NationStates Jolt Archive

Note: since the old thread got mired in OOC comments (not that any were not necessary), I've decided to create an IC thread for the RP. That way, we can have the necessary issues discussed- like the map- without it disrupting the flow of the thread in any way. So, from now on, any OOC issues will be resolved in the other thread and strictly IC developments will play out here.

Thanks.

The radio crackled with static everytime someone tried to radio in to the main cruiser. General Thomas began to wonder more and more if this was a horrible idea. All of a sudden, he got a radio transmission that came through perfectly clear.

"General?"
"Yes, who is this?"
"This is the Columbus 3 launch. We're transmitting from a building believe it or not."
"Have you been captured?" Thomas knew this was a bad idea. He didn't want to lose any of his men, apart from the fact that it could be a diplomatic nightmare.
"No sir, actually, we've found an abandoned settlement. There are a bunch of structures here, all the basic stuff needed, but it's slightly overgrown. I'm pretty sure it's abandoned because there's no one around and unless they like their structures leafy, these buildings haven't been used in awhile. From what we've found it seems this place was once called Holy Panooly. What do you think General?"
"That's great, I think everyone's pretty tired of sealife, we'll move right in. What are your bearings?"

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

A day later the Axarian ships moved toward the newly discovered settlement. Amphibious launches came to and from the military cruisers and the cruise liners all day. Finally the ships were virtually emptied of their cargo and people.
General Thomas gave a speech later that day. "Welcome fellow Axarians to our new land! This is a great new oppurtunity for us, and I know that if we all work together, we will prosper! Welcome to the settlement of Jarrow!" With that the tattered Holy Panooly flag was brought down and replaced with the flag of Axario. It was official, Axario now had claim in the new land in the form of the city of Jarrow.

-late tag. Could you PM me about location of Resources on the Continent and what not?

The Dominion of New Kern is pleased to announce the opening of several small commercial airports in the newly annexed areas in the former colony of Bennetone. This will hopefully substantially ease some of the difficulties colonists and corporations have in bringing in people, mail and supplies into the wilderness areas. Although these are open to the public, these are still rather primitive airfields and aircraft should be durable and be flown by experienced bush pilots as navigation aids throughout the region are still seriously limited.

The Dominion Ministry of Parks and Wildlife also announces that a vast 20 million acre section of land near the border with Bonnstock has been set aside as a protected sanctuary for Mammoth, Bison and Irish Elk, as well as for the predators that hunt them. Public access to this preserve is severely limited and special permits are required for access.

tag Morathania

tag Kazaki

Governer Edward Reagen. A British-Rosian, Executive Power of The Protectorate of New Roska. New Roska has been quiet, developing itself and the like. Their ground forces equal to 80,000. Their navy is an entire Rosian fleet. And they had a small air force. Now, Edwards has been tracking down of all the colonies being established. So... what to do? Establish embassies! But first, patrol...

New Roska Military International. The airbase for the New Roskanese air force. Edward wanted some military intelligence. So how better then to send three RF-1s, which were only F-18s renamed, on patrol? This is what he did.

Woosh! Woosh! Woosh! Said the RF-1s as they sped out. They were armed with standard weapons. Four sidewinders and one 500 pound bomb. The New Roskanese Government didn't want an incident, but if there was, at least they'd be ready.

The second thing he'd do is send a telegram to Victoria/NATO members with colonies here. The telegram was sent and followed:

To: NATO/Victoria Colonies/Protectorates
From: Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

I want to hold a meeting in my house. I have the approval from President Sergei to start an alliance called the "Confederation of Manium". I'm sure that this alliance will help us establish a bigger foot hold on the continent. If you are interested, fly over to New Roska. If not, your loss. But I highly recommend you come.
-Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

And now he waits...

((OOC: Basically, there are three planes flying around. Anyone can RP spotting them, but I prefer the new colonies spotting them. And the telegram was only sent to NATO/Victoria members. It was encrypted too so... there. And about time too!))

ooc: Is there any land left?

tag

To: NATO/Victoria Colonies/Protectorates
From: Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

I want to hold a meeting in my house. I have the approval from President Sergei to start an alliance called the "Confederation of Manium". I'm sure that this alliance will help us establish a bigger foot hold on the continent. If you are interested, fly over to New Roska. If not, your loss. But I highly recommend you come.
-Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

To: Governor Edward Reagan
New Roska
From: Calvin Phillips
Governor General, Branwyn Colony
Subject: Meeting

Due to the current instability of our colony's government as a result of an ongoing rebellion (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=351909), Governor John Janson and the members of his government will be unable to attend the meeting. Perhaps if the Sarzonian and allied military forces are able to put an end to the rebellion, we could send representatives or join the Confederation so long as Branwyn retains whatever soverignty it currently enjoys.

"...and with this signature I hereby announce the creation of the Greater Colonial Collective of McClellen" the Hamptonian Interm Interior Minister, James Forrani, signed the Declaration of Collectivization. The National Assembly of McClellen erupted in applause.

The creation of the Colonial Collective of Greater McClellen was the brainchild of Crown Prince Louis Cessar. The Confederacy of McClellen would become a semi-autonomous republic and, more imporantly, McClellen would now be in charge of administrating the Southern Military Colonies. It was always the fear of the Grand Duke and the Interior Ministry that left to its own devices, the Defense Ministry would turn the SMC into a quasi-miltiary state outside of the control of civilian government. The McClellenians, while losing some independence, gained nomial control over the vast swaths of land known as the SMC. The SMC and the Confederacy would each have their own local governments with the "Greater Colonial Collective of McClellen" acting as the federal body.

McClellen would still be able to plot its own course, it would be responsible for all domestic matters and for intra-Manium affairs. Hamptonshire would be responsible for McClellen's foreign affairs and would also provide McClellen with hundreds of thousands of military personnel from the Royal Armed Forces. As long as McClellen stayed on a peaceful path and didn't rock the boat, it would enjoy complete self-determination. If it abused the power it was given, all hell could break loose.

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

To: Governer Edward Reagan; New Roska
From: Vice President Hatim Abdul-Matin, Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Greater Colonial Collective of McClellen
Subject: Meeting

The Governments of the Confederacy of McClellen and of the Southern Military Colonies, as manifest in the Government of the Greater Colonial Collective of McClellen will send delegates to this meeting. While we have concerns, namely if this proposed alliance would create a Confederal Super-State, McClellen will participate in this meeting.

I will attend this meeting as the representative of the Confederacy of McClellen and of the Greater Collective, Field Marshal David Marshal will attend this meeting as the representative of the Southern Military Colonies.

May unity, peace, and prosperity light the future.

To: Governer Edward Reagan; New Roska
From: Vice President Hatim Abdul-Matin, Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Greater Colonial Collective of McClellen
Subject: Meeting

The Governments of the Confederacy of McClellen and of the Southern Military Colonies, as manifest in the Government of the Greater Colonial Collective of McClellen will send delegates to this meeting. While we have concerns, namely if this proposed alliance would create a Confederal Super-State, McClellen will participate in this meeting.

I will attend this meeting as the representative of the Confederacy of McClellen and of the Greater Collective, Field Marshal David Marshal will attend this meeting as the representative of the Southern Military Colonies.

May unity, peace, and prosperity light the future.

To: The Greater Colonial Collective of McClellan
From: Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

My friend, it will not be a super state. It will just bid us all under an alliance such as NATO or Victoria. The only reason it is called the Confederacy of Manium is because it sounds nice. Rosians always had a thing for style. Anyway, expect NATO/Victoria members to attend if they accept. We need a foothold on Maniumian politics. God bless.
-Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

((OOC: Must, invade, Red Tidian colony O_O))

The Imperator Augustin Valteen I appeared on TV for a short announcment.

"The colony of New Nycton has become a strain on the Empire's budget. Taxes are not equaling the cost to sustain the project. This is why, the eastern part of New Nycton will be split between 2 indapendant states, under a loose Nycton control. The two new nations of North Augustin and South Augustin will be ruled as the same government type as Nycton, with a Imperator and a Imperial Senate, being eachother's check and balance. The Imperator is not yet decided for each country. The actual city of New Nycton will be a self-sustainable state, with a loose Nycton control with virtual indapendance. The west has a smaller population than the east, and not yet ready for indapendance. As this persist as a problem, we will be giving the western New Nycton to her ally Island of Rose. When the government of Rose believes the territory is ready, she will be a indapendat state(s) modeled under whatever government style Rose wishes. The colony of Donathatopia, one of the most fortified chokepoints on Earth has been ordered to cease all expansion. The Marine Expeditionary force will be withdrawn back to Nycton. One single army legion will remain to guard the mouth of the canal. Strength and Honor for the glory of Nycton. Thank You"

The Imperator walked off center stage in his press conferance room at the Imperial Palace. This was a major step for the freedom in the region.

The Imperator Augustin Valteen I appeared on TV for a short announcment.

"The colony of New Nycton has become a strain on the Empire's budget. Taxes are not equaling the cost to sustain the project. This is why, the eastern part of New Nycton will be split between 2 indapendant states, under a loose Nycton control. The two new nations of North Augustin and South Augustin will be ruled as the same government type as Nycton, with a Imperator and a Imperial Senate, being eachother's check and balance. The Imperator is not yet decided for each country. The actual city of New Nycton will be a self-sustainable state, with a loose Nycton control with virtual indapendance. The west has a smaller population than the east, and not yet ready for indapendance. As this persist as a problem, we will be giving the western New Nycton to her ally Island of Rose. When the government of Rose believes the territory is ready, she will be a indapendat state(s) modeled under whatever government style Rose wishes. The colony of Donathatopia, one of the most fortified chokepoints on Earth has been ordered to cease all expansion. The Marine Expeditionary force will be withdrawn back to Nycton. One single army legion will remain to guard the mouth of the canal. Strength and Honor for the glory of Nycton. Thank You"

The Imperator walked off center stage in his press conferance room at the Imperial Palace. This was a major step for the freedom in the region.

Official Statement from The Proletariat Commonwealth of The Island of Rose:

We gladly receive western New Nycton. As my first act, I will grant Western New Nycton Protectorate status. They will be taxed a small amount and must trade only with the Island's trade partners. But in return, we shall provide military protection and will be able to run themselves. Western New Nycton may run their Government as they want, socialist, imperial, whatever. I will also begin to resupply the Western New Nycton army with Rosian weaponry. We plan to have a small army of 80,000 men as a home guard. And if they decide, they can adopt the name of New Eltengrad. With an existing city in the area as the capital, which will be called New Eltengrad City. Of course, the citizens must vote on this. Thank you and God bless.
-President Sergei Ilyanov of The Island of Rose

* * *

To: North and South Augustin
From: Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

I want to hold a meeting in my house. I have the approval from President Sergei to start an alliance called the "Confederation of Manium". I'm sure that
this alliance will help us establish a bigger foot hold on the continent. If you are interested, fly over to New Roska. If not, your loss. But I highly recommend you come.
-Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

((OOC: Nycton, you wanted in on this didn't you? And Nycton, RP the Western Nycton place. It'd be more interesting if you did.))

Could I claim some of the land on the new Continent

(OOC: Yes, but as I owned a large portion and lost some interest in this thread, I wanted some one else to control some land. I have about 30,000 troops on Manium, including the very strategic canal to the sea, which is currently open to everyone. What is your e-mail RomeW? I would like to send you a updated map.)

The Governor of all Nycton posessions in Manium, Airmarshal Vlatslev has glady accepted the invitation. We will meet Governer Reagan at the time of the meeting.

(OOC: Yes, but as I owned a large portion and lost some interest in this thread, I wanted some one else to control some land. I have about 30,000 troops on Manium, including the very strategic canal to the sea, which is currently open to everyone. What is your e-mail RomeW? I would like to send you a updated map.)

The Governor of all Nycton posessions in Manium, Airmarshal Vlatslev has glady accepted the invitation. We will meet Governer Reagan at the time of the meeting.

To Airmarshal Vlatslev-From Governer Edward Reagan:

Excellent. You will know when it starts. But keep it hush hush.
-Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

((OOC: Hm, Nycton can I see where you western colony is? Put it on the thread =/ and can somebody respond to the RF-1s?! ))

To Airmarshal Vlatslev-From Governer Edward Reagan:

Excellent. You will know when it starts. But keep it hush hush.
-Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

((OOC: Hm, Nycton can I see where you western colony is? Put it on the thread =/ and can somebody respond to the RF-1s?! ))

((OOC: I've already tried to upload it twice, it has errors for some reason.))

On a further note, the Imperial Senate is withdrawling the fleet off the coast of Donathatopia to Nycton homeland waters.

Press Release from New Shiron Institute of Science and Technology

"The Institute is requesting permission from the nations and colonies of Manium to conduct field research with the assistance of any government interested toward the reintroduction of rare or extinct megafauna. New breakthroughs have allowed us to clone an extinct type of feathered tabby cat and the possiblities of cloning different types of bison, mammoths and other large herbevores for the production of meat and natural fibers could revolutionize agriculture on Manium and elsewhere."

ooc
had the issue of cloning extinct animals and so according to the results apparently I can do that now (never mind that we can't do that yet in the real world, but hey, sounds like fun to me)

"... and we should be going forward with manned flights within the week."
An aide walked in, knocking on the door as she did so. "Your pardon, Colonel, Chief Scientist, but there is an invitation from the Rosians."
"Are they threatening to nuke us again?"
"No, my Colonel. Something about a new organization."
"I see."
"They want a representative."
"I see." He considered. "Major Thomas Kettledrink is on the short list. Send him."
"Yes, my Colonel."

Where is the map for this?

Press Release from New Shiron Institute of Science and Technology

"The Institute is requesting permission from the nations and colonies of Manium to conduct field research with the assistance of any government interested toward the reintroduction of rare or extinct megafauna. New breakthroughs have allowed us to clone an extinct type of feathered tabby cat and the possiblities of cloning different types of bison, mammoths and other large herbevores for the production of meat and natural fibers could revolutionize agriculture on Manium and elsewhere."

ooc
had the issue of cloning extinct animals and so according to the results apparently I can do that now (never mind that we can't do that yet in the real world, but hey, sounds like fun to me)

Diplomatic Missive from Vastiva

There will be no breeching of Vastivan borders without invitation.

Our scientists will forward whatever biological samples are requested.

We do note our colony is infes... inhabited with a cloned species of tabu nekku which was not common in the current era, and a species adapted to this land.

Colonel Fiyaad Shamshan
Commander, 3rd Vastivan Expeditionary Army
Humble Servant of His Magnificence, the Sultan of Vastiva

TO:Governer Edward Reagan; New Roska
From: Governor George Menzies, Vandalia
We accept your proposal and would love to be a part of this new
confederation. Since this is of the utmost importance to Vandalia I, Governor
Menzies, we go to this conference personally. We hope that this
confederation with further improve the situation on Manium and make us
stronger allies.

To: New Shiron Institute of Science and Technology
From: Calvin Phillips
Governor General, Branwyn Colony
Subject: Entrance into Branwyn

Due to the state of war that exists between Branwynian rebels and the Sarzonian military, entrance into the colony is not recommended. In addition, such an entry would be viewed unfavorably by the Sarzonian government. Please request whatever samples you would need and we would forward them to you at the earliest opportunity.

((OOC: Every NATO/Victoria member with a colony here replied right? So I can start a different thread for the meeting?))

OOC: I hate to put an OOC note here, but I feel like I have to to clear up a few things.

First of all, this is strictly an IC thread, so only people who have territory on and/or operations concerning Manium can post in this thread. If you want to get involved with Manium, post first in the OOC thread ("A new continent is discovered- Open colonial RP", where you'll find the map) with regards to your role and if it's accepted you'll be able to post in this thread. Territory is limited but available- go to the OOC thread for more information.

Thanks.

(PS- please ask any questions relating to this thread or this post in the OOC thread so as not to disrupt the IC thread)

The Roman Free Press, October 20, 2004

Redomius retains power in colonial elections

CAESARIA-MANIUM- Giorgius Redomius retained the title of Governor of Romanus Eropidus with a massive landslide victory in last weekend's general Roman elections. Redomius won over 94% of the ballot, with no other candidate getting even close to 1%.

"I am estatic," said Redomius. "The rate at which our colony has grown has been phenomenal, and I could not have done it without the Roman people. Thank you for your support and I look forward to continuing the growth of the colony."

With his victory, Redomius gets to serve on the Roman Imperial Council headed by the new Emperor Rodin Hartian, who handily defeated incumbent Paul XII over the weekend. One of Redomius' goals is to increase autonomy within the Empire, maybe even hinting at independence. Hartian says he will listen to Redomius and will entertain plans for Romanus Eropidus' independence.

bump

“Is all in readiness?”
“Alpha panel, all lights green, all stations report ready.”
“ETL launch platform, all lights green, all stations report ready.”

As the several technicians began reporting in, Dr Nebiat Berhe clicked on his headseat.
“This is ground control to Major Lederer. Status report.”

Far above the launch pad, Vastiva’s first astronaut clicked on his T-MCOD panel. “Lederer to ground control, all lights are green, all systems go.”
“How’s the stomach, Major?”
“Butterflies as usual, Doc. Historical moment and all.”
“~laughter~ Think of it as any other flight you’ve been on, Major.”
“A bit further then most I’ve gone on, Doc. How’s the old man handling it?”
“Fussing. You know him.”
“Yep. I won’t let him down.”
“Just come back in one piece. We’ll call it a success.”
“~laughter~ Will do, Doc. Capsule out.”

Outside, a series of klaxons began to bellow. Those nearby found shelter – those at a distance watched with interest.

Far away, two sets of switches were turned, cutting primary and auxiliary power from the reactors to anything but the launch site. Enormous UPS batteries began to bleed charge to satisfy colonial need.

Anyone who did not know of the launch would not have noticed the switchover – Sisu Arshu’s power grid had grown quite sophisticated in the last twenty launches.

“T minus two minutes and counting. All personnel report to safe areas. This is not a drill. We are T minus two minutes to launch.”
“Primary ignition of ETL launch system in five… four… three…”

Underneath the silver pillar, warning lights came on; pulses of energy began to run from the platforms several projectors to the rockets engines.

“Ground Control to Capsule. Commence final cross check.”
“Capsule to Ground Control. Check.”

“All systems report go.”
“Final checks complete, all systems are go.”
“Lift off sequence commencing. T minus ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five.”

“Ground Control to Capsule. Bon Voyage.”

“Three. Two. One. Ignition.”

Once again the Vastivan Space Administration’s vehicle leapt off the launch pad like a bottle rocket, leaving behind a cloud of flames and heat.

kiwipeso would like to offer spaceflight trips from our base, our prices are reasonable and our craft are reliable.

suborbital flight to other nations for G¢ 500 per person, orbital flight from G¢ 1 000 per person, spacestation hotel trips from G¢ 1 500 per night, moon trips from G¢ 10 000 per week, space mission contracts from G¢ 50 000 per day to G¢ 200 000 for military missions per day.

We hope to have business with you soon and look forward to sending you to the sky above.

The Draganovian government is announceing that we are sending troops in to claim a medium size claim of the continent. we will be using this land for top secret military weapons tests and as a base for our military personnel.


Draganovian DOD.

"... and put an OVERSIGHT sat over the Draganovian claim, one of the new ones."
"Yes, sir!"


OOC: If you're going to announce it....

OOC: Well I’m finally able to sit down and do some writing. It has been a bit but I’m still working on the brewing of my epidemic

IC:

Red stood leaning against the archway of his hut. The virus had begun to run incredibly rampant in the five city area. It was that reason that had pushed him to this. Some would call red a monster for what he was doing right this second, others would have their mouths too full with bile to speak. Scribbling another note into his PDA Red watched his mastery at work, it was his art as well as his gift. Red didn’t measure the cost in humanity, he measured it in numbers. He didn’t forsake morality, he served the greater good. As far as read was concerned this was a fair trade, the lives of all one hundred twenty seven natives for the millions in the colony. It was simply math in his mind, he was up a couple million less one twenty seven and there was no writhing, choking, dieing, vomiting, crying, and rolling around in a seething agony. There were only results.

Earlier Red had discovered certain unique qualities in these indigenous people. Every race had them, the difficult part was determining which unique genetic marker did what. Red knew one of the unique markers in this tribe had to regulate the production of that protein to combat the virus, so he did what any good scientist would do, the process of elimination. A specialist in retro viral engineering Red was able to create several different viruses that attacked the specific marker in the victim’s genetic code. The process was nearly always fatal, but for a brief time the victim existed perfectly, but without the gene in question. It was Red’s plan to simply disable each individual gene to test for the immunity, the person who developed symptoms of the virus was the person who had their immunity deactivated, and then Red could work on a cure.

But something that Red had not expected happed, they all died symptom free. Now that the last one of the tribe had stopped twitching Red walked into the sea of death, casually scribbling on his PDA. Slipping the stylus back into its holder he put the PDA into its holster. Removing a small recording device he activated it looking around. In a calm, though mildly annoyed voice, he spoke.
“Immunity not genetic. Must examine all the cadavers to determine results.” Looking up at a noise Red could see the bookworm weeping in a pile of the dead. Wrinkling his nose at the smaller man he spat his distain,
”Grow a pair of balls, help me with this body.”

"Cygnus to High Top. All natives terminal. They're hauling around bodies now."
"Their land, their rules, Cygnus. Orders are to observe and record."
"Confirmed, High Top. Downloading."
"Received, Cygnus."

"What the hell are they doing down there?"
"As long as it's down there and not up here, I don't care much. I think he'll get back his pen and rangefinder though."
"You know what? You're really morbid in your humor."
"Was I supposed to be humorous?"

(pause)

"We could, yanno, pop him."
"Why?"
"Instant karma."
"Har har."

(pause)

"They're moving the bodies."
"We could shoot them both and get that equipment, find out what they're doing?"
"How about I shoot you because you won't shut the fuck up? Do I look like an officer? Do you look like an officer? Do you want to be an officer? Then shut up and let the people with brass on their uniforms make the decisions."

(pause)

"Want some coffee?"
"Yeah, sure."

OOC: Said it before, will say it again. Information between Cygnus and High Top is by fiber optic land line, subterranian. As such, it can't be intercepted. Thank you for your time.

OOC: Before anyone spazs this is a small time paper that prints no more than 50,000 copies. Explain yourself before you use this as info

Colonial Times

The state militia was on the march today, but not where you’d expect it. If you’re a part of the 54% of the colonists that live near the canal in the area known as ‘The Five City Area’ (5CA) you know what I’m talking about already. Today the magline between New Borderton and 5CA was seized by the state militia. Striking dissidents with rifle butts and shouting legislation just passed yesterday they’re enforcing a martial law that our sole executive member authorized. The militia has also set up camps on the docks and commandeered the airport.

With no legitimate way in or out of 5CA many colonists have taken to driving their SUVs and trucks east to try and escape the militia, only to find that the terrain is sandbagged and guarded or an impassable wetland.

Now with no internet or phone many colonists are wondering how long before the feds notice. It’s a sad day but right now this reporter is praying for big government.

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

“Sir you can’t keep the Five City Area under lockdown forever, someone will notice, and the longer you keep it locked down the harder it will be to explain.” The governor looked up at his aide with bloodshot eyes and a long face.
“Have you seen the latest?”
“Why, no sir I haven’t.”
“If I keep the area locked down for a month the disease will burn itself out.” The aide’s head snapped to the side at that. His eyes wild he choose his words laboriously.
“What does that mean sir?”
“It means that give it a month and the Area will be uninhabited again, this time to be resettled by people who will be kept under close supervision to prevent further infections.”

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

Red was puzzled, the protein existed in the body after death. Still repelling the virus this mystery protein was becoming more and more elusive to Red. Running the centrifuge again he removed the uppermost precipitate to be left with the pure protein. Well into the spectrometre with you, perhaps your makeup will tell me something about your origin.

At last Major Eric Johnson thought the Central government had organised a flotila of settlers to further inhabit the colony of Citrius-Vastiva.
The 10,000 originaly present had been looked after by the 1st Light Foot Regiment for the last six weeks,with the reinforcements promised almost arived Major Johnson had decided to explore past the feeble borders of the colony mustly to the North.

"Right boys move out" was the call everyone had been waiting for and as the sound of 30 Hummers roared into life and a cloud of smoke billowed into the air the mission had begun.

Colonial Times

Due to a breech in legislation by this publication it will be shut down. The state has commandeered the resources of the Colonial Times and will use it to dispense needed information. We do hereby retract any negative statements we might’ve made as they were of an inflammatory nature and not productive to our situation in a time of emergency. We thank you for your time and patience with our misprint.
-----------------------

The man with the M-16 in fatigues looked over the paper. Nodding he spoke gruffly through his bandana.
“Good now send it for publication.” The tired looking man in a suit took his hand from his fresh welt on his forehead, coincidently shaped like the inverse of a rifle butt. Sending the paper down to the publication room he turned back to the man looming over him.
“May I leave now?”
“Nope.” He was swift. A silenced sidearm appeared from his combat vest and clicked several times. The welt was now the better looking mar on the businessman’s head as several 9mm rounds had left gaping holes bordered by shattered flecks of white skull and red stained grey matter. Turning to walk away the man in fatigues began to whistle a happy tune.
---------------------------------

Red looked at the protein again after rubbing his eyes. Amazing, if I didn’t know better I’d say that the protein was an ingested fungus. Standing to stretch the crick out of his back Red smiled to himself, perhaps the deaths of the tribesmen were not needed. Walking into the village he looked around for his book worm. Finding him saying last rites over a small mound red looked at him with contempt.
“What the hell are you doing?” Ignoring Red the bookworm continued until he’d finished. Crossing himself he stood to look at Red, his eyes brimmed with irritation. He had been crying.
“I’m trying to do right by these people.”
“O-kay. Where did the natives get food?”
“What?”
“What did the natives eat, you know, food.”
“Huh?” Flailing his arms above him Red swore at the simp of a man.
“Fuck are you good for anything at all? You were supposed to learn about the subjects, and I want to know what they ate.” The bookworm quaked, with rage or fear it is hard to say. But quaking heavily and with a wavering voice he looked up into Red’s face.
“They had a field of crops.”
“No shit Sherlock I can see that. What were they growing to eat?”
“Corn, potatoes, squash, peas, tomatoes.”
“Hmm, anything else? Deserts what?”
“They hunted and foraged as well.”
“Foraged? What did they forage?”
“Nuts, berries, seeds, mushrooms, an interesting sweet grass, som…”
“What?”
“Yes sweet grass its very good. They used it both as a snack and for rope making. You see you chew it to toughen it up and it exudes a sweet taste. Then you weave..”
“No the mushrooms, where did they get those?”
“Oh, umm. South from here, near the border.”
“Is that going to cause a problem?”
“I don’t think, the Vastivians didn’t seem to bug the natives too much.”
“Get in the Hummer we’re leaving in about five.”

OCC: Vastiva they will be coming within approximately 1100-800m from your border. Should you feel the need to open fire I’d like Red to survive for the purposes of the RP. Thanks.

To: All Potential Members of The Confederacy of Manium
From: Ministry of Colonial Affairs, Praeton

We are escatic at the news of a colonial alliance between our great nations.
We believe that this will bring our nations together in a way that has not
happened before, and we also believe that it will help strength economic and
trade bonds between our countries. We are, however, pleased to hear that
the Confederation of Manium will have no official link with either Victoria or
NATO. The purpose of this alliance is not, we believe, to gain external
alliances, but to partially 'collectivise' several of the colonies of Manium
through trade and mutual defence agreements.

To: RomeW
From: Ministry of Colonial Affairs, Ministry of Defence; Praeton
Ministry of Defence; Neo-Praeton

The Democratic Imperium and her colony, Neo-Praetonia, are extremely
interested in aquiring a small stretch of land upon which to site a naval base
with access to the inland sea to the North of your colony. Such a base, if
built, would not house a large number of troops and so would not pose a
threat to your national sovereignty. The base would, however, be legally
Praetonian land, as would territorial waters directly in front of the base, and
any attempt to remove us would be construed as an act of war. If you can
agree to these terms, then we are willing to pay a most significant sum of
money. We hope that even if you do not find these terms acceptable that
you are at least willing to negotiate.

Official Communique:

To: Neo-Praeton
From: Giorgious Redomius, Governor Romanus Eropidus
Re: Inland Base

We would be quite interested in the offer, and we would also like to see if we could establish an agreement whereby we would share the north inland sea equally. We would also be interested in creating stronger overall ties with our two colonies.

(from VNN channel 722 evening broadcast)

... chicken wings.

In other news, Major Wilhelm Lederer became Vastiva's first official astronaut, completing twenty orbits of our fair planet before re-entry and recovery a mere 30 nautical miles from the planned landing site. Recovery helicopter crew reported the Major in excellent spirits following his four day expedition into space.

VSA officials announced ecards and email are available to the major in his containment area, for the address and live webcam broadcasts (at a slight fee), please see our website.

In other news, Iron Chef...

To: Giorgious Redomius, Governor Romanus Eropidus
From: Ministry of Colonial Affairs, Ministry of Defence; Praeton
Ministry of Defence; Neo-Praeton

Thankyou for taking such interest in our offer. If you can officially authorise
our request, then our construction teams can move in almost right away. We
must, however, note that the site must be quite large, as aswell as the
actual port and barracks, we will also need to construct a shipyard on-site in
order to better mantain and refit Imperial Naval forces operating in the area.

As for your offer of equally sharing the inland sea; as far as we know the
majority of the sea is in international waters, and there are other nations and
colonies which have interests in the waters. Still, we await a more detailed
proposal with great interest.

OOC: It would be interesting if our two navies basically annexed the inland sea except for a small piece of water around each of the other colonies (ie their existing territorial waters).

To: Neo-Praeton
From: Giorgius Redomius, Governor of Romanus Eropiudus
Re: Inland Sea

What we can provide you for now is to sell our little enclave along the BitingRealitan coast (OOC: the blue dot that's in BitingReality's territory), as we have not been able to do much with that land. We will sell it to you on the condition that Roman sovereignty, shipping and any form of Roman national and commercial interests are not interfered with in any way, and as such, we will grant your nation the same conditions. In addition to this, we would like to offer your ships free passage within Roman territorial waters provided that we are allowed the same passage in your waters, under the stipulation that our nations' sovereignties and interests are not abridged.

We are also interested in bringing in all the nations that border on the inland sea to a conference to strike a deal allowing all us to share the sea equally, as the issue may require attention in the near future.

OCC: Vastiva they will be coming within approximately 1100-800m from your border. Should you feel the need to open fire I’d like Red to survive for the purposes of the RP. Thanks.

OOC: No, but I feel the need to startle him a bit, so if this isn't completely out of line...

IC:
"Cygnus to High Top. Dorkface is on the move again, towards us again."
"Roger, Cygnus. Keep watch."

"I keep wanting to pop the little shit."
"Why? Their turf, their rules. No skin off our noses."
"They're coming closer again."

"Kee-rist man. Why not mount a brass band on that thing. Make less noise... rangefinder has him inside the five-hundred meter mark."
"Whoopie. How close can he get?"
"Real close. Then he'll find the fence, then Charlie will find him."
"Ain't we damn lucky."

"He's still coming."
"I know, I can hear him."
"Look at all the birds! Ah, if I only had my plinking rifle..."
"You'd make noise and give us away. Three hundred meters."
"Impressive bugger. Why does he keep stopping?"
"Bladder the size of a kidney bean."
"Har har. That's ten stops in a klick."
"Pinto bean?"
"How about you shut up about beans? Its nearly lunch and I don't want more beans."

"Cygnus to High Top. Dorkface is within three-zero-zero meters of border patrol zone."
"Understood, Cygnus. Fourth is preparing a warning. Be advised."
"Copy. What are you sending up for lunch?"
"MREs not good enough for you, Cygnus?"
"Hot food would be nice."
"Copy, Cygnus. We'll see about sending a runner."
"Thank you, High Top. Out."

"He's stopped."
"'bout damned time. I wonder what..."

SWOOSHHHhhhhhh.... SWOOOOSHHHHHhhhhhh..... SWOOOOSSSHHHhhhh....

Three rockets tore out of scrub on top of the mountains and burned their way up into the air. Nearly above Red and his hummer, they each burst with a cannon's retort.

Three parachutes deployed, one from each.

A single Starbolt Flare hung from the bottom of each one, emerald green against the cloudy sky. Slowly but surely, their parachutes allowed the flares a slow descent.

"Well... damn."
"Hey, look! The runners here!"
"Ok, you get lunch, I'll be here."

"Cap, you ain't gonna like this."
"Why?"
"They sent broccoli cassarole and three bean salad."

As the Convoy rumbled along Johnson could see that what was ahead was similar to what was behind the land was barren landscape.
Tussock grass was the dominant feature and that was of a dirty yellow colour.It was generally nestled on top of hillocks or in the creases and crevises surrounding them although lush grass was appearing in faint areas.

They had been ambling along for a couple of days now andthey had learnt more of the country side its terrain was starting to pick up an inclination and as they got over this the Major could see a lush fertile basin below.The wind was not a factor here it was a peaceful pocket and would be perfect for some form of produce.

"Peres i want you here now" yelled Johnson over the radio
"Yes sir"as Peres vehicle ambled up the slope he to could see the vastness of the valley below.
"I wont the men to setup a camp for tonight make sure there's a watch"
"Yes sir ill do it right away".

To: Giorgious Redomius, Governor Romanus Eropidus
From: Ministry of Colonial Affairs, Ministry of Defence; Praeton
Ministry of Defence; Neo-Praeton

We accept your most generous offer, and we too express interest in a
conference of all of the Inland Sea Powers. We believe that the sea, and tax
rights therefore, should be allocated to each colony depending on its power in
the region (this will be calculated based on naval presence and coastline
owned). We would also be interesting in inviting those nations which own
stretches of the canal that passes into the inland sea. We look forward to
further talks on this matter.

Today, Captain Stephan Peterson of the VSS Corbu picks up the first load of fruit from the joint colony.

Also, the VSS Capros, a Grisha V FFG, has joined the colonial shore patrol after her successful mission in Euroslavian waters.

To: Nova Hope, New Roska, McClellen and BitingReality
From: Girogius Redomius, Governor of Romanus Eropidus
Re: Mare Maiestas (OOC: what our nation calls the inland sea)

I am sending you this message because I want to organize a conference regarding the use of Mare Maiestas. Seeing how we are all established colonies, we believe it is imperative that we all agree on standards of useage for the sea so that we can all use it fairly and equally. We offer our capital city of Caesaria-Manium to house this conference, but the conference may be held anywhere you so choose.

Thank you.

“Do you think that this is a feint at getting information on the martial law?” The governor looked agitated and worried. He’d managed to completely silence the cities and keep the federal government unawares but there were questions about the complete communications silence in the cities. His most trusted advisor, a man almost twice his age, looked over his glasses at him.
“No, they would’ve made some other query than this. If they knew they wouldn’t risk contact with us, the possibility that we might send an infected delegate is too great.” The governor nodded affirmatively, enthused trying to calm his paranoia.
“Who should we send.”
“Me.”
“You? I need you guidance.” The advisor shook his head.
“We can’t fully brief another person and I’m the only one who knows all the details that might be spared currently. Besides, we know for a fact that I’ve not contracted the virus, we cannot risk a breech in containment.” The governor nodded, seeing the logic in the older man’s words.
“Fine. Then I leave this in your hands, I trust you’ll respond appropriately?” The wizened advisor smoothed some of his grey mop that fell out of place with his nod to the affirmative.
“I’ll draft the response now.”
-------------------------------------

Official Response from the State government of Reedorrow
Attn Girogius Redomius; from the desk of Walter Porson:

Greetings;

I will be the one in attendance for this meet. All communication on this matter can be streamlines through me and I will make the appropriate and applicable decision makers aware. I’ve been authorized to request an itinerary for this meeting. While we are willing to participate Reedorrow is reluctant to sign into anything arbitrarily binding.

Waiting for your itinerary and looking forward to meeting the other colonial elites.
Walter Porson.

Red snapped to alert when the rockets were launched. Throwing himself to the ground and covering his ears the bookworm looked up, confused as to what was happening. When the rockets detonated the bookworm dropped to his ass. Red stood slowly, regarding the flares.
“WHAT WAS THAT?” the book worm shouted at the top of his lungs. Twirling about Red put his finger to his lips in a motion for silence.
“OKAY.” Red shrugged off the man’s incompetence with the knowledge that they would’ve been dead already should the Vastivians wished it. Picking his range finders from the hummer he scanned the countryside, this time in great detail. Knowing that there was a spotter somewhere Red knew what to look for. It took him some five minutes but the embedded guile was finally spotted. Lowering the range finder from his face he turned to the bookworm.
“We have enough samples and we’re not welcome any further.”
“WHAT?”
“The Vastivians have a border post.”
“A NIGHT CLUB? YEA, THE CLOSEST ONE WOULD BE IN NEW BORDERTON.” Red was going to lay into the guy but decided not to justify it with a response. Turning back to the Hummer he made the decision that nothing more was to be learned in the field, now he must sequester himself in his lab back in First Port.

Red snapped to alert when the rockets were launched. Throwing himself to the ground and covering his ears the bookworm looked up, confused as to what was happening. When the rockets detonated the bookworm dropped to his ass. Red stood slowly, regarding the flares.
“WHAT WAS THAT?” the book worm shouted at the top of his lungs. Twirling about Red put his finger to his lips in a motion for silence.
“OKAY.” Red shrugged off the man’s incompetence with the knowledge that they would’ve been dead already should the Vastivians wished it. Picking his range finders from the hummer he scanned the countryside, this time in great detail. Knowing that there was a spotter somewhere Red knew what to look for. It took him some five minutes but the embedded guile was finally spotted. Lowering the range finder from his face he turned to the bookworm.
“We have enough samples and we’re not welcome any further.”
“WHAT?”
“The Vastivians have a border post.”
“A NIGHT CLUB? YEA, THE CLOSEST ONE WOULD BE IN NEW BORDERTON.” Red was going to lay into the guy but decided not to justify it with a response. Turning back to the Hummer he made the decision that nothing more was to be learned in the field, now he must sequester himself in his lab back in First Port.

*spotted - one rocket artillery position*

"Well, he seems to have gotten the message."
"You'd need to be deaf, blind and stupid to miss it."
"Wonder what he's going to do out there."
"Who cares."

~crackle~ "High Top to Cygnus, spot those body positions?"
"Roger, High Top. Its on the feed."
"Where is our friend going?"
"Home, I'd guess."
"Roger that. Keep tabs on that."

Some distance away, all the goings on had gotten some interest - and to Vastiva, curiosity was a stimulant.

A four man team had been assembled, set up in NBC stealth gear, and would be setting out to find the bodies - and take samples - once Red and his counterpart were long gone.

Between the UV and IR scatter their gear provided - and the small number, and general cover of the area - it was hoped this particular excursion would not be noticed.

That Vastiva timed things to coincide with a rainstorm simply proved they were not against using the elements to prevent... watchers from above from spying on the effort.

Meanwhile Back at Little Rome the second largest city and 1st Harlesburg military base Citrius-Vastiva

"Commander Chavez Commander, get here quick we have a flotila vislible on the screen,it looks small."
"What Jenkins who could it be"?
"i dont know sir, Roberts check the log for any incoming vessels".

"Lieutenant Jenkins,Commander Chavez it could be the Vastivian Defence forces preforming an exercise they are due for one or the reinforcements and future colonists from Harlesburg."

"Wait i dont think its anything to be alarmed about weve got a second signal on the map its the HNS Resolution shes signaling a welcome".

"That means the first blimp should be the first pickup of fruit from the plantations which is perfect as we also requested cheese to exchange with the Vastivians prepare the crates for loading at Port Loacoon its perfect timing".

"Good work Jenkins,Roberts signal the Vastivians".

Official Response from the State government of Reedorrow
Attn Girogius Redomius; from the desk of Walter Porson:

Greetings;

I will be the one in attendance for this meet. All communication on this matter can be streamlines through me and I will make the appropriate and applicable decision makers aware. I’ve been authorized to request an itinerary for this meeting. While we are willing to participate Reedorrow is reluctant to sign into anything arbitrarily binding.

Waiting for your itinerary and looking forward to meeting the other colonial elites.
Walter Porson.

*************Official Communique*************



The purpose of the conference is to bring all of our leaders together to talk about sharing Mare Maiestas. We all have extensive interests in the sea and because of this I am interested in organizing the conference so that every nation will be able to meet its needs. We assure you Mr. Porson that this conference will not arbitrarily enforce standards- it will only enforce the terms that every last one of us agrees on, including your fine colony. We assure you that you will benefit from this conference.

Thank you.

Girogius Redomius

To: Girogius Redomius
From: Lord Protector Alan Smith, Colonial Collective of Greater McClellen

As the Head of State of the unified federal governments of McClellen and the Southern Military Colonies of Hamptonshire, I shall be attending this conference with the power to set policy for all three governments (Hamptonshire, McClellen, SMC) involved.

As the light turned into black and the stars came out from behind the veil of shadow the camp fires lit up the surrounding area of the temporary camp.
The exploration force under Major Eric Johnson had extended Harlesburg's borders by at least 42 kilometers by their reckoning.

"Peres how are the men?"

"Good sir, ive got A and B on patrol until 2200 when C Platoon takes over from B and A finishing at 0300 when E will take over."

"Good work soldier where will my tent be?"

"Ive got you in the Lager in the centre."

"Excellent whens dinner?"

"40 minutes away sir."

Very well dismissed oh send D out on Recon i want to know whats on the other side of that far ridge."

"Yes sir ill get Sergeant O'Rourke onto it"

Notation in Daily Logs

Recovered: Two bodies, native, mild decomposition. Nineteen samples of tissue and fluid (decomposing). Thirteen artifacts from native village.

Team recovered, no casualties. Fifteen day quarantine period in DEEPSTROKE begun without incident.

Samples forwarded in RED-6 to VSRA laboratories.

Little Rome Military Base

"Roberts prepare a message for Vastivian dignitaries."

"Yes sir"

To:Captain Stephan Peterson of the VSS Corbu
From:Commander Chavez Little Rome Military Base.

Greetings Friends.

Harlesburg sends its warmest welcomes to you.
VSS Corbu you are more than welcome to enter Laocoon Harbour and pick up the first yield from the Citrius plantation to the north.

The Harlesburg Naval Ship HNS Resolution is also preparing to dock.
It is droping off equipment,supplies and more colonists for future settlementss as well as more military units.

Reports just comming in also suggest a large order of Cheese assigned to your nation of Vastiva these will be unloaded immediatly.

Commander Chavez Little Rome Military Base

Little Rome Military Base

"Roberts prepare a message for Vastivian dignitaries."

"Yes sir"

To:Captain Stephan Peterson of the VSS Corbu
From:Commander Chavez Little Rome Military Base.

Greetings Friends.

Harlesburg sends its warmest welcomes to you.
VSS Corbu you are more than welcome to enter Laocoon Harbour and pick up the first yield from the Citrius plantation to the north.

The Harlesburg Naval Ship HNS Resolution is also preparing to dock.
It is droping off equipment,supplies and more colonists for future settlementss as well as more military units.

Reports just comming in also suggest a large order of Cheese assigned to your nation of Vastiva these will be unloaded immediatly.

Commander Chavez Little Rome Military Base

TO:Commander Chavez, Little Rome Military Base

VSS Corbu accepts your offer and will be docking within the hour. Please note, we are the lead ship of a thirty vessel convoy who should be catching up within the week.

I have a few cases of Jamaican Rum still aboard, would your people be interesting in sharing a toast to the success of the harvest?

Captain Stephan Peterson, VSS Corbu

From Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska-To Romanus Eripadus:

We will attend.
-Governer Edward Reagan of New Roska

((OOC: I plan to post here more soon :) ))

To: Giorgius Redomius

The BitingRealitans will be attending this conference.

-Governor Jesse Riemersma

OOC: This is "RomeW". It's just an updated version as I hated what my old nation had become.

IC: Giorgius Redomius was ecstatic over the response. "This is great! Everyone has accepted!"

Redomius then decided to set a time for the conference:


To: All Parties attending the Mare Maiestas Conference
From: Giorgius Redomius

The conference will begin in three days (OOC: Sunday, November 14, 2004 at 10PM EST) at our capital in Caesaria-Manium. Hope to see you all there

TO:Commander Chavez, Little Rome Military Base

VSS Corbu accepts your offer and will be docking within the hour. Please note, we are the lead ship of a thirty vessel convoy who should be catching up within the week.

I have a few cases of Jamaican Rum still aboard, would your people be interesting in sharing a toast to the success of the harvest?

Captain Stephan Peterson, VSS Corbu
To:Captain Stephan Peterson, VSS Corbu
From:Commander Chavez, Little Rome Military Base

This will be fine we were currently preparing a parade for the crew of HNS Resolution and with your arrival it will be even more grand.

Commander Chavez, Little Rome Military Base
In Honour Of Edward The Phoenix Duke De Harlesburg
Lord Of The Confederacy Of Harlesburg

As the conference hall opened, Girogius Redomius sat at the door in anticipation. The hall, Caesaria-Manium's largest convention hall, was designed to hold 5,000 people, but Redomius organized the meeting to take place in the hall's largest board room, fitted for ten people and with a snazzy, plasma-screen 70-inch TV where he hoped he'd show a graphic of the sea. From there he'd use the graphic to visually draw the borderlines on the sea, so that the delegates could see right before their eyes their proposals, allowing everyone to make informed choices. However, Redomius knew snazzy graphics was not going to win the day- compromise and fairness would. He hoped that with the response he got this would happen- all he had to do is wait.

(OOC: Conference is beginning. Just RP your arrival.)

As the conference hall opened, Girogius Redomius sat at the door in anticipation. The hall, Caesaria-Manium's largest convention hall, was designed to hold 5,000 people, but Redomius organized the meeting to take place in the hall's largest board room, fitted for ten people and with a snazzy, plasma-screen 70-inch TV where he hoped he'd show a graphic of the sea. From there he'd use the graphic to visually draw the borderlines on the sea, so that the delegates could see right before their eyes their proposals, allowing everyone to make informed choices. However, Redomius knew snazzy graphics was not going to win the day- compromise and fairness would. He hoped that with the response he got this would happen- all he had to do is wait.

(OOC: Conference is beginning. Just RP your arrival.)

[OOC: I would highly suggest making the Conference into a seperate thread. It may become a tad too confusing to run a conference in an open RP thread.]

[OOC: I would highly suggest making the Conference into a seperate thread. It may become a tad too confusing to run a conference in an open RP thread.]

OOC: Done. (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7490775#post7490775)

"Err Major we have just recieved a message from Home Base."

"What Peres give it here"


Major Eric Johnson your prescene is required back at Little Rome
Urgent Diplomatic Parade to be held

"Dammit man another display of pomp and splendor for the film reels back home,i wonder who its for this time.Peres hold off on any further expansions at this time but start building a permanent base ill get equipment and supplies to you shortly"

"Yes Sir"

Major Johnson got into a Hummer and with a small convoy of 3 others headed off for the military base at Little Rome.

"Is the launch pad ready?"
"Yes, Doctor."
"And the payload?"
"It will be in place by launch countdown."
"Excellent. An orbital platform will be a great asset."
"Yes, Doctor."

Jensen Morgan sat quietly at the Foxtrot, Caesaria-Manium's most popular bar. He mused about his situation (as he always did), he, being a Maniite and not a Roman, and wondering what good the Roman occupation brought.

"You know," said Morgan to the bartender, "I've been thinking about my lot in life, and why I have to be under 'Roman' rule when I'm not a Roman."

"I know...you've said this before," said the bartender, who has lost count about the amount of times he's had to listen to this speech.

"Yeah, but this time's different," said Morgan.

"They always are."

"No really. We all know that Girogius Redomius is considering gaining the independence of the colony...yet he can never get off his arse to do anything about it. Now he's in some puffed up conference about Mare Maiestas while us Maniites, who never asked for Roman occupation anyway, have to sit here while our land was taken from us from right under our noses."

"You know, you do have a state to call your own. I have said that to you before too."

"Yeah, but it's a pittance from what we once had. We use to have the entire Continent to us...now it's some dank shack of a territory off the coast so we can be controlled."

"Let me guess, you want to rebel, right?"

"Why yes I do!"

The bartender smirked. He knew that was coming. However, what would happen next startled him.

"Gentlemen of the bar!" Morgan said, raising his voice as he went along. "Tonight we end this oppression! We shall rise up as Maniites and take what is rightfully ours! End the oppression! Rise up against our Roman occupiers! We are Maniites and we will not be oppressed!"

Suddenly the crowd, mostly drunk and numbering about 500, all rose up and started chanting "Manium! Manium! Manium!" (OOC: The original name has fallen out the language because it is never used).

The bartender didn't know what to think. Morgan has attempted this kind of thing before, but never with this fire. He then ordered people to pick up the pool cue sticks and to march out with them, lighting the sticks on fire as the crowd left. Morgan was going rioting, emptying the bar as he left.

The bartender was flabbergasted. In mere minutes, the bar went from busy but quiet to the seeds of a rebellion. However for him and the rest of Caesaria-Manium, the worst was yet to come.

A small mousy man in the corner went to a pay phone, ostensibly to make a call.

He did not feed in any change, but instead placed a device over the mouthpiece and spoke rapidly in a flurry of languages.

Many miles away, in Sisu Arshu, an HSI telemax picked up the broadcast, translated it, and emailed a copy to the Intelligence Officer on Duty at Sisu Arshu Command Base. A second copy was encoded and sent to HSI HQ in Vastiva.

The crowd entered the main street incredibly rowdy, taking their cue sticks and burning anything in sight. They also began to throw stones at anyone in their path, as well as taking anything they could use as a weapon to smash up the stores along the street. Their target was Redomius, consigned to the Conference Hall at the far end of the city.

A few minutes later, the Caesaria-Manium police got wind of the proceedings, and immediately dispatched the Roman Special Unit (OOC: the Roman equivalent to the SWAT team). The RSU met the crowd and clashed for over an hour before eventually subduing and arresting the drunks, including Morgan.

"Major Johnson were glad youve arrived the Parade is just about to start"A pimply intern said

"Damn whats it for?"

"Its for a multipule of reasons one of them is the arrival of the Vastivian Transport ship Corbus coming to pickup the first harvest the other is for the new Governor,Governor James Ricketts."

What that Baffon he's the most incompetent man i ever met.
He sent many good men to their deaths in the suppresion of the Jerg conflict!"

"I am also right behind you, get up their onto that Podeum and salute the new Colonists,New Troops and the Commander of the Vastivian Ship and his Company."Bellowed a Commanding yet feeble Voice
Ricketts tried to be the part but he could only look the part and it was a poor attempt at that.

"well talk about this later Ricketts"Was Johnson's parting remark as he went up the steps.

"Mob breaks out in Caesaria-Manium"

CAESARIA-MANIUM, Romanus Eropidus (Roman Free Press)- A mob broke out in the wee hours of this morning in Caesaria-Manium, causing some panic before the Roman Special Unit was able to restore order.

The mob, mostly Maniite, was highly organized but all drunk and was led by a man who only called himself "The Liberator". The crowd repeatedly chanted "Independence! Independence!", possibly a reference to Romanus Eropidus' repeated claims for independence, doing so until the RSU managed to carry the last of the mob in their police escort van.

Later in the morning, the Roman Governor of Romanus Eropidus, Giorgius Redomius, issued a statement while on a break from the Mare Maiestas Conference. He called the incident "regrettable", and maintained that it provided further proof that Rome must look at the possibility of Maniite independence in the colony.

Roman Emperor Rodin Hartian echoed the same sentiments, saying that his government is currently researching the possibility for Romanus Eropidus, their colony on Manium, to gain independence, but doesn't have a timetable to complete that process. He says he may have to speed up the process given the events of the night before, but he also says doesn't want to "rush" the process.

Whatever happens, the events at the Foxtrot have dealt Rome a black eye, and it is up to Hartian to repair that.

Red had been working in his lab for a few days now. The governor had been very helpful in supplying him with a variety of equipment, most of it newer than he was qualified to operate. Red was a smart man though and the obstacles soon became springboards. Turning to one of his newer machines at the beckon of a hard musical chime Red looked at the print out. Chuckling he brought out a pen and started to ink the page about important statistics. Noviets normally shunned paper. Finding it to be crude they preferred digital readouts, WI-FI compliance and PDAs. In fact a lot of these machines had to be modified to support a printer at Red’s request. Preferring a more simplistic method Red enjoyed the feel of working with paper it was, in his mind, the sign of a true academic to work with books and paper.

Turning back to his main desk he looked at his viral sample as it broke through the cell walls of yet another introduced specimen. Cocking his head slightly he paused to think. I think I have it now but it would require some more testing. I could continuously incubate cell samples and introduce the virus with the hopes that my cure works, but the process doesn’t meet the timetable. If I don’t find out something more about this virus I will be looking at the loss of the entire five city area. It is time for some drastic action. Turning to his phone he punched up the button for a line to his secretary in the next room.
“Miss, could you come in here for a moment.”
“Yes sir.” She sounded nervous and shaky. Word of what Red had done to the natives was beginning to circulate in the governor’s circle. While he was in no danger in being exposed to the general public Red figured these people knew what it took to get results. He’d figured wrong obviously as they now viewed him with distrust and in some cases disgust.

The woman walked in and opened her mouth to shriek. Red had a gun leveled at the door. Before she could react the gun made a *FOOM* noise. Looking down at her chest she let out a muffled groan. She was confused as she’d just apparently sprouted a small plume of feathers. She, for some reason, could quite comprehend what had just happened as the rooms began to swim around her. Looking up at Red with glassy eyes she was surprised to see that he’d crossed the room and was now holding her upright.
“Why, got, purple?”

Red smiled at the young lady as the tranquilizer ran its course. Hoisting her into a stretcher he began to fasten the mental patient restraints and ‘bag her’. Once she was secure and the IV was in place he went back to his desk to prepare a viral injection and his latest attempt at a cure.

Port Hokkaido

The masked militia men were past the point of sneaking around with silenced pistols now. The entire five city area was embroiled in open revolt. With no water, no power and no communications the entire area rose up in unison against their bandana wearing oppressors. Far from a simple rebellion where pistols and molotovs where the weapon of the people the Noviet system of openness and individual rights saw to it that EVERYONE had a pistol and some had more, so much more.

“Sonofabitch!” The man dived into an ally as an RPG sailed past. This incident has started when he and his fellow militiamen had tried to disperse a gathering of citizens on the grounds that they were inciting civil disobedience. Enraged the group of private citizens had decided to show the militia what ‘real civil disobedience’ was. The fight was going fine for the militia until the small group had been reinforced. Now fire came from all sides. Bullets poured from the windows and heavy ordinance shook the downtown. Pulling out his state issued radio the militia man in the alley started to frantically shout into the militia channel.
“This is Sampson to base, Sampson to base to you read?”
“Roger Sampson this is base, we read. There are reports of insurrection in your area, what’s your status?”
“My Status is fucked right up base! The civvies are taking to the street I need to call in ardy support.”
“Sampson we’re going to draw attention to ourselves with that.”
“If you don’t do it we’ll have to withdraw.” There was a pause of dead air as base considered. The next communication was without protocol, not that it mattered as this whole operation was against protocol.
“Where do you want it.”
“Transmitting co-ordinates.”

It took some time for the large fire bases to turn on the cities. Laying dormant they were a precaution against invasion from Hamptonshire or RomeW. It took four minutes to turn them inwards, against Port Hokkaido. The giant 24 inch guns echoed against the countryside, their announcements lost in the strife of the cities however. Concussive rounds rained on the heavily populated area for a minute and twelve seconds. Ripping apart the innards of the city secondary fires sprang up quickly. It was a deadly combination, militia sweeping the streets and fires claiming those who hid.

Red looked over the eviscerated remains of his secretary. She’d incubated the virus extremely well, the fought it off with the aid of Red’s cure. Unfortunately though the cure became worse than the disease and she died a horrible death. This fact was lost on Red, he was merely excited that he’d created a cure that would be effective for 2/3 of the population; the other 1/3 having several genetic markers similar to the virus and becoming victims of the retro virus delivery system he had devised for the cure.

He’d spent the next couple of hours after her death finding all this information out, he was very pleased with himself; the governor was not however. With the cure needing injection to be administered the governor did not see anything note worthy as the five city area had been embroiled in open civil revolt; there was not way anyone was going to take their shot. Placated by the invention of a vaccine, to be applied to his men, the governor instructed Red to prepare an airborne delivery system for the cure.
“We’ll stop the revolt and plague in one good carpet bombing.”

The Five City Area

24 inch shells peppered the cityscape now. The benefit from the initial shelling was temporary if anything. Word spread like wildfire about the civilian population and they retaliated en masse. Sick, hungry, pissed off and armed to the teeth many of them had nothing to lose. While the militia held a temporary advantage it was obvious they did not have the man power to press it. Suffering from the plague just as much as the civilian population; there were just as many plain clothes bleeding from their eyes as there were militia.

Much to the chagrin of the colonial authorities the civil war now raging in the south east of Reedorrow was obvious to outsiders. With radio chatter becoming more and more frantic, the use of heavy ordinance being more prolific, and the rapid alteration of the landscape one would expect the international community to be picking up on it soon.

The office of the President

“What the hell?” The information had been fast tracked to him. Previously content to let local and congressional authorities handle the colonies Lincoln was now debating the wisdom of that decision internally. Several advisors from colonial liaison offices, the military and the NNAO were speaking to him now.

The colonial liaisons were unnerved by the local authorities streamlining communications through one or two individuals. The flow of information from the colonies had been severally restricted and the governor did not seem to have a plausible explanation for it.

The NNAO had reports of foreign radio chatter and satellite images. Local operators around the canal had picked up the calls for artillery support and the calling down of co-ordinates.

As horrible as the NNAO info seemed to be the military confirmed it with the report that their fire base had been requisitioned by state authorities.

All of it seemed so innocent, and nothing like this had happened in centuries. But it seemed that the local government has become corrupt and needed to be dealt with. Turning to the military advisor the President steeled his jaw, angered by his own oversight.
“Fleet Admiral, do we still have any carriers in colonial waters?”
“Yessir one. The NHS Azrael has not yet been recalled to Nova Hope proper.”
“Tell them to move back into range of colony; send a cruiser, destroyer and submarine escort. I want full battle group procedure.”
“Yessir. May I ask what the target is?”
“Our own fire bases, we need to disable them.” The Fleet Admiral look at the President in disbelief.
“Sir if we do that we’ll be severally limiting our ability to respond to invasion in the area. Not to mention it is out own citizens manning those platforms!”
“I understand that Fleet Admiral, but we have to stop the killing as fast as possible. Let me know when they’re in range…. And get me more information on the subject!”

There were two big bombing runs today. One ordered by the colonial authorities, one by the federal authorities. The former saw the spread of Red’s cure in its new airborne deliver system. The latter saw the destruction of the misappropriated firebases.

The colonial authorities had refitted a cargo plane with gas tanks to allow quick and easy dissemination of the cure. It buzzed in from the secured areas in the northern part of the five city area, releasing the green cloud as it went.

The federal authorities dispatched six Super Hornets to the fire bases. They were busy ripping the innards of suburbia outwards when the bombs fell. Heavy DU rounds these were used to minimize human loss, while totally devastating the gun itself.

On the exit the Hornets happened on the gaseous spewing cargo plane with horror. Watching the chemicals fall into the city the flight leader got on the radio with a frantic urgency.
“This is peacekeeper lead to Azrael, come in Azrael.”
“This is Azrael go ahead peacekeeper.”
“I have a visual of a chemical attack on a civilian centre. It’s one of ours, these colonials are killing Noviets! Permission to engage?”
“Peacekeeper can you confirm that an airborne chemical or biological attack is taking place?”
“Affirmative, people are writing in the streets.”
“The you are go for take down I repeat you are go.”

The plane banked hard, the centre in a double echelon formation. Coming about he narrowed the cannons on the cargo plane. Feeling the mechanicals as the cannon switched to DU rounds the plane tore open the cargo plane. Unable to stay aloft the pilots ejected and the plane sailed for the unsettled hillside. Peacekeeper lead called it in. He couldn’t wait to actually do something about the rioting down there though.

Internal Military Communique

At this time, our border remains sealed to all Noviet citizens from their colony.

At no time is a Vastivan position to fire upon a Noviet craft approaching our airspace until such time as that airspace is actively breeched, at which time survivors will be placed in quarantine and the area saturated.

All units are on Grade 4 Alert until further notice.

That is all.

As the Parade finished going past the podium Major Eric Johnson was glad to see it was over now the question was should he stick around to hear more rants from the purile Ricketts or go off to the naval base and watch the Armour finish its disembarction?
No he thought it will be best if i stay here if the Governopr is fool enough to invite me to dinner then i can really lay into him and if no then i can always go to the Offivers mess room.

Red looked at the now empty warehouse. It seemed almost anticlimactic. He’d improved the odds of survival for those taking the serum. Now only one out of every hundred would die, and five more would develop rashes, hives and the sort; no where near the master piece that he would’ve liked but his time was limited. With these improvements the governor decided that the serum was an acceptable risk and ready for mandatory administration.

Turning back towards the single metal door Red exited the warehouse to head towards his office. This was always the part he disliked, the clean up. There were already unconfirmed reports of the federal government getting involved and that was his cue to exit stage left as it were. I’d hate to have this feather in my cap spoiled by rain.

Coming into his lab he looked around one last time. Scooping up his laptop he sighed. The device was mandatory, his research would not be viable in hardcopy. Reaching under his examination table he pulled out a small crate. Opening it he looked at the seemingly harmless electronics. Hard to believe that this little thing can incinerate a base this size, well time to arm it. Striking the keypad deftly with his fingers he smiled as he removed it; with no input circuitry it’d be hard to disarm. Whistling again he picked up a folder of documents as he strode from the lab. I wonder what Skiberen is like this time of year?

Meanwhile the conflict in the five city area was escalating. No one was neutral now, no casualties innocent. The cities were permeated with the cracks of gunfire. The gas attack on the cities must’ve been the last straw. The citizens, convinced that they were going to die of sickness soon, marched on anything that impeded them. At first this was the militia but now even they began to join the uprising. No longer a coordinated them and us scenario factions within the factions began to make attacks on each other. Groups comprised of civilians and militia, militia or civilians made attacks on any combination of the other.

Vastiva continues its space program... details to follow...

Partial Transcripts from HSI listening devices in Sisu Arshu

“Our improvements with vapor-phase processes will allow the production of titanium alloy powders, at a very low cost.”

“How low?”

“Less then four crowns per kilogram. We have also incorporated a low-level plasma treatment in our steel production, increasing corrosion resistance from 2x to 5x – there is additional research ongoing to apply the same technology to other corrodible materials.”

...


“...compression molding methodologies we have been using to replace standard constructions, resulting in a net 60% drop in weight with no equivalent drop in structural integrity or functionality. We have also been preinserting subcomponents, such as wire harnesses, thermal conductivity inserts, flex circuits, and radiation shields. This still maintains the lowered weight.”

“What of replacements?”

“Once a mold is made, it can be used hundreds of thousands of times. And while creating a single mold by hand might take several days, our Autocam processes will allow our personnel to create a mold within a day, if not hours. As you can see here, we are using an ultrasonic fluid probe to monitor vibrations during high-speed machining, which will decrease wear and allow more optimum processes to be used, uniformly. Here, our access to Sileetris’ Superdatabase proved pivotal; simply creating an Autocam of this level of sophistication was unnerving. Yet here, as you see, the PYGMALION version is ready for installation aboard our ships.”

“Which ships?”

“Why, every ship in the fleet, if desired. With the lowering of need for carrying all sorts of spare parts, the internal design of our naval and space forces can be better used for… other purposes. Repairs become more a thing of the past – it is far easier to remove the faulty part, dump it into PYGMALION for reprocessing, and installing a new piece. This will fantastically cut our logistical support requirements.”

“Indeed. What of the new guidance systems?”

“Ah, yes. The QUASIT millimeter-wave imaging systems are entering final testing; we believe this will drastically increase the accuracy of our ballistic missile interceptors, as they are far less prone to signal jamming. QUASIT is preset to function in the 126 to 154 gigahertz range, but any range can be set through the use of heterodyne laser techniques. We do not even need to have the antennas near the base stations any longer – we have been able to achieve variances of thirty miles or so using fiber optic lines. This allows QUASIT to function as a “software radio”, increasing the range of possible transmission and reception frequencies without the need for metal waveguides. Combined with PYGMALION, it allows our missiles to home in on just about any signal – a flexibility unseen in most nations.

“Further, the use of adjustable optical wedges, our lasers can readjust without altering the position of the platform. In other words, we no longer need a turreted system for our MTHAL weaponry at all – just a projection port and our GALILEO system. The system itself is modular, again decreasing logistical support needed. What we have here is a superior weapons system, with less need for support and fewer parts to wear out. ARCHER and TOLLBOOTH will become all the more useful for the upgrades.”

“Indeed.”

...


"Well, yes, the new supercomputers did initially suffer from heat-dissipation problems, but through the use of electrohydrodynamic devices, we are able to remove up to 1250 watts of heat per square centimeter, by creating electric fields which cause the coolants to be spread so thin, evaporation is guaranteed. As the systems are completely sealed, owing to our molding process, the liquid perfluorinates need only be present in sufficient quantity to cool the units present and are completely sealed in microtubules, allowing capillary action to be a functional “non-pump”. This reduces exposure, and the need for replacement of coolant – making, in point of fact, each section completely self-contained and self-cooled as part of its normal operations. Again, these were due greatly to the information gathered from the Sileetris’ Superdatabase.”

...

“… acquired… a new composting method from New Holland, using a rotating cylinder and controlled thermal conditions. Each EJIM unit can process between three and six tons of biological material into usable compost within twenty-four hours, forty-eight if the Molecular Bonding Protocol is necessary, such as in reclaimed areas. This greatly increases our ability to process biological waste, with a reduction in needed area. As such, our water-treatment plants could be made to function at nearly 200% efficiency with the addition of only a few EJIM units per facility, to process the… harder materials reclaimed. At the moment, we use exposure and fermentation – by automating, we will remove time at no land cost.”

“None?”

A shrug. “Several EJIMs will fit in the area of a single reclamation tank. We reduce our total tanks by one, giving three to five EJIMs in their place. The staff increase is negligible.”

“In addition, we have completed testing on Sonoboards. As such, we can now create fiberboard molded sheets, created completely of post-consumer waste paper and wood products. The honeycomb design allows for good structural integrity, and the sonoboards are completely recyclable in their current design. Addition of polymer coatings for weather resistance would reduce this slightly… though perhaps not if the polymers were pretreated to break down rapidly in the presence of certain reclaimant chemicals…”

...

"....Lodisian, probably bought technology. My teams have begun work - it appears the help sections are still intact."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning we can download the help files first. Depending how complete they are, we could get a much better view of what we have here before we begin poking around."

A Curse Upon Both Your Houses!

*chud-chud-chud-chud-chud-chud-chud-chud-chud-chud*
The gun wasn’t silenced, just muffled. The 80mm anti-tank rounds would deafen the crew using the weapon, so the thing looked like a car muffler had been welded to the side. The rotating piece picked up the ammunition in the six O’clock position dispensed it in the twelve O’clock position and discard the shells at three O’clock.

It might seem odd that a fully automated 80mm gun based on gatling technology was embanked in a corner store, but the entire scene was surreal. This was merely one more interesting notation in a city gone mad. The emplacement was pummeling three tanks that had strayed from the battle group onto the boulevard. Abandoning their transports the men in the back of the vehicles were now using them as cover, only to be pinned on the other side by some teenage boys, and the occasional girl, wielding hand guns and hunting rifles.

While this battle raged the sounds of high performance engines could be heard several blocks off; street bikes. Wanting to avoid getting mired in conflicts like the one happening on Manley Boulevard many of the civilian combatants had ‘mounted up’. Nova Hope has always had a penchant for high performance machines; their growth had been phenomenal with so little environmental regulation. Now domestic made Yamaha, Norvil, Suzuki, Ducati equivalents (or betters) raced down the abandoned streets, their riders brandishing an odd collection of weapons. While some had smaller gang styled weapons, as expected, others had back mounted M-16s and the occasional SPAS-15. Setting up their base of operations around gas stations and the refinery by the docks these groups made daring day or night time raids for supplies, or kicks, on the other factions.

The still most fearful group is the former colonial militia; possessing an abundance of military hardware, and being the only faction to operate tanks and support aircraft, the militia has banded together to cut out their own piece of the pie. Cut off from the administration and taking orders from ‘the general’ the militia rolls down the street squashing resistors. Based out of several depots about the city the militia holds a massive chunk of the cities’ under their thumb.

The third player to further the embroilment of the streets is what’s left of the original resistance. Trying to keep order they now bunker where ever they can and prevent anyone who is not their own from maneuvering. Bunkering into any building with a fair sized vantage point and easily defensible position they fire at anyone who attempts ingress into ‘their turf’.

The final player does not take the fight to the streets. The sewer rats are quick, quiet, and mostly children. Do not allow their meek demeanor to fool you these children are weapon trained and to immature to make proper tactical decisions. While it is obvious they won’t hold any presence on the streets their raids for supplies are brash and brutal, leaving few survivors.

Of course there is the unaligned. With every Noviet citizen possessing a gun and the weapons stores being emptied long ago the people are well armed. The large buildings that permeate Noviet cities had very early in this conflict filled with civilians not wanting to take advantage of the social break down. Instead they hole themselves up and wait, killing anyone who comes within shooting range. With several hundred windows on any side of these buildings the flurry of hot metal that erupts on an enemy makes anything they might gain in the building considerably less valuable.

It was here the federal government decided to get involved. Flying a white flag and announcing their peaceable intentions the armed forces stepped into the fray. Coming in by freighter on the docks, and airlift to other areas of the city they felt their presence would be welcomed to put an end to the fighting, they were gravely mistaken.

Paratroopers

The men leapt from their plane into the wild blue yonder, to be quickly caught in an up draft that opened their circular chutes. Drifting peacefully to the ground, some with a loud speaker announcing their peaceable intentions, they were caught completely off guard by what happened next.

The first man struck was one who held a speaker in his hands. The man jerked in his harness and the black box fell to the pavement. As soon as it had shattered all hell broke loose. Automatic weapons opened themselves up from dozens of concealed locations. The men tried to fire back but with no way to cover themselves they were severally out classed.

Some detached from their harnesses hoping to survive the fall, or at the very least have a less painful death that being sheered open by the gunfire. The men fell hard in bloody wet messes that sounded as much like a *crack* as it did a *splat*. Anyone who survived this ordeal was quickly dispatched by a ground level sniper. With fifty men down the operation was halted, the drop plane turning back. A cheer could be heard from the city blocks below; an eerie blood curdling cry that no civilized people should emit, especially after spilling so much blood.

Helicopter drop

It only happened once, the others were called back. It still happened though. As the men descended from their VTOL, a graceful repel on a black cord, a trail of smoke flitted gracefully from an alleyway. With a gentle spiral the grey coiled trail reached out to the VTOL as if to touch it, to kiss it. The kiss was fiery. The men could feel the heat of the explosion on their backs as they dropped to the ground, their cords no longer securely fastened. The craft twisted, as if it was a beast writing in pain from the fire. Coming down the secondary explosion from the crash killed anyone the fall didn’t.

The other VTOLs reacted quickly with their own kisses, though not so lightly. The first rocket had been a gentle spiral, a ballad of gentle death. These were more passionate, the crescendo of a funeral dirge. Leaping from under the wing in quick succession every micro-missile was another note in a frantic melody. As the alleyway stood in fiery ovation to their deadly return more loosed their deadly melodies. A harsh contralto erupted from the building behind the VTOL. Their low cracks of delivery tempered with their whines of arrival. The VTOLs now had a full orchestra about them in stereo. It was here that the VTOL pilots agreed that they should leave, but it seems inevitable that you cannot leave a theatre without someone being annoyed. As the VTOL crested the buildings an angry attendant voiced his displeasure, spewed onto the VTOL the heat round tore the weary patron apart. Collapsing onto the street below the secondary explosion was stated the VTOL’s defeat, they would be staying. The remaining VTOL sung its sorrow of parting as the high power turbines spun up to bring the bird to cruising speed.

At the docks

It was a medical ship that steamed in first. After all it was what the people most needed right now. That was ultimately their undoing. It could not be known that seeing any symbol of Noviet government would set the people off, how could they know that as the militia brutalized these people the sported the Noviet symbols of governance. Regardless of whether or not the federal government knew it, they had. Now they were jaded against Noviet authority.

As the medical ship moored it’s self to the dock the attack came. Mostly rabble wielding Molotov cocktails but their sheer number and surprise gave them a huge advantage.

The battle its self lasted only moments. Every civilian lay dead, the ship was ablaze and the crew of the ship where being evacuated by VTOL, as satellites had confirmed another wave was preparing itself just beyond the docks.

Elsewhere in Reedorrow

While the federal government’s operations had been all but halted in the five city area their usual amount of efficiency and tactics where proving to be more apt in other efforts.

While Red’s warehouse was a crater the other officials involved where still about. Swooping in on VTOLs the military was ruthless. The epitome of which would probably be when they VTOL turned its micro-missile salvo on a civilian government building because they tried to resist in an organized fashion.

All over the colony the armed forces swooped in. Gagetown and Jo’Hong were isolated, as no one could be sure how far the corruption had gone. In first port the dock workers were surprised to see military men coming up from the water in their combat suits, weapons poised. In a period of a few short hours thousands of federal troops held Manium in their grasp.

The governor had of course begun to receive reports, after all it was his jurisdiction and people were confused as to why men in black armor were breaking down doors. Izumi had quickly, and correctly, surmised that the jig was up and began to make his way towards the ground floor. He needed to get to his limo, evacuate his family. Perhaps he could flee to one of the other colonies.

It was then that he heard the sound of the breaching charges. His personal security began firing as he paused at the door to his office. Locking the door he turned and began to move towards the hidden exit in the back.

Frustrated pulling of the clutter ensued as he tried to clear space for the door to open. As he finally got the compartment open the double oak doors behind him exploded into thousands of splinters. He once subconsciously, those doors where made from the first tree cut in Riverview.

Before he could move one of the soldiers was on him. With a quick hook of the baton he felt his knee separate and he was on the floor.

“Governor Izumi Shigi you are under arrest for treason, high treason, crimes against humanity and forty five thousand charges of murder in the first degree. You have the right to remain silent. You will be assigned council. You have the right to medical attention. *crack with the baton* I am required to inform you that we are hereby revoking your right to privacy.”

High above, mechanical eyes watched the debacle in high resolution...

OOC)Im back Comp Died -to be deleted

IC)
Johnson looked out to sea and couls see another covoy of cargo vessels building up along the coast more Cheese perhaps most probably and more troops to defend and explore the new lands of Harlesburg.
Reports had come in from Harlesburg of new light recon vehicles having been purchased from Pretonia.

(excerpted from VNN Channel 722 broadcast)

... Hospitals.

It is with a heavy heart Vastiva announced the annexing of what was formerly the Hammerite Sanctur colony on the continent of Manium. Apparently their system collapsed under heavy internal pressure.

Owing to the nature of the treaty between the two colonies, Vastiva accepts the burden of caring for the people of the failed colony.

Egg futures...

The two men stood in from the rain. Really driving now it was almost horizontal. The men were quite a pair, both in their thirties but from completely different walks of life. The former general turned revolutionary and the former pseudo mafia boss turned black market mogul.

Former Brigadier General Thomas J. Fenton stood sharp, his silhouette a distinct break from the grey and bleak of the surroundings. In dress whites he was very out of place.

Joséph Brideau however was leaned nonchalantly against the vertical support pillar of the building. Also a bleak sort of grey the cement seemed to mirror the abject lack of faith and hope the people held. Dressed in a tanned hide leather jacket and sporting 150crd sunglasses he looked out of place. Perhaps more so because of the beaten in cowboy boots he wore to complete the ensemble. With hundreds of credits spent on wardrobe and accessories you’d think a man would spend more than eight credits on his boots. Worn to a pale the former work boots were now nothing more than a rough of material.

The monotony of the rain against cement was broken as Brideau exhaled about his cigarette. Shaking his head at the man the general almost clucked.
“You probably shouldn’t be smoking those.”
“No especially since they’re now marked up about four hundred percent because of the quarantine.”
“You paid how much for that caner stick then?”
“Dead men don’t usually charge you. In fact there is an implication that you keep the change.”
“You killed a man for those.”
“No, of course not; I killed a man for a warehouse full of these.”
“You’re sick.”
“I’m not the one calling myself the imperator and demanding independence.” The general paused at this. Noviets were no stranger to crime. Indeed it had only been in the last few years that the gangs had died down. Perhaps not because they’d gone anywhere but because as the country deregulated what they did was no longer illegal. Hell you could kill a man if he signed a form first. Still, treason was something that had never happened in Noviet history. His history courses told of terrorists, reformists, criminals and all sorts of delinquents but there was no written record of anyone ever seeking to leave the dominion.
“Perhaps I’m not the one who is sick. Then again maybe the poisons the government dropped on us are affecting my mind. Either way I won’t give them the opportunity to do it again.”
“Oh?”
“The Vastivians have tried to contact me. The want to negotiate apparently.” Now Brideau offered up the exclamation.
“Really, they want to talk to me too.” The general turned his head to the side, looking at his counter part from his rival faction. It would seem his new allies had certain alterior motives, though it was to be expected.
“About what?”
“Well, it’s pretty unofficial but I might be able to get myself set up in Vastiva, expand the business.”
“You’d do that? Abandon your people? Now who’s less of a Noviet?” With a chuckle and a flick of ash Brideau answered back in a smug tone,
“I’m pursuing the goal of personal profit to it’s logical ends. If that’s not Noviet I don’t know what is. Besides this little insurrection your running is tilting the playing field, we all have to adapt.” The general had to agree with that, after all these were hardly normal circumstances. Brideau interrupted his thoughts with a question that belied its importance.
“What did they want from you?”
“Nothing as yet. I’m trying to bring them onside, I need supplies.”
“Ah. Speaking of supplies how are you paying for all of this.” Gesturing out further ahead of them the two men looked up. The rescue efforts were underway. The former militia was taking on the role of the regional providers. They were cleaning up the garbage, setting up bilge pumps for the flooding all that would be expected of a government. The militia seemed to be building a consensus with the beleaguered and battle torn residents of the area. As they began to help out their numbers swelled as locals from other factions left their petty bickering to assist in the greater good, and currently that was weathering through the storm.
“The payroll.”
“The pay~ you mean the troops payroll?!?!”
“Calm down, yes.”
“How do you expect them to keep loyal?”
“Well most of them are not here for the money.”
“And the sane ones?”
”I have money coming in.”
“From where?”
“Why does it matter.” Brideau shrugged.
“I need to know if it’s actually worth my time to speak with you again or whether or not your going to start buying supplies on credit.” The general chuckled.
“No, the 5CA will be able to afford their own provisions.”
“…”
“The federal government has an emergency fund in a Roycelandian bank.”
“…how much?”
“Something to the tune of three trillion united states dollars. Plus the compound interest of several years mind you.”
“And you think they’ll just give you the money?”
“The account is a numbered one. As long as I know the number I can get money.” The two men stood in the rain for awhile after that. They looked at each other knowingly for a long time after that. Each feeling the other out. As he opened his mouth the general interrupted Brideau.
“Don’t, I can’t tell you and you know that.” They stood, as if still in time after that. Brideau was the first to move as he inhaled filter, his cigarette having burned to the butt. With a mild cough he flicked the cigarette off and began trudging over to his chopper. Throwing his leg over the steel beast he looked back at the General’s face of stone. Revving the engine he popped the clutch in and squealed away on the rain soaked pavement. Who do you still have on the inside Fenton?

(excerpted from VNN Channel 722 evening broadcast)

… tree squirrels.

Officials from the Sisu Arshu Launch Site have announced they are completing delivery of payloads to the Tudrussel station required to construct the first flight of “collector satellites” planned.

Dubbed the “Larry 3000s”, these ESats are designed to go into orbit around our planet rather then remaining in geostationary orbit. Unlike other satellites, the Larry 3000 series is designed not to avoid the morass of debris and abandoned satellites in orbit, but rather to use various means to collect all available debris into and attached to the satellite itself. Upon reaching the location of Tudrussel, these collectors will be drawn in, cleaned of all their debris, and sent on another sweep. Aboard Tudrussel, the debris will be recycled, cleaned, and used as raw materials or converted to other uses aboard the station. That which cannot be recycled will be sent into a direct decaying orbit, to burn up in the upper atmosphere.

Through the use of the Larry 3000 system, Vastiva plans to remove up to 70% of the unusable detritus which pollutes the equatorial orbit belt, and up to 56% of other nonfunctional and random waste currently in various orbital patterns.

The VAA wishes it to be made clear, the Larry 3000s will not make any attempt to coerce or interfere with working satellites or other orbiting objects; their sole purpose is to aid in the removal of orbiting clutter.

Work continues on the Osworth construction gantry; officials report once completed, the gantry will be used in the building in orbit of “Otto-1”, Vastiva’s first interplanetary attempt. According to early releases of the mission plans, Otto-1 is to be sent to the moon, there to drop robot landers for a variety of experiments, then to return.

At this time, there are no plans for a manned mission.

Dancing chickens…

The colony was slowly being established and the people were setting up the government infrastructure. Lord Erickson was being set as the new governor of the colony. The first city was called Emerald City. Their governor had begun to build a new mansion for himself and his family. A new capital building was being established. The city was going to be small but a good start for the new colony.