The Second Octavian Civil War And Imperial Restoration
Total War
Following the victories of the Octavian Orderstate against jointly led Teutonnian-Kalevos forces in September of 1954 (2025), the Octavian Orderstate would reclaim all of Iberia and Morocco. This resulted in the collapse of Kalevos's Regime of Octavium, leading to Jorge's takeover. Leutgard was increasingly more and more furious with these moves, realizing that the rise of Zaenderism could be a plausible threat, despite the attempts of destroying Octavium and Zaenderism on July 6th. Leutgard would then order the systematic genocide of all Zaenderist people in occupied Octavium, with plans to eradicate the Zaenderist population if he were to win the Second Octavian Civil War. This forced the Zaenderists into a mindset of unwavering fanatical devotion to the war effort, more so than even before, if not for Aleczaender's sake, then for their own sake.
Jorge's Regime would also collapse not long after, as defections grew more rampant across his Octavium. Despite facing impossible odds, Aleczaender's Octavian Orderstate under the leadership of Imperator Paterick would continue to win battles and grow, regaining not just old lands but also old comrades who originally declared neutrality or indifference to the civil war. With a void in Octavian leadership, Aleczaender attempted to secure authority once again as Emperor, promising a return and successfully securing the loyalty of the Octavian Imperial Army and Legion. The red carpet was rolled out in Toulouse for Aleczaender to return on October 17th, 1954, but Paterick would inform Aleczaender that it was a trap. A trap to finally arrest Aleczaender and put an end to the civil war, placing Paterick as the new Emperor. Aleczaender instead would then broadcast a message on October 14th declaring the unity of both Octavium's under his banner, following a press conference (town hall) within Zaenderist borders on October 15th. The goal of these events was to exploit the false loyalties of the Imperial Command to bring over then hundreds of Octavians who were under their command. This worked, and when Aleczaender did not return to Octavium by October 17th, Teutonnia pulled the red carpet a day early, installing Angelo as the new leader of Octavium. Aleczaender's Orderstate would gain hundreds of new soldiers as a result of his careful calculations in exploiting the ambush to counter-ambush Leutgard, as Aleczaender ordered multiple Imperial divisions to garrison in Zaenderist-controlled territory.
Leutgard, however, was incredibly furious with this move, upgrading Operation Stormwind to include not just his loyal Rulersguard, but the entire Teutonnian population. Rallying over 300 people, Leutgard announced a "Total War on Zaenderism", demanding all Leutgardists and Teutonnians to take up arms and resist the Zaenderist menace, not only in combat, but also in slander campaigns to destroy the reputation of Zaenderism to scare any more people from joining its ranks. This however backfired, and because Leutgard was exhausting all resources to attack Aleczaender, Teutonnians not only defected to Aleczaender's Octavium, but would begin creating their own independent states. One of the most well-known attempts was a nation known as Aldemania, located between Austria and Switzerland. It identified as a Teutonnian splinter group that followed Zaenderism, and found initial success until late October, when Aleczaender offered them a merger into the Orderstate, reopening the "Teutonic-Volunteers" division which consisted of Teutonnian fighters seeking to liberate Teutonnia from Leutgardism.
The Ends Justify The Means
Angelo and Leutgard coordinated a campaign of hits (doxxes) against Zaenderism as a 'radical but necessary' initiative to destroy Zaenderism. In their opinion, Zaenderists talked a lot of game about fanaticism and loyalty, but would cower if hits were placed on their heads for the worst corners of the planet to seek after for money. Teutonnia began the initiative of hits, utilizing hitmen (doxxers) in Angelo's Octavium who worked for the Imperial Inquisition. Hundreds of Zaenderists were placed on the targeting list, and the hitmen were sent out to conduct their operations. 9 Zaenderists were successfully targeted, encountering the hitmen in some way, shape, or form, with some suffering minor damage and others suffering no damage. Of the 9, only 1 was successfully annihilated (left the group in fear); his alias was 'IAmDumbly'. The rest of the Zaenderists resisted, stating loyalty to Aleczaender, despite intense torture sessions (threats). Immediately after, Aleczaender would broadcast exposé after exposé on the operations sanctioned by Leutgard, accusing both him and Angelo of coordinating this evil operation.
Aleczaender made attempts to have the original whistleblowers who attacked Aleczaender in so-called good faith now do the same against Leutgard, but he was met with silence. Despite this, more Teutonnians spoke out or defected from Teutonnia as the news spread, and the Orderstate began to grow, resisting every attack by Leutgard with fierce defiance. Eventually, Madrid was fully restored from its war-torn state, and the Orderstate forces pushed even closer to Southern France. By the end of 1954, Octavian forces had successfully crossed the Pyrenees Mountains and were beginning to flood into Southern France. By this point, Angelo's forces were less than half of Aleczaender's. In the end, Aleczaender had successfully survived Leutgard's attempts to ruin him and his people, and this was enough to show the power of Zaenderism when faced with all odds. Most importantly, in Aleczaender's opinion, it demonstrated God's protection over him for passing a test of faith in him and his people, hence the coined phrase "God Did!" in response to Zaenderist hardship following July 6th. After months of the hits going nowhere, Leutgard and Angelo would both give up, realizing that the Zaenderist people were too steadfast to scare them into capitulation. Aleczaender's goal was no longer survival by this point, but victory over tyranny and oppression.
We Will Never Forget July 6th
Following the Inception Day Parade, which celebrated 10 years (1945-1955) of Octavian Triumph over Europe in the Octavian-European Wars of 1943-1945, Aleczaender would return to the Octavian Orderstate as Emperator (Emperor) alongside the former Grand Marshal Oswald, now referred to by his title Caesar. Paterick would then retire as Imperator, as he had promised Aleczaender he would remain in the Orderstate only to help restore Zaenderism until his return. Stepping up to the plate, Raynard Z. Horrigan, who was one of the founders of the Orderstate and the former Legate of the Legion, was coronated as Imperator, and Caerwyn Llywelyn appointed as Viceroy. Both played a vital role in running the Orderstate in Aleczaender's absence. Aleczaender would restore multiple divisions, including the Shock, Armored, and Vanguard, as well as a new division called the Velites, which consisted of mountain sharpshooters. Calling upon whatever remaining loyalists that had been around since July 6th, he would assign the new Graend Legate Waugin the tedious task of cleaning up the remains of Angelo's Octavium in Southern France. Waugin agreed, leading the first battle of the campaign in Southern France against primarily Angelo's forces. The battle was a total victory, and would henceforth push upward past Toulouse, fighting Teutonnian resistance. Out of humiliation, Angelo would resign, making Truespart the new and last leader of the new Octavium. Truespart claimed to be "Emperor" and drafted a constitution, asserting that "God favored his Octavium over Aleczaender's." He attempted to appeal to the Christian Doctrine of the Zaenderists, but would end up unpopular, despite his large population, and levied very few soldiers. Teutonnia would henceforth invade Truespart's Octavium, causing a two-front war, and would deploy soldiers to stop Aleczaender's great offensive.
The Rulersguard deployed to fight Aleczaender, while the Teutonnian Army focused on clearing Truespart's forces. Grand Legate Waugin would successfully pincer and encircle the Teutonnian Rulersguard at Toulouse thanks to the efforts of the Legionary Vanguard, whilst the rest of the Orderstate's Cohorts held the line in the north. Unfortunately, there was not enough manpower to hold the entire line, resulting in a breakthrough just 50 miles north of Toulouse. Suddenly, Mike would reach out to Aleczaender to hear his side of the story and inform him of a new hit piece coming out to destroy Leutgard, not just for his war crimes against Octavian Zaenderists, but also against his own people. The hitpiece consisted of hundreds of pages spanning several years, in which Leutgard covered up degeneracy and corruption across his Realm. The hitpiece was a success, resulting in mass defections and demoralization across Teutonnia. On March 1st, Leutgard would resign as Ruler of Teutonnia, being overthrown by his own people and inner circle due to the controversies. Following this, Truespart of Octavium would order scorched earth on his own Octavium, and would surrender himself and his forces later that day. With Octavium now unified under Aleczaender, Aleczaender pressed forward against a destabilized Teutonnia.
Teutonnia would enter a civil war between forces loyal to the new Realmspresident Odoyevsky and forces loyal to Leutgard. The Rulersguard, the bulk of which resided in France, would fight a two-front war against Zaenderists and Teutonnians. Teutonnia would then officially make peace with Octavium, securing the fate of Leutgard and his Rulersguard. On March 29th, the first battles outside Toulouse would begin, with the Legionary Vanguard securing vital positions for the larger Octavian offensive. On April 9th, an Orderstate-wide attack pushed deeper into the Outskirts, securing trenches and defenses built by the Rulersguard, and taking their Rulersguard Castle. Rulersguard reinforcements by this point were 40 miles away from the city, meaning Octavium had little time before the encirclement would break. Finally, on April 26th, the Orderstate under the command of Waugin would finally breach into the city, fighting in the streets house-to-house against the Rulersguard, eventually capturing the Rulersguard Castle after hours of fighting. The Octavian banner would fly over the Castle and henceforth the rest of Toulouse, marking the end of the bloodiest battle fought in Octavian history, resulting in thousands of casualties on both sides. Finally, on May 2nd, the Orderstate would then continue the offensive north to Lyon, meeting with the Teutonnians loyal to Odoyvesky (later DerSpiess), and assaulting the RG Castle on the Alpine Border. This would officially capitulate the Rulersguard, ending the Second Octavian Civil War in a Zaenderist victory. Realmspresident DerSpiess would later re-incorporate the Rulersguard into Teutonnia under a tight leash.
A Restored Nation Once Again
With the war finally over, Aleczaender promised the restoration of the 'imperial' system. The dark black and browns of the Legion would be traded in for the bright whites, greens, browns, and blues once worn in the Pre-July 6 era of Octavium. Remastered, redone, and repolished with even more grandeur and pomp than before. The Army, Regime, and Legion restored once again under Aleczaender's reign as Emperor. These effects would finalize on June 4th and came with the addition of two new divisions in the Army: the Marines Division and the Regulars Division. Aleczaender, just as in the days of gold and glory, would rally his forces at Mount Invictus, hosting one of the largest events in Octavian history and addressing his people. A full year of struggle finally abated - concluding like the good old Richterist tales in Aleczaender's triumph over the opposition. With this, Aleczaender announced not only the reopening of Madrid as the bustling city it once was, but a promise to rebuild a city of grandeur and prosperity - Toulouse, spearheaded by Graend Architectus Jern Richterian and his Organization Jern. Waugin would be promoted to Generalissimo, rebuilding the army to be one of the most active in Octavian history, and Dixie Richterian would lead the Legion as Legate, upholding the values of Zaenderism to the best of their ability.
On July 3rd, Madrid would relaunch anew, with businesses prospering, people laughing, loyalists working, and soldiers defending. The so-called "Speed of July", as dubbed by Sal Richterian returned in full swing, as Octavium became the center of the world as it was in 1945 (2020). Octavium was now free at last as a liberated Imperium, and Aleczaender was back as Emperor, leading his people in great splendor. Aleczaender had not only survived the struggle but also won a miraculous victory that restored his Imperium to double its size compared to Pre-July 6. His story is not only a true testament to his herculean devotion to his people, but also one of great resilience. "The game of Octavian politics is won not by those who never lose, but by those who don't crash out after losing.", remarks Aleczaender. In other words, Octavium did not succeed simply because it mastered the art of war or succeeded the game of politics, but because in the face of every great challenge, it never gave up. The Legacy of Octavium has found its place in destiny; now remains the question: to what lengths and in what future will the Octavian people embark? Will Aleczaender not only maintain but also expand both his and Octavius's positions in the world of politics? Or, will the Legacy of Octavium peak here, its future in the hands of its determined people in what is widely regarded as, The Fourth Rome.