Nice. Are promissary notes/cheques in use? Seeing as not everyone will want to haul around a bunch of coins or commodities, one would expect a few fledgling banks to be experimenting with the earliest form of paper money.
There are a few, manly in the North where trade is more land based and the Minoan Royal Corporations are using them informally. Things aren't per say stable enough for banks. And People are more than slightly uneasy about the idea of recreating banks because almost everyone lost basically everything they had in their accounts the moment the ISOT occurred.
Iron ingots should be a very popular exchange good. With its basic form its very easy to make everything from nails, clippers, tongs, to gears and beams. And given the population numbers and spread it is unlikely to go out of favor ,or be subject to large price slips.
Part of the reason I chose the Bronze Age, besides my love for the era, is that I wanted to play around with things are at least somewhat familar (Classical Greek Myth and Ancient Egypt) and have them at a time when they'd be more unfamiliar. So Egypt is controlled by the Hykos and Mycenaean faith is actually quite different from Classic greek myth even though many of the same gods are around, at least in name.
November 19th, 4 A.E
The Settlement of Iron Horse, Somewhere North of Tucson.
David Haynes awoke from his restless sleep to the sound of gunshots in the distance. He scrambled out of his cot. Nearly falling over as his body struggled to move. He grabbed his rifle that was hanging from one of the tent poles and pulled out his boots. All but staggering out his tent, still dressed in a dirty T-Shirt and sweat pants.
It was early, barely enough sunlight to stain the sky orange. The air was cold, not cold enough to be uncomfortable for him but cold enough than most of the settlement would start complaining about it in almost every conservation. Tucsonians acted like anything lower than 75 degrees was cold.
Haynes pushed his way towards the outer edge of the settlement, past rows of tents, converted trucks, and the occasional native building of stacked stones and thatched roofing. It was far more orderly now than it had been when they first arrived but the whole place felt more like a tent city than a real town. There where plans to build real homes but so many other things took priority.
David made his way to the western edge of the settlement, marked by a roughly constructed wooden fence and with a small watchtower made out of logs and car parts near the main gate. A small crowd was gathered near it. They were focused on something past the gate but no one had their gun drawn. Which was a good sign. He gently pushed his way through the crowd until he saw the focus of their attention, five bodies strewn about the countryside not far from the gates, blood staining the dirt.
They were locals, the tunic and bronze weapons made that clear. They'd been driven from the village years ago, as they had been from pretty much every bit of farmable land anywhere near here. But that didn't mean they were all gone. Some had tried to trade or beg for food, but most had turned to some form of raiding to survive. Five was admittedly a bit small for a raid though. Scouts maybe?
"What happened?" Haynes asked. It felt like a redundant question but clarification never hurt.
A figure emerged from the watchtower, it was Elizabeth Sloan. A young woman, not even twenty, she was one of Iron Horse's de facto milita.
"Spotted them lurking around the winter rye field. Told them to stop, they didn't stop. Told them to stop again, still they keep moving. So I took care of it." Sloan said with cold indifference, her eyes focused on the bodies.
"You can't expect them to understand English"
It was Ilalilka who spoke up. Ilalilka was one of only two natives of the region who remained in village, the other being a 5 year old girl now named Clara. Ilalilka had been invaluable during their first months and had adjusted well to American culture, for the most part.
"I can expect them to understand that someone shouting generally means they're doing something that someone else doesn't care for." Sloan replied back.
"They weren't here to trade." Haynes agreed.
Elizabeth climbed back into the watchtower as some of the crowd began to disperse. Haynes approached Ilalilka who was pacing in distress.
"Did you know them?" Haynes tried to comfort him.
"No." The man replied in accented English.
Haynes turned towards those who were still lingering about.
"Get some shovels, makes sure these men get a decent funeral." Haynes ordered with a sigh.
Where they just looking for food or where they scouts for a larger raiding force? Either way it would be tense the next few days. More patrols, more guards, more sleepless nights. He hadn't even had breakfast yet and already Haynes felt tired.
"We got incoming!" Sloan shouted
Haynes pulled his rifle forward, his body tensing up as everyone around prepared to either fight or run.
"More locals?" David asked
"No." Sloan paused for a long moment. "It's a wagon being pulled by a team of horses...with solar panels in the back."
Well that was certainly different.
Haynes watched with bemused confusion as the wagon traveled along the dirt trail, getting closer and closer to the settlement. The wagon was small, clearly made after the Event. And the small horses weren't exactly making great speed. Still, the tech they were carrying made it undeniably clear they were fellow Tucsonians.
The wagon pulled to a stop just outside the gate, Haynes was there to greet them. Two people where in the wagon, a man dressed in plaid and jeans and a woman dressed in the blue camouflage uniform of the US Navy.
"Greetings." The woman replied as she stepped off the wagon.
"Hello, welcome to Iron Horse. Such as it is" David said in a friendly manner "what brings you out here?"
"Oh it's quite simple my friend." The man said as he shook David's hand "I've come here to offer you and your fine town a chance to join in on the venture of a lifetime"
"What sort of venture?" David replied with unease. They had been plenty of conmen and mad preachers in the years since the Event, he was hoping these two weren't more of the same.
"Why the only venture that matters friend." The man replied "A venture that could return us all to civilization."
/
There was a small platform of stone that served as the de-facto town hall for Iron Horse. Right now their two visitors, one Sophia Maddox and Thomas Sanford were using the area to step up a power point presentation. Most of the settlement was gathered, staring at the portable screen the visitors brought in as Sophia fiddled with her laptop.
"You people have done pretty well for yourselves." Thomas began, does his best to project his voice "You've managed to endure hardships that have brought low most of our former neighbors. But that's just it, you've endured, you've survived, but you haven't really thrived have you?"
The brought a low muttering of agreement. David looked at the dozens of families gathered. The years had not been kind to any of them. 4 years of farming and strict rations had left even the most vibrant among them looking tired and exhausted.
"No, you haven't. No one has." Sanford went on "We survived the worst disaster in human history and what do we have to show for that? Tiny hard scrabble farms that we had to bleed for? We were part of the greatest nation the world ever knew and now we're refugees who can't even find a place to flee to."
He paused for a moment looking down at his shoes, shaking his head.
"I know that what I'm saying is nothing new." His voice had a soft edge to it. "I'm just telling you what you've been telling yourself now. Well I didn't come here make you miserable, I came to offer you hope, a chance for a better future."
He pressed on a remote in his hand, a picture appeared on screen. It was a photo of some city, though nothing like like Haynes had ever seen in person. It was primitive, unmistakably something of this era. But it was large, it's walls were so high and stretched for so long that even from the high angle the photographer was at, it was still hard to see the city behind those walls.
Ilalilka got twitchy but kept his silence.
There was something about Sanford that Haynes was really starting to dislike, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it.
"This was a photo I took four months ago of a city named Hattusa. It is the Capital of the Hittie Empire. It is massive, it is well stocked with grain and other food, and more importantly for us; it's spent the past few years dealing with a rather nasty plague. "
An unmistakable grin appeared on Sanford's face. "Yes it appears that for some, our arrival has been just about as deadly as Columbus's arrival was for the Americas. The Hitties have a vast empire reaching from central turkey to Syria, with over a dozen cities nearly as big as Hattusa. And they're weakened, a shadow of what they once where. Their cities could give us all a better life, not one as great as what we had before, but far better than what we have now. But a life where we can actually live, worry about more than just survival. We can use Hattusa to rebuild civilization. Even one day reclaim Tucson and rebuild America. This is not just about your lives and comforts, but about generations to come. What we can build for us, and for our children."
Bold claims, unmistakably bold claims. But how on earth did he intend to get through those walls?
"Now naturally this would be a serious undertaking." Sanford went on. "But rest assured a great deal of work has been put into this. You are not the first village I have approached in this endeavor, or even the 11th."
The Screen changed again, revealing pictures of Sanford and Maddox standing next to cannons, horses, piles of what appeared to muskets, and dozens of armed men and women with green patches stitched into the shirts. Some in the audience gasped in surprise.
"I know many of you are likely sick of fighting, of war. And the thought of more walking makes you want to cry. But I know you're also tired of worrying about harvests, about if they'll be enough rain, or if raiders will come tomorrow and end everything you've spent years build in one fell swoop. Together we can build more than just a country for us, but a real future. A future better than the world we have today. Now who here wants to join me and who here needs more convincing?"
/
Starting a new story section here. Though we may one day do more stories on Wilson
4 years in to make an assault on a prepared enemy, after a hard mountainous march, just because he suffers from a flu likely wasn't the most painless experience for those people.
4 years in to make an assault on a prepared enemy, after a hard mountainous march, just because he suffers from a flu likely wasn't the most painless experience for those people.
I'd say its a bit worse than a flu. The combination of plagues has probably depopulated the Hittites by at least 25% if not more. Death on that scale kind of necessitates a societal restructuring which can't be done in just 4 years.
I'd say its a bit worse than a flu. The combination of plagues has probably depopulated the Hittites by at least 25% if not more. Death on that scale kind of necessitates a societal restructuring which can't be done in just 4 years.
I'm assuming that if its 25% its across the entire nation, and not just one capital city. At the time the Hittite empire was a superpower that could go on even footing with Egypt and Assyria (depending on timeline), so simply falling or being conquered completely is not really a realistic option.
Given the map presented by TeenSpirit 20 years post arrive, the Empire still exists within its southern borders. So that fight must have been no picnic for the refugees/raiders.
Given the map presented by TeenSpirit 20 years post arrive, the Empire still exists within its southern borders. So that fight must have been no picnic for the refugees/raiders.
Though really, even if everything goes perfectly for the Expedition, do you honestly think they could have conquered the whole empire? Not agreeing or disagreeing with you on your point to be clear.
Though really, even if everything goes perfectly for the Expedition, do you honestly think they could have conquered the whole empire? Not agreeing or disagreeing with you on your point to be clear.
If it was a nice relatively flat plot of land with enough open spaces and low on trees, then yes they would have stood a very good chance of actually conquering the whole thing. Even unprofessional armies can do very good time with cargo in such conditions.
Which is hilarious, because they clearly got bogged down and wasted their supplies trying to take hold of the least wealthy part of the Hittite empire, which is also mountainous, leaving the rich flat plains to the South-East untouched and free to recoup their loses for an eventual comeback.
To cross those mountains efficiently you need some vehicles (beasts of burden consume a lot of food), even a simple lawnmower engine connected to wheels would do. But these people don't even know how to gasify stuff.
In the end their greatest advantage is being able to surmount static defenses, and effectively engage at range. Without quick transport of siege engines and munitions you get that result.
I am basing it off the map you presented, but if the Hittites maintained enough strength to halt the raiders while protecting their most valuable land, and at the same time not succumb to an Assyrian conquest within those 16 years, then they will most likely return to those lost lands. This time armed with more modern weapons, and skilled foreign support.
January 22nd, 5 A.E
New Monthan, Temporary Headquarters of the Sanford Expedition
Haynes had joined this Expedition reluctantly, largely because the rest of the town was so overwhelmingly in favor of it. He had feared this would turn into disaster led by a scam artist. While those fears hadn't gone away entirely, he had to admit it seemed Sanford knew how to organize and plan on a large scale. New Monthan was probably the most organized tent city Haynes had seen since the Event. The whole place was laid out in a solid grid, there were signs all over the place. Everything they'd gathered for the expedition, from water, to clothing, guns, cannons and even soap; was accounted for stored at several locations across the base. Sanford even had a few heavily modified diesel trucks still running, fueled by grease and homemade olive oil. There was no official number how large this Sanford Army had become but rumor had it the number of men and women able to fight was numbering in the high hundreds, and Haynes could certainly believe it.
Of course such numbers came with a cost. as Haynes walked through the camp he found himself passing gang members, men he were certain once belonged to a Cartel, and others covered with so many hateful tattoos that you could barely see any of their skin. Sanford accepted anyone. In practice that meant most of his recruits were desperate, realized they'd be facing hard times eventually, or where the kind of people who thought a second round of brutalizing the natives sounded like a fun time.
'And what does that say about us?' Haynes wondered. Iron Horse was never going to last, he knew that now even if it hurt to admit it. This Hittie capital sounded like a place where his people could actually be safe, maybe even thrive. But taking that meant more war, more violence against people who's only crime was being in their way. He didn't like it, but he knew he couldn't back out.
He made his way Sophia Maddox's 'office', a rather large tent lined with scrap metal and plastic. When he arrived Sophia was already talking with someone else
"So let me get this straight, Ms Baxter. You want to travel with this expedition, with me, but you don't want to fight and you don't care if you get any land. You just want to write about it?" Maddox looked at woman skeptically from behind her plastic desk.
The Interior of Maddox's office was a bit eclectic, most of it was dominated by various maps of Turkey that had various things written and drawn on them, but there where also clay tablets, broken bronze weapons, game books, paintings attached to the poles and even two suits of armor, one leather and one steel, both having lion skins draped over them.
"Look; 100 years from now when we're all dead, people are going to ask how this all happened.How we went from one city from one nation and fractured into who knows how many different fiefdoms. I want to make sure future generations understand how this all happened." The woman named Baxter.
"A bit early to be worrying about something like that don't you think?" Maddox questioned
"Some daft kid has conquered Crete and is declaring she was brought here by the will of Aphrodite of all things. Is that really the kind of narrative you want dominating the history books?" Baxter replied back, fire building in her eyes.
Maddox shrugged "Ehh, it's not the dumbest theory I've heard for the Event. But you have a point, I don't want to be remembered by history as part of some sort of near mindless horde or brutal thugs. Talk with Carter, he'll get you set up with a place to stay for the moment."
Baxter gave her thanks and left, nodding at Haynes as he made his way out.
"You wanted to see me, Ma'am?" Haynes awkwardly. He wasn't sure what level of formality should be observed. She was younger, her later 20s maybe early 30s to his 54, but she was undeniably the second in command of this whole operation, though that didn't come with any sort of rank beyond maybe 'boss'.
"Ah, Mister Haynes. Good, good." She said warmly "Take a seat."
He sat in the plastic folding chair, his eyes wandering back towards the suits of armor currently being worn by mannequins.
"Those are from my SCA days. Pretty good at scaring raiders I've discovered" Maddox tried to explain.
"SCA?" he replied, still confused.
"Long story." She waved it off "Don't worry about it."
"Where did you get the Lion pelts?" Haynes asked
"Are you kidding? This whole region is filled with the damned things."
Haynes nodded "True enough, we've had numerous problems with bears back in Iron Horse."
They'd lost more than one goat and careless citizen to those bastards. Sloan by herself had probably killed over a dozen of them over the years.
"Right. So you probably wondered why I called you here today." Maddox said, sounding very much like his old geography teacher
"Are we preparing to leave soon?" Haynes replied
Depending on the rumor you believed they we're leaving sometime between tonight and half a century from now.
Maddox looked through a plastic box full of files "Soon but not that soon. Winter's a bad time to be marching, particularly when you're towing women and children. But from what we're hearing the Hitties are fighting both raids from the Assyrians and a three sided civil war. They're weaker and we don't want to risk them regaining any strength. I can't give you a firm date but I doubt we'll still be here come Valentine's day. "
That was not even four weeks from now. Sanford must be done gathering up supporters. He's either satisfied with what he has now or realizes he can't gain more followers without risking their supplies and safety.
"But that's not why I brought you here." Maddox clarified. "You see the original plan was to have one army push towards Hattusa and take it. Recently that's changed. Sanford and I, mainly me, are worried what happens if we fail. We need somewhere to fall back to if taking Hattusa proves harder than expected. Thankfully through some of my new friends I've been able to make contact with a man named Sakduman. He's governor, or prince, I don't really understand the titles, of a city named Salatiwara. Nice place, not as big as Hattusa but decent size and located along a particularly fat part of the Kizilirmak river near Lake Tuz. Those aren't the Hittie names for them by the way but pronouncing those is nightmarish. Anyways, my sources are telling me Mr Sakduman is willing to throw open his gates for us if we agree to let him have some power and you know, don't horribly sack the city. It seems even the Hitties think of us as monsters."
She laughed slightly at that last bit.
"But of course we don't know if we can fully trust this guy. So I'm heading a second army towards Salatiwara."
"And you want me and the rest of Iron Horse to be a part of it." Haynes finished
It made sense, not many of them really knew how to fight. They'd had training sure but they were still barely better than a milita. Better to use the softer groups for the softer target.
She nodded "Yeah. Downside is you're probably going to end up settling in Salatiwara instead of Hattusa. Which is still nice from what I understand. And on the upside you don't have to spend the next few months working side by side with Neo-Nazis and former drug dealers."
That was an improvement. Haynes had no particular attachment to Hattusa, any real city sounded good to him. Hopefully that meant Sanford was expecting the more criminal elements to bleed themselves out on the road to Hattusa and wasn't using this as an excuse to distance Maddox. He didn't know her that well but she seemed a lot better than some of the people he'd met since he arrived.
"Did you choose to lead this second front?" Haynes asked
Maddox glared at him for a moment, realizing his implication.
"Personally I wanted to head south and push towards Syria. Sanford's too damn focused on Hattusa if you ask me. Thinks he can claim the whole empire from there."
She paused, focusing on her notes for a moment before turning back towards Haynes.
"He's not trying to sideline us if that's what you're asking. Sanford is many things, not all of them good, but an idiot isn't one of them. We don't see eye to eye on everything but he knows any sort of juvenile power plays would end poorly for all of us. I volunteer to lead the second front We need the scumbags we've recruited, and we also need Salaitwara should the worst happen. I'm not going to lie and say things will be easy even after we've knocked over the Hitties but rest assured I won't let those thugs take over this operation. This isn't another New America we're building but we're still going to make a respectable nation when all is said and done."
Haynes had nothing to add, beyond the his own hope she was right.
Idiocy is a complicated thing. There are neurosurgeons who think Pyramids were used for grain storage. You can be a genius and still do some intensely dumb things or have dumb ideas. I think to organize any sort of conquest in this situation you have to have a reasonable level of intelligence, if only because of the organization involved, but that doesn't mean these people can't have idiotic moments/tendencies.
"Everyone was desperate after the Event, but some where more desperate than others. My town had spent five years on the verge of starvation, constantly fighting to hold onto what little we had. Sanford offered a chance for a better life, a life actually worth living. Of course we took him up on his offer, we'd be fools not to. Even with all that's happened I don't regret it, not one bit. " -Chase Fitzpatrick, Hattusa Republic
"It's funny, now that I think about it. Sanford and I, we could have united all those villages we recruited from, forged a republic right at the doorsteps of Tucson, maybe even controlled the city to some extent. But neither of us wanted that. We wanted something simpler than that, more glorious. A chance to start over on our terms. " -Consul Sophia Maddox, New Roman Consulate
"As I traveled through the ranks of Sanford's army, I saw people from every walk of life. Store clerks turned raiders, Financial analysts turned farmers, gangs turned into an army. Men and women who would have never really interacted before united by a man of little note before the Event. At the time I thought it spoke to the strength of Sanford's cause. Now I understand it was a sign of it's biggest weakness." - Elicia Baxter, 'The World Since the Event'
The Sanford expedition was the brainchild of one Thomas Sanford and Sophia Maddox, together the two gathered the largest expedition of the Post Event world, a force they claimed was a thousand fighting men and women strong (Though if this claim was true or not could never be proven), with the goal of conquering the Hittite Empire. While the expedition would see early success, taking the Hittite Capital and much of the northern empire, political infighting would slow and ultimately shatter the expedition. Despite this, the relative success of the expedition combined with the success of the earlier invasion of Crete inspired numerous other expeditions, setting off the Second Wave of Tucsonian Expansion.
Sanford and Maddox
Before the Event Thomas Sanford 's life was generally one of mild disappointment, twice divorced, estranged from most his family, but with a wide circle of friends and respectable job at Arizona State Prison Complex – Tucson as a Correctional Officer. 40 hours after the Event the Warden gave the order to abandon the prison complex, leaving the prisoners to their fate. While he initially considered following that order he thought of all the prisoners still locked up and return, starting to free many of them. This was not out of any humanitarian ideal, everyone he recruited first had to agree to either join his group or help them gather supplies (IE: Loot and Steal) for their journey out of the city. In total he would let roughly seven hundred prisoners go, most of the Whetstone unit of the complex. Most would go their own way but roughly a hundred and thirty would follow Sanford out of the Old Pueblo, along with several dozen friends and family.
Sophia Maddox was a financial analyst from San Diego who was in Tucson for her mother's birthday when the Event hit. At first she along with some twenty other survivors tried to make a stand at one of the local retail warehouse clubs but were forced to flee after being overrun by several other survivor groups. Despite the chaos, Maddox was able to keep her group together as they fled the city. She would run into Sanford two weeks later some miles outside of Tucson. The meeting between the two was hostile at first, only saved from violence due to Maddox having the element of surprise but not wanting to waste what Ammo she had. The two got to talking and they quickly realized they would do far better together than they would on their own. Sanford had better numbers and more immediate supplies not to mention a distinctive raw charisma. Maddox had working vehicles, seeds and potatoes for long term food supplies, and a natural talent for organization and getting people to do what she wanted. Together the two formed a rough settlement in one of the Hittie Villages (after clearing out the natives of course). It was a rough few years, Sanford's group was reluctant to do any of the farming and most of Maddox's group looked down on the former convicts, tensions were high but Maddox did her best to brow beat both sides into cooperation while Sanford smoothed over tensions. Their settlement couldn't be called prosperous, few could in those days, but they did well enough to have the time and resources to set up windmills and even a forge, producing semi-crude muskets to replace their shrinking supply of weapons. But neither were content, both Sanford and Maddox were ambitious people by nature. They wanted more than to just run some village for the rest of their lives. Opportunity came in the form of a lost Hittite Warband.
Opportunity Amid Chaos
The Warband was led by Anitta, the Gal Mesedi (Chief of The Royal Bodyguards) for King Labarna. His King was dead, his heir dead as well, several men had risen to claim Labarna's throne and Anitta had made a near fatal mistake, he had backed a losing claimant. He fled for his life, taking with him what remained of his army to the West. The West may have been full of savages but he gambled his enemies wouldn't dare follow him. The gamble had proven somewhat successful, though by the time Sanford found him, Anitta and his army were nearly on the verge of death.
Sanford had taught one of the remaining locals how to speak English so using him as a translator he spoke with Anitta. After a while Anitta told him about the sorry state of the Hittite Kingdom, how plagues ravaged it's cities, how uncles and cousins warred with each other over the throne, and how the Assyrians were now nipping at their borders. While both Sanford and Maddox had some awareness of the Hittites to the east before than, it wasn't until Anitta told them of his countries dire situation that they truly understood the size of the Hittites. They had cities, crude and small cities by their standards but cities never the less. They could build something out of this collapsing empire. After years of frustration, Sanford and Maddox began to dream again.
Sanford and some of Anitta's men went east, to scout out the Hittites. While Maddox's husband launched an expedition back to Tucson to gather info on them and supplies. The trip to Tucson would prove fruitful and Sanford would return months later with hundreds of photos. These photos confirmed what both he and Maddox suspected. The Hittites were in chaos but to stand a chance of actually holding onto anything they would need a far larger force than just their village. They would need to recruit an army. Their were rumors that some of the Air Force had fled to the west and South (Rumors that later proved to be true) but Sanford realized chances of recruiting them were low, they had to gather support from those close by
Had they been south or west of Tucson they may have ran into trouble recruiting as many of those settlements were not content per say, but well off enough that marching for months would hold little appeal. But they were north of Tucson and that was a whole different story. Outside of the still forming State (later Kingdom) of Avalon, few were prospering in the North. Native raids, poor harvests, bad weather, raids by other Tucsonians had pushed many to bring. Even those who weren't starving were miserable and exhausted. Sanford offered them a chance to escape from this, a chance to finally return to some measure of normalcy, to make a future for their children when their current situation clearly provided none. For many Sanford seemed a borderline godsend, it was risky sure but the chance to actually have three square meals a day and safety was very tempting, in many places entire settlements joined on.
It was here where Sanford and Maddox first had serious disagreement. Sanford was recruiting anyone who was willing to join while Maddox wanted them to be more selective. The years after the Event had changed people, radicalized many. Some of the settlements they came to where outright cults, and ethnic and political purges were far from unheard of. Maddox feared what some of these groups would do once they joined. Maddox would eventually agree to Sanford's plan (Sanford was one of the few people she couldn't brow beat easily) but the arguments put a rift in their professional relationship. The second disagreement came over choice of targets. Sanford was determined to claim the Capital, Hattusa, first and wanted to throw everything at it. He believed that once the capital was taken it would be simple to divide and conquer the rest of the empire. Maddox on the other hand wanted to go south towards what would of been Aleppo, she believed conquering the South and it's ports would allow them access to better trade (Sanford had limited and indirect trade with the Minoans by this point, mainly olive oil) which could strengthen their forces. Eventually they reached an agreement that neither liked. The army would be split in two, with Maddox taking the weaker forces and noncombatants towards a city a little ways south of Hattusa, Salatiwara. Salatiwara's governor had already made secret agreements with Sanford in exchange for mercy.
The two would spend months organizing and training their rag-tag army. Forming one of the larger settlements north of Tucson for a time. Maddox did her best to make sure everything was accounted for and everything was rationed appropriately. Modern Firearms and modified vehicles were used along side muskets and mule and oxen drawn cannons. They even adopted a crude uniform of sorts, three green patches. One on each arm and one on the front of their shirt. Their army was still little better than a militia but at least most of those fighting understood what trigger discipline was, at least in theory. Finally in early February of 5 A.E, Maddox and Sanford broke camp and marched their armies east.
It would be the last time the two would ever see each other.
/
So the Haynes story is a bit different in that unlike Wilson I want it to cover the events leading to the expedition and events later on. I had originally intended this to be one update but I realized my plans for it were probably gonna be long.
"It's funny, now that I think about it. Sanford and I, we could have united all those villages we recruited from, forged a republic right at the doorsteps of Tucson, maybe even controlled the city to some extent. But neither of us wanted that. We wanted something simpler than that, more glorious. A chance to start over on our terms. " -Consul Sophia Maddox, New Roman Consulate
A little picky here, but horses at the time would be plain too small to be used as wagon animals. While they did tend to pull chariots, those were by design extremely light, and rarely had more than 3 people on board for 2 of the best horses available, and then mostly by ennobled owners.
More so in the situation escaping Tusconians created.
Oxen, mules, or donkeys would be the go to animals for dealing with a supply baggage, especially in mountainous terrain.
Unless of course, that's part of the narrative of a somewhat successful expedition, formed by somewhat informed emigrants.
To be fair I think in a situation like this where people's entire worldviews are shattered, they get some pretty funny ideas. Think about how like, people in power can get unhinged and irrational when it seems like they'll lose everything.
Sanford offered them a chance to escape from this, a chance to finally return to some measure of normalcy, to make a future for their children when their current situation clearly provided none.
For many Sanford seemed a borderline godsend, it was risky sure but the chance to actually have three square meals a day and safety was very tempting, in many places entire settlements joined on.
The Hitties were in chaos but to stand a chance of actually holding onto anything they would need a far larger force than just their village. They would need to recruit an army.
To be fair I think in a situation like this where people's entire worldviews are shattered, they get some pretty funny ideas. Think about how like, people in power can get unhinged and irrational when it seems like they'll lose everything.
That's the thing. I'm not trying to have it so that everyone's nuts so lol wacky stuff is happening but people are deeply traumatized. Everyone outside of Tucson has effectively lost everything they had, the world they knew is gone and unless they're extremely lucky they've lost some family and friends. Now combine that with being thrown into what is effectively an alien environment for them and there's no reasonable explanation for how they got there. Like if they survived a nuclear war and were having to make a life for themselves in what's left of Arizona at least they would have some understanding as to why it happened and they were somewhere familiar. Here they lack even that.
I did notice that the register (or quality, depending on how you see it) was lower than your previous work and wondered what was up. I thought you rushed the chapter, skipped beta or had a bad day.
I say either tone it down, tone it up so it's intentional for sure, or add a source. Though I think some other viewpoints should weigh in too before you make changes from a single review.
The Siege of Hattusa
The journey to Hattusa was a difficult one for Sanford. The Hittite Empire had a road system for it's military and trade but the roads were in their infancy at this point, built upon old roads and the trails of goat herders and parts of it had become damaged in the unrest that gripped the empire. To further complicate things most of their route to Hattusa took them through mountains and it was the middle of (an admittedly average) winter. While Sanford had prepared for this, ensuring everyone had heavy coats and what winter gear they could find in Tucson, snow and freezing temperatures took their toll on the expedition. Animals died, supplies were lost, and one of the last remaining working trucks in the entire world was lost after it fell off a mountain pass. A few times some suggested turning back and it was only Sanford's charisma and promises of a better future that kept the expedition intact. Eventually after weeks of travel, Sanford and his forces were able to reach the outskirts of Hattusa.
The site of Hattusa brought with it considerably mixed feelings. While the city had not yet reached the heights it would in the original timeline, the city was never the less an impressive site. Surrounded on all sides by tall, thick stone walls that also divided the city into various quarters; surrounded by acre after acre of farmland, smaller towns and trading posts. It was larger and better built than anything anyone in the expedition had seen of this time since they arrived. And yet for many it was also a cold reminder of their situation, the tent cities maybe have been temporary but even their hopefully soon to be permanent residence was intensely primitive by the standards they had once known. The Event was barely half a decade ago for them, the only people without solid memories of their old lives in Tucson were children. For many the sight of Hattusa was a sign that whatever they built here, even if Sanford was able to deliver everything he promised, it would still be a massive step back from the lives they had. An obvious truth, but one that many had spent years trying to deny.
As Sanford prepared to lay siege to Hattusa he was greeted by a most unexpected guest, an envoy from Hattusa sent to negotiate. Hattusa was currently controlled by King Irnuit, cousin of the late Labrana. The diplomat (through translators) claimed Irnuit was willing to negotiate with Sanford, maybe even reach a power sharing agreement. Sanford had little desire to share power with some weak king who couldn't control his kingdom but he figured Irnuit was a reasonable sort who could be negotiated with. Negotiations would drag on for a week, with numerous envoys exchanged and even a few face to face meetings held.
Of course Irnuit had no intention of sharing power with some savage from the west, in actuality he was playing a desperate gamble, stalling for time while his main army regroup marched towards the city. the gambit bore some success, the army nearly catching Sanford completely off guard. Only the quick warning of some foragers gave him any time to prepare.
Sanford had roughly 650 men and women under arms, many of them with only a few months of less then standard training. Between the garrison at Hattusa and the approaching army Irnuit had four times that number, over 2600 soldiers. Despite the chaotic nature of situation Sanford was able to order his forces to 'circle the wagons' and prepare a defense.
Cannons and Pre-Event firearms were used to thin the ranks of the Hittite forces and sow chaos and fear. When the Hittites were close enough, Sanford unleashed the muskets and other Post-Event weapons. Accuracy and fire discipline were average for the most part. Muskets were simple to use but but some of them had proven quite crude, more than one life had been lost from a malfunction or improper handling. Still, the result was an overwhelming victory for Sanford as the Hittites broke before the reached the American line. The Hittites were disciplined but the shock of facing guns in massed combat was too much for them to handle. Sanford has killed hundreds and broken an army of thousands, only losing a dozen or so in return.
Still, Sanford was enraged. He had been played, he had been made to look the fool. He ordered a bombardment of the main gate of the city, using nearly half of his remaining black powder reserves to reduce that part of the wall to rubble. He then ordered his best troops to drag the Hittite king out of the city in chains. They were able to do so relatively easily, the garrison effectively broken by the battle. They returned an hour later, dumping the king at Sanford's feet. Sanford had him stomped to death by some of his more violent followers to avoid wasting any more ammo. A collection of nobles surrendered the city shortly afterwards.
While it hadn't gone as smoothly as he would have liked, Sanford had taken Hattusa.
The Battle of Salatiwara
Maddox faced an easier route but most of those traveling with her were non-combatants. Mothers, young children, those with health or mental issues that made them a liability in combat, and those too old to fight but still able to travel. Their trip was slower than she would have liked, hindered by the occasional Hittite Raid. She arrived at Saltiwara two weeks after Sanford took Hattusa. When she arrived she found the city under siege. A rival cousin of Irnuits was trying to take city and use it as a rallying point for a push towards Hattusa. The governor of Salatiwara holding out largely because he feared Sanford more than he feared any of his countrymen.
The force besieging Salatiwara was less than half the size of Irnuit's army but Sophia had only a couple hundred people who were able to fight. Luckily Maddox had the element of surprise on her side. She hide some of her best shooters as close to the besieging army as could. Then she marched down the road, riding a rare Pre-Event American horse (An Andalusian specifically), clad in armor she had worn during her college days in the Society for Creative Anarchism, behind her was a small force of a few dozen men and women. Once she was certain she was within ear shot of the army she began shouting demands for their surrender.
The besieging Hittites laughed at her until one of their commander's head suddenly exploded. Hidden sharpshooters began firing upon the gathered Hitties, aiming for anyone who looked important. Between the crack of gunfire and the screams of confusion and terror, Maddox repeat her call for surrender. Threatening to lay waste to the Hittites with their 'magic' and that a larger more powerful force would be here soon. The would be Hittite King had heard tales of the western barbarians, specifically of their might and savagery. Now that he had some proof of these tales, he called for an immediate retreat. Even if he could defeat this strange woman he worried it would cost his army too much to make it worth it. Maddox's gambit had largely paid off. as soon as the army was out of sight, the Governor of Salatiwara ordered the city gates opened. Maddox hurried her people into the city, watched by curious and fearful Hittites, the two groups staring at each other with worried eyes. Maddox quickly took control of the city. The opening phase of the expedition's conquest was complete.
The Hattusa Constitution
Sanford worked quickly to try and expand his area of control, sending out messengers proclaiming his control of Hattusa to every part of the empire. Sanford had no ambitions of making himself any sort of King but he did want his new state to be seen as a successor to Hittite Empire, falsely claiming that Irnuit had willing seceded control of the empire to him. This tactic had some limited success, a number of cities and armies to the north and west of Hattusa acknowledge Sanford's authority out of fear of reprisal. Many other lords and the few remaining claimants to the throne were left paralyzed by Sanford's messages. They didn't want to acknowledge his authority but most new challenging these Americans would only earn them a swift death. And the constant fighting and plague had left almost every part of the empire exhausted and in near ruin. Before Sanford could capitalize on this though, he found himself facing a new problem, one that had been brewing for years.
While Maddox had generally taken over the role of Sanford's second in command. There was still that core of former criminals, many of them ex-gang members, who Sanford had liberated from certain death in prison all those years ago. They had become in many ways Sanford's main agents in the expedition, ensuring order was maintained. While most were still loyal, many had become resentful. Feeling like they had been sidelined by Maddox and her supporters. Feeling that Sanford had forgotten that without them, he would have never escaped Tucson. To further complicate matters was the issue Sanford's planned government. Naturally Sanford had long promised his new state would be a republic "Eventually" but in the mean time he announced plans for a transitional government. What would basically be a dictatorship dominated by him, Maddox and a few others. This was not incredibly popular among the new residents of Hattusa. Despite her skills, Maddox was not popular among many in the expedition. Her at times overbearing attitude and the general perception of her as a Liberal outsider grated on many in the expedition, particular the more conservative elements. Sanford's disloyal lieutenants saw this discontent and realized the opportunity it presented. After a series of late night meetings with various former settlement leaders, three of Sanford's lieutenants marched into his office (a room located within the Great Temple) and presented what the called "The Hattusa Constitution" which amounted to a series of demands barely dressed up as a legal documents. The Constitution demand numerous things ranging from religious protection to restrictions on rights for native Hittites. The biggest clauses were ones related to power, the constitution was effectively a soft coup, greatly reducing Sanford's power, and completely removing Maddox from any sort of political office. Sanford at first rejected the Constitution, tossing it off his desk in an angry huff. Then his lieutenants pointed to the number of people who signed the Constitution. Telling him that if he didn't sign it now, the others would get someone else to sign it next time. At near gunpoint, Sanford reluctantly signed the constitution.
In their haste to secure power, the lieutenants had overestimated their support. Not realizing that many of their numbers were even more unpopular than Maddox. Unrest from all sides gripped the city for weeks. Several groups would abandon the city entirely. Going on to eventually found several breakaway states. To further complicate matters, news of the unrest and the Constitution spread to Salatiwara, tipping off Maddox before she could be dealt with. At first Maddox considered marching towards Hattusa and liberating Sanford. But she ultimately decided against it, having grown frustrated with Sanford and realizing that even if she took Hattusa it would bleed them too much. Any dreams of conquering the Hitties entirely were dead, why spill blood pretending otherwise? Instead she cut ties with Hattusa and announced her own rival government. Things would eventually quiet down, Sanford and Maddox's factions eventually turning into the Hattusa Republic and the New Roman Consulate respectively. But the expedition was done for, every new conquest carried with it the risk of provoking an all out war between the two major powers in the region.
The chaos caused by the Hattusa coup and Maddox's secession gave the Hittites some much needed breathing room. Allowing the empire to reestablish itself further south under the reign of Tudhaliya I. Though the state remains in many ways a shell of it's former self.
/
Yeah I got busy with college for a while. Still am to an extent. I'll have more updates covering the various powers in the region and more of Haynes' Story but hopefully this was interesting.
The Siege of Hattusa
The journey to Hattusa was a difficult one for Sanford. The Hittite Empire had a road system for it's military and trade but the roads were in their infancy at this point, built upon old roads and the trails of goat herders and parts of it had become damaged in the unrest that gripped the empire. To further complicate things most of their route to Hattusa took them through mountains and it was the middle of (an admittedly average) winter. While Sanford had prepared for this, ensuring everyone had heavy coats and what winter gear they could find in Tucson, snow and freezing temperatures took their toll on the expedition. Animals died, supplies were lost, and one of the last remaining working trucks in the entire world was lost after it fell off a mountain pass. A few times some suggested turning back and it was only Sanford's charisma and promises of a better future that kept the expedition intact. Eventually after weeks of travel, Sanford and his forces were able to reach the outskirts of Hattusa.
The site of Hattusa brought with it considerably mixed feelings. While the city had not yet reached the heights it would in the original timeline, the city was never the less an impressive site. Surrounded on all sides by tall, thick stone walls that also divided the city into various quarters; surrounded by acre after acre of farmland, smaller towns and trading posts. It was larger and better built than anything anyone in the expedition had seen of this time since they arrived. And yet for many it was also a cold reminder of their situation, the tent cities maybe have been temporary but even their hopefully soon to be permanent residence was intensely primitive by the standards they had once known. The Event was barely half a decade ago for them, the only people without solid memories of their old lives in Tucson were children. For many the sight of Hattusa was a sign that whatever they built here, even if Sanford was able to deliver everything he promised, it would still be a massive step back from the lives they had. An obvious truth, but one that many had spent years trying to deny.
As Sanford prepared to lay siege to Hattusa he was greeted by a most unexpected guest, an envoy from Hattusa sent to negotiate. Hattusa was currently controlled by King Irnuit, cousin of the late Labrana. The diplomat (through translators) claimed Irnuit was willing to negotiate with Sanford, maybe even reach a power sharing agreement. Sanford had little desire to share power with some weak king who couldn't control his kingdom but he figured Irnuit was a reasonable sort who could be negotiated with. Negotiations would drag on for a week, with numerous envoys exchanged and even a few face to face meetings held.
Of course Irnuit had no intention of sharing power with some savage from the west, in actuality he was playing a desperate gamble, stalling for time while his main army regroup marched towards the city. the gambit bore some success, the army nearly catching Sanford completely off guard. Only the quick warning of some foragers gave him any time to prepare.
Sanford had roughly 650 men and women under arms, mainly of them with only a few months of less then standard training. Between the garrison at Hattusa and the approaching army Irnuit had four times that number, over 2600 soldiers. Despite the chaotic nature of situation Sanford was able to order his forces to 'circle the wagons' and prepare a defense.
Cannons and Pre-Event firearms were used to thin the ranks of the Hittite forces and sow chaos and fear. When the Hittites were close enough, Sanford unleashed the muskets and other Post-Event weapons. Accuracy and fire discipline were average for the most part. Muskets were simple to use but but some of them had proven quite crude, more than one life had been lost from a malfunction or improper handling. Still, the result was an overwhelming victory for Sanford as the Hittites broke before the reached the American line. The Hittites were disciplined but the shock of facing guns in massed combat was too much for them to handle. Sanford has killed hundreds and broken an army of thousands, only losing a dozen or so in return.
Still, Sanford was enraged. He had been played, he had been made to look the fool. He ordered a bombardment of the main gate of the city, using nearly half of his remaining black powder reserves to reduce that part of the wall to rubble. He then ordered his best troops to drag the Hittite king out of the city in chains. They were able to do so relatively easily, the garrison effectively broken by the battle. They returned an hour later, dumping the king at Sanford's feet. Sanford had him stomped to death by some of his more violent followers to avoid wasting any more ammo. A collection of nobles surrendered the city shortly afterwards.
While it hadn't gone as smoothly as he would have liked, Sanford had taken Hattusa.
The Battle of Salatiwara
Maddox faced an easier route but most of those traveling with her were non-combatants. Mothers, young children, those with health or mental issues that made them a liability in combat, and those too old to fight but still able to travel. Their trip was slower than she would have liked, hindered by the occasional Hittite Raid. She arrived at Saltiwara two weeks after Sanford took Hattusa. When she arrived she found the city under siege. A rival cousin of Irnuits was trying to take city and use it as a rallying point for a push towards Hattusa. The governor of Salatiwara holding out largely because he feared Sanford more than he feared any of his countrymen.
The force besieging Salatiwara was less than half the size of Irnuit's army but Sophia had only a couple hundred people who were able to fight. Luckily Maddox had the element of surprise on her side. She hide some of her best shooters as close to the besieging army as could. Then she marched down the road, riding a rare Pre-Event American horse (An Andalusian specifically), clad in armor she had worn during her college days in the Society for Creative Anarchism, behind her was a small force of a few dozen men and women. Once she was certain she was within ear shot of the army she began shouting demands for their surrender.
The besieging Hittites laughed at her until one of their commander's head suddenly exploded. Hidden sharpshooters began firing upon the gathered Hitties, aiming for anyone who looked important. Between the crack of gunfire and the screams of confusion and terror, Maddox repeat her call for surrender. Threatening to lay waste to the Hittites with their 'magic' and that a larger more powerful force would be here soon. The would be Hittite King had heard tales of the western barbarians, specifically of their might and savagery. Now that he had some proof of these tales, he called for an immediate retreat. Even if he could defeat this strange woman he worried it would cost his army too much to make it worth it. Maddox's gambit had largely paid off. as soon as the army was out of sight, the Governor of Salatiwara ordered the city gates opened. Maddox hurried her people into the city, watched by curious and fearful Hittites, the two groups staring at each other with worried eyes. Maddox quickly took control of the city. The opening phase of the expedition's conquest was complete.
The Hattusa Constitution
Sanford worked quickly to try and expand his area of control, sending out messengers proclaiming his control of Hattusa to every part of the empire. Sanford had no ambitions of making himself any sort of King but he did want his new state to be seen as a successor to Hittite Empire, falsely claiming that Irnuit had willing seceded control of the empire to him. This tactic had some limited success, a number of cities and armies to the north and west of Hattusa acknowledge Sanford's authority out of fear of reprisal. Many other lords and the few remaining claimants to the throne were left paralyzed by Sanford's messages. They didn't want to acknowledge his authority but most new challenging these Americans would only earn them a swift death. And the constant fighting and plague had left almost every part of the empire exhausted and in near ruin. Before Sanford could capitalize on this though, he found himself facing a new problem, one that had been brewing for years.
While Maddox had generally taken over the role of Sanford's second in command. There was still that core of former criminals, many of them ex-gang members, who Sanford had liberated from certain death in prison all those years ago. They had become in many ways Sanford's main agents in the expedition, ensuring order was maintained. While most were still loyal, many had become resentful. Feeling like they had been sidelined by Maddox and her supporters. Feeling that Sanford had forgotten that without them, he would have never escaped Tucson. To further complicate matters was the issue Sanford's planned government. Naturally Sanford had long promised his new state would be a republic "Eventually" but in the mean time he announced plans for a transitional government. What would basically be a dictatorship dominated by him, Maddox and a few others. This was not incredibly popular among the new residents of Hattusa. Despite her skills, Maddox was not popular among many in the expedition. Her at times overbearing attitude and the general perception of her as a Liberal outsider grated on many in the expedition, particular the more conservative elements. Sanford's disloyal lieutenants saw this discontent and realized the opportunity it presented. After a series of late night meetings with various former settlement leaders, three of Sanford's lieutenants marched into his office (a room located within the Great Temple) and presented what the called "The Hattusa Constitution" which amounted to a series of demands barely dressed up as a legal documents. The Constitution demand numerous things ranging from religious protection to restrictions on rights for native Hittites. The biggest clauses were ones related to power, the constitution was effectively a soft coup, greatly reducing Sanford's power, and completely removing Maddox from any sort of political office. Sanford at first rejected the Constitution, tossing it off his desk in an angry huff. Then his lieutenants pointed to the number of people who signed the Constitution. Telling him that if he didn't sign it now, the others would get someone else to sign it next time. At near gunpoint, Sanford reluctantly signed the constitution.
In their haste to secure power, the lieutenants had overestimated their support. Not realizing that many of their numbers were even more unpopular than Maddox Unrest from all sides gripped the city for weeks. Several groups would abandon the city entirely. Going on to eventually found several breakaway states. To further complicate matters, news of the unrest and the Constitution spread to Salatiwara, tipping off Maddox before she could be dealt with. At first Maddox considered marching towards Hattusa and liberating Sanford. But she ultimately decided against it, having grown frustrated with Sanford and realizing that even if she took Hattusa it would bleed them too much. Any dreams of conquering the Hitties entirely were dead, why spill blood pretending otherwise? Instead she cut ties with Hattusa and announced her own rival government. Things would eventually quiet down, Sanford and Maddox's factions eventually turning into the Hattusa Republic and the New Roman Consulate respectively. But the expedition was done for, every new conquest carried with it the risk of provoking an all out war between the two major powers in the region.
The chaos caused by the Hattusa coup and Maddox's succession gave the Hittites some much needed breathing room. Allowing the empire to reestablish itself further south under the reign of Tudhaliya I. Though the state remains in many ways a shell of it's former self.
/
Yeah I got busy with college for a while. Still am to an extent. I'll have more updates covering the various powers in the region and more of Haynes' Story but hopefully this was interesting.
I think it makes a lot of sense that Uptimers can win decisive battles but simply lack the numbers, ressources and resolve to completely smash larger empires. The uptimers simply don't have the core of trained soldiers or the manpower to spare for extensive campaigns.
They desperately need every uptimer to build up an economic base and to save what they can of their rapidly deteriorating tech-base. You can't really play Alexander when your "soldiers" just want to secure a place to live and maybe at least introduce modern plumbing and steam power.
He ordered a bombardment of the main gate of the city, using nearly half of his remaining black powder reserves to reduce that part of the wall to rubble.
You remember that "safe and secure city" we were trying to take hold off? Yeah... I kinda made it unsafe and unsecure in a fit if childish rage🤣
Let's say that Sanfords empire was thwarted by his ego and lack of people skills. I can only imagine that if he wen't along with Maddox first to have a socially capable person advising him, and then separated to siege Hattusa, the outcome would have been greatly different.
Yeah I got busy with college for a while. Still am to an extent. I'll have more updates covering the various powers in the region and more of Haynes' Story but hopefully this was interesting.
That it was.
It's immensely pleasing to read how such things as a low understanding of other people can so impressively ruin the best laid plans.
It's also great that you included such a tidbit as people getting wounded or dead due to poor handling of muskets, which could occur even with very well made pieces.
Taking the high road here would have been a really smart move. Such a decisive victory would have allowed Sanford a variety of options from which he chose the dumb one.
Imho the smartest thing would have been forcing the current king to abdicate and then killing him after a show trial. Then Sanford could have easily installed a puppet on the throne and go for a parlamentary monarchy with restricted franchise or for a shogunate model. This would have given his government way more legitimacy and would have allowed constructive paths for downtimer participation.
I know that uptimer pride stands in the way of that but finding ways to secure willing downtimer participation is crucial for the fledgeling states.
You remember that "safe and secure city" we were trying to take hold off? Yeah... I kinda made it unsafe and unsecure in a fit if childish rage🤣
Let's say that Sanfords empire was thwarted by his ego and lack of people skills. I can only imagine that if he wen't along with Maddox first to have a socially capable person advising him, and then separated to siege Hattusa, the outcome would have been greatly different.
Sanford probably wouldn't have been able to conquer as much as he hoped but things would have been quite different had he not separated himself from Maddox.
Taking the high road here would have been a really smart move. Such a decisive victory would have allowed Sanford a variety of options from which he chose the dumb one.
Imho the smartest thing would have been forcing the current king to abdicate and then killing him after a show trial. Then Sanford could have easily installed a puppet on the throne and go for a parlamentary monarchy with restricted franchise or for a shogunate model. This would have given his government way more legitimacy and would have allowed constructive paths for downtimer participation.
I know that uptimer pride stands in the way of that but finding ways to secure willing downtimer participation is crucial for the fledgeling states.
Of course the problem with that is convincing some of the uptimers to live in a state where some downtime Monarch is nominally the head of state. Which would be a particularly hard sell with this group since some of them have/had an incredibly low opinion of the native Hittites. But yeah, Sanford's dream was never going to work unless he had serious downtimer participation.
