File: Blucher Saber.jpg (57 KB, 1200x1200)

57 KB JPG

You stand beside Zorn in an extra room of the main building. Crossing your arms, you look down at the wooden crate standing before you. The rest of the rifles had arrived this morning, along with an extra crate you’d requested. It has been one week since your forced-march drills, and the men are now on the cusp of completing their training, all that is required now are simple formalities.

“They are here, Herr Stockton.” Zorn beams, gesturing to the crate. “Made to your specifications.”

You run a hand along the rough surface of the crate. “I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”

He shakes his head, chuckling. “No, no. Of course not. Spandau has plenty of these laid-up in storage. They would likely just rust away otherwise.” He slaps the crate heartily with a gloved hand. “It is better that they be given to someone that will have a use for them, ja?”

You smile. “I suppose so.” With that, Zorn hands you the pry-bar and you open the crate. Inside are five Blucher-pattern sabers with shiny, steel scabbards. You raise an eyebrow, gesturing at the swords. “Is it fine to take any of them, or…?”

Zorn shakes his hand. He points to the saber furthest to the left. “This one is yours, Colonel.” You pull that one from the crate, noting just how much heavier it is than the few swords you had ever held. The handle and guard is of an old style, not changed since the days of Napoleon.

You pull the sword carefully from its scabbard, noting the sheer largeness of the blade. It feels less like a blade and more like a sharpened steel bar, if you’re being honest. It is highly-polished, with an edge that you can immediately tell has been honed far sharper than its factory edge. You set the scabbard down gently, holding the saber up and giving a short test swing. It feels good in the hand. You think your sergeants will be quite pleased with theirs.

You raise an eyebrow upon closer inspection, noting some engraving near the base of the blade, above the proof-marks. “D.S.” You frown. “You had my initials engraved on it?”

Zorn nods, smiling. “To make them more special.” He gestures to the other swords. “Your mens’ blades have their family names engraved on them as well. I had to hire a local calligrapher to do it.” He waves his hand as you go to speak, preempting you. “And no, it is no extra charge. Just a courtesy.”

You nod slowly. “Very nice. Thank you, Herr Zorn.” Sheathing the saber, you clip the scabbard onto your belt carefully.

He shakes your hand. “I am glad to be of service, Herr Stockton.”

>”Well, I suppose we should give these other sabers to the sergeants.”
>”So I suppose you’ll be a free agent from here on out?”
>”You wouldn’t happen to know of other arms suppliers, would you?”
>”Does the Spandau Armory have any normal percussion rifle-muskets? They may be needed if we wish to arm a larger force.”
>Write-in.

>>2893991
>>”So I suppose you’ll be a free agent from here on out?”
and
>”Does the Spandau Armory have any normal percussion rifle-muskets? They may be needed if we wish to arm a larger force.”

>>2893991
>”So I suppose you’ll be a free agent from here on out?”
>”Does the Spandau Armory have any normal percussion rifle-muskets? They may be needed if we wish to arm a larger force.”

>>2893999
Nice trips support

>>2893991
>>”So I suppose you’ll be a free agent from here on out?”>”Does the Spandau Armory have any normal percussion rifle-muskets? They may be needed if we wish to arm a larger force.”

>>2893991
>>”So I suppose you’ll be a free agent from here on out?”
>”Does the Spandau Armory have any normal percussion rifle-muskets? They may be needed if we wish to arm a larger force.”


we should spar with Nakamura later, get the feeling of how these samurai wield a blade

>>2893991
>”So I suppose you’ll be a free agent from here on out?”

>”Does the Spandau Armory have any normal percussion rifle-muskets? They may be needed if we wish to arm a larger force.”

Asking for a friend...

>>2894146
So how much you want to bet that Sato or whatever his face is is going to complaing on how inferior the saber is compared to japanese steel folded one thousand times?

>>2894146
>nakamura

I meant Nakajima, our right-hand

>>2894176
We should do a Blade test. To show them their steel sucks ass, because it really does. They had to fold it 1000 times just for it to work.

>>2894195
I know the one thousand times was so to get the iron clean and to make usable.

>>2894188
I doubt our soft hands sergeant would appreciate the sword.Or maybe he would since this isn't a katana and nothing forbids him from using a saber instead of a katana.

>inb4 samurais reeing with peasants and merchants having swords.

File: Herr Zorn.png (631 KB, 500x700)

631 KB PNG

“So I suppose you’ll be a free agent from here on out?” You cross your arms.

Zorn nods. “Yes, it is so much better to live life without being tied to any government.” He sighs. “Well, at least for me.”

You frown. “I can imagine. Say, you mentioned that these needle rifles and sabers came from Spandau, right?”

“That is correct, Herr Stockton.” Zorn takes out his pipe, stuffing it with tobacco.

You lean closer. “They wouldn’t happen to have access to conventional rifle-muskets, would they?”

Zorn nods as he lights his pipe. “Of course. Nearly every armory in Europe has surpluses of rifle-muskets. Why do you ask?”

“I just wanted to make sure, in case we need to arm a larger force.” You shake your head. “I’m sure the average peasant can’t be trusted to be competent with a repeater, at least not initially.”

Zorn puffs on his pipe. “I see. Well I could certainly get a hold of a large quantity of rifle-muskets. I would expect the order to come from Lord Matsudaira instead of yourself though.”

You grimace. “That’s true. This is his army.”

Zorn shrugs. “Well, I can assure you that I will be in Japan for the foreseeable future, save a few trips back to the Fatherland. I am sure you will be able to find me once the time comes.”

>”You know, I could always talk to Matsudaira about retaining your services.”
>”You wouldn’t happen to know of other arms merchants operating in Japan, would you?”
>”I suppose I’ll give these sabers to the sergeants now.”
>Write-in.

>>2894273
>>”You know, I could always talk to Matsudaira about retaining your services.”

>>2894273
>>”I suppose I’ll give these sabers to the sergeants now.”

>>2894212
Nakajima is from a Samurai family tho

>>2894273
>”You know, I could always talk to Matsudaira about retaining your services.”

And then

>”I suppose I’ll give these sabers to the sergeants now.”

>>2894300
Sounds good +1

>>2894300
this

“I could always talk to Matsudaira about retaining your services.”

Zorn politely shakes his head. “No thank you, Herr Stockton. I like having the freedom to choose my clients.”

You nod. “I understand. Well, we may as well give the sergeants their sabers.”

Ten minutes later, your four sergeants are standing in the room with you. It is still relatively early in the morning, so they hadn’t begun to run drills yet. You didn’t tell them why you wanted them to meet you in the main building, but Sato and Nakajima noticed your new saber upon seeing you. They hadn’t made the connection by the time you brought them into the room with the crate though.

“Gentlemen,” you begin. “You’ve graduated from training. As such, I’ve decided to honor the occasion.” You gesture to the crate. “You’ll be lieutenants from today on, and in most Western armies, officers are given a sword with their commission.” You open the crate. “These are Prussian-pattern sabers.”

You hand each saber to its respective owner, and the men react differently. Sato tries to hide his disdain for the European-style blade behind a polite bow. Kojima and Subaru react as you’d expected, mostly with astonishment at being allowed to carry swords, which you’ve learned by now is a privilege normally reserved for the samurai class. You decide to give Nakajima his blade last.

Nakajima takes his sword from you carefully, inspecting the scabbard. He then draws the saber, eyes running along the blade, and stopping just above the guard. “Sir. These blades are personalized…” Upon saying this, the other lieutenants draw their sabers and inspect them. Sato’s mood seems to change from forced politeness to genuine gratitude. Nakajima looks back to you, his face serious. “Thank you, sir. This is a great honor.” He bows deeply, and the others do the same.

Upon returning to full height, Sato examines the saber again. “These swords are quite heavy, sir.” He takes an experimental swing at the empty air to the side of him. “How do you fight with them?”

You nod. “You’re supposed to use the weight and size to your advantage. Cleave through targets regardless of composition.” You draw your sword, looking down the blade. “I specifically requested that these be battle-ready pieces as opposed to decorative ceremonial swords.” You shrug, sheathing the blade. “I figured since our uniforms are of a European pattern, you all should have swords that matched the style.”

“I see,” Sato replies. “Shall we test the blades then? I can set up tatami mats in the training yard.”

>”Absolutely.”
>”See if you can find something tougher than mats. I want to demonstrate these swords’ durability.”
>”Not now. Matsudaira requested the unit’s presence at Edo Castle once everyone completed training. Let’s get that out of the way today.”
>Write-in.

>>2894505
>Absolutely

>>2894505
>>”Absolutely.”

>>2894524
+1

>>2894505
>”Absolutely.”

>>2894505
>>”Absolutely.”

>>2894505
>Absolutely
>After the tatami mat, we move into tougher stuff
European steel surpasses Japanese steel.
Man, I'm going to miss Zorn

>>2894505
>Absolutely

We need to ask where we can find weapons merchants.

We need to fucking standardize on what type of rifle musket and not grab a hodgepodge

>>2894505
>>”Absolutely.”
>>”See if you can find something tougher than mats. I want to demonstrate these swords’ durability.”
Pretty sure it doesnt take much to set them up

Also qm I’m surprised that he said Europe has a lot of surplus of rifle muskets.

A majority of countries right now use them as a standard still. And or in the middle of converting them to single shot rifles.

Like the enfield, Springfield, and french rifle musket.

I think Russia is also converting its stock as well at this point

>>2894505
>”Absolutely.”

>>2894795
Exactly, if countries aren't using them anymore then they'll have stockpiles they're no longer taking anything out of. For instance, the US government currently still has a ton of WW2 and Korean War stock in warehouses because they've upgraded past them and the sunk cost fallacy keeps them from selling or otherwise destroying the gear

>>2894505
>Pattern 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre
>Heavy
It weighs 780g, lighter than most katanas at 1100-1200g

At that,

>”Absolutely.”

>>2893991
Ah, and I hope we ordered wooden scabbards for the swords, because in the standard metal ones that excellent sharpening job will go to shit very very quickly.

>>2895612
... that logic doesn't follow.

Manufacturing capability of the 20th century let us make new things faster than it was to convert old things.

In the 19th century, they were literally rearsenalling guns as fast as they could for putting in bolt actions and whatnot, because they couldn't make or afford new rifles. Thus, they were not sitting useless in surplus, they were either in a soldiers hands or being modified in the arsenal.

Does anybody know of any good english language sources on the Boshin War?

>>2895843
Sato's just not used to the way a European saber's weight is distributed. Makes it seem heavier than what he's used to.

>>2896288
All of my sources are Wikipedia and whatever I can find on google.

Also a quick heads-up. Today's run will be a little bit later, around 7:30 PM Eastern. I'm buying an old truck off of Craigslist.

>>2895843
Also Sabres are one handed while the Katana you use two hands

>>2896494
It's supposed to be an agile sword well suited to fencing...

>>2896607
Maybe it's that.

>>2896162
I think you are both agreeing on similar poiints.

Tbh I’m surprised we managed to get the needle rifle or at least 1000 of them but considering it’s over a 20 year old design and the Germans are converting to a new patter the M1862.

It makes some sense to have it in surplus.

Though iirc they were still using
M1841s because they didn’t have a bough to supply the whole army

Just got back, writing now.

“Absolutely,” you grin.

A few minutes later, you and your sergeants are standing out in the training yard. Sato has set up several tatami mats vertically, arranged in such a way that you each have four to use. The rest of the men have also gathered around, and are looking at the five of you with various expressions of interest and curiosity.

You go first, walking up to the mat and hacking diagonally. The top quarter easily separates from the rest, falling to the ground and splaying out. You keep hacking down the length of the mat, swinging the saber in the way that feels most normal. Three quick swings later, and you’ve neatly sectioned the tatami mat with little effort.

Kojima goes next, slicing the mat more carefully than you did. He cuts rather precisely, then stabs the remaining section for additional effect. This elicits several quiet cheers from his squad, to which he merely nods.

Sato is next, and he attacks the target exactly as you’d expected him to. He slices several sections off in quick succession, even slicing one in half as it travels through the air.

Subaru, who seems just a bit reluctant, goes next. You are surprised when he slices the mat in half vertically, then in half horizontally, before the two vertical halves can fall. Impressive swordsmanship from a merchant’s son, to say the least.

Nakajima, who elected to go last, steps up to his first mat. He quickly draws the saber, grunting as he chops the target into sections much in the same way as Sato did. It is exactly what you would expect from someone as ascetic as Nakajima, a simple display of efficient swordplay. He quietly sheathes his saber, then steps back from the pieces of tatami littering the ground.

You all continue in this order, dispatching the rest of the mats. It is good training as well as a decent demonstration for the men. After about twenty minutes of practicing saber technique (which you’ll admit to being rather novice in) you all sheathe your swords.

“Excellent work. Congratulations, lieutenants.” You bow to your men, who return the gesture. You then dismiss everyone, and they all return to their barracks. You go to return to the main building, but find Nakajima walking toward you.

He bows as he greets you. “Hello sir,” he says as he returns to full height.

“Sato.” You bow as well.

“Sir, I wanted to thank you again for the sword. I… I have never owned something with my name on it.” He rests his hand on the hilt, admiring the weapon.

“You’re welcome, lieutenant.” You nod. “I figured I’d get you all something to commemorate your training.”

“They are quite impressive, for blades made in a factory.” Nakajima smiles. “So what is today’s itinerary, sir?”

>”We’ll march the company to Edo Castle, officially complete their training.”
>”Tell the men they have the day free to do as they wish. 24 hours of leave.”
>”One last round of training drills.”
>Write-in.

>>2897701
>>”Tell the men they have the day free to do as they wish. 24 hours of leave.”

>>2897701
>>”Tell the men they have the day free to do as they wish. 24 hours of leave.”

see if he knows where we could relax

>>2897780
+1
We should go to the hot spring

>>2897701
>”Tell the men they have the day free to do as they wish. 24 hours of leave.”

By the way how is Sato injury?

>>2897780
>>2897792
Supporting

>>2897792
>>2897780
Yup

>>2897701
>>”Tell the men they have the day free to do as they wish. 24 hours of leave.”

>>2897701
>>”Tell the men they have the day free to do as they wish. 24 hours of leave.”

>>2897701
>”Tell the men they have the day free to do as they wish. 24 hours of leave.”

>>2897792
Ditto and maybe we have some Mulan/gender binding anime fun

>>2897701
>we are gonna March to edom castle

File: 1533318842929.png (943 KB, 846x754)

943 KB PNG

The problem with buying a 45 year-old truck for less than a thousand dollars is that you get exactly what you pay for. Now that all its problems are mostly squared away, I can run a real session today. We'll be going live in two hours.

>>2899763
The fuck is that guy doing wearing forks?

>>2899789
Making himself more difficult to eat.

>>2899824
I must admit it's pretty clever.

“Tell the men to do as they wish. They have 24 hours of leave.” You cross your arms.

“Of course, sir.” Nakajima bows lightly. “I am sure they will be happy to hear of it.”

You nod. “Well after training as hard as they have, they deserve the time to relax.” Rubbing the back of your neck, you sigh. “You wouldn’t happen to know any good places to relax, would you?”

Nakajima raises an eyebrow. “Well you could always enjoy a night on the town with Sato and Kojima again.”

You shake your head, chuckling. “I believe once was enough for me.”

Nakajima frowns, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Then I do not know, sir. Relaxation is not something I prioritize.”

A thought jumps into your head and you snap your fingers. “Ah, what about that hot spring nearby? The one I stumbled upon last week.”

His eyes widen just a bit. “Well, sir. It is quite far from camp, I would worry about running into that female spy you saw.” You think back to when you briefed your sergeants about a potential cross-dressing spy. You had quickly disproven the possibility of the woman being among your ranks, what with her visiting the hot spring and having never been seen in your camp itself, leading you to believe she must be masquerading as a nearby villager. You couldn’t think why someone would do that though. Strange. Still, Nakajima would have found any women hiding amongst your men, what with how fiercely he pursued the case.

You shrug. “I suppose so. I could just bring some others. It’s sort of a tradition to go on communal visits to hot springs in Japan, right?”

Nakajima looks away. “I suppose it would be safe if you brought some men with you. Perhaps Sato or Kojima would enjoy such a trip.”

>”Good idea.” (invite Sato and Kojima)
>”Would you like to go? (invite Nakajima)
>”Actually, I’ll think of something else.”
>Write-in.

>>2900066
>”Would you like to go? (invite Nakajima)

There is no other option here.

>>2900066
>”Actually, I’ll think of something else.”
>Write-in: "Go drink with the guy that watch our supplies he has being here for a while so he must know what we can do around here

>>2900082
Good idea +1

>>2900066
>”Would you like to go? (invite Nakajima)

WE KNOW ITS YOU FEMALE.

File: 1463471424814.jpg (53 KB, 401x401)

53 KB JPG

>His eyes widen just a bit. “Well, sir. It is quite far from camp, I would worry about running into that female spy you saw.” You think back to when you briefed your sergeants about a potential cross-dressing spy. You had quickly disproven the possibility of the woman being among your ranks, what with her visiting the hot spring and having never been seen in your camp itself, leading you to believe she must be masquerading as a nearby villager. You couldn’t think why someone would do that though. Strange. Still, Nakajima would have found any women hiding amongst your men, what with how fiercely he pursued the case.

Man Nakajima is our best men truly a guy we can trust.

>>2900089
>>2900079
What you guys on about just because the samurai has soft hands that doesn't make him female! Or because he got flusterred when we ripped our shirt. Or because him and Sato are always in a bad mood with each other even if they are both from samurai families.

>>2900082
Do you mean Harp or are we approaching a random quartermaster?

>>2900096
Yeah Harp. I forgot his name for a second. We eill need more contacts if we intent to get more rifles for more soldiers.

>>2900066
>>”Would you like to go? (invite Nakajima)

>inb4 Nakajima is to shy to go to the bath

>>2900115
>Be shy
>Get told to go anyway
>Pasta fucking everywhere

>>2900095
I'm not saying his a lady, but I'm not gonna be suprised if we can't go with him to bond like a true jap

>>2900136
Eh the way i see Nakajima he would rather spend time inside the base checking that everything is according to norm.

>>2900108
Ditto
What could go wrong?

>>2900066
>>”Would you like to go? (invite Nakajima)

“Would you like to go?” You raise an eyebrow. It’d be impolite to not ask, after all.

Nakajima mutters something in Japanese, far too quickly for you to try translating it, and drops into a deep bow. “While I appreciate the offer, sir, I wish to visit my family in Edo today.”

You bow out of courtesy. “That’s understandable. I just figured I’d extend the offer.” You smile a bit. He is young, so you figure it’s only natural for him to be homesick to a degree.

“Again, thank you for the offer, sir.” He straightens up, a serious expression on his face. “If you will excuse me, I must pack a change of regular clothes.”

“Of course, dismissed.” You salute him, which he returns crisply before walking toward the barracks. As he leaves, you frown, somewhat unsure of what to actually do during your free time.

Of course, you could always go to the hot spring with some men, but perhaps that should be saved for once the spy is found. You could also see what Harp plans to do during leave, perhaps he has something interesting going on? Then again, you could stay on-base and make sure everything stays normal while the men are on leave. Or you could always head into Edo and see about trying to connect with Western entities that could help the Aizu domain later. You lean against the wall of the main building, frowning as you wonder what to do. It’s been a solid month and a half since you’ve had 24 hours to yourself.

>Enjoying the hot spring will be good for your spirit.
>You’ll see what Harp is up to.
>It’s probably best to hold down the fort for the leave period.
>You’ll head into Edo for business reasons.
>Write-in.

>>2900169
>You’ll see what Harp is up to.
then with Harp,
>You’ll head into Edo for both business and pleasure.

>>2900169
>You’ll see what Harp is up to

If harps free bring his ass into

>You’ll head into Edo for business reasons.

>>2900169
>>You’ll see what Harp is up to.
>You’ll head into Edo for business reasons.

>>2900169
>>You’ll head into Edo for business reasons.
>>2900169

>>2900169
>You’ll see what Harp is up to.

Most likely Harp would be the one to help us out with who we can connect from the foreigners. He has being here for far longer then us.

>>2900169
>You’ll see what Harp is up to
>You’ll head into Edo for business reasons.

I mean we were attacked a coue days ago and we have a possible spy sneaking around. Maybe staying and holding the fort for now should be a good idea?

>>2900204
Aren't ninjas a thing? Damned if we do, damned we won't. Besides it would be a good bonding experience with Harp.

>>2900205
I'm more worried if someone saboraging the new rifles we just got.

Also yes ninjas should still be a thing.

>>2900209
the unlucky 10 who draw the short straw guard the fort, what do you think?

and of course, one of the sergeants is among them to command the guard

>>2900174
Ditto, maybe we'll run into Naki there

>>2900236
Fuck, Naka

>>2900236
Or maybe we will bump into his sister.

>>2900271
Naki is Naka sister. Which doesn't make any sense, because i think Nakajima is supposed to be his family name

>>2900274
Maybe his sister's pretty cute, maybe we could take her out to see a slideshow or some Shadow Theatre if we have time

You decide to head inside the main building. Perhaps Harp will have something to do tonight. It doesn’t take long to find him, once you enter the office you find him going over ledgers and other paperwork.

“Colonel Stockton,” Harp greets you. “Just making sure we have enough ammunition for these rifles.”

You frown. “They’re just lead balls and an attached paper cartridge. Can’t they be made easily?”

Harp nods slowly, puffing on his pipe. “That they can, but we don’t have a lead smelter, or a chemist to make the percussion caps and nitrite paper.” He grimaces. “So until Lord Aizu graces us with an ammunition manufactory we’ll have to make due on Zorn’s ammunition shipments.” He points to a spot in the ledger he’s holding. “The deliveries are regularly-scheduled, but the first one doesn’t come for another week.”

“How much ammunition do we have right now?”

Harp sighs. “Just over a thousand rounds.”

You grimace. “That’s not much when you consider how long our target practice drills tend to be.”

“Indeed.” Harp closes the ledger. “So we’ll just have to tighten our belts, sir.” He leans against your desk. “Anyway, is there something you needed?”

You nod. “I’ve given the men 24 hours of leave. Just wanted to see if you had anything planned.”

Harp shrugs. “Well, nothing in particular. I normally go into Edo at least once a day anyhow. Would you want to come along?”

>”Sure thing.”
>”Actually I think I’ll stay behind and hold down the fort.”
>Write-in.

>>2900304
>”Sure thing.”

>>2900304
>Maybe some light sword drills for a bit
>Sure thing

>>2900304
>>”Sure thing.”

>>2900304
>”Actually I think I’ll stay behind and hold down the fort.”
>Write-in:" Would you mind comming up with a list of possible suppliers for us? Being dependent of just one would be terrible for us."

>>2900317
+1

Well if we go hopefully no one sneaked in and burned everything by the time we get back. Because you guys do realize we are leaving the base without any man in it right?

>>2900317
This

>>2900341
We didn't give everyone on the base Leave, we gave our men leave

>>2900317
Supporting

>>2900341
Some of our men might not even leave base

>>2900317
>>2900317
this

File: Major Harp.jpg (100 KB, 850x664)

100 KB JPG

“Actually I think I’ll stay behind and hold down the fort.” You lean against the wall.

Harp raises an eyebrow. “Eh? Just you and the cooks. I suppose it’s good to have a proper soldier around in case some hooligans show up.”

You frown. “I don’t think the Japanese have hooligans.”

Harp shrugs. “You’re probably right. They’re a smidge too meek for that.”

You keep talking. “But anyway, do you think you could put together a list of potential arms suppliers we could use? As good as Zorn has been to us, I don’t like relying on one man for our weapons and ammunition.”

“Already on it.” Harp grins. “That’s one thing I was going to work on in Edo tonight. You sure you don’t want to come along?”

You put up a hand. “I’m sure, Harp. Take care.”

He walks toward the doorway, puffing on his pipe. “You do the same, Colonel. See you tomorrow.” With that, he leaves. You stand alone in your office. Looking out through the window, you see several of your men standing around in the training yard. You sigh, walking over to your desk and sitting down. The men are all ready for combat, and for their role as instructors. You only hope their service will be most of the latter and none of the former. Resting your feet on the corner of the desk, you think of how to pass the time.

>Practice your Japanese.
>Patrol the grounds.
>Go to your quarters and take a nap.
>Read over some of the ledgers Harp has compiled.
>Write-in.

>>2900698
>>Read over some of the ledgers Harp has compiled.

>>2900698
>Practice Japanese while we're patroling

>>2900698
>>Read over some of the ledgers Harp has compiled.

>>2900698
>Practice your Japanese

>>2900698
>Read over some of the ledgers Harp has compiled.

>>2900698
>>Practice your Japanese.

>>2900698
>>Practice your Japanese.

>>2900698
>Patrol the ground

>>2900698
>>Practice your Japanese.

You decide to practice your Japanese. You’ve learned a little bit since you arrived in Japan, as would be expected from spending so much time around the Japanese people. Though you’ve been learning mostly from Sato and Nakajima, you do have a Japanese-English dictionary that you picked up in Edo. You aren’t sure how accurate the pronunciations are, but you decide to go over words you’ve been struggling with as you sit in your office.

You enunciate the words out loud, syllable by syllable, until you are able to say them relatively quickly. You remember Sato stifling a chuckle when he heard you trying to pronounce certain words, before correcting you on the finer aspects. For example, you accidentally used the word ‘cute’ when you meant to use the word ‘scary’ (much to Nakajima’s dismay, as you had tried referring to his demeanor toward his troops’ mistakes as scary). This language is quite complicated, really. Much more so than English.

After about an hour of practicing certain words, you decide to take a break. You head to the mess hall, and surprisingly find that six or seven men have stayed at the base during their leave. You eat with them, exchanging stories of home as you do. Most of the regular enlisted men (who will become sergeants upon graduation) come from small villages and the countryside. They’re salt-of-the-earth type people. People that remind you of your hometown of Rochester, New York. The meal is rice and meat, likely beef, with a salty sauce drizzled over it.

You finish your meal, then head back to the main building to study some more Japanese, and maybe look over Harp’s ledgers while you’re at it. The air has cooled off significantly, which only makes sense considering it is now the first week of November. You turn your collar up as you walk, stuffing your hands in your pockets. It is overcast, making it near-impossible to tell the time of day without a watch. You estimate that it is early afternoon, and a quick glance at your pocket watch confirms this.

You return to your office and begin practicing more Japanese, you don’t get very far, however, as you enter a section with much harder words. You sigh, closing the dictionary and picking up one of Harp’s ledgers. You are able to glean a wealth of information regarding the day-to-day runnings of the base. Firstly, you learn that your food storage can only hold two days’ worth, and that a shipment of food arrives every morning containing beef and rice, which is apparently the staple of your mens’ diets. You also learn that your water tanks (designed to collect rainwater as well as be periodically filled) can hold enough water for two weeks of normal use. You look through your miscellaneous stocks, as well as ammunition, weapons, and field rations (which are filed differently than the base’s regular provisions).

You are about to pick up another ledger when you hear something outside. Glancing out through the window, you see a carriage pull up, flanked by two of Lord Matsudaira’s men on horseback. Two men exit the carriage, one is obviously an Aizu official, wearing fancy robes. The other, however, is a Westerner, with a bowler hat and a blond mustache. They both stand in front of the carriage as their bodyguards dismount their horses.

You grimace, standing up and heading for the front door. “This can’t be good,” you mutter.

File: fc0e9ad63961418ea1e061131(...).jpg (182 KB, 736x513)

182 KB JPG

And that's it for tonight! I apologize for the flaky sessions these last few days, real life just ended up getting in the way. We'll have our next session this Sunday if all goes well. As always, feel free to drop questions, comments, concerns, and other stuff in the meantime, I'll answer what I can.

>>2901088
Wait until you stumble into long vowels, Stockton.


>>2901101
Thanks for running!

>>2901088
>For example, you accidentally used the word ‘cute’ when you meant to use the word ‘scary’ (much to Nakajima’s dismay, as you had tried referring to his demeanor toward his troops’ mistakes as scary).

kek this is awesome

thanks for running

This is a quality quest and I enjoy reading it immensely!

>>2901376
Wait, that means
>We called the Obviously-not-a-crossdresser Naka cute
>And "he" was flustered

>Naka
>Crossdresser

Don't be silly anon Naka is way to manly and agressive to be dress as a woman.

>>2902683
>>2902700

There is no cross-dresser on the unit guys, Nakajima, our (soft) right-hand checked everyone, no need to be worried

Which thread was the spy business spoken about? I must have missed that.

>>2905528
It was spoken about during the week I skipped from last thread to this one. I'll probably write a side-story pastebin about the exact conversation from Nakajima's perspective in the future.

>>2905542
>Story happening outside the story

Please no.

>>2905906
we're but a small part of this world. its fine.

>>2905542
Please do! This would be awesome

>>2905542
It would be great to see how our subordinates act when we are not around

Session in two hours

>>2913217
OOF
See you in 2 hours

File: Alain Armstrong.png (161 KB, 441x404)

161 KB PNG

You lean against your desk, sipping coffee while both of your guests drink tea. As you’d expected, the Japanese man is an official from the Aizu Domain, a treasurer, more specifically. The Westerner with the mustache, which turned out to be much less blond up close, was a self-described military architect. “I’m sorry, could you repeat your name for me?” You frown at him.

“Of course, Colonel. I am Alain Armstrong, Sir Alain Armstrong.” He bows ever so lightly to you. “Here under contract to modernize the Aizu Domain’s military buildings. I’ve only just arrived in the country.”

You nod. “And you’re here because-”

The quick-talking Englishman intercepts the conversation. “Because Lord Matsudaira has requested that this training camp be upgraded in anticipation of additional recruits.” He smiles, sipping his tea quickly before continuing. “I was told to consult with you regarding the particulars, seeing as you are the base commander.” He chuckles a bit, looking around before leaning in close to be heard by only you. “I must say, they haven’t given you much to work with. The Japanese still make all of their buildings out of paper, for shame.”

You frown, crossing your arms. “So you’re here to consult with me regarding our base renovations. What exactly does that entail?”

Armstrong nods. “Well, I will need to inspect the base’s current structures to determine their suitability for further operations. After that, we can discuss expansions and upgrades to be made.” He gestures to the Japanese man behind him. “This chap from the Aizu Domain’s treasury department shall deal with the financial and bookkeeping necessities, or so I am told.”

“What sort of oversight will I have in determining what upgrades we receive?”

Armstrong smiles, taking his hat off and resting it in the crook of his arm. “Well, Colonel, I was told to trust your judgment in that regard. However, as an architect, I do naturally reserve the right to refuse certain requests, should they be unfeasible.” He nods at you, raising an eyebrow. “How shall we first proceed, Colonel?”

>”Let’s start with your inspection.”
>”I would like to go over potential upgrades first.”
>”You mentioned being a military architect. What are your credentials?”
>Write-in.

>>2913614
>”You mentioned being a military architect. What are your credentials?”
>Other: "They fucking sended a fucking tea drinking englishmen?!!" (Don't actually say this)

>”I would like to go over potential upgrades first.”

>>2913614
>>”I would like to go over potential upgrades first.”

and then proceed to the

>”Let’s start with your inspection.”
so we can make good time

>>2913614
>”You mentioned being a military architect. What are your credentials?”
>”I would like to go over potential upgrades first.”

>>2913627
I don't want to let this fucking tea drinking cunt into the base. Also he didn't presented no proof from Lord Matsudaira, like a letter with a seal or something this smell like british spying.

Or maybe the englishmen arr just trying to sell to both sides.

>>2913632
they said to us that they would send someone to renovate man, and he is an individual, not the crown, it's perfectly plausible he would help the highest bidder

>>2913641
True. Still him trying to fast talk us makes me worry. After all he could just check our place since he will be the arquitect and then sell the information of what guns the other side should buy.

But i know i'm just being paranoid.

“You’re a military architect, what are your credentials?” You frown.

Armstrong raises an eyebrow as he sips his tea. “Well, aside from a degree from the Royal Academy of Sciences, and being a fellow of the Royal Society, I have designed several structures around the world.” He smiles, sitting his cup loudly on its saucer.

“Such as?”

“I worked on the system of defenses in Washington, during your Civil War. I also helped design new administrative buildings for the Royal Navy, and designed a pattern for the French Foreign Legion’s new forts, so as to provide a template for their builders and engineers. This is by-far my largest contract yet though, modernizing an entire military’s structures.”

You nod slowly. “I see, you get around. So tell me, what sort of upgrades would you have in mind for this site?”

The Englishman looks out through the window, sipping more tea. “The first upgrades I can be sure you will need are more barracks. With those would come expanded storehouses, obviously. Perhaps this building could do for modernizations and expansions. Should you plan on training any cavalry or keeping horses for your officers, you will need stables. I also noticed no dedicated armory, so that would be a highly-advised bit of construction.” He shrugs. “I would also recommend some recreation facilities for your officers, and perhaps a barber and surgeon’s offices. Though you may never need them, I would also recommend some form of defensive walls or earthworks, just in case.”

You sip on your coffee. “Quite a variety of facilities.”

“Indeed. And I am sure to have more ideas once I inspect the premises further.” He sticks his pointer finger straight up, smiling. “Judging by the lack of already-present structures, this base is practically a blank canvas.”

>”Then let’s get that inspection under way.”
>”There will be soldiers living here for the foreseeable future. How will that work with you doing construction and renovation?”
>Inquire with the Aizu official regarding the budget for these renovations.
>Write-in.

>>2913744
>>”There will be soldiers living here for the foreseeable future. How will that work with you doing construction and renovation?”
>>Inquire with the Aizu official regarding the budget for these renovations.
After that I think we cna start with the inspection.

>>2913744
>”There will be soldiers living here for the foreseeable future. How will that work with you doing construction and renovation?”
>Inquire with the Aizu official regarding the budget for these renovations.

>>2913744
>>”Then let’s get that inspection under way.”

>>2913744
>>”There will be soldiers living here for the foreseeable future. How will that work with you doing construction and renovation?”
>>Inquire with the Aizu official regarding the budget for these renovations.
>”Then let’s get that inspection under way.”

>>2913744
>”There will be soldiers living here for the foreseeable future. How will that work with you doing construction and renovation?”
>Inquire with the Aizu official regarding the budget for these renovations.

“There will be soldiers living here for the foreseeable future, the construction won’t interfere with that, will it?”

Armstrong shakes his head. “As long as the barracks you already have does not need any construction.” He takes a sip of his tea. “I assure you the builders and craftsmen will make every effort to avoid bothering your men.”

“I see.” You nod. Then you turn to the Aizu official. “Do you speak English, sir?”

He nods, speaking with a thick accent. “I do, Colonel.” He bows.

You return the bow. “I would like to know what the budget for these upgrades is.”

The treasury official nods, producing a small stack of papers. “Here are the budget reports.”

You take the papers carefully. The top couple are written in Japanese, but you immediately realize that the other sheets of paper are the English translations. You go over the paperwork carefully, making sure the amount of money earmarked for the base is correct. It is a decent amount, you figure, certainly a greater sum of money than you’ve ever seen in person.

You thank the treasury official, handing the papers back to him. Then you turn to Armstrong. “I suppose we should get that inspection underway.”

“Of course, Colonel.” He nods politely, gesturing to the door. “Please, do lead the way.”

You stand up, sitting your now-empty coffee cup down and gathering your jacket. You and Armstrong exit the office, heading for the front door. You both step into the chilly autumn air, and you look around as you think of the first place to show him.

>Food and water storage.
>The barracks.
>The surrounding grounds.
>The mess hall.
>The hot spring.
>Write-in.

>>2913844
>Food and water storage.
>Barracks
>Mess hall
>Grounds
>hotspring

In that order?

>>2913844
>>Food and water storage.
>>The barracks.
>>The surrounding grounds.
>>The mess hall.

let's not show the hotsprings, we still have a spy to catch and I don't want to draw attention to it

>>2913844
>Food and water storage.
>The barracks.
>The surrounding grounds.
>The mess hall.

>>2913844
>Food and water storage.
>The barracks.
>The surrounding grounds.
>The mess hall.

>>2913844
>Food and water storage.
>The barracks.
>The mess hall.

If we are about to increase the number of soldier these three must be the focus

You start by showing Armstrong the food and water storage. It consists of a building to hold the bags of rice, as well as a large water tank designed to be refilled periodically, as well as be filled by rainwater. He, much like you, seems dumbfounded that the original builders of this place didn’t just dig a well. Perhaps it wasn’t deemed necessary due to the nearby stream?

You lead him to the barracks next, and you see that he is now taking notes. He scoffs openly at the bedrolls laying on the floor, remarking that the first thing any new barracks will have are actual bunks. He points at things with his pencil, muttering to himself between bouts of note-taking.

Next the both of you go to the mess hall, which again, is traditionally Japanese. Armstrong takes more notes as you guide him through the building. You show him the attached kitchen, with the large pots for boiling rice. He seems less attentive about the cookware and more interested in the way the building is put together. He uses his pencil and a small ruler to take measurements of certain things, and seems to do some mental math regarding the roofs of both the mess hall and barracks.

You decide to take Armstrong on a tour of the base’s grounds and surrounding areas next, starting with the training yard. He notes the flat, earthen main courtyard as being inferior to a cobblestone one, but then goes back to muttering and taking notes. You show him the firing range as well, which he takes careful notes of. You next leave the confines of the base itself. You show him the areas immediately around the base, such as the creek where most of your water is taken from, as well as the rolling meadows and small patches of forest making up the nearby countryside.

The two of you then make your way to a hilltop overlooking the base so he can get a better idea of the exact surroundings. He takes a seat on the grass and begins intently scribbling in his notebook. You peek over his shoulder to see a crudely-drawn aerial view of the base, with arrows pointing to specific structures and areas.

Finally, he stands up and the two of you head back to the base. You both go to the main building, and you give him a tour of it so he can take more notes. You see more of the same behavior from him as you show off the various rooms. He grimaces at the sight of all your rifles being stored in the main building, chuckling to himself as he writes more notes. After he is done, the two of you return to the office. He sits across from you, writing some things on a page in his notebook, which he promptly tears out and hands to you. You look it over, seeing that it is a list of recommended upgrades to the base. Frowning, you consider your options. You also consider your own ideas, as well as things suggested to you by your own men throughout the training process. Looking at the budget, you have a good idea of what you can afford to have built.

File: Boomer HD.jpg (80 KB, 680x661)

80 KB JPG

Now I'm going to introduce the base expansion mechanic I've made up. You'll initially be somewhat limited in your choices, for example, you can't turn your camp into a massive star-fort right now. However, as you further yourself in the Aizu military administration and gain influence with the higher-ups, you will be given more base expansion options. As for this opportunity, your budget will only allow for three choices from the list I'm about to post. Prompt incoming.

>>2914083
Clearly we make the soldiers build the starfort.

CURRENT FACILITIES:
>Main building (1 office, 2 bedrooms, 4 storage rooms)
>Barracks (sleeps 40)
>Food storage sheds and water tanks (2 week supply)
>Shooting range
>Training yard

UPGRADES (select 3) :

>Main Building Expansion
Upgrades the main building to house 2 offices, 6 bedrooms (two for you and Harp, plus 4 for your lieutenants), and 4 storage rooms.

>Additional Barracks
Two more barracks, of a more modern design, when combined with the current one, will raise your troop capacity to 200. Each barracks will have storage space for 2 weeks’ worth of food and water for its' occupants.

>Obstacle Course
A multi-stage obstacle course for enhanced fitness training.

>Separate Instructor Barracks:
A more luxurious barracks for the initial 36 men who will go on to be drill instructors.

>Wooden Palisades
A wall made of wooden logs surrounding the base, reinforced with basic earthworks.

>Gunsmith’s Workshop
A dedicated facility for maintaining, repairing, and customizing your mens’ firearms. Requires a skilled gunsmith.

>Armory
A fortified structure dedicated to storing weapons and ammunition.

>Well
Self-explanatory. Allows for water on-demand in case of supply interruptions.

>Central Granary
A large silo for storing rice. Allows for up to six months of food in the event of a supply interruption.

>Hospital
Dedicated medical facility. Allows for the treatment of wounds that would otherwise require a trip to Edo.

>Chapel
A place for the worship of Jesus Christ. Will boost morale of any Christians on-base.

>Shinto Shrine
A site for the worship of traditional Japanese religion. Will raise morale of all religious Japanese troops.

>Telegraph Office
A wonder of the modern world, the telegraph office will allow for up-to-the-minute communication with other locations. Presently you know that there is a telegraph office in Edo, and have heard rumors of more being constructed across Japan.

>Upgraded Shooting Range
Expand the shooting range with more targets situated at varying range.

>Upgraded training yard
Larger main courtyard with cobblestone paths leading to various buildings.

>Officers’ Onsen
A recommendation made by some of your lieutenants upon discovering the hot spring. An onsen is a facility for rest and relaxation built around the spring itself. Naturally, such a small spring would be useful only to you and your lieutenants.

>>2914097
>Telegraph Office

>Obstacle Course


>Gunsmith’s Workshop

>>2914097
>>Additional Barracks
>Separate Instructor Barracks:
>Officers’ Onsen

>>2914097
>Gunsmith's Workshop
>Well
>Upgraded shooting range

>>2914097
>Well
>Additional barrack's
If we're going to have more troops to train we need more space for them
>Armory

>>2914097
>Additional Barracks
>Upgraded Shooting Range
>Obstacle Course

>>2914097
>>Additional Barracks

We're gonna be training more troops, this is needed.

>>Wooden Palisades

With how important this place will be, we will need to begin working on some rudementary defences. The forces that directed the attack on us will be back and we need to be able to defend ourselves.

>Obstacle Course

Enhanced fitness levels for all our troops is something we can easily use.

>>2914097
>Additional Barracks
>Armory
>Obstacle Course

>>2914097
>Well
>Additional barrack's
>Armory

We don't have a gunsmith and we need more housing for future soldiers.

>>2914114
I'll change my vote

>>Additional Barracks
>Obstacle Course
>Well

>>2914097

>Wooden Palisades
>Additional barrack's
>Armory

>>2914192
>>2914215
Why a well? So far it's only usefull for or when we have trouble with supplies and so far we will not be surrounded or will be at war.

>>2914248
Well starts to make sense when we have the possibility of getting sieged.

Right now we barely have any defences.

>>2914097
ZAP, what kind of defences does our training camp have now?

>>2914248
>
I was torn between it and the armory so I think I will change to

>>2914215
>Armory


it makes more sense at the moment

>>2914256
>ZAP, what kind of defences does our training camp have now?
Not a darn thing as far as structural defenses. Imagine something like an 1860's Japanese version of the outpost from "the Siege of Jadotville" for reference.

>>2914280
....Man a night raid with swordsmen could see alot of our training cadre killed in short order.

>>2914280
So palisade, Barracks and Armory are a must. Specialy if there is the chance of a attack.

>>2914288
That's why we put a palisade.

>>2914298
Need more votes for it, man.

File: 1537407406861.jpg (660 KB, 2969x2802)

660 KB JPG

Seeing as this is kind of a big decision, and the votes aren't super cut-and-dry, I'll leave this open for the rest of the night and call it before I run tomorrow. That okay with everyone?

>>2914316
Thats fine i guess. Though when you tally the votes, you might as well go for the individual items which have the highest votes. So each post has 3 votes on 3 items. Easier to deal with that way.

>>2914316
I saw that same pic in /trash/ a man of culture I see

>>2914097
>Additional Barracks
>Armory
>Officer's Onsen

>>2914097
>Additional Barracks
>Hospital
>Well

>>2914097
>Additional Barracks
>Gunsmith’s Workshop
>Hospital

>>2914097
>Additional Barracks
>Obstacle Course
>Wooden Palisades

>>2914097
>>Additional Barracks
>>Hospital
>Obstacle Course
I'm not as worried about a siege right now because all the Imperial supporters are mainly on the other side of Japan from us.

>>2914097

>Additional Barracks
>Gunsmith’s Workshop
>Armory

>>2915558
The implication of the attack we faced is that they were of the traditionalists of the shogunate.

>>2915612
The Imperial faction was traditionalist in the beginning.

>>2915640
And so we are still at risk. What better way to discredit the new style of soldiering by them being unable to defend their camp, where they are strongest.

Correct me if my tally is wrong, but it looks like Barracks, Armory, and Obstacle Course have the most votes.

Session in an hour or so.

>>2914374
B-but I got it from /v/

>>2916137
>obstacle course

Well maybe now we can focus in keeping some guards out since people decided to not put a wall. God dammit were are my sandbags!

>>2915642
Yeah but they are only equipped with swords, arrows and match locks. We can out range all of them though we will need rifles muskets

Only problem we might deal with is cavalry, in which we have to use nepolianic formations.

Or The useage of the prone position which was used during the Austrian German conflict

>>2916199
Also need to watch out for night raids now

You look the budget papers over once more, then look up at Armstrong. “We’re going to need those barracks, and an obstacle course will be necessary for further training efforts.” You frown, considering your base’s needs. “And an armory will be critical for storing our weapons, which should free up some space in the main building.”

Armstrong nods, scribbling some notes down. “Very well, I shall begin drafting the plans as soon as I return to my office in Edo. We should be able to break ground within the month, and with the mildness of Japan’s winters, I am sure work will not slow down as it would back home.” With that, he and the treasury official leave.

You spend most of the rest of the day reading, practicing Japanese, and going on an occasional walk around the camp. Some of the men have elected to stay behind, you learn, likely due to their families being too far away to reach within the allotted leave time. Many of the men you released on leave return just before sunset, stopping by the mess hall for supper. You join them, refining your chopstick technique as you eat. After sundown, you return to the main building and go over some paperwork in your office. You then take some time to read.

After a particularly boring passage in the book on Japanese history, you yawn, setting the book down. You prepare to kick your feet up on the desk and take a nap, but a knock at your door interrupts you. Walking to the door, you open it to see Harp standing on the other side. His pipe hangs from his mouth, and he smells of whiskey.

“Colonel Stockton,” he greets you with a crooked smile. “I’ve returned from Edo.”

You nod, stepping back and inviting him into the office. “I see that, Major.”

He enters, leaning against the wall. “I tell you, the taverns in that town nearly put the ones back home to shame.”

>”Any progress on finding arms dealers?”
>”Maybe you should cut back on the drinking.”
>”I met with a military architect earlier. Base renovations are going to commence soon.”
>Write-in.

>>2916288
>”I met with a military architect earlier. Base renovations are going to commence soon.”

>>2916212
Night raids will be a disadvantage for both parties

>>2916288
>”Any progress on finding arms dealers?”

The main reason he went, at least for us

>>2916288
I met with a military architect earlier. Base renovations are going to commence soon.”

>>2916288
>”I met with a military architect earlier. Base renovations are going to commence soon.”

>”Any progress on finding arms dealers?”

>>2916288
>”I met with a military architect earlier. Base renovations are going to commence soon.”
>Write-in:"Tavern you say? Back home taverns were good place to hear rumours. Did you catch on anything interesting?"

love this quest OP, please don't go succumbing to the QM curse you hear.

>>2916350
There is no choice the QM curse hits everyone eventually.

>>2916288
>”Any progress on finding arms dealers?”

“Any progress made on finding arms dealers?”

Harp nods drunkenly, sitting in the chair across from your desk. “I got in touch with some people. None of them were genuine arms dealers themselves, but they know people.”

You lean forward, resting your elbows on your desk. “And?”

“I think we may have at least three potential contacts.” Harp hiccups, then puffs on his pipe some. “The first is a free agent with contacts in Colt and Remington. I’m sure he could get us some Springfields and other military weapons that have been sent to warehouses with the end of the War.” He frowns, scratching his beard. “There are some rumors floating around that he’s talking to the Satsuma and Choshu fiefs though. From what I understand, they’re at odds with Lord Aizu and his allies.”

You grimace. That may well be true, but if any country has large amounts of weaponry they would be willing to sell, it’d be the United States. “What of the other two?”

“The next one I heard talk of is an Englishman, just arrived here from India.” He rubs the back of his neck. “He can get us some of those dammed Enfield Musketoons the Dixie boys loved so much. I also heard he has access to large stores of modern military equipment, maybe even some breech-loading cannons.”

You raise an eyebrow. Breech-loading artillery could prove critical to the Aizu military’s modernization, should they actually see combat. “And the third arms merchant?”

Harp chuckles. “An Italian, surprisingly enough. Apparently he’s a young lad who knows some powerful people in the old country. I’ve not heard of any famous Italian guns, but he may well impress us, should we encounter him.”

“And you didn’t actually meet any of these arms dealers?” You sigh.

“Not yet.” Harp shakes his head. “In fact, all I know is that they’re somewhere in Japan. We’d have to seek them out if and when the time comes.”

>”Did you encounter any of the men while you were out?”
>”I was visited by a military architect earlier. They’re going to begin renovating the camp soon.”
>”Anything else happen while you were out?”
>Write-in.

>>2916456
>>”Did you encounter any of the men while you were out?”
>”I was visited by a military architect earlier. They’re going to begin renovating the camp soon.”

>>2916456
>”I was visited by a military architect earlier. They’re going to begin renovating the camp soon.”
>”Anything else happen while you were out?”

So most likely P51s from the British, which will be hard due to them converting them to the sniper pattern.

Springfield will be hard too but getting some Breech loaders might be viable but America is also converting old 1861 and 1863 to trapdoors.

Italy wasn’t a country yet but rather a collection of city states so I have no fucking clue what they have

Though logistically better off getting American guns since the surplus won’t solely be only for conversions and the U.S. will be in debt so they might convaider selling the stock

>>2916456
>”I was visited by a military architect earlier. They’re going to begin renovating the camp soon.”

uh, not a smart man when it comes to weapons of this time period. Isn't the Enfield the best weapon type currently out?

What the fuck is italy sitting on.

>>2916479
Debatable that enfield is the best.

And iirc since I just looked it up percussion rifles muskets like every other country.

>>2916456
>”I was visited by a military architect earlier. They’re going to begin renovating the camp soon.”

So american can give us more rifles, the englishman can give us breach weapons but we would be forced to contract with then for both weapons AND ammo and the Italian most likely can get us contacts in the old country and give us acess to other types of weapons across europe.

I must say the italian seems to be the most usefull for us at the start. We still need to train 1000 rifleman and we don't have a need of breach weapons or the man to train them.

>>2916575
>The Englishman can give us breach weapons
We can give the troops we train all Enfield Musketoons, looking at the gun in the wiki it's not all that bad.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_1861_Enfield_musketoon
It's have 5 groove, tighten rifling twist so more accuracy, short enough for cavalry units

But the bad side about it, for the men we're training there going to be infantry, because of this listed on the wiki.
>in order to minimize the risk that the men in the rear ranks would accidentally shoot the men in the front ranks in the back of the head, or scorch their faces and burst their eardrums with the muzzle blast

But we can always keep them as back up, for cavalry, or for light infantry since there not going to shoot rank. And I'm guessing would be cheap to buy in bunk, since the English are going for breech soon. I'll say it's cheap, we can buy many for the money, and useful if we're overloaded with more soldiers later on

>>2916608
That is only a problem if you are going to have them fight in ranks which given the methods our instructors have been trained in, it shouldn't be a problem.

>>2916456
>>”I was visited by a military architect earlier. They’re going to begin renovating the camp soon.”
>”Anything else happen while you were out?”

“I was visited by a military architect later.” You lean back in your chair. “Renovations on the base are going to begin soon.”

Harp nods. “That’s good. We can’t be expected to use this camp much longer in its current state. What sort of upgrades are we getting?”

“More barracks for the incoming trainees.” You yawn, glancing out at the night sky. “As well as an armory and obstacle course. We’re on our way to having a proper fort.”

Harp chuckles. “Hardly. An armory and barracks do not a fort make.” He puffs on his pipe. “But they’ll get us in better shape for training soldiers.”

“That they will.” You chuckle.

Harp leans back in his chair. “This place is practically deserted. Good to see the men enjoying their leave.”

You shrug. “They’ve earned it, to say the least. Two months of training, and they’ve got quite the skillset to show for it.”

“That they do.” Harp nods. “Only way to really see what they’ve learned is to put them in combat though. I remember nearly washing out during my cadet training, being at the bottom of my class…” He shakes his head. “Then we got sent to Mexico in ’46… Those model-soldiers were either the first to die, or the first to break down under real combat.” Harp laughs, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Well, I was able to take care of myself, to say the least.”

You try to speak, but can’t find the words. You’d always thought Harp had been a bit too old to be an infantry captain. There were always rumors about him having served before, but he’d never spoken about anything like that. “You served in the Mexican War. This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

Harp nods, his eyes avoiding yours as he takes a long drag of his pipe. “That’s true. Never told anyone about it. 7th Infantry. Fought all over Mexico…”

>”Why didn’t you ever mention it?”
>”That explains why you were so good at keeping us all alive.”
>”So, did you run into any of the men while you were in Edo today?” (change the subject)
>Write-in.

>>2916678
>”That explains why you were so good at keeping us all alive.”
>”So, did you run into any of the men while you were in Edo today?” (change the subject)

>>2916696
this

>>2916678
>>”That explains why you were so good at keeping us all alive.”
>”So, did you run into any of the men while you were in Edo today?” (change the subject)

>>2916678
>”That explains why you were so good at keeping us all alive.”
>”So, did you run into any of the men while you were in Edo today?” (change the subject)

File: Bill Harp.jpg (79 KB, 806x604)

79 KB JPG

“That certainly explains why you were so good at keeping us alive.” You smile a little bit, but Harp’s mood doesn’t seem to change. “So did you run into any of the men while you were in Edo?”

He shakes his head. “No, most of them went to the traditional Japanese pleasure district.” He smirks. “I’m a bit surprised you didn’t go with them again. You seemed to enjoy yourself last time.”

You cross your arms. “Well someone has to be responsible and hold this place down. Besides, I couldn’t understand half of what those geisha girls were saying when I went last time.”

Harp laughs. “That explains why you’re learning Japanese.”

You shake your head, laughing as well. “No, no. I swear it’s just so I can communicate better with the men.”

Harp nods, puffing on his pipe. “Fair enough, Colonel. I suppose I should let you get back to whatever it is you do in here.” He stands up, walking drunkenly to the door. As he leaves, you see that some of the men are finally arriving back from their night on the town.

You stand up, stretching. It is late now, probably near when you would call lights-out for the base on a normal night. However, the men still have leave time until tomorrow morning, so you don’t feel it necessary at the moment. Still, you hope that the men will be rested enough to head to Edo Castle, since that will need to be done tomorrow. You see that some of them have gathered in the courtyard. Glancing down at your pocket watch, you see that it is just after 10:00 PM.

>Head to bed. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.
>Go see what the men are doing outside.
>Take a late-night stroll around the camp’s surroundings.
>Rally the men outside and call them to arms. Train them for a surprise attack.
>Write-in.

>>2916984
>>Take a late-night stroll around the camp’s surroundings.
>>Write-in.
Check in on our camp guards

>>2916984
>>Take a late-night stroll around the camp’s surroundings.

>>2916984
>Take a late-night stroll around the camp’s surroundings.

>>2916984
>>Take a late-night stroll around the camp’s surroundings.

>>2916984
>Take a late-night stroll around the camp’s surroundings.

You exit the main building, throwing your jacket on as you decide to take a stroll. You start in the camp itself, walking around all of the buildings and making sure everything is alright. After that, you decide to head out and walk along the stream, heading downstream. The stream itself is decently-sized near your camp, easily waist-deep in the middle, with clear waters and a rocky bed. Since arriving at your camp, your men have constructed a small bridge out of sturdy planks to avoid having to ford the stream, as well as to make getting water easier.

You follow the stream for a while, until it twists out beyond where you feel like going. Then you head east, slowly winding north as well. You find yourself on the dirt road that leads from Edo north, past your camp. While on it, you pass a couple of travelers here and there. They don’t say anything as they pass, and eventually you pass the lights of your camp. The moon is nearly-full tonight, thankfully, allowing you to see a great deal without the aid of a torch or lantern.

You decide to keep going north, heading off-road at one point. You then move west, deciding to do a full circle around your base. The countryside is much less lush now, with the tall grasses beginning to turn brown for the coming winter. You turn up the collar of your coat against the cool night wind. There aren’t any animals out this late in the year, so you figure that an evening walk such as this makes for decent reconnaissance as well as exercise. The wind picks up, and you think you feel some droplets of cold rain hit your face. Looking up, there are indeed some dark clouds in the sky tonight. Hopefully it doesn’t start to rain.

After a while of walking, you turn south again, keeping the base in sight as much as possible. Even though you can handle yourself against any potential attacker, what with your Dragoon on your hip, you don’t feel like straying too far from your men. You think you see some movement in the distance, and your curiosity gets the best of you. You feel some more droplets of rain hit you, this time on the back of your neck. The air feels like it could rain any minute. As you get closer to where you saw movement, you grab the handle of your revolver. You come upon a small, wooded hollow that you’ve not seen before. You’re sure this is where the movement came from, but with how dark it is inside the tree-line, you aren’t sure it would be the smartest idea to enter. You think you hear something just beyond where the moonlight doesn’t reach.

>Draw your revolver and enter the hollow.
>Call out to whoever might be there.
>This isn’t worth your time. Return to the camp.
>Write-in.

>>2917134
>Don't draw our revolver and enter the hollow carefully to see what's in there

>>2917134

>Draw your revolver and enter the hollow.

>>2917134
>>Draw your revolver and enter the hollow.

Roll me some 1d20s

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2917227

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>2917227
AH SHIT MY LEG

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>2917227

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2917227

You draw your revolver, grimacing as you enter the darkness. You can tell someone or something is in here with you. Cocking the hammer back, you step forward. Something shuffles around, something big. You step back, using your free hand to reach for the matchbox in your pocket. You yank it out, pulling a small cluster of matches free and striking them on the butt of your Dragoon.

The flame lights up a small area in front of you. You see the glint of two dark eyes, and the sheen of black fur. Whatever beast resides here growls at you, shaking your very bones. It looks to be about the size of a man, and when it growls a second time, you see a set of horribly large, sharp teeth. You freeze as a cold chill runs up your spine.

Roll a 1d20

>Run.
>Try to frighten it.
>Shoot the damned thing!
>Write-in.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2917261
>Run

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2917261
>Shoot the damned thing!

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>2917261
>Shoot the damned thing!

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>2917261

>Run.

What the fuck, Japan has bears?

>>2917273
In that time yes. Then they were stuck in Hokkaido and eventually...

Ten minutes before I break the tie with a 1d2

>>2917261
>Shoot the damned thing!

Come to daddy furskinned hat

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>2917261
>>Shoot the damned thing!
FOOD AND A COAT

File: Japanese Blackbear.jpg (242 KB, 640x480)

242 KB JPG

You pull the trigger, lighting up the whole hollow with the muzzle flash. You see the animal recoil, then stand to full height. You fire again, and again. You fire all six rounds from your dragoon, and the beast stands up one last time. It roars, then falls toward you, swiping with massive claws. You back out of the way, shouting as the claws tear into your jacket on the way down. The animal collapses with a mighty thud. You breathe heavily, looking down at it. Then your mind begins to race as you put your hand to your side where the animal’s claws crazed you. Inspecting your hand, you breathe a sigh of relief when no blood appears. You light another bundle of matches to illuminate the animal in question, a bear, you realize. It lays there, motionless. Dead. The thing is far too large for you to carry back to camp, and leaving it here would be a waste…

The men are quite stunned when you explain what just happened. By this time, Sato and Kojima have returned to the base, so they and a couple of soldiers go with you to the location of your kill. Once you reach the hollow, you hear Sato mutter something in astonishment, then order the men to get the bear back to base. In the light of oil lanterns, you can see just how colossal the beast is. It easily stood at six feet tall, and judging by your mens’ difficulties in moving it, the thing must weigh an ungodly amount. Those of your men who hail from the countryside remark that they’ve never seen one even close to this size.

You get the bear back to base, and the men quickly gather around it. Your shots hit the beast mostly in the head, you discover. Sato walks up to you, pointing at where your coat is torn.

“Are you alright, sir?”

You nod, patting yourself again to be sure. “Yes. Seems he just grazed me on the way down.” You grimace. “That’s a lot of bear, to be sure.”

“Indeed.” Sato grins. “I say we use the meat to make tomorrow’s meals.” He chuckles.

“I’ve never actually eaten bear. Is it good?”

Sato shrugs. “I have no idea, sir.”

You chuckle, turning toward the main building. “Then hand it to the cooks. I’m sure they’ll be able to make something edible out of it.” You turn mid-stride to look back at Sato. “Tell them to save the pelt though. I might be able to get a bearskin rug out of it.” You chuckle.

“Of course, sir.” Sato bows, which you return in kind. You see him order several men to carry the bear into the mess hall.

With that, you head back to the main building. Checking your pocket watch, you see now that it is well past midnight. You head to your bedroom, stripping to your skivvies and putting on your nightclothes as you check your mail. It is mostly the same number of administrative parcels from Edo, as well as one from New York, which you don’t even bother opening once you read the return address. You yawn, collapsing into bed and snuffing the oil lamp out.

File: 1499303155080.jpg (158 KB, 1440x900)

158 KB JPG

And that's all for tonight! I hope everyone had fun. We'll be running again tomorrow at a similar time. Until then, feel free to throw any questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions my way. I'll try to answer everything I can between now and the next session.

>>2917340
That was actually surprising and informative was a good round.


Can we get a cape or cloak made out of it instead of a rug?

>>2917345
>Can we get a cape or cloak made out of it instead of a rug?
You'll get to choose what gets done with it, yes. Though part of me wants you to just walk around with the entire bear pelt draped over your shoulders like Jason Momoa in Frontier.

>>2917340
So how much knowledge do you have in Italian Small Arms in 1866?

>>2917376
Me personally or Stockton?

Because Stockton doesn't know a thing about Italian guns. As for me, my understanding is that their military arms were mostly the same as any other European nation's at the time. Caplock rifle-muskets galore. But I also know of a certain family that has been making firearms in Italy for centuries.

>>2917389
But the issues with those choices is the fact all of them are going through conversion and experiementation.

So with exception to maybe the americans, i don't see how we will get some rifled muskets atm

If anything, I'm surprised we haven't gotten any arms dealers with Russia since logistically they are our best bet though they themselves are going through conversions

>>2917400
When in doubt, buy american.

>>2917353
acceptable railroading from a QM for once.

>>2917389
I'm interested for sure about the Weapons from the meme nation of the world.

Oh yeah another good reason to put a wall around the base. It keeps the local wild life away from it.

Session in two hours.

>>2918842
Ah yeeee

>>2918842
Hello Zap!

>>2918565
From what little I can dig up, their main line infantry weapon is the M1844 Musket.

They may have some rifles muskets as well but I’m still digging.

File: Edo Castle.jpg (41 KB, 530x480)

41 KB JPG

Hijikata looks down to where your men stand in formation. “I have to say, they look to be quite the picture of a Western army.”

You cross your arms. “Well, they’re only a company at the moment.” The two of you, as well as Matsudaira and several Aizu officials, stand on a balcony in Edo Castle. The march over was uneventful, and you were greeted quite openly upon arrival.

Hijikata nods. “This is true. I am sure you will have an army in no time, if these mens’ training is any indication.” He smiles, looking again at your formation. You made sure to have all of them in their best uniforms when they left the base this morning, and your lieutenants proudly wear their sabers on their belts. Hijikata turns to you again. “You may dismiss them to the guests’ quarters. I am sure they tire of standing there like that.”

You nod, turning to your men. “At ease, gentlemen.” You salute all of them. “For now, head to the guests’ quarters.” Your men salute you, then move toward the building in question, which is a short walk away.

“Please, have a seat.” Hijikata motions to a mat on the floor, across the table from the Aizu officials and daimyo. “There is much to discuss.”

You sit, as does Hijikata. Matsudaira says something in Japanese, which one of his men promptly translates. “Colonel Stockton, your progress has impressed Lord Matsudaira.”

You bow politely. “Thank you, sir.”

The man continues. “The Lord also understands that 40 men alone are not enough to turn the tide of battle. This is why he has approved the renovations to your training camp, so that it may act as a center for training a large force of modern soldiers.” Matsudaira speaks again once the man finishes, then the man translates once more. “The Lord does not wish to speak in uncertain terms here, the men you train will undoubtedly see combat within the next year.”

You raise an eyebrow. “So you want me to start training more men as soon as possible?”

The man nods. Then Matsudaira speaks, and the man translates again. “The Shogun is preparing a military expedition. The purpose and location are still secret, and will be for some time, but the Shogun wants a corps of 1000 to 1500 men trained and equipped in the Western style of warfare. Do you think you can train such a force within the next five months?”

>”With my current facilities? No I can’t.”
>”I can train that many, but I don’t have the facilities to house and arm all of them at once.”
>"If you're looking for an assault force for an expedition, zouaves would be a poor choice."
>”A military expedition? That sounds an awful lot like war to me.”
>”I can train even more than that, but I’d like some additional upgrades to my base first.”
>Write-in.

>>2919244
>"If you're looking for an assault force for an expedition, zouaves would be a poor choice."

>”I can train that many, but I don’t have the facilities to house and arm all of them at once.”

>>2919244
>”I can train that many, but I don’t have the facilities to house and arm all of them at once.”
>"If you're looking for an assault force for an expedition, zouaves would be a poor choice."
Not just that; training a battalion or regiment is more complex than having just a company. We've barely started training the NCOs and junior officers and now we need people to fill in the higher ranks?
Also warn them that it's possible but quality will definitely suffer, unless this 1000-1500 is not just from Aizu alone.

>>2919244
>>”With my current facilities? No I can’t.”
>>”I can train that many, but I don’t have the facilities to house and arm all of them at once.”
>>"If you're looking for an assault force for an expedition, zouaves would be a poor choice."

>Also mention choice of arms.

We can quickly muster up such a force for Basic training in use of rifled musket in neoploianic formations similar to early civil war tactics.

But we don’t have the weapon of choice rifle muskets (giving peasantry needle guns will only delay the learning), nor the facilities to train 1000 men at once.

Explain the quality of troops and lack of equipment of such a force!

>>2919271
The NCOs, and junior officers can help train but we taught them to lead, not teach them line tactics and formations.

It will be a good experience but we lack the equipment for line infantry, like rifles muskets. hell smoothbore flintlocks might make decent training guns until we can get them. So if we can get those that will be good considering even smoothbore might be better then the matchlocks Japanese have right now

>>2919244
>"If you're looking for an assault force for an expedition, zouaves would be a poor choice."

>Write-in:"I had trained these man and can easily put each of my four sergeants in charge of trainning 250 soldiers each. This will help us reach the number in at least a mounth the problem is currently i only have enough barracks for 200 soldiers extra soldiers.But as i said if you want a assault force zouaves would be a poor choice, since they are more focused in scouting.

>>2919271
Or if they just want to use then to stand and shoot and we need to bring the ammo problem for then. We barely have enough ammunition for just for trainning

>>2919285
Hell our character hasn't commanded a force of this size himself; its a learning experience for his as well.

>>2919292
We currently lack equipment for anassualt force, giving the peasantry needle guns is a little iffy since we only have 1000, and we need to save some for reserves


If the shogun has 1000-1500 matchlocks we can do basic formation and line shooting at least

>>2919298
Need to build a entire command chain...*sigh*

>>2919306
As far as i know he only has the 1000 needle guns he got from the Prussian dude. But i believe if we are honest with him and explain we can make such results he might get/be please.

Until he manages to gather the 200 men to fill the current barracks we have we can try and request more guns.

>>2919311
Honestly I'd tell the daimyo it's kinda impossible but still kinda impolite to state it so bluntly (this is Japan not the West after all) Just list the numerous problems that exist so we can cover our ass if anyone complains later.

>>2919298
NO but we know the basics of drilling and line formations, since we experienced them and seen them in actions my commanders before being turned into a light infantry.

We can muster something similar by our war experience but we lack the equipment needed, the facilities, and other things.

We do have experience for at least that much

>>2919321
And apparently Harp has some experience he could share with us. But i guess talk about his time in the Mexico war isn't a good memory.

>>2919318
Yes and needle guns especially the M1841 type, are a little finicky that the Germans improved the model in 1861.

I rather not have a whole command structure especially a rushed one to use such a weapon.

>>2919332
I mean...it's what we have. Maybe we should have got the shooting range rather then the obstacle course.

>>2919329
Harp has experience yes but if the both of us go down our unit are screwed. Plus our sergeants haven't commanded large units before; going from leading 10-20 men is way different from leading potentially hundreds of them