Northford
29-04-2006, 14:34
Northford Herald
Economy Booming = Military Expansion
By Joan Heart, Economic Expert
As my eyes look around the room, greeting the rising damp in the corners, stacks of paper on the desks, and old computer terminals dumped on the floor, one thing is clear: This is not where I would expect of a “Booming” company.
This article comes from my visiting to the “Northford Tactical Trading”, a small, profitably business, thriving on the recent surge in the Northfordian Economy, itself driven by foreign investment.
Talking to the owner, J.G Fields, he explains to me exactly what Northford Tactical Trading do…
"We’re a stock trading organisation. We use modern computers to beat other firms to gain the stocks and shares at exactly the right prices. If it wasn’t for the recent boom, this little niche wouldn’t be big enough to support us. And to think, its all due to our recent internationalisation. I can’t believe so many were opposed to it at first” He stops, smiling, “I think everyone, apart from possibly the pacifists and racists are feeling the positive effects”.
Pacifists and Racists?
It seems these two groups are becoming every louder voices in Northford. Simply put, the Racists don’t like other people from other countries visiting Northford, and the pacifists don’t like the fact that we now need a military to protect us from foreign threats.
A spokesman from the Northfordian pacifist committee has this to say:
“It’s all well and good expanding the economy to other countries, and opening up our stock markets. We welcome that. But why can’t we all just be friends? Furthermore, what’s up with the new “Peacekeeping Corps”. That’s a Euphemism if I’ve ever heard one….”He stopped, waiting for cheers from those surrounding him, “Why are we creating this thing? We have peace, we don’t need an army to keep it. And, what’s more, it’s not even a corps. It numbers 65 THOUSAND. IT’S AN ARMY. DOWN WITH THE ARMY. DOWN WITH THE ARMY”, was the chant.
The issue of race is somewhat more complicated, as during the isolationist period in history, it was actually encouraged. In fact, the civil rights movement was one of the driving forces in the country that pushed for internationalism.
More about race later. For now, lets focus on the new Peacekeeping Force that has recently been announced.
According to the official press release, the Peacekeeping Corps are to be “the first large, deployable Northfordian Military force”, being used for, “ensuring the peace is kept in foreign countries that either threaten Northfordian Interests, allies, or opportunities”.
The official release also gave details of how would operate, going into an unheard level of depth.
Apparently, it seems that there are three levels at which the peacekeeping corps can operate, aptly named “Low”, “Medium”, and “High”. Low and Medium are most developed levels, with the “Low” level mainly consisting of the Corps acting as glorified body guards, and using an extensive helicopter wing to aid the local police. “Medium” however, is designed to work in countries where there is significant insurgents or a small-scale civil war, using the “Zenith” Helicopters as a multipurpose craft to act as a ferry for fireteams. The “High” level, the most powerfully armed part of the the corps, is designed to actually fight of aggressors in countries where they are based. They mostly use heavy armour and attack planes to achieve their goals.
Lets look at a typical “Corps” fireteam:
Team Leader: Tactical Leadership, also Granadier, operating XM28
Tactical Sharpshooter/Scout: Operating XM8~ Sharpshooter
Automatic Rifleman./Sniper: Providing Suppressive fire/Sniper support
CIWS (Close in weapons specialist): Armed with Automatic shotgun, also Team Medic
Heavy Weapons Specialist/Rifleman: Depending on the mission profile, Either armed with a “Stinger” Missile, “Tank Buster” Rockets, or a standard XM8 rifle.
(http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10854578&postcount=2947)
Looking at this complex mess, it is hard to make sense of it. To fully appreciate this system, it is important to understand the missions it is expected to undertake. Broadly speaking, there are two main types: Land based, using IFV or Stryker vehicles; and Helicopter based, using the Zenith Class Helicopter as both a ferry and a support weapon.
When operating out of an IFV, the expected line up would be Team Leader, Tactical Sharpshooter, Automatic Rifleman, CIWS and either a Stinger Missile or a Tank Buster. When operating out of a helicopter, the composition although similar is slightly different. It consists of a Team Leader, Scout, Sniper, CIWS and a rifleman.
As well as this, the Peacekeeping Corps also has an attached Air Force.
Consisting mainly of a large number of freight aircraft, there are also a sizeable number of Fighters should they be required by the mission profile.
So far, however, we’ve only discussed what has officially been said.
The Northford Herald, can, however, reveal some more facts, leaked out unofficially through secret sources. By far the most important fact revealed was that the peacekeeping corps is going to be central to the “Cravan-Kraven” policy that has recently become popular within military and government circles. The policy, which advocates aiding Cravan wherever possibly, and containing the Kraven advance where possible. According to our sources, the “Peacekeeping Corps”, is merely a front for a highly mobile force designed to combat Kraven…
Read more in the Northford Herald “Comments”, published every Wednesday.
Economy Booming = Military Expansion
By Joan Heart, Economic Expert
As my eyes look around the room, greeting the rising damp in the corners, stacks of paper on the desks, and old computer terminals dumped on the floor, one thing is clear: This is not where I would expect of a “Booming” company.
This article comes from my visiting to the “Northford Tactical Trading”, a small, profitably business, thriving on the recent surge in the Northfordian Economy, itself driven by foreign investment.
Talking to the owner, J.G Fields, he explains to me exactly what Northford Tactical Trading do…
"We’re a stock trading organisation. We use modern computers to beat other firms to gain the stocks and shares at exactly the right prices. If it wasn’t for the recent boom, this little niche wouldn’t be big enough to support us. And to think, its all due to our recent internationalisation. I can’t believe so many were opposed to it at first” He stops, smiling, “I think everyone, apart from possibly the pacifists and racists are feeling the positive effects”.
Pacifists and Racists?
It seems these two groups are becoming every louder voices in Northford. Simply put, the Racists don’t like other people from other countries visiting Northford, and the pacifists don’t like the fact that we now need a military to protect us from foreign threats.
A spokesman from the Northfordian pacifist committee has this to say:
“It’s all well and good expanding the economy to other countries, and opening up our stock markets. We welcome that. But why can’t we all just be friends? Furthermore, what’s up with the new “Peacekeeping Corps”. That’s a Euphemism if I’ve ever heard one….”He stopped, waiting for cheers from those surrounding him, “Why are we creating this thing? We have peace, we don’t need an army to keep it. And, what’s more, it’s not even a corps. It numbers 65 THOUSAND. IT’S AN ARMY. DOWN WITH THE ARMY. DOWN WITH THE ARMY”, was the chant.
The issue of race is somewhat more complicated, as during the isolationist period in history, it was actually encouraged. In fact, the civil rights movement was one of the driving forces in the country that pushed for internationalism.
More about race later. For now, lets focus on the new Peacekeeping Force that has recently been announced.
According to the official press release, the Peacekeeping Corps are to be “the first large, deployable Northfordian Military force”, being used for, “ensuring the peace is kept in foreign countries that either threaten Northfordian Interests, allies, or opportunities”.
The official release also gave details of how would operate, going into an unheard level of depth.
Apparently, it seems that there are three levels at which the peacekeeping corps can operate, aptly named “Low”, “Medium”, and “High”. Low and Medium are most developed levels, with the “Low” level mainly consisting of the Corps acting as glorified body guards, and using an extensive helicopter wing to aid the local police. “Medium” however, is designed to work in countries where there is significant insurgents or a small-scale civil war, using the “Zenith” Helicopters as a multipurpose craft to act as a ferry for fireteams. The “High” level, the most powerfully armed part of the the corps, is designed to actually fight of aggressors in countries where they are based. They mostly use heavy armour and attack planes to achieve their goals.
Lets look at a typical “Corps” fireteam:
Team Leader: Tactical Leadership, also Granadier, operating XM28
Tactical Sharpshooter/Scout: Operating XM8~ Sharpshooter
Automatic Rifleman./Sniper: Providing Suppressive fire/Sniper support
CIWS (Close in weapons specialist): Armed with Automatic shotgun, also Team Medic
Heavy Weapons Specialist/Rifleman: Depending on the mission profile, Either armed with a “Stinger” Missile, “Tank Buster” Rockets, or a standard XM8 rifle.
(http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10854578&postcount=2947)
Looking at this complex mess, it is hard to make sense of it. To fully appreciate this system, it is important to understand the missions it is expected to undertake. Broadly speaking, there are two main types: Land based, using IFV or Stryker vehicles; and Helicopter based, using the Zenith Class Helicopter as both a ferry and a support weapon.
When operating out of an IFV, the expected line up would be Team Leader, Tactical Sharpshooter, Automatic Rifleman, CIWS and either a Stinger Missile or a Tank Buster. When operating out of a helicopter, the composition although similar is slightly different. It consists of a Team Leader, Scout, Sniper, CIWS and a rifleman.
As well as this, the Peacekeeping Corps also has an attached Air Force.
Consisting mainly of a large number of freight aircraft, there are also a sizeable number of Fighters should they be required by the mission profile.
So far, however, we’ve only discussed what has officially been said.
The Northford Herald, can, however, reveal some more facts, leaked out unofficially through secret sources. By far the most important fact revealed was that the peacekeeping corps is going to be central to the “Cravan-Kraven” policy that has recently become popular within military and government circles. The policy, which advocates aiding Cravan wherever possibly, and containing the Kraven advance where possible. According to our sources, the “Peacekeeping Corps”, is merely a front for a highly mobile force designed to combat Kraven…
Read more in the Northford Herald “Comments”, published every Wednesday.