NationStates Jolt Archive

Due to rising concerns of piracy and smuggling in the Pacific, the Directorate Alliance has commenced a program to secure a lasting peace. No more with nations have to worry about terrorists bringing WMD into their ports, nor about illegal commodities being smuggled into their nation, nor of being hijacked at sea. From now on, the Directorate Naval Forces will be maintaining the maritime security of the Pacific.

Step one, the massive naval base and sub pen network of the allied nations will be converted to accomodate any ships that may wish to dock for inspection or safe passage.

Second, more undersea bases and surface seawalls will be constructed in order to create sea-lanes for efficient movement of vessels. Just as land vehicles have designated lanes and highways, so now will the Pacific.

In order to bring stability to these sea lanes, the Directorate Naval Forces will serve a sort of Seaway Patrol, acting as police for the seaways. Ships will be required to stop at Naval Waypoints and ports for inspections and regulation enforcement. Ships in violation will be fined, and may be impounded until reclaimed with sufficient payment. Illegal substances and cargos will be confiscated. Slaves will be freed, and the slavers prosecuted in accordance with International Law. Crews engaging in anti-DNF actvities will be charged in a Directorate Tribunal. In other cases, crews will be reparated to their home nations at the DNF expense, barring reasonable exception.

This network of regulated travel will increase safety, security, and efficiency on the Ocean. All crews will be treated with respect, and nations will not be treated on preference. As to maintain this globally beneficial system, small fees may be levelled in order to maintain the Seaway System. Nations in violation of the legitimate Seaway System cannot be guaranteed safety from the dangers of rogue operators, and vessels deemed to be in malicious violation may be acted upon by DNF vessels.

We believe that this new system will allow a safer, happier, more prosperous world. We are firmly committed to this principle of "Arms Around the World", and wish you a happy tomorrow.

-Directorate Policy Decision 18.63

Transnapastain fully support this decision, and the Directorate Naval Forces have our full and unwavering support.

Transnapastani naval ships and aircraft are already on station and in position.

The Confederacy of Armed Lumberjacks acknowledges and agrees to this decision. Directorate Naval Forces have full support of the Lumberjack sub fleet and surface fleets. Naval fleets are being dispatched to desired locations and are beginning to enact the new Directorate decision.
Also back on the mainland of Armed Lumberjacks, the Agricultural department approved, all shipyards have begun to put all sub and ship production into full and unrestricted capacity. All mothballed ships are being refitted and crew at the fastest rates.

Our soldiers and sailors are preparing to enact these new policies, and we have our staffs prepared at the various facilities. Armed Lumberjacks are preparing to begin policing, and our sub facilities are opened to DNF ships for the actions, as well as refitted for stop-overs.

Up for Views and Response

ITD would like to know if Directorate forces require outside assistance in this endeavor. We have an assortment of working ELCO class PT boats, which would be excellent for patrolling areas. We are willing to donate these boats, as we are currently upgrading our navy.

As long as there are no “strings” attached to this donation. We accept the donation. We, however, respectfully decline your assistance, as we have more than enough forces to cover the area. Thank you.

Official Communiqué

We find the notion of a peace force dedicated to international waters to be an outrage. The Commonwealth views the acts of trafficking and smuggling to be scourges to Earth, but do not find necessary the expansive actions Kaukolastan and her allies have taken. We call upon the above-mentioned states to cease these exploits.

As far as we know it, a sovereign nation has no rights in international waters, except to free trade and movement, and are infringing on those of other countries with these regulations and searches being impressed on free commerce. Unlawful and unauthorized searches and stops, without the prior consent of those being searched, are the grounds of piracy. A vessel has every liberty to not submit to this 'laws,' put in place by a coalition of states.

Furthermore, no true case of international law, that which has been agreed on by the majority of nations, exist, so Kaukolastan forces are enforcing a notion that is null and void. Granzian ships will continue to sail the seas, unmolested by foreign personnel. For these reasons, and more, we again ask that this program be put a halt to, lest the Commonwealth feels the need for stronger measures.

Nathanial Sun,
Minister of Foreign Affairs

IDF won't pay, we will continue to use the Pacific and don't feel a need for this. None of our ships have been attacked in a few decades so we see no reason to pay to use international waters

Very interesting in itself. I can see both sides' point of view...

The Sultanate of Western Alabama will not pay or enact this policy. We have many ports and government owned pirates.

To help ensure this Patrol maintains an unbiased position, the New Commonwealth of Muktar will be allocating naval assets toward said Patrol.

OOC: It's hard to maintain an all-consuming economy if you're cut off from the Pacific.

Tenarius refuses to pay in order to use international waters, and thereby will avoid the Pacific.

INFORMATIONAL NOTE ON BACKGROUND: Do to the Directorate possession of the thousands of small islands throughout the Seaway Belt, the overlapping Economic Protection zones form a spread of scattershot national waters. Where these waters did not meet, islands were constructed, creating a web of National waters that covers much more area than land. These islands, atolls, and constructs are the property of various Directorate nations, and have been established for a RL half-year, but only recently filled out as full possessions to create the Belt.

Official Communique to Granzi
The Seaway project is a purely optional setup. Nations may very well choose to send their shipping through the Oceania regions, which are not patrolled or enforced by DNF. However, these regions are notoriously infested, and nations risk their own shipping with this choice. A much safer and viable alternative would be to take the secure and comfortable Seaway System. Refueling, overnight stays, restocking, and halfway ports are all provided, as well as DNF protection, all for a small fee to continue the project.

There is always choice. The secured passage, or the unknown dangers. It's up to the individual to make the right choice.

Sincerly,
Jackson Teller, DNF Secretary

Official Communique to IDF
Strange, then, that you would oppose this method, when you yourself have seen, and taken, the oppurtunity to shut down the Suez Canal before. This is simply a larger take on that same policy of protection, and purely optional and beneficial to the world.

As always, you may choose not to use the Belt, and take the Oceania region for transit. We simply offer a secure route.

Sincerly,
Jackson Teller, DNF Secretary

PS: A reminder on past diplomatic statement from your nation. We would advise you not to trip on your own tongue.


http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7041556&postcount=20
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7041580&postcount=23
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7041594&postcount=25
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7041631&postcount=30
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7041697&postcount=36

Perhaps you had best review your statements on this idea, before you make any more public declarations.

OOC: Muktar, are you sending a Naval Fleet into our Seabelt? That's pretty... forward.

Official Communique to Euroslavia
We appreciate your understanding, and would like to offer you a tour of the facilities, so as to demonstrate our evenhandedness and good intentions. The price is not extortion, but a toll to maintain the system, much as a pay-to-use highway.

Sincerly,
Jackson Teller, DNF Secretary

Official Communique to Western Alabama
Admitting to government backed privateers is not a beneficial tactic. If your privateers enter the Seaway System, they will be impounded and tried.

Sincerly,
Jackson Teller, DNF Secretary


Official Communique to Tenarius
Your decision is a valid option, as is using the Oceania Belt. The Seaway System will be open to you should you wish to use it. We wish you the best.

Sincerly,
Jackson Teller, DNF Secretary


Official Communique to Muktar
We welcome inspectors to the System, prepared by an International body, and under our guidance, due to issues of national security. However, this does not include the aggressive deployment of Naval Forces, which would be viewed as an obvious threat to our citizens. Please, use restraint, as this does not warrant any hasty action.

Sincerly,
Jackson Teller, DNF Secretary

Republic of Balddur

From: Office of Transportation
To: Kaukolasten Navel forces


Balddur does not support Kaukolasten's plan and unless serious amendments are made we don't feel compiled to obey it.

In accordance to the United Nations the oceans of the world belong to us all. They are international zones.

To have a nation patrol international waters and pass judegment unto the accused offenders. Means that the nation has authority over the ships and vessals passing through that ocean. What is consider to be outlawed in one's nation, may not be outlawed in the other. Also, how can a shipper know and understand the language of a patrol boat if the ship is foregin. This could lead to misunderstandings. Also, where will the accused be jailed? Are citizens of one's country to be jailed in a foregin state. Democratic states will not put up with foregin arrest. They will accuse the patroling nation of conspiracy, thus causing international strife. The law goes on to demand that ships must go to waypoints and check points. Not only will this cause tension between shippers and patrolers. It will force shippers to look for the route with the least check points, in hopes that they won't go through inspections. This will cause cluttered lanes, and cause a major maritime trouble.
Last of all, a nation simply will not pay fines to Allied nations for using international waters.

Detri Gunther
Minister of Transportation

We recognize IDF shutting the Suez Canal as legitmate, as such is entirely within IDF owned territories. We do NOT recognize any attempt to limit shipping in International Waters.

In short, you may collectively "Go to Hell".

Republic of Balddur

From: Office of Transportation
To: Kaukolasten Navel forces


Balddur does not support Kaukolasten's plan and unless serious amendments are made we don't feel compiled to obey it.

In accordance to the United Nations the oceans of the world belong to us all. They are international zones.

To have a nation patrol international waters and pass judegment unto the accused offenders. Means that the nation has authority over the ships and vessals passing through that ocean. What is consider to be outlawed in one's nation, may not be outlawed in the other. Also, how can a shipper know and understand the language of a patrol boat if the ship is foregin. This could lead to misunderstandings. Also, where will the accused be jailed? Are citizens of one's country to be jailed in a foregin state. Democratic states will not put up with foregin arrest. They will accuse the patroling nation of conspiracy, thus causing international strife. The law goes on to demand that ships must go to waypoints and check points. Not only will this cause tension between shippers and patrolers. It will force shippers to look for the route with the least check points, in hopes that they won't go through inspections. This will cause cluttered lanes, and cause a major maritime trouble.
Last of all, a nation simply will not pay fines to Allied nations for using international waters.

Detri Gunther
Minister of Transportation

ooc: Kaukolastan is not in the UN. The directorate strictly forbids membership in the UN for all directorate nations. While its great that the UN sees things one way, they do not control every nation in the world.

The ROC throws the memo into the bin.

We will continue to use the Pacific Ocean as we see fit; we will not be forced to submit to any sort of stop-and-search procedure when we are in any case doing nothing illegal anyway. We are happy to escort merchantment with warships, if the necessity should arise, to ensure this to be the case.

While this has good intent, and may even have beneficial consequences, it is neither legally nor morally correct. If you wish to eliminate slavery, arms and narcotic smuggling and the various other nefarious acts committed on the high seas benath the protection of "International waters", then take up your quarrel with the nation/s or group/s perpetrating those crimes, and do not simply restrict people's passage en masse.

OOC:
a precise maps of where these apparently insane sea lines would lie would help

IC:
As it stands the antions of the directorate are of crouse free to biuld and patrol thier sea lanes within the waters that may be covered by both territorial and EEZ claims, hwo ever the cosntruction of perminet strutures and establishments of agressive patrols outside of these areas would be a direct contravention of most acceptable martime laws.

While we applaod the directorate's steps to protect shipping we would like soem detailed clarifications of where the so called sea lanes would run

The volume of sea you wish to protect will either have to astronomical, or your shipping lanes will quickly develop enormous lines. How large will this be? Will it require a signifigant detour to avoid? Rather than creating physical sea lanes, it might be a better idea to simply provide a trans-pacific escort service (a REAL escort service, not an 'escort service') with the caveat that all cargos of escorted ships may be searched for contreband. In any case, Chardonay will leave usage of the sea lanes to the discression of individual shippers... however, we aren't optimistic that many will use it. Piracy usually occurs in coastal waters, not on the high seas. This is for several reasons, partly because the broken down converted trawlers most pirates use aren't the most seaworthy craft, and partly because the chance of finding a smallish target a conventional pirate could easily dispose of on the high seas is far more difficult than in coastal waters. In times of war, however, we may reconsider this stance.

Our island is located in the Pacific. Our shipping must use the Pacific. And as they are International Waters, our shipping will use the Pacific as they see fit. We find this notion of you imposing your will onto International Waters to be insulting. The fact that you used the words 'International Law' in the same statement as 'we are imposing our will in International Waters' would be amusing under different circumstances.

According to the members of the Gorkon Civilian Merchant Guild -- who are outraged by the way -- any attempts to stop or even charge civilian shipping in International Waters will be resisted, with violence if necessary, as will any attempts to divert them from their usual trade routes. Despite Military High Command's best efforts, the Merchant Guild has held firm in this position and has encouraged all civilian merchants to arm and defend themselves. And we will not be pleased if we hear of Gorkonian people being injured or dying by your hands in International Waters. Military vessels are under similar orders, however.

Official Communique to Euroslavia
We appreciate your understanding, and would like to offer you a tour of the facilities, so as to demonstrate our evenhandedness and good intentions. The price is not extortion, but a toll to maintain the system, much as a pay-to-use highway.

Sincerly,
Jackson Teller, DNF Secretary

Official Communique to Kaukolastan
We would greatly enjoy a tour of the facilities so we can get familiar with exactly what you've put on the table, so to speak. We trust that you wouldn't have any sort of plans to make this system unfair, and would like to send a representative to your nation to oversee how you plan on doing this.

Sincerely,
Empress Destra

The Igovian Soviet Commonwealth of Beth Gellert has experienced little or no trouble during the pursuit of trans-Pacific maritime trade or other such crossings.
With this in mind, the national merchant marine shall not be regarding the Seaway System. It is not thought that any semi-private vessels operating from the Territories of Victoria and Salvador shall use the system, given the added cost for its transit and the absence of similar or equivalent detraction to routes through international waters, which Portmeirion trusts shall not be interfered with.
In short, Igovian mariners are quite happy with the level of security provided by their Commonwealth, and do not wish to be involved in the new Seaway System.
It is hoped and expected that this wish shall be respected and that Igovian trans-Pacific shipping shall not be interfered with by the DNF or related parties. Igovian captains have been instructed to report any improper activity to Portmeirion, and to do so at their first opportunity.

-Commonwealth Chief Consul comrade Chivo.

Official Directorate Response

From the office of Secretary Jackson Teller,
DNF High Command

Re: A slight misunderstanding

General Response to All Nations Protesting on Ground of International Waters Violation

You are incorrect in assuming these waters are
“International”, as you call it. In fact, the
Directorate and her nations all legally control them

The Directorate has taken position of many small
islands, thousands; literally, the waters around those
are official Directorate waters. Where there were not enough islands to extend a blanket of possession, islands were constructed and staffed.

In the areas in between these islands, we have
constructed islands, sea bases, and sea walls. The
areas around those are also officially Directorate
waters. All water claimed by the Directorate, and her
member nations, is, legal Directorate water, and we
will do with it as we see fit.

It is very important to realize that we do not patrol,
or make claim of, the Oceania regions. However, pirate
attacks in those areas are frequent, and you sail
those at your own peril.

We ask only a nominal fee for what is a very generous
offer. Refueling, restocking, and rest stops for
ships, and complete neutrality, the nominal fee covers
only the expenses we have to provide our services.
Nations who do not wish to partake of our generous
offer, are welcome to transverse the Oceania regions
at their own risk. They will not be molested by
Directorate Forces what so ever!

Also, for the record. The Directorate does not
forbid members to join or take part in the UN, we have
a UN member nation, Kahlor, among our ranks.

Response To Vastiva

This is exactly what IDF has done with the Suez Canal,
only on a large scale, and, we were even nice enough
to not claim an entire sector of the area, which we
could have easily done, so that nations would not have
to pay

We are surprised you react to our generous offer with
such scorn.

Response to dontpissusoof

We’re are glad you have chosen to use the Oceania
regions of the Pacific as you see fit, we wish you
success in all that you do, and hope you do not fall
prey to pirate attacks, such a thing would be, bad for
business

Read above under GENERAL announcement!

Response to Crookfur

We thank you for your support.

OOC: Maps are forthcoming, but, college just started
back up for us, and we have things to do.

Response to Chardonay

Your idea of an escort service is being discussed, we
thank you for your input

Response to Gorkon

PLEASE SEE GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

We have no intention of harming anyone. The Oceania
regions are still yours to use as you see fit. Your
island, obviously, does not lie within Directorate
Territory.

Any assault upon DNF vessels or crews inside of the DNF zones will be viewed as a breach of sovereignty, and will be dealt with as such. Civilian crews firing upon DNF servicemen and women will be treated as pirates. We hope no military vessel should endeavor to fire in foolishness, for you know the cost.

Response to Euroslavia

The Directorate Naval Forces welcome your observer. We
certainly do not wish to seem, biased, to anyone, that
is not our intent. We are merely offering protective
services to all the nations of Earth. We are amazed at
their reluctance to accept our generosity

Response to Beth Gellert

We are saddened that you have refused our generous
offer, We wish you luck in your traversing of the
Oceania regions.

OOC: Most of this was typed up by Transnapastain.

Actively patrolling nations in the DNF, who do not care if disclosed:
-Kaukolastan
-Transnapastain
-Nailiak
-Armed Lumberjacks
-Nova Hope
-Dodekistan

Map forthcoming, but we all have college again. Sorry about the delay.

The Naval Operations department, which is reposible for the overseeing of civilian and military sea use, has announced it will not be stopped. Although we are strongly against any breach of international law, and enforce this in our own water, we do not approve of the policing of international waters. We will oppose all attempts of impounding with warning shots, which will advace to shots to kill.

OOC: By naval assets, I meant vessels suitable for patrol. Not all of Muktar's naval assets are for straight fighting.

Most Igovian Pacific shipping passes right through the middle, ususally above the Equator, not simply via Oceania. This will continue to be the case, and efforts to blockade or hinder such traffic will be met with direct force on a case by case basis and most likely with barring of offending states' assets from the Indian Ocean.

-Comrade Supreme Admiral Katerina Ivolgin of the Soviet People's Navy for the attention of any and all parties interested in the hundred and fifty trillion dollar economy's trans-Pacific maritime concerns.

May we add that a new regulation has been instated, every vessel must carry a cannon or have a light coastguard boat (armed) escourt. Also an emergency signal has been designeated which will scramble fighters to oppose unfair policing.

Official Communique to Balddur
We agree with you, no nation can enforce its laws in International Waters. However, these are not such waters. These are Directorate waters, although we have not bothered until now. Ever since the Kobani Incident, we have grown weary of the anarchy on the seas. (OOC: Information forthcoming, it's a freighter that got sunk by pirates. I'm writing backstory for it.) We have now begun to enforce our overlapping economic protection zones, and we shall deal with these waters as we need.

As for impounding and punishment: The Directorate policy on drugs and weapons shall be enforced in her waters. That is, Class Three narcotics, without legal proof of intent (such as legal destination, or government waiver), shall be impounded and destroyed, the crews returned. Armaments classified as WMD, or which are suspected of being delivered for illegitimate purposes (READ: Terrorist of Organized Crime) will be seized, and the crews delivered to the justice of their intended targets. Slavers will be tried in a Directorate Tribunal for Crimes Against Sentience, and the living cargo will be offered citizenship.

Military vessels will not be impeded, nor will legitimate cargo vessels. They will be given a Sea lane to follow, and will have open access to the ports and waystations along the way. By manufacturing an organized and efficient system, traffic will be safe and rapid.

If these benefits are not worthwhile to you, the unpatrolled Southern Pacific and Oceania are always open.

Reply to Muktar and Jonothana
Armed vessels will not be barred, and may utilize the Seaway System as they wish. They will be expected to maintain their registered headings, so as to prevent any in-system privateering, but the facilities are open to them. They may even receive leave, refit, and refuel, and re-armament, if they wish to pay for these services to the local corporations, operating under DNF license. Like all other vessels, they will have to pay the maintenance costs of the system they benefit from.

No harm shall come to them unless they violate the System in an agressive manner. The Seaway System is designed to bring peace, not create strife, and with your help, this could be a great boon to legitimate Pacific transit, and the envy of the Atlantic.

OOC: The Directorate mainlands, the nations that make it up, extend from the North Pacific all the way almost to the equator. That always has been national water. We put a Seaway System Northwards, and a little Southwards.

IC:

Official Reply to Beth Gellert
If you use force in sovereign waters, you will be dealt with accordingly, but this is not a time for threats and posturing. We are offering a service, and your vessels may take it or leave it on a case by case basis. The growing businesses and trading ports in the Seaway promise a bright economic boom for those who utilize the System, and the safety is unparalled. Attempts to disturb this peace, inside of Directorate territory, will be greatly distressing and may force a response that would not be good for world peace.

We have offered a service in our own waters, and it is simply up to you if you wish to use it. Use it, and pay the small fee, which the trading profits and safety would greatly outweigh; or take the Southern Ocean, and continue as normal. We do not force a choice, but these are the options.

OOC: Open Notice:
We do not patrol airspace or atmosphere over the Seabelt. Obviously, you can't fly over the military bases, but we do not interdict aircraft or orbital systems. That would be BEYOND anything we could attempt to "justify".

OOC: I'll be doing some character-oriented stuff with Euroslavia, who wants to observe and inspect the facilities. If you wish to get in that tour, please log an OOC and IC request. No military assault teams, magic/psy-blather, or other such non-acceptable terms. Also, I'd say no more than five nations, or fifteen people, whichever happens first.

1.)This will be guided.
2.)This will be peaceful
3.)This will be character-scale RP

If you want in, please RSVP via TG or in this thread. Or both.

Back to class and work,
K-stan

Imperial Decree IX of the new age

The Imperial Merchant Fleet, newly created as Jeitan has emerged from the mists of isolation and only just now has made trade pacts with other nations, is interested but wary of this proposal.

On one hand, it is in everyones interest to bar attacks on civilian ports and to avoid smuggling of contraband. On the other hand, no one force should police the sees, lest any manner of favour slip into the minds of the officers and neutral trade be at stake.

Thus, the Imperial Navy is considering to offer imperial dreadnoughts and patrol boats to this initiative, but only if many more nations join the force with a considerable naval contingent.

The first escourted vessels are leaving now. Should they be ordered to do anything they will ignore, and will act to keep their route clear and return fire.

To: Kaukolastan
From: The Delegate Council of the New Commonwealth of Muktar

Due to further observation of what you are proposing, we find such action to be nothing more than sanctioned piracy. Between this observation and the possibility of the most recent UN proposal being passed, we must withdraw our support for your efforts. We will not pay for your "protection" and we will not take any efforts to avoid the Pacific. If you object to this decision, send a representative to negociate the matter of our cooperating with your proposed highway robbery.

Chardonay must request information as to the extent of the marintime exclusion zones included in the sealane system. If your exclusion zone actually impedes the traffic of cargo accross the pacific (ie, crosses major currents, walls off nations from easy access to others) Chardonay will view the closure of the waters to neutral shipping to be a hostile act, much as closing the suez canal to our shipping would be considered an act of war. While we are prepared to pay a small tarrif, it is unlikely we will make use of refuiling stations for civilian transports.

TG To: Directorate Command
From: ITD Capital

We are wondering where you would like the patrol-torpedo boats delivered. Upon confirmation of a delivery site, we will begin transporting them.
-Emperor Erik Kersk

The first escourted vessels are leaving now. Should they be ordered to do anything they will ignore, and will act to keep their route clear and return fire.

We must question your own statements made within this thread. The option was given to either accept this, or ignore this, and continue your own trade in a normal matter. Why must you continue with your threats? You got your point across the first time...

We will avoid conflict, but will return fire and now slughtly alter course to avoid checkpoints.

Official Response from OIS Director, General Jonathan Davis
Head of Directorate Intelligence and Foreign Relations


Response to the Government of Jeitan

We can understand your reluctance, as such, we invite you along on the tours of the facilities and encourage you to do as Euroslavia has, to request to send an advisor. Kaukolastan is in overall command of the multinational forces patrolling the seaway, and will be running tours within the week. Once again, may I stress, that the fees leveled are purely operational costs.

As for your assistance, I most, for the moment, give you the same answer I gave to ITD, that, for the moment, outside forces are not employed within the seaway. Armed warships are permitted, but may not engage in hostile actions.

I will speak with the Regent on the possibility of adding more nations to the multinational force, however, the prospect seems unlikely, as a nation operating in a Directorate-run area would need to be a Directorate member.

We do, however, thank you for being civil in this manor, instead of huffing and puffing about, blowing smoke and spitting fire.

Official Response to Government of Muktar

Even though no UN nations are involved in this endeavor. We are aware of the new proposal. However, it applies entirely to international waters. This is not the case, since all areas being dealt with are legally under Directorate Control

“2. That all 'international waters' shall be outside the sovereignty of any member nation and that no nation can claim to have sovereignty over them.”

You will recognize that line as line 2 from the UN proposal up for vote currently. I, as it happens, agree. International waters should not be controlled by any one nation. I, however, remind you that we are not dealing with international waters. Additionally, The line clearly refers to member nations, and, as of yet, no UN member nation is involved in administration of the seaway. Of course, we all know UN resolution do not apply to non-UN nations.

“10. that all nations will do their utmost to tackle piracy in international waters.”

Line 10 of the current proposal. Once again, agreed, all nations should do their best to tackle piracy in International Waters, as we do our part to curtail piracy in our waters.

“12. That any flagged warship may board a ship if it has reasonable grounds to believe it is engaged in an international crime, such as but not limited to terrorism, piracy or smuggling.”

I refer to line 12 of the current UN proposal at vote, which is attempting to make it legal to board a suspect ship in international waters, therefore, Ships flying the Directorate flag would be well within their rights to board any suspect ships within the Directorate’s territorial waters.

Clearly, then, this resolution is irrelevant to the current situation.

We thank you, as well, for lodging your complaints in a civil, manor, I encourage you, also, to request to join the tours of the facility

Official Response to Chardonay

As we stated in our last communication, maps are forthcoming. I can, however, assure that no nation has been blockade by the seaway, such would be counter-productive to our entire operation. We seek not to impede commerce, but only to enhance it, and allow all nations with Pacific interests to prosper.

You are not required to take advantage of the faculties offered, but, you are required to follow the waypoints and seaways, and to check in at the beginning of the seaway...depending on where you enter

Official Response to The Government of ITD

The patrol boats may delivered, at your convenience, to any Directorate Naval Facility. We thank you for your generosity. The naval base on Spark Island will do well. ((OOC: Roughly the exact same make-up and location of Wake Island, we claimed those almost 7 months ago, I can find a thread proving it, if it hasn’t been eaten by the forum, I am not willing to entertain objections from nations about the ownership of the islands claimed, as, we are not claiming the real life islands, but, equivalent islands of the same size, makeup and location. This is nothing new.))

Response to Jonothana

You may stick to the Southern Pacific Ocean and Oceania regions to avoid checkpoints, as you wouldnt enter the seaway at all. If you do not,and you eneter the seaway and refuse to comply with Directorate Naval Forces, your ship will be seized and its crew expelled and barred from Directorate Sovereign waters, airspace, and landmass. Also, economic sanctions may be layed upon your nation. Violence will not help you in this situation, as you well know

We wish you luck in dealing with the pirates in the Oceania regions.

General Announcement to all nations

I want to reiterate the fact that we are not laying claim to the airspace or orbital corridors above the Pacific. Military Instillation are, of course “no-fly zones” but, the airspace itself is still open for unrestricted use.

The boats are being delivered. There are 45 ships being sent. Sailing with them will be several transport ships to return ITD naval personnel to Hades Cluster, our navy headquarters. The ships and the personnel will cooperation with Directorate Forces.

Good Day.

ooc: http://www.clydeskeywest.com/Other-Fun-Sub-01/images/Key%20West/PT%20Boat/Image45.gif

Due to your donation, Your passage fee within the seaway will be waved.

To: Organizers of DAAWPP
From: The Delegate Council of the New Commonwealth of Muktar

What you have proposed is the control of all maritime shipping and transport in the Pacific Ocean. That would inevitably include international waters. Although the resolution may not apply to your organization, allow us to make ourselves clear: we will continue to use maritime routes in the Pacific. If any of your vessels attempt to inhibit our trade, they will be met with force.
On another note, line 12 of the resolution which your organization previously noted would allow UN nations to board vessels of any nation, UN or not, should they be suspected of piracy or other international crimes. We consider DAAWPP to be under suspect for this purpose.

Response to Muktar

Good sir, you fail to realize that the areas in question are Directorate controlled. Our nations have claimed several islands in the pacific areas. Our services do not extend beyond Directorate controlled waters. All we are offering is safe passage, friendly and helpful refueling, and recreational spots to make your trip through our waters more enjoyable and less hectic. All we ask of you is to pay a very nominal fee to cover our services, payment for the civilian workers for example, so that we may continue to provide them in the future.

However, as it was stated, our services are not offered in the Oceanic areas and you are free to traverse them as you will. However, you will have to expend far greater expenses if you choose to traverse those areas, such as armed escorts, munitions expenditure, etc.

Thank you for understanding. We hope to extend our friendly services to you one day.

(OOC: As K-stan said, maps are coming soon. We all have issues to deal with IRL and are trying our best to keep in touch in order to make this go as smoothly as possible. But, I assure you all, the waters in which our services are offered are in fact Directorate controlled.)

Well, given that you're not violating international waters (lack of) law, I must protest that it is, to use British parlance, a bit dodgy that you just build a group of islands to exercise legal control of a vital sea passage.

Yes, you have occupiedinternational waters. Therefore, Jonothana is now deciding whether this is a breach of Jonothanaian international law. If we judge it is, then the waters will not be recognised as yours.

We have now switched as much trade as possible to plane, to avaiod conflict.

Official Communique to IDF
Strange, then, that you would oppose this method, when you yourself have seen, and taken, the oppurtunity to shut down the Suez Canal before. This is simply a larger take on that same policy of protection, and purely optional and beneficial to the world.

As always, you may choose not to use the Belt, and take the Oceania region for transit. We simply offer a secure route.

Sincerly,
Jackson Teller, DNF Secretary

PS: A reminder on past diplomatic statement from your nation. We would advise you not to trip on your own tongue.



Perhaps you had best review your statements on this idea, before you make any more public declarations.

I believe I am allowed to shut down my NATIONAL waters to a nation that I have been at war with for the past few NS years. This proposed policy is piracy in international waters

There was a nice crisp Southwesterly wind of 10 knots when the IDF VLCC Global Launch entered the Pacific. Upon recieving a request to pay a toll to use the International waterways the Captain had to decide what to say.

After confering with his officers he told his radio operator to send something that was blunt and to the point. "Shove it."

A Muktari supply transport was on it's way to a former regionmate known as Nellisland, transporting quality Muktari Plastics. The guards that stood watch for pirates were armed with AKs and RPGs. They spotted a checkpoint up ahead. The vessels would just miss the perimeter. Transmissions were ignored, and once the ship was in visible range, all spare and willing crew mooned the island.

OOC Statement

Since IC reasoning seems to be failing…

The act of building and claiming islands so that the waters are all under our control may be a bit dodgy and shady…to damn bad, a lot of dodgy and shady things happen here in Nation States

Also, PLEASE NOTE

The ENTIRE southern Pacific, from just belong the equator to Antarctica, and the Oceanic regions are NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL. Those are the ONY international waters in question, and we have not made a move to claim them in any way, shape or form.

So, basically, while ethically questionable, what is already done is not illegal. If you aren’t happy with it, that sucks, the Southern Pacific awaits you. There’s no need to bring this to violence, unless you all really want.

Just as long as your ships do not enter the seaway, you are not subject to Directorate laws. I really don’t care if your ships travel along its perimeter, shouting obscenities and waving signs, as long as you don’t act in a hostile manor towards the Directorate personal, or the nations using the seaway, we could care less what you do, and wont lay a single finger in you as you are, after all, in international water. so long as you are not in the seaway

Was I, IN ANY WAY, unclear. I am not as level headed as K-stan...fair warning

Now for the IC responses.

General Jonathan Davis
Director of the OIS
Head of Directorate Intelligence and Foreign Affairs.

Response to the Dontpissusoff Government

We thank you for your understanding

Though, it is important to realize that we have not laid claim to the entire ocean. As said before, The Southern and Oceania region are outside of the seaway, and remain unclaimed. It is only a slight detour to use these. All Pacific nations can be easily accessed through these routes

Response to the Government of Jonothana

We are perplexed at how you fail to grasp that we are not dealing with international waters. The unclaimed Oceania and Southern Pacific regions, a good chunk of the ocean, are the only international waters in question, and we feel we have made it clear enough that they are outside of our control, and yours to use.
Also, isn’t the statement Jonothana International Law a bit…egotistical, how do you enact international law?

Also, good luck on your aircraft shipping ventures. So long as they do not enter the small no fly zones over Directorate Military instillations, there will be no conflict.

Official Response to IDF

No it’s not International Water!

Read our statement. The island positions the Directorate claimed more than a decade ago ((IRL 7 months)) more than makes the water in question legally under Directorate Control.

Your lack of understanding is truly sad, as is your disrespect to Directorate personal. However, you are free to continue on your course through the Oceania and South Pacific.

OOC: Did you even read pages 2-4 or did you find K-stans response, get mad, and post in a huff?? That’s not an official IC statement, merely a expression of my exasperation at people still crying “international waters omg…” when it simple IS NOT. From now all, all claims that the waters are international are ignored. THIS WLL NOT BE STATED AGAIN

Response to the Government of Muktar

We are sad that you have chosen not to make use of our services, the option remains yours, of course. A sincere good luck to you.

Naval Station Arbaton
Southern Perimeter of the Seaway System
Western Station

Arbaton was one of the many Naval Stations in the SeaBelt, although it was the Sector Four control point. Constructed from a lush tropical atoll, the peaks of a dormant volcano were plastered green by the sweeping tropical forests. Around the waterfront, the docks and yards bustled, and hotels and shops glowed with light. Rising above the commercial and security ports, the sweeping white bunkers glistened in the yellow sun, elegant and majestic, rather than squat and utilitarian. Obviously of Kaukolastani construct, the entire complex was a dense technical weave, but stately and imperial at the same time, conveying a slight sense of superiority and arrogance, but also efficiency and civility.

It was almost hard to notice the glistening barrels of coastal guns, recessed into slits for peace, and the VTOL launch chutes were hidden among the foliage. Towers of the Command Facility poked through the vegetation, and others sprawled up the mountain. The weapons were well hidden, and brought a sense of security to those docked below. But all of this was mere outlying vantage to the Tower that rose from the island center. Thrusting upwards from the forest, rising powerfully from the green backdrop, standing over mountain, jungle, and sea. It flowed upwards, constructed externally of smooth white stone, nano-masoned into a glimmering ivory, almost organic. But as it rose, points of light shone from windows, and at the top, the tower, two hundred stories in the air, flowered out into a command facility, Plexiglas and carbon-tubules to create a clear sphere observation deck, from which hundreds of officers maintained the southern Sea Lanes. Above this, the five petals of VTOL pads spread out, capable of handling over twenty strategic transport sized craft. All of this stonework was threaded with carbon-steel, and absorption and harmonic reinforcement systems hid beneath the surfaces. The Command Tower was visible for kilometers; a spear into the heavens… and it was not alone. From the Observation and Command deck, more Towers could be spotted against the blue skies.

In the Command Deck, rings of holographic displays listed out transport vectors, supply lists, and constant real-time updates. Controllers manipulated the shifting movements of vessels and flotillas, while maintaining the DNF patrols. The chatter and buzz of the human and machine interactions was a sign of the liveliness of the system, and a confidant assurance of the security. Most of the officers wore the Kaukolastani Naval Dress Uniform, with its blues and blacks, gloss belt and boots, with the cross left to right strap, and the silver shoulder flap pulled over to the top quarter of the cross-belt, and the Imperial Eagle situated on the black-visored caps.

In the center of the bustling and humming command center, dressed in the white flag uniform, Rear Admiral Fullson turned to his ISA Attaché, Section Chief Duval. Fullson inquired in his quiet drawl, “So, Duval, what do you make of this situation?” The admiral tugged on his gold shoulder cords.

The ISA man smiled behind his black sunglasses, subconsciously straightening his suit and tie. “Sir, the Muktari vessel is holding south of the SeaBelt perimeter in order to annoy us. Their little mooning maneuver was rather disingenuous, as we’ve recorded the action and have proceeded to launch mocking adds on television on Muktari civilization.” Another ISA smile drifted through Duval’s features.

Fullson grimly turned to a holodisplay, where an Ensign watched a holographic recreation of the in-belt sub movements. “But the IDF vessels are refusing to abort from their course. They claim International Waters as they pass within sighting distance of our lands. We’ve attempted to make contact, but they refuse to accept transmissions, and we’re being jammed. I’m about to escalate transmission attempts.”

Duval sneered. “That would be advisable. And as if they could resist Poseidon…”

Another voice, a deep friendly bass, rolled through the center of the chamber. “They could not.”

Fullson glanced to the wall. “Poseidon, establish a connection to the IDF vessel.”

In the ground, deep below the ivory tower, a blue core sat, cooled by cryogenic fluids. A massive two stories tall, and ten meters in diameter, the Poseidon Core was dwarfed only by Proteus and Ares, the first two AI Constructs of Kaukolastan. Unlike Proteus, Poseidon was not designed for societal engineering, or for AI birthing. Unlike Ares, it was not used to coordinate millions of individuals as one unit, or to unify vast arrays of military into one cohesive vision. Poseidon was designed to coordinate the Seaway System, spread through the cores in six of the Towers, and able to manage the various channels. Now, it would be used for interdiction purposes.

The IDF ships had scrambled their own frequencies, but a small portion of a quantum core turned to this “randomization”, and linked to the sequence. Within nanoseconds, a connection was established. On the IDF vessel, the volume rose to maximum, all speakers activating. Poseidon’s basso tones rang clear. “Stand down, for you are in violation of Directorate Waters. If you do not halt or adjust heading immediately to bearing thirty point two, you will be treated as an aggressor in sovereign waters. This is your only warning.”

From Arbaton, seven surface effects craft sped from a low profile pen. No active radar or sonar touched the vessel, and no weapons were pointed. This was law enforcement, not military action.


OOC: Anyone joining an inspection team will be arriving at Arbaton, via the petal landing pads on top the Tower.

The Igovian Soviet Commonwealth of Beth Gellert maintains that its ships will continue to traverse the Pacific Ocean a small number of degrees above the Equator, and that if met with hostility they shall ignore and continue. Trade with the likes of the Aztec National League in Mexico is important to the ISCB, and will not be disrupted. If it is disrupted, forces at fault shall be removed from the universe. This is fact, and not diplomatic ovature or threat. Foreign taxation will not be recognised, and capitalists shall not be entertained. Nor shall Igovian vessels surrender narcotic substances, submit to impoundment, or turn tail in the face of opposition. The Igovian Revolution is proper and correct in human history and is not in the least bit inclined to bow or delay for the passing whims of self-inflated politicians and dictators in such institutions as are here represented.

The Directorate may have confidently issues statements of fact onto the world, but many of these have been met in kind. The institution shall let pass without let or hindrance Igovian and allied vessels or it shall face a confrontation more costly than it can account for in profits from its latest piratical enterprise.

Some plans simply fail. Refusal to accept this ends in nothing but absolute defeat and collapse of one's civilisation.

-Comrade General Kivi Eikki Paatelainen.

(OOC: Of course, a lot of us got involved in this thread without indication that an island chain existed crossing an impossibly large space without ever creating continental land mass or requiring a world large enough to void its oceanic extent, so the protagonists really ought to be careful about what they expect participants to understand of the situation. And they should remember that if their relatively mediocre powers can close down the Pacific, then Beth Gellert can darn well close down the Indian in which it lies. No, sorry, no tea, no south Asia, no Africa, no Southern Europe, and what western Europeans are going to sail the Atlantic, pay the Panama fee, sail the Pacific, pay your fee... aws, your powerful economies suddenly become utterly unjustifiable and your programme collapses or you get ignored into oblivion anyway.)

(To clarify that... Beth Gellen commerce flows across the Pacific a couple of degres north of the Equator. If this conflicts with your exclusion zones, you have a problem, and are likely to lose billions through the Indian Ocean and, though the ISCB alone may not be able to vanquish your nations, you stand to lose TRILLIONS more in conflict with BG. The alterative is to simply let shipping to and from BG move without interference of any sort, as has been the case for several centuries.)

*drops a blanket IGNORE on the obvious godmodding idiots and their Goldfingerish attempt to rule the world*

OOC
Information on The Directorate, the Plan, and My OOC Confessions:

Yes, this is shady dealings, but not in an "I rule the world" approach. We have existed RL for six months as a series of land masses in the Pacific, a sort of "shattered" eighth continent in the North to Mid-Pacific. These waters were always ours, but those are not in question. We aquired a bunch of islands in a land grab about December of last year, or at least fictional equivelants to real islands, to prevent territorial pissings. Hence the Spark Island that looks an awful lot like Wake Island, and other such tomfoolery.

The island chains were complemented by artificial constructs, to give the "by the book" justification for economic protection spheres. This is OBVIOUSLY shady and bending of the rules, but it's done in an ambitious try for economic power in the Pacific. (Basically, after locking all of our nations into "Frightening" for six months and longer, we felt a need to move up the economic scale.) This could obviously backfire, but there are IC good reasons others to go along with the Seaway, as well as very good reasons to oppose it.

The main focus here is economic, not military, though, as this is NS, the military receives a larger focus than necessary. The idea is the construction of a semi-neutral economic bazaar in the Pacific (the Directorate pretty much stays out of other people's political and military business, this is the first imperialist movement in six RL months). Anyone participating would have access to a safe, secure, and efficient economic hub, and would benefit from that. Obviously, as it would be under DNF protection, we would benefit more. Those are the reasons for.

The reasons against are obviously regarding International Waters, recognition of the artificial islands, and the rights of ships in the Seaway System. Those are more apparent than the benefits, for obvious reasons.

So, this is not an "I rule the world" scheme, but a bid for regional economic dominance, and to achieve more projection power. Supporting would grant favor, access to the economic boon. Opposing would grant national pride, short term booms, and possibly military victory, but maybe not.

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

So, in reply to Vastiva, it is overt, but not Godmoddish, for no rules of reality have been broken, as:

1.)NS Earth is much larger than RL Earth, and with whole new continental masses (us being on of them), and a population of around 20 Billion supporting this project, it's not an overburden, especially considering the economic power involved.

2.)There is no actual "Lanes" constructed, as in a physical road, but rather in directions given via controllers, like from the FAA.

3.)With a tech level equivelant to about the late twenty-first century, the issues of C3 and projection are less of a concern.

IGNORE as you will, but this could have promise if you play along or against. And on the "idiots" part... read my signature link... or look for the STICKY I have. Then say that again.

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

Gellert, are you a space tech nation? You talked about "universe" and civilization collapse, so I'm making sure you aren't a far-future nation before we continue. I'm still up for playing, but I'll need to TG communicate. If you're still modern, post-modern, or near-future, take my next post as canon. If not... light up my AIM, please.

To your other comments, I believe my general OOC information clarified your questions. I had hoped that people responding might have back-checked the history of the region or the players, and seen that we are all geographic neighboring landmasses in the Pacific, and have IC "Histories" going back to the BCE time period.

OOC: For Economic Information quoted in this post, please consult:

http://www.thirdgeek.com/nseconomy.php?nation=kaukolastan
-and-
http://www.thirdgeek.com/nseconomy.php?nation=beth_gellert

Both use the Sunset Calculator.

IC:

Open Communique from KNN News Personality
Your braggadocio will get you nothing in this. If you would consult your own Finance ministry, should you possess such an evil Capitalist tool, you might learn that your economic power is not as strong as one believes. Your vast population grants you massive production, but the astronomical taxation stifles motivation, and stuffs your Standard of Living down to a third world level, managing little better than Somalia on a good day.

With a population a third smaller than yours, our GDP nearly touches yours, and our per Capita soars far above your own. The consumption and Standard of Living makes the nation of Kaukolastan a much more desirable than your own socialistic cesspool. Then, once the unique sectors of Kaukolastani production are considered, the highest quality gen-en agriculture, designed to grow in the most fallow ground, TDP fossil fuels, and fusion energy… this is not a sector of economy you would wish to dismiss.

Much less when compared on a regional scale, where your vast region falls behind a mere handful of Directorate core members. You would not wish to forego these trading sectors, or product grounds. Unless you would like to find your assets frozen, it would not be wise to continue with these baseless threats and bombast.

And finally, regarding the use of military force and blockades: at no point have we blockaded any sector. Our sovereign waters, including island chains, are merely being presented as a safe alternative to the normal chaos of travel. The southern ocean remains open as always, and you are cut off from no ports, and no vast increase in travel time. As always, the Seaway System remains open for use, so long as you are willing to contribute to keep this bold concept running smoothly.

-Local Holovision Personality, Brian O’Malley, in Open-Editorial

OOC: For sanities sake, I’m assuming that your natural courses proceeded south of Nova Hope’s southernmost point, as he is the most Southern nation in the Directorate. As long as that is true, your shipping lanes are unchanged and unhindered.

IC:

Official Communique (SECRET) to Nailiak
That recent transmission was propganda from a fire spewing anchorman, and that does not reflect the views of the government upon socialistic systems.

The KNN Officially apologizes, as the signatures attatched can attest to.

Chardonay, before further protesting this toll, wishes to know exactly how much we will need to pay. If the sum is reasonable, then we would be more than willing to use the system, however exorbient sums will be viewed as an effective declaration of economic war.

The toll is a simple Five Credit fee for access to the Seaway, with five additional Credits for every 100,000 Tonnes over the first 100,000. (5 Credits == Roughly 10 USD. Yes, it is EXORBINANTLY low.) Most of the monetary income comes from the volume of traffic, and the sales taxes inside the Belt, which are still under 2%. The volume moved allows the burden to be exceptionally light, while still profitable enough to justify continuation of the System.

"ITD recognized the territorial claims by Directorate forces. As we have been cleared for travel, we will commence trade with Directorate nations as soon as possible." - Christopher Irons, ITD UN Delegate

As the NS world is "the size of Jupiter", going around you is simple. So your entire "blockade" is functionally useless.

As you're playing Future Tech, you're even further ignored, if such a thing is possible.

Your attempt runs all over the bases created by the OMP.

Your attempt runs over the 80,000 nations in the Pacific.

Your attempt attempts to control every RP in the region without any sort of attention to the rules of RP (see sticky).

In other words, your attempt is flagrant and absolute Godmoddery.

Your garbage is therefore IGNORED.

And as you asked for it specifically - "You are an idiot". Happier?

I don't think he is. This is.. well.. pretty much flamebait, but I'll let you off with a warning. Don't do it again.

If you don't appreciate what Kaukolastan has to say, you're more than welcome to leave the thread. No need to verbally attack the player.

Official Statement of Chardonayan Government

While not condoning the methods that the Directory have used to establish their 'sealane system' (namely the creation of artificial islands to extend their territorial waters, and a coercive right of passage tarrif), the remarkably low toll (less than most port taxes) has convinced the Chardonayan Foreign Ministry to accept the sealane system and pay the toll for all shippers wishing to use the sealanes. Travel through actively patrolled waters is always preferable to relying on thinly stretched domestic escorts.

OOC: Let me apologize for not having a map. I school and work full time, as do the others involved. We'll get one ASAP for everybody. Please, let's keep this IC, and have a good RP!

IC: The statement to Chardonay was the "per vessel" charge. Estimated travel intallments are options, though we will take into account your previous volume of travel to deliver a more accurate estimate to your nation. Based from this estimate, we shall deduct 5% for the convenience of pre-payment on the year, and 2% on the month.

(You estimate how much you ship, and simply declare it. I'm not going to get anal.)

Would it be possible to pay a flat rate instead, say 10000 credits a year? I find it extremely unlikely that we will be sending over 20 million tons of shipping through a year. Also, are you talking gross tonnage, displacement... what?

OOC:

We’re talking about tonnage. Basically, all you need to do is give us a reasonable number, we’ll take it, and that’s what you pay. We’ll say, ICly that that number is our estimate of the price per ship you would pay, minus a 5% deduction.

Also, military/humanitarian vessels pass, for free, the only price they pay is if they stop to refuel, rearm, et cetera. This applies to all nations.

We don’t want to way-lay a military taskforce, or a humanitarian shipments

OoC: I'd just like to point out to the side that opposes this that you should be concentrating on the use of artifical islands to extend territorial waters; something I don't believe is entirely legal.

OoC: I'd just like to point out to the side that opposes this that you should be concentrating on the use of artifical islands to extend territorial waters; something I don't believe is entirely legal.

That’s been discussed.

It isn’t exactly legal or illegal. It’s shady and dodgy, to be sure. However, because we aren’t bound by United Nations rules, and no international law in existence has covered this possibility, there is nothing illegal about it. If claiming the water around man-made land is no different than natural occurring land in that, its still sovereign, as is the airspace and water around it. Though, its, once again, important to point out that we make no claims of the airspace above the seabelt, aside from the “no-fly” zones over the military instillations.

Also, not all the islands are man-made, many are natural islands we laid claim to ((Irl December, 03)) It'd be worse, in truth, if we didn’t extend the territorial claims, the Seaways in the pacific would be more akin to a maze, with ships having to zig-zag around Directorate holdings to avoid entering sovereign waters.

:Edit:

I made a mistake here. IC arguing over the legality of the islands is fine and good, I'm sorry

Official communication (Secret) to Kaukolastan

We appreciate and accept your apology. We realize our governments are different in view and values but the broadcast did hit rather close to home and we weren’t pleased, to say the least. However, we know our alliance is still strong and will continue as though we never heard the propaganda.

Warm regards,
Nailiak

OOC: Two questions before an IC responce:

1) Are you modern tech?

2) Can you provide links to the threads where you created these islands?

OOC:

1.)Trans is the one who masterminded the land grab thread that netted us the RL equivelant islands, although I carried it out as spokeman. At the time, we wanted the real islands, but since then we saw the folly of that and switched to fictional dopplegangers. EDIT: Found one of the threads, the initial claims, not the build-up.

http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=312905

Mind you, at the time, we wanted real islands. The switch to fictional happened later.

2.) Construction of islands. That happened right before the thread, and is a valid point of contention. That event is the pre-supposed springboard to this thread, and will be discussed ICly if asked. In fact, the "inspections" with Euroslavia would be the ideal place to ask my people, or Trans', or Nailiaks, or Nova's people about this and challenge it.

We OOC know that is was a bend of International law, if not a break, but we're ICly going to cling to it without "knowing" it's a breach. People have been challenging on both, and it's hard to disseminate the two, but for reference, we know OOC that it's dodgy, but ICly we'll argue to the death about it... or at least 'till crippling sanctions.

3.)My tech level is roughly akin to about 2070 or so. The tech level is not THAT different from modern tech, other than in cosmetics (holovision instead of television, VR simulation, and a few Bond-esque gagdets). The only apparent differences are in force projection militarily, in which I use the tech edge to field a smaller force with equal fighting power.

Economically, it lets me get away with limitted fusion power (bulky, expensive), gen-en crops (nice, but little contextual difference other than being desirable), and TDP (recycled fossil fuels that allow me to extend and produce low grade hydro-carbon supply). The others techs are like this, slight augmentations to force, or showy hi-tech gizmos designed for "wow" factor. There is nothing to radically alter the balance, other than a few rare units (aka Jump-troops or a single powered armor company) that are easily defeatable with the right tactics.

If you read my nation's stuff, we have a tech-obsession, believing that science and technology is not just the means to a solution, but the end in and of itself. This gives us a cool technical edge in most things, but could easily be used against us, as it verges on technological dependance at times. (BTW, there are only 3 AIs that I have in operation, and Proteust is designed for research, not fielding.)

The other Directorate nations range from roughly par to my own, to about 2040 tech level. We classify ourselves as "post-modern" to "very-near-future", but the tech is not so great a difference as to invalidate modern or even pre-modern technology levels.
If you've played Commnad and Conquer Generals, think USA vs GLA.

4.)Remember the Euroslavia-led inspection tour. If you have any questions, comments, or complaints, that would be a great character-level place to field them. (You might even get a disgruntled Naval Officer to admit that "Doghouse sized lumps of rock with a damn flag don't make a territorial water!" But don't expect that line. :)

OOC: If I were to ignore this and traverse pirate waters, would you RP a pirate attack? Might make for something interesting and/or enjoyable, eh? :)

OOC: If I were to ignore this and traverse pirate waters, would you RP a pirate attack? Might make for something interesting and/or enjoyable, eh? :)

OOC: I might "hop" out of Kaukolastan and have a pirate ambush you, if you wanted to do that. It wouldn't be MY nation doing it, of course.

OOC: Ok, if the threads can't be found then can you tell me how you built the islands?

OOC: The constructed islands weren't in a thread. The real islands were. The island's construction are the contention of this thread, but I just wanted to kick into the middle of it and then back-fill the story. They are mostly constructed in shallows, using pylons and casks to support metal and stone constructs, reinforced with carbon-steel. Ontop of this, the "natural" island is built. If shallow enough, we constructed straight to the undersea surface, but most are pylon and strut supported.

The techniques employed used undersea construction vehicles and nanoswarms for refining. We also dropped coffers, and sent down teams with air supplies into the hollow tubes to build the pylons.

Most of the islands have small bases. Some are larger, and have the ports and relay stations. A few are simply listening posts and a flag, with about two peoplem just to fill out the habitation requirements.

Background on Method of Expansion:

With the existance of the territorial waters extending 20nm from the Directorate mainlands and holdings, any unclaimed islands inside the network were then settled and turned into holdings, expanding their own territorial ring. Where no island or atoll could be found within the 20nm, an island was constructed and occupied.

Before the ring was expanded, several conditions were met:

1.) No other nation was isolated by the expansion of territorial waters. (Illegal to do so.)
2.) The previous islands, atolls, and constructs were occupied with a mosltly permanent regional staff, granting the status of liveable land.
3.)The new claim was within the converging rings of the previous.

Once all was settled, the new land was claimed or constructed, and then the cycle repeated, allowing the Directorate to leap-frog claims throughout the Belt, and "legally" claim section of waters as territorial.

:upyours: any1 who can afford boats can defend themselves besides this sounds like thugs forcing nations to pay for acsess lets raly and smash this big bully p.s telegram me with how much miletery you are willin to pledge to this crusade

:upyours: any1 who can afford boats can defend themselves besides this sounds like thugs forcing nations to pay for acsess lets raly and smash this big bully p.s telegram me with how much miletery you are willin to pledge to this crusade

The land legally belongs to Directorate forces, it's not a matter of bullying. If you had an island chain and charged people to sail through it, I wouldn't mind. These are TERRITORIAL waters, not international.

OOC: ITD, I’m going to assume that your boats have arrived, cause I feel like posting something. If this is a problem, then, you got my AIM, I can delete this.

IC:

The setting sun glistened off the cool, clear waters of the Pacific Ocean, as the waves broke and roared onto the Coast of Spark Island. Man-made docks and port faculties only broke the lush tropical green. Slightly recessed inside the jungle, the 16-inch costal guns were silent, holding vigil over the island. All around the jungle, Surface –to-Air missile sites lay dormant.

Spark Island, occupied by Transnapastain, Kaukolastan and Nailiak years before, had, in recent years, become an important outpost for the Transnapastani Air Fleet and Navy. Transnapastain had constructed a shipyard, as well as major air base on the island. It was only fitting that when Rear Admiral Marie Bishop was promoted to Deputy Command in the Directorate Naval Forces and awarded command of the Directorate Naval Air
Command, that she chose Peregrine Air Fleet base on Spark Island as the center of the DNFAC’s primary headquarters.

Spanning most of the southern and Eastern parts of Spark Island, Peregrine AFB was one of Transnapastain largest. The base was a joint operation between Nailiak and Transnapastain, staffed by both nations. It was home to 10 Transnapastani Fighter and Interceptor squadrons, a wing of bombers, 4 flights of surveillance aircraft, and command and control VTOL’s.

In the bases primary control tower, a massive 90-story structure, also housing administrative offices for base and DNFAC command. The top floor was given over entirely to command and control. Here, technicians sat around the circular room, at monitoring stations, tracking air pattern movements, coordinating DNFAC patrols, guiding aircraft in for a landing, assigning out-bound vectors to launching craft. In the center of it all, on a raised dais, a massive holoprojector displayed the entire Seabelt region in real-time, tracking all air movement for thousands of miles.

Most of the people here were Transnapastani Air Fleet officers. Dressed in their blue duty uniforms. The uniform consisted of a light blue shirt with dark blue pants, glossy black boots, and Blue officer caps with a silver Transnapastani Eagle on it, as well as thier rnak insgina. A white armband imprinted with the Transnapastani Eagle, wrapped around their right arm. All of them carried service pistols. The SP’s in the room, Nailiak Marines, dressed in jungle combat BDU's, were armed with M-8A1 rifles.

Rear Admiral Bishop sat, around a small conference table, just below the dais, with her senior staff. Discussing various points of concern for the day, all in all, a routine day.

“Ma’am?” asked a young Lieutenant, as she stood at attention at the opposite end of the table, her dark hair pulled into a pony tail falling to the middle of her back, her blue officers cap sitting tightly on her head.

“At ease, Lieutenant Evanus, what is it?” said Bishop

“Ma’am,” started Evanus, as she assumed the at ease position, “We have received confirmation, the ITD vessels ferrying the patrol boats will be here within the hour.” She reported

“Thank you, Evanus, dismissed” replied Bishop

Evaus stiffened, saluted, spun on her heels, and marched back to her post.

ooc: its ok, they should be arriving by now anyways.

ic:

On board the lead transport ship awaited Rear Admiral Grueber, he looked out on the sea and waited patiently for the boats to reach the Directorate docks. He had been instructed to drop off the ships and return home as quick as possible. The 45 PT boats each had a skeleton crew of 8, when 12 or more would be the standard number.

On the horizon, the vague shapes of the Directorate islands could be seen. Grueber smiled, his task was nearing completion. He always wished to have his homeland increase its friendship with The Directorate, now was his chance to help that friendship along.

Sailor: "Admiral, we are nearing the docks of Spark Island. We should arrive in roughly 1 hour, if we keep our present course and speed."

Grueber: "Yes, I see. You are dismissed to you post. I will stay here. Inform the other boats to accept all Directorate hails and radio signals."

OOC = Ah. 2070? If it's happening 70 years in the future, I have no reason to be upset by this. You can disregard my IC post then; I'll be ignoring this. I did wonder how you were going to achieve all that in the first place...

The Imperial Japanese Empire of Tokarev (OOC: Forum error prevents me from accessing forums, Japannese Islands is my clone account representing me) is based in the Pacific, and is heavily reliant on international trade to support our economy. This plan hurts us, as it decimates trade by reducing imports and exports and making it take longer and cost more to acquire imports or reach foreign markets.

Therefore, we condemn this plan, and any ships waving the flag of Tokarev will not be boarded, stopped, or harried in any way.

OOC: This isn't dead, but I've been REALLY busy lately. I'll try to get something posted here to launch the tours, but I can't give an ETA. Sorry about this, people, but school and work are KILLING me.

Hey, don't worry about it. I've got school and work as well. Take your time.