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Introduction
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In 1700 England's precious power balance was once more disturbed, this time by the death of Charles VI of Spain. This mentally and physically severely handicapped victim of generations of incest was next to stone deaf, also infertile and had appointed the son of the Dauphin of France as next king of Spain, this was not to the likings of Austria and Savoy, who'd like to see one of their own princes become king of Spain, in order to keep Spain a Habsburg controlled territory, England, Prussia and the United Provinces (Holland) didn't want to take the risk of seeing Spain and France united under one king and surely didn't want to be attacked by this possible superpower. Portugal liked to keep the things like they were, so the chance of being conquered would stay as low as they were.
The seven allies met in London to discuss their battle plans.
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Chapter one: The War of the Spanish Succession.
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The Alliance
"Belgium is a threat to us," the United Provinces said, "if Spain drafts troops from there not only Amsterdam, but also London will be endangered."
"I'm fully aware of that," England said, "we need to obliterate Spanish forces there, getting Belgium under our control must be one of our priorities. And more important if we succeed we control the way to Paris and with Antwerp less as threat our defence will be stronger."
"Not to forget Belgium's weapon manufactories," the United Provinces added.
"True, Portugal replied, "but what about me? I'll not be able to stand against Spain very long."
"You know what, I've an awesome plan, England you'll go and help Portugal I myself will take Belgium, awesome not?"
"No, Prussia, it's not," Savoy snapped "You apparently forgot about Austria's forces. Besides as I heard that the control over Belgium was supposed to be yours not Austria?"
"That was an agreement between me and the United Provinces," Austria said he felt a bit down about the failure of the treaty," they recognized Philip V as king of Spain, we hoped that that would convince Belgium to do the same, it didn't."
"My I say that I have an idea?" Portugal asked.
"Listen chaps, Porto has something to say," Prussia yelled as hard as he could over the heads of the other nations.
"We were already silent," Savoy cried, as irritated as ever.
"I know," Prussia grinned.
"Then why did you yell?" the female nation snapped.
"Because I'm awesome."
All the nations except for Portugal and Prussia himself rolled their eyes.
"Okay, Portugal you were saying?" Austria asked.
"I think we all should assemble a number of armed forces and distribute them over Europe."
England wanted to say that he disagreed with Savoy when a whining America ran into the room.
His eyes were red and swollen and he made a rather frightened impression.
"England, England," the colony cried jumping into his mother nation. England wrapped his arms around him and tried to calm him down a bit.
"Calm, my boy, I'm here no one can harm you now, what wrong?"
"I was just playing in the garden when Louisiana came and she hit me, just like that," America sobbed while waving with his fist knocking Prussia from his chair, "I'm afraid of her she is so big!"
"You wonder why," Prussia said while he examined his eye in his mirror. Trying to see if the awesome me had been damaged.
"I'll look into this matter when I'm finished here," England said quietly, "why don't you run off and ask the maid for a large cup of honey milk?"
America smiled, nodded and nearly flew outside. Smiling. Knowing that his big brother would come and defend him for Louisiana.
"Kids," England said fondly.
"That's no kid," Prussia said now examining another part of his body where it hurted, "that is a…"
"Can we get back to this now?" Savoy cut in, "I don't want to know what you were about to say but I don't want this alliance break up before the war starts."
"Right, Portugal," England said focussing on the Iberian nation, "I was going to disagree with your proposal but now I think that I have to agree, I don't have enough troops to launch successful campaigns through Europe and the new world at the same time alone. So everybody in favour of this idea, raise his hand." Seven hands were raised
"Then, we are decided?" Portugal asked hesitantly.
"Then, we are decided!" England said pressing the last word and confirming the strategy.
"What a strange way to use English," Prussia muttered, "I could do better, but yeah, I'm awesome after all."
"Oh, shut up Prussia," Austria said.
War
The military conflict started slowly, France were losing ground in Italy to Austria and Savoy, thus securing their supremacy over North Italy.
In the Holy Roman Empire most of the 336 nations supported Austria and Prussia in the war, which pleased the two allies, which meant that thy could attack over a larger and more important a flatter terrain.
Yet it was England who leaded the combined army of English, German and Dutch forces into Belgium.
"So," Belgium said, "they are back."
"Who are back, miss?" a maid asked. The nation faced the maid. The maid could smack her head against a wall: it was quite obvious.
"The neighbours of course," Belgium said thinking that this girl was rather silly, "I recon that my brother his holiness the Prince-Bishopric of Liège won't be happy at all."
"How do you mean, miss?"
"Well little one," Belgium patted the head of the girl with a fake smile, "his capital is besieged and he can only watch while the strong fortresses fall."
"Isn't that bad?" the maid continued the question hour, "with all respect, but it are your troops that are being slaughtered."
"Indeed, it's bad," Belgium replied ignoring the second part of the question, "its bad for me, it's bad for my holy brother, but why would I stop being me? I'm not on my own, that git Spain considers me as too important to let go."
"How do you mean?"
"Do you remember how it was when the Seventeen Provinces declared themselves independent?" Belgium asked the maid, "of course you don't, she continued without waiting for an answer, "you unlike me weren't there then, me and my other brother, had signed this paper, the 'Acte van Verlatinghe', a document saying that we didn't need the king of Spain anymore, after the Beeldenstorm, I bet you remember that event." The nation paused a little when she continued her voice was much more soft: "In retrospect I think that I shouldn't have left him alone in the Union of Atrecht, anyway," her voice gained much more strength again, "I decided to stay with Spain because I thought that he loved me, I was wrong, all the things he did to me, he even helped me signing that bloody treaty." Belgium wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug and continued dreamily: "I was so young, so naïve. But that time is long gone."
The maid remained silent for a while then she, although hesitantly, she hated working for Belgium, her mood swings were dangerous, sometimes she thought that being Europe's battlefield for so long had driven her insane, said: "Miss, have you ever considered independence since then?"
"No." Belgium left, ending the conversation, thinking that she should pick the maid herself next time.
The Other Allies.
"Ah, France, I'm like totally pleased to see you," Spain said. "How are things going?"
"Nothing is decided yet, we can still win, but much depends on Belgium, if they capture Antwerp the enemy will flow into my land and I don't know how long we will be able to hold, plus the war in the colonies costs a lot."
"Yeah, it does, yesterday I got the massage that my treasure fleet was attacked in Vigo Bay and this morning I heard it was destroyed."
"Virgo Bay?" France asked.
"No my treasure fleet, and, France, it's Vigo Bay not Virgo Bay." Spain replied, "nevertheless this is serious, it was a very important battle, and I lost tonnes of gold and silver."
"Then we will attack Portugal's treasure fleet," Frances suggested.
"Yes, I want my revenge," Spain said taking a map out of his bag, "that's why I decided to mark on this map where the enemy treasure fleet is, today they are here, near Cape Verde, on their way home."
"Perfect, I'll send a fleet to neutralise them," France said, "something else now, you think Belgium is trustworthy?"
"I trust her," Spain replied.
"After what you did to her?" France asked. This seemed to have thrown a wig in Spain's powder barrel.
"Listen to this: Belgium signed the treaty, everything that happened afterwards is her fault!!" Spain yelled.
"In that case we will see what happens next," France whispered surprised by his ally's outburst. Spain still seemed to be a bit annoyed, he had walked over to the desk, where an amount of maps was spread out and started to move little figurines over them. France recognized a few of them, one was Louisiana, the one on another map was Spain and the last one was standing on a fortress-shaped mark on the map.
"Antwerp," France whispered. Spain nodded, putting the figurines on their right places had apparently calmed him down.
"Will we hold Antwerp?" France asked looking up at Spain.
"Yes, we will."
