The journey to Portsmouth had been miserable and wet and Agent Fresh was not in the best of moods. He hefted the briefcase, attached to his wrist by a thick silver chain, from the cab - two burly members of the Reconnaisance team, bound for Norway, strolled behind him with the sort of nonchalence that only the truly deadly can effectively adopt. He decided he would probably miss his five years posted on Englands' South Coast, but the intense security screens set up by the paramilitary arm of the new regime were making life inconvenient, and refugees and immigrants were leaving as quickly as patriotic travellers were returning home.

And so to Norway. Trouble with Norway, mused Fresh, was that it was presently the middle of Winter, and therefore 'Brass Monkeys' as the cabbie had put it so eloquently.

Leaving the scattered crowds behind, Fresh and his swarthy accomplices passed by some darkened warehouses and padded down an ill-lit jetty towards a small sleek looking vessel. The gangplank was lowered and the three agents trotted up it and then swiftly below.

Taking a swig of rum, Fresh cracked his knuckles, rolled up his sleeves and began the TAPPETY-TAP of his report to Zurich. Seven uprisings. Fresh wondered if the madness might spread. He dearly hoped not. Surely seven players were more than enough for one game! What if all 34 industrial provinces in Europe rose up in open rebellion?! - It would be Chaos!


***URGENT MEMO TO LEAGUE OF SHADOWS HQ***

TO: PROFESSEUR GRIFFE, HEAD OF THE LEAGUE OF SHADOWS
FROM: AGENT DOUGLAS EGBERT FRESH, EURASIAN SURVEILLANCE DEPT.

PROVINCIAL ARMIES RAISED BY SELF-STYLED GENERALS IN BUDAPEST,  MOSCOW & CONSTANTINOPLE. SHIPYARDS HAVE COMPLETED FLEETS IN: LONDON, MARSEILLES, KIEL & NAPLES.  DETAILS OF MOBILISATION FROM THESE PROVINCES TO FOLLOW IN SPRING REPORT.

ESTABLISHING TEMPORARY COMMAND CENTRES IN KINGDOM OF NORWAY, REPUBLIC OF VENICE & DUCHY OF MUNICH.

RECON. & ASSASSINATION TEAMS DISPATCHED TO SCANDINAVIA, THE BALKANS, IBERIA & NORTH AFRICA IN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT FURTHER UPRISINGS & OR MILITARY COUPS.


ORDERS:

Austria - Build Army (by default)

England - Build Fleet

France - Build Fleet (Order Finalised)

Germany - Build Fleet

Italy - Build Fleet

Russia - Build Army (by default)

Turkey - Build Army


Orders for Spring 1898 are due to me no later than NOON GMT next Tuesday 9th Feb. Please remember that I shall adjudicate the turn as soon as I can after I receive a complete set of orders marked FINAL. If we get to adjudicate early, I shall move the next deadline forward. With any luck we can get through the first few turns a little quicker than one a week. Best D