7th of May, 2025

Tallahassee, Constituent Country of Florida

The Proclamation of the Republic in London had sparked outrage across all the Constituent Countries South of the Mason-Dixon Line, where the landed aristocracy and the Tory electorate rejected the idea of a republican Britannia and of a combined government of nationalists and syndicalists, while the agrarian elites feared for their lands.

In response to the situation, the Governor of Florida, Lord Francis Primrose, decided to call for an extraordinary session of the Senate of Florida, State institution that gathered all the main landowners of the region.

After the situation was presented, there was great uproar in the council. Due to Britannia's censorship, a large share of the Senators saw the Holy Roman Empire as guilty for Nunnally's death, as was claimed by the BBC, supported the idea of first waging war on Rome, then dealing with Lord Mercia. Others, who managed to have access to foreign sources, blamed Lord Mercia and began to call for the secession. In order to obtain greater support for secession, the Governor claimed that should they decide to secede from the Commonwealth of Britannia, they would be joined by other neighbouring Constituent Countries.

After the lunch break, the situation further escalated, when news arrived that the Lord Protector had sacked the Tory Governor of Maryland, accused of promoting secessionist activities and after appointing a Special Commissioner, had imposed martial law on the territory, dissolving the civilian administration. The news sparked terror among the Senators. The balance had now shifted again, but against the secessionist party, as many did not thought Florida could sustain a secessionist war.

Lord Jeremiah Gottwald had remained silent through the whole meeting. He felt no loyalty towards the new Republic, but at the same time he had a certain contept for his peers, who were willing to surrender all their freedoms and rights out of fear. After observing the whole debate during most of the day, finally his will to take a revenge against Lord Mercia prevailed and he spoke.

"Lord Jeremiah Gottwald, you are recognised." Said Lord Primrose.

"Thank you, Right Honourable Governor. Ladies and gentlemen, noble vassals of the Empress of Britannia,

I know some of you since a long time, I fought alongside many of you in what was Area 11, in the Middle Eastern Front and in the African Front, against many different enemies. Some of you were present at the Battle of San Francisco, against the Holy Roman Empire, others followed the then Princess Carine ne Britannia in the Great Southern Rebellion against the rule of Lelouch vi Britannia, yet now, I fail to recognise most of you. What happened? Is aging making you more coward? Have you grown so used to a life of comfort and luxury to prefer to keep rotting in your villas while some of the greatest injustice of history happens before your eyes and our beloved South falls? Is it?

Only yesterday I talked to the Marquis of Cour d'Alene, Lord Francis Alstreim, father of Rome's Empress Consort, Anya Alstreim, former Knight of Six. He told me of the investigation conduced by Rome Imperial Bureau of Investigations on Nunnally's body. She was killed with a lethal injection nearly one hour before the arrival of the Iron Guard. Now, you can claim that this was made up by the Roman Intelligence, of course, there is always this possibility. But please, do keep in mind that the IBI, in a proceedure that would have never followed, decided to conduce the investigation before the eyes of 25 physicians from different countries of the world, including many of Britannia's allies and all of them have found the same. This for what concerns our former Empress.

As for what concerns us, we have been witnessing, since the last December, what can be considered at all effect a coup d'état. Lord Mercia, an ambitious revanchist with dictatorial ambitions, have allied with the Syndicalists, a subversive movement enemy of any healthy value and of the nobility, to impose his illegitimate rule over our land. Just as we talk, our brethren in Maryland are fighting a desperate fight to defend their own rights and freedoms from this revolutionary oppression. Today it's them, what about tomorrow? Will it be Virginia? Georgia? Louisiana? Florida, perhaps? There is no compromise with tyranny, Milords, either we fight it and we do it now, or it will kill all of us, burn our houses and enslave our beloved ones.

This is why I, Lord Jeremiah of the House of Gottwald call upon you, landed nobles of Florida, if there is at least a single drop of Britannian blood left in your veins, to vote for an immediate declaration of secession of the Constituent Country of Florida from the Commonwealth of Britannia. Thank you, Right Honourable Governor."

After Gottwald, nobody wanted to raise any objection and the Governor called for a vote over secession. The large majority of the Senators of Florida voted in favour.


Press Updates

From LVX News, 7th of May 2025

BREAKING NEWS: The Constituent Country of Florida, of the newly established Commonwealth of Britannia, has officialised in the afternoon the secession from the Commonwealth. The Florida Defence Force has mobilised and disarmed the Army Garrison. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends caution to the Roman citizens in Florida, while the possibility of an air bridge to evacuate them is being considered.

Agents of the IBI have cracked down on the Pan-Eurasian Syndicalist Movement, arresting thousands of activists and leaders accused of having ties with eversive organisations. The Secretary-General, Minister Nina Berija: "The Movement will cooperate with the institutions. We are committed to fight for the workers' rights and the time in which this organisation used to be a safe haven for terrorists and enemies of the Crown are over."

From CGTN

Roman invaders withdraw from Tibet and Xinjiang. After failing to break the resistance of our brave people, Generaloberst Ritter Friedrich von Rommel has ordered the evacuation of Western China. A step forwards towards our national liberation.

From BBC News

Leaders of the Community of the Free World to gather on the 14th in Jakarta, Indonesia, to address retaliations against HRE.


London, Constituent Country of England, Commonwealth of Britannia

Now residing in Buckingham Palace, Lord Mercia was following the news of the recent uprising in Florida. On the screen, he could see the images of the people celebrating through the streets of Tallahassee, flying the Confederate Flags, used during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1861-1865 and singing Bonnie Blue Flag.

"Have you seen that?" Asked David Ablett reaching the Lord Protector at the palace. "The southerners are rebelling."

"Nothing that our Army won't be able to deal within a matter of days. With little air force an no Navy where do they think they can go?"

"But the uprising might expand to nearby regions..."

"That's why I am using it to impose the military administration on all the Constituent Countries south of Mason-Dixon Line. And because I care about the rural workers of the region, we will finally enforce land reform, by confiscating the lands from the aristocracy and redistributing them among the workers."

"With all respect, Milord, I still fail to understand you." Said Ablett coming to sit on a chair in front of Lord Mercia.

"What is that you do not understand?"

"How comes that an aristocrat wants to destroy the monarchy and the aristocracy, preferring to ally with us?"

"Because, my friend, I believe that the monarchy has made its course and once it did, it started consuming our nation's energies, nearly killing it. As this happened, I decided to unite the most vital elements of our nation, those being the nationalists/revanchists and the syndicalists and with them overthrow the old system and design something completely new."

"A National-Syndicalist State?"

"If you want. A new Sparta, where there are no longer established elites, but each citizen starts from a same step to find his own place in a hierarchical state. All this in a society that celebrates the warrior ethic and lives in constant tension and mobilisation, having an internal healthy competition subjected to the greater good which translates in struggle for supremacy abroad. Do you like it?"

"Yes, yes, I think so." Replied Ablett with perplexity.

"Now Ablett, I hope you bring me some good news."

"I do, Sir. Reports from the MI5 inform that the Roman Empire is facing a situation of open war in Angola, Egypt and Sudan and Central Africa."

The Lord Protector laughed.

"That's amazing! Let them be consumed by war in the colonies. When we will strike at them, they won't stand a chance. Now please, take some Porto and let's cheer."

The Britannian noble served a glass of Porto to his guest.

"To the Nationalist Revolution!" He said.

"To the Revolution!" Replied Ablett.

In the meantime, while they were cheering, the news at the TV were showing the Governor of the Constituent Country of Texas stating his support to Florida and also proclaiming the secession...


8th of May, 2025

Rome, Imperial Duchy of Latium, HRE

"How was it?" Asked Giulio to Nina, while walking through the corridors of the Palace.

"How was what, Your Majesty?"

"Your press conference."

"Fine. I was nervous."

"You will get used."

"Good morning, Your Majesty." Said a blonde Britannian girl, bowing at the passage of the Emperor.

"Good morning, Milly." Replied Giulio. "Nina, this is Lady Emily Ashford, my personal biographer. Milly, this is Nina Berija, new Minister of the Workers."

"I have read your book." Said Nina while shaking Milly's hand.

"Oh, I hope you enjoyed it." Replied Milly.

"A fascinating reading, congratulations for the research."

"If you want you can keep talking, I will go to the Throne Hall, they are waiting for me there." Said Giulio leaving the two behind.

"Buenos dias, Vuestra Majestad!" Exclaimed Primo de Rivera bowing, right before the gates of the Throne Hall.

"Good morning, Chancellor."

"There's a Brit inside, wanting to see you."

"Be more specific, who is 'a Brit'?" Asked Giulio irritated.

"It's Sir Gino Weinberg."

"Then it's not just 'a Brit'! Is my best friend and you shall talk of him with more respect!"

Two cuirassiers opened the doors and the Master of Ceremony announced the Emperor and the Reichkanzler. Everybody stood up.

"Roma Victrix!" Echoed in the hall, while all the presents did the Roman salute.

Giulio went forwards and sat on his Throne.

"Your Majesty, Sir Gino Weinberg, former member of the Her Majesty's Loyalist Army wishes to address you." Informed the Master of Ceremony.

"Master of Ceremony, you will admit him to Our presence."

Gino Weinberg came forwards, bowing twice, as by protocol and stopping in front of the Throne, he was wearing his uniform of Knight of the Round, white with a dark green mantle.

"Your Majesty, as you know, yesterday the Constituent Countries of Florida and Texas rebelled against the rule of the usurpers who killed the Empress of my country. Today, it has been already announced that they have been joined in the secession by Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Louisiana and that other of the territories South of Mason-Dixon are preparing to join the rebellion. Because I am myself from Alabama and there still resides my family, but also because I see that with an imminent conflict with Britannia, this rebellion may turn to Rome's advantage, I would like to demand your permission to be sent there as Officer of Connection and observer, in order to assist them in this unequal fight."

Giulio considered his friend's word for a moment.

"Sir Gino Weinberg, you are Our friend since a long time ago and since We have met you, years ago now, in Pendragon, We knew We could always trust you and your loyalty. Were you a less competent soldier We would never allow you to go there, as We would know it would be certain death. However, considering your military competences, combined with your determination to defend your land and your family, determination against which no reason could hold, then We authorise your mission to the rebel States. If you are ready, you can depart for Havana already this evening and from there, you will be able to reach Key West, in Florida, in safety."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Replied Gino. "I am grateful for receiving your trust. You won't be disappointed."


10th of May, 2025

Rio de Janeiro, Neutral Municipality, Empire of Brazil

As she would do every afternoon, Carine ne Britannia was having her coffee in the gardens of the Sao Cristovao Palace, where she used to reside. With her was her friend, Viscountess Amélia de Albuquerque Lins of Rio Formoso, daughter of the Brazilian Prime Minister.

"You see Amélia, all my life I have treated Nunnally with contempt and only now I realise that I have lost a sister that never stopped caring about me, in spite of everything."

"I am sure that wherever she is, she knows you never wished her anything bad, Carine, but you cannot let the loss of a member of your family affect you so much. You are a married woman and an Empress, you need to look forwards."

"Yes, you're right, but it still hurts. You know, all my siblings with the exception of her, Schneizel and Cornelia died when Pendragon was bombed. So did my mom, while my father had died a bit before. Of them, only Nunnally sought to reconcile with me, although I was never fully committed to it, but now..."

"What about Schneizel and Cornelia, do you talk to them?"

"Not really, we never liked each other that much... But what could you expect in a family where we are all after killing each other out of some stupid darwinistic law!"

"Carine, come on! I can imagine but this must mean, but those times are over. You should at least try, especially in a moment like this. I am sure they won't reject you now."

Carine kept sipping her coffee. Then took a long breath and looked strait in Amelia's eyes.

"You know what I will do? I will destroy Lord Mercia and all his friends. I will burn his house and hang him in the public square, that will do."


11th of May, 2025

La Havana, Federated State of Cuba, Federation of the West Indies

Once Gino Weinberg had arrived in Cuba, reaching Key West turned out to be harder than he thought. As more Constituent Countries seceded from the Commonwealth, the Britannian Republican Navy had imposed a naval blockade on those rebelious territories, which was made more efficient by the implementation of it also by the Empire of New Spain. Now the HRE, which was supplying those States with guns and other equipment, had to rely submarine tankers, which would depart in those moments during which the coasts were not being patrolled.

"I wonder if Giulio will ever equip the southerners with some warships? Would make many things easier." Wondered Gino while looking at the port workers embarking the materials on the submarines.

"Knowing Giulio, he will likely give them some ships, but not enough to allow them to be autonomous, so he will be able to keep them checked, while however wasting more resources with his West Indies Fleet." Said a female voice behind him.

As Gino turned he recognised immediately Leila Breisgau, the renegade cousin of Giulio.

"You here? What are you doing?" He asked, displeased by the surprise.

"Oh, I was readmitted into the Armed Forces, but as a soldier and without any noble title."

"Which is more than fair." Replied Gino, harshly.

"Yes, I guess I deserved it."

"And now? Are going to join the southerners?"

"Oh no, I am being sent there as an instructor. The Southerners may be brave fighters, but are recruiting out of their peasantry."

"Fair enough, fair enough. What's your rank now?"

"Marshal, I've been promoted yesterday to be able to carry on the mission, I am going to Tennessee."

"I may end up there at some point, but for the time being I believe I will be in Tallahassee or New Orleans."

In that moment, the captain of the submarine, a mulatto with the uniform of the West Indies Commercial Navy, reached them.

"Buenos dias! We are departing."

The convoy, made up of ten cargo submarines departed soon after towards Key West. The Sun was rising on La Havana in a colourful tropical sunrise, revealing the beautiful Colonial Baroque architecture, mixed with the Art Nouveau and Art Deco grand hotels, cassinos and clubs on the seaside. The tranquillity of the city, mixed with its happiness and festivity, which justified the fame of the island as 'Rome's summer villa' would have made unimaginable the storm that would have soon reached it.