SD.Net World(RAR!) MK III

[Lonestar]

President Garner looked at the specticaled raven haired black clad beauty that had desired to see him as she took her seat and ordered a glass of Red Zorian Wine from the waiter, a bit of an odd choice for a representative although he could see the appeal. But frankly this could be a big thing in the ending of that bastard shep. "If i may make a humble sugestion, i would recomend the Italian Salad Miss Baron..."

"Please, Darling." She said "You can call me DeCobray..."

Anacostia, Republic of Nukistan, Presidential Dining hall that night

Garner, stopped, shot up some horse steroids, and nodded at the Guardsman. He blew her brains out with a 9mil.

[OOC: I think it's Goddamn stupid to bring Cobra into this]

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

Presidential Office, Presidential Hall, Mangka

========================================
Advanced Sickness Strategy System (ASSS) Project

Mr. President,

The ASSS Project is a project provided by us as a special strategical bioweapon research project for the Republic of Mangka to be used against any potential enemies. Currently we have developed a multi-toxin delivery strain of bacteria, ASSS-1, the first of many more powerful weapons.

The ASSS-1 is a mutated strain of a bacteria, which can form an endospore strong enough to resist supersonic high-speed delivery. It is resistant to all known antibiotics, and only our labs have the effective serums for immunization and cure.

ASSS-1 has an overexpression plasmid which can express high amounts of proteins encoded by the genes inserted. We have tested and modified many known toxins to be expressed in the bacteria.

Currently ASSS-1 is airborne infective, but we hope to develop more different infecting types.

Table 1. Expressable Toxins of ASSS-1:
Ricin
TTX
Botox
MegaShroom Hallucinogens
...
...
...

I assure you that although we already have a working strain, it is at a small scale, such as an average research lab. With your agreement, we would be willing to provide culturing tanks and storage space throughout the island to produce and store the great results of the ASSS Project. We ensure you that even Terra level inspections will not be able to find out what we're making.

We have designed appropriate warheads which could be easily substituted on Mangka missile warheads. The MUAV can also carry a small amount of ASSS-1. Since ASSS-1 is airborne infectious, all we need is a small group of people getting infected, and let ASSS-1 do the rest. We have estimated that one MUAV carrying a payload of ASSS-1 can cause mass infection on about 100,000 people, but this still needs testing.

Again I have to emphasize the point that we're doing this for the greater good of the Republic of Mangka. Thank you for reading my letter. You know my name and who "we" are. Namaste.
=======================================

"Sonija, notify the Bureau of Health, tell them to strictly examine every proposal from the FORMOSA Initiative."

Vice President Yuki Amami walked in. "Mr. President, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there is a lot of 'phantom population' showing up in various areas. This is definitely the way Alvar Han is manipulating the votes."

Yenchin almost forgot that almost the whole nation was now excited about the upcoming Legislative Election.

"I assume you've already came up with a counter to prevent this." He smiled at the VP.

"Yes." The VP's voice and expression were still cold as ice.

[Coyote]

Seaside Palace, Canissia

It was too good to be true.

The long period of relative peace and quiet was, apparantly, coming to an end.

Arik Coyotus-I, King of Canissia, untwined himself from Isabelle and Shawna and went quietly out to his morning room, enjoying th efeel of the cool marble on his feet. One of the servants had already brought the delicious morning coffee, and provided a easy breakfast with yogurt and wholesome cereal. And, of course, the morning briefings, carefully laid out in their neat manila files.


"Good morning, Colonel," Arik greeted his aide-de-camp, Colonel Rassnar.
"Good morning, Excellency," he responded, "I trust you slept well?"

"When I could sleep," Arik responded, "But in truth, I've been expecting today's uncomfortable news for some time. I knew the period of stability, and Olympic afterglow, would wear off soon."

"Unfortunate, that," the Colonel replied, "But it is true, sir-- today's news is most alarming. You'll find a number of links in the files pertaining to FUN events and local events."
"Those damn cultists, eh?" Arik asked, unsurprised. He knew as soon as he opened the file and read it, he'd no longer be in the land of blissed ignorance-- he'd have to take action.

"Indeed, sir," the Colonel said, "And also... somethign worth looking at if regional affairs pertaining to the Neverhood recently."
"Hoo, boy," Arik said, sipping at his coffee. He could no longer put it off. He picked up the FUN folder and went to the events of the Jenova's Witnesses.

"Damn, damn damn..." Arik said, "What have the local Jenovas been doing?" he asked.
"Special report prepared by Chief Tigh of the SPS," Colonel Rassnar said, indicating the red folder in the Canissian Local Events file.

The lack of any crackdowns in Canissia have led many Jenova's Witnesses to come to Canissia seeking refuge, Tigh wrote in his report, We find ourselves in the position of having numerous churches in Canissia, but they are in the open and readily identifiable. The Witness hierarchy seems to feel that Canissia offers a haven of sorts, and apparantly wants to keep radicalism to a minimum.

"Well, we know where they are and we can move on them when need be," Arik said, contemplating the situation. The problem was, the Witnesses generated money and legitimacy for their more radical bretheren elsewhere-- and, since the Canissian Witnesses had so far been orderly and law-abiding, cracking down on them would be perceived as religious persecution.

"Let's get with the Ministries of Finance and Trade," Arik instructed, "Let's see if we can limit their 'charitable donations' to organizations that do not have terrorist ties."

"I'll set up the appointments, sir... Meanwhile, you might want to check up on the Neverhood situation..."

Aw, hell...

[Lonestar]

The Battalion
X-12 Black Colt conducts second orbital test, test bombing run

The X-12 Black Colt conducted it's second orbital test, and it's first bombing run yesterday, The Battalion has learned.

As before, the X-12 departed Midland Missile range, gassed up on rocket fuel from an awaiting modified tanker, and left the atmosphere East of Tian Xia over the Eastern Sea. The X-12 did not re-enter the atmosphere until it had gone past the Bear Republic, over the Bear Sea. After which a missile was fired at a target in the Northern part of Midland Missile Range. The X-12 then proceeded on to Wichita Falls Air Force Base.

Several foreign observers from the Red Technocracy, Bear Republic, and the Shroomians were in the control room during the test, drawing some criticism from pundits and Assemblymen.

"The X-12, and it's B-12 derivative, will form an integral part of our Strategic deterrence for years to come." VADM Davis, director of National Strategic Command, said in a phone interview with the Battalion. "So, we need to perform tests. In the interests of international relations we invited the nations we would be overflying to send representatives to put their minds at ease."

"In any event," Davis continued "The technology is fairly straight-forward so we are not too concerned about anything spectacularly sensitive leaking."

Training continues for West Neverhood National Police
The LSR peacekeeping force in New Haifa continues in it's work to repair and build infrastructure, while the Law Enforcement task force has taken the lead in training a new National Police.

"Under the Shepnukistani Regime, Neverhoodian police were little more than traffic cops. In today's modern world, and in the conditions that post-Shepnukistan Neverhood must live through, you need more than that." Said DPS Law Enforcement instructor Richard Multon.

In fact, over a hundred law-enforcement vehicles, from M1117 armored cars, Humvees, and surplus DPS Durangos have been sent to the New Haifa police Academy.

Elsewhere in West Neverhood, MESS forces are training the new army as equipment finally starts to trickle in.

"Surplus armored Vehicles are arriving from the LSR, we plan on forming an ACR within six months." Major Ellen Ng, a Spokeswoman for the Tian Xia Taskforce said. The Vehicles include M1A3s, M113s, and CV90s.

[Shroom Man 777]

[OOC: Goddamn, horse steroids!]

Farbanti, Shroomania

The Sultan nodded, "Very well. I can understand." At least now he had a more clearer picture of the gate to opportunities in international alliances. "As for the help needed, I think our fishering industry could use some help from Shroomania. You might know that Saddamistan has attacked most of our seaports, during the previous crisis. Many innocent fishermen and their boats were lost during these attacks.

The Prime Minister nodded.

"And the Saddamistanis have also mined the waters beyond your shores, as well..." Shroom noted. "I believe that like its land, all of us should work together to make Libertia's waters safe for all people. We would certainly look at de-mining your waters. Afterwards, we can help rebuild your fishing industries. The FUN does have considerable maritime assets in the ISCA..."

"We would be grateful if you could help us on this. In return, I'm not quite sure what we could provide, but I'm sure we could discuss this."

"I believe that it would benefit and reward us all if our cooperation provides peace and prosperity for your people as well as for all Libertia. This will be a difficult task, though, Your Eminence.

"But these are difficult and dangerous times, and times like these call for resolve. Our resolve for peace will be decisive in a world that ever teeters on the brink of war."


[OOC: Okay, we did good with the chit-chat. I still got Shady waiting for me, so if you want to go sightseeing, then be my guest ]

[Tourist Guide: Shroomania's urban sprawl is sort of like Blade Runner style, with an incredible mix of cultures and whatnot. The bazaar and the mosque are just a few blocks away from the Chinatown, for example. Better watch out for the Red Light district. And those advertisment blimps - Off-World Colonies!]

[If you want, you can go for the more scenic places. Shroomania has lots of undespoiled stuff too. I am sure there are large mosques located near pretty sights.]

[Coyote]

Omsk, Red Technocracy


The joint reserach project was paying off-- recent breakthroughs in the Canissian drone program was being combined with the equally recent, and no less astounding, success in the Red Technocracy's own scramjet research.

The Red Technocracy already had a strong strategic bomber program; their interests in the high-altitude, high-speed drones were not the same as the Canissian approach, but the lessons learned by both parties would make for healthy discussion about the possibilities-- and, hopefully, lead to a greater understanding and application of the technology for future uses...




=============================================

CANISSIAN NEWS NETWORK BRIEFS: TECHNOLOGY SECTION

THE AERONAUTICAL RESEARCH COMMUNITY EXPRESSES DISMAY, SADNESS AT CRITICAL LAUNCH FAILURE OF "IVAN THE CHIMP"

A terrific blow was dealt to space research-- something that researchers all over Novaterra could relate to-- with the destruction of the recent FUN rocket to space. Canissian scientists and engineers expressed their sympathey and support to those who had put so much effort into effort to send little Ivan the Chimp into space, only to see the results of their dedication go up in such a titanic explosion.

"The world's littlest, most intrepid space explorer was lost," said Canissian aeronatical researcher Ted Sanders, "In that, we were fortunate this his was the only life taken, but the hopes and dreams of millions have also had the rug snatched out from beneath them. It is hard to look ahead in this time of despair, but we owe it to those efforts to forge ahead... and the Canissian community will do what it can to help as we all reach for the stars..."


SEA-LAUNCHED STEALTH DRONE A LIMITED SUCCESS


A drone launched from beneath the sea has had limited success.

"It launches vertically from an underwater silo, expands its wings, and flies," said chief Navy project manager Commander Adam Tal. "But so far, it just doesn't attain much altitude and operates best within aboiut 100 feet of the surface."

The drone has limited range and payload, but can be useful for transmitting images back to a control ship, or for use as a limited cruise-missile.

"Of course, if we needed a cruise missile, we'd just use a cruise missile," Commander Tal said, "A dedicate dmissile would carry more explosive than this could. THis does have better handling characterisitcs, though."

Thoughts are being developed on creating a class of drone that relies on being close to the surface to travel, and in matching ekranoplan technology to the drone to make a small, fast, and longer-ranged surface-skimming drone.

"The possibility exists," Commander Tal said, "But it'd have limited use. A sub can surface and patch into a satellite network to get a over-the-horizon look-- without alerting an adversary to its prescence."

The drones have better luck being launched vertically from surface ships rather than from submarine silos.

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

Farbanti, Shroomania

"Very well. I will see to it that the Sultanate maintains a peaceful state to other nations of the world." The Sultan said.

The two leaders discussed more on some details, and after a few cups of tea the Sultan departed to visit the Mosque of Megalith.

[PeZook]

Astoria Evening News

FASTA launch failure raises questions about feasibility of a manned Moon mission

Several political pundits have published opinions commenting on the recent catastrophic launch failure of a Soyuz-2 booster. The launch, first in a series of missions intended to culminate in a manned Moon landing, ended with the rocket exploding on the pad, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage, and killing the only passenger of the spacecrafy - a chimpanzee.

"There is little value in this program", said Dr. Cray Zee in a televised interwiev earlier today, "Which is simply a great case study in government wastefulness. Taxpayer money is spent on incredibly expensive projects, while it could be more effectively used in the form of tax cuts to stimulate the national economy."

Other commentators also criticized the program.

"Even one such failed launch represents incredible cost overruns and delays, for questionable return. The space program engages a disproportional amount of brilliant people, scientists and technicians, who could achieve great things without unnecessarily risking so many lives.",said the known conservative pundit, Brandon McSame.

Other voices of criticism are not related to costs of the FASTA at all.

"It is unethical - or downright barbaric! - to use animals for rocket testing. The poor little chimp died a horrible death, because we, as humans, deemed him more expendable than a 'real' astronaut. His only role would be testing of the rocket's systems, after which he'd live out the rest of his days at a zoo somewhere. This must stop!", said Norbert Woohan, a Shroomanian GreenWar activist.





Protesters in Astoria held up reproductions of two famous photographs of Ivan The Chimp along with banners criticizing the use of animals for rocket testing

One thing is certain - despite wide-scale criticism, the PeZookian government wishes to continue the space program. A thorough investigation into causes of the launch failure is being conducted at Korolev Spaceport, and FASTA officials intend to launch a second Selene test flight some time late this year, after all faults have been corrected.

Violent protests shake the PeZookian capital city of Astoria

Anarchists, disenfranchised youth, farmers and animal rights activists have staged a massive series of protests in the PeZookian capital today. Protesters organized happenings and rallies all around the city, critcizing PeZookia's involvement in the FASTA - both for the monetary expense and cruelty towards animals.

The rallies quickly turned into a riot, as angry youths and anarchistic extremists started to attack random passersby, break store windows and throw petards at police and cars. Police had to intervene using tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets in several dozens spots in the city.

Plenty of the rioters didn't seem to have anything to do with the protests at all ; They vandalized property,looted stores and robbed pedestrians. Two such rioters were shot dead by police officers when they attempted to stab an elderly man, who was tryiing to stop them from looting a consumer electronics store.

The "Stop War Initiative", who organized most of the protests, declared they had nothing to do with rioters, and in fact urged the participants to remain calm.

[Coyote]

ANIMAL RIGHTS PROTESTERS BACK AT IT AGAIN

Animal Rights protestors, who dominated campuses just a year and a half ago in Canissia, had faded from public view-- until the recent death of Ivan the Chimp in th erecent FUN space launch disaster.

"We thought the movement had gone away," said Minister of the Interior Blake Willis. "It had peaked months ago, and disappeared-- a fad," he said. "I guess we were wrong."

The movement had temporarily lost steam as the threat of war and assassination reared its ugly head. It is felt, by the CRBG, that the movement and the spin-offs they'd spawned, had gone underground to wait for the political pressure to ease.

Protests erupted at campuses across Canissia, but the efforts at the Technion University of Neve Tikveh were the most vocal, as animal-rights protesters converged on the area they felt was most likely to be engaged in animal research in Canissia.



However, the protests were not just focused on animal-rights in scientific testing; protests in Aerolon were against pet ownership in general-- "Enslavement of animals to satisfy the needs of certain pathetic, lonely people to dominate others", an anonymous protester said-- while protests in Tauron focused on the meat industry in general and promoted a "more healthy and sustainable vegan lifestyle".

Citizens and political leaders alike were surprised to find traffic blocked for miles throughout the city by a very well-planned, simultaneous animal-rights activist group called GENITAL.

The group --GENeral Intention To Abolish Labtesting-- has declared an information and propaganda-activist war against animal testing in laboratories, not just in Canmissia but around the world as well.

"Nations all around the world are hailing their scientific 'achievements', said group spokeswoman Myra Foxglove, "But these achievements are created in cruel labs where innocent, helpless animals are tortured with chemicals and injections. It's inhumane!"

While GENITAL insists that it is concerned primarily with ending scientific lab tests, critics of the movement aren't sure.

"Remember, GENITAL started off as an offshoot of the LABIA-- Liberate Apes Before Imprisoning Apes," said research scientist Alan Hames. "Remember, very few lab monkeys were actually used here on Canissia, and what few were used were used only for vaccines just on the cusp of approval for human testing. We've switched to voluntary human testing, mostly on incarcerated priosners with no chance of parole-- so I say that re-forming their defunct movement into a new, larger organization, the GENITAL, is really a step in escalating radicalism."

Researcher Hames refused to speculate on what the animal rights organization might be aiming for, but he noted that according to the literature they are using to recruit on campus, they are a strictly vegetarian organization-- and that the highest level cadre proudly boasts of their strict vegan-only diet.

[Coyote]

Port New Hadera
West Neverhood
Near Base of DragonSpine Mountains


It was the weekend, and like Miri had promised, she went out with her young roommate-- safe to say they were at least companionable with one another, if still not exactly friends-- ending up at Myyrna's.

Myyrna's was a bar, a dance club, and what was euphimistically called a 'gentleman's club' in one wing. Miri Bernstein smirked a bit at the thought that one of the first places the miners had built when they came to their base camp was a club. The prefab structures that were slapped togther held up well, however, and inside it was as much a permanant, modern club as any one of a number of rowdy places were across the turbulent country.

It was at Myyrna's that they caught up with the rest of Tatiana's friends, the ones Miri had heard about from time to time but Miri had never met. A large, dark and powerfully built fellow, named Jackson, a petite red-headed female named Kelah, who seemed a bit surly, and of course Lukin Grey. Miri could not help blinking a bit as Tatiana and Lukin embraced one another, and noticed a distinct twitching of Kelah's nose as she looked away and hid her face behind a drink.

"So, how was your day?" Lukin asked, inviting them to sit down.
"A pain in the ass," Tatiana replied, "Remember those new minebots that came in? The rest of those Wolfburg TM-500's the Ministry of Development and Natural Resources wanted, but they arrived clean."
"Clean?" Miri asked, picking up the drink that had been ordered for her by Lukin. She smiled and raised her glass at him but he was listenng carefully to Tatiana.

"Clean," Tatiana said, taking an impressive drink of vodka and kahluah, "No programming at all. Not even basic functions. Docker talk had it that the freighter went too close to one of the nuclear testing sites or some damn thing, and the rads wiped out the memory-- that's what one of the machinists on the freighter said, anyway."

"Warranty should cover it," Jackson growled, amused at the conversation as near as Miri could tell, "Warranty or insurance."
"Let the lawyers fight it out," Tatiana said. She finished her drink and grabbed Lukin's arm. "C'mon, let's dance." The pulsing music reverberated through the building and Lukin dissappeared into the crowd, his apologetic smile the last thing they saw.

"So, what do you do?" Kelah asked, suddenly all smiles and friendliness.
"I'm a Teacher's Aide," Miri replied, "At the local Uni. Geology," she identified herself.
"Hmm, that must be interesting," Kelah purred around her glass, "I do enjoy the sciences. Will there be more classes offered soon? We just arrived, after all."
"Well, the semester is well underway, but volunteers are welcome to join us at sites. It is an intresting way to get to know the place, after all."

"Indeed it would be," Kelah said with a warm smile.
"Do you have your own cold suits?"
"Cold suits?" Jackson asked, following the conversation through flicks of his ears.
"At sea level, it's normal," Miri pointed out the obvious, "But at the higher elevations you need cold suits. The mountain chain here is young, and very high in places." she added. "You can get cold suits on your own, but they're expensive, or just borrow some from the University."
The two RUF agents shared a look.

"Sure, why not? It might be fun," Jackson said, "if there is one thing I'd like to do, its get the chance to really become familiar with this new home...."

===========================================


West Neverhood
Royal Canissian Air Force Recon Patrol



Reports of intense terrorist activity had caused alarm in the Neverhood.

"We can't have this," Admiral Misha Dayan said, "We have to keep a lid on the militia groups and make sure they don't stir anything going on with Shepnukistani forces in East Neverhood."

A squadron of F-22s was dispatched, which broke up into pairs to cover a vast swathe of Neverhood airspace. It was partly a recon mission and partly a reminder of who wa sin charge-- even if th evarious civil councils held little power outside their city limits.

"We don't have a government," Admiral Dayan grumbled to his aide, "We have enclaves; a string of mayors and city councils with delusions of grandeur..."

As long as they don't rock the Shepnukistani boat too much...

[The Yosemite Bear]

New Cult in the BR

Be advised a new cult worshipping "Ivan the Chimp's Martardom" has surfaced. They are calling themselves the "Brotherhood of the Monkey" and appear to be yet another "Bear Republic Vice Cult"...

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

Ashford City

I'm a Jenova's Witness, traveling these parts and spreading the word of Sephiroth.

Those words echoed within Mr. Newbern's mind as he drove his car through the streets of Ashford. The Jenova's Witnesses had never been popular within the Duchy of Langley to begin with, and in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Byzantium, the vast majority of his brothers found themselves lynched by angry mobs, the survivors left at the mercy of the Langley National Police. As far as he knew, Newbern and his passengers were the only Witnesses left in the entire country. They would still have their revenge yet.

"Are we there yet?" one of the passengers, a Mr. Wittenberg, asked.

"Patience, brother," another passenger, a Mr. Staley, replied. "We'll be there soon enough."

"Those heathens will pay for their persecution of our faith," the third passenger, a Mr. Tatasciore, mused to himself. "Especially those damned Haruhiists. The feeling's mutual."

Newbern kept silent as he drove. They'll pay, they'll all pay, he thought to himself.

[Lonestar]

Fort Worth Star-Telegram
PETA compound in Austin picketed.

The National Coalition of Meat and Dairy Farmers held a BBQ in front of PETA's national headquarters in Austin, as a retaliation for a protest that snarled rush-hour traffic yesterday.

"We reckon' it's the right thing to do." A participating member said, as he turned over a pound of ribeye. "The trick is to use propane, so you can taste the meat, not the heat."

EL Presidente visited the protest-BBQ and helped himself to some brisket.

[Coyote]

DARK LIQUID "PRIVATE SECURITY" GROUP CONTRACTED TO HELP OUT IN WEST NEVERHOOD

In a not-so-surprising move, the Shroomanian-based private security firm "Dark Liquid" has been contracted to help maintain securiyt in the West Neverhood mountain regions, where terrorist activity has increased.

"We're just the guys for the job," said Splint Chesthair, commander and spokesman for the first Dark Liquid protection force toarrive in Port Hadera, West Neverhood. "We are professional and well trained, and we respect the ProTec guys as professionals. We'll work on our side of the border, and they'll work on theirs, and together we'll keep this from escalating."

The use of private security has been a source of controversy for the MESS forces in the region, who want to keep illegal militia activity to a minimum, but at the same time don't want to risk a backlash from the armed groups who might see them as an occupation force.

"We need to keep the militias calm, really," said Admiral Dayan, the Canissian commander of the overall effort in West Neverhood, "If they decide we're a bad guy, then that'll be a can of worms that will make our jobs much harder. The Dark Liquid guys can operate a bit more freely, and leave us out of it."

Still, the MESS will see to it that the Dark Liquid teams sign on to a Rules of Engagement agreement that wil, for example, spell out what constitutes a legitimate target-- and they will be held to much the same standards of accountability that military personnel must adhere to.

Admiral Dayan's staff will be joined by a Dark Liquid representative, Rock Ironbeef, who will coordinate daily reports with the MESS command team.


REFUGEES FLEE THE DRAGONSPINE MOUNTAINS AS INSURGENT ACTIVITY INCREASES

Waves of refugees from numerous West Neverhood mountain villages have fled their homes in a desperate attempt to escape the sudden upsurge in violence, reports indicate.

The Dragonspine Mountains are the unofficial border region obetween the pro-MESS West Neverhood and the pro-Nukistan East Neverhood states, but the border is largely an undefined and inexact 'no man's land' which, in many cases, can be crossed with relative ease-- only the rugged terrain, and the willingness of locals to demark their own territory and hold it, limits movement.

Recent militia and terrorist activity, and PAP counter-attacks, have increased tensions and many villagers have opted to flee to the relative safety and stability of the cities, putting a strain on the limite dresources there.

"Crops are burned, there is no safety," said one man, a village elder from the small hamlet of Burgville-- a town largely destroyed in cross-border raids.

"We will provide for their safety, and do what we can for these people," said a tired-looking Admiral Misha Dayan.

Security and handling of the refugees will probably fall to the contract group Dark Liquid, who will set up a refugee camp nearby the town of Port Hadera.

"Dark Liquid is ready for the challenge," said representative Rock Ironbeef.

[Zor]

Hidden Cobra Base, Neverhood

The Head of Cobra's R&D known by the codename of Doctor Mindbender did know that dispite aid from Cobra and the MARS corperation, it was ultimately was an act of Q that allowed them to set up what he did when he did it, nor would he have cared much if it was. Regardless, he did manage to do it and in his own secret facillity, production was well under way with his first battalion was already in the field. He was overlooking his production files and test results when through a secure landline he received a message from the masked leader of the Cobra.

"Doctor, how goes production?"

He leaned back "Everything is going better than we could have hoped, Commander. Production rate for the main facility is at 50 units a day, and we plan on getting the secondary facility up reletively shortly, so long as we keep getting material and fuel, you will have your new minions. The Seasnake Project is also going smoothly, with conditioning nearly done, the first Redgement should be delivered within the month."

"Excellent, your first test platoon proved its metal well enough in the raids, although we did face an unexpectedly high amount of militia casualties so far. But your 'men' should prove useful in providing us with additional conventional soldiers in the next phase."

Meanwhile...

In responce to increased Cobra attacks, Police, ProTec and the PAPs forces had begun bringing out armored Vehicles to deal with the problem, but Cobra was not defensless. They had managed to pilfer about a dozen APCs and IFVs, as well a tank from a downed rail transport, while various anti tank measures such as IEDs and such were used to nulify enemy armor power despite being limited to technicals and a few light armored armed with cheap ATGMs and Heavy Machineguns provided by Mars, most of Cobra's activities were done Geurilla style on Generally rough Terrain. Cobra also had well has having no shortage of cheap, but effective short range anti air missiles and mortars and low coast saturation rockets. Among the most dangerous weapon the PAPs came to face, however, were Cobra's Battle Android Troopers (BATs), while requiring human oversight at the squad level, the BATs were resistant for anyting less than an antimaterial rifle and carried PKM machine guns. Meanwhile, a couple of ProTec faced infiltration and costs from Cobra's small, but elite special force of Ninjas.

Meanwhile a few small towns with populations not to keen on Shepnukistan were seized by Cobra Forces, who set about recruiting new militia men for their forces using a combination of spiffy uniforms, claims about Islamist and Jewish Fundamentalist extreamism and general militaristic propaganda about the glorious new future of the Neverhood under Cobra. Recruitment was a bit slow, but the losses were gradually being made up for.

[MKSheppard]

**11 KM FROM HIDDEN COBRA BASE -- NEVERHOOD**

The men handled the shell nervously. It cost more than all of htem could hope to make in ten years in the Army. After dialing in the combination into the shell, it was loaded into the 280mm Cannon; and once everyone was in their trenches, the lanyard was pulled.



[OOC - I really don't like Cobra Either]

[Raj Ahten]

East Neverhood

COBRA was a real threat, no doubt about it. ProTec's plan was to coordinate raids with Rock Ironbeef's Dark Liquid contingent to destroy bases and weapons stockpiles. Aerial surveillance was looking to be the best weapon against the group and informants were coming forward, mainly to the PAP. They said COBRA was a foreign group that had allied with the most brutal and unstable militias. Mysteriously, No one could think of how COBRA was supplying itself as the MESS certainly wasn't doing it.

All of that was before finding their android soldiers. This certainly qualified as unusual, on par with the kill bot crisis of several years ago. ProTec held press conferences in which destroyed androids were show to the world, and any intelligence agency that wished could examine the remains and footage from surveillance flights of the androids in action.

A phone call also went out from a mid level ProTec commander in the area. He called an old friend that was now working on some sort of special project for the government of Indhopal. He told his old friend about the androids and the mysterious new fighting force in the area. The next day Jason Bourneholm and a team of Treadstone assassins arrived in Neverhood. They had work to do.

Other new arrivals included numerous ex-Shepnukistani army mercenaries. ProTec hired the best, others went to the East Neverhood government and some worked for the insurgents. A few were essentially criminal operatives. Five divisions worth of men had to go somewhere and the Shepnukistani economy was in shambles. Now the world was awash in guns for hire.

[CmdrWilkens]

MESS "New Horizons" Program

What was once several widely sperated joint-MESS programs covering te future of naval and air warfare have now been merged under the auspice of the "New Horizons" project. The project, currently being led by Wilkonia for the MESS as a a whole, now encompasses several disctint project branches intended to produce a 21st century Naval and Aerial arsenal that is fully integrated into all member nation's defense strategies.

"The biggest issue we've had is creating a program that offers each project latitude to experiment while still retinaing the inter-operability goal," Admiral Sir William Rollings, the programs chief, stated recently. "The individual project chiefs understand that but their mission is to get the MESS the best possible equipment and systems and the program's job is to ensure that they all work together."

He stated that most of the challenge so far has resolved around power requriements. Since the systems will likely end up appearing in both intra-MESS and export variants as well as being grafted on to older ships and C4I systems getting the most bang for energy buck has been difficult. In paticualr the repalcement for the AEGIS system, now in use by most navies in the world, will likely require at least 25-30% more available power and a massive increase in computing power to handle the increased range and data to be processed.

Project heads in Wilkonia itself said that they have the easiest job, designing the next generation of naval vessels. With Wilkonia's long history of naval investment the country is the largest naval shipbuilder within the MESS and her architechts have long been planning on creating the next generation even before the joint-MESS program was announced.

"It gave us a lot more money and a much broader incentinve," stated Robert Flaherty a civilian naval architect with Fulton Naval Shipyards. "That and the addition of Byzantium's expertise with our own has really increased our ability to not just create new designs but test them against each other. We spent most of the last year or so getting ourselves to the point that we could start doing scale model tests and having some extra perspectives helps."

On the missile engineering front Tian Xia continues to impress with the first drone target tests for the RIM-166 are scheduled for the end of this year. Work on the engine and warhead has already been largely finalized however it has been the guidance system which has received the most attention.

"We have to create a missile that both gets an initial idea from our new combat information systems before launch and then can react extremely fast once airborne based on its own targeting data, "a spokesman for the Bureau of Weapons said. "These are problems we have solved numerous times before but we are trying to build a weapon capable of intercepting supersonic wave skimming cruise missiles as well as high performance fighter-bomber's. Beyond that lies the greater challenge of integrating the whole weapon into the still developing C4I infrastructure."

The infrastructure itself is being worked on by a team based out of the Shinra Republic and supported extensively by Canissia whose efforts in increasing drone effectiveness are expected to help with much of the data processing side of the software suite. The hardware itself and its mission capabilites remain extremely well guarded state secrets and aside from basic facts and figures about the project little is known not even the system's name has yet been disclosed or leaked.


A Summary Sheet for "New Horizons"

New Horizons encompasses the following intra-MESS projects

-A new land and naval based C4I system for integrating information from the next generation of sensor technologies

-A new naval based radar and detection suite with a viable detection bubble extending to MEO

- A new land based radar and detection suite with viable detection bubble extending to GeoSyncronous Orbit

- A new family of missiles for ABM and SAM work

- A new nuclear powered guided missile cruiser (CGN(X)) with a tentative empty displacement f 25,000 tons

- A new nuclear powered guided missile destroyer (DDGN(X)) with a tentative empty displacement of 15,000 tons

- A new modular frigate design encompassing ASW and guided missile roles (FFG and FFH) with a tentative empty displacement of 8,500 tons

Annual research expenditures on the family of projects currently tops $25Bn not including additional investments in dockyard facilities and radar sites, though it does include some procurment costs as down payments on eventual fully integrated ship deliveries.

Once fully completed several items on the list will be immediately available in export models with reduced capabilities. The C4I and detection suites will not be available even in reduced capacity for some time after the initial rollout.

Currently the shipyards at Wilkonia, Tian Xia, the Lonestar Republic, and the Shinra Republic are being prepped to handle CGN(X) and DDGN(X) construction. FFG and FFH construction will principally be handled through yards in Canissia, Byzantium and the former province of Adrianopolis.

[Coyote]

Seaside Palace, Canissia


"Hey, what's up?" Arik asked, coming into the nursery.
"Shh," Jia said, "The kids are watching their favorite show."
"What's that?" Arik asked, sitting on the floor with the kids. They broke their entranced concentration long enough to greet their papa but were quickly taken back to their show-- something involving a big, stylized cartoon cat.

"It's a Shroomanian show called 'HUEG KITTENS'," Jia said, "They love it."
"Do they get what's going on?" Arik asked. It seemed a bit above them...
"Not really," Jia said, "But they're fascinated by the kittens."

Arik watched with the kids for a bit.
"Silly," he said, "But fun. How long has this show been playing?"
"Since shortly after Prime Minister Shroom took over Shroomania," Jia said, "About the same time you assumed the throne."

"Hmmm... " Arik said, "Maybe they have the first season on DVD? We could get it for the kids?"
"Actually," Jia said, "Cosko has the first season on Blu-Ray."
"We should pick it up," Arik said.

"Well..." Jia said, "If you want to stay with the kids for awhile, I can run out and get it."
Arik thought about it.
"Sure," he said, "Let Siobhan know on the way out? If I get called away for an emergency..."
"I'll let her know," Jia said with a smile as she grabbed her purse and jacket. Arik kissed her, and called in Colonel Rassnar to have him cancel his appointments.

"Take the SPS detail," Arik said.
"Oh, tch!," she said, "Those guys are such killjoys." Still, two SPS guys in dark suits fell in behind her.

Jia drove her own Gaia-Electric Torus to the store, the SPS detail following behind. She enjoyed getting out for just a day of regular shopping. She was dressed in ordinary fashion, and had little makeup, and wore her hair in a ponytail-- she looked very nondescript. And she had a Barcamatic service pistol tucked in her belt...

Jia walked calmly through the parking garage, and ducked into the crowded escalator, losing the security detail in a boutique store. With a laugh, she made her way to Cosko, and their extensive video department.

Jia picked up the HUEG KITTENS Blu-Ray disc set, and then picked up a new pair of shoes, and some workout pants. She paid, and made her way back to the parking garage. She hadn't seen the security detail for some time.

I've had my fun, she decided, and called on her cell phone.
"C'mon guys," she said with a smile, as she shifted her bag, "I'm in the garage. I'll wait for ya."
"Yes, ma'am,", the haggard security man said. She clapped her cell phone shut and waited-- not seeing the shadow behind her.

"Hold it right there, little missy," the voice rasped-- close enough to be startling, but not close enough to be of danger to her. She spun, dropping her bag, and drew her pistol.



"Back off, buddy," she said, "Just go your own way, and you won't get hurt."
"Oh, yes, of course," the mysterious man said, and slunk into the shadow-- but Jia suddenly felt a sharp pain in her thigh as a needle was plunged into her leg, through the cloth of her pants.

"What the--?" she looked down, and saw a child-- or is it a midget?-- tumble away from her. She tried to aim the pistol at him, and remembered the man in the shadows. She spun, expecting to see him lunging at her, but there was no one there-- Or is there? She thought she saw someone... but they were so blurry...

The parking garage spun, the lights flickered... and she didn't even feel herself hit the floor.

By the time the SPS men got to the garage, only her spilled bag and its contents remained.

"Fuck," the sergeant said. "We got big trouble."

[K. A. Pital]

Phone call



- I ordered the ECSOC to control the KGB roundups inside this nation. Any affiliates of the Cobra, the Crusaders, and the Jenova will be caught and tried by the soviet justice - the most just justice in the entire god damn world! Now don't you call me inside my god damn swimming pool any more!

[PeZook]

FASTA bulletin

Data analysis traces launch failure to programming bug

After nearly two weeks of analysis, the investigation teams at Korolev Spaceport have traced the reason for launch failure: a programming bug in the booster's guidance software package, which caused a premature ignition of the second stage.

"The new software was written from scratch to take advantage of the processing power in the newly developed guidance system, and to support the next-generation Soyuz TMA avionics. Under certain conditions, a bug appeared which caused the processor to think it received a stage separation signal from ground control. We've been able to reproduce the bug. The contractor who was hired to write the software will have some explaining to do.", said colonel Grinkov, RT KGB, who was conducting the investigation.

"We have adjusted our procedures accordingly. Two brilliant PeZookian students have set up a simulation system which will alow us to test all software before launch, with computers simulating flight of the boosters, and the guidance program acting as if it was controlling a real rocket. This way, we can catch such problems well before they appear, and run as many tests as we want to.", said Pavel Golovko, Chief Launch Controller at Korolev Spaceport.

Head of the Selene project, dr. Filippa Zviezda, announced that a second test launch, dubbed Selene 1A-bis has been scheduled to take place in two months, bearing another chimpanzee on board.

Personell at the Korolev Spaceport have honored Ivan, the simian passenger of the ill-fated Selene-1A mission with an impromptu memorial outside the Animal Training and Conditioning (ATC) area of the spaceport. A photograph of Ivan has been placed there, as well as a guest book and some of his favorite toys from the time when he was an occupant of the ATC facilities.

Altair lander engine test performed in Lonestar

The Lonestarian Altair lander engine prototype has been test fired several times at a range in the Lonestar Republic today, as engineers gathered data necessary to analyze its performance. The main engines are the only part of a Moon mission where no backups or redundancy is possible - if the engine fails to ignite, astronauts will be stranded on Selene and will certainly die - this is why a huge battery of tests await the engine, to make absolutely sure it will ignite on Selene.


The engine test, performed in a horizontal position.

Sine the Altair lander has been chosen as the universal landing vehicle, which will be used both by the MESS space agency and the FASTA Soyuz-based missions, assembled data was passed on to FASTA engineers, who will analyze it an suggest any improvements that occur to them.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Imperial Chronicles

The interrogation of the 2 crusaders, and a steady scrutnisation of the books allowed the PREIST investigators to trace the money flow to the Metropolitan Bishop of Athens and the Duke of Athens. Apparently, the Bishop and Duke have been siphoning off millions of dollars a year to the Crusaders of St. John. That certainly explained why they were so well-equiped. But the problem was clear; royalty was involved. PRIEST could not go after a member of the Byzantine Royal family, at least not without the authorisation of the Byzantine Emperor itself. The investigators themselves debated among themselves about the implications of this. The Emperor was obviously in a vindictive mood after the Jenovah scum attacked his capital city. In some ways, the crusaders might be viewed as heroes. However, it was obvious in some ways, that the attack was sparked off by the crusader's attacks. Will the Emperor be furious at the crusader's brashness, or impressed with their audacity? Add to the fact that the crusaders had a number of retired Varagian Guards, who by and large had sworen an oath to the Emperor and had kept that oath near religiously. The two captured crusaders were incredibly cooperative to their captors, even giving the locations of their monastery. Their oath to the Emperor was a stronger one than their oath to their Order.

However, politics was out of the purview of the crusaders. Such decisions can only be made by the Ecumenical Patriarch, who would no doubt have to decide what to do. Red Technocracy was obviously taking a dim view of the crusaders. However, by and large, the chief recruitment for the order appears to originate from Byzantium, and the crusaders had few members even among the clergy in Red Technocracy. The fate of the Crusaders of St. John, now rested in the Byzantine Emperor.

[PeZook]

Royal Palace, Astoria

The King looked outside, at protesters tirelessly chanting anti-space exploration slogans, and sighed. The launch failure made him upset, too, but such things happened - the FASTA was trying to accomplish the greatest feat ever attempted on Nova Terra, after all. And the bigger things you try, the more spectacular the problems. The people would have to suck it up.

He turned around as Ambassador Szewerewski entered the office along with his staff. It wasn't very large: two assistants and three attaches. Six diplomats in total, one of whom was a spy - the rest of the thirty or so 'diplomats' residing at the embassy would be RIS officers chosen personally by the military attache, Lt. Col. Kulinsky.

"Welcome, gentlemen. Sit down, please.", they did, and the King continued, "I have called you here right before your departure to Coilerburg to make one thing clear. You are going there to watch president Iler and his military as closely as possible. This is the first priority."

"I know, Mr. Szewerewski, that this may seem a lowly assignment for a man of your experience, but it is precisely because of the nature of this post that we need a man of exceptional skill. Coilerburg is militarizing - and while it is no Saddamistan, it can certainly cause trouble in the Central Sea. And we do not want trouble in the Central Sea."

"The government considers this assingment extremely important. You will receive all the necessary funds and support from the RIS and the Foreign Ministry. We want to know if Coilerburg is planning anything well in advance."

The assembled staffers looked at him intently. They knew their jobs well, but they were never before sent abroad exclusively to spy on a country.

"This is all, gentlemen. I wish you luck, and sincerely hope that this posting will be an uneventful one."

He shook everybody's hands, and they left. The King returned to reading his reports, scattered around on his desk - even on Nova Terra and with royal responsibilities, he wasn't a very organized person.

Two hours later, thirty PeZookian diplomats boarded a chartered airliner and left for Coilerburg, the take residence at the almost-constructed embassy building.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coilerburg, at the same time

"Here is the information you requested, Mr. President.", an aide handed PFL Iler a thick folder, containing biographical information on all PeZookian diplomats who were due to arrive in Coilerburg shortly. The aide left, and the President started to page through the folder.

He noticed there were some famous names there, but most of the Ambassadorial staffers had no diplomatic experience at all. Par the course for a small embassy in a little country.

The Military Attache was an RIS (Republic Intelligence Service) officer, though, and a very capable and accomplished one. His file was colored differently and bore a hand-written adnotation: 'Obviously here to spy on us.'

[K. A. Pital]

Red's Defense Weekly: artists' draw Saddamistan's arsenal

Curious to understand the types of artillery employed by the secretive closed empire of Saddam, the RT analytics defended this sketch before the SVR hearing commitee today.


Apparently it depicts a probable Saddamistan artillery piece that could be heavy enough to fire long-range chemical and nuclear shells in case tactic artillery support is required.

The vehicle has been decried as "tall tales" by the Minister of Defense.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Constantinople Times

Over a Hundred of Heretics arrested

Byzantium Security forces arrested over a hundred heretics of the Jenova's witness. Many of them have been found to be complicit with the recent attack on the eternal city of Constantinople and will be charged in court. As many as 100 have died since the attack, and hundreds are now warded in hospitals. The sarin gas was released in the subways during the busy lunch hour in the financial district.

Heretic's bioweapon results in many suffering from Hallucinations.

The Heretic's bioweapon resulted in many suffering from hallucinations. Some claimed to have seen God. Others claimed to have seen Mary, Mother of God. Some even claimed to have seen some weird apparition of some katana wielding maniac. Many injuries have been reported. Fortunately, many were quickly warded in hospitals and restrained to prevent further them from inflicting harm on themselves.

Byzantine Emperor said to be furious about the attack, praises the quick acting military and police forces

In a state address from the Shinra Republic, the Emperor denounced the cowardly heretics and praised the quick reaction of the security forces in apprehending the suspects. "These cowardly dogs will be tried in our courts, and if found guilty will be likely be shot for this act of cowardice."

Crusaders of St. John praised by general populace.

News has leaked with images of Crusaders of St. John fighting the heretics. While not confirmed by authorities, the Grand Master, Marcus Antonius, has claimed responsibility for destroying the heretics who perpetrated the crime. The Grand Master has normally kept a low profile, but today, at the Basilica of St. John in Athens, he denounced the heretics and declared that he and his knights will do all he could to destroy them. Authorities have warned against vigilante acts however. The Grand Master was reported to have been greeted with great applause.