NationStates Jolt Archive

The Igovian Soviet Commonwealth of Beth Gellert
(Formerly The People's Commonwealth)

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/beth_gellert.jpg

Background:

Several millennia ago, Celtic tribes existed in strength at least so far east as modern day Turkey and perhaps beyond. It is understood that no small portion of this population drove east, their almost titanic frames and unrivalled warrior spirit (and artificial intoxication) seeing them through several larger empires on their way to the Indian subcontinent. Here they settled down the east coast, ranging as far south as Sri Lanka, leaving their cultural mark on the existing populations. Large parts of the ancient history of these people remains unclear; they left few written records. It is apparent that throughout the centuries these Celtic Indians enjoyed periods of great influence and power amongst local tribes, and that they suffered many times in the face of majority rebellions and fresh invasions. During times of great strife, the Celtic populace is known to have sought refuge in great hill forts at least so impressive as those known in Europe. With these defences, great stature and consuming warrior culture, and the early acquisition of iron working technologies on their long migration, the Celtic population exerted influence beyond the slight proportion of their numbers in India.

When Europeans again arrived in force, it came as something of a surprise to find powerful white tribes and kingdoms active on the subcontinent. Reports from the time speak of a large degree of co-operation, with Celtic warlords lending muscle to European governments and companies, apparently little understanding the global implications. Ultimately though, this served mainly to familiarise the local Celts with the invaders and to give them access to European weapons.

The Celtic populations all but ran parts of India on behalf of the East India Company, at least in terms of security and other hands-on aspects of governance and unbalanced economics. This served to further understanding of western industry and business, and to foster a well-understood disdain for capitalism and imperialism. Influential Celtic families began to deliver sons into British education and even to flirt with high society, which gave yet more capabilities to the apparently erased civilisation that had never actually been beaten on the field of battle.

It became evident that the Celts were but resting and biding their time, learning, growing, and resenting as if Arminius amongst the Romans. Celtic uprisings were amongst the bloodiest surrounding the final years before independence for the subcontinent.

Britain did manage to maintain significant influence for some way into the second half of the twentieth century as British and local Celtic nobility, intertwined over generations of occupation, gave rise to a constitutional monarchy with close ties to the Windsors. It was many more years before the First Igovian Revolution brought-down the rule of then Prince Llewellyn of Beth Gellert, sending royalists and other capitalist elements to find refuge on Victoria and Salvador (Sri Lanka).

Following the Soviet coup a great many Britons emigrated to Beddgelert, as it was officially renamed (pronunciation remaining the same), the majority of them Welsh socialists tired of the bottom rung of capitalism in their nation. More liberal ideas lead to the removal of the Igovians and the establishment of a pure democracy akin to the ancient Greek fashion but applied on a grand scale. Under this system there was much reconciliation with Victoria and Salvador, leading to eventual reunification.

This system, that of The People’s Commonwealth, was considered free and fair, and it lead to much social progress, but it was slow and clumsy, and many Beddgelens felt that their nation’s influence was slipping and the revolution suffering. Hence the return of the Igovians and a more hard-line leftist agenda in the Igovian Soviet Commonwealth of Beth Gellert.

Geography:

Location: Southeast of the Indian subcontinent including Sri Lanka

Border States: Pondicherry, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal

Climate: Varies, largely tropical monsoon

Natural resources: Coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land

Natural hazards: Droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/Chivtv/NS1/4mapbg.jpg

People:

Population: Just over three hundred million (estimated).
(Nb. BG's population is, according to its profile, more than three billion, but this is by choice no longer played)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81; male:78; female:83. Rising rapidly.

Nationality: Beth Gellen or Beddgelen

Ethnic groups: Celtic (primarily Geletian and Welsh) 41%; Anglo-Saxon 19%; Indo-Aryan 17%; Dravidian 12%; Mongoloid, East African, various South East Asian and other 11%

Religions: None officially; religion is considered regressive and counter-revolutionary, and is well taught about in history classes. Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Druidic beliefs persist on some level in minorities, along with slight Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi-leanings.

Languages: English (official and spoken throughout), Welsh (official and spoken by almost a fifth of the population), Geletian (official and spoken usually as a second language by up to a quarter of the population), Hindi (official and spoken by several million). Many other languages are spoken by minority populations and the likes of Bengali, Tamil, Punjabi and more receive some official recognition.

Literacy: definition: age 12 and over can read and write; 100%

Government:

Country name: long form: The Igovian Soviet Commonwealth of Beth Gellert; short form: Beth Gellert; abbreviation: BG, ISCBG

Government type: Direct democratic confederation.

Capital: Portmeirion

Head Of State: None, though figureheads include Commonwealth Chief Consul comrade CHIVO, comrade Chairman GRAEME IGO, and comrade SOPWORTH IGO, all of the Consular Service and Commonwealth Professional Civil Service.

Suffrage: Any Commonwealth citizen may attend and speak at his or her Local Senate. The only limitation for this is placed upon certain residents at Commonwealth Re-education Facilities as are deemed mentally incapacitated.

Judicial branch: Commonwealth National People’s Court (judges elected by the people and usually chosen from the Commonwealth Professional Civil Service); People’s Local Courts (judges elected by Local Senates)

Political parties and leaders: None (the last attempts to form such were the Beth Gellen National Socialist Party and the Beddgelen Commonwealth Restored Communist Party, abolished during the Nicobarese War and at the end of the Beddgelen revolution respectively). The Commonwealth Professional Civil Service is sometimes referred to as The Party, The Beddgelen Communist Parrty or the Communist Party of Beth Gellert, but these are not official designations.

Note: Senates Local, Regional, and Final are attended by any or all citizens. The Commonwealth Professional Civil Service deals with most administrative affairs and is always subject to Senate review. The current Commonwealth Chief Consul is one comrade Chivo, whose role it is to speak for the Final Senate in international affairs. Chairman G.Igo over-sees the Civil Service, and Premier S.Igo usually attends Final Senate meetings. While this system is considered free and fair, and a reasonable means of combating much corruption and future Stalinist-type take-over it is also painfully bureaucratic and always open to foreign scrutiny.

Economy:

GDP: US$15 trillion (2004 estimate)

GDP per capita: US$50,000 (2004 estimate)

Population Below Poverty-Line: 0%

Unemployment Rate: Almost zero.
Nb.While the state can assign work to any of its citizens, it is true that many Beth Gellens essentially job-share and work relatively short hours. For the time being, these people continue to receive support akin to that granted to workers with longer hours.

Electricity Production By Source: Nuclear: 43% and rising, Fossil Fuel- 27% and falling, Hydro-21%, Wind/Solar/Other- 9%

Economic Aid Donor: $185bln per-annum (2004 est.)

Industries: Metal products, coal mining, copper refining, forestry, timber pulp and paper products, fishing and foodstuffs, medical drugs and equipment, aircraft, textiles, shipbuilding, armaments, brewing, software, machinery, food processing, petroleum, cement, opiates for medicinal and recreational purposes.

Major Export Commodities: Tea, revolution, coal, gems and jewellery, timber, armaments, cement, beverages, opiates.

Primary Import/Export Partners: Marimaia, Lusaka, Spyr?, North Yaman?, Dra-pol, LRR?, Pondicherry, other Indian states, Libya, Venezuala

Major Import Commodities: Crude oil, unrefined copper, other raw materials, agricultural products
NB. Most Igovian trade is either in short-term high-technology aid geared towards putting the subject partner on its own feet so to speak, or else in importing and exporting raw materials according to what does and does not occur naturally in the lands of Beth Gellert and its trade partners.

Oil- proved reserves: 3 billion bbl

Oil- production: 525,000 bbl/day

Oil- consumption: 2.1million bbl/day

Oil- imports: 1,575,000 bbl/day

Oil- exports: Nil as standard, small quantities as aid or in special situations

Communications:

Telephones- main lines in use: 105 million

Telephones- mobile cellular: 27 million

Radios: 183 million

Televisions: 125 million

Internet users: 185 million

Military-

Organisation

The Igovian Soviet People’s Defence Forces are overseen by Secretary comrade General Kivi Eikki Paatelainen and comprised of the following branches:

Igovian Soviet Army.
Officers in charge of provinces-
Field Marshal comrade Niles Brenni
Comrade General Heikki Orinoco
Comrade General Louis Pangloss
Comrade General Ilmari Tedeski, Hero of the Igovian Revolution
Comrade General Janne Bethan

Soviet People’s Navy
The Admiralty
Supreme Admiral comrade Katerina Ivolgin
Admiral comrade Nicholas Edwards, High Seas Fleet
Admiral comrade Ian Walmgate, Parmis Archipelago Flotilla
Admiral comrade Teuvo Jones
Admiral comrade Lucy Han-James, Commonwealth Fighting Coast Guard
Admiral comrade Drystan of Murch-on-Teedle, Home Fleet Training and Sciences Co-operative
People's Navy Marines
Marine General comrade Michael Malkstrom

Soviet People's Air Force
Air Marshal comrade Oskari Alexandrovson

Gellert Sentinels Intelligence Co-operative
Lead by comrade Colonel Charles Estevan, GSIC is the umbrella under which the Beth Gellen intelligence services, secret police, and elite troops operate.

Commonwealth People's Home Guard
Headed by rotational civilian officer ranks, and answerable to various political and military authorities.

Military expenditures- dollar figure: US$1trillion+

Military expenditure- percent of GDP: Around 7%

Transnational issues:

International disputes:
-Exiled Victoria Salvadorian king Llewellyn claims right to rule over Beth Gellert.
-Igovian support for Korean reunification under socialist Da'Khiem a potential danger issue.
-Beth Gellert is involved in the collapse of the Bonstockian Empire and has deployed troops to South East Asia as a result.
-Disputes with Andaman and Nicobar remain frequent.

Illicit drugs: The Igovian Soviet Commonwealth is noted for its lack of drug laws and as such is a trafficking centre for billions of dollars worth of drugs trade between east Africa, south Asia, and Australia.

Further Information:

The Commonwealth is often brought into international disrepute thanks to its rather hard-line leftist politics. This stance has seen BG accused of unofficial military involvement in several attempted socialist and communist coups around the world. Further, despite a low over-all incarceration rate (as befits the low crime rate), the nation's little understood re-education camps have been points of international contention.

The myth of Gelert:

The spearman heard the bugle sound, And cheerily smiled the morn; And many a brach, and many a hound, Obeyed Llewellyn's horn.

And still he blew a louder blast, And gave a louder cheer: "Come, Gelert, come, why are thou last Llewellyn's horn to hear!

"Oh, where does faithful Gelert roam? The flower of all his race! So true, so brave -- a lamb at home, A lion in the chase!"

'Twas only at Llewellyn's board The faithful Gelert fed; He watched, he served, he cheered his lord, And sentinel'd his bed.

In sooth he was a peerless hound, The gift of Royal John - But now no Gelert could be found, And all the chase rode on.

And now as over rocks and dells The gallant chidings rise, All Snowdon's craggy chaos yells With many mingled cries.

That day Llewellyn little loved The chase of hart or hare; And scant and small the booty proved, For Gelert was not there.

Unpleased Llewellyn homeward hied, When, near the portal-seat, His truant, Gelert, he espied, Bounding his lord to greet.

But when he gained the castle-door, Aghast the chieftain stood; The hound all o'er was smeared with gore -- His lips, his fangs ran blood!

Llewellyn gazed with fierce surprise, Unused such looks to meet, His favourite checked his joyful guise, And crouched and licked his feet.

Onward in haste Llewellyn passed -- And on went Gelert too -- And still, where'er his eyes were cast, Fresh blood-gouts shocked his view!

O'erturned his infant's bed he found, The bloodstained covert rent, And all around, the walls and ground, With recent blood bespent.

He called his child -- no voice replied; He searched -- with terror wild; Blood! blood! he found on every side, But nowhere found the child!

"Hell-hound! my child's by thee devoured!" The frantic father cried; And, to the hilt, his vengeful sword He plunged in Gelert's side!

His suppliant looks, as prone he fell, No pity could impart; But still his Gelert's dying yell, Passed heavy o'er his heart.

Aroused by Gelert's dying yell, Some slumberer wakened nigh: What words the parent's joy can tell, To hear his infant cry?

Concealed beneath a tumbled heap, His hurried search had missed, All glowing from his rosy sleep The cherub-boy he kissed.

Nor scathe had he, nor harm, nor dread -- But the same couch beneath Lay a gaunt wolf, all torn and dead -- Tremendous still in death!

Ah! what was then Llewellyn's pain, For now the truth was clear; The gallant hound the wolf had slain, To save Llewellyn's heir.

Vain, vain was all Llewellyn's woe; "Best of thy kind, adieu! The frantic deed which laid thee low This heart shall ever rue!"

And now a gallant tomb they raise, With costly sculpture decked; And marbles, storied with his praise, Poor Gelert's bones protect.

Here never could the spearman pass, Or forester, unmoved; Here oft the tear-besprinkled grass Llewellyn's sorrow proved.

And here he hung his horn and spear, And there, as evening fell, In fancy's ear he oft would hear Poor Gelert's dying yell.

Fin.

Note: This poem is thought to be born of a C19th or so tourist-trap invented by local traders in and around the town of Beddgelert in Wales. The name of the town may refer to a Christian religious figure rather than a greyhound as is implied by the myth (and as such I can't take credit for writing it).


"Take heart, revolutionary, for the Red Dragon will show you the way!"
-Commonwealth Chief Consul comrade Chivo, speaking at an open session of The Commonwealth Final Senate at the height of Beddgelen-Victoria Salvadorian tensions before re-unification.

Military technologies in the ISCBG

(Note: Owing to the mentioned open nature of The Commonwealth's political system the state of its forces may well be much more easily assessed by foreign powers than might normally be expected.)

Soviet People's Air Force
Air Marshal comrade Oskari Alexandrovson

Rotary Wing Aircraft

JaF Ja-36 Yellowbat helicopter gunship
Technical Data-
Primary Builder: January Fort Brennus Aviation Plant
Crew: 2, seated forward and behind one another
Length: 17.5m including rotors
Weight: 8,120kg empty; 12,000kg maximum take-off
Powerplant: 2x2,350hp HT2-FB23 Turboshaft
Maximum Speed: Around 320kph, 200mph
Ceiling: 5,600m
Range: 500km, 310miles with normal fuel
Armament: Turreted cannon, four under-wing pylons, wingtip stations
-RMG-G7 17x126mm 3-barrel rotary cannon, selectable 400 to 3,000rpm rate of fire, 800rnds
-Triple 54kg, dual 225kg, or single 450kg free-fall bombs
-Single-barrel 30mm cannon pods
-32 tube 57mm rocket pods, HE
-12 tube 80mm rocket pods, HE, AP
-Single Parliament AGMs
-Quadruple or dual Totem-3T ATGMs
-Dual Sumpit AAMs (each wingtip)
Systems: Infrared signature suppressers on exhausts, radar-warning receivers, chaff and flare dispensers, ejection system for both crewmembers, HUD and helmet-mounted sights, laser range-finder, TV and thermal sights, air and ground scanning radar.
Notes: In the manner of Russian helicopters previously serving Beth Gellert’s armed forces, Yellowbat has two stacked counter-rotating main rotors and omits a tail rotor. This results in increased power and agility, an unlimited turning rate, and reduced profile and acoustic signature.


Fixed Wing Aircraft

Apti NT4ASF-C Batch 2 Interceptor/Air Superiority Fighter HOBGOBLIN
Technical Data
Primary Builder: April Titovo Aeronautics Plant
Crew: 1
Dimensions: length 21.3m/70ft, span 14m/45.9ft
Weight Empty: 18,435kg/40,642lb
Weight Maximum: 26,500kg/58,422lbs
Powerplant: Two Sprite-C thrust-vectoring super-cruise engines for 11,000kg/24,255lb each (22,000kg/48,510lb total) dry and 15,400kg/33,950lb each (30,800kg/67,900lb total) reheat
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.4, 2,550kph, 1,585mph, super-cruise around Mach 1.38, 910mph, 1,465kph
Ceiling: 18,900m, 62,000ft
Range: 2,690km, 1,670miles plus external tanks and in-flight refuelling
Armament: Internal 30mm BG cannon (180rnds), four external hardpoints for DRAB SRAAM or Angelot Maudit AMRAAM or AAELRS, internal bay for four AAELRS or six Angelot Maudit plus two DRAB.
Radar: Nayangal is designed specifically for air superiority missions. It is an electronically scanned microprocessor intelligent system able to quickly acquire target information and move on so as to minimise the possibility of counter detection. Nayangal's maximum range is slightly reduced from the Flashdance-like system carried by NT4C's radically different forerunners, but is in fact more capable and less easily detected. Hobgoblin can track twenty-four targets and engage eight at once.
Notes: The super-cruise fighter is capable of elaborate aerobatics and resistant to high g-forces. The airframe is coated in radar absorbent material, and contains an active radar jammer. IR shielding is incorporated into the design, which, over all, makes for good stealth characteristics.
Batch 2 slightly reduced wingspan for aerodynamic, weight saving, and stealth purposes, and is rumoured to represent a forerunner for a maritime derivative. It also modified internal pylons to allow carriage of two extra missiles when using Angelot Maudit, though capacity when configured for the larger AAELRS is not effected.
Line Drawing (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/Chivtv/NS1/NT4C.jpg)

Mal NT5I Point Defence Fighter CARDINAL

Technical Data
Primary Builder: March Alaric Aviation Plant
Crew: 1
Dimensions: length 13m/42.5ft span 8.8m/29ft
Weight: Approximately 7,200kg,
Powerplant: One BG T5B turbofan for 10,375kg+/22,870lb thrust
Maximum Speed: Mach 2+ at high altitude, Mach 1.2 at low altitude
Ceiling: 16,000m, 52,500ft
Range: 1,220km, 759miles
Armament: Two internal 30mm cannon (120rnds each); two small internal bays for one AAELRS each; four external hardpoints for DRAB SRAAM or Angelot Maudit AMRAAM or free-fall bombs or unguided rockets; two wingtip stations for DRAB. The Cardinal’s 280km+range radar can track sixteen targets and engage six simultaneously.
Notes: The Cardinal is even more agile than the bigger Hobgoblin, once being described as performing leaf-like manoeuvres in the air. Its speed and range, though not strong points, are thought sufficient for its defensive role, which is optimised by NT5’s impressive climb rate and relatively low radar signal. Combined with fantastic agility and impressive armament these things allow the Cardinal to pop-up at the last minute and to deal significant damage to a serious attacker. NT5I can climb from break-release to 10km in less than two minutes, and to its ceiling in less than 200 seconds.
Line Drawing (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/Chivtv/NS1/Cardinal.jpg)

JaF NT1FB-C Strike/Attack Fighter SPRINGER

Technical Data
Primary Builder: January Fort Brennus Aviation Plant
Crew: 2; pilot, weapons systems operator
Dimensions: length 15.7m/51.5ft span 12.8m/42ft
Powerplant: Two Barbarian afterburning turbofans
Maximum Speed: 1,590kph, 990mph, Mach 1.35 at altitude
Ceiling: 12,800m, 42,000ft
Range: 2,125km, 1,320miles plus in-flight re-fuelling
Armament: 30mm internal cannon (270rnds), 30mm cannon pods, rocket pods, free-fall and laser-guided bombs (54kg, 225kg, 450kg, cluster), free-fall nuclear bomb, Parliament AGM, DRAB SRAAM, Qian Wei anti-shipping missile. Springer’s dual-purpose radar has a greater than 400km reach and can track multiple targets; number of engagements depends on type.
Notes: Designed many years ago in response to a joint Beth Gellert/ Christmas Day requirement the NT1FB was nicknamed The Flying Felt-tip by Christmassians unimpressed with its rugged profile. This is the seventh design and third production version of the old war-horse. A not inconsiderable 1,250 Springer are in service with the PCAF.
Line Drawing (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/Chivtv/NS1/New_Tiamat_Fighter-Bomber_Prototype_d.jpg)

NTMKII Heavy Transport Aircraft MARATHON
Technical Data (Baseline model)-
Crew: 4 to 6 plus up to 108 infantry or 76 paratroopers
Dimensions: length 38.7m, 127ft; span 50m, 164ft
Powerplant: Four Pheidippides turboprops
Payload: 52,000kg
Maximum Speed: 676kph, 420mph clean, 494kph, 307mph fully laden
Ceiling: 8,075m, 26,500ft
Range: 11,590km, 7,200 miles with maximum fuel, 3,700km, 2,300 miles with maximum payload
Notes: Reliable aircraft in service with several nations besides The Igovian Soviet Commonwealth. Versatile and designed to operate on relatively short runways and poor surfaces.

Technical Data (Variants)-
Marathon Tanker
Crew: Five - Pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, boom operator

Marathon Airborne Command and Surveillance
Crew: 4 (flightcrew) plus 8 to 12
Speed: 426kph, 265mph (optimum cruise)
Endurance: 6+ hours (unrefuelled)
Notes: The ASR-M Spectre of Communism Radar has a near 480km, 300 mile range for low-flying targets and greater for higher-flying objects. It (the Radar) is of the latest generation available to Beth Gellert’s trillion dollar defence forces and highly adept at filtering out interference and resisting jamming.

Savov NTMKI Light Utility Aircraft PRESTON
Technical Data (Baseline model)-
Primary Builder: Savique (Beth Gellert) November Aviation Plant
Crew: 2 plus 12 (or 2 plus six equipped troops)
Dimensions: length 21m, 69ft span 26.5m, 87ft
Powerplant: Two 1,750hp piston engines
Payload: 3,000kg
Maximum Speed: 585kph, 364mph (clean)
Ceiling: 6,100m, 20,000ft
Range: 3,860km, 2,400 miles with maximum fuel, 2,092km, 1,300 miles with maximum payload
Notes: A humble aircraft, the Preston has served Beth Gellert for many years and has a surprisingly colourful history. Portmeirion (the BG capital) attempted to induce a progressive socialist economy in tiny Savique by awarding contracts for the construction of Prestons to that nation on condition they be built at newly established state factories. Later, during the Battle of Salvador, Prestons carried torpedoes against Iansislian warships in the Indian Ocean. Since then they have served as diplomatic and utility transports, inserted Gellert Sentinel special ops teams into hostile territory in New Tiamat, Africa, and Asia, and patrolled Beth Gellen waters with the People’s Coast Guard.

Technical Data (Variants)-

Preston ASW patrol
Crew: 4 to 7 usual
Armament: Mines, buoys, 54kg bombs, 225kg bombs, Parliament AGM, DSJ-1 ASM, 57mm and 80mm rockets, depth charges, Type 3-B MKII torpedo, DRAB ASRAAM, Sumpit AAM
Notes: Carries a small but fairly advanced electronics suite for detection and tracking of surface and sub-surface targets. This variant has said to be rather cramped, leading to rapid crew fatigue, but it is considered highly cost effective. This allows large nations such as BG to support greater numbers of trained crewmen compared to what might be possible were resources spent on larger aircraft- Prestons may fly short patrols but there will be many of them covering a given area.

Air Defence Systems
(Some of which are also deployed by the army and/or navy, in various forms)

LOVIATAR-L/S Battlefield/Shipboard Defence Surface to Air Missile System
Technical Data-
Range: 1km-25km
Altitude: Treetop/wavetop (depending on version) to 12,500m
Guidance: Command, optional terminal, and semi-active radar
Radar-
Search: Salvable to DRAB-20; 60km+ range, 36 targets traceable or Citadel L1.
Fire Control: BG-Falcon-Scavenger; 65km range, 12 targets traceable, 4 targets simultaneous engagement, 8 missiles guided
Platform: Mobile launcher based on CICV-2 chassis with four launch-ready missiles in cannisters. Often deployed with four launch vehicles, one fire-control radar, various power-supply, reload, and maintenance vehicles, and served by search radar some distance away. DRAB-20 search radar may serve up to three batteries positioned not more than a few kilometres apart, probably defending a major facility. Citadel L1 may serve a number of batteries dispersed over a perhaps 200km radius.
Notes: Guidance is assisted by microprocessor intelligent module technology, and with frequency agility technology is able to efficiently cut-through jamming. Surprisingly, Loviatar owes some of its design to AFRISAM, the product of the 3rd-world United African Republic of Lusaka; fire control radar is directly related to the Lusakan Scavenger, though more advanced, and compatible with other more advanced systems. Exchange of ideas occurred some time ago when Beddgelen aid to Igomo’s regime was at a peak.


Munitions

Jaf DRAB SRAAM
Short range air to air missile
Primary Builder: January Fort Brennus Aviation Plant
Range: 32 kilometres, 20 miles
Speed: Mach 3+
Warhead: 6.8kg expanding rod
Guidance: All aspect Infrared
Platforms: Springer, Puffin, Hobgoblin, Cardinal, Preston ASWP
Notes: Based upon the CPRD PAAF's DRAR-1 missile, known as the Drapoel Sidewinder, this missile has been completely overhauled by the Igovian State Arsenals. The DRAB missile incorporates enhanced clutter rejection, a wider field-of-regard for engaging off-boresight targets, and a more powerful seeker to lock-on at increased range. The shape of the missile has been altered by a reduction in the size of the wings, and a gas dynamic control system has greatly improved agility. The DRAB can be linked to pilots’ headgear to allow a still wider spectrum of engagement.

Apti L’Angelot Maudit AMRAAM
Medium range air to air missile
Primary Builder: April Titovo Aeronautics Plant
Range: 112km, 70 miles
Speed: Mach 4.5
Warhead: blast fragmentation
Guidance: Active radar, inertial mid-course with data linking
Unit Cost: US$275,000
Platforms: Hobgoblin, Puffin, Cardinal
Notes: ‘The accursed cherub’ must, presumably, have been named by a committee –like so many in Beth Gellert- ‘under the influence’.

Mal AAELRS LRAAM
Long range air to air missile
Primary Builder: March Alaric Aviation Plant
Range: 180km, 112 miles
Speed: Mach 4+
Guidance: Command, passive/active radar
Warhead: 58kg, 128lb high explosive
Platforms: Hobgoblin
Notes: Perhaps the most advanced AAM in Beth Gellen service, AAELRS are fired towards predicted interception points and target information is updated via data-link throughout the weapon’s progress. The launch aircraft or command aircraft such as the Marathon may accomplish this. As the missile nears its interception point the active radar seeker autonomously searches for and acquires its target meaning that for most of its flight the weapon does not alert its quarry with a lock-on. The weapon is highly resistant to known and imagined countermeasures, and is able to account for differences in speed between a target and any decoys that it may have deployed.

Apti PARLIAMENT Air-launched precision anti material/armour/radar missile

Primary Builder: April Titovo Aeronautics Plant
Range: 35km, 22 miles
Speed: 1,250kph, 777mph
Warhead: 90kg, 200lb penetrator
Guidance: Laser (A missile), imaging infrared seeker (B missile), passive radar homing (C missile)
Platforms: Springer, Spearman, Preston ASWP, Puffin
Notes: A highly accurate missile, the Parliament is almost a cult weapon in certain Beth Gellen circles and is traditionally painted jet black, although no one seems able to remember precisely why. The Parliament has been used against armour and (medium hard) fixed positions with success. C missile is an anti-radar weapon able to remember the location of a target that has switched-off its radar on detecting Parliament’s launch.

Qian Wei (Advanced Guard) anti-shipping missile
Range: 2.5-70nm, 5-130km
Speed: Mach 0.9, 300m/s
Warhead: 145kg
Guidance: Inertial and active radar
Platforms: Springer, Spearman, KJ-1 Feda Kwong, various warships, shore batteries
Notes: This weapon is produced under licence from the Choson People’s Republic of Dra-pol. The weapon is a Dra-pol/Penglai joint development chosen after long delays in the Beth Gellen admiralty, which was torn between Soviet-style high-speed ASMs and western-style high-agility weapons. In the end, Beth Gellert decided that precision, stealth, and agility were of greater worth than high speed.

Type 3-B MKII torpedo
Air launched anti-submarine/ship torpedo
Diameter: 305mm
Weight: 750lb
Warhead: 105lb high explosive
Speed: 44knots+
Range: 6.5km+, 4.2miles+
Depth: 2,100ft+
Platforms: Preston ASWP, Ka-32-BG Super Helix
Notes: This is a “fire and forget” weapon.

Loviatar SAM
Propulsion: Single stage solid rocket motor
Weight: 290kg
Warhead: 27kg
Speed: Mach 4.5
Control: High-agility gas dynamic system

Soviet People’s Navy
The Admiralty
Supreme Admiral comrade Katerina Ivolgin
Admiral comrade Nicholas Edwards, High Seas Fleet
Admiral comrade Ian Walmgate, Parmis Archipelago Flotilla
Admiral comrade Teuvo Jones
Admiral comrade Lucy Han-James, Commonwealth Fighting Coast Guard
Admiral comrade Drystan of Murch-on-Teedle, Home Fleet Training and Sciences Co-operative
People's Navy Marines
Marine General comrade Michael Malkstrom

The tide of revolution is unstoppable, upon it rides our liberation.
-Comrade Supreme Admiral Katerina Ivolgin

Surface combatants

Much of Beth Gellert's surface strength is represented by frigates, as they are called in The Commonwealth, traditionally produced in a number of specialist variants on a common hull.
Batch 3 vessels are only now (in 2004) being launched, and are slightly larger than Batch 1 and 2 frigates, and incorporate new engines, guns, missiles, radar, and a slightly higher degree of automation that has reduced crew complement by around twenty. Where as previous runs included three classes, Batch 3 omits the Trebuchet Class bombardment frigate with its Mangonel cruise missile silos. What it to replace these remains unclear, though it is assumed that Batch 1 and 2 Trebuchet shall serve on for months or perhaps years in the meantime.

Radar Reduced Hunter Frigate BODKIN CLASS Batch 3
Technical Data-
Role: Ship to ship warfare, mine laying, anti-aircraft self-defence
Complement: 194 (including 21 officers)
Displacement: 4,270tons
Dimensions: 137m length, 13.5m beam
Powerplant: Ashpo (August Shipbuilding Porthmadog) Pavel-T2 gas turbines, 51,000shp
Maximum Speed: 28knots
Armament: 1x152mm quick-firing cannon, 1x6 Charioteer vertical launch anti shipping missile system, 2x4 Qian Wei anti shipping missile containers in ready-to-launch configuration (with further missiles in magazine), 2x3 517mm torpedo, 1x8cell Loviatar-S VLS SAM, 2x30mm BG-CIWS, mines.
Aircraft: 1xhelicopter; Ka-32BG Super Helix
Notes: All current BG frigate classes are often referred to as, “stealth ships” though the term is used at something of a stretch. They do at least present a reduced radar cross section, often taking longer to detect or target, appearing smaller and less significant than is actually the case.

Radar Reduced Defender Frigate GAUNTLET CLASS Batch 3
Technical Data-
Role: Fleet and self defence against air and subsurface attack
Complement: 195 (including 21 officers)
Displacement: 4,241tons, some estimates suggest more
Dimensions: 137m length, 13.5m beam
Powerplant: Ashpo (August Shipbuilding Porthmadog) Pavel-T2 gas turbines, 51,000shp
Maximum Speed: 28knots+
Aramament: 500km+ range Citadel-S radar commanding SCS-400 Red Sky VLS with 16xA and 2xB missiles launch ready and 2x8cell Loviatar-S VLS SAM, 2x30mm BG-CIWS, depth-charge launcher, 2x3 517mm torpedo
Aircraft: 1xhelicopter Ka-32BG Super Helix
Notes: Veteran of several conflicts, the Gauntlets have proven themselves highly effective, combining deadly long-range SAMs with advanced low altitude missiles and accurate close-in-weapons-systems. While defending themselves, other frigates, and fleet formations, the Gauntlet Class may be used to sweep the skies for hundreds of kilometres around, even denying enemies their own airspace from far offshore. Batch 3 draws on costly experience against saturation attack to dispense with old rail-launch SAMs in favour of vertical launch systems.

Light Carrier/Assault Ship NIBIRU CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: ASW patrol, amphibious assault, fleet and self defence
Complement: 307 (including 34 officers) + 150 aircrew + 450 marines
Displacement: 17,920tons
Dimensions: 607ft, 185m flight deck length; 87ft, 26.5m flight deck width
Powerplant: Two Kraken diesel engines
Maximum Speed: 21knots, 24mph+
Range: 7,900miles, 12,700km
Armament: 2x8cell Loviatar-S VLS SAM, 4x30mm BG-CIWS, 3xOPA Drosgl 11x72mm heavy machineguns, passive decoys
Aircraft: Up to 20 including Ka-32BG Super Helix ASW helicopters, Ja-36 Yellowbat attack helicopters, Merlin HC3 transport helicopters, and Puffin VTOL strike fighters
Notes: Carries three landing craft that may each embark up to 150 marines a piece. May also carry four CICV-2/3 or other vehicles. Protected by armour over critical sections and bulkheads.

Fire-Support Ship GULL FLAG CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Shore bombardment in support of amphibious operations (and certainly not for the expression of gunboat politics!)
Complement: 431 (including 50 officers)
Displacement: 13,610tons light, 15,584tons deep
Dimensions: 591ft/180m waterline, 602ft/183.5m over all; 68ft/20.7m beam
Powerplant: Two Kraken diesel engines, two shafts
Maximum Speed: At least 24knots
Range: 5,192nm/5,900miles/9,554km
Armament: 2x3 279mm (11” ) guns (one turret fore, one aft), 3x1 152mm (6” ) quick-firing DP guns (one fore, two on broadsides), 2x6 289mm Pluvia rocket tubes, 2x16 122mm rocket tubes, 2x4 Mangonel cruise missile tubes (one port, one starboard), 2x8cell Loviatar-S VLS SAM with DRAB-20 search radar, 4x30mm BG CIWS.
Aircraft: Landing space and uncovered stowage for one helicopter
Notes: Heavily armoured, the class presents a reduced radar signature and employs scrambling techniques, there are also incorporated shielding measures to reduce IR and noise signatures. These things –along with other decoys, anti-torpedo systems, and point-defence weapons- are present owing to the likelihood of the vessels approaching enemy shores before hostile defences have been fully subdued.

Sub-surface Combatants

Diesel Electric Hunter Submarine Sentinel Project 2 HOUND CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Coastal defence, anti shipping/submarine warfare
Complement: 23
Displacement: 1,185tons
Powerplant: Diesel engine, electric motor
Maximum Speed: 17knots surfaced, 10knots submerged
Armament: Eight tubes; four bow (8 warheads), four stern (4 warheads) for Type 1-B MKII torpedoes and Qian Wei anti-shipping missiles, mine laying capacity
Notes: Known to be pervasive in New Tiamatian waters, the Hound Class is also used (in an older configuration fitted with 485mm torpedo tubes) by Dra-pol, often as a light transport for supplies and infiltrators.

Nuclear Hunter Submarine Sentinel Project 3 ANUNKAI CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Anti shipping/submarine warfare, precision bombardment
Complement: 127
Displacement: 7,957tons
Powerplant: Nuclear reactor driving single shaft
Maximum Speed: 24knots
Armament: Six tubes- four bow, two stern. Usual load-out is 18x517mm Type 1-B MKII torpedoes, 14xMangonel cruise missiles, 6xQian Wei anti-shipping missiles, 4xCharioteer anti-shipping missiles.
Notes: Heavily engaged in recent War of Malagasy Liberation. Some fault them for relative sloth, but the compensation is seen to be the vessel’s exceptional quietness.

Nuclear Missile Submarine Sentinel Project 4 LIOPLEURODON FEROX CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Strategic deterrent, missile platform
Complement: 148
Displacement: 24,700tons
Powerplant: Two nuclear reactors driving twin shafts
Maximum Speed: 23.5knots
Armament: Six tubes (four bow (14 torpedo), two stern (4 torpedo)) for 517mm torpedoes and Qian Wei or Charioteer anti-shipping missiles (2 carried fore), ten silo for ballistic missiles including nuclear weapons
Notes: A massive vessel capable of remaining almost silently at sea for months on end

Support

Ammunition Ship BENEFACTOR CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Ammunition tender to fleet
Complement: 136 (101 civilian, 35 military)
Displacement: 18,000tons
Powerplant: 23,500hp
Maximum Speed: 24knots
Armament: 3x30mm BG cannon, sometimes mounts 11x72mm machineguns, short-range SAMs, and ASW mortars
Notes: Operates transport helicopters from its deck

Minesweeper RAPIER CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Minesweeping
Complement: 42 (including 3 officers)
Displacement: 1,000tons
Powerplant: 4,500hp
Maximum Speed: 15knots
Armament: 17mm cannon
Other Equipment: Minesweeping gear
Notes: Made of non-magnetic shock-resistant materials

Combat Stores Ship VERIX CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Supply of daily and combat essentials to deployed fleet assets
Complement: 110 (72 civilians, 38 military)
Displacement: 15,100tons
Powerplant: One Kraken diesel engine
Maximum Speed: 21.5knots
Armament: 2x30mm BG cannon, 2x17mm cannon
Notes: Very modern ships, these enjoy a high degree of automation and reliable refrigeration, as well as exceptional crew comfort.

Support Tanker BROMPTON CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Fleet refuelling
Complement: 74
Displacement: 12,085tons
Powerplant: One Kraken diesel engine
Maximum Speed: 25knots
Armament: 2x30mm BG cannon
Notes: The relatively small but modern tankers continue to serve well in the SPN.

Heavy Support Ships PALAEMON CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Ammunition, fuel, and stores replenishment and repair to deployed fleet assets
Complement: 187 (including 32 officers)
Displacement: 49,500tons
Powerplant: 70,500hp, driving three shafts
Maximum Speed: 26knots+
Armament: 4x30mm BG CIWS
Notes: Can operate two helicopters

Submarine Tender RESTORATION CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Support to deployed subsurface assets
Complement: 1,015 (including 68 officers)
Displacement: 21,200tons
Powerplant: 23,500hp
Maximum Speed: 19.5knots
Armament: 2x30mm BG CIWS, 3x 11x72mm machineguns

Expeditionary Transport HYENA CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Transport of military supplies and vehicles to established overseas theatres
Complement: 59
Displacement: 47,000tons (empty)
Powerplant: 94,000hp, driving two shafts
Maximum Speed: 27.5knots
Armament: May mount 11x72mm machineguns and carry shoulder-launched SAMs.
Notes: Helicopter-capable to a limited degree. May transport up to 500 vehicles. Hyena follow-up landings usually carried out by Nibiru, deploying major assets once a beachhead and preferably port facility is secured. A highly automated vessel of sleek design.

Hospital Ship YSBYTY CLASS
Technical Data-
Role: Emergency and sustained offshore medical care
Complement: 1,215 (1,100 navy, 115 civilian (mainly doctors et cetera))
Displacement: 62,090tons
Powerplant: Two Kraken diesels driving one shaft
Maximum Speed: 19knots or below
Armament: None
Other Equipment: Furnished with the finest operating theatres and diagnosis facilities available under the considerable means of The Igovian Soviet Commonwealth.
Notes: Helicopter capable (for airlift purposes- not intended to support active military function)


Fleet Air Arm

Ka-32BG Super Helix
Role: Ship-borne ASW helicopter.
Differs from Ka-32C in being slightly enlarged with a more powerful modern engine and capable of hover-in-flight-refuelling. Super Helix carries modern Beth Gellen electronics and arms.
Armament: Weapons deployable include unguided rockets and free-fall bombs, depth bombs, 305mm torpedoes, DRAB SRAAM, and Qian Wei ASMs.

Munitions

517mm Type 1-B MKII torpedo
Role: Ship/submarine launched anti-submarine/ship torpedo
Diameter: 517mm
Warhead: 210kg, 465lbs
Speed: 47knots+
Range: 24km, 15miles
Guidance: Wire guidance and passive acoustic homing
Platforms: Bodkin Class Hunter Frigate, Gauntlet Class Defender Frigate, Hound Class D/E Hunter Submarine, Anunkai Class Nuclear Hunter Submarine, Liopleurodon ferox Class Nuclear Missile Submarine.

Type 3-B MKII torpedo
Role: Air launched anti-submarine/ship torpedo
Diameter: 305mm
Weight: 750lb
Warhead: 105lb high explosive
Speed: 44knots+
Range: 6,750m+, 4.2miles+
Depth: 640m+, 2,100ft+
Platforms: Preston ASWP, Ka-32BG Super Helix
Notes: This is a “fire and forget” weapon.

Qian Wei Anti Shipping Missile
Total length: 3.75 m.
Diameter: 0.42 m
Wingspan: 0.93 m
Weight: 480 kg [630 kg with booster]
Warhead Weight: 145 kg
Maximum Speed: Mach 0.9 / 300 m/s.
Maximum effective Range: 2.5-70 nm (5-130 km).
Guidance: Inertial and active radar.
Notes: Licence built Drapoel weapon originating from a Dra-pol/Penglai joint programme and deployable from surface, sub-surface, air, and shore.

Charioteer Anti Shipping Missile
Length: 8.5 metres
Diameter: 0.517 metres
Wing Span: 2 metres
Weight: 2,140kg
Warhead Weight: 295kg
Propulsion: Turbojet and rocket
Speed: High subsonic cruise, Mach 2.7+ attacking
Range: 140 nautical miles (260km)
Guidance: Inertial and active radar
Notes: The Charioteer was designed with stealth in mind, and flies at subsonic speeds for most of its journey towards target. On launching by use of solid fuel the Charioteer climbs for high subsonic cruise. Once sufficient altitude is attained this first stage is disengaged and replaced by the turbojet sustainer engine, whereupon wings are extended and the missile descends to around 10-12 metres and cruises stealthily towards its target at subsonic speed. With around 60km remaining to target Charioteer descends again, down to five metres, switching to active radar guidance and engaging a second rocket stage for a fatal Mach 2.7+ dash lasting just seconds.

MANGONEL Cruise Missile
Technical Data-
Range: 1,050km/635miles
Speed: 975kph/605mph
Warhead: 550kg/1,100lbs high explosive, anti-personnel/material/armour submunition, or nuclear (nuclear arms not available for export)
Platforms: Trebuchet Class Bombardment Frigate, Anunkai Class Nuclear Submarine, Gull Flag Class Amphibious Support Bombardment Ship

Igovian Soviet Army
Officers in charge of provinces
Comrade General Niles Brenni
Comrade General Heikki Orinoco
Comrade General Louis Pangloss
Comrade General Ilmari Tedeski
Comrade General Janne Bethan

JOS BGR Carnyx Assault Rifle
Primary Builder: January Ordnance Sumer Small Arms Factory
Calibre: 6x41mm BG
Effective Range: 600m
Magazine: 32 round box, 50 round drum
Modes of Fire: Semi-automatic, two-shot burst, full automatic
Rate of Fire: 1,800rpm burst, 600+rpm full automatic
Attachments: Folding bayonet, optional under-slung 40mm BG grenade launcher, optional optical sights
Image (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/Chivtv/NS1/bgr.jpg)

BRES BGDP Weasel Sub-machinegun
Primary Builder: Fort Brennus September Small Arms Factory
Calibre: 9.3x21mm BG bottlenecked
Magazine Capacity: 20 rounds
Modes of Fire: Semi-automatic, two-shot burst, full automatic
Rate of Fire: 850rpm burst, 650rpm full automatic

JOS BDA9 High Power Semi-Automatic Pistol
Primary Builder: January Ordnance Sumer Small Arms Factory
Calibre: 9.3x21mm BG bottlenecked
Magazine Capacity: 12 rounds

JOS BGLMG Negev Squad Automatic Weapon
Primary Builder: January Ordnance Sumer Small Arms Factory
Calibre: 6x41mm BG
Effective Range: 900m
Weight Empty: 7.6kg
Magazine: 32 round box, 50 round drum, 100 round belt
Modes of Fire: Semi-automatic, two-shot burst, full automatic
Rate of Fire: 950rpm burst, 700-750rpm full automatic
Attachments: Optional bipod, bayonet, fore-grip, 40mm BG grenade launcher, optical sights

OPA BGMK3 Blast Fragmentation Grenade
Primary Builder: October Port Alfred Ordnance Factory
Throwing Distance: 45 metres.
Effective Casualty Radius: 15 metres, hazardous to 25 metres

OPA BGHMG Drosgl Heavy Machinegun
Primary Builder: October Port Alfred Ordnance Factory
Calibre: 11x72mm
Effective Range: 1,750m on tripod, 800m on bipod
Weight Empty: 11kg without mounting
Magazine: 26 round box, 82 round belt
Modes of Fire: Semi-automatic, full automatic.
Rate of Fire: Selectable; 450rpm or 650rpm approximately
Mountings: Tripod for variable ground and anti-aircraft fire and with optional carriage attachments for towing, bipod for light support role, pedestal for shipboard or fixed ground emplacement.

BRES SNB Stoat Sniper Rifle
Primary Builder: Fort Brennus September Small Arms Factory
Calibre: 6x41mm
Accurate Range: 700m
Operation: Bolt action
Magazine: Ten round box

OPA LSB Yellow-38 Sniper Rifle
Primary Builder: October Port Alfred Ordnance Factory
Calibre: 11x72mm
Accurate Range: 1,600m
Operation: Bolt action
Magazine: 6 round box

BRES IMBG2 Imp Infantry Mortar
Primary Builder: Fort Brennus September Small Arms Factory
Calibre: 84mm
Effective range: 5,500m
Carriage: Vehicle mounted or packed for carriage by three men.

JOS LATBG Fossa Anti-Tank Rocket Unit
Primary Builder: January Ordnance Sumer Small Arms Factory
Calibre: 102/154mm
Range: 20m to 700m
Time of Flight: Less than three seconds to maximum range
Targeting: Predicted line-of-sight following operator’s tracking of target, unguided for quick launch
Modes of Operation: Top-attack anti-tank, direct line-of-sight attack for softer targets, and can be soft-launched in confined spaces
Magazine: Disposable weapon, optional sighting equipment may be retained after use.

BRES BGAM Totem-3T Anti-Tank Guided Missile System
Primary Builder: Fort Brennus September Pwelli Ordnance Factory
Calibre: 125/1320mm
Range: 250m to 6,000m
Targeting: Detection and tracking is by optical or thermal means, and guidance by either semi-automatic command-to-line-of-sight laser or infra red depending on the operator’s choice
Warhead: Tandem HEAT or incendiary thermobaric effect
Armour Penetration (with ERA): 1,100mm tandem HEAT

MAL BGMAS Sumpit Man-Portable Surface-to-Air Missile System
Primary Builder: March Alaric Aviation Plant
Calibre: 125mm missile
Range: 350m to 7,500m
Speed: Mach 4
Guidance: Optical
Warhead: Twin darts with individual guidance circuits and penetrating delay warheads
Mode of Operation: Two-stage solid-fuel rocket propulsion with terminal-phase kinetic separation and flight to target of twin darts, with immunity to chaff and flares

Industry, agriculture, and trade

Today The Igovian Soviet Commonwealth of Beth Gellert is in the midst of major re-organisation of its very composition. The initial measures carried out following the defeat of the capitalists and their representative democracy were largely the halfway houses imagined by self-centred counter-revolutionaries sure that the revolution could not work. This was necessary given the existing infrastructure and its composition as designed to support the old system and its society, and only in time could truly sweeping changes be implemented.

The true Igovian vision began in earnest just months ago with the state-wide and Civil Service-organised demolition of those structures deemed completely useless, the Mecca Masjid and the tomb of St.Thomas amongst them. Housing estates and apartment blocks too were brought down, while many former corporate headquarters and the like persist in use with the Commonwealth Professional Civil Service.

Taking shape across Beth Gellert is a society organised in Pantisocratic Phalansteries or Democratic Home Colonies thrown-out around old industrial centres.
These home colonies generally house around three thousand comrades, and are erected by public works under CPCS supervision. Two main sorts are predominant; the square halls that contain an interior courtyard for communal education, recreation, and Local Senate meetings and are surrounded by farmland, and the traditional hill fort villages resembling ancient Beddgelen communities.
Cities persist as clusters of home colonies and more significantly as centres of industry.
Home colonies contain their own workshops and light industry, some are even centres of excellence in specific sciences and crafts, and they are –when outside cities- surrounded by light agricultural concerns that provide staple and local speciality foods to the community. Heavy industry and extremely high-tech concerns are centred in long-established cities born in the capitalist and even imperial or tribal eras, and workers travel from their home colonies to ply their trades in the cities. Surrounding the cities are usually vast agricultural concerns often referred to as commercial farms, which disperse unique regional products to the wider commonwealth and export them in exchange for equivalent foreign products. They also provide redundant food production to protect smaller subsistence farms attached to Phalansteries against the possibility of poor local harvests or environmental disasters. Excess production is assigned to festivals and feasts in celebration of the revolution and its achievements, and exported as food aid where there is confidence in a lack of domestic need.

Igovian cities are twenty-four hour entities that tend to allow great flexibility regarding individuals’ working hours. Across the ISCBG there is essentially no unemployment, though some argue that a great deal of citizens are underemployed by local public works. It is generally argued that unused man-hours are needed as a sort of redundancy in the event of disaster, war, or some unforeseen opportunity.

Under-employed comrades with sufficient training (and the vast majority of Beddgelert’s highly skilled, communally educated population has just that) are often commissioned to aid foreign states in establishing their own industries. Under the Principality, many of these states would have been exploited as clients for Beddgelen consumer goods, their industries encouraged to grow only far enough to provide cheap human labour for the finishing of products machined in Beth Gellert. As the Commonwealth, Beth Gellert encourages balanced trade in unique agricultural products and raw materials to be machined in their nation of final destination.

Transport

Private transport no longer exists in the Igovian Soviet Commonwealth, though comrades have no trouble in getting from place to place. A wide range of transport vehicles does exist, including cars and cycles, though in smaller numbers than was the case in the capitalist era. These are generally fitted with electronic beacons that allow communities to check on the number of vehicles available to them and their proximity or condition of use at any time. Comrades are free to make use of communally-held vehicles in short trips, and abuse of agreed terms of use can be monitored via the mentioned electronic system. Powered vehicles are built to strict CPCS specifications on safety and fuel efficiency, and are regulated to confirm with national speed limits. Most cars in Beth Gellert can not pass eighty kilometres per hour. There do exist high performance cars, but these are designated for recreational use within specially demarcated areas. They still must meet fuel efficiency and emissions regulations, but face no speed restrictions. Use of such vehicles beyond designated recreational zones is considered criminal.
That said, such personal forms of transport are not the most popular means of transit within Beth Gellert. That honour goes to the nation’s railways, considered some of the world’s finest. Using a wide gauge generations ago proven to be superior to more widely used narrow gauges, Beddgelen trains are fast and reliable, and provide exceptionally comfortable and safe rides. The rail network is extremely expansive, and its latest generation of engines increasingly fuel efficient and popular. If there is a problem, it lies in communication with the wider world. Portmeirion would like to encourage wider use of its wide-gauge, but the notion of over-hauling entire national rail grids is hard to stomach in most surrounding states.
Bus services, taxis, and trams are also widespread and run to some level around the clock.

Some Beddgelens of significant repute

Comrade Chairman Graeme Igo

The Grandfather of the Igovian Revolution, Graeme Igo is quite possibly Beth Gellert’s most famous son. His title of Chairman is largely ceremonial, indicative of the enormous respect that Igo has won from his comrades, and affords him no special power. Regardless of official powers, or lack there of, Graeme’s words carry disproportional weight within the Commonwealth such as can not be said of many other individuals.
At one time, Chairman Igo’s title was more meaningful. This was during the early days of republic following the overthrow of Prince Llewellyn’s government, a coalition of representative parties the Progressive-Loyalists and Conservative-Royalists, the revolutionary communists established their own party in spite of long-standing bans imposed by the state. Graeme Igo was elected leader and promptly did away with the plebiscite process, declaring that democracy was useless if not used to carry further measures against private ownership and appointing his son Premier of the new Commonwealth. Graeme was apparently aware that the younger Igo possessed the ruthless streak required to finish the representatives and capitalists, and that he still might retain influence enough over his son to ensure that the dictatorship was not lasting.
Following a brief socialist one-party dictatorship, Graeme skilfully talked his son from the Premiership and used his influence to incite the beginning of the current direct-democracy.
More recently, Igo has caused great domestic controversy after giving a speech in the course of which he almost seemed to advocate a return to capitalist economics, accusing revolutionaries of treating the struggles for political and economic liberation as one, which he implied was a mistake. As evidence of Igo’s influence, and at the same time of the limit to his real power, the Commonwealth has reacted by hastening the enactment of its developed communist economic policies and pushing for wider international co-operation in their pursuit.

Commonwealth Chief Consul comrade Chivo

Slightly less charismatic than the Igos, comrade Chivo is perhaps the only Beddgelen respected and recognised as widely as the father and son team. While some feel that Chivo lacks some of the character and flair of the Igos, others close to the professional civil servant insist that this is entirely because of his devotion to the post he has been awarded.
Like the Chairman, the Commonwealth Chief Consul wields little direct power, but relays to the Commonwealth and the world the decisions of his comrades, serving as a conduit for international and internal relations. His words are closely watched by the CPCS.

The Beddgelen Internationale

Arise, you comrades, from oppression, arise, you wretched of the earth
For justice thunders condemnation, for a better world's in birth.
No more tradition's chains shall bind us, arise you slaves, no more in thrall
The earth shall rise on new foundation: we have been naught, we shall be all.

'Tis the final conflict, let each stand in his place.
The Igovian Soviet shall free the human race.
'Tis the final conflict, let each stand in his place.
The Igovian Soviet shall free the human race.

We want no condescending saviours to rule us from a judgement hall
We workers ask not for their favours, let us consult with all.
To make the thief disgorge his booty, to free the spirit from your cell
We must ourselves decide our duty, we must decide and do it well!

'Tis the final conflict, let each stand in his place.
The Igovian Soviet shall free the human race.
'Tis the final conflict, let each stand in his place.
The Igovian Soviet shall free the human race.

The Beddgelen version of the Internationale serves The Igovian Soviet Commonwealth as its national anthem. It is traditionally sung by choirs composed of comrades from Welsh backgrounds, of course!

OOC: Vodka? bleh. I prefer the type of drinks suited more for sitting around with family or friends and watching a good movie or having some great conversation...even though I must admit that I have had a great conversation with some Russians and my family that involved vodka, but that was mostly inbetween shots...

BG, check your TMs. They might give you something to add to all of this.

(ahh! 70cl of Vodka all gone.. need to go and get me some Soco, I think.. anyway, this is just to note that none-combat naval vessels have been added. Though I worked them out weeks ago, I forgot about the thread until tonight :? )

(Y'know, this really seems the sort of thing I ought to have tagged before. Oh well, better late than never, eh?)

[All right, now that's I've destroyed even more than did the Igovians, I should be continuing to update this. Now, why can't I post images? Other people are having no problem! Damn it! This help jobby's lying to me!]

[Gradual improvement of information under-way. Hurrah? Today, look at our new frigates, and welcome Admiral Edwards to his post as operational commander of the Grand Fleet.]

Ah, you know that you've been at this for too long when you wake to find that your, "compassionate, intelligent population of 3.003 billion..."


...and can't get back to sleep until you rectify the error of Edwards' title. Grand Fleet? No no, we aren't going to have one of those, anymore.

OOC: Muy bueno

The Aztec National League is glad to see the complied information regarding the ISCBG and to see how well off the people are and we hope the nation will continue in a prosperous manner.

(Belated thanks. A few minor tweaks continue to occur, and most recently the nation's population has been revised to a more managable and stable three hundred million, to which I shall probably stick. Hm, perhaps I should be considering the ANL a major trade partner?)

(Background revised according to on going and major changes in the RP situation. Beth Gellert has finally relocated. Sadly there may now be some clashes in terms of territorial claims vs. historical events, as BG is now considered to constitute a large part of India. It occurs to me that such a locaiton brings us into conflict with Iansislian and related claims, which is worth mentioning as a problem as the Battle of Salvador in Beddgelen history now occured probably in the Bay of Bengal, where as Iansislian history almost certainly has to count it contested elsewhere... presumably a suspension of disbelief will be sufficient to uncomfortably squeeze around that.)

(It occurs to me that such a locaiton brings us into conflict with Iansislian and related claims, which is worth mentioning as a problem as the Battle of Salvador in Beddgelen history now occured probably in the Bay of Bengal, where as Iansislian history almost certainly has to count it contested elsewhere... presumably a suspension of disbelief will be sufficient to uncomfortably squeeze around that.)

((Don't worry about it; I don't mind the change at all. We're in Gallaga, not India. :P

Yeah, it's a cheap trick to interact with as many people as possible, but I don't mind. My multi-verse is so screwed up - I interact with CACE nations, who ignore the future tech folks with whom I have an alliance, who aren't part of the WWII universe in which I play - that one more little thing like this won't matter.))

(Brilliant. I'd buy you a pint, but I'm too drunk to know where exactly I stopped having my wallet, and there are probably other obstacles, too. Anyway, that's all very good, I shall keep the Iansislian intervention in the revised history. Hurrah. And the rest of you, the silent masses, who have absolutely no reason to be interested in Beth Gellert, you're all rubbish.)

Alright...a celtic nation in Asia!

You see, I'm actually a celtic studies major dragged into an asian roleplay by my asian studies friend...

I'm glad of the support, then. It almost feels a bit intrusive, at some moments, but we can always get drunk and bellow about the predominance of class identity and political evolution over race and nationalistic ambition.
Now if only I could remember which part of the existing factbook I wanted to update before moving on to the RP history section.

All right, forget the RP history, have some more rambling about the state of Igovian industry and the half-arsed beginnings of a character run-down. On the first page. Stop looking here. Shoo.

You can probably remove the question mark next to Marimaia in the 'Import/Export Partners' list; we're right next to each other and quite friendly, so I'd imagine that trade flows easily between us.

BTW, that drug trade from south Asia is probably Marimaia shipping out the opiates from the plantations dotted around the rural areas....but you didn't hear that from me.

The question mark is mainly due to the swing away from common trade practicies to the more communistic exchange of unrefined raw materials and unprocessed agricultural products without indulgence in matters of currency, which, of course, no longer exists in Beth Gellert. That is to say, we need to be sure that such trade is compatible with Marimaian economics of the day. The Neo Suunist economy must be willing to take Beddgelen materials (like limestone, mica, coal, manganese, iron ore, copper, chromite, tea, coffee, asbestos, or whatever occurs widely in BG and not so widely in Marimaia) in exchange for that opium and, erm, rubber, and, well, whatever else is left over there, rather than expecting cash for finished goods. The Igovians won't buy anything that they can make for themselves now that they're no longer kept below their station by the defeated Principality's capitalist system.

Erm, and a minor update with regards to the national anthem and a few other little additions.