Rennian Expansionism
Pre-Balkavanian
Replacing the NRR
Over the first year of the EotLP’s existence, Ren spent most of his time trying to consolidate his new-found power. He expanded the military, signed a second draft of the constitution (which would later be officially instated as the 1st constitution of the EotLP) However, without the NRR supporting them, one of the few benefits of colonisation was lost – almost all outside trade stopped. The Economy of the EotLP suffered greatly. However, the Latian Empire offered to open trade with the EotLP, along with heavy tariffs. Despite how lopsided the deal was, Emperor Ren accepted, and trade began to flow. The Ottenburg Empire offered Ren free trade, but the EotLP didn’t have the resources to economically transport trade goods all the way to the Ottenburg, as Sea Travel was impractical since the Irin Plateau had no sea access, land travel was impractical since they would have to travel down the plateau, and through the NRR Colony of Nova Terra in order to reach the Ottenburg’s Border, and the NRR had wrangled an agreement with the Latian to not allow any EotLP Aircraft into their airspace. Ren knew his nation needed the free trade which the Ottenburg was offering, but couldn’t think of a way to make it profitable, or even possible, so long as the NRR held the land between them and the Ottenburg. Ren could see only one option. The EotLP needed to invade Nova Terra.
The Invasion of Nova Terra
On the 21st of 228, the EotLP Military began to secretly construct a large road down the eastern edge of the Plateau. The EotLP Military had been grown significantly since the Rebellion, and they finished the project within a few days. On the 24th of 228, the first EotLP Soldiers stepped back onto NRR land for the first time since they’d won their freedom, nearly a year ago. The Rennian Army made significant headway into Nova Terra on the first days of the Invasion, meeting the Nova Terran Pressed Militia only a few short times, but they hit a major obstacle within an hour’s drive on their third day; the river. The Lisenne connected with another river as it cascaded off the plateau, and became nearly 30-meter-wide, rapidly flowing, extremely deep by the time it reached Nova Terra. It truly chopped Nova Terra in half. However, Nova Terra was not yet out of reach. The Roman Governor had ordered all bridges across the Lisenne destroyed, but Ren still had a plan. The entire 6th Resisting Division had been recruited from Nova Terra during the Second Resistance, and many of them had returned to the Nova Terra to continue trying to form a similarly successful resistance movement in their own nation. Ren used a TV broadcast to “call to arms” the Nova Terran people, to fight for their freedom from perpetual existence as a Roman Colony. Thousands took up arms across the river in response. Ren was pleased with this, and managed to commandeer a few small boats to begin ferrying over a few of his troops at a time, to support the Rebels.
The Battle of Civitas Murata (Sinaero)
The 26th Lego Legion, who were fortified in the Nova Terran capital of Civitas Murata, were unbeatable. Their high ground, thick fortifications, and state-of-the-art weapons systems seemed to be to much for the motley band of Rebels & Rennian Soldiers. But at the back of Ren’s mind, a plan was developing. He tried every other option, but all of them ended in more of his soldiers & allies dead at the foot of the tallest hill in Nova Terra (13 meters tall). Finally, Ren relented. He made a call back to Legoia, and a convoy left with a very important passenger. The 61-year-old tactical genius James Krennic arrived in Legoia on the night of the 30th of 228. He organized the troops for a late-night attack on the 31st, by which there were nearly 3,000 Nova Terran Rebels, and a further 2,000 Rennian Soldiers had crossed the river on their small, commandeered, boats. On the night of the 31st, there was a new moon. The few Artillery Units Ren had brought into Nova Terra began to focus on the outer edges of Civitas Murata, where the Romans had focused themselves. While Ren was planning on street fighting for several days, Krennic knew that the Roman school of Tactics dictated that open battles were to be forced in as many situations as possible. Therefore, he began marching a column of soldiers down the main road of Civitas Murata. The Romans assembled to respond in the main central square. Meanwhile, more of Krennic’s troops began to swarm through the streets, positioning themselves all throughout the city. When the front of Krennic’s column met the Romans at the edge of the Square, the 26th felt confident in their victory. However, as they pressed forwards, pushing the Rennians & Nova Terrans backwards, Krennic’s troops opened fire from all around the Roman Forces. Within 15 minutes, the Romans surrendered, and were placed under guard. Krennic ordered the Roman General, one General Avoz Di Manareyo, and his officers, transported back to Legoia under guard, but offered the rest of the army extradition back to Nova Italia. Although Krennic held no official power yet, Ren did not contradict any of His orders, which continued to be carried out. Ren contacted the Roman Consul, and offered him the thousand-score of his soldiers who had asked for Extradition, in exchange for Nova Terra, and 15 of the NRR’s newest Tanks, which had only been in production for 5 years – The GIT-1760 “Buffalo”. Brutus agreed to the deal, and dispatched three of his Air Force’s largest jets, each carrying five 1760’s in its belly. The exchange took place on the Nova Terran Airfield. Within 5 hours of being dispatched, the Roman planes had left Nova Terra carrying 400 soldiers each. It would be the last time Roman Military ever set foot in their first Colony.
Integration of Nova Terra (Sinitola)
Tensions began to rise very soon after the Roman Army left Nova Terra, between the Rennians & the Nova Terran Rebels. Although first-hand accounts are quite varied, it is believed that the allied soldiers nearly came to blows over the fate of Nova Terra; were they to be annexed by the EotLP, or gain their own independence? Emperor Ren & Krennic heard of the disagreements, and ordered their soldiers to stand down from confrontation. They met with the Nova Terran Leader, Octavia Silenus, for several hours, and hashed out a plan for the future of Nova Terra. Finally, the three leaders emerged to a sea of eagerly listening soldiers from both sides. Their statement, later named the “Sinitola Address,” ran “In the interests of the Rennian and Nova Terran Peoples, the Free State of Sinitola (formerly the New Roman Colony of Nova Terra) shall enter into autonomous union with the Empire of the Lego Plains. The government of Sinitola shall remain autonomous in all locally concerned affairs, such as but not limited to, education, infrastructure, healthcare, and Civil Court. The Government of the EotLP shall maintain some responsibilities, such as but not limited to Criminal Courts, Military Oversight, Trade, Taxation, and National Defense. Octavia Silenus shall from this point become the Empress of the Sinitola Free State, in separate role from Sergio Ren, the Emperor of the Empire of the Lego Plains and the Sinitola Free State.” Nova Terra, or Sinitola, as it was now known, was secured. Within a week, the Ottenburg opened their western border to the eastern border of Nova Terra, and trade began. The EotLP’s economy was saved. James Krennic, who had truly proved his loyalty to the EotLP during the Nova Terra Campaign, was promoted to the General of the Armies of the EotLP, the head of the entire EotLP Army. Some of Ren’s original supporters were uncomfortable with this new arrangement, as Krennic had waged war against them during the Second Rebellion, but even they could not argue that he had proved his loyalty during the Invasion of Nova Terra.
Collapse of the New Roman Republic
THIS SECTION NEEDS REWORKING. SEE MICHAEL'S PAGE FOR A BETTER EXPLANATION OF THE SITUATION
On the 4th of 229, rumours began to circulate that the government of the NRR was beginning to fall apart. These suspicions were all but confirmed the next day, when Brutus “closed” the government – a New Roman government procedure, when all non-essential Government responsibilities and positions were abolished for a set period of time, in this case two days. When the government re-opened on the 7th, its terrible state was truly laid bare. Sir George, the leader of the ruling coalition in the Senate, had died in a climbing accident. Of the 14 senators (excluding Brutus, the Consul), four others had been killed in a bloody coup attempt on the night of the 4th, two had resigned, and one had died of natural causes, leaving Brutus with less than half of his government. Furthermore, their last monetary reserves had dried up, and the Roman Economy, which had been steeply declining for several years thanks to international embargoes, Sanctions by the Ottenburg, Latian, BBR, EotBTH, and their allies, and a declining population finally fell through the bottom, causing the Roman Sesresti (Rome's attempt to replace the $ MON) to fall more than 75% in value in a single hour. The Ottenburg reportedly began to mobilize troops, in case the opportunity should arise to take Nova Italia. Meanwhile, the Latian took Rome’s Discipulus Regionem Colony, and several other nations swarmed to take the Magnum Crater Regionem Colony, the Garden Colony, and the Effusus Colony. There was no resistance in any of the colonies, as the Army had been sizeably downsized during budget cuts, and New Rome had recalled all 7,500 of their touring soldiers back to Nova Italia after the EotLP Invasion of Nova Terra. By nightfall of the 8th, only Nova Italia remained under Roman Control. Ren boarded a military plane, with a delegation of soldiers and diplomats and took off for Nova Italia in the late hours of the 8th. Brutus personally received him, and they fell into discussions. By that point, electricity had been shut all across the nation because they no longer had the funds to buy excess hydro-power from the Bens Bed Republic (BBR) as they always had. Ren & Brutus discussed the hopeless situation of Nova Italia, and Brutus himself. No matter which nation invaded Nova Italia (which seemed inevitable at this point) Brutus could feel certain that he’d either escape and become public enemy #1, or be killed as a political message. Ren offered him something else. Ren offered him $3,000,000 MON in untraceable bonds, and a public hero nomination. Brutus Accepted. In his final address to the 6 remaining Senators, on the 9th of 229, Brutus, who had led the NRR from its inception, thanked them for their service, and officially dissolved the government of the New Roman Republic, turning over all National Assets and Debts to the government of the EotLP. Sergio Ren, who was in attendance, officially thanked him and accepted his generous offer. Nova Italia (or Iseli, as it had been known before, and was now known as again) was EotLP Land now. The NRR held significant National Debts, but the EotLP had not inherited the Sanctions & Embargoes that had been placed on the NRR, which made their debts manageable. Lucius Rufus Brutus disappeared with the $3,000,000 given him by the EotLP, and was never heard from again, although it is believed he may have traveled far West, to the Balkavanian Nation of Krajyna. He was remembered as an EotLP Hero (despite his attempts to prevent the EotLP from existing), for providing the EotLP with access to a huge amount of resources & assets in Iseli. Unexpectedly, Michael Osborne emerged from the woodwork, while Ren was still in Iseli, and requested a full pardon. Ren knew of Osborne’s Genius, and his Incredible Business sense, and knew that he could be a significant help in erasing the inherited debts, and granted his “war crime” pardon. He then offered Osborne the position of Finance Minister, which Osborne accepted. Later on, many judged this as one of the best decisions Emperor Ren could have possibly made; within 3 years, Osborne had negated the National Debt, and increased the EotLP’s GDP by 48% in the same timespan. Iseli’s GDP increased by 381% in the same time period.
International Land Lease
GET RID OF THIS PART. THE OS STUFF CAN TAKE PLACE IN NOVA ITALIA
At the end of 231, Emperor Sergio Ren signed a deal with the Wellsiadric Empire, who leased a large portion of land to the EotLP for 2 years. The EotLP was in full control of the Land between the first of 232 and the last day of 233. Osborne moved there, and with the rest of his family, started a Commercial Space Program. His son Leo, who was incredibly intelligent, and an outstanding engineer, designed their First Rocket, the RS1. He launched solo on the first launch of the OsborneSpace company. He died when the rocket exploded. However, a more refined version of the RS rocket went on to become the first Rennian object in space. By the time the lease expired, Osborne had successfully launched 66 space missions, with only 2 other missions failing. When the lease ran out, he returned to the EotLP, and began launching from a new base built in the Campestrem.