The clouds are gathering - Feb 1938 - Feb 1939
Saruman was on his way with his chief of staff to inspect his new land armed forces.
"You have told them of the new names for their divisions?"
"Yessir, they have all been fully briefed!"
"And how did they take it?"
"Well sir, they were a bit unsure but ultimately we all trust that our leader knows best."
"Too right. It's hard not to know best with over 2,000 years of experience."
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"You look in fine condition, my fighting Uruk-Hai!"
"Yessir, we are the best of the best!"
"What is your name, commander?"
"C.S. Steele, sir!"
"Steele? Can't we change it to something more threatening? Like Grishnak?"
"Sire, I'm afraid the game code does not allow for easy changing of names sir!"
"Oh well, we'll just have to make do then."
"And you, Mister Fergusson, can I inspect your goblin forces?"
"Yessir, here they are for your perusal."
"And what are the total numbers?"
"24,000 Uruk-Hai and 10,000 goblins."
"I think we'll need more, but it's a good start."
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Saruman left the barracks and went back to Orthanc. This, he had decided, sounded a lot cooler & intimidating than "Provisional Parliament House." A title more in keeping with being a member of the Axis - who the Australians had joined in October 1938. First up he caught up with minster of industry.
"How's our factory building program coming along?"
"Well sir, the 2 factories finished and 2 more are under construction just as you requested sir, and should be finished in November."
"And are we better at building them now as you predicted?"
"Oh yes sir, much better!"
"And are we building anything else?"
"Yessir, you complained about feeling sea-sick on the way to Darwin, so we are constructing roads there."
"Excellent work!"
6.87IC and 16 months per IC, much better than over 8IC and 20 months thanks to a lot of IC efficiency tech and construction practical that has reached the lofty heights of 1.4!!
"Now then, how are our aircraft carrier plans coming along?"
"Well sir, more advances aircraft carrier technology is in progress, it will be done before our Escort Carrier is complete."
"Good stuff. Order a full-sized carrier to be constructed once the Escort is complete."
"Very good sir. It will however take 2 years to build."
"Well, you can't rush these things I suppose. And how about planes to go on the aircraft?"
"We have paid the Germans for some designs - they should be built by November."
And then it was over to the research labs. They had recently told Saruman about rockets, which he really liked the sound of.
"How goes the rocket research?"
"Sire, our research into rocket artillery is underway!"
"Good, good...now how about those secrets I have told you about seeing things far away?"
"Ah yes, we decided to call that 'RADAR' and are researching that at the moment."
"Are the capital letters important?"
"Oh yes, definitely. But it's not like it's an acronym or anything, it just looks cooler."
"Okaaayyy...... Anything else you are working on?"
"Just some more research into making our Uruk-hai and goblins better equipped and trained."
"Good work! Keep it up!"
Finally it was to the resource department.
"Give me a brief reminder of our strategy and how it is going."
"Well, Saruman sire, it was decided that we had more than enough rares for now and that we would soon have our own plentiful source of them, so we are no long bringing in excess rares. This has meant we have been able to cancel some of our supply exports, thus being able to direct more of our industrial output to production."
"Very good. And the metal and energy stockpiles?"
"Still growing sire!"
"That's all well and good for now then. We shall review later in the year."
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With that, Saruman went back to his private office and reviewed the latest reports.
On the espionage front, ruling party support was slowly bearing fruit, up from around 25% at the time of election to 40% now. The best war laws were denied to him however, as the Australians weren't at war and were unable to convince the world that New Zealand was enough of a threat. Nonetheless, Saruman's powers told him that war would be here by the end of the year. Indeed, Germany had already started expanding their own empire, though not a shot had yet been fired.
Things were definitely coming together. War was brewing, and the Australians would be ready to claim the empire that was rightfully theirs.
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Quick question - Italy hasn't joined the Axis yet - is it likely to and is there any (non-cheaty) way of making them? I want the Pact of Steel strategic effect!
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