SDNWorld Redux: Story Thread the Third

[CmdrWilkens]

Final "New Horizons" ship class launches

Earlier today Fulton Naval Shipyards, lead supplier for the last of the New Horizons project ship classes made formal delivery of the SRS Victory to the Shinra Republic's Navy. As part of the joint New Horizons funding agreement the Shrina Navy has been taking delivery of the first vessel from each class and has thus been gratend the right to name the ships. Thus when HIS WHORE Teagan Pressley finished outfitting and is accepted for service later this month as FFG-130 she will be the first Victory-class STAR Frigate in the Wilkonian Navy's order of battle.

The delivery caps a program that has now stretched more than a decade and a half while continuing to deliver a whole host of new sea and land based military systems including the STAR command and control system, the latest generation of over the horizon and X-band search radars, a new generation of surface to air missiles, and three new classes of surface combatants. All told the project has cost, by some estimates, more than 3 trillion ROBs or 3.8 trillion dollars.

[Ryan Thunder]

Common Currency for FTO?
... Miratian officials confirmed that a plan to implement a common currency across the FTO was on the drawing board, but declined to comment further, stating that the plans were merely "thought-experiments" at this stage. ...

[Karmic Knight]

News From the Vinish Press

Outcry from Nationalist Economists over 'Miratan Plan'.

[Siege]

The Fist of Allah (V)



The Fist of Allah again plied the Velarian waters, steaming under its own power once more. The Tonkinese had worked miracles on the boat: the engineers said she sailed better than ever before. That was good, because captain Mohammad would rather deliver her quarry to his destination sooner than later. Mohammad Jihad was really getting on her nerves.

“… Imagine, sister!” he barked, rather too loudly for the submariners, who much preferred hushed silence. “Guns! Armoured vehicles! All these gifts we have received from the Caliph. And SCUD launchers! A man with twelve of those could rule all of Velaria!”

“Very interesting, brother”, nodded the captain, at a tone that implied she was not at all that. Something was nagging at her. Ever since they had left the Bill Shroomsgate captain A'shadieeyah Mohammad had felt as if she was being watched. It felt irrational, she couldn’t quite put her finger on the why of it, but a part of her felt as if she were missing something.

The repairs had made a lot of noise. And any submarine captain knew that noise carried a long way, above the water but especially below it… Still the sonar technicians didn’t pick up anything unusual apart from the occasional reef on the bottom…

“Captain” her XO Al-Ghazi reported formally, “we are approaching our destination. Shall I give the order to enter Hadramhara’s coastal waters?”

“Hmm”, pondered the captain. Something wasn’t right she thought. But what? Her mind drifted to an incident several days before. Just after the sinking of the Katsu Kaishu, when Yusuf Barhom had thought, ever so briefly, that he’d heard another submarine… Could it be? Could it be that they had been shadowed all this time?

“Wait just a moment, lieutenant”, the captain scratched her chin. “Here’s something I want to try first…”

***

The atmosphere in the control room of the Orzel was dominated by that odd mixture of tense boredom that came with every submarine chase. The mujahedeen didn’t know the PeZookians were shadowing them… All they had to do was make sure it stayed that way. And that was harder than it sounded: the Orzel couldn’t use active sonar, so they were essentially barrelling through the water half-blind, relying entirely on passive acoustics. Luckily their position – right behind the screws of the Fist of Allah at least meant that there was no chance of the mujahedeen noticing them with their own acoustics.

Unless…

“Conn, sonar!” the EW technician called urgently. “Crazy Ivan!”

“Shit!” cursed captain Kuźmierczyk. “All stop! Quick quiet!”

It was an old trick Kuźmierczyk had once been told about by a retired CSR boomer captain called Vladimir Ramius, a manoeuvre during which a submarine turned suddenly to see if anyone was behind them. CSR ballistic missile subs, Ramius had told the PeZookian captain, sometimes did it in the Pacific to find out if they were being shadowed by MESS boats. The Wilkonians had dubbed it “Crazy Ivan”, and the only thing the chaser sub could do was go dead. Shut everything down and make like a hole in the water. Anything else and they’d be noticed.

The catch was of course that a submarine, even a relatively small one like a diesel-electric, didn’t exactly stop on a dime. And if they were too close, the Orzel would drift right into the back of the jihadis.

“Crafty bastards”, muttered Kuźmierczyk. He hoped he’d been fast enough…

***

It was a manoeuvre called the ‘Crazy Ivan’, and A'shadieeyah Mohammad had been told about it when she first came aboard the Fist, then still called the Arkhipov. Because the country had no former experience with submarine warfare, Sjenska had contracted a captain from the Crimson Star Republic to train the crews of their new boats. “If ever you want to know if you’re being tailgated”, Vladimir Ramius had said to a young and easily impressed lieutenant Mohammad, “don’t look any further than this.”

“Anything?” Mohammad peered over the shoulder of her sonar officer. “Anything at all?”

“Briefly something”, Barhom replied, listening intently to the hissing noises in his headset. “Then nothing.”

The captain cursed. They were being shadowed. But by whom? Surely it was not the Zorians: the infidels would simply have torpedoed them. Then who? Too many nations openly had warships stationed in these waters, and who knew how many else had covertly sent their own vessels to monitor the situation? It could be anyone.

Lost in thought the captain sunk back in her ragged chair.

***

“Did they see us?” the XO of the PeZookian sub asked the captain. “I don’t think they saw us…”

“You shouldn’t think”, captain Kuźmierczyk murmured as he stared at the sonar readings. “You should know.”

“They are turning”, the EW officer whispered. “They are resuming course!”

“They didn’t see us”, the XO grinned.

“Didn’t they?” the PeZookian captain massaged his temples. “I wonder…”

***

“Mr. Mohammad”, the captain formally addressed the mujahedeen. “There has been a change of plans. We cannot currently surface to bring you ashore.”

The fearsome jihadi frowned. “Why not?”

“Because we are being followed by an unknown submarine. If we surface, they will know. They will monitor our every move. Before you have set foot on Velarian soil their headquarters will know that you have arrived. They may not know who you are, but they will realize that for us to come all this way for just one man, you must be important.”

“Why do you not torpedo them?”

“We do not know whose submarine this is. If it is a Mess submarine, our actions would imperil the entire jihad. And besides…Captain A'shadieeyah Mohammad leered. “I have a cunning plan.”

Result: The plot thickens...

[Steve]

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer


Election campaigns set to begin; polls show major parties are neck and neck


SEATTLE, OLYMPIA - The party conventions will come to an end this week with incumbent Whig Stephen Garrett showing a one point lead over his primary challenger, prominent Liberal Rachel MacKenzie. The election season promises to be one of the most tense and close since the 1989 election season with nationwide polls showing the Liberals and Whigs neck-and-neck in many important races. At the heart of the coming election is public perception over the President's assertive foreign policy and the expansion of Velerian positions through not only the establishment of the Van Halstoff and Welles Island bases, but the recent forays into the mainland opposite Welles Island for resources. The situation in East Veleria, where Zorian expansionism has prompted a large-scale insurgency and associated terrorist campaign, has many believing that any plan to expand Cascadian claims in northwestern Veleria would be dangerous. Another point of trouble for the Whigs is the angry reaction of pro-Army interest groups to the President's decision to focus budget-trimming on the Army, including the first deactivation of Army units in thirty years. The Stalwart Party has vowed to fight to restore the Army to "proper status" in the government and that it will not work with any other party that does not pledge to reactivate the Army units and pursue Army-desired projects left fallow since the Garrett Administration came to power.

Despite the controversy, the Whigs as a Party seem to be in complete support for their administration, with no reported cases of internal party dissension. One anonymous source stated, "We believe this Administration has done more to defend Cascadian interests and increase the prestige and influence of the Republic than any in the past half-century. And we have faith that the citizens will recognize this." Reportedly President Garrett is secure enough in his re-election bid that he is intending to accept an offer to tour the continent of Frequesue by leading authorities of the FTO, with state visits to the nations involved in the San Magdalena Accords as well as San Dorado, Baerne, and the Vinish Commonwealth.

Observers believe the outcome of the election may hinge upon any developments in Frequesue, where Cascadian arbitration provided a fragile peace in Sabika and a pact guaranteeing Frequesuan neutrality in world affairs, and in East Veleria and Cascadian participation in the Pan-Pacific talks sought by Zoria.



Byzantine Emperor to host impromptu peace talks between Zorian King and Syrian Caliph.

CONSTANTINOPLE, BYZANTIUM - Spokesmen for the Imperial Court of Heraclius have confirmed reports that the Emperor has agreed to provide ground for a meeting between Zorian King Leighton and Sultan Saladin, ruler of the Syrian Caliphate. The talks come as violence in Eastern Veleria is increasing substantially as the anti-Zorian Jihad now enjoys wide support from the world's Sunni community through Sultan Saladin's endorsement of Jihad against Zorian expansion in the Dragonsnake River Basin, or "Malipland" as some Jihadist groups are now calling it.

Observers are hoping that the three monarchs can come to a mutually acceptable agreement that might end the violence that has claimed thousands of lives in the past two years and seen thousands of Malip and neighboring Egsa forced to live in refugee camps in southwestern Rangatara, endangering that country's fragile stability.

[Siege]

This is Worldwide One, news and entertainment from the heart of San Dorado!

Ticker Tape For Hero Astronauts


Confetti and ticker tape rained down on the ‘Canyon of Heroes’ today for a parade in the honour of the three San Doradan astronauts and their USSR colleague. Soyuz 5 astronauts Nadine Sadler, Gus Grissom, Sandra England and Gregori Uslov made the tour from Lower Broadway to 42nd Street, culminating in a visit with the President at the Presidential Palace where all four astronauts received the Freedom Star, a high award for bravery, from the hands of President Hank.

FASTA mission Soyuz 5 was a flight of many records. Perhaps most notably was the fact that this was the first time that no less than three astronauts of a single nationality were ‘upstairs’. It was also the first mission to feature repetitive EVA: two spacewalks by Georgi Uslov, and three by flight engineer England, for a total of three hours and six minutes spent outside space vehicles by both crews.

Velarian Suffering Continues Unabated


Director Victor Pillay of the International Red Cross says the human-rights situation in eastern Velaria is ‘alarming’. He is calling for all participants in the various conflicts in the region to respect human rights and international humanitarian law and says those who commit crimes against civilians must be brought to justice.

Fears for the safety of hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in the East-Velarian war zones are rising as hostilities on the Dark Continent continue to escalate. The Royal Svalbardian Navy (RSN) has conducted bombardments of the shores of the Dark Continent with naval warships, and since the declaration of jihad by Caliph Saladin of Syria thousands of mujahedeen have flocked to the area to conduct a holy war against Zoria. Shipping in the region meanwhile is disrupted by attacks on cargo vessels, making it more difficult to bring aid to tens of thousands of refugees.

World’s Tallest Tower Nearing Completion


Meanwhile in the brand-new city of Arabiapolis, the world’s tallest structure is nearing completion. The Burj Arabia, built by a consortium of Shroomanian and San Doradan building firms, will in all likelihood be finished before summer next year.

“This is not just the world’s tallest building” a Shroomanian architect working on the structural design of the enormous tower was quoted as saying. “It also embodies the world’s highest aspirations. It is a shining accomplishment: tangible proof of Arabia’s central role in a growing world.”

Common Currency For FTO?


Miratian officials confirmed today that they have proposed an FTO-wide currency. The preliminary plans, called ‘merely thought-experiments’ by the Miratian ambassador in San Dorado, would see all FTO member nations ditching their current currencies and adopting a single, universally accepted one.

“We are aware of these proposals” said a spokesman for DEFEI director Iago Morgan. “And we shall evaluate them properly when the time comes.” San Dorado currently uses the Shroomanian Dollar as its standard currency. The Shroomanian ambassador was unavailable for comment. “He’s in the bath right now”, divulged an aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It could be hours before he comes out.”

ET Throne Home


The Canissian King Arik Coyotus I is gripped by the mystery of crop circles, it was revealed yesterday. Letters seen by Worldwide One showed him and his harem asked to be kept informed about the weird farmland patterns.

His Royalness also asked an aide to send a sympathetic letter to PeZookia’s leading expert whose research was under threat. The king, known to be an avid fan of all things space-related, was so intrigued he had newsletters on the circles - thought by many to be created by extraterrestrial beings - sent to his Seaside Palace.

The letters were published by Shroomanian researcher Colin Andrews, an ex-local government engineer. He said yesterday that his book Circular Evidence was placed on a summer reading list prepared for the Canissian King. “What has infuriated me is that the MoD continues to deny the Royal Family takes an interest in the subject when I know for a fact they do!”

[Coiler]

Coilerburg elections: Can Admiral Farve sink the opposition?

The two large parties in Coilerburg have announced their candidates for the upcoming Coilerburg presidential election. The incumbent Coilerburg Freedom Party president Geoffrey Stone is to run against the National Party's Admiral Oliver Farve, commander of the Coilerburg navy.


Oliver Farve, admiral and National Party candidate

Farve worked his way from commanding a small torpedo boat in Iler's War to becoming head of the Coilerburg navy. Well known for his flamboyant demeanor and low tolerance for piracy, he recently made the headlines with his aggressive-some would say overagressive campaign against piracy around the Frequesuan coasts.

Admiral Farve is a declared "man who favors strong government and results".

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

Stephen only gave a slight look to the Alaskan President before turning his attention back to Yenchin and Leighton. "I'm not opposed to cooperation in surveying underwater for critical resources or matters of trade, education, and reasonable practices relating to crime prevention. But beyond some joint training to enhance ability to protect shipping on the seas I cannot support tighter military relations beyond day-to-day intergovernmental agreements such as my government had for a time with Serenity. To commit to any full military alliance is to counter decades of Cascadian military neutrality and, today, would be giving more support to Zorian expansionism in Veleria than I or the Cascadian Senate are prepared to give."

"Very well, then, I guess it'll be maintained as the current situtation," A big part of Yenchin was actually relieved since that also indicated a less embarrassing status between the Pan-Pacifica and the MESS, and fewer factors to consider(argue) in the Ministry of Defense.

Various other issues were discussed in detail, and finally the 2nd Pan Pacifica Conference finished. (OOC: Just to speed things up. Feel free to insert anything via "Unreal Time")

Serenity Sentinel

Poll Results Post-Pan Pacifica

Political Support
Blue: 57%
Green: 42%
Neutral: 3%

Failure in military cooperation in the Pan Pacifica has resulted in a significant raise of 5% support to Blues compared to the 52% during our poll in Janus-Selena this year.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Constantinople Times

MESA/MP-RTIP radar to be installed on A350 aircraft from next year

The Air Force has decided for the sake of cutting costs, it will terminate production of A380AEW&CSI aircraft, and instead mount the radar system in an A350 airframe. "We began exploring and test flying an A350 with the system since last year. We have also tested the VHF system on the same airframe. From next year, we will switch to the cheaper A350 aircraft instead," says an Air Force spokesman. The A350AEW&CSI is expected to perform signal intelligence (ESM, ELINT, COMINT), ground surveillance, low flying targets, electronic warfare and countermeasure self-protect system, in addition to its aerial surveillance and command functions.

S-500 IADS reported to be progressing in testing

The S-500 IADS is said to be progressing well. "We are slowly ironing out computer bugs in the system, and trying to deal with some other system integration issues. We expect the system to ready some time next year for operational deployment," says a spokesman for the project. Among the key features of the system, is modularity and interoperability between many different radars and missiles. "Any missile can receive information from a wide spectrum of sources and be guided towards their target." The missiles incorporate a new active radar guidance, IR imaging guidance, electro-optics guidance. The S-500 is designed to combat a wide spectrum of threats, from cruise missiles, to fighters, missiles, and ballistic missiles of any grade. Some parts of the system, particularly the anti-ICBM components, may not be ready for another 2-4 years. A naval version is expected to enter testing phase next year however.

[Coyote]

King Arik Coyotus's TOP SECRET Daily Briefing Folder



Every morning, like clockwork, the King looked over his daily folders while having breakfast. The following items were of interest to him:

FOREIGN:
Katangwa Free State expresses concern about increasing trouble on Veleria's far shores. While no jihadi activity has happened close to the KFS, Colonel Johan S'vimbi would like to discuss an increase in Canissian military aid.

Tonkin is adopting an alarming defense doctrine that relies more heavily on nuclear strikes, leaving less and less for conventional interventions. The Royal Intelligence Services are worried that relatively minor incidents could be unavoidably railroaded into nuclear confrontations. Canissia has no immediate fear of Tonkin, since there are currently no conflicts of interest between them that are worth note, but a third-party conflict could escalate and create ecological contamination that would effect Canissia. Expansion of underground facilities (slowed since the budget crisis) should be expanded, and food and algae-fuel farms should be considered for relocation underground to provide a safe fallback. Extensive use of sun/UV lighting would be used to encourage growth.

The FTO is considering a unified currency. The ROB is currently the largest single currency bloc on Novaterra; the "FTO-Dollar" would not seriously challenge the ROB but may, in fact, have the opposite effect of stimulating trade while making exchange rates more stable. An emerging FTO unified market would not be a bad thing, but is the FTO stable enough to float such an ambitious project? If the FTO descends into war (again), as the RIS finds to be 57% likely, any "FTO-Dollar" will sink like a stone and possibly have serious ripple effects on the rest of the world economy.


DOMESTIC:
The NERVA engine test was a success, but work needs to be done to shrink the size of it (perhaps cluster two or three smaller versions?) in order to maximize the re-design of the engine room on the Eagle superstructure. The Eagle ship needs to go back up into the stratosphere for glide-testing and parafoil testing of the Command Module recovery system. Manned tests of the Command Module safety system are of paramount importance.

Military readiness is still recovering from the budget crunch of two years ago. Mass exercises should be scheduled ASAP. It will be difficult to find sufficient funds in the budget, however, so creative ideas that do not require a lot of expense are being sought out among the General Staff. One idea is to combine local Reserve, Militia, and Royal Border Guards posts to act as "insurgents" and make the Army practice non-conventional warfare techniques. Much coordination with civilian law enforcement will be necessary to avoid disrupting normal life for civilians.

Royal Canissian Border Guards report an increase in minor acts of petty vandalism, primarily graffiti. Ordinarily this would not be reported in a National Intelligence estimate, but the graffiti is becoming increasingly standardized nationwide and points to a growing coordination among various pro-Qalqayyid cult groups. RCBG commanders fear that a anti-Odinist backlash is forming, and that gang-style violence could break out.

[Siege]

To Slay The Serpent

Skies over southern Sabika



Three flights of F-111X aircraft, 12 birds total, powered across the jungle landscape of southern Sabika. All five were loaded for war. Every bomb bay and every pylon was used to ferry a volatile mixture of high-explosive and cluster ammunitions.

This was going to be it: the final solution for the problem posed by the Sons of Sabika, a decapitation strike against their highest echelons. Intelligence gathered by the San Doradan asset in the Sabikan capital of Shipborough had indicated the time and place of the meeting: all that was left to do now was to appear and bomb the living shit out of the proceedings.

Naturally the Aardvark drivers of the 502nd ‘Thundercats’ squadron thought it would be them doing the heavy lifting. But they were wrong, and very much perplexed by that.

“What do you mean, we don’t carry out the alpha strike?” radioed one confused pilot through the short-range radio.

“Them’s the orders boys,” the flight commander confirmed. “We’re here to observe and follow up.”

“Follow up?” came the puzzled reply. “Follow up on what?”

***

Presidential Palace, downtown San Dorado



Thick clouds rolled over the San Doradan skyline. Monsoon rain trickled against the high windows of the presidential study. Sidney Hank stared across the artificial canyons of the urban landscape, concrete gray under a steel gray sky.

Lost in thought, the president dimly recalled how he used to loathe having to go out in the rain. That was in another life, on another planet. Here he rarely had to stay outside longer than the time it took to cross from the door of the skydeck to a waiting helicopter. The realization filled him with a pang of melancholy. He poured a double whisky in a crystal glass, the slick routine of the movement a tell-tale sign of repetition. Alcohol was his preferred method of dealing with the gut-churning homesickness he sometimes experienced; the one thing that truly blurred the line between him and the man whose memories he shared.

With a chime of caution one of the imagers in the thick oaken desk sprang to life, tearing the president away from the rain outside and his depressed self-pity. The viewer connected the Presidential Palace with the War Room underneath the Paragon. The sturdy air force general Every gazed into the camera, a look of vague distrust on his face as always. “Sir,” the general curtly announced, “we are ready to execute SERPENT SLAYER at your command.”

The president scratched his chin and took a sip of his whisky. “We are sure this is a good idea, aren’t we?”

Every frowned. “We’re not likely going to get another chance like this anytime soon, sir. And it’s an excellent opportunity to test Ladybird.”

President Hank put his glass down and tapped his fingers against the desk as he mulled over the potential ramifications of this order one more time. “Okay”, he finally said. “Make it happen.”

Rain pattered continued to patter against the windows, caring nothing for political decisions and brinkmanship.


***

On the ground, southern Sabika



Harper slowly made his way to the lip of the ravine and looked out with the scope of his laser designator. He smiled mirthlessly. The training camp filled the reticule of his scope, exactly where intel had said it would be.

Without taking his eyes off the scope, he whispered, “Do it, Mitchell”.

Mitchell pointed a small box toward the sky and pressed a button. He then leaned over to the radio and set it to "burst "mode. Harper pushed a button on his LD, taking a measurement of the location of the training camp site and an internal CPU converted this to a gridref, next, he pushed another button that activated the data link and sent the burst transmission burning into the sky to the waiting military satellite.

A reply appeared in text on the screen 10 seconds later. “Nickel 21, fire mission arriving shortly, observe and correct. Hightower ENDIT”.

***

Camp Kittyhawk Rocketfields, outskirts of San Dorado



Rocket motors belched fire. Straining against gravity the Lucrelance rocket rose from its hardened silo at the very edge of the Camp Kittyhawk Rocketfields, slowly at first but soon faster and faster, the orbiter at its tip aimed at the heaven like a monstrous javelin. Gray skies turned sunny as the rocket pierced the cloud clover, then sunny skies faded slowly to black as the atmosphere thinned and the orbiter passed the edge of space.

The final booster stages fell away and the orbiter was free. It looked slightly different from the normal Silver Streak orbiters: it was gunmetal gray rather than anti-flash white, and it carried military insignia rather than the blue-white-red patch of the Rocket Authority.

Two hundred and ten kilometers above the planet, the bomb bays in the orbiter belly slid open, revealing two cigar-shaped objects.


***

Skies over southern Sabika



“Now boys, you better watch this”, the SDAF flight commander radioed to his flight. “Here comes the pain!”

A half-minute after that, two small objects streaked overhead, leaving white contrails as they plummeted downward, almost too fast for the eye to see. One was obviously veering off course, but the other flew straight and true. The two missiles were followed by a freight train like roar, a bright double flash and loud rumble as they disappeared somewhere over the hills in the near distance and detonated, hopefully marking the death of numerous buildings and a multitude of Sabikan terrorists from no less than two Ladybird space-to-surface missiles.

Amidst the swearing and cries of disbelief of his pilots, flight commander Jonathan Kaesich grinned. “Welcome to the future, gentlemen! Now let’s get over there and treat them to some of our old-fashioned lovin’!”

Results: One way or the other the Sons of Sabika cease to exist as a coherent fighting force, annihilated as they are by a missile strike and then a pack of Aardvarks.

San Dorado also tests the SGM-1 Ladybird missile, with mixed success (one more-or-less on target –luckily it was a big training camp -, the other blew up some monkeys in the jungle).

[Coiler]

Farve triumphant!

Winning a decisive 61% of the vote, the National Party's Oliver Farve is now the president of Coilerburg, defeating the incumbent Geoffrey Stone....

Farve weighs in on potential FTO common currency

The new president of Coilerburg gave his opinions on a common FTO currency today in an interview. "I'll put it blunty-it's a horrible idea. It'll tie us together to the point where if one FTO country has financial problems, it'll drag the rest down with it. Besides, having everyone on the continent use the same currency would be a windfall to counterfeiters. What benefits that would result from it would not be worth the risk."

[CmdrWilkens]

MSA Announces Explorer Satellite Series

In a bold move aimed at bettering our understanding of the near Earth environment the MSA today announced that it will be using the new Delta IV series of rockets to begin launching a new series of Earth and Astrophysics satellites dubbed the Explorer series. Scientists at the Earth Science and Astrophysics divisions of the MSA and its daughter agencies have been clamoring for years to begin a more detailed study of the near earth environment. Researchers feel that until the space environment around low earth orbit and the upper atmosphere is better understood plans for long term human missions will simply be too dangerous to commit to.

"We understand so little about anything above about 150-200 kilometers from teh surface," Dr Julian Fairchild of the Shinra Republic stated. "Everyone has theories abotu the environment ranging from massive solar radiation exposire to zones of comsic radiation. We simply don't know what is up there certainly not enough to risk human spaceflight above the Ionosphere and even extended spaceflight in the upper reaches of the ionosphere is still questionable."

Many have noted the series of spaceflights by FASTA astronauts into this region however none has lasted for the timeframe neccessarry for lunar activity. Moreover while scientific findings are already working their way into the international scene the sample group for effects on humans has been incredibly low. The planners and project managers at Johnson Spaceflight Center have thus been avid supporters of more basic research into what actually comprises the upper layers of the Ionosphere and thence to what lies beyond them.

everyone involved tells of how the discoveries this series could bring may affect how we build the next generation of satellites for everything from weather detection to geosynchronous communication satellites. More importantly long term human presence in space won't be pssible until we understand what it takes to survive the environment. The first launch of the Explorer series will be taking palce before the end of the year and will mark the first valuable payload carried into orbit by the Delta IV series making it a twice over milestone.

[Zor]

Northern Hadhramara

The area had been plunged into chaos as Davin Muballi's forces waged their war to bring about the vision of the new state, his army had rather quickly managed to take over a large streach of territory, having seized control of a large amount of territory and having rapidly hit the Jihadis with a hard and fast offensive. He had managed to bolster the might of his new nation by gaining support of various non muslim factions and various bands of mercenaries attracted by the allure of Plunder and had won several victories against the often fanatical, but unorginized Jihadis which were by and large unprepared for such an assault, despite being forced from a few port towns which he had seized control of by Svalbardian naval bombardment. The Resistance that the Jihadis posed was fairly constant but was increasingly broken up into small groups which acted with less and less coordination.

Large numbers of Southern Malip refugees which had fled Southwers had bled back into the forests to the north searching for cover of the forests, hoping to avaid the wrath of the advancing forces. For the most part, this was a good decision, Muballi had little care for the Jungle or its inhabitants and thought that the best thing they could do was return from whence they came and gave strict orders to his officers not to follow them into the bush. Some foreign Jihadis in the Dragonsnake were moving to Hadhramara, but their numbers were dwarfed by the waves of fleing Malips. For the most part, the returning Malip were much safer in the Dragonsnake basin. However, the fighting generated tens of thousands of new refugees from towns which pushed southward into the lands of other tribes of the failed state, some of which were sympathetic to their plight but others were not. This spread the conflict and further increased the demand for ammunition and weapons.

In the territories Muballi had seized, he had begun to exert his will, setting up seven provisional governers of hastilly assembled provinces and enforced his will with an iron fist. His men made cruel and often gruesome examples of Jihadis and those which aided them. If towns proved to be highly pro-jihadi, punishment shifted from invididual to collective, going from confiscation of livestock to massed forced labour in logging camps, coal mines or building roads to decimation of the adult population. Children of these criminals were removed from their "unfit" parents to be sent to the Shadowveil Valley to be raised to be Muballi's next generation of Hadhramarans as well as serving as a useful human shield against bombardment.

Never the less, he never forced the populaces of these nation's to abandon Islam. He even allowed for Islamic courts to handle things such as inheritence and property disputes in accordance to Koranic law for the Muslim population. Instead he crafted his own internal muslim priesthood led by a Mulla which he knew he could control and set it up to promote his vision to them, while deceminating his propaganda against 'corrupting foreign influeneces' and 'a new prosperous and safe Hadhramara' and other visions for the future he had, at the same time setting up public works such as setting up methane tanks for farmers. Their was some resentment among more traditionalist locals against the more orthodox islam the Jihadis brought that had up until recently in the fact that a few Jihadis had turned to attacks upon "Muballi's Cowardly Lapdogs" did not help the case. He even managed to play a few local groups of Muslims against each other to begin his new order. The northern section of the nation would be reborn and remade in Davin Muballi's vision, one which would be loyal to him and actually fuction on a level greater than disorginized villages of subsistance farmers which occasionally fight and waste lives in pointless fueds and one from which he could raise an army strong enough to bring the rest of Hadhramara in line.

[Steve]

Entry on WorldPoliBlogs.com


Devin Muballi - Homegrown warlord or Zorian stooge?
by Haley849


Okay, quick recap: this guy called Devin Muballi has gathered this army in Northern Hadhramara and is attacking the local Muslim populations on a campaign to "build a new Hadhramara". He's reportedly seizing children from parents, engaging in mass reprisals, the usual stuff violent dictators love to do to people who don't bow and kiss his feet quick enough. He's pissing off the Tonkinese a bit since they had their Svalbardian buddies bombard a few port towns he managed to take, allowing his enemies to regain them, but he generally seems to win a number of fights.

How?

We know the Jihadis have military-trained fighters in their ranks, conscripts from Syria, Arabia, etc. There's a lot of wealthy Arab and Syrian giving them bank. They've got friggin subs sinking Zorian ships in the waters off Veleria. So how is this character managing to beat them?

The answer is so friggin' obvious an idiot could see it. Muballi isn't working alone. Isn't it so convenient that he started this little war just as the Jihadis were using Hadhramaran ports more and more to send troops and supplies to the Dragonsnake River? Convenient for Zoria, that is.

So yeah. I think Muballi is in league with Zoria. They're giving him goodies, he's fighting the Jihadis for them before they even reach the Dragonsnake River Basin. Too bad for all the other people getting hurt, though.

I guess I don't really blame Zoria. They've managed to work with Rangatara on cutting off weapons from there, so that left Hadhramara, a world-class shithole. Invading it would've only caused problems, the local central government is, to put it best, utterly inept, so why not support some local loco warlord if it gets the job done? Nice show, Zorians. But don't expect us to be so stupid to not see it!



(In the comment section)

Um, that bit about Rangatara? Check out the news, man....
CaptKeller23




The Seattle Post-Intelligencer


Rangatara ends cooperation with Zorian officials on gun-smuggling.

MALIKA, RANGATARA - Citing both the destabilizing effect the agreement was having on Rangatara's society and several cases of "overzealousness" and resulting complaints of harrassment, Rangatara has informed the Zorian Embassy that the police agents present to coordinate searches of suspected arms smugglers were having their special visas revoked and were being ordered to leave. Officials of the Security Ministry have told Associated Press representatives that while they will continue to work with Zoria on identifying shipments of arms into Rangatara, they could no longer permit Zorian participation, stating it was "offensive to Rangataran sovereignty" and "damaging to the national character". There were denials that the move was coming on the heels of an incident two weeks ago when a Tonkinese freighter was tied in port for three days undergoing "complete inspection" by the insistance of Zorian authorities, but many observers believe this incident and others caused the Tonkinese government, the most influential foreign government in Rangataran relations, to pressure the Rangatarans to scale back the searches and eject Zorian inspectors.

Both Zorian authorities and international arms smuggling monitors fear that without international oversight to prevent bribery, Rangatara may become a conduit again for fighters and arms being sent to Jihadi forces in the Dragonsnake River Basin.

[PeZook]

Kosciuszko Avenue, RIS Headquarters

"Their CEP was frighteningly tight...this might've just been luck, of course. We won't be able to tell until they do a second test.", general Kulinsky concluded his briefing to SNC general staff. For the last two days or so, RIS has activated a lot of resources in San Dorado, attempting to get as much information about the new SGM-1 "Ladybird" missile as possible. Sadly, it wasn't much.

"Gentlemen, the strategic implications of this test are quite severe. The SNC does not currently posess space-to-ground missiles to arm the Mig-105 with, due to technical problems. Of course, arming the Ladybird with nuclear warheads is going to take more R&D, but even a conventional strike against a city would be devastating."

"Can our ABM systems protect against it?", asked one Air Force general, and all the attention suddendly turned towards a group of unassuming officers wearing various air defence patches on their sleeves. One of them got up and began his prepared presentation.

"In short, not really. We've done a lot of studies on this scenario: the lead time is 5 to 8 minutes, the warheads are rather small and the launch platform can maneuver itself. We estimate our current ABM system has about a 15% chance to intercept one warhead, less than 5% to intercept two at the same time. Now, the S-500 system promises to deliver a two-stage kill vehicle which will allow us to reliably attack the launch platform, and..."

"The S-500 is several years away, son. What can we do with existing technology?", one of the generals interrupted.

"Nuke San Dorado, sir.", the young officer replied.

The gathered men looked at each other, before asking him to explain.

"Well, San Dorado doesn't have a lot of orbiters, they can't launch them very fast and frankly, we can take a dozen hits - even nuclear - and survive. They take one warhead and are utterly screwed."

"Well, we already run regular Yer Mom patrols in the area to spy on the Tonkinese. They carry enough SPR-1s (OOC: Tomahawk knockoff) and Buzzkills to flatten half of Frequesque if necessary. Just assign more nuclear weapons to them."

"Which brings us to the next topic of today's meeting...acquisition of additional Yer Mom class SSGNs..."

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



New Military Journal

Four new Yer Mom-class submarines comissioned

After three years of construction, the PeZookian navy has finally received and comissioned four news Yer Mom class guided missile submarines. Entering service under the names P-23 "Sokół", OP-24 "Lew", OP-25 "Rosomak" and OP-26 "Mustang", the boats will now undergo technical trials, crew training and testing before being outfitted with missiles and beginning their patrols.

This delivery marks the end of the Yer Mom production run, and the Navy is reportedly considering the purchase of three nuclear attacks submarines to complement the fleet. This contract will most likely go to the CSR, with the acquisition of the modernized Akula-class.

Sources also claim a new class of diesel-electric submarines is being sought, with Byzantine boats - which have a long and proud tradition serving in the PeZookian navy - most likely candidates for the job.

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

Serenity Sentinel

3rd Rising Sun Launch

The 3rd of the Blue Sun's Rising Sun Series sounding rockets, RS-3, launched yesterday at the Dongting Bay Launch Site. The rocket performed the task of ionosphere observation, as well as a testbed for various future projects for the Blue Sun.

Contrary to popular belief, the RS-3 is not the last of the Rising Sun Series, Surya Azul, spokesperson of the Blue Sun Corporation, denied the claim in the following press conference. "The Blue Sun will still maintain the line of the Rising Sun Series, with evolving rocket design. Our other future projects will be set upon different series." As for what projects, Ms. Azul refused to provide any information.

More Support to Akori Republic?

Anonymous insiders of the Ministry of Defense confirmed today that the Hall of Tigers have been seriously considering on providing more support in training the Akori military on prevention of any possible terrorist activity.

[Lonestar]

Royal Palace
Lonestar looked down at the new Naval Expansion law. It contained a request for 3 heavy ocean-going tugs, 2 combatant tenders, 2 more Maritime security cutters, 2 floating dry-docks, and 2 gi-normous RoRo ships.

"A good chunk of change…" Lonestar muttered.

"But still insignificant when compared to our peers in the MESS." CNO Oscar Saldana said. "In addition, we need all of these to support our new status as King of the Impact Crater Archipelago."

"Still, 3 'heavy ocean going tugs'?"

"During the One Week War we ended up having the Bulwark take the Lord Fairfax in tow. With the bevy of very large surface combatants inbound, we're going to need heavy tugs."

"The RoRo ships are needed for rapid movement of heavy units overseas." Foreign Minister Berman said. "In the past our assumption was that foreign MESS units would be arriving here, not the otherway around. Now with the threat of a foreign invasion virtually extinguished, we must show that we are willing to recipocorate in kind for our allies over seas."

"Alright, fine. You have my blessing to submit it to the legislature." It offended Lonestar's tightfisted nature, but his Chief Economic advisor was a Keynesian Zealot and would have no problem pitching it to the House. "What else?"

"We would like to announce that Dominion Boeing's proposal for an attack aircraft has been removed." CNO Saldana said. "Combat Optics has permission to go ahead and build 3 X-47 prototypes, and Dominion Lockheed has permission for the same number of X-12 prototypes."

"What are you leaning towards?" Lonestar asked, flipping through the report.

"Myself? The X-12. While the X-47 is a UCAV, and would be useful against a wide number of other countries, against a truly sophisticated foe such as the CSR or IRT UAV operations would be severely hampered. There's a line of thought that we'll never go to war with any of the big boys, so the X-47 would be the preferred route, but…" Saldana shrugged.

"Fair enough. Is that it for the Navy?"

"Yessir."

"Air Force?"

Air Marshal Shultz plopped a thick binder on Lonestar's desk.

"We are going to request a purchase of 132 B-1Cs for the new Global Strike Command. At the moment our long-range nuclear strike role is largely one of TLAMs, B-89s, and B-56s, plus whatever carrier is available. The ultimate goal is to use the B-1C as an interim bomber until a Mach 3+ bomber is ready…."

"Go ahead and submit it."

[Coiler]

FTO-wide proposal for fast attack submarines

President Oliver Farve believes that the FTO's submarine force is somewhat lacking in terms of fast attack craft.

"The Vigilants are good enough for strategic purposes, but they're too slow for anything else. The FTO needs new nuclear fast attack submarines, with emphasis on the word fast."

[Coyote]

ROYAL AIR FORCE FINALLY EXPANDS 90TH AIR WING



H-22 Raptor air-superiority fighters have finally been ordered in sufficient quantities to round out the 90th "Blackrazors" air wing of the Canissian Royal Air Force. Caught up in budgetary wrangling over the temporary prioritization of the space program budget over that of the defense budget (immediately following the startling announcement of the existence of a 'space virus'), military budgets were frozen to just enough to maintain readiness levels with no new procurations planned 'until further notice' at the time of the announcement.

The last major procurement budget that passed was the acquisition of the H-16L delta-winged fighter for the Air Reserves just before the general shut-down of the budget. The H-22 fighter is a far more expensive aircraft and was to round out a single elite air wing with 5th+ Generation fighters. The majority of RAF fighter missions are flown with H-1 Typhoon-class fighters.

The military does not plan any more major expansions in equipment purchases for the immediate future, however, the next two years are expected to be intense training cycle years to "shake the dust loose" from the budgetary doldrums of late, according to unnamed Palace sources.

Some in the Parliament question the wisdom of purchasing the H-22 when there is a clear trend towards increasing use of even more advanced drone fighters.

"We should have just forgone the purchase of these hunters and saved th emoney for the next round of drones," says Environment Minister Myra Foxglove (Greens Party, Picon). "This is a waste of ROBs. Besides, it's not like we're at war with anyone, anyway."

[Coyote]

Canissian Aerospace Institute


The model before them showed an EGL command module, the forward pilot cab, by itself, and with a stack of chemical-rocket engines strapped to it's back end. Mel Tarkon, chief engineer of the EGL development project, explained what it was all about.



"The rockets will accelerate the command module to speeds that will simulate maximum reentry," he said, "At which point, they will be ejected and fall into the sea. The command module will then deploy its own parafoil and glide to the surface, where it will be retrieved safely. The first test will, of course, be automated; the next one --if all goes well-- will be a manned test of the reentry vehicle."

"Where will the landing be?" asked one of the other engineers, the one that had helped run the air pressure seal tests on the first EHAZE test misison.

"We'll be off the coast of Katangwa Free State," Tarkon said, "The northern quarter of Katangwa crosses the equator, so we'll run a de-orbit trajectory and try to simulate a fast burn into the atmosphere. There'll be a pair of 200-pound dummies aboard, strapped in with space suits on, and we'll monitor pressure in the suits and outside, and make this as real as we can."

The engineers were excited to be on the next phase of the tests, and were eagerly looking forward to the manned test phase of the reentry capsule portion of the overall Eagle program. With the superstructure's engine room going through re-design, the command capsule series was generating all the heat. The cargo pod design teams was in low gear, batting around all sorts of modifications to their designs.

The selection process had already begun for the first Canissian pilot to fly the command module down. A veteran Navy Pilot by the name of Wolf Phideaux was the odds-on favorite to fly the module down-- a feat that was expected to take place in just a few months, if all went well..


Astronaut Wolf Phideaux, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm hot-shot hunter pilot and Commander in the Royal Navy.

CDR. Wolf Phideaux is a veteran of the One Week War and participated in many harrowing carrier deck landings, as well as flew missions to protect the airspace of Katangwa Free State during the 'Operation al-Akharabat Freedom'. He is married to famous Canissian Supermodel Eva Fleur.


Eva Fleur, famous Canissian supermodel, famously lovely.

They have no children, but have a dog and a cat that is allergic to fish.

[Siege]

Special Weapons



Anlace Tower, downtown San Dorado

“... so recapping”, doctor Bruce Vanderbilt, head of the Outside Context Division, steepled his fingers, “one of the missiles hit the camp, pretty much where we wanted it to. The other, uh, went for the hills and blew a tribe of looter monkeys to tiny little bits.”

Sidney Hank harrumphed. “Although it pleases me to see our spaceborne weapons program is making headway doctor, we can’t really afford a fifty percent failure rate on our missiles. They’re expensive enough as it is.”

“I’d like to see you do better”, injected doctor Gerald Hastly venomously. “If we had our own GPS constellation this would be a hell of a lot-”

“But we don’t”, the president cut him off with a single look. “And we won’t have one anytime soon either. Now, the Board isn’t paying you to bitch, doctor Hastly. We’re paying you to find solutions to our problems. So what does the OCD intend to do about that guidance problem?”

“Ve are vorking on modifying ze TAINS systems from Tomahawk missile for use in ze Ladybird”, Gregor Zelinsky hastily replied. “It is difficult, but once terrain matching system is vorking properly ze missile can guide itself onto ze target. No more need for laser-”

“I told you that combat controllers wouldn’t work’, Hastly interrupted snidely. “I told you, didn’t I? The speed and the plasma sheath make laser guidance totally infeasible.”

Zelinsky glowered at his colleague, then turned back to the president. “More tests are needed, but ve should have problems worked out before summer.”

“That’s good to hear”, the president leaned back. “What about the nuclear warheads?”

“We could mount the Mark II right now”, Vanderbilt said. “Uh, that’s our 60 kiloton warhead; the FTO-standard fittings and relatively small size make it simple to bolt it to the Ladybird. Later we expect to fit the Mark III and IV, although it will take the better part of another year at the very least to manufacture the proper fittings. And of course”, the lead scientist frowned slightly, “we can’t really test the missile with its nuclear warhead until we’re sure it’ll go where we want it to.”

“All right”, Sidney Hank ruffled through his hair. “Again, it’s nice to see we’ve come a long way, but gentlemen- I want my missile working properly before next summer. Our strategic defence depends on this puppy.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. President”, Vanderbilt smiled handsomely. His glasses suddenly caught the light from the mushroomcloud-shaped chandelier, turning his eyes into pools of fire. “We don’t intend to disappoint.”

[CmdrWilkens]

A Helpful Primer for the Parliamentary Elections

Adam Heltzberg and Julian Dice
ColumbiaJournal.com Article:

With the parliamentary elections just around the corner after the government fell just over two months ago campaigns from all parties have been heating up everywhere. What we have here is an attempt to give you the quick overview to how the land looks in terms of what the party plotform looks like and then below the fold we delve deeper into your local races. For instance if you are from RAAN-2 or the eastern legislative district for the Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte the Whig and Republican parties have jointly nominated a single candidate so things are different than in GR-4 or dowtown Granada (in the county and province of the smae name) where not only are all 5 major parties represented but the still present Democrat-Republicans and even the all but ghost Communist party have nominated candidates.

So without further adieu we start at the top:

Major Political Parties

Green: The most left leaning of the political parties. Principal platform items include measures to tax CO2 emissions, promote solar energy and eco-thermal plants, removal of existing nuclear facilities, tax on private automobile purchase, government subsidies for parklands, and halt on all new non-urban development.

Labour: The middle-left or semi-left party. They represent the smallest of the major parties. Principal platform items include extension of national healthcare to all occupants (as opposed to legal residents) of the country, major increases in transit and education funding, reduction in defense and aerospace expenditure, publicly funded broadband for everyone, easier unionization rules and requirement for the government to use union labor.

Federalist: The center, center-left or center-right (depends on who you talk to) party, comprised principally of fiscally conservative former Labour members and socially liberal former Whigs it is the youngest and largest party. The principal platform items include additional investment in foreign aid, more money for space exploration, higher import tariffs, strong Navy ( no statement in regard to the other 4 branches).

Whig: Socially neutral descendant of the Tory party in the 1800s. After the First Tonkin War in 1874 the Whigs and Republicans split from the Tory party with the former supporting colonial integration of the army and the later opposing it. The principal platform items include reduced government spending, reduced taxation, free trade, a strong Marine Corps and Air Force, removal of barriers to non-union contractors, international treaty on ending currency speculation, end of government subsidized retirement.

Republican: The socially conservative descendant of the Tory party they opposed the integration of colonial units into the Wilkonian Army after the First Tonkin War. Principal platform items include amendment banning flag burning, amendment defining a marriage as between a man and a woman, free trade, reduced or flat taxation rate, end of capital gains taxes, and support for the Wilkonian Army.

Now if that wasn't confusing enough the minor parties represented in multiple districts include...


______________

Results: Elections are coming in less than a month's time. The center is in danger of giving way and that could spell changes for Wilkonia.

[Steve]

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer


Cascadian, Adabani Red Crescent workers murdered in Hadhramara; warlord's troops responsible

DAREEM, HADHRAMARA - Red Crescent authorities have confirmed that among the Red Crescent workers killed last week by warlord Davin Muballi's forces were individuals from Cascadia and Adabani. Nasira al-Kulani of Seattle, age 20, and Amid bin Juhari of Bremerton, age 22, were among the eight Red Crescent workers in the farming village of el-Ruhari that were killed when forces under the warlord Muballi executed a tenth of the adults in the village for suspicion of supporting Jihadi forces resisting Muballi's recent expansion in the area. Also killed was an Adabani citizen from New Olympia, Samira bint Kalani, who was said by Red Crescent officials to hold joint citizenship between Adabani and Cascadia.

Hadhramara's weak civil government has asked for foreign aid to put down what it terms a coup attempt by the charismatic Muballi, who has united the tribes of the interior under the banner of "uniting" Hadhramara and making a new state in place of the weak central government. Muballi has made a centerpiece of his war opposition to foreign and native Jihadi forces using Hadhramara as a southern base against Zoria's Dragonsnake River holdings, prompting some pundits to accuse Zoria of being a supporter of Muballi's growing war.

When asked for comment, Cascadian officials said only that the matter was being investigated.




Adams Capital District


The election season was still a tight one, with President Garrett due for his Frequesue tour soon before he embarked on the campaign trail leading up to the election in a couple months, including three debates with Rachel MacKenzie, two of which would have minority candidates present as well.

But despite all that distracting him, Stephen still had time to notice reports from the tense East Velerian region. And the murder of Cascadian workers of the Red Crescent organization had him livid. The murder of Cascadian citizens by a would-be dictator possibly being supported by Zoria was completely and utterly acceptable to Stephen on all levels and he was determined - determined - to see justice done in this matter. Though wary over the terrorism aspects of some of the Jihadis, he recognized that the Malip had a legitimate complaint and that Zorian behavior was not inspiring much trust; furthermore the part of him who grew up in this world remembered fondly having Muslim friends as an Army draftee both in Cascadia proper and during his brief stint of service in Adabani proper, as well as the fact that he'd fallen in love with and married a beautiful, passionate woman of mixed race origin.

After an hour of talking with his Joint Chiefs and SecDef Dale, the orders went out.


el-Yasuj Air Base, Cascadian Lease Zone, Adabani


A flight of four ASF-10C Condors of the 4th Fighter Squadron (aka "The Green Aces", a highly-storied RCAF unit that was due to be the first to receive ASF-20 Kestrels in 2015), part of the 3rd Fighter Wing, took off ahead of the high-flying T-12BR, modified to take long-range digital photography of land sites. Under the strictest of orders straight from Adams itself, the aircraft would be escorted by the long-range ASF-10Cs to northern Hadhramara, where they would commence reconnassiance of the region taken over by the warlord Muballi.

Other preparations were being made in all three Cascadian airbases on the continent of Veleria - el-Yasuj in Adabani, Welles Island Air Force Base in the Welles Island Claim Zone, and the newly-redesignated Ying Air Force Base in Van Halstoff territory - for the operation of the forward deployed fighters of the RCAF's 1st Tactical Wing and 3rd Fighter Wing - which included the 8th Fighter Squadron which now had eight ASF-18 Sparrowhawks - as well as supporting KT-15 refuelers of the 2nd and 4th Air Refueling Squadrons out of el-Yasuj.

Meanwhile the Cascadian carrier Defiant and its carrier group, upon receipt of signal, changed their heading from transit to a planned deployment zone off Van Halstoff southward to Eastern Veleria, all ships ordered to heightened alert and active ASW screening operations.

Some defense watchers noticed the activity and wondered just what the Cascadian military was up to while in Adams, the remarks of the furious President had planners waiting for the first recon photos to begin their deliberations on Operation: Avenging Sword, personally named by Stephen.

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish Ministry of Economics, Industry, and Finance
Report on "Miratian Plan"
FROM: Committee on Currency Control
TO: His Excellency Count Sabrino, Minister for Economics, Industry, and Finance, His Grace Duke James of Baerne

Sirs,
It is the opinion of the Committee that a standardized FTO currency would provide at least a small benefit to Frequesquan economies, while at the same time increasing the risk of a continental, possibly global recession should the FTO currency, hereinafter referred to as the H-mark*, become devalued by an event such as the wars depressingly endemic to the continent.

The H-mark would, if adopted, largely ease trade between the established nations of the FTO, but would provide comparatively little benefit to the rest of the continent.

In short: We recommend that other nations' economists be consulted on this plan.

Sincerely,
Samuel Peabody, Committee Chairman