NationStates Jolt Archive

Tor News, one of the lesser Cable News Companies, was the first to break the story. As a subsidiary of NOVA News Company, they where alerted as soon as the news broke.

NEW TORTUGA - President St. James spoke to a joint session of congress today, with former dictator and current Secretary of the Navy James Ray at her side, where she asked for a vote declaring NOVA Corporation to be considered an enemy of the state.

The resolution was passed 430-75, showing that while unpopular, the controversial Conglomerate still has support in the government. Following the announcement, the Director of Internal Security for the Republic Security Bureau was quoted as saying that he would not prosecute NOVA, as he believed that they had done nothing wrong. This confirms what many believe to be an internal link between the RSB and NOVA.

This came a week after a series of unsubstantiated rumors claimed that agents of NOVA had been responsible for an attempt on the life of many government officials who oppose the Corporation, including Republican Party Leader Jason Anders, who had led efforts to limit the number of companies that NOVA was allowed to own, for fear of the nation becoming dependent upon the Corporation.

These unsubstantiated rumors have been called fear mongering, and NOVA Corporation has begun to step up their use of Private Military Contractors in addition to their own NOVA Guards in case the Government tries to enforce the ruling.

From New Tortuga, I'm Carol Jenkins. Tor News, Reporting.

The TV switched off as the Board of Directors turned and looked at the CEO.

"Well, it has begun. We always knew that this was going to happen. So, know we declare war."

OOC: The American Privateer will not be seeking any kind of outside help in this matter, though NOVA Corp will be seeking the use of Private Military Contractors to help bolster their forces. Also, the RSB is going to split, and the military might even break away. If you want to send in PMC's please list the name of the company, the leader, and what they field. Note: this is Open MT/PMT.

Secret IC:

Deep in the Pillar, Tortuga State
Central Command

General Peter Moseby stood over a Situation map of the national Subcontinent. the Off shore Island chains where marked blue, with countless lines connecting them as flying boats moved between them, ferrying supplies and people. In the northern states, all around the Pillar, Bush planes did the same with the mining settlements around there.

What had been a dream, a place to lose secret planes in endless radar signatures, suddenly became treacherous. Any one of those aircraft could belong to the now Openly Hostile NOVA.

The Secretary of the Navy strode in with a swagger. His smirk showed that he had finally gotten what he wanted since the establishment of NOVA, its total and complete deconstruction. He had been forced to watch as they quickly gobbled up minor companies, and made them major national contenders, some of them stretching far beyond the borders of both the nation and the planet.

Moseby looked over at the former President, "Admiral, we need to move President St. James up to the Cheyenne now. It is the safest place for her."

"Are you daft Moseby? It is SPACE! How many satellites does NOVA own?"

A young man from Space Ops looked over and flashed a hand sign showing that they owned thirteen. "Thanks Sergeant for proving my point. Looking over, he stared deep into Moseby's eyes, "Did you forget everything I ever taught you? When the enemy has the High Ground, you go deeper and undermine them. We have to move the President to Greenbriar. It is as deep as we can go, and there is no way anyone can reach her there, not unless they are as high up as we are anyway."

Jack Ray folded his arms and stared at his former General. He had chaffed when Moseby had been placed above him in the cabinet, but knew that having returned the nation to a true republic, he could not be trusted with a second chance at power.

Suddenly, a voice broke over the Circuit, a link directly to The Vault. "Zeus, this is Artemis. Do you Copy, over?"

Picking it up, the Admiral responded, "This is Zeus, go ahead babe."

"Dad, one, don't call me babe at work. Second, we are reading some major intrusions into the Network. The Hounds are on them, but soon the Breakers are going to have to be sent in. This is one of the largest attacks we have ever seen."

"I copy, Artemis. Activate Containment Protocol Alpha Six Three. Let them try that on for size."

"I copy Zeus, Artemis over and out."

"You have a truly amazing daughter there Ray."

"Yes I do."

Meanwhile, in New Tortuga, the President was being evacuated to the city of Greenbriar, Na Nex Sa. Located in the heart of the state, the safe haven built underneath, was situated directly below the re-inforced Bushnell Submarine Base.

Her plane, a modified Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, took off for the location immediatly, and was flanked by four squadrons of Hyperion Gunships.

Below, the people looked up in wonder at the massive airships, and wondered what was so important that such a huge force was needed to protect the single lone plane.

Out on the coasts, the Navy was put on High Alert, and sent out to patrol the waters around the sub-continent for possible opportunists who might take advantage of the situation to strike a blow at the weakened nation.

A flight of Hinds rose up from what many had begun to call NOVA City. It wa ste world headquarters for the Conglomerate, and was located in the coastal regions far from major military locations.

As they rose, they made a Bee line for Port San Lucas. Inside, each carried a squad of soldiers, armed with 9x19mm sub machine guns of various sizes. As the air craft made their way to their goal, they had to swing wide to avoid a massive group of Hyperions.

Un believing, they called in and reported it to the leadership. Unanimously, the decision was made. the President must be eliminated. They had bought out the Post Master general, and if they could get him up to the rank of president...

A single rod, all that NOVA had in position, was dropped. As it soared through the space, it hit a piece of space debris. Its descent was altered just enough, that it would miss the Presidnet's plane. Now, if only it could reach hit a single Hyperion, it could do a major blow to the nation that had up until recently, called the NOVA part of its own.

A Flight of Hyperions, four in number, broke off and drove for the enemy Hinds. As they did so, each one picked out a single Helo, and aimed their ABL's in that direction.

On the ground, the First and Three o' Fourth Rifle Regiments, the Third, Five o' Sixth, and Seven Hundreth Infantry Regiments, the Second and Thirty-Fourth Grenadiers, and the first through third Armored Cavalry Regiments began to March on the NOVA Corporation Headquarters.

The Rod dropped on the rear most Hyperion. as it punched through the air bag, the fuel erupted. Two other Hyperions, too close to the rear most craft, were severely damaged, and where forced to break off pursuit.

As the Rod Fell, the Third and Fourth Hyperion Squadrons, in conjunction with the Fifth through Fifteenth Fighter Squadrons, where dispatched to the NOVA Headquarters to support the military forces stationed there.

A Flight of Hyperions, four in number, broke off and drove for the enemy Hinds. As they did so, each one picked out a single Helo, and aimed their ABL's in that direction.

On the ground, the First and Three o' Fourth Rifle Regiments, the Third, Five o' Sixth, and Seven Hundreth Infantry Regiments, the Second and Thirty-Fourth Grenadiers, and the first through third Armored Cavalry Regiments began to March on the NOVA Corporation Headquarters.

The Rod dropped on the rear most Hyperion. as it punched through the air bag, the fuel erupted. Two other Hyperions, too close to the rear most craft, were severely damaged, and where forced to break off pursuit.

As the Rod Fell, the Third and Fourth Hyperion Squadrons, in conjunction with the Fifth through Fifteenth Fighter Squadrons, where dispatched to the NOVA Headquarters to support the military forces stationed there.

The Hinds scattered. Charging forward above the weapons plane, the Hinds drove in hopes of popping the balloons with their rocket pods.

At the headquarters, the NOVA Guards watched in eager anticipation as the enemy units came forward. Their base was reinforced, and their positions built to repel such a small force. Snipers, armed with .50 cal sniper rifles, fired on the incoming collum, hoping to scatter the enemy troops before they could get into the compound.

Overhead, their AA Guns and Missiles fired on the incoming aircraft, hoping to deter the Hyperions from raining destruction down upon the men defending the compound.

In New Tortuga, a white truck parked in front of the central tower of the Sky City Complex, and the driver opened the door, and boarded the Hyper-Line out of the city.

From: The Rogutis Agentie
To: Nova Corp. CEO
Location: Encrypted

We have been watching the situation your currently in develop against you. I work for another Corporation... Raven corp. My Employer has authorized me to offer my people sevice to you for protect and counter-attacks. If you so wish I can have my agents meet with you soon.

Signed,

Aegies, Grand master of The Rogutis Agentie

From: The Rogutis Agentie
To: Nova Corp. CEO
Location: Encrypted

We have been watching the situation your currently in develop against you. I work for another Corporation... Raven corp. My Employer has authorized me to offer my people sevice to you for protect and counter-attacks. If you so wish I can have my agents meet with you soon.

Signed,

Aegies, Grand master of The Rogutis Agentie

To: Grand Master
From: CEO of the NOVA Corporation

We would be glad to have your assistance. We have a secret submarine base at which you can come to meet us should you so wish.

The Hinds scattered. Charging forward above the weapons plane, the Hinds drove in hopes of popping the balloons with their rocket pods.

At the headquarters, the NOVA Guards watched in eager anticipation as the enemy units came forward. Their base was reinforced, and their positions built to repel such a small force. Snipers, armed with .50 cal sniper rifles, fired on the incoming collum, hoping to scatter the enemy troops before they could get into the compound.

Overhead, their AA Guns and Missiles fired on the incoming aircraft, hoping to deter the Hyperions from raining destruction down upon the men defending the compound.

In New Tortuga, a white truck parked in front of the central tower of the Sky City Complex, and the driver opened the door, and boarded the Hyper-Line out of the city.

Echo Company of the 304th Rifles were on point. Suddenly, the other three squads stopped as First squad was decapitated. Shouts rose up as the rest of Echo Company scattered. Three Machine guns were quickly set up, and began to fire on the enemy fortifications. The Cougar 6x6's moved up, and the gunners aimed the M-312 Machien Guns at the enemy fortifications.

The TAP'ian army flattened itself. Marksmen in the 304th switched their BR55's over to Single Fire mode, and began to fire on the snipers.

Overhead, the ABL's and ATL's of the aircraft where being overtaxed, and a fe fighters had gone down already. Worse, a Hyperion had lost it's gas bubble, and was going down.

Trying to do as much damage as possible with what time they had left in the air, the gunners fired off all the available ammo into the enemy fortress. While the fighters kept coming, the Hyperions where forced to stay back, and provide long range gunship support due to the withering fire being sent their way.

The Fighters moved in. Most of them where Ground Attack Fighters, F-15E Mud Hens and the like. They dropped their munitions on the combatants below, and bugged out.

Meanwhile, the rest of the army used the time bought byt he massive bombardment to dig in. Their trench system was crude, but in the fifteen minuets of bombardment, they were still able to build workable foxholes and connectors. Artillery was brought up, AGL and Mortar pits where dug, and all the while, snipers in the towers continued to fire.

"Actual, this is White King. We need niner Sierra Tangos on location immediatly. Repeat, we need Niner Sierra Tangos on location Alpha Sierra Alpha Papa."

"Roger that White King, Sierra Tangos are on their way."

Fifty miles west, a 18 men assembled. Half of them where armed with CheyTac Intervention .408's, and the other half had large lensed scopes. Spotters and Snipers, they formed a total of nine sniper teams.

The teams boarded a V-22 Osprey, and took off for their individual landing zone, as trucks full of supplies rumbled off to supply the assault force with the necessary good and equipment.

Out over Na Nex Sa, the Hyperions where in trouble. The Hinds had a higher rate of climb, and thus would be able to get above the Hyperion's plane of fire. However, most of them where still a ways out.

"This is Five Hotel-Alpha Actual to all Five Hotel-Alpha crews. Designate the following targets with your ABL's and open fire."

The targeting lasers activated, and the full beam followed.

Echo Company of the 304th Rifles were on point. Suddenly, the other three squads stopped as First squad was decapitated. Shouts rose up as the rest of Echo Company scattered. Three Machine guns were quickly set up, and began to fire on the enemy fortifications. The Cougar 6x6's moved up, and the gunners aimed the M-312 Machien Guns at the enemy fortifications.

The TAP'ian army flattened itself. Marksmen in the 304th switched their BR55's over to Single Fire mode, and began to fire on the snipers.

Overhead, the ABL's and ATL's of the aircraft where being overtaxed, and a fe fighters had gone down already. Worse, a Hyperion had lost it's gas bubble, and was going down.

Trying to do as much damage as possible with what time they had left in the air, the gunners fired off all the available ammo into the enemy fortress. While the fighters kept coming, the Hyperions where forced to stay back, and provide long range gunship support due to the withering fire being sent their way.

The Fighters moved in. Most of them where Ground Attack Fighters, F-15E Mud Hens and the like. They dropped their munitions on the combatants below, and bugged out.

Meanwhile, the rest of the army used the time bought byt he massive bombardment to dig in. Their trench system was crude, but in the fifteen minuets of bombardment, they were still able to build workable foxholes and connectors. Artillery was brought up, AGL and Mortar pits where dug, and all the while, snipers in the towers continued to fire.

"Actual, this is White King. We need niner Sierra Tangos on location immediatly. Repeat, we need Niner Sierra Tangos on location Alpha Sierra Alpha Papa."

"Roger that White King, Sierra Tangos are on their way."

Fifty miles west, a 18 men assembled. Half of them where armed with CheyTac Intervention .408's, and the other half had large lensed scopes. Spotters and Snipers, they formed a total of nine sniper teams.

The teams boarded a V-22 Osprey, and took off for their individual landing zone, as trucks full of supplies rumbled off to supply the assault force with the necessary good and equipment.

Out over Na Nex Sa, the Hyperions where in trouble. The Hinds had a higher rate of climb, and thus would be able to get above the Hyperion's plane of fire. However, most of them where still a ways out.

"This is Five Hotel-Alpha Actual to all Five Hotel-Alpha crews. Designate the following targets with your ABL's and open fire."

The targeting lasers activated, and the full beam followed.

Four hinds where flash warped as the lasers began to soften and melt their vehicles. The other four Hinds moved out, scattering and firing on the Hyperions as they moved.

Seven of the fifteen snipers went down, as bullets hit them, either in the arm or in the head. The rest of them picked up their fire, aiming for men who looked important. Their scopes could easily pick ot NCO's and Officers, allowing them to ignore Lt. and junior NCO's.

Behind them, the Marconni Electronics Headquarters was almost levelled as the falling Hyperion smashed into it, and the motorpool nearby was rendered into a ball of fire from the sheer amount of firepower that was directed at it.

The Mud Hens however, managed to hit some of the aboveground parts of the Hotchkiss Arms and Wright Motors factories, damaging or even destroying the lines within.

In the Republic Security Bureau, James Longstreet went to work. He had one job, to steal information from the SigNit computers, and load in the experimental Ice-9 computer Virus. If that could be loaded in, it woul result in the destruction of the Government Network, and allow for everything but the Vault to come crashing down.

In New Tortuga, the truck went off. Located at a major, and vital support strut, it wiped out the first twelve floors of the building, and weakened the fifteen on top of that. The building beside it was similarly damaged, and the two began to creak and lean as the quarter mile high complex tried to compensate for the loss of major support struts.

Four hinds where flash warped as the lasers began to soften and melt their vehicles. The other four Hinds moved out, scattering and firing on the Hyperions as they moved.

Seven of the fifteen snipers went down, as bullets hit them, either in the arm or in the head. The rest of them picked up their fire, aiming for men who looked important. Their scopes could easily pick ot NCO's and Officers, allowing them to ignore Lt. and junior NCO's.

Behind them, the Marconni Electronics Headquarters was almost levelled as the falling Hyperion smashed into it, and the motorpool nearby was rendered into a ball of fire from the sheer amount of firepower that was directed at it.

The Mud Hens however, managed to hit some of the aboveground parts of the Hotchkiss Arms and Wright Motors factories, damaging or even destroying the lines within.

In the Republic Security Bureau, James Longstreet went to work. He had one job, to steal information from the SigNit computers, and load in the experimental Ice-9 computer Virus. If that could be loaded in, it woul result in the destruction of the Government Network, and allow for everything but the Vault to come crashing down.

In New Tortuga, the truck went off. Located at a major, and vital support strut, it wiped out the first twelve floors of the building, and weakened the fifteen on top of that. The building beside it was similarly damaged, and the two began to creak and lean as the quarter mile high complex tried to compensate for the loss of major support struts.

The first Sky Plateau within the central Sky City fell.

Thousands of people were inside it as the 14 stories pancaked on top of each other. Though it didn't have the effect that the terrorists wanted, it still caused massive casualties and would require man hours in caring for the people that the Govt could not afford.

A Hyperion went down, its crew screaming in agony, as they where burned alive. Ammunition was cooking off, and almost set the paint on a neighboring airship ablaze.

As the fire came in on the soldiers outside of the NOVA Corp headquarters, they dug even deeper, throwing their dirt onto the forward edge of the foxholes. As they dug deeper, they dug wider, forming trench lines around the compound. Soon, the forces would need to be tripled, allowing for units to be rotated off the line in a timely manor, and prevent combat sickness.

Artillery pieces were moved forward, and the vehicles secured. Rotary Artillery Pieces began to fire, piling on their ammunition atop the enemy base.

Meanwhile, the Sierra Tangos moved in. They each had specific targets, begining with the snipers who where trying to wipe out their officers. The women of the Sniper Teams began to fire, their weapons going off from a long distance away, beyond the hearing distance of the men manning the defensive walls.

In The Pillar's Cyberspace Command, nicknamed the Vault, Artemis was hooked into the system. As she looked around, inside the VR World, she could see some new agent being assembled. She sent out a Viral Hound to sniff around, and try to figure out what it was, but was not happy about the possibilities.

(OOC: the VR World is rendered via VR Chambers. The User puts on a Motion tracking, sensory reception suit with a special helmet that allows them to fully immerse themselves in the universe. Thus, the hackers working for TAP are able to work on thei ability via Graphical Interfaces much different than what someone with a Keyboard and Screen is able to do.)

The first Sky Plateau within the central Sky City fell.

Thousands of people were inside it as the 14 stories pancaked on top of each other. Though it didn't have the effect that the terrorists wanted, it still caused massive casualties and would require man hours in caring for the people that the Govt could not afford.

A Hyperion went down, its crew screaming in agony, as they where burned alive. Ammunition was cooking off, and almost set the paint on a neighboring airship ablaze.

As the fire came in on the soldiers outside of the NOVA Corp headquarters, they dug even deeper, throwing their dirt onto the forward edge of the foxholes. As they dug deeper, they dug wider, forming trench lines around the compound. Soon, the forces would need to be tripled, allowing for units to be rotated off the line in a timely manor, and prevent combat sickness.

Artillery pieces were moved forward, and the vehicles secured. Rotary Artillery Pieces began to fire, piling on their ammunition atop the enemy base.

Meanwhile, the Sierra Tangos moved in. They each had specific targets, begining with the snipers who where trying to wipe out their officers. The women of the Sniper Teams began to fire, their weapons going off from a long distance away, beyond the hearing distance of the men manning the defensive walls.

In The Pillar's Cyberspace Command, nicknamed the Vault, Artemis was hooked into the system. As she looked around, inside the VR World, she could see some new agent being assembled. She sent out a Viral Hound to sniff around, and try to figure out what it was, but was not happy about the possibilities.

(OOC: the VR World is rendered via VR Chambers. The User puts on a Motion tracking, sensory reception suit with a special helmet that allows them to fully immerse themselves in the universe. Thus, the hackers working for TAP are able to work on thei ability via Graphical Interfaces much different than what someone with a Keyboard and Screen is able to do.)

The last of the snipers went down, their heads and brains re-arranged on the walls beside them. As they slumped down, the rest of the city freaked out. No one had heard the shout. A UAV was launched into the air, and sent out looking for the snipers.

Mortars and Cannons fired, raining steel on the trench lines forming in front of them. Soldiers made their way to the walls with bits of steel and concrete, and began to throw up battlements on the walkway, hoping to protect themselves from the enemy soldiers.

Longstreet was a veteran of the Cyber-Security division of the RSB. And so when the Hounds where released, he knew what they where. Working quickly, he threw up a firewall, released some virals whose bark was worse than their bite. He hoped the Hounds would go chasing after them, and ignore his own virus, until it was ready.

He worked and worked, coding for hours on end. Ice-9, if it worked, would cripple the systems and allow NOVA to cease the government piece meal.

In another section of the country, a young man, by the name of Samuel Adama, in the TAP Marine Corps Biological Research Division was using the advantage of Lt. Col. Jason Strongarm's little field trip to Breitenburg's new Biological Reserve to try and steal the technology and information available.

The last of the snipers went down, their heads and brains re-arranged on the walls beside them. As they slumped down, the rest of the city freaked out. No one had heard the shout. A UAV was launched into the air, and sent out looking for the snipers.

Mortars and Cannons fired, raining steel on the trench lines forming in front of them. Soldiers made their way to the walls with bits of steel and concrete, and began to throw up battlements on the walkway, hoping to protect themselves from the enemy soldiers.

Longstreet was a veteran of the Cyber-Security division of the RSB. And so when the Hounds where released, he knew what they where. Working quickly, he threw up a firewall, released some virals whose bark was worse than their bite. He hoped the Hounds would go chasing after them, and ignore his own virus, until it was ready.

He worked and worked, coding for hours on end. Ice-9, if it worked, would cripple the systems and allow NOVA to cease the government piece meal.

In another section of the country, a young man, by the name of Samuel Adama, in the TAP Marine Corps Biological Research Division was using the advantage of Lt. Col. Jason Strongarm's little field trip to Breitenburg's new Biological Reserve to try and steal the technology and information available.

The Snipers didn't fear. There sheer distance away, about a mile and a half, and their use of heavy cover, made them hard targets for spotting.

"HE! Load in HE!" The shout was carried all down the trenches, as soldiers swapped out their TTR for HE rounds.

The rounds hit the battlements, and detonated. As they did, bits and pieces of metal and concrete were sent everywhere.

Behind the lines, a temporary Train Station was set up, along with a turn about switch, as trains full of supplies and soldiers came in. Trucks moved the good to Regimental Supply Dumps, and Regimental Grizzlies moved soldiers into position. Once there, they where sandbagged, and their heavy weapons turned ont he fortifications.

The Infantry was joined by the 5th, 7th, 13th, 37th, and 55th Armored Regiments. The tanks where dug in, and their turrets turned into howitzers to be used to bombard the enemy walls.

In The Vault, Artemis was scrambling. Whoever it was that was assembling this virus was good. Her hounds had scattered after the decoys, and the Firewall was top level security. She pinged her team mates, and was greeted with the sites o their avatars joining her at the Firewall.

"Okay, my hounds where distracted, and we need to get inside."

She motioned to the Half-Dragon Avatar, "Ryu, use your Gate Crasher Program, see what you can do with Brute Force Cryptography."

She next nodded to the twelve armed avatar to her left, "Strange, try to find out how this program works, and see what you can do about making a hole in it subtly."

"Enui try to slip in. Their might be a backdoor somewhere, and I want it found and exploited if you can find it."

"ShadowMaster, I want you to try a DoS attack. Use those drones of yours, and break it down."

Artemis, meanwhile, used what information she had gleamed, and began to work with Serra to try and find an anti-dote in case they failed.

The Snipers didn't fear. There sheer distance away, about a mile and a half, and their use of heavy cover, made them hard targets for spotting.

"HE! Load in HE!" The shout was carried all down the trenches, as soldiers swapped out their TTR for HE rounds.

The rounds hit the battlements, and detonated. As they did, bits and pieces of metal and concrete were sent everywhere.

Behind the lines, a temporary Train Station was set up, along with a turn about switch, as trains full of supplies and soldiers came in. Trucks moved the good to Regimental Supply Dumps, and Regimental Grizzlies moved soldiers into position. Once there, they where sandbagged, and their heavy weapons turned ont he fortifications.

The Infantry was joined by the 5th, 7th, 13th, 37th, and 55th Armored Regiments. The tanks where dug in, and their turrets turned into howitzers to be used to bombard the enemy walls.

In The Vault, Artemis was scrambling. Whoever it was that was assembling this virus was good. Her hounds had scattered after the decoys, and the Firewall was top level security. She pinged her team mates, and was greeted with the sites o their avatars joining her at the Firewall.

"Okay, my hounds where distracted, and we need to get inside."

She motioned to the Half-Dragon Avatar, "Ryu, use your Gate Crasher Program, see what you can do with Brute Force Cryptography."

She next nodded to the twelve armed avatar to her left, "Strange, try to find out how this program works, and see what you can do about making a hole in it subtly."

"Enui try to slip in. Their might be a backdoor somewhere, and I want it found and exploited if you can find it."

"ShadowMaster, I want you to try a DoS attack. Use those drones of yours, and break it down."

Artemis, meanwhile, used what information she had gleamed, and began to work with Serra to try and find an anti-dote in case they failed.

The artillery inside the base shifted there fire, trying to hit the supply dump the TAP'ians where throwing up.

As the tanks fired on the battlements, the soldiers where forced back. They moved to the secondary lines, hoping and praying that the walls would come down and form a line of make shift dragon's teeth. They fired as they went, sending round back at those they deemed their oppressors.

As they moved back, a few tanks where able to roll out, and hide themselves in apartments and buildings.

Longstreet was overwhelmed. He had a Brute Force Cryptography program attacking his fire wall, a program that was skimming and copying data, some other program that was probing for weaknesses, some other one was slamming copies of itself into the firewall, and he was sure that what ever presence had found him first had enough information to protect the system for a while.

He had to work fast, and worked as quickly as possible to code the system. He was 25% done now, and he wasn't sure if he would be done in time.

A package came in for him. Cursing, he turned away to find that it was being handed to him by the Deputy Director of Internal Security.

"Longstreet, here is my half."

Gaping, he grabbed the box, and opened it up. Half of Ice-9, the half he was told was to come, was on the disk. He popped the disk in, loaded it on, and smiled. He was going to get it done after all.

The artillery inside the base shifted there fire, trying to hit the supply dump the TAP'ians where throwing up.

As the tanks fired on the battlements, the soldiers where forced back. They moved to the secondary lines, hoping and praying that the walls would come down and form a line of make shift dragon's teeth. They fired as they went, sending round back at those they deemed their oppressors.

As they moved back, a few tanks where able to roll out, and hide themselves in apartments and buildings.

Longstreet was overwhelmed. He had a Brute Force Cryptography program attacking his fire wall, a program that was skimming and copying data, some other program that was probing for weaknesses, some other one was slamming copies of itself into the firewall, and he was sure that what ever presence had found him first had enough information to protect the system for a while.

He had to work fast, and worked as quickly as possible to code the system. He was 25% done now, and he wasn't sure if he would be done in time.

A package came in for him. Cursing, he turned away to find that it was being handed to him by the Deputy Director of Internal Security.

"Longstreet, here is my half."

Gaping, he grabbed the box, and opened it up. Half of Ice-9, the half he was told was to come, was on the disk. He popped the disk in, loaded it on, and smiled. He was going to get it done after all.

As the walls crumbled, TAP'ian soldiers, led mainly by over-eager Lt's, charged forward. They leap-frogged their way across the expanse, cover-firing and advancing. Many of them went down, enough to halt the advance in fact. The rest of the soldiers moved up to join them, turning the wall into the new line.

The tanks stood their line, firing over the heads of the approaching troops.

In The Vault, Artemis watched, horrified, as the firewall came down. The virus was completed.

She ordered a full retreat by her fellow Avatars, and made sure that they where all disconnected. She called out a warning over the intercom, but was too late. She could hear the voices crying out as the virus swept along, attacking anything in it's path.

She had no other option, but to dive back in.

She did what she could. Viral Hounds dispatched to every computer to try to beat back the virus. Firewalls throw up to try and stop it's spread, each one centered around vital areas. As she worked, other Avatars from others in The Vault appeared, and scrambled to do what they could.

However, it was a lost cause. By the time they where done, the only mainframes left where those in the vault, and those on the Air Force One craft. All the computers with Ice-9 would have to be subjected to an EMP bomb, and then shredded, and hopefully launched into the sun.

As the walls crumbled, TAP'ian soldiers, led mainly by over-eager Lt's, charged forward. They leap-frogged their way across the expanse, cover-firing and advancing. Many of them went down, enough to halt the advance in fact. The rest of the soldiers moved up to join them, turning the wall into the new line.

The tanks stood their line, firing over the heads of the approaching troops.

In The Vault, Artemis watched, horrified, as the firewall came down. The virus was completed.

She ordered a full retreat by her fellow Avatars, and made sure that they where all disconnected. She called out a warning over the intercom, but was too late. She could hear the voices crying out as the virus swept along, attacking anything in it's path.

She had no other option, but to dive back in.

She did what she could. Viral Hounds dispatched to every computer to try to beat back the virus. Firewalls throw up to try and stop it's spread, each one centered around vital areas. As she worked, other Avatars from others in The Vault appeared, and scrambled to do what they could.

However, it was a lost cause. By the time they where done, the only mainframes left where those in the vault, and those on the Air Force One craft. All the computers with Ice-9 would have to be subjected to an EMP bomb, and then shredded, and hopefully launched into the sun.

The NOVA soldiers disappeared into the town, setting up ambush points and lines of attack.

A pair of teams ran out, and fired an Anti-Tank Guided Missile at the tank positions.

As the network failed, the hackers went in. They stole anything and everything they could from the assimilated computers, but where forced to stop when they came across a "CODENAME: SANDERSON"

OOC: Shoot. I forgot what SANDERSON was supposed to be. I need to work on that and then continue the thread. This Civil War is vital to the development of the country. I need a way for it to make sense for TLO and NN to be integrated into the country seeing as they have been discontinued.

The folks from NOVA where shocked when they learned that The American Privateer had been using Lt. Col. Jason Strongarm's research for a similar project to their own. As they downloaded it, they found a reference to a Project: JUMPER.

Meanwhile, the armed forces of The American Privateer moved in. On the coast, a Battle Group moved in. 2 Nimitz Class Carriers, 4 Tarawa Class Escort Carriers (Amphibious Assault Ships), 4 Slava Class Cruisers, 2 Ticonderoga Class Cruisers, 8 Daring Class Destroyers, and a Coronado Class Command Ship where sailing in, aiming to blockade the coast, and to set up an Artillery bombardment on the NOVA headquarters from all directions.

As night fell, a team of RSB Infiltrators moved in, determined to try and get as much as they could so that they could steal any secret plans the R&D Department might have been working on.

The folks from NOVA where shocked when they learned that The American Privateer had been using Lt. Col. Jason Strongarm's research for a similar project to their own. As they downloaded it, they found a reference to a Project: JUMPER.

Meanwhile, the armed forces of The American Privateer moved in. On the coast, a Battle Group moved in. 2 Nimitz Class Carriers, 4 Tarawa Class Escort Carriers (Amphibious Assault Ships), 4 Slava Class Cruisers, 2 Ticonderoga Class Cruisers, 8 Daring Class Destroyers, and a Coronado Class Command Ship where sailing in, aiming to blockade the coast, and to set up an Artillery bombardment on the NOVA headquarters from all directions.

As night fell, a team of RSB Infiltrators moved in, determined to try and get as much as they could so that they could steal any secret plans the R&D Department might have been working on.

There wasn't much for the RSB Infiltrators to steal, as the R&D Computers had ben kept on a seperate server, per Government Mandate, to avoid any other party hacking into a Corporation's mainframe and stealing advanced technology. Wht they did find though, was a list of people who had been working for NOVA, both inside the RSB, and inside the Military. What they found was sure to rock the foundations of New Tortuga for years to come, and maybe even allow for NOVA to grab a chance to take over the country and expel all Foreigners.

As the shells from the Naval ships came in, the CEO watched with dread as his holdings where chewed up. If NOVA ever had its sentence commuted, then they would not have a good time of it. Once a major force in the markets of TAP, they would now be forced into minor-player status for decades at least. The only good thing he could see about this was that Finance District would be rocked for years to come by this, and the economy of TAP would be in shambles for quite a while. Realizing it was useless, he ordered his people to stand down. With luck, the President would be merciful to the rest of his people.

There wasn't much for the RSB Infiltrators to steal, as the R&D Computers had ben kept on a seperate server, per Government Mandate, to avoid any other party hacking into a Corporation's mainframe and stealing advanced technology. Wht they did find though, was a list of people who had been working for NOVA, both inside the RSB, and inside the Military. What they found was sure to rock the foundations of New Tortuga for years to come, and maybe even allow for NOVA to grab a chance to take over the country and expel all Foreigners.

As the shells from the Naval ships came in, the CEO watched with dread as his holdings where chewed up. If NOVA ever had its sentence commuted, then they would not have a good time of it. Once a major force in the markets of TAP, they would now be forced into minor-player status for decades at least. The only good thing he could see about this was that Finance District would be rocked for years to come by this, and the economy of TAP would be in shambles for quite a while. Realizing it was useless, he ordered his people to stand down. With luck, the President would be merciful to the rest of his people.

The damage list was extensive, and worst of all, included the loss of NOVA's R&D Mainframe to a shell from a Slava Class Cruiser. But on the brightside, their Fuel and ORe Refineries where still intact, and their factories where salvageable. The Blueprints to the various NOVA vehicles that had been best sellers where all intact, and would be put up for auction to the various vehicle manufacturers, with the money going to rail repair following the cutting of the Rail Lines of Na Nex Sa-Tortuga and Union Orleans rail lines.

Several hulls for a new class of Ocean Going Cruise Liner had been found south of the main facility, and where being taken over by the government as Troop Transports, with three of them to be auctioned off.

Various big-wigs were rounded up, though the former CEO of NOVA was spared that indignity, as he was found dead, a weird puncture mark through his heat. Most of them would be sent to a Holding Facility, though many would be Dancing Dany Deever by the time that it was all over.

As NOVA Soldiers where marched past, many of them still ready and willing to fight, all where destined for some harsh labor camp where they would spend the rest of their sentences hacking away at rocks and digging out minerals and ores for the industries to churn out into consumer products. They would get a minimal pay for it, but most of the money was destined to return to the government to help them rebuild the infrastructure damaged by rouge NOVA agents during the brief struggle.

Now, the hard part was to begin. Thousands of members of the RSB, and hundreds of military officers and NCO's would be put on trial for their actions in support of NOVA. If even a percent of them escaped Danny Deever, it would be a miracle.

Extensive reconstruction was underway. Rail lines had to be replaced, which would take three years all told, and thus hamper the grain, meat, produce, and fuel shipments north. Instead, they where shipped west, to the coast, where it had to be shipped north. Shipping cost more money, and thus further increased the prices of Fuel and food. The people were starting to get restless, and some members of NOVA, mostly the hard core members, began to use them to try and stir up further riots. Food and Fuel had always been considered a part of the culture, but now they where increasing in price too fast. People where angry, and NOVA was able to stir up anti-government support quickly. Organizations began to spring up, and factions began to form.

The Republic watched this, knowing how this would turn out. They took action, the wrong action. Targeting some of these groups, they swooped down and took them out, surgical and bloody. It began to fracture groups within the nation.

Gang Wars where the first sign, as Military Veterans began to form variations on the Greenbacks, Leathernecks, and Devil Dogs. NOVA loyalists, most of whom had gone underground, formed gangs like Star Dogs, Xenos, Patriots, Predators, and Nova Stars. Anarchists started to form gangs like Weathermen, Black Fists, and Peace Killers. Leftist gangs like Red Brigades, the TAP'ian Red Army, and the Red Fists. Others also began to form, some affiliated with causes, others designed to maximize on the chaos and stake a claim.

Meanwhile, the reconstruction continued.

The morning peace in Port San Lucas was shattered.

A car bomb, one of five set to detonate in the port city, detonated near the main piers for International Commerce. This pier, responsible for Chemical Imports, had had a ship loaded with Hydrazine at the pier. That ship's hull was damaged, and the ship started to sink, leaking the toxic fuel everywhere...

At the same time, the Commodities Exchange, the Residential Sector, the Star Lift Sector, and the Business District where all hit.

The TAP'ian Coast Guard arrived quickly, setting up control systems to try and minimize the impact of the satellite fuel.

Though no group had come forward, the symbols for the Xenos was present on the cars that had detonated.