14th of May, 2025

Jakarta, People's Federation of Indonesia

The Conference Hall of the Jakarta Hyatt Grand Hotel was full of journalists, diplomats and statesmen from the member States of the Community of the Free World. The air was impregnated with the smoke of the cigars and cigarettes and people was talking loudly. On one corner, David Ablett, President of the Commonwealth Constituent Assembly and Secretary General of the Britannian National Front, the movement that had now merged the IRP and the Syndicalist Movement, was discussing with Don Esteban Hernandez-Yturbe, Prime Minister of the Empire of New Spain, the proposals to be brought to the council. On another, President Rosas, of the Federation of Rio de la Plata and Chile, was discussing with his colleagues from Grand Colombia and Peru the idea of striking at Brazil. Kallen was getting ready to the event, convening with CC.

"In the end Giulio got what he wanted." She said. "He is getting us to begin the war, so he can keep his name clean."

"Typical of him." Observed CC.

"I cannot blame him. Some people here wanted this war at all costs... I don't need to tell you who."

"Oh yes, the Guardians of Hel. Trust me, they are much worse than him and his Roman Empire."

"Still, at this point I need to stand by my allies. Even because the Japanese will never forgive my rebellion."

"I know. I want to help you surviving all this, you deserve it."

"Thank you, CC."

The assembly was then called to order with closed doors by the chairman, an Argentinian judge named Miguel Echevarria.

After the opening of the debate, the first to talk was David Ablett, representing Britannia.

"Representatives of the allied countries,

During the past weeks the Emperor Julius I of the Romans has showed all of his Empire's warmongering intentions, first by attempting a coward attack on our country with mercenaries and then by promoting the secession of some of our provinces, where he could leverage on landed elites whose power was about to be liquidated, in order to begin a civil war." The man made a pause. "While by this point our Home Islands have been completely secured, the HRE keeps supplying the southern rebels through its Caribbean protectorate: the Federation of the West Indies, an oppressive dictatorial regime where all the power lies concentrated in the hands of a tiny elite of European and Britannian landowners. For this reason, it is believed in Britannia that as a retaliation to the Roman aggression, we should strike at the Federation as it clearly violates international law and perpetrates a regime of injustice against its own citizens. This, we believe will send a clear signal to Rome, that the Free World has no intention of tolerating any longer its prevarications."

After him, it was the representative of Grand Colombia to talk, objecting that to strike at the Federation would have also meant to strike at Rome's Caribbean Fleet and begin a war against Rome. This argument was then countered by the representatives of New Spain, who instead announced his country's committment to a similar operation. After that, the representative of Rio de la Plata and Chile also proposed to have more than one operation, with Rio de la Plata and Peru striking at Brazil. Finally, the Rajah of India and General Zu Enlai, representing China, suggested that India, China and Indonesia should also strike at Singapore cutting the supply lines between Rome and Japan.

"At this point, the Chair would like to hear the position of Indonesia, which hasn't yet been hear here." Stated Echevarria.

Kallen shook her head and took a long breath and stood up.

"Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my belief that whatever path you may choose, it will lead to total war with Rome. If we impose an economic blockade, as proposed by the delegates of Grand Colombia, admitting that it would be feasible, Rome will certainly react militarily. If we strike at the West Indies alone, which are a Roman colonial protectorate, they would also have to react. If we strike at the West Indies and Brazil, then it will be even worse, as it will involve the whole Deplhos Alliance. If we strike at the West Indies, Singapore and Brazil then we will have a total war. At this point you would do better by deciding to at once declare war to Rome and all its allies.

As far as the People of Indonesia is concerned, it is not in its interest to go to war, neither with Rome, nor with anyone else. However, we could not possibly forget that the ambition of Emperor Julius has brought him to attempt an indirect attack on Britannia, that he is smuggling weapons into rebel territories, that his forces are slaughtering hundreds of thousands of innocents in Africa, that one of his main allies, Japan, is now a totalitarian regime, led by a group of fanatics that betrayed the values of the Black Rebellion, values that we still uphold and that the other ally, Brazil, has illegally invaded an international territory with the blessings og Rome.

I could go forwards mentioning one by one the many injustices that the Empire has committed in the name of an abstract and irrational idea of Pax Romana, but this is not the case. It is the case to say that Indonesia is ready to stand by its allies and fight for a world in which all the peoples would be free to rule their own land according with their own will and in which it won't be a megalomaniac sitting in Rome who will determine it."

Her speech was received by applaused and cheers, while she sat again. She had no other choice, she knew it, and this feeling of impotence before history was something that was truly upsetting her. In the meantime, Echevarria motioned to enter the voting procedure...


Montgomery, State of Alabama

While in Indonesia the Community of the Free World had convened to adress the retaliations against Rome, in Montgomery, Alabama, a Congress of the Independent States had convened to decide on their future organisation. These Were: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Indian State (formerly Indian Territory), Tennessee and Kentucky.

Gino Weinberg had reached Montgomery on the 12th, but was not allowed to partake to the main negotiations which took place on the previous day, as the local authorities first wanted to make sure of his mandate by the Roman Emperor. On the following day however, he participated already in the morning, when the Treaty of Confederacy was presented. This was a provisional document that, like the one released in 1861 and then in 2020, established that the CSA would be organised as a republican confederacy, with an interim President to be elected by the Congress. There was however also said that following the stabilisation and consolidation of the State, a monarchy would have to be established, following the Jacobite Succession.

Gino left the Congress House to go for lunch at a nearby pub, where he hoped to meet with other leaders, including Lord Francis Alstreim and Lord Jeremiah Gottwald.

In the pub, there was a cheerful atmosphere, as all across the secessionist States the perspective of reviving the Confederacy was rising great hopes. On a corner, a group of Alabama Defence Force officers was singing an old song from the Britannian Civil War of 1642-1651.

"Here's a health unto His Majesty
With a fa la la la la la la
Confusion to his enemies
With a fa la la la la la la
And he who does not drink his health
I wish him neither wit nor wealth
Nor yet a rope to hang himself
With a fa la la la la la la"

Gino did not have to look around for long, until noticing Gottwald signaling to him with his hand.

"Good to see you, Orange." Said Gino reaching him and greeting Jeremiah with a hug.

"Nice to see you, Gino, allow me to introduce you to Lord Francis Alstreim."

"Milord." Said Gino shaking his hand.

"My daughter talked a lot of you." Replied the gentleman standing up and greeting Gino. Lord Alstreim was a pale tall gentleman, with grey hairs and a duelling scar that crossed his face from the left to the right side.

"We are friends since a long time ago, as we both served in the Knights of the Round under the reign of Charles III."

"I know, I know. Please, have a seat."

As they sat, a waitress came and asked if they wanted to order. As they did, they quickly moved to discuss politics.

"Gentlemen, as I assume you know, I have been sent by Giulio and Anya to ensure the success of the new Confederacy."

"Other than the alliance with Rome. My daughter told me about it."

"Not that we have many choices, other than joining Rome." Observed Gottwald.

"In any case there not many objections to it. Only the Texans are a bit more leaning towards the Republic, yet still, the Deep South, the Cherokee, the Choctaw and Virginia are staunchly monarchists."

"Very well, then what about the positions within the new State? I assume today you will also be voting for the President."

In the meantime the waitress came, bringing their beers and sandwiches.

'In a different context I would ask for her number.' Thought Gino looking at her coming and going.

"I am not running for the Presidency." Stated Jeremiah. "I will take over the Army."

"I will go for the presidency instead." Announced Lord Alstreim. "Although I am not fully sure they will vote for me, since I am a northerner, but let's hope so. The alternative to me would be Davis."

"Davis, the Baronet Peter Davis descended from Jefferson?"

"Yes, him." Replied Alstreim

"That will be interesting." Observed Gino. "If you win, we'll have the father President of the CSA and the daughter Empress Consort of Rome."

"Well, gentlemen." Intervened Gottwald raising his turnip. "To the Confederacy."

"To the Confederacy!" Cheered Gino and Francis Alstreim.

One hour later, they were back in the Congress partaking to the closed-doors debates concerning the future of the South. In spite of the Constitution being largely already drafted, there were still some debates, mainly concerning the extension of the right to vote to the lower classes. Most of the presents regarded it as an absurdity, yet some representatives from Arkansas made the point that unless it would be done, it would have become harder to mobilise all the population. In the end it was decided that while the election of the President and of the Senate would have remained reserved to the landed nobility, the election of the House of Representatives, however, would have been opened to all the white and native american citizens (the Southern elites considered this even too much already). The other element of debate was the creation of the Confederate Armed Forces, by merging the State Defence Forces and those defecting units of the Commonwealth Armed Forces. This was an issue raised mainly by the representatives of Texas, who were jealous of their own independence and would have preferred to have independent armies with a unified command. Here was only the intervention of Gino, who made clear that the directives from Rome were for a united army that brought the Texans to cede. Finally, the session was ajourned at 19:00h and the Declaration of Confederation was published right after, bringing to large celebrations all across the Old Dixieland.

As soon as the meeting ended, Gino left the place. He was tired, felt a headache and needed to walk. He never liked parliamentary meetings, as he found them pointless and time-consuming. Outside, the sun was setting and there was a chill breeze. Standing in front of the Alabama Capitol, he looked at some people in the street flying the Confederate Battle Flag and singing Bonnie Blue Flag.

"Here we go, dear friend." Said Jeremiah Gottwald reaching him and putting a hand on his shoulder. "Let the Third Civil War begin. May God help us."

"May God save the South." Replied Gino.


15th of May, 2025

Rome, Imperial Duchy of Latium, HRE

The court was all gathered in the Throne Hall of the Quirinale, in the Eternal City. On one extremity of the room, sitting on their thrones, were Giulio and Anya, wearing their crowns and ceremonial attires. Next to them, on the right was the Empress Dowager Charlotte and on the left the Crown Princess Lucrezia, Duchess of Constantinople (Giulio had modified the Salic Law to allow female succession in case of the absence of male heirs). In front of them, in the first rows, were all the members of the H.M. Loyal Government, the commanders of the four corps of the Imperial Guard (Swiss Guard, Praetorian Guard, Roman Noble Guard and Iron Guard), the Grand Masters of the Four Imperial Military Orders (Saint Michael, Saint Raphael, Malta and the Teutonic Order), the President of the Senate, the President of the House of Corporations and the commanders-in-chief of the Imperial Armed Forces. Behind them were the Kings of the HRE: the Kings of Bohemia-Austria, Hungary, Galicia-Lodomeria, Poland, Bavaria, Sardinia-Piedmont, Spain, Portugal, Aquitaine, France, Naples and Sicily, Prussia, Wurttemberg, Hannover, Belgium, Netherlands, Serbia, Georgia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and the Russian Tsardom. Behind them, were the representatives of the nobility sitting in the Imperial Senate, from Princes (highest nobility rank) to Knights (lowest rank). Finally, in the last rows were the special guests and the journalists, each of them identifiable either by the uniform of their office or the one indicating their noble rank, while the members of the third estate wore formal civilian attires.

Sitting at the throne, Giulio was giving his solemn announcement.

"... Given the trend that has been established in international affairs, given the rise of tensions and the abandonment of dialogue between nations, given, finally, the need to cautiously address the threats to the world order sent by some dissatisfied members, We as the Emperor, have decided to suspend the traditional transference of the capital to Saint Petersburg for the Summer months. Furthermore, from this day onwards, the Council of Ministers shall examine strategies to gradually prepare the country for the possibility of an armed conflict, while We and our Diplomacy shall devote all of our efforts to de-escalation and pacification.

May the Gods help us!

May the Gods defend the Roman Empire!"

While launching one last appeal to pacification, Giulio knew already that this would be in vain. The battle drum was already rumbling in the horizon and the enemies of Rome had already assembled their forces to end once forever an ambitious project of a few ambitious men and women who dared to think of themselves as the legitimate heirs of Caesar.


16th of May, 2025

Singapore, Imperial Colony of the Strait Settlements

Patrician Cesare Maria Foscari, Governor-General of the Colony of the Strait Settlements woke up on the morning of the 16th of May expecting to begin a day like any other. He knew of the growing of tensions in the world, yet in Villa Singapore, the neoclassical residence that hosted the Governor of the colony, life was still proceeding as always. At breakfast, while hearing his wife talking of the organisation of the next pic nic in the gardens, with the members of Singapore's colonial elite, his mind was all for the updates that he had received on the previous day by the local military command, concerning the moves by the Indonesians just across the strait.

Their breakfast was interrupted by the arrival of the butler.

"Milord." Said the man, calling the Governor.

"Yes, Mr. Weiss?"

"There is a call for you, it's the Emperor."

The Governor was left surprised by the unexpected call and rushed to his office to attend the phone.

"Your Majesty?"

"I am sorry to disturb you, Lord Foscari, but I need you to declare the martial law in all the colony, with immediate effect."

"This is serious decision, Your Majesty, what's happening?" Asked the Governor.

"There have been some moves by those countries styling themselves as Free World that are making me fear that soon we will be at war. Remember that Singapore is crucial to secure the supply lines between Europe and Eastern Asia and it is a strategic imperative that it holds."

"We will do our best, your Majesty."

"You must. I have already dispatched a carrier group, the 10th Greek Light Infantry Division and the 12th Imperial Hungarian Hussars.

"Very well, I will then call for a meeting of the Military Council this afternoon to prepare a defensive strategy."

"Perfect. You will still be able to count of the Malayan Royal Armed Forces, so I believe you shouldn't have too many problems. Just make sure you keep the Strait navigable."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Best of luck, Foscari."