The Empire of Duisternis

[Kevin Kingswell]

The cries and shouts of the frenzied crowd ripped and roared through the hot arid open air as the people stood around the burning remains of a white settlers mansion, a few of the younger lads in the crowd continued to brave the growing flames to throw more lit torches into the building and each attempt was met by more shouts of joy and excitement from the crowd and wails of pain, fear and loss from the family that had lived inside. This family was now tied up and dumped on the hot sand outside of their home just like so many others were experiencing across the length of the territory in Southern Africa where the natives had risen up in a wave of violence and mayhem to stake their claim back on their lands.

 

With a sharp crack the ceiling of the mansion gave way under the damage sustained and the whole building collapsed shortly afterwards, with their entertainment now gone the assembled natives turned on the ex-mansion owners and set upon them with rocks, sticks and their bare fists. When they were finished the bodies were dragged away by volunteers and buried in mass graves that were being dug by the few foreign settlers that had agreed to serve their new masters as they had once made the natives do. Such scenes were being repeated all across the lands of Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe as the natives expressed years of pent up aggression.

 

In his newly claimed grand palace at the heart of Namibia Emperor Nagash Khalid the Great reclined in his throne, one hand gripped a golden goblet filled to the brim with rich wine from Europe and the other hand rested on the arm rest of his throne, his fingers absently tapped away as he glared down at the man kneeling in chains at the base of the steps leading to his throne. Tall and well built, Emperor Nagash was a strong and confident leader who commanded instant respect from his followers and his well known wrath and temper kept them in check by fear. Right now his gaze was angrily focused on the man brought before him who unlike those from his own lands showed none of the fear or obedience he had come to expect.

 

Deciding he had made the prisoner wait long enough the Emperor took a long drink from his goblet before deciding to speak. "You dare to enter my lands" he began saying in a deep gravely voice thick with menace and anger, "you dare to come in front of my presence and tell me that your people reject my generous offer of servitude. This is an insult, an outrage! Your people should know their place and yet clearly they do not. Well I shall have to show them".

 

Nagash signaled to one of his bodyguards with the faintest of waves from his hand and the chosen man stepped forward gripped the hair of the prisoner and yanked his head back sharply before taking a dagger and slitting the man's throat. He then threw the prisoner to the floor where he gasped and choked on his own blood, kicking and squirming much to the court's amusement. When the prisoner finally expired in a pool of his own gore his body was removed by a team of servants who would ensure it was taken outside to be fed to the land's scavengers as was their custom.

 

Nagash bored with what little entertainment the killing had provided turned to his assembled court of advisers, courtiers, military staff and other followers seeking his attention. He locked his gaze on one of the few women who was dressed in a military uniform and beckoned for her to approach his throne which she did, kneeling in the rapidly drying pool of blood with no sign of discomfort. This woman was tall and lithe but it was clear to any observer that she held a restrained strength behind her beautiful body and flowing hair.

 

"Nefarata, I assign the pacification of our eastern neighbors to you. Take a force of arms and subjugate the land. Show them that they only live to serve the Empire of Duisternis and me" the Emperor commanded. Nefarata bowed her head to her Emperor and crossed one arm over her chest. "By your command my Emperor" she replied before standing and stepping back, turning and leaving the throne room to go and assemble her troops.    

 

Emperor Nagash smiled and turned back to his court, raising his voice loudly. "Bring forth more entertainment. Tonight we celebrate the soon to be joining of more brothers and sisters!!" he roared to the immediate applause of his courtiers. Nagash grinned and took another deep drink of wine as he thought of what was to come. 

Edited September 16, 2014 by Kevin Kingswell

[Kevin Kingswell]

Lady Nefarata surveyed her gathering troops from the cupola of her command vehicle, one hand absently twisted itself about her hair while the other rested on the metal rim of the observation hatch. Around her and her vehicle her soldiers dismounted from the soft trucks that had brought them to the border of Mozambique and gathered together into their separate squads. Meanwhile the few light tanks she had brought with her formed into small squadrons ready to advance at her command.

 

Turning away from her gathering forces she raised a pair of binoculars to her eyes and looked out towards the position where the enemy had positioned themselves. After failing to heed her master's command the rulers of this land had not been idle and a quick reaction force had been mobilized to the most likely border crossing location to counter any attack such as the one she was leading now. Unfortunately for them they had not been given much time and the force that opposed her was not strong enough to defeat her but it could certainly slow her advance down and buy the other defenders more time.

 

Lowering her binoculars Lady Nefarata picked up a radio in its place and raised it to her lips and hitting the button to start broadcasting. "Mortar batteries begin bombardment, tank squadrons advance and begin engaging targets of opportunity, watch for enemy anti-tank guns. Infantry advance behind the armour and prepare to assault the enemy positions" she ordered and even as she lowered the radio she heard the crisp crump of mortars being fired from behind her.

 

The mortar shells arced through the air and slammed down onto the enemy positions detonating in clouds of dust and sand at the same time as the light tanks started their engines and rolled forwards. Using high explosive shells the tankers began to assist the mortar crews in engaging the enemy hold outs while the infantry advanced up behind the armour using their armoured bulk for cover which proved very useful not long after as machine guns opened up from the hostile dug outs and those foolish or too slow to get behind the tanks were cut down. However, the enemy had made a big error in opening up so early and the machine guns were silenced one by one as the tanks and mortars focused on them. This in turn drew out the enemy anti-tank teams as two anti-tank guns fired, the track of one tank was blown clean off and another was penetrated and set ablaze the crew either burning alive inside or crawling out of the hatches to roast on the open ground.

 

Just as with the machine gunners though these anti-tank guns were targeted and destroyed, their crews either killed or sent running. With their heavy guns removed the morale of the defenders broke and their turned and burst from their positions running as fast as their feet could carry them. Lady Nefarata contemplated letting them run without intervention but her orders had been quite clear and she gave the command for the armour to continue to pursue and engage the retreating enemy. In the meantime she ordered her infantry to search the enemy positions for any arms and ammunition they could find to add to her forces overall stockpile. This done she ordered her command vehicle to advance to personally join with her troops. 

 

OOC: Mozambique 1/5

Edited September 15, 2014 by Kevin Kingswell

[Kevin Kingswell]

Direct aggression were not the only weapons in the Duisternis' arsenal subterfuge and assassination were also called upon as the agents and assassins of the Empire began their work. Local tribal leaders opposed to the Empire's intervention were either killed or replaced with more sympathetic ones, military commanders were assassinated leaving their commands in confusion, strategic targets of opportunity were annihilated and in the north of Mozambique an uprising, sponsored by the Empire, rose up and started to take control. The local government had little choice but to divert some of its forces that had been preparing to fight Nefarata's attack group to the north to deal with this uprising. Alone and unsupported the uprising was swiftly wiped out and most of its leaders killed or captured but it did mean that lady Nefarata was able to push her advantage and storm ahead to a trio of victories with few losses and forcing the Mozambique military back. 

 

Pleased at the progress he was hearing back from his Lady General Emperor Nagash sent a secondary force lead by General Arkhan Alar to the north eastern border of Mozambique. His orders were to swiftly advance up and around to catch the now returning enemy troops who had been sent to pacify the uprising and destroy them. To achieve this his forces were outfitted with light tanks and all of his infantry traveled in the newer more modern half tracks that the Empire had constructed rather than the usual soft skinned trucks. It was expected they would meet in battle within a day or two.

 

OOC: Mozambique 2/5

[Kevin Kingswell]

The military might of the Empire is being mobilized across the nation in preparation for Operation: Red, simple code name to not reveal too much information, soldiers on leave have been recalled to their units and arms and equipment are being readied for immediate use. The air fleet of the nation is also being readied to carry out its part in Operation: Red with fighters and bombers being prepared for immediate scramble as and when needed. 

 

Civilians are being told to stay in their homes and to only move to and from work and other required visits when it is a necessity. Hospitals both military and civilian are getting themselves ready to face an influx in numbers and are ensuring all supplies are topped up and full as such.  

 

The borders of the nation have been closed and a very tight lid is being put on all outbound and inbound media and communication sources and the intelligence departments of the military are on higher alert for any enemy spies and other infiltrators.  

[Kevin Kingswell]

Operation Red commenced. The forces had been gathered and now they began their advance, a massive total amount of one million soldiers in soft skinned trucks backed up by two thousand T-26 and BT-7 light tanks as well as one thousand T-34 medium tanks roared across the borders into Angola and Zambia. With the planes of the Imperial air force flying ahead they carried out their missions, the heavy bombers saturated enemy military bases and airfields with bombs, the smaller bombers targeted enemy defensive positions and the fighter planes engaged and fought with Angola and Zambia fighter planes in dog fights.

 

The massive numbers and superior equipment of the Empire meant that all opposition was easily smashed aside, the misinformation campaign had been a success fooling both nations into thinking the attack was going to be against the British. What few losses were suffered were within acceptable parameters and the industry in the mainland could easily replace them. For now the advance continued across the border and aimed for both nation's capitals.

 

OOC: Angola and Zambia 1/5

 

In Mozambique Lady Nefarata continued to thrash and destroy her enemies who had suffered after losing their northern reinforcements to the sneak attack by General Arkhan. Together the two forces were now in full pursuit of the fleeing remnants of the Mozambique military who were trying to retreat to their capital to put up one last valiant last stand in the hopes of performing some sort of miracle to save themselves. Soon time would tell if they really could.

 

OOC: Mozambique 3/5     

[Kevin Kingswell]

The Angola and Zambia air force had been utterly devastated for minor losses that the Imperial industry was already working on replacing, with the skies belonging to the Empire strafing and bombing of enemy ground concentrations commenced. This meant that when the ground forces were brought to battle they had to only defeat scattered and disorientated enemy forces which were swiftly brought to heel. Many such groups actually decided to surrender than fight to the death and they would find themselves stripped of their weapons and military equipment but given plenty of food, water and rest and treated very well.

 

OOC: Angola and Zambia 2/5

 

The final battle of Mozambique was swift, bloody and without a doubt going to belong to the Empire, though losses among the armour were moderate and heavier still for the infantry they battle turned out to be a victory for Lady Nefarata and General Arkhan. Soundly beaten and faced with little choice the local government of Mozambique agreed to have the nation join as the newest part of the Empire. The surviving troops of the conflict were stood down and allowed to have rest and relaxation whilst civilian crews and other personnel were brought in to start repairing the damage done to Mozambique and to start reforming their culture and identify to that of the Empire.

 

OOC: Mozambique 4/5  

[Kevin Kingswell]

Mozambique was folded into the Empire of Duisternis, its people forced to become loyal citizens or slain out right. The local culture was torn down and destroyed beyond recovery and replaced by the Imperial culture. Soldiers and police enforcement officers from the Empire patrolled the streets and kept the peace, even the smallest hint of rebellion or dissent was crushed. It would still take some time but it was all but a forgone conclusion that Mozambique was apart of the Imperial territory now. 

 

OOC: Mozambique 5/5

 

The Angola and Zambia military were destroyed, only small tattered remnants were left remaining and they could not stop the tide of Imperial might. The armed forces of the Empire rolled into and through the cities and towns of the two independent nations, their citizens watching on with horrified and terrified eyes. They were beaten and they knew it, it would now be up to the cultural staff of the Empire to convert or destroy their culture as was needed and to replace it with the Empire's own.

 

OOC: Angola and Zambia 3/5 

[Kevin Kingswell]

The tearing down and replacing of foreign culture continues in all the newly acquired pieces of territory gained by the Empire and the military forces within those territories have been positioned to the north of the land and ordered to start construction of basic defensive fortifications along the borders. Some smaller units recovering from battle losses have been given different orders to patrol and protect the efforts of the Imperial citizens who are working to build up and maintain the new Imperial culture and way of life.  

 

OOC: Angola and Zambia 4/5 

[Kevin Kingswell]

The procedure to incorporate the new territory into the Empire was almost complete all that was needed now was for a little time to pass to allow the new citizens to grow use to their changed circumstances. To help them with this civil protection officers were on constant watch and standby to halt and deal with any violent or negative outbursts. Imperial military forces would head to the north of the recently claimed territory to assist those already there in preparing fortifications and to ready themselves for their next operation.  

 

Of course with the recently signed agreement with the Empire of Britain plans and systems were put in place to hand control of Rhodesia and Zambia over to British control but not before almost every natural resource in those two lands had been stripped and shipped back to Imperial territory. 

 

OOC: Angola and Zambia 5/5