Onto Old Glory: An Imperial Timeline

GOVERNMENT MEETING ROOMS AUDIO FILES

Coltstream Sumit

"..and now the last thing on the agenda." River Swirl said as she levitated the list, as she stared at it for a moment. The last thing on the list was the most contraversial one yet, and yet the most important one: interactions between the human nations. "How the River Coalition will interact with humanity." she said in a calm voice, and yet she saw that everycreature in the room was clearly getting increasingly... uncomfortable is the word that comes to mind.

Their involvement in the Aquilan Revolution had left the world distraught at the methods in which Britain and France used in order to crush it. In exchange, the Kingdom of Aquileia had joined the League of Nations (the first native nation to do so), but it was clear as day that Aquileia was now a puppet in all but name.

Every nation within the Coalition had initially condemed the atrocities and imposed sanctions on the two nations for what they were doing in Aquileia. However, that simply did not work because the British already made trade agreements with Skyfall and the French, with the Germans, were next. The human companies had already asked for license of trade within the nations of the Coalition, and only one has accepted: Diamond Mountain.

The effects were already quite shocking as the companies, more so the Edison Imperial Eletric Company and the AEG, had pratically catapulted the mountainous country into an industrial revolution. King Rover Diamondshield had gotten filthy rich from all the contracts (as those companies more or less desired mining rights to the crystals), especially after Diamond Mountain was exporting Crystals to the human nations as requested by the companies. Those companies had even crushed a slave rebellion before it even started by putting explosive collars on all the dog slaves.

Of course, everyone else in the Coalition was horrified at the horrific practices and lack of care for the workers, but there was one problem: the human nations were still getting richer. And their primary enemy, the Griffonian Empire, had just signed a treaty of Non-Belligerence with Germany a few days ago, both sides sending military attachés, and to make things worse, the Hasburgs had paid IG Farben, a german medical megacorporation, to treat and cure Kaiser Grover V von Griffenheim. A surgery was conducted at the Imperial Palace in Griffenheim and Grover V came out looked better than ever. The IG Farben representitives told the news that the Kaiser needed some rest but should be feeling perfectly well in about a month.

Everycreature knew what that meant: an alliance between the UKG and the Griffonian Empire was now inevitable.

This was obviously very bad for the stability of the Coalition. If the Griffonian Empire got their claws on the technology, even a small percentage of it (seeing as the League of Nations refused to share the technology under the pretext of 'global security'), the Riverlands might as well unfurl the yellow and orange banner and start learning Herzlander (or German depending on who is asking).

However, not all hope was lost. The UKG had also offered diplomatic talks with the River Coalition's member states, even the British knocked on their doors to talk. This was the subject of discussion for the Sumit.

"What is there to be said?" asked King Grimhoof of Deponya, crossing his hooves as he leaned back against his chair. "It is clear there is no other choice but to have diplomatic relations with the League of Nations."

White Star, Queen of Wittenland, was not very pleased at that prospect. "Forgive me, but must we really? These creatures don't follow our principles. I've already sent a few ponies to visit London, and they tell me stories that appear out of horror stories!" she blurted out as she placed her hooves on the table.

"Yes, but what about their technology?" asked Springtime Frost, president of the Republic of Lake City, who looked at White Star with a displeased face. "These beings, from what've gathered, have capabilities beyond our wildest imagination! Their knowledge is leauge ahead of even your unicorns, White Star." he said in an irratated tone.

"I mean, they did cure the Griffonian Kaiser of what was essentially a terminal illness." added President Water Lily of the Bakaran Republic. "And, even according to British reports, they are pumping out more ships in 3 months than what all of the best ship builders in all of Bakara can make in a year." she said as she sighed. "We can't realistically expect to fight a nation that already has activated 4 battleships in 3 months and win."

"Come on, guys!" chuckled Rover Diamondshield, as he leaned against the round table. "Why are we even discussing this? The answer is obvious!"

"Says the dog that sold his country." rebutted White Star.

"Ey, I'm still filling my country's coffers and production is up by mountrous levels! " barked Diamondshield. "Eitherway, I'm supporting the notion of engaging diplomatic relations with the League of Nations."

"For once, I agree with the king." River Swirl said. She may not like the imperialism and utter disregard that the British showcased, but they still had democratic instituions and offered good living conditions. "We can't allow the Griffonians to get too friendly with the humans. Anypony remembering how quickly Stalliongrad collapsed in the face of the Russian onslaught will know that we can't atagonize those nations. " She inhaled, as she placed on a stern face while exhaling. "I move that we open diplomatic relations with the League of Nations."

The room fell into silence, as if all of them were waiting for anycreature else to make a notion against it. But not even White Star could debate what happened in Stalliongrad as that country got roflstomped so badly that they are now a puppet state of Equestria in all but name.

They didn't want to engage with mankind but reality would no longer afford them the luxury of selective discussion since mankind arrived. These nations were only weakened due to the lack of manpower and lack of resources, but once those issues were fixed, they would be unstoppable. As such, the brutual truth was either diplomatic friendship with the more friendlier nations or inevitable destruction.

The vote came unnanimous.

Karthin, Royal Palace Conference Room

It's been a few days since the King had declared martial law and dissolved the Chambers of Deputies using his royal prerogative since he had his discussions with Prime Minister Gallo Ventriglio. King Garibald Talonuel III sat in a very opulet, yet still luxurious small room with his selected ministers to discuss the lion in the room: Imperial Britain and the League of Nations.

The swift crushing of the Aquilan Revolution with the force of a hammer had shaken the entire continent of Griffonia, and the republican cause to its' core. The sheer brutality, and the absolute hatred for republics by mankind, in which the Revolution was handled either completely ended any republican thought in countries next that were within proximity of Imperial Britain or France, or amplified it, such as the Griffonian Republic's increase in action (as they have begun heavy militarization).

All of the nations, however, began the process of opening diplomatic relations with the League of Nations (in the least). It was simply a question of the level of diplomatic relationship. The King had made those observations. However, it was his turn since Britain had sent a diplomatic delegation to Wingbardy to discuss diplomatic relationships between Britain and Wingbardy.

The King sighed, as he rubbed his claws against his eyeballs, before letting them fall onto the oak table. He looked at the group that he had selected as his advisors were waiting for their monarch to speak. Garibald looked to his left, seeing his new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Grino Grandi. He waved his claw as it hit the table again. “Speak.”

“Well, vostra maestà, as you know, the Foreign Office of the British has come to us regarding our standing and with an offer.” the purple griffon began in a calm tone. “Their offer..” he holds a paper in the air before looking back at it. “..is increased diplomatic relations between us and Wingbardy. “ he said as he looked at the paper, before looking at the King. “They are conditions. Such as the matter of New Mareland, which the British have made claims over. And mutual cooperation and understands of colonial matters. That’s quite literally it.”

Silence befell in the entire room. The King raised an eyebrow at that proposition as it was audicious. But, a thought went through his mind, and he decided to ask. “Has Britain made any claims over Talouse or Francistria?”

The griffon shook his head. “Not really. The British have informed my office that, should any situation present itself, the Imperial Confederation will take over New Mareland.”

“All they want is New Mareland?”

“Indeed.” Grandi said. “The British have expressed unusual..” the purple griffon left his mouth open as he thought of a word, before clacking his beak closed. “...eagerness to begin cooperations with us. We have also recieved a notice from their ‘Buckingham Palace’ that..” the griffon grabbed the other letter, staring at the fanciest font of writting he has ever gazed his eyes upon, before he read it. “..’Her Royal Majesty, Queen-Empress Victoria, has expressed her solem intention to see if His Majesty, King Garibald Talonuel, third of his name, would be pleased for tea in London.’” said the griffon before he flipped it, adjusted it and placed it on the table. “I believe you should take the opportunity, vostra maestà.”

The King merely sighed as he thought about what the situation entailed. Garibald would be the first monarch to visit Buckingham Palace since not even Vivinne Discret had recieved such an invitation even though the British had effectively placed her on the throne. And besides, if the horror stories of what occured during the ‘Great Supression of the Revolution’ were to be believed, Garibald really had no choice if he didn’t want his nation to become a smoldering ruin due to an insult to the Queen of Britain. There was, however, benefit to be gained from this as the British would, perhaps, share their technological advancements, even just their technologies that the British considered outdated, would throw Wingbardy into something of a technological golden age.

The King nodded. “Very well then, make it happen.” he sighed.

FILE #716452 - CITIZEN Hyper Power
UNITED KINGDOMS OF GERMANY

BEEP... BEEP... BEEP... clank

Hyper Power’s hoof trailed from the alarm clock, as he shuffled himself around the bed. The purple-coated earthpony stallion opened one eyeball, barely having the eyelids open for full vision, staring at the digital numbers written on the clock: A full dotted 7 in the morning.

His lips gave out a soft groan, before he pulled himself up, huched back against his own weight before he moved his hooves to rub his eyeballs. Hyper Power had just recieved a new job at one of those ‘Tesla Tower’ facilities. What it was, he had no idea, but he took the job if it meant putting his eletrical engineering degree to work, he would take it.

Hyper Power slid down from bed, letting his hooves hit the wooden floor before he went to the kitchen and began brushing his own teeth. A few minutes later, and the stallion went out of the bathroom and trotted over to his wardrobe, pulling the handle bars and looking inside it. He stared at the clothes he had, before he grabbed some simple wear and a cadet hat and placed it on his head. His ears twiched slightly at the fabric before his eyes looked back down.

Inside the drawer were his identification card and his relocation papers. Hyper had been hired by the RWE AG (Rheinisch-Westfälisches Elektrizitätswerk Aktiengesellschaft) as part of a mass hiring spree by the German government to kickstart the German industrial machine. Hyper knew that he may have been one of the only few ponies that stayed within the UKG’s territory due to the mass exodus of ponies that left the territory out of fear for the unkown. But once Hyper got to know what he was dealing with, he liked it here. The German government even offered him dual citizenship.

He grabbed the ID, before grabbing a saddlebag, throwing it onto his back before slidding the ID. He then went to the kitchen of his studio apartment and grabbed some hay for later. He then looked at the mirror, taking in the fact that this was his life now. He stared at the industrial worker with his bright-yellow eyes before giving himself a small grin. He then trotted out of the apartment, closed the door behind him, grabbed the key out with his mouth, turning it as the door locked with a click. He then spat the key into the saddlebag and then trotted down the hallway. He lived on the ground floor so he was immediately outside the housing complex.

Hyper Power took a breath of air before he began to give a slight cough. The air was already slightly polluted, but not that much since regulations imposed by the Sozialistischer Bund (SB) allowed it. And the UDP also funded into more eco-friendly technology that would purify the air coming out of chimneys. However, as of now, the UDP’s only concern was to get the German economy up and running, the environment be damned.

He trotted forward before his hooves touched the asphalt, trotting past several humans, before he heard some chanting. Hyper turned his head to the right, seeing people chanted “Einheit!” and “Wir wollen ein geeintes Europa!”. The flags waved were dark-blue with a circle of stars and a red cross on a dark-yellow circle. Some were carrying a long sigh that said “Gemeinsam sind wir stark! GETRENNT UNTERGEHEN WIR!”

Hyper had seen many such protests since he moved here. Once they got so big that he had to be escorted by the police to his work. He saw many humans carrying clipboards that most likely had petitions on them. There were signs even in other languages.

Hyper turned his head away from the distraction to continue on his path to work. The chantings were getting quieter and quieter as he trotted away further. The street was starting to get busy with bicycles before Hyper saw a news board on the side of the road. Curiosity killed the cat, as they say, and he decided to take a look at the news board. Hyper had made an effort to learn German since his job required to learn the language, so he would often look at news board to remember the words he had done with his German teacher.

Some were simply party insults, others were from the “Happening World” which said that the British government was putting a bill through the House of Commons to centralize authority in London and form the United Imperial Commonwealth due to so many petitions wish so. Another article spoke of Wingbardy delegates meeting in London to discuss the partition of Abyssinia. And then another newspaper told the Reichstag was already putting pressure on the German government to adress the “European Idea”, most of it coming from the SB.

One final article said that Crowned Prince Otto von Hasburg had signed a Treaty of Non-Belligerence with Kaiser Grover V in Herzland following the operation that had saved Grover’s life. Some griffons from Yale were already screetching to understand the technology.

Hyper simply shrugged before he continued to walk. 10 minutes of walking had finally led him to arrive to the encampmanet which held the big iron-skeletal structure which had a big metal ball at the top that was the Tesla Tower. This thing, he was told, appearntly supplied the entire region with electricity. Either way, the stallion simply trotted towards the area, as he walked towards the security checkpoint. The human asked one question: “Deine Ausweis, bitte.”

Hyper simply moved his hoof into his saddlebag, grabbing the ID before holding it up. The human grabbed it, took one look at it, and placed it back on Hyper’s hoof, gesturing for him to go.

Hyper gave a simple acknowledgement nod before he trotted forward into the yard. Hyper then reached the door, as he pushed it open and walked into the locker room. He threw in his saddle bag in the designated locker, and grabbed the safety equipment, adjusting the hardhat on his head tightly before putting his hoof on the metal, closing the locker as he turned around and started walking towards his designated spot.

The air was eletrical, as buzzings could be heard everywhere. During his training he was informed of two very important things when one works in a Tesla Tower. One, it connects people to the GWN (Global Wireless Network) and secondly, it makes eletricity by itself. So unless he wanted to be fried to death, Hyper Power ought to not touch the damned tower. He simply trotted towards a control room.

After he reached the door, he placed his hoof onto the door handle, pulling down as it unlocked, opening for him, as he trotted in.

“Morning, Hyper.” waved a 32-year old man in a white-coat.

“Hello there, Fredrick.” Hyper Power answered before he climbed onto the chair. He then tapped on the black and green screen, typing his number and password. “How’s Mara doing?” Hyper asked while waiting for the system to acknowledge his credentials.

“Ja, she’s doing fine! Now that school has be reopened. “

“Right-o then.” Hyper Power then looked back at the screen, as he pressed a hoof on it to take him to the main panel. “ACCESS RESTRICTED - SUPERVISOR ACTIVATION KEY REQUIRED.”

Hyper blinked. He then looked around the area. The supervisor’s chair was empty. Hyper looked around, seeing the supervisor nowhere.

“Where in Tarturus is Peter?”

Just as fate would have it, Peter then slammed into the room, the door hitting the concrete wall with a thrust as Peter looked absolutely misreable. “Sorry, everyone!” he shouted. “I got stuck trying to get through one of those damned Unity protests. They were doing a march, interlocking fucking arms..” the 40-year old man in a lab coat said as he closed the door, before removing his bag off. “..and one of them got my arm. I had to show my ID to the Ordungspolizei for them to grab me out of that march!”

“They have been becoming an issue, ja.” commented Fredrick.

“So it seemed.” said Hyper as he leaned against the table.

Peter sighed as he agreed, before turning on the systems and removing the restriction.

Another day at work began.