Going to recap events for clarity then go into analysis bit by bit. I think there are some things we've collectively overlooked due to quest time dilation and distraction, both positive and negative. I'll go into more detail about that.
After action report: The 'March To Buffalo' Campaign
"Faust complains of having two souls in his breast. I have a whole squabbling crowd. It goes on as in a republic. "
Part 1: A Summary of Overall Events:
A.
In Which An Attempt Was Made.
In the aftermath of a successful defensive campaign, the Commonwealth successfully leveraged their position into bringing Victoria to the table. This was done during
a position of Victorian weakness- their civil war and recent defeat both worked in the Commonwealth's favor.
After deliberation, the Commonwealth then decided to press their advantage with a
crippling and advantageous treaty proposal that included humanitarian, reclamation/self-improvement, public relations, and territorial clauses. This was an undeniably aggressive approach. The Victorians responded with a
counter offer of a relatively less advantageous treaty that would reduce the Commonwealth's leverage over them, maintain Victorian ability to cripple other successor states at will, and reduce the Commonwealth's ability to have positive influence on their economy.
At this time, the Commonwealth learned- notably, due to
excellent intelligence obtained by their spies in Buffalo- about the weakening of the Loyalist position relative to the Crusaders in their ongoing civil war. This provided the Commonwealth with
significant additional leverage to apply at a moment of their choosing, but with unknown effectiveness and shelf life and with the destruction of any negotiations if unsuccessful. Notably, this made the previously theorized canal strike more plausible, but still not sustainable long term.
The Commonwealth elected to
press the advantage to the full with relatively favorable odds to attempt to achieve Victorian compliance, with the understanding that
the corresponding drawback was a full breakdown in negotiations if it was unsuccessful.
It was unsuccessful and there was a full breakdown in negotiations.
At this point, the Commonwealth had several choices:
whether or not to conduct a military strike with the aim of forcing the Victorians back to the negotiating table, and
what level of force to commit to such an undertaking. Their understanding at the time was that the canal was perceived to be vulnerable due to the Victorian's ongoing difficulties and was considered indefensible by either faction. Taking it was perceived to be a useful bargaining chip. However, the duration of the campaign would be
inherently limited by ammunition shortages to no longer than 2 months. Additionally, the
initial landing- and any further campaigning- would require a single unit to hold the beach without support against counterattacks for a single day.
The
lightly defended nature of the target was known to allow for a relatively easy initial seizure. Additionally, a success could hypothetically allow for a
onwards push to Buffalo, which was not considered to be sustainable but would act as additional leverage upon a successful initial defense. As a side note, the Commonwealth's forces- most of which had previously been committed, making redeployment more complicated- were supplemented by
Toledan divisions, still acting independently of Commonwealth support structures.
The Commonwealth elected to
send all available forces, including the Toledo divisions. The Commonwealth's own
elite "Big Red One" division- an irreplaceable asset and the most readily redeployed of those from the Erie campaign- was
tasked with the seizure of the beach.
B.
Aggressive Negotiations:
There was
no local resistance, likely due to
Victorian mistreatment.
The militia tasked with defending the canal were completely
ignorant of the implications of Commonwealth scouting.
The weather acted to complicate matters and was perceived to act as
an additional overall time limit offensive operations.
Significantly, the Commonwealth received
accurate intelligence on the nature and distribution of effective Victorian militia at the canal and Buffalo.
The assault by the Big Red One was at a
disadvantage due to its circumstances and timer, but
the militia was unable to capitalize on that effectively, and their defense was ineffective despite a high level of intervention by Victorian political officers.
The
canal was taken and discussion was opened with the city of Hamilton. Due to diplomacy and unsubtle threats, the Mayor of
Hamilton granted free passage due to the perception of Victorian weakness and ineffectuality, as well as receiving guarantees of safety from reprisal.
The canal had been taken, but there
was no Victorian counterattack at this time and no reinforcements were seen, completely contrary to exceptions.
This was seen as a problem.
(Continuing in next post, followed by analysis)
Victoria Falls The world wakes from a fever dream into a nightmare. Try to find your feet in a devastated North America and find a way to end the dream for good.
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