SDNWorld Redux: Story Thread the First.

[DarthShady]

Location: Somewhere in the Sjenska Region, USSR

The sky was grey, almost black and the rain had been falling for days. Everything was wet and cold, and Damir was not enjoying himself. For the past couple of days he had been in charge of leading the PeZookian observers through some of the worst places in Sjenska, places that had been left desolate and horrifying during the rule of Srdjan Karic. And now as a final visit he would take them to a former prison in which Karic held his enemies and political opponents, to make the matter worse their families were imprisoned as well. The place had been a nightmare for the people of Sjenska, a nightmare that ended when the USSR arrived.

Damir was getting bored, The PeZookian observers were late and he didn't enjoy the fact that he had to wait for them. He took a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it, only to have it put out by the rain which was starting to fall again. He decided to move into one of the nearby ruins to get some cover from the rain. "Goddamn PeZookians.", he thought to himself, "Where the hell are they?" He was halfway to the building when he saw a group of APC's coming his way, "Finally.", he thought to himself and waved at the vehicles.



"It was about time you got here.", Damir shouted, "I've been freezing my ass off." The soldier coming out of the first APC smiled, "It's not my fault, the PeZookians wanted to stay a bit longer in the last village, I just do as I am told." Damir moved closer, "So what was so interesting to them in the village?" "Women, Comrade what else.", the soldier said and Damir laughed.

"Of course.", Damir smiled, "The area is secure and the facility is a short walk from here. Get our PeZookian friends ready and let's move out."

"The sooner the better.", the soldier said, "This rain is starting to annoy me."
-----------------------------------------------------------

Ten minutes later the group of soldier and the PeZookians arrived at the facility, and the sight that awaited them was a ghastly one. The smell of disease and death was in the air and it was so strong that the leader of the PeZookian observers Jozef Muszynski started throwing up uncontrollably. In the distance they could see a group of tents and what looked like a field hospital, doctors and soldiers were all around and all of them wore breathing masks. A couple of soldiers approached the newly arrived group and started distributing similar masks to them, Muszynski was more then happy to put a mask on his face. After regaining his composure he approached Damir and in a low voice asked, "What is this place?"

"A prison of sorts.", answered Damir, "It is a place where those who opposed the previous regime ended up."

Muszynski didn't look good but he continued with his questions, "But what is this smell? It's horrible."

"That Comrade is the smell of death and disease.", Damir said, "Most of the former prisoners are either dead or sick with some horrible disease, we have removed most of the bodies but the smell persists. The field hospital is treating those who are to weak to be moved into the city."

"Did they all die from the disease?", Muszynski asked fearing the answer.

"I'm afraid not.", Damir answered, "The place was guarder by Karic's Personal Guard and they killed a lot of the prisoners before escaping. I'm sure they would have killed them all, but they ran out of bullets."

Muszynski's face was that of horror, "How can human beings be capable of such actions?", he said and sat down on a wooden crate.

"It is the symptom of a failed government and the rule of an evil dictator.", Damir said, "It is what we came here to stop, to change and in that we have succeeded, I only wish we had done it sooner. Now come Comrade, I am sure you and your friends want to see the inside of the prison."

"I'm not sure we do.", Muszynski said, "But we must, otherwise what is the purpose of us being here."
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An hour later the tour was over and the PeZookians gathered around the APC's, some were throwing up, others just stood there silently. Muszynski himself was back on his wooden crate with his head between his legs, he seemed to be crying. Damir approached the man and gently placed his hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry you had to see that Comrade." Muszynski raised his head and just stared into the distance. Unsure on what to do Damir decided it was time to leave, they had seen to much for one day.

"Friends please gather your belongings, it's time for us to leave.", he said and moved towards the nearest APC, "We have prepared a nice hotel for you in the City. I'm sure we could all use a drink."

The PeZookians and their escorts gathered their things and entered their vehicles, Muszynski was the last man in followed by Damir. "Are you all right?", Damir asked, "I don't know. I had not seen things like this, I had heard of the horrors of WW2 but I never imagined that such things could happen now, so close to our homes and yet we just stood there and let it happen. We did nothing and allowed these people to suffer. How could we have been so blind?."

"We are not blind any more Comrade?, Damir said and closed the door.

"You are not, but I think my eyes have just been opened for the first time.", Muszynski said, "Please...let us leave this place."

"Of course.", Damir said and signalled the driver.

[Raj Ahten]

President Raj Ahten Makes Major Speech on Foreign Policy

President Raj Ahten announced that he would be making a very important speech regarding Indhopal’s foreign policy. On the appointed time, once the media had assembled, The President stepped up to a podium flanked by Indhopal’s and the FTO’s flags.

“No one can doubt we live in dangerous times. Indhopal has found itself embroiled in three conflicts in quick succession. The CSR has offered Indhopal its help in these times, with a package of economic incentives and joint military exercises. The AFSR asked the CSR for help recently. Their government was overthrown and now they are part of the CSR. This is not the sort of help Indhopal will accept!

I strongly condemn the CSR and its allies. They seem bent on a return to imperialism of the old sort, as the USSR’s recent annexation of their neighbor’s demonstrates. The CSR seems to think things in Frequesue are just as debased as they are in the Old World, and that with a paltry offer of aid they can bring Indhopal into their sphere of influence. But things in Frequesue are different than in the past. We help each other now, and have no need of the “help” the Imperial powers offer. Many in Frequesue are still recovering from the last time those from the Old Continent tried to “help” them.

Instead of raw imperialism, Indhopal has found a different path. Working with our friends and neighbors in the FTO we seek to bring stability to the continent and repair the damage of the Imperialist’s years of misrule. With Operation Stabilizer, peace is finally dawning in the CFR after decades of bloodshed. The San Magdalena Peace Conference also gives new hope that the conflict between Coilerburg, Sabika and Omango will finally be laid to rest forever. Instead of annexing our enemies, we in the FTO embrace them as friends. In time I hope to have both Omango and Sabika become full members of the FTO.

We have along hard road a head of us. But let it be said that Indhopal an the FTO will not walk forward by themselves. With constructive partnerships such as with Cascadia, who made the San Magdalena Peace accords possible, Indhopal will move forward into a bright future while the CSR and its allies move further into the past. Thank you and good night.”

Domestic Reaction in Indhopal
Many praised the President’s speech inside Indhopal calling it a necessary rejection of the imperialist powers. Many Independence Party members called the Presidents policy a day late and a dollar short. They wanted to know why nothing was done while the CSR and the MESS re colonized Frequesue. It also appeared that The MESS was getting a free pass for their take over of Westchester.

Analysts say that Westchester’s return to Tian Xia’s control can not be as categorically condemned by Indhopal because there is no doubt Westchester’s government invited the take over.

[Steve]

Tacoma, Olympia

Rudy Gallanzo was a kid of thirteen years of age attending primary school. Being in Tacoma, in western Olympia, his affinity and likely choice for UMT would be the growing Cascadian Navy, revitalized by men before his birth to be a respectable force that was commonly the most powerful military presence in Veleria (until the Japanistani expansion into western Veleria at least).

Being interested in the Navy, Rudy kept looking over the public information websites for Jane's and other publications regarding the Navies of the world, including Cascadia's. And he was one of the younger posters among Cascadia's net-savvy population clamoring for the Navy's desired new carrier, his eyes often scanning over the basic stats for the CVA-04 plan.....



Defiant-class Carrier

Displacement: 57,800 tons
CATOBAR-capable
Air Wing:
40 fixed wing
7 rotary VTOL

Armament:
1 x Sky Lance anti-air missile battery
1 x CIWS Battery
2 x Mark VI ATORP (Anti-torpedo defenses - modernized equivalent of WWII-era hedgehog or Soviet RBU-6000)




Proposed CVA-04 Project

Displacement: 60-65,000 tons
CATOBAR-capable
Air Wing:
50 fixed wing
10 rotary craft

Armament:

1 x Sky Lance
2 x CIWS Battery
4 x Mark V ATORP


OOC: Yeah, I basically made up a kid on the spot to post this in-character. I'm open to retconning data on the ships, of course, if I'm requested to.

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

Ashford Times Headlines in Brief

Production of K2 Black Panthers, Puma IFVs Commences
License acquired from Byzantium last year; production to coincide with on-going armed forces expansion and modernization

Army, Marines Officially Unveil Plans for Expansion
Across-the-board increases to both infantry and armor foreseen; special forces to be expanded as well

Local Defense Contractors Offer Weapons to Shepistan and Old Dominion
Morgenroete, NHI, KyoAvi all interested in pitching their wares

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE? Y / N

[Steve]

Online News Release from Smith-Hall Defense Quarterly

The Cascadian Navy has fully released the construction schedule for the ships being built to form the Amphibious Contingency Group. The ACG will be provisionally assigned to the Home Fleet and will be kept seperate from the Combined Operations Groups fielded by the Navy for operations overseas. Expansions to the Cascadian Marines' approved force level are being considered to permit the Corps to expand to four Brigades by 2013, the 4th Brigade to be assigned to the ACG - if the budget doesn't permit this, the ACG will when sortied take on whichever Marine brigade is assigned to a COG undergoing R&R.


The ACG will consist of the following:

Cascadia-class Amphibious Assault Ship
CRS Constellation

Tacoma-class Amphibious Transport
CRS Bremerton

John Q. Adams-class destroyer
CRS Keith Tromp
CRS John Galvin

Patrick Jefferson-class frigates
CRS Jacob Wellers
CRS Michael Garrison

Seawolf-class Nuclear Attack Submarine
CRS Nautilus
CRS Skipjack

Columbia River-class Replenishment Ship, Heavy
CRS Yukon River

[Karmic Knight]

Phase Two of Vinish Portion of Operation Stabilizer Begins
By: Mark Fuellur


Hircine, The Independent Republic of the Saviour’s Hide: With news of the Coilerburg War being arbitrated, the largest conflict in FTO history is starting to see progress. In the Vinish Occupation Zone, two areas are preparing to hold free elections, the area directly under Vinish control, now taking the name the Southern Republic. The other area setting up the new election is calling itself the Independent Republic of the Saviour’s Hide, though the area has been claimed by the forces of Mortimer Jr. Since the forces have not actually attempted to move toward the city-state, the Vinish have began helping the locals set up a free election.


The Current Political Situation in the South-western CFR, with the Locations of the Southern Republic and the Independent Republic of the Saviour’s Hide Indicated.

In the Southern Republic, civil servants are working with Vinish advisors to build a system that will create a free election. This election is the first the area has had in recent memory. Based on polling data, the major candidates in the Southern Republic seem to be from religious sects. The leading candidate is Arthur Dimmesdale, a Catholic priest who has spent his time wandering the countryside of the Southern Republic.


The leading Candidate in the Southern Republic’s upcoming election, Arthur Dimmesdale

In the Independent Republic of the Saviour’s Hide the leading candidate is Martin Luthshroom XXI, an ancestor of a famous local figure and philanthropist. The group most opposing him is a secretive group from the hills, known only as the Cult of the Hide; they claim the country, named after a famous heirloom held in the public trust for over three decades, known as the Saviour’s Hide, must be run by these mysterious monks, and they have began a call to arms of all believers to stand as one and hand over the City-State to the Cult.

This situation has caused the Vineyards a lot of grief, the Cult is proving to be a difficult problem for the election organizers in the Independent Republic of the Saviour’s hide, staging demonstrations at announcements, hijacking press conferences, and just being overall nuisances. In the Southern Republic, the various religious factions have hijacked the campaigns, and are loosing the focus that the Vinish have tried to present to the clergies, rebuild your homes. This is affecting the various rebuilding and public works projects happening in the Republics. The Vinish overseers are definitely facing an uphill battle in the pursuit of peace.

[Beowulf]

Politics and Current Affairs Blog

Why is Tian Xia spending blood and treasure to defend the Old Dominion against Shepistan? All the MESS does is require us to send our young men and women to war against a nation that can't effectively harm us. Why should we stay in the MESS, when all it will bring us is heartache? Thousands of men and women have died in the various wars against Shepistan. Billions of dollars wasted in a futile attempt to "defend" the Old Dominion from it's own aggression.

Posted at 08:54 PM on April 23, 2009 by Strange

Comments:

Are you high? Shepistan is a country where they slowly lower children into industrial shredders to stop defections! -MESShead

[Master_Baerne]

Conquered Territories
Minoy - Formerly Northern CFR

Things were looking up for Gino Weinberg. Ever since the massive Baernish-led FTO counterattack into Revolutionary Front territory dislodged their forces from his own newly-conquered lands, only a few bands of Iron Tigers had remained to disrupt what some were already calling (with heavy influence from the Minoy Department of Information) Weinberg's Peace. While they were certainly an annoyance, in truth they had already failed in their mission to kill the Baernish advisers who were slowly but surely transforming Minoy's military into a force to be reckoned with. The Duchy had simply increased the escort strength for the shipments of decommissioned equipment and personnel, and that was that. Even the most determined guerrilla could only do so much against a tank squadron.

As valuable as the old T-72 tanks and assault rifles were the infrastructure convoys, groups of semis bearing bulldozers and construction equipment. Most of these came with a printed note in the cab: "This Is Not Charity. His Grace Expects Repayment." While some would have been offended by the bluntness of the message, Weinberg understood that some things simply couldn't be said with tact.

He stepped out into the field surrounding the former bank he'd taken as Minoy's headquarters in the CFR - that was to say, in the Conquered Territories, as no one had gotten around to incorporating them formally into the nation yet - and watched approvingly as a trio of ex-Baernish helicopters landed, bearing computer systems and generators to aid in the running of the country.

Results: We're supplying Weinberg's guys with just about everything they need to be successful in the CFR, albeit mostly outdated equipment.

Also, the counterattack I mentioned earlier was a success; FTO forces smashed straight through lightly-armed Revolutionary Front troops, encircling the remains for a defeat in detail. They were used to fighting CFR soldiers, who they could beat in open battle, as opposed to the state-of-the-art Baernish armored divisions that led this assault. That overconfidence has just about cost them the last support they had, as the citizenry realizes that their former masters are completely outmatched by the FTO.

A bloody guerrilla war is expected to continue until we kill every last one of the bastards, which ought not to take so long, as we intend to succeed in the winning of the hearts and minds of the people, thus decreasing recruitment for the RF.

[MKSheppard]

MASS RIOTS IN SHEPISTAN -- STABILITY OF GENERAL SHEPPARD'S GOVERNMENT IN SERIOUS DOUBT


Disgruntled followers of the rival political party clash in the streets


An Explosion tears through the central district of Annapolis


Influental Shepistani Political Leader Al-Martin

"It is inexcusable that General Sheppard, who claims to protect the people of Shepistan and the Spaghetti Faith, would so cravenly agree to such insulting demands from the Old Dominion and the MESS. I call upon the faithful to overthrow the traitor Sheppard's lackeys and purify our government."

Results
Mass unrest in Shepistan due to firebrand clerics.
Shepistani Special Republican Guard moving from warfighting to atrocity mode.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

At the Frequesuan Neutrality Conference

The President pondered this question briefly. Then he responded, quietly but passionately. "I think whether our nationalism is irrational or not is largely a matter of perspective. You allude to the colonial past of our continent… Look where colonialism got us: we are a continent of broken nations, whereon but a handful of regions can by rights be called free and prosperous.

And now, just as we begin to take our first steps forward, just as those few prosperous nations come together to help those who were less fortunate… Just as we begin to drag ourselves out of the mud by our own hair, we see a resurgence of naked imperialism, complete with wars and the wholesale annexation of territories.

We are not seeing this resurgence just on our continent. One has to only look at Velaria to find out it is a world-wide trend. The world is repeating the mistakes of the past. And to be frank, this to us is deeply disconcerting.

What you see as irrational nationalism we see as a response to provocation, to annexation, to wars we do not want, and antagonism we do not need. Have we made mistakes? Yes, undoubtedly. Have we acted irrationally? Perhaps – no, almost certainly.

But from our point of view, we are being confronted - again - by Great Powers whose sole language is Power, who care nothing for our wants and needs, and who want nothing of us but concessions, concessions, concessions.

Mr. Exarch, Frequesue is tired of conceding. We have conceded for centuries – we have conceded our freedoms, our treasures, our blood and sweat and tears to foreign Powers who did not care for us. Well, we care for us. And we are tired of being exploited and ignored and pushed around. And confronted with a world in danger of sliding back into darker times, we feel we have to say, no, not this, not again. The line must be drawn here! This far, no further!

Come now, Mr President, that's how the world has worked for centuries. Surely, you aren't ranting that you can't use you own power as you saw fit? Everyone has interests. The only issue is what tools a country merely has. Even the FTO is using military muscle to subjugate the local misfits. The world hasn't quite bothered to even pay much attention, while you attempt to install friendly local governments in your own continent. Even if you wanted to annex the local territories, you hardly have the means to do so.

Conceding? Come now Mr President, dispense with rhetoric. Many in the FTO were formerly citizens of some nation, Shroomania and others, who arrived there freely to colonise the continent, and subsequently revolted and declared independence of Shroomania and others. Even Tian Jia has run back into the arms of their former masters. If by anything, many of them owe their existence to their former masters and their former masters conceded control. In fact, most powers have almost no interest with Frequesue, unless some Frequesue nation comes along and ask for help. Insisting that nations have no right to ask for outside help is ridiculous at best. Where is the free will in all this?

If by anything, many of you yourselves are displaying elements of imperialism, by insisting that most, if not all, nations in Frequesue join the FTO. Why should all nations join the FTO?

With regards to the USSR reannexing the border states, I fail to see the problem. The border states were a product of post war hysteria, which Byzantium did not support. We never supported the carving up of the Shadow Empire and quite frankly, reannexing the states is something that should have been done ages ago. The border states have always been an area of lawlessness and lack of authority. Surely, the FTO isn't supporting such lawlessness and genocide? Why, you are doing some of "peacekeeping" in your own backyard.

Briefly the President paused. Then he continued. “Concerning proportionality of resources contributed to the FTO, we certainly do not wish to fault nations who bring less to the table than we. Not all of us are as rich, or as prepared to commit, or even as capable of committing to actions that may see brave soldiers return home in caskets.

See, Mr President, eventually questions will be asked on why should one nation take on more burdens than others? After all, that nation has to answer to its own people and explain why they have to lose their loved ones. People will start asking why they have to lose their loved ones in the name of other nations, who seem content to let someone else die for their cause.

Though of course you are right when you say there is plenty room for improvement: indeed we would prefer not to look exasperated in the eyes of the world ourselves”, the President smiled. “Certain is that our decision-making process needs to be reviewed so we can jointly respond to situations that come up at a less than glacial pace – frankly, we ourselves are looking with interest to the San Magdalena Peace Conference, as this is the first time a single nation, Indhopal, represents the entire FTO on an international level. If that works out to our mutual satisfaction I could imagine building off that to appear more resolved in the future.

Still, for an alliance that has existed for less than two years, we think we have already taken formidable strides forward. Our joint naval task force is a success. Our peace keeping mission in the CFR is finally making progress. We are even reaching out into space! All things considered, I am quite proud of what the FTO has achieved. We have proven that it is possible for our nations to come together for the common good. To the Old Continent this may not seem like much. But for Frequesue, it is unique.”

That depends on a matter of perspective of course. The way Byzantium sees it, is you are overspending and overreaching yourselves, with the endless warring in the backyard.

[Siege]

Phase Two of Vinish Portion of Operation Stabilizer Begins

OOC: Uh, Karmic, the SDA has been operating a full mechanized brigade in the eastern CFR for more than a year now. Currently 1st Mechanized is stationed in a province called Eastern-Occidental and slowly expanding its zone of stability outward. Perhaps you can add this into your map?

[Siege]

Come now, Mr President, that's how the world has worked for centuries. Surely, you aren't ranting that you can't use you own power as you saw fit? Everyone has interests. The only issue is what tools a country merely has. Even the FTO is using military muscle to subjugate the local misfits. The world hasn't quite bothered to even pay much attention, while you attempt to install friendly local governments in your own continent. Even if you wanted to annex the local territories, you hardly have the means to do so.

“I think it rather brash of you to call a peace keeping operation ‘subjugation’. We do not seek to subjugate, we seek to stabilize. We do not intend to exploit mineral wealth, or even to install puppet governments. When we have brought peace and stability, we will leave, and then the CFR can do whatever it pleases. If you want to claim that is equal to a Great Power from half the world away sailing a warfleet into port and using it to depose a local government by force, installing a puppet regime, and annexing the territory for their own… Well. Let’s just say that if that is the case, our definitions of subjugation do not match.

You say that this, this forceful annexation, that it is the way the world has worked for centuries. Would you say the same of the slavers of Astaria? Would you tell their victims that their fate is how the world has worked for centuries? Surely not! Today it is a different day, a different age. We ought to not regress to the barbarities of the past. Colonialism, Mr. Exarch, is one such barbarity. We do not need this to happen to us again, we do not want it, and we cannot stand idly by as our neighbours fall once more under its spectre. Can we do much about the CSR waltzing in as if they own the place? No. But we do not have to like it, and we do not have to shut our mouths and look the other way either.”

Conceding? Come now Mr President, dispense with rhetoric. Many in the FTO were formerly citizens of some nation, Shroomania and others, who arrived there freely to colonise the continent, and subsequently revolted and declared independence of Shroomania and others. Even Tian Jia has run back into the arms of their former masters. If by anything, many of them owe their existence to their former masters and their former masters conceded control. In fact, most powers have almost no interest with Frequesue, unless some Frequesue nation comes along and ask for help. Insisting that nations have no right to ask for outside help is ridiculous at best. Where is the free will in all this?

“Why do you think we revolted in the first place? It certainly was not because we enjoyed our existence as colonies so much. Perhaps the Old Continent has forgotten what colonialism did for our continent. But I assure you, the people of the CFR, the people of the Costa, and the peoples of the FTO, we have not.

It is one thing to ask for ‘outside help’. It is quite another for that ‘outside help’ to arrive in the form of warfleets and loss of sovereignty. The last time such things happened on our continent, we spent the next few hundred years subjugated and exploited by Shroomania. Now, the Sovereignty has reformed its ways – why has the rest of the Old Continent not followed their enlightened lead?”

If by anything, many of you yourselves are displaying elements of imperialism, by insisting that most, if not all, nations in Frequesue join the FTO. Why should all nations join the FTO?

“This is absurd. We do not insist anyone join the FTO. We would like them to, but we do not insist. We invite, and if they choose not to, as Westchester did, and as many others did, we do not press the matter. We merely hope they will change their mind later on, as Tanstaafl did. We both know this, Mr. Exarch. So perhaps it is you who should, ah, how did you put it – dispense with the rhetoric?”

With regards to the USSR reannexing the border states, I fail to see the problem. The border states were a product of post war hysteria, which Byzantium did not support. We never supported the carving up of the Shadow Empire and quite frankly, reannexing the states is something that should have been done ages ago. The border states have always been an area of lawlessness and lack of authority. Surely, the FTO isn't supporting such lawlessness and genocide? Why, you are doing some of "peacekeeping" in your own backyard.

The President frowned. “I’m sorry – I do not recall having mentioned the Border States at all. You must be misunderstanding me? Indeed, I applaud your Emperor and his ally Secretary-General Shady for not standing by idly as the people of the Border States suffered needlessly. Certainly those territories were in dire need of help, the same kind of help we are offering the CFR today. No, Mr. Exarch, as long as the peoples of those failed states are given the right of self-determination sooner rather than later, we cannot do anything but applaud your efforts to better their circumstances.”

See, Mr President, eventually questions will be asked on why should one nation take on more burdens than others? After all, that nation has to answer to its own people and explain why they have to lose their loved ones. People will start asking why they have to lose their loved ones in the name of other nations, who seem content to let someone else die for their cause.

The President shrugged. “We will cross that bridge when we get to it. Certainly, it is not a problem I see coming up in the immediate future, and there are many pressing concerns that need our undivided attention more than worrying about this. Besides, in military matters, we believe that... How is it the socialists put it? ‘Stronger shoulders carry heavier burdens’?”

That depends on a matter of perspective of course. The way Byzantium sees it, is you are overspending and overreaching yourselves, with the endless warring in the backyard.

“As you say, it is a matter of perspective. Perhaps we are, perhaps we are not. Only the future will tell. We certainly do not intend to war endlessly – indeed, with the progressing peace mission in the CFR and the nascent peace between Sabika, Omango and Coilerburg, it seems the FTO has already eliminated two of the main sources of instability on the continent.”

[PeZook]

Co-written with Norseman

Bleak Castle, Astaria

"There is one more thing we could do, if we have the manpower", Comissar Watroba said to his Astarian counterpart, who was briefing him on progress of the investigation, "From what I understand about the slave trade, the people we are looking for are illegal slaves, correct?"

Captain Whitcomb, recently assigned to the PeZookian team, nodded and put out his cigarette - the ashtray was already half-filled, despite the fact it was barely 10 A.M.

"Yes."

"And illegal slaves are, well, illegal: so if there's an audit or an inspection at your company, and you're using illegal slaves for work, you're in serious trouble. On the other hand, while you can keep your sweatshop hidden and the slaves locked up - those people are educated and pricey. So, they will be doing intellectual work..."

Whitcomb nodded again, scribbling something in his notebook. It seemed cops everywhere carried those little leatherbound things. He smiled.

"...and thus, we can profile companies that would have a use for illegal educated slaves and the ability to hide them from us!", he finished Watroba's thought,"That's an excellent suggestion, Comissar. Of course, that's quite a bit of additional workload for the BOSS, but a list of such places would be highly useful."

"I do my best to help, captain."

Captain Whitcomb smiled and headed off to speak with his superiors. While he was beginning to like those people, he really hoped they'd be out of his hair as soon as possible.

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

Forensics labs, Bleak Castle

Gralewski's forensics team was working throughout the night on the data recovered from Evidence Sample #34 – the Victoria cigars. Back in Pezookia they had found some microtraces of skin, but nothing that could yield usable DNA samples. They had however found a few partial fingerprints present on the box and two of the cigars inside. Better yet it'd been contaminated with creosote, and a few other chemicals reminiscent of smog.

Unfortunately the tech responsible for linking them up to the Astarian government computer net seemed a bit confused, "They're using a strange operating system, I've never seen anything like it."

"Go and find someone who can work on that thing, then", Gralewski sand, and waved impatiently at the tech. Then he went back to studying the local creosote samples. Moments later he offered the sample to another tech, and said, "This one, definately this one, Robert take a look."

While the other tech examined the sample Gralewski pulled his rubber gloves off, and surveyed his little empire. Immediately he spotted an intruder; she was dressed in a nicely tailored BOSS uniform, but somehow she failed to exude any real menace. Instead she looked around, and gawked at the strange gadgets, as if she'd never seen anything like it before.

"Captain Parkhurst", Gralewski said, reading her nametag.

In wide-eyed surprise Captain Catherine Parkhurst asked, "How did you do that?" Then a split second later she smiled sheepishly, "Oh, you read my nametag. I'm sorry Inspector Gralewski, I'm here to help you with the tech interface, uhm, the fingerprinting."

She was so cute that Gralewski felt slightly nauseated, and gruffly commented, "Yes, we need to link up. Most cases are solved by hundreds of little clues, and you can't co-ordinate all of that without computers."

Parkhurst set about her work, though it took a bit longer than expected. With each new frustration she looked oddly cuter as the tip of her tongue stuck out from one corner of her mouth, and she frowned like a schoolgirl dealing with a naughty puppy. Apparently they had made an interface that would allow the Pezookian computers to communicate with the Astarian ones, but unfortunately the latest update to the Fenister operating system had made the interface incompatible. In the end one of the Pezookian computers were downgraded to a much earlier version, and functioned as an interface between the two systems.

"There, it's done!" Parkhurst said, smiling widely as she spread her arms, "It's alive!" Then she blinked, "Oh by the way you're invited to dinner tonight."

"Uh what?" Gralewski said.

"The entire PeZookian liaison team is invited, of course."

"Ah. I see."

Dixie Hotel restaurant, this same evening

The restaurant was plush, elegant and very fancy, as were most things related to the best hotel in Astaria. Of course, much of the interior was horribly overdone
for typical PeZookian tastes, but the culture shock was starting to wear off already. Not for the slave waiters, though: the liaison officers kept calling them "sir" or "madamme". Parkhurst didn't tell them the waiting staff was composed of slaves, and the PeZookians didn't ask. It was easier that way.

"It's slow, isn't it? The investigation, I mean.", captain Parkhurst asked once the small talk died down and everybody ordered their food.

"Most investigations are, especially the challenging ones. It will take time, but we will crack the case.", comissar Watroba answered. Sitting next to him, captain Nalecki was consulting with Rebecca over converting the Zloty to the Astarian Pound. Nobody really knew the exchange rate - the Pound wasn't even traded on the common currency market.

"Still, the clues are awfully few and far between."

"We trust your people to deliver a good analysis. New clues will start appearing soon, as long as they're thorough."

Parkhurst smiled, sipping on her wine. She wondered if Watroba had unsolved cases that nagged at his conscience all the time.

The waiters brought the food after a couple more minutes. It was excellent, well worth the price. As moods lightened and wine flowed, the conversation turned to lighter topics. Like fashion, money and the common life. Both Parkhurst and Whitcomb were asked about mundane things such as local shops, cuisine and culture. Even so the PeZookians seemed reserved. They were policemen, all of them and never quite got out of their habit of checking people out, looking for suspicious activity and such.

Given the circumstances, and the slow going, Amanda took an early night as soon as she could do so politely. Beside she still felt upset about being surrounded by slaves, it had unpleasant connotations for her. Back up in her room, her suite rather, she still felt unhappy. So she casually examined the room service meny, there was half a dozen different icecream brands, but she casually picked one, Sweet Meadows, and phoned in her order.

Moments later the room service arrived, a young bellhop in an oddly antiquated outfit, he brought a trolley with a nice set of plates and a pint sized container of icecream.

"Sweet Meadows," Amanda said casually as she looked at the container.

"Uhm yes Ma'am," the bellhop said, his eyes only occasionally glancing up.

"Now young Sir."

For a moment the bellhop stood there, slackjawed, his head twisted slightly as if he was trying to see the fellow behind him, the one that Amanda had to be talking to. When he realised it was him he looked from the ice-cream, to Amanda, "Ma'am is from abroad?"

"Yes, I suppose you don't get foreigners here Sir," Amanda said, and smiled as she offered him a six-pence. Tipping wasn't really done in Astaria, but for slaves she made an exception.

"Thank you Ma'am," the young bellhop said, his mouth was still slightly open, as if he was about to say something. Then he seemed to think the better of it, and bowed deep while he walked backwards out of the room.

"Oh this place..." Amanda said as the deoor slammed shut. She casually emptied the whole icecream box onto her plate, and turned on the TV, before she dug in. Roughly half-way through, someone knocked on the door, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Catherine Parkhurst."

"Coming," Amanda hurried over and opened the door, "Is something wrong?"

"No, I just wanted to talk to you, you left in such a hurry... I hope we didn't offend you?"

"No, come on in, I'm not offended, I'm just watching a movie and eating some ice-cream before bed," Amanda said, before going back to her TV seat.

Catherine stood there for a moment, then she noticed the icecream box, she frowned ever so slightly, "Ah Commissar."

At that very moment a commercial came on the TV, Amanda turned her head, curious to see what would be advertised on Astarian television.

On the screen, the producer's logo appeared, and then a picture of a peaceful farm. Pretty young girls tended to vegetable patches and fields, smiling and waving to the camera.

"Here at Sweet Meadows, the girls work hard to keep the farm running. They eat only the food they grow themselves, and drink healthy spring water.", the voiceover began.

The spot then went to a clean, white hall where the girls took off their tops and cleaned their breasts. Amanda frowned, and she looked at the icecream box.

On the TV screen, the girls attached themselves to milking machines.

"This is why our ice-cream tastes so good - it contains only the finest breastmilk, straight from Sweet Meadows to your table!"

Amanda looked from the icecream box, to the screen, and back to the icecream box. Slowly she turned back towards Parkhurst, "Is that real?"

"It's the animal rights people, they think cow milk is immoral, so they ah..." Parkhurst had begun quickly and very innocently, but now she stopped abruptly, "Ah... I know it's shameless the way they can show women's breasts on TV I think it's sexist and..."

"I think I'll be sick," Amanda said, looking quite pale.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

“I think it rather brash of you to call a peace keeping operation ‘subjugation’. We do not seek to subjugate, we seek to stabilize. We do not intend to exploit mineral wealth, or even to install puppet governments. When we have brought peace and stability, we will leave, and then the CFR can do whatever it pleases. If you want to claim that is equal to a Great Power from half the world away sailing a warfleet into port and using it to depose a local government by force, installing a puppet regime, and annexing the territory for their own… Well. Let’s just say that if that is the case, our definitions of subjugation do not match.

"Subjugation, or Stabilization if you so prefer, includes removal of the hostile elements to peace. You have, for the last year or so, attacked and defeated armies belonging to the "errant warlord of the quarter". While we do not object to destroying the random warlord, you ultimately have to form some government anyhow, puppet or no. And obviously, I will have a hard time believing you would allow elements of the militants unfriendly the FTO, which you just fought a war with, into the government in question. Especially when these militants have no incentive to work with their rivals. Political parties will no doubt form around the militant factions, or whatever was left of the past government. I find the latter rather impossible since the past government was obviously a failure, and lost the mandate of the people."

You say that this, this forceful annexation, that it is the way the world has worked for centuries. Would you say the same of the slavers of Astaria? Would you tell their victims that their fate is how the world has worked for centuries? Surely not! Today it is a different day, a different age. We ought to not regress to the barbarities of the past. Colonialism, Mr. Exarch, is one such barbarity. We do not need this to happen to us again, we do not want it, and we cannot stand idly by as our neighbours fall once more under its spectre. Can we do much about the CSR waltzing in as if they own the place? No. But we do not have to like it, and we do not have to shut our mouths and look the other way either.”

We have never condoned the Astarian slavery, and no doubt Shroomania has done a bad job in ... divesting its holdings. With regard to Colonialism, you have yet to justify to me why it is bad, especially when it occasionally isn't a result of annexation but rather the establishment of a colony from the mother country. Many nations even right now were a product of either merger of various mini-states, or colonisation of surrounding lands. Many cities in Byzantium were colonies that have since grew in size.

As for the CSR, last I checked, the PRSF military government collapsed due in no small part to the war with Tian Xia and its colony. Their military mutinied. If you want to complain about that, take it up with Tian Xia. Quite frankly, we fail to see why you are pulling a fuss on the imposition of order in the PRSF. If you are concerned that CSR might try to bludgeon you with its superior military, then I would suggest you enter an agreement with the CSR to refrain from positioning strategic weapons and too many troops without your express permission. Though whether or not the CSR will agree is up for grabs. I won't be surprised the hardliners would view this as ridiculous, especially when this was CSR territory. Whatever it is, I'll leave it to you to work with CSR."

“Why do you think we revolted in the first place? It certainly was not because we enjoyed our existence as colonies so much. Perhaps the Old Continent has forgotten what colonialism did for our continent. But I assure you, the people of the CFR, the people of the Costa, and the peoples of the FTO, we have not.

Not everyone on the Old Continent indulged in colonialism, most certainly not Byzantium. The closest we got was sending that tiny expedition to deal with corsairs that dominated San Dorado some centuries ago. That stingy Emperor back then didn't want to spend too much money after loosing enough money to the corsairs. Unlike the Shroomanians, we had enough land to the east to manage, much less an ocassional war with the Caliphates.

As for you revolting, which we figured would have happened anyway, given the Shroomanian usual obsession with money, since the lot of you decided by fiat to do so, by all means. We obviously did not condone the deliberate exploitation of the natives by the Shroomanians.

It is one thing to ask for ‘outside help’. It is quite another for that ‘outside help’ to arrive in the form of warfleets and loss of sovereignty. The last time such things happened on our continent, we spent the next few hundred years subjugated and exploited by Shroomania. Now, the Sovereignty has reformed its ways – why has the rest of the Old Continent not followed their enlightened lead?”

Follow the lead of Shroomania? Surely you jest. Most of us were busy minding our own backyard for the last century, and aside from the wars with Khitan and the Shadow Empire, none of us, have so much as bothered with Frequesue.

“This is absurd. We do not insist anyone join the FTO. We would like them to, but we do not insist. We invite, and if they choose not to, as Westchester did, and as many others did, we do not press the matter. We merely hope they will change their mind later on, as Tanstaafl did. We both know this, Mr. Exarch. So perhaps it is you who should, ah, how did you put it – dispense with the rhetoric?”

Yet you are certainly unhappy that Westchester did not only reject, but instead rejoined Tian Xia. The sheer amount of diplomatic protests over the deployment of Tian Xia military units were deafening.

The President frowned. “I’m sorry – I do not recall having mentioned the Border States at all. You must be misunderstanding me? Indeed, I applaud your Emperor and his ally Secretary-General Shady for not standing by idly as the people of the Border States suffered needlessly. Certainly those territories were in dire need of help, the same kind of help we are offering the CFR today. No, Mr. Exarch, as long as the peoples of those failed states are given the right of self-determination sooner rather than later, we cannot do anything but applaud your efforts to better their circumstances.”

Your ally, Indophal, however, has been quite vocal on the issue of USSR annexing the Border states, going as far as condemning the annexation. We understand that not everyone in the border states will want to rejoin the USSR, but quite frankly, the faster the problem is nipped at the bud, the better. No doubt one of the reasons why not everyone is happy, is because they were benefiting from the existing power structure, and the attempts to wipe out corruption left several unhappy. Of course some were happier not under the yoke of the Shadow Empire for whatever reason they can think. These failed states will be more problematic as the time goes by, and Zagor Empire is an example of how bad things can get. In any case, the USSR isn't draconian in its social policies as it was during the Shadow Empire, but it can certainly improve. Anyway, King Paul is making sure that USSR doesn't overstep its limits.

The President shrugged. “We will cross that bridge when we get to it. Certainly, it is not a problem I see coming up in the immediate future, and there are many more pressing concerns that need our undivided attention now than worrying about this. How is it the socialists put it? ‘Stronger shoulders carry heavier burdens’?”

Technically, as you also know, taxes have to be progressive, not everyone has to be taxed at the same rate.

"As you say, it is a matter of perspective. Perhaps we are, perhaps we are not. Only the future will tell. We certainly do not intend to war endlessly – indeed, with the progressing peace mission in the CFR and the nascent peace between Sabika, Omango and Coilerburg, it seems the FTO has already eliminated two of the main sources of instability on the continent.”

Instability is one thing, but a recession will be hard to bite. Indophal is falling into recession right now due to overexpenditure.

[K. A. Pital]

OGONEK: first in the world real communist city to be created?

One of artist impressions of Commune-1, the new ambitious project of the CSR leadership

Last week, heated debates in the Supreme Soviet arose between the Communist Party, Revolutionary Democratic-Socialist Party and the Socialist Revolutionary Party, which were resolved with the creation of Commune-1.

The Communist Party once again alerted the attention of the representatives that the goal of communism is being swept under the rug.

"What was once the goal of our Revolution, a new type of society, a new formation and a new type of human - is now abandoned or twisted by the SRP and other revisionist currents.

In the beginning of 1960s, it was announced that the construction of socialism is by far achieved. It was even called "developed socialism". In the 1980s, that became "advanced socialism", and since 1990 until now, the new coinphrase is "advanced socialism with slavic characteristics".

This "advancement" turned out only partly successful. For example, little is known that the PCIA allows a sizeable private sector to exist in the CSR, especially when concerning trade with our fellow slavic nations. By the official data of GOSPLAN, it seems that only 75% percent of industry and enterprises are government-run. The other 25% are left to the capitalists. This is called a "necessary evil" by some, and "a measure to erase deficit and ease foreign investment" by others, who have completely forgot what the CSR is all about.

More than that, the government is struggling to maintain technological parity with the world. Our industrial funds are often old and outdated. How could this happen? This raises serious questions about the true commitment of Supreme Soviet to creating a new and truly superior society.

Since the year 2000, the Communist Party has proposed the government prove it's commitment and announce a final transition to communism which, if those 90 years were not in vain, should be possible."

However, a transition to communism on the scale of the entire nation is completely impossible right now, as President Stanislav noted in his adress to the Soviet. He also noted that the CSR's current order is "people-friendly" and "humanistic", while experiments may "look good in theory, but fail in practice".

Thus, the proposal has been made to make a limited, albeit still costly, experiment. However, this will still be the largest experiment in history. The CSR government announces the founding of the First Experimental Communist City - Commune-1.

The Commune-1 will be an unprecended experiment. A new city rising just south of Stasograd will be provided with a fully autonomous energy supply system in the form of a powerful nuclear plant. All of Commune's inhabitants will pass extensive screening for their possible adoption into a new type of society.

Commune-1 will be completely free from any sort of monetary exchange at all, and the people in it are expected to moderate their requests on their own. A huge electronic system binding together all citizens of Commune-1 will serve as a sort of electronic marketplace, except the orders wouldn't need to be paid. The orders for goods and services will be automatically aggregated and then sent to enterprises. If additional labour is required for newly constructed enterprises, it will be re-allocated by the likewise-automated staff management system.

It is assumed that the project would take 20 years to realize itself, while the city will grow agressively from a small high-tech village to a megapolis.

From the very start of Commune-1's construction, it will be thoroughly isolated from the outside world as to not interrupt the experiment with outer disturbances. However, citizens of Commune-1 will be extended the basic rights of CSR citizens. Due to the nature of experiment, Commune-1 citizens' travelling and spending around the CSR will be financed from the state budget.

The Commune-1 project passed in the Soviet today. A fairly large protest of small businessmen against blowing government money on useless and possibly damaging social experiments was staged today in the front of Palace of the Soviets. It ran from 10 to 17 hrs today, after which it's PCIA Authorization expired and protesters went home.

Their main message was "No Free Lunch" and routine claims that the government is simply funding a huge den of welfare-bums in a city and claming this to be the "new formation".

Foreigners are offered to participate in the Commune-1 project. The offer for Citizenship of Commune-1 is the only way a person can receive CSR Dual-Citizenship so far.

_______________________________________
Do you know about Commune-1? Have you been invited by the government of the CSR to participate? Mail us at redakt@ogonek.csr

[Siege]

At the Frequesuan Neutrality Conference

"Subjugation, or Stabilization if you so prefer, includes removal of the hostile elements to peace. You have, for the last year or so, attacked and defeated armies belonging to the "errant warlord of the quarter". While we do not object to destroying the random warlord, you ultimately have to form some government anyhow, puppet or no. And obviously, I will have a hard time believing you would allow elements of the militants unfriendly the FTO, which you just fought a war with, into the government in question. Especially when these militants have no incentive to work with their rivals. Political parties will no doubt form around the militant factions, or whatever was left of the past government. I find the latter rather impossible since the past government was obviously a failure, and lost the mandate of the people."

“Insofar as we are concerned anyone who manages to gain the support of the people can run for parliament. Of course, we do not believe for a second that the people of the CFR will elect the very tyrants who have ruthlessly exploited and suppressed them for decades. We are confident they will make the right choice -- the choice for peace.

You see, Mr. Exarch, we are not interested in creating more potential trouble. We take the long view. Take the peace treaty between Sabika, Omago and Coilerburg – did we ask for excessive reparations? Did we push those nations into conceding too much? No. We offered a fair deal, we persuaded Coilerburg to formally apologize for former transgressions, and we did all that in the hope of fostering long term peace, rather than long-term grudges.

If we do that there, with those nations whose militaries could and did pose a problem to the FTO, is it so hard to believe that we would do the same in the CFR? We even raised the possibility of membership of the two former aggressor nations in the FTO. Would we do that when our goal was subjugation? I think not.”

We have never condoned the Astarian slavery, and no doubt Shroomania has done a bad job in ... divesting its holdings. With regard to Colonialism, you have yet to justify to me why it is bad, especially when it occasionally isn't a result of annexation but rather the establishment of a colony from the mother country. Many nations even right now were a product of either merger of various mini-states, or colonisation of surrounding lands. Many cities in Byzantium were colonies that have since grew in size.

“At all times a colonist should have the same duties and rights as the citizen of the mother country. At all times a colony should be free to choose its own path. And at no time should the establishment of a colony infringe upon the rights of people who were already there. Time and again we have seen throughout the course of history that these things are very rarely, and indeed perhaps never, the case.

What we see almost every time a colony is established, is that the natives are exploited, the colonists denied their inalienable rights, that the natural resources of the colony are plundered, that mercantilism takes hold, and that the whole sorry business either collapses, revolts, or a combination of all the above.

Considering that, and the history of our continent, we hardly think it irrational to oppose colonialism. It may at one point have been the way of things, but a great many things have changed since those days. Your argument that it has always been so therefore does not strike us as compelling. If mankind had used that yardstick to judge all things, we would still be worshipping the sun.”

As for the CSR, last I checked, the PRSF military government collapsed due in no small part to the war with Tian Xia and its colony. Their military mutinied. If you want to complain about that, take it up with Tian Xia. Quite frankly, we fail to see why you are pulling a fuss on the imposition of order in the PRSF. If you are concerned that CSR might try to bludgeon you with its superior military, then I would suggest you enter an agreement with the CSR to refrain from positioning strategic weapons and too many troops without your express permission. Though whether or not the CSR will agree is up for grabs. I won't be surprised the hardliners would view this as ridiculous, especially when this was CSR territory. Whatever it is, I'll leave it to you to work with CSR."

“Mr. Exarch insofar as I know CSR naval infantry disembarked in the PRSF capital city of Livorno and forcefully overthrew the local government, to replace it with their puppets, who then promptly sued for annexation by the CSR. I’m sorry, but we cannot recognize that as the legitimate will of the people. And still we come to this conference, we state our position -- which has been public knowledge ever since the CSR take-over -- expecting to be able to reach some sort of diplomatic compromise, but what happens? They walk out on us.

Perhaps your experiences on the Old Continent are different, but to us, it would appear these people clearly cannot be reasoned with. They seem to expect us to cave in to their demands, yet offer nothing in return. So at this stage, we can’t ‘work’ with them, because there is nothing to ‘work’ with.”

Not everyone on the Old Continent indulged in colonialism, most certainly not Byzantium. The closest we got was sending that tiny expedition to deal with corsairs that dominated San Dorado some centuries ago. That stingy Emperor back then didn't want to spend too much money after loosing enough money to the corsairs. Unlike the Shroomanians, we had enough land to the east to manage, much less an ocassional war with the Caliphates.

“Your point is cordially taken.”

As for you revolting, which we figured would have happened anyway, given the Shroomanian usual obsession with money, since the lot of you decided by fiat to do so, by all means. We obviously did not condone the deliberate exploitation of the natives by the Shroomanians.

“Indeed not.”

Follow the lead of Shroomania? Surely you jest. Most of us were busy minding our own backyard for the last century, and aside from the wars with Khitan and the Shadow Empire, none of us, have so much as bothered with Frequesue.

“Not then, no. We’d rather it had stayed that way. Unfortunately, your close ally seems intent on making a scene ‘round our parts. I’m not blaming Byzantium specifically, I’m talking general interest.”

Yet you are certainly unhappy that Westchester did not only reject, but instead rejoined Tian Xia. The sheer amount of diplomatic protests over the deployment of Tian Xia military units were deafening.

“Of course we are unhappy. We are deeply unhappy indeed. If the war had remained a local affair, it would have been more or less cordially resolved in the way the Sabika-Omago-Coilerburg situation was resolved. Instead, we have two imperial navies squaring off in our southern seas, followed by the annexation of the PRSF by the CSR, and the re-establishment of colonial rule in Westchester.

In the light of that, we think we have more than enough reason to be unhappy. Yet the fact remains, we still do not insist anyone do anything.”

Your ally, Indophal, however, has been quite vocal on the issue of USSR annexing the Border states, going as far as condemning the annexation. We understand that not everyone in the border states will want to rejoin the USSR, but quite frankly, the faster the problem is nipped at the bud, the better. No doubt one of the reasons why not everyone is happy, is because they were benefiting from the existing power structure, and the attempts to wipe out corruption left several unhappy. Of course some were happier not under the yoke of the Shadow Empire for whatever reason they can think. These failed states will be more problematic as the time goes by, and Zagor Empire is an example of how bad things can get. In any case, the USSR isn't draconian in its social policies as it was during the Shadow Empire, but it can certainly improve. Anyway, King Paul is making sure that USSR doesn't overstep its limits.

The President shrugged again. “If you have an issue with the Indhopali reaction, take it up with President Ahten. Hell, I’ll talk to him if that’s what you’re asking. He does not speak for the FTO in voicing his disapproval of the USSR’s actions, although obviously we are happy he blew off the CSR as a result. Secretary-General Shady seems moderate enough and willing to listen to his allies, and the issue of the failed states on your doorstep seems to be resolved. All things considered, the situation strikes my experts at DEPICOR as a net gain. We’re not objecting.”

Technically, as you also know, taxes have to be progressive, not everyone has to be taxed at the same rate.

The President smiled briefly. “We don’t do income taxes, Mr. Exarch. Instead, our citizen-shareholders are paid dividends.”

Instability is one thing, but a recession will be hard to bite. Indophal is falling into recession right now due to overexpenditure.

“And we’d be willing to assist them overcome it. Falling into recession is in no-ones interest, although we have good hopes military expenditure will go down this fiscal year, a trend that will hopefully continue into the following year. Still, you raise a fair point, which needs to be addressed in the future. And we will, in due time.”

[PeZook]

Official message from FASTA administration to Japanistani foreign ministry

After consultations with sponsoring countries, FASTA director Kaklamanis has been authorized to broker an agreement between Imperial Japanistan and all FASTA countries.

We accept Japanistani terms, but would like to include the following stipulations:

1) That Japanistan launches no armed satellites under the agreement

2) That Japanistan covers costs of the boosters and labor of the technical staff

3) That Japanistan shoulders the burden of ongoing satellite tracking and control costs, either by contributing to maintenance of FASTA facilities, or by constructing its own control center.

We hope these conditions are acceptable to the honorable government of Imperial Japanistan.

The Director would also like to inquire if Japanistan would be interested in otherwise participating in FASTA manned and unmanned space exploration programs.

Signed,

Albert Bringelow, office of FASTA Director Of Operations

[Mr Bean]

Thread locked due to length
((Damn my recently restored internet I forgot all about this!))