Empire of Anvegad
Palace of the Sovereigns
"The die is cast." Chairman Volkov said wistfully, chewing on the first cigar he had in years in an unconscious response to the weight of events to come. The aged ruler of Anvegad, "only" a Chairman in deference to the broken heritage of Sovereigns that once ruled the Empire in ancient times, now an Empire of industry and military might. Traits that would now be truly tested in the days to come. "May we hope this crisis will come to a swift and decisive conclusion." He said before turning to the assembled room of Generals, Ministers, and leaders of state who bore witness to his reading of Survaek's declaration as per negotiations held behind closed doors some months prior.
"With respect Chairman, even if they do capitulate, we're going to have one hell of a long-term crisis on our hands." Interjected General Markham, veteran of the Soroyan colonial conflict, who stood alonside the other assembled generals and ministers of the Empire in the Chairman's Office. After a moment, the Chairman gestured for him to continue, silencing the other older generals in the room. "There has never, ever been an instance in world history where an entire nation willingly turns over their whole territory to another. Not even Survaek's little stunt in the colonies was entirely clean transition of power, and that was just a colony. Even if, say, Murenheldt does supposedly turn over it's entire state, we're going to have one hell of a time occupying and garrisoning it, let alone holding it and transitioning it to our centralized rule with or without the Sociatatem states fueling rebellion. We will have conflict on our hands sir, and it will not be a short or decisive or winnable by the Valkyrian Ascent." (December)
"I must agree with Markham, if for different reasons." Added another voice, that of General Paragonsky. "I don't think we can count on the Sociatatem to act rationally or sanely at all on this matter. I would be a nice surprise, but we can't rely on moral factors to influence their thinking alone. Regardless of our rightful claims, they are getting desperate. The cracks in their alliance are visible and they can't reign in their worst actors or hide their dissent. They NEED a common enemy to cover up their disputes and lack of unity to their own people, let alone to restore their international reputation."
"And we're right in the firing line." Muttered someone in the back. Likely an aide or flag lieutenant. Noone begrudged the unknown speaker, it was at the forefront of everyone's mind. And too likely to be true to ignore.
The Chairman tapped his foot and took a deep breath of tobacco. "We're not at war yet, and there may be a chance the Sociatatem states see reason. But as the Lord Sovereign Roland once said: 'Honor to the bold, victory to the prepared'. We ignored his words once, and our men starved on the Soroyan front for it. We shall not do so again. I'm ordering Stage Two mobilization and instating the Roland War Production Doctrine as previously discussed. If we must go to war over our rightful claims then we shall go to war in earnest. And what better way to test the limits of my new railroad system?"
"Yes sir!" Cried out a dozen voices in unison. And less than two days later a list of orders was sent to the Signals Corps as the generals began hammering out the execution and distribution of supplies and material to enable the movement of troops thereafter.
Anvehold Central Military Command
Military Central Dispatch Office (SigCorps Command)
"All eyes up here." Ordered Lieutenant General Kislev of the Anvegad Signals Corps as he marched into the central dispatch office of Anvegad High Command. Newly built alongside the railroad telegraph/telephone system, the office complex of hundreds of clerks and typists armed with typewriters, telephones, and connection to the empire-spanning network of rails and wires would now be the centerpiece of the coming storm.
"As of 1400 hours today, High Command has declared we are to proceed to Alert State Two. All railroads are ordered to switch to the military operations timetable within three days starting now as per the Roland Doctrine. All cargo rolling stock and incoming passenger traffic not leaving Anvehold within the end of the day are to be placed on hold for military use. National coal reserves are to be distributed to all fueling stations in preparation for around the clock transit of troops and material, starting with overstocking of our primary heavy-gauge strategic lines to the west and north. Priority order: ammunition and food first. Following distribution orders to follow shortly on manpower allocation. Section heads on me."
The General marched down the corridor whilst a veritable horde of messengers, runners, and signals officers accumulated around him as he continued to relay orders from High Command both from paper and memory of contingency planning done long ago. "Section Two: ring up all border units on Deltoran front and have them begin surveys and recon of their respective sectors and begin fortification drills with the expectation of relief units. Section Three: Begin recall of all troops on stand down, and distribute these orders from High Command on wargames- no, not those, these dossiers- and get our troops warmed up until railroad timetables are set. Section Three: Contact all factories, alert them to begin increasing production to wartime status and that armed inspectors will be on station within the week to make sure they are up to national standards. Section Four: Alert agricultural combines that we will place all stocks of preserved foodstuffs in the central territories under military seal. Anti-hoarding measures are in effect immediately until we have a firm central registry of strategic provisions. Businesses are to be encouraged to cooperate to hasten the review by any means necessary, and I do mean bribes are authorized if need be. They may have their wartime cut, but we will make sure our men march with enough beans, bullets, bandages, and boots. Am I clear? Good. See to it man. Next, Section Five:-"
The litany of orders continued as more runners came from High Command with updates and annexes and supplementary details and orders; relayed through lines of electricity that spanned the nation as it prepared to lay the foundations of war so it's soldiers could be prepared for the days to come. Rolling stock for troop and supply trains was accumulated, provisions began stockpiling atop stockpiles, and troops were called to staging points in preparation for the first large-scale mobilization by rail in world history.
Whether war would come from afar or at home, Anvegad would be ready.
Summary:
Anvegad begins laying logistical foundations for large-scale troop mobilization and movement in event of war. Also testing effectiveness of railroads and tele-signals in troop and logistical mobilization.
