NationStates Jolt Archive

Once more President Overdanski would take the stand tonight. Once more would he face the press and their cycloptic camera's. It was time for his address to the nation, and a plee on a great patriotic scale. He walked towards the podium, camera's already flickering, mumering dying down as he stepped to the microphone.
"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. It is with great displeasure I must inform the nation we can not support our ally Austar Union." There was a tremendous roar in the room, as journalists jockied to ask him questions. Vladimir raised his hands calling for silence. "It is painfully clear now, the state of our military. We are not strong enough to assert our soverignty. Our neighbor and 'ally' Iron Blood placed 70,000 Combat Tanks on our border. We faced destruction, and it was in our best interest to fold. Ladies and Gentlemen this will not happen again! I am now ratifying a bill passed by the Duma, to raise our military budget from 22% to 48%." Again there was a loud ruckas, and again Vladimir raised his hand to call for silence. "The budget will remain at 48% for 5 years until we complete our 5 year plan. The plan calls for mass production of Main Battle Tanks, Anti-Tank systems, new weaponry, and better training. I do this for the people, I do this for the Socialist Union of Artitsa!" Vladimir Overdanski breathed out, and looked to the crowd for questions. A man stood up, obviously displeased with this announcement. "Why must we defend other nations? Why must our children die for someone elses cause? With a 50% Military budget, how will we live?!" Vladimir looked to his Press Secretary who gave him the nod. "Sir, do you own a Television set?"
"Yes, but what does that have to-"
"Do you own a car sir?"
The man was becoming visibly angry. "Yes, but you are not addressing my answer!"
"Well that Television was made in Allanea, an ally. An ally we didn't defend. Allanea no longer exists. And that car? That car is made in Austar Union. We have vested interests in our allies, and they to us. In our time of need, they would help us."
"And what of the budget? What are we to do about that?"
"Hike up your belt and live with it. Social Welfare will be offered to those who are most effected by this, and we assure you, our Health Care and Education will remain the same. You need not worry. I have in fact cut 10% from the Administrative budget to place into our defence, consisting of around 3.5 Trillion. Please remember citizens of Artitsa, this is not perminant. Thank you, and god bless."

Vladimir Overdanski quickly stalked off the podium. Undoubtly people would either be very displeased or they would understand the situation. His Press Secretary led him to the Limo, climbing in behind Vladimir.
"Well, it seems most people have accepted this, most resistance is in the Nothern Provinces, and even then its minimal."
"That is good news then. Konchenkov, I need you to get me a secure line to the Empress of Doujin."

"The Commonality of Everlasting Light urges Artitsa to pursue the rational over the irrational, calm over violence, assertiveness before aggression. Whether an act of aggression is the first act or the second act, it remains an act of aggression. If I slam my fist into your face, and you hit me back, that was not your only option: there are always three choices. To be passive is to ignore the threat; this we do not suggest, as this would be stupidity. To be aggressive is to seek to destroy the threat.

"To be aggressive is to be irrational, for, if we pause to think through our aggression, we will always - if we are true to ourselves - discover that such aggression is indeed irrational. The rational is the assertive, the center path. The balance between passivity and aggression.

"We urge Artitsa to be assertive, but not aggressive - no matter the provocation. Such a massive increase in military spending will only increase military anxieties, and is thus self-defeating. In order to prevent an abused canine from cowering in fear at the approach of a man, one does not beat the canine senseless until it no longer cowers. Instead, we teach it that it is wrong - whilst remaining vigilant and aware of the fact that the animal is damaged, and may not be entirely stable.

"Thus, we suggest that Artitsa divert more effort to economic and humanitarian aid to its allies. To ignore their cries for help would be inhumane; to aid the military cause while ignoring the Sentient cries for help would not be balanced, and can bring only more grief.

"With this in mind, the Illuvauromeni Commonality of Everlasting Light is willing to forward a loan of one trillion Relhames for dispensation to Artitsa's allies as humanitarian aid, and also to the people of Artitsa to prevent their strife in these difficult times.

"However, we can only make this offer on two stipulations; one: the Artitsan defense budget must be revised downwards to 38%, and two: ICEL observers will be allowed into Artitsa to ensure that the aid is distributed correctly, and that no funds are diverted to military uses. The figure is, of course, negotiable - but not by much.

To explain our reasoning: we must have a peace dividend. Otherwise, any gesture of friendship is meaningless."

~ ICEL Executive Council formal statement to Artitsa, through unencoded diplomatic channels; carbon copies distributed to all major news networks fifteen minutes following transmission

[OOC: One trillion Relhames is equal to one-point-three trillion US dollars.]

We already send a considerable amount of economic and social aide to our Allies, but it has been shown that monetary aide is no substitute for standing beside them militarily and preventing their destruction. What good are we as allies when, a neighbor puts a force on our border and we relent? It is not fair to those we call friends, and it is not fair to ourselves. We do thank you for your generous offer however.
- Signed
Vladimir Overdanski


The first year was coming into effect. Already the manufactoriums of the fabsectors churned out Bayonet ATGM's by the thousands each day. T-80UM7's were being built at rates of 102 a month, T-95UM2's at 40 a month, and Behemoth Mk I's were produced at 20 per month. There had been minor rioting in the Northern Provinces, but the quick reactions by police forces prevented a wide outbreak, and for the most part no one was injured. The Artitsan dollar has dropped in value by 0.1, and it shows to drop even more. Living conditions have remained the same, but there has been much dissent in the Duma and other Political figures, since their pay had been cut down.

Alexzandrian Military would like to offer financial & military assitance to Artista. We offer the sum of $7 trillion in cash to the goverment to do as they see fit with. And as a gesture of goodwill to this underdefended country, we would like to offer you one free platoon of GCR-1s before they become available to the rest of the world.

We accept the 7 Trillion (which we shall pay back in due time). It will be used to continue funding Health and Education, and 500 Billion will goto Administrative needs.

OOC:
50% of your budget going to the army is quite excessive... but Ill play along
IC:
Bisonic president Vladimir Oladsky has ordered a new budget increasing the military spending to 50% over several years brought before the Duma, which is expected to support the measure, dubbed the "Stubborness Budget". The BDIA has been ordered to find somewhat cost-effective methods of destroying Artitsan "Diamond Tanks", and to create a new version of the GT-1 MBT designed to be simple to produce and operate, while at the same an effective weapon against the Artitsan fascists.

20,000 more tanks and their supporting armor+troops would also be moved to to the border to participate in upcoming gargantuan wargames ordered by Oladsky to send Artitsa a message.

Furthermore, the BDIA was ordered to stop all arms sales (including spare parts) to Artitsa, and as Artitsa does not have prod rights to all the Bisonic weapons it possesses, it will either be forced to illegally copy them (excuse to steamroll) or have to replace tens of thousands of various pieces of equipment.

We already send a considerable amount of economic and social aide to our Allies, but it has been shown that monetary aide is no substitute for standing beside them militarily and preventing their destruction. What good are we as allies when, a neighbor puts a force on our border and we relent? It is not fair to those we call friends, and it is not fair to ourselves. We do thank you for your generous offer however.
- Signed
Vladimir Overdanski


The first year was coming into effect. Already the manufactoriums of the fabsectors churned out Bayonet ATGM's by the thousands each day. T-80UM7's were being built at rates of 102 a month, T-95UM2's at 40 a month, and Behemoth Mk I's were produced at 20 per month. There had been minor rioting in the Northern Provinces, but the quick reactions by police forces prevented a wide outbreak, and for the most part no one was injured. The Artitsan dollar has dropped in value by 0.1, and it shows to drop even more. Living conditions have remained the same, but there has been much dissent in the Duma and other Political figures, since their pay had been cut down.

"Regrettable. An oppurtunity missed."

~ Ambassador Dg'thar

ooc: You gave us production rights earlier, but oh well.

ic: Artitsa will continue to make T-80UM7's, and even now S-500s are being built on mass. Massive tank ditches are being set up along the border, with 450mm anti-tank shells lining the bottom. EMP bombs are being produced slowly, but still being produced. 2.7 Million soldiers - all with Bayonet ATGMs by now - are being sent to the border supported by 48,000 tanks. 24,000 Tanks are held in reserve, along with another 2.1 Million Soldiers. Over 25,000 S-500 sites are activated, and the entire Artitsan Airforce is ready to do battle.

tag

OOC: This is interesting. Can you provide links to info on this equipment?

ooc: No cause its all from the old forum.

OOC: :( ah well.

The beach closest to Ironblood will recieve major reconstruction, including a heavy reinforced concrete wall of sorts, 6m high and 18m wide. Old S-300PMU's and PUM2's are being set up behind it with advanced radars and equipment to intercept heavy artillery firing Scramjet rounds. Along the actual beach massive anti-tank mines are buried, with anti-mineclearing devices, meaning 4 explosive charges around the mine set to explode when that mine explodes. Each charge is the same distance as the distance between a mineclearer and its flail device deal. A couple dozen meters out, where the water is still 6m deep, dragons teeth are set up to prevent amphibious vehicles from crossing. Massive ATGM launchers are being set up within the concrete wall, along with large flamethrowers and automated 14.5mm and 25mm guns to pick off APC's and IFV's and such. Thousands of Self-Propelled artillery is being set up behind said wall, the majority being MSTA-S-MA2, a modified version featuring new rounds and barrel designs to allow for a 78km range. Grad, Urugan, Smerch-M, Tos-1, and other MLRs are also being set up to provide fire support. Satellites in space are taking pictures of Bisonic movements and artillery positions. The images are updated every 4 hours as satellites pass over.

ASW Mortars purchased from Freethinkers Corperation will be fitted to every vessel in the Artitsan navy.