NationStates | The Hole To Hide In Board

RP: Black Sites & Extraterrestrials
Part of Ultimate Spy Games
For: Brennus

The Pieces Come Together

The Otykenese scientist captured at the hanger raid in Brennus provided some valuable information on the Conduit; it wasn't particularly challenging to get him to spill the information they needed; the essential part was a warning that the contents of the enigma conduit would be destroyed if they tried to use force: even precision methods like lasers would cause microscopic cubic nitrogen crystals kept inside microscopic vessels in the device would detonate. Dispelling any plans to force it open, the ETs ensured no 'unworthy' civilization would learn secrets they weren't ready for.

The devices puzzles were challenging to translate and highly acoustic. Each tactile progression through the puzzle boxes took the solver into the very latest and esoteric scientific discoveries and knowledge of the sciences; it was a lock that required intense secrets to solve and evidently couldn't be solved by force; it was brilliantly crafted of extraterrestrial alloys and engraved by the most precise of lasers with an expansive array of moving components and interacting locks solving it was like a journey through science itself.

There were some hitches; the Brennians didn't have the Rosetta for translation of the codes, and the puzzle creators expected anyone to have solved the previous ones and have all their clues assembled. Still, the Brennians did have various charts kept in the hangar and were able to generate a limited working model. Still, as the years passed and the puzzle collected dust in multiple states of being solved, they had recovered an ace. A real live Extraterrestrial that they had raised from an egg, still just a calf at the moment, but the ET, now aged five, was talking quite a lot for a five-year-old as the language part of her brain, according to scans, was of considerably sized, the brain was also dual hemisphere much like terrestrial creatures of similar type. However, that's like comparing apes to humans, of course, some notable differences. ET/B-1, or Reine as they called her, would be no cryptographic master at the time, but intuitively provided some insights into how to solve the puzzle box intuitively knowing some parts of the language perhaps encoded into her genetic memory, recordings of her talking to herself also provided good sampling for AI-backed language models to get passed a few steps, particularly on things star charts wouldn't reference like biological puzzles.

Interest in the Puzzle box was piqued when several new components had been solved. It is expected to be completed very soon and the items inside and the next step in the journey will be unlocked fully. Though it is expected Otyken will be watching their movements closely enough to cause interference once the quest begins.

The Hanger Treasures
As for the other items, they had uncovered the Diadem of Epochal Command, which was paired to the Microcosmic Constructor Vessel; it was a crown that read brain waves as far as they could tell and could control micro machines that lived in the Constructor Vessel, various groups debated its purpose, but it was clear that it was a tool used for working on aircraft in the hanger. So they decided to try it out in an old run-down jet. A volunteer who was highly familiar with the design of that aircraft wore the crown and got to work, a microscopic swarm of robotics clinging to the jet and entering into its airframe, blasting away rust, reinforcing components, and replacing them from a pile that was in the aircraft hanger on the black site. It was scrubbed clean and any residue purged, old bolts refreshed, and electronics repaired; after several hours, this 30-year-old aircraft looked like it had just come off the production line, and the bots returned to their vessel having taken some of the old wiring as an offering to repair themselves after their work was completed. Some of the bots had been taken and examined by microscope, but they were pretty uncooperative, always trying to return to the constructor's vessel.

Another device was an active astrolabe; it was palm-sized and worked as a necklace; the device was constantly shifting and drew the topology of Kalrania and would direct people to where they needed to be; it was an alien navigational device of unprecedented ability. It was quickly millions of years old and of incalculable value, constructed primarily of gold utility fog. In the hangar itself, they had also found four stasis pods they could put people in for extended periods, practically a one-way time travel to the future.

Unidentified Flying Object: H-20B
Following almost half a decade of antediluvian aviation equipment under examination the H-20 recieved it's new successor, captured by Brennian satellites during a pass over they had intentionally moved the plane outside while tracking the satellite to be sure they got a clear shot of it.

Estimates in fuel efficiency place it's range somewhere at 12,000-kilometre though it's combat radius is likely considerably lower and a recent report indicated it created a sonic boom though it's primarily subsonic so this may be a specific test platform. The new model has tripled the payload at a solid 30 tons of munitions. It's stealth profile has also been dramatically increased with a new skin and some design choices to minimize it's radar cross section. Though this is a notable strategic problem it was a great relief that they weren't cloning the captured saucer and likely cannot do anything beyond take some design suggestions.

Kemonomica, Brennus, Dze Tribes, Allessia, and 1 otherProlekult

The Solar Republic of Woleve Atraland

62 days ago

Solingarch wrote:

RP

Prolekult
The re-vitalization of Imperial industry following the general end of the National Stagnation saw life return to countless industrial sites across the Empire’s territories. Where once the factories of a time long passed stood still and silent, covered in mosses and vines and used as third places by myriad youth, now agents of the state returned to reclaim their property. This was true in Ardhalis, this was true in Ivery, this was true in Mansk, and this would be true in Darjatt.

The capital and largest city in the Archduchy of Vorov, it was also one of the Empire’s more important port cities - home to an Imperial Navy base, an industrial logistics center, and a sizable section of pre-Stagnation factory blocks. By economic standards alone, it was an important city to the Empire - even if it paled in comparison to Mansk or any of the Seven Cities.

And yet.

The National Stagnation had been a crisis which lasted many decades. A crisis which saw the recession of national industry in territories outside of the Seven Cities and Mansk, a crisis which saw local cultural festivals emboldened and embraced as the smog-choked air returned to being clear.

The National Stagnation had harmed the Seven Cities, but it had healed much of the Southern Territories.

In Darjatt, the decades during the National Stagnation had led to a revitalization of many local cultural celebrations - notable among these being the Crab Carnival. Unique to Vorov, the Crab Carnival celebrated the beginning of the Solingarchi Snow Crab’s annual breeding season - migrating into the bay and up the Kymi River, where their eggs are harvested en masse. It was a celebration that saw massive popularity during the National Stagnation as industrial pollution and runoff into the Kymi River ceased and the local ecology repaired itself.

It’s a celebration which now sees itself threatened as the Empire revitalizes and repairs itself.

Protests have broken out in Darjatt in recent times, largely located near the Industrial Sector and the Darjatt International Port - thousands of individuals making their opinions and dissension towards the Crown known. While said protests have remained largely ‘peaceful’ and little violence has taken place, it’s been a very strained peace. The Crown’s position towards these protests is very staunchly opposed - first for its desire to revitalize its state, and second for the disregard towards those of its subjects who disagree with its mandates. Yet there’s little that it could do to end the protests as it currently stands - the protests themselves are peaceful, if noisy, and ending them puts the Crown in bad optics internationally.

Yet to the Crown, the Darjatt Protests must end. The revitalization of the city is actively being hampered in such a way that can’t be naturally ended, and it’s dragging the rest of the Empire down with it.

To the Crown, the protests must end - there just has to be a reason to end them…

=====(Secret…)=====

Naturally, the first step to end all problems was not to talk them through or to ignore them. While those sometimes work, they’re not the best for this particular situation. No, rather than talking them through or ignoring them, the first step would be to stage mass violence.

Because that’s never caused any problems, ever.

Posing an attack on the Crown and its property would give it reason to crack down harshly on the protests, to quell and disperse them in cruel manner. Yet to openly do so would invite foreign disdain and likely condemnation, and the Crown still wanted to maintain its position as a relatively perceived ‘better actor’.

The protestors were upset about the re-ignition of the factories and ports in Darjatt, so why not blow one up?

A brief, discreet chain of communication would occur in the highest echelons of Imperial government - the IDA and the High Court talking back and forth if just for a moment. Then, hidden in the expenses of operations and the already-present movement of police to Darjatt, a small group of men and a number of chemical explosives would disappear - re-allocated to a new task.

Planting a bomb in an abandoned factory and blowing it up.

The bomb had to be big. Not big enough to cause damage to the test of the city, but big enough to warrant reconstruction and replacement of the immediately-surrounding industrial area and big enough to cause national and somewhat international concern. And yet at the same time, the bomb couldn’t be so big or of a distinct design as to be recognized as the Crown’s own - it would immediately give them away.

More aptly, then, they were moving large amounts of volatile material into the factory, which would turn it into a “coincidental” bomb.

Under the guise of being construction vehicles, and shielded by the influx of IDA Officers from elsewhere in the country, several unmarked white vans and their decoys would travel to that abandoned factory in Darjatt, setting the pieces for the next day’s board.

=====

An explosion would rock the industrial zone of Darjatt, shattering windows several blocks away and causing tremors as well as an overpressure effect that could be felt across the city. From the port area, a large smoke cloud rose, towering high above the crowds of either dead or panicked protestors.

Appearing immediately on scene were officers of the Imperial Domestic Authority, all in full riot and hazard kit and supported by members of the Imperial Landsknechte on the scene. Even a number of armored walkers were on the scene - all to say, the response was immediate.

[”Tear Gas and Lethal Shots authorized by Domestic Authority. Initiate Police Action. Surround and detain all illegal rioters.”]

The lines of IDA Officers and Imperial Landsknechte would begin pushing forward, establishing a perimeter and then driving towards the water - effectively encircling the rioters. Someone would throw a brick into the lines, someone would throw an incendiary cocktail - and shots would be fired. It’s unknown how many died in those initial shots nor how many were injured, but the panic of the riotous crowd immediately following would do it little good.

In just a few minutes, the crowd was entirely encircled - ordered to stand down or face death at the warrant of the Crown.

The Crown had gotten what it wanted - it had made a cake and now it would set to eat said cake.

Prolekult

The request for summons by the Adruvrëya Peasantry would go unnoticed - or ignored - for a long while by the Imperial Crown. Either it had gotten lost in the lines of communication further down, or it had been received and simply pushed off to the side in lieu of more ‘lucrative’ ideas.

Yet long months after the summons had been sent, a response - however short it was - would be sent back down by the Imperial Crown. Their summons had been accepted, their proposals would be looked at and considered.

It was a way for the Crown to essentially say “we’ll look at this and then get back to you whenever we please, if we even do at all, you peasants,” without outright saying such.

Initially, the Crown would truly try to ignore the proposals and requests of those Adruvrëya Peasants. There was nothing of worth in their requests except for a delegation of power downwards and a dissolution of the Lower Estates. Why should that happen, either in the way they proposed or at all?

Yet the more they tried to harp on the ideas, the more they came to twist it around - twisting and twisting until at last, they had a very distorted version of the proposal which was both an insult to the peasantry and legitimately irrelevant to politics at large.

A subsequent series of summons would be sent back downwards as the Crown sought to invite those very same peasants to a new proceeding - as the Crown invited them to be insulted in person, with dignity.

It would be in these proceedings that the Crown would announce the “reform of the Estate System” - in which a new system of Workers’ Representatives would be created. Existing alongside the Estates themselves, the Workers’ Representatives would act as “unions” of the land workers themselves, wherin a forum for discussion and economic activity could take place. These Workers’ Representatives would have no actual power, however - they would be given a codified and ensured “Right to Noble Petition” which they could use to make requests and demands of their local Estates, but they would have no authority to make any true decisions on their own nor influence politics in any meaningful way.

They wanted land reform? They could have it on paper, but not in practice - they wanted a cake, they could have an old moldy one.

Rykensvik

The proposal of diplomacy from Rykensvik would be looked at and considered by the Imperial Crown, and then accepted in very short order. While there were very little terms initially proposed, aside from some market interactions, the Solingarchi Empire would go ahead and lay some baseline terms as a counteroffer.

- Eased VISA Travel between Solingarch and Rykensvik
- Eased and encouraged trade between Solingarchi and Rykensvik Markets
- Allocated space in the Ivery Development Zone for Rykensvik participation

These terms would be sent forth from the Imperial Crown to the Rykensvik Office of Foreign Affairs, to be enacted effective immediately and renewing on 20-year terms (first in 2030) should they accept.

Otyken

The request from Otyken for the expansion of their respective Iverian Development Zone would be considered by both the Imperial Crown and the Iverian Government, looked over in conjunction with one-another in short order.

There was nothing wrong with this proposal. It brought their respective zone into agreement with that of theirs in Kanasye’ak, and then pushed it further - it was a good demonstration of what some of the Continental Technate’s policies could bring, and how the Empire could take and adopt them as it saw fit and beneficial for itself.

The request for expansion and development would be accepted in short form, with resources allocated for such effective immediately.

Nemoinlanx
Atraland
The Distanic Confederacy
Ryuvir
Dze Tribes

The Ivery Conference, hosted in the city of the same name, was altogether fairly productive. Discussion on the topic of a Northern Alliance and a Northern Union would have its hiccups, but overall would go fairly smoothly and easily.

The Conference would end after about a week, with delegations hosted for a second week in top-tier hotels in the city before being dismissed.

From the Conference, a draft for a proper “Northern Alliance” Charter would be made - titled the Ivery Charter as a very creative name. This charter, while not yet formalized or signed, would outline a number of terms and conditions for the Alliance at large.

A copy of the Ivery Charter would be sent to each nation which had shown up at the Ivery Conference, to be signed if agreeable or disregarded if not.

RP: Northern Union
Though largely inactive in geopolitics, the Imperium has signed on to the new Northern Union, potentially a sign of a renewed interest in international activity.

Kemonomica, Dze Tribes, Allessia, and Otyken

The Commonwealth of Sodor and Seljaryssk

62 days ago

Edited

RP: Nightvisitors

Sodorhvtisi'i Ministry of Defence Strategic command, Kristreyri

"Of course ma'am, but you have to understand we can't just go in. There are rules, and we're already tied down. I know the reach initiative is working, but as of yet such a location would be mostly isolated. I think..."

"I don't want problems I want solutions. We're increasing our capacity yearly, and those lands would allow us a valuable asset in anchoring our position in the Eastern Seas. A way to cross the oceans and enter the continent without needing to head too far off course. Get me more information, and get a frigate out there to make some friends. With the recent actions by the Ambehvtisi'i, it makes sense to push for alternative arrangements."

In the wake of this mostly quiet meeting, Frigate VSA Silvaria would be deployed to the seas, passing between Ambehvtisi'i and Afihvtisi'i waters on the way to the The Ansalonian States coast, in order to secure increasing Sodorhvtisi'i influence should the Ambehvtisi'i press for Sodor to move facilities while still maintaining large scale operating capacity in the area.

In the meantime, an official complaint would be filed both in Baltocarpathia and Amberleaf, citing cultural connections and cooperation with the Estonian people and government, the large costs in the establishment of the facility, the Sodorhvtisi'i participation in the liberation of Estonia and Baltocarpathia from the oppression of the former government and the economic benefits provided by the facility as to reasons why Sodor should not be forced to exit such a facility based on a clause deployed years after establishment. As a compromise, Baltocarpathian observers would be welcome to visit the facilities periodically unwarned.

Neuse wrote:

RP: Contact
Standing on the bow of the skiff, the Captain of the Pamlico, James Elloree, shouted to the Sodorhvtisi’i: “I am James Elloree, Captain of the sloop Pamlico. We are here on the order of the Governor of Albermarle to respond to your wreck. [pause] Is your crew safe? Are you in need of assistance?”

Meanwhile onboard the sloop Bogue, the lookout spotted on the horizon the VSA Viipatsira and its accompanying squadron of modern destroyers and frigates. At the sight of such a force descending upon them, the Bogue made out a warning to the commander of the force, Commodore Arthur Wheeling, informing him of their situation. Wheeling, assessing his position, found that his second-in-command was aboard the skiff to make contact with the stricken Lahe and a much superior force of unknown nation and intent rapidly descending upon his position. Quickly, he boarded a skiff and transferred himself and his command from the Coree to the Pamlico. He then ordered the Coree and Bogue to depart south out of immediate danger from the oncoming flotilla. Now aboard the Pamlico, he ordered the anchor be lifted and the ship move to face the oncoming flotilla head-on but not leave the Mouth of the Mattamuskeet Sound. Now facing the oncoming ships, he prepared to make contact – however that might occur.

RP: Trolling

The Neushvtisi'i ships, located by the Viipatsira only when they were actually visible due to the lack of radar signature the ships emitted, were quite a sight to the modern amphibious force. After all, it wasn't like they'd actually encountered such a ship force before, so it was a novelty of the highest order, and one that will likely be a highly popular encounter to speak about in times afterwards.

For the moment, though, the main thought was of just why there was a wooden ship attempting to interdict the task force. Even if it was an active combat craft, which seemed to be almost impossible. After all, what self respecting nation would still be using wooden ships in this day and age? For the moment, the normal assumption, that this ship was operating not modern guns but cannon, seemed appropriate, and aboard the Amphibious Transport Dock the Commodore, newly promoted, began giving out orders.

Rough Translation
"Play gentle. I know we should be able to beat them even without escort, but for the moment play nice. Buzz them, let them know we have aircraft but don't cause stuff. I don't want an international incident."

Orders which led to a VTAI-9 (V-22 rebranded) buzzing the Pamlico, circling it several times even as the small force continued to mve forward, each ship making course corrections as not to steer too close to the wooden ship and risk issue.

The small party on the shore, meanwhile, would see the skiffs approaching with relative calm. After all, the men aboard didn't exactly look like an issue, and there was little harm in shouting back.

"We're fine thank you! Our pickup should be arriving shortly, but if you do want to come ashore I'm sure we can get you something to eat for your time."

RP: Participation

In order to get a foot in the door, Sodor would submit her own bid for entry into the Eclipse Games, although would express concern at the choice of Aquitinia, a noted slave-owning nation.

Event Sign Ups:
Single Weapon Dueling:
Name: Elissa Aleksavila
Species/Other Details: Sodorhvtisi'i Vulpine
Weapon of Choice: Naginata
Any Fluff: Born in the Belt islands, Aleksavila is well versed in her chosen blade, and trained well both in traditional Sodorhvtisi'i martial arts and in more elegant forms common to the pre-imperial era. Travelling to Aquitinia with her boyfriend, even if possibly younger than other competitors at only 26, she's more than confident and ready to win.

Dance:
Name(s): Dannel Petraasala
Species/Other Details: Human
Dance Type: Sodorhvtisi'i Ribbon Dance
Any Fluff: N/A

Markswomanship:
Name: Lissa-Mae Haalen
Species/Other Details: Sodorhvtisi'i Feline
Weapon: ISV Bolt Action Rifle
Any Fluff: N/A

Limited Calvinball:
Captain Name: Aleks Miliasala
Captain Species/Other Details:
Team Size: 10 (9 members, one monitor lizard)
Any Fluff: N/A

Javelin Toss:
Name: Aleks Toivoasala
Species/Other Details: Sodorhvtisi'i Human
Any Fluff: N/A

Footrace:
Name: Martin Ariellaavila
Species/Other Details: Sodorhvtisi'i human
Any Fluff: No, tailless. More seriously, Sodorhvtisi'i footracing champion, and recent retiree from military service

Horse Race:
Name: Lillia Karlesavila
Species/Other Details: Sodorhvtisi'i Vulpine, relatively lightly built
Mount Type: Hippalectryon
Any Fluff: Sodorhvtisi'i riding champion 6 years straight, Karlesavila is expected to be nearing the end of her professional life by the time of the 2013 games, and is riding more out of pride than anything, even if it is hoped her and her hippalectryon will put on a good show.

Chariot Race:
Charioteer: Hugi Elkaasala
Species/Other Details: Sodorhvtisi'i Feline
Number of Horses: 4
Any Fluff/Chariot Details: N/A, past uparmouring to prevent any issues

RP: Good foundations

With the Sodorhvtisi'i government returning to a more active stance in the world, several foreign policy decisions would be made, expected to come to fruition over the next several years

- The agreed military facilities in Africa would be greenlit by the Sodorhvtisi'i Armed Forces, with Radar Facility A017 (Lightfall), Kitnau Multi-Mission replenishment facility (Manned by 21st Air Defence Battery (4 K-11 Anti-Aircraft Missile system), 11th Replenishment Deployment), and Multi-Force Forward Facility Liepi Gap

1st and 2nd Marine Brigades, 2nd division; 8,800 Marines, 84 Sylvan Towed Howitzer, 96 Isti Tank Destroyers, 48 Wasp Rocket Projectors, 84 Isti II Self Propelled Guns, 264 Volta AFV
5th Attack Helicopter Wing, 13 HIA-18 Attack Helicopters
11th Engineering Brigade, 14 CIA-3 Engineering Vehicles, 12 NSD-5 Mine Clearance Vehicle
5th Infantry Brigade; 2,200 Soldiers, 40 2S29 Main Battle Tanks, 60 Isti Tank Destroyers, 256 NGA-17 APC, 128 2A11 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, 48 Sitka SPH, 48 ISA Truck Mounted Howitzer, 64 Sylvan Towed Howitzer
5th Overseas Squadron; 1 Type 2.26 Destroyer, 1 Type 2.28 Destroyer, 2 Type 4.42 Frigate, 2 Island Class corvettes, 6 AVA-8 MarPat aircraft, 18 ASE-9 Maritime Bomber
6th Overseas Air Force; 24 ISA-V Multirole Fighter, 12 ETI-11 Transport Aircraft, 24 ICA-A Light Fighter, 24 ITI-14 Transport Aircraft

Federation of Africa

- A request for a pair of military facilities in the nation would be sent to Midribbonia in order to ensure Sodorhvtisi'i logistical capacity in northeastern Ardentia, with intentions being for the basing of 18-24 Transport Aircraft and appropriate air defence assets, along with replenishment formations, on rotational stationing. This would, of course, come with financial compensation in order to ensure continued cooperation between the governments.

- Additional interest in logistical facilities in Allessia and Candain would be voiced, although more concrete agreements would be based on positive responses from foreign governments.
Allessia Candain

- The Rykensvik request for a meeting would be accepted, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kira Miliavila expecting to fly out before the end of the week to liase with Rycheshvtisi'i officials.

- With the dissolution of the Radiant Entente of Kalrania, Sodor would in order to ensure continued cooperation express to Vesperia as a whole and the Nonasyihvtisi’i government in particular their interest in formally joining the SDC as a member.

Statistics for 2010

GDP: RyM 5,818,376,683,896
Population: 222,280,881

Next Time
Elections

Vesperia

1. Schwypiahvtisi'i/Schwypia/Schwypia
2. Nonasyihvtisi'i/Nonasyia/Nonadia
2. Elsmehvtisi'i/Eltmer/Eldamar
2. Neuerssahvtis'i/Neuerssa/Neuerstaat
5. Kohvtisi'i/Kora/Gora
5. Posashvtisi'i/Posasya/Posadistya
7. Laui'i/Lauressia/Laurentiea

Tselmeg

1. Dzeyahvtisi'i/Dzeyahi/Dze
2. Hurahvtisi'i/Hurachya/Kuracha Kanlant
3. Sohvtisi'i/Sorimya/Torimia

Tengernia

1. Afihvtisi'i/Afiya/Africa
2. Rufhvtisi'i/Rufir/Ryuvir
3. Distahvtisi'i/Dissaniya/Distan
4. Sejnai'i/Sejnaya/Technate
Onahvtisi'i/Onayu/Honalulu
Osyi'i/Osysen/Otyken

Fargarden and Associated

1. Phayihvtisi'i/Phayis/Phallis
2. Ambehvtisi'i/Amberlehivya/Amberleaf

Western Extent Ardentia

1. Daiyihvtisi'i/Daiyin/Candain
2. Solinyhvitis'i/Solinyia/Solingarch
2. Brenyehvitis'i/Brenyeyus/Brennus
2. Misriyohvtisi'i/Misriyonya/Midribonnia
5. Nemoyehvtisi'i/Nemoyelan/Nemoinlanx
5. Maravahvtisi'i/Maravalahe/Marovoay

Central Ardentia

1. Essoniyehvtisi'i/Essoniyea/Estonia
1. Balsocapahvtisi'i/Balsocapassya/Baltocarpathia
2. Oussehvtisi'i/Ousseuni/Outer Union
2. Swissyehvtisi'i/Swisslandt/Switzerland
3. Kulsyehvtisi'i/Kulsyeiassa/Kulkkistan
3. Aquiyehvtisi'i/Aquiyessnia/Aquitinia

Southern Ardentia

1. Anheldachvtisi'i/Anheldac/Anheldac
2. Neushvtisi'i/Neusse/Neuse
2. Rycheshvtisi'i/Rychesvissya/Rykensvik
3. Avahvtisi'i/Avaya/Avaria
4. Elushvtisi'i/Elussya/Eleutheria
5. Avei'i/Aveya/Averius

Candain, Nonadia, Federation of Africa, The Ansalonian States, and 8 othersAquitinia, Brennus, Dze Tribes, Amberleaf, Baltocarpathia, Allessia, Prolekult, and Neuse

The Citizens Republic of Rykensvik

62 days ago

Malevalon Creek Combined Arms Base
Construction of the MCCAB in Baltocarpathia had come to a successful completion. The necessary preparations were finalized for the relocation of numerous military assets to the base and the moving process had begun.

Vikan-Solingarchi Relations
Negotiations were swift and came to a conclusion with the formalization of a Non-Aggression Pact, Embassies, establishment of VISA-based travel, and Rykensvik will operate a development zone inside of Ivory. The Vikan-controlled zone will largely be run as a mega-mall of Vikan commercialism, putting on display the various and wide-array of Vikan products. From manufactured toys and industrial grade household cleaning products, to DVD sets of movies and animated shows, and cars.

The Price of Democracy
With Rykensvik expanding its defensive network, funds were allocated to the rent of an airforce base within Averius. At a high cost of 400 Million Kroner annually, Rykensvik will formalize both its military presence and its pledge to protect the ideals of democracy within Averius.

Watching Allessia
The broadcast that put communist red revolutionaries on display at the gallows was one interestingly watched by the Vikan government. Diplomatic discussions had provided notes on how Allessia functions and Rykensvik knew well that it was not the beacon of liberty that they’d hoped it to be. However, the threat of communism was very real and something Rykensvik had previously encountered some decades ago. It was, however, received with some skepticism. To publicly televise another round of executions of an enemy from thirty years ago, meant that it seemed the Allessian Emperor may have been slipping grip on his power and was utilizing this to reaffirm his position.

Whatever the reality of the situation was, it was another group of communists removed from the world and one less threat that Rykensvik had to worry about.

Kulkkistani-Vikan Relations
The meeting with the Kulkkistani Foreign Minister went well. New knowledge was gained from the encounter and it was knowledge unexpected. However, trade, albeit with high levels of protectionism from the Kulkkistani State. Embassies would also be constructed to enable more effective methods of communications.

Rumors were running amuck within the halls of government. Rumors of several states, neighboring states nonetheless, potentially running slavery or slavery-like operations within their borders. To protect the integrity and mission of Rykensvik, the Vikan Foreign Intelligence Committee (ViFIC) would release spies into Baltocarpathia and Aquitinia with their mission being to establish information networks to track down any potential legal or illegal slave driving operations. The mission operated under the assumption that neither nation’s government would willingly disclose such operations to the Vikan government given its very public stance on liberty and individual freedoms.

If a slavery institute is found and confirmed to be supported and/or funded by the existing government, a report will be made to discuss the degree of prevalence it has within that country’s society.

The meeting with the Kulkkistani Foreign Minister left something of an awkward taste in the President and government’s mouth. A faith-led dictatorship with a strong disdain for free market capitalism raised quite a few eyebrows. The collective assumption was that this government was potentially communistic in nature, forcing people either into equality through poverty, or sabotaging individuality through governmental over-regulation and manipulation.

The way the minister spoke about this deity-chosen man was seemingly unnatural, as if trained to speak of him in such a praising manner. Furthermore, the mention of “restricted liberties to preserve the revolution” raised further concerns that below the surface of a democratic farce, was a red banner waiting to be unfurled.

Operatives of ViFIC would quietly get into the country and establish an information network. The goal was to gather as much official documentation, publicly available sources like news stories, and even a copy of their faith’s religious texts. While some of this could probably and easily be obtained above board, there were concerns that the Kulkkistani would alter information to portray their theocratic leadership in a good and holy light, minimizing the shadows that were assumed to be present. Furthermore, the operatives would also try to scout out any potential resistance groups to the current regime and make contact to gather even more information on the situation and quality of life within the country.

Expansion of the Vikan Airforce and Establishment of the Missile Command Branch

The Vikan airforce was a strong entity of military power, seemingly on par with its contemporaries and neighbors. However, It had limited operational capacities, designed for en massed warfare of supremacy. To expand the operational range of the airforce, it needed close air support and medium bombing aircraft that were lighter, smaller, and cheaper to fly in comparison to the FC-12 Yeti. It would also need heavy transport aircraft to simplify the moving process for any large amount of manpower.

In the modern age, wars could be won easier with fewer lives lost compared to traditional warfare of ages passed. This could easily be achieved with the usage of missiles. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) were the new hot weapon of the century and could outperform several aircraft in precision-based destruction. To manage the production, decommission, maintenance, and usage of the country’s missile systems, the third branch of the military would be made, known as “Missile Command”.

Greater Confederation of Switzerland, Dze Tribes, Amberleaf, Kulkkistan, and 2 othersBaltocarpathia, and Allessia

The Federation of Federation of Africa

62 days ago

Sodor and Seljaryssk wrote: