NationStates Jolt Archive

Prelude.....

The Confederation of Rastoria had long had a reputation of internal instability and a really weak democratic government. The government had been crumbling under the increased demands of the people and the lack of centralized power. The nation had been forced to deal with the constant Union strikes that were devastating the nation as angry workers took to the streets and started picketing and some cases even open riots against their employers.

The riot police and even the military were never given the orders to mobilize and stop this because the Unions controlled key votes and the politicians wanted to be on their good side. The middle class were suffering from increase crime rates and lack of any sort of protection.

The Confederation eventually broke down into a state of total anarchy. The current Supreme Confederate abdicated from his position after his political rivals revealed pictures of his private love life behind the back of his wife. The press was all over the story and for several months. The press interviewed several supposed lovers of the Supreme Confederate. This hurt his reputation to the point of not even having a chance of re-election.

The next five years was a nightmare the Confederation was divided up into several factions that were trying taking control of the country. The factions were bitter rivals and used their resources to gain more territory from their rivals. The body count was high on the streets as thugs and mercenaries clashed on the streets.

The cities of the Confederation were literally battlegrounds of different ideologies and ambitions. The two prominent powers were the Lichencrest Industries a massive corporate conglomerate under the control of business tycoon and rumored Crime Boss Matthias Lichencrest.

The other faction was the Union of Socialist Workers. This faction was a made up of several business unions that opposed Matthias’s anti-union conglomerate. They had former police officers and many military officers from the now defunct Confederate military.

These two superpowers were the ones that had the country within their grasp. The people all respected both factions but feared them even more. The national elections of the past were no longer taking effect because these powers both opposed such things thus increasing the growing anarchy and factional control of both powers.


The middle class and poor people were tired of this life of living in a faction dominated nation with no centralized government and many wanted one side or the other to take power and end these five years of fighting and hell.



The largest faction Lichencrest Industries realizing their main target consumer markets wanted more stability. The board of directors and Matthias Lichencrest decided to begin giving them the security they wanted to increase Lichencrest Industries’ profit margin……..





The Present…………


The early morning edition of Lichencrest Times was sent to their regular buyers and to the hundreds of thousands of newspaper stands across the country. The front page would be of great interest to the citizens of Rastoria. They would soon find out what it truly meant to be united.


The front page had the following headline: Lichencrest Industries Formally Announces Corporate takeover of Rastoria! The people read over the article with great interest and the story spread far and wide.


The front page article stated that upon midnight tonight. The Confederation of Rastoria would become the official property of Lichencrest Industries. The citizens of the country would become employees to the buying conglomerate and that all Unions and rival factions were to disband or leave the country by midnight tonight…..


The story was highly controversial to the many citizens of Rastoria. The masses had mixed feelings about Lichencrest’s takeover of their nation. It would provide the peace and stability they wanted for so long. The only problem was that they did not like the idea of their nation becoming a corporate dominion of Lichencrest Industries. It was a sign of losing national sovereignty to the power of the almighty dollar and many people started to protest this act.

The protests were backed by the Union of Socialist Workers and some of them turned violent in the neighborhoods controlled by the Lichencrest Corporation. The massive crime waves were challenged from Lichencrest Family thugs and in some cases fully armed Lichencrest Security Brigades of the security division of Lichencrest Industries. These Mercs were armed with Lichencrest designed weapons military grade and they open fire into these crowds to disperse them. This led to small massacres around the country and the Union capitalized on this by spreading rumors and using their controlled media to report corporate hostilities against protestors to the new national order.


Midnight……


The minute midnight struck the world was silent and many protestors hushed as they listened to the sound of growling tank treads and the marching of over one hundred thousand Corporate Soldiers (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/LichencrestSecurityPersonal.jpg). Lichencrest’s Security Division had fully mobilized and began to claim the streets.


They marched armed with their tactical body armor wearing their standard gas masks and they began to march across the streets using massive loudspeakers to speak to all in the streets. “Citizens of Rastoria, The nation of Rastoria is now under Lichencrest control. Herr Lichencrest would like to wish you all well and begin the reign Lichencrest Industries with a nightly curfew to make the process of transaction move more smoothly.”


The majority of the masses on the street started to move away from the moving brigades of advancing military personal and their moving machines of death. They figured this might happened and did not want to face an angry conglomerate that now controlled the nation. The more hardened political opponents stayed and refused to move from their spots.


The Predator Heavy Battle Tanks (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/ThePredatorHeavyBattleTank.gif) and Dragoon Class APCs (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/DragoonClassAPC.jpg) halted and so did the infantry brigades that marched beside them. The loudspeakers repeated the message and then added the following. “Those that fail to listen to their employers shall be terminated!”

The protestors chanted and refused to leave until the hail of submachine gun fire punched into the mob. The sudden death and blood was to much for the crowd and they started to disperse into the night running trying to avoid being gunned down by the advancing forces of Lichencrest.


The next morning…..


The people’s curfew ended officially at dawn. The sight was a shock for the now employees of Lichencrest Industries. They watched as the new flag of their nation was raised for the first time at Lichencrest Tower. The now official capital of Rastoria; It was broadcast on international news. The rising skull and black sun emblem (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/LichencrestEmblem.jpg) of the Lichencrest family….

Emperor Kenneth Coleman hmmed and looked at the bald woman standing nearby. "Larea, what do you think of this 'corporate takeover'?"

The Head of the Senate watched for a few moments. "Shades of Resi Corp, only without plasma weapons."

"Indeed. Send a message of well wishes from the Empire to Lichencrest, whatever his full name may be."

Larea nodded and sat down behind the Emperor's desk, one of only two people he would allow to do such a thing(the other being his father) and sent the message.

Kenneth Coleman II, Emperor of The Intercontinental Empire of Crimmond would like to send his best wishes to the Emperor/CEO/Leader of Lichencrest Incorporated and hope that your profits overshadow all but our own. Once your lands are pacificed to levels where normal business can take place, the Crimm Stock Council will be prompted to consider your megacorporation's stock and allow trading in the Crimm markets.

Larea dinAthos, Senate Leader, also wishes you well and hops the violence in your nation will be put to an end and not resurface anytime soon. As a wise man once said... 'Peace Through Power'. She would also urge you to loosen up on unpopular and restrictive laws for a time, to show that you are indeed reasonable rulers and to quell the unhappy mutterings of those you have overcome.

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/2751/kenneth4xe.jpg
Kenneth Coleman II

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/1209/dinathosuo2.jpg
Larea dinAthos

The nation of Frenzia is completly against the corporate takeover.While stability in a crumbling nation is important we belive it should not be given by money hungry corporations.We ask that you continue providing aid to the nation but allow elections to take place so people that are not members of your corporation have a chance.

Location: Lichencrest Tower.......
Time: 12:00 PM (Rastorian Standard Time)




Herr Matthias Lichencrest was sitting in his plush arm chair at the head of a long rectangular table. The table was surrounded by the Board of Directors. The Directors were senior partners of the massive business conglomerate of Lichencrest Industries. They all looked upon their employer and CEO Matthias Lichencrest. The man whom turned this once small arms manufacturing company into a massive corporate superpower that had dominated Rastoria’s economy, and now their daily lives.

The senior partners of the board had been assembled to hold a meeting with their leader to decide on how to reconstruct this country to make it more profitable and thus more taxable. It was going to be a long and tiring event especially with the news media trying to get a hold of them to find out what their plans were for their country….

The senior partners made no comments and their personal residents were increased with more security personal to avoid retribution from angry members of the now outlawed Union of Socialist Workers. The nation was firmly under Lichencrest control both officially and unofficially. Herr Lichencrest was already using his status of Kingpin to launch several assassination attempts on the lives of his political and ideological rivals.


The Guild the criminal syndicate that Matthias Lichencrest had taken charge of during the time of anarchy and chaos began to send several hit men to residents of known enemies of Herr Lichencrest. These enemies would soon find themselves gun downed while heading out their front door or blowing up from a car bomb placed under the bottom of their chosen vehicle or by suffering other similar and more gruesome fates….


The lack of information had left several news people without a top story to talk about so most of them did the following story.




Rastorian News Tonight………


“Hello Everyone,

Today our top story is the hostile takeover initiated by the corporate conglomerate Lichencrest Industries. This corporate giant announced that it would begin a hostile takeover over the Confederation of Rastoria.

The senior partners on the board of directors have so far given us no answer as to why they saw fit to send in over one hundred thousand mercenary soldiers and begin sweeping the streets of their political and ideological opponents. They have begun immediate crackdown on several factions within the country including the following factions:

The Union of Socialist Workers
The Rastorian Mafia
The Reformed Confederacy Party
The Neo National Socialist Party
The Kormov Cabal
The Democracy Now Party


The Lichencrest family has also refused to make any official comments as to the fate of our once glorious and independent nation. They have so far declared all citizens employees of Lichencrest Industries and that they are the government of the now defunct Confederation.”


The reporter takes a deep breathe and adds, “Criminal violence is also on the rise with the deaths of several influential and key people within our society. These people have been found murdered in gangland style fashion. The criminal syndicate known as the Guild has reportedly taken credit for these murders stating that these men and women had refused to pay for services rendered before Lichencrest’s ascension…..”


These news reports were on both national and international channels all across the globe. The news was out that Lichencrest Industries had become a state onto itself…..


**********************************************************


The Public Relations Department of Lichencrest Industries received the message from The Intercontinental Empire of Crimmond. The head of the department sent this message straight to his superiors on the board of directors. The board looked the message over and decided to let the CEO Matthias Lichencrest answer the letter personally. It was his idea to undertake this risky and very costly takeover…


Herr Lichencrest read the message and took a cigar and started to smoke it. He liked the message it promised business opportunities for his company and that almost always could lead to profit.

Herr Lichencrest sent a message directly from his personal secretary to the Public Relations Department to respond to the Empire’s message…..


Official Lichencrest Industries Proclamation

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/LichencrestEmblem.jpg

"Lichencrest Industries to make the world a better place"



The current situation in Rastoria is being handled by our Security Division. We have suffered a great profit loss ever since the fall of our late Supreme Confederate. The stability of the country was a great sore point for most Rastorians and criminal organizations like the Mafia and the Guild were profiting from this mess. Herr Matthias Lichencrest the CEO of our great conglomerate decided to bring back the stability the people so desperately wanted. He decided to perform this great corporate takeover and replace the anarchy and social dishevel with a serene and businesslike atmosphere.


We have begun cleaning the streets of thugs, Union instigators, and angry protestors by having them arrested and in more violent cases having them terminated. We are not a heartless corporation we have the needs of the people in mind and we are trying to help them by giving them exactly what they want in exchange for a little profit…..



Signed,

CEO Matthias Lichencrest
The head of Lichencrest Industries

**********************************************************




The message from Frenzia was accepted and sent to the Public Relations Department for immediate response….



Official Lichencrest Industries Proclamation

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/LichencrestEmblem.jpg

"Lichencrest Industries to make the world a better place"



Lichencrest Industries is offended by your insult of being considered merely a “money hungry corporation.” We have lived in this chaos and had to pick up the pieces that a democratically elected government left for us. Lichencrest Industries merely wants to bring a peace and internal stability back into Rastoria.

We have successfully united the country under one organization and begun to start up programs to increase public health and safety. We have the people interests at heart because after all. The people are the consumers and the consumers are always right…


Signed,

CEO Matthias Lichencrest
The head of Lichencrest Industries

bump....

The Kolvokian Department of Foreign Affairs has issued the following statement.

We applaud the Lichencrest Industries for their restoration of order in a shattered nation. As a token of goodwill, and to help the nation in these turbulent times, we are willing to dispatch the Kolvokian Third Elites to aid in the complete restoration of order, should Lichencrest Industries be willing.

Encrypted Communique follows:

Matthias Lichencrest

My organization has a strong interest in the doings of your corporation. We are particularly intrigued by your complete domination of Rastoria. My present base of operations is in The Community of Siap, however I would like to expand, and possibly relocate. If you would let my organization operate within your borders, we would be willing to aid you in the construction of nuclear arms, in order to completely secure your control over the region.

I look forward to discussing business with you.

~Cassius

The PR department received the message from Kolvokia and handed it over to the Security Division to write out a formal response. It seemed more like a force related offer than a business one….

Official Lichencrest Industries Proclamation [

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/LichencrestEmblem.jpg

"Lichencrest Industries to make the world a better place"



The Lichencrest Security Division would like to formally invite Kolvokian forces into Rastoria to help in the pacification of the chaotic and unstable elements of this beleaguered society. The current objectives of this Division are to maintain social order and stability. We are currently waging small guerilla wars in the cities of Bismarck, and Sea Tac.



Signed,

Commander Thomas Sikes
The head of Lichencrest Security Forces



The message from another organization another country was of great interest to Herr Lichencrest. He himself sent the message back to Cassius and his organization.

Official Lichencrest Industries Proclamation [

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/LichencrestEmblem.jpg

"Lichencrest Industries to make the world a better place"



Lichencrest Industries is greatly interested in your offer to expand in exchange for the development of nuclear arms. My first business was actually a family owned arms manufacturing company that supplied the Confederation with weapons. I have consulted with my board of directors and we have agreed to allow your people to begin operations as soon as the chaotic elements are properly subdued.

I would not want to be held accountable for acts of terrorism committed by my rivals that seek to dislodge my position within this great nation of Rastoria.



Signed,

Ceo Matthias Lichencrest
The head of Lichencrest Industries

OOC: I have made a reply to both of you,

Jolt is currently blocking all my IC posts thanks to it possibly containing spam. I have to wait for a mod to unblock it. I apologize for the wait…..

Lichencrest,

We respect the restotration of peace, but you are not to annex Rastoria. You will restore a working, democratic government, economy, and military. You will then pull out all forces. If you fail to comply you will feel the wrath of, oh, say a full fledged invasion and 100 50 Megaton Warheads.

Good Day,

Emperor Alejandro Vamirez I of Laquasa

The nation of Frenzia is completly against the corporate takeover.While stability in a crumbling nation is important we belive it should not be given by money hungry corporations.We ask that you continue providing aid to the nation but allow elections to take place so people that are not members of your corporation have a chance.


Of course you would have a problem with a corporate take over. Be careful where you tred Frenzia... Our talons are much sharper and we still have lengering plans for you....

Did you see the Sic at the top of the post?

Did you see the Sic at the top of the post?

OOC: I didn't actually. I will delete my communique at once.

Did you see the Sic at the top of the post?

No because it was not in a place of noticable sight. proper use is...


SIC:


Blah..Blah... Blah




End SIC:

SIC to Lichencrest:

We oppose corporate communist dictatorships. If the puny nation of Lichencrest (You) doesn't pull out, there will be punishment. The prior threat stands.

From: Desk of Colderon Jason Zion- C.E.O. of Raven corps
To: Lichencrest Industries- Desk of the C.E.O.

I understand your blight. I understand your need for conquest. And I have seen my share of conquest. If you wish, from one corporation to another, I can have a ASAP deployment of my thrid Talon fleet to help reinforce your holdings.


Signed,
Colderon Jason Zion
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1340424.jpg

Lichencrest,

We respect the restotration of peace, but you are not to annex Rastoria. You will restore a working, democratic government, economy, and military. You will then pull out all forces. If you fail to comply you will feel the wrath of, oh, say a full fledged invasion and 100 50 Megaton Warheads.

Good Day,

Emperor Alejandro Vamirez I of Laquasa



SIC to Lichencrest:

We oppose corporate communist dictatorships. If the puny nation of Lichencrest (You) doesn't pull out, there will be punishment. The prior threat stands.



The Public Relations Department received the coded message from the government of Laquasa Isle. The messages were of a threatening tone and they were forwarded to the head of Lichencrest Industries himself. Herr Lichencrest…..


Official Lichencrest Industries Proclamation

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/LichencrestEmblem.jpg

"Lichencrest Industries to make the world a better place"



Lichencrest Industries does not bow down to the threats of violence from outside entities. We are merely providing our consumer market the atmosphere of security and stability that they themselves wanted. You have told us to pull out of Rastoria but you do not seem to realize we are a corporation based in Rastoria. We have no where to pull out and your proposal of a new democratic government is ridiculous. The last government was a democratic one and it left the place a bloody mess.

I am not going to repeat the same mistakes and allow a doomed government body to take power. I have already invested a lot of time and money into stabilizing this country and I intend to capitalize and profit from this transaction. If you attempt to invade you will be seen as an aggressor and will be dealt with accordingly by Lichencrest’s Security Division. …..




Signed,

CEO Matthias Lichencrest
The head of Lichencrest Industries





From:Desk of Colderon Jason Zion- C.E.O. of Raven corps
To: Lichencrest Industries- Desk of the C.E.O.

I understand your blight. I understand your need for conquest. And I have seen my share of conquest. If you wish, from one corporation to another, I can have a ASAP deployment of my third Talon fleet to help reinforce your holdings.


Signed,
Colderon Jason Zion
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1340424.jpg



The message from the CEO of Raven Corps was sent directly to the Board of Directors and to Herr Lichencrest himself. Matthias Lichencrest and the senior partners reviewed the offer of allowing Raven Corps into the country with military forces.

Raven Corps had a reputation of being large and domineering. Mathias Lichencrest along with his Board of Directors debated about this and decided to allow them to enter with their forces since the government of Laquasa Isle was threatening to destroy Lichencrest Industries just for existing.





Official Lichencrest Industries Proclamation

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/LichencrestEmblem.jpg

"Lichencrest Industries to make the world a better place"



Lichencrest Industries would like to formally accept your proposal to allow you to bring in your third talon fleet to help secure Rastoria. I must however formally warn you that we are under threat from the government of Laquasa Isle. They have issued us threats of nuclear strikes and a full invasion of our territorial holdings…..




Signed,

CEO Matthias Lichencrest
The head of Lichencrest Industries

OOC: I have made a reply to both of you, (Raven Corps, Laquasa Isle)

Jolt is currently blocking all my IC posts thanks to it possibly containing spam. I have to wait for a mod to unblock it. I apologize for the wait…..

ok.. I can wait..

OOC: For what its worth, I think the thing on the mods page say it only affects those who have less than ten posts.

OOC: I now have ten posts with this message!

OOC: you could, conceivably, attempt to post your IC posts now..

OOC: this could be a double post, since i think they're doing the same thing to me, but let me try again... I forgot the wording of the first one, so this one will be different... erg
IC:
Start message:

From: the Aliastor Military Force Contracting Agency (AMFCA)
To: All Nations involved with conflict in the former Confederation of Rastoria

Due to the potential military conflict in this region the AMFCA has seen fit to offer our servises to any and all in the area requiring military support. We currently have 3 units ready to be hired at a lowered fee, again due to the nature of the conflict. One unit consists of:

2 Dragonbird Low-Earth-Orbit Superbombers
16 AA-27 Escort Fighters
1 Dragonbird Low-Earth-Orbit Heavy Transport
800 Highly trained paratroops or 20 light para-drop tanks
8 AG-28 Ground Attack Planes

For Members of this conflict only the price per unit has been dropped from the normal 4 Million USD per unit per week, to only 3 Million USD! This includes all supplies ammunition and transport of these units!

For further rules to the hiring of these units, please go to:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=513775

~James Wilder
CEO of AMFCA and President of Aliastor

While we do not wish for conflict it is asked that you allow the people to choose their own government.If you have the people's wishes in mind you would want them to choose their government.Also we would like to warn you against dealings with Raven corps,we have had problems in the past and we are sure that they will not be in this to help the people but rather to rape and kill them.

"Quite a lot of contraversy, eh?" Kenneth said, reading over a couple of the intercepted messages.

"Mega-Corps are always contraversial. Jai Resi was hounded every day for years by his detractors. Same with his Corporate Islands alliance." Larea said, jacking herself into the mainframe of the palace via the dataport just below the base of her throat. "I'm getting the data now. Ah. Our AIs tend to agree that there are two possibilities: This new Mega-Corp will become a massive power within a few years or be wiped off the map in a few months."

Kenneth stood up. "Well, what if they get an ally? What if they're no longer floating in the sea of sharks alone?"

"Querying.... Their odds of survival drastically improve if we're hovering nearby." Larea answered, sighing. "Just what we need... another war."

"There won't be a war. Look at who's voicing disapproval. We, as in teh Empire alone and not NATO or Gholgoth, can crap on most of them from so high up they'd think it was God himself doing the shitting." Kenneth smirked at the expression on her face.

---

An open video communication to Lichencrest Industries, unencoded and meant for all to see:

"CEO Lichencrest, I am Emperor Coleman. I would like you to know that you have our full support to get on your feet and stablize your nation. I've noticed mixed responses to your actions and I have decided that there is only one logical thing to do to insure future mutal profits: You cannot stand alone against a sea of nations that could easily step on you and not even see a dent in their economy. I am therefore willing to allocate a Marine Army Group to your nation, along with a Marine Air Wing to help defend your nation from any hyenas that prowl for prey among the weaker nations."

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/2751/kenneth4xe.jpg
Kenneth Coleman II

The Kolvokian Third Elites were the top military outfit in Kolvokia, and one of the only where High Kolvokians served, not only as officers, but also alongside the Low Kolvokians as infantrymen.

There was a saying, uttered by both the High Kolvokians and the Low of the Third Elites that 'A Low Kolvokian here is worth a High Kolvokian anywhere else.' It was never disputed within the earshot of any member of the Third Elites.

The purpose of these brave two hundred men, and of their commander, Lord Halthor, was twofold. First, to assist in putting down a rebellion of the sort that would bring no one any good in the long run. Second, to secure good relations with an entity that might some day be of equal use to Kolvokia.

The plane neared the border, and banked towards the military airport nearest the border, requesting permission to land.

The Lord Reaver had been monitoring the situation since Emperor Coleman's attention was first roused. A mega-corp was not something he would usually take an interest in, much less one with interests in conquests. An uneasy relationship with the idiots involved with Jai and the other Resi toads had left Panterans soured on corporate governing. However, a strange urge to go forward took hold of the Evenstar, and he hurriedly brought up a program on his computer screen.

His thick, calloused hands were awkward on the small keyboard, but soon a passable message was complete and, after a three-minute wait for scrambling, was delivered to Coleman in far-off Crimmond:

My brother...

I have been informed of your interest in Lichencrest Corp, and it's affairs abroad. I, too, have been monitoring the situation, and would be eager to offer any aid I might, to ensure the survival of the Corporation.

A small Panteran battlegroup is less than three hundred miles from Rastoria, anchored by the battle carrier Grief. My orders to the formation are to maintain position for now, and await further communication from Crim forces. They will then act independantly, but under your advice.

I am sure you do not need to be told that the Lord Reaver's involvement in this situation will remain secret until such a time as he makes it known to the world at large. However, your own actions as a go-between, for the moment, would go far toward pleasing the Evenstar and strengthening our already iron ties. Please pass on to Lichencrest, quietly, our fondest wishes for luck in this endeavor, and the friendly offer of monetary and, possibly, military aid.

-Evenstar

The message from another organization another country was of great interest to Herr Lichencrest. He himself sent the message back to Cassius and his organization.

Official Lichencrest Industries Proclamation [

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Xharnia/LichencrestEmblem.jpg

"Lichencrest Industries to make the world a better place"



Lichencrest Industries is greatly interested in your offer to expand in exchange for the development of nuclear arms. My first business was actually a family owned arms manufacturing company that supplied the Confederation with weapons. I have consulted with my board of directors and we have agreed to allow your people to begin operations as soon as the chaotic elements are properly subdued.

I would not want to be held accountable for acts of terrorism committed by my rivals that seek to dislodge my position within this great nation of Rastoria.



Signed,

Ceo Matthias Lichencrest
The head of Lichencrest Industries

encrypted response:

Matthias Lichencrest,

My organization has all of the technical know-how to produce nuclear weapons, as well as a steady supply of unenriched uranium and a steady supply of heavy water. Unfortunately, at this time, our enrichment capcities are limited, and we have only one nuclear reactor, which we must currently operate in secrecy. We would be willing to help you construct the weapons themselves, if your corporation could construct the facilities needed. Are you still interested/

~Cassius

"Let's see... a Panteran battlegroup, a Crimm army and attached air wing... best be careful, sir. We might spook the Mega-Corp and make them think we intend to quietly annex them..." Larea said, reading over the report.

"No, I doubt that. There's no viable reason for us to take over this small nation. We're trying to deal with the Brotherhood of Nod down in Africa, lest they try and seize the whole province." Coleman leaned back in the ancient chair behind his equally ancient desk. "As for what we sent, it could cause a whole lot of trouble for the Corp, but not take power."

"Sent?"

"Yes, the Vladimir and her Carrier Group set out yesterday. The air wing is still in Crimmond, awaiting airfields to be prepared in Rastoria. Better to have them on their way if it's a yes. If it's a no... then I'll route the group to Africa and have them conduct field training excercises."

-----

A message was sent in the same amnner back to the Lord Reaver.

It has been too long since our nations spoke, Dayne. And it has not gone unnoticed that you and I have not actually spoken in person since my reign began... That is beside the point though. We welcome your support and do hope that it will not be needed. One Gholgothian power should scare off most of the agressors with sense. The rest have balls of steel or brains of lead.

The CSS Vladimir will signal the Grief if the situation turns sour. They are due in the area within a day and a half. When they accept our own offer, yours will be passed along. No need to spook them into thinking we mean to invade and conquer.

-Coleman

"Rastoria..." said one of the docks techniction crew men said as he looked over the shipment manifest for the fleet. Rastoria was close to a newly controled garrison not to far away. A fully capable combat fleet as well as the invasion force where still there and where given the task of " meeting" the new governing body there.

The dock crews had just gotten everything off the ships when the new orders came in. But it was a hard life and they knew what would heppen if they couldn't keep up with their work duties. So the ships where reloaded and rearmed and remaned. With the new nation so close it would not take long to get there.