against any and all forms of the godless radical left. Like an actual gauntlet, our friendship will be firmly planted around various regions of the world, and shall never be deterred by any force.

May our grip never loosen upon our enemies.

CREATE FACTION: GAUNTLET
OPINION OF NEW MAKEDON +100

"Make way for L-imgħallem !" was the first signal of the arrival of sir Lawrence and his merry band of Tunisians All dressed up in almost ceremonial garb. Unlike as portrayed in the papers, the men looked as they did not come to burn down Valletta, slaughter it's men, and rape any women from 8 to 80 after all. The men marched in tightly packed columns, all focusing their eyes on what's ahead of them, down the long cobblestoned street, the palace of King Ludwig. The men, singing in unison, were an impeccable target. A simple toss of a live grenade, of cocktail, would kill a multitude of birds with one stone.

But none of that happened, the people stood silently and watched in defeat on as the columns of beiged coloured soldiers marched, the sounds of their boots echoing off into the distance. "They are pandering to the cameras." A man would say. "After that," another injected, "They will surely roast us all. I heard that Tunisians are all cannibals." The men all nod grimly. By now, Lawrence Schafer came in sight. The men turned to get a view of the walking insult to Malta himself. He was a short, thin man with a boyish face covered with a, "Tunisian tan," and topped off with silky blond hair.

"Traitor," the first man sneered, "He sold us out."
Lawrence trotted down the street, guarded by a pair of his two most trusted bodyguards. Both were tall, stocky olive tinged men who looked like they were able to squeeze the guts out of a man with one hand. Lawrence, even when he noticed the despair of the crowd, kept up an aura of positivity, he smiled and gave small sharp waves to every other person, making sure to try and play to everyone.

"That bastard'll go to hell, I know it." The second man, said as he spat on the ground before him. "I heard hell's vacant." The first man whispered, "I'm sure they'll accept a new arrival, you get what I'm saying?" Both men nod knowingly at each other, they know what they have to do. They both reach into their coats and slowly pull out their revolvers.

Lawrence chose not to dress to extravagantly, he wanted to show the masses that he was no tyrant, just an honest, humble soldier. The only items of extravagance he barred was his medals, strung up against his left breast. The palace was getting closer and closer. With each step Lawrence could feel it sucking him in. He had a whole speech ready, and boy it was it lengthy. He was gleeful in the vision that he would sway the masses with a grand speech on the balcony of the palace, where his brother previously did the same. More rambling than speeches, though. But without warning, though, the two men advanced into the middle of the street at him. Before the bodyguards could intervene, the first man aimed at Lawrence's throat, and pulled the trigger.

It jammed, the man frantically tried to beat and adjust his gun, doing anything he could to get it firing. At this moment, Lawrneces heart jumped to his throat, blood rushed to his head and he almost released his bowls in shock and
surprise. Instinctively, he grabbed for his saber, to hack at the man. Then, to his dismay, the second man who he hadn't noticed in the exhilaration, pointed his revolver square at his heart and fired.

The shot ranged out and sent Lawrence tumbling on his back against the ground, breifly losing control of his limbs, causing them to twist violently. As he watched the two men getting tackled down and beaten to a pulp by a conglomerate of soldiers and bodyguards, multiple men rushed to Lawrence. He could feel his life slipping away by the second, and felt his last breathes were drawing near. Before he could close his eyes and enter the afterlife, he felt his men shaking him violently and smacking him awake. "Get up soldier!" A captain yelled, Lawrence looked on at him, wide eyed, "You're fine! No blood! Look!" He grabbed the back of Lawrence's head and lifted it up, Lawrence saw that there was no blood, no blood at all. He ran his hands over the point of entry and knew what had happened.

By the time Lawrence collected himself and hopped back on his feat, the yelling and excitement had died down and everyone, Tunisian and Malt, looked on in shock and amazment as Lawrenece seemed to have came back to life. He stood tall, and reached into his military jacket and pulled out a thick notebook from were it was, held underneath, close to his heart. He waved the notebook, which dawned the bullet hole, in the air for all to see, "It takes more than that to kill L-imgħallem!"

Commonwealth States of Britania wrote:

NÉPSZAVA DAILY PRESS:

5th May 1902,

Traitors in our Midst?
As the war continues against the Serbs and their odious Balkan League, the government has taken proactive measures to ensure stability on the domestic front and the continuing safety of the Hungarian peoples.

It was reported in the early hours of Monday night that ethnic Serbs in the Slavic Quarter of Budapest had begun violent protests against the war - terrorising innocent civilians in the local area and incurring significant property damage to the businesses of hardworking Hungarians. Shops and homes were smashed and burnt throughout the night as the violent mob prowled throughout the Tában district of the city before moving to congregate in György Dózsa Square.

It is believed that local Serbian dissidents had organised the mob through the ethno-revolutionary Braća Srbije newspaper, whose editorial has repeatedly called to arms local Slavs, and has clearly and unambiguously stoked up traitorous revolutionary attitudes. Local sources suggest that this paper is widely read amongst the local Slavic community, and many of the papers views are but mouthpieces of sentiments shared near-unanimously within this community.

Thankfully following heroic and herculean efforts by local police in assistance with loyal and patriotic Hungarian citizens, the revolt was put down. Andrej Mirasov, the main firebrand leading the revolt, and known to be popular amongst the Slavic community, was swiftly detained and prosecuted with charges of high treason and inciting public disorder. It is expected he will be executed at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon by hanging, alongside several other prominent conspirators of the revolt.

In response to the crisis, the government has issued a number of directives to maintain stability and protect loyal citizens from the violence of Slavs and other traitors within our midst. Since such a small press outlet was able to so easily whip up these repugnant revolutionary sentiments, the government has enacted measures to prevent such acts from occurring again. All distrubutors of news and opinion henceforth will be subject to controls from the Imperial Ministry of the Interior to ensure that their content is fully representative to the glorious Magyar peoples. The government has made assurances that these controls will be considered and discrete, and has asserted that only those press outlets promoting such abhorrent views have anything to fear.

Furthermore Palatine János Sólyom has also announced that until such time as the widespread motives and intents of the community can be fully discerned, all Slavs within Hungarian borders will be interned to ensure public safety. The Palatine expressed his regret at having to take such drastic measures, but stated that if so many fellow traitorous Slavs joined in this repulsive violence before, how can all others be trusted again. Camps are already being swiftly set up across the country, and while Slavs are free to voluntarily hand themselves over to the authorities, it is presumed that most will be rounded up by police over the next few weeks.

NÉPSZAVA DAILY PRESS:
17th August 1903

National Triumph! Slavs Surrender
At 12 o’clock yesterday night the last remaining forces of the Balkan League agreed a formal surrender to the Greater Kingdom of Hungary. As a result, the end of the Second Balkan War and the lasting national triumph of the Magyar peoples over the odious and repugnant Slavs can be proclaimed.

After a bitter and long siege of the Serbian capital of Belgrade, brave and patriotic soldiers of the 7th Infantry Division of the Imperial Hungarian Army entered the city to force out the last resistance. It is reported that the street to street fighting was harsh and arduous, however our valiant soldiers battled on to glorious victory nonetheless.

His Majesty King András III and Palatine János Sólyom announced the victory to jubilant crowds in Kossuth Square in Buda, and paid testament to the bravery of the Hungarian forces that defended the nation, and to the patriotic civilians at home that aided the war effort in so many ways. It is expected that both His Majesty and the Palatine will be travelling to the border sometime in the next week to personally congratulate the victorious armies.

Since the Balkan League refused surrender until their complete and unequivocal annihilation, it has been decided that the peace settlement to formally end the war shall be negotiated unilaterally without their input and will be enacted by domestic Hungarian legislation. Insider sources suggest that this bill will include provisions for the wholesale annexation of both Serbia and Transylvania in the Greater Kingdom of Hungary, alongside forcing Bosnia to cede, in effect, total economic control to the Hungarian government.

The Valletta Inquisitor

New Government Established

With the ousting of King Ludwig, a new government has risen from the ashes. The new government, led by Sir Lawrence Schafer, is one of the gravonist variety and according to Lawrence himself, "Will usher in a new, more prosperous era for the Maltese people, and their subjects abroad." On his orders, actions are currently under way to usher in this, "New Era." These include an ambitious revamping, reworking and a complete overhaul of the military with a primary focus on bringing it up to date with the rising tide of change in doctrine, and technology. For example, Lawrence has greenlighted research in the fields of aviation such as the development of blimps and aeroplanes for military uses, as well as automotive, "bunkers." The new leader also promises a new wave of social reform as well as economic reform. Lawrence had also sent an invitation to the Hallita of Finland for a geopolitical summit in Tunisia with hopes of increasing the friendship, cooperation and promoting prosperity between the two nations.

Royalty Abolished, Then Un-Abolished

When the new government took route, it was firmly believed by most outsiders (and even some insiders), that the Maltese Empire would lose it's most prized possession, the crown. But in an awe aspiring show, a new royal family of sorts had shown their heads for the first time! From the palace balcony they all smiled and waved and exchanged good omens with the crowds of cheery, happy go lucky Malts down below. The atmosphere was said to have been electric. The royal family includes, King Martin Podesta, Queen Maria Podesta, and their nine year old daughter, Sofija. They all stood and waved with, "Uncle Lawrence," as little Sofija calls him. The King and Queen gave great, personal heartfelt speeches to the masses, vowing their total faith and support to the new government. As little Sofija put it, "I love my Uncle Lawrence!" After that, Lawrence proudly picked her up, and with a great smile, put her on his shoulders, letting her wave and soak in the applause and love. If one were there, it would truly seem, as our new leader Lawrence promised, the beginning of a new era.

In other news....

The bigwigs at Malcco have recently concluded a deal with the government of Corsicinot. This deal will allow them to establish factories with the nation and officailly open up shop. This is much like how they did in Finland, "Everyone benifits," Henri Dargner, owner of Malcco.

Aside from Germany, another range has opened up for Maltese capitalism, Syria. Before, the only major Maltese Business that had any sizeable foothold in the country was the arms industry. But now, the Maltese have begun to dominate the nation's food industry as well with even more to come.

In the aftermath of the world war, with thousands of boys coming home and trying to live life again after the grueling Venice campaign, a new music scene has been taking in the city of Tunis. The music scene, derived from a lowly-experimental Maltese style in the late 90's, has been dubbed, "Jazz," by it's practitioners. The music is characterized by it's unique emphasis on high intensity improv., flaring rhythms and brass play that are made to, "Get those foots a movin'."

Of course, this Tunisian noise holds little weight in comparison to the music of the Maltese, which emphasizes feeling, emotion, and simple, crooning, piano ladden melodies. Essentially, there is a reason why the Maltese proto jazz gained little in the way of listeners.

The following lyrics are taken from two recordings, the popular Maltese, "After The ball." And the current Tunisian hit, "I like Bananas because they have no bones."
As one reads the lyrics, one can plainly see the artistic complexity and superiority of the former.

Maltese Art
"After The Ball."

A little maiden climbed an old man's knee,
Begged for a story, "Do, Uncle, please."
Why are you single; Why live alone?
Have you no babies, have you no home?"

"I had a sweetheart, years, years ago:
Where she is now, pet, you soon will know.
List to the story, I'll tell it all.
I believed her faithless, after the Ball."

Tunisian Noise a.k.a Jazz
"I Like Bananas Because They Have No Bones."

Standing by the fruit stall on the corner
Once I heard a customer complain
You never seem to show the fruit we all love so
That's why business hasn't been the same

I don't like your peaches
They are full of stones
But I like bananas
Because they have no bones

Bo-de-o-don't give me tomatoes
Cant' stand ice cream cones
But I like bananas
Because they have no bones

No matter where I go
With Susie, May or Anna
I want the world to know
I must have my banana

Cabbages and onions
Hurt my singing tones
But i like bananas
Because they have no bones

Velstado wrote:

You thought I was gone but you were wrong.

The Elder God Tier Villain is back!

Memoirs of A Great War Soldier

Well, I got a few minutes fore we head on out, guess I can spare ya a second er two. Yeah, I was there alright, stationed aboard the USS Alberta. Newest ship in the fleet at that time, Ill tell ya, every year they come out with new and bigger guns! Ha! My grandpappy fought with guns ya had to load from the front, and here I am helpin slam shells as big as I am into a gun I could open up and crawl on through! Heh, Ol grandpappy would be proud Id say, rest his soul.

Anyway, yeah, battleship division 2, that was our wider command see. Course me and the boys didnt much care for that, our entire world was the inside of a turret. Suppose thats the best place to be, all that armor between you and the huns, all ya gotta think about is workin the controls and makin the gun go boom. Heh, yeah it sure was fine with us. Well, scuttlebutt was the yella monkeys had thrown in the towel, what with the chinks finally getting around to kickin in their front door, so we didnt think that would be a problem. Lucky us!

We'd also heard that the Commonwealthers had taken Hong Kong, but gotten their asses handed to them in the north, never really understood why dirt suckers enjoy the ground so much but thats between them and god I suppose. I guess what Im tryin to say here is no one really thought the huns had the stones to try anything. The pacific was our playground, ya caint go more than a hundred miles without running into a US flag. Course that was when the ol boshe sailed right out of Shanghai and gave us a run fer our money.

Now, I know what the propaganda says, and lemme tell ya, its a load. I dont give a hoot if them huns are all baby killers, they fight like rabid damn dogs. We was tasked with blockading their homeport while the dirtsuckers marched up the coast and evicted the huns. So lookin back we shoulda seen it comin. But we'd gotten complacent in our dominance. Our airships ruled the skys unchallanged, the navy had the biggest ships with the biggest guns, wasnt a word no one could tell us!

Heh, yeah yeah, then Fritz went on ahead and told us a whole slew o' words. I was havin a smoke at the railin when the first shells came in, wild, inaccurate things, as all first shots tend to be. But by god himself that scared the piss right outta me. I remember thinkin, holy hell! Them Huns must be crazy! Or somin like that. Our ship had the biggest guns afterall, eight fourteen inch rifles, how could anyone in their right mind wanna fight that? Especially with four other ships just like her all around? Not to mention our boys in the tin cans.

Well, here comes the huns, musta outnumbered us pretty bad at first. The huns always liked havin a lot of smaller ships, but that dont mean they didnt have no heavy hitters. My whole world was reduced to smoke, range corrections, deafness, and more smoke. See, I was the Gun captain, which sounds all flashy like, but really just means I put in orders from the fire control center and made sure more bullets got loaded inna the gun.

We mustta fired at least a hundred times fore it hit us, no real way to tell the time in a big metal coffin see, but yeah, our boat got hit pretty bad. We'd been gettin hit since the shootin started, o course, but those ones you could feel wasnt bad. It was when it felt like someone had just hit the side of our coffin with a big ol hammer that we knew somthin had gone all wrong like. its a damn good thing we was all wearin paddin on our caps, or all o us wouldda died. As it was, most of us only broke a few limbs, nothin we couldnt get through with enough whiskey and belly achein.

So Im tryin figure out what happened when the lights go dead, no problem, we train for this. We're getting ourselves sorted with torches and thats when a different kinda smoke fills the gun room. You dont really think about it, but when somethin dont belong your brain flips out. Well, the inside of a gunhouse is normally filled with the stench of cordite and gunpowder, bad enough but you can get through it. When woodsmoke starts comin in, thats when its time to pick up and leave.

I give the word and we all bail out through the turret counter weight out to the deck, I donno if imma ever forget what I saw out there, but it aint nothin I ever want my kids to know about. The number one turret was blown clean off the ship, and the deck apes was playin on a big ol fire with their hoses. Only the fire wasnt gettin smaller. I remember slippin in somethin, I caint recall if it was blood or oil, but it was everywhere. I was gettin back up when the ship shuddered again and everyone went down.

One of my boys musta heard somethin I didnt cause he grabs my arm and yells in my ear about how we gotta get overboard, the captain's callin abandon ship. Me an him stumble over the side an swim for our damn lives. Eventually we get picked up by a tin can with a buncha other boys and get to watch as our beautiful ship explodes. I dont know how many boys was still in her when she went, but judgin from the beatin the rest of the navy took that day, it was a lot.

Ill say one thing, we mighta got our asses handed to us, but we kept them damn huns outta the pacific.

Gunner's mate first class Arnold Gensing, recounting the sinking of the USS Alberta during the battle of Shanghai Straits

The Memoirs of Juha Ismonaa, Senior Kersantti of the 4th Edvard Company

Do I remember? Hah! How could I forget? I'm not sure anyone who was there could ever forget when Stockholm burned. It was the absolute culmination of our sweet, sweet revenge for all the times we were wronged by those who we thought to be our friends. The Germies... The Swedes. P'tooh! I tell ya, thinking about them just makes me spit!

We had been locked in freezing cold slug-fest with the Germies for weeks. It was clear to see they were on the run. The reports couldn't help but gloat over the fact that every single man behind enemy lines had been starved like a dog. Anyhow, I never really got to see the fighting up close, but I had already seen plenty back in Medjå. I, along with the divisions who had been told to stay back, got called up to move into the city after the remaining Germies had been forced out.

I recall how, as we settled in, we were quick to realize that there would still be tough resistance in the city. The Swedes, apparently, had decided to sell their souls to the Kaiser, all because of how much they hated us. I tell ya, if you didn't watch your step in the streets, there'd be a partisan Swede hidin' in the under a sewer manhole just waiting to pop out to put a bullet right in your chest!

We must've stayed there for, oh, probably a month, before we finally came to grips with reality. The resistance was just too fierce for us to 'put up with it,' anymore. Word from General Armo Astapa himself; if we couldn't get them out of the sewers, we'd ravage the city to its foundations. I remember some guys askin' just how we were gonna do that. The answer was simple: by putting the city to the torch.

I remember setting fire to the train station. I had the boys dress the base of the structure in some excess fuel from the car. I don't remember who lit the flame. It probably doesn't matter, as plenty other fires had already been started across the whole city. But I can't help but wonder what he felt like, bringing such destruction into reality with just the power of the fire he must've gripped in his hands.

Later on, after the Kaptan had decided that we needn't do anymore, we started to march on out of the city. Soon enough, the whole place was in a fiery fit! I must've been drenched in sweat by the time we were outta there. The heat was god-awful. The flames were so loud, it was near impossible to hear the man next to you. Heh, I even remember how a building collapsed and almost crushed some of the men up in front of us. Lucky sons-a-guns.

The place was a scene from hell, I tell ya. The smoke went and battered my lungs and stabbed at my eyes. The city was swarmed with hellfire. I knew damn well that those partisans wouldn't be bothering us anymore.

With every building we put fire to, we remembered the wrongs done to the Finnish people by the Swedish tyrants of long ago. This wasn't just war. This was payback. Double payback, actually! Burning Stockholm showed them Germies right. It showed 'em that they never should've tried bossing around the Fatherland! In one move, we had our revenge on two of our most historic antagonists. We repaid the Swedes for all those years they oppressed us under their rule, and we repaid the Germans for threatening us with murder and genocide.

Some people say we were "too harsh," in our tactics. But hear me when I tell you that if it weren't for what we did, we never would've been able to assert our dominance over Scandinavia by kicking out the Germies.

I tell ya, we had our taste of revenge alright, and by God was it sweet.