In 1741, the Dutch East India Company faced a grand rebellion known as the Java War (1741). Following the conflict, investors' confidence in this enterprise grew increasingly shaky, and the company treasury was in danger of being left dry. In response, major shareholders met in Amsterdam and came down to a conclusion; they had to invade Oceanyka, a land filled with indescribable riches and opportunity. Preparations lasted around two years; during this time a private army of 60,000 European soldiers, 120,000 Malay auxilliaries and 60 ships-of-the-line was assembled in Java. On February of 1746, the assault began; within the first few weeks the northern cities of Farenday and Awalee were invaded by sea. As news of this general invasion spread throughout the continent, the previously agreed upon defensive coalition began to assemble and soldiers were dispatched from throughout the continent. Roughly a sixth of Oceanyka's statelets chose to ally the Dutch, being quickly besieged and dispatched before reinforcements could arrive.
Victory was not often found in combat against the Dutch or their Malay vassals. European line infantry tactics were vastly superior, as were their artillery batteries and field engineering. This was largely thanks to the Netherlands' participation in the brutal, continent-spanning War of Austrian Succession. Large amounts of casualties and were often the result of contact between forces from both sides. The situation was much worse at sea, since Dutch ships-of-the-line could single-handedly sink a small group of Portuguese-style Australis Galleons, the most advanced ships available to Australia. Innovation was required, and fast.
France and Spain had fought the Netherlands, signing an unsatisfactory peace just a year prior. The sovereigns of both nations, upon hearing of the situation, sought to prevent the Dutch from upsetting the European balance of power, and so agreed to help Oceanykan forces. Large numbers of muskets and cannon were donated, while dozens of thousands of specialists, officers and engineers were sent to help train the defenders. As a result, in November of 1748 a decisive victory was achieved in the Battle of the Lakes (near modern-day Lake Woods). By mid-1749, the Dutch had been completely expelled from the continent. Peace was signed with the VOC shortly after.
During this war, Englightenment ideas were introduced to Oceanyka's courts, as were many bleeding-edge technologies, mostly related to war. It is considered the beginning of the Early Revolutionary Age.