SDNWorld Redux: Story Thread the First.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Imperial Chronicles

In a closed room meeting in the Palace of the Soviets

"Comrades," spoke the Emperor to his fellow leaders. "Let's be frank, there are lots of threats on our own borders. If anyone should disagree with the method, let them say it now. If anyone should disagree with how policies have been executed recently, let it be said.

Regardless, either we stand together, or we fall. Dissent is tolerated, but when it comes to the crunch, either we decide in unison, or we fall. We have agreed to work on the nuclear weapon and the relevant delivery systems, to work on space exploration and work together on other important projects.

I am certain that the nuclear weapon has spawned some misgivings. The weapon is unfortunately a necessary evil. We all know the potential aggressors will eventually achieve the weapon. We must be prepared to use the weapon when it comes to it. Our enemy is likely to use it as a first strike weapon. There can be no mistake of that. The moment we obtain intelligence of the weapon, we have to retaliate. It will be used in the air, on the ground, in the seas. Of concern is on the ground. A single nuclear shell could decimate whole armies. Remember that. The swams of bombers that will head to our shores will unleash torrents of weapons. Some might think I am being melodramatic. I'm sure you all know what happened the last time. We have undertaken many steps to counter that threat, but we must go many steps further."

[K. A. Pital]

Palace of the Soviets, CSR, private meeting hall

- What is clear, is that the Continental Defense Plan is hampered by the unrest in the Border States, - Stanislav pushed his note further. - Some of them formerly used to be in either CSR or Shroomanian sphere of influence. Now many are left without financial support from either side, and the CSR mostly confined it's functions to peacekeeping and interference in case of war... which the SNC followed.

Stanislav shrugged.

- The result? A bunch of unstable and impoverished nations, whose rulers frankly are a disgrace to the people they rule.

- As for the nuclear weapon issue, - Stanislav opened a stand where a small maquette resided. A maquette of a nuclear bomb. - You could rest assured my engineers are trying as hard as they can after the input data I gave them. The SNC-1 nuclear test is not more than a year or so from now.

[DarthShady]

Palace of the Soviets, CSR, private meeting hall

What is clear, is that the Continental Defense Plan is hampered by the unrest in the Border States, - Stanislav pushed his note further. - Some of them formerly used to be in either CSR or Shroomanian sphere of influence. Now many are left without financial support from either side, and the CSR mostly confined it's functions to peacekeeping and interference in case of war... which the SNC followed.

Stanislav shrugged.

- The result? A bunch of unstable and impoverished nations, whose rulers frankly are a disgrace to the people they rule.

Comrades I wish to inform you that I have a plan that will end all our problems with the border states, once and for all. The plan is already in progress and should be implemented fully within a year.

[[OOC: I'll PM you dudes with information about it, it's too soon to make it public.]]

As for the nuclear weapon issue, - Stanislav opened a stand where a small maquette resided. A maquette of a nuclear bomb. - You could rest assured my engineers are trying as hard as they can after the input data I gave them. The SNC-1 nuclear test is not more than a year or so from now.

This is excellent news comrade. I am interested in the details, how will the Command and Control Centre Work? In case of war, who will have the ability to push the button?

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Imperial Chronicles

Palace of the Soviets

"The Weapon, comrade, will be produced likely in both the Byzantine Empire and in CSR. The USSR and PeZookia are welcome to produce the weapon. Each state will receive a lot of weapons for them to use.

Further, both Comrade Stas and I have been working on some secret delivery systems, both space based, and hypersonic based. We envision hypersonic bombers and hypersonic missiles. More than enough to rain death from the sky."

[DarthShady]

Imperial Chronicles

Palace of the Soviets

"The Weapon, comrade, will be produced likely in both the Byzantine Empire and in CSR. The USSR and PeZookia are welcome to produce the weapon. Each state will receive a lot of weapons for them to use.

Further, both Comrade Stas and I have been working on some secret delivery systems, both space based, and hypersonic based. We envision hypersonic bombers and hypersonic missiles. More than enough to rain death from the sky."

"I see. Thank you for your explanation, comrade. The USSR is willing to produce the weapons, we would require your assistance to get started of course.

And I am more than happy to offer our help with the bombers and missiles. Anything we can do, we will."

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

"I see. Thank you for your explanation, comrade. The USSR is willing to produce the weapons, we would require your assistance to get started of course.

And I am more than happy to offer our help with the bombers and missiles. Anything we can do, we will."

"What we need is money and manpower. We have committed over 10 billion each to the project, using civilian funds and military funds. The more money the merrier.

Also, we should take a vote. Do we want Shroomania to participate? Or not? I can understand that Comrade Stas is reluctant to work with Shroomania, but we must decide now."

[DarthShady]

"What we need is money and manpower. We have committed over 10 billion each to the project, using civilian funds and military funds. The more money the merrier.

I believe I can match that contribution and of course I will have my best scientists transferred to the project.

Also, we should take a vote. Do we want Shroomania to participate? Or not? I can understand that Comrade Stas is reluctant to work with Shroomania, but we must decide now."

I personally have no problems with the Shroomanians and their leader is our friend, but there are some Ideological differences between us that will have to be dealt with. I vote Yes for Shroomania.

[K. A. Pital]

"Do we want to take Shroomania in on the nuclear project?" - Stanislav touched his hair. - "I would say we have to cooperate with them. After all, when it comes to corporate buying-through of various assets that could be of use, uranium for example... none is better than Shroomania with it's corporations entrenched in resource-rich colonies since the centuries of colonial rule."

"I might hate to say it, but yes to Shroomania. As for it's current leader, Prime Minister Shroom, he is a wise and sensible politician. We had very productive bilateral talks just recently as he visited the CSR", - noted Stanislav calmly.

- We have also other pressing issues, - the CSR President put his papers on the table. - For example, the humanitarian efforts of our nations - Zagor, the former PRSF and other territories require reconstruction funds.

- I am certain that territories which are taken into the CSR will be funded well, but nominally independent nations? - Stanislav seemed genuinely worried. - What kind of "help" will they get? Peacekeepers are not enough if the people are starving. We need some sort of public works projects for the citizens of Border nations currently under SNC Peacekeeper operations. I believe my friend Paul would agree, and probably so would you.

- But so far we haven't figured out how much we are going to dedicate in materials and funds. I say everyone declares how much he can dedicate to the restoration of those territories, in the name of our common security.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Imperial Chronicles

"Comrade Stanislav, I share your concern. I am sending aid in the form of civil servant instructors, food, construction vehicles, medicine. All in the order of 5 billion. I could possibly provide more if required. Just say the word.

Legio II will be in the territories assisting in the rebuilding and peacekeeping."

[DarthShady]

"Indeed my friends, these people need our help and they are getting it.

According to my calculations, I have already invested around 5-6 billion in Zagor and Sargonia, these resources are being used to rebuild the two nations and organize them into peaceful and prosperous countries."

[Coyote]

Orena Palace, PeZookia




King Arik was not involved in the conference call, as it was a Slavic alliance matter. He was, however, extremely pleased that King Paul had signed on with the THEL program-- and that the Slavic alliance had been working on other designs as well for even longer-ranged weapons.

"I think we can develop all these systems," Arik said to his advisors and assistants, "It will add strategic depth to all our defenses."
"We couldn't devote money and research to the Slavic laser systems on top of THEL," his deputy defense minister said, "THEL has been expensive enough, we're just adding investors now to get the per-unit costs down. And the Greens Party has fought us every step of the way."

"We don't need to invest much in the Slavic laser system," King Arik hypothesised, "We're bringing THEL to the table; and most of the prototype and grunt work is already done. It'll be more of an exchange of existing programs than either us or them going to one another looking for handouts." There were nods around the table as they talked; the existence of the long-range laser program was eagerly accepted by the Canissians.

"Which leads us to consider some of the other issues I discussed with King Paul," Arik said, "If they go with having tribunals in Canissia, we'll have to have tight security. Expect demonstrators for any variety of causes, but especially people wondering why these brutal dictators and war criminals even deserve trials at all, and why the Slavic union's problems are brought to our soil. My spin on this is that things that threaten the stability of our neighbors is potentially problematic for us as well, and in the interest of being good neighbors, we help them out. We'll push the good neighbor thing, the continental defense partnerships, and the like."

"I don't see too many people questioning the situation," Miss Katerin said, "The tribunals will make sense... sending humanitarian aid to the border states will also be seen favorably, but if we send peacekeepers there, it'll cause problems."

"No peacekeepers," King Arik said, "We're practically in hip waders as it is down in Veleria, and I think we're devoted enough. That's one of the reasons why I wanted to avoid the FTO /Tian Xiao fiasco. As well as keep things cheerful between us and Stas-- which, by extension, would include the rest of the Slavic alliance."

"The big problem I see," said the deputy defense minister, "Is our stance on the Crimson Star Republic's nuclear weapons programs. They are... astoundingly unpopular back home, and we're talking about entering a lot of deals with the Slavs that will include the CSR."

"I expect protestors," the King said, "But neither I in specific, nor Canissia in general, can dictate to the CSR what is in the best interests for their territorial defense... I--"
"--I'm sorry, sir," the DDM said, nervous about interrupting the King, "But I cannot reiterate enough, there is a lot of resistance to nuclear weapons, and it's not just the Greens or the peacenik groups, nor even the Labor party," he said, "Minister Tenn and I get a lot of resistance from the upper echelons of the military as well. The very idea of nukes insults their sense of battlefield honor and purity of arms."

"Funny, they don't seem to share the same reluctance for chemical or biological weapons," Arik said, "And I for one find biological agents to be far more insidious."
"Sir, as you know, the Canissian biowar projects only target--"
"--I know what they target," the King said, "Contrary to what some may say, I read all the folders on my table each morning. That's why I typically don't have any appointments until noon. We're working with the CSR not individually, but as a continental agreement. It is multilateral and not an endorsement of Comrade Stas's nukes."

"It will be interpreted that way, though, sir," Miss Katerin said, uncomfortable with the exchange and being formal with her husband under the circumstances, "There will be pressure in military and civilian circles to use the THEL project as leverage to encourage the CSR that nukes are not necessary, even obsolete."

There was silence around the table for a bit. The King was irritated that his own people were throwing barriers in front of his desires for progress, but at the same time this was precisely why he'd chosen the people he did-- they were honest and ballsy enough to get in his way if the facts demanded it.

"Alright," he said, cracking a smile, "I'll include something about encouraging nuclear... limits or something. But I don't want to alienate Stas... Comrade President Stanislav. We need the CSR on board and pissing in his corn flakes about his nukes is counter-productive. We have to accept his nuclear program if we want him aboard on our other projects... and after the dust-up with Tian Xia, he may well feel the MESS owes him some slack."

"Tian Xia kinda backed us into a corner on this," Miss Jia mumbled.
"Not half the corner we'll be backed into if word gets out about our covert funding of our own ...special project," Arik said, and looked around to make sure none of the PeZookian staff were within earshot.

"In regards to that," the DDM said, "We need something to show for the money. Black projects and national security go so far."
"Roll some of it into support for the space program, and robotics. Let's contact some of our friendly media outlets and make noise about our robotics tech so we have something chewy to point to when there's questions about where the money is going."

"Won't the Labor Party and Greens still raise a fuss about military robotics?" Jia asked.
"They might, at first," Arik said, "But the research money will be going to a lot of universities, a lot of scholarships, and we'll push the angle that every robot on the battlefield removes a young Canissian from the front lines, while employing, God, at least five or six techs. Who can complain about that?"

"If Minister Foxglove can find a way, she will," the Deputy Defense Minister said with a smile. It was well-known that Minister Myra Foxglove of the Greens Party was one of King Arik's biggest gadflies in the Parliament, but at the same time he had a soft spot for her because of the help she gave when Jia was kidnapped by radical eco-terrorists. It was that incident that caused her to go into politics.

"We'll proceed ahead as planned," King Arik said, "With flanks and screens in place. Let's get on it... and Katerin, hon, see if you can get ahold of President Stanislav's secretary and try to arrange for us to meet with him as well. Let's get some face-to-face time with the CSR and open lines of communication so we can proceed more easily..."

[Raj Ahten]

Operation Stabilizer Update

The FTO's operation Stabilizer in the CFR entered anew phase recently. Their forces have taken control of all major population centers and mining areas. Aid shipments and reconstruction projects started immediately there after. In the areas of heaviest FTO presence, there is peace after decades of violence.


Humanitarian aid being unloaded at Flensburg's airport.

It is a very tenuous peace however. It is calculated that only a small percentage of the militias and other armed groups in the country have been disarmed. The FTO barely has any presence in many rural areas, where bandits continue to operate with impunity.


Bandit Gang in the CFR Interior

For more worrying has been the response of some factions of the Revolutionary Front. The Iron Tigers In particular are putting up fierce resistance, having seized Indhopal's negotiators as hostages and demanded that the FTO withdraw its forces from the country. They have started attacking FTO troops in the wilderness areas, playing a deadly game of ambush and counter ambush. Outside analysts say that groups like the Iron Tigers are very angry about the loss of their diamond mines, which generated huge revenues for their commanders.


Iron Tiger Fighters say no FTO troops will leave the Jungles alive.

Indhopal's Special Reconnaissance Group, backed by the 7th. Royal Marine Regiment, has been the primary force tasked with rescuing the captured negotiators and combating the Iron Tigers. There is sure to be a bloody showdown in the forests and jungles of the CFR.


Troops from the 7th. Marines Regiment Raider's Company on patrol in the CFR

[Siege]

Bedroom Secrets

Presidential Palace, downtown San Dorado



Fifteen floors. That was how much space the president of San Dorado had to himself: fifteen floors of one of the largest skyscrapers of the city. The enormous overabundance of space was a status symbol in a city suffering of a perpetual shortage of living room. On those floors could be found a private ballroom, a chopper deck, a war room, a swimming pool, a bar, a library, an indoor tropical garden...

But of all the palace's many luxuries, the president liked his bedroom most of all. A two story affair in a corner near the very top of the skyscraper, its two walls were almost entirely built of reinforced glass. From outside the building that glass was mirrored, but from the inside it was clear and offered a fantastic view over the city. Some trick of engineering allowed the president to further darken the glass until it was impermeable to light, or even turn parts of it into a video screen from the comfort of his king-sized bed.

A president in a king-size bed. For some reason, president Hank found that thought wryly amusing.

"What's so funny?" asked Daphne, observing him from the comfort of the silken sheets. Lover, business rival, partner in government... Daphne Sinclair was a great many things. Drop-dead gorgeous was certainly among them. Right now she wore a negligee that if anything indecently accentuated her perfect figure in all the right places.

"Nothing", murmured the president, a half-grin still on his face. "Something occurred to me, that's all."

Daphne hauled herself up to her elbows, which did interesting things to her chest. She smiled. “Well then Sidney, since you’re thinking of nothing, can I ask you a question?”

The president took his gaze off the million lights of the city and looked around, frowning slightly. “Sure. Shoot?”

“How do you think the future’s going to look?”

“Global thermonuclear war”, the president replied without thinking. He immediately felt like slapping himself. He had a pretty firm grasp on the two semi-separate parts of his memory by now, but every once in a while something accidentally slipped out, usually at an extremely inopportune time. Like now.

Daphne pulled a face. “Global thermonuclear war? Really? How do you reckon that? There’s not a single nuclear weapon in the world right now!

I reckon that because I know the bastards who rule this world in ways you couldn’t imagine, the president thought. But of course he was pretty sure that he couldn’t actually say that without breaking some of the rules of the game and risking the associated unknown but undoubtedly increasingly unpleasant punishments.

So instead he put a slight twist on his answer. “There’ll be nukes in the world sooner rather than later. A year, perhaps even less. But you see, I don’t believe the existence of arsenals full of nukes is going to deter all world leaders from starting wars. I look at recent history, and see an endless series of conflicts – conventional now, but once people get their hands on nuclear warheads, all bets are off. It’s a matter of time before someone starts flinging nukes around over some perceived slight. And then we’ll all be right and properly screwed.”

“Says the man who’s ordered my RED KING to look into weaponizing all the deep jungle creepy crawlies they could get their hands on.”

The president shrugged. “To be honest, I’m less scared of biochemical weapons than of nukes. At least the germs leave the cities intact.”

“What a practical way of looking at things”, smiled Daphne.

“I’m a practical man”, the president grimaced. “That’s why I’m president.”

“Don’t think I hadn’t noticed.” She smiled seductively and let the sheets glide just a little farther off her body. “Anyway, am I to conclude from your pessimism that it’s best to not worry about the future and enjoy the time we have?”

The president grinned and slid back into the bed. “I say cheers to that.”

[RogueIce]

In the air, enroute to Pezookia

President Shinra leaned back in his chair aboard the Presidential aircraft Highwind after reviewing the latest batch of reports from his various advisors. It seemed King Arik was still in Orena, but that was no problem. He would enjoy seeing his old friend for the "first" time. In issues further south, it seemed Shepistan had so far remained pretty quiet during the Old Dominion's reassertion of its treaty perrogatives regarding the archipelgo. He wondered whether it was due to Sheppard showing an unusual amount of restraint...or if he was just waiting for everyone to let their guard down. Unfortunately, not being a mind reader, he didn't have an answer to that.

The speaker pinged at him, and he pressed a button. "One hour until landing, Mister President."

Rufus acknowledged the pilot and went back to reviewing the seemingly never ending reports on all the conflicts of this world: Veleria, the myriad problems down in Freseque - not all of them generated by Tian Xia or the CSR - the uncertainty existing down by the Crater, and all of this business with the Border States on the Old Continent.

He shook his head. It seemed that, once again, the world given to the SDNers was going to lurch from one conflict to the next without end...well, at least he hoped it didn't end on their watch again. No longer surprised by this, he had wearily accepted it long ago. Goddamn 'flamewarriors' was one of his favorite, if entirely private, curses since Q had thrust him headlong into all of this.

[Coiler]

Coilerburg's military was a time bomb waiting to go off. Every branch of service wanted more and better equipment, and believed that it could obtain that if it took over the nation. Every branch of service had its own plans that it believed were the key to lifting Coilerburg out of the mess it had gotten into.

Part of the reason for the Coilerburg navy obtaining seven Burkes was to appease the navy, to give them nice shiny warships to satiate their hunger. But as always, giving them a bite meant they wanted more.

It was no secret that the Coilerburg army was the least well-equipped of the branches, under the leadership's rationale that they "didn't need more advanced equipment to fight militias". The generals considered that lies to divert money away from them, and wanted to change that.

The air force was the most content, but it too wanted more. It felt that the attempts to appease it by giving it countless fighters were misguided-that the brainless defense secretaries were shoving forward too many fighters suited for a conventional war it was unlikely to fight, rather than the transports and COIN aircraft needed for the wars it was fighting at the moment.

All services had their grievances against the civilian authorities. All services believed that cutting back on civilian programs they deemed unecessary would free up badly-needed funds for the militaries needed to win those wars for good.

So the top brass of each service met in a semi-informal setting to discuss plans. Out of that meeting came Operation Phoenix. Some time later, they met again. Out of that meeting came the decision to launch Operation Phoenix.
_____________________________________________________________

Much of the Coilerburg army was in the CFR, but there were more then enough troops on native soil to carry out the operation. Army vehicles began moving into the capitol as planes screamed overhead and the Extender launched a heliborne assault.

President Jeffrey was unaware of the situation until it was too late for him to stop anything. Airborne troopers landed on the outside of his presidential palace, to eject him forcibly if they had to.

Unbeknownst to them, the staff had figured that it was a coup the moment they saw the first planes in the sky, and had the president snuck out in a utility truck. He had escaped the first strike, but his future fate was definetely uncertain.

As a terrified Jeffrey sat huddled in the shed that served as a temporary shelter, he saw the oddly familiar sickly-looking woman walk in. Marina the moderator.

"Marina, what the fuck is going on? I'm losing control of my country!"

She gave him a twisted smile and said "Too bad. There's nothing in the rules that says you have to stay in power."

As she turned to leave, she suddenly spoke as if remembering something. "Oh, and don't ask me or Q to put you back in control. If you do, I'll tell the army where you are, or maybe do something much worse."

The way she said "much worse" was almost as terrifying as the coup itself. With the smile on her face, she simply disappeared, leaving Jeffrey alone again.

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish Ministry of War
Internal Orders - 1st Armored Division - OPERATION STABALIZER
FROM: Her Excellency Countess Truman, Minister for War
TO: General John Sparr, CO 1st Armored Division

Sir,

You are ordered to offer the assistance of whatever forces can be spared from the pacification of Flensburg to the Indhopal Special Reconnaissance Group in their campaign against the Iron Tiger Fighter bandits. It is the belief of myself and His Grace that the elimination of the most potent resistance group will ease the passage of the CFR into peace and security.

Baerne Invictus,
Countess Truman

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

Baernish Ministry of Finance, Economics, and Industry
Funding Request
FROM: His Excellency Count Sabrino, Minister for Economics, Finance, and Industry, in consultation with Her Excellency Countess Truman, Minister for War
TO: Senate Appropriations Committee

The Ministry of War hereby requests that funding and approval be provided for the creation of a second Armored Divsion of His Grace's Army, the need for which has been demonstrated by our heavy troop commitments in the CFR.

[Coiler]

Address made by the Coilerburg Armed Forces after the coup

Like in 1975, Coilerburg was plauged by ineffectual, corrupt rulers who had ran it into the ground. Like in 1975, we have taken action against it. One only needs to look at the sad state of our military to see the damage done by the former authorities. An army that receives very little money despite seeing the most fighting of all our services. An air force with too many teeth and too short a tail. A navy that has much more expense then is needed for a small coastal force, but is too small for an oceanic fighting force.

With Frequesue constantly tearing itself apart, strong, capable leadership and a strong, capable military is needed to hold it together. I ask you this-who is better suited for leading a continent plauged by war? A young civilian who hasn't done anything as strenous as paintball in his lifetime? Or men who have actually fought and risked their lives for their country?

We mean no harm against the FTO. We support it and will continue our support of the campaign inside the CFR. One reason why we have done this so that Coilerburg-and by extension, the entire FTO-can do better in that campaign. Change and reform is needed so that Coilerburg can better help stabilize Frequesue and defend itself.

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish Ministry of War
Emergency Orders - Baernish Ducal Army, Navy, Air Force, All Detachments
FROM: Her Excellency Countess Truman
TO: All BDA. BDN, BDAF COs

Sirs and Ma'ams,

All forces under His Grace's orders are hereby commanded to proceed with all reasonable haste to Coilerburg, there to assist in the suppression of a coup attempt there. The FTO membership the Sovereign Duchy of Baerne and the Republic of Coilerburg share requires this service of our brave fighting men and women.

Baerne Invictus,
Countess Truman

OOC: Coiler, what did you do? I'll try and help, but there's only so much one non-godlike being-or-vampire can accomplish. :OOC

[Siege]

Diplomatic Communique, Priority One

FROM: San Dorado Board of Directors
TO: Coilerburg Armed Forces
CC: FTO Central Committee

We hereby wish to express our deep concern over the apparent coup d'etat that has taken place in Coilerburg, a longtime strategic partner in business.

Whilst San Dorado certainly does not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of our friends and allies, we do hope for a swift and timely solution to this unfortunate crisis that will be acceptable to all parties involved, and we wish to offer our help in mediating just such a solution.

Working together I'm sure Coilerburg, San Dorado and the FTO can reach an accord that will see your military transformed, your military-industrial complex healthy, your government capable and effective, and your former president preferably alive and well. Really; no matter how dire the straits you find yourself in, surely there is no need to settle this with coups and violence?

Was sincerely signed,
On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Director Helena Skye, DEPICOR

[OOC: Please FTO guys, if the whole Tian Jiao/PRSF clusterfuck taught us anything it ought to be that we might want to ask questions first before we send our naval task force up there... Let's see if this new junta can be reasoned with first? If all they want is some better military goodies, San Dorado would be willing to sell 'em at a discount provided the generals relinquish power back to the civvie government in due time.]

[Karmic Knight]

Office of the Sovereign, The Vineyards

“Sire, President Jeffery of Coilerburg has been ousted.”

Brandon, currently dealing with Roger’s latest scheme to get himself some autonomy and deniability, was taken aback by this, “Did they get C..President Jeffery?”

“If they did, they aren’t parading him around public places, the ousters were members of the Coilerburg Army, apparently after more funding. The entire agenda of this operation was to secure more funding for the military, which had been slowly dominating the budget for them. This situation looks grim, sire, should I contact the FTO?”

As Brandon heard the aide speak he began reflecting on his own, very under funded military. Barr and the other old guard know the game, but they are reaching the age of retirement, and Brandon didn’t know who would be put in their place, would he have to deal with a group of rowdy bastards vying for money to be funnelled into a sieve, with no real accomplishments to show for it. Brandon had always been a kind of pacifist, seeing the option of swaying better than the option of coercing. He quickly shook his head, clearing his thoughts and said, “Yes, we need to decide who we will support in the Coilerburg Civil War, if it is still being fought. We cannot support this military domination of the government, but if they are the only option, we must be pragmatic at times.”

“I shall make the calls, sire.”

"Make sure to call Coilerburg's line too."

"I will make sure, sire."

[Raj Ahten]

Baernish Ministry of War
Internal Orders - 1st Armored Division - OPERATION STABALIZER
FROM: Her Excellency Countess Truman, Minister for War
TO: General John Sparr, CO 1st Armored Division

Sir,

You are ordered to offer the assistance of whatever forces can be spared from the pacification of Flensburg to the Indhopal Special Reconnaissance Group in their campaign against the Iron Tiger Fighter bandits. It is the belief of myself and His Grace that the elimination of the most potent resistance group will ease the passage of the CFR into peace and security.

Baerne Invictus,
Countess Truman.

Indhopal welcome the continued cooperation of Bearne's forces in operation Stabilizer. Light Infantry or Special Forces trained in jungle and mountain warfare are what would make the biggest difference when dealing with the Iron Tiger's. Bearnee's forces are already making a huge difference in their area of responsibility around Flensburg.

[Raj Ahten]

Official Reaction to the Coup in Coilerburg

President Raj Ahten's office issued a statement saying he was concerned about the coup in Coilerburg and hoped that the new government would work to avoid bloodshed. The President also called for calm among the other FTO members. The coup appears to have been bloodless and entirely the internal matter of Coilerburg. The President also informed the junta that he wished to visit them personally as soon as possible.

That was the public statement. In private the ISIA was working to see what exactly was going on in Coilerburg. With liaison officers everywhere, getting a clear picture should be relatively easy. In private the liaisons also urged the junta to show restraint with Coilerburg's ex president and said they had been authorized to offer him exile in Indhopal.

[Coiler]

Diplomatic Communique, Priority One


FROM: Coilerburg Armed Forces
TO: San Dorado Board of Directors
CC: FTO Central Comittee

Working together I'm sure Coilerburg, San Dorado and the FTO can reach an accord that will see your military transformed, your military-industrial complex healthy, your government capable and effective, and your former president preferably alive and well. Really; no matter how dire the straits you find yourself in, surely there is no need to settle this with coups and violence?

Actually, a coup was needed to settle this. Civilians simply do not understand war, and Coilerburg has always been involved in one war or another since the days of Iler. To transfer power back to a civilian would be to violate the entire purpose of the coup. Military leaders can run a military far more effectively then civilian ones. We reassure you that we do not mean any harm to the FTO or any of its members.

As for President Jeffrey, our forces are looking for him-he seems to have disappeared. They are not under orders to harm him, simply to find him.

[Siege]

Diplomatic Communique, Priority One

FROM: San Dorado Board of Directors
TO: Coilerburg Armed Forces
CC: FTO Central Comittee

Actually, a coup was needed to settle this. Civilians simply do not understand war, and Coilerburg has always been involved in one war or another since the days of Iler. To transfer power back to a civilian would be to violate the entire purpose of the coup. Military leaders can run a military far more effectively then civilian ones. We reassure you that we do not mean any harm to the FTO or any of its members.

We'll have to respectfully disagree, but this ideological dispute is neither here nor there right now, seeing as that there are far more practical matters to attend to. Once more we would like to assure you that San Dorado is willing to work with your regime to identify the most positive outcome for this crisis. At this stage we are primarily interested in identifying the principal reasons behind your coup d'etat. You speak of "change and reform"; could you enlighten us as to the changes and reforms you wish to push through?

[Karmic Knight]

VEIL Headquarters, <Not In Coilerburg, thanks for Asking>

Things were hectic in the VEIL offices, people were nervous, Possible Outcome # 231342342143 Military Coup of an FTO Nation, had happened. It wasn’t unthinkable, these things happened, but the issue was, it was Coilerburg. “Check, are the Armed Militants Preparing to Invade all the way to Minoy?” shouted one person.

“What is the status of President Jeffery, what is it?” asked another.

This clusterfuck happened quickly, with answers being shouted out as soon as they were asked. The overall feel of helpless desperation gave out to the cold efficiency of the VEIL staff. Answers began piling up, allowing a bit of slack to form, as the operation slowed, a single question came up: ‘What would be King Brandon’s response?’

Roger’s Conference Room

“Today is a good one, we know the why and the how, but now we need to predict the future,” Roger began.

“What, about this Coilerburg mess?” answered the analyst.

“Yes. About the mess, do we think Brandon is going to try to clean it up,” he looked at three shaking heads, and one no committal one, “You have something to say?”

“Yes,” the lawyer began, “what can we actually do? This is a matter that would take, even if we count the full support behind it, a declaration of war against the current leadership.”

“Our options aren’t always conventional, I believe that a new black market will be opening up soon, as the military junta slowly asphyxiates their nation.”

“What makes you think they will choke their nation?” asked the analyst.

“Simple, the fact that one of their old computers, very old, had plans to make massive cuts to civilian finances.”

“We have that information?” bellowed the aide.

“Yes, now what can we do, do we have people in the area to try and get Jeffery out of there?”

“No, we don’t, Indhopal does, do you think we could set up a government in exile?”

"No, but having Jeffery around would have helped things considerably."