“Why won’t it stop burning?”

Hey, Azure here. Hope that, if you see this, you’re doing well. This is going to be a good one, but it’ll probably take a while.

Inspired by CENTAURA/DEAD AHEAD, GATE, and other media.

CW⚠️ : lots of death, blood, violence, tough topics, shooting, shitty detail. possible trauma, drugs? Definitely drugs, violence, mentions of terrorism, civillan + military casualties the usual stuff you see here, guns that function as guns (and shrapnel), fractures (including compound), someone’s head getting blown smooth off, Injuries+ lore book tracks your blood and panic AND pain (NEW!) so you do have a chance at getting a panic attack, dying of exsanguination, or cardiac arrest. Oh, and overdosing on painkillers.

Yknow, the fun stuff I bring to the table!

Thank you Reinborld and Toasty for inspiring me to try this stuff out.

I’ll probably make like five or so of these.

Feel free to expand on this idc, if you tag it with #TheUnificationWars I’ll consider it canon or whatever.

SETTING

A ring of land encompasses the earth, mostly unbroken aside from some gaps between tectonic plates. This land is comprised of many different nations, many peaceful and contentious in their regions. However, in the subcontinent of Poclare, a new leader rises in a fallen empire, seeking to reunite the inhabitants as one.

Through any means necessary.

The Industrial Revolution has had several effects, including a minor arms race as Colonial territories become restless.

Conscription is commonplace.

You are not expected to survive.

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THE FOUR SIGNIFICANT NATIONS RN (I have thought of more, huzza)

Runii Regency:

Runii is an old state, a nation bound by tradition, monarchy, and the disciplined union of slow, agonizingly slow industrialization. Though modest in material strength, Runii forces are vast and fervently patriotic, almost all willing to die for King and Country. Infantry units fight with rifle and sword alike, equipment outdated and almost obsolete. The King’s Guard stands in the Capitol, defending Royal soil and sovereignty until their last dying breath. From the capital, Velotara endures an onslaught of Arcine artillery daily. Their goal: take as many down with them as possible. Equipped with Erqui N° 30 Rifles for the most part, a rolling-block rifle firing 12x42mmR, along with many having swords as secondary weapons.

Empire of Arcea

Definitely not just Antares

Government: Centralized, Strong Single-Party Federation under Head of Council Addermann.

Landscape: Prospering cities, steaming factories, suburban neighborhoods, black markets everywhere.

Borders: unstable, shifting daily due to the current Unification Wars, which the Government pushes as for the greater good. Cities spring up mostly near waterways—Most of Arcine trade is via shipping.

Flag: tricolor (red, blue, white,) With a U-pattern star constellation around a central star.

Elite unit: Shock Infantry, using more close-in, advanced weapons.

Infantry Weapons: K-65 Rifle as a standard rifle in 6.5x51mm, there are carbine and sniper variants for other roles.

Capital: Khurst, bustling city with heavy police presence in the inner districts near the Grand Council Building.

Torah

Government: Weak monarchy with many foreign holdings in colonial territory, which gives it surprising influence for its small size.

Landscape: dense pine forests with cobbled roads, castles dotting the hilly terrain, river valleys.

Borders: Small, centered around a single large port city of Osseris, the capital.

Flag: three-color cast with a focal point on the open end of the crown.

Elite unit: N/A.

Infantry Weapons: Same as Runii, equipped with Erqui N° 30 Rifles for the most part, a rolling-block rifle firing 12x42mmR, along with many having swords as secondary weapons.

Republic of Vesta

Government: Republic that has ten council members for ten provinces, which slows decisions significantly. Recently, they’ve agreed that the war economy needs a government kickstart.

Landscape: Prospering cities, some civilian factories, rural towns,

Borders: stretches from coast to coast with its capital, Lerus, on the northwest side of the Vestal canal.

Flag: tricolor (red, blue, white,) With a U-pattern star constellation around a central star.

Elite unit: 1st Cavalry Division

Infantry Weapons: The infantry is being trained actively on the Erqui M° 66 lever-action in .44 Erqui

People’s Republic of Solegra

Government: Harsh dictatorship run by Premier Thchagorska. Fresh nation, as they have just turned over a century-old dynasty to start their socialist utopia.

Landscape: blocky, already poorly maintained cities, many civilian factories, military factories, plenty of train yards and deep water harbors.

Borders: A wide, barren nation with many raw resources under it’s soil, covers most of the northern lands of the Poclaran subcontinent.

Flag: central Red Sea with a gold roundel, lined on the top and bottom with deep green.

Elite unit: 1st and 2nd Red Patriots, veterans of the Revolution.

Infantry Weapons: The Revolution was successful mostly due to the now mass-produced R91-30 in 7.62x54mmR, and it’s being widely distributed across the scattered, unorganized divisions. Training is limited to what they learn after getting handed the weapon and their 15 bullets.

Timeline of Events:

August 1st, 1881: in the Vestan countryside, a baby boy named “Laye” is born.

December 29th, 1888: A new Council of Arcea is elected, and James Addermann gets the seat of Head with his award-winning speech: “The Call of Unity.” He begins industrial militarization.

December 29th, 1890: Addermann is reelected, at which point the council starts objecting to his increasing power. The people, however, love him. He abolishes the election “temporarily.”

June 6th, 1895: The Arcine Ground Forces, equipped with the latest rifles and gear, invade and occupy the southern nation of Runii’s cities Kodur and Láturič with no resistance. Armored support comes in days afterward.

May 9th, 1897: Runii declares war on Arcea in an attempt to retake their cities, which turns into a slaughter in Kodur as Arcine Armored Cars mow down their infantry. One vehicle, however, is knocked out by three shots that penetrated the side armor and killed the crew. The vulnerability was noted, and later models had uparmored sides.

May 12th, 1897-September 8th, 1899: Arcea launches a devastating counterattack and their 3rd Mechanized Infantry as well as 21st Light Infantry Divisions reach the capital of Velotara.

December 12th, 1899: Arcine forces enter Velotara.

January 1st, 1900: Following the new year, Runii capitulates and is annexed in whole by Arcea. The Arcean High Command turns attention towards Runii’s smaller, southern neighbor of Torah, and begins moving their pressure to their border.

January 20th, 1901: Torah agrees to be annexed without a fight, though many patriots see this as a cowardly move and some of the Military, equipped similarly to Runii, breaks off to fight off an invasion head-on.

March 2nd, 1902: the last Toran resistance has either been stamped out or fled the country to the West, the neighboring Republic of Vesta. The Vestans are braced for a fight.

May 13th, 1905: As Arcea holds weapon trials for more advanced infantry weapons, the government demands Vesta arrest and hand over Toran fighters that had fled there. Vesta refuses and denies government involvement.

July 2nd, 1907: Arcea has moved their pressure towards the Vestan border while the Infantry is given time to recover

August 3rd, 1910: With new Light Squad Weapons, Arcine Shock Infantry with support of Armored Cars charge into fortified Vestan positions such as Trench Line Hotel. It is the highest casualty rate yet in the war.

Laye was always considered a smart boy, whether it be in school or out working in town. He picked up a sharp wit for it, along with an affinity for engines. He heard about this whole war happening just a few tens of miles from home, it was almost unbelievable. Nonetheless, he kept working and saving up. He figured he’d go to one of those nice Toran colleges, get a degree, really do something with his life.

He’d been wondering where his smarts ran out after he signed up for the volunteer corps.

He’s been in this trenches long enough that he’s helped build up the sides with scrap wood and made his own little dugout. It’s gotten a bit cozy, even this far from home.

Remember to take care of yourself.