PART SIXTY: Deal With It (May 29, 1862 – September 11, 1865)

To: G. Spyromilios (Army)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

We just wanted to unify Italy and look what happens. Am v. annoyed by this course of events.

We’ve mobilized, obviously. I’m putting you in charge of the capaign, Spyromilios. You’ve beat China before so clearly you’re invincible, right?

If you lose, you’re fired.

I know things might look a tad grim, but buck up! The Japanese Republic has refused to aid China in extinguishing the torch of liberty∂ in the Near West!

To: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)
From: D. Venizelos (Navy)

We have triumphed over the mighty French Armada! Our ex-allies in Germany will likely keep the French ground forces busy for some time— I suggest that G. Spyromilios and my other colleagues in the Army concentrate their forces in the east.

To: General Staff
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

It’s election season! Dead soldiers = lost votes = those Julian-Junonian namby-pambies winning the election. Careful out there, boys and girls. Make us proud back in Constantinople!

Lithuania requested our aid against Russia. Seeing as not one month ago they joined the rest of our putative “allies” in letting us twist in the wind against China, I have told them to sod off already.

To: Press Office (Golden Horn)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

I’ve heard a lot of complaining that we’ve alienated all our allies and are left fighting the Macau Pact all alone. Rubbish! Sure, we’ve been abandoned by Great Britain, the Holy Roman Empire, Lithuania, Austria, Hindustan, Lithuania and Lai Ang, but we know who our real friends are— the noble republics of Iran and Azerbaijan, our partners in the cause of democracy, liberty, and the Byzantine way. I’ll note, too, that while Russia and Da Qin were present in Macau, they have declined to participate in this war. So really, the odds are just about even! Three to three. And we have grit.

To: D. Venizelos (Navy)
From: G. Spyromilios (Army)
France is hardly in fighting shape— much of the country is overrun by rival bands of Jacobins and absolutist rebels, but since their war with the Holy Roman Empire has ended, I suggest we commit at least a portion of our forces to the west.

To: Press Office (Golden Horn)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

The Press keeps on whining about a “budget crisis”. Look, fighting for liberty doesn’t come cheap! Anyway, we’re going to just raise taxes and tariffs until the budget’s in the green again, so it’s all a non-issue.

To: G. Spyromilios (Army)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)
Hey, good news! Since we’re already at war with France, they can’t protect New Bulgaria! Am v. pleased at this development. Please occupy Sofia on your way to defend the Caucasus.

To: G. Spyromilios (Army)
From: C. Smolenskis (Army)
We have engaged the enemy. General Wu Zhulin is in full retreat.

To: G. Spyromilios (Army)
From: O. Peneid (Army)
All’s quiet on the western front. France still falling apart, internally and externally. Élisabeth and the nobility are locked in a death-struggle for power while Lai Ang overruns the undefended western frontiers.

To: G. Spyromilios (Army)
From: O. Peneid (Army)
Never mind.

To: Press Office (Golden Horn)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)
Perfidious Albion! After all we’ve done for them, this is how they repay us? Assure the public that the Thames will be red with Habsburg blood by Christmas!

Later: Have been reminded that the capital of Great Britain is Edinburgh. As if it’s beyond our capabilities to bring the Habsburgs down to London and then hiratine them!

Speaking of hiratining— have heard some v. concerning rumours of Jacobin rebels under Andronikos Helladid &c. disrupting our operations from behind the lines. Constantinople is becoming mad with fear & other such unpleasantries. The risk of public disorder is becoming of some concern— so let’s announce that we’re going to authorize the Department of Public Safety to maintain good order in the capital.

To: G. Spyromilios (Army)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

Have heard you’ve gotten a bit pessimistic about our chances. But look at what a great victory we’ve won already! Our great work’s already half-done!

To: Majority Leader M. Çetinkaya (National Assembly)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

The Junonians won votes in the double-digits! What in God’s name went wrong? We need to get on top of this, pronto.

To: Department of Foreign Affairs (Golden Horn)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

Please convey my deep appreciation to the Iranian ambassador for the sacrifices made by his countrymen and women. With friends like these, who needs Hindustan, anyway?

To: G. Spyromilios (Army)
From: O. Peneid (Army)
British here in force. Habsburg and French troops fighting side-by-side! Initial defensive lines have become indefensible— please send updated orders.

France alone isn’t likely to put up much of a fight— as one war ends, another begins—

—but they’ve permitted the British to use land troops across the Channel and send them to the Alpine front on French railways.

To: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)
From: D. Venizelos (Navy)

We’ve designed the advanced naval facilities necessary to construct modern ironclad vessels! Perhaps one day we will have the funds necessary to build such facilities or vessels.

I accept the War Department’s decision to focus on more immediately applicable research, of course.

To: O Peneid (Army)
From: G. Spyromilios (Army)

Northern Italy is lost, for now. I am ordering you to form two new defensive lines— one at Modena, and one at Gorizia. This will keep the British contained whilst we try to hold the Caucasus against the Chinese.

Some forces have been detached to counter the Hungarians, but as their initial advance has already been foiled, we expect this theater to of minor importance compared to Italy and the Caucasus.

I will remain in charge of the Caucasian theater. With Armenia denying military access, there are two narrow routes the Chinese are able to advance through— through occupied Iran and Azerbaijan in the south, and through the Caucasus proper in the north.

Thus far, Byzantine forces have successfully maintained control over this area.

To: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)
From: G. Spyromilios (Army)

Unfortunate news, Mr. President.

While Da Qin opted out of the Macau Pact proper, they have now elected to allow Chinese troops to pass through their territory. We have been flanked, and the Caucasus front is collapsing. I urgently request your permission to withdraw to a more defensible position.

To: G. Spyromilios (Army)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

Do whatever you think is necessary, friend! You’re the general, after all. And we need to keep our forces safe, because as soon as we’re done showing Empress Zhu Chunmei what-for, we’ll need them in Ferrara!

To: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)
From: K. Katsimiros (Army)

General Spyromilios is dead.

I have taken charge of the eastern front— somebody had to. I am a loyal citizen of Byzantium, and would never think to overstep my area of responsibility.

I am forming two defensive lines to hold the balance of Anatolia— a frontline directly along our border with Da Qin and occupied Trebizond, and a support line ready to reinforce any gaps in the frontline.

To: Press Office (Golden Horn)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

The Habsburgs have just taken another bite out of France! Remember when that sort of thing was just good news, full stop? Anyway, the folks over in Public Safety hiratined another six people printing pro-Habsburg pamphlets, so let’s try to spin that into a positive. I’m sure the Katsimiros line will hold, but people here are getting antsy. Haven’t left the House of the Golden Horn in weeks. A few public hiratinings will put the fear of God into the rabble, right? Let ’em know we’re on the case so they don’t need to go around massacring prisoners or burning down municipal services.

To: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)
From: K. Katsimiros (Army)
The Katsimiros line is holding! The people of Constantinople can rest easy tonight.

To: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)
From: T. Pangalos (Army)

My father always told me that we live in the best of all possible worlds. I have tried to keep his words in mind as the Katsimiros line collapses before my eyes. I suppose in times like this, we must remember that the world physical world of the Demiurge is but one half of a whole, and that as we near death we are closer to the luminous immanence of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. There are forces at work in the universe far, far greater than ourselves— far greater than all China, greater than all the petty states of men and women.

I am cut off from Katsimiros— the Macau Pact have been cutting telegraph wires as they push west. (The railroads have been left intact, but are firmly under enemy control)

If ordered, I will attempt to keep the Chinese on this side of the Bosphorus.

However: Macau Pact forces (mostly Chinese, but the survivors of the failed Hungarian offensive are present as well) have negotiated passage through Russia and are invading from the north. They have already reached the banks of the Danube. We must withdraw to a tighter defensive line and defend the Greek peninsula.

To: T. Pangalos (Army)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

Your father sounds like a v. clever man! V. clever indeed! Remember— we are still the defenders of the greatest nation the world has ever seen! Once we achieve victory in the west, we’ll reinforce you and drive the Macau Pact off these shores once and for all.

To think the world calls us warmongers! The Habsburgs are trying to seize parts of Poland that weren’t even part of the old Holy Roman Empire! Who are they trying to fool?

Oh, and if you hear any unfounded rumors about civil disorder in Byzantine cities– keep it from the men and women under your command, all right? We don’t need to hurt morale with unfounded rumors from a treacherous press reporting things that absolutely aren’t true, like a Jacobin escaping from a tumbrel and beating up a squad of armed National Guard.

To: T. Pangalos (Army)
From: O. Peneid (Army)

I have been unable to get ahold of General Spyromilios. I was told to get in touch with you, the acting commander of the eastern front.

The British attempt to break the stalemate in the west and break out at Treviso and Venice.

This opened up a gap in the British lines, however, and we were able to send the forces defending the Modena line to attack the British from the rear.

We are coming east.

To: O. Peneid (Army)
From: T. Pangalos (Army)

We could certainly use the help. In full confidence— I am reluctant to inform the president, as he seems a most unstable man, liable to recall me from command and place me in front of a tribunal, and thence to a tumbrel and ultimately the hiratine— but I do not think we can hold the capital. We cannot adequately defend both the Dardanelles and the Bosphorous and the northern front, so in order to avoid being encircled, we must establish a defensive line south of Thrace.

I am unsure how to both warn the Government that it needs to evacuate Constantinople and keep my head attached to my body.


To: T. Pangalos (Army)
From: S. Tsakalotos (Army)

Let’s just get out of here. I’ve survived Adrianople with most of my army, so let’s just get back to Greece and leave Constantinople to rot. At this point, the capture of the Government would probably be a net benefit to the war effort, anyway. We know what’s best for Rome.

To: A. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)
From: Budget Committee (National Assembly)

Leonidas, our budget’s getting out of control! We have credit, of course, but if the war goes much longer we could find ourselves in a hole so deep we can’t climb back out again.

P.S. Where did the Constantinople garrison go?

To: Department of Public Safety
From: A. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

Enclosed are warrants for the arrest of the National Assembly’s Budget Committee. The charge is insufficient patriotism. We can’t have the troops thinking they won’t be getting paid!

The budget is fine. Everything is fine.

To: General Staff
From: T. Pangalos

General Peneid has arrived with her reinforcements from the west. The survivors of the Katsmiros line have safely crossed the Sea of Marmara and arrived in Greece.

The defense of the heart of Byzantium is as ready as it’s going to get.

Good luck, everyone.

If we survive, we shall enjoy a true rebirth of liberty.

For we must remember— a republic is a fragile thing. It can either prosper and grow in strength and liberty, as Japan has— or decline into petty despotism, as has recently happend in the Lenape Republic.

From: Empress Zhu Chunmei II (Chinese Empire)
To: General T. Pangalos (Byzantine Army)

I’m sure you realize your position is hopeless. Surrender at this point would be perfectly honorable— the Byzantine army has fought with bravery and discipline. Even in retreat, it was orderly, organized, and calm— at no point did your men and women find themselves suffering the indignity of a rout.

Such a fine army! So committed to the Mandate of the People! It would be quite regrettable if I were forced to order my generals to destroy it.

You are far outnumbered, Constantinople has fallen, the Theodosian Walls have been dismantled. Most of the government is in Macau Pact hands— President Apostolikos has fled into the Balkans backcountry, abandoning his ministers to their fate.

If you surrender, I will permit your soldiers to lay down their arms and return home. If you continue your resistance, I will have no choice but to order my generals to destroy you, utterly.

I urge you to seriously consider these generous terms before sullying a fine and chivalrous war with needless slaughter and national suicide.

From: General T. Pangalos (Byzantine Army)
To: Empress Zhu Chunmei II (Chinese Empire)

Your Majesty,

I accept your terms. The Byzantine Republic offers its conditional surrender.

To: General Staff
From: L. Apostolakis (An Undisclosed Location)

General Pangalos was not authorized to negotiate with a foreign power! She is in mutiny! Danglis, Stanotas, Tsakalotos, Smolenskis— seize Pangalos at once, and then turn and face the Macau Pact! Your Commander in Chief commands you!

To: L. Apostolakis (An Undisclosed Location)
From: Empress Zhu Chunmei II (Chinese Empire)

Oh, for fuck’s sake. You lost the war, moron.

Deal with it.

EMPRESS ZHU CHUNMEI II OF CHINA

Chunmei out.

To: L. Apostolakis (An Undisclosed Location)
From: S. Tsakalotos (Army)

Well, well, well. Seems you have some backbone after all, Leonidas. The army’s already demobilized, and dispersed, with the rump force allowed by the terms of our surrender hardly adequate to continue the war effort. Pangalos was right– it’s better to live and fight another day. But it’s good to see you want to fight another day.

I’ll be in touch. Together, we can make this empire great again.

Remember our history. We survived Adrianople, we survived Manzikert. We survived the Deluge.

To: Capitolino Majority Leader M. Çetinkaya (National Assembly)
From: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)

Look, Leonidas, I’m not happy about it either, but we need to hold special elections to fill out the National Assembly. Between all of the members who fled Constantinople, died in the siege, or… were totally justifiably found guilty of treason by the Department of Public Safety… we don’t even have a quorum!

I’m sure we’ll win. Remember, even with proportional voting in place, we can build a large majority.

In any case— holding elections now will be a strong sign to the Byzantine people that normality has returned.

Reyhan Hamzaoğlu, leader of the Junonians in the National Assembly

To: L. Apostolakis (Golden Horn)
From: Junonian Majority Leader R. Hamzaoğlu (National Assembly)

I know that the Junonians and the Capitolino haven’t always seen eye-to-eye. You didn’t like the fact that we stubbornly clung to existence through decades of Capitolino control over every aspect of political life, and we didn’t like the fact that you used a fundamentally flawed first-past-the-post voting system to turn our entire democracy into a farce, alienated every one of our allies, made us the most hated nation in the world, and ultimately led us to a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Chinese Empire.

Water under the bridge! No reason we can’t have a productive working relationship for the remainder of your term.

We’ve made a few changes to the budget! I’m sure you can find a way to close the deficit.

What do you think of trade unions? We love them! Hope you do too, since we just legalized them all!

Your pal,
Reyhan Hamzaoğlu, Esq.

To: L. Apostolakis (Golden Gorn)
From: S. Tsakalotos (Army)

The time has come for drastic action.

With the remnants of the Byzantine army distracted by a petty anarcho-Liberal uprising…

…I have made contact with an agent of the Black Chamber, who in turn has access to that exotic and forbidden outpost of the old Komnenos Empire— Rhodes. He has chartered a ship to Byzantine shores carrying a most exceptional guest.

FEL TEMP REPARATIO

WORLD MAP, 1865