A Bridge Zhou Far - Three Stars Rising [Concluded]

[Subotan]

A Bridge Zhou Far

Or, Three Stars Rising

A journey of a thousand li starts with a single step. – Lao Tzu

October 24th 1938

Whilst the world focuses on Europe, and the dreams of one madman, the thunder of war has already rumbled in the East for a year. This is the Second-Sino Japanese War, a conflict that would later merge with the Second World War. Japanese soldiers have swarmed out of Manchukuo into the Republic of China, capturing Peking, Shanghai and Nanking, often with horrific brutality. . The actions of the People’s Extraordinary Detachment (PEXDET) will prevent Wuhan from joining that list. This particular force is under the command of Captain Subotan, who was meeting with Kuomintang forces in the town of Heihui Chen in order to launch a counter attack out of Guei Sui Valley and seize control of the Yangtze, thereby cutting off Japanese forces in Wuhan. Plans were discussed with Colonel Bei Bi, commander of the KMT forces in Heihui Chen. The Colonel noticeably stiffened when Comrade Subotan walked into the room, and he appeared to have some difficulty bowing in greeting to the Communists. Subotan made a mental note to develop a personal dislike towards him. Regardless of the relationship between the two commanders, it was agreed that the following morning, both armies would march down to confront the Japanese in battle, with the KMT artillery that were overlooking the valley they were camped in providing covering fire during the assault.


October 25th 1938, 03:00 Central Beijing Time, Heihui Chen.

Lan Ben Dan shivered as a wind blew through into the mouth and up the Guei Sui Valley. Watching the entrance to the town, he was responsible for making sure that the United Front troops did not receive unwelcome visitors during the middle of the night. Well, he and another Communist soldier were meant to be standing watch, along with two other KMT soldiers, but it looked like they were all too lazy to bother. He didn’t blame them. This would be the last peaceful sleep that any of them would get prior to the attack tomorrow. Heck, it could even be the last sleep they’d ever get.

Lan stamped his feet in an attempt to keep warm. His limp cigarette, clamped between tight lips and stamped with Cyrillic, glowed briefly. After a minute or so of this “exercise”, he stopped, now thoroughly toasty. But the sound of footsteps didn’t stop. A faint pattering could be heard, coming from outside the town. Lan strained his ears to make sure he wasn’t about to raise the alarm because of a goat, or that liquor he’d had earlier to keep warm. He quickly realised that it was definitely not a sheep, or mild intoxication, so he cocked his rifle and went to peer down the sights.



That distinctive clicking sound one hears when a bolt on a rifle is pulled back was muffled by the sound of a tank shell slamming into the hut Lan Ben Dan had stamped in, unfortunately killing him. An engine then started with a splutter that quickly levelled into a dirty snarl and a Japanese tank rolled into view. Swarms of Japanese soldiers erupted from the undergrowth like bees from a hive, and charged up to the ruins of the guardhouse. The treads of the tank ground and ripped the earth as they dragged the machine up the small hill.



The tank heaved up the hillock, and its front end swung through the air before smashing into the ground once the summit was reached. With Heihui Chen both defenceless and unaware of the attack, the tank’s main cannon opened fire into the city.

***

Captain Subotan stormed outside his tent to find that the town of Heihui Chen was under attack by the Japanese. An orange glow emanated from the far end of town, as did screams, cracks and low booms. His name was called, and Subotan turned around to see panicked Corporal Mei Yi Sei run up to him

“Corporal! What in the name of Lao Tzu is going on?”

“We don’t know! I have no idea how they could have found us! They must have known about this for days, as there’s no way they could have mobilised tanks if they’d just discovered us”!

“Arggh! Where’s Colonel Bei Bi? I presume the Kuomintang is counter attacking with their artillery?”

“They’ve disappeared! They must have been wiped out in the initial attack.”

“That’s impossible; the Japanese would need air support.”

Whilst others gathered around Subotan, waiting for orders, the Corporal pulled some binoculars out of a pouch hanging from his waist and inspected the ridge where the Kuomintang artillery was raining righteous justice upon the Japanese. Or rather, should have been.

“I don’t see anything Captain. Not even any wreckage.”

“That lying bastard! He knew we were going to be attacked, and he let us take the brunt of it so he could escape. Reactionary scum!”

Before the Corporal could reply, there was a Prauff as a bullet hit Mei’s temple, and the rest of him collapsed. The others around Subotan anxiously pressed him for orders, their faces full of confusion and fear.

“The only way the Japanese could have discovered us is if they have infiltrated our unit and are hiding amongst us, sending information and reports back to their headquarters. The same goes for the Kuomintang, as they-”

An explosion not 100 metres away, engulfing some Communist partisans, cut Subotan short.

“There’s no way we can hold this town, not against artillery and heavy armour. Give the order to ‘RETREAT!’”

The soldiers didn’t need telling twice, and the irregulars grabbed their weapons, some supplies and ran for their very survival up the valley, out of the town and into the mountains of Central China.



Short shouts indicated when a comrade had been unlucky enough to be picked out by a Japanese sniper. Subotan was panting for breath, and as each step became harder and harder, he fell further and further behind. A log lying between two rocks caused the Captain to stumble and fall, crashing into the earth. A Japanese soldier who was in hot pursuit noticed this, and the hail from bullets which spewed forth from his weapon made sure that Captain Subotan never got back up.

October 25th 1938, 04:30 Central Beijing Time, 4 km North West of Heihui Chen.

It had been twenty minutes since the last Chinese soldier had made it to the out and over the top of Guei Sui Valley. The ones who had huddled around in small groups, mourning friends and patriots lost, with some crying, others scouring the valley with binoculars for survivors, and the majority just staring into space.



Eventually, one of the latter stood up.

“That’s it, we’re the only ones left alive. Has anyone done a roll call?”

Everyone shook their heads, and a quick head count estimated that there were about 40 men present.

“40? Out of 218? In that case, there’s no way we can complete our objectives, even if we had Nationalist support. A full scale strategic retreat is our only option. It’s what the Captain would have done, were he alive.
And we can’t retreat back to Nationalist territory, not after what happened. They’d kill all of us, seeing as we know the truth as to why Wuhan will fall. So, it’s all the way back to Yan’an Soviet for us.”

A shudder swept through the company. They remembered the last time that Communists had had to do that, and it wasn’t pretty. Indeed, some present had even been veterans on that march; they shuddered most of all.

“Before we set out though, we need a leader. It is vital that we have strong leadership to guide us over 1,000 kilometres. So, I propose that we now elect a Chairman to lead us, and that he pick a cabal of officers, to advice and act for him.”

Nods of agreement could be seen throughout the grouping.

“However, before we set out, I must pass on to you what I heard from Captain Subotan moments before he died. He said that we must have been infiltrated by both the Kuomintang, and the Japanese. I have no idea if they are still within this company, but the risk is apparent. We may need to take action to purge our worker’s collective of Rightist influence.”

Steely stares and grim scowls met this unpleasant news, and whilst the workers were busy thinking of who might be a traitor, the soldier who had been speaking slipped back into the ranks. Due to it being very dark, nobody could recall his name, face or voice. Either way, it was clear that he didn’t want to be identified, and that his advice was sound. And as the rising sun broke through the mountains of China to glare upon the Marxists in their mountain hideout, the Communists gathered their packs, hoisted their rifles onto their backs and began their long descent, and their long march, unsure and mournful.

***

This is an election phase. The players will now vote for who they think should be Chairman. This office is one that shall be held for life. A letter of resignation is effectively a death warrant. No players will be lynched this phase. The Chairman will then pick an Officer Corps to serve him. Anyone wishing to become an Officer (But not the Deputy) must put their names forward, or be nominated by someone else.

This phase will last for 23 hours, until 21:00 GMT+1.

Alive players: 40/40
ACIN
ArpeggiateTHIS
autolycus
AVSM
Azathoth
Beefy187
Beskar
Captain Blackadder
Chaotix
Cultured Drizzt fan
Cute Wolf
Death is yonder
Double A
GeneralHankerchief
johnhughthom
Jolt
Joooray
landlubber
M3YUZ
Methos
miotas
Nictel
Niklas
Pinman
Psychonau
Renata
Romanic
Sasaki
Seamus Fermanagh
Secura
shlin28
Sigurd
spL1tp3r50naL1ty
taka
TheFlax
Thermal Mercury
wideyedwanderer
Winston Hughes
Wishazu
Yaseikhaan
YLC

Lynched players 0/40

Killed Players 0/40

[Double A]

elect: Beefy187

Townie town town!

Officul tallie!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Beefy187 (1): Double A
Not voting: (39):ACIN
ArpeggiateTHIS
autolycus
AVSM
Azathoth
Beefy187
Beskar
Captain Blackadder
Chaotix
Cultured Drizzt fan
Cute Wolf
Death is yonder
GeneralHankerchief
johnhughthom
Jolt
Joooray
landlubber
M3YUZ
Methos
miotas
Nictel
Niklas
Pinman
Psychonau
Renata
Romanic
Sasaki
Seamus Fermanagh
Secura
shlin28
Sigurd
spL1tp3r50naL1ty
taka
TheFlax
Thermal Mercury
wideyedwanderer
Winston Hughes
Wishazu
Yaseikhaan
YLC

[Subotan]

It's an election phase AA >_>

[Double A]

Fixed

[Azathoth]

Vote: Azathoth for Chairman! I'm not Japanese!

DO I LOOK JAPANESE TO YOU?

HUH? DO I?

LOOK AT MY FACE! ROOK AT IT!

[Double A]

We do not approve of racism on the org

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

However, we do on TWC. Well done!

[Subotan]

@Azathoth

When you're electing a Chairman, use Elect:Subotan, rather than Vote:Subotan, as the latter implies you're lynching him.

[Azathoth]

Elect: Azathoth

The spirit of our fallen leader guides me with his wisdom!

[ArpeggiateTHIS]

Elect: ArpeggiateTHIS

FREEDOM FROM THE CONSTRAINTS OF CAPITALISM....PROLETARIAT....mumblemumble...JUSTICE....for all...

[Cute Wolf]

A real Chinese for Chairman!!!
Elect: AVSM

[wideyedwanderer]

Vote: a completely inoffensive name Reasoning: He wouldn't share his Wendy's fires with his gf. I would think a commie would be forced to share his food. Also, I just don't know who else to vote for. Don't feel like bandwagoning beefy, and I don't want to vote for Azathoth because so far he's been the funniest person in the game:

Vote: Azathoth for Chairman! I'm not Japanese!

DO I LOOK JAPANESE TO YOU?

HUH? DO I?

LOOK AT MY FACE! ROOK AT IT!

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

Vote: a completely inoffensive name Reasoning: He wouldn't share his Wendy's fires with his gf. I would think a commie would be forced to share his food. Also, I just don't know who else to vote for. Don't feel like bandwagoning beefy, and I don't want to vote for Azathoth because so far he's been the funniest person in the game:

Vote: wideeyedwanderer


You want us to lynch an officer??

[shlin28]

Huh, I didn't flee from my evil landlord just to be ordered around by a bunch of unelected kulaks.

Vote: ACIN

Only the uneducated mass can truly bring about a revolution, not some false Communists elevated to positions of authority.

[johnhughthom]

Townie town town!

Looks forward to whatever punishment the host can cook up. Elect: Niklas

DO I LOOK JAPANESE TO YOU?

HUH? DO I?

LOOK AT MY FACE! ROOK AT IT!

I have visions of a Chinese Homer Simpson shaking his fist saying that.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Elect: GH

One of these days I'm actually going to get this role.

[Beskar]

[Sorry, couldn't resist - GH]

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

I doubt anyone will be able to top that. Comrade Beskar it is!

Elect: Beskar

[Subotan]

It has just occured to me, looking through the sign up thread, that I did not elaborate on the town investigation process.

It is a variant upon GH's layer cake investigation system. On the first investigation, the resistance of a player to a particular weapon will be revealed, if they have one. The second investigation will reveal if they are susceptible to anti-Marxist propaganda, whilst the third will reveal if they are a Communist, or not.

[taka]

選我, 我是一個真正的中國人!

選: taka

(Elect Taka)

[Renata]

vote: General Hankerchief

Comrade Beskar, I am truly sorry to decline your generous offer, but I rate our chances higher with the General, if you are both good Communists. You are equally clever, but the General has less of a history of antagonizing those who should be his allies. If you are not -- and I wish there were a realistic option who had not promoted himself -- then I prefer the option who has not, to my knowledge, attempted to hand-pick his officers.


(Meant elect and not vote, will correct in a new post.)

[Cute Wolf]

Ok, Ok, all of your campaigning actions just get the better of me Beskar.... I suppose you are good enough...
Unelect: AVSM, Elect : Beskar

[Renata]

elect: General Hankerchief

[Beskar]

then I prefer the option who has not, to my knowledge, attempted to hand-pick his officers.

Instead, you shall settle for the one who sells his positions of power for support, opposed to the one who shall pick based on ability, merit and skill, to successfully lead the communist revolution?

The "General" is one ingrained with American Chicago politics. Bent on corruption and ill wishes upon the people. He would stop at nothing for a glimpse of power.

[Winston Hughes]

Elect: YLC

The One True Voice of the People!

[Renata]

Instead, you shall settle for the one who sells his positions of power for support, opposed to the one who shall pick based on ability, merit and skill, to successfully lead the communist revolution?

The "General" is one ingrained with American Chicago politics. Bent on corruption and ill wishes upon the people. He would stop at nothing for a glimpse of power.

I'm not so convinced you really chose on merit, Comrade Beskar, that's the thing. As far as I can tell it appears to be "people I talk to a lot", with possibly just a dash of "people I think I can manipulate". I'm fairly certain I qualify on both counts.

I wish I could be sure the General will be any better, but at least he appears a bit more transparent thus far. Let us hope that continues. I am sorry to disappoint you.

(Also lol Chicago politics.)

[Subotan]

Round ends in approximately 47 minutes.

[wideyedwanderer]

General Handkerchief, I did not vote for you, but you have my full support. If you need my assistance in any way, you have it.