OOC: Romans, Brits, and Imperial America, Oh my! Is my 2nd time line, yet its actually going to be in story form. PODS and back story will open themselves up in the next installments...
June 2, 1922 3:14 AM (Eastern Time)
Somewhere over the British Army Base, Mosul, British Persia.
“3…2…1… Go.” Silvio commanded.
Artur flicked the switch on the board, and breathed a sigh of relief. The explosion, only milliseconds later, rocked the Zeppelin and threw Artur from his seat. A plume of fire soared up from the base and the faint sound of a siren was apparent in the ship.
Within seconds a coinciding dozen other similar Zeppelins dropped the same cargo upon the British base. Operation Chucker was a go.
June 2, 1922 3:19 AM (Eastern Time)
2nd Armored Cavalry Division, Near Tabuk, British Arabia.
General Achilles Cristiana peered through his binoculars into the hot endless desert. Just 42 miles from where they stood was the British city of Tabuk, a major oil refinery and outpost. Just five minutes ago Roman Airships had created a divergence to the North. General Cristiana was to plunge his tank division into the Arabian Desert towards Riyadh and secure it for the Roman Empire. The British were probably unbeknownst to the fact that there country was under attack. He had just minutes to get to the city before the whole area was alerted.
The 43rd infantry were to cut off reinforcements coming from Duba, and Achilles hoped they would. He knew that his troops were undersupplied and outnumbered but he had confidence in them, and they had the advantage of surprise, for the time being. Achilles knew he had a fighters heart, and he had been named as such. A flood of nationalism swept through him and ,with a deep breath, he plunged into the heart of the enemy.
June 2, 1922 3:45 AM (Eastern Time)
London, England.
Prime Minister David Lloyd George was awoken with a stir in the midst of the night.
“Sir, we have a situation.” His advisor, Mason Andrews whispered, with a sense of urgency.
“Well…what the hell is it?” George was easily made cranky.
“Sir…I’m afraid the colonies of her Empire have been attacked.”
George spat out his coffee that Andrews handed him. “What?”
“We’re getting reports that both bases in Persia and Arabia have been attacked… We believe it was the Roman’s sir.”
“So…its war?”
“Yes sir, I believe it is.”
June 2, 1922 11:30 AM (Eastern Time)
National Governance Office of the United States, Presidential Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“Mr. President, I suggest you take one of the two options.” General Defense Secretary Terry O’Connor pointed out, “ I wish I could put this in lighter terms… but, to be honest Mr. President the fate of the world may very well hold on this decision.”
President Roosevelt sighed. He looked from the two folders. Folder A, with “Operation Divergence” written on the front , a folder five or so inches thick, held a 103 page hand written memo on the repercussions of entering the Great War on the side of the Unitarian Alliance.
Folder B, twice as thick, was titled “Operation Forty”. Written personally by Defense Secretary O’Connor, it dived into the ramifications of war on the side of the Anglo-Danish Alliance.
“And…you wrote these overnight Terry?” Theodore questioned.
“Yes, Mr. President. I feel immediate action on the subject is of the upmost importance.”
Roosevelt chuckled “Then when do you except me to read them.”
Mr. O’Connor said nothing. As strong as the President was, he had trouble remaining serious at times.
“And we cannot stay neutral?” Roosevelt returned to his Presidential demeanor.
“No sir… I believe that if we were to stay neutral, we would be drawn into the war in the near future. The Panama Canal might soon be the only British sea route to the Pacific. I believe that if it comes to that the SPQR will not hesitate to blockade the Canal. ”
“What was the reason for this attack Terry?
“I’m not siding with the British. It wasn’t but 12 years ago we were fighting them in Canada. This also may be a good chance for us to retake Alaska. Britain is still very dangerous and although relations with Rome are still…touchy at best I do believe there our best option. If war is to be inevitable…”
“Sir, then I suggest you call upon an emergency joint session in Congress to discuss going into the war on the side of the SPQR and declaring war on Britain.”
“I trust you Terry. Can you tell me with a straight face that I, as President of the United States, am making the best decision for my country by declaring war on a foreign nation?”
“Yes sir…I can.”
June 2, 1922 3:14 AM (Eastern Time)
Somewhere over the British Army Base, Mosul, British Persia.
“3…2…1… Go.” Silvio commanded.
Artur flicked the switch on the board, and breathed a sigh of relief. The explosion, only milliseconds later, rocked the Zeppelin and threw Artur from his seat. A plume of fire soared up from the base and the faint sound of a siren was apparent in the ship.
Within seconds a coinciding dozen other similar Zeppelins dropped the same cargo upon the British base. Operation Chucker was a go.
June 2, 1922 3:19 AM (Eastern Time)
2nd Armored Cavalry Division, Near Tabuk, British Arabia.
General Achilles Cristiana peered through his binoculars into the hot endless desert. Just 42 miles from where they stood was the British city of Tabuk, a major oil refinery and outpost. Just five minutes ago Roman Airships had created a divergence to the North. General Cristiana was to plunge his tank division into the Arabian Desert towards Riyadh and secure it for the Roman Empire. The British were probably unbeknownst to the fact that there country was under attack. He had just minutes to get to the city before the whole area was alerted.
The 43rd infantry were to cut off reinforcements coming from Duba, and Achilles hoped they would. He knew that his troops were undersupplied and outnumbered but he had confidence in them, and they had the advantage of surprise, for the time being. Achilles knew he had a fighters heart, and he had been named as such. A flood of nationalism swept through him and ,with a deep breath, he plunged into the heart of the enemy.
June 2, 1922 3:45 AM (Eastern Time)
London, England.
Prime Minister David Lloyd George was awoken with a stir in the midst of the night.
“Sir, we have a situation.” His advisor, Mason Andrews whispered, with a sense of urgency.
“Well…what the hell is it?” George was easily made cranky.
“Sir…I’m afraid the colonies of her Empire have been attacked.”
George spat out his coffee that Andrews handed him. “What?”
“We’re getting reports that both bases in Persia and Arabia have been attacked… We believe it was the Roman’s sir.”
“So…its war?”
“Yes sir, I believe it is.”
June 2, 1922 11:30 AM (Eastern Time)
National Governance Office of the United States, Presidential Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“Mr. President, I suggest you take one of the two options.” General Defense Secretary Terry O’Connor pointed out, “ I wish I could put this in lighter terms… but, to be honest Mr. President the fate of the world may very well hold on this decision.”
President Roosevelt sighed. He looked from the two folders. Folder A, with “Operation Divergence” written on the front , a folder five or so inches thick, held a 103 page hand written memo on the repercussions of entering the Great War on the side of the Unitarian Alliance.
Folder B, twice as thick, was titled “Operation Forty”. Written personally by Defense Secretary O’Connor, it dived into the ramifications of war on the side of the Anglo-Danish Alliance.
“And…you wrote these overnight Terry?” Theodore questioned.
“Yes, Mr. President. I feel immediate action on the subject is of the upmost importance.”
Roosevelt chuckled “Then when do you except me to read them.”
Mr. O’Connor said nothing. As strong as the President was, he had trouble remaining serious at times.
“And we cannot stay neutral?” Roosevelt returned to his Presidential demeanor.
“No sir… I believe that if we were to stay neutral, we would be drawn into the war in the near future. The Panama Canal might soon be the only British sea route to the Pacific. I believe that if it comes to that the SPQR will not hesitate to blockade the Canal. ”
“What was the reason for this attack Terry?
“I’m not siding with the British. It wasn’t but 12 years ago we were fighting them in Canada. This also may be a good chance for us to retake Alaska. Britain is still very dangerous and although relations with Rome are still…touchy at best I do believe there our best option. If war is to be inevitable…”
“Sir, then I suggest you call upon an emergency joint session in Congress to discuss going into the war on the side of the SPQR and declaring war on Britain.”
“I trust you Terry. Can you tell me with a straight face that I, as President of the United States, am making the best decision for my country by declaring war on a foreign nation?”
“Yes sir…I can.”