SD.Net World(RAR!) MK II

[Crossroads Inc.]

Parade grounds of the CCC Tower, Crossroadia

The immense parade grounds outside Crossroads Central were full of a sea of airship vendors, foreign dignitaries and various Airship enthusiasts. High atop one of the many security buildings ringing the grounds, two Ployees watched the incoming group as they relayed information back to the Crossroadian representative in charge.

“So what do we have so far Mort?”
“We’ve got quite a few high level officials in the crowd Zonker, there’s the group from Canissia led by their Foreign Minister, Another Foreign Minister from Red Technocracy and some dignitaries from N’Ton and Vulpesia” Mort finished as Zonker leaned back in his chair.

“Nice, glad to see Vulpesia on bored with things, small nation, but their going to be a huge travel hub for the airships given how big of a tourist industry they are. Anyone else we should be keeping an eye on?”

“Yeah, some real big names, seems the Emperor of Byzantium is coming and we’ve got news once things wrap up with the new “LUN” the leader of Shroomania is coming in as well. Oh yeah, this takes the cake, Colin the III Of the Bear Republic is one his way here with the Lord CEO himself.”

Hughes Heracles Airships, EnRoute to Crossroadia

“Thanks for the Lift from your Republic back home, its nice traveling in style” The High CEO spoke as he looked out one of the many windows, enjoying the view from high above. “Good ship too, we may end up sub-contracting quite a few of our airships to you since you’ve already got experience in construction of them. Of course there’s a few smaller nations interested in building them as well, maybe you could build some offsite factories? Spread the wealth around as it were?” He said before leaning back in the chair and picking up a phone.

“Walter! How goes the conference? Folks still arrving? Good good, We’ll let them mill around for a few days, inspect the vendors, contractors and such, will be a while before everyone is there. Oh! Hows the new set of internal laws coming along? Ive been looking forward to making that announcement. Uh-huh? Fantastic, see you in under a day!”

[The Yosemite Bear]

Well I definatly need to find out who programmed the GPS and the voice activated Help Bot agent for the computers on this "Diplomatic" vessel. I mean it's supposed to be awe inspiring and luxurious, and they programmed it to act arrogant and condesending....

<for those that don't get the joke the designation for the "Spruce Goose" was HK-4, since the Bear Republic's engineers and programmers are full of sci-fi geeks, they decided that the newest model HK-47 would come with a voice activated help program that would respond simular to HK-47 in KOTOR>

[PeZook]

I.S.C.A. Yearly Bulletin

Great Red Fleet to leave for Red Technocracy

With final FCS ships finishing construction for the year, the Great Red Fleet is being assembled off Paradiso Island, PeZookia to sail towards the Red Technocracy.

With fifty-seven ships, this is going to be the biggest convoy ever assembled on New Earth's seas. PeZookia is sending two of its Burke-class destroyers as escorts, to ensure security of this very large and very precoius convoy.

Standard Hospital Ship almost ready for deployment with Shinra

Shinra shipyards have a reason to be proud: They are the first to launch a fully equipped hospital ship as a purely humanitarian project.

This Standard Hospital Ship is the result of close co-operation between ISCA and Shinra, resulting in a floating hospital ready to serve all the world's hot-spots and disaster areas.

"If we had just one of those during the Bear Republic operations, we could have saved hundreds more people with ease. This baby is a gigantic, fully equipped hospital, with trauma wards, intensive care, a half-dozen operating theaters, poison and toxicology and a full array of diagnostic equipment."

The ship, which cost 150 million dollars to build, will probably cost more to bring to full readiness. But it is certainly a step in the right direction.


SHS "Mercy" undergoing final equipment fits in Shinran docks

NPS Powerplant Testbed Ship ready for sea trials

A new age has started with the N'Ton-built Nuclear Passenger Ship testbed prototype. This vessel shall test the Shroomanian CPWR (Civilian Pressurized Water Reactor) throughout the following year, gathering data as it moves about the archipelago on goodwill cruises.

"The ship is a technological marvel",said an N'Ton press secretary,"The reactor can use both highly-enriched and low-enriched uranium, with a switchover only requiring five days in drydock. This means it's adjustable to any country, wherever they have their own nuclear-fuel production plants or need to buy fuel from other countries. It's also rugged, reliable and easy to shut down in case of emergency."

In its current state, the prototype can carry a modest amount of passengers, mostly scientific crews and technicians who will monitor the ship's performance. Rather than fitting armaments, the ISCA decided the vessel should carry a company of Marines to defend it from pirates and anti-nuclear anarchist saboteurs.

"It is more of a statement on the ISCA's mission of peace. We are a civilian agency, and this is a civilian project. Yes, we do mount weapons on the FCS, but don't like it. In light of recent tensions, we felt it would be best to refrain from mounting any weapons on the testbed.", commented the ISCA's spokesman during a press conference

The NPS powerplant is said to be a candidate for a new generation of civilian, nuclear-powered ships. Grand visions are planned, of tourist deep-sea submarines and heavy transport vessels sailing the great seas of our world.

Nuclear-powered FCS variants are being planned in the FY2010 budget, and will enter production in FY2010 if results from the tesbed are satisfactory.

Design work kicks off on enlarged FCS version

The ISCA has used its prototyping monetary reserve for FY2009 to kick off design contracts for an enlarged version of the FCS.

"What we want is to stretch the hull a bit, upgrade the power plant and make it more automated and streamlined.", said the ISCA Design and Testing Coordinator, "We should be able to increase the DWT capacity y about 25 to 30%."

This design project is a result of a deal between ISCA and the UKB, which posits that UKB shall produce 60% of a total of 267 enlarged FCS ships while the ISCA is contracted to make the remaining 40% of the order.

I.S.C.A. urges member states to designate commitments for FY2010

We urge all members nations to state their financial and capacity commitments to ISCA for FY2010. During FY2010, the ISCA plans to finance the following projects:

1) Design of a "Heavy ACV" variant, based on the FCS hull and utilizing ACV robotics.

2) Continued development of nuclear power solutions for civilian shipping.

3) Re-investment into member state shipyards


"We have added two megatonned of shipping capacity to the world's merchant navies this year - and next year, we intend to do even better!", said the ISCA managing director.

[Coyote]

BBC Channels Accepted in Canissia
Recent overtures by the BBC, or Blackadder Broadcasting Corporation, have been made on behalf of opening a broadcast center for news and entertainment based out of the Global Trade Center building, which opened for business last week. This morning, a contract was approved and technicians began arriving from the Kingdom of Blackadder. Soon, BBC broadcasts will be available in the People's Republic of Canissia!

In a related note, TV company CBC, the Canissian Broadcast Corporation, has announced the Anime Channel, broadcasting all anime, all the time. CBC producers, in an unofficial comment,said "A whole class of people will now never leave their TVs, leaving the rest of us free to party."

An international cartoon network is being discussed as well, which will feature cartoons in general rather than just anime in specific.

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish MinFin
File BMF-11

Pending approval by the Budget Committee, His Grace is prepared to commit 150 million USD to the ISCA. We value international commerce just as much as the next guy.

[Mr Bean]

"In National News the survivors of the New Year attack on Zalbania have settled in, the UKB offered refugee status to most of the survivors, 653 people survived the devastating robot attack on that country, some were pulled from the ruins of their country but the Joint Mess/UKB/FUGAL forces, others escaped by boat or crude crafts to local countries. We will be doing a retrospective on their country and the difficulties they had adjusting this week.

"And last a bit of personal news, three of the five countries have already consented to allow construction of local BBC broadcast bureaus. In fact tommrow morning we will be opening the morning show live from the Global Trade Center in Canissian. When construction is completed two months from now the BBC will be broadcast to over 500 million people. Meaning that of the 610 million people estimated to be living our planet, our news cast will reach 83% of the world's population. Thanks to the HISCO satellite system anyone in the world can reach us providing they have a satellite system. But once the various broadcasting stations come online, anyone with a televison or radio will be able to see the BBC.

And on that note this marks the end of our broadcast day, good night and see you again first thing tomorrow."

[Coyote]

ANTI-GLOBALIZATION ANARCHO-TERRORISTS STRIKE AUTOMATED CONTAINER SHIP


Automated container vessels, or FCS's, are economic and efficient means to transport cargo, but with very small crews aboard, they are also easy targets for anti-globalization terrorists seeking to make a point.

"The ships navigate practically by themselves," said dock master Gary Black, "And they're super-cheap to operate, pretty environmentally friendly, compared to regular ships, even," he said. "But very vulnerable to people with violent agendas."

Anti-Globalization Anarcho-Terrorists, or AGATs, operate in a decentralized "cell" structure, with little or no organization to target.

"They have an ideology that links them," says Canissian Special Protective Services Chief Karl Tigh, "But beyond that, they're free to call the shots as each little group pleases. Some strike at land, some at sea, but their goals are the same-- disrupt international agreements that link the nations, dissolve international ties of trade and alliances, and let each country go its own course with maximum sovereignty."

It is not known the exact reasons for their motivations. Some groups may be little more than criminal elements that want a decentralized global power structure so they'll be free to operate criminal enterprises without interference from organized law enforcement. Some may be just anarchic thrill-seekers, others may have darker motives, such as taking over their home countries free of outside interference.

Others, however, have goals that may seem to be laudable ideals, if applied in twisted a manner. Many fear what they think are corrosive effects of economic or environmental exploitation on smaller, poorer countries at the hands of larger ones, and feel that radical action is all that can be done to 'level the playing field'.

Enhanced military or law enforcement patrols can do a lot to deflect such terrorism, but at cost to taxpayers. Some governments ask why they must pay for security of corporate cargoes. But corporations don't want to hire too many security agents on the ships, or to escort them, since it defeats the purpose of economical operations.

Adding to the difficulty is that it can be impossible to tell the difference between ordinary pirates, who want the cargo or the profits, and terrorists, who don't care about the cargo and want only to send it to the bottom to make a political point. Until attackers get close enough to open fire, it is hard to tell them apart. Pirates can be dealt with by on-board security as a last resort, but anarcho-terrorists must be sunk immediately. In between there are huge liability issues for corporate insurers.

"They are making the whole notion of international commerce disruptive and costly again," said CEO Gabi Nuva of Ofek Industries, Canissia. Chief Tigh, however, is trying unconventional approaches.

"The anarchists are the natural enemies of the pirates, really," Tigh said, "Face it, the anarchists' sink the pirates' profits. If we can get the pirates to attack the anarchists, since I assume they have a way of telling one another apart, we may be able to get these problems to solve each other."

Until then, more scenes like these await international sea trade:

[K. A. Pital]

OMSK expands, with Zoria's application approved by the Security Council


Zoria is hereby accepted into the OMSK.

[RogueIce]

ISCA Representitive: "More than double our FCS fleet"

The Shinra Republic ISCA representive has announced on behalf of the Trade Ministry the Republic's intent to more than double the size of the existing FCS fleet.

"We have found that these ships work really well, both in our own trials and observing the operations of foreign users. It is thus our goal to build 25 more FCS-type ships in the coming fiscal year."

It was also announced that the Republic would be contributing the equivalent of $400 million USD to the ISCA fund for research and development.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Constantinople Times

News Headlines

Constantinople shipping sends note that it will purchase 100 Wilkonian container vessels to be built over the next 3-4 years

Constantinople Shipping, which entered preliminary agreements late last year for the delivery of Wilkonian container vessels, finally issued an order for 100 Wilkonian 80K TEU vessels to be constructed jointly at Constantinople Shipyards and at Wilkonia. Constantinople Shipping has indicated to Wilkonia that it is willing to jointly market the product to the rest of the world. Constantinople Shipping already operates a sizable fleet of container vessels numbering 70 and intends to expand aggressively over the next few years. Constantinople shipping is a 50% Government owned company and the remainder is privately owned.

[Coyote]

ROBOT SENTRY TURRETS TO BE PLACED ON CANISSIAN AUTOMATED CARGO VESSELS

In a case of robots defending robots, a Canissian robot sentry gun turret, intended for installation defense, will be modified for on-board ship use.

The sentry guns will be mounted at bow, stern, and amidships, and will have an automated shut-off switch when within one mile of any port. A manual cutoff will also be in the bridge, allowing the crew to override a fire mission that the gun locks onto.

Guns will tie into the ship's radar and communications, as well as the satellite uplink to facilitate identification of potential targets.

"The gun will see an approaching vessel," says Colonel William Axman of the Canissian Army's robot defense research project, "And lock onto it while querying the GPS system about any other known vessels in the region that are on legitimate business. An alarm will sound in the bridge, asking the bridge crew for any particular 'shoot/no-shoot' instructions. Automatic warnings will be broadcast, and finally, if the approaching vessel gets too close and all attempts to warn off or identify have failed, then te gun will target the vessel. Coaxial cameras will capture everything for evaluation."

Colonel Axman is certain that the robot sentry will enhance security at little cost to the companies.

"There'll have to be a weapons master aboard the ship for insurance purposes," Axman said, "But it should be just a formality. I have utmost confidence in these babies."


XB-47 COMPLETES LANDING TESTS

The Royal Air Force's drone bomber, the XB-47, has made successful takeoffs and landings using its own onboard computer, experts at Latransylvania Air Force Base say. The aircraft, a UCAV or Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle, is intended to serve as either a tactical fighter or a strategic bomber.

The vehicle pictured here is making a simulated carrier-deck landing, using an arrestor hook. Both the Canissian Navy and Air Force are looking into drone aircraft, while the Army Air Corps is content with manned fixed-wing aircraft for now, but very interested in drone helicopters, particularly for supply and medical evacuation purposes.

[Raj Ahten]

Bulletin: Sophistacted Pirate Group Operating in Central Sea.
For Immediate Release.

A large and well equiped pirate band has been oerating in the Central Sea for the past three years. It has been confirmed by ProTec Maritime Security Operations that this pirate group have hijacked 4 ships confirmed, with another 7 more classified as likely hijacked by the group. The group's mode of operation is atack merchant ships or civialian yachts at night using closely coordinated go fast boats. The attacks have happened far away from land, so the pirates are most likely making use of a larger mothership vessel. They have always kidnapped the crew for randsom, with over $18 million payed out by insurance companies so far in order to secure the release of the crews. Some 18 men are still believed to be held by the group. In 3 cases the pirates also hijacked entire vessals, likely selling the cargoes on the black market. The cargoes are estimated to be worth at least $75 million on the black market. (Some of the cargo has included military weapons)

The Pirates exhibit a high degree of technical expertese in their attacks, with randsomed crews reporting the use of radio jamming and Night Vision equipment by the Pirates. The group is heavily armed, having the boats equiped with heavy machine guns and grenade launchers, with the pirates themselves having top of the line small arms and body armor. These weapons were most likely acquired when the pirates seized a military transport fleeing from Zablania.

Precautions to take:
Keep a high level security on ship manifests, transit timetables, and routes. The pirates have attacked ships when they are the furtheset away from help, in the open ocean. It is likely they have acquired route data.

Stay alert at all times. The armed freighter was seized while only one man was on watch. Do not let this happen to you.

Report any suspicious behavior to the authorities immediatly.


Note: It is the policy of ProTec not to identify the identity of any of their clients.

[Lonestar]

Fort Sam Houston

"I'd be more than willing to accept a ban on chemical and biological weapons, as well as a partial test ban treaty to include atmospheric and underwater tests." Lonestar said "I am, however, less inclined to accept a limit on nuclear weapons. We know that Shep will not limit himself, why should we?"

"I..." Arik began. There was a knock on the door, and a Ross Volunteer poked her head in, and when everyone stopped and turned to her, she entered the room and said:

"His Excellancy Beowulf of Tian Xia and his Consort." She held the door open and Beowulf and his wife walked in.

"Hey Matt, I don't think you've met my wife yet. Call her Bibble. She's been on the other side, mostly. I thought it was important to bring her to this though. Fireworks go off okay? What'd I miss?"

"As a matter of fact, we were just talking about the fireworks, Other Matt. Ma'am." Lonestar nodded.

"Did you know the specifics?" Rogue Ice blurted. Beowulf turned and looked at him.

"Enough to offer a Heavy Bomber to act as a delivery vehicle, he declined, however."

[phongn]

TASDF Flight Tests F-114G

Tan Son Nhut Air Base - The TASDF has begun testing on the upgraded F-114G, now powered by two advanced F119 powerplants and with an improved radar set. With greatly improved performance, this new Tomcat will provide improved defense for the IRT.

Early testing has also begun on the next-generation F-116F Kestrel, also to carry the F119...


(F-114G Tomcats on testing exercises)

[The Yosemite Bear]

Colin looked down at the laptop, and actually growled. Well I suspected as much, but I never thought they would be that fucking obvious.

get me blackadder and shroom.

Look, I'm going to have to have the biggest military purge since Stalin, and I need the services of a Warcrimes Tribunal to do it!

---edit---
retconned the HK-47 inspired dialog because I thought Bean was a member of the mess....

still need to write a response.

[Redleader34]

Royal Rail Republic News Feed


BBC Welcomed into our lives.

BBC News Programmes will be broadcast live from their new offices in Rail City, which will add new global culture and perspective to our nation. Red said to the press. "The BBC will not drown out local voices, it will add to them, and show the people of this world the wonder and beauty of the Royal Rail Republic." The BBC will be taking over the Radio Towers in the Communications District, where they will be able to access our latest Microwave, Long and Short range communications, as well as other communication infrastructure.

Nuclear construction going strong

Construction on the First Nuclear Plant goes well, with workers pouring cement for various critical industries. Although only in a few months of construction, the nuclear power plant has given "Hope for the future" said Richard Reeds, MP.

New Sports Network founded.
To deal with the rise in global and local sports television, the Royal Rail Republic has opened up a new Sports Network, called Global Sports Entertainment Networks, or GSEN, for short. GSEN is a 50/50 Private and Public Company, with the Royal Rail Republic owning half the shares in this company. The Stock has hit the open markets, and is thought of as a fine media addition to the general world economy. GSEN will promote its brand through broadcasts throughout the FUN alliance, promoting the idea of "Why fight with guns, when you can fight with Sports", helping the world peace initiative. GSEN has also received, in a media coup, exclusive coverage of the new, planned First New Earth Olympic Games!

Red Looked at the news feed and nodded, the thought of Olympic games giving him a faint smile. "Man... with my exclusive contract, I guess I am going into the media business, now about this anime network... from Hey... duke Lelouch... If I didn't know better, I'd swear someone is running this nation like ani..." He had another thought slam into his mind, the new Antonv transport flying around the island for testing. "Japan is a few miles off, so its not so odd... I'd better pay the Reds a visit, pay them back for this sweet ride." He typed in the SDN diplomatic network, keying in the number for the Red Technocracy.

Red Leader announces visit to Red Technocracy!
In a new conference, Red Leader announced that in 48 hours, he would be going to visit the Red Technocracy, as a Thank You and formal diplomatic visit to the superpower. "I want to say thank you to the people of the Red Technocracy for building us this grand diplomatic transport. With this, we can travel the world much faster, and with greater safety than before. I feel that I should see the country that made this grand beast of a craft." Press, any questions?
(OOC If the BBC would like to start its snooping, then here we go!)

In a prison, several miles away...

"Who the hell are you, and why do you want our 420!" The guard asked, the prisoner turning away from the armed dective. "Forget it Kelly, he's not going to answer you, and you know it!" "I know that, Dulles, but I need to get an answer, its been weeks no..." "Sirs, I got a break in the case. FUN sources have reported that this man is in fact... from the Bear Republic. He's a rebel, all right..." "The Libeterian started to sweat slightly, while Robert Kelly walked closer, holding a night stick to the man's chest.

"So, a rebel... I wonder how much the Bear Republic would pay to get their hands on you..." "All right, All right... I'm from the Norse Factions.... I just wanted to sell the 420 on the black market, undercut your sales, and use the money to sponsor our new operation..." "Tell me more.... " "Our leader is planning a raid on your pharmaceutical plant, wants to steal some odd metals, that's all they said!" Dulles and Kelly both gave each other a look. "Well, we just may have found out where to play the trap. Call the Council, they need to know this!

[Raj Ahten]

International shipping companies were getting angry, and insure agencies were getting annoyed. Too many ships had been hijacked in the Central Sea region. ProTec, already having contracts to negotiate in K&R situations with many insurance companies, was given the contract of finding out how and why ships were being hijacked. Many of the large shipping agencies also hired ProTec to help them decrease their risk of more attacks.

The company dispatched investigative experts, many with decades of previous law enforcement or military expierience, to the various shippers offices. They were looking for a rat. They also had the task to advise the shipping lines how to avoid lakes and generally improve security. Some lines that were shipping particularly valuable cargoes took the extra step of having ProTec contractors ride along on their ships.

Meanwhile, analysts atempted to ascentain the pirate band's likely basing options based on all the information at hand. And through it all, negotiators worked to free the rest of the kidnapped crews that they had contracts to negotiate for their release.

They were all confident that they would find the pirates and bring the whole matter to a satisfactory conclusion for their employers.


Meanwhile, a small, unobtrusive office for ProTec opened in the Atlantis Neutral Zone. (Technically, it was an office of the Indhopal government that was being leased.)

Meanwhile, the long awaited Landfall Polytechnic Institue opened it's doors in the capital of Indohopal, financed almost completely through ProTec profits.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Commander Larsen, the Republic Flagged Merchant vessal "Free Enterprise" is setting up a meeting with their "friends".

Val adjusted her Beret and looked extremly pissed. "Ok, this has gone long enough. You can break silence and send the surface forces in the area heads ups, to locations and idenity of the pirates and their trade partners.
"ma'am, if we broadcast in the open the bad guys can hear it."
"Ok, if you know the vessel's scramble frequency use it, just don't tell them who you really are."

[K. A. Pital]

The OMSK vies to clamp down on terrorists, pirates using naval bases in UKB, Technocracy, Vulpesia and Zoria for rapid-response actions.

[Classified Transmission: OMSK nations, how about masquerading some light combat vessels as mere cargo ships and having planes on standby.

We need to put those pirates and anarchists down once and for all.

Anarcho dudes are not that well-equipped, but we need to teach them a lesson too.]

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Constantinople Times

News Headlines

Constantinople Shipping uparms its container fleet.
The attacks on container vessels owned by Constantinople Shipping continue with varying intensity. The vessels are already equipped with remote weapon stations and the bridge is already sealed like a fortress. Radar was also installed, and a crew of guards under the Byzantium Coast Guard constantly fend off pirates and all manner of terrorists wherever the ship travels to.

"This is ridiculous. We had to get permission from the Government recently to uparm our ships to include more weapon stations. Some of these would even fire a RPG round to deal with these... morons. Under Byzantium Law, we do not need to apprehend these fools. We can simply blast them to bits for even attacking one of our vessels." says the CEO of Constantinople Shipping.

The Government has also in recent times stepped up its patrols of trade routes to annihilate the pirates and terrorists. It is willing to enter talks with neighbouring nations to discuss possible maritime security arrangements. In the mean time, the Government has put on order to the Constantinople Shipyards, to construct 20 new high speed patrol boats for the purpose of anti-piracy patrols. It would also assign some of the Imperial Byzantium Navy's Basil class frigates to assist with detection and destruction of pirates of terrorists.

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

Mangka Daily News

BBC Officially Approved

[Wanhua] The Blackadder Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) recieved its preparation permit yesterday from the Governmental Information Office, and immediately began setting up their office in the Wanhua 101 building. According to BBC representatives, the station will start broadcasting on January 1st, 2010, invitations for the opening ceremony have been sent.


Coast Guard Tightens Security

[Clearwater Bay] With pirate activity increasing in the Central Sea, the Southeastern Sea is also becoming unsafe. The Mangka Coast Guard Administration confirmed various attacks on sea routes between Mangka and neighboring nations. The Coast Guards are increasing their patrol, as well as cooperating with the Navy to maintain the security of the surrounding waters of Mangka.


Coast Guard Patrol Boat

[K. A. Pital]

The Korolev Shipyards and TSAGI join up at the Black Sormovo facility to announce a new project

Lun-class Ekranoplane:

Speed: 500kph
Armament: 6 ASM 3M-80 Moskit Launchers

"These ekranoplanes can operate in smaller seas, and the Central Sea is rather small. With a speed of ~500 kph, such a vessel could react to an attack in mere minutes, if it were patrolling the Central Sea. It's advantage over planes is the ability to reside in the Central Sea, and only start up engines to move around and attack, or get out from a stormy area.

In fact, from any point in the Central Sea, it could reach harbor in an hour.

Compared to the costs of running an aircraft carrier with aircraft arount to attack the enemy, this craft seems rather rational.

Not to mention that the LUN's equipment could be useful in a real naval war in the Central Sea, shall that ever happen, delivering overkill anti-ship armament in a matter of minutes to the naval battlefield," - reported the Black Sormovo chief Alexeev.

Red Inquirer: "Don't you think that's a little overkill for the pirates, and a simple bomber or gunship sent into the area could do the job better and arrive there faster?"

Alexeev: "Personally, I wouldn't say so. The key problem of using high-speed bomber or assault aircraft is possible airspace infringements, as well as a general uneasiness in the area when you have bombers barraging over your territory. The Lun is a naval vessel, subject to naval treaties, it cannot attack non-naval targets with it's main weaponry.

We are also thinking that a civilian conversion of the Lun as an emergency relief floating search and rescue ship could be in the works. Such a ship would doubtlessly be of great use here, where distances between nations are very small and so are naval aquatories".


PRAVDA: Neutrality's Sad End

Today a Red Technocracy naval vessel, the honoured ship RTS "Ushakov" decided to revisit the naval platform formerly used as Neutrality Point, fearing it might become a pirate base.

The fears came true.

Pirates operated a converted stolen bulker as their arms and food depot, probably bribing the officials in harbors of nations like Syndromia, and converted the former Neutrality Platform into their naval base, fitted with AA guns.

In the ensuing conflict the RTS "Ushakov" simply annihilated the pirate bulker

And the platform

After that, Neutrality was demolished.






The RTS "Ushakov" sustained minor damage, no crew casualties. No survivors were reported, all pirates perished in the warfare.

The Secretary General today praised the Navy and the sailors, quoted:
"The highly successful operation destroyed one of the main pirate bases in the Central Sea, and for that we exalt the great Navy of our Nation. It seems the pirates were able to capture Neutrality point, due to the fort being abandoned and costing too much to demolish, even though all entrances were welded after the departure. Limited surveillance in the Central Sea, due to fears of armed escalation during the MESS-OMSK row, provided the pirates a good cover to roam around unpatrolled, unguarded seas.

That short blossom of piracy now comes to an end. We report that the policy of the Red Technocracy towards pirates remains the same as towards terrorists. Those are to be shot on sight in case they refuse to surrender, and if they do, they are to be trialled by the RT courts, which administer life imprisonment for terrorism and piracy. In case the terrorist or pirate, with undeniable judicial proof, has actually murdered people, death by shooting squad.

Pirates, ye be warned!"

[Shroom Man 777]

[I am sick of these motherfucking pirates ruining my motherfucking FUN! And sinking my motherfucking FCSs!]


The Sovereign Shroomanian Sentinel
PIRATE PERILS!


The Shroomanian answer to wanton piracy. All forty of them.

The Sovereignty of Shroomania's Mushroom Military has dispatched forty frigates, more than half of its Halifax fleet, to patrol the pirate-infested waters of the Central Sea.

The anti-piracy patrols were initiated weeks ago and, despite recent events, have been reported to be effective in deterring potential pirate raids.

While news of the anarcho-terrorists attack on a Canissian Automated Commerce Vessel was quick to spread, reports of Shroomanian anti-piracy operations were only recently released by the Mushroom Military - citing operational security reasons.

"Piracy is the FUN's first challenge," Prime Minister Shroom stated in another kwik konference. "Shroomania has an obligation to protect its friends in the FUN and its allies outside of the FUN, and as such, we have begun patrolling maritime trade routes to make sure the seas are safe for all nations' vessels and seamen. But pirates are a superstitious and cowardly lot, they can hide in any port and nations can harbor them unwittingly. Thus, we must take care to balance our mandate of security and our dedication to peace - we can't violate foreign waters, but we can ask foreign nations to get rid of those Goddamn Liber- I mean, pirates."

The Mushroom Military and the joint FUN Forces report that the anti-piracy patrols have seen much success. Nevertheless, on behalf of all FUN nations, Shroomania has requested OMSK and MESS allies to begin anti-piracy patrols of their own as well.


A pirate ship on fire, even as it sails back home.

[EDIT!]

"While we are saddened that the Red Technocracy's former Neutrality Point was used for the vandalistic purposes of piracy, we appreciate the Reds' solution to that problem. It is truly the only answer, in dealing with these scoundrels of the sea."

[PeZook]

Paradiso Daily

Great Red Fleet departs Paradiso for Red Technocracy

The 57-ship convoy of newly built FCS freighters has departed Paradiso Island is headed towards the Red Technocracy under escort by the Republic Navy.


FCS convoy assembling off Paradiso Island, PeZookia

The convoy is a result of the first year of ISCA operation - all FCS ships ordered by the Red Technocracy have been assembling off Paradiso throughout the last few weeks, taking on Red Technocracy crews. Now fully formed, the convoy moved out towards its destination.

"This is an amazing sight indeed - but a logistical nightmare",said convoy commodore, RT Naval Commander Ivan Petrovich Pokryshkin, "None of these ship captains have ever sailed in a convoy before, and getting them in line was a real challenge. Another thing is piracy - PeZookia comitted two Burke-class destroyers and five patrol boats, but that's not quite enough. We had to train merchant crews in military drills like watch-keeping. But, overall, the convoy should arrive safely."

Thousands of onlookers gathered to see the convoy sail out. Helicopters and private yachts followed it out to sea for miles, before returning home.

[K. A. Pital]

PRAVDA: Interview with the GenSec: Saddamistan and Syndromia complicit in piracy problem - "Pirates are harder to oust if they can slip back in"

- We must understand that Saddam does nothing to protect the Central Seas from Libertia pirates and Syndromian outlaws, who operate in the waters and cause so much troubles that it actually forced us to run very costly naval patrols, - spoke Admiral Kuznetzov of the Red Technocracy Navy at the Supreme Council Emergency Session.

The Secretary General also adressed the council and, simultaneously, the world community at large:

- While we understand that naval patrols effectively deter pirate activity and force them to hide in their bases, or suffer casualties and possible extermination, this is but a temporary solution. Oil is relatively cheap, but permanently keeping 40 frigates on 24hr patrol, like Shroomania does, is very draining, and a generous gesture towards all of us and we'd like to send more ship fuel to our allies in this anti-pirate effort.

We must understand that until the aquatory is sealed from rogue elements by the efforts of nations in the Central Sea, and corruption in the harbours of the nations in Syndromia, and possibly Mangka and Saddamistan, although we can't claim that with absolute certainity, ends.

Ousting the pirates is far harder if they can slip back in.

A further concern is the Republic of Blastification, which has a deserted, uninahbited lanscape and much of the coastline is free of surveillance. This, too, is a potential host to pirate camps.

I urge all nations to discuss the anti-piracy challenge and tackle it together!

United we are strong, united we shall win!

Red Inquirer: BLACK SORMOVO poses questions



An interview with Alexeev, the head of the newly formed Black Sormovo factory, which was a merger of Black Mesa and Red Sormovo factories situated in Korolev, revealed that not all are happy with the research that Black Sormovo puts into Ekranoplanes.

"We have had those... nutbar guys, come to the factory gates and shout "no to superweapons", "your ships carry weapons of war, and this is why they are sunk", "stop arms trade" and the like, you know" - says the director, - "Actually, I believe those people are connected with the civilian sympathizers of the terrorist AGAT movement, since they propose that our rapid-response craft for protection of our shipping at remote distances be scrapped.

Naval patrols are costly and aircraft may not always be available, as well as the ever-looming airspace infringement problem.

And yet, those fools protest it".