SDNWorld Redux: Story Thread the Fourth

[Beowulf]

Ares Blog

Invincible-class lose airwings
The Invincible-class carriers (CVL-75 and CVL-76) are losing their generalized strike airwings. This is in large part due to their change in focus from strike and assault, to anti-submarine warfare.

The airwings will maintain a small F-35C force to provide air cover. However, most of the rest of the airwing will consist of SC-46 aircraft. Most of the F-18 aircraft will be sold, if buyers can be found for them. The remainder will be used for DACT and to form another flight demonstration squadron.

Second Flight Demonstration Squadron formed
The 2d FDS will be outfitted with F-18C/D aircraft. This constrasts with the T-45D aircraft that the 1st FDS are currently outfitted with. It is currently unknown what scheme the aircraft will be painted in, though it's likely that it will be predominately blue, in contrast to the predominately red color scheme the 1st FDS uses.

--

TXS Keung
13 miles off the NW coast of Frequesque
Outside La Palma

"So what's the point of being out here?"

"Real testing of the new CAPTAS. We're trolling for submarines. And when we see one, we're going to ping the fuck out of them."

[K. A. Pital]

Northern Frequesuan seas. North-west off Coilerburg.

The Union CVN "Comrade Stanislav" and the nuclear command ship arrived to the rendezvouz point around 50 km away the shores of Frequesue, where they were met by the Union destroyers, frigates and submarines operating from the Coilerburg naval base. The carrier immediately deployed all of it's jet-powered AEW planes, while the "Ural" continued tracking the Dominion Hawks which were harassing the borders of the NFT airspace.

- Prepare the tracking data for a dispatch to the Motherland and our Frequesuan allies in the NFT and the Duchy of Baerne, - the taskforce commander was at the bridge of the SSV-33. - We would need it to compose a communique to the Old Dominion. Are any intruders currently breaking the 24 mile limit?

- Yes, comrade, some definetely are. Some are even close to breaking 18 miles from the shore.

- Very well. Dispatch a message to the NFT capital immediately, and report that our communications ship shall feed them the data on the flight profiles of the OD intruders in real-time from now on and until the cessation of airspace violations. If the OD doesn't stop harassing their contigious zone, the NFT would be advised to stop the intrusion by any means within a full day from the warning, since the drones are compromising the security of our military assets and their deployment in Frequesue, especially after we hastily re-deployed from Livorno to Coilerburg. At least that's what we should relay to the NFT military. Also relay to the NFT HQ that whatever assets they would choose to deploy to clear out their airspace would be under the protection of this battlegroup until the cessation of the operation for clearing out the airspace.

30 minutes later, Old Dominion, Williamsburg.

Vladimir Berman wasn't in a particulary good mood right now.

- Just look at this!

Below him lay a message from the Union taskforce commander.

...our tracking equipment has detected aerial intruders continously violating the NFT contigious zone. The relevant data has been passed to the NFT, along with an advice to down the intruding aircraft within 24 hours from the warning unless they are promptly removed by that time. Their flight courses have been plotted and likewise sent to you accompanying this letter, in the Appendices 1-4.

As you are well aware, in the zone contigious to its territorial sea and not extending beyond 24 nautical miles from the shorelines, the coastal state may exercise control necessary to prevent any of it's customs, sanitary or other laws from being broken, and punish such infringements. The formulation of this provision in the Article 33 of UTLOS does not rule out an action against foreign aircraft on the surface of the waters of the contigious zone, or even an interception of an aircraft in flight in that zone. (reference)

The data feeds from our ships have been relayed to the NFT government immediately upon arrival, with precise maps of violations of their contigious zone by your aircraft, and we will continue to supply the data on all your space and aerial assets which would be considered violating the security rights of the Frequesue nations in question, per the international law, until you cease such violations once and for all.

We should also inform you that the naval assets of the U.C.S.R. currently present in the territorial waters of the North Frequesuan Trust will be aiding in securing the safety of the NFT's coastal defence troops, aerial assets and all other means which the NFT might use in accordance with the international laws to act against the intrusions into it's contiguous zone and the airspace above it.

Worker's Times: Natalia Little's book "The Chock Doctrine" a bestseller

Natalia Little, a SGU-educated journalist who spent her time carefully researching the political developments in Frequesue and the Impact Crater Archipelago, recently put forward a monumental political tome which details how Tian Xia and the Old Dominion are rising to become the new neo-colonialist powers in their regional influence zones by directly assuming control, occupying or otherwise dominating formerly independent lands. Today we invited Natalia for a talk about her book and what made it already have several hundred thousand copies sold during the recent weeks. We kicked it off with a question about the name...

- So, Natalia, you used a word from one of the Shroomanian languages, "chock" to describe the policies of certain members of the MESS alliance? Why?

- Well, the use of "chock" instead of "schock" is a deliberate wordplay of sorts; it hearkens back to the days of Shroomania's vast colonial empire which stretched from Veleria to Frequesue, and at the same time it clearly explains to the reader that the policies of today's new brand of colonialism are centered around shock.

- Meaning?

- The military industrial complex inside Tian Xia and the Old Dominion have used the shocking events of the recent years, including the dreadful biowar, to expand their influence over the governments of these nations, and turn them to a path of neo-colonialism. The Old Dominion now controls most of the impact crater, and this enroachment went almost entirely unnoticed because most people considered the fall of Shepistan, or for that matter the fall of the genocidal Cortez regime more important than criticizing the actual actions of the MESS nations involved in both cases. Tian Xia now has not just a permanent foothold in Southern Frequesue, but also attempted to expand into the North. But what is happening now, is that despite the mutual agreements with CATO on the Frequesuan situation, the military elites of Tian Xia and Old Dominion, fairly confident after they consolidated their newly conquered or annexed colonial holdings, are attempting yet again to probe the "stability" of the powers in Frequesue, making new shocks to occur. What they really want to see is some sort of political shock which would allow them to even further expand their military machines. And believe me, they are willing to go great lengths to achieve it.

- For the most part, people perceived their involvement as a benefit...

- The MESS nations often used propaganda, as any nation would, to hide many of their true goals. For example, during the Uranium Dispute, Tian Xia basically took over Tian Jiao. Now it's no longer a nation but basically a gigantic Tian Xia military outpost. At first, Tian Xia offered protection in exchange for revoking sovereignity; their next step was to manufacture an incident which allowed them to simply remove the then-existing government. Does anyone seriously believe in "accidental" supply of nuclear weapons to Tian Jiao? Quite obviously, this scheme has worked. Tian Xia received full access to the resources of Tian Jiao, including the uranium - which is a critical good for their military industry, especially during the rapid rise of nuclear weapons as a prime deterrent in the last decade. Not only that, but I would believe that the lagging attempts to introduce the new MESS combat system, the "STAR" environment you hear on TV and such, was rapidly accelerated; more funding, more money. The industry bosses got what they wanted with this crisis.

- What of the Old Dominion?

- After several conflicts, and eventually the collapse of Shepistan, the Old Dominion rapidly expanded it's forces. It's military-industrial complex leaders were instrumental in basically manufacturing the current Frequesue crisis, for example - because they need to evaluate their new equipment, old equipment, and get more money for their products, which include combat drones and other products. A little known fact is that they adapt their combat machines for used in the civilian sector, because a large part of their society is already heavily militarized. I would say it's not improper to say that the Old Dominion is a military oligarchy.

- And you think their military industries are behind it, but their reasons to push so hard...?

- The MESS military industries need these crises to push forward funding for truly obscene projects, it's baseline greed. You see, the MESS weapons market, which used to cover the greater part of the world due to World War II consequences, is eroding. Many nations start indigenous programs; the creation of CATO rapidly moved the Byzantine and Crimson designs into many nations that formerly were MESS dependants. Quite obviously, the loss of former client states and falling exports led to some cuts in spending among the MESS nations. Often new equipment hits the MESS forces but there no longer is an army of dependent nations and small customers ready to pay in cash for the MESS obsolete military stock. This is creating financial problems for the industrialists - witness the raging debate on whether large surface combatants are so needed in the Old Dominion. A more threatening environment is what they need. The military industry needs the shocks to feed itself.

- Your book has many intimate details...

- Yes, like for example the little fact that the Old Dominion specifically sends it's drones and recon planes to the Northern Frequesue coasts violating the contiguous zones, fully expecting to have them downed, jammed or otherwise harmed because such is the modus operandi of dealing with any aerial intruders, and it has been such for years. But the very facts of downing and all the tensions around it would be considered extremely beneficial for the airforce, who will then have full funding behind their next generation programs to make better and stealthier combat machines, manned and unmanned alike.

- There is also a chapter which puts forward the idea that some MESS members are covertly negotiating for some treaties with Japanistan or the IRT, and that the frictions in the MESS might cause the alliance to collapse, leaving the neo-colonialist powers on one hand and the more conservative MESS members on the other hand? Is that your prognosis?

- In some ways, it would just be ironic. The collapse of the MESS would be like a kick in the guts for their defence industry, so if they engineer their own demise, that would be a sort of poetic justice. But that's not my prognosis. That's just one of the possibilities. Imperialism is many things, but one thing it definetely is not, it's not easily predictable, despite the opinion of the simple-minded.

COMMUNE-2 AFB
The skies over the massive military network of COMMUNE-2 were still, but not completely. Today the test machine from a new programme known as the CF-01M would be evaluated in mock combat against the earlier 5th generation planes - the CF-01.

It was a modernized version of the fighter, which included refined C&C architecture, enlarged internal bays to allow for 2 more hardpoints for air-to-air missiles, and improved hull construction for greater all-aspect stealth. The plane lifted off during the 60-year jubilee of the Sukhoi consortium, and almost an entire 20 years after the first CF-01 5th generation prototype has risen from the ground.

Basic components of the CF-01M were nigh identical to the CF-01 series, including engines, internals and most of the radar equipment. The baseline Su-50 AESA was modernized for increased resolution and more reliability.

The 242th VDV training center under Vladimir
- Vasya, it's around eleven o'clock... according to the scenario, the intruders are breaking through!
- Fire the dummies, Kolya!

The BMD shook and a salvo of 80-mm guided rockets erupted from the on-board MRLS. The UCSR started installing the "Grom" MRLS to existing BMD chassis after the massive expansion of the airborne troops and their re-armament with new BMD-4 machines. These lightweight MRLS used the well-proven S-8 missile blocks that were commonly used on Mi-24s, Ka-29s, Su-39s and many other assault craft of the UCSR. They offered immediate support for the airborne - and despite the small caliber, they were quite deadly against infantry. Some of the S-8 missiles had thermobaric weapons, making them yet more deadly.

Soon the space below the hill where the BMD was positioned was covered in fire. Nothing could survive fuel-air explosions if it were not hidden in some good shelter.

A few men were standing inside a well-protected bunker and observing the trials.

- I presume you are satisfied with the demonstration, Theodorus, - spoke the chief of the training center to the Byzantine commander who represented Byzantine's 1st Mountain Comitatenses Legion. - These weapons could be indispensable in both attack and defense, especially in rough terrain and in the forests. More than that, the S-8 blocks made by the SPLAV KB guys, can be easily mounted onto other infantry fighting vehicles, especially the older stock, making it useful again. I hope we can have a subcontract from "Kontos Munitions"?

- I'll bring the report back to Constantinople. We'll see from there.

Rovno. Order of the Crimson Star Eastern Open Seas Fleet base. Several hundred kilometers off-shore.

The Pr.022 fast attack craft were finally entering the Union Navy after years of delays and spending on major surface combatants. Eventually, there would be an effort to replace the current fleet of able hydrofoils with a new generation of patrol missile boats with low observability. Armed with the well-known CATO Klub II series missiles, it was determined to slowly replace the fleet of ageing Vikhr-class missile hydrofoils and complement the heavier, Yakhont-II armed "Uragan"-class fast attack craft.

[PeZook]

CLASSIFIED TOP SECRET: Internal advisory for military sales, Cialan
Analysts: C. Kowalski, A. Sawicka

Chapter 6: Proliferation threats

...setting aside for a moment the rapid, unsuspected shift in Cialan's internal and foreign politics, sources in the country indicate their national leadership maintains contacts with most countries on CATO Classified Technology Dissemination blacklist.

Attached to this advisory are reports from RIS residentures showing evidence of high-level talks with MESS and IRT officials. The purpose and agenda of these talks is unknown at this moment. Please refer to Chapter 8 for in-depth analysis.

It is recommended that sales of sensitive high technology, especially related to stealth, nuclear weapons, nuclear power, missile and submarine quieting be restricted pending further investigation.

Furthermore, current levels of funding for intelligence operations in Cialan have been found inadequate on several occasions, possibly denying the RIS several opportunities to gather important information on the goals of its current government.

Chapter 12: CATO membership

In light of discussion of possible CATO membership/observership status, it is the recommendation of residenture heads that further intelligence gathering will be necessary before potential threats, sudden policy shifts and leaks can be properly anticipated. A repeat of the Costa Incident, in whatever form, could be avoided with proper pre-admission fact finding, especially in light of the aforementioned ongoing, secret talks with MESS officials at the highest levels of government.

Results: Cialan's sudden re-emergence on the international stage makes RIS people paranoid.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Constantinople Times

More Visby Corvettes to be procured.

To bolster the territorial defences of the Empire, the Defence Ministry has decided to procure 28 more Visby Corvettes. This second flight of Visby Corvettes will see some incremental improvements in terms of the electronics package, as well as weapons load. The Visby Flight II will receive 4 Byzantine UVLS cells, giving it much needed extra mission flexibility over its predecessors. The Visby Flight II will also receive the S-500F-C system to boost its air defence capabilities which includes an L-band and X-band radar suite. Sonar will also be upgraded with a new variable depth sonar, as well as a multifunction towed active/passive Sonar array which is a derivative of the new SURTASS II system equipping the Centurion class frigates. Existing Visby corvettes will be progressively upgraded with some of the new systems. A number of Visby Corvettes will also be purchased for the coast guard to form two squadrons of 6 per sector.

Hints of the Higgs?

A combined team of Shroomanian, Byzantine, PeZookian and UCSR physicists report that they have obtained data that shows the existence of the Higgs particle. The team has says they are about to publish their results in next month's issue of CATO Physical Journal and are poised to upload a copy of the paper to the online arXiv archive soon. The data was obtained from the 10 TeV Super Linear Collider in Anatolia.

[Bluewolf]

"This is Cialan News bringing the latest news sport and weather.

The deal to expand and modernise the Cialan’s military across all sectors has ended in agreement with Cialan getting large expansions to his navy and air force. The deal planned to cost over 27 billion has been agreed on with various military hardware coming from all over from CATO nations. The expansion includes new planes, submarines and ships. The payment shall be done via instalments every year and it is expected that the new weapons and men to upgrade and deliver the
hardware shall come soon.

It is said though that has not been the last deal Cialan made though when it comes to purchase of weapons. Though unclear, it has been said that that Cialan has purchased from another country away from the Old Continent though the details on this are sketchy at best, it has been said that the purchase is one that relates to the navy and more details would be given soon on this.

Critics accuse Michael Thomason of letting the budget of spending that was meant to be merely 18 billion balloons to 28 billion. It has also been said that Cialan is sabre rattling and is buying more than it needs to. We will have more updates on this story as the day goes on."

Result:

Cialan secures a massive arms deal with several CATO nations:

Air Force:

X20 CF-01
X40 CF-02
X40 Eurofighter Tranche IV (Modernisation of current Typhoons)
X28 Eurofighter Tranche IV
X16 F15 Active-Stealthed
X40 F-16XL (rebuilding of the current F-16's)
X12 A400M
X12 C-27J Sparta
X8 CP-140 Aurora
X28 T-50 Golden Eagle
X6 A330 fitted for maritime patrol

Navy:
X12 Type 212B SSK
X4 KDX-III
X6 Tico’s
X18 Visby Corvette (licensed to build)
X10 Newark 200 tonne Frigate (licensed to build)

[Siege]

TXS Keung
13 miles off the NW coast of Frequesque
Outside La Palma

"So what's the point of being out here?"

"Real testing of the new CAPTAS. We're trolling for submarines. And when we see one, we're going to ping the fuck out of them."

NFCG deep water cutter CC-5 Rorqual, just outside La Palma

"Why are we sailing straight at that TXN boat?"

"Word is them being here is annoying someone at the Paragon. We're to cut them off, make it difficult for them to maneuver, play obnoxiously loud underwater music, maybe buzz 'em with the chopper -- whatever will piss them off enough to bugger off."

"Sweet. Wait, is that a towed array? Maybe we can 'accidentally' cut the line and steal the thing."

"Hey, it's worth a try."

[Raj Ahten]

Villa; Outside Klavostan's Capital

After handling the "Mystery Guest" affair in the Costa's Cortez had finally acquiesced and accepted a promotion to headquarters at the ISIA. He missed the action but frankly he wasn't as young as he used to be. Nowadays he flew all over the continent troubleshooting matters for the director. He mostly worked out of embassies and luxury hotels these days. That was part of his new position didn't bother Cortez at all. It was a pretty sweet gig.

Currently he was in Klavostan handling "Security Cooperation efforts," also known as bribes. Basically he carried a big suitcase of cash in with him every few months to let the security services know Indhopal cared. Usually Cortez met with mid level types; today infamous leader of the security forces Kumal had invited Cortez to one of his many private high security villa's.

Such accommodations had multiplied greatly in recent years since Tonkin started pouring money into the country. The Mercenary Captains such as Kumal were the biggest private landowners in the country. With all the new railroads, mines and office towers going up the land values were sky rocketing and the Captains were raking in more money and influence than ever.

Despite all the profits and good living Kumal hadn't softened up at all. He was still the same rough operator that Cortez remembered from operations in the CFR. Kumal met Cortez in the conference room wearing camouflage fatigues and body armor, with a carbine on an asualt sling. Still as paranoid as ever.

"Mr. Cortez, so good to see you again. I hope you had a good flight in?"
Kumal spoke in a trademark whisper, his face an unreadable mask. It was said that if he grimaced someone was usually about to die.

"It was just fine. I should have taken the job at headquarters years ago; I fly in a private jet these days instead of in the hull of a C-130."

"Moving up does have its perks,"
Replied Kumal. An aide took Cortez's suitcase of cash out of the room and then Kumal and Cortez were alone.

"So what's up? You never schedule private meetings unless the world's about to burn down."

"Indeed. My men have come across some very interesting information lately. Indhopal has been looking for the leaders of the RUF for some time. My men have found that they have been hiding here in Klavostan, under the protection of a Captain named Hasim Al-Akbar."

That was not what Cortez had been expecting.
"Who exactly are we talking about?"

"Roy Vortisch, Edward Bradley, Greg Springfield and Alan Cordell; all the top leadership. An informant led them to us as part of an unrelated investigation into Al-Akbar. Once we knew who we were dealing with they were placed under 24 hour surveillance. What should interest you is who they are having meetings with.”

Kumal slid Cortez a thick file full of surveillance photos. On the top were photos of the four RUF men meeting with someone of Japanastani descent.

“The fifth man you see there is traveling under the name of Furataka, which is almost assuredly a false name. We believe he is Japanastani intelligence; his travel arrangements, passport everything has their fingerprints all over it.”

That changed everything. Cortez had been about to ask Kumal to pick the RUF men up and call it a day. Now Japanistan, Indhopal’s new ally, had agents meeting with some of the nastiest pieces of work on the continent. What the hell were they up to? This was now a political decision; out of Cortez’s hands. It was for the director or even the President to decide what to do now.

“Give me everything you have on this matter. And keep those bastards under surveillance,”
said Cortez.

“Of course.”

Cortez had a lot of calls to make to people with very big desks in Fenraven.

[Beowulf]

TXS Keung
13 nautical miles offshore, near La Palma

"We've got a NCFG cutter coming up towards us. They're still a good 12 miles away. Looks like about 28 knots. ETA for meeting is 25 minutes."

Commander Kim sighed. "Reel in the CAPTAS. We're supposed to be confrontational, but we're not supposed to lose our new sonar. Lock a illuminator on them, but we'll keep the guns trained in a friendly manner for now." The Keung was one of the newly rebuilt Tsui-class, and had lost half of her VLS capability. However, a ESSM would still cause the cutter to have a really bad day. An illuminator wouldn't be seen nearly as confrontationally as the 8" main gun would be though. And the Millennium didn't have the range, yet, to be able to engage effectively.

"Sir, they've launched a bird."

"Is it armed?"

"We'll have to rotate a Millennium to take a look."

"Do it." The forward Millennium II CIWS mount rotated starboard, towards both the cutter, and the helicopter it launched. The Millennium II mount was a multifunctional mount, to attack both cruise missiles, as well as helicopters and small boats, using either it's gun, or the 10 RIM-116 RAM missiles carried on top. To be able to do the last effectively, it carried a electro-optical sensor, that imaged in both visible light, as well as thermal, and capable of light intensification, for use in all weather.

"EO shows the bird is clean. They might have a machinegun inside though."

"Keep the Millennium locked on then. If they prove themselves hostile, I want them down. RoE says we can hit them as soon as they're in CIWS range, but we'll be nicer than required." Missile range varied depending on the target. Against a helicopter, it was 6.6 nautical miles. Gun range was less, at only 1.9 nautical miles.

"Sir, incoming SATCOM transmission. Orders change: we're to conduct a freedom of navigation exercise, remaining 13 to 18 nautical miles from shore at all times, but we're free to manuever within that range. RoE remains unchanged."

"ETA for the cutter's interception?"

"Twenty minutes."

"Maintain speed and course. They're smaller and more manueverable, so they have to yield if they try to cut us off."

[Bluewolf]

Hound Square, Stanton:

In the large square a crowd of people had gathered over the day with anger in their hearts, shouting out their views and circling around. The new whaling and hunting plan had not gone down well with some and many young and old people had come in protest about what was going on. From young students to pensioners the there was a voice of anger against this. The police monitored the proceedings closely but there was little need for any backup as yet. The protests while angry in their message, behaviourally was restrained with no traces of violence at all.



The wrinkled man looked out through one of the windows at the protest. His office was only a minute or so away from them and he could make out the banners that depicted various graphic hunting scenes with bold letters and messages. He turned back into his office, moving the gold name sign saying “Davis Jones” to reach for his phone. He quickly selected a contact and waited to get answered, watching the protests still in the distance.

“Yes..he is he here? Well can you put him on the line to me? OK good.”

He waited for a few moments, still staring at the protests.

“Hello? OK, good your here. Well as he is off sorting some business out I am hoping to bring something to your attention. It is of great concern that we may possibly be watched by other governments, intelligence wise. There were talks of a report from one of the CATO nations on us, I don’t have the facts but I am asking you to help keep more of a peak on what is going on in some of our neighbours. Yes I know we already do that but you need to step it up.”

Davis sighed for a moment and sat down on his chair. “Look we already know that but raising it now in before it’s even announced looks fishy. No, no I don’t want to do that. Just wait and we will see. Anyway, goodbye”. He turned off his phone and sighed, wondering how long those protestors would linger for.

Deveni Habour:



Many ships were being loaded with goods and items. Men were working on putting them onto the ships with cranes loading what was too big. The port was a massive flurry of activity. Some ships had already gotten back from seal hunting on some of the small icy islands near the North Pole, dead seals filled them. The area was soon to send out more ships. On top of that it was already evident that preparations were being made for the new Corvettes planned in Deveni’s shipyards. It would not be long before this port would be the most active it had ever been in 40 years...

Result:
Protests start to form on seal hunting and whaling.

Deveni harbour begins to become a hive of activity again with new ships already set for the northern areas.

More political issues continue including potential info on Cialan.

[Raj Ahten]

Yorkshire, the CFR

Yorkshire, and the O'Reilly clan that ran it, had been receiving patronage from Indhopal for a long time. With Indhopal downsizing its ground forces Yorkshire was benefiting tremendously. The Yorkshire Regional Defence Force was in the process of doubling its strength. Half would remain a reserve militia with light equipment while a new armored brigade was being formed out of Indhopal's stocks. The Blood Guard meanwhile was being upgraded into a mechanized infantry brigade.


Yorkshire RDF Armor trains alongside an Indhopoli air force helicopter.

Even Better as for as Mary O'Reilly was concerned was that Indhopal was giving Yorkshire its own air force. A Force of 24 Mirage Jets and 24 Harrier Jump jets were the main components. A variety of helicopters were also slated to join the force. For now they were all pretty much being operated by ex-Indhopoli military sorts working under contract. It would be a while before Local Yorkshire pilots would be flying most of the machines.


A Yorkshire Mirage comes in for a landing

All this new investment heartened the O'Reilly's, as they took it as a sign that Indhopal would be soon pushing the international community to accept Yorkshire as an independent nation. Many of the the veterans from Indhopal's army downsizing were happy as well because they were taking contracts to train Yorkshires forces and even operate a lot of their equipment, at least for the time being.

[Zor]

Union Press

Buy 'n Large engages in Negotiations with the UCSR over opening buisness relations



Ministry of Commerce Headquarters, Stasograd-Today, taking full advantage of the United Kingdom's membership in CATO, Zorian retail Megastar Buy 'n Large has begun negotiations with the UCSR's ministry of Commerce to allow the Zorian firm into the nation. The plan will involve the opening of numerous Buy 'n Large outlets around the major cities of the UCSR, for both the main store and it's secondary frachises. Global CEO Shelby Forthwrigth has attempted to ease fears by some of the more hardline communists by stating that "We're retail, the means of production will remain your hands" as well as opening a pavillion showcasing Buy 'n Large to the citizens of Stasograd.

[DarthShady]

Co-Written with PeZook

The Royal Visit

Stasograd, UCSR
International Airport

The PeZookian airplane carrying King Paul landed with a nice thump, it then quickly came to a stop. President Shady Sirah and a formal welcoming committee greeted the PeZookian King as he exited the plane. "Paul, dearest of all my friends...", Shady smiled and extended his hands, "It has been a while since we last met in person, those video calls just don't cut it. How have you been? I trust the Queen and your baby girl are well?"

Paul grinned and shook Shady's hand. "I am good, thank you for asking.", the King said with a smile, "They too are well, though the queen wasn't particularly happy with me leaving on such short notice. Still, I am a happy man." "I'm glad to hear that.", President Shady said, "Family is what makes a man happy, or so I hear..."

"There is great truth in those words.", King Paul said, "Thinking of starting one of your own?" Shady simply laughed at the comment. "Perhaps.", he grinned, "But sometimes I think, I'm a bit too old for that. Our jobs have a tendency of adding many years to our lives...too many years. I have a feeling we're getting too old for this my friend."

"Nonsense, we're not old.", Paul laughed, "We're young at heart, that's what counts."

"I'll have to agree with that.", Shady said. The two men smiled for the cameras and entered the waiting limousines. The doors closed and they began to move. After a few hours of official meetings, interviews for the press and a parade in honor of King Paul, they finally arrived at the Palace of the Soviets. Where, in the privacy of the Presidents office, they could talk in peace.

"It is good that you came to visit. Us old friends don't visit as much as we should anymore. I remember the days when we flew all over the world together, forging alliances and recruiting new members into the alliance.", President Shady grinned, "Still, I'm happy you came to see me, we have much to discuss."

"Likewise, Mr. President. Likewise - especially since all these matters are of the utmost importance."

"I'm all ears, your highness. Though maybe you'd care for a drink beforehand?"

Paul shook his head politely, "No, thank you.", Shady nodded and poured himself one anyway.

"I take it the matters you mentioned concern Frequesque?", Shady finally asked, after seating himself on the comfortable couch.

"As is usually the case, yes. You may or may not know me and president Shinra had a little chat over a secure line lately, and he doesn't like the whole...situation with the NFT any more than we do."

"How so?", Shady's curiosity was piqued, though his expression said everything about his inclination to trust the Shinra Republic.

"Well, he's made a proposal. The MESS is, apparently, ready to pressure the Old Dominion into backing down from the crisis, provided we agree to do the same with the NFT."

"Bah! We all know how those things go down. CATO retreats, extends the olive branch, and is painted as warmongers and imperialists by the MESSheads."

Paul sighed, "I have received...strong assurances...", he obviously weighed those words carefully, "That the MESS, or at least Shinra, will not tolerate such behaior from the Old Dominion. Provided we don't engage in it either, naturally."

"Strong assurances as in...?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Right...", Shady said carefully, not sure what to make of it

"In all seriousness, though: the President told me, in confidence, that should the Old Dominion try to use the situation for propaganda or some 'cheap shot' at 'winning', he'd seriously reconsider if they bring more benefits than trouble to the MESS as a whole. Personally, I think the proposal is worth serious consideration...I know your opinion about Rufus Shinra isn't exactly flattering, but I am inclined to trust him on this. The man certainly doesn't want to see a repeat of the, ah, last time. And neither do I, even if it only happens somewhere in Frequesque, so I have no reason to doubt his intentions."

"Perhaps...", President Shady paused for a second, contemplating his next words, "I do not want to trust the MESS, especially those sneaky Shinra bastards - but if it helps resolve the situation, then we will go along with it. Although, I will say this, if the OD so much as farts in the NFT's direction after this agreement is made - well...let's just say that I will be more than happy to return the favor. This whole thing will have to be kept very quiet, a deal in the shadows if you will."

President Shady took a sip of his drink and looked at Paul. "You look like you have more to say about this.", he said, "What else has Rufus Shinra told you?"

"Well...", Paul shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "...he gave me a folder. A very interesting one: it would appear that a MESS submarine observed the launch of that mysterious missile which wiped out the Japanistani weather outpost. It was launched by a submarine, of a type operated by the NFT. Now, they don't have any proof, since it's a bit hard to read tactical numbers underwater, but I don't think there's much room left to speculation. The data looks genuine, too, according to my analysts - and my intel people suspected the NFT had something to do with it for some time, anyway."

Paul slid a copy of the folder across the glass table, prompting a period of pregnant silence.

"I'll be honest with you: I don't like killing civilians, whatever the reason. Especially civilians of a paranoid nuclear power."

President Shady simply pushed the folder aside and downed his drink in a single gulp.

"I agree with you that killing civilians is wrong and should not be done.", Shady paused for a moment, looking at Paul, "But those, were not...civilians. I have reliable intel which suggests that those were Japanistani soldiers and that they were using that base to supply pirates with weapons and supplies."

"Wait...", Paul said with an obvious look of surprise on his face, "How would you know that?"

"Because it was me who wanted that Japanistani base blown to pieces, our NFT friends simply did me a favor, a rather large favor.", President Shady said slowly, there was no emotion in his voice, except perhaps a hint of irritation, "I would have sent one of my own subs, but that...would have far greater effects on the situation. It was done like this, because nobody can be sure of who did it. Not a 100% sure at least. Let's face it my friend, Japanistan is our enemy. It is obvious that they are making moves against us, trying to cause further tensions between the MESS and CATO. We cannot allow them to think, that they can act against us - without consequences."

Shady pored himself another drink and looked at Paul, who seemed quite surprised by this new information.

"We have been to lenient with our enemies my friend.", President Shady said, "It is time we show them, that CATO is an alliance of power - and that they cannot push us around. Should they try, they will soon find out - that we too can play that game, and that we can push a lot harder than they think."

Paul didn't know what to say at first, so the words he uttered were certainly unroyal.

"Jesus christ, Shady!", he spat out, "You can't be serious.", after the shock wore off somewhat, his questions became more coherent, "Is there a reason we weren't told about this? There better be a reason..."

"Oh, I am quite serious my friend. It was a calculated move.", Shady said, "To be perfectly honest, a move like this has been long overdue. Every time there is trouble, CATO is the one initiating the peace talks, it us us who make concessions and extended the olive branch. And our enemies use this excuse to fuel their propaganda machines against us, they make us into the bad guys - every single time. They perceive us as weak and unwilling to act. The recent NFT tensions with the OD only prove my point. Our adversaries think that they can push the smaller members of CATO around, and that they can get away with it. Enough is enough. The line has been drown, I have set events into motion that will force the OD to back down, unless they are willing to go to war against the UCSR. Our interests must be protected."

President Shady leaned back on the couch, a tired expression on his face.

"I am sorry for not telling you my friend, I had fully intended to do so - but I thought it would be best done in person. Your visit, was the perfect time to tell you this.", Shady said, "For security reasons, I had to keep a tight lid on this. Hopefully these OD-NFT tensions can be resolved through diplomacy and without further incident. I am sure Lord Fairfax will see the wisdom of backing down, nobody wants a war, least of all me. But I will do what I think is necessary to protect our allies and our interests."

"Christ...you really should've told me earlier. What if I spoke to Sidney Hank before coming here? I had no idea you were complicit in this. There are channels, you know, to pass this kind of information around. You've put me in a very preposterous situation by keeping us in the dark: you must be aware that my intelligence and foreign relations people are not exactly all enthusiastic about the UCSR,and this wouldn't help if it ever got out."

Paul took a moment to reorganize his thought process. That bombshell changed a lot...or nothing at all, not with regards to the crisis at least.

"Either way, coming back to the business at hand: what I think we should do is send emissaries to the NFT, pass the offer along and guarantee that should the MESS not hold up to their end of the deal, we won't leave them out to dry. It will look good for us to initiate the draw-down, and should the Old Dominion not do their part, we can easily ramp it right back up, after giving them an appropriate amount of time, of course. Publically, we'll announce that in the interest of world peace, CATO has entered into an agreement with the MESS to defuse the crisis. We must avoid assigning blame and one-upmanship, otherwise the whole thing will star all over again.", Paul took a sip of water, "Any more suggestions?"

"Yes, I know. I should have told you about the whole thing, a lot sooner. Unfortunately finding the right time to do so, was hard. My sincerest apologies to you my friend.", Shady said, "It was necessary to keep it a secret, but I should have told you. We don't need internal tensions over this."

Shady smiled, thinking things over. It was time to clean up the mess.

"Agreed. I will send Comrade Yuri to visit our NFT friends and inform them of the situation, and also assure them that we stand with them. This situation must be resolved.", Shady said, "I suggest we make contact with Rufus Shinra so he can put his part of the deal in motion. Once both parties have agreed to the draw down, we can issue a joint statement for the public and finally put this problem to bed. This of course fully relies on us trusting our MESS 'friends', I sincerely hope that they will justify that trust."

"Heh...", Paul was obviously amused, "...one day they're 'MESSheads', another they're 'our MESS friends'? I guess it depends who you're talking about...or what your Ministry Of Truth decided is the truth today."

Shady politely ignored the jab, "I take it you have nothing further to add, then?"

"No, we're in agreement. Now, moving on to weapons deals, I have here with me a, well, a wishlist from my military people.", Paul pulled out a stack of papers and reports from his elegant briefcase, "...we really should be having those meeting with assistants, you know...", he said, stacking all the documents neatly, "Anyway, it's ridiculous, but we do have a total of 250 billion to spend over the next fifteen years. What I'd like to do is start with the Air Force and navy first. We'll be replacing our entire fighter fleet wholesale with 5th generation planes...so I was really hoping for a discount", Paul finished with a grin.

"Since you are our friend, or so the Ministry of Truth tells me...", Shady grinned, "Of course you shall get a discount, a rather large discount say 20%, especially since that is a rather large sum of money you plan on spending... Since the airforce is your priority, I have 48 CFB-01's which I will make yours. I've been talking with my advisers and they assure me that you need them. "

"Well, that's certainly a...generous proposal. Where's the catch, then?"

"No catch my friend, this is simply a practical proposal from which we both profit - my defense industries get a boost and one of the UCSR's closest allies gets some shiny new toys to play with. By making you stronger, we strengthen ourselves - as simple as that."

"I see. Very well then, let's move to questions of the navy, and the procurement process..."

The conversation went back and forth for a while, with both leaders working out the broad picture for PeZookia's arms deal.

"Well, I guess that's all I wanted to know. I guess we'll let lower dignitaries work out the details, yes?", Paul said eventually.

"Of course.", Shady said with a smile, "Now I would like you to join me for a tour of the Comrade Stanislav Rocket factory, they tell me they have some interesting things they wish to show us..."

[Lonestar]

Ares Blog

Opechancanough, Williamsburg, Mount Vernon to be retired
The ODN comfirmed today that one CG and two DDGs are to be retired by the end of the year. The three vessels will be used as spares hulks at the naval reserve facility on the James River…[More]

Budget Fight heating up in House of Burgesses
Lord Winton, head of the Librul opposition in the Dominion Legislature, is pushing for cost controls on the ODN's expansion program. Lord Winton raised some eyebrows by stating on his Twatter feed "there should be a decade-long moratorium on units that cost over a billion ROBs." The Librul Party gained 13 seats in the last election, and has gained control of several committees thanks to arcane Dominion Parliamentary rules.

The Lord Fairfax Government responded by noting that the size of the active army has decreased by over 60% in the past 10 years, which has brought significant savings to the War Ministry. "Lord Winton needs to realize that our primary external threat is now the CATO alliance, and 4 million Riflemen is not a logical defense against such a foe." said a spokeswoman from the Lord Protector's office...[More]

[Siege]

Palm Grove, La Palma, San Dorado, NFT

Sidney Hank had just retired from the sun-parched terrace to the shadowed coolness of the veranda when he was approached by his assistant. The president looked different from the man who’d been released from the hospital weeks ago: he’d finally begun to approach what could be said to approximate a healthy weight, his skin was tanned by the La Palma sun, and a beard of three days covered his chin.

“Hello Sandy”, he smiled and noticed the folder in her hand. “Good news, I hope?”

“Yes sir” she reported, as formal as ever. She’d never stop calling him sir, he now realized, after insisting she didn’t at least a hundred times. Funny that you’d need to have a heart attack to realize a thing like that. Or perhaps not at all. “Everything is in here sir.”

The president took the file and sat down, motioning at Sandy to sit down in one of the rotan chairs. Inside the file were photographs and ownership documents.



Sidney smiled enthusiastically. “Excellent. Funny, I possess thirteen houses and apartments, but I never owned an island before.”

“Well sir, now you do.” At seeing the president’s gusto Sandy couldn’t keep a faint smirk off her face. She’d been quite upset when he’d collapsed and she’d heard it wasn’t sure he’d make it. She hated job hunting. “Oh, and you actually own sixteen houses and apartments.”

“Bah, details!” The president waved the mild rebuke away with a smile. “It’s been arranged in the way I indicated?”

“Yes, sir. The island sits in the middle of the Pacific, far away from any shipping lanes. Ownership goes through two dozen offshores and shell companies. Payment was routed via eight banks in Damascus, Svalbardia and the Caymans. And in the extremely unlikely event anyone manages to trace all that they’ll only find the place is the property of a dummy corporation that in turn appears to be owned by Standard Oil. No-one will know the place is yours unless you tell them.”

“Excellent. Now, what I want you to do is this…”

Result: Sidney Hank buys an island.

[Lonestar]

Dominion Defense

Libruls block purchase of long lead items for Block II Asheville DDGNs
The Librul party stunned the Old Dominion yesterday by peeling off enough Whig House members and blocking the purchase of long lead items for the second 4 Asheville STAR DDGNs.

The ODN, concerned about the "presence deficit" that the delay will cause, announced plans to purchase 4 former Shinra F-100 Frigates. Two will be stored as spares hulks, while the other will join the Fleet. The total cost of the purchase will be 1.3Bil ROBs...much less than even a single STAR DDGN. The House agreed to fund the purchase, although the ODN has stated that they will revisit funding for the second flight of STAR DDGNs soon...[More]

[CmdrWilkens]

Ministry of Defense offers additional program updates

The Ministry of Defense today announced that it was issuing a Request for Design Proposal for a next generation Guided Missile Submarine to complement the existing fleet of Hunter-Killer Submarines. The annoucnement indicated that the Naval Department is confident in the fleet protection capacity of the current long range manning plan for patrol submarines. However the same report also questions striking ability. While the use of JSOW-ER and other next generation "brilliant" weapons such as the upcoming Joint Strike Missile have the ability to sow additional confusion in their terminal phase the existing delivery system is largely from carrier based strike forces. Such a one dimensional force, while augmented by the increasing surface strike capacity, is seen as being less than ideal.

In a seperate annoucement the Navy announced that they are moving forward with final flight tests for the next generation Naval Strike and Interceptor planes. The competition for the former has been narrowed down to two contenders from Tian Xia and the Old Dominion for each competition. All four designs are competing hotly over the chance to win a contract slated to completely replace the existing Naval Air Wing before 2025.

[Raj Ahten]

Klavostan

Colonel Pumak was not a happy man. Kumal had given his elite squad a simple task: detain the suspected Japanistani agent traveling under the name Furataka. His men had managed to fuck it up. The snatch had been going so smoothly. They had surveyed their target and planned to take him on the way to the airport. His taxi had been boxed in and there had been no way for "Furataka" to escape. The only hitch was that before Pumak's men could get their target out of the taxi he had taken a cyanide capsule. It had seemed he really didn't want to be captured. The boss wasn't going to like this......

Fenraven, at the Japanistani Embassy

Mr. Chistophe had been fully briefed on the matter at hand and was ready to confront the Japanistani ambassador. He was really interested to know what exactly Indhopal's new allies would say about a Japanistani citizen meeting with the leadership of the infamous Revolutionary Front.

Once the pleasantries were through Chistophe got down to business,
"Mr ambassador I have some photographs I would like you to see. They show a Japanastani citizen named Furataka meeting with the inner circle leadership of the Revolutionary Front. These men and their organization have been thorns in the side of Indhopal's efforts to bring stability to central Frequesue for years. I was hoping you might have some idea as to why they were meeting in Klavostan; a well known center of mercenary activity."

The evidence that Japanistan was funding a campaign to destabilize parts of Frequesue was building. Mr Chistophe fully intended to let Japanistan know in the nicest possible terms that such activities should stop immediately.

Question: Who exactly is responding to this?

[PeZook]

FASTA bulletin

King Paul testified before the Funding Comittee ; Decision pending

In a brilliant speech delivered before the FASTA Program Funding Comittee, King Paul I defended the necessity for a manned lunar exploration program. The Comittee has sought to cancel all funding for the Selene series of space missions, whose goals is to identify a site for the future permanent lunar outpost.

The problem was, the King remarked, that the Comittee viewed the space program as a PR endeavor, when it was, in fact, a scientific and engineering undertaking for the long term, and program successes and failures should be evaluated with this fact in mind.

The Comittee thanked the King for his testimony and promised to come to a decision in a few days.

While the Comittee deliberates, however, Selene 9 is currently in orbit around the Moon and preparing for their descent towards the Sea Of Reason, one of several sites deemed suitable for establishment of a lunar outpost. The lander will set down close to one of several FASTA unmanned probes sent to Selene prior to the manned missions.

Lunar Bus idea proposed

Analogous to the IRT's "Large Gemini" spacecraft, FASTA engineers proposed to use a Selene capsule and replace the Orbital Module with a stretched and expanded Passenger Accomodation Module. Taking full advantage of the spacecraft's modular design and excess carry capacity of the Saturn V/Energia rocket, the tenatively named "Lunar Bus" would be able to ferry up to ten astronauts to lunar orbit and back to Earth.

One of the biggest problems, however, would be designing a larger lunar lander. However, as one FASTA engineer put it:

"The currently used LK lander has so much excess fuel capacity that all it needs is a larger cabin. We could probably stuff up to six people inside with some design work, and we wouldn't need to change the main engines in the slightest."

Another proposal call for designing a completely new, radically different lander utilizing the LK's proven engines, but capable of several trip to and from the lunar surface.

Pioneer program launched

Despite the ongoing funding crisis, FASTA administration cut one mission from the Selene lineup and used the freed up funds to establish the Pioneer program. Quoting Damian Kaklamanis:

"The program will develop spacecraft, technologies and mission plans necessary for the establishment of industry and permanent human presence on Selene. It will replace the Permanent Lunar Presence program, and integrate all projects related to lunar colonization under its umbrella."

[PeZook]

Khitan

The tiny dock was full of frantic activity. Mysterious strangers who invaded the little Khitanese village seemed to be in a terrible hurry, loading various crates and other equipment onto the yacht. Angry guards chased away anyone who came too close - mostly kids, since the adults knew better than to bother them.

Karic watched over the scene from their little hideout - a ramshackle wooden house, falling apart at the seams, formerly unoccupied and used as a warehouse of sorts, storing equipment for the few fishing boats which supplied most of the village's paltry wealth. So far, the entire thing was going surprisingly well, though Karic knew the real test would come later. In this ass-end of the Old Continent they haven't seen as much as a single government employee for days - where they were going, security would be tight, and his men would show their current colors.

Not that he had any doubts: his current crew was with him for years, after the damn Shadows came and stole away his birthright. They survived playing a deadly game with half the world's intelligence agencies, countless close calls and operations in Frequesque, Velaria and even the IRT - all leading to this single, most opportune moment.

He smiled, putting out his cigarette, and looked at his watch. It was almost time.

"Abasi, get the gas.", he said to his most trusted lieutenant, "And tell our men to go aboard."

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

At the village's school, the day was almost over. Kids milled about, tired from their lessons, collecting their worn books and hand-me-down clothes most of them inherited from older brothers and sisters. As Katrin entered the last remarks into her notebook, completing the paperwork, two kids approached her.

"Missys Katrin...can we ask you a question? Pretty please?", they asked in thickly accented Shroomish - their vocabulary has improved much since they started attending, though.

The teacher smiled and closed her notebook, "Of course."

"What's Dama...Dame...Do...", one of the boys stumbled, struggling with the difficult world.

"Damascus!", the other helpfully finished.

"Damascus? It's a city in Syria, on the eastern shore of the Mediterrenean. Do you know where Syria is?"

"Yes! We remember from geography, misys Katrin. Can you get to Damascus by boat?", the first boy said, too late to be stopped by the second one jabbing him with an albow.

"Of course. Why?"

"Uh...", both boys tried to act casual, but failed miserably at it.

"Sajik...Temur..."

"The men at the dock said they were going there!", the boy called Sajik said, "And we were curious!"

Katrin sighed. Kids would always be kids, but even for those two, it was especially foolish.

"You shouldn't go near that dock. Understand? These people are dangerous, it's best to wait untill they're gone. If you angered them, they might've killed you!"

"But we were just curious..."

"Stay away from the dock, or I'll have to tell your parents. Understood?"

"Yes, Missus Katrin...", both boys hung their heads in shame, "Can we go now?"

"Yes, you can go. Shoosh.", she waved them off playfully, "And remember to do your homework!"

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

As night began to fall, the boat's motors came to life. The villagers shot cautious - and hopeful - glances towards the dock, welcoming the sight. It meant the men who tormented them were going away, at long last. They watched the boat pull away from the dock, and disappear across the horizon.

And they gathered in their tiny local temple to say thanks, as they did every evening, but now they had something to give thanks for. Finally, the local fishermen would be able to go to sea again, and life would return to normal. The temple filled up with villagers and soon the sounds of their evening prayer carried throughout the empty streets.

As the chants of prostration picked up, two men emerged from a tiny alley between ramshackle houses and walked briskly towards the temple. Not locals, they belonged to the group which was supposed to be gone by now.

"Take the main door", the taller one said to his companion. A third man hung back, also armed, and carrying a stuffed backpack of some sort.

They did their work quickly, barricading the main door to the temple. The smalled side doors were also shut, and only then did the third man approach and opened his backpack, distributing incendiaries to the others.

Then they threw the charges in, through the windows. The wooden building quickly caught fire, and the night carried the villagers' terrifying screams throughought the valley, as the three men searched every single house - killing everyone they found, and burning down their homes.

As the night lit up with crimson light of a dozen fires, the murderers - their grisly work done - headed down to the beach, where a hybrid boat lay, well hidden under a camouflage tarp. They prepped it and quickly disappeared into the night, illuminated only by the burning village - whose citizens' only crime was seeing what they were not supposed to see.

[PeZook]

Co-Written with Siege

Downtown San Dorado, NFT

It was an unassuming phone, one stuffed safely in the corner of the office. However, when it rang, the presidential assistant rushed to pick it up as if God himself was making a call to check up on the state of San Dorado city.

She listened for a while, taking notes. When the call was over, she dutifully relayed the message: the PeZookian ambassador to San Dorado respectfully requested a few minutes of Mr. Bank's time, at a time and place of his convenience.

NFT Headquarters, downtown San Dorado City, NFT

The office of Willy Bank, president ad interim of the North Frequesuan Trust, offered a stunning view of the central districts of the city. Built on the southern tip of Silver Island the Dodgson River seemed to part before the high-rise like the sea parts before the bow of a ship. In this part of town the riverbanks were covered by massive office towers that pierced the belly of the sky like lances of steel and glass, glittering in the noon sun.

Right now however, Mr. Bank's attention was not turned toward that view; it was focused entirely on his phone. "... did I say I care? No! I want them down there tomorrow. Not next week, or in five days, or the day after tomorrow, tomorrow! Who cares if it'll be a Saturday?! Get it done!"

At that he simply switched off his mobile phone, a monstrosity of a gold-festooned luxury model, and turned a withering gaze to the assistant who'd come in some some five minutes earlier. "What is it?!"

"Err", the aide frowned slightly and clenched his hands to stop them from trembling. "The PeZookian ambassador is here to see you?"

"So don't just stand there, send him in!"



When the ambassador was finally lead into the room Willy Bank was once again sitting behind his enormous presidential desk. "Mr. Ambassador, what can I do for you?"

"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Bank. I have been instructed by my government to pass on an offer extended to us by the Shinra Republic in name of the MESS alliance, the current tensions with the Old Dominion.", the Ambassador began, frankly and without much maneuvering. He learned this attitude during his tenure here in San Dorado.

"Well, go ahead then."

"President Rufus Shinra has offered what he thinks is a way out of the crisis: He suggests that, should the NFT agree to, ah, 'back down' from the crisis without seeking to assign blame, the MESS would pressure the Old Dominion to give it up as well. Both President Shady Shirah and King Paul were inclined to gauge your reaction to this proposal, and believe it is in the best interest of world peace that it be seriously considered."

"'Back down'?!" Willy Bank narrowed his eyes. The man who had once fired the administration of an entire nation rapped his fingers on the table. "And what does Mr. Shinra feel would constitute us 'backing down'?" Bank's voice dropped noticeably in pitch. "We haven't actually done anything to escalate the situation, yet we should 'back down'?" Bank gazed at the ambassador, a glitter of predatory intent in his eyes. It was as if the temperature in the room had just dropped five degrees. "Does your king and his MESS buddies maybe want me to get on my knees and suck Farfaix' cock too? Perhaps shine his shoes, whilst I'm at it? Have you all lost your damned minds?!"

The ambassador was taken aback by the sudden outburst of profanity, despite fully expecting to hear it at some point. While Willy Bank's temper was legendary, nothing quite could prepare a man for facing it head-on.

Of course, being a skilled diplomat and all, the ambassador somehow managed to not betray anything.

"I do not think that...", he looked for the right word to euphemize Bank's colorful metaphor, "...prostrating yourself as such is necessary, and my government would never submit such a proposal for your consideration. The King believes that a token display of good will could serve to allow the Old Dominion to save face, while not painting anyone as the instigator or victim. In fact, I was instructed to give you our strongest assurances that should the good lord Fairfax attempt to use our generosity for propaganda purposes, both PeZookia and the USCR will renege on the deal and offer additional support to te NFT.", the ambassador made a short pause, attempting to judge if Willy Bank was settling down, or readying himself for another slew of insults and curses, "Several option are on the table, including the stationing of several strategic bombers in the NFT."

For several seconds Bank simply sat staring intently at the ambassador, who felt uncomfortably like a small rodent under the gaze of a very large and very hungry predatory bird. Several options simultaneously vied for supremacy in the head of acting president.

His first impulse was to blow off the ambassador - and by extension the king of PeZookia, but he bit back the very rude and vitriolic response that was at the tip of his tongue. Willy Bank was a brash and impulsive man, and his aggressive whims had brought him immense success in international commerce and unfathomable riches, but only because they were tempered by well-hidden common sense. And right now common sense told him that aggravating ones allies, no matter how personally gratifying, was just bad business practice.

He also realized that an escalation of hostilities to the point of open warfare wasn’t in the interests of the NFT. In the mind of the corporate shark that was Willy Bank global thermonuclear war wasn’t so much an inhuman concept too horrible to conceive as it was a titanic waste of capital and human resources -- but then again, for amoral magnates like Bank, men who thrived in the cutthroat environment of San Dorado’s Barricade Street financial districts, that was about as close to ‘too horrible to conceive’ as it was humanly possible to get.

“Fine”, Bank finally spat, his face looking like he’d just swallowed a bug. “So what would constitute this de-escalation on our part? Would standing down the Rocket Forces to peacetime alert suffice?”

"It is the belief of His Majesty's government that this should suffice, yes. It is hard to conceive of any other demands from the Old Dominion which could be described as reasonable."

"I'll make it so then." The tycoon still had a look of immense distaste etched onto his face. "Now if you'll excuse me, I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit."

The ambassador couldn't help but flash a brief smile. He seemed satisfied with this development... or with making Bank squirm. Perhaps both these things.

"I shall pass on your message to my government. Hopefully, the crisis will be resolved soon.", he said, and then left with little ceremony. Even as he headed down the opulent art-deco hall of the headquarters building, his assistants made the necessary calls to pass on the news. The embassy would then forward the message to the Foreign Ministry, which would in turn notify the Shinra Republic of NFT's agreement.

Back in his office, Willy Bank briefly sat motionless until he heard the hallway doors close. Knowing the ambassador wouldn't be able to hear him anymore he burst into angered motion, swiping one of the priceless pieces of antique Tian Xian pottery from the showcase behind his desk and smashing it utterly against the floor. "Fucking Messicans!" he barked, then turned to the aide who'd materialized at the sound of breaking pottery. "What?!"

"Is... err", the aide stuttered, wishing dearly at that moment he had another job, "uh, is everything alright, sir?"

"What, are you my fucking shrink now? Get someone in here to clean this mess up!" yelled Bank, who was pacing through the pieces of porcelain. "Tell someone to stand down the Rocket Forces to peacetime alert. And prepare my chopper for a trip to La Palma. I have to let off some steam!"

Results:

- The NFT agrees to stand down its Rocket Forces to peacetime levels and not try to milk the incident for propaganda in any way. In exchange, they expect the Old Dominion to withdraw their drones and reciprocate by also not mouthing off.

- The above proposal is forwarded to Shinra

[Zwinmar]

Island chain North of Valeria

A blanket of midnight shrouds the granite peaks, silence deep as the grave is shattered with a basso rumble of static charged rotor blades flying nape of the earth. Streaks of blue appearing unto lasers errupt from their sharkish noses as they zip into a valley. Over head whistling high explosive artillery shells scream with banshees delight before curving toward the earth and delivering their payload in an orgy of fire and destruction. On the ground light weapons open up with a crescendo of a symphony. Heavy tripod mounted machine guns spitting out a constant stream of blue phosphorous tracers.

In the underbrush the gleaming tiny cats eyes pinned to the back of helmets begin their dance, moving toward their objective as light infantry move in a rapid advance along a wadi toward their objective. Even as an F.O. calls in the handful of F-4's at their disposal.

Into the morning the fighting continues with helo's bringing in re-enforcments into a hastily constructed LZ while the F-4's provide CAP along with heavy attack helicopters.

[Siege]

*click*

... we'll be right back, after these messages!



We see a small house on a snow-swept plain. Scrolling text informs us that we are looking at a scene in NORTHERN SIBERIA. The camera zooms in on the house. Golden light streams from the windows. We are now looking through one of the windows, showing us a warm and plush interior of woods and pillows. A MAN is standing with his back to the window. He is wearing what appears to be a red uniform of some kind.

CUT to the inside of the DACHA.

We see the man, who turns out to be COMRADE STANISLAV, but he is wearing a huge white beard. He also appears to be wrapping up a large pile of PRESENTS.

STAS: “HO HO HO!”

CUT to a row of saber-dancing ELVES in what appear to be NKVD costumes.

ELVES: “Yay!”

STAS: “It is time for me, SANTA STAS, to bring the gifts of socialism to the proletariat!”

ELVES: “Yay!”

Comrade Santa Stas swipes the presents into a big sack and jumps into his sleigh, which is actually a giant GAZ 16 cylinder truck. Rockets strapped to the truck start with a MIGHTY ROAR and the vehicle takes off to the heavens atop a pillar of FLAME.

STAS: “To Frequesue! For the motherland!”

ELVES (who are now inexplicably dancing on the roof of the truck as it flies through the clouds, escorted by a pair of MiG fighters): “Yay!”

CUT to a woman wearing a Santa hat and a UNIVERSAL SHOPPING uniform.

WOMAN: It’s ‘socialism for the proletariat’ days at Universal Shopping! That means discounts of up to 15 percent on expensive toys! So hurry to a Universal Shopping mall near you… and remember: BUY BUY BUY!

*click*

“Mummy, why does Santa look like that grumpy old man from Russia?”

“Why, because comrade Stas is Santa, dear!”

“But mummy, doesn’t Santa come in December? It’s only April…”

“Now honey, don’t make a fuss. We’ll get you one of those nice stuffed Socialist Bear toys....”

Result: San Dorado’s fundamental incomprehension of the UCSR and all things communist STRIKES AGAIN!

[CmdrWilkens]

Breaking News
MSA Launch Aborts in Flight
Status of Astronauts unknown


Late this evening the first of two launches comrpising the Daedalus 9 missions began it ascent into the sky carrying aboard 6 astronauts including commander Heather Lee, slated to be the first female mission commander for a moon landing in what would be the third such mission for the MSA and the fourth worldwide. Approximately 2 minutes in to the mission as the solid rocket boosters began seperation controls at Johson Space Center in the Shinra Republic noticed a series of warning from two of the engines on the Jupiter 120 spacecraft. Controlers began detecting excessive pressure that threatened to redline the entire enginge housing. At that point the order was given for an emergency abort or the mission with the primary capsule explosively seperating from the main rocket body which would then be sent on a controlled crash course.

The abort system worked as planned with the capsule seperating and beginning to decelerate approximately 95 miles offshore and tens of thousands of feet in the air. The main engine body lost at least one engine at this point leading controllers to engage a downrange self-destruction sequence as it would not be possible to correct for the loss of an unknown number of engines on the fly.

Currently SAR teams are en route to the splashdown site of the capsule to recover the astronauts. Additional information will be provided a it becomes available.

[K. A. Pital]

Cascadia, Adams Capital District Airport

The Tu-144 touched down softly. Comrade Stanislav looked out of the window. The plane made several touchdowns on the way due to immense distances in this world. The former President was tired, but he reminded himself that being old is not the same as being free to rest any time.

The plane was met by the members of the delegation of the Cascadian Socialist Party. The CSP even drove a Crimson ZIL - must have been a present during the older days of "internationalist friendship", thought Stanislav - right to the landing area.

- Dobro pozhalovat, - spoke the translator in perfect Russian, translating the greetings of the group.

- Thank you, - Stanislav politely nodded, - I do know English fairly well. I think we wouldn't be needing the services of a translator, I hold no prejudice against foreign languages. It has been quite a while, comrades, and I am glad to finally arrive here.

...

Cascadia, Adams Capital District, Gene Keller University Campus

The huge square in front of the main building was full with people.

- Dear comrades, let me greet you from all the working people in the Union of Crimson and Shadow Republics, and let me start my speech with a word of support for all people who support the rights of labour here in Cascadia, for all those who strive for a better future which is socialism, - Stanislav ran across the crowd with his eyes, - I am very thankful for your hospitality in such uneasy times, when it seems as if the MESS continent became full of nations whose governments and bureaucrats cringe at my very name.

Someone in the crowd shouted "na zdorovie!" (welcome). Stanislav smiled.

- So, let me adress the main challenges that lie ahead of us socialists in the XXI century, - he continued. - Those are the growing discontent of various nations with the order of things in the world, the arms race and nationalism. The first part is connected to nationalism. However, it's important to note that we in the Union understand the difference between nationalist aspirations of the opressed and those of the opressor. National struggle of nations such as Indhopal to remain independent in the wake of the FTO collapse is understandable; Tian Xia claims of "mandate of heaven" are an ugly atrocity from the dark ages and will never be understood, just as Nazi theories of "racial superiority" are not a subject to be discussed anywhere outside of a lesson on freak historical occurences. I am confident that the socialist parties around the world, seeing the leading role of the UCSR in reforming world politics for a more just and equal system wherein opression does not exist, religious extremism is annihilated and atavistic views have no place, will support the fight of all free-loving peoples for their independence, and will shun the national hegemony and attempts to install neo-colonialist practices in a world already cleansed from that evil.

- Next, I would like to say that the position of the Third International after the XXIVth World Congress remains unchanged - the arms race has been prompted by the rising desire for imperialist domination by the most powerful empires on the planet. The Third International once hailed BIOCOM, but today it's achievments are eclipsed by the fact that runaway defence spending is present in almost every nation on the world. However, the rise of nuclear deterrent for which we must be thankful to our specialists, during the last decade has truly made the world a safer place. Wars in Frequesue have ceased, and wars elsewhere across the continents have likewise ceased for a period yet unknown. A lot of this success was achieved with the rise of the Combined Alliance, although we must say that some MESS nations, most notably Canissia, had a very active role in the peace process in war-torn regions and elsewhere in the world, like the struggling continent of Veleria.

- As always, we socialists must clearly speak out for peace and disarmament. We must also be consistent in harshly criticizing all and any forms of imperialism we encounter in the modern world. The fights that are to be won, fights for the rights of the labourer, the fight for the right of the female and finally the right of all nations to choose the future of socialism must never cease. Only then can we truly look towards our greater goal of a classless society.

- And finally, I would like to say that this year, the anniversary of the Great October Revolution shall coincide with the XXVth World Congress of the Third International in Stasograd. I welcome you all to discuss the political developments and develop a defining resolution that would guide our hands in deeds of war, peace, in work and struggle, like the Resolution of the XXIVth Congress guided us, and guided the nations of the Crimson Star which I was elected to lead for this fateful decade, to new great achievments.

- Critical statements on the scientific progress in energy generation, and the exploration of space, which truly offer us the ability to build a new society, which would not have the needy, which would be free from the exploit of man by man, should be our top priority. The scientific progress of the last decades has created wonders in the industrial and social spheres of life; and let me give you a small example - the COMMUNE-1, a project we have started a decade ago, right now is one of the most active blogosphere centers in the world. It's scientific, historical and political blogs have millions of hits and thousands of commentaries each passing week. I encourage you, comrades, to use these new means of communication more actively. Expose exploit and slavery wherever they exist; be brave, report everything, and encourage others to fight for a better world with your words. We are now stronger than ever, with modern industry and a rising circle of supporters, billions of people in the world which are struggling with us each new day!

- SECTOR! VEKTOR! Thank you! See you at the XXVth Congress! Don't forget to check my blog - redson.supremesoviet.csr!

The crowd chanted "SECTOR!" and "VECTOR!" which were slogans popularized during the so-called "great perelom" in the CSR and meant "Socialist Economy Triumphant" and "Great Communism Triumphs". Stanislav waited for a while for the crowd to calm down.

- Now, your questions. I see there are quite a few reporters here...

A young lass who apparently wanted to make it big in her newspaper and possibly become the chief news editor in the future, raised a hand: "Comrade Stanislav, what remarks do you have for the situation in Adabani, freed so many years ago when Cascadia renounced imperialism but now seeking to rejoin Cascadia as a Republic?"

Stanislav nodded.

- That is a good question. As I said in my speech, it's very important to determine the real will of the people. That is what my views are all about. So whether a nation joins another or separates itself from another, everything should be done with the consent and full democratic backing of it's population. If the Adabani people so wish to reunify with their kinsmen, who am I to say it is wrong? But this should be established through a popular referenda, and that referenda should be held to high standards. The Adabani people should remember that independence is often not easily won, but renouncing it is not hard.

The girl, however, was intent to ask something else. But she was interrupted by a man with a huge black beard. For a moment Stanislav thought that was some sort of Marx cosplayer, but apparently it was just a guy who asked: "Comrade Stanislav, with another election in the Caymans approaching, how will the XXVth Congress work to support the Popular Front?"

Stanislav shrugged. He chose words carefully.
- I understand that this issue is bothering those of you who bear the people's banner in the Caymans. The XXVth Congress is a congress that shall unite all socialist and communist parties across the world, as you know, it convenes irregulary and the votes are made by simple majority votes between the delegates. The Third International is a very large collective body. I am merely a comrade of yours like many others; my voice is no more binding than the voice of any other. My personal view is that the XXVth Congress will support the struggle of the Cayman opposition, but I cannot speak for the world socialist movement as a collective.

The bearded guy was pretty satisfied, apparently - Stanislav didn't quite figure out if he was pro- or against the Cayman oligarchs, but he thought he answered well enough. After all, he couldn't speak on behalf of the Third International, but his opinion could give... slight directions to the socialist and communist parties everywhere in the world.

Suddenly an old man moved out from the crowd: "Comrade Stanislav, can you tell us how the North Frequesue Trust's membership in CATO will help the struggle for socialist liberation in Frequesue?"

Stanislav paused for a moment.

- You are a veteran, I presume? I want to remind you of the common cause that once united the socialist nations and the bourgeois democracies, the fight against the Nazi threat. In times when imperialism once again raises it's ugly head from the ashes of new wars, we should determine what takes priority. Comrade Lenin as you know said that the task of national liberation should be solved in advance of the task of building socialism. The nations of Frequesue are fighting hard for their national liberation. It is the first step for a people to become aware of it's interests. Until foreign exploit, and by that I also mean foreign attempts to take control of the capitals of a nation, or it's territory or natural resources, are put a decisive end to, the struggle for socialism cannot start in earnest. Recall the days of the Revolution. Were the Eser the best allies we had? No, but they were against the comprador elites and decisively opposed to the former Shroomanian Empire's control of the Crimson industries. Now times had changed, but our priorities stay the same. Liberation comes in many ways. CATO and the Crimson and Shadow people in it are friends to all who seek liberation, and foes to all who seek domination.

...
After ending the speech, Stanislav slowly walked down and headed towards the ZIL.
- Valery, - he called his aide. - A drink please. My throat... yes. Thank you. Now, please follow me to the Garret Estate.

[Zwinmar]

Kingdom of Caleigh (Islands east of Langely and north of Veleria)

-Live from Tisicar City

Over the air waves a slim male appears at a podium, salt and pepper close cropped hair adorn his head. Dark brooding eyebrows hand suspended over slate grey eyes. Behind him the black and orange flag of Caleigh flaps in the breeze. Though he appears a military man his dress is that of a dark suit. He waits a moment before his baritone voice rings out across a crowd packet into a cobbled square.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to announce that the parliament has finally voted on what our fledgling government. As per your wishes it will be a constitutional monarchy. While they have decided that I should lead it will only be temporary, within two years I will abdicate the throne to the person that you select.

I will be contacting our closest neighbors to begin diplomatic talks and if all goes well, trade."

He turns then leaving the podium to a throng of cheering though he did not want to be a king.

----------
Later that day the first of the dispatches go out to the major powers, inviting them to send a representative to have diplomatic talks.