SWRPF Archive The Era of Colonization (A Closed/Non-Star Wars RPG)

The Era of Colonization (A Closed/Non-Star Wars RPG):

The Era of Colonization is what is referred to as alternate history Roleplaying game that is set beginning in the year 1806. What this means, in short, is that everything until the year 1806 is the same in reality as it is in this RPG, but after the year 1806 the game?s history diverges greatly.

This game is also a Closed RPG, you must be invited to join. For information on how you may gain an invitation continue reading.

The idea behind the Era of Colonization is quite simple. Each respective Roleplayer commands an entire nation; the leadership, the military, the citizenry, everything. Era of Colonization is based on trust, trust that fellow Roleplayers will roleplay their nation (and all that it entails) fairly.

The Game Master in Era of Colonization (myself) plays an extremely limited role that consists of very few things. Firstly, and most obviously, the Game Master will be involved in disciplining Roleplayers who feel they are above the rules of the game. Secondly the Game Master will be responsible for the assigning of national issues (discussed later) to Roleplayers, the progression of ideas and technology (discussed later), and any events that take place within minor states.

Joining the Game:

Joining the Era of Colonization RPG takes three steps that are as follows:

1) Send JansonYellowAces a personal message that indicates your intention to join the game. DO NOT post your intention to join the RPG in this thread, failure to follow these directions will harm your chances to join this game considerably.

2) Include with your PM the following: previous roleplaying experience (with links), which nation you wish to roleplay (see the map, discussed later), and information that proves you can remain trustworthy.

3) If a majority of current players accept your admission you will be admitted into the RPG.

Rules:

1) Fair play is key to this game, without fair play the Era of Colonization will quickly wither and die.

2) The GM has the role that primarily consists of guide. Feel free to ask any questions. You will find I am often open to reason.

3) In and out of character information should be displayed via easily distinguished IC / OOC tags throughout a post. Both narrative and character-driven styles of posting are acceptable.

4) Please use common sense and courtesy: IE. No God-Mode, flaming, spamming etc.

5) Battles, and other confrontations will to be conducted on a turn-based system without the assistance of a Game Master.

6) Take a realistic approach at all times.

7) Treat others, as you would like them to treat you.

8) The Most Important Rule. HAVE FUN.

Basics of the Game:

Combat:

Combat is a friendly agreement between two (or more) roleplayers which the Game Master has no involvement. The outcome will be decided by fair roleplaying between the roleplayers involved. I suggest using either personal messages or AIM for coordination. If the Game Master is forced to intervene the outcome of the battle will be favorable for neither army.

Time Progression:

Time will progress in the Era of Colonization just as it does in reality. The speed of progression will be five years RPG time equaling two weeks reality (four months RPG time = one day in reality). Combat, Discussion between nations, etc takes place outside the timeline. The Game Master has the power to stop progression due to World War or other situations.

National Issues:

Are meant to focus on the internal issues of a nation. Every five years (RPG Time) the GM will post a National Issue for every nation. A roleplayer must resolve these issues by one means or another. These issues will reflect either previous decisions made by roleplayers or historical issues faced by nations. Recall rule number six, the populace of a nation if close to result will

 

National Issues (1806-1811):

Austria:

As usual Austria struggles to keep a plethora of different nationalities under its control, of late the most problematic of the nationalities has been the Hungarians. Also of note are the problems being called by the landed aristocrats.

France:

Internal problems in Napoleon?s new French Empire run rampant, and while the middle and lower classes are quite content, the upper class is incensed. The remaining Royalists who have survived the revolution push quietly for a restoration of the Bourbon Monarchy. Another, more numerous, group wishes to complete the revolution and form a second republic of France.

United Kingdom:

Catholics throughout the Empire (centered mostly in Ireland) begin to campaign for emancipation, hoping to have the restrictions placed on them by the Act of Uniformity and the Test Acts repelled.

Ottoman Empire:

The most elite military force in the Ottoman Empire, the Janissaries, are in the midst of a revolt, opposed to the progressive ideas of sultan Selim III. The sultan has the support of the majority of the people, but the Janissaries are powerful and have been successful in removing sultans before.

Prussia:

The Prussian government continues its ongoing struggle for a centralized economy. Without a centralized economy the Prussian people have little chance to survive in their dangerous position between the juggernauts of Europe.

Russia:

Numerous rebellions have struck Imperial Russia in the last quarter century. The enlightened Tsar, Alexander will attempt to solve the question of why these rebellions happened and how he can prevent them further.

Spain:

Spain?s America colonies in American run ripe with rebellion, from the north in the Viceroyalty of New Spain to the south in the Viceroyalty of La Plata. Few Spanish colonies remain safe from the insurgency with the exception of the Philippines and Spain?s Caribbean holdings.

United States:

No major internal problems harm the young United States of American, but several small debates have sprung up across the nation. The first, deals with the ongoing question of slavery, the second, decided on the size of the federal government.

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[color=green][u][b]Technological/Idea Progression (-1806):[/b][/u]

[blockquote]Too many to list, please refer to reality for inventions prior to 1806.[/blockquote][/color]

[hr]

[color=purple][u][b]Events within Minor States (-1806):[/b][/u]

[blockquote]Too many to list, please refer to reality for events within minor states prior to 1806.[/blockquote][/color]

 

IC: United States of America, Jan. 1806

It was a time of prosperity in America. Thirty years had passed since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. America had grown from a loose, weak confederation of states to a federal republic. Its founders took a great risk, and created the first democractic republic in centuries. Whereas Athens and Rome eventually fell, it was the firm determination of the American government to prove that a republic could last and stand the test of time.

The man currently at the helm of this great ship of state was Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and the writer of the famous Declaration. Despite the efforts of its founders, a party system emerged in American politics. The Federalist party of Washington had slowly lost its support amongst the people, and the Democractic Republicans of Jefferson's party were fast becoming a majority in the country. Still, it was the goal of all American's regardless of party, to make this experiment work.

Several pressing issues faced America. President Jefferson had to deal with the issue of slavery, of which he was opposed yet a practicioner. The government also had to deal with the need for a strong central government that did not take away too many rights from the individual states of the Union.

Sitting in his office in the Executive Mansion, known as the White House, Jefferson met with his Secretary of War and his Secretary of State. The issue today was defense. It was obvious to all in that room that storm clouds were brewing in Europe, and it was decided that the miltiary should be enlarged from its relatively weak size. While Jefferson was opposed to such a measure personally, the Congress of the United States approved it.

It was decided that America would maintain a single division of 50,000 troops, divided into three brigades. Each brigade would be made up of around 16,000 men. One would be stationed in New England, another in the Middle States, near Washington, and the last would be deployed in the South. The newly aquired Louisiana territory was patroled by milita units and small detachments of the federal army. The standing United States Army was small, but it was always ready to call up additional troops if a crisis arose.

Since America a nestled up to the Atlantic Ocean, maritime trade was a huge factor. The planters of the south and the manufacturers of the north all relied on shipping to get their good to markets in foreign countries. As a result of this, the United States Navy was also expanded. The core of the burgeoning US Navy was its 12 large frigates, which mounted over fifty cannon each. In addition to these ships, an additional force of nearly 60 assorted ships, including sloops, brigs, and standard frigates. The US Navy constantly patroled the waters of the Atlantic coast, and were based in Norfolk, Virgina and Newport, Rhode Island.

The priority was to build a larger navy. With the funds approved by Congress, the ports of Boston, Charlestown, and Newport were busy building new ships.

At the request of the Secretary of State, a envoy was dispatched to Spain, in hopes of securing the territory of Florida for the United States.

TAG: Spanish government, AdmiralZaarin

 

Austrian Empire

January, 1806 Anno Domini

A sigh came from the Emperor as the news of the day came in. Again with the people making demands of him, wanting this and that. It was enough that he hadn't really gotten any sleep at all the night before, and didn't expect that he would get any this evening, either. Well, livings were just that: livings, and that of the monarch of the Austrian Empire was a difficult one, much like it would feasibly be to have the command position of any government. Much to his surprise, however, the regal being felt a small twinge of regret as he told himself that he would have to hold off on this issue. There were other tasks at hand, such as setting the course that the empire would continue on for the foreseeable future; that task, above all else, was paramount.

The government as it stood was running smoothly, what with everything decided by one man who chose how everything would operate. The aides helped, as was their function; they served merely to provide information about what was going on in the kingdom and from there offer suggestions on how the emperor should act on these words of caution. Whether or not the emperor listened was his choice alone.

After hearing what his advisers had to say, most likely for the umpteen-millionth time, the emperor sat down alone to ponder what they had said and make up his mind on the nation's fate. In his opinion, the safest way to avoid conflict of the masses was to give them all a say in how things were run and give them all goals to fight for, so that they were unified in spirit and unified in voice. If they all had a say in who exactly was advising the emperor, they would feel just a little more comfortable with his decisions, garnering respect and reducing the outcries that surfaced. At the same time, offering them all that freedom would make the nation more of a land they all loved, giving them something they would fight for, and using promises along with blood and iron to unite the people like never before. However, giving the men and women of the empire this right to choose had a great drawback; if they were unlearned, the results would be catastrophic, as the people would know not what they were thinking when they weighed their choices and had their final say; such would make it necessary to revoke their choice, which would infuriate many and cause general upheaval.

Leaving the people under what they saw as oppression was not an option; the threat of a revolt was too real. Giving their right only to need to revoke it was also a danger, since it would lead to the same revolt, only far faster. With that, he knew what he had to do. With the firm conviction in his heart that God Himself was in favor of it, the emperor issued his decree: across the land, the people themselves would choose who was stationed as the advisors to the Emperor; the people would receive an enhanced education so that they would be able to know who to pick and understand the policies of each person from who they could choose; the men of all nationalities would be considered eligible to serve in the nation's army and navy.

The decree brought a smile to the emperor's face; the people would indeed be satisfied with this. True, they would want more, and he could deal with that when the time came, even if the aristocracy tried to make the new election process into a sellable commodity; until then, however, they would hopefully all be content to know that they had a say in what the emeperor heard and acted on, and that his decisions thus had their interests in mind. Next on the agenda was the covering of the economy. This was going along rather well, all things considered, especially with the imports and exports. The emperor silently sent a hope up to God that the educational spending would result in enhanced methods of doing the work required, however; it would be a serious boost to his relationships with other nations if he could better provide goods for export to them, since they would in turn seek his aid more, and he could thusl

 

King Charles IV

Madrid, the Kingdom of Spain

There was a crack, and the boar died. Charles lowered the rifle, and then lifted it up again to examine it. He stared down into the barrel, noticing the rifling that gave the weapon its name.

"So much better than the muskets, eh, Alejandro?"

The rifle was a new toy for a king who was really little more than an overgrown boy. Charles loved the way he could hit boars that were further away with more accuracy than ever before. How exactly making the bullet spin around helped him achieve this completely escaped Charles, however.

But it mattered not. The boar was dead, and the hunt had been intense and glorious. Charles could have it, sliced artistically and smothered in plum sauce, for his dinner that night.

On the carriage ride home, Charles' mind turned to royal matters...if only momentarily. Ever since he'd met Maria Luisa, his life had seemed so much easier. It was if he'd been demoted to a mere clerk, but been allowed to keep his palaces and his hunting entourage.

Oh, sweet Maria Luisa, he thought.

Built like a bear thanks to his Saxon heritage, and inclined to brawling and wrestling as a youngster, Charles didn't even consider that his wife might be actually in control of the country, so busy was he with the duties of Dionysius and Artemis.

Or, to word it in a more vernacular manner, Charles prefered to shoot up animals in the forest and get utterly hammered with the aristocracy than governing Spain and her shrinking empire.

"How are you today, my sweet Maria Luisa?"

"The American government wants to purchase Florida from us." the queen said bluntly.

"The Americans? It was a laugh watching them thrash the British all those years ago. Indeed, if it wasn't for them, the British would still control that little peninsula!" Charles said, a smile on his face. "What do the Americans want Florida for?"

"What do they want Florida for? What the hell kind of question is that? Why would you want more land? God, do I have to explain everything to you?" Maria Luisa shot back.

Charles thought for just one moment that the public's perception of his darling wife as overbearing, controlling and coarse was perhaps not unfounded. But then he thought, what would lowly, common satirists know about my Maria?, clearing away any misgivings about his wife's personality in his mind.

"Why, so that we can have mor..." he replied imperiously to his wife's question.

"Rhetorical, Charles, rhetorical. I did not expect an answer." she scorned, a disapproving stony mask on her face.

"Thank you for reminding me, darling, thank you. I am not so out of touch with the language of Cervantes as you may think."

"Hmph. Anyway, the United States is expanding southwards. They have gotten a taste for our former posessions in the Americas since the Louisiana Purchase we were involved in some years ago."

"Including Texas, I believe." Charles said, making mention of a recent controversy to try and convince his wife of his intelligence and political awareness.

"They have indeed been trying to get their democratic claws around Texas. Very astute of you, Charles."

Florida was not a particularly lucrative or strategically important territory; it wasn't exactly teeming with riches as Central America was, and any strategic points Spain would lose with the sale of Florida could be replaced by better points in Cuba.

Charles pondered for a moment. To his recollection, aside from bothersome Seminoles, Florida wasn't exactly full of anything in particular.

Some days later, he learnt that the rest of the United States was, however. Cotton was something that Spain wasn't exactly in surplus of, and the Americans were more than willing to entrust Spain with a lucratic trading contract that would allow the Spanish to purchase quality cotton, from what the American ambassador insisted on calling "Dixie", at a premium unmatched.

It was a delicious deal, and Charles was more than willing to part with a relatively bare territory for shi

 

Rooooooskiville USA!

er... i mean.

St. Petersburg, Russia

The call was to be answered by mother russian and Tsar Alexandar, for his sister's hand was to be offered for marage to the great Nappy man, hopefully strengthening their political ties. Natasha was a wonderful woman, and would make Napoleon a very happy man, very happy.

Austria's secrative meetings were to be scedualed as soon as possible to help their two nations become closer tied to each other. Allies were a good thing to have in a world such as this.

Lastly, there were the problems at home. It was the 19th century, and still the motherland was plagued with serfdom. This had to end. Alexander did what he had to do for the good of his people. He freed the unfree. Serfdom was ended.

Tag: Jello, JYA, KH

 

Prime Minister William Pitt

Pitt Estate, north of London

William Pitt, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, slowly scanned the message regarding the devilish Bonaparte?s need a fertile queen. William Pitt vehemently opposed the nation of France, the mortal enemies of his people, and had his entire life. Yet, Pitt was far from stupid, it was imperative that the British Royal Family pounced on the opportunity to marry one of their daughters to Napoleon. Not to ally themselves with France, extended families had warred in the past, but to prevent a French Alliance with whatever nations there may be.

William Pitt knew that the Russia?s would offer a Royal to France, as would the Prussians and Austrians and that frightened him greatly. The worst thought of all was a Franco-Russian alliance, which would undoubtedly mean the end of the British Empire.

William would pass his thoughts onto King George, but for now internal issues required his full attention. The Catholics throughout the Empire were, as usual, on the verge of rebellion. Meeting in his Estate?s living room, William and his closest advisors began drafting a bill for limited Catholic Reforms. It promised far from complete emancipation, but it was enough to make them content for a year or two.

That night William Pitt went to bed and never regained consciousness, dying in his sleep.

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[b]King George III[/b]

[blockquote][i]St. James Palace, London[/i]

King George, King of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, stared at the memorandum the late Prime Minister William Pitt had left for him regarding the dog Bonaparte?s need for a wife. As much as he hated the idea of being related to, or even knowing a Frenchman, George saw some sense in the matter. It would prevent a Franco-Russian alliance, an issue that frightened anyone with foreign political knowledge.

So George decided to answer the petite rulers call, the man would have the choice between his three youngest daughters, Amelia, Sophia, or Mary. Now onto more important issues, like crushing catholic emancipation.[/blockquote]

[b]TAG: Jello[/b]

 

Sweden becomes a Major Nation:

Sweden is now a being led by a roleplayer, Handmaiden Yane.

The Kingdom of Sweden's foreign relations are listed below please copy them into your factbook for personal reference.

Ottoman Empire:

State: Neutral
Relationship: Indifferent
Pacts: None

France:

State: War
Relationship: Extremely Cold
Pacts: None

Prussia:

State: Peace
Relationship: Extremely Cold
Pacts: Fourth Coalition (Alliance)

Russia:

State: Peace
Relationship: Cold
Pacts: Fourth Coalition (Alliance)

United Kingdom:

State: Peace
Relationship: Cold
Pacts: Forth Coalition (Alliance)

United States:

State: Neutral
Relationship: Indifferent
Pacts: None

Spain:

State: Peace
Relationship: Indifferent
Pacts: None

Austria

State: Peace
Relationship: Indifferent
Pacts: None

We look forward to having Yane join the Era of Colonization.

 

United States of America

White House meeting room, Washinton, D.C.

President Thomas Jefferson listened intently as the Secretary of State read a letter that had arrived from the American ambassador to Spain. King Charles IV of Spain had responded to the proposal on Florida favorably. America would gain the region in exchange for a lucrative trade contract involving the nations large cotton crop.

"Send a letter to our ambassador in Spain, and instruct him to present the treaty to Spain and authorize him to sign it." Jefferson paused for a moment, deep in thought. "Furthermore, see to it that on of our prized Kentucky long rifles is sent to the king, compliments of our government. I understand he enjoys the hunt, and such a gift should please him greatly."

TAG: Zaarin

 

Foreign Secretary, 2nd Earl of Mornington, Richard Wellesley

Traveling home of the Foreign Secretary, London; November 1st, 1808

As the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Richard Wellesley was responsible for the United Kingdom?s international relations. His first responsibility as the new Foreign Secretary under Prime Minister Spencer Percival was the replacement of the withering Fourth Coalition with an improved Fifth Coalition.

The swine Napoleon had not been active since the Treaty of Pressburg, but most learned people throughout Europe could easily sense that the level of safety would not last. A new, more effective, Coalition would be needed to remove Napoleon from power; therefore Wellesley would invite diplomats from across the globe to Edinburgh in Scotland where the future of the Anti-France Coalition would be discussed.

TAG: Everyone but Jello

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[b]Home Secretary Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool[/b]

[blockquote][i]Jenkinson Estate, Liverpool, England; November 2nd, 1808[/i]

The people of the United Kingdom needed to be distracted from the problems both at home and abroad. The easiest way to accomplish that, as has been proven multiple times in the past, was the colonization of new territories in the name of the King.

The Home Secretary Robert Banks Jenkinson knew this. Consequently he sent out an envoy to the three colony governors that were in the best position to colonize new territories and ordered them to do so.[/blockquote]

[b]TAG: Nobody[/b]

[hr]

[b]Canadian Governor-General James Henry Craig[/b]

[blockquote][i]Governor?s Mansion, York, Canada; November 15th, 1808[/i]

The Governor-General of Canada, James Henry Craig, received the Home Government?s message while he was involved in a rather serious game of croquet, bothering him slightly. The proposal was quite simple; Craig was to order the further colonization of North America.

Craig quickly ordered the colonization of the area know as the Northern Oregon Territory, which would begin in a few short months. The choice had been easy, the north was desolate, of little use to anyone, the south was American territory and the United Kingdom could not currently afford the war that might result in any attempt to colonize southward.

(The United Kingdom begins the colonization of the Oregon Territory between the lower end of Puget Sound and the Queen Charlotte Islands.)[/blockquote]

[b]TAG: Nick (American Response[/b]

[hr]

[b]Cape Colony Governor Charles Somerset[/b]

[blockquote][i]Governor?s Mansion, Cape Town, Cape Colony; November 21st, 1808[/i]

Governor Somerset of the newly formed Cape Colony received the instructions to colonize a significant area of South Africa while taking a tranquil bath. The decision he made was quick and made for a single reason. The Empire of the United Kingdom, and the Cape Colony would extend to include South West Territory. The territory in question was more sparsely populated by dangerous tribes then South East Territory, therefore safer to colonize.

(The United Kingdom begins the colonization of South West Africa in the area known as Namibia.)[/blockquote]

[b]TAG: Nobody[/b]

[hr]

[b]New South Wales Governor Lachlan Macquarie[/b]

[blockquote][i]Governor?s Mansion, Sydney, New South Wales; December 27th, 1808[/i]

Australian Governor Macquarie received his orders to begin further colonization of Oceania while relaxing in his study. Macquarie had a much more difficult decision to make then either of his companions. Oceania was a vast territory, most of which was unexplored, and there were few people available for the colonization of any territory.

After days of discussion with advisors, along with hours of contemplation while sitting in his smoking room Macquarie had made his decision. The United Kingdom would be colonizing New Zealand. Its inhabitants were friendlier, it was easier to colonize, and it was more useful to the United Kingdom in general.

(The United Kingdom begi

 

[color=003399]OOC: 'Bout time I posted here again.

1 week = 2.5 years = 30 months... Add one day... 34 Months... Damn! Almost 3 years!

I'll just have this cover until now... [/color]

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[b]Austria[/b]

[i]Up to present[/i]

So much had gone on in so little time. The delegates had sent back good word of their reception in St. Petersburg, and were moving along with attempting to hammer out a peace. His royalness could only hope that the peace was something acceptable to both countries. After that blasted Pressburg thing, he wanted to make sure that he had a friend to fall back on in case Napoleon decided to take his prized Austrian empire from him. [i]And a curse on him if he even thinks of the damned idea![/i]

The page then gave word of a memorandum from France to all nations residing within Europe: his hand was open in marriage, and the nation that provided the bride would be allies with France in peace. [i]Pah.[/i] As much as the offer intrigued him, the soreness of before remained.

There was a spot of indifference that the monarch hoped to eliminate, most notably by turning it into a growing friendship. This was with Sweden. Such a friendship, especially since it would include at least a chance for alliance with the other members of the Fourth Coalition, would be most beneficial for the Austrians as a whole. As such, some more ambassadors left Austria, this time bound for the Swedish kingdom.

The final news to come was that of the meeting in Edinburgh. It seemed that living in the modern world required an endless supply of diplomatic personnel, and the Emperor found himself running thin as he complied to this latest call. The men went out, alright... But there were few diplomats left to call on. Hopefully, there wouldn't be much more work for them.

[b]TAG: Thok, Yane, JYA[/b]

 

British Royal Marine Corps Colonel John B. Anders

Calais, Northeastern France; March 14th, 1810

The brilliant glow of the full mooning hanging in the night sky illuminated the short passage across the Pas de Calais, the shortest potion of the English Channel. In a few short hours Colonel John Anders and three thousand Royal Marines would be landing near the French city of Calais where they would be conducting a raid. Conducting both the support and transportation of the Royal Marines was a large portion of the Royal Navy?s Home Fleet based at Portsmouth.

The landing flotilla approached the coast of France a few miles east of Calais using the cover of a waning darkness to hide the landing. The Marines used large rowboats, carrying nearly fifty troopers and their equipment per passage, to conduct the landing. The last of the rowboats struggled ashore just as dawn broke the horizon and Colonel Anders gave the orders to begin the march on Calais at double time.

The city of Calais would be quickly awoken by the sight of HMS Britannia and her supporting vessels sitting off the shore. It was imperative for Anders to move quickly, the people of Calais had most likely sent riders for the nearest French Army already. Intelligence, if you could call it that, had no idea where any of the French Armies were currently positioned. Anders preyed they were in the depths of hell, but their was little chance of that, until he sent them there.

TAG: Jelly

 

British Royal Marine Corps Colonel John B. Anders

Calais, Northeastern France; March 14th, 1810

So, this is what dying feels like.

Colonel Anders was one of countless soldiers to fall in the initial artillery barrage, his legs severed by a cannonball. Unconsciousness came quickly to the colonel, followed shortly thereafter by death.

One of the surviving officers, a lieutenant, was the first to spot the coming cavalry and he attempted to organize the Marines into staggered formations. It was a momentous mistake, whatever the artillery lost in effectiveness the cavalry gained, easily riding down the separated Marines.

Hundreds broke and ran in every direction, into the ocean, into the forests, back towards the rowboats. It was just another in a line of British disasters that day. With the exception of three marines who had scrambled into the forest and returned to England weeks later, thousands were killed and hundreds were taken prisoner.

Admiral John Jervis, who had seen the catastrophe from the relative safety of channel waters, immediately ordered the retreat of all Royal Navy vessels. The size of the force at Calais could only mean one thing, invasion.

It was time to prepare the military.

TAG: Jelly