NationStates Jolt Archive

The Galactic Defense Initiative was at its first low point ever since Nod began the Fourth Tiberium War, with its surprise invasion of Mars. It had started out well, with the massive celebration of the death of Kane, with the GDI doing everything in its power to ensure his death.

After all, when you annihilate a moon to kill one man, you know someone wants him dead VERY badly.

With that, they had crushed Nod, and pounded their Tiberium-covered planets to barren wastelands. The GDI had always tried to be moral and nice before, fighting war as fairly as they could. But the public finally decided to give them carte blanche, and Nod was eradicated. If any remained, it was maybe a few squads, nothing worth worrying about. Then had come the discovery of the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, and within a short time, they had negotiated and become part of that alliance. They were gaining powerful allies, new friends, a system to increase their defense and much, much more. They were a bunch of good, nice, friendly nations who worked to preserve peace, good, light, and morality in a galaxy consumed by evil and tyranny. An attractive bargain.

They failed to see that even the best of nations can fall, and that even those who fight evil the most....have a darkside.

When the Dark Crusade was discovered by Coreworlds, the GDI had no idea of their horrific actions on Caprica, how they had condemned the Colonies to the Empire, to face them alone. They had no idea of how they had black-holed an embassy on Caprica, killing hundreds of people. They did not know, as they had not been able to get the funding to get fully integrated into the GFFA systems. So, like a good friend, they had offered to protect their ally. And the Second Fleet, which had been small, even for GDI, at the time as the Congress had revamped the military and changed up the fleet.

They had gone to Jurai, deploying defense orbital ion cannons to aid them, and were prepared to fight for them. The Initiative, new to the Galactic scene, had no idea of what was to come. When the battle began, the numbers boggled the mind. However, they followed their training, as the GDI expected to be outnumbered, and went for quality. However, they had not been fully informed on the Balroggan capabilities, and as such, the Second Fleet's utter decimation by the Balroggan fleet sent shock waves of shock and terror throughout all of the Initiative.

Before they could even recover, news came in of the Coreworld's deeds and sins, due to EWT's transmissions throughout the GFFA news networks. The people were even further stunned by the forced surrender of the pitiful remnants of the Second Fleet, when Nightshade's reinforcements arrived at the exact point the GDI needed to use to escape. All of this came at once, and just caused the typical response of a public.

They got angry. Massive protests broke out at all the capitals of the nations on Earth, along with those on Mars. Some were aggrieved over the thousands of lives lost against an enemy they could not face, others by the obvious futility of the GDI presence there. Even the GDI, without deploying their entire fleet and baring their worlds to invasion, could not withstand those numbers. Most of all, the Coreworld's actions, exaggerated or not, were causing the people to go into a blind rage. Many called for instant withdrawal from the GFFA.

The government, although not as rash, made concessions to calm the people and let them regain their reason. They had the remnants of the Second Fleet turn their surrender into a full surrender for the GDI, and begin negotiations with the mysterious Balroggans. They also were preparing a formal speech to the GFFA about their withdrawal. As anxious and full of regret as they were, they were a democracy and the people had clearly spoken. The government itself, while not going to the extremes the people demanded, were divided, confused, angry, and terrified, of what had happened with Coreworlds, the Colonies, and at Jurai. They had to take the proper course of action, lest they be obliterated by enemies they could not face.

Since they had begun withdrawing their forces from the Crusade conflict, they began other projects which needed funds that had been eaten by this effort. The Earth Reclamation Project began, where the GDI would begin a systematic and carefully thought out procedure of reducing the Tiberium fields to several key areas. As much as they hated it, the people and the government realized they needed Tiberium, and after much debate, referendums, and voting, they had selected zones to slice out. A large chunk of central Africa, much of Siberia, and all of Canada were given up for lost. Most of those who had been in Canada had fled to the then independent nation of America, and they had been living so long where they were now, they had decided to give it up.

That and it had almost completely become a red zone. It was literally impossible to fix that area, unless devoting everything at it. So, they had decided to let it be, and were going to eradicate enough to control it with a massive sonic fence, and cover the ground and seas around it with environmentally friendly chemicals to prevent it from spreading again.

Along with that, they began construction of the FEDBED network, and the monumental Home Protection Act was finally put into effect. Although this firmly limited GDI foreign military actions greatly, it would finally allow them to fully colonize their home system, and give them a firm base to go off of with further expansion and colonization.


So it was that the GDI entered a mini-period of isolation and internal building, and it was during this tense time of dark actions, fear of the unknown, and a struggle with morality, that the New Dornalians had stepped forward to give them aid. The government was shocked when the Dornalians offered to help them upgrade their military, to enable them to fight alongside them against enemies much stronger than they were.

Desperate for such an upgrade, they had invited the Dornalians to the recently rebuilt space station, the Washington. This was where the nation's leaders, along with the GDI official government, met to discuss budget plans, major actions, and other things. Key amongst the discussion was their response to Coreworld's actions; they had to say and do something about it, but they were unsure of what. And of course, listening to what the Dornalians had to say.

For now, they waited for their allies to arrive.....

The Workers State had indeed offered to help the Galactic--formerly Global--Defense Initiative rebuild its battlefleet and get them back into the game, as it were. Robert MacIntyre had heard the reports of the GDI surrender over the battlefield updates from Admiral Nomura, and he could only sigh and shrug. They were nearly obliterated, so they really had no other choice. And frankly, MacIntyre and the JRCCC, looking at the data they had on the GDI, were not willing to let an ally, especially a fellow GFFA member, fall to the whims of the enemy. Especially after Mirfak.

Of course, the GDI reaction about the Caprica Incident made Robert curse the Woodians and their paladinlike assholitude once again. "Fucking Thorazine! FUCKING COCKSUCKING KEITH OLBERMANN RIPOFF WANNABE!" he had said, mangling the Woodian commentator's name of Theoride once more as he threw a half-consumed bottle of Glenlivet whiskey at the wall of the office in the Executive Mansion in a fit of rage.

With that, the more levelheaded and less tipsy Carla Baileygates was wisely chosen instead to arrive. The GDI would know her as the Consul to the GFFA. However, she would right now act in her official capacity as Commissar of Foreign Affairs. She would have to navigate one hard road--everything else would be easy--and that was the Coredians. Unlike the GDI, the Dornalians reacted much differently to the Caprica Incident. Yes, there was the rise of the Quit Coredia Coalition and skepticism about the War. But there were also plenty of Dornalians who rallied around the "Hero of the Revolution," Daniel Alexander Masaki, and saw the act as a regrettable, sad, but unfortunately necessary part of conducting the great Coredian War of National Liberation--out of loyalty, out of sympathy, and out of reaction to what some saw as rather heavyhanded moralizing by Theoride. Carla would have to be careful there.

And it was the Commissar of Foreign Affairs that arrived in a Mao Zedong Mark IIIa Pocket Battleship, the NDS Hong Kong, at the edge of GDI Space, with the words, "Washington, this is the New Dornalian starship Hong Kong. Requesting docking coordinates, over."

Hong Kong, this is Washington Control. You are cleared for docking. We are putting up a NAV marker on your HUD. Proceed at angle four-zero-five degrees, inclination three-five-six. Welcome to Initiative space; the Chiefs of Staff and the Director are eager to meet with you as soon as possible. Don't know what's up, but you got them all excited in their old age. Washington Control out.

The station rotated slowly amongst the vast network of Ion Cannon Orbital Defense Platforms. Formerly only used as a massive weapon for ground operations, it had been upgraded, as best as possible, with railguns, missiles, and batteries of Ion Blasters. However, it still fell short of many of the average orbital defense systems out there, but the GDI did not know of them, so they couldn't know how behind they were.

That was bound to change, however. As the Hong Kong moved towards the station, a single Grizzly-class destroyer moved in as escort. The GDI left nothing to chance.

Hong Kong, this is Washington Control. You are cleared for docking. We are putting up a NAV marker on your HUD. Proceed at angle four-zero-five degrees, inclination three-five-six. Welcome to Initiative space; the Chiefs of Staff and the Director are eager to meet with you as soon as possible. Don't know what's up, but you got them all excited in their old age. Washington Control out.

The station rotated slowly amongst the vast network of Ion Cannon Orbital Defense Platforms. Formerly only used as a massive weapon for ground operations, it had been upgraded, as best as possible, with railguns, missiles, and batteries of Ion Blasters. However, it still fell short of many of the average orbital defense systems out there, but the GDI did not know of them, so they couldn't know how behind they were.

That was bound to change, however. As the Hong Kong moved towards the station, a single Grizzly-class destroyer moved in as escort. The GDI left nothing to chance.

The Hong Kong, in its glorious 3-4km size, would no doubt dwarf the Grizzly escort as the Mao Zedong-class vessel moved to the coordinates and directions specified on the HUD and in the transmission, Gracie, the ship's AI, making the proper adjustments. Looking out of the portholes, Carla saw the orbital facilities surrounding this copy of Earth as the ship came closer to the planet. She saw the bristling arrays of Orbital Defenses, which were adequate, but would definetly need a big boost to remain competitive in order to keep the GDI's homeworld, however decayed it was owing to "Tiberium"--sounded to Carla like an old video game foe, or something like that, but she dismissed the idea--safe from harm's way.

When it approached Washington, the Hong Kong extended its docking umbilical, opting not to use teleporters just yet. Carla then walked onto the station, flanked by two People's Acolyte bodyguards, one of the Qiangquan School, the other of the California School, to meet her hosts.

The destroyer, not bothered in the least by the other ships immensity, did it's job in escorting the Mao Zedong to its berth. Once it was safely attached, it moved back to its normal patrol route. The GDI had plenty of space to cover now, with the Home System Act being enforced, and so they needed to keep things as streamlined as possible.

The Consul, upon entering the Washington with her two guards, would see an aged man, with a nicely trimmed beard shot with gray, standing there with an escort of Initiative Marines. Extending an hand, he spoke.

"Greetings, Consul Baileygates. I am Arthur Macmillan, Prime Minister of the European Federation. I have come to see you to the meeting chamber, as well as answer any quick questions. If you'll follow me...."

The destroyer, not bothered in the least by the other ships immensity, did it's job in escorting the Mao Zedong to its berth. Once it was safely attached, it moved back to its normal patrol route. The GDI had plenty of space to cover now, with the Home System Act being enforced, and so they needed to keep things as streamlined as possible.

The Consul, upon entering the Washington with her two guards, would see an aged man, with a nicely trimmed beard shot with gray, standing there with an escort of Initiative Marines. Extending an hand, he spoke.

"Greetings, Consul Baileygates. I am Arthur Macmillan, Prime Minister of the European Federation. I have come to see you to the meeting chamber, as well as answer any quick questions. If you'll follow me...."

Carla smiled and said with a disarmingly comforting tone whilst shaking Arthur MacMillan's hand firmly, "For now, it's Commissar Baileygates. I'm technically not acting in my capacity as GFFA Consul, I'm just representing New Dornalia right now. But its okay." She then walked, following the PM down the hall to the meeting area, looking around at the interior of the Washington with some curiosity.

She then thought of the title the PM gave himself. European Federation, eh? So what she had read about the GDI was true--that they weren't so much a united government like the Workers State was, but a federated grouping of governments on Earth, united something like the United States of America was in the 20th Century. Interesting indeed. She postulated this in a question, saying, "Mr. MacMillan--a query--you said your government was the European Federation? Would this be a subset of the GDI, or an entity within it joined in confederation? I'm rather curious."

The Prime Minister chuckled. "Of course, ma'am. My apologies, I'm just used to the other title." They walked along the hall, escorted by the alert squad. She would see an advanced, for the GDI, space station. Filled with computers, and brilliant people working on maintaining the GDI way of life and keeping their people safe, it was the hub of communication and C&C. However, having learned from the Third Tiberium War, they had a network of C&C, communications, and the like, so simply destroying the Washington would no longer work.

The Prime Minister looked at Carla when she asked about his country and the GDI. "Ah, I see. My nation is a subset of the Initiative. You see, the Tiberium infesting our world had grown over so much several decades ago, that nations began to collapse and fall apart. To prevent Nod from taking over, and to keep ourselves united and economically, politically, and socially stable, the GDI and the remaining world nations become one, single nationstate. With the Nod threat gone now, however, we have established a system where the leaders of the nations are elected again, but they work with the GDI government much as the congressmen and women did in former America. We represent our countries, who are controlled by the GDI, and helped to vote on things like budgets, wars, and the like. However, the real power lies in the Chiefs of Staff who run the GDI. Elected now more through voting than military edict, they still are highly trained and help to run both the military and the government."

He turned around a corner and looked at her again. "Does that help, Commissar?"

He turned around a corner and looked at her again. "Does that help, Commissar?"

Carla nodded and said, stroking her chin, "Fascinating. A federal system like that of the 20th Century United States, in essence. And one I say that admittedly, the Workers State is increasingly moving towards, given the distances involved in colonizing space and the liberalizing trends of my government."

Turning to MacMillan once more, she said, "I believe it does, Mr. MacMillan. Clears things up." Arriving at the meeting room, she then walked in after the PM, looking upon the assembled delegates from the other "nations" that made up the GDI. Bowing, she then stood up and said, "Good day."

Arthur nodded. "It was my pleasure." Walking in after her, he resumed his seat at his nation's spot, along with the other delegates, whom Carla might notice favorably had a good amount of women as leaders. The Chief's of Staff themselves had half of their people as women. This society had already banished its civil demons many years ago in face of Tiberium and Nod. Director Granger, whom she would recognize from the transmission he sent when the GDI first petitioned to enter the GFFA, sat at the central point.

As she greeted them, she would have heard a part of the debate they appeared to be having and heard the word "Coredian." It was apparent that they were still in a deadlock about what to do about the Coredian issue. However, that quieted down at her entrance. Granger pushed himself out of his seat and walked over, holding out his own.

"Greetings, Consul-"

"She's here as Foreign Commissar, Jack."

He chuckled. "Ah, thanks Arthur."

"Just doing what I'm paid for."

Granger turned back to her. "Greetings, Commissar, to the Washington. What can the GDI do for you today?"

Granger turned back to her. "Greetings, Commissar, to the Washington. What can the GDI do for you today?"

Carla smiled and put down her breifcase down on the table, opening it up and pulling out some papers and datapads for the benefit of the assembled parties. Satisfied with this, she closed the case and put it to one side. Coughing to clear her throat, she then spoke with clearness and an unusual calm:

"Director Granger and esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen. As has been mentioned I am Carla Tumlinson Baileygates, Commissar of Foreign Affairs from the Workers State of New Dornalia. I have come here to speak on behalf of my government, which has offered to extend aid in rebuilding and rearming the military of the Galactic Defense Initiative. As both of our parties know, your military suffered a disastrous defeat at Jurai, losing an entire fleet at the hands of the Kythons."

She then walked to the stack of papers and pads and began passing out copies of both to each of the assembled delegates, saying along the way, "We in the Workers State, we feel, have the technology and some of the expertise necessary to fight the Kythons. In these papers are samples of Dornalian military technology. Replicator weapons. Temporal Shielding. Singularity reactors. Hyper-X Capacitors imported from the Huntarian Alliance. Abh EM Rifles and locally produced Dornalian gauss weapons. It's all in that packet."

Returning to the podium, she then concluded with, "We are also willing to offer industrial aid as well, to aid in reconstruction of this fleet, and access to our shipyards to build your vessels. Also note that we are open to other suggestions, questions, and issues you have with us as well."

Granger's faced tightened at the mention of Jurai and the lost fleet there. "Yes....it was a horrible hit to morale and GDI confidence. I am speaking truthfully here when I say the public is terrified of any of our foreign actions, such as the peacekeeping mission at the CIS, as they think the aliens are ready to come out and massacre us again. Of course, when the first major battle on the galactic stage resulted in thousands of casualties, then there is some reason to see why they are so upset."

They took her sheets and began to read, the Chief's of Staff's eyes widening as they saw the technology being given to them, some gulping as the immense upgrades they were being given. Granger eyes narrowed as he read and then he looked up.

"I know we are allies, but this is going to cost quite a lot, isn't it? Especially with having to make the immense ships that we GDI make all the time. And the upgrades, Jesus, the cost is maddening. We also would have to start revamping our entire technology sector; no offense, Commissar, but I don't want to have to rely on your good graces to see us get new ships. I also must tell you we currently have a lot of resources devoted to other programs. The forcing of Tiberium to controlled areas, the colonization of our system, construction of the FEDBED network, we don't have much outside of maintaining our other budgets, and those programs. And the overhauls required on all existing installations, bases, ships, the redefining of tactics this is going to require....are you sure you can help us with this, both in the making and monetarily?"

Arthur gazed at all the items and then looked up. "An addition, if I may. This is all well and good, but do you have any FTL drives we could use? Tanhausser is great and all, but its immense restrictions have reduced us to situations like the ones Second Fleet faced. I'd rather avoid such fiasco's, ladies and gentlemen."

Granger's faced tightened at the mention of Jurai and the lost fleet there. "Yes....it was a horrible hit to morale and GDI confidence. I am speaking truthfully here when I say the public is terrified of any of our foreign actions, such as the peacekeeping mission at the CIS, as they think the aliens are ready to come out and massacre us again. Of course, when the first major battle on the galactic stage resulted in thousands of casualties, then there is some reason to see why they are so upset."

They took her sheets and began to read, the Chief's of Staff's eyes widening as they saw the technology being given to them, some gulping as the immense upgrades they were being given. Granger eyes narrowed as he read and then he looked up.

"I know we are allies, but this is going to cost quite a lot, isn't it? Especially with having to make the immense ships that we GDI make all the time. And the upgrades, Jesus, the cost is maddening. We also would have to start revamping our entire technology sector; no offense, Commissar, but I don't want to have to rely on your good graces to see us get new ships. I also must tell you we currently have a lot of resources devoted to other programs. The forcing of Tiberium to controlled areas, the colonization of our system, construction of the FEDBED network, we don't have much outside of maintaining our other budgets, and those programs. And the overhauls required on all existing installations, bases, ships, the redefining of tactics this is going to require....are you sure you can help us with this, both in the making and monetarily?"

Arthur gazed at all the items and then looked up. "An addition, if I may. This is all well and good, but do you have any FTL drives we could use? Tanhausser is great and all, but its immense restrictions have reduced us to situations like the ones Second Fleet faced. I'd rather avoid such fiasco's, ladies and gentlemen."

Carla wasn't expecting this reception. Usually, when Dornalians offered massive amounts of military and industrial aid to people, they didn't ask this many questions. "Jesus. Look a fucking gift horse in the mouth, why don't you," she thought. But still, they had a point, and one that needed to be addressed. Calmly Carla breathed in, and told the assembled crowd, holding her hands up, "Ladies, Gentlemen, please." With a cough, she began to address the collective concerns of the assembled:

"I am fully, fully aware of the expense in time and money that this will involve. But, let me answer a few of your concerns, if I may try to do so.

First of all, let me say that the Workers State is more than prepared to assist the Galactic Defense Initiative in rebuilding its military forces. I recognize you have plenty of other business to worry about, such as the infamous Tiberium plague that grips your Earth. I also recognize your skepticism about whether we really can do this.

Rest assuredly, to address this financial problem, the Workers State would consider any transfers of equipment and advisors on staff to familiarize your men with the tools as part of our budget allocated to" she coughed as she rattled off the tonguetwister of a name--"Aid in the Name of Foreign Solidarity and Empowerment. That is, aid to be given freely, with no strings attached on your part. This also counts as part of our military spending. Both parts of our budget are quite generously endowed at the moment, thanks to Premier MacIntyre's outward looking policies. We are also blessed with a massive industrial base with extensive use of replicators and a very healthy economy. So I think we can handle this.

Second of all. I understand your concerns about conflicts with technology. But, our equipment is very backwards-compatible--not that I mean anything by that--and it can be easily integrated with a variety of electronics and systems used by spacefaring civilizations, and function with a variety of operating systems. I postulate the Ganoxans as an example."

With some candor, Carla said, "Besides, if it isn't in our databanks, we'll make it fit."

She then pulled out her PDA, pushed a few buttons, and then replicated a stack of datasheets for the Pinball Wizard FTL system. She then passed them around, saying, "And to address Mr. Macmillan's question, here is the datasheet for the FTL-4 Pinball Wizard system, with appropriate Drive Computer. FTL-4 is, cutting through all the mumbo-jumbo, a drive that folds space and time. It can warp you to anywhere you need to go, without worry of anything like a Red Line thanks to the Drive Computer. Of course, there is the matter of phase-in time, which increases the further your destination is from your location. We also have the Mannerheim II FTL Inhibitor, which uses a gravity well generator and temporal distortion equipment to prevent the use of FTL within a certain radius, if you want that."

Carla then returned to the podium, and said in a conciliatory manner, "I also recognize the fear of getting entangled in foreign affairs the defeat at Jurai has produced. Understandable--with all the powerful alien empires out there eager for human flesh, it does well to exercise caution and conserve your strength. Lives cannot be replaced."

With the confidence that came from a position of military potency, however, Carla capped the speech with, "But I can assure you that with the help I propose and the technology I can provide, the public will be assured that any alien nasties will think twice once they meet a reinvigorated, empowered GDI Navy that can play hardball like any other. I say that's well worth it. Any more questions?"

Carla wasn't expecting this reception. Usually, when Dornalians offered massive amounts of military and industrial aid to people, they didn't ask this many questions. "Jesus. Look a fucking gift horse in the mouth, why don't you," she thought. But still, they had a point, and one that needed to be addressed. Calmly Carla breathed in, and told the assembled crowd, holding her hands up, "Ladies, Gentlemen, please." With a cough, she began to address the collective concerns of the assembled:

"I am fully, fully aware of the expense in time and money that this will involve. But, let me answer a few of your concerns, if I may try to do so.

First of all, let me say that the Workers State is more than prepared to assist the Galactic Defense Initiative in rebuilding its military forces. I recognize you have plenty of other business to worry about, such as the infamous Tiberium plague that grips your Earth. I also recognize your skepticism about whether we really can do this.

Rest assuredly, to address this financial problem, the Workers State would consider any transfers of equipment and advisors on staff to familiarize your men with the tools as part of our budget allocated to" she coughed as she rattled off the tonguetwister of a name--"Aid in the Name of Foreign Solidarity and Empowerment. That is, aid to be given freely, with no strings attached on your part. This also counts as part of our military spending. Both parts of our budget are quite generously endowed at the moment, thanks to Premier MacIntyre's outward looking policies. We are also blessed with a massive industrial base with extensive use of replicators and a very healthy economy. So I think we can handle this.

Second of all. I understand your concerns about conflicts with technology. But, our equipment is very backwards-compatible--not that I mean anything by that--and it can be easily integrated with a variety of electronics and systems used by spacefaring civilizations, and function with a variety of operating systems. I postulate the Ganoxans as an example."

Granger looked at the stuff again and shook his head. He just couldn't imagine it. Sitting heavily in a nearby chair, he set the datapad down and rubbed his head. This was all too much, in a series of hours when he wasn't able to take a break. Seeing that Jack was starting to get a headache, Arthur decided to step in at that point. "We understand, Commissar. We do not mean to offend you, we just cannot imagine spending and production of this magnitude. Again, blame that on our inexperience with the galactic scale of things. I am sure I speak for everyone when I say we are thankful for this, and will remember the Dornalians for some time.

We just want to make sure everything is alright, as we have had troubles in the past when trying to make Scrin technology compatible with our own. Trust me, I do not want to go through such a time as that, with its many fires, explosions, and sudden power outages. It was a financial nightmare."


She then pulled out her PDA, pushed a few buttons, and then replicated a stack of datasheets for the Pinball Wizard FTL system. She then passed them around, saying, "And to address Mr. Macmillan's question, here is the datasheet for the FTL-4 Pinball Wizard system, with appropriate Drive Computer. FTL-4 is, cutting through all the mumbo-jumbo, a drive that folds space and time. It can warp you to anywhere you need to go, without worry of anything like a Red Line thanks to the Drive Computer. Of course, there is the matter of phase-in time, which increases the further your destination is from your location. We also have the Mannerheim II FTL Inhibitor, which uses a gravity well generator and temporal distortion equipment to prevent the use of FTL within a certain radius, if you want that."

Carla then returned to the podium, and said in a conciliatory manner, "I also recognize the fear of getting entangled in foreign affairs the defeat at Jurai has produced. Understandable--with all the powerful alien empires out there eager for human flesh, it does well to exercise caution and conserve your strength. Lives cannot be replaced."

With the confidence that came from a position of military potency, however, Carla capped the speech with, "But I can assure you that with the help I propose and the technology I can provide, the public will be assured that any alien nasties will think twice once they meet a reinvigorated, empowered GDI Navy that can play hardball like any other. I say that's well worth it. Any more questions?"

She would see that all the nations were nodding, and talking with each other, looks of interest and satisfaction all over their faces. Granger, who managed to recollect himself again, was intensely studying the FTL specifics, his military side showing through as he was reconsidering the options again, seeing how this would redefine GDI warfare. Arthur waited for several seconds, gazing the mood of the room, before speaking. "No, I do not believe there is any, except one: When can you begin?" He gave her a lopsided grin and a wink after he said this.

She would see that all the nations were nodding, and talking with each other, looks of interest and satisfaction all over their faces. Granger, who managed to recollect himself again, was intensely studying the FTL specifics, his military side showing through as he was reconsidering the options again, seeing how this would redefine GDI warfare. Arthur waited for several seconds, gazing the mood of the room, before speaking. "No, I do not believe there is any, except one: When can you begin?" He gave her a lopsided grin and a wink after he said this.

Carla then said, with a satisfied grin on her face, "Why, as soon as possible, Mr. Macmillan. I can have the first advisors and components come rather quickly. Advisors can come a bit earlier than the tech, in a matter of days. The tech comes a bit later than that. Within a matter of a couple of weeks, given time for manufacture, and quick adjustments to GDI equipment."

Making a candid reference to Granger's problems with the Scrin, she then said, "Obviously, addressing the different voltages, I'll have transformers and other such power adjusting equipment installed to prevent problems of that nature."

Granger nodded at her addition of the safeguards in equipment in dealing with the voltages. "I would like to thank you, Commissar, for all you have done for us. Now that I have had time to think on it, our military doctrine will change but not all that much. This will allow us to be of more use to the GFFA than as we are now."

The Prime Minister nodded. "Indeed." He turned to face the rest of the world leaders and the Chiefs of Staff. "Now, are we unanimous in setting aside funding for the people to aid in the Dornalian effort in rebuilding the GDI and giving the Dornalians the help they need?" The entire council nodded, agreeing. Smiling, Arthur looked at Carla.

"Well, I think we have things all ready to go, especially when your relief effort gets here. Now, is there anything else you'd like to discuss, Commissar?" The Prime Minister's eyes glinted with a sharp intellect. He knew she had something else she was going to mention.

"Well, I think we have things all ready to go, especially when your relief effort gets here. Now, is there anything else you'd like to discuss, Commissar?" The Prime Minister's eyes glinted with a sharp intellect. He knew she had something else she was going to mention.

Carla nodded, acknowledging that fact. She was nervous about being put on the spot, though. Her opinions would obviously rile up the large majority of the assembled, and especially Director Granger. All assembled were keenly aware of their constitutencies--and all their constitutencies seemed united in the opinion that they were more than a little hesistant about further entering a foreign war of any sort.

Carla decided to be somewhat circumspect about it. She asked the assembled, "As I entered the room, I overheard a conversation about relations with the Imperial Republic of Coreworlds. I know that has been a subject of some debate around here."

The tone of the room became more tense, but she would notice that while a few got angry and stern, most of the room got nervous and began to look very uncomfortable. The mood of the room was mostly indecision and confusion, with an unhealthy mix of anger at the Coredians, along with the few who were advocating staying with the Coredians, with some changes. It was an environment that could go any way, both good and bad.

She did have an ally though, in Arthur. He was gazing at her, his face the only one that was completely neutral, no indication of his thoughts on the matter. He was looking to help her but he could only do so much. Carla would have to work her verbal magic in order to bring the GDI to her way of thinking.

"It seems I have hit a raw nerve, Ladies and Gentlemen. Perfectly understandable."

Carla coughed, eager to defuse the situation. Like a kid hitting a hornet's nest, she had gotten herself into a serious mess. Laid bare before her was enough anger, fear and confusion to eat it out of the air with a spoon. It was as if people wanted to kill Danny Masaki, but didn't know whether to make him eat his own crap, give him a talkingto and leave it at that, or give him what they used to call in the Wild West a "necktie party"--the last one he'd ever visit.

"Especially since after all, we Dornalians are tussling with the same issues. I know for a fact that--speaking truthfully for the Workers and Peasants--the Dornalian people are engaged in a similar dialogue. On one side, there are those who have turned against Daniel Masaki for what he has done. 'What a miserable fucking waste of money that was. He hasn't done a damn thing with it.' That sort of opinion. People like the Quit Coredia Coalition have gained some popularity as of late, as after all, it is hard to deny the fact that under his watch, agents of the Coredian Government used singularity explosives to accomplish a task that a simple shredding of files would have done. Overkill, you might call it. Murder, Rainn Theoride has called it. Add to that the percieved negligence of the Coredians in failing to warn the Twelve Colonies of Kobol about the danger of the Galactic Empire, and you have angry people.

Others, however, within New Dornalia, politics, newspapers and bloggers alike, are inclined to see things differently.


So, as a member of a democratically elected government--a newly minted one that just ended 500 years of Stalinist domination--I am sensitive to my people's needs. Just like you are. My boss--and heck, one of my best business partners and friends--Comrade Premier Robert MacIntyre gets this too.

However, sympathy with your dilemma aside, Dornalia has taken a more firm stance in continuing its support of the Coreworlds.

Why, you may ask?

Traditionally, the Dornalian people have supported the Coredian Imperial Republic. A strong, large undercurrent of popular sympathy and support exists even now, despite the rise of opposition to Coredia. And this isn't due to propaganda my Government or the Coredians put out, mind you."

She then began to pace about the room, speaking loudly and clearly to the assembled.

"There is that obvious undercurrent of national sympathy. But our committment goes deeper than that, though it explains a lot of it.

Number two, Dornalians have a sense of loyalty to their allies. Some would call it overdeveloped, or even naive. But, over hundreds of years of survival, you learn not to break trust easily.

Number three. I speak for the Government of New Dornalia when I say that our study of the circumstances surrounding the invasion of the Twelve Colonies tell us that the Caprica Incident was a regrettable incident. We too acknowledge it was somewhat overkillish. But we also are inclined to believe that the Galactic Empire forced their hand into doing such a thing, and were it not for the 'War of National Liberation' as it were, then this would not be needed.

And as for the negligence? Well, we do not know the whole story about that admittedly, beyond the reports of Mr. Theoride. However, we are inclined to deduce that the Coredian Government's failure to inform the Colonials about Imperial danger leaves them to blame, but leaves Masaki blameless. But, as far some even go and see it, the Imperials struck before either of them could act, but that is besides the point and that is a conclusion that is rather shaky.

You may be asking yourselves, 'So What?' Well, the point involves providing a) where New Dornalia stands and b) some thoughts for your consideration. Thank you."

The Chiefs of Staff, the leaders, and the Director listened carefully, their faces set and intent on Carla as she waxed very eloquent, more than she had in the entire meeting, in trying to do her best to give the Coredians a fair shot. Although his face expression did not show it due to his years of careful training and skill in controlling his facial muscles, he had to admit she was magnificent. With the exception of the Director, who had the expected military-issued blank face, the others expressions revealed their thoughts. Some wavered on their support for anti-Coredian relations, others clamped down even further, their faces going into deep lines of anger. Some seemed to pull back and rethink things, while others smiled slightly to hear someone saying their few. When she was done, there was a silence, and a higher tension. Whoever talked first would make or break the moment.

So it was when the Director stood up and looked down Carla, everyone held ther breath. "I...thank you for your speech, Commissar. And we understand the way the Dornalians feel; when going over the history you and the Coredians have, we can understand that. Also, the government, and myself, understand Daniel Masaki's innocence in the matter. It was the act of the government, and a few individuals. You, however, know how the public mood works, as they react to anything the media tells them, and the media..." He snorted derisively. "....as much as I treasure our democratic institutions of free speech and media, the media is nothing more than a new wave of entertainment. Most of my colleagues and I cannot watch it anymore as all we hear about are the bad things. Crime, Tiberium pollution, vicious Ion storms, the works. Nothing positive, except on local news channels. It's kinda odd really. However, the problem we have is, unlike your people, most of our people have been told the Coredians as a whole blackholed their embassy, and left the Colonials to their fate with the Imperials. We need someone to convince them otherwise. That is the problem we face."

Arthur coughed, getting people to look at him, and he stood up. "I must agree with the good Director here. We are struggling with the public and its media-influenced rage. You must understand, from their point of view, they were told that the Coredians had basically left the Colonies high and dry for no reason, other than spite, and are now scrambling for allies in what, in this twisted version of truth, are getting their 'just rewards' for such actions. We have nothing to really tell them otherwise than the truth, and the media has a way of....twisting our words to make us seem like the bad guys."

He held up a hand. "However, I do have a plan. If you can get the Coredians to bring the officials who caused the black hole bombing of the Caprica Embassy and the abandonment of the Colonies to trial, that will help considerable. Now, I have another part, but it requires more of a personal sacrifice from yourself and Daniel Masaki." He focused his gaze fully on Carla, and he put his hands together and bowed to her. "If you can convince your superiors and the Coredian government to allow yourself and Maskai respectively to either come here and speak, or make a speech of some kind to prove their innocence, in tandem with the trials, that will give us the momentum we need to get us back on track with the Coredians. Hell, if you can just have an investigation going in Coredia, and have even Masaki's wife speak for him, that would still work. Both you and Masaki are great public speakers; we've seen you just now and Masaki, all we need is your words to reach the people directly and we'll be able to build from that. If we can get that, we can take care of the rest."

He held up a hand. "However, I do have a plan. If you can get the Coredians to bring the officials who caused the black hole bombing of the Caprica Embassy and the abandonment of the Colonies to trial, that will help considerable. Now, I have another part, but it requires more of a personal sacrifice from yourself and Daniel Masaki." He focused his gaze fully on Carla, and he put his hands together and bowed to her. "If you can convince your superiors and the Coredian government to allow yourself and Maskai respectively to either come here and speak, or make a speech of some kind to prove their innocence, in tandem with the trials, that will give us the momentum we need to get us back on track with the Coredians. Hell, if you can just have an investigation going in Coredia, and have even Masaki's wife speak for him, that would still work. Both you and Masaki are great public speakers; we've seen you just now and Masaki, all we need is your words to reach the people directly and we'll be able to build from that. If we can get that, we can take care of the rest."

Carla nodded. The request itself wouldn't be too hard. Well, there was obviously the fact that Daniel Masaki was stuck in a war and the other Masakis were hard to come in contact with at the moment. After all, communications difficulties due to FTLi didn't make for an easy time of things. Still, Carla understood the situation. If she was going to keep the GDI in the fight, then she would have to appeal to the power of the people. After all, a Democracy only existed so long as its people approved. There was the matter of the media to deal with. Chess Headman and NDBC News, Amerikanski Pravda the Los Angeles Times aside, plenty of media outlets such as People's News Net and the Luxembourgia Sentinel did have a tendency to become troublesome, running reprints of Rainn Theoride and pro-Quit Coredia editorials that made Robby reach for the Glenlivet.

She then replied, with a smile: "Ladies and Gentlemen, Director and Mr. Macmillan especially, I would like to say that the request itself is something we can fulfill. After all, as I am learning back home, the media can be a double edged sword, especially in a democracy, and it would be an excellent idea to present an alternative viewpoint perhaps untainted by the desire for profit or to titillate the public with cheap thrills."

She then issued her now-familiar cough, and said, "I know my superiors will let me speak. The challenge will be seeing if either Daniel or Katrina Masaki is available to speak, as present conditions in the Coreworlds are making things complicated. However, I will look around, and see if they can come. Do not worry."

Arthur smiled and nodded. "That is good, Carla. That will help us a lot. However, even after the rebuild and when we get a handle on the media's excesses, we still won't be able to spare much. Most of our resources will be in colonizing, building the FEDBED system, and the containment of Tiberium on our world. Sending ships and forces cost money and we don't have a lot to spare."

The Director leaned forward. "So, Commissar...what now? We have set the steps for the restart of our war effort and the upgrade. Is there anything else?"

Arthur smiled and nodded. "That is good, Carla. That will help us a lot. However, even after the rebuild and when we get a handle on the media's excesses, we still won't be able to spare much. Most of our resources will be in colonizing, building the FEDBED system, and the containment of Tiberium on our world. Sending ships and forces cost money and we don't have a lot to spare."

The Director leaned forward. "So, Commissar...what now? We have set the steps for the restart of our war effort and the upgrade. Is there anything else?"

Nodding, the Commissar merely replied, "Hmm. Unless there's a way I can help you with the FEDBED system or the Tiberium problem, I think that's about it for today's business." With a shrug, she had finished her day's agenda, at least. Though she had more materials on hand in case she had to go on longer.

The Director shrugged as well. "Unless you have the money, manpower, and resources to help speed up both processes, there isn't much else you can do to help us." He turned to gaze at Arthur, who nodded and began making calls. Might as well get the preparations for the Dornalians upgrade underway, so they could get this done as soon as possible.

The Director shrugged as well. "Unless you have the money, manpower, and resources to help speed up both processes, there isn't much else you can do to help us." He turned to gaze at Arthur, who nodded and began making calls. Might as well get the preparations for the Dornalians upgrade underway, so they could get this done as soon as possible.

Carla then nodded, and made calls on her machine...

...and several days later (OOC: When CW gets on, we can do the necessary media cleanup), GDI authorities, be they FEDBED stations or orbital platforms, would begin noticing the arrival of fleets of ships. Large cargo ships emblazoned with the Red Star on them would begin entering Initiative space, docking at military bases all over the Initiative as they unloaded their cargo of technology and skilled personnel.

The influx of Dornalian technology was welcomed, and had been prepared for by the GDI. Massive storage rooms, entire armies of engineers and scientists, and the production facilities not being used for the colonization and construction of the FEDBED were opened to them.

Working in tandem with the Dornalians, the GDI set to work briskly on their upgrading. They didn't want another Jurai.

The influx of Dornalian technology was welcomed, and had been prepared for by the GDI. Massive storage rooms, entire armies of engineers and scientists, and the production facilities not being used for the colonization and construction of the FEDBED were opened to them.

Working in tandem with the Dornalians, the GDI set to work briskly on their upgrading. They didn't want another Jurai.

Working at a very fast pace--well, as fast as people trying to integrate advanced weaponry and other systems could into another nation's forces--the Dornalians cooperated with the Initiative as they worked to install the items they had promised to give. New FTL, shielding, weapons, the whole nine yards.

OOC: Look in my Arsenal of Freedom and the Greatest Hits Tech Thread. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=13373043) for details.

The combined efforts of the GDI and Dornalians, and their pooled resources, worked wonders in the GDI. The FEDBED system was already over 60% complete, due to the fact that the GDI didn't have much territory as it was, the Dornalians had played a key part in reducing and fencing in the Tiberium, and all but the massive deposit in Africa was secure. And the Home Reclamation act was seeing great success, as Mars was well on its way to being fully colonized, Earth was seeing more cities built and the environment repaired, and the solar system in it entirety was beginning to feel the foot of the GDI.

Mercury and Venus had shielded and armored mining and production facilities being built on them, along with great shielded cities that has their power and travel lines built underground, to hide from the rays of the sun. Jupiter and Saturn had giant shipyards, mining and gas processing facilities built around them, Neptune had a large research and development station placed on it, and Pluto was publicly left alone, but was secretly a military testing ground for classified technology.

The GDI navy was vastly rebuilt and refitted, with the new upgrades of the Dornalians. The Gauss weapons, similar to what they already had, were accepted as they upgraded the GDI's own technology immensely. The Temporal shielding was quickly installed, along with the ablative armor upgrades to their own ablative armor and the singularity reactors to power all this. The GDI ships, for the first time, had shielding, and quite powerful shielding at that. The old conventions had fallen with the defeat at Jurai. The Ion Cannons around the planets, which were also being built up for defense, were also upgraded with singularity reactors, secondary Gauss weaponry and Temporal shielding, proving to be a potent defense against any ship.

OOC: I looked back at the list of stuff you mentioned giving us, and the two storefront things, and I can find no mention of how the FTL-4 drive and the FTLi-II, the Hyper-X Capacitors, the EM rifles or the Replicator weapons. And was there anything else or is that it? And do I have production rights for these things?

OOC: Ah. Those may not have made it to the list.

Basic explanation for the Mannerheim II FTLi System is that it is a system that works to distrupt most kinds of gravitic and dimensional FTL systems within a certain radius. This system uses a combination of a gravity well to mess with Gravitic Systems and a Dimensional Distruption System based on Dornalian time tech to interfere with the ability to cross from dimension to dimension with any sort of stability. Anaconda System was located in the Ship Weapons area of the Tech Thread, but in general, its a system that uses energy and a little input to replicate the desired round and then load it into the chamber. In Infantry gauss weapons this loads it into the chamber and fires the round using railgun principles, in the Anaconda System it loads the Torpedoes replicated into a drum magazine of ten shots which then feed the shots into the tube as they are fired.

Hyper X-Capacitors and EM Rifles (which might be actually called Graviton Guns) can be found here:

http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/star_forces.html#Other_Technology

As for the FTL-4 Pinball Wizard Drive, its a drive that folds space. How? here's the method:

http://www.softwarekent.co.uk/anime/nadesico/bosuntechnologic.htm

We made some modifications to it though. Mainly, we just use a basic focusing crystal and a Jump Computer to phase in and out to the desired location. Principles and physics are somewhat similar though. However, there's also the matter of a little phase in time though, like with the Red Alert 2 Chrono Commando. Depends on how long the distance was.

Oh, and BTW, you get the production rights. I may get you some other stuff too. Just follow the NDA in my Arsenal Site though.