SDNWorld Redux: Story Thread the Third

[Beowulf]

Northern Test Range

This test had been coming for quite a while. The bird that was flying in it had been test flown repeatedly with just the turbofan engines installed, reaching speeds of Mach 3 with them. It was interesting, and helped prove the design, but it didn't advance the manned speed record any. The turbine engine was only supposed to be an adjunct to the dual combustion ramjet that would start to provide power at M2, and continue until it reached maximum speed. Said speed would be determined by whatever got heat limited first. It would also be the craft's cruise speed.

This wasn't a speed test, however. It was merely to prove that the engines worked in the airframe, as opposed to the missile-like HyFly that had preceeded it in development. It's target was merely the M3.2 that everyone knew that Habus were capable of. The Blackswift was fitted with 4 equipment bays: one on each side, one in the nose, and one in the belly. Each was filled with test equipment.

[Zor]

Zorian Veleria

As security risks were growing, their was a fair deal of work going on in Port Adria. The sight of Contuberni (generally abreivated to Cont, pronounced Kuh-on-t in Zorian Military terminology) of Marines or army soldiers on drills were becoming more common while the newly created Port Adria Police Force was taking up an even greater armament that was normal, even for Zorian Cops. A couple more Gatling turrets were being set up by the engineers, each carrying a CIWS cannon to chew up any threat that could be presented and fortified enough to withstand any mortar attack, as well as the installation of several fortified Howitzer positions. The growing fleet barges had also been armed with mini guns and in a couple of cases mortars to fend off raiders.The RZA had placed orders for a fleet of small riverine boats to better patrol the Dragonsnake, and at the same time was desiring a fleet of Amphibious Armored Personnel Carriers to better secure the rivers. Port Adria itself was practically immune to the attack and so far had not seen any risk to the facility, loggers were at risk, as well a few of the agricultural development homesteads nearby. However, the success rate by the Zorian Military in dealing with them was in general successful. So far, they simply could not deal with the forces which the Zorian Military, nor the small foreign contingents could bring to bear. Also at risk were the Egsa tribals, which were longtime enemies of the Malip and a fair number of Jihadis were sidetracked in combat against them. The Zorian government as of late had made things more difficult to the Islamists, supplying these groups with Royal Zordinance firearms, including RZR9 Assault Rifles z90 personnel defense weapons and ZAS-12 Automatic Shotguns (a weapon which the Royal Zorian Army and Marine Corps was making increasingly high use of and referred to affectionately as the Messmaker) to defend themselves with.

While attacks had stepped up, the fact of the matter was that the Malip were not experienced insurgents. They were poorly organized into ragtag groups rarely more than fifty which often fought amongst themselves when Zorians were not in the immediate area and even with the flow of foreign weapons and Jihadis did not have the numbers to dislodge nor the equipment to deal with the firepower Royal Zorian Navy's carrier group could send out against them or their air mobility. The one thing they learned to fear above all else was an attack by a ZA-5 Maelstrom. While the Foreign Jihadis did have a few more experienced elements, most of their casualties were not from Zorian Bullets, but to a myriad of native diseases native to the Dragonsnake Rain forest due to lack of medical support.

The fact of the matter was that control of the Dragonsnake River gave the United Kingdom Zoria easy access to the inside of Veleria and untapped resources inland, a prize that the Kingdom would not easily give up and the Zorian Military was willing to hold against the fires of fanatical zealotry with cold, calculating callous efficiently of the his majesty's armed forces. The attacks, however, did prompt a shift in development programs upriver in the Ironridge mountains. The populations their were in general less hostile and more importantly, were not Muslim but various Polytheist and Animistic groups. However, one thing which had been well met by the population of Port Adria had happened reasonably, the erection of a 5 meter tall statue of the facility's namesake, Queen Adria-I of Zoria, known among the Zorians as the Unifier.

[Coiler]

Coilerburg Army Report on the AA-1 Archer, simplified

The thirty AA-1 Archers purchased by the Coilerburg army and tested have proven adequate for use with the Airborne Brigade. Many problems have been noticed with them, but the most commonly spoken one is the doubt that they are worth more than a much cheaper towed gun that can be carried by a helicopter.

Nonetheless, the Archers will serve as the artillery unit for the Airborne Brigade.....

[RogueIce]

Aboard the SRS Imperator, enroute to Canissia

President Shinra sat in his small cabin aboard the STAR destroyer, going over some paperwork. He had had good visits to the USSR, Shroomania and Byzantium after departing PeZookia, and now he was on his way to Canissia as the final stop. It would be fun to see Arik and the rugrats. And of course the Harem.

The first thing he was reading was a simple folder labeled SOLDIER. It detailed the top-secret research for the Shinra Republic to field an elite 'enhanced-soldier' capabilty. Right now most of it was in the realm of increased and more effective body armor, such as some of the nanotech ideas he only half remembered the US Army talking about before he had been transported away from Earth, as well as various technological developments. Still there had been some research into minor genetic enhancements. Sharper eyesight, better natural night vision, attempts to slightly augment speed and endurance. The goal was not some massive Super Soldier like in the popular fiction, but something much more limited in scale. Aside from such a thing probably not being feasible, the president didn't want a bunch of genetic supersoldiers who would be utterly incapable of fitting into normal life when their soldiering days were done. Which was why, among other reasons, he was deliberately limiting some of the goals.

Another aspect was looking into the "vampire" virus that the OD and Canissia had come across. While he knew the true origins of the samples, he was looking into isolating the regenerative capabilities, to heal minor to moderate wounds without the need for advanced medical intervention. They were also seeing if they could use it to regenerate lost limbs, although even if successful such a thing would doubtless require hospital treatment.

Of course, such goals may not ultimately be attainable. But they would look into them anyway, just in case.

Next, he went on to various international briefs, pausing over the current fracas in Velaria. Goddamn Zor...

"You know," Rufus began, addressing his chief of staff, Brian Sinclair. "We just went in not too long ago and dealt with a coup in Rangatara. And now it seems the Zorians have kicked over a hornet's nest in the region. That makes me rather annoyed."

"Well, Zorians aren't exactly known for their, erm, tact I suppose," responded Sinclair. He was thinking back to the minor row over that police forces of the world book, as well as the current legal battle over San Dorado's building standards. "I suppose this lack is not limited to private citizens."

If only you knew... mused Rufus. Frankly, a nation of Zors worried him. "Be that as it may," he said aloud, "I don't like them screwing up what we spent the lives of our soldiers trying to maintain."

"Frankly sir, I think they've bitten off more than they can chew. They've only got the one carrier, which can only be on station for half a year, maybe eight months, at a time. And that's not counting whenever they have to do extended maintainance. Their other ships can stay on station longer, but about all they can do is use cruise missiles to try and solve their problems, assuming they have them. Which isn't exactly the most useful way to combat an insurgency."

"Not that it seems to be stopping them..." grumbled Rufus. Truthfully he wasn't aware of any actual cruise missile strikes on the part of the Zorians. But their general plan of 'shoot the shit out of everything' was close enough. "Have our assigned Battlegroup in West Fleet take a cruise in the area. Make sure the Zorians see them. Then have our ambassador to Zoria tell their government that we are concerned over the current situation in Port Adria, and politely ask them if there is anything we can do to assist in bringing stability to the region. Remind them that there are other nations with interests over there. All in appropriate diplo-speak, of course."

"Of course, Mister President."

"And see if we can't find a way to at least semi-diplomatically remind them that 'kill them all, sort it out later' is a lousy way to deal with insurgents. And given that A) it seems to be something of an ethnic thing and B) the Zorians themselves seem inclined to choose ethnic sides, that the terms 'genocide' and 'ethnic cleansing' still mean something in this world. And that they're not positives."

"Yes sir."

((OOC: Meh, I'm gonna PM PeZook and we'll do the Kamila thing in unreal time. BTW Zor keep in mind that last paragraph is not something we've actually said to you yet, so you can't go bitching at us over accusations of ethnic cleansing and genocide we've never made. Just want to make sure that's clear.))

[PeZook]

Miranda



Soyuz 4, T+2 days 16 hours

The Soyuz capsule passed the terminator, moving to the dark side of the Earth. It seemed slow, as if the entire flight was a dream, but the capsule was, in fact, moving at nearly eight kilometers every second. For Miranda, the experience was new, almost intoxicating - but it had to be. After all, Thor lived here - mortals in His kingdom should feel like this.

It was her sleep cycle now, with Alan doing stellar photography back in the re-entry module. They only had one cot to share between them, but she wasn't sleeping. She couldn't, not with the Gods so close at hand.

She looked at her watch, and it told her the spacewalk wasn't due for another eleven hours still.

Sighing, Miranda stirred in her sleeping bag and tried to fall asleep again, but the starts twirled and revolved before her eyes even when she closed them.

Soyuz 4, T+ 3 days 3 hours

"Wake up, girl. The sleep cycle's over.", somebody said, gently touching her arm. Miranda opened her eyes and saw Alan, hanging over her in mid-air, grasping one of the various braces which lined the orbital module.

"Oh...hi, Alan...five more minutes...", she murmured and tried to turn over. Instead, she bounced back and managed to entangle herself in the bag's tethers, which secured it to the walls of their sleeping space.

"You're kidding, right? You do know we're on a tight schedule? Space mission? Hello?"

Miranda somehow managed to slide out of the sleeping bag and wake up enough to understand where she was.

"Oh!", she gasped, and sounded almost surprised, "Yes! Space mission, yes!"

Alan rolled his eyes, while Miranda wiped her face with a moist cloth. It wasn't quite a shower, but it did help a bit, "Okay! I'm ready!", she finally exclaimed.

"Good. We'll check the pressure suits, and go over the mission plan one more time."

They got to work. Both pressure suits were stowed securely in the re-entry module, and had to be carefully inspected for any damage. After an acrobatic sequence of events involved in donning the suits in the tight confined of the capsule, Alan and Miranda ran pressure tests and practiced sealing and unsealing. Finally, they reviewed the plan for the next four hours - which would involve an event for the history books, after all - so they had to be prepared.

Rather than using the orbital module as an airlock, plans for the first ever tethered EVA called for depressurization of the re-entry module, with both crewmembers wearing pressure suits. Miranda would then attach her tether to a specially designed adapter inside the capsule and disconnect her suit from the craft's life support systems: oxygen and electrical power would be provided through the tether.

The EVA was planned to last for two hours, and involve a free-motion test with Miranda floating away from the spacecraft, a propulsion test of a small "gas pistol", thought as an emergency measure, and work test involving a simple payload attached to the outside of the service module, which Miranda was to retrieve and bring into the capsule. All procedures, every hand motion during these tests was rehearsed a thousand times already.

"Four, this is Comona Island. What's your status on EVA prep?", came the radio, a few minutes after Alan and Miranda finished reviewing the plan.

"Comona, we are go for EVA.", Alan replied, strapping himself into the pilot seat. This would allow him to pilot the spacecraft and accomplish a rescue should something happen to Miranda on her spacewalk.

"Copy you go for EVA. We have a good biomed feed."

More than two hundred kilometers down, engineers and flight surgeons examined their sensor return feeds carefully before giving a green light. The CAPCOM caught a nod from the mission director and after a couple of minutes, Soyuz 4's crew received the go-ahead.

"Here goes nothing", Alan murmured and donned his gloves. He helped Miranda secure her suit helmet and pressurize her suit.

"Comona, we are switching to suit life support now. Pressurization tests complete, ready to depressurize the cabin."

"Go ahead on cabin depressurization, Four."

With a flip of several switches, the capsule began venting its atmosphere to space. No oxygen was provided to the cabin space by the life support systems, thus pressure dropped rapidly, and soon the capsule was filled with nothing but vacuum.

Miranda, her hands shaking and pulse racing, secured her tether inside the spacecraft and gave Alan a thumbs-up. It was time. The Gods were waiting for her.

"Depressurization complete. I am opening the hatch now."

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Top Secret Report from Defence Science Institute, Hypersonics bureau

Object Interim Special Missile

Both variants of the Object Interim Special Missile has been tested from Su-27, F-15, Eurofighter Typhoon and other known fighters in the SNC. We believe that these missiles will present our forces with more options, and also allow us to replace many existing missiles. A longer range version is under study, with prospect of replacing other stand-off missiles.

[Coyote]

EHAZE Platform Test /Eagle 1



The Zeppelin had gone up, slowly, taking hours to reach its destination-- the extreme upper limits of the stratosphere. They had taken time to run various on-the-way tests on the onboard Eagle lander, slowly adjusting it to the high altitude. The Eagle had never flown so high before, previous self-powered tests had taken place at about 100 feet in altitude, and they were little more than hover tests in place.

Now, while the Eagle wasn't actually "flying" on its own --nor would it, at this height, for some time-- it was, at least, operating in an environment that was similar to whatr it was intended for.

"Positive pressure," said Chief Engineer Mel Tarkon, "All systems go." He really liked saying that in reference to the Eagle lander.

At this altitude, the team walked around in bulky, heated pressure suits, keeping them warm and safe from the hostile near-space environment of the work bay aboard the Zeppelin. The cargo bay was, in fact, opened to the air around them, although only through a series of portholes that could all be closed and sealed automatically if needed.

"I've got a less than optimal pressure reading on the aft compartment," said the voice of one of the other engineers through the suit radios. One of the team was always in the pressurized interior cabin, monitoring all the systems through a variety of electronic means.

"I'll check it out," Tarkon said, and headed aft. The Eagle had three pressurized compartments, only one of which was a permanantly fixed part of the overall superstructure, and that was the cramped aft engine compartment. The forward cockpit/command module was designed to seperate and serve as an emergency escape vehicle, and the detachable cargo pods in the center came in a variety of configurations --or, rather, they will in the future, Tarkon thought-- some of which were pressurized and some were not.

The utility of the vehicle came primarily from the cargo pod ability, and the reliability of the vehicle for crew safety came from the jettisonable command module. And so, Tarkon felt, a great deal of attention had been lavished on those compartments while the aft engine compartment was largely starved for attention.

"Yeah," he said, looking it over, "We got some leaks back here." He wasn't an engine man himself, he was focusing on the overall airframe in its entirety, but he was one of the few outside the reactor and powerplant department that wanted to focus more attention on the aft compartment. He agreed with them that it was the whole reason for the ship in the first place, but for some reason the command module and interchangeable cargo pods had become "sexy" while the superstructure and engine room had become "hard-hat stuff".

"Well, no one's ever supposed to go back there, except for routine maintenance, right?" the cabin monitor said. He was one of the guys that had worked on the complex seperation and sealing mechanisms for the pods.

"It's all gotta seal," Tarkon said, "If the crews need to go back there for repairs underway, it'll be hell in a spacesuit."

He command-ovverrode the aft compartment to remain open as he started writing down and recording the faults. The inside light isn't bright enough, as well, he noted. The nuclear engines were inert for the test, the actual test engines removed and a fake set of the same weight installed. Power to run the Eagle's systems came from a cable hooked into the Zepp itself.

"We need to serious rework the ergonomics back here," Tarkon said, "This is problematic-- damn, tore my suit," he said, fumbling for some duct tape for a quick patch. Testing was halted in places as he quickly made his way back to the pressure cabin and shucked out of his pressure suit. It was a tiny rip on his suit's arm, but enough to require a safety write-up.

"See what I mean? That could have as easily been a space suit in hard vacuum," he said. "This'll set us back a bit." He didn't like the delays, but it had to be done...




Results:
EGL pressure tests bring mixed results.
Complex stuff performed well, simple stuff overlooked.

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


Moon Bay, Canissia
Near Neve Tikveh




Moon Bay had once been threatened with development; indeed, in Canissia's Industrial Revolution it had been choked with factories, sewage outlets, docks and debris. It had taken decades of devoted effort to clean it up, and now half of Moon Bay was restored to a near-wild appearance-- actually a National Park, and subject to low-impact tending by dedicated rangers-- while th eother half had seen development of another kind: refashioning the once grey, imposing, Gothic-horror like factories into a series of gentrified tourist shops and hotels.

It had become one of Canissia's bright shining stars, one that King Arik Coyotus-II found amusing.

"What's that smile on your face for?" asked Isabelle.
"Ohh, this place," Arik said, "It kinda gives the impression that the Industrial Revolution was a tidy affair of neat cobblestone streets and tree-lined pathways to cozy coffee shops."

"Every silver lining has a cloud," Siobhan said. They'd created a bit of a stir, showing up as they did, in a Royal motorcade, but King Arik had wanted things to be low-key and "nice, but normal" for Rufus Shinra's visit. The STAR Destroyer docked at Moon Bay instead of the more metropolitan Central Harbor, nestled in the middle of Neve Tikveh, and the motorcade would go through restored, Old City tree-lined streets through the historical district before reaching the Palace. It was a much more cozy, relaxing, and soft arrival than the pomp & ceremony that, secretly, the King always felt was too overboard under any circumstances.

"Ship's ready," the chief Harbormaster alerted him. They'd timed their arrival perfectly. SPS Chief Karl Tigh held a finger to his earpiece, heard what he liked, and nodded to the King. All security was checked in and in place.

The Royal Army Band struck up as President Shinra came down the gangway, and the two men shook hands and stood at attention for the national anthems. The crowd was small, since the visit was not billed as "Official" and Arik had hesitated to publicise it until almost the last minute-- these were the sorts of things that always attracted protest whackos.

"Welcome!" Arik said warmly, "You remember Isabelle and Siobhan," he introduced them, "And we have young Tristan and Cailin with us today," Arik said, introducing the children. He looked at Cailin. "Honey, please stop fidgeting."

"I want to play," she said, "Hello Mister Shinra."
"Hello!" Rufus said, "You've grown! Both of you!"
"Good day, sir," Tristan said, shaking the hand of the visitng President with an air of maturity. "We are very pleased to have you visit, sir." Arik and Isabelle stifled chuckles, but the broad grins were beyond hiding under any veneer of officiality.
"How old are they?" he asked, amazed.
"Six, now," Arik said. That would mean that their ages picked up where we left off... Rufus did the math quickly. It was another thing that had "carried over" from before.

"The other ladies are at home," Arik said, "With the other kids. I thought this would be a more relaxed visit, maybe enjoy the economic recovery after the end of the bloody wars and all."

"Good plan," Rufus said, and looked around. "Nice place!" he added, admiring the reclaimed urban landscape.
"A scar that we healed," Arik said, "Cleaned up pretty nice. This has since become a sort of unofficial artists' quarter and cultural area," Arik said.

"May have to look around here sometime," Rufus said. They slowly made their way to the motorcade, with the band continuing to play and the crowds continuing to grow. "Is that..." he suddenly blurted out.

Arik looked around, and Karl Tigh saw it as well.
"Is that an Anubis mask?" Rufus asked, looking at a man dressed in modern stylized versions of ancient Qalqayyid clothing wearing a large, papier-mache mask made to look like Anubis.

"It is, indeed," Arik said. "Karl?"
"Already on it," the SPS chief said. "You might want to get to the cars." But the Anubis figure was simply waving, and nearby they picked out a figure of Horus, and another of Osiris-- a normal man, since Osiris didn't have an animal head, but heavily made up in the classica Qalqayyid makeup scheme, with thick layers of kohl around his eyes. He, too, was waving and smiling, wearing the Twin Crowns fo the ancient ampire and a fake Pharoah-style beard pasted on.

The group of them raised a banner, suddenly: JUST SAY NO TO NORDICS.

"What the hell is that all about?" Rufus asked.
"Some growing popular backlash to some of the Zorian beliefs that have started to spread," Arik said, "There are some interesting tales going around about confrontations. I'll bring you up to speed at the Palace."

"Are they... dangerous?" Rufus asked. The last thing he wanted to see was another world rife with religious nutcakery.
"Mischevious, more like," Arik said. They got in the Royal limousine amd made for the Palace, admiring the view as they went. Slowly, it became more 'traditionally' urban, and their focus shifted to the brief display they'd seen.

"At first we thought it was sort of a joke movement," Arik said, "People making fun of the Nordic religion coming in. BUt as near as we've been able to tell, they're quite serious. There's always been an active pagan and druidic-Wiccan community in Canissia, but they see the spread of the Zorian beliefs as an affront."
"Nationalist pagans?" Rufus laughed at the thought.

"My reaction, too," Arik said, "But I understand there's been some rumblings of approval from within the Nationalist Party, and there's always been a high participation rate among the pagans, Wiccans and druids in the Greens Partry, so they're getting more and more recognition."
"Meaning, what, exactly?" Rufus asked.
"There's been talk about recognizing the Qalqayyid Panthenon as an active, official, revived, um, Church, I guess," Arik said.

"Wow," Rufus said, thinking about the man in the Anubis mask. "What's your take on it?"
"Political," Arik said, his face suddenly becoming serious. "I've been talking with Tigh, and to be honest with you, we are beginning to see the spread of some of the Zorian beliefs as an attempt to turn people friendly to the idea of Zorian infiltrators. A sympathetic underground of locals who feel an allegiance with foreign priests or whatnot and provide shelter for them."

"But to what ends?" Rufus asked.
"That's just it," Arik said, "We don't know. It could be what it is-- just a new religion, spreading, and nothing more. Or it could be an attempt to recruit a future fifth column."

"That just sounds... so wild," Rufus said, "But... again, we're left with why."
"It could be they have no solid plan for now," Isabelle spoke up, "It might just be a future insurance policy in case they need it some time."

"So, you're going to fight the Nordic influx?" Rufus asked.
"I'm not," Arik said, "Seems I already have self-motivated people doing that for me. Let's just say that, for now, the official story is that this isn't serious and the government isn't interested. But in truth, we're watching to see what develops, and trying to keep plans in mind as things develop..."




Results:
President Rufus Shinra begins visit to Canissia.
Insight into a growing unusual undercurrent among rival pagan factions.

[Zor]

Airfield, Port Adria, Zorian Veleria

Their was always construction of some sort going on in Port Adria, if not an extension to accomidate a new facility for the science base it would be work on the workers quarter or in the small, but existant and growing, recreation district. This expansion was done on order by the Royal Zorian Air Force fairly early on, but had been in light of recent events accelerated. Now it was complete and outfitted, and the base could now accomidate RZAF Katana Fightets and Maelstrom ground attack aircraft, allowing the base the ability to retain air support even when HMZS King Michael-I was not on duty.

Island Base, Zorian Veleria

The base itself was nothing too much. A few warehouses, a few modest buildings for administrative tasks and as temporary lodging, a helipad, several guard towers, a few chain link fences with razor wire, a few docks and a boathouse. Never the less it filled most of the island quite nicely. It was about fifty kilometers from Port Adria by Nygaardsvold Logging a few months ago, although now it was used by the Zorian Government as discussions went on with a few Malip leaders. A few of them had become weary of the fighting and really did not like the Foreign Jihadis which were comming in, their were plenty of Muslims from diferent factions which just as much disliked the Hetrodox Islam of the Malip as they did the "Zorian Infidel" and were not above a few attacks against Malip villages and parties. As such they were willing to go to the negotiating table with the Zorians for peacetalks. Zorians beleived that threats should be neutralized, although it is all the better if the neutralization of said threats happens if they decided simply to stop being such.

King Stephen-I International Airport, Port Victory

King Leighton-I, a pair of Royal uards and a couple of his personnel assistants joined the aircraft for the Pacifica conference. An honorguard of Zorian Royal Guardsmen had been shipped over earlier to Serenity for a proper royal procession. Given the affairs in Zorian Veleria, security was stepped up although the King. Zoria had a fair sized population of Muslims, either decended from foreign born soldiers brought in during the Unification Wars, well educated sections of the societies of predominantly muslim countries. Both of which having come to adopt a typically Zorian attitude towards tollerence and a practicular dislike towards fanatical fundamentalists, as the Zorian League of Mosques official statement on Islamism clearly stated, though it still made sense to be cautious.

Edit-Minor Retcon

[PeZook]

Statement from the Office Of The Archbishop of PeZookia

Glory to Christ the Savior and all his children,

The Archbishop has been asked to comment on the spread on pagan religions on the Old Continent several times by both journalists, members of the clergy and fellow believers in Christ. The Office has the following to say on the matter:

The Pagan Norse, Shinto and Qalqayyid faiths are not opposed to Christiniaty, though belief in pagan gods is a mortal sin. Members of Christ's flock should excercise utmost care to ensure their children do not stray from Christ, as this condemns their souls to eternal damnation.

Furthermore, as the Bible commands, every Christian is obliged to spread His words amongst the pagans, so that their souls may be saved by the glory of Jesus Christ.

[PeZook]

Miranda



Soyuz 4, T+ 3 days 4 hours

"I am opening the hatch now"

It took a while to operate the complex system of latches which held the hatch in place: it opened to the outside, to facilitate an earthside rescue, but this required additional safety locks to keep the hatch secure without the help of pressure difference keeping it firmly pressed against the seals.

The door swung open, letting in the brilliant light of the Earth below. Even for Alan, the experience was almost religious, as bright blue light flooded the cockpit. Both astronauts stared upwards for a while before snapping out of it. Miranda switched her radio to voice-activated microphone (VOX) and gently pushed herself towards the open hatch.

"This is Miranda...I am moving towards the hatch now."

The light enveloped her as she slowly floated outside, the tether snaking all around like some mystical serpent.

"I am outside...what a spectacular view..."

"Verify integrity of the tether.", she heard the CAPCOM say

"Roger that...", she fumbled with the tether for a while, feeling somewhat dizzy. The flight surgeon noticed another increase in pulse and breathing rate during this excercise, and notified the CAPCOM.

"Calm down, Miranda. Remember the procedures."

"Uh...roger that, Comona. Okay."

She finally managed to accomplish the procedure and the tether's integrity and oxygen flow rate was confirmed as nominal. Then, finally, she received the go-ahead. Elation filled her mind, as she took a big gulp from the right straw - the one connected to a canteen on her right thigh, where she kept water laced with LSD. Finally, after all these gruelling years, she did it.

Miranda pushed herself away from the capsule, floating into nothingness. She took another big gulp and let the void and the Gods' light envelop her.



The test was proceeding well, until ten minuted later, the flight surgeon began to panic.

"Flight!", she shouted suddendly, "Her heart and breathing rates are spiking!"

The CAPCOM went on the air almost immediately.

"Miranda, your heart rate just spiked. Are you having problems?"

There was no response. The TV crews filming the spacewalk suddendly got all excited, from a state of near-sleep they were in just a few minutes ago.

"Body temperature rising. Jesus christ...heart rate just went over 200..."

Suddendly, the radio came alive. The entire Mission Control room was filled by a shrill scream, eventually replaced by shouted words.

"He speaks! HE SPEAKS TO ME!"

"Miranda? Miranda, do you read?"

"His power fills my senses! It is brilliant!"

The TV crews were recording every words, already seeing the sensation. ALIENS ATTACK ASTRONAUT, some of them saw the headlines and news anchors say.

"IT'S TIME FOR HIS RETURN! MORTALS HEAR ME, THOR SHALL RETURN AND BRING JUSTICE TO ALL THE WICKED!!!"

"Abort the EVA", the Mikhail Gorshkov, Mission Flight Director said calmly. Miranda was still screaming nonsense through the radio, "And cut her off from the speakers."

For a second, everything was silent, until Alan came on the line.

"Comona, what the hell was that? She's screaming her head off..."

"Alan, we're aborting the EVA. Bring her back in immediately."

More than 200 kilometers up, Alan cursed under his breath. Somehow, he expected something like this to happen.

He looked up through the hatch, but couldn't see Miranda. Still cursing, he secured his own tether and gently floated out of the cockpit, hanging on to the edge of the hatch. Miranda's screams now degenerated into babble, and as soon as Alan stuck his head out, it became obvious she drifted beyond the ship - the tether was strung around the capsule.

"Okay...", Alan murmured to himself, "...this isn't going to be easy."

He floated back inside the cockpit. He had to think.

Result: News station all around the world blare headlines like "ASTRONAUT IN DANGER!!!"

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Constantinople Times

Joint Statement on Religious Tolerance issued by Grand Mufti and Ecumenical Patriarch

The Grand Mufti of Damascus, the highest authority in the Islamic world, and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, spiritual leader to millions of Orthodox Catholics, issued a statement on religious tolerance. "As God declared that all must love thy neighbour, we must do the same. We declare that all who attempt to provoke religious violence to be in anathema; not only will they not receive the grace of God, but perish in hell," said the Ecumenical Patriarch Constantius IX. The Grand Mufti declared, "Let all who decide to run the streets with blood be declared an infidel and thus condemned." It should be noted that the declaration was made in Mecca, now Byzantine territory.

[Lonestar]

Statement from the Latin Patriarch of Shepland

My Children, there have been dangerous, heretical statements by the schismatics of late. The so-called Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople has implied that there should be a "live and let-live" policy towards pagans, heretics, and infidels. He has falsely twisted the Scripture, when was it not the Christ Himself who said "if thine eye offends thee, then pluck it out."? It is the duty of every true believer to evangelicalize against and convert the non-believers of Shepland, indeed the world. A lackadaisical attitude towards evangelicalism puts your soul in danger.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Statement from the Latin Patriarch of Shepland

My Children, there have been dangerous, heretical statements by the schismatics of late. The so-called Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople has implied that there should be a "live and let-live" policy towards pagans, heretics, and infidels. He has falsely twisted the Scripture, when was it not the Christ Himself who said "if thine eye offends thee, then pluck it out."? It is the duty of every true believer to evangelicalize against and convert the non-believers of Shepland, indeed the world. A lackadaisical attitude towards evangelicalism puts your soul in danger.

Statement from Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople

Children of Christ, Again the Arch-Heretic of Shepland, who styles himself as the Latin Patriarch, preaches once again that violence is the way to heaven. While indeed Christ advocated that we should spread our faith throughout the world, he also believed that the individual must make the choice. If we do our best to attempt to correct the sinner's ways, but yet he refuses to listen, then we are absolved of the responsibility for his actions. Did he not tell his apostles to shake off the dust off their sandals should a town not welcome them? Once again, I shall remind you all of Christ' last command: "Love Thy Neighbour." By all means evangelize, but never raise the sword against your fellow man. That is the path to sin and eternal damnation in the fires of hell.

[Lonestar]

Statement from the Latin Patriarch of Shepland
The statement from the leader of the Schismatics shows the depths of deception they are willing to plunge. The Cowardly Grecian has claimed that the Church leadership is inciting violence, far from it, rather it is a reminder that there is Biblical Precedent for taken the means needed to preserve one's soul.

The Christ said "remove all sins and chains against me", and the chain of the Mohemmedan, the Astarian Slavocrats and their supporters, and the Pagans weigh heavy indeed.

But, perhaps I am too harsh in my words with the Schismatic. After all, he is a product of a long legacy of cowardice and retreat. It was the Byzantines who gave up the hill that Christ was crucified, it was the Byzantines who invited the Military Orders of Christ to fight for them, only to lack the stomach for continued support of the Orders. It was the Byzantines, through treachery and collusion with the Mohemmedans, who expelled the Orders to Shepland, where they reclaimed a Kingdom of Heaven carved from the Shepistani pagans. Cowardice and treachery is second nature to the Grecians, and a hard legacy for such weaklings to raise themselves above.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Statement from the Latin Patriarch of Shepland
The statement from the leader of the Schismatics shows the depths of deception they are willing to plunge. The Cowardly Grecian has claimed that the Church leadership is inciting violence, far from it, rather it is a reminder that there is Biblical Precedent for taken the means needed to preserve one's soul.

The Christ said "remove all sins and chains against me", and the chain of the Mohemmedan, the Astarian Slavocrats and their supporters, and the Pagans weigh heavy indeed.

But, perhaps I am too harsh in my words with the Schismatic. After all, he is a product of a long legacy of cowardice and retreat. It was the Byzantines who gave up the hill that Christ was crucified, it was the Byzantines who invited the Military Orders of Christ to fight for them, only to lack the stomach for continued support of the Orders. It was the Byzantines, through treachery and collusion with the Mohemmedans, who expelled the Orders to Shepland, where they reclaimed a Kingdom of Heaven carved from the Shepistani pagans. Cowardice and treachery is second nature to the Grecians, and a hard legacy for such weaklings to raise themselves above.

Statement from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople

Alas, the Arch Schismatic Heretic probably failed a history test probably at the local seminary. While the Orders of Christ claimed to have come to fight for the Byzantines to regain the Holy Land, they connived to steal from the servants of God, failing to honour their pledge to return Byzantine territory to the Roman Emperor. Antioch was only returned only when the Emperor Alexius II Komnenus marched with the Imperial Tagmata before the walls of the Antioch. So mighty was the host that Antioch was returned without condition.

Perhaps my colleague would remember that Constantinople stood alone against the Turkish hordes defending all of Christendom? And only through the grace of God won the day and drove the Turkish hordes back, finally regaining much of Byzantine territory over the next few centuries, and even Jerusalem itself. Where were the so-called Orders of Christ? Perhaps the cowards found Shepland too rich for their liking, and forgotten their breathen in the Old Continent.

Last but not least, did Christ not say that "let the one who had not sinned hurl the first stone"? Perhaps he should go a confession for forgetting the words of Holy Scripture.

[Steve]

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer


President Garrett to attend Second Pan-Pacifica Conference this Friday.


WUHAN, KINGDOM OF SERENITY - Sometimes frantic activity belies the normal tranquility of the island kingdom capital of Wuhan as local officials finish preperations for the much delayed Pan-Pacifica Conference. The Conference is part of a continuing effort by King Leighton of Zoria to expand his island nation's ties to the smaller nations of the Pacific with high hopes expressed for a final agreement to come after the first Conference was cut short by the crisis leading up to the Pathogen War.

As a show of support for resuming the delayed talks at a second conference, President Garrett has opted to attend the opening days of talks himself in an unprecedented second overseas trip. A press release from the President's office expresses a desire to see the Conference succeed in strengthening ties between the four small Pacifican nations as well as the observing Wilkonian nation.

Although there is general consensus toward closer ties among the four key participants - Zoria, Serenity, Alaska, and Cascadia - experts remain skeptical of a permanent agreement extending beyond relatively-lower key trade and security assistance.


East Veleria violence continues despite clerical pleas.


MALIKA, RANGATARA - Armed police continue to guard the Zorian Embassy and the regional missionary offices for Zoria's expanding Shinto and Norse religions as violence by both native Malips and foreign Islamic fighters claim more lives in the Dragonsnake River Basin and environs. Yesterday's stabbing murder of a Serenite charity worker in Le Kanh Province was blamed on local radicals mistaking him for a Zorian while an ambush in the Contested Zone claimed two Zorian soldiers and a friendly Malip guide while also seeing the deaths of at least three insurgents, bringing the week's fatalities due to the ongoing conflict to at least 28. The violence has been especially brutal among the nearby villages where the foreign fighters' efforts, and successes, in encouraging "orthodox" Islamic practices have clashed with older Malip leaders who see the foreign fighters' influence as degrading Malip traditions. Many such leaders and their followers have sought peace with Zoria but have complained that the fighters are winning the battle for their youth.

A number of Islamic clerics from various nations of the world have denounced the sheer ferocity of the violence as "not proper jihad", encouraging the fighters to cease attacking civilians and engaging in bombings. A number of clerical leaders have joined calls from the Muslim leadership of Byzantine Arabia and Zoria to cease the insurgency altogether.

In a response to these claims, the World Jihadi Army delivered a response to the multi-national Al-Jazeera media group, proclaiming the clerics "blasphemers and agents of Satan". "The Pagans of Zoria are agents of Satan; only by conversion to the True Faith can they avoid the death and punishment that Allah has decreed for them. Clerics who deny Jihad against the Pagans deny Allah and are false-Muslims in the grip of Satan."

Despite Zorian success in holding their ground in East Veleria and inflicting mounting casualties among foreign fighters as well as the instances of jungle sickness there, many police and military agencies fear that the Jihadi movement is winning the "hearts and minds" of the majority of the world's Muslims and that the flow of willing young Muslims into the conflict zone is swelling instead of abating.


Zorian official protests remarks of Muslim leader.

ADAMS, CAPITOL DISTRICT - The office of Ambassador Kanagawa, Zorian Ambassador to Cascadia, launched a protest against Sahir Rabani, the chairman of the League of Cascadian Mosques. The Zorians took offense at Rabani's remarks in a recent press-attended banquet raising funds for refugees in East Veleria, in which he stated that "Though terrorism, the killing of civilians, is an offense to all of us and not acceptable as a means of Jihad, the Koran and the teachings of our Faith are clear; those fighters, Malip or otherwise, facing Zorian occupation forces in battle in the Dragonsnake River Valley are waging jihad by defending their homes against pagans who seek to turn them from Allah. If there is to be peace in East Veleria, then Zoria must withdraw from Muslim land."

Rabani's remarks prompted an accusation that he was providing not just justification, "but outright support", for "terrorism and unlawful attacks against Zorian soldiers and nationals". Kanagawa has threatened that if a retraction is not given, Zoria may begin possible legal action against Rabani and his group, including barring them from entry into Zorian territory. "Supporting violence against the Zorian territory in the Dragonsnake River Basin is no different from supporting the horrific bombings. This man is supporting terrorism by his words. Cascadian authorities must act accordingly."

Neither Mr. Rabani nor his office has offered a response as of yet. The League of Mosques represents approximately eighty-five percent of the Muslim population in Cascadia, which is centered in the Adabani immigrant centers of Vancouver, Seattle, and Bremerton.




Actions/Events:

More protests outside the Zorian Embassy in New Olympia and Adams Capital District.

President Garrett has flown to Wuhan to attend the opening days of the 2nd Pan-Pacifica Conference. Although the matter is not a full state visit, he will also be making a brief tour of the capital and countryside, including a visit to the Martyr's Shrine at Mt. Wudang to honor Capt. Susan Ying RCAF, the pilot who died while successfully keeping her failing RT-15 tanker from hitting homes in the countryside of southwestern Serenity.

The Cascadian Navy, in line with the Future Defense Plan, is beginning final work on the Future Destroyer Concept Design, expecting to begin production in 2016 to begin phasing out the Jiang Kai-sheng-class DDGs built in the 1970s and 80s. Despite increasing world conversion to nuclear power in destroyers, the current plan is to build the first flight of three with conventional power-plants with an option to adapt the design to nuclear propulsion.

The Cascadian Army is putting out a contract offer to outfit its two active armored brigades with modern tanks. Although there are some Cascadian defense companies with concepts of advanced tanks, it is believed more likely that the contracts will be awarded to friendly foreign nations with capable and modernizined tank designs.

[Zor]

Union press

Deus Imperator Tank lent to Cascadia for trials



King Stephen-I International Airport, Port Victory-Today a massive Z-5 Transport plane lifted off to begin her flight to Cascadia, inside her hold one of the United Kingdom's most powerful armored fighting vehicles, a ZT-9 Deus Imperator Main Battle Tank, along with various supplies and a team of a dozen engineers. The vehicle, produced in a joint venture between Legion motors and Crown Corperation Royal Zordinance was specifically made for foreign trials and evaluation. "We are quite proud of her" spokesperson Jordon Wong told the press "we expect her to be able to be able to not only meet, but exceed the requirements of the Cascadian Army".

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Message to Cascadian Defence Ministry from Byzantine Heavy Industries

Byzantine Heavy Industries is prepared to offer the 57tonne K-2E Black Panther tank that features active protection against laser guided rockets and RPGs, as well, as modular armour consisting of composite armour and ERA and NERA (Non-Explosive Reactive Armour). The K-2E Black Panther, unlike the K-2, features a electrothermal chemical 120mm gun that also fires the precision dual mode rocket guided high KE rod penetrator ammunition (with the ability to strike targets up to 8km away and high mach speeds) and laser guided anti-tank missiles which feature enhanced penetration capabilities exceeding all present day tanks, barring the 120/140mm gun that now equips the K-3 Black Tiger tank. Options for the tank include a separate milliband radar to allow for battlefield surveillance. Battle management computers and system integration are offered as well.

Byzantine Heavy Industries can offer a conventionally armed K-2 Black Panther, which can now fire precision dual mode rocket guided high KE rod penetrator ammunition (with the ability to strike targets up to 8km away and high mach speeds) and laser guided anti-tank missiles.

Byzantine Heavy Industries is also prepared to offer the ~65tonnes K-3 Black Tiger, but the tank is currently undergoing trials. The Black Tiger features a 120/140mm gun and fires 140mm rocket guided rod penetrator ammunition and laser guided anti-tank missiles capable of high mach speeds. The tank also features a 40mm grenade launcher from Kontos Munitions Metal Storm line that promises point defence protection against RPGs and other projectiles. A world beater tank that is only matched or exceeded by the monstrous 90tonne Japanistani tank.

[TimothyC]

Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean - Between Alaska and Serenity

"So he was sleeping?"
"Like a Baby"
"That's good, isn't it?"
"Yeah. It was interesting what he had on his TV screen though."
"Oh yeah?"
"East Bank Tale"
"Really?"
"Uhhuh, but when he was sleeping he said 'No, leave West Side Story On."

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

Royal Palace, Serenity

The Conference Room was ready. The maids and servants were crammed well with the habits and quirks of the guests and the cuisine was from all the participating nations. All of the equipment was checked and double checked, ready to be used.

[PeZook]

Miranda

GORE TV: LIVE via ShroomStrat Network

A massive, red blood-splattered headline appears on the screen: DEATH IN SPACE!!!.

"Hello! My name's Dwight Dante, and together with the GORE TV news teams, I bring you horrific news from OUTER SPACE!"

Corny special effects play in the background.

"As of this moment, our very own astronaut Miranda Moonbeam, daughter of a well regarded and respected MP, has been ATTACKED by something horrible! The disease - or creature! - which attacked her pounced upon this fine Shroomanian lady as soon as she left the armored shell of her capsule! Now Alan Shroompard, a manly and buff Shroomanian hunk of a male, is FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE against a danger from OUTER SPACE!"

Montages of brutal scenes from various sci-fi horrors follow.

"We will bring you updated COMPLETELY TRUE, SERIOUSLY! information as the crisis develops!"

As the program closes with another bombastic announcement, FASTA press officers gathered in their briefing room groan collectively.



Soyuz 4, T+3 days 5 hours

"Comona, I can't see her from any of the portholes", Alan reported after hurriedly depressurizing the orbital module in an attempt to try and locate Miranda's exact position.

"Copy that. Stand by."

Alan sighed and took a sip of water. He was stuck in his spacesuit, connected to the capsule's life support system with a tether, inside a completely depressurized spacecraft, waiting for some sort of a plan or recommendation from Comona. Rationally, he knew every action taken in space had to be carefully considered - but there was this small, impulsive part of his mind which whispered that he should simply go out and get her.

At Comona, engineers and mission controllers all gathered in a small briefing room. The place was almost unshroomanian, with its cold and measured decor. Only the horribly gay "Well Hung" poster betrayed the room's nationality.

"We have two plans, people", Mikail Gorshkov announced once everyone was gathered, "One is for Alan to conduct an EVA of his own and bring Miranda back. Second is to rotate the capsule until Miranda's tether is free, and pull her in without leaving the craft. Opinions?"

"There actually is another plan...", a Zorian engineer calmly announced, "...cut the tether and deorbit."

There was stunned silence for a second, before people started yelling. Gorshkov began pounding the desk with his fist, but had to use a shoe to calm everybody down.

"Go ahead, Ishido.", Gorshkov said calmly, putting his shoe back on, "How is that going to help?"

"It will minimize risk to the mission, and salvage important data we can't recover if the capsule is lost. It is the only rational choice to leave Miranda in orbit - any rescue attempt will endanger the mission unnecessarily."

"Jesus christ! I heard Zorians were callous, but fuck!", John Bedford, a Shroomanian, screamed back at Ishido

"Just what the hell do you mean by that?!", the Zorian responded and got up from his chair

"Shut up and sit down, both of you!", Gorshkov reacted before he had to take his shoe off again, "We're not leaving Miranda in orbit. What are risks if Alan was to perform an EVA?"

Bedford too a while to calm down before he spoke. This was his job - he designed all EVA procedures along with the astronauts, "Well, quite significant, actually. The tether may be wrapped around something, his suit may malfunction, he may become overexherted before even getting to Miranda. Right now, in case of a catastrophic failure, Alan can repressurize and...carry out Ishido's plan", he shot an angry glance towards the Zorian, "If something happens while he's outside the ship, we lose both crewmembers and the capsule."

"Okay...what about maneuvering the ship?"

"The biggest risk is that Miranda will smash into the solar panels...it would obviously hurt her, maybe even rupture her suit, and more importantly - damage the panel. Depending on the time Alan takes to get her back inside, he may not have enough battery power left to repressurize and deorbit.", a scrawny CSR scientist answered this question, "Overall, however, it seems this option is safer. The actual chance he'll have to cut into re-entry batteries is slim, and we can tell him to retract the panels for safety."

The decision was up to Gorshkov, but a quick discussion amongst his staff made it obvious that most of them favored the second option.

Soyuz 4, T+3 days 5 hours 32 minutes

"Alan?"

"Yes?", the voice coming from the radio startled him. He was going over Miranda's EVA checklist, just in case he had to do his own.

"We've decided it will be safer for you to maneuver the spacecraft into position where a rescue can be accomplished without an EVA."

"Roger that, Comona. Won't that risk damaging the solar panels?"

"Positive. You will have to retract them to minimize the risk, and turn off all unnecessary systems."

"Copy. Walk me through the list."

With the flight surgeon staring in horror at Miranda's biomedical feeds, Mission Control began instructing Alan on the systems he had to turn off in order to minmize power use. As if it was possible, the capsule seemed even more dead once they were done.

"Flight computer...off. Okay Comona, that seems to be it. Ready to retract solar panels."

"Go on the solar panels, Four."

Alan flipped a pair of switches, and felt the slight vibration of electric motors which folded both panels into their stowed position, tucked neatly against the service module. After less than thirty seconds, the indicator lights changed from green to yellow.

"Solar panels retracted. Preparing to rotate the ship now.", with that, he grabbed both control handles and took a deep breath of stale air.

"Remember, turn clockwise. Repeat, clockwise."

Goddamn, I wish I could wipe the sweat in this thing, he thought and gave the capsule a small amount of angular rotation.

For the longest time,nothing seemed to happen - save for the starfield rotating outside. After a few excruciating minutes, Miranda's tether snaked into view slowly, and finally - a space-suited bodyhtumbled over the hatch. Alan hurriedly zeroed the rotation - and cursed, seeing Miranda being pushed away by the jet of particles ejected by rotational thrusters.

"Comona, this is Four! I see her...she's floating away, I will try to pull her in with the tether...stand by...", he managed to gasp into the microphone. The heat inside his suit was quickly becoming opressive, and his heart was already racing. He wondered idly if the flight surgeon still had any hair left.

He grabbed Miranda's tether, still attached inside the capsule. and began to pull her in, slowly. It seemed to be going really well, until he noticed something.

"Oh for fuck's sake!", he let out, forgetting his microphone was set to voice-activated.

"Come again, Four?"

"Comona, she's fighting the tether!"

Miranda was obviously trying to get free, still obviously delirious. She was still more than ten meters from the capsule when she finally managed to rip the tether free from her spacesuit. Fortunately, the ports sealed themselves like they were designed to, and so she didn't depressurize. That still left her with less than a minute of air inside her spacesuit.

"Fuck", Alan cursed, and without thinking, undid his seatbelts and ejected himself from the capsule with one powerful push, straight towards Miranda.

"Four, this is Comona. Come again?"

...

"Four, this is Comona. Please respond."

...

[Coyote]

Seaside Palace, Canissia



Arik's cellphone vibrated.

"S'cuse me," he said to his visitor, wives, and kids, "It's the 'I actually should answer it' line." He flipped the top open. "Hello?" He listened for a long time, then said, "What channel?" He fumbled for a remote, which Tristan brought him. "Thanks," he whispered to his son, and clicked on the wallscreen.

The report about DEATH IN SPACE filled the screen as the group watched, transfixed. Arik clicked the channel to a more sober newscast as the phone made tinny noises in his ear as the person on the line said more.

"Are you sure?" he asked. The tinny voice responded. "Patch me through." After a moment, the tone of the tinny voice changed, and Arik had to put a finger to his other ear and step out of the room into the hall. "What!?" he asked-- obviously a poor connection.

"The damn thing hasn't been tested at altitude!" he said loudly.

"I know he's the closest thing we have to a pilot, but..."

"It's a nuclear engine! Can it launch from a Zeppelin?"

For a moment, the King was silent.

"It's a hell of an idea," he said, "I don't like it, but you're probably right. I'll ask the folks at FASTA. I'll call you back." The phone closed, the reopened. He had a lot of important people and agencies on speed-dial, but FASTA launch center was far down the list. It took him over a minute to scroll through to find it.

"Yeah, hey, this is King Arik Coyotus," he said once he got through. "No, I'm goddamn serious. Give me the launch control center, it's an emergency. We may --may-- be able to use the Eagle to retrieve those astronauts."



Results:
King Arik Coyotus offers EGL (currently in upper stratosphere doing tests) as emergency retrieval vehicle.

[Coyote]

FASTA Launch Control



"Okay, how would something like that work?" the Deputy Director asked. "The engines are inert, aren't they?"

"That's what my engineers tell me," the King of Canissia said, "But the thrusters and maneuvering engines can be used. It'd be a one-way trip for the Eagle, they'd use pretty much everything it has to get to orbit and maneuver for rendezvous, but the crew and passenger compartments seal positively. It can keep them alive for a couple of days with batteries and stored oxygen while someone comes up with a better plan."

"You'll probably lose your ship," the Deputy Director said.

"Possibly," Arik replied, "But we can also leave it in orbit, unmanned, and go up later to refuel, fit proper engines, and retrieve it. Hell," the King's voice said, "Gets pretty much all our testing done at once."

"The nose capsule ejects, right?" the Director asked on the other line, listening in. "Can they jump in that, eject, and ride that down?"

"It's untested," Arik said, "We don't even know if the chute will deploy. That was part of the whole series of tests we were going to do-- eventually." The Director looked dubious. Flying the heavy Eagle up on just thrusters? An untested ship, with the test engineers as pilots? The only thing attractive about the whole idea was that it would, indeed, buy time. If Miranda's and Alan's capsule was damaged, and couldn't re-enter, it might be worth considering...

[Zor]

Rainforest, Dragonsnake Basin

The Jihad in Eastern Veleria was becoming more complex, there were an increasing number of Foreign Jihadis which simply did not like the varient of Islam the Malip practiced, a fact which was only swollen as a small tricle of. A group of Foreign Jihadis entered the Malip encampment. This was normally a fairly unremarkable thing and had happened several times before. However this time, things would become deadly dangerous.

The Jihadis in this band were from the other side of the continent and ultra othrodox, which had many theological diferences with the Malip and did not like a large deal of their practices. The fact that recently a few had been making peacetalks had not improved things. The Malip would pay for their crimes and moved in ont the village. At first, they were greated with open arms as fellow soldiers in the Jihad against Zoria, but after a minute these Jihadis drew their guns and made their move. Several Malip were quickly killed, including woman and children and several buildings were set alight with Molotov Cocktails before the Malip began counterfire. The Jihadis made frenzied and hate filled cries and often ran into combat with machettes. However the Malip had them outnumbered and were fairly well armed, mostly with Shepistani rifles. The Jihadis did not intend on such a fearce resolve or firepower and eventually began to fall back into the forest with the Malip in hot pursuit. In the end some 18 Jihadis and 13 Malip lay dead from the battle, with 5 more of the Jihadis dying from infections to wounds over the next few days. Word would spread of this instance amongst the Malip of the area quickly as a new stage was to begin as the Malip would become more and more unwilling to co-operate with foreign Jihadis, which would only cause more confrontations like this one to unfold.

Foothills of the Ironridge Mountains, 100 KM North from Fort Michael, Zorian Veleria

Away from the conflict upriver, a Geological Survey team watched as the core sample came up with what they were looking for. Geological sonar had reveiled that this was likely, as did some of the stones nearby, although they were not sure until now. Now they were certain as they discovered the black liquid which came from the ground. Within an hour, a few scientists with a liter of the stuff were onto the helicopter to return to the scientific administrative hub of Zoria's presence in the Ironridge mountains Fort Michael. This area would definately be of interest to Zorian Petrolium in the near future

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Report on Submarine construction

Secret

At present, we have two submarine classes undergoing construction; the Pr. 941M strategic missile submarines, and the Pr. 881-955 cruise missile submarines. The Akula II Mod-BM submarines from the CSR are undergoing thorough refurbishment to prepare them for Byzantine service.

At present, both submarine types undergoing construction use the same nuclear reactor to save costs. Both are also use the same steel types. Both are constructed largely in secret and have been undergoing trials for the last 2-3 years and are expected to be accepted into service at the end of the year. Both vessels also incorporate the same combat management system that is used throughout the fleet.

We have now 4 classes of SSNs and SSKs in service now, namely Mediterranean (Seawolf), Aegean (Virginia), Akula II Mod, and the Type 212B. There are simply too many SSN types. The proposal then is to streamline our SSNs and adopt one single class. At present, 2 submarines have been budgeted and are undergoing design and construction to test a number of technologies. The first of the 2 research submarines will be completed by the end of the next year and the submarine will undergo extensive trials to pave the wave for a single SSN class in 2020. The Virginias will be the first to be decommissioned, followed by the Akula II Mod-BM and the Seawolf. We seriously need to streamline our force to cut back on the need to provide logistical support for so many ships.

A new SSK design should also be ready by 2020, allowing us to replace our SSK force. In the mean time, to preserve our submarine construction capacity by focusing on rolling out 2 strategic missile submarines every 2 years, and 1 cruise missile submarine every 2 years. We may up the production of Pr. 881-955 just so to give our forces more options.