Balance of Power (Gameplay Thread) - Epilogue and Game Over

[Lumine]

OOC: I worked as hard as I could to see if I could force some of you to stop being so nice, so gentlemen: have fun with this turn!

[Lumine]

Updated Cast:

GM: LumineVonReuental
Assistant GM: Windjammer:

Current Players and Leaders:

Prime Minister Waldeck-Rousseau: Dr. Cynic. (1901- )
Tsar Nicholas II: Snowstalker. (1901- )
Emperor Mutsuhito: SJoyce. (1901- )
Sultan Abdul Hamid II: Kalwejt. (1901- )
King Vittorio Emmanuele III: Sawx. (1901- )
President William McKinley: Clarence. (1901- )
Kaiser Wilhelm III: TheCranberry. (1902- )
Kaiser Franz Ferdinand I: Oldiesfreak. (1903- )
Prime Minister Balfour: Spamage. (1903- )

Old Players and Leaders:

Kaiser Wilhelm II: IBDD. (1901-1902)
Kaiser Franz Joseph I: Jack Enderman. (1901-1902)
Prime Minister Salisbury: Spamage. (1901-1903)

[Lumine]

OOC: I'd like to protest the "penalty" I got because I'm 100% sure I answered all of my crises from the past turn, and just opted to do nothing about them (and I made it clear that I was ignoring #1 and #3 to not destabilize my economy). I sent in my orders, and I don't feel like I'm being penalized for anything wrong.

Well, I may have made a mistake while collecting all of the answers and messages (and they were a lot so it was easy to get lost). I'll be more careful next time (and I'll search in case in case I actually overlooked the answer), and in the meantime I'll remove the penalty. The crisis will remain there in case you wish to chance the course of action, but I'll create new ones if you wish.

[Lumine]

Warning - War has been declared between the Russian Empire and the Japanese Empire. A war thread will be created in a few minutes.

[Lumine]

OOC: I'd like to protest the "penalty" I got because I'm 100% sure I answered all of my crises from the past turn, and just opted to do nothing about them (and I made it clear that I was ignoring #1 and #3 to not destabilize my economy). I sent in my orders, and I don't feel like I'm being penalized for anything wrong.

Well, I may have made a mistake while collecting all of the answers and messages (and they were a lot so it was easy to get lost). I'll be more careful next time (and I'll search in case in case I actually overlooked the answer), and in the meantime I'll remove the penalty. The crisis will remain there in case you wish to chance the course of action, but I'll create new ones if you wish.

Whatever you feel like doing is fine. I'd honestly prefer a few new crises, but if you don't have the time I understand.

Old crisis replaced in the start of turn post, and once again, my apologies, Sawx!

[Lumine]

URGENT: KRUPP FACTORY BOMBS
As I instructed them to do, my agents investigated the backgrounds of the Krupp Factory bombings. They pursued the incident, and found out that the bombers were directed by the court in St. Petersburg. Given Russia's aggression in the East, and our close alliance with Japan, this is seen as the last straw in a turn of events, and I hereby declare war on Russia.
(OOC: Is it okay if I send you my war turns tomorrow, Lumine; I don't have the time for it anymore today)

Don't worry, since the war has expanded this might create further declarations of war, so tomorrow will be just fine.

[Lumine]

OOC: And I had worked so hard to try and burn Europe to the ground... Oh, well!

[Lumine]

OOC: Do Britain and America start in Turn 2 or Turn 3 of the war? That determines if I have to send in orders against them now or after Phase 2 ends.

Phase 2, but due to the limited time and logistical constraints their actions (and the results of those) will be very limited.

[Lumine]

I believe I still need Japan, Italy and Austria-Hungary's answers. And BTW, you have broken a new record! 23 PM's in less than six hours! (honestly, I can't believe the levels of activity, xD)

[Lumine]

Japanese General Election, 1903:

Overview:

Held right in the middle of the Great Russian War and the massive Japanese victories in the Sea of Okhotsk and Port Arthur, the General Election was held without a clear idea of the final result. In normal circumstances Prime Minister Katsura would have sailed to victory, but he had no party and had to rely on support from small parties and independent candidates. Alas, Katsura managed to get the Imperial Japan (Teikokuto) on board, and fought the election as hard as he could. Of course, the lower chamber was weak when compared to the House of Peers (which had most of the power), but when facing a divided enemy in regards to Saionji and Okuma, Katsura managed to establish a powerbase to fight the Seiyukai Party, almost taking control of the Lower House with the help of the nationalists (thus reducing Saionji's power and influence, triggering another fight between the Genro).

Final Results:

Katsura's Coalition:: 156
-Chusei Club: 38
-Seiyu Club: 19
-Teikokuto: 53
-Katsura Independents: 46

Seiyukai: 141

Kensei Honto: 72

Free Independents: 17

[Lumine]

End of Early 1903:

Yet another eventful six months, and this time we have war! Europeans react in shock as the careful balance set up by Bismarck continues to crumble, and Russia seems to be the next target to beat for the world powers, who have amazingly joined forced to beat Nicholas II. Russia will fight, but without France (who stayed neutral) and China (who felt betrayed by Nicholas in the whole British scandal), more than a few people expect the Crimean War 2.0. There are also new players in the stage, with the entrance of Prime Minister Arthur Balfour (who had quite an efficient start in office, and Kaiser Franz Ferdinand I (who had a rather dissapointing start). William Jennigs Bryan is back as well, attacking McKinley in full strenght, opening speculation for "Bryan in 04" (and pushing Randolph Hearst aside thanks to his imperialistic views). The crisis in Venezuela continues, but it looks like President Castro will send a formal proposal to the world powers very soon in order to solve the incident.

Alliances, Wars and Popularity:

-Ongoing Wars:
 
-Venezuelan War.
  -Negotiations to end the blockade.
-Great Russian War.
  -The "Allies" dominate the seas, Russia helds a slight advantage in land.

-Popularity Ratings:
(Updated)

-Tsar Nicholas II: High.
-President William McKinley: High.
-Kaiser Wilhelm III: Medium.
-Kaiser Franz Ferdinand I: Medium.
-Prime Minister Waldeck-Rousseau: Medium.
-Prime Minister Balfour: High.
-Emperor Mutsuhito: Very High.
-Sultan Abdul Hamid II: Medium.
-King Vittorio Emmanuele III: High.

Current Alliances:

Three Power Alliance (USA, UK and Japan)
Quadruple Alliance (Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary and Japan)
Franco-Russian Alliance (France and Russia)
Franco-American Alliance (France and USA)
Franco-British Alliance (France and the UK)
Turkish-American Alliance (Ottoman Empire and USA)
Turkish-German Alliance (Turkey and the German Empire)
Orthodox League (Russia, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania)
Adriatic League (Greece and Italy)

The Map:

Map Changes:

-Map changes related to the war won't be shown until the war it's over, or I'll be drawing unil midnight.

[Lumine]

Next turn to come in (hopefully) a few hours, I still have to go through the sixty PM's and the four to five pages of posts to maintain coherence. A few suggestions will be posted in the sign-up thread.

[Lumine]

OOC: What happened with China? I was confused for about 10 minutes between when I found out about the scandal and when I declared war on Britain, and the cutting of military ties with China lasted about that long. I mean, I'm alone in this, so cut me a break.

The China issue will face resolution via event next turn.

Suffice to say, Cixi was not happy with you preliminary cancelling the weapons trade (it should be remembered that the concept of "saving face" has always been important to the Chinese), Prime Minister Balfour made a very generous offer, and General Yuan Shi-Kai (ever the opportunistic magnificent bastard) did the rest. You do have the full backing of the Orthodox Alliance, the Armenians, Kurds and Afghans on your side, though, as all of them have declared war on your enemies.

[Lumine]

OOC: You guys really like to jump into conclusions when given half-truths, it's pretty amazing, xD

But no, I only stated the Kurdish have sided with Nicholas II, and that's since they already hate Abdul Hamid II, no matter how benevolent he is now. I can categorically state that the Russians are not behind the Kurdish attacks in any way.

[Lumine]

Turn Six - Late 1903: (Part I)

-Russia:

As the war goes on, the Russian people are still happy with your performance, even if they would prefer to see you in the front lines. Minorities inside the Empire are beginning to revolt, but so far Okhrana is able to deal with them, revolutionaries and revels developing sudden cases of bullet through the head. If you could force the standoff in Eastern Europe in your favor, your position would be greatly strengthened.

The Tsarina is pregnant! The court of St. Petersburg is filled with joy as the doctors announce that Alexandra will give birth before this turn ends. Everybody is awaiting for the upcoming child, as after having four daughters it is hoped that the next one will be a boy, the Tsarevich, legitimate heir to you. Congratulations!

The rivalry between Makarov and Rozhestvensky has finally reached the boiling point, as both men can’t stand each other anymore. Rozhestvensky is now a popular hero after his decisive victory in the Baltic, and he argues that Makarov’s reforms are useless, and that he is the man who can whip the remnants of the Russian Fleet into shape. Makarov (who has recently discovered that his rival sleeps with his wife) argues that his reforms are what saved the day in the Baltic, and that he is not responsible for Stark and Vitgeft’s mistakes in the East. Only one of them can lead the navy.

Despite the loss of China, the rest of your allies stand behind you, and all of them have asked for weapons and supplies to fight the enemy. Furthermore, Serbian King Alexander has asked for your permission to stage an all-out attack against the Austrians to knock them out of the war.

-United Kingdom:

Despite your moderate policy towards the Middle East, chaos is only increasing more and more. Palestinians have made it clear that partition is not an option, and while they have refrained from further attacks on the British soldiers, Jews are still getting murdered each day, making the Middle East even more unstable and alienating potential allies across the zone, with even the House of Saud having private doubts now. 

Mediation with the Sokoto Caliphate seems to be going on rather nicely, despite Lugard and Rhodes’s protests. Attahiru has accepted a truce, and he seems willing to allow the railroad in exchange for a favorable trade deal, help with modernization, and that your government respects the full independence of the Caliphate.

Joseph Chamberlain is growing more and more unstable as time goes on, feeling sidelined from the government and ignored as Secretary of Colonies. Chamberlain has been seen more and more in company of Liberals (young MP’s like Churchill), and he seems to be preparing a major political offensive to establish a system of tariffs across the empire, something that bitterly divides your party.

-France:

“If Russia goes down, we’re next.” While it is evident that an increasing number of Frenchmen do not desire war, there are many in French society who do. Many of your conservative allies and the nationalists are calling for France to stand with their ally and defeat the Germans, once and for all. Either way, the status quo is seen as untenable, with opinions oscillating between a friendship treaty with Germany or all-out war. As much as the United States and the British Empire seem like likely allies, Anglophobia is still strong, and there are fears of a potentially isolationist government in the United States.

The troop surge in Libya seems to have worked, as the Senoussi rebels were repulsed (not with heavy losses) from the coastal cities. However, they do control the entire Libyan desert, and some military commanders believe that it might be a good idea to send the French Foreign Legion as an expeditionary force.

Now that France is apparently free to expand without fighting a major power, your Ministers have developed an interesting idea. Morocco is currently ruled by Sultan Abdelaziz of the Alaouite dynasty, a man who strives to modernize his country while at the same time having to deal with a weak government who is unable to control his lands. Perhaps there is chance here?

The French economy seems to be facing a slight decline thanks to a lack of attention to it from the government, it is advised to keep a close eye on this issue.

-Germany:

Greetings, Chancellor Von Bülow. You are currently in control of Germany as long as Kaiser Wilhelm has to recover from a sudden illness. These are the main concerns of your Cabinet and the Reichstag:

Your adjutant, Captain Von Papen, has taken quite a role behind the scenes, coordinating some intelligence sections in order to help with the war effort. Von Papen believes his spy ring can help the Kaiserliche Marine to defeat the Russian Baltic Fleet, and he is openly interested in the prosecution of that front.

With the war underway, volunteers from nations oppressed by Russia are trying to join the ranks of the German Army. Some generals believe it might not be a good idea given the expense in military resources, but the younger Moltke believes that this so called “Legions” could do a lot for the Empire.

Despite you advise on the contrary, the Kaiser remains unmarried, something that should be corrected as soon as possible. While there are rumors that the Kaiser might be considering an Ottoman princess, some recommend searching for a bride in Spain, England or Austria.

-Ottoman Empire:

Somehow, your extremely competent leadership has brought a revival of the bloated government, leading many courtiers and foreign diplomats to think that, perhaps, the Ottoman Empire will be able to stage a comeback and stop being the sick man of Europe. The Anatolian roads, the Baghdad Railway, the administrative reform, the so-called “Abdul Doctrine”, all of them projects that have a lot of future, provided that you can find enough sources of revenue to keep paying for them. Congratulations, Sultan! You might be the cure to the sick man of Europe!

The Senate has started meeting in Ankara with a limited role, but so far they are making progress in some pieces of legislation. Conservatives wish to see the Senate as the body that will protect the interests of the old ways, and Liberals, of course, wish to see the Senate as the body that will draft a new Constitution. So far you have relied on yourself and the Secret Police to rule, but this might be the time to finally choose a side and create a lasting faction to serve your interests.

The Army has been strengthened by an improved logistical situation and thanks to conscription, but they warn that there are still problems with discipline and a lack of modern weapons. All in all, they believe the Ottoman Empire should try to fight a defensive war to avoid major surprises, a view opposed by the few remaining Ottoman Admirals (who are emboldened by the performance in Venezuela), who argue that this is the time to strike.

[Lumine]

Turn Six – Late 1903: (Part II)

-Japan:

While the mixture of Jewish immigrants and the economic reforms concerning the Zaibatsu have improved the Japanese economy by a great margin, the fact remains that Japan doesn’t have the industrial strength to remain at war for a very long period. Limited operations are more than encouraged in regards to the war, but going all-out is bound to hurt your economy. Choose wisely.

In regards to your colonial empire, Governor-General Matsukata reports that the Filipino insurgency seems to be dying down thanks to the lack of Russian weapons (as they are confiscated before reaching the island). On the other hand, Governor-General Kodama reports that Russian spies have started to undermine the progress done so far in Formosa, pushing extremist groups to confront the Japanese garrison. It’s nothing big so far, but if the people start to sense weakness…

Katsura Taro is back with full force, and he finally has the powerbase he needs to work with the House of Peers and the Lower House without having to cede to Saionji in every single issue. However, the price he had to pay was to pledge his support to the nationalists, who are increasing their influence in the army at an alarming level. Some of your courtiers recommend making the Navy a stronghold for the loyalists to your person, taking advantage of the status of your naval commanders as heroes following the successful naval campaign in the East.

-Italy:

-The intelligence services have successfully infiltrated the mobsters in Rome, Naples and Calabria, but the Sicilian ones proved enormously resistant, killing all potential moles. At this rate, Sicily is pretty much an independent country considering that the crime lords control most of the lands and the local governments.

-The Greeks are constantly improving their forces thanks to your support, and they keep joining your most impulsive officers in their demands for a war. The defenseless Albania, Bulgaria, Morocco or Abyssinia, all of them potential targets for officers that are more and more emboldened after recovering Trieste and getting the desired army and navy surge.

-Your sound economic policies in regards to employment, trade and production have done a lot to improve the Italian economy for the last couple of years, and Italy is finally starting to greatly overcome other European nations like Spain. Keep up the good work here!

-With the election of Albert as Pope (see Events) and despite his enmity to your Kingdom, Prime Minister Giolitti believes there is room for a compromise and eventual negotiations to solve this dilemma.

-Austria Hungary: (Oldiesfreak: I need you to be much more active as Austria. A lack of activity may lead to you being replaced)

-While doing nothing could have been a valid choice before, the truth is that most political groups seem disappointed at your unwillingness to be a more active and strong leader. Hotzendorf has committed himself to support the war efforts along with his fellow officers, but it should be noted that, while a military victory could bolster your position, military defeat would be catastrophic not only to your popularity, but to the unity of the Empire as a whole.

-As the leader of one the largest catholic nations in the world, the election of Pope Albert could very well be considered a triumph. Albert was chosen with the votes of the Austrian cardinals, and he seems willing to repair the relationship that was damaged after the suicide of your son Rudolf in Mayerling.

-While the formal annexation of Bosnia did not cause major changes in regards to domestic policy, the minorities in Bosnia (specially the Muslims) feel extremely discriminated, and look to your as a possible fighter for their rights. Conservatives won’t hear none of it, but the minorities are getting tired of waiting and waiting for better political representation and more stable domestic policies that never come.

-USA:

Cuba has formally signed the Guantanamo Treaty, and with the expected withdrawal of most American forces from the island Guantanamo Bay is now truly yours. Congratulations, Mr. President!

An old rival is back from the dead: William Jennings Bryan. Thought politically dead after the demise of the Populists and his defeats in 1896 and 1900, Bryan has returned with a very vocal series of speeches, denouncing your administration for “imperialistic views”. Suffice to say, a growing number of Americans stand with him, even financial heavyweights like Andrew Carnegie and (for the moment, and only to weaken you) Hearst himself. Could it be that the isolationists plan to lead a massive charge in 1904?

Due to a crafty political scheme, Robert La Follette has become your Secretary of Treasury, signaling the beginning of a compromise between Conservatives and Progressives (even if Senator Hanna is not happy with it). Newberry, La Follette, Hay, Hanna and “Bloodbath” Taft, your team of allies and cabinet members, have been nicknamed “the President’s men”, by the caricaturists. La Follette, loved by the Roosevelt crowd, has started to push for anti-trust laws in order to weaken the power of Wall Street once and for all, while Taft continues to crack down on anarchism and even some pacifist organization, thus regaining some the respect he lost in the Philippines.

For many years it has been your dream to create the Panama Canal, and you were pretty close to achieving that dream. Alas, the nationalist lobby in Colombia has forced the Colombian Senate to reject the Hay-Herran Treaty, thus cancelling any chance of your nation building the Canal. The most hawkish members of the administration call to support the independence movement in Panama to win a loyal puppet and build the Canal anyway, others urge restraint.

[Lumine]

Event – Shanghai Treaty signed!

TO: United Kingdom, Russia.

The deteriorating state of affairs in the East was about to become worse with the worrying development of the situation in China. As Russian weapons and money were poured into the Chinese armies, the Chinese Generals ordered a deployment of forces near the British occupied zones, forcing a scandal that almost provoked a new escalation of the war. Alas, General Yuan Shi-Kai took advantage of the confusion to open a diplomatic channel with the United Kingdom, and after Russia almost abandoned its ally and with Empress Cixi and Prime Minister Balfour developing a good deal thanks to Yuan Shi-Kai and Lord Landsdowne, a formal treaty was signed between the British and the Chinese.

The specific terms of the treaty have not been released to the public, but apparently British units are preparing to return Shanghai, Wei-Hai-Wei and Nanjing to the Chinese, and it has been rumoured that Russian officers currently training the Chinese Army have been expulsed from the nation. All in all, it seems China will recover many lost territories without even entering the war, which has translated into a surge of popularity not only to Empress Cixi, but to Yuan Shi-Kai himself, a rising figure in the Chinese Imperial Court.

Crisis! – President Castro offers terms!

TO: Germany, Italy, Ottoman Empire and the United States.

After a long standoff in the Caribbean and with the moral support of Latin America behind him, Cipriano Castro has finally offered formal terms to the world powers to end the blockade and the crisis that has threatened to escalate into a war. President Castro’s message stated that current debts are: Bs120m in the main debt, Bs46m in interests, Bs186m in reparations claimed by merchants. Venezuela only makes Bs30m each year, so Castro proposed that he would free the captured ships and merchants, and he asked for the debt to be reduced to Bs100m, which would be paid over 10 to 15 years to avoid bankrupting Venezuela. He was very insistent in the fact that he will not allow occupation or concessions for the world powers, and his country stands behind him.

Event – Third Nobel Peace Prize to W. Cremer!

TO: All Players.

After last year’s surprising result with the award going to Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau and Wilhelm III, the Nobel Peace Prize of 1903 has gone to a less controversial figure: British MP Sir William Randall Cremer, an advocate for the use of international law courts to solve territorial disputes. Cremer, a known opponent of Lord Salisbury and PM Balfour, is currently trying to find a way to end the war in Russia. It has been reported that Vittorio Emmanuel III and William Jennings Bryan were proposed as candidates for the Rome conference and the outspoken attacks on President McKinley’s policies, but the attempts to win the prize for them went nowhere.

Event –Leo XIII dies, Cardinal Gotti becomes Pope Albert

TO: Italy, France, Austria-Hungary, other nations are open as well.

That the old and frail Leo XIII died did not surprise much of Europe, even if the man had been Pope for more than 25 years. His legacy of eleven encyclicals (he was nicknamed “Rosary Pope”) surprised Catholics across the world, but he was also very known for his fierce opposition to the Kingdom of Italy, even attempting to move to Salzburg. When he died, most people expected Cardinal Mario Rampolla (Vatican Secretary of State) to be elected, and yet, the first couple of days yielded no results. It was rumored among the College of Cardinals that Prime Minister Giolitti and King Vittorio Emmanuel were backing Rampolla, and the Cardinals were not willing to have a stooge (even if it wasn’t the case). After Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto refused the Papal Tiara, the Austrian cardinals pressed for a neutral and more spiritual candidate: Cardinal Girolamo Maria Gotti. After another day of balloting, the decision was made. Cardinal Gotti had become the first Carmelite Pope. Promising the beginning of an era of “spiritual renewal” in the Church, Gotti took the name of “Albert” after his role model, Saint Albert of Jerusalem. Gotti also took the time to snub the Italian Kingdom by stating that one day Rome will return to the church.

[Lumine]

OOC: Alright, several new potential wars, internal turnmoil, the return of some magnificent bastards and a pregnancy. Have fun with the next turn (as I know you will)!

[Lumine]

Bryan arrested? Holy mother of god!

(BTW, I am expecting to see if Oldiesfreak and Windjammer wish to add something else, but Phase 3 will be up tomorrow in the afternoon no matter what happens, and with some luck we will get a special event regarding Bryan).

[Lumine]

OOC: I actually expected to get thrashed in Asia-Pacific and do better in Europe, but I guess my fortunes have been reversed. Also, is Bulgaria a formal member of the Orthodox League now or just a co-belligerent?

I was expecting the same, but no matter how hard I tried, the numbers pushed me to that result. Bulgaria is only a co-belligerent in light of Turkish aggression, they are not interested in the League yet.

[Lumine]

Crisis! – William Jennings Bryan killed in prison, the army faces the protesters in DC!

William Jennings Bryan

1860-1903

TO: United States.

The arrest of William Jennings Bryan surprised and shocked America, as most believe believed McKinley not to mind the relentless verbal assault of the former Presidential candidate. Thousands of Americans marched on Washington D.C to protest as Bryan was interrogated by the Bureau of Investigation (which has faced a massive increase in responsibilities and assets since being created) and interrogated to determine if he was a Russian spy. Bryan was imprisoned awaiting trial, and the nation prepared itself to see Bryan use his charisma to fight in one of the most amusing trials of the century. Alas, it was not to be. One of his prison mates chose to finish Bryan's career and life by stabbing him to death and then proceeding to assault the guards with an impressive amount of violence, leaving them no option but to shot him to death. The killer's identity has not been released by the Department of Justice, and his motivations for the crime are unknown for the time being, although he has been portrayed as a Russian immigrant by some members of the administration.

Of course, this only emboldened the protesters in Washington, who were quick to accuse the President of having a hand behind Bryan's demise. In response to this terrible accusation, the protesters were accused of being Russian agents as well, and orders were given to military orders to occupy Washington DC and expel the protesters. At some moment, the protesters ended up fighting the military, leaving several dead and dozens of wounded across the capital. In the end, hundreds of protesters are in jail and awaiting a potential trail for treason and sedition, and Washington DC is currently under military control. The rest of the nation and Congress have failed to react immediately thanks to the shock, but this is not going to end well.

[Lumine]

OOC: Since Ernst and Clarence seem to be engaged in a war to the death, I might as well continue with this storyline. However, I don't expect to create any further special events or crisis regarding America until the next turn starts.

Crisis! – America bitterly divided, what will McKinley do?

TO: United States.

Sadly for the nation, the reaction of President McKinley only seemed to have made things worse and increase the distrust of the administration in some parts of the country. On one hand, his address to the nation was mostly well-recieved (and won him the conservatives), but many opponents were quick to point out that the President couldn't just declare Habeas Corpus suspended, and that the amount of troops sent to Washington was too high. Then, Senator Joel Stone suddenly took the mantle of Bryan's resistance to McKinley, spoke against the address and even stated that McKinley was guilty of conspiring to kill Bryan. He and some of his friends introduced Articles of Impeachment against the President, and all hell broke loose.

President McKinley continued to attack Congress, stating that any attempts to impeach him were mutinous, that Senator Stone was to be arrested, and he met with the leaders of the Army and Navy to secure their support in what has become the greatest Constitutional crisis since, perhaps, Johnson's failed impeachment in 1868. Protests started to expand throughout the South and some parts of New England (specially New York), and as Congress debated impeachment the nation was bitterly divided between McKinley and Bryan/Stone supporters, which Hearst staging a comeback by launching his newspapers after the President and leading the charge among the more internationalist Democrats to impeach McKinley.

The entire cabinet remains divided as well, with Secretary of State Hay and even Secretary of Defense Taft deeply worried on the outcome of the crisis. So far, they have all gathered to convince the President that, in order to defuse the crisis, he must tolerate current criticism and allow for the protest to continue instead of cracking down on them. They are confident that impeachment can be defeated on the House thanks to the Republican majority if LaFollette says loyal, but in order to achieve that some compromises have to be made. They also recommend that Senator Stone should be released from jail before he becomes a martyr.

[Lumine]

OOC: I corrected a few small mistakes in my map and I introduced the changes established by the treaty between Japan and Russia. Also, in order to go to phase 4 of the war I still need Germany and Austria. Oh, SJoyce, you need to address the problem with Korea in order to appease them in you want the war to be truly over, they are really offended by your attack.

[Lumine]

Italy welcomes peace into our time.

OOC: I can't help but to think of Chamberlain with that phrase, xD

[Lumine]

Seems the war goes on between "Mitteleuropa" and Russia, and I think I have all the answers, so turn Seven and 1904 will begin tomorrow or Tuesday.