June 30th 1852, Zhirovnica

Nearly had a heart attack. Still catching my breath. One should not receive a letter with an imperial eagle during wartime, I was certain I'm being drafted. The entire Kolar family sons were sent to Bosnia only 2 weeks ago.
No, the letter I received brings me excellent news. The finally started building the railroad in Istria and I've been ordered to start producing rail spikes and various equipment. I just need to keep this quiet from my father in law. He's already more and more here, talking to my son about how he's going to become an English engineer. I wish he'd get drafted

Janez Kovač, blacksmith

http://i.imgur.com/H2FFz0U.png?1



Not waiting for the Holly dinner our troops have received on the frontlines to cool, Radetzky made a daring dash for the Ottoman town of Sarajevo and captured it in a short battle on the 27th of December, 1852. The battle itself was led by Count von Heß, commanding the II. Armee moving to fortify the bottleneck of Zvornik. No reason was given for this change in command, apart from the ongoing rumors of von Radetzkys health problems since the start of the campaign.

http://i.imgur.com/qmLbxnN.png?1

Austrian losses were negligible, the Ottoman defenders manages to retreat, but their route has been cut off by von Heß. Surrender should follow in the following days.

http://i.imgur.com/ScpjDlI.png?1
Sarajevo


Eugen-Franz Kriegelstein, our own journalist, inspired by the Times William Howard Russel, will reach the Bosnian front by the end of January and we will have first hand reports of this war.

Gott erhalte unser Kaiser

Le Moniteur Universal
February, 1853

http://i.imgur.com/ldTDFzV.jpg?2
Napoleon III's Imperial Guard at Montpellier

Newly crowned Emperor Napoleon III gave a speech in front of the French Parliament, in which he announced that he has issued Abdülmecid, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, a declaration of French protectorate over Ottoman possessions in Tripolitania and parts of the Middle East.

Napoleon asserted that the Ottoman Empire's invasion of Greece two years ago, a conflict which still rages, was the last attempt by the Ottoman Empire to restore itself from its slow decline, and that its failure to achieve success, followed by Russian and Austrian invasions has resulted in a cycle that will eventually lead to the Empire's downfall into anarchy. In his speech, the Emperor mentioned the recent Fezzan raids on Tunisia as an example of the threat caused by the disintegration of Ottoman authority in these territories: "The sick man of Europe has demonstrated its inability to maintain order within the borders it claims. It has failed to protect its own citizens and its instability now directly threatens the people of France. It is the French Empire's duty to protect its interests from the repercussions of the Turk's decadence."

The Emperor assured the Parliament that he did not wish for a full-scale war between France and the Ottoman Empire, but that he will not hesitate to use armed force if necessary. "This is not a declaration of war. However, should the Sultan elect to contest the French Empire's rights to protect its interests and people, he is welcome to view it as such." Rumours have spread that the Mediterranean Fleet left Toulon early last month carrying a large part of the Imperial Guard.

Reactionary elements have decried these actions as unwarranted warmongering, and as further proof that the foundation of the new Empire was merely the first step in the fulfillment of Napoleon III's personal ambitions for renewed Bonapartist expansionism. Further accusations targeted the Emperor's sudden declaration as a rash overreaction to Persia's recent confiscation of French assets, and that its primary objective is merely to set up a future punitive expedition against Persia. The government has refused to comment on these accusations.

http://i.imgur.com/fp0Bxag.jpg?1


August 30th, on route to Sophia

This is not good. The war is bringing the worst out of nationalist and anarchist. With the army tied up somewhere in the Ottoman empire everyone gained the courage to start agitating. This assassination attempt was only the tip of the iceberg. A colleague of mine was also stabbed by an anarchist. In the arm luckily. Let's hope the empire won't implode soon.
And to top it off, some Herr Himmelvogel from Prussia came to the army camp and started yelling about how evil the Ottomans are and that we should burn Istanbul to the ground. Nearly caused a riot before we managed to get him in the stockade.

Eugen Liška, Feldgendarmerie, II. Armee

''For Gods sake, take what they have to offer. Austria does not need a Napoleon in Russia scenario''
~Marshall von Heß to von Buol, after receiving word that foreign minister von Buol will receive an Ottoman delegation

http://i.imgur.com/H2FFz0U.png?1
5. Januar 1854, Wien


War is over, Ottomans admit defeat


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...t-from-NYL.png

Continuous offensives and pressure from the other powers force the once mighty Ottomans to arrive at the gates of Wien once again. Not as conquerors but as a defeated power. Our merciful Emperor grants them peace in return for war reparations and an increased influence of Austria in the Balkans.
The Austrian army returns back victorious and wiser. A new world is dawning and new kinds of wars await Europe and Austria is prepared. Reforms will be needed nevertheless.
The rumors that the Austrian army was on the verge of collapse is nothing more than mere anarchist propaganda.


Completion of the Imperial rail line


http://i.imgur.com/jspnkOu.png?1

The last spike was driven into the ties just a few days before new year in a small coastal town of Monfalcone thus completing the Imperial line connecting Milano with Krakow, Budapest with Prag and all of them to the Imperial capital of Wien. Our Great Emperor sent a delegation with the most honorable prime minister Karl Ferdinand von Buol and interior minister Alexander von Bach. The final spike was blessed by our great Emperor Himself.
Von Buol also remarked how he was singing a peace treaty with the Ottomans a few days earlier and now he's on his way to Milano for a vacation, a trip that would take a week just a few years earlier.


A new year message from the Emperor

My dear subjects, behind us are the 1852 and 1853 years of war and economic stagnation. We start 1854 with peace and an economy picking up speed. We are truly blessed and We will make sure that Austria remains the center of Europe for the next half a milllenia.

Kaiser Franz Joseph I.

Since the most blessed Emperor needs some hunting vacations in the Alps, the Empire will be run by the most honorable British prime minister.

In short, I'll be gone until saturday and since there's really nothing exciting happening in Austria, I find no reason to pause the game for the rest.
Oberon will play my turn. Already talked with him.

http://i.imgur.com/1ZlzNwL.jpg?1

To avoid going too much Off Topic on a different thread and breathe more life int othis one:

What? you affraid of me or those pesky Italians :D

I'm affraid of the maniac mode Prussia goes into when Bismarck arrives :O:
But then again, there are also secret deals possible to prevent a Prussian war :03:

Speaking of Italians. I wonder what would happen with the French support of Piedmont if I wipe them off the map :hmmm:

I think I'll have a lot of those important messages saying in red
''I resign you hear me? I quit, I'm Done!!!''
Forcing me to accept something to appease him :haha:

It would be crazy to go to war about some...misunderstanding, if we just sat down sometimes and talked then our weapons can point to someone else more worth our time. :D