NationStates Jolt Archive

"And we are the satellites are hacking into the worlds television feed, Ok we are going live in 5...4...3...2...1..." Said the Television Technician.

Throughout Earth III the regular scheduled TV programming was cut short, and the Nutropinian Information Minister Joseph G. Prano, a well-built, Sicilian Man, with a scar across his face from an old war injury, and his mid-fifties.

"Hello, I am Joseph G. Prano and we are sorry to interrupt your regularly scheduled programming. However my Government and the Chimaean government feel it is necessary for the whole world to hear this message. As most of you are probably aware, Chimaea currently occupies the western half of Canada, while Nutropinia is in Control of every other province in Canada except one. The Chimaean and Nutropinian government have come to an agreement to sign and implement the mutual design and testing of new Nuclear weapons to ensure Canadian safety. As of this point this is all the information that will be released. Please do not be afraid of this, as it is not meant to be an aggressive course of reaction. Instead it is a defensive measure to ensure both countries stay strong and establish a credible defense on Earth III. Now everybody sit back, relax and enjoy your regularly scheduled programming."

With that the announcement cut-out and the Televisions returned to normal.

Bump!

Lady Bryce made a face at her own reflection as she brushed her golden hair back behind her shoulders. An aide fussed beside her, dusting her already immaculate suit for imaginary grit. Behind her, a bodyguard hovered in boredom in the firm knowledge that any would-be assassin would have to get through intense security to even reach him.

The New Sydney Parliament House was abuzz with activity, even though the time neared 5 in the evening. MPs, staff, security and military top brass scurried around, making sure everything was in order for the broadcast to the nation.

Lady Bryce felt watched, and turned slightly to the doorway. Leaning against it was General de Santuro, studying her through shaded glasses. She turned fully and smiled. "Penny for your thoughts?"

The General said nothing for a moment, then sighed. "I don't like this."

Lady Bryce rolled her eyes and turned back to the mirror. "We discussed this in detail, General. Besides, you yourself said it was time Chimaea developed a comprehensive nuclear deterrant."

The General walked over to her, took the dust brush from a terrified aide, and started to brush her sleeves. "We just moved into Manitoba, my Lady. This is too fast, too soon."

Lady Bryce looked annoyed. "We make the right time, General, not the international community, not those fools in PNAS."

The General brushed the back of her coat. "This is sending a very definite message to our neighbours, though, and I want you to be sure you want to send it."

Lady Bryce nodded. "I'm sure. Now stop fussing and get ready."

The General nodded, handed the brush back to the aide and walked out of the room. Lady Bryce watched him go with a small smile. "It's good to be me," she muttered sarcastically.

***

"Fellow Chimaeans,

"Today is a day like any other for most of you. You watch this, perhaps with your families, perhaps with your friends or colleagues, and you are worried.

"Do not fear, however. This day marks a milestone in progressing the security of the Commonwealth and our neighbours. Today, the Commonwealth has signed a treaty with our neigbour in the west, the nation of Nutropinia, which will guarantee that our nuclear deterrant is consolidated and extended. Increasingly, the threat of rogue nuclear warfare increases as nuclear weapons proliferate in underground markets and terrorist organisations. With our satellite coverage and the development of our nuclear deterrant, we will have the ability to strike back quickly and tactically in any situation. The threat of nuclear war, always an unpleasant possibility, decreases with our increased ability to strike back. No longer can any nation hold the Commonwealth and its allies to nuclear hostage.

"I pray that we will never have to use this deterrant. Let the world know, however, that we take the security of our peoples very seriously. Fellow Chimaeans, I will protect you from the ghastly force of nuclear fire, whatever it takes.

"Thank you for your time, and may the gods smile upon you."

Diplomatic Message from Vastivan Alaska to Nutropinia

Y'all foul our fishwater, we'll make you glow in the dark the old fashioned way.

Nuff said?

The New Stamford government suggests that Chiamea and Nutropinia set aside a certain amount of money to supplement fishermen and others who might be disadvantaged should an accident occur. The people in the Lands of East and West Greenland depend on fishing for thier well-being, and we fear a nuclear accident could harm the fish.

All across Belgium, Denmark and certain parts of Holland, Praetonian Colonial viewers were irritated to find that an odd looking man from a country they'd never heard of was telling them that they had nuclear weapons. Thousands of complaints flooded in to PBC Television Centre, and it was decided that now was time to act. Having obtained permission from Imperial Praetonian Space Defence Command (IPSDeC), PBC shunted a massive signal displaying low quality repeats of the teletubbies over all television and radio channels inside Nutropinia.

OOC: Lost losses. (j/k)

/* Report to President Louis Steinberg, Kramden of West Cedarbrook */
West Cedarbrook High Command

Of course we agree with you that the Canadian states are within their sovereign rights in extending nuclear testing. Overall we believe this will deter other foreign powers from interfering in North America.

At this time we recommend accelerating our organization of the Western Territories. The High Commissioner in Minneapolis needs to secure all fissionable matieral in the Territories and the Armed Forces need to assume control of all military facilities there.

We are requesting the Nuclear Development Authority to purchase and take control of these territorial facilities:

University of Minnesota Particle Research Laboratory, Mankato Minn.
Montana National Guard proving ground, near Bozeman Montana
IFI Disposal Facilities, Yankton, South Dakota


Yehoshua Ben-Zvi,
Chief of Staff

/* End of Report */

"As long as they do not infect Libanese or Jordanese waters with nuclear waste we do not care. What else can we say? Condemning it makes us look like hypocrites knowing we also hold a vast nuclear arsenal."

- Mustapha Mond, ruler of Lebanon and Jordan.

Bump!

Keep your nuclear missiles away from us. Any fallout or radiation reaches Taldaan from one of your tests, and there will be hell to pay.

The Mayor of New Stamford was heard to make this comment: "You can't hug children with nuclear arms."

"Just sign here, and the shipment is all yours."
"As if you were going to reload it."
"We've been known to. And there. And there. Initial there. Thumbprint. And there. Thank you, sir."
"Thank you!"
"I suggest a very spread out deployment. The canopies should shield from IR and UV detection, and general weather will protect from satellite normal views."
"Thank you, Major, but we already have areas set up."
"Very good sir."

The Bryce Administration had been braced for an international backlash and was surprised when it didn't come. That the powers-that-be, especially in the close region, was willing to tolerate nuclear testing to a large extend was seen as a sort of dim greenlight.

Lady bryce was surprised that anyone had brought her mutually assured destruction speech without anything more than the usual protests. It must be a sign of the times, she mused as she signed the last order for the development fascility's construction. Either that or no-one can be bothered. If they ever found out what else was going to be made at this place...

***

Manitoba, Near the border with Ontario

It was a sea of helicopters; sleek, black and menacing, they flew low over the land, all headed for the border.

A whole section of West Manitoba had been cleared and evacuated, from St. Theresa Pt. to Oxford House to the tip of the widest park of the Nelson River. People were being rounded up and forcibly resettled; whole communities were being uprooted and taken to other parts of Canada. Section by section the power grid was cut and taken offline. There was no consultation, no second chances, no time for protest. Heavily armed soldiers patrolled the streets and flew over the rivers and plains, seeking any stragglers. Danger signs were put up, roads closed. A steady stream of outgoing traffic eventually turned to a trickle, then hardly that.

Next to arrive were the convoys of trucks and trains; they seemed endless and in constant motion, day and night. Both transports were heavily guarded from the ground and from the air. Some of the transports were also heavily shielded.

All media coverage was blocked and a no-fly zone established, patrolled by SC-42 AirHawks and helicopter fleets. No stone was left unturned in the security side of things--identification checks, retina scans, palm print scans, even bio scans in some of the more sensitive areas were established.

The building work began almost immediately. The enormous facilities were being constructed simultaeneously by Chimaea and Nutropinia, stretching (though sprawling was a more accurate description) across the Manitoba and Ontario border. The facilities weren't just build on the ground but also under it; huge networks of tunnels and underground blocks were constructed deep beneath the earth. All the facilities were also being shielded from scanning by satellite and long-range sensors. In fact, the entire area was slowly being converted into what would look like a deep inert area in all possible scans. No-one was going to see inside. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months. Crews worked around the clock to finish contruction; several billion Sils was being diverted to just the construction phase. It was monumentally clear to anyone realising the scale of the facility that this was much more than a nuclear testing range.

On one of Lady Bryce's numerous top-secret visits to the facility with Nutropinia officials, it was decided to name it "The Pandora Facility". It was very tongue-in-cheek and a bit obvious, but it suited the sheer concept of the place. The Pandora Facility. Pandora's box was about to be opened, unleashing the world inside.

"A new nuclear weapon?" Emperor Uesugi said, clearly confused.

Two Senators was bowing before the Privy Council member, with stacks of files in their hands.

"We do not know what they are up to, sir," said one. "Here is the NSA Classified Report."

Uesugi read the document, still not coming to senses with what's going on. To make matters worse, what little information avaliable was presented to him in confusing bits and pieces shrouded in ambiguity.

"NSA thinks that there must be something behind this," another Senator told him. "There is no other reason why nations will inform others of their R&D plans, especially in so public a manner."

"And yet one would think that classified projects are best protected when unkown," the Emperor replied. "Why has the Senate submitted this issue?"

The two Senators shared a glance. "Your Execellency, the Senate is divided as to whether the Commonwealth should launch a formal but ceremonial protest, a substantial opposition, or give a positive response."

"I see," the Emperor closed his eyes. "Very well, the Privy Council will issue a directive by midnight."

The two Senators bowed and retreated out of the office, and Emperor Uesugi moved towards the conference room. The other four members would arrive in the next 2 hours, and he would use the time to contemplate on a suitable course of action.

While Chimaean Military forces were clearing out an area for a test range in Manitoba Nutropinian forces started the same job. Two whole Mechanized Infantry Divisions were tasked with the job of clearing out the area from Sandy Lake, to Big Trout Lake, to Fort Severn on Hudson Bay all the way down to the Manitoban Border. Challenger II Tanks, Warrior IFVs, FV-432s and every other vehicle associated with an Mechanized Infantry division, along with thousands of troops swarmed onto the area.

People were forced out of there homes and moved to other parts of Nutropinian Canada with no compensation and no notice. People who refused were shot on the spot and every single building in the area was destroyed. AH-64 Apache Longbows patrolled the ski making sure there was no one left hiding. Once this operation was complete the task of building started.

The largest construction project in the history of Nutropinian was about to begin, a project that would cost billions upon billions of Worthles. CH-47 Chinooks and supply trucks started to bring in the supplies neccessary to build Earth III's largest testing base. Tunnels were being dug across the Manitoban-Ontario border and sprawling complexes were built along the whole border. Every single buildign was covered with OLED's to give the appearance of a huge black area from a satellite view. Many airbases were built to establish a no fly-zone over this area of Canada, as well as an airbase to test secret airplanes and to launch Aurora Spy Vehicles. One Mechanized Infantry Division was permanently stationed in the test area to establish an immediate defense force.

Soon a test range unlike the world had ever seen would be online and Chimaean and Nutropinian power would be projected across the world.

Bump!

"... nineteen Mjolnir MIRV ICBMs targeted on that site alone. Our additional troops have been deployed on our border, and the Sunblock mines are being set out as we speak."

"Boy, howdy, but I feel safer now."

"We're coming into land in three minutes, sir."

General de Santuro closed the manila folder and slipped it back into his briefcase. It was a report on the progress made on the Pandora site, detailing the finished sections and containing several suggested modifications to the original blueprints. He'd have to ok them with the military constructor. He briefly considered delegating the task but decided against it as the helicopter lowered gently to the helipad.

He had flown from New Sydney to Manitoba by air and been helicoptered in from the domestic airport. It was a bit of a pain but the extra security was worth it. As he stepped down from the helicopter he noted with approval the sentries posted around the complex containing the helipads. There'd be snipers hidden amongst the buildings and rapid reaction forces in the ground and in the air.

Admiral Dematosa walked towards him from the other side of the helipad, ducking behind the whirling rotors to greet him. The noise was too loud for anything but a quick handshake and the two men began walking towards one of the entrances of the building closest. Once they were out of earshot, Dematosa greeted him.

"I'm glad to see you made it safely, General," Dematosa was saying, "The sheer volume of air traffic makes the journey a bit dicey sometimes."

Dematosa was the commanding officer on the Chimaean side of the Pandora Facility; he was a former intelligence and special operations commander and was well-suited to the role. The General had seen his curiculum vitae--the man was positively a walking encyclopaedia of military experience and held the position of commander of the First Fleet for two years as well.

"If you wish, I can have a word with Lady Bryce about redirecting the air traffic."

Dematosa shook his head. "It wouldn't be good for the deadlines or I'd have done it myself," he said matter-of-factly. "I've already ordered a bigger air traffic control system to be brought in."

The General nodded and followed the Admiral into the building. It was one of the administrative buildings and although everyone in Chimaea could recognise de Santuro, he was given a retinal scan and a palm-print analysis before being given an electronic chip which he slotted into his plastic ID tag. The chip kept track of his position anywhere in the Facility and if necessary, the whole of Manitoba.

From the administrative building they went through another security checkpoint and then onto a smaller helicopter which ferried them to another building. The Admiral explained that the intra facility transport system was still experiencing bugs and small transport helicopters were being employed en masse for the duration.

The building they came to was a low, concrete bunker. From the air it was carefully camouflaged to blend into the earth around it. The entire bunker was also shielded under the camouflage.

The sentries on duty opened the blast doors for them and they stepped into a large hallway with another door at the end. The blast doors closed and a soft steam enveloped them as they walked to the door at the other end. The General raised his eyebrows enquiringly at the Admiral, who informed him it was a decontamination procedure for their clothing.

Beyond the second door was another security checkpoint, then they were instructed to shower in one of the one-man decontamination chambers before they continued into the bunker. They eventually reached a series of metal ramps set into the floor, with a railing around the perimeter and a control panel. The Admiral keyed in a few controls on one and the ramp lowered.

The shaft seemed to go on for ever. The two men didn't talk much on the way down, until it finally reached the end and halted with a gentle clang. A door in the shaft opened automatically.

The officers stepped out into a cavernous, warehouse-like complex. There were vehicles driving around the floor of the complex and construction going on in various parts. The General looked around, impressed despite the fact that he'd seen the plans before construction. The Admiral grinned like a schoolboy with his father's shotgun.

"Takes your breath away, doesn't it? A lot of it is still under construction, though... and this is just one of a series of the underground parts of Pandora. Come over here, some of the labs are operative."

The admiral led the way to a waiting electric car, and the two men drove to the side of the complex, where there was a much smaller lift set into the metal wall. It took them three stories up and the back of the lift opened onto a modern, open-plan laboratory. Various technicians hurried about their tasks, some setting up equipment, some operating machinery on a closed-off part of the laboratory. The HazMat signs told the General all he needed to know.

"Is that...?" he nodded towards the section.

The Admiral nodded soberly. "This is one of the chemical labs. At the moment they're working on... er... one of our projects, but in other labs we're also processing nuclear fuel. Through here, General..."

They walked through an interconnecting door into a larger laboratory. A large part of this was sealed off by thick glass walls and only accessible via mechanical arms controlled by VR platforms. The General stepped up to the wall, eyes drawn as if by force to a glass and steel pillar in the center of the sealed-off area. Inside the pillar, a viscous blue-green liquid slowly shifted, forced to move by metal fans set at the base and the top.

The Admiral smiled and allowed him a bit of time to take it all in before saying, "And that, General, is the purpose of your visit. The T76 Virus."

The General didn't turn his head to look at him. "How soon will it be ready for testing?"

The Admiral stepped up to the glass wall with him, both staring at the pillar of liquid. Without replying, he activated a control set into the wall. Slowly, the darkness beyond was lit as the steel casings around other pillars lifted into the roof to reveal their liquid contents. There was around one hundred pillars in all, lit from inside so that the entire scene glowed an unearthly, shifting blue-green.

The Admiral turned his head to look at the General. "Small-scale tests are still being conducted, General... but lets say one month."

The General nodded slowly, turning his head to meet the Admiral's gaze, and smiled. In the weird light from the pillars of liquid, his face looked odd, almost inhuman.

"We cannot deny other nations of their right to protect themselves," President Lee was saying when a meseenger arrived before the Privy Council, and presented them with reports of developments in Canadia.

The news of the atrocities committed in Nutropinia sent a shockwave through the Council.

"Clearly this adds a twist to the matter," Queen Elizabeth said slowly. "Taiwanese Islands will support their attempt to defend themselves, but we cannot stand by and watch innocent people suffer."

"It is their domestic affair; there are not much we can do," Govenor-General Cartwright complained.

"No, but we can bring it up in the next PNAS Convention," Emperor Uesugi declared. "For now, we may issue a statement regarding our position."

With nods of approval from aroun dthe table, the Privy Council began preparing for a public statement.

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

Public Statement by Commenwealth Privy Council:

The Commonwealth supports the move by Chimea and Nutropinia to develop better means of protection of their national interests. All nations deserve to feel safe, and Taiwanese Islands can surely understand the feelings of our Canadian neighbours.

However, recent news have came in that Nutropinia has committed numerous atrocities against their own people. The Commonwealth hereby demands that the government of Nutropinia pay more respect to the issue of Human Rights, and offer compensation to those whose lives has been disturbed by the development.

Signed,
Emperor Uesugi
Empress Myeongseong
Govenor-General Cartwright
President Lee
Queen Elizabeth

The General slowly exhaled, letting the smoke from his cigarette drift over the cold Ontario tundra. Leaning on a railing, outside the bunker in the freezing Canadian air with a good old Silver Gold 100 Cigarette made General Adam Saunders as content as he had ever been. He surveyed what was the termination of a long career in the development wing of his countries military. Now Saunders was in charge of the Nutropinian half of the facility that would develop weapons never before seen. And with Chimaean help there was no stopping the two countries.

"Excuse me, Sir." Colonel David Silverbaum said tapping the General on the shoulder.

Colonel Silverbaum was the second in command of the Nutropinian part of the 'Pandora Facility.' Silverbaum was a genius and incredibly brillant scientist, slated to take over once Saunders retired.

"Yes, Silverbaum?" Replied Saunders, not taking his gaze off of the facility that was his.

"Well it is time to go meet General De Santuro and Admiral Dematosa in the lab."

"Lead the way Silverbaum." General Saunders said flicking his cigarette on the ground and turning towards the door.

The Colonel and the General walked through the door both swiping an ID card and submitting to a retinal scan before entering. The two walked down two flights of stairs and down a quarter mile long passageway until they came to two sets of blast doors. Both passed through without trouble and got into a secure elevator for the long trip down to where Dematosa and De Santuro were. After about a minute and half the elevator stopped and the Colonel and the General got out and boarded one of the electric carts that would take them to the lab area. After a fifteen minute ride and passing through three checkpoints, Saunders and Silverbaum went through the decontamination process and stepped into the huge lab area. Without wasting time General Saunders strolled up behind Dematosa and De Santuro at the T76 Lab.

"Admiral Dematosa and General De Santuro I presume."

Bump!

Report on Assumption of Immigration and Customs,
International Falls Sector,
Western Territories,
Kramden of West Cedarbrook

To Vernon Wormer,
High Commissioner, Western Territories
Minneapolis, West Cedarbrook

Commissioner Wormer:

Since assuming duties in International Falls I have been suprised and dismayed by the large number of bedraggled souls applying for residence in our territitories from the recent dislocation in Western Ontario. Most are dirt poor, and many are in bad health. I cannot in all honestly admit them to the Kramden to suffer and die here, but am most concerned with their plight in Nutropinia.

Their large numbers strain transportation at the border, and sanitary facilities in Nutropinian border towns. There is concern over law and order in remote areas, particularly the Angle, and the Lake in the Woods area. I've spent a lot of time meeting with local law enforcement and business leaders, and this is a major issue along the border.

Perhaps the Department of External Affairs can persuade Chimaea to accept these people. I have heard no similar reports from my counterparts further west, along their border.

I have never in my 29 years in Law Enforcement seen such a sorry sight. Please advise regarding the status of these people in terms of immigration and public health.

Douglas C. Neidermeyer,
Commander, Western Territiorial Police Authority,
International Falls Sector

OOC: Homage to the late "Vernon Wormer".

Report on Assumption of Immigration and Customs,
International Falls Sector,
Western Territories,
Kramden of West Cedarbrook

To Vernon Wormer,
High Commissioner, Western Territories
Minneapolis, West Cedarbrook

Commissioner Wormer:

Since assuming duties in International Falls I have been suprised and dismayed by the large number of bedraggled souls applying for residence in our territitories from the recent dislocation in Western Ontario. Most are dirt poor, and many are in bad health. I cannot in all honestly admit them to the Kramden to suffer and die here, but am most concerned with their plight in Nutropinia.

Their large numbers strain transportation at the border, and sanitary facilities in Nutropinian border towns. There is concern over law and order in remote areas, particularly the Angle, and the Lake in the Woods area. I've spent a lot of time meeting with local law enforcement and business leaders, and this is a major issue along the border.

Perhaps the Department of External Affairs can persuade Chimaea to accept these people. I have heard no similar reports from my counterparts further west, along their border.

I have never in my 29 years in Law Enforcement seen such a sorry sight. Please advise regarding the status of these people in terms of immigration and public health.

Douglas C. Neidermeyer,
Commander, Western Territiorial Police Authority,
International Falls Sector

OOC: Homage to the late "Vernon Wormer".


OOC: Don't worry about Law and Order most of our budget is devoted to it. But anyway the people being kicked out are being moved away from the US border as we don't want them leaving. But they are being given new homes. (Not necessarily as nice, but they are getting a place to live and more security.)

OOC: Perhaps they are refugees who escaped.......

IC: Hearing news of refugees from Canada being denied entry into the Kramden of West Cedarbrook, the Commonwealth Senate promptly voted unanimously that the Commonwealth is willing to provide housing and other basic needs for these poor people, mostly in our soon-to-be acquired territories amongst the West Coast. Although certain officials have commented on the "stupidy" of acting on nothing more than rumours and dubious intellegence reportedly obtained through "back channels", the Senate dispacted a telegram towards the Kramden stating our intentions.

High Commissioner Wormer acknowledges the offer of refuge from Taiwanese Islands, and is prepared to provied transportation to anyone from Nutropinia requesting relocation to Taiwanese Islands. He reports that the pressure around the borders has been reduced recently.

General de Santuro and Admiral Dematosa turned at the greeting. Admiral Dematosa smiled in recognition at the two Nutropinia officers.

"Ah, General Saunders and Colonel Silverbaum. I'm pleased to meet you in person at last. Gentlemen, this is General de Santuro, Commander in Chief of the Chimaean Armed Forces. He's on a quick visit to see the progress on Pandora and..." he nodded discreetly towards the sealed off section of the lab, "Other related projects."

General de Santuro nodded and shook hands with the Nutropinia officers. "I'm most impressed with the work that's being done here. I must say that the opportunity for the testing of this particular project has come up at the right time."

Admiral Dematosa gave him a blank look. The General smiled. "War," he said simply, "War is brewing (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8137721). Something major on a scale seen rarely in modern times. And during war, gentlemen, a lot can be done."

General Saunders looked up and down General De Santuro and Admiral Dematosa and came to the conclusion that they were decent and honest men.

"Well General and Admiral, for One I was under the impression that Pandora was a fully dual facility and that my men and I would have access to all projects as would yours, by that I mean I want to see the sealed off section. Secondly, Nutropinia is not interested in a War in Europe and I have gotten word that you are involved. I have to implore you that the Nutropinian name not be connected no matter how slightly to the use of any weapons developed at this facility during WW3 on Earth III. Please claim they were developed else where. But I do have orders to let you test any weapons developed here in Europe just to see how well they function. I think we should test T76 first as it is the closest to completion. Most of my men are currently working on designing the first atomic bomb to be tested from this facility. The project it should be in the 100 kiloton range, from then we will progress to fusion bombs. Does this sound satisfactory to you men? The rest of my men are either working with you on T76 or on the development of a new chemical weapon codenamed Spectre. Spectre is a nerve gas unlike any ever seen before. Before it shuts down the nervous system causing organ failure, it triggers the brain to start working faster and faster and makes the nerves all around the body exetremely sensitive. Basically it makes the nerves in and on your body so sensitive that just the pressure of the atmosphere causes excruciating pain. After about an hour of this the body starts to fail and organs stop working, death occurs 15 minutes after this. The dosage requirements haven't been totally worked out yet. By the I am glad to finally meet you too. The construction of the Nutropinian side of the facility is going smoothly, and almost online. How is your side going? Silverbaum am I forgetting anything?"

Silverbaum looked up, he had been memorized by the testing going on in the T76 lab and how effective the virus was.

"Uh..What..Oh yes...No Sir, That was it."

"Well Gentlemen," asked Saunders, "Is there anything you want to say before I go review how our projects are going."

Bump!

Bump!

Bump!

General de Santuro nodded at his counterpart's words. "Well that's fair enough. I still have doubts over testing the T76 in Europe, what with the war there dying down. It may be necessary to go to the original plan..."

Dematosa looked troubled. "The original plan calls for the experiment to be tested on Chimaean citizens."

General de Santuro frowned. "Tested on Chimaean criminals, yes," he lied expertly, "This could be the key to repelling a major invasion of Canada and other Commonwealth and Nutropinian territories. It's worth it."

Dematosa left the subject. "Pandora on our side is going quite well--we have most sections up but construction is still moving along in the labs. The major security systems are online, of course, and the vital systems are taking the load pretty well. There's been a few minor bugs but our techs are ironing them out."

General de Santuro nodded. "There's not much else to be said, really... Please give your government my regards. Lady Bryce also sends her best wishes. We shall inform you when we are ready to test the T76, we'd like to have Nutropinian observers during the test."