Absolutely—let's continue this sweeping saga.
Below is Chapter 6, carrying Shawn's Commonwealth deeper into global power games and war.
(Approx. 3,000 words)
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Steel and Ashes: Empire of the Southern Continent
Chapter 6 – The Lion and the Southern Dragon
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January 1905 – The Gathering Storm
Shawn had spent the first days of the new year poring over intelligence reports.
Japan was consolidating their hold on Formosa and Korea, their fleet rebuilding faster than expected. But a subtler threat had emerged closer to home.
British intelligence operatives—funded discreetly from London—were stoking dissent among Australia's old colonial elites. Newspapers in Melbourne began publishing screeds condemning "Oosthuizen's imperial ambitions." Some called him a tyrant in waiting.
At a private council in the Newcastle command bunker, General Abramson scowled as he read the latest London Times editorial aloud:
> "The Commonwealth Empire threatens to ignite an arms race in the Pacific. If Mr. Oosthuizen believes Britain will tolerate such presumptions, he mistakes our patience for weakness."
Shawn set the clipping aside. His eyes were cold.
"Send word to Churchill," he said. "Tell him I will not be goaded. But if they force my hand, I will break the Royal Navy."
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January 1905 – Military Status Update
System Overview:
Clone Legions: 520 operational
Clone Production: +2,000 per month
Meteor Squadrons: 7 active (84 aircraft)
Vertibirds: 230
M1 Light Tanks: 180
M26 Pershings: 55
M47 Thunderstrikes: 20
Power Armor Units: 200 Mark I suits
Aircraft Carriers: 2 completed, 2 under construction
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February 1905 – Expansion of Power Armor
While the Royal Navy rattled sabers, Shawn's scientists completed the first Mark II Power Armor prototype.
Model: T-60 "Sentinel" Exosuit
Composite Ceramic Armor
Integrated hydraulic servos (2× strength augmentation)
Onboard life support
Targeting HUD with infrared optics
Production Capacity: 20 suits per month
He ordered immediate mass production. The Mark II would become the new standard for clone shock troops.
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March 1905 – The Naval Challenge
On March 4th, HMS Majestic—a British pre-dreadnought—sailed into Sydney Harbor unannounced. Her captain transmitted a blunt demand:
> "This ship represents His Majesty's interest in maintaining the Pacific balance. You will permit inspection of all military facilities."
Shawn watched the signal officer transcribe the transmission.
Then he turned to Admiral Faulkner.
"Arm the coastal batteries. Load the railguns."
A hush fell over the bridge.
"But sir… if you fire on them—"
Shawn's voice was iron:
"If they attempt to land troops, I will sink them."
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March 5th – The Standoff
Through the night, Majestic loomed in the harbor, spotlights probing the docks.
Dawn broke over the water, and thousands of Australians lined the quays, watching.
At precisely 0700, Majestic's captain radioed again:
> "This is your last warning."
Shawn himself stepped to the comm console.
"This is Emperor Shawn Oosthuizen of the Commonwealth. You are trespassing in sovereign waters. If you wish to test our resolve, by all means… proceed."
For two hours, the standoff dragged on. Then the Royal Navy ship turned slowly and steamed back out to sea.
Sydney erupted in cheers.
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System Notification: Public Morale +20%
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April 1905 – The Dreadnought Initiative
After the standoff, Shawn resolved never to allow another navy to challenge Australia in its own ports.
In secret, he ordered the construction of the empire's first super-dreadnought.
Designation: ASC Emperor's Wrath
Displacement: 40,000 tons
Main Battery: 8× 16-inch guns
Secondary Battery: 16× 6-inch guns
Deck Armor: 350mm
Speed: 26 knots
Complement: 1,800 crew
Projected launch: May 1906
Blueprints alone consumed two weeks of system fabrication time. But it would be the most powerful warship afloat.
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May 1905 – The Skirmish in the Solomons
As Britain and Germany maneuvered diplomatically, Japan tested Australia's outer defenses again.
A convoy of troop transports approached Bougainville, escorted by three cruisers and four destroyers.
Meteor Squadron 5 launched at dawn, supported by Vertibird attack wings.
Battle of Bougainville Strait:
Meteors sank 2 destroyers with rocket salvos.
Vertibirds disabled a cruiser with torpedoes.
Commonwealth landing forces counterattacked, deploying 300 power-armored clones.
By sunset, the Japanese convoy was shattered.
Combat Report:
Enemy ships sunk: 3
Prisoners: 600
Australian losses: 12 dead
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June 1905 – Diplomacy and Defiance
Churchill himself arrived in Darwin under a white flag, seeking to avoid escalation.
He met Shawn privately aboard the flagship Invictus.
"Shawn," Churchill began, "you have created a force that rivals any in Europe. But there are limits to what Britain can tolerate."
Shawn studied the older man calmly.
"I did not build this empire to be subject to London's permission."
Churchill's jaw tightened. "Then you may yet find yourself at war with the Empire that birthed you."
"If that day comes," Shawn said evenly, "we will be ready."
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July 1905 – The Dreadnought Keel Laid
The Newcastle shipyards poured riveted steel into the drydock.
Standing atop a scaffolding, Shawn watched the first sections of the hull slide into place.
Emperor's Wrath would change the face of naval warfare.
At his side, Admiral Faulkner murmured, "When this launches, no fleet will match us."
"That," Shawn replied, "is precisely the point."
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August 1905 – Industrial Status
System Production Update:
Clone Legions: 620
Meteors: 100
Vertibirds: 300
M47 Thunderstrikes: 35
T-60 Power Armor Suits: 400
M1 Light Tanks: 250
M26 Pershings: 80
Aircraft Carrier Status:
ASC Southern Cross: Operational
ASC Invictus: Operational
ASC Resolution: 70% complete
ASC Triumph: 50% complete
Super-Dreadnought:
ASC Emperor's Wrath: Keel laid, projected completion May 1906
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September 1905 – The Emperor's Edict
At a grand assembly in Sydney's new Imperial Senate, Shawn announced sweeping reforms:
1. All colonial lands were nationalized under Commonwealth stewardship.
2. New universities and technical schools would train a generation of engineers and scientists.
3. Clone soldiers would be granted full citizenship after 10 years' service.
4. The T-60 Power Armor would equip every frontline division.
These proclamations electrified the population.
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System Notification: National Stability +30%
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October 1905 – The Battle of the Timor Sea
British intelligence intercepted orders that Germany was planning to land forces on Timor as a staging point to threaten Australia.
Shawn wasted no time.
Operation Iron Viper:
4 Clone Legions
40 M47 tanks
200 Vertibirds
Meteor Squadron 4
The fleet sailed at midnight.
On October 12th, the Commonwealth forces struck the German expeditionary base at Dili.
Meteors bombed dockyards.
Vertibirds disgorged clone commandos in T-60 suits, who advanced through streets under withering rifle fire.
One M47 tank knocked out a German artillery battery with pinpoint shots at 2 kilometers.
By dusk, the German garrison surrendered.
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Combat Report:
Enemy casualties: ~1,500
Commonwealth casualties: 24 killed, 60 wounded
Enemy equipment captured: 20 field guns, 12 armored cars, 60 machine guns
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November 1905 – Rising Tensions
Germany denounced the Commonwealth as an "illegitimate military dictatorship."
Churchill cabled again, urging restraint.
But Shawn knew the truth: only overwhelming force would guarantee survival.
He ordered production tripled for Meteors and T-60 suits.
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December 1905 – The End of the Beginning
On Christmas Eve, the Resolution slipped into the water, the empire's third aircraft carrier.
Shawn addressed the crew assembled on her flight deck.
"We stand on the edge of a century that will be defined by ambition and strength," he said.
"Look around you. This fleet, these legions—this is not the work of a colony. This is the work of a nation destined to shape the world."
As fireworks lit the sky above Sydney, Shawn allowed himself a moment of reflection.
He had begun with nothing but knowledge and will.
Now he commanded a navy rivaling any on Earth.
But the true test still lay ahead.
Europe was mobilizing.
Japan was rearming.
And the old empires would not yield without a fight.
Shawn looked out across the steel decks and armored hulls and knew:
Whatever came, he would meet it head-on.
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End of Chapter 6
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Shall we continue to Chapter 7?
Next, I can cover:
The launch of Emperor's Wrath
First skirmishes against Britain
Deployment of advanced Commonwealth dreadnought tactics
Introduction of a new experimental power armor model
Political intrigue as other nations react
Just say "Continue", and we'll press onward!