SD.net's World (RAR!)

[Master_Baerne]

Economy

The Ministry of Trade has expressed great interest in Baerne Island's tin deposits. Tin is an important resource for the Republic's developing electronics industry, and therefore is in high demand.

The Ministry therefore extends the following offer to the honorable Duke Of Baerne: membership in the LUN and deliveries of native silver in exchange for shipments of processed tin ready for industrial application.

The Ministry hopes, of course, that other LUN member-nations do not object to this offer, as they shall also be granted access to Baerne's tin supplies by virtue of their membership in the LUN.

His Grace the Duke of Baerne is pleased to accept the honorable PeZook's offer, and hopes that this increase in the tin trade will be followed by a proportionate increase in other areas of international cooperation. In a recent press release, His Grace stated:

I have a very positive view of this. The League of Unaligned Nations sees fit to establish closer ties with my beloved Baerne Island, hopefully setting the stage for more international exchange and trade.

The Baernish Ministry of Education wishes to inquire about the likelihood of exchange programs for the Duchy's students with those of other LUN members, to foster a spirit of brotherhood and increase learning in all concerned nations.

[Lonestar]

The Palo Duro Strike Group was out on the CROSSHAIR'S '08 exercise, and every retard out there was reading it as a threatening gesture, as if 10 naval vessels(excluding the other M.E.S.S. involvement, none of which included a CVN) would be able to attack Blackadder or Tianxia.

As a minor correction for El Preisdente, my CVBG is also particpating. So there are at least two CVNs.

(( OOC: I also changed and removed "Tian Xia" from that post, it didn't occur to me that was Beowulf's country.))

[Master_Baerne]

The FUNGAL AXIS happily accepts New Gottland as a new member nation! The FUNGAL AXIS also extends an offer at membership to the Sovereign Duchy of Baerne.

His Grace the Duke of Baerne accepts this generous offer, pending approval of the LUN. Regardless of the decisions of that august body, his Minister of Education proposes a exchange-student program to foster closer ties and cultural understanding.

The Minister of War asks if the FUNGAL AXIS happens to have any spare armament or people it might be willing to part with.

[Hawkwings]

Question:

The Red Technocracy, the Technocratic Greater Co-Prosperity Alliance, and the Alliance for Advanced Nuclear/Space Research are all technology alliances. Are they all one and the same? People seem to be thinking so, and I'd like to clear this up before I jump in.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Red Technocracy, this is the RAS "Don Diego" requesting permission to overfly en-route to Shroomian Empire.

the image was very hard to miss at it's present ultra high altitude, and massive size, the "Don Diego" or "Fox" was possibly one of the largest things in the sky, it's nuclear reactor producing the gasses that kept the vessel aflote, this time it was fighting the jet stream, as the Bear Republic and the Lonestars had a long history of suspicion, dating back to the time when BR privateers and smugglers used to antagonize their neighbor. The same nuclear reactor powered the computers and the vast microwave, and radar arrays that made the super high altitude blimp and her four sisters, a dangerous piece of Command, Control and Communication technology, capable of jamming radar and IR systems over a wide area, as well as Identifing and tracking numberous objects that happened to be within it's gaze.

Still for all it's extensive computer systems, and sensors the Don Diego's only arment were a series of pulse lasers that were only fit for blinding fighters, or deflecting/overloading the seeker heads of incomming missles.

The history of the super airships had began when the first Emporer of the Bear Republic Norton I, had commanded that the Republic would be protected by a fleet of "Sky Battleships", the Republic then spent the next century attempting to make their Emporer's command a reality. This was done at great cost of life, and lukre.

Edit 1: yes, red alert fans we do have a "Kirov" equivalent.

edit 2: RAS stands for Republic Air Ship.

[Lonestar]

L.R.S. City of Corpus Christi

"Mermish Vessel, you have entered the Economic Exclusion Zone for the Lone Star Republic, turn around immediately!" Cmdr. "Skip" Starling said into the loud speaker. The Arleigh Burke DDG swung around and trained it's gun on the small fishing vessel.

"She ain't moving sir. I....looks like a Monarchy fo the Mermaid Revenue cutter is coming up on our portside."

"This has gone on long enough, I'm tired of running around forcing all of these idiots out of our waters, then have them wait for a Revenue cutter to bail them out. TAO, fire a warning shot at the fishing vessel."

The 5' barked and a splash engulfed the fishing vessel, which was finally picking up speed and running away. Suddenly smaller splashes appeared around the City of Corpus Christi.

"The Mermish Cutter is shooting at us with the popgun!" The OOD yelled.

"Warn them off!" Starling shouted. The 5' Fired at the cutter...

...which promptly exploded in a fireball. There was a silence on the bridge.


"You think we'll get in trouble for that?" The OOD asked.

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

Mangka Daily News

Personnel Quake over Bioweapon Issues

Although international weapon inspection hasn't begun, several officials, including military personnel have either resigned or been removed from their posts for the effects of the alleged bioweapon program in Mangka.

"This is a wake up call for our national security." X.C. Li, spokesperson of the Executive Hall said in the press release. "We have been successfully infiltrated by spies and terrorists, this fact exposes our flaws and will not be neglected."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs are still negotiating talks on details with TMCK of St. George but related personnel have not been affected by the quake. Talks of commerce and other issues are still going on.

Ms. Li made no comment on the photos released by the Shadow Empire.



General Tang Oversees Troops Participating in CROSSHAIRS

The Chief of General Staff, K.L. Tang, oversaw the Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit before they boarded the M.R.S. Serpent, to participate in the CROSSHAIRS '08 military exercise.

The Unit, consisted of 98% aborigines, is a special ops battalion famous for it's harsh training and effectiveness. They are the spearhead for the nation's Marine Corps and also coordinate in anti-piracy operations. Participating in CROSSHAIRS will provide good experience and knowledge from their MESS allies.

===


Banana Inquirer

New Chief of Military Intelligence--a Triad?

According to various insider reports, the new Chief of Military Intelligence, Gen. C.L. Chen is also a Helmsman of the Triad gang "Five Seas", only one notch lower than the Grand Helmsman.

Our underworld insider mentioned that the whole bioweapon issue was more ruse than reality. The "Five Seas" have been in a long term power struggle with the "United Oak" on the streets, business, politics, and military. In fact, according to our last year's issue, the previous CoMI had ties with the United Oak.

We are still looking into the Triad ties of the other newly promoted officials. It might be a bad season for the Oaks.[/u]

[The Yosemite Bear]

Also over the course of the last 350 years the Bear Republic has gone from being an Anarchist Criminal hive, to a Represenitive Government until 120 years ago they "Elected" a clinically insane but popular citizen to the position of "Emporer" and then legislated him to have "Limitless Power". Since the Reign of Norton I, a number of others have been the Republic's acting elected dictator. While the senate conducts the actual business of running the Republic, when the Emporer issues a proclamation, the senate is obligated to carry out said orders to the best of thier ability until rescended by a future proclamation.

thus the part about them spending over a hundred years attempting to make "Sky Battleships"

Presently the BR blimp force includes:

Don Diego Class:
Don Diego (The Fox)
Joaquin Muretta
Black Bart
Francis Drake
Eye of Sauron (newest)

Emporer Norton Class "Bomber Zepplins"
flying high out of the range of artillery and possessing a minimal infra red signature, despite a rather massive cross section, these vessels drop conventional and nuclear cluster bombs that scatter over a wide area. exact numbers of Emp. Nortons are kept secret, however they rarely if ever go far as the Lonestar forces tend to get very nervous when one gets launched....

note the Emps are not nuclear powered, and are much smaller then the Don Diegos, more on scale with a command and conquer "Kirov",

edits to above posts: Don Diegos have been cut from Nine down to Five. These are the BR's equivalent of a carrier/Battleship in terms of maintenacne and costs. for the most part the Fleet is grounded, with one always in the upper atmosphere circling the BR keeping watch for attack.

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

The Duchy of Langley requests membership in the FUNGAL AXIS and OMSK and is offering usage of its military bases to the other member nations of said organizations.

[OOC: As for the exact location of the Duchy, I think there's some room to the immediate north of Pezookia. Try sticking it there.]

[Zor]

Minerva, providing News to the Kingdom from at Home and abroad for over 200 years

Police bust orginized crim ring, links to Mangka discovered

"New Alantis: at 3:47 local time, an team of the Royal Zorian Mounted Police engaged in a shoot out with a gang of smugglers in which two constables were shot, one in critical condition with three criminals killed and twenty three more in custody. Investigations into their gear had reveiled various illegal substances such as illegal firearms, various narcotics and tobacco products. Among the firearms was a 50 Mangkanian Sub Machineguns and Mangkanian twelve assault rifles, as well as Recovery of the body of a Mangkian Agent caught in the crossfire, identified via DNA testing.

While there has been some evidence between orginized crime, both in the SKZ and elsewhere and the Republic of Mangka, this is the first hard connection between the two. "This is a scary discovery" Police Comissioner Alex Catini stated "But if we are to fight moves against law and order against this threat, we best learn as much as we can about it". So far, the Mengkian Embassy has yet to comment."

Largescale Protests in Capital Against Mengka

"ZORTROPOLIS: Sixteen thousand protesters have gathered in front of Parliament Hill today in protest against Mengkian development of biological weapons.

"I lost a pair of good friends in the Syndromian War when they bombarded Salmon Creak with Gas bombs" Said Angela Rice, Student at the Royal University of Zortropolis "I do not't want to see that happen again". This may be the begining of severly compromised relationships between the Sovereign Kingdom of Zoria and the Republic of Mengka."

Urban Recovery in Nova Victorium

"NOVA VICTORIUM, SYNDROMIA: Despite Terrorist actions from warlords and rebel groups, his Majesty's Government's investments in restoration of the Republic continues. Today, Work has finally been completed on the "Goddess of Mercy" Housing Project, assembling several blocks of afforable yet high quality apartments in the former Capital. This has also been coupled with the opening of the Royal Motor Corperation's new automobile factory, which plans on producing low cost automobiles for export and providing employment and a source of economic prosperity of the future commonweath state."

Centurions make World Series

"A proud night for all of Zoria as the Bear Republic Kodiacs were defeated by the Zorian Centurions tonight in a three to six game. It was a hard struggle as the Cents faced off against some top notch players, but in the end due to a world renound offensive copacity, the Blue and Silver Cents managed to rip up the ice and made a mockery of the Kodiac's Goally. As such, the Centurions have not only won the day, but insured a Zorian position at this years World Series."

[Lonestar]

(( OOC: Zor, the M.E.S.S. is a currency Union as well, so it wouldn't be "Mangkian Currency"))

[RogueIce]

(( OOC: Zor, the M.E.S.S. is a currency Union as well, so it wouldn't be "Mangkian Currency"))

((OOC: For correctness sake, it is known as the Regulatory OmniBank Credit, or ROB for short.))

[TimothyC]

The Kingdom of New Patria is pleased to announce the procurement of 6 EP-3AEW aircraft and 10 P-3C Orion for patrol of territorial waters. In addition the KNP is officially opening a competition to provide the new jet-powered interceptor/strike aircraft, with an expected procurement of no more than 24 airframes.

[CmdrWilkens]

An Announcement by the Council for Imperial Defence of Wilkonia:

On Behalf of His Imperial Majesty Andreneas II

The Council for Immperial Defence gives instruction and notice to all of its fellow citizenry and the nations of the world at large. The decisions made and the actions taken are matters of great interest to all and should cause long and thoughtful reflection by those who wish to be at peace with His Imperial Majesty. Military action of any nature should be undertaken with great caution and due dilligence to the opinion of God and our fellow man. Moreover such courses of action as we take should be guided by our greater purpose of international levity.

Thus, concordant with our committment by treaty and good faith with our fellow MESS-mates we view the brewing international discord over the Republic of Mangka as meriting closer attention. As a leading nation in the field of pharmaceuticals and bio-technology this nation has long contributed membership to international biological weapons inspection and continues to view involvement in all such disputes as central to its God-given mission of harmonious interchange between nations. Dispute over the nature and existence of biological weaponry strikes a tenuous chord in the interchange between nations and gives us cause to intercede.

Given that no member of the Wilkonia contingent to the MESS's arms inspection service has ever reported nor had reason to suspect biological weapons development we call upon all nations to suspend hostilities while allowing new international inspections to confirm the allegations made. Likewise in order to ensure the peace within the region we hearby announce that the Carrier Group currently headed by HIS WHORE Jessica Alba is enroute to the Sea of St George where it will conduct exercises with naval forces of the Lonestar Republic and other MESS fores enroute. Let all nations be warned that while we sail in peace that action against members of the international community that are without cause or basis shall be met with swift and certain retaliation.

God Save The King.

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish News Service
File BNS-1

In a press release this afternoon, Commodore Garhaven of the Baernish Navy reported that construction of two new cruisers began recently at Forgeville. Rumors of such a building program have been circulating for some time now, but had remained unsubstantiated until now.

The new cruisers, photographs of which are available below, will be tasked with the protection of Baernish commerce on the high seas. The exact armament is unknown, but allegedly consists primarily of missles.

The Duke of Baerne paid a state visit to the workers in Forgeville, congratulating them for their extensive progress and diligence.

Everyone who labors for the security of Baerne is a hero. I salute you all, and wish each and every one the best of luck.

he said.


BNS Guardian, one of the cruisers.


BNS Spearhead, it's fellow newly announced ship.

[Simplicius]

In the interest of ensuring that its often intoxicated and easily provoked fishermen do not interfere with the MESS naval exercise in the Sea of St. George, the Royal St. George Navy shall dispatch the destroyer RSGS MARIGOLD and the frigates RSGS EXETER, RSGS NEW CANADA, and RSGS RANGELY to stand within the Kingdom's exclusion zone and monitor the exercise as necessary.

The Kingdom does not consider this exercise a hostile act, and as such any ongoing communications with nations of the MESS shall not be withdrawn. The Kingdom's diplomatic delegation in the Republic of Mangka shall remain there and continue bilateral talks.

A delegation to the Republic of Mangka has proposed a deal to permit a Mangkan pharmaceutical company to establish an operation in the Kingdom of St. George in exchange for Mangkan assistance in developing a biotech research department at Acadia Institute of Technology.

This proposal was among several floated at the joint talks, which have been ongoing for several days. Also proposed by the St. George delegation was the development of an inter-island air and fast ferry service and, from the Defence Ministry, an understanding of mutual support against foreign subterfuge in the region.

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish News Service
File BNS-2

This evening, financial whistleblowers in the pay of Wilkonia discovered, upon investigation, that earlier reports of new cruisers being constructed are actually well outside the naval budget of Baerne Island. Commodore Garhaven was summarily shot for failing to figure out how much cruisers cost.

Other members of the Navy Department were shocked to discover this, and vowed to obtain sufficient ships to guarantee the safety of the Baernish Merchant Marine "by whatever means possible".

[CmdrWilkens]

In response to the Baernish declaration of intention to construct an improved naval force to defend their merchant marine the Imperial Nation of Wilkonia has graciously offered to allow an exchange of naval officers for service aboard HIS WHORE vessels. Under the terms of this program as many as 50 Baernish naval officers per year will be granted service visas to enter Wilkonia and serve aboard ships of the line currently on deployment or in port so as to gain valuable experience and to further diplomatic ties between the Duchy of Baerne and Wilkonia.

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish News Service
File BNS-3

In a move clearly calculated to warm the hearts of Baernish citizens everywhere, the Imperial Nation of Wilkonia offered to host several of His Grace's officers aboard their ships, to foster a spirit of mutual growth and learning amongst His Grace's Navy and the Imperial Wilkonian Navy.

According to the proposal, which was graciously accepted in a speech today by Duke James, 50 Baernish officers will serve aboard Wilkonian ships for a year. The benefits of this cannot be overstated.

[K. A. Pital]

Economy: for the last two month, there has been robust growth in both state and private sectors of the Techocracy's economy. The government reported a rate of 14,5% growth for industrial sectors and an 4,5% overall growth. A rate of 130% growth was observed in aerospace and cosmonautics industry, due to multibillion investment allocation in the SPIRAL programme.

Government: the Red Techocracy's Supreme Council has been protesting the widening of ECSOC authority over the national administration. It rendered many accounting commitees obsolete. Despite the ECSOC being well able to run accounting on it's own, the People's Deputees fear that too much power is concentrated in the hands of the Secretary General, who acts more and more on ECSOC data and not the wishes of the Supreme Council.

The Secretary General in an adress dismissed such claims as "nonsense" and said that a decisive campaign against the "neo-Luddite faction" amongst our comrades is required to cleanse our society of this anti-progressive threat.

Science and Research: It has been reported that the bionics R&D centers of the Red Techocracy in Omsk and Korolev have begun the Brain Impulse Motion Control research, which is essential for true prosthetics; it is assumed this research will help wounded soldiers returning from Syndromia who lost limbs in combat, and possibly pave way for human enhancement in the future.




International News
Our inspector team has arrived in the Republic of Mangka and investigated the facilities without any bars from the authorities. On the contrary, they seemed cooperative - however, a bit stressed. Our team was given additional bodyguards, a gesture quite welcome but not that well understood. It seems from our preliminary analysis that the biological weapons development was a hoax which was launched by some organized crime infiltrators which rose high up in the ranks of Mangka government and military structures, and wished through this scandal to depose their political rivals.

This brings great relief, as no biological weapons are - at least currently - developed on the OMSK Pact border, but we are alarmed at the exposure of organized crime plants so high in Mangka leadership. It seems that it has become so thoroughly corrupt that dealings with this nation become dubious.

We are expecting Mangka authorities to cooperate on the combat with international crime, but express dissatisfaction with the current stance of things.

Special Communique on the Lonestar Republic's Dictator procuring atomic weapons to "deal" with the O.M.S.K.
This news comes amidst of hail of domestic criticism levelled at the Supreme Council and the Secretary General in his function as Generalissimus, to remain silent when a militaristic dictatorship next door to O.M.S.K. is procuring weapons of mass destruction with the apparent intention of threatening O.M.S.K.

This fact and the Mess "naval exercise" have prompted a harsh response from the pages of PRAVDA.

The Red Technocracy does not afficiate it's projects, but apparently it has contacted Pezookia and Shroomania in regards to the develoment of ABM systems; and accelerated it's own nuclear programme and the SPIRAL orbital surveyor-fighter-bomber plane project.

[Shroom Man 777]

Shroomania happily accepts the Sovereign Duchy of Baerne and the Duchy of Langley into the FUNGAL AXIS! Shroomanian defense corporations are currently in discussion with the Baernish Minister of War in regards to the provision of weaponry.


The Sovereign Shroomanian Sentinel
MANGKA MAMBO



The Shroomanian parliament degenerates from a heated discussion into an argument of fists as they discuss the latest international events amongst themselves. The Paleopacifists are adamant in their stance that the Shadow Empire's actions against the Republic of Mangka were uncalled for and push for Shroomania to lead the FUNGAL AXIS in placing the Shadow Empire under 'ideological review'.

"They've done this before," a black-eyed Minister Phinneas Phungus stated, referring to the beginning of formal Shroomanian-Shadow relationship when the Shadows tried to assassinate Prime Minister Shroom. "And if they keep on doing it again, they're gonna take all of us down with them! We cannot risk a war with the MESS!"

The Fringe Fundielicious Faction responded with cries of "Blasphemy!" as Minister Bartholomew Buchanan stated the following: "The Mushroom Military under the banner of of God cannot be defeated! There must be war! God wills it!"

Minister Bartholomew Buchanan and his followers are currently under investigation for allegedly running a polygamous sect - many have called for his registration.

Meanwhile, the RetroRegressive Party has pushed that Shroomania place sanctions on both the Shadow Empire and the Republic of Mangka, while simultaneously disbanding the FUNGAL AXIS - effectively turning the Sovereignty of Shroomania into an isolationist state.



These threesome of ideologies clashed for the whole night until Prime Minister Shroom's personal representative silenced them by slamming his shoe on the podium.

The Office of the Prime Minister Shroom has released the following statement:

"In light of recent events, Shroomania would like to address its allies in the FUNGAL AXIS, the LUN, and the O.M.S.K. Pact to remain steadfast in their support of one another. The incidents surrounding the Republic of Mangka, the Shadow Empire, and the continued peacekeeping mission in Syndromia tests us all in resolve and for the sake of global stability, we must not falter in our dedication to peace.

"Shroomania wishes for its friends in the FUNGAL AXIS to be decisive in rendering a decision regarding the Shadow Empire's status in the alliance, while at the same time assuring Emperor Shady that as an ally - all of Shroomania's commitments to the Shadow Empire as a FUNGAL AXIS nation stand firm.

"Yet, nevertheless, the nation does not support unilateral action, and neither does the FUNGAL AXIS. The FUNGAL AXIS' mandate is not one of aggression, but of mutual benefit to its allies both great and small - as evidenced by the prospering economies of the AXIS' smaller members due to beneficial trade agreements.

"As such, despite the troubling times, Shroomania leads the FUNGAL AXIS in extending an open hand of friendship to the nations of the MESS - knowing that both the MESS and AXIS nations share the desire for peace and stability in the world."

At the same time, anti-war peace protests and rallies were staged by youth groups across the nation, denouncing the recent tensions caused by the Shadow-Mangka incident.

Shroomania has sent a delegation of weapons inspectors to meet their Technocracy counterparts in the Republic of Mangka.



In other news...



The Shroomanian carrier Flattop begins its first ever deployment. Though the crew is relatively new and unexperienced, they have faced rigorous training these past few months and are ready for duty. Currently they are headed for the ports of the Republic of Vulpesia, a member of the LUN and the FUNGAL AXIS.

[Zablorg]

The Republic of One declares that it is fucking busy with the tasks the Education Faculty has assigned it. Until further notice, rule over Zablaina shall hereby be given to the collective FUNGAL AXIS.

[Zablorg]

The Republic of One also requests a briefing in the form of a Private Message about what has happened in the last two weeks.

[K. A. Pital]

New members welcome. Map made at work, so a little different font. A proper one will be made at home.

[Shroom Man 777]

The Sovereign Shroomanian Sentinel
SHROOM SCIENCE



The night-time systems test of the prototype railgun commences in the central highlands of Shroomania.



The prototype's initiation creates a blinding thermal flash that lights up the nightvision surveillance scopes.



The 'Stonehenge' as the system is called, is a joint science project by the Sovereignty of Shroomania and her allies, including the Red Technocracy and the Technocratic Greater Co-Prosperity Alliance (amongst others).

The system is designed to propel objects at hypersonic speeds and amongst its many applications include space launch as well as anti-ballistic missile defense - conceivably, it can be also used for anti-aircraft defense. Shroomanian scientists have estimated the Stonehenge prototype's effective radius to be about 300 naval miles, but propose that the range can be boosted by giving the projectiles rocket-boosters or scram-jets.

Shroomanian scientists are hopeful that railgun technology will open up an alternative method of spaceflight.



The other applications of Stonehenge include asteroid defense and interception (without Bruce Willis). Years ago, an asteroid landed in Central Shroomania and ever since, the government has been wary of the threat posed by Near Earth Objects (NEO).

[Addendum: The full design will have a range of at least x2 of the prototype]