NationStates Jolt Archive

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Source: Allemande Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) World Service
Dateline: March 12th, 2005

Jon Cartier, Allemande's Secretary of Energy, announced that Allemande would begin research into controlled nuclear fission for a variety of uses.

"Our interest in nuclear fission is four-fold: we want to be able to build research reactors to support work in high-energy physics, to be able to synthesize various radioisotopes domestically for a variety of purposes (both medicinal and industrial), we want to be able to build low-output reactors for use in power generation where conventional systems and alternatives are not practical, and we want to develop nuclear-thermal and nuclear-electric propulsion systems," said Secretary Cartier.

The Secretary denied that the Administration was considering a reversal of its controversial ban on domestic uranium mining in the White Mountain Wilderness Preserve, or that its policy of investing in so-called "green" alternatives had not panned out. "We remain committed to clean power," he said. "We simply want to add some additional options to our mix of available locomotive and generative power technologies."

The program will be funded primarily by the Department of Energy, but 20% of its funding will come from the Department of Transportation, and 20% will come from non-governmental sources such as corporations and universities.

Asked if any funding came from the Department of Defense, and if this was intended to be a prelude to the development of a nuclear weapon, Secretary Cartier responded in the negative: "Allemande has no plans to develop an atomic bomb."

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Source: Allemande Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) World Service
Dateline: March 16th, 2005

According to informed sources, Allemande will begin construction of a nuclear-powered research vessel next year, with its first nuclear-powered submarine to follow within four years.

Experts say that the effort to develop nuclear powerplants has reached the stage where preliminary design work can begin on a non-military nuclear-powered vessel. This vessel, as of yet unnamed, will be used for at least two years as a test bed to train engineers in the management of maritime nuclear power systems. It will provide ship designers with valuable data in support of future designs.

After the research period has ended, the government plans to refit the vessel with an improved powerplant. This refit, expected to take a year and a half, will result in the ship moving from experimental to operational status shortly after Allemande's navy takes delivery of its first nuclear submarines.

No final decision has been made on the role this experimental vessel will play once it undergoes its pre-production refit, but some officials are hinting that it may end up being outfitted as a hospital ship for use in global goodwill tours.

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OOC: Following the convention that 1 RL day = 1 NS year, this announcement is aimed at setting up a Sunday (3/20/2005) announcement that the Allemander Navy has taken delivery of its first SSN.

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Source: Allemande Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) World Service
Dateline: March 20th, 2005

Allemande launched its first nuclear-powered submarine today. The vessel, USS Intrepid, classed as an attack submarine (SSN), will spend the next 18 months undergoing proving tests before becoming operational. Three more submarines of this same class will be built within the next four years as part of the Navy's program to expand the reach of its underwater assets.

In a related development, the USS Mayfair, classified as a nuclear-powered research vessel, will undergo refit beginning next year. The refit expected to take two years, will transform the Mayfair into a hospital ship. In this capacity, it will be reclassified as a civilian vessel and sent on goodwill tours around the world to provide medical assistance to impoverished and disaster-stricken nations.

"You know", said President Blum, "I don't really care how we put this across to the public, but you know this is going to look like we're trying to build an atom bomb."

Energy Secretary Jon Cartier nodded, "Yes, it will. All we can do is insist that we simply are not going to use this technology that way."

"And that's going to persuade the world?" asked the President.

"It'll have to", replied the Energy Secretary.

"We're going to need to do better than that", Michael Blum said, shaking his head. Maybe if we allow international inspectors to look at our work ... can you see a downside to that?"

Jon Cartier pondered things for a minute. "Other than maybe giving people a glimpse of where we're ultimately going, I don't think so."

The President looked at him. "And if they do figure it out? What's the downside, then?"

"Someone else builds it before we do", replied Cartier. "Not a problem, in the greater scheme of things, but it might mean someone tries to steal a march on us when it comes to the ultimate goal."

President Blum looked out the window. Finally he said, "I'm willing to take that risk."