Union Forever
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The second installment of William Forstchen's The Lost Regiment Series.
Peace has finally come to Suzdal after the defeat of the Tugars in Rally Cry. A republican government has been set up, and despite the reservations of the regiment's colonel, Andrew Keane, his men urge him to run against the popular former peasant Kalencka to show a multiparty system. Kal wins handily, but has Andrew and many of the other men of the 35th Maine as secretaries and Andrew doubles as Vice President.
The fleeing Tugars continued east into the lands of Roum, a land of ancient Romans. The Roum under Consul Marcus throw the Tugars back. Rus begins to extend their Maine Fort Lincoln and Suzdal railroad out to the edges of Roum and they sign an alliance for trade and defence.
South of the Tugar lands another horde circles the globe, the Merki. Tobias Cromwell, deserter along with most of his men, and Dale Hinsen, the lone deserter from the original 35th Maine regiment sail the Ogunquit into Cartha, a city populated by the descendants of ancient Carthage. The Merki horde arrives and presents the Carthagenians' leader, Hamilcar, an offer he cannot refuse. Fight the Rus and Roum or die.
Cromwell and Hinsen teach the Merki how to develop weapons and the Merki force the Cartha to slave away. To try and hide their involvement and not make the Rus and Roum more desperate, the Merki leave the fighting to the Cartha. The Cartha make their move on Roum armed with modern weapons. The Roum having not yet been equipped by the Rus are effectively defenseless. Vincint Hawthorne, hero of the Tugar War is serving in the capacity of envoy to Roum and advisor to Marcus. He has a small amount of troops under his command to protect Roum. In both Suzdal and Roum elements are working for the Merki, the old boyar Mikhail, now a senator thanks to buying an election, and many senators in Roum wish to surrender.
In a logistical nightmare, Keane must transport his entire army, short a small force to protect Rus, hundreds of miles east to Roum via railroad, as they cannot march across the harsh desert, in a mere few days to make a difference in the battle. As Keane's army departs to Roum, Hinsen lands a force behind Keane and tears up the railroad. In Roum, Marcus is losing power and his senators throw a coup. All that is left is Vincint Hawthorne's force. He pleads with Marcus to free the slaves and have them join the fight. Finally Marcus accepts and word spreads. Vuka, Zan Qarth - next in line to Qar Qarth - of the Merki wishes for action and he and a small detachment of Merki on Cromwell's ship join the fray. The Roum former slaves see the Merki and any hope of surrender is thrown away. All the peasants turn back the Merki, killing Vuka's younger brother and others in the party. The coup is defeated and Keane's force arrives just as the fighting closes. Cromwell retreats but leaves a message for Vincint and Keane that their families will be next. Vincint snaps and kills a Merki prisoner in cold blood.
Keane's army cannot return the way they came. The railroad has been broken by Hinsen. Any attempt to march down the line would meet resistance slowing the trip back to Suzdal and giving Cromwell plenty of time to sack the city.
