Leonardo Loredan, the new Doge of the Republic of Venice, finished listening to his advisers, then flipped over his predecessor's desk with such vigor that the legs snapped in half.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO TROOPS WERE SENT TO SECURE THE GARRISONS IN NAXOS AND ACHAEA?!?!?!?!"

One of the generals in the room gulped, then spoke nervously, "Well sir, Barbarigo did not want to further escalate the situation in the Aegean..."

"FURTHER ESCALATE? WE ARE IN A GODDAMN WAR!!! THE SITUATION HAS ALREADY FUCKING ESCALATED!!!!!"

After another minute of expletive-laden screaming and the breaking of more things that had been the property of the former Doge, Loredan finally calmed down enough to speak with his advisers again.

"So you are saying, that if we do not reinforce our garrisons NOW, then most of our territory in the Aegean will be occupied?"

"No sir, I am saying that attempting to reinforce the garrisons now would be suicide. We should proceed as if they are already lost."

This prompted another furious outburst from the new Serenissimo Principe.

"Well then general, I suggest that we move to immediately secure the rest of our territory in the Aegean, as well as the Adriatic. Send the bulk of our fleet to support Candia, and start raising forces across the Republic. We should also finish securing our position in Montenegro - they should be having their next Zbor in 12 days, right?"

"Yes my Doge..."

"Well send a retinue of diplomats to Cetinje then - offer any chief who swears fealty to the Republic one thousand florins and a position of influence in the future Venetian province. And warn any who don't that if they refuse, the next offer will be to choose between a quick death and a slow one."

"Yes sir!"

With that the war council departed, and Loredan was left alone in his room. He understood the sadness that Barbarigo felt at the end of his life now - despite being at the center of Venice, he had never felt so alone, especially now that his dear wife had left him to join the rest of the angels in heaven.

Loredan looked around again, seeing the destruction he had caused to his bedchamber in anger, and became angry once again, this time at himself. He would need this furniture replaced immediately.

"COUNSELOR!!!!!!"

The Republic of Venice is offering the chiefs of Montenegro one thousand florins each to swear fealty to La Serenissima, otherwise to invaded and killed. In addition, a large retinue of troops is to be raised for the defense of the Republic:

• Three Thousand Levy Pikemen

• Two Thousand Levy Footsoldiers

• One Thousand Five Hundred Levy Archers

• One Thousand Levy Crossbows

• One Thousand Levy Lancers

• Two Thousand Condottieri

• Five Hundred Mercenary Lancers

• Twenty Mercenary Siege Engines

• One Hundred Sappers

• Fifty Holy Men