Lt. General Colombo

Lieutenant General Giovanni Colombo II is a general for the British Empire and is known for his quick conquests of the Tracial States and Muscat. He is also known for fielding an army of over 35,000 Indian soldiers and Camels seeing the Indians as more effective in the terrain of the Middle East and more rough terrain instead of soldiers from Great Britain or any other region of the British Empire.

## Early Life

Giovanni Colombo II was born March 7th, 1848 in the city of Rome which was at the time part of the Papal States. He was born into a poor family with his father being a veteran who had his right leg blown off from fighting in the Napoleonic wars and his mother working as a bar maid working for low pay. From a young age Giovanni showed signs of leadership through playing what he and his friends called 'war games'. He would often outsmart the other children and became somewhat of a celebrity among the children in his village. Apart from being one of the smartest kids in his village he was also one of the most religiously devoted praying for hours every day. Although it is also important to mention he was also interested in other religions mainly those from other continents like those from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. In 1862 when he was 14 he and his family immigrated to London wanting to find better work in the big city, which they did. His mother found new work as a bar maid in a bar that paid much better. Colombo's father although not able to walk well he soon found work as a stableman taking care of horses. For a short while Colombo worked with his father helping with horses but he new that this was not what he was destined for.

## Early Military Life

After two years of working with his father with horses Colombo went out on his own to explore the world joining up with a group of mercenaries that were working for the Kingdom of Naples at the time to eradicate smugglers and bandits in the Italian country side. While with this group of mercenaries he gained many survival skills and learned how to shoot well along with how to fight with a saber. Colombo stayed with the group of mercenaries for about a year before joining the ranks of the British Army as a private. After finishing his training in mainland UK he went onto serving time in places like the Caribbean, Africa, and India. As he spent more and more time in the army he was promoted again and again quickly rising through the ranks of the army and gaining the respect of his superiors. To develop his tactics he often studied those of great commanders and conquerors like Napoleon, Caesar, and Hannibal taking their ideas and trying to modernize and reform them to fit the time period. He also stayed in Central America for a short time during the Mexican-RCA Incident to help the republic if the Empire of Mexico sent its troops to attack, while Colombo was stationed there he was taught guerrilla warfare by the republican soldiers and took part in one of their hell week trainings.

## The First and Second March into Arabia

In 1872 Colombo got his first assignment from army. He was ordered to take 35,000 men and capture the Trucial states for the Empire to gain a naval base near the entrance of the Persian gulf. Although Colombo was expecting at least some resistance from the local populace but as he landed on their beaches he found them utterly deserted. Once he sent an ultimatum to the leadership of the Trucial States he found that they were all to happy to accept it. Once he heard this he declared the campaign a success although was disappointed by the lack of Appreciation from his peers as they teased him about walking into a country without the will to take him on. His next assignment he hoped would be different, it wasn't. His second assignment to capture the country of Muscat was much like the capture of the Trucial states with the government surrendering as soon as the ultimatum hit their hands. Although happy that no blood had to be spilt to take the land he was very confused on why they did now at least try to put up a fight as their country was taken from their hands. After this he was called to the pacific to help colonize the Solomon Islands which he did with ease. After this he went back to Arabia and sent ultimatums to the countries in the region of Yemen.