Author's Note: Hello, and welcome to the next chapter of the Poppy Field. This time, we see the Ottoman Empire joining the war- for various reasons that I will try to explore in this little episode. I also realised that I have not done a chapter from the Central Powers side for a while, the last three were from the Entente Powers/neutral perspective. Now, we introduce the Ottoman Empire into the war.
Thank you for reading!
~Anonymous Lily
P.S: I am sorry international_recluse, I did plan to have it published on the 18th, but I did not have enough time.

Chapter Six: On the Edge of Oblivion

Istanbul, Ottoman Empire, November 1914

Istanbul: the city that bridged two continents, full to the brim with life and movement, of footsteps pounding on ancient stone like a beating drum, gradually eroding the steps until they curved. This had been the centre of the world at one time, where for centuries, scholars from everywhere had come to study in the ancient libraries; Istanbul was the place where people had come to make their fortunes or to escape their past. It was now the heart of the Ottoman Empire, a testament to the strength and influence that the 'old man of Europe' had once had.

Today, on this chilly November morning, rows upon rows of young, fit men were signing up to join the army from all across the Ottoman Empire, especially in Istanbul.

It was here that Sadık Adnan was, sneaking through the streets quietly. Around him, citizens unknowingly moved out of his path, one of the lesser-known perks of his strange existence. The November wind whipped his scarf around, filling the streets with a shocking cold. Other parts of the empire were also meeting with esteemed leaders of their communities, most likely not faring any better in terms of the weather.

Hey, at least I wore my coat, he remarked to himself. On the other end of the street, eager recruits shivered in their light day clothing while they chatted to the soldiers who wearily wrote down names.

In front of him, a newspaper caller bellowed out the news. "Today, the Ottoman Empire declares war on the side of the Central Powers! Men all across the empire are required to join!"

"I know..." Sadık muttered to himself, slipping past the man carefully. Now, the street was widening as he neared the coast that ran between the two halves of himself.

It seemed almost like a dream, that Sadık would wake up in his bed to find that war was not declared- he was not sure whether it would be a relief or a shame.

He was tired, having barely slept the night before with having to read letters from various diplomats, other Nations and organisations. That, on top of the usual adrenaline rush of emotions that hit a Nation on the verge of war, was enough to make the youngest of them drop down from exhaustion.

Nevertheless, Sadık persisted. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Enver, one of the three Pashas leading the empire, leaning out from a building and looking out at something. He gestured to his bodyguards before retiring out of view.

"I wonder what they're talking about now." Sadık thought, checking for any other movements, "Already, ships were being sent to the Black Sea in order to defend it from Russia. Every place in the empire is being protected by the army. What do they need to do now?"

To him, the European Nations that he had watched from afar had become more warmongering, hungry for something to shatter their years of decorum and civility and feel the blood in their veins once more. In some ways, he wanted to join the fray and was drawn to the excitement and frenzy that seemed to drive them. Battles semed to spring up everywhere, on the Western Front, the Eastern Front, in the skies and in the ocean.

However, as his eyes scanned over the various mosques, churches, cafés and houses, he remembered all of the hard work that went into keeping peace. While he was busy conquering far off lands and stopping foreign invaders, his leaders were, for the most part, keeping order within the empire, allowing people of different religions to set up schools, places where they could gather.

""Would this prosperity end if we go to war?"Sadık wondered,Sometimes, I feel that the benevolent side of me is going away, being replaced by something else. It's ever since that revolution in 1908...

Suddenly, a small voice piped up, startling him. "I don't know, sir. But either way we need to fight."

Sadık frowned, looking down at a small child. She could not have been more than nine years old, and wore an oversized, sky-blue coat that was worn and tattered. Soft, leather shoes peeked from underneath. Her brown eyes stared up, innocent intent on her dark, thin face.

Like many places, there were often street orphans in major cities. Occasionally, he would play with them and told them stories to give them hope. He had gained the reputation of being the peson who knew everything and was not afraid to tell them the truth. However, this was the first time in a while that he had been approached by one alone.

"Where did you come from?" he asked, a little puzzled. The child gestured to the docks. Sadık nodded understandingly.

"I heard the newspaper man and the soldiers talking, they say that we need to defend ourselves from inside as well from people wanting to support Russia and France. Is that true?" The girl leaned against a nearby wall.

"Well... um..." Sadık chewed his lip in thought, recalling the various letters that spoke of threats to Ottoman stability from within the empire. He knew that it was gradually becoming more unstable from these reports, but to him, the threats seemed small and easy to deal with- he was the Ottoman Empire after all, an ancient civilization that had survived plagues, wars, the Romans and everything in-between.

Even if he was a bit rusty, he had the German Empire behind him, one of, if not the most powerful nation in Europe. With its bustling factories and professional soldiers, it was ideal. Sadık felt a rush of courage wash through his weary, cautious mind like water.

"Maybe, child," he replied, putting a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder, "But shouldn't we focus on the enemies outside the empire? They pose a bigger threat."

The girl nodded, giving a soft smile, "Yes, sir."

"Goodbye!"

Author's Note: There we go, another chapter! It gets quite difficult to choose what to cover, and I try and show as many perspectives as possible. That being said, the Ottoman Empire was surprisingly accepting of different religions for most of its history- though this does not mean that they did not supress them and the countries under its rule.
I say most, because after the Young Turk Revolution of 1908 the Turks became more nationalistic and began to think of themsleves as superior to others in the empire- this rhetoric was a very large factor in the Armenian Genocide that occurred during the war.

In other news, this is my first attempt to write Turkey. He is a very dynamic character with a lot of history but despite this I find him one of the more mysterious characters as not much is shown about his struggles or what he is thinking. This leaves a lot to interpretation.
~Anonymous Lily