Union Forever

infobox Book |
name = Union Forever
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = William Forstchen
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = The Lost Regiment
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Penguin Books
release_date = 1991
media_type = Print (Paperback, audio-CD)
pages =
isbn = ISBN 0451450604
preceded_by = Rally Cry
followed_by = Terrible Swift Sword (The Lost Regiment)

Union Forever (1991) is the second novel of William Forstchen's The Lost Regiment Series.

Plot

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, 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 Carthaginians' 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 into slave labor. 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 with modern weapons. The Roum, not yet equipped by the Rus are effectively defenseless. Vincent Hawthorne, hero of the Tugar War, is the envoy to Roum and advisor to Marcus. He has a few 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, leaving a small force to protect Rus, hundreds of miles east to Roum via railroad. They cannot march across the harsh desert quickly enough to make a difference in the battle. As Keane's army departs, 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 Vincent 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. The peasants repel 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 Vincent and Keane that their families will be next.

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 time to sack the city. In addition to that, a Merki horde is approaching the city. Keane then comes up with a brilliant plan. The army of Rus with the help of the Roum, build a fleet of transport galleys, and ironclad escorts to transport the army to Suzdal. A fierce naval battle ensues between Cromwell's Cartha fleet and the navy of Rus. All of the Cartha ships are sunk, destroyed, or captured, except for the Ogunquit, which has been converted into a massive ironclad with 50 and 100-pound guns. With most of the Rus ironclads sunk, the Ogunquit are set to swoop down on the helpless transport fleet and destroy most of the army. However, a clever illusion tricks Cromwell into retreating. The army of Rus breaks the siege and uses their remaining ironclads to stave off the Merki horde at the river crossing. Cromwell is killed by the Merki for his cowardice. The Merki destroy the Rus powder works using a zeppelin, a remnant of ancient technology. The horde has upped the ante yet again.