SDNWorld Redux: Story Thread the Second

[TimothyC]

Meeting Room, Atlantica Palace


President Cizadlo Thought carefully before opening his mouth - thinking back to his Earth-that-Was.

"Alaska has no problem opening our ports to commercial trade between Pacific Nations, and is open to opening our military basses for cooperation."

"One thing that would benefit us, and is of great concern to the Alaskan people is the integration of the Search and Rescue functions that each of our governments provide. Perhaps a working group to establish means of doing so would be in order?"

[Zor]

Meeting Room, Atlantica Palace
"One thing that would benefit us, and is of great concern to the Alaskan people is the integration of the Search and Rescue functions that each of our governments provide. Perhaps a working group to establish means of doing so would be in order?"

"That would be more than reasonable, president."

[Raj Ahten]

Indhopal Hosts Annual Agricultural Trade Show

Indhopal hosts the world’s largest regularly occurring agricultural trade show. It takes place in Portabella. Indhopal is one of the world’s largest exporters of food products, and is always innovating new equipment and farming methods, especially those for use in harsh climates.



The focus this year is on farms that produce their electricity, as well as new hardier strains of wheat. Of course there are also plenty of standard cows in evidence as well.

[CmdrWilkens]

Ministry of Defense releases annual progress report on "New Horizons"

CGN(X)
Keel has been laid and basic outfitting is currently underway for hulls 1 through 4. Hull 1 is furthest along and is undergoing final system testing in order to ensure full compatability of all current generaiton technology with the upgraded system yet to be finalized fromt he New Horizons projects. Initial procurement dollars invested when New Horizons began have continued to move towards mateials purchases for the full production run at all three contract shipyards. Funding constraints caused by the reent outbreak of hostilities have added 2 years and $4.2Bn to the CGN(X) program price tag. Contract delivery is still expected to completely replace the existing cruiser fleet by 2025.


DDGN(X)
Final design has been approved and keels for hulls numebr 1 and 2 have been laid down.Initial procurement dollars invested when New Horizons began have continued to move towards mateials purchases for the full production run at all four contract shipyards. Funding constraints caused by the reent outbreak of hostilities have added 1 year and $3.7Bn to the DDGN(X) program price tag. Contract delivery is still expected to completely replace the existing destroyer fleet by 2027.


SM-4 family
With some work being farmed out to other MESS members initial Wilkonian efforts have focused on the RIM-168 ABM and M/RIM-169 SAM. Most design work for the RIM-172 ASAT has been farmed out along with most work on preparing the neccessarry communications satellites for systems integration at the completion of New Horizons. Current testing at Centennial Weapons Test Range has placed both the MIM and RIM-169 in final testing phase and LRIP contracting has begun, operational fielding is expected for end of 2010. The RIM-168 has been version altered due to classified systems requirement changes and has begun retesting at both Sea and Land based intermediate range ballistic targets. Operational date is now expected as 2015. RIM-172 has principally been contracted to Tian Xia and remains in mid stage testing and evaluation against non-manuevering optimal cross seciton targets.


SPY-XX
SPY-3A system architecture is now finalized as Block 10/15 for inclusion with CGN(X) and DDGN(X), work has already begun for SPY-3B for FFG(X). Initial system requirements for Block 20/25 have already been laid out and overall program directives call for all ships launched after 2015 to carry the Block 20/25 upgrade. Currently contracts will be coming open for reconfiguring the SPY-3A system into the ASPY-3A for use in the next generation AWACS, procurement target being first operational flight in FY14. SPY-3 retroffiting is already underway on cruisers and destroyers slated to be retired in the 2020-2030 timeframe, all other vessels will not receive SPY-3 or the SLEP-IIA/SLEP-IVD upgrades as they are set to be retired and replaced by CGN(X) and DDGN(X) prior to the current end of life cycle.


Ground Radar
Site aquisition for sensor faciliites, data integrations centers, C4I centers as well as seperate communications architecture have been approved and are moving forward.


Systems Integration
Final award has been made to MicroProse of Hunt Valley for final terminal hardware and software construction. Initial system test is expected to co-incide with sea trials for CGN(X)-1 and then retrofitting of all C4I stations to follow on a 3 year aquistion cycle.


Total program dollars spent: $465Bn
Total program dollars through FY14: $1.71 Tn
Total dollars for complete retrofit: $68.4Bn
Additional aquisition costs not covered under program but anticipated: $284Bn
Percent of Aquisition Budget: 62.1% for FY09, 68.2% for FY10, 71.4% proposed for FY11

[K. A. Pital]

Palace of the Soviets

"...sources say the King and Premier Shady are dead..."

- Damn. Shady should've rounded the entire border state population... - Stanislav leaned back in the chair.

- Comrade, but it's 2009. How do you even know people from the Borders are complicit? - Andropovsky was as shocked as the President.

- My suspicions as of late have turned out true for the most part, - Stanislav sighed. - This case is unlikely to be an exception.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Imperial Chronicles

Flying back from San Dorado, the Emperor was rather stunned by the turn of events in Orena. "What do our local agents say?" asked the Emperor.

"The situation is confusing at best, sire. But they are trying to do their best to determine the situation," said Basillieus.

"I want to know the actual intelligence on the ground, and not learn my intelligence from the damn television. Tell the military attache to get its ass on the double and find out what happened on the ground!" The Emperor smashed the table with his fist.

"Yes sire, I will express your displeasure to the military attache."

[Shroom Man 777]

10 Shrooming Street, Farbanti, Shroomania



The Prime Minister was conversing with a couple of old farts from the House of Lords when word of what had just happened in Orena got to him.

Promptly, Shroom got up and excused himself from the Lords' presence - telling them that they'd talk about the New Solid Waste Proposition some other time. The Prime Minister then went over to his office, removed his wig, and got a biscuit to nibble on while he called Lord-Minister Melchett McMeistervater of SHAFT and Director Johan (Ludwig) Baylor (the Invincible) of the SSS.

"Gentlemen," the Prime Minister said to the telescreen, which had both their faces on split-screen. "Tell me. What the hell is going on in Orena?"

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Constantinople Times

Bumper year for Byzantine Agricultural and Fishery companies.

While the major supermarket chains engage in their dogfight for supremacy, Byzantine Agricultural companies and Byzantine Fishery are reaping the benefits of the competition, selling their products to either company. "Our produce are of high quality. They are fresh. We ensure transportation is quick and efficient (courtesy of Constantinople Shipping and Byzantine Airlines Freight services). Who doesn't want to eat our meats, vegetables, and most of all, wines?" says a spokesman of the Agriculture Collective. "This year has been a good year. Although we might see some degree of problems because of the.. radioactive pollution by Shepistan, we should be able to deliver enough fish to our customers from both our farms and fishing vessels," says a Byzantine Fishery spokesman.

Slow adoption of new RPG rounds developed by Kontos Munitions

Kontos Munitions slowly introduced a new RPG-28BM round which has slightly longer range the original RPG-28 round and heavier by a few kilograms, to give it an effective range of 500m.

[PeZook]

Orena, PeZookia

The bomb crater took most of the intersection ; A corner part of the local department store collapsed into it early morning. Fortunatley, nobody was hurt.

Even as the sun went up, there was a house-to-house search going on in the entire city quarter. Police and military personnel worked together, scouring every single apartment in the locked down area for the shooters, and checking every single ID card.

So far, there was little success. Initial estimates put the number of shooters at around ten, out of which five died during the firefight, one got shot on the run after he fired on a police officer, and yet one another died after taking hostages, killed by a police sniper.

No reporters were allowed on the scene just yet ; Police barricades blocked all access to the city center, and it looked like everyday work would have to wait. Most businesses needed new windows, anyway.

Comissioner Skalski's body was recovered, and eyewitnesses claimed to see him tackle a man who was trying to throw a grenade at the King. He was laid on the curb along with other victims, and would have to wait for the official report.

The casualty count was grim. More than thirty dead, civilians, BOR and police officers, over two hundred wounded: the city center was busy at night, with people trying to spend the last warm nights in cafes, restaurants and clubs all around the place.

The King's body was nowhere to be found.

Farbanti, Shroomania - Hotel von Schrom

"Yes!", Karic was in an elated mood. The destruction he inflicted upon his enemies was incredible - not even back in the 70s, when he was but a young revolutionary, did he ever manage to pull off something that spectacular. And all media reports seemed to indicate it was a complete success, with Premier Shady dead, and the PeZookian king either dead or in hiding. This called for a celebration.

Shroomanians, he thought after ordering chapagne and CSR caviar to go with it, So friendly with PeZookians and so hospitable to their greatest enemy!

He popped open the bottle and poured himself a glass. He'd soon return to Sjenska and claim his country back.

Orena, Royal Air Force Base no. 22

The stitches hurt. The base hospital staff did their best, but Paul was told it would still leave scars. Well, at least he was alive, and no longer covered in blood.

His hands were still shaking, though.

"How many times now, Paul? Do you have any idea what I feel every time something like this happens? I already have nightmares.", his wife, his beloved Queen, was there too. She escaped mostly unhurt, thanks in no small part to the BOR officer who pinned her to the floor of the limo and threw a heavy vest on her. Paul touched her face and hugged her.

"It'll be okay. We'll catch whoever did that, don't worry."

"I just want to go home...", she was about to break down now. Paul could already feel her sobbing.

"This is our home now."

She started to cry.

Confidential: To all ambassadors of foreign powers in Orena

The King and Premier Shady have both survived the assassination attempt. Premier Shady is in critical condition at the Orena Voyvodship hospital, while the King currently resides in a secure location.

Perpetrators of the attack are not known at this time, but RIS suspects some involvement of former Border States power structures.

[Steve]

Official Press Release from the Republic of Cascadia


The Republic of Cascadia extends its condolences to PeZookia and the Shadow Republic over the deaths caused by the brutal attempted murders of King Paul and Premier Shady and its outrage at whatever party has committed such acts. The prayers of the Republic are with the leaders of your nations and your people as you seek justice for the slain.



Results

The Presidential Security Service, a branch of the Republic Department of Security, has intensified security around President Garrett and his family and Vice President Verdes' family, as well as other Cabinent members and leading legislators and their families, should this be the beginning of a string of terrorist attacks on foreign leaders. Some are now calling into question President Garrett's intended trip to the Old Continent in the following year.

[Shroom Man 777]

LIVE on ShroomStratTV
The Sovereign Shroomanian Sentinel
SOLEMNLY, SHROOM SAYS:

"Our thoughts and prayers go to King Paul and Premier Shady - and to everyone affected by this tragedy. The Sovereignty of Shroomania will do whatever it can to aid PeZookia and the USSR, so that the perpetrators of this attempted assassination will not escape justice - so that they will be found, and so that they will face judgment.

"Paul, Shady, I hope a quick and speedy recovery for the both of you, my friends."



*click*

SOFIA
Shroomanian Office Foreign Intelligence Agency


SOFIA was the division of the SSS that dealt with intelligence gathering and espionage abroad. SOFIA's sheer size and coverage was one of the legacies of the sheer reach of the Sovereignty's colonial days - thus SOFIA had branches and people in places ranging from the nations of the Shroomanian Commonwealth, to even shitholes like Shepistan.

Thus, it was not unexpected that SOFIA also had people in PeZookia. The special relationship between Shroomania and PeZookia extended to their intelligence communities as well, and as soon as the Orena situation was stabilized, the RIS began communicating with their Shroomanian counterparts - sharing information and detailed files on exactly what had happened, why it had happened, and who might have made it happen.

The Shadows' NOD, too, began communicating with SOFIA.

Meanwhile, the SSS was monitoring all forms of communications with surveillance ShroomStrats.





Results:
The SSS will be working closely with the RIS and the NOD to figure out who did this.

[Siege]

Internal Affairs

Presidential Palace, downtown San Dorado



"...sources say the King and Premier Shady are dead..." the massive widescreen television droned on, reciting the casualty figures and property damage caused by the terrorist attacks on Orena.

“Damn”, frowned President Hank. “See, now that’s why we travel by helicopter.”

“I wonder what you’ll say when someone takes you down with a shoulder-launched missile.” Director Sinclair smiled grimly.

“You might have had a point if Pride One hadn’t been equipped to deal with just such an emergency.” The President shrugged. “Is that the royal limousine? It looks remarkably intact. Someone just may have made it out of there alive.”

“Don’t forget the snipers and the grenades”, Daphne reminded him. “I’d be surprised if anyone survived. Besides, you heard the news – they’re supposedly dead.”

“Never trust a news bulletin you haven’t manipulated yourself. No, I wouldn’t count the King and the Premier out just yet. At any rate, we can use of this tragedy to our advantage.”

Daphne seemed intrigued “What did you have in mind?”

“Get me General Sturmond on the line.”


La Palma, outside of Tsar Pyotr’s mansion



The air was filled with tension as Lieutenant Colonel Elaine Murdoch of the Armed Interdiction Police came onto the scene. The briefing had been quite clear. Twenty commandoes were holed up in the mansion belonging to the former tsar Pyotr of Misteria, and there were anywhere between twenty and thirty other men and women inside. There was the tsar too, but Murdoch didn’t care about that title. It wasn’t her job to be deferential to people. She was there to take them down.

Word had come down from the Tower in the middle of night that the operation to extract the tsar was a go. Apparently Pyotr was suddenly wanted in Cascadia in connection with some kind of plague, and that was why he was being extradited. It sounded like a load of bullshit excuses to her, if you asked Elaine the Board just wanted the former despot out of the country and any reason to make him vamoose would do. Well, it suited her. She liked a challenge.

Intel gathered by the observation mission that had kept eyes on the mansion for over a week now indicated that the commandoes were using Ralson Terminators, automatic carbines of a light caliber. They were good for this job because in close confines you didn’t have to aim for the target, you could just spray and pray. Of course, they had weaknesses as well.

Murdoch’s people were about to exploit one of those weaknesses. She had six people on the roof ready to go in. She glanced at the Indhopali SRG officers beside her. They looked at the tactical screens in the APC expectantly.

She activated her headset’s microphone and gave the word.

A bright flash and the sound of an explosion came from the roof. It was followed quickly by the staccato cracks of Aggressors spraying hot lead. More flashes followed. Smoke tumbled slowly out of the top floor’s shattered windows. Murdoch heard the characteristic boom of frag grenades going off and grimaced. The crashing sound of metal through metal echoed through the street as the AIP armored vehicles bored their way through the front gate and up the spotless lawn, shattering through glass windows into the lobby of the mansion to disgorge armored troopers. A short silence was suddenly punctured by more gunfire, this time on the first floor. Smoke drifted onto the lawn, obscuring the mansion from the external cameras.

Then everything fell silent.

Murdoch was tempted to break the radio silence she had imposed herself, but she knew that if her voice came out into that building, muted as it might be through the team leader’s earpiece, it might give the opponents something to shoot at in all the smoke. Such a thing had happened to her once when she had been a lieutenant leading the assault herself. Luckily, the terrorists had been lousy shots, or she’d have been hurting as badly as her superior had been when she’d gotten through with him.

She’d almost been court-martialed over that incident, but a board of inquiry had cleared her of all wrong-doing. Her superior officer hadn’t been quite so lucky. Murdoch smiled to herself. Lady Fortune did she love the AIP.

Then the silence was broken. It was John Krakowicz, the team leader. His voice was clear and strong, but she still thought she could hear a tremor from the rush of adrenalin that had to still be beating through his veins. “We’re okay, colonel. Objective achieved. We have him in custody”

“Casualties?”

“A couple civvies have been badly mauled, but most of them are fine. Looks like AIP 24, opfor nothing.”

The Indhopali team murmured amongst themselves, seeming fairly impressed. Murdoch grinned outwardly, but asked herself how much longer could she keep this up? Where was she going to find herself a challenge? Still today had gone well, and there was that to be thankful for.

“Good work, Krakowicz. Congratulate your team. The coppers should be up there momentarily to mop things up. I’ll meet you back at the headquarters for the debriefing and drinks with the guys from the SRG. First round is on me.”

“You’re on, ma’am”, came the reply. Murdoch could almost hear him smile.

Result: San Dorado exploits the focus of international news on Orena to take the former Misterian tsar into custody. He and whatever survivors there may be of his entourage will be extradited to Cascadia posthaste, since they are wanted there in connection with an outbreak of the pneumonic plague that killed lots of people.

[Shroom Man 777]

LIVE on ShroomStratTV
FREECOM FREECHANNEL FIVE!

"...sources say the King and Premier Shady are- "

*click*



FreeCom FreeChannel will now be returning to regular programming.


Now we're back to every kid's favorite Saturday Morning show....


TELETONKINS!




YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Imperial Chronicles

Arriving at the Imperial Palace, a large construct that was right down the street where the Hagia Sophia was, the Emperor called a meeting of his advisers, and his intelligence chiefs. Addressing all of them, "Gentlemen, this severe breach in intelligence cannot happen again. We missed out on the Zagor Empire movements, where we led to think that their troop movements were a mere routine exercise, and then now, we have had a failed assassination attempt on King Paul and Premier Shady. This cannot happen again."

Letting his words sink in, he continued, "The Byzantine Intelligence Agency's purposes is as old as it has been; to ensure the safety of the realm through excellent intelligence. You are granted generous funding every year to ensure that you carry out your jobs. Be it fund field operatives operating in Shepistan, Japanistan, or any where else. I do not want to be caught flat footed again. I want you to step up your field presence and our signal intelligence. I want some results. Never gain are we going to caught flat footed. If you have to work with foreign intelligence agencies, do it! Is that clear?"

"Yes.. sire," said all of them.

"Good, Now get moving!"

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

Section Chief Accacia left on a plane bound for Orena. She was given orders by her Director to organize the necessary resources to hunt down Karic and to bring that bastard to justice. Signal records taken by the hovering AEW&CSI Stratellites over the Mediterranean were being studied diligently by the signal intelligence section and they were hard pressed to find something that would somehow lead them to Karic. It wasn't going to be easy, however.

[DarthShady]

Location: Temple Prime, Sarajevo, USSR

Inner circle meeting

"Gentlemen, the situation is dire. The Premier could die at any moment.", Kane said, "His death will undo everything we have worked so hard to accomplish."

"His life is in the hands of PeZookian doctors now, there is nothing we can do about that.", one of the members of the inner circle said.

"Indeed, but we can take action to ensure this doesn't get out of hand.", Kane said, "Our military has already been placed on high alert and NOD is keeping a watchful eye on the re-joined territories. This could only be a prelude to something bigger. I am asking for your permission to do whatever is necessary to rectify the situation, and ensure the survival of the Shadow Union."

"Do what must be done.", one of the men said and the others nodded in agreement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Location: Orena Voyvodship hospital, PeZookia

"We have him stabilized for now.", one of the doctors said to Sofia. "Will he survive?", she asked.

"I'm afraid it could go either way now.", the doctor said, "But rest assured we are doing everything we can."

"Thank you Doctor.", she said, "Can I see him now?"

"I'm sorry, but you can't. His condition is delicate and we cannot allow visitors.", the doctor said.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Outside the hospital

Black vans pulled into the hospital parking lot, from them emerged a large group of heavily armed black uniform soldiers. They moved in line towards the BOR officers at the hospital entrance.

"I am Brother Marcion, leader of the Black Hand. We have come to guard the Premier.", he said giving the BOR officer authorization papers.

"We were informed of your arrival.", the officer said, "Our commander is waiting for you upstairs, please follow me."

"Get into position.", Marcion said to his men and then followed the BOR officer.

Within minutes more than sixty Black Hand soldiers joined their PeZookian counterparts in guarding the hospital. The place was transformed into a fortress.

Results:

-The USSR is in a state of high military readiness, Kane is now in control pending the Premier's death or return to operational status
-Premier Shady is still in critical condition and fighting for his life
-The Black Hand joins their PeZookian counterparts in guarding the Premier

[RogueIce]

70th Floor (Presidential Office), Government Center, Midgar, Shinra Republic

President Rufus Shinra sat in his office at the top of the newly completed Government Center in Midgar. Formally known as the Vincent Shinra Government Building after his "father", it had informally become known as either Government Center or even more simply, the Shinra Building.

When news had come in that King Paul and Premier Shady were presumed dead after an assassination attempt in Orena, he had been filled with incredible grief. Paul had become a good friend through all of the hell and turmoil Rufus had gone through since Q had plucked him into these so-called games, and the thought of losing such a man as King Paul was almost unbearable. He had been a wise and level-headed friend when he needed one most, and had helped him through the Apocolypse of the first Nova Terra.

His mind went back to another incident where King Paul had been the target of a ruthless cabal. This incident was of course totally unknown to the world populace here, happening as it had in the Other Place. That time, he had been there to help the King and protect him from a coup attempt. His inability to do so now only added to his grief, frustration...and rising anger.

Thus it was a long few hours until word came in from his SECSTATE: the PeZookians had sent word through the various ambassadors that King Paul and Premier Shady were alive, although it was questionable if Shady would remain so.

The feeling of relief was almost palpable. Yet he knew his work wasn't over yet. He sent instructions that his ambassador in PeZookia "at the highest levels" the Shinra Republic's relief that King Paul was alive, and to the USSR their sincerest hope for a speedy and full recovery of the Premier. And to both the Shinra Republic's offer to assist in any investigation as to the identity of these attackers, and the promise of full cooperation, if it was so desired, in delivering justice to those who would attempt to murder their leaders.

Elsewhere, the Shinra Republic Executive Security Service, the agency responsible for protecting the President and other high government officials, was placed on alert in case this was a multi-pronged attack, or if anyone else decided to play copycat. Increased security measures were ordered for the embassies in Orena and Sarajevo as well, just in case.

[Beowulf]

Ares Blog

The TXA's mobile PATRIOT upgrade is proceeding apace, using new vehicles license produced from GSD designs. In conjuction with this upgrade is the mobile SLAMRAAM upgrade which uses new launch vehicles to permit fire on the move capabilities using the MIM-162E SLAMRAAMER missile. The entire upgrade will massively increase the TXA's capabilities due to there no longer being any requirment for a lengthy setup for the missiles.

The TXA recently annouced a plan for mobile LAS-ER systems, allowing the use of the proven MIM-66 Standard missile in support of mobile army operations, leveraging off the existing Land Aegis System - Extended Range, which equips the Air Defense Corps.

In other news, the first FG-64 hull for the TXN has been delivered, and is currently fitting out. This ten ship class will replace the remaining Perry class frigates, providing immense capability for low cost. It's possible that more ships of this class will be procured to outfit the TJN as well, given it's suitability to littoral waters, such as those that make up the Yangtze which bisects Tian Jiao.

In more navy news, the TXN has redesignated the DGN-52 flight II ships to cruisers. This may be an indicator that they are much larger than previous ships in the class, if in fact, they share any design features with the DGN-52.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Communique to USSR

From: Byzantine Foreign Ministry

Comrade, the Byzantines share your remorse and anguish over the current state of Premier Shady. Rest assured that the Byzantine Imperial Army stands ready to ensure the territorial integrity of the USSR and if you need further aid, we will be more than happy to provide. Should you also need our doctors, we will be more than happy to send them to Orena.

Yours truly,
Byzantine Emperor Heraclius IV.

[K. A. Pital]

Severomorsk, CSR, deep night


A dark night engulfed the city and the river. The new-born ice on the river was creaking and moaning, as if a living being was tortured somewhere deep below the waters. Strong and cold wind howled around the streets, flying further and further from the river and carrying the dreadful sounds deeper and deeper into the city - from the nigh-dead industrial and shopping blocks to the urban quartals.

Stanislav opened the window and carefully listened to the sounds of this night.

Today he was alone here in this Winter Palace, save the guards. Andropovsky departed for COMMUNE-2. The President sighed... He was to inspect the shipyards and see how well the construction is proceeding on the new CSN Ships. Simple tasks, but he was already feeling weary. Age, eh? He smiled. Better wait for good news tomorrow morning.

Stanislav flipped his radio channel to a music one.

...They get better year by year
With a frightening efficiency
Killing thousands in one strike
By pushing just one button...

There was still a lot of papers to see through.

Island of Novaya Zemlya, CSR


- Comrade General, everything is proceeding as planned. Target is some 30 km away. We took additional safety measures. Possible yield error is presumed to be around around 4 kiloton, just 1% of total, but still. This is the first such explosion and we are not sure, even as the Tonkins exploded one of those devices.

- Very good, - General Korabelnikov gave a slight nod. - However, our design is different, thanks to bypass intelligence from the files Yuri gave me. So we can't rely on what the Tonkinites did.

- This design is more powerful, but we are most certain it will work, - the Byzantine Exarch who was present in the chair next to Korabelnikov looked calm. - We also have... a confirmation from our sources, - he pulled the black glasses on, like all in the observation post did.

Pezookian and USSR observers chose to remain silent, awaiting the test results patiently. Too much happened in their home nations recently, too much to speak of right now.

The hundreds of workers in the complex rushed to their positions. The biggest detonation in the history of the CSR will soon become reality... or not, and then - heads will roll.

- ...tri, dva, odin... ignition.



Result: 400 kt dirty thermonuclear bomb is exploded on Novaya Zemlya.

[Steve]

1st District Federal Court


Tsar Pyotr III had not been on Cascadian soil for twenty-four hours before he was brought from a federal max-security prison to his formal arraignment in the Republic's Federal Courts. The portly former monarch had a dignified and calm expression on his face as he was brought in wearing gray jaul coveralls, hands shackled before him, and a thin brown-haired man from one of the most prestigious law firms in Seattle standing beside him as defense counsel. Judge Alice Koniwicz stood in arraignment. "The suspect is charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder in the case of Anatoly Gorshkov," Koniwicz remarked. "I remember that, poor man caught the pneumonic plague."
"Your Honor, it has been the finding of the investigation into that case that Mr. Gorshkov was infected intentionally with the plague while visiting friends in Ashant," Jerry von Luck, an attorney from the Justice Department, said. "And that the guilty party was the Royal Intelligence department of the Tsarist government of Misteria. As the head of state of Misteria at the time, Mr. Pyotr Omotrov was in a position to directly authorize the killing or to at least have known it was being planned."
"Your Honor, I had no idea that this man was intentionally attacked, and I deny the concept that my security would murder a family man in such an uncaring way," Pyotr protested, "even if he was a traitor. Even traitors have a right to die like men!"

"Defense counsel, please inform your client to quiet down," Judge Koniwicz remarked calmly. "He is only to give a plea."
The defense lawyer whispered in the deposed ruler's ear. "Not guilty!" Pyotr loudly declared.

Koniwicz nodded and replied, "That's better. Bail?"
"We ask that the defendant be remanded," von Luck said. "The Misterian royalist secret service has maintained extensive resources and offshore financial assets that could help the defendant flee the jurisdiction clandestinely."
"Your Honor, I do not intend to flee, not like my son!" Pyotr shook his head furiously. "I am here to defend my name and honor from the charges!"

"That's good to hear," Koniwicz remarked. "I'm sure you won't mind then when I accept the prosecution's request. Defendant is to be held without bail." She turned to face the government prosecutor. "Mister von Luck, I must admit I fail to see how the Grand Jury handed down an indictment on this case, at least not without being motivated politically more than legally. Is there any actual evidence that the defendant ordered that the victim be poisoned?"
"We have the findings of Cascadian and Ashanti investigators, Your Honor, to confirm that the Misterian secret service performed the killing. Given the way the Misterian government is run, it is hard to fathom that it was not ordered by the defendant. We are currently working with the provisional republican government to find documentary evidence on the case..."
"Your Honor, I again protest that..."
"Mr. Omotrov, if you speak out of turn again I will hold you in contempt."
"I am not a 'Mr. Omotrov', I am Tsar Pyotr...!"

Koniwicz slammed the gavel down. "I find you in contempt of court. Bailiff, remove this man."
"Your Honor, my client has a right to face the court..."
"Technically, he already has," Koniwicz remarked, "as his plea of not guilty on all charges was taken down." As the Tsar was pulled away from the table where he stood to be taken to holding and a return to prison, Koniwicz added, "And you can give him the play-by-play to come. Mr. von Luck, I am not in the habit of sustaining charges on such flimsy evidence and nor are any of my colleages. You have one week to introduce some kind of corroborating evidence or the charges against Mr. Omotrov will be dismissed, do you understand?"
Von Luck nodded stiffly. "Yes, Your Honor, I understand."

"Good, next case...."



Several Hours Later


Von Luck had been forced to quickly pack everything he'd need while the Justice Department arranged a translator to go with them. Their choice came from the State Department across the street, a former official attached to the Cascadian Embassy in Misteria (Cascadia had been one of the few nations to maintain diplomatic relations with the reclusive Misterian nation during the darker days of its monarchy), and Annabelle Santini was waiting for von Luck at the terminal in a red and black business suit, looking very proper and professional. The brunette accepted the handshake and introduced herself, von Luck doing the same. They waited for the B777 from Trans-Pacific Airlines to begin loading for the flight to Empyrean City, during which Santini provided him a layout of what to expect.

They had just a few days to find any kind of proof linking Tsar Pyotr III to the Gorshkov murder or the charges would be dismissed. There was still the potential of extradition for him to Ashant and Adabani, where over twenty thousand people eventually died from the epidemic of pneumonic plague that the Misterians had caused when they infected Gorshkov, but the laws were tricky, and the defense counsel for the deposed man even trickier. It was still quite possible that Tsar Pyotr III would be able to get away scot-free to join his son Nikolai in the tropical paradise of the Caymans to enjoy the billions they had tucked away in the years leading up to the Revolution.

[K. A. Pital]

CSN Destroyer Besstrashny leaving Grozny Harbor for Misteria


- You know, comrade Trosca, I feel you still don't understand the tasks of a communist.

- Such as? - Fidel asked his companion - a CSR emissary, Ernest Cheburashkin.

- Such as utilizing the best option possible at the moment, and only using violence when absolutely needed, - Cheburashkin, named after the popular children's book character Cheburashka and often called "Che" by peers drew a circle with his finger. - We are to use parliamentary fight when possible. But the communist party's strength is always in it's centralized command and devotion to the course of action once decided by internal debate. The Anti-Purge Clause always allows divergence, but once the opinion is taken, there's no way back. When we fight within the legal field, we go to parliament to make ourselves heard. When a Revolution is near, we support it. When the repressive financial and industrial circles in the capitalist government decide to enact a dictatorship to protect their private property from they very people they claim to serve... we throw the parliamentary fight and start fighting in earnest. By that time we are already outlawed, probably. That's how it usually goes with the multitude of revolutions. Devotion, flexibility, centralized and effective command. We are a party, we are a paramilitary, we are a state administration ready to take the rule from Day 1. We are a shadow state-within-a-state, this is why we can take power. The will of the people is not sufficient to allow for that - if we do not maintain ourselves as an effective force ready to speak, fight and command at the same time.

- How about the, um... historical inevitability of communism's triumph? - Fidel laughed. - Sounds like fiction.

- We are the bayonet making history, - Cheburashka returned to his chair and ignited the cigar. - Without people, social laws cannot come into action. If we die, others will do it... sooner or later. However, they can fail. The onset of the New Age will be delayed by years... maybe decades. But future will come.

- There's only six of us. There's no communist or socialist party in Misteria. The Tsar did everything to destroy even a semblance of that!

- You know that Jewish myth? The forbidden fruit is always the most wanted. We will see.

[DarthShady]

Communique to USSR

From: Byzantine Foreign Ministry

Comrade, the Byzantines share your remorse and anguish over the current state of Premier Shady. Rest assured that the Byzantine Imperial Army stands ready to ensure the territorial integrity of the USSR and if you need further aid, we will be more than happy to provide. Should you also need our doctors, we will be more than happy to send them to Orena.

Yours truly,
Byzantine Emperor Heraclius IV.

Communique to the Byzantine Empire

From: USSR Foreign Ministry

Friend we thank you for your kind words and your support. We appreciate any assistance that you provide. We would like to ask you to place your forces in the re-joined territories on high alert and instruct them to be ready for anything. We have reason to believe that the vile criminals who attacked the Premier and King Paul might also try to threaten the integrity of the USSR. Premier Shady's condition is still unstable but we believe that PeZookian Doctors are more than capable of treating his injuries. The situation is dire and we must proceed with caution, once again I thank you for your support. Let us hope that the Premier recovers soon and that those responsible are brought to justice.

Yours truly,
USSR Foreign Minister Zoran Stojkovic

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Communique to the Byzantine Empire

From: USSR Foreign Ministry

Friend we thank you for your kind words and your support. We appreciate any assistance that you provide. We would like to ask you to place your forces in the re-joined territories on high alert and instruct them to be ready for anything. We have reason to believe that the vile criminals who attacked the Premier and King Paul might also try to threaten the integrity of the USSR. Premier Shady's condition is still unstable but we believe that PeZookian Doctors are more than capable of treating his injuries. The situation is dire and we must proceed with caution, once again I thank you for your support. Let us hope that the Premier recovers soon and that those responsible are brought to justice.

Yours truly,
USSR Foreign Minister Zoran Stojkovic

Communique to USSR Foreign Ministry

Comrade, it has come to our attention that perhaps we should combine intelligence assets to track down those possibly responsible for the attack on Premier Shady. We believe that some remnant of the elite of the Border States may have conspired to lead this dastard attack. Suggest that we track down all possible men and then execute them, swiftly. After interrogating them, of course.

Yours truly,
Byzantine Exarch Decius.

[Siege]

Ante Up

Above the Costa de los Cinco Muertes



Two weeks had passed since the incident at Gortinez Harbour when the Citidef force stationed on the Costa got its second warning that something was going seriously wrong just south of the San Dorado border. The men and women of Dog Company were patrolling the sparsely populated uplands of the Sierra Hermosillo when the tacnet aboard the lead chopper suddenly lit up.

“… all troops be advised”, the radio crackled into the cabin, its volume straining to overcome the noise of the rotors surging overhead. “MIC HUMINT reports civil unrest at grid coordinates Alpha Zero One Zero Two. Gunfire is reported. All troops in the area move in to suppress. I repeat…”

“That’s near us corporal!” Rohrer shouted over the wind.

Corporal Alex Ross nodded and grabbed the microphone to respond. “This is corporal Ross, Dog Company, 3rd Platoon. We are moving to suppress.”

“Confirmed corporal. You are now weapons free. Fortune bless.”

The drone of the dual engines modulated as the four UH-1 Bad Penny helicopters swung off the path of their regular patrols over the Sierra Hermosillo, down toward the indicated coordinates.

The unrest was easy enough to find – minutes after the helicopters had diverted their course a column of blackened smoke appeared on the horizon.

“That can’t be good”, private Stafford shook his head and clutched his assault rifle. Ross silently concurred. He felt an eerie sense of foreboding.

Sure enough the rural community looked more like an abattoir than a village. The helicopters landed in the middle of what had been the market at the heart of the hamlet. Now it was a slaughterhouse. A massive explosion had ripped through the gas pump at the edge of the square, flattening most of the surrounding buildings. Those structures still standing bore signs of struggle: cars had been driven into walls, windows where shattered, blood spattered against wooden doorframes. Fires raged throughout the village.

There were dead everywhere. Some people had been burnt by the fires. Others had been torn apart by the explosion. Some had been killed by gunfire, not with automatic weapons but with shotguns. But many others looked as if they had simply savaged one another with their bare hands, clawing and tearing at their fellow human beings until their bodies had simply given out. Men, women, children. All dead, their bloodied faces contorted insanely.

“These people killed each other”, muttered Rohrer. Even the cynical machine gunner looked faint. “They all… killed each other. What the hell did they do that for?”

Ross shook his head. He didn’t know. But somewhere in the back of his mind, he was unpleasantly reminded of the strange scene the soldiers of 2nd and 3rd Platoon had encountered at Gortinez Harbour. The hijacked SS Manero, the militias who had slaughtered each other… And the gas masked SDA soldiers who’d told them to shut up and get moving, nothing to see here, forget everything you saw.

Corporal Ross hadn’t forgotten though. But he didn’t have any answers either. What the hell was going on down here?

“Corp’ral!” a voice rang out. “Hay corp’ral! We found a survivor!”

Sure enough, among the rubble of a partially burnt-out rectory Corporal Ross encountered two of his soldiers, crouching over a middle-aged man. His clothes were torn, his face was battered and bloodied. He lay curled up in a foetal position behind an oaken cabinet, clutching an antique rifle in his hands. Nothing indicated he was even aware the Citidef soldiers were present.

“Iban locos”, the man whispered feverishly. “Iban locos. Iban locos!” On and on, the same two words.

“What’s that even mean?” barked Ross, trying to mask his distress as best he could.

Rohrer came in after him and glanced at the shaking wreck of a man in the corner. “‘They went crazy’, is what he’s saying”, the private shrugged, the bands of ammo draped around his shoulders rinkling. “That’s all. ‘They all went crazy’.”

Ross suppressed a shudder. What the hell was going on down here?


Result: Citidef’s ‘dirty third’ discovers that something Really Bad is happening on the Costa. Just how bad, though, remains yet to be seen.

[DarthShady]

Communique to USSR Foreign Ministry

Comrade, it has come to our attention that perhaps we should combine intelligence assets to track down those possibly responsible for the attack on Premier Shady. We believe that some remnant of the elite of the Border States may have conspired to lead this dastard attack. Suggest that we track down all possible men and then execute them, swiftly. After interrogating them, of course.

Yours truly,
Byzantine Exarch Decius.

Communique to the Byzantine Empire

From: USSR Foreign Ministry

Comrade, I should let you know that a joint RIS/NOD task force has already been formed and has begun the hunt for those responsible. Have your people contact the NOD Commander(Currently in PeZookia) in charge of the task force so that he may brief your people on the information we have so far. Let us hope that those responsible are found quickly and that their deaths are slow and painful.

Yours truly,
USSR Foreign Minister Zoran Stojkovic