SD.Net World Redux Comment Thread III

[Norseman]

Okay, so what is the timeline here? In what chronological order do we get the Shepistani partisan attack, the Shepistani/CSR port strike, and the Astarian government's use of the war scare to start abolition?

Thus:

1. CSR attack on the Astarian naval facilities.

2. Shepistani partisan attack.

3. Astarian attack on MaLF (Maroon Liberation Front) positions north of South Velaria (and for the record we're avoiding the Japanistani border).

4. Emancipation proclamation (sort of, more like a national mobilization order that is de facto abolition).

5. News of nationalization of slaves is out, hints that it means abolition, but that's not quite clear.

6. Shepistani/CSR port strike

7. Astarian consulate in Shepistan recalled (there are reasons). They arrive home some time before the bio-attack.

8. Informal feelers are sent to Pezookia to see if their team in Astaria may stay a bit longer to unofficially witness proceedings, and prepare the ground for an official Pezookian diplomatic mission. It's already hinted that Astaria wants to repatriate any illegal slaves found, and would like to ask for Pezookias help with that. All of this is very hush hush though.

9. Careful analysis of the three bills reveal that they de facto, albeit not de jure, abolish slavery. It's not de jure since, although there are no more slaves (indentured servants have civil rights for one), and there is no way of getting more slaves, the slave code is still on the books. So this is where the cat is out of the bag, here people know.

10. The Shepistani bio attack (and some of these airplanes used to base out of Welles Island...)

11. Astaria sends a former, though discreet, note to Byzantium, Pezookia, and possibly the IRT, asking them to provide aid in repatriating former illegal slaves. They will also help witness that everything is above board.

That's all for now.

[Steve]

If he launched these agroattacks out of Welles Island he did so without alerting the Cascadians to it, we're only working to undermine the Astarians' alliance in Southern Veleria and bioattacks on Astaria are not in the cards. And I will be suspending that when we get notification of the Astarian acts. Other aid may also be possible.

Of course, I don't see why Shepistan would threaten it's operations with Cascadia if they can simply launch these missions from Shepistan proper.

And gah. I meant to post this over an hour ago, I hit submit and clicked away from the window.... just to have PeZook's reply to my other post prevent this one from going up.

[DarthShady]

Damn, Shady, the guy already had his head up Frank The Elephant's ass! Give him a break

They almost killed me, I'm sure you will understand that there can be no mercy for them.

[Shroom Man 777]

If you guys want some fun, hire some Shroomanian Mercenary Aces!

Monies! And homoerotic fighter-chatter!

[RogueIce]

Al-Fakim Returns! (the dude who assassinated Miranov)

In Rangatara, that country in eastern Velaria. Of course he'll have a new name. Al-Fakim isn't even his real name. What is it? Nobody knows...

Essentially after playing Mercenaries 1 and 2 I'm going to set up a plot sort of like that. Although I'll be taking the place of the Allied Nations.

In short, Al-Fakim, under a new alias, will convince the military of Rangatara that their government has become corrupt and soft and they should kick out the foreigners who seek to rape and pillage their land. These foreigners being the Tonkin Mining Group, who set up shop earlier. And so, in a fit of nationalism they coup the government and threaten to expel the Tonkinites. The Tonkinites says "fuck you" of course and a conflict lies on the horizon.

Of course, the Tonkins being the Tonkins, they wouldn't wage an actual war. But economic war to utterly ruin the Rangataran economy.

President Garrett of Cascadia, whose country also has some minor agriculturual and mining interests in the area, and not wanting to see that happen, hatches a plan. He gets his good friend Rufus Shinra to send in troops to restore the lawful government of Rangatara. He does this not only to avoid the economic warfare the IRT threatens with, but as a ploy to maybe, just maybe, improve IRT/MESS relations, at least so far as the MESSamerican continent is concerned.

And thus I head in and do my thing. Hopefully the rest of you will stay out, although I do have some plans for foreign involvement, so stay tuned! Basically, I'm just asking that you let me run with my story idea here.

Oh yeah, and at the end? When the coup leaders are captured? Al-Fakim has long since disappeared, but he took on the guise of an Astarian agent. Given their Regent's bitching about the evil Capitalists it is at least semi-believable (to them anyway) that Astaria might "support" such a move. Of course the Astarians don't, since they knew nothing about it, and this makes the coup leaders pissed at the so-called betrayal.

And if this information gets the IRT mad at Astaria? Well, all the better for Shepistan!

So anyway, I've gone over bits and pieces of this with phongn, Steve and Shep, and I'm just giving you all a heads up here. FYI I came up with the idea prior to me knowing about the Astarian "emancipation plan" but I figure Shepistan won't give a fuck anyway, so why not?

[Norseman]

Oh yeah, and at the end? When the coup leaders are captured? Al-Fakim has long since disappeared, but he took on the guise of an Astarian agent. Given their Regent's bitching about the evil Capitalists it is at least semi-believable (to them anyway) that Astaria might "support" such a move. Of course the Astarians don't, since they knew nothing about it, and this makes the coup leaders pissed at the so-called betrayal.

More like Astaria couldn't, even if they knew. Astarian power projection is limited, we can airdrop a few batallions (or brigades) of paratroopers, and bomb the shit out of smaller countries but more than that requires some preptime. Generally Astaria has always preferred commando raids and cloak and dagger operations to outright military action.

And if this information gets the IRT mad at Astaria? Well, all the better for Shepistan!

The IRT? I'd be worried about Japanistan. However I am fairly sure that both Japanistan and the IRT would agree that this would have to be a false flag operation. At least if they're willing to be sensible about it.

[Steve]

Depending on timing, a lot of people may suspect them of being duped by someone else, likely Shepistani and/or CSR.

[Norseman]

Depending on timing, a lot of people may suspect them of being duped by someone else, likely Shepistani and/or CSR.

Indeed, but mind you if it becomes clear that Shepistan was involved with this, whither Japanistan?

[RogueIce]

More like Astaria couldn't, even if they knew. Astarian power projection is limited, we can airdrop a few batallions (or brigades) of paratroopers, and bomb the shit out of smaller countries but more than that requires some preptime. Generally Astaria has always preferred commando raids and cloak and dagger operations to outright military action.

Oh sure. But is some third world general wrapped up in images of glory and national pride going to stop to think about that?

Well ok, maybe. Heck he may not even care. He just wants the capitalist pig-dogs gone.

The IRT? I'd be worried about Japanistan. However I am fairly sure that both Japanistan and the IRT would agree that this would have to be a false flag operation. At least if they're willing to be sensible about it.

I'm not sure offhand why Japanistan would be mad, but then they probably get mad at a lot of things.

The IRT may well see through it. But it's basically causing problems in the world and I think certain elements of the Shepistani government get a kick out of that sort of thing.

Of course that's up to them. I'm just looking for a setup to have my fun. If you all can help with that be my guest. I'll leave the reactions of other parties when the dust settles up to them.

Indeed, but mind you if it becomes clear that Shepistan was involved with this, whither Japanistan?

How would they ever prove it? Cascadia and the CSR have a vested interest in keeping their cooperation with Shepistan quiet, and not just because of the CSR's reaction, but almost certainly the massive negative reaction working with Shepistan would probably get them. Especially when the bio attack story breaks (whether they had anything to do with it or not).

As to this operation, it's one guy who has probably changed his appearance and certainly his name. And he'll be gone before anyone ever captures him. So how would they prove he has any ties to Shepistan?

[PeZook]

FYI, his name is Al-Tikriti.

And I wonder if he'll lose another body part conducting this operation, which will naturally be well prepared and thought out out in the best traditions of Shepistani intelligence services

[Norseman]

Actually I just realised a potential problem: Astaria has diplomatic relations with all of the Velarian nations. What if the coup-makers contact the Astarian embassy directly?

[RogueIce]

FYI, his name is Al-Tikriti.

I'm going by what Shep told me.

And I wonder if he'll lose another body part conducting this operation, which will naturally be well prepared and thought out out in the best traditions of Shepistani intelligence services

Apparently so, with all these problems Norseman keep throwing at me.

Actually I just realised a potential problem: Astaria has diplomatic relations with all of the Velarian nations. What if the coup-makers contact the Astarian embassy directly?

"I am your contact with my government, " [alias of Al-Fakim] said. "Of course, if you contact the embassy directly, they will deny everything. They have not been told, as this is a most secret operation."

Or some nonsense along those lines.

[Lonestar]

Norseman, I have an offer for you...(check story thread).

[Norseman]

Norseman, I have an offer for you...(check story thread).

I am still working out the damage with the help of diverse comrades Wish people would run Astarian posts by me before posting them Getting to Astaria is not as simple as just jumping aboard an airplane, especially now that the whole country has been shut down completely.

Still I hope we can work together on some posts... there's an issue that I want to take up with you.

EDIT: Oh and Astaria got its brewing tradition from the same place as the Dominion did

[Lonestar]

Norseman, I have an offer for you...(check story thread).

I am still working out the damage with the help of diverse comrades Wish people would run Astarian posts by me before posting them Getting to Astaria is not as simple as just jumping aboard an airplane, especially now that the whole country has been shut down completely.

That's why COLONEL H. JONES was sent on the case.

EDIT: Oh and Astaria got its brewing tradition from the same place as the Dominion did

Pff...no it didn't.

[MKSheppard]

Getting to Astaria is not as simple as just jumping aboard an airplane, especially now that the whole country has been shut down completely.

Actually it is. As I shall demonstrate shortly.

By the way, the recon drones were launched fron AN-22s based jointly with Steve's GOLD MINE. The anti-crop/livestock drones were launched from An-22s which flew from Shepistan to maintain operational secrecy.

By the way, it's going to be quite hard to pin down Shepistan as the ones behind the devastation of Astaria's agricultural sector; that's the thing about Biowar; it's so hard to pin down conclusively blame for it.

[Setzer]

Proof doesn't really matter if everyone involves "Knows" you did it. You've made no secret of your love of biowar, both in and out of character.

[Sea Skimmer]

By the way, it's going to be quite hard to pin down Shepistan as the ones behind the devastation of Astaria's agricultural sector; that's the thing about Biowar; it's so hard to pin down conclusively blame for it.

No it isn’t. You’re already flying drones over the place and getting them shot down, the connection is obvious, and would become certain if any of the bio sprayers got shot down. You have deniability, maybe just maybe if not one sprayer was downed, but not plausible deniability either way about it. If you want covert action you should have used a way less obvious delivery system, like spray tanks emplaced near a few coastal highways to contaminate passing vehicles, except you kind of blew that option with the commando raid that would place coastal defences on high alert.

Japanistan BTW, is extremely hostile to use of biological weapons, particularly ones designed to wipe out food supplies.

[K. A. Pital]

Most of the drones will fail to penetrate anyway. Too slow. MiG-31s will meet them even beyond coastline. So there won't be a "collapse" of their agricultre.

[MKSheppard]

No it isn’t. You’re already flying drones over the place and getting them shot down, the connection is obvious, and would become certain if any of the bio sprayers got shot down.

True; but these aren't exactly drones that point back to Shepistan - though I guess if you were anal enough, and worked your way through tracing down the individual parts (as in O-rings or whatnot), you could probably link them to me; as in "these drones use x type of screws; and a company in Shepistna placed an order for x thousand of them."

If you want covert action you should have used a way less obvious delivery system, like spray tanks emplaced near a few coastal highways to contaminate passing vehicles, except you kind of blew that option with the commando raid that would place coastal defences on high alert.

*scribbles that down for later use*

Reason I used the drones is because I wanted to reach deep into his interior and have a more reliable system than what you posited; though the spray trucks works if you're willing to wait a long, long time....

[Norseman]

Most of the drones will fail to penetrate anyway. Too slow. MiG-31s will meet them even beyond coastline. So there won't be a "collapse" of their agricultre.

And on that note I'd still like these questions answered:

1. How many AN-22s were involved in this operation?
2. What directions did they approach from?
3. What range did they launch from?
4. How many Firebees did they release?
5. What model designation Firebee?

[Norseman]

By the way, it's going to be quite hard to pin down Shepistan as the ones behind the devastation of Astaria's agricultural sector; that's the thing about Biowar; it's so hard to pin down conclusively blame for it.

No it isn’t. You’re already flying drones over the place and getting them shot down, the connection is obvious, and would become certain if any of the bio sprayers got shot down. You have deniability, maybe just maybe if not one sprayer was downed, but not plausible deniability either way about it. If you want covert action you should have used a way less obvious delivery system, like spray tanks emplaced near a few coastal highways to contaminate passing vehicles, except you kind of blew that option with the commando raid that would place coastal defences on high alert.

There's also the problem that if you used that kind of covert action the biological agents would be all but guaranteed to spread outside of Astaria. The only reason we can contain them now is that the affected regions will be quarantined.

Japanistan BTW, is extremely hostile to use of biological weapons, particularly ones designed to wipe out food supplies.

I'm glad to hear that since Japanistan will have the Astarian consul ask for a talk with the Japanistani foreign minister.

[PeZook]

Shep, you're pretty much the only country on Earth which even uses the Firebees.

[MKSheppard]

1. How many AN-22s were involved in this operation?
2. What directions did they approach from?
3. What range did they launch from?
4. How many Firebees did they release?
5. What model designation Firebee?

30 x An-22s

They approached from all directions, because the An-22 has a hueg range, and even launching from Shepistan, I've got room to play with.

Launched at about 700 miles from Astarian Shores.

120 Firebees

[MKSheppard]

There's also the problem that if you used that kind of covert action the biological agents would be all but guaranteed to spread outside of Astaria.

I was unaware that Astaria did a booming trade with the outside world.

The only reason we can contain them now is that the affected regions will be quarantined.

Good luck with that.