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JMarks
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formerly known as the artist
Mar 2000
time: 05:17
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“What you fail to appreciate is that war has made the Augustinians great! It launched us ahead in technology and money and land! Do you think those cozy chairs you’re reclining in were not purchased with blood? Why are we the predominant culture? WAR! Why should we hold back our troops when we can dominate the world? The Augustinian flag could fly everywhere! We have the best army, and that shall make up for size any day!” And so ranted the minister of war Brundisarus.
Xinjana, the new minister of Culture replied calmly, “But we never sought those wars. Remember what happened to those that sought war for the sake of war? Do you not remember that each of them fell in their own turn? They coveted, and we beat them back, yes, we crushed them. But not for the sake of conquering, but for peace. First the Huns, then Japanese, and then the Shang. They invaded, and we took the war to them. But the peoples did not join us because of war. We took them by war but won them by culture.”
Otto, minister of finances replied, “yes, and this has made us what we are, wealthy and the envy of the world.” He reclined, sipping a pinocolada, “But if someone wants to declare war on us, I’m sure that our coffers will no-doubtably increase in size before the war is out.”
Brundisarus ceded. “Very well, we will not seek war. But the Order of the Elephants are impatient. The military, once roused, do not easily rest.
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The mountain city of Chendu, on the southern extreme of the Augustinian Democracy, was bustling with activity on a cold December day of 5685 AR (Augustinian Reckoning). The city was based on the gold trade, and everyone was rich. But work was still required. The new truckload of gold and other minerals pulled into the dock. Ah Chou directed the unloading.
“Yes, that’s right, over there. Wong! What are you doing?”
“What I usually do, I need to feed the family somehow.”
“That’s crap and you know it. You have enough money to feed the Imperial army for ten years. What I mean is that’s way too much to take home. Policy is to only take 30%. That’s divided between miners, truckers, handlers, and sellers. Now, everyone can only take so much out of each load before some government official gets suspicious. Take only half of what you’ve got there and you’re still filthy rich, like the rest of us.”
“Sure thing boss”
----
After work, Wong traveled home, just to the south of the city, in his autorider, a new fangled idea for transportation. Almost everyone in Chendu owned one. Some of the more enterprising citizens were tinkering with ideas to make them better and faster, but he was content with his monster. He pulled into his drive and got out. There he had a magnificent view of the plains to the south. He could see New Hoblane, an newly independent state under Egyptian protection. He felt sorry for the people down there. They’ve been living under the umbrella of war for so long. Good thing it was all over now.
He heard a whinny from behind his house in the old stable. He hurried inside where he met a cavalry officer, or so he assumed by the elephant badge on his tall hat. “Why are you in my house?”
“I’m sorry, but the government has decided that this is the perfect place for a forward base, you and you’re family will have to relocate. And I would recommend further north in the Chendu Range.”
“Why, we aren’t at war, are we?”
“You ask too many questions. Besides, you’re wealthy enough.” He looked around the highly ornate room. “How much does a dock worker get paid?”
“That’s not of you’re business.”
“Then I suggest you pack your bags by next week. That is all.” And the captain left.
----
Captain Rocko looked confused. “Set up base in Chendu? We already have a guard there and there is no-one but some independent states and our allies, the Babylonians, there.”
The general glared back, “You have your orders, move two divisions of infantry, three brigades of cavalry, and the three wings of aircraft under your control to Chendu, and prepare them. You are on a need to know basis, and when you need to know why, I’ll let you know why.”
“Yes sir”
Captian Rocko left the Brundisarus’ office in Olympus City. The office was in a newly renovated building attached to the old barracks in the old city where it was said that the first war elephants were trained, and their riders first joined the fighting monk order, unimaginatively called the Elephants. Only the most valiant could be an Elephant, though they no longer fought on those beasts. No, now they rode horses and where the remnants of the feudal lords called upon to defend Augustinia from attack more than a thousand years ago. Rumors had it that some of the pilots were being admitted into the order, but no infantryman need apply.
Old Olympus rose on the lone mountain over the new city. The city spread for miles over an extensive plain, the suburbs even further, and they overlapped with the suburbs of the other great cities of the Augustinian homeland. But Olympus was the largest, boasting a population of over five and half million people, by far the largest city in the world. Ancient temples and new churches dwelt side by side, giant stadiums to appease the masses dotted the landscape. Often frequenting the new fangled malls were the wild university students. But behind it all was the governing hand of the Provost. The Provost was a magical title given to the president of the nation. But the title was used before, millennia ago when the Augustinians first settled on the sea.
The city was way too big. “Its time to leave this place.” Rocko said to himself. “Besides, I always wanted to live in the hills.”
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05-01-2002 23:28
This is at monarch level, huge continental map, 16 players. Please read the story, tell me if you like (or even if you think it absolutely sucks). If enough positive response comes in, I may finish the story. 
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