The Colonial Years
I had to hurry back to the mainland, as the Dutch revolts were getting out of hand. My army was the only one nearby that could stop them. Because we were spending so much time on quashing revolts now, we could not possibly go to war for a while. It was just as well, we would've needed more colonies in the Ganges region and the deep Siberian steppe to properly conduct a war against China or Ayutthaya. For now, we will concentrate on the Siberian Corridor.
By February 7th, we had established cities and colonies up to the Ob river.
Unfortunately, on March 22nd, our grand Explorer, Awbari, dies. The cause is yet unknown, as it may always be, but one thing is for certain: our colonial efforts have certainly been set back a bit.
Fortunately however, our knowledge of logistics doctrine can allow us to continue our forays into deeper territory.
In April, our small colony in Tomsk was taken over by natives. This being the first ocurrance of this in many many years, the Khan is outraged. He orders all natives in Tomsk to be killed. Additional native trouble is encountered in Cambay, when 8000 tribesmen attack our force of 348 lancers, slaughtering both them and the 200+ citizens in the colony. They then destroy the village, expelling the 2 warships we had docked there. Oh, if natives start acting up, that plus the increasingly dangerous Dutch rebels, I don't know how we'll handle it...
Some good things are happening though. The city of New Uralsk in Manira was inaugurated in July, and a new colony was founded in Angara as well, while we struck hammer blows against natives all through the Empire and it's proximity.
In October, a tragedy. Karacha, the grand leader of the Indian Army, fell victim to one of the numerous jungle diseases and has died. This is a great disaster to our plans, for without the leadership of such a capable leader, our upcoming campaigns against the east will be much more difficult.
1584
On the premier day of the new year, a bloody battle for the throne occurs. The former Khan's two sons, Seidyak and Aley (different Aley than the general, mind), both claim the throne. The elder, Aley, at first takes the crown, but is murdered by his brother Seidyak minutes later. This strenthens my resolve to stay as far removed from royal affairs as possible.
Speaking of far removed, Dmitriy and his colonial armies are being mobilized. We plan to war on the Iriquois within the year. Also, our colonial efforts in India are being scaled down, to be replaced with increased interest in Tehuacan, Tampico, and Campeche, and conscripting more armies in the cities in Cali and Guatemala. Recife is being fortified to withstand any assault, and a shipyard is being built in Dominica to capacitate our possible naval needs in the New World.
Meanwhile, other military action is being taken. Rebels have worn our current standing armies down to the bone. So, new regional Armies are to be conscripted, starting with Ireland and Italy. The Irish Army based in Meath is 15K strong, while the Roman Grand Army (being based in Naples as while the facilities in Rome are upgraded to suit them) is a powerful 80 thousand infantrymen. My troops are moving to Paris, to form the base for a new Franco-Dutch Army.
At the same time, important cities are going to periodically be upgraded to regional capitals. Paris is the first city to feel these effects. Future RCs will include Berlin, Rome, London, and Constantinople. Widespread reforms are occurring across the Empire. In addition to the two shipyards in construction at Dominica and Mecklemburg, all major cities are undergoing fortress upgrades, while maufactories are being built in several provinces and efforts are underway to increase the tax income in Sochi so a shipyard can be built there as well. Gibraltar is being fortified, along with Constantinople, Jylland, and all major waypoints into bodies of water. Despite other appearances, Seidyak Khan has ordered none of these reforms. He seems content to sit in his palace in Ishimbay, eating and lounging among his harem, a feature that he has seen fit to add to the Khanal palace. Corrupt fool.... Instead, Dmitriy and I have ordered most of these actions. I dearly hope that the Khan's heirs will be better than he.....
*TIME PASSES*
On June 27th, 1588, we have done it. We have finally explored to the Pacific Ocean. We have also established a small colonial port in Okhotsk, to hold our exploration fleet scouting the Pacific coast. It is a time of great accomplishments, as mighty fortresses rise from the earth, and an Empire meets unity.
And now.... yet another nation faces destruction at its hands.....
I usually type up my AAR updates as the game goes along, so there isnt any translation from pencil to text. As for losing the files in a system crash, I don't worry about that. I usually back them up on a floppy disk as soon as I finish writing them. I should probably save the game files there too but I'm too lazy 
